A/N: Sorry for the lateness everyone! I had a bit of a problem so I won't be posting the next chapter(s) for a while. Two weeks tops.
Chapter 20: The beginning of a plan…
Tenten entered her room. She had stayed there ever since threat conversation. She had a gut feeling about tonight. It was an uncomfortable feeling, she never felt so…vulnerable in her life. Usually, she was prepared for anything but now without any weapons or strength, she felt hopeless.
She punched the wall.
Dammit, where the hell are they? She thought angrily. Despite the hole she made, she frantically looked around for a weapon. There was nothing besides wood, mattresses, and a pillow.
It was not until after midnight Zain entered the room. He looked at her with no emotion. "Why are you still awake?" he asked coldly. She stiffened for a moment but kept her ground. "I'm waiting." She answered spitefully. He mentally sighed.
"Escaping from here is suicide. It would do you best to sleep and forget about escaping." He answered. "Neji won't be leaving in one piece if he enters to get you." She blinked away the tears that were threatening to come down. She only knew Neji as a friend now but if he kept on threatening her like that.
"And what makes you think you can beat Neji? He's beaten many accomplices of your organization. " she added. It was true. Despite Neji being a Jounin, he was also an ANBU of a high rank. He has beaten the hell out of people connected to the akatsuki for the last 4 months.
Zain snorted. He began emitting an aura around him. She silentl gasped. He was a monster. His chakra seeped out of him as if there was no end. Even though she was low on chakra, she didn't need chakra to sense levels of it.
He looked at her, eyes burning with the intent of killing her on the spot. "And," he growled. "What makes you think that Hyuuga could defeat me?" She watched him with a grim slash etched on her mouth.
He finally stopped. It wasn't until he stopped that she realized she was shaking from that feeling a minute ago. "You'd better tell him to get the hell away from here if he knows what's good for him." He said coldly.
"Because there's no escape from here."
He left shutting the door behind him. She silently lifted her hands to her face. She won't be able to leave. Regardless of method, she can't leave. The house was a fortress. Even if Neji came, he'd be signing his will by the time he sets foot in this house.
She couldn't give up. She still needed to go and become as strong as Tsunade. It was her lifelong dream to become as strong as the female sannin. She still needed to see Hinata once more. To see Lee and Gai-sensei and tell them how idiotic it is to shout about youth, not that she never tried.
She still had so much to do in the world. She can't give up now. Her eyes lingered for a moment under the bed. As she took a glimpse under the mattress, she smiled. Looks like she wasn't the only one that was paranoid in the house.
A set of 3 kunais lay under the mattress smoothly.
Zain slowly walked towards Deidara. He was sitting cross-legged, working on a clay model. Zain didn't care less. He was more troubled at his actions. It wasn't normal for him to feel like that, he had tortured hundreds of people mentally, physically wasn't so appealing. He was sure Tenten was cursing his name now.
He never actually cared much about Tenten any more than a friend would. Yet a feeling of more than a friend nested in his mind like a contagious disease.
If he let that come between his better judgments, he'll never forgive himself.
"Thinking about her?" asked Deidara. Zain was caught off guard from that question. "Perhaps." He answered lightly. He doesn't need to be moody with Deidara, he's blow my head off. Literally blow it off.
"And you call your self an Akatsuki. Get a spine while you're at it." Said Deidara joyously. Zain grinned. "Oh you mean like that pile of clay you're playing with? I'll pass."
"Oh, now on my art. How low can you go?" asked Deidara testily. "Lower than an Akatsuki that plays with clay half of the day." Deidara threw a pile of clay at Zain's face.
Zain quickly wiped off the residue of the exploding clay from his face. Deidara shook his head, chuckling at him. Zain was a little frightened. After all, what could a crazy clay-playing guy do to him? Almost anything.
He made a single seal with one hand. Zain stiffened, a hint of fear etched on his face. "You're not gonna…" he whispered. Deidara grinned.
A blast echoed throughout the house.
Shikamaru and Hinata hid at the eastern side of the house. They've seen Kisame leave the house which was a relief. Now only two were left inside the house. Easier said then done.
The plan was simple in the beginning; Naruto and Shino were at the southern side of the gate. They'll cause a disruption for the Akatsuki. He and Hinata shall then search the house. The akatsuki aren't stupid, they'll know to keep hidden traps in the house.
That's where Hinata comes in. Her bloodline could detect such traps. If the akatsuki enter the house and find them, they're doomed.
There were so many flaws when going deeper into the plan but there wasn't any other alternative.
A loud blast could be heard from the house. Shikamaru looked alarmed. Did they detect us? Hinata looked deeper into the house. Shikamaru waited patiently.
"…The scroll is within a few meters under the house." Said the heiress. Shikamaru sighed. "Well might as well get started" he said as a loud sound could be heard from afar.
Seems like Naruto has started…
Naruto in fact was replicating himself to over hundred and fifty a minute. In two short minutes, he was three hundred. "I could have done thousands." He muttered. Shino shook his head. "That isn't part of the plan. We must stick to the plan." He added as he made a single replica of himself.
"We must be off." Naruto nodded and disappeared with Shino as his tiny army descended to the gates.
As they stood on the top of the house, a voice said "Hm."
It was Neji.
"We should proceed as planned." he said in a monotone voice. Naruto could tell that he was anxious to get going.
Well, it's a start... thought Shino as the clones created a rukus at the main gate. That should get their attention for aminute or so...
A female kicked a clone out of existence. They watched in surprise. The woman wore a long akatsuki cloak, her face the only visible area.
She licked her lips at the sight of the challange.
A/N: Wonder whom can that be?