Let me save you some misery of our pathetic team. You're probably sick of hearing about us being idiots, but then again, we are. So, I'll spare you the details of our lunch trauma. I'll warn you this though; never trust Naruto with food on a long mission. That was my mistake. I had reached into his back pack, pretty sure he was hiding food from us. Instead, I found what I thought was a hunk of meatloaf in a paper bag. Found it used to be a sandwich. Of course, that scared the living daylights out of me, so I chucked it at Naruto, who flung it at Sasuke, who threw it to the floor right in front of Sakumo, who started gagging from the smell. Naruto puked. Sasuke and I almost did.
As soon as we got over that, we plunged straight back into seriousness. As disgusting as it had been, it had given me a little chuckle afterwards - which I had needed, badly - so I was slightly disappointed. However, I was going to lose it if I didn't see Kakashi soon.
That same night - or was it really early in the morning at that point? - we finally reached the village Kakashi was in. It was a creepy, nearly abandoned village, with a few crude buildings left. Well, that's what the edge of town looked like. Once we reached the heart of it all, it was filled to the rim with a bunch of sleazy looking sound ninjas, just like the ones that had attacked us earlier. They were all very unorganized, running amuck in the village. I'd say half of them were drunk too. This shouldn't be too hard. How on earth did a group like this capture Kakashi?!
You know, maybe first impressions aren't always a good thing to go by. I'd find out later that I was dead wrong about them being crappy excuses for ninjas.
It wasn't very hard for us to sneak around to find the prison chamber he was being held in. It was so medieval looking. Kind of pathetic really, but hey, that wasn't the sound ninja's faults; that blame would go to the idiot who designed the prison.
Sneaking in was where it got difficult. Sakumo leading the way, followed by Sasuke - Sharingan searching wildly for any approaching enemy - Naruto right behind, and then me, in my position in back like usual - I wondered if Shikamaru is always in back too. I'd have to ask him that later. We crept through the prison without much trouble for a long time. To tell the truth, it was actually kind of boring. I was hoping it would be more difficult, for some adventure, and so I knew Kakashi hadn't been bested by a bunch of pathetic excuses.
Then of course, the problems started occurring when the hall spit in three different directions. Sasuke started searching around, to find that all the directions led straight to a huge group of guards, and Sakumo was now having trouble figuring out where Kakashi's scent was strongest.
"He's been down all three halls. Two of them recently." He said very quietly, almost to the point where I couldn't hear him.
"Crap." Naruto hissed. "How about we split up?" He suggested, looking back and forth between the three of us. For once, he had the best plan.
"Naruto and I will go down this path. Nikki, you and Sakumo can go down the other." Sasuke said. "If you don't find him in any of the cells, turn back, and head into the other direction to find us. We'll do the same. That way we narrow it down."
"Got it." I said, before running off with Sakumo in the lead, down the furthest right hall. It wasn't until then that I realized, Sasuke and Naruto would probably stood a better chance against a group of ninjas then I would alone. Well, it was too late to go back, and I managed, so not that big of deal.
"There's a group of shinobi's up ahead." Sakumo said with his nose high in the air as he sniffed around.
"How many? And how far?"
"About ten, and maybe a few meters away. Not very."
Right around the corner then if the were so close. Pulling my body up against the wall, I glanced out to see ten sound ninjas. Ten to two; didn't seem fair to me. I'd just have to fix that. Turning back to Sakumo, I put my finger to my lips, telling him to keep quite. He nodded apprehensively, probably assuming I was about to do something stupid and reckless. I'd prove him wrong.
"Kagemane no Jutsu" I whispered to myself, performing the hand seals as quickly as possible. My only dilemma was how incredibly dark the room was, so my shadow wasn't very big. This was going to be a stretch; literally! I watched my shadow creep across the ground desperately reaching for the nearest shadow. Come on, just a little closer, I urged, tip-toeing as close as I could without getting caught.
A smile spread across my face as I grabbed a hold of his shadow. Bingo! Now that the hard part was done, it was time to have some fun. I couldn't clearly see the face of the ninja I had possession of, but I guess that didn't matter. He was about a foot away from the next ninja to the right. From the way I was facing, if I stepped to the right, I'd reveal myself. Damnit. That wouldn't work. There was another guy to his left, but if I stepped that way, I wouldn't be able to see anymore. I guess I just had to try that. Staring down at his feet for a second, I did the math in my head, before taking a few steps to the left - seven to be exact. There was a slight tug at my shadow; I was really pushing the limits with this corner. Against the strain, I quickly shot out my fist, making contact with the air, but smiled hearing a bone crack not to far away. Then I let go of the shadow.
Creeping back to the corner, I looked around to see one shinobi out cold on the floor, and another staring wide-eyed at his fist. The other sleazy ninja around him had mixtures of anger and bewilderment on their faces. Not exactly the result I wanted, but I was getting there. Again, I grabbed hold of another shadow, and did the same, then knocked out another shinobi, this time with ease.
"What the hell was that for?"
"Hey! What do you think you're doing asshole?"
That was what I was hoping for. Now all I had to do was sit back and relax as a riot broke out among them. I only had to knock out two! They'd do the rest! How had it been so easy?
Alright, maybe not entirely easy. One guy was left standing, but this was the fun part. Slowly I crept out from around the corner when he had his back facing me. Another quick Shadow Possession Jutsu and I'd be too Kakashi, but this one was going to be fun. I'd take my time.
"Congratulations. You have destroyed each other. How pathetic." I said, smirking as his body grew rigid.
"Who are you?" He cried. "My body? What's going on?!"
I sighed slightly annoyed. So many questions, and he didn't even wait for an answer. "It's simple really. You don't have control over your body anymore. I do. I'd tell you to look down at your shadow, but you can't, now can you?" I mocked, smirking.
"Now, you are going to answer my questions, and you're going to obedient, got it?"
"Why should I?" He snapped.
"Because if you don't, and if you lead me to a trap, you'll be the first one in that trap. I control you're body remember." Now this was fun. Why was it so much fun messing with people's heads? Oh well, didn't care.
"You're lying!"
"Am not." I said, raising my hand above my head. His did the same. He let out a gasp, and I was pretty sure he was convinced.
"Still don't believe me?" I asked. "Then tell me what to move, or how to move. I can make you nod, I can make you punch air. Hell, I'll make you do the can-can if I really wanted to, but sadly I don't know how to myself." I said with a shrug, watching as his shoulders rose then fell against his will. He was silent.
"Now, you're going to tell me where you have Hatake Kakashi imprisoned. Got it?" I demanded.
"He's in the room down the hall to the right. Fourth room down!"
"Good boy. Now, where would the keys be?" I asked.
"With the guard in front of his room." He said, his voice shaking.
"Hmm, that'll be a problem." I said quietly. I couldn't let the guards see me, but it wouldn't matter if they saw this guy, which they would first. "Now listen to me carefully, and this will be easy. You don't do as I say and I'll kill you in one second." I started to experiment now, showing him how serious I was. Slowly, the shadow crept up his body, forming fingers, reaching for his throat.
"I understand." He said desperately, sighing with relief as the fingers disappeared.
"Good boy. Just like a dog, don't you think Sakumo?" I laughed.
Sakumo growled behind me.
"More obedient then you." I hissed, rolling my eyes. "Back to you. I'm going to take you around to Hatake's cell. You are to tell the guards they have been relieved of their duty, and you are guarding him now. And you have to stay calm, I'll be moving your body, but you still move your lips. If you mess up, I will kill them with your hands, then kill you myself, understand?"
"Y-yes!" He said. With out waiting, I started to march, leading him - or was he leading me? - to Kakashi.
I nearly jumped when a hand fell down on my shoulder. My first reaction was to turn and see who it was, but then I realized my puppet would turn and see my face. That's what I was trying to avoid.
"He's not down the other hallway. It was just his jacket." Naruto said quietly, walking into my vision. Sasuke came up to, holding Kakashi's vest. My heart plunged, and my grip on the shinobi faltered for a brief second.
"I'm getting Kakashi now. Stay behind me." I said. My voice dropping to a whisper I added in, "Don't use any names, and I need the Sharingan. Tell me what's up ahead for him."
Sasuke nodded, his eyes turning red as he looked ahead at our puppet.
"Around the corner to the right. How many guards?" I asked.
"Just two. Both guarding one room. But that's all I can see. There's something blocking the inside of the cell."
"That's got to be him." Naruto said.
Without saying another word, I kept walking, watching the ninja in front of me, making sure my timing was right. When he got to the corner, I was still down the hall, turning would prove difficult. Good thing I had thought about this earlier. Shikamaru and I had realized there were a lot of problems with this jutsu, so we had started working our way around those obstacles. This was one of them. With another hand symbol - which he did as well - the connected shadows swayed, almost like a human would from seasickness, until it twisted, causing Nameless to turn to the right. While I walked forward, he did too, but now I was walking down one hall, he was down the other.
"Whoa! When'd you learn how to do that?" Naruto asked.
"We learned just as much as you did while you were gone." I said, meaning we as in Shikamaru and I. "Now keep your mouth shut."
"I'm coming to take over the guard shift."
I smirked. Nameless listened to me. What a good boy. Was a shame we'd have to get rid of him later.
"By yourself?"
"Yes. Boss said so. Just give me the key."
"I don't believe it."
"Fine, anger the boss. But you're the one who he'll get angry at."
So the boss was a male, and was feared by them. This was good to know.
"Uh... Alright. Here."
Taking a guess, I held out my hand, trying to time this perfectly. I risked a glance over at Sasuke who nodded. I closed my hand into a fist, then dropped my hand to my side. It wasn't too long before I could hear the footsteps of people walking away."
"Alright, now both of you go and get the key from him, and knock him out. But not until after I'm disconnected!" I said, making sure Naruto understand. "I'll give you the signal when."
"What's the signal?" Naruto asked.
"You'll know it when you hear it."
"How?"
"Because it'll be the only thing you'll hear me say you idiot!"
"Right..." Naruto said, flinching away.
"Come on you baka." Sasuke hissed, grabbing Naruto's wrist and running around the corner. After a few seconds, their footsteps slowed, and -somebody hadn't been listening! I'll kill him later! - a tug at my hair. "Ouch! Naruto you ass!" I yelled, releasing the grip of the shadow. Then I was off running around the corner with Sakumo at my heels.
"Woops... sorry..." Naruto said sheepishly, standing over the unconscious form.
"Couldn't wait long enough to beat him up, could you?" I asked, rubbing the back of my head. "Whatever, just give me the damn key." I hissed.
Sasuke held the key out to me with one hand, Kakashi's vest under his other arm.
I took the key without hesitating at all, and forced it in the lock before turning it maybe just a little too roughly. Okay, I was anxious to get Kakashi then get the hell out of here. Oh well, the key and the lock had it coming for them.
When the door finally opened, my heart fell to my feet - at least, what was left of it.
"He's not here..." I said, my voice cracking. He wasn't. Only his headband. They had set up a simple trap, and we'd fallen for it.