Chapter Two

A/N: Thanks for the support, I would have updated earlier but I've been so busy. I feel like people have the same opinion as me, the first chapter was far from great but the idea has potential, I just hope I can execute it. Remember, this is an experimental fanfic, advice and friendly criticism is welcome.


She followed the stoat cautiously, unsure how the beast expected to find her team mates when not even Sakura was sure of her flight path. Being sure to keep her distance, she stopped herself short when Hina ducked to the side and reared up on her hindend to tug at a branch at about Sakura's head height. The stoat dropped down with a soft thump and walked towards where she was frozen, spitting at her feet.

Numb with surprise, Sakura looked down at the wad of bright pink hair now wet with mustelid saliva and then back into the beady eyes in front.
"You sure do make yourself an easy one to follow, was this intentional?" the question sounded genuine but the stoat had an impossibly smug expression on her pointed face.
"I – I was running", Sakura cut off as her thoughts went back to the genin with her creepy tongue. "From someone…she could still be there". She continued hurriedly in warning, her breath quickened as she found herself torn between fear and her need to get back to her team.

"It would be good if this someone was still there", Hina grunted, walking on to sniff at a crushed toadstool.
Sakura stiffened before quickly distracting herself with covering the hair mat with leaves, staring at the creature out of the corner of her eye.
"Why's that?"
"I can put two and two together, you've gone and abandoned your teammates in the middle of a fight, smart move really, survival is important", Hina lashed out her long tail. "But so are your teammates, the only reason for this someone to still be there is if they're still fighting and if they are still fighting", the stoat paused and faced Sakura seeming to study her for a moment. "Then they are still breathing".

Sakura's eyes widened and she grabbed one shaking hand with another, pulling her arms in tight. "What have I done", she gasped. "I should never have run, I'll never be able to face sensei again, I –"
"You're just being selfish now", Hina cut her short with a growl. "Your teammates are not dead yet"
Sakura frowned but could not fashion a retort and settled for silently following the stoat.

Hina moved so idly and unfazed that Sakura didn't even notice until she was nearly on top of him that they had found her teammates. Really, with those ridiculously orange clothes, it was a mystery that she hadn't been able to see Naruto from a mile away, even with the thick foliage that surrounded them.
"Is he…", Sakura chocked off and dropped to her knees, brushing a hand against the tattered elbow of Naruto's jacket.
"It looks like he fell from somewhere up high", Hina mused, glancing upwards. "That would be an embarrassing end for a leaf ninja, lucky he is made of such tough stuff", the stoat moved carefully, gently tilting Naruto's head and nudging him over so his airways were not obstructed. "The other kid is over there", Hina added. Sakura jolted back up, quickly assuring for herself that Naruto was indeed breathing before rushing towards the other fallen figure in the grass.

"Sasuke-kun!" she grabbed her teammate's shoulders and shook him gently. "Please, please be alright". His skin felt hot and sweaty and his breathing was shallow but he was alive and from this Sakura allowed herself a small amount of relief. "I swear I will never run way again, this time I will protect you", she whispered, running a hand over Sasuke's forehead.

"How long are you going to stare at him for", Hina called out dryly and Sakura snapped up. The stoat had covered half the distance between her and Naruto but was tilted back, as if ready to dart back the way she had come at any moment. Odd.
"We should move them somewhere safer", Sakura stated quickly, trying to pull Sasuke up and over her shoulders so she could carry him. Hina let out an amused snort as she staggered forward a few steps. "Ah Sasuke-kun, you are heavier then you look", Sakura gasped.
"Isn't everyone", Hina responded shortly, darting back to Naruto, the stoat scrabbled at the orange jacket before pausing and lifting her head proudly. "You can't carry both, drag Naruto here up onto my back", whatever the stoat had been trying to achieve before clearly forgotten.

Sakura could allow herself to admit she was grateful for the apparent help, it would have been tough dragging her teammates to safety by herself. She didn't allow herself to burst out in surprise that the stoat knew Naruto's name, since she had known Sakura's, just quietly filed her suspicions away and hung back, observing her instead.
"Let's go this way", Sakura said quickly, stepping back in the opposite direction Hina was moving in. The stoat prudently twisted her long body around from underneath Naruto so that she was able to stare directly at Sakura.
"I have been sleeping in this forest for years, I think I know it better then you do".
Sakura didn't respond, spinning she carefully started to walk off, struggling under Sasuke's weight. Out of the corner of her eye, she watched to see what Hina would do.

"Stubborn brat", the stoat growled. "I can respect that"
Slowly the long bodied creature shifted itself around, pausing to nudge Naruto back into position every few steps. Sakura relaxed slightly, seeing how careful the stoat was being to her unconscious teammate.
"Where does the cowardly genin intend to go", Hina's voice suddenly called out, startling cold compared to the grudging acceptance of just a moment ago.
"Far enough away that the genin who attacked us won't immediately find us, somewhere I can defend until Sasuke-kun wakes up"
"I can show you the few safe places this Forest of Death has", Hina continued lowly. "Should a crazy genin really be after you".

Sakura stopped suddenly, considering if Hina would really lead her somewhere safe, the effort of carrying Sasuke-kun had left her short of breath, and she lowered him gently, sucking in great heaves of air the whole time. They were in a small, somewhat sheltered clearing and as Hina approached to lay Naruto down Sakura gathered her energy. In her current state, there was still hope she could defend her teammates but her stamina was running low and she needed the chance to get her breath back and let her heart settle.
"Here will do"
Hina grunted and muttered something too low to hear before darting up a tree and stretching her oversized body along one of the thick lower branches. Sakura was left alone to tend to her teammates and do what she could to make them comfortable.

It wasn't enough, the threat of the overpowered opponent still hung over them, and not being able to bear idly sitting and waiting for her teammates to rouse, she started to work on her surroundings, setting up every kind of trap she could think of with the sparse equipment she had available.
"Why are you setting up traps", Hina called, barely bothering to lift her head from where it was resting.
"That genin could come back, I need to be able to protect them", Sakura responded, tugging a length of ninja wire into its designated place.
"As much as I like to believe in the effectiveness of simplicity, those basic academy traps will barely make any strong ninja bat an eyelid", Hina snorted, voice pitched condescendingly.
Sakura clenched a fist at the sudden desire to punch the stoat, but not being able to reach her, settled for throwing a small rock instead, which whizzed high over Hina's head. The stoat sighed unhappily.
"Terrible aim"
"Go away if you're not going to help, why are you here anyway?" Sakura snapped.
"Believe it or not thistlehead, helping you is within my interests", Hina drawled out. "But I'm not breaking a sweat over it"
"What interests?" Sakura's voice was rising to a high pitched shrill which was clearly irritating the stoat's ears, Hina bared her teeth before slinking further up the tree trunk, not gracing her with an answer. Sakura glared for a moment before continuing on trap setting. A part of her hoped the stoat would come down and unwittingly walk right into one of her traps, so she paid extra attention to the base of the tree Hina had taken refuge in.

Finishing her trap setting she went back over to Sasuke and Naruto, she wasn't too worried about Naruto, his breathing was getting stronger and she knew a fall from a tree wouldn't be enough to best the hyperactive genin. Sasuke's unconsciousness however unnerved her. His skin was fever hot and slick with sweat, not knowing what had brought it on or if he'd even wake up was distressing.

There was a huff from the stoat who had risen and was staring ahead, short claws digging into the thick bark.
"Since when do stoats climbs trees", Sakura queried warily, settling herself in front of her teammates, where she could equally tend to or spring to defend them if needed.
"They don't, there is no food in trees", Hina's eyes narrowed. "But they make for a good vantage point, this spot is terrible for defence, easy to ambush"
"That's why I set up traps"
"How do you feel about testing them", she twitched at looked up at Hina who lashed a long black tipped tail. "I believe we have company"
Sakura's heart dropped to her stomach as the bushes directly in front of her rustled and three sound genin emerged.


I have decided the next chapter will follow shortly but this is still an experimental fanfiction. Next chapter will have a bit of gore, which I love to write and Hina will get to show some of her true colours.