Okay I know that I haven't posted for a long time and I'm sorry... I been busy and I hadn't had time to do much of anything so please bear the pain with me... I know that this arc is really long but I'm trying my best to make this story interesting for you guys. I've already started writing my original story so you won't have to wait that long for them. Well I guess that's all, on with the story.
Chapter 12
"Kage mane no jutsu!!!" Shikamaru yelled as his shadow extended and connected with the three monster's shadow. Tayuya covered her eyes with her right hand the one holding her flute.
"...Impossible! How did you figure out the movements of all three? There's no way you could figure out the pattern of my melody!!!" Tayuya said.
"I didn't even try listening to the melody in the first place. There's another thing I can read your command patters from, besides sound." Shikamaru said. Tayuya moved her hand a bit.
"!!" Tayuya said.
"It's your fingers." Shikamaru said. The three monsters were in front of Shikamaru as three had their hands on their knee as the same position as Shikamaru.
"That's impossible." Tayuya yelled.
"He he... Calculated all three of their movements by memorizing my finger patterns!?" Tayuya thought to herself.
"Your right pointer finger and ring finger." Shikamaru said.
"!" Tayuya said in disbelieve.
"In addition to that you create melody with your left middle finger and pinky, that center piece of your hunches forward. While you were searching for me... I observed every movement of your fingers and memorized them just like that." Shikamaru said. Tayuya just smirked as she put her flute to her mouth and played as she tried to make her monsters come back to her. Sweat ran down Shikamaru's face.
"Its no good there, I've got them good and tight with Kage mane no jutsu." Shikamaru said. Tayuya growled as she took her flute away from her mouth as she clenched her flute.
"Rats." Tayuya said. Shikamaru put his right arm out and as the monster did the same thing.
"..." The monster said.
"Now it's my game. It's my turn to change you into the corner with these pawns that I've obtained." Shikamaru said. Shikamaru pulled a kunai out of the monsters arm.
"Hmph." Tayuya said as she smirked. Shikamaru looked at her as he a bead sweat fell down his face.
"Not aired are we? Why don't you at least get a kunai ready...?" Shikamaru said. Tayuya held up her flute.
"This flute is my only weapon! Don't make me repeat myself... There's not a soul who has lived to speak of this melody of this flute!" Tayuya said anger in her voice.
"That's quite a bit of confidence you have there." Shikamaru said as he pushed off the branch as the monsters jumped forward. Tayuya put her hand into a seal.
"Kai!!" Tayuya yelled. As the monsters disappeared in a poof of smoke, Shikamaru watched with a surprised look.
"...!" Shikamaru said. Tayuya smirked at the look on Shikamaru's face.
"To bad you couldn't use your pawns!!!" Tayuya yelled. Shikamaru put a knee towards the branch putting his hand towards his face.
"Ugh." Shikamaru said. Tayuya looked at him.
"This time it's my turn." Tayuya thought to herself.
"!?" Tayuya said as she twitched a bit and looked down.
"What?" Tayuya thought to herself.
"Kage mane no jutsu was a success." Shikamaru said gotten up from his position as he looked at Tayuya. His shadow had wrapped itself on the tree branch and jumped to the tree Tayuya was as the two shadows were connected Shikamaru pointed at Tayuya with his kunai.
"Didn't I tell you before? I'd corner you with those pawns of yours? I just use them as a feint. The initial strike was a diversion. It's the simplest of all basics to land with the second move." Shikamaru said. Tayuya had an angry look on her face as she tried to force herself out of Shikamaru's Kage mane no jutsu.
"You!!" Tayuya thought to herself.
"!" Shikamaru said as he watched her carefully. Tayuya still tried to force her way out.
"Looks like I have no choice I wasn't expecting to use 'Level 2' in a place like this. The look of Tayuya changed the bandage and her hat ripped as it fell to the ground in pieces. Her body fully changed.
"What a piss off... But I have to admit this brat is something." Tayuya thought to herself. She had horns coming out on top of her head and her skin color was different then before.
"...!?" What the...!?" Shikamaru said as he watched her.
"!?" Shikamaru said as he flinched a bit.
"Seems you're pretty clever for a rat... But from now on cleverness means nothing." Tayuya said.
"?!" Shikamaru said as he continued to watch her.
"What?! She forced her way through my Kage mane no jutsu... What's that immense chakra?!" Shikamaru said in a low whisper. He quickly stabbed the kunai into the tree trying to hold his jutsu.
"If this keeps up, the jutsu is going to disperse!!!! If she gets away now things are going to be really hairy... I have to use that jutsu." Shikamaru thought to himself as he put his hands into a seal as sweat ran down is forehead.
"Ninpo: Kage Kubi Shibari no jutsu!!" Shikamaru said as the shadow around Tayuya changed into hands as it wrapped itself around her making its way towards her neck.
"!!? Is this a different jutsu!? This shadow is applying real pressure to my body... as if it was real hands that are grabbing my... But..." Tayuya thought to herself.
"Dude what the heck is that power!!! From this distance my jutsu's power is out matched." Shikamaru thought to himself as he tried holding his jutsu. Tayuya smirked as she put the flute towards her lips. Shikamaru pulled the kunai from where it was.
"Eat this rat! Demonic Flute: Illusion Harmony!" Tayuya thought to herself as she started playing the flute.
"!! This is!!... Is this Genjutsu?!..." Shikamaru thought to himself as he looked over towards Tayuya. He quickly throw the kunai towards the branch in front of him as the kunai was stuck on it.
"..." Shikamaru said.
"Hmph... What are you aiming at?" Tayuya said. The hands started unwrapping itself. Shiakamaru's arms spread out his head down.
"My... My body... won't move." Shikamaru thought to himself. Shikamaru was in a different world it looked like he was under water as strings were tied onto his arm and leg. Shikamaru looked around seeing bones around him.
"!" Shikamaru said as he looked at the bone that was away from him.
"?!" Shikamaru said as he looked at his arm. His arm started melting off of him as you can see the bone.
"!!!?" Shikamaru said. He continued to look at his arm.
"Agggggggggg!!!!" Shikamaru yelled. Tayuya continued to play the flute.
"He he he... I can control tons of Genjutsu at my level 2 state. This one is especially, is the most fitting for this rat." Tayuya thought to herself. She slowly put the flute away from her mouth.
"Guahhhhhhhhhhhh" Shikamaru yelled.
"This Genjutsu halts the opponents' movements and also restrains them." Tayuya thought to herself as she looked at the kunai.
"..." Tayuya said.
"How do you feel now? Being held up!" Tayuya said as she jumped to the branch with the kunai.
"Ugh!" Shikamaru said. Tayuya pulled the kunai out as she jumped to the branch where Shikamaru was.
"Die trash!!!!!" Tayuya said with a smirk as she raised the kunai ready to kill him as she was about to when Shikamaru punched her in the stomach with his right fist.
"!!!!?" Tayuya said. Tayuya looked at his back his left hand was off towards the side. His shadow was around his finger cracking it.
"He... He... broke his own finger with his own shadow... He got out of the illusion with that pain..." Tayuya thought to herself as she drew her hand with the kunai back and was ready to stab him.
"Ugh!" Shikamaru said.
"He pretended that he was still bind by my Genjutsu..." Tayuya thought to herself.
"How many times do I have to tell you...? The first hand is a feint it's the most basic things to land with the second hand, of course the second hand is not the same as before... This Kage Kubi Shibari no jutsu can bind the opponent stronger as the distance becomes closer." Shikamaru said. The shadow wrapped it's self around Tayuya.
"Dang it!!! I got to close." Tayuya said anger in her voice.
"That's not where you failed...It's when you said 'my only weapon is this flute'." Shikamaru said as Tayuya looked at him.
"...!?...!!" Tayuya said with a surprised looked on her face.
"It can't be...!?" Tayuya said.
"Yes I threw that kunai in front of you intending to miss. So you'd pick it up and approach me." Shikamaru said. The shadow around Shikamaru's finger disappeared, his finger twitching the shadow hands on Tayuya held her tight.
"Hmph I must admit you've got some guts for a rat." Tayuya said. Shikamaru looked at her.
"... Not only that, I'm also kind hearted. Soaking a defenseless woman isn't my policy but you don't seem so defenseless in anyway. "Shikamaru said as he drew his right hand back ready to punch her in the stomach again.
To Where Chie and Kiba Are
The two had gone down stream for some time. Chie was really worried about Kiba. The wound he had was really bad and if he didn't take care of it soon it might get infected. Chie was about to call out to Kiba when her shoulder hurtled her.
"Ite te te." Chie thought to herself as she held her shoulder. Chie had forgotten all about her own wound that she received from Kidoumaru.
"... I had forgotten all about my own wound... I should be worried about Kiba and myself not just other people... I wonder how long we're going to go downstream..." Chie thought to herself as she slightly looked up at the sky. She had hopped for the best for everyone. Kiba slightly looked over to Chie.
"I wonder what she's thinking... Yet she hold too many mysteries around her. She's probably not even a Chunnin. She wouldn't of known those things if she was a Chunnin." Kiba thought to himself as he looked at Akamaru who was on top of his head.
"Hang in there Akamaru." Kiba said in a low whisper.
Back To Shikamaru
The hand that Shikamaru punched with was caught bye Tayuya's left hand.
"Don7t think that in beating the illusion, that you caned the upper hand on me rat." Tayuya said angrily.
"Dang it. Still can't bind shot! But I can't lose!" Shikamaru thought to himself as he tried to hold his stance. As one of Shikamaru's shadow hand made its way towards Tayuya's neck grabbing it.
"...! Ugh!" Tayuya said.
"Just a tad..." Shikamaru thought to himself. Tayuya had started powering herself.
"!!?" Shikamaru said as he noticed the horns on Tayuya's head started growing as the hands fell down.
"Shot this chakra!!! Even at this range the chakra is over whelming... Kage kubi shibari uses too much chakra... If I let go even once, I'm done for." Shikamaru though to himself as he tried to hold his stance.
"It seems that I have to use 'that' jutsu." Shikamaru though to himself as he put most of his might to hang in there.
"Guuu." Shikamaru said.
"UGH!" Tayuya said.
To Where Naruto Is
Smoke rose into the air as the wind blew the smoke as five Naruto clones were left as all of them rushed at Kimimaro. Kimimaro had closed his eyes and got into a stance spinning into a circle the bones towards had hit every clone making them disappear as the real Naruto was standing.
"..." Naruto said as Kimimaro slowly stood up and looked over towards Naruto.
"And then there was one." Kimimaro said. Naruto looked at him angrily.
"Dang he's really good. Even with all of those Kage Bunshin not even a single scratch on him." Naruto thought to himself. The smoke over Sasuke's barrel had turned black.
"It's almost time, the first step of Orochimaru-sama's ambition." Kimimaro said.
"...!!" Naruto said. The seals on the barrel started to rip. There was a huge explosion smoke everywhere. Naruto watched carefully. Sasuke was staining there but his look was a monster as his body changed back to his normal body. Naruto just watched.
"...!?" Naruto said. Sasuke had looked at his hand.
"..." Sasuke said.
"...SASUKE WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU DOING WITH THESE GUYS!? LET'S HEAD BACK! COME ON!" Naruto yelled as he waved his right hand.
"Ha ha ha ha ha ha." Sasuke had laughed as Naruto looked at him.
"!?" Naruto said.
"...Hey...Sasuke!" Naruto said as he gritted his teeth. He closed his eyes as an image of Sakura appeared. He quickly opened his eyes.
"CAN'T YOU HEAR ME !!!!!!" Naruto yelled. Sasuke ran off as Naruto put a hand out to try to stop him.
"HEY! Wait Sasuke!" Naruto yelled but Sasuke didn't as he continued to run as he ran into the forest Naruto gritted his teeth. Kimimaro had appeared behind Naruto ready to slice him.
"Useless!" Kimimaro said.
"!?" Naruto said as he turned around the sword was about to hit him.
"DIE!!" Kimimaro said. But before Kimimaro could land a blow he was kicked.
"Konoha Senpuu!!!" Lee said. Naruto looked behind him.
"!!?" Naruto said. Kimimaro was thrown pretty far and the figure landed behind Naruto. Kimimaro slowly got up.
"!!! And you are?" Kimimaro asked. The figure put out a hand as he moved his hand signaling Kimimaro to come at him. The figure was in a deep stance.
"Konoha's proud Azure Beast has reincarnated... I'm Rock Lee!!!" Lee said
"... Geji Mayu..." Naruto said with a slight smile
"Why... What about your body?" Naruto asked in a worried voice.
"Don't worry!! Naruto-kun you gotta get Sasuke-kun." Lee replied
"!!!" Naruto said as his expression became serious.
"Leave this guy to me Naruto-kun." Lee said. Kimimaro looked at Lee.
"This kid... Is good." Kimimaro though to himself as a slight breeze blew the grass waved to the wind.
"Be careful Geji Mayu! This guy uses his own bones as a weapon." Naruto said. Lee looked at him from the corner of his eyes with a slight looked of disbelief.
"Bones...?" Lee replied with a surprised tone. Kimimaro shifted his position.
"That guy is insanely strong..." Naruto said as he narrowed his eyes a bit Lee looked over to Kimimaro. Lee put out his left hand and gave Naruto a thumb up.
"!" Naruto said when he saw Lee doing thing.
"What are you doing?! Hurry go!" Lee said. Naruto looked at him Lee's back facing him.
"Naruto-kun... You made a promise to Sakura-san with you Nice Guy pose too. Didn't you?" Lee said.
"..." Naruto said as he thought about it.
Flashback
Naruto had a grin on his face his eyes closed with a thump up.
"I'll definitely bring Sasuke back! That's a life time promise!" Naruto said as his voice died down.
End of Flashback
Lee still had his thumb up.
"I'll defeat this person!!! That's a promise!" Lee said. Naruto had a grin on his face.
"..." Naruto said.
"..."Kimimaro said as he watched them. Naruto slowly looked away and started heading where Sasuke went. As the only ones left were Lee and Kimimaro as the two looked at each other. Both of them ran forwards.
Back In Konoha
Kaito was at home with Kakashi who watched him for a bit. The village still needed a lot of cleaning up and most of the shinobis were on a mission. In Konoha hospital Tsunade was talking to Raidou and Genma who were sitting in the hospital bed.
"But... If we assume that Sasuke was in that barrel... We sent a team compressed of Gennin and one Jounin as there opponents... That's pretty unreasonable." Raidou said.
"At the beginning of the mission we were already low on Chakra... and that's why we're in this state now. A team compressed of Jounin should be sent to help protect them." Genma said. Tsunade gave a small sigh.
"... That can't be done... In the aftermath of Orochimaru's invasion Konoha's lost its power as a major Nation. We've sent our Jounin and Chunnin out to deal with dangers inside and outside the country you very well know the situation." Tsunade said as she put her hands towards her hip.
"Even if the Sharingan were to fall into Orochimaru's hands... Our priority at the moment is to avoid war with the other countries." Tsunade said.
"But... In the case of Orochimaru... This isn't a problem that can be left for long... If they regain their strength... They'll just come right back." Raidou said with a worried tone in his voice.
"I understand that. I'm not a fool. I've already considered that and something has to be done." Tsunade said. Outside the room a Medic Nin showed Gai to the room, Gai was out of breath.
"This way!!" Medic Nin said as he opened the door Gai fell to the ground with a thud. The medic Nin looked at him.
"!" Medic Nin said. Tsunade quickly looked over towards Gai as she walked up to him.
"What the...Gai! You look exhausted did something happen in your mission?" Tsunade asked. Gai looked up at her out of breath.
"No... After my mission was finished I flew back here as fast as I could... Lee! What be came of Lee's operation!!!" Gai asked in a worried tone as his look was the same. Tsunade put a hand on his shoulder and smiled.
"Success!! He'll be able to start training his jutsu tomorrow. He should be resting and not overdoing it for a while though." Tsunade said. Gai looked at her as tears of joy ran down his eyes. As that was going on a second medic Nin ran in.
"I... It's terrible! Godaime-sama! Rock Lee isn't in the hospital!!" Second Medic Nin said Gai's expression changed when he hear the news as they quickly ran to Lee's room. The only thing they saw was an empty bed.
"Shot... it was probably in the evening when I was reading Genma and Raidou..." Tsunade said.
"After Tsunade-sama's operation, he was always being looked after... The fist day he was fine... We took our eyes off of him and he got away. Didn't he?" Medic Nin said. Gai looked at the bed.
"...Lee!..." Gai thought to himself.
"That idiot... He's gone after them hasn't he!... Plus he's fairly confused too!" Tsunade said as she looked at the table that was near the bed.
"He mistook my Sake bottle for his medicine bottle and took it with him." Tsunade said.
"!!!? Sake??!!" Gai thought to himself, his expression changed again this time with fear.
"That's not good..." Gai replied. Tsunade and the Medic Nin looked at Gai with a confused look.
"!?" Tsunade said.
To Be Continued
What's going to happen? Can Naruto catch up to Sasuke and bring him back? Can Chie and Kiba be able to find somewhere they could rest? Where are Chouji and Neji when you need them? What will happen to Shikamaru? Is Shikamaru be killed or will he be alive? What will happen if Lee drinks Sake? Will Lee be able to beat Kimimaro? What will happen to the team? Will they be back home safely or will they need to dig graves for them? Stay tune to the next Chapter.
