Tsunade's heels could be heard smacking on the floor as the busty blonde rushed through the hospital floors. Her steps were frantic but paced to clear as much space as she could within as little time as she could. News had finally gotten to her about Naruto and she was pissed she was one of the last to hear about this. Behind her was the frantic and quick steps of her assistant, Shizune, and the oinks of TonTon. Someone was going to pay dearly for what happened to her blonde ball of sunshine. As she neared the nurse's station, it got quiet as a frantic brown haired woman in her usual white nurse's outfit came to greet the busty hokage. Her voice was shaky as was her hands.

"Lady Hokage, I'm so glad you came. We tried contacting everyone we knew associated with her. We are sorry we contacted you last."

There it was. That was the reason behind why she knew last. This nurse was not worried about the patient in question but the fact Tsunade was furious. She had chewed this nurse out earlier. Tsunade of course walked past her without a word but she did motion to Shizune, the other woman knowing fully well she would be replacing this nurse to another wing since she failed to do her job properly.

Bursting into the room, the night sky cast the moonlight through the cracks in the curtains while the sleeping form of Shikamaru greeted her. She could see the shivering form of the blonde in the bed, covers cast over her like a protective shield. It hurt her to see such a thing, especially Naruto. Quietly she moved to the side of the bed. She knew she had to be careful.

"Naruto? Sweetie it's me."

The shaking lessend, as did the heavier breathing underneath. Tsunade sat upon the uppermost spot she could before the incline of the bed, and squeezed herself into it while she carefully scooped the younger blonde into her lap. The blanket made it a bit tough but she knew it helped given the shaking stopped and that she felt the hands of the girl grip at her shirt as if letting go meant harm.

"I'm so sorry Naruto. I never would have allowed the mission to go that way if I knew such a risk was possible to you. It's my fault this has happened. I imagined your bubbly and giddy smile and you exclaiming you could handle it. I wish I could take it back."

Tears streamed down her cheeks, the soft bit of makeup she wore safe from the salty tears. Her eyes burned and her stomach turned. It was a risk of a kunoichi for things like this to happen, however it was rarer nowadays than it was before in times of war. However this was mute because it had happened and to one of her nins, one of her loved ones. She was furious and wanted nothing more than to wallow in self pity and misery. However that was weak and pointless.

"Naruto, dear. Shikamaru is here. I trust him enough that I'm assigning him as your helper, okay?"

Several moments of silence and ceased movement were given in response until Naruto moved. She came from under the blankets to face the woman. Blonde pigtails shifted and fell over her shoulders and into her lap while bandages covered her whiskered cheeks. A busted lip softly open, chapped as it was unlikely she drank anything since before rescuing Sasuke. A rough and hoarse voice gave way as two eyes open and slitted red orbs looked up at her.

"If anyone even dares touching my kit-"

The nasty red chakra and malicious killer intent flooded the room, and Tsunade's close proximity meant it felt like all the air was sucked from her lungs. Shikamaru who had feigned being asleep shot up in surprise. This feeling, it shook his core and he had trouble remaining standing. Kyuubi No Kitsune was talking, not Naruto.

"- I'll make sure there isn't anything left to be identified."

Naruto turned and looked at Shikamaru. The same red eyes briefly flashed blue upon seeing the pineapple haired chunin, however they quickly came back to the devil red hue. The demonic voice spoke again but with an even more warningful tone. It was not threatening but deadly promising, It unnerved him.

"The Nara brat. One of the few she still trusts, in her heart at least. She has trust for no one else of your miserable gender. You will keep her safe, protect her. You will not spend a moment away if she feels uneasy. If anyone dares to harm her, you kill them instantly. If she is harmed, I'll castrate you and hang you by your own innards. Understood?"

Shikamaru could do nothing else but nod obediently. This was the nine tailed fox speaking, he knew that much. He had pieced it together when they were younger, and Naruto had told him in confidentiality when confronted with it. She had broken down crying when he asked about it, and it seemed at the time it was a weight on her shoulders she couldn't bear any longer. This was likely why he was still the sole male trusted right now.

Tsunade had listened intently, picking up every word as if it were a written haiku. She figured this was also the case. Both had the same conclusion given the words, though Tsunade knew Shikamaru knew about Naruto's prisoner. Naruto told Tsunade sooner rather than later to find out later. While Shikamaru was not supposed to know, Tsunade ignored the law stating that Nara was to be killed for knowing a village secret since Naruto told him rather than someone else.

Naruto turned to face them both, rising out of the bed, revealing arms and legs bandaged up, revealing further damages she suffered. Tsunade choked down a sob upon just seeing the extent of her injuries. Someone was going to die for this. She would be sure of it.

"She will not know of the talk we just had. However I could only block some of the memories of the incidents. I was too busy trying to kill the bastards seed that tried to take hold. Because of me, it makes her extremely fertile. I believe I got it all but I can't be sure.

She knows she was raped. SHe doesn't know it was one of the Konoha ninjas. She just knows it happened. I blocked all memories of the act, just the moment it began and the time after. Blocking it as a whole could damage her beyond just making things foggy for her.

Take care of her, tread carefully.

I'll be in touch mortals…"

Naruto went limp, Tsunade rushing to catch her and set her back in the bed. Covering her up, Naruto would open her blue eyes again and smile. Her cracked and dry lips bled as her hoarse voice came out.

"Obaa-chan...I'm...happy to see you. I..I don't blame you. It's an occupational hazard. Kurenai taught me that when kunoichi goes on missions, it's a risk. I'll be okay Obaa-chan."

Her voice trailed off and she fell to slumber once more. The other two occupants in the room looked at each other. This was going to be a hard task but they were both confident in their own abilities to get things sorted.

"Nara. This is an S rank mission. I'll give you any resources you need. Groceries, tools, toiletries will all be available to you. Send in any receipts so that you can be refunded. I trust that you have no objections?"

Nara shook his head.

"Normally I'd call missions a drag but this is Uzumaki we are talking about here. I'll make sure everything is taken care of no matter what. Though I do recommend a shared apartment for us. I live at home and her apartment...not a possibility."

Tsunade nodded, "Shizune will get it done post haste. Once she has been discharged in a couple of days, it'll be properly furnished and ready for you. I'll sort it out myself if any issues arise.

Get some rest. This is a long mission. Take care of her."

He nodded. He planned nothing more than to do just that. Sitting back in his chair, he sighed and looked toward the resting blonde. He would make sure she was always protected. He considered her one of his best friends after all.

Tsunade sat in the other chair after she stepped outside to tell Shizune what to do. The younger brown haired woman left poste haste once she confirmed the girl she considered a younger sister was in good hands. She cared about her deeply as well. They would need to make things safer for Naruto but not be overprotective that it suffocated the blonde.