Chapter 29: Many Plans and Set-Backs – Edited Version

Φ None Φ the boys all ran fast through the forest until the arrived at a small village. It could barely count as a village, it had no buildings except one in the center, the military base, and everyone lived in tents.

"We found it," Shikamaru said.

"Of course it is," Neji said.

"I can't believe that this village is so small." Shikamaru said.

"Don't underestimate them, they may seem small but their force is unimaginable." Sasuke warned.

"I for one never underestimate anyone." Neji said.

"No, you always underestimate everyone." Shikamaru said.

"Whatever, let's go." Sasuke told them.

"You know where they're being held?" Shikamaru asked.

"The dungeon of that extremely large building in front of us," Neji said with out stopping to discuss it.

"How did you know?" Sasuke asked.

"Where else would they be?" Neji asked.

"I was just surprised you caught on." Sasuke replied.

"Then you were underestimating me yourself." Neji said walking off.

"I won't make the same mistake, insulting the Hyuuga Prodigy." Shikamaru said responding. Everyone looked back at him, and Sasuke rolled his eyes.

They went to the front gate without as a single person to see them. "And here we go," Sasuke said typing a code into the box. The alarm went off and the gate opened.

"You'd think they'd remember to change their code after they find a traitor among them." Shikamaru smartly added.

"It's as thought they wanted us in." Sasuke said accusingly.

"It's a trap, stupid." Neji said running toward the building with amazing speed; but creating a chakra pattern on the ground.

"What's he doing?" Shikamaru asked.

"I've seen Hinata use it during her sessions with Naruto; it's a special jutsu that consists of a large number of extremely painful and powerful hits to certain chakra points. Each one on a different person could knock out a whole army or kill about 100 people. It just depends on the number and their amount of chakra, I believe." Sasuke explained.

"How do you know that much on him?"

"I have talked to both of them many times because of how I was staying with their clan for a while." He responded.

"Makes sense, so why is Neji preparing it now."

"Since it's a trap to take to spread his chakra is harder then drawing it with his foot while he's running before a fight. In his training with Tenten, he makes the mark on the ground and doesn't leave until one of them is knocked out." Sasuke told them.

"It's an extremely good defensive and offensive technique; I guess that's why he's a prodigy." Shikamaru said.

"Exactly, all Hyuuga members have a similar but quite unique style to their Jyuuken, the move Neji using is one in the same to the one Hinata uses yet, and hers is completely different."

"How so?"

"Hers can be used to heal or attack, like his is offensive and defensive hers is offensive and helpful."

"How can such a dangerous attack be helpful?" Shikamaru asked.

"By hitting some points you can release hidden chakra, and become stronger as well as it looses your body and causes you to relax; therapy really." Sasuke explained.

"The Hyuuga Clan is all genius and prodigies aren't they?" Shikamaru asked.

"That's why they're one of the best." Sasuke answered watching as Neji meditated and waited for their attack.

"We're just going to wait for them to attack." Neji smirked.

"Our strategy is to take out as many as we can out here where it's open and we're able to use chakra better and where they don't have the advantage; and when the time comes, they will come out and we take it over." Neji explained.

"Genius," Shikamaru said. Neji smirked. Sasuke nodded.

They were beginning to get weary of the plan; these boys aren't known at all for their patience. "How much longer will they wait?" Shikamaru asked.

"Like I'd know," Sasuke replied.

"Most likely until nightfall when they think we'd be at our weakest, and unguarded." Neji suggested.

"Oh, then anytime now, right?" Sasuke asked. Neji nodded.

"Good because it's troublesome waiting here to be attacked." Shikamaru responded.

When night came, the guards knew they were expecting to be attacked by them but Orochimaru knew their plans, what they thought they were going to do, he would not under any circumstance attack those three, and that was told to all his men. Everyone went to sleep that night; including Orochimaru, and all the guards.

"Get up," Neji whispered quietly.

"What, are we being attacked?" Sasuke asked.

"No but phase one of the plans is done." Neji responded.

"Part one?"

"Yes, we trick them into thinking that we under no circumstances will attack and they do the same for us; because they are weaker. Now comes part two," Neji alerted them to.

"I hope this one is less troublesome." Shikamaru added.

"Yes, and it's extremely simple, and hopefully there will be no fighting." Neji responded.

"What's the plan?" Sasuke asked.

"I've checked everyone's asleep so we sneak in, take the girls out; and leave. Nothing more or less. If needed fight anyone who stops you, don't let them make any sounds to alert anyone else."

"Understood." Sasuke finished.

"Me too," Shikamaru added.

"Then let's go," Neji said as the pushed through the harsh night.

They snuck in the building easily without a sound like any good ninja was trained to do, they went down stairs and they split at the corridor. They were paired Neji alone, and Sasuke and Shikamaru together.

They didn't find anyone as they checked the entire area. "Shikamaru you continue further on, I'm going to kill Orochimaru in his bed, understand?" Sasuke stated.

"Why would you do that?" Shikamaru asked.

"He's the leader of our enemy nation, he's evil, a killer and he kidnapped our fiancées, he has threatened Sakura and I long enough."

"Shikamaru, Neji told us just to find the girls and leave."

"Neji took the path with the girls on it." Sasuke said.

"What, then why did he send us out here?"

"He has the Byakugan; if he can see everyone asleep in the castle wouldn't he be able to know where the girls are?"

"Yeah, but?" Shikamaru thought about.

"He set it up so that we could distract the attention away from him as he leaves with the girls." Sasuke explained.

"So shouldn't I go and help?" Shikamaru asked.

"No, stick to the plan. You're out here so if the guards find out about him, they'll come after you too, meanwhile I'll go after Orochimaru. Bye." Sasuke ran off in the direction that they had come from.

"Whatever, you're too troublesome to help." Shikamaru said to himself.

∆ (Somewhere) ∆

"Sasuke's setting off by himself is he? Good, all is as planned." A man hidden in the darkness said to himself. "The others are all alone, anyone sent to where the girls are will die and on the other side, he will die."

∆ (W/Neji) ∆

"Sasuke, what are you doing running off? Surely you have figured out my plan; why would you leave Shikamaru alone like that, it's not safe." Neji said to himself then sighed.

"All is as planned on both parts; prepare to die." A solider said.

Neji smirked and stepped forward and smacked him hand into the man's chest knocking the wind out of him sending him flying across the floor. "Easy pick," Neji said.

Neji tapped into his speed and ran all the way to the girls. "Neji," They said surprised.

"Let's go, everyone is in trouble." He said.

"What's going on?" Sakura asked.

"Sasuke strayed from the plan to kill Orochimaru, I have to save him. Ino, Sakura, you go find Shikamaru down this hallway quite a bit; Tenten, you're with me, go." He ordered and without a doubt, they followed their orders.

∆ (W/Sasuke) ∆

He arrived at Orochimaru's room, pushed it open gently, and found a knife in his hand that had opened the door. "Well prepared I see," Sasuke said.

"Of course, what kind of genius wouldn't use reverse psychology when facing his enemy." Orochimaru replied.

"You knew Neji would do that?" Sasuke asked in disbelief.

"Of course not, I knew that he'd attack while we slept, so I wouldn't go to sleep and endanger myself."

"Then how did you trick his Byakugan."

"I used a trickery sleeping jutsu, everyone knows one." Orochimaru informed him.

"It is quite an old trick; you should get some new ones." Sasuke said. "I knew you'd be awake too."

"O did you really?" Orochimaru questioned. "You seemed surprised that I expected you, why would you expect me to be awake."

"Because you knew I'd try to get revenge which I will." Sasuke explained.

"If it's a fight you want, then it's a fight you get." Orochimaru said, and then attacked Sasuke.

∆ (W/Neji-Tenten) ∆

"Is Hinata alright, Neji?" Tenten asked while running.

"Yes, she made it back in fair condition; she's in Gaara, Temari and Kankuro's hands now."

"Why them?" She asked.

"Because they were returning to the village while we were leaving and we couldn't turn back, we need to save you guys." He responded.

"Oh, so it's just you three guys?" Tenten asked concerned.

"Yes,"

"What about Naruto?" She asked.

"We're not sure, we haven't seen him. We sent Hinata and the other three to help him."

"That's interesting, because earlier you said she was in fair condition. How do you expect her to help Naruto, the Hokage?" She asked.

"Don't over think that, Tenten. Naruto is good but if he wasn't able to come locate meet us like everyone else; something has happened." He said.

"What?"

"I'm not sure but Hinata was worried about the men taking the 9 tailed fox away from him."

"Isn't that what he's always wanted?" She asked.

"Not any longer Tenten, the 9 tailed fox supplies him with unlimited chakra, and without that, he's unable to do all the things that make him Naruto, his shadow jutsu, his summoning, and all his fancy little tricks, he'd have to rebuild himself from square one, and a hokage can't be at the level of a 10 year old."

"That's horrible, what can we do to help?" She asked.

"Make sure that doesn't happen in the first place. And we've taken the first two steps."

"Which ones?" She asked.

"One, they can't use you and the other girls, or us guys to threaten him by. Two, we've sent him Hinata to transform and seal the seal that holds the 9 tailed demon in. If Orochimaru doesn't know the seal that she used then he can't undo it to remove the demon."

"So most likely Naruto, is safe?"

"And you worried, ha. You do know that it's dishonorable to think down upon your hokage, and doubt his power and ability."

"It would be if he was officially hokage, but he isn't until the wedding ceremony."

"Yeah but I doubt that the wedding is going to be anytime soon." Neji said, mentally smacking himself for saying that but surprisingly he didn't hear any sign of his mistake, of tears, of disappointment, or sadness; nothing but silence. "Um… Tenten, I'm sorry." Neji apologized.

He looked back at Tenten but she seemed just as fine as always. "You thought I'd be upset?"

"Sort of, yes," He responded.

"Neji, I've waited a year already, you don't think I can wait another amount of time; now that's pathetic. Moreover, I'm not one to hide themselves from the truth. I know it would be stupid to get married during a war. It would be like saying we're free after just returning home, it's a curse on yourself so no, I'm not upset. Not very much at least, I mean. What's the difference between us now, and us them." To think about it, not much.

"Not at all really,"

"See, there is nothing different; there's no difference for me, just you. You are free of the seal and lead your clan then, but nothing will change for me."

"No, there you are wrong. Much will have to change when we're married. You'll be surprised about the many changes that will happen then but you and I will just have to wait; it's a wait well worth it." He added.

"Yep, that's why I can take it; because it's worth it." She finished.

"Now let's go." Inside, Tenten was truly holding her tears. There were two hers inside of her, a gentle one that she let around in sometimes, and the strong minded Tenten that she used during practice when she was hurt, the stronghold and the weak; but this time the weak was winning and she was scared what might happen if her weaker self won.

'Tenten, it's one more year; get yourself together.' She told her weaker self.

'But it's been a year; I'm tired of waiting. I just want to be married.' Her weaker self argued.

'Be strong, you can wait, it might not even be a year; if they need a hokage after the war Naruto is top pick but he can only be placed during his marriage ceremony so it may be soon.'

"Or after the war, which could be years.' Her weaker self said quietly.

'True, but we need hope.'

'I thought you said hope is for the weak; skill is for the strong.' Her weaker self argued.

'It is, but there is no skill in this event, just hope for a brighter day. That's sure to come.' Her stronger self said comforting her.

"Tenten, snap out of it." Neji yelled at her. She jumped and sighed, be strong and wait and hope.

Then her weaker self-won, she fell to her knees and cried. Neji was scared by this, how come she had lost it all, right then. Then he thought about it; he had put it off and off and off again. It seemed like there was no hope it would happen. When you lose hope, you fall, no matter what the skill level. If he didn't think he could win, he wouldn't try and he'd lose. That's the difference between weak and strong; the knowledge of the difference.

Neji sat by her, he was supposed to be saving Sasuke but he knew that he couldn't leave her. That was ennobled, dangerous and uncompassionate. He brought her into his chest and held her. "It's alright, it will happen Tenten; I promise you that. This is the very least you deserve; and I owe you it." Neji whispered to her. "Stay safe," He said to her as he sent her away using a jutsu.

Neji didn't want to but if her weaker self had taken over then it would be sure to be quite dangerous for her to be here, too much trauma. She needed to be safe and where he sent her was the safest place he could think of in this very moment.

Neji ran through the halls and arrived at Orochimaru's room. There was no sign of a fight, where had they gone. Sasuke's plan was just to fight him while he was asleep, no fight at all; just one death, one of no pain, just death.

"If your looking for the Uchiha and last of his clan I suppose you look down the stairs." Said a voice that sounded like a voice from the dead; it was one that would haunt him for time to come. It was Orochimaru's deathbed voice. He was going but from the way he talked, he supposed that Sasuke was gone. Neji pushed past Orochimaru and did a seal, if Sasuke hadn't killed him, he would. The seal would slowly drain his chakra into nothingness. It was more than over, but they needed Sasuke here, to complete everything.

Hours later Neji was still in that spot, he hadn't moved. He remembered it all, once he had finished Orochimaru. The painful scream, the lost voice, the fear, the danger, and the same voice he heard all those years ago. From her that night, he knew he didn't want to hear it again. She's come for him again, and this time he was the one that was lost, not her. Nevertheless, wasn't always him never her. Her collapses always had meaning, not a sign of weakness, just a flaw; his were a weakness, a major flaw as well.

The thing that scared him that much was that scream, the scream that could waken the dead, if that was plausible. Those who heard her knew that's what she was trying to do. "Sasuke," That was her words. "Saaasukkke," She cried.