Sasuke looked at the back of the retreating blonde before turning to the female whose eyes were glistening with unshed tears.

"I…don't know what's wrong with him." Sasuke said finally.

She smiled at him, "It's…fine, I'm sure he's just really busy."

"Yugito…" Sasuke frowned as the blonde girl turned away and flicked her fingers over her shoulder.

"I'll see you later Sasuke!" She called, breaking into a run as she headed towards the training grounds.

Over the next few weeks Sasuke watched his old teammate and hid new friend interact with each other, or, rather, he watched Yugito attempt to say something to Naruto, only for the Rokudaime to brush it off and blatantly ignore her.

Slowly Sasuke watched as Yugito grew more distant, and as Naruto retreated into himself.

"There are something's even Naruto can't forgive." Yugito replied when he finally confronted her.

"Like what? He forgave me!" Sasuke replied.

Yugito had only given him a sad smile and walked away.

Sasuke began watching again, and the two didn't change, except to get quieter and quieter.

It took awhile for him to see how far they had fallen though.

"This mission is vital to Konoha. Whoever takes it will guarantee Konoha's survival of the war, and eventual victory, however," The word silenced the excited murmurs that had begun to travel through the crowd, "This is, in all likelihood, a suicide mission."

Silence reigned on a golden throne as several Jounin exchanged worried glances.

"I'll take it." A voice rang out, shattering the silence into a million fragile pieces.

Naruto locked eyes with Yugito before nodding, "Jounin Nii…Alright, come to my office for the briefing."

……………………………………..

A single figure stood in the middle of a battlefield, swaying slightly.

She began to fall, but was caught by a yellow blur, who looked at her in panic.

"Yugito!"

"H-hokage-sama." She coughed, slowly bringing blood covered hands away from her mouth.

"Shh, Don't talk, save your strength." He said, longing, sorrow, pain, and love echoing in his voice.

Yugito managed to smile despite her condition, "You forgive me?"

Naruto's eyes darkened, but he nodded, "Of course, now shh, and let the Nibi heal your wounds."

Yugito closed her eyes, "I'm…glad you forgive me…'cause…it wasn't me."

Naruto started, "W-what?"

Yugito nodded, "Yeah, I had just…caught the ones who were doing it and…you showed up…" She whispered.

"Why didn't you tell me?!" Naruto demanded.

"You…wouldn't listen…" She replied, and Naruto panicked as he felt her chakra drift slightly, before stabilizing again.

"You could have told Sasuke! Anyone, and they would have told me!" Naruto protested.

"…Naruto…I'm gonna die." Yugito whispered, changing the subject.

"N-no you're not!" He said, eyes widening as her chakra began to disappear again.

"Yes…I am, Nibi is the one whose been keeping me alive…I couldn't die with you mad at me." Yugito opened her eyes again and Naruto panicked to see them beginning to glaze over.

"No! Yugito, Stay with me!" Naruto cried.

"Naru…I…Love..y-y-y…" Her breathe rattled and she sagged.

"Yugito? Yugito! YUGITO!" Naruto yelled, shaking her slightly, waiting for her to open her eyes and say 'Gottcha!'

…She didn't.

An unearthly howl ripped through the air.

…………………………llllllllllllllllllll………………………………….111111111111111111……

"Ah, Naru-chan! You killed me!" Yugito said unhappily, holding her hands out in front of the camp fire.

Sasuke laughed, "It's not real Yugito-hime."

Naruto wrapped his arms around his legs, "Yeah…it's not real."

Yugito made a face and sighed, "What did I do to make you so mad anyway?"

Naruto frowned, then grinned guiltily at the small cat-girl, "I…don't remember…"