Sasuke Hunt down Team: The Fall of Konoha 9

Happy Sunday and I hope you enjoy this chapter. Sorry for the delay. I can't write our beloved ninjas' ordeals because I have an ordeal on my own called Homework, but I will update as soon as possible.

"The plot of this story was created before the manga got this far"

Specters of the Past

Shikamaru kept his cool even though he felt that something was different about the atmosphere, it felt deadly and the blood lust was almost palpable. With a single wave from his hand he alerted his comrades, who backed off immediately. The genius called Hinata with a sign to request the use of her Byakugan on the stone heads, the result of the search was the identification of an unusual structure. Several bones were approaching the group from underground. "The enemy is trying to impale us." Shikamaru, as well as Hinata, dodged the first wave of bones. The other members of the team had a more aggressive approach. Sakura punched and kick the exposed bones, Lee joined her with his youthful taijutsu, and he was also determined to warn her about the identity of their foe. As soon as 'Kimmimaro' escaped Lee's lips Sai animated several birds to carry the team to safety. The bone projectiles kept rising from the stone until Kurotsuchi flooded the area with lava. They all knew it was not over, it had not even started.

Jugo jumped off of his ink bird to face Kimmimaro. The orange haired boy wanted to end the misery of his beloved friend, for he could not imagine the suffering of being called from the death to be used as a tool and witness the decadence of the world. "You promised to keep me caged so I would never hurt anyone. Now I it's my time to promise that I will set you free from this curse." Jugo closed his eyes as if he were praying. "Show yourself and let's fight." He yelled. Suddenly, Kimmimaro sent countless bone projectiles toward his friend. Rock Lee responded to the attack with Leaf Hurricane and landed safely next to Jugo. Both men exchanged looks and made a silent agreement to fight for their friends. It was a youthful gesture and Guy would be proud. Seconds later the resurrected ninja rose from the earth, displaying his sharp bones. Kimmimaro's expression was blank but his movements were deadly. Lee and Jugo charged towards the enemy and a deafening sound echoed in the arena as they collided.

"What is the plan?" Temari demanded to know. She trusted her lazy genius but she felt uneasy, something about women's sixth sense. Shikamaru stared at her with a frown. He could not see her, for he was calculating every move of Lee's battle. "Those two will defeat the enemy so focus on our mission." She scolded the chunin. "What is the plan?" She pushed.

"We will fight the resurrected as they appear in our way. Obviously the Statue must be in a fragile state or else Madara would not have the need to protect it. I assume that Madara himself is vulnerable, but that's a dangerous bet. Our primary concern is Kabuto, if we take him out the resurrected will not be a problem." Shikamaru mumbled.

Kiba grew tense after sniffing the air. He recognized the scent of the enemies that almost killed him and Akamaru, Sakkon and Ukkon were approaching at fast speed. The Inuzuka growled in annoyance, seconds later he used Fang Over Fang to strike one white haired boy with purple lips. Kiba attacked fiercely because he would never show mercy for that particular enemy. Almost three years passed and Kiba was adamant on his feeling towards the twins, pure hate. The Inuzuka and his loyal companion would be death if not for Kankuro, but now he had the chance to redeem himself. "Hey trash, are you ready to fight me?" Kiba imitated Sakkon's language and Akamaru growled to make it more intimidating.

Karin had her eyes closed to sense allies and enemies with more clarity. She was doing her job by serving as radar but she had no intention to fight, she had had enough of violence for the rest of her life. Suddenly, an unusual chakra signature approached the group; it was similar to Suigetsu's but it had some scary traits in it, actually it was really scary. The sensor shivered down to her knees. "Suigetsu… someone is trying to imitate your chakra. It's cold and awful, it's hardly you." She braced herself as she warned the team. Suigetsu smirked because he had something to make fun of Karin, however, his plans stopped when a blade cut between them. The Ink bird vanished and forced them to the ground.

"Yea, that's my brother. Looks like I get to fight for the title of 'the best' and keep the swords." The white haired man smirked while cracking his knuckles. "Look Karin, you won't see another fight like this in ages." He bragged but Karin was trying to assimilate Mangetsu's sinister chakra. Seeing that Karin was not paying attention Suigetsu decided to start the battle, but he realized that he did not recover the Executioner's Blade. Therefore, he was in deep trouble.

"Damn, we just lost a sensor. Ino, I know you are struggling too but I need you to double your efforts. Hinata and Neji let me know if you see any anomaly. Tenten, you must launch kunai grenades at my signal. Shino, are the insects you sent to the Statue back?" Shikamaru gave commands back and forth.

"Madata is in the middle of a circle created by nine ninja, Naruto and Gaara are among them, Killer B is also there. I assume this because he is alive, unlike the other six." Shino responded calmly but Temari's insides filled with rage. "Kabuto is transferring his chakra to Sasuke, who seem to be agonizing. Itachi is guarding them. Unfortunately, my insects do not see anything more. There is one resurrected I want to fight because it is my duty to my clan and village." Shino requested after giving vital information. Shikamaru nodded and the insect manipulator left.

Shino prepared himself to face a taijutsu expert. This Aburame clan member had the ability to poison by touch, such task required great physical abilities and dodging skills to spare innocent people and teammates. Shino's strategies could increase his rate of survival to 20% and that was good enough if he could immobilize him. The insect manipulator had to think quick to evade the touch of his enemy, who appeared out of the blue. The combination of Root training and lack of personality was dangerous during ambushes. "I came to defeat you. Why? Because your rare talent must return to our clan. It's been exposed for too long." Shino adjusted his sunglasses as a cloud of insects surrounded the area.

"Shikamaru, I see unusual chakra movement. A person extended its chakra to 10 puppets." Hinata informed. Temari and Sakura cursed under their breaths, they knew Chiyo was the enemy. "The resurrected is moving fast toward our location. I suggest we spread or we will not reach the Statue." The heiress prompted her leader.

"Sakura and Sai, take care of Lady Chiyo. The remaining team will move forward." The medic ninja hesitated to obey but Sai pulled her arm and jumped to the stone head. Shikamaru's Ink bird flew away from the area. "We will certainly deal with Amaterasu so I need Neji and Hinata as our main defense. Ino, I want you to follow the location of every enemy and ally. Chouji, Temari and Tenten, your destructive power is crucial in this mission, you are in charge of destroying the Statue."

"I'm afraid we cannot follow your plan. My father has been released from his coffin, but he is not the only one. Asuma and the 4th Kazekage are charging against us." Neji clenched his fists. The Hyuga boy knew that Kabuto was toying with their emotions because the medic ninja had so much information of the group. The Chunin Exams and Yamato's interrogation were perfect chances to study them and forming part of the Sasuke Hunt down Team made them predictable.

"Neji, this is personal and the least effective way of dealing with our enemies." Shikamaru massaged his temples. "We'll be annihilated if emotions get the better of us." The genius looked back and forth for a solution but his own interests were at stake. The realization hit him. That was exactly what Kabuto wanted, no one was obeying Shikamaru. The Nara boy gave the order but his team would fight whoever they wanted anyway. "Neji, I'm modifying the plan of action." He turned to Ino. "I need you to contact the others. Tell them to…"

"I suggest you give up already. Madara's preparations to take over the world are almost complete." Kabuto snickered, flanked by Asuma and the 4th Kazekage. As if in cue, Kurotsuchi clenched her fists and Hinata gritted her teeth. The Iwa ninja gave Shikamaru a meaningful look and the genius shook his head. "Dispose of them." Kabuto hissed.

Shikamaru's eyes widened. He did not expect Kabuto to appear so early in the mission and bring along two powerful enemies that could cause so much more than physical pain. Asuma expulsed black smoke from his mouth but Temari dissipated it with her always reliable fan. Shikamaru used that opportunity to get a hold of his master's shadow but the Kazekage created a sand storm, which was oddly beautiful. Ino covered her eyes and tried to contact her friends, the only thing she could do. The medic ninja asked Tenten, who was out of the sand range, to deviate the Kazekage's attention. The Brunette exploded paper bombs around the enemy but that was not enough to break the man's concentration. He was a corpse and therefore he felt no pain. Neji listened to Ino's plea and used Rotation to create a small window on the foe's storm and allow the escape of his friends.

"Thank you Neji." Ino sighed. She started to look for the location of the enemies. Asuma was preparing another smoke screen but Chouji confronted him with Taijutsu. Such behavior surprised Shikamaru, he was certain his friend would be the last to attack but his anger was stronger than his sorrow. He shares those feelings. How could Kabuto disrespect Asuma's memory by binding his soul to a carcass? That was not their master. "The Kazekage is aiming for Temari. I'll help Chouji." The Ino winked.

Temari opened her fan to confront her father but he snatched it from her in a quick move. "Still depending on this toy? Did you tell your Leaf Ninja your reasons to carry this thing?" He mocked his daughter playing around with the fan. The resurrected was acting in an unusual manner. Until that point no enemy had spoken a word and that one was exposing Temari's weakness. "She is not that troublesome, actually she is harmless. She can't even use wind nature without this fan." The Kazekage glanced in Shikamaru's direction. The Suna kunoichi trembled with rage.

Asuma's face was emotionless but his movements were deadly. He approached his former students with kunai in both hands but Neji intercepted his movement. Asuma backed off and aimed once more for Ino and Chouji. However, Neji could not help them anymore, for his father stood in his way. "Are you done playing guard dog for the main branch?" Hizashi said much to Neji's astonishment.

"It is my duty to protect the main branch but I chose to follow that path and…" Neji's explanation was interrupted by his father's attack. Hizashi appeared in front of Neji and a sphere of chakra created a crater in the stone head. The younger jonin lnew something was wrong with his father, aside of being a resurrected. About 3 years ago, during the Chunin Exams, Neji received a letter from his father after losing a match to Naruto. The letter revealed that his father chose his fate by dying to save his brother's life, not because he was supposed to die instead of him. Neji was curious about this development but his father did not give more clues.

Ino avoided Asuma's attacks with graceful movements until her former sensei speeded up to punch her stomach. Chouji rushed to his friend in vain because Asuma pushed him aside with one kick. "Is this all you learned from me? I am disappointed." The corpse sighed. He looked for Shikamaru and yelled at the top of his lounges. "Shikamaru, fight me. I hope you will at least present a challenge. You, unlike the fatso and the drama queen, have some talent." Those words crushed the hearts of Chouji and Ino. They tried not to think about it but they knew they were nowhere near Shikamaru's class. Asuma used to tell them they should not care and now he was spitting in their faces.

There was no response from Shikamaru. "He is too busy taking care of the Sand Ninja, looks like she is more important than this pair of losers. Very well, I'll kill you first." Asuma turned to Ino and spat ashes. The girl escaped the cloud seconds before the explosion. She approached Asuma and kicked his head with enough strength to make him fall. While on the ground Asuma drew a kunai to stab Ino. Lucky for her Chouji intercepted the ninja tool. The brunette boy increased his size to stomp over Asuma, who moved in the last minute but sacrificed his right arm. Seconds later the missing limb grew again.

"Shikamaru, look after your friends. This is my fight." Temari narrowed her eyes. She could not forgive any more humiliating comments from her father. Calling her harmless was something not even a Kage should do. Shikamaru stood still, not wanting to left her for dead. "I said, go help them. I don't need you." She insisted and a sand courtain separated them before Shikamaru could reply.

"Shikamaru, Kabuto is escaping." Hinata yelled from another head.

"We'll go after him while you take care of stuff here." Kurotsuchi winked and motioned Hinata to follow her. Both girls had a score to settle with the medic ninja. Their loved ones had been manipulated by him or he was a key factor in their love ones fall.

"Damn Kabuto. He hit every one of us at a personal level and we fell for it. If I don't do something to correct this course of action we all will die." Shikamaru cursed under his breath as a kunai approached him dangerously.

To Be Continued

Excuses So You Won't Kill Me:

Just sorry for the delay.