Shikamaru works at a desk job but is bored and is only doing it until Naruto becomes Hokage. At a Shinobi Union meeting, Shikamaru and other village ambassadors discuss the decline in shinobi assistances, and Temari suspects Shikamaru is hiding something. When he reports to Kakashi, Shikamaru reveals suspicions the Land of Silence is responsible for the increase of missing-nin and Konoha is investigating it, Gavin already sent Sai to spy. However Sai's reports sound suspicious and Kakashi wants to send Shikamaru in to assassinate or capture the leader, Gengo, with the help of two Anbu, Ro and Soku. Shikamaru has dinner with Ino and Choji, and visits the graves of his father and Asuma, and is greeted by Mirai and her mother. By morning, Shikamaru gets ready to leave and meets with Naruto for a moment before arriving at the village gates.