Now What Have I Gotten Myself Into? ~Enter Konoha's number one knuckle head

20

Chapter 20

"We'd have been flattened if Akamaru hadn't sniffed out that escaped route." Kakashi states as we stare down at the whirlpool of sand and stone from our perch on a bolder that somehow was remaining sturdy against the rushing ground.. Akamaru barks and Kiba laughs.

"Good boy Akamaru. So they did lay a trap after all." Looking over at Kiba I nearly tilted my head. I had wanted to ask why he rides Akamaru like a horse but I guess it's only fair from all the time the pup spent on Kiba's head.

"Not for us." Shino points out getting Kiba's attention. Huh? Kiba makes a sound of question. "I doubt that the enemy has any idea we're even in the vicinity. I think that trap was set off to destroy the evidence. To destroy the hideout itself."

"But all those people that were still inside!" Hinata whimpers as I look down at her from where I was setting.

"They were all pretty much dead. There would have been nothing we could have done." I point out to her simply.

"That's just.." Her eyes quiver looking down at the rushing ground.

"Cruelty, is Orochimaru's strong suit." I cut her off if only to drive her thoughts home.

"Pretty ruthless alright." Kakashi says agreeing with me.

"Orochimaru, he's going to pay for that." Kiba growls out, Akamaru barks almost sounding like he was agreeing.

"It's slowing." I mutter standing up watching the ground.

"You're right." Kakashi says as he pushes off from the edge of the bolder so he was now standing instead of leaning against it.

It didn't seem to take long at all after the initial signs of the ground coming to a halt as what used to be the hideout fills up entirely. Leaving the ground soft and fresh enough I didn't want to chance standing on it. Kakashi jumps off the boulder to the side of the scene around us, making sure to land on a sturdy rock surface. "Well, in as much as we've located Orochimaru's hideout, we've achieved our mission." Kakashi says turning to look at us.

"But we can't really say it's been a success, can we?" Shino asks pocketing his hands. Kakashi makes a sound of question as he looks more towards Shino's direction who was now standing behind him. "We can't return to the Leaf without having gathered any information about his current whereabouts and plans"

"He's right Kakashi Sensei." Kiba agrees with Shino before Hinata takes a step forward folding her hands in front of her chest.

"There is one bit of information that we've learned." Kakashi and the other two just seem to look at her. "Well, that was a timed explosion. Whoever set the timer had to of been here recently."

"What?" Kiba says in shock.

"You're right and if they're still in the vicinity, we should find out what we can from them." Kakashi informs us seriously.

"Good, then it's decided, let's get after them." Kiba declares brimming with determination. I cross my arms in silence as Kakashi looks at me even when Shino speaks.

"Leave everything to me." He raises his hands out from his sides. His bugs swarming out from his arms rapidly. "My parasitic insects are masters of picking up an enemy's trail."

"Hey, if anybody's a master of tracking the enemy, it's Akamaru here." Kiba argues making Akamaru bark.

"Yes, and don't forget me!" Hinata stutters to add herself in.

"Don't you guys get it, you were all chosen for this team because of your tracking abilities. Stop arguing for five minutes." I roll my eyes. "Even Kakashi has his fang pursuit team he can summon to track."