Author Note: Moving on to the 'dark side' of the story! Ku ku ku ku. This chapter isn't all that edited, but that's my fault, my eyes are covered in a mysterious fog. Basser will help next time though! Yay! Now, we're almost at the fifty mark which is good, good, good, good! Thank you everyone!
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Darkside
Hospital hiatus
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Sakura's headache was growing. Fast.
Putting up with Kashikoi's men had been no walk in the park but the wise man himself ended up being the real bother. Seems like he wasn't so flawless after all... Sakura sighed. At least it was all over.
Finally...
The mission turned up good results, aside from the quarrel with the bandits. Lee was a great help, taking over Naruto's position and guarding Kashikoi well. Of course, the mission came first, but Sakura couldn't help but worry over Naruto.
Shikamaru proved once again that he was an elite leader. His strategies were top notch, flawless, and well calculated. Because of that, the team remained strong all the way through. Now, it was time to get back to Konohagakure.
Lee talked loudly and very enthusiastically about his training with Gai as they trekked through the forest. Sakura found it tempting to just smack him over the head, but he had helped them. Lee was safe... for now anyway.
Shikamaru was currently ahead of Lee and Sakura, closely observing the surrounding forest. Each time he jumped from branch to branch, Konoha's taller structures became visible through the mass of leaves ahead of him. The clouds above were just begging to be watched. Sadly, Shikamaru had even more assignments that needed completion once they returned. Cloud watching would have to wait until another time.
How troublesome...
"We'll be there shortly!" He yelled over his shoulder.
Lee and Sakura nodded in understanding. Absentmindedly, all three leaf-nin quickened their pace. Something had gone terribly wrong with sealing Naruto and each wanted to know what it was and whether or not the blond was going to be okay.
Konohagakure couldn't be more than twenty minutes away now. Sakura, trying to calm herself, but ended up biting her lip from anxiety.
You better be alright, Naruto!
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Monitors beeped in a never ending, almost hauntingly spaced pattern. It was as if they were programed in a way so the heart had time to give out before a warning could even be issued. Wires hung around the room as if it was some ancient rainforest. An IV dripped clear liquid into Naruto's blood stream, via a small needle taped to his right hand.
Paled curtains hung over the only window, giving Naruto's skin complexion a ghostly glow. He hadn't moved, not even an inch. Doctors and nurses hovered in and out of the room periodically, clipboards grasped possessively in their hands.
Jiraiya sat through everything. Visiting hours came and went just as fast as the doctors. He rarely spoke to the men in white caps, he preferred the nurses instead. Multiple times he had been ordered to leave, but Jiraiya refused. Finally, in a desperate need of food and some good sake, he left.
Even he, the great legendary Jiraiya, could not understand the situation that had unfolded before him earlier. The Kyuubi was obviously the one to blame for this. That he knew, but what exactly had it done?
"Damn fox..."
Naruto constantly got back up, no matter how bad his injuries were. It was a trait that earned him much respect, but he wasn't getting back up this time. The seal on his stomach had to be weaker than Jiraiya originally assumed.
Many rooms passed, each with open doors. The legendary Sanin averted his eyes, he wasn't one who liked seeing all the machines people were hooked up to. Hospitals made him queasy. He had made many trips here as a child and hoped to never end up in one again. If Naruto hadn't been his subordinate or the person he looked after (somewhat), Jiraiya would be out of the pungent smelling building faster than the speed of light.
Another stretch of rooms, wandering nurses and mumbling visitors came into view. Jiraiya ignored all of them, heading straight for the main entrance. He passed a few kids he recognized, probably here to visit Naruto. After what seemed like an eternity, he finally saw light from the outside world and sighed with relief.
Before exiting, Jiraiya was stopped as a hand tugged lightly on the sleeve of his shirt. He looked down and saw a kunoichi that belonged to the Hyuuga clan, blushing furiously and looking embarrassed.
"E-excuse me. Do-do you know which room Naruto-kun is in?"
The Sanin laughed good heartedly. He gave her the directions she need and then, without any more interruptions, he stepped outside. First, he was going to find something to eat, then he planned on tracking Tsunade down, although she was probably in her office, swamped with paperwork... or drinking sake.
He had questions and she had answers. After his little visit, he planned on getting his own delicious drink.
Tsunade better start talking.
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Temari traveled faster than normal. Urgent matters only called for her to use such high speeds and rarely did she even bother figuring out what time she'd return to Sunagakure. On most occasions, the kunoichi set a slow pace and more than once she had been 'yelled' at by Kankurou. More like a scolding for a two-year-old...
She liked venturing around. Every month or so Temari was in a different country, walking down a different path, talking to different people. Of course, she always returned back. 'Vacations' were merely simple missions she helped assist in.
With her current speed, Temari could already see most of Sunagakure. No trees flourished in this desolate land, making anything visible even if it were an hour away. The cool shade trees offered was long gone. Sand and wind ruled here.
Judging by the distance, Sunagakure stood ten minutes away. Temari easily covered that distance as scorching sun rays assaulted her exposed skin. Growing up here did have it's advantages for the kunoichi didn't feel a thing.
Thick walls were obstructed around Suna, made from sand, stone and mud, protecting the village from all trespassers. Temari stood before the thick barrier, acknowledging the ninjas on guard duty. She entered the village in what seemed like seconds, running towards the tower she knew Gaara was in.
Panting only slightly, Temari arrived at the tower made out of sand. She was glad for at least a drop in temperature and circulating air. Kankurou was nowhere to be seen so she assumed Gaara had sent him on a mission. Hallways went by one after another until Temari finally made it to the floor where it was traditional for a Kazekage to hold his office.
Gaara signed another slip of paper after carefully reading through the statement printed neatly on it. Adding the paper to a monstrous stack that was growing on his desk, the Kazekage of Sunagakure lightly sat back in his chair. Paperwork was tiring.
Things had changed since Akatsuki forcefully took the demon from inside him. People no longer saw him as a tool for their village or as a monster, but he did know were a few who had their minds made up that he was still some freak . Now, however, he was simply human, a leader of all people inhabiting Sunagakure. He felt like a real Kazekage now.
Sunlight poured from the windows behind him. Gaara believed that perhaps no more problems would arise for the day, and no more paperwork. Oh, how wrong he had been.
Temari burst through the solid door across from him without an invitation. She stepped into the office, bending down to catch her breath between sharp exhaling. Gaara gave her an odd look and remained silent, waiting for an excuse as to why she barged in.
"It's," she caught her breath. "Naruto."
Gaara showed that he was listening and became curious. Temari stood up straight, her shoulders still heaving.
"They've taken him to the hospital back at Konoha! Everyone was totally freaking out and it didn't look too good!"
Gaara's eyes narrowed at this. A frown tugged on his pale lips and he crossed his arms, a habit he never got over. No fuss would ever be made over a few broken ribs, there was something else happening in Konohagakure. It had to be the Kyuubi.
"Was Akatsuki involved?" He asked in his monotone voice.
"I don't know, but people were lookin' pretty damn upset. And some were more like angry-upset."
Gaara set his feather pen down on his desk that had been used by previous Kazekages. He sat up slowly, a small breeze drifting in through the window and ruffling his hair. Temari watched as he maneuvered around the desk silently before he spoke quietly.
"I'm leaving."
"Gaara, you can't do that. You have to stay here and.."
"I'll ask the elders to look after the village."
"Fine...," Temari sighed, defeated again. She rarely won arguments with Gaara, even with her fiery attitude. Though she doubted he actions sometimes, her younger sibling never made stupid decisions.
"Temari...?"
"Yeah?"
"I'll be leaving first thing tomorrow, pack some things, you're coming along too."
And, just like Gaara had said, they left the Sunagakure the next day, bright and early.
Continued in chapter 10!
