A/N: Okay so here's the next chapter. I had a minor case of writers block but now it's all taken care of. If it sucks I'm sorry, I'm trying my best!
Disclaimer: blah blah blah
Chapter: 32
It had only been an hour since they started the exams and already the fatigue was starting to settle in. Naruto and Hinata being the only exception of course were slightly ahead of the group and still capable of doing the constant speed they were at now.
"Naruto, you're going to fast!" Sakura growled.
"Yeah guys," Natsu said, also slightly tired. "We have to make it in two and a half days, we don't have to be first!"
Hinata slowed up and bit but Naruto kept on running, even after the numerous threats from Sakura.
"Hey Naruto," Sakura said seductively, coming up with a new plan. "If you slow down I'll go on a date with you."
In yet still Naruto ignored her. Sakura was furious, she sped up and punched Naruto in the back of the head finally making the blonde stop. The group caught up to the other two teens just as Sakura landed another punch to Naruto's gut. Both teens continued their small battle, Sakura coming out on top.
"I said we could slow down." Natsu sighed. "Not stop."
But their Jounin instructor's words did not reach them. So the two continued to argue and argue, Hinata couldn't stand watching them anymore.
"Will you both quit!" she cried, quickly covering her mouth after her random outburst.
Everyone stood in a stunned silence, staring at the indigo haired girl whose face reddened as each second passed by.
"G-gomen," Hinata said.
"No Hinata-chan," Naruto said. "Your right, we have to cover our lost ground."
The Hyuuga nodded and smiled appreciatively; glad her bad mood was disguised as concern for her ninja career. Honestly she couldn't care less about the exams she was still upset about being stood up. They were soon on there way again, and Hinata's thoughts went somewhere else.
---page break---
"Are you comfortable Kazekage-sama?"
Gaara swore that if he heard those words one more time he was going to kill someone.
"Is there anything I can get you?"
Another set of words that made the red head go crazy. Gaara had never particularly liked being Kazekage but he had learned how to deal with it. However this was just too much. Not only was he going to be stuck in a carriage for two and a half days with his siblings he would also be with the Raikage and a billion of his pesky female servants that didn't want to leave him alone. The worst part being, however, was the fact that he couldn't understand why Hinata had grown so distant from him in a matter of hours.
He peeked from underneath his hat and caught a glimpse at Temari. She sat, looking out the window with a dreamy look on her face and she would sigh every few minutes. Kankurou who was sitting next to him said it was because she was in love with Shikamaru. Gaara refused to hear anything else after that. But now as he sat across from his sister the only solution to the female brain, he found himself to try and come up with a way so that her attention and focus would be on him and his problem. His brother beat him to it.
"Hey Temari," Kankurou said catching the blondes attention. "Keep your love sickness to yourself I think we're catching it!"
The blonde looked ready to retort but stopped as Kankurou's words were slowed down, unslured and completely understandable. A grin spread over her lips and Gaara recognized the glint in her cold steely eyes.
"So who do YOU love?" Temari asked, out in the open.
The three siblings glanced at each other before Gaara turned and decided to ignore the questions. Because of this reaction his siblings took the chance to attack him. Temari squeezed between Kankurou and Gaara before draping herself on her younger brother While Kankurou also pressed against him. The three siblings erupted into loud chatter, they heard a loud clear of the throat and they all looked in the general direction of the Raikage. They were silenced for a few moments before erupting into even louder talking that soon turned into to shouts and screams from Temari and Kankurou.
"OUT!" The Raikage cried, making the carriage halt.
The sand siblings stared at him dumbfounded for a few moments.
"OUT!" the Raikage shouted. "Get out now and walk your sorry butts to water country!"
Temari and Kankurou still stared shocked at the older man, while Gaara welcomed it as sweet relief and opened the door. The Raikage glared at the other two siblings and they both scrambled out. When the door slammed shut, Kankurou and Temari turned to apologize to their brother but found him packing up his kage clothes.
"Let's move." Gaara said simply before taking the lead.
His siblings shrugged and followed him close behind.
---page break---
"Ow ow ow! " Hinata said softly as Natsu and Sakura pulled at her long indigo locks as they continued to walk.
"Now isn't that pretty!" Sakura insisted, showing off the half of Hinata's head she did.
Natsu stared at it a few minutes before gasping and giving Hinata's hair another good yank, making the quiet girl yelp.
"Sakura-chan I have an idea!" Natsu cried ripping the Hyuuga's hair out. "Go get Shika-kuns hair tie!"
The pinkette nodded and ran up to the unsuspecting Nara before yanking his the rubber band for his head. He groped the back of his head before growling in frustration in yet he did nothing to retrieve it. When Sakura retuned Natsu held Hinata still as she fastened her hair.
"You guys should stop screwing around!" Naruto cried, waiting for them to catch up.
"Coming!" Hinata called, running ahead of the other two females.
Hinata's dark hair was now put in a braided bun on top of her head, something she was obviously not used to as she kept tilting her head back hoping it would come undone. Shikamaru did a double take when he noticed his hair tie held the ensemble together. He shrugged and continued to walk everyone following shortly after. In another ten minutes they were walking through wind country.
"It has taken us approximately 3 hours to get through fire country." Shino said. "Half of that was sprinted, so if we continue at this pace, including the unfamiliar territory, it should take us around 5 hours maybe 6."
"Well there is someone who is familiar with this territory," Sakura said, her eyes shifting to the side and landing on Hinata.
"Oh yeah!" Naruto cried. "Ok Hinata-chan lead the way!"
The Hyuuga nodded and began to walk. An hour slowly ticked by and everything was going well. Hinata glanced up and stopped immediately as she felt the wind begin to speed up. On the horizon the dirt was blowing and Hinata knew what it meant.
"We need to stop," Hinata said.
"What?" Naruto asked.
"We need to stop somewhere, where we can have shelter." Hinata continued, falling to her knees and feeling through the silver sand until she found a small out cropping of rock.
"Why Hinata-chan?" Natsu asked.
"There's a sandstorm coming." Hinata said. "We need to take cover."
Everyone looked towards the horizon and saw the wind bringing up small clumps of sand.
"Hinata-chan, there's not going to be a sandstorm." Natsu said.
"Yes there is," Hinata insisted, lying her pack underneath the rocks.
"No there's not enough sand to create a sandstorm, we should keep going." Natsu insisted.
"Natsu-san, I know this area just as well as any sand ninja. There will be a sandstorm." Hinata said.
"Whatever!" Natsu sighed. "Whose up for traveling with me through the imaginary sandstorm?"
Everyone glanced between Natsu and Hinata both standing strong with their resolve. Naruto was the first of course to make his decision.
"Gomen Hinata-chan but I'll have to go with Natsu on this one." Naruto said mournfully.
Hinata's eyes were drawn to the sand and she began digging her feet in and out of it, a sure sign of nervousness.
"Then I'm sorry to," Shikamaru said, making Hinata bite her lip. "Demo, I'm going to stay with the person who has had some experience on these grounds."
Hinata smiled at Shikamaru who nodded his head, Shino walked behind her, making his choice obvious even without words.
"Me too," Sakura said, making her final decision.
"Ugh!" Natsu groaned. "Fine, whatever, we'll see you guys tomorrow in rock country, if any of you come to senses there is always room for more. Come on Naruto."
With that Natsu disappeared over the sand followed by Naruto. Hinata was staring worriedly after them.
"Demo, I know I'm right about this." Hinata said.
---page break---
Naruto and Natsu walked leisurely through the desert in silence. The wind whipped around them but still no sign of a sandstorm. The blue-eyed boy glanced at the older girl as sand whipped against his face and neck.
"Are you sure we're going to be okay?" Naruto asked Natsu, glancing behind them in the general direction of the others.
"What?" Natsu asked. "Having second thoughts?"
"Actually yes!" he said rubbing sand from his face.
"Oh don't be a baby!" Natsu cried. "A little sand never hurt anyone!"
Naruto stopped in his tracks and gaped at the sky behind Natsu. The Jounin turned and also gasped as the sandstorm began to take shape.
"Move." Natsu said to Naruto backing up.
When the blonde didn't move Natsu became aggravated and grabbed Naruto, shielding him with her own body as the sand storm hit them. Both Shinobi were swept off their feet and into the air.
"Hold on!" Natsu said, gripping Naruto's hands tightly.
They were thrown out of the storm and onto the ground, 100 yards away from where the sand storm now raged. Naruto laid on his back in the warm sand Natsu not to far away.
"Are you okay?" Natsu asked Naruto.
"Yeah, I'm fine." Naruto said sitting up. "How about you?"
"I'm ok to," Natsu said, in a cheerful voice.
"Ok." Naruto said standing and searching the dark landscape for Natsu.
The Jounin glanced up and saw Naruto a few yards away. She bit her lip and felt her leg until she found the kunai, wedged deeply into her nerve.
---page break---
All was silent at Hinata, Sakura, Shino, and Shikamaru's makeshift camp. Everyone had decided to get some rest considering they couldn't move until morning. Soft snores filled the still night air the only noise other then that was the wind kicking up. Hinata stood from the spot she had made and prepared to go out and find Naruto and Natsu.
"Hinata-san?" Sakura said wearily.
"Hai?" Hinata whispered.
"Where are you going?" Sakura hissed.
"I have to go find Natsu-san and Naruto." Hinata said.
"Ok, be careful and take my medical bag," Sakura replied.
"Arigotou." Hinata said, smiling before taking the bag and sprinting away into the desert.
She found the sandstorm before actually finding Natsu and Naruto. It was the screams that signified she was close. As Natsu tried to hobble away she ran into Hinata before falling to the ground again shoving the kunai deeper into her flesh.
"Naruto, we're over here!" Hinata cried over the rushing sound of sand.
The blonde boy made it to them, hugging Hinata tightly to show his gratitude.
"What are we going to do?" Natsu asked from her spot on the ground.
"We can't out run it!" Hinata cried as the storm loomed over them.
"Brace yourselves!" Naruto called trying to protect the two girls.
In yet when the storm hit there was nothing that hit them, Naruto and Natsu looked up to see Hinata holding up a sand shield to protect them from the storm.
A/N: Sorry it took so long, family problems and stalkers. The next chapter will be up by Tuesday.e peeked out from underneath his hat and caught sight of Temari sitting He ha