Chapter 26: Going after Sasuke

"We were being followed by ninjas in the forest, and Sakura had caught Naruto and Shikamaru up on everything that had happened when Naruto said, 'Listen, guys, we don't have much of a choice; we're going to have to ambush them!'"

"No, that won't work," Pakkun interjected. "I'm afraid those ninjas chasing us are Orochimaru's henchmen. My guess is that they're all Jonin level."

Hearing Orochimaru's name made me angry as I started recalling what had happened a few years ago. My train of thoughts were interrupted by Shikamaru's voice, "I really thought that would work. But I guess it won't."

"Wait, hold on, why not? The level of an opponent doesn't have much to do with an ambush, does it?" Sakura asked.

Naruto looked confused as he asked, "Wait, what are you guys talking about?".

"You guys just don't get it. Let me explain," Shikamaru began. "Yes, an ambush is a key battle tactic and can be very beneficial, but for it to work, you have to meet two conditions."

"Well, what are they? Tell us, and we'll meet them!" Naruto replied.

"For an effective ambush, first, the ninja on the run must remain completely silent and locate the enemy. Second, they need to catch the pursuers off guard, causing significant damage swiftly, and then vanish just as quickly. Our ninja hound's keen nose aids the first condition, and our familiarity with the village geography favors the second. However, Orochimaru's past ties to the Leaf Village mean we're out of luck on the second condition," Shikamaru explained.

"We are? Wait, tell me why that is again,"

"Our pursuers have studied the layout of this village, and I have to assume that they've been put through simulated practices for this mission. And on top of that, they're probably masters of pursuit jutsu," Shikamaru clarified.

"So, they know all the cards we're holding?" Sakura realized.

"An ambush might help but facing a specialized enemy unit with just us—a fool, a kunoichi without a standout talent, a mutt, a dumb prodigy, and me, who doesn't want to be here—is uncertain. Tactics demand clear understanding, and right now, only one plan makes sense," Shikamaru concluded.

"And that is?" Sakura asked.

"A diversion that only looks like an ambush. So, one of us is going to stay behind and slow them down," Shikamaru proposed.

I started to understand what Shikamaru meant and asked, "So, if one of us delays them, they shouldn't be able to find the rest of us, and we'll be able to escape. Is that right?"

"Yeah, and of course, the one who acts as a decoy will probably… die," Shikamaru admitted.

We all stopped running as I turned to Shikamaru and asked, "I'm guessing you're going to be the one?"

Both Sakura and Naruto turned to me with a shocked look on their faces as Shikamaru said, "Yeah, I'm the only one of us who has a chance to pull off this decoy act. And of surviving this attack. I mean, after all, shadow possession Jutsu was invented as a delay tactic. Anyway, I'll catch up with you later, go on, get going."

"We're counting on you, Shikamaru! Sakura, Hinoka..." I glanced at Sakura and Naruto, noting their nods of agreement. As they began to move forward, I turned away from Shikamaru, preparing to follow them. As I said, "Don't you dare die, Shikamaru."

"Yeah, and try not to do anything dumb," Shikamaru replied.

I chuckled, saying, "Can't make you any promises," before I continued and soon caught up with Naruto, Sakura, and Pakkun. As I caught up with them, Pakkun said, "Took you a while, we need to pick up the pace!"

After a while, Pakkun remarked, "Huh, looks like those ninjas aren't chasing us anymore."

"Awesome! Shikamaru succeeded with the delay tactic," Naruto exclaimed.

I scoffed before saying "Of course he did."

Suddenly, there was an explosion up ahead. As we turned towards it, Sakura asked what it was, and Pakkun replied, "Tripwire traps, they certainly aren't making Sasuke's job easy for him."

Sakura had a worried expression on her face as she asked, "Sasuke… do you think he might have been…" 

Naruto interrupted Sakura saying, "Oh, don't worry about Sasuke, it'll take a lot more than that to get rid of him. He'll be fine."

We continued running and a while later Pakkun suddenly said, "I sense that Sasuke has stopped moving. But he's still a long way ahead of us. Did I just smell what I think I smelled?"

We all stopped as Naruto asked, "Huh? What is it, what's wrong?"

"Do you smell some kind of trouble?" Sakura asked.

"Strange that I didn't notice it before. Sakura, did you know you use the same shampoo that I do? Mint rainforest mist with extra body, right?" Pakkun asked.

"What are you kidding me!" Naruto and I exclaimed simultaneously.

Sakura then started hopping from tree to tree, mumbling, "I smell like a dog…" I couldn't help but laugh as Naruto turned to Pakkun and said, "See what you've done now!"