Chapter 11: He arrives

"So…it was you all along then? It was you giving Sakura-chan all these nightmares—filling her eyes with fear and hatred?!"

"…I suppose, although I find know reason to make that necessary."

"What are you doing here, Neji?"

"Isn't it obvious? I came to pick up my precious blossom."

"I—"

Before Sakura could finish Naruto had cut her off.

"She's not going anywhere with you." He said them with strong and firm emphasis.

"We have a contract binding us together. You have no choice but to stand by and watch me take her away. " His words were said with a coldness that sent shivers down your spine.

Naruto clenched is teeth. How could Sakura be betrothed to such an arrogant prick?

"I already told you, she's not going anywhere with you."

"You have no say in this matter. So either back down…or I'll make you."

Naruto wasn't going to back down though, it wasn't in his nature to do so. "Better watch what you say Hyuuga, I'm not feeling very patient today. If I were you, I'd turn my stuck up ass around and walk out that door, and never look back."

"Fat chance," he snarled, crossing his arms. "I don't intend on leaving without my bride."

Sakura flinched as the word bride floated out in the air. "I am not your bride," Sakura choked out, shaking her head with wide eyes. "I wont go with you."

"You make it sound like you actually have a choice."

His tone was mocking and it made her blood boil. "I didn't agree to any of this."

"Actually, you did. You may have been young, 7 at most, but you signed in blood."

Sakura blushed. "That's ludicrous. A child so young cant be expected to comprehend the consequences of such an action."

"S-sakura-chan, you mean, you actually signed something like this." Naruto sounded unbelieving.

"She did. Besides that, this is a common tradition."

"That's a bunch of bull! I wont accept this!" Naruto retorted hastily.

"It doesn't matter." He moved, closing the distance between him and her. Roughly, he grabbed her arm tightly. "Come now, we've wasted enough in this pointless argument."

"Didn't you hear me before?" Naruto questioned, low and dangerous, as he clenched his fist. "You are not taking her with you!"

Naruto pushed off the floor, ready to slam his fist in the other mans face, but a smaller hand caught the punch mid air.

"What the hell do you think you're doing in my hospital?!" screamed a less than happy Tsunade.

"T-Tsunade-baachan!"

"What are you doing here!"

"Visiting Sasuke and Sakura!" Naruto replied defensively.

"Is that so?"

He nodded his head lightly.

"Then why are you making all these unnecessary noises!!"

"It's his fault!!" Naruto bellowed back at her, pointing accusingly at the Hyuuga.

Tsunade eyes the young Hyuuga, it didn't take long for her to realize his purpose. "You can not take miss Haruno," she told him bluntly.

"Why is that?" he asked.

"She is not fit to be discharged yet. If you haven't noticed, she's severely dehydrated and heavily wounded. She shall remain here, regardless of yours or anyone else's opinions." Tsunade's words were said with authority that left no room for argument.

He could see no other way out, so for the moment, he would obliged. "Very well," he sighed in defeat, "another day then, a day soon." He eyed the timid kunoichi behind Naruto's protective stance before leaving the room.

Then it was quiet.

Tsunade gazed at the door as she spoke, "I cant stall him forever, if you're going to do something, do it soon." She then walked out the door, letting her words linger in the air.

"She's right, you know?" Naruto mumbled, breaking the silence.

Sakura's head jerked up. "B-but what? What is it I should do?"

"Maybe…maybe you and Sasuke…should run."

Her eyes doubled in size as he spoke the suggestion. "T-that's crazy," was all she managed to squeak out in reply.

"Well, what do you think? Do you plan on going through with the marriage?" he retorted harshly.

She winced at the sudden venom his voice produced.

"N-no! I, he'd find us anyway! I'll find another way out of this mess!"

It was silent for a moment. Then Naruto's heavy sigh broke the tension and relaxed Sakura's sudden rigid posture. "Well, let me know what you come with and I'll help to do what ever I can." He gave her a reassuring smile and she returned it.

She found it comforting to always have him on her side. Him and all his boldness.

He shot a glance at the clock. "Oops! I gotta go! Hinata-chan is waiting for me!"

"Oh? How long has she been waiting?"

"For about an hour," he said ashamedly.

"Don't keep her waiting any longer you jerk! It's rude!"

"I know! I'm going….will you be okay alone?" he added quietly, catching her lonely gaze.

"Yea. I need peace and quiet to think things over anyways, neither of which you can give," she answered teasingly.

"Well, okay. I'll be back first thing in the morning to check on you and Sasuke."

"Okay, we'll be here." She gave him another big grin and he departed.


A/N: This isn't really the full chapter, but I was too impatient to update, so I'm putting up what I have now and will post the rest hopefully soon.