Chapter Three
"So, this is it," Shikamaru said to the assembled group of genin in the training room at the Hyūga Compound. Team Seven, Team Eight, Team Guy, and Team Ten sat before him, eyes staring solidly. Shikamaru himself, stood beside a chalkboard with a rough outline of Training Ground Forty-Four sketched on it. "Tomorrow morning at 0600, we all meet here and collect our gear," he gestured to everyone's packs against the wall. "We then proceed as a group to the registration area before we break off to our different staging areas."
"What time do the gates to training ground forty-four open again?" Kiba asked.
"0800, sharply," Shikamaru replied, "And they only stay open for about a minute; so, be sure you are good and ready for anything once the gate swings open. Once we're inside, there is no way back out aside from reaching the central temple complex or signaling one of the proctors for rescue." He nodded to their host, Hinata.
"Each team has one of these," Hinata began handing out silk escape and evasion maps to the team leaders: Naruto, Sasuke, Neji, and Ino.
"Why only one per team?" Sasuke asked as he inspected the detailed map.
"The cost of producing each of them was considerable," Hinata responded as she took her seat by her team.
"There was also the cost of silence," Ino added, "the silk-screener we hired to do this had her own price to keep her mouth closed and her memory of who asked her to make these fuzzy."
"And we only had a short window with which to make copies of the map without anyone noticing that I'd removed a restricted document from intelligence branch," Shikamaru noted. Just smuggling the high-resolution map out of the building on his lunch break had been nerve-wracking. Smuggling it back in and putting it back unnoticed had been an affair in its own right. While it did not contain any of the scroll locations, it did contain highly detailed records of the training ground's geography. From that, Shikamaru was able to deduce helpful landmarks and likely locations of hidden scrolls.
"Why silk?" Choji asked, "Wouldn't paper have been easier and cheaper?"
"The rules specifically state no paper or electronic maps are to be carried into the training ground," Shikamaru smirked slightly, "they do not, on the other hand, say anything about cloth maps. Even if we are caught with one by a proctor, we can note the loophole in the rules. At worst, the map will get confiscated, at best, we get to keep the map for original thinking."
"Once we get inside, where is the rendezvous?" Rock Lee asked as he, Neji, and Tenten began examining their map.
"Right here," Shikamaru pointed to a point on the chalkboard north of the central clearing, "There is a clearing one click just due north of the main temple complex. "It's far enough from the temple that groups lying in ambush likely won't wait there; it's also located to where all of our groups can reach it in eight hours no matter how close or far our starting points are from one another."
"What if the clearing is occupied or otherwise hazardous?" Shino asked.
Without missing a beat, Shikamaru pointed to a bowing of the river that bisected the training ground west of the temple complex. "There is a low-head dam that forms a small reservoir here in the river. Our alternative meeting point is on the east bank of the reservoir." He paused, eyeing the group, "A word of warning, do not try crossing over the dam nor try swimming near it. Despite its minimal size, it is an extreme drowning hazard."
"All right," Sasuke interrupted, "you can cut the crap now. Why the hell the elaborate plan?" Shikamaru's annoyance with the Uchiha boy raised his blood pressure. Never team players, always doing things their way; Dad was right.
Shikamaru exchanged a troubled look at Naruto seated just in front of Shikamaru, "Do you want to tell them, or should I?"
"I should be the one to tell them," Naruto stood up beside him. "Everyone, Shikamaru and I are privy to some intelligence that we cannot fully disclose. The short version of it, we are pretty sure one or more of the genin teams has orders to target me directly."
The group muttered for a moment. Sasuke and Shino remained stoic, unmoved. Naruto and Shikamaru had privately briefed their own teams ahead of time about what risks they could talk about and had offered them the chance to back out – none accepting. That left Kiba and all of Team Guy looking aghast.
Naruto resumed speaking, "By extension, that puts anyone wearing the Hidden Leaf in danger during this part of the test. I'm already telling you that we're no longer in this strictly to win it. Our goal will be to see and not be seen, avoid any confrontation if possible, and gather what knowledge we can of the enemy. If anyone thinks it's not worth it, there is no shame in bowing out now." Naruto paused, eyeing the group.
"What exactly do you mean 'we're no longer in this to win it?'" Sasuke asked.
"He means," Shikamaru spoke up, "our goal has gone from completing the test to surviving the test regardless if we complete or not. If we can get the scrolls and leave early, great. If not, we run out the clock and accept the lost. This crisis doesn't end with part II's ending, most likely. Is that a problem, Sasuke?" Shikamaru added acid to his tone.
"I'm not eligible to promote to Chunin no matter how I do," Sasuke replied, then stared at Shino and Kiba, "The question is, are you two good with that?"
"I am still curious to see the exotic flora and fauna of that cursed training ground," Shino said, "Count me in."
Kiba shrugged, "No one will call me a coward." He nodded, baring his sharp canine teeth. His dog Akamaru barked in affirmation.
"Well, I guess the ayes have it," Sasuke shrugged. Shikamaru knew it was for show. He's got too much pride on the line to back out, especially after our first mission and the incidents that followed. Sasuke had been lying the whole time. Lord Fourth had discretely cut a deal with Sasuke and Sakura: get Naruto and the others out safely, and the two's juvenile records would be expunged completely and immediately, no questions asked. The two would even eligible for promotion to genin.
"Anyone else have anything to say?" Naruto asked. He turned to Neji, Tenten, and Rock Lee, "What say you?"
"I've come too far on the road to recovery just to wuss out now," Neji spoke with fierce determination.
"If he goes, I go," Tenten added.
"A true escape and evasion mission!" Lee winked with a thumb up, "I'm excited to be a part of this!"
Naruto looked at Shikamaru and shrugged, "All right, then, we'll see you all here in the morning, get some rest!"
The groups dispersed, and soon it was just Naruto, Hinata, and Shikamaru. "Hinata, would you excuse us, please?" Shikamaru asked.
"Of course," she bowed slightly as she stood, "just turn off the lights when you're done." She left the dojo.
"Got something on your mind?" Naruto asked.
Shikamaru buried his chin in his hand, "You feel like we're missing something here?"
"A million things," Naruto replied with a shrug and an exhausted sigh, "Are you sure we shouldn't bring Hinata in on this?"
"I hate to keep parroting, but you were the first to remind me she didn't have that level of clearance." To be fair, what intelligence they hadn't shared didn't amount to much. They knew that the assassins that tried killing Naruto had some connection with Suna. They knew something significant was off with Lord Rasa, and they knew the Sand-Siblings would likely be involved in whatever the weirdo-ass plan was. You also know that Temari must wear a very respectable c-cup! Shikamaru shook away the invasive thought. He thought not seeing her for several weeks would make the memory fade, but instead, his mind increasingly wandered back to the wild, panic-inducing day at the hot springs.
"Shikamaru?" Naruto tilted his head, are you okay?"
"Huh, sorry," he feigned spacing out, "deep in thought. But yeah, I doubt sharing that additional bit of classified information would do her much good."
"I suppose you're right," Naruto shook his head. "With all that in mind, is there actually anything we can do to be more ready?"
Shikamaru looked at everyone's packs for tomorrow for several seconds, then he locked eyes with his friend's earnest blue eyes. Naruto by far wasn't the smartest or possibly even the strongest of them at the moment, but Shikamaru had no doubt that his friend would succeed his father as Hokage one day. "At least, I can't think of anything we might have missed."
"Then it's all we can do, buddy!" Naruto grinned, "Believe it!"
Temari woke from fitful sleep, showered, and dressed in her mission gear. She opted to wear the creamy white flak vest over her mauve tunic. In open battle, it wouldn't stop a dedicated stabbing injury or something big like a kanabō or naginata impact, but it could potentially lethal thrown weapons or flying splinters into something survivable. Damn, I wish we had a medical-nin! Hell, even a basic medic!
While most the Hidden Leaf teams had a medical-nin or at least someone who knew enough about first-aid to stabilize someone with a lethal injury, none of the Hidden Sands teams, including her own, had anything better than a first-aid kit and a prayer. Even a potentially non-lethal injury out there could turn septic, and for what?
Temari bit her lip, knowing at least a few of her comrades were not going to survive the next five days. Everything is so pointless, so meaningless! She pounded a fist on the restroom countertop as she stared in the mirror. Operation: Leaf Cutter and its related invasion of Konoha continued to make no sense no matter how she tried looking at it. She could find no justification: moral, military, or otherwise. We tear up a friendship treaty, we destroy our best counterbalance to the Hidden Stone and Hidden Cloud Villages, and then we have to stretch ourselves paper-thin to occupy against a potentially hostile populace! At the end of it, all of the remaining villages will know the Hidden Sands' word is as good as camel shit at the bottom of a dry well! The dread sank in her stomach, and the prospect of a quick breakfast became less and less appetizing.
Temari's eyes sank from the mirror. Not caring about the risk, she walked out to her room, heaved on her fan, and looked out the window to the early morning below. Shikamaru was not where he would have been, not that he had been since she'd ran into him at the hot springs a few weeks ago. Stupid boy! She winced as she thought about that stupid boy, wishing he was down there right now – something familiar to assure her that she wasn't going mad in a world where things continued to make less and less sense.
Knock, knock."Temari, it's time," Kankuro spoke through the door. "And there is a message from father." Father!
Temari ran to her room's door and opened it, Kanakuro clearly shocked to have the door open so quickly. "Temari," he held out a letter, "addressed to both of us."
She snatched the letter, hoping for something beyond a stern reminder of how important the mission was.
Dear Temari and Kankuro,
The mission you are on starting today is of the utmost importance to the survival of our village. By any means necessary, ensure that Gaara makes it to the finals at Part III of the Chunin exams. Further instructions to follow
-Lord Rasa
Temari re-read the letter, incredulous. Not one well wish, not one shred of recognition of what we've accomplished thus far! The paper crumbled beneath her fingers as she crushed it, imaging the letter was father's throat. She wished he was here so she could tell him to his face how completely shit of a parent he was, that he could go and have intercourse with himself because he was seemingly the only person he cared about.
"Temari, I…" Kankuro spoke, but she cut him off.
"He doesn't care, never did," she sighed. Tossing the paper in the wastebasket.
"You realize our trash is screened most likely," Kankuro reminded her.
"Who cares," she shrugged. "I'm over all this cloak and dagger crap! Let's just get to the training ground!"
"Well," he shrugged, "you do realize this gives us an out for today. All we have to do was say that the order was to get Gaara to the finals, and we thought that was more important than killing Naruto."
Temari paused, mulling the idea, "You're right." She nodded, "Have you told Gaara?"
"Way ahead of you, and he agrees, thankfully."
"You ever going to stop trembling every time you're next to him?"
"Eventually," he nodded as his stared down to his right hand, "now let's get breakfast!"
They gorged on jackfruit, eggs, and congee. The whole breakfast was silent. Temari moved on autopilot as they left the breakfast cart for the room attendant, grabbed their gear, and set off into the early morning. The late summer air was warm and humid even this early, and the day promised to be muggy and uncomfortable. Nevertheless, they made their way to the registration and security checkpoint at the entrance to training ground forty-four.
"Everyone, please have your travel documents and registration cards ready for verification!" a shinobi proctor at the registration desk shouted as they worked through the line. As the group approached, Temari laid eyes on two familiar figures seated at the table: Naruto and Shikamaru. Naruto was still boyish but the addition of a black jumpsuit and what looked like an armored jacket over it made him appear older than his age suggested. Shikamaru dressed similar with an olive drab utility vest over his coverall. Unlike Naruto who smiled in recognition, Shikamaru kept his nose buried in registration papers.
"Registration papers, please," the proctor commanded, without any regard to the team standing before them
"As you wish," Gaara handed their registration packet along with the ID cards for the trio to the man, but his attention was turned to Naruto.
"Gaara," Naruto said in recognition.
"Hello, Naruto," Gaara managed a slight smile, eliciting a nervous shaking of Kankuro's right hand. "The years have been kind to you," Gaara said.
Before the conversation could go further, Temari decided it was time to play with her favorite ball of yarn, so conveniently arrayed before her, "Hello, Shikamaru Nara," Temari spoke with a voice that could etch glass.
"You are?" Shikamaru feigned ignorance as he looked up from a stack of papers, but he nervously tapped his foot under the table.
"Cut the crap, Shikamaru," Temari said with a glare that threated to ignite the boy. He sneaks a peak on me bare-ass naked and can't even come up with a compliment!
"Everything seems to be in order," the proctor said nervously. "If you'll proceed to the security screening area."
Not wanting to hold up the process, Gaara gestured for their group to move along. "Be seeing you, Shikamaru," Temari glared as if trying to burn Shikamaru to the ground. As she followed her brothers away, she lightly smirked. What a crybaby! Too bad I don't have more time to bat him around some more. She giggled silently to herself, instantly feeling better about today.
Shikamaru was seated reviewing registration papers next to Iruka Sensei when he heard the troublesome woman's voice, "Hello, Shikamaru Nara," He looked up to see Temari glaring at him. Thankfully, neither of her brothers appeared to pay him much heed.
"You are?" Shikamaru feigned ignorance as he nervously tapped his foot under the table. She might have forgotten you. Yeah, just like how you forgot what she looks like without all that mission gear on! SHIT!
"Cut the crap, Shikamaru," Temari said with a wicked glare.
"Everything seems to be in order," Iruka said nervously. "If you'll proceed to the security screening area." With that the trio left. "Be seeing you, Shikamaru," the girl glared as if trying to burn Shikamaru to the ground.
Iruka cocked up an eyebrow, "Who's you girlfriend, Shikamaru?" he teased.
"She's no girlfriend, that troublesome one," Shikamaru shook his head with a mild discomfort. His outfit, a black field uniform and green flak vest was constricting uncomfortably.
"Are you sure?" Naruto teased, "I wouldn't stand up if I were you."
"That's not funny!" Shikamaru slammed a hand on the table, "She's bad news and you know it!"
"Wait, how does Temari know you?" He shot Shikamaru a look demanding explanation, tilting his head slightly
"Temari? The Shrew of the Village Hidden in the Sands?" Iruka asked in shock, "That's who your lady friend is?"
"Dude, stop calling her that!" Shikamaru growled.
"Methinks the gentleman doth protest too much," Iruka said dramatically, "So, how do you know her?"
"His dad," Shikamaru jabbed a thumb toward Naruto, "put me on a surveillance detail watching her and her siblings," Shikamaru explained. "I've spent the past few weeks trying to follow them here and there and watching their moves."
"Let me guess, you two walked in on each other in the buff at the hot springs district!" Naruto laughed, as did Iruka. Shikamaru's cheeks burned in embarrassment. Lord Fourth wouldn't have told him, right!? Slowly, Naruto and Iruka's laughter dragged to a nervous crawl. "Wait a minute," Naruto paused, not sure if continuing was wise, "You actually did sneak a peek on her in the springs?!"
"I was NOT SNEAKING A PEEK!" Shikamaru yelled loud enough to draw the attention of the remaining teams. "Look," he whispered harshly, "I had no idea it was a mixed-gender hot springs. I was taking a much-needed breather after the past month of doing cloak and dagger! We accidently walked in on each other!"
"Wait a…" Naruto raised a finger as his mouth dropped open, "she let you live after that?"
"Embarrassing way to blow your cover, I'm sure, but murdering him would be a bit harsh," Iruka chuckled.
Naruto exchanged a troubled look with Shikamaru. Shikamaru nodded slightly. "Iruka Sensei, would you excuse use for a minute?" Naruto asked
"Sure," he waved the next group of registrants up.
Naruto dragged Shikamaru out of listening range of the table. "What's your point, Naruto?" Shikamaru asked. "And don't make any more jokes at my expense, it was awkward!"
"Yeah, I bet you were standing at tiptoe like you are now just thinking about it!" Naruto quipped, "Now focus on me and not her! Remember, she let you live!"
"Big whoop! What was she going to do, murder me over a simple accident?" Shikamaru stretched his neck, hoping his boner was not visible to others.
"Shikamaru, I'm assuming you've been playing cat and mouse with her. She knows your name; she knows you're an intelligence operative, right?" Naruto tried again.
Shikamaru felt the gears in his head turning as furrowed his brow then felt realization wash over him. "She could have eliminated me and made-up whatever story she needed in such a compromising situation."
"But she didn't," Naruto snapped his fingers.
"So, what does it mean?" Shikamaru furrowed his brow again – nothing was making sense. "They know we're friends, they know I've been watching them, why not kill me or get me thrown in jail?"
"I don't know, man," Naruto sighed in frustration, "but something isn't what it seems. What if we're wrong?"
"About what?" Shikamaru asked.
"I don't know, everything!" Naruto threw his hands up in frustration, "Could the assassination attempt be a red herring, a distraction from something larger?"
"Maybe, or you're just a target of opportunity, or maybe nothing," Shikamaru shook his head, "All we know is there is a link between the assassins and the Village Hidden in the Sands."
Naruto rubbed his chin, pondering. "Your report said something about someone impersonating Lord Rasa, right?"
"It was highly suspected, why?" Shikamaru said.
"I don't know," Naruto shook his head, "but I think we're on the wrong track, here."
"You think the genin team aren't part of it?" Shikamaru's voice squeaked.
"Or at least they don't know about whatever this conspiracy is," Naruto replied. "Either way, I think your plan is the best one: trust no one and avoid contact with other teams – escape and evasion tactics."
Shikamaru checked his watch, "Right, I hate to say this, but let's wrap up with Iruka and get to our staging areas." He looked back to Naruto, "Any way we cut it we're in for a long next few days. I'll see you at the rendezvous point at 1800."
"Shikamaru," Naruto said grimly, "be on your guard."
Shikmaru nodded solemnly, "You, too. Remember, our goal is to get everyone out alive, not winning anymore."
Shikamaru nodded and ran off for the gate where he'd meet the rest of team ten. He had no doubt that this would be a damn long day. What a pain!
The horn sounded and Temari and her brothers charged the opening gate. Their starting point had been at the far south end of the training ground where the river bisecting the training ground. At least we have an easy landmark to follow most of the way! She didn't know who seemed most desperate to get there first: Gaara, Kankuro, or herself. They ran without regard to stealth, using the river to guide them.
Sweat rained Temari's back as the combined exertion and fetid heat of the forest heated her like a disgusting onsen. Just get out of here, and you can go to a ladies-only onsen, no peeping toms this time! The pleasant thought renewed her legs as they hauled ass along the roughly hewn trail toward the central complex.
As they ran along, Temari paused, noticing bits of discarded gear: kunai, forehead guards of different markings, rusted belt buckles, and torn scraps of cloth. What did you expect? Every year a few genin die here and there, big deal! Temari picked up her pace until she noticed a truly grisly sight spread across the trail that made all three of them pause.
"What the hell!" Kankuro heaved as they took in the sight of a man lying dead in the middle of the path, an expanding pool of blood beneath him.
"On your guard, both of you," Gaara commanded. Temari drew out her fan from its case and Kankuro readied his puppet. With a wave of his hand, Gaara summoned his sand and flipped over the body.
"OH GOD!" Kankuro balked then turned to throw up. Temari felt bile rising, but she suppressed it. Nevertheless, she was nauseous at the sight of the lifeless shinobi missing his face.
"Something is wrong…" Gaara's normally stony face crumbled into concern, something he rarely displayed.
"No shit, captain obvious!" Kankuro kept his distance as he wiped his mouth and spat out repeatedly.
"I mean, beyond the fact that he's dead," Gaara knelt beside the corpse, "This is one of the proctors."
Temari and Kankuro locked eyes, both wide with horror. "It..it has to be a mistake!" she protested.
"No mistake," Gaara said, "he's wearing the same uniform as the other exam proctors."
"M-Maybe," Kankuro stammered as his right hand shook, "maybe it was some kind of accident – an animal attack!"
"What the hell kind of wild animal removes the face of a creature," Gaara paused to inspect the gaping hole where a human face had been, "with surgical precision and leaves the rest of the body untouched?"
The inquisitive part of Temari won out over the crashing waves of nausea, and she approached the body and knelt down beside the corpse's right arm. She delicately picked up the hand and moved the arm and hand back and forth several times, "Rigor hasn't set in, and the hand is still semi-warm." She let go of the hand and felt cold all over as it flopped lifelessly to the ground. Temari's eyes scanned the void that had once been a human face. Indeed, the mandible, maxilla, facial bones and part of the skull around the forehead had been cleanly cut away and removed like an anatomy model. What unholy, crazy fuck could do something like this?! Temari's eyes circled the woods surrounding them as a dizzying cascade of horrifying thoughts invaded her mind. Every broken branch, every rustle of leaves, and every buzzing of insects suddenly became threatening.
Cold tingling spread outward from Temari's core, and she felt her stomach muscles lock as the smell and sight of the dead body joined anxiety in shaking up the breakfast in her gut. Oh gods! She hunched over and vomited up her guts. When her retching stopped, she spat out firmly, stood up, and straightened herself. "Let's get the hell out of here," she gasped. Her brothers nodded, and they charged forward deeper into the forest.
Sweat rained down Shikamaru's body as Team 10 skittered along through the undergrowth of the forest. Despite several obvious trails cut by teams and animals years prior, the trio agreed early on to avoid the beaten path in favor of remaining hidden. Ino's fist rose over her right shoulder, and she knelt on one knee. Shikamaru and Choji followed suit. For several uncomfortable moments, they remained frozen as Ino stared off into the distance, unmoving as a statue.
"Ino, what is it?" Choji finally whispered.
"Nothing," she said concerned, "Not a goddamn thing." Something in her tone caused Shikamaru's bladder to begin jumping.
"If that's the case, can we stop," Choji said, "I really need to pee!" He kept his voice hushed despite the strain.
Ino scanned with eyes and her mind again, "All right, good call. We take five and we'll pick back up in a minute." She nodded to Choji, "You go first."
"Thanks!" the boy said as he ran off to a nearby tree.
"Ino," Shikamaru groaned as he took a sip from his canteen, "When was the last time you picked up anyone?"
She made a quick check of her watch, "Two-three hours ago give or take," she nodded.
"Isn't that a bit odd considering how many teams are competing?" he asked, feeling the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end.
"Troubling," she nodded, "I know that we moved slow off the starting line, but…"
"But what?" he asked.
"Do you ever get the feeling we're being manipulated somehow?" she asked.
"Yo, your turn!" Choji's hand on Shikamaru's shoulder nearly made him piss himself. Rather than show his annoyance, Shikamaru made for a nearby tree and relieved himself.
As he zipped up, he checked his watch – 1400. Damn! They'd been at this since 0800, the last time they'd seen another person in visual range. "Ino, how far are we from the rendezvous?"
Ino extracted the map from her boot, and scrutinized the forest around them. "Best estimate, we're about a click, click-and-a-half, away." She folded away the map, "If we keep this pace, we're on track to get there a bit early."
"Let's haul ass," Shikamaru felt the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end.
"What's bugging ya?" Choji asked, oblivious.
"Nothing," Shikamaru replied as the group resumed their march.
"Come on, man," Choji protested, "You might be with intelligence, but you're a terrible liar!"
"No," he huffed, "I mean nothing as in the sheer lack of anything has me on edge!" Shikamaru fought to keep his voice low.
"Huh?" Choji's mouth fell open in confusion.
"Choji, don't you think it's odd we haven't run into any other teams for several hours now?" Ino asked, the question meant to provoke further contemplation.
A flittering of white in the corner of Shikamaru's vision set his heart into overdrive, "Down! Down!" he whispered harshly as he took his friends both by the collar and dragged them behind the cover of bushes. Choji was about to speak when Shikamaru brought his index finger to his lips.
Gingerly, Shikamaru turned first his eyes, then his head to observe through the thick brush. The approaching figure wore all white, stalking through the undergrowth effortlessly. As the figure approached, sharp, viperish features came into focus, and Shikamaru froze statue-still. He knew this man and knew him well – the criminal Orochimaru.
The once-legendary sannin walked past without paying them heed – hopefully meaning he hadn't noticed them. Tense minutes passed as Shikamaru's bladder constricted and Orochimaru faded from sight. Shikamaru made the hand signal for them to start crawling away, and the group skulked in their original direction of travel, careful to make no noise.
Tense minutes passed, but there was no additional sign of Orochimaru. Ino stood in a hunched stance, and she gestured for them to do likewise. Back on two legs, they moved swift, but careful to make minimal noise. Shikamaru knew the situation was bad, but if Orochimaru was here after going into hiding, things were worse than he thought. Welcome to training ground forty-four! Keep watching because you're being watched! The group began to double time in the direction of their rendezvous.
Author's notes: Hi everyone! I hope you enjoyed, and I apologize for the update taking so long to get out. Without going into too much detail, lets just say I've had crisis after crisis pop up over the past several weeks. Hopefully, the next one won't take as long. I'll see you all next chapter. Stay healthy and stay safe!