Book One- The Enemy

Chapter 8

The commanders having returned set the Shinobi of the Leaf to begin its movements, each unit dispersing into its place there the borders between sand and trees would meet. Like a well-oiled machine they followed their orders and prepared for war. Though not all seemed ready to accept their role. Stationed beside the war room, Kiba shared his displeased growl with Shino who nodded coolly to Shikamaru when he told them about their part in the war. Their leader sighed dropping his head attempting to avoid anymore complaints.

"Kiba it's not up for debate" he muttered and glanced annoyingly at Akamaru who barred his teeth in the same displeasure as his companion. "I need you two to be close to Kankuro, he's one of the commanding captains and if he decided to turn on us, I need you two to be ready to take him down" He narrowed his look showing the severity of the situation and Kiba scoffed.

"This is all going to turn sour really quick Shikamaru"

"Listen as I said we will not strike first under no circumstance should we engage them after we are finished, this is all just a precautious" He looked away a wave of guilt rushing over him when Kiba turned his eyes down like a dog with his tail tucked between his legs "We can't trust them, but we have to work with them if we are going to pull this off"

"What about you?" Shino hummed having not moved since receiving his orders. Shikamaru turned to him and signed crossing his arms. He hadn't been able to stop the feeling of unease since leaving the Sand's camp. Temari would be leading with the main unit with him, positioned to take on the biggest threat, Kurostuchi's primary legion.

Yet he saw her hesitation at the mention of Naruto being there, the caution behind her teal eyes and the way she quietly played through with a new strategy. She might seem like an unreadable general ruling with her wrath, but he saw the smile and softness behind her façade.

Honestly that's all he could see recently; she was captivating to say the least. He almost began to list the things he saw in her, like some child fawning over their first crush. Admiration for her yes, fear of her some, finding ways to look at her, he could think of a few right now. He'd seen her in battle over the years, even heard her taunts to her foes she was a woman to be praised and respected. She never faltered in the art of war, and he'd never underestimated her tactics when their troops would fight. It was too troublesome to linger on such thoughts.
-
Five years ago.

Shikamaru pushed off the ground landing on the thick branch of the lone oak tree in the last green field at the border of Leaf and Sand. Climbing quickly, he held himself on the thinning branches at the stop and pulled his view into the sandy terrain ahead. The dust clouded the air and the cries of men being thrown back echoed. Even at this distance he could feel the sudden breeze flow into the green. Ino gasped as she finished her climb and held his sleeve as she steadied herself eyes focusing on the battle ahead.

"Shikamaru that's our border patrol" she hissed urgently.

"I know" he paused and swallowed mouth becoming dry at the scene. The branch shifted downwards slightly as Choji pulled up and sighed hating the idea of viewing from the top.

"What did I miss" Choji whispered seeing the tense mood between the two. They witnessed the one who released the attack step from the cloud with a sly grin as she walked to an unknown leaf shinobi who groaned on his back before her. She leaned against her opened weapon, golden bangs blowing to her side, and smiled, cruel and cold down at her enemy. Her voice carrying, sending a shudder down his spine, the fear rising, yes fear from her intent.

"You're lucky I didn't catch you with the cyclone" she tilted her head as the shinobi began to crawl back on his elbows "where you running off to?" she shook her head knowing it was futile "You attacked us first" her lips turned and she glared down at him. He froze and fell back accepting his faith. Her fan slipped shut and she heaved it to her side with a sigh looking disinterested in him "You men always throwing your fists around before looking to see who it is, next time stay on your border, idiot" She smirked at him her words harsh and dominating, yet she almost looked pleasant when she relaxed her face and turned to leave the shinobi lifting his head to look at her departure.