Shikamaru has a flashback of when Team 10 was working with Team 7 to save a hostage taken by bandits, who were wreaking havok in a village. They proceed to the bandits' hideout with the help of Tofu, an ex-bandit member. However, Tofu gets captured and turns out to be really working for Baji, the bandits' leader. The genins successfully bypass the bandits' fortress, and Shikamaru agrees to exchange himself for Tofu. But Shikamaru finds that he is unable to communicate his plan to the rest of the team as his voice gets muted by Baji.