A Cloud's Shadow

A Nara always keeps their Promise

It took Shikarai and Kakashi roughly three hours to arrive from the point further away from the edge of the Eastern forest where Rin was kidnapped to where the Kiri-nin were currently hiding out in a cave that was connected to a river. If the Kiri-nin had gone further ahead, they would be at the Valley of the End. It would have been more difficult if that were the case, if only because the Valley of the End offered the Kiri-nin more environmental advantage.

Here, while the Kiri-nin did have a river, the Konoha-nin had their forest. Not to mention, Inoichi was proficient in Water nature techniques. Choza while not really having a specific Chakra Nature could hold his own with Earth based jutsus. Sakumo was renowned for his lethal Lightning release and Kakashi's wasn't anything to scoff at either, especially when it came to his chidori. Shikaku himself took after his teacher's proficiency with Lightning, in addition to Wind release. If they needed Fire, he was sure that Kakashi could provide a scorching Fireball.

"Why aren't we attacking them?" Kakashi quietly asked, hand on his tanto.

Shikarai shook his head, motioning for Kakashi to stay put. "You feel that, right?"

Kakashi tensely nodded, "The ominous chakra coming from the cave. It's exactly why we should take them out quickly."

Shikarai really needed a cigarette right about now. "Bothersome," he had to remind himself that even though Kakashi's sensei was Minato who was Kushina's boyfriend, Minato didn't exactly tell his students important stuff.

Such as what a Tailed Beast's chakra feels like, just so they wouldn't freak out in case Kushina ever borrows chakra from the Kyuubi. Though, Shikarai was sure Kushina would rather die than tap into a Tailed Beast's chakra. It was always a source of frustration for Shikarai.

"That chakra belongs to a Tailed Beast."

Kakashi's eye widened.

"Did you finish the perimeter check Sakumo-sensei?" Shikarai drawled seconds before Sakumo softly landed next to them. He almost snickered at how Kakashi slightly startled in surprise.

"Two squads inside. The first squad who kidnapped Nohara-chan. The second squad is sealing the Tailed Beast inside her. Eight Kiri-nin in total."

Shikarai took in the information with a distracted nod. "Anything else?"

"The members from the sealing squad...they're not armed enough for a full on assault."

Shikarai shared a glance with Sakumo. Their eyes silently told each other the same thing. They're on a suicide mission.

A wry smile twitched up Shikarai's mouth. "It makes things easier for us then."

"I don't get it. Why seal a Tailed Beast inside of Rin? Why in the Land of Fire?" Kakashi asked.

"It's a war tactic," Shikarai answered while motioning Kakashi to be quiet.

The Nara narrowed his eyes as the squad that kidnapped Rin took guard at the entrance of the cave.

'The sealing squad knows that it's a suicide mission. But the other squad doesn't. Bothersome.'

Out of the corner of his eyes he saw Sakumo hold Kakashi still just as Choza and Inoichi quietly slid down next to them. Knowing that now that the group was bigger they would be easily spotted, Shikarai motioned for them to fall back a bit, just enough to keep hidden behind trees and bushes. And also enough to quietly converse without fear of being heard.

He also mentally noted to talk to Sakumo about teaching Kakashi some basic sensing.

"When I saw Ikiru, I expected a night out drinking our sorrows," Choza wistfully said.