Revelations Of The Mind

“Good, Welcome home Naruto…welcome home…”

Naruto stood, muscles slowly untangling themselves from the tensions that engulfed them. She felt warm against him, and fortunately for her, for once her command failed.

Naruto’s arms rose then, encompassing Sakura in soft possession. Sakura’s eyes opened only for a moment but closed yet again letting contentment flow over her.

‘It’s about time he didn’t listen to me…’ thought Sakura

Sakura looked up into Naruto’s chin, smiling at the height difference, as she began to understand herself and the feelings she’d been having.

Giggling the pink haired maiden spoke “You know they’ll come looking for us if we stay here all day.”

“I suppose you are correct, though I wouldn’t mind coming back to this later.” Smiled Naruto piercing her with his eyes unwavering.

“Hmmm….well I suppose we could talk about hat later Naruto-Kun…” Sakura said, smiling devilishly

‘Wow….So why don’t you just want to take her again?’ asked Kyuubi

‘I do want to, but I’m not lead by my instincts, I want her to love me first…’ said Naruto

‘No offence but I think we’re their already…’ said Kyuubi

‘Well, maybe but I don’t think so yet.’ Responded Naruto

Sakura pulled away, moving away from his body, feeling the warmth of contact now replaced by the cold of space.

“We should get going…Sakura-Chan…” said Naruto holding her upper arms

“Yes, I know…Kakashi is liable to come here himself if we make him wait any longer…even if he’s always the one making us wait.” Said Sakura indignantly, pouting

Both their eyes met once more, passing emotions neither noticed nor otherwise.

“I’ve never noticed before, your eyes have some red in them.” Giggled Sakura running a hand across his brow.

“Yes, well up until recently they hadn’t been…but before you ask I can’t explain why…besides I only have theories myself.” Naruto responded, frowning slightly at indecision though she didn’t know that was the reason.

‘Liar…’ asked Kyuubi in the back of his head only to be ignored

Sakura frowned up at him, “I find that hard to believe, you know.”

Naruto looked into her eyes, striking through to her heart, “Please let this be my answer for now Sakura-Chan, it is the only one I have at the moment.”

Sakura smiled up at him, hitting him lightly in the chest, “Since when did you become so good with words Naruto-kun.”

“Some where along those five years I suppose.” Said Naruto “You know, I like the way you say my name now…it’s much more fun Sakura-Chan.”

“Fun deserved…Naruto-Kun.” Giggled the girl “Well, we really should get going, I really don’t want to have a run in with Kakashi in this situation.”

“Yes, let’s go, the sooner gone the sooner returned right.” Naruto said giving a final squeeze to Sakura’s arms, with his trade mark smile on his face.

They both moved apart from each other, going through the proper exit and into the streets of Konoha.

*Outside, on the main street of Konoha*

“So...” said Sakura almost skipping, hands behind her back leaning forward smiling at Naruto “You think he means the bell test area?”

Naruto chuckled starring at the girl walking beside him, “Where else? After all, other then the bridge it really is the only place any of us went to together for an extended period of time.”

“Yeah, I guess your right about that…though it’s not like it was my fault, you and Sasuke just could never stop fighting.” Said Sakura

“Well, to be fair that was your fault…at least in the beginning.” Said Naruto looking up at the sky, though still completely aware of his surroundings

“What are you insinuating?” asked Sakura, voice on the edge of the wall

“Well, I had a crush on you…and you had one on him…so he and I didn’t get along right away…” said Naruto, quite aware of the danger of the situation he had gotten himself into.

“Used to huh?” said Sakura, a sly smile coming forth

“…uh…well…ya see….ummm” Naruto stammered rubbing his right shoulder, as if nervous

Sakura chuckled, starring at the now fearful boy, ‘He probably thinks I’m going to punch him through a wall, I might have been liable when we were younger but now I just punch him into one…that wouldn’t hurt him too bad…”

Naruto continued to rub his right shoulder, until it became obvious to Sakura that it wasn’t a simple nervous reaction, there was actually something wrong with it.

“Naruto, out of curiosity, where did you sleep last night?” asked Sakura

Naruto started to sweat, this could not be a good…he wasn’t sure how she would react…but he had a damn good idea of the general direction it would go.

“Umm…on the couch…..” said Naruto laughing nervously

“WHAT!?!?!?” screamed Sakura, a scream so shrill and loud that it was heard all over Konoha, causing a slumbering Tsunade to fall out of her bed after a night of drinking and a wave of stares, not all of them nice, at the couple. “NARUTO, god damit, I have a guest bed you know!!!”

Naruto, who had jumped up onto the branch of near tree to avoid any physical punishment, stumbled back rubbing the back of his neck trying to keep up with Sakura who was steadily creating distance between them, the storm of her emotions giving her legs unheard of speed.

“But Sakura-Chan…” whined Naruto, flinching as Sakura stopped on a dime.

Sakura turned around, a look of pure rage on her face. Walking up to Naruto, fists clenched, causing Naruto to turn a pale white in fear.

“You WILL sleep in the guest bed from now on NARUTO!!!” yelled Sakura, ignoring the glares being directed at them.

“But Sakura-Chan…” whined Naruto again.

“NO ARGUMENTS!!!!” yelled Sakura yet again, stopping all protests from Naruto’s mouth. “Now go over there and sit on the steps, I’m going to get rid of the kink of yours.”

“But Sakura-Chan, it’s really not that bad; you don’t have to…” said Naruto, who thought better of the rest of his words, noticing the constant glare being received from her. “Uh…yes, Sakura-Chan.”

Naruto moved then followed closely by Sakura, to the steps in front of a local department store, sitting gently on the steps, Sakura sitting behind him.

“Naruto, take off your vest would you, I need to have direct contact.” Asked Sakura

“Ok, Sakura-Chan…” said Naruto removing his black vest, folding it and putting it on his knees. “What now?”

“Just relax, it won’t hurt a bit.” Said Sakura, a faint blue light coming out from her raised hand, focusing her chakra to start the healing process. “Now then, it’s going to feel warm but it will feel fine ok, trust me”

Naruto nodded, relaxing his body and putting his ever present faith back into place. He felt it shortly after, a soft warm feeling, a glow of sorts as if she was blowing her breath on his shoulder in the form of a pillow. He could feel the knot beginning to unravel itself, as well as the muscles going back to their original construction. It felt great…better then great…it felt like her, her warmth was healing him and if this was the last thing he were to feel he could surely die happy.

“I’m almost done Naruto, but there is something I need to make clear to you alright.” Sakura said “You are a guest in my home; as such you will be as comfortable as I can make you alright, Naruto-Kun?”

“Yes, Sakura-Chan, whatever you say…” said Naruto leaning back into Sakura’s upright knees enjoying the feelings she was putting into him through her medical caress. “ It’s not like I could dissuade you anyway…”

“Hmmm, finally figured that out eh.” Laughed Sakura-Chan, not noticing the arrival of the stores owner, who had purposefully come out of the door holding a large blunt object.

“You there, DEMON, what do you think you’re doing on near my store…” said the store’s owner glaring at Naruto, seeming to ignore Sakura’s presences entirely

Sakura, startled out of her medical focus, stopped transferring chakra through her hand allowing Naruto’s nerves to receive the pain that was actually being caused by her gentle caress.

“OWWW!!!” yelled Naruto, wrenching his shoulder away out of reflex. “Damn, that hurt.”

“Oh God I’m sorry Naruto-Kun, I just lost focus….”said Sakura giving a pointed glare at the store owner who just smirked back in return

“It’s alright Sakura-Chan it wasn’t your fault…” said Naruto rolling his shoulder “ It feels a lot better, but one of these days your going to have to tell me what you were doing…”

“Sure thing….” Smiled Sakura

“Serves you right you little beast, you should have died when you left, I prayed every night you would, you defile our town with your mere presence.” Said the man sneering down at Naruto, who stared back unflinching

“Now just wait a minute, what right do you have to say these things to Naruto!?” yelled Sakura “All he’s ever done is protect this village, what has he ever done to you?”

“Shut up girl, you don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about so just stay out of it.” Said the man moving to push Sakura out of the way, placing a hand on her shoulder more then roughly, though due to Sakura’s innate strength she felt none of it.

However, none of that mattered to Naruto, something with in him snapped. Moving faster then Sakura’s eyes could follow, Naruto, had removed the mans hand. Turned the hand so the fingers and palm were pointing towards the sky, arm almost pulled out of its socket.

“You can do whatever you like to me.” Said Naruto in a gruff voice “But if you lay a finger on Sakura-Chan again you’ll have me to answer too.”

Naruto’s eyes blazed then, a dangerous aspect to them Sakura had never seen in him, and truth be told she found herself afraid of it, though she held herself back from running the fact that the urge was even their told her something. Naruto had certainly changed.

“God Damn Demon!!!” said the Man struggling to get free from Naruto’s iron grip, only causing Naruto to grip harder. “Oww, damit let go of me you foul little devil…Some one help me!!!”

“YOU BEAST!!!” yelled a member of the steadily forming mob of people attracted to the affair. “LEAVE THAT MAN AND GIRL ALONE, WHAT HAVE THEY DONE TO YOU?!!!”

“Evil Demon, leave those poor people alone!” yelled another of the ever growing mob.

Sakura was shocked out of thought then. These people thought Naruto was a threat to her, and she could see the effect her silence was having on him. He was in pain, though it was not obvious, and she could see it.

“Go on boy, leave them alone, leave this town or we’ll protect them ourselves.” Yelled a woman in the crowd

Naruto, for all his new found maturity hadn’t been near this for along time. It hurt him, his own people once again scorning him, more than he even knew. Sakura said nothing, he wasn’t sure if she agreed, and the fact that he doubted her made him doubt himself.

Naruto turned to leave, fearful of further insults and the possible escalation to physical force, and more importantly of the scorn of a girl he thought he had finally made a connection with, only a few moments ago.

But, even he couldn’t have insight into the girls mind until it was shown to him.

Naruto turned, about to make his way away to any where these people weren’t. But he found warmth on his forearm. Holding, pulling almost forcing him to turn back and find the source of the pull…a pink haired girl, staring longingly, looking at him, silently asking him to stay, and his response, the only response left to him was a nod, and he have it.

“Young lady, what are you doing? Let that beast go where he wills as long as it’s away from us, hopefully he’ll kill himself if he gets the chance.” Scorned an old man accompanied by a woman, who looked down at her feet apparently ashamed, but of which group they didn’t know.

“That is ENOUGH!!!” screamed Sakura, startling the crowd into silence, “ I don’t know what you think he’s done to you…and I personally don’t care, I wouldn’t even treat enemies this badly. You, people, have no right to call him a beast or hope for his death. YOU ARE THE MONSTERS!!! To hope such a thing makes you the BEAST!!!”

“Young Lady, you don’t know anything, so we won’t hold that against you…but he is a Monster!!!” yelled the old man once again, the crowd murmuring in agreement

“I don’t care, if it makes me into what you are then I don’t want to know, he’s my friend you understand” yelled Sakura, pulling Naruto’s arm close to her pulling him into herself, as if to protect him.

“Ah, I see, your in love with that demon aren’t you, he’s stolen your SOUL!!!” yelled the man, causing the crowd to erupt into yells of more hatred and constrict around the couple, the majority glaring hard and Naruto.

“Stop this nonsense!!!” chimed in a finally overwhelmed Naruto, standing and putting on his vest, coming to his and Sakura’s defense. “You will leave us alone.”

Naruto glared at the old man, eyes of blue and red taking him into fear that only he knew.

“You can not scare me…b-be-BEAST!!!” yelled the man

“Seems as though he already has.” Glared Sakura

“Girl, you’ve been taken over by this demon, hurry over here we’ll protect you from harm!!” said someone in the crowd the rest shouting in agreement, beseeching the glaring girl.

This caused the final stir in Naruto, he finally lost it, “I AM MORE LIKELY TO DESTROY THE WORLD THAN I AM TO HURT ON HAIR ON HER HEAD!!!”

Sakura looked up at Naruto, who held her by her shoulders yet still was able to place himself between her and the crowd, and smiled.

*Somewhere near the crowd*

“That’s him right…” said one man

“Yes, our target, we’ll be doing him a favor apparently, after the way these people treat him I think he’d appreciate it.” Said the other man

“And the girl?” asked the first man

“If she leave’s no need to pursue, otherwise we can have some fun.” Said the second man, licking his lips “In the end we’ll have to kill them all eventually after all. Come on, let’s go, we’ll follow them until we get an opening.”

“Yes sir” said the first man

The two men faded back into the shadows of an alleyway.

*Back with the crowd’s point of interest*

“Sakura, we should go, these people will believe whatever they want there is no talking to him, trust me on that.” Said Naruto smiling down at the pink haired girl.

“Running away monster!?!?” yelled someone in the crowd that was steadily squeezing the border closer as mob mentality took over.

“No, I am saving you from making a grievous mistake, after all we are both ninja, and while I usually wouldn’t hurt you, with Sakura here I wouldn’t hesitate.” Said Naruto, mouth steadily curving into a fearsome smirk exposing elongated canines “oh and let’s not forget…I’m a demon correct, so what chance do you have against that…”

The crowd stopped squeezing then, and the old man made their way back into the group of people, apparently grasping the threat for much more then it was. Sakura, though relieved, starred at Naruto once again in slight fear, but it was overshadowed in admiration. She’d never seen him like this before, and wondered what had brought it on; it couldn’t have possibly been her presence.

“Demon..?” questioned Sakura softly hoping to find her answer in his response.

Naruto gulped, nervously looking down at her hoping not to see her barely controlled anger“ only to scare them, after all might as well use it against them for using it on me right?”

Sakura smiled at him and giggled, “You’ve definitely grown up, but you know as much as they deserve this we really should get going.”

“Your right of course…” said Naruto, directing his attention towards the remain crowd which was starting to gain it’s momentum again, smile turning to sneer “You people disperse, after all I wouldn’t wan the ANBU to find you like this, could be confused for trying to start a riot in town and you know how they frown on that.”

With that the two leapt away, Naruto’s hand around Sakura’s waist, onto the rooftops. The two men following them through the shadows, excitement from the previous situation masking them from the Naruto and Sakura’s senses.

Naruto and Sakura followed the highest roof tops running faster then necessary, enjoying the wind running its way through their clothes, and the looks of the people’s faces from the crowd at the mention of the ANBU.

“I was really worried there for a while” Laughed Sakura “Did you see them though, you scarred them terrifically, how did you do that?”

“I’m used to them doing that some what, but honestly that’s the first time I’ve ever retaliated, I guess when they used you against me is when I lost it.” Said Naruto

“So, this has happened before then?” asked Sakura

“Yes, you don’t remember, tit happened all the time at school when parents came to pick up their children, it was why I didn’t have any friends.” Said Naruto

She didn’t remember honestly, she’d been so wrapped up in her crush on Sasuke, that she rarely ever paid attention to the wayward Naruto…even if he deserved it. It caused her a lot of pain to remember her actions from before. She was disgusted with the way she had acted towards the man besides her. Her head dropped her eyes held shut, willing the on rushing tears to go away so he wouldn’t be worried as he always was when she was upset. But that lack of attention proved to be a mistake.

“Sakura-Chan!!!” yelled Naruto jumping in behind her before she could react, three meaty thunks followed by a line of blood flowing over his lips.

“Naruto!” screamed Sakura in worry, turning quickly starring up at the blonde haired man as he fell onto her.

A cackling laugh radiated from behind him, and Sakura let herself look at the attackers yet still could not see their faces.

“You, why did you attack us!?” sobbed Sakura, holding Naruto up still.

One of the masked men made a simple movement of the arm, leading to his hand tapping on the metal plate on his mask.

“THE SOUND!?” gasped Sakura “How did you get past our guards?”

“Well, your guards are less then adequate for ninja of our skills.” Laughed the apparent leader of the two “We’re here to kill him, so you can leave if you want…and we’ll wait to kill you later.”

A smile formed on Sakura’s face, stopping the laughing of the two as their awareness was peeked, suddenly the two jumped away from their spot, five shuriken holding their places for them, broken tiles and all.

“No, I don’t think that’s going to happen…” came a monotone, apathetic voice

“VERY HIP OF YOU KAKASHI, You are truly my rival!!!” came another…well….enthusiastic voice

“Kakashi-Sensei, Gai-Sensei!!!” Yelled Sakura happily, relief shown through her voice, now she could take care of Naruto and leave the fighting to them.

“Sakura, take care of Naruto, your skills are better for that at the moment, we’ll take care of them.” Said Kakashi, moving in between the two men and his former students, followed closely by the green clad Gai.

“Hai!!!” said Sakura, lying Naruto down as gently as she could on his stomach, readying herself for the blood of her friend to be on her hands.

*With Kakashi and Gai*

“Well, shall we then?” asked Kakashi, not moving his hands out of this pockets

“Alright Kakashi, Time to protect the young hearts of Konoha!” Yelled Gai taking his stance

“Pretty cocky for two of Konoha’s Chunnin…your facing jounin here, you really think you can win...” yelled the second man

Kakashi and Gai looked at each other and back at the two sound ninja’s.

“What’s wrong with you two, we’re Jounin…” said Gai

“Then why are you wearing a Chunnin vest exactly…” asked the first man, obviously not believing.

“I haven’t had time to do laundry…” said Kakashi looking at the men sideways “What of it?”

“Bullshit, don’t even try that on us!!” yelled the second man, becoming more agitated.

“Believe what you want…” said Kakashi

“Well, lets’ begin…we’ll see if you are any better then pigs to us.” said the first man

The second man scoffed pointing at Sakura’s back, “They’ll be just as easy as those two.”

A loud laugh sounded then, coming from the mouth of Gai.

“We’re saving you from their wrath, young hearts hurt, will crust the proprietors of that pain.” Laughed Gai, teeth blinding with shine.

“What the hell are you talking about !?!?” yelled the second man, clenching his fists in anger…or confusion.

“He means that you don’t have a chance against us…and no where near a chance against them.” Said Kakashi, head cocked in his humor.

“Pah, those little wimps couldn’t do anything and neither can you two!!!” said the first man

“Believe what you want…we’re still going to kick your ass…” said Kakashi, pulling free a kunai.

“Bout time you shut up…” said the second man pulling free two hand fulls of shuriken, holding them high to his face.

The first man took a battle stance pulling out a kunai as well…

*Back with Sakura*

‘Shit, SHIT!!!’ thought Sakura, removing the final kunai only to find that it had broken a rib and pierced Naruto’s left lung, explaining why he was unconscious.

‘That makes a pierced lung, 5 broken ribs and a fractured collar bone.’ Thought Sakura, surveying the wounds ‘I can’t help him with the lung, and I can’t set the ribs here but I can take care of the collar bone, and stop the bleeding.’

Sakura’s hands began to glow a pale blue. The chakra molding around them to proved the healing force necessary. She was in fact molding much more then was necessary for the task, but as she couldn’t heal the lung she had to give him some extra chakra to sustain him, after all he had gotten hurt saving her.

She placed her hands on Naruto’s left shoulder and neck, pushing and pulling in unison, the move followed by the loud disgusting pop that she had been expecting.

Sakura barely flinched, her focus on saving what she could of him out weighing her feelings of sorrow and grief…yet she could still feel the hot lines of tears streaming down her cheeks in the back of her mind…

*Back with Kakashi and Gai*

“KONOHA WHIRLWIND” yelled Gai, appearing behind the second man instantly with his speed, kicking him three times, and hearing a satisfying snap in the man’s right arm.

“Damit!!” hissed the second man sliding to a stop holding his arm, his shuriken dropped by his hands in the impact.

“KAGE BUSHIN NO JUTSU….” Said Kakashi, forming four copies, each with a kunai in hand, running at the first man in single file.

“Shit…” said the first man readying himself for the hit, meeting on of Kakashi’s clones kunai to kunai, not noticing the movement of the others behind him.

Kakashi’s clones moved with lightning speed around the struggling pair making a four pointed square. The first man noticing his predicament pulled a second kunai out with his free hand and made to slash at Kakashi.

This was what Kakashi had been waiting for, jumping back and not allowing any connection between him and the wild blow put the man off balance. The first man had his upper body unnaturally leaning forwards with no further resistance only to see the four clones under him. But it was to late then…

“UZUMAKI NARUTO COMBO….” Yelled Kakashi’s clones, kicking the chin of the first man together sending him up into the air where the real Kakashi was waiting, kunai in hand.

“VARIENT!!” Kakashi yelled slamming the Kunai into the windpipe of the first man, a red spray appearing from a surprised mouth…followed by a strangled cry.

“Jounin…” came the final gasp of the first man, gurgling blood followed, his eyes dead

“Yuuan!!!” yelled the second man, still holding his arm being faced down by Gai, who looked back at Kakashi smiling.

“That was Naruto’s technique right?” asked Gai

“Yeah…” responded Kakashi staring blankly back

“KAKASHI, you have truly earned your title of Copy ninja!!” yelled Gai giving his trademark thumbs up.

“Oi, Gai…” said Kakashi, pointing at the second man. “Behind you…”

A loud crack sound behind Gai then, followed by a strangled gasp. Gai looked back to see the second man holding his arm, which he had apparently set back into place.

“Damn you two!!!” yelled the second man pulling out a volleyball size object from under his shirt.

The man brought his left arm up, albeit slowly, and held the odd black ball, and slapped a large tag to it.

“You see this tag, it explodes 2 seconds after I let go of it, ready to play a little catch…” said the second man

The second man ran at Gai, ball back in his right hand which was held behind him. The man punched for Gai’s face, only to have his fist blocked by the flat palm of an unmoving Gai, the force of the impact forcing the newly set bone out of place and out through the man’s skin.

The man held back a scream, held in his place by Gai…

“After all you’ve seen you really think that is going to work against us? Why don’t you just give up?” asked Kakashi, moving toward the man and Gai, a smile evident under his mask

“I think it’s going to work, and I’ll be able to complete my mission… Orochimaru will be pleased…” said the man, pulling back his right arm and throwing the black ball into the air.

It registered with Kakashi then, they weren’t here to attack him or Konoha, and they were here for Naruto.

Kakashi turned and made to run towards Sakura and Naruto, but it was too late for him to do anything.

“SAKURA, WATCH OUT!!!” yelled Kakashi, knowing he couldn’t reach them in time and pulling out a kunai to defend himself.

*Back with Sakura and Naruto*

The collar bone had been mended, leaving only the bleeding to be stopped, but this was where the problems began for Sakura. For the whole of five minutes she had been trying to stop the ever present bleeding of her friend, but for some reason the wounds would just not close.

“Dammit” cried Sakura, trying to close Naruto’s wounds but being unable to do so “Why can’t I stop the bleeding!?”

“SAKURA, WATCH OUT!!!”

Sakura was taken out of her thoughts by the yell, Kakashi’s yell. She looked up and back towards the voice to see Kakashi facing her and a round black object coming her way…it had an explosive tag on it.

Her immediate reaction was to take cover but her heart wouldn’t let her. She had to protect Naruto. In one swift movement Sakura reached back for a Kunai to deflect whatever would reign down from the ball…only to find she didn’t have any on her…and the realization came too late.

The ball exploded flinging; makibishi and shuriken down on the four. Sakura, left with no other option threw her body over Naruto, only thinking of her friends’ survival. Thousands of tiny, spinning, multi pointed makibishi rained down on them all. They implanted themselves all around them, spinning and chewing the tiles of the roof, while also tearing through the flesh of Sakura’s lower back, causing a soundless scream of pain to form on her face followed by the emptiness of unconscious eyes.

Kakashi and Gai looked on in horror as their students and friends were bombarded with the weaponry of the ball. Both could do nothing to help them, one blocking the short rain with his kunai the other using the body of the second man, now dead from the rain itself, as a human shield.

Finally the rain had ended Kakashi and Gai rushing to the side of their students and beheld the carnage.

Sakura’s back was riddled with red spots and small torn holes in the fabric of her ninja outfit. Kakashi took his Kunai and made a long cut down the fabric to better survey the damage. It didn’t make the scene any better…

At least 50 black spikes coved Sakura’s back, blood flowing like a fountain from the wound. Only one shuriken had hit her thankfully, though it was in the knuckle of one of her hands covering her neck, obviously splitting her bone.

“Give me a blood pill Gai!” said Kakashi urgently

Gai reached into one of his pouches, pulling free two blood pills handing one to Kakashi and moving around to the other side to look after Naruto, who though seemed unhurt was previously injured.

Kakashi put the blood pill between his teeth and bit down hard releasing the herbs inside, he quickly removed it and placed it under the tongue of Sakura to help aid in keeping her alive long enough. Gai did the same with Naruto, noticing that blood still flowed form his wounds though it seemed to be coming out at less.

It was then that Gai noticed it…in the middle of Sakura’s back two pieces of yellowish flesh peeked out from two different sides of her spinal cord, both leaking a strange fluid. The flesh seemed flayed and destroyed, horribly deformed.

“Kakashi, is that what I think it is?” asked Gai, almost in shock from the sight, pointing at the exposed piece of flesh.

“OH SHIT!!!” said Kakashi, loosing his ever present cool in recognition of that particular item. “GAI!!! DROP YOUR WEIGHTS AND GO GET THE HOKAGE AND THE MEDIC-NIN’S!!!”

“Right!!” said Gai not questioning Kakashi as he had more experience with injuries.

Gai dropped his weights over the side of the building and was gone in a flash, moving faster then the eye could follow pushed on by the urgency of the situation.

“Damn, how could I have been so careless!?!?” yelled Kakashi struggling to keep control and help his two former students, not noticing the faint blue and pink aura coming from the mingling of Naruto’s and Sakura’s blood as it pooled.

*The office of the Hokage*

Tsunade’s door burst open as Gai and Shizune came into her office.

“Hokage-Sama!!” said Gai echoed by Shizune who had already been apprised of the situation.

“Eh? What is it?” asked Tsunade, her glasses on looking at a pile of notes

“Tsunade, it’s Sakura!” said Shizune on the brink of tears

“What happened to her?” asked Tsunade looking up, made aware by Shizune’s emotions.

“You’ll have to see for yourself, I’m not sure how long she or Naruto has.” Said Gai

“Alright, lead the way!!” said Tsunade instantly up and at their side, much to their surprise

*Back with Kakashi, and the injured couple a few minutes later*

“Dammit, it won’t stop bleeding…” groaned Kakashi, using what little he knew of medical ninjutsu to try and keep the blood from flowing out.

“Kakashi!!” yelled Gai, accompanied by Tsunade, Shizune and host of other hospital personnel.

“Thank god, Hokage-sama, I don’t know what to do” said a strained Kakashi, still not under control of himself, starring at Sakura’s blood on his hands.

Tsunade ignored him, leaving it to her assistant to keep him and Gai out of the way, moving to the side of the girl still lying on top of Naruto. The sight immediately scarred her; Sakura’s back was riddled with black dots. The obvious result of makibishi burrowing into flesh. It was no wonder that Kakashi hadn’t been able to stop the bleeding, for this wound it would take a true medical ninja who knew how to mend twisted flesh. But the bleeding wasn’t the worst of it; Tsunade had been informed by Gai of the yellow flesh peeking out of some of the holes on Sakura’s back.

It was what she had feared. At least eight makibishi had implanted themselves into Sakura’s kidney’s, tearing both right and left into separate parts, rendering them into little more then ground meat. Completely irreparable. She would have to have a transplant or she would die.

“Tsunade-sama?” came a questioning voice from one of the medical ninja

“Take the girl to the hospital and put her on a dialysis machine, her kidneys have been shredded so take her on her stomach and try to keep her bleeding under control.” Said Tsunade standing up quickly to allow the ninja’s to do their work.

“Yes, Hokage-sama” said the same medical ninja, “What about the boy?”

Tsunade leaned down on the opposite side and listened to Naruto’s breathing, a tight gurgling sound came from his mouth, informing her of a punctured and collapsed lung. She channeled chakra into her eyes looking at his bone system.

‘Sakura must have mended that Collar bone since the mend seems new.’ Thought Tsunade ‘He still had five broken ribs but at least they weren’t mended wrong, she would hate to have to break them again.’

“Take the boy to Emergency Room and prep it for surgery, I’ll come with you, he has a collapsed lung and 5 broken ribs, I’ll have to go in an patch him up first.” Said Tsunade “Let’s go but keep me updated on Sakura’s condition and do a screen to see what her chakra screen is and see if her parents are in town.”

“Yes Hokage-sama.” Said the medical ninja, sending the stretchers to pick up both Naruto and Sakura, and soon they were rushing them towards the hospital.


“Hokage-Sama!!” said Kakashi, stopping Tsunade with a hand “What do you think are their chances?”

“Naruto should be fine, though we’ll have to go in soon to make sure of that…as far as Sakura goes we’ll just have to wait and see. Dialysis is designed for this but it doesn’t work well with an unhealthy body and the wounds may cause the stress of it to be too great. We have to just hope we can find a donor soon…” responded Tsunade looking down, noticing a the puddle of blood where the couple had laid, for a second it seemed to glow slightly

Shizune placed a hand on Kakashi’s arm, “The Hokage will do all she can Kakashi, just leave it in her hands, if anyone can save them she can…”

“Yes, I know, we’re counting on you Hokage-sama!!” said Kakashi, putting his blood stained hands in his pants, while Gai and Shizune nodded at Tsunade, agreeing with Kakashi’s assessment.

“I know, I won’t fail you…I can’t…” said Tsunade nodding to them and promptly jumped from the roof, starting her journey to the Hospital, as fast as she could.

‘It will be close, but if my suspicion is correct then this may come out better then anyone expects.’ Thought Tsunade a silent smirk on her face from the scenario that was forming in her head.