Curse you, Firefox. I had typed a really nice little thing here, and I don't remember most of it. Okay. Let's see if I can do this again.

Here's chapter 37. I apologize, but the next two chapters will be relatively shorter in comparison to the last couple of chapters you have read. They will also be set a bit faster. I don't know why I chose to do it this way, it just felt right. I hope it doesn't step on any of your toes. Anyways. I'm almost half-way done with chapter 40 (yaay!) and it's pretty rad, so yeah. This is just looking really, really good. -very excited- I hope that covers everything I had said before.

I don't own Naruto and the characters copywritten by TV Tokyo and Masashi Kishimoto. Only Maia and my created characters belong to me.

Spyro Flavord Skittles:I don't even know how your name got to the end of that chapter. I honestly do not. However, I did remove it - you are no longer being advertised at the bottom of chapter 36. Sorry. I will give you this, though. You have a little bit longer of a wait - not too much sorrow in this chapter. I hope you enjoy! Also, I can totally get the WoW thing (a former WoW addict - school got in between my level 85 night elf rogue and myself) and not checking your mail. I don't do that nearly as often as I should!

LoneWolfPack: Thank you, LoneWolfPack, for taking the time to comment! I hope my story continues to your liking! Please let me know anything I can do to make my story better, alright?

Chapter Thirty-Seven – Save the Children

"Want to explain what we're doing? We've followed you out of the village without any information, and frankly, I'd like to know what's going on." Shikamaru asked, annoyance in his voice. We had gotten about a mile away from the village, and were currently up a few trees. I paused on a branch, and everyone else stopped around me.

"I'm sorry for that. Hanabi, keep an eye out for anyone coming near. I doubt we'll be spied on, but better safe than sorry." That made everyone start with surprise, but I waited until she told me it was safe to speak. "Tsunade-sama has placed the six of us on a confidential B-ranked mission. From the information I've been given, I believe this mission is more suited to an A-rank - however, with lack of intelligence and not enough available jounins, she has placed my genin team on this and justified it as a B-ranked mission. As such, you three." I turned to my genin. "You are to take no risks - check in with Shikamaru, Ino, or myself before doing anything. During a fight - and there will be fighting, almost certainly - try to stay near one of us. This mission is going to be quite dangerous, I'm sure of it."

"Honestly, Maia, we all know the risks, seeing how we're all here. You shouldn't baby them." Ino told me, hands on her hips. I raised an eyebrow at her.

"I apologize that my methods don't suit you, Ino. I'm sure Asuma didn't baby you at all." She blushed and looked away. I nodded, my point made.

"Alright, alright. Geeze, just tell us what the mission is already." Shikamaru butted in.

"Do you know of a the Nagano clan?" I asked, indirectly explaining what we were up against. Everyone but Shikamaru shook their heads. "I hadn't either, until I interrogated a Sound spy. Suffice it to say that they have a powerful bloodline jutsu that Orochimaru wants, and he's willing to destroy the whole clan to keep them from stopping him. If they succeed, they will kidnap two children who will, supposedly, have the knowledge and skill to use the jutsu. We have to stop them - either we are to save the children, or we are to defend the clan. Whichever we can manage - because they sent their assault squad a week ago."

"A weekago?" That was Ino.

"Yes. Now, as we move, I'll explain how we're going to do this." We moved into a diamond pattern. Ino was in the center with Hanabi, the protected position going to the medic nin and our resident Hyuuga, who would be detrimental to the success of this mission. I was on point, as the leader. Shikamaru took up the end point, watching out for the rest of the group. Nobori and Daichi took up the last two side points. I began relaying orders softly through the microphone.

"We're going to work a buddy system. Nobori, you're paired with Shikamaru; Hanabi, you're with Ino; Daichi, you're with me. Any questions so far?" No one spoke up, so I continued. "Let me explain what we're up against, then. There's going to be a Sound assault squad, with at least eight shinobi when they left Otogakure - probably more. If we run into them after they've attacked the clan, they will probably have sustained losses, but they won't be too diminished in strength. When we attack, watch out for your partner - I don't want to come away with losses. Everything clear?" A chorus of yes's filled my ears.

"Now, as to why this group of people was picked. If there weren't pressing matters elsewhere, I'd have brought Team Gai and then you two, Ino and Shikamaru. As there is a crisis elsewhere, we have a genin team."

"There's a crisis? What's going on?" Ino, once more - but this time her voice was joined by others.

"The Sound is attacking us as well - they've already decimated at least one town, and we think there's a second out there waiting for us to find it. I, along with Sakura, Lee, and Neji, were the team that found the first massacre. We were lucky that we all survived." I let that sink in before continuing.

"As I was saying, we were given a genin team. And, as I said before, this mission should really be an A-ranked, which means we're in a very dangerous situation right now. Ino, you're our medical ninja."

"Yes, Maia." She'd almost lost all the sarcasm, but not quite.

"Shikamaru. You led a genin squad against a Sound assault team, and were successful in bringing everyone back alive. While I will be leading this team, I will be relying on you to help me create a strategy to do the same thing here. I know it's a lot to ask of you, but I have faith in your skills."

"I understand. I'll have a basic attack plan ready when we make camp."

"Good. Hanabi, you're our eyes. Watch out for any groups that have more than four people in them, and especially look out for groups with children in them. Report anything suspicious."

"Yes, Maia-sensei."

"Nobori, Daichi. I don't have anything special for you two; there isn't enough jobs to go around. Watch and be alert for any sudden orders or changes in movement."

"Yes, Maia-sensei." They chorused. I smiled, though no one behind me could see it. See, Ino? I have a loyal squad, no matter my coddling at times. We understood each other perfectly.

There wasn't any dangerous activity in the woods around us, which wasn't unexpected, for the first three nights. I set the night watch up so that it could be taken up by three sets of two people after Shikamaru laid out a basic plan that first night, and we'd been traveling quietly and safely since. He gathered us up again that third night to discuss the plan again, because it wouldn't be long before we met up with the enemy in the worst case scenario.

"Okay, Nobori, Maia, and I will strike first. I'll use my Shadow Possession jutsu and they'll pick off the enemy with their poisons. Then Hanabi and Ino, you two will swoop in and grab the kids and bring them back to Maia and Daichi, who will defend them through the rest of the attack. Then, Hanabi, you'll switch to offensively fighting whoever is still left alive with Nobori and I. Ino, you'll hang back to heal whoever gets injured." On that note, I pulled out my first scroll - the one that held my poisons and antidotes - and the second - which held my healing potions - to draw out useful hypodermics. Two of each poison's antidotes, with corresponding thread tied around them, went into Ino's hands, along with a chakra restorative and three healing potions. Just because she was annoying earlier in the mission didn't mean I'd let everyone else possibly suffer because of it.

"Once all current threats are eliminated, Maia, Daichi, Hanabi, Ino, and the children will group up and head north-east, back towards the Land of Fire, but not directly towards the village to possibly keep them off of our trail. Nobori and I will set a false trail back towards the clan's house, to further throw them off. The next night we'll group up and head for home from there. Any questions?" All of us shook our heads. While we knew it wouldn't be as easy as all that, it was good to have a plan laid out. It just softened the chaotic blow when everything went insane.

"I do want one survivor, to question. We need to know if anything else like this is going on, or any other plans. If possible, spare the one who looks to be the captain of the mission." My students blanched, but Shikamaru and Ino looked confused, but not disturbed. They understood the reality of our world.

"I thought I'd heard you wrong before, when you'd said you'd interrogated someone. You're really part of the Interrogation Unit?" Shikamaru asked.

"Unfortunately, I am, and I know all the terrible tricks of the trade." Shikamaru whistled in appreciation of what I did. I cleared my throat self consciously.

"If thats all, I'll hand out camp assignments." I looked around for a moment, making sure everyone was clear of the plan. "Daichi, you go gather wood and start a fire. Nobori, find a clean river and fill our cooking pot. Hanabi, Shikamaru - you two scout the perimeter and make sure all is well. Ino, you and I will go over the hypodermics I just handed you." Everyone split up to do as I ordered them. I went over all the liquids in careful detail, ensuring she knew exactly what everything was. After drilling her in the antidotes and potions, I let her go for dinner. Daichi and I had first watch tonight, so I set up a spot in the camp that I could survey the entire clearing easily while dinner was being served. After eating quickly, the other four turned in, leaving the night to Daichi and I.

It was two days later, early in the afternoon, when we finally found our targets. There were ten of them, not including the children, which was more than we had counted on. Not that it mattered as much - our plan remained the same. All we had to do was stay undetected and find a place to attack them. We couldn't surprise them nearly as easily in the Land of Fire - they were from Orochimaru, who knew our land well - so we had to do it soon. I sent everyone but myself and Daichi to scout for a good location to take them at - Daichi and I would follow discreetly and make sure we didn't lose them.

Predictably, it was Shikamaru who found a spot for us. The four of them moved into positon while Daichi and I trailed them to our chosen spot. It was a good distance away, so it took time to get there, but they arrived there without fail or delay after an hour or so of running.

While Shikamaru lauched the first phase of our attack plan, Daichi and I moved into our own positions. I scrambled up a tree that gave me a good view of the ground below us, and of our enemies. When I was high enough, I tugged out my kunais and waited for Shikamaru to launch the second stage of the plan. I was holding four deadly kunai - I didn't want this fight to last long, and I didn't want any but that one survivor.

A murmured command from Shikamaru had me carefully launching my kunai into the clearing with rapid precision. I left the ones holding the children alone, as well as the one who seemed to be the leader. Four slumped forward in death - mine. Nobori probably didn't feel comfortable with killing, and had used a different poison. I threw one more kunai into those standing, and then initiated the third part of our plan - the actual rescue. It required us to get up close and personal with the captors.

"How much longer can you hold them, Shika?" I heard Ino ask over the microphone.

"Not much longer - hurry up, Maia!" Unfortunately, as the two of us touched down, the jutsu released the five surviving enemy. I saw one fall over in sleep, but the rest of Nobori's kunai were littered within the bodies of the ones I had killed. Damn, we'd picked the same targets. How unfortunate for us. I released a senbon and threw it into the leg of one carrying a little girl. Then, I swept down and plucked her from his arms as his leg buckled. Then, I was knocked off my feet by one of the enemy; I tucked my body around the girl to keep her from harm, as she shrieked and cried in fear. Once I hit the ground, I rolled up onto my feet, before leaping towards the edge of the clearing.

"Daichi, south side of the clearing, with me, now!" I ordered, landing and placing the girl on the ground against the tree. "Now, sweetheart, you need to stay right here so you don't get hurt. We're the good guys, here to protect you, okay?" I told her in my best soothing voice. Then Daichi landed next to me with the other kid, the boy.

"Did you run into any problems?" I asked, looking into the fray.

"Something's happened. Ino's looking after Nobori." I'd have demanded more information, but just then a Sound shinobi came at us. I slung Daichi and his charge behind me and threw two senbons at the man. I missed, but they thudded harmlessly into a tree - thankfully. I dodged a punch and leaped over a sweep, before making the seals for Leaf Blades. As they swarmed him, I lunged at him with a kunai, only to be stopped by Shikamaru's shadow.

"Maia, that's the captain!" I dissapated what I could of my attacking jutsu, and as soon as I was released from the shadows I dropped the kunai to the ground, only to pull out another coated with paralysis, which I shoved into his arm at the first chance. "That's the last of them, Maia."

"Good. How's Nobori?" I asked, turning to pull the girl back into my arms. She was such a small little thing - there was no way she'd know the secrets of the clan. I wondered what they were thinking, grabbing this little one.

"Maia... it's looking really bad. He's not reacting to anything - I mean, he's healing, but he's not moving or talking." That was Ino, and her voice was filled with nothing but fear and frustration. I rushed over to the two, thrusting the child into Shikamaru's arms as I passed him. What I saw made me stop short. He was laying in a pool of his own blood next to Ino, who had her hands over the wound in his stomach. It wasn't the wound that bothered me - I'd seen, and had, worse. It was the kunai in his stomach - it was wrapped with dark blue linen, my marker for a paralysis; my own weapon had been used against my teammate.

"Did you administer the antidote?" I asked, placing my hands over hers to augment her chakra flow. Thankfully they hadn't picked up a different kunai of mine - there were so many in the battle field that were coated with deadly poison.

"I haven't had time for that yet; I've been trying to stop the bleeding!" She growled at me.

"Well then, that's why he's not responding, Ino. He's paralyzed." I looked down at the boy and pulled out an antidote to the paralysis, injecting it into his shoulder.

"Come on, now, you're going to be fine." I muttered, letting Ino take what she needed of my chakra.

"Ugh. Why do you get the fun poisons?" He demanded as soon as he could make his tongue work. I couldn't help it, I laughed.

"Because I have to baby you - didn't you listen to Ino before?"

"Cheap answer, and you know it."

"I'll think of something better next time, I promise."

"If there's a next time, I'm gonna kill you sensei." I smiled as I rose to my feet.

"Okay. Daichi, Shikamaru - Take the children far away from here and make camp. Ino, I want Nobori ready to travel as soon as possible. Hanabi, go with Shikamaru and Daichi and make sure no one sneaks up on them. Understood?"

"What are you going to do?" Ino asked from her place next to Nobori.

"I have some questions for that guy over there." She blanched. "I'd move him, but I don't want him to break free from my paralysis and jump me."

"Well, I haven't gotten to witness an interrogation. I guess it'll be educational."

"You obviously have absolutely no idea what you're talking about, Ino. My form of interrogation uses poison, something the others usually don't resort to."

While the others left the clearing I turned to her.

"You must adhere to the rules all chuunins must follow when observing, except one since you're healing our boy there. Here's the rules you have to follow. You may not speak of what you hear in this interrogation to anyone besides myself, Nobori, Hokage-sama, and anyone else she or I choose to give the information to. Once we begin, you may not leave until the interrogation is over. Do you understand these terms as I have explained them?"

"Yes, Maia."

"Usually you'd have one more rule, which is if I require assistance at any time, you are obligated to help me. However, you're busy and I won't risk Nobori for your aid. Now. You understand that you are not permitted to leave until I allow you, no matter how awful it gets?"

"Yes, Maia."

"Good. Now, turn off your microphone and Nobori's. No one but the three of us are allowed to hear what happens in this clearing. Leave your earpiece on, just in case." I switched off my microphone and turned to the captive. "This isn't going to be pretty, since we're in a clearing and not an interrogation chamber."

I cleared his system of the paralysis poison I had injected into him earlier. Then I positioned him on his back with his legs bound together. I'd hate to lose him after going to so much trouble to get him, but I needed his arms free to try to break him. It was a risk, leaving them unbound, but I'd have to take it. Besides, I had Ino to help me if he really managed to get free. As I worked, I counted slowly to one hundred. I knew, from experimentation and past doses, that after one hundred seconds the antidote would have fully removed the poison from their system. So, he wouldn't be able to get the jump on me because I knew exactly when he'd be able to move. The instant I hit one hundred, I stepped on his hand with my right foot and put my left on his chest.

"Don't even think about moving. What's your name?" Of course, I didn't get an answer. I did, however, get a suddenly writhing and flailing man under my foot. My left foot moved up to his throat and gently pressed, casually cutting off his air. He stopped as quickly as he started, and I released the pressure enough for him to breathe.

"What's your name?" Still silence, but at least he didn't writhe. "You have two options here. Tell us what you know now, or tell us after you suffer the worst I can offer. It's your choice, but you willtell us everything I want to know." He didn't speak. "Very well. Remember you chose this." Then I dug my heel visciously into his palm and I felt the fragile bones within shatter. He cried out in pain, but the noise was sharply cut off as he bit down on his lip.

"Still nothing? I can break other parts of your body if you'd like." When he kept quiet, I forced him onto his back. It wasn't easy or simple - he fought the whole way, but I somehow managed.

"What are you going to do?" Ino asked warily, peering at me from her spot next to Nobori.

"You'll see, Ino. Try to stay quiet, please." Looking disgruntled, she continued healing with her mouth shut. I levered the man's right arm up and stepped onto the shoulder blade. "I will break your shoulder joint if you do not give me your name. Come on, it's just a small thing - nothing very important."

"Chikafusa. My name - it's Chikafusa."

"See, was that so bad? Now, Chikafusa, tell me. Why did you capture such a young girl and a pre-teen boy?" He hesitated, and I pushed on his arm again, but he didn't tell me. So, I had no choice but to press until there was a shuddering crack, then a pop, and he screamed again - and this time he didn't cut it off. Still, he didn't speak, didn't tell me what I wanted to know. Nothing else I did worked - cutting off his air, breaking his leg; nothing. I had to resort to my poison.

"It will be over soon." I told Ino over my shoulder, once I'd stabbed the kunai into his shoulder. I heard her murmuring to Nobori, probably asking about what I had just done. He responded just as quietly, and then there was no sound from them.

"Now. Answer my question. Why did you kidnap those children?" He took some time, but finally he broke, and through weezes, screams, and moans, I got what I wanted.

"Orders. O-Orochi-maru. He or-ordered us."

"Yes, yes. You're a Sound assault squad, I knew he ordered you. Why such a young girl and an older boy. Why not two older children?"

"S-She is-is the o-only mem-member of the-the-the head fam-family lef-left. Had to." And, since she was a girl of a head family, her name would carry over any male she married. Her children would create the new Nagano clan, by all rights. Orochimaru could create the clan again, under his thumb.

"And the boy?"

"He-He knows. Knows... jutsu." And if he knew it, he could teach it to any offspring and the girl.

"Are there more attacks like this occurring? Is he killing off more clans for their jutsus?"

"I don't... I don't know." Of course not. He'd only be told what he needed and no more.

"Very well. You have been very helpful to me, and I thank you for that." I slipped a senbon down between my fingers. "I hope you find peace." I threw it into his throat - he was dead soon after. Then I turned to Ino, who was tremblimg and staring at the body from her spot next to my genin. It was clear she was done - her shaking hands were in her lap and he wasn't bleeding.

"Ino. Ino!" She turned to look at me. "It's done. You may go to camp, now. Do not tell anyone what you heard." She needed no more incentive. In a flash, she was out of the clearing and asking for directions to camp. I listened to Hanabi guide her to their camp. I briefly butted in to ask Shikamaru to transfer to channel 2 - we were currently in 3, but I needed to talk to him.

"What is it, Maia?"

"Do you think the Nagano kept scrolls and records of their techniques and history?"

"Probably. If they were like any other clan, I'd say most definitely."

"Do you think the assault squad left them behind? Should we risk going to get them? They might prove to be invaluable." There was a long pause while Shikamaru deliberated the action. This was why I was glad he came along - he was better at weighing these things than I was.

"It's worth looking into. It would take us at least a week or two, probably closer to two. Then we'd have to get back home, before Orochimaru sends out a new squad when he realizes his first failed."

"I think it's worth the risk, if you agree."

"You're the boss, Maia."

"Fine. We're going after those scrolls, starting tomorrow. I'll ask the boy if they even left the clan home intact. Take care of Ino - she should get there soon, and she'll need a friend."

"Such a drag. Alright, alright, I'll do it."

"Thanks. I'll be there soon. Let's flip back." We transferred channels, and I gently scooped up my genin. He was too weak and tired to make it back by himself, and we both knew it. With minimal fuss, we were on our way in minutes.

"Hanabi, bring us in."