Chapter 28: Team Return the Favor
I was sitting in a tree enjoying some peace and quiet, Hayner, Reno, Ren and Tenten were off on a mission in the Hidden Cloud village. I was a little sad I couldn't go but I had just gotten back from a hard mission, so they felt it was best if I sat this one out.
I could hear footsteps approaching looking down to see Kiba and Akamaru tilting my head curiously, "Hello you two."
"We got a mission, meet the rest of the team and I at the entrance." he said while I nodded saying, "What's the mission?"
"Not really sure but it involves that sand guy Gaara." Kiba said making me look towards him jumping down, "Well why didn't you say so let's go."
I ran off ahead of him going home to grab my stuff before making it to the entrance seeing Choji, Ino, Shikamaru, Kiba, and Lee. They all looked towards me as I approached seeing Lee wave smiling towards me.
"Is this everyone?" I asked looking around as Shikamaru sighed saying, "We are waiting on one more… not surprised he's late though."
Hearing someone running our way I turned to see Naruto who smiled saying, "Sorry couldn't start the mission on an empty stomach."
"Hey that's not fair I want to eat too!" Choji proclaimed but Shikamaru replied, "Alright enough we need to get moving."
"Wait a second I thought this was a big mission and yet all we have is Genin and you." Naruto said looking around while Shikamaru shook his head saying, "Everyone that is supposed to be here is."
"Well, what about Shino, Sakura, Neji and Hinata?" Naruto asked hearing Kiba say, "That's true Akamaru and I are the only shinobi here with tracking capabilities."
"So, what you have organized is a no nonsense take action group of ninja." Lee said as Shikamaru nodded replying, "Exactly and I'm calling this team Return the Favor. Now down to business you guys remember the incident when Sasuke left the village?"
We all nodded as he said, "The sand village was there to help us out so now we are returning the favor. Any of you got a problem with that?"
Shaking our heads Naruto pumped his fist in the air saying, "Alright let's go return a favor from a long time ago!"
"You know Naruto you're not in charge..." I said pointing towards Shikamaru as Choji said, "Yea we will be taking our orders from Shikamaru."
Shikamaru began going over the rough plan hearing he would be breaking us up into squads of two as we all listened quietly. He gave us the rundown of the mission as I frowned, someone was after Gaara and after everything he's been through, I can only imagine how he was taking this. We began making our way in the direction Shikamaru believed they would go through as he looked towards all of us.
"Ino you'll be with me." Shikamaru said as she nodded while he looked towards Choji, "You'll be with Kiba Choji."
"Since we are a number odd Yuna, Lee and Naruto you'll be going together." Shikamaru finished as Lee said, "Please re frame from any independent actions Naruto."
"Now the shinobi Naruto mentioned are already ahead of us tracking down the enemy." Shikamaru said as I looked towards him seeing we stopped moving.
"What is their plan then?" I asked while he replied, "Once they track the enemy we will swoop in for the fight as they heal and take care of the wounded. I had to think long and hard on this strategy and I know it's using a lot of manpower, but we don't know enough facts."
We began running together again knowing that Shino, Hinata and Neji were doing their parts to search the enemy. I was a little sad Reno and Hayner weren't accompanying us, but I suppose it couldn't be helped. Suddenly Shikamaru stopped as I landed on a branch beside Kiba hearing Shikamaru say we were going to wait.
"Why are we taking a break we should be moving." Naruto wined as Akamaru barked at him while Choji said, "Enough Naruto, Shikamaru is the squad leader, and we have to listen to him."
"Fine whatever..." Naruto said with a sigh as I leaned against the tree hoping Gaara and his siblings were alright.
It had been a few hours seeing mostly everyone else was now sitting except for Lee, Shikamaru and myself. I was beginning to wonder just what it was we were waiting for, but I also knew I had to trust that Shikamaru had a plan.
"How long are we going to have to wait here, it's been forever!" Naruto complained watching Shikamaru cross his arms saying, "Use your head, you can't just throw an ambush together. You've got to set it up and that means doing reconnaissance, which is what Neji, Shino and Hinata are doing now for us."
"They're doing what?" Naruto wondered confused making me sigh saying, "They are tracking the enemies and letting us know when Gaara and his siblings make contact with them."
"Oh..." Naruto said as I heard buzzing looking up smiling, looks like Shino's bugs were the messenger.
"That's the news I was waiting for." Shikamaru said as Shino's bugs began forming words watching them slightly impressed.
"Well, that's a drag, things have already gotten started… Kiba and Choji take to the west forest." Shikamaru said as I heard them say, "Got it."
"Ino and I will take the hills to the northeast." Shikamaru said pointing as he looked towards Naruto, Lee and myself saying, "You three go to the northwest forest. Make sure to stay with your team and back each other up, we will have at least one member of the reconnaissance team by you at all times in case things get hairy. Alright let's start operation Return the Favor."
"Right." we all said hearing Akamaru bark excited as we all jumped off into our groups ready to aid our allies.
Lee, Naruto, and I began jumping through the trees hearing battles off in the distance but knowing the other teams were taking care of it. Naruto jumped ahead of Lee and I seeing the determination in his eyes knowing the story between him and Gaara.
"Hey look." Naruto said as we all looked up seeing Gaara flinging around one of the enemies as I said, "Looks like he's doing okay."
"I only wish we could help." Lee replied as I turned back towards them suddenly feeling the ground start to shake stopping us.
Looking up I saw a beam of light followed by a giant water dragon crashing into him making me gasp, "With his sand, water will make it so he can't fight, we have to hurry."
We finally caught up to him as I looked towards Lee saying, "Go."
He nodded jumping first just before the enemy's weapon connected with Gaara seeing him kick it out of the way. I jumped up behind Lee as I heard Gaara say our names quietly making me turn to him flashing him a smile.
"The hero always saves the day at the last moment." Lee exclaimed flashing him a smile as I saw Naruto come up behind him saying, "Damn right he does!"
He knocked the guy to the ground as I twirled my kunai with Lee and Naruto beside me, "Sorry but you'll have to get through us first."