Chapter 4: Stranded

It was 9:25pm on the coast of the fire country. Luckily, it was a private cruise; for only the 15 of them. So far, Gaara, Kankuro, Temari, Sasuke, Sakura, Shikamaru, Chouji, Ino, Neji, Tenten, Lee, and Hinata were there. There was a rustle in the bushes. Both Naruto and Kiba burst through with their arms spread out.

"YAHOO!" They both screamed.

"Naruto-kun? Kiba?" Hinata was confused, "You traveled together?"

"We met in the forest on the way here!" Kiba shouted, even though he was only a few feet away from everyone.

"Unfortunately…" Shino muttered, coming out from behind them.

"Well, now that everyone is here, we can leave." Gaara said, turning to the cruise ship and walking on. Everyone else followed.

"Alright," The captain said to all of them once they got on, "There are 15 rooms; each one of you will get a room. Here are your keys," He handed everyone keys, "Enjoy."

"Thank you." Gaara said nodding curtly.

"Restrooms are in your rooms," the captain began, "the dining room is down the stairs and to your left, balcony entrance is through the glass doors in the dining room, and the recreation room is down the stairs and to your right." The captain smiled, and then left. Everyone was looking at their keys and memorizing their room numbers.

"Okay, we'll go to our rooms, unpack, and then we will meet in the dining room and get dinner." Gaara said to everyone.

Everyone nodded and went their separate ways. It took about 30 minutes for everyone to unpack and go down to the dining room.

"Uzumaki Naruto and Inuzuka Kiba are here!" Naruto and Kiba chimed as they bounded into the dining room.

"Um, please sit down, N-Naruto-kun." Hinata suggested politely.

"Will do!" He yelled as he and Kiba jumped across the room and sat on both sides of Hinata. A waiter walked over to them and handed them each a menu.

"Is there anything I can get you to drink?" The waiter asked with a slight French accent.

"Yes, I would very much like to receive some milk," Lee asked, "it is good for my youthful bones."

"PEPSI!" Kiba and Naruto yelled together, causing Hinata to hold her ears in pain.

"Can I have some water?" Gaara said calmly.

"A Cosmopolitan for me, yeah!" Kankuro said bobbing his head with pride. Everyone paused and stared at him, "Hey, I can drink whatever I want. Alcohol always gets your mind off of things."

"Oh? And what exactly is it you want to get your mind off of?" Temari asked angrily.

"The fact that there are no women my age here for me to charm." He replied, laughing.

After everyone had ordered their drinks and entrées, they remained at the table talking about anything that came to mind. Currently, Lee was babbling about something rather loudly.

"…But Gai-sensei said 'no way can you beat me, I am the leaf village's handsome devil!', then a mist ninja says 'devil or not, my power shall crush you' and Gai-sensei replies 'even if your power crushes all but one ounce of my youth, Konoha will triumph with the power of my youthful student, Rock Lee!' and then I come bursting out of a bush and whip every one of the 18 opposing ninja with only one of my Leaf Hurricanes!" Lee screamed enthusiastically lunging from his chair onto the table and posing.

"Please," Neji turned to a waiter, "get me a bottle of Sake."

"But sir, I do believe you are underage." The waiter replied.

"I honestly don't care, please get it for me." He pressed, sounding a little irritated.

"Yes, sir." The waiter nodded and left.

The waiter returned with a bottle of Sake and handed it to Neji. Neji nodded his head politely. He swallowed almost the entire bottle in seconds. He seemed slightly tipsy, but more at ease. His eyes were half open drowsily by the time he finished the bottle and placed it on the table, satisfied.

"Neji! Neji!" Lee cried, waving at Neji as he stood on the table, not three feet from where Neji sat, "Look at me, I'm on a table!"

"Really? I didn't notice." Neji said, his eyes lazily drifting to his food.

"How could you not notice? I'm right here in front of you!" Lee laughed.

"It's called sarcasm, Einstein." Neji said slowly.

"Einstein?" Lee questioned.

"Yeah." Neji spoke very drowsily.

"My name is Lee." He stated.

"I was using sarcasm to say that you are unlike him." Neji explained.

"Unlike who?" He replied, utterly confused.

"Einstein!" Lee still wasn't getting the point. Now, everyone at the table was looking at them with questioning eyes.

"Who is that?" Lee asked.

"One of the greatest minds in history." Neji sounded irritated. Everyone was silent, and some had confused looks, "He created the theory of relativity." Still, some looked confused, "EMC2, PEOPLE!" Neji yelled, standing up, wobbly.

"Neji," Tenten whispered, sitting in the seat next to him, "Are you drunk?"

"Maybe." Neji stated quickly as he sat back down.

The night went on in that sort of manor, many people fighting, laughing, eating, some drinking, and some people even sang. Finally, everyone began to get tired.

"We should get to bed, so we can totally rock tomorrow!" Naruto screamed enthusiastically.

"Yahoo!" Kiba cried as he ran around in circles on all fours.

"AH-OO-GAH!" Kankuro joined in with the screaming.

Yet, for some reason, everyone had bad feelings in their stomachs. Like something was about to go wrong. Everyone went their separate ways and into their rooms at 12:30.

It was about 2:45am, everyone had gone to sleep (with the exception of Gaara) and the ship was silent. The captain looked out into the ocean. There was a terrible storm occurring, and the captain was having a hard time seeing where he was going.

"Captain," the co-captain said, "I don't like this. We can't see anything out here."

"I know…" The captain sounded worried.

Suddenly, out of the dark haze that surrounded the ship, something big and white came into view. It was massive, at least two times larger that the ship. It was terrifying, like nothing the captain or co-captain had ever witnessed.

"W-what is that thing?" The co-captain stuttered.

"I think," The captain's eyes grew larger at the realization that there was no way around it; they were going far too fast. "It's an Iceberg."

Gaara was sitting in his room, listening to some music on his stereo and singing along to it. The song he was listening to ended and another one started up. Gaara recognized it instantly. It was 'My heart will go on' by Celine Dion, from the soundtrack to the movie 'Titanic'. But the second it began, there was an intense booming noise that shot through the ship. Gaara almost lost his balance as the ship lurched in several different directions. Screaming came for every direction, as well as loud thundering crunching sounds.

"Every night in my dreams I see you. I feel you. That is how I know you go on." Gaara's radio sang, loud enough to be heard through the turmoil.

Everyone burst out of their rooms at once and looked at each other's panicked and confused faces. The ship shook violently and the sound of metal bending and breaking filled the air. Everyone darted out of their rooms and shut their doors.

"What's going on?" Sasuke commanded.

"I don't know," Gaara answered, "it feels like we hit something. Hard."

"Far across the distance, and spaces between us, you have come to show you go on." Gaara's radio sung louder than any of the snapping or crushing noises.

"We have to get out of here!" Lee cried; his eyes wide with fear.

"Near, far, wherever you are, I believe that the heart does go on." The radio could be heard amongst all else. They all rushed to the dining room. Sasuke lunged at the door to kick it down, "Once more you open the door," They all ran through the room with trouble, it was quickly filling with water, "And you're here in my heart, And my heart will go on and on."

"Quickly, this way!" Gaara pointed to the door that leads to the balcony. Everyone nodded and followed him.

"There should be life boats, right?" Naruto asked loudly; his voice cracking.

"Yeah, hopefully." Gaara didn't even look back as he grabbed the handles and opened the doors.

"Love can touch us one time and last for a lifetime. And never go till we're one" Everyone burst outside in the pouring rain, the ice cold drops smashing around them, "Love was when I loved you, one true time I hold to. In my life we'll always go on" They rushed along the balcony to where the boats were supposed to be, "Near, far, wherever you are, I believe that the heart does go on." They looked to the spot the boats were to be tied up, but there were only loose ropes, "Once more you open the door and you're here in my heart. And my heart will go on and on."

"Where are the boats?" Kiba cried.

"There!" Shikamaru pointed out into the sea, they saw the entire crew floating away and waving back to them mockingly.

"There is some love that will not go away" The boats that the crew was in suddenly were stuck by a bolt of lightning, popping them instantly.

"Sasuke, I'm scared!" Sakura yelped as she grabbed Sasuke's arm and held on tight.

"You're here, there's nothing I fear, and I know that my heart will go on." The boat cracked suddenly in half, the half they weren't on plunging deep into the ocean. They looked forward and saw the iceberg that they had crashed into.

"This is pretty ironic, we're on a cruise ship, it crashes into an iceberg, there are not enough boats, and to top it all off, in the background there is the song from Titanic playing." Gaara laughed nervously.

"We'll stay forever this way. You are safe in my heart," The side of the boat they were on suddenly began falling, and everyone fell into the viscous ice cold water, "And my heart will go on and on."

The storm blown water furiously thrashed all around them, separating everyone. Gaara was able to use his sand to keep himself safe whist his sister used her fan and his brother used his puppet as a floatation device.

"Sasuke!" Ino and Sakura cried as they swam as quickly as they could towards Sasuke and clung onto both of his arms, pulling him down and almost drowning him.

"Naruto-kun, help me!" Hinata wailed as she began to sink under the enormous waves.

"Hinata, hold on!" Naruto called back, swimming in her direction. The waves smashed into him, making it very hard to reach her. Kiba also swam towards her, with Akamaru in his arms. "Gotcha!" Naruto grabbed onto Hinata just as Kiba reached them and helped them stay afloat.

"It would be best if we could swim towards that island." Shino's voice came from behind them. They all turned to face him. "There." he pointed to a hazy deep green blur.

"Right!" Hinata, Naruto, and Kiba agreed, swimming alongside Shino and getting pushed by the waves to the suggested location.

"This way." Shino instructed to some others that he could see, pointing to the island.

Unfortunately, not everyone could see which way Shino was pointing, nor could they hear what he was saying. The harsh storm conditions were separating them. But, luckily, the waves were dragging them to the shore. The island did seem to be farther than they assumed. And with the stingingly sharp rain drops slowing them down, they knew it may take some time to reach the shore. Eventually, everyone saw the island, thanks to the guiding waves.

It was a couple of hours before they finally reached the island, though their journey had not been easy in the slightest. Especially for those whom were pushed to rocky areas. It was fairly dark out, yet it was visible that day was about to break. The dark storm clouds seemed to be gone where Gaara lay on the beach, staring at the sky.

"Gaara?" A voice said. Gaara turned his head to find none other than his brother and sister walking along the beach towards him.

"Temari, Kankuro, you lived." Gaara said, emotionlessly.

"You can't get rid of us that easily." Kankuro joked with a huge grin.

"Unfortunately." Gaara replied in a serious tone. Gaara stood up and turned to his siblings, "Shall we find the survivors?"

"Alright." Kankuro agreed, "But I don't think anyone really could have died."

"Where do we start?" Temari asked.

"Here." Gaara put his hands together and then touched them to the sand beneath their feet. A large wave of sand rose from the ground, causing his siblings to step back. The sand quickly hardened and formed an arrow pointing down, to show whoever sees the arrow to go the location Gaara and his siblings stood. "That should do it."

Suddenly, Naruto, Hinata, Kiba, and Shino came around a rock and rushed towards them. They all appeared to be wet and a little dirty, but still unharmed. Kiba and Akamaru both smelled like wet dog, though.

"Hey!" Kiba and Naruto waved.

"Behind you, there is a massive arrow!" Kiba pointed at Gaara's sand arrow.

"We are aware." Gaara rolled his eyes.

"So, what do we do now?" Naruto asked, confused.

"We wait for the others." Gaara instructed.

"Shikamaru," Ino yelled to the sea, "Where the hell are you?"

"He's probably sleeping on the beach somewhere." Chouji commented.

"Do me a favor and shut that big gaping black hole in the middle of your face you call a mouth!" Ino yelled, spitting on him.

"Don't yell at me," Chouji whined, "I didn't do anything wrong."

"This whole mess," Ino sucked in a breath, "IS YOUR FAULT!"

"Why is it my fault?" He asked.

"Because I said so!" she replied, her face red with anger.

"The bitch's words pierce me like a knife." Chouji sarcastically remarked.

"What did you just call me?" Ino fumed.

"A bitch." Chouji stuffed a handful of chips from a bag he was holding into his mouth.

"Would you please shut your face you fat, stupid, disrespectful, unimportant, garbage disposal!" Ino screamed at the top of her lungs.

"Well," Chouji thought, "Since you said please." He agreed.

"Hey guys." A drowsy voice said from behind a rock.

"Shikamaru," Ino spoke as Shikamaru emerged from behind the rock, "where the hell were you?"

"Having a nap." He yawned.

"A nap!" Ino snapped, "This is no time to be having a goddamn nap!"

"I was tired." Shikamaru defended.

"Shut it!" She screamed louder.

"Why are you screaming about," Another voice said from a bush, "Ino-pig?"

"Billboard-brow? I would have though you died in the storm." Ino grinned.

"I hung onto Sasuke for protection." She stated, dragging Sasuke by his shirt sleeve from behind the bush as she stepped out.

"Not fun." Sasuke informed them.

"Hey," Shikamaru pointed in a direction, "Is that an arrow?"

"Yeah, it must be Gaara trying to contact us!" Ino bounced up and down.

"Let's hurry and get over there!" Sakura joined in with the bouncing.

"But it's far." Shikamaru whined.

"Let's go!" Ino and Sakura screamed, thrusting their fists into the air. They began running in the direction of the arrow. The three boys sighed and followed.

It only took them about 20 minutes to reach the desired location, where Gaara, Temari, Kankuro, Naruto, Kiba, Shino, and Hinata were standing on the beach conversing. Ino and Sakura waved wildly to them at first sight, whereas the boys just walked drowsily behind them. Naruto and Kiba waved back to them.

"Hey, you guys see the arrow too?" Naruto asked.

"We sure did." Sakura replied.

"It's weird, right? Where do you think it came from?" He contemplated. Everyone else except Kiba, sweat dropped at his stupidity. "Just a miracle I guess."

"So," Sasuke began, "Who are we missing?" Everyone looked around at each other.

"I-I think we're missing cousin Neji and his team." Hinata said quietly.

"I hope they get here soon, I don't want to wait very long." Sasuke said impatiently.

"I have some food in my hat," Kankuro took off his hat, "For emergencies."

"Why?" Gaara asked, raising an eyebrow.

"For times such as this." He proudly stated. He lowered his hand into his hat and rummaged around. He pulled out a bag of chips, a granola bar, a flashlight, and a pair of sunglasses. Everyone looked confused. "What? You never know what can happen." He put his hand back in and drew something out; something no one expected.

"Youth!" Lee shouted as he was pulled from Kankuro's hat.

"What? But… how did you… my hat…" Kankuro was utterly shocked.

"It is very nice and organized in there." Lee said smiling as Kankuro flipped his hat upside down and dumped out the remaining contents: several chocolate bars, bags of chips, cupcakes, cookies and a small tub of peanut butter.

"How can all that fit in there?" Temari asked.

"I never really thought of that." Kankuro lowered his eyebrows and looked at his hat.

"How did he fit in there?" Sakura asked, pointing to Lee.

"I was in the cold waters, next thing I know I'm getting pulled out of a hat." Lee explained truthfully. "So," Lee spoke to everyone, "where are we?"

"We're on an island, apparently." Sasuke informed him.

"Where are my teammates?" Lee asked. There was a silence, "Have you yet to find them?" He asked seriously.

"They're probably dead." Gaara said emotionlessly.

"I highly doubt that," Lee looked at the sky, "they're unlucky sometimes, but not that unlucky."

"Unlucky, huh?" Naruto muttered thoughtfully.

"Yes, they are always getting themselves into the worst situations." Lee laughed.

Everyone looked around to see if there were any clues to where they might be. Everyone's gaze slowly drifted to the opposite side of the very long island. They could just barely see it was so far away. The clouds were much darker and lighting struck deep within the clouds. Thunder rolled quietly to their ears, but they knew on the other side of the island the sound would be deafening. They all raised their eyebrows.

"Y-You don't think…" Hinata stuttered, looking worried and concerned.

Neji lay on the wet sand, he was drenched and not getting any dryer, thanks to the harsh rain pouring down upon him. He stared up at the sky. The clouds parted and shone a very small concentrated light upon his face, preventing the rain from hitting him. The light was warm and comforting. But it didn't last very long.

"Neji!" A feminine voice echoed through his head. The light that illuminated his face was instantly gone and rain soaked him again. "Are you alright?" A girl knelt by his side and stared at him with concerned eyes.

"I'm fine, Tenten." He said coldly pushing her away as he stood up.

"Sorry for being worried." She crossed her arms angrily.

"It appears we're on an island; we were much too far away from any coast to have washed up there." Neji figured, "Everyone else is probably nearby, too."

"Yeah, but what do we do right now? We're cold, wet, and we have no shelter or food. What do you suppose we do?" She sounded a little irritated.

"Make a shelter, get dry, and then perhaps if the others have not found us we will find some food." He stated, looking to the nearby forest.

"I will follow you blindly!" She stood next to him proudly.

"What did you say?" He asked suspiciously.

"Uh, I said nothing." She lied, her eyes shifting.

"Get to work, go find some sturdy branches and I'll find something to put them together with." He ordered.

"Okay!" She saluted and rushed off into the forest. Neji raised an eyebrow.

"What a weird girl." He said to himself, rolling his eyes in irritation.