The Breaking Point (SasukeXOC)

59

"Got it now, Naruto?" Sakura asked impatiently having filled Naruto and Shikamaru in on the nonexistent details of our mission.

"Damn Sasuke! He just jumped out ahead without any backup! What an idiot!" Naruto complained loudly. I could've sworn I heard Pakkun groan under his breath at our complete lack of stealth courtesy of the orange clad knucklehead.

"So why do I have to be here?" Shikamaru complained, "He's not even on my team. What a drag."

"It was Kakashi-sensei's orders so you have to." Sakura supplied in answer to Shikamaru's clearly rhetorical question.

"This way." Pakkun commented taking a sharp left turn. We ran quietly for some time before I picked up some unusual chakra signatures.

"Pakkun." I alerted.

"I know." He nodded to me, "There's some enemies tailing us. I would say maybe... 9? Yeah, there's 9 ninja. I don't think they've picked up on our exact location yet, but be on alert for surprise attacks."

"Wow that didn't take long." Shikamaru sighed. He suddenly got a sour look on his face. "Man, they're probably all at least Chunnin level. They'll kill us if they catch up."

"Should we ambush them? Since we know about them before they know about us we've got a huge advantage." Naruto supplied. I was slightly surprised by Naruto's super helpful plan and from the look of Sakura's wide eyes so was she.

"Nah, it won't work." Pakkun disregarded with a shake of his little doggy head. "They're all subordinates of Orochimaru who was once a Konoha ninja."

I was about to protest but then I remembered the fight with Dosu and the others in the forest and instantly understood. I didn't really have a fair chance at a fight with them so I like to think I could've held my own against them, but the truth is if it weren't for Sasuke's creepy chakra we would've been goners.

Wait... is that why Kakashi-sensei wants us to go after Sasuke? In case he has another creepy episode? I can see why he might be a problem if he went full dark Sasuke around the others in the village... but on the other hand dark Sasuke was really strong and we might want his help with this whole invasion thing.

"Ah, that's got nothing to do with it! We should still ambush!" Naruto protested having been passed out for the whole of that fight with Orochimaru's subordinates in the forest.

"That won't work." Shikamaru deadpanned. "An ambush is a basic tactic and in order for it to work two conditions must be met. First, the ambushers have to discover the enemy quickly without making noise or being detected. Second, the ambushers have to place themselves in a spot where they can catch the others off guard and deal the most damage."

"...So?" Naruto asked stubbornly.

"With Pakkun we can easily meet the first condition. And one would think we could easily meet the second condition as well since this is our village and we know it well. But Orochimaru was once a Konoha ninja as well so no doubt his subordinates know just as much about our village as we do, thanks to Orochimaru's information." Shikamaru finished.

"I guess..." Naruto grumbled causing Shikamaru to continue his explanation.

"On top of all that, these ninjas are hunters." I raised my eyebrow speculatively. "Hunters who know the geography of their hunting grounds and know combat probably have a plan. On the other hand we have," he glanced towards Naruto, "an idiot," he looked towards Sakura next, "a kunochi with no special abilities," he glanced at me, "an unfocused airhead," then he gestured towards himself, "and me, the guy who's the best at running away."

I furrowed my brow. Why does everyone seem to think I have an issue focusing? Am I really that bad at paying attention? Oh no... have I become a liability because of my lack of focus? I know I'm strong, but I'm useless if I can't pay attention!

"I guess I'm the only one..." Shikamaru sighed.

"Shikamaru?!"

"No!"

What?

"It's better than being annihilated. Pakkun is needed to track down Sasuke. Naruto is the only one who has a chance at stopping Sasuke. Sakura is needed to care for injured. Miyu... well she's too distracted to be a good decoy." Shikamaru explained muttering something about 'Sasuke' and 'love' under his breath.

Hey! I could do a good job! I'm strong! I can... wait did he say 'decoy'?

Shikamaru stopped running and we stopped with him.

"Besides, I'm the only one with a chance of delaying them without dying. You know, my shadow possession jutsu was originally created for delaying enemies like this. You guys go on ahead, I've got this." He gave us a confident smile and turned his back on us. With that, we all left him behind.

"We'll be counting on you Shikamaru!" Naruto yelled as we all left him.

I felt bad about leaving Shikamaru behind, especially since the only reason I wasn't the decoy was because of my absent mindedness... but before long Pakkun announced that Shikamaru's decoy was a success and our pursuers stopped moving. The relief among our little group was so palpable it felt as though a fog was lifted from around us.

"We've almost reached Sasuke!" Pakkun announced after a while. I slowed down for a moment, my senses on high alert.

"Pakkun, do you smell that?" the pug nodded grimly.

"Someone else is following Sasuke." Sure... 'Someone else', that's a good way to put it. It smelled like dirt, decayed corpses, and oxidized blood.

"Is it an enemy or ally?" Sakura yelled.

"I..." Pakkun paused seeming to come to the same conclusion as I, "It's not..."

"It's not what, Pakkun?" Naruto asked.

"It's not human." I supplied.