Ninety minutes. I swear that was about as much rest I could get before Sarutobi so rudely awakened me to keep watch. Normally he'd lambast me for taking my time to get up but no. Obviously the looming presence of Soundies certainly kept anyone from making a scene. However I wish one of us would. When I got up Ino was still in her catatonic state, her eyes still open as if she had seen a specter of sorts. I wondered if she even slept a wink. Choji was passed out but from the looks of it had tried for a while with his arm still clutching Ino. I tried not to think too much about her condition even if she was my friend. I had bigger things to worry about, mainly my own survival and the ever-present threat of a Sound patrol just stumbling upon us.
"You're on for another hour Nara, then we leave."
"Still no word from the other plane sergeant?"
"Nah…any transmission the damn Soundies would get a lock on. We'd be proper fucked."
"I see…"
"Yamanaka's still out of it huh?"
"Yeah sergeant, poor girl's spooked to shit. Choji did what he could but it wasn't enough. She annoys the crap outta me sarge, but man…"
"Life doesn't give out fairness in equal amounts Nara. Just feel lucky you weren't in that shitstorm. I'm going to try and get a little rest. Keep watch with Temari."
"Ok."
It was like staring into an eternal blackness, the ambience of the forest adding little to no comfort for me. A snapping twig, an animal call, the rustling of leaves, all of which were doing enough to get my hairs to stand on end. To top that all off, the rather annoying concern I had for my currently shocked comrade gnawed in the back of my mind little by little, like a small mouse nibbling away inside a house wall. My scope was nigh worthless and I'd have to rely on my already high-alert instincts to not wind up like the corpses down the hill. Then my subconscious got threw me off. What if it were me, or Choji, or Naruto? What if Hinata was down there instead of Ino? How greatly would that affect Naruto and our mission if those two were like that?
I turned to see Naruto clutching his rifle while lying face down in the thin-layered mat the Water guys provided us, his little buddy Konohamaru close by. The both of them were as calm as babies after having warm milk. I found it rather startling since we had just survived a plane crash and were currently in hiding. Maybe the thoughts of returning to Hinata were giving him some inner peace? I certainly hoped we all returned in one peace and not in a box.
"The enemy's out there crybaby." A poke to the back woke me up from that momentary trance. "Quit lookin' in yer noggin."
"Worry about yourself Temari and help me keep a lookout."
"Fine, fine…" She too seemed a little calmer than usual. She was typically the more excitable one of us yet she was either masking it or just didn't feel it at all. I wondered…was it the prospect of finding this "traitor" she and Kankuro seem so hell bent on that kept her motivated?
Sarutobi always warned me about letting vendettas get in the way of the mission. I typically found it a bother to try and hold a grudge over a general enemy even with the talking heads back in Konoha screaming for blood and vengeance. However, my wounds were merely superficial. What happened to those two and what happened to Ino, well…those were gaping chest holes that still bled. The Sound killed their families with little compunction. They had every right to be thirsting for justice, but as Sarutobi said, if they let this get in the way of their mission, they could get distracted and get killed. Worse, if they weren't focused they could get me or one of my other buddies killed. I knew better than to try to preach that to Temari. I could only hope that he and her brother maintained some form of mental discipline to not be led astray. Better yet, I hoped more that Ino would not rush into the enemy and get perforated like a piece of cheese, instead doing what she was trained to do, to be a medic.
"Knock off whatever you're doing corporal and keep your eyes outside!" Sergeant Mitarashi hissed at me from across the room. She and Sarutobi took turns watching over all of us and with him falling asleep I felt powerless to counter her since he was the only one outside of the captain and first sergeant who could. "God damn, how Asuma deals with you sometimes…"
I paid little heed to her incoherent babble and instead just followed orders. Faint rumblings in the distance gave us the impression that something big was going down, but was it another attack the generals planned that we didn't know about or was it one of our task forces? Pray to the heavens that it wasn't Inari and the rest of our group. I couldn't stop focusing on the big picture when I needed to really concentrate on what was directly in front of me.
"See anything at all Temari?"
"Nope…just some spooky fog and the trees in front of me." No shit Temari. That's all there is in this God-forsaken area…that and those corpses.
"Those damn corpses…" I squeaked out quietly. I didn't mean to though.
She sighed. "I know…they're in my head too. Brings back memories I wished were long dead, memories I hope will fade when this is all over."
"Suna…"
"I've been away from my home for over two and a half years now. I can't even remember certain parts of it that I knew like the back of my hand. But I'll remember one thing, and that's the very rape of my city the Sound committed. Everything I've told you before and everything now is in more painstaking detail than I'd like to remember."
"And these…"
"They were something I immediately regretted getting a look at."
"I'm sorry."
She shrugged her shoulders. "Not your fault."
Almost an hour passed and still nothing. Damn were we lucky. I was sure as sure there'd be a Sound patrol or something flying around her. Five more minutes later my suspicions were sadly confirmed with another low roar in the distance.
"Shit…"
"Halftracks?" Temari wondered.
Mitarashi silenced everyone on guard. "No…sounds way too faint and whirring to be halftracks. Sounds more like…a recon plane?"
We all paused a little bit to get a bead on what that sound was and sadly it became eerily familiar to when we made our dynamic entry into this accursed land.
"Shit it is a recon plane! Everyone get down!" Mitarashi hurriedly flattened herself wherever there was space.
"Stay away from the windows!" The Water LT said aloud from another section of the small cabin.
Temari and I huddled against the bottom of the window we were looking through. We could feel the blinding light of the plane hover over the entire landscape as it made a pass over the cottages. It was by sheer luck we could fit everyone in otherwise we'd be screwed. A minute later it made another pass with the light beaming right inside the room.
"Stay perfectly still…" Temari whispered. No need to tell me twice toots.
Again the droning faded away only to come right back with the light shining right on top of us. What that was to prove I don't know, but a few seconds later I thought of the terrible purpose of it if it wasn't for aerial photography. We could only hope it didn't manage to spot any of us that were awake and even worse those that were asleep like Naruto. We all feared another pass but surprisingly that was it. The droning seemed to fade away.
"It's gone?" Toyama whispered to Temari and me.
"Sounds like it."
"Shit…this is bad."
"Well no shit private." Mitarashi again butted herself in. "Soundies must've gotten the hint that it wasn't just those dead in the planes. Regardless of whether that saw us or not, we're gonna have to scoot it the fuck outta here. Asuma?"
He grumbled something being rudely awakened and whatnot. What he actually said I didn't care to decipher.
"C'mon Asuma we gotta cheese it. Fuckin' recon plane flew over again."
"Damn it…"
"It's a rare moment for me but you are correct sergeant. The Sound will most likely send a patrol or two our way. Anything larger and our goose is cooked. Anyone up, get the troopers up and reform your kits. We don't have much time."
Everyone scurried about in a massive gagglefuck panicking to get their kits rolled up and equipment back on.
"Ino we gotta move." Choji nudged her and practically no response. "Ino I'm serious the Sound's gonna be here!"
"Private! Get up." Asuma hoisted Ino up and dusted her off. "You gotta listen to me private. I know what happened. I know it's fucked up, but if you don't get out of your funk we're going to be the ones fucked up all right? C'mon Yamanaka…it's Sergeant Sarutobi talkin'. I know how you feel but we're still on a mission."
She didn't say anything but somehow still acknowledged him. Certainly not as quick as the others, she nonetheless hurried to get moving.
"Scan the area troopers! We gotta make sure we're not bailing out right into a trap." A Water sergeant commanded above the chatter. Anyone ready, Temari and myself included, nervously peered through the windows hoping not only to not see any lights but not catch a bullet to the face. From what the both of us saw the coast looked clear, even if the damn coast was barely visible fifty feet out.
The other soldiers whispered across the rooms. "Looks good on this side."
"All clear here."
"Clear."
"Good. Let's bloody leg it." The LT was the first one out, rather admirable considering should the Sound have laid a trap she'd be the first one to die. Alas, no shooting. She lives for another day. Asuma was next out and making sure all of his squad including myself and Temari were out and ready.
"Let's go 3rd…can't waste all night hustling out." Some of the soldiers rather than line up like ducks in a row bailed out through the windows. Not as tactical but just as effective I'm sure. Choji had the double duty of lugging his weapon and trying to get Ino out, certainly no easy task given her mental state. I stuck close to Temari as we finally got outside.
In front of us Naruto and Konohamaru were posting security waiting for Sergeant Mitarashi and the rest to catch up. In a matter of mere seconds and much to my surprise the LT had full accountability and we were off. It wasn't a dead sprint otherwise we'd be deader from exhaustion. Nah it was more like a steady jog, but still troublesome nonetheless. I should've been worried about the cold sweat that'd get at least one of us sick as a dog sooner or later, but catching a bullet from the Sound was a lot more frightening.
"Let's go people! We have to head northwest." The LT tried to use her command voice but failed. We didn't care. We were too busy trying to evade the Sound to argue.
I could feel Sarutobi's breath right behind me. "Keep it close third. Akimichi, keep your eye on Yamanaka. Nakamura, give him a hand with the ammo."
"Right sergeant."
Muffling the noise was a luxury we couldn't enjoy despite our best efforts. We were way too concerned with getting out of the area as soon as possible and praying we didn't run right into a patrol or even worse, an ambush. Soldiers were tripping on tree roots and whatever else there was on the ground. You mix the dead of night with half-awake men and women running like hell and you're bound for trouble. Another five minutes of this and it was as if we all gasped for air in unison. Fallen trees, stumps, rocks, whatever we could find we jumped behind, swinging our weapons in all directions as if we were surrounded. What am I saying? We are surrounded.
"Nara!" I could feel his leathery mitt on my shoulder. "Take this map here. Go scout ahead with Temari and a couple of the Water soldiers. It's just like when we bailed from the plane. Got it?"
"Ok sergeant…c'mon Temari let's move." Getting up was such a pain in the ass. The bruises from the hard landing already made it uncomfortable, but all this movement…it hurt. Luckily I wasn't alone. Temari, albeit just as caring about her pride as me, also showed the same grimaces of pain when she moved alongside me. My kind of woman, eh?
It didn't take us long to catch up to the other two Water soldiers, a couple of privates we never really got the time to wax eloquent with. Didn't matter though...
"Keep moving troopers!" The lead Water private muttered out with her rather delicate voice. "Keep that vision on a swivel."
We moved in bounds and by buddy team. The two Water fellas kept to themselves and really only bothered to communicate by hand signal. I didn't complain seeing as how Temari and I were doing the exact same thing. As I said before, now was not the time to wax eloquent.
"Anything yet Temari?"
"You serious with that question Shikamaru?"
"No…no I wasn't." Seriously…I wasn't.
Some rustling on the ground was heard in the distance. In a panic the two privates spread out and laid as flat as they could. Temari and I found some cover behind some trees.
I tapped Temari on the shoulder to signal. "I'm going to look. Cover me."
"Ok."
Closing my eyes for a brief second to let them adjust to the darkness even more, I lifted my head up ever so slowly and brought my Springfield to bear. Nothing. The rustling continued and I jerked the rifle to the right, practically above Temari's head. Closer and closer the sound got to us. My heart quickened and my finger slid gently towards the trigger. I was just waiting for some Sound soldier to come skulking about, waiting to get the drop on us. Not this time asshole…not this time. I still couldn't see.
"What?" Temari faintly whispered.
"Shhhhh…" The rustling got more frantic. It was as if something was charging at us. I looked through the scope again as the figure started to form itself. This was the deciding moment. Did I dare pull the trigger? Damn this blinding night! It's getting closer…and then…it emerged.
I damn near shot the thing, but to my surprise it was no Soundie at all. It was a deer, a lone buck just travelling through the dark woods. Thank God I didn't shoot it. It'd damn reveal all of our positions.
"It's a bloody deer?"
"Yeah apparently…" I commented to the Water private. "C'mon big guy…get outta here It's dangerous.. Wouldn't want ya to get hurt now right?" I thought to myself as the thing ran off, leaving us to collect our breaths after that near scare.
Temari sighed in relief. "Oh man for a second there I thought…" Before she could finish a chunk of wood exploded right near her face followed by one that kicked up a bunch of leaves and dirt. It was by a miracle that she wasn't pasted right then and there.
"Down!" I screamed impulsively and fired a potshot back where I thought the round came from. I was answered by a burst fire that scraped alongside the trees to the left of me.
"Ran right into the bastards!" The Water private to my right whined. Her other companion was too busy scrambling for cover. Another staccato burst of bullets smacked the ground near her. Had she not rolled to the right she'd have likely been dead.
"We gotta get back to the others to help us! Yuria, get your arse back to the leftenant and tell them we're in it thick! We'll try an' hold 'em off!"
"Think that's such a good idea private?" I challenged his logic on that last part on this but I knew the other option of full retreat might not have done us any good either.
"Whatever works Shikamaru…get moving!" Temari screamed to the private who sped off like a bat out of hell. She turned back to fire a round but judging by the lack of a yell or crumple to the ground, she hit precisely zilch. "Damn it all! Cover me while I reload."
She didn't have to tell me twice. I made out a faint figure and hurriedly pumped out a round. The shadow yelped a bit and fell to the ground. Unfortunately with that kill the fire got heavier. These trees weren't doing much for cover to start, but if we didn't get help immediately we'd be lying flat just like the logs we were behind. When I ran out of ammo Temari was there to cover me. The other soldier sprayed away with his Sten, certainly being the greater effort in containing them.
A loud thump hit the ground near us, something all too familiar. "GRENADE!" I screamed pulling Temari down with me. A few seconds later the entire ground shook and my hearing was near shot. The fire intensified, denying Temari and I any opportunity to get a shot off. I couldn't hear our Water comrade's submachine gun's firing and when I got my sight back my heart sank to see the lad twitching as a few bullets flew right into him. If we could get our hands on his Sten we could last maybe a little longer, but the fire was too harassing.
"Where's that fucking help?!?" My paramour screamed at the top of her lungs huddled behind another piece of cover. Loud footsteps accompanied the rifle fire which only meant one thing, the enemy got a bead on us and were closing in. The first soldier ran straight towards us but Temari struck him down without batting an eyelid. A bullet screamed across her shoulder and tore the fabric off. Judging by the lack of rolling around and cursing, I assumed she was lucky enough not to be hit.
A grenade went off in front of us but also by sheer luck we were spared its fury. Two Sound soldiers rushed in, one of them probably equipped with a submachine gun sprayed a volley above us. His zeal proved to be his downfall as I got up and plugged him straight in the chest. Temari dealt with his friend as she too fell to the ground. The more we thought we held them at bay the more we realized they were getting closer.
"We gotta bail Temari! We gotta get back to Sarutobi before we're…" Before I could finish a brutal-looking Sound soldier jumped atop the log, a sharpened entrenching tool in hand. Crazy fucker wanted to hack us to death…
"Oh shit…" Temari muttered as the men licked his lips and was about to pounce. A few seconds later as I closed my eyes expecting a gruesome end I felt hot spurts of blood on my skin…but it wasn't mine. I quickly opened to see the man, with utter shock on his face, keel over and die. Another burst of gunfire flew over my head towards the Soundies, and it came from a weapon I recognized all too well.
"Never a fuckin' dull moment with you eh Nara?" That gruff son of a bitch screamed at me as he and Mitarashi pumped rounds into our barely invisible enemy. Behind him was the entire task force including that Water girl who ran to get them all.
"Got real sporty sergeant!" I screamed back as more rounds whizzed by. My comrades were smart enough not to just run right into the fracas…barring Sarutobi who just slid himself in between Temari and I. "Patrol must've heard us…that or they were waiting."
"Well now's not the time to investigate. We gotta push through or more are gonna be on their way. I'll help you keep them focused while 4th squad flanks!"
"We don't even know where they are!"
He frowned. "They're in front of us…is that good enough of an answer?" I had to hand it to him. It wasn't the answer I was looking for but he shut me up while making a point. To my right, the distinctive rapid-fire report of Naruto's B.A.R. echoed through the woods. I'm sure he just emptied an entire magazine with little regard for precision as was typically his style. This time I wouldn't criticize because I was basically doing the same thing. This damnable night made it nigh impossible to tell who you saw if they weren't twenty-five to fifty feet from you.
The flashes of muzzles provided the light I needed to get a glimpse of an MG team setting up.
"Temari! We got a gun crew setting up…wax 'em! Wait for the flashes!"
She nodded and while Sarutobi and the rest of the squad provided us some badly needed cover fire, we waiting until we could see the faces and body frames of our adversaries. It was difficult as all hell but we wouldn't be the best if we couldn't do it. The crew got some rounds off towards Ino's direction, the bullets spattering the dirt around her but she didn't seem to care. Choji nearly had a heart attack right then and there and tackled her behind cover. To our fortune she went down unscathed and we had just that moment to fire away at the gun crew, silencing them both before they could fire again.
"Nice shooting guys. Cover the rest of us while we advance!" After reloading his magazine, Sarutobi sprung up and fired a couple more bullets towards the hidden enemy. "Advance third!" The heavy thuds of boots shook the ground around us as even the Water troopers advanced under weakening enemy fire. After a minute there seemed to be no one left shooting at us.
"Everyone all right?" Huddling together the LT tried to stifle her shouting but since the cat was already out of the bag few gave a shit.
"We lost Trooper Tazawa upon initial contact." The same woman who ran for help spoke up sullenly.
"Damn…any other casualties."
"Got a lightly wounded trooper but he's still able…just some scratches."
"Patch him up quickly and let's bloody leg it. Gather whatever you can from the dead. From what I can tell we'll be needing it."
Sarutobi turned to Temari and I. "You heard the LT. Scavenge for some ammo and maybe an extra weapon. I know I'm grabbing one."
We had no qualms even if I felt slightly dirty looting the battlefield like a vulture on a carcass. I set my sights on a nice-looking MP40 while Temari grabbed some semi-automatic weapon…something that was obviously a response to our Garand.
"C'mon Ino…let's get moving." Again she pulled on the dead weight for poor Choji. "Ino…please…" I turned and although I couldn't see her face I could feel the aura of emptiness or something far worse. Choji didn't want to be rough with her but she only exacerbated matters.
She mumbled something out that none of us could make out. I would've asked her in more detail but we were too fixated on getting the hell out of there. The dead Water trooper was left behind much to our comrades' dismay but not without his supplies. As grim as it was to say, the dead were quite valuable with their leftovers to help the rest of the unit. The added weight was surprisingly not much of a burden and actually multiplying our firepower with spare weapons was exactly what we needed.
"What's the read on the compass?"
Concealing himself as much as possible, the soldier put his flashlight over it and got a quick read. "North northwest ma'am."
"Well at least we're in the generally right direction. Damn night just won't go away…"
Sarutobi stepped forward. "Same thing as before Nara. You, Temari, and two others scout ahead."
"I'll go sarge." Naruto stepped forward ambitiously. "Private Konohamaru will come with me." Sarutobi wasn't too thrilled to hear that since that little skirmish one in four of the scouting party was killed. He just huffed and refused to argue it.
"They need a little firepower up front Asuma." Anko stepped in supporting Naruto. "Besides, Uzumaki's too stupid or stubborn to die and with your corporal leading at least you've got a stable head."
"Good point. Ok private get up front."
"Let's go Konohamaru."
"Right behind ya boss."
I winced a little bit, a wee apprehensive having someone as tactful as an elephant up front with us. I'd have to keep him and the protégé on a tight leash. Temari I rarely if ever worried about but these two raised hairs and to boot they were close friends of mine.
"Ok Naruto, I'll leave it at this, keep quiet, keep low, and for God's sake keep your eyes peeled."
"Jeez what's got your panties in a bunch?"
"Well last time this happened one of our guys got pasted. God forbid that happens to you, me, Temari, or the boy. Sarutobi would have our heads should something happen to him."
He gulped. "That's motivation enough for me…" As strange as it sounded, Naruto didn't fear the enemy. No…in fact he feared only a select few, the captain, Sergeant Mitarashi, and of course Sarutobi.
After his little comment we were dead silent for the rest of the time. We were all a little surprised there wasn't as much commotion since that clash about fifteen or so minutes ago. Perhaps it was an isolated patrol…or did we give them the slip all too quickly? A low rumbling emerged from the left.
"You all hear that?" Temari whispered.
"Yeah I do."
"I think that's…oh damn. Keep low!" Temari huddled everyone under a small ditch. I didn't know why until I saw the lights. Shit, mounted infantry. Upon closer inspection I saw tire tracks and a bare stretch of road…figures we hit an intersection. I was sure that Temari and her Sand comrades were used to all this sneaking about at night and dodging patrols.
"What is it?" Konohamaru asked.
"Sound trucks. Most likely carrying loads of soldiers. Just be very quiet and don't move a muscle." She put some foliage on herself and we followed. The engines got louder and our hearts pumped faster.
"Please don't stop here, please don't stop here, please don't stop here…" The thought ran through my head like a broken record. If they found us they'd have us dead to rights. Sure enough, the trucks started slowing down. "SHIT!"
"Not a fuckin' muscle…" Temari muttered taking advantage of the trucks to speak. Spotlights glared through the trees above us. We could hear the enemy conversing and ordering.
"Scan the area troops! The damn Leafers are around here somewhere!" That must've been a sergeant or someone higher up.
"Sergeant! Should we dismount? There was a skirmish before with one of 1st Platoon's squad. They're all dead."
"Please say no…"
"As much as I'd like to strike back at those snaky assholes, not right now corporal. Our job here is to patrol the roads. Figured the Leafers and their Water lapdogs would be dumb enough to not traverse through these woods and stick to the roads. We'll make a pass up ahead and then turn around. Keep your eyes peeled everyone. They're around here somewhere. Driver, move forward."
"Yes sergeant!" The trucks dimmed their spotlights and moved on. My sudden urge to wet myself just faded and without disaster.
"Shit that was close, believe it…"
"Nice one using that line in oh I don't know…the most inappropriate time."
"Shut up ya cavemen." Temari butted herself in. "Let's get moving before they make another pass which I could assume would be in between five to thirty minutes."
"Kind of a large window Temari."
"Fuck if I know how long the road is."
"Are we supposed to be quiet corporal?" Konohamaru meekly said reminding us to stay tactful. Add one point to the sergeant's nephew I guess.
It was the same as before, heads on a swivel, feet hitting the ground as speedily but also as quiet as humanly possible, the noises of the wind and animals keeping our hearts and minds on full alert. The small thought of Ino crept into my mind of how she first did nothing when that MG fired upon her and then whatever she said afterwards. I didn't have the time to ask Choji about it but then again I wondered if he even heard. Her case concerned me. It wasn't like Hinata who was just becoming dangerous to prove herself to Naruto but learn that she never had to. I knew that with Naruto, Hinata could better take care of herself. No…this was something far worse. Hinata's family wasn't killed by a rocket nor did she have to fall face first into a muddy ditch of corpses. Hinata also had a man she could be with for comfort and love. Temari lost nearly everything save for her brother Kankuro and me, but even upon meeting her for the first time I knew she was made of the harder stuff to endure such tragedies. Ino in her hesitation and muddled thought process hadn't reached that point which made it all the scarier. I mean, she was the innocent albeit superficial prom queen of all of us, and now that world was falling apart she didn't make an effort to not show it. The look that I've seen on her face I've seen before. When a person just stops caring even at the prospect of dying, that's the true sign of danger. When this was all said and done provided she survives the ordeal we, and I emphasize Choji, need to snap her out of this. I could only wish Sarutobi had some sort of plan to bring the old Ino back. So far the man hasn't failed me and even with Ino I believe in his ability.
I paused. "Focus on where the enemy is Shikamaru…"
"Anything up ahead boss?" Konohamaru nervously inquired. Naruto put a finger to his lips to shut the boy up. Good boy Naruto. Looks like you can be taught.
We traversed through the woods for another ten minutes, afraid to look at a compass and relying on our instinctual judgment to convince ourselves we were still heading in the right direction. I had lost track of time and just how far we've been travelling though I was sure that LT had the scoop on where we were. Konohamaru went back and reported the situation and when he returned we sighed in relief that they weren't spotted by the trucks and made it safely across the road.
From the corner of my eye I saw Naruto gently stroking the small ring sack again as if it became a nervous habit, but that wouldn't have been the Naruto I knew. The same kid I saw charge an assault tank with a mere satchel charge was the same who stood before me. I think maybe for the first time in his life he finally had someone else to look out for as his "father" Iruka did for him. The only problem was that she was quite a distance away and I knew that was going to have some effect on him Jeez, the feeling of that was troublesome and I hated it to the core. It disrupts the soldier to be ready for the mission and in times like these, the mission is the top priority. That's why I admired Sarutobi. Even with his "lady back home" that he mentioned from time to time, it seemed that he never wore his feelings on his sleeve and stone-faced himself for what mattered most, the mission.
"Listen…" Temari said quietly. Stopping dead in our tracks I could feel the hairs in my ears tingle with the low rumble of engines again. "They're coming back."
"Everyone get down." I ordered and they followed. The vegetation was a little thicker which helped us and the people behind us. "I'm gonna get back to Sarutobi. Don't move until I say so. Temari, you're in charge until I get back."
Naruto protested. "She's not even a rank…"
"Doesn't matter. She's in control because she knows what she's doing."
I couldn't quite make it out but it looked like a small smile from her lips. "Thanks, Shikamaru."
"Tch…whatever." I replied in my typical fashion as I sped towards Sarutobi. It took be a few minutes but I was finally able to make out their shapes.
"Nara! What's goin' on?"
"Well you see the trucks I gather, but sergeant…I have no idea where we're going right now and if we're even near the rocket base."
The ruffling of leaves caught our attention as a figure approached us. "I can help with that lads." The soft voice revealed the LT. Carefully she pulled out the map and used us to conceal the light. "We're about ten kilometers or so southeast of the base. Before our plan went to hell we were supposed to land northwest of it. Hopefully the other group made it through and we'd all consolidate on this point here. Turn your bearing…" she adjusted her compass while talking to me, "there. A little more northward corporal."
We felt the shine of the lights in the distance approach us but we were confident that they would do what they did before and pass.
"Do you think the others made it ma'am?" Sarutobi asked.
"Not sure…then again I'm not sure about much, but as much as it's unlike me to say this, I'm glad you're helping to lead this sergeant. I was wrong about you Leaf blokes. You're all right as all…"
"Shhhh…" I muttered. The lights that were moving stopped and turned off.
"Oh shit…they're gettin' off!"
"Bloody hell…move it, everyone!"
Sarutobi turned to me. "Nara get back up there and warn the others! Adjust your direction and double the pace."
I didn't bother with a reply as I sped to Temari as soon as possible. Sure enough there she was waiting for me.
"Shikamaru what's the…"
"No time to wait. Soundies are getting off the trucks and patrolling."
"Christ! We gotta get outta here."
"No shit Naruto…change course towards that way." I pointed to the right of our original direction and without haste Temari took off followed by Naruto and Konohamaru. Pine tree limbs and wind battered our faces as we raced to avoid the Sound soldiers creeping up behind us. It was a miracle they hadn't seen us but the farther away from us they were the better.
"Oh God…my lungs…" The boy Konohamaru whined as he desperately struggled to keep up with Naruto.
"Keep moving…squirt." Naruto said in between panting. "You wanna hang…with me…you gotta stay…with me."
"Right boss…" With renewed motivation he sped up to him.
We had reached a small clearing after about ninety minutes or so of some stop and go fast-paced movement. Lord knew how many kilometers we had made through all that. I felt like my lungs were about to burst but I wasn't alone. Periodic stops for security were the saving graces for the lot of us. For that whole time we had managed to shake off the Soundies coming at us and we hadn't heard a peep. So far, so good…right?
Naruto bent down to catch his breath. "Sweet Jesus…my legs…"
"So…the mighty Naruto…gets tired too huh?" I snidely retorted.
"I might be…I might be a lot of man…but I'm no superhuman."
Temari scoffed at our little banter. "You men and…your testosterone."
Loud shuffling erupted right behind us and in a panic we drew our weapons but luckily didn't fire. It was Sarutobi and the rest of the group.
"Shit…gotta…cut down on the cigs."
"I've been trying to tell you that sergeant."
"Shut up Nara."
"Right…that's enough chatter now. Get a perimeter going. Let's see here…" she pulled out the map again as we had found a some oddly places large stones and thick vegetation dispersed to cover behind. My original party got behind a concentration of rocks along the side of a ridge. It had been so dark that I failed to notice that the reason why there were so many stones was because we were near a small cliff. Lord knows what might've happened if I hadn't concentrated on where I was going. "It seems we're getting closer, but the rendezvous point isn't for another kilometer or so.
"So whaddaya think ma'am?" Mitarashi inquired.
"Well while we're maintaining security we'll have to figure that out sergeant."
"Ya think it's secure here?"
"Not sure…but it seems we broke off from the Sound and we might be in the clear. Besides, we should have some time to regroup before we move…" A sudden whizzing sound erupted and the sound of impact against clothing and flesh followed. One of the troopers next to the LT was struck square in the chest and flew backwards about a foot or two.
"Shit!"
"Cover! Get to cover!" Sarutobi screamed as he and the LT dove towards the nearest spot of rock. Another trooper went down from a stream of submachine gun fire and plopped right in the center of our perimeter. "Nara where's that coming from?!?"
"At the one o'clock! Naruto get some rounds down there! Four-round burst!" He wasn't in my squad but he sure as well was going to listen to me like it or not.
He surprisingly complied. "Right!" Round after round he pumped it into the shadows. A scream indicated he hit someone which put a smile on his face. "Fuckers comin' at us like sneak thieves! Konohama, help me out!"
"You got it boss!" In zealous fashion he let loose his entire clip from his Garand at the muzzle flashes hoping he'd hit something. Another yell for a medic brought a wide smile on his face, but the scream of pain from one of our own wiped it back off.
Bullets pinged off the stone I was hiding behind. I caught a faint muzzle flash and fired in that general direction. I heard no cry so I cursed out loud. Temari tried to lock onto another flash but she too missed.
"Naruto! Get your gun in our direction! Lay down some fire!"
"You got it Shika! C'mon short stuff let's help 'em out!" The two of them poured fire over our heads, allowing us to track on rifleman getting a bead on Choji. I denied him the satisfaction of killing my best friend with utter glee.
"Medic! We need a medic!"
"Ino you gotta go help her!" Choji yelled at her but she gave no reply. "Ino please!" She just curled up with her rifle clutched.
"Yamanaka! Get your ass moving right now!" Sarutobi screamed at the top of his lungs but to no avail.
Soldiers then rushed their position. Choji fell back along with Nazuka and Asano but Ino still stayed behind the rock. Most of the assaulters were cut down by Sarutobi and the LT but a few still managed to break through and sow panic.
"They're breaking through!"
"Shit! We're getting pummeled!"
"Ino! Ino help us out!" The enemy were more fixated on us than the easy prize of Ino…she just sat there motionless. I nearly feared she was dead.
"YAMANAKA!"
Choji was taken down by a rifle butt to the shoulder to which the enemy then pounced on him. He fought the first man off with a right hook and a kick to the midsection, Nazuka finishing off the downed man. However Choji was left without support when more enemy fire came pouring down on my squad. Asano was thrown off his feet and grappling with a Soundie. Sugiyama, Toyama, and Nakamura were huddling behind cover continuously being whittled away by enemy fire. The second Soundie knocked Choji down again and started choking him with his rifle. I couldn't get a shot off with all the bullets flying and the potential to hit my best friend was too great. I was powerless as I could hear the Soundie's taunts.
"Die you worthless Leafer! Die like the dog you are…"
"Gurkkk…In…Ino…" Choji's hand reached out for her, the poor girl shaking terribly.
"Ino!" I screamed being pinned by enemy fire. "Help us!"
"See how easy it is for me to kill you so tragically Leafer!"
"Hkkkkk…Ino…ggakkk…help…"
"She's too afraid like you should be. No one will help you now! Die!" I looked towards the rock to see no one there anymore. Then I heard a terrible scream, the scream of a woman who had just snapped. Ino ran towards the man, her Garand clutched like a bat.
"Gnahhhhh! No more…NO MORE!" The enemy barely had any time to respond as she swung it at his face with all her might. A terrible sound came out, the hard impact of steel and wood against flesh and bone, and the man was sent flying off of Choji. She turned it around and pumped two rounds into the man's chest. "Die! All of you!" The soldier was clearly dead but she wasn't convinced as she bashed his face into pulp with the butt stock. A few more Soundies came rushing into her view screaming with battle lust.
"YOU WILL ALL PAY!" She killed the first soldier with a few well aimed shots. "You killed my parents, you savages! They did nothing to you!!!" The next Soundie was a well-built woman who tried to shoot Ino point blank but with alarming quickness she evaded it before the shot was fired. The woman's yell was cut short by a hard blow to the stomach with Ino's rifle. "You destroyed my life!" The woman pulled out a pistol and the round scraped Ino's arm. Before another round could go off Ino yelled in rage and batted her arm away, the pistol being launched out. She then pounded the woman unmercifully with a flurry of blows quite similar to the beating that Naruto gave Neji when he attacked Hinata. The Soundie pulled out a knife and stabbed Ino's leg. She roared in pain.
"I'LL KILL YOU!" A loud crack rang out as Ino grabbed the woman's head and snapped her neck clean. Holy shit, it was like Hinata back in Hill 404 all over again. It was as if she paid no attention whatsoever to the bullets flying around her as she pulled the knife out.
"INO!" Choji came flying in and tackled a man trying to bayonet the raging girl as she took the same knife and plunged it into the dead woman's stomach. She seemed to not notice one bit as he wrestled with the assailant.
"Shikamaru! God damn it focus on your own people!" Temari slapped me upside the head as I could no longer concentrate on Ino's sudden psychosis. "We're getting shot up to bits!"
Already it seemed that we lost a couple more soldiers. First the Water trooper next to the LT, then another one, and to my right, Private Imaishi of 4th squad was on the ground. That was already three more that we lost bringing our numbers down to around thirty or so.
I brought my stolen MP40 to bear and fired some bursts at our closest enemies. I could only hit one of them as the other dove to cover. However three more emerged to support the lone gunman.
"More of them coming around our three o'clock boss!" Konohamaru screamed out.
"We gotta hold them off! We're not going to lose like this!" Naruto yelled back. "You keep firing until I say you're done!"
Our perimeter bunched up several meters to keep the Soundies from penetrating further. I was too busy in my own little world fighting them off and protecting Temari to even be concentrating on the rest. The random screams of fury I heard gave me the impression Ino was still alive. I could also hear Sarutobi and the others, but I knew it wouldn't be long until one of them stopped talking.
"Temari! Concentrate your fire on that shock trooper!" She switched to her semi-automatic rifle and fired away. The trooper hid behind a large tree and sprayed about ten bullets down our direction. I felt one of them strike my hair, the heated air flowing through my follicles. "Shit that was close!"
"Then keep your head down more!"
"Then I couldn't shoot the enemy numbskull!"
"You idiot Shikamaru…"
"Just friggin' shoot the bastards and stop this nonsense!"
Someone was sprinting towards us but judging by how he wasn't shooting at us, we assumed it was friendly. Temari grinned upon recognition. "Kankuro!"
"Yeah sis?"
"Oh thank God you're still alive…"
"Wouldn't wanna disappoint you and the others…"
"What others?"
"Never mind that. Real fuckin' shitstorm huh? Reminds me of that time in the borderline."
"We can reminisce later. We need some firepower and that Naruto guy can only do so much."
"Glad to help." He pulled out a couple stick grenades he looted and chucked them as far as humanly possible. The loud roars disrupted their movement and if we were lucky killed half of our attackers.
"Thanks bro."
"Anytime sis. Now let's fucking push these guys back!"
"Right on!" Naruto cheered as he looked to Konohamaru. "C'mon shortstuff. No reprieve for these pricks!"
Another group started to rush us and without hesitation we fired back.
"We're bloody surrounded!" I heard the LT scream in despair.
Mitarashi was seen right next to her. "Then we fight through them ma'am…we fuckin' drill right through them!"
"Look out!" Another Water trooper yelled as the horrifying visage of several Sound troops poured through again, firing away and killing another Water Airborne.
"Pull back! Pull back!"
"It's no use…we're cornered!" The co-pilot panicked firing her pistol at the enemy wildly, hitting no one.
"God damn it! Then if we go down…we kill as many as possible! Let them come!"
The Soundies came pouring right at us intent to finish us off in one fell swoop. However a blaze of fire emerged from our flank followed by an explosion that killed one Soundie and launched another in the air, the impact no doubt killing her.
"Protect the leftenant men!" That voice…was that…? "C'mon lads…we've got the Sound feckers where we want 'em!"
"1st squad, flank them left! 2nd…push through the center, use grenades on those gunners! Sugo! Set up the Bren and lay down some fire!"
"On it sergeant!"
I heard the LT cheer. "Bloody hell…it's the other task force! The damned Sound isn't going to take us to the choir invisible yet! Get them out of here! We still have a mission…for king and country troopers!"
"Whatever lady…" I muttered. Above me atop one some higher ground I could hear the chugging of their light machine guns. "Temari! Two o'clock!"
"I'm on it!" Her rifle threw leaden death once more upon two soldiers advancing on us, but not before they hit another one of the Water troopers. After a few minutes our morale shot up but we were still in the thick of it.
"Keep the fire on them troopers! We'll push them back to whatever hell they came from!" The LT yelled out as her pistol went ablaze with round after round, one downing a soldier who just bayoneted Private Hiyama. Our fires had practically doubled as the enemy was screaming to fall back. It seemed that their assault was more of impulse than strategy, very unlike the Sound which led me to believe they were less Akatsuki and more regulars. No…the Akatsuki would be waiting by the rocket base.
"They're pulling back! Thank God!" Konohamaru shouted in ecstasy.
I sighed a breath of relief as the smoke and gunpowder faded. "And we live another day…how troublesome."
But Kankuro felt otherwise. "True…but sadly at the cost of more soldiers. From the looks of it about six or seven more. Damn it all."
"You blokes couldn't have come at a better time."
"We wouldn't leave you hanging high and dry ma'am, not after they shot you down like that."
"Regroup troopers!" The LT waved in the middle of the battle area. "Reconsolidate ammo and get a count of your soldiers!"
"Sergeant," Naruto approached Mitarashi, "we lost Hiyama and Imaishi."
"Fuck…we're not even a legit squad anymore."
"Anko. Lee's not here. Just become part of mine. You'll still keep control of your men and women."
She hesitated at first being the prideful woman she was, but then consented. "Ok Asuma…thanks. You've always been a better person at this gig than me. Listen up 4th squad…we're gonna merge into 3rd and form our own group, but that doesn't mean you don't listen to me anymore. It just means that Sergeant Sarutobi will be heading things up for us Leaf folk. Got it?"
Everyone nodded or murmured in approval.
"Sergeant?" I approached him with apprehension. "All these people…"
"Don't worry about me Nara. Anko's got a good head on her shoulders and besides, I've got you for backup. I wouldn't piss your pants if I were you."
"Ok then…hey sergeant, have you seen Ino?"
"Oh shit you're right. Everyone sound off." Down the line everyone revealed themselves, Temari, Choji, Toyama, Sugiyama, Asano, Nazuka, and Nakamura, but when he called for Ino, no response. "Yamanaka? Damn it Yamanaka where are you?"
"Listen!" Despite the commotion caused by the other soldiers, a faint but familiar sound was heard in the distance. It sounded like grunts and cursing but from the lips of someone I wouldn't expect.
"Ino!" Choji and I rushed over to the voice and we saw her pacing up and down the bodies of the dead, looking for any signs of life. "Ino there you are…sergeant's looking for you."
She turned to us and simply turned back to her duties. A lone Sound soldier was still moving, badly wounded but alive. "No quarter for you…" Ino whispered within earshot of us rather demonically. She grabbed a nearby knife and approached him.
"Ino stop it." Choji pleaded. "Leave him."
She turned to him again and started laughing. She grabbed the man and turned him over, not even batting an eye as she shoved the knife right into the man's chest and twisting the blade. Again and again she stabbed him to seal the deal.
"Die! Die! You will suffer for what you did to my family!" She found another straggler and proceeded to plunge the blade into the girl's throat, the poor wounded soldier gurgling something while struggling to grab Ino's face. "No…you die now." She started laughing again. "Not so mighty now huh?"
"INO! For God's sake look at what you've become!"
"Ino stop it please I beg you!" He rushed over to grab the knife but Ino swung the blade towards him. "Ino…are you insane?!?"
"Look at me Choji. Look at what your 'girl' has become! Do you like it?" She grinned with blood caked all over her face and uniform. "Cold-blooded…I like it. I don't have a family anymore because they took it away from me…so why not? They slaughtered those people like cattle down there. Am I not entitled to exact vengeance?" She menacingly pointed the knife at the both of us.
"Don't do this Ino." I drew my rifle out and aimed it at her. "Put the knife down. That's an order private."
"Oh…mighty Shikamaru dishing out orders? Pathetic."
"I'll say again that's a fucking order Ino. Knife down…now!"
"Ino listen to him." He crept up slowly to try and get that knife again as she pointed it towards me. With her guard distracted he made his move. He yelled in pain as Ino managed to slash him in the forearm.
"Choji!"
"I'm ok Shikamaru…just a scratch." He said as he held the struggling Ino down. "Ino calm down please. I beg you calm down."
"I'll kill you!"
"No you won't. I'm your friend Ino and you wouldn't harm me like that. I know what happened to you Ino. Please…don't let it consume you."
"You have no idea! They all have to die! All of them!" The blood on her uniform was smearing itself on Choji's hands, making it harder to restrain her.
"No that's not like you! Please Ino…stop this."
"NO! Let me go now!"
"Ino…please…for me."
"Why Choji? Why should I go back to the weak girl I was…for you?"
"Ino…it's because I love you."
She paused for a second. "Choji…"
"Please come back to me Ino. I know the Sound did terrible things and that they hurt you more than they could even hurt me, but I don't want to lose you to this madness. Even if the mission or the squad doesn't matter to you anymore…I still want to matter to you because I love you."
"Choji…" And in that moment the rage seemed to have faded. I could see the emergence of tears from her eyes as her voice got weaker and her squirming stopped. "I…I…"
"It's ok Ino. I'm here."
She looked at her hand, slick with someone else's blood and still gripping the knife. "Oh…oh God…what have I…what have I done?"
"Shhh…it's ok Ino. You're with me now."
"What have I done Choji?!?" The sobbing started immediately afterwards. I lowered my rifle, just watching my two closest friends hold each other in that one tearful moment. I just stood there, oblivious of the people in the distance and bore witness to a poor girl who in a brief moment lost her mind and the big lug of a man there to be her shoulder to cry on.
"I'm so…sorry Choji."
"It's ok Ino." He held her closer with a couple tears in his eyes. "I'm here for you. I love you."
"This place…what is it with this place? I hate it here…"