Author's Note: Hey guys! I hope you all enjoyed the last chapter! Anyway, I don't have anything new to report at the moment. However, as I said before, if any of you have any suggestions on the story, I'd love to hear them! Please enjoy this chapter. :)

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

Last time:

""Do you know anything about snake bites," Shikamaru asked, a lone tear falling from his eye.

"I-I think you're supposed to suck out the venom," Kiba said nervously.

Shikamaru nodded.

"We should get to some place safer," Shikamaru said.

Kiba nodded in agreement, his eyes glancing to his fallen teammate.

"If I ever see that lady again," Shikamaru said. "I'm going to kill her.""

Chapter 11: To Do or Die

Shikamaru and Kiba were lying in between the roots of a tree panting. They pushed themselves for to try to make it to the edge of the forest, but snakes were starting to come out everywhere. It seems as though Anko was trying to cut them off.

"This is ridiculous," Shikamaru groaned. "If she keeps going on like this, we won't be able to get Naruto to a doctor, not to mention complete her stupid mission!"

"Then, what do we do," Kiba said, worrying his lower lip.

"One of us will have to go get help," Shikamaru said. "The other will stay here and take care of Naruto."

Kiba nodded his head and said, "I'll stay here. You can go get help."

Shikamaru shook his head and said, "No. You should go get help. You're faster than me and can more easily beat the snakes. I can trap the snakes if I have to. But, Naruto needs help now and you're the best person to get there and back fast."

Kiba thought about what the shadow user said and nodded.

"Okay, just, be safe," the Inuzuka said.

"You too," Shikamaru replied, and Kiba gave a fanged grin and was off like a rocket.

After the Inuzuka left, Shikamaru tried to make his friend more comfortable on the hard ground. When that failed, he leaned the injured boy against himself.

"I'm sorry, Naruto," the Nara said. "This is my fault. I should have been paying more attention. However, I promise to protect you. And, I promise you won't die."

The unconscious boy didn't make a sound in acknowledgement, but the shadow user didn't seem too affected by that.

"Now, however, I need to do something that might make you uncomfortable," he continued. "I have to suck the venom out. I wish you were awake to give consent…"

Shikamaru sighed and leaned into the blondes shoulder. His lips brushed against Naruto's neck and he started to suck onto his wound. A good chunk of the venom was already making its way through the boy's system; however, little by little Shikamaru was able to remove the deadly toxin. Every time his mouth became full or he got uncomfortable, he spit out the mixture of blood and venom. The shadow user cringed at the taste, but he knew he had to do this to keep his friend alive.

"I wish I knew when I got all the venom out," the Nara muttered in complaint.

As soon as he said that, Naruto moved waking up from the venom induced sleep. His lips moved in silent words as his eyelashes fluttered. And, after some studying, the shadow user could tell that his friend was trying to say "Shika".

"Naruto," Shikamaru whispered, trying not to disturb his friend.

"Sh...Sh..," Naruto tried to say.

Shikamaru was speechless at first, but he noticed that Nauto was hurting himself trying to speak.

"Shh," Shikamaru said smoothing the boy's hair. "It's okay. I'm okay. Everything is going to be fine. Just relax. Kiba's gone to get help, and we're going to get out of this dang forest. So, just rest now. Okay?"

Naruto nodded, and leaned back into Shikamaru. He sighed loudly and fell back asleep, but this time, not in as much pain.

Shikamaru gave a shuddering exhale and thought, "Kiba, please be quick. I don't know if I can take seeing Naruto in this much pain."

…With Kiba…

Kiba ran through the forest as fast as he could, Akamaru right beside him to help Kiba stay more mobile.

"Come on, Akamaru," Kiba said. "We need to go faster! Shikamaru may be smart as Hades, but if more than one of those snakes gets to them, they're done for!"

Akamaru barked and pushed his little legs faster. Both of them were going beyond their limit. They had to get a job in and they needed someone with medical knowledge, but at the moment, they'll get anyone that they can take.

…In the forest…

In the forest looking at the pair of boys was a giant snake. It slithered around the area and planned its movement. It wasn't as dumb as it's brethren. It knew what the pineapple boy could do. It saw what he did to his brothers and sisters. So, it will wait. It will wait until his guard lowers, and then it will strike. Slowly, ever so slowly, the snake backs into the dark shadows to hide until it seems it right to strike.

…With Shikamaru and Naruto…

It's been about ten minutes since Kiba has left, and Shikamaru was starting to get worried. Where was the Inuzuka? Had he gotten lost in the forest? Has he been stopped by a snake? Is he just now leading help here? The shadow user didn't know, but he was worried all the same. Naruto was starting to get a fever. He must not have gotten all of the venom out.

Shikamaru was lying Naruto down on the ground so he could go patrol when he heard hissing. He quickly turned around and palmed a kunai as he looked around. His posture relaxed slightly when he didn't find anything.

He sighed and said, "Dang forest and all this noise. It's even harder to know when an enemy is coming!"

At that moment he turned around, and the snake struck. However, Shikamaru heard a branch crack and flew around to throw a kunai. The kunai struck the snake, however this snake's skin was thicker than the others and it bounced off.

Shikamaru cursed and quickly drew another lunar, but this time attacked an explosive note. He was too late, the snake skunk around the tree and broke into the roots, toppling the tree. Shikamaru grabbed Naruto and threw both of them out of the tree's dangerous path. However, the snake was now upon them. The snake opened its jaws and Shikamaru could see the venom dripping from its fangs. Shikamaru gulped when he saw that in the scuffle, he lost his kunai. The snake lunged and Shikamaru quickly tried to trap it in his shadow. He had it for about 30 seconds and then it broke out. Shikamaru was now panicking. How can he protect Naruto? Where was Kiba? He didn't know, but as the snake once again lunged, he threw himself in front of Naruto.

And, as the fangs graded his skin, Naruto woke up and saw his friend in danger. However, before he could do a thing, the snake clamped down its jaws.

"SHIKAMARU!"