I don't own Naruto!
Chapter 5: Naruto's Mission!
Naruto and his team met at seven the next morning. They wanted to discuss the mission before heading out. At five minutes until eight, Tsunade arrived, followed by the second team. After wishing both teams luck, Tsunade prepared to leave. Naruto and Sakura said their goodbyes and joined their respective teams. Naruto didn't tell her of his promotion, however, because he decided that would be a great surprise for later.
Naruto's team left and had no trouble in their journey to the Land of Rice Patties, which took only five days. Before they crossed the border and entered the Forest of Forgotten Sounds, which was considered Sound Village territory, they made up a plan. Naruto, as captain, would lead, followed by Tai, who could help Naruto in case of an attack. Third was Shikamaru, who could help Kakashi if he needed it. This also gave Shikamaru a break, since his strengths were not in quick melee combat. Finally, Kakashi brought up the rear. Thanks to his experience, he was the best choice for this position, seeing as how he could respond to nearly any situation.
The team continued for about a day longer, then met an ANBU about four miles from the Sound Village's known location. The ANBU, upon noticing them, had tried to ambush them, but Naruto immediately sensed the attack and caught all four shuriken that the ninja had thrown. The ninja then charged with his katana from a different direction, hoping to score a hit with a surprise attack. Shikamaru, however, saw him coming and caught him with his shadow. The ANBU gave up and was buried using Kakashi's Headhunter Jutsu. They also sealed his hands with a chakra restraining seal developed by Kakashi, and, using a jutsu Shikamaru developed to keep Ino quiet, sealed his mouth shut, hopefully making sure that he wouldn't be found for a while.
"I never thought that jutsu I used on Ino would be so valuable in the field," said Shikamaru after they stopped to make camp.
"I know. It sure does come in handy," replied Tai. "Can you teach it to me?"
"Maybe later," said Shikamaru. Both Naruto and Tai knew that later would never come for Shikamaru.
After a few hours rest, a few hours before sunrise, Naruto and the others awoke and began to make their way toward the Sound Village. Once they reached the gates, they decided to kill the guards and take their equipment. Then they could send Shikamaru in to see what was going on. Their plan was executed perfectly. Kakashi and Naruto appeared behind each of the two guards and strangled them, preferring not to get blood on the uniforms.
Shikamaru donned one of the uniforms, and before he left, Naruto created a mark on his left arm.
"If you're found out and need backup, just release this mark. It will send out a wave of sage chakra. I'm the only one who'll even know you released it."
Shikamaru nodded and entered the village. He kept to the shadows of the early morning, hoping to remain unnoticed. His plan worked. He made it to the Otokage's mansion, a large five-story building, with no trouble at all. He crept in one of the side windows and found himself in a long hallway which intersected with another hallway halfway down. The hall was dotted with rooms all the way down. Shikamaru heard someone coming and ran for a door, which was locked from the inside. He performed the rat sign and his shadow crept under the door. It reached up the door and unlocked the door, allowing him to enter.
Shikamaru crept into the room and shut the door behind him. He had entered what appeared to be a janitor's closet.
'What a drag!' he thought.
He waited until he was sure the person was gone, then left the closet. He continued down the hall, checking each room as he went. None were any important rooms. He saw out the window of one of the rooms and noticed the sun was rising. It would soon be time for the war conference. He needed to find the conference room, and fast. He went downstairs and carefully began searching. Many of the staff noticed him, but because of his mask and uniform, paid him no attention. Finally, after nearly an hour of searching, he found the conference room. He was on the third floor, and the only reason he believed the room to be the conference room was because of the four ANBU stationed outside the door.
From his position around the corner, he used his Shadow Strangle Jutsu to incapacitate the four guards silently. Then he strode up to the door. He put his ear to the door to listen. There were many voices, but he only recognized a few.
"You're crazy, Lord Otokage," came a voice Shikamaru believed to belong to the Zassokage, the overweight, arrogant, conniving leader of the Village Hidden in the Weeds. Shikamaru never did like that man.
"No, it is a brilliant plan. And you will follow it to the letter, Lord Zassokage," came a voice Shikamaru guessed belonged to the Otokage.
"Lord Otokage," came a nasally voice Shikamaru believed to belong to the Ginkage, leader of the Silver Village, one of the four Metal Villages, "I have to agree with Lord Zassokage. Your methods are a bit…overzealous."
"I also agree," said a woman Shikamaru was sure was the Mizuumikage, leader of the Lake Village.
Several others voiced their feelings on the matter, but none that Shikamaru recognized.
"Listen to me!" bellowed a deep, powerful voice. "My brother's plan may sound crazy, but the Leaf Alliance is weak. They could not handle an assault from all of us. We have the Old World Villages on our side. With their power, we will crush the Leaf."
"Not good," said Shikamaru, guessing that this new speaker was Dramon. "I've got to tell Naruto."
Shikamaru turned to leave but was interrupted by a new arrival.
"What's going on here?" yelled the startled ANBU.
"What a drag!" said Shikamaru, preparing his Shadow Strangle Jutsu, but he was knifed from behind, apparently the ANBU inside had heard the startled man that had found Shikamaru.
Shikamaru fell to his knees, but to everyone's surprise, he was immediately engulfed in shadows. When the shadows disappeared, he was gone.
"FIND HIM!" ordered the Otokage, and the ANBU immediately left to scour the village.
As the kages discussed who the intruder could have been, Shikamaru was making his escape. He had used his Shadow Walker Jutsu to move himself away from the battle, but his injury was beginning to take its toll. He fell to his knees in an alley a few blocks from the mansion.
"I gotta get out of here," he said under his breath. He tried to move, but collapsed. Unsure what else to do, he released the seal Naruto placed on his arm. Moments later, the ANBU showed up. They were taking Shikamaru away when one fell with a kunai in his forehead. The others immediately dropped Shikamaru *ooof* and turned to meet the new threat. The remaining six ANBU were hopelessly outmatched. Three were down instantly, due to three well placed shuriken. The other three were attacked from behind. They met with a storm of taijutsu, and even though they were ANBU, they were no match for the storm that now met them. After they were all either dead or unconscious, which was only about thirty seconds later, Naruto took back his weapons and picked up Shikamaru. The two then left to go meet with the others.
On the way back, Shikamaru told Naruto what he had found out. Naruto wasn't too happy with the news. Once he got back, Tai used one of his Fire-Style healing jutsu to heal Shikamaru's back. The four immediately left to meet with Tsunade, but didn't get far when Draman and four ANBU caught up with them.
"Well, look who it is! It's Naruto Uzumaki! Or is it Namikaze now? I never could get that straight!"
Naruto turned, handing Shikamaru to Kakashi in the process.
"Aww! Guess your friend couldn't take the heat, huh. Guess he'll learn to stay out of the kitchen," said Draman, followed by his over-exaggerated laughter.
"Kakashi," said Naruto, "get Shikamaru out of here. I'll handle this clown! Tai, you take the ANBU!"
"Right," both replied before Kakashi jumped away with Shikamaru.
The ANBU charged, but Tai intercepted them with a wall of fire. The ANBU, however, only jumped over it and focused on Tai. They all charged him. He grinned, forming a Rasengan in his left hand.
"Bye!" he said as the ball expanded. The four ANBU landed in front of him, swords drawn, ready to slice into him, but they didn't get the chance. He shoved his Rasengan forward. It was now big enough to strike all four. The ANBU had never seen such an attack, and as a result of their unpreparedness, were hit by the massive Rasengan. All four were sent flying through the forest, never to be found.
Tai then turned to watch Naruto fight the leader. Naruto had already given the man quite a few scrapes, but when Tai saw his face, he nearly wet his pants.
'That must be the Sharingan!' he thought. He watched as the fight continued. Draman launched a Water Dragon Missile at Naruto, who easily dodged. Then Naruto summoned a Rasenshuriken and sent it hurling for Draman.
Draman jumped to dodge and started forming hand signs. "Fire Style: Phoenix Breath Jutsu!"
Draman then launched a massive blast of fire straight at Naruto. Naruto had nowhere to run for cover. Tai almost jumped in to absorb the jutsu using his chakra, but then he saw that Naruto was forming his own hand signs.
"Secret Sage Art: Elemental Absorption!"
Immediately, four of Naruto's clones appeared and faced the attack. They stretched their palms toward the attack, and a large vortex of wind swirled around each hand. The fire was dragged into the hands of the clones, and when all of the fire was gone, the seal for fire appeared on each of their palms. Then the clones dispersed.
"What did you do?" asked a bewildered Draman.
"I used my Sage Arts to absorb your attack. I can use this jutsu to absorb any of the five elements. It's genius."
"I'll show you genius!" yelled Draman as he gathered his chakra. "Tsukuyomi!"
"What!" cried Naruto as the genjutsu took effect.
Naruto was trapped in the world created by Tsukuyomi. He watched as Draman walked up and began to plunge his sword into Naruto. Naruto only smiled.
"Why are you smiling? Enjoying the pain?" asked Draman.
"Nope, I'm just wondering when you'll figure out that this doesn't work on me."
"Of course it does. You're here."
"Wrong again. You're in my genjutsu."
The world unraveled and revealed a quiet plane. Flowers danced as a light breeze blew.
"This is your genjutsu? I've seen genin with better…Hello?"
The plane was silent.
"Fine. I'll just sit here and rest then!"
Suddenly, a large creature rose up behind Draman. Draman turned around to see what had snuck up on him, and he wet his pants. Standing behind him was the Nine-Tailed Fox…and he looked hungry.
Draman screamed and ran in terror. The fox only grinned wickedly and stabbed him with his claw. His prey now caught, the fox picked Draman up and threw him in his mouth.
Not a second later, Draman fell over. Whether dead or unconscious, Naruto didn't know. He was still laughing at the grown ninja that had just wet himself.