Back! :D Well anyway, here I am again with the second half of the chapter! J Hehehe… I could see I creeped at least someone out. ;) (Sekiichan) XD Glad it creeped you out last chapter. J Makes me happy to see that you are enjoying it. ^^ Thanks! :D Well, hre 's the other half. Might be 3 halves to this… sorry guys. ^^;

KsNandS: Okay… so basically it all started with the ANBU, right?

Tsunade: Yes, although I fear Naruto… Naruto might not make it…

KsNandS: *Looks at the clock* I swear… my friend has a really long line of being late, I'm really sorry Lady Tsunade. *Sweat drop*

Tsunade: I hope he gets here soon Gejiji… for all I know that cast won't hold on for long…

KsNandS: I know… *Sigh* Well… I'm sure he should be okay… I mean how long did it take the ANBU to completely react to the affects?

Tsunade: Hmm… about 7 weeks or so… why?

KsNandS: Damn… it's already been 6 weeks and… well… today's about… Friday?

Tsunade: Kami you're right! You're friend has got to get here immediately!

KsNandS: What's taking him so long!? *Stands up* Usually he should've been here by now Milady.

Tsunade: Naruto…

KsNandS: *Sigh* Well… perhaps there's a reason he's late… he does live out in the Forbidden Forest.

Tsunade: What are the chances of him… dying?

KsNandS: Pfft… million-to-one. They're a reliable species, don't worry.

Tsunade: I see. So… tell me a little bit more about this "friend" of yours please.

KsNandS: That's easy! Where should I start?

Tsunade: Start… from the beginning…

KsNandS: Hmmm… okay, deal. But a little help please.

Tsunade: Of course.

KsNandS and Tsunade: Let the chapter continue!

Continuing…

Tsunade stared at their disgusted and horrified expressions. Sakura quivered like jelly at the knees and almost slid down Naruto's chest if not for the blond holding her up. Naruto had covered his mouth with his left hand, trying not to throw-up, however sadly he was losing the said battle and could feel his throat bringing up something, something he wanted to stay down.

"GRANDMA COVER THAT THING!" Naruto blared loudly trying to keep his stomach down! Tsunade sighed and picked up the sheet and covered the ANBU's completely jellied and morphed body. Naruto sighed in relief and tapped Sakura on the shoulder. She turned around, seeing the body covered and gulped. Something had slightly come up from her mouth, although she knew she would at least be haunted by it for a few months. Naruto panted slightly for air, the sight was so horrid he felt himself about to puke up even now. Sakura sighed and gave a huff in relief and looked at the ground. Although something rolled out from underneath the table, being flesh as it plopped and jiggled, sending out puss and blood. Sakura gasped, and then put her arms out and fell back. Naruto gasped and caught her! He looked at her, seeing that she had fainted from the sight and sound. Naruto waved his hand in front of her face and looked at Tsunade. "Why… why show us that… thing?" Naruto asked, seeing as now it was no longer an ANBU, but a heaping pile of flesh.

The woman sighed and stayed silent for a brief moment, before parting her lips to speak, "I found it necessary because of what awaits you two on your mission." She replied finally. Naruto's eyes completely spread out, the shock that over-whelmed his body made him tremble.

"You're… you're fucking kidding me… we're not going on that mission if we have our chance at looking like that… never… NEVER!" Naruto screeched causing his voice to crack!

"I'm sorry but it's final Naruto. You two are the only people I could think of that actually can pull this off, I hope. It is nothing difficult as the main mission, however getting there is what makes it difficult." She said.

"What do you mean?" Naruto questioned in a ticked off tone and rising. Tsunade was not phased however.

"What I mean, is that where you're going is to a place called the "Forbidden Forest". It's a desolate, lush yet chilling place located just about three (3) miles away from the border of Fire Country. You're mission is to investigate exactly where all of out ANBU had gone. This mission was so dangerous I figured a squad of ANBU would be able to handle it… however seeing as though they've all disappeared and the Jonin are all out on their own mission I figured that I need the best I can get. Which is you two." Tsunade explained, furrowing her eyebrows.

"You're crazy… if you think I'm going or even Sakura is taking a step out there you're fucking crazy… I'll never allow Sakura out there. Look how she reacted to that… thing! What makes you think just two ordinary Chunin can handle such a job!?" Naruto questioned raising his tone.

"Well Naruto, I'm sorry to say that I have no choice. The council, sadly… has requested this mission, no I." Tsunade said. Naruto's eyes widened.

"WHAT!?" His voice exploded in rage! "YOU'RE THE FUCKING HOKAGE! YOU ASSIGN THE FUCKING MISSIONS!" His voice echoed through the walls and made the nurse cringe.

"I'm sorry Naruto bit I have no say! The root ANBU laid out this request and apparently I have no choice! They won't drop it and I've denied it for months upon months! That's why there haven't been any missions is because they will NOT allow any further missions to be directed and delivered to Konoha unless this mission goes underway! Do you REALLY think I'd send you on this mission when I know deep in my heart how much I care, love and respect you both like a grandmother does and that you both have a chance at looking like THIS!?" Tsunade screamed back and slammed her fist on the corpse, sending puss flying out from under the sheets and soaking the spread sheet in a dull yellow. Naruto stared at her, his eyebrows furrowed slightly. He looked at Sakura, the beautiful girl in his arms… and… what happened to that ANBU, just didn't mix!

"But… grandma… I can't let Sakura… I jus-" Naruto silenced when Tsunade put a hand on his shoulder.

"I know Naruto but you're going to have to. If you want this village to get going again you're going to have to do this. I'm sorry but… *Sigh* you have to go. I'm giving you as much time as you need to prepare within a twenty-four (24) hour period, but that's all." Tsunade said with sympathy and fear slightly quivering her tone. Naruto looked at Sakura, then sighed gruffly.

"Alright… we'll do it… but only because we have no choice… and because I want the village to get running again." He said lowly. Cradling the girl his stood up and walked out, Tsunade fearing the worst.

"Lady Tsunade," the nurse peeped up, the woman looked at her, "shouldn't you tell them… *Gulp* what made the ANBU like that?" The nurse asked. Tsunade stared at the nurse and sighed.

"You're right… I was meaning to tell them… I just can't stop worrying though." Tsunade replied. The nurse sighed and looked down as Tsunade walked out of the hidden room, the nurse following right behind. Tsunade picked up her pace, and the ore she did, the nurse following right behind her began having problems keeping up with the slightly hesitant Hokage.

"Lady Tsunade please wait up!" The nurse begged as he soft high heels clapped against the marble floor. Tsunade then began to run a bit, the nurse staggering behind her as the woman's thoughts slightly boosted her up and kicking her legs in gear. The Hokage began sprinting, leaving the nurse in her dust! The nurse in white panted and fell to the floor staring into the empty hallway, then sighed. "I swear… when does she not scurry around this place like that?" She said and groaned as a sweat-drop slid down her forehead anime style. She got up, not wanting to follow the woman miles ahead by now anymore and went back to work.

Naruto and Sakura…

Since her incident back at the room, Naruto had taken Sakura back to his apartment and laid her on the couch. He had turned the ceiling fan on hoping the cool waves of air would snap her out of her fainting status. Meanwhile he was in the kitchen, making herbal tea for when she awoke. Sighing to himself, his mind repeating the image back at the hospital, which he so desired not wanted back. But… just the shear thought of that ANBU… and whatever happened to it. It made the blond shiver as he placed 2 tea bags into a boiling black pot of water. Looked behind him, seeing Sakura still cast out of the world of reality and unconscious, Naruto's worries were not only the ANBU… but they also concerned the mission, and of course Sakura's well-being.

"The village's been slow because of that ANBU… and whatever happened to him… but," he paused for a moment and bit his lower lip, "Sakura…" he whispered as thoughts and mental images raced through his mind about seeing her on that table, his mortified expressions clear as crystal and blaming himself for failing to keep her safe! Naruto shook his head vigorously not wanting those thoughts ever. "No… I won't let that happen! I'll sacrifice myself before I let that happen." He said bravely. Though his adamance about the mission was clear, he couldn't help but feel fear and horror swelling like a blood whelp inside his stomach. He swallowed, and then let out a deep breath. He was scared to admit that he was actually frightened over what he saw and frightened about the thought of that happening to him. Gulping he turned his head slightly in Sakura's direction. Looking down at the boiling tea he sighed and placed his hands on the sides of the counter that the stove separated and held his head down. His bubbling reflection cast itself back from the heating water. As if mesmerized, he stared into the liquid as it changed from clear to a sea green color. He snapped out of his trance when there was a loud and hard knock on the door that made him jolt! "Uh… coming." He called and walked out of the kitchen and answered the door. "Hello? Oh… grandma?" He questioned and opened it further.

Lady Tsunade stood at the door with a bleak and worried look written upon her gorgeous face.

"Naruto, there's something I need to tell you… quickly too," Tsunade started. Naruto opened to door and gestured her in, but she shook her head, though peeking inside to see Sakura at rest on the couch, sighing in relief. Naruto was a good kid she always knew. He'd take care of Sakura any day at anytime she needed it. "Naruto… I'm going to quickly tell you the source of the ANBU's condition." She began, Naruto leaning in more to hear clearly, "the ANBU… was bitten… bitten by something you might not know, but refer to as a 'Shade-Tree Werewolf'" The woman said an paused, letting the words sink in deeply.

"…"Shade-Tree" what the… never heard anything like that before… what is it?" Naruto asked scratching the right side of his neck.

"A Shade Tree Werewolf is a brutal, bloodthirsty, beckoning creature. It's bite is lethal and the saliva from the gaping mouth is considered a deadly poison to the body. We tested a sample on the ANBU's body and found that it contains some kind of… mutation poisoning… like radiation in a sense of speaking. Except… the poison works like acid and constantly breaks down the fibers of the bone into completely nothing, altering the person or person's appearance and turning them into a bag of flesh… as you saw." She explained. Naruto found it difficult to believe, "I just thought I'd warn you, there are other things besides Shade-Tree Werewolves in the Forbidden Forest Naruto. That's the reason I never wanted to send you on the mission, but the council kept nagging me over and over, and I… had no fortunate choice." Tsunade added dropping her head slightly.

"So… it's just this… Werewolf-thing that's priority number one to stay away from, right?" Naruto questioned. Tsunade only nodded her head, knowing Naruto was most likely to do something of some noble sort on their mission. Though, the blond got credit where it was due for being brave, and Tsunade was damn sure he'd protect the girl laying on his couch, unconscious at the moment, with every fiber of his body! But, she wanted his word, not just her own conscience.

"Naruto," Tsunade began, the blond looking at her as expected, "you will protect my student, right?" the woman questioned and looked across at the pinkette on the couch. Naruto turned his head and sighed through his nose.

"I'd die for her grandma… die. Nothing will ever get near her until they rip me apart piece by piece." he said with a silver edge on his tongue. The light blond could only smile at him, no words were to be said anymore accept good-byes. After Tsunade left, Naruto went back to the kitchen and looked down at the water. He felt woozy all of a sudden, rubbing his forehead and took a look around. The room swirled slightly, Tsunade's voice bringing back the thoughts of that ANBU. Naruto shook his head, stumbling around a bit. He didn't feel good and walked towards the bathroom. Stepping inside, the blond felt intense nausea in the pit of his stomach, and it was then in the bathroom that he threw up in the toilet for 20 minutes before calming down. His back pained all over and he felt like passing out from exerting himself like that. Flushing the remains away, he stood up, wobbling around slightly and went to the sink and cupped water into his palms and washed his mouth. He even took a few gurgles of mouth wash, feeling the burning that stung the lining of his esophagus. He cupped more water and drank it down one gulp after another before he felt like he could stand up straight enough to walk.

Naruto walked back into the kitchen and found the tea ready. Fixing himself and Sakura two cups he carefully carried them to the coffee table in front of the couch where she lay. Setting the two glasses on the glass, Naruto moved her legs and set them gently on his lap. He examined her feet. They were small… his were much bigger he could see clearly. Her naked feet looked so cute and soft, despite their size. He took his hands and ran over her milky white skin. It was so soft… relaxing even. His large hands cupped her feet, Naruto kind of getting caught up in the moment and started to massage them gently. Being a masseuse was something Naruto paid little or no attention to at all. Though he did know that stress along with tension could build up just about anywhere, commonly in the shoulders and neck. He asked himself though, "I wonder what it feels like to be stressed like that. Where does it come from, what is it like?" he pondered aimlessly for moments without end. Oddly it slightly exhausted him even more. He took a sip of his tea and looked at Sakura. He wanted to lay down, but knew it might not be the best thing to do, yet he didn't want to get up and walk into his room.

He was a bit too tired to think at all with the up-coming mission tomorrow. He and Sakura only had twenty-four hours to prepare until they departed. His eyes fell as if they were attached to strings with lead. The blonde's head fell back slightly and soon his eyes were shut completely, and fell soon asleep. Though, he had no control over his body as it slumped to the side a bit, and then like it had decided to dig it's own grave, fell down and landed between the cushions, and the sleeping pinkette herself.

Hours Later into the Night…

Naruto and Sakura both were sound asleep, unaware of them both against each other, though their bodies felt the warmth both provided. Naruto's hot breathing swam down Sakura's back as his body, on it's own, sensed another presence, Sakura, and wrapped itself around her waist, oddly. They both looked like a sleeping couple on the couch together like that. No disruptions, disturbances or any other thing to awaken them. The settling darkness around them, the moon-light cutting in through a tiny slit in the curtains. It was silent and still in the living room, not a peep to be heard nor nothing to be felt.

However… it quickly ended… almost instantly.

The darkness within the room settled into a inky black, the moon's ribbon of light dimmed subtly, and it became… cold… very cold… to the point where both Naruto's and Sakura's breathing turned into mist and fog. Sakura seemed to feel the dramatic change in temperature and opened her eyes, her emerald orbs adjusting to the inky blackness, she looked around. As the darkness settled, something loomed over near the window adjacent to the coffee table that seemed to catch her attention. It was large, broad shouldered yet a slender and skinny body, showing off a few curves in it's torso. Long, boney arms and legs, a menacing bushy tail that swayed silently. Her eyes widened and she immediately felt… something of evil aura emanating from it. She watched frightened as it lifted up it's arm and laid it's slender and boney fingers up against the window pane… Seeing it's head turn to a side view, Sakura noticing the tiny ears upon it's skull, it opened it's gaping mouth, loitered with razor sharp, hair splitting teeth. She felt uncomfortable and afraid at that moment as she heard a blood gurgling hiss from the creature just outside. She was frozen, into a state paralysis and fear that had taken control of her body. She looked down at the muscular arm wrapped around her body, knowing it just had to be Naruto's.

Despite their position, Sakura didn't think twice before shuffling on the couch and nuzzling her body into his as if it was protection. She heard a low and demonic grumble, and then a loud snort! Her body trembled in fear and to the chilling air encasing their bodies. Whatever was outside the window… it was pure evil… not like Kyuubi, but… just something out of a nightmare that one never wanted to have again. She felt tears of fear running down her cheeks, her shivering, cold body doing anything it could to nuzzle as close to Naruto as possible. She flinched and cringed as she heard it's talon like nails tap the window each time it placed it's hand on the pane of glass, they sounded like raindrops. She heard an irritating screeching sound that emitted from the beast grazing it's claws down the glass, and mixed in with it's husky and non-human breathing sure didn't help Sakura's nerves either. She heard it lick it's chops, creating a bit of a munching sound as it's teeth came together. It soon fell silent, and Sakura hadn't heard any noise or sound from whatever it was outside. However before she could close her eyes she heard the most horrible, stomach gagging gurgle she'd ever experienced!

It started low, before it heightened and turned into a screeching howl that echoed across the village and on for miles! Sakura whimpered and hugged herself as close to Naruto as she could! Naruto sure was a heavy sleeper though… the blond didn't even flinch nor snort! Sakura silently cried as the creature outside the window let out a huff, hissed evilly and with a grunt, hopped up. Sakura heard a thud on the roof of Naruto's apartment, making her look straight up! She heard the footsteps on the roof, her body cringing, the pinkette's widened eyes alert. Each step the thing took made it sound as if bones were crunching like toothpicks under it's massive clodhopper feet. She heard the footsteps clearly clamp on the rooftop, it seemed positioned over them, but then they slowly faded, and soon Sakura heard nothing, but silence. The room lit up a tiny bit, but it was still very cold, too cold for Sakura. She waited… waited for a moment to hear anything from whatever it was. The teenager heard nothing… not one peep. Her racing heart and sweating body, even her brain told her not to go outside less she most likely be eaten, and she wasn't so much for sleeping by herself at the moment. She didn't think twice before sleeping with Naruto didn't seem like such a bad thing. Though, she was cold, and pretty sure he was as well. She slowly got up from the couch, Naruto not even awakening from her movements, and walked down the hall, making sure nothing was there, being that she was still scared beyond herself. She found the closet and opened it. Searched aimlessly through the darkness she felt a blanket and pulled it out. Something dropped to the floor, and Sakura found it to be a pillow… a rather large one at that.

They sure felt like the fabric she was looking for and the girl nodded. She walked back into the room, although… she felt uneasy… like something was watching her. Her skin got goose bumps and she felt colder than before. Wrapping herself in the blanket, she continued, however stopped when she saw something like a silhouette of… something very lean and tall standing in the doorway. She froze immediately in her tracks and just stared at it for a long while. Even in the impending darkness she could still see the shadow of something tall, slender and broad shouldered. She felt extremely uncomfortable, not even ripping her eyes off the figure. She watched as she started to move closer and closer toward her, like it was levitating across the unseen floor. Her heart raced rapidly and she began to search around, the ghastly silhouette inching closer to her every second. She felt around the wall for a light switch, the tall and shady thing inching closer to her body, she felt the immense chill it emanated and only made her search more! Finally, she found something and flipped it!

What she flipped seemed to activate the hall light as it flicked on and scared the darkness away, illuminating parts of the apartment! Sakura looked hoping to see whatever it was, however she saw nothing… nothing but darkness… and the sound of Naruto snoring. That sound, made her feel safer… much safer as she turned off the light and walked back to the couch and settled in. Mind that she was still scared silly by her encounters, never in all of her life did Naruto's snoring ever sound like peace to her. She felt sentimental at the moment and hugged him closely, seeing as how he was such a heavy sleeper and all. Casting the blanket over them both, and placing the pillow under their heads, Sakura tried to forget about what she saw, though she was still frightened over what she witnessed, it plagued her to no end. She tried to elude the thoughts diseasing her mind. Sighing and breathing slowly as to calm her nerves. Abruptly Naruto snorted loudly and sighed, Sakura jolting and giving him an annoyed look. Though it seemed to have taken her mind off of whatever plagued her. She was glad he was asleep, or he'd probably be going off about her cuddling with him. She sure didn't want to stay alone after what happened nor even go to her own home. She would stay with the blond for the night, but this night only.

Smiling she closed her eyes and yawned. In a matter of moments, she fell asleep next to the teenager next to her. The cold had dissipated into thin air, her breathing returning back to normal. She then fell into a deep, sleep after a few moments, not hearing the blood-curdling, thirsty, malevolent howl in the distance outside of Konoha…

To Be Continued…

Short but it's okay. Next chapter will be LONG, because it's the mission and the nightmare awakening that was in the prologue. ^-^ Well, not going farther than that! I'm going to bed. Night… R&R.