AN: Hmm... I don't really like this chapter - it's a bit choppy and doesn't flow well, though I do like the last scene even if it could stand a rewrite. I seem to be keeping a day ahead with my writing at the moment as I already have the next chapter written, this story has so far been a joy to write taking on a life of its own seemingly beyond my control. The characters and their interactions seem to just happen without my input. I recieved a comment about Sakura bashing in earlier chapters for which I am sorry - I did not intend to bash her I was simply trying to portray her as she was early in canon, in canon she acted excitable and imature right up until Sasuke left giving her a wake up call - in this story the wake up call is different but it is still there, or will be soon anyway. Anyway - please review, I love reviews almost as much as I love clicking the 'stats' page before putting up a new chapter and seeing just how many hits this story has been getting.

Neji landed in the centre of the clearing and surveyed the damage; there was a fair amount of blood spattered around as well as large trenches dug through the forest floor.

Tenten landed next to him and let out a low whistle, "Your friend put up one hell of a fight." She said looking over at Sakura, she nodded looking around as Lee joined them with an unconscious Sasuke on his back.

"It would appear," Neji began, "that your friend is no longer here – I believe that means we have held up to our end…" Tenten silenced him with a glare.

"Just look for him already." She said still glaring at him.

Neji did not look best pleased but activated his bloodline none the less, after looking around for a moment his eyes snapped to a specific position. He blinked rapidly, deactivated his byukagun and reactivated but it was still there, "What in hells name?"

"What is it Neji?" Tenten asked curiously.

"I honestly don't know," Tenten nearly feinted hearing those words from the know it all Hyuuga, "I can see another Konoha team, with them they are carrying another person who appears to be wounded but… it's almost as if they are made of chakra."

"Made of Chakra?" Sakura asked.

"I can see nothing of them but a bright blue outline – may I ask your team mate's build?"

Sakura frowned in thought, "About two inches shorter than me, thin but with a small amount of muscle – looks a little under nourished."

Neji nodded, "I believe that to be him, let us go and see."

Eyebrows raised all round and Sakura turned to Tenten as Neji began to hop away, "He sure changed his tune."

Tenten nodded, "he always does when something grabs his attention and your team mate must be special to grab Neji's attention."

Sakura nodded losing herself deep in thoughts of Naruto – what did she actually know about him considering they had been on the same team for three months?

Team ten where about an hour's journey from the tower when Shikamaru called for them to stop, "Why?" Ino asked loudly, although she knew Shikamaru must have a reason she was still frustrated – she was dirty, aching and tired, she just wanted out of this forest.

"Because we are tired and need to be fresh when we approach the tower, it seems likely to me that several teams will lie in wait and ambush teams that already have both scrolls."

Ino sighed and collapsed against a tree while Chouji laid Naruto down gently on the ground, "How's he holding up?"

Chouji sighed, "Very well."

Ino raised an eyebrow, "You don't seem too happy about it."

Chouji looked over at her, "That's because I am puzzled."

"By what? Shikamaru asked staring up at the canopy, hoping to see a cloud.

"All of his most serious wounds have healed… and he is extremely light."

Shikamaru looked at his team mate – if Chouji thought this worth mentioning it caught his interest, "I'd say he weighs about two stone less than he should."

Shikamaru walked over and inspected the unconscious Naruto, after a few moments he gave a satisfied sigh, "Ah… I get it."

"Get what?" Ino asked.

"Something I am afraid I cannot tell you."

"And why the hell would that be?" Ino shrieked at him.

"Because it is evidently a secret – and as such not my secret to tell." Shikamaru continued to inspect Naruto for a moment – it was clearly a well-designed Genjutsu but he couldn't tell what it was hiding, just that it was hiding something.

Chouji looked up and put a hand on Shikamaru's shoulder, "Someone's approaching."

Neji swore lightly under his breath immediately drawing everyone's attention, "What is it?" Tenten asked.

"They're under attack by a group of rain-nin."

"How far are they?"

"Less than five minutes."

Shikamaru swore as his shadow bind just caught another clone, this was costing him too much chakra and was getting them nowhere.

Chouji balled through the group destroying large numbers of clones just to have them reform and multiply, Ino was still unconscious – she had attempted to use her mind body transfer technique on a clone and now her consciousness had to try and make it back to her body.

Shikamaru watched as a Kunai hit him in the arm passing right through leaving no wound, a second later a real one hit him in his right thigh. This was impossible, without some form of doujutsu he could not work out which ones where real and which where illusions.

His vision was turning fuzzy, he had expended too much chakra – just before he passed out he saw a blurry shape jump across in front of him and then heard someone shout "Kaiten!"

Shikamaru smiled, a Hyuuga – they where saved.

As soon as Neji landed he set to work clearing away the remaining clones and tracking the originals – if these people where genjutsu specialists then they had more than met their match.

As he was busy fighting Lee laid Sasuke down next to Naruto and turned to join him, he stopped, however, when he realised Sasuke was beginning to stir. Obsidian eyes flickered open and his head rolled to the side, the first thing he saw was Naruto; broken, bloody and unconscious – black marks tracked across his skin.

Everyone stood still and turned to see the source of the repugnant chakra that had started to spread from the boy, as he stood a purple aura became more noticeable until it was causing the air to whip around them and their clothes to ripple.

"Who?" He asked simply, his voice a mixture of anger and hate – it wasn't even his own voice but rather gritty and feral, "Who did this to her?" Everyone was too scared to pick up on his mistake but it was recorded in Sakura's subconscious for later analysis.

All eyes where on Sasuke as his gaze travelled from person to person before resting on one of the rain-nin, a growl forced it's way from between his lips and he disappeared in a burst of speed, his foot appearing in the rain-nin's face causing his nose to shatter and the fragments to fly up into the frontal lobes of his brain – death was instantaneous.

The Konoha Shinobi watched in disbelief as Sasuke put a kunai through the next ones eye and finished the last by unleashing a fierce blow to the back of the head cracking their skull. Panting Sasuke looked at Naruto – his eyes suddenly softened as he rushed to her side, the marks receding as quickly as they had come taking the vile chakra with them.

Bending over her he gently shook her shoulders, "Wake up," he pleaded, "Wake up Naruto!" he shouted his eyes starting to water, "Damn it Naruto you promised, You agreed you wouldn't scare me like this again!" Lee put a hand on his shoulder but it was quickly shrugged off, "WAKE UP!" he screamed, his eyes rolled up and he passed out again, looking behind him Neji could be seen with his palm extended.

"I apologise but he would have attracted too much attention – though I am at a loss as to why he was so emotional."

Shikamaru sat up with Chouji's help as his friend fed him a soldier pill, "Perhaps we will find out in time – but it is not our place for the time being."

"Not our place?" Ino shouted, "He could have brought the entire forest here shouting that loud!"

"The same could be said of you," Neji said drawing a glare, "We should get moving – as the rain-nin had the scroll we require I believe you have lived up to your side of the bargain Haruno-san – we will escort your team to the tower."

Sakura nodded thankfully.

Sasuke's eyes fluttered open again, this time he was greeted by the sight of green, lots of green and he appeared to be riding it, as he became more aware he realised someone was carrying him.

"Put me down." He said groggily.

"Only of you agree not to freak out on us again."

Sasuke nodded wearily though as his memories trickled back he was finding it harder to keep to his word, as soon as his feet reached terra firma he spun around madly, "Where's Naruto?"

"Here," Chouji called, "He's ok – I think he'll regain consciousness soon."

Sasuke jumped over and inspected her – she indeed did appear to be recovering quickly. Sasuke, for the first time since he knew about it, was truly thankful for the demon sealed inside Naruto's stomach.

"I guess I owe you one Kyuu…" he muttered under his breath.

"We're here!" Came a call from the front, the three teams landed together and entered the entrance hall, as they threw their six scrolls forward a surprised looking Iruka holding a sandwich appeared in front of them.

"I knew it!" He shouted looking annoyed, "I put it off all day and I knew the second I started eating someone would finish."

He sighed and looked at the group of surprised looking Genin, "Heheh – sorry about that, I am glad to say that you have all made it through to the – what the hell happened to Naruto?" He shouted out the last part.

Rushing over he looked at the young 'boy', "Ah crap – Anko's going to kill me."

Naruto blinked as she regained consciousness, the room was fuzzy and her vision was obscured by something big and black. Closer inspection revealed it to be big black and hairy – she soon came to realise that it was a head, "Sasuke?" she asked lightly.

The head snapped up and looked her in the eyes, "Thank god – you're awake!"

"Not so loud!" She complained sitting herself up and getting her bearings, she looked down – her genjutsu was still in place, "Where are we?"

"The tower, you held off the sound-nin long enough for Sakura to escape and you where then rescued by team ten."

"That's good." She let out a yelp of pain as Sasuke hit her on the head.

"How is it good? You where nearly killed!" She realised for the first time that there where tears running down the stoic Uchiha's face.

"Sasuke…I…"

"You what?" He shouted, "I heard what you said from Sakura! 'I've lived through worse'… 'I've lived through worse'?" He repeated the statement with such pain in his voice that it nearly brought her to tears, "What have you lived through Naruto? Tell me please because I don't think I can bare the idea of you thinking like that. I don't want to lose you just because you think you're invincible!"

"Sasuke… I know I'm not…"

'THEN WHY DID YOU DO IT?" He screamed at her, "Because you're a monster? Sakura told me you said that as well! You are not a monster!"

"But the villagers…"

"You are not a…"

"YES I AM!" She screamed at him causing him to back down, "I am a monster, I am a foul, detestable piece of lying scum," She brought her knees up to her chest, "I am not worthy of you or this village, even when they don't know who I am they hate me – that 'Slutty little redhead' that has been seen with the Uchiha prince. It doesn't matter Sasuke – you see it, I see it – I am a monster!" She paused, "and you would be better off without me."

She stood to leave the room when Sasuke grabbed her wrist, "Don't you ever," he said, his voice filled with barely controlled rage, "Don't you ever say that about yourself again." His voice wasn't raised, it wasn't it wasn't emotional – it was a deadly calm that spoke volumes of his anger, "I don't care what is sealed in you, or what the villagers may have done to you in the past – but you are the furthest thing from a monster – and don't you ever say I would be better off without you."

"You would." Naruto said yanking her wrist free, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Sasuke grabbed it again and turned Naruto to look at him, "Look into my eyes – do I look like I want you to go? Do I look like I would be happy without you?"

Naruto turned her gaze away, "Look at me." Sasuke said but Naruto continued to look at the floor, sticking his hand under her chin Sasuke pulled her eyed up to look into his, "Look at me… what brought this on? Why suddenly now have you decided you aren't good enough for me? You where happy to be together before we entered the forest – even after – so why now?"

Naruto mumbled something to the ground, "What was that?" Naruto mumbled again, "Naruto…"

She looked up at him, "I failed you." She said barely audibly.

Sasuke looked at her in shock, "How did you fail me?"

"In the exam… I couldn't protect you; first I got blown away and by the time I got back you where already hurt – then when you where unconscious I had to send Sakura to take you to help! And now you hate me because of it."

Sasuke would have laughed if it wasn't for the pained expression on her face, raising his hand he wiped away her tears, "I don't hate you, I could never hate you – and hey - you didn't fail me… you fought to the best of your abilities – that's what I like about you; you don't give up. Even when you are outmatched you always pull something out your sleeve, I may not like what you did but you did get us all back didn't you?"

Naruto nodded, "Now," Sasuke said trying to change the tone of the conversation, "Are you going to 'fail me' now by giving up on me?"

Naruto smiled, "No way in hell."

"That's more like it!" Sasuke smiled and leaned in, their lips met in an awkward but happy kiss.

A camera flash went off.

Separating quickly the young couple turned to see a grinning Anko stood in the doorway, "As your older sister it is my responsibility to annoy the hell out of you," she smiled, "I guess I can put this round the village – 'Naruto and Sasuke – Gay Lovers!' underneath it in big letters! You really should have dropped your genjutsu."

Naruto fumed, "Anko-chan! Don't you dare."

Sasuke bopped Naruto on the head, "That's nee-san."

Naruto glared at her boyfriend, "Not you too!"

Sasuke smiled, "I just don't want to get in her bad books when she has a photo of me kissing you as a boy!"

Anko grinned, "I like you kid – welcome to the family."