The Kunoichis That Didn't Belong Ch. 12
Disclaimer: I DON'T OWN NARUTO!
Recap: "Yes. It will soon be eight o'clock. The parade starts at ten. I want everyone except for Sasuke, Neji, Kiba, Shino, Chouji, and Akamaru to be in the crowd. Sasuke and Neji are still to guard the client. Kiba, Chouji, Akamaru, and Shino will stay hidden near the guards—not too close and not too far. You need to be on the lookout."
--
He arrived in a wide platform carried by his servants. There were four pillars at the corners supporting the roof. The Feudal Lord sat in the very middle on a chair with two people dressed in black beside him. Their faces were covered so you couldn't tell who it was, but TenTen had a feeling it would be two Konoha shinobi. After all, that would be a basic strategy—not one below the Nara genius Shikamaru.
Date: Day of the Festival's Parade
Time: Morning—10 o' clock am
Place: Main Square; on platform with Feudal Lord
Event: Parade's Start
Calm but alert faces scanned the crowd, aware that the assassination would perhaps happen, perhaps not, but it was better to stay alert and on guard than otherwise.
Neji and Sasuke watched the Feudal Lord wave around at his people and they took note of anybody that seemed suspicious.
Throughout the parade, there were several stops for the Feudal Lord. They stopped at the Official Plate stall, the Official Jewelry stall, the Official Cloth stall, the Official Game stall, and the Official Dance stall. Next on the list were the Official Flower stall, the Official Tea stall, the Official Pet stall, the Official Carving stall, the Official Food stall, the Official Wise stall, and lastly, the Official Fireworks stall.
At the stops, the Feudal Lord was gifted with all sorts of things. He received a beautiful Plate, got a wondrous necklace, some lovely curtains, a small box containing the newest game invention, and even a medal stating he was winner of the first Dance round after doing a couple of steps.
He arranged Flowers and got some as a gift, received some warm tea, looked at the pets and getting a brush for his nephew's lemur, some cookies, a wooden dragon carving, a fortune slip, and lastly, set off the Official Fireworks.
The parade lasted exactly one hour, with about 5-6 minutes at each stall. The Feudal Lord stood up at the platform, and gave a speech lasting one minute to the citizens regarding the festival and country. Just as everyone started to applaud, the Feudal Lord bent over, coughed once, and collapsed to the ground.
People gasped and everyone craned their necks to see what would happen next. Medical personnel rushed through the crowd to get to the Feudal Lord. Neji knelt beside the fallen Lord and felt his neck for a pulse, activating his Byakugan at the same time as Sasuke scanned the crowd and contacted Shikamaru through the communication wire.
But Neji stood up as the medics arrived. "He's dead then." Sasuke said as he noticed Neji stand up beside him, and the Hyuuga nodded in reply.
"Hello, Shikamaru? He's dead. We're going to scout around here and--" Sasuke was cut off by a yelling stall owner.
"I remember! A girl with brown hair and a purple kimono had the tea pot last! And she wasn't part of our staff!" he yelled, telling the Royal Investigators.
As Neji went to talk to the stall owners, Sasuke resumed talking to Shikamaru.
"Ok, so a girl came and poisoned the Feudal Lord. Do we stay to investigate?"
"No." Shikamaru said. "Kankuro and Lee are heading over there now. You and Neji should get to the gates. We have an idea where they're heading."
Sasuke nodded, even though Shikamaru couldn't see it. "Alright, we're on our way." He looked at Neji, who had come back just then. "We're going to the gates." He informed the Hyuuga.
Neji gave a slight nod, and deported from the scene next to Sasuke.
Date: Day of the Festival's Parade
Time: Morning—10: 59 am
Place: Main Gates
Sakura and Ino shifted a glance at each other.
Thirty minutes earlier, Ino had tried to seduce the guards, but failed. Sakura, on lookout, reported quietly for Ino to retreat, as she heard something. Ino went away just in time, for Shino and Kiba appeared next to the guards. Akamaru barked, and insects shifted around but neither shinobi moved from their spot.
After approximately ten minutes, the two walked away, taking Akamaru with them and leaving the guards alone again.
Sakura frowned, glancing at her small watch. "The poison should be taking effect soon." The pinkette whispered, and they waited for a moment. Suddenly, there was buzz of the crowd behind them, and the two shifted slightly.
"That's our cue, I should think." Ino said, and the two females sprung out from behind the bushes. The guards were soon decapitated, and they started to work on the mechanisms to open the gate.
"Quickly now. Before Kiba and Shino gets here." Ino whispered and Sakura nodded. Within moments, there was clicking sound and the gates swung open slowly. The commotion at the festival grounds had caused confusion for the guards at the top of the gate. They were stalled and confused by Kiba and Chouji who were telling them to stay and by their own want to do their duty.
Just as the gates were opening, Ino received a transmission from Hinata. She stopped and pressed a button that allowed her to hear Hinata's voice more clearly.
"Hello? What's wrong?" Ino asked quickly.
"Nothing. He's dead. TenTen's with me and we're on our way." Hinata reported.
"What about Tem- I mean Clover?"
There was a slight pause. "I… I'm not sure… But I think she's scouting ahead, and there's--" Hinata gasped, and Ino heard an explosion in the background.
"What happened?" Ino cried, concerned.
Hinata's voice was shaky. "I don't think we should talk now. Be on the lookout and be careful!" Hinata warned before turning off the communications system.
Ino turned to Sakura who was looking at her with apprehension. "What is it? What happened?"
The blond kunoichi shook her head. "I don't know, but we should probably go ahead now." The pinkette nodded in agreement, and both took a step forward.
"I don't think so."
A voice and its speaker stopped them cold, and they stared wordlessly at the shinobi before them, blocking off their path.
Date: Day of the Festival's Parade
Time: Morning—11: 15 am
Place: Outskirts of the Crowd
Temari raced along the buildings quickly, not bothering to hide her ninja speed. She couldn't believe what she had heard, yet accepted it.
'Damn it!'
Unfortunately she couldn't get any word to the others—jammers must have been in place. Temari mentally cursed the genius who could think of everything and anything for every situation.
"I hate that guy." She muttered, and was about to run on, but the shinobi ahead of her stopped her in her tracks. Her eyes widened. She couldn't believe it. How dare that Shikamaru!!!
Date: Day of the Festival's Parade
Time: Morning—11: 20 am
Place: Crowd
TenTen ran with Hinata, jumping the buildings of the rooftops with slight difficulty, thanks to the kimonos they wore.
"Do you think Temari is okay?" Hinata asked as they ran.
TenTen nodded. "She'll be fine. She's strong. We have to trust her, Ino, and Sakura."
"I know."
During the speech, TenTen had mingled with the crowd and found Hinata. They began to walk subtly away from the Feudal Lord and just in time as well, for he just collapsed, and the crowd began to crowd forward.
Hinata had activated her Byakugan and contacted Ino as well, but then there was an explosion to their right. TenTen and Hinata ducked down, and Hinata ended her transmission.
"Hurry!"
The two raced toward a random building and began climbing up, as the crowd panicked and surged around everywhere.
"Almost there!" Hinata cried as the Gates slowly came into sight. However, she then halted suddenly, gasping. "Wait! Shinobi up ahead!"
TenTen halted and two shinobi walked toward them.
Well, here are the results of Chapter Eleven!
NejiTen- 5 /// SasuSaku- 4 /// InoShika- 3 /// ShikaTema- 5 /// NaruHina- 5 /// SaiIno- 4 /// SaiTema- 1 /// GaaHina- 1 /// NejiIno- 1 /// SakuShika- 1 /// SasuTen- 1
Anyways, I've already got chapter 13 typed out, so I'll probably wait a week or so before posting that chapter up. Please review and I hope to see you soon!
