---Sorrows of Yesterday---

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or Naruto.

Chapter 11: Frightening Resolutions

Shadows sprung through the trees, alerting some nearby villagers of the dangers.

"The Stone-nin just went by! Don't just stand there! Somebody run after them!" Kiba growled, beckoning Akamaru closer. "Come on, people!"

But the nearest people were not ninja, and therefore couldn't rush onward if they wanted to.

Taking a step back and looking at the singed town behind him, Kiba took up the liberty to chase the shinobi himself, since nobody else was capable to.

Somehow, that sent a spark of pride down his body, but the Inuzuka forced it out and tried concentrating more on the task at hand.

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Neji rushed off with Hinata in tow as the two exited the scorched village gates.

There would be no breaks on the way to Suna. They had to get there as soon as possible, and get Gaara back even faster. Other shinobi where busy either trying to find the invaders, while the others where either calming the villagers, or stalling the fires that spread across the village.

Their breath escaped short and hard as the two took their momentary break, hands on their knees and back bent over.

"We…can't stop." Neji forced out, glancing at his cousin.

Hinata silently nodded, this time taking the lead as Neji willed himself to run too.

"Quickly…" Hinata repeated under her breath, muttering as if it were her life.

"We'll get there." The usually silent Neji encouraged, very uncharacteristically, but she didn't question on it.

The circumstances were too dire. Of course, people would start to crack under pressure and do something. After what felt like an eternity, what was amazingly only 20 minutes of non-stop running, the two saw the stone buildings of their destination.

Sunagakure.

The Sand-nin guards had nodded to the two Hyuugas as they saw them approaching the village.

"Gaara!" Neji burst hurriedly burst through the Kazekage office doors, Hinata in tow, "Gaara! Konoha's on fire!"

Gaara was thoroughly startled, but remained quite impassive on the outside. "And what do you need my help on this for? Surely, you could use water."

"…Gas fire…"

Gaara raised an eyebrow.

Hinata's cheeks flushed a bit as she repeated it a bit louder, "It's a gas or oil fire or something. We can't put it out with water. People are using blankets and everything, but it isn't enough."

The red-haired Kazekage raised an eyebrow. "And I suppose my sand would help?"

"Yes." Neji nodded.

"Very well. We have to approach quickly." Gaara stood up, scribbling a little note down on a pad of paper. He summoned some sand that seemed to form a platform hovering off the ground. "Get on, it's faster."

"Ah-! Yes!" Hinata prodded it with her foot for a moment before leaning forward and pushing herself onto the sand platform.

Neji did the same.

At last, Gaara stepped on and with a burst of power; the platform was jolted forward and out the large double doors. Hinata gave a wild shriek, clutching onto Neji as the sudden change of speed.

As the three reached their destination in approximately half the time it took to get to Suna, Gaara took the pleasure to start a change of weather by raining some sand down on patches of fire, "I didn't think it would be this serious." He examined the wreckage, "We'll have to work quickly."

"Yeah…thanks." Neji nodded, jumping off the sand platform and running off in another direction, perhaps to inform Tsunade about Gaara's arrival.

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"There!" Sasuke shouted to Kagome, pointed right.

With a short breath, Kagome nodded, making a sharp turn to the right as they ran. One hand rested on the hilt of her sword, while the other pumped hard to hold her speed.

Sasuke looked down from his place on the trees, jumping.

Kagome had yet to learn how to pour chakra into her feet, so Sasuke was jumping while Kagome just ran below. Soon enough, the two finally started to catch up with the fleeing enemies. Kagome watched as Sasuke abruptly leaped off the branch, making rapid hand seals. She came to a halt, watching him in full interest.

"Katon: Housenka no Jutsu!" Sasuke shouted, his feet landing onto the ground just as he finished.

Various balls of flaming fire were shot out, swirling and heading quickly toward their enemies.

Surprisingly, there was a whistling sound, and then it made impact on the Stone-nin's back.

Sasuke and Kagome's eyes widened as the enemy just disappeared with a puff of clearing smoke.

"Shit." Sasuke cursed under his breath, loud enough for Kagome to hear, but not anybody else around them.

Kagome stared at him questionably, wanted to know what just happened.

"It was a clone." The Uchiha was immediately on alert.

The enemy could be anywhere at this point. Sensing his distress, Kagome drew her sword, sliding into a stance, eyes scanning the trees for any sign on movement or anything out of place, "How many were there?"

There was a moment of silence except for the small 'chink' of a kunai being drawn from its holster, and then he answered, "I saw six."

Kagome nodded, taking in a deep breath.

Six.

That was an awful lot to take on at their state of fatigue. Especially when Kagome was mentally debating. To kill, or not to kill? She hesitantly brushed her fingers against her bow slung over her shoulder, then to the sword by her waist.

Sword or bow?

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"Shikamaru! Please think of something!" Ino murmured, kicking up some dust.

"I'm trying to! –Don't kick the dust too high!" Shikamaru waved the tan clouds away, coughing a bit when some particles dove into his lungs.

"Sorry, sorry," Ino apologized, "It just seems to help put out the fire."

"Yeah. Neji and Hinata and running to Suna to fetch Gaara," He explained, whipping his head around for any sign of the enemy.

"That creepy sand guy? What for?" She thought for a moment, and then it hit her. "Oh! That's just perfect! It's just it – his sand! He can spread it over the fire."

Shikamaru's eyes locked onto Ino's. "Exactly."

"Okay…let's see if Iruka needs any help, ne?" She swallowed a lump in her throat, clenching a kunai in her left hand as Shikamaru nodded.

"Then let's go…"

"Yeah."

"We still haven't found Chouji." Shikamaru's face took on a slightly panicked expression, but relaxed as a hand was laid comfortingly on his shoulder.

"He's a strong guy. I'm sure he's fine."

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"Ino!" Iruka waved over.

He looked positively exhausted. His eyelids were half-lidded, and right after he waved, his arm went limp. "I'm so…we're so thankful you're here…could you help?"

"Absolutely." Ino nodded. "What do you need help on?"

Shikamaru glanced at where they were.

The villagers were settled right around the Hokage Monument, a tunnel surprisingly, leading right into the mountain, where their emergency gatherings took place. There were supplies of blankets, pillows, chairs, and a little fountain of water at the other corner of a room.

"They won't calm down…" Iruka shook his head ruefully, rubbing a patch of dirt off his cheekbone. "No matter what I say, everybody's worried. It's natural, but it's scaring the children."

Ino and Shikamaru nodded in understanding.

"Kakashi came a couple minutes ago to help, he's watching guard hear the doorway," Iruka explained.

"Where are you going then?" Shikamaru questioned, noticing that he left himself out of the plan.

"I need to report to the Hokage and see what's been going on."

The two nodded again, beckoning Iruka to go.

"Let's go in." They approached the tunnel, to be greeted by Kakashi.

After a little chat about what they've been doing around the village, Ino and Shikamaru went deeper in, taking turns and twists until they started to hear the sound of low cries and murmuring.

"I think we're here." Shikamaru stated under his breath, pushing a door open, the hinges creaking.

It was pretty hectic. The most complicated part was calming everybody down, but the practical needs were taken care of in a flash.

Ino felt exhausted, but still offered a cheery smile to those who needed comfort, wiping away a thin layer of sweat with the back of her hand.

Shikamaru was tired, so he settled for sitting in the corner of the room, by a table after he was done fetching water and blankets.

It felt like hours since they had any other contact with ninjas outside the tunnels, but had only been a half. There were no clocks to keep track of time, or windows to observe the goings of the other shinobi duties.

Ino dragged her feet along the dirt floor, chewing on her lower lip. How's Sakura doing?

A shoulder rested itself onto Ino's shoulder, making her turn around, "It'll be alright. Everybody's strong. Everyone can pull through this," Shikamaru tried to reassure Ino, rubbing small circles on her back for comfort, "I believe we'll be just fine."

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Tenshi-Battosai