Ch7 Observe and Report

Hey guys, sorry for the wait. I'm in a play, so I've had rehearsals every day. At least I didn't forget about the story. I hate letting things go unfinished.

Kidomaru led Shikamaru and Tayuya through the hideout. They entered a circular room. Yamabico, Jesei, Nezumi, and Kyojin were sitting around a table with three empty seats, which Shikamaru could only assume was for them. Jesei no longer looked as though he were in pain. Yamabico glared at Kidomaru upon his entrance.

Kidomaru motioned for Shikamaru and Tayuya to sit down, "Alright, now that everyone's here, I think its time we discussed the zealots."

Everyone stared intently at Kidomaru.

"From what we've seen, all of them are stronger at close to mid range combat. Also, all of them can liquify themselves into a puddle of blood as a means of defense."

Shikamaru stood up, "When they are in this form, they can move at incredible speeds."

Kidomaru nodded, "Yes. Finally, most of their attacks seem to revolve around blood... In other words, we can't let them hit us once."

Tayuya spoke up, "So how are going to fight them?"

Shikamaru looked at Kidomaru, "Even if we know the basics of what they can do, we can't touch them."

Kidomaru smiled, "That's where you're wrong."

Shikamaru raised an eyebrow and frowned.

Kidomaru lowered a spider from his fingertip, "I've been watching them for a very long time now... The girl likes to go for a dip at the hot springs once a week. The spiky red haired one hunts for his meals and drinks their blood. The orange haired one goes for walks regularly."

Shikamaru put his chin between his pointer finger and his thumb, "Sounds like they are way to sure about their powers... Do we know anything about their individual abilities?"

Tayuya shuddered, "Yea... That girl... She has the same power as Kimimaru..."

Kidomaru looked somewhat troubled by this thought.

Shikamaru spoke up, "I thought that he was the last of his clan?"

Kidomaru responded, "According to records, he was supposed to be. The only other members who survived the clan wars would've died from old age years ago."

Shikamaru raised his eyebrow again, "So why is there a woman who can shoot bones out of her fingers that still exists?"

Tayuya looked at the table, "Those zealots are all strange... They are inhuman... They have strange powers... Kureru constantly shows off his immortality to prove the existence of his god. Maybe she robbed the powers off of a dead body. With the powers they have, it seems possible."

Shikamaru looked serious, "The zealot I pacified, Hidan was also immortal, but all it took was a well thought out plan and a few well placed explosives and he was gone."

Shikamaru smiled as he continued, "Those powers of theirs makes them overconfident, and they are as much of a liability as they are an asset."

Everyone looked up at Shikamaru, even Kidomaru was surprised by his positive response.

Tayuya realized she was blushing and looked away.

Kidomaru broke the silence, "Alright, I hope you are all ready to get your hands dirty. I'm going to separate us into groups. Each of these groups will intercept a zealot and attack them. These attacks are not to kill however. We are doing this simply to observe their abilities, and to what extent they can use them. We need to know their exact range, their styles of attack, what they need to use their attacks, and finally, if possible, what they will do if forced into a corner."

Shikamaru frowned, "That sounds a bit risky. Shouldn't we all just attack one zealot at a time? Then they couldn't defend against our numbers."

Kidomaru looked back, "If you hadn't noticed, I don't have many troops to spare. I guarantee that I'd be losing some footmen if they went up against zealots. We need people who can stand on equal footing with them, or at least hold their own. This way we can have another watch the battle from a distance, then save them if they get into a bad situation."

Shikamaru nodded, "That makes sense."

Kidomaru continued, "We'll use Tayuya, Kyojin, and Yamabico to fight the zealots. Nezumi, Shikamaru, and Jesei will watch over them."

Yamabico glared at Kidomaru, "And what will you be doing while we go on this suicide mission?"

Kidomaru laughed at him, "I'm glad you asked! I'll be making sure none of you are followed on your way back to the hideout. We can't have our hideout stormed by a bunch a fanatical cultists now, can we?"

Yamabico held his tongue, clearly embarrassed.

Kidomaru directed his attention to the others at the table, "It doesn't look like there's anymore questions, so I'll assign groups. I want the Hyuga to go with the bug guy over here. You guys have fought with each other before and can best figure out how to synchronize your abilities. I want Kyojin to go with Nezumi, and that leaves Shikamaru with Tayuya."

Tayuya's face changed to a scowl, "Why do I have to go with him? This rat couldn't do a thing!"

Shikamaru just frowned.

Kidomaru gave Tayuya a serious look, "I'm using the same logic as I did with the first group. You and Shikamaru have fought each other and have both seen the other's abilities. With Shikamaru in your group, I'm sure he'll think of a strategy."

Tayuya frowned and looked away.

(That's some confidence this guy has in me.)

Kidomaru smiled, "And besides, according to what happened in the mess hall, you guys are more than acquainted."

Shikamaru didn't know what Kidomaru was talking about, Tayuya did, and she got pissed.

Tayuya jumped to Kidomaru's location. Her speed stunned Shikamaru.

(She's fast.)

She threw a punch aimed at Kidomaru's gut. He caught the attack in one of his 6 arms. Before she could make another move, he twisted her arm so that her back was facing him. He had his 3 left side arms over Tayuya's so that he could break it at anytime.

Kidomaru smiled, "Game over. Looks like I win."

Tayuya smiled as well, "Only because you're a freak. If you took off 2 of those arms then I bet I could take you."

"Cocky aren't we?"

Shikamaru could tell they were only playing around, so he put on his bored face, "Let's save our energy for our enemies shall we?"

Everyone at the table stood up. Kidomaru clapped, "Meeting adjoured, you've all been given known information on your zealot's abilities and leisure spots. We will head out tomorrow, but for today I think Shikamaru's group deserves some rest."

Everyone walked out except for Kidomaru and Shikamaru. Kidomaru looked at Shikamaru, "I've sent a medical ninja to your quarters. We can't have you dying in your sleep."

Kidomaru left the room, Shikamaru left shortly after. Shikamaru headed to his bedroom.

(Its time to fight Hidan again... He's not going to let me get distance this time... And no doubt he's going to use that fire jutsu again... I need a plan...)

Shikamaru washed his face in the sink, he heard the door open. He looked back to see a tall man wearing white, as well as a sound village headband.

He spoke in a low voice, "Jango at your service, I'm am a skilled medical ninja, and I will sustain you throughout your curse."

Shikamaru nodded, "Alright."

The medical-nin's face was hidden behind a white mask, "Would you like a drug to help you sleep?"

Shikamaru wiped his face, "No. I don't know if drugs will affect me during the dream, but I'm assuming that if medical ninjutsu will heal me, then drugs will most likely slow me down."

Jango nodded.

Shikamaru looked at him, "However, a solder pill might help if you could administer it while I slept."

"That I can do." Jango said as he sat by the bedside.

(I can't say its comfortable to try and sleep with a large stranger watching me... But its better than getting cut up.)

Shikamaru lied down, falling asleep almost instantly.

Shikamaru looked around to see his bleak nightmare. Hidan was standing right in front of him.

"Welcome back!" Hidan giggled like a small child about to play with his new toy.

Shikamaru frowned.

Hidan laughed, "Don't be like that, just because you can't hide behind your clone this time, and there's no where to run. You know what that means?"

Shikamaru was silent.

Hidan screamed, "It means you die!"

Hidan swung his scythe overhanded at Shikamaru. Shikamaru narrowly dodged it, while throwing a shuriken at the rope connecting the scythe to Hidan's hand. Hidan quickly made a hand sign, "Fire style: Molten conduit!" The rope and scythe began glowing red. Shikamaru's shuriken connected with the rope, but as soon as it touched the glowing cord, it melted.

(Damn that's really hot... If I let that hit me, I'm cooked...)

Hidan laughed maniacally as he twirled the scythe overhead. Small flames shot from the tips, setting trees on fire. One stray flame set the shoulder of Shikamaru's vest on fire. Shikamaru put it out quickly.

(This is bad...)

Hidan continued to laugh as he released a firestorm from his weapon. He swung it at Shikamaru. Shikamaru jumped to dodge. He effectively dodged the weapon by landing on the nearest tree. However, the tree was set ablaze by Hidan's weapon. Shikamaru leaped to another tree, but Hidan was too fast. Hidan's scythe was already headed towards Shikamaru's location.

(Oh shit!)

Shikamaru twisted his body to dodge midair, but he couldn't dodge all of it. The scythe burned through the back of Shikamaru's vest, creating a huge gash across his lower back. The burn was hot enough that it closed the cut, allowing him not to bleed. Shikamaru screamed in pain, causing him to hit the branch he was aiming for. Shikamaru tumbled to the ground. He tried to hold his wound, he felt it sizzling.

(Wait... I'm being healed!)

Hidan's scythe stopped glowing, he walked slowly towards Shikamaru, "It doesn't matter if you're being healed you little fuck. A wound like that should really slow you down. Now I can torture you!" Hidan pulled out his steel needle.

Shikamaru felt a burst of energy, the pain from his wound disappeared completely.

(The solder pill worked.)

Shikamaru pushed himself up. He stood to meet Hidan.

Hidan smiled, "So you can still stand? Good! I want my revenge to be slow and painful!"

Shikamaru smiled.

Hidan scowled, "I'll wipe that fucking grin off your face!"

Hidan stabbed at Shikamaru's leg, in an attempt to cripple Shikamaru. Shikamaru quickly dodged.

(Wow, I've never used one of these things before. I like this feeling.)

Hidan stabbed again. Shikamaru easily dodged forward and delivered a swift kick to Hidan's chest, Hidan stumbled backwards.

Hidan was no longer smiling, "How can you still move?"

Shikamaru silently made a hand sign.

Hidan's smile came back, "There's no shadows here dumbass!"

Hidan looked down, "The shadows from the fire?"

"Ninja art: Shadow possession jutsu!"

Hidan didn't have time to dodge. The jutsu connected with Hidan's feet.

(Success!)

Shikamaru turned his hand, which in turn made Hidan do the same, "You'll have to get used to this I guess."

Hidan cursed violently at Shikamaru, Shikamaru ignored Hidan's voice and used Hidan's own weapon to cut off his legs. Hidan yelled and cursed as Shikamaru sat down. Shikamaru yawned and watched to make sure Hidan didn't get up.

(That was a little too close... I need to find some new tricks... That won't catch him off guard again...)

Shikamaru looked at Hidan's limbless body and sighed.

(Well, its about time to wake up.)

Shikamaru awoke in his quarters, he was flipped over on his stomach with his shirt off. His back was being healed by Jango.

"Ah, you're awake." He said in a solemn voice, "This wound looked excruciatingly painful, you wouldn't of been able to move if I didn't give you that enhancer."

Shikamaru scratched his head, "Enhancer?"

Jango nodded, "Its nothing dangerous, it acts as a sedative and a taijutsu boost. It originated from our most renown medical ninja. Kabuto."

Shikamaru pictured the traitor in his head. He was too tired to say anything.

Shikamaru motioned for Jango to leave. He had to prepare for today's event.

(Never a dull moment...)

Shikamaru and Tayuya had been assigned to the female zealot, Munashii.

(I wonder if Tayuya can handle a fighter like that. She accels at mid to long range combat. If that bone girl can get anywhere close to her she's finished. Then again, she's really fast... I'll have to have her show me her abilities so I know how to synchronize our jutsu.)

Shikamaru left his quarters to the debriefing room. Everyone had already gathered. Kidomaru smiled, "So how'd you sleep?"

Shikamaru gave him a sarcastic laugh, "Let's just say I slept great."

Kidomaru handed Shikamaru a few oddly shaped kunai as well as a bag full of typical ninja gear, "Here's some equipment, everyone else has already collected theirs. The kunai are chakra blades, they channel your chakra through the blade, altering their affect significantly."

Shikamaru took the gear, "Yea, I've used them before. That's actually how I beat Hidan."

Kidomaru's grin widened, "Well that's very reassuring, but its about time we moved out. Each zealot will at a certain place at a certain time, and we need to make sure we are there to meet them!"

Shikamaru looked at Yamabico and Jesei, "Will you guys be alright doing this?"

Yamabico nodded, "Have no worries, we will be fine."

Jesei said nothing.

Shikamaru smiled, "Good luck guys."