It's a bit short but I hope all my reviewers and readers enjoy it. I hope it is suspenseful enough.
The only thing that was on his mind, was saving her. No one else mattered, not himself or anyone else. Shikamaru was set on saving her and he felt surprised at the motivation that was rippling through his soul. Carefully easing his palm toward the kunai pouch located on his right thigh, Shikamaru prepared himself for battle as he scanned his surroundings and committing it to memory. He wasn't a genius for nothing.
The ninja in front of him laughed and Shikamaru figured he must have fast instincts for the guy had quickly armed himself only seconds before Shikamaru had performed the Shadow Technique. The guy was holding the carefully wrapped handle of a long bladed sword that had markings down the side. Shikamaru noted the ease in which the ninja held the blade and knew without a doubt that this guy was an astute swordsman, maybe so much that he would have been taken for as a samurai if it wasn't for the headband across his forehead. It wasn't one he recognized but there were always new hidden villages popping up before dying back down.
"Why did you kidnap Temari?" Shikamaru asked trying to push the enemy into revealing his plan. Most ninjas liked to brag and boast and with a bit of luck this one would as well. He knew full well that if it was himself, he would have refused to answer and would have stayed quiet. But Shikamaru hoped it was the former, since he would be more at ease knowing what this ninja's mission was all about.
"Why should I tell you a little leaf ninja such as yourself? Why are you even troubling yourself for a simple weak Suna ninja?" the ninja chuckled before giving in to explaining himself like Shikamaru believed he would, " I had orders and I followed them. To kidnap someone close to the Kazekage, after all how else will he sacrifice himself?"
Shikamaru's jaw slackened and his face twitched with utter shock. Why would anyone want to get Gaara eliminated? After all the one tailed raccoon had been extracted from him. And why Temari when it was quite obvious that anyone would do? Gaara cared for everyone in his village and would do anything to protect them. Just like he did when the Akatsuki attacked the Sand village. But then maybe this group didn't know. Ignorant of the fact that Konoha and Suna were allies and also in the dark about the fact that the Kazekage's sister was no one to mess with especially with that huge monstrous fan of hers.
But their ignorance was to his advantage, for Temari would be back into the action in just a little bit as long as he bided his time with a bit of hope that his chakra would last long enough. Time was an issue but even if time was on his side, he knew nothing about what type of techniques this ninja used or if this guy had any clue about the Shadow Possession Jutsu. Knowledge was against him and he wished he had studied up on the new villages preferences to weapon and Jutsu type.
"Any more of your questions, Leaf? Or are you shocked to the core? Either way, this Ninjutsu of yours is a cowards way out," The enemy mocked in a tough guy voice, " A simple-minded coward who hides and runs."
Shikamaru would just have to wing it and hopefully this guy would be so boastful and bragging, that he wouldn't even realize once the Shadow Possession Jutsu was released without receiving damage from the ninja's blade. Maybe a long winded chat would help him out of this situation.
"Then why am I still here?" Shikamaru asked, scornfully as resisted the urge to swipe at the droplet of sweat on his forehead. He didn't want the enemy to know he was tiring. Keeping him chatting might lend him some time until Temari awakens, but it wouldn't help his depleted chakra storage. The special energy from earlier would only last so long. His shadow shook and alarmed he tried to distract the other ninja. This was only a delaying Jutsu and it wasn't made to last this long. And sadly there was too much trouble way back at the Reception hall to be able to hope for some nice helpful backup ninja. This was getting way too troublesome for him.
"Why? Why did you do it?" Shikamaru asked provokingly trying to hide the sudden fact that his Jutsu was now weakening. He had to keep this guy talking so that when his Jutsu was gone, he could attack before the other guy counterattacked. He wished he had enough chakra for the Shadow Strangulation Jutsu or the Shadow Sewing Technique but he didn't and he couldn't waste time on what ifs. That would easily get him killed and by the looks of it of the enemy's face, a painful death.
And sadly Asuma was no longer alive to help him out. Temari might waken in time, but that was only a small hope that he couldn't rely on. And he highly doubted that she would snap straight up and attack since there would be disorientation due to the nature of the attack on her. And by the time she got her senses unscrambled and straightened out, it could be too late.
"Why? Why did I do it? Why do you care?" The ninja scoffed, letting Shikamaru know that he wasn't falling for his tactic. He smiled a sinister grin, and asked sneeringly looking at his weapon that would no longer be useless in a few minutes, "Is your Jutsu fading? How weak. . . Once I'm free, you'll gonna get regret it."