Ch2. Joined Forces

The ground was growing fast under us. Oh why did the day we decided to jump out of a window four floors up, have to be the night of the no-moon?

Kagome and Shippo's screams of terror were about to bust my ears. Oh shut up! You're so freaking loud! The people behind us were finding it much easier to fall down than we were at the moment.

There! A vine! If I can grab that with perfect timing, we can swing to the other side of this huge tree and get away from these Ninja scum. I grabbed the very end of the vine and started to swing, when our weight caused the vine to snap like a string. "Oh crud! Guys, get ready for a crash landing!"

As we fell, we hit a lot of limbs on the trees, but the good news was that all of the foliage had caused our pursuers to stop. Of course, when we landed, it was on my back. There was a gruesome 'crunch!' from my back as something I landed on went through my spinal cord. "Ugh!" A few drops of blood came from my mouth at the impact.

Shippo, dazed, was picked up by Kagome and laid down at my side. "Oh no, Inuyasha! That rock! It's imbedded in your back!" "Oh and you don't think I haven't noticed? Ugh… Just-just help me up, will you?" Her hand wrapped under my armpit and hoisted me into the air. "Ugh. Come on. Those guys will get through anytime soon, and we need to be as far away as possible… Ugh." "B-but Inuyasha. You're hurt bad."

"Oh just shut up Kagome! Get Shippo. We're going., now!" The expression on her face was priceless. She starred at me with total confusion and anger. I started to walk off, and looked back when they didn't follow. "Well, come on! Our feet aren't going to move by their selves! ...Ugh. Ok, you know what, maybe we should stop to rest… Ugh."

"*Sigh* Why am I such a loser? The only reason I've made it this far in the exams is because Naruto and Sasuke are here. I can't even fight off the sound ninja without getting Lee, Inu, and the rest of her group, seriously injured. *Sigh*… Ugh. Stupid hair. It has been so annoying ever since I cut it." Annoyingly, I brushed my now short, pink hair off my face.

And I don't care what Naruto and Sasuke say. Those people were not bad. I mean, according to that cute one, Naruto started it by cutting his hair with the Kunai... Wait a second. Is that a fire up ahead? No one is supposed to be out, not even me.

As I walk forward, the light from the fire came brightly, almost enough to make me turn away. But there is something strange about the fire, it's blue. Suddenly it disappears. "Oh come on! Why won't Fox Fire stay lit on the wood?" "Calm down Shippo. We don't even need the fire right now. It'll just give us away. And besides, until the sun rises, Inuyasha is about to die because of his wound." "Ow! Kagome that thing stings!" "Well sorry! We need to get rid of the dirt, before it gets infected, Inuyasha! … How dare you roll your eyes at me! Sit boy!" "Ow! I thought you were trying to help me, not knock me out!"

Inuyasha? That's the name of the boy. Could that be them? Sasuke did say that they had jumped out the window, and somehow lost Kakashi and the rest of the senseis. Hm...

I hid within the foliage, right beside their camp. It was them, I know because their chakra is the same as before. But something was different. The boy's appearance was different from the last time, his ears were gone, his hair had turned black, and the claws that had nearly killed Naruto were gone.

Trying to get a closer look, I moved through the brush, but accidently stepped on a twig that snapped underfoot. Crap! Nice going, Sakura! Just like a ninja to alert her foes that she's here.

The little kid, who strangely resembled a fox, perked up his ears. "Uh, Kagome." "What Shippo? I told you, I'm busy tending to Inuyasha." "Yea well you don't have to be! If you would just get off me, I could go get some leaves to soak up the blood. …Ow! Why did you slap me?" "Kagome, I heard something. I think someone is out there." Her head lifted up, away from the face of Inuyasha, who she had pinned down, and his shirt off.

My body tensed. I know that earlier I said there was no way they could be bad, but they still seem like they can attack me for just watching them. … Oh no! She's coming over here. *Sigh* Calm down Sakura. They won't attack me unless I attack them.

She started to brush through the bush next to me. Inuyasha struggled up and starred at my hiding spot, as if he could see through it at me, even though I have hidden my chakra. "Hey, Kagome. You might want to check the one to your right."

My body tensed even more. He had told her exactly where I was hiding. I closed my eyes. Ok, I know it's a little crazy, but maybe if I can't see her, she can't see me. I feel a poke on my shoulder. My eyes open slowly, to see her face right up at mine. "Uh, excuse me, but why are you spying on us?"

"*Sigh* Come on Naruto. Sakura ignored our warnings and left without us… Ouch! Ugh… Stupid mark." "What mark, Sasuke?" "Oh… uh… nothing. I don't even know what you're talking about." "But you just said 'Stupid mark'. I heard you say it!" "Just shut up loser. You're just making stuff up so I'll pay more attention to you." Naruto lifted his finger into the air, about to argue, when I hear Sakura scream in the distance.

"Come on!" I grabbed his hand and ran off in the direction the scream had come from, halfway dragging him. "Hey! Slow down Sasuke! I can't g- Ouch! Darn that tree!" If Sakura wasn't in danger, I would have laughed my bandana off at Naruto's pain.

I could sense Sakura's chakra right behind the next bush. I jumped over it, letting go of Naruto, letting him run headfirst through it, and landing in front of a fire.

"Sakura! You're safe!" Sakura sat down by the fire, a red cloak stained with some blood, wrapped over her shoulders. "Uh excuse me! Do you mind? Inuyasha is trying to sleep here!" I turned my head to face the female voice. Oh my. It's that girl… And that kid… And, even though he looks different, that boy that tried to kill Naruto… Wait a second. Is he sleeping in Sakura's lap?