I do not own Naruto! (or any of the characters)
The pigeon flew steady a few feet above the tree tops a note strapped to its leg. Eyes narrowed at the view of the messenger pigeon, the unknown man slunk a Kuni out of his back pouch. He had a clear shot and took it, it hit the bird and it proofed into a cloud of smoke then dissipated. The figure chuckled he had been tricked with a fake bird, well done.
Kakashi smiled his fake bird trick worked and the real one was almost to Tsunade. Kakashi wasn't sure what to do he knew he couldn't go after Naruto and Sasuke alone. He would have to wait for back up but he would devise a plan with Sakura till help arrived. Kakashi took one of his novels out and a pencil.
"Sakura can you tell me what you remember about any Justus they used," he looked at Sakura who seemed to be thinking hard.
"One of them used wind, there was no way I could have blocked it," she looked at Kakashi.
"It might have been Kaze no Yaiba (Blade of Wind) I'd have to see it. Is that all you remember," he asked.
"Yeah I'm sorry after that I blacked out," her voice was quiet.
"No, no it's good," he said with a smile as he put the novel in his back pocket. He started to speak again.
"Sakura we should move are you ok to move?" he looked at her, she had cuts and bruises but nothing bad that he could see. She nodded and got up and they started to walk in silence.
Sasuke had stopped pacing but was now sitting and biting his nails, he glanced over to the blonde who was still passed out. Why was Naruto in a separate cell Sasuke questioned did they know about the Nine Tails? This though made him more nervous he began running a hand through his hair. Haku shifted where he sat then spoke.
"Are you and Naruto close?" Hakus voice surprised Sasuke it was a different tone than what he heard from the other teen. Sasuke didn't answer but looked across at the blonde, they were close. Sasuke liked the dobe...his only friend. A flashback of a sunset and the two boys standing on the dock the wind blowing gently as they bumped fists. A small smile appeared on Sasukes face but quickly disappeared, he had forgotten he wasn't alone.
"I guess," he replied to Hakus question.
"You guess, well do you love him?" Sasukes heart skipped at the word love this conversation came out of nowhere. Love...Sasukes heart was pounding. He didn't love Naruto, did he? Haku raised an eyebrow at Sasukes hesitation and leaned forward. Sasuke wasn't looking at Haku but past him at the wall. Another flashback invaded his thoughts when Naruto was pushed into Sasuke...and they had kissed. Sasukes heart gave another pound that he could hear in his ears. Naruto was brave he had something others didn't but no one could ever put a finger on, not even Sasuke. Sasuke glanced back at Naruto in the other cell then back at Haku.
"Why would you ask that?" Sasuke said defensively.
"Why would you hesitate?" Haku countered. Sasuke narrowed his eyes at Haku then looked away.
"We need to find a way to get out of here," he said changing the subject.
"Agreed," Haku said placing his chin in his hand. Sasuke tried to wake Naruto once again.
"Naruto...Naruto," he called. Naruto moved, his eyes opened but he didn't get up. It took Naruto a few minutes to figure out where he was. He pushed himself up onto his hands and knees his body throbbed again, he let out a sharp breath. Sasuke was relieved to see Naruto awake.
"Naruto..." Sasuke said again, the blonde turned his head toward Sasuke. Naruto sat back on his legs and took another breath.
"Hey Sasuke..." he said waving. The dobe had some humor even when he was hurting Sasuke hid a smile.
"You're finally awake we've been trying to wake you," Hakus voice came. Sasuke turned and narrowed his eyes once again at Haku. Haku had done nothing to wake Naruto at all! Naruto saw Sasukes look at Haku had something happened?
"Do you know where we are?" Naruto got his legs out from under him and sat cross legged on the wet ground. He looked around there was only light from a small hole in the rocky ceiling and the path was wide. The distance between the two cells seemed more than 10 feet. Naruto rubbed his face with his hand how did they get into this mess.
"I'm afraid not it seems like a cave," Haku said. Sasuke rolled his eyes.
"No shit it's a cave there's rocks everywhere!" the raven snapped. Naruto looked at Sasuke with confusion at his harsh tone. Haku didn't seem to be fazed by it but amused. Naruto got up slowly and walked towards the bars that had dangerously shocked him before. Sasuke heard the movement and looked at the blonde who had gotten up. "Naruto don't touch the bars" Sasuke said sternly and Naruto stopped. Naruto thought of making a shadow clone but he didn't have much chakra. He hadn't used any...the bars!
"I think the bars took some of my chakra when I grabbed them," the blonde looked at the burns on his hands.
"The bars take chakra to make the shock stronger," Naruto said aloud, Sasuke took a close look at the bars that incased them. Someone had infused their chakra into them Sasuke was puzzled as of how to get out his frustration was growing.
Kakashi and Sakura had been walking for only a few minutes when Kakashi spotted something. He stopped and squatted down to get a closer look it was blood. These rouge ninja weren't so skilled after all they had left a trace. A trace that Kakashi would break the rules and follow. He knew Tsunade wouldn't be too happy about this.
"Sakura this 'Shinda' group left a trace. Either the whole group is foolish or just one of them. It will benefit us." he got up and started following the spotted blood trail with caution. Sakura took a look at each blood spot that was left behind she hopped Sasuke and Naruto were ok.
"WHAT!" Tsunade shouted as the pigeon flew away startled. Shizune came running down the hall with two other ninja. They appeared in the door way Tsunade had a small piece of paper crumpled in her fist.
"Tsunade-sama..." Shizune spoke.
"The Shinda group captured Sasuke, Naruto, and Haku..." Tsunade slammed the small crumpled paper onto her desk.
"Get Shikamaru and Neji right away!" she yelled. This wasn't a fighting mission this was a mission to get the three ninja back. Fighting wasn't an option she was willing to use, she wanted no confrontation just an in and out. She cursed again and yelled at one of the ninjas in the room to go do something.
Shizune found Hinata but no Neji, she asked her where she might find him.
"I think hes with Lee eating somewhere," Hinata said quietly. Shizune thanked her and began to run towards the middle part of Konoha. Hopefully she would find Neji and soon.
Shikamaru was found coming out of his front door he heard the urgency in the ninjas voice. They ran to the Hokages building. Neji was still not found Shizune was running in and out of restaurants till she spotted familiar clothes. She ran towards him and caught him by the shoulder.
"Neji Tsunade-sama needs to see you," she said panting. Neji turned to look at Shizune he didn't ask questions and went with her. They were in Tsunades office with a matter of minutes, Neji and Shizune panting. Shikamaru looked at them why was Neji here he asked himself. Tsunade began to speak,
"Glad you're here blah blah blah I need your help Naruto, Sasuke and the person they were escorting were captured by a new rouge ninja group called 'Shinda'. I don't want any of you to fight them if you don't have to I just want to get everybody back. I have no intel on the group except that one has a wind jutsu. Kakashi and Sakura are there waiting for backup. It will take you to long to get there so when the time comes Kakashi will summon you," she finished and made hand signs then slammed her hand on the desk. After the smoke cleared Pakkun stared at Tsunade then turned to the rest of the ninja in the room. Shikamaru was taken aback by the information she had just thrown at him.
"Pakkun I need you to tell Kakashi that we are ready to send these to his way," she said patting Pakkun on the head. He wasn't amused and turned to look at her.
"Don't pet me, I'll tell Kakashi," he went away with a poof and they all stood awkwardly.
"How does this work...being summoned?" Shikamaru asked.
"It doesn't hurt, at least I don't think it does..." Tsunade shrugged. Shikamaru began to protest when a poof of smoke flooded the room. Everyone in the room had jumped at the sudden summon of the two ninja. Tsunade gave a little chuckle and Shizune gave her a look.
"It doesn't hurt does it Tsunade-sama?" Shizune asked.
"How would I know I've never been summoned before," Tsunade said looking a little guilty.
Kakashi began rolling up a scroll as the smoke cleared. Shikamaru was frozen where he stood, this was all so bothersome. The smoke cleared and Kakashi was standing with Sakura, Kakashi hadn't told her that he would be summoning backup. Neji shifted his weight from one foot to another. Sakura smiled at them politely and Shikamaru smiled back, Neji looked serious.
"This Shinda group left a trail one of the members is not so smooth," Kakashi said pointing at a blood spot. Kakashi looked at Neji. "That's why I asked for you Neji and you Shikamaru we need a plan," Kakashi said getting straight to the point. Neji looked around the area then took a breath.
"Byakugan!" his eyes shot open. He scanned the area in the direction of the blood trail. He went deeper and deeper into the woods. Soon he found a cliff with mounds of rocks he saw three ninja figures. He closed his eyes again then opened them, the byakugan deactivated.
"I found three people. They are by a small cliff at the base with rocks and boulders," he started to walk when Shikamaru spoke.
"No one else, right?" Shikamaru asked, Neji nodded. Shikamaru had come up with a plan while Neji was searching for the three. They all began to head toward the cliff Neji was leading the way. They soon got the base of the cliff just at the tree line. Neji pointed at the boulder that was nearest to them.
"That looks too big to move we are going to have to blow it up. We have to do this quickly," Shikamaru said softly as he crouched by a tree, Sakura did the same. Kakashi took out a paper bomb and scanned along with Neji before he went out. Kakashi dashed to the boulder and placed the paper bomb onto the boulder and dashed back. He made a hand sign and the paper bomb exploded. They didn't wait for the dust to clear they all dashed for the entrance.
The three teens were caught off guard when the sound and shake of an explosion invaded the cave. Dust filled the room and Naruto couldn't see anything. Sasuke didn't move but he focused hard into the dust looking for anything. Neji appeared to Sasukes surprise, Neji dashed over to Sasukes cell.
"Don't touch the bars!" Sasuke said quickly. Neji looked at Haku who was in the cell with Sasuke. He must be the person they were escorting. Kakashi, Sakura and Shikamaru were all there now, Kakashi went to Narutos cell. Naruto still seemed to be shocked by the explosion but got up at the sight of Kakashi.
"The bars are infused with chakra-" Neji spoke but then was cut off by Naruto.
"It will take your chakra if you touch it,"
Kakashi didn't seem fazed he pulled out two pieces of paper. He placed one on a bar of the blondes cell and then on Sasukes cell. The seals began to glow blue and electricity cracked around it. After a moment Kakashi ripped them off then the bars were weak and rusty. Naruto kicked at the bars and they fell so easily Sasuke did the same. Haku stood saying nothing but followed Sasuke out of the cell. Neji whipped around towards the entrance.
"We have company they'll be here soon. We have to go NOW!" Neji said sternly. They all began to run but Haku tripped and Naruto grabbed him by the wrist and they lagged behind. Everyone was out of the cave except Naruto and Haku, Sasuke looked behind him into the cave. Naruto and Haku were close to the entrance as kuni flew out of nowhere from the walls. Naruto pulled Haku forward and pushed him towards the entrance as the blonde caught a Kuni in the shoulder. Naruto cursed and pushed harder on Haku another kuni zipped past and cut Hakus face. Haku flung out to the rest of the group as Sakura pulled Haku to her along with Neji. Sasuke grabbed at Naruto who was half way outside when another kuni caught Naruto in the leg. He screamed in pain as his leg gave in and Sasuke pulled Naruto out as hard as he could. They were all out now as the cave collapsed in on itself and spewed more dust.
"We can't stop here," Kakashi said as he walked and picked up Naruto on his back. Naruto still had the kuni stuck in him but there was no time to stop. They all began running Sakura had taken ahold of Hakus hand, Sasuke wasn't sure what just happened. He glanced over at Shikamaru then Neji, if they hadn't come...Sasuke shook his head. They would have come and they did. They were now in the tree tops running as fast as they could.
"They're tailing us," Neji spoke as he looked behind him. Narutos shoulder was dripping with blood along with his leg. Naruto reached over and pulled the kuni out of his shoulder and grunted, Kakashi looked over his shoulder.
"Naruto don't move as much," Kakashi said breathing hard. After what seemed like forever something went flying past the group of ninja. They stopped moving and so did the trailers. Neji looked back the rouge ninjas were leaving in the opposite direction.
"They are going the other way finally." Neji said as he bent over panting.
"We should keep moving just in case," Kakashi said Shikamaru nodding in agreement. They all had forgotten about what went flying past them when the rouge ninjas left in the other distraction. They continued on a little further, they hopped down to ground level, but as Kakashi touched down he saw a ball. His eyes grew wide...it was a bomb.
"Get away!" Kakashi waved one of his hands he didn't want to drop Naruto. Kakashi jumped, Shikamaru had already touched down and began to jump also. Neji, and the rest were in the tree tops they began to run. The bomb went off sending Kakashi, Naruto and Shikamaru flying. Sasuke was his by the shock wave and was sent tumbling to the ground. Neji had grabbed on to a tree and waited for the dust and smoke to clear. Sakura and Haku had fallen but she knew she had to get to cover behind a tree. The dust was thick and Neji coughed he scanned for his comrades. The trees ruffled in protest at the explosion. He saw Sakura and Haku huddled behind a tree not too far he leapt down and ran toward them. The smoke was still thick so his byakugan helped him a lot.
"Sakura?" he said coughing he looked behind the tree. She had Haku beside her they both looked up, she was happy to see Neji. She got up still holding Hakus hand, he seemed to be terrified.
"Where's everybody else?" she asked with a little cough. He looked behind him and saw a body on the ground it was moving.
"There..." he said and started to run Sakura followed along with Haku. It was Sasuke who was on his back he was dazed and his ears were ringing. Where was Naruto the image of the explosion played in his head the look on Kakashi and Naruto's face, absolute horror. He coughed and it sent a pain through his stomach he grunted. He turned over onto his stomach with another grunt he saw feet through the thick smoke and dirt in the air. Neji and Sakura were there along with Haku who stood with a shocked expression. Neji knelt down next to Sasuke and took his arm, Sasuke used his other arm to push off the ground. Sasuke was now up and leaning on Neji, Sakura looked horrified. They began to walk to the center of the explosion the dust and smoke was beginning to clear.
Kakashi was on his hands and knees looking at the blonde a few feet away. Naruto had jumped over Kakashi and pulled him behind him in midair and pushed him away. Naruto had saved Kakashi from serious injury Kakashi turned his head looking for Shikamaru. He spotted Shikamaru by a tree no movement. Neji came to the center and left Sasuke with Sakura this was a disaster. Neji saw Kakashi and helped him up but was softly pushed away. Kakashi could walk fine, he proceeded to walk towards Naruto. He put two fingers out to check his pulse and waited, it was there. Kakashi let out a sigh of relief then picked Naruto up in his arms. Sasuke saw Narutos limp body...was he dead? Sasukes heart began to ache he grabbed at his chest what was this feeling. Was his best friend dead his only friend.
Haku was in shock he had never seen anything like this. He watched on as he clutched onto Sakura. Neji lifted Shikamaru over his shoulder gently. They needed to go in case the rouges came back. Kakashi and Neji walked to the shocked teens. Sasuke had begun to shake but he bit the inside of his cheek to stop himself. He forced himself to walk forward.
"Is he dead?" Sasukes voice was somewhat raspy. Kakashi saw the look on Sasukes was as well as Sakuras.
"No he's not dead, neither of them are," Kakashi said with a cough. The battered Ninja began their long journey back to Konoha.