The tale of Mayumi

Chapter 84 - Back to Konoha, With a Minor Problem

By the time Mayumi and Kakashi reached the Hokage's office, they were met with two very different reactions.

Naruto? Absolutely thrilled.

Shikamaru? Absolutely done.

"You guys are back!" Naruto grinned, leaning back in his chair. "How was the vacation mission?"

Shikamaru, arms crossed, was staring at them like they had personally ruined his entire day.

Kakashi sighed. "I have a feeling we should sit down for this."

Mayumi, ever the optimist, flopped into the chair across from Naruto. "So technically, we did what we were supposed to do."

Shikamaru's expression did not change.

Kakashi slowly sat beside her. "Before we go over the details, I feel like you should—"

Shikamaru cut him off.

"You two were gone for one week. One." He pinched the bridge of his nose. "So please explain how you managed to cause an international incident."

Mayumi blinked. "Well, technically, it wasn't a full incident."

Kakashi muttered, "That's not a good start."

Naruto, still grinning, leaned forward. "Okay, I gotta hear this."

⸻

Mayumi sat up straight. "So! Our VIP went missing. Obviously, that meant we had to investigate—"

Shikamaru held up a hand. "We know that part. Get to the problem."

"Well," Mayumi continued, "turns out, the kidnappers were technically part of a neutral faction—not officially criminals, per se, but, you know... bad guys."

Naruto hummed. "So you kicked their asses?"

"Oh, absolutely."

Kakashi sighed.

Shikamaru's eye twitched. "Right. And you didn't stop to check their political affiliations before you leveled half a market?"

Mayumi scoffed. "Shika, please, do I look like a woman who stops to check paperwork before throwing people into walls?"

Shikamaru dragged a hand down his face. "I hate that I already knew the answer to that."

Kakashi, ever calm, added, "The good news is that the faction has already sent a formal complaint rather than an actual declaration of hostility."

Mayumi grinned. "See? Not an international incident. Just a... situation."

Shikamaru stared at her.

Naruto, meanwhile, was still laughing. "I mean, at least you saved the guy, right?"

"Thank you!" Mayumi gestured dramatically. "See, he gets it!"

Shikamaru exhaled. "You also managed to get half the village and an underground crime ring chasing you through the streets."

Mayumi shrugged. "We escaped."

Kakashi sighed, rubbing his temple. "Barely."

Shikamaru muttered something about early retirement.

⸻

After several more minutes of back-and-forth (mostly between Shikamaru scolding and Mayumi defending her "creative problem-solving"), Naruto finally waved a hand.

"Alright, alright. No harm done," he said, still amused. "We'll smooth things over. But next time, let's try not to cause chaos outside of our own village."

Mayumi crossed her arms. "I make no promises."

Shikamaru groaned.

Naruto chuckled. "You two are dismissed."

Mayumi hopped to her feet and stretched. "Cool! We'll be at Ichiraku if you need us."

Kakashi, ever composed, stood more slowly. "If you do need us, maybe wait a few hours. We've had a long week."

As they left, Shikamaru slumped in his chair, exhausted. "This is why I drink."

Naruto just laughed. "C'mon, lighten up. You gotta admit, at least it's never boring with those two."