Chapter Eighteen: Escaping!

PART ONE

"I can run for as long as the sun gives light. I can hide until the moon seeks shelter.. but I can never fully get away. I can never escape without you."

-MistyAnnE_04

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BOOOOOM!

A loud explosion was heard at the eastern part of Konohagakure. The villagers in that area panicked and quickly looked for shelter... but not until a batalion of black knights started attacking them, killing everyone they pass.

Meanwhile, in the western portion, clay bombs fell from the sky, making small explosions that were enough to destroy the market place. A certain blonde grinned evilly at the scene before him.

"Heh.. I'll show you, Sir Sasori, un... art,"

He then grabbed a large chunk of clay from his container and molded it using the mouth on his hands. After a few seconds, he released a series of clay spiders upon Konoha. The crawling creatures attached themselves to the ANBUs on guard and...

BAAAANNG!

Deidara laughed. 'Art is a bang!'

_

Ino Yamanaka's POV

I frowned the moment my husband just passed me by. Shikamaru-kun had been restless for the past 24 hours. It's been nearly two days since rogues started attacking Konohagakure. Fortunately, the palace was left untouched...for now.

"Shika, what are we gonna do?"

He breathe in deeply after talking to an ANBU and looked at me. "I don't know, Ino... the Uchiha Family is still missing..."

I bit my lip. "What about the senbon needles Iruka-san made? We can track them down!"

"That's another problem... We can't get close enough to Deidara. He's an aerial type of attacker that uses explosive clay bombs, for pete's sake! It's too risky.."

Heaving a sigh, "Then.. what are we going to do now? If no shinobi can attack him using the tracking senbon needles.."

The whole Fire Country is done.

I saw my husband spaced off, thinking deeply about something before muttering, "..I'll head out. Tell Shizune to take care of the injured." But before I could even stop him, Shikamaru already vanished in a cloud of smoke.

This is not good!

-*-

Shikamaru Nara reappeared ontop of a tall building overlooking the western area of Konoha. He concealed his chakra and watched as his ANBU squad evacuate the villagers.

"Where is he?"

With keen eyes, he finally spotted his target. There. He thought when Deidara flew across the clouds on his giant clay bird. He smirked and calculated the blonde's distance above the ground.

On the other hand, Deidara easily detected the ANBU's chakra signature. They weren't trained for more than half their lives for nothing. Immediately he flew above him and released more clay animals that resemble the image of serpents.

"Better watch your step, un!"

The snakes instantly surrounded Shikamaru. He took in a deep breathe as Deidara started laughing at him in pure amusement.

He sighed.

"Troublesome."

-*-*-

Meanwhile,

"The day of his execution. Shall we bring his head once we attack the Leaf, my queen?"

The noble knight asked the pinkette who stayed silent the whole while. Sasori eyed her and furrowed his eyebrows. She's been spacing off recently, deep in her thoughts. He pulled out the last bottle of pink liquid and presented it to the Queen.

"Drink it, it will help in whatever you're worried about."

Sakura looked at her. Hesistantly, she stared at the potion. And for the first time, she shook her head and declined,

"I'm fine. Come on, let's just get this over with so we can attack the Leaf by dawn."

And with that, she walked out of her office's balcony. Sasori frowned and stared at the direction she went to. It will only be a matter of time until his plans succeed.

She wouldn't even know what hit her. He thought with a smirk before attaching a note on his eagle's leg and sending it to Deidara.

To be continued...

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