Author's note: This is all for you. Thanks for everyone's reviews and support. Sorry for keeping you all waiting and for quoting Twilight on the previous chap. Anyway, as requested by Noelle, this is the part where Naruto's frequent appearance starts.

CHAPTER FOUR

When the three of them reached back camp, everyone was already packing their stuffs. They all raised their brows, questioning. So to answer their questions, they all went to Narumi. Narumi was on the foot of one of the mountains, restlessly looking above. His arms were crossed and one of his feet was tapping. "What's wrong Narumi sensei?" Mikan asked. Narumi, hearing his name being mentioned, turned to see the students who were lost at last night's blizzard. Surprised that they were actually in front of him unharmed, all his worries seems to wipe away as he gave the three a very tight bear hug.

"C Can't… Breathe," they said in unison as they were squished in their teacher's hug. Minutes later, Narumi broke the hug with a very big smile and three panting pupils. "So, what's the problem Narumi sensei? Why the sudden evacuation?" Mikan asked again after recovering herself. Narumi faced down as he was unsure how to answer that one. "Wait, where's Naruto? And Sakura?" Sasuke asked when he finally noticed the two not among the students packing. "Well, about that," Narumi finally said nervously while fiddling his fingers.

This happened more than an hour ago…

"Naruto, what is it?" Sakura asked as she stepped out of the tent where she saw Naruto sniffing the air. When she got no replies from him, she took the liberty to scan their surroundings. The students were just waking up. Some were surprisingly already doing their morning routine jog. She stretched out both her hands before turning back only to see him… gone.

With the work of her usual ninja instincts, she ran while her eyes obscurely scan the surroundings. "Naruto!" she called when she suddenly spotted him racing towards the cliff of the mountains on four legs. To be able to catch up to him, she doubled her speed until she was finally running beside him. "Naruto, what's wrong?" she asked once again. Naruto merely turn to look at her, his eyes turning red while his pupil turned into slits. "Someone's been following us and he didn't smell good," he growled, quickening his pace.
"Does Narumi-sensei know?" Sakura questioned. Naruto didn't answer her but a nod. They were now on top of the mountain where heavy fog blurred their eye sight. Fortunately, they were used to it that they could still see even past it. Freezing cold, Naruto brought out his hands and lit an intense fire. Sakura gasps. "You've got the same alice as Natsume's? Fire?" she questioned and got no replies. Naruto was already scanning and sniffing the area, his eyes turning back to normal. Later, she shrugged the question off and decided to help in observing their surroundings.

Minutes after, they were still coated with heavy fog and a temperature below zero. If it weren't for Naruto's fire, they would've freeze to death by now. They took few more steps walking, their feet creating tracks before it was blown away by the rushing wind. They came to a halt when someone created a mocking laugh, a laugh that echoed across their dark surroundings. "Someone's playing tricks with us," Naruto said. Now, it was her time not to answer.

They couldn't continue walking afterwards for the laugh already reached their nervous system, paralyzing them in the process. Sakura was already covering her ears, her eyes closed and brows knitted. Naruto, on the other hand, just closed his eyes, his brows intersecting, his head faced down as his hands formed to fists. When he couldn't take it anymore, he screamed, opening both his hands, thus releasing fire that travelled even across the snowy ground. The laughter subsided and the dark background already has a tint of red in it because of the fire's reflection. Naruto collapsed to his knees as his hand held on to his aching head. Sakura wasn't able to help him because something beside the big rock caught his attention.

She hesitantly walked towards it, hands on her pockets, preparing to bring out her weapon if something goes wrong. A few steps from the object, however, she could already clearly see the object. This made her control herself from a fit of both anger and irritation. "Naruto, look at this," she called the spiky yellow-haired lad. Upon her call, he immediately stood up, not minding his aching head from too much alice use. "Look, it's a tape recorder with speakers," she uttered when he was already beside her. "And more," she continued as she bent down to press the play key. Almost immediately, the laugh they heard a while ago was played. "What a good trick!" she yelled frantically. Naruto just kept quiet, thinking who the hell would do that. They were in the verge of thinking when the sound of ruffled bush and twigs snapping, a meter to their right, was heard. Almost immediately, they turned towards it, bringing out their weapons, before nearing.

Standing in front of the bush, Naruto grabbed it and was about to sway it to the right to have a better look on the intruder when…

Back at camp, Narumi just finished narrating to his beloved students everything that happened the time they were gone. They were left into worrying and contemplating when…

KA-BOOM!

…a loud blasting sound was heard from the top of the mount where heavy clouds swirled from the top.

"Naruto!" "Sakura!" they all said in unison before diving towards the massif. Well, it was more like Sasuke plunged towards the mountain and was followed by Mikan then Natsume. Narumi was unable to stop them because they were too fast. Now, all he needs to hope is that his students come back… SAFE. Because if they don't and will not come back before dawn, he sure the hell will call the cops.

"Sasuke!" Mikan called in the midst of darkness which greeted them even when they were still in the middle of the foothill. Mikan, who wasn't used to this dark surrounding, was unable to follow Sasuke, thus being lost in the process. She couldn't see a thing that was the problem.

Meanwhile, Natsume lit a small fire in his hands, hoping to find a certain brunette for he was worried. Minutes already passed and still, he couldn't find her. All he sees were dead trees and plants and a ground which surprisingly has no snow. He continued walking but momentarily stopped when he saw something from afar. He narrowed his gaze until he could see dark wisps of haze advancing towards his direction.

Sasuke, on the other hand, stopped when certain black clouds kept on attacking him here and there. He tried to avoid it and used his ninja abilities and alice but none ever worked. Sooner, he was already worn out but the black clouds kept on attacking him. He rolled and jumped here and there, hoping to dodge their attacks. He was panting hard when… each of the clouds suddenly burst and turned to ashes. He look back to see Natsume with a smug expression. He rolled his eyes. Natsume advanced towards him before extending his hands. He took it with no hesitation and later, was already back in his two feet. They were about to ask the question they were longing to ask when everything around them started to die, the plants, everything, like Natsume's surroundings a while ago, and sounds of deep laughter and a hissing snake was heard. They both positioned themselves to battle when…

"Argh!" an ear-piercing scream was heard across the entire area.

'Mikan!' they both thought at the same time but… in different places.

**To Be Continued**

Author's notes: O_o Cliffie! Wee! Naruto's alice is fire? Where's Sakura and Naruto? What happened to them? How about Sasuke and Natsume? Mikan? Who's their newfound enemy? Find more of it in the next chapters.

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