Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
5 days later, we first find ourselves traveling with Group 9.
"Ugh… this fog is annoying! I can't see anything."
"Well Ino, first of all its mist not fog. Second, if there weren't any mist, it wouldn't be called Mist Wood, now would it?" retorted Shikamaru.
"Listen, if you don't want me to wipe out that 200 IQ brain of yours, you'll shut u… gh!" she was about to threaten before she tripped on a tree trunk.
"Ju-" Ino was about to tell Shikamaru to shove it when they heard someone scream… "-Uuuuuppp!"
"Ino, Shikamaru, shut up. You're making too much noise."
"I think we should check it out, I definitely know ninja aren't supposed to make that much noise, it could be those guys we're here for, right?" asked Choji.
"It wouldn't hurt to check it, right Asuma-sensei?" Ino asked.
He contemplated the idea for a second, "Guess not. Come on, let's go." He said as he put out his usual cigarette.
Elsewhere, where the scream came from…
were two people. The first and taller of the two was a man that went only by the name of Shinji. He was somewhere near 6 feet tall, but not exactly. He wasn't the best looking of men, but he was cute in his own way. His brown/black hair was unkempt and wild, just like Naruto's but much shorter. Shinji's left ear was completely covered with silver beaded earrings. Shinji was wearing loose khaki shorts that hung below his waist and a black shirt that went over his shorts with angel and devil wings on it. Over the shirt, he had on a black and white striped jacket with the sleeves cut off. On both his arms and legs were the insignia of his clan, the Unwavering Mountain. On his back were his shinobigatana or ninja-to (It's like the katana, but much shorter).
The shorter and younger of the two, went by the name Uzumaki Jun (like June). Jun wasn't the type of pretty like Sakura or Ino; she is more of the hidden beauty that Hinata is. Her hair is short at about shoulder length and definitely better kept than Shinji's. She had on a dark blue wife beater, an orange schoolgirl skirt over dark blue bell-bottoms with an orange flower pattern at the hem of the pants.
"Geez Shinji, do you have to scream so loudly?" she timidly asked.
"Well, if you'd just shut up when I told you to the first time, I wouldn't have to scream at the top of my lungs!" exclaimed an exasperated Shinji.
"Like you're doing now? A-Anyway, I-I thought you said you wanted me to talk more?"
"I did, but you've been talking the whole time we're on this stupid trip. Quit stuttering too, it's annoying me. And besides, how am I supposed to sense if anyone's coming if you're distracting me?"
"You mean like now?"
"What the…? Hmph, so it's a fight is it? Alright, I'm ready." Shinji said as he faced four whole teams of ninja assassins.
"C-Can I help?"
"You know the rules. No battles until you master the Seidokan Aikido. You just worry about protecting yourself," he said as he started to run up to the first team.
They prepared themselves by pulling out kunai, shuriken, and aikuchi. Shinji however pulled out his shinobigatana and readied himself for battle by using his clan's ability to harden the user's skin so that they would be hurt less.
He ran to the left to confuse the ninja while Jun hid atop one of the few trees. Once he knew Jun was safe he stopped running and attacked two nin with his ninja-to effectively killing them. The others then tried to ambush him with all types of Jutsus" but because of his tough skin, they didn't affect him at all. He then proceeded to go on hand-to-hand combat with the remaining nin, all the while taunting them at their inability to give him a good challenge.
"Come on, can't you do any better than that? If I die by any one of you sad suckers, the world as we know it is definitely gonna end."
While dodging an attack he saw an unintentional opening in the attack formation and used that to his advantage by doing an open palm upper cut on one nin, dislocating his shoulder and throwing him to another nin completely rendering the next attack useless.
He then used his shinobigatana to fight the only more experienced ninja. They struck each other blow by blow until the ninja was able to push Shinji off with his sword and knock him into a nearby tree.
"Well, well, I think I might actually start to break a sweat. Looks like there's hope for you jerk offs yet. 'This is way too easy. Is this one of Makoto's tests?' he thought while getting back on his feet.
Meanwhile, Group 9 was running in Shinji's direction to investigate the anonymous scream.
"Hey guys, I think we're finally getting closer. I see two people fighting." said an out of breath Choji.
"What's got you all shaken up? What, too long of a run for ya?" asked Ino putting on a sly face.
"Shut… up. Let… me… catch… my…breath."
When Choji said that, everyone else just focused on the battle; Shikamaru instantly recognizing Shinji.
"Shinji! What are you doing outside Hidden Shadows? Where are Hideki-kun and Kimiko-chan?"
"Hey kid," Shinji said while striking a ninja assassin. "Don't worry about those two, they're fine."
Jun, deciding it was safe enough came out of her hiding spot and went towards Asuma, Choji, Ino, and Shikamaru.
"Hello. I feel as if I have seen you before; have I?" she asked pointing to Shikamaru.
"Jun, it's good to see you again. I hope you're not as troublesome as Kazumi still probably is. I'm Shikamaru; this is Asuma-sensei, Choji, and Ino."
He said as he pointed to them in the above order.
"Hi." they said to her.
"Hi. So am I right in supposing that you are our escorts?" she asked, while thoroughly looking them over.
Shikamaru had his hair in his usual ponytail. Instead of wearing his chuunin inform he wore cargo jeans, a short-sleeved black shirt with a jean jacket over it. Of course, in the pockets of his cargos were kunai and shuriken. Shikamaru opted to stay with his shin obi sandals, even if they might cause him trouble in the near future.
Ino had her hair out of its usual bun and let it hang out loosely, but not before trimming it before she left Konoha (she had to keep up appearances, obviously) and wore a loose, short purple kimono dress with slits on the sides; under the dress were Capri pants so no one would see what they shouldn't. Around her waist was a spiked belt hiding her Konoha headband (she couldn't resist). Ino opted to buy some new boots, knee length Doc Martens; inside the Martens were hidden shuriken she planned on using. In addition, she wore elbow length gloves with the fingers cut off.
Choji had lost the under pant-hat thing (sorry, I just think it's weird) and instead wore a ski cap (why, not sure). He also had on a long sleeved striped shirt under a short-sleeved black shirt. He had on skinny tube cargo pants sans chains (got it from Hot Topic), in the pouches of the cargo were necessary weapons and snacks he needed.
"So you live in Konoha, right?" she finally asked, still not really letting her guard down.
"Yeah, wait, you're the guys we're supposed to take back home? I thought there would be more people." Ino said.
"There are, that's why the Rookie 9 split up, and so did they. We'll be meeting back up, or did you just ignore the debriefing, Ino?" Asuma asked.
"Umm… well hey, I forget, you know" she said trying to not admit that she didn't really pay much attention.
Shikamaru shook his head trying to ignore how easily tedious the mission was already becoming. "Anyway, what Tsunade-sama did say was pretty vague, can you help us out by answering some questions?" he asked.
Just then, some of the assassins Shinji had knocked out were beginning to wake up. Others were already pulling out more kunai, shuriken, and aikuchi.
"Umm… can the questions wait until later?" asked a flustered Jun, obviously noticing the other assassins.
"The three nodded getting into their battle stances when the blood spattered ninja Shinji had been fighting was thrown in the direction of the other nin, knocking some on the ground momentarily.
"Now this is getting fun. Don't worry twerps, I'll take care of these bastards." he said still slightly unimpressed with their inability to give him a good challenge.
"Who are you calling-"
"Jun, you know what to do right?" Shinji asked, rudely interrupting Ino's outburst.
"She nodded and waited for Shinji to begin attacking so that she could put up one of her protective domes. She put her hands together as Shinji attacked, and as they grew apart a dark orb started to appear, until her hands were at a 180-degree angle, the orb grew in shape until it separated them from the other nin.
"Whoa! Way too cool, but what is this?" Choji asked.
"It's a protective dome designed to keep us safe. Once the ninja assassins outside are finished with, it'll let up. Very useful, in fact." answered Shikamaru.
"Quite. Wouldn't mind if I learned that while I was still in school." Asuma said.
"My domes can't be learned. Only I can make them without having to use Jutsus."
"And why's that, Jun?" Ino asked.
"Well…"
Meanwhile, Shinji was still fighting the ninjas. He had to admit he was a bit worried since he found the seal of the Exiles. On the last nin's forehead. If they were in league with the Exiles and Makoto, they'd have more trouble than that bum Hideki and Kimiko thought.
He thought he'd have to use his Shogukane power over the wind, when he again saw an attack opening and took out his shinobigatana slicing two on the neck and four on the neck. With the remaining nine, went into a sort of sword combat with them and was able to use the kunai, shuriken, and aikuchi they had against them by stabbing them with their own weapons. He decided to leave only one alive until his questions about who they were allied with were answered.
Sensing the danger was over, the dome around Jun and Group 9 let up and disappeared letting them out.
"O-Oh look, we can come out now. Hey Shinji!" Jun said, desperately trying to avoid the oncoming questions.
"Hey, don't you guys get the feeling…"
"That she's trying to avoid questioning? Definitely. We'll have to figure this out by ourselves if they won't help." replied Asuma.
"Answer me!" screamed Shinji, angered that the ninja wasn't answering his questions.
"Umm…w-what's the… (gasp), that's, that's…"
"The mark of the Exiles, I know. And this jackass isn't answering me. So, tell me again, are you or aren't you with the Exiles?"
"I-I-I d-don't know w-who the-they a-a-are."
"Are you brain dead or something! Who the hell gave you that mark on your head!"
When the assassin was about to respond, the mark on his head started to glow, signaling to Shinji and Jun that Makoto, the leader of the Exiles was about to make his appearance and painfully control the assassin.
Just as they had predicted, the assassin started to writhe, feeling immense pain coming from his head. "What is happening to me! Please, help me!" he screamed as Makoto had almost fully gained control of him.
"Sorry, can't. We ain't telepaths, man."
"So, little Kimiko isn't here to help. I am going to enjoy painfully killing you both." he said through the assassin.
"Hmph, and here I thought you and your goons couldn't sink any lower. Guess even I can be wrong about lowlife bastards like you."
"Who, what is this?" Asuma asked, trying to something out of Shinji and Jun.
"None of your damn business. Jun, if I don't make it, you know what to do right?" he asked, getting a nod from Jun. "Good."
"So Makoto, you wanna start this party, or should I?"
"Are you that ready to fight, my dear Shinji? Why can't we just talk this out like civilized people? Oh, right, I forgot you're not civilized at all, are you?" said "Makoto" getting into a battle stance.
"Like I said, you or me, ya bastard."
Just then, the Makoto controlled assassin sped toward Shinji, did a back flip with his left leg connecting to Shinji's left shoulder. However, this was done at a speed that not even Asuma could detect.
"Shinji!" Jun yelled.
"Don't worry 'bout it kid. It's gonna take more than just some little kick to make me give up this fight.
He took out his shinobigatana, to which the Makoto drone responded, "You're not going to use your Shogukane power? Why Shinji, you offend me."
"Good, because you're not good enough for me to use it on a half-assed drone like you!" he said, his voice escalating while he charged the drone.
"Honestly, even as a drone I could defeat you very easily." said the drone while dodging Shinji's attack.
"Oh yeah, so why dontcha?" Shinji asked managing to get a roundhouse kick to the gut.
"Very well, just know that you asked for it." said the drone.
It then held out its hand earning an oh crap from Shinji, and sent him flying off into the sky. But with his Shogukane power over wind, he managed to get back on the ground safely.
"That's it? And here I thought the great Takanawa Makoto could do better. Oh well, it's my fault for thinking better of a jackass like you."