Konoha's Little Ninjas

Outside Fukuyama Castle.

Shikamaru crouched on a thick branch, elbow propped on his knee, chin resting in his palm as he looked through the gaps in the leaves toward the distant town.

From their position, they could clearly see the crowd pouring out of the city gate like an anthill that had been punctured, a dark mass of heads surging as they fled in every direction.

There were men carrying bundles, women holding children, and old people hobbling on canes as younger folk supported them and ran.

Cries, shouts, and the chaotic patter of footsteps mixed together, carried by the wind to the edge of the forest until they became a blurred hum.

And above the fleeing tide of people, toward the north side of the town center, several thick black columns of smoke were slowly rising.

At the base of the smoke, faint orange-red flames flickered. Sparks were swept into the air by the heat wave, winking in and out in the morning light.

Shikamaru's brows furrowed.

"Kiba." He did not look back, keeping his voice low. "Are you sure Naruto and Sasuke entered this city?"

In the past, for a mission involving tracking the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, at least one Byakugan ninja from the Hyuga Branch House would have been assigned to the team.

But not this time.

Instead, the Inuzuka clan's Ninja Dog had been made the main tracker.

Kiba crouched on the branch beside Shikamaru, one hand resting on Akamaru's head.

Akamaru's wet nose twitched wildly in the air. His small black eyes darted around twice, then he lifted his head and barked sharply twice toward the town. "Woof, woof!"

"Akamaru says both Naruto and Sasuke's scents went in." Kiba held up two fingers, his expression certain. "That idiot Naruto's smell is really strong. No mistaking it."