The moment you all have been waiting for the Final Battle!
Enjoy what I have created, I think it fits well with the second to last chapter. Be prepared for the final chapter to introduce the problems they will face for the allaince
Thank you all for reading!
Gaara looked through the stilled battle below, Sand, Earth, and Leaf staring up at him, in awe, in fear, his gaze however focused elsewhere. The fallen sun hiding behind the dunes, the orange light that remained casting a glow behind the wave of sand rising to his call, his chakra, what little remained from the drain earlier, spared from further use as he raised his hand, the command clear, the golden wave shifted and burst forward into the darkening ravine below. Hinata and Lee braced themselves at his side, but the sand never touched them, carefully brushing past their legs as it followed the silent will of Gaara as it created his terrain below.
The shinobi watching below gawked as the incoming attack, some ran, others braced themselves and cried out the sand taking no mercy to the Earth shinobi that it tracked, no regret as it settled between the fights, burying some and knocking back many more. Gaara stepped to the edge lowering his arm and allowed the sand to lie down in the ravine on its own, turning the hard earth into his perfect terrain, his battle beginning. Behind him Lee and Hinata came to his sides, each casting their own glances down to the battlefield below, though more in a stunned silence.
"Kazekage sir what are your orders?" Lee asked looking from the path below to Gaara expectantly waiting for his response, following his orders from Shikamaru.
"Help your friends, I must go to your Commander" he didn't wait for their response, ghostly blues shutting as his body began to crumble away, grains of sand breaking apart from his body as he disappeared before the Leaf shinobi's eyes. The sand shifted moving below, moving to the man it sought, the one who slowly opened his dark gaze to look at Saku, the fear on the Sand shinobi's face more than present, shocked seemed to be appropriate, fear even better.
"You, how?" Saku gapped, his mouth quivering as he took a step back, his weapon barely clenched in his hand as it dragged in his internal debate to retreat.
"Told you I had it figured out" stated as a fact, if not a big smug to be so right "it's not wise to underestimate your opponent and how far they will go" Shikamaru warned.
"But he's supposed to be dead" Saku hastily looked to him as if he was seeking the answer under the narrowed dark eyes watching his moves cautiously "they were supposed to trap him in the desert alone, it was fail proof!"
"You didn't consider that I'd sent my shinobi after him" Shikamaru stilled a painful ache to his gut and continued, his stern tone strained in speaking "and Kankuro's unit should be protected as well so looks like you failed your rebellion against them"
"You" Saku glared down at him the grip on his fan tightening, the intent clear "How did you know about this!"
"Like I said it was my mission" The confusion turned into a sneer then a furious shout as he raised his weapon to Shikamaru, his response a hardened glare, prepared to die, he'd be a coward if he shut his eyes now. The fan crashed down, the sand breaking its path a few inches from Shikamaru's face, the gasp from Saku met with a silent blue glare, forming gradually in front of him, the grains of sand beginning to create Gaara's form in between the men. Silence met the three, one relieved, one quiet, and another attempting to find words in his shock. Raising his hand, Gaara pushed back into Saku, the sand from the save he created coming to force Saku back, the action resulting in his sudden flight backwards, while in the air Saku regained some sense of self in his fall and countered, softened his landing with a gust of wind landing further down the ravine, further away from the Kazekage, but not far enough to show his rage to the two, the failure of the plan masked across his face.
"Are you alright?" Gaara kept his gaze firmly on Saku, his question a monotone concern and a surprise, but Shikamaru sighed in relief, glad everything seemed to be in his favor today, aside from the two wounds paining him to move.
"Thanks to you" he looked up to him "you made it here just in time"
"Thanks to your warning and friends we managed to get here when needed" Gaara looked back down to him, the scroll he had given to him earlier had more than warned him, it spoke of Shikamaru's true intention from the start, the reason he had come to the front, the reason he was protecting them now "You are hurt" he muttered, another surprising statement to Shikamaru, and looked back observing the cautious Sand shinobi circling around where Saku was, facing the direction of them, the ones who remained against them reading for the final strike.
"It's not the best time to get into how that happened, but Temari's safe and Kankuro has my ambush unit watching his back" Shikamaru turned his gaze over to where his team had come to Temari's aid, the three now focused on her as she gave her orders, or was shouting at them for the presence of Gaara, troublesome woman he noted to himself avoiding his urge to grin when Ino and Choji both looked to her intent on listening, not that she was giving them a choice. Plan set and ready.
"I see" Gaara looked from his sister to him "thank you for protecting her" Shikamaru nodded slowly up to him, his words had been genuine and grateful, surprising him even now, though still a one note tone and when Gaara outstretched his hand to him, he spent the better part of a few seconds just staring at it, stunned possibly, maybe intimidated, but he took it, helping himself stand with a strained groan, his free hand coming to cover the painful bleeding wound to his gut, the distant howl and shouts of shinobi growing louder as battles resumed, the sudden urgency of what was needed to be done returning to him as he spoke.
"It's not the reason I needed you here Lord fifth" Shikamaru looked from Gaara to the chaotic fight that had begun to where he and his squad first started, the horrific red chakra standing out through the crowd, the beast unleashed. Kurostuchi attempting to fight against it, with Team seven trying to subdue him in the process "It's Naruto, with you there Kurostuchi will be forced to retreat, I got you here so you can stop the battle all together" Gaara held his quiet stare back at him and grinned slightly, the faint tug turning to the side of his mouth, barely seen but still there.
"I see" Gaara turned to the Sand shinobi who had looked to him in fear, some even looking regretful of their choice made, others even made a few steps cautiously their way "I might not be a jinchuriki anymore, but I will protect my people, and my allies" He crossed his arms "Will you be fine against them?" as he spoke the path before them, blocking the Sand shinobi from advancing on them, went up in a current of wind and sand, the view now blurred in haze of cloudy dust. Temari stood before the start of the attack, face set in a harsh glare looking from the Sand shinobi to Gaara, her shout a warning, as if she was scolding her brother.
"Gaara!" Temari looked quickly to Shikamaru, the threatening second long look enough to unnerve him, she was definitely mad he was here, if he survived this, she would probably just kill him afterwards for hiding this from her. She turned back to the Sand shinobi showing through the settling dust and sand that now littered the battlefield. Gaara spoke, almost as if he was defending the look she had given the Leaf commander, or himself from his sister's one word threat, her worry hidden under rage.
"I must do my part as Kazekage, Temari" he stated simply looking past her to where Naruto was and took a step in the direction of the fight, only stopping to glance back at her "I trust that you can handle them"
"Of course, we can" She snapped, but it was softer spoken as if knowing she had no choice in his decision, looked from Shikamaru to her brother, the anger behind the plan more than known, but forced down to remain steady and as calm as she could make it sound "be careful Gaara" He nodded once to her, his figure slowly dispelling into grains of sand and blowing away to his battle. In the conversation Ino had made it to Shikamaru's side with Choji at her back.
"Shikamaru you look" Ino began as she leaned in and pulled his hand from the wound, making a pained look.
"Bad yeah I figured" he muttered eyes shutting and holding back a groan when she pressed his hand back down and straightened, brows furrowed when she saw the second wound.
"Really you got stabbed twice. Like once wasn't enough" He groaned and looked past her to Temari, still and ready for the fight ahead, the first calculated move to be made by her.
"That's not important right now Ino" he muttered and tensed when Temari looked back, the cold gaze softening slightly at the sight of the blood, but it was a fleeting second and she quickly angered.
"Idiot" he could see her mutter it under her breath before scoffing and shaking her head "Choji" she called out to his teammate who obediently looked to her for orders "When I strike I need you to get in there as soon as the wind dies down and take out any that remain, Ino" she looked to Ino, the blue gaze already turned up to listen "Make sure he doesn't die" she muttered and with a final quiet glare to Shikamaru she turned back to the Sand shinobi that had begun to link together, forming their own plan against them from the other side of the ravine, that being the sudden split, half remaining others advancing.
"She's not happy that Gaara is here" Ino looked to Shikamaru his tired sigh the only answer to her sudden concern for Temari's anger or who she had directed it at. He knew she would be, he'd planned for it, but there was no way around it he thought, he had to have Gaara here to force Kurostuchi retreat. With two powerful jinchuriki against her, even though one didn't possess his tailed beast anymore, she would see the danger of the situation and take her leave, finally ending the battle, the war between Sand and Leaf. That was the plan, he had always hoped it wouldn't have to come down someone dying, considering his sudden weakness to stand he hoped he wasn't on that side, but it was a sacrifice he was willing to make for the peace, sacrificial pawn he thought. Damn back to thinking about how no one considered him dying when he was meant to be protecting those around him. Funny the notion that he had always thought she would be the end of him, and if he was being honest Temari was about to be his end, but she looked to furious to let that happened right now. At least he had his backup plan sitting in the bag at her hip. He shut his eyes the ache burning for a moment, interrupting his thoughts, as Ino pulled him a step back at the sudden dominating command.
"Don't get in my way" Temari warned, her focus turned to the opponent before her. She drew a thumb to her mouth biting down on the skin and glanced back, the silent agreement met with wide anticipating eyes, she was pissed, and they knew better than to get in her way. The fan slipped open before her, she heard the gasps ahead, they knew they were caught, and her aim was perfect, her thumb drew the red line to the edges of the moons, the skill she only knew, the one that gave her the names and titles, the merciless grin pulling at her lips, as she drew the weapon back. The second she moved the howl of the wind released came rushing forward, the crash of the slashes of her summon hit ground and bodies, rocks and flesh, of shinobi stuck in its path the screams silenced under the deafening attack. The sudden noise, the roar of the wind, made no point in holding back taking what would have been an outnumbered battle down in a single hit, bringing down the canyon's rocky cliffside along with it, splitting the earth apart. As suspected, he thought, this woman could split a mountain in two when she got pissed.
Throughout the attack the three watched under wide eyes and gaping mouths, though one quickly pulled up into an admiring smile, too small to show the others or himself, as he'd seen this before and looked on in complete awe. The power, shown with such grace, possibly some fear to think that he could have been on the other side of the strike at any time over the four years. Yet even with all her rage when she pulled back and straightened, she laughed lightly, the edge of her fan connecting with the earth below with a short thud in her sudden amusement "Well?" She called back and turned smiling; the corners of her lips pulled back in a victorious grin that left the three speechless, who was protecting who again? "how was that? Pretty good huh?" Ino shut her mouth and looked to Shikamaru, his gaze focused towards Temari, before she grinned, the understanding behind her sudden ease seeing the look from her friend.
"She's pretty great huh?" she spoke in a hushed tone, he blinked and looked down to his wound as if just realizing it was there, just realizing he had been caught staring.
"Yeah" he muttered under his breath. While they remained in their secretive exchange Choji raised his fist into the air with a shout, making his shock known.
"That was amazing Temari, how come you've never used that on us?" He looked into the dusk, the attack leaving little for them to defend against, as few had escaped into the crowds around.
"Because you'd be dead if this hit you" she stated simply, the ones that had been in her path showing her point, but still shot him an amused grin when she sensed his unease over the statement, before nudged her head back to the Sand "we have to get in there and take out the ones who managed to get past" Choji nodded and pushed forward first, as she watched him pass she turned looking to the other side of the ravine for a moment before shutting her fan "I didn't see him" she observed and looked to Shikamaru, his previous awed look turned serious, as he'd been searching too.
"He knows how you fight Temari" he glanced at her briefly and returning to his search "means he knows how to counter you"
"I know that" she scoffed but her words remained an even warming "Saku was on my unit for a reason, he's good, but no one is as good as me, I know what to do" prideful proud words, she had every right to be full of herself he thought, but she was cautious, he had seen the shift the momentary pause that had cost them the first hit on him. The mention of her brothers had sparked it, he'd known for a while that the simple mention of Gaara or Kankuro could darken the once teasing teal eyes, her intentions only going darker from there, she was protective. She's never admitted it out loud, but she worried about them, she cared for them and showed the side of her others would never even think she could have.
"You hesitated" he found himself saying abruptly, not thought behind it, but he was stunned into silence when she shot back without missing a beat.
"And you ran yourself into a blade" she sounded angry, but he saw the same shift as earlier behind the teals, she had been worried, the tight stare pointed down at him keeping his silent observation from surfacing "not very smart of you now is it Shikamaru?" Temari turned her glare away from him, eyes widened and slipped her fan open to the side, the sound of metal kunai meeting the steel fan "just stay put and let me handle this" she shouted to him, ordered really, not like he was in a position to move much at the moment, her attention turned to the two who had slipped away from her previous attack and headed towards them. With their backs to the ravine's rocky wall, their only option was defense, or in Temari's case, offense to push the Sand shinobi away. Ino pulled her attention away from healing and towards Temari then back to her teammate his eyes turning to her with a short nod.
"Will you be, ok?" She held his arm over her shoulders and another around his waist helping him settle back into the cliffside, the burning sting bitten back under a clenched jaw before he managed to speak.
"I'll be fine, they are to focused on Temari and Choji to notice me" With a nod Ino stood and aimed to the Sand shinobi at Temari's front, his gaze widened, and he stepped back from her with a grin. Temari shot a quick glance back to check Ino's slumped body settled at Shikamaru's side, before she returned to the battle ahead of her, the gust of wind coming towards them. Saku shouted, his sudden command for the ones around him to rush forward past his attack. Temari sneered pulling the three moons open with an effortless swing towards the wind, defending her position, her allies.
The two gusts of air clashed, spiraling upwards and fighting against each other, the one that had left from the fan of the goddess overpowered his and surged down into the rushing shinobi knocking back their advance and making way to Choji and Ino, as a Sand shinobi, on either side. Saku scowled at the loss and pulled himself behind his weapon, disappearing before they reached his unit standing at the end of the attack.
The silence fell over the field, the fights around continuing, but distantly. The wind, the subtle breeze behind her, the call to shift right and she obeyed, Baki always said to listen to the wind, and she did. The crash of the fan striking the spot she had been standing on answering her need for the caution. Bracing against the sudden attack following his previous one she steadied against her closed fan and sprang aside out of the cutting wind, unfazed but sure in every movement, every flex of her muscle meant with purpose if not following a planned path. Teals darting quickly to find her next move, to find her perfect chance for a sure hit. Keeping light on her feet she charged right at him, using his sudden surprise at the direct approach, her bluff, she managed to duck under the swing of his fan and move back to position his shadow between them.
She'd seen the way Shikamaru had always moved, calculated lazy steps, ones that he could only make look confident, that always brought him close to the shadows he controlled, moving his target without their knowledge, making them think they had the advantage before he even made his first move. Honestly how good could this guy be at shoji? She might go as to say she knew him better in battle than anyone else, that was when he actually put in the effort, she'd won and failed numerous times and learned what to avoid and counter. One interesting match after another, the reminders leading to a small tug at the side of her lips. Saku didn't know what she hid, who's chakra the blade had absorbed, the defeat he'd face when she finally set herself up for victory, his plan, glaring quietly at Saku, her strategy in place, he readied his weapon behind him, readied for her.
"So much for respecting our clan" she called out from her crouch, closed fan at her side, reading into what move he would make, to where his shadow casted, the one who aided her now defended behind her calm before the storm.
"A man can only hold so much respect for a woman who can't see when she is beat" Saku replied coldly, so much for the stuttering fool she had always found annoying, amusing at best, she almost and with much arrogance thought of herself to good in the Arts she had learned over the years, then again, she had every right to be full of herself, to fearless in any endeavor.
"Says the man who dropped to his knees every time I was in his presents" Temari taunted back and smirked, seeking his attention to anger, emotions that would cloud the mind of caution. She rose to stand her fan coming to rest before her, the sound of the metal splitting to reveal the three moons slow and steady, eating into the suspense of the standstill, her eloquent tongue set as a distraction, the reason they called her the cruelest "Tell me Saku was it because you were" she mused for a moment and smirked, unnerving him further "jealous that you decided to turn?" Her right hand reached into her bag at her side, her action hidden behind the fan and her mocking words, fingers curling around the chakra blade as she held the glare from Saku, trapping his green gaze firmly on hers.
"No" The stuttered reply was enough to make her smile widen, to easy "but it helped me figure out why you stopped obeying us" he quickly regained his composure "secretly siding with the enemy is treason, that alone will cost you your life" he threatened but it fell to deaf ears, ignored
"Is that so" she held the blade tight at her back, knowing Shikamaru would see it, probably stare back before he called her troublesome and offer the all-knowing grin, having figured out the move she would make, the thought widening her smile further, despite her current anger towards him, for Gaara's appearance. Rationality told her he had his reasons; everyone always had a reason for doing something. The lingering smell of forest and smoke, hidden behind the smell of blood.
"We all played a part in it Temari, it was the Leaf that turned on us and Rasa stupidly allied with them even after everything, we needed a new change in power and your clan wasn't cut out to be it, you three were too much trouble" her lips turned and rose higher amused at the mention of her father, at the mention of trouble, this whole fight seemed more like an exchange of humorous knowledge she already knew, already stopped caring about, rather than threats to taunt her with.
"Everyone is always blaming him for this" She sighed faking bored of his conversation "I'm sure he had his reasons, but he's dead just like you will be soon" Saku grinned, amused by the threatening remark.
"I'd like to see you try" he looked past her to Shikamaru and sneered "you've already hesitated once Temari, who's to say you won't do it again" at the mention she tightened her hold on the fan, smile falling, and leaned forward, ready. He shifted, the subtle movement that he was about to strike her cue, she pushed forward and leap over him, right over his head and his halted attack, the chakra blade let loose and connecting with the ground before him, his shadow caught, and Saku quickly went from shock from her disappearance to amusement not seeing the danger in her purposeful miss.
"Seems you missed" he laughed hearing her land behind him, steadily rising from her crouch as she spoke.
"Did I though?" her taunting question lacked the bite it normally would, her tone was even and sure as always but there was no amusement in her win, serious and dark was more it. She could hear him strain to move the grunt to turn quickly, making him panic when he couldn't.
"But how did you?" Saku attempted to look back, but the hold wasn't letting up, even if not from the original user it held him into place, not for long she noted, not strong as the real thing but enough for the sure hit, with no hesitation.
"Guess you're the one who got messy" Saku gapped and stared forward, the lowered dark gaze from Shikamaru that met him void of any remorse sending the sudden fear, the fear that the Sand never showed, down his spine. He couldn't see the raised fan behind him, but he felt the wrath behind the words "And I don't make the same mistake twice" the goddess swung down.
The blood it was familiar. The feel of the lifeforce that once allowed someone to breath, to think, to take pleasure in life now coated across her face, her hands, the pale green scarf scattered in drops of crimson. The teal gaze opening void of all emotion, void of remorse, void of feeling the kill, not that she cared to linger much at the gruesome site. Lowering her fan to her side Temari kicked into Saku's limp standing body and knocked him forward into the ground, looking away with a sigh, her bothersome task completed with ease. She stepped past him bending down to grab the chakra blade stuck into the ground and walked away from the kill, just another number added to the many who met the same fate.
It was as if her own final battle ended the fighting around them; things began to quiet. The retreat called in the middle of her strike, Gaara had done it, she was sure. The relief short lived as she searched behind her, just a quick scan of the shinobi choosing their paths of retreat or victory. She found herself standing quiet for a moment shifting her weight between her allies and where her brother would have been, the moment ending as she gripped the blade in her hand, slipping it into her bag at her side, and moved to the cliffside. Ino having returned to her body had peeled the vest open and lifted Shikamaru's shirt to the crimson stained wound, his expression pained but with more annoyance than she'd ever seen from him, possibly because Ino was scolding him.
"It missed your spine by inches Shikamaru, it could have been much worse" His short response a grit of his teeth as she moved him to sit straight, her sight going from his front to his back, blood soaking from either side of the vest.
"Planned this one out didn't you" the sudden call turned the attention of the two to Temari in her approach, Ino glanced back down her own bloodied hands ignored as she pressed into the wound with a faint glow. Temari looked from him to Ino and back, her blue eyes furrowed as she worked, his dark eyes looking back up to her before he sighed.
"Just about every step" he jerked away from Ino but her firm hand to his vest prevented much movement when the burn had stung him unexpectedly.
"So" Temari began looking down at the wound, the faint blue glow that had helped her earlier in her own fall "getting stabbed was a part of it" she muttered unwrapping the scarf around her neck as she came to his side and stood across from Ino offering the fabric. She nodded her thanks and began tearing at it, using it to press against the wound. His plan Temari thought, even the fabric he had given her was a part of it, anger mixed with a stern expression, amusement lingering somewhere in the mix, cursing herself as to how he'd did pull the upper hand on her again, she was almost confused at her sudden calm disposition.
"Not exactly" He winced at the sudden press against his skin, teal eyes set firmly on the darkened fabric as it began to soak away the blood, yet she remained immune to the sight, too familiar with seeing it she thought.
"I thought I told you not to do anything stupid" Shikamaru groaned and laid back when Ino pressed down, her short shake of her head paused when Ino scoffed.
"Shikamaru doesn't listen to anyone apparently" Ino spoke for him, with a short glance up to Temari. He shut his eyes and draped his arm over them with a sigh, predicting that he'd get scolded.
"You could have thought of something better you know" Temari huffed, annoyance creeping into her tone, looking around the stilled battles around them, bodies lying silent, some groaning in pain, others rushing off in the retreat or to aid the fallen, unfazed as always, she simply looked back down to him, quiet in her own observation.
"This was easier created an opening for you guys" He swallowed and pulled his arm down looking, from the sky to her "Besides things still worked out, Gaara made it on time" the slight mention of her brother bawled her fists at her side, the reason she was mad creeping back up and the glare pointed down to him was felt between both of the Leaf shinobi.
"Be quiet" Ino slapped his arm, even the restrained strength caused him to grimace "you could have avoided all this"
"I don't have eyes in the back of my head Ino" Shikamaru rolled his head back and gave a pained groan when Ino shifted his side to check his wound from the back "I told you what could happened so why are you mad at me now?" he looked back to her, her short glare his way feeding into his annoyance.
"Stop complaining Crybaby" Temari snapped forcing his eyes to her "you're lucky it didn't hit anything worse, now sit still and let Ino work" the command the dominating loud shout, the hidden concern stilled both Ino and Shikamaru and while she quietly returned to working, he simply stared up at Temari, her eyes shutting quickly as she looked away with an irritated scoff. Whether she was mad at him or her hesitation she was still trying to figure it out, but snapping seemed to help her some.
"Temari" he had raised his head looking up to her, the dimming light had left long ago the field casted in the fleeting last rays of the sun, the moon slowly creeping up to change the hues of orange to a pale white, blue mixing with the dark shadows of the ravine "You have some blood on your face" he observed, the statement almost too familiar.
"It's not the first time" she glanced down at him, shrugged, and crossed her arms over her chest, unconcerned at the mention. He'd seen it on her before, three years ago, when she had almost killed him, she had been so close that day had she not seen what she saw behind the darkened eyes when she had him pinned against the wall in Bara, that had made her hesitate the first time in a long time.
"Why am I not surprised" Ino chuckled under her breath continuing her work unfazed, Temari found herself slightly tugging at the corner of her mouth amused in Ino's statement, if not happy to be brought out of her memories. Shikamaru shook his head and laid his head back, oblivious at the thoughts that had crossed her mind.
"Shikamaru" The sudden call from Sakura turned the attention of Ino and Temari, with Shikamaru sighing again and covering his eyes with his arm "Choji found us and told us you were dying" the concern thick in her voice, Ino rolled her eyes at the dramatics and moved back when Sakura came to kneel beside her "Here let me Ino"
"I'm not dying" Shikamaru muttered under his breath, his voice quieter.
"I have half a mind to knock you out for this, what did I say about your shoulder" Sakura chided making quick work of looking through the wounds and assessing where to start "First it's you, then Naruto got knocked back into the cliff side, bruised his entire shoulder but it should heal on its own. And Gaara-"
"Is Gaara alright?" Temari found herself asking, the concern still hidden, the worry shut down to keep her face straight, but the remark to fast as she interrupted. Sakura looked to her briefly and offered a short reassuring smile before looking down to begin healing.
"It was amazing, when Gaara showed up it didn't take long for Kurostuchi to retreat, she saw who was up against and I guess it scared her" she grinned and looked up "and Naruto he changed forms so fast when Gaara was there it was almost unbelievable" She sounded awed, as if the battle was one she would always remember "they fought beside each other like they've been doing it for years"
"They understand each other" Temari spoke clearly, but to quiet, even though they could still hear her stern tone, her eyes turned down the ravine, looking searching for her brother, but the darkness wasn't much help. Gaara understood what the Leaf's jinchuriki was having a hard time to control, he's struggled with it for years, she knew that much. No matter how close he was to his siblings they could never understand what exactly he had gone through in the years they had been forced apart. His struggle could only be understood by another who had been in his position, she inwardly thanked Naruto for what he did eight years ago and vowed to do everything she could for this alliance to work.
"Seems that way" Sakura turned back to the wound, Shikamaru remaining still under her press of the cloth to wipe the blood from her view, her tone turning serious as she answered Temari's concern "But his chakra is depleted, he's fine to stand and walk but he will be tired for some time until he can recover" With a short exhale she let out the breath she didn't know she was holding and nodded, whether to herself or Sakura she didn't think too much on it, he was going to be fine, the relief washing over her instantly. The reason she wanted Sakura so close, to be able to be there on sight if something happened to anyone that had been around her "Looks like Shikamaru knew that, that's why he had him come here" Sakura looked expectantly to Shikamaru for an answer, but he remained still, arm draped over his eyes, breathing even but slow.
"Shikamaru?" Ino nudged his uninjured shoulder, no response.
"Shikamaru?" Temari furrowed her brows when he didn't respond, and kneeled down across form Sakura and Ino "Wake up lazy" she lifted his arm from his closed eyes and patted his cheek, a little harsh the third time she tried and looked from him to Sakura, unknowingly to herself still holding his hand in hers "Did he pass out?"
"Looks like it, possibly from too much blood loss" Sakura pressed a hand to his neck, her eyes narrowing "We need to get him back to the medics, there's only so much I can do right here" she noted and looked to her. Temari nodded and looked from her back down to Shikamaru, passed out, inwardly amused at the thought that he was probably enjoying taking a nap during such a time, captain just taking a break she thought. He wasn't going to die, she willed the thought of the blood out of her mind, forced it to subside, the sudden worry, the same worry she had when she had seen her brothers hurt. She cared enough to hope he would survive this, the thought almost dulling her senses to the point that she barely heard her name called from a distance, her hand instantly retreating to her lap away from his.
"Temari!" She whipped around eyes widening at the painted face of her brother, the relief instant when he made his way over, two Leaf shinobi and a dog following behind him.
"Kankuro" she stood and made a quick step towards him, eyes turning to give him a once over and settling to his tied-up arm "you're bleeding what happened?" her tone even, but almost borderline annoyed.
"Speak for yourself" he looked her up and down and waved his arm to her bloodied appearance "why is it every time I see you after battle your covered in blood?" Temari glanced away casually, pouting at his scold.
"It's not mine" she grumbled, not the first time he'd asked her, probably not the last.
"Yeah, that's supposed to make me feel better" He rolled his eyes and scoffed, glancing past her quickly looking baffled as he pointed to Shikamaru "what happened here? Did he die?"
"No" She looked back briefly keeping her face void of anything but a stern expression "he passed out, lost a lot of blood" she replied, feeling Kankuro lean against her shoulder with his, voice low.
"Damn I owe that guy" he muttered for only her to hear, speaking discreetly without the others hearing "Without his order, Jun would have made me into a pincushion"
"How many?" She looked back to him, returning a short glare at the mention of his attack.
"Six, took out the whole unit and trapped me, but these three saved my ass back there, Jun turned on us and Goro he" Kankuro glanced down for a brief moment and Temari saw the small shift in his mouth as he frowned, Goro had been with his unit since he first came to the front.
"Sacrificed himself didn't he" She muttered and sighed "Daizen too" the brief image of the cream-colored fan and kind man's smile flashed in her mind, but it didn't show outwardly "They were good loyal shinobi" Kankuro nodded and pressed his hand to his arm. Sakura looked from her conversation with Ino back to Temari and gave a short nod.
"He'll be fine once we get him back" Ino had stood form her side and began to talk to Kiba and Shino "you should go to Gaara and help clear out the troops"
"Right" Temari gave a short nod and turned to lead the way, ready to lead the Sand and Leaf shinobi back "Kankuro let's go, Gaara should be waiting for us" when she called back to him, he grabbed her arm to stop her.
"In Suna?" he looked confused, and Temari pressed her lips together, as if caught in a lie, forgetting he'd been in the ambush for a moment. She glanced back and placed a hand to his uninjured arm and grinned apologetically.
"You've missed a lot while you were gone" Kankuro exhaled a long blow of air and looked to her, not surprised in the least.
"Of course, I did" he groaned and took a sluggish step to reach her side again, tired in his rush to get here. His narrowed eyes turned to her and the questions he had piled into a short sentence "I'm sure you've got some things to explain too sis" Temari pulled a smirk and patted his back, settling him to look forward while she gave a short glance back.
"That is none of your business brother" she hummed, silent warning for him to watch what he wanted to ask, guiding him before her the teal gaze turning from Shikamaru back to where Gaara was.