Well Needed Vacation

Disclaimer: I wish I owned Naruto, but sadly I don't.

You know what? I had completely forgotten about this team. So here I am with news about Kurenai and Asuma's team.

I'm really sorry for these late and badly written updates. I'm just a little upset, because me and my friends weren't elected to be in the talent show this year. TT so, yeah, I'm just a little bit upset about that. That's sort of why the chapters are taking FOREVER to update. I'll try to get it together, (dramatic pause) FOR THE SAKE OF THIS FANFIC!

Chapter Ten: They Strike Again

"All right everyone, time to rest up. Get ready to leave, early sunrise. We want to get the vacation started as soon as possible right?" Asuma's voice boomed over the squads. They had just finished setting up four tents, and had eaten a while back on the journey. Those tasks were difficult to carry out since they were still among the long, lank vines that inhabited the ground. They had managed to clear a small spot, using Asuma's trench knives, and had gotten Choji to do his human boulder to clear some of it as well.

Kurenai and Asuma also had a different challenge. They had heard Kakashi and his transmission. Their worry had now tripled from before. Kakashi had told them that two of their students had been kidnapped. This had increased their uneasiness quite a bit. For starters, two genin that they knew and cared for could still possibly be in the hands of the enemy, and in terrible danger. That had made a knot in each of their stomachs.

Then, second off, there was still a chance that those same enemies could be after their students that they were watching right at the moment.

They would protect these young shinobi with their lives. But what questioned their thoughts, was that these ninja had gotten past Kakashi and Guy! The fact that the enemy could just sneak around in a moment, had made their worry grow, especially if had been a problem for their other partners. They had decided not to tell the other Genin. They didn't need them to panic, or worry dangerously about their other comrades.

There were four tents. One was for Ino and Hinata. Another tent was for Kiba, Akamaru, Choji, Shikamaru, and Shino, and then the last two tents were separated by Kurenai and Asuma. It wasn't like there would be no one on guard. But when one of the senseis would rest, then the other would watch, and they would switch throughout the night, so one of them would be on top guard.

When the night started, each group had started to have conversations. One of them was the boys' tent. They had been trying to get acquaintances, or at least one of them tried to start conversations.

"So what can you guys do? Besides eat chips and sleep all day." Kiba asked leaning back against the tent, with his hands behind his head, and Akamaru nuzzled into his lap.

Shikamaru had just been about to doze off, when he heard Inuzuka's voice penetrating his deep, dreaming thoughts. "Stuff." Shikamaru answered lazily, not even bothering to open his eyes to look at them.

"Training." Choji answered, stuffing his favorite flavor of chips into his mouth.

"Fascinating." Kiba replied sarcastically. He at least wanted to talk to somebody. He sat up, and looked around to see if he had any at least somewhat willing candidates.

Kiba looked amongst the tent. His teammate Shino was off toward one corner, observing a rare beetle, scrambling along his arm. He hadn't really thought of trying to get a conversation with started him. Shino was his friend, and comrade and all, but getting a decent conversation with Shino was as easy to start, as easy as it is to get one started with one of his beetles.

In another corner, Choji was off eating chips, five at a time using each finger as a combined tactic. He thought that if he started to chat with him, he wouldn't give up the chips. That meant whatever they talked about; Choji would probably want to end it, just to munch down on some more of his chips. And if he did say anything, he wasn't sure if he would understand through the food in his mouth either.

In the last corner across from him, Shikamaru had leaned back, with his hands laced across his stomach. He had his eyes closed, and his face in an unsettled frown.

He probably would have been slightly smiling, if not for the constant crunching of his friends' potato chips, and Kiba's need for communication at this time. He just wanted to rest, even BEFORE the vacation. Things were less peaceful here, than they even were back in the Hidden Leaf. He couldn't wait for them to get to their destination, for this peaceful and restful vacation, because surely enough he wasn't getting any peace or rest right here. Who ever said that getting somewhere was half the fun, was even stupider than Naruto, he decided.

Kiba sighed to himself and then leaned back again. He had just wanted to at least have some company. He was wide awake, and full of energy like usual. He really wasn't in the mood to sleep at the moment.

Right now he was even willing to have Naruto as company, to talk with!

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With Ino and Hinata, they were trying to engage in conversation also. And were also having a lot more success than Kiba.

"So what do you do for fun Hinata?" Ino asked. She was trying to get Ino to get out of her shell, at least a bit.

"I train." Hinata said. She was glad to have some company to talk to. And as long as Ino did most of the talking, she would feel more comfortable.

"What do you do to train?" Ino continued.

"I t-try to work on some new jutsus. I w-want to be more useful on missions."

"Oh Hinata I'm sure you do great!" Ino tried to comfort her new friend.

"N-not really." Hinata said sadly. "I could do a lot better."

"Hinata, everybody has these feelings. That's what inspires us to train hard. But you don't need to be so hard on yourself." She put a hand on her shoulder.

"Thank you Ino. What do you do in your free time?" Hinata said, deciding she wanted to here some more from Ino.

"Weeelll…" Ino said putting a finger into chin in thought, and raising her head to think deeply. "I help out at the Yamanaka flower shop. I love working there because it's our family business, and I love flowers!" She looked at Hinata at eyelevel. "I also train so," she smiled almost sadly, "I'm not a burden either."

"Ino, I'm sure you're not a burden. I'm sure without you Shikamaru and Choji's lives would be extremely boring." Hinata joked. Ino laughed.

"You're right Hinata! And without you I'm sure that Kiba and Shino would seem way weird!"

Hinata giggled to that. "Thanks again Ino."

"No problem!" Ino calmed down from her fit of uncontrollable laughter. She suddenly got a sneaky question in her mind. "Sooooo Hinata, speaking of boys. Do you have a certain one you have your eyes after?"

"Well." Hinata was always nervous on this subject.

"Because from my woman instincts, I think you've got a thing for Naruto." Ino grinned. Hinata's blush just increased by ten shades. 'That's a yes.' Ino thought. "Hey, since I know who you like, do you want to know who I like?" Ino offered, trying to decrease Hinata's blush and nervousness before she passed out.

"I know. You like Sasuke." She said.

Ino's smile just expanded. "Not as much as I thought I did." She said. Hinata looked up a bit surprised.

"Don't get me wrong. I still have a crush on him. It's just that the crush on him has decreased, while my crush on another has increased." Ino explained.

"So who do you like now?" Hinata asked curiously, but not trying to enforce the answer from her.

"Well…" Ino said shyly, which was extremely rare for her. "I like…sihkaru" The name was muffled.

"I'm sorry I didn't hear." Hinata said honestly.

"Shikamaru." Ino nearly squeaked.

"Oh." Hinata said. Then she smiled. "I'm sure he likes you too Ino."

"Thanks Hinata! And I'm sure that Naruto thinks you're really sweet too!"

"I hope so."

"Hey, I'm not tired. Are you?"

Hinata shook her head no.

"What do you say we go outside and look at the stars? Shikamaru and I used to stare at the clouds sometimes, so I bet seeing the stars would be even better." Ino suggested.

"That sounds great. I always looked at the stars back in Konoha. Do you think we should ask the boys to come?" Hinata asked.

"Nah." Ino decided. "They'd be too loud. And I bet they wouldn't even want to come."

Hinata agreed and they snuck out while Asuma was keeping watch.

They crawled around the vines watching their step so they wouldn't fall or make any sounds. They snuck through the roots and shrubs until they got into a somewhat clear field. They sat down and let their eyes travel upward into the stars, glad they came. The little trip there had been worth it. The stars twinkled, and shined, and the moon was completely full. They were beautiful sights for them too see.

In fact it was so beautiful and astonishing that neither of them seemed to notice the roots began to move about quite unnaturally towards them.

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Asuma kept his gaze focused onto the fire. He puffed some smoke out from his mouth from the cigarette in his mouth. His gaze traveled back into the three tents.

He then turned back to the fire, trying to stay focused. Kurenai's shift had just ended, so now he was going to keep watch for the next three hours. For some reason to him three hours was going to feel like three days. He hadn't gotten any sleep for the past three weeks, because of all the missions back in Konoha, and now with this new mission wasn't helping to get any sleep at all.

He was going to keep watch no matter how tired he was. He would stay awake no matter what. The problem was keeping focus onto staying awake.

He was so unfocused that he couldn't even detect the genjutsu casted over him. The same one keeping the illusion that the girls were still in their tent, and that all the surroundings seemed unusually still.

But what did capture his focus was the high pitched scream, he could recognize coming from the two kunoichi.

Far away.

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So how was it? I hope this was good enough for you guys. Please read and review. Till next time!