Break to Breathe

 

BREAK TO BREATHE

by Okami Rayne

Chapter Seven

 

Autumn crept up on Konoha earlier than predicted. The red hues that usually arrived a month later were already beginning to turn the village of leaves into a portrait worthy of its broader title. The Land of Fire. The premature turn in season brought an influx of missions; some extending further than the Hokage cared to send shinobi.

The Akatsuki threat, coupled with the permanent high-priority case of Sasuke's defection, still caused ripples in the peace they kept trying to secure. It had been three years, but Naruto wouldn't let it go and Tsunade didn't have the heart to force him to break a promise that Shikamaru personally found unrealistic and cruel.

Sasuke wasn't coming back.

That was the present reality. Not likely to change anytime in the near future.

Apparently this reality didn't mean shit to Naruto – and Shikamaru found himself blaming the hyperactive idiot for having inspired a sense of devoted camaraderie in him that he'd only ever reserved for Chōji and Ino. Sure, he would put his life on the line for any of the others, hands down. But not his sanity.

Of course, that bastard Hyūga had ruined that reality.

Two months and I'm still thinking about that…man, what a waste of effort…

Shikamaru sighed, shaking his head as he flipped through a mission report, scanning the scrawl of a ninja who needed to learn how to spell. It detailed an espionage mission reporting defence tactics of neighbouring villages. Shikamaru had been assigned to identify flaws in the tactics and then use the knowledge to detect weaknesses in Konoha's own fortifications. It was a necessary re-evaluation task, given the last infiltration attack on the village, whereby Shikamaru had been put in charge of Konoha's defence. The Hokage had seen fit to include him in every military revision meeting from then on.

Such a pain.

Shikamaru yawned, loud enough to attract the attention of his sensei.

"Ten minutes," Asuma smirked without looking up, flipping through a newspaper to avoid his own reports. "Fifteen if you pick me up some cigarettes."

"Negotiation works for me," Shikamaru yawned again, abandoning the mission reports to slip from the briefing room.

He strolled along the hallway of the Hokage residence, directing his steps to the heart of the village. Chōji and Ino had headed out on a mission earlier with Lee, making up the necessary trio for the task. Lee had mentioned something about Tenten needing to play babysitter to a bunch of Genin and Neji flying solo on some other assignment.

Shikamaru hadn't asked. Lee hadn't elaborated.

Any news regarding the Hyūga he'd learned through other people, which allowed him to keep a safe and sane distance. Friends would offer idle bits of information that Shikamaru would piece together to form a rough idea of what was going on with Neji.

He'd learned through Ino that the Hyūga had helped her develop her meditation techniques and that somehow Sakura had found out and attempted to commandeer him for the same purpose. Tenten had mentioned a variety of missions the Hyūga had completed, including an S-Class assignment with Gai. Any mission available Neji would take, put himself forward for, or request to head. The last one had seen him come back safe and serene.

His usual self, Tenten had said.

Apparently he continued to train with Lee when harassed long enough and still managed to intimidate any Genin or academy students that came into contact with him without even trying. But this kind of information interested Shikamaru less than the kind he'd managed to glean off Hinata.

Would have been better if I hadn't asked…

Shikamaru frowned, turning down a sidewalk lined with small, local stores. He selected the closest retailer and scanned for Asuma's cigarette brand, his mind on the lunch he'd been dragged along to with Kiba, Naruto and Hinata a week ago.

While Kiba and Naruto had bounced insults off each other, Shikamaru had exerted a little more effort than usual to draw Hinata into a conversation. At some point, which he'd probably planned without wanting to admit it, the discussion had moved onto Neji.

"Yeah! Where the hell is he?" Kiba had interjected. "Haven't seen him in a while now."

"Takin' on all the missions! The frickin' Jōnin get all the good stuff," Naruto had grumbled around a mouthful of ramen.

Hinata had grown usually quiet, which neither of the other two males had noticed. It was an easy thing to miss, given that she was so damned quiet anyway. But Shikamaru had noticed. Being the painfully reserved creature that Hinata was, getting her to speak had been about as difficult as getting Neji to let down his guard.

But Hinata was also uncannily perceptive. After she'd ascertained that Naruto and Kiba weren't listening, she'd glanced sidelong at Shikamaru and offered a fragile smile.

"Neji-kun's been keeping to himself a lot lately."

Shikamaru had shrugged. "Doesn't he do that anyway?"

"Yes but…he's been away from home a lot…and father's wondering if…" Hinata's eyes had slid away and her voice had carried concern she'd made no effort to hide. "I think it's different this time."

Shikamaru had smoothly changed the topic after that. But the cryptic words had taken root in his brain – and they hadn't stopped irritating him for the past week. They seemed to run on a damned loop, distracting him incessantly.

Troublesome…

Even now, as he handed over the ryō for Asuma's cigarettes, he could still see that damned look on Hinata's face. Not just concern for her cousin, but an expression that almost looked expectant; like she expectedShikamaru to know something about it.

Or do something about it.

It's not my god damn problem.

Shikamaru shoved the cigarettes into his flak-jacket and turned to retrace his steps back toward the Hokage's residence. He glanced skyward as he strolled, trying to find a little peace in the clouds. His path took him past the Shogi house he and Neji had played at. He unconsciously lengthened his strides to pass it quicker and turned the corner to smack straight into Kiba – and Akamaru.

The dog managed to get between them a little, lessening the collision but nipping Shikamaru's thumb for the trouble.

"Hey!" Shikamaru scowled, waving his hand from the sting.

Kiba laughed, scratching the dog behind the ears. "At'a boy Akamaru!"

"Nice." Shikamaru rolled his eyes, dropping his attention down to the large white mutt currently sniffing about his flak-jacket. "Too bad…I don't have any treats."

"That's too bad, 'cause we've got one for you." Kiba grinned, his animal-like eyes glinting with an anticipation that Shikamaru knew he wasn't going to share.

"I don't wanna know." Shikamaru took a step back from the nosey dog, which circled around him like a shark.

"No getting out of this one, ya slacker." Kiba chuckled, but his eyes remained on Akamaru. "Duty calls."

Shikamaru blinked, immediately catapulting an excuse. "Yeah and I'm already at the damned grindstone. Ask the Hokage. Find someone else."

"The Hokage was the one who sent me to find you."

Which can only mean one thing…crap…what a drag…

Shikamaru sighed, his shoulders sagging in defeat. "Another mission…"

"You bet! Team's been put together – and you're heading it."

"Great," Shikamaru groaned while trying to step out of range of Akamaru's nose as the dog prodded his flak-jacket again. "Wanna fill me in?"

"Sure. But first…" Kiba frowned, then stepped over and without warning shoved his hand into the flap on Shikamaru's flak-jacket to tug out the packet of cigarettes. "I knew it!"

"Great." The shadow-nin snorted, his voice rolling out apathetically. "I can see where this is gonna go…"

"Ha!" Kiba snapped his fingers, an index pointing accusingly at Shikamaru's face as the dog circled and barked. "The pig was right!"

"You know how stupid that sounds out loud?"

"You're smoking!"

Shikamaru's lashes shuttered in a repressed eye-roll. "Did Ino tell you to sic your dog on me?"

Kiba barked a laugh, his voice rising with disbelief. "Man, you're not even denying it!"

"Why bother?" Shikamaru shrugged and snatched the packet back. "You probably wouldn't believe me if I told you those are for Asuma, which they are. So I can waste time trying to convince you, or you can mind your own damn business and brief me on the mission."

Akamaru cocked his head and looked up at Kiba before yipping softly. Shikamaru had no idea what the hell the dog said, but he forgave the mutt then and there because whatever the 'yip' translated to, it got Kiba to drop the subject.

"Okay, whatever." Kiba shrugged, turning to lead the way towards the road out of the city. "You, me and Hinata."

Ah shit, it would be Hinata…the Hyūga are haunting me…

"Yeah? Shino out of commission or something?" Shikamaru muttered, shoving the cigarettes back into the vest pouch as he followed.

"Nope. Just don't need three trackers." Kiba held up a hand to wave to Hinata as she emerged at the end of the road. "Me, Hinata and Akamaru are ears, eyes and nose enough."

Shikamaru watched Hinata set down two ninja packs on the bench ahead. He frowned before glancing at Kiba.

"So what is this? Espionage?"

"Nope!" Kiba grinned. "We're back-up for a search and destroy. Possibly an S-rank."

"What?" Shikamaru's step faltered. "S-rank? Shouldn't you be asking Jōnin along for that? Hell, I'm surprised Naruto isn't tagging along."

Kiba glanced around as if looking for the Uzumaki. "Nah, the Hokage wants him here."

"Possible lead on Sasuke?" Shikamaru guessed, though that didn't seem likely.

"No, but possibly Akatsuki."

"Possibly, huh?" Shikamaru frowned. "They said that about a mission two months back and it turned out to be a bunch of impersonators."

"Yeah, well even if it is, the Hokage isn't taking any chances." Kiba reached out to take the ninja pack Hinata held out to him. "We need you to balance the team, Nara. Suck it up."

"Three Chūnin on an S-rank isn't exactly filling me with confidence." Shikamaru offered Hinata a lazy nod, accepting the pack she handed over. "Thanks."

"Aaw, don't be so hard on yourself, Shikamaru. Put in some effort and you might surprise yourself. You know, finally get that promotion!" Kiba laughed, winking at Hinata as he turned towards the gates. "Besides, we need a strategist and someone to stall the enemy. With your jutsu, you fit the bill."

Shikamaru wished he didn't.

He caught the small radio transmitter Kiba chucked over his shoulder. "Great…"

"You'll need this."

"You didn't give me an answer, Kiba." Shikamaru tried to ignore the odd look Hinata was giving him. "Sure, we could fight close-range if necessary, but as far as raw ability in S-rank combat, who the hell is our close-quarter fighter? Akamaru?"

Akamaru barked at the detected sarcasm.

Kiba ruffled the scruff of the dog's neck, looking over his shoulder at the shadow-nin. "I said we're backup, Shikamaru. They've already got Jōnin out there. Kurenai-sensei, Gai—"

"—and Neji-kun." Hinata finished, her lavender-hued eyes slanting to the side, then back to Shikamaru.

Shikamaru kept his gaze ahead, his face deceptively blank despite the tension in his gut. It didn't help having Hinata watching him like that. Why the hell was she watching him like that?

Troublesome woman…

He abruptly shifted his attention, taking no more than a few seconds to re-focus and strategise.

"Fine, whatever. Kiba and Akamaru at the front. Scent and direct. Track them down." Shikamaru glanced across to the timid Hyūga. "Hinata, we need your eyes at the back. The usual Byakugan radar, hell, you know the drill."

Hinata nodded sharply. "Yes."

"Alright, both of you keep me in the loop at all times. Anything, even if it seems insignificant, it isn't." Shikamaru secured his pack with a sigh. "Three Jōnin callin' in backup might suggest they're divided. If that happens, I wanna know where they are before they know their Chūnin cavalry's arrived, got it? "

"You got it!" Kiba grinned. Akamaru echoed with a bark and then sprung ahead.

Shikamaru watched Kiba launch into a hooting sprint, kicking skyward into the trees after his canine companion. He stared after the howling duo for a moment, his dark eyes slowly tracking higher…up towards the drift of clouds…where a bird dipped and hovered against the milky backdrop… free from the forest's cage of branches.

"Shikamaru-kun?" Hinata prompted softly.

Shikamaru drew a long, slow breath. "Let's go."

---

"Neji, can you hear me?"

Neji reached up to respond to the fractured transmission from Gai, but his fingers barely had time to brush the mic. Shuriken whizzed past, forcing him to backpedal along the bough of the tree. A large spider dropped down, scuttling along the branch after him. Leaping higher, Neji pinned the creature with a kunai and dropped to ground level.

Ninjutsu, taijutsu…now summoning jutsu…their teams are perfectly balanced…

Neji sliced his palm out, bisecting a spider with the chakra-charged edge of his hand. He spun to sever two more, keeping out of range. The arachnids brought back memories of his battle with Kidōmaru.

I know how to fight this enemy. I won't lose.

"Let's see you slice this!" the summoning ninja snarled.

Neji snapped his gaze up just in time to see the man's chakra network flare. He knew what was coming. The enemy bit his thumb and smacked his palm to the ground.

"Ninja art, Summoning Jutsu!"

In a gush of smoking chakra, a colossal spider emerged, rearing back on four of its hairy legs. Neji smirked, already knowing exactly how to defeat it.

"Go!" the man snarled.

Neji slid into position, palm up.

But the attack never came.

The spider sprang away from him, heading back towards where he'd last seen Gai, ignoring the Hyūga entirely.

Neji's lip curled back. "Damn."

"Don't worry, we're saving something special for you," the enemy promised as three other ninja dropped down beside him, one with a ridiculously large sword.

Neji had already seen them coming, though they'd masked their chakra well. He'd managed to thwart their earlier formation with Kurenai and Gai before they could operate it successfully. The twelve enemy ninja had initially tried to close ranks around them, forming four circles with three fighters constantly advancing and tightening the noose.

Neji had found a hole in their loop, which Gai had hit it hard and fast, breaking the formation and forcing the enemy to regroup. The adversaries had then exclusively targeted Kurenai; but after one of the men announced that she didn't possess the Sharingan or an eye technique, they'd switched focus and tactics to 'divide and conquer'.

Despite Neji's best efforts to keep a simultaneous eye on everyone, the Konoha Jōnin had been pushed further and further away from each other. The enemy kept driving violent wedges between them; using combinations of ninjutsu and taijutsu.

Then the spiders had come – to make matters worse, the enemy appeared to be replenishing chakra from an external source.

I need to get back to the team…

Neji jumped high as a ninja charged, landing an aerial kick to the man's head that sent him crashing. The Hyūga then twisted sharply and thrust his palm toward the canopies as two other enemy leapt for him.

"Eight trigrams! Air palm!"

A burst of concentrated chakra exploded from his hand, knocking them off course. Then a hiss of static sounded.

"Neji!" Kurenai's voice crackled through the transmitter. "What's your position!"

Neji snapped his fingers to the mic as he landed in a crouch, his Byakugan closing the distance his body couldn't. He could see her – and she was struggling, her chakra low from excessive genjutsu.

She won't hold out much longer…

"Neji!"

"I'm east of your-!" he cut off, jerking his head back to avoid the jagged slash of a blade as tall as his body.

"You're fast, brat!" the blade-wielder laughed.

Neji frowned. That voice sounded familiar.

"Neji!" Kurenai crackled through again. "You…back here…a target…now!"

Neji scowled, trying to adjust the mic and fend off the attacks at the same time. He could sense one of the men forming a hand-sign. Another one's chakra flared.

Dammit!

"Fire Style! Fire ignition jutsu!"

He turned just as a hail of shuriken flew at him, the lethal stars bursting into flame. Neji scowled and twisted into a pivot.

"ROTATION!"

He felt the heat of the ignited weapons sear off his chakra shield. Slowing to a halt, he barely had time to plant his feet before a slam to his chest pitched him through a tree. Pain shot straight to his lungs, the snap of the bough reverberating along his spine, punching a cough from him before he landed hard on his back.

"Pin him!" an enemy barked.

Neji's eyes flew wide and he rolled just in time. Kunai slammed into the ground. He turned with a growl and thrust his palm out toward the direction the knives had come from.

"Eight trigrams! Air palm!"

The enemy scattered, allowing Neji to twist and direct the same burst of chakra at the blade-wielding leader of the team. The swordsman deflected most of the damage with his massive blade, using it to take the brunt of the hit. He skidded to a halt a short distance away, his sword having carved a massive trench in the ground.

"Nice moves, brat. Are my clan up to par this time?"

Neji identified the voice.

Impossible.

The man standing before him was broad and packed more muscle than an ox. But he did not look anything like the rotund client that had stood before Tsunade two months ago. Yet the voice was the same. The chakra signature similar, if not slightly altered.

Some kind of transformation jutsu? Or perhaps this is his true form.

Neji took a step back, raising his palm again; his other hand reaching for kunai that had dislodged in his fall.

Damn.

The man laughed, the sound booming around the clearing. "Ah, so you remember me!"

"What is it you're after?" Neji assumed a defensive stance, his sharp eyes fixed ahead, but automatically taking in the periphery and beyond. He knew the other three men were moving, but they seemed to be keeping a distance.

The man ignored his question, instead announcing, "I am Fukurō! Leader of the Tsubasa clan. Though as you can see, I'm rather changed from our last encounter." His eyes narrowed darkly. "When you had the gall to dishonour me."

Neji's eyes narrowed. "Why are you targeting the Leaf? Your clan made peace with our village."

"Peace is a naïve goal." Fukurō smirked. "Anyway, I have no interest in the Leaf. Just one or two clans. Two months ago it was a good opportunity to assess your abilities without having to lose anything of worth."

Neji felt his jaw tighten, disgust curdling inside him. "You fed unprepared, Genin-level ninja to us like sheep to the slaughter…and a misguided girl and her unborn child died for it."

"The brat was dying already. You put her out of her misery before I could."

Neji's expression twisted with revulsion. "And her child?"

"You took care of that, didn't you?" Fukurō smirked before shrugging. "I appreciate it. My daughter was a disgrace. The Tsubasa have no use for whores or traitors, much less bastard children. Especially those who threaten to leak clan secrets. Such things are unforgiveable. Her fate was decided the day she defied me."

Fate…decided…

Those words struck a dangerous chord in Neji and he felt the poisonous stirrings of repressed hatred twisting inside him. "It is not your place to decide the fate of an innocent child."

"I didn't have to," Fukurō snorted. "The Leaf took care of that for me. And now, you are going to assist me again. After all, if you want an eye for an eye, I shall be more than happy to take yours as compensation for my daughter's life and that of her worthless child."

The confidence in the promise wasn't feigned. Neji sensed the other three ninja closing in. In an instant, they ingested something and their chakra roared like a conflagration.

Chakra pills…?

Neji began to back up, quickly assessing his position. His gaze snapped to the tablet Fukurō pressed onto his tongue and swallowed. Almost immediately, his chakra flared.

I can't hold up against that for long…

"Can you see it with those eyes of yours?" the swordsman smirked. "Impressive isn't it? It took countless sacrifices to get the concentration of chakra accurate so it didn't corrupt the system."

Neji's face tightened with anger. Suddenly it made horrid sense. The sickness he had identified in the girl before she'd died. He shook his head, his voice a murmur as he gave voice to the perverse realisation.

"You used your own daughter for experimentation…"

To the Hyūga's disgust, the man looked impressed, almost reverent. "Could you see it? Of course you could. Kekkei genkai is invaluable in such a powerful form." Fukurō's fingers gnarled around the hilt of his blade. "I'm not leaving here without the secret of those eyes."

So they're collecting dōjutsu…

At least that explained why they'd lost interest in Kurenai after discovering she did not possess the Sharingan.

Neji paused as Gai's voice crackled through the transmitter. "Neji!…respond!…you safe?…where…?"

"The Tsubasa have waited a long time to isolate a Hyūga from Konoha," Fukurō continued in a dreamy narration. "We have already coveted other clans' secrets. But with the strength of the famed Byakugan, we will be able to restore a new realm of honour and power to our clan. It is our destiny!"

Destiny…fate…control…

"Neji—?" Kurenai's voice interjected through the transmitter.

Neji reached up as if to respond – only to switch his mic off.

His eyes locked on Fukurō. A dangerous stillness frosted his expression and his coveted eyes became as hard as the precious opals they were often likened to.

"Ah, that's better." Fukurō smirked, engaged by the attention Neji paid him. He hefted his massive blade. "You'll find this fight to a standard you once claimed we lacked. I wonder how long you can take the heat, before I take your eyes."

Neji gracefully slid a leg back, palm held outward as he slipped into position for the eight trigrams, sixty-four palms. His eyes never left Fukurō, even as the other Tsubasa ninja closed in, chakra's blistering with strength.

Fukurō grinned, tapping his blade against his shoulder. "Remember my name, Hyūga. You can tell it to my daughter on the other side."

---

"What the hell is wrong with you, Komori!" A Tsubasa ninja snarled, turning to his comrade who had frozen on the spot mid-strike, the decapitating blow directed toward Kurenai never connecting.

"I…can't…move!" Komori choked out.

"What the hell? Kill her already!"

"I…can't…move my body!"

"No kidding," Shikamaru's voice drifted from above, where he stood holding the shadow possession out of range. "But I'll help you out."

Without warning, Komori turned and stabbed his teammate with his blade, leaving himself open for Kurenai to deliver the finishing blow to his throat. Jerking her knife free, she glanced up.

"Surprise," Shikamaru drawled, dropping down just as Kiba's tunnelling fang jutsu tore up the clearing, taking two enemies with him. "Gai-senpai and Neji?"

Kurenai shook her head, cupping her bleeding arm and sagging against the tree, exhausted. "Gai was battling a spider summon and Neji isn't responding. His transmitter may be damaged."

Shikamaru cursed, turning quickly. "Don't need that to find him. Hinata!"

The kunoichi dropped down beside him, her Byakugan already activated. "He's close and fighting three men. Their chakras…are unusually strong."

"Chakra replenishing pills," Kurenai explained, her crimson eyes pinched with exhaustion. "They've been planning this for months…well prepared…"

"The spider summon fighting Gai-sensei has spawned!" Hinata informed, her eyes constantly darting.

Dammit.

Shikamaru flicked his gaze to Kurenai. "What else do I need to know?"

"They're collecting dōjutsu…they thought I had the Sharingan and were prepared for it." Kurenai glanced at Hinata. "It's best if you stay out of range and use your efforts to help Gai and Kiba."

"But…" Hinata's breath caught, her eyes swinging east. "But Neji…"

"He'll be fine. I'll go with Shikamaru."

"No." Shikamaru shrugged his pack from his shoulder, his dark eyes scanning the supplies. "If they've got chakra fluctuations from those pills, then I need someone who can read it. I'll need her eyes if Neji is fighting."

"It's their eyes they're after, Shikamaru!" Kurenai gripped his elbow, her protectiveness over Hinata clear. "My genjutsu will distract them and—"

"—you're at your limit, Kurenai-senpai." Shikamaru met the crimson gaze, his voice calm, but his eyes set. "I'm guessing you've got about enough chakra left for one illusion before you're dry. Right?"

Kurenai dropped her hand. "Shikamaru…"

"Yeah, I don't exactly like it anymore than you do," Shikamaru muttered as he tugged out a medical salve from his flak-jacket. "But if they thought you had the Sharingan and they still took you on then they're prepared for genjutsu, even if you could pull one off. But I'm not gonna underestimate these guys and risk someone ending up dead."

He watched Kurenai's eyes dart to the side as she considered his words; she could obviously see the sense in his argument. They didn't have time for a battle of wills. Hinata was already focused on the battle neither he nor Kurenai could see.

"Let the cavalry do the charge," he tried to joke, his voice falling flat as he handed Kurenai the healing salve. "If I can get in range, a diversion might be our saf—"

"Neji!" Hinata cried, her lavender eyes widening before she bolted.

"Hinata!" Kurenai's fingers combed the air as her student passed out of reach, vanishing into the canopy. "Hinata!"

"God dammit!" Shikamaru growled, launching after her. "What the hell is it with Hyūga's breaking team!"

---

"Eight trigrams! Air pal—ngh!" Neji gasped as his arm seized in pain, his fingers jerking in a violent spasm.

Damn!

He gripped his arm with a hiss and ducked into a roll, coming up behind a tree. He collapsed back against the trunk, dragging in staggered pants. He'd used too much chakra. To force the jutsu would result in a lethal backfire.

Deactivating the Byakugan, he assessed his chakra network on raw instinct. There was no way he could pull off another eight trigrams now, what with the amount of energy he'd expended on mid-air rotation and the drain from the air-palm strikes.

He'd taken out one of the four enemies and crippled a third. But the effort had cost him precious chakra reserve and with his attackers constantly replenishing, he was at a serious disadvantage.

"What's the verdict, brat? Are we up to par?" Fukurō laughed, apparently not caring whether he gave away his position.

He can afford to be arrogant…he knows I'm reaching my limit…

Neji scowled, glaring down at his arm. He dug his thumb into the crook and pressed his fingers along the limb. He could feel the dull ache spreading. He'd pushed too hard.

"Come Hyūga! Where's your confidence now?"

Neji curled his tongue behind the clench of his teeth. He seethed out a slow breath through his nose, re-centring his mind. He had one last option, a contingency plan he hadn't wanted to consider, let alone fall back on.

"Can't hide forever!" Fukurō bellowed somewhat theatrically, his voice sounding closer now.

Neji closed his eyes. He sucked in a long, deep breath and his expression instantly calmed, his tense features smoothing out. For some strange reason, it was Shikamaru's voice that brushed his mind.

Relax…

Neji flexed his fingers out, pushing past the twinges of pain to force a small surge of chakra to the tips of his slender digits. Then he raised his palm and lightly touched the tips of his fingers to two of the closed chakra points in his chest.

He pressed down.

Agony jolted like a current straight to his lungs.

A hoarse cough exploded from deep in his chest, rattling his ribs and tearing out his breath in a hot, red splatter.

"Found you!" Fukurō roared.

Neji's eyes flew wide. He instinctively hunched and rolled, avoiding decapitation as Fukurō's sword cleaved through the tree. The Tsubasa leader reversed the swing, sawing through the collapsing trunk with barely a grunt.

"Byakugan!" Neji gasped, holding a palm to his chest as he sprung away from the toppling chunks of wood.

Splinters and dust billowed in plumes from the upsurge of chakra in Fukurō's attack, the grime clogging in his throat.

Breathe!

Neji landed in a crouch, his robes fluttering from the airwaves caused by the scything swings of the blade. Choking out a cough, he dragged the back of his wrist across his mouth, scowling at the gory smear of red against his skin. Ignoring the blood, he pressed one palm to the ground and gnarled the fingers of his other into his robe; as if he could tear the pain out of his lungs.

…If I release those chakra blocks…I'm finished…

But he needed the sealed chakra in his tenketsu. Fast. He didn't have time to weigh his options; the skittish whisper of shuriken drew his attention up seconds after his Byakugan detected their movement.

"Fire Style! Fire ignition jutsu!"

Flames burst to life, streaking trails in the wake of the spinning stars, like giant fireflies heading for detonation.

They never hit him.

But something else did – hard enough to knock him sideways across the clearing in a tumble. He managed to kick a leg out, his knee dragging to break his roll, raking up dust as he skidded to a halt.

He barely had time to lift his head before the scent of dog-breath fired into his face and Akamaru's tongue dragged rough and wet across his cheek.

Backup…

Not the most graceful rescue, but at least he wasn't sliced to ribbons.

"Tunnelling Fang!"

Neji pushed to his feet, his hand gripping a branch for support as he watched Kiba's jutsu force the enemy back and out of range. It would buy them some time at least. Gritting his teeth against the pain, Neji forced his body to cooperate, moving his hand away from the concerned nuzzle of the dog. His fingers brushed Akamaru's head gently.

"Thank you," he murmured to the canine before he straightened up and met Kiba half-way. "Gai and Kurenai?"

"Good to see you too! Did your mic die or somethin'?" Kiba grinned, his feral eyes darting around. "No worries, they're taking care of the spiders and cleanin' up the trash. Kurenai-sensei sent me after you guys."

Neji felt his pulse skip. "Guys?"

Kiba frowned, but Neji could tell from the slow twist of concern on the dog-nin's face, that something was horribly wrong.

"You mean Hinata didn't beat me here?"

"What?" Neji's eyes widened, his gut knotting into a fist. "Hinata…?"

"Yeah." Kiba frowned, petting a whining Akamaru. "Shit…Shikamaru should have been with her."

Neji's breath locked.

Shikamaru…?

---

I swear this ironic crap might just be funny if it wasn't happening to me…

Shikamaru scowled, his brows drawn low over his dark eyes as they scanned the forest, constantly analysing even as he searched; making a note of layout, location, leverage and – most importantly for his jutsu – light. The denser the canopy the higher the need for flash bombs. He'd already used one as a diversion.

Shit…am I even going the right way?

Shikamaru channelled a surge of chakra to his feet, perching on a bough to gauge his position as he adjusted his radio transmitter. Without warning, the shrill scream of the mic pierced his eardrum like a kunai.

"Fuck!" He smacked his hand to his temple. "Sonofabi—"

"Shikamaru! Is that you?"

"Kiba? Wait a sec…" he adjusted the volume on the transmitter and tried again. "Right."

"Where the hell are you?" Kiba's voice carried the echo of Akamaru's barks.

"I'd ask my radar but I'm still chasing her." Shikamaru hooked three kunai between his fingers; with one he scraped a shallow gouge in the tree. "Where the hell are you?"

"Following Neji..."

He's alive...

"– he took off."

I'm gonna kill him.

Shikamaru almost bashed his head into the tree from frustration.

"Shikamaru? Hey! You hear me?"

"Dammit. Took off where?"

"Man, if I knew that, I wouldn't be wasting time talkin' to you!"

Shikamaru allowed himself a moment to bury his face into his palm and cursed a virulent blue-streak that had Kiba chuckling nervously. After he was done seething into his hand he straightened up with a sigh, his fingers snapping into fists around the kunai as he ground out his next words.

"That stupid, stubborn, troublesome bastard."

"I can hear you, you know." Neji's voice crackled back down the line.

"Neji!" Shikamaru and Kiba barked in tandem.

Relief flooded through Shikamaru like a drug, leaving him giddy for a moment before he remembered how pissed off he was. He shook his head and felt the steel of the kunai hilts cutting off his circulation - he was gripping them that damned hard. He forced his words out around clenched teeth, sounding deceptively calm.

"Where the hell are you, Hyūga?"

"Right behind you, Nara."

Shikamaru made a face before he turned, his deadpan gaze landing on Neji as the Hyūga touched down on the tree behind him. His dark eyes immediately scanned over the Jōnin, taking in the spatter of blood and grime. Oddly enough, it didn't take away from that ridiculous composure the Hyūga never seemed without.

Shikamaru snorted, shaking his head.

"You look like shit," he drawled, but that giddying relief was running fresh laps in his system. It was as if two months hadn't passed since the last time he'd seen him, despite the circumstances.

Neji scowled, his Byakugan fading. "And you're going the wrong way."

That would have been embarrassing, had Shikamaru not thought the same thing a few moments ago. His attention however, was fixed on the way Neji was favouring his right side. Instead of responding, he jumped over to the bough the Hyūga was standing on, slipping the kunai away. He noted the tension drawn across Neji's face.

"You're hurt pretty bad, aren't you?"

"We need to find Hinata," Neji replied, activating his dōjutsu. "Now."

There was no room for argument in that too-calm tone. Shikamaru sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose before slipping his fingers to the mic.

"Kiba?"

"Yeah! I'm on it. Akamaru's got her scent. We're closing fast."

"What are we looking at, Kiba?"

"Looks like its four guys left, including the sword guy and his buddy with the fire. Akamaru's scenting some pretty intense chakra. Hinata must have been tryin' to lead two others away from Neji before I arrived. Better move fast, yeah?"

"We'll be right there," Shikamaru dropped his hand, pausing as something occurred to him. He glanced across at Neji. "These bastards are after dōjutsu…"

"I know that," Neji snapped, turning his back.

Shikamaru watched him in confusion. "Then you'll know Hinata is a hell of a bigger target than I am right now. If you knew I was going in the wrong direction, why didn't you go straight to her instead of coming for me?"

Neji glanced over his shoulder, frowning. "What?"

"I said why the hell didn't you go straight to Hinata?"

Neji froze, hesitating a moment. "Stop wasting time, Shikamaru."

Then he was gone, taking the lead to turn them back around in the right direction. Shikamaru shook his head before picking up the pace, his feet glancing off branches as they moved through the canopies.

He kept his gaze on Neji's movements, looking for any sign of collapse. If the Hyūga was in pain, he was hiding it well. Not surprising. But if his chakra was running on empty, which Shikamaru assumed to be the case, they couldn't risk close-range.

Which means I'm gonna have to nail the head-honcho with a damned shadow possession…great…

The strategy took form in his mind, mapping itself out as if drawn by invisible fingers. Confident in the plan he touched his mic to communicate with Neji.

"When we converge with Kiba, I'm gonna need you guys to keep three of them occupied while I go for the ring-leader."

"Occupied?" Neji responded – then halted abruptly on the next tree.

Shikamaru cursed and skidded to a stop beside him. "Dammit, Neji. Warn me before you do that!"

"There's one thing we must be clear on, Shikamaru." Neji pressed a palm to the tree, his pale eyes fixed ahead. "The priority is to get Hinata out."

"The priority is to get everyone out," Shikamaru returned smoothly, also keeping his gaze fixed ahead.

He didn't like the edge of finality lacing Neji's words.

"I'm at my limit," Neji admitted, his voice quiet. "And this enemy has no limit provided they continue to take those pills. Kiba and Akamaru will be needed to draw the fire wielder's attention long enough for you or Hinata to distract the other two, which leaves Fukurō an opening that I need to cover."

Shikamaru frowned. Now he really didn't like where this was going.

"Look, how about you leave the strategy to me?"

Neji turned an irritated look on him. Shikamaru would have returned it but he was too busy thinking how to avoid or counter what he sensed was coming next.

"Because I outrank you, Nara and I have more experience with this enemy." Neji's expression shifted again, turning almost pensive. "If necessary I'll give Fukurō what he thinks he wants."

Shikamaru laughed. A short, hoarse rattle that sounded like a scoff because that was all he could possibly offer in response to something so stupid. Neji didn't share his amusement.

"And this is why you need to let me make the plans, Hyūga."

"Even the best laid plans can fail, Shikamaru."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence," he smirked, trying desperately to keep things light.

"This isn't about you, Nara. I will distract Fukurō long enough for you to remove Hinata and get the others out," Neji continued, his calm words curdling an unexplainable nausea in the pit of Shikamaru's stomach.

Just what the hell is he saying…?

Shikamaru really hadn't expected this. He'd had every confidence that they would come out of this alive - without even considering something as last-resort based as what Neji was suggesting. Wasn't that the damned point of sending in backup? So this shit didn't happen?

"Look," Shikamaru growled. "Between you, Kiba and Akamaru, we can divide their attention long enough for me to get a shadow-possession in on this Fukurō guy. Hinata will catch on."

Neji shook his head. "While she may detect our formation she can't assume our game plan, Shikamaru. She has drawn them away from us, but by now Fukurō is right behind her. He will go straight for her, as he did with Kurenai. He is arrogant, but currently possesses the strength to back it up – with three other players."

"Strength can be thwarted by strategy. We can work this, Neji."

"There's no time. You've done what you came to do. Gai and Kurenai are safe and I would have been dead had Kiba not arrived earlier. But now, we have a new objective. Getting Hinata and the rest of you away from here, that is our objective now." Neji paused a moment. "At best, we all get away; at worst, the Byakugan's secret will die with me. The curse seal will ensure it."

Shikamaru stood up from his crouch, anger biting into his voice to cover up that horrible feeling gnawing in his gut. "Shut up, Neji. No one's gonna die."

He could feel the Hyūga watching him. "It is a variable we can't rule out. We've already underestimated the Tsubasa twice."

"I really don't care." Shikamaru shook his head. "Dying is not an outcome."

"Don't be stupid, Nara. If Hinata is compromised, then so is my entire clan. It is my duty to protect the heir to the Main Hou—"

"It's your damned duty to stay alive, Hyūga!" Shikamaru shot Neji a dark look, surprised at his own vehemence. "I already told you. Dying is not an outcome. Now be quiet and let me think."

To his surprise, Neji didn't snap back, or attempt to press his point; which was probably worse than if he had. It meant the Hyūga didn't see the worth in trying to convince someone of something that he was already set on. Shikamaru grit his teeth, his next words firing out before he could stop them.

"When did you start giving up so damn easy, anyway? What the hell's wrong with you? I thought you didn't accept losing."

Neji didn't offer a reply. Instead, the Hyūga skimmed his fingertips across his chest a few times as if tracing something unseen. Then he turned his head minutely, detecting something beyond range.

"Kiba is here."

Shikamaru nodded, turning just as Akamaru silently padded along the adjacent bough. The shadow-nin crouched down and crabbed his hands, his eyes drifting shut. He felt Neji shift beside him.

"They're almost here. You have three minutes, Shikamaru."

He only needed two.

---