The Kunoichis That Didn't Belong Ch. 26

Disclaimer: I DON'T OWN NARUTO!


Recap: "Alright then." After everyone's agreement, Ino took a deep breath and screeched with all her might, "GET OUT!"

They just got kidnapped!" Sakura exclaimed, and the three kunoichi looked at each other.


Time: 4:30 pm

Place: Forest

Date: Day of Meeting

Ino and her group burst out of the cave with extra speed generated from running really fast. Naruto dropped to the ground, and they all breathed quite heavily.

"What are we going to do?" Temari asked, looking at the team.

"I'll try and contact Shikamaru." Shino said, working the communication radio while Kikaichū bugs flew out of him, scanning the area.

They kept their guard up, but nothing came.

"Well?" Temari asked as Shino's bugs returned. "Nothing. Maybe they didn't come out yet."

"You mean they're trapped?" Ino cried, panicked.

At that same moment a ball was tossed at them and exploded, releasing a lot of smoke.

"!"

Everyone tried to not breathe in the smoke and did what they could to disperse it. Temari's giant fan helped, but when the smoke cleared away, she and Ino found the other three shinobi to be missing. Only long drag marks on the dirt to the forest indicated a lead to their whereabouts.

"Let's go!" Temari said, and they ran after the abducted shinobi.


"Should we split up?" Sakura asked as they ran. "I mean if they went in different directions . . ."

Hinata, with Byakugan-activated eyes, spoke. "I see them now. Right now they're going in the same direction. But we shouldn't split up until we have a clear visual on them."

"Got it." TenTen said, and they kept running forward.


"Over there!" TenTen stretched her arms to where she saw purple things moving through the treetops.

"Snakes can't go that high!" Sakura exclaimed with disbelief.

"Shinobi snakes probably can." TenTen said.

"It's them!" Hinata said, and they focused their eyes on the treetops.

Suddenly, they collided into a person.

"Oof!"

They lay on the ground, stunned but recognized the others.

"Temari! Ino!"

"Sakura! TenTen! Hinata!"

"What happened?" Sakura asked. "We heard your scream, Ino."

"No time for that, Shino, Sasuke, and Naruto just got kidnapped!" Temari exclaimed.

"So did Neji, Shikamaru, and Gaara!" TenTen said.

"What?" Temari snapped her fan open.

"Over there, guys! They're getting away!" Hinata yelled, pointing.

"Oh no they don't!" Temari hopped onto her fan and flew with speed after the purple things.

"Temari caught up to them . . . Oh no! They just grouped and split up!" Hinata said.

"Who to where, Hinata?" TenTen asked.

"Gaara going north, Shikamaru going northeast slightly, Shino going northeast slightly past Shikamaru, Naruto going northwest past Gaara, Sasuke going northwest slightly past Naruto, and Neji going northwest slightly past Sasuke!"

"Okay, who's going where?" Tenten asked.

"Temari is already chasing after Gaara . . . I'm going to Shino." Hinata said.

"I'll go for Sasuke and Naruto." Sakura said.

"Shikamaru." Ino said.

"Then I'll get Neji." TenTen said, and the five split up.


Chasing after her brother was an easy task. Aiming at the moving snake carrying him was something else.

Temari relentlessly chased down her brother's captive as well as attacking them from above. She took careful point not to hit her brother but the foliage was blocking her way. Dimly, in her mind, she asked herself why she was still caring for him though she wasn't supposed to be, especially after what she'd gone through and her past actions. Leaving the village was like betrayal, and having done that, she didn't know why she cared.

But she knew the answer within herself. True, those feelings of anger at her brothers and uncle were there even when she did encounter them. But seem them again . . . it brought back memories and feelings of happiness. You didn't live with your brother and not argue. You especially didn't leave your village and family over trivial verbal arguments that were unreasonable as well. Maybe she had gone over her head with her feelings. At least going away gave her fresh time to not even think about it. Not for a while, at least.

Yes, she still had anger towards him. However, after hearing what Kabuto did and what Orochimaru would plan to do . . . well, she'd heard enough rumors about the pedophileness of Orochimaru and had clear idea of what he meant to do. And only idiots would think that she would leave her kin to the horror of Orochimaru. It didn't matter what the past held. No one was going to hurt a member of her family on Temari's watch.

She flew down closer to her target.


Hinata ran after the creature that held her ex-teammate with speed that was gained over the time of training with her new sensei. She made sure the creature was in her line of view, careful to not loose sight despite the surround foliage. Unlike her fellow kunoichi, Hinata did not try to take aim at the creature. Instead her plan was simply to follow. Her old team hadn't specialized in tracking for nothing, and Hinata stealthily pursued her target.

While running, Hinata noticed that several black things flew along beside her. A careful glance placed memory as she recognized Shino's Kikaichū bugs.

"Are you here to help me help Shino?" she asked softly as she saw the bugs. In answer, they flew right, and Hinata followed them instinctively.


Sakura ran after the snakes, lightly avoiding the trees in her way. Unlike the others, she was chasing two snakes. However, those snakes chose to stick in view of each other and her. This pattern was unusual and the pinkette had a thought that they were perhaps leading her somewhere. But that was no matter since she would follow and them staying close let her keep track of them easier. But she would have to be wary against traps.

Sure, Sasuke was a jerk and Naruto was an idiot, but just being reminded of them in person was huge for Sakura. She hadn't spent almost all her life chasing after her teammates for nothing. She had become stronger even if she had left the village hoping to never see them again to do it.

She gave a hollow little laugh as she realized she was yet again chasing after her teammates.


Tenten jumped on branch after branch after her target, the snake that held Neji captive and was also jumping from tree branch to tree branch in an attempt to get away from her.

Although she chased after it easily, she wished that Neji would just free himself from the snake's grip. He was the Hyuuga Prodigy after all, she found herself thinking irritably. He should be able to free himself!


Ino cursed as she witnessed the snake jumping from branch to branch at the speed of a shinobi. It had Shikamaru in his grasp, and the millionth time, she wished that he wasn't so lazy.

Sure, he could probably think of a way to free himself, but what if he was just going to sit tight and let her rescue him? It was something that he would do as part of his plan. That is, if he had a plan. Ino sighed as that was probably the case.

'Well, whatever the plan is, I hope he'll tell me soon!'


Individually, the five chased their opponents, some carefully attacking and some not. They were hot on the trail so it was not surprising when they stopped suddenly. The kunoichis had just lost sight of the snakes and the presence and chakra of the hebi could not be sensed by them.

They cursed.


Ino jumped from tree branch to tree branch, going up higher and higher. She couldn't have just lost sight of them like that! They had been right in front of her!

Reaching the highest peak of the tree, Ino hurriedly scanned the greenery below her, looking for anything that moved or was purple. However, nothing stirred, and she groaned, wishing that she had a giant fan like to Temari's to fly on. As she was thinking that, something came at her and hit her hard, almost sending her flying. However, she had a good grip on the branch and so was simply hanging there.

Turning, she saw several smaller snakes posed to attack her, and in response, she threw kunai and shuriken at them. However, it was difficult to do so well when holding a tree branch tightly with one hand as to not fall. She also wished she hadn't chosen the highest tree of the forest to have a hold onto. The closer she was to the ground, the easier it would be to drop to the ground without serious injury.

As she wasn't near the ground, Ino had no choice but to simply hang on. She was completely isolated, which was why it was no surprise when she reached the end to her weapons supply and the snakes launched themselves at her, separating her forcibly from the tree and sending her flying through the air.

While Ino was falling down at an alarming speed, her eyes were squeezed shut as she tried to brace herself for the expected impact that would come from the fall at her height. So she was shocked when she stopped falling all of a sudden, and felt herself carried by strong arms.

Her shut eyes cautiously opened to see a pale white face staring at her with some concern.

"Ino-san? Are you alright?"

It wasn't until he spoke that she recognized Sai of Konoha.

"Ino?"

She brought herself to respond, struggling to sit up in what she realized were his arms. "I'm alright. But I was chasing a snake that captured Shikamaru, and then those two other snakes," here she gestured vaguely with a free arm to the ground and continued, "attacked me while I was scouting up there on that tree." Ino then squinted at him. "Which reminds me, what are you doing here anyways?"

"I'm here because Shikamaru called me here, along with plenty of backup, and it's a good thing I came this way or you would be seriously injured." Sai replied.

Ino snorted. "Huh. Even if I was seriously injured, I could definitely heal myself. I was taught by Tsunade you know." She retorted.

Sai shrugged. "I'd rather you were not injured so that we have as many able-bodied shinobi available to fight against Orochimaru."

Ino's cheeks turned a light pink as she realized the point of his logic and the fact that he wasn't saying she couldn't handle herself.

"Well, what about those attacking snakes?" she asked.

"I've already taken care of them on the way here."

"Great!" Ino said with relief. "Let's go down now. We have to find the others."

Agreeing, they descended at a rapid pace, and soon were running through the thick forest.


TenTen ran out into the middle of the clearing and stopped stunned. Temari glided down from above and stood next to her. Sakura reached for her radio communicator.

"We've got a situation."


As Ino and Sai ran, all of a sudden they collided into several other people.

"Oof! Ugh, twice in one day…" Ino groaned and held her head.

"Ino! And Sai-san?"

They looked up to see Hinata, as well as Kiba, Akamaru, Chouji, and Lee beside her.

"Hinata! Glad to see you!" Ino exclaimed, but paused when she turned to face the others.

"They're our back-up." Hinata explained, rising from the floor, and the group followed her example.

"Ok, so have you found them?" Ino asked, but Hinata shook her head.

"Not yet. But that's why we're here!" Kiba exclaimed with a happy woof from Akamaru. "We know their scents so we'll definitely find them!"

"Let's group up and go then." Sai said, taking charge and followed Kiba with Akamaru who took the lead. They were followed by Chouji and Rock Lee, lastly by Ino and Hinata.

"Hinata-chan, are you sure about this?" Ino asked softly as they ran.

"We have to choice but to make a truce, Ino. Don't worry, it'll be alright." Hinata said reassuringly.

They were updated as they ran.

"I contacted Shikamaru as soon as the shinobi from Konoha arrived. Of course he then told me of the situation you were in and told me bring the others in right away." Sai said.

"So he's been conscious?" Ino asked.

"Yes and no. In the middle of telling me that he and the others were captured by snakes, I heard a loud thump and he did not respond when I called him a couple of times. It was then that I briefed the others and we left as soon as we could." Sai explained.

"Yeah, and then we," Kiba moved his arm, gesturing to himself and the other shinobi, "left and ran into Hinata."

"And Kankuro went to find Gaara-san." Lee added.

"I was chasing after Shikamaru and it looked like the snake had a pretty tight hold on him, and then they seemed to disappear." Ino said.

"Yes. And I was looking for Shino, and following his Kikaichū bugs, but then Kiba and the others arrived and the bugs flew away." Hinata said.

"Well, that's-" Ino was cut off by a crackling sound, and Hinata answered her radio, with everyone coming to a stop.

"Hello?"

"We've got a situation."

"Sakura? What's wrong?" They stared blankly at Hinata, who was trying to get information out of Sakura.

"You gotta get here and get here fast." Temari's voice sounded.

"Okay, where are you?" Hinata asked.

"We're a in clearing somewhere, but if you can take to the skies or look around with your eyes then you'll see us." TenTen responded.

There was a crackling sound and the radio clicked off.

"That's soo helpful." Ino scoffed sarcastically, rolling her eyes. "Guess Sai will have to go up, Hinata's gotta look around, and Kiba and Akamaru will have to sniff around."

Sai whipped out a scroll with a brush and ink right away as Hinata activated her eyes. An ink creature of flight broke away from the scroll and Sai took to the skies as Hinata scanned the ground. Kiba and Akamaru sniffed the air and the others watched the four with apprehension.

Suddenly, a figure stepped out from the trees and everyone whipped around to see Shino stepping out, surrounded by his bugs.

"Shino!" Lee, Chouji, and Ino cried and went over to him immediately. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. What's happening?" Shino asked.

The three quickly briefed him in on the situation while the four continued to search. "And how did you escape?" Ino asked.

"My Kikaichū bugs helped me." Shino retorted. "And they'll help with the search." He spread his arms and the bugs around him scattered.

Ino, Chouji, and Lee waited tensely in suspense, and were so focused that they jumped when Sai flapped down above them, Hinata opened her eyes, Kiba and Akamaru started growling, and Shino's bugs returned to him.

"Over there!" The four shinobi said unanimously with a bark accompanying them, and pointed northeast.

"Then let's get going!" Chouji said, and they ran towards the direction.

While they ran, Kiba said, "Hey! What are we going do?"

Hinata's determined reply answered him.

"We find out what's going on."


Here's Chapter 26 for you! There is only two chapters left to this story! Who ever reviewed will be mentioned in the end of the very last chapter, so please read and review!

Thanks to yuuchi1995, Cindy Medeiros, zoe1995, WolfGirl and Rixclassa!

And thanks also all my readers and subscribers!