Author Note: New update! Whoo! All the awesome response this story has received is just wonderful! I can't thank whoever has been reviewing enough, this really helps getting me on a roll, seriously. Updates are now back to normal and after much hassle (my internet was out for two days, then fanfiction wouldn't work) I have managed to get this up! Hurray! Anyways, thanks once again to those of you that reviewed, added this to their favorites, and put this on alert! Keep 'em coming!

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Darkside

Danger and dread

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Water dripped loudly. Drip. Drip. Drip. The air tasted stale, as if it hadn't been used and merely left to rot. Drip. Drip. Drip. Absolutely no light could be seen, the darkness here was so strong that not even the sun itself could penetrate it. Drip. Drip. Drip. It had to be some sort of entrapment, this place.

Drip.

Cold, rusted pipes decorated the roof, most of which looked overused and broken. Above them could have been the actual ceiling, but had an appearance more like that of a never ending black hole. Most of the dripping water came each of the broken pipes but also came from the walls, as if it was oozing out.

Hands made pale from the darkness clung to the cold, wet gray cement walls as a form of guidance. More water drip, drip, dripped while the hands shook from the frigid coldness of the walls, yet they never left.

Naruto, pallid and shivering, maneuvered his way carefully down the main hallway. He didn't know exactly where he was, but it seemed hauntingly familiar. The walls, noises and pipes were unforgettable now that he thought about it.

He was in that place again.

One thing, Naruto noticed, was that before there was never a great amount of darkness. He couldn't even see five feet in front of him now! He did have his moments of stupidity, sure, but Naruto wasn't fooled. He knew something was wrong.

Like every time before this, the blond felt himself being dragged towards a certain cage, guided down narrow and unlit hallways. Naruto couldn't understand how it was possible for him not to run dead-smack into any of the walls or corners. While being guided, he noticed that his feet weren't even moving –at least not under his control. He was paralyzed, or something close to it.

"What's going on here?" His voice echoed, bouncing off the walls and making his head hurt.

Naruto squinted his eyes, just barely making out the seemingly endless amount of hallways and corners that were up ahead. Suddenly, all sensations of being shock-still paralyzed came to a halt and the blond tripped forwards, too confused by the entire situation to do anything.

Splash!

Something dropped down from behind Naruto. His eyes widened considerably and his entire body became rigid. He felt afraid, frozen once more, and vulnerable. What was going to happen to him?

More splashing in the water indicated that whoever, whatever it was would be upon Naruto very soon. The blond realized that he was shaking –terribly– and tried to fight his fear desperately. It worked.

Naruto, slowly but moving nonetheless, turned around. He tried to scream but nothing left his throat as a figure, surrounded by vivid red chakra, lunged for his heart. Terrible, terrible darkness overcame him within seconds...

Small droplets of cold sweat beaded his forehead as he sprang awake, caught in a silent scream. Naruto wheezed for air, the taste of the stale atmosphere from before clinging wildly to his dry mouth. Shaking his head, the blond stood up and relaxed, upon realizing that his room was semi-bright and warm feeling.

Laying back, Naruto let out a sigh of relief. It had only been a dream...

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Multiple thick, silky woven threads sparkled as iridescent as the morning sun as a lone spider wove a brand new web. The glowing ball of fire sent down brilliant rays that broke through leafy branches of trees surrounding Konohagakure, allowing all the dew stricken vegetation to glisten almost magically. The air was warm, the sun bright and wonderful. Today was going to be great.

Inside his messy living quarters, Naruto was beginning to stress himself out. There were too many things to bring along! Before settling with the usual stuff-everything-in-a-small-backpack, Naruto made up his mind, and quickly. He was going to be late if he didn't hurry!

Grabbing six instant ramen containers from his deranged kitchen, only a few articles of clothing that had been tossed lazily around his room and finally, an array of sharp weaponry. Naruto carefully (but quickly) packed them away. With a full stomach and one of his infamous grins, the blond double checked his home, locked the door and then headed straight for the village gates.

Houses, stores, food places and the villagers all became nothing but a blur as Naruto headed to the meeting place Shikamaru had picked out upon returning to Konoha late last night. The cloud loving ninja had been mumbling something about how 'troublesome' the previous mission was. Naruto almost forgot that Shikamaru himself could be troublesome, but he was a good leader nonetheless.

Just barely avoiding a collision with a burly looking man, Naruto decided that rooftop hopping was much easier... and safer. Switching his route (only for a few seconds) all worries of bumping into people fled. From above, he got a perfect few view of the large gates, as well as two small figures standing at the bottom of them. Shikamaru and Sakura were probably about to leave!

"I'm so late!"

Several rooftops and a fair amount of jumping later, Naruto arrived, panting from all the hurrying he had to endure over the course of the morning and rapidly slurred out a mass amount of apologies. Sakura was slightly confused, staring blankly at Naruto as he said 'sorry' so many times that he was running quite low on breath, and fast. Shikamaru sighed, placing a hand on his bare forehead.

"Naruto, you are very troublesome."

"I said I'm sorry! I didn't mean to be late!"

"Naruto," this time it was Sakura speaking. "You're not late, so just calm down already."

The blond stopped his mindless babble, instantly grinning sheepishly before he turned towards the forest surrounding Konohagakure. "Alright! Let's go!"

Sakura smiled as Shikamaru sighed... again. He had just got a break from the chunin exam committee... what a way to celebrate it. Not wasting any time, both ninja followed after Naruto, who was looking out for the apparently important person.

The trees quickly went by as they proceeded through the wide spread forest, Naruto leading them confidently. It was normal for him to do that, Shikamaru pointed out to himself, even if he wasn't the team leader. Only an hour, perhaps even less, went by before the forest gave away to a lusciously green meadow.

As that was when their mission officially began.

Ten yards away, a small gathering of people waited patiently. Most of them were clad in armor of some sort and brandished hand crafted katanas. In the middle, from what the three ninjas could see from their perch in a large tree, was a very rich and royal looking man.

Shikamaru glanced sideways, fully expecting Naruto to be on the same branch as him but found that he had disappeared. He should have known Naruto would take off... how troublesome...

"Oi! Old man!" Shouted the blond as he neared the 'old' person they had been sent to guide. Naruto was immediately surrounded by guards, katanas aimed threateningly towards his throat. "Wait!" Naruto waved his hands up in defense. "I'm not dangerous! Honestly!"

Sakura and Shikamaru came up from behind the guards. The pink-haired kunoichi sighed as Naruto smirked one of his Naruto smirks.

"It's okay, he's with us," Shikamaru said. The guards were bewildered, unsure of who the three ninja obviously from Konoha wanted or why they just came out of nowhere. Shikamaru noticed this and smirked himself. 'We're ninja sent here to ensure your safety across this land."

One of the guards lowered his deadly blade, confused. "But why would we need your.."

"I thank you for your services," came a wise yet not so young voice. The guards immediately dropped their dangerous weapons, apologizing and bowing slightly out of respect.

The 'old' man laughed. He was dressed in silk garbs that were midnight blue with golden leaves delicately stitched to the collar and cuffs of the top article of clothing. His hair was graying but still held its natural vibrant brown locks. A few wrinkles were visible on his face and he sported kind, dark eyes.

"My name is Kashikoi. I'm very pleased to meet you." He offered the three ninja from Konohagakure a soft smile. "Now, shall we get going?"

Everyone, including the guards, nodded in agreement. As they made their way towards the thick forest ahead, Shikamaru instantly knew why they were sent as guards. The ones wielding katanas were about as nervous and paranoid as a hunted animal.

Tsk. Tsk. Tsk.

Sakura and Shikamaru kept watch from the trees once the party of cautiously moving people entered the forest. Naruto remained at the front of the guards and their superior. He walked casually while keeping an eye out for any enemies. The blond managed to confuse the guards further. How was it possible for him to act so calm and... carefree? This place was dangerous!

The forests were often home to bandits that showed no mercy. Even strong guards had been taken out, some left for dead. People such as Kashikoi who were wealthy and important to the business world were often sought out and basically killed for the money and reputation they withheld.

Both leaf-nin moving through the trees each had a very useful radio attached to the side of their head. Exchanging information across the wide path that separated them was made easy. Also, Naruto was equipped with a radio of his own, though he didn't have much to share.

"No sign of anything yet," Shikamaru noted as he jumped off a branch and on to another. "But still keep an eye out for danger. The bandits have shown a lot of activity lately."

"I think I've spotted something!" The radio blared with Sakura's voice. "It looks like three... no! Wait! There's five people in total!"

"Naruto?" Asked Shikamaru through his headset.

"I hear ya, loud and clear!"

"Keep a close watch on Kashikoi, he's probably in the most danger at the moment."

"Roger!"

Shikamaru glanced from side to side. His observant eyes caught sight of five shadows nearing them from the left. Sakura had been correct. He hoped that they could be taken care of easily. But bandits were fierce and unpredictable... they would have to be careful.

Naruto, now alert more than usual, watched the thick vegetation for any signs of an attack. Kashikoi and his men followed Naruto like a flock of geese while they too stayed on edge. A few guards began to shake, having overheard the radio conversation.

"Naruto!" Sakura screamed, making the blond's ears ring from it being transmitted through his headset loudly. "Watch out!"

Naruto, who had been looking towards Sakura, thinking she had been harmed, turned to face the path ahead. He only saw a flash of black metal before a kunai hit him directly in the head.

Continued in chapter five!