I really, really like this chapter.
The dialogue just makes me laugh. You'll see what I mean soon. *heart*
Read on, reader(reviewer? :D) units!
Promises Not Made are Promises Never Kept
Chapter Ten – Puncture Wounds
"Gah… dammit!" Naruto huffed, wiping the sweat from his eyes. "They had an Earth scroll, just like we did!"
"We probably should've made sure before we engaged them," Sai admitted monotonously, wiping his kunai on an unconscious ninja's shirt.
"But they jumped us!" Naruto steamed angrily, feeling his muscles ache. "I bet they were just trying to get rid of the competition! Damn them!"
"Even so," Sakura stated, rising into a stand and smoothing out her dress. "We should move on. Let's burn their scroll and get out of here! The commotion was sure to catch some attention. There are probably other teams watching us right now!"
"I suggest we keep the scroll," Sai argued, looking at Naruto, who had the blood-stained item clenched in one hand. "That way we have a back-up just in case we're defeated by another group."
"Planning for defeat means you plan on being defeated," Naruto snapped in irritation, fixing his headband with his free hand. "No way, not me. Not to these bastards."
Sakura sighed heavily.
"Well, at any rate, I'm exhausted," she said. "Let's get some distance in between us and this location, and find some food before it gets too late."
"Good idea," Sai agreed, rummaging through an unconscious ninja's clothes. Sakura's upper lip twitched.
"Sai, what're you doing?"
"Looting the body," he replied simply, finding the ninja's stash of kunais and taking them for himself. "We won. We deserve a reward."
"Let's take their clothes too; leave 'em butt-ass naked," Naruto grumbled. "Dicks." Sai laughed.
"If you wish, we can," he replied, his eyes having the barest hint of a twinkle. "Or we can just set them on fire."
"I particularly don't want to burn down our cover," Sakura protested. "Besides, the forest is too big. I'm sure our proctor would put it out before it got out of hand."
"That's insinuating that I wouldn't be able to keep the fire contained," Sai quipped, giving Sakura a pointed look. Sakura shrugged.
"I don't want to leave things to chance right now – do you?" She asked him. Sai simply shrugged, a little butt-hurt, and continued his reaping. Looking at the two men, she scowled and shook her head. "Fine," she stated. "I'll go find something to eat. There's got to be some herbs or small game we can find."
"Wait, Sakura." Blinking, she turned to see Naruto toss the scroll at Sai and walk up to her. "I'll help you out. Besides, I don't think you'd have the heart to kill anything." He looked to Sai. "Sai, you remember that big tree-"
"There are many big trees in this forest, Naruto."
"…SHUT UP. Do you remember that big tree that looked like something really nasty had bitten it? With that fallen log in front of it covered in those flowers that Sakura had a fit over?" Sakura scowled at Naruto as Sai thought, then the ravenhead nodded. "Okay, go ahead and set up camp there. Should be far away enough that it won't be that bad. Signal if something happens."
"Are you sure we should split up?" Sakura questioned. "We just had a really hard fight, and we're all tired."
"Finding a place together and then going hunting together will take too much time," Naruto replied. "We need to get it done and then settle down for the day. We need to find water too."
Wow, Naruto's actually being… smart. Sakura thought in awe. I wonder… why?
I need to survive this. Naruto thought as they headed out. I need-want- to find Sasuke. I want to meet him in the final round. I wonder how he's doing.
"Any success?"
"Sure," Sasuke replied happily, a small deer draped across his shoulders with her neck heavily mauled. "Dagina got a little carried away, but the rest of her is still good."
Inaré smiled at him, noting the blood that matted the fur around the tiger's mouth and coated her whiskers.
"I'm surprised Kaoru didn't join," she commented, helping him set the deer on the ground beneath their tree as Haku followed them in, a serene look on his face.
"She was a very good wolf," Sasuke crooned, giving the animal appreciative scratching along her jawline and behind her neck, making her arch in pleasure. Moira chirped happily upon seeing Haku, flying down from one of the upper branches to greet him. "Weren't you, my dear?" He leaned down and rubbed faces with her. "Yesh yew were!"
Kaoru gave a happy growl before Sasuke released her and she padded over to Inaré, settling down next to her as the girl took a carving knife from her belt.
"Well, let's get started then, before it gets dark," she stated, kneeling down in front of the deer. "We wouldn't want to risk a fire at night in these woods."
"What do you think is out there?" Sasuke asked, leaning back onto his hands as he watched Inaré work. The way she sliced the skin from the creature's body could almost be considered art. "I mean, the monsters that come out at night. These trees can't be this big without harboring some big things."
"I'm not entirely sure," Haku replied from where he stood at the edge of the tree, looking outwards at the forest. "But I have a few theories."
"Really now?" Sasuke quipped, smirking. "Please, do tell. I always love to hear your 'theories'."
Haku chuckled, not looking over his shoulder to lay eye on his two companions.
"Well, on the subject of 'monsters', have you seen some of the bite marks that are in some of these trees? Like something took a snap at something and missed? Most of them are very deep, like puncture wounds, and they always come in pairs, always equally spaced from one another. It's almost like they're from a-"
Suddenly Moira let out a shrill shriek, and Sasuke and Inaré looked up to see Haku turn his head just in time to be snapped up in the angry, detachable jaws of one very massive-
"SNAKE!"
End Chapter Ten – Puncture Wounds
You know, usually I hate Sai, but I really like him in this chapter.
Heehee, looting the body. You intelligent little thief you, haha.
Hope you enjoyed the latest installment! One more after this! Well, maybe two more. Maybe.
LOOOOOOOOOVES
DDB
