A/N: So, did everyone like it? I hope you did, because here's the second chapter! YAY! (lol)

Oh my gosh, thanks so much for the reviews! I really appreciate them so much—I think this is the most reviews I've gotten so far! -huggles all reviewers- Well, actually, this is going to be more of a "love triangle" between Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura, but maybe I can throw a little Kakashi in there. –winks- Yeah, I'm lame. Anyway, on with the fic! Please enjoy! D

Disclaimereth: I do not own Naruto, or any of the characters inside it. But one of these days I will legally claim Naruto and Sasuke, and there isn't anything any of you pathetic fools can do about it! Ku ku ku… -cough- I didn't mean it, please don't hurt me…

Chapter Two

/Alone in the Woods

Kakashi gazed upon all three of the ninjas' surprised faces. "Why so surprised? Haven't any of you been camping before?"

"No." they replied in unison.

A sweat drop formed at Kakashi's forehead. "Oh, well, there's always a first time for everything! Everybody grab your bags and follow me. I'll explain everything on the way."

Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke gathered their provisions and followed their sensei obediently.

What is he thinking? Naruto thought, suspicious eyes narrowed at Kakashi. Well, whatever it is, he can't fool me! I can see right through his plan!

Sakura let Kakashi's words run through her mind letter by letter. Why are we going camping? I wonder what skills can come of this…?

"Alright." Kakashi began. "There's a few things that you should know before we arrive. One, is that there will only be a single tent."

That stopped Sakura in her tracks. "WHAT!"

Kakashi's eyebrows furrowed. "Is there a problem with that?"

"Well no—I mean yes!" a blush tinted against her cheeks, and she let out a mumble.

"What was that?" he inquired, cupping his ear. Sakura pounced over to it and whispered something in his ear. In realization, Kakashi cleared his throat. "Well, if that does occur, which it might, then Sasuke and Naruto will give you your privacy."

What…? Sasuke and Naruto thought, blinking towards Sakura. She walked back to them with her head to the ground.

"Why don't we move on…? Ah yes, number two: there will be no faux possessions allowed on this trip." Kakashi continued.

Naruto allowed that to sink in for a moment. 'Faux possessions'? What in the…

Ding ding ding!

"YOU MEAN NO RAMEN!" he asked, eyes wide and mouth open

"No ramen, television, food—"

"ARE YOU TRYING TO KILL ME!" Naruto demanded, drool slipping from his mouth.

"Please. Do a favor for all of us." Sasuke commented casually.

"YOU STAY OUT OF THIS!" Naruto hissed at Sasuke, who grunted in reply.

"Number three: you will be in the tent for a week. I will not be with you. If you for some reason need any help at all, you'll know where to find me," Kakashi stopped to rub his nose, and then proceeded. "This mission will teach you much needed survival skills, teamwork, and the task of taking on sometimes harsh weather conditions."

"But why the ramen…?" Naruto mumbled, tears streaking down his face.

So… Sasuke thought, sighing slightly. I'm going to be trapped in a tent with a dunce and a crazed girl? How fun.

"Um… Kakashi? What will we do for food?" Sakura questioned, locking her hands behind her head.

"Look for it, kill it if possible, and eat." He responded.

Sakura almost had a heart attack. "We have to—kill animals?"

"Would you rather die?"

Sakura felt like she'd been stabbed in her chest—which, by her standards, had grown by at least one cup during the two years she'd been a ninja—she couldn't believe that she had to murder a harmless creature just for her own survival. I know! I'll eat plants the whole time!

"Sakura," Kakashi said, noticing her grim expression. "That was a joke. You know, 'ha, ha, ha'? I'll give you each a supply of food."

"Oh, right. Ha… ha…" she replied, releasing a breath of air.

"Good. Now then, we're here!" Kakashi paused at a large, forested area. Trees towered over them, and a dirty, wavering path led to within. Hoots came from inside of it, and the sounds of hissing snakes would turn many to distaste. "Well goodbye then, have fun!" he said, handed Naruto the rolled up tent and bags of food, then marched off, leaving the three in the dust.

A light breeze passed by, and the trees followed its pattern. Naruto glanced briefly at the tent. "So… what now?"

Sakura followed the forest's path with her eyes. It went on for about ten meters, then she could see no further. As the trail grew farther, it became darker. "Well? Should we go find a camping site, then?" she asked, her inner self disagreeing strongly. YOU WANT TO GET KILLED, DON'T YOU!

Sasuke was already walking to the woods, and soon after, Naruto and Sakura as well.

Sakura bit her lip. I'll be staying in the same tent as Sasuke…! Her dawn-tinted hair flowed carelessly in the increasing wind, but to Naruto, this took a whole new effect.

Wow… he thought, gazing at her, she's so pretty… and we're staying in the same tent together? I'm so lucky! His eyes followed her entire outline, but firstly observing her face. Hmm… it looks like her forehead isn't so large anymore. She used to be so self-conscious about that. He made a mental laugh. He also noted that she had gotten more curvaceous, especially in some areas. Whoa, has she got a set of—

"NARUTO?" her face was staring right back at him, somewhat in confusion and anger. "What is it?"

A blush crept up and tinted Naruto's cheeks. "Oh… um… nothing. I was just zoning out." He looked at the ground and trudged along.

"Whatever…" she replied, looking away. Sasuke's being as quiet as ever… I wonder if… something's wrong?

This whole idea is stupid, thought the sharingan eye beholder, clenching his fist, who needs survival skills? I already have them, there isn't anything to obtain from this trip!

The group hiked a bit longer, each pondering their thoughts, when the trail spun into a dead end.

"Now what…?" Naruto asked, scrunching his eyes and nose.

"This is the campsite." Sasuke stated simply, implying Naruto's idiocy.

"I KNEW THAT I WAS JUST CHECKING IF YOU DID! Geez…" Naruto replied, dropping the tent. It rolled a few feet farther.

Sasuke let a small grin take hold of his lips for just a moment.

"Well I guess we better put up the tent and unpack, right guys?" Sakura asked, pulling the tent from its covering. She unfolded it, and then examined its layout. This shouldn't be too hard… let's see now… Seizing one of the thin poles, she slid it through one of the tent's layers. She crawled over it and pulled it through to the other side, and then did the same with the other pole. "Um, guys? Could you help please?"

Sasuke and Naruto approached her, and she asked them to prop up the tent. They did so, and the only thing left was to hammer stakes into the ground. Sakura found the light gavel and began lightly pounding on the stakes, pushing them into the dirt. When she attempted to pull the string around the post to steady on side of the tent, the stake fell over.

"Aww…" she groaned, pushing it back up and hammering it harder. She accidentally struck her hand, and let out a cry.

Both Naruto and Sasuke glanced up.

"Something wrong, Sakura?" Sasuke asked. He kneeled over beside her. The fool… striking her own hand… He cocked an eyebrow at the sight of her clumsy job. "Let me do it." Sakura nodded and held her hand. She passed the hammer to Sasuke and scooted back.

Sasuke… she thought, gazing at him contently. Oh, but he's probably just doing this to set up the tent faster. She didn't see Naruto approach her.

"Did you hurt yourself?" he asked, taking hold of her hand. Sakura winced, but said nothing. Naruto grinned shyly. "Here, I'll help you." Without an answer, he unzipped his coat and ripped a piece of his shirt. He blinked and began wrapping the cloth around her hand.

"Naruto, you really don't have to—"

"I want to." He said, tying the ends into a loose bow. "Better?" he questioned, holding her hand gently.

Sakura pulled it away and blushed. "Y-Yes! It's fine."

By that time, Sasuke had completed the stakes and the tent was supported perfectly. Sakura stood up and unzipped its opening. "See? That wasn't so hard!" She grasped her belongings and entered the tent. This is pretty big… she thought, glancing around it.

Next came Naruto and Sasuke. Naruto immediately raced to the back side of the tent. "I CLAIM THIS SPOT!" he yelled, dropping his bag there.

"Do you like sleeping in the back…?" Sakura inquired.

"I'm not sleeping by the door… there could be bears out there." He replied, starting to unpack.

"NARUTO YOU CHICKEN!" she said, balling up her fists. She sighed and then also emptied her bag by the door. She was scared out of her wits of bears, but for some reason she felt that they weren't going to undergo an attack just yet.

Sakura set aside her sleeping bag and hairbrush, and then got to a bra. Gotta hide these from those two! Discreetly, she stuffed it into the bag.

She leaned against the tent wall and looked up.

Naruto finished unpacking as well, and then soon after Sasuke did. There was a hush over the tent, until all three of their stomach's gurgled.

"Um… maybe we should eat lunch?" Naruto suggested, rubbing his stomach.

"I wonder what Kakashi gave us…?" Sakura noted, looking through the food bags. Her face fell. "Canned beans? Popcorn? What the hell was he thinking?"

"At least it's something." Sasuke commented.

Sakura felt as big as the eye of a needle. He obviously thinks I'm stupid…

"Oh, well… I guess I'll just go boil some water then."

"Using what?" Naruto asked, searching through the bag.

"I'll find something." She replied, exiting the tent.

"What can we do all week for fun?" Naruto mumbled.

"We can train." Sasuke said weaving his hands under his chin. His eyes made contact with the floor, and Naruto shifted his position.

"But that's not fun, Sasuke. You're too dull sometimes." He sighed, sitting cross-legged. "Hey Sasuke…?"

"Mm."

"Have you gotten your driver's license yet?"

"Yes."

"Dammit!" He's always one step ahead of me! He's only seventeen, and he's gotten his license? We're the same age and I still haven't gotten it! I've taken the lessons over five times! "Do you have a car?" he asked.

"Why are you asking me?" Sasuke said in response.

"No reason." Huffed Naruto.

Meanwhile, Sakura had discovered a lengthy shoreline, only a few blocks away from their camping ground. She found a rusty bucket that appeared to be safe for using. She had filled it with water, and was having a troubling time carrying it. Who knew water could be so heavy? Her eyes fell on a pile of wood, and she stumbled over to it. Piecing through the pile, she found a number of good sticks to use for fire-making. Gathering the wood and tucking it under her left arm, she continued to carry the bucket with her right hand.

That's when she toppled over, crashing into the ground.

Naruto sighed. "What's taking her so long?"

"Clumsy girl that she is, it seems likely that she won't be back until sundown." Sasuke replied.

"…don't talk about her like that." Naruto defended. "Sakura is an amazing girl. She's smart, talented, skilled… she's beautiful too," He swallowed, but continued, "and she loves you." You should feel lucky.

"I'm not interested in her." Sasuke said, adjusting his headband.

"What, is there 'someone else' or something?" Naruto questioned, crossing his arms.

"No."

"Well, if you don't do it, then I'm going to ask her out. You can run away with Ino." Naruto said in an irritated tone.

"……" Sasuke said nothing, but he knew that what he had told Naruto was far from the truth. Sakura is just… another person. She is nothing special, he told himself, making a mental nod, she's another one of those 'fangirls'.

Sakura blinked. She was sprawled on the ground, a puddle of water around her, along with countless twigs. As she attempted to stand up, she felt something soft and slimy against her stomach. Glancing underneath her, she froze.

A snake was dormant beneath her, hissing its tongue angrily in her direction. Before she could move, it bared its venomous fangs and pierced her stomach, the slithered off. Sakura screamed and felt an indescribable pain pouring from the wound. Blood dripped as she tried to stand up, her hand covering it. She painfully made her way back to the tent, breathing heavily and eyesight blurring.

"What was that! It sounded like Sakura!" Naruto exclaimed, rushing from the tent. Sasuke, too, heard the scream, and acted upon his instincts.

"It came from this route," Sasuke commented, fleeing towards the shore. Naruto followed him, his heart racing. Is she alright!

We shouldn't have let her go on her own… Sasuke thought. His lips curled into a concerned frown.

Sakura felt the venom spreading throughout her whole body. She twitched from the pain and then stumbled to the ground. She began coughing and felt her tongue and face go numb. Her vision blurred exceptionally, but she took hold of a tree stump and pushed herself up. I have… to find them…

Sasuke and Naruto could see a form moving slowly beyond them, and recognized her as Sakura. They moved faster. Sasuke caught up to her first.

"What's wrong!" Naruto screamed, at first glance unable to find a problem. He then spotted the blood streaming on her shirt, and his eyes widened. "SAKURA? WHAT HAPPENED?"

She was barely able to make the words, "…s-snake…" she coughed. She felt her whole body freeze and then collapsed to the ground. Sasuke caught her, and carried her back to the tent instantly.

A/N: Hee hee. Did you like the second chapter? PLEASE TELL ME YOU DID! I wrote six whole Microsoft Word pages, so you can't say I didn't write a long chapter lol. Anyway, I'm almost drained on ideas after the next chapter, so help is necessary! Thanks for reading, and please leave a review! Ja ne!