IV
"Naruto?"
"Yeah?"
"Can you teach my something?... Please?"
"What, Sakura-chan?"
"Do you think you could teach me the..."
Sakura shot up in bed, breathing irregularly. She wiped her face off with her sleeve and looked downward at her hands. They were trembling. That had been two-and-a-half years ago when she asked that question. Naruto was going to leave the day after that one. Sakura had known that, but Naruto had told her that she couldn't learn it. She had always wondered why since then. Was there something Naruto knew that she didn't? Sakura pushed that thought out of her mind and tried to go back to sleep.
Sirius had been kept in the Konoha Hospital ever since last night and there had been no sign of where Sasuke went either, though the ANBU were investigating this matter and what was so special about Sirius to have Orochimaru himself have contact with him. But Sirius just lie there, with his hands behind his head.
Naruto sat beside Sirius, waiting for him to say something about Sasuke. But, he never did. Sirius just kept starring at the ceiling. How could this guy have any contact with Sasuke? Naruto thought. And if he did fight him, how is it that he could've wounded Sasuke so easily? All of the answers Naruto was looking for were just handed to him by one guy. Even though he was a guy that wouldn't possibly talk to you without his "approval".
"So... how do you know Sasuke, anyway?" Naruto asked, without anymore patience left in him.
There was silence. At last, Sirius replied. "I know him... only because of Orochimaru."
"'Because of Orochimaru'? What do you mean by that?" Naruto asked, happy to finally be getting some answers.
Sirius sat up. Slowly and hesitantly, Sirius reached for the back of his neck. When he nearly touched the end of his neck, an evil, hideous thought appeared in his mind and his arm instantly rushed back into his lap. "What I mean by that is..." But Sirius stopped as if he couldn't remember what he was about to say, or as if he were distracted by something else.
"What is it?" Naruto asked. At that instant, the door opened. Naruto expected Tsunade, but instead, who came in was Sakura.
As she came in, Sakura closed the door behind, and she was dressed in her regular attire. "Sorry to intrude, but I need to check up on how he's doing."
"Who?" Naruto asked, confused.
Sakura smiled as she walked over, "Why, Sirius, of course. He's the one in the hospital bed."
"But... But, Sirius was about to reveal what he knew about Sasuke!"
"Well, that's gonna have to wait for later! The hospital's discharging Sirius today!" Sakura replied with authority in her voice.
"You mean... They're going to release him?!"
"Well, of course! His wounds are perfectly healed, so there's no need for him to be here!" Sakura explained.
"But! What if he runs away?! We'll never find out where Sasuke is?!"
"Why would I run away? I'm not a child you know. I came here on purpose," Sirius interrupted.
"And besides, all you think about all day is Sasuke, Sasuke, Sasuke! You never think about those who care about you, Naruto!" Sakura continued.
"Of course I do-"
"Well, what about last night?!"
Naruto looked stunned for a second as he looked up at Sakura. "What about it?!"
"You practically cried over Sasuke! You were on your knees! What?! And you're looking at me like I'm crazy! You totally ignored me the rest of the night after that! What, is he your master now?! 'Oh, Sasuke, please! I'll be a good boy! I promise! I love you more than anything! I'll get on my knees and kiss your feet, how about that? I'll just forget about Kakashi-sensei and Sakura and everyone just for you, Sasuke!'"
"I'm not gay-"
"'How about this? I'll be your play-thing and I'll die for you Sasuke-'"
"Sasuke's my friend too-"
"'How about this! I'll become an Akatsuki just so you can kill me too!'"
"NO I WOULDN'T! SAKURA, YOU'VE CROSSED THE LINE!"
"OH, SHUT UP! YOU KNOW THAT'S TRUE JUST AS MUCH AS I DO! YOU WOULDN'T GIVE A SHIT IF KAKASHI-SENSEI OR MYSELF DIED! EVEN IF IT WAS FOR YOU!"
"SHUT THE HELL UP, SAKURA!!!"
"MAKE ME, DEMON!!!" But now, Sakura had gone too far. Naruto looked as if he were about to cry.
"I'm... I'm sorry, Naruto... I didn't mean it... It sort of just... came out... I'm sorry..."
A shadow crossed Naruto's eyes.
"Uh, oh..." Sirius muttered and hastily rushed out of the bed.
"Sakura-chan...!" Naruto grew more demonic-like and the shadow in his eyes faded with the color of his eyes changed to red.
"The Kyuubi..." Sirius muttered and grabbed his sword that was laying against the wall.
Naruto slashed at Sakura, who was in shock by the sudden activation of Kyuubi. Naruto slashed at Sakura in several places and pushed back, slamming her against the wall. She was bleeding heavily and yet still formed hand seals. One of her hands glowed green and she attempted to heal herself.
Meanwhile, Sirius stood in front of Sakura with his broad-sword in hand. "Leave this place, Kyuubi!"
Naruto tried to slash through Sirius, but Sirius blocked and formed hand seals. Sakura noticed the hand seals, "No! Don't hurt Naruto!"
Sirius growled, "Then what am I supposed to do?!"
"Distract him! I'll handle it!" Sakura ordered.
"Arg! I can't do that! What about you?" Sirius asked, glancing over at Sakura.
"Don't worry! Just... just get him outside!" Sakura insisted.
"I don't know what you have in mind, but-" Sirius rammed the end of his hilt into Naruto's stomach and he swept behind him and put put the flat part of the sword against Naruto's neck so he'd keep hold of him, "I'm up for it!" At that instant, Sirius was pushing Naruto to the window and rammed Naruto and himself through it. Sakura stood up weakly and looked down outside. Sirius and Naruto were stuck in a clash of sword and claws. They both landed on their feet and kept on fighting. Sakura got herself back inside the hospital and kept healing herself while chanting, "C'mon, c'mon, hurry!"
Sirius and Naruto kept up their battle. Kyuubi's power was growing more and more and Sirius could sense it. "Naruto! Calm down!"
"Arg! Out of the way! I'm going to get Sakura! She's mine to kill!" Naruto roared demonically.
He is definitely not himself, Sirius thought and he pushed Naruto back. Naruto slid, but kept on his feet. That's it, I need to utilize my techniques about now! he thought as he noticed a red plasma engulf Naruto and one tail grow from it.
"Out of the way!" he heard a familiar voice. It was Sakura. She thrust out her hand. I hope this works, she thought to herself. All of the sudden, chakra started swirling into the palm of Sakura's hand.
It can't be..., Sirius thought in amazement.
How did she...? Even an enraged Naruto was impressed.
It was definitely visible that Sakura was concentrating what chakra she had left into this one attack. And it was clear what she was about to use. The chakra formed into a round, blue ball of swirling chakra. Naruto, I hope you're watching, Sakura thought. Sakura rushed forward and thrust the ball into Naruto's stomach.
"RASENGAN!" she cried. There was definitely a lot of chakra molded into it, for there were huge waves of chakra coming from the ball of chakra.