Recap
The Sand and Sound had teamed up and attacked the Hidden Leaf. Sasuke pursued Gaara, and Kakashi sent a team after them, which included Pakkun, Sakura, Naruto, Shikamaru, and Himawari.
"Himawari, I don't have time for chitchat right now, but join them in pursuit of Sasuke they'll explain." Kakashi ordered.
And Now

As we started following Pakkun, they informed me of how the other fights went down , and they told how Kakashi had gotten Sasuke there almost too late to participate. Sasuke had mastered a move called the Chidori, which was no surprise Sasuke is a very capable ninja.

Traveling through the village on Sasuke's trail, I could see cobra in the far distance and with them ninja. I couldn't tell who's side they were on from here, but hopefully they were taking the snakes down. They didn't seem to care who was on their side or not.

Maybe I could use my summon to help them. My summon! Hoshi! How had I forgotten about her until now. It's my job to protect her. I remember Shikamaru had her last.

"Shika!" I yelled at him gathering not only his attention but everyone else's as well. "Where is Hoshi?"

His eyes flickered to the bag he was wearing. Carefully, he took the bag off and tossed him towards me. The weight and warmth of my partner could be felt through the material. I hugged the bag close to me glad she was okay. Then I put the bag on my back adjusting to the new weight.

"Once your fight was over she crawled in the bag to sleep." He lightly smiled at me knowing the situation was serious.

"Of course," I laughed with a whisper, "it is day time, and Hoshi needs her sleep."

•—•

"Come on you guys! Hurry it up!" Pakkun yells at us. "There are eight people in two squads behind us... no wait! There's one more. There are nine people following us."

"Come on already, give me a break." Shikamaru complained next to me.

If they continue to follow us, they could catch up and attack. We need to stop them or distract them. I twiddled my thumbs worriedly. Who would go? Naruto needs to get to Sasuke and Gaara

We came to a clearing where Pakkun decided to stop. We each went backwards on our foot prints to make it appear as if our tracks disappeared. A plan designed to throw them off. It was clever, but I wasn't sure it would work.

Like I expected, not long after Pakkun sensed them on our trail. We need a plan.

"They are probably all chunin or higher. We'll be wiped out if they catch us." Shikamaru said in a irritated tone.

"Let's just ambush them!" Naruto shouted impatiently.

"No good." Pakkun said interrupting his train of thought. "Those guys are Orochimaru's henchmen. My guess is, they are all Jonin."

Okay, nine probably jonin ninja pursuing us. We can't ambush them, and they aren't just going to stop chasing us. We could split up? There are five of us. Pakkun, Sakura, Naruto, Shikamaru, and I.

"Only one plan I can see working." Shikamaru was explaining. "A diversion that only looks like an ambush. One of us need stay behind and slow them down."

"One of us will be a decoy." Sakura muttered.

"The one that acts as a decoy will probably die." As Shikamaru finished the atmosphere got tense and everybody stopped. "So, who's going to do it? We need the dog to follow Sasuke, so that means..."

It was silent for a second. Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke are team seven. Those two should continue. They need Pakkun. Shikamaru, he's the heir to his clan, and I don't want him to die. Me? Some girl who abandoned her friends, family, clan, and village. If push comes to shove I'll let Isobu kick their behinds. I can use his coral to try and trap the enemies!

"I'll go." I said with a firm voice but a shaky body.

"No, I'm the only one who can do it." He looked over at me while saying it.

"Why does it have to be you!?" Naruto questioned displeased with either of us going.

"I'm the only one who has a chance of pulling it off and surviving this attack," he paused, "after all I have the Shadow Possession Jutsu. Anyway, I'll catch up with you later."

"I'm going with you." I looked him in the eye daring him to challenge my decision. "Two of us are more likely to make it. After you capture them, then what? What if you aren't able to get them all? I may not be full strength, but I can use my coral jutsu to trap them."

We stared each other in the eyes for thirty seconds before he sighed and looked away. I had won. I would gloat, but nobody loves a gloater.

"Alright." He sighed again.

"Don't worry Naruto. We won't die." I smiled at him as nodded. "Once we take care of them I'll be on my way, so don't hog all the fun!"

•—•

"There they are." I whispered being the better senser out of the two of us.

Once Shikamaru caught them in his jutsu, I would trap them further in a cocoon of coral. Given that Isobu does it for me ( ' ▽ ' ).

'You seriously need to train using my abilities. However, don't worry I help you out if you get in a pinch' Isobu stated obviously worried about me.

We watched as the ninja examined the tracks. We nodded to arch other before Shikamaru made his way to the backs of them. In an instant he had caught them all in his shadow.

"So this is the Shadow Paralysis Jutsu we've heard about."

"Yeah, if you want to call it by that old name," Shikamaru scoffed, "I'm afraid your behind the times. Now it's called Shadow Possession Jutsu."

I counted them quickly and only eight were there. Earlier, Pakkun had said there were nine. Where is he?

I could hear Shikamaru panting and saw his shadow wavering. I'll deal with the last one later and immobilize the rest. Looks like we're up Isobu. I jumped down next to Shikamaru while noticing the surprised looks.

"Coral Confinement!" I shouted using Isobu's chakra. The coral, which was weaker without water nearby, covered their bodies only leaving their heads showing. I smiled widely at Shikamaru. "We're a pretty good team, Shika?"

Taking me by surprise Shikamaru threw Shuriken at the ninja. In response the ninth ninja threw kunai guarding his friends. The ninth! He tried to extend his shadow to capture that one, but he didn't have enough energy. There's no way I could capture him with the coral on my own. I would have to touch him and I'm to tired to do that, and capturing multiple people is hard because the coral moves slow due to lack of training.

I heard some strange ringing sound and cracking in coral behind me. Looking over, I saw the ninja using a sound jutsu to destroy the coral. I hadn't accounted for the fact that they may be able to do that. I'm so stupid.

"Come down her and when you do, cut off their heads!" One of the sound ninja yelled almost out of my jutsu.

Expecting a fight I brought my sword close to my body. However, when the shadow came down, it was a leaf ninja. He was holding the ninth sound ninja with a smug look.

"It seems I've finally caught up with you guys." He stated with a cigarette hanging in this mouth. I sighed in relief for the help.

"Asuma!?" Shikamaru turned back surprised. "Why?"

With no response Asuma threw the ninja in his hands sideways. He then proceeding to bring out his weapons shrouded in chakra and beat the other ninjas before they could even think. This man was skilled. No doubt Kakashi would have a hard time with him.

"You did well Shikamaru," he sounded proud, this was most likely his sensei, " and you too Himawari."

"Thank you Asuma-San, I would love to stay and chat but I've got friends to follow," Then I turned towards Shikamaru, who had already sat on the ground "We are so definitely a good team." I smiled one last time before rushing after Naruto.