Kidoumaru Does Konoha!
Chapter 34
"An Akatsuki member, here!" Tsunade jumped from her chair, "This is bad... Zetsu, you say?"
Hiro nodded gravely, "He vanished underground, I was unable to follow him, his skills are far superior to my own."
"SHIZUNE!" Tsunade's assistant came running, "Sound the alarm! Zetsu of the Akatsuki is here, in Konoha!"
...
Kidoumaru was lying in bed, reading The Art of War intently when Shikamaru entered, "Hey."
Kidoumaru looked up reluctantly, "What's up?"
"I don't want to upset you, but... Don't you hear that alarm?"
Kidoumaru suddenly noticed a blaring siren, "What is it?"
"An ANBU just told me Zetsu was sighted at the training grounds."
Kidoumaru jumped to his feet, "Did he hurt any of the students?!" Kidoumaru mentally cursed himself, Allowing myself to get so distracted I didn't even notice an attack!
"No one's been hurt, yet. Hiro saw him, but he's fine."
"Thank God!"
Kidoumaru ran for the door, only to be grabbed by Shikamaru, "No way! The ANBU can take care of it, you need your rest!"
Kidoumaru wanted to scream from the frustration...
...
"So, this is the place where it all goes down?" Kiba looked around the small park thoughtfully, "What if it rains?"
"Don't worry about it, we'll make sure to check the weather report."
It was a beautiful place, if you liked lots of colorful flowers, and Kiba knew his sister liked both the flowers and the bright sunshine. Tsume had threatened,...Er, convinced, the town council into approving the park for the wedding, and now all that remained was to get everything together.
One more week, and sis marries Puppet-Boy...
Kiba didn't exactly know what to think about that, Kankurou had saved his life, and he was a good friend of the family, but Kiba couldn't help but wonder if he was man enough for his sister...
"Kiba, do you hear that?" Hana turned and looked toward the village, "An attack!"
...
"Tayuya? Wasn't she that chick you killed while I was fighting The Amazing Two-Headed Idiot? The Sound chick?"
"The one with the flute and the foul mouth! I remember now! She obviously hasn't forgiven me for dropping a forest on her..."
Kankurou laughed, "Would you?"
"It was a battle, it was her or Shikamaru and me, and I had no desire to be torn apart by crazed demons, I'm sure Shikamaru felt the same."
A cloud of dust appeared on the horizon, rushing toward Konoha at incredible speed, Kankurou saw it and smiled, "He came!"
A massive wave of sand pushed straight toward the sibling, only to vanish, leaving Gaara, Baki and a small contingent of guards."Are we in time for the wedding?" Gaara asked flatly, he still had a great deal of trouble with positive emotions, but he was trying.
"One week, little bro." Kankurou hugged the stiff Kazekage, "I'm glad you could make it! And you too, Baki, I couldn't imagine this without you! You're like the dad we should have had..."
...
Obito looked outside in confusion, curious as to what was happening, Kakashi had forbidden him to come, and he would do as he said, even if it was annoying. He heard the door open, and turned, "Kakashi, what's... Zetsu-Sempai?"
Zetsu looked at him curiously,
"So you are here."
"Where's the ring, Tobi?"
"Tobi isn't Tobi anymore, Tobi is Uchiha Obito now."
"We need your ring, To... Obito."
"Were is your Akatsuki Ring? You're not wearing it!"
"They took it."
"They who?"
"Spit it out, idiot!"
"The ANBU."
A silver and blue form rushed into the room, knocking Zetsu off of his feet, "Are you alright, Obito?" Kakashi asked through gritted teeth.
"Obito is fine..." Zetsu struggled to his feet.
"Did he tell you we saved him?"
"You left him under those rocks to die! We saved him!"
Kakashi reeled in shock, and Zetsu took the opportunity to rush out the door, Kakashi followed seconds later, but he had already fled into the ground.
"He wanted Obito's ring. The Akatsuki can't replace Obito without his ring."
"He's after the rings? Then Shikamaru... Oh no!"
...
Shikamaru looked on in horror as the strange man literally burst from his front lawn and grabbed him by the throat.
"This is him!"
"He has Hidan's ring!"
Shikamaru beat at the arm holding him, and kicked at the Plant-Nin himself, but to no effect.
"Oooh, he's a fighter!"
"It'll make him so much tastier!"
Suddenly, six fists collided brutally with Zetsu's back, forcing him to drop the young Shadow Wielder.
"Kidoumaru?"
"You should have left well enough alone! Now we'll eat you, too!"
Vines erupted from the ground, wrapping Shikamaru tightly as Kidoumaru jumped aside.
"Very good!"
"But it won't save you!"
Kidoumaru kicked Zetsu in the face and rushed over to Shika, tearing at the vines.
"NO! Forget about me! Run, get help!"
Kidoumaru didn't see the attack until it was too late, a thick vine wrapped tightly around his throat, cutting off his breathing.
"Let him go! I'll give you the ring, just don't kill him! You can have me, just don't kill him!" Shikamaru pleaded, Kidoumaru tried to speak as well, but he couldn't get enough air to form the words.
Zetsu grinned, "So loyal, both of you..."
"You have nothing to bargain with, boy! We have every-!"
A loud clang resounded through the neighborhood as a cast-iron pot met Zetsu's bi-colored face. The Plant-Nin fell, unconscious, and as he did, the vines fell away, freeing both boys.
Nara Yoshino stood over the fallen cannibal, holding a the heavy pot, "No one hurts MY boys!"
"MOM!?"
Kidoumaru struggled to his feet, holding his bruised throat, "Thank you, Yoshino-San! Thank you!" His voice was raspy and pained. He turned to Shikamaru. "I'm sorry... I almost got you killed!"
"You tried to save me, you knew he wanted me, not you. You could have just left me, but you didn't!"
"Do you think I'd just let that trash eat you?"
" You're both very brave, I wouldn't expect anything less from my sons." Yoshino kicked Zetsu's prone form as an ANBU squad appeared to take him into custody, lifting him from the ground and disappearing in a puff of smoke.
"You... Were willing to let him kill you, to save me?" Kidoumaru rubbed at his sore throat.
"Nah, it was just a bluff... I'm no hero..." Shikamaru did his best to look bored with the whole thing, "I was just buying time for the ANBU to get here..."
"You're a terrible liar, Nara Shikamaru." Yoshino scolded.
"Nope, I'm a very good liar!"
To Be Continued . . .