Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Ice Picks and Hand Grenades ❯ Beauty of the Beast ( Chapter 14 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Disclaimer: Shikamaru doesn't belong to me. We all know who he belongs to. *snicker*

Chapter 14: Beauty of the Beast

"Shikamaru!" Lee cries, lifting a huge chunk of metal from over my head. "Are you okay?"

I glance around. Sure I'm basically unhurt, but what about everyone else? I take a quick glance around to see Sudoko and Ferret helping Fox from the rubble. "Yeah, just bumps and scratches. " I dust myself off.

"Shit! We have a broken arm here!" Ferret shouts.

"It's okay." Fox pulls himself up, right arm favoring the limp left. "I'll run if I get in trouble."

I slap my hands over my ears. What was that sound that... inhuman screech? It was terrible, high pitched but almost a growl, ripping violently in my ears.

"I-it's a dog!" Lee shouts, and I'm so very amazed I could even hear it... he's right. When I whip my head to the side my eyes meet it with full force. The thing is huge! Who could have summoned something like that? Kakashi's ninken are nothing compared to this.

My companions, now all sound on their feet, draw their weapons, very determined looks on the faces of those I can actually see. They should know they can't scratch that thing as they are now! It would take a miracle. "Who has chakra left? I used a lot when the building was still standing."

"It's okay." Ferret says bluntly. "Anyone able come on the offensive. Fox, you gather the other Anbu. We don't need anyone else getting killed today." Fox grunts unhappily.

"That's exactly how Taro-san got killed. I'm not repeating that mistake." I say, stepping forward. "You aren't obligated to get involved with this. This mission is my responsibility. I don't need another death... hanging over my head." There are too many already. No one is going to save my ass this time. It's me or nobody.

"That's enough, Shikamaru!" Ferret barks. "Anbu is here, and from now to the end, this is our operation. You three could go running home with your tails tucked between your legs for all I care." She pauses and suddenly her voice softens. "You don't have to play leader anymore, it's okay. Fox and I will give you a break. Follow us, if you want to."

I sigh and put a hand on my hip. "And here I never took you as the leader type. But I suppose the surprise is not unwelcome."

Lee stops. "Hold on-you know each other?"

I laugh, shaking my head. "You can't know an Anbu. They don't have identities, remember?"

"C'mon you guys." Fox interupts. "If we keep chatting, that summon is going to tear up half of Wave."

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Making our way toward the city streets proves to be a difficult task, beside having to dodge the natural terrain, the matter of finding the city streets in the rubble is almost above us. We trek through the shattered streets, past several other buildings that met the same fate as the thieves den, but we're still not even close. The beast isn't finished yet. As we run, trying to catch up for all we're worth, it pauses to take hold of a building with it's powerful jaws... and rip it clean off of the ground, only to toss it away into the massive forest no more than a kilometer outside of the town. I'm beginning to wonder whether or not this gigantic thing was summoned on purpose. It seems awfully wild and out of control for a summon. If that's true, the shinobi that summoned it is most likely dead. That would be a bad sign. Our chances against that inu were slim as it was.

We leap from building to building when suddenly Fox stops ahead of us, thrusting out his good arm as a signal to stop. "What?" Lee says, shifting his gaze to the left of the huge beast.

"You smell that?"

I look around. What is he talking about? I can't smell anything. The creature swings its head from side to side as the Anbu team still tracking it once again closes in. That's all I can see. In fact, one of them has a hook and a rope lodged into the inu's shoulder blade, causing another ear shattering howl to shred through the air. The other shinobi follow suit, and without a moment's hesitation the other four hooks are pulling the ragged creature toward the ground. Amazing. It's actually working. They'll have it pinned to the ground in no time... no, that's not it. The dog summon is getting up. One by one the ropes snap under the pressure, all except one, the Anbu holding it flying straight into the air with his weapon.

"We should help them!" Lee shouts as the creature stomps the ground wildly, dust and rock rising with each step.

"I said hold your ground!"

Suddenly the beast stops, gazing eastward at... I can't see anything from here! That's where the dense forest stops, so whatever is drawing its fierce barks-if you can tell that huge rumbling noise is a bark-is hidden there. Wait... I can hear one of the Anbu shouting. "Get back! He'll kill you!"

"Sotoro!" That's--

A huge cloud of smoke rolls up and out of the trees, exposing another dog. This one equally enormous, massive... but a white dog with two heads. I've never seen that jutsu... get so huge. The two dogs instantly clash, though sotoro obviously has the advantage. When the two rear up, all that can be seen is a streak of white and brown for several strikes before the inu latches onto the other's shoulder. Sotoro howls and almost instantly retaliates, though the blood from his shoulder stains so much worse. The second head thrusts forward and puts a vice grip on the inu's throat. There is no howling now, only muffled growls and gurgling chokes, shuddering muscles and bristled fur. The inu kicks its hind legs into the aggressor, sending both crashing into trees and buildings, dislodging enough debris that a few small pebbles knick the exposed skin on my left arm and forehead.

"Whoo! Go Kiba!" Lee shouts from beside me, thrusting his fist sky high and striking a ridiculous pose. What do you do about this guy? I bet he even poses at home alone-whenever he passes a mirror-and he probably has as many mirrors as Neji does.

Wait a-what's this chakra flare behind me? "Wow! Lookit that! Sensei is so cool!" Kiba's genin team? Isn't that a little dangerous? I look down at the three. "Hi Shikamaru-sensei!" Naomi, the little blue eyed girl says, waving her hand frantically.

"Naomi? Yuki? Keisuke? What are you three doing here?"

"Oh, just a mission." Yuki says, folding his hands behind his head, smugly.

"That's obvious, dumbass!" Keisuke snaps, flipping his chin length hair from his face and off of his glasses. "We were on a C rank mission to deliver some mail because the only mailman in Wave was sick when suddenly sensei started sniffing the air like he does sometimes, and next thing we know he's telling us to hike up this hill." To keep them from the fray. Pretty smart, which is why I'm surprised they listened.

The two battling giants downwind suddenly crash in our direction, sending a strong enough shockwave to knock all three genin to the ground. Sotoro lands on top of the other beast, both heads shredding their teeth into the summon's throat, one tearing out a chunk of hair and skin, the other taking with it a good length of the creature's esophogus. Fortunately the blood spatter doesn't reach this far. The summon gargles on its own blood for a few moments, hacking, spitting and writhing before disappearing in a puff of smoke. The three genin, who really shouldn't be seeing this, stare at the gruesome picture for quite a long time. Partially in awe, partially in fear, and probably because it's hard to look away for rookie nins. But none of them says a word.

"How did someone muster up enough chakra to summon that thing?" Fox whispers, still watching intently through the eye slits in his mask.

"Probably popped half a dozen food pills. Can't say that's particularly healthy. But it doesn't matter, now." I take a few steps forward until I meet the sharp angle of dirt that was shaken down when the inu hit and start to slide down on my heels.

"Wait!" Lee again shouts from above. I stop, wasting as little chakra as possible. "Where are you going?"

I scoff at the question. "If you were paying attention at all, you would have noticed the injury. I don't know if it was Kiba or Akamaru, but one of them got bit, and Anbu isn't going to stick around to help them." I notice a change in the genin above immediately, most prominently in Yuki, who scurries over behind me and starts down the hill in a reckless hurry. Keisuke and Naomi aren't far behind, but their pace is a little more conservative. The others, I don't care if they follow or not.

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The two are farther away than I initially thought, but that's not my concern at the moment. At the bottom of the hill I pick up speed, easily catching up with Yuki and matching his pace. The look on the genin's face is akin to frantic. How much does he really look up to his sensei? I've never had an impact like that on a student.

We find Kiba about a hundred and fourteen meters from the hill, propped up against a tree, with Akamaru whimpering at his side. The irregular breathing... hand clasped over his shoulder. He's hurt pretty badly. I don't have any medic supplies left but I'll do what I can. I kneel down beside him and though his eyes aren't open I'm sure he recognizes me. Akamaru makes a strange, almost speech like sound and starts licking a small cut on his master's right arm... but this other one is deep, it needs to be bandaged quick. Hell, he's going to need stitches.

"Shikamaru?" He says quietly, barely moving his lips. "I can't move... my... right scroll pouch... please..." What the hell is he, paralyzed? No, he's just chakra drained. Enough that he's cold to the touch. I snap back to my senses and reach into his vest pouch without reservation. He doesn't have much, but out of what he does have... he must want these food pills. That would make sense. Since he can't move much I pop one into the corner of his mouth, then proceed to do the same for Akamaru.

"You're a pain, Kiba, you shouldn't overexert yourself like this."

He smiles, the color very slowly returning to his face. "What was I supposed to do? No one else... had the means to stop that inu." He's right, ya know. Not even Anbu was handling the situation very well. And with things like A class summons you have to fight fire with fire.

"I guess I don't have to tell you to sit still." He laughs a little. At least he's in good spirits, I suppose. I take a kunai from his leg holster, seeing as most of mine are stuck in a wall or covered in foreign blood, and after carefully removing his vest, I cut the left arm of his shirt from the neckline to the wrist and start peeling it away. The others show up sometime within this step, but are smart enough not to interfere. It's worse than it looked, it's bleeding profusely now that the fibers of the shirt have been parted from the flesh. I pull the shirt completely off now, knowing it would only be a hinderance. "What kind of medical supplies does anyone have?" I ask. "I need bandages and clean water if nothing else."

"You're in luck!" Fox says, reaching into his cloak. "Anbu regulations state that every member is to carry a minor first aid kit." He pulls a small bag containing food pills, gauze, tranquilizers and a needle and thread. Ugh. Crude and sort of inhuman, but it will have to do.

Without a word Yuki runs off, presumably to fetch some water. At least I hope he's smart enough to find a river. "Kiba, your short brunette with the blue eyes...""Yuki? Don't worry, he's got a good nose." I nod, even though the gesture is lost since his eyes are still closed.

"Is there anything I can do, sensei?" Naomi whispers, shakily, clutching to Kiba's good arm like a lifeline.

Kiba smiles and opens one eye toward the girl. "Just chill." She nods, but continues to cling nonetheless.

Yuki returns in a heartbeat with a metal cup full of river water in hand. I rip a piece of gauze since it's all I have, and dip it into the water. First things first. I have to clean the wound as best as possible. Digging through the med kit, I push away the tranquilizers, knowing he won't want them, and shoot for the needle and thread. I may not be a pro, but if I can whipstitch it well enough that the bleeding stops, it will do a lot of good for the situation. I motion for Keisuke to dab away the blood as I work, and he does so without further direction. It takes twenty five stitches to completely stop the bleeding, and after the final cleaning I pull out the gauze and dress the wound, though not tightly enough to hinder the bloodflow. It should be good enough to assure a safe trip back to Konohagakure for Tsunade to finish. Hell. I'm not a med-nin. I can only do so much. Apparently more time than I thought passed, and by the time I'm finished Kiba is strong enough to stand unassisted and stagger a few steps. It won't be long before he's running and jumping like the hyper mutt he is. I just hope he doesn't push it. Food pills aren't made for sustaining regular activity, they're just supposed to get him enough energy to save his own ass.

"We should head back." I call to Lee and Sudoko, who are taking a well deserved rest under a patch of shade.

Ferret stops me with a hand on the shoulder. "You should have Kiba-san and the genins go back with you."

A small protest comes from behind. "B-but we haven't finished our mission!" Keisuke shrieks, clutching the mailbag hanging at his side.

"Give it to me." The Anbu says, her hand out and her voice reflecting a smile. "It's no problem... I won't tell." The boy is still hesitant, but gives up the bag in what almost looks like a huff.

"Four more, eh? Troublesome." I grudgingly get to my feet, jutting my hands into my pockets. "Kinda early, but whatever."

"We're leaving already? What about the city?" Lee looks shocked and a little overly concerned.

"I'm sure Hokage-sama is expecting us back. You can set up a volunteer list with her then, right?"

Sudoko steps over to me, setting her hand on her hip. "C'mon, Lee. It's not like it's our fault. It was that fuckin' dog."

Lee still looks downtrodden. What am I supposed to do? I sigh, dropping my head. "It's a pain, but we can ask Tsunade-sama to send more aid and money, maybe even make a mission of repairing the town. But we have to go back in order to arrange it. Sitting around picking up rubble now isn't going to do us or the villagers any good." Lee brightens a little. There, that's enough.

"Hah!" Sudoko's lips turn upward in a wry manner. "Captain's a pushover." And with that she starts walking. I don't know if she's trying to rattle my nerves or what. Oh well. Who cares. I start to walk at a leisurely pace because, if I know any better, our little coterie won't be ready to run for a while. And hell, we shouldn't run into any trouble for a few hours at least after that inu incident. And even if they do decide to get revenge they'll have to get their senses together before they can track us down. That's saying they'll come after us at all.

"We probably shouldn't have to travel very far, today." I say, nonchalantly, not at all hinting that I mean my chakra is mostly spent and Kiba looks like he could keel over again at any minute, despite his tough and hard headed demeanor. "I don't know about you guys, but I don't personally think we should let Kiba pull an all nighter in his condition."

"All right." Sudoko glances up at the sky. "We travel until dusk then."

"I don't know what you're talking about, Shikamaru." Kiba says, prancing up beside me, surrounded by an obvious glow. I don't know what that's all about. You'd think he just got laid or something. "I feel great!"

I shrug. "Dunno why."

He simply grins knowingly and turns from me, darting up ahead to meet with his students. "Keisuke, Yuki to the left! Naomi, you take the back!" The kids run up to their sensei, who jumps abruptly into the trees. "Yahoo! Miss a step and it's twenty laps!"

"Yosh!" All three shout it unison. So that's why they like him so much. Training disguised as playing. How clever, and with Kiba in the lead, those kids are going to have great reflexes. Akamaru follows from the far back, mimicing their movements. Now that I think about it, it's no surprise that Kiba makes a great sensei. He's sort of been one since he was ten, and by now Akamaru probably knows more jutsu than I do. Kiba lands a good distance away, gracefully spinning into a backwards trot and calling out to his students. Naomi and Keisuke land almost simultaneously and with very good form and control, though obviously not as practiced as thier sensei. Yuki lands last, but with equally good control.

"Good! See if you can keep up!" Kiba shouts, laughing almost dangerously before once again disappearing into the forest canopy. The genin happily comply, leaping out of vision after their sensei and his dog. I don't know if I could handle kids like those. I have enough trouble with ten year olds who don't know their asses from their elbows, and if I recall clearly, even the ever patient Asuma ended up prescribed ulcer medication after his first year of teaching me and my old teammates. Up to the very end, I don't think he ever got rid of those ulcers. Well, I guess Kiba's just better with kids than my former sensei. I dunno why that bothers me a little. I'm supposed to be over all that. I mean, lots of people are good with kids. It doesn't mean that... well, um, I don't know. It doesn't mean anything. Not that I care...

Damn. It feels like this trip is gonna suck.

kxsxkxsxkxsxkxsxkxs

A/N: Erm, not much to say..

NEXT TIME:

How long must this nighmare endure? He asks himself. A nightmare he says, clouding his vision and tainting his heart. A nightmare, haunting his waking world. A nightmare he cannot control. He has no need for that which he cannot control.

But what difference is there... between what is said and what is done?