Oh ho! We should see some action in this chappie yes! Please bear with me I tend to write novel like stories ^_^

Disclaimer: don't own Naruto *nods at Kishimoto-san* but the character that appears is mine!

Summary: the three day mission to the neutral zone had begun, but Narutos team has to work with Nejis team to complete it. But Tenten and lee are worried, their leader has been acting strangely, what could be wrong with Neji?

Chapter 2 the target?

" Okay, I've managed to locate their exact position, there camp is just west of here," explained Neji as he pointed their targets hideout on their map.

" These shinobi use a thick fog to surround their camp, for this mission to work we need to carefully plan out who will be attacking and from where". The others listened intently to the tactics they would be using to snare their prey, adding their own little touches here and there.

During the first day of the mission they had managed to close the gap between them and the neutral zone, now being on its outskirts they had made camp for the night. Two tents had been pitched, one for each team, under a large oak tree, who's tangled roots provided cover from both the chilly wintry wind and from prying eyes.

They had built a small fire to cook some food, careful not to give away the location,. Sakura, Tenten, Lee and Naruto were seated around the cheerfully kindling fire, happily watching the stew they had prepared simmer gently, Naruto wishing they had let him have the ramen first, which they had refused, to his disappointment. Neji and Sasuke had taken it upon themselves to run through the procedure one last time, just to make sure nothing would go wrong, namely nothing Naruto did could endanger them.

After partaking in some rather, tasty stew, they felt quite satisfied and ready for a few hours sleep before the next stage of the mission commenced. Naruto was the first asleep, taking up more than his share of the bed with his sprawled out arms and legs, Sakura, who failed in re-positioning the snoring beast, curled up on the far end of the mattress, her pillow curled around her head to drown out the sound. In the other tent, Lee and Tenten spent a few minuets talking quietly, what about only they knew then they were silent.

Sasuke walked towards his teams tent, wanting to lay claim to his share of the bed before Narutos mass expanded to cover the entire floor, he was the shortest out of him and Sakura but he took up a hell of a lot of space. He passed a quick glance over his shoulder, Neji was still hanging over the map, clearly concentrating, preparing for the morning. Humph, he's taking this mission a bit seriously, even I'm not that bothered, oh well.

Neji stood starring at the various coloured dots and scribbles on the piece of mangled paper, tracing the lines with his eyes, after a while his eyes blurred as they lost focus, merely gazing into a space beyond the plain of the paper. He looked up. The other were now fast asleep, content in their dream filled rest, he glanced between the two tents. Not a sound from his team, the other on the other hand, proved its residence were more lively, Narutos loud voice could be heard, mumbling on about useless things, his dream must have involved a fight as a dull thud was heard, then another. Clearly they had fallen upon Sasuke as a deep thump caused Naruto to call out. After a few muffled rants a heavy silence fell.

He didn't feel like sleeping, he hadn't in a while, he was tired but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't drift off. He had managed to nap for a hour or two, that was the only reason he hadn't collapsed of exhaustion, being deprived of sleep had made him unable to concentrate and affected his missions. Gai-sensei had noticed his lack of effort for the last couple of weeks, when he had enquired after it, Neji had become defensive and avoided the subject.

He felt so frustrated, there was no obvious reason to his recent insomnia, he had never been like this before. Nothing seemed real, peoples voices sounded Waverly, food had lost its taste, at times he would think he was dreaming, that he was asleep, only to find himself in a lot of pain when he had stumbled into a wall or over a table. It was embracing.

He couldn't survive like this much longer, he was in no state to act quickly in an emergency, he might not get there in time, the lives of others could be endangered.

He lifted open the flap that covered the entrance to the tent, Lee and Tenten looked so peaceful in sleep, their blankets rose and fell with their gentle breathing, how he longed to join them. He removed his chunnin vest, laying it next to his pillow, he laid back letting his head fall heavily upon the soft cushion. He waited, for a long time, willing for sleep to take him, he closed his eyes tight but not even the darkness could comfort him. He raised his hand to his face, desperation begun to take over him, his eyes began to fill.

What should I do? I haven't fell this since….father, I feel so…vulnerable".

*****

It was about an hour before sunrise, the morning light had just begun to creep over the landscape casting long stretching shadows. Both teams were up and ready for action, Naruto yawned loudly and stretched his arms up in the air, he wasn't used to getting up before sunrise in fact this was the first time. The others were very alert, bustling about, putting down the tents, gathering their materials and removing all traces of their camp. Neji was just finishing packing one of the backpacks, making sure nothing was left behind, he let out a quiet yawn, covering his mouth with his hand. The night had been sleepless again, his head was fuzzy and his eyes felt sore from the tears he silently wept.

"Neji!" called Tenten. He looked around, her face was full off concern.

"Neji, I called you three times, are you okay?"

He stood up, his back still facing her, he picked up one of the bags and flung it on his back.

" I'm fine, what is it?"

" Were all set, are you ready?" a look of disbelief on her face. He tightened the straps around his waist.

" Of course I'm ready," he began to walk away . " Gather everyone up, were going before the sun rises fully".

She gazed at his back sadly. " Yes Neji".

Within a few minuets both teams were grouped together, their eyes gleamed with anticipation, Naruto was having a hard time standing still as Neji and Sasuke got ready, he wandered about clutching the straps of his backpack, sighing with boredom.

" Naruto, our making me dizzy with your pacing back and forth, it wont be long now," Sakura chuckled, he looked at her and smiled.

" I'm just excited is all, all this waiting is making me restless!"

"NARUTO!" yelled Sasuke. Naruto spun around to face him.

"WHAT!!" he yelled back, clenching his fist in front of his face.

" Shut up, where leaving". Sasuke jumped up into the foliage and disappeared. Naruto looked around as everyone else did the same, leaving him last.

"Oi! Stop running off without me Sasuke!" he shouted angrily as he leapt up into the trees.

It wasn't long before they reached the border of the neutral zone, signs and warning were hung up on trees all around as they came closer to the area, a feeling of tension came over the group. They stuck close together.

They carried on, past the various threats and intimidating signs, into the neutral zone.

Though there wasn't any physical fence or border, they definitely felt far from home. A faint mist hung in the air, which with every few trees past, became thicker. Neji held up his hand, signalling the party to halt. They stopped, they stood quietly.

Byankugan.

Neji looked far ahead of them, through the mist he spotted the camp.

" The hideout is about fifty meters straight ahead, there is no activity at the moment, they may still be asleep".

" It is possible that they know were here and are planning an ambush," Sasuke pointed out. Neji nodded.

" That also, but we are prepared for that anyway," he turned his back to the party, then spreading his arms out either side of his body, he suggested they move into their positions.

Moving quickly, the teams separated, Sasuke using his sharingan, lead his team to the south side of the base, Neji to the north, guiding his team through the thickening fog.

OUCH! Thought Naruto as he crawled through a bush, he wasn't impressed with the fact that Sasuke made him approach from the ground. I bet he knew that the shrubbery around here was mostly thorny bushes, Damn that Sasuke!

He looked above him, Sakura was making her way through the trees to his far right, moving slowly past the branches. Sasuke to his left. Nejis team were mirroring there movements from the opposite angle, tightening the noose on their target.

From his hiding spot in a higher tree, Neji looked down upon the area, he confirmed the locations of all the others, Lee was crawling through the shrubbery just below him, Tenten moving cautiously to his right. He could also see Sasuke and his party, closing in swiftly..

He turned his attention to the surrounding area, his eyes darted around the perimeter of the camp, he could detect no other ninjas who might be laying in wait. When he was sure, he locked eyes with Sasuke, far over the other side of the base, he nodded, all was clear. Signalling to their teams Neji and Sasuke dropped down from the trees and ran into the camp, Tenten and Sakura close behind.

***

"WHAT!!!" exclaimed Neji, stopping dead in his tracks.

"What's this?" Sasuke gaped. Sakura and Tenten stood frozen on the spot, mouths open wide. Hearing the shouting Lee jumped from his hiding spot and ran into the camp, he stopped suddenly as he realised what was happening.

Laying at his feet was the body of a ninja, drenched in blood, a large slash mark deeply imbedded in his back.

"Huh? What is going on?"

"They're all dead!" said Sasuke calmly, looking around. There were several corpses, about five or six, each one with similar wounds, deep gouges in their backs or chests, a few had limbs severed, parts of bodies and innards scattered the site. The dank smell of blood filled the air as it flowed freely across the muddy ground.

Neji examined one of the bodies, whilst turning it over onto its back, blood from the gaping wound across the chest splattered up onto Nejis arm, he grimaced.

" The bloods still warm".

Sakura gasped.

" Then whoever killed them must still be close by!"

Suddenly they heard a yell close by.

" That was Naruto!" screamed Sakura. "NARUTO!"

Naruto came running out of the forest, as fast as he could into the middle of the camp where he spotted the others.

" Sasuke you idiot! You knew about the thorny bushes! You wanted me to get stuck didn't you!" he fumed. He stopped.

" Huh, what's wrong with you guys?"

" Naruto you fool, take a look around!" hissed Sasuke behind gritted teeth. Naruto flashed a blank expression, then gazed around him. He wrinkled his nose.

" Geez you guys! I think you over did it! And without me!"

" It was already like this when we got here," remarked Tenten, her eyes wide with fear. Naruto looked confused.

" Someone else got to them before us," Neji said in a cold tone. " During the night".

Narutos confused expression changed into one of fear.

" Furthermore, your idiotic shouting has just given us awa…" Neji was cut off, his instincts jolted him out of the way of a kunai, it whizzed past his head and stuck into the ground directly in front of a stunned Naruto. Neji whirled round. He pulled out his kunai just as another clashed against it, small sparks fell from the weapons as metal grinded against metal. Neji looked up into a pair of gleaming eyes, he struggled to keep focus, the force behind the enemy was incredibly strong, to strong for someone who was weakened from lack of sleep. His right foot slipped back on the blood stained ground. He gritted his teeth.

Shit! I can't fight like this! I'm not strong enough, if someone doesn't act soon, I'll be joining the filth this guy slaughtered.

*******

OOOh! What gonna happen next? I'll leave it till the next chapter ^_^

Next: The wanderer.

I drew some fan arts for this fic if anyone want's so see how Neji and the others look two years later e-mail me and I'll send em to ya!