A/N: Okay, so I tried to get this done as soon as possible, but I had writer's block upon looking at this blank white word document. So I slowly whittled it away, with what time I had between school, homework, etc. Got another three reviews, 3 favorite stories, and 3 alerts, so thanks go out to the people who gave them. Let's get this started then, eh?

Disclaimer: For the fourth time, I don't own Naruto!


Chapter 4: An Awkward Reuniting

Shikamaru was done thinking. His hands left his habitual circle that he formed when deep in thought. He had his plan. He would need eight well placed kunai to pull it off, and the ability to make sure the mist shinobi didn't catch on before the trap was finished. 'It's almost time,' he thought, 'I may not get another chance, so this has to be perfect first time.'


Sekurou was extremely angry. He'd been chasing the leaf-nin for hours now, and was nowhere closer to catching him. 'How long does this fucker think he can run away for?!' he thought bitterly. 'Taigarou will have my head if he finds out how long this took.' As he tried to figure a way to catch up with his target, Shikamaru sprang the trap!


Temari was traveling as fast as possible without flying, as that would disorient her guide. She was several hours within the borders of the Land of the River, and was hoping she was close to her leaf ally. 'Please let me make it in time,' she hoped.


Shikamaru had his clone quickly switch directions and launch at the rouge mist ninja. The clone threw four shuriken from each hand, all aimed at vital points.

Sekurou took in a deep breath, make some quick hand signs while thinking, 'Suiton: Suijinheki! (Water Style: Water Encampment Wall)', and spit out a wall of water, blocking all the projectiles. Sekurou then made a tiger hand sign and yelled, "Mizu Bunshin no Jutsu! (Water Clone Jutsu)" The water from his defense formed into a clone, and attacked the Shikamaru clone with Taijutsu.

The shadow clone dodged the attack and landed a kick on the water clone, dispersing it. It didn't notice Sekurou sneaking right up behind it, however.

"TOO LATE!" Sekurou yelled, while forming hand signs. "Suirou no Jutsu! (Water Prison Jutsu)" The water from the clone became a cage around the shadow clone, and as Sekurou was close enough, he had his hand inside that cage, keeping the prison intact. "You're mine now!"

"I wouldn't be too sure about that!" came a voice from somewhere close.

"What the? SHOW YOURSELF!" roared Sekurou in anger.

"It must be troublesome, but that isn't actually me you've caught," said Shikamaru, appearing from the shadows. "You actually caught one of my shadow clones. It was a pain having to use them, but they worked well into my plan." Shikamaru dispelled the clone. "What's your next move?"

"DAM YOU!!" yelled the mist-nin. "I'LL KILL YOU!!" Water began emitting from the ground around them.

'What?!' thought Shikamaru, 'I didn't think he'd be a high enough level to be able to draw water out from the surroundings here. This will make the plan more difficult…'

Sekurou laughed maniacally, while making several hand seals. "NOW YOU DIE!! Suiton: Daibakufu no Jutsu! (Water Style: Grand Waterfall Jutsu)" A large blast of water wiped out everything in front of him, including, it seemed, the Konoha Jounin.


Temari heard the explosion. "What was that?!" she asked aloud. "Can you take me to where that explosion came from?" She asked the weasel summons. A squeak of reply told her that it could. "Let's go then, we're awfully close. I just hope we're not too late!"


"HAHAHA! I finally got you motherfucker! Rest eternally in a watery hell!!" yelled a triumphant Sekurou.

"Nah, that's way too troublesome for the moment." replied the slacker-nin. Following his words was a barrage of four kunai, aimed so that they wouldn't hit the rouge-nin, but remind him what a bad spot he was actually in. "You took out another shadow clone. You can't have much chakra left, as that seemed to be a pretty hefty attack, similar to the one you tried to ambush me with earlier. Why did you do that for anyway?"

"FUCK YOU" yelled the missing-mist ninja, as he threw four kunai of his own, which Shikamaru easily knocked back with four shuriken, causing the kunai to fall back near Sekurou.

'Hmmm, four less kunai that I'll have to throw myself,' thought Shikamaru. 'He won't be pleasant on his own, let's see how he acts after this.' Shikamaru drew one of the trench knives from his pack, charged it with chakra and threw it at his target.

"Is that the best you can do?!" Sekurou jeered as he ducked under the blade. "I've seen academy students that threw…! WHAT'S THIS?! I CAN'T MOVE!!"

"Kagemane Shuriken no Jutsu (Shuriken Shadow Imitation Jutsu), successful," said the shadow-wielder. "I'll ask you again. Why did you attack me?"

"Go to hell!" yelled the pissed rouge ninja. "Just wait till I get out of this, you fucking bastard! I'll kill you!!"

"Fine. Since I can't be sure you won't attack, I'll just have to finish it…"

"STAY AWAY FROM HIM, MIST-NIN!" yelled a running, battle ready Temari, iron fan closed and prepared to be used as a club.

'Tsk. Troublesome woman,' though the slacker. "Kagemane no Jutsu! (Shadow Imitation Jutsu)" He caught Temari's shadow with his own, causing her to stop in her tracks. "You're a little late if you were tying to help, so don't think this places me behind in the number of favors," Shikamaru jested.

"Oh, so you can take care of yourself now, eh Crybaby?" Temari jabbed back in response.

"Watch and find out, because your appearance doesn't screw up my attack, just where it comes from," responded Shikamaru. "Kageyose no Jutsu! (Shadow Summoning Jutsu)" Multiple shadows extended from Temari's body, grabbing all eight kunai, and bringing them near the neck of the Mist-nin. "I'll give you one last chance. Explain yourself," Shikamaru demanded.

"FUCK YOU!! I'LL SEE YOU IN HELL WHEN BROTHER TAIGAROU AVENGES ME!!" roared Sekurou.

"So be it…" Shikamaru had all eight kunai brought up with his shadows, and impaled in the neck of his enemy, right above the shoulders. He then released both jutsu he was maintaining, and wiped his forehead with the back of his hand. "Whew! I'm beat, but it's probably unwise to stick around here, so let's keep heading towards the border.

"...Yeah," was all a stunned Temari was able to mutter. She knew he was a genius with a brain that could rival and even outthink her own, but she never had seen him like this. 'Maybe he's grown up a bit since I've seen him last,' she wondered, as they headed towards the border.


Once they reached the border of The Land of Sand, the pair took a break, as it was almost sundown anyhow. Shikamaru went to gather some wood for a fire while Temari broke out some rations from her pack. They quietly ate their meal, with their silence ensuing after they finished. Temari was quite bored of the silence, so tried to strike up a conversation. "So," she said, "what's new with you Shikamaru?"

No response.

"Shikamaru??"

There was still nothing in any form of reply.

"OI! SHIKAMARU!" yelled an annoyed Temari, looking over at the slacker, to find him sound asleep. 'Well, of all the…he didn't even set up his camp,' thought the Sand kunoichi. 'Tsk. Lazy bum. I wonder if I should give him a nice wakeup call with my fan. But, then again, he's being fighting hard today. I'll let him slide…for now.' She put out the campfire, and crawled into her own tent, and went to sleep.

Chapter End


A/N: Sorry about the even shorter chapter this time, but it was either that or I might be other week before updating. So I figured, better something than nothing. I'll try to write the next chapter as fast as I can. On another note, almost 700 hits. You all rock!