A/N: Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed, and especially to those who keep on reviewing. I really do appreciate it so please continue. Thanks

Disclaimer: If you would honestly believe that I would own Naruto then seek help. I do not own Naruto obviously.

Previously

"Excuse me my boyfriend has just gone missing, our eight man team…"

"Excuse me, I'm a girl" Ino butted in.

"Our eight man team" Tenten continued a little louder, trying to drown out Ino's voice. "Is now doesn't to five and if Ino doesn't shut it, four"

"Then if you guys have finished your little mothers club, would you care to get start" Sasuke said calmly as they all turned and glared at him.

"God, so this is what it's like traveling with all women" He muttered.

"Excuse me" Shikamaru asked stepping forward.

"Sasuke, what's the plan" Sakura demanded.

"We go after them, and get back our team mates" he explained.

"Ok now were getting somewhere" She said.

"Then" Sasuke continued. "We take down whoever it is that has wasted my time"

Captive

Naruto continued keeping watch as Hinata rested. Due to the Kyubi's strength he was practically completely healed unlike Hinata whom was in need of medical attention fast. She murmured as she struggled to sit up.

"Don't, just rest" He told her as she gave him a weak smile. He pushed her gently down, making sure not to hurt her any further.

"Ok" She muttered as he grinned.

"This reminds me off how we first met" he teased as she let out a soft but painful giggle.

"Oh sorry" he apologized.

"Its fine" she gasped, struggling to breathe.

"Just relax" he said as he kissed her forehead. "You made it last time and you will make it again"

"It was because of you" she admitted and he frowned.

"Huh, what do you mean?"

"You saved me twice last time, once from the tiger and the second time from death"

"Wasn't that the same thing?"

"No" she muttered, staring at him and drowning into his se blue eyes. "I was slipping into the darkness when I heard you call out to me, you saved me"

"And I would do it again, though I guess I failed you this time huh?"

"No you didn't" Hinata said, using all her strength to reach up and capture his lips in hers. "You could never fail me"

"I love you Hinata" he murmured as he hugged her tightly.

"I love you to" she whispered as she felt her strength leaving her.

"It will be ok Hinata, I know it will be. Teme will come, Neji to. All of them will come and save us. Our friends" He said it with such passion and it filled him with pride to say it. For the first time in his life he felt complete, and wanted. He had friends who would risk their lives for him, that would save him.

Then he thought of Karin and Suigetsu who right know were trying to get Sasuke, Sakura and the others. He felt a deep anger explode at the thought of losing them all, those who he felt so dear about. He wouldn't allow them to take away his friends.

"I will save you Hinata" he told the sleeping girl. "And you to teme, and Sakura and anybody else. Were a team and I will defend and fight for my team till their isn't any life left in me"

"Suigetsu"

"What is it now" The said boy asked irritably as the girl crossed her arms and pouted.

"There catching up"

"So?"

"So" She replied. "Shouldn't we set up a trap or something?"

"Hell know, it's still five against two"

"Yes but you said their bound send one or two to get us"

"Yes they will, we still need to take out one more though don't we"

"Fine" Karin said as she sighed.

"Can it be that slutly bitch?"

"No, we need her alive" Suigetsu told her.

"That's not fair"

"I don't care; you can kill the rest thought"

"I plan to" Karin muttered darkly.

"Damm, his waking up" Suigetsu growled as Neji's eyes fluttered open.

"Yeah but his still bound by our chakra bonds" Karin pointed out.

"Nonetheless we should hurry up and put him with the others"

"Ok ok" She said as they continued to trudge the Hyuga to their cave.

"Looks like the brats are awake" Karin laughed, referring to Naruto who stood up with Hinata leaning against the wall, wearily glaring as the entered the cave.

"We brought you a little friend" Suigetsu teased as he walked up to the door.

"And if you try anything we will kill him" Karin warned as Naruto growled but for Hinata's sake retreated back and allowed them to push Neji in.

"Now what" Karin asked once the captives were secure once more.

"Which one should we go after next?"

"Hmm, let's take the blonde bitch out. She annoys me" Karin replied.

"Yeah because she is pretty and your not"

"Oh shut it"

"Fine we get the blonde girl, but I get to have fun with her before we kill her"

"Eww fine whatever but that's after we get Sasuke Kun and the slut, and the others are dead"

"Ok"

"And" Karin argued. "I get to torture the slut"

"No"

"Just a little, please I wont kill her" Karin pleaded and Suigetsu rolled his eyes.

"If I get to use her for my pleasure afterwards, after I have finished with the blonde that is"

"Deal" Karin said as she laughed. Naruto cringed back as the two left and clenched his fist when he realized what Suigetsu would do to them.

'Teme would kill you very painfully if you even touched her the wrong way' Naruto thought with pleasure.

"You" Neji spat when he got his bearings.

"What" Naruto asked innocently as Neji stood up, swaying a little and stood glaring at Naruto.

"How dare you let my cousin get kidnapped?"

"You got kidnapped to" Naruto pointed out.

"That's irrelevant"

"What does that mean?"

"Never mind, bottom line is you let her get hurt" Neji shouted.

"I didn't mean to, I was attacked to"

"So I don't care"

"What you think I don't"

"Yes"

"Well I do care, more than you know. Do you think I wanted this; I would risk my life a hundred times over then see Hinata harmed. I love her to you know"

"Yeah well you still allowed this" Neji yelled as Naruto glared back at him.

"Stop" Hinata cried as both males rushed to her.

"Hinata?" Neji asked.

"Neji don't, please don't I love him. He didn't mean for this to happen, it's not his fault. It's not anyone's fault except those two"

"I'm sorry Hinata I was just so worried" Neji whispered as he felt his face get hot. He didn't like admitting these things in front of others, especially Naruto. As if reading his mind Naruto turned and walked to the other side to give them some space. Hinata felt tears come t her eyes as Neji embraced her.

"I won't let anything happen to you"

"It's not just me, their going to capture Sasuke and Sakura and take them to Orochimaru. Then their going to kill us, all of us, Ino, Shikamaru and Tenten." She felt him tense and Tenten's name and became aware of how much Neji actually loved her.

"He wont" Neji said firmly. "I will not let him kill the two people I cherish most. Neither will I let him kill the others, or take them to that snake barstard.

"Either will I" Naruto added and Neji looked up at him, both united against a common goal. For the first time Neji both understood and respected what Hinata saw in him. He was an idiot at times, but he was also determined, loyal and brave. Al three were honorable qualities in a true Ninja and Neji respected that. As did Naruto finally respect that he was Hinata's cousin and did care for her and the others. Both silently nodded their understanding. No more enemies but now team mates, comrades and friends.

"Great we lost them" Tenten snapped as they stopped for a break.

"Calm down" Ino comforted her as Tenten sighed.

"What now?"

"Where going to get them back" Sakura told them firmly as the others nodded.

"Of course we will forehead girl"

"Forehead girl" Sakura asked, bursting into laughter.

"Yep, I like it. It's a good nickname for you"

"So is Ino pig" Sakura laughed as Shikamaru sighed.

"Troublesome why does she have to start a fight" He muttered before he noticed Tenten smiling at her friends.

'So she was trying to cheer up Tenten, maybe she is smarter than I think' he thought as he smiled at Ino's figure. He really did truly love her and was glad that she felt the same way. He knew Choji would be proud of him.

'Choji' The thought of his best friend was so painful, how he was unable to save his own team mate. His thoughts went to Naruto, Hinata and Neji. His new comrades who were god knows where and were in danger. They could even be dead by now.

"No their not dead" he told himself firmly.

"I was unable to save you Choji, and that will always leave a hole in my heart but I'm not going to let it happen again. I will save them, all of the. My team mates, my friends.

"Alright guys" Tenten said, straightening up. "Thanks"

"For what" Ino asked innocently making Tenten smile at her.

"Hn you girls stay here" Sasuke ordered as he jumped to the tree. Shikamaru understood this and followed the Uchiha while the girls stared blankly at each other. The boys scanned the area, and eventually were able to develop three alternatives for the kidnappers hiding place.

"Back on track I guess"

"Hn"

"Troublesome"

"Agreed"

The girls meanwhile sat down, all feeling restless and useless.

"That's if, I'm going to find out what those boys are up to" Tenten declared disappearing from sight.

"Great" Ino muttered as Sakura smiled.

"Come on Ino pig, let's collect something to eat. We will need it"

"Yeah but its still dark forehead girl" Ino protested as she looked up at the dark sky.

"Still not a star in sight" Sakura whispered.

"No moon either" Ino added.

"I'm worried Ino"

"I know but we have to believe everything will be ok" Sakura nodded and started wandering around when she looked up and couldn't see Ino.

"Ino?" she cried and was relieved when her friend called in reply.

"What is it?"

"Just making sure your still there"

"Oh ok, don't worry about me I'm fine. No one can kid……."

"Ino?" Sakura yelled and felt her heart stop when there was nothing but silence.

"Ino?" A shout, a cry, rustling then angry voice. Sakura ran then stopped as she saw Ino huddled over, nursing many wounds and scarcely breathing. In front of her were two figures, a male and female both laughing.

"No you don't" she shouted hurling towards them as the female raised her fist. Ino grabbed it and was thrown into a tree and laid unmoving as Karin steeped towards Sakura and threw her back so she hit the tree painfully. She tried to get up as she saw the boy pick up the lifeless Ino.

"Not yet Karin"

"But Suigetsu"

"No, not yet" the girl moaned and left with the male as Sakura laid there, pain spreading through her body as the two left her line of sight, carrying a blood stained Ino who wasn't moving.

"Guys" Tenten called as she dropped between them.

"What?" Shikamaru asked.

"What are you doing?"

"We have chosen three locations where Naruto, Hinata and Neji may be and were going to check them out in the morning" He explained.

"Ok" Tenten said.

"Hn"

"Where are the girls" Shikamaru said as he noticed they weren't there.

"Um I left them down there"

"We better go, no one is safe" Sasuke exclaimed as they headed back down. A shrieking cry made them all stop as a following shout and the sound of a thump turned their blood cold.

"Sakura" Sasuke called.

"Ino" Shikamaru yelled.

"Shit" Tenten cursed as they raced to where the cry came from. They landed to see the ground soaked in blood and Sakura lying unmoving.

"Sakura" Sasuke gasped as he rushed to the girl, his heart beating faster than ever before.

"Sakura, please Sakura" he picked the girl up and sighed in relief as she looked up at him, sadness and grief in her emerald eyes.

"Sasuke" She whispered as he held her close.

"Never scare me like that again" he demanded, hugging her tighter as relief washed over him.

"Ino she"

"She what" Shikamaru said, stepping forward.

"They attacked, they took her"

"It's ok" Sasuke murmured but Sakura shook her head as tears fell down her face.

"She wasn't moving, Sasuke she got thrown after she was attacked and she was covered in blood."

"Calm down" Sasuke said as he stroked her hair but Sakura refused to.

"She looked dead" Sakura cried as her heart broke. Shikamaru stood still as the words swirled around his head.

'No, it can't be, not Ino. I can't loose her, I love her' he thought as tears threatened to surface.

"Sakura" Sasuke whispered softly as Sakura clung onto him. He lifted her to her feet and brushed away her tears.

"It's all my fault Sasuke, they even admitted it. They said that they couldn't kill me, not yet which means their after me. Their trying to single me out which is why everyone else has to suffer"

"This is not your fault Sakura"

"But"

"Listen to me, yes they are after you. But they are after me to." Sakura buried her head in his chest, his arms wrapped protectively around her slim figure while Tenten put her arm around Shikamaru who looked on the verge of tears.

"Don't leave me alone, please don't leave me"

"I will never leave you" He told her. Eventually she had calmed down and they all stood in a circle.

"Sakura did they say anything else, what did they look like" Tenten asked.

"There were two of them, one a male and the other a female" Sakura explained, struggling to remember anything she could. "They looked a little older than us, though maybe your age Tenten"

"Well that's something at least" She said.

"Wait" Sakura cried. 'I heard there names"

"Which were" Shikamaru demanded.

"The boy was Suigetsu and the girl"

"Karin" Sasuke interrupted, saying the name with a bitter tone.

"You know them Sasuke"

"Yeah, they work for Orochimaru. Both are a lethal pair. Suigetsu is a very repulsive and sly man, while Karin is rather annoying and has a little obsession with me" He said this with much hatred as he could muster.

"Come" he ordered. "They just left and now we have a clear trail, and I think I know where there cave is" he showed them one of the three locations on their map.

"Then lets go" Shikamaru exclaimed.

They ran at top peed, all determined to find Ino and praying she was alive.

'The sooner we reach her the sooner we can heal her' Sakura thought as she raced on. Suddenly Sasuke stopped them and turned around so he was facing them.

"There coming now" he informed them as they all nodded.

"Here is what we will do, Shikamaru and myself will battle them" he ordered knowing how much Shikamaru wanted revenge. "Sakura, you and Tenten will go to the cave and see if you can find the others. Sakura heal whoever needs it while Tenten watches over and protects you. Got it" The girls nodded and turned away before Sasuke caught Sakura wrist and gave her a short kiss on the lips.

"Be careful" he murmured softly before he let her go, activating his sharingan and jumping away with Shikamaru close behind.

"Come on Sakura" Tenten called as the two made their way to the cave.

Sasuke and Shikamaru stopped as they faced Karin and Suigetsu in the darkness.

"Sasuke Kun what a pleasant surprise" Karin called out cheerfully while the man sneered.

"Where is Ino" Shikamaru ordered.

"Who the blonde bitch, oh well she will be dead soon. If not already" Karin told him.

"Yes what a waste, I was so looking forward to playing with her. But nonetheless I'm sure the pink haired girl will have to fill my desires instead" Both boys tensed when they heard this man talk about their girls like this.

"Big mistake" Shikamaru warned, getting into a fighting stance.

"Oh please, you not upset about that little skank are you" Karin teased as Shikamaru glared at her. Sasuke however was smirking at Suigetsu.

"Shame to have to do this Uchiha" He commented.

"Hn"

"But unfortunately Orochimaru doesn't like it when his subjects disobey him and run off with his prisoners"

"Hn"

"Though I must say I can see why you did, she is a rather interesting girl. I cant wait to have her to myself"

"I will not allow that to happen" Sasuke snarled as Suigetsu laughed.

"Unfortunately my friend, you no longer have a choice"

A/N: I know there was a lot of Hinata and Naruto fluff as well as Neji and Hinata but I need for Neji and Naruto to get some sort of relationship going. I mean their going to need it sooner or later aren't they. Oh and Shikamaru may have seemed a bit OC but just because he acts lazy doesn't mean he thinks that to. Anyway please review and lots of chocolate bars to whoever does. Thanks in advance