DISCLAIMER: same as always: don't own any part of Naruto.

Mission Mishap

Several shady groups of ninjas gathered at the northern edge of the forest, a nearby mountain their ultimate destination. Between them and their destination stood a luscious green field of brightly colored flowers. Each group had their own prisoner.

“We cross together. Fast. You all better know the damn drill. Now, which one is gonna be the sacrifice this time?”

Temari’s guard spoke up. “Why not ditch this broad? She’s not the princess of the wind that we were expecting to get trouble from. She’s not worth dragging across that no man’s land.”

“BAKA! She is the key! You better tell me you’re joking, or you’re the one who’ll be left behind this time.” The man glared daggers at Temari’s alleged guard.

Frightened that the man reacted so strongly towards what he considered a joke, the guard stuttered a “Yessir” and shrunk back.

“Damn straight.” The man looked at the remaining options. We sacrifice the waterfall girl. Move out!”

The guard carrying a little girl of about 11 secured the ties around her arms. He walked forward to a ceremonial looking rock altar and laid her down. He began to walk away when the little girl started screaming to be taken down.

The man leaned in close. “The louder you scream the easier you are for the monster to find.” He laughed and rejoined the group, which gathered their things and took off across the field at speeds only ninja who were frightened could achieve.

“I say we go until we catch up with them! Who knows how deep this forest goes or when we’ll catch up if we stop!”

“I’m the brains here and I command that we take a brief break!”

“Who made you the leader, lazy-ass?”

“I am the leader of the Konoha group and Gaara ordered you to stick with us. If I tell Kiba and Naruto to stop, then you have to stop too!”

“Hah! Like I am going to take that crap! I’m not going to let Temari die! And if she does, someone is going to pay!”

“Baka Kankuro! By the time we catch up with them without taking a break, we’ll be to worn out to avenge anyone!”

“If I recall, the mission to rescue Gaara failed because they were too late. I will not be too late again! Do you care about my sister or not, Nara?”

Shikamaru ignored this comment, or pretended to even though he was seething, and sped up. He didn’t want to take a break, but being in charge of his team’s welfare he had a responsibility to keep. Pushing themselves until they were to worn out to battle well enough to win only meant trouble.

Naruto interrupted, the first he had the entire time. He was rather angry.

“Would you two shut up! You’re slowing us down! We’re gonna keep going until we catch up.”

Kankuro smirked slightly. Shikamaru was dumbfounded. “What?”

“The only thing is, I think we may already be there.” The group suddenly slowed to a stop. The other three sensed it now. A presence that was all too obvious, but they had all been so distracted they hadn’t noticed. Shikamaru concentrated hard to pinpoint it. For some reason it flickered, like the person emanating that energy was trying to surpress their presence too hard. Only, that wasn’t quite the case. It seemed more like the reason it flickered was out of an effort to keep it high.

A tree branch snapped. Shikamaru grabbed a kunai and was about to throw it was the culprit fell, yelling loudly, out of the tree and into the bushes just below them.

Shouta, the little sand ninja, emerged, rubbing his poor backside.

“Kankuro-sama, I am here to aid in the rescue of Temari-senpai!” The boy bowed.

Kankuro was furious. His fear of being too late skyrocketed.