Hiya! So um yeah…chapter fourteen. It's here. I kinda have the feeling like I should be telling you something…but I don't know what. So let's not worry about it shall we?

Thanks for reviewing! It would be so kind and appreciated if you kept it up. =D

Disclaimer: Do I own Naruto? No. Sadly, I have yet to abduct him and add him to my growing collection of POS (Prisoners of Sex).

By the end of their two days of work in Hiniku, the group was exhausted. All four had calluses all on their palms, and Naruto had gotten about six splinters that Sakura had to meticulously pull out.

Yeni and Mizuma leant the shinobi some of their garden tools such as wheelbarrows to help make the workload easier. Chiro had surprisingly manually helped the quartet out as well, but only when it came to public things- like clearing debris from a busy town street. The only time he helped them repair or clean up the private property of the townspeople is if said person was elderly or a female.

With Yeni's wheelbarrow making transporting things easier and Chiro's exceedingly robust, six-five frame that was probably capable of singlehandedly carrying everything the four of them could lift put together, the Leaf ninja finished their work a day ahead of schedule.

"Thanks for everything you guys!" Sakura beamed as the shinobi, Chiro, Yeni, and Mizuma ate their last dinner together.

"Yes, we really appreciated it all," Lee echoed.

"Aw, it was no problem..." Yeni smiled his warm, fragile smile.

"Won't you four stay an extra day?" Mizuma offered. "You must be exhausted after working so hard. It's a shame you have to leave so quickly. Won't you take a day off to rest before returning home?"

Neji shook his head. "Thank you, but no ma'am. We're needed back at our village." Mizuma nodded in understanding and reached across the table to pat the young man's hand.

After dinner, they all headed back over to Chiro's.

"You know," the older man began as they all entered the door of the empty house. "You may want to take Mizuma up on that offer. Well that or stay a little while longer. I told you I don't think storm season's over with."

"Aw, we'll be fine!" Naruto smiled, patting the much larger man on the back. "Besides, Old Man Yeni told me the other day when I went over there that his knee never failed to ache when a storm was about to hit. Says his knee's been doing just fine."

"Yes, that's true, but the most dangerous storms are sudden."

"Chiro," Neji nodded politely. "Thank you for your advice and your hospitality." And with that the conversation was ended and they all turned in for the night.

Surprisingly, Naruto was able to convince Neji to let the group sleep in until ten that morning instead of leaving before the break of dawn. Ten Ten secretly joked with Sakura saying that the reason was because Sakura had agreed with Naruto's suggestion, but the rosette just brushed her words off. Instead, she figured that it was because Chiro had talked with Naruto about the merchants that generally travel along the main road they'd be taking and they generally didn't leave until later in the day and they'd be more than happy to lend the travelers a free ride. And Naruto relayed all this to Neji. Although what Chiro said was true, ironically, the reason for Neji's decision was out of concern for Sakura.

After having their finally meal with their hospitable new friends and bidding them all goodbye, the four shinobi finally set off to their village.

"Man it's humid!" Ten Ten muttered as she fanned her face with her hand.

"Yeah I know," Naruto grumbled. "And you know what's worse? Not even a single villager thanked us before we left. Not one damn one!"

They all nodded in reference to both of the two's statements.

"Well, Chiro did say to expect nothing less when we departed." Lee shrugged. They were far from the heart of the town, but still within its limits.

It was about noontime and the group had just finished eating one of the many snacks Mizuma had packed for them on their journey.

"That little town we passed between Hiniku and Pyro when we were on our way here, that was a pretty place; are we going to stop there and rest."

"No." Neji nearly snapped at Sakura's innocent question. She looked hurt for a second, although no one saw, and Neji caught himself and added almost apologetically and irritably. "We're already behind schedule. We need to keep moving as much as we can."

Sakura gave a slight grunt and a nod and Naruto bit the inside of his mouth, speeding his pace up a little bit. He knew the irritability of that statement was directed at him. After walking for about and hour and a half, Naruto realized that he had gotten the times mixed up. As far as they knew, there would be no merchants traveling in their direction any time soon. They would be walking the entire way to the village and- if they didn't stop to rest anywhere- they'd more than likely get there late that night if not early the next morning.

As they walked, Neji would steal a glance at Sakura every now and again. Sakura caught him a couple of times and quickly adverted her suddenly rosy faced gaze. Ten Ten, who walked beside her pink haired friend caught Neji all thirteen times he did it. When Neji's back was towards them, she'd nudge Sakura lightly in her side and jerk her head pointedly towards Neji. Sakura shot her a glare, telling her to cut it out, and the brunette gave a small laugh before stopping for a few feet.

They reached a small, empty roadside restaurant about an hour later. They were famished, and since they all agreed it'd be best to save as much of Mizuma's treats for later on just in case something happened, they stopped there.

Neji sternly instructed for the group not to lollygag, that they needed to leave as soon as possible. They ate their food in near silence and about ten minutes later, they paid their fare and headed out.

"Oh, shit…" Ten Ten muttered as the group exited the building. The sky above was now a dreary dark gray. The humidity had heightened but the temperature had dropped.

"There's going to be a storm," Neji's eyes narrowed.

"Heading westward, we'll run right into it." Sakura added. The quartet reentered the building just as the head chef and owner was coming from the back.

"I'm sorry, but you guys gotta go. We're closing shop- there's a big storm coming."

"Yes, we see that." Neji nodded. "Is there anywhere close by we can stay?"

The man scratched his bristly neck. "Hm, if you walk a ways up there's a little town that's got a pretty nice inn for a not so bad price. It'll take you probably half an hour to get there- maybe forty five."

By now, the cook had back the quintet out the door. "Good luck." He said shortly before closing the door tightly.

"Well he was nice." Naruto scoffed sarcastically.

"We had better start walking." Lee sighed as Neji had already turned and began walking off the path and towards the forest. The five were going to have to make it in quicker than thirty minutes if they wanted to avoid the storm.

As they leapt through the treetops, the sky darkened from a heavy gray to a near black.

"We need to get on stable ground." Neji ordered as the wind picked up and dangerously shook the branches. The five touched ground as a very slight drizzle began.

"So are we going back on the path?" Lee questioned, yelling over the increasing wind. Just before Neji could respond, a violent deluge pierced through the canopy. The angry wind picked up and howled through the forest.

"We need to find shelter!" Neji yelled the obvious. The group barely managed to hear him.

"Where?" Ten Ten yelled out; her voice getting swallowed by the torrent.

"What?" Neji yelled back.

"She asked 'where?'" Sakura shouted. Her voice was no louder than Ten Ten's but being slightly closer to Neji, she figured it was worth a shot. But Neji still didn't hear.

"WHERE?" Naruto bellowed from behind Ten Ten. His voice cut through the chaos loud and clear.

"I'm not quite sure." Neji yelled back.

"Should we stay in the forest or head for the path?" Lee wondered next.

Neji thought for a second until Sakura appeared beside him and spoke exactly what he'd been thinking. "The forest may seem dangerous, but there's at least the possibility of shelter. You saw Hiniku…when residue blew in from their shops and trees, the streets were torn up. If anything were to blow from the forest…we'd be sitting ducks."

Neji looked down at the kunoichi now standing beside him. It was impossible to make out her face in the dark forest so he couldn't see the way she kept her eyes adverted to the ground.

"Sakura's right!" Naruto shouted. "I remember Grandma Mizuma telling me that she wasn't from Hiniku. That her family and a few others lived in cabins in the woods. She said it was these woods right outside'a Hiniku. The cabins are still probably up!"

"Naruto, I think we listened to you enough for one lifetime!" Ten Ten snapped. The stinging rain pelting against her skin.

"Look I know I messed up, but I know what I'm talking about this time. I swear! Besides, we don't have time to argue right now!" Naruto shouted just as a tree limb fell a little distance away. It was silent for a moment until Sakura's voice barely rose above the storm.

"I believe Naruto. I say we try to find the cabins."

"Sakura---"

"I second that." Lee interrupted Ten Ten as he wrapped a reassuring arm around her waist.

Ten Ten sighed. "Fine."

The wind lashed as the four patiently waited for Neji's verdict. "Do you know exactly where, Naruto?"

Naruto smiled. "No, but she did say it was deep in the trees."

"Let's go then." Neji ordered, and they headed deeper and cautiously into the trees.

Naruto walked up behind Sakura and flashed a gracious smile that she was barely able to see. "Thanks."

Sakura smiled. "No problem."

"Let's pick it up guys! This storm's getting worse!" Neji commanded over his shoulder. The five began moving faster. Moving through the dark was dangerous, and Neji nearly stumbled on a slightly risen tree root. He turned around to warn the group, but it was too late. Sakura, who followed him, stumbled over the root, however, she too was able to regain her balance. But when Ten Ten stumbled as well, and then Lee and then Naruto, they all leaned forward like a domino effect, but it was Sakura who was knocked forward about a yard and sent falling into the ground.

A chorus of apologies rang out and Neji extended his hand uncertainly for Sakura. She laid her hand in his and just as she did, a massive bolt of lightning stuck down on a tree a couple of yards away. Sparks lit up the night and a hurricane like wind suddenly began blowing. The tree that had just been struck fell mercy to the wind and with a loud cracking noise began to tip over in the shinobi's direction.

"Shit." Neji swore as he jerked Sakura up and the two began running forwards as the other three members of their team ran the opposite direction. The branches of the tree caught hold of other tree branches and weaker trees and caused a barrage of timber to rain down on a fleeting Sakura and Neji as they were pushed deeper into the forest. The catastrophe lasted for only about fifteen seconds, and once the two were safe, Neji had Sakura pressed against a tree as he protectively stood his body in front of her. The two caught their breath for a moment- oblivious to their closeness.

As the rain bombarded down and they became aware that they were still in danger, they also became aware of how close they were. Neji cleared his throat and pulled back.

"Are you alright?"

Sakura nodded shakily. "Yeah…you?" she breathed out.

"I'm fine. But I'm afraid we've bee separated."

"Oh no. Naruto! S-Should we try to find the others?" Sakura asked in worry.

"I'm sure they'll all be fine. It's us we need to focus on right now, I have no idea where we are and we need to find shelter---" Another crack of lightning lit up the sky, it's echoing noise cutting Neji off.

"Neji!" Sakura's eyes lit up and she took a couple of steps forward and past him.

"Sakura, are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine- but did you see them too?" She asked, her finger pointed forward.

"See what?"

"The mountains. Back there when the lightning hit, I could see the tips of the mountains in the distance!"

"…That's…nice? Sakura we really need to find shelter now- the rains getting heavier."

Sakura laughed as the wind nearly swallowed her voice. "That is our shelter Neji! Chiro told me that first night when we stayed at his house that the mountains were a good source of refuge- mainly from the wind. I didn't think about it before because I didn't think there were any in the forest!"

"You think it's a good shot?"

Sakura nodded and winced against her the weather. The wind slapped their hair against their faces and the rain pelted their exposed flesh. Neji nodded back.

"Byakugan!" Neji scanned the landscape for a couple of seconds. "Let's go."

He grabbed Sakura's wet hand and led her through the forest towards the mountains.

"Sakura! SAKURA!!" Naruto yelled into the empty darkness.

"Naruto…Naruto! We gotta get out of this weather!" Ten Ten shouted, gently touching the anxious blonde's shoulder.

"Ten Ten is right." Lee agreed sadly. "After all, it is Sakura and Neji we are talking about here. I am certain the both of them will be alright."

"SAKURA!!!" Naruto tried one final time. He stood still, seemingly unfathomed by the harsh wind and the stinging rain. Finally his shoulders dropped and he sighed. "I'll see if I can lead us to the cabins."

So like I said, the chapter after this one is the one you've been waiting for I'm sure. I won't try to keep it from you long my darlings!

OH BEAN CURD!!! NOW I remember what I wanted to tell you all, I'm too lazy to take out the part from up top and put this there, so it'll be here m'kay. Anyways, it's really a question. So…is it just me…or does Lee seem to be going from adorable to orgasmical???? Just wondering…

The analogy of the day: Kisekilotus is like a car and reviews, like gas. The more fuel she receives, the better and longer and faster she runs. Please keep her running. Please keep her running real good. lol

See ya soon! xoxoxoxoxo