I will always BELIEVE IT!

That's sexist. You old geezer.

Hi everyone, here's a picture I made of Yuukina. 

You're probably wondering why Shino is going on the mission. Well, he's pretty cool, and I like him a lot. I also have a plan. I think it's stupid that he missed out because of a mission with his father. I also don't want him sulking about it in Shippuden, so....yeah. Enjoy the chapter!

~*~

"I told you to stay off to the side, Yuukina! We need you as a decoy!"

"Oh, come on. I just want to see you guys. We haven't run in to anybody at all yet, so why do we need a decoy?"

"In case someone's tracking us!"

"Look, I'm a sensory ninja. Kiba and Neji have also told you numerous times...THERE'S NO ONE FOLLOWING US!! Well, except Shino. I don't know why you had to put him so far back."

"I put him far back there because he has to spread his insects!"

"Whatever!"

We're all leaping through trees, trying to find any piece of Sasuke. Even an arm or a leg would be good enough. I just want to go back already. 

"Fine, you go between Choji and Naruto. You can be the second Naruto. We can use you to cover us if there's an ambush of some sort. If somebody comes up behind us, you, Choji and Naruto can quickly use Shadow clones to surround the rest of our group, and you can also help Choji take them out."

"Makes sense. Glad to be a part of the team, for once." I reply, rolling my eyes. 

"Shikamaru!" Kiba says suddenly. 

"What is it?"

"Close...I smell blood."

"Well, spill it!" I say to him. "Not the blood, the details!"

"Two scents collided with them. Genma and some other guy."

"Was it Raido or Iwashi?"

"I think it was Raido."

"Then Shizune is with Iwashi."

"Five of them are getting farther away. I assume it's Sasuke with those Sound bastards."

"Just as Tsunade said. There are people guarding him." Shikamaru says. 

"Who cares?" Naruto says, "Let's hurry up and catch Sasuke."

"This stuff matters, Naruto. It's just like Ibiki said back at the Chuunin exams. If we don't have information, we may not complete the mission successfully. If you want to get Sasuke back, you have to be cool about it."

"If they smell like blood, it was most likely a battle." says Shikamaru, "If we head in that direction, we may get more info from any survivors."

"But we can't go in carelessly like that!" I yell. 

"I know. We need a plan. We'll go into scouting position. We'll walk, slowly."

"Sasuke's probably outside the border already." Neji puts forth. "Out of the Fire's territory."

"What are we going to do, Shikamaru?" Naruto asks. 

"Okay. Let's go after Sasuke. It is our mission, after all."

"How about this. You all go after Sasuke, and Shino and I will head towards the battle scene. Shino's insects probably know about it already."

At Shikamaru's worried look, I explain more. 

"Look, I'm a Jounin, I can handle myself. And Shino, too. We'll be fine, okay?"

"Alright, just don't get killed."