If Only Things Were Different

Chapter 7

Ordered by the Hokage, Team 10, Shikamaru Nara, Ino Yamanaka, Choji Akimichi, along with Kiba Inuzuka, Naruto Uzumaki and Neji Hyuga set off for a mission to locate Karin Kikuchi, the sole survivor of Konoha's Kikuchi clan, and the only person that could probably give hints on Itachi and Sasuke's whereabouts. Having no other reliable Jounin that could possibly come up with a good plan to defeat the strong kunoichi, she was forced to have Shikamaru, be the brain of the squad and Neji, being the only Jounin, be the team leader for the search.

"Neji," Shikamaru broke the silence since they left the village, "can you see ahead?"

Neji didn't say a word but activated his dojutsu as soon as Shikamaru asked, "Byakugan!"

"No enemy can be seen far ahead," he informed and deactivated his byakugan.

"Kiba?" Shikamaru said.

"The scent became more and more vivid, we're getting closer," Kiba said.

Before the team left the village, they enter Karin's apartment to pick up her scent for Kiba and Akamaru to follow.

"Let's hurry," Naruto said, moving ahead of the team.

"Naruto, wait!" Ino followed her teammate.

"Shikamaru?" Choji said, "what will happen if we ever encounter Karin and Itachi at the same time?"

"We won't force ourselves to fight them. We were told how strong Karin is as she could possibly inherit both of her parents' traits."

Choji was in deep thought with Shikamaru's revelation and he noticed it.

"We can defeat her, we'll get her if it's her alone."

"Shikamaru," Neji called.

"What is it?"

"Let's come up with a plan."

"Do we need another set of plan?"

"Yes," he admitted, "we don't know if what she showed team 7 were her only skills."
Shikamaru frowned.

"She could possess more dangerous power that could result in one of us dead or worse, all."

"Don't scare them, Neji."

"Shikamaru," Neji said in a more serious tone, "we don't have to baby them. We are ninjas and we are set on a very important mission concerning two of our village's missing-nin. If we don't try our all and prepare for every circumstance, we would fail everyone, not just those who are in the village but those who are with us."

"Mendukse," the Nara sighed, "let's come up with an escape plan C."

On the other hand, Ino and Naruto are far too ahead from the others. Worried, Choji informed the others while they're busy thinking for different battle and escape plans for every scenario everyone comes up with.

"Mendukse, when did those two became this fast?"

Shikamaru gestured for the others to quicken their pace to catch up to the pair but Kiba halted them, saying the scent got stronger at a certain spot.

"I'll go get them," Neji volunteered in letting Naruto and Ino know but before he could catch up, Ino noticed the others had stopped.

"Wait," she grabbed Naruto's collar forcing him to stop and for him to almost fall from the branch.

"What?" He whined. "We need to get to Karin-sensei now!"

"Neji," she said and began to turn back to meet up with Neji.

Naruto let out a groan of protest before following Ino.

"The scent fainted but where they stood is where it got stronger," Neji said when Naruto arrived, "let's go."

The Kyuubi's jinjuriki's brows met as he squinted his eyes, showing a sign of disapproval with the Hyuga's attitude.

While the team is on the move, Pakkun, one of Kakashi's summon, arrived caught up with Naruto's team.

"Naruto," the ninja Pug spoke.

The blond kid turned his head and look down, after confirming it is indeed Pakkun, he again had his attention on his way.

"Pakkun, why are you here?" He asked.

"I have a message from Kakashi for you."

"What is it?"

"I have to escort you on your way to the Sand Village."

Naruto's ears rang, "the Sand?"

"The Kazekage, Gaara, was captured by the Akatsuki."

Naruto and the others stopped and had their full attention to the hound.

"How?" Naruto asked.

"He was protecting the village and they took it as an advantage and captured Gaara."

"What about Karin-sensei?"

"Neji and others will have to go after them. You shall come with me," Pakkun informed.

"Wait, they don't have a medical ninja," said Naruto.

"They have me, don't worry," Ino said.

"She trained with Tsunade and Sakura for a while, don't worry."

Naruto nodded his head in approval of what the summon hound said.

"Alright Pakkun, let's go."

"Shikamaru, Neji, you know what to do," Pakkun said before setting off with Kakashi's remaining students.

Neji used his byakugan while they had Akamaru sniff wherever Karin's scent lead them and they ended on a cliff.

"Kiba," Neji spoke.

"Can you see what's beyond that boulder?" Kiba asked Neji and activated his byakugan.

"There's three inside. Two females and a male. But the guy had an unusual chakra movement."

"Could it be Karin?" Ino asked.

"I'll break the boulder," Choji went down and started using his jutsu to break the boulder and before Shikamaru noticed the paper at the center of the boulder, Choji had already attacked the rock that's acting as the door of the hideout.

Konan squinted her eyes, "we have to hurry."
Karin grinned and torn the information to pieces annoying Konan.

"What are you doing?"

"You use papers, should it be easy for you to put them back together."

"I'm not playing, Uchiha!"

Konan summoned papers around her, ready to attack the spy but Nagato stopped them.

"We must go. Sasori and the other will be here soon for the Ichibi's extraction."

Karin flees the scene first and went back to Shisui's place.