The Lotus and The Deer (Shikamaru x OC)

Chapter 16 - Infultration

Hasu POV

As morning breaks we continue our journey, Sakura appears next to Naru-chan but I pay no mind to there conversation. A couple more hours pass before we take a break under the light of the moon. And when the sun rises, I stay by Naru-chan's side, standing on the top of the tree, before we keep forward.

He breaks the silence, "So how does your sealing work? What are you going to do when you find them?"

I stay quiet for a moment, "I'll sneak in and redirect the tailed beast chakra and spirit into the stone. I'll make sure to send a tracking fox once I find the location, I'll find a way to keep Gaara alive as long as I can."

He nods, "Ok, I'll cover for you. And Hasu-chan."

"Yes?"

"Please, stay safe, we don't want to lose you."

I smile, "Ok, same goes to you Naru-chan."

After some time we finally hit sand. Slowing down Naru-chan catches his breath, "Alright! We finally reached the desert."

Temari steps forward, "The village hidden in the sand is just up ahead."

We nod, looking at Naruto I smile, "This is where we part ways, I'll see you soon Naru-chan."

Ignoring Kakashi's voice as he questions me I bite my thumb, "Summoning Jutsu!"

A large grey 5-tailed fox appears, "Lady Hasu." He bows his head a bit, "Good Morning Gin, I need your tracking and speed, can you help me?"

He nods, "Of course Lady Hasu."

Getting on his back I look at four behind me, "I'll send a fox when I find his scent."

Naru-chan nods, "Go Gin."

He rushes off as Kakashi tries to call me back, running through the sandy desert I give my instructions to the grey fox. "I need you to find the chakra of a tailed-beast, your the best chakra tracker around. Do you think you can do it?"

He nods, "I know I can!"

Continuing our journey under the cool desert morning he starts to pick up something, he sniffs the ground. "I've found a trail of sand laced with tailed-beast chakra."

I nod, "Perfect!"

Almost 24 hours go by as we follow the trail, sensing a chakra ahead I conceal our own, whispering in Gin's ear. "Slow down we're getting close."

Doing so he leads us to a pile of bushes, sneaking forward I pay attention as the chakra nature lays dormant in one location before relocating around one point. Seeing a seal resting on a large boulder, I glare at the dark aura behind it and whisper. "That's the seal, Gin go back and lead the others here."

He nods, sneaking away in the opposite direction. Taking a deep breath I gentle walking on the water, allowing myself to sink. Holding my breath I swim against the current, looking for any openings.

Finding one, I break it open a bit allowing myself to slip in. Once reaching the surface I take a large but quiet breath. Sensing the powerful chakra I follow it, making sure my steps are silent. Hiding in the shadows I notice a giant statue with several figures standing on its figures.

Seeing Gaara in the middle, surrounded by a blue chakra orb I take note in my head. Sneaking behind the statue, taking the seal, and dark red gem I place the seal on the statue. Feeling the beast Chakra leak from Gaara.

Seal linked to the gem, I place my hand on it. I focus, covering its chakra like my own so the others in the room won't sense it. Feeling the beast Chakra with a little bit of Gaara's slowly seep into the gem I stay in a meditative state. Blocking out any sense of time passing as I keep my guard up.

No POV

As Hasu stays in her meditative state a day and a half goes by, with her body on standstill. Hasu's energy and will focus on the seal. Many hours before, Gin finally makes it back to Suna. As the sun rises in the early morning he jumps into the window of Naruto's and Kakashi's room.

Guard up, Kakashi takes out a kunai only to see the same gray fox Hasu rode on a day before. "Lady Hasu has sent me here to inform Team 7 of the location of the Akatsuki."

His eyes widen, only for his shock to be subsided by the sound of Naruto's yawn. Seeing the fox as he opens his eyes he shoots up, "Did you guys find it!"

He nods, looking back at Kakashi he continues, "Please, allow me to show you on a map."

Kakashi waste no time, pulling out a large map, placing his paw on the location he starts to explain the surrounding area. "It surrounds by a forest, once you get there you'll see a large boulder with a seal on it. Before leaving I searched the area to find several more, that's how you'll get in."

Kakashi nods, "Now, where's Hasu?"

Gin looks up at Kakashi, "She decided to remain there and scout the area, keep watch of anything worth noting."

Kakashi nods before Gin leaves he looks at Naruto, then his stomach, giving a small grin before poofing away.

Back with Hasu, she feels two chakras weaken a bit, along with the rest of the beast Chakra as it slowly disappears. Hearing two of the members bickering, they calm down. Sometime later Team Guy and Team Kakashi with a Suna elder, stand outside of the bolder. Kakashi takes note that Hasu is nowhere to be found, making his suspension of her grow.

As the last of the Beast Chakra is extracted to the statue with most of it residing in the gem, Gaara's body falls. Placing it back in her pouch the words on the seal disappear due to Garra's chakra being mixed in as well.

Hiding in the shadows, she watches as the statue disappears with the leader. Listening in on the conversation and the unknown leader commands two member to fight the ninja outside. The other figures disappear, one by one only leaving 2 in the cave with Gaara and Hasu.

As silence pledges the cave, the boulder gets crushed revealing the 2 members standing in front of Gaara's body. Hearing Naruto's voice, Hasu frowns as she waits for an opening to retrieve Gaara's body.