Disclaimer: See chapter two.

A/N: I AM SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO SORRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Shoot me if you wish. Anyways, this chapter is in honor of the first snow that I've seen all year. Hope it's worth the wait.

Narration
"Speaking"
Inner Sakura/writing

Chapter 3

A few hours later found Sasuke, Naruto, and Lee back at the ENRS. Lee was bandaging Naruto's injuries while Sasuke paced, looking for all the world like a child who'd just been told there was no more Halloween.

"We could capture on of the squirrel scouts. Then we could interrogate him to see where the base is," suggested Lee. Naruto yelped and Lee loosened the bandage around his leg.

"That wouldn't work," Sasuke sighed. "These…squirrels…are too darn proud. They'd rather die than betray their leader. …when did squirrels learn to be so human?" The other two shrugged.

"Even if that's true, I don't see any other way to find Sakura," said Lee, putting the first aid kit away. "You're all done, Naruto. But be careful, you used up half the supplies." Naruto grinned.

"Sorry."

"Look, both of you, I'm not going around setting up squirrel traps all day. We are going to find another way and that's final!" The other boys watched quietly as Sasuke continued to pace agitatedly around the small shelter. Finally, Lee lost it.

"I don't see you coming up with anything, Sasuke! You come up with an actual plan, and then you can trash mine!" Sasuke started at the usually peaceful (albeit, hyper) boy.

"…fine, but this –"

"Look!" Lee and Sasuke whipped around to glare at Naruto and saw him pick up a small letter. "It looks like it's from the squirrels."

"Give me that," snapped Sasuke, snatching the letter out of the blonde's hands.

Greetings Uchiha Sasuke!

By now, your little dunce-

"Hey!"

"Shh..."

-would have told you what happened to the Wench. If you ever want to see your beloved Sakura again, meet me, Leader Squirrel, at the Oak Tree in the middle of the forest at Sundown. We shall let the Wench go in exchange for your surrender. If you refuse to attend or refuse to surrender, we shall kill the Wench in front of your eyes!

Choose wisely,

Leader Squirrel

"I you don't show up, how're they gonna kill Sakura in front of your eyes?"

"It doesn't matter, Naruto, because I am going."

"But-"

"But I'm not going alone. Here's the plan…"

Sundown was just around the corner and the forest was a buzz of excitement. Squirrels were running everywhere and the sound of little feet was starting to drive the only human present mad.

"Would you rats just let me go!" bellowed the pink-haired kunoichi. How did I get kidnapped by squirrels? How!

"Shut up, Wench. When your friend shows up, we'll let you go…maybe."

Sakura blinked. When did squirrels get to be so human? "And if he doesn't show?"

"He'll come. You are his teammate. He wouldn't leave you."

"Unless he thinks this is as ridiculous as I do." Their argument was interrupted by a loud crash. Looking up, Sakura saw Lee and Naruto fall haphazardly through the under brush. Apparently he does… "Naruto, Lee, help me!"

"Well, well, if it isn't the Dunce and the Wench's Heartthrob. How cute. But where is Uchiha?"

"That doesn't matter. You really should be worrying about what we're gonna do to you." Typical Lee…

"Kage bushin no jutsu! Ninja centre fold!" All the squirrels blushed and fell over.

"Good work, Naruto. Now, for you Leader Squirrel. Konoha Hurricane!" The squirrel leapt nimbly out of the way.

"So, you wish for a rematch, eh? Well, you shall fall the same way you did before!"

Naruto and Sakura watched as Lee and Leader Squirrel duke it out between them. However, Sakura's attention was drawn away from the fight when she heard rustling above her.

"Sasuke!" I guess he did take that letter seriously…

"Shh, listen carefully. Once I've untied you, climb up into this tree. When Naruto and Lee find a free spot, we'll all run like heck outta here. Got it?" Sakura nodded. "Grr, this knot is too tight."

"So cut it!" Sasuke blinked at the girl before pulling out a kunai and taking her advice. Why didn't he think of that?

Lee, noticing Sakura's vanishing feet, flipped backwards and landed neatly next to Naruto.

"I am afraid I must end this, Leader Squirrel, but we shall end this some day. Until then!" With that, the four children took off running as if the Devil himself were on their heels.

Arriving back at the ENRS, Sakura turned to Lee.

"Lee?"

"Yes my love?"

"I just wanted to tell you."

"Yes?"

"Thanks so much for helping save my hide!!" Naruto face fell as Lee fainted. Sasuke just sighed.

"How did I get landed with these idiots…"

TBC

A/N: Yeah, not my best, but I wanted something up. There's one more chapter, but I can't promise when it'll get up. I got back into a series called Star Trek: Voyager, and all my stuff's kinda fallen by the wayside so I can get caught up.

Kage bushin no jutsu is the Japanese name for Naruto's shadow clone jutsu.

Thoughts?