Chapter 2: Calm Before the Storm

"It's getting a little troublesome you know. Always hearing you out."

"But you have to Shika! You're my only hope, I can't make sense of whatever the fuck is happening with us and it's taring me apart."

Both Naruto and Shikamaru were lounging about in the back fields of the campus. To the far left of the field was a small hill with a tree where the two would usually hang out by to watch clouds; as per Shikamaru's hobby. Usually Naruto wasn't invited but this time Shikamaru spared his desperate sounding friend a sideward glance. Seeing the torn look and stormy blue eyes was enough of an indication that this was in fact serious. Closing his eyes Shika let out an exasperated breath and heaved upward.

'seriously these two, never leaving me with my peace, always dragging me in the middle of their messes.' Though this time, Shikamaru was smart enough to know that this was a place he couldn't go. This was just between the two of them and the best he could do to help was offer support.

"Naruto, it's going to be all right. You guys have been through too much to let this get to you. It's going to be hard, but you'll just have to talk it out with Sasuke." Quietly Naruto looked on his friend. He was now silent, crossing his legs in that defensive manner he always does when he wants to shield himself from something, mostly his feelings. Both sat there in companionable silence.

The blonde let out a frustrated breath, his eyes dark and murky, mirroring exactly how he felt. Quietly he whispered "It's easier said then done." Right in that moment both boys heard a call from the far of left of the field. A pink haired girl was coming their way, waving her hand to gather their attention.

"Hey! Naruto!"

"Sakura-chan!" Naruto bounced of his ass and beamed at the approaching girl. Eyebrows creasing he slumped back to his laid back position, he spared the people in his midst a last glance when a pair of midnight orbs, out a little ways back, caught his eye. Shikamaru wanted to have been eaten alive by the ground at this very moment somehow dealing with all this complicated shit is just 'troublesome' he thought.

It was dark and humid, and Shikamaru didn't even want to think why his hands somehow felt more moist in a sticky/gooey manner. The three boys went head on to their destination, Naruto being in the tail and Shikamaru up front. "Just one more left and two rights and that would get us straight to the exit by the parking lot." Naruto spoke from behind the group.

"How the hell do you know all this things Naruto? You knew the cleaning schedules of the entire campus, when classrooms are closed and the entire fucking floor plan of the schools ventilation system."

"For my pranks off course." The blonde said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. Shikamaru wanted to face palm him self but besides that it was too troublesome, and he sure as hell didn't want his hands anywhere near his face at this particular moment. Still, it amazed Shikamaru, Naruto being able to remember all those things in such a stressed environment, was amazing. It made the brunette wonder what it would be like if Naruto had just been able to direct his skills into more practical things.

"Hey! Mind you, pranks are very practical, what's the use of boring old academics if it slowly sucks the life force out of you huh?!"

Shikamaru abruptly covered his mouth, admittedly surprised that he was mumbling that out loud. A second later he was sputtering. 'damn that was gross'.

"pft-ahaha serves you-" Naruto was cut off by Sasuke's hand, effectively shushing the two. They were now still, all three of them on bated breath. "What is it?" Naruto whispers towards the two.

"Don't you here it?" The three quietly listened. They have been roaming the vents without incident for a good half hour by now. The first minutes of their travel across the building was tense, and that was an understatement. It killed them to hear the screams of their fellow students just below them, grappling for a way out. Screaming in pain, looking, hoping for salvation.

There was numerous times that Naruto wanted to just bolt down and help those people, but a stern look from Sasuke and a desperate glance from Shikamaru silenced him. He knew that he couldn't do much, leaving the vent at that time would only jeopardise them all. It was already a miracle how smooth sailing their travel was till this point.

After a while the screaming, running and all the other grotesque sounds of flesh being ripped apart seemed to stop. It gave the small group a false sense of security. To the point that what they were doing and where they were just felt surreal. Now, that moment had ended with Sasuke's abrupt halt, and reality quickly crashed back into them.

Now, thinking about it, why did the sounds stop? Shikamaru wondered. If he'd be optimistic, it could be because the school from this wing had been evacuated and is clear from people and those… things. Or-and a lump forms in Shikamaru's throat-or it could mean that everyone is, everyone had…

turned.

Cold sweat ran down his temples and neck, he looked back at his companions and can now clearly see the distress in Sasuke's face. He obviously thought the same thing. Naruto on the other hand, was preoccupied watching a scene unfolded before his very eyes. He had peeked into a vent passage, one of the few exits that they actually crossed and discovered where the sounds Sasuke mentioned came from.

There were two girls in the room below them, it was a storage room for their lab equipment. They were trying desperately to lock the doors. Barricading said doors with their bodies as hoards of the undead leaned against them in retaliation. Hands were trying to grapple for them, claw them and drag were displayed and blood spilled from the sides of the doors as dismembered teens tried to pry the door open.

Naruto let out a name slip from his breath; "Sakura". Two sets of wide frantic eyes turned to him at that moment. Naruto's blue eyes were electric and hard as he faced his companions. And just before he swung the vent open he said;

"Don't wait for me" and he was gone.

Pink dishevelled hair stuck to Sakura's forehead as she pushed down the door with all her might. For once, she couldn't thank god enough for her almost inhuman strength. Even then, she knew that this wouldn't hold out.

She turned to the other girl beside her, her condition was infinitely worse then hers. She had scratches and wounds, and that worried Sakura for more reasons than one. Her long ebony hair was also splayed everywhere, her skin was paler then normal and when you're talking about one Hinata Hyuga, that's saying something.

This girl is not used to extra strenuous activities, having ran almost all morning and falling multiple times on the way was taking its toll on her. Sakura quickly assessed her companion one more time, she was over fatigued, covered in scratches and looked like shit.

She wasn't bitten, but she wouldn't be able to hold out any longer and neither could Sakura.

Tears welled up on the sides of emerald eyes. 'Damn it.' This wasn't the way she would have pictured her death. Was struggling against this hoard even going to do anything but prolong the inevitable? They were all going to die anyway, why bother…right?

Tears streamed down Sakura's face at the thought. She didn't want to die, she didn't want to die, she didn't want to die damn it! Her eyes landed on a battered and bruised arm of one of the students reaching for her. She looked at his face, lifeless, wild-savage. She realised it was that one boy she always passed by the hall when going to the cafeteria.

She didn't even know his name, but she was sure that there was someone out there that cared for him someone who had lost him, and someone he lost in things struck her when she looked at the faces of these walking… things, first is that that they were once people that were cared for, second is that she didn't want to be like them. Fuck the inevitable!

"DAMN IT!" Sakura screamed.

"Sakura-chan…" Hinata breathlessly whispered beside her, her breathing laboured and her arms were shaking against the strain they were in. Her light, lavender eyes were also tear stricken but they looked up at Sakura's emerald ones strong and bright. "…we can't stop now."

Sakura was stunned by the words that left her companions delicate pale lips. She couldn't help but be a little ashamed of herself thinking of just throwing in the towel and kicking the proverbial bucket when, right here-right beside her, was a girl in a much worse condition then she's in who didn't even consider it. She couldn't have helped it, the ends of Sakura's mouth curved up, her lips trembled and tears streaking her face. "Yep, you betcha!"

Both of heir arms were shaking form the strain. Their palms moist from the sweat and blood. They pushed back with renewed vigour, but the attack of the hoard was relentless.

"Sakura… " Hinata's soft voice spoke, and a thumping in Sakura's ears began as she stared down at her friend. "I'm sorry…I can't. When the door gives out please… run! I'll try and hold them off, you'd have a better chance of surviving so-" and before Hinata could even finish her sentence a loud battle cry came from behind them and a blur of gold came crashing to the door automatically slamming the hoard back and stunning the tow girls.

"Sakura! Hinata! RUN!" Naruto screamed at them frantically as he was now straining all his weight to keep the door shut. The undead behind said door was regaining their footing and was beginning to strain back agin. Two sets of eyes widened. "N-Naruto-kun?!"

"HURRY!" Sweat trickled down Naruto's brow. Sakura opened her mouth to protest at once "Don't be stupid! We're not-" just as she was making a move to help Naruto she was quickly tugged by a pale hand.

"Sakura-chan this way-" Hinata was pointing to the opening in the vent up the ceiling where shikamaru was waiting with a hand held up for the both of them. Sakura was surprised with the strength the raven haired girl had as she manhandled her up the vent. Once up there, Sakura immediately struggled and tried to make her way down, but this time she was stopped by Shikamaru, who was looking at her with a mixture of annoyance, despair and anger.

"What the fuck Shika! We can't leave Naruto alone-"

"He's not alone." Hinata answered her with a levelled voice. Shikamaru rubbed his temples in exasperation and looked to the side "I can't deal with this." Hinata's eyes never left Sakura's confused ones as she continued.

"Sasuke's there."

Authors note: Quick side trip here, hey guys! Do realize that the characters in this story are generally 16 years old and above. Specifically they are the characters during the end of the canon series, and personally I fell that they had been really mature and intelligent kids and I wanted to give them that justice. Sorry if they still seem a little OC. Constructive comments on how I could improve is much appreciated!