Ten
"How long have we been travelling for? I feel like we've been going forever."
Rock Lee himself, although still buzzing alive with endless energy would have liked to know the answer to Sakura's question as well. He wasn't anywhere near as tired as her nor did he look as bent out of shape as she did, but he was a bit bored.
It had been exciting at first, to go on a trip with Sakura. She was so beautiful and smart! Plus, the lands they were destined to cover were so interesting and unique, but after a while he found himself feeling as though he were reliving the same journey over and over again.
The same thick trees that despite how strong they looked, and how deep their roots were in the ground, seemed as though they would fall any moment. The same gloomy sky, with the ever-still black and grey clouds that continued to present the possibility of pouring rain. It was a little uneasy, the reminder that the weather could change, constantly hanging over their heads. Not only that but the mud on the ground seemed become deeper and deeper. Lee had found himself struggling to pull his legs out of big piles of it several times. It was getting to the point where he and Sakura had both debated several times whether or not to turn back from the woods and go a different route.
But they'd made it so far. It was almost the dawn of a new day, despite the fact the sky told him it was still the middle of the night, Rock Lee knew differently. He knew that as he trudged on, that he and Sakura would be out soon. He could feel it. There was something in the air that hit you, once you entered the woods. It was this certain, indescribable thickness that slowly but surely made you feel as though you were suffocating. Lately Lee had begun to notice his breathing catch up. He knew he was almost out.
"Shouldn't be very far until we're out of these woods Sakura. Say, back there, a couple hours ago, when we found that stuff did you happen to pick anything else up?"
Silence.
"Hey? Sakura did you-"
Silence.
"Sakura?"
That was the final time Lee would call her name. Slowly he turned his back to face trees, mounts of dirty, rocks, puddles and the darkening sky. But he did not see Sakura.
"Lee!"
The second he heard his name being shouted in that signature way that she had, Lee knew that Sakura was in trouble. Knowing that he must save her, he set forwards and broke out into a strong, steady sprint. "SAKURA!" He would find her. He knew he would.