Cloudless Sky

Chapter 4: The Hunted Hunter-nin

The damned hat kept slipping over his head.

Every step they took, his robe would catch on a twig, his hat would slip, and he had to retie the headband around his arm. The purple nail-polish didn't make him feel less stupid looking, either.

"Have you got a trail, un? Or a plan?" Deidara said, narrowing his eyebrows as he looked into the vast forests. Shikamaru's fingers fumbled into his thinking position, eyes focused on the land in front of him. Just as he thought he had caught onto a train of thought, his hat slipped again. Deidara snickered. "Maybe if you took out that ponytail of yours, it wouldn't slip, un, Shikamaru no Danna." Shikamaru slipped off the hat, wiped sweat off his forehead with the back of his hand, and tugged at the hairtie. His hair fell down straight and jagged at the ends, a few pieces falling in front of his eyes. He felt so different that it frightened him. Was he really changing that much?

"I have an idea." He murmured. Deidara listened intently, waiting for more. Shikamaru picked up a stick, squatting down. He drew a precise triangle. Deidara leaned down to look. "You see," Shikamaru continued, "A hunter-nin is trained to go at a faster rate judging on the class of enemy it's dealing with...as a large predator would while stalking more important prey, if you will." He said, circling one corner of the triangle in the dirt. "We're going at a steady rate of about a mile an hour, and unless we step it up, we're still the mouse while the hunter-nin's the cat." He said, circling another angle of the triangle. "But," He started again, "If we hide behind and wait for the hunter-nin to pass us, the hunter-nin becomes the hunted. There, I can trap them with my shadows while you do the troublesome work." He said, making the third angle part of their trail to go behind the hunter-nin. "Got it?" He said, glancing up at a very surprised Deidara.

"You..." He said, eyes wide. Suddenly a smile came across his lips. "The Leader was right. You are a force to be reckoned with, un." He said, helping Shikamaru to his feet. "A good partner, un." He said. Shikamaru didn't know whether to feel proud or feel the betrayal seep into his veins.

Soon they were on their way again, heading backwards. Shikamaru pointed out thrashed leaves, a dropped kunai—a costly mistake for a hunter-nin. They must be just out of the academy. Suddenly Shikamaru caught sight of a dark figure in the trees. Running. He narrowed his eyes. Deidara opened his mouth but Shikamaru gave him a piercing gaze and shook his head. Deidara took the point and didn't say anything. Suddenly Shikamaru stepped out of the trees, his hands moving quickly.

"Kagemane no Jutsu!" He cried. The Hunter-nin turned, their mask slipping as the shadow held them. A fatal mistake for an accomplished fighter. It seemed too easy, but Shikamaru knew that Hunter-nin worked alone for dire missions. They trembled as the shadow held them. Shikamaru nodded, making them nod. Deidara stepped out, a kunai flying out of his hands. Just at the last minute before the kunai hit, Shikamaru let go of the shadow technique, turning away as the body fell limply into a pool of blood, a kunai glaring up from their neck. Shikamaru felt like he was going to throw up. To kill a hunter-nin was one thing. But to kill one from his own country?

It was almost too much to bear.

"And they said he was the best in Konoha, un. Tells us a lot about that village, un." Deidara snickered. Shikamaru stayed silent, standing up. He slowly walked over to the dead body and bent down, reaching for the mask. He took it off and...

Was relieved to see it was no one he knew; a man older than Asuma, with long red hair tied in a strange ponytail with beads falling down. They had a surprised look on their face, and for some reason a note was tucked inside the mask. He turned it around, his eyes widening. He pushed Deidara to the ground in a quick movement as the mask exploded, incarcerating the body in flames. Deidara looked shocked.

"An explosive tag? But how'd you..." He said, staring down at the flames. Shikamaru looked solemn.

"They'll see the fire. We have to get out of here." He said curtly. He helped Deidara up and they took off running. Deidara smirked at him.

"A good partner, un."

---

Temari slammed her fist down on Tsunade's table.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU'RE NOT SENDING ANY MORE SEARCH PARTIES?" She said furiously, her four ponytails bobbing madly. Tsunade sighed, and knocked the six Sake bottles off of her desk and lay her head down.

"You've been going at this for hours. What the hell do they teach in emotional training in Suna?" She moaned, closing her eyes sleepily. Temari sent her a death glare that would have Gaara running.

"You better send some ANBU or something! Or even a Hunter-nin! JUST FIND HIM!" She said angrily, going back to pacing again. She stared out the window. As Tsunade's mouth began to open, Temari glared back at her again.

"And don't you say it! He's not dead! I would know if that lazy smartass was dead...and he's not!" She said softly. Tsunade sighed.

"One of our Hunter-nin was found dead today, incarcerated by the flames of his back-up explosive tag. This was found beside it." Tsunade said, getting up, stretching her neck. In her hand was a green hairtie. Temari gaped and grabbed it from her. Her eyes widened as she stared at it.

"This is..." Temari said quietly.

"Shikamaru's hairtie. Fresh by the body. Unless he was trying to save the Hunter-nin, which I highly doubt, because I am sure he would have saved him well, this means that Shikamaru either stood by and watching...or committed." Tsunade finished. Temari glared at her as tears burned down her face. She stood up to her fiercely.

"You're underestimating him! He wouldn't betray Konoha...he's too lazy!" She said tearfully. She was beginning to hate emotions. Tsunade sighed.

"I think maybe you should take a break from meetings and missions. Go back to Suna. Congratulate him on becoming Kazekage. Maybe train with Kankuro, relax." Tsunade said. Temari looked disgusted.

"I don't want to. Konoha's fine." Temari muttered. 'It's not like I could relax and just stand by while Shikamaru is out somewhere, maybe even hurt! Man, why am I acting so soft? I'm the toughest kunoichi out there! C'mon, pull yourself together, Temari!' Tsunade cleared her throat.

"If you don't stop interfering with Shikamaru's...case...then I will make that an order, Temari. Now I have work to do. Goodbye." Tsunade said, dismissing her. Temari fumed, almost ready to get her fan out and let loose a few razor sharp winds. But off course she stomped out of the room, shutting the door loudly behind her.

All the way back to her house, Temari's emotions raged like a fire. Suddenly someone put a hand on her shoulder. Her head flew around violently with a glare, only to see Sakura cowering in fear.

"Um...Temari! I'm so sorry!" She said nervously. Temari blushed.

"Sorry. I'm just kind of...you know." She finished with a sigh, sitting down on a bench. Sakura sat down beside her. She handed her a bento. Temari looked at her gratefully.

"I was going to go offer Lee this...but I'd rather have it with you." Sakura said with a small laugh. Temari gave out a wry smile. "So you were with Tsunade?" Sakura questioned. Temari nodded, giving her a sidelong glance.

"They found Shikamaru's hairtie by the body of a dead Hunter-nin." She said quietly. Suddenly she slammed her fist down on the bento, causing it to open. Sakura winced. "They're such idiots, to think he would do such a thing! He's not evil at ALL." Temari muttered. She sighed. "But...I guess maybe I just didn't want him to die so soon...it just..." She tried, but shrugged. 'It's just that I didn't want to lose him yet.' Temari's thoughts wandered. Sakura looked at her sadly.

"That's how I felt when Sasuke left, too." She said quietly. A cool breeze rushed through the air. "But it's different, I guess, when he's like Shikamaru. Sasuke was so cold and unfeeling. I don't even know why I liked him at all." Sakura said sadly. Temari nodded a little bit.

"Shikamaru...when I first fought him in the Chuunin exams...I thought he was an idiot, a coward. But I guess...well I guess we underestimated each other." Temari said. Sakura smiled.

"And don't forget when you saved him! He told me once that it was nice to know someone who would do something so troublesome as to save a coward like him...even if you are scarier than his mother. But for Shikamaru, I think that's a compliment." Sakura said with a small laugh. Temari nodded, taking another bite from her bento, then stood up to adjust her fan. Sakura looked confused.

"Where are you going?" Sakura asked, staring at the half eaten bento. Temari smirked, her eyes glinting.

"You've told me something important, Sakura. And I have to go do it." She said, running off. Sakura stared after her.

"Temari! Wait! What did I tell you? What about your bento...?"

---

Something cold was dropped into his hand. Shikamaru looked up at the members of the Akatsuki, then down at his hand. A small ring lay there, glaring up at him. He let out a small look of astonishment. Itachi stared at him coldly.

"As much as I would love to argue the fact that you did close to nothing to earn this, I have better things to do, Shikamaru no Danna." Itachi said with a hint of a sneer. Shikamaru almost glared, but could not muster up enough confidence to do so.

"Why am I given this?" Shikamaru asked. "I'm still a prisoner, captured." He added. "Why do you trust me?" Itachi let out a cold smirk.

"People like you lack the hatred to go against blackmail for their own ambitions. The ring is The Void. Hidan stole it back from Orochimaru for your pitiful sake." He said, again expressionless. Shikamaru put it on his left pinky finger. The metal seemed to burn his skin. 'Well, it's official...I'm an Akatsuki...the troublesome things are only just beginning...' He thought in his head sadly. He adjusted the forehead protector that hung from his arm, a sad slash in the center of the Konoha symbol, and put on his hat.

"There's a new mission, I presume." He added, with a sigh. "How troublesome." Itachi left without a word as Shikamaru adjusted his hat.

A/N: Sorry it's short, but the next one will be super good, I swear! Thanks!