A few hundred meters off, a team of jōnin rested in simplicity and on logs.
The Sound Four whipped around, hearing the faint sounds of conversation. Comparatively, we'd be best served by an ambush, Kidōmaru thought swiftly.
The other Sound Four, gathering the idea from Kidōmaru's hand signal, two fingers raised and the thumb wrapped within the other two, nodded. The group hid within the branches of the trees.
"I never thought this mission would be too difficult. Patrolling the borders, after all."
"Quiet!" A ninja with long white hair put a finger to his lips.
The jōnin team hushed. Slowly, two of them left to check out the noises.
The other two looked around swiftly, watching for trouble.
The Sound Four concentrated, calling forth the cursed seals. The four descended around the two.
"You are Orochimaru-san's assistants." a ninja with a scarred face observed.
The Sound Four grinned.
"This mission is finished once we get her back." Kidōmaru declared with a smirk. His spider-like eyes glimmered.
Tayuya glanced at the others. "I'll take on the white-haired trash with Sakon-san." Seems they're going too fast. Leaf shouldn't have figured out so quickly about our arrival. Meaning they have some kind of inside information.
Thrumming energy surrounded the Sound Four's bodies.
The jōnin fell backward.
Sound
Moving as fast as they could through the forest, the retrieval team sensed something occurring ahead.
Akamaru whined loudly.
Kiba held up his arm. "Neji, you're up," he stated tensely, his expression serious.
Neji's eyes widened.
"What's going on?" Shikamaru demanded.
"I'm not sure how to describe it," Neji replied carefully. The Sanshigan widened. "The chakra emanating from these people is very unusual. I don't think we can take all of them on at once." Neji closed her eyes, blinking swiftly. "My Sanshigan is pretty close to the edge of being useless right now. I'm sorry, everyone. Kiba-kun, it's up to you now."
Shikamaru's eyes narrowed. "Hm. If there was a fight, we could probably collect useful information from it, but that would take long enough that we'd probably lose Kōju-chan." He paused, tapping his chin as he considered the matter.
Naruto grinned. "Then we keep going!" he shouted.
Kiba growled. "Don't decide such things for yourself, idiot!"
"Much as I hate to agree with Naruto-kun on such brash actions." Shikamaru remarked with a smooth coolness in his expression. "He's right. We can probably get that information later."
Naruto pumped his fist in the air.
"If there was a fight, then the enemy is probably expecting us. We'll be facing a lot of traps and ambushes," Shikamaru explained, hurrying up.
Chōji swallowed.
"Stay alert. If we are to have a chance, we must use our brains as well as our fists." Shikamaru stopped speaking.
"YEAH!" Naruto shouted. "I'll take care of these people!"
Kiba stopped mid-motion. "Smells terrible!" he shouted, pointing forward. "Those guys from earlier have been everywhere in here!"
Shikamaru extended his hands. "Stop!" he ordered swiftly.
Neji nodded. His white eyes widened. "Explosive seals. It's a barrier trap, right? Don't cross it."
"Multiple Shadow Clone Technique!" Naruto clapped his fingers together rapidly. Clones rushed forward through the exploding traps.
Shikamaru groaned. "Naruto-kun, you just alerted them to our presence!" he complained, slapping his forehead.
Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "Inefficient, but it worked. The traps are all gone by now." Sasuke stepped easily into the cleared space. "They're resting—the later traps were more effective."
Neji focused his eyes. The strange vision of the Sanshigan accelerated through the forest, eventually reaching the clearing in question. "I know where they are," he told the rest quietly.
Shikamaru shook his head. "Calm down." He squatted, his hands meeting in a pattern. "As soon as I calculate a strategy after that bonehead maneuver we'll go after the target."
Flight
The Sound Four sat in a circle within a clearing in the forest, their eyes narrowed.
"Stupid. We're losing time resting and probably getting pursued." Jirōbō scowled.
"It can't be prevented. Level two sucks out too much chakra." Tayuya looked over her shoulder at the others.
"We couldn't just use our own abilities? Come on! That's much more difficult a level!"
"Two jōnin are too dangerous to deal with that way." Tayuya's eyes narrowed. "Unlike your online games, we don't get extra lives."
A series of loud explosions interrupted the conversation.
"What the hell?" Tayuya muttered. She lifted her head. "Did Hidden Leaf bring some kind of army or something?" On top of that, one stupid enough to charge through a field of explosive traps?
Jirōbō scowled. "I'll go check it out."
"No. Kidōmaru, check it out quickly. We're going to fucking figure this thing out. If you go, Jirōbō, we'll be at a disadvantage without your fat ass to soak up damage."
Jirōbō's eyes narrowed.
You shits don't have the faintest clue about how to fight a war. I've got enough experience. I've got battle experience, which means that you shits don't have a chance against me.
The forest creaked.
Jirōbō walked away.
"It'd be quite troublesome." Tayuya's eyes narrowed. Looks like they're setting up a trap. That's just fine. Average trash doesn't have a chance at reaching me. Tayuya's fingers reached downward. She drew out a white flute. Since he's going for an ambush, he won't be expecting me—no. That's wrong. What are you thinking? She gritted her teeth. Stupid stupid stupid. Think two or three moves ahead, at least. I need to aim for some way of immobilizing the group without putting myself at risk.
Kidōmaru held out his arm. He threw rapidly, his face stern. An exploding tag shot through the air, slamming into a tree.
Shikamaru's eyes widened.
Now, let's see his next move!
Shikamaru rolled to a halt on the ground. "Wait, wait. I'm not here to fight. I came here to negotiate!"
"I'm listening, you piece of shit," Tayuya stated coldly.
"Perhaps you'd care to explain why your friends are preparing an ambush?" Kidōmaru demanded fiercely. He tugged on the string.
The group rolled out of the bushes.
Tayuya folded her arms across her chest. Her eyes narrowed.
Kiba reached downward. His hand grasped a bomb. He hurled the bomb at the ground. Smoke rose through the air.
"Something that simple won't help you." Kidōmaru smirked. "See, my webbing runs all around here. I can sense even the tiniest of vibrations."
The shadow stretched along the ground.
Kidōmaru's eyes widened. "Huh?!"
"Nice job! Shadow Mimic Success!" Shikamaru shouted, throwing his fist up in the air.
The faint music of a flute rose through the forest.
Shikamaru's eyes widened.
"Sorry, but that's my line." Tayuya's lips curled upward. "The success part, that is."
Naruto's eyes widened. He glanced downward. Huh? I can't move my limbs. It's like they're covered in ice!
"Aria Number One, Snow of the Ballerina." Tayuya bowed her head deeply. "The genjutsu is now complete."
Kiba's body shivered.
"You should feel like you're encased in ice." Tayuya smirked. "At any rate, I'll repeat it. I'm not averse to a deal."
This person is truly bizarre. Shikamaru tensed. His eyes glanced downward. I can see the ice too. He gritted his teeth. I can't believe I got outmaneuvered by a girl! How'd she do it? Wait. "Shadow Clone, then Substitution? That's a technique I'd expect Naruto-kun to use." His lips curled upward slightly. Not bad.
"Listen up carefully, all right?" Tayuya requested, her face stern. "I'll accept that deal. Only if you agree to follow Orochimaru-sama. However, you pieces of trash get to live. Sound all right?"
Naruto's eyes widened. "Like hell we'd agree to that!"
Tayuya sighed. "Worth a try." She turned around. "He speak for the rest of you little shits?" she questioned, spreading her arms wide. "If so, you're gonna die and rot in the fucking ground."
"He puts it differently than I would, but he expresses the same sentiments." Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "We're a team. I won't turn around until Kōju-chan returns with us."
"Ah." Tayuya's eyes widened. "You must be Uchiha Sasuke. Let me ask you something separately. I can let them go, and even let Kōju go free, if you come with us willingly."
Shikamaru gasped.
"Orochimaru-sama's very interested in those treasures of yours, your eyes." Tayuya pointed at Sasuke's eyes.
Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "Sorry, but I'm not the type to abandon my precious friends." Maybe once I was, but I'm not that stupid anymore.
"Ah, well." Tayuya sighed. "Worth a try. Always nice when people come along willingly." Her eyes narrowed. She turned away. "Jirōbō. Eat as much as your fat ass can handle. Leave Sasuke alive. The rest can die."
Shikamaru's eyes narrowed. Simple and straightforward instructions. How much does she truly understand about our movements? There are limitations to what we can do, and she seems to have grasped them quickly.
"Earth Style: Earth Prison!"
Walls of earth rose around the group.
What the hell? Shikamaru's body shook. "I'm starting to feel weak," he declared aloud.
"Yeah. Me too." Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "So this prison." Her legs shook slightly. "Neji-san, double-check me on this."
Neji closed his eyes. Sanshigan! He reopened the eyes rapidly. "Yeah. It's as Sasuke-san says."
Naruto's head tilted to one side.
"Our chakra is getting sucked out. On top of that, we can't move thanks to that genjutsu."
Shikamaru gritted his teeth. I made a mistake. I really underestimated my enemy. He lowered his hand. Thinking my way out of this.
Naruto gritted his teeth. He closed his eyes. I guess in these circumstances there's only one choice. Hey! Genkuro-san!
You want Kitsune-Tama-Bi, right?
The air glowed. Silver chakra blasted downward, surrounding the body. The tail whipped around in a rapid circle. The ball glowed.
Shikamaru's eyes widened.
The ball of energy slammed into the wall. The earth wall shattered. The dust fell to the ground.
"Wow. I can't believe you're still alive." Jirōbō sighed wearily. "But it's immaterial." He reached upward.
"Get him, quickly!"
"If Kōju-san crosses the territorial border, we won't have any chance at recovering her!" Neji countered.
Shikamaru scowled. "He's going to transmit the information that we're still alive. If that happens, we're going to be in a team battle against four people who have trained together frequently. There's a huge difference between that and our slow, stumbling movements."
Neji scowled. "What do you prefer, then? You have to recognize our—"
"Never mind; he's already done it." Shikamaru groaned. "Okay. We need to move—"
"Earth Style: Mud Boulder!" Reaching downward, Jirōbō pulled up the surface of the earth, forming a massive boulder.
"Eh?"
"That's not a technique—that's just you pulling up earth!"
"YAAH!" Jirōbō hurled the boulder at the group.
Naruto gasped. Oh, shit—
Sasuke's arm lifted. "Chidori Kusari-gama." The hand lowered. Lightning cut downward. The boulder fell in two pieces. "I'm getting tired of delaying like this." Sasuke lowered her hand. Her chain weapon fell to the ground.
Jirōbō's eyes widened in shock.
"SASUKE! HOW'D YOU LEARN THAT?!" Naruto demanded in shock. He clenched his fist. "You're way too cool!"
Projecting energy through air does not succeed. That's what I was doing wrong. Sasuke's eyes narrowed. Fine. Let's move forward. "I got it while you were practicing that Whirling Bullet thing, ero-nin. Let's move along." She studied the mountains. "Shikamaru-san. Of us, who do you think is best suited to the role of beating down this guy?"
"Chōji," Shikamaru stated instantly.
Kiba blinked.
"I'll leave it to you, then, Chōji-san." Sasuke walked away rapidly.
The others followed Sasuke.
Rapidly, the formation reemerged as the group gathered together.
A/N: As promised.
Naruto's Independent Action:At heart, Naruto is not a good person to have on a team unless he trusts and respects that team intensely. In other words, he's likely to act on his own, so sending Shadow Clones in to explode tags I felt was in character for him.
Tayuya's Ability Themes:I'll be doing more intensive research into these, but the names of her genjutsu will resemble classical music themes: sonatas, symphonies, fugues, arias, and so on. This is to reflect her somewhat changed personality.
Sasuke: Learning the technique early was also something I felt was in character for her.