Hello fandome ! Sorry it's been so long ! I have been super busy with school work, projects, soccer, and my other story ! Please forgive me ! I really hope you enjoy this chapter !

Disclaimer: Must I say it yet again ?

Chapter Ten.

Itachi heard every single word spoken in the maze, and he loved it.

He heard what Gaara had said to Sakura.

He heard which direction they were going.

He knew what trap they would fall into.

Laughing quietly to himself, he began sprinting to his prey.

...(with Ino and Shikamaru)...

"SHIKAMARU, GET OFF YOUR LAZY ASS !" Ino shouted at the sleeping ninja.

Shimaru woke up against his own will, angered at being interrupted while having such a nice dream about cloud-watching, of course. He sat on his butt and got into his thinking position.

"What are you doing now ?! I see a light over there, let's go !" Ino snapped, trying to drag the boy along the tunnel.

"Troublesome woman. It's probably a trap." Shikamaru said plainly. Shikamaru had already figured out what was going on, and had a plan on how to get out, but he was far too lazy to explain it to the stressing girl standing next to him.

Ino stood, trying to think of something else to do, after realizing that her plan had been foiled.

"Well, why don't you come up with a plan, smart one !" Ino was definately not in the greatest of moods anymore. All she had wanted was to finish the damn tournament and go on a date with Shikamaru. But, something always has to ruin great plans.

'How annoying ! Why can't Shikamaru just get us out of here !' Ino thought to herself.

Shikamaru sighed. "Just follow me." He said boredly, getting up, whiping dirt off his pants.

...(back with Gaara, Sakura and Kiba)...

Kiba was now pulling Sakura along with him, far ahead of the sand demon.

"Kiba, what are you doing ?" Sakura whispered so Gaara couldn't hear her.

"Look, Sakura, I'm sorry. But that creep is hitting on you, and it's pissing me off just a tad !" Kiba complained.

Sakura opened her mouth, but closed it again. "I'm sorry, Kiba. But I can't really control what he says..." She said, looking back at the red head.

Kiba nodded and stormed his way over to the unexpecting sand demon. "Listen, kid. I don't care if you're the Sandbox Demon or whatever, I tried being polite and nice at first, but Sakura is MINE, so please back off." Kiba said angrily.

Gaara replied with a classic "Hn.", and looked back down the dark tunnel. "This way." He said again. Kiba and Sakura shrugged and followed him down the dark tunnel.

...(with Sasuke... Sasuke's point of view)...

Where the hell was he ? I've been searching for an hour already ! I know he's going to pop out at me and try to scare me at first. Or is he after something else ?

I thought to myself as I sprinted down a dark tunnel, using my Sharingun.

Is he after... Sakura ? Or was he just using her as bait ? Or is he possibly after Naruto... or Gaara ? No... He couldn't be... He's definately after me. I know it. Of course...

I heard a loud noise behind me. A dark, gloomy laugh erupted from the shadows.

"Hello little brother." Itachi said smiling. I couldn't see him doing so, but I knew he was. He was most definately grinning under the shadows.

"Itachi." I growled back at him. I was going to have to watch my back, so I backed up against the wall, trying to target exactly where he was.

"Ohhh, don't think I'm going to kill you off first, oh no. First, I'm killing off your little friends." Itachi laughed.

"Friends ? I could care less about those pieces of shit." I responded.

"Oh but what about the little blossom ?" Itachi hissed, smirking.

I paused. I honestly was not sure how to reply to this question. I finally opened my mouth. "Do whatever you want. See if I care." And with that, I started running back down the tunnel.

I knew he was probably laughing at me, but I didn't care. I just needed to get him before he got me. That's all that mattered.

But then I heard a faint scream.

"Girls..." I sighed, turning towards the noise.

...(with Sakura, Gaara, and Kiba)...

Kiba continued walking behind Gaara, suspicious that he might turn around, kill Kiba, and run off with Sakura. Kiba would definately not let him do that. Ever.

Gaara unintentionally looked at Sakura, and he immediately heard a soft growling coming from behind. Rolling his eyes to himself, Gaara looked away.

What a baka... he thinks I want Sakura...

You don't. I do. But you will soon, don't worry.

Shut up, dobe.

Shukaku laughed it off, and silinced himself. Gaara continued walking.

"I think-" Gaara was cut off by Kiba. "We don't care." Kiba said.

Gaara rolled his eyes yet again, annoyed at the young man's protectiveness over the girl.

Sakura sighed. She had tried ignoring their nearly silent fighting, but she couldn't take it any longer.

"Look, I know you guys are... angry with each other. But can you just be mature and get over yourselves, please! We need to get out of here, unless you want to die! We have no food, water, light, or directions! Not to mention that there's probably a homocidal maniac in here somewhere! So just CHILL." Sakura said, feeling a little better after letting her feelings out. She had learned letting out your feelings can reduce stress, so she had been trying to do it more lately. She definately didn't want any more stress in this situation.

Kiba and Gaara looked at each other. "Mkay." Kiba replied. (A/N: not a spelling error... I meant for him to have the 'm') Gaara just kept his mouth shut. He didn't feel like talking to an idiot and a stupid girl.

Might be stupid, but she's hot.

You're a freak.

I already knew that. Come on Gaara, she'd be the perfect mate!

No.

Please?

No.

PLEASE!

NO!

Fine. Be lonely for the rest of your... lonely... friendless... loveless life!

Gaara rolled his eyes yet again (A/N: I gotta start keeping track of these eye rolls, I might be able to break a record.) and began ignoring his inner demon.

Sakura walked straight, unaware if the wall's presence in front of her own face. She crashed hard against the dirt, and cracked her nose.

'Ohhh..'

SHIT.

Kiba immediately rushed to the scene. "Are you okay?" He asked worriedly. Sakura tried squinting her eyes, but she still couldn't see where she was.

"Uhh... no." She replied, closing her eyes and leaning her back against the once evil wall.

Sorry about the short chapter, but there you go! Kindah a filler chapter, but you know what Itachi's motives are now. Kinah. Hope you enjoyed!

ONCE AGAIN !! I AM VERRYYY SORRY ABOUT THE LONG WAIT! I HAD A MAJOR WRITERS BLOCK!

-thnx. R&R please !