Kyuubi yelled pounding uselessly at the link desperately trying to re-establish a link with Naruto a heavy sob wracked her chest damn it! Why'd she have to be so useless! She slammed her fist into the wall glaring at the seal, if only she wasn't trapped here then maybe she could help him! 'You better survive!' she screamed tears beginning to form in her eyes as her voice broke 'I'll never forgive you if you go and die one me!'
Naruto felt Kyuubi's incessant attempts to force the link open but refused to budge, it hurt to cut her off like that but if was for her own good he would beg for forgiveness later, he could hear the mob practically at his doorstep now. Moving to a window he peeked outside scanning for any of the small handful of ANBU that would actually put a stop to the mob before it began, most of them were content to watch the beating and swoop in at only the very last moment if only to avoid the wrath the Hokage promised to bring down if Naruto died or went missing under their watch, he found none. Giving a sigh Naruto regarded the kunai in his hand, originally he had planned to escape using the kunai as a last resort but now running wasn't an option the weapon would probably just serve to make the beating worse. With another weary sigh he dropped the kunai to the floor and kicked it under the sofa, he knew what was coming but found himself oddly calm normally he was reduced to blind panic in the face of a mob but this time was different. Maybe it was because he was resigned to his fate and was no longer trying to find ways of avoiding it, maybe it was because he was protecting Hinata-chan and Kyuubi-chan, he didn't really know. His reflection was rudely broken only a few seconds later as the door to his apartment flew open almost flying off it's hinges "There it is!" screamed one of the villagers "Get it!" another added.
A fist flew out of the crowd, obviously chakra enhanced, and slammed into his jaw Naruto flew backwards slamming brutally into the wall with a loud crash, cracks spiderwebbing from the point of impact. Naruto gave a grunt as the collision forced the breath from his lungs but he didn't cry out in pain, he had learnt long ago that crying out meant nothing the ANBU would save him when they felt like it and not a moment before. The crowd advanced on him once more more fists and feet flying as everyone tried to land a hit on the demon child, Naruto kept his mouth firmly shut only small gaps escaping his lips when a chakra enhanced attack connected or he felt a bone break.
The ANBU on guard duty finally decided to step in after some bright spark had declared that a demon shouldn't be wearing human skin and taken a knife to Naruto's hand flaying him. The man had gotten halfway up his forearm before the ANBU stopped him dispersing the crowd as quickly as they could catching one or two token victims but letting the vast majority of the group scatter. One of the ANBU had fetched the Hokage who arrived on the scene only moments after the last of the aggressors had vanished into the night. His normally calm friendly face set in an angry scowl as he saw Naruto's condition; he was lying slumped against the wall unconscious, Sarutobi was grateful for that small mercy, his right arm missing most of it's skin from the forearm down and leaking blood at an alarming rate, he was covered in multiple wounds his left leg bent at an unnatural angle in two places, he guessed from Naruto's laboured breathing that a lung had been punctured but he didn't know if it had been a kunai or a rib that had done it, his jaw was obviously broken too. He didn't doubt there were more injuries that he couldn't see he gave an angry growl rounding on the ANBU; "Frog, Deer, Badger; what is the meaning of this?" his voice held a dangerous edge "How did it escalate this much?" his eyes flicked back to Naruto worriedly every so often.
The ANBU wearing the deer mask stepped forward "We apologize Hokage-sama, we prevented a larger crowd of people getting through but it appears they" he pointed at the three civilians they had caught, who were tied up next to the door slumped against the wall unconscious "came round a back alley whilst we were busy and assaulted the boy." his voice was heavy with contempt as he carefully avoided using Naruto's name.
Sarutobi glanced to the other two ANBU ninja, who both nodded their confirmation of their leaders report, he gave an almost inaudible sigh his eyes moving back to Naruto once more, he wasn't an idiot this was clearly the work of more than three people but there wasn't much he could do with the council blocking him at every turn and if he followed up every erroneous report regarding Naruto his ANBU forces would be reduced to a scant handful at best. He wished he could just assign the few ANBU members who treated the boy at least as well as any other civilian to him as permanent guards but sadly the council worked hard to ensure those particular ninja got sent off on missions as often as possible. After a moments deliberation he turned back to the ANBU squad "Very well, see that such a amateur mistake doesn't occur again." he admonished them
They bowed "We apologize Hokage-sama, it won't happen again Hokage-sama." they apologized as a unit in almost perfect unison.
"What shall we do with the prisoners?" Deer questioned
"Take them to Ibiki, tell him that they assaulted Naruto." Sarutobi commanded
"Yes Hokage-sama." the ANBU replied in unison as they grabbed a prisoner each and exited the premises.
Sarutobi sighed and turned back to Naruto bending down and picking the child up "I'm sorry." he said softly his eyes brimming with sadness.
Naruto groaned as the movement snapped him back to consciousness he opened his eyes weakly "Hey old man." he muttered as best he could white hot fire exploding through his being as he moved his broken jaw.
Sarutobi glanced down his eyes widening with surprise "Naruto? You're awake?. Don't talk, you'll just hurt yourself worse. I'll take you to the hospital."
Naruto shook hiss head "No." he stated bright flashes appearing before his eyes as the agony once more exploded though him "Not yet." he forced himself out of Sarutobi's arms and landed on the floor the pain climbing to new highs as his weight forced the bones in his left leg even more of of alignment, he ignored it, he'd felt worse. Forcing himself to straighten up he ignored his body's protests as he dragged himself towards his bedroom, leaving a trail of blood in his wake, he'd promised he'd get Hinata once it was safe and he meant it dammit! Sarutobi trailed a little behind Naruto, he'd seen the determination in the young boy's eyes and he knew nothing short of knocking Naruto unconscious again would stop him. He was curious to see what exactly had lit such a fire under the ninja in training.