Hello again! Two chapters this week! :) I will try and post another either Friday or Saturday but I won't guarantee that. I have to use the library to write and it's hours those days are limited. Hope you are enjoying it. This chapter is where the plot thickens and things get much more interesting. I love criticism and would love to know what your opinion on the story is. I believe that the action scenes (cause I can't really think of any other way to describe them) are a bit too stunted, formal, and hard to keep pace with. In short I feel like I'm just listing things off. So please let me know what you think. Thanks! ;) Enjoy and please review.
Kiba was standing near the front gates, his arms resting behind his head as he leaned against the large pillar. It was an early morning, the sun barely raised as the sky turned from a navy blue to light blue. The fog was rolling over the wet morning grass and the soft rustle of Akamaru's fur against his leg pulled him from his thoughts.
Ever since the morning before last he had made it key to avoid Yuka. It was awkward enough, especially since she had rushed out that morning and hadn't contacted him since. The past day was a stressful one for Kiba. He had been distracted during his entire training session with Akamaru and as a result got hit head on with his sister's jutsu. He could still feel the bruising on his abdomen, the dull pain paling in comparison to the pain inside his head. He had been trying with all his will to push Yuka's image from his mind but every now and again his mind would drift to that morning; he remembered the look on her face and the sounds she made for him. It was almost too much to handle and ever since then he had kicked himself in the ass for not just taking her right then and there. He knew she wanted it; he could smell it that morning. In fact, that scent still lingered and he found it nearly impossible to escape it.
No matter how hard he trained or how far he went to train, he could still smell her faint scent and it drove him mad. He wanted to just forget her, to go back to the way things were before she came along. He was never this weak, never this distracted. He had always known what he wanted, always went after it with the ferocity and passion that was allotted him. Now that this girl was around he couldn't think clear; he became hesitant, weak in her prescience. Even Akamaru picked up on it and Kiba could sense the dog's nervousness. It was dangerous for the master, especially future Alpha, to be so unsure of himself. The Inuzuka had a temper, this he was keenly aware of, but he never thought that the ferocity and the strong willed nature of his clan would be neutralized by a woman; especially women like Yuka.
He sighed, realizing that Shikamaru, Ino, and Choji were all approaching. He could distinctly smell them each, their individual smell markers warning him that Ino was not in a particularly good mood.
"I just can't believe she failed it! I really wanted her to go," Ino whined. "Kakashi-sensei is so cruel."
"Not really," Shikamaru echoed, his eyes spotting Kiba. "Team work is the foundation of a leaf shinobi squad. We should know this better than anyone, Ino."
"I know!" She protested, coming to stand in front of Kiba. She eyed him sharply before a slight grin broke over her lips. "Kiba-kun doesn't know about it…"
"There are a lot of things I don't know, Ino," Kiba snapped, his eyes roaming over her face and then Shikamaru's. "So, do you want to fill me in on the mission details now?"
"Right," Shikamaru said, pulling out a scroll from his pack. "It seems that the rumors about Orochimaru's prescience in the Hidden Sound originated from a small village just over the border. This is where our informant picked up some disturbing information. It seems that the rural village has had several curious disappearances, mostly young women, between the ages of sixteen and twenty."
"So, how do these disappearances link to Orochimaru?" Kiba asked, turning his attention to Choji who was munching on a bag of his favorite chips. Choji just shrugged, looking back at Shikamaru. "It just sounds like some pervert."
"Well," Shikamaru said, looking down at his scroll. "Our official mission, for the records, is to research these disappearances and see if we can't find the source. However, the last squad of ANBU that travelled through that area brought back some disturbing signs of some familiar chakra interference. It was dangerously close to Orochimaru's own curse mark."
"So, just be cause some ANBU guys come back with some odd chakra markers we're sent on a random goose chase for a dead guy?" Kiba asked, his patience with this entire mission wearing thin already.
"No, one of the ANBU were killed before they could return home," Shikamaru assured, glancing over the scroll one more time before putting it in his pack again. "The team never managed to recover his body but they were sure that he was alive the last time they checked in with him. He was the scout of the group; a trained Aburame member with exceptional sensory skills."
"It fit's Orochimaru's M.O.," Choji said before crumpling up his empty bag of barbeque chips.
"Exactly; people disappearing, odd chakra markers on the bodies of survivors, and it's all happening in the Hidden Sound, his old base," Shikamaru said, putting his hands in his pockets. "It's a drag but it looks like we're going to have to at least investigate this incident. If we're lucky it's all just coincidence and bad timing."
"It never is," Kiba groaned, turning to Akamaru. "Well, if he's out there we'll find him. I don't know if I want to but it looks like I don't have any choice."
"We only know of one hide out in The Hidden Sound, a base destroyed nearly 6 years ago by Sasuke and then by Kakashi and your team, correct Kiba?"
"Yes, and I remember how to get there. What's the call?" Kiba asked, looking over his shoulder at them.
"We'll travel to the village over the boarder and start there. There has to be some personal belongings for you and Akamaru to work with. If our luck holds out we'll find these girls before it's too late. As leader I need all three of you're at your peak, focused entirely on this mission. I don't want to loose a comrade out there."
"Understood," Ino said, nodding with determination. Choji nodded in agreement but before they could say anything else Kiba had straddled Akamaru's back, ready to take off toward The Hidden Sound.
"Wait," Ino said, looking over her shoulder. "Look, there's Shino and Lee. Lee said he'd see us off but I didn't expect Shino."
"Ugh," Kiba mumbled, shaking his head. As Shino and Lee approached, both of them waving at the group, Kiba picked up on a faint scent. The scent had been plaguing him for almost two days now and Shino was covered in it. This made Kiba dangerously curious and he eyed Shino closely.
"Good morning comrades!" Lee said, clapping Choji on the shoulder. "I just found Shino in the training grounds. He's been out all night training; he almost puts me to shame."
"All night?" Ino asked, looking him over. "You look pretty beat up. Did you do that Lee?"
"No!" Lee protested, throwing his hands up. "He was like that when I found him."
"You look like you could be in pain," Ino said, walking up to Shino and scanning his body with her chakra infused hands. Her face scrunched up and she looked up at him. "You have a couple of bruised ribs, some broken fingers, and a fractured clavicle, Shino-kun. You should go to the hospital."
"I was about to but then Lee found me and said he was seeing you four off. I told him I couldn't miss the opportunity to see you all off. As I understand it, the mission could prove dangerous," Shino said, looking between all four of them. His gaze lingered on Kiba for a moment before looking back at Ino.
"If Lee didn't do this, who were you training with?" Ino asked, her hands roaming over his injured areas to try to heal them so they were tolerable.
"Ah, it was Yuka-chan," Shino said with a somewhat uplifted voice. Both Shikamaru and Kiba looked at him now. "She left some hours ago to go back to the hospital but she trained with me all day; she was pretty upset about yesterday morning's test."
"Ah," Shikamaru said, nodding. "I'm not surprised by the outcome though."
"What the hell are you two talking about?" Kiba asked, his eyes drifting between them. He didn't have any idea what they were talking about and was somewhat annoyed with the fact that they knew something he didn't.
"Oh, right you didn't get to hear. Hokage-sama gave Yuka a final test to see if she was ready to take on some missions," Ino said, nodding her affirmation. "Actually, she was interested in going on this mission in particular. Why, I don't know because the only one who does know is Shikamaru-kun and he won't tell me anything."
"It's none of your business, Ino," Shikamaru sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose in annoyance. "If she wants to tell you, she will. Don't be so hasty to know everything."
"She's my friend! I'm allowed to know!" Ino protested, glaring at him.
"Anyway, Hokage-sama gave her a test with Kakashi-sensei," Shino chimed in. "TenTen and I were chosen as her partners during the test. It didn't go to well. She didn't learn the lesson that Kakashi was trying to teach her."
"The bell test?" Choji asked, opening another bag of chips; this time they were shrimp flavored.
"Yes," Shino replied. "She failed and afterward she was beyond frustrated. I took the bulk of it. It was actually some pretty good training; we both improved I believe."
"Great," Kiba groaned, turning from the group, his hand stroking the top of Akamaru's head. "We ready yet?"
"That is right!" Lee said, watching the group. "I wish you all the best of luck and will be keeping a vigilant watch for your return."
"Thank you Lee," Shikamaru said, nodding. "And yes, we are ready. The village is just over the border less than three miles."
"Right," Kiba said, urging Akamaru to take off, disappearing into the tall trees. Kiba needed away from everyone and knew they could follow him without direction. He knew the land of fire like the back of his hand but the distant memories of his mission with Kakashi-sensei some years ago to The Hidden Sound made his nose burn. It was a distant memory but one he would fear and cherish for years to come.
The day wore on, the sun rising in the sky making the forest they were traveling through warm and stuffy. It made Kiba uncomfortable and he had to unzip his jacket to cool off. He could hear the former team Asuma following him, his keen sense of smell warning them of any dangers. Kiba had checked and double checked several times to make sure they weren't being followed or watched. He also communicated with Akamaru, feeling as if he'd been neglecting his best friend for the past week. Kiba didn't mind hearing Akamaru talk about his pups, how strong they were, what he wanted for them, and more importantly, when he wanted to have more. He was just as bad as his master, Kiba remembered thinking.
Kiba couldn't help but appreciate his best friend then. He was a father, essentially a husband, and a dedicated nin. He may not have been human but his dedication to the protection of his own kind and Konoha touched Kiba every time. He was man's best friend and would soon be the head of his own pack, Alpha of the ninja hounds wasn't a title to be taken lightly.
As they traveled north, Kiba couldn't help but let his mind wander to that fateful journey six years ago. The mission was Shikamaru's first as leader and it was of utmost importance to Naruto. They objective was to capture and return Sasuke Uchiha to the Hidden Leaf. Unfortunately it didn't work out and Sasuke still left for Orochimaru and the destruction of the world from then on. So much had happened because of their failure on that mission. Kiba constantly thought about that mission as they traveled north for the village over the border. Choji and Neji nearly lost their lives that day and Kiba had fought so hard for the sake of that Uchiha bastard that it was only later that he realized he was fighting for Naruto's sake.
Kiba constantly blamed himself for not being able to defeat his opponent that day faster. If he had been there with Naruto he could have helped him in any way possible to bring the Uchiha back to Konoha. If they would have succeeded that day, if they would have brought him back and made him see what was really important than the war could have taken a different turn. The constant reminder of this clawed at Kiba's insides.
Soon they would be coming upon the Valley of The End, the final battle site of the fourth shinobi world war. It was here that Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke all died, their sacrifice echoed throughout the world. This would be an emotional crossing, to say the least. The sun was peaked and slowly moving toward the west when the great valley came into view. The falls poured over the sides, the huge statues of Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha facing one another in quiet reverence. As they approached the edge, Kiba stopped his eyes downcast at the falls below. It was a lot different than it had originally been six years before.
The basin where the falls fell into the winding river of the valley was widened significantly, the whole area more like a crater lake. At the opposite end of the crater lake, across from the statues and large falls, was a set of smaller falls cascading down into a flowing river that stretched on throughout the lower valley. What was most different was the three solid faces etched in the face of that waterfall. A tribute from the countries participating in the forth shinobi world war, they took extra special care etching Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura's faces into the face of the waterfall. What was most disturbing about the waterfall, which may have been intended by the previous Kage, was the way it flowed over the stone faces, making it look as if all three figures were eternally crying.
This bore into Kiba every time he saw it. It had been nearly a year since he was here last and it was almost more than he could bear. The four of them all stopped their faces downcast to the stone faces below them in solemn sadness. Ino looked as if tears were going to rush from her own eyes and she was quickly comforted by Choji, who wrapped an arm around her slightly trembling shoulders. His own eyes were misted, closing slowly in devout and loving remembrance of one of his best friends. Shikamaru, as usual, was unreadable. He stood there, his eyes staring at the sobbing faces of team seven with deep remorse and determination. He was the only one, the only shinobi out of the nine of them that didn't shed a tear. Even Neji and Shino had spilled tears at the official funeral and procession.
That day was the saddest, most heartbreaking day ever to meet Konoha. Their newly appointed Hokage was cut down not only trying to save their village and all those in it, but the entire world against the enemy that was once his best friend. It took real guts and determination to stand up to your best friend like that and Kiba remembered vowing, over Naruto's grave, to build those bonds he spoke of between all the great shinobi of the world. He never gave that up, striving to make both Konoha and its allies better for it.
"We should keep going," Shikamaru finally spoke, his eyes closing slowly. "We have a mission to complete."
"Shikamaru!" Choji said, Ino's strangled cry bursting from the shelter of his arm. "Give it a minute. We have plenty of time."
"We don't have that luxury, Choji," Shikamaru whispered, shaking his head. "If we stay here we'll be drawn in by our own tormented emotions. We can't let it cloud our judgment or our mission. Let's go." And then he bounded off, across the surface of the lake toward the opposite bank. Kiba just sighed, looking over at Ino and Choji who were both looking at the ground with trepidation.
"He's right guys, as much as I want to disagree with him," Kiba said, motioning for them to follow. He moved so he wasn't riding on Akamaru any more and took off across the water after Shikamaru. Choji and Ino followed reluctantly, eventually catching up with Shikamaru. Ino had a broken look on her face but Choji's face was intense, determined. It was actually frightening. They would soon be coming upon their destination, the smells of the small village greeting Kiba; it wasn't far off at all.
As they approached Kiba could smell something odd. It wasn't normal, the scent spreading quickly. Kiba recognized it instantly, turning to Shikamaru.
"Hey, there is wide spread panic throughout the village. We may be walking into some problems," Kiba said, Akamaru barking in agreement.
"Right, approach with caution," Shikamaru said, looking over his shoulder at Ino and Choji. He then looked back at Kiba. "Can you smell anything unusual?"
"I'm not sure," Kiba said, his eyes narrowing at the horizon, the small village walls coming into view. "There isn't any smell of smoke and the smell of panic is spreading. I really have no idea what is going on. We may have to get in there and break it up." Kiba was more than excited to be going on this mission. He wanted to get right in the middle of it and forget all about his problems with his clan, his emotions, and Yuka. He just wanted to forget and the only way he could do that was to jump right into a mission, to be in the battle itself on the front lines.
"Alright, Kiba I want you circle around the front gate and come in from the back entrance," Shikamaru said, watching the village coming closer and closer. "The three of us will go through the front and draw attention. I'll throw a green flare if we run into some trouble. Until then, stay out of sight."
"Right," Kiba said, dodging through the trees at the left, circling around the village until he found the side entrance, guarded by one man. He looked older, kind of portly, and definitely weak. He wasn't a ninja, or so Kiba assumed as he avoided his sight and hopped the gate, Akamaru following closely. He looked about, crouching behind a set of barrels, his eyes looking for any sign of another guard or patrol. It was oddly quiet for the panic floating about; in fact he hadn't spotted anyone besides the guard. Kiba signaled Akamaru to get a better look, motioning for him to do a quick recon of the area.
Akamaru did this a lot. It was much easier for a dog to be inconspicuous then a ninja with fang tattoos on his cheeks. Kiba sat there a second; keeping a watch on the road that Akamaru had disappeared down. He also kept an eye on the sky for green smoke. As he snuck around the edge of a brick building toward the main street he heard people approaching, foot steps pounding the earth softly. He sniffed the air, slinking back against the wall into the shadow of the building. It wasn't a familiar scent to him. He could pinpoint Ino-Shika-Cho near the front gates and could smell Akamaru as well, quickly returning to where Kiba was hidden. The voices were faint as they passed, a woman and two men. He could barely hear what they were talking about but what they did say caught his attention.
"-not my choice. If it were up to me we'd fight this evil with all we have; call in reinforcements from Konoha, Kuma, or Iwa even!"
"We have specific instructions not to include any ninja. For now we will have to comply with the demands and be content in that."
"How can we be content?" the woman's voice spoke up, the sound fading with their footsteps. "It's a young woman every week!"
Kiba tried to listen harder but they were too far away now, and Akamaru had come bounding around the corner, quickly relaying to Kiba his information. Apparently there was barely anyone on the streets. Most people were in their homes behind their drawn curtains and locked doors. Even the shops and dilapidated restaurants and gambling houses were closed down. It was mid afternoon and everyone was bound up in their homes as if it was a harsh winter night.
Kiba waited, listened for any sign of a fight or anything but the closer Ino-Shika-Cho approached the harder it was for him to focus on anything else. They were meeting no resistance and were making good time in approaching him. Before he knew it, Shikamaru was standing at the end of the alley where Kiba was hiding, his eyes roaming the dog-nin with interest. "It's odd…" Shikamaru commented, looking about. "We met no resistance. In fact, we didn't meet anyone. Anything new on your end?"
"I saw a group of people, three of them, walking that way," Kiba said, pointing down the road where the group had disappeared. "They were talking about fighting some sort of evil and that they should have called in reinforcements but were instructed to leave all shinobi out of it. It doesn't smell right…"
"Right," Shikamaru said, looking about. Ino was standing next to him, her eyes roaming over the street and then the buildings.
"This place is so dismal," she commented, looking back at Choji who was munching on some more chips now.
"It's too quiet. It's mid-afternoon and no one is out and about doing their business… I think we should do some investigating on those people Kiba spotted," Choji insisted, popping another chip into his mouth.
"I agree," Shikamaru said, looking at Ino. "Here's the plan. Kiba use your nose to see where they went. We'll follow them, get close enough to use shadow paralysis on one of them and then Ino can use your mind transfer jutsu. Choji, you'll be in charge of Ino's body while she's gone. Kiba and I will provide the back up, just in case something goes wrong with the mind transfer."
All three of them just nodded, quickly moving down the road through the shadows and around obstacles. Kiba could smell the people ahead, no further than a hundred yards; he informed Shikamaru who picked up the pace, catching up to the group with little effort. They hadn't noticed the shinobi approaching them, their conversation drifting up to the rooftops where the four nin were following intently.
"I will not tolerate this evil that plagues our village yet again," the man on the right said. He was a bit taller, older than the man on the left. The woman in the middle of them was young, most likely in her early twenties. "If I can make a run for it I could reach Konoha in less than a day. We could get help there."
"I won't risk the lives of the villagers," the man on the left said, shaking his head. "As leader of the village, as selected by the people, it is my duty to protect them and their interests. If one sacrifice a week will pacify the danger maybe he will move on to broader opportunities and leave our village in peace."
"Yes keep telling yourself that and meanwhile young women like your daughter will be taken and Kame only knows what will happen to them in the den of that ruthless-"Just then both men paused, looking down at the girl that was next to them. She had stopped a few yards back, her head hung low. Both men looked at her with pity, believing that their words had upset her. Just then the girl started walking again, glancing up at both of them before taking her spot between them.
"Sorry," they both whispered, resuming their walk.
The mind transfer and shadow paralysis had been a success. Ino was now in the body of the girl, walking along side the men to whatever destination they were headed for. On the rooftops Choji scooped up Ino's body and followed Shikamaru and Kiba as they dodged around chimney stacks and towers, hiding from any eyes that may see them. They kept close to the group as they veered down a side alley and to a set of gates. They led from the village into the neighboring forest whose canopy made the forest floor look dark, almost like night. The three shinobi watched from the rooftop as the two men opened the gate leading the girl out to the forests edge.
"Now," the younger of the two men said. "Be strong. You'll walk straight into the forest and he will find you. He rarely ever shows himself so the pain should be minimal at most."
"Is there anything else you'd like me to tell your father? He's pretty torn up but you are brave for choosing to sacrifice yourself for the good of the village."
At this Ino turned toward the man and shook her head, glancing at the trunks of the trees. Both men nodded, backing away from her as she slowly started toward the trunks of large trees. Kiba, Choji, and Shikamaru watched intently from the walls of the village, the girl that Ino inhabited disappearing into the forest floor. The two men lingered there only a few seconds before going inside again and barring the doors.
Shikamaru jumped down from the wall now, landing on the outside and motioning for the other two to follow quickly. Akamaru motioned for Kiba to jump on and he did, both of them hoping down to take off after Ino into the forest. Shikamaru followed quickly behind, Choji still carrying Ino's limp body. Kiba could still smell the girl ahead of them, Ino's mind still inhabiting her body. Ino had stopped only a few yards in front of them and waited, peering about curiously.
"Anything from the girl's mind, Ino?" Shikamaru asked, looking over at the girl that was Ino.
"This girl sacrificed herself so that her younger sister didn't have to go," Ino spoke, her own voice emanating from the girls lips. "What she does know about her captor is limited. She's never seen him and she's only heard rumors that he's a hideous beast. I should have mind transferred into the village leader. That would have given us more information about the evil they speak about."
"Probably but by transferring into the girl you kept your cover and you've also lead us to the source of this evil," Shikamaru said, looking about. "Stay on your guard. If it is Orochimaru we can expect some problems especially since he's expecting a sacrifice and not four leaf nin."
"Ino, transfer back to your body," Choji said, setting Ino's body down on the ground next to him.
"Not before using the mind destruction jutsu," Shikamaru reminded. Kiba was still looking about, sniffing and waiting for an enemy to come out of no where. It is what happened last time when he encountered Orochimaru. He had somehow masked his scent and maneuvered around them without being spotted. It was a trick of his that allowed him to escape capture rather well.
"Done?" Shikamaru asked and Kiba looked back at him. He was looking at the girl Ino had inhabited. She just nodded before forming the hand sign and allowing the girls body to go limp. Ino quickly stood up, dusting off her purple skirt. She then walked over to the girl and moved her so she was resting against the base of the tree.
"Now what?" Choji asked, looking about cautiously. "Orochimaru isn't an idiot. He probably already knows we're here."
"That is what I'm counting on," Shikamaru said, glancing about him. "If he knows we're here then he knows we know he's alive. Judging from how he's reacted before we can expect him to confront us directly."
"You want to confront him directly?" Ino asked, her eyes going wide. "Shikamaru, you know that is not what we were-."
"Wasn't it?" Shikamaru asked, looking over at her. "We got here and everyone was shut inside, hiding. It's no coincidence that we came on a day that they make their sacrifices. The girls weren't disappearing, they were being sacrificed therefore it is within our power to put a stop to whatever plagues this village. We really don't have any alternative route to go here. We either confront Orochimaru or whoever it is, or turn tail and allow this to keep happening. What's the call Ino?"
"Shikamaru," Choji warned, looking over at his best friend. "You knew this was going to happen. Why didn't we bring more reinforcements?"
"Because, a small group of elite ninja will be much more effective against someone like Orochimaru, especially since it's the three of us and dog-boy," Shikamaru commented, glancing over at Kiba and Akamaru. They gave him a dirty look before sniffing the air for any approaching enemies.
Kiba smelled nothing and this bothered him. Normally he could smell the leaves, the musky earth, and the faint forest smells that he was so accustomed to smelling. However, right now he could smell nothing; Akamaru was having problems as well, sniffing the ground before looking up at Kiba with worried eyes.
"Guys," Kiba said, turning to them. "There is a problem. Akamaru can't smell anything."
"We already knew that," Ino said, shaking her head. "But it's not always that easy to detect his movements-."
"No, I mean we can't smell anything. Not the trees, the dirt, the animals… nothing," Kiba insisted, looking about them suspiciously. "Do you think-?"
"It's a trap," Shikamaru said, looking about them quickly before motioning for them to create a manji formation near the girl at the base of the tree. She was still unconscious. Akamaru stayed close to her, looking about cautiously.
"He knew we were coming but he planned so far ahead to create a trap," Choji said, looking about them. "If Kiba's sense of smell is diminished then it may cause a problem."
"That is a problem, but I'm hoping that doesn't affect his taijutsu or his and Akamaru's team work," Shikamaru said, glancing over at Kiba. Kiba just nodded.
"Ssssuch grown up ninja you are now," came a voice from the tree tops. Suddenly a white creature came into view, its lengthy body stretching from branch to branch until it came, with a soft thump, to the forest floor in front of Shikamaru. The body started to warp and form from a snake like creature to a normal torso of none other than Orochimaru. His cold eyes were scanning each of them, pausing longer on Kiba's face than any other. He then grinned, twisting his lower body around so that he was sliding across the forest floor away from them.
"Orochimaru!" Shikamaru said, watching the rogue ninja slither toward the trees again. "We're here on orders from Konohamaru, seventh Hokage of the Hidden Leaf Village, to-."
"Ah, so Sarutobi once again holds the title of Hokage," Orochimaru hummed, not really paying attention to any of the nin behind him. "I take it that means that boy, the Jinchuuriki, died after all?"
"The honorable sixth Hokage died sacrificing himself for the sake of the ninja world and in spite of the monster you created out of his best friend," Choji said, his eyes never leaving Orochimaru. He had an assertiveness about him that boosted all their confidence.
"Ah, so I see…" Orochimaru whispered, nodding. "Then it seems that I'm the only remaining relic of the old world, right? Your Hokage was very bold in seeking me out. Tell me, what does the young Sarutobi plan to do once he has captured me?"
"You'll face justice for your crimes against Konoha and the world," Shikamaru said, his eyes following Orochimaru as he slid from one side to the other, pacing between the tree trunks.
"Jusssstissss?" Orochimaru hissed, a smirk coming to his face. "Justice has yet to be dealt young Nara. You see, my grand plans are not yet fulfilled and thanks to you Konoha shinobi, my work may just progress a little faster than anticipated."
"Even if we have to use force, you will answer for your crimes to the world and to the people you've affected," Shikamaru said, his voice calm and collected. "We're not children anymore, Orochimaru. You may be the only Sannin left but every generation improves on their predecessors. I wouldn't count on escaping us without some sort of fight."
"Oh, I don't count on anything," Orochimaru said, turning to face them now. "And if you insist on fighting then I will show you the true difference in power between myself and the four of you."
"You bastard," Kiba finally barked, his canines protruding from his mouth dangerously. Akamaru growled at his side. "You've killed thousands of comrades, friends, and family. You will answer for them even if I have to drag your slimy body back to Konoha myself!"
"An Inuzuka, and an Alpha," he cooed, smirking at Kiba. "Konoha has truly sent its best. The legendary Ino-Shika-Cho formation from the previous shinobi world war and the man beast from the Inuzuka; a powerful combination but I don't think it is enough."
"We'll see," Kiba growled before forming his hand signs. "Man beast clone!" he shouted before barreling toward the slinking white creature that was Orochimaru. "Fang Over Fang!"
"Kiba!" Shikamaru shouted, trying to stop him but it was too late. He had attacked without thinking and this could cost them. Shikamaru quickly knelt to one knee, doing some hand signs before extending his shadow toward Orochimaru. If Kiba missed he wouldn't be able to counter Orochimaru's own attack. Orochimaru was about to dodge Kiba's attack when the shadow reached him, catching him off guard and allowing Kiba to spin into him directly. The dust flew up around them, clouding their view.
"Choji!" Shikamaru said, looking over at his friend. "Now, before he has time to counter."
Choji didn't need telling twice. "Expansion Jutsu!" Quickly he tripled in size, his hair growing almost five times its length. It quickly spread around his body until it covered him, his body starting to rotate quickly. "Spiky Human Bolder!" he called out before he propelled his body forward at almost break-neck speed.
As soon as Choji had collided with the dust Kiba had jumped to the side, clinging with his claws to the side of a tree above them. Choji veered right and then turned back toward them, releasing his jutsu. As the dust settled they noticed that the body that Kiba and Choji had destroyed was nothing more than a clone, the dead snakes piled in the spot where Orochimaru had once been.
"Clone," Shikamaru hissed, looking about him now. "Keep your guard up. He can't be far."
Just then a volley of kunai and shuriken came flying at them, Shikamaru managing to grab the body of the unconscious girl just in time to remove her from harms way. He could hear Choji yell out before landing with a loud thump on the ground. He had jumped in the way of the kunai that had almost hit Ino, pulling them out quickly and hurling them in the direction they came.
"Choji!" Ino gasped, moving to start healing him.
"Ah, so you're a medical nin," Orochimaru stated, appearing before them again. This time his lower body wasn't of a snake but had regular legs. "Tsunade must have trained you well, kunoichi."
Kiba lunged at him again, engaging him in taijutsu. For being a significantly older ninja he moved fast, parrying Kiba's attacks with ferocity. Kiba had gained the upper hand though, Akamaru still in man-beast form as they double teamed the sannin. Shikamaru tried his best to pinpoint Orochimaru's shadow to hold him down but the older shinobi kept moving, keeping pace with Kiba's succession of attacks. Choji, who pushed Ino to the side so he could engage in the fight, was about to pop a food pill when Orochimaru paused. With a quick succession of hand signs they were all pushed back.
"Ten Thousand Snake Wave!" He shouted, a huge wall of snakes forming before them and pushing them back. Before they could counter Orochimaru had come up behind Shikamaru, kicking him hard enough to send his body flying through the air and away from the girl he was trying to guard. Orochimaru grinned, looking over at Kiba. He was lying on the ground, holding his arm painfully.
"The poison from the snakes will kill you, young Inuzuka. Perhaps you should have been more level headed," Orochimaru said before picking the girl up over his shoulder, his body and hers disappearing into a burst of flame.
"Kiba!" Ino said, moving to kneel next to him. He was grasping his arm in pain, the wound turning from red to purple within minutes. Ino placed her hand on his arm, her eyes closing in concentration. "Shikamaru," she finally said, her eyes snapping open quickly. "The poison cannot be drawn out by chakra. I have to use some herbs and an antidote."
"Can you stop the spreading?" Kiba asked, looking down at his arm. It was beginning to swell.
"I can slow it down but it won't be long before it spreads to your vital organs. We have to go back to Konoha."
"We can't!" Kiba said, shaking his head. "We're this close to finding his hideout and what his plan is."
"Kiba, if you don't get the antidote within the next twelve hours you'll be dead. This is advanced venom that I have never encountered. We need to take you back home," Ino insisted, funneling her chakra into his arm to stop the spread.
"I can go back by myself and be back in a few hours," Kiba said, moving to get up.
"No, that's a bad idea. I don't want to separate anyone from the group, especially now that we know for sure that it is Orochimaru. We have to relay our information to lord Hokage. Can you carry him, Choji?" Shikamaru asked, looking down at Kiba.
"I don't need to be carried!" Kiba growled, Akamaru coming up beside him to nudge his side with his nose.
"If you move too much the poison will spread more. You need to stay as still as possible," Ino insisted, standing up over him. She looked frustrated.
Akamaru barked and Kiba quickly slung himself over Akamaru's back, resting his head in Akamaru's fur. "Fine, let's go then," Kiba mumbled, anger growing within him. "But after we get this venom out we're coming back here to finish what we started. That bastard is going down."
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