Chapter Two: Sting like a Bee

Killer B

A long, empty dirt path lined with ancient trees stretched in front of the Jinchūriki of the Hachibi, his long red scarf draped over his shoulder and his white Kumogakure hitai-ate tied around his forehead. His blonde, slightly grey hair was slicked back and he still wore his greenish-blue goggles, while his khaki leather vest clung to his muscled frame.

The blonde-haired man was staring down at his rhyming journal, tapping a red pencil against his chin as he walked while he attempted to complete his latest rap, which he considered to be one of his best yet. However, finding a word that rhymed with "orange" was proving to be rather difficult...

The reason behind the Jinchūriki writing this rap was simple. Considering Uzumaki Naruto was apparently in a little bit of trouble, the eight-tails container had been asked to pitch in and help reform the guy's seal. The boy had managed to visit B on several occasions, never staying with the man for more than four days before departing from the dark cave he trained in.

The blonde's chakra had always seemed slightly off to B, and the request from the Hokage of Konoha that had arrived to his brother A, a mere two days ago, only confirmed the Jinchūriki's suspicion that something was not right with Naruto. He stuck his tongue past his lips as he walked, writer's block breaking his concentration while he stared at the miles of blank road before him.

He was supposed to be travelling fast; Konoha was expected to be under siege in less than a day according to Tsunade's report, and B was needed to assist the sealing as soon as possible. But it was such a nice day out, and rarely was he able to feel the sun on his skin, considering his training grounds were in a deep mountain valley covered with clouds and fog...

Five solid thumps on the ground in front of B brought him out of his thoughts.

Looking up, the Jinchūriki saw five Zetsus standing in front of him, except these appeared to be different from the standard white, chalky skin, green hair, and yellow eyes of the tree beings. The right half of their bodies were enveloped in a dense black, including their hair, and their right eyes glowed a menacing red. Their left sides were a deep, forest green while their eyes were a bright purple, their hair on that side a light brown.

All five had spikes that seemed to grow out of the outside of their forearms, seeming to act as miniature scythes while their calves had more spikes growing out of them. As B stared at them, the one off to the very right grinned and revealed a glistening set of white, sharpened teeth, the points meshing together inside of its mouth and reminding him of a piranha.

Snorting, B snapped his book shut with his left hand and shoved his pencil into his pocket. Doing the same with his red journal, he then returned his gaze to the unusual Zetsu in front of him and crossed his arms. "Yo," he greeted and smiled while keeping track of the five creatures as they shuffled towards him. The one in the middle seemed to smile, the corners of its lips curving upward as it stalked forward.

"Are you...the Hachibi Jinchūriki," it hissed while B's grin turned into a frown. "Maybe...or maybe not," the man said. "We'll...just have to tesssst you," a Zetsu to B's right muttered lowly, drawing out the "s'" like a snake. B shrugged. "Go ahead, take a shot," he replied and mentally complimented himself on his rhyme. He had stopped talking in riddles a year ago, but sometimes the habit broke and he rhymed a sentence or two...

"I'm sure that you'll miss."

One Zetsu charged forward from B's left side, swinging around in a wide arc on the path and trying to blindside the Jinchūriki. B put his book back into his pants pocket calmly before drawing one of his many katanas from his back, spinning and placing his palm on the pummel of the sword. Then he ducked as the Zetsu leapt at him, twisting in mid-air and shoving his blade into the creature's stomach, then releasing a burst of chakra that fried the creature's mind and left it skewed and lifeless on the katana like a kabob.

Standing up, B brushed some dirt from the front of his vest while holding up his prize. "Anyone else?" He asked. The Zetsu that had been standing in the middle suddenly smiled and leaned forward. "Are you sssso ssssure you have defeated him?" The creature hissed and pointed to the Zetsu on B's katana. "You doubtin' me?" He asked in reply, arching an eyebrow upward and leaning back onto his right leg. "He's dead, as you can see."

The Zetsus started to laugh. B was about to comment on their mirth when he noticed movement on his katana. Flicking his gaze to his blade, he saw purple and red eyes staring back at him and a pitch black foot kicking at his face. Before the supposedly dead Zetsu had a chance to strike the man, B quickly flicked his wrist up and launched the thing from his katana, just as the other Zetsus began to charge him.

Blocking a punch to his abdomen, the Jinchūriki skidded back in the dirt and dug his heels into the ground while he drew on the Hachibi's chakra, forming two tentacles over his arms. Sighing, he then wrapped one tentacle around a Zetsu charging at him and flung it into another that was trying to flank him. "Guess ya'll haven't heard my motto yet!" The Jinchūriki called as he and the Hachibi began to merge.

"Float like a butterfly...and sting like a Bee!"

Shikamaru

"It's been four days. Where are they?"

Shikamaru didn't respond while Ino approached his back, their shadows stretching far in front of their figures, outside of the Konoha Gates that they were stood in front of. "Most likely either still tracking Naruto or bringing him back," the ANBU finally said, answering Ino's question. Then his brown eyes flicked to his former teammate's figure. The blonde had her hair tied up in a high ponytail, her bangs falling over her right eye, just as she had been wearing it since their Academy days.

A purple, skin-tight and sleeveless tank top covered her torso, three white lines running from the left side of her shirt to her navel. She was also wearing a long, Chinese-style skirt that was slitted on the sides. Her left arm was covered in small metal bracelets with blue and white beads set into their frames.

"I hope they're okay," Ino said softly, crossing her arms while the duo stared out onto the open dirt road that led out of the village."Akamaru and Kya are the best tracker animals we have ever seen," Shikamaru replied. "Sasuke's the best genjutsu user we have. They're going to be fine." Ino snorted. "I like how you didn't mention Neji, Kiba, or Shino," she said. Shikamaru shrugged. "They all have their talents," he said.

"I probably could have just sent Sasuke on this mission. He would've tracked down Naruto just fine...but he needs the company, whether he wants it or not..." Ino seemed to spare a glance at him. "Are those two really in love with each other?" The blonde questioned while Shikamaru shifted his stance. He scratched behind his ear for a few seconds, then put both of his arms behind his back. "I guess," he muttered finally.

"Those two have been in love for years. It's too troublesome for me to pay attention to."

Ino seemed to sigh. "I...suppose you're right," she replied softly. Shikamaru continued to stare out onto the road in front of them, then sighed. "What is it?" Ino asked. Shikamaru shook his head. "B was supposed to be here two days ago," he murmured. "The Zetsu invasion has alredy begun, and he was meant to help restore the seal as soon as Sasuke and the rest returned with Naruto."

"You don't think he's injured, do you?" The blonde questioned, worry seeping into her tone. Shikamaru shook his head once. "From what I've gathered, the guy is very...unyielding," he murmured. "Even if he had been ambushed, I don't think he wouldn't have escaped somehow, or dispatched his attackers. He's probably-" "Shhh," Ino interrupted suddenly, reaching with her left arm to grip Shikamaru's right and pointing forward, out of the gates and out of Konoha, peering forward towards the road.

A figure was approaching quickly from the distance.

Shikamaru stiffened instantly while extending his shadow ever so slightly. With the rest of the world on the brink of war once more, as well as the threat of the Kyuubi...he wasn't about to relax until he knew who was making their way towards the Village Hidden in the Leaves. "Shikamaru," Ino said, seemingly noticing him offensive stance. Shaking his head slightly, Shikamaru kept his eyes on the person. "Be ready in case this guy isn't...friendly," he muttered in reply.

A quick burst of red enveloped the figure as it approached.

Neji

A campfire burned merrily inside a circle of rocks and pebbles as Neji examined the paper maps strewn on the grass in front of him. Crickets chirped as a stream nearby bubbled, a a cool breeze brushing the brunette's ponytail across his back. There were three maps in front of him; the one directly across from him was one of the entire Fire Country, with two red circles on the western edge of the parchment, a small line connecting the duo.

The map on the left was more of a diagram that he and Hinata had drawn up of Naruto's chakra system, in order to maintain the balance of Sasuke's chakra, along with Hinata's in Naruto's body, they had to keep track of which veins were closed, which ones had which chakra inside of them, and so on. The last map on the right was of Konoha's city structure. Tapping his finger against his chin absentmindedly, Neji placed his left palm on top of the final map and traced his index finger lightly over the black ink that made up the outer walls while staring at the center of the village, where the Hokage Tower was marked with a small square and a star inside of it.

"Need any help?"

The Hyuuga's pale eyes glanced up from the parchment to see Kiba striding towards him, hitai-ate gone from his forehead and his arms crossed over his chest. Shrugging, the brunette returned his eyes to the maps as Kiba sat down across from him with his back to the fire. "I don't see what I would need help with," Neji murmured as he brought the diagram of Naruto's chakra system to the center of the ground before him, "I am merely studying..."

Kiba snorted. "You've been 'studying' for the past hour and a half," the dog-nin replied and reached forward, his hand entering Neji's line of sight for a brief moment before retracting again with Naruto's system in grasp. "Besides, I think Hinata's got Naruto under control anyway," he said. "You don't need to be looking at this anymore." Neji glared at the brunette. "Give that back," he said coolly, keeping his eyebrow from twitching as it normally did when he became agitated.

"Get some rest man," Kiba said with a shake of his head. Neji rolled his eyes. "You came over here asking if I needed help, and now you're taking the material I 'need help' with," he retorted. "Yeah, when I asked if you need help, I meant that. Get some rest, I'll take over this." Neji closed his eyes and rubbed at his forehead as a headache became apparent. "You don't even know what I'm doing," he muttered back. "Staring at some papers?" Kiba asked and laughed as Neji reached across the space dividing them to smack him across the head.

"Hey, keep it down."

Both Neji and Kiba looked to the side and saw Sasuke leaning over Naruto's unconscious form, onyx eyes narrowed in a glare as Hinata watched the Uchiha worriedly from above the blonde's head. Dark rings ran under the raven's eyes, a sign that he hadn't slept in the past two days, and his normally "unstyled" hair was in disarray due to the many times he had run his fingers through it in exasperation and worry.

"...If anyone needs sleep, he does," Neji whispered to Kiba as Sasuke returned his attention to Naruto. "Yeah, but I don't want him chopping off my arm," Kiba replied quietly while they watched Hinata extend her palms over Naruto's chest, light green chakra enveloping her fingers while Sasuke stared at the Jinchūriki's face with a blank stare.

Neji's eyes slowly analyzed his cousin's form, and he found her condition was nearly as bad as Sasuke's; her normally sleek and smooth hair was frazzled, in knots billowing down her back while her clothes and parts of her skin were caked with dirt. The brunette could tell from her movements that she too was exhausted, her limbs shaking with every slight move she took and her shoulders sagging.

"When was the last time Hinata-sama took a break?" Neji asked Kiba as the brunette yawned. The Hyuuga looked over to see the dog-nin frowning as he stared at Hinata. "I don't think she has," he whispered. "Why hasn't she asked me to take over watching him," Neji hissed while he stood, intending to make Hinata sleep and have something to drink. "Neji," Kiba said in warning.

The brunette looked down to see Kiba glaring at him, teeth slightly bared. "Hinata...she wants to take care of Naruto," he explained. Neji shook his head. "She is your...girlfriend, is she not?" He retorted. "You are supposed to care for her. What sort of spouse are you if you cannot care for your loved one? Just like Sasuke and Naruto."

Kiba winced, and for a moment Neji didn't understand why until he noticed the dog-nin nod in his direction. Looking over his shoulder, the brunette saw Sasuke staring at him sadly, his right hand clasped around Naruto's while the other was on the blonde's forehead, chakra pouring from the Uchiha'a fingertips and flowing over the Jinchūriki's skin.

Sasuke nodded slightly when he noticed Neji staring at him guiltily. "Yes Neji," the Uchiha murmured softly, "What sort of spouse am I...if I cannot care for my loved one?" His hand tightened slightly around Naruto's as a tense silence filled the campsite. Blinking, Neji spared a glance at his cousin to see her focusing almost too intently on the small scratches covering Naruto's bare chest before returning his attention to Sasuke.

"I didn't mean it like that, Sasuke," Neji said slowly as he faced the raven fully. "Of course you didn't," Sasuke sneered in reply. "After all, you were talking to Kiba, not to me. Why should I be bothered?" Neji sighed. "Sasuke," he began, "What I meant was that unlike Kiba, you are doing everything you can to protect the person you care about."

"Oi!" Kiba exclaimed angrily and leapt to his feet, his hand clasping on Neji's shoulder. Shrugging it off, the brunette stepped forward so that he was right behind Hinata. "Hinata-sama," Neji murmured softly. "Allow me to watch over Naruto for the night. You need your rest."

Hinata didn't acknowledge her clanmate until he gently grasped her arm and pulled her up. She spun sharply and drew her hand back, palm flat to slap Neji across the face until she noticed what she was doing. With a soft gasp, her hand fell to the side and her glare fell into a shocked expression as Neji stared at her. "Get some rest," Neji repeated and softly pushed her in Kiba's direction before kneeling in front of Naruto and activating his Byukugan, watching Naruto's chakra move sluggishly amongst the Kyuubi's, his own, Hinata's, and Sasuke's.

"...Did you mean what you said?"

Neji glanced up at Sasuke. "I'm sorry?" He asked. "Did you mean what you said, earlier...about me," the Uchiha murmured, his eyes still staring at Naruto's face. Breathing deeply, Neji nodded once. "...Yes," he confirmed verbally. "Hn." The brunette smiled softly at Sasuke's trademark phrase before returning his full attention to Naruto's chakra.

"He will be fine, you know," the brunette then said as he stared. "Naruto...he's stronger than all of us think. He will live through this." Sasuke didn't reply, but Neji didn't miss the soft sound of water hitting flesh, nor the small gasp for air that came from the Uchiha's direction.

"...I know," the raven finally murmured as Kiba began to coax Hinata to eat.

I'm soooo so so so so sorry I haven't updated recently! *offers cookie* here's my excuse...marching band started two weeks ago, and I've been soooo busy with that. Plus, school starts in two days (JUNIOR YEAR FRICK YEAH!) so I've been getting ready for that. I apologize for this chapter being so short, I've been working on it on and off for the past two weeks. So, I have some good and bad news...which do you wanna hear first?

Right.

Bad news it is.

So...get used to this kind of random, spaced out updating schedule. This school year is extremely important for me so I have to devote more of my time to my schoolwork and my musical rehearsals than I can for my stories. At some points I may not update for months, but I am promising you right here and now that I will always come back! I don't want to be one of those authors that leaves you hanging in the middle of a story :c

Also, expect the chapters to be shorter too. Not as short as this chapter is, because it is around 2,000+ words, but certainly not the 8,000+ my chapters have been as of late. I value the saying "quality over quantity", however I feel with my stories I need to get the "quantity" out fast in order to keep the fanbase happy.

But! The good news is that I can still write A LOT more. Now, that may confuse you because I just said I don't have a lot of time to update. But the key-word there is update. Now, I can write multiple chapters ahead and have those ready for publishing when I have the chance :) so yeah! Now I can get more out at a...er..."faster" pace, and maybe focus on the quality a bit more.

Please forgive me for not updating anything in a while though, as I said I've been extremely busy lately and I feel really bad for not doing anything on here for a while. Anyways, toodles!