Moments

Chapter 9: Pursue

A hawk came this morning. It didn't belong to any hidden village, or any other shinobi nation. It was pitch black, like the man who sent it.

It went straight to Shikamaru's office, ignoring any other destination available in the Leaf. As soon as the man took the scroll the hawk was carrying, it flew away back to its master.

It brought pitch black news on a pitch black wings from a pitch black man.

Shikamaru frowned as he read through the letter.

And then went straight to Hokage's office.

"It's happening again?" Kakashi seemed surprised.

"According to Sasuke, it's not like the previous time. Communication is completely blocked. Neither radio nor a hawk can reach Hidden Sand at the moment."

"What about Sai's jutsu?"

"The scrolls he sent are hunted down as well."

"What about the other villages?"

"As far, as we can tell – there's no sign of any interference."

"This is bad." Kakashi sighted. "I bet you know what that means already."

"Yes." Shikamaru looked down at the papers in his hands, even though there wasn't written any of what he was going to say. "They made us believe we finished them off, and just waited it out. If the first time they only wanted to gather people and information, now we're facing a real threat. We're expected to send a messenger to Hidden Sand now."

Kakashi kept silent as he was patiently waiting for Shikamaru to finish.

"Someone whose death will mean the end of our alliance." The words came out with a bitter taste on his tongue.

"Sounds a little too obvious, don't you think?"

"Since we've lost all our means of communication there would be no other choice. It doesn't matter who are we going to send, they'll make sure nobody else will be able to cross the desert now." It was just like that the other time, when he visited Hidden Sand. If it wasn't for Temari's instincts back then… "They'll make sure that all our messengers will die from natural cause. They'll force us to use her, there's no doubt about that."

"What are you going to do about it?"

"It's not up to me to decide that, Kakashi-san. If her village is in danger Temari won't ask for permission." Not that she ever needed one...

"Then call your wife to the office, Shikamaru."

"Already did."

No matter how much he thought about it, there was no way to play out any strategy without her. He didn't want to think of it, but the rational part of his brain was telling him otherwise. It didn't matter what HE felt, after all. In shinobi world that was a luxury only for the few.

Somebody knocked on the door.

She was here.

As confident and serious as usual. Only few people could play goofy in Hokage's office, but Temari was certainly not the type. This time it was Kakashi explaining the whole situation. She didn't say a word, while he was going through the facts.

"...so we came to the conclusion, that you, Temari, is probably their target."

"You're wrong, Hatake Kakashi." She finally said. "There's no 'probably'. They want me dead."

She wasn't shocked at all. She said it wearing the same face as one could when talking about the weather or this year's harvest.

"Will you cooperate?"

"I don't mind playing the bait if the trap is good enough." She smirked. "I'll lead them to you."

"Then, for this S-ranked mission you'll be going..."

"Alone." She interrupted. "Don't take them for fools. I always travel alone between the villages. If they see or sense any escort, they'll know we are coming for them."

Shikamaru knew she was going to say that.

"Temari's right." He said.

Kakashi gave him a strange look.

"Is there any chance they would attack on the way to Hidden Sand?"

"Not likely." Shikamaru kept his answers short.

"Killing me in Hidden Sand would be meaningless." She nodded. "It's harder to pursue someone in the desert, they will actually have less chances to survive this race than me."

"We'll set the trap on a road between the borders with the Land of Wind and Hidden Leaf village. The moment they appear, Temari will send her summoning to inform us."

Strategy simple enough. Would they expect it? Probably. But they're still going to bet on killing her before she reaches the trap.

"How about setting a trap closer to the borders?"

"Closer than that would be too easy to notice." Temari replied. "That will make them grow suspicious, so there is high probability that they'll strike at full force in the very beginning. Those people are chosen to kill me after all, they have to possess the skills I cannot guard against. But that won't be their preferred outcome. I'll have to die as close to Hidden Leaf as possible."

"Placing the trap further will be too dangerous." Shikamaru added.

'The two of them didn't possibly have a chance to talk about this strategy, did they?' Kakashi thought.

"Shikamaru, you're going to lead the trap team. Take as many men as you'll need."

"Roger."

"Then, you'll be moving out tomorrow morning, Temari."

She nodded.

"Dismissed."

"Temari..." Shikamaru called out to her in the hallway.

"Stop worrying so much." Her eyes were as strict as usual.

"I can't really help it."

'Sacrifice is inevitable part of the missions...' it was young Temari's voice lecturing him in his head. They both grew up since that time, but somehow those words kept coming up in his mind. He still hated the idea of sacrificing anyone.

Real Temari sighted.

"I won't die."

Not even facing an enemy trained to take her life will shatter her confidence.

"How can you possibly know that?"

"That's because I'm going to do what I do best." She smiled. "I'm going to survive."

Never before it was that painful to look at that broad smile of hers.

"Thinking that they can take me just because they've got the numbers is too naive. I'm Temari of the Desert after all."

It wasn't only about the numbers. The skills, the jutsu, the training all of that was aimed to kill her. But Shikamaru didn't say anything about that.

Instead...

"It's Nara now."

She chuckled. He saw her touching the thin silver ring with her thumb.

"Right."

They showed up next moment she crossed the borders with Hidden Sand.

Just as it was predicted.

It would take them only one precise blow in her vitals and the alliance is no more.

And yet she volunteered to be a bait knowing all that from the beginning. It was inevitable. When she took that ring Temari herself drew a target mark on her back.

She knew it all along. And she didn't hesitate one bit. It wasn't in her character to do so.

Temari touched the engagement ring on her right hand. It was just a plain silver stripe, yet, having it on was reassuring. She'll make it home.

She promised.

She didn't stop or break her pace. 'Don't let the enemy be in an advantage. Don't reveal your cards from the beginning. Take it slow and analyse. Let the enemy engage while you anticipate it. Be one step ahead. They will always look down on you. Be smart about how you fight. Be patient. Anticipate and analyse, that's your strength. Clear all your emotions, and trust your senses. Your intuition can be a weapon if you know how to use it, if you know how to trust it.'

The inner voice in her head belonged to her father. The previous Kazekage was strict, especially with his own children. And he taught them to be strict to themselves. 'If you don't, you'll die.'

'Yes, father.' She thought and concentrated on her senses.

Those who doesn't have such convenient tools as Byakugan will have to be more aware of their surroundings. To devote every single cell of their bodies to feel slightest movements of the air. 'Wind will always help you. Your nature is wind. Your one true friend is wind. You were born to be one with wind. So become wind.' It was father's voice again. Only after his death she started following his words and teaching. After all, she was just as stubborn as he was. But no matter how rough was the man, he was good. Good enough to outlive all his enemies, and to fall by an ally's hand. His ambitions clouded his senses. A mistake shinobi of the Sand should never make. When you live in the desert, the only thing you can believe are your senses. He forgot his own words and so he died. This very moment Temari couldn't afford herself that luxury.

She closed her eyes and concentrated. Three to the left, three to the right. Six people was more than enough to kill any shinobi. In theory, they have 80% chance to succeed. Even though, Temari could probably take six of them, it was wise to assume that the squad was specifically chosen to nullify her defences and make her jutsu useless. So it is 80% chance of them succeeding after all. 20% chance of losing that they could never afford. That means, there are two more in hiding. Probably, they will wait, and attack once she's fooled by six disposable pursuers. A surprise she most likely will not survive. That leaves her with 5% chance of reaching safely her destination. The odds she had to beat no matter what. The odds that will make any man's heart boil.

But Temari wasn't any man.

In fact, she wasn't man at all.

That only thing gave her five percent chance of survival.

She hated when people pointed out that she wasn't a man. When they looked down on her just because of the mere fact that her physic was different. But eventually she learned to use it for her advantage. That was the beauty of being a girl. You are always looked down upon and thus you have an advantage.

They were close. Couple hundreds of meters till they engage. Couple of minutes. She started count down. She leapt to the right the second they attacked. Ten long needles pierced the ground where she stood few moments ago. Staying on the road in the open would be too dangerous. She'll have to make her way to the Leaf through the woods. But first...

Temari made the seals and bit her thumb.

Summoning jutsu.

The tiny animal that would usually be used as attacking force to amplify her Kamaitachi leapt forward and dissolved in the wind. Just a gentle breeze to inform that they're coming. Selected point was just five hours of road ahead. Five hours to stay alive by any cost. She doesn't need to fight them, she doesn't need to defeat them. The only thing she had to do, was to lead them to the Leaf village. And for that five percent chance of survival was more than enough.

Three to the right came out of their hiding the moment she made it to the trees. Land of Fire was a better place for hide and seek than The Land of Wind. In the deserts you're always wide open and vulnerable.

Temari leapt forward.

Another portion of needless struck the branch she was previously on. 'Don't even try to underestimate them. They're here to kill you. If you make a mistake, you'll die.' Temari clenched her teeth. 'Yes, father.'

The branch she jumped next was two meters below. Just in time to avoid another attack. The three from the left forced their way ahead of her. Smart, but not smart enough.

And yet, she was at disadvantage. Wide open even in the trees. Six enemies behind her, two in hiding. No matter where she'd go they can cover all the directions. Next attack she won't be able to dodge.

Another leap forward and she released her tessen. Huge wind broke out destroying tree branches that enemies were about to jump on. She attacked first. Three of them fell to the ground, quickly regaining their positions. Another three attacked back. Temari jumped again this time backwards, using her huge fan as a shield. She couldn't afford losing a chance to analyse their abilities. One struck with fire. An attack her tessen could easily block. The guy to the right of him threw his needles, probably chakra enhanced to be able to pierce through steel. And 98% chance covered in poison. She jumped again. The third one... his stance was far too familiar to Temari. She saw her little brother perform it so many times. Puppeteer strings could be attached to anything. Especially if his powers are combined with the poisonous needles that could pierce through her wind and her fan. She couldn't possibly dodge that attack.

Temari clenched her teeth.

Yet, there was a way out.

The puppeteer attacked at the same time as she swung her tessen. She didn't need to kill him, just blinding for a split second was enough. The wind created a smoke screen, giving her a mere second to escape. Sudden pain pierced through her shoulder, ankle and forearm. She took three needles instead of twenty and that was a success.

Temari started running the moment she escaped last attack. The smokescreen is not enough against guys from Hidden Sand. But it's likely to delay other four. She knew her own country mates were among the attackers. Not only the jutsu was familiar. The poison was as well. Perfect for capturing, it was never used to kill. Yet, it was deadly in many other ways. It made person lose his sense of reality without using genjutsu. You can't release poison, after all. The poison of the rarest and the tiniest scorpion in the desert. Poison that had no cure.

Yet, he miscalculated.

There was no antidote. But continuous use of the poison builds up immunity. One bite can delay the effects by two hours. In Temari's case, she got four. Four hours until the poison kicks in. Four and half hours until the trap.

She bit her lip and speeded up.

She has to make it.

She found herself touching her ring again.

Strange habit.

And yet it helped her concentrate.

It was the wind again that helped her escape next attack. Irregular movement of the air to her left became a signal. Just few moments before it was too late. So that guy can use supersonic speed. For short distances only, his abilities were inferior to that of the Raikage. Yet, carelessness can cost her life.

The puppeteer, fire user, poison and super speed. That leaves two more guys. And another two chosen for the final blow.

The others caught up. The closing heat in the air right behind her. The obvious choice would be to jump up or down and escape it completely, just to be pierced by another set of needles. Temari jumped to the left, releasing her tessen. Fierce wind cut through the chakra strings. She tore the left sleeve, that was still on fire. Another injury to slow her down. Four hours before the trap. Three and half hours before poison kicks in.

She can't afford to be slow.

And she can't afford to exhaust herself now. There were still four more hours to go...

Another series of attacks. Yet somehow Temari managed to escape all of them without taking any new injuries. Or, maybe it was other way around. The sudden realization brushed against her spine with cold touch. They weren't attacking to kill her anymore. One could even say, it was as if they've stopped trying hard. There could be two possible reasons for that. Hopeless idiot would think that they ran out of chakra. But then again Temari was never an optimist. She knew that they were leading her to the trap. While these six took their time to slow her down, the other two are probably waiting ahead. The only question is - how long does she have to come up with the plan.

One natural way out would be to jump down. Just in time for the supersonic guy to notice. He's been saving up his strength for a while now, that means he will strike. Jumping up will lead her straight to puppeteer who is supported by poison guy to the right. The guy to the left won't miss the chance to scorch her. It was a perfect circle. And yet, she had to risk it all to break free from their formation. And at this point she could only see one way.

'What would he do in the situation like this?' Temari touched her ring again and jumped backwards. It was a bad strategy. Shikamaru would probably laugh at her if he knew. To throw herself on two enemies who's justsu remained unknown. Yet, it was a move they were unlikely to anticipate. Two guys in the middle were too slow to react. Fierce wind broke their formation once again cutting through the chakra strings. And if only fire guy were to attack, it would be a victory. Temari jumped away from the wind. Breaking out from the formation didn't mean she was safe. And the fire guy did not use his jutsu. Damn.

Full speed ahead while changing directions to the left. Two more hours before the poison kicks in. Two and the half hours before the trap.

Temari's chakra was running lower than she expected. And yet she was only halfway there.

If she were to speed up here, she'd probably exhaust herself in an hour. 'Too early.' She thought. 'Be smart.'

Invisible punch came out of nowhere striking Temari in the back. First thought would probably be 'Genjutsu?' But only if you didn't feel the irregularity of the wind around. The fifth guy was a wind user. The attacks you can't see? Hard to feel and impossible to predict. The guy was good.

Another wind punch hit the wounded shoulder. Pain blinded Temari for a second. Enough to miss another blow from above that was meant to make her hit the ground. Right in time for the supersonic guy.

She knew too well, that it's impossible to guard herself now. And yet she struck with her wind realizing that it won't slow him down, and using her tessen as a shield predicting that his kunai will pierce through it. The only hope was to make him miss her vitals.

Right side of her stomach was raging with pain. And yet, she was still alive. One and half hours before poison kicks in. And too far for the trap place.

With one precise move she broke the arm of supersonic guy, and then hit him with her fan. She didn't need the jutsu now. Just brute force was enough to knock him down. Blood was dripping down. There was no use in hiding anymore. She just needed to keep going. That was the only option she was left with. To endure everything, they throw at her, and keep going. As close as she can get to the meeting point.

And so she did.

She had one more hour.

She started running at full speed.

Hey weren't hiding anymore either. All six of them running at right after her. They had more stamina, they had more strength, they didn't have any wounds. They were sure they would win.

Temari didn't need to look back to know what was written on their faces.

They were looking down on her. Once again.

Wounded and weakened with pain she wouldn't last long. There's nothing she can do now. That's what they were thinking.

And that was too naive.

There was one skill her father trained her to master. One skill essential to survive. And survival was the only thing Sand shinobi were best at.

Temari took a deep breath. And pain slowly faded. It wasn't healing nothing of such sorts. But she could block out it out better than her father ever managed to. She was an excellent student after all. And then she speeded up again. Still one hour till the trap point. Remaining two guys are waiting ahead not even trying to hide their chakra anymore. There's no chance of reaching the place before the poison will take over. She had to let them know.

This will exhaust her chakra, but it was her only choice. And for once she chose to believe in someone else. She jumped back on the road. The action that a desperate person driven into the corner would do. Pursuers didn't hesitate to follow her.

Only she wasn't.

She swung around herself gathering enough wind. The pursuers fell back knocked down by the fierce currents of air. Temari released her wind up ahead. It would look like she'd missed. She didn't have enough strength to control her own jutsu. They'll laugh for sure, looking down at her again. But that didn't matter. She started running again.

Reach it.

Just, please reach it.

The only person who can see through her wind.

Her vision went blurry. The blood loss wasn't something she could block out. She still had ten more minutes before the poison starts to work.

She fell down on her knees pushed down to the ground.

They decided to use earth gravity manipulation in the very end. Jutsu that will completely nullify her wind power. If only she had one to use anyway.

The circle was closed.

Even if she could, there was no way to run.

Temari was breathing heavily. Blood dripping from the wound on the stomach. Shoulder, ankle and forearm started to go numb from the poison.

A simple kunai would be enough at this point. And yet there was no strike.

The arrogant look on their faces was slowly disappearing. She knew exactly how they felt, they've won and yet...

They couldn't move an inch.

Temari was the one smiling now.

He made it.

Just barely in time, but in terms of assets you can use, luck was essential one.

It took couple of seconds for Hidden Leaf shinobi to seize all eight of the pursuers who were completely at mercy of Nara Shadow Binding Technique.

It was over.

She made it.

Temari tried to stand up, but her body wouldn't listen to her. She fell right in her husband's arms.

"Told you I would make it alive." She smiled at his worried face.

And then passed out.

They were barely in time. The sudden blow of wind that hit Shikamaru could hardly distinguished from the normal breeze. And yet, he knew too well just how Temari's wind felt like. Something was wrong. He just knew it.

"She wouldn't make it." He mumbled in sudden realization. "Move out, now!" He shouted to his squad. If the hit was at her full power, then her position would be... 'Damn this woman!' She knew he'd figure it out. She was betting her life on him. He was too afraid to think that for once she can be wrong.

And yet she wasn't.

Everything was over in a minute. Eight shinobi who failed to assassinate a single girl.

A girl too tough for them to take.

The girl was smiling.

Even when the blood was dripping from the both sides of her lips, even when her face was covered in bruises, even when she was barely alive.

Well, seeing your assassins captured actually was satisfying.

Shikamaru hurried to her place. Temari was barely conscious. All those wounds will make a man loose the will to struggle, let alone woman. Temari wasn't the case though. She gave Shikamaru one of her best smiles as if heavily bleeding wound in her stomach was nothing at all.

"Told you I would make it alive."

His heart squeezed in pain.

'Alive is not enough, silly.'

Medical team was quick to respond.

Shikamaru didn't see who was the one to press the hands full of green chakra flow to Temari's stomach. He actually didn't care at all. His hands were already covered in blood, and so were his clothes.

"We'll be able only to perform first-aid right now." Girl's voice said. Maybe it was even Sakura. "You need to take her to hospital immediately. "

He only replied with a nod.

"Just go. We'll finish up here."

That was someone else already.

"Let's go. I'll contact Tsunade-sama."

They set out next moment.

"Why? Is it that bad?"

"No." She lied. "I just don't want to make a mistake right now."

He didn't insist.

His feelings were a total mess right now. A part of him wanted to return and probably make a big mistake. He shouldn't be leaving. And yet, it was too dangerous to let him stay with the prisoners Temari risked her life to capture.

Temari.

She was a priority right now.

It was her who got hurt, and yet it was Shikamaru who felt the pain.

'Stop fidgeting. Didn't you receive emotional training?' The voice belonged to younger Temari in his mind. She was strict as usual. 'Stop fidgeting.' As if that was simple. 'When did you turn into such a dim-wit?' He didn't know. There's no way he'd know. 'Shikamaru! Get a hold of yourself!' Temari's voice again. This time older and accompanied by a slap to the face.

He shook his head.

"Shikamaru!" Somebody else was calling him. Sakura...

"What happened?"

"You had panic attack."

To think that Temari's slap would be the one to wake him up. He was useless without her after all.

Author's note: How did you like good ol' action? I love this chapter. I decided to combine my bunch of romantic short stories into one after writing this particular part. And since it was one of the first ones I came up with… well, you know now where the story is coming from now. I enjoyed writing it, even though my timeline turned out to be really messy, haha. Sorry about that. So, this is when everything gets real. Even though this chapter is a bit cruel, but the beginning makes me go 'kyaaa!' every time I read it. I love how they keep drama in their heads and say only things that matter.

Here's another thing. I like playing Rasa card. I totally see him building up Temari's character. In many ways. No matter what I say later, I don't hate him. Nor does Temari. She understands his reasons and agrees with them. They are father and daughter after all. Actually, I kind of think that he adored her. In his own way.

Another chapter coming soon!