Thanks for the reviews! I feel the need to tell everyone that even though you all know I use some context and diologue from the manga and sometimes anime, there's gonna be a lot more of that coming up in further chapters so I can make sure that I get everything straight (even though I never seem to get it 100...) Anyway, just a heads up! I know some people don't like that kind of stuff too much. Then again, if you REALLY didn't like it, you wouldn't be here at chapter 33, would you? Anyway, what I'm trying to say is that I thank all of you to stick with me even with this unoriginal plotline. XD I'll try my best to morph Kishimoto-sama's masterpiece into something of my own with mild variations of his works. Now, without further ado, I give you the chapter!
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
"Tsunade-baachan! Tsuna—"
"WHATWHATWHAT?!" Tsunade screamed as her head shot up from her desk. Papers flew everywhere and Tsunade, flustered, attempted to catch them all.
"Sleeping during the day, baachan?!" Nami said, annoyed. "What kind of Hokage are you?"
Tsunade rolled her eyes in an annoyed fashion. "What do you girls want? I'm very busy."
"Very busy sleeping?"
"Don't try to be snippy with me," Tsunade warned. "Now tell me what you want or I'll kick you out personally."
"Tsunade-baachan, it's terrible!" Kyoko exclaimed. "Midori…Midori never came home!"
"Midori?" Tsunade raised an eyebrow.
"She's our teammate!" Nami explained. "And she left last night to get some food and she never came back! We were supposed to train real early in the morning and she wasn't in her room!"
"Please send out a search team!" Kyoko pleaded.
"All right, all right," Tsunade said, shifting through papers.
"Hokage-sama!"
Tsunade groaned. "What now?"
Kyoko and Nami turned to see Kotetsu and Izumo coming in while carrying stacks of papers.
"Oh, good work," Tsunade praised.
"What's that drool on your face?!" Kotetsu said, enraged. "Were you sleeping on the job again?! You made us get more documents and you just slept?!"
"Er…"
"Anyway, Hokage-sama," Izumo said. "There's some news I'd like to give you…"
"What is it?"
"Well…it seems…that Uchiha Sasuke has run away."
Nami and Kyoko exchanged nervous glances.
"What?!" Tsunade hollered, standing up. "Is that true?!"
"Unfortunately, yes," Kotetsu said.
"We found Haruno Sakura sleeping on a bench this morning and what we heard from her…there's no mistaking it."
Tsunade sat back down solidly, grimacing.
"Could this have anything to do with Midori's disappearance?" Kyoko whispered to Nami.
"My bet is that loser ambushed her and took her along with him…that twisted, little…" Nami growled.
"But why?" Kyoko interrupted.
"Cuz he's twisted…"
"Izumo! Kotetsu!" Tsunade barked, gaining everyone's attention. "I want you both to retrieve someone for me! Get me Nara Shikamaru!"
"Roger!" The two chuunin saluted the Fifth Hokage and ran out of the room.
"What about us?" Kyoko demanded. "Our friend's gone too!"
"And we're willing to bet the traitor had something to do with it!" Nami added.
"Now, now, let's not jump to conclusions," Tsunade said hastily. "And don't worry. I'll send out a team to retrieve both Sasuke and Midori."
"And we're apart of it, right?!"
"That all depends on the choice of the leader."
"And that leader's naturally gonna be me, right?" Nami demanded.
"What do you think?" Kyoko slapped her forehead. "Why do you think she wants Shikamaru?"
Nami crossed her arms. "I'd make a better leader than him!"
"And who's the one who became chuunin?"
"Way to hold it against me!" Nami exclaimed.
"Do you think Midori's okay?" Kyoko said with concern. "You know we've always been there with her, and now…"
"She's fine, probably," Nami said. "She's the one who taught us the basics, remember? The one who started us up."
"Yeah but…"
"Chillax, man."
"I will if you never say that again."
"…"
Tsunade sighed as she watched the girls. "You want to leave my office now?"
"No way, baachan! We're gonna stay and wait for Shik to come back to tell us we're apart of his team!" Nami declared stubbornly.
I'll have to remember to give Naruto a whooping for spreading that 'baachan' around… Tsunade thought irritably. Her thoughts were interrupted as Shikamaru entered the room. "Ah. Shikamaru. I have a mission for you."
Annoyed is one word to sum up Shikamaru's expression after hearing the current Hokage saying this to him.
"It seems Sasuke decided to leave the village last night and I'm positive he's headed for Otogakure."
"He…left?" Shikamaru exclaimed, eyes wide. "Why?"
"Because he's a traitor," Nami muttered.
"Because Orochimaru persuaded him," Tsunade said sharply, shooting a short glare at Nami.
"H-Hold on!" Shikamaru said, flustered. "Why would Sasuke be persuaded by a creep like him?"
"It doesn't matter," Tsunade said. "The point is, we're running out of time and I need to give you your first mission as a chuunin."
"So…you want me to bring him back, is that it? If we don't run into any enemies, it shou ld be easy enough…"
"That may be true," Tsunade said. "But this mission has to be completed as quickly as possible. There's a higher probability of running into an enemy."
"What?"
"This isn't the first time something like this has happened," Tsunade said. "I'd say Orochimaru's henchmen will be leading Sasuke to Oto."
Shikamaru frowned. This is so troublesome... "Then…for the mission, I request at team of elite ninja."
"I'm not able to fill out your request."
"What?! Why?!"
"You should know," Tsunade said. "Asuma, Kakashi, and even your father…all the elites are out of the village doing missions. You have thirty minutes to gather as many worthy genin to take part in this mission…and leave immediately!"
Shikamaru was silent for a moment, then sighed and said, "It's going to be troublesome…but it's someone I know I can't just leave like that. I'll do what I can."
"Good, because…there's one person I would like to recommend…"
Kyoko and Nami cleared their throats.
"Okay, three people," Tsunade corrected herself.
Shikamaru raised an eyebrow. "You two want to rescue Sasuke?"
Nami put up a finger to retort, but Shikamaru put up his hand and said, "Never mind. Tell me on the way. I only have thirty minutes. Who's the other person, Tsunade-sama?"
"Uzumaki Naruto."
---
"Why do you wanna help Sasuke? From what I've seen, you both despise him," Shikamaru said as he ran alongside the two girls of Team 12.
"It's not Sasuke we want," Nami said with disgust. "It's Midori."
"…Midori's gone?" Shikamaru said, shocked.
"Yeah," Kyoko nodded. "And we think she's traveling down the same road as Sasuke. The only thing that's different is that she's not going willingly."
"We think Orochimaru's henchmen kidnapped her last night," Nami explained.
"I see."
"So that's why you have to let us on the team!" Kyoko blurted out. "She's our teammate! And we need to help rescue her!"
"I don't want to put you two in danger as well…" Shikamaru admitted.
"C'mon, Shik," Nami urged. "Please. It's probably gonna be the only thing we'll ask of you…this week."
"I don't know…"
"Come on," Kyoko said. "You'd wanna come if it were Chouji or Ino who were captured, right?"
Shikamaru sighed and closed his eyes, thinking 'why me?' However, he nodded in agreement and said, "All right."
Kyoko squealed happily. "Thanks so much, Shika-kun!"
"Please don't call me that…"
Don't worry, Midori, Nami thought.
We're gonna save you, Kyoko thought.
---
"YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!"
"NO, WE'RE NOT!" Kyoko and Nami screamed.
Shikamaru rubbed his ear. They're…so loud…
"W-Wait a sec, I gotta change!" Naruto called as he ran back into his house.
Minutes later, the quartet was continuing their search. They soon came to the Akimichi household, and Chouji answered the door in pajamas. Of course, he had his bag of chips with him.
"…So we need you to help on the mission," Shikamaru said. "Get ready, Chouji. We'll be waiting out the front gate for ten minutes."
"Didn't you say excellent ninja?" Naruto shouted. "If we need more, why not just ask Shino or some—"
"I've been working with Chouji in a team for a long time," Shikamaru interrupted piercingly. "He's the easiest for me to work."
Chouji smiled warmly.
"Shino's on a mission today with his dad," said a voice. Barking followed soon after, earning everyone's attention.
"Kiba?" Kyoko said.
"I guess this is what happens when I wake up early to try to take a walk," Kiba smirked. "Well, I've heard everything, and it sounds like quite the dilemma."
"I also happen to know what's going on," said another voice.
"Lee?" Nami questioned.
"I'd like to take on this mission," Kiba said. "It sounds like a real adventure, right Akamaru?"
Akamaru barked.
"Yeah, yeah, I know. 'Be serious'. Whatever."
"I would also like to take part in this mission!" Lee declared.
"You think you should?" Shikamaru asked.
"Why do you say that?"
"Well…"
"He's talking about your injuries, Lee."
"Neji!" Lee said, turning around to face his teammate.
"What mission are you all talking about?" Neji asked.
"Midori got kidnapped!" Nami exclaimed.
"And Sasuke ran away!" Naruto added.
Neji's eyes widened ever so slightly. "Then I wish to be on this mission."
Shikamaru nodded. "Of course."
"Is it because of Midori?" Nami said slyly.
"It's important to bring back the people belonging to our village," Neji said hastily. "That's why we need to bring back both Midori and Sasuke."
"Right…"
Kyoko smiled. He said that a little too quickly.
"Okay, time's up," Shikamaru said, looking over at the people he had gathered. Naruto, Chouji, Kiba, Neji, Nami, and Kyoko. That makes a team of seven and one dog.
"All of you going out there to risk your lives…it makes me want too…" Lee said quietly.
"You have other things to worry about, Lee," Neji said with a hint of concern.
"Well then, let's get outta here!" Naruto called. "Everyone follow me!"
Silence passed for twenty seconds.
"You know, Naruto…" Shikamaru said petulantly. "I'm kind of the leader of this team…not that it's a big deal or anything…"
"You sure you can handle being leader?" Naruto questioned. "You're not exactly all that trustworthy…"
"I agree," Nami said. Then she rested her arm atop Naruto's head. "I say I'm the leader!"
Kyoko rolled her eyes. "You're even less trustworthy!"
"And what're you guys to talk anyway?" Kiba said. "But on the other hand, it feels kind of weird taking orders from Shikamaru."
"Hey, Shikamaru's a chuunin already! That means we've gotta listen to what he says. The village's high council acknowledged that he's leader-material," Chouji pointed out.
"Then tell us the basic strategies and plans," Neji said productively. "From what you've told us, there are possibilities of enemy ambushes."
"Yeah," Shikamaru agreed. "And since we're the pursuers of this mission, it'll be easy for our enemies to get us first. So we'll decide on the squad formation that's most suitable for an attack now. If anyone decides to be a wise guy and goes on their own or doesn't do as I say, it might end up in a slaughter of our entire team."
Everyone was silent, waiting for Shikamaru to explain his plan and give them orders.
"We'll proceed in single-line formation," Shikamaru finally said. "Kiba, you'll be in the front, the most crucial position of forward scout. That's right, you. You're always traveling around the country and you know the terrain well. Not to mention your sense of smell will make it easier to track Sasuke or Midori down and sense anything the enemies have left for us. Second is Kyoko. From what Midori says, you're excellent with observation and deactivating booby trap with weapons. This way there's a high probability that we won't have to run into any troublesome traps. Third will be me, the leader. I'd be able to give orders behind Kiba and Kyoko and anyone behind me can see my hand signals. Fourth is Naruto. Your reactions are pretty quick so I've put you in a position where you can assist both front and back. You'll be cover and assistance, especially with your specialty jutsu. Fifth will be you, Nami and sixth will be Chouji. You're best at close-range attacks, if I'm not mistaken. Therefore, after Naruto, Kyoko, Kiba, and I create openings if we get attacked, you'll be the first one to take them down. However, I know you're attacks require multiple shots, and we're in a hurry. So Chouji, you'll deliver the finishing blows from behind. You may not have the speed, but you have the strongest hit power. Lastly, I'll have Neji be at the end. With your Byakugan, you can check for our blind spots." Shikamaru continued to explain the way the team would position their line of vision (A/N: I won't put the details since you all already sat through that painfully long and familiar explanation) and then they were set. "Now I want to check our team's total strength. Let me check your equipment and I'll finish in approximately three minutes." As soon as he was done with that, he said, "Any questions?"
The team was silent and Naruto shook his head.
"Well, if there's nothing else, I'll finish with the most important thing…Sasuke doesn't particularly mean anything to me at all."
Everyone tensed, and confusion was a mild term of how they were feeling.
"However!" he said loudly. "He's a shinobi from Konoha, just like you and me; Midori as well. They're comrades. This is why we'll risk our lives for them. This is the way of the leaf. Even someone of my standards can't afford to goof off on something like this. I'm responsible for all your lives."
"Hmph," Nami smirked. "Nice speech there."
"Yeah," Kyoko agreed, smiling. "Now you sound like a chuunin."
"Alright, let's go."
"Wait!"
Everyone turned their attention towards the voice of a certain pink-haired kunoichi.
"Sakura-chan!" Naruto exclaimed.
"I heard everything from Hokage-sama…" Sakura said quietly.
"Sorry, but I can't take you on the mission," Shikamaru said sternly. "You weren't able to convince Sasuke, right? Seems like we have to force him to come back now. Sakura, your job is done."
Tears started to form in the kunoichi's eyes, and even though Naruto tried to unhelpfully raise her spirits, the tears were set free. She started to shake uncontrollably, earning the sympathy of most of the people at the front gate. She started to speak shakily, "Naruto…I-I beg you! P-Please…Please bring Sasuke-kun back!"
Naruto's eyes widened.
"I…I couldn't do it…I couldn't stop him! The only person now…who can probably save Sasuke-kun…is you…Naruto…only you…"
Naruto looked dejected for a moment, but then put on a forced smile. "Sakura-chan. You like Sasuke that much, don't you? I know…how much pain you're in because of Sasuke. I can understand."
"Naruto…" Sakura whispered as she sobbed. "Th-Thank you…"
"Don't worry, Sakura-chan! I'll bring him back!" Naruto said, his hand contorting into a thumbs-up, the familiar nice-guy pose. "It's a promise!"
Nami's eyelids lowered as she glanced at Naruto, then Sakura. She doesn't even come to say 'Be safe' or 'Come back alive'? Otouto…
"Nami."
"Eh?" Nami looked at the pink-haired kunoichi with slight confusion. "What?"
"I…Thanks for before," Sakura said quietly. "You know…I really meant it…and…I think if you just look at Sasuke-kun in a different light…maybe you'd see how much he's been through and how much he needs friends. He isn't bad…like you make him out to be…"
Nami didn't know what to say to that. She shrugged and turned around so her back was facing Sakura and crossed her arms. "You never know, Sakura."
"Hey, hey, Naruto!" Kiba called. "You sure you can keep a promise like that?"
"What, you think I'd take back my words? No way!" Naruto smirked. "So then, let's go!"
"Yeah, we wasted quite some time…so let's hurry," Shikamaru said. And they were off.
---
"What's that?" Nami asked.
"An explosive seal," Neji answered.
"Well I know that," Nami said. "I meant what it's doing just there. It's not like we're stupid enough to hop onto some random tree trunk."
"Maybe not," Neji said. "But I see five more, forming a barrier seal."
"Barrier seal?"
"Ninjutsu in the form of a trap," Shikamaru explained. "It's triggered when the target enters the space between the seals. It's pretty high-level. I read it from one of my dad's books. Do you think you can deactivate it, Kyoko?"
Kyoko nodded. "I know about them too. Give me a second." Kyoko pulled out a needle and tied a thin thread to it. Tossing it with precision, she hit the explosive seal squarely in the kanji then struck a match she had taken out of her bag. Lighting the end of the thread, she released a small string of fire towards the needle which then ignited the paper. The seal blackened and shriveled into burnt pieces. Then she jumped, sticking to the tree with her chakra, and crushed the fire with the bottom of her shoe before it could grow. Jumping down, she said, "Since this one's burned, the others should be useless."
"Right," Shikamaru nodded.
"Looks like you're useful for something, huh Kyoko?" Nami called as the team continued.
"Shut up!"
As they went on, they encountered more and more traps which Kyoko destroyed. Soon, Shikamaru gave the order to start moving on the ground to avoid any unavoidable traps placed in the air.
"The enemy seems to be in a hurry," Shikamaru said. "Their work is getting sloppier."
"Yo, Naruto! There's a wire in front of you! You better not trip it!" Kiba warned.
"Yeah, yeah, I see it," Naruto said, annoyed.
"Eh?! Naruto, hold on!" Shikamaru shouted.
Naruto gasped. It looked as if he were going to step forward when he suddenly stood still in mid-step.
"That was close…" Shikamaru grunted as he stood back, letting go of Chouji's scarf.
"Naruto, you idiot! I told you to watch it!"
"One of the wires is camouflaged green," Neji observed. "It's hard to see. A double trap."
"Well that seems kind of desperate," Nami said, arms crossed.
"Yeah," Shikamaru said. "Even if their in a rush."
"That can only mean their resting," Neji concluded. "They're wounded…or it's a trap." The Hyuuga genius activated Byakugan and stared off into a direction. "I see them."
"Alright!" Naruto cheered. "Let's bring Sasuke back!"
"Sorry, Naruto," Kiba smirked. "But it's my turn to show off my new move."
"Mine too!" Chouji added.
"Hmph. You guys aren't the only ones who wanna get in on the action!" Nami said.
"Don't be so hasty," Shikamaru said. "As soon as I get my strategy laid down, we'll engage our target!"
---
Midori slowly opened her eyes groggily and a forest scene blurred into view. She blinked tiredly and attempted to get up. It was then she realized what had happened. She struggled uselessly, trying to get out of the bonds of the web-cocoon.
"Hmph. You're awake already?" said a voice.
Midori's eyes traced to the voice and saw Kidoumaru next to her. He seemed slightly weary, and as she looked around, his accomplices were as well. She narrowed her eyes.
"Man, that was too early," Kidoumaru said as he raised his fist to knock her out once more.
Midori squeezed her eyes shut and waited. When impact never came, she dared to open one eye. Her captor was looking off into the distance suspiciously. "Hey, Sakon."
"Yeah."
Sakon tossed a kunai with an explosive note attached to it swiftly. The noise of the impact of metal embedding into bark sounded, followed by a loud detonation. The explosion brought out three figures.
"Neji! Kyoko! Shikamaru!" she screamed.
"Well, well," Sakon said. "Look what we have here…"
"W-Wait! We're not here to fight!" Shikamaru said. "We're here to negotiate…"
"Is that so?" Kidoumaru smirked as he thrust his hand. "Then what're these?!"
Immediately, Chouji, Naruto, Kiba, and Nami flew out of nowhere, attached to strings that were tied around Kidoumaru's hand. Kiba moved his own hand in a throwing motion and a smoke bomb hit the ground.
Kidoumaru laughed in amusement. "That smoke bomb is useless! These strings are thinner than wires but stronger and harder to detect. They're all over the area. There's no hope of escape for you guys."
"So…you purposely made those two wires visible…a triple trap," Shikamaru realized. "I didn't even know…"
Midori's eyes widened slightly.
"Heheh…" Kidoumaru chuckled. "You guys area all…huh?" He flinched. "What…what's wrong with my body?"
"All right, Kiba, Shikamaru! Kagemane is a success!"
Midori smiled. He planned it all along…
"Well, then," Shikamaru smirked. "You should know about these kinds of techniques. Thanks for falling right into our trap."
"Well…" Sakon said. "As a reply…I have these kinds of techniques."
"Look out!" Midori shouted.
Shikamaru grunted as he was hit by several sharp projectiles coming from behind. As soon as the Kagemane was broken, Jiroubo slammed his hands on the ground, making it crack.
"Doton! Kekkai Doroudoumu!" he shouted. The earth started to rise, trapping the rescue team in a dome-shaped barrier.
"No!" Midori cried.
"You're a noisy prisoner," Kidoumaru said as he raised his hand. "Go back to sleep."
Midori gave a shortened gasp as she felt the impact of his blow. Her eyelids started to grow heavy. No…
Shikamaru cursed loudly.
"We're trapped!" Nami shouted as she started to punch the wall. "No! They're gonna get away!" She made a hand sign then outstretched her arm, the familiar katana flying out of her sleeve. She grabbed the hilt and slammed the sword into the wall. Narrowing her eyes. It's thick…We can't use normal attacks on it.
"Dammit, let us out!" Naruto ordered as he pounded on the wall as well.
"Naruto! Nami! Move it!" Kiba shouted, clapping his hands together as a sign of his trademark move. Once Nami pulled out her weapon and she and Naruto jumped out of the way, he slammed his hands on the ground as his nails grew longer and sharper. He leapt from the ground and ran straight into the wall in a whirlwind. "Tsuuga!"
Bits of earth and rock flew everywhere as Kiba drilled through the wall.
"All right Ki…ba…?" Nami said in mid-air punch as the hole he had made closed in.
"Hey…" Kiba said, pointing to the wall.
"I saw it," Neji said.
"It closed up…" Kyoko said.
"Thank you, Captain Obvious," Nami said, rolling her eyes.
"Get us outta here!" Naruto panicked.
"This isn't an ordinary clay wall…" Neji observed as he activated Byakugan. He tensed. "This…this is…"
"What is it, Neji?" Kyoko asked uneasily.
"This…isn't good," Neji said, turning to the others as he looked down at his hands. "Our chakra is being sucked dry."
Kyoko could feel it. Her chakra and strength were slowly dissipating away. She narrowed her eyes as she fell onto one knee, and saw her current teammates faltering as well.
"I…I think I'm losing my strength…" Naruto muttered as he fumbled against a wall tiredly.
"We gotta get out of here before we run out of chakra!" Nami declared as she shakily stood up.
"I agree!" Kiba said, looking towards his dog. "Akamaru, quick! Take this soldier pill!"
Akamaru barked as he gulped it down. Almost instantly, his white fur shaded to red.
"Akamaru, follow my lead!" He put his hands together into a seal and Akamaru transformed into Kiba. The two Inuzukas shot at the wall together. "Gatsuuga!" Once again, rocks were removed barbarically from the prison, raising dust. "More!" As soon as man and man's best friend had finished, there were multiple holes around. However, they disappeared almost as quickly as they were made. Kiba cursed. "The wall repairs itself as soon as we destroy it! The ground too!"
"This is bad…" Kyoko moaned.
"We're gonna lose all our chakra soon!" Kiba exclaimed.
"…Shik…?" Nami said as she noticed Shikamaru's expression.
"HEY!" Shikamaru shouted. "I wanna talk to your leader! If you let us out, we won't follow Sasuke anymore!"
"Shikamaru, what're you doing?!" Naruto exclaimed.
"Interesting…" the group heard Jiroubo's voice. "But no thanks. You all are gonna be my meal."
"Then only one is fine," Shikamaru said. "Just let me out. I'm tired of conflicts and action."
"Hey! Do you know what you just said?!" Kiba hollered angrily.
"Shikamaru!" Kyoko said as her brows furrowed. "What…what're you doing?!"
The sound of hefty laughter was heard. "You're the leader, aren't you? And you're asking for my mercy?" Jiroubo snorted. "When humans are placed in a dangerous situation, their true nature appears. A fool like you doesn't deserve the position of a leader. What a loser."
Chouji grimaced.
"You're giving up on Sasuke and selling out you're comrades, eh? And you call yourself a Konoha shinobi…you don't deserve to live. I'm not letting you out."
"Shikamaru!" Naruto growled. "I've lost all faith in you! Come to the back of the room!"
"There is no 'back' to this room, idiot! That's how we got into this in the first place!" Kiba retorted.
"Shik, what the heck's you're problem?!" Nami demanded. "What happened to your speech back at Konoha? Did it mean nothing?!"
"I thought your words meant something!" Kyoko added heatedly. "Shikamaru! Start acting like a leader!"
"Everyone shut up!"
The group turned their attention to Chouji.
"Chouji…?"
Shikamaru kneeled down on one knee and put his cupped hands together, only the fingers and thumb touching. His thinking position.
MUNCH. MUNCH. MUNCH.
"You're eating at a time like this?!" Kyoko and Nami yelled.
"Chouji starts eating like crazy when he's losing his temper," Kiba observed. "Man…another useless guy…"
"And what's that supposed to mean?!" Naruto shouted. "It looks like I'll have to use kage bunshin…"
"Don't," Neji intervened. "The walls around us are shielded heavily with the enemy's chakra. Didn't you see what happened to Kiba? The walls will just repair themselves. That means if we want to penetrate the wall, we'll have to focus on a single point."
"The only one who's got more destructive power than me is Chouji but…"
Shikamaru stood up. "Neji, sorry for the trouble, but can you examine the wall behind you and Chouji with your remaining chakra?"
"Yeah."
"Shut up, Shikamaru!" Naruto hollered.
"NARUTO!" Chouji shouted, oddly louder than Naruto. "Don't you get it? Don't you remember what Shikamaru said?!"
"Whoa…" Nami said in awe.
"Talk more quietly from now on, Chouji," Shikamaru said.
"You really have a lot of faith in him, don't you, Chouji?" Nami remarked quietly.
"Yeah, I do," Chouji nodded, grinning. "He's my best friend, after all."
"Hmph. I don't know if I'd have that much faith in Kyoko…"
"Hey!"
"Neji, aim for that place," Shikamaru ordered. "Chouji, get ready!"
"Right!" Chouji said, bringing his attention back to Shikamaru. "Baika no Jutsu!"
"What's going on?" Naruto said, confused.
"I've said it before," Neji said, pulling out a kunai. "There's a shield of chakra around us. Shikamaru hypothesized that there may be weak points in the barrier."
"How does he know that?"
Neji threw the kunai with accuracy. "When Kiba and Akamaru attacked the walls, he noticed that some spots regenerated faster than others."
"Oh, I get it!" Kyoko exclaimed as a grin appeared on her face. "That's why Shikamaru talked to the enemy! To see where he was! And the farther away from the enemy the wall is, the less chakra there is in it!"
"Precisely."
"Alright, let's GO!" Chouji hollered. Chouji's limbs and head disappeared and he cannoned towards the wall. "Nikudan Sensha!" As soon as he connected, the wall burst with a loud crash, surprising the sound ninja on the outside
"Chouji..."
Chouji screeched to a stop.
"You're the best," Shikamaru smiled.
Chouji chuckled fondly.
"Yeah! We're outta there!" Kyoko cheered as she punched the air.
"And now it's time for some payback," Nami said, cracking her knuckles.
Everything sounds familiar, doesn't it? Yeah, it does. Even though the whole Jiroubo thing is virutally the same, just you wait for the next chapters! I have a feeling they'll be more surprising and unpredictable. Maybe. It all depends.
R&R please! Until next time! See ya around!
-HM