Chapter 16—Allies

The sun was high and warm in a clear sky when Kankuro and Temari reached the Leaf Village. They had made good time and were eager to finally end their travels, but from down the road they saw that the huge gate into the village was closed. They continued toward it until a kunai suddenly stabbed into the ground in front of them.

"What are you doing here?"

Temari and Kankuro looked up toward the voice. Standing high on guard posts on either side of the gate were two Leaf ninja.

"We were asked to come," Temari called up to them.

"We haven't heard anything about that," one of them said. "We'd have been told if someone from outside the village was supposed to be coming."

"We can't let you in," the other added.

Kankuro leaned over toward Temari. "You know," he muttered. "He's got a point. They never asked us to come. They were just letting us know the situation."

Temari whispered back, "I know but Jiraiya did ask us to come."

"He also said they wouldn't be expecting us. Oh!" Kankuro pulled out the scroll Jiraiya had given him and opened it. It was Gaara's reply to the Leaf Village, telling them that Temari and Kankuro were coming.

"Here," Kankuro shouted to the guards. He held up the scroll. "We have a message from the Kazekage that says we were supposed to come."

"From the Kazekage…?" the younger of the two guards turned to his partner. "Should we check it out?"

"Just hold on a second," he answered. "Why wasn't it sent here ahead of you?" he called to Kankuro and Temari.

"It was," Temari said. "But we ran into Master Jiraiya on the way here and he had it with him. We have a message from him to deliver as well."

"That all sounds pretty unlikely," the older guard murmured. "And besides, Master Jiraiya has been under suspicion lately. They said to keep an eye out for him and to double check any orders or information he gives."

"That settles it," the other said. "We're not letting you in. Just go back to your village."

"Are you kidding? No way!" Kankuro shouted. "It took almost three days to get here and now you want us to go back?"

"What's with the shouting?" Shikamaru suddenly appeared, balanced easily on the top of the gate next to the guard post. "Time to change shifts," he told the older guard.

"We've got a problem," the guard told him, pointing. Shikamaru turned his attention to the road below.

"Hey. Temari and Kankuro. What're you doing here?"

"We're supposed to be delivering a message and providing you guys with some backup," Temari answered. "But they won't let us in."

"Here, this might help." Kankuro sealed the scroll from Gaara and threw it to Shikamaru. He read it quickly then closed it and stood silently, thinking it over.

After a little while he said, "You guys ran into Jiraiya, didn't you? He gave you this."

"That's what they told us," the younger guard said.

"All right, well let 'em in."

"What? We can't just–"

"Then don't," Shikamaru sighed. "But your shift is done and I'm taking over for you, so I'm letting them in." He dropped down on the other side of the gate and a moment later it was opening. "You coming or what?" he said to Temari and Kankuro.

"Heh, now that's more like it." Kankuro grinned and they headed into the village.

"Look, it's a pain but I'm taking responsibility for you guys now," Shikamaru said. "So try not to cause any trouble, okay?" He closed the gate. "Just go do what you came to do."

"Thanks, Shikamaru," Temari said, and she and Kankuro ran off toward the Hokage's Residence to deliver their message.