Lost Flower

Chapter 21 Burdens

Disclaimer: The characters depicted, settings, and some terminology in this fan work are the property of Masashi Kishimoto. The views and opinions of this fan based work in no way reflect the views or opinions of Masashi Kishimoto. This is a fanfiction written purely for entertainment purposes and nothing more. The author of this fan based work receives no profit gain in writing this.

WARNING: Readers are strongly cautioned as this fic contains content NOT suitable for children under the age of 18 and contains but not limited to the following: explicit sexual acts, explicit violent sexual acts (rape), adult themes, inappropriate language, and violence.

AN: I'm back and I'm going to finish this by May. Also I had to change my pen name because it had my real last name, no I'm not stupid. When I picked it back as kid I didn't actually think I would marry the guy I took it from ; )

Also a huge thanks to TheExilez for helping me when I was stuck and giving me great ideas, this chapter wouldn't have happened without help. Also Thank you for helping me beta this chapter : )

"speaking"

'thinking' and flashbacks

"Kyuubi speaking"

Recap

Naruto thought about it and couldn't live like that following in his sensei's footsteps visiting graves and feeling this pain forever. Naruto wondered how Sakura would end up if he didn't do anything now. How would she end up if he let her bare this burden alone? He couldn't imagine how she would change. He needed to talk to Sakura or neither of them would begin the healing process. He stood to walk away, but spoke quietly before turning away.

"Kaka-sensei, maybe its not too late for you either." Naruto stated as he walked away.

Kakashi's mouth opened in shock, but soon turned into a grin. Naruto was kid who was always surprising people, so maybe the copy nin shouldn't have been so surprised by Naruto's last comment.

Maybe it truly wasn't too late to share his own burden. Kakashi watched as Naruto walked away and wished him luck with a faint smile.

"Maybe you're right." Kakashi whispered. Naruto quickly dried off and threw his clothes on not caring how disheveled he looked. He needed to get back to the room and talk to Sakura. He had to get to her before he lost his guts to do so. He never really thought about Kakashi's loneliness and guilt before. He never wanted for Sakura to feel that way. He picked up his pace and headed back to the room.

Sakura paced the room. Yamato had told her what mattered most was her feelings towards Naruto, and at first it made her feel better, but now as she paced her stomach felt like it was tied in knots. Their were so many thoughts swirling around the kunoichi's head, one in particular bothered her greatly. Did Naruto stay with her because he felt obligated?

Sakura stopped abruptly at that thought. She wondered if Naruto really loved her and wanted to be with her, or if he felt like he had to marry her still. She did know how she felt about him. She loved him. He was everything to her now. She hated the thought of losing him, but she also knew that if he didn't feel the same the relationship would be pointless.

She knew that sometimes, the way you feel about someone can cause you to burden them without meaning to or even realizing. Sakura thought about Naruto and his personality and her lips fell into a frown. Naruto already carried so many burdens. Some of those burdens she'd placed on him herself.

Suddenly the image of Naruto as a gennin at the gates of Konoha entered her mind. He stood confident as he made a promise of lifetime to bring Sasuke home. Sakura cringed. She placed that burden on him and she knew even before everything happened he was still burdened by that promise.

She knew Naruto never went back on his word it was his nindo. He promised to marry her and she knew deep down even if his heart wasn't still in it he would marry her, and he would stay by her side. It wasn't fair to keep Naruto bound to a promise if his heart wasn't in it.

'He's probably better off without me.'

Sakura wondered if Naruto would even be honest if she asked him outright how he felt about her and their upcoming marriage. She thought for a moment and realized he would probably smile that wide grin and lie, because that's the way he was. He was always trying to make others happy. He made a promise and he would keep it, that much she was sure of, and she couldn't do that to him. Her heart ached but she knew what she had to do.

'Naruto I can't drag you down this path anymore.'

Sakura took a deep breath and reached for the door handle when it opened revealing a disheveled, panting Naruto. He was half bent over leaning on the door frame for support. She realized he must have run there. At first Sakura thought their was some sort of trouble, but in the pit of her stomach she knew he was here to talk to her.

"Naruto..." she trailed off having been shocked by his opening the door.

"Sakura-chan, we really need to talk." Naruto spoke as his panting dissipated and he straightened his body up taking his weight off the door frame.

"Yea..." Sakura replied not meeting his gaze.

"Sakura I-" Naruto stopped mid sentence having been interrupted by Sakura.

Naruto watched her lift her head up to look at him, and her eyes worried him. The look she was giving him made his heart pound. With Sakura making a face like that there was no way the words she was about to say would be good. He felt an ache in his chest as he waited for her to speak. He heard her take in a quick breath and then she spoke.

"I think we should call off the engagement." Sakura spoke looking away from his eyes her tone was very serious.

Naruto froze in his spot. His knees locked in place otherwise he probably would have fallen from the shock of her words. He tried to protest but when he opened his mouth no sound came out. His hands trembled at his sides and he looked at Sakura. He couldn't believe she'd said it outright with little warning. He knew what she had been about to say wasn't going to be pleasant but this? He could feel his heart beat growing faster as he stood there as if time stopped.

'I think we should call off the engagement.' her voice rang in his head on repeat for several moments.

He swore he could hear a ripping sound, like paper tearing. Then his heart started pounding so hard he thought he'd die.

She refused to look him in the eyes. She could feel her heart breaking again. It was too much. Things would be better this way if she could just get through this part. Naruto would be free from her and her burdens. He would heal and move on in time.

'He's better off without me around.' she firmly reminded herself to keep her resolve.

She bit her lip. It wasn't going to be easy she knew it wouldn't be, but she really didn't know it would be this insanely hard to do what she believed to be the right thing for Naruto. He deserved a better life with less burdens. She wanted him to be happy even at the cost of her own happiness.

Naruto stood in the same place still. He hadn't said a word to her. He still couldn't speak. His heart was pounding and breathing was difficult. He had worried this would happen but he was still shocked and hurt didn't begin to describe how he felt.

'Sakura...doesn't want me.' he thought with his hands at his sides and head tilted downward looking at the floor.

"How could she want someone who let her down so many times?" a deep voice growled inside his head.

'Kyuubi...'

Naruto winced hearing the foxes words, and he was surprised the fox was awake. The fox hadn't spoke to him in some time. He thought about the times he failed her. His hands continued to shake at his sides.

'It's true.' Naruto began to feel defeated. 'I couldn't bring Sasuke back and because I failed Sakura was kidnapped by him...it was my fault. I didn't find Sakura before he raped her, I didn't reach her in time and the babies...' these painful thoughts lingered.

The fox grinned in his cage. He was awakened by Naruto's emotional state.Naruto's will to suppress the demon fox was slipping slowly. The fox's toothy smile widened at Naruto's despair. Despair, sadness, hatred these were the emotions the fox thrived on. The demon fox let out low growling chuckle watching his host suffer.

"It's your fault they died."

The sound of ripping paper entered his head again and his stomach burned. Tears fell from his eyes as Sakura turned away from him. It felt like he'd been punched in the gut and the wind was sucked from his lungs.

"Sakura, is this really what you want?" he had to ask her.

He hid the hurt he was feeling. He kept his voice at a normal tone. He didn't want to make her feel bad if it was truly what she wanted even though inside he was in turmoil. It took everything he had to keep his voice calm.

'No, but it's for the best.' she thought as she answered shakily "Yes."

Sakura tried to see his face but his face was shadowed due to its angle. She tried to explain herself but she faltered. What could she say? It didn't matter what she said as long as she freed him from his burden to her. Her heart was pounding in her chest she couldn't tell if he was mad or upset. He was just standing there.

"Naruto, are you listening?" Sakura asked becoming worried by his silence.

Naruto didn't look up at her. His whole body was tense. Naruto was lost inside his mind unaware Sakura asked him a question. His heart still pounded and his head began to ache.

'She doesn't want me.' the thought burned in his mind.

"She could never love you." the kyuubi taunted.

"Naruto?" Sakura asked again.

"Shut up!" he yelled with venom in his voice.

Sakura jumped at his sudden outburst and felt the sting of tears in her eyes. She turned and walked out without looking back. He would be okay in time she knew it. He would be free. She just hoped he would forgive her in time, because she at least wanted to be friends if possible.

"Sak-" his voice caught in his throat and he let her walk out.

Naruto's breathing quickened and he clutched his chest. He felt like he couldn't breathe and his chest hurt so badly it felt like his rib cage was cracked. It wasn't long before his legs gave out and he fell on the ground. He was so distraught he barely noticed Yamato's presence in the doorway.

"You let her down." kyuubi's voice boomed in his head again.

The fox fell silent again as if he'd never stirred at all after a few more seconds. Naruto's heart beat returned to normal and his breathing slowed, but the damage was already done. He sat on the floor unable to move. His eyes were still wide and his hands trembled.

"Naruto, what happened?" Yamato asked worriedly helping him to his feet as he looked around as if expecting an enemy ninja.

"She left." was all Naruto could manage to say.

Just those two words were enough to cause him such intense pain that his heart beat sped up again, and the sound of tearing paper rang in his head. He was too distraught to care what the sound was. Sakura left him and he blamed himself.

Yamato didn't know what to say or if there was anything he could say to comfort Naruto at this time. He couldn't even get Naruto to talk about it without the blonde going into some sort of panic attack like episode. He decided it best not to talk to Naruto about it just yet because he was seriously worried about Naruto's reaction.

Sakura left having Kakashi escort her back to Konoha. The copy nin watched her back nervously as she took the lead. Kakashi looked back over his shoulder he wondered if Naruto was okay. He wanted to check on Naruto, but he couldn't let Sakura leave on her own so he went with her right away.

Kakashi felt his stomach tighten thinking of the two of them. He tried to help and now things seemed worse. He could feel Sakura's pain in the air around her and wondered what had happened between Naruto and her. He found it hard to believe Naruto would do something to upset her like this, not after the talk he'd had with the blonde. He was stumped as to what transpired between them.

He tried multiple times to come up with the words to ask her what happened between her and Naruto, but he couldn't seem to find the right words or the courage to ask her. He wasn't even sure that he'd be able to catch up to her at the speed she was going. He noticed she was sending chakra to her feet to out run him, most likely in an attempt to keep him from asking questions, or possibly to keep Naruto from catching up to her. Kakashi sighed. How had things ended up this way?

~Three Week Time Skip~

Sakura sighed as she pulled on her uniform for the long work day ahead of her. It felt like she'd only just returned from work not that long ago, and now she was headed back. She glanced at the clock and realized she barely had four hours of sleep. She rubbed her puffy eyes. She felt like her body had been trampled on. There was a knock on her bedroom door. She sighed.

"What?" she asked slightly annoyed.

"Hey, Sakura are you going to work today?" Ino asked through the closed door.

"Yea, I'll be right out." she responded tiredly.

Sakura grabbed a few last minute things from the top drawer of Ino's guest room dresser. She frowned when her gaze fell on her engagement ring and she slammed the drawer shut. Heading out on her way to work, she was accompanied by Ino. Lately, they had been scheduled similar shifts. Other than work hours, however, they rarely saw each other, despite living together for three weeks.

"Woah, you look beat. You better take a day off." Ino told Sakura sensing how tired the girl was.

"You know I can't do that. I'm saving up to get an apartment on my own." Sakura responded grouchily.

Ino wanted to say something along the lines of Sakura talking to Naruto and trying to make up, but she held her tongue because she didn't really know what happened between them and she knew Sakura didn't want to talk about it. Ino hoped they would make up because Sakura looked miserable, and she had suspicions Naruto was no better off given no one had seen much of him lately.

"Besides, I volunteered for clinic duty on my days off to get in some more experience."

"Sakura, you're going to run yourself into the ground."

"I'm fine Ino."

'No you're not. You've been miserable since that day.' Ino thought as she remembered the day Sakura showed up on her doorstep with a bunch of suitcases asking to stay until she got an apartment. That was all the explanation Ino received, and no matter how she tried to get Sakura to talk she wouldn't talk about it or Naruto at all.

"If you say so." Ino responded with a frown, there was no reason to start a fight before work.

An uncomfortable silence fell over the two kunoichi as they walked to the hospital together. The two women often had their differences but they were always there for each other when the other needed help. The thing was Ino didn't really know how to help, she even asked Shikamaru to help her, but he refused to get involved in other peoples business. She knew Sakura was lonely and no one had really seen Naruto in the last week or so. He even turned down a couple missions, but any time Ino tried to bring up Naruto it never ended well. It would either turn into an argument or Sakura would just leave the house claiming she had work.

Ino had tried to visit Naruto last week in hopes maybe she could find out from what happened, but he either wasn't home or just wouldn't answer the door. She was going to just go in when Shikamaru stopped her saying to leave them both be. He claimed meddling would likely make things worse for both of them, not to mention it could ruin friendships. She didn't want for Sakura to end up hating her, so she backed off.

Sakura walked slightly ahead of Ino trying to shut her out. Three weeks without Naruto and it hadn't gotten any easier than the day she walked out. She had this constant dull ache in her chest and this strange feeling in the pit of her stomach. She wondered for a moment if she'd done the right thing and quickly shook the thought away.

'You're being selfish.' she scolded herself.

She tensed her jaw as she felt her eyes sting thinking of Naruto and suppressed the tears. He was better of and she was sure of it. He was probably off enjoying going on missions and training, and eating at Ichiraku ramen. He probably felt a weight lifted that day. She really hoped he was happy, because she was miserable.

Naruto lay in bed tossing and turning. Sweat began to build on his brow and his body shook. He had finally fallen asleep only to fall victim to nightmares supplied by his subconscious and the kyuubi who poisoned his mind. Even in sleep the demon toyed with his mind, slowly tearing him down.

It wasn't long into his nightmare that Naruto sprang up from the bed breathing heavily and shaking. His eyes filled with tears. He lifted his arm to wipe them away, and barely noticed how thin he'd been getting. Maybe he just didn't care if he wasted away.

His heart slammed in his chest and his breathing quickened as the dream replayed in his mind. He tried to shut it out, but it was like being under tsukiyomi again. Closing his eyes did nothing to stop the images flashing in his mind. He clasped his head in both hands. The images included the repeat of Sakura getting raped, and the babies being still born, and Sakura crying at their grave, and lastly Sakura walking away.

"It's your fault they died." the foxes voice boomed again in his head.

Naruto took in a sharp breath as if he'd taken a physical blow. It was like this every day and each day it was getting worse. He couldn't sleep because of the dreams, he couldn't eat because of the flashes of the tsukiyomi memories, and he couldn't find any peace at all with the fox constantly reminding him why Sakura could never love him.

His shoulders shook as he sobbed alone. He hadn't felt this alone in years. He could feel the fox banging on his cage and he gritted his teeth. He wouldn't be letting out that fox no matter how badly kyuubi tormented him. He fought to suppress the foxes chakra and it was taking everything he had.

Naruto weakly pushed himself from bed and headed towards the kitchen. He had to try to eat or he wouldn't have the strength to keep the kyuubi suppressed much longer. His shoulders still trembled as he slowly walked to the kitchen. His clothes hung very loosely off his body showing just how much weight he'd lost.

He braced himself along the wall as he walked toward the kitchen. He could feel the sinister chakra welling up as he began to lose the strength to fight it. He had to fight the foxes chakra. He didn't want the kyuubi to win. If he let out the fox all of Konoha would suffer. His legs were shaky as he continued to the kitchen. He glanced around the living room, it seemed so dark and lonely. In fact the whole apartment seemed empty now. He hung his head and continued on to the kitchen.

"Sakura-chan..." he sobbed.

"Sakura isn't coming back." the kyuubi growled.

The sound of tearing paper filled his ears again, and his heart slammed in his chest. The seal started to burn, forcing Naruto to his knees as he clutched his stomach in pain.

She really was gone. It had been three weeks and he hadn't even seen her in passing. She wasn't coming back. His vision was fuzzy and his hands trembled. His eyes closed and he fell to the ground losing consciousness. He instantly found himself in the presence of the kyuubi. Even inside his own mindscape he felt weakened. The foxes evil laugh echoed around him.

"Finally I've got you."

"No." Naruto spoke through gritted teeth seeing the torn seal on the foxes cage.

The fox growled sending one of his chakra arms through the loosened door nearly landing a hit on Naruto. Naruto jumped back avoiding the blow, but he couldn't keep this up for long and he knew it. Continuing to dodge the fox's attacks, he managed to summon three clones to help push the fox back.

"Get back in your cage!" Naruto yelled forming a rasengan.

The fox chuckled taking out all three clones and knocking Naruto back with ease. Naruto was sent backward several feet landing on his backside. He winced.

"Naruto, this time I'm not going to fail. When I get your body, this entire village will be mine to destroy. . . starting with that pink bitch of yours." The fox growled, as he attacked again with his chakra.

'Sakura-chan.'

Naruto's eyes widened as he was enveloped in a golden shield, resembling a bubble of some sort. As Kyuubi attacked, he suddenly found he couldn't reach the young jinchūriki anymore.

Naruto's eyes started to droop, before finally closing as he entered a deep sleep. Protected still, Kyuubi growled in frustration.

"That won't hold for long, and when it breaks I will possess your body and kill everyone."

Streets of Konoha

Kiba walked down the streets of Konoha towards Naruto's apartment with Akamaru in tow. He hadn't seen the blonde around for some time and even heard rumor he turned down missions. Then there was the issue of the puppies as they were finally old enough to leave their mother he would have to find homes for them, but he wanted to make sure Naruto didn't want them.

He wondered how he should bring it up. He knew Sakura lost the babies and the puppies had been his gift to the couple, but now he was sure Naruto wouldn't want the puppies. So he knew this trip was pointless to make, but he made it anyway. Maybe the real reason he was headed to Naruto's apartment was to check on him, although Kiba would prefer not to admit to it openly.

Kiba was instantly put on guard as he neared the apartment. Something didn't feel right. Kiba couldn't shake the feeling that something just wasn't right. He knocked but no one answered. Akamaru whined as Kiba knocked again.

"Oi! Naruto! You in there?" Kiba called out.

Akamaru began pacing and whined again looking up at his master. Kiba instantly felt uneasy especially now with Akamaru feeling it too. He patted him gently on the head trying to comfort him. Akamaru still seemed uneasy.

"What is Akamaru?"Kiba asked.

"Naruto?! You in there?" he knocked harder this time hoping for an answer this time.

Kiba listened quietly for footsteps but he heard nothing. There wasn't any noise at all. Akamaru barked at the door and Kiba decided to see if it was unlocked by chance and peek inside. He could feel something was off. He couldn't smell anything wrong, like an intruder or blood or anything. Just a feeling something was wrong.

Kiba tried the door and surprisingly it wasn't locked. As soon as he opened the door Akamaru ran into the apartment straight to Naruto's side. He was collapsed on the kitchen floor. Akamaru let out a bark and tried to nudge Naruto awake. Kiba knelt next to the blonde taking in his appearance. He didn't seem to be injured at least he wasn't bleeding or anything obvious.

"Naruto! Hey! Wake up!" Kiba yelled lightly shaking the blonde.

Konoha Hospital

Sakura walked quickly down the long hall leading to the emergency ward. She and Ino had been paged just moments ago. The patient was an unresponsive male late teens found unconscious. They ran down the hall together. As the two kunoichi reached the emergency ward they were directed to a room to the left and came face to face with Kiba yelling at one of the nurses. '

"I don't know I found him like this! I have no idea shouldn't you be doing something to help him?"

"Kiba?" Ino spoke surprised as her eyes began to sweep the room. "What are you doing here?"

"Naruto-kun..." Sakura gasped at the sight of Naruto laying in bed.

The attending nurse had gotten a blood sample from Naruto and placed an iv on him. His vitals were registering on the screen next to him. He was stable but they had no idea why he was unconscious. Sakura reached a trembling hand for his chart while Ino scanned his body looking for injuries.

"Kiba, how did you find him?" Sakura's voice was laced with worry.

"Like I told the nurse he was unconscious when I found him. I don't know what happened to him. He was just there on the floor and I couldn't wake him." Kiba replied slightly less annoyed than he'd been with the nurse.

"I can't find any injuries." Ino spoke confused.

"Is he going to okay?" Kiba asked getting really worried.

Sakura's lips trembled, and she bit down to try and calm herself. She noticed how thin Naruto was, and how pale he had become. What had happened to him since they last spoke? Her hands wouldn't stop shaking as she fought back tears.

Ino noticed Sakura was trying to keep calm, and Kiba was making it worse. Sakura needed to be level headed right now.

"Kiba, we need room to work I'll let you know when he wakes up." Ino interrupted pointing to the door.

He didn't want to leave but it was for the best especially since Akamaru was denied entrance to the hospital and was waiting outside for him. He glanced back at the two kunoichi hovering over Naruto hoping they could help him, and wondering what had happened to him. He looked awful. Kiba had noticed how Naruto's eyes had bags under them and how pale his face was.

"He lost so much weight." Sakura muttered as she scanned his body again.

"It might be why he's like this." Ino answered.

"Hamaru-san, put a rush on Uzumaki's blood work." Sakura asked the nurse who was in charge of Naruto's case.

"Hai." she replied leaving quickly.

The girls continued to monitor his vitals, but there was little wrong there. He was completely stable. However, he still had yet to awaken. Sakura frowned, looking at the frail blonde in front of her. They were giving him IV fluids, and if malnutrition was the cause, he would wake up soon. There was nothing more they could do at this time.

After an hour he showed no signs of improvement. The results of the blood work showed that even though he'd lost quite a bit of weight it was unlikely it was the cause of his prolonged unconsciousness. Sakura touched his hand and gasped at how bony he felt.

"What happened to you?" Sakura whispered.

Ino watched as Sakura tried desperately to hold herself together. They couldn't find a medical reason for him not to wake up, and things were beginning to look bad. They scanned him several times and ran all the tests they could run, but they couldn't figure out why he wouldn't wake up.

"Sakura, I don't know what to do." Ino stated bluntly.

"We don't even know what happened to him." Sakura stated. "If we could figure that out maybe we could get him to wake up."

"I could try my mind transfer jutsu." Ino offered hesitantly.

Ino remembered the last time she tried that jutsu against Naruto. She had ended up face to face with the kyuubi in seconds, although she was a lot stronger now it still worried her. The foxes chakra was so sinister she felt it clinging to her for days after that incident. She shuddered thinking about it.

"Please Ino." Sakura begged.

Ino nodded and sat down across from Naruto's hospital bed and formed the necessary hand signs to preform the jutsu, and with one last deep breath she cast out her spirit towards Naruto. Ino entered Naruto's mind easily given his state. She looked around. She was in a pipe lined hallway with water at her feet. It was dark and ominous. She nearly jumped out of her skin when water dripped in front of her.

She'd never entered anyone's consciousness like this. Most peoples memories were easily accessible but instead of finding his memories she found herself in this long hallway.

"Naruto?" she called out but didn't receive an answer.

She kept walking forward almost reaching the end of the hallway. Along the way some of Naruto's recent memories seem to be playing along the walls. She pressed on feeling like she was being pulled to the darkened doorway ahead of her. She was instantly on guard. A loud clanking sound echoed down the hall towards her.

She entered the room cautiously, eyes scanning around her. Ino jumped with fright seeing Kyuubi barely in the cage.

The fox seemed not to notice or care about the newcomer. He was focused on something just in front of him. What was that? His tails were swirling around the bubble, attempting to break it.

It took her a few seconds before she realized Naruto was inside that bubble.

"Naruto!" she screamed.

His eyes were closed and he was unresponsive. The yellow glow of the barrier lit the blondes face. He looked like he was sleeping. His body was curled up and appeared to be floating inside this barrier. He almost looked peaceful despite what was happening outside of his bubble.

"Naruto! Wake up!" Ino yelled getting closer to Naruto.

"It's pointless girl, he's not waking up." the kyuubi's voice struck fear into Ino freezing her in place.

The fox immediately turned one of his tails to Ino and struck her hard sending instantly out of Naruto's mind. She returned to her body gasping for air. She gritted her teeth at the searing pain in her physical body where the fox had struck her spirit body. She slid her hand under the fabric of her shirt to touch her stomach and was surprised to feel warm liquid on her fingers. She winced pulling her hand away.

'Blood? No way...how?' Ino stared at her hand.

"Ino! What happened?!" Sakura exclaimed rushing to her side.

Ino's other hand glowed green healing her own stomach. She grimaced as the chakra burns shouldn't have reached her real body. The kyuubi was strong, and she knew the injuries caused by his chakra were hard to heal making him dangerous to encounter again. She still couldn't believe she sustained injury while in her spirit form. Sakura helped Ino heal her wound.

"The kyuubi attacked me." Ino answered.

"But how did he injure your real body?" Sakura asked.

"I really don't know." Ino responded.

"What about Naruto?"

"Naruto... he's in this strange bubble and the kyuubi is trying to get to him."

"What?"

"I don't know. Naruto looked like he was sleeping. I yelled trying to wake him but the fox hit me with his tail."

"The kyuubi shouldn't be able to reach Naruto or you like that. Naruto told me he's sealed into a cage."

"It looked like the cage was wedged open. He is imprisoned but his chakra tails can still escape and get to Naruto."

"Hamaru!" she yelled her voice was urgent sounding.

"Yes, Sakura-san!"

"Get Tsunade-sama immediately!" Sakura ordered.

"I think the barrier around Naruto is what's keeping him from waking up. I really tried to wake him, but I just couldn't reach him." Ino stated shakily. "I think you might be able to reach him." Ino suggested due to some of the memories she'd seen.

"Ino, can you take me inside his mind?" Sakura asked her tone was deadly serious.

"It'll take a few minutes for me to build up the chakra but I can." she replied as she began to focus her chakra.

Sakura's gaze switched between Ino and Naruto as she waited nervously. Sakura wondered what happened to Naruto to make him this way. She touched his hand and he didn't even move. He felt cold. She fought the tears fighting to fall. She wondered if she'd caused him to end up like this. Her stomach dropped, what if this was her fault?

"Where's Tsunade? Whats taking so long?" she growled.

"I don't know but I'm ready." Ino said.

"We don't have time to wait for her to get here, lets go." Sakura demanded.

Ino grabbed Sakura's shoulder and placed a hand on Naruto's head. Truth was this was Ino's first time bringing somebody's consciousness with her into someone elses mind. She took a deep breath and turned to Sakura. She only hoped not to tangle with the fox again. They had to wake Naruto up quickly. Hopefully he would be able to suppress the nine tails on his own.

"Ready?" Ino asked Sakura.

Sakura nodded in response and turned to look at Naruto's unconscious form laying in front of her. It wasn't long before Sakura felt her spirit pulling from her body. It was the strangest sensation she'd ever felt however before she could further analyze the sensation it ended. When her eyes opened she was in a long hallway with pipes lining the ceiling. It was dark and there was water on the floor.

"Where are we?" Sakura asked looking around. "This can't be Naruto's mind..."

"It is." Ino reassured her. "This way."

"It's so cold and lonely." Sakura whispered.

Ino ignored Sakura's comment and pulled her toward the end of the corridor. She hoped Sakura wouldn't dwell too long watching Naruto's memories. They didn't exactly have Naruto's permission to be poking around in his past. Besides, Ino had seen some of Naruto's memories and it was best if Sakura didn't see them right now.

"This way." Ino urged Sakura as they neared Naruto's memories.

Sakura put up some resistance as they passed his memories but it was soon forgotten as they heard snarling and growling echo the corridor. Sakura flinched as the echoes reached her ears. Her gaze fell to the violent ripples in the water at her feet. Ino gulped already having faced the kyuubi on her own.

"Is that..." Sakura's words trailed as her voice caught in her throat.

"Yes, it the nine tails." Ino confirmed.

"Naruto." she whispered looking worried as they picked up their pace.

"Sakura, you saw what the kyuubi's chakra did to my physical body. We need to be careful." Ino spoke with a grave seriousness in her voice.

They neared the end of of the hallway finally. The darkened doorway had an ominous feel to it. Sakura tried to hide her trembling hands by clenching them into fists at her side. She saw the wound inflicted on Ino's stomach. The kunoichi began having second thoughts about not waiting for Tsunade to show up, but quickly dismissed it as she heard a booming growl echo in the darkness. Naruto was alone in there with the kyuubi he needed help.

"Sakura when we get in I'll put up a barrier to hold off the kyuubi, but it wont hold for long. You have to wake Naruto up."

Sakura nodded determinedly. They each took a deep breath and entered the room. The lighting was a bit brighter than Sakura had expected. Her eyes quickly adjusted as she took in the scene. She gasped when her eyes fell on Naruto. He was curled up inside a yellow bubble just as Ino had said. Sakura stood frozen realizing that the long red tendrils attacking the orb was the foxes chakra.

"Sakura get going I'll draw his attacks and erect the barrier! Go!" Ino yelled.

"Hey! You filty fox!" Ino yelled.

The fox switched his gaze from his prize to the annoying fly buzzing in his ear. The girl was back and to his annoyance she'd brought another. The fox sent all but two chakra tails towards the blonde kunoichi while the other two continued trying to break the barrier to Naruto.

Ino jumped and dodged as the tails flew at her. Sakura reached the yellow orb cautiously but the chakra tails remain seemed not to care about her presence there. She reached out to touch the barrier but her hand was pushed back. She banged on the barrier adding chakra to her hits.

"Naruto! Come on wake up please!" Sakura pleaded.

He remained motionless. She kept trying to wake him but her attempts kept failing her.

"Sakura! Wake him up!" Ino yelled as she erected a barrier between herself and the kyuubi's cage.

"I'm trying!"

"Try harder because I'm about out of chakra here!" the blonde kunoichi retorted through gritted teeth.

Her hands trembled with each strike to her protective barrier by the fox. She felt it starting to give way and pushed more chakra into it hoping it would hold.

"Naruto! Please wake up!" Sakura yelled desperately.

Sakura shut out tears looking at him, and charged her hands with as much chakra as they would hold and struck the barrier full force. Upon contact Sakura was thrown across the room. She managed to steady her landing with the chakra she'd sent to her hands and feet. Her eyes darted up to the bubble which had cracked open where she hit. Naruto remained unconscious. Her eyes widened in fear as the foxes chakra entered the bubble and Naruto's eyes snapped open. However, his eyes glowed red. The barrier around him changed red, like blood. It swirled around the blonde. After a few seconds the chakra bubble broke and he was under the kyuubi's control. His crimson eyes drooped and he staggered towards the fox's cage.

"No...no that wasn't supposed to happen! Naruto!" she yelled the last part as she stood back up.

"Thanks for the help girl." the kyuubi's voice rang and he smirked behind his cage.

"Damn it!" she screamed pounding her fist into the ground. "NARUTO!"

Konoha Hospital

"What the hell is going on?" Tsunade shouted taking in the scene.

Tsunade entered the hospital room Naruto had been assigned and saw the two unconscious kunoichi on the floor. The sannin didn't even get a chance to assess either kunoichi's condition due to Naruto's sudden chakra output. She did nothing to hide the look of shock that crossed her features as the kyuubis cloak enveloped Naruto's sleeping form.

"Damn it! Shizune!Get in here!" Tsunade yelled with urgency clear in her voice.

Shizune ran in from the hallway and stopped dead in her tracks taking in the scene. Her feet planted in place once her eyes fell on Naruto's sleeping form with the sinister chakra cloaking him. His finger nails and teeth had already lengthened. He was already in transformation.

"What happened?" she asked.

"I don't know but we need Yamato right away!" She yelled.

"Hai!"

She took off immediately to find the wood style user the only one who could contain Naruto's transformation now. She only hoped she wouldn't be too late. She yelled orders to the staff to start evacuating starting with the floors closest to Naruto's. She even managed to grab a couple of jonnin and got them to inform anbu of the situation at the hospital as she went to get Yamato.

Naruto's Mindscape

"Ugh...Saku-ra I can't hold him back much longer! Wake him up hurry!" Ino spoke as if in pain.

Without warning the door to kyuubi's cage was forced open and the seal was barely hanging on. The fox tried to escape but without the seal completely removed he couldn't fully leave the cage. However this allowed for more of his chakra and now his claws to reach out of the cage. The fox grinned as he struck Ino's barrier again.

Ino forced the last of the chakra she could afford into her barrier as the fox's claws closed in one more time. The last hit almost broke the barrier, and she imagined this one would probably break it. She glanced over her shoulder at Sakura trying to get close to Naruto without much progress due to the kyuubis newly extended freedom. She gritted her teeth and closed her eyes for the blow she knew would come.

Ino waited for the inevitable strike, but it never came. She hesitantly opened her eyes and saw the kyuubi had been stopped in his tracks. The fox growled and snarled at having been stopped, but by who? Ino squinted through the barrier and saw a flash of yellow and white before her. A man stood between her and the fox.

'Naruto? No...that's not Naruto...' Ino thought to herself.

"Yondaime Hokage!" the fox growled fiercely as he was being pushed back toward his cage.

"Yondaime Hokage...no way..." Ino whispered in awe.

The fourth hokage looked back over his shoulder at Ino and Sakura, and then back to Ino. He smiled at the two kunoichi in understanding. They were there to protect Naruto. He wondered for a moment how they entered Naruto's mind. He looked at Ino once more and realized.

"Ah...I understand you're of the Yamanaka clan then." He stated looking right at Ino.

"Hai, we came to help Naruto." Ino replied.

Sakura stood motionless watching the scene unfold. Naruto's staggering movements had stopped but his eyes still glowed red. The kunoichi had been hit in the leg by the fox's chakra tail and stood shakily on it. She was shocked to see the fourth hokage in Naruto's mind, but was glad he was here. They could really use the help. She began to feel like it was impossible before the fourth showed up.

"Yondaime Hokage-sama, please help Naruto." Sakura requested with tears.

"It looks like my son has made some great friends." He answered with a fond smile. "I'll take care of the fox you wake up Naruto for me." He said with a grin reminiscent of Naruto's trademark smile directed at Sakura.

'Son...wait SON!' Sakura's eyes displayed her shock although maybe she shouldn't have been so shocked.

The fourth engaged the kyuubi in battle and Naruto's movements remained for the time being stopped. Red chakra swirled around Naruto's still form as the fox tried to regain control of his hosts movements, but while fighting the former hokage it was had proved a difficult task even for the kyuubi. Sakura moved on limping toward Naruto.

Sakura finally reached Naruto but his chakra was encasing him and she couldn't get near him. She tried yelling his name but he didn't stir. Tears formed in her eyes again as she felt useless. Was there nothing she could do for him? No, that couldn't be true. She clenched her jaw and did the only thing left she could think of. She pushed her arms into the red chakra and wrapped them tightly around Naruto's waist.

She could feel her skin sizzle even in this spirit body she felt the pain. Sakura didn't relent she squeezed him tighter until her body pressed against his. She wasn't going to let go even if all her flesh burned off. She wasn't going to let Naruto be taken by the kyuubi.

"I'm sorry I lied to you Naruto. I really do love you." she cried on his chest barely noticing the red chakra had begun to recede.

Konoha Hospital

"His transformation just stopped." Yamato voiced astonished.

Tsunade would have sighed in relief but she was currently bent over Sakura's body which had begun showing signs of being burned. The sannin healed her wounds, but they kept getting worse. Shizune joined Tsunade in rapidly healing Sakura's burns that seemed quickly replaced by new ones.

"What the hell is going on?" Tsunade snarled.

"These burns are from the kyuubi's chakra, but his transformation has been contained!" The sannin yelled in frustration.

"My only guess right now is that Ino, and Sakura are inside Naruto's mind."

"But how can they be injured in that state?" Shizune asked surprised.

"I don't know." Tsunade responded shaking her head.

"Ino seems uninjured at the moment so just keep healing Sakura's burns until Inoichi get's here."

"Yes."

Naruto's Mindscape

Sakura grimaced feeling the burns on her face as she still hugged Naruto tight. The burns didn't hurt quite as badly as they had not that she was really that worried about them at the time. All she could do was hold Naruto to keep him from moving closer to the fox. She couldn't let him lose to the fox's will. She felt so guilty she shut him out of her life. Sakura was pretty sure this wouldn't have happened if she hadn't lied to him. Her tears flowed freely and her sobs echoed the room.

"Please wake up Naruto...I love you."

Naruto's eyes slowly began to fade back to blue and he became aware of the tight grip around his waist. His eyes trailed down to see pink hair. His brow knit in confusion at what was going on. Was he dreaming?

"S-sakura-chan?" he stuttered in his confused state.

She squeezed him tighter in response but didn't have the will to talk. She lifted her head and pressed her lips against his. The kiss lasted only a few seconds before he broke away noticing Sakura's cheeks were wet with tears and her arms were badly burnt. His stomach dropped taking in the scene. What was going on?

His eyes traveled his surroundings. He was definitely in his own mind but Sakura was with him? His eyes fell on Ino and it clicked they used mind body transfer to get inside Naruto's head. He wondered what had happened until he saw the fox's cage pushed open and he began to remember what had happened to him.

"Glad you're finally awake baka." Sakura admitted.

"How did you get burned?" he asked although he had a feeling it was his fault.

"Don't worry we'll have plenty of time to talk later." she assured him with a smile.

"But..." his words trailed off seeing a man forcing the kyuubi back into his cage.

"Who is that?" Naruto asked letting go of Sakura.

Sakura wasn't sure she should answer that question. It wasn't her place to tell Naruto it was his father so she settled for his title. The fourth probably wanted to tell Naruto himself. She smiled knowing this meeting would mean the world to Naruto.

"Yondaime Hokage." she answered Naruto's question.

Naruto's eyes went wide and he froze in place. The fourth hokage? What was he doing here? He watched as yondaime restored the seal for him. He instantly felt back in control and the kyuubi's will was completely suppressed. He watched as the fourth made his way towards himself and Sakura.

"Sakura I'm sorry I can't keep us here much longer!" Ino apologized though she was panted heavily from chakra depletion.

"Naruto you better wake up soon or I'll pound you into the ground!" she teased him and pressed another quick kiss on him as she faded away in front of him.

Minato suppressed a chuckle. His son had grown into a fine young man and even found someone who loves him. In fact the kunoichi vaguely reminded him of Naruto's mother. He smiled as he greeted his son for the first time since he was born.

Konoha hospital

Ino's jutsu ended and sent both kunoichi back to there bodies leaving Naruto with the fourth hokage. After several minutes both kunoichi regained consciousness. Ino sat up gripping her head. She hissed audibly as she sat forward on the ground still.

"Ino, stay still you've used up a lot of chakra." the voice was familiar and warm.

She opened her eyes to see her dad supporting her back as she sat up anyway. He hugged her glad she was okay. When the Hokage informed him he'd been so scared he was about to lose his daughter to the kyuubi. Her eyes wandered to Sakura.

"She's back in her body you did well."

Sakura was awake with Tsunade and Shizune hovering over her healing her burns, all the while Sakura was trying to sit up and get to Naruto.

"Sakura stay still!" Tsunade ordered, but the kunoichi sat up regardless.

"I'm fine for now." she replied.

Tsunade frowned but it was true her burns were healed enough to be moving around so she let her stubborn student go, not that she really had much choice despite being hokage these young shinobi always did whatever they wanted. She smiled at their youth and spirit.

Her burns had lessened quite a bit in severity and barely hurt anymore. She struggled to her feet but managed on her own. She collapsed in the chair next to Naruto's bed waiting for him to wake up. Her hand entwined in his. She knew she'd made a mistake leaving him before, and she wasn't going to make the same mistake again.

It was a few more minutes before she saw Naruto's eyes flutter open and look around. Tears leaked from the corners of his eyes when he met hers. He felt her hand around his, and he knew what transpired had been real. He smiled giving her hand a squeeze.

"Naruto..." she started to say.

She never got to finish that sentence as Naruto pulled her forward into a kiss not caring about the eyes around them. He wasn't going to let her get away this time. He was reassured when her arms wrapped around him. He knew they were going to be okay even without words.