Hey all! Sorry this took a while, another long chapter! Another 24 pages, holly cow! While I have had a lot of good feed back about the story it's self I have been getting some (OK, a LOT) of comments on my spelling. Truth is I can't spell to save my life. SO I'm asking if any one would be interested in beta reading this for me. After the next chapter, Chapter 13, I'll be taking a short brake to try and whip this all in to proper shape. So if ANY ONE is interested DO let me know! I'd love you forever!

NOW, about this chapter it's self. Part of the reason it took me so long to write is because I suddenly found my self with both Sai and Guy to try and write for. Not only are they extreme characters, but on the complete opposite ends of the spectrum! Guy will probably feel a little OOC in this chapter, but that was actually intentional. Sai.... *Throws hands up* I have no idea how well I did with him.

As always, Comments are my fuel to keep writing, so even if it's a short 'hi, loved your story' that would be wonderful! Even better, tell me what parts you liked and hated in each chapter so I can lean from it! I promise I'll reply to all comments that I can reply to!

Last but not least, I want to update this every friday if I can, so don't show me any mercy if I'm late next week!

And now, back to the story!


Chapter 12

Welcome to the Jungle


Sakura backed up in cold dread until she hit the solid trunk of a tree. Cutting up through the air sickly yellow chakra formed ragged ears and a lone yellow tail from Naruto's prone body. As the chkara shown brighter in the ever dimming light the corpse lurched; it's arms started to twitch. The head turned and blood poured out of the corner if his -it's- mouth. The jaw, having been locked in a silent scream of torment, slowly hinged shut. The cold dead fish eyes closed and then reopened to focus once more on her.

Sakura made a jerk to pull off the tree, to run, to flee, but her knees had locked up. Churning almost violently, her stomach threatened to revolt. She swallowed fearfully and gripped the rough bark so hard she felt it scratch her skin. Emotions swelled and spun her head till she was physically dizzy. Despite the evening call of birds and animals, readying for a nights adventure, all she could hear was the sound of her own heart thundering in her ears.

'Naruto' lurched and sluggishly tried to move, but the legs were unresponsive. Bitting back her fear Sakura managed to take a step, not away, but towards the reanimated flesh and bone. The limbs were starting to wither, bit by bit, and it's cheeks were becoming more and more hollow looking. At first she couldn't understand, then she saw the hole in the chest was smaller. Ribs formally burnt and charred were turning white again and growing.

It made sense, all at once, that the beast with in was using what ever it could sacrifice in one last ditch effort to heal the shattered body.

Taking another step forward Sakura found that she, rather than numb with terror like she had been, had a new twinge of hope starting to flicker to life with in her. As the sun was turning a radiant blood red hope sprung up like the baby blue of a new dawn. Still, even if the wound was healed, the whole process would inevitably sap every available resource from the teen's body. Naruto would be nothing more than a skeleton with thin skin covering atrophied muscles and degenerate organs.

It needed to have a replenishing supply of organic material, more importantly, it needed blood. Neither of which Sakura had in any sufficient quantity. Her medical training kicked in all at once and she found her self all but running towards the broken body. If Naruto had any chance what so ever the beast with in needed her help. She just hoped it would recognize that.

Naruto had told her the Fox could talk, so maybe in this half dead and desperate state it would listen to her. As she approached however it's eyes narrowed venomously and lips pealed back in a mute snarl. With out lungs it couldn't form sound. With out lungs Naruto's brain wasn't getting any oxygen, but then again, neither were his reforming ribs. She decided not to nitpick what was happening as this was far above and beyond her full understanding.

In any case the snarl did not detour her, rather it spurred her on. Now at his side she could see through the hole that the skin of his back was mostly reformed, though it had grass and twigs and who knew what else mangled up with in. Muscle was also forming and the spine, formally nothing but two drippy ends of bone and nerves, was regenerating. Miniature lungs were blossoming under the ribs and a small mass of red and purple started to throb.

But there was no blood.

Glancing around she knew she needed to get the body dehydrated; she knew she needed to get water. The river was just below the yawning chasm of stone and earth, but she had no way to transport water from it in any grate quantity. Her mind snapped to the canteens in the packs and she felt a small smile. They were probably nearly full still and would be more than enough to rehydrate him.

"Don't move, I'll be right back." She told him. . . it. . .

It snarled again, this time air passing in a little gasp. The spine was still unformed and it's legs were still limp.

"Ah. . . never mind, you can't move yet any way." She turned away, confident now that the body could be salvaged, when a more horrifying thought hit her. Suppose it was ONLY the body that came back? Naruto him self was the ONLY thing that stood between the Fox and the out side world. If Naruto was gone then his chakra would be gone and there would be nothing left to keep the seal in place.

She pushed the thought aside. They were far from the village if that was the case, and besides, why heal him if the fox could be free any way? It didn't make sense. Her feet hit the wood of the bridge and she turned to glance back. The legs were starting to move a little in small spasms, but the whole thing was uncoordinated and sloppy. His limbs were thin and even from the distance she could see all of the bones in the face. She finished the bridge and raced to the well hidden packs. She rummaged through them all gathering all of the water supply she could find before racing back.

By the time she returned it had managed to sit up on it's elbows and the hole was half as big as it had been. Clearly all of the organs it had lost were there, if only in a smaller and more withered state. The regeneration had slowed to a near crawl and every thing looked dry and parched. She wondered if she could get it to drink, but decided not to risk getting near the fangs. She had a better idea any way.

Unscrewing a cap she pored the water in to the hole it's self. The watter pooled for a minute, then sank in to the shriveled flesh. It growled at her but she ignored it and pored out a second canteen. The wound started to close faster. Working as quickly as she could she emptied three more before the ribs were a cage again. The bone lay naked, however, as the skin and flesh had stopped growing back leaving the sternum and parts of the finger like ribs exposed.

An angry, dark snarl escaped his lips and a new thought popped in to her mind. It needed flesh to finish the job, and she was made almost entirely of it. While it looked like nothing more than gray skin draped over frail bones it still had the power of a tailed beast. It lurched towards her and she dropped the last of the canteens.

"Stay back!"

It crawled forward, teeth and claws bared. Lifting it's clawed hand it took a swiped at her leg, instinct and combat lessons washed over her and like a reflex she kicked. Her foot connected with his jaw and there was a bone crunching, stomach churning, snap. It flew back and howled in rage and pain.

"Don't try to eat me!" She snapped.

Looking back at her from where it had landed, on all fours, it shied away with a hiss. Blood was again drooling from it's mouth, which had a decidedly lopsidedness to it now. She had shattered the left side of it's jaw.

It still needed to feed, but both knew she was not available as it's next meal. Turning away from her it started to lurch towards the river with halting four footed steps.

"Naruto. . ."

The tail swished and she felt the hair raise as a blast of chakra started to gather in side of it. Racing ahead she turned and looked back. There was a dazzling glow coming up from the ribs. Focusing on the sheer rock face below her she scanned for a way down. All she could see was jagged rocks and steep walls.

"Don't do it, you'll fall and brake every thing all over again!"

It trotted past her, moving faster now, and lunged. With chakra powering the moment it sailed to the other side of the cliffs and landed violently in a vertical crouch. Bones could be heard snapping and it howled again.

Worrying her lip Sakura started to descend her side, careful of any miss step. She alternately watched her feet and the animated body as they both picked their way down on opposite sides. He reached the water first and, with a scream, let the ball of chakra go in to the watter. The dirty river exploded sending a freezing spray up higher than the rock walls. Fish were killed instantly and rained down like grotesque manna from heaven.

'Naruto' grabbed one of the fish that had landed near by and ate it, flesh, bones, head and all.

Sakura, soaking wet now, was clinging to the rock wall with all she had. The sudden impromptu rain storm had cooled what emotional fevered energy she'd had from her body. Shivering she held on and watched, both fascinated and disgusted by the creature below.

Finished with the fish it grabbed another and ate with the same indiscriminate hunger it had with the first one. Once the second was gone it devoured a third. With each fish it ate the body began to fill out. Arms thickened and the hallow gaunt look in it's face was vanishing.

Yet the ears and tail were still flowing from it's body and the dark rings were still around it's eyes. Despite the apparent life flowing through the flesh and bone there were still no signs of Naruto. It was slowing now and acting much less frantic to eat. It grabbed another fish and brought it to the water's edge to wash it carefully. As it took a bite out of the fish's slimy belly it looked up at her with a hiss and those horrible, awful, ringed, dead eyes.


The forest, with it's imposing old wood trees and lofty branch-work highways, was chancing to some thing all together different. Wide open paths in the canopy where ninja liked to travel were slowly becoming over grown and slick with moss. Vines were becoming more abundant, wrapping them selves along the trunks and limbs, and stretching in the traveling trio's formally clear paths.

Keeping his profile small as he followed the Serpent Sannin and the S-ranked Medic, Sai took note of the darkening woods and it's shift in growth patters. The air felt more moist and the plants they were now passing were more parasitic in nature. Fungus and tree dwelling ferns were growing abundantly here, chocking the trees.

Another hundred yards brought even more vines in to Sai's path. He found him self having to employ near acrobatics just to keep him self in the trees. Now, as he ducked under a particularly thick vine, he could see some of the trees were withering. Animals screeched in the leaves around him, and some where some thing screamed. He couldn't tell if it was human or not.

Then all at once the stately forest was gone, now he was fighting for every foot hold in a hot, muggy, over grown canopy. He gasped for air as the hot moisture sapped his energy from him. He stumbled on a nasty thorned vine and threw him self forward, avoiding a spiny looking plant dripping scarlet sap. Before he could fall completely a thick, brawny, white snake wrapped it's self around him and pulled him back. Hissing laughter sounded from over head. Sai looked up and saw Orochimaru looking down with an amused sneer.

"Welcome to the jungle."

Sai continued to gasp for air as he panned his surroundings. It was a jungle, thick and treacherous, and every thing crawled. He steadied his breathing and looked back up at the Sannin. "An appropriate hiding place for a snake based ninja. It's dark, and it smells."

Orohimaru's face shifted from amusement to some thing else entirely. "I have many hiding places, boy, not all of them are as this one is."

Sai wasn't sure how to respond to that, so he kept silent. The snake brought him up and dropped him in front of Orochimaru, who was scowling a little. The older ninja's hand shot out fast as lighting and snatched up a fist-ful of Sai's hair.

"You have offended me." He hissed.

"I was stating a fact." Sai replied flatly. The fist tightened and pain laced over his scalp as hair was pulled from the roots.

"Aren't you afraid of me?"

"No." He was yanked closer.

"Aren't you afraid to die?"

"I am not." Sai replied. "Nor do I fear pain. Or isolation. I am my master's tool."

The serpent Sannin's tongue flicked out and tested the air. "Strange child." He said at length. "He reminds me of you, Kabuto, when we first met."

The silver haired ninja, still wounded looking, but having no trouble navigating the new environment, glared darkly. "I was never that rude." He huffed and added, just under his breath, ". . . reminds me of that wretch, Sauske."

The snake ninja smiled a little and looked back over his shoulder at the medic. "Are you jealous?" He grinned. "You know Sauske is nothing more than meat to me."

Kabuto fixed his glasses with one finger, but said nothing.

Orohimaru sighed and Sai was released with out a second glance. He dropped to one knee and focused on the chakra of the ninja still standing over him. It oozed and dripped from every inch of the body, like sap from a wounded tree, like venom from fangs. Images of torture and glee flashed through Sai's mind and he made a mental note to sketch them latter. . .

He'd forgotten his sketch book. That was some thing he'd never done before. Well, to be honest, he''d done so once, but only after an extremely taxing fight when he was young. He'd recovered it the next day and had not parted with it since.

Mentally he traced his steps back and searched for the last place it had been. The last place he'd knowingly held it in his hands was when he was next to the now deceased jinchuriki. The fox's vessel was starting to panic and with the panic it's control of the fox's power was slipping. Thinking fast Sai tried to salvage the situation and avoid lethal conflict with the serpent sannin by showing the vessel the sketch of him self. He believed he was the monster, that was in-fact false, and Sai tried hard to prove it. It hadn't worked and now the fox was lost forever. That did not effect Sai's mission one way or the other. Nor would it affect Danzo's ultimate goal.

There were eight other tailed beasts to capture, but that would come latter. Right now his main focus was on the only human being that could with out doubt stop all of the plans Danzo had, Uchiha Sauske. Sai mentally refocused on his mission to kill the Uchiha, forcing his sketch book to the back of his mind.

He was about to stand again and suggest they continue, he'd recovered enough to go on, Orochimaru's attention snapped back towards the direction they had come from. He smiled and licked his teeth.

"We are being followed."

Kabuto jumped down next to him and peered out in to the dense foliage. "Shall I go and. . ."

Orichimaru waved him to silence. "You stay here and keep an eye on this one, I'll only be gone a minute."

Kabuto gave a short nod. "All right."

With out another word Orochimaru vanished, leaving Sai alone with the medic. He didn't expect to be addressed, but Kabuto turned towards him and frowned. "Why are you with us?"

"It is as I have said." Sai replied. "I have a mission to act as a liaison between my master and yours."

Kabuto's eyes narrowed. "You were on the same team as Naruto."

"That is correct." Sai affirmed with a nod.

"He's dead now."

"Yes. You killed him."

Kabto's frown deepened. "You don't seem concerned about the matter." He said. "Almost every one who has the opportunity to fight along side Naruto forms some sort of attachment to or hatred of him."

"I form no attachments. I am a tool for my master." The statement was as true as it was false. He'd been scolded once before for being to concerned over his sketch book. He would return for it, after his mission, of course.

Kabuto stared at him for a long moment before looking after where Orochimaru had gone. "With out the ability to understand even the most rudimentary emotions, Sai, you are a worthless tool."

"That depends on the tool's use." Sai replied flatly.


The night came in like a thousand soft whispers through the innumerable lush green leaves of the forest. Each second brought a new shade of red then blue then there were a hundred points of light in a frosty black velvet sky. Mirroring the diamonds and ink were dozens of shimmering floor tiles. Each single step he took was a measured one, right until he came to the hospital door he was more than acquainted with.

Guy steeled him self and grasped the knob tightly, not bothering to knock. Opening it softly he left the world to it's ever growing darkness and entered the hazy glow of halogen and white linen. Upon the bed Neji lay as if sleeping. The slight, yet steady, rise and fall of his chest was a rhythm more enchanting than all of the world's many cadence events. More glorious than the twins dawn and dusk, more lulling than the ocean racing and retreating, it was more than all of the patters of the whole world combined.

Guy shut the door with such stillness that the movement could have been a phantom. All of his skills honed from the battle with power and presence sharpened in to his stealth. He'd shut the world out forever if it could bar the worry and the revulsion from his student. But just as silence engulfed the night and lulled the world to sleep so would the coming of day bring it's cacophony of repulsive sonancy.

It was amazing just how very, very, frail looking the raven haired youth seemed as he lay under the linens. Yet under the hollow eyes and porcelain skin Guy knew a radiant fire burned that would, if properly kindled, flair and blaze overcome the horrid situation they currently faced. He knew because it was the same fire hotly raging through his own veins.

They both had the fire to protect.

Almost two long weeks had come and gone inch by inch with the dusk and dawn sense the night they'd been in the Hyuga compound. Guy rubbed his hands over his knuckles as he remembered trying to convince Hiashi to see the world in a more youthful way.

The man was as cold as stone and Guy had started to suspect then that every last flicker of youthful passion had been doused to indifference with the many years of wilding a heartless iron fisted hand over the supposed lesser branch. Guy thrust his passion in oration against Hiashi's stone cold platitude, but made little head way. It was not long before he was on the edge of demanding to fight for Neji's honor, and Hiashi on the edge of having him forcibly thrown out, when a blood curtailing scream ripped through the halls and silenced every word between them. Utter silence followed and Guy felt his bones freeze like the merciless iced caped mountains in the forbidding Land of Snow.

Guy padded mutely up to the bed side and swallowed back the bitter feelings that he knew would sap all of the youth from his bones. The joints in his fingers were already starting to hurt and he knew his knees would be next. Fear and anger were poison and would kill a child in ways only old men were supposed to die. Neji looked far older than he had on their last mission, a tragedy that hurt in Guy's very soul.

If not exceedingly careful the bright yet small flame of young passion would be snuffed for ever. That scream, that cold, gut churning, scream was a wind that raged against youth and tried to asphyxiate hope from the very air around them.

He stood, feeling irrepressible urgency like he'd never felt before, and run. No one else moved. The noble men had been softened by years of sitting in strong walls and taking comfortable small missions. Yes they trained, and yes they fought, but when had they last been in a blood soaked battle? This was not the scream of anger or rage the nobles were used to, this was an agony filled death cry.

Guy nearly collided with little Hinnata as he ran, but with skill like a cat jumped to the side and snatched her shoulders all in the same move. She was shaking and crying and babbling nonsense.

"What happened?" He'd demanded. He would have added a flourish of reassurance and addressed her properly, mentioning her youth and resolve, but thought he recognized the voice that had cried out. He needed to know, and yet didn't want to. "Who screamed?"

She pointed and, with a shivering and a whisper, she said "Neji."

The look in her young eyes, so much like the milk clouded eyes of his Hyuga student, told him all he needed to know. He let her go and ran. His boned were no longer cold, but melting with the heat of a hundred, thousand suns, burning with fear he would not acknowledge.

Guy pulled him self back to the present with a shudder. Feeling his body growing older and more tired by the minute he sighed. "I'm sorry."

Reaching down he ran his finger over Neji's smooth cheek. It was hot with feaver as an infection had soon taken hold in the wound. The youth shifted and whined plaintively but did not wake up. "I should have been there for you sooner! To think I wasted to much time, while your youth was slipping by. I'm sorry."

He came to the heavy doors of the grate Hyuga weapons hall and threw them open. The room before him was mostly dark with small orbs of light lining the enormous ivory walls. At first, despite his awesome training and diligent self taught discipline for environments not his own, he did not see Neji. Then there was a flutter of movement, like a wounded fledgling fallen from it's lofty nest. Guys eyes locked on in half a heart beat, and at the site his heart seemed to stop. While he saw his precious child before him, his mind blanked. At first, he could not proses the image of his child curled up on the floor clutching a ragged wound in his stomach. When the terrible reality did sink in it flooded Guy with such fear and helplessness that the only thing he could compare it to was when Gaara had shattered Lee's spine. He'd nearly died that day, died from shame and guilt and fear.

For a moment all he could do was stand in mute horror as blood flowed like water and Neji gasped weakly for air. "Neji?"

His head lifted from the floor, his milk clouded yes looked up in unbridled agony. "G-guy sen-sei. . ." They shut tightly and he reached out with one trembling, crimson dripping, hand. "Help me."

Instantly Guy was at his student's side, cradling him in his arms, trying to stop the rampant flow of scarlet. "Who did this to you?!"

Neji's eyes opened and tears sprung up but he'd refused to cry. "H-Hinata."

". . .No. . ." The slender handed, soft spoken, spotless flower of youth could not have done such a thing. Guy's mind would not take the answer.

"My fault." Neji shuddered, the color was draining from his already pale face. "My fault. . . made her. . . angry."

"Not Hinata." Guy swalowed. "She'd never. . ."

"She didn't mean to!" Neji cut him off. "I told her not to. . . not to love Naruto. Some thing is strange about him. I saw his chakra. . .Some thing h-happened to him on our last mission. He's not. . . safe. . ." He seized suddenly and let out a keening cry of pain" Please, pull it out." His hand reached for the Kuni that was still burried to the hilt.

"NO!" Guy blocked his hand quickly and looked at the wound for the first time. They had never had a true medic on their team. Ten-Ten was a heavy weapons expert, not a medic like the other girls on the other teams. After Lee's spine had shattered Guy promised he'd be the one to care four wounds, and from that day forth extensive medical training was slipped in when ever his youth filled students needed rest.

He dared not pull the weapon out, it might be holding back the flow of blood. "No if we remove this you might. . ." He choked on the last word. "I'm going to try and wrap this."

Neji shook his head. "Hurts."

"I know." Guy let his dear, pricelss, student rest against his raised knee as he pulled his green shirt off and tore it in to strips. Neji make only soft whimpers as he bound the weapon in place tightly.

Cloudy eyes opened once more when he was almost done. "They'll kill her if they find out."

"Why?"

He blinked blankly. "Just as they killed my father. . . Tell them. . . tell them I did this to my self."

"No!" Guy stared back, shocked. "Such a thing will strip you of honor!"

"I never had honor." His eyes closed as the last flickers of life were draining from his young body. "Promise me you won't tell them the truth. Promise me you'll protect Hinata." His hands, shaking and slick with blood, clutched feebly at Guy's. "Promise me!"

"I promise."

It seemed like a whole life time ago, like a memory of a different world or a distant and hazy dream. A world where his universe was unraveling and his way of life was being striped from his very soul. He had been watching, helplessly, as live was eking its way out of his Hyuga. It felt like a very long lifetime ago.

Now, standing over his charge, only the sterile world of the hospital and the ever present hum of medical equipment was his reality. Again he stroked the cheek. "You deserve so much more than this."

At the sound of Guy's soft voice and tender touch the dark haired youth's eyes blinked open slowly. He shifted again and tried to lift his head. Gently Guy pressed his chest down. "Sleep. I will be here."

There was a tiny, limp headed, nod. Then, with a sketch of a sigh, Neji fell back in to a troubled heavy sleep. Guy reached down and took his student's hand. Exhaustion was eating away at his body, devouring his own manly youth, but he would not sleep. Not tonight. Like his silver haired eternal rival he too had to protect his students, but his protection was not from the dread nine tailed fox, but rather from a dark haired noble lord and his clan's arrogant minded poison.


Yamato bounded after the trio and tried, hard as he could, to focus. Images of the charred body were flashing through his mind faster than he could count the trees passing by. He could see those dead eyes looking up at him. Looking in to his soul.

No! A dead person can't see.

He refocus on the mission at hand, or what was left of it. He knew he'd be unable to capture the spy or kill him, not when it was Kabuto. All he could do was retrieve Sai and Sakura and report the losses to the village. Report the losses to Umino Iruka who, every one knew, had quasi adopted Naruto. Report the fact that Naruto was dead.

He'd have to report every thing in detail, how the boy had been killed, and what had lead to his death. He'd have to tell them about that hole in his chest. . . he'd leave out the eyes. The haunting, horrible, eyes. Eyes that seemed to stare despite the lack of life in them.

His foot snagged on a rather large and obvious limb sending him sprawling forward rater than running. He thrust his chakra out and landed harshly on a tree trunk with a gasp.

"Focus." He whispered to him self. "Focus you are ANBU."

He closed his eyes and once more the vision of Naruto's body filled his mind. He knew, deep down, why this had affected him so. While the death of the nine tails was some thing to feel relived about it's vessel was well liked by the Hokage and many of the active ninja of his own age. The loss would reverberate for years.

Not to mention what the news would do to the silver haired ninja still recovering back in the city. Yamato couldn't bring him self to even think the name, or, more painfully, what the news would do to the ailing man. Knowing his former captain as he did he knew the report would be a staggering blow. A blow more harsh than the strike of any enemy.

Feelings churned and for a moment he couldn't bring him self to quell them. He wouldn't just sit there, though, he was still on a mission.

He took another breath and shoved off the tree. Focus. Sai was still out there, in danger most likely. Focus. He needed to get the youth back to safety. Focus. He needed to get back to Sakura who had been left alone with the bod. . . FOCUS! He needed to round up what was left of the team and report home.

Report to Kakashi.

His foot snagged again and this time he landed awkwardly in the grass. At first he felt sure he was alone, then some thing slithered up to him. Snakes bound him before he could move away. There was a liquid laugh and moment from the shrubbery.

"Ahh.... Tenzou. I've missed you."

"Orochimaru!" He turned up and glared. He'd heard stories of the Sannin from the time he could crawl, stories about abduction and experiments. Stories that had, once upon a time, given him nightmares and visions of a boogy man waiting to snatch him away in the dark.

"I thought about killing you back there." Yamato winced as a white scaly hand ran over his head gently. "But you are my last one. I had a lot of hope for you and what you hold in your body." The hand continued to caress. "You have no idea how special you are, Tenzou."

"Get your filthy hands off me." Yamato tugged hard at his living bonds, but he could not pull free.

"Easy." Orochimaru hissed softly. "I have no interest in harming you child. Rather I want to send you home with a message for my dear Tsunade."

Yamato glared. "What message?"

"I want you to tell her I'm sorry I killed her little brat, but I also want her to know that it was in self defence only." He sneered, not looking sorry at all. "Tell her that now with out her presious nine tails to hid behind I will invade Konoha, but I will show mercy if she orders every one to surrender to me. There does not have to be blood shed again."

Yamato fought his bonds again, but they only constricted tighter. "Why would I or any other shinobi of the leaf even consider delivering a message from the likes of you?"

"Because. . ." He leaned close. ". . . If you do not tell them I'm coming then you'll have failed to warn them of the danger they are in. Every death will be on your head." He laughed.

"Monster." Yamato spat. "The leaf will not bow to you."

"It doesn't have to bow, it just has to submit. I'l take a corps just as quickly as I'll take a servent. They each have a use to me. Like the body of Naruto, for example. . ."

"His body has been burned!" Yamato felt the emotions wash over him and drown his cool. Orochimaru only laughed.

"No matter, I don't need it. I have my guards out in abundance now, knowing you and and the last of your pesky team mates are near by, so if you try to follow me they will kill you." He leaned closer and Yamato felt hot breath on his neck. "To ensure you behave like a good little boy I'm going to give you some incentive." Fangs, long and sharp, dug in to his shoulder.

Yamato grunted, but refused to cry out as venom was pumped in and burned under his skin.

"Tsunade has the antidote." Orochimaru whispered as he pulled away, licking his lips. "You have two days to get it before you start to feel your nervous system shutting down. A day after that to live."

Nausea flooded his system and he choked. "Bastard." He managed. The snakes were pulling away as Orochimaru laughed again.

"Three days, Tenzou. Then you die unless you return home." The serpent's laughter followed him as he disappeared back in to the forest.


Kakashi drew in a rough breath as he lay sprawled, spent, over the bed sheets. He had pushed him self right to the edge, but this time he'd not gone over it. He was again out of chakra, but as he rested from his efforts, he knew that was not going to be the case for long.

And besides that now that the day was winding down and night was crawling over the land he had both the time and energy to think. It was true he was exhausted, but it wasn't the sort of exhaustion that came from almost being dead. This was the sort of fatigue one would get from a hard day's work, and a hard day it had been. He'd been questioned and tried and turned apon. In the end however he had found trust once more. Both Jiraya and Guy had promised to be there, even after all that had happened.

He wasn't alone.

A breeze ruffled the white curtains and cooled the heat from his body and chased the last dusty cob web from his mind. He reached up and laced his fingers together behind his bed. Pain was still washing over him now and then, but this was different, this pain didn't make him feel like he was about to die. This felt like a body taxed to the limit, but not pushed over the edge.

As good as he felt even with the pain, worry continued to tug at his mind, worry for Naruto. He tried to reassure him self that his blond charge would be OK, but it wasn't easy. The whole world seemed to be after him now. A ripple of pain washed over him and he winced. Every move would be torture in the morning, but he would take it, he could take it. It would be noting to him if it meant he could be there when the Akastuki came, or the Fox tormented, or the villagers hissed and booed.

All the pain in the world was but a dark tunnel that had a flicker of light at the end. It was a small flicker, but it was there. Naruto had sworn he'd become Hokage and nothing would brake naruto from keeping his promises. That was his ninja way.

Kakashi smiled lightly as he remembered the first time they had had met. The brat had rigged an eraser to fall on his head. He'd ignored it then, but at the time he could almost hear Minato laughing. He'd refused to acknowledge the kid then, refused to connect to his own past. He'd been wrong, and that hurt far more than the cramps and spasms he was suffering now. He'd make it up to Naruto.

A soft knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts and he struggled to sit back up. The door opened as he made it to his elbows. Jiraya, holding bloodied cloth to his nose, entered and looked him over sternly. "You still up?"

"Yes." Kakashi tossed up a smile, hoping to avoid a lecture on how he should be resting.

"Well try to get some sleep. In the morning I'm going to see if you can hold any thing down. The sooner you can get solid food to settle the sooner you can get out of here."

Kakashi lowered him self back down, and felt the worry roll over him again. "You'll have to fight Tsunade . . ."

"We already had a spat." Jiraya waved his hand dismissively.

"The nose?"

The pervy sage grinned and sat down on the other bed. "Lets just say every win is a loss when it comes to women."

Kakashi wasn't sure what that meant, but knew enough about the older ninja not to ask for details so he changed the subject to what was on his mind. "Have you heard any thing about Naruto's mission?"

"Not yet. But he is going to be back." Jiraya fairly radiated confidence in his own statment, even with the rag stuffed over his face.

Kakashi turned his attention to the ceiling, not quite sure he was ready to feel that hopeful yet. "He's loosing him self."

"Now you listen here, Brat." Jiraya said sounding both serous and a little stuffy. Kakashi looked back at him attentively. "That kid will be just fine. He will be back. He's got more spirit than you and I combined PLUS what ever Moinato had."

"But he's so. . ."

Jiraya cut him off with another hand wave. "Stop. What ever he is going through he's got both you and me to back him up. You already proved how far you'll go to protect him, just remember given the opportunity I'll be just as determined. And so would Tsunade."

Kakashi shifted, feeling uncomfortable thinking of the Hokage, but he knew Jiraya was right. There was little any one of them wouldn't do for Naruto.


Iruka refused to just give up. Even though the forest was passing by he could not see it clearly. He was trapped some where just beyond reality.

'You'll never be able to hide your self in my world. No one will think you are me.'

"You have a hard time telling a lie, Iruka, but I don't. You are such a little lamb. The Dolphin, a noble and soft hearted creature. I am a Shark." He sneered. "Sharks hide so well they can swim right through a school and take any little fish they want." There was a vicious hungry grin to accompany the words.

'Don't you DARE touch one of my students!'

"You can't stop me." He paused on a branch, checking his direction. "Besides I'm not after one of those small fry. I want some thing much bigger."

'Naruto.' Iruka felt anger swell through him and just for a moment the forest cleared and he could feel bark under his hands, but he was slammed back in to the other worldly prison mercilessly.

"Stay in your tank, gold fish, or I will eat you up."

Iruka sank down and sat in his strange prison. 'Some one will notice, Fuka.'

"Fuka?" He grinned coldly. "I like that."

They were moving again and Iruka felt a little jolt of adrenalin hit him. 'What's going on?'

'Fuka' did not answer, but halted in his tracks. Standing suddenly before them was Asuma and Shikamaru.

The dark haired boy looked them over keenly. "Umino Iruka you are to come with us back to the village for questioning."

"On what grounds?" Fuka asked innocently.

Shikamaru lifted some thing metallic in to the air. It was the shovel. "Some thing does not add up, and you are the odd number."

Iruka felt a strange smile spread. "I enjoy seeing how your intelligence has blossomed, Shikamaru. Please, if you wish to ask me questions, do not hesitate."

Asuma stepped up then and took hold of his arm. "We aren't going to ask you any thing, the Hokage is."

"Then lead the way."


Silver strands of moon light touched the soft skin of the dark haired Hyuga as Guy watched vigilantly over him. Silence had once more engulfed the two and only the gentle sound of the youth's breathing could be heard. It was lulling. Guy's head began to nod and dip.

He hadn't slept in days. The whole world was starting to look dull. He could hardly manage to strike a pose. But he'd mostly been here in this room so he wasn't sure who all would notice.

He was supposed to be out on a mission with every other ninja, He was supposed to be with his whole team saving Naruto. Naruto wasn't supposed to be slowly going mad.

His head dipped again and for a moment, even though he was on his feet, he felt sleep creep in to his body. He swayed just a little. . .

The door crashed open, slamming Guy's attention back to full. Instinct kicked in where conscious thought failed and he pulled a kunai from it's holster while spinning towards the door. Quick as lightning he readied to throw it, but stopped just at the instant of true attack when he saw the man who had entered. Hiashi Hyuga stared at him while white light from the hall flowed past him. Even thought he was cast in back lit shadow his eyes glowed a pale lavender and cream. Guy gripped the weapon tight, unable to bring him self to throwing it, but not willing to back down from the invader.

Hiashi stepped in and two other Hyuga men followed him. "Stand down, Might Guy, or we will remove you forcibly from this room."

"You can not drag me from my student, nor can you frighten me away." He spread his feet, found his center, and held the weapon up. "You will have to kill me."

"Take him." Hiashi said coldly.

The two rushed him, each with fingers poised to strike his chakra points. He'd trained with Neji enough times to see through their moves. Compared to his still unconscious student their moves were crude, sloppy, and easily read. One went left while the other went right. Guy kiched to the left with his foot and struck to the right with the Kunai. The blade hit it's mark, digging deep in to the arm of his opponent. The other caught the kick in his chest and was sent flying back in to a chair. The resulting clatter and cry of pain was enough to bring Neji back to the waking world.

Guy backed up and stood next to his student while eying the two guards. The one pulld the Kunai out while the other was pulling him self to his feet.

"Guy Sensei!" He felt Neji clutch his shirt from behind. Feaver and heat radiated from his slim frame.

"They won't take you." He replied, and reached back to reassure him with a touch.

Again on their feet the men sprung forward, this time each had a weapon drawn. Guy let go of Neji as he stepped forward and moved to counter and block. Instead of thrusting steel to his bone as he expected they passed him. For just an instant he didn't understand, then he realized and spun. "NEJI!"

The youth was pinned under one while the other held blade to the child's throat.

Guy took a step, shocked they would attack a child while ill in bed. Anger started to biol up in side and he pulled another weapon from it's holster. "You cowards. . ." His words were cut off as fingers slammed in to his spine and delivered a paralyzing pulse of chakra. His knees buckled but he was caught by Hiashi. The two guards abandoned Neji and took Guy's limp form from the Clan leader.

"Remove him from this room. Make sure he will not interfere."

Guy tried to fight, but his limbs were limp. The two Hyuga guards started to drag him out. More anger rushed him and he managed to growl, chasing the numb from his mouth. "If you so much as touch Neji I'll. . ."

"You have no power against even a single Hyuga." Hiashi turned his back and stepped up to the bed. Guy fought again, but was still to numb to move. As he was pulled to the door another man loomed before him.

With long blond hair in a tight pony tail and cold steel blue eyes, Inoichi Yamanaka looked like the reaper of death him self. Guy was far to stunned from the sight of this mind reader to even form a protest. He was pilled out of the room completely. As the door swung shut he could hear the cold words of the head Hyuga floating out.

"Search him throughly. Discover his motives and if he or my eldest daughter pose a threat to Hanabi." The door closed with a sickening finality.


"You know. . ." Jiraya said slowly. "Your father would have been proud of you for taking such a strong protective stand over Naruto."

Kakashi dipped his head at the sudden mention of the man who'd been dead for so long. "My . . father?"

"Yes. Minato too."

An odd mix of memories and feeling flowed with the pain and exhaustion. It took Kakashi several moments to ride the waves of unease and anxiety before he could look up again. Jiraya had never once spoken to him of either man unless it was key information regarding a mission. To hear him speak freely and candidly of them now was strange. Kakashi wasn't sure he liked it.

As if sensing his troubled mind Jiraya added, "But I'm not proud of you yet."

Looking up Kakashi frowned. "You're not?"

"No, and I won't be until you start to look after your own health as well as the health and wellbeing of others. So will you take it easy?"

Kakashi nodded.

"Get some rest, kiddo. We have a long day tomorrow."

"All right."

Jiraya stood and stepped up to the bed. He placed one large, strong, hand on Kakashi's shoulder. "You'll see, every thing will be just fine by this time tomorrow."

The warmth of the hand and the strength of the words melted the last chill of worry from Kakashi's mind. He smiled again, but this time he didn't have to force it. "I trust you."

"Good. Now if you'll excuse me I need me some ice." He gave the shoulder a squeeze then left the room. In the following soft silence Kakashi closed his eyes and finally let him self relax. There was nothing more he could do right now, so why not just rest? Naruto would be back, and they would find away to help him.

Moments latter he was asleep, peace now settling in where fear had been.


Night was drawing it's blanket thickly over the woods. Yamato stumbled over the tangled roots of trees as he picked his way back towards the bridge. He could scale the trees and run, making his return speedy, time was of the essence for him after all, but he couldn't bring him self to do so. His every thought was not on his own situation, but on the team he had failed.

The sooner he reached Sakura the sooner he'd have to face her pain. And after that he'd have to go home and tell him.

Maybe if he went slow enough he'd have just enough time to tell Kakashi the news before the poison took him. It was the cowards way out and he knew it. Sakura was still alive, any way, he hadn't lost every one.

Taking a breath he took a step up one imposing trunk, and then another. Inch by inch, step after step, his determination grew. He would return to Konoha, and he'd do so with Sakura. He couldn't bring Naruto back, but he'd make sure Kakashi had at least one person left. Maybe with Sakura by his side he'd be able to cope with the loss.

Besides, he did have to warn the village about Orochimaru. His life still held meaning and for that reason and that reason alone he'd live. For the first time in many years confidence did not come from the cold mask of ANBU, but from a sense of importance it's self.


The numb in Guys limbs faded leaving a hint of pain. He'd been left in an unoccupied room on one of the beds alone. The Hyuga had told him it would be hours before he'd be able to move even a finger. He clutched the bed sheets tightly. Rage was chasing much of the shock off. While it was still a slow proses to Guy only a half of an hour had passed from the time he'd been struck.

He sat up and wobbled. Anger like the raging waves of a torrent sea was crashing through his mind, washing hatred up and over his senses. He swung his stiff legs over the side of the bed and was pleased they would support his weight.

All of Neji's attacks had been so much stronger and so much more pain full then Hiashi's that this felt like a morning after a good long training session. It was almost laughable how weak the leader really was.

Almost. The mind reader was still in his student's room at said leader's request.

"Promise me you won't tell them the truth. Promise me you'll protect Hinata." His hands, shaking and slick with blood, clutched feebly at Guy's. "Promise me!"

"I promise."

His walking was stiff, like the decrepit shuffle of an old man, but it was progress. He reached the door and yanked it open. He was relived to see that he was not far from Neji's room, just two doors away in fact. Stepping out he looked cautiously for the guards. They were no where to be seen.

Feeling almost whole again he padded out softly and reached for the knob. Just before his fingers could latch in it started to twist. Jumping back he lifted the kunai and pulled his body in to a defensive position. The door opened reviling Hiashi. The two locked eyes, Guy's in silent rage while Hiashi's showed a touch of shock.

"What have you done to my student?" Guy demanded in a low growl. The thought of this man restraining his youth, while another ransacked his young mind. . . Another wave of anger washed up and he clutched his weapon tight.

"We were not able to find out much." Inoichi said from behind the Hyuga. He stepped past the dark haired man and gave Guy a flat stare. "You have trained him well, he resisted me every step of the way."

Guy's eyes narrowed. "He's stronger than his clan gives him credit for."

"He is strong." Inoichi said with a slight nod. "But he will bend to my methods. I will let him rest now, but in the morning we will be back."

Guy's eyes turned again to Hiashi. "I won't let you do this a second time to him."

"You have no choice." He replied flatly. "Nither you, or the Hokage, have the right to meddle with the Hyuga clan's affairs. You can not understand how his actions have tainted the honor of our clan."

"There is no honor in your clan." Guy snapped.

"We shall see." He replied.

"If you think you can ever touch my student again then you will be in for a sorry surprise! I, Might Guy, the Green Beast of Konoha, will never let you near Neji again!" He didn't strike a pose, he wasn't sure his limbs would hold him out of the stable defensive position, but he knew his words held the power he wanted.

Despite all of his passion, however, Hiashi looked unconvinced and borderline annoyed. "We shall see." He said simply. At that the two men turned and left.

Guy gaped as he watched them stroll off down the hall with out any care apparent between them. Neji meant nothing to them, nothing. He stood, holding the steel weapon aloft, for several moments, before he relaxed his stance. The night was well worn now, the last of the moon light was shining from the still opened door of the room. They would come back and they would ravage the ill child like a dog on a bone. He couldn't let them. He WOULDN'T let them!

He holstered his weapon and entered with out another moment's hesitation. From his bed Neji moaned and clutched his head in pain. Guy hurried to his side.

"Neji, my poor student, they have pillaged your thoughts." Gingerly he reached out and brushed back the long loose strands of hair while trying to maintain a level voice.

"I didn't. . . let them . . ." He wheezed.

"I know." Guy stood back, tall and shoulders square. "I'm going to take you from here."

He looked up through his fingers blankly for a long moment. "Take?"

"Take you away. We'll hide until you are strong enough to fight them back. If you return to your family after that, that is up to you. But for now. . ." He felt tears threatening to spill. "I will take you and keep you safe! I will guard you with my very life!"

Neji stared, dully for a moment, then nodded. "OK."

Reaching down Guy unhooked the IV before lifting the feverishly hot teen up. He wasn't sure where they could hide, but any where had to be better than here!


Dark leaves and pale snakes gave way as green water dripped off of towering pillars of stone. Sai gazed around the strange, muggy, world around him and gaped at the sheer size of the plants. Before him, like a long mountain range, an enormous shimmering pearl scaled snake slithered by. It flicked it tongue out, thick as a man's arm, and studied Sai with gold yellow eyes.

"This one reeks." He said, his voice low and rumbling.

Orohimaru reached out and stroked the serpents nose. "He's from the leaf."

"I don't trust him."

"You don't have to." Orochimaru said with a small grin. "Now move."

The snake began to slither, inching his way in to the forest. As he passed a gaping, fanged mouth, of a cave was relieved. Orochimaru smiled. "Come, My other pets will be far more interested in you, Sai."

Sai followed the sannin haired man down in to the cold dry cave silently. On every surface some thing slithered, crawled, or writhed. Sai pulled him self to the middle of the tunnel and watched the walls with keen interest. Each of the animals he could recognize were venomous, by reason the ones he didn't recognize were probably venomous as well.

They walked on down in to the deeper parts of the earths crust until a black hole of a crack in the stone loomed before them. Men, if they could be called that, shuffled around it's entrance until they spotted the approaching trio. Instantly each one fell to their knees and mumbled praise and greetings to the Serpent Sannin and Kabuto.

There were no more animals here.

Orochimaru ignored them as he lead them in to the dead black halls. The path was winding, like a labyrinth, but neither Orochimaru or Kabuto paused or slowed. Sai followed, taking in every detail, every step, until the halls opened up in to a huge dark room. Lights flickered dimmly as eyes shown from the corners.

Sai took it all in then focused on the center of the far back wall, standing out from all the deep black, was a snow white marble throne decorated with golden snakes. Sprawled leisurely upon the ornate chair a dark haired youth glared them down. His eyes were a living blood red.

"You are late." His eyes rolled and landed on Sai.

"Ah, we had a little encounter at one of the river bridges." Orochimaru said all to sweetly. "As you can see we've brought back some thing from the adventure."

"I don't care what your excuse is, I expect you to keep your word with me." He stood, flowing like the liquid form of a cat, and descended the marble steps. Drawing his blade he walked towards them, his eyes never leaving Sai. Sai stood firm, keeping his eyes locked on his intended target.

Now was not the time to kill him.

"Forgive me, Sauske. Perhaps you will be interested to note who it was that we encountered, then killed."

"Who is this?" He asked, ignoring Orochimaru.

"I am Sai. . ."

"I did not speak to you." Sauske said dryly. He extended the blade and pressed it up under Sai's chin. "From Konoka. He looks weak."

"Perhaps." Orochimaru set his hand on Sai's back. "He was on Naruto's team."

Sauske's eyes turned away and he looked up coldly at his captor. "Naruto."

"Kabuto killed him." Orochimaru turned slightly with a broad grin towards the medic. "Show him what you have."

Kabuto nodded and pulled the chunk of spine he'd recovered from the ground next to naruto's body and held it out to the Uchiha. Sauske took it and rolled it over in one hand as he kept the blade to Sai's throat with the other.

Sai focused on the sturdy teen before him. Unlike Orichimaru'd thick dripping viscous Chakra, Sauske's was like a thousand barbed points, like quills of a porcupine. It was dark and sharp and hurt to feel. He pondered the meaning of it while Sauske continued to turn the sticky bone round and round in his hand.

"Dead." He said with out interest. "Naruto has no meaning to me." He handed the blood stained bone back. "This one has no meaning to me either." He pulled the blade back and turned away. "I will be in the tournament hall when you finally decide to train me."

Kabuto, once more holding the bone, sneered. "You know, Sauske, you and this ninja are alike, you have no humanity left with in you at all."

Sauske ignored him as he walked on, the quills of chakra waving around him and shivering with each step. As his is form faded in to the inky black shadows of the hall Sai could still feel the sharp edge of his energy over his senses, and the press of the blade at his throat.

Orochimaru turned to Sai. "I will show you where you will be staying until I can trust you."

Sai glanced back down the dark hall before nodding once. "As you wish." He would have to carefully asses his target. He'd never felt any thing so dangerous before, not even when feeling out the chakra of the tiled beast in Naruto.


Fish.

Eat the fish.

More. Eat more.

Pain.

Ignore the pain! EAT! Gorge. Devour. More!

Pain, all over, ribs. . . SPINE. . . fish. . .

'Wait . . . I hate Sushi.'

He choked.

Pain and the vile, vile, taste of bad sushi flooded him all at once. He vomited bones and guts and fins and he knew not what else and shuddered as his whole body burned in a way it had never done before. His ribs were fire and his back felt like it was being dissolved in boiling acid.

More guts and fish parts came up with a copious amount of very un-fish-like blood. It took several minutes to evacuate his stomach completely, and by the time he was done he felt waisted. A thin husk held together by skin only.

To weak to kneel where he was he stumbled back on all fours before collapsing down on to his left side. Gasping for air he took stock of where he was. There was a river roaring past and solid looking cliff walls towering across the river. He twisted and looked back, there were cliff there too. Laying his head down he closed his eyes and fought for another breath. The disgusting taste of bile fish would not leave his mouth.

He was dizzy and depleted. He felt like maybe he'd been in the river, held under so long he'd been starved of oxygen.

"NARUTO!"

The voice, shrill and panic filled, bounced around the cliffs like ricocheting shuriken. As if stabbing him each incarnation of an echo produced the same piercing sensation as the metal stars would have.

He pulled his hands up to his ears and covered them as he scanned the dark rock walls for the source of the voice.

"S. . . sa-ku. . . ra. . .?"

He opened his eyes slowly and more pain laced it's way through him.

There, sliding and running alternately, she was descending the far wall. She hit the black water and raced over it. The closer she came the more clearly he could see her face. She was crying. Again. She seemed to cry a lot these days.

He tried to get up, but a warning twinge in his hip told him he'd better lay still or it would snap. She was almost all the way to him when she stopped cold. She bobbed, just above the river on a thin sheet of chakra, and stared at him.

"Naruto. Please, please, tell me that's you."

Her voice was still grating, but it was softer and not nearly as screechy. He fought gravity once more and managed to perch on one elbow. "Wh-who else would. . ." He sucked in a breath, ". . . would I b-be?"

She stumbled for a second but recovered her self, which he thought was good because there was no way he'd be able to pull him self off the ground and go save her if she fell in the water. Taking small steps she made her way towards him. Now he could clearly see her face, not only was she wide eyed in fear and crying but she was also covered in blood. Worry spiked with in his aching chest and he looked her over for wounds.

"Hey. . ." He closed his eyes and winced as pain slammed in to him again. He crushed his free fist tight and rode the wave out until he could open his eyes once more. "You OK?"

For a moment she just stood there, gaping at him, with no color in her face to speak of. She was still on the water, but took a step forward on to the rock. Slowly, mutely, she nodded.

"Naruto. . . you. . ."

"Hey, I'm OK." He smiled for her, not wanting her to worry. He'd been pounded before, never quite to this extent, but he was still breathing, so that had to be a good sign.

Only the look on her face told him other wise. "Sakura?"

She took another step, then another. "You. . ." She sniffled and wiped tears from her eyes. "It's you. It's really you!"

He nodded. The motion caused the whole world to slosh around him. "Yeah, more or less, I think."

She was walking faster now, arms spreading. "N-Naruto!"

She was going to hug him. He wasn't sure that would feel good so he tried to move, but could not. "No! Wai. . ." Arms slammed around his body and he felt every thing burst in to non-literal flames. He bit back a scream of pain and swallowed hard the bile that threatened to rush up his throat.

"Sakura-chan, I can not begin to describe the agony you are causing me right now!"

She let go and scooted back. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, sorrysorrysorry. . ." She burst in to tears again and reached for him, but did not touch him. She settled for half kneading the air in front of him. ". . .sorrysorrysorry. . ."

"Hey, HEY!" He forced him self to sit up, bones crackled like dry leaves, but he ignored the sound and sensation. Reaching out he grabbed her shaking shoulders. "Stop! Talk to me. What happened? Where are we?"

She buckled and buried her face in her hands while shaking her head. He looked her over slowly, she didn't seem hurt, so the blood must not have been hers. He shifted and crossed his legs before slumping forward and resting his elbows on his knees. The pain was fading as the Fox tended to his wounds.

Wounds.

He felt like he'd been hit by a mountain. Absentmindedly he reached up to rub his sore chest where he discovered the crispy ragged edges of cloth. Startled he looked down and gazed in shock at the hole in his jacket. His FAVORITE jacket. "The hell?"

Reaching around he felt his back. His skin was lumpy and sore. His skin. There was a matching hole on the other side of his body. Pulling his hand upfront he realized, with a sort of cold fear, that his jacket wasn't the only thing 'off' about his cloths. His head band. . .?

He reached up and felt only the skin of his forehead.

"What in the world? Sakura!" He reached out and grabbed her by the shoulders. Shaking her he pulled her up to face him. "Sakura what happened to me? Where is my headband?"

She looked through shaking fingers. "Y-yamat-to took it."

"Why? You don't take some one's head band off unless they died and I didn't. . ." He snapped his jaw shut.

Hole clear through his jacket.

The river. The cliffs.

KABUTO!

A cold feeling sank through him and he let her go. "I'm not dead."

She shivered and sniffled. "You were."

"No, that's not possible. Dead people don't wake back up."

"You were." She was pulling her self together, but she didn't look well. She looked about as strung out and battle weary as any human being could. "The fox must have healed you."

He glanced down at the charded and blood stained fabric. He would have had to have been dead with a hole like that, but last time Kabuto had hit him there both he AND the fox had nearly died. It was only by Tsunade's hand that he'd survived. "So how did you save me?" He looked back up at Sakura. "How did you fix that?"

"It wasn't me, Naruto. It was the tailed beast. I saw it's chakra."

"Well, OK then." He said with a shrug. He wasn't going to question it. Not right now. If it hadn't been for that monster he wouldn't have been hit in the first place. He closed his eyes and tried to put it all out of his mind. In the void a new thought crept in. They were alone.

"Where is captain Yamato?"

She sniffled and wiped away another tear. "He went to get Sai. Sai followed Orochimaru alone."

Naruto let her go and slowly, painfully, stood. "I'm going too."

She jumped to her feet. "You can't! You are about to fall right back apart. Your internal organs. . ."

"Orochimaru is going to his hide out. I will follow him. I will find Sauske." He looked up at the cliffs and squared his shoulders. "We are almost out of time, Sakura. Orochimaru will kill him."

"You can't!" She grabbed him, gently, and clung. "You might die again! You might not come back this time! Please, I can't loose you! Not again, never again!" She burst in to tears once more. Gently he shoved her back.

"If I can't save Sauske, then what business do I have trying to be the Hokage? I keep my promises, or I die trying. That is my ninja way."

"You already died! So you don't have to . . ."

He covered her mouth, silencing her. "Sakura-chan."

She quieted down. A chill raced through the river canyon. "If I have to chose between death and saving Sauske, and being alive while he dies, I will chose my death over his every time."

She lowered her gaze and pulled his hand away. "What about me? What about Kakashi-sensei? You can't just abandon us!"

"He'd still have you. Besides who said I'd abandon you guys?" He asked. Standing as tall as his battered bones would let him he grinned. "I've already died, TWICE! I'm like, invincible. If I die again maybe I'll just, you know, come back to life again. I mean it's happened before so why not?"

She nodded, slowly, and wiped the last of her tears away. "But what if you don't come back?"

"Then I don't come back." He said flatly. "Like I said, I'd rather die trying to save Sauske then let that bastard Orochimaru take his body." He glowered. "Nothing can change my mind."

"But you aren't strong enough, your bones are so weak any little hit could shatter them. You need to get back to the village and go to the hospital."

"Sorry Sakura chan. I can't. We don't have the time."

"Then." She lowered her hands and clenched her fists. "Then I'm coming with you."

"OK." He said with a nod. Turning and looking up at the cliffs he glared. "Just promise me you won't try to save me. I couldn't stand the thought of loosing you either."

He felt her fingers lace in to his. "No promises, just the mission."

He hesitated, mulling it over for a moment, before nodding. "All right." A smile spread over his face. "Just the mission." Some where, not so very far away, Sauske was out there. "Team seven will be whole once more, believe it!"