Authors Note: Reminder: Best to travel at night so Sakura, Sasuke, and Penelope don't burn…

Eripmav

Part Four, Chapter Two

"Okay, people, we're losing moon-time! Here's the plan of action! Hike up to the next place where sitting is possible and make camp there. Sound good?" Penelope paced, hands folded behind her back. Sakura smiled weakly, Naruto ginned, Sasuke nodded.

"Right." Sasuke rubbed his chin. "I looked around Low Point Lookout… From what I saw, after the Second Point, there is no actual trail to High Point – Which is most likely where are Phoenix is going to be…" Naruto agreed.

"So, we should get moving! Tomorrow night, we'll start bush-whacking and rock-climbing!" Penelope winked. "And now I bet you are wondering why I'm here. I thought you could use some help, so here I am!" she grinned as she threw her hands into the air for emphasis.

Sasuke nodded again and took Sakura's hand; he led her down the path, away from the trees. Naruto fell into step with Penelope and followed.

"They are an odd… sappy couple, aren't they?' Penelope mused just loud enough for Naruto to hear. He shrugged.

"Sakura has loved him ever since she was young."

"How long have they been together?" Penelope glanced at the blonde and continued to walk.

"Not long at all. Sasuke just admitted he loved her… the day she got 'changed'." Penelope cocked her head and said: "Ah, should have known." A small smile pulled at the corners of Naruto's lips.

"Hang on," Sasuke suddenly stopped; Naruto had to swerve to the left to keep from walking into him. Penelope reached out and grabbed him before he could step off the edge of the Cliffside; she hung onto the rock on her right.

"Warn me next time you do that" Naruto regained his balance.

"We're gonna have trouble here… I'll go first, Sakura, you next, the Penelope. Naruto, you take up the rear, you should hang on to each other…" Sasuke said maneuvering in front of Sakura and ignoring a rather annoyed blonde.

"We've come to a really narrow part on the trail. I suggest concentrating your Chakra to your feet to help your balance."

"Concentrate your what?" Penelope asked flatly, grabbing a handful of Sakura's shirt.

"Chakra – Power. We're ninjas. We could walk up trees if we wanted to."

"Reeeeeeaaaaaally… Why don't you just walk up the cliff face and to where there are no narrow ledges like this?"

"Because," Sasuke sighed, "We only have so much energy. We could get up there and walk, but up there, there is no possible way to reach out destination." Penelope nodded, peeking over the edge, her foot slipping and sending hundreds of little rocks plummeting down to the bottom.

"Careful," Naruto grabbed her elbows, "That's a nasty fall as I found out a few minutes ago…" He slowly let her go. "Don't look down, by the way…" He smiled.

"Almost there!" Sakura called. "Just a few… more… steps… Okay!" Sasuke turned to watch Sakura step across a small gap in the rock. After said gap, the ledge widened again. It was smooth and flat. A trickle of water glided across the surface before curling over the cliff edge and dripping down.

"We could stop here…" Sakura suggested, hugging herself and rubbing her arms.

"Mm." Sasuke walked to the wall off rock opposite the steep drop-off and sat with his back against it. "We're facing East now," He scratched his head thoughtfully. "So we will be in the sun for the morning."

"True," Penelope added, "but we don't know how far along the next place is where you can comfortably sit… And if you ask me, a thirteen foot ledge is pretty good."

"How do you know its thirteen feet?" Naruto splashed the toe of his sandal in the in the tiny stream.

"I've been around thirty-three (Which is NOT that old) years longer than you (Which means I was nineteen when I got turned). I've developed a talent in measure. Plus, I was always good at math… For example, from the distance I'm at and this lighting, I'd guess that water is three quarters and inch deep…"

"Oh?" Naruto looked at Penelope quizzically, eyebrows raised. "And for how long, would you say this thirteen foot ledge lasts thirteen feet for?"

"I'd guess… twenty-two feet… and a half." She replied; Naruto shrugged.

"Well, maybe I could scout ahead and see if there is no place with shade, sound good?" Sasuke nodded and Naruto skipped off.

"I'm going to go too! I hate being in one place for very long. She ran off after Naruto.

"Bizarre."

"Very…"

"So…" Sakura started drumming her fingers. "You hungry?"

"Very."

"Is that all your going to say?"

"…Very?"

"Yes, 'very'." Sasuke shrugged.

"Very."

"You just did that to bug me. You really enjoy annoying me when you can, don't you?"

"Very." Sasuke smirked and ducked when Sakura threw a rock at his head.

(With Penelope and Naruto…)

"Land-Ho!" Penelope sang. "I see a hill Capt'n!"

"That's one mean looking hill."

"Aye, it is, isn't it?"

"Well, shall we?"

"The wind is good, may as well!"

"Excuse me?" Naruto turned to face the vampire, who was ginning.

"The wind… for sailing…? Please tell me you have figured out that I turned this Scout into a Pirate ship!"

"…Right…" Naruto turned around again and started trotting up the hill.

"Wow, Capt'n! Not so fast! Your sailor can't keep up! Hey! MAN OVERBOARD!"

(A few minutes of hill-running-upping…?)

"Wow." Penelope gasped when she reached the top. Naruto stood staring wide-eyed around him.

"Um, Penelope, since I don't think you're going to want to come back up that hill, you stay here and I'll go get Sasuke and Sakura."

"A…am I safe?"

"I… You should be. Don't make any sudden moves and you'll be fine." (At least, that's what he hoped) She nodded and Naruto ran back down the hill.

TBC!