Previous Translations: Yorokobi - Pleasure/Delight/Joy
Yokubo - Desire/Lust
Kajo - Excess
Shifuku no Kurushimi - Blissful Throes/Blissful Suffering
Tatakainouta - Song of Battle
Zeitakuna Kutsu - Luxurious Torment
Hentai-ryu: Erokenho - Pervert Style: Erotic Fist Art
Konton - Chaos
Kanzen - Perfect
Henka - Change
Harakainokeru - Dispel
Aka-en - Red Flame
Aoi-en - Blue Flame
Kiiro-en - Yellow Flame
Orenji-en - Orange Flame
Tankoshoku-en - Pink Flame
Maho - Magic
Chishiki - Knowledge
Unmei - Fate
Nozomu - Hope
Hoho no Chenja - honestly this one is a mess, but roughly means Changer of Ways
Ryuketsu - Bloodshed
Chikara - Strength
Meiyo - Honor
Budo - Martial Arts
Ikari - Rage
Jumon - Incantation
Himitsu no Sewanin - Secret Caretaker(Keeper of Secrets)
Sento - Combat
Same no On'na - Shark-Woman
Maebure - Harbinger
Shibari no Ashikase - Binding Fetters
Kanpeki - Perfection
Reikan - the closest English word would be Inspiration, but it specifically refers to 'a divine creative impulse'
Sekkyo-sha - Preacher
Aijin - Lover
Kaen Hosha-ki - Flame Radiator (Flamer of Tzeentch)
Himeiwoageru - Which Screams (Screamer of Tzeentch)
Shikkan - Disease
Ai - Love
Zetsubo - Despair
Mi Haito - Undivided/Not Divided
Shibo - Aspiring
Koki - Exalted
Chakra no Bato - Coruscating Chakra/Chakra of Coruscation
Gyokai - Industry
In case someone somehow doesn't know, Hi - Fire
Don'yoku - Greed/Avarice
Yokuatsu - Tyranny/Oppression
Yami no Chichi - Father of Darkness/Dark Father
Raimeiton - Thunder Release, what Naruto has decided to name his mix of wind and lightning chakra
Shuryoju - Hunting Beasts (same word for plural or singular), an alternate name for Fiends of Slaanesh, best word I could find for them
Konton no Omo - Lord of Chaos
Kemonojin - a very jank way of translating Beastmen into Japanese, basically would mean Animal-Human
Gyumao - Ox Demon King
Eiyu - Hero
Gyumahime - Ox Demon Princess
Kajomahime - Excessive Demon Princess
Jiraiya frowned as he checked over the silk producing town, "Well, that Raiga killed pretty much everyone who didn't become one of those zombies." he summarized bluntly, "What a mess." he added quietly to himself sadly.
Asuma nodded in agreement, "Kurenai and Shino seem pretty wiped out, I told them both to just rest up, I think they're both near the verge of chakra exhaustion." he informed the Sannin, the two of them having been sent to make sure the jonin and her genin were okay and help with Raiga if the man was still an issue.
Hinata and Kiba both looked guilty, each feeling bad about retreating to leave their cell member and sensei behind to fight. Jiraiya noticed their expressions, "Don't feel too bad, I checked that grave and if you two stuck around both of you would be lucky to be alive. As it is, I think we should stay here until Shizune-chan and Tsunade-hime can come and cure this place, I don't know how serious it is but my sinuses have been itchy since I checked that grave." he attempted to cheer them up.
Anko didn't feel quite as bad, although she didn't like that Kurenai had stayed behind as well since it just made her look bad, but in her defense Tankoshoku had warned about how dangerous their enemy had been. Haku similarly didn't feel quite as guilty as Hinata or Kiba, as he lacked the connection the two had with Shino and Kurenai, and Jiraiya's words helped alleviate what guilt he did feel.
Kiba looked more concerned than before, "Wait, so even though they won this place is dangerous just to be here?" he asked.
Jiraiya laughed, "Yeah, seems that way." he confirmed carelessly.
Asuma coughed, "Shino confirmed it's slow acting, but we should stay put until Hokage-sama gives us the clear to return home." he chimed in.
Hinata looked suitably horrified, but Kiba just looked annoyed, "Damn, Shino's more dangerous than I am." he realized with a hint of bemusement despite the situation.
"I'm sure you'd cause less collateral if you went all out, so you've got that on him." Asuma assured with a lazy and dismissive shrug.
Kiba frowned, "Oh yeah?" he asked challenging, only realizing what he was denying a second later, "I mean, probably, but I bet I could rip into a whole army if I really tried!" he added, slightly defensive and feeling the need to talk himself up a little.
Hinata sighed, "I just want to go home." she grumbled, crossing her main arms and putting her third on her hip in a huff of annoyance at the situation. Mostly she was annoyed by being quarantined away from Naruto. Haku silently agreed with the Hyuga girl.
The next day, Hinata was startled by a familiar voice while she was helping move damaged supplies out of a warehouse, "Hinata-chan!" Naruto called out from a distance, crossing the distance by the time the girl turned to face him, the blonde getting into her personal space and grabbing her shoulders before she could react, "Are you okay!?" he asked frantically.
Jiraiya was surprised by this development as well, "What the hell are you even doing here!?" he asked, pointing accusingly at the blonde with a furious expression as he assumed the hermaphrodite had run off on his own.
Naruto grinned proudly, "Iryonin no Naruto-sama is here to help!" he answered with a thumbs up, earning blank stares from everyone present.
"Naruto-sama ran ahead as soon as he smelled the scent of his lovers." Maemi piped up as she caught up, Shizune and Tsunade arriving a moment later, the Hokage giving the younger blonde a slight glare. Haku failed to suppress a giggle at the antics of the energetic young hermaphrodite.
Jiraiya raised an eyebrow, "You brought Naruto?" he asked, surprised that Tsunade would do that.
The Godaime Hokage sighed, "According to Karin-chan, once he found out his future wife needed medical evaluation no amount of cannabis, tobacco, or sake could calm him down." she informed, "So, rather than have a neurotic blonde powerhouse on the verge of having a break down back at home I brought him along. Besides he's trying to learn iryojutsu anyway so he may as well assist Shizune-chan and learn something." she explained with a shrug.
Kiba glanced curiously at Naruto, "Is your liver okay?" he asked, to which Naruto just looked confused.
"Somehow it's fine." Shizune answered, "I don't get it either." she added at the confused looks she got.
"Built. Different." Naruto bragged proudly, crossing his arms and puffing out his chest as he stuck his nose up despite taking a moment to realize what they were talking about.
Tsunade rolled her eyes, "Alright, enough of that. We have work to do." she ordered, beginning the process of checking over everyone who was infected.
Tsunade swiftly learned that the infection was mostly harmless, for a time and to a degree, but difficult to treat. It was fungal but caused pustules to grow inside the sinuses and lungs, so Tsunade had to personally scrub the fungal infection with help from one of Jiraiya's fuinjutsu. Mostly this was tedious for the woman, but it needed to be done and no other iryonin actually had the required skill, even if she'd had both hands Shizune wouldn't have been capable.
Naruto was not all that helpful, mostly acting as an assistant and trying to learn more about medicine and treatments but he clearly had trouble following the advanced subject they were dealing with. Maemi had been prepared to attempt assisting if need be, but to her shock Tsunade was actually able to treat the Nurgle infection, she hated to show respect to a mortal besides her master but she had to admit that the Godaime Hokage was a doctor without peer to be able to pull that off.
The biggest issue was treating Shino and Kurenai, "Why?" Funben asked simply and innocently.
"It's too infectious and harmful to others." Maemi retorted to the other Imp.
"Just don't be hurt by it." Funben retorted childishly, "Nurgle-jiisama won't like taking away gifts, nope no way no!" he added insistently.
Shino sighed, "I am not trying to spread plagues, is there a way to make it less infectious?" he asked, ignoring the pouting he received from his Familiar in response.
"Could we modify a rebreather?" Shizune suggested, not wanting to put Kurenai or Shino through earning the ire of their god.
Tsunade pinched the bridge of her nose, "How are fungal growths that gather pus a gift?" she asked, wondering what twisted logic the Bubo would respond with.
"All life is a gift!" Funben responded cheerfully and innocently, "Plus it gathers all the toxins in one spot!" he added.
"That's useless if the toxins are gathered in the lungs!" Tsunade shot back angrily, barely restraining the urge to dispel the Imp and continue the treatment regardless.
Funben looked confused by this logic, and Shino swiftly realized why, "We are marked, so the negative effects are lessened I think." he pointed out.
Kurenai looked less certain, "You sure about that?" she asked, not fully into the idea of being a plague carrying ninso.
Shino shrugged, "I would be dead by now if I was wrong." he pointed out, pulling aside his jacket and lifting his shirt and haramaki to remind them of the hole in his torso.
Tsunade raised an eyebrow, "That never closed?" she wondered aloud, "Well, in that case he's definitely got a point. That should be a mortal wound by all rights." she pointed out dryly.
"Shall I ask Jiraiya-sama to work on some kind of Fuin to help with the rebreather idea?" Shizune asked, moving to leave when Tsunade nodded in agreement.
Eventually the town was cleaned up and as safe as Tsunade and Jiraiya could make it, but it would likely be some time before it was occupied and producing silk yet again. The Hokage couldn't help but lament the economic loss, but she supposed at least it wasn't Orochimaru as she suspected. She decided not to mention to anyone who she had originally suspected, she figured others were probably automatically blaming him as well, Jiraiya had mentioned assuming Orochimaru being behind the attempted theft of the Hoshi some time ago.
What surprised the Godaime more than the lack of Orochimaru's involvement was Kurenai being marked by the god of despair, as while Khorne rarely marked those outside the Inuzuka clan and no one besides Sasuke had yet to be marked by Tzeentch, only the Aburame had been marked by Nurgle up until Kurenai. If Tsunade would have assumed any jonin commander to be marked by the morbid god of decay she would have assumed someone like Kakashi, a man she was pretty sure was suffering from survivors guilt and post traumatic stress.
Then again, so far Kakashi was the sole shinobi marked as Undivided in the entire village so far, at least as far as Tsunade was aware.
Naruto thought Shino's new rebreather combined with his horn made him kind of resemble one of Zabuza's accomplices, he couldn't recall the name of which one was which though. The rebreathers themselves were specially designed to filter the exhaled breath of the wearers, so not too dissimilar from a regular rebreather, but with a Fuin array that automatically locked away any toxins that were filtered. Even with that, Jiraiya warned the filters would need to be replaced regularly, so he'd teach Shino and Kurenai the required Fuinjutsu once they were back in the village.
The Aburame in question kept glancing at Naruto as they left Kinu-gai behind, not that anyone could tell with his glasses, but he was still trying to reconcile how much difficulty he'd had dealing with Raiga and wondered if Naruto had similar difficulties he simply hadn't heard of. The fact Raiga had been using makeshift blades instead of his Raito and had been partially crippled only added to his worry, especially since Shino would think he would have been stronger than Naruto had been back then.
Because Naruto had definitely grown stronger in a short period of time, Shino couldn't help but feel it slightly unfair. He knew he had an edge in chakra control and his iryo ninjutsu was further along, but that was hardly a consolation compared to the raw power that Naruto just seemed to have. The Aburame didn't know anything of Jinchuriki or Chakra no Bakemono, so he was at a loss for why the former class clown had such growth and couldn't help but wonder what the cause was, with no other evidence he could only conclude that the blonde was simply further along with blessings of his god.
Asuma was worried about Kurenai, the fact she'd been struck with an illness that couldn't be removed because her new god viewed it as a blessing concerned him. He kept it to himself for the journey, the two weren't very open about their budding relationship yet. As his mind wandered the bearded jonin lit himself a cigarette before he noticed a bird flying overhead, the species of bird and the fact it was alone prompted him to take a closer look and see it was a covert signal for help from a nearby patrol.
"Hokage-sama," Asuma began to speak up, worried due to the direction the nearest patrol was in, not far from the border with Kusa no Kuni, and Kusagakure had a nasty habit of ignoring Iwa shinobi who were just passing through. More worrying was he knew who was on the patrol, he wasn't technically supposed to know patrol details, but it was hard for a jonin commander not to keep track of what missions their genin cell were doing without them.
"I noticed," Tsunade answered with a frown, considering who among them was still fresh, "Shizune-san, go with Asuma-san to assist that patrol." she ordered.
"Can I go too?" Naruto asked eagerly.
"I am still combat capable." Shino spoke up as well, surprising the others with his own eagerness, even if it was far less enthusiastic and more controlled than Naruto's.
Tsunade sighed, "No, if I send you two, Hinata-san will want to go, then Kiba-san will want to go." she refused, "Two jonin should be more than enough to relieve a patrol asking for assistance, I'm only even sending Shizune-san because their iryonin may need medical assistance." she explained, giving a quick hand signal for the two jonin in question to leave.
Shizune nodded in agreement and followed Asuma with shunshin, leaving the rest of the rather large travelling group to go on ahead. Haku hopped down to join the main group, "I would say that I also would have liked to go, had Naruto-kun been allowed." he pointed out.
Tsunade sighed, "Yeah, that too, now come on, they'll be fine." she assured, leading the return to Konoha. Jiraiya felt sympathy for his old teammate, but he was glad she was Hokage instead of himself.
Shizune knew she wasn't technically supposed to be aware of the patrol routes either, but being the Hokage's assistant awarded her knowledge that was technically above her pay grade and she figured she knew why Asuma was so eager to get to the patrol calling for assistance, "Your genin cell are on this mission, aren't they?" she asked for confirmation.
"Three genin and one chunin on patrol," Asuma confirmed with a nod, "not sure why since it's usually two genin to two chunin for patrols." he added dryly.
Shizune frowned, "It'll be a while before we fully recover our forces after Orochimaru's invasion with Suna." she pointed out, "Although the injured are all healed by now, Tsunade-sama can't revive those who died. Given the Konton Gundan we've been able to reopen the academy sooner than we thought, but that just meant less chunin for missions. I think your cell are with Hana Inuzuka though, she has three ninken and knows some iryo ninjutsu herself." she tried to explain and reassure her fellow jonin.
Asuma still felt concerned for his genin, but the fact that the chunin they were with had three shinobi hounds with her helped assuage some of his concerns. That was almost as good as having four chunins looking after his students, even if three of them weren't human.
Shikamaru sighed in a mix of exasperation and relief, "Kagemane no Jutsu, successful." he intoned lazily, having caught the majority of their opponents, a large group of older genin from Iwagakure. At least he assumed they were genin, they didn't have flak vests or seem threatening enough to be chunin at least. The most threatening thing was their numbers, an advantage he deprived them of with one jutsu after using himself as bait.
The Nara heir took a moment to appreciate his accomplishment, but unfortunately halting the movements of twelve enemy shinobi was not enough to come out on top of the current battle his patrol found themselves in. Iwa was clearly trying to overwhelm their patrol with sheer numbers, Shikamaru wondered what fool calling themselves a tactician thought that was a good idea, but he couldn't deny the challenge it gave.
Six enemy he missed came at him while he was focused on his Kagemane no Jutsu, but were intercepted by Hana Inuzuka and her ninken, not that Shikamaru could tell the difference between the young woman and her hounds at the moment due to the two Inuzuka hijutsu that made the human more bestial and the ninken capable of taking human form. Choji and Ino stayed close to their lazy teammate, just in case any of the remaining enemy got past Kiba's elder sister.
It seemed they'd made the right decision as two more enemy leaped at the three genin from behind, Choji expanded his left arm and backhanded both of them aside, wincing and pulling his arm back to check the cut he'd earned from one of the enemy having enough reaction speed to strike him the moment the man was struck. The two were suitably dealt with at least, one was unconscious and with the way his legs were splayed it was a safe guess the spine of the man had broken on impact with the tree Choji and sent the two into, but the other slowly managed to shakily rise despite a clear concussion.
Ino had an irritated look on her face, "Just what the hell do you bastards want with Konoha anyway!?" she snapped, hoping her team would not be the first to learn Iwa was declaring proper war on them. Shikamaru had other concerns, wondering if any other patrols had fallen along the border with Kusa due to Iwa shinobi being allowed through. It was very concerning to the Nara, as he knew the village was barely handling the strange experimental bakemono Otogakure kept sending at them, adding in a major hidden village like Iwa, especially with Kusa not seeming to do anything to stop them, was another concern.
Shikamaru was surprised when one of the Iwa shinobi actually answered, confirming to him that they were likely genin, "Don't give us that crap, you Konoha bastards are militarizing more than Kumo lately!" a plain young man with brown hair and black eyes snapped right back at Ino, seemingly just as righteously indignant as the blonde kunoichi.
"Militarizing?" Ino asked in a confused tone, clearly unsure of what he meant, "What are you talking about?" she asked, Shikamaru was curious too and glad his female teammate was smart enough not to say out loud that Konoha was just trying to recover still to an enemy agent.
"Don't play dumb with us!" The same Iwa ninja demanded angrily, "Our information network isn't as bare bones as you assholes seem to think! Did you really think we wouldn't notice one of your fellow Konoha shinobi gathering Kekkei Genkai and powerful weaponry? Or about some experimental breed of shock soldier?" he asked rhetorically.
Ino blinked owlishly as she realized they were talking about Naruto for the first part, but the shock soldier line had her completely lost. Shikamaru however realized what they were talking about, "If you mean the Kemonojin we didn't even make those." he retorted dryly.
Every captured Iwa shinobi gave him looks of disbelief, "Bullshit!" the same one to speak before continued, "We know you lost control of them and had to move them to your forest of death!" he accused.
Shikamaru raised an eyebrow, the enemy was surprisingly well informed, albeit they were wrong on certain key details but they clearly would not be convinced of such a thing. He wondered how deep into Konoha their information network went, he knew espionage was a ninja thing, but he never realized just how much the other villages were able to find out about what was happening in his home.
Choji and Ino just looked visibly confused, Hana and her ninken leaped down to surround the genin in a protective formation as their opponents backed off to surround the group. Even with Shikamaru capturing the majority of the enemy they were still outnumbered, and the Nara knew he couldn't hold his Kagemane no Jutsu forever. Then the worst case scenario happened, more Iwa shinobi arrived, these ones with flak vests.
"So that's why those others were fighting defensively against Hana-sensei." Ino grumbled, surprising even her own teammates that she'd noticed that, Choji in particular hadn't picked up on such a detail.
The apparent leader of the Iwa forces, a kunoichi with brown hair in a ponytail and a ninjato strapped to her back, smirked down at the surrounded Konoha shinobi, "That's right, these genin were just to tire your little patrol out, we're here to clean up." she bragged confidently, "We've also heard certain shinobi in your ranks can't deny challenges." she added, clearly smug about the plan her forces were carrying out.
Shikamaru felt irritated that the woman was beating him strategically just by throwing genin away like pawns, "Your strategy is as wasteful as it is barbaric, but I suppose it is still a strategy." he begrudgingly confessed, putting down the tactic even as he acknowledged it.
The kunoichi sneered as one of her chunin, or at least presumed chunin due to the flak vest hopped down, "I issue an open challenge." the man said as he pulled out a tanto.
Shikamaru managed to hide a flinch before Hana sighed, "Fuck, I guess I got no choice." she grumbled, the other three Iwa chunin issued their own challenges, and in Hana's form the three Inuzuka ninken accepted. The Nara was glad he wasn't being forced to accept, but he had an idea that he thought might work.
"I challenge you then." Shikamaru declared as he released his hijutsu, surprising his cell as sweat dripped down his forehead. Partially he was tired from using the Kagemane no Jutsu on so many for so long, but mostly he wasn't sure if his plan would work.
The Iwa kunoichi looked offended at the challenge, "As if! I'm not fool enough to be bound by the same twisted honor as whatever Kami you Konoha bastards have started serving!" she hissed angrily.
"So what? Too scared to fight a genin one on one?" Shikamaru asked with a taunting smirk, shinobi may not put much stock in honor, but few wanted to be seen as a coward.
To his surprise the Iwa kunoichi didn't even seem tilted by that remark, "I won't be fool enough to underestimate you, even if you are a genin." she said, her tone indicating a past experience influencing her caution.
Shikamaru sighed at his misfortune, he'd hoped to find a weak point to exploit psychologically at the least but their opponents weren't eager to lose their numerical or logistical advantage. Even worse the enemy leader wasn't as arrogant as she seemed, from the sound of it she'd survived being humbled by someone she should have been able to defeat, the Nara wondered what the story was there but he doubted the woman would be eager to recount past failings to a current enemy.
The issue was clear cut, but had no solution, the worst kind of problem as far as Shikamaru was concerned, "I suppose it's better to be a living coward than a dead fool if you don't intend on letting loose ends get away." he decided to taunt again, but this one had a hidden purpose, and from the sudden hesitation of the surrounding Iwa genin they'd all picked up on it. The woman looked suitably furious with the accusation as her subordinates regarded her suspiciously, even they noticed they'd been fodder compared to the Konoha genin they were pit up against.
"How dare you!?" The kunoichi snapped angrily, unsheathing her ninjato and leaping in a singular motion, the grace behind said action was impressive and Shikamaru was barely able to duck back in time to avoid losing his head. Ino palmed a kunai and moved to intercept but was parried and cut along her right arm up to her shoulder for her efforts, although this did give Choji enough opening to partially expand his own right arm and slam an enlarged fist into the kunoichi.
Unfortunately the Akimichi struck solid rock, a result of a kawarimi from the Iwa kunoichi. Shikamaru didn't waste time looking for where the attack would come from, simply used his hijutsu to connect to Choji, grabbed Ino, and leaped aside to avoid the retribution of the irate enemy ninja. Said angered kunoichi proved her prowess by destroying the spot the three genin had stood with a dragon of earth and stone, not a ninjutsu Shikamaru recognized by name but definitely an A rank Doton no Jutsu at minimum.
Shikamaru released Choji as the group of older enemy genin recovered enough to remember they were supposed to be trying to kill the Konoha genin, and the Akimichi expanded both arms to fend off the charge of a group of four, but another eight went around him to go at Shikamaru and Ino. The laziest member of genin cell ten scowled as he struggled to come up with a plan on the fly, his sensei always called him a genius for his prowess at shogi but now that felt pointless.
What good was an aptitude for a board game with rules that enforced an even playing field against an opponent who stacked the odds in their own favor before attacking? Shikamaru didn't bother thinking of his opponents tactics as cheating, it was simply playing the game of war better than any board game could simulate. Despite his morose thoughts the Nara glanced around for an out as his enemy surrounding him came at him and his teammate with kunai at the ready, too many to parry or dodge and he couldn't use Kawarimi no Jutsu while protecting Ino.
The Yamanaka heiress however was livid, in her mind the enemy was absolutely cheating, both her teammates were in danger, and her talents were ill prepared for such a hopeless situation. Ino hadn't even learned her clan hijutsu that would allow her to turn her opponents against each other, her father had said she still needed more chakra for that. Regardless, Ino was a kunoichi and palmed a kunai, diving in between two opponents and scoring a glancing blow against one as she dived through their guard.
Shikamaru was as surprised as their opponents, he could tell such a tactic had only worked on pure luck and that the enemy had not expected it but relying on luck rubbed him the wrong way. So the young Nara didn't capitalize on the opening his teammate made immediately, instead he focused, pushing his chakra to the limit and making the hand sign required for his clan hijutsu, "Kagemane no Jutsu," he intoned, surprising his already startled opponents around him further by catching them, "success." he gloated with a smirk.
Choji rushed to leap between Ino and the enemy leader, but Shikamaru did a hop and twisted his body to force his captured enemies to do the same, tossing his arms towards the Iwa kunoichi as she bared down on his team. In response eight kunai from the captured enemy launched at their leader, the expression on each Iwa genin was well worth how inefficient the tactic had been. Not that Shikamaru had much in the way of options, but he couldn't keep a proud smirk from his face as he forced his opponent on the defense with her own subordinates.
This was more short lived than expected, as the woman proved she was above chunin level by far when she was replaced with a rock in a puff of smoke, "Aw fu-" the Nara began to lament before an elbow slammed into his side from behind, he was pretty sure the blow cracked some ribs but that was the least of his concerns as he was sent rolling. The blow had stumbled a few of the captured enemy genin as well, but Shikamaru couldn't maintain the Kagemane no Jutsu long enough to make that count for much.
"Shika!" Ino called out in alarm, her worry for her old friend causing her to default to an old childhood nickname, Shikamaru hadn't heard that in a while but he was pretty sure the warm fuzzy feeling he got from hearing it was mostly his body going into shock from the blow he just took.
Hana, or maybe one of her ninken as Shikamaru had lost track of who was who, finally managed to defeat their opponent and leaped to fight the Iwa kunoichi. Shikamaru saw his opportunity for a costly victory and took it, "Kagemane no Jutsu," he practically growled as he forced his chakra, depleted as it was, to stretch his shadow. However the woman had already moved so he managed to only catch one enemy genin, the fact said enemy was clearly older and more experienced did little to make the Nara feel better about his failing as his vision went dark at the edges.
Ino and Choji both leaped to capitalize on the minor opening Shikamaru made, the Akimichi managing to grab two enemy shinobi in his expanded hands and squeezing them into unconscious with a cracking sound and screams of pain from the two as the Yamanaka covered him by parrying thrown shuriken out of the air with her kunai.
Shikamaru felt bad, not just for failing to capture his opponent despite their difference in rank and ability, but physically he'd exhausted himself. This only served to make him feel worse as he noticed the frantic and wild eyed look of desperation in Ino's eyes as she looked to him for guidance, for a moment he wondered why anyone would want the pressure of being in charge as just having his team rely on him was stressing the young genius. The lazy young genin struggled to force himself to stand, but couldn't find his second wind.
For a moment Shikamaru felt the hopelessness of the situation, "Being gifted really is a pain." he grumbled to himself, closing his eyes and focusing on thinking of a plan. Ino broke him from his thoughts by tackling him out of the way of a thrown kunai, Choji leaped to intercept multiple older enemy genin, keeping them away from his teammates but sustaining more shallow cuts on his arms, "Damned cowards..." the Nara growled, forcing his body to move past the point of exhaustion to pull out a kunai of his own.
Ino grit her teeth, as angered as her teammate was, "You cowardly bimbo bitch!" she suddenly shouted at the enemy jonin, her outburst startling the enemy genin who hadn't expected such catty insults directed at their commanding officer. The jonin woman in question looked even more stunned than her subordinates, "You heard me!" Ino snapped at the looks she received, "You don't even have the guts to fight a genin one on one!? Every Kami should spit on your name, you third rate bitch! I bet you don't even have any special talents besides being a callous whore!" the Yamanaka pulled on all her experience being a bitch in the academy.
The Iwa shinobi all stared in stunned disbelief, insults weren't uncommon in battle, but Ino's were as childish as they were not fit for children, "What did you just say, Konoha brat?" the woman asked dangerously, narrowing her eyes but not turning away from Hana, or whichever ninken disguised as Hana, she was fighting. Shikamaru figured Ino could probably tell which Hana was the actual chunin and which three Hana were actually ninken, but he didn't bother asking, especially not after that verbal tirade.
"Are you as deaf as you are useless!?" Ino retorted with an angry stomp, "I said; you're nothing but a third rate bitch with a second rate weapon, your hair is basic, your outfit is tacky, and I bet your body count makes it seem like you're better with guys than you are!" she reiterated, adding further insults to her tirade.
"What the fuck kind of kunoichi are you!?" The woman snapped back, "Who cares about childish shit like outfits, style, and sexual encounters in a profession like this!?" she ranted, putting down the insults as childish but still clearly riled by them.
"I'm a better kunoichi than you, because at least I don't throw my boys into a fight they can't win to satisfy my flat chested ego!" Ino responded with the same catty tone she'd perfected in the academy. Shikamaru could barely believe that such a skill, if it could be called a skill, was actually proving useful in a life or death struggle.
"Who are you calling flat!? You have less chest than I do!" The Iwa kunoichi snarled at the insult directed at her chest, growing increasingly red in the face.
"You're an adult though!" Ino pointed out venomously, "If you're such a good kunoichi then face me one on one, or do you lack even the courage to fight an exhausted and wounded younger girl? You're clearly too scared of my teammate to face him." she added with a gesture to Shikamaru, who raised an eyebrow as he tried to decipher Ino's tactic.
If her tactic was to enrage the enemy into charging recklessly, it worked. Shikamaru wondered what the purpose of such an action was though, against an enemy of comparable skill goading an enemy into a blind rage might be an advantage, but Ino was a genin and the older woman was clearly either a jonin or a very experienced chunin. Then the Yamanaka flinched away from her charging opponent, sliding slightly behind Shikamaru.
The Nara realized with some exasperation that Ino was trusting him entirely with whatever happened next, Shikamaru wasn't sure whether he felt honored or irritated once he realized the half baked plan. Regardless of how he felt about the shoddy plan, the lazy genin was not eager to let his teammate down. So he stepped up to the challenge, a bit more literally than he'd thought he would, but he stepped to meet the blind charge of the older kunoichi and slammed his kunai into her forearm as she swung at Ino.
The blow took the jonin by surprise, and halted her long enough for Ino to duck in under her guard and deliver a vicious right hook to the liver. Despite the difference in age, ability, and strength, even the jonin was stumbled by a kunai to the arm and a liver punch. Choji attempted to help finish it with a blow to the back of her skull, but the woman was gone with a kawarimi. The three genin of cell ten quickly got into a basic formation, back to back, as they were still surrounded by enemy genin.
Hana and her ninken made swift work of the remaining enemy, but the kunoichi didn't show her face again, indicating the woman had gone to lick her wounds. The Konoha ninja were appalled that the woman left her subordinates behind like that, but rounded up who they could capture. Except for Shikamaru who collapsed against a tree, without adrenaline keeping him going he finally drifted into unconsciousness.
Ino was alarmed by this and quickly checked on him, "Oh thank every Kami." she muttered to herself, relieved to find his chakra exhaustion was only mild and that his body was not completely shutting down. However she was startled by something else she found, "That's-!" she gasped, there under his shirt, on Shikamaru's chest was the mark of Slaanesh.
Such was the scene Asuma and Shizune arrived to see, the older man frowned as he took in the state of his team, but he was relieved to find them all alive. Shizune quickly moved to assist Ino with Shikamaru, surprised as well to see the mark that had halted Ino from administering further treatment. The woman didn't want to admit it, but she had assumed Shikamaru lacked the ambition to be marked by any of the Kami, let alone the one who emphasized excess, perfection, and obsession.