Chapter 12: A Terrible First Day on the Job

The journey back to the Leaf was without incident, but far from boring for the Genin. The fellow travelers in Zabuza and his squad idly chatted with their former opponents. Things were initially mildly tense, but relatively quickly became lax and pleasant. Haku helped the most to break the ice, the irony not lost to Shikamaru who, along with the rest of the crew, learned that Zabuza's apprentice was a wielder of ice jutsus. He even pointed this out and Haku laughed at that. That seemed to have done the trick and conversation flowed much more smoothly from then on.

Asuma was considering giving a small shinobi life-lesson to help along the Genin putting the past behind them saying that in the shinobi world, enemies of yesterday can be tomorrow's ally, or vice versa as well. But it would appear that they came to that conclusion on their own.

"Glad to see they are not carrying any animosity, despite being enemies less than a day ago." Asuma commented to Zabuza, who was walking beside him, his sword strapped on his back.

"Hmpf! We may be on the same side now, but that's no reason to be so chummy already. It's too naive." Zabuza gruffed lowly.

"Don't be like that." Asuma responded conversationally. "There's no reason to not be friendly now that our reasons for fighting are behind us."

Zabuza regarded Asuma with disapproval. "That way of thinking will put you and your Genin in harms way one day, Asuma."

"Are you saying there's a reason to still regard you with distrust?" Asuma asked pointedly.

"No. But all this 'Let's all get along' attitude of the Leaf sows weakness in the long run. Enemies can and will take advantage of your relaxed guard if they speak honeyed words to you for long enough, or at least leave you alone for just as long. No, the best way to remain safe is to keep vigil at all times. Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer is what I say."

"And still, the Leaf has prospered and grown into the mightiest village of the great five, despite our 'naive' ways." Asuma countered.

"Which is all the more reason for you to stop thinking everything will be dandy and watch your enemies or potential enemies for any sneak attacks they might be already planning. The tallest tree is the one chopped down first, Asuma. And the bigger the tree, the more guys needed to do so. Get what I'm sayin'?"

Asuma, while itching to respond, couldn't fault the seasoned ninja for his realistic, if not cynical, view of the topic. He finally did say, "The path to world peace and stability has to start somewhere, you know. I don't think you like the world the way it is any more than I do, and something has to be done at some point."

"I wont disagree with you on the state of the world. However, there are several things wrong with your approach. First, there's too much bad blood and distrust to get anywhere anytime soon. Second, ambition. Greed and ambition are the driving forces for all leaders to some extent. They wish to expand their reach and income and are willing to step on some big toes to achieve this, toes belonging to other leaders who might have set their own sights on the same objective or lost something of theirs to the one who stepped on his toes.

Couple this with the previous point and you've got a nasty circle already. Then there's number three, revenge. This one comes as a result of offenses made in the name of profit and ambition by the rival leaders. Which leads to violence and even more bad blood and distrust.

No, Asuma. Your village's way, while appealing, wont do the trick. Even if all villages were to adopt your philosophy officially, there will always be elements working to disrupt the new status quo in the name of what they perceive to be justice. Finally, even if we reach the point all is forgiven, how do we deal with human nature? All this shit started somewhere by people being selfish pricks and not caring about their fellow man. What's there to stop things from escalating once more?

What we need is something else entirely. Something... I don't know."

Asuma couldn't help but stare in surprised respect at the former Mist ninja. He never pegged him to be a deep thinker like that.

"I do see where you're coming from. But your view is so dark and pessimistic, no offense, that it takes away what keeps all of us going, hope. We all hope for a better tomorrow. Without hope, we would descend even further into darkness and anarchy. Perhaps even to the point where we completely annihilate ourselves. Even if we can never reach our goal, the striving towards it will be rewarding enough that it is worthwhile doing so."

Zabuza looked at his conversation partner with a contemplative gaze, or at least Asuma assumed it was.

"Bah!" He exclaimed suddenly. "Whatever. All this babbling is making me thirsty for some sake, let's pick up the pace!"

Asuma shook his head at Zabuza's poor attempt at smoothly leaving the topic.

With Naruto

Taking a separate route back home in order to keep up appearances of non-affiliation with the Leaf, Naruto tree-jumped across the land at what would be a leisurely pace for a ninja, as there was no hurry.

However, that was about to be proven inaccurate.

'HQ to Ghost Stalker! Naruto, come in!' Came the voice of his mentor, Yokai.

'Ghost Stalker here. What's up, sensei?'

'We've just gotten a message from Dark Hive. Shino needs your assistance with his mission, as it has gotten more complicated than anticipated.'

'Details?'

'To put it briefly, his mission to investigate organized crime related to the mission Kurenai's team got has taken a drastic turn for the worse. Currently, he and the other genin have been taken captive and Kurenai's status is unknown, but presumed well at this time. Dark Hive contacted us using our special communication seal once he regained consciousness and relayed the situation.'

A grim look on his countenance, Naruto halted and considered the situation. Before leaving for their respective missions, he and Shino discussed what could happen along the way and what back-up plans they would have to have ready. Part of this discussion allowed Naruto to know that Shino's mission practically allowed him to shadow the caravan much as he himself shadowed Asuma's team.

Thus Naruto knew some of the details, such as the route they took. First they made a stop at Momijigari no Sato. He doubted anything happened before or at that village. They would then head to their mission destination, Kyouboku no Sato.

'I take it this happened between Momijigari and Kyouboku?'

'Correct, Naruto. Shino estimated it to have been a third left of the journey between the two villages when they struck. But it wasn't regular bandits that attacked.'

'Shinobi?' Naruto asked, now even more concerned.

'He believes this bandit group was a mix of regular civilian level thugs and at least genin level ninja, but most likely chunin given that they managed to steer the fight in their favor, somewhat.'

'Somewhat?'

'They didn't win, they were forced back, but the survivors managed to knock out Sakura and Ino and held them hostage. Forcing Kurenai to stand down, or they'd slit their throats. Not having the manpower anymore to finish the job they started, the thugs retreated with Ino and Sakura in their clutches.'

'What was Shino doing all this time?!' Naruto asked, understandably agitated.

'He was about to step in, when those mentioned chunin decided to throw their jutsus around in an attempt to at least stall Kurenai. He felt that he would have been foolhardy to simply rush in then. So he opted to observe and analyze further before taking action. But then the girls got downed and captured. At that point he decided to attempt rescue when the attackers were feeling more relaxed. Hence, he followed them. He didn't account for them being afraid enough of Kurenai that they prepared as well a trap that they could manage against a jonin level opponent. A trap Shino, still a genin, got into.'

'Ok, so let me guess. You want me to meet up with Kurenai and through our special communication with Shino narrow down the search area and once we find them, work out a rescue plan and so on?'

'On the money, Naruto. But additionally, you and Shino will complete his initial task while you're at it, if possible.'

'Ok, I got it.' Naruto replied and was about to end communications and move towards Kyouboku when...

'One moment, there's one more thing...'

'What is it?'

'You've got a... reinforcement coming as well. You are to rendezvous with him at Momijigari and then proceed to locate Kurenai.'

'Reinforcement? As a single guy?' Naruto asked, with a proper sweat-drop.

'Yes... But I understand that this fellow is quite capable, for a genin.' Yokai said, not sounding too convinced.

'If you say so... How will I recognize this guy?'

'Trust me, you wont miss him.'

'Okaaay.' Naruto responded, wierded out by this development. 'Ghost Stalker, over and out.' He terminated the link and changed directions, towards Momijigari no Sato.

'Pops, please make sure they are allright and stay that way till we get to them.' He pleaded to Kami.

"Do not despair, they are only mildly harmed, nothing serious. But you must hurry, Naruto-kun. There are individuals among them who would seek to harm them for the sake of sport. I am currently whispering to the hearts of the more balanced individuals to keep them in line, but they wont manage to do so all the time."

'Whispering to their hearts? Balanced individuals?' Naruto asked, confused.

"I can speak in a loud, deafening voice or I can speak in whispers so quiet that one believes it to be their own thoughts. The latter is the way I speak to the majority of humanity, even those not believing in Me. As for the balanced individuals, these are the men in their group that either are afraid of the punishment should they be caught or simply at least have respect for women. Even among bandits and robbers there can be found men possessing some aspects of honor. Lacking that, I am a master of using men's own fears to further my goals."

'That, to be honest, doesn't sound very "good", you know?'

"I am not a being of fear, but of love. I do not create fear, the opposition does, but I can use it to protect or to steer people in a way I desire."

'This opposition, I've heard you talk about them before. What are they exactly?'

"Now is not the time to speak of such things, but I shall educate you of what you and I are facing soon enough."

'Alright. Thanks, Pops. Talk to you later.'

"My speed."

'What?'

But Kami didn't respond, though Naruto had the feeling that he was just part of a joke. Remembering that he had a note to give to the gate guards in the Leaf, he made a shadow clone that would last the trip, he gave him the note before they parted ways.

With Dark Hive, A.K.A. Shino Aburame.

Shino had just been informed by HQ that Naruto had received his relayed call for help and was now on his way to help rescue them. Stoically thanking them, he turned off communications and, seeing as he was bound with ninja wire and had tags on him to prevent usage of chakra, he decided to meditate. The tags not only prevented him from using his chakra, but they additionally kept his bugs at bay since they responded to his signals through it. Whether they knew what clan he was from or not, whether they knew of his abilities or not, whether by sheer luck on their part or not, they had effectively rendered him helpless, save for the communications seal. It took so little to use it that the tags didn't prevent it, which Shino was ever so thankful for.

Shino was equally thankful that he didn't choose to wear the garb that Naruto favored for his specialization. He instead wore what he always did and likewise his headband on display as he preferred it. It would have been not only awkward to answer the questions his fellow captives would have asked of him, but also put the secrecy of Naruto and his new division within the Leaf in jeopardy if word got out of the Leaf employing either a new approach or new ninja entirely for clandestine purposes. Shino was not ignorant of Danzo or his Root ninja either, if he was made aware of the new division and their purpose, who knows what discord that would bring?

Perhaps he was thinking too deeply into the matter, perhaps he already was aware but didn't care or something? Ultimately, it wasn't Shino's place to worry about that, but to keep silent about anything related to the new division.

Roughly half an hour later, Sakura, who along with Ino were held captive with Shino in the cellar of an abandoned, or perhaps invaded, cottage, roused from her unconsciousness.

"Unn... Wh-what?" She groggily uttered.

"I see you have regained consciousness, Sakura-san." Shino monotonously noted.

"Shino? What are you doing here? Where is here? What happened?" She asked in rapid succession. Her analytical mind screaming for information on her situation.

"In order; Yes it is me. I'm being held captive here alongside you and Ino-san after a failed attempt to rescue you from the bandits' clutches. I am unsure as well as to our current location, since this is not the place I was caught and knocked out at, at least as far as I can tell. And finally, during your battle against the stronger-than-anticipated enemy, they managed to knock the two of you out despite being on their last legs and turned the battle into a stalemate with the two of you being held hostage. It ended with you being carried away under threat of death if Kurenai-sensei were to pursue."

Sakura blinked as she processed his answer, finally she asked. "And how did you get mixed up in this? And how did you get caught? What are we to do now?"

Shino turned his head in her direction slightly. "You have a habit of asking many questions at once under stress I see." Sakura both blushed and got a tick mark from the embarrassing observation.

"From the top; It was, is, my mission to investigate the veracity of preliminary reports of advanced criminal organisatory presences in this region you were traveling through. I suppose that may have been answered at this point.

In practice this made me shadow your group for the trip to our common destination. After you would have left back for home, I would have remained to complete my mission. Alas, things have developed far from expected parameters. Next point, I got caught in a trap set up by these chunin level bandits, or at least I estimate them to be at that level.

The trap was originally meant for Kurenai-sensei, one that wouldn't have worked on her, I imagine. At any rate, they feared she would come after you despite their warnings, so they set it up just in case. A prudent measure, I have to admit. One I failed to anticipate. I shall endeavor to count on such a thing the next time you get caught."

"Oi! What do you mean 'the next time'?!" Sakura shouted indignantly.

"Keep your voice down, Sakura-san!" Shino admonished sternly, to her chagrin. But she complied all the same.

"It would be folly to think you, or I for that matter, would never be captured again. There was no intent to insult your skills as kunoichi behind my statement, if that is what you believed I meant."

Sakura was getting irritated with Shino's monotone delivery of everything he said, especially with what he was saying.

"And the final point?" She asked sourly.

"What we are to do? Nothing but waiting patiently for rescue to come."

"What?" She hissed in a quiet but still a tad shrill voice. "We got to try to escape on our own!"

"As I explained before, these are not your standard bandits we are dealing with. They are much stronger. In fact, these are a group of both untrained civilian level thugs to at least partly trained genin and chunin deserters of some village or another. As such, they have access to or the knowledge to make restraining equipment such as ninja wire and suppression tags, like the ones put on all three of us. We do not have the required skills yet to get out of bonds of this level. Nor are there any improvisational tools around for an escape attempt. They have been thorough, I must admit."

"But no one will know where we are, much less be able to rescue us." She pointed out.

"Not entirely true. Kurenai-sensei most likely will have escorted the client the rest of the way to the village since it wasn't far. After which, she will call for reinforcements."

He deliberately withheld information about his method of contacting Konoha directly to keep it secret in case they were being eavesdropped.

"That could take a long time." Sakura sighed despondently.

"Hence why I said we simply sit and wait." Shino remarked emotionlessly.

It was at this point Ino woke up. Sakura filled her in on everything. Shino, meanwhile could only think to himself.

'I sincerely hope you are making haste, Naruto-san. I fear Kurenai-sensei may need your help with what we are up against.' He glanced at his female fellows in captivity. 'I fear that some of these ruffians are even worse scum than some other bandits.'

One of the ruffians suddenly opened the cellar door and entered the cellar. The man was younger than their senseis, but still some years older than they themselves. If Shino had to guess, he was about twenty years.

"Good, you're all awake." He noted out loud. His voice rather matched his appearance, rugged and stern.

"I am Senka, chief of this band of... enterprising mercenaries."

"Word it fancily all you want, you're just a bunch of no good bandits." Ino spat.

"Ino!" Sakura hissed. "Captives! At their mercy! Play nice!"

The man chuckled at their antics. "Well, I suppose I can't fault you for believing that."

"You're implying that what you're saying is true and not embellishment of facts." Shino stated.

"Don't think I'm not seeing what you're trying to do, little fisherman. You can believe whatever you want, I'm not here to satisfy your curiosity. It's the other way around. I'm here to satisfy my own curiosity."

He crouched down in front of the trio.

"Now, I'm more or less aware of your story and am pretty much decided on what to do with the two of you." He indicated the girls. "Under normal circumstances, I'd have given pretty girls like you to my men to have fun with, but you're a bit too young for my tastes to allow that, I'm not a complete ogre." He said with a shrug, not caring that what he said did little to paint him in less of a bad light.

"Then what are you going to do with us?" Ino asked, shivering at the thought of the horrible thing they would have suffered had they been only a few years older.

"For now, you two are insurance. I'm not ignorant of the ways of the Leaf, doubtless someone or several someones will come for you. Keeping you with us will help us keep even ground with your would be rescuers. I know that otherwise we would be trounced easily by the might of your village's ninja. But that might is brought low by the weakness of caring for your comrades to the extent that you do. And that is something I wont hesitate to exploit.

You, however..." He turned to Shino. "You are something of an unknown. You weren't a part of the team tasked with guarding that caravan, and your rescue attempt came much too soon for you to be the anticipated reinforcements. And even if you were, you'd not come alone but with that babe of a jonin these two call a sensei. So what is your deal, shades?"

"If you're as well informed of the ways of the Leaf, of ninja in general, you'd know I wont answer that."

"True, I do know." He said, agreeably. Only to present a kunai. "Which is why I know that this will work on you."

"Torture shall not make me talk." Shino stoically stated.

"How predictable. It is not you I intend to use this on. Let's just say that I only need one hostage from the Leaf in order to have a sufficient bargaining chip."

The girls were shaking in fear now, despite their attempts to keep it at bay and act brave.

Shino glanced at them, then turned back to the man. "Very well. What do you wish to know?"

"That's better." The man smiled, showing a missing molar. "You're from the Leaf, but you're not with them specifically, nor are you reinforcements to help them out. So what reason are you around here for? And how did you find us?"

"I was on a separate mission that took me to through this area when I came across the battle. I decided to stay back and assist only if the situation called for it. However, things turned too quickly for me to act in time. Seeing as you didn't know I was there, I followed you in an attempt to free my comrades while you were relaxed. However, that trap you made for the jonin was not only prudent, but effective enough in capturing me."

"No need to tell me that, I was the one who ordered it once my men got back and told me the story of their repulsed attack." He said, a proud grin on his face. "The stink bomb was the best part too."

'Stink bomb?' The girls thought, unsure whether to laugh, be disgusted or disappointed that Shino, a prominent academy graduate in the same level as Sasuke and Naruto, would fall to such a juvenile kind of trap.

"I must admit I'm curious what you had in that bomb, the pungent odor stunned me severely." Shino asked, if for nothing else than to divert attention away from his embarrassing knock out, perhaps he can alleviate his shame by learning that the trap was actually quite clever.

"Sorry, it's a trade secret. Let's just say that you're better off not knowing. Just be thankful that I made it so you didn't stink for long, wouldn't want to suffer it myself when I got here to interrogate you, after all."

"You minutely remind me of someone I know."

"Oh? Is he a genius of traps?"

"You could say that, he was a top notch prankster, even called the prankster king from hell, and trouble maker. Always gave the shinobi peacekeepers a hard time whenever he struck. I would not put it past him to want to get his hands on that stink bomb design."

Being compared to a prankster, even a supposed prank king, miffed the man a bit. But a stink bomb is not your standard shinobi trap either. Shrugging it off, he said. "I'll take that as a compliment then. After all, trap making and pranking are cousin skills of sorts. And it was a specialty of mine when I was in the academy."

"So you are a former shinobi." Shino noted.

"It would be hard to catch a shinobi if you didn't have any such training of your own. But enough about little old me, the question now is what to do with you..."

"You could let one of us go, to carry a message of your choice to the rescue party that is certain to come." Shino offered.

Senka rubbed his chin as he contemplated the notion. "A shrewd offer. But no, I wont give them the satisfaction of an extra man that also has inside knowledge."

"What knowledge? They are already aware, or will be once the jonin and them meet up, that there are members with shinobi training of a considerable level present in your band of bandits, I don't know where I am since you knocked me out and I doubt you'd stay in one place for long in order to evade authorities for as much as possible and if either of us three were to be blindfolded as we were escorted to a location for release, we'd be no wiser as to your present base of operations."

"You must have meditated on this matter while waiting for my interrogation to come along." Senka smirked.

"I can hardly think of mundane matters as long as I am held captive."

"Hah, true that. Very well, you make a compelling argument. I will consider it. We're done here, for now." Senka said and stood up. While going back up the stairs, he said. "I might not condone my men using young ones like you two, but I can only hold them off for so long, I sincerely hope your rescuers come soon and that we all can part ways without further trouble." And with that, they were left alone.

Ino and Sakura's lips were trembling with horror of the looming threat of rape. Their eyes leaking tears as they fought to keep strong in the face of danger. Shino, though showing only a stoic exterior, was just as lively on the inside as the next person. And his mind was angered at what his friends are having to go through, on their first mission no less.

"Do not despair, help is on the way." Shino said, trying to instill hope.

"H-how do you k-know that?" Ino asked, voice trembling.

"Rest assured, someone will come soon, I simply know it." Shino reassured.

Later with Naruto

Naruto had just reached the village of Momijigari. It took him the better part of the afternoon to reach it, even at the increased pace he set after learning of his comrades' plight.

'Sensei said that my... reinforcement will stand out, or at least that's how I understood him. The question is, in what way does he stand out?'

The nine tailed beast decided to throw his two ryo in. "Perhaps he's wearing some rather unfashionable clothing? Kami knows how eccentric some humans can be."

'Woah, didn't expect you to say anything for... I dunno how long really, Kurama.'

"I have been in contemplation regarding our relationship. Loathe as I am to admit it, we both benefit from being commanded into a more mutually helpful and symbiotic one. Of course, I wont help you with every little thing, mostly when I feel like it or when the situation demands it. Don't get me wrong, whelp, you're still a puny weakling of a human to me. Undeserving of my help. But anything is better than the boredom of this cage."

'Well, it's a start.' Naruto said agreeably.

"It's all you'll ever get from me, don't presume too much." Kurama said in a sneer.

'I dunno about that, Kurama. Never say never. Perhaps you can come to like me in time.'

"And I suppose next you expect me to let go of my hate?"

'One miracle at a time.' He jokingly replied.

"Pfeh!" The giant fox scoffed.

At that moment, Naruto saw something stand out from the mild bustle of the village. A boy around his age with a Leaf headband, only it was worn like a waistband . This boy had a peculiar bowl-cut hairstyle that was shiny from what he assumed was some kind of hair gel to keep it that way. But the most... outstanding of all what the green spandex outfit with orange leg warmers he wore.

'Err... Kurama. Do you happen to have some clairvoyant ability?'

"No, why?"

'I'd say see for yourself, but...'

"Just think that you'll allow me to see and hear and so on what you can and I will too."

He did so, and sure enough, Kurama saw what Naruto did.

"I-impossible! I said that in jest!"

'Well, your little "jest" kind of jinxed it.'

Kurama said nothing at first. But then started roaring in laughter.

"This should prove to be entertaining, good luck gaki!"

'Gee, thanks.' Naruto sourly though. But he shook his head and reminded himself that appearances can be deceiving and to no judge a book by its cover. Though this guy certainly pushed his ability to not do so.

He strode up to the green clad boy, his mask in place and introduced himself.

"Hi, I'm Ghost Stalker. Are you the reinforcement I'm supposed to meet?"

The green leaf genin nodded enthusiastically in response and said just as enthusiastically, "Indeed I am, Ghost-kun! It's a youthful pleasure to make your acquaintance!"

Kurama's laughter escalated from that unintended double entendric greeting. Naruto's blank face didn't help him calm down either.

"Yeah, nice to meet you too." He said after a second's hesitation. "We should save getting to know each other until after this crisis." He suggested.

"Right you are, Ghost-kun! Let's depart for Kyouboku no sato right away!"

And suddenly, off he went at blinding speed, leaving dust trails behind him and making Naruto's clothing drag slightly from the tail wind.

Running after him, he realized he could never catch up to him. But just as he realized it, the boy came back and came to a complete and sudden stop a few feet in front of him. Naruto had to put on the brakes as hard as he could to avoid colliding with the abnormally fast genin.

While Naruto was regaining his balance, the boy spoke. "I must apologize profusely, I forgot to introduce myself! My name is Rock Lee, at your service!"

'I know this guy, he was in the year ahead of us and graduated with the help of a jonin. I don't recall ever seeing him look this weird. Then again, I can't swear I actually saw him at all, I just heard of him.'

"Swell to meet you, Lee-san." Naruto said in as friendly a tone as he could muster under the circumstances. "Before we go on, I can't run as fast as you, can you slow down a bit?"

"Oh, my apologies again, Ghost-kun! I forgot I had my weights sealed away so I can run faster! Allow me to reapply them to compensate for your lack of speed!"

"For my..." Naruto began in indignation but stopped himself. Reigning in his temper, he took a deep breath and asked. "Just how are you so fast anyway?"

"That's because I train pretty much every single day all day. I'm following a strict regimen set by my excellent sensei, Gai-sensei!"

'Gai, as in Maito Gai.' (A/N: or Might Guy as some of you know him as) 'I've heard of him from Yokai-sensei. So he was the jonin that requested the change in exam rules for him. Now that I think of it, his description of him reminds me almost exactly how this guy looks. Don't tell me he's a copycat kind of student?'

While Naruto was pondering on the unique genin before him, said genin was finishing up fastening his weights on himself.

"Now, then! Let's resume our youthful journey to save our youthful comrades!" DASH!

"Oi! Wait up!" Naruto called after Lee, running to catch up. He had an easier time this time, but it still wasn't easy by any means.

'Note to self; hurt sensei for not warning me beforehand.'

Kurama's uproarious laughter continued all the while.

Later that evening

Kurenai was worried sick. She reluctantly had to escort the caravan the rest of the way. While it was a short walk of about an hour, it was killing her inside that the girls were in the hands of heartless bandits and renegade shinobi. Who knows what they risk having to endure, or are already enduring. They could even have been killed by now.

"Someone's head is going to roll for this." She muttered to herself as she searched the area of the battle for tracks to follow. While not specialized in the discipline of tracking like Inuzuka were, she knew enough to track simpletons like bandits and mildly skilled nuke-nin.

However, she only found a location of some kind of trap, judging by the remnants left behind. It wasn't a trap for animals, but for a human. She could tell by the nature of the remains. An animal trap is either meant to catch and restrain an animal or outright kill it and, if applicable, keep it out of reach of other animals passing by at the same time. This trap, however, seemed to only spring some kind of cloth container that, on impact, burst open. Whatever it was, it seemed to have evaporated.

She tried sniffing the cloth, and only a faint smell of something foul remained upon it.

'Could it have been... a stink bomb?' She considered. While not a favored tactic by trap-making ninja due to its juvenile nature, it has been known to be effective if done right.

Searching the area further, she noticed tracks of people converging on the trap center, most likely to incapacitate the victim completely. Since no blood was found, she assumed the person was taken captive.

"But if these are the same people behind the attack on the caravan, who did they just catch? This trap might have been prepared for me, but obviously someone else stepped into it instead." She asked out loud.

She searched on for further tracks, but this time the bandits were more thorough in covering them and she found she was at a loss as to where they went. She deduced that they either meant for her to follow to get into the trap, or they realized their mistake in not covering their tracks and made the trap but once this unfortunate victim got caught, they decided to escape and this time leave no trace.

This meant that while the ninja part of the bandits were somewhat competent, there was one skilled enough in trap making and covering their tracks among them to help keep themselves out of the law's hands.

She absolutely hated to admit this, but she needed help. But the time it took to get it would be excruciating for her. Never the less, she went back to the road.

Upon reaching it, she saw two individuals. One she recognized, another she was unfamiliar with.

The black clad ninja she knew to be Naruto noticed her while he and the other konoha ninja was examining the battle's remains. Kurenai idly noted that neither were queasy from seeing dead bodies, indicating that both have dealt with death before. She had no real thought about the unfamiliar genin, but she knew that Naruto, to her knowledge, hasn't killed before now.

Naruto spoke before she had a chance to.

"Kurenai-san! What's the situation?" He asked, while making a hidden gesture that said 'Use my codename!'

"Glad to see the two of you, Ghost-kun." She greeted with a relieved smile. "We were ambushed, as we expected, merely an hour before we would have reached our destination. The ambush was well executed, as if they themselves suspected that the caravan was under competent protection."

"Ninjas." Lee guessed.

"That would be my guess, given their preparedness for ninja protection. I've estimated from their displayed skills and my subsequent tracking of them that they are chunin level opponents of unknown number mixed with regular thugs. I also have the distinct suspicion that they have caught an unknown person, probably a shinobi, since I found the leftovers of a sprung trap when I tracked them."

'That would be Shino.' Naruto deduced. "I know who it is, I've been in indirect contact with him and it's because of that I know of the danger he and the others are in."

"I was dispatched as backup after Hokage-sama learned in some manner of the need you had for assistance." Lee added. "Though I now can't help but be youthfully curious how he learned so fast, and how you also learned it, Ghost-kun, since you obviously came directly here from the field."

"That's strictly need-to-know basis, Lee-san, sorry." Naruto responded. "Like I was saying, I'm in indirect contact with him and he says he and the others are held in the cellar of some cottage most likely somewhere in the woods. He doesn't know the directions since he was knocked out when he got caught."

"Then I hope at least one of you can track, because I am at my wits end." Kurenai asked hopefully.

"I have no considerable knowledge of tracking, I'm so sorry." Lee apologized.

"Can't say I'm an expert either, but I may be able to help in another way." Naruto said.

"How?" Kurenai inquired.

Naruto's eyes showed that he was smirking.

"Maybe all we really need, are more eyes and ears?" Was his answer, accompanied by the hand sign for; "Tajuu Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!"

A myriad of poofs and smoke indicated the creation of a veritable army of shadow clones. To Lee's and even Kurenai's astonishment, there was about two hundred clones occupying the road.

"They may be able to cover their tracks, but they wont be able to hide where they are if we simply can be almost everywhere, looking for them."

Kurenai smiled a smile full of pride and hope. Lee shook himself out of his stunned state and gave a thumbs up with a sparkling, toothy grin. "Excellent stuff, Ghost-kun. The power of Youth burns within you like a sun!"

"Thanks, I suppose." Naruto replied.

"Alright, we have no time to waste. Ghost-kun, fan your clones out in twenty meter spread and make certain to keep a low profile, despite the numbers. No sound or anything, we want to get the jump on them this time."

"Understood." Naruto said before simply giving a "Go!" gesture to his clones, who did as instructed.

"All we have to do now, is follow and wait for one of them to find something."

Lee and Kurenai nodded and the trio too to the trees in the direction the clones headed.

'Hang on Shino, Sakura, Ino! We're coming!' Naruto thought, his entire being set in grim determination to get his friends back home safe.