The Kunoichis That Didn't Belong Ch. 24

Disclaimer: I DON'T OWN NARUTO!


Recap: Sakura gasped slightly as she and Hinata saw the scene before them. Hinata, too, was shocked.


Time: 10:00 am

Place: Northern outskirts of Pelilent Village

Date: Day of Meeting

Shikamaru's team silently shadowed the kunoichi as they walked towards the bridge by the waterfall.

Naruto was repeatedly checking the time on his watch. Sasuke's eyes were darting everywhere as they neared the agreed meeting spot. Shino's kikaichū were carefully spread out around the area ahead to warn the shinobi of traps and to check out the scenery from above. Shikamaru carefully noted the locations of the would-be hidden caves that should be around them if the maps held true. Neji concentrated on leading the team in the right direction while Gaara made sure they were all silent as to not be heard.

"Well?" Naruto whispered impatiently as Shikamaru stopped them after thirty minutes.

"Listen to me. From here on out, we have to be very silent. The kunoichi will be on their guard because they are expecting to meet Orochimaru. Like any cautious shinobi they will be alert for anyone shadowing them or watching them from afar as we get nearer to the waterfall." Shikamaru looked carefully at his team. "We have to communicate through signals, so this means to be alert for each other and be on the alert for the enemy and the ones we are trailing. Yes, Naruto?" Shikamaru turned towards the blonde.

"What if there's a sudden attack or something?"

Shikamaru gave a small smile. "In the case of an attack by either side we are tracking then yes, you may scream or shout. But this is the last resort because we want to remain undetected. If they attack each other and not us, then we're fine. But in no case are they allowed to die. Is that okay with you?"

Naruto gave them his trademark grin. "Alright! Let's do this!" His voice was determined and they resumed walking forward once more.


"What do we do? They split up!" Naruto signed frantically, caught unaware.

"Easy. Just stick to the plan." Shino cautioned.

"I've already activated that jutsu." Neji informed his teammates.

Shikamaru nodded. "Neji, Shino. You're on lookout. Warn us if anything happens. Gaara, Naruto, Sasuke. Stay with me. We may have to go in, but watch them very carefully. "

The shinobi carefully went forward unseen by the kunoichi.


"Wow. Hinata, it's so beautiful!" Sakura gasped in a whisper.

The indigo-haired kunoichi nodded beside her. "It is! But-We have to concentrate!"

"Right! Focus!" Sakura shook her head.


Time: 11:55 am

Place: Bridge by the Waterfall

Date: Day of Meeting

TenTen checked her watch. "Five more minutes. Or do you guys want to go a little bit early?"

Temari turned on her earpiece hidden by her hood. "Do you see anything?"

"No, its nothing . . . " Sakura replied.

"Okay tell us when someone comes."

"Roger that."

"Well? Is there anyone?" Ino asked, and Temari shook her head.

"Nope, not yet."

-2 minutes later-

Temari's earphone crackled to life.

"You guys! Start moving." Sakura's voice told Temari.

"Why? Who is it?" Temari asked.

"A hooded-figure is making way toward the bridge. It's about twelve now so you should get a move on. Me and Hinata are keeping watch." Sakura replied.

"Got'cha." Temari turned to the other three. "Let's go."


Time: 12:00 pm

Place: Bridge by the Waterfall

Date: Day of Meeting

Four figures all cloaked in black walked onto the bridge by the waterfall. Three came from the south side where Pelilent Village was located while one came from the opposite end.

The three kunoichi wore hooded shirts, dark shades, loose-long-sleeved jackets, short pants, and a light backpack on their back. The shinobi opposite of them wore only black shades and a cloak with a hood. From what the kunoichi could see, there was a hint of silver-gray hair from under the hood.

TenTen, followed by Ino with Temari at the rear stopped at the same time as the other person did.

"I assume you three are the representatives from Organization: O.S.U.Y.?" The voice that spoke wasn't very manly, but it wasn't feminine either.

"And we assume you are Orochimaru's representative. Do you have the Ninkaidan Scroll which is the agreed object for exchange?" TenTen asked, with a stoic voice and straight eyes.

"Why yes, of course. Do you have the agreed information which is the exchange?" He held up a medium-width scroll. With memory, TenTen was able to recognize the scroll.

"It is here." TenTen gestured slightly to Ino behind her, and she stepped forward, showing the envelope.

"Then on the count of three we shall make the exchange?" The shinobi suggested, and TenTen nodded, discreetly taking the envelope from Ino and holding it.

"One . . . Two . . . Three!"

With a toss, both parties threw the objects at each other on three. The shinobi received the envelope at the same time as the kunoichi did, and both moved backwards quickly, away from each other.


Arriving back on solid ground, the representatives regarded each other carefully from opposite ends of the bridge, as the kunoichi's teammates inspected the scroll received.

"It looks right." Ino said as she and Temari examined it.

On the other end, the man casually fingered the envelope . . . but didn't open it. "That's the bargain then." He called out. "There is nothing more to discuss." Turning so his back faced them, the shinobi began to walk away with the kunoichi watching him.

Only when he was out of sight did TenTen look at Ino and Temari. "That's that. Let's regroup."


"That's it?" Naruto signed as the exchanged finished. "What do we do now?"

"We'll have to split up and follow them then." Shikamaru replied. "Neji, Gaara, and I will follow that man. Naruto, Shino, and Sasuke follow the kunoichi. Contact us if there's trouble."

They spilt up, preparing themselves for what might happen, but had no idea that the real trouble they were getting into was about to begin.


Hinata and Sakura met up with Ino, TenTen, and Temari as soon as they could.

"What should we do now?" Sakura asked them as Hinata took the scroll from Ino, unlocking it and opening it.

"Get out of here?" Ino suggested hopefully. "Though he hasn't opened it or anything we still need to make sure that he won't get a hold of it."

"And that means getting out of here." Temari finished, and Ino nodded. "Though I'll have to say something sounds fishy about this."

"Like what?" Hinata asked and they turned to her. "It's real all right," she added.

"Well, for instance, we don't know if he's planning on tracking our movements back to the organization's hideout." Temari said.

"Good point." Sakura said.

"So we should find out what he's planning?" Hinata asked.

"Let's have a vote then." TenTen decided. "All in favor of following raise your hands."

Temari, Hinata, and Sakura did. TenTen turned to Ino. "Sorry, but majority rules."

"Fine. But what will we do about the scroll?" Ino inquired.

TenTen considered for a moment before pulling an object out. "Seal it in here."

The four considered it doubtfully. "Is it strong enough?" they asked.

"Mhm! Should be!" TenTen replied.

"All right." Ino put the object in and the five kunoichi sealed the box before hiding it back away.


Neji, Gaara, and Shikamaru silently shadowed the follower of Orochimaru, taking great pains to stay hidden. The man kept walking with no indication whether or not that he knew he was being followed, and it continued like that for several minutes. Only perhaps fifteen minutes later, did the man strike.

It was unexpectedly so sudden that they were caught off guard by the whizzing kunai that Shikamaru barely dodged it and Gaara's sand came at the last second. Neji had dodged the kunai that came his way, but while dropping down, he saw the man hurrying to get away so he followed.

Of course Shikamaru and Gaara saw him leave and they followed behind him, but not too close in case Neji had to suddenly leap back.

They chased the shinobi, no longer trying follow the fellow unnoticed. Suddenly, the man stopped and as a reflex the Konoha shinobi paused as well, wary.

The man didn't turn to face them but addressed them. "Who are you and why are you following me?" he asked, like he didn't know.

The Konoha shinobi glanced at each other, and that moment was taken by the man to throw a large ball behind them, exploding into a large dust cloud. Coughing, the three were unable to move through the smoke.

Gaara's protective sand flowed forward in front, blocking most of the dust as it came rushing forward, but that didn't last as it flowed around and behind him. Neji, waving an arm around, had activated his Byakugan. Shikamaru was just quietly crouching on the ground.

Then, a loud explosion knocked the dust away with one blow, and a big spike-ball came flying at them. It hit Neji hard in the stomach, making him fly into Gaara and sending them both into the large rock several feet behind them. The weapon and the hit shinobi only missed Shikamaru by an inch because he was laying low.

Quickly rolling, Shikamaru landed in a nearby bush and watched to see what would happen while fighting his urge to help his winded comrades. He saw the shinobi walk over to them, preparing to presumably attack, but Gaara and Neji kicked the man hard in the legs, tripping him backwards. Furious, the man angrily stood forward and hit one of the pressure points to make them fall unconscious.

As soon as they were still, the man stood over their bodies, back to Shikamaru and studying the faces carefully. "Hmm, Konoha eh?" Shikamaru heard the man mutter out loud, interestingly. Shikamaru prepared himself to move.


Naruto, Sasuke, and Shino eavesdropped on the kunoichis' conversation, and soon it was clear that the girls were going to follow Orochimaru's shinobi.

"Heh, seems like we'll be catching up to them after all." Naruto signed; his comrades nodded.

They trailed after the kunoichi silently and undiscovered . . . that is, until Naruto stepped on a weak branch and came crashing down. All seven others froze, and time seemed to stand still.

Then, the kunoichi were upon the blonde, and his teammates leapt down to help him, no longer staying undercover, since they were sure that Naruto would be instantly recognized.

Of course, they were right. Both sides glared at each other furiously, preparing for the onslaught of battle.

"Who are you and why are you following us?" Sakura asked, pretending she hadn't recognized them and knowing that they couldn't have-with the outfit she put on, her pink hair was hardly visible.

" . . . It's none of your concern." Sasuke said, and the girls looked at him in disbelief. Did he really say that when they caught them following them? They thought in anger.

"You're saying that? And yet you're the ones following us!" Ino said loudly and angrily, hands on hips and eyes flashing angrily.

"It's about Orochimaru." Shino said, deftly interrupting before Naruto and Sasuke could reply to them rashly.

"What about him?" TenTen asked, staring.

"We had a lead that he would be here with something." Shino replied, and the kunoichi glanced at each other dubiously.

". . . So what are you asking?" Hinata asked.

"I propose we temporarily work together and find the man." Shino said.

The girls nodded in agreement after consulting each other, and the newly combined group warily walked forward together.


They were walking forward when suddenly, something broke from the cover of the trees and the eight ninja stared stupidly as a battered Shikamaru stumbled in front of them.


Thank you my readers and reviewers. I'm glad you like my story so far!

Special Thanks for Reviewers (You guys will be honorable mentions! ^ ^):

yuuchi1994, Neguru Sucashi, O.o Crazy Brunette o.O, WolfGirl, and xxjimmyxx1