A/N: Not much to say about this chapter. Other than if you were actually reading this, I'm desperately sorry for not uploading it sooner. No real warnings, except for lightly bad language.

Legal Stuffiness: I don't own Naruto.

Chapter 8: The Forest of Death...A Path Not Taken

Jiraya sat across the table from her, nodding wisely, considering. He had been doing this for some time now. Amaya rolled her eyes, and sighed loudly. "Oi, ero-sennin!" Naruto, who sat beside her in the booth six people occupied in the bar, reached over and thumped the frog-summoning Sannin. "Spit it out, already!" The young shinobi had been fuming for the last ten minutes, because he had asked Jiraya to stand next to him at his wedding, but the white-haired man had still not given him an answer.

Shikamaru blew out a sigh, mouthing to Kabuto, "Troublesome."

Sasuke and Sakura just shook their heads. It really had not taken long for the two of them to make up. According to a nurse, she had seen them through the little window in the door of Sakura's hospital room, holding one another. If Amaya and Naruto had anything to do with it, their engagement wouldn't last as long as Sakura wanted it to. She was fixated on her medic training, but that didn't mean that she couldn't be married while she trained.

"If you don't tell him soon, Jiraya-sama, I'll make sure that you can't do any peeping for a year." Amaya's voice had taken on a dangerous tone, and the Sannin shied away. He held up his hands in a defensive posture. "Now. What is your answer, frog-Sannin?"

Everyone stared intently at him. The silence was thick, and he took a long moment to speak. Finally, he said, "Ok."

Naruto sagged in relief, a blissful smile on his face. No one said anything about him marrying into the Hyuuga family, which Shikamaru had speculated on numerous occasions was simply so that the family could have some comic relief. It might do them some good, since they all seemed so serious all of the time.

Kabuto excused himself early from this little gathering, since he had to be on duty at the hospital in an hour. After saying that he would be home late, and politely taking his leave, he headed out of the bar to the hospital. Naruto nearly split his sides laughing. It took a full five minutes for him to stop long enough to get the breath to speak. Amaya began to worry that there was something wrong with him.

"You two are hilarious." He continued laughing and then asked, "So when can we expect little Amaya-samas and Kabuto-kuns?" By this point, he was overtaken by giggles once again. Taking the fan from behind her obijime cord, she thumped him on the top of his head.

"That's it, Naruto! Outside!" She couldn't control herself. He just kept pushing. When would he learn to leave well enough alone? Well, fat chance of that…

The young man crossed his arms over his chest and frowned. "Nope. I'm not supposed to be acting like an idiot, or Hiashi-sama will knock the crap outta me." That made everyone at the table laugh.

"Naruto-kun, if Hyuuga-sama beats you up for acting like an idiot, how come you're not black and blue by now, or dead?" Shikamaru interjected in the midst of everyone's laughter. This only caused the rest of the party to roar all the harder. The blue eyed shinobi stared over at Shikamaru for a moment, then scowled. The best thing about Shikamaru was that even though he may not talk very much, when he did, it was usually something that you really wanted to remember. The entire group could hardly stop laughing.

As Amaya wiped a tear from the corner of her eye, she saw someone pelting toward their table. The fur-trimmed hood of a jacket fell back from the head it covered, revealing the face of Inuzuka Kiba. He slid to a stop, just before he would have crashed into the table. Panting, he gasped, "Amaya-sama, please, come with me, quickly."

"What's the matter?" Both Amaya and Naruto said at once.

"It's Kabuto-kun. He's hurt. Please…" Kiba had gone on several missions with Kabuto since his re-integration into Konoha. Also, he was the closest thing Kabuto had to a best friend. She nodded, and followed him. They ran the entire way to the hospital, and she met Shizune in the hallway.

"Shizune-san! How is he?" Her voice became choked, and she had to fight the tears that threatened.

"His chakra is dangerously depleted, Amaya-san. There are numerous deep lacerations and stab-wounds over his torso, and he also has a head wound." Amaya's mind raced. Who could have done this? Shizune seemed to understand what she was feeling, and lay a hand on her arm. "I don't think he's in any danger, Amaya-san. Your husband will be just fine. But I'm going to ask Tsunade-sama if I can have a couple of ANBU to put outside his room."

Her hands balled up in to fists at her sides. "When I find out who did this, I swear, they're not going to live to see the inside of Konoha Prison." A hot lump of something dark and frightening had settled itself into her stomach. Also, a worm of recognition was beginning to rear its ugly head. She gasped. "Sasuke-chan!"

Kiba stood behind her, and as she fainted, he caught her. When she woke up, Akamaru was sitting on her chest. The small white dog licked her nose. Picking him up, she yelled, "Kiba! Where are you, you good-for-nothing dog-boy?"

Kiba poked his head out from behind the screen that separated the bed from the rest of the room I was in. "Now, that was uncalled for." Kiba's insolent smile was comforting. He never would change.

"Where's Sasuke-chan?" Amaya sat up, and her head felt like it was stuffed with cotton. Taking a deep breath, she swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood up.

Kiba looked around the edge of the screen. He crooked a finger, and Sasuke came around. Amaya sighed relief. "Onehsan, what is it?"

"I did kill him, didn't I, Sasuke-chan?"

Sasuke looked at Kiba. "Are you sure she didn't hit her head?" Kiba nodded vigorously.

"Damn it, Sasuke-chan! Think about it. Why would anyone attack Kabuto? The only thing I can think of is that it's Hoshi…" Her eyes widened, and she gasped. "Kiba…go wake up Hokage-sama."

His eyes bulged, and Akamaru whined. "Why me? She'll punch me through a wall again. Send Shikamaru. She likes him."

From behind the curtain, Shikamaru's lazy voice drifted over. "You'd better shut up, Kiba."

"Bite me, Shikamaru." Kiba's tone was acid. Apparently, he had made Shikamaru's close relationship with the Hokage into a running joke.

"If the two of you don't shut up, I'll punch both of you through a wall…together. Kiba, take Shikamaru with you. Just go." The young chuunin's eyes grew wide. He moved back around the screen, and Amaya heard scuffling as he grabbed Shikamaru. The other young man protested in his lazy way, but went along with him. Not too long after they had left, they returned with the Hokage, and Kiba was nursing a lump on his head.

"Why did I have to get up in the middle of the night, Amaya-san?" Her eyes were bloodshot. Kiba mumbled something about sake. "Inuzuka, I thought I gave you your lesson for the evening. Did it not sink in?" Tsunade never took her eyes off of Amaya, but smiled when she knew her threat had its desired affect.

Amaya explained to her that Kabuto had been attacked.

"What does this have to do with me?" She was already testy, and like Kiba, Amaya didn't want to push her too far.

"There is a slight chance that it may involve Orochimaru." Her voice faltered, and she thought she might faint again. She began to sway. Tsunade forced her to lie down. She explained to her about the reports she had about rumors of Orochimaru sightings. It was most likely that he was dead, but the girl Hoshi had been devastated at his death and may be impersonating him.

"Is she strong?" Tsunade sounded worried.

Amaya nodded, though she was not quite sure how strong the girl may be.

Sasuke said from behind Tsunade, "I trained with her while I was with Orochimaru." His eyes seemed to cloud over as he remembered. "She's got a lot of potential. I'd say she's at least as strong as Orochimaru, maybe as strong as my brother." Tsunade looked as if she were going to be sick.

Crossing her arms under her considerable bosom, Tsunade said, "This could be a problem."

ANBU had been stationed not only at Kabuto's door, but at Sasuke's house as well, and Amaya stayed with him so that they would not be spread too thin. The ANBU had sent Sakura home, telling her that she would be safer there. Sasuke and and his adopted sister were flopped on the couch, fighting the sleep that they both needed. "Amaya onhesan?" he sounded half-asleep.

"Huh, Sasuke-chan?"

"I really don't like this."

"Well, Sasuke-chan, neither do I." She reached over and poked his forehead. He sighed. Neither of them had the energy to argue, let alone fight. Not long afterward, both of them had fallen asleep, and they woke in the morning with stiff necks, stiff backs, and a headache each.

"Sasuke-chan, are you hungry?" He muttered that he was. "Ok. I'll make the breakfast if you make tea." Nodding groggily, he went to the cupboard and took out the kettle. Amaya was not quite so far removed, but she moved faster than he did. He really wasn't a morning person. Both of them shuffled around the kitchen, going through the motions of making eggs, toast and brewing tea.

After both of them ate, they took showers, which made her feel better, but Sasuke seemed even more tired. "Are you ok?"

"I don't know."

"Come here." He trudged over to her, and she felt his forehead. Amaya snorted. "No wonder. You've got a fever, baka. Go lie down on the couch. I'll put some medicine in a cup of tea." He grunted, and went into the living room. She took the kettle out again, and in a few minutes, the medicine was in in the tea, and she took it to him. His nose crinkled when he tasted it. He tried to give the cup back to her. "Don't make me get Sakura-chan over here. She won't be very happy if you're sick." He frowned, but drank the entire cup. He lay back down, and she covered him with a blanket.

"If you get up, you'll regret it."

"Onehsan, I already regret it. Now shut up so I can get some rest." He lay is head down and closed his eyes. My, my. Aren't we testy. She looked around. His house was very tidy, since Sakura practically lived there already, and was excellent at not only cleaning, but getting Sasuke to clean as well. Since there really wasn't much to do in the way of cleaning, she decided to see if the ANBU posted outside would like a cup of tea.

When she went outside, she did not see anyone. Making a quick circuit of the area around Sasuke's house, she found no ANBU. By this time, one of the three posted there last night should have come and told her she should go back inside. Something was wrong; she could smell it. She ran back inside, and into the living room. She swallowed hard. Sasuke was gone.

The blanket was balled up on the floor, and two of the cushions on the couch were slashed and singed. Her eyes bulged. In the corner were two bodies, both burned. They were two of the ANBU that had been posted there the night before. Oh, shit. After a brief moment of concern for Sasuke having gone insane, she saw it. The remnants of a jutsu that Kakashi had told her about, once used by Kabuto. It could temporarily resurrect a body, making it move and have a heartbeat. Certainly, Kabuto was not the only one who knew that jutsu? No. If he knew it, then Orochimaru did, as well. And if Orochimaru knew it, there was a chance that Hoshi had learned it, too.

The image of the tiny shinobi came forth in her mind. Short blonde hair, bright green eyes, dark skin, and a strange birthmark on the bridge of her nose, shaped like a six-pointed star. Amaya was not feeling very well. She felt as if she were going to vomit. She supposed it was to be expected. There was too much going on. How were they going to deal with Hoshi? If she was as strong as Itachi, then there was really only one person who could deal with her. The problem was, if they were to find him, they would have to keep Sasuke from killing him long enough for him to kill Hoshi.

Beating back the urge to scream, she left the house, picking up an extra bag of shiruken on the way out. It wasn't really as if she needed them, but it didn't take any chakra to throw those, rather than using the Kaze no Yiba. Now, she ran through the streets of Konoha, looking for help. The first person she saw, she really didn't want to ask. Aburame Shino had always given her the creeps. However, he was an excellent shinobi, and always willing to help. "Shino-san!" She panted as she slid to a stop before him.

The newly-promoted jounin looked down at her, an inquisitive silence serving as greeting. "I need your help." Once she explained the situation, he nodded. Sending his insects in all directions, he told Amaya that they would search for Sasuke. "Thank you, Shino-san. I'm on my way to find the Hokage, but when I saw you…"

"Don't explain, just go." Another man of few words, Shino was usually right.

She ran on. For a few minutes, she saw no one in the street. Then, as if by some magic, Kakashi was running next to her. "Out for training away from the ANBU, Amaya-san?" His tone was playful. The man was hopeless. How did he become so well respected if he can't see that I'm totally freaking out?

"Kakashi, if you're not going to be of any help, go fuck yourself." The other jounin's right eye winked at her. If she had not been running, she would have sighed. "Why do you always have to be like that? Be serious for two seconds together." She shook her head.

He nodded. "What's the situation?"

"There are two twice-baked ANBU in Sasuke's living room. Where the other one is, I don't know. There were signs of struggle, and Sasuke wasn't there. I was only outside for four minutes, and I was nearby. How did I not hear the fight? There was evidence of Sasuke using Katon Goukakyuu no Jutsu, and that makes an ass-load of noise." Kakashi's right eye narrowed. "Shino-san has his bugs scouring the village for Sasuke. I have a feeling that it's not going to do any good."

"One of your feelings, again?" He eyed her for a moment. The last time she had a 'feeling,' his one of his girlfriends had dumped him. Since then, he developed a habit of grilling her as to which girls would be good to ask out on dates. It really had become rather annoying.

She nodded, none the less. "Will you help?"

"Hai." He stopped running, and as Amaya looked back, he was performing his summoning jutsu, and then Pakkun was standing at his feet. He waved at her to keep going, and she did. Two trackers. Would it be enough? Finally, she got to the Hokage's office. Running past Shizune, she burst into the Godaime's office, and apologized.

"Gomen, Hokage-sama." She dropped to one knee, head down, one fist to the floor. Tsunade motioned for her to stand, and asked what she had barged in on her for. "You know how you said we might have a problem? Well, we've got one." After she explained what was going on, and the measures she had taken with what she could find on the way to see her, she nodded.

Tsunade took a deep breath. Amaya flinched as the other woman yelled, "Shikamaru!"

Shikamaru was now standing next to Amaya. How the Hokage had known he would be within earshot, she was not sure. He looked over and said, "Yo. What can I help with, Tsunade-sama?" The Hokage told him about what had happened. "Ok. I'll take care of it. I just need about six people. My pick." This was not the way people usually talked to Tsunade.

Tsunade walked around her desk. "Don't make me hit you, Shikamaru."

"Hai. What do I have to work with, Hokage-sama?"

"Aburame Shino, Hatake Kakashi, Pakkun, Hori Amaya, yourself, and one other chuunin." She was smiling. Shikamaru's lazy posture had not changed. It was like watching two very good players at poker. Neither one of them was breaking their bluff.

Finally, he sighed. "This is troublesome, Tsunade-sama. I guess I'll take Naruto with me."

"Did I hear my name?" The blonde-haired shinobi poked his head into the room. Was he hanging around, or just passing by? It really didn't matter. Tsunade crooked a finger at him. He came into the room. When all had been explained, Tsunade gave them their official mission orders.

"Shikamaru, your current mission is to retrieve Uchiha Sasuke. Again. This time, you have three jounin. You'll share command with Kakashi. If possible, please get rid of this Hoshi, too. Get the hell out of my office, all of you." They all started to leave. Shikamaru, the slowest, looked back at the Hokage. He smiled. "You better not die, Shikamaru…" Tsunade said quietly. He nodded silently, and walked out of the door.

Naruto asked, "Are you ready, Shikamaru?"

"Are you kidding? Was I ready last time?" Naruto made a face, but nodded. The last time he had led the mission to retrieve Sasuke, it had not gone well.

"Shika, suck it up, and let's go." Amaya prodded him. "If anything happens to Sasuke-chan, you'll have me and Sakura-chan to deal with." Naruto nodded, wisely. "Oi! Naruto, quit it. You're not fooling anyone. If you're coming with us, quit acting like you do around Hinata's father. We're going to need your full attention." He smiled broadly. The old Naruto was back…

"Then let's stop standing around. Let's go!" Naruto started walking. When he turned around and walked back to where the other two were still standing, he asked sheepishly, "It's the other way, isn't it?" They both nodded. Naruto will never change. This thought ran through both Shikamaru and Amaya's minds.

Outside, Kakashi and Shino had information for them. Pakkun had picked up on Sasuke's scent, and followed it. Shino's insects had confirmed his position. He was in the Forest of Death. Naruto's shoulders sagged. He had passed the Chuunin exam, but he really didn't like the forest. "Naruto, get over it. Sasuke-chan is in there." He nodded, and they jumped the fence.

A/N: Ack. The more I look at this fic, the less I like it. I'm working on the sequel, which I'm hoping will be a lot better.