After traveling  through the night, we took a break when light broke through the horizon.

I stood off to the side, observing them as Kakashi questioned Shikamaru’s plan. The four of them were crouched and huddled together. I stayed in ear shot but off to the side to give them room.

I said I’ll be assisting them, but Shikamaru is the one who wants to do all of this. Besides, I’m not too keen on being too close to my old Sensei. 

Even though my scent and chakra has changed drastically, he’s sharp so I don’t want to help him figure things out. “Actually, I’d like to tweak it a little now that you’re with us, Kakashi-Sensei.” Kakashi shrugged, not bothered. “No problem. Go on.” He encouraged him.

“I’ll break it down into pieces with all the variations. So listen carefully everybody. Memorize it.” I rolled my eyes, grateful for the mask hiding my face.

No shit Sherlock. 

I bit back my sarcasm. Unfortunately I’m pretty famous for that. My attitude isn’t exactly the best, but it’s also very unique to me. Shikamaru began to explain the plan.

I had heard it when he was coming up with it. There were a couple adjustments because of Kakashi, but in short, it’s basically the same.

It’s a good plan. I see no flaws in it. And with Kakashi it just increases the chances of success. “So that’s the plan. Use this when you get a chance to, Kakashi-Sensei. Please hold onto it until then. Seiren has another, she’s more of a back up.” Shikamaru handed him a small object.

One that I have myself in my pouch.  

Kakshi clenched the object before storing it in his pocket. “Understood. I’m impressed by how much you’ve learned about your opponent, and from only one encounter and some information from one Anbu.” He glanced at me briefly, but Shikamaru was quick to get his attention off of me.

“Well, the other guy's powers are still a mystery, but we know a good portion thanks to Seiren.” He said, sending me a grateful smile. It better be.

I became a shish kabob to learn that shit. I almost died! I’d have been a goner if it weren’t for my Blood Release. 

“Yes. He’s someone who has multiple hearts, so he only seems immortal. But he’s not, only Hidan is.” I reminded, feeling a little bitter about the whole ordeal.

I can’t believe he got me. I’m still upset about it. It was a little foolish, but I saw a chance so I took it. Admittedly it did hurt my pride a bit.

Hawaki had been learning more Medical Ninjutsu because of how banged up I get. He nagged a lot about that incident. Those two nag a lot.

“It’s the best I could come up with given the limited information that we have. Once you’ve got it clear in your minds, run through a mental simulation of it at least three times. That’s important because as you guys know, visualization training can make all the difference.”

I almost whistled. That’s Nara alright. Brilliant and always leaving no holes in his plans. I say we got this in the bag.

Shikamaru fiddled with Asuma’s lighter before clenching it in his hand. “Ok. Let’s do it.” Kakashi stood. The others soon followed and I kicked off the tree to stand with them. “Now then, the first thing we have to do is pick up their trail. Seiren?” Shikamaru directed at me.

Now I could easily just go where they’re closest and sniff them out, but that’s typical Miyuna Uzumaki tracking. So Instead, I pinched the skin on my finger hard enough to draw blood and summoned Kazeya. 

The large hawk stood in front of us, gazing at me. He’s used to my disguises by now and knows not to address me by my name.

Ever.

“Mistress.” He bowed his head at me. I jumped up onto his back, glancing at the others. “Head towards where they last were. We’ll scour the skies and find their location before you reach it.” 

“Right.” Shikamaru and Ino nodded while Choji gave me a smile. “Let’s go.” I said, and with that, Kazeya moved his wings and we flew high into the air and began to speed away.

With some distance, I began to sniff the air, giving him directions where to go. “Let’s see. They should be headed to the Leaf.” I muttered mostly to myself. “Why so?” Kazeya questioned me curiously.

I clicked my tongue, remembering the duo. “They wanted to take the bounty on Asuma. That and Naruto is the Jinchuriki of the Nine Tails. While Hidan is dumb enough to go back where the fight is, Kakuzu won’t. They’ll go to the village. Which path they’ll take, I’m not sure. That’s why we’re flying.” I explained.

Of course I can’t get too close to them. Kakuzu would notice and that’d ruin our element of surprise. 

Shikamaru is probably aware of this already. Huh? “Kazeya, fly slower and higher.” I commanded. He did as I told and I squinted to see two figures far off. Their annoying scent only confirmed it for me. “Okay, turn around, and let’s meet the others. Quickly.” Kazeya nodded and he swung around in a wide arc.

I glanced back, seeing if they had noticed us. Luckily we’re still too far so I think we’re good. 

It is strange though. They should have reached the village if they left as soon as Hidan claimed. So they must have been busy for at least three days doing whatever they had left to do.

Something that takes that long for the Akatsuki to do . . . it must be related to the Jinchuriki.

How many are left on their radar now? I think four if my info’s right. Naruto being one of them.

I spent three years helping the Leaf keep Naruto away from them. But there’s not many left and they’ll be coming down hard on getting him. 

But the more members we take down the better. Hidan, Kakuzu, Deidara, Tobi, Kisame, Zetsu, Konan, Pain, and Itachi. Those are the remaining members left.

A long time ago they had more, but over time their numbers dwindled. But the ones who remained are of the strongest Shinobi. Sasori . . . Sasori was eliminated. So that’s one down.

A sharp pang ached in my chest and I resisted the urge to cringe.

Sasori . . .

I shook my head quickly. We take these two down today. That would just leave seven. I’ll have tabs on Deidara and Tobi as well, so that’s only five. And the Leader, from my knowledge, isn’t retrieving the Jinchuriki, only informing their location. So that’s just four members for four jinchuriki.

They work in teams so it’ll be only two teams that are going to be the wild cards. I’m not the most thrilled but it’s a better statistic for us. 

“Will you be needing me for the mission?” Kazeya asked, nearing the group that waited not far from the site.

“No. That’ll be it for today.” He nodded, circling over their heads. “Very well. Good luck Mistress. May your endeavors bear fruit.”

He poofed away and I fell from the sky and landed in a crouch in front of them. “Northeast. Ten minutes from here. They’re headed for the Leaf.” I informed, standing up.

Kakashi nodded. “Alright. Let’s go.” We nodded and took off, taking a shortcut to set up the stage.

We separated a bit as we set up the stage, I remained with Shikamaru. “Nervous?” I asked quietly, watching a bead of sweat drip down his temple.

He swallowed the lump in his throat. “A little. What if we fail?” He asked. 

He’s crouched to ready his jutsu. But it’s still clear to see what he’s feeling. I kneeled next to him, removing my mask so he could see my face. “We won’t. Nara you are the smartest person I have ever met, and your strategies always work.” I reassured him.

He raised an eyebrow at me. “You say I can be snapped like a twig.” 

“True. Your brain is your strongest muscle.” I playfully punched his cheek and smirked. “I’ll be your actual muscles. Don’t worry. With me on your side it’ll be okay.”

This actually seemed to make him feel better. A genuine smile graced his features and there was obvious relief. “Yeah. We were always a great team.” He admitted. 

I chuckled at that. “Oh yeah. The reason why Gramps didn’t put us on the same team was because he knew the Village wasn’t ready for our greatness.” I said dramatically, making him laugh at that.

It’s hard for him to interact like this, so I’m glad he’s always had an easier time doing so with me.

Even when we were young, he was the easiest person to talk to. And he was the only kid who was never, ever scared of the Uzumaki twins.

All of the kids were at some point. Even Choji and Sasuke. Sure they came around but their fear and distaste was always instilled by the grownups around them. 

But never Nara.

He’s always been a deep thinker. Even if he’d rather pretend nothing is happening so he didn’t have to deal with it.

Lazy, pessimistic, bastard.

Still. He is my best friend. 

Hm. My nose twitched as familiar scents wafted into it. “Showtime. You ready?” I asked.

His exterior hardened and he gazed over in their direction. “Yeah. I’m ready.” Alright. Show time. As the two walked past us, Shikamaru began to move his shadow towards them slowly. Of course they know.

When it was about to reach them the two jumped away from it and Hidan whipped out his weapon as two kunai with paper bombs attached to them launched at them.

The explosion broke the rope from Hidan’s weapon. Just as planned. “Kakuzu!” He shouted worriedly.

Ho-oh. Now that’s interesting.

“I hardened my arm, I'm fine. Just watch out for the shadows.” Hardened his arm? I can do that too, with Blood Release.

And no one but Kabuto, Haru, Hawaki, and Kaname knows about it. I could easily use it to counter him.

The shadows continued to move and Hidan scoffed. “We won’t fall for that again.” He shouted loudly at us.

“I doubt that. His brain’s the size of a grain of rice.” I muttered under my breath.

I covered my face with the mask and jumped high into the air, above my targets with my kunai’s wrapped with paper bombs. “Hidan, above you! More paper bombs, look out!” Kakuzu warned as he was the only one to notice.

Or so it seemed. 

They were duds. They were Asuma’s special knuckle ones with fakes on them. The two braced for an explosion that never came. I smirked.

Dumbasses.

While they prepared they stayed still long enough for Shikamaru’s shadow to trap them. “We’ve been had.” Kakuzu growled. Shikaamru had moved from his spot to stand on the tree limb above me. I remained crouched, staring them down.

Dumbasses. 

He jumped over and landed a bit aways from them, glancing at the two. “Shadow Possession Shuriken Jutsu, achieved.” That worked a lot better than I thought.

Not bad for a new move, Nara. Not bad at all. Hidan glowered at him. “Little jerk. How did you do it when I dodged your shadow?” He demanded. 

“What my friend threw at you were chakra blades. Not only do they absorb the chakra nature of whoever gives them it, they compliment the augment of his or her jutsu.”

That’s right. Shikamaru charged them with his, and I tweaked it with mine for a little surprise. The shadows began to go ablaze with lightning chakra, making a continuous current of electricity attack them in their defenseless states.

It’s not ordinary chakra though.

Learned this from a shinobi in the Land of Lightning who specializes in paralysis black lightning. It not only hurts, but it’ll attack the nerves in their body and slow their movements and confuse them. 

A little fuck you. “What the hell is this kid talking about Kakuzu?” Hidan demanded, but his partner wasn’t happy.

“Will you shut up you idiot?” He hissed. Hidan groaned in annoyance as he tried to fight both jutsus. “In short, having absorbed the user's chakra, the chakra blades become an extension of his jutsu. So you see, I wasn’t trying to hit you. I was aiming for your shadows the whole time. It’s Asuma’s gift to you. A little memento of the man you killed.” 

In short. Fuck you.

Dicks.

I cut off the lightning, having done what I needed. Screwing up their nerves. Hidan was confused, like the dumbass he is. “The one worth 35 million, huh?” Kakuzu murmured. 

It’s handy. But it won’t hold them for long. But it did what it needed to do. Shikamaru said on the chance this part doesn’t work, this will be used as a safeguard.

And I think they’ll find a way out of this. They’re S-Rank afterall. Bonafide ninja who have devastated nations. Still, it’ll hurt them in the long run.

Kakuzu gazed at Shikamaru curiously. Probably acknowledging his tactical abilities that surpass many. 

Shikamaru stood. “Alright, it’s time to finish this.” Plan A. Plan B is ready in case it doesn’t work. “Hey! Why are you so quiet all of a sudden! What the hell were you thinkin letting yourself get caught too, huh?” Hidan shouted at his partner in fury.

So in short only you’re allowed to screw up. Well if I was immortal too I’d be the same honestly. “Hey you know what I think?” You think? I bit back the remark and listened to the chatty enemy. “I think things aren’t looking too good for us, that’s what I think.”

Nara and I glanced at each other before back at them. “Yeah, you’re right. As a matter of fact, by my calculations, it’s all over for you two. Right now."

He made the sign for his jutsu. Shikamaru’s shadow moved and connected to Hidan’s, using it to remove the chakra blade as it kept Hidan trapped itself. “You fool.” Hidan muttered to himself.

Oh? “Hey! What’s going on now, what are you doing?!” He shouted as the blade retrieved went back to Shikamaru.

“Just want to get it right. Don’t want to make the same mistake as last time. I need to be sure not to mess up our order of attack again. This time, I’m going to see to it that we finish this once and for all.” He began to move backwards, making Hidan do the same. Going towards his weapon that’s lodged in the ground. So far everything looks good. 

Hidan tried to struggle but couldn’t, only able to mimic Shikamaru’s movements. Even when he moved his hand and made him grab his scythe by the handle.

This seemed to piss Hidan off even more. “I never forget a face, kid. Someday I’m going to find you and I’m going to kill you!” He roared in anger.

Shikamaru began to run sideways, brandishing an invisible weapon and running to the side.

Hidan, who had the actual weapon, ran as Shikamaru, only towards his partner. 

Poetic really. “Oh man. You really don’t get it, do you?” He jumped and Hidan descended on his partner, swinging his massive scythe.

It was only then I saw it.

“Kakuzu, duck!” Hidan shouted. 

At some point Kakuzu had his arm in the ground, attached by his weird thread appendages. His hand shot out and snatched the chakra blade, breaking the jutsu on him and allowing him to do as his partner said. He jumped away but fell due to the damage I did to his nerves.

Still. His arm dropped the blade and the threads moved strangely around it from the ground.

I knew his arms could function independently from his body, but not quite like that. Besides, when did he do that? I was watching the - ah!

During the first attack when Shikamaru threw the first paper bombs. He must have hid it then knowing that it was going to be Shikamaru who approached them.

Because he was the most affected by the battle last time. He used the cover of the smoke and got us good.

Well that’s annoying. The threads around his arm and where it was detached on his body throbbed, and made a sound similar to a heartbeat. 

Interesting. 

“I guess it’s not quite all over yet, is it? As you can plainly see, my abilities are countless. You’d be wise to retreat and plan your next move, that is if you’re smart, unlike my partner here-gh!” Blood spurt from his mouth he collapsed to his knees.

The blood forming hard crystallization where they left on his skin. “What the?” He gargled over the solidified shards in his throat I created.

I smirked. “Chakra blades. Remember?” I asked.

Plan B. In motion. There was a small buzz in my head and the adrenaline of activating blood release. It took all I was to remain focused as I smothered the ability down.

I hardened and crystalised the blood in his veins a bit. Surrounding the nerves I was focusing on.

Her voice was trying to shout but I pushed it back. I need to focus. No more blood.

“Kakuzu! What’s wrong?! Huh? Hey wait a minute! What did you mean ‘unlike my partner here’, huh?!” That’s what you’re most concerned about? Your partner just threw up shards of blood.

“Just what I said you idiot. What did you do girl?” Kakuzu looked from his partner to me. 

Shikamaru took the moment of distraction and made Hidan rush at Kakuzu, swinging his blade.

I almost laughed. You’ve never wielded a blade besides a kunai, have you? 

It . . . it shows. That’s just sad, Nara.

“I can’t control my body! Do something Kakuzu! Do something!” He shouted as he chased his partner who fled from him. Y’know that’s a pretty comedic scene. “Me? What’s wrong with you? Agh!”

It seems his limbs aren’t working as well as he’d like thanks to the paralysis lightning. His leg moved awkwardly, causing him to collapse again. “Damn it!” 

Now Choji! As I thought that, Choji launched downward, weaving some hand signs.

His hair expanded before sharpening. Then he began to move quickly in a fast rotating, sharp ball. “Spiky human boulder!” He shouted, hitting where Kakuzu was, shattering the ground. Hidan shouted in concern for his partner. 

Before Choji made contact, he made a hand sign. What the hell did he do?

Well, whatever it is, we better be ready for Plan C.