Sakura was walking home from the shops, having gone to buy some more rice for her parents. It was evening, she hadn't seen the boys since earlier, and was still fuming over what had happened.

"Stupid Sasuke and his stupid ego." She muttered. "Thinks just because they're dating that now Naruto is all that matters." She kicked a rock into a dustbin, making a loud clang. "Doesn't he even realise?" She asked no one in particular. "We're a team of three, and we're ninjas. If one of us can't defend ourselves, and the other is so busy trying to protect him that he forgets about the mission…" She stared around in exasperation, before punching a fence. "Ugh! We're never going to get anywhere like this."

"Hey…" Came a voice, and she looked around in confusion. "You may be annoyed, but that fence did nothing to offend you." A young ninja, maybe three? Four years older than her? Jumped down from a tree and leant back against it. "You're with that Uzumaki kid right? Well, from what I can gather, you're not too pleased about being in his team." She stared suspiciously at the guy.

"Do I know you?" She asked, eyeing his hidden leaf headband.

"Oh, no, sorry, I'm being really rude." He smiled charmingly, and walked over to her, holding out a hand. "Masato, I'm in a team with…" He trailed off. "Sorry, you probably don't care. Here I am interrupting your angry rant...I just thought you could do with someone on your side."

"My side?" Sakura asked curiously.

"Well, you have to know that more people in the village dislike Uzumaki than like him, right?" His smile was friendly, and Sakura allowed herself to smile in response. "I know he's your teammate, but...if something were to happen to him, you know they'd just replace him."

"Oh I know. But he has his uses." She said, brushing her hair away from her face slightly.

"Fair enough." There was a dark glint to Masato's eye. "But...I'd hate for a pretty girl - and having seen some of your group's reviews - talented ninja like yourself to be brought down by a useless little shit."

"I'm flattered, I really am." She said, smiling, and looking pleased by the compliments. "But if a girl like me can't handle herself, she's no good at all. I'll bear it in mind though, where can I find you again?" Masato smiled, briefly looking smug, before it changed into a warm expression.

"I tend to hang out at the park by Sento street, they have a little cafe, and a dirt pit for sparring. I'm often there after missions. Come find me when you need me." He winked at her, and walked away. The minute he was out of sight, Sakura's flattered smile vanished and she scowled.

"Fucking bastard." She spat, before concern for Naruto washed over her. She knew he had friends now, but that clearly didn't stop the general hate in the village. But even so...something about this guy seemed different. She had a cold feeling that something bad was brewing, and quickly hurried home to get her parents to call Kakashi over. This wasn't something she trusted a letter with, too many variables. As she rushed in through her front door, she cursed her stupidity at getting angry at Sasuke. Of course he was worried, she was just too blinded by her own conflicted emotions to be able to see that one of her team mates really was vulnerable. Yes that put them at a disadvantage, but forcing Naruto to deal with it alone wasn't exactly going to solve things.

"Mum?" She called, and light brown haired woman leant around the kitchen door.

"What is is Sakura?" From her tone, the girl knew her mother had picked up on her anxious tone of voice.

"I need you to get Kakashi. Something might be going on…"

….

Naruto rolled over on the floor, staring blearily at the clock. It was an hour before he was meant to be up, but he couldn't sleep anymore. Not that he'd had much sleep anyway. He had woken up twice from nightmares within a few hours of going to sleep, Sasuke waking up with him to comfort him and try to bribe him into taking the tea. After managing to persuade Sasuke to give up, Naruto had gone back to sleep in hugs, which usually helped. The third time he'd woken up, he'd found Sasuke had rolled away in his sleep. He hadn't woken the raven with his nightmares yet, and had tearfully stifled his cries to keep it that way. Sitting up, sweat rolling down his back, he held his head, trying to push back the images. Looking at the window, he saw the moon hanging high in the sky. It was going to be a long night. He'd sat up for a while, reading things without much interest, made himself a drink, drained it, wandered around the house, and even done some exercises. He had passed out on the bedroom floor at some point, which was why he was there now. He struggled to get up, and realised something was wrapped around him. Looking down, he saw Sasuke's arms entwined in his shirt, hair messy, and a small frown across his brow.

"Hey…" Naruto said, gently twisting around and touching the raven's cheek.

"Hm…?" Sasuke mumbled, opening two onyx eyes.

"Why're you down here?" The blonde asked in confusion.

"Because you were." Naruto looked anxious when he saw the slight anger in Sasuke's eyes. "I told you to wake me up if you had nightmares."

"Oh…" Naruto tried to look away, feeling guilty, but Sasuke took his chin in his hand and forced him to meet his eyes.

"I don't care if I get no sleep, it's better than waking up to you sobbing in your sleep on the floor. I couldn't care less if I never slept again, I just want to stop the nightmares, and if that means watching over you all night and waking you up every time it happens, I will." Naruto stared at him, looking sad.

"You think I can let you do that? I don't want that! I don't want you to never sleep again, I can deal with a few nightmares."

"Naruto, just...just…" Sasuke looked at him in exasperation, closed his eyes, and took some deep breaths. "This isn't working. I don't want you to keep having these nightmares, and since you clearly won't let me help, can we please ask Tsunade if-"

"I don't like the medication." Naruto blurted out before he could stop himself. Sasuke looked at him in shock.

"Why not?"

"It makes me feel dead inside." Naruto admitted, curling into Sasuke's chest.

"...why didn't you tell me?" The raven asked, lightly stroking Naruto's hair.

"Because it lets you sleep." Sasuke's grip tightened, but he remained calm.

"Then we'll find another way. I don't believe there's only one thing that will stop nightmares." He again made Naruto look at him. "I know you don't want me to be kept awake, but how do you think I feel knowing that if I'm sleeping through the night it's only because you're suffering alone?" Naruto nodded, understanding, and feeling even more guilty. "I love you Naruto, but you really are an idiot."

"Teme."

"Baka."

"Do-mf!" Naruto's voice cut off as Sasuke smothered his mouth with his own, lips pressed against him. Loving warmth spread through Naruto's face, wide eyes slowly softening and his lids lowering as he accepted the kiss, and opened his mouth to let Sasuke's tongue gently caress his own. Sasuke's hands crept down Naruto's spine, sliding down to the small of his back - being careful not to imitate the hands of the man who had assaulted Naruto - and pulling him in close. They broke apart, panting, and Naruto smiled. "Meanie."

"I wouldn't do it if you weren't such a cute idiot." Sasuke smirked, and started to get up, pulling the blonde up with him. "Come on, let's get to the training grounds."

"But we're early." Naruto pouted.

"Well what do you want to do instead?"

"CARTOOOOONS!" Naruto sang, and Sasuke groaned, flopping backwards onto the bed as Naruto darted into the hallway.

"It's like you're a child sometimes." He mumbled.

"I'M MAKING RA-"

"NO!" Sasuke yelled, jerking upright and hurrying after the blonde. "I DRAW THE LINE AT RAMEN IN THE MORNING."

…..

Sakura waved at the boys as they walked up the hill, and Naruto waved back, Sasuke still being annoyed at her.

"Guys! We have a really cool mission today!" She called, and they spotted Kakashi standing behind her reading one of his small novels.

"How long has Kakashi been here?" Naruto asked, a little surprised.

"About half an hour." She said, looking smug.

"And I'm guessing you were here before him?" Sasuke said witheringly.

"Yup." She said, smirking.

"Why?" Naruto asked, yawning. "We're not meant to be here til nine, I just watched cartoons. Way better than waiting around outside all-ow!" Naruto winced as Sakura bopped him on the head, ignoring the scowl from Sasuke. "What was that for?" The blonde asked, looking at her reproachfully.

"You're never going to become a good ninja if you would rather watch cartoons than practice." She scolded. "If you wake up early, you need to train. This is why you slip up, you shouldn't slack off so much." Naruto pouted at her, and was about to reply when Sasuke interrupted.

"Maybe he just knows how to enjoy life a bit more than certain people. And at least he doesn't bitch at people who just got injured." Sakura flushed, and looked like she was about to give an angry retort, but as she opened her mouth she froze, and looked away, biting her lip.

"Fine, maybe I don't know how to enjoy life." She said, voice trembling. "But maybe if you paid attention to people other than Naruto, you would see that...that there are other things going on." She turned on her heel and went over to Kakashi, refusing to look at the boys. Naruto gave Sasuke a worried glance, and the raven did feel a pang of guilt, but brushed it aside, feeling justified after her behaviour yesterday.

"Alright gang." Kakashi said, looking from the upset girl, to the anxious blonde, and the grim looking raven, deciding that now was not the time for that battle. "We're going to be going out of the village for a while, so I need you to pack some supplies and get ready. There was a thief going around stealing from some of the shops, and we've just received some information on where their hideout might be. It's in the forest, and we need to scout out the area, and lie in wait. Hopefully we'll catch them, and they seem to be in your range of skill, so it shouldn't be too hard for you. It's not a mission that needs speed, it's one that needs clear methodical planning, so today you three need to work out what you might require for the mission, and obtain it. I'm leaving you to sort that out, but we set out at four this afternoon, as that tends to be when our information leads us to believe the thief is in the village, so don't waste time. We shouldn't cross paths with the thief, but just in case, we're going to take a roundabout route. It may take a few days to get there. We will probably spend several nights out there, so take that into account for packing." He eyed the quiet group, and internally sighed. "I'm going to make my own arrangements now. I'll see you at four." He disappeared, and the three genin stood awkwardly, Sakura refusing to look at the boys. Naruto glanced at Sasuke, who was ignoring the girl similarly, and sighed. Putting his hands behind his head, he decided he would have to be the one to try and fix things. He thought for a moment, then smiled smugly as the idea came to him.

"TAG!" He yelled, throwing a shoe at Sakura.

"The fuck Naruto?" She cried, flinching as the shoe hit her.

"You're it! Catch me if you can!" He yelled, and ran towards a tree, falling over because of only wearing one shoe.

"Naruto!" Sasuke called out, torn between concern and despair.

"I'malright!" Naruto said from the dirt, scrambling up, and darting into the trees. "Hey Sasuke, better run, Sakura's it."

"...I am not playing it." Sasuke said, glaring at the blonde.

"You said I knew how to have fun, well, if you don't play, I guess you're just boooriiing." Naruto stuck his tongue out at Sasuke, pulling a face, slightly falling out of the tree as he used one of his hands, thus letting go of a branch.

"...pfff…" Sakura covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.

"This...is so…" Sasuke said, trying to find the words, but as he struggled, Sakura reached out and booped him in the arm.

"Tag." She said, smirking.

"AAAAAH SASUKE IS IT!" Naruto shrieked, running over and grabbing Sakura's arm, pulling her down the hill.

"Naruto stop! Ahaha, I can't, aha, no, stop!" She said, unable to stop laughing as they sprinted downhill towards the road.

"YOU GUYS ARE IDIOTS." Sasuke called after them in exasperation.

"YEAH BUT WE'RE NOT IT!" Naruto yelled back, running backwards and making another face at Sasuke.

"...I HAVE YOUR DAMN SHOE." Sasuke said, picking it up and hurling it after the pair, missing by quite a way. He stared in despair after them, wondering how on earth Naruto managed to survive, being the child he was, before running after them both, grabbing the shoe as he went. "I'M NOT GOING TO BE SYMPATHETIC IF YOU STAB SOMETHING THROUGH YOUR FOOT." He called, shaking his head as they pelted through the village.

…..

The team walked through a valley East of the village, Kakashi leading them, nose in a book. They had spent the night camped out just outside of the village, and Sakura had cheered up, and although Sasuke had acted grumpy with Naruto, his mood had improved as well. Naruto grinned smugly as he put his hands behind his head. They had managed to connect again as a group, and he certainly held himself responsible for that. Plus it meant they'd all worked out what they needed together, meaning Sakura actually reminded the boys of things they'd overlooked, whilst Sasuke focussed on the terrain style, and what sort of supplies might be needed. Naruto had mostly just followed the others, but had been determined to make an addition, which was why they now all sported suspiciously large food sacks. He had blagged his way through Sakura and Sasuke's mistrustful comments, and convinced them just to bring them, even managing to get the support of Iruka on the uses of the 'Food Pocket Supply Vection Pack' when they told him they would only accept it if a teacher approved of it. (He didn't mention that part of his reasoning was the cool name, as that would have lost him the items immediately.)

The bag itself didn't just contain food you see, it provided items that could be used for multiple purposes. Things that could either thicken a soup, or patch holes in tents. Herbs that could either add flavour to the food, clean a wound, cleanse fresh meat, or be used in treating a fever. It was all calculated so that if something went wrong early, they could use the supplies in a different way, however if it was not until late in the mission that something went wrong - for example on their way home, when they would be able to get treatment soon - they could have a particularly nice meal, which was often a luxury on missions.

"Naruto? Earth to Naruto?" The blonde looked over at Sakura, shaking himself back into the present, having drifted off into thoughts of food and success.

"What?" He asked, and Sakura sighed.

"We need to find somewhere to camp for the night. It's not dark yet, but Kakashi has gone ahead to see if there's any terrain he needs to prepare us for tomorrow." She looked at him disapprovingly, and said in a pointed tone, "You would have known that if you had been listening instead of daydreaming." Naruto pouted, but followed her and Sasuke anyway as they investigated a small clearing.

"This place looks good." Sasuke said, examining some tree limbs to tie tent supports to. "Is there any running water nearby?"

"On it!" Naruto called, dumping his bags and trotting off into the undergrowth. When he had disappeared from sight, Sakura stood for a while, deep in thought as Sasuke unpacked. Making up her mind, she turned around, and spoke without meeting Sasuke's eyes.

"You may think I'm being harsh on Naruto...but being soft on him isn't going to teach him anything about being a ninja." She said, undoing her bag, and pulling out fire starting tools.

"It's not our job to teach him though." Sasuke replied curtly. "And I'm not being soft. What happened...Naruto is still going through a lot. It's not easy. He may act stupid, and childish...but he's still struggling. I thought you understood." Sakura sighed.

"I do understand...but we've all got to get stronger. If you can't see any other reason...then do it for Naruto's sake. He's an easy target for the village." She turned around, meeting Sasuke's eyes. "He may have more friends now...but the village in general still seems to hate him. Things...are going on behind closed doors. I know he's not okay...I really do...but him not being able to be a good ninja because he's being coddled isn't going to help." Sasuke glared at her, but then sighed, his expression melting into concern.

"I know. I'm just...I don't want anything like that to ever happen again." Sakura nodded, agreeing. "I might actually snap if someone - anyone - does that to him again. It's as if my brother...and all of that hell...that all stopped mattering when Naruto was in danger. I...I don't care about it, only him. And...I can't let it happen again."

"Sasuke...maybe it's not just Naruto who's struggling to deal with it." Sakura suggested cautiously. "I think you might be suffering more than you're aware of. You had to see it, had to be there...maybe you have things you need to work through as well." They stood in silence for a while, not noticing Naruto, who had returned a few moments ago, and was watching quietly from the forest.

"Maybe." Sasuke finally admitted. "But don't tell Naruto, he can't know how it affected me. I don't want him to worry." Sakura nodded, and Naruto sighed gently, creeping back a bit so that his entrance wouldn't reveal that he had been there listening.

"Hey guys!" He cheered, crashing loudly through the bracken. "There's a little stream not too far away for washing. Let's set up dinner!"

"Do you always think with your stomach?" Sakura asked, exasperated, and Naruto grinned, pulling out the first special food pack.

….

Naruto stirred in the night, waking up. The three of them were sharing a tent, with Kakashi in his own. Dinner had been nice, and they'd trained before bed, meaning Naruto had fallen asleep quickly, but now nature called, and he struggled out of his sleeping bag.

"Mmmm? N'rto?" Sasuke mumbled, looking up at him through half closed eyes.

"Need to pee." Naruto whispered, and the raven nodded, letting him quietly exit the tent after loosely pulling on his jacket and trousers.

He walked a decent distance away from the camp, relieving himself gratefully, sighing as the amount he'd had to drink after training caught up with his bladder. Finishing up, he went down to the river, making sure to be downstream of where they took water from, and washed his hands. Drying them on his orange trousers, he shivered, the chill air gently brushing against his damp hands. He stood there for a moment, thinking how quiet it was, before turning back to the camp and walking straight into someone. Someone who had been standing right behind him. Flinching back, he looked up at the man in front of him. He wore a mask over the lower half of his face, not unlike Kakashi, but his hidden leaf forehead protector was on straight, revealing two harsh, shadowy eyes staring down at him. A cloak draped over his shoulders, covering his body down to his knees, and wafting gently in the night breeze. Naruto stared at him, thoughts racing through his mind as he tried to work out what to do.

Shit, what if it's the thief? How could he find us? Maybe he followed us...but this is miles away from his hideout...it couldn't...no wait, of course it's not, it's a ninja, the thief isn't a ninja, they're hiding out of town, they wouldn't need to if they were...so...who the hell…

Naruto ducked as the man, previously still as stone, aimed a swipe at the blonde, a kunai flashing in his hand. DEFINITELY NOT FRIENDLY! Naruto thought, dodging, and tried to run past him, but the man caught him by the scruff of his collar, yanking him back. Naruto struggled, his open jacket slipping straight off his arms, and was about to run back to camp when he stumbled, sleep inertia still affecting him. Cursing, he tried to get up, shunting chakra into his legs, but the man was on him too fast, pinning him to the ground, and gagging him with a thick band of rough fabric before he could call for help. Grunting, Naruto tried to push the man off of him, but pain shot through him as one arm was pinned to the ground by a kunai piercing through it. He tried to grasp at the gag with his free hand, but another arm wrenched his wrist back, making him yelp, though the gag stifled it too much for it to help him. That was when adrenaline kicked in. These familiar attacks, these well known restraints, no, no it couldn't, he was in jail...Naruto kicked wildly, channeling chakra into one leg and launching the ninja into the air before he slammed into a tree, slumping to the ground. The blonde struggled, trying to unbind the gag, tears running down his face as he panicked, but whatever the ninja had done to his free arm, it wasn't working properly. Sobbing, Naruto clawed at his belt, trying to find a kunai or shuriken, kicking at the ground in frustration as his arm still refused to behave. The man slowly stood up, a dark chuckle emanating from him as he advanced on the boy, and Naruto tried to reach the pinned down hand with his free one to do some kind of ninjitsu, any kind - anything at all… but it felt like he was swimming through a swamp, and he saw blood encrusting the free arm.

"You should be noticing the effects of the poison by now." The man said, and Naruto didn't know if he was relieved or even more terrified by the fact that he didn't recognise the voice. "Don't worry, I won't be here long." The man pulled out a scroll, unraveling it to reveal it was blank apart from one symbol in the middle. "I just needed to get something from you." He knelt down next to Naruto, whose legs were now feeling heavy, the venom from his arm having seeped through his body. He tried to scream, but the gag smothered the noise, and he began to shake, begging the man not to do it, unable to get the words through the tightly tied fabric that rubbed against the edges of his mouth. The man lifted Naruto's shirt, making Naruto sob, head back, as he fought the memories, and begged the world for this not to happen again. Pressing the scroll over Naruto's stomach tattoo, the ninja performed a hand gesture, and suddenly Naruto screamed as his torso felt like it was on fire, burning agony striking through him, the gag not able to muffle all of the sound he was making. Looking around, the ninja cursed, and the pain began to fade. He pulled the scroll off of Naruto - revealing an exact reflection of the tattoo - and rolled it up, before snatching his kunai free of Naruto's arm, cutting the gag free, and taking it with him as he vanished into the night.

"NARUTO?" Came a desperate cry, and the blonde curled up in a ball, clutching his wounded arm to his chest, the pain from his belly now gone, but the poison in his blood blurring his thoughts. "NARUTO! WHERE ARE YOU! FUCK!" Naruto heard Sasuke speeding through the forest, branches snapping as he tore past them, the sounds of others behind him.

"NARUTO!" Came another cry, as Sakura rushed behind the raven, but it was Kakashi who found him first, having gone from asleep to running faster than the other two. He knelt down next to the boy, and called out to the others, before trying to pry Naruto's arm free from his iron grip.

"Naruto!" Sasuke said, even paler than normal, collapsing next to him and taking him in his arms. "Naruto what happened?" He took in the blood, and Naruto's sobs, and felt fury building inside him. "Who?"

"Sasuke." Kakashi said sharply. "That doesn't matter right now. Look, the sweat, the shaking, the discoloured skin, what does that tell you?" Sasuke looked at his teacher in confusion. "He's been poisoned, we need to get him back to the camp so I can try and prepare an antivenom."

"But sensei." Sakura said, panting behind Sasuke. "We don't know what poison it was."

"Then Naruto has just saved his own life. The packs of food you brought contain a herb that can treat most poisons." Kakashi lifted the whimpering Naruto up and out of Sasuke's arms. "But we have to be fast. Sakura, get some water from the river, Sasuke, with me. Now."

Sasuke sped after Kakashi, following him back to the clearing, and quickly helping him prepare the herb, Sakura turning up with the water moments later. Carefully they applied the herb to the wound, and mixed it with some water for Naruto to drink. At first he curled away, trying to hide his face, Kakashi tried to force it down but it just seeped out of his mouth again. Desperate, Sasuke pulled naruto's chin towards him and locked eyes with him.

"Baka, I know I said I wouldn't make you take medication, but right now you need to trust me and take it." Naruto's blue eyes were foggy and confused, but he seemed to recognise Sasuke, and his words, and finally drank the infusion.

"Keep his fluids up, and cool him down with a cloth. I'm going to take a look at where it happened." Kakashi said, and the two genin nodded, watching him go.

"I'll get the fire up again." Sakura said, busying herself with something, and Sasuke pulled the bowl of water and a cup over. Sharing the contents of the bowl between the cup and a container for the cloth, he began mopping Naruto's head, an all too familiar feeling creeping over him.

"Naruto." He whispered, gritting his teeth. "Don't do this again. I won't let it happen again." Sakura overheard, and tightened her grip on the branch she was holding. The stranger, Masato, had been a warning. She should have made Naruto and Sasuke aware...Kakashi had told her not to, but she still felt like if she had...maybe this wouldn't have happened... Cursing, she quickly attacked the branches with the flint and steel, setting them alight. It was going to be a long night.