It seems I didn't need a week to write the next chapter.

Maybe these will be coming sooner than on a weekly basis.

Writer's Note: "Bushy-brows" has been replaced with "Geji Mayu" because that's what I hear when Naruto talks to Rock Lee.

CHAPTER RATING: T

Episode 4: Song of the Siren

The sun's light was cast on the village of Konoha, every street and building was bathed in a bright yellow glow, as if the horizon was a burning bonfire. Four shadows were stretching across the great gate of Konoha as they began to move forward.

"Here is how we'll set up our formation." Neji stated to Rock Lee, Sakura and Naruto. "I'll be first, since I can scout the woods with my Byakugan. Lee will be second, watching the right flank. Naruto will be third, watching the left flank and Sakura, you'll be fourth; since you're our medical ninja, it's our main priority to keep you safe. Are you all ready?"

They all nodded and simultaneously, started to walk out of Konoha into the forest. The early light's illumination could barely penetrate the thick canopy of the forest. There were patches of orange light that escaped through the gaps of the leaves, but there was a darkness in the forest that only seemed present during the night.

"Look, Sakura-chan, it's just like the fireflies." Naruto stated with a smile. She smiled with a light blush in her cheeks as she recalled the conversation that they had last night. "It'll light our way back home."

Hours passed as they walked through the forest, and before they realized it, the patches of orange were clear reflections of white, with the sun was high in the sky as they continued to walk.

"Hey, Neji, can we take a break?" Naruto desperately asked. "We're dying here; we've been walking for hours and haven't seen anything!" Neji noted the truth in Naruto's words. He scanned the surrounding forest for any other signs of life before adding.

"It looks clear; we can rest up here in a while. There's a river up ahead where we can rehydrate and regroup."

"But I can still go! I'm not done yet! I still have the power of youth!" Rock Lee shouted

"Lee-san, We're all tired and hungry. We can take a break, can't we?" Sakura asked him.

"Y-Yes! Sakura-san!" He replied. Naruto's eyes shifted to her as a grin stretched across his lips.

"You can ask him for anything, can't you?" Naruto said silently.

"I could do the same for you too, couldn't I?" Sakura asked him.

An even brighter grin stretched across his lips.

"Anything…Anytime…Anywhere."

"I can hear the river up ahead, we're almost there." Neji declared. "We'll wait here for a bit before proceeding forward."

The team set up a small campsite next to the river. Neji tried his best to start a fire, but nothing he had tried produced a single ember. He motioned to Lee.

"Lee, come here, I need your help." Neji said

"Yes, sir! I'm on my way!" Lee replied

"Can you start a fire?"

"I can try, sir!"

"Do your best…When I say that, I mean give 100 percent."

"I always give 200 percent, sir!"

"Yeah, I know, just get to it…please."

Moments passed as Lee stood there, stick in hand

"Neji…how am I supposed to start a fire?" Lee asked, confused. Neji let out a long and tired sigh.

"Friction, Lee, use friction. We don't have any matches or anything so we need to do it the old fashioned way. Just push down and constantly spin this stick against this flat piece of wood until an ember starts, as soon as it picks up, I'll grab the tinder bundle."

"Yes, sir!"

Lee grabbed the stick and placed it between his palms.

"Alright! Here we go!" With insane speed, Lee began to spin the stick. A thin stream of smoke started to rise with the wind from the base of the wooden slab, without any other warning, the small amount of black coals began to glow red.

"There we go, Lee! Stop!" Neji shouted. Lee slowly brought the stick up in his hands as Neji gently placed the tinder bundle onto the wooden slab and watched as a flame started to engulf it.

"Alright, Lee, now we need fire~" Neji was cut off and Lee dashed out of sight and came back with a bundle of loose wood and branches. "~wood…"

"Yes, sir! It's all here!" Lee shouted. Neji's eyes eased as he slowly began adding branches to the fire. "Now that we have a fire…Where are Naruto and Sakura?"

"I believe Sakura-san is gathering herbs in the forest, Naruto is accompanying her."

"Ah, I see. Well then, why don't you find us something to eat?"

"What should I get?"

"Seeing as we're by a river, there should be a lake, not too far from here, how do you feel about fish?"

"I'm on it, Neji."

"Lee…don't overdo it. Alright?"

"It's Alright! Don't worry, Neji!" Rock Lee replied as he struck his "nice guy" pose.

I hope he doesn't bring the entire lake to us. Neji thought.

…

"So…What do you think about this mission?" Naruto asked Sakura as they walked through the thick vegetation of the forest.

"We'll need to stay alert; we don't have much information on anything, basically, we're in the dark." Sakura replied as she bent down to pick a flower with golden petals.

"We're in the dark?" Naruto asked as he smirked. Sakura stared at him for a minute and then smiled as well. His puns were able to keep the mood light.

"Well…" Sakura said in a somber tone. "If you're asking if I'm scared, I won't lie. It's always scary when you don't know what lies ahead of you."

"Yeah, I know how that feels." Naruto replied. "But together, we can do this. I know we can."

"I'm sure we'll make it." Sakura added.

"Why are you gathering those flowers?" Naruto asked.

"You'll find out eventually, it'll help with this mission." Sakura replied. By this time, they had moved out of the thick vegetation and approached the shore.

"Wow. Look at that view." Naruto noted. Before them was a massive lake, the sun began to set, and where they stood they could distinguish beautiful hues of blue mixed with orange that moved with the ripples of the water.

"It seems so…peaceful, so quiet." Sakura added.

Suddenly, something seemed to soar out of the water and into the air. It looked human, but it looked as if there was a bag lagging behind the figure. A BIG bag lagged behind this silhouette. Then they saw it land and walk on the water. The black silhouette walked towards them.

"Get ready." Naruto said and he changed his stance to a ready position. They became tense as the figure moved closer.

"Yo! Naruto-kun! Sakura-san!" Rock Lee enthusiastically shouted as he tossed the bag onto land.

"Geji mayu!" Naruto screamed "You had me worried there."

"Lee-san! What are you doing?" Sakura asked

"Fishing, Neji started a fire back at the camp." Lee pointed south; they noticed a cloud of white smoke rising from the forest. "Neji sent me to find us something to eat! What do you think?" Lee said as he pointed to the burlap sack he just threw onto the shore.

Naruto and Sakura stared at the bag as it constantly convulsed and multiple freshwater Walleye squirmed out of the bag.

"Lee-san, don't you think you over did it? Why don't you throw a few of them back?" Sakura asked

"You think so? Was it too much?"

"Yes, I'm sure four will do fine." Lee moved the bag back into the tide, and returned all but four fish into the lake. All three of them crossed the lake and headed back towards camp.

"Oh, everyone's back?" Neji asked as he saw the trio approach. "Now, I did say that we'd rest here 'for a while' but it seems that night is falling, so we might as well rest here tonight."

In response, the trio nodded. All members of the team then went on doing their own miscellaneous activities; Rock Lee was busy with his physical training, Naruto feasted on his fish, Neji rested his eyes and Sakura used a mortar and pestle to grind the flowers she had collected earlier into a paste, added water and inserted them into syringes. As time passed the members of the team began to tire, eyelids became heavy and yawns were heard all around.

"Naruto, are you going to sleep yet?" Sakura sleepily asked him. Naruto's eyes were wide open, the blue hue in his eyes glaring into the scarlet flames that danced in the night. His concentration was broken by the sound of her voice.

"No, not yet, I'll keep the fire going while you guys rest, it'll be fine." He answered as he turned to face her. Sakura nodded in reassurance and turned in her sleeping bag. Naruto turned his eyes back towards the fire, staring deeply into the dancing flames, and occasionally threw in another piece of firewood to keep it from dying.

He took deep breaths and tilted his head towards the sky; it was almost like he was in another state of mind as he listened to the crackling of the embers and chirping of the crickets. Then, all of a sudden, he felt compelled to stand. Something was calling to him.

Naruto slowly stood, and turned towards the lake; he moved with slow and heavy footsteps; his head hung low, the focus in his eyes was weakening.

What's happening to me?

Why am I moving?

Who is calling to me?

With his heavy footsteps, he was soon at the edge of the lake.

And he was still advancing into the lake. He felt the cold waters engulf his feet and slowly move up his legs until they settled at his waist. He shut his eyes for a second, and before him stood one of the most beautiful women he felt he had ever seen.

She was tall, with a slender body, her long hair was as white as the full moon, her eyes a deep sapphire. She brought her hands to his face and brought him closer.

What's going on?

What is she doing?

Why can't I move?

His body did not respond to his movements, but he felt everything, saw everything, and heard everything that was happening around him. He felt warmth around his face as she grasped him. Slowly, she brought her lips to his.

His eyes closed, and for what seemed like the longest time, they didn't open.