Chapter Two
"Hehehe...hey guys...long time, no see?" Naruto squeaked.
Konoha's 9 shinobi- Gai's, Asuma's and Kurenai's team members were all standing around Naruto.
"Nice job, TenTen," Lee said. "Your youth is evermore glowing!"
"Thank you very much," TenTen said, and wrenched all the kunai knives out of the metal, setting Naruto free.
"What are you'll doing here?" Sakura asked, stepping through the door frame.
"Well, Tsunade assigned us a mission to wait here for you two, and then aid you in your pursuit," Kiba stated. Sakura turned to Pakkun.
"Pakkun- you've done your job guiding us here safely- now go back to Kakashi-sensei and alert him that we're continuing the mission. Tell him to come back to this base as fast as possible. We may need his help."
Without any questioning, Pakkun disappeared in a cloud of white smoke.
"Wow...we haven't seen you'll for..." Naruto counted off his fingers.
"3 years," Hinata said quietly.
"So, have you gotten any better in those three years?" Shikamaru said, simpering.
"YES I HAVE," Naruto said defiantly. There was a small silence as Kiba snorted.
"What was that?" Naruto asked, narrowing his eyes.
"Oh, no- sorry...I just thought that you said you've gotten better," Kiba said, doubling over. Nearly everyone was holding in a laugh or smile now.
"Why you!" Naruto said, and a scuffle broke out, with Sakura and Ino trying to hold Naruto back. "Who was the one who kicked your butt in the Chuunin exam!"
"Naruto- PLEASE! We have a MISSION remember!" Sakura said weakly. This seemed to catch Naruto's attention quite quickly. He dropped Kiba's collar, who dropped to the ground in a daze and punched the air with his fist.
"ALRIGHT! WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR? LET'S GO!" He cried, as if everyone else had been the one taking up time.
"We were waiting for you," Chouji grumbled as he stuffed a handful of chips in his mouth.
"They're entering," Neji said abruptly, breaking up the friendly atmosphere. Everybody peered at the entrance from behind the gate ledge to get a better look.
"I...I don't think this is a...a good idea," Hinata whispered nervously. Nobody responded. They all knew that she was probably right, but curiosity got the better of them.
At the Entrance...
"They're watching us," a Sound Ninja stated, but looking straight ahead.
"How many?"
"I...see only 11 heads. No bodies, though."
"Idiot. That's because they're looking from behind the gate ledge, Hirai."
"Yes...Sasuke-sama," Hirai said, bowing apologetically.
"They've been very impractical- making all that noise. Not that we haven't sensed that two of them and a dog have been following us for the past 2 days."
"Well, keep moving, Yumi. We can't let them know we've seen them. Two of them have Hyuga blood and the power of the Byakugan," Sasuke hissed coldly.
"Sasuke-sama, they're sure to ambush as we make our way through the base."
"I know, Kazuki," Sasuke snapped. The three Sound ninja and Sasuke continued moving at a quicker pace; their black cloaks trailing behind them.
"They've gone through the entrance," Neji whispered.
"What's your plan, Naruto?" Sakura whispered to him. Naruto's sweatdropped.
"Actually...I thought Shikamaru would be better at planning something..." he said feebly. Everybody raised an eyebrow at Shikamaru, who got on one knee, and drew a map of the Konoha base with a kunai in the dirt.
"Alright- Naruto, Sakura- this is the map of the base. There are six buildings here- one food storage, two inns, one outhouse, one meeting room, and one spare room that sometimes contains extra weapons and stuff."
Sakura and Naruto nodded.
"Now, Neji- how many Sound did you say there were?"
"Three Sound Ninja, and Sasuke," Neji said. Shikamaru mapped down four stick figures just past the base entrance.
"What's your plan, Sasuke-sama?" Sasuke smirked.
"Let's make a left here. I believe my old Leaf comrades are awaiting my arrival," Sasuke said, smiling.
"And then the fastest way to get to the-what's wrong, Kiba?" Shikamaru stopped and looked up. Kiba and Akamaru sniffed the suddenly still air.
"They're coming," he stated. "I can feel it."
"I can see them too, Kiba," Hinata whispered fearfully.
"They're about a quarter of a mile away," Neji stated. "Hurry."
"Okay." Shikamaru resumed his planning. "Me, Ino, and Chouji will take the left alleyway behind the base and behind all the buildings. If someone is following us, then we can just lead them away from the center road that leads completely outside the base and near the cliffs."
Ino nodded and Chouji stuffed his chips away and cracked his knuckles.
"T-They're moving faster, everyone!" Hinata said, starting to panic.
"Hush- Hinata-sama," Neji said. "Judging by the distance and the pace they're going at, it'll be about four minutes until they arrive."
"Crud-okay! Lee, Neji, and TenTen! You three will set up traps around the spare weapon room. If anyone is following you, then fight them off, and try to capture them."
They nodded.
"Hinata, Kiba- Shino. The three of you'll- go OVER the rooftops and wait on the last two buildings next to the base exit. Divide up and have Hinata and Shino cover the left roofs and Kiba and Akamaru cover the right."
Everyone nodded and Akamaru barked in a sense that he understood.
"This part of mission- our aim right now is to prevent the Sound ninja from leaving this base," Shikamaru said in utter seriousness, which surprised everyone.
"One minute and 20 seconds," Neji said urgently.
"Why?" Naruto whispered. Shikamaru looked surpised.
"What do you want us to do?" Sakura asked.
"Isn't it obvious?" Shikamaru said. Both of them raised an eyebrow.
"Your mission is to track down Sasuke, and bring him back."
At this, Naruto grinned in anticipation. He couldn't wait to meet up with Sasuke at last.
"We'll try to fend off the Sound Ninja for you- you don't want anyone interrupting your epic battle, now, would you?" Shikamaru said. Naruto adjusted his headband.
"Let's go, Sakura."
Shikamaru dusted the ground so that the map and plan was no longer visible.
"We will meet at the fourth tree to the right just past the exit. Got it?" Shikamaru's leadership eyes wandered from his team, to Gai's, to Kurenai's, to Kakashi's.
"Alright! TEAM KONOHA! UP AT FULL SPEED! GO!"
They departed in a flash.
"They were here."
"Yes."
"Shall we hunt them down?"
"They will have separated by now- they have a plan."
"Which way should we go?"
"Follow the vibrations they're making with their running, voices- anything."
"Go. I'll take the left."
"Right."
"Roofs."
"What about you, Sasuke-sama?"
Sasuke closed his eyes, and completely ignoring the Sound Ninja, walked the dirt path down the center of the Konoha base- toward the exit and toward the cliffs.
This Chapter is also by aNdreaa