~::~ Previously: In The Woods ~::~

Goblins may be small but they are fast little imps. They are more than capable of reproducing at an alarming rate if given the chance. Imagine bipedal pigs with flatter snouts, no tail and stretched ears. Their heads swollen to an oval degree and keeping those beady eyes. They looked inhuman and so were. The desire to eat, mate, and conquer was not an uncommon trait solely to their kind.

Why did the raven demon chasing them not get that?

Sasuke wouldn't grant them a breath to hear them out. He chased down the last of his set, choosing the trees as a form of transport instead of the ground in case of traps. Crimson irises followed the sprinting bugger that should accept its fate already and stop screaming.

"Op! Efnpo! Op! (No! Demon! No!)"

Sasuke didn't speak monster or he'd find the goblin's choice of words ironic. He did tire of this chase rather quickly. When he was close enough, he disappeared in a haze and reappeared in front of the frightened little thing.

"Efnpo! (Demon!)" It hissed, skidding to a halt and doubling back on it's feet and knuckles to glare raw loathing to a shade of red that did not care.

Looking directly at him was it's first mistake. "Quiet." This word was no colder than the breeze that cut through and ruffled the leaves between. The utter quiet that followed was parallel to the fight that vacated the goblins' body. It's free will was overtaken and his black little eyes were now a red like his without spirals and glowing some. In a zombie-like state with mouth agape, it obeyed Sasuke's mental command.

'Kill yourself.' Sasuke looked to a tree next where the goblin turned as well. The rest played out as it ran forehead and smashed it's skull against the tree over and over again. This gruesome technique he displayed here was one he used on Naruto to get him to simply sleep when he could. This did not make him a vampire for one key reason.

Vulnerability.

When he's in this state of control over another, he cannot move or speak. By taking someone's free will he has given up his.

A vakhmet works differently thanks to being born wicked and so can control as many as they wish. The only weakness it provides is madness… to many minds to keep up with can snap one's own.

To combat either is simple.

Resist.

The strong minded will give both species a hard time. Anyone of a weak, basic nature, will fall prey.

As fate would have it, Sasuke and his brother are the last known Elkin born under the house of monster tamers that can do this. The Uchihas were a noble family with a high reputation as vanquishers or 'demons' to those they haunted.

With great power of course, comes people who… appreciate it.

Those that wish to remove such a skill set and implement it into their own bodies unnaturally, are forever lurking still.

"Impressive." A man's voice sounded off nearby over the raven's ear, forcing Sasuke to relinquish his control and spin around with his dagger raised.

The goblin that had beat itself to death was no longer an issue now as it's corpse slid down against the tree, red leaving it's optics forever.

Sasuke gazed around with his still living set, cautious and minding any rustle among the bushes or shadows slipping between the trees. "Reveal yourself or continue to cower."

"To cower would mean I'm afraid. I see no one to fear yet unless there's someone else here besides you, Uchiha?" There was heavy emphasis on every 'S' that left the mystery man's lips from the shadows of the leaves above high. "I could have killed you at any moment but I didn't. Do you know why?"

"Because you make mistakes." Sasuke pinpointed where that voice was coming from and flung his dagger a minute later to throw the assailant off, clearing the field shortly after. He did this to make his target move while he hid to get a sight on what and who he was dealing with. A figure did dash from that spot just as fast as he did but he had no idea where it went. Crouched on a branch, he looked around in a very small state of panic. 'Damnit.' He considered calling for Naruto to help out. Fighting another magic endowed being can be quite frustrating. It became a waiting game if both were skilled and cocky enough.

As if the guy could hear him, the ivory robed man appeared in the middle of the clearing with a smoky white haze that faded away. A purple rope tied around his waist tightly and touched the floor. He lifted an unholy pale hand that almost blended into his garbs. He pulled back that hoodie where long, flat, tar shaded locks fell down. A strike of purple ran from the eye shadow over his eye lids on back and down the sides of his hair. "So who's cowering now, Sasuke?"

Striking at his pride was a sure fire way to draw this raven down. Getting him to make the first move would not happen though. He knew better. He kept a hand on his katana that was an emergency use only because of the mana it caused to use it, plus his dagger was elsewhere for the time being. "How do you know my name?"

"How do I not?" The way he started to kind of circle the raven at a wide distance was as if he had no legs. He was just gliding in a troubling way. "You're one of the last members of the Uchiha bloodline. Full fledged with no inkling of crossbreeding in your family whatsoever. There aren't many Elkin' like that anymore."

Speaking of which, this guy looked like a lab rat experiment of one. His ears were cut up with pieces missing or stretched to create an aquatic effect. His eyes were golden and slit like he'd stolen ones from that of a serpent. "What the hell are you?"

"Rude… I'm me." The warlock smiled a sharp one, unable to gain trust even if he looked remotely normal. "That's all I've ever aimed to be and you should too."

Sasuke refused to get into a guessing game so he just arched a dark brow to the stranger.

"Don't act so clueless, Sasuke. Do you really believe that Hikori solely made you or me for that matter given all we can do? That she just… picked a certain race of people to be gifted?" The peculiar man sounded annoyed if not pissed by his own queries. He proceeded to slip out a carving knife that put the raven on edge though it wasn't meant for him. That leisure walk of his over to the deceased little vermin, was arrogant and bold. He then knelt down and tied up his hair, humming like he was going about casual work. The knife soon pierced the goblins' back and split it apart to reveal an odd spinal set, drawing a cringe from the raven.

"Worthless things they may seem but they hold value in life and the after." He shoved his long nails into flesh and rummaged around, non-to fazed by the splotches of red that painted his once clean porcelain form. "I'm sure you… don't agree." The disappointment in his voice was almost as if he was offended somehow as well.

Sasuke hated them no doubt, but he was positive he'd never go to the lengths about to transpire next. "You helped them escape then." He should be attacking this guy. The likelihood he'd miss out on crucial information was too great. He banked on this guy being so far up his own ass to notice .

"Firstly, I do hope you appreciate my honesty here, Sasuke." Orochimaru half smiled amid a dark green mess of goop. "Now lets see... I did it to give them a chance at revenge on you and Naruto." He suddenly yanked out the organ he wanted, being the stilled heart of the goblin. It oozed between his fingers and seemed to please the disturbing man. "What I really wanted in return however was…to feed my troll."

"AAAAAHHHHH!" A certain blond could be heard screaming his lungs out in the distance as a roar of something ten times his size beat him out.

"Naruto!" Before Sasuke could bolt to save a member of the second family he had the chance to protect, he looked back to the threat who's name he was yet to know. "You're sending them... How are- uh!"

His gasp of shock was because the Warlock had bled the muscle, chugging the gunk down his throat. He swallowed and flicked a forked tongue across his lips. "Mmm, everyone's gotta eat, Sasuke. Do you think true strength is acquired by merely training? You need the right diet, the vital substances in your body to feed your core and increase your power. Then again though, they've never tasted a feral before." He chuckled lowly with a digit to the corner of his stained lips to flick away a drip. "And neither… have I."

Every fiber in his body screamed to attack the sick bastard for making that threat.

"SASUKE!"

But the Naruto needed him.

Sasuke glared as a promise to finish this later. He tried to take off next only to feel something wrap around his waist tightly and swiftly to pull him back way too hard. He was flung by what he could see to be a scaly tail of some kind. He whirled and crashed through bushes, scraped against the dirt, and finally landed against a broad tree painfully so. The sting in his back put a twitching shut of his right eye and drew forth a heavy groan from his lips. 'F-Fuck!'

"SASUKE!"

'I'm coming, idiot!' He was trying at least by attempting to stand, barely making it to a knee.

"Not so impressive, Uchiha. Your reflexes are slow from fighting the mundane so long." The robed man glided forth with his hands in his wide sleeves. He frowned some as his thick tail slowly slipped out from under his robes to lift the snarling raven up by his chin. "Fear not, Sasuke. You're but in a useless state of mind that's not your fault. It's hard to learn anything once you've been among the prejudiced kind for so long." He spat disappointingly so, wrapping his tail in a flash around the man's neck and lifting him off that knee an inch. "Perhaps that's all you'll ever come to be."

Assumptions were abundant here in this land.

Sasuke bared his teeth, resistant as all hell until it's something he knows he wants. He continued to let that right eye twitch all peeved while he staggeringly raised an open palm up ways from the center of the stranger's chest.

The man part beast, had no brows to raise. He looked curious though to this silent action and only got what the raven was doing when a shimmer sounded behind him. The fine blade ripped through his back and out his chest without fail. His pupils shrunk to slits from the blow that called forth a river of red from his body. He choked on his own fluids through the narrow gaps between his fingers and still managed to smile. He was forced to release the clever raven because of it. "W-Well done!"

If he liked that, he was going to love this.

Sasuke pushed himself up off the tree, ready to give the snake-man a taste of fire. In a typical fashion, the stranger was gone, leaving a puddle of dark ruby where he once stood that started to bubble. 'What in the.…?'

"SASUKE, FOR FUCKS SAKE! WHERE ARE YOU?!" Over in the distance, Naruto stayed frantic because the heat on his weapon had suddenly died, meaning the caster lost connection due to something. This worried him for two big reasons. Number two being that now he only had a sharp stick to keep the troll at bay. The major one was his partner could potentially be suffering a fate worse than he was. "Fuck, fuck, fuck!" He cursed so much he could already feel a slap to the back of the head from his mentor for using such language. He sprinted on regardless through the forest as the earth shook from the beast trampling after him, breaking and tossing any tree in it's way.

"MEAAATT SACCCKK!" Deep and gurgling was the voice of the troll possessing a gray paler and endless slobber. It longed for the warm meat of anything really. There were many towns to go ransack but he was only allowed to eat what the summoner provided and they were often the best snacks. Goblins.. Children..babies. Tiny bones like little meat pies.

Oddly, he'd only had goblins.

Today there would hopefully be a more fulfilling meal instead of a tasty morsel. "FEEERAAALL!"

Naruto had heard the hungry monster call him many troubling things… except that. He slowed down as a result out of horror to how it knew, dropping his sword in a growing daze. "What… What did you just say?" Over the giant feet pounding the earth to get to him, could it really hear his audible and troubled question?

"CRUSSHHH!"

Here's what happens if you run and try to teleport with someone at the same time while you're still going.

"Naruto, what are you- MOVE!" An instant union of fright and concern, caused the real knight to raise his voice louder and desperately than he thought he could. This was because Sasuke's armor would not protect the stunned blond from being pummeled by a straight strike down. He had to do something to stop the rapid beats of panic in his chest so he envisioned where he wanted to move them. That part was easier said than done but he could not stop to guarantee them a safe landing. He ran as fast as he could, jumping and or teleporting over downed logs to get him.

That fool was one of the few people in his life he'd ever try this hard for and would never admit it so casual like. Tragically in reverse, this meant should they ever be enemies, there would be no holding back.

That day was long from now. Till then, this was his foolish little brother that he had to save.

The second he jumped and tackled Naruto from the side, he swiftly brought up two digits as they began to crash down. Because he was not skilled enough yet to do this without speaking, he shouted breathlessly, "Néos Orus!"

The trolls fist came down relentlessly and squashed… nothing. He did leave an imprint in the earth there and cause a shock wave that pulsed once throughout the woods.

The two men in free fall out of harm's way, were hit by that gust of wind and sent rolling on the forest floor for a bit longer. They separated amid the crashing, each groaning their pains from the rough re-entry.

"God… G-God dammit, Naruto! Why didn't you move?!" Sasuke scrapped his nails against the dirt, forcing himself to stand. "The hell were you doing?"

"I.. It… He called me a… a fera-"

"He didn't say anything!"

Naruto blinked at a loss there paused on a knee as to why the raven would claim such so seriously unless… "But I heard it sa-"

"It didn't say a damn thing. Whatever you heard was not real. Did he hit your head or something?!" He was doing this for the blond's own good while he gripped his side, feeling a warmth there. He must have gotten cut on something when they landed. It was a price to pay to keep someone else protected both physically and mentally, for he knew how Naruto would react. That freeze back there was nothing compared to when the blond fully shut down and then... something else would resurface.

Naruto meanwhile, had no problem getting up really though he was dazed from what he heard… or what he thought he heard….he… he didn't know anymore. Sure it caused his pulse to quicken and made him freeze on the spot but that had to be because of something. "Are you… Are you sure it didn't say-"

"Naruto!" Sasuke snapped, pulling out his katana. "There's a troll now rampaging through the forest. We don't have time for your imagination!" He got over his pain for a moment to grip the collar of the armor with his bloodied palm and pull the startled blond in. "Get your head in the game and distract it so I can kill it. If you can't do that then get out of my way!" He pushed him off and then went to grasping the weapon with both hands, taking deep breaths to calm down as he closed his eyes.

Naruto looked down to the drying substance at his chest and then to source from the wound on his friend who he was letting down. Hating that above all else, he balled his fist at his uselessness. "I can help!"

"Then distract it!"

"Will do!" Naruto nodded before taking off and the skidding to a stop not even a second later. "For how long though this time?!"

Sasuke smirked and shrugged. "As long as I need?"

"You're trying to do that lightning thing again aren't you?!" Not that he didn't believe his friend could pull it off one day but it sure as hell wasn't anytime soon. His partner needed practice, so much more practice. "Right now?!"

"It's called a Raijin Drákon, and yes. If not I'll use Ra Fotiá. We'll be fine. Go!"

"If you say so... Just don't burn yourself out." Naruto got back to jogging after the troll that was getting further and further away. The trail of destruction was easy to follow since it left a wide clearing. He was careful to watch his step and look for any civilians caught in the crossfire. Thankfully there were none this time. "Hey! Hey big guy! Back here you blind overgrown pig!"

"PIIGGG!" Insulted and huffing like mad, the troll stopped its tirade and turned around as noisy as possible, towering over the trees still. "I'M." Stomp. "NO!" Stomp. "PIIIIIIIIGGGGGG!"

Naruto's run turned into a jog and then to a walk before he stopped all together and pivoted back around. He started to get back going in reverse to that order, taking a detour away from the raven. "Uhhh, Sasuke! I got his attention! Help anytime you can!"

Sasuke was honestly trying. "Raijin Drákon," he'd pronounce it clearly as always and get the same result. His katana would spark but nothing else thereafter. "Raijin Drákon!" The mana that he had left was enough so he didn't understand what he was missing here. Was he really not that strong enough? Self doubt held him back and drew him to go with the usual. "Ra Fotiá!"

Unlike the long sword the blond wielded, the katana was a more mana adapted weapon. It didn't require a speed to start to ignite. It relied on the power of the wielder to charge it up and bring forth the element chosen to life. Fire sprouted forth from the hilt and wrapped around it all the way to the sharp edge where it embedded in the weapon like an engraving of sorts in waves. This way the user was safe from any flickering embers. The power of fire was in his control as long his mana could handle it. Though his body was hurt, his spirit was strong and his drive endless.

Naruto didn't have to wait long before the giant beast started bellowing a different tune. It was one of agony from a sudden sting in its neck. Just in time too because he could no longer outrun the giant. He dodged to the left, rolling out of the way on the ground floor. There in safety momentarily, he looked up to see Sasuke just… shanking the living hell out of the things neck. It was kind of funny and terrifying at the same time.

The raven was like an aggressive mosquito to the troll… awkwardly enough.

"BUUGG! FILLTTHHHYY BUGGGG!"

They needed to be more than a bug. How they killed the last troll was by sheer accident from getting it to fall into the deep end of the lake. That area was miles off.

Azure scanned the battlefield for something else, something bigger, accessible and- There he saw it jutting out by the giant's own doing. He hurried to his feet and got to running again after them. "Sasuke! Sasuke, I HAVE A PLAN!"

"What?!" From way up there, all the raven heard was muffled noises. The air was getting thinner too as he overworked himself. He dodged a swipe from the troll's right hand and had to dash for it down it's shoulder when the monster slammed a palm down. He jabbed his sword in when he slid down the fleshy hill, cutting in deep.

"MY AARRRRM!" The troll wailed and missed smacking the annoying raven once more because he vanished this time

Sasuke couldn't have chosen a worse spot but he had to end this. He appeared on the troll's head, dazed at first from the lack of oxygen that decreased drastically. He powered through and jammed his weapon into the clean shaven dome of his enemy. His eyes stuck on red, glowed when he applied fire to the creature's brain, making him go haywire. He clung to his sword, struggling to keep sight of Naruto to make sure he was out of the way but… it seemed like the fool was trying to wave him down.

"This way! Sasuke- Fuck he can't hear me." His friend didn't look like he was too stable up there either. He settled on waving the man down and pointing dramatically to his plan near the center of the troll-made clearing.

Sasuke squinted, holding on for dear life and ducking when he could. 'What?! What's there-' Onxy widened upon seeing the jagged tree snapped in half and sitting up slanted like from being knocked around among others. He doubted it would hold still but it was worth a shot. He yanked to the right, forcing the troll to wither that way in agony. "

"YES!" Naruto fist pumped in excitement to see they were in sync. He ran ahead of them to ensure the monsters focus from crushing the unwanted driver on its head. "Hey pig! You know you're a pig, right?!"

"AAHH BUGGG! PIGG!"

"That's right you're a big dumb pig!" Naruto baited the pissed creature on and on till they were at the destination. Because the troll was going full force, there was no need to stop that. "Sasuke, get off!"

"Huh?" He was too light headed by this point and losing his grip on reality and his sword… He began to slip, unable to duck from a side swipe that knocked him right off. He attempted to teleport himself but only ended up glitching for a second. His mana was too low and his body had sustained internal damages. Even putting a digit up sideways to his lips wasn't helping.

"SASUKE!" He watched his friend fall to his potential death, worry kicking that muscle in his chest into overdrive. He ran as fast as he could, breathing even harder. The second he thought he couldn't make it in time, he called to a dark place.

It told him to let the raven die and they would be free. He shook his head and kept pushing himself. 'NO!' The voice inside continued to demand that he do it. He denied it once again and even begged it to help him. A spine tingling cackle emitted from his core that was only scary because it was his voice. The half he refused to acknowledge to the point where he split himself in two. 'Kurama!'

That's the name he gave his other half. A name for a monster who told nine lies. The side of him that was far from the adorableness of a plush fox chef. Here he was seeking it's help just for this one time. He forgot they were in broad daylight so his powers were useless here even though he wasn't born pure. He had to rely on his strength for this, sprinting up a rock ledge to gain some air. The armor weighed his leap down but he reached out and still managed to catch the pissed raven. He failed to see why he caused such an expression. "What? I gotcha!"

But they were still in the air… so they both fell hard.

"Idiot!" Who was supposed to break who's fall? He cursed and pushed the blond off of him, rolling onto his stomach thereafter. "I swear you lack every ability to think before you do something."

"Aha.. ha.. My plan worked though.. with yours of course." Naruto panted on his back, pointing to the troll that had long since impaled itself and suffocated on it's own fluids before dying out. "You're w-welcome."

Sasuke didn't see the teamwork in this fully. He saw the uselessness to his initial plan to kill the thing himself. Instead, the blond out shined him with a quicker tactic. This made him grip the grass and hit his forehead against the earth. Weren't they even now?

Naruto sure didn't care. He was just happy it was over. He glanced at his friend to see him beating himself up for whatever reason and chuckled. He guessed the raven was simply worn out from working so hard and saving him more than once today. "You okay, man? Need me to carry you?" He unknowingly added untold weight to their already excessive rivalry.


~::~ Like Their Men ~::~

The Umino estate is home to ten bedrooms, two training lodges, a stable, a garden, kitchen, dining area, study room, and finally, a library.

These are split into the north, south, west and east wings.

Sakura drew this on a blank parchment in the kitchen area over in a corner by a window. They'd seen a lot in a short time with no room to properly explore. She knew the library and the training lodges were one of the key places she wished to see. Her Elkin friend, occupied with helping Iruka make dinner, only wanted to see the garden and the library. Hinata was more elegant and more housewife material because she was an adept cook too.

The pink orc was not.

The second she tried to sit something on the burner, fire erupted and cackled like a demon. Whatever meat she'd placed on it was burned to a crisp. Iruka snuffed out the blazing heat for her while she was too stunned by her own flaw. Cooking wasn't something Orkan women did anyway so she got all pouty and opted out of this pointless mission. He did offer to teach her but she was too caught in her feelings to accept.

So on the sidelines she stayed, occasionally shifting emeralds over to see Hinata excel where she couldn't. She made Iruka laugh quite often in her company thanks to her own adorableness and innocence. In truth she just reminded him of his ward. To Sakura it looked as if her friend was just more popular so to speak. She had more clients than she and… going there was not necessary and it made her sulk.

That's nothing to be jealous over… but still.

This was the natural order of things. Elkin women were top class and Orkan females were at the bottom well below even the dwarven kind. They were too much like their men with tomboyish habits. There was no time to be dainty or cutesy. She wouldn't mind it so much though. Looking to her reflection in the window, she saw a flat chested boy, not the pink fatale that she was.

Physical attributes to allure weren't something that Hinata let bring her down. The ones she felt more important were strength. While it was easy for Iruka to set the eighteen pound rib roast onto the pan, she nearly dropped it. His laugh her way was not of cruel intent but she felt embarrassed anyway.

"Miss Hinata, it's alright. Naruto did the same thing." Iruka lathered the fine chunk of meat in a brown sugar and butter mix, apron a mess from the many funny little accidents. "He actually dropped it though and then fainted."

"H-He did?" Hinata started to feel a little better upon hearing such a brave guy was kind of queasy.

"Oh yes. Of course he was ten at the time and had a terrible fear of blood. I don't think it was drained all the way," he mumbled thoughtfully aloud at the memory, chuckling at his young ward had shrieked like a little girl before passing out completely. "Good thing he got over that."

So she had the fragility of a ten year old? She grumbled all a fluster, gripping her apron that wrapped around her waist and over her shoulders. She could get better too. "Can I get it off the fire when it's done?"

Such an audible and nervous request but he heard her. "I don't see why not. Would you like Sakura to help you at least?" He really wanted to involve the Orkan women in this somehow because she seemed so down about not being able to help.

Sakura heard nothing, distracting herself with her map. She wanted to at least get this right.

"I g-got it." Hinata stuttered and meant it still.

He looked to the heavy pot and then her determined gaze. "Alright... I'll be here if you need help though."

The bow she presented him with next was what did it for him. His ward had a habit of putting his hands together and dipping his head. She put her arms at her side and did it that way. The light pet he gave her was thus something he couldn't really control. "You really are like Naruto." Both of them could seriously turn dead red just as quick. He chortled and shook his head, carrying on with the meal preparations.

Hinata was startled at first by the contact but it was light and over with quick like he understood the limit here. She watched him take great care of his work like he did with everything else. She could see now how that transferred over to Naruto. He was so much kinder from the get go and hadn't let up since. She soon picked up a knife to cut the carrots and other assortments of vegetables, hoping to put as much care into this meal to show her gratitude. Upon hearing Sakura curse under her breath, she looked up to see the pink woman as grouchy as ever. She was sure it was because she wanted to help and not because she'd made a mistake on her map.

But what could Sakura do without burning down the kitchen?

There was one thing she could never set fire too.


~::~ Arriving Home ~::~

"You mean to tell me you spent that whole time searching for a pixie knowing damn well that they're hard to track, especially alone?" Naruto limped up the stairs with the raven under one arm, supporting each other. "Just to come to find out that the real culprits were the goblins that we somehow missed... It took you that long? I walked in there and immediately found them!" Correction, he ran into them by accident. "Did you not ask Koi? I did and he said it wasn't her-"

"I know what he said." Sasuke gritted through his teeth, angered from the trials of the fight and the one prior he was yet to tell the blond about.

"So you just didn't believe him then?"

Onyx looked to azure as if the answer was clear and pointless to discuss. They had bigger problems. "How did we miss them?" He winced from the gash mid healing on his side. "Did you not handle your exit from the nest yesterday?"

"Of course I did! Did you? I also did everything else this morning by the way!" Naruto proceeded to punish the man's eardrums. "No thanks to you."

"What are you whining about? I was working the whole time and even saved your dumb ass in the process."

"Oh fuck offf. I wasn't in any danger."

"Sure, you were just waiting till they decapitated you and found out how hollow your head is."

"You know your comments are as dry as your humor." Naruto knocked on the door, holding up the bastard nonetheless. "Not to mention your timing was poor back there. That's the second troll to come out of nowhere. Where the hell are they even coming from? Better yet... where were you?"

"Like I said… working." Sasuke told a lie while he held that wince still, baring his teeth out of frustration to the stranger that put them in this rough state. He decided to keep it to himself and write to the Emperor later. He didn't think it wise to cause a panic where there could potentially be none. He was a Mystic Knight after all. If he couldn't handle this by himself then maybe… maybe Naruto deserved his armor and the stranger was right. He hung his head and put himself in darkness. Self loathing was a terrible thing to use as a drive and could potentially have dangerous side effects.

The only thing to save one's mind from this is-

"What happened to you two?!" Usually his boys would be healed and patched up now, not bruised at his doorstep. Iruka didn't know who to start with first because of it. "I got your letter that you ran into another troll but.. What happened after that?!"

"Work."

Naruto rolled his eyes at that raven's grumbled response. "The bandits from last week had come back and were terrorizing people on the road into town. We took care of it but we hadn't had a chance to heal up prior…"

"I see…" He'd bother them about the details of the fight when settled down. "What were you two doing on the way to town anyway though?" Iruka tried to help, immediately being rejected by the knight. He could help support his ward at least. "I thought you were both coming back here."

Sasuke lifted the bag in his trembling right and handed it to the caring man. "Give it to them women and say nothing of it."

"Aww, we can give it to them ourselv-"

"It's getting late, Naruto. Come on."

"But I want to see if they like it or not-"

"Naruto!"

"They're h-hurt…" Hinata stuttered and whispered from around the corner in the distance with Sakura behind her. The bruised blond in mid argument had way too many cuts compared to the other. A difference she noticed was in how his energy had far from died unlike Sasuke who looked as if he was fueled by sheer rage alone at this point. "Should we help them?"

"We can. He'll be stubborn about it though so why bother." Sakura held a grudge over that supposedly unused tea. When she saw the bag of things that were for them, she was reminded of Naruto's words, for even in a battered state, Sasuke still thought of them. She hugged herself and rubbed her shoulders, a bit pouty still but willing to get over it. "Maybe we can.. We can help patch them up."

"Wah? You mean concta- N-No… On second thought I-I think Iruka's got it." She really didn't want to make them any worse or have to come into close range with Naruto anymore just in case she couldn't take it again. She'd hate to put a frown on his face with him injured and such.

"It'll be fine." Sakura left her there to watch as she rounded the corner and approached the arguing trio that silenced upon seeing her. She bowed a curt one and then said, "I can help with bandaging."

He knew they needed help but… "We don't need your assistance." Sasuke was alone in this prideful state because his partner withdrew from him instantly, being way more than eager for aid.

"I hurt almost everywhere!" Naruto claimed dramatically with crocodile tears, hearing a giggle from the lavender woman who hid back around the corner when he saw her.

The raven rolled his eyes and braced on the door frame, foolishly thinking that the end of it. That fool can have her attention. He didn't need or want it. He was perfectly fine with that and yet fuming. 'Pathetic. At least I can take care of mysel-' His train of thought ended when she stepped in front of his staggering form against the walls. "What is it now?"

Sakura just stared at him as if done with his attitude. She placed a palm on his shoulder and nearly snickered at how uncertain he looked. A simper graced her lips like a small apologetic indication to something.

'Hn.' That mental utterance was because her smile was interesting and kind of dare he think… nice? Like nice in a confident way that's quite beautiful and- From one sudden motion, his pupils dilated and his deciphering of her expression was furloughed. All he could see was the floor and the dent of the shirt in the back over her hips because she'd hauled his ass over her shoulder out of nowhere.

Naruto was the one that shrieked at the action and hid behind Iruka. "Okay, I- I actually think I'm better now!"

"Put. Me. Down. Woman." Flustered to high hell and back, he enunciated each word. While impressed with her strength, this was also quite embarrassing because he didn't put up much of a physical fight. He was still pissed and let it be known verbally. "I swear if you don't-"

"Oh hush it, elf-man. The fact that you can't free yourself should let you know you need help."

Sakura gave him a fact that made him grumble a lot. "Iruka, can we use the lodge as a mini infirmary for a bit?"

"Ah... yes." He wasn't surprised by what she did. The interesting bit on her walk by was how Sasuke just stayed hung over on her shoulder and silently cursed to himself repeatedly. His ward who was simply cowering behind him. "Naruto?"

"I'll follow you, Iruka." Naruto pushed him forward, passing Hinata who he quickly blocked out of view by bringing his caretaker in the way. "Don't pick me up, I'm good!"

"I won't." Hinata shook her head quick, heart skipping a beat when he smiled so gratefully her way.

"Thank you."

"Mm." A metaphorical, specially shaped arrow, hovered behind her from the back because he believed she could somehow lift him.

Naruto's sigh of relief was followed by his calm exit from around Iruka and a hand to his chest plate. He didn't want to be lifted because it would hurt incredibly so. Thinking of pain, he had to get patched up before he healed on the spot. "I would still love your help anyway, Miss Hinata."

Uh-oh. That did it but she was still free of that arrow that gathered friends now. What caused this?

Did he get too close? He did out of his own flaw to be very sincere.

Did he say something bad? Far from it. He might have over-sold it is all.

Whatever it was, he had no idea why this woman straight up fainted out of the bloom. He caught her though and tinted a light pink himself from holding her so close. She was a soft thing in loose clothing that he kind of felt bad for his armor blocking out. That shade on a whisker-less face only deepened. He shook his head to rid of a childish fantasy and then picked her up bridal style. He was sure her sudden case of syncope was because of him. She couldn't run away so she passed out. He misread her state and sulked at it, accepting he could only be close to a woman like this if she wasn't aware. Man did that sound wrong and it only made him pout more while he followed the two way ahead. Perhaps a noble surveillance around the estate later would change her mind, or so he still hoped.

Iruka didn't know what to make of this. He massaged the back of his neck and observed, finding Sasuke's mad slash docile nature and Naruto's sudden case of thunder clouds, to be quite bizarre. That didn't mean the night would end in disaster however...

Like his ward, he could only pray.


A/N Important: Indeed. I've been working on a balance between them which could lead to longer chapters but I think it'll work.

~ Thank you all for any fav, follow, or review no matter the context. Voice your concerns, spite, theories, advice, frustration, and ect to your heart's content at your will. Have a lovely day and a hopefully satisfying read. ~