Any Hinata&Naruto fans might not like this chapter, fair warning xD

Also, I'm insane!

So I'm writing a third FanFic.

Yup, three at a time...

Let's see if I can do it lol

The next few days are going to be rather busy so

forgive me if I don't update like I usually do!

Tomorrow (Feb. 1st) is national Hijab (head scarf) Day!

My best friend is Muslim, so I will be participating

(I'm agnostic)

Anyways, Enjoy!

-Anii

Chapter 25: "You're all I see."

― Sink into me by Taking Back Sunday

Naruto's vision blurred and he used a large tree trunk for support. His chest heaved with the effort of breathing and his exhausted legs trembled. He placed one foot in front of the other but that entire leg gave out and his body fell forward.

"Watch yourself."

Naruto's bleary eyes shot open and he found Kakashi smiling at him. "Good job, Naruto."

Naruto muttered Kakashi's name, too weak to shout for joy that his beloved teacher was still alive.

"Let's get you home." Kakashi heaved his student up on to his back and Naruto graciously accepted.

Naruto's mind drifted as the rhythmic steps of his teacher lulled him towards unconsciousness but another set of footfalls caught his ear and the boy's head shot up. Naruto's eyes narrowed. Could it really be her? Or was his mind playing tricks on him again? The image was there for only a moment but he had seen it, he was sure of it.

Far in the distance of the thick woods, a familiar pink-haired girl clinging to another familiar figure's back had drifted by like a ghostly apparition.

Naruto choked on the name. "Sakura?"

Kakashi had already spotted the pair and it seemed as if Itachi had as well due to the fact that his footsteps had disappeared. Icy dread clutched Naruto's heart as he thought that the man had fled, taking Sakura away with him once more. Sudden strength coursed through Naruto's limbs and he scrambled off of Kakashi's back, "Sakura!"

Naruto swatted away branches and leapt over roots as if he hadn't just gone through the beating of a lifetime.

"Naruto, wait!" Kakashi shouted, racing after his student.

Naruto's eyes locked on Itachi's face, ready for the Akatsuki member's attack. It never came. Naruto slid to a halt just before Sakura and his trembling fingers reached for the girl. "Sakura?"

She didn't move and her face was deathly pale. Naruto's voice quivered and a sob escaped his body. Pain said everyone would be healed. Why wasn't she? Why was Sakura still dead? Naruto's knees buckled and he felt his body plummet to the ground. A hand shot out to steady him and, when Naruto blinked away the blinding tears, he found Itachi's fingers wrapped around his wrist.

It wasn't threatening, not in the least. Itachi's grip was actually quite gentle, it was just enough to keep Naruto on his feet. Naruto's mind swarmed with questions and drowned in confusion but all of that was swept out the door when Sakura's eyes scrunched together and she let out a soft groan. The sleepy girl pushed herself away from Itachi's back and rubbed away the sleep from her eyes, "Are we there yet?" Her eyes found Naruto, "Naruto? Wha...?"

Sakura gasped and dropped from Itachi's back, gathering the blonde-haired boy into her arms. Naruto's own arms locked around Sakura's neck and he buried his face in her shoulder, his body shivering with loud sobs.

Sakura's gentle fingers caressed Naruto's head and she whispered soothingly into his ear which made Naruto just pull her closer and sob harder. Sakura chuckled softly and pulled herself away, her palm cupping Naruto's cheek.

Her big green eyes found his and Naruto lost himself in them, "Naruto. Thank you."

"For what?" He croaked.

"You came to our rescue." Sakura smiled but Naruto noticed the gleam of sadness in those big eyes.

Katsuyu wiggled her way out of Naruto's collar and shouted angrily, "Sakura!"

The girl cringed and smiled apologetically at the little slug, "I'm sorry, Katsuyu."

"You aren't forgiven! We thought you were dead. Pain's jutsu must have saved you as well."

"Jutsu?" Sakura blinked in confusion.

"Yes, it was a magnificent jutsu that saved the entire village! All the souls lost were brought back to-"

Katsuyu's words were interrupted by the sound of grumbling and a familiar voice, "Naruto."

Sakura's hands flew to her mouth and tears dripped down her face. She whispered his name at first, "Kakashi?" But then she screamed it with all her might, "Kakashi!"

Sakura's hands locked around her teacher's neck and she sobbed, her sentence broken up by hiccups, "I thought you were dead!"

Kakashi's face softened and he rubbed Sakura's back soothingly, "I did."

Sakura spun around, releasing Kakashi and pointed a finger at Naruto, "You did this?"

"Naruto found the real Pain, a man named Nagato, and spoke with him. Nagato believed in Naruto's way of finding peace and so he gave his life to bring back those he had killed." Katsuyu explained.

Sakura's hands went to her mouth again and she took one hesitant step towards Naruto. Then another. Then another. Sakura opened her mouth to speak and closed it. She wet her lips and tried again, "You…You're so reckless, you idiot!"

Sakura's fist pounded into Naruto's head. He cried out and stumbled forward. However, before he could fall very far, Sakura caught him. Slowly, she helped Naruto straighten and her fingers ran through his hair as she pulled Naruto into a hug.

Naruto's heart thudded loudly in his ears and his body froze in place. Sakura's lips brushed against Naruto's ears as she spoke and her warm breath tickled his neck, "Naruto. Naruto."

Sakura buried her face in Naruto's shoulder and she mumbled his name into his jacket repeatedly, her thin body trembling. Sakura let out a particularly loud hiccup before pulling away, both hands on either side of Naruto's face.

Tears streaked down her pretty face, "You're a hero, Naruto."

Naruto drank in the precious moment but, reluctantly, his eyes shifted towards Itachi, who had been silent the entire time and had not moved. "Are you taking her with you."

Itachi nodded as a positive response.

Naruto's arm shoved Sakura behind him and he crouched into a fighting position. "I won't let you have her."

Itachi didn't even move a muscle, "You can't fight me like that."

"Watch me!" Naruto roared, lunging at the raven-haired man.

Sakura's pale arms snaked around Naruto's waist and she held him back firmly, "Naruto!"

Naruto twisted his head, shouting, "I won't let you go! Not again!" and tried once more to leap towards Itachi.

Sakura refused to budge. "Stop, Naruto." She ordered.

He did and his aching body sighed in relief although his mind flared with indignation. Sakura swung around to face Naruto, "I have to go with him."

Naruto's breath rushed out of his lungs as if Sakura had hit him again, "W-what?"

"I can't explain now but you have to let me go with him."

Naruto's arms locked around Sakura's waist and his face became just as determined as hers. "I won't."

"Naruto…" Kakashi warned, placing a hand on the boy's shoulder.

Naruto shook it off, his eyes blazing as he held Sakura's gaze, "I won't."

"You're being difficult but..." Sakura exhaled hard, hiding her smile, "I'm glad you don't hate me."

"Why would I hate you?" Naruto swallowed hard as his heart lodged in his throat.

"Because of what I've done." Her head lowered.

Naruto's fingers gently slid under Sakura's chin and lifted her face up towards him, whispering, "You haven't done anything."

"Yes I ha-"

"I'll let you go." Naruto interrupted, his fingers still under her chin.

Sakura, stunned, just stared with her mouth hanging open.

"On one condition."

Sakura's eyes narrowed and her lips pursed into a thin line, "What is-?"

Naruto cut her off again, this time by planting his lips against hers, his eyes squeezed shut. His face burned with the blush he felt creep all the way down his neck and he felt like he would pass out at any moment. Naruto thought he felt a flutter of movement against his lips and his brain fried in his skull.

He pulled away, his entire body thrumming with newfound energy. "Now, I'll let you go. But only because I promised I'd rescue you. Right now, you're being handed to me and I can't lead you back to the village the way it is now."

Naruto, although embarrassed and nervous, shoved his face closer to Sakura's until they were nose-to-nose. "I'm going to save you and prove that I'm worth your love. Then I'm going to bring you home to the village and it's going to look better than before." He jokingly whispered, "Believe it."

Leave a review! Just to repeat this in case I didn't already: I reply to every review I get (unless you're a guest because then I can't, sorry!) because you guys (the readers) are very special to me. I like criticism if it's constructive!-Anii