Reflections (Abandoned WIP)

Chapter Four – Failure

Part 2

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*Two Weeks Later*

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Weary, Sakura opened the locks on the door to Naruto's cell. On a chair beside the door, Kotetsu smiled tiredly at her glance and leaned back against the wall, folding his arms and closing his eyes. Sakura was there and she had often told him to rest while she was. He finally seemed to want to heed her advice. Carrying a bag of take out ramen cups, Sakura entered the cell.

In the last two weeks, only she and a handful of medic-nin had been able to enter the room. Naruto looked gaunt and haggard. He spent most of the time sleeping, mumbling about Sasuke in his dreams; sometimes Sakura even caught him crying. During times like that, that she simply put his ramen in front of him after eating a little from every cup and took herself out of the room. Naruto would seek companionship to grieve when he was ready... if he ever was. Sakura couldn't even tell anymore what conclusions he had reached on any given day.

"Good morning, Naruto," she murmured and knelt in front of him, pulling out chopsticks and cups and thus began their latest ritual. It changed sometimes, depending on his mood and the demon’s. It had almost as much say in things as Naruto did anymore. "Would you like to eat this yourself, or would you like my help?" Always the same question. Always the same answer.

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"I can do it myself," I mutter, leaning down to eat as soon as the bowl's in front of me. They put a little more slack in my chains the other day so I wouldn't have to squirm to lean over. Bet Sasuke talked them into it. I'm still waiting for him to talk them into letting me out. I know he's out there, fighting to make them let him visit me. Has he come to watch me through the wall?

The fox is taking one of its naps, giving me a rare opportunity to actually hear myself think without having a snide comment interjected very second. I never thought I'd want quiet so badly.

She looks tired. Maybe even more than me. There are bags under her eyes. Lack of sleep? I know it's not 'cause she's worrying about me. I know nobody's worried about me.

Damn, I always have trouble with the last inch of noodles. I sigh and sit up, not in the mood to fight with the cup today. But I still want them. The noodles at the bottom are always the best. Too drained to care about my pride, I look at the chopsticks in her hand and then up at her. I'll let her win, just for today.

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Sakura had been watching him with eyes glazed dull teal with fatigue. She'd been so lost in the cottony feeling of exhaustion in her mind that she'd almost missed the pointed look Naruto had directed at her. She looked at the chopsticks, looked at the cup and then looked to Naruto, her brow furrowed in confusion. Had she really seen that, or was she so tired that she was beginning to miss things?

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Jeez, do I have to spell it out for her? And here she's supposed to be one of the brightest kunoichi in Konoha. "A little help?" I mutter.

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Sakura started. He... shaking her head because she was too tired to analyze anything at the moment, she reached forward and picked up the cup, fishing out the noodles on autopilot. Then she turned her attention to cradling one hand under the dangling noodles to minimize drip and lifted them to his mouth. She keenly felt a spark of real triumph, but was far too tired to show it.

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It doesn't take me long to devour the last bit of noodles. We fall into a pattern: she puts the bowl in front of me and I eat as much as I can on my own, then she feeds me the stuff at the bottom. This is a lot easier than fighting with the foam cups.

When all the ramen's gone, I shift until I'm lying down on my side. That's another nice thing about the added slack. I don't have to kneel all the time. I close my eyes for a nap. The best time to get sleep is when the fox is doing the same. That way I actually feel rested when I wake up.

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Watching him for a moment, Sakura felt a small smile touch her lips. Impulsively, and none-too-intelligently, she leaned down and placed a soft kiss on his temple; however, she was away from him and cleaning up the cups and mess before he responded however. Then she left, allowing him all the peace and quiet he could want for sleep. 'Thank you,' she whispered in her mind to no one in particular.

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*Hours Later*

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It was quiet, and the guard was sleeping. Hinata sighed with relief. She felt terrible for this, but she was so worried about Naruto-kun and Sakura-san that she couldn't sleep herself. Neji didn't even know that she was gone yet. Hopefully, he wouldn't find out until she had talked to Naruto and was already on her way back home. He'd become such a caring and loving older brother figure to her that it was hard to think of him as simply her cousin anymore.

Shaking her head, she silently unlocked the doors. The ninja guarding the entry was young and probably a Chuunin. Konoha was still so short on ninja... even after all the time that had passed since the last war. She stepped into the room and shut the door softly behind her.

"Naruto-kun..." she murmured and approached him as she had seen Sakura-san approach him so many times in the last few weeks: open, friendly, trusting, but she was still on her guard, as any good ninja should be.

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Sleep had finally come to me when I felt that subtle change in air pressure that meant someone had entered my cell. Cracking an eye open, I turn my head towards the door and glare at my intruder.

"...Hinata..." I stop glaring. What is she doing here? I've told Sakura I don't want to see anyone. Especially not someone who's gonna rain pity on me. Not in the mood to yell or protest, I roll over again so my back's to her. Hopefully she'll get the message and leave. M'so tired...

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"Naruto-kun," Hinata murmured and knelt slowly so that she was right next to him, but not imposing on his personal space. Fidgeting, Hinata looked to the side. "I'm glad to see that you're getting better, Naruto-kun. W-we've all been very worried about you... Neji-nii-san, Sakura-san, Ino-san, Chouji-san, Shikamaru-san, Lee-san, Kakashi-sensei... everyone."

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Gods, they've lied to her too. I believe that she's worried about me, but I seriously doubt that everyone else is. They're probably celebrating my demise behind her back. I bet the whole village is. After all, the dangerous monster is locked in a cell in the bottom of a tower and can barely move. Yep, definitely something to celebrate about. Bet there's a pool going around about when I'm gonna die.

Wait, she didn't mention Sasuke. Isn't he worried about me? "What about Sasuke?" I mutter.

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Hinata's face fell and she glanced away again, just as she'd gotten the courage up to look at the back of his head. "Sasuke-san... is still missing, Naruto-kun. He's nowhere to be found. Everyone in the village that can has been looking for him. They haven't found any more than his hitai-ate from before. Many from the Hyuuga House have been dispatched, one with every party in the search. Everyone's working so hard to bring Sasuke-san back to you," Hinata answered and turned watery eyes to him. "We want to see you smile again, Naruto-kun. We want to see you happy and whole again. I want to hear you laugh and argue with Sasuke-san and see you two fight again!"

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Still... missing? But... Wait, that's not right. He's here in Konoha! He has been all this time! ...Hasn't he? But Hinata never lies. Of all the people in this village, she's the only one who's always been truthful with me. It's not in her nature to lie! Confused, I sit up and turn to Hinata.

"What do you mean, still missing?" I demand.

“She has been lied to, just as you have.”

(When did you-?!)

“Just a moment ago. Listen to me. They have all been lying to you, and they have lied to her as well. They knew she would come to tell you the truth and so have fed her lies.”

(But she has the Byakugan-)

“It does not matter. The have hidden him from her.”

(You can't hide anything from the Byakugan!)

“Another Hyuuga could.”

(No they couldn't!! Not an Uchiha!!)

“Are you sure?”

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"Mm," Hinata looked away from him again, nervously. "He hasn't been found yet, Naruto-kun. Hasn't Sakura-san been telling you that they're still looking for him?"

Hinata wanted to help him understand and get through this. With a quiet glance, she reached towards him. "Naruto-kun, I..."

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"Are you- But- That's not possible! He is in Konoha! He is!!" I insist, starting to shake. There's no way that Sakura could have been telling the truth! I look away from Hinata, confused. Who's right?! "He is, he is he is..." I mutter. Getting an idea, I snap my gaze back up to her. "Do Byakugan! Now! Look for him!" I demand. Sasuke has to be here!!

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The tears on his cheeks broke her heart. He didn't seem to notice them, but she couldn't have missed them. Nodding quietly, Hinata preformed a seal and mutter Byakugan softly. Immediately, veins appeared by her eyes as the normally featureless pale color took on a strange looking texture. She was silent as she searched the entire village with her eyes, again and again for good measure. After the third pass, she turned to Naruto, released the Bloodline Limit and shook her head quietly. "He isn't here. I'm... sorry."

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He- isn't- here- He... Sasuke... Gods, Sasuke... (You lied to me. You lied to me!)

“I felt that you would have rather held onto false hope than have none at all. Sasuke fell off a cliff into a river that most likely has rapids. Do you honestly think he could have survived?”

(Shut up!!)

“I only had your best interests in mind.”

(SHUT UP!!! BASTARD!!!) He's gone... he really is gone... Sakura was telling the truth. Everyone was telling the truth. Everyone but the demon in my head... everyone but the one I chose to believe. "...Sasuke..." My chest. It hurts. My heart, my lungs, my eyes, my brain... it all hurts.

“The only one you have to blame is yourself. He died because you could not save him.”

"STOP LYING TO ME!!!!"

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The instant Neji realized Hinata was not anywhere on Hyuuga grounds he'd gone straight to the Tower, looking for her. She'd wanted to visit Naruto so much and Sakura had kept telling them that Naruto didn't want visitors. Just as Neji got to Naruto's cell - just after he'd said a short prayer that his cousin hadn't done anything stupid - he saw Naruto's jaw drop and his eyes go vacant. They flashed from blue to red and back to blue before settling on red.

Time seemed to slow down as Neji ran into the cell and threw an arm around Hinata's shoulders, pulling her to her feet and towards the door. He watched in horror as Naruto tensed and his features transformed into something definitely not human. Chakra flared around him like a bonfire. Just as Naruto opened his mouth to let out an ear-shattering, heart-wrenching roar, Neji threw up a shield of chakra. The roar was accompanied by a blast of chakra so powerful, Neji’s arm was burned even through the shield.

Throwing Hinata onto the floor outside the cell - she was unharmed - Neji closed and locked the door as fast as he could with his good arm. Even through the walls, he could feel Naruto's roar in his bones. Gasping, Neji crumpled to the floor and cradled his injured arm in his lap, his face blank with shock. The flesh was completely gone and the muscle was peeling off the bones of his arm.

“Just what the hell happened?!” the guard demanded, now fully awake and on his feet demanded, just as the Hokage and her protégé came charging down the stairs. Sakura went immediately to the window and winced at the blinding brightness of the chakra flow rushing around like a tornado in the room. She could only stare at the destruction of her progress with Naruto.

Tsunade set immediately to healing Neji’s arm. If she didn’t do the fastest battlefield healing right then, so many horrible things could potentially happen to the boy that she just didn’t even want to think about it. “What. Happened?” she demanded of Hinata, who was staring wide-eyed about her like a fawn in shock.

“I … Naruto-kun… I told him that Sasuke-san hasn’t been found yet… He just… Neji-nii-san saved me,” Hinata stammered and moved closer to Neji, reaching out to help him stay upright while Tsunade continued to heal his arm. It smelled horrible in the basement right then and she wanted nothing more than to throw up, but she wouldn’t. Neji had risked his life to save her. She had to show the same strength for him.

"What the hell happened down here?!" Jiraiya bellowed, appearing in a cloud of Jutsu smoke. He'd felt the blast from outside Konoha. He would have continued with his tirade had the unceasing roar coming from Naruto's cell not caught his attention. "Oh, hell," he muttered, watching the hurricane of chakra around Naruto that showed no signs of stopping. "Who did this?!"

A very soft, timid voice spoke meekly into the relative silence of the room they stood in. "It was me... Jiraiya-sama. I ... made a horrible mistake."

"No shit. What exactly did you do?!" Everyone looked expectantly at Hinata, except for Neji, who was still staring at his wounded arm in shock.

Hinata turned her eyes to Tsunade's never-ceasing hands, unable to face her fellows. "I told him the truth..." she stated simply, but quietly. "I told him that Sasuke was not here and had not been here this entire time. He asked me to double-check with the Byakugan and so I did and reported to him my findings. Nothing more or less than that... Jiraiya-sama," the Hyuuga heir answered. She knew better than to stammer and stutter in front of Jiraiya-sama or Tsunade-Hokage-sama.

"Isn't that what you've been telling him this whole time, Sakura?" Jiraiya questioned of his pupil's teammate, transferring his glare. If she had been giving Naruto false information, she was going to face his wrath.

"I have never lied to him about anything in this instance, Jiraiya-sama," Sakura answered, turning from the glass and staring down at Hinata. She didn't understand why hearing the same things from Hinata had triggered this when nothing had come of the words from her own mouth. Sakura stilled. "He still sees me as a rival," she suddenly realized. "He's been suspicious of my intentions this entire time... but then why did he let me in there with him if he didn't trust me?"

Crossing his arms, the Frog Hermit looked at Naruto thoughtfully. "Probably because he didn't trust you." At everyone's questioning expressions, he continued. "The first thing he asked everyone who visited him was, 'Where is Sasuke?' When the only answer he got was, 'we don't know,' he became angry, accused us of lying, and refused to let us back in. What was the first thing he said to you, Sakura?"

"'You don't want to help me. Don't lie'," Sakura answered after a moment's recollection. "I had told him I wanted to help him. That I understood that he was hurting and that I wanted to help him through it."

"He was prepared to think everything you told him would be a lie. Thus when you 'lied', he didn't get angry like he did at the rest of us." Jiraiya shrugged. "And then when Hinata-sama, who is known for her honesty, told him the same thing he'd been hearing from you, he realized it was the truth and this is the result." He let out a deep, tired sigh.

"What can we do to fix this?" Hinata asked quietly, still supporting Neji as he slowly regained his senses. Having one's arm nearly burned off was not something one recovered from easily.

"We wait. Naruto's intelligent and strong, bullheaded. He'll get himself under control and then we'll try to see what we can do to help him. If we never find Sasuke, he'll be forewarned and prepared on some level at least." Tsunade's tone was solid and almost harsh as she stood and stretched. "I'm exhausted and there's nothing to do here. I'll send down a new guard and deal with you," she pointed to the old guard, "later. Let's go, minna."

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After over a week of no water or food, Naruto had begun to look weak. Anyone else would have been on their way to skin and bones, but Kyuubi's demonic powers gave him a stamina many would kill to have. His initial outburst had ended after about an hour, leaving him irritable and unpredictable. No one dared go into his cell with him for fear of triggering another explosion. However, Naruto had now been calm for over twenty four hours, signaling that he might be receptive to company again. It was a good sign when he didn't lift his head in response to the door of his cell opening.

Cautiously, Sakura inched into the room step by careful step. At the edge of the seal, she called softly, "Naruto?"

Receiving no response, she moved closer, praying that he hadn't somehow fallen into worse straits than he was already in. She was standing close to him now, not within his reach but close. Perhaps his lack of response was due to malnourishment, or perhaps it was due to a resignation to the fact that he possibly had reason to mourn. Whatever it was, Sakura chose to look at the quiet as a little bit promising. "Naruto, it's Sakura. Are you hungry?" she asked and reached towards him, swaying closer to do so. He was over it, she decided as he made no move toward her. He needed a friend and comfort and that was exactly –

Violet cat-slitted eyes lifted to meet her gaze, trapping her in an invisible net. They flickered between blue and red, settling on an eerie crimson. "We are hungry for more than just food, child," Naruto said in a voice that was much too deep and raspy to be his own, the corners of his mouth lifting into a seductive smile. "If you would be kind enough to come closer..."

Sakura squirmed and made some small sound of surprise before she started to struggle in earnest, resisting with everything she had. "Naruto! Naruto, I know you're still in there! Don't let him do this to you! He's winning! Yondaime Hokage didn't let him win! Naruto!!" Her feet were moving on their own, pulled, bent and tugged by the Kyuubi's will. "Naruto!!" she shrieked knowing that even if she got any closer, she'd be in massive trouble. Praying that she could get help, still squirming wildly, she screamed loudly. Someone had to hear her. They just had to. She couldn't die like this. Not like this.

Without breaking eye contact, Kyuubi reached out with a tendril of chakra to make the door's handle white-hot and they heard a yelp of pain from outside. No one would be coming in by that route. "Relax, child," it crooned, sitting up on Naruto's knees and willing Sakura even closer. "All I ask is that you release me from these bonds. I swear to make it worth your while." It leered suggestively at her, fangs bared in a charming grin. If she let them go, it would kill two birds with one stone: it would gain freedom and a toy.

Sakura's struggles ceased as the words slowly sank in. He wasn't going to eat her... For the first time in her life, Sakura saw the demon as male. Turning her expression blank, Sakura reached out slowly as though she wished to gently touch his cheek. The compulsion lessened on her arm gradually, until her fingers lightly grazed the whisker scars. Fast as a striking serpent, the kunoichi drew her hand back and slapped the demon hard across the cheek, the resounding slap echoing in her ears. "Hentai!" It might not have been the best move, but she wouldn't go down without a fight.

The eye contact broken, Kyuubi no longer controlled her. Determined not to let Sakura escape, the demon's head snapped forward just as quickly as it had snapped to the side and caught her gaze again. Pulling her forward with its will, Kyuubi forced her to kneel right in front of it. "There are two ways to go about this, human. An easy way and a hard way. No one is able to rescue you, so why not choose the easy way?" it crooned, leering down at her. "I can show you pleasure a human man will never come close to giving you. All you have to do is release me from these chains," it purred, leaning forward as if to kiss her.

Unable to get away, Sakura pressed backwards against whatever invisible force held her and closed her eyes, sealing her lips and whimpering softly. The force holding her pulled her closer, Naruto’s scent – slightly muskier than usual – filled her nose and the heat radiating from his body caressed her skin. It was hard not to feel aroused with someone so virile right in front of her. Naruto wasn’t an ugly young man. Perhaps if life had given him a different path to walk, she might have fallen in love with him over time and forgotten all about the unattainable Uchiha. But this was how things were. Trembling with the effort to resist, Sakura tightened her lips still more as dry, warm lips caressed hers. His promise was alluring, but she was no fool. (Please, let me get out of here. Please…)

"I can give you pleasure, jewels, power, the whole world if that is what you desire," Kyuubi cooed, kissing along her jaw to the base, where it began to gently nibble. Physical contact strengthened its hold on her, making it virtually impossible to get away. "Name your price and you shall have it. All I ask for in return is freedom."

A fine shiver danced over her skin at the caressing touch of the Kyuubi's kisses and something inside of her asked her reason whether making love to the Kyuubi would really be all that horrible. The very thought bloomed into an idea in her mind. Wasting no time, giving herself none to back out, Sakura leaned forward, the only direction she wasn't restrained from. Pale hands came to rest palms flat on the fading tan of Naruto's chest. "Anything?" she asked softly as the Kyuubi shifted, adjusting to the slight change in position.

"Name your price," the demon repeated, kissing her neck once more before sitting up and gazing down at her again. It smirked, confident that it would soon he released.

Looking up into those familiar and yet alien red eyes, Sakura took a deep breath and then the plunge. "I will sleep with you," she purred softly and leaned up and forward again to lick at his lower lip softly. She felt dirty, like a desperate harlot, but her resolve never faltered. "But only if you give me Naruto back whole right now," she finished leaning away once more to make that eye-contact again.

"Naruto is busy wallowing in his self-made misery in the back of his own mind," Kyuubi stated, falsely apologetic. "I cannot give him back to you," it lied smoothly. It could easily have pulled Naruto back to the front and given him control of their body again, but that was one freedom the demon refused to give up. "Surely there is something else you would like?"

Sakura didn't know if she could believe him, but she had to think of something fast to buy herself some more time. Whoever had tried to open the door – Kotetsu, she was pretty sure, since he'd been on guard duty - had to have gone to get help. Her mind gave her an answer immediately. Leaning forward again, she slid her hands up to rest on his shoulders. Lips made bold by determination grazed the Kyuubi's ear. Naruto wasn't there and part of her was thankful that he wouldn't have to witness her like this, trying desperately to stay alive by toying with the demon like a whore. "There is one other thing," she murmured and nibbled his earlobe gently.

"Do tell," the demon purred, hooded eyes glinting in triumph. Victory was in its hands. It could tell that Sakura was going along with this just to save her life, but as long Kyuubi got what it wanted, it didn't care what her motives were.

"I will sleep with you and set you free," Sakura continued scooting closer to him, slipping her knees between his and pressing against him. Her tongue traced the lines of his ear. "If you give me Sasuke back." Strong teeth toyed with the Kyuubi's earlobe again. If she could just keep him on the same route of offer and refuse until someone came to rescue her, she might live.

“My dear, not even I can raise the dead." This was getting frustrating. She kept asking for things Kyuubi couldn't or wouldn't give!

The sudden appearance of a cloud of Jutsu smoke cut off Sakura's response. Kakashi dropped a hand on Sakura's shoulder, careful not to come in contact with Kyuubi, and gave a closed-eyed grin. "Excuse me, do you mind if I borrow her for a second? Thank you." Before either of them could react, Kakashi had disappeared again, taking Sakura with him.

Snarling, Kyuubi roared in frustration. Freedom had been so close! (Hatake Kakashi, I swear I will kill you the first chance I get!)

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"You okay?" Kakashi asked his former student, watching her and keeping half his attention on the cell behind them.

Sakura trembled once all over, then whirled and leapt at him. Wrapping her arms around his chest, she sobbed into his vest. “Kakashi-sensei,” she wailed softly and clung to him for all she was worth. She hadn’t seen him in over a month and now he’d come back just in the nick of time and pulled her fat out of the fire like a knight in some fairy tale. She’d never been so happy to see anyone in her entire life.

"Is that a yes or a no?" Kakashi queried as he squeezed her shoulders in his hands, looking very weary but at the same time just as happy to see her.

Feet thudding on the stairs announced the arrival of Izumo and Tsunade, sent down my Kotetsu, who was getting his hand healed by Shizune. "Kakashi-san!" Izumo exclaimed in surprise when he saw him. Last he'd heard, the other Jounin had just arrived at the Tower's door.

Sakura had quieted, the short-lived terror fading as she remained stuck to Kakashi like a burr, but she couldn't stop trembling though. She sniffled and simply nodded into his chest, meaning she was ok, but she wasn't ok enough to let go.

Tsunade sighed with relief at the sight she found in the basement. "Kakashi, thank the gods. I was afraid we wouldn't have made it in time before something horrible happened." Sagging against the wall in relief, Tsunade smiled wearily at him. "News?"

"No luck. We searched the river's banks and close by villages for tens of miles. The others are working their way inland, searching every community they come to. As soon as I file my report with you and restock on supplies for my team, I'll be heading out again." Now Kakashi just looked weary. He'd gotten very little sleep in the past month, too worried about his students to get any sufficient rest. "I see Naruto isn't faring any better than when I left."

"No. We had a little progress before Hyuuga Hinata demolished everything with a few honest words." Tsunade sighed. "Rest here for the night, Kakashi. Spend some time with Sakura. She needs a break and deserves it after that. Leave in the morning. That's a direct order. We can't do anything for Naruto right now anyway, so it'll be good for her to get out and spend a little time away with someone she cares about. Good for you, too."

Waving her hand at them dismissively, she pushed off the wall and headed up the stairs with tired steps.

Sakura slowly leaned away and looked up at him, never really releasing her hold on Kakashi's body. "Please," she murmured. She needed the break desperately and from the look of him, so did he.

"After I file my report," he promised, giving her shoulders one more squeeze before letting go. Glancing at Izumo, Kakashi asked, "You'll stay down here?"

"Yes, sir."

"Good. Let's go, Sakura." Kakashi looked at Naruto again, the tired lines in his face deepening at the sight of Kyuubi venting its frustrations with roar after roar. Closing his eye, he began the trek up the stairs.

Sakura followed him up obediently, thankful that she could find a little companionship and respite in the midst of so much torment and turmoil.

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*One Week Later*

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Sakura entered the room containing Naruto, a strengthening Seal Jutsu at hand. She wore a blindfold and clothes that fit tightly to her body. She wouldn’t be caught in the Kyuubi’s spell again and she wouldn’t allow herself to be captured for a second time. Stopping at the edge of the almost faded seal, Sakura cleared her throat softly. It was very late at night and from the breathing of the body in front of her, Kyuubi and Naruto were sleeping.

“Uzumaki Naruto, I can’t tell you how absolutely abhorred I am,” Sakura stated firmly. She’d rehearsed and practiced and memorized her words after planning them out with intense care and attention. “Sasuke would be so absolutely disappointed in you, giving in like this. Wherever he is, dead or alive, he would be ashamed of you. You’ve lost a battle, Naruto. And in losing this battle, you’ve very clearly showed us how much Sasuke means to you. If he meant anything to you at all, you’d be shoving that bastard fox into the farthest corner of his Seal in a box and you’d be helping us find Sasuke instead of throwing your chakra around so uselessly and wasting away in here.”

She paused, and then she carefully continued. Sakura was talking quickly, but her voice and manner was firm with displeasure. “Is this how you want Sasuke to find you when we find him? Do you want him to see you like this? Cowed before a stupid Kitsune and weeping like a little girl because Sasuke isn’t here to pamper you and protect you? I can’t believe you let that bastard demon put his paws on someone, nevermind that it was me, your teammate and friend. You had better shape up, Naruto. The Council is closing fast on Tsunade-shishou’s footwork. She can only dodge and evade your Death Sentence Order for so long. I would hate to have to be the one to tell Sasuke what happened if he came back to find you dead. You have twenty-four hours to straighten up. I’ll be back then for your decision.”

Having said her piece, the pink-haired young woman turned. There were tears in her eyes, soaked up by the cloth covering them. It hurt to see Naruto like that and it hurt worse to have to tell him such harsh words when she had practically vowed never to treat him like that again. But he was on borrowed time… No, stolen time, because the Council of the Village had been pushing Tsunade at every turn to have him destroyed. Everyone had so much faith in him, even Sakura still believed he’d come around when his mourning had passed, but they couldn’t wait for that day any more. It had to be now, or it would be never.

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It's dark.

Monster.

It hurts.

Murderer.

I'm all alone.

Demon.

No! I'm not a demon!

Die, monster.

I'm not a monster! Not me! Not Naruto! The fox is the monster!

Die, murderer. Suffer as we have.

...Yes, I deserve to suffer. Yes, I have caused pain. Am I a monster?

We're looking for Sasuke-kun. - They are lying to you. - We'll bring him back to you. - They are hiding him from you.

Two sides of a coin. One side, my companions. The other, the demon sealed within me.

Usuratonkachi.

Yeah, I am a moron. I chose to listen to the demon. Why? Because Sasuke left me. Again. And I didn't want to believe he's really gone. Now look at what I've done. I've injured companions, and caused Sakura - my teammate - grief. I'm a monster.

Naruto, you idiot.

You don't have to rub it in. I've made a huge mistake. I accept that. And I accept my punishment. I don't deserve to be rescued from the darkness, from the pain, from the loneliness. I'm right where I belong. Alone. Always alone. The only one who's ever really cared for me is Sasuke, and he's gone. He's gone. Everyone leaves me eventually. My parents. Sandaime. Konohamaru and his friends. Sasuke. I'm tired of losing people. Darkness is a better companion. Even pain is a better companion. This is where I belong.

Uzumaki Naruto, I can't tell you how absolutely abhorred I am.

Sakura? Is that you? Where are you? I can't see you.

Sasuke would be so absolutely disappointed in you, giving in like this. Wherever he is, dead or alive, he would be ashamed of you. You've lost a battle, Naruto. And in losing this battle you've very clearly shown us how much Sasuke means to you. If he meant anything to you at all, you'd be shoving that bastard fox into the farthest corner of his Seal in a box and you'd be helping us find Sasuke instead of throwing your chakra around so uselessly and wasting away in here.

Sasuke means the world to me. You can't imagine, Sakura, how much I miss him. How much I want to hold him and kiss him and love him. But he's gone. Gone. I have no more reason to live. And when I die, the fox will die with me. You won't have to worry anymore. Please, let me die in peace.

Is this how you want Sasuke to find you when we find him? Do you want him to see you like this? Cowed before a stupid Kitsune and weeping like a little girl because Sasuke isn't here to pamper you and protect you?

False hope, Sakura. False hope. Sasuke's not coming back. He's gone. He won't have to see me like this.

I can't believe you let that bastard demon put his paws on someone, nevermind that it was me, your teammate and friend.

Wait a second. What did that damn overgrown rat do?! Sakura! What did it do to you?!

You had better shape up, Naruto. The Council is closing fast on Tsunade-shishou's footwork. She can only dodge and evade your Death Sentence Order for so long. I would hate to have to be the one to tell Sasuke what happened if he came back to find you dead. You have twenty-four hours to straighten up. I’ll be back then for your decision.

Wait! Sakura! Don't go! What did it do to you?! I listen, waiting for her answer. I don't get one. For the first time in a seeming eternity, I feel something other than pain and despair. I feel fury. (FOX!!!)

“Yes?”

I whip around and have to close my eyes at the sudden brightness. Carefully I squint them open, looking at the demon, who is silhouetted in a ring of bright light. All I can see of it are its glowing red eyes. (What did you do to her?!)

“That is none of your concern. Go back to your sleep, human. I will take care of your body now.”

(No you won't!! What did you do to her?!)

“Why do you care? Has she not caused you pain? Has she not lied to you?”

(YOU lied to me!!)

“It was your choice to believe me over her.”

(BASTARD!! GET OUT OF MY WAY!!) I have to get past it. I have to get to the light. I can't let it control my body anymore. I can't let it hurt anyone anymore.

“Why bother protecting them? The ones that have abandoned you?”

...But they haven't. At least, Sakura hasn't... She wouldn't have said all that if she'd abandoned me. ...Gods, I really am a moron.

“I concur.”

(Didn't ask you.) Without warning, I take off like a shot, trying to run past the demon. If I get to the light, I'll be in control again. I don't know how I know that. I just do. Damn fox, sticking its legs and tails in my way. Yelling in frustration, I begin to use every technique I know. I have to win!

----------

The light hurts, even through my eyelids. My whole body aches as if I was thrown down a tree and hit every branch on the way down. This isn't gonna go away for weeks. The only consolation I have is that the demon is hurting just as bad, licking its wounds in the back of its cage. (I won, bastard.)

I hear a door opening and force my eyelids apart just enough to see. Sakura! And she's okay! "Sakura..." I rasp. Jeez, sounds like Gamakichi crawled into my throat. "What did it do to you?"

----------****----------

“Naruto?” Sakura froze her heart stopping entirely and then flying into a rapid rhythm that threatened to wear a whole right through her chest. “Naruto, is that really you?” she exclaimed and moved swiftly up to the edge of the faint seal after kicking the door closed behind her. If it was Naruto, if he were himself again… oh, did she even dare to hope? Her heartbeat told her she couldn’t stop herself from hoping if she tried. Hovering at the edge of the seal she waited, holding her breath. Sakura only wished she could have understood more than her name.

----------****----------

"Yeah," I whisper, coaxing my mouth into a smile, but I don't hold it for long. Even that hurts. I hope she brought painkillers. "What did it do to you?" I repeat. If that damn demon did anything to her, I swear... (Stop growling. You missed a gouge.)

----------****----------

“Naruto!” Sakura was kneeling in front of him in an instant, grabbing his shoulders and hauling him up to sit on his knees. In the next blink, she had her arms locked around his neck under the chains, hugging him tightly as she soaked his shoulder with tears. “Naruto, gods, Naruto, thank you! You’re still there. I was so…” Sniffle. “So afraid that you were going to leave me too. I was so worried!” Sakura couldn’t stop sobbing and hugging him. She simply couldn’t in that moment. He’d been Kyuubified for so long that she hadn’t heard him clearly as himself in forever, and despite the hoarse throat she’d heard him, truly heard him for the first time in what seemed like an eternity.

----------****----------

"OW! Sakura! You're hurting me!" I protest roughly, wincing as everything throbs at once. My voice is slowly getting less raspy the more I use it. She wrenched muscles I didn't even know I had when she pulled me up. Ow...

----------****----------

"Oh! Oh, I'm sorry!" Sakura leaned away quickly, but carefully and brushed his bangs back, still crying, but laughing, too. "Are you thirsty?" she sniffled and rubbed at her cheek with the back of her wrist.

----------****----------

"Yeah," I admit. "Really hungry, too." I can wait until after I'm done eating to question her again about what the fox did. Can't do anything if there's nothing in my stomach, after all. And it's about ready to attack my spine.

----------****----------

Half turning, Sakura called, “Kotetsu! Izumo! Bring Ayame-chan and ramen! Put it on my tab! Lots of it! And water too! Lots of water!”

She looked back to Naruto and caressed his cheek gently, her smile tender and loving. “I’m so glad to see you, Naruto,” she murmured and kissed his cheek softly before hugging him again. Carefully this time, of course.

----------****----------

"Thanks, Sakura," I murmur, resting my chin on her shoulder since I can't hug her back. She really does care... and I've been a total bastard to her. I am such a dunce. But I'll make it up to her. I will. Since I have to wait for my food anyway, I might as well ask her now and take care of my parasite. "Sakura, what did it do to you?" I demand.

----------****----------

Sakura went a little stiff and then sighed, hugging Naruto just a little tighter. "It's ok, Naruto. It wasn't your fault. He didn't do anything... or at least, he didn't get the chance. Kakashi-sensei rescued me." (The truth. Always the truth from here to forever, Naruto. I'll never lie to you ever again, and I'll never be mean and...) "I'm so glad you're back!"

----------****----------

"But you said it did something!" I protest, trying to wriggle out of her embrace so I can look at her without making everything hurt too much. "You said it put its paws on you or something! Sakura, what happened?! Tell me!"

----------****----------

“Kyuubi snared me with his gaze and tried to seduce me,” she murmured after a moment. She didn’t let go and her voice got soft. “He told me he’d give me anything I wanted if I’d let him go, promised he’d show me pleasures that no human male could ever show me… And do you know what I asked for? Heh, any other girl would have swooned over such an offer… sometime ago, I would have… But I … There were only two things I wanted, and he couldn’t give me either… or wouldn’t. The liar.”

----------****----------

(You WHAT?! ... Don't give me that bullshit! If you ever try anything like that again, I'll go to Tsunade and get her to help me find a way to castrate you! I mean it!! ... What do you mean, I already- Seriously? ... Oh yeah. Heh, sucks to be you. ... Hey, you're the one that got in my way. Not my fault you reared when I did a Rasengan. ... Quit whining. After all, you only have yourself to blame.) Man, I'm snickering like crazy. I'd already gotten revenge for Sakura and I didn't even know it.

----------****----------

"Naruto?" Sakura asked quietly, her voice deeply concerned for Naruto's sanity as she pulled away and looked into his face. "What's so funny?"

----------****----------

Even though it hurts my face, I give her a huge grin. "Let's just say that the fox isn't gonna be able to pull that stunt again for a loooong while." Unfortunately, I know they're gonna grow back, but considering that I completely took them off - along with a few of its claws - they're gonna take ages to grow back.

----------****----------

Sakura's look was blank for a moment and then, softly, she giggled and kissed his cheek again. "I think I hear your ramen coming, Naruto," she murmured and stood. "I'll be right back."

She ruffled his hair and then turned for the door, striding to it with a purpose. "Naruto's himself again. Tell Tsunade-shishou," she said to Kotetsu and then smiled at Ayame, who bowed her head with a happy smile. "Come on. We've got a hungry mouth to feed."

The two young women entered the room and they settled on their knees in front of Naruto with a smile. "Would you like me to help you eat today, Naruto, or do you still want to do it on your own?" Sakura asked as she opened a cup and Ayame broke some chopsticks. Sakura took the chopsticks and stirred the ramen before tasting it. Naruto was fine now, but she still didn't trust the lords not to do something foul.

----------****----------

"Hi, Ayame-chan," I greet her with a smile. It's great to see her again. The first thing I'm gonna do when I get out of here is go to the Ichiraku. "I'm way too sore to bend over right- Hey! No, no, no, no! Stop! Me! Give it to ME! MEEE!!" Noooooooo! Sakura's eating my ramen!!

----------****----------

Chuckling merrily, Sakura swallowed the rest of the noodles and smiled, but looked away, her expression suddenly sad. "I have to test it first, Naruto. Please don't be mad."

"Sakura-chan isn't going to give anyone the chance to hurt you, Naruto-kun," Ayame stated firmly and rested a comforting hand on Sakura's arm, receiving a small but happier smile from the short-haired girl. "It's great to see you again, Naruto-kun," she added and removed her hand so that Sakura could sidle up to Naruto to make it easier to feed him cleanly.

----------****----------

"Test it? Why do you have to test it?" Yay, RAMEN! I eagerly take the bite Sakura offers me, chewing and swallowing it as fast as I can. My stomach wakes up now that there's food in it and roars, demanding more. I open my mouth for more, waiting for Sakura's answer. Why would she have to taste test my ramen? I don't get it. Oh, foooooooooood...

----------****----------

"Junichiro," Sakura said with disdain. "He wants you dead. The spoiled little brat deserves to be here, not you," she added vehemently.

Ayame made a soothing motion with her hands and smiled sheepishly at Naruto. "Junichiro-sama is the one pushing for your execution and Sakura-chan and Tsunade-Hokage-sama have been fighting him daily, tooth and nail," she explained.

"He's a little bastard," Sakura stated adamantly. "He's trying to tell us to call off the search for Sasuke. That we're wasting precious resources when everyone wants to keep looking." She offered Naruto more ramen, her hands settling into near-auto-mode.

----------****----------

I cough loudly. That last swallow of ramen just barely managed to go down the right tube. "You're testing my food 'cause you think he'll try to poison me?!" I choke out, my eyes watering from the pain. Has Sakura lost her mind?! I can live through a poisoning easily, so long as I don't receive a massive dose. A quarter of what it takes to kill me would kill her in a heartbeat! This has to stop!

----------****----------

"Don't misunderstand, Naruto," Sakura said evenly. "It's a preventative measure. So long as I do this, they won't dare put anything in your food for fear of incurring the wrath of the Hokage." She smiled at him encouragingly. "Forget about it for now. Eat. You need it."

Ayame smiled nodded while readying another cup for Naruto's consumption. It was so wonderful to see the blond more like himself.

----------****----------

But this time, I turn my face away, refusing the mouthful she's holding up for me. "No. I'm not gonna eat until you promise me you'll stop testing my food," I state firmly, giving Sakura my best serious look. I mean it. Even if my stomach does end up gnawing away my spine, I won't eat until she promises.

----------****----------

Ayame stilled and looked from one to the other. Sakura looked away, her eyes weary and sad. Naruto just looked determined, but neither of them said anything for a long, long while. Sakura seemed to come back to herself then and straightened up to her full kneeling height.

"No, Naruto. I won't take the chance of them putting something into the ramen that could potentially do you harm. You're weak right now, undernourished and out of shape. And like I said, it's only preventative. It'll be fine. Now, eat." She really didn't seem to have the energy to fight with him seriously, but she was still as stubborn as ever.

----------****----------

"Promise first," I insist. I can be just as bullheaded as her, if not more. I will win this.

----------****----------

"Naruto!" Sakura snapped softly. "I don't have the energy to fight with you. Eat or I'm leaving." It was a threat and probably not one she'd fulfill; after all, she'd just gotten Naruto back and she was about to just walk out within the first hour, but she wasn't going to back off either.

----------****----------

"Promise me!" I snap back, not bothering to be soft about it. If she doesn't promise to stop testing my food, I won't accept food from anyone.

----------****----------

She caved. "Fine. I won't test your food any more. Would you just eat? You're getting thinner by the minute," the kunoichi grumbled and wondered why she didn't just beat him to get her way like she'd used to. Of course, that wouldn't have gotten her anywhere, since she'd vowed not to treat him like that any more. It'd have been a step back. Ayame was smothering a laugh behind her hand, but Sakura chose to ignore it.

----------****----------

"You didn't say 'I promise'." M'not letting her get out of this the easy way. Just cause she's agreeing with me now doesn't mean she won't do it again later. I want a promise, not a false agreement.

"Fine!" Sakura growls. "I promise not to test your food any more. Eat!"

"Fine." This time I accept the mouthful, much to my stomach's delight. It doesn't take me long to finish the ramen and water, and now I feel like I'm about to burst. It's a good feeling, though. Full is always good. Yawning, I slowly lay back down to digest my meal, minding my sore muscles. If only the floor weren't so cold. I'm gonna be stiff as a board when I wake up, but there is no way I'm gonna sleep sitting up. And I need sleep right now, especially after that long fight with my parasite. (Which I won! Hah! ... Keep telling yourself that, loser.)

----------****----------

"I'll be back," Sakura murmured softly and brushed his hair out of his face before standing. She and Ayame cleaned up the ramen cups and the water jugs and then quietly left. Sakura parted with Ayame at the Ichiraku and headed for her home. She made one more stop after that and then returned to the cell, arms laden with two rolls of bedding.

"Izumo-san, could you get the door please?" she inquired of the Shinobi in the chair by the door. Her hands were obviously full.

Izumo quickly got to his feet and opened the door for her, looking at the bedrolls curiously. "Planning on staying here for the night?"

"Yes," Sakura answered as she readjusted her load so it would fit through the doorway more easily. "Who has the night shift so that I can make sure they know I'm in here?"

"Ibiki-san. Are you sure this is a good idea, Sakura-san? Have you asked Tsunade-sama?" Izumo asked, worried. He normally trusted Sakura's judgment, but Naruto had been just too unpredictable lately for him to be comfortable with letting her spend the night with Naruto.

Sakura fixed him with a look. "I trust him. He is himself again," she answered the older ninja, firm in her conviction. "He needs companionship right now. Thank you, Izumo-san," she finished and ducked into the room. Setting the blankets down beside Naruto, Sakura knelt and shook him gently. "Naruto, wake up. I'm gonna make things more comfortable for you, ok? Wake up."

----------****----------

"M'awake, m'awake," I mutter, yawning as I slowly sit up. "What are you doing? What's all that?" I ask around another yawn. I hope she hurries up and gets whatever she wants to do over with. I was almost asleep.

----------****----------

"I brought you some comforters and pillows to sleep on... and was wondering if you'd like some company for the night?" Sakura asked boldly. They were adults now, able to make their own decisions, so her parents could say nothing about her sleeping beside him. She wanted to spend as much time with him as she could to assure herself that he was Uzumaki Naruto once more and to make sure that he stayed that way.

----------****----------

"Pillows?" I repeat, not sure I heard her right or that I'm really seeing the bedrolls next to us. I haven't slept with a pillow since... This floor is definitely not comfortable to sleep on. Right now, a comforter and pillow would be absolute heaven.

----------****----------

Sakura giggled softly. "Yes, pillows. Now, I'm going to slacken the front two chains. You have room to get out of the way so I can make you a bed, but then I have to shorten them again, ok? You'll behave?" He'd answer her in time about whether she would be staying or not.

----------****----------

"Pillows. Pillows, pillows, pillows," I chant happily, scooting backwards so Sakura can make my bedroll after loosening my chains. Gonna sleep like a king tonight. The instant she's done I flop forward onto my side, not caring that the landing is gonna hurt even through the thick blankets. Ignoring my protesting muscles, I snuggle into the comforter - which feels wonderful against my bare torso - and bury my nose into the pillow, inhaling deeply.

......

The pillow- all the pillows- and the blankets- they smell like- like- oh, gods... "Sakura, where did you get these?" I ask quietly, sitting up again. I'm shaking. I can't stop shaking. Everything smells just like...

----------****----------

Sakura’s smile vanished. She had known it could have gone two ways. This was the way she had wanted. Naruto hadn’t mentioned Sasuke once in all the time that he’d been himself. She didn’t want him to close out the memories like some people did when they were frightened or hurt deeply.

“I brought mine from home, but Sasuke-kun’s apartment has been open to me for the last few weeks so that I can keep it in its best condition for when he comes back,” she answered softly, now only a faint smile on her lips. Her bed could wait. After this, she might not be using it anyway. She moved forward gracefully and reached for him. He looked so stricken. “I’m sorry. I thought that maybe you would like them like this, so you could be close to him until he comes home,” she murmured honestly as she caught his shoulders in her hands and tugged him forward, offering a comforting embrace. She refused to give up hope. Sasuke was far too strong a man, and far too talented a ninja, to go out like that. There was no way Sasuke would die and leave them so early.

----------****----------

Sasuke's blankets... Sasuke's. I don't know whether to laugh or cry, but I do shake harder. "He's not coming back," I whisper, letting myself be pulled into her embrace. "He's gone. He left me. Everyone leaves me. He promised he wouldn't, but he did." I have no hope anymore of his return. I used up all my hope in my so-called childhood.

----------****----------

"Naruto, that's not true. Sasuke will come back. Please, have faith in him. He needs you to have faith in him," Sakura murmured and soothingly caressed the hair at the back of his neck. It was longer and rougher than she remembered it being, but it was Naruto who housed the Kyuubi no Kitsune, who had just been through the ordeal of his life and wasn't out of it just yet, so it was to be expected. "I have faith and Kakashi-sensei - Ka-ka-shi-sensei - has faith. Don't lose hope yet. Sasuke's strong. You know that."

----------****----------

She doesn't understand. She can't understand. When someone leaves me, they never come back. Not one of them. Sasuke was the only one, and that was because I made him come back. I beat him to a pulp and dragged his ass back to Konoha. That won't work this time. One, there is no way in hell the nobles are gonna let me out of this cell. Two, Sasuke fell down a cliff after getting stabbed in the gut. Put those together and the answer is, I'm never gonna see him again. Hoping hurts too much, and I'm tired of hurting. But for Sakura's sake, I can pretend I still hope. "Yeah, I guess," I murmur, not really feeling up to arguing.

----------****----------

Sakura could tell his heart wasn't in it, but she decided to be satisfied with that for now. "Do you want to be left alone tonight, or would you like some company?" she asked again softly and hugged him a little.

----------****----------

I don't want to be alone. Not anymore. Even if it does hurt like hell when I'm abandoned. "Stay?"

----------****----------

“I’ll stay,” Sakura answered and helped him lay down, making sure he was comfortable. She set up her bed right beside his so that she could lie near to him. When everything was situated, Sakura lay down close to him on the bed of fluffy blankets and reached out to him, hugging him.

“Get some sleep, Naruto,” she murmured tenderly and kissed his forehead.

----------****----------

"Yeah." I settle into the bedroll, mindful of my sore muscles and the chains. Metal digging into skin anywhere sucks majorly. As I get comfortable, Sasuke's smell seems to lift off the blankets and pillows in a cloud, invading my sensitive nose. That rich scent of his shampoo, soap, laundry detergent, and under it all that scent that belongs only to Sasuke; that combination of vanilla and cold steel and his own original flavor. I close my eyes tight against the sudden urge to sob.

He's gone. Sasuke's gone and he's never coming back. I've resigned myself to that, so why is my chest so tight and my eyes burning?

----------****----------

The sudden tensing of the body beside her made her tighten her arms. "It's ok to let it out, Naruto. I'm here for you," she murmured and again planted a gentle kiss to his face. This time it was his cheek.

Sakura hated to see him as anything but happy and bouncy, like he had been before she'd brought him the blankets. Naruto was resilient, however, and Sakura felt that, given enough time to get over all the depression he was facing in the moment, he'd be as hopeful as she was. She would do everything she could to lift his faith and restore that never-fading flame of hope that he had always displayed before. (Sasuke, if you're still out there - and I don't doubt that you are - please come back to him soon. He needs you... very, very badly.)

----------****----------

There's nothing to let out. There isn't supposed to be. I'm a ninja. Ninjas aren't supposed to feel anger, or remorse, or even happiness really. We're not supposed to feel anything. We're just tools. Living tools. I am not going to cry. I am not going to cry! I'm not- going- I- Gods- Sasuke- I- I won't cry! I won't! I- "Sasuke..."

----------****----------

Fighting off her own tears, Sakura curled close to him, tucking his head under her chin and ignoring the annoyance of the chains. "It's ok, Naruto. Sasuke will come back," she vowed firmly and yet her voice was soothing all at once. She held him until he fell asleep, breath still hitching, then she let her own tears spill silently over her cheeks as she buried her face in his hair. It wasn't long before she had drifted off into dreamless sleep.

----------

*Many Months Later*

----------

Oh, come on, there has to be- one- more- Hah! Found it! I flop down, my nose buried in the last spot on my bedroll to carry Sasuke's scent. The rest of it smells very distinctly of me now. (Takes one to know one. Hey, you done healing yet? ... I take it that's a no. Ha ha. Sucks to be you. ... That is such an empty threat. There's no way you could ever take my balls off. ... I'd like to see you try. ... Wow, and you call me stupid.)

The sound of the door opening interrupts our argument and I poke my head out from between the blankets. Izumo-san. "Is it time?!"

----------****----------

"Yes, but-" Before Izumo could finish, Naruto had thrown his bindings off and ran past him, taking the stairs three at a time. Smiling, the Jounin closed the door and followed the boy up at a more sedate pace.

A little over a month ago, Tsunade had gotten tired of seeing Naruto confined when he clearly didn't have to be anymore. He hadn't exploded since the incident with Hinata and for the most part had gone back to his normal cheery self, so Tsunade decided to rig Naruto’s chains so he could take them off himself and gave him the run of the Tower, but only at night. Nobles still occasionally visited his cell during the day to check on his mental state, and under no circumstances were they to ever find out that Tsunade was allowing Naruto out of his cell. During the day, Naruto was not allowed to take his chains off for any reason other than an absolute emergency.

Unfortunately, Naruto was still very prone to bouts of deep depression, especially after a visit from Sakura. Soon after he'd started acting like himself again - a quieter, more pessimistic version of himself, but still himself - Sakura had left to help the search for Sasuke, leaving Naruto in the care of Ayame and Hinata. Sakura regularly returned to Konoha to visit him and update him on the search's status.

Nodding to a guard on the first floor, Izumo slowly walked to his room for some sleep. On each floor there were multiple guards, their job to make sure Naruto didn't leave the Tower. He may have been allowed to do as he pleased inside, but he was not allowed outside. They couldn't risk a civilian seeing him and reporting to the nobles.

Izumo wasn't surprised to see Sakura emerge from Tsunade's office as he passed by the large doors. "Good evening, Sakura-san. Just get back?"

Sakura yawned, covering her mouth, and then smiled sheepishly for it. “Hai, Izumo-san. Genki desu ka?” she asked as she paused to speak with him for a moment. She wanted to see Naruto, but she enjoyed both Izumo and Kotetsu’s company. They were gentle, solid men, still young but so mature that she couldn’t help but admire them and their sense of duty.

"Yes, I’m fine, thank you. How goes the search?" When Sakura shook her head sadly, his face fell a little. "Another dead end?"

"Literally," she answered, but her head came up quickly when she heard the thud of feet, her face brightening. "Naruto!" she called as the blond rounded the corner. "It was nice to see you, Izumo-san! Rest well!" she added hastily and ran to meet the blond opening her arms to hug him. He was so much like the brother she'd never had now. "Naruto! How are you?"

----------****----------

Sakura's back! "Sakura-chan!" I yell, scooping her up into a bear hug and squeezing tight. I haven't seen her for weeks! "How are you? Did Kakashi-sensei come back with you this time? How long are you staying?"

----------****----------

"I'll be here for two days. Enough to report to you and Tsunade-shishou and rest up a bit. Kakashi-sensei is still out looking. How have you been, Naruto?" Sakura asked and hugged him tightly, kissing his cheek. Her smile matched the joy in her heart. She still had two of her teammates. That counted for something.

----------****----------

"I'd be better IF THEY LET ME OUT OF THIS DAMN BUILDING!!" I yell, knowing Tsunade-baba can hear me. As thankful as I am for her decision to let me roam the Tower, I want to go outside. I'd settle for the roof, but I can't even go there! I still feel like I'm in a cell, trapped in here. And no matter how careful I am, someone always catches me sneaking out a window or about to do the teleportation Jutsu. It sucks. (You know you've been cooped up for too long when the monster in your head starts looking like decent company. ... Notice I said 'starts'. ... Right back at you. ... At least I'm still intact. Bwahaha!)

----------****----------

Sakura laughed softly. "Sorry, Naruto, but you can't leave the Tower until things clear up and we find Sasuke. Speaking of which, you should come with me and we'll have something to eat in the break room while I tell you all about everything that's happened since the last time we saw each other, ne?" She couldn’t quite suppress the cheery smile and cocked her head.

----------****----------

"Food?" I perk up at that. Food is always a good thing, especially when my last meal was hours ago. "Ramen and takoyaki?" I ask hopefully.

----------****----------

"Anything you want," Sakura answered and led the way to the Jounin's Lounge, asking for someone to get them some ramen and takoyaki along the way. Settling into her seat, Sakura sighed and leaned back in her chair. "Where should I start?" she asked thoughtfully.

----------****----------

"Wherever," I say with a shrug, stretching out on one of the couches. These are so much more comfortable than my bedroll. Hm, maybe I could steal a few of these cushions to add to my bed. Yes, I think I will. "So what was it this time? Look-alike? Corpse?" The sooner we get this discussion over with, the better. I still say Sasuke's never coming back, but Sakura refuses to listen to me. I've managed to make myself content with his scent and memories.

----------****----------

“A corpse… a half-chewed, rotting corpse that was found in the woods not so long ago. We unearthed it, to make sure it wasn’t him. It wasn’t of course, but it had me fooled for a few moments,” Sakura leaned back. “It took us forever to locate the grave. Days. They couldn’t remember where they’d buried it.” She couldn’t help but sound disgusted at such disregard.

----------****----------

"Hm." I think I found the most comfortable cushion. Yep, definitely stealing this in the morning on the way back downstairs. My sensitive nose picks up the smell of fresh ramen and takoyaki and I sit up fast, mouth watering. Food! (So, how does takoyaki compare to ramen? ... Of course it's rubbery. It's octopus. ... Glad you think so. ... No, this does not mean I'm gonna give up ramen in favor of takoyaki. You can wish, but no.)

----------****----------

Knowing she'd departed the optimal amount of information, Sakura set into her own ramen and takoyaki as soon as it was brought in. Naruto had been updated, so the rest of her time spent with him would be entirely fun. They would spar and or sit and talk quietly until she had to leave.

----------****----------

(I said no. ... Giving up anything for raw meat is a definite no! Ew! ... Suggest human meat again and next time you're losing a tail.) I make a face at that. Cannibalism is beyond gross. Hmm, food is gone. Need more. I get up and go to the kitchen for seconds, bringing back more takoyaki for Sakura, too. "When's Kakashi-sensei coming back?" I ask around a mouthful, sitting next to her this time.

----------****----------

"Next few weeks or so," Sakura mumbled and there was a long pause as they ate. After a while Sakura asked, "How are things with the Kyuubi?"

----------****----------

I shrug. "Meh, so-so. It hasn't tried to stage a takeover since I knocked off a few important bits, and we actually haven't had a major argument in, what, three days? I think that's a record. ... Okay, maybe not," I amend, getting the correction from the fox. "Apparently, our record is five days. But it's still a major pain in the ass." (You must be really bored in there if you're keeping track of things like that. ... Hey! I resemble that!)

----------****----------

She looked to him as he looked down into his ramen bowl and something made her still inside. Reaching out, she gingerly grasped his chin and turned his face to hers. His eyes.... were nearly purple, cat-slitted. Sakura hadn't noticed until that moment, but Naruto was... different! "Oh, gods... Naruto, have you looked in a mirror lately?" she asked, her chest tight. This was not good.

----------****----------

Talk about a random question. What? Do I have a huge zit or something? Is my hair turning green? "I avoid mirrors, remember? Why?"

----------****----------

"You... look... too different. Naruto... you need help to keep the fox and your own person separate!" Sakura stated with certainty. She was the apprentice of a healing ninja and she knew that Naruto needed help even if she didn’t entirely know why.

----------****----------

Shit, that's not good. "What do you mean, I look too different?" I ask warily, not sure I want to hear the answer. The fox has gone quiet, also waiting.

“Your eyes… they’re purple and your pupils are… slitted. Your whisker marks are getting deeper again… Naruto, what’s going on?!”

"They've been slitted for years, but... purple?" Since when have my eyes been purple?! She has to be seeing some trick of the light! Getting up, I run to a bathroom to see myself. Please be a trick of the light, please be a-

They're turning purple. My reflection has deep blue eyes, deeper than they should be, and my irises have gone purple around the edges. ...She wasn't just seeing things. Oh, gods... I stagger backwards and press myself against a wall, sliding down it until I'm sitting on the floor. My eyes are... Wait, what if it's not just my eyes? Holding out my hand, I pull some of my chakra into my palm. The blue 'flame' in my hand is purple at its heart. "Damn it." I dispel the chakra and bury my face in my hands. (No, really. You think? Shut up and leave me alone.)

----------****----------

Sakura appeared in the doorway, but was by his side in moments, squatting and reaching out for him. "Naruto, we'll get you help. We'll find a way, don't worry," she murmured and wrapped her arms around his neck, hugging him close and resting her chin on his head. "We won't lose you. Not again."

----------****----------

"A way to stop me and the fox from merging? Yeah, right," I mutter, my voice flat. "That thing has been in me since I was born. It was inevitable that we'd end up fusing. Don't bother making promises you can't keep, Sakura."

----------****----------

"She's not making a promise she can't keep, gaki. She's telling you to hope and work hard and anything is possible. As it is, Sakura, I'm sending you with a dispatch to Ayame's place in the morning." Tsunade had noticed a while ago that Naruto's physical form was altering to become a blend of Kitsune and man. She'd already been working on a plan - examining books and scrolls on mind-healing and mental strength training - when she'd come across an old roster, found some old names and some useful techniques that went with them that had strong ties to their present. "We'll fix you yet, Naruto," Tsunade stated and gave him her best and most confident smile.

Sakura looked up and nodded, slowly releasing Naruto from her embrace. "See?" Sakura asked softly, looking back to him.

----------****----------

I hate it when that old hag pops up out of nowhere. "Whatever, grandma," I mutter bitterly, standing up and pushing past her to get out of the bathroom. "Just keep telling yourself that and maybe I'll be fixed and maybe Sakura'll find Sasuke and maybe Orochimaru will drop down dead on the spot and maybe we'll all live happily ever after." Shoving my hands in my pockets, I make my way to the top floor, where it will be just be me and those damn guards. The closest I'm gonna get to being alone. And I definitely want to be alone.

----------****----------

Sakura and Tsunade exchanged heavy glances and then parted company, deciding to leave Naruto alone for the time being. He deserved privacy when he wanted it, after all.

----------

*The Next Morning*

----------

Sakura stood outside Ayame's door, waiting patiently as she heard the girl rummaging around and making her way to the door. Sakura only had to deliver the message and await Ayame's response before carrying that response to Tsunade-shishou. The locks finally rattled open and Ayame, wrapped in a sleeping robe, answered the door, looking tired but alert. "Ohayo, Ayame-chan! Sorry to bother you so early, but Hokage-sama wanted me to deliver this to you at the first reasonable hour." Sakura offered up the scroll.

"What is it?" Taking the scroll, Ayame opened it and quickly read the contents, then blinked in confusion. It was a mission. "Why is she asking me to do this? I'm not a ninja," Ayame protested, now very awake.

"It's imperative that you do everything you can, Ayame-chan. I can't explain more than that. I'm sorry," Sakura stated and smiled apologetically, sheepishly putting a hand to the back of her head. Her expression turned very serious all of sudden, and the pink-haired kunoichi took Ayame's free hand. "I'm begging you. Please."

The scroll told Ayame nothing of why she was being asked to retrieve her grandmother, just that the old woman was needed by the Hokage and it was the Hokage's request that Ayame go and fetch her to the village.

"But I haven't seen her since I was little. If Hokage-sama needs to see my grandmother so badly, wouldn't it be best to send a ninja? Especially if it's to help Naruto-kun."

Sakura blinked and then looked away. "We can't afford to send the ninja. Those that are not assisting in the watch on Naruto are tending to the other needs of the village. I'm leaving again tomorrow to continue the search for Sasuke. Please, Ayame. Tsunade-shishou believes it would be best for someone of your grandmother's own blood to ask. Shishou believes you'd have a better chance of convincing her."

Ayame read the scroll again. "If Hokage-sama believes I can do it, then I will give it my best shot. I will leave this afternoon."

"Thank you!" Sakura exclaimed and hugged the other girl tightly before stepping back and nodding to her. "I'll inform the Hokage right away." With that, she disappeared in a puff of Jutsu smoke that was wafted away by a gentle morning breeze.

Tucking the scroll into her belt, Ayame closed the door and began to get ready for the long journey. (I just hope Obaa-san actually listens to me.)

----------

*Two Weeks Later*

----------

Tired and footsore, Ayame arrived at the tiny village at the edge of the Fire Country's border where her grandmother lived. A little bit of asking around directed her to a sprawling house in various stages of adding on and repair. Taking a deep breath to steady her nerves, Ayame knocked on the door.

It was answered by a young man of average height, lithe build, and lightly tanned skin. He wore a bandana around the top half of his head, hiding both his eyes and hair from sight. "Pardon me, but is Obaa-san at home?" Ayame asked politely.

"Obaa-san?" the young man asked and tilted his head. "Who are you, please?"

"I'm her granddaughter, Ayame. I've come from Konoha with a request from the Hokage. It's urgent."

"Konoha?" He repeated and stared at her. Well it wasn't really a stare since he couldn't see her with the bandana over his eyes, but he didn't turn his face away for several long, silent seconds. After a moment, he shook his head and then stepped aside. "Come in, please. Forgive my rudeness. I didn't know."

"It's alright. Can I please see my grandmother? I have to deliver the request."

"Of course," the youth answered. "Come with me."

Turning, he led the way back down the hallway he'd come down and turned into the room, gesturing in the general direction of the rocking chair. "She's in there. I've got to get back to the Market. Please excuse me."

"Be a good boy, Mitani. Thank you for lunch," the grandmother called after him as he made a small sound of acknowledgement and left. "Such a nice boy," she said and then set her knitting aside so she could stand. "Ayame-chan! I haven't seen you in ages," the old woman stated shakily and hobbled over, her small, bent frame as trembly as her voice.

"Hello, Obaa-san," Ayame said with a smile, gently steering the old woman back to her chair. She knelt at her grandmother's feet. "You look wonderful. How are you feeling?"

"Very well, child," the old woman stated with a smile and looked off to the doorway. "Especially now that I have such a good helper."

"Who is he?" Ayame asked curiously. She knew her grandmother often took in strays and orphans, and was wondering what this one's story was. They had time. It was late in the day, Ayame needed to rest, and they wouldn't be able to leave in the morning anyway.

"Some of the men in the village brought him to me. They told me he had no one and couldn't remember his life before that day. In his condition, I assumed it was better that way. The other children love him and he's diligent. The littlest ones look up to him greatly... but you didn't come here to discuss my latest adopted-brood. They are all pretty much the same as far as their stories anyway. What does bring you here, Ayame-chan?" the old woman asked and picked up her knitting again. "It is a pleasure anyway, so I suppose it doesn't matter..." she rambled a little.

"I've brought a request from the Hokage." Reaching into her bag, Ayame pulled out a small scroll and handed it to her grandmother. Tsunade had given it to her just as she'd left Konoha. In it was the formal request. "Your help is needed in Konoha, Obaa-san."

The old woman looked at the scroll for several long moments before trying to hand it back. "I'm sorry, but I refuse."

Ayame's face fell. This was not what was supposed to happen. "But Obaa-san, Naruto-kun needs your help! You're the only one that can help him! Please!"

"These children here need my help. Am I suppose to trade thirteen for one?"

"They can come with us. Or Mitani can look after them while you're gone. You just said he's a hard worker and that the children love him," Ayame pleaded. If Naruto didn't get help soon, the nobles would end up killing him within the year.

"Absolutely not, Ayame. I will not leave my children in the care of someone who is still so much a child himself." That sounded every bit the dismissal it was on the subject. Grandmother would hear no more of the topic that day and she made that plain by changing it. "You are welcome to stay in the room next to the twins'. If you need anything, ask Mitani when he is home. He will be gone most of the day at the market, selling wares and various things for me. He's such a good boy," Grandmother trailed off and then picked up her knitting. Today was a rather lucid day for her, luckily. She was glad things were not muddied. It was such a pleasure to see her granddaughter.

Determined to make her grandmother at least consider accepting the request, Ayame continued to press the issue. "Obaa-san, please, you have to understand what's at stake here. If you don't help Naruto-kun, he will be executed. You are the most skilled mind healer on the continent. Only you can stop his merging with Kyuubi no Kitsune. Please, Obaa-san," she begged.

"Kyuubi no Kitsune?!" The old woman froze, knitting needles stopping mid-twist. "Are you saying...?" she trailed off, having a hard time fathoming what she was vaguely thinking. Could Yondaime Hokage really have Sealed the demon into the boy?

"Yes. Naruto-kun is the one containing the Kyuubi. He has been since he was born." Ayame was just old enough to remember the demon's attack and the fate of Yondaime, but she had never held Naruto's fate against him. Her parents had been two of the rare few who actually saw Naruto for what he was: a sacrifice for the village's safety. Not the demon itself. She had never learned to hate him and never could after watching him for years in the Ichiraku. "I have been helping to take care of him for almost a year now. He has been imprisoned because of how merging with the Kyuubi has affected his behavior. Please, Obaa-chan, you have to help him."

The old woman quietly resumed her knitting, her hands oddly steady for all that they shook when they were empty. Her mind, old and dry as it might have been, weighed everything: the Kyuubi, the boy's Fate, the troubles that could potentially arise in a few scenarios. It was a long while before she said simply, "I will... consider it further."

That was the best answer Ayame was going to get for now and she knew it. "Thank you, Obaa-san," she murmured sincerely, resting her cheek on Grandmother's knee.

The old woman smiled and simply started to hum some lovely old tune that flowed like a mountain river dancing softly beneath the moonlight. Or at least, that was how the old woman remembered the tune.

----------

*Civilian Mission: Day 2*

----------

A light knock sounded on the thin frame of the rice-paper door to Ayame's room, immediately followed by a deep, casual voice saying, "It's time to get up if you want breakfast. You had better hurry up before the chibis eat it all. I'll be leaving late and coming home early, as well as coming home at lunch hour like usual. Obaa-san is... going into one of her cycles. Would you mind keeping an eye on her and the little ones while I'm away? I'd normally ask one of the neighbors to look in on them and leave Hito in charge, but you're conveniently here anyway, so..." he trailed off and went quiet, presumably waiting for her answer.

"Mitani-kun, ohayo," Ayame greeted as she sat up and pulled the edges of her sleeping yukata closer together, rubbing sleep out of her eyes with the heel of her palm. "I would be happy to look after the little ones. Forgive me, but what do you mean by Obaa-san is going into one of her cycles? I haven't visited in years, I'm afraid."

"She's losing her mind. Slowly," he stated matter-of-factly. "Age is fading her memories. Sometimes she restores them and sometimes she can't. She can tell you things about her girlish youth and not remember what she had for lunch an hour ago. It slowly leads to a catatonic state that can last from one to four days. If this cycle goes that far, I won't be going out at all. I'll stay here and watch over her until she's better or..." again he trailed off, but this time only for a moment. "I would appreciate your help if you can. I have to go watch the kids or they'll start a food fight or something. Brats," he grumbled and shuffled off.

Smiling sadly, Ayame quickly got dressed and went to the kitchen to help Mitani handle the children. She smiled cheerfully at each of them and gently kissed Grandmother's cheek. The old woman was sitting at the head of the table with a far-off look on her face. "Ohayo, Obaa-san."

The old woman came to herself and looked at Ayame for a long moment, then smiled. She wasn't at all like she had been yesterday. She was distant and she touched Ayame's wrist with a shaking, gnarled hand. "Such a pretty child... How are you, Ayame-chan?"

Mitani and Hito were serving the younger children, Hito finishing up as Mitani settled in front of the baby with food.

"I'm doing very well. How are you, Obaa-san?" Ayame nodded her thanks to the little girl who brought her a chair, letting her sit next to Grandmother. She shared a sad look with the young girl.

"I'm well, thank you," Grandmother stated and turned to her food, to eat slowly.

Breakfast went by without too many problems. The twins - two little boys, identical down to the smudges on their cheeks - had tried to start a food fight, but Hito stopped it by sitting between them. Ayame could clearly tell that he was Mitani's second in command. Hito was at the stage of his life where he would do anything to prove he was a responsible man, and then turn around to play in the mud with other kids. And there were so many children, at all ages.

The youngest was the little baby Mitani was feeding, probably not even two yet. The eldest was Hito at thirteen. All of the other eleven children were anywhere from three to ten. (How did Obaa-san ever manage without Hito or Mitani's help?) Ayame wondered, watching as two of the toddlers started poking each other.

Mitani stood finally and put the baby's dishes in the sink. He gently wiped the toddler's face off with a soft, warm and wet cloth and then turned to Ayame. "Thank you. I'll leave them in your hands," he said with a respectful bow and then turned to Hito. "You help out, Hito. Be good. All of you." With that, he left the kitchen and headed to his room, where he changed into something presentable for the Marketplace: white cloth pants that barely reached his ankles, a red, comfortably-fitted tank-top, and his black bandana instead of the faded blue one. He re-entered the kitchen moments later, travel bag slung over one shoulder and an old, worn-looking pair of sandals in the hand not holding the duffle strap in place. "I'll be back sometime around one or two in the afternoon. Everyone be good."

A chorus of, "Hai, Mitani-nii-chan," answered him and he left, looking satisfied.

Ayame helped put all of the dishes in the sink and began to wash them, eagerly assisted by the twins, who ended up throwing suds at each other instead of drying. Out of the corner of her eye, Ayame noticed Hito helping Grandmother get to her rocking chair in the living room. When he re-entered the kitchen to break up the twins, Ayame asked quietly, "How long has she been like this?"

"A long time. Since I was their age," he answered, pulling the twins apart. He scolded them and sent them to different corners of the room to sit and sulk before smiling brightly at Ayame. "But since Onii-chan's come it's been easier. Mitani-nii-chan takes good care of all of us, even though it's three times harder for him than me, but then... maybe it isn't." The boy shrugged. Hito was definitely mature for his age.

"Why is it three times harder for him?"

Hito stopped drying the dish he'd picked up and cocked his head. "You can't tell, Ayame-nee-san?"

"Apparently not if I have to ask," Ayame answered, raising a brow in playful seriousness. She shook the suds off a plate and handed it to him.

Hito rinsed it and then began to dry it as he answered softly, "He's blind," without looking at her.

"...Oh," Ayame said quietly, lowering her gaze to the sink. "I honestly didn't notice." She was so used to seeing people - ninja and civilians alike - in Konoha with covered eyes for various reasons, the thought that Mitani was blind hadn't even come to her.

"It's ok, nee-san. He doesn't move like a blind person, or at least not how I think a guy like that should move," the boy shrugged. "He's probably been blind all his life, or at least that's what Obaa-chan says."

"That makes sense," Ayame agreed, thinking about the way Mitani moved. He certainly didn't go about as if he'd only recently lost his sight.

They soon finished the dishes and shooed the twins outside to play. "Is there anything else I can do to help?"

"Stay with Obaa-chan while I watch the littles?" Hito asked hopefully. It would be a huge weight off his back if he could care for the smaller children and not have to worry about their benefactress.

"Of course." Ayame gave him an encouraging smile.

"Thank you, Onee-san!" he chirped and took the toddler off for a diaper change.

Chuckling, Ayame went to the living room and sat down at Grandmother's feet. She looked around the room for something she could do. Spotting a nearby basket of clothes in want of mending, she pulled it close and began to sew up a tear in a small shirt.

----------

*Days Later*

----------

Grandmother, fully lucid once more, sat rocking on the porch, still knitting calmly, but quickly. She looked as her granddaughter came to her and sat at her feet, a ritual at this point. "Konnichi wa, Ayame-chan," the old woman greeted, her hands never missing a beat.

"Konnichi wa," the young woman greeted in return, setting down her basket. She was almost done with all the mending; she would have been done yesterday had the older children not fallen into a thorn bush. They sat in silence until Ayame just couldn't stand it anymore. "Obaa-san, have you decided what you're going to do about the Hokage's request?"

There was a lengthy silence before the elder answered softly, "I cannot answer the Hokage's request, Ayame-chan. I am... far too old to make such a journey. The little ones here need me... I can't leave all of them and everything else in the hands of just anyone. Mitani is a wonderful boy, but he cannot watch over so many when he cannot actually see. He cannot work at the same time, either. Help is not so readily available that I can burden whomever I can find with this not-so-small task... but mostly, I am just old, child, and too world weary and tired to make such a journey."

"I can send for a carriage so you don't have to walk. The children can come with us," Ayame argued. Her last resort would be to bring Naruto here, but the council would eat up time debating whether it was wise to let him out of the village and by the time they'd made any sort of decision, it would be too late for him.

"That is not the kind of trip you take babies on, Ayame. Have some sense, girl!" Grandmother scolded never looking up from her knitting.

"Hokage-sama would be willing to send someone to look after them while you're gone. I know she would!"

"My answer is no, Ayame. I am sorry for your friend, but it is not possible. It is very, very improbable that I could even do anything for him anyway."

"So the nobles will execute another innocent because you are not willing to try." Furious, Ayame stood up and went to her room, leaving her mending in a pile at Grandmother's feet.

"Baa-chan, why is Nee-chan mad?" a shy, trembling voice asked from behind the rocking chair. One of the little girls had seen Ayame stomp off and was worried there would be yelling later. Yelling was Very Bad.

"Baa-chan is old, Tohru. I can't do something that I should and Ayame is unhappy with my decision," she answered honestly. There was no use in lying to children who were far smarter than most gave them credit for.

"Oh." Tohru climbed into Grandmother's lap and hugged the old woman's neck with her small arms. "It'll be okay, Baa-chan. You'll think of something. You always do."

The old woman just hugged her back and smiled. Little ones were so perceptive and yet so sweetly naive all at once. It was endearing. "I will try, of course," she agreed softly and began rocking in her chair while knitting behind the little's back.

"Good." Satisfied that she'd done her good deed for the day, Tohru let go and curled up in Grandmother's lap. "Tell me a story?"

"In ancient days there lived in a remote part of Japan a man and his wife, and they were blessed with a little girl, who was the pet and idol of her parents. On one occasion, the man was called away on business in distant Kyoto. Before he went, he told his daughter that if she were good and dutiful to her mother he would bring her back a present she would prize very highly. Then the good man took his departure, mother and daughter watching him go.

“At last he returned to his home, and after his wife and child had taken off his large hat and sandals he sat down..." It was one of Tohru's favorite tales and Grandmother had no problem telling the story of The Mirror of Matsuyama over and over again.

----------

*Weeks Later*

----------

"Please, Mitani-kun, will you talk to Obaa-san for me?" Ayame pleaded, standing next to a large wooden tub full of soapy laundry opposite the young man. "You're the only one who can convince her to go back to Konoha with me."

Over the past few weeks, Ayame had tried everything she could think of to get Grandmother to accept the request. She'd enlisted the help of the littlest children, hoping their sweetness would tip the scale. When that didn't work, she'd gone to the older children, hoping their naïveté would be of some use. And when that didn't work, she'd asked Hito for help. Not even he could talk Grandmother into accepting. Mitani was Ayame's last resort. If he could convince Grandmother that he could take care of the children on his own, that would put Naruto one step closer to truly being himself again.

"No," Mitani said simply as he hung a futon pad out to dry. One of the little ones had wet the bed again, and he'd diligently had to scrub everything out of the padding that he could. Hopefully, it would be dry by bedtime. "There's no way I can take care of all these children on my own. Hito is a big help, but he isn't enough. Not even close."

"Can you ask one of the villagers to help you?" she argued, scrubbing a food stain out of the tablecloth.

"There aren't any villagers that have the time to do more than drop in to make sure everything is ok while I'm gone. Ayame-chan, I'm really sorry, but I can't send her off. What's wrong with your friend, anyway?" Mitani had turned back to washing sheets.

"Almost twenty years ago, my village was attacked by a demon. In order to save the village, our leader at the time sealed the demon into a baby. That baby was Naruto-kun," Ayame explained, transferring the table cloth to the rinsing tub. "For most of his life he's managed to keep himself and the demon as two separate entities. He's just the container. Unfortunately, they've recently started to merge. He needs Obaa-san's mind healing skills to stop the merging."

"I see," Mitani fell silent and continued scrubbing at the sheet with determination. What else could he say? He couldn't send Grandmother away, but he could also see the plight of the young lady standing next to him. His mind wandered as he processed the information carefully. Was there anything he could do to help?

After a long silence, Ayame asked, "Will you speak to her for me? I can send a message to the Hokage, asking for her to send someone here to help you while Obaa-san is gone."

Another long silence ensued before Mitani visibly shook himself. "I'm sorry. What was that?"

Ayame patiently repeated herself, used to the way Mitani would sometimes lose himself in his own head.

He sighed and turned his face towards her. "I can try. That's all I'll say. If there will be good help here, than maybe it's possible."

"Really?! Mitani-kun, thank you!" she chirped, throwing her soapy arms around his neck and kissing his cheek, absolutely elated.

Mitani squirmed and pushed her off as quickly as was polite, then returned immediately to his washing. Women! He just couldn't understand why they felt the need to hug everything from animals to him. "Yeah, yeah," he murmured more than ready to leave it at that.

Smiling brightly, Ayame finished rinsing the table cloth and hung it up to dry before going back to the wash tub and scrubbing a quilt. "Please talk to her as soon as you can. After all, the sooner we leave the sooner she can return." (And the sooner Naruto-kun will be completely himself again.)

"Yeah, yeah," Mitani grumbled and continued to wash the sheet. He dipped it into a rinsing tub and began to swirl it around.

"Are you always in a bad mood or are you just being grumpy today?" Ayame asked, half-teasing and half-flirting. While Mitani may have been blind, she certainly wasn't, and he was a very attractive young man, even with the bandana covering half his face.

"I'm never grumpy!" Mitani snapped and put more will into rinsing the sheet than was necessary.

"Usotsuke [Pleeeeease]." Grinning, Ayame moved to a new spot on the quilt and looked down to see if there were any stains that needed attention.

(Oh... gods...) The grin fell right off her face and her jaw followed. Her eyes grew huge as they stared at the pattern between her hands. A red and white circle lay before her, a curved-down line separating the red bottom half from the top white half, which had a block of white jutting out of it at the top, almost like a handle. The last time she had seen that pattern was...

TBC…