"Thank you, both," Tsunade nodded as she watched the two cloud ninja before her. Gracefully standing from her place behind her desk, she motioned between the two of them to the door. "If we hurry we should be able to catch your team before they leave the village. Shikamaru is leading the mission. He became a Chunin following these past exams, but he is very intelligent for his age. With the two of you included in the team, I can't imagine it will be a very long mission."

Tatsumaki studied the diagram Shikamaru had drawn intently, memorizing it's every detail as she listened to her fellow chunin's words. A single line formation, Kiba and Akamaru in front, then Shikamaru, then herself and Naruto, then Choji, then Neji and Okiddo. A sound composition, despite this strange mission. Everything seemed so . . . off. She couldn't deny Shikamaru's intelligence, seeing as she'd had to fight him in the Chunin Exams, and lost. However, there was still a Jonin in their midst. So why wasn't Okiddo leading the mission? 'Because it was Tsunade-sama's wish that Shikamaru lead this mission. There is no use questioning it,' she insisted to herself. She just had to focus.

Okiddo was also looking over the diagram with a critical attentiveness, her hand resting lightly on her younger brother's shoulder. Neji didn't seem to mind, and it helped her to relax, feeling her brother so close. This would be her first mission since Orochimaru's attack on the village. It almost seemed like a lifetime ago but Okiddo knew that was only the recuperation period getting to her. Shikamaru certainly knew what he was doing, placing the two of them together. They were family, and from that bond, knowing each other so well, they were able to read each other's movements in battle almost flawlessly. But not only that, their weaknesses were almost completely nullified when it came to the Byakugan. She would be able to see anything in Neji's blind spot with her eyes, and he would be able to see anything in hers with his. It was a good plan. But now they had to put that plan to action. Little did any of them know of the alterations they would have to make to accommodate Lady Hokage's wishes.

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The two cloud nin raced through the rooftops heading to the meeting place as quickly as possible. The hokage had given them specific directions before seeming to kick them out.

Kouta glanced over at his comrade seeing her taking in the sights as they ran. He couldn't really blame her since all she tried to do was get a mission to the hidden leaf village. But, now that they we here he couldn't help but wonder if she would be okay. He knew that Kumimura could get......excited. "There they are." He spoke spotting the group of ninja that fit the hokage's description.

"Alright, don't mess this up Kumimura. Don't mess this up." The kunoichi chanted to herself as the group was just a jump away. As she and Kouta jumped down from the rooftops racing towards the group she miscalculated her steps tripping in front of the leaf ninja's.

Kouta face palmed at his friends clumsiness. Shikamaru gave the two cloud nin a bored look. "Why are two cloud ninja here?" He asked seeming as if it were a pain to even talk to them.

Kumimura jumped up recovering quickly. "My name is Kumimura and this is Kouta we have been sent by the hokage to help you!" She told him though a little to loudly giving a sloppy bow.

Kouta's bow was much more formal than hers. "Pleased to meet you all."

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Tatsumaki slowly turned towards the cloud nin as they arrived on the scene. So now Tsunade was sending foreign ninja to help them? This was strange. We're the ninja that had taken Sasuke so dangerous? This was much more serious than she had thought. Although she hid it well, it was hard for her to tear her gaze from the clumsy female, even she gave a formal bow to the two ninja. He gaze shifted over to Naruto, wondering her orange clad teammate recognized the uncanny resemblance this cloud kunoichi held to Kakashi Sensei..

Okiddo quickly scanned over the new arrivals, looking for any ingredient strengths and weaknesses. She had to bite back the urge to question them, to fit them into the battle plan. This was Shikamaru's mission, she had to let him take control, even when dealing with foreign ninja.

Kiba glanced down at Akamaru as he began sniffing the air and barking towards the cloud ninja. "What's wrong, Akamaru?" he asked.
Akamaru jumped into his partners arms, growling to relay his message to Kiba.
"What? That's impossible. Kakashi is on a mission to the village in the sand. You must be picking up an old trail," Kiba insisted, not realising that Akamaru was smelling a familial bond.

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Shikamaru sighed scratching the back of his head. "This is such a drag." He had heard what Kiba had said and turned to the Kakashi look alike. "Can you summon?" He asked earning a nod.

Kumimura bit her thumb drawing blood making the correct hand signs before slamming her hand on the ground. "Summoning justu!" She called as a puff of smoke formed. As soon as it cleared a large white husky was beside the female his his green eyes scanning the leaf nin.

"Woah! She can summon dogs just like Kakashi Sensei!" Naruto explained amazed as Kumimura seemed to blush a bit.

Kouta stepped forward. "Kumimura and I work together better so it's best to keep us together." He told the lazy ninja keeping his expression emotionless so he didn't give anything away. He couldn't afford for the leaf ninja to know about Kumimura's heritage and have to explain it. Though he had a suspicion that the lazy ninja in front of him already guessed it.

Shikamaru nodded knowing that the two knew each others strength and weaknesses better than the rest of them did. "You two will bring up the rear then."

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"A lot of people can summon dogs, Naruto. Like how you, Jiraiya-sama, and I can summon toads," Tatsumaki pointed out diplomatically. However, she was just about as amazed as her teammate. Or was freaked a better word? Surely this cloud ninja was a Hatake, but . . . Kakashi Sensei didn't have any family. They knew that. So who was this girl?

Okiddo was shocked when Shikamaru told the two cloud nin to bring up the rear. No, no, no, her and Neji needed to be in the rear with their Byakugan. She didn't want to speak out, and therefore undermine his authority over this mission, but at the same time, that was a rather rash addition to the formation. Was he not thinking clearly with one of their own in danger?
Luckily for her, her brother decided to speak up instead. "If I may make a suggestion, Shikamaru," Neji said, glancing towards Kouta and Kumimura. "Keep Okiddo and I in the rear, where our Byakugan is most effective. Move Choji ahead of Naruto and Tatsumaki, paired with you, and place Kumimura and Kouta where Choji had been."

"Well, whatever out formation is, we need to move out fast," Kiba insisted, looking off through the forest. "Akamaru's found the scent of the Sound ninja and Sasuke, but it's fading fast," he explained, earning a bark of confirmation from Akamaru.

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Kouta stepped forward before Shikamaru could speak. "If I may add something. It be best if me and Kumimura be placed near the front since she has Kimi with her. To help with tracking." He told them.

Shikamaru just sighed. It did make sense, but he still had no idea what these two could do yet. "Alright." He agreed and had anyone get into positions. "Move out." He ordered hearing Naruto cheer.

Kumimura nodded to Kouta. They boy had an agreement that she would use her kenke genkai if she had to.

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"Let's go, Akamaru!" Kiba grinned as Shikamaru gave the order to move out. With an affirmative bark, Akamaru jumped into the trees with Kiba right beside him, racing after the trail with the knowledge that their teammates would be right behind them. They had to find Sasuke and bring him back to the village. Who knew what Orochimaru's would do to him if they didn't?

Tatsumaki glanced towards Naruto as the team headed out, jumping with a burst of chakra onto the nearest tree branch to follow the team in the line formation Shikamaru had set up. They had promised Sakura they would return Sasuke unharmed . . . but could they really deliver? They were getting stronger, especially with Jaraiya's teachings, but their enemies were getting stronger as well. They could expect the world to go on hold as they trained, after all. Their joint Rasengan was stronger than either could produce on their own, but was it strong enough to defeat Sasuke's captors? Or . . . Orochimaru?

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"The fugitives are up ahead!" Kimi called earning a few surprised looks from the others. "Kumimura.......Kouta.......Tayuya and Jirobo are among them." She told them earning determined looks from the two genin.

"I'll make her pay for the last time." She growled clenching her left hand sparks of lighting could be seen. Spending the first few years of her life was hell and Tayuya being there with her made it bittersweet.

Kouta kept his focus forward. He had been humiliated by the man when he last went up against him in front of his father. He would make him pay for that dearly. "I'm not losing this time." He murmured.

Naruto ' s eyes widened at the sight of the lightning. "....Chidori....." He whispered casting a look at Tatsumi.

"So......Are you both going to tell us what you know? Or are we going to have to find out ourselves?" Shikamaru called out to them knowing that the two knew something that the rest of them didn't.

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Tatsumaki met Nature's gaze as she also noticed the Chidori. It's not like that ability was exclusive to Kakashi Sensei . . . after all, he'd taught it to Sasuke. But still. Kakashi had invented it himself. So how did this Cloud ninja know it? They would have to consult with Kakashi Sensei about this after they all returned to Konohagakure.

"Shikamaru's right," Choji spoke up. "We need to know what you guys know so that we can all take full advantage of the situation at hand."

Okiddo nodded in silent agreement as she listened in on the conversation going on ahead of her. Not that the other's could see her. "The sound ninja are resting in a clearing about a kilometer away," she informed, earning a side glance from her little brother. He couldn't even see a kilometer in radius with his Byakugan yet. But, Okiddo knew that one day his potential would surpass her own.

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"There are four of them in all. We only faced Tayuya and Jirobo. The have unique abilities that you need to be cautious of, Tayuya with sound and Jirobo with strength." Kouta told them as they neared the clearing. He cast a look at Kumimura. It looked like she would have to use her kenke genkai for this mission.

The kunoichi gave a slight nod showing she understood. The sparks in her hand were soon gone as quick as they had come. She hadn't perfected her fathers move yet and it would always backfire on her. "Don't worry. We're here to give a helping hand." She told them cheerfully.

Shikamaru nodded knowing something else was being hidden from them. Especially, about this Kumimura. Though, he didn't question it since he wasn't sure how the two would react. He would have to let it reveal itself in time.

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"Stop!" Kiba hissed after several more minutes of travel, digging into the tree branch he landed on with his nails to keep his balance in check. Him and Akamaru both sniffed the air cautiously, trying to untangle the scents of the fugitives from the scents of their own teammates around them. "They're just ahead. What's the plan Shikamaru? How are we supposed to ambush these guys?" he asked, his voice noticeably lowered. Kouta had said that one of these deadbeats had a unique ability with sound. Gaige enough, but it could mean enhanced heading, and Kiba didn't want to take the risk.

"There's enough of us to surround them and attack two on one," Tatsumaki murmured to herself as she tried to objectively analyze the situation, which was rather difficult for her without being able to see the full picture.

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Shikamaru nodded in agreement before turning to the two cloud ninja. "Kumimura, you'll go after this Tayuya with me. Kouta I want you and Choji to take on this Jirobo." He turned to Kiba. "I need you to try and lead one of them away from the group. The other's will do the same with the others. I need the rest of you to continue after them and we'll catch up. This plan will break their team apart. Though, it will break ours apart as well it's we have to risk rather than facing them with their combined strengths." He looked over the group. "Is everyone clear on the plan?" He asked.

Kumimura and Kouta nodded looking ready.

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Okiddo nodded once as she heard Shikamaru's plans, analyzing the enemy just beyond the tree line. Who would be the best target to go after?
As her eyes caught something, she gasped, but it was too late.

"Whoa!" Tatsumaki yelped, suddenly pulled off balance as she was pulled through the air. The wind was knocked out of her as she slammed into the ground, coughing as she was drug along before being pulled up by her long red hair. Her eyes shut tight as six arms wrapped around her, their grip so tight that she couldn't breathe.

"Well well, look what we got here. The Honorable Daughter, Tatsumaki Namikaze of the Hidden Leaf Village," Kidomaru heckled. "Orochimaru would be very happy to have you in his possession."

"A wire trap," Neji growled in annoyance. Now the enemy knew right where the were. They'd have to fight them head on.

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Kumimura made a sound of disgust. "And here I thought that regular bugs were creepy. You’re just flat out gross." She commented and glanced towards Kouta earning a nod. It seemed like she would have to use her kenke genkai after all. She made a few unfamiliar hand signs and took a deep breath.

"Hold your breath!" He ordered quickly covering his mouth with a cloth. He tossed a few to the others as well. He gave one to Kimi as well since he had ordered the canine to run over to Tatsumi when the justu started.

Kumimura released her breath of air a purple mist escaping her mouth. It was part of her mothers kenke genkai. Kimi rushed forward as the mist forward as the mist formed keeping low.

Shikamaru was surprised by the sudden order, but obeyed pressing the cloth against his nose and mouth. He had never seen a justu like this before which made him even more curious. Who was this girl?

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The Sound Four growled as the girl used her kekkei genkai. If only Lord Orochimaru had been successful in tempering the girl to her side. Kidomaru snapped Tatsumaki's head forward. Not with enough force to kill her, but with enough force to knock her unconscious. "Take care of them, Jirobo," Sakon ordered as Tayuya grabbed Sasuke's coffin.
Jumping into the trees, Sakon led Tayuya and Kidomaru away, Sasuke and Tatsumaki in tow, leaving Jirobo to deal with the shinobi

Jirobo lept away from the purple mist, trying to find its range so he could use hit trap against the shinobi and buy his team time.

"Great. Now we have to rescue Sasuke and Tatsumaki," Neji sighed from under his cloth. He didn't like his team being compromised. Kumimura and Kouta said they had fought this enemy before, but he didn't fancy leaving them both against this enemy whilst he test of them charged blindly ahead. No matter, Shikamaru was the leader, and he would devise the plan from there

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