Chapter 57: Penny for Thoughts

Continuing our chase on the bat I looked over to see Shino's bugs start to crawl along his face which wasn't something they normally did saying, "Shino your bugs are acting weird."

"They sense a weird chakra." he said as Naruto tilted his head saying, "Weird chakra?"

"They've never felt so much chakra before..." Shino said hearing the worry in his voice while Akamaru barked hearing Kiba say he was sensing the same thing.

Looking forward the bat flew into a thick fog as Shino said the weird chakra was coming from that direction but it wasn't the enemies we saw before. Dropping down into the fog we pressed on until Kakashi put his hand up signaling all of us to stop.

"What is it Kakashi-sensei?" I asked seeing him put his hand down noticing the smoke screen they were putting down as he said, "They are waiting for the ambush but if we take too long with them we won't know what's happening at the lake… we should split into two groups."

"Naruto you go to the lake while we create a diversion." Kakashi said hearing Naruto reply, "I don't get to fight?"

"Our main concern now is researching what's happening at the lake, we will join you once we're finished here." Kakashi said as he nodded jumping off going into the thickness of the fog.

"Are you sure someone shouldn't go with him?" I asked seeing Kakashi look towards me saying, "Have faith in him."

Making a face I nodded knowing he was right as I looked towards the direction he went, be careful Naruto…

Jumping down into the smoke screen after Shino's bug clone my eyes scanned around barely able to see anything.

Using a kunai I cut my palm open flicking my wrist to attach my blood to the ground around us saying, "If someone touches my blood I will be able to feel it."

The quietness of the area was disrupted by a large series of roars as I looked in the direction I assumed was the lake, "What the hell is that..."

We all began creating a circle so all of our backs were to one another giving us a compete line of vision into the smoke. Feeling my shoulder brush against Shino and Yamato I could hear Kiba complain about Shino being too close while he retorted back he didn't want to be either.

It was quiet until we heard from above us, "Look out!"

We all moved hearing metal clanking with metal seeing Sakura, Sai and Hinata land beside us noticing that Hinata was looking much better. With her Byakugan we'd be able to see the enemy even if they didn't step on my blood.

Feeling the air suddenly grow thicker I tensed up seeing the others do the same as the smoke screen began to dissipate hearing a roaring in the distance. Turning quickly my eyes widened seeing a huge wave heading straight for us as Kakashi told us to brace ourselves and move. All of us jumped for higher ground as I felt something hit the back of my head knocking me down towards the wave hearing someone yell my name.

Shino

My bugs flew around us trying desperately to find Yuna who got separated from us all when the log hit her. They began buzzing around my fingers indicating they couldn't sense her which probably had something to do with the water and what caused it to crash towards us. Standing on a bolder looking over the water my eyes scanned it frowning, I should have stayed beside her to make sure she got out safe.

"Found her." Hinata said pointing as Kakashi jumped towards a figure laying on a floating log face down jumping towards them both.

Kakashi turned her over and began rubbing her back patting it gently seeing her fidget before coughing up water she had been chocking on. Her eyes fluttered open as she looked weakly towards Kakashi who smiled at her.

"Kakashi-sensei…" she said weakly going to sit up as he placed a hand on her saying, "Glad you are alright."

"Yea… I'm okay but is everyone else alright?" she asked seeing him help her up replying, "I think so, but we need to look for Naruto, are you okay to walk."

She smiled nodding her head as he placed a hand on her shoulder seeing her look over noticing me, "Glad you're okay too Shino."

"Yeah." I said stuffing my hands in my pockets as she walked beside Kakashi staying behind them, maybe she didn't like me after all.

Yuna

Kakashi left to go find Naruto with Kiba and Akamaru to guide him seeing the mist grow thicker around us. Sakura looked me over and deemed me okay for now as we all gathered hearing Naruto's voice in the distance. Walking towards it he was talking to Kiba and Kakashi but they stopped noticing us seeing Naruto was also okay.

"We've assembled everyone back together." Kakashi said relieved while Shino said, "However it doesn't mean our problems are over just yet."

Shino held his hand out as I looked seeing his bugs just flying in a circle acting weird again while he said, "Their sense of direction is off so we can't use them for reconnaissance."

"Seriously?" Kiba said shocked as Yamato looked towards Kakashi saying, "It must have started after the fog got thicker."

"On our side Naruto saw an illusion so it seems this is no ordinary fog." Kakashi confirmed making me look towards Naruto, "What happened at the lake?"

He began telling us about a giant turtle that went haywire causing the woman who could use crystal jutsu to attack it. She had encased it in crystal, but it managed to break free and began thrashing around which caused the disturbance in the water. Then he mentioned one of the toads said it was the Three-Tailed, one of the tailed beasts that the Akatsuki was after.

"Do you think Orochimaru is working with the Akatsuki to capture the tailed beasts?" I asked seeing Kakashi close his eye replying, "Probably not but we should get somewhere out of this fog so we can regroup and think of a new strategy plan."

Jumping alongside Shino he had his head down in thought making me frown, with his insects acting strange it must have been difficult for him. Seeing a spot up higher with less fog we all landed as Yamato told Sai to take Hinata up higher to get a better look at the fog with her Byakugan.

Watching them fly off Sakura came over to me smiling as she said, "I know you don't have a bad injury, but I'd still like to heal the cut on the back of your head."

Nodding I felt a warm glow wash over my head sighing at the headache that had been thumping since I gained consciousness went away. I was embarrassed that I had been beaten down by a log so easily looking down at my scars, when we met the enemy again, I would give it my all.

"All good now." Sakura said standing up as I did the same seeing Shino standing a little way from everyone else.

Walking towards him his hands were in his pockets as I said, "How are you holding up?"

"Fine, though I wonder if the longer we wait the more chance of the Akatsuki showing up… at least if we are in the midst of a tailed beast." he said finally turning towards me as I replied, "With their numbers down after the encounter with Shikamaru and Naruto I doubt they'd be so bold to come out now."

"Perhaps but they may not want to seem weak, besides when given a chance to catch prey you don't hesitate when it's right in front of you." he said making me frown looking towards Naruto, "If that's the case we should proceed with caution."

Hearing wings flap we looked up seeing Sai and Hinata making their way back as he walked past me replying, "Yes we should."

"Did you find anything?" Kakashi asked Hinata as she landed beside us watching her nod, "Yes, this is no ordinary fog, there is quite a bit of chakra inside it. Also, it seems to be covering the lake completely, it's a considerable amount of chakra that's centered there specifically."

"We are right to assume the fog was produced by the Three-tails." Yamato said seeing Kakashi nodded, "Yes and from what Naruto said this fog has the power to make you hallucinate."

"So right now it's too dangerous to approach the lake?" I asked seeing Naruto pipe in, "That's not good, he's still inside there..."

"Who is?" Kiba questioned as Naruto turned to Sakura, "Sakura, remember I told you before I met him on the way here?"

"Ah when you were delirious." Sai said with a smile making Naruto make a fist replying, "Quit being rude I know he's still on the lake! He's not a shinobi or anything so we have to help him."

"I'm sorry Naruto I can't allow it." Kakashi said in a serious tone looking towards him as he continued, "You already almost killed Kiba during your illusion it wouldn't be smart to let you go out their again."

"So then what will we do now with all the knowledge we have Kakashi-sensei?" I asked seeing the grim look on his face replying, "This is way above what we originally set out to do so I sent Pakkun back to the village to inform Tsunade and ask what our next move is. Until then we'll wait for her reply and stay out of the perimeter of the fog."

"Understood." we all said knowing it would probably be a day before we were given any information.