Shikamaru reached the plains just as another huge rock came crashing down. The ground shook even this far away and a huge cloud of dust had been thrown up by the impact. Free of the trees, Shikamaru picked up the pace. From this distance it was just possible to see flashes of movement in the dust cloud from the impact. Suddenly the cloud swirled and cleared, as though driven off by a strong gust of wind. Shikamaru smiled. No doubt then, she was here. He would have to make sure he got there in time to help out. She would never let him forget it if he failed to return the favour from last time.
As he approached, he began to make out the scene. Temari stood on top of one of the rocks that had been thrown with the diplomat cowering at her feet. The sound nin stood a few hundred feet away, facing her. There was a flicker, and the sound nin seemed to disappear. At the same moment, Temari made a huge swing with her fan and the sound nin reappeared just outside of the range of her attack.
Damn that guy is fast! From the looks of things he uses his speed to make swift strafing attacks against his opponent. Only Temari's power and range had kept him off of her so far and it must be tiring her out. Shikamaru smiled. "Troublesome woman, looks like I'm gonna have to step in and give you a hand."
Shikamaru threw his first kunai at the sound nin as he approached. The sound nin managed to dodge it and spun to face him. "It's no use, you can't hit me!" The shuricans he threw were also dodged and the sound nin made his move, dashing towards Shikamaru. The shuricans had only been cover though as shikamaru had also thrown a kunai with and exploding tag at the ground between them. The tag went off as the Sound nin approached it and he veered off to avoid the explosion. Shikamaru threw a second and third explosive tagged kunai as he continued to dash towards Temari and the ambassador. His last two exploding tags bought him enough time to make it to Temari's side and the Sand nin swung her huge fan to make the sound nin back off once more.
"You better have a plan. If you just barrelled in here without one I won't be impressed." Temari glanced at him as he caught his breath. Her attention however remained fixed on the Sound nin. The ambassador lay at her feet, apparently unconscious.
"Hm! Just tell me the situation." He gave her a half smile as he returned the line she had given him in their last encounter.
"You've seen his speed. He doesn't seem to be able to maintain his speed for more than two point four seconds at a time and he needs to pause for about one second after that before the next burst. Apart from his speed he is unremarkable but because he's so quick, there is no way I can get away from him with the Ambassador." She paused. " Jump left when I say, and bring the ambassador."
Shikamaru glanced up and saw another huge rock approaching. He grabbed the Ambassador around the waste and as Temari called out he leapt to the left. Temari followed, whipping her fan around to prevent the Sound nin from attacking. The huge rock crashed down behind them and Temari was thrown to her knees by the impact. The Sound nin streaked towards them and Temari desperately swung her fan to fend him off. She got back to her feet unsteadily, breathing hard.
"One last thing." Shikamaru panted. "How long is it between those rocks?"
"They seem to come exactly every four minutes."
"OK! Keep him back for a few seconds more." Shikamaru smiled to himself. This was a perfect opportunity to use his new technique. Shikamaru crouched and performed a rapid series of seals. "Grand Shadow Pool Technique!" The ground in all directions went dark, as if a huge shadow had fallen over them. The shadow formed a perfect circle around them, reaching almost to the sound nin's feet.
The sound nin leapt back. "It's no use! I already know about your shadow bind technique so you won't catch me with such a cheap trick. You must be Nara Shikamaru. Kabuto has already told me all about you. I can simply wait here until you run out of chakara or are crushed under one of Nagara's rocks."
"How troublesome. I guess I'll have to get serious then." Shikamaru threw a kunai directly away from the Sound nin. The flash tag attached to it went off, and Shikamaru's shadow shot forward, momentarily reaching well beyond the circle of darkness...but the Sound nin had already moved.
Under his breath Shikamaru whispered to Temari. "Get ready to swing full circle."
"Too slow! You can't hope to catch me like that." The sound nin taunted.
Feh. Here goes phase one. Shikamaru threw two kunais this time, each in different directions. The sound nin moved quickly to avoid being trapped when they went off and, as the first tag ignited he dashed in towards them.
"Now Temari!" The sand nin swung her fan and unleashed a fierce gale. The sound nin evaded the attack, laughing as he leapt back out of range. Temari half collapsed, leaning on her fan for support. It was clear that she was almost exhausted.
"Pathetic! Your tactics only reveal the weaknesses of your techniques. Your Grand Shadow Pool is nothing but an illusion to hide your true shadow. When you use those pathetic flash tags of yours all you achieve is to advertise where your shadow truly is, handing me the opening I need. Hand over the Ambassador and I'll consider letting you go." The sound nin smiled wickedly. Temari swore.
" How troublesome. You go on and on. Let's see what you make of this!" This time eight kunais flew from Shikamaru's hands in all different directions. The sound nin moved at breathtaking speed, avoiding being in line with any of the kunais and, moving to the attack as the first flash tag went off. Temari attempted to rise and give one last swing but Shikamaru put a hand on her shoulder. " Watch."
The sound nin screamed, coming to an abrupt halt. Caltrops pierced his feet and his right hand, which he had braced himself with as the shock and pain upset his balance. Shikamaru had used Temari's sweeping fan as cover to spread them over the darkened circle. A look of horror came into the sound nin's eyes as he realised that none of the other kunais had flash tags on. Desperately he threw himself backwards beyond the edge of the dark circle. A thin tendril of shadow reached out towards him past the circle's edge but falling just short.
" Ahhh. You know you really are a troublesome guy. I thought for sure that would get you." Shikamaru had his hands behind his head and a slightly embarrassed look on his face. "Oh well."
"You bd! I'll kill you! Aaaaaagh!" The sound nin spat with fury as he pulled the caltrops from his feet and hand. "I had considered letting you live but now I'm going to make sure you die slowly!"
"Whatever. The next attack will finish you, since now you can't move well." Then, to Temari, Shikamaru whispered. "Grab the ambassador and be alert."
Shikamaru threw his last four kunais.
"I can still move well enough to dodge your pathetic attacks!" The sound nin surged to his feet and raced to a position out of line with the kunais.
"Check!" Shikamaru pulled on the wires he had attached to the four kunais and they began to swing around. The sound nin was trapped, the sweeping kunai all rapidly coming into line with him. He froze uncertain as to whether he should chance a dash across to safety or hope that all the tags ignite before they swing into line. All four flash tags went off at once, throwing walls of shadow on either side of the stricken sound nin. "Hah! You missed!" He called, relief and triumph plain in his voice.
Shikamaru just smiled. "Check Mate."
A huge shadow fell over the sound nin. He had been manoeuvred into a position passed over by the next great rock. In the moment that the shadow fell over the Sound nin, Shikamaru locked in the shadow manipulation technique. Temari and Shikamaru ran, passing the helpless sound nin travelling in the other direction. When Shikamaru came to a halt, their positions had been reversed...
The great boulder crashed to earth with sickening force. "Aieee. Perhaps I was too harsh."
"Remind me not to tease you so much." Temari said with a wry half smile. "Now take over supporting this guy. He's heavy."
He had finally repayed the favour and still she wasn't satisfied. " Hmph. Troublesome woman."