Sorry for the long update. Computer issues mixing with a now busy scheadule! I had to restart the whole chapter, sorry if it's a little uh...less than expected. I hope it's bearable! It really sucks to restart a chapter. N E way! I haven't said it in a while but i assume everyone knows that I don't own Naruto. :( But yep! :)

Shall we?

Living in the Shadows

(Paranoid Part Two)

Shikamaru rubbed the temples of his forehead and sighed. "Well team," he said a slight hint of annoyance lacing his tone "It looks like we're playing a game."

"Mar-ve-lous!" Joker said drawing out each syllable. "I just knew you'd agree!"

"Yea, yea." Ino muttered. "How do we play? We get through the little maze?"

Joker laughed loudly and extended his hands. "Precisely. All you have to do is get through the maze! Of course, I'll be there to stir up a little trouble but I'm sure you can handle it!" he grinned showing a row of startling bright, white teeth that made him look all the more creepier against his dark clown make up. "Ready? Set. GO!"

Shikamaru, Lee, and Ino stood there, staring at Joker. Frowning the clown skipped to the entrance and beckoned them to move forward. "Come on, I said go."

"I'm not going to get sliced up before I even get to the maze. I'm sure there's enough traps in there for one game. Make the spikes stop and we'll go." Shikamaru said calmly.

"This isn't a negotiation." Joker whined.

"Yes it is, and we don't play unless you stop the spikes."

Rolling his eyes Joker made two hand signs, muttered something and gave them thumbs up. "They stopped."

Cautiously Shikamaru stepped forward. When no spikes shot up to pierce through his foot he took another cautious step. Satisfied he motioned for the others to follow. At the start of the maze Shikamaru stopped and looked back at his team. "We go in and keep on alert at all times. Ino," he looked at her, "You're in the middle. Make sure you're watching above us for any traps. Lee, you're in back. I'll lead. We keep a five foot distance from each other. If anything happens we don't want to bring everyone down with us but we want to stay close incase we need help. If something doesn't feel right move, even if you just think you're just being paranoid. Don't take any chances." He looked up at Joker and scowled. "And keep an eye on clown face."

Joker laughed and clapped. "Well, let's not take up anymore time! Let the game begin!"

Carefully he stepped inside the first hall. The walls looked even more bizarre when they were towering over them, the patterns making them dizzy. Shikamaru made a mental reminder to himself to keep track of which direction they were going. The designs could easily throw them off. As soon as Ino and Lee stepped through a wall shot up behind them trapping them in the maze. Ino swallowed feeling claustrophobic. Joker's incessant laughter echoed through out the halls making them all uneasy.

They walked cautiously down the halls trying to ignore the laughing and patterns that seemed to be spinning and bouncing on the walls. Thirty minutes into the maze they came to a fork, one side went to their left and the other continued straight.

"Which one?" Lee asked.

Shikamaru looked down both halls. They looked just about the same to him. "The one straight ahead seems just as good as any other." He reasoned taking a step into the hall. As soon as his foot hit the ground there was a loud click. Freezing Shikamaru waited for a wave of spikes or a rain of acid. When nothing happened he raised an eyebrow. "Something's wrong." He whispered taking another step. He heard another click. He held up a hand as Ino made a move to follow. "Stay." He ordered taking another step. There was another click.

Shikamaru held his breath when he saw four shadows appearing from far on the other side of the hall; they were rushing at them with incredible speed.

"What the hell is that?" Ino asked, squinting her eyes.

As the figures got dangerously closer Shikamaru cursed. He could make out the grotesque form of doglike creatures; saliva flew back from their mouths and blood red eyes locked onto them with a vicious hunger.

"Other hall!" Shikamaru yelled turning around.

Wasting no time Lee spun on his heel and darted down the hall to their left with Ino and Shikamaru right behind him. It only took a minute before Shikamaru could hear the loud growls of the creatures after their prey.

"You're joking!" Ino shouted taking a quick glance back. "They already caught up?!"

"Don't look back!" Shikamaru yelled. "Run!"

They sprinted down the hall as the dogs got closer. It seemed the faster they ran the closer the dogs got. Lee suddenly tripped on a stray block sticking out of no where. In her haste Ino stepped on it and the block was pushed down into the floor.

"DROP!"

Lee fell to his stomach and Shikamaru snatched Ino back as needles hissed out of the walls just high enough to miss Lee. Shikamaru glanced back and saw the beasts only a few yards away covering distance fast.

Before Shikamaru could even get an order out Lee was back on his feet. "Friends, we should continue!" he said jogging in place. Taking his lead they started the sprint again.

"Watch for traps!" Shikamaru warned. Even as he said this he didn't notice a thin string dangling down. His shoulder just barley brushed against it before a larger rumbling started. The animals that had been chasing them whimpered and skidded to a stop before turning around and running the other direction. Glancing back Shikamaru saw the dogs leave.

"FREEZE!" he shouted.

The group instantly halted. "The dogs ran the other way, I suggest we follow." He said breathless.

"What? Follow the little monsters?" Ino said resting on her knees. "I don't know but following a pack of rabids who just tried to eat us doesn't sound too great of a suggestion."

There was a loud rumbling again and the hall's temperature shot up to an almost unbearable heat.

"What's going on?" Lee asked as his body warmed dramatically.

They suddenly heard the annoying laughter from above them.

"Joker."

"It's true, it's me! Now, things are about to get fun!" he said spinning on his toes. He froze and looked directly at Shikamaru, giving him a challenging smirk. "My little handsome team leader." He said smiling mischievously. "This should be tons of fun for you. If you lose there's a heavy price, hopefully the decisions you make are right."

Ino put her hands on her hip and frowned. "Just what kind of tricks are you cooking up?" she hissed.

With out unlocking his gaze with Shikamaru he smirked. "You couldn't even imagine how literal that is." Then he disappeared leaving only a puff of smoke.

"Now what's that suppose to mean?" Ino asked wiping her brow.

Lee backed into her. "Hey-!" she shouted turning to Lee. She also froze. "Uh--"

"What?" Shikamaru snapped angrily. He wasn't sure why but Joker was seriously ticking him off. It was almost as if he was waiting for Shikamaru to get one of his team mates killed, if Hinata and Naruto weren't dead already. Forcing the thought back he turned towards whatever his team was gawking at. Sighing he pulled at his teammates shirts. "It's time we start running again." He said in an eerily calm voice.

On cue all three turned and sprinted down the hall with hell literally at their heels. A large cloud of hot flames were chasing them down, threatening to swallow them in its heat.

Naruto scowled at the man he was facing off. He glanced quickly at Hinata and saw her waiting for her chance to get to Sakura.

"Well," Naruto said spinning a set of shurikin around his fingers, "how about I start things off?" he rushed at Blizzard, flinging the sharp projectiles at him. Blizzard dodged to the left letting the flying knives spin past him. Taking his moment of distraction Naruto launched himself at the blue eyes ninja. Blizzard caught his fist and tried to pull Naruto towards him. Thinking quick Naruto swept sent a kick aimed at his head. Forced to let go of Naruto's wrist Blizzard ducked. Keeping the pressure on Naruto sent another kick, this time low, sweeping the snow into the air with his foot. Jumping back Blizzard cursed.

"So you have some talent." He hissed, his long white hair settling down on his back once again.

Naruto smirked and scoffed. A white puff of smoke formed around his breath reminding him of the cold. Despite his activity his body was still cold and even though he was using Hinata's breathing technique his lungs were still straining to take in the frigid air. "Some?" he said trying not to show anything but arrogance. "I got a lot more to show ya'" This time he took out a kunai and held it in a tight grip. "Here we go." And he launched himself at Blizzard once again.

Hinata waited until Blizzard was fully preoccupied with Naruto. She watched or a while as Naruto kept up a constant steam of attacks, forcing the snow ninja to stay on defense. She still worried though; with every attack she saw Naurto's breath form heavier around him, becoming thick with every physical activity. By now their bodies should have become somewhat use to the cold, but it still felt like they just walked in.

"We have to get out." She whispered forcing her eyes off Naruto and running to Sakura. She kneeled down next to her and carefully picked her up. She held her for a minute checking her vital signs. She frowned. Weak pulse, no shivering, blue lips, unconscious, she might have gone into shock…she ran over all the basic medical procedures she had learned in the academy. Even though she wasn't a medic-nin, all ninja were required to have some medical training. This is bad. She rubbed her hands and arms in an attempt to warm her up before taking off her own coat and wrapping it around Sakura. Straining a little she managed to lift Sakura over her shoulder. Taking a quick look over her shoulder to wish Naruto luck she made her way towards the door they came through.

Naruto saw Hinata leave out of the corner of his eye but was carefully not to look at them directly incase Blizzard noticed and gave chase. He was freezing his ass off and the last thing he wanted was to start chasing anyone himself. Jumping back he dodged another round of ice missiles. He noticed the man trying to back away and quickly moved to close the space. Naruto could tell he wasn't a close contact fighter just by the way he hesitated when he fought. Taking the only advantage he had Naruto refused to give him any space. Naruto went at him again sending a kick sweeping at his head. Blizzard dropped down and slashed at Naruto cutting a line across his shirt and jacket with an ice shard. The shirt split and ripped leaving a large rip and bearing his stomach. Naruto hissed as the cold hit him with unrelenting force. He hadn't realized just how much heat his clothing had been providing him.

Suddenly on the defense Naruto held his hands up to guard himself against a kick that sent him skidding back through the snow, Remembering his plan he quickly ran to close the gap between himself and his opponent but Blizzard had already created distance and was keeping it. Cursing Naruto tried to jump back as a wave of ice needles flew at him. He dodged most of them but two or three sliced into his clothing ripping his sleeve off and ripping another hole in his side.

"What the hell?!" Naruto shouted angrily at the man. "Are you trying to strip me or something?! Freaking' A!" he looked down at his nearly shredded clothing agitated as the cold air blew against his exposed skin.

As if to prove Naruto's point two large shards of ice tore through the rest of the fabric leaving it hanging over Naruto. "DAMN IT!" Naurto scowled at the man.

"You hit the idea." Blizzard said calmly. "You have no shirt or jacket to help you regulate body heat, nothing to help against the cold." He smirked. "You'll succumb to the cold in less than ten minutes."

Naruto growled. "Not before I kick your ass for tearing my cloths." He said throwing off the ripped fabric that was once his jacket. His black shirt was torn but still intact and right now it was all he had to keep him warm; he was going to keep it on as long as it could stay on his shoulders.

Running at him Naruto made a number of hand signs. "Shadow clone jutsu!" Instantly a row of clones were running next to him, all of them looking just as angry as the other. "Let's go!"

The miniature army of Naruto's crashed into Blizzard intent on carrying out his threat.

Sasuke stood waiting. The dark was consuming and was almost tangible. He couldn't hear a thing except the sound of his breathing and slow, steady heartbeat. He could taste revenge on his tongue, the bitter taste lingering with anticipation. He squashed his worry over his teammates so he could concentrate but the intense anger that came with it was buried heavy into his system. He stood there in a relaxed fighting position, waiting for the first attack but every one of his nerves was on the edge keeping him fully awake and aware.

Thinking he heard a light footstep he turned his head towards the sound.

"Wrong way." A low voice said. Quickly flipping back Sasuke avoided the attacking, not sure if it was a kick or punch. He ran to the last spot and swiped his hand through the air in hoped of grabbing something. His hand hit nothing. Suddenly Sasuke sensed something and he reacted. Launching his foot out he almost hit what he though was his brother but it vanished before his foot made contact. Lowering his foot he waited again.

He felt like he was on pins and needles. His sharingun was useless in the dark at the current moment. He was at a disadvantage since he was sure Itachi could see just fine. Thinking, he ran over his options which were very limited. His planning was cut off as two weapons came flying at him from behind. He spun to his felt while simultaneously throwing two kunai in the direction the weapons came from. He heard the weapons hit a wall and clatter onto the floor. Light. He moved slowly towards the sound he had heard. If he couldn't fight in the dark than he'd have to find the light and light switches were on walls. He froze in time to block a kick that sent him skidding backwards and away from the wall.

"Where are you going little brother?" Itachi said from the darkness.

Ignoring him Sasuke took out a handful of shurikin and flung them in different directions, praying that if luck was on his side one would hit his brother in the ass. He listened as the shurikin hit the wall and fell to the ground. Turning to the direction were the noise was closest he walked forward. The hair on the back of his neck tingled, acting on his instinct he ducked and swept a low kick on the ground. Hitting nothing he cursed silently in frustration.

Think Sasuke, he stood completely still racking his brain for a plan more helpful than looking for light. I need to get to light, but he won't let me near the wall. Damn it…

He stood frustrated but still keenly aware of his surroundings. Itachi was playing around and taking cheap shots just to bug him. He'd never liked his brother's sense of humor too much and today it was just making him mad. Forcing himself to calm down he took a deep breath. He considered running for it but shook his head. His brother would have a knife to his neck before he made it to the wall. Suddenly an idea popped into his head. It wouldn't last long but it would give him enough time.

Reaching into his pouch on the side of his leg he pulled out a kunai. Putting it between his teeth he tore a piece of his sleeve off and wrapped it around the point. Aware that his brother was still lurking in the dark he worked quickly, constantly keeping an ear focused on the dark. Pulling a vile out of his pouch he bit the cap off and poured the liquid over the fabric. The chemical was originally a substance used to clean wounds when they couldn't be treated but right now it was the only flammable liquid he had that would burn for a while. Making a quick set of hand signs he exhaled a small amount of fire. It lit momentarily before Sasuke's alert system went off. He spun to the left and the flame flickered out. Trying again he lit the kunai and it sprung to life. The room filled with a dim pool of light around him. He smirked. It wasn't much but it was enough light so he could defend himself until he got to the wall.

Walking carefully but quickly he shielded the flame and began to quickly walk towards the wall knowing the flame wouldn't last long.

"Cute, you've made light."

Sasuke grinded his teeth at the sarcastic sting but kept going. Letting his brother get in his head was the last thing he needed at the moment. He saw the fire flickered which gave him warning that someone was stirring the air nearby him. Freezing he crouched and placed the miniature flame in between his teeth ignoring the heat that licked at his face. He needed both hands. After a while he crept forward again. Taking out another kunai he threw in straight ahead. Two minute later he heard the weapon make contact with the wall.

I'm close.

Suddenly he had a strange feeling. Thinking quickly he bent backwards just as a formation of sharp weapons came flying at him. The flame licked at his face but stayed lit. Righting himself he continued forward moving closer. He was sure he was no farther than an arms length away before he felt a fist dig into his stomach. Gasping, the flame dropped out his mouth and cast a shadow on the wall. Shaking it off Sasuke flipped to the left avoiding another punch. Throwing up his arms he blocked a kick and sent one of his own in the direction of the attack.

He realized he was getting dangerously farther from the safety of the flames light as he dodged another attack. He rolled back into the light and pressed himself against the wall. He grimaced as his gut started to sting.

The damn cheat hit me in my wound. Sasuke thought hissing as he held his now bleeding stomach. He looked down as the light dimmed and realized the makeshift candle was going out. Picking it up he put his other hand against the wall and quickly walked forward. He leaned back as a fist heavily covered in a long sleeve went flying into the wall.

"You're playing dirty brother." Sasuke spat out. "This isn't your style."

He heard a deep laugh echo in the dark. "C'mon, I never did get to have my fun with you last time."

Keep him talking. Sasuke said to himself.

"What? You mean when you left a giant hole in my damn stomach?" he winced as pain tore through him reminding him of the torture he'd endured. History just seemed to keep repeating itself…

Another laugh resonated through the dark. "Let's stop the chatter." Itachi said with a hint of amusement lacing his tone. "You'll make me give away my position and it's rather fun watching you bounce around on your toes."

Sasuke scowled into the darkness hoping his brother could see the dark look that was intended for him. Still not slowing down he ran his hand over the wall looking for a switch before it dawned on him. "Damn." He muttered. The light could easily be a simple bulb with a string dangling from it. Who was to say there was a switch? For all he knew his light was a damn metal string hanging in the center of the room. Or there could be none at all. Sighing he kept walking forward anyway. There wasn't much else he could do.

He stopped as his light threw a long shadow against a wall directly in front of him. And even though it was hiding in the darkness he caught a glimpse of something that looked like a door handle. Eager he walked forward and reached out into the dark. His hand wrapped around a metallic sphere. Twisting it he yanked at it.

"Locked." He heard Itachi say.

Sasuke ignored him. It didn't matter. He had no intention of running anyway. But if there was a door….there was most likely a switch nearby. His kunai candle flickered before it fell dead leaving only the scent of burning fabric. Sasuke was once again cast into the thick dark that seemed to suffocate him.

Reaching out he felt the wall, looking for something, anything. Praying he continued to run his hand over the wall feeling nothing. Stretching out he continued to scan the area of the wall. He felt his fingers brush against something small right before he felt a sharp sensation in his hand. Pulling it away quickly he sucked in his breath. He wasn't sure what it was but something was sticking out of his hand. Yanking it out he reached again but had to pull it back to catch a leg. He twisted it but had to let go before he did any real damage to block a fist. He saw two red eyes staring at him and Sasuke immediately looked away. He sensed another attack and once again caught his brother's leg. Yanking on it he hoped to throw his brother off balance. Holding the leg with one hand he stretched the other out again. He felt a fist smash his face against the wall. Grunting he let go of the foot and slid to floor. Moving closer to the small thing he felt on the wall he came back up. Jerking his head to the right he missed the foot that went crashing into the wall were his head was only a second before.

Forcing him to pull his arm in he pushed his brother's foot back and reached out again. His fingers skimmed the small object. He just needed to get a little closer…stretching out desperately his fingers wrapped around it; he thrust it upward. Nothing happened. Cursing he flipped it down and up again.

"C'mon!" he yelled.

He heard a laugh seconds before a rain of kunai were sent at him. Sliding down he tried to come up with another plan but nothing else seemed reasonable besides getting light. He was now fighting in pitch dark while he literally had his back against the wall.

Hey, Saukua.

Hm? What? What do you want now?

For you to wake up.

I'm tired. And if I wake up it'll be cold. You know I've never been too fond of the cold…

Are you freaking serious? Get up!!

You're awfully bossy.

You're friends are here. Are you really going to let them fight you're battles?

Um…they're better suited than me.

Sasuke's still missing.

They haven't found him?

Nope and I have a bad feeling.

You are a negative kind of person. Are you sure it's not just you?

You mean us. We're one. Now get you're ass up. Sakura, Sakura get up, C'mon, please get up…

"Sakura!? Sakura wake up! Why won't you wake up?!"

Sakura fluttered her eyes at the sound of a soft but worried voice. She felt something shaking her and rubbing on her hands desperately. She was aware of a slight frigid feeling in her body and a numbness that seemed to be fading away. She was defiantly aware of the pounding headache she had. She couldn't ignore it. It was like a hammer banging on her brain.

Slowly she opened her eyes.

"Oh! Thank goodness you're awake!"

Sakura pulled her hand away to place it against her forehead in an attempt to stop the pounding. "Yep, and we need to find Sasuke." She groaned.

Hinata frowned. "Naruto told me—"

"Yea, yea, but we're going to find Sasuke instead…"

Was it too horrid? Fighting scenes aren't my feild but, hey, practice makes nearly perfect. Any tips? Oh yea! Thanks for the reviews! 4 real, I hit my mark, w/ Paranoid Part one and 2 I got over 60!! Cool, huh? Thanks 4 the support again! It helps. But hey, by all means continue to review lol, the more the merrier!! :P