The Kunoichis That Didn't Belong Ch. 19

Disclaimer: I DON'T OWN NARUTO!


Recap: "In three days, but to reach the village it will take two from here. Tonight, you will be discussing plans and the like with Ikiara. Tomorrow you must prepare as much as possible, leaving exactly as the sun sets. You then must reach the village at two days, but with your speeds we shall not worry. Any questions?"

No one notices when a spider crawls out from it's shadowy hideout after them, quite unseen, and the door swings shut.

--

The shinobi are tense tonight. What happens next is unknown to them, for it is not up them, but to their group leader and ultimately, the woman holding the title of Hokage, their leader. They are anxiously awaiting the news, though some try not to show it.

"Well?" Naruto whispers, unable to keep silent any longer and all eyes are fixed upon Shikamaru.


Time: Night—9:00 pm

Place: Unknown

Shikamaru looks at the faces of his comrades surrounding him. They only knew Orochimaru was going to be involved, but they did not know the plans the kunoichi had made. Besides him, only Sai and Shino knew, and it would not be easy to keep this from the rest of them.

Nor did he intend to.

But he needed a plan, needed to know the facts, and needed something from the inside point of view.

He was definitely not going to tell them without one, and certainly not before getting Tsunade-sama's reply.

Sai had left on his own ink design, soon after listening to the battle plans of the kunoichi, with a message to their village leader from Shikamaru that would tell the Hokage exactly what the shinobi had found out. All he had to do was get her reply and orders and then come straight back to Shikamaru.

He hoped that Tsunade-sama would give her answer as soon as possible, for he needed Sai to return so he could more accurately plan and analyze his forming strategies.

"Shikamaru!"

Shikamaru rolled his eye to look at the impatient Naruto. "I'm thinking, Naruto."

"Well, can't you think any faster? I thought you called us here because you already have a plan or something!" Naruto exclaimed. "They said Orochimaru!!"

Shikamaru glared at him. "I am well aware of that fact, Naruto. And if I may remind you—cool heads are required for this mission. If you cannot handle it then I will send you back to the village, is that clear?" His voice had taken on a coldness quite like that of the three present prodigies (Sasuke, Gaara, and Neji) when provoked into a foul mood, and Naruto grew quiet at the threat, having gotten a reminder of the consequences.

"Good." Shikamaru exhaled. "Alright. Yes. Orochimaru was mentioned. And a ninja as dangerous as him promotes this minor mission to a rank of A or S-class. We'll need to know exactly why this organization is dealing with Orochimaru and follow the outcome of any meeting that follows this day. I'm informed that there may be a meeting of some sort. We should be prepared to switch our focus and priorities. Gaara, Neji, Sasuke, Naruto, Shino. I know this assignment is important to you because you want to find out about the kunoichis, as this is your and our primary objective.

However, with Orochimaru's involvement, this changes our objective and mission. He is a dangerous ninja and we must find out any detail, no matter how minor, of what he is planning.

I have already let Tsunade-sama know of this. Anything she returns or sends will hopefully come soon." He paused. "Any questions?"

Naruto opened his mouth to talk immediately, but Sasuke beat him to it.

"What are we going to do if we go encounter Orochimaru?"

"Good question. Undoubtedly I will have a plan prepared for any battle we may have to engage in. However, it is quite likely that he developed some new techniques, so be on your guard."

Neji spoke after Shikamaru.

"What do we do if we encounter the kunoichi?" he inquired.

"I'm not quite sure yet." The genius admitted.

"Do we follow Orochimaru straight away or wait for reinforcements?" Shino asked.

"We will most likely have to split up—one group to stay as back up while the other goes inside. However, I would rather wait for Tsunade-sama's decision first." Shikamaru replied.

Gaara spoke after Shikamaru, making Naruto frown with frustration.

"Do the kunoichi have some sort of plan to engage into battle with Orochimaru?"

Shikamaru blinked. Gaara was right on the mark of questions to ask. "We have to investigate further."

Naruto spoke now, as everyone had gone earlier, interrupting him in the process.

"When is this meeting going to happen?"

The shinobi looked at Naruto, surprised at a good question from the loud-mouth.

Shikamaru looked at him, debating what he should say. He saw the fierce glint of determination in Naruto's eyes and said only one word.

"Soon."


The figure drops silently down atop the long building, his ink creature dissolving into swirls of black-and-white color that disintegrated in the air. He knocks on the glass pane of a window of a well-lit room and enters after the person inside admits his entry upon recognition.

"Sai, what are you doing here? Have you got anything to report?" The blonde-haired woman asked, looking up from her desk at the pale-faced male beside her assistant and pet pig.

Sai stepped forward and handed the Hokage a slender scroll. "This is what we found out of the kunoichis and their plans."

She took the offered scroll and opened it, beginning to read. Shizune maneuvers to stand behind her, anxiously reading along. The black-haired assistant stifles a gasp while the Hokage's eyebrows scrunch together as she frowns.

Closing it, she looks at Sai. "Is every word on this scroll true?"

"It is."

Tsunade rubbed her forehead.

"What are you orders or advice, Hokage-sama? Shikamaru requires a response immediately, and I plan to return as soon as I have your message."

"Very well. Shizune!"

"H-Hai!" Shizune quickly hands Tsunade a blank paper and then hurriedly clear away some papers on the desk.

Tsunade begins to write, and in five minutes, she finished her message. She rolled it up tight before handing it over to Sai, who accepted it and put it in his pouch. He turned to go, but she spoke, so he turned back to face her.

"And, before you go," Tsunade stared straight at Sai. "Tell me. Are you in need of reinforcements?"

Sai considers, then responds with a smile. "It . . . would seem best to do so." He went and leapt out of the window, flying away on another ink creation specifically designed for long-distanced speed.


Shikamaru turns as a figure drops down from the sky silently to the forest floor behind him; hours after the others have fallen asleep. "Well?" he asks.

Sai only hands him the scroll as a response and Shikamaru takes it, opening it immediately to scan its contents under the moon's white glare.

After for what seemed like ages, Shikamaru closes the scroll. "I see." He turns to his left, and said, "You can come out, Shino."

The bug-user stepped out from the shadows of the trees and onto the green grass with a tint of white.

"What has Tsunade-sama said?"

The genius shakes his head. "I have a plan. But…" his head swiveled to face the ANBU shinobi. "What did you tell her?"

"…Only that it would be best to send some reinforcements." The shinobi gave a smile.


Guess what? You may now applaud the return of long-ish chapters!! However, this means that updates will not go on by a week to week basis. Thanks to all of you who reviewed, and to WolfGirl because the chapter I uploaded on her birthday was by far waaay to short. I'm pleased to see this story making progress and I hope that you've enjoyed reading it this far.

Don't forget to R&R!!