The Wood shinobi combed the area for signs of any of the Leaf Shinobis. One of them jumped to the tree top to where their leader was.

"Captain! We can't seem to find them." he burst out.

"Quiet, send out the ferrets. If they are hiding as an object, they would be able to sniff them out."

"Ha!" The ninja jumped off to another branch to tell the comrades who was responsible for summoning the small creatures. The captain jumped to a higher branch and looked around for clues , such as broken twigs or foot prints.

"You can run but you can't hide." His eyes eyed on the bridges, which linked to the main gates around the country. The bridges linked to different countries and their hidden villages. He took out a flute and blew a tune. The tune echoed around the woods. At the meantime, he spotted two running figures jumping over the edge of the rising bridges just before the platforms were raised.

"Captain! Two escaped through the West gate!"

"Two?" he observed the remaining gates. "There should be four."

"We didn't see the other two sir, we doubt that they made it to any of the bridges."

The jounin smiled. He relaxed and squatted down on the branch he was standing on. "Well then, let's find them. Alert the guards to update me if there's anyone else crossing the borders."

The shinobi saluted. "Yes sir!"

The jounin smiled as he looked at the plants which has pollen fallen out of them. "Only the weak will perish and the strong will survive. The reason the weakest is always left behind, is because they are a burden to the rest, isn't it my precious?"

He grabbed a leaf and crushed it. He stood up and saw the surrounding environment filled with almost invisible pollen. It only revealed itself in bright sunlight.

"It's a cruel shinobi world out there."

"Raidou!" Iwashi stared at the now drawn bridge from a high branch.

Raidou looked around and noticed most of the bridges has been drawn. He paused for a moment before speaking. "I hope they will be fine." He stared down at the bottomless canyon below.

"Let's go". Iwashi nodded and followed Raidou back.

"We will be back to help you just hang in there." Raidou thought

Genma bent down to the puddle to wet one of his leg bandages. He and Shizune managed to find an underground cave nearby. According to Genma, past Shinobis who has tried to enter the country stealthfully must have dug the cave. There was a small puddle leaking from the ceiling of it.

In a corner, Shizune laid down, using her hip pouch as a temporary support for her head with a hand to her stomach. Her eyes were closed. Genma was glad that the tunnel was big enough for him to walk through without any hindrance and walked back to Shizune.

Flashback

"Please go first back first." Shizune begged. "I will catch on later."

"….." Genma continued to look around the area. Shizune struggled to get up on her feet, attempted to follow him. Genma walked back to support her, decided that she was not ready to move on yet. Shizune soon felt dizzy and fell forward. Genma managed to catch her on the front, but lost his footing and they both hit a tree which bark was covered by thick ferns and vegetation.

Genma saw it coming and braced himself for a backache later. However, he was surprised that they actually went through the tree and slid down through a passageway. Shizune held to Genma tight during the short ride and they came to a stop.

"What was that?" he looked around. He subconsciously placed an arm over Shizune's waist after serving his post as a sliding cushion. "You all right?"

"…..yeah…" Shizune blurted out. "Feel so dizzy…."

"Shizune, you are burning up, its more than exhaustion…."

"……." Shizune felt clingy and placed her head onto Genma's chest. She just could not analyze what was going on with her body at the moment, her head was feeling light.

"How are you feeling?" he asked

"…….."

"Shizune?" he tried again.

"Hmm?"

"……" He placed the makeshift towel over her head and pressed it down with his hand.

Shizune was surprised by the move; she didn't know that Genma has a soft side like this. She gently took his hand away from her forehead.

"I am sorry…." Came his reply

"…..What?" Shizune looked into his direction

"I am sorry that I can't get you back to Konoha as soon as possible."

"Its all right, if you must, please leave me here and report back to the village first. I will come after you shortly."

"I can't do that."

"Genma….."

"I am not leaving a nakama behind for nothing." His eyes narrowed. "Especially when you are burning up for no reason."

"Genma, I can take care of myself. I am a medic remember?" Shizune almost made her statement sound like an order. She felt her chakra draining although she wasn't doing anything. Exhaustion could lead to chakra drainage.

But the weird thing was, she was already resting for a few hours and her stamina has slowly returned however, her chakra was being wasted on something else. She feared that whatever was happening to her was turning her chakra to feed something else in her body, which she did not channel it to.

Genma reached into his hip pouch and took out a food pill. He helped Shizune up so that she could swallow it properly and regain her strength quicker.

"……."

"That's not my main concern." He said. He closed his eyes, listening. Scuffling sounds can be heard. It was not made by humans but by animals. Small animals that would mean….

"Cheh…." He bit his senbon. He used one hand, dug into his hip pouch, and prepared senbons between fingers on both hands. He hoped whatever was outside did not pick up their scent. Sniffing sound could be heard and sound of paw digging was initiated.

Genma narrowed his eyes and hoped that the creature would go away or his trap work. He needs to get Shizune to a doctor fast. No, he would never turn a sick nakama to an enemy for help, that would be suicide and betrayal. But if he don't , Shizune might die. Konoha was days away. The Wood country was just in a few miles.

Genma counted his options. Teleportation no jutsu could be used but it required a reasonable amount of chakra, the amount he did not have now, especially for two people.

He has always used it for instant appearance at the Elders' and the hokage when they summoned for him.

"Just a little bit more."

Shizune whimpered slightly at the pain. She was sweating profusely and her breathing was getting rapid.

"Tsunade-sama…..."

"Shhh." Genma took her hand and squeezed it. He was not sure why he does that but he wanted to make it clear to Shizune that she wasn't alone.

"Raidou, did you managed to find them?" one of the voice boomed from outside.

Genma perked at his friend's name. His heart was filled with hope.

Sorry for the crappy late chapter, things got cropped up and I can't even sit down to write ;;. Hope it was a good one. Thank you for your reviews!