Chapter 2

Sakura was still sleeping, oblivious to the four who were heading their way.

Sakura dreamed that she was back at her home in a nice cozy bed.

Not a care in the world.

Oh, how she wished they were home again.

Her stomach growled. How long had it been since she had last eaten? She didn't know.

Suddenly, Sakura heard a noise not that far away and her eyes snapped opened.

She sat up and looked around for the cause of the noise.

Nothing.

Sakura sighed. It must have been just have been in her head, caused by the heat of the past day and her empty stomach.

She started to lie back down.

When she was almost asleep, she heard the noise again.

She bolted up from here spot. This time she knew that it wasn't her imagination.

It was real.

She looked back to her friends.

They were still asleep.

She looked around to see if she could find it -whatever it was.

Then she picked up a fair sized rock to use as a weapon.

She closed her eyes and listened.

There it was again.

Quick as blinking, she threw the rock as hard as she could in the direction that the sound came from.

"Heads up," she heard a voice shout from the other side.

Then she heard the sound of rock hitting skin and a cry of pain, signaling that she had hit her target.

The cry sound different from the one that spoke.

That meant only one thing.

That thing -who ever or whatever it was- wasn't alone.

Sakura quickly turned to her friends and shook them. "Wake up," she called to them quietly.

Ino woke up with a start. "What's the mater?" she asked in a tired voice.

Tenten also sat up and rubbed her eyes.

Hinata sat up. She looked past Sakura and her eyes widened in fear.

"Hinata, are you ok?" Tenten asked.

She merely point over Sakura's shoulder.

They all turned.

There behind them, were the ones they had been waiting for. The ones that got them in this cage up in the mountains in the first place.

The Serpent Lords.

One had long brown hair that was tied at the end, pale skin, and his eyes and tail were the same color as Hinata's. Pearl white.

Another one also had pale skin and brown hair. But it was shorter then the first one and his hair was tied up in a high, messy ponytail. Another thing that set them apart from the first one the color of his eyes. Instead of white, his eyes were a light honey brown. His tail a brown is greenish color with black patterns.

Then her attention was turned on the third one.

He looked nothing like the other two. He had skin that was slightly tanned, spiky blond hair, his eyes were a baby blue and his tail was orange. He was rubbing the top of his head. "Man," he said. His voice sounded as if he was still just a boy. "Who ever threw that rock," he continued. "Has a pretty hard throw. Don't you agree Sasuke?"

Sakura turned to look at the one named Sasuke.

He, by far, was the most frightening of them all. He had a long black tail that had a bluish tint. His skin was extremely pale. His hair was also blackish blue and was sticking up in the back. But the most startling thing about him, were his eyes.

His black eyes.

To Sakura, it was like being drawn into a world of darkness. She tried her best to look away, but she couldn't. It was like staring into the eyes of a predator. You want to look away, but you're afraid that if you do, the results would be fatal.

It was only when Sakura heard a cry of surprise from behind her that she managed to pull her eyes from his hypnotic stare.

It came from Hinata.

The blond Serpent Lord had gone around the cage and grabbed Hinata from behind.

"Ooh," He cooed as he held her shaking form. "This one's pretty. Can I keep her, Sasuke?"

Tenten rushed forward and grabbed Hinata from the Serpent Lord's clutches.

All four girls went to the middle of the cage.

"Well," Sasuke said with smile that sent shivers down Sakura's spine. "Since there're four of them, we each get one. And I think we all know which one that Naruto wants."

Naruto -the blond- nodded his head eagerly and pointed at Hinata. "That one!" he shouted. "I want that one!"

Sasuke chuckled and turned to the one with white eyes. "Well Neji, what about you?"

Neji moved to the cage and looked closely at the girls. Then a smirk spread across his face. "That one," he said as he pointed at Tenten.

Sasuke looked at the last of the Serpent Lords. "Well, Shikamaru?"

Shikamaru put a hand on his chin as if he were in deep thought. Then, he looked strait at Ino. "I'll take her," he said in a lazy voice.

Sasuke smirked. That left him the pink haired girl. He slithered up to the edge of the cage and said softly with a smirk on his face, "I guess that leave you, with me."

A.N. Strange chapter I know. I'd like to thank my reviewers: cherryblossom222, psalmofsummer, angel2559, missyserena214, CherryBlossoms016, Natsume25, and KameLT. If anyone gets confused as to where they are, they are on a mountain. Sorry for not telling you in the last chapter. Please be nice in your reviews!

Phantom's Bride.