This chapter's short...Again. Ick, but it's romantic! (Ick doesn't really fit, now does it?) Anyways, enjoy OOCness, and my first attempt at writing NaruSaku...Believe me, I wrote this almost a year ago (dammit, it's been so long!), and I've gotten a lot better.


Chapter 8 — Our Tears, Blood Red

Slowly, Sakura moved her hand to her chest. The Chinese stars were making the wounds ooze blood. Suddenly, the pain became strikingly obvious, and she moaned, before coughing hard. Blood dripped down her chin and stained her clothes. She then staggered backwards, and fell, body sprawled on the ground, blood still soaking through her clothes.

The sight came to him, and he saw Sakura's pain. He almost felt it. "SAKURA-CHAN!" Naruto yelled, falling to his knees besides the pink haired kunoichi. Panic rose in his mind, and he began to yank the blood shuriken from her body and threw them to the ground. He ignored the blood and ripped open her shirt, attempting to heal the wounds.

"Dammit all...She'll die from loss of blood if we — WE, SASUKE, WE — don't help her. Get Tsuande-bachan! Now!" Naruto yelled to Sasuke. Sasuke nodded curtly, his expression showing the tiniest bit of fright, and disappeared towards the Fifth Hokage's office.

"Clenching his teeth, Naruto ripped off a strip of his own clothing and folded it thickly before pressing it against the flesh wound Sakura was suffering from, trying to stop the terrible bleeding. Slower, but still too quickly, the blood soaked through the torn piece of cloth.

While Naruto cried, Sakura's blood streamed. "Don't die." the boy kept praying, every second dreadfully long.


"Sakura got hit with four shuriken!? All in the same spot!? How!?" The fact that Sakura was so horribly wounded made Tsunade almost forget that it was Sasuke standing in her office.

He winced slightly at the sharp tone in her voice He mumbled, trying to get away with saying it, but it not being heard, "It was kind of me..." He prayed she didn't hear him. She did.

"What!? Come on, Sasuke, we have to hurry! And Naruto's with her, correct?" Tsunade said, rushing down the stairs with Sasuke at her heels.

"Yeah." Sasuke responded quickly, trying to keep up with Tsunade's speed. They raced through town, heading to the outskirts where Sasuke knew Naruto and Sakura were.

"Naruto!" yelled Tsunade, pushing the sobbing boy off of Sakura. "Is she still breathing?" Panic had already entered the fifth's voice as her only reply was the young blonde sobbing.

He shrugged. "I — I can't tell!" he cried, hugging his knees weakly. He continued to sob, eyes red. Sasuke and Tsunade both fell down next to Sakura, and in quick silence, aside for Naruto's tears, Tsunade began to focus her chakra.

She put her hands near Sakura's chest and began to heal the wound. Once it had disappeared, she pressed her ear to Sakura's chest, listening for a heart beat.

"Is she..." Sasuke's voice was hoarse, scared, even if only a litt.e

"She'll be fine." Tsunade said gently with a sigh. She picked up Sakura's body, wrapping the ripped remains of her shirt across her chest, and began to walk back towards Konoha. Naruto stood shakily, wiping away tears, and scampered after, Sasuke following in silence. Every now and then, Naruto would glare at Sasuke, a certain kind of hate rising in him. Hating his eyes, hating his body, hating the way he walked so calmly. It just made him boil.


"S-Sakura-chan...If she alright?" Hinata asked, quivering slightly.

"Don't worry, Hinata, I'm sure she'll be fine." Kiba assured the quiet girl in a calm matter. Even so, he looked worried, eyes troubled.

"What about Naruto?" Of all the voices and expressions, Shino's was the calmest. He looked at the blonde-haired boy. "He looks like he's going to die."

Kiba and Hinata both shot a glance at Naruto, looking worried. Hinata bit her lip nervously, twiddling with her fingers like she always did when she felt like she was in an awkward situation. She then looked at Kiba, eyes desperate. "He looks devastated. She whispered weakly, feeling feeling her heart ache over how much Naruto cared for Sakura.

The nurse walked out of Sakura's room and everyone looked up expectantly. "She's awake." the nurse said, smiling elegantly. "Who would like to see her first?" No one volunteered, but all eyes were on Naruto.

"How about you, Uzumaki-san?" the nurse said politely. Naruto stood and nodded mutely, and she lef him into the room. About a minute later she came out, and was bombarded with questions.

Naruto walked into Sakura's room and stared at her. Her eyes were opened and she was gazing at the ceiling, as if perplexed. Blood-stained gauge was wrapped around her from her chest to right above her belly button. She wore no top, so all that covered her chest was the bandaging.

"Sakura-chan..." Naruto breathed with relief, glad to be able to see her. "Oh god!" He laughed. "You're alive! Oh, thank God." He sat next to her and stared into her eyes. Sakura stared dully back.

"Naruto...remember the time I came to the hospital to see you in the middle of the night?" Sakura asked softly. She sounded calm, but Naruto could see the fear and sadness that clouded her eyes.

"Yeah." he finally replied. "Of course I remember. I was so happy to see you!"

"Do you remember what I said? After I told you that I was just like you? I said 'Except I was chasing after the wrong person.' What do you think that meant?" Sakura murmured softly from her spot on the bed.

Naruto paused to think for a moment. "You meant...That each of us...Was chasing after something we figured we'd never catch. And you were...aiming after the wrong person. Sasuke... S-Sa-Sakura-chan? If Sasuke's your wrong person...Then who is your right person?" Naruto looked into those eyes, afraid that if he looked away, even blinked, Sakura would shatter into a million pieces, and he'd never see her again.

"Naruto." Sakura whispered. Her right hand reached up and touched his cheek. "I'm sure you can guess. He's so close, yet so far. I made him think I hated him, but he always held on. And I'm touching him at this very moment in time." she murmured, sitting up.

His heart was pounding as she spoke. She was so close, so close. She looked so fragile, her skin as cold and soft as a porcelain doll.

"Do I have to ask..." Naruto's voice was stained.

Finally, Sakura smiled. "No...Just do it."

Carefully, he held her face in his hands. It took him a few long seconds for him to ready himself. And then, just like that...their lips were together.


NaruSaku kissies are the bestest! Hope you guys liked.