Chapter 2 – Saving You

Tracking shinobi were sent to capture Sasuke but they couldn't find him. Didn't gave up though what made Naruto worried about his friends, he hoped they won't be found.

Warm welcome awaited him in Konoha. Boy was already a hero but now it came to another level. He always dreamt about this but somehow couldn't be happy when Sasuke and Sakura were far away. Hinata noticed how absent minded he was despite the whole received attention so she gained her courage and decided to talk with him.

"Naruto –kun…" she approached him from behind trying to poke him with her finger. Naruto awaked from his thoughts and looked behind his shoulder to notice the blushing beauty.

"Hinata. What's up!?" Boy immediately cheered up, grabbed Hinata by her waist and pushed her up to the sky spinning around with joy. She was so surprised, he didn't even recover yet and he was so energetic already. Besides everyone around looked at them grinning stupidly. That was so embarrassing but she couldn't help the happiness and laughed.

"Naruto-kun! Please put me down!"

"Oh, I'm sorry. I got a little carried away." He scratched the back of his head grinning like usually.

"It's okay. I – I just wanted to make sure you were all right."

"I am perfectly fine, believe it!"

"Are you sure? I noticed you were kind of lost in thoughts on the way home. Is something bothering you?"

"I see nothing can escape your eyes Hinata."

"So… there is something that bothers you?"

"Okay, you got me. I'm extremely worried. Can I share a secret with you?"

"O –Of course! I won't tell anyone…" Naruto leaned closer to Hinata's ear so nobody could hear what he said.

"Sasuke didn't kidnapped Sakura, it was her own will to help him."

"I- I thought so…"

"Track ninjas were sent after them, I hope they won't be captured. Sasuke needs help and Sakura would be considered a traitor for helping him. "

"I see…Don't worry Naruto-kun, Sakura san is smart, she won't be captured so easily."

"I know but…she's really drained of chakra."

"Sakura's chakra control is perfect, she'll know how to use it wisely. I'm sure. "

"I hope you're right…"

"Have faith in them..." Hinata smiled, Naruto looked at her and wondered how was this possible that she always made him feel so much better when they talked. He remembered that she confessed to him and he liked her a lot. But he hoped that they'll have time to get to know each other better and spend some time together. They never had the opportunity during war.

"Naruto-kun, why-why are you looking at me like that?..." Hinata's words woke him up from thoughts. He just realized he was staring at her all the time. Blush appeared on his face and he nervously tried to think of something to say.

"It's nothing, I just feel a lot better dattebayo. Thank You!"

"I'm glad… I guess… I will be going then…" Naruto swallowed hard. He supposed to give a proper answer to her confession, she almost died for him there. No one before Hinata told him that he was loved. That made him feel so warm inside. A beautiful girl, heiress of the most powerful clan loved him and she was just walking away.

"Hinata, wait!"

"Uh? What is it Naruto-kun? "

"I – I wanted to ask you something…"

"Oh…" Naruto laughed nervously again, he knew she liked him but it wasn't that easy. Maybe she changed her mind because he didn't said anything about it for so long. He wondered why it was so hard when asking Sakura out was his specialty. This time it was different, maybe he won't be rejected. Here it goes!

"Would you consider to go on a date with me, Hinata?"

Girl stared at him with red face and wondered if this is really happening or she's dreaming again. She was doing such a good work on not fainting through their conversation, now she felt like letting go. But she couldn't in a time like this, her dream was coming true just now.

"Hinata, are you all right?!... Your face is all red!" Naruto touched her face and it was even harder not to faint. Hinata wobbled on her feet because world around her stared to spin. Naruto caught her and trembled with worry, maybe she was sick. Surviving this war wasn't easy after all. Hyuuga girl managed to keep her conscious though and tried to respond.

"I – I'm fine Naruto-kun. I would be glad to go on a date with you…" He was so relieved to hear that but her state worried him. Her red color was slowly fading though so boy guessed she would be fine. Heiress wondered, why did he asked now, she didn't suspect this at all. They were in their own world while gazing into each others eyes. Naruto still held her tight so she won't fall. Realization of this closeness suddenly hit the shy kunoichi, she squeaked and jumped away. Everyone still stared at them with stupid grins, that was so uncomfortable.

Neji noticed that something was going on between those two and he had to act fast to stop this. He had to guard his cousin after all. It's not that he would let Naruto touch her or anything.

"Ekhm! Hinata-sama, we must return home now. "

"Oh, I understand…I have to go Naruto, we'll see each other later then."

"Can you meet me tomorrow at 6 p.m? Knowing Tsunade baa chan she'll force us to stay in a hospital for while though. Dunno if she's going to let us go anywhere. Still whenever you'll be free…"

"S-sure…I'll be waiting for you Naruto-kun. Take care, I really have to go now."

"See ya!..." Neji's deadly glare washed the smile from Naruto's face. What was his problem? Was he mad that he let him die or was it about Hinata? Well no matter what it was, so good to see him fine and alive again. Surprisingly not many people lost their lives in this war thanks to Obito but ironically also lost them thanks to him. He never would've thought such help will come from someone like him. Sasuke changed for the better as well but something about him still didn't let him live. That teme wanted to become hokage, when he wanted it in the first place. Like he'll ever let him take his biggest dream away from him now! Blonde Uzumaki wondered what happened that he changed his priorities so much and in the same moment he got surrounded by a bunch of crazy fan girls asking for an autograph. How was he suppose to deal with this fame now dattebayo?

Sasuke and Sakura appeared God knows where in the middle of forest. Girl had an urge to complain about the sudden teleportation but she noticed Sasuke wouldn't even listen. His eyes went blank and he fainted. He was warned this could end like this, that stubborn guy never listens. She checked his breathing and heartbeat, it was dangerously low and faded. That was bad, she needed to act fast before it's to late. Sakura picked him up and placed on her back, carrying him bridal style would be to embarrassing. Sasuke would probably kill her for giving him a piggy back ride as well but he was unconscious thankfully. Now she just had to find a place for shelter with access to clean water. Where the hell was she? That was the question only Sasuke knew the answer for.

"Sasuke-kun, don't die on me…" Girl spoke to the unconscious boy hoping that somehow her words will reach him. After a while of strolling through the woods she noticed some rocks from afar. A great place for a cave, she thought and stormed in this direction. Spending time on searching for a proper place was a waste of time when Sasuke's life was on the line. When she got there it was clear that this place is perfect. There was a pond filled with water from small waterfall. Some kind of spring should be nearby, she thought. Sakura jumped from the cliff and placed wounded boy gently on the ground. His skin was naturally pale but now it even became white. Sun was already setting, she had to prepare a cave for shelter fast. Her strength was enough to help here. Girl gathered her remaining chakra and crashed the solid rock so an opening was made. There were many heavy rocks to remove but she tossed them away. Some boulders would be needed for closing the entrance later on, all of them couldn't completely crash. She entered the cave to make sure everything was holding together. It was safe. It seemed that long night of healing awaited her, Sasuke was on a verge of death. Saving him was now her priority…

Next day at the morning Sakura woke up suddenly, like from some kind of nightmare. It was raining. This was a hard night, she just fell asleep an hour ago. And she shouldn't fall asleep at all, she should be vigilant in case Konoha shinobi would search for them anywhere near. On the other side, strength was needed to heal Sasuke and protect him. At least his life wasn't in danger anymore. She had to use a special type of healing because his vital organs were damaged. How was he able to keep his consciousness for such a long time was beyond her. Never in her life she healed so many broken bones in a single man . His eyes were the worst case, they're sensitive and extremely difficult to heal. Mistakes that she could've made might have been crucial for Sasuke's sharingan. Without her, he would have been dead by now, it was a good idea to go with him after all. Girl sighed tiredly looking at the sleeping bandaged boy. She guessed that sleeping a little bit longer would be a good idea now.

After several days Sasuke woke up from his coma. He couldn't see a thing though, bandages were covering his sore eyes. His whole body was burning like hell. Maybe he died and was in hell after all. But why he had those bandages on his whole body and why he's laying on some kind of straw. He suddenly remembered about Sakura being with him. Where was she? Her chakra wasn't appearing to be anywhere near him. After a while he heard a silent girly humming, it must have been her. He felt relieved that they both survived.

Sakura walked into the cave just in her underwear. She just decided to wash her dirty clothes in the water and leave them to dry on the sun. To her big surprise, Sasuke was awake and he tried to get up. She gasped and looked at herself with panic, sudden urge to scream came over her.

"A – Aahhh!"… Sasuke heard her scream and thought she was in danger or something. He couldn't see a thing with this bandages on his eyes.

"Sakura is that you? What's the matter?!"… He tried to activate his sharingan to find out what was happening but that just gave him a horrible pinch feeling. Sakura blushed and noticed that thankfully Sasuke still couldn't see a thing.

"Don't worry Sasuke-kun, I'm all right. I'll be back in a minute!" She retreated to the place when she left her clothes, they were still wet but she couldn't walk half naked around a guy. Especially this one…Meanwhile in the cave Sasuke discovered his sharingan was working, despite the pain he could notice more than he should. Not like he cared…

"Hn…" Sakura returned to the cave and immediately checked on her former teammate's condition. He was suspiciously silent…

"So, how are you feeling Sasuke-kun?"

"Fine…" He said that but could tell something was not completely right.

"I'm glad. You were in coma for three days. Can I check on your eyes?"

"Hn..." Girl took that as a yes and reached to remove the bandages from his eyes. She immediately noticed that chakra around one of them was highly activated what meant he already used his sharingan. It was easy to guess when he did it…She removed the bandage from his head gently and pulled it away.

"You can try and open them slowly now…" And so Sasuke did…Those eyes were beautiful as usually, was first thought that came to kunoichi's mind. Sasuke's first view on Sakura was kind of blurry but her pink bright hair was always noticeable.

"It looks pretty good. I can tell you were already using your sharingan." She commented with a sad tone in her voice. She obviously wasn't telling him everything.

"It was under the spur of the moment…" Boy suddenly respond with a full sentence which was awkward.

"It's okay, the only thing that counts is that you are recovering fast. But you still have a fever though." Sakura touched Sasuke's forehead, heat was dangerously radiating from his body which she noticed from the beginning. She once again bandaged his eyes, which didn't make the young Uchiha happy. He didn't want to go against her though, he still felt something was not right with his right eye. And he had a pretty good idea why.

"You rest and I'll prepare something to eat. You are probably starving." Girl smiled and left to get some water from the pond. He looked in her direction as she was leaving. Why was she being so nice to him? He tried to kill her for goodness sake. Understanding this girl was so difficult…After a while she came back with water and some fishes. Sasuke still wasn't sleeping, twinges of conscience didn't let him. He lied on the ground and wondered why he didn't die. Suddenly his thoughts were interrupted…

"Achoo!" Sakura sneezed. Probably because of those wet clothes. It seemed as she was trying to light the fire. Wood she collected earlier was humid so it become really difficult to light it up. Sasuke heard her struggling with it for some time and then got impatient. Girl squeaked when he blown a small fire technique from his mouth towards the wood. Now it was burning nicely.

"Thank You Sasuke-kun. You shouldn't do that though, you have to recover".

"Hn…Warm yourself up, or you'll catch a cold." Sakura was so surprised, was he worried about her? That was something new. Sakura filled some fishes to the sticks and placed them over the fire. It glowed nicely in the darkness of cave. Sasuke sensed when she came closer and suddenly felt a cold piece of cloth from the water bucket on his forehead.

"I was wondering about traveling to the nearest village, to buy few essential things. Our clothes are torned, I need new bandages. I couldn't leave you alone when you were unconscious but now..."

" Just go, I can handle myself. I suggest that you should be going home instead of treating me more…"

"You still can't walk, how on earth do you want to care for yourself?"

"Now that you helped me, my legs will heal faster. Go home…"

"No, I won't until I decide that you're able to care for yourself properly. I'm the medical ninja here, so please listen to my advice".

"You're always so stubborn".

"No, you are! I was healing you through all those three days and I know what kind of state you're in. Trust me if I would be sure that you will be fine by yourself, I already would have been in my way towards Konoha!". Sakura started to walk away hurt that he wanted to get rid of her so much. As always she was just a bother to him….

"Hn. Get back to the fire!" Sasuke shouted and tried to pull himself up when he suddenly felt the lack of her presence. Young kunoichi turned around and sat near the fire when she noticed Sasuke was trying to move. She didn't want him to fall into worse condition because of her. But that made her so irritated. She moved her head away and crossed her arms offended.

"Sakura…"

"…What?..."

"Thank You."

"What?"

"Nevermind. Just do as you wish…" Sakura was shocked that he was at least grateful. She became suspicious that maybe like last time when he thanked her and left the village. She slowly noticed Sasuke-kun that she once knew awaken again. He was helping her with the fire, like he usually did at their missions. He was worrying about her like he used to do. He was now even thanking her. Sakura looked at him and smiled too be soon thrown out of her bliss…

"And by the way, your fish is burning…"