A/N: I really have no excuse for the amount of time this has taken.. College caught up to me and that has combined with a severe case of writers block created a deadly hell storm.. I am sincerely sorry and hope this starts happening faster than the flow of molasses during a snowstorm. Ps Thanks to Galaxy-Monarch Frosty10001 for editing! :]

The sun only got brighter the closer the group got to the Sun Village. The trees got thicker and more ancient as well, stretching tall and proud up towards the bright blue sky. Naruto practically doubled over backwards as his inquisitive blue eyes tried to find the very tops.

Ayako stifled a giggle as he almost fell backwards.

"You idiot." Sakura glared in his direction and grumbled.

"These trees are simply massive." Lee's eyes filled with wonder as he motioned up towards the sky.

"The stories say that the founders of our village built around them because they were so big. They didn't want to cut them down out of respect for the ancient spirits that are said to guard them" Haru's quiet voice explained as he walked close behind Ayako and Lee. His fingertips trailed over the bark or the closest trunk. "They've seen everything that's happened to this land and they've got to be the oldest trees around in any of the nations. That I know of anyhow"

"There aren't trees even close to this size around our village.." Sakura marveled.

"I gotta say, I just don't get it.. These are just big trees."

"Naruto." Lee spoke out in warning this time. "You must try to understand the customs of this foreign village and not insult them." He motioned to Ayako who he walked closely at his side with a soft smile on her lips. "I think the trees are beautiful." He added with a nod.

"Yeah me too." Sakura agreed.

Naruto only rolled his eyes.

Both Haru and Ayako smiled. The peaceful walk through the forest continued until Sakura suddenly stopped and looked around.

"What-"

"Sh.." The pink haired girl held up a hand. "I think I sense something."

Haru stepped behind Naruto and nervously clutched his hands together as the blonde ninja took a defensive stance. Lee and Ayako turned away from each other to scan the trees and Sakura pulled a kunai from the pouch at her hip. After a tense moment passed, Naruto sighed loudly.

"Sakura you have got to be hearing things because I literally hear nothing."

"I didn't say hear, I said sense you idiot. There was a strange chakra."

Lee glanced around warily. "Are you positive Sakura?"

"No, I feel it too." The Princess answered. "We should hide, and stay quiet. I can mask our chakra at least partly. It's our best option"

They piled into the bushes and fell silent. Another tense silence settled as they peered out of the leafy shrub all either sitting or an their hands and knees in the grass inside the shrubs. The strange chakra drew closer. Haru covered his mouth and closed his eyes and Sakura nodded to Naruto who crawled up to where Lee and Ayako had stopped to peer through the thick leaves.

The mysterious chakra grew stronger as footsteps echoed in the now silent forest. Everyone held their breaths as a pair of black shoes made their way past the bush. Ayako knew who it was but bit her lip. Hoji was Takeshi's second in command and the one who usually handed the grunt work, though you wouldn't guess it from looking at him. He was a thin and wiry man with thin black hair. His dark sunken eyes were always shifting and full of menace.

Subconsciously, Ayako leaned towards Lee, who took a short nervous breath. She closed her eyes and bit her lip to keep from making any sound. Naruto picked up on her nervous energy and tensed, trying to keep from jumping out of their cover and attacking the person responsible for causing this. He settled on clenching his hands into tight fists.

After another moment, the footsteps disappeared further into the forest. They waited another short moment before letting out a collective sigh of relief.

"Who was that." Naruto spoke first, keeping his voice low.

Haru and Ayako exchanged glances before he spoke.

"Hoji.. Takeshi's first in command." Haru's pale eyes fell to his fidgeting hands. "He doesn't look it, but he's very strong."

"Not to mention heartless." The redheaded princess stood and gazed in the direction the shadow ninja had walked. "Let's get moving before he comes this way. We're almost to the villageand I'm going to have to sneak all of you in after the sun goes down."

One by one the Leaf ninja stood and nodded.

"Let's get moving. We don't have any time to waste."

Takeshi stood in his office, his dark eyes overseeing the small village from the window behind the desk. He looked down his nose at the now poor villagers and had no pity for those who still believed in their fallen Princess. She had been gone a while now, a few days easily. She had left while he was gone. He was a smart man and nothing much escaped his perceptive eyes. If she had gone to hire ninja to help her, which was most likely, then let them come. He had sent his men out to scour the village and surrounding forests to track them down, but not to catch them. No, that wasn't his game. He would let Ayako feel as though she was in control for a time and then then he would destroy her.

With a soft knock, Hoji strolled into the office. "You were right my lord. Three Leaf ninja accompany the Princess. By my observations though they don't pose much of a threat. I could have easily defeated them myself, if you hadn't ordered otherwise."

"As I assumed." The evil lord sighed. "The Princess will have to suffer the consequences of her actions."

Hoji chucked and leaned up against the wall on the far side of the room. "How exactly do plan on causing this suffering my lord."

Takeshi turned his dark gaze on the wiry man. "By taking away all she holds dear. I'll kill Haru, easy as that."

"The boy?"

Takeshi turned back to the window. "Her last remaining family. She will crumble without him. And with him out of the picture, the Leaf ninja should be easy enough to take care of. The villagers will lose all their remaining hope in her when she is defeated. Hers will be a fate worse than death and she will suffer alone until she finally gives up."

Hoji nodded with an evil smirk on his thin lips. "That is cruel my lord. Who will have the pleasure of killing the boy?"

"In due time. But until then none of you are to lay a finger on the princess or her new friends."

"Understood my lord." With that Hoji bowed and left the office.

Takeshi sighed again. "When will you learn Princess that you are not in charge of your own destiny."