Naruto Fan Fiction

On The Run

By Kraven Ergeist

"I don't like it, Kakashi," an aged Naruto whispered between gritted teeth.

The two of them were perched around the canyon walls surrounding the remains of what had once been Sunagakure. The majority of the sturdy sandstone establishments had been reduced to rubble. The larger, official buildings where the village elders and the Kazekage would normally be housed were little more than a crater in the center of what had once been a prosperous village, struck without the slightest chance of escape in the initial barrage that had hit when the Hachibi had attacked at full force.

As ruined as the city looked, the two shinobi knew for a fact that as far as old ninja villages went, Sunagakure was one of the few left mostly intact.

"This place is a graveyard, Naruto," Kakashi pointed out. "Even though the Akatsuki already obtained his tailed beast, he was still the leader of all the shinobi in the village. He'd still be someone they wanted to remove. It's entirely possible he got away, but either way, we're not likely to find him here."

"I know," Naruto frowned, running a finger across the scar that cut across his nose, almost identical to the one that Iruka had had back when he was alive. Sasuke had left him with it a few years back; about the same time he'd killed Iruka. "We should probably press on."

"We're short on supplies," Kakashi reasoned. "We should try to scrounge what we can. Besides, there's still likely to be a few of Akatsuki's flunkies left to the guard the place in case someone showed up."

"Someone like us," Naruto grumbled bitterly.

Kakashi suppressed a sigh. The old Naruto would have said that with a grin. The world had become a truly dark place that even the usually cheerful, carefree Naruto had become such a depressing individual.

"We'll make this quick," Kakashi said, standing up from behind their rocky hiding place. "Cover my six."

Naruto got to his feet, following behind. "Understood."

xxxxx

The village was devoid of life – it had been for years. Anything that could be salvaged had either been picked over by looters, or already been spoiled. But there were certain supplies only a shinobi could get to, which is what Kakashi had in mind. While the immediate concern was food and water, in order to survive the Akatsuki hunting party, they needed ninja tools – weapons, traps, poisons, soldier pills, scrolls, anything that could increase the odds of survival.

Anything they hoped to obtain, however, had to be dug up from out of tons and tons of broken sandstone, which meant exposing their flanks, and in Naruto's case, seeing the brutality of the attack up close.

"Fucking bastards…"

Kakashi saw Naruto standing over a pile of ruble. He didn't need his sharingan to see the rotten corpses of two parents that had tried futilely to protect their child from the falling debris that had crushed all three of them.

"Naruto…"

"Why?" Naruto growled, tears forming in his eyes. "They've already taken the Ichibi out of Gaara. Why did they need to go this far?"

Kakashi frowned. He knew Naruto wasn't looking at this with any perspective. A single glance around with his sharingan, and Kakashi detected enumerable innocent civilians and families massacred in a similar manner. The entire village of Sunagakure was gone, left in utter ruins. Their home village, Konohagakure, even more so. All the prominent ninja villages all across the continent, wiped out. In the five years that had passed since Akatsuki had first struck, Kakashi had already accepted this as fact. But the chakra he felt emanating off of Naruto made him worry.

"Based on what Jiraiya told me, the Akatsuki had been planning to completely revolutionize the world," Kakashi explained. "To completely eradicate the ninja system from the countries of the world."

Naruto just started, angrily. "Do these people look like shinobi to you?"

The violent chakra didn't die down, and Kakashi began to worry about how easily they would be found if Naruto continued like this.

"Naruto…" Kakashi placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder, but he shrugged it off.

"Forget it," Naruto said, gruffly. "I'm-"

Both of them suddenly leapt away from each other just in time to avoid the hail of explosive kunai that literally showered the entire city block they had been moments earlier.

The two of them appeared moments later, within the still intact walls of another sandstone building. The smell of blood and death still permeated its wall, but at present, the straggling team of two had more pressing concerns.

"Keep a lid on that chakra of yours, Naruto!" Kakashi hissed. "How many times do I have to remind you, that Kyuubi is like a beacon to anyone around you!"

Naruto's eyes were now solidly red.

"They can come and get me…"

Kakashi suppressed a groan and motioned for them to flee down the hallway. Light came in through windows and holes broken in the window that flashed images of the world around them as they passed. It was in one of these images that Kakashi caught a look at their opponent.

His eyes widened.

"Naruto! Move!"

With an explosion that echoed off the canyon walls, the building came crashing down.

xxxxx

Sasuke frowned. He did not like his present situation. After finally achieving his vengeance, the world didn't look any brighter. Instead, it left him with an empty feeling, a complete loss for purpose or direction.

So when the Akatsuki had offered him a position within their ranks, he hadn't refused. He had seen firsthand what these Akatsuki could do. They would be of use to him – insofar as they would eliminate any other hindrances to his next course of action.

"Sasuke?"

The last survivor of the Uchiha clan stared grumpily at his partner. Suigetsu had toppled his bother's former accomplice, Kisame, and had achieved his goal of procuring the Samehada sword. The Akatsuki leader had offered him and the other members of Team Hebi positions within the Akatsuki ranks and they had been slowly working their way up.

"What do you want?"

Sasuke looked up as Karin strode languidly towards him, her cropped Akatsuki robes revealing all too much leg for Sasuke's tastes. Suigetsu and Jugo now filled the empty spaces that Hidan and Kakuzu had left, which left Sasuke and Karin to fill his brother and Kisame's slot. And more still now bore the black robes with red clouds, as Akatsuki's numbers grew ever more over the years. Eight of the nine Jinchuriki had fallen to the Akatsuki, who now bore their power for their own doing. And Sasuke's previous attachment to the Jinchuriki of the Kyuubi made him an invaluable asset.

"I'm just bored," Karin deliberately whined, swaying her hips invitingly. "We haven't done anything in ages! I'm going crazy here!"

Sasuke closed his eyes in masked frustration. Karin's quirks had always gotten to him. She was emotional, outspoken, wasted far too much energy on the trivial matters, and still persisted after all these years, despite her obvious attraction towards him, to deny any such claims should anyone outside their circle interfere.

But she had a few perks that came along with the quirks.

Sasuke's sword came out of nowhere and landed millimeters from Karin's neck. Karin's expression didn't falter for a second. Sasuke began to smile. The woman's fingernails, coated with a deadly poison, were set to stab him directly below his chin.

She was never caught off guard when it came to combat. She was a stupendous fighter. She could hold her own, which Sasuke respected. That was the first perk.

"Very well then…" Sasuke mused, retracting his blade. He allowed Karin to lower herself onto his lap, clamping her lips down on his ear. He closed his eyes, feigning real pleasure, as she laid him on his back and climbed on top of him, kissing the pale skin of his neck.

In his objective to revive his clan, spreading the name of Uchiha all over the Akatsuki's new world, no one suited his needs better than Karin. She was willing, she was able, she was a strong and fit woman, perfect for bearing children…

That, by far, outweighed everything.

"I love you, Sasuke…" Karin cooed, sliding his robe open.

"Mmm…" Sasuke mused, noncommittally. In truth, he had no real feelings of affection for the girl. Respect and value to be sure. But in the end, she was just a tool to be used like any other. She had yet to fulfill her purpose, and if he voiced his displeasure with her feelings of attachment, he knew she would be less and less inclined to serve that purpose. So he played along, dancing this charade for as long as it took. If luck held, she would bear several fine children to the Uchiha name.

Sasuke had no trouble pretending to enjoy the kisses she gave him and was forced to return in kind. He had long ago sealed off the part of his mind that would ever care for such trivialities. But what kind of genius would he be if he couldn't pull off the acts flawlessly?

So it was with quiet stoicism that he took Karin to his bed that night, the kunoichi as so much putty in his hands. Five years, they had been playing this game, with yet no results. Karin had miscarried twice, though that was still as good as failure in Sasuke's mind. But Sasuke was nothing if not patient. And Karin had promised her devotion to him for as long as her life lasted. And Sasuke was planning on making her live up to her word.

xxxxx

The cause of the building's sudden collapse was two oversized swords slicing away anything resembling foundations that might have kept the already hobbling ruin up in the first place. With an annoyed sniff, Suigetsu hoisted Samehada over his shoulder, while Zabuza's beheading sword he let rest on the ground.

"Cheh…" he groaned. "Where do they think they can hide?"

He caught a glimpse of the two shinobi dashing into another building and launched after them.

"Watch my back, Jugo," he called back to his partner as he leapt towards the far building, dragging his two overlarge swords with him.

Jugo, for his part, just groaned in the affirmative.

Suigetsu reached the second building, and this time, simply plowed through it, making his own doors where there weren't any, following the scent of the chakra.

He wasn't surprised when the building came down on his head. The sound of explosive seals detonated at key points and brought the whole foundation down on him.

Suigetsu sniffed. "Cheh…"

Then he swung his two swords, and the crumbling ceiling split and blew apart, leaving a wide opening for him to slip out of. Leaping into the air, he saw the two shinobi he was after on the roof of a third building nearby, and Suigetsu went after them.

His blades went through each of them like butter, and the two shadow clones vanished, leaving behind logs with more explosive seals.

"Fuck…" Suigetsu hissed, as the two explosives went off, leaving a small crater on the roof of the already condemned building. Hardly a sweat broken, Suigetsu landed atop yet another far away building, this one barely a story above the ground.

"You could have told me there were just shadow clones, Jugo!" Suigetsu yelled accusingly at his comrade.

"I thought you could tell!" Jugo hollered back.

"Well, thanks, I've lost them now, you idiot!" Suigetsu hollered back, making his way back to his partner in three bounds.

"It's not my fault," Jugo shrugged. "You're the one that barreled after them. I would have been looking for the real targets, but you said to watch your back."

"What kind of shinobi are you, can't do two things at once!?"

"This is Copy Ninja Kakashi and the Nine Tail Jinchuriki we're talking about here!" Jugo reasoned. "I'm not gonna half-ass an order while these guys are our opponents!"

"They why not at least come along with me so you can, oh I don't, maybe contribute for once, instead of letting me do all the work!?"

"I thought you'd like to be the one to round up those two all by yourself."

"Do you want to keep your vital organs or don't you?"

"I'm just saying…"

Suigetsu holstered both blades behind his back, crisscrossed. "The Leader is not going to be happy with this."

"They can't have gotten far," Jugo reasoned. "And it's not like there are many places for them to go. We'll find them."

"Yeah? Like where? In the miles and miles of desert that surround Sunagakure?"

"It's a start."

"I hate you."

xxxxx

"Just a quick in and out scavenge, huh Kakashi?" Naruto growled as they powered out of Sunagakure.

Kakashi, for his part, was busy laying down more traps in the sand. About seventy some-odd shadow clones of them were running just as fast in as many other directions. Such escape tactics were all but rudimentary nowadays.

"It was your chakra that blew our cover, Naruto," Kakashi pointed out. "If this becomes a problem, I might have to start adding seals to your little repertoire."

Naruto ignored him. "Man, we can't keep this up much longer. We haven't eaten in days, we haven't had a good night sleep in months, and sooner or later, one of us is going to slip up. And I have a feeling it's going to be me!"

"We have to keep going, Naruto," Kakashi urged, finishing up his trap. "We have to keep searching. Someone must have survived the Akatsuki's massacre. Ninja weren't meant to operate in two man teams. Three has always been the minimum. We'll improve our chances greatly once we find someone, anyone who we can trust."

Naruto sat weakly on the ground. He didn't even have the energy to complain anymore. He just kept thinking about Sakura, about Iruka, about Chouji and Shikamaru, about Hinata and Neji, about Gaara, and about Tsunade and Jiraiya. About everyone whose presence he had taken for granted, but were now lost, maybe forever.

The sad truth was that neither of them knew for a fact who was alive and who was dead. The attack had happened so fast, there had been no time to regroup or recruit. It had simply been a matter of run or be captured. And in Naruto's case, capture meant death. If it hadn't been for Kakashi and Iruka…

Iruka…

No, Naruto reminded himself. There was very little question as to his old Sensei's fate. Naruto clenched his teeth. One of these days, Sasuke would be made to pay for what he'd done.

"Get up," Kakashi commanded. "We can rest when we've put some more distance between us and those Akatsuki."

The 20-year-old Jinchuriki pursed his lips and threw Kakashi a dirty glare, but otherwise uncomplainingly got to his feet and matched pace with Kakashi as he continued running off into the distance.

xxxxx

Haraguchi was the name of the town that had sprung up in the Wind country after the collapse of Sunagakure. Of course, it wasn't even called the Wind country anymore. Akatsuki propaganda forbade such terms. The continent itself was all supposedly united under one banner, and it's capital, the original Akatsuki city, had seized all government control over the former shinobi world.

Haraguchi, the second largest, now reigned over the area that had once belonged to Sunagakure. It's walls reaches massive lengths, and its boundaries were ever increasing, leveling forests and wilderness to further their industry and production. Progress was the name of the game, and the Akatsuki was tearing the old world apart, with Haraguchi paving the way.

Elites paced the streets regularly, forcefully suppressing any uprising. All bore the black and red-clouded robes of the Akatsuki. Two, however, were more than they seemed.

"Explain to me again why we're here?" one female voiced whispered to another. They were both crouching atop tall buildings, taller than any they had before seen. Gone were the trees and grass and dirt roads that one normally expected. Here, there were paved streets and steel towers slowly rising out of the ground.

The taller of the two women lowered the brim of the wide conical Akatsuki hat that adorned most of the policing forces of the city. "It's called hiding in plain sight. A renegade shinobi would have to be crazy to seek refuge in one of Akatsuki's own cities, and certainly not in the guise of their own elite force. What better way to explain your skill than having been drafted into Akatsuki ranks?"

The other female frowned. "Sooner or later, we're going to get caught."

The second figure said nothing, staring down at the streets below them. Despite the supposed "prosperity" of the city, the streets were deserted. Elites, all dressed in the Akatsuki garb patrolled the city, blanketing the area, ensuring no stone was left unturned.

"Tsuna-"

"SHH!" the older woman hissed. "Don't ever use that name, child."

The younger of the two of them groaned anxiously. "Sensei, I feel like we're sitting ducks up here!"

"If you're so worried, stop making noise and keep a closer watch," the older of the two pressed. "Besides, I'll bet no one even comes up here anymore."

A few moments passed.

"You know-"

"I know, I know…"

The younger woman might've smiled, had it not been for the sudden shift in movement in the streets below.

"Looks…something's happening…"

The two stared down as the elite patrolling the streets seemed to form ranks on the main boulevard. The two of them leapt over several buildings to get a better fix on what was happening. When the got within eyeshot, they saw a progression of guards marching into through the city gates, and two individuals, both in Akatsuki robes, being escorted down the avenue.

The younger of the two quickly drew in her breath as the older seized her by the wrist, yanking her back, out of view of the procession.

"Wha – Sensei!?"

"Change of plans," the older barked. "We're leaving. Right now!"

"But-"

"Now!" she hissed, practically yanking her in the direction opposite the two on the street.

xxxxx

Karin noticed her companions stare and snaked her arm around his.

"What is it, Sasuke?"

The dark haired man made no motion to prevent nor acknowledge the display of affection as his stare remained fixed on the roof of a tower off to the left.

"Nothing," he decided, returning his gaze forward. "Nothing at all."

Karin pursed her lips. She could feel the chakra flowing through Sasuke's veins. It only got that way right after he used his sharingan.

xxxxx

Naruto lay, nearly passed out as Kakashi sat quietly on his haunches. They were both exhausted, their stomachs growling from hunger, having managed to forage very little in the desert surrounding them. It was at least a three-day journey to land with any kind of vegetation and any kind of food supply. The pattering of paws made only the faintest sound to Kakashi's pricked ears as Pakkun patrolled the surrounding area.

As willing as Kakashi was to continue protecting Naruto, his own lack of sleep was getting the better of him. Naruto may not have been sleeping well, but Kakashi hadn't slept period almost all week long.

"Hey, Naruto," he whispered, nudging the young man quietly.

The lad's tired eyes opened, and right away, he sat up, and motioned for Kakashi to lie down, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes as he took the next shift.

Naruto's stomach grumbled. It had taken over half his allotted sleep time to actually get to sleep with all the clenching of his stomach muscles, trying to churn what wasn't there. There were dark circles under his eyes, and he was starting to lose weight rather quickly.

Rubbing his eyes, gave an envious look at his sensei. Kakashi had always been better at these things. Naruto could beat him in terms of sheer physical endurance, but when it came to psychological endurance, such as times where patience and diligence under stress was needed, Naruto felt so utterly helpless. Each passing moment, sleep threatened to reclaim him, clawing his eyes trying to stay awake. He longed for a fire to stave off the night's chill, but that would serve only to draw attention.

He briefly considered calling to Pakkun to sit with him and chat with him to keep him awake, but he dismissed the idea outright – if he did fall asleep, Pakkun was their last safety net should something happen. Then it occurred to him that calling for Pakkun wasn't the only answer - he could summon a companion of his own.

One summoning technique later, Gamatatsu was sitting on a rock in front of Naruto, staring tiredly at him.

"Whaaaaat?" the frog croaked miserably. "It's the middle of the night!"

"Shhh!" Naruto shushed, concerned for Kakashi's continued slumber. "I know it's late, but it's an emergency!"

Gamatatsu just glared at him. "What's the emergency, kid?"

Naruto glanced over at Kakashi. Still asleep from what he could tell.

"It's like this…we're on the run from the Akatsuki, and we're out on our own. We're out of supplies, and we're being hunted down. We're tired, we're hungry, and it's my shift and I'm in danger of falling asleep. If I fall asleep, we're both dead. So I need you to do whatever you can to keep me awake until sunrise."

"What did you have in mind?"

"Could you just…I dunno…stick around and make sure I don't fall asleep?"

The frog stared at him hard.

"Can it involve hitting you?"

Naruto ran his hands through his hair. "Just keep me talking, would you? I can't afford to fall asleep."

Gamatatsu grumbled. "Can't you just take one of those solider pills or something?"

"We're out, or I would have to begin with. If you have any on you, I'd gladly use them."

Gamatatsu shook his brown head. "No, we don't use drugs in the Gama clan. Now, if we were by a river, I could find some herbs and brew you some tea to keep you awake…"

Naruto shook his head. "We're in the middle of the desert."

Gamatatsu rubbed his webbed fingers against his rubbery head, until he clenched his hand into a fist.

"You need to summon by brother, Gamataro. He's a desert toad, he'll know what herbs to use to make some nice tea for you."

Naruto smiled. "Would he? That would be awesome!"

Gamatatsu sighed, content in that he could soon return to bed. "Alright, stay safe pal. And tell that dog friend of yours that he's way off the trail if he hasn't picked up those two kunoichi heading past you."

Naruto's eyes bugged out. "Those two what!?"

Gamatatsu sighed. "Yeah, old lady Tsunade's with them. Running awful fast, not even covering their trail."

Naruto was instantly on his feet. "Tsunade!? Here!? Are you sure?"

"Positive," Gamatatsu croaked, pointing with one of his webbed fingers. "The number of times Jiraiya's had me help him peep on that lady, I'd recognize that scent anywhere. About three clicks that way."

Naruto ran off without even waking Kakashi. Whistling to Pakkun, he rushed to where Gamatatsu had pointed when Pakkun caught up to him.

"Pakkun," he whispered as the two dashed over the desert sand in tandem. "Do you smell Tsunade-sama?"

Pakkun nodded. "Yes, I caught onto her scent about ten minutes ago."

"Then why didn't you come and get us!?" Naruto demanded, angrily.

"Kakashi's instructions were to alert you if anyone got within a kilometer of the camp," Pakkun explained. "Tsunade and Sakura were just outside of that radius, so I didn't think I needed to wake you. You honestly look like you could use your rest."

Naruto missed his step and fell in a heap in the sand. Darting right back to his feet, he sped after the dog.

"Sakura!? Sakura's with her!?"

"Yeah," Pakkun nodded. "Another hundred meters or so this way if we hurry."

Naruto felt his energy begin to rise. "Ok, Pakkun…go back and wake Kakashi. Tell him everything that's happened. I'm going on ahead."

Pakkun looked at him. "Whatever you say."

Pakkun changes directions and darted back towards the camp. Naruto added an extra burst of speed and kept going in the direction Pakkun had taken him.

"Sakura…" he muttered between his teeth. "Tsunade…"

It had been five years. Five years since he'd seen them last. He could remember it clearly – the six tailed salamander that had laid waste to Konoha, the streets of the village run amuck with Akatsuki Elite, squelching out everyone in sight – the women, the sick, the elderly. Everyone.

He'd wanted to stay and fight. He'd wanted to protect the people he loved. He wanted to find them, and fight beside them. To defend their home as brothers in arms. But Kakashi and Iruka had appeared in front of him as he ran towards the fray that informed him that the Hokage had been defeated, and that the remaining ninja were fleeing into the woods.

He hadn't wanted to believe it. He hadn't wanted to give up. He hadn't wanted to accept that he'd been able to do nothing while the people he loved were massacred in their homes. It had taken all of Kakashi and Iruka's combined efforts to tear him away from the village. Now, after all this time, he could finally see for himself. Now, after all this time, he could finally set things right.

xxxxx

"Sensei!" Sakura panted, following deftly behind her master. "I think we've put enough distance between us and the city. Tell me who that was."

"It was no one," Tsunade said, unperturbed. "Just keep running."

Tsunade knew her disciple would follow, but she also knew her patience with her master was wearing thin. It couldn't be helped – she knew all too well Sakura's history and feelings for Sasuke. She knew her disciple well enough to know that the moment she became aware that Sasuke had donned the Akatsuki robe and was now in Haraguchi, she would turn right back around and storm the city by force.

Her thoughts were cut short when an all too familiar presence made itself known.

"Sakura! Find a place to hide!"

Immediately, the two kunoichi had hidden themselves among the rocks. For several long moments, the two remained hidden, when tired voice broke through the darkness.

"Sakura! Tsunade!"

Before Tsunade could say a word, her disciple had already jumped out of her hiding spot to face the interloper head on.

Naruto stared aghast as he saw the girl he used to know wearing Akatsuki robes.

"Sa…Sakura…" Naruto stared aghast. "Is it…is it really…?"

Sakura was glaring. Her fists were clenched. The look in her eyes spoke only of hatred.

"Again…?"

That was the only warning Naruto got before Sakura lunged at him, landing a fist in the rock face he had been two milliseconds prior, shattering the stone wall into pieces.

Naruto gasped, leaping away. "S-Sakura!?"

"Don't you people learn!?" Sakura shouted, throwing another fist in Naruto's direction, barely missing him. "I'm fed up with this! It won't work! I'm not falling for it again!"

"Sakura!" Naruto shouted through exhausted gasps of breath. "What are you doing!? It's me! It's Naruto!"

"Yeah, sure!" Sakura glowered, tears in her eyes, throwing punch after punch, sending rock and rubble flying in every direction. "I've seen enough Uzumaki Naruto's to fill a village. Not that there are any villages still around after you all left them in shambles!"

Naruto caught sight of Tsunade hoping over rocked faces to catch up with their little reunion, and he silently hoped Kakashi and Pakkun would get here soon.

"Listen to me, Sakura! I'm not trying to trick you! I'm not a spy or a clone or anything like that, I'm me!"

"Yeah, well only one way to find out!" Sakura cried, unrelenting. She was going all out, trying with all her might to land a blow. But she wasn't being at all rational in her attacks – she would have managed at least one good punch if she had been. She was trying to dispel whatever technique she imagined he had around him to give him his appearance. If that were so, he realized, then the only way to prove he was real was to allow himself to be hit by one of those super powered punches of hers!

"Sakura!" Tsunade's voice echoed. "Back off! This one might be telling the truth!"

Sakura hesitated just long enough to let Naruto put some distance between the two of them. He was sweating, panting, and exhausted. Sakura just looked furious.

"One chance…" Sakura glared, tears of rage and sorrow streaming down her cheeks.

Naruto stumbled to think of something to say to convince her, even if all it managed was get her to back off long enough for Kakashi to arrive.

"Sakura…I…"

Naruto stumbled over the words. Sleep deprived, starving, out of breath, exhausted, and painfully lonely, he said the only thing he could think of.

"I love you…"

Sakura's pulse quickened and her rage boiled over the top. "And how many times do you think I've heard that line!?"

Before Tsunade could step in, Sakura was already charging him, fist bared. Naruto didn't jump away this time. He only moved to catch her fist in his hand to stop it from landing.

It didn't make much of a difference.

BOOOMF!

An explosion of chakra burst from behind Naruto, his whole body shuddering as the full force of Sakura's fury lashed through his chest. A crater about the shape and size of a baseball field was left behind him from the resounding shock wave. A hole in front and back of his shirt smoldered from the impact.

Sakura glared at him, waiting to hear the sudden POOF as the transformation technique wore off or the shadow clone disappeared, and the farce that continued to dangle her closest friend before her eyes was erased.

Instead, he raised his head to face her, his eyes narrowed red from the Kyuubi's chakra within him. He blinked once and his eyes returned to their normal blue color, his whole body shaking as he smiled weakly at her.

"Sakura…"

He convulsed as he spit out a lungful of blood, his knees buckling. He remained standing just long enough to raise his head once more to her reddened eyes.

"Sakura…I…"

His eyes went lidded and he toppled over, falling into Sakura's arms. Her look of hatred was gone. In its place was a look of dreadful realization. In her rage, she had attacked him outright. So hurt had she been by pale imitations of the boy in the past, so sick of the haywire they always played on her emotions, that she had been lost for all reason. For a brief moment, she had wanted the boy out of her life, so that she could be spared the torment of having to keep killing him over and over again.

But this was no imitation. This was Naruto. This was the real thing, the boy she had been friends with all those years ago, the boy who had loved her unconditionally with all the devotion his young heart could offer, the boy she had been searching for all these years.

And she had probably just killed him.

"NARUTO!"

xxxxx

To be continued…