Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto and I never will.

Chapter four finally finished! Sorry, there's not too much going on, but I had to clear some things up. Hope u like it!!

Chapter Four

"What!?" Tsunade jolted up to a standing position, slamming her hands on her desk. "What are you talking about!"

Shizune's breathing steadied. "Team 7...never made it."

Tsunade took two deep breaths in an effort to calm herself. "When were they supposed to of arrived?"

"Two days ago. We just got the message that they never made it, no more than five minutes ago." Tsunade slumped back in her chair, and buried her face into her hands. She needed to calm down so she could think clearly. Otherwise, she would be of no use to anyone. Tsunade looked up. "And Kakashi?"

"You sent him on an A rank mission before sending Team 7 off. You thought that since they were going to meet up with the team from the sand…that they'd be ok." Shizune gave her a puzzled look. How could Tsunade not remember? Tsunade caught the look in Shizune's eyes.

"Sorry…I'm…I'm not thinking straight." Tsunade's eyes wondered from left to right. Her head was spinning. She needed help with this one. "Shikamaru." Shizune looked up. "Get me Shikamaru." Tsunade ordered.

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"Lady Tsunade?" Shikamaru stepped in. "I got the message and-" Shikamaru stopped at the look in Tsunade's eyes. Terror, helplessness, worry. Too many emotions to count, all visible for a short instant. Of course, the emotions vanished in a matter of seconds, but that one short glance had given Shikamaru a gut-wrenching feeling. "What happened?"

"Team 7 is missing."

"What!?"

Tsunade ignored the comment and continued. "They were scheduled to arrive at the sand village two days. They never made it."

"Wait…how's that even possible?" Shikamaru shook his head. "Naruto and Sasuke. I just can't see them going down that easy."

"I didn't say they were dead. Just missing."

He sighed. "Ah man, what a drag." Shikamaru placed a hand on his head. "Well? What are we going to do about it?"

Tsunade smiled. "That's why I called you. If Team 7 was indeed captured, I need you to think of possible motives that would prompt this action and we'll start from there."

"Number one reason would be for personal gain or interrogation." Shikamaru flinched. "If we're looking at interrogation, then we have a problem. The "captors" usually are looking for important information or possessions. Either way they'll do anything to get what they want. Most of the time, keeping their captives hovering between life or death, but only until they get what they want. Then someone ends up dead." Tsunade took a deep breath.

"Why would they be interrogated?"

"Well, if they were carrying something valuable, for one. Were they?"

"No, of course not. I would of sent a group jounin for that. They were on a simple guard mission." Tsunade rested against her chair thinking while Shikamaru paced back and forth trying to grasp the endless possibilities. He shoved his hands in his pockets in an effort to conceal their fidgeting. Minutes followed by hours passed. The sun set and everything grew quieter.

Finally Shikamaru spoke. "I have a couple of theories."

"Well?" Tsunade questioned.

"Ok, theory number one: an enemy village captured them to get important information about the village out of them. Theory number two: to find out the whereabouts of something of importance." Tsunade nodded urging him on. "Theory three: to later use as hostages for personal gain. Any of those sound likely?"

"Theory number one is a possibility, but I'm not sure. Two…well, I can't think of anything that they would know about that would be of any value to anyone."

"They don't actually have to know about it…their captors could just assume…" Shikamaru thought about it, but the more he thought about it, the less likely it seemed. Shikamaru cursed under his breath. "Any ideas?"

Tsunade sighed and shook her head. They stood in silence until there was a knock at the door. "Come in!" A young ninja walked in before bowing. Shikamaru watched as a smile graced the ninja's lips.

"Lady Tsunade." He smiled. "The scroll has reached it's destination." His smile broadened.

Tsunade jumped out of her seat. "Say that again."

"The scroll…has reached it's destination." Dammit, how could she of been so stupid? How could she forget? "Lady Tsunade?"

"Where was it's destination?!"

"A small underground chamber on the outskirts of the village." The ninja gave a nervous glance at Shikamaru.

"And the route?"

"But My Lady, you picked the location yourself."

"Just repeat the directions!"

The ninja swallowed hard. "You take the road out of the village before veering off to the left into the forest. It's well hidden."

"What road? Towards what village!" Tsunade yelled, the urgency audible in her voice.

"Towards the sand village." Tsunade took several shallow breaths. "You're dismissed." The ninja bowed and hurried out. Tsunade dropped to her seat.

Shikamaru couldn't grasp anything that had just been said. "What are you talking about? What scroll?"

"I sent a group of jounin on a mission to take a scroll to a hidden location shortly after Team 7 left." Tsunade wiped a hand across her forehead. "I don't know how it slipped my mind. It should have been my top priority."

"Wait. What does that have to do with-"

"Everything. Shikamaru think about it. You said it yourself. Their captors could just assume…."

"But I wasn't thinking right. It's not possible! That doesn't even make sense!"

"Everything adds up! Both teams would have been heading the same direction. They could of easily been mistaken for the team carrying the scroll!"

Shikamaru paced faster. "Who would even…?"

"That I don't know." Tsunade said.

"What's even in the scroll?! What's so important!"

"It's of the utmost importance!" Tsunade stressed. "That scroll contains the secrets of our village. Secrets from the first and second Hokage. If they got out, our village…could easily be destroyed." Shikamaru cursed then let out a sigh.

"Then what are we going to do about it?"

"Assemble a team and head out as soon as possible." Tsunade raised a hand, pointing.

Shikamaru sighed. "What a drag." But nodded and hurried out. If they were right, they wouldn't have much time. He needed a team, fast and he knew just the people.

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Sakura's muscles ached, every part of her sore. Her hair matted together, lips dry and cracked…she was a mess. She willed herself to crawl towards Sasuke and Naruto. They were out, fever keeping a grip on them. She wet the cloths on their foreheads, trying to conserve enough for them to drink when they woke up…if they woke up.

Naruto suffered from a head wound deep enough to cause him to drift in and out of consciousness. Three broken ribs and one cracked rib, as well. Sasuke wasn't any better off. He had two cracked ribs, a sprained wrist, and a deep gash to the back of his head. The worst thing being the broken ankle. Sakura couldn't quite figure out how that had happened, but it didn't matter. She had worse things to think about. Of course, this list didn't include the deep cuts and bruises on either of them.

Sakura gripped her knees and cried silently into them. She needed to do more, she needed to help, but what could she do. She couldn't fight and she couldn't give Sasuke and Naruto the medical attention they so desperately needed. Sakura took several calming breaths before sitting up. She was going to do what she could. First thing being Sasuke's broken ankle since she had already done what she could for Naruto's ribs.

Sakura let her eyes wonder, looking for something that could be used as a splint. Something…anything. She paused, there was something shiny in the corner. Slowly she made her way to it. Only realizing what it was as she picked it up. Her headband. Ok…she could make this work.

Picking up the other two headbands, she headed back to where Naruto and Sasuke lay. First thing's first, she needed to move the bones to a straight position. She turned towards Naruto, she was going to need help. Moving bones was probably similar to breaking a bone…pain wise. There was no way Sasuke was going to stay asleep through that.

Sakura patted Naruto's forehead with the damp cloth. "Naruto…Naruto…wake up." Feeling slight movement, she continued to stroke his head and gently call his name until finally the blue orbs were visible. "Feeling any better?"

Naruto sat up. "Ya, actually I am." He put his hand behind his head before giving Sakura that same old crooked smile.

Sakura gave him a quick smile. "I need your help." She nodded her head towards Sasuke. Naruto's face darkened.

He knew before Sakura said it. "What's broken?"

"His right ankle. I need to put a splint on it, but I have to straighten the bones first." Sakura wiped her eyes, noticing the moisture gathering in them. "It's going to be rough. Definitely not something, he'll be able to sit still through. You're going to have to hold him." Sakura glanced at Naruto, his face contorted with different emotions.

Naruto cursed under his breath. "Let's go then." Sakura nodded. She woke up Sasuke as gently as she could before explaining. Sasuke only nodded, flinching at the thought of more pain. "Ok…just hold him, Naruto." Sakura let out a breath. In one quick motion she pushed the bone to a straight position. Sasuke's body spasmed and he let out one short moan. The pain still burned up and down his leg where the bone had been moved. He jammed his eyes shut and gritted his teeth.

Naruto watched, his eyes filled with sorrow. "Hang in there, teme." Sakura grabbed two headbands and place them on either side of his ankle before wrapping it around with cloth. That was going to have to do.

Sakura took a deep breath. "Finished."

Sasuke opened his eyes. "That wasn't too bad." He managed a pain filled smile. Sakura moved to help both Naruto and Sasuke to a comfortable position. When she was finished, she closed her eyes, and let herself relax. Her body seemed to shut down, and just when she thought she was going to be able to sleep, her eyes flew back open.

Someone had opened the door…someone she never wanted to see again. She thought back, remembering this one was called, Jin. He gave them a hate filled smile as he swung a bat back and forth. "So…who wants to tell me where the scroll is?"

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