A New Way of Ninja, (Naruto)

17: Orochimaru

"What do you mean gone?" Momo asked.

"They and Neji were gone," Kankuro said. "We thought they might have come to find you, but they're not here, so..."

"Why would they have left?" Momo asked.

Shine's eyes narrowed. "With Neji, huh?"

Her eyes then gleamed gold, and she looked into the distance.

"That is so odd looking," Ino said.

"You were supposed to watch them!" Temari said to Kankuro, crossly.

"I was gone for a few minutes!" he said. "Then I went to find Gaara. It was less than a quarter of an hour. And considering how long it took us to get here, it's still been less than 45 minutes."

"They couldn't have gone far in that time," Sakura said

"Shoto is extremely fast," Shine disagreed. "He could have gone a few miles at least even in that time, perhaps farther if he knew where he was going."

She frowned. "As I thought, they're heading back towards the Land of Rice."

"WHAT?!" Momo cried.

Then she put her hand to her head. "I never thought they would do this. I knew they were upset, but to actually leave us here and go alone?"

"You mean those two idiots went after Sasuke again?" Temari said. "How many times does he need to say no to convince you people?"

"I was convinced the first time," Shine corrected her. "But they are disobeying my orders... Huh, the only thing I was sure of you doing was at least obeying me, out of respect. So much for honor."

"Shine, that's not quite fair," Momo said. "I mean, yes, they should have, but I think it's on their honor that they feel they chose going after Sasuke."

"I couldn't care less." Shine was mad. "This is dangerous! What if Orochimaru finds them? Do you think they can fight him off without our help? There are four of us for a reason--that's how many of us are needed to be sure. And you lack the experience of Wally and I to split up with confidence."

"Shoto is very strong," Momo said.

"He's strong," Temari objected. "And against most ninja, I'd say he could hold out a decent time. But not against Orochimaru. That man does not fight fair. Kabuto might be back with him by now also."

"We can intercept them before they get there," Gaara said. "Likstar-san?"

But Shine shook her head. "I can't go to them. The way they were moving told me they're not walking. If I tried to stop them, they'd be out of the spot I was going to before we got there and we'd just fall to the ground. If they're high up again, that could kill us. Shoto is good at ice surfing, so I'm sure he's fine. I assume Neij is leading them... No, I can't risk portaling to them directly. Momo and I breaking our necks won't help anything."

"Well, maybe we could cushion your fall," Temari said. "It's faster than us running there."

"We can't be sure you could do that, and I'm much more breakable than you are," Shine said. "Even than Momo is. Even if it worked for her, I don't think it would for me." She sighed. "I can take us to where we were yesterday. Maybe we can head them off. At least it's better than before. I know they'll go the same way. From there the ninja would have to guide us...but we need a tracker."

"I can help." Hinata suddenly jumped down from a wall.

"Hinata?" Momo hadn't expected her to follow them.

"Father walked away," Hinata said, reading her expression. "He seemed very angry, but I guess he believed you when you said we didn't put you up to that... Honestly, I think he thought we would never dare to. He'll think I went to train, so...no reason I can't slip away to help. Neji went off with them?"