CHAPTER 20: MY PROTECTOR

Sasuke knew his plan would fail if Naruto would never figure out what he wanted him to. But his plan was worth a shot.

He gathered his chakra towards his palm creating what his former teacher taught him, his Chidori.

Of course he knew this was only some kind of diversion. Naruto would be the one to attack if he could figure out his plan.

And he did.

As soon as Sasuke planned to attack, he already anticipated Yuudai's move. Although he didn't know what kind of move it will be exactly, he was ninety percent sure it would be a defensive attack, to which he got right. His plan even worked better as Yuudai formed hand signals and incased him in a dome. Perfect for hiding Sasuke as he switched his chidori technique to a summoning justu.

A red snake dug their way underground the moment the dome closed in on them, giving them their chance to escape without being seen.

And as expected, Naruto came to help, letting the beast chase after him. Kuma, however, was already in Sasuke's grasp. A mere glance was all it took to cast a genjustu on the creature and he could active it anytime he wanted. He just had to wait for the right moment and for a perfect plan.

Yuudai laughed. "Did you just try to put me under that genjutsu of yours? I'm sorry to tell you late but this", he held up a golden pendant hanging from his neck, "protects me from any kind of genjustu. Your techniques are useless against me! You should've just fought my summoned creature instead"

He remembered with a smirk what his opponent had said to him. You should've kept you're mouth shut.

When Yuudai mentioned that, it came to Sasuke's attention that perhaps, if his opponent was resistant to his genjutsu, his summoned creature might not be. And he can use the beast against its own master.

The genjustsu Sasuke casted on the beast was made to confuse Naruto with the enemy. Kuma would be seeing Yuudai as Naruto and Naruto as Yuudai. That being said, he would be protecting this fake master instead. Yuudai of course is unaffected by the spell and would only see Naruto as he is. Unaware of the danger he is in with his very own summoned creature.

It was a relief to him seeing his plan fall into place and Naruto being able to read his tactic. Yuudai had already fallen and Kuma, with a puff of smoke, was sent back to where it lives. Everything was going according to plan, and soon it will all be over.

That was until he saw Sakura by the distance.

He could see her running towards Satoru, an arrow about to meet her back as she dove in to protect the boy. He shouted her name and ran for her, sure that he was never going to make it this time.

Sasuke?

Sakura thought nervously as she saw the blood-tinged tip of the arrow protruding from the young man's back.

His hair is dark but unlike Sasuke's it has a different shade to it - A bluish green in color when shown by the moon's light.

Relief washed over her as she realized it was not him. But who is he? She did not know this person but yet, there is this urge to take care of him, to not let him feel pain and be hurt. But of course that might just be a normal reaction what with her being a medic aside from the obvious fact that this person got injured on her behalf.

Who is this man who knew nothing about her but took an arrow for her still?

She slightly gasped as shocking blue green eyes locked with hers when he turned to face the kunoichi, a trickle of blood running down the side of his lips.

"Are you okay?"

She gave a small nod.

"Yokatta", he whispered to himself and smiled with relief.

How could he even still manage to smile in his condition?

"…you're hurt".

That was all Sakura could muster as her brain was working slower than usual. What happened just now hardly sank in.

"Hisashi onii-chan!", Satoru called excitedly.

Hisashi?

And then their protector's warm smile faded as his vision did the same and fell to the ground unconscious while Satoru kept calling out his name.

The smell of ointment and medicine filled her nostrils as Sakura placed her palms an inch high to where Yuudai's wounds were – a glow hovering over opened flesh and oozing blood.

His wounds were deep, but not fatal. No vital organs were hit although he is at risk for blood loss. He was lucky to have survived this attack, even luckier to be in the village of herbs for that matter where adequate treatment and medicine can be given, and where healers are proficient with their job and skills.

Behind her, Natsumi too, was tending to another. The pink haired medic could tell Natsumi was dabbing ointments, to prevent infection, on her patient's scars and wounds just from the kind of smell the medicine was producing.

She thought about the man with blue green eyes once again. Wondered what kind of person he was like. Surely someone brave enough to save some stranger with no regard for his well-being. She had seen that kind of act a lot from Naruto and the rest of her comrades, but he was not from her village. Sometimes it's even hard to believe there are people out there who are still willing to do the same thing.

Right then and there, Sakura knew she owed him her life.

"Natsumi-san" she turned. "Why don't we exchange for now. I'm done mending Yuudai's wounds. I should take a look at Hisashi's too"

Natsumi hesitated for a moment but made room for her.

"His wounds may look smaller compared to Yuudai's but that arrow might have grazed a vital spot" she explained as she moved closer to her next patient, "and these other wounds he has, I have to check them too. I have no idea where he got them"

"Please heal him then Sakura-san." Natusumi replied, "The medicine I gave him would only aid with healing but I doubt it will hasten the wound closure or that it could even reach the ones damaged from the inside as fast as your medical abilities could"

"I'll try my best"

Placing her palms above Hisashi's gaping wound, Sakura began to heal him. She traced the injuries meticulously until she found the exact spot where the arrow damaged him on the inside. Most of her concentration she fixed on the area, making sure the graze was indeed just a graze, and nothing like a laceration. Vital organs, no matter how small the injury is, requires precise chakra control and are much more difficult to heal compared to other parts of the body. And even though the injury may look small, it will take a great deal amount of time to entirely fix.

Despite herself, she took a moment to look at his face. And now inside the Hara's house, she could see him perfectly. His face really has some sort of resemblance with Sasuke's. They could be distant relatives for all she knows. But if you look at him closely, of course they don't really look alike. That would be weird in a way. Perhaps the shape of his face and his nose resembled the Uchiha's a bit. But his eyes are much more kinder – fierce, but kind nonetheless. His skin could be flawless if not for some of the fresh scar on the side of his cheek. Where he got it she has no idea. She could take care of that once the major wounds are all healed or mending.

She could tell he took good care his body, the abdominal muscles told her that much. His arms were well toned as well and his left arm had the kanji word "protect" tattooed on it.

For some reason, it brought a small smile to her face. She wondered what made him decide to ink that word on his body. He must've thought about that well enough to have it permanent on him right? But why and what for though?

Well, to put it simply, Sakura was curious about him. It's been a while since someone else, aside from Sasuke, lifted her interest.

It took her a while to notice Sasuke had opened the sliding door separating them as she and Natsumi tended to the injured and hoped she wasn't blushing earlier or did anything embarrassing that he might have noticed. She didn't want him or anybody for that matter to think that she was thinking…er…things about the person she was attending to. Which she actually was anyway.

She looked up and saw him frowning.

"What's wrong?" she asked sounding a bit guilty.

"Why are you still healing him?!" She looked confused but figured who he meant when he questioned raising his hand towards the Rock Villager, "I'm sure you are well aware that he is our enemy"

Natsumi quietly excused herself saying something that sounded like Yuudai is fine and she'll go check on Satoru and closed the sliding door behind her.

"Keep your voice down"

That irked him even more added with the sight before him as Sakura turned to face her patient's injury once again.

"You know I can't just leave him like that, Sasuke" Sakura explained, "not when I know he has a younger brother that needs him"

"We did not come here to go healing people Sakura! First Yuki and now this?"

Sasuke has already disrupted her concentration and she just had to stop with her medical session with her patient. It's not medically safe when you're not focused when you ought to be healing with precision.

"What do you want me to do? Leave him outside to die!?" She could not understand why he is being like this all of a sudden.

"If we must then 'yes'! To protect this village from people like him. That was our mission. Or did you forget that?"

"How heartless can you be Sasuke! They are still human beings!" Sakura tried to control her voice despite her frustration.

Of course Yuudai was their enemy but there are just times when you have to overlook that and be human for once. This ninja world has had them trapped by its culture that sometimes people tend to forget how to act like they are different from animals. Your enemy is no different from your comrade; they are still living and breathing. If you can help not killing then you should not take away the life of another. Her being a medic taught her that and a lot more. There will never be an end to hostility when no one tries to bow down to humility. Although it may seem hard to do considering the fact that they actually have to attack or even kill to protect something or someone important to them.

At this point, Sakura's medic nature has kicked in again. Her only focus now is to heal people she has to heal regardless of who and what they are. Sasuke just couldn't seem to understand that.

"If there are other ways to prevent Yuudai or anyone for that matter from coming to this village again rather than kill him, I'd choose the first option. So please, don't stop me from doing this…"

"What are you doing to my Aniki you bastards!"

The shout of the younger rock villager greeted the Uchiha as he stepped out of the healing room, pissed with his earlier conversation with Sakura.

From the corner of his eye he could see him struggling to get free from the ropes that tied his hands to his back as he sat cross-legged on the floor, Naruto keeping a close watch on him.

"Relax. Sakura-chan's taking care of him now. You don't have to worry so much" the blonde tried to reassure him.

"How the hell am' I suppose to know you're telling the truth! Let me go! I'll see for myself!" he struggled even more, "and then I'm gonna kick your ass!"

"With that attitude of yours? Ha! I'd rather tighten the ropes than let you go"

"Wait till I get out of here…"

"You're a bit feisty for a kid" Naruto frowned disapprovingly.

"Aniki!" Yoshiro called out, "Aniki! Can you hear me? ANIKI!"

"Ssshh!" Naruto warned, "Your brother is not the only one they're tending to right now alright? Stop fussing so much"

"Aniki! ANIKI!"

"Be quiet will you, you annoying brat!"

"Shut up! I don't take orders from you, you stupid monkey!" he growled.

Critically annoyed, Naruto began to stand up attempting to put some sense into the noisy kid.

"That's it!"

He wasn't even halfway standing up when Sasuke went behind the young ninja and knocked the kid unconscious with a hand chop behind the neck. It felt kind of good to release his anger on the unfortunate child.

"You didn't have to go that far teme. I was only going to cover his mouth with a cloth!"

"You're welcome dobe"

He then stepped out of the house for some fresh air and to cool his burning mind glad Yoshiro and the unbearable noise he was making was taken care of.

Sitting by the patio was relieving. He had no idea why he was so upset. He normally don't give a damn if his enemy dies or not. It might have just been his anger that led to that kind of attitude from him. Anger…because of what exactly? Hell, he didn't even know. But nevertheless and without a hint of guilt, he was glad he was able to take his frustration out on the kid. Unfair, yes, but becalming for him as of the moment.

Thinking back on what happened earlier, he was in a slight stage of panic seeing Sakura inches away from being pierced by Yoshiro's arrow. He was so focused on getting rid of Yuudai and his summoned creature that by the time he noticed what was going on on the other side, he was already too late.

She could have tried to shove the kid away rather than bundle him up in her arms, he thought frustrated.

If she did that she could have saved that guy from all the trouble he went through.

That guy.

Sasuke heard he was Hisashi.

He was so focused on reaching Sakura on time too he failed to notice his presence. Next thing he knew he was already in front of her…protecting her. Of course he was glad Sakura was safe but he didn't have to be such a show off. He should've moved Sakura out of the way along with Satoru and prevented himself being injured as well. Not that he really cared if he did but it would've spared him of feeling pain. He probably just wanted to act cool.

Hmp. Then he's an idiot too.

He noticed Hisashi mouthed something to her. Something like asking Sakura if she was fine. But what's he smiling about for? He really is a show off.

It's the first time he met him and he's never really sure he if liked him at all. If anything, he pissed him off.

Or maybe he's just not in the mood. He normally doesn't get cranky. A bit of rest will do the Uchiha just good. That is if he can even get any. How can one sleep soundly when his mind is wandering off somewhere and getting pissed for some reason he can't quite explain. But whatever it is he's so frustrated about, sooner or later Sasuke will have to try and forget about it if not figure out what it is. Or maybe he can force himself to just stop thinking too much. Yeah, he could do that…

He was still feeling a bit groggy when he woke up, vision still blurry, and he felt dead tired.

Slowly scanning his surroundings, he gathered that he was in the safety of the Hara's house. He had spent most of his time here along with his parents and the Hara family when he was still a child to forget about the place. He and his family were welcomed here no matter what. And to him, this has been his second home - And his second family. At least he can get a moment of rest in this place.

When his sight became a bit steadier, he turned his head to his right only to notice he was not alone in the room.

About the reach of his hand, a pink-haired beauty was with him sound asleep, her head resting on the wall behind her as she remained in a sitting position.

Who is she? What is she doing here? Was she the one who took care of me?, he wondered as he realized his torso was rolled with a bandage and he could smell medicine on his body. Well whatever is was she did, she must've been tired.

She should've been in a much comfortable position or on a futon maybe. If he could, he wouldn't have minded transferring her unto an available one. But his body shouts in protest if he even do so much as lift a finger.

He then remembered what happened earlier. That he was on his way back to the village and as he got closer, heard unusual sounds and growls. He knew he was right to come back then as he ran towards the village disregarding how sore his body felt and his bleeding wounds.

The next thing he saw was an arrow heading straight towards Satoru, and then she came running to protect him. His feet acted on its own as his mind shouted nothing to him but to protect her too.

It's not every day that he has seen people keep another safe. She was actually a sight to behold. And he admired her courage the moment he saw what she was trying to do. Right away he could tell the world could benefit with someone like her and that she should be kept unharmed and alive as much as possible. No, he was going to make that possible tonight. And he will take that arrow for her if need be.

He tried to absorb what his blue green eyes are able to see in his condition. About how she looks like and how perfect every single hair fell on her face. He took in and engraved in his memory her slightly flushed cheeks, rosy lips and her long, curved lashes that adorned her slumbering eyes. If he could remember clearly, they were the most amazing shade of green he had ever seen. So much hues and so much life, there couldn't be any other perfect viridian eyes than hers. And he wondered if he could see them again tomorrow when the sun shines as sleep tried to overcome him once again.

If he could fight this sleepiness he would but he guessed his eyes are not going to cooperate for now. He'll just have to take the opportunity to rest as he wasn't able to get most of it the past few days.

This cherry blossom's protector, for now, will have to surrender admiring her with his body's need to mend.

I'm sorry it took me long to update. It was my birthday last last weekend plus I had to work. I should be excused yeah? LOL Is somebody pissed with me right now because of this? Haha third wheels in a story just intrigues me ;)

NOTE: Remember this paragraph on the previous chapter:

Sasuke, too, made a quick glance towards Naruto and the reptilian-bear's direction with its amber-colored pupils momentarily locked with his, saw the fox-faced ninja make clones once more to try and procure one of his best moves – his Rasengan.

That was when Sasuke casted the genjutsu on Kuma.

Baaah…don't let me explain how the Sharingan works.

* And to Adonna2424 you were spot on! LOL ;D Thanks again for those who reviewed!