"Nozomi!" I heard someone say. "Nozomi, wake up!"
"Alright, alright." I sat up slowly, it wasn't even dawn. "It's still dark out! Go away, Sumi!" I pulled my covers over my head.
"Nozomi get up...!" I felt my covers yanked off of me. "NOW!"
"What is it?" Man what has gotten into her?
"Lady Tsunade and Master Jiraiya are gone." Sumi said seriously.
"The Sanin Showdown?" I asked.
"I'm afraid so." Sumi said.
It felt like a boulder was dropped in my stomach. "Did they take Tonton?"
"No. She's the one that told me."
"Where is she?"
"In Shizune's room, like always."
"Is Aunt Shizune here still?"
"Yes she's-" I didn't hear the rest of what she said because I left my room not even bothering to braid my hair, although I did grab a hair band and quickly tied my hair into a ponytail as I rushed to Naruto's room.
"NARUTO!" I burst through the door.
"What?" Naruto sat up quickly and Kitsune, who had been sleeping on his chest, was flung across the room.
"Thanks." Kitsune muttered sarcastically as he sat up slowly.
"Grandma Tsunade and Grandpa Jiraiya went to fight Orochimaru." I said gravely.
"WHAT?!" Naruto flew out of bed.
"Come to the living room once you're dressed." I shut the door quickly.
I raced to Aunt Shizune's room. When I opened her bedroom door she was already awake and dressed. "You know?" She asked me.
"Sumi told me." I said.
"Stay here." She said walking past me.
"Umm. Let me think about it..." I said as I followed her out. "What's the word I'm looking for.... NO!"
"Nozomi you have to stay." Aunt Shizune pressed.
I bolted in front of her and stopped. "I. Am. Going." I gave her a glare that made her flinch.
"You are staying." Aunt Shizune said after she recovered from my glare.
"We're both going." Naruto stood behind me with Kitsune around his neck.
Aunt Shizune looked from Naruto to me.
"Shizune I don't think you can convince them to stay." Sumi said from my feet.
"Fine." Aunt Shizune said reluctantly.
"Tonton go tell Shikamaya and if she wants to come she can."
"You two aren't dragging your cousin into this!"
"She has just as much right to come as we do." Naruto said crossing his arms.
"Go tell her Tonton." Aunt Shizune said knowing she wouldn't win. Tonton took off down the hall.
We walked out onto the lawn, we were surprised to see Shikamaya there already fully dressed. Shikamaru came too.
"Wow. You got here fast." I said.
"I ran." Shikamaya said shrugging.
"It was a drag." Shikamaru said. "Now what's going on?"
"Grandma Tsunade and Grandpa Jiraiya went to fight Orochimaru." I said.
Shock and horror crossed their faces.
"What do you want us to do?" Shikamaru asked.
"Shikamaru, you and the rest of the Alliance in the Village go guard Sasuke, that's what he's really after. Don't ask why now, I'll tell you later."
"Man what drag." Shikamaru complained before he took off he nodded to his cousin.
"Shikamaya you're coming with us."
"Right..." Shikamaya was clearly troubled.
"What's the matter?" I asked.
"Why are they after Sasuke?" Shikamaya's amber eyes can really see through you at some points.
"I'll explain on the way." I said with that we took off, Sumi, Kitsune and Tonton were leading the way.
"So what's going on?" Shikamaya asked. "Why is Orochimaru after emo?"
"You're one to talk." Naruto muttered. Shikamaya and I both shot him our glares.
"Orochimaru is immortal because he uses human vessels. He thinks Sasuke would make the perfect vessel." I said. "In short anyway. I don't know all the details."
"Any idea who Orochimaru's going to send to get Sasuke?"
"No clue. He was still undeceive when I read his mind. He might send Kabuto or some guy named Kimimaro Kaguya and the Sound Four. Does that name mean anything to anyone?"
"No." "Never heard of it."
"Figures." I muttered, I stopped.
"Nozomi?" Aunt Shizune asked uncertainly.
I pulled out my compact. At least we know who he's going to send... "He's going to send the Sound Four and Kimimaro." I said standing up.
"Great. We know who he's sending but we know nothing about them." Shikamaya said sarcastically. "What a drag." She scribbled down what I had just told her on a piece of paper and made it disappear. She no doubt sent it to Shikamaru.
We raced as quickly as we could through the trees. Suddenly the Earth trembled and shook the trees.
"Something tells me we're getting close." Naruto said.
"What was your first clue?" Shikamaya and I muttered.
Not two minutes later we saw it. The Sanin Showdown. Grandpa Jiraiya, Grandma Tsunade and Orochimaru were going at each other full force. I saw someone else there. Kabuto.
"Finally. Payback time, Kabuto." I said with relish.
"What are you talking about?" Naruto asked.
Aunt Shizune glanced at Kabuto and then me. "I see."
"What are you talking about, Aunt Shizune?" Shikamaya asked.
"Nozomi and Kabuto have long since had a rivalry. Both of them were training as Medical-Nin from early ages." Aunt Shizune said.
"But I was under the impression you guys met at the Exams." Shikamaya said.
"No. We've never liked each other, he's stolen several papers from me as well. I worked on one for years and the creep stole it!" I grinded through my teeth.
Kabuto went at Grandma Tsunade. Shikamaya threw a paper shuriken and I threw a wood kunai, both stuck him in the back. Sadly neither were fatal.
"Well it looks like your back up came." Orochimaru said tauntingly. "It's laughable- OW!" I hit him in the back of the head with a wooden whip.
"You really need to shut up you know that?" I asked crossing my arms.
Grandma Tsunade seized the opportunity and attacked Orochimaru, who barely dodged her punch but it left a huge crater in the ground.
"I thought you two said you had heard of each other?" Naruto asked.
"Yeah we have heard of each other and I am able to lie you know." I snapped.
Kabuto seemed more than willing to stop attacking my grandparents and go after us. I was more than willing to attack him rather than Orochimaru. A thin wooden column came from the ground, I snapped the column into a staff and twirled it.
"You three go help the Alliance guard Sasuke. Kabuto's mine!" I never wanted to kill anyone more in my life. Kabuto had stolen my work, betrayed the Leaf, and attempted to kill my family. I can't allow him to live. I wanted his blood.
