((Sigh)) I haven't gotten any reviews back...but I'm nice and I love the possibility so...here's the next chappie! 8P Hehe.

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the idea and Eli. ---- It gets quite annoying saying that...

A/N: Like I said, I'd tell when the POV changed. But, since it's in the story, it doesn't matter if I say it here, ne? Anyway. For those who may have forgotten, the last chapter Sasuke was killed/almost killed by Eli Akane after finding him (thanks to the help of our beloved Doppel) anywho, finding him abusing poor Naruto. As it goes, Eli attempted/did strangle Sasuke and now it leaves off here...

Enjoy! Review please?

Chapter Ten

Naruto's POV

Eli snarled at me as I shoved him off of Sasuke. "You'll pay for that Nine-Tails." He growled. I snarled back. "Don't you touch him!" I yelled. He laughed hatefully. "Too late. Looks like he's going to die anyway. He can't regain his breath." I glanced at Sasuke over my shoulder. In the dark I couldn't tell if he was breathing. I shot my glare back to Eli.

"I'll die before I let you touch him again!" I snarled, clenching my fists. Eli laughed and stood in ready stance. "Lets see what you've got." I growled and said, "I'm not like you. I don't play with my prey. I just go right ahead and kill them!" I built up my chakara in my hand and saw his eyes widen. "That's—" "Prepare to take your last breath Akane." I whispered, charging at him.

"Ransengan!" I yelled, thrusting my hand into his chest. His eyes widened and lost focus then he flew back, slamming through a few trees before stopping. My jutsu stopped and I panted. He was dead. He had to be.

I turned and knelt beside Sasuke, placing a hand on his chest. He was breathing, but barely. I shook him. "Sasuke. C'mon, Sasuke, wake up. Wake up." I whispered feeling my throat tighten. He couldn't die. He just couldn't. It wouldn't end this way. I wouldn't let it. He wasn't going to die because of me! I shook him again and he groaned. I breathed in relief. He was okay.

"Wake up." I repeated, shaking him again. "Stop…shaking me Naru…to." He rasped, forcing his eyes open. I smiled and his eyes widened. "Naruto!" Thunder rumbled and lightening flashed then the rain came. With the sudden light of the lightening came the shadow of a person standing behind me, arms raised to either hit me or stab my back. My eyes widened and I whirled around, catching Eli's wrists, stopping his kunai. He smiled bloodily and rasped, "I'm going to get rid of you Nine-Tails. Right after your little boyfriend." I gasped and looked over my shoulder. His clone gave me the same grin as he raised a kunai to rid Sasuke's life. As he brought the kunai down I yelled, "No!"

The kunai never hit Sasuke.

Sasuke grabbed the clone's hand, twisted it and with a sickening crack it broke. The clone screamed and Sasuke stole the kunai and shoved it in his chest. The clone stopped, eyes wide and dropped. Sasuke panted his eyes flickered over to Eli and I. "Twins." He coughed. That's when I noticed the Ransengan's mark on this Eli's stomach and that the twin was okay. So I was dealing with the one I'd almost managed to rid of. I turned back to him. "I told you before," I spat, baring my teeth. "I'll die before I let you touch him again." Eli snarled and I twisted his wrists, jerking the kunai out of his hands. I looked at it before smiling and dropping it. Eli gave me a puzzled look before his face turned white and he dropped, limp. I let his wrists go and shook my head.

"Poor guy. He stood no chance." I grinned as Sasuke snorted and turned back to him. He looked at me and his black eyes shinned when lightening struck again. I tilted my head.

"You okay?" I asked, touching his hand absentmindedly. He frowned thoughtfully.

Sasuke's POV

I felt him touch my hand and frowned thoughtfully. Had he really meant what he'd said? I had to know.

"Did you mean what you said?" I asked slowly, watching him. His blue eyes lit up with the lightening and then darkened with troubled thought. "What?" "What you told Eli. About dying before you'd let him hurt me. Did you mean that?" I asked softly, surprising us both. Naruto opened his mouth to say something before closing it again. He frowned, looking troubled.

"…Yeah." He answered quietly after a few seconds. I grunted and sat up, wincing. The rain burned. Naruto adverted his eyes away from mine. I hesitated and was about to suggest going home or something when there was a yip of excitement and Doppel jumped onto Naruto's back, shoving him forward. He fell on me and I was pushed back down. I closed my eyes as I hit ground then opened them again. Naruto stared back into mine, surprised.

Our lips were locked again.

We looked at each other another second before Naruto broke off. But he didn't move off of me. We watched each other a moment before he asked softly, "You okay?" "Yeah. You?" "Yup." We were quiet a few seconds before he cleared his throat and got off, holding out his hand. I took it and he pulled me up. We looked down to Doppel, who wagged her fluffy tail at us. Naruto sighed and gave her a small smile, picking her up. He wrinkled his nose.

"Ugh, wet dog smell." He muttered and I chuckled. Then I turned and checked to make sure Eli's twin was really dead. I knelt beside him and wrenched the kunai out of his chest. If he hadn't been dead before he was now. I felt for a pulse. None. Good. I stood again and looked down on Eli. The guy really hadn't stood a chance. Not with Naruto's Ransengan. I felt for his pulse. None again. Excellent. His crimson eyes were still wide open and I saw remaining fear in them that had been there as he had died. He may have wanted to kill Naruto but all the while he'd been afraid of doing it.

I sighed and closed his eyes and then stood, glancing at Naruto and the fox kit. "We ought to get Kakashi. Someone needs to take care of the bodies." He nodded and said, "You go get him and I'll stay here." I started to protest but he beat me to it. "I'm okay. You're not in any condition to fight right now. If anything should happen, I'm the one who would most likely make it out alive. Get Kakashi-Sensei. I'll be fine." I blew out a breath and nodded, disappearing.

Aww. XD So, yeah, still no feelings revealed or anything...XP Hehe.

Reviews are inspiration! Please give me insipration! XDD Lol. But seriously, review. You know you waaant to...8P

-- Miah-Chan