Author's Note: Two cups of coffee could barely get me through this. sigh my first fanfic. Read and review plz!!
Rated teen for safety
Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I don't own anything Naruto.
Title: Thorns on a Rose
Autumn leaves fluttered around Sakura's feet as she walked through the empty streets of Konoha. Her face was buried in the stack of paper work Tsunade had left her. "Stupid old hag!" she murmured angrily. "She's probably having a drink!"
Sakura walked a few more paces before sitting down on the bench that Sasuke put her on all those years ago. Now Sasuke was back and just as emo as ever. Naruto had returned with him and Sakura grinned as she remembered opening her door to see a breathless Naruto and a glowering Sasuke.
The council did take away Sasuke's ninja license as a punishment for leaving Konoha.
"Hn. Didn't need it anyway." He would say when somebody brought it up.
Thunder woke her from her little flashbacks and Sakura stood up and covered her head with the paperwork as it started to rain. She darted into the Hokage's tower, just as a torrent of rain and hail poured down.
Sakura walked into the building and jogged up the stairs to Tsunade's office.
"Hi, Naruto!" She said happily as the yellow-haired Jounin walked past. He didn't reply or even look at her. That's odd, She thought. Sakura continued on her way and pushed the door that led into Tsunade's office.
Tsunade had her head on the desk and was moaning softly.
"Had one too many, now?" Sakura asked, putting her hand on her hips.
"Mm." Tsunade mumbled, lifting her head. "Just some trouble with Naruto."
"Yeah, I saw him just now. He was acting kind of strange."
Tsunade sighed and put her head in her hands. "Do you have the paper work?"
"Umm, yeah." Sakura said slowly before reaching into her skirt pocket and pulling out the wet clod. "Well I used to anyway."
Tsunade rolled her eyes and handed her a piece of paper. Sakura scanned through it quickly. It was a list of herbs.
"What's this!?" Sakura asked.
"A list of herbs I need you to get in the forest. No questions. Now go." She replied standing up to add emphasis.
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Sakura bent down and picked a few poppy seeds. The rain had nearly stopped and now it was just a soft drizzle. She stood up and stretched. Suddenly she heard a twig snap behind her. She whipped around, her hand on her kunai.
Naruto stumbled out of the bushes. Sakura knew something was wrong. He was doubled over, with his hands on his head. He his nails were long and dirty and his eyes had a red tint to it.
"Naruto?" Sakura asked carefully.
Naruto head whipped up and Sakura backed up, stunned. Naruto's teeth were long and sharp and his eyes were fully red.
"S-sakura. Go home." Naruto struggled through his clenched teeth, wincing.
"Not until you tell me what's wrong!" Sakura said. She felt killing intent radiating from him. Naruto clutched his stomach, his eyes shut tight. Slowly, red chakra covered his body and two tails were visible.
Tears were coming to her eyes but she would not let them fall. She was scared and worried. This was not Naruto at all.
Naruto calmed down a bit, but the killing intent became stronger. He slowly crawled back, trying to back away from her. Another tail began to form. She ran over and grabbed Naruto's shoulder. "Naruto!" She shouted. Naruto looked up at her and his eyes slowly faded back into blue. He suddenly collapsed into heap on the forest floor.
Sakura bit her lip and heaved Naruto onto her back. He needed medical attention. Not the hospital. He needs Tsunade, she thought. She began running in the direction of the Hokage's tower once again.
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"So tell me what happened." Tsunade said as she examined Naruto's unconscious form.
"Well, w-when I was in the forest, Naruto came out and was acting like he was hurt. His eyes were r-red and his nails and teeth were long. When i touched him he j-just sort of returned to normal and collapsed." Sakura stated shakily, as she sat down and sipped her tea.
With each word Tsunade's face grew grimmer. Naruto stirred and groaned. He slowly opened his blue eyes. Tsunade sighed and helped Naruto sit up. Then she motioned for Sakura to leave the room. Sakura stood up reluctantly and left the room.
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Naruto had a throbbing headache and his back hurt. It took him a while to figure out where he was. Slowly it came to him. He was in Tsunade's office and on her desk! Tsunade helped him sit up and he briefly saw Sakura before she left the room. The memory of what had recently happened hit him like brick wall.
"How's Sakura?" He asked worriedly.
"Fine, but what more important is what's wrong with you." Tsunade said crossing her arms.
"I'm fine, Granny." Naruto said standing up.
"Nope, wrong answer. You're telling me exactly what happened." She said, pushing Naruto onto the table with exceeded force.
Naruto scowled but sat down.
"It was the kyuubi wasn't it." Tsunade asked sitting down next to Naruto.
Naruto sighed and answered, "I don't know what's wrong. It's been so much more difficult to keep him in check."
"The seal's weakening." Tsunade said sadly. "You better hope this doesn't get out. I don't know what we're going to do. This can't get out of control."
"Yeah…"
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Sakura pulled her ear away from the door. In disbelief she stated, "The kyuubi."
Extra notes: Okay apparently Sakura didn't know Kyuubi was in Naruto (no matter what the manga says plugs ears with fingers). To set some stuff straight, the previous Rookie nine are now 17 years old! woot! some stuff is gonna be different from the manga, but some will also be the same. Okay now that that's done with, time for internet surfing. Oh joy!