The team was finally approaching the rendezvous point at the border. Ahead of him, Shikamaru could see Hinata and Tenten moving swiftly. It was a lucky break that Hinata had been available for this mission as the rest of her team had left on a long mission a while back, without her. She had still been recovering from her injuries in a previous mission and was not fit to travel. Shikamaru was glad that she was able to come along as it meant that the team had an extra pair of Byakugan eyes to keep watch. She made an ideal point runner, with Tenten as immediate backup, she would see any approaching danger well in advance. Neji watched the back, and Hinata watched the front. It would be hard for anyone to take the small group by surprise. Without those two, an ambush would be troublesome, but with them it was much safer. Looking back over his shoulder, Shikamaru could see Sakura, Ino and Chouji (Neji was eclipsed by Chouji ;-) ). From her position in the middle of the group, Sakura could reach any injured teamate in short order, with Ino to guard her back. Once again Chouji was the rock at the heart of the formation. Shikamaru smiled.
"I see them!" Hinata's cry whipped Shikamaru's head back to the front of the column, as the group came to a stop. "Some thing's wrong, they are under attack!".
Damn, how troublesome. Oh well, nothing to do but go help them I guess. "Hinata, how far is it?"
"Uh, maybe five minutes, if we hurry." In spite of Hinata's hesitance, Shikamaru trusted her judgement. For all her doubts, Hinata had turned out to be a reliable ninja.
"Ok, we're going to move in fast. We will stop just close enough to better assess the situation and then decide on the best way to help out. We will only attack directly if they are in severe danger. Otherwise we may loose the advantage of surprise." Shikamaru met each ninjas eyes in turn, before continuing. He was glad Naruto wasn't here, that one would have complained for sure. "Let's go."
The team took off at high speed and soon approached the battleground. Two Sound nin had a group a pair of Sand nin cornered. One of the Sound was badly injured, and the other looked battered too.
"Hinata, Neji. Any sign of the minister or the rest of his escort of Sand nin?"
Both the Hyugas scanned the area, and then reported.
"So, the group moving away to the east is probably the minister and the remainder of his escort. I don't like the group moving in from the northwest. From the direction, it is likely they are sound nin reinforcements." How troublesome, once more, the group would have to split up. "Neji, Tenten. You must remain here and help the Sand nin here. Sakura, you will back them up but hold back unless there is no choice, you are too important as the team medical nin. Ino, Guard Sakura. Don't let anything get at her. Defeat the Sound as quickly as possible and set an ambush for the reinforcements. Then meet up with the rest of us. Go!"
The two groups set off at high speed, Neji leading the way to the beleaguered Sand nin and Hinata racing after the retreating minister. Shikamaru sighed. This was going to be an even more troublesome day than he thought. He looked up to the glimpses of sky between the trees. Still, at least the clouds were nice today...