Author's note: I finally have more reviews than chapters! Thank you so much my lovely readers! I hope you continue reading thank you so much!^^
Naruto does not belong to me but to Masashi Kishimoto
After being filled in by sakura, naruto got his answer.
" So that's what happened huh" Naruto said but inside he was worrying for Sasuke, not wanting sasuke to get hurt.
" Oh man why did you have to pull me into this anyway this whole thing is such a drag" Shikamaru complained a second time.
" It can't be helped ok, it's Kakashi sensei's order" Sakura said while sounding worried. They were running through the trees until Pakkun who was in front of them changed directions.
" This way!" Pakkun said.
" How long till we catch up!" Naruto asked to Pakkun.
" I don't know, a long time if they keep moving at this pace" Pakkun informed them.
" Ugh c'mon" Naruto growled getting anxious, not wanting sasuke to be alone with the red head.
" C'mon guys! Hurry it up!" Pakkun barked at them after a couple of minutes.
" What is it!?" Sakura yelled to pakkun.
" Did you see sasuke!?" Naruto questioned.
" No there are two squad's behind us. That's 8 ninja.. wait no there's one more. That's nine ninja following us" Pakkun said.
" what!" naruto said shocked.
" Aww man c'mon already give me a break here" skimamaru said. They landed on the ground still following Pakkun.
" Gah! What's the deal, why are we stopping!?" Naruto yelled confused.
" zip it and follow me. Were going back over our foot prints, if we pull this off our foot prints will seem to disappear" after Pakkun said that, he flipped back onto the tree behind them.
" Ugh is this really going to do anything, I mean they'd have to be pretty lame ninja if this throws them off the trial" Naruto complained but still kept walking backwards carefully.
" It'll help buying us this time, that's all we need now but if our pursuers get impatient. Succumb to the thrill of the chase and lose sight of our tracks, I certainly won't complain. Know what I mean" Pakkun said.
" Hurry up!" Sakura yelled to naruto while on the tree behind them with Pakkun. Where Naruto was still on the ground.
" We don't have all day you know" Shikamaru said who was also on the tree branch.
" I know quit bugging me!" Naruto yelled and turned back to jump on the branch. Once he did they left hoping the ninja's wouldn't find them. After a couple of moments Pakkun sniffed the air.
" This is not good, be prepared to face a ambush. There definitely back on our trail" Pakkun informed them.
" hnn, great there probably all chunnin or higher, well be wiped out if they catch us" Skikamaru said seriously. Sakura gasped.
" Listen guy's we don't have much choice were going to need to ambush them!" Naruto yelled to them.
" An ambush!? That could work, it would give us an advantage even if there are twice as many as them than there are of us. If we can just catch them off guard" Sakura said.
" No it's no good. I'm afraid that those ninja chasing us are Orochimaru's henchmen. My guess is that there all jounin level" Pakkun said which deflated there hope.
" Uhh, I really thought that would work but I guess it won't" Shikamaru said.
" Wait hold on why not? The level of an opponent doesn't have much to do with an ambush does it!?" Sakura asked.
" Wait what are you talking about?" Naruto asked not sure.
" You guy's just don't get it, let me explain. Yes an ambush is a key battle tactic and very beneficial but for it to work you have to meet two conditions." Shikamaru said sounding smart.
" Well what are they, tell us and we'll meet them!" Naruto yelled over to Shikamaru.
" Number one, the ninja on the run have to be completely quiet and must find the enemy first. Number two, they'll have to be able to catch the pursuers off guard at a location where they can do a lot of damage quickly then conceal themselves again just as quickly... And it's only under those two conditions that an ambush can truly be effective. Now the first condition won't be so hard since the ninja hounds nose can find our enemy. And the second one also seems to be in our favor since we know the geography of our village like the backs of our hands. However Orochimaru is a former leaf ninja so on the second condition, we're out of luck. " Shikamaru said.
" We are! Wait tell me why that is again" Naruto asked.
" Our pursuers have studied the layout of this village and I have to assume they've been put through stimulated practices for this mission. And on top of that there probably master's of the pursuit justu" Shikamaru sounded annoyed.
" So they know all the card's were holding" Sakura asked.
"" Well I don't really know, I suppose an ambush would give us an advantage but so many things are uncertain. Besides our enemy is a special unit that was specifically put together just for this operation and what are the four of us. A fool, a kunoichi with no particular talent, a mutt, and me the sugar who doesn't even want to be here. Look tactics are about clearly grasping a tough situation and formulating the best plan and right now only one plan makes sense. just one." Shikamaru explained.
" And that is..?" Sakura asked.
" A diversion that only looks like an ambush so one of us is gonna stay behind and slow them down." Shikamaru said.
" So one of us will be a decoy" Sakura said after revising shikamaru's plan.
" That's right if one of us can delay them, they shouldn't be able to find the rest of us. We'll be able to escape, of course the one who acts as a decoy will probably... die" It went quiet after shikamaru said that. They all landed on a separate branch with their heads down.
" So who's going to do it... We need the dog to follow sasuke so that means..." Shikamaru didn't finish his sentence.
" Alright I guess that I'm gonna have to-" Naruto was cut off by shikamaru.
" I'm the only one that can do it" Shikamaru said furrowing his brows.
" Shikamaru!" Sakura yelled.
" Why does it have to be you!" Naruto yelled.
" It's better than all of us than being wiped out besides I'm the only one of us who has a chance with pulling off this decoy act and if surviving this act. I mean after all shadow possession justu was invented as a delay tactic anyway I'll catch up with you later. Go on get going" Shikamaru jumped on the branch behind them.
" Were counting on you shikamru! Sakura" Naruto looked to Sakura and she nodded. And they left looking back at the figure of Shikamaru waving.