Chapter 22 : Mission Extended

Team 10 at this time was rushing at their top speed towards the south, they should have gone west to return to Konoha but unfortunately, they were not going to Konoha.

Leaving the land of snow, which by the way is now the land of springs, they reach the land of hot waters and from there instead of entering the land of fire, they go south.

The reason was the message they got a few hours ago, Hokage extended their mission to give support to team 7 in the land of wave. After knowing that the client lied to them, in the cannon Hokage never sent any support, maybe he didn't have any active ninjas near the area. 

And maybe after he got the response from Kakashi that Zabuza Mamochi attacked but died, which was not the case at all, Hokage never sent any support. 

But not this time around, apparently team 10 is quite close to the land of waves. Konoha is somewhere in the middle of the land of fire, more than 500 Kilometers away from the land of waves. In the anime, it is never shown correctly but in reality, with the speed of a normal person, it would easily take more than a week or more to reach the land of waves from Konoha.

Even for a shinobi, it will take half a week. Not an ideal distance to send any sort of backup. But not this time around, because Team 10 is currently in the land of hot waters. Less than 200 kilometres away from the waves and even less if they take the water route.

 "Asuma sensei, can we rest a little, we are running for 6 hours straight," Ino chime while huffing, the same case was with Choji and even Shikamaru was not fairing that well even after all of this extra training, after all, what one person can do under just 4 months.

"We are very close....." Asuma was saying but one look behind him made him slow down. He wanted to reach team 7 fast, although he was not worried considering Kakashi was the Jonin sensei of team 7. He is Kakashi Hatake the Copy Ninja after all, but he still has experienced first-hand what could happen if the requested support doesn't reach the shinobi in time, in wartime, he lost many comrades because of this.

But seeing his team, he has no other option but to take a small rest, otherwise before helping team 7, he has to take his own team 10 to the hospital.

"Okay team, rest for some time. We will be leaving under 30 minutes," Asuma said, he looked pretty laid-back guy but in reality, he was quite a hard taskmaster considering what kind of beat he was giving Shikamaru in their one one-on-one fighting session. Others don't take it as who would like to get their butt kicked every day.

"Finally," Ino exclaimed comically and then plumbed down like a rock. Choji was no different. He too very tired and above all out of breath, you see when it comes to Choji or Akimichi clan members, for them, with power comes weight and the problems related to that.

Shikamaru was the only one who didn't immediately sit down or like his teammates jump on the ground considering the rocky place of their bed.

"Rest Shikamaru, we don't have much time here," Asuma said taking out smoke to get something to calm his nerves. Not to mention, for the last 6 hours, he didn't smoke any.

"I don't want to, I have a bad feeling about this wave mission sensei," Shikamaru said while acting like he was worried for team 7. In reality, he already has figured out that team 7 must be very close to encountering Zabuza or have already is fighting him.

"Why do you think that," Asuma asked, he noticed that somehow Shikamaru always had a good understanding of the situation, like he was not a 12-year-old kid but a 42-year-old war veteran.

"Asuma sensei, I will be moving. I can use my spirit to find team 7 first and then give you the location later on." Shikamaru looked at Asuma with a serious look.

Asuma would have immediately denied the request if it was some other genin but when it comes to Shikamaru, he knows that this kid when it comes to mind is better than most adults.

"What are you thinking really, Shikamaru," Asuma asked, trying to understand his motive.

"Simple actually, the Jonin sensei of team 7 is Kakashi Hatake, right? I learned about all the powerful shinobi around and his name comes pretty much on top in the bingo book in the Konoha section. Even bigger bounty than your's sensei. 

If he asked for support then it must be something serious. I can't explain why but I do have a strange feeling about this," Shikamaru said and made his hand sign.

"NUE." His shadow extended and spread and a big brown bird with a human face came out. This was not that big, Shikamaru after a little testing learned that Nue too is the kind of Spirit that can change size depending on his will and how much chakra he uses, but he can't summon more 'Nue' unlike 'Gama' his toad. 

"What do you think you are doing Shikamaru," Asuma narrowed his eyes, although considering that Shikamaru would be flying, he didn't feel that he would be in any danger but still to leave his team behind, he didn't want this to happen. This is also the first time he sees this new spirit, a bird with a human face. He just learned that Shikamaru got a flying spirit from him which he can fly on but that was it.

"Woh, since when you have this spirit," Ino and Choji from the sideline asked with much amazement.

Shikamaru didn't reply and hopped on top of NUE.

"Sorry Asuma sensei, I promise that I will stay with the team next time but I have a feeling that if I don't get there in time then something bad will happen. If nothing then I will just hover above them and send their location to you," saying this, he gave a pat and the summon after making a sheirk started to flap his wing and soar through the sky.

"Oi Shikamaru, since when you get that bird. Why didn't you bring that bird out before, we could have fly all the way here you know, JERK," Ino shouted.

Asuma and Shikamaru at this just both sigh, "Troublesome,".

Asuma just took another smoke and sat down, there is no way to stop Shikamaru right now, but he sure to give him a punishment later on. 

xxx

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