Author's Note: This is a pretty long chapter and I had to cut it down! Part of the reason that it's so long is because I reiterated the first chapter. (It is slightly different wording but retains the same feelings.)

Please feel free to send me and suggestions or questions! Happy reading!

I do not own Naruto.

What's going on? What happened? Who's carrying me?

Where's Yuka? Where's Akira?

I have to get out of here! I have to find them! I have to get to Iwagakure!

I can't move! Why can't I move?

Panic and fear start to creep into the woman's thoughts, pushing out the usual confidence that exudes from her body. Not being able to control herself, the worst fears of any woman start to invade her mind like a virus.

Where are they taking me? Who are they? What are they planning on doing?

STOP!

Calm down. This isn't the first time you've been kidnapped. Assess as much of the situation as you can before anything else happens.

Can't open my eyes…can't see anything.

Can't move my body…can't feel around.

I can feel the body holding me. Too muscular to be female. He's holding me close. He knows that I'll fight back as soon as I'm able. He's cautious.

I can feel the breeze as we move. Each leap he makes, each breathe he takes.

I can hear leaves moving.

Three…no, four people jumping through the trees. I can hear the crunch of bark under their feet every so often; each one is different than the others.

Akira isn't here. I can usually smell him from miles away. It's no wonder we were so easily tracked. I can't believed he's lived this long.

Yuka isn't here either. There's a flowery scent, but it's isn't like Yuka's tulip smell. It may be shampoo or soap but it definitely isn't anything a man would use! I hate to think that I let myself get taken by a bunch of women! How lame! What kind of ninja am I?

I hope my team is okay. These nin will pay if my team is dead…

Focus, Temari! Assess the situation.

One of them smells of oil. Not just any oil. Oil used to clean weapons. For me to be able to smell it, it means they've cleaned a lot of weapons recently.

This guy carrying me doesn't have musky or manly smell to him like Akira does. It's fresh and crisp like…sweet grass.

I can't distinguish the smell of the last one.

The air is humid. I can smell it. I can feel it on my skin. I'm in a forest.

I'm definitely not in Wind Country anymore. I need my eyesight for more.

After what seemed like hours, a little hope surfaces. She's able to drag her right eye open slightly.

Ah! It's so blurry! How am I supposed to figure a way out of this situation if I can't see?!

Slowly the images become sharper. Lines start to appear where blobs of color used to be. It's night, that much she can tell. A lighter colored blob starts to appear. She guesses this is the face of her transporter.

It may be night but even in the darkness I can tell that's too pale to be human.

She can almost make out a face.

This has to be a dream…that's definitely not human.

NO! It's a mask!

Looking down to her captor's left shoulder, she saw the elitist's tattoo.

Her body was starting to obey her will. Every muscle tensed as both eyes shot open at her sudden realization, confusion and shock written on her face.

Before she could even form words, a hand appeared inches from her face. It was glowing with green chakra.

She wanted to scream but her mouth wouldn't move. Her body was numb again. She started to slip off into another deep sleep.

Don't you know who I am?!

We are allies! How can the Hokage order you to kidnap a dignitary of an allied nation?!

Let me go!

The Kazekage won't take kindly to Konoha's ANBU forcefully taking his sister!

"She'll be asleep for several hours now," the woman with a rabbit mask on commented to her superior as she retracted her hand from the unconscious woman's face.

"Good. It would only be troublesome if she woke up," he responded.

"I'm going on ahead now that you don't need me. I'll bring the antidote as soon as it's ready."

The leader turned his eyes slightly to the left, observing the man travelling beside him.

For him to slow down this much means he must be in immense pain.

"Take him with you; make sure he's fully recovered before he comes back," he said, nudging his head toward the man.

"Got it."

She leapt toward the infamous Beast of Konoha.

The four person squad soon split. The rabbit and tiger masked shinobi headed toward the Hidden Leaf Village while the cat and hawk masked shinobi headed further into the forest of the Fire Country.

Uh…my head. I feel so groggy. What happened?

"Ugh…"

The blond kunoichi groaned as she tried to roll over.

She blinked her eyes.

Everything's so blurry.

As her eyes started to focus, she saw that she was in some sort of rectangular wood room looking at a ceiling. There were skylights letting the sun in but it looked as though it was turning to dusk; she could see the sky between the trees was a bright orange and it cast a golden hue into the space around her.

She was lying on a bed, her head near a corner of the room. There was a wall to her right.

"Oh, you're awake, huh?" camefrom a voice to her left.

Slowly turning her head toward the voice, Temari saw a figure lying on something. Squinting her eyes, she realized there was another bed about 10 feet away. The figure was lying on its side with long blond hair, a green jacket, dark pants and was moving its arms around like it was…

…playing cards?

"...Tsunade?" Temari voiced softly.

"Yeah. You gave us quite a scare, Temari."

Putting down the cards, Tsunade swung her legs to the floor and sat up.

Temari attempted to sit up as well.

"AH!"

Temari's face contorted as pain shot through her body, radiating from her head and midsection. She raised her hands to grasp at the offending parts, trying to make the pain subside, but was stopped.

What? Ah! It hurts!

She looked down her arms, then her legs. Paper seals had been placed across her wrists, ankles and clothed thighs. Fury started to numb the pain she was feeling and she raised her head and shoulders off the low mattress.

"Why am I restrained?" she shouted.

"For your own good," Tsunade replied indifferently.

Tsunade got up, walked across the short distance and knelt beside Temari's bed. Placing her now glowing hands on Temari's forehead and midsection, she added at little extra pressure to force the girl to lie down again.

"Since I couldn't bring anyone else with me, I had to keep you from thrashing somehow while I removed the poison. Plus, if you woke up unsupervised and unrestrained, you would've run straight out the door, injuring yourself more in the process. We couldn't risk that."

She removed her hands. Temari's grimace had vanished but the scowl remained.

"Poison? What the hell is going on? We're allies!" Temari spat.

With the pain gone, Temari was able to lift her shoulders off the bed and move into a slightly awkward sitting position with her legs straight out in front of her and her hands held on either side.

"Yes, we're allies. We weren't the ones to poison you. We were the ones that came to your rescue. If the team hadn't picked you up when they did, you wouldn't have made it back."

"Who's 'they'?"

"The ANBU team assigned to protect you."

"Protect me? They attacked us!"

"That's something you'll have to discuss with them. Well, goodbye."

Tsunade stood and walked toward the door next to the bed she had been lounging on.

"You're welcome, by the way," she said over her shoulder.

"You're leaving me here like this?" Temari said with shock and distain.

Tsunade turned to face her.

"Yes. I'll let them know you're awake. I suggest you calm down. I doubt they'll be willing to release you with that temper of yours," Tsunade added with a slight smirk on her face as she opened the door.

She walked out but as she closed the door she paused. She stuck her hear back in, a grin on her face.

"Oh, and Temari?"

"What?" she snapped.

"Don't cause too much trouble, huh?" Tsunade said, her grin growing as she spoke.

And with that, she closed the door behind her.

Temari sat glaring at the door Tsunade had exited from.

What is going on here? It doesn't make sense. I know they attacked us, I saw it with my own two eyes!

But then why did they heal me? Not only that, Tsunade was the one to do it!

Is it because of Suna's leadership? The treaty? Iwa?

Wind and Fire Countries have been allies for years.

Negotiations run smoothly. Demands are low key and met adequately on both sides.

Although, Gaara and Kakashi have never been on friendly terms, there's a mutual respect.

What does Konoha have to gain by disrupting treaty negotiations?

If they wanted to, they could bring war between the two nations. Is that why?

Whatever is it, they shouldn't have known that I was traveling!

Where did they get their information?

Damn Konoha!

Straining her brain was causing a dull ache in her head to form, even though she just had medical attention. She decided to become more familiar with her surroundings before any of her captors came in.

She looked around her.

There was a simple wood fireplace nestled into the wall between the two beds. The heads of the beds were on the same wall as the fireplace, the beds running along opposite walls.

The empty bed, the door that Tsunade had exited from and a small kitchen took up one side of the rectangular room. The other side was only adorned with her bed, a rectangular table with two dark blue cushions and a door, which she assumed to be the bathroom.

The kitchen was small and simple: a sink, stove/oven, small refrigerator and some various cabinets.

Obviously only meant for two people. It may be a safe house or lookout post.

I have a find a way out of here soon.

Tsunade stopped a few feet outside the door.

Looking around the trees surrounding her, she spotted a man slightly to her right. He stood at the base of a large tree, his left side facing her, shoulders slouched, eyes to the sky, hands buried in his pockets and a hawk mask covering his face.

Tsunade chuckled to herself and walked over to him. He had always given off such an uncaring aura.

"Hey! Your turn," Tsunade said as she approached him.

"Eh?" he mumbled as he turned to face her. "You're done already, huh?"

"Yeah. Man, I forgot how bad her temper was!"

The man chuckled at her misfortune.

"She's awake then?"

"Yeah. I was hoping she wouldn't remember anything while I was there but she did. She hasn't quite got her wits about her but once she does, you know she'll have a lot of questions."

"Doesn't mean that I can't avoid them as long as possible," he said lazily.

Tsunade smirked at her companion.

"Does she need anything?" he added.

"There's a small amount of poison left that needs to work itself out. By the way, thanks for helping with the extraction. The drugs in her system from before are almost out as well. They're probably the reason she's still a little out of it and had trouble in that fight. She was drugged well before she was poisoned. She will need to be treated for the pain after a while. She doesn't have any choice but to rest in there. Make sure she eats well to get her strength back."

"...what a pain..." he said with a sigh.

Tsunade laughed and started her journey back to the village.

"Hey, Tsunade-sama!" the man called out after her.

She stopped and looked over her shoulder at him.

"Thanks."

A sly grin crept across her face.

"You're not getting soft on me, are you, Shikamaru?"

"Ugh..." he said as he turned his head to the side, a clear indication that her question affected him like she wanted.

She laughed and gave a slight wave as she turned and walked back to Konoha.

"See you around, kid!"

"Yeah," he grunted.

He walked around the small cabin to where his partner was positioned on the other side.

"Hey, go take a break, she's awake now."

"You want ME to explain everything?" she said as she turned to face him.

"Just tell her the basics. She doesn't need to worry about trying to figure it all out right now."

"Do I have to break the seals?" the girl pouted through her cat mask, shoulders slumping.

"No…"

Immediately the girls' body perked up.

"…but you'll have to feed her and clean up after her if she doesn't get to go to the bathroom," he said nonchalantly

"Eww…"

I know she doesn't want to do it but there's no way I'm going in there just yet.

If she realizes who I am, I'm done for.

Temari won't need her fan to kill me if she thinks I poisoned her, attacked her, or worse yet, if she realizes that I carried her here and helped Tsunade hold her down while she extracted the poison.

"But, you'll be left alone! What if an enemy attacks and you can't hold them off?" Tenten tried.

"I'm not alone and if you're worried, keep your headset on," he said carelessly.

She had lost.

"Fine," the woman finally said," but you owe me."

Trust me, I know.

He gave a slight nod and they both turned and walked to their destinations.

I better stay close in case Temari gets out of hand.

He hopped onto a limb with a clear view of the door that his teammate had just reached.

Temari heard the footsteps on the other side of the door and tensed. The scowl on her face tightened as the door opened, revealing a shinobi in the traditional Konoha ANBU attire. The elitist's tattoo on the right shoulder indicated that this ninja was a woman.

She isn't the flowery smelling one. She smells of weapon oil.

So, there are two women on this team? Interesting.

She's wearing a cat mask. The ears are rounded though.

Wait, is that her hair?

Could that be…?

Temari tried to hide her confusion and curiosity with her scowl as the woman entered the room and closed the door behind her.

"Temari-san, I'm sorry for the restraints. If you will promise not to attack, I'll be happy to release them."

"Do you really think this idiotic plan will work?" Temari spat.

The woman didn't reply but made her way over to the kitchen. She opened a few cabinets and the refrigerator.

Temari couldn't really see what she was doing as the woman's back was to her, blocking her view. She glared at the back of the woman's head instead.

Dishes clinked. The water ran. The stove was turned on. Within a few minutes the masked woman turned around and made her way to Temari's side.

She held a tray with two cups of tea and two plates of food.

Temari's stomach clenched. She stared at the food.

Oh, I'm hungry.

"Why don't we call a truce while we eat? I'll tell you what I can and if you aren't satisfied, you can attack then, okay?" the masked woman asked.

I'm no good in this state, I'm too weak to fight anyone.

It's better to make this deal and be able to gain more strength.

"Fine," she agreed.

"Great!"

Temari finally looked up from the tray to the woman holding it.

They're buns on the top of her head!

Is it…

"…Tenten?"

The woman chuckled then slid her mask up to the top of her head to reveal she was indeed Tenten. She grinned at the invalid as she made signs to release the seals.

"Guess I should've known you'd figure it out. Definitely makes it easier to eat without that mask," Tenten observed.

Now that the seals were released, Temari turned on the bed. She crossed her legs and leaned her back against the wall.

I'm weaker than I thought. I can barely move.

I don't want to think that Konoha did this.

I can't fight yet so maybe I can get some information from her.

Tenten sat on the floor next to the bed and handed Temari a plate of food which the latter took gratefully.

"Itadakimasu," Tenten said and both girls started eating.

"Well, start talking," Temari said after a few bites.

"Oh, right." Tenten took another quick bite.

"We received an emergency report a couple days ago that some rogue nin were hired to stop the treaty between Wind and Earth Countries. Then we received a report that the Sand Ambassador had left Suna that morning. Hokage-sama decided to act on the information so he sent out three ANBU teams. We were the ones sent to find you. When we did find you, you were already engaged in battle. Our only objective was to retrieve you."

Tenten was surprised that she summed it up so easily. It definitely didn't come out that well in her head.

Temari had listened intently but continued eating the entire time and was nearly done with her food.

"If you were only sent to retrieve me, why did you attack?"

"I don't know."

"You don't know?!" Temari's eyes were wide with shock and her jaw had dropped.

"I was ordered to. I don't know why but I'm sure he had a good reason to tell us that." Tenten looked slightly apologetic.

"Who ordered you to?" Temari said, still in shock.

"The squad leader."

"Does this leader of yours have a name?" Temari's voice was growing louder.

"You know I can't tell you that Temari-san," Tenten replied softly.

Damn it! When I get my hands on him…

"Where's my team?" Temari said.

"I don't know."

"Are the nin that attacked us dead?"

"I doubt it."

"Who are they?"

"I don't know."

"Well, who hired them?"

"I don't know."

"Where were they from?"

"I don't know."

"Do you know anything?!" Temari yelled, exasperated.

There was a moment of silence as Tenten rose, took the dishes to the sink, slid her mask back down and strode to the door. She switched on the lights since it had gotten dark and looked back at Temari before opening the door.

"Please don't try to leave. I don't want to have to restrain you again. We'll let you know more as soon as we can," Tenten said, then disappeared from the room.

Damn it!

Temari sighed heavily.

I can't wait until I have my strength back.

She sat there for a while, looking around again. The sun had set but she couldn't sleep, she wasn't tired. She was still too weak to walk around and gather more information so she just looked at the ceiling and lay back on the bed, trying to remember exactly what had happened to her in the last few days.

Tenten walked straight to her leader, jumping up to his position in a tree.

"Well that went nicely! She's pretty hostile. You'll have to go in there pretty soon and calm her down. She's going to make a run for it, whether she's healthy or not, if you don't," she said as calmly as she could.

"Probably," he said with a bit of a nostalgic tone.

"Go ahead and sleep for a few hours. Temari will need to be treated again so you and the other troublesome woman in our squad will need to switch off so she can do her job," he said casually.

"Oh, our comrade is back then?" Tenten inquired, ignoring his prejudiced comment.

"Yeah, she got back soon after you went inside."

"Did she mention how Konoha's beast is holding up?" she asked.

"He's fine. He has to stay in the hospital tonight but will meet us in the morning. Now, go sleep."

"Okay."

Tenten, now satisfied, dashed to the ground and lay down on a patch of cool grass under a large tree. She was asleep within a few minutes.

The hours rolled on quietly outside the small cabin, only the bugs and animals occasionally making soft noises. In the early morning hours, Tenten rose and made her way toward a figure in a rabbit mask that held her previous position in the woods.

"You ready for a nap?"

The woman started at the sound of her comrade's voice.

"Oh, sorry, were you already sleeping?" Tenten teased when she noticed that the woman had jumped.

"I just didn't hear you coming up, that's all," she insisted.

"Right," Tenten said while rolling her eyes.

"Did you come just to harass me?"

"No, you're supposed to head in to check on Temari," Tenten said casually.

"I'm sure she's in pain again. You taking over for me?" the woman said as she moved toward the shelter.

"Yes. Be careful in there, she's had a lot of time to think."

"I will," came from the mask as the woman broke into a jog.

Temari hadn't moved much while alone. She had been lost in her thoughts. She still couldn't put all the clues together in an orderly sense.

What would Konoha have to gain? They're peaceful with both countries.

If war broke out, would they stay out of it or side with one of us?

The footsteps outside drew her attention.

"Hey, how are you feeling, Temari-san?" said the voice from the rabbit mask as it entered the room.

Temari eyed the woman. She was rather tall and had long blond hair pulled back in a single pony tail but other than that, you wouldn't be able to distinguish her from any other female ANBU member.

"I'm fine," was Temari's curt reply.

"Not in any pain, huh?"

Temari pushed off the bed onto her elbows and immediately fell right back down, clenching her stomach.

"Ah, maybe you should let me take care of that," the woman said.

"Uh…" was all Temari could get out.

The woman walked over, knelt and moved her hands over Temari's stomach.

The flowery smelling one.

This smell is so familiar. It isn't just one flower like most perfumes and soaps, it's a mixture.

It's like being in a field or garden or…a flower shop.

Who was that kunoichi that worked at the flower shop in Konoha?

She had the same hair style. She was a medical nin too.

I don't remember her being a great shinobi.

What was her name…

"Ino?" Temari asked warily.

"Yeah?" the woman asked.

Right again.

"How long have you been in ANBU?" Temari asked.

"Oh! A while now, a couple years at least."

Ino realized that she hadn't removed her mask and moved to do so after she finished the treatment. She looked just as Temari remembered her.

"Oh," was all Temari could muster for a reply, still wondering how she had become a member of ANBU.

Temari cleared her throat to get control of herself.

"Have you found anything out?" Temari asked as Ino made her way to the kitchen.

I hope she makes some tea-my throat it killing me.

"No, we should get our reports near daybreak. If there's anything we can act upon, you'll be left here alone…well, not really alone but our team won't be here."

Ino walked back over to Temari with some tea and cups on a tray. She sat down next to Temari's bed, handing a cup over and then drinking from her own.

"Trust me, you don't want to ask about who…or what…will be watching over you…" Ino continued.

Yep, that's her. Boy does she like to talk.

I feel sorry for anyone who's ever had to team up with her.

That's right, she was on a team with Shikamaru and Chouji.

Shikamaru.

I haven't thought about him for quite a while. I wonder if he's even still alive.

Temari chuckled to herself.

Of course he's still alive; he's too lazy to get into any real trouble!

Ino, oblivious to the fact that Temari was lost in her own thoughts, continued to talk.

"…anyway, we'll let you know before we leave. You'll need to stay here, although, it doesn't look like you'll be up for traveling very far in the next few days. Your wound has healed tremendously but it was pretty deep and is still pretty tender, as I'm sure you've noticed. I'm going to head out now and since you are so worn out, I'd like to sedate you," Ino said as she retrieved the cups and tea, carrying the tray back to the sink.

"No," was Temari's firm response.

"Why not?" Ino asked, slightly surprised.

Temari sighed.

"I don't like how my body responds when I wake up. It's slow and awkward...I'd rather let my body go to sleep naturally," Temari stated.

"Suit yourself. I'll see you later, Temari-san," Ino didn't even wait for a reply, knowing that she would only receive a glare from the injured woman.

She replaced her mask and exited the building.

Now outside, Ino headed to her squad leader to give him an update.

He was in plain sight as he hadn't left the tree she, and Tenten, had found him in before. She jumped up to talk to him.

"I treated her injury. She's handling the pain pretty well and even refused to be sedated," she told him.

Damn woman always has to be in control.

I bet she hates the fact that all she can do is sit in there.

Shikamaru smirked under his mask.

"She's anxious to get information though so I hope something surfaces, for your sake."

"Why my sake?" he questioned.

"Probably because you're the only one who really knows what's going on."

Once she's recovered, she definitely won't just sit and listen.

She's probably planning her escape already.

That doesn't leave me much time.

"…what a pain…" he groaned.

Ino laughed as she turned away from him.

"I'm going to sleep for a little while. You better take a turn too."

Troublesome woman, always bossing me around.

"Yeah," was all he said.

Ino bounced out of the tree and settled herself on the ground near the hut in a patch of thick grass.

Why do I always have to deal with the women?

Now that the pain had subsided, Temari resolved to get out of bed. Slowly, she turned on her bed, placing her bare feet on the wood floor. After taking a deep breath, she cautiously supported her body with her legs. Taking step after step, Temari drew herself around the space, inspecting everything a little closer. However, there wasn't much worth noting.

No pictures on the wall.

Enough wood placed near the fireplace for a few days in winter.

Enough dry food for a week.

The refrigerator has been stocked recently. All this food is fresh. By the looks of these fish, it's only been three days or so. Did they stock it before they set out?

There's polish and oil for most weapons.

The medical kit is stocked nicely.

Plenty of toiletries, towels, bedding…

There's nothing personal about this place, no homey touches.

Nothing interesting to look at…

Nothing to do…

Having made her way around the room, Temari turned down the lights and sat back on the bed, exhaling a breath she didn't know she had held while lowering herself.

Woo! That took way too much out of me.

There's no way I'm getting out of here tomorrow. I'll have to take it easy so it'll only take another day.

Temari lay down on the bed, only to stare at the ceiling again.

Whoever their squad leader is, he sure has planned out quite a bit.

If I didn't hate him, I might be impressed.

She lay there for hours until she finally dozed off.

The kunoichi sleeping in the grass outside the wood cabin awoke after a four hour nap. She headed back to her leader so he could get some rest before the night ended.

"I guess it's your turn," she said on arrival of the branch where he sat.

"Guess so," he mumbled.

He stood and stretched slowly, yawning loudly and causing Ino to sigh in annoyance.

Shikamaru dropped to the forest floor, looked around his immediate surroundings then plopped to the ground. Interlocking his fingers, he placed them behind his head and lowered himself to the ground.

His eyes were closed but Ino's were wide open in shock. She lunged to the ground.

"What are you doing?! Aren't you going to go in and check on her?" she questioned.

"Nope," he replied, eyes still closed.

"Why not? I thought you were friends," she said hoping to play on his conscience.

"...too troublesome..." he said as he yawned, yet again.

"Fine," Ino spat and leapt right back into the tree he had occupied all night.

Trust me, Ino, it'll be better if I've slept before she tries to murder me.

I need as much rest as I can get to deal with her normally, but when she's angry...