Stronger {Kiba Inuzuka Love Story} [2]

~3~

{Kiba}

The sun was just rising over the Village as we assembled at the gate. Faces grim but there was a sense of anticipation among the group. Tsunade said she could spare only a few of us. With the two attacks on the village and Sayuri's kidnapping she didnt want the village the suffer anymore.

Shikamaru, Ino, Ronin, Norio, Akamaru and I took one last look at the village before making our way towards the last place I saw Sayuri.

///

The Forest Nin had eagerly accepted our invitation to help track down their traitors and find the two Wantanabe.

With the limited resources, we ourselves were able to procure, asking them for aid was the next best thing. They had agreed to meet us at the site where the mountain came down.

//

"We've got it" I shout excitedly, after almost an entire day of searching we had found Sayuri's faint scent

One of the Forest Nin used his earth powers to lift up the boulders and rocks around the area

"I cant believe it" gaped Shikamaru "It's a tunnel entrance, small yea, but big enough to get a couple Nin and a prisoner through"

"we should follow it" Injected the Forest Nin "my senses tell me its remains clear for a few miles and opens into a cavern"m

We all nod and begin filing into the narrow tunnel - We're coming Sayuri

//

A few miles later we enter the cavern, after spreading out to search we discover two equally small tunnels on opposite ends with a small, fast moving river flowing further down.

Akamaru whines as he searches for the scent, his efforts failed as he comes back to me and sits down. I scruff his ears "don't worry boy"

"What do we do?" Norio voiced the question we were all wondering

Shikamaru shakes his head "the water should've been able to hide any scent, Akamaru would've caught it if they went down either of the tunnels. They definently took the water"

"Theres no sign of them storing a boat though"

"They wouldn't have to" Shikamaru pointed to the opening for the river flow to our left, "that's big enough for them to get a small craft through"

"Then I guess we'll just have to follow them" Ino shrugs, looking towards the Forest Nin "would we be able to construct a raft and use it to follow them downstream?"

The younger Forest Nin nods, "yes ma'am, it may take about an hour though for me to construct it"

Ino nods, obviously pleased with being called ma'am, then turns towards the rest of us with a caring look in her eyes "and while he does that we can take a break and eat something yea?"

////////

The food pills - although flavored, taste bland in my mouth as we watch the young forest nin use his jutsu to shape and fit together the trees around us into two long canoes

"Don't worry" Ino says to Norio as he castes worried glances towards the boat and the water, "we'll find her."

He shakes his head, "it's not that, it's-" he shuts his mouth quickly as one of the forest nin approached us

"we should be ready in just a few minutes" reports the Forest nin from right behind me.

His eyes brush over us in a critiquing manner and I can't help but get the feeling that something is off with him. But he quickly puts on a smile and gives us a thumbs up as he turns back to his forest companions.

Shikamaru watches him curiously and makes eye contact with me as if to say "watch out for that one"
Ino seems to have seen the look passed between us because after checking over her shoulder at the forest nin and turning back to Shikamaru she makes a couple of quick discreet hand signs and loudly proclaims about the hot weather. It was then that I noticed that all conversation had come to a stop as eyes darted back and forth between the forest nin and Shikamaru.

"It is hot" Shikamaru replies, throwing up three quick hand signs to Ino before standing up and stretching "it'll only get worse once we're out on the water, where we will be much more vulnerable to the sun"

It must be some kind of code going between them, I knew Shikamaru was suspicious of the Forest Nin but not what exactly he and Ino are talking about. The others have already turned and begun packing up their supplies.

Ino stretches her arms above her before getting up, Akamaru follows, standing up and panting from the heat.

I hear the soft sound of metal and immediately jump and turn towards the Forest Nin, Ino and Shikamaru stand at the ready beside me, hands out of they reach out with their jutsus. Norio jumps in front of Ino, knocking up shuriken out of the air as he covers her, Ronin follows blocking the oncoming attacks as he moves closer to the attacking forest nin.

The Forest Nin positioned themselves behind one of the canoes, as they threw out their attacks. Two falling under Shikamarus shadow jutsu but they were dodging Ino's. She shook herself out and started shouting orders, "grab the other canoe," she shouted, wary as Ronin started shooting out his fire ball jutsu. He knocked down one of the nin before grabbing the stern of the boat and hauling it into the water. Shikamaru knocked out the other two as we gathered up our supplies and threw them in the boat.

We were a mile down the river before anyone spoke up "seems the Forest Nin are full of traitors" Norio huffed "should we have destroyed the other canoe so they couldn't have followed us?"

Shikamaru shook his head "too late now, besides" he shifted and turned back upstream, I doubt that they would follow"

I focused on my paddle as I dragged it through the water, I'm coming, stay strong