(Kimimaro's POV)

'What is she saying?' I asked myself.

Whatever Naruko was saying turned to mush in my ears. All I could hear was the sound of splashing water whenever she talked.

"Medical Room," was all that I could understand, in spite of the noise I was hearing. She kept repeating the word over and over again.

I opened my eyes but when I tried to look around a hot, burning sensation erupted. I closed them again, 'I can't. It's too painful.'

"Please." I was starting to make sense of certain words.

Even though hadn't gotten a chance to look around, that one moment I had was enough for me to realize where she had taken me to. We were in the prep room.

I took a deep breath and exhaled through my nose. It took all my strength just to open my eyes. Trying to speak was even harder.

"The medical room is next door." I told her.

"Perfect!" Naruko went on to say more but at that point I wasn't even listening.

I was buried deep in my own thoughts, 'What are some things I've never gotten to do?'

I leaned my head back, 'Falling in love would be nice.'

Then I countered myself, 'On second thought, love's a pain. Family is much better. Real family. Not crazy battle-loving fools.'

I forced myself to look up at her, 'I don't think she would mind. She's been so nice all this time.'

'Yeah,' I reassured myself, 'Just one last thing before I die.'

I closed my eyes and relaxed my muscles, 'Just one hug. That's all I want.' I sprang up with the litter energy I had been collecting and wrapped my arms around her.

"Kimimaro! What are you~"

"Please," I whispered, burrowing my chin into her right shoulder, "This is all I want."

(Naruko's POV)

"This is all I want." He whispered.

"What do you mean by that?" I questioned. He was still holding onto me.

"Don't," He wheezed, "Don't stress yourself. I never would have made it."

His grip began to loosen and I felt him slipping back. Reacting fast, I hugged him close to me.

"C'mon, be strong. One foot in front of the other. We can get there." I lifted his head up.

He didn't respond.

"Kimimaro?" I shook him lightly.

Still nothing. My heart rate increased as I realized what was happening. I placed two fingers on his neck, by the side of his windpipe. There was no pulse.

"No," My voice was barely above a whisper, "We're here. We made it. You can't just..." I searched for the right words, "Give up."

His words while hugging me came back: 'Don't stress yourself. I never would have made it.'

My eyes widened as I realized what he had meant. I could feel my eyes watering.

'Damn it!'' I wiped my eyes, 'What's wrong with me? He was my captor, or at least an accomplice. They would have killed me eventually.'

I looked into his soulless eyes, void of any life, 'So why didn't I want him to die?'

"Kimimaro-san are you in here?" It was a voice I didn't recognize.

I opened my mouth, wanting to call out but I could only cough.

"Kimimaro-san?" A tall young-looking guy walked wearing a pale blue shirt and pale green shorts. into the room holding a glass of water. He had orange hair that stood up on both sides of his head and red-orange eyes.

He took one look at Kimimaro and dropped the glass, "What happened?"

"He's~" I choked up.

He knelt next to Kimimaro, checking his pulse. I watched him from the side, unsure of how he would react. He was in denial at first, giving Kimimaro CPR. Then his feelings became frustrated and angry. He slammed his fist into the ground and a crack formed.

I backed up a little, 'If he attacks me, I'm dead.'

His breathing became heavy and ragged. He was going to pounce on me any second. He slowly turned to me and I closed my eyes.

'I don't have the strength to run. Please God, make it quick.' I waited for death.

After a few moments and nothing happening, I opened my eyes and looked at the stranger. Tears were streaming down his face.

"Um..." I reached out toward him.

He pulled back quickly which caused me to flinch. 'Why am I reaching out to him?' I asked myself.

Even though I realized what I was doing, I continued to move forward and he continued to back away until he was pressed against a wall. Realizing he was cornered he stopped moving and I wiped away the tears under his eyes.

"Don't cry." I found myself saying.

"Kimimaro was..." He took a deep breath, "He was the only friend I ever had."

"What's your name?" I questioned, caressing his cheek.

"Uh," He wiped his nose, "My name's Jugo."

"Well Jugo," I turned his cheek slowly, making him look me in the eyes, "I know Kimimaro. Not as well as you but, I spent enough time with him to know he was a nice person."

Jugo nodded his head sadly.

"We should bury him," I suggested, slowly getting up, "I'll lower him into the grave if you don't think you can~"

My legs gave out from under me, 'I'm that banged up? I can't even

(3rd Person POV)

Jugo caught Naruko just before she hit the floor.

"Oi!" He shook her, "What happened? Are you hurt?"

Naruko didn't open her eyes, but it was clear she was alive and immobile.

Fearing another person would die in his presence, he carried her to the medical room next door and set her on one of the hospital beds. It was while she was lying down that he noticed her cuts and bruises.

"My Rikudo Sennin," He sucked his breath in sharply, "What the hell?"

He quickly grabbed a bottle of medicinal alcohol, poured some on a cluster of cotton balls and began to swipe away at the cuts that he could see.

These actions drew whimpers from a partially paralyzed Naruko.

"I know, I know. I'm sorry," He apologized, continuing to wipe at her cuts, "This is just basic treatment for disinfecting cuts. It'll be over soon."

Naruko nodded her head, and closed her eyes, feeling a little embarrassed. She knew it was basic treatment. Ever since she had met Naruto, she had been going to medical classes 3 days a week. She could perform open heart surgery blindfolded if she needed to. If it weren't for the fact that Jugo was wiping her arms, she would have covered her face with hr hands.

Jugo, sensing her discomfort, let out a quiet breath. He couldn't just sit there and ignore her whimpering. He knew what he had to do.

"Um..." Jugo remembered he didn't even know her name.

Looking her up and down, she guessed her age was about...20? He couldn't be sure, especially with her face covered in cuts and bruises.

He shook his head, it didn't matter her exact age! As long as she was older than 18, what he was about to do would be fine. He opened a first aid kit on the table to the side and took out a needle. Filling it with a blue liquid, he turned to Naruko.

"I'm going to administer a nulling serum to you now. The initial prick of the needle will hurt but it will go away soon after." Jugo warned her.

Even if she wanted to object, her mouth was glued shut. The pain created when she tried to swallow was unbearable. If she couldn't withstand that, there was no way she would be able to speak, let alone open her mouth.

Jugo tapped the needle lightly, wiped it with an alcohol swab, flicked one of her veins and took a deep breath, "Here I go."

"Drop the needle right now." Someone spoke out of nowhere.

Jugo jumped up in surprise and turned around quickly, "Who are you?"

(Itachi's POV) YUSSS! IT'S ABOUT DAMN TIME ITACHI ARRIVE ON SCENE!

"That doesn't matter. Drop the needle." I ordered him.

He stared at me intently, "It does matter. I've never seen you before."

I stepped towards him, "Don't make me repeat myself."

I can tell he has no intention of dropping the needle. His fingers curled around it, making sure not to let go.

"I'm trying to help her." He jerked his head at Naruko.

"Let's say you're telling the truth. Thank you for the help but I'm here now. I'll be taking her with me." I put my right hand on my sword's hilt, ready to unsheathe it.

"I don't think so. Don't you see the condition she's in? She won't make it if you take her now." The guy argued.

I glanced at Naruko and almost fainted. Bruises covered every visible body part. They were greenish-purple spots, probably caused my a fist. A line around her neck was especially bad. It was horrible.

"Who did this?" I questioned him.

His mouth trembled and he turned away, refusing to look me in the eyes.

Removing my hand from my sword hilt, I grabbed him by the shirt collar and slammed him against the wall, "ANSWER ME, DAMMIT! WHO DID THIS?!"

A groan came from Naruko on the bed.

'Sorry!' I apologized to her mentally.

"It was one of your comrades who did this, wasn't it?" I interrogated him, lowering my voice.

His face turned deathly pale and I knew I had struck a nerve.

"You're trying to convince me to let her stay when really, you're waiting for your bastard friends to come and finish the job." I accused him.

"That's not true!" He roared suddenly, causing me to step back in surprise.

I drew my blade, "So what was your plan?"

"I wasn't going to let her go but, I would have taken care of her." He told me.

"I'm taking her," I declared firmly, "So either you let us go or you stop me."

He raised his hands, "She won't survive."

"We'll see about that." I scooped her up into my arms.

"Nii-san!" Someone burst into the room.

"Sasuke?" I said his name, confused, "What are you doing here?"

(Naruto's POV)

"Nee-san? You in here?" I kicked open a blue door and fell into a closet.

"Damn." I cursed under my breath.

I had to find her, she was the only...the only family I had. Running blindly in the darkness, I managed to dodge the cracks and uneven edges of the floor. Everything was going smoothly until I ran smack into a solid object.

"OW!" I rubbed my head, "What the hell did I run into, a wall?"

"No, but you're going to wish you did."

I knew that voice. My lips began to tremble, "K-Kakashi Sensei?"

"Yo, Na-ru-to." He leaned in closed to me, "I'm sure I gave you a strict order not to come after your sister didn't I?"

"Yes but~"

"Didn't I?" He cut me off.

I gulped, 'Sennin help me.'

Sorry about my long leave of absence. Been focused on other things. But I'm back now! As a gift, I've made this chapter especially long.\ (•◡•) /