The morning mist covered the campsite as the sun began to rise. Perfect. In about two hours the camp was rolled up and we were on our way. Riding and marching…that's all we've been doing for the past month. Sure we've had a few skirmishes with the Soundies with relative success, but quite honestly I felt like they were sizing us up for the kill, testing and teasing us. Another day, another battle, another chance to die meaninglessly.

"So my fears have been confirmed huh Shika? We're goin' after the Soundies in the Cloud Village."

"No need to state the obvious Choji. We're goin' in and we're not coming out until they're all dead or they run away."

The halftracks roll along the dirt roads with us in tow as we approach the Cloud Village or rather what was the Cloud Village. Now mostly smoldering ruin, the buildings still stand but are devoid of any civilian life, those civilians either fled or died previously during the invasion. Our artillery pounded the place for an hour straight, hopefully softening up their defenses. Knowing the Soundies, it wasn't likely they turned tail and ran. Oh no...the fight they had in store was gonna be rough. I just wish I knew where they would be.

"All right guys listen up," Sarutobi yelled as best he could, given the sound of the motors drowning out almost everything else. "You all know what we're here for and you all know what we gotta do. Stay tight and don't rush anything. Our artillery softened the place up, but we've gotten no contact from the Soundies at all. Knowing them, they won't rush us head on but instead try to strike at our weak points. First thing we take is the village church. It's located closest to us in the southeast corner. 1st and 2nd Squads will cover our advance with mortars and suppressive fire. Our engineer assets will be accompanying us to breach the church and remove any traps they might have. One we and 4th Squad have secured the church, we'll regroup with the other platoons and continue there. Akimichi and Nara, you get up to the tower once we clear the church and give us the situation. Ino, you'll stay with the support element and get any casualties. The rest of you will stay with me in the assault. Remember, we stay together, we stay alive. No heroics out of anyone in my squad."

We dismounted about a half a kilometer away from the village. It was quiet, way too quiet for my liking. The marks left from our artillery were still fresh, tearing seeping wounds into the village as buildings were still smoking and the fresh crater marks made our movement more troublesome. Man I'd hate to be the guy caught in that barrage. We moved tactically towards the first few set of hollowed out buildings and still so sight of the Soundies. My stomach began to tighten. Something was wrong. Nevertheless I saw no enemy, so I signaled the other squads the go ahead to advance.

"Hey Sure Shot..."

"Don't call me that Ino."

"You thinkin' what I'm thinkin'?"

"Yeah...trouble...and lots of it."

"So what now?" Asked Toyama, our support gunner.

"We leapfrog, follow Sergeant Sarutobi, take as much cover as possible, and pray to God we don't get whacked. One way or another things are gonna get hot sooner or later."

"Your optimism is boundless, Sure Shot." Yona chimed in.

"What did I say about calling me that?" I whispered angrily as I saw 1st, 2nd, and 4th Squads come up from our rear.

"Shino..." She whispered meekly.

"Yes Hinata?"

"I'm worried, I-I mean r-r-really worried." The poor lavender-eyed girl said, barely able to hold onto her M1 Carbine and she shook trying to take a sip from her canteen. "I have an awful feeling, I mean um, especially about us and um, Naruto. I hope he'll be all right. I hope I can protect him, um I mean if he's in trouble."

He chuckled, always admiring her devotion. "Hinata, you're too much sometimes. We're all here to watch each other's backs. You need not worry, for as reckless as the kid may be he somehow always gets out of the predicaments he's in with only some cuts and bruises. You worry about yourself right now, then the others."

"But..."

"No buts Hinata, and besides keep down the chatter. We don't want the Soundies gettin' a hold of us early. If the little punk gets hurt it's not your fault. Quit worrying about him for once, it's kinda pathetic." Kiba said almost insultingly.

"But...ok then." She said as she shrunk her head down in embarrassment. Her squad leader, Sasuke, luckily never noticed her little chat with her friends as he quickly got accountability of his soldiers and signaled them to take the next position.

"This is 2nd Squad, all clear" He said in signs to Yamato.

"1st Squad, advance." Yamato signalled.

Soon 1st Squad under Ibiki Morino came through. Neji, acting as the team leader, signalled the squad to split and cover ground. Calm and confident, he established secure positions behind the rubble of what was a cafe.

"All clear Sergeant Morino."

"Good work Hyuga. Let's move up. Tenten, stay in the rear of the formation but be ready for any armor."

"Acknowledged sergeant."

Morino crept up to 2LT Lee, who was with Anko Mitarashi's 4th Squad.

"What's the status sergeant," Lee asked.

"All clear sir, waiting for you order to move 3rd and 4th up. We've got mortar teams and MG crews established to offer cover fire for your advance."

"Splendid. Remember you must be relentless in your support. The Soundies are a dangerous foe and will quickly capitalize on any weakness we might show, so this strike must be fast and hard. The other platoons will move in when we are successful. Once we take the church we can expect them to try and retake it. It will be tough but we will succeed with a stubborn defense and our will of fire."

Sergeants Morino and Mitarashi just rolled their eyes. The LT always had a penchant for going on long winded rants like that.

"Ok 3rd and 4th move up. Stay low and keep quiet." The order came from Tech. Sergeant Yamato, the one I feared.

We crept up slowly, scanning the buildings for any sign of movement, or anything thing at all for that matter. Naruto's squad was in front, so if anything they'd take the first hit, God forbid. Suddenly I thought I heard a thump in one of the buildings. Almost all guns pointed to the origin of the noise and for about ten seconds our squads were ready to unleash hell upon whatever moved in there. Then out of the window flew a small group of ravens. We watched them fly off to our rear as we got back into movement towards the church, which was only about a city block ahead.

"Talk about bad omens huh Shikamaru?" Ino said, obviously stirred up by what just happened.

"I know. It's best not to think on it too much. And besides..." And right when I was about to finish the sentence, I found out omens actually do mean something. A loud crack like wood snapping emerged, and out of two windows in what was a three-story house, two MG teams appeared with their sights on us. If I had looked closer, I coulda sworn I saw the maniacal grin of one of the Sound soldiers.

"Oh shit..." Naruto said.

"AMBUSH! Get down now!" Sergeant Mitarashi yelled as quickly as she could, only to find one of her squad members cut down as he watched the bullets fly at him. Another squad member was struck in the shoulder as she desperately tried to reach for cover. She was screaming like a banshee. Another was grazed in the leg, stumbling to hide behind a wall, but it looked like he was still ok.

"MEDIC! Get to the wounded now!" Mitarashi screamed as Ino ran to the screaming girl. Her own medic was pinned down and would've been eviscerated had she tried to get up. I suddenly heard the loud cracks of rifle fire. Looks like they were using sharpshooters as well just in case we tried to get up and flank. Just my luck...

"God damn it! Soundies got us right in an ambush!" Lee yelled right next to me, enough to shatter my eardrum. "All MGs and snipers get your fire on those fucking windows! We have to clear the way!"

"Game time Shikamaru."

"Indeed. Let's do this Choji. No mercy."