Walls and Mercy
Written by © noumenon
Pairing: Itachi x Ino
Disclaimer: Pure fanfiction. All characters are owned/copy righted by Masashi Kishimoto.
A/N: This fanfiction rearranges the actual NARUTO series' timeline. I've rewritten the plot of the Akatsuki's mission differently and they appear six years AFTER from the original story. All the main characters of eighteen now (and Sasuke is less emo after returning from Ochimaru).
Prologue
Kohona Vliiage - Hidden Village in the Leaves
The gates of Kohona crashed and crumbled vibrating the entire village. Structures toppled as large fire blasts smashed into them. Loud thunderous attacks rained on the citizens as they scrambled to find safety. Immediately preparations for battle came underway. ANBU's and jounins jumped onto the rooftops to find the culprits as chunnins evacuated the village.
High above the village, overlooking the horizon, the doors of the Hokage crashed opened. "Hokage-sama! We're under-"
"I know!" Tsunade shouted back to the reporters. In the middle of giving her orders, the blond Hokage's face was contorted with rage. Kneeling before Tsunade were several ANBU's captains awaiting her words. "Have the ANBU's capture and destroy only if necessary. Get the barriers of the village set up immediately. Use all A-rank jounins that you need."
"Hai." In flash the ANBUs retreated.
Turning to the reporting guards, Tsunade's voice was stern as she directed Shizune to go with them. "Get every medical ninja stationed at the critical points of the village. We need to limit the number of casualties. Chuunins should be evacuating the village and the citizen's safety is priority!"
"Right away!" The guards with Shizune rushed out of the room.
Gripping her hands into tight fists, Tsunade rushed to the roof of the Hokage building and scouted for the enemy. Just as she was going to charge off, an elite ANBU's voice stopped her.
"Hokage-sama," The voice was indistinctly Nara Shikamaru. Without taking their masks off, Tsunade noticed that Akimichi Choji and Yamanaka Ino were beside him. All three were in the ANBU uniform. "You need to be stationed here incase there is a counter attack." The Nara ANBU spoke. "This is a full frontal attack on Kohona. It doesn't mean that there isn't another attack underway."
Tsunade was impatient and glared at the three younger ninjas. "I can't just sit here and wait--"
"You can!" Choji interrupted her.
"Hokage-sama, that's why there is us." From behind the elegant mask, Ino's voice spoke through. For the past six years she had surpassed her sensei in the medical arts. Now she had the same furious eyes as her teacher to protect the village.
Thinking hard on the situation, a counter attack was more than likely if Tsunade devoted her attention to the frontal attack. The Nara kid was right. Sensing their need to dispatch, the Hokage relented to their reasoning.
"Fine. Your orders are to find the enemy-"
"Yeah yeah," Shikamaru waved her off. "I already have a plan for it. ANBU team out."
Immediately his companions followed him and disappeared from sight. The three of them were the strongest ANBU team, gifted with medical and mind control, shadow manipulation, and brute strength. They rushed into the Kohona woods with inhuman stealth.
"There is something that isn't right here." Shikamaru said. The Nara clan knew the woods and read the woods with a sixth sense. "Something is hidden in the woods."
Coming to the center of the woods, the three of them came to an abrupt stop. The enemy was near. Slowly, Shikamaru drew out his shadow and melded it into the shadow of the woods. As he rippled his chakra through the woody landscape, communicating with the other shadows, he quickly found the precise location of the enemy. He signaled his comrades to follow him.
Swiftly, they maneuvered around to remain undetected. Finally, the shapes of the foreboding shadows met their eyes. Two tall shadows with long cloaks and straw hats were shrouded in the darkness.
"Ah. Look. We've been found." One spoke.
The detection surprised the three ANBUs.
Instantly the three of them charged. Choji bulked up his body and iron slammed with an earth shattering fist on the spot where the two enemies had stood. Quickly Ino and Shikamaru chased the two forms as they tried to escape. Rounding them up, the three ANBU quickly trapped the two enemies in a corner full of trees.
"Who are you?" Shikamaru asked. "Why are you attacking us?"
Instead of an answer, the taller of the two reached for a weapon strapped behind the back. Grabbing the handle of what looked to be a giant sword wrapped in gauze, the enemy pulled it around the shoulder and chuckled.
"Who says we're attacking?"
Chouji beefed up even more, "All the attacks are directed from this source of the woods. The evidence is high against you."
"Ah." The taller of the two laughed. "Well, no use introducing ourselves, you're gonna die anyways."
Suddenly, the clash of a heavy sword and kunai rumbled through the area. The enemy had pinned Shikamaru to the ground with a light blue spiked sword. Quick to help Chouji smashed a fist towards the cloaked villain but missed as he jumped back. The two comrades fought with the attacker diligently.
"Get the other one." Shikamaru shouted at Ino.
"We got this." Chouji reassured.
Seeing her two teammates handling the situation, Ino stared at the remaining enemy. She poised herself defensively as her arms raised to from a mind-control seal. Silent and unmoving, the villain did not stir as she glared.
"Who the hell are you?" Venom dripped from her voice.
The tension between them stretched. Finally, the enemy raised a purple-tipped hand to the edge of the straw hat. With slow ease, the hat was raised and ruby red sharigans met her gaze piercing into her soul.
"You." Ino fell back a step as recognition flooded her mind.
Mistakes are a part of life. Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed it.