Konoha's No. 1 Most Unpredictable Ninja

[CHAPTER 37]

Naruto makes his way back into the stadium, making it seem as though he had never left.

He caught a glimpse of himself in the windows, his face was fully healed except for the claw marks.

This is gonna be a pain to explain... He thought.

It doesn't have to be, get the blood moving again. The nine tails said, knowing the pain it would cause Naruto but it'll heal.

Naruto took out a kunai and positioned it over his face, a moment of hesitation shook his hand but he brought it down, tearing open the healed flesh and letting blood spill over his face once more.

He didn't make a noise. The Uzumaki returned the kunai to his pouch and ran for the stands to find his team. As he emerged from the inside of the arena he found that most people were still asleep. There are jonin fighting against sound shinobi, moving fast, and not caring for the blonde who was making his way to the top of the stands where he had spotted his team.

Kakashi held a kunai, guarding the genins that were to his back: Sakura and Shikamaru, both awake and arguing with each other. Guy sensei held a sound shinobi to the wall, saying something to him before punching him so hard the concrete wall crumbled and left a gaping hole.

Seeing the Uzumaki approaching, Kakashi begins to address the genin "Now, I'll explain the mission, as soon as I do go through that opening... first track down Sasuke and stop him. Then find a safe location and await further orders."

Immediately the three genin stood and made for the hole, as ordered.

Naruto had a confused expression, but jumped through the hole with Sakura who began to explain the situation. Shikamaru fell to the ground behind them, being dragged by a dog, probably because he didn't want to go.

Pakkun took the lead in the pack, guiding the shinobi with his elite sense of smell, tracking Sasuke.

Naruto and Pakkun sense the enemy shinobi approaching them slowly but surely. Neither of them slowed down but Shikamaru didn't agree.

"Shouldn't we turn and shake them off our tails?" Shikamaru asked.

"Nice joke." Naruto snickered.

"Naruto shut up." Pakkun growled. "Although an ambush would typically be advantageous, now is not the time."

"That's true," Naruto added. "Plus they're Orochimaru's shinobi, they've probably practiced this exact chase until it was engraved in their minds."

"Well we can't just let them keep chasing us."

The shinobi stopped, Shikamaru facing the path they came from.

"Sasuke is your teammate." Shikamaru said. "Besides, shadow possession jutsu was originally a tactic to delay enemies."

"And if there are jonin among them?" Naruto asked, knowing the answer to come from his best friend.

"Then it would be a drag."

Both shinobi burst into motion at the same time, Naruto rushing forward to retrieve the Uchiha and Shikamaru going back to buy them more time.

I know it's hard, kid, but your energy levels are too low after summoning my chakra.

I trust Shikamaru, he's got this.

Oddly, Sakura had remained quiet during the entire exchange and fell in line behind Naruto.

Soon their pursuers stopped and Naruto felt as their chakra began to fade as their life forces weakened.

Up ahead the trio heard an explosion, likely a trap set for Sasuke.