*****

Naruto, Sakura and Shikamaru were taking a break. They'd run for over two hours straight now, and they needed a rest. Naruto placed a hand over his chest, trying to catch his breath as he began to sit down. Sakura looked at where it was, it was around place he'd been stabbed and cut the other day. That doesn't look good at all, She thought, He's going to hurt himself if he pushes himself too hard. He hasn't had time to fully recover yet...

"Whew!" Naruto exclaimed, "I didn't realize how hard that was..." He pulled out a bottle of water, taking a long drink from it. He landed on the ground with a thud, taking a deep breath.

"Something wrong?" Shikamaru asked.

"Sorta.. Don't tell anyone else, but I'm still trying to recover from a few injuries."

"What kind of injuries?"

"Honestly, I'm not sure, I was unconscious the whole time." He laughed, coughing a bit of water.

"He was stabbed just below the lung by Sasuke," Sakura said, "then made a huge gash across his chest."

Shikamaru raised an eyebrow, "Wait, Naruto, you cut yourself?"

"A couple times, last time was supposed to be pretty bad, ruined my shirt too."

"Your nightmares, right?"

"Yeah..." His tone was abysmal, giving Sakura a sense of doubt that everything was fine. "They're gone, though, so we don't really have to worry about it."

Sakura shook her head, the way Naruto said that last comment made her uneasy. They were going to have to keep an eye on him. Hokage or not, he was still Naruto, and the last thing she wanted was for him to start hurting himself again because they backed off too soon. "Well, I think that you might want to watch yourself, Naruto, we don't know for sure if your dreams aren't connected to something." She yawned, covering her mouth, then wiped the sweat from her forehead. Even though they had three days back at home, she and Naruto hadn't had much time to recover from their last mission.

Shikamaru looked at the two, easily seeing that they were tired. Man, and I thought I' had a quick turnaround from my mission.... "Naruto, Sakura, how much sleep did you two get?"

Sakura scratched her head, "Not much, maybe five hours last night?"

"Heh," Naruto laughed, "I got four."

Shikamaru shook his head, "Not what I meant. How much sleep have you gotten since the attach happened?"

"Oh..." Naruto scratched his head, "Five on a good day, I think I got three once..."

"Was that the time you made breakfast?" Sakura asked.

"Yeah. How much sleep have you been getting?"

"About five hours, maybe six on a good day."

"Dang," Shikamaru replied, "No wonder you all look so God awful."

"Jeez, thanks." Naruto said, laughing. He shook his head, "Well, we better get a move on..."

"I don't think so, not in your condition. Take a breather, you too Sakura. You've been going non-stop since that last attack, you deserve a few minutes of peace."

Naruto sat back, leaning on a tree, something he hadn't done for a long time. Last time I remember relaxing like this was when Jiraiya and I were training.... Before he left.. Before he fought Pain....

A few more minutes passed, nearly silent, save for the sound of rustling leaves. Sakura got up, moving towards Naruto, who was starting to fall asleep. She put a hand on his forehead, hand through his hair. "Naruto, you awake?" There was no answer. She looked at Shikamaru, "You think I should wake him up? "

He shook his head, "Give him fifteen minutes, that should be all he needs."

*****

Sasuke took up his sword, hacking away at the trunk of a tree. The sound of metal smashing against wood filled the area. The tree was nearly unscathed, but the blade was losing it's edge. A cloaked man came out of the shadows, mask keeping his face obscure. "What are you trying to do, Sasuke? That isn't going to help your sword any."

"I know that, Madara." He said as he continued to smack the tree, "That's the whole point..."

"Why would you want a dull blade when you're going after the most deadly thing in the world?"

"Simple, because a dull blade is harder to wield. Not only that, but it also causes the most pain.... Just like the pain that comes from those closest to you."

"You really are worse than Nagato...."

"Shut the hell up about him, he took away my claim to that damn place."

"Sore that he did what you could not?"

"What, you mean nearly capture the Kyuubi? Meh, I don't care. He failed just the same, and it cost him his life." He dragged his finger across the blade, it didn't scathe him whatsoever. "You know the funny thing about causing emotional pain, though?" He took the sword and stabbed towards the tree while channeling chackra. It left a clean hole all the way through the trunk. "It pierces the heart... Just like a dull sword can only pierce....."

*****

Naruto stood in front of the village gate once again. Holding a kunai in his right hand, the darkness of night enveloped his home that he had beem chosen to lead and protect. He looked in the distance, a sole figure stood there. He knew the silhouette anywhere, it was Sasuke again. Oh God, not again... Not again.... He charged towards the figure, but then he suddenly was no longer there. He turned around and blocked a katana, gritting his teeth as he tried to keep the blade from striking him.

Sasuke pushed harder against the kunai, laughing as Naruto started to lean closer and closer to the ground. Naruto placed his left hand on the blade, and shoved him back, springing back up to his feet. He threw the Kunai, aiming for Sasuke's arm, only to see it deflected directly back at him. The weapon grazed his cheek, making a gash on one of the marks that signified him as the Kyuubi's Jingchuriki. He made a Rasengan in his hand, yelling at the top of his lungs. He met a chidori from Sasuke in return for his attempt, both canceling each other out. He took his sword and stabbed Naruto's side, the pain stronger than from just a blade.

Sasuke laughed, "You'll never learn, will you Naruto?" He removed the blade from Naruto's arm, the throbbing began to spread around. "I promised you pain..."

"Naruto!"

"Sakura! Get away!"

Naruto's world went black as he heard Sakura scream...