Rated M- Violence, blood, and stuff like that if you squeamish turn back now or dont
Might be my fav chapter so far edited to perfection for you guys
Enjoy
The commanders having returned set the Shinobi of the Leaf to begin its movements, each unit dispersing into its place there the borders between sand and trees would meet. Like a well-oiled machine they followed their orders and prepared for war. Though not all seemed ready to accept their role. Stationed beside the war room, Kiba shared his displeased growl with Shino who nodded coolly to Shikamaru when he told them about their part in the war. Their leader sighed dropping his head attempting to avoid anymore complaints.
"Kiba it's not up for debate" he muttered and glanced annoyingly at Akamaru who barred his teeth in the same displeasure as his companion. "I need you two to be close to Kankuro, he's one of the commanding captains and if he decided to turn on us, I need you two to be ready to take him down" He narrowed his look showing the severity of the situation and Kiba scoffed.
"This is all going to turn sour really quick Shikamaru"
"Listen as I said we will not strike first under no circumstance should we engage them after we are finished, this is all just a precautious" He looked away a wave of guilt rushing over him when Kiba turned his eyes down like a dog with his tail tucked between his legs "We can't trust them, but we have to work with them if we are going to pull this off"
"What about you?" Shino hummed having not moved since receiving his orders. Shikamaru turned to him and signed crossing his arms. He hadn't been able to stop the feeling of unease since leaving the Sand's camp. Temari would be leading with the main unit with him, positioned to take on the biggest threat, Kurostuchi's primary legion. Yet he saw her hesitation at the mention of Naruto being there, the caution behind her teal eyes and the way she quietly played through with a new strategy. She might seem like an unreadable general ruling with her wrath, but he saw the smile and softness behind her façade.
Honestly that's all he could see recently; she was captivating to say the least. He almost began to list the things he saw in her, like some child fawning over their first crush. Admiration for her yes, fear of her some, finding ways to look at her, he could think of a few right now. He'd seen her in battle over the years, even heard her taunts to her foes she was a woman to be praised and respected. She never faltered in the art of war, and he'd never underestimated her tactics when their troops would fight. It was too troublesome to linger on such thoughts.
Five years ago.
Shikamaru pushed off the ground landing on the thick branch of the lone oak tree in the last green field at the border of Leaf and Sand. Climbing quickly, he held himself on the thinning branches at the stop and pulled his view into the sandy terrain ahead. The dust clouded the air and the cries of men being thrown back echoed. Even at this distance he could feel the sudden breeze flow into the green. Ino gasped as she finished her climb and held his sleeve as she steadied herself eyes focusing on the battle ahead.
"Shikamaru that's our border patrol" she hissed urgently.
"I know" he paused and swallowed mouth becoming dry at the scene. The branch shifted downwards slightly as Choji pulled up and sighed hating the idea of viewing from the top.
"What did I miss" Choji whispered seeing the tense mood between the two. They witnessed the one who released the attack step from the cloud with a sly grin as she walked to an unknown leaf shinobi who groaned on his back before her. She leaned against her opened weapon, golden bangs blowing to her side, and smiled, cruel and cold down at her enemy. Her voice carrying, sending a shudder down his spine, the fear rising, yes fear from her intent.
"You're lucky I didn't catch you with the cyclone" she tilted her head as the shinobi began to crawl back on his elbows "where you running off to?" she shook her head knowing it was futile "You attacked us first" her lips turned and she glared down at him. He froze and fell back accepting his faith. Her fan slipped shut and she heaved it to her side with a sigh looking disinterested in him "You men always throwing your fists around before looking to see who it is, next time stay on your border, idiot" She smirked at him her words harsh and dominating, yet she almost looked pleasant when she relaxed her face and turned to leave the shinobi lifting his head to look at her departure.
Shikamaru's view of her began to turn smaller as she headed for the border, the shinobi who has now sat up slowly raised himself to stand and face her back. Eyes widening Shikamaru almost stepped back off the branch, as the shinobi called out and blew a breath of fire at her. Ino gripped his sleeve gasping as the fire spread towards the woman. The blast clouded their view of her but not before he could spot the three moons spread open.
The fire fought against an invisible force and inevitably lost, pushing back and burning the shinobi who cast it. The blast just pasting the three in the tree, the aftermath of the wind shaking the branches as the branch under their feet began to shiver. Shikamaru braced himself with one arm, Ino holding onto his other and Choji grabbing the branch before he tipped backwards, but Shikamaru refused to look away. The faint sound of metal closing shut, Temari of the Sand sheathed her weapon and glared at the burning land before her before turning and leaving.
"What do we do?" Ino turned her wide eyes at him as he forced his mind to thing, though it was proven easier said then done. He blew out a held breath and began to descend the tree his team following his steps as he slipped into the clearing. Silently he scanned the burning field making sure she was gone before they approached the still shinobi. Ino slipped past him and began to check the fallen man, his arm smoking, and his sleeve burnt but he groaned at Ino's touch. "Shikamaru he's alive" Ino called quickly beginning to heal what she could. Standing away from the three he stared into the gilded hot sand ahead at the woman as she looked back before disappearing behind the sand dune. Blinking away his dazed look he turned back.
However, she was still his enemy he couldn't forget that.
"Don't worry about me, I know what to do if the time comes" He glanced back spotting his friends spread among the camp. Hinata seated with Sakura as they smiled up at Naruto, probably spilling jokes to make them laugh. Choji seated at a table eating, or as he would say preparing for war. Beside him Ino leaning on Sai his gentle smile making her turn every shade of red possible when he spoke. Guy encouraging Lee as they shouted among themselves, with Tenten rolling her eyes beside Neji who only shook his head. Shikamaru turned to the sky the sun beginning to hide in the forest around them, it'd be dusk soon and he had already planned his next move. This war was becoming a drag.
"So, are you going to leave?" he pulled his gaze down to Kakashi as he made his way to his side making sure to relay his question to only him.
"Yeah" he sighed feeling as if he was too exhausted for this "can't let them be a step ahead of us anyways" He muttered back to him.
"You kids sure have grown" Kakashi mused turning his eye away from him to the others quietly "Watch your back"
"I know" he stepped forward clearing his throat, slipping his hands in his pockets, the group turning towards him as he spoke "Everyone has been briefed about what's to come" he began, lazily turning from each attentive friend and taking in the determined and readiness from them. "we've been in battles before so I don't need to tell you what to do" he smirked glancing down for a second hearing Naruto chuckle "just remember we need to keep our guards up until the end, the Sand will reveal their true colors to us when everything is finished" A tense silence followed the mention. Naruto stepped forward placing a hand on his shoulder each man holding the other determined look.
"Shikamaru have some faith in us, we've beaten greater odds" He smiled at him and Shikamaru smirked.
"True" He sighed "if we all do our part everything will go smoothly" Naruto draped his arm over his shoulder throwing his fist in the air promoting a cheer from the others. "We haven't even won yet" Shikamaru complained but laughed with him.
"Let's win this war once and for all" the others cheered on enlightening the tense atmosphere of the entire situation. With a shake of his head, he left the readied troops and set out on his own.
Temari turned to the clear sky above gazing at the shift in color as the brilliant blue began to merge with the golden orange glow of the setting sun. Not a single cloud in the sky that would be too rare for the desert. She pulled her focus down to the ravine below her and scanned the length from where the delayed troops would be trapped. With a sigh she continued her march casting a cautious glance at the mountains leading to the Land of Rain. She could sense the uneasiness in the darkened sky passed the hills and the slight flashes where lightning battled to strike the ground below it.
The sudden shift in the wind sent a shudder down her spine and she clenched her jaw quickly hiding her downturned lips under her scarf. Having not been near this side of the border in a few months she had almost forgotten the ill feeling she got passing it now. She never quite believed in omens or signs from the universe but when the wind changed its course, she knew it would never lie to her. Gathering up her strength she turned to the edge of the cliff and leaped off, the cold wind biting at her skin, before slipping her fan out and gliding down the ravine to the other end. When she settled back onto her feet, she quietly leaned against her fan staring into the stone cliffs and hills of the Land of Earth, the dry sand behind her making the wave of fresh rain and smoke fill her senses. Her eyes widened, smoke?
"About time you showed up?" Her entire body shifted hands gripping her fan as she turned to face him, eyes glaring past the edge of her weapon, a warm blush gracing her cheeks under her mask, surprised. The chill returned to her spine, and she stiffened. Shikamaru looked on unfazed by her offensive stance pushing off the tree he had been leaning on to approach her, pulling his hood down from his cloak, allowing a glint of amusement shined in his eyes at the site of her so stunned. He continued his cautious pace towards her hands snugly sitting in his pockets, cigarette burning from his lips, the only man alive who could make his lazy steps look confident "You really know how to keep a guy waiting" he only stopped when her fan shifted slightly, and she hardened her stare warning becoming clear.
"What are you doing here, Nara?" She demanded quickly hiding the fact that he had truly snuck up on her.
"You think I mentioned the Rain by accident?" He smirked proudly, teeth glinting over the cigarette "I knew you'd want to go and see it for yourself" Temari scoffed and shut her widened eyes for a moment, hiding her rosy cheeks under her fan, she was starting to hate these reactions. Plant the seed and the idea will grow. She straightened biting back a curse and sheathed her weapon, she couldn't do anything to rash just yet.
"You can leave, I don't need you slowing me down" She turned irritated she'd not noticed it sooner, the fact he swayed her into going to the Land of Rain turning the tables on her own control over the situation, another burn to her cheek in her humiliation.
"Temari" why she stopped was beyond her own understanding, his stern voice like his jutsu seemed to possess some sort of control. She kept still as he moved towards her stopping when he reached her side arms just out of reach, her eyes momentarily traveling down to his untouched shadow, so she did stop on her own. He let out a sigh seeming to compose himself and softened his voice as he spoke "It's not up for debate, I'm going with you" her eyes widened, and she slowly turned to look up at him.
"Excuse me?" her tone to calm for the wrath hidden behind it. He kept his look even body tensing however as she slowly lowered her lids into a glare, one side her lips turning up.
"Temari" he warned again leaning his head down towards hers to close for comfort, breath blowing on her lips momentarily, her body tensing, his dark eyes narrowed "Listen I know how all this is going to turn out, so might as well wait until after we are done with this battle before you start being troublesome" she faltered, cheeks flush, and he saw it yet didn't add to his accusation, she didn't deny or agree with him either. He stared a moment longer, the smoke waving past his face calmly, pulling back hesitantly and sighed shutting his eyes, having gotten his answer. She kept her glare on him hand twitching to reach for her fan in defense though she knew he wouldn't be as rash as her, she also just wanted to knock him out for getting to close to her.
Shikamaru looked up into the thinning wood leading between the Land of Rain and Earth and stepped past her pulling his hood over his head tossing the cigarette aside and walked on. Temari's gaze followed him, his back turned perfect moment to strike, if she chose to. He worked it out before they had even agreed to the alliance, she couldn't help but respect it. Ruthless as she was, she chose the only action that wouldn't hurt her or her people in the long run, to relax her raised hand and huff as she stepped quickly to come to his side.
The two remained silent taking a rapid pace as they crossed the open muddy fields of the Rain to their right and the slick rocky terrain of the Earth to their left. The rain didn't stop either, it poured endlessly from the dark heavens soaking both shinobi. The fields on both side barren land with little to no greenery making Shikamaru miss home. Konoha where he trees never stopped, stretching for miles, the sky rarely dimmed there even after all these years. His eyes focused through the rain the only sound them sprinting through the murky mud towards the border.
Who led, he wasn't too sure, though she seemed to be more docile since his accusation of her thoughts on betraying the truce among their nations, for once he didn't want to be right. The stunt he pulled by getting too close to her earlier had worked its way to his mind and he inwardly slapped himself to get his thoughts together, stupid move for a supposed genius. Her gaze remained ahead of her brows furrowed and blinking the rain from her teal eyes as they shifted from what seemed to be a main road heading for the Rain village, towards a thinner, muddy path with fresh footprints filling with water from the night sky. Noticing a faint glint, Shikamaru slowed his pace and stopped, Temari slowing up just ahead of him glancing back to watch him raise an Earth headband from the mud. The rain dripping the slick dull dirt from the silver symbol. He turned his narrowed eyes ahead scanning the darkened horizon, a thin trail of smoke barley noticeable in the grey clouded sky pointing him to the location of the army closer to the Land of Earth. He tossed the headband unceremoniously to the ground and set the pace towards the enemy.
Over the ridges they went Temari now falling behind him sensing the unease in his steps as he led them down the path only slowing when they reached a turn into a ridge pass, with a river and bridge in front of them and a thin forest across. He glanced back up the smoke becoming more visible now that they have neared the camp, he was sure of it. Turning slightly to her he took in her quiet narrowed look as she quickly scanned around them and slipped her damp scarf from her nose speaking.
"The footprints didn't correspond to three hundred troops" She muttered glaring back at him "It's much less, means something happened"
"Or someone" he muttered "They are fresh, probably from a few hours ago" he sighed his wet cloak weighting him down as he glanced past the bridge to the smoke again. "We should get higher up better cover than the forest up ahead" She surveyed the trees ahead then the rising cliff to their left and nodded. The two made their way across and down the river side towards the edge of the cliff on the top, thin scarred trees giving them little cover. As he predicted the camp was set in a damp clearing, tents posted around a lake, that shimmered with the light rain. They stood a few feet apart the unease between them still apparent and looked over the edge to a dimmed fire covered by a tarp above as it not let the rain take it away. Around the fire a group of five Rock shinobi sat talking among themselves. Faint whispers and defeated looks, some held onto white wraps from injuries others looking exhausted. One exited a tent near the fire and made his way over shouting, the captain of the troops.
"Alright stand in attention" He called out watching the group shift quickly to stand in a line. Shikamaru glancing at the others coming to join the group from their tents, eight in total including the captain. This was their army? "I'm sending word to Kurostuchi about the loss today, two days from now she'll engage with the conflict of Sand and Leaf" he paused and looked at each shinobi. "Where is Jiro?" the group looked among themselves before one stepped out his head lowered for a moment before raising to speak.
"Sir Jiro succumbed to his wounds earlier" The group was silent
"Damn it" the captain muttered standing quiet for a moment "out of three hundred shinobi we are left with only us eight" he growled in frustration. Temari widened her eyes and turned to look at Shikamaru who'd never let his anxious gaze waver from the troop of eight. What kind of army could kill three hundred men? "Alright we'll rest the night and wait for orders to return home" he sighed rubbing his neck looking around the empty camp "The Village hidden in the Rain now poses a threat to us all" he remarked quietly and left to his tent, the group dispersing back to their spots. Temari sneered at the mention and looked over at Shikamaru who glanced quietly at her eyes narrowed.
"We'll have to sneak in there and get any new intel on the troops movements and the Rain" He muttered to Temari who sighed uninterested in his plans as he spoke, letting him know as soon as she unclipped her fan resting it in her hands behind her peeking over the edge "We can't just go barging in you know"
"There's only eight, and most are wounded no need to plan this one out genius" She turned her gaze back to him and smirked confidently "just hit them where it hurts"
"It's still a risk" he grumbled crossing his arms, working out the location of each member as he spoke while she rolled her eyes halfheartedly listening to him "their numbers went for three hundred to eight, even then we shouldn't be rash about this, and we need the captain alive" He huffed irritated at her lack of attention "If we are even going to engage with them we need a plan"
"It's called thinking on your feet" She hummed tossing her head to the side and leaning against her hand, amusing herself with his annoyance.
"We could get hurt if we just jump in there" He grumbled back trying to ignore her mocking him.
"Are gonna cry if you do?" she teased him with a devious grin causing him to look away from her, he'd stare if he continued "Don't worry I'll take care of this so you don't get hurt again" Despite himself he couldn't help but grin.
"You're a very troublesome woman you know that?" he sighed pinching the bridge of his nose and shutting his eyes as if he could get her out his head. Unsuccessfully he turned back as her smile widened and she chuckled as if he'd complimented her, an uneasy blush rising to his cheeks.
"So, you in Crybaby?" Shikamaru groaned slipping his hood down and nodded to the set course ahead.
"This is gonna be a drag" he sighed as she turned back, smiling at her victory, before springing down, with him right behind.
The drop was around fifty feet and easily maneuverable as Temari broke her fall with a swift gust of wind rushing past the five seated around the fire, dropping into a crouch and rising, fan splayed behind her as she smirked up at the five who stood quickly. Two silenced as the kunai from Shikamaru's descend connected into their throats as he straightened into a kneel at her side hands raised and eyes focused on the remaining three as they stared down at their fallen comrades shocked. Three missing from the first attack, including the captain he quickly noted.
"Captain Chikyu" One shouted turning to run towards his tent, catching Shikamaru's attention towards him as he clasped his hands together and casting his Shadow stitching jutsu, sending his shadow forward splitting the threads apart on the ground before the dark threads rose and shot forward grabbing the escaped shinobi in a tight hold around his leg causing him to stumble and be dragged back through the mud by the shadow thread. The other shadows rising to strike the other two shinobi a man and woman who sprang back and raised their hands in the air mimicking each other's signs both inhaling and releasing breaths of slick mud towards the two. Temari shifted her fan, changing her stance in one step and, to Shikamaru's right, effortlessly swung the attack back towards the two who fell back with the force of the wind rolling them away into the mud with groans as they tried to stand quick. The tents behind them shuddering before a few slipped from their holds in the ground and flung back into the rest of the empty camp.
The commotion brought forth the remaining two and the captain. He pushed out of his tent and gasping as Shikamaru flung the man in his hold into him knocking both back into the tent. His shadow returning, he took a breath grinning in amusement and rising to ready himself hand slipping behind him. The two missing shinobi arrived as he'd expected and looked between the two intruders.
"What are you waiting for kill them" The captain called out as he pushed himself and the stumbling, now covered in mud, man with him. The two looked at their companions covered in mud from Temari's attack then at the dead ones by the fire. One shot forward slipping a set of kunai out while the other shot four shuriken at the intruders. Temari moved before they released the weapons shifting the fan as she sent the weapons crashing into the wind of her defense and flung them back towards the opponents, one successfully getting hit by his own shuriken. She smirked when he stumbled back into the mud, his companion looking back surprised. Shikamaru rose shifting his heavy cloak to one side revealing a kunai and turning a glare to each enemy as they moved around them cautiously, yet Temari only laughed, harsh and dominating making the shinobi tense.
"Was that it?" Temari called out teasing her foes, turning her gaze to the captain while the five remaining shinobi working quick to trap them against the cliff's wall "I expected a fight not a training exercise Chikyu, is this seriously all that's left of your troops?" The captain stiffened at her words, the familiar voice from a past battle wakening his unease, and gapped before turning to Shikamaru, eyes focused on the shining Leaf headband on his sleeve, his eyes narrowing in realization.
"The Sand and Leaf working together, you've formed an alliance?" he called out to his troops and pushed the man at his side "Send word to Kurostuchi now" he ordered at the man that had crashed into him earlier, who nodded quickly and turned to run.
"Told you we needed a plan" Shikamaru muttered.
"Oh shut up" Temari scoffed and glanced at Shikamaru who sighed annoyed at the predicted move. The group around them stiffened, kunai in hand ready to strike.
"I leave it to you then" he turned to meet her gaze, both grinning before he sprang back in understanding of what was to come. Temari turned back twisting her body and swung her fan catching the three to her right in a cyclone that ripped through them as if they weighed like nothing. Leaving one shinobi left who jumped back in time from her attack to get caught by a paper bomb kunai to his chest from Shikamaru's doing. His eyes widened and he managed to fall towards a tent further back sending both himself and the tent flying under the burning blast. Chikyu managed to raise his hands, but a second to late, his body frozen under the darkened shadow that had slithered to him in the distraction, and the sly smirk of the user who stood and slowly pulled his hands apart, the captain following him like a puppet.
"Kinda boring really" Temari sighed annoyed as she slipped her fan shut and turned to Shikamaru "Thought they'd put up more of a fight" Chikyu glared at them mimicking his captor as he shrugged.
"Well, he's still alive so it turned out alright, I guess" Chikyu glared back at him. With a sigh Shikamaru glanced to Temari "you forgot something Temari" with the reminder she chuckled causing the captain to frown under her devilish grin, her smug look caught by both men.
"Wouldn't want to forget the messenger now, it'd be just awful if word got out about our alliance" her tone on the verge of snarky, she began to walk past them lifting her thumb to her lips breaking the skin and slipping her fan open drawing a red line at the ends of the moons. Passing the two she looked at the sky above before nodding to herself and swinging her fan towards the tents before her. The gust of wind released with her summon rushed past every tent and roared towards the distant rocky cliffs sending the wet earth flying and the rain shifting with the attack. Shikamaru tilted his head past the Chikyu to witness the destruction with wide eyes, in turn the captain pulled his head to the side with a painful groan. A distant cry then silence as the wind died down, leaving half the camp missing and what was left was mud and broken trees, everything else flattened including the messenger. Temari turned back smiling wide "There now we have no need to worry" she slipped her fan shut returning to the two shocked men.
"How dare you those shinobi were my only survivors" Chikyu tried to turn to face her but could only muster strength under his hold to turn his gaze her way as she smirked pleased with herself. Shikamaru stared, mouth slightly gaping open, all he could really do as he turned from the leveled land to her smile. He inhaled steadying his breath returning to his mental count on how much chakra he had, pulling his focus back and grinning at the captain when he fumbled to speak more insults towards her as she began to glare back at his choice in swears.
"You sure it's smart to be insulting her right now?" Shikamaru warned bringing his hands together. The shadow under Chikyu shifted and began to split apart climbing up his legs and tightening until it reached his throat just barley strangling him, but enough to make it uncomfortable.
"Now you can call yourself the only survivor, some captain you are letting all your shinobi die in a single attack" Temari leaned against her closed fan analyzing the captain under her narrowed eyes.
"What do you want?" he choked out.
"What happened to your three hundred troops?" Shikamaru asked steadying his breath, not too much chakra left.
"They went to the rain village" He coughed "the Akatsuki killed them" he shut his eyes barley able to breath when Shikamaru's eyes narrowed in turn his grip tightening at the mention. Temari glanced down at Shikamaru noting his sudden struggle and pulled away from her fan, the shadow slowly releasing, as she stepped towards the captain, catching his focus so he wouldn't realize the hold was retreating. They might have not trusted each other but she wasn't going to let the captain know that. She quickly glanced at the disappearing shadow, knowing her move, and her hand gripping her closed fan.
"So, they took down your troops all by themselves" The captain looked at her nodding and just as he realized his hold was releasing, she slammed the end of her fan into his chest knocking him on his back, resting the heavy weapon on his chest keeping him on the muddy ground. He growled and raised his hand towards the fan, but she had seen it and was quick to knock it aside with a sharp kick and crush his hand back into the mud, fingers twitching painfully under her weight. "Now that's got to hurt" she smirked glancing up at the unamused look of Shikamaru who slipped his hands back into his pockets as he stared down at Chikyu.
"What do you know about the Akatsuki?" he demanded in a calm tone, although not without an unforgiving glare. Chikyu scowled up at him and winced as the pressure on his hand twisted as she sunk her foot into the skin.
"He asked you a question" Temari warned impatiently, she was just as curious to know about the force that had captured her brother months before, though chose violence over a calm disposition.
"The one called Pain he's the one who took down the army all by himself" he groaned watching their expectant looks, both glaring down unwavering to his words. "We were moving troops from our initial attack towards your lands but also to set up a base here to spy on the Hidden Rain village and when none of our spies came back from the village, we sent our army and he wiped almost all of us out" he choked out grimacing as her sudden pressure crushed his hand into the ground "I don't know much about the current plan I swear Kurostuchi was here a week ago she doesn't know about this attack yet" Temari leaned down slightly forcing his wide eyes to turn to her.
"Is that so?" She smirked seeing him gain some of his composure and hold her cold stare.
"She said with you gone she'll be able to storm into Suna and capture the city" he grinned "heard some interesting news regarding your Kazekage" Temari faltered even as small it was both men saw. Shikamaru cleared his throat, leaving her reaction in the back of his mind, crouching gaining his attention calmly speaking to defuse the sudden tension.
"Listen I'm not much of a killer but Temari seems to want to tear your throat out" He directed their eyes to the kunoichi death glare down at them. "A march to Suna would mean you'd need more troops against their defense" he grinned down at the captain, having seen a possibility that the initial attack as a diversion for something else "Let me guess you guys have reinforcements coming from Iwagakure and you want to march them down towards the sand during the diversion" Chikyu looked stunned and even in pain his body went slack as he listened "Not bad, but you now have to consider the united forces between the Leaf and Sand, combined our shinobi outnumber the Earths" He sighed and stood turning to Temari who although still fuming was watching him quietly as he turned to walk towards the tent the Captain had come out of, not wanting to witness the chaos of the sound of metal crashing into the ground echoing behind the piercing cry.
He only killed when necessary and if he could avoid it, he did, not really something he liked doing as a shinobi, but it came with the job. Shikamaru preferred fighting his battles in the war room rather than on the battlefield less messy than the act of war. His mind wandered to the mention of the Kazekage and knew what it meant, for a nation to declare war on another capitol it had to deal with the Kage's absence or something of sorts. No army was stupid enough to march in and start killing at random, spies maybe but an army from the capital was too vast to bring out into the open. Not to mention for them it'd be days before they reached Suna anyways. He'd have to confirm with the reports. Slipping past the tents entrance he glanced around the messy looking room and slightly grinned at the mud splattered on the far end, where he had knocked both the captain and his remaining member into.
"Shikamaru" a demand but to soft to quiet. He stopped his initial search and looked at the entrance as Temari stood holding the drape the faint splatters of mud and blood soiling her wet scarf. Her lowered eyes resting quietly to his and her lips pressed together slightly as she waited hand stiffening on the bloodied fan before her. The sudden realization that she was awaiting the question that would determine her next move. Feeling his nerves rise he tensed and turned back to shuffle through the scrolls, quickly trying to find his course of action when she chose to strike. The Akatsuki were after jinchuriki, Gaara just happened to be one, and the mention of the Kazekage didn't take him to long to figure it out. He paused his hand dropping to his side by his pocket readying himself with a kunai when the tent drape closed behind her, filling the room in a hazy darkness.
"When did they take the one-tail from him?"
The Suspense!