Hello all, here's the fourth chapter! I think, aside from feudal fantasy, this is the farthest I've gotten on a fanfics before! Yay praise me praise me! cough sorry about that. Okay, here's the chapter….starts thinking of a cool chapter title um….uh… Forest ramen! hits self over head that is so corny…

Oh and before I forget, thank you very much too grand fireball for being the first to review! And to answer your question, the parings are, so far (I'm not spoiling anything yet, so just the basic stuffs) Naruto + Sakura Neji ? Hehehehe and that's all you get mwahahahahaha well…. One more Sasuke + Ryuuchi (will be introduced later lol)

Hidden Snow Assassins Chapter four: Ramen cricket cricket

"Chances are…they won't make it through the pass…"

Uri and Korenno nodded and went back to relaxing…sort of…

Shikamaru's eyes fluttered open and he scanned the area around him. It was very dark, probably sometime around midnight. Crickets and cicadas were chirping the music of the night. He listened for a bit longer until another sound reached his ears. Soft breathing. He looked over and saw the girls, the assassins, all asleep. What little light there was from the glow of the moon allowed him to see, but it also cast haunting shadows on the girl's faces, making them look scarier and more dangerous than usual.

His heartbeat, in his opinion, could be heard for miles. It wasn't the fact that he was so close to them, or that he had been captured, it was because one was missing…

Chaya sat at the edge of a nearby stream, soaking her feet in the crystal clear water. She watched the reflection of the moon dance across the water. She wished silently that she could stay in that moment forever, but she knew that as soon as Hikana, Uri, and Korenno woke up she'd have to be an assassin again. She sighed again and looked back out at the water. A song entered her head and she began to sing.

"Dreaming of the stars on high

That speak to me in secret sighs

Drifting on a breeze

Only I can feel and hear

Could it be the sacred wind

That's pulling me to now begin

To walk into the dark

Carrying the light of tomorrow

Need to walk the wings of high

Beyond the earth, beyond the sky

C'mon don't hesitate

Don't look back we've got to go now

Don't fear

You'll be safe with the one

Morning star watching over all

Deep inside so silently

My heart must beat

Deep inside of me

Memories flickering and shimmering on

Endlessly

Keeping close to the path

Morning star watching over all

Moving over endless mountains up so high

Walking to the light

Your heart will

See the path and you will find your way

Just wait and see

Moving under endless skies oh so high

Tomorrow we'll follow, when in doubt,

Your promises today

Just wait and see"

(The song is the intro to final fantasy crystal chronicles! It's the best game and you all should play it!)

Shikamaru stood up and brushed off his pants, getting ready to make a break for it. He smirked, thinking of how stupid they were to not tie him up. He walked into the forest and a sound reached his ears.

"Who the hell could be singing at this time?" he remembered one of the girls was missing, and ran off to investigate. He came upon the same stream Chaya was at and watched her singing. He looked around and saw her scythe leaning against a tree near him. He walked over silently and picked it up, or at least he tried, the thing must have weighed a ton. He got it about an inch off the ground and dropped it with a loud bang.

"Shit…" he looked over to see Chaya, standing up, and staring at him. He suddenly remembered how easily she had handled the scythe when she had used it to block Naruto's kick and shuddered.

"What are you doing here?" She asked. And why in the hell didn't we tie you up? …oh ya…I was supposed to be guarding huh…

Shikamaru noticed the sudden nervousness in her eyes and smirked. "Just taking a little walk. No one was guarding me so I decided to get some fresh air. And you? What are you doing out here so late?" His eyes darted around, searching out all the possibilities for if he had to fight.

Chaya glared at him, knowing he was mocking her. Behind her back, her hand griped a kunai tightly. Shikamaru noticed, but remained silent, pretending he hadn't seen.

This should be an interesting fight… his thoughts were cut off as she kunai came straight at his head. He jumped to the side to dodge the kunai, but the kunai had only been a distraction. Chaya ran forward and wrapped her hand around her scythe. Shikamaru had a kunai at her throat at her throat in a matter of seconds.

"Don't move." He said coldly. Chaya shook slightly and he sighed.

"If I let you go, will you run or scream?" she shook her head slightly and he lowered the kunai. She visibly relaxed. He put his hand on her shoulder and turned her around so that they were facing one another. He thought for a second and grabbed her arm gently but firmly.

"What the…" She was cut off when he pulled her forward with him. "Wh-what are you doing?" She asked as they walked.

"I'm going home, your going with me, willingly or not." He said matter-of-factly. Chaya pulled back slightly, fear and defiance prominent in her eyes.

"No. There's no way in hell." She said glaring at him. Shikamaru shrugged and began his jutsu. Chaya realized what he was doing and kicked his arms before he could even get half way. Shikamaru stumbled and Chaya kicked again, harder. He ducked around her and kicked the back of her knees, making her fall. She jumped up again, but he was already behind her. He wrapped one arm around her waist and the other arm around her throat. She struggled against him, but he only held on tighter, accidentally choking her in the process.

"Let me…go…" She said still struggling. After a minute her struggles became weaker and eventually she stopped moving all together and fell limply. He let her fall and kneeled down next to her. He rolled her over on her back and felt for a pulse and heartbeat. Upon finding one he sighed in relief.

"Just unconscious…" he said, trying to make his conscience feel better.

Naruto, Neji, and Tenten had been following the map for hours with out stopping to rest. Fatigue and hunger was starting to get to them, and, as usual, it was hitting Naruto the hardest.

"Can we pleeeeeeeease stop?" he whined for about the tenth time that minute. Neji stopped and glared at him.

"If it will make you shut up…"

"Yahoo!" Naruto sat down quickly and began rummaging through his pack for some food. Tenten and Neji both sweat dropped. Naruto pulled out three packages of instant ramen. Tenten and Neji stared.

"Naruto…" Started Tenten.

"Yes?"

Is that all you brought for us to eat?"

"Yep!" Neji twitched and Tenten continued to stare.

"What?" asked Naruto stupidly.

"How the hell are we supposed to eat that?" Yelled Neji angrily.

"Its really quite easy Neji, even Akamaru could do it… all you do it open the package, pour the boiling…oh…" said Naruto, realizing his mistake. Uh oh…they're giving me that look again, the 'I'm gonna kill you' look…oh great…

Neji and Tenten advanced on Naruto murderously.

Shikamaru walked along the forest, carrying Chaya in his arms, praying that she would wake up soon, or that he would find shelter soon.

He heard something up ahead and ran off towards it. A yell resounded through the forest and he grinned, instantly realizing who it was.

"Naruto's in trouble again. What'd he do now…?"

Hikana woke up, and shortly after so did Uri and Korenno. They immediately noticed Chaya and Shikamaru missing and Hikana glared.

"He got her…"

Shikamaru laughed when he walked into the clearing where Naruto and the others were. The first thing he saw was Naruto tied to a tree with three packages of ramen stacked in front of him just out of his reach.

Neji and Tenten were sitting under a tree eating a bag of grapes that Tenten had thankfully thought to bring along.

The three looked up and acknowledged Shikamaru.

"Well look who decided to finally show up, and look he brought company!" said Tenten jokingly.

Shikamaru set Chaya down under a tree and walked over next to Neji and Tenten. "Wow you actually came for me?"

"Well of course silly, you don't think we'd just leave you alone to die now do you? …don't answer that…" everyone broke out laughing at Tenten's remark. Neji looked at Chaya and back to Shikamaru.

"How'd you catch her?" he asked quietly

"I'm still not to sure myself really. She didn't fight back as much as I thought she would… I think together they're strong, but get them alone and there helpless…plus she didn't have her weapon. Neji nodded and looked back at Tenten and Naruto who, at the moment, were making faces at one another. Neji and Shikamaru sweat dropped.