Chapter 8: Claming down, figuring things out and another surprise

We decided to go to sound since that was where Orochimaru was and that's where Ken-maru said he was originally from.

"AMAYA!" Gaara screamed. I was ahead of everyone by a mile almost. My once warm caring heart has turned cold. I wanted revenge. I wanted it so much that I could hear silent adrenaline pumping through my system.

"Amaya, we have to stop! You're going to tire out! I can see you're getting tired!" Temari screamed. I was exhausted but that wasn't going to stop me.

"We all need a break! The way to sound is going to be hard and you're working us to death now! AMAYA!" Jariya yelled. I turned to glare at him. That was when I suddenly saw something out of the corner of my eye. I turned to my left to look and fell out of the trees, flying to the ground. I heard Gaara and Neji yell my name. I didn't have time to react so I fell on my back.

"OW!" I screamed. And then I saw that same thing I saw before I fell. I gave in. "I think it's time for a break"

Everyone dropped around me as I tried to sit up. I had managed to break to my leg but I didn't say anything to anyone. I pulled out a container that held an elixir that had a healing quality. I drank it and I felt the pain of my leg healing rapidly. I tried to not make a sound or a scream of pain, trying to not worry anyone else anymore. Temari stoked a fire. Shikamaru got the firewood. Jariya lounged around. Akamaru and Kiba looked for food. Gaara watched over us all from a tree branch above. Neji was talking with Jariya. I lay back down, feeling no pain in my leg. I looked up at Gaara, who had a look of concern on his usual stone cold face.

"What?" I asked up to him.

"You confuse me to a whole new level, Amaya." He said.

"You've known me for how freaking long?" I asked him, standing up and going to the tree.

"A very long time." He smirked.

"So, you realize now I'm confusing?" I asked, laughing and climbing the tree up to him.

"No, I'm just restating it. But first you're hurt. Then you find a new guy. And now you're on a killing binge. I'm confused." Gaara said, opening his arms from me to climb into them. I did and rested my head on his chest.

"I'm still hurting. But he tried to kidnap me and make me a rouge ninja. According to our law which says I am to bring him back to Suna, put him on trial and make sure he stays in jail. I'm just doing my job." I said.

"You act like this for every Rouge?" Gaara asked, raising a nonexistent eyebrow. I nodded. "I bet your team hates that about you."

"Yup." I said. Suddenly, the shape I saw before I fell appeared again. It was right above us. I whispered, "Gaara."

"Hmmm?" He asked.

"I don't think our group is the only one here." I whispered, pointing up. We watched the shape out of the corner of our eyes. By now, I've realized it was a snake but not ordinary one. I made a clone of myself and used my invisibility jutsu to climb up the tree unnoticed. Gaara notified the rest of the crew. I came to tail of the snake. It was definitely watching Gaara and my clone intently. It was like a smaller version of Mando, Orochimaru's partner snake who hates Orochimaru, but it was like a huge, human-sized Boa Constrictor. My hands had just hovered over its body when it turned and looked at me. It lunged at me. I grabbed its neck as we fell out of the tree. We both fell to the ground, the snake taking most of the impact. I threw it against a tree. I knew who it was.

Everyone was ready to jump on to the snake. Temari was ready with her fan. Shikamaru had his jutsu ready. Sand surrounded Gaara. Neji had his Byakugon activated. I had my long daggers out. Kiba and Akamaru were ready to lunge. Jariya had his summon ready.

A growl escaped my throat. "Orochimaru," I snarled.

The snake retransformed into its actual, human form. Orochimaru stood before us. That was when I felt a high level of chakra behind me. I turned and saw Kabuto. I snarled again when I realized we were surrounded. We all went back-to-back against each other.

"Hello, Amaya. Long time, no see, my pupil." Orochimaru said, chuckling. "Where have you been?"

"Yeah, long time and I would have liked to keep it that way." I snapped. I readied my weapons to offense.

"Too bad, Amaya." Kabuto smirked. I tried slashed through him but he jolted to the right. I growled again.

"Amaya, cool it!" Gaara snapped. I nodded and took in a deep breath.

"Since when do you take orders or remain in control of you emotions, Amaya-chan?" Orochimaru chuckled. I tried to not lash out.

"Why doesn't she just activate her curse mark or did you not get the chance to give her one?" A cocky voice asked. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Uchiha Sasuke, in his curse mark form. Terrific!

"I'm glad he didn't because then I won't turn out like you: Ugly, stupid and powerless of will, puppy dog." I snickered. He turned his cocky expression around.

"Now, now, Amaya. No need for insults." Kabuto said.

"Bite us, Asshole!" Gaara snapped.

"What do you want, Orochimaru?" Temari asked.

"If you want one of us, you go through us all!" Shikamaru yelled.

"I want my student back." Orochimaru said.

Everyone went on high alert then. I got shuffled into the middle of the circle. How many surprises can be thrown at us in one freaking week?!?! Now I REALLY hate surprises!!!!