A/N : Sorry, for the late update, got stock doing things, being punished, health issues, looking for another job, trying to sell art, and what-not. I need that money! Nah I kid. Just trying to make the best of what I got. I think most do. Now things will start to pick up here. There will be twists in certain parts of the story. A lot of foreshadowing, that's for sure. Hope you enjoy the chapter.

Disclaimer : I don't own Naruto, maybe if you wish me to own it, then we can talk an 80/20 Profit. Me with the 80.

I Need You

Chapter 4 : We Are Alike...

Unknown place...

"You mean to tell me, that the girl is still alive?" a voice hissed with disdain and disappointment. A couple of shuffling sounds echoed through the room before a loud thud hit the ground. A loud scream followed the sounds of flesh meeting flesh.

"Ugh...its not that we didn't want to kill her...we couldn't..." a feminine voice replied as she coughed up continuously, before being silenced, courtesy of a hard fist to her gut. She bent over, drops of blood escaping her lips. The red hair turning a dark black as her body slowly convulsed in quick fashion before coming to a slow, steady pace. Her breathing ragged.

"I will not have a failure. If you cannot accomplish killing one damn failed experiment" the voice hissed again, this time emphasizing 'experiment' with a tone akin to sheer evil implications that, to most who knew the man, was literally capable of, " then you are not fit to call yourselves elites." The man finished before he turned around and with a swift flicker of his hand, a figure presented itself in the center of the room.

"Orochimaru-sama..."

"Kabuto" the man now known as Orochimaru, replied, quickly turning around to scowl with disappointment, despite the status that followed one of the legendary Sannin. "I need you to finish the job that you failed..." the Snake Sannin started, as he narrowed his eyes at Kabuto, who flinched slightly.

"Yes, I understand but w-" the silver-haired nin never finished as he was silenced via a kunai that flashed in his peripheral before impacting his right ear. Clipping the lobe and causing the man to slightly grunt.

"I said finish the job. That girl is one of the few that I experimented on myself. I will accept no failures. She knows to much." Orochimaru spoke up with authority. Kabuto could only not, as he funneled healing chakra to his ear, sealing the wound in the process.

"I...understand."

"Good" Orochimaru slithered out as he turned around and disappeared in the darkness. Kabuto just stood there for a while contemplating his situation, before he sighed. He turned around to stare at the girl on the floor, who know had pooled a fair amount of blood beside her head. A glowing green hue appeared on his hands, before he laid them on the girls chest. The girl immediately began to gain her breathing pace, her wounds healing and the blood slowly disappearing as if it was never there.

"Who would have thought that the damn boy would be enough for us huh?" She spoke up, before she swayed her head over to his right. "Calm down and relax. Rest." The girl now breathing at a slow pace, grunted and smiled, before she closed her eyes and fell into silence. Sleep consuming her. He chuckled, adjusted his glasses and stood up. It was a bad decision. 'Damn...' He thought before he swayed and dropped onto one knee, his left hand clutching his left eye.

'Naruto-kun...I will get you back for what you did to me...' Kabuto thought before he picked up the girl, and vanished into the darkness.

0~0~0~0~0~0

Konohagakure no Sato, 1 week later.

The serene landscape called out to the world. The Village Hidden in the Leaves, was bustling with activity. Citizens and shinobi alike carrying on with their work and daily routine. But for one blonde woman, who sat in her office, it was a very depressing and physically exhausting period in her life. Her lips turned into a small pained smile.

'Nothing yet...'

It had only been a week since she had handed out the mission for Sasuke's retrieval. It had only been a week. Just a week that had tugged at her heart the most. She had almost lost a special person, and she would have if it wasn't for the female that came with him.

'Damn Naruto...'Tsunade thought to herself as she looked through the medical records of the young blonde, who she came to love as a 'son'. "Perforated right lung caused by several fractured ribs, severe physical and chakra exhaustion, chakra burns of 2nd degree over his left chest, temporary loss of movement in his left arm, overdose of a sedative..." She read that last part to herself, as she recalled only one other person who she knew had that kind of ability. It was all bringing back memories for her. She knew the genin was skillful, but to receive the extent of the damage he obtained, and added on to that the fact that he himself, put it all on the line, surprised her. The battle with Orochimaru and Kabuto, had taught her well that Naruto was that kind of person. Injuries were of the least priority to him, when he had something to prove...or someone to save...

She growled and was about to retrieve one of her a bottle from her secret Sake stash, till a knock on the door, alerted her. Choosing to hold out on her self-relief, she spoke up as she placed the records away.

"Come in."

In came Shizune, Tsunade's assistant carrying a small stack of papers, and note clip that laid a top the entire paperwork. Tsunade arched a curious eyebrow.

"Whats the clip for?" She asked, ignoring the already build up of paperwork for her entire day. Be it as it was, it took her mind away from worrying about Naruto. Shizune looked at the tone her mentor spoke in, but just stared at the clip now held to her hands and transitioned to pages, as if assuring it was the right one.

"Ah, Tsunade-sama, I came here to deliver the status of both Naruto-kun and the girl he was brought in with." Shizune stopped as she expressed a cute expression of thought on her face, that soon became a sad smile. "I believe her name was Tayuya."

"Ah yes," Tsunade lightly, VERY lightly, growled. She wasn't used to the Sound kunoichi being taken care, but she had accepted the girl on behalf of Naruto. She still didn't know what to make of it, but with what Kakashi had informed her of what he saw that day, Tsunade had grown fond of her in a way that she still couldn't completely explain. The blond Hokage then stepped up to Shizune and grabbed the clip.

"Are they awake, or are this the results of Naruto's detoxification?" She asked.

"Detoxification Tsunade-sama." Shizune mentioned, but paused a bit. "There... was something else in his blood..." the brunette med-nin added as she rubbed her arm nervously. Tsunade sensed the small tone of worry in her.

"What else?" She asked warily. Her eyes locked in with Shizunes. Her right hand, tapping the desk, nervously. She hoped it wasn't anything serious, or she might burst into a hysterical fit that would undoubtedly go into Konoha history books.

"W-well, nothing bad." Tsunade sighed in relief. "Its just that when we took the samples from Naruto's blood, we discovered that there were two different blood types in his circulatory system. We found it shocking at first, but over the extensive amount of evaluation and tests, it seemed that his blood consisted not only of his own, but of Tayuya as well. What had us baffled was that it flowed as one." Shizune spoke with a still baffled expression. " No coagulation despite being different blood types and,"Tsunade could not help but be completely overwhelmed by the incoming barrage of information. She wasnt prepared for what her assistant would say next. "their chakra, which still troubles me and even our best Sensors, resonate with each other."

That shocked Tsunade the most. It was rare for anyone to have such a medical condition without any complications.. Normally Blood coagulates when the presented differences in a persons blood chemicals either contradict or are affected by an unknown illness. She knew Narutos blood type was B due to pre-medical check up before the mission. Tayuya's was identified as Type A when doing a blood transfusion that day. But when they were brought in, there were no signs of Medical complications. No induced shock. No affected organs or damage of any kind.

"But, that's impossible. Medically impossible! How can that happen? And chakra being near resonance? That's only often happens in between family members!. It is rare for any two people who have far varying differences and family to even resonate their Chakra!"

"Y-yes I know..." Her assitant was stunned by the Hokage's sudden outburst. She knew Tsunade was still in subtle pain, as so was she, but several things weren't adding up with the conditions her 'otouto' came in, and why Tayuya was so...she couldn't find the word for it. "You don't think it could have been..." The brunette added as she touched her stomach in a form of a very well known gesture to Tsunade.

Said Hokage, just looked in complete thought, that even to her, would be utterly rare to see. "I would like to think no..." She started before pausing. "but we can't rule that scenario out. As much as I say it isn't true or will never be true, there is something I just can't shake..." Tsunade grimly finished. Shizune deciding not to dwell with the unwanted thoughts, changed topic.

"Also..."Shizune cut in," Tayuya, seems to be suffering from partial paralysis of her right ankle down her foot" The med-nin grasped the clip Tsunade held, while shuffling through the papers. "there's extensive nerve damage to her entire right leg. Some chakra coil dissention that is causing her minor symptoms of chakra poisoning, and apart from the effects of the remaining chakra in her Curse Mark, something Jiraya-sama is looking into, nothing else so far. Naruto-kun as well."

Tsunade took the time to digest the young Sound kunoichi's status as well as round up her inner maternal instincts and confusion per se of her 'sons'choices and present condition, that to her, just weren't keeping her at peace. Tsunade turned towards her assistant, smiled faintly, moved to her desk and sat down. Shizune was looking on with interest 'Tsunade-sama, has never acted this calmly before...what's with the change?'.

The blond Sannin spoke up. "I'll come by today, and see them. Though do keep me informed when those two wake up. There is something that I have to learn from the the gir-...Tayuya. The council has been nagging me about it. Also, I need to discuss serious matters with Naruto. And keep me informed on both of their conditions"

Shizune nodded.

"Also," Tsunade paused as she lightly flared her killer intent. Shizune gulped. " Tell that pervert to hurry up and get here and inform me!"

"H-hai!"

0~0~0~0~0~0

Konoha Hospital...

At the Konoha hospital ward, everything seemed completely at peace. The medical staff in constant motion through the white halls that encompassed the whole building. The silence being ever so eerie despite it being a place for joy and renewal. That was what a hospital was for right?

But deep within one room, a patient stirred in a restless sleep...her head ached and constantly an inner turmoil took place. It had been going for the past few days...

-X-

'Ne 'Ne, Kaa-San, I made a new friend!' a little girl with red hair told her mother with much enthusiasm. Her small hands made humorous gestures of grandeour splendor, such being the innocence the young girl had. Her mother a pale, yet attractive woman smiled at her child's antics.

"Okay okay, calm down hime." The older female gestured towards her daughter, laying a comforting hand atop the young gilrs head, and rustling her hair. The little girl pouted as her eyes showed slight playfulness."Seems like a good friend eh? Cute boys running around?" she teased.

The younger girl blushed. "N-no, just a friend, kaa-San!" Her mother smirked in a joking fashion, before she remembered something. Standing up and walking over to the kitchen she took out a small

bowl, decorated with small swirls of red, and placed it in front of her daughter who now sat at the table. The young redhead noticed the tale tell signs of her favorite dish coming up. Her eyes sparkled with desire.

"Kaa-San! Whipped cherries!" She squealed with delight. Her hands shaking with excitement, while her mouth lightly, drooled. All in all, it was a very humorous, innocent moment.

"Yes hime." her mother chuckled. "So, tell me about this friend of yours." The older woman sat across her daughter and stared with a gentle smile.

"Yeah, his name is baka!" She exclaimed with enthusiasm. The mother burst out laughing.

"Whats funny?" The younger girl pouted.

"Nothing, nothing!" the mother tried to held in her laughter, but failed in then process. Sighing at her boisterous laugh, she smiled warmly and placed the whipped cherries into the bowl.

"Eat up. Your father always loved the cherries."

-X-

The patient moved her head from side to side. The heart monitor slowly showing the rising beats of her heart.

-X-

"Hey, Kaa-San?" a young teen spoke to her mother.

"Yes?" the mother replied as she laid in her bed, a warm moist towel set on her forehead. The lit room barely visible to outside eyes. The flooding moonlight, reflecting the light in the room. A small chuckle echoed through and then a grim silence.

"Will you get better?" the daughter asked, a small pained smile visible on her pale face. Yet, with small hint of hope.

"Yes hime. Just watch me. Everything will be fine. Oh look, there are some whipped cherries in the fridge~ ."She said with a hint of a tease.

The daughter smiled slightly. "Kaa-San, don't make me show you why the other kids are scared of me." she laughed lightly to prove she was still her mothers pride and joy.

"Hai, hai."

-X-

A sad grunt escaped the patient's lips as the bed beneath seemed to cause great discomfort. The sheets flowing to the sides of the bed, slowly falling over and resting on the cold floor.

-X-

The sky rained unmercifully on the darkened scenery. The barren and inhabitable lands carrying painful sorrows. Painful smiles. The world seemed at a stand still, and yet, a lone redhead walked barefoot among the drenched soils. Her appearance becoming ragged with every passing step. She then stopped before a tree, and lightly punched it.

'Why...?'

'Why...?'

'Why...why...why...?'

'WHY!'

She fell down to the ground as her fists clenched the soil. Tears streak through her cheeks. The only reply she got was a thunderclap...

-X-

A small tear glimmered in the eye of the patient as the bandaged portion of the eye, became soaked in a crimson red. The frail body becoming still as possible.

-X-

"My, my, my, you have the skills to be someone special." a sickening and malevolent voiced hissed.

"Wha...who...who are you...? A young teen frighteningly replied as she shifted through some hand seals.

"Eh, eh, eh," the disembodied voice spoke up from behind her. The piercing golden gaze stared back into a pitch black abyss. A faint light at the end. The young girl in the shadows tensed, and stared back into two yellow, slit eyes, and suddenly everything went white...

-X-

The grunts became louder and louder, tears becoming more prevailent, as the fists of the patient gripped the bed lining with intense fervor... "Stop...it...stop...it...aggh..." a whisper escaped.

-X-

"Stop i-it..." Spoke an muffled voice over the sounds of battle. The injured teen stared in front of her as all she could see was a blond in front, his stance failing at each breathing movement. "S-top it..." The girl repeated, but her pleads went unheard. The sounding screams of pain ringing in her ears, that caused her to quiver in fear.

"St-stop it!" she repeated with a much firmer voice, but it only resulted in her to flinch in pain, and grunt. "You...don't ha-have to! Please...this isn'...t th-" Her continuous struggled words turned to silence as she saw the boy that stood before her impaled through his chest by a hand...a hand that quickly turned into a clenched heart, that still palpitated...

"N...n...oooo..."

It was then her world turned into a crimson dark red...

0~0~0~0~0~0

"GAAAHHHHHHHHH!"

Tayuya screamed at the top of her longs before she fell back to cry and writhe in pain. The bandages that covered her body began to dye a faint bright red, which did little to hide the extent of her injuries. Her eye, the only visible chocolate orb, opened and darted about the room. Panic, fear and various other emotions manifesting themselves in her eyes. Another staggered scream dashed out of her hoarse throat, that shifted through the hospital floors. The redhead came to hear quick and frantic sounds of heels hitting the ground, becoming louder and closer. The sounds of the monitors attached to her body increasing with every movement she made. Her heart rate...being far too high for anyone of normal boundaries.

As Tayuya continued to writhe in dull pain, a nurse walked in, glasses adorning her very petite and beautiful face. Her outfit consisting of the standard Konoha medical uniform. She quickly moved through the room ignoring the other individual who seemed unaffected by the previous outburst of the redhead in her sights. She stopped before Tayuya who only gazed in front of her. Her eye flowing with lone tears that cascaded down her cheek. All the nurse could sense was the slight change of atmosphere, yet she couldn't begin to shake the voices that turned into whispers. 'Is what I've heard about her that...bad?' The nurse thought to herself before she gently placed a hand on the girls back and lightly rubbed, despite the flinch she noticed in the redheads expression.

'I guess...it is...' The nurse thought to herself before she spoke up. "Hey, relax okay? I'm here. What happened?" She asked in a caring tone to assure her patient was in good hands. Tayuya just continued to stare ahead at the white walls, as she recalled her dreams...or where they memories? 'Who are they...? Why...what...why do I know...them...but look so familia? Strangers?' The redhead thought with a confused gesture, that quickly caused a painful headache. Quickly going through every single 'dream scene' that passed her in her sleep, she was able to recall...one...she paused on that last one, and immediately her eyes widened. In a flicker of movement, she turned towards the nurse, tears now dried up, a stunning facial mask that enveloped the girls own feelings present.

"Where...where is he?"

The nurse was taken back by the sudden question, but just presented a small smile. "Who do you speak of?"

"Don't play with me! Where is he?" Tayuya asked again, her tone becoming slightly desperate. A stabbing pain coursing through the girl's body.

"Who?" The nurse asked again, clearly on edge as to the unpredictable state of her patient.

"The blo-...Naruto...where...where...where is he?"

The nurse didn't exactly know she was speaking of because the pleads came out muffled, but then she remembered the other person in the room. 'She is looking for Naruto...'Before she could even guide the former Sound kunoichi, said female had already stood up and moved over to the curtain that surrounded her sleeping section, and slid it open. What happened next, quite surprised the nurse herself.

Tayuya was slowly walking.

'She isn't...she's not suppose to walk yet...how...how is that even possible? Hokage-sama deemed her, immobile for another few days...And her wounds, are already...sealed? The nurses eyes widened, extending beyond the frame of her glasses.

Tayuya just inched tile by tile, as she moved ever so slowly, the pain only adding insult to her present dilemma. As she stopped half-way out her curtain , she stopped and winced considerably to the point that she nearly dropped. The nurse rushing over to help her, but was pushed away.

'Why...can't I move...my foot? I just did a little- whi...' It was something that didn't allow her to move. She looked down to see her bare feet on the cold hospital floors, and a look of fear etched itself into her eyes. Her right foot was completely immobile, casted, bandaged, and...sealed? 'Why...is ...there a seal?' Tayuya thought to herself. The nurse who stood by, noticed where she looked towards to and decided to answer for her.

"Hokage-sama decided that you weren't supposed to walk at all till she deemed it was okay for you to, without any further complications. Your not even suppose to move your right foot at all!" The nurse exclaimed, only to be silenced by the stare the kunoichi gave her. "W-what...?" She asked nervously. Tayuya heard everything, but the only fact that truly hit her had was the fact that she couldn't move her right foot. At all.

"Why...can't I move my foot?" She softly spoke up. "I understand the seal...I think...but," Tayuya added quietly, "why...can't I move my foot...on its own?"

The nurse deciding to help, stepped towards her, and gently inclined the injured female to her shoulders and moved around. "Your right foot, is completely paralyzed."

The now, disabled kunoichi, looked up and stared at the nurse, before looking away, and continuing her movements. Staggered steps and body sways alerted the nurse to rush over to her and keep her up. 'Something...is wrong with her...' Tayuya merely glanced forward, still looking for the boy, that had saved her life. That had done the most improbable of things she could ever imagine. As she noticed another bed next to her, covered in curtains, she moved towards it and swung them open.

She widened her eye as far as possible. The nurse who continued to stare at her, failed to notice the other person the red-head was looking at.

"What..." The nurse paused herself as she noticed Tayuya slowly look towards the next bed and spotted the blond sitting up and looking back at her. A gentle smile placed on his face despite the the amount of injuries he had sustained as she remembered. But as she did, Tayuya had moved up close to him. That memory of her dreams, came back and she lost full control of her emotion. With great will, Tayuya threw the nurse into a state of shock and disbelief, as she saw the redhead literally walk to the boy and throw herself at him in the most desperate, tearful, and pleading hug the kunoichi could express.

"Hey...Tayuya-chan..." Naruto spoke weakly as he was pushed back, with Tayuya literally on top of him, hugging him like her life depended on it.

"Blon-..."Tayuya paused before she smiled, and just let all her emotions out. "Naruto...why...why...why...I told...you..." She continued to cry herself out, despite every coughing that, now and then, aggravated her internal injuries. " I told you...I was fine you...b-baka..." Naruto himself, let a small tear escape his own blue eyes, as he rubbed her back to ease her sobbing. He hated seeing women cry, but what hurt him the most was seeing the first person he had ever protected, cry in front of him. Injured, bruised, yet clinging to him desperately. Like...he was the first person...she had ever befriended...

The nurse herself, as much as mentally prepared she was to confront death, pain, sorrow in the medical field, just couldn't see it. It was something that she couldn't help but to turn away...and let a small smile form on her lips. She walked over to Tayuya's bed, and picked up the check-up roster. 'I need to inform Shizune about this...it's just...'

She then shifted through said redhead's medical paperwork, and marked a small tab below the patients name. 'Tayuya...'She read to herself, before shifting her glasses up and turning over to the other person. A really joyful smile spread across her cheeks.

'Strong, caring, loving, loyal, so peaceful, yet...is ostracized by the village...he is just a cute, innocent young child...'the medic thought to herself before moving over to him, Tayuya just lost in her emotions, and with small gratitude, kissed his cheek affectionately.

"Get well..." she then looked over to the still clinging female beside him." She needs you." With that, the nurse, who Naruto himself now came to know was Mari, left the room.

A tear dropping to the hospital floors.

0~0~0~0~0~0

That night...

'He's awake! He's awake! Otouto is awake!' Shizune cheerfully thought to herself as she, with great control, skipped through the halls towards her mentor's office.

WHAM!

"Tsunade-sama" Shizune walked in on the Hokage slightly drowsy. "TSUNADE-SAMA!" She raised her voice louder for Tsunade to hear. Said Hokage jumped up, and wiped away the small amount of drool that had pooled by her mouth as well as her breasts...something that Shizune just face faulted at.

"What is it Shizune?" The blond Sannin inquired, as she noticed the slight glow of happiness that was exuded by her apprentice.

"They have woken up." Shizune replied with a smile, as she laid the clips in front of the hokage desk. "Naruto and Tayuya have woken up! And both are actually in greath health, despite the little troubles here and there. But they are awake!" Tsunade just stared and very slowly, a smile grew on her normally serious face, but it quickly faded away...

"I am glad...but I think they woke up at the wrong time..." She said with a grave tone. Shizune sensing it, looked worried for a bit. The brunette decided to ask, despite the thoughts and bad vibes she had.

"Why...?"

"Well, I looked into the report you gave me the day before, and there was something else that I found out." Tsunade begin with a faint smile.

"What is it?"

"I do believe the Kyuubi is responsible for what happened to both of them that day. And how they survived..." Shizune looked utterly silent. "Yes, I did the same thing you did, but also...that's not the big deal. We can ask them later about it, well Naruto more likely. Inochi will have a look at Tayuya."

The brunette nodded , but wasn't clearly certain that, THAT was the big deal. " But what el-"

"The council...wants to call trial for them." Tsunade cut her off. The expression Shizune had just did nothing to hide the anger in the Hokages eyes.

"But...but..." Shizune began to mutter quietly.

"For failure in the mission, and helping out an enemy Sound kunoichi..."

"Pu...nishment...?

"Death..."

A/N : Well, here is the 4th Chapter. Was quite busy the whole week, doing what I do best. Drawing and working. I know the chapter is a bit short, or long, depending on how I work at times, but I did my best to get the point across in this one. More will be explained later. Inoichi will be the biggest part of the next chapter. And you will see why. Enjoy and R&R. Thank you.