The mission had been any other mission- the two groups were going to work together and come out on top. If they outnumbered and outclassed the four they were going up against, as they were supposed to be... then why were they the ones trapped by black flames... which were slowly getting closer?

"Shikamaru... think quicker if yah wouldn't mind." Asuma said his back pressed closely against the back of the bug using ninja Shino.

"This is not good..." Shino said as his bugs retreated into his body, hiding from the odd black flames when they suddenly stopped moving forward.

"Kiriko-sama... these guys aren't any fun." The voice was young, like that of a 12 year old or something as a person just walked right through the black flames to examine the 8 in her trap.

She had amazing electric blue eyes that studied them as her sharp spikey red hair shifted in the wind created by the heat of the black flames that surrounded the group in a tight grip.

"If their no fun Aniue-chan... kill them. Let your fires burn them to death." The woman stood tall behind the young girl who nodded and focused her attention on the 8 before her.

"Shit.." Kiba said as Akamaru whined in his arms, the flames starting to move closer to all of them... and then rushed in. Their feet had long since been ensnared by vines of the eldest ninja of the group- leaving them unable to move.

Each of them closed their eyes to block the flames from damaging their eyes if only a second longer before they would catch aflame... but when they opened their eyes... the heat and the plants that trapped their feet were gone.

"I thought as much... She wasn't using the 'Devouring Shadow Flames Jutsu' but 'Transporting Shadow Flames Jutsu'." Shikamaru said as he stood up from where he had been kneeling. "We're about 15 miles away from that battlefield.. And our enemies." He said a frown on his face as the others distangled themselves from one another.

"Odd child..." Kurenai said as she watched the others stand up. "Is anyone hurt?"

After a small group answer of no, she sighed in relief as the two elder nin's looked back towards where the battle had taken place..

"She could have killed us.." Asuma pointed out as Kurenai just nodded once.

"She could have but did not.. In fact I believe she saved our lives by transporting us away from there- the 'leader' of that group is Kiriko, remember her?" Kurenai asked, as the younger nin's behind them bickered... well- mostly between Ino and Choji who hadn't really had a chance to do anything in the last battle.

"Of course I remember her... she went on a killing spree about ten years ago after her brother was offed at the Chunin Exams." He said, the cigarette shifting between his teeth as he looked back towards the students.

"I say we head back to the Village- and report the mission as a failed one."

"Agreed."

Soft electric blue eyes watched as the group of 8 hurried off to their village. A frown landed on the face of the girl as she tilted her head to the side, Kiriko-sama desired them to be killed... why had she spared them?

What Kiriko-sama said was always right... then why had she disobeyed the orders to slay them?

'A new wind is blowing...' The electric blue eyes looked skywards as a wind brushed through her red bangs. 'And I don't think Kiriko-sama's going to be riding it...'

Tell me what you think and if you guys can foresee anything happening or going on in the story! Enjoy and please R&R!