Chapter 8

Sakura sat in front of her hospital room window. Her elbow resting on the sill supporting her head as she watched the family of birds on a nearby tree top. She let out a big sigh, she was beyond ready to be released from her hospital stay. She now understood why Naruto hated having to stay here. She sighed again thinking of her blonde companion. He had gone off to see what was holding Tsunade up, and Sakura was just left with her thoughts. She normally would be nervous but Naruto left two shadow clones right by the door.

Much like when she was imprisoned most of her thoughts revolved around Naruto. Even when she could feel her mind going back and replaying her torture, Naruto's handsome face always seemed to shine through. He was her hero. She blushed wildly, shaking her head trying to reign in her thoughts. It had been a week since Naruto, Kakashi and her were at the ramen stand. They had fallen into a pattern over the week. Naruto and her would "sneak" out and go and hang out until Kakashi would come to find them and they would all go and eat at Tuechi's stand. Sakura had to admit she could see why Naruto eats there so frequently. It grows on you and then actually becomes strangely addictive. With each day her appetite grew a bit more. Last night she was able to finish her whole bowl. She looked over at Naruto to see him smiling at her proudly, you'd think she would have found the cure to some rare poison the way he was looking at her.

They had yet to finish their interrupted conversation from the training field. Sakura wanted to continue where she left off but every time she started she got scared and quickly backed down. She could tell Naruto wanted to finish as well, so much is still unresolved. Naruto would never push or pressure her though, he respected that this was all confusing for Sakura. She cursed at herself. The old Sakura would have gotten right to the point and told Naruto exactly how she felt. Just thinking about it made her feel the sting of Naruto's rejection of her feelings before. The way he looked at her with almost a look of disgust. She shook her head. She would rather pretend everything was fine than have the conversation that needed to be had between the two.

She couldn't afford to lose Naruto again, she refused to lose Naruto again. It had broken her the first time and she knew if it were to happen again she would not be able to survive. She would rather have him as her friend than be nothing to him again.

She couldn't stop the pain in her chest thinking of how Naruto would turn and go the other direction if he saw her. They way he refused to even look at her or acknowledge her presence. He had even requested to be moved to a different unit, he said he was tired of having to pull the weight of team 7. The only way she was able to cope with the loss of her best friend was working her body to the point of exhaustion. That way she was too tired to even think or feel anything.

She was lost in thought when she heard the door to her room beginning to open. She jumped to her feet whipping around quickly. She grabbed the back of the chair she was sitting in ready to throw it at the intruder at her door if need be. She let out a relieved sigh when she saw Naruto's blonde head poke through the door with a goofy smile on his face. He took in her stance and raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by her.

Sakura chuckled lightly looking down at her feet releasing her death grip on the chair. She looked back up at him chewing her lip softly, she opened her mouth to speak when she noticed Naruto looking at her with a look she had never seen before. His eyes sparkled with mischief and something else she couldn't quite place. Her eyes shot back down to stare at her now very interesting sandals.

She heard his footstep drawing closer to her and she sucked in a deep breath trying to calm her nerves. She felt his hand under her chin bringing her face up to meet his, she resisted slightly growling when he put more of his strength behind it. Her breath caught in her throat and she could hear her small gasp as she met his gaze. Naruto had that same mysterious gleam in his eye only this time paired with a smirk. Her body felt warm all over, like fire was coursing through her veins, and she shifted on her feet trying to get a hold of herself. She gulped as he leaned his head down to hers. His breath was warm on her cheek and she closed her eyes trying to keep her heart from beating out of her chest. Over the course of the week Naruto had made it a habit of taking her breath away and making her feel helpless. She didn't know it but Naruto loved watching her get all flustered and nervous around him. It gave him hope that she could learn to love him again one day.

"You ready to get out of here Sakura-chan," he whispered in her ear before pulling back to watch her frazzled reaction to his proximity. He chuckled, tucking a strand of Sakura's soft silk like hair behind her ear. She didn't flinch anymore at his contact has long as she saw it coming.

She wouldn't allow anyone else to touch her besides himself and Tsunade. None of the nurses could touch her or even get within a few feet of her without her being sedated, which Naruto did not allow. She had a few "episodes" throughout the week, but her first one shook him to the core. She had hurt a couple of the nurses, along with Tsunade and Jiraiya when they tried to restrain her.

Flashback:

Sakura had been awake for three days and her body was healing well. She was starting to come around more; smiling and sometimes even teasing naruto. He would get a flash of the old Sakura. The two sat on her bed playing cards when there was a knock at the door. Sakura whipped her head towards the door then back at Naruto. He could see her uneasiness and reached over to squeeze her hands gently. The door opened, two nurses walked in with Jiraiya trailing close behind smiling brightly.

"How you feeling Sakura," Jiraiya asked, standing a couple feet away to assure that she felt comfortable.

"Better, I think I'm ready to have my bindings off. I think I'm good enough to be released today," Sakura looked at him putting down her cards. She looked over to see the nurses talking quietly to each other taking peaks at her before whispering to each other again. Sakura started to feel a familiar pit of dread in her stomach. She could hear talking but she couldn't make out anything. All she could hear was the blood pumping in her ears.

"Sakura-chan? Sakura, did you hear me," Naruto asked his face only a few inches from hers trying to gain her attention. Looking into his eyes helped ease her fear slightly.

"Huh?"

"I said I'm stepping out for a couple minutes to talk to Pervy-sage. Tsunade should be in any second to help you out of your bindings," Naruto repeated, tilting his head to the side slightly trying to figure out the sudden strange behavior of his girl. Her lips turned up a bit in an attempt to smile as she nodded her head almost mechanically. Naruto hesitated and was reluctant to leave. He looked at Jiraiya and saw him looking at him seriously. He knew that whatever he needed to tell him was important and couldn't wait.

Sakura could feel the dread rising as she watched Naruto stand from the bed, he turned to her and leaned down placing a soft kiss on her forehead. His lips lingered for a moment before pulling away and giving Sakura a soft smile. "I'll be right back okay. Then you can continue to pout as I beat your ass in another game," he laughed stroking her cheek. Sakura pulled away and glared at him, he continued to laugh as he quickly left the room with his sensei.

"So what's going on Pervy-sage," Naruto asked ready to cut right to the point. Jiraiya looked at him before smacking the back of his head lightly.

"Don't rush me kid. Let's walk a little bit," Jiraiya said walking down the scarcely populated hallway and away from Sakura's door. Naruto hesitated before slowly falling behind looking over his shoulder at Sakura's room. They walked to the end of the hall to a window that overlooked a garden. "So I'll just get right to it. The Akatsuki has been spotted quite frequently lately, they're up to something. Two of the members, Sasori and Deidra, have been seen in close proximity to the village," he looked at Naruto out of the corner of his eye and saw his body had gone rigid and his jaw was clenched tightly. Jirayia could feel his chakra spike with killer intent. "Our assumption is that without their leverage to get you to come to them, they are trying to lure you out. We decided, Tsunade and I, that it's best for now that you stay in the village. No missions for a while until we figure out our next move."

Naruto stood looking out the window in deep thought. A part of him wanted to go out and hunt down every single one of them. Make them regret even looking at what was his. His blood boiled and he felt a great need to watch each and everyone take their final breaths. The other part however was glad that they weren't going to try and send him off on some mission, it would just save him the trouble of refusing. He was not going anywhere without Sakura, and he doubted she would be ready to go on one anytime soon.

"That's fine," Jiraiya was a little taken back by his simple acceptance. " It's just going to save us from pointless arguments in the future. I wasn't planning on going a single step outside this village without Sakura-chan. I think we all know that wont be for a while. So it's better this way," Naruto looked over at his sensei and shrugged his shoulders. "If they come I'll be ready but I'm not ever going to be apart from her again, even if she doesn't want me."

"Naruto, I get it. I do, but you have an obligation to this village. You are the future Hokage and your responsibilities to this village come first," Naruto cut him off with a harsh glare.

"Maybe I shouldn't be Hokage then," Naruto said flatly. His dreams meant nothing if he couldn't keep Sakura safe. Jiraiya was lost for words as he just looked at his disciple in disbelief.

Jiraiya was about to say something when they heard what sounded like a small explosion. They turned to see Tsunade laying on the ground opposite of Sakura's room laying in rubble. Naruto ran towards Sakura's room only to find the two nurses unconscious on the ground and no sign of his Sakura. He looked around frantically and could see Tsunade was shooing Jiraiya away yelling at him to go after Sakura. Naruto was frozen for a second as he watched Jiraiya run past him jumping out the window. He watched Tsunade struggle to sit up as she coughed up blood into her hand. She gave him a pleading look and he was out the window and ready to bring back Sakura.

He was running through the streets when he heard his sensei yell he quickly turned the corner and saw his sensei lying on the ground a few dozen feet from Sakura. She held a kunai she managed to grab from Jiraiya when he tried approaching her a few inches from her throat. Her wild eyes met Naruto's and he could see the pain and distress on her face. He took a step towards her and she pressed it directly against her skin. Naruto's eyes widened in fear and he quickly stilled his movement.

"Sakura-chan," Naruto called out softly. "Why don't you put that down and we can go back to the hospital," he cooed out. She shook her head and a few tears fell from her eyes. The movement of her head making the sharp blade nick her skin. "Tsunade and the others are fine. Jiraiya is fine," he looked back at his sensei who was making his way back to his feet, breathing raspily. A few people had gathered hearing the commotion. He needed to get Sakura to put that down and back to the hospital as soon as possible. "Let's just go back and-"

"I'm not going back! I'll NEVER go back," She screamed at him. He looked into her eyes and could see that she didn't think it was him. She didn't think any of them were real.

"Sakura-chan, it's me. It's Naruto," his tone was sweet like honey. He could see Sakura falter a bit, taking the kunai away from her skin. He took a few tentative steps towards her. He was a couple yards from her when he watched her eyes harden again.

"You're not him. You are not Naruto-kun," she whispered painfully. She brought the blade back to her throat.

"It is me Sakura-chan. I came for you. I brought you home. You are here with me," Naruto pleaded, trying to get close enough to grab the kunai. He looked behind Sakura to see Kakashi had gotten there with Sai, Kakashi was quietly trying to inch closer to her to grab her.

"No you're wrong. I'll never get out, no one is ever coming for me," Sakura cried out through her tears. "This is all another one of your sick games," she shook with venom. "Only this time one of you slipped up and I got this," she laughed maniacally pushing the knife slightly into her neck causing some blood to dribble down her porcelain throat.

Naruto was just a few feet from her at his point. His eyes pleading with hers to just believe him. She looked at him with a sudden resolve that shook Naruto to his core. He shook his head, his voice cracking as he begged her to see the truth, "Sakura-chan! Please don't." Tsunade appeared suddenly only a couple feet from the two with a few anbu. Sakura looked around to see the she was backed into a corner, there was no running.

"I can't go back.. I'd rather die," her voice was void of all emotion as she closed her eyes and pushed the knife further into her throat.

"SAKURA-CHAN NOO," Naruto screamed, he watched in horror as the love of his life was about to take her own life.

She suddenly stopped her eyes shooting open. She was frozen in place, she grunted as she tried to move but she couldn't move and inch. "No," she whispered desperately. Naruto saw Shikamaru standing next to Kakashi, he had managed to cast his shadow possession jutsu just in time.

Naruto couldn't help the sob that escaped his lips as he rushed towards Sakura, ripping the kunai out of her hand and throwing it on the ground. Sakura just sobbed and screamed at them trying to break free of the hold Shikamaru put on her.

Tsunade stepped forward injecting her with a sedation needle and Shikamaru released his jutsu. Sakura's yelling was reduced to whimpering, her body fell limply into Naruto's arms. She looked up at him with tears streaming down her face, her eyes seemed to recognize his. "Naruto-kun," she gasped before her eyes fell shut.

Naruto just held her body close to hers for a moment burying his face in her hair. He couldn't seem to catch his breath. That was too close of a call.

"Naruto, we should get her back to the hospital," Tsunade's voice seemed distant like she wasn't even there. Naruto just nodded his head. He rearranged Sakura in his arms so he was carrying her bridal style. He started his way back to the hospital glaring at the gawking villagers.

He stopped when he was next to Shikamaru. "Thank you," he whispered to his friend. Shikamaru patted his shoulder and Naruto continued to the hospital followed closely by Jirayia and Tsunade.

That night Naruto held Sakura as he cried out in pain. She tossed and turned the whole night, whimpering and crying unable to wake up from her dreams. Naruto tried to console her, whispering sweet nothings into her ears. Nothing could get through to her and he couldn't get her to wake up. It wasn't until the sedation wore off and she opened her eyes was he able to convince her that he was real and she was there with him. He hugged her as she sobbed into his chest.

"I couldn't get out," she cried over and over again. In that moment Naruto vowed to never let them but Sakura under sedation again.

End Flashback

Naruto and Sakura had grown closer than ever before. She found a great source of comfort in being with Naruto, she had grown wildly attached to him, like a safety blanket. Sakura felt her guilt build a bit more everyday, Naruto deserved someone not so mentally fractured. He was the future of the village and he deserved so much more than what she offered. She just felt as if she was holding him back from finding his happiness. Then he would look at her with those bottomless blue eyes and that handsome grin and she felt everything else wash away. She was shamelessly in love with her best friend.

Since that incident Sakura only ever left his sight when she had to use the bathroom, he stood right outside the door like a loyal guard dog. The first night she was able to shower she had gone into the bathroom and Naruto sat outside the door waiting for him to be done so he could take one after her.

Flashback:

He heard the water turn on and he leaned his head against the wall closing his eyes. He was surprised to hear the door open even though the water was still on. He looked up to see Sakura poke her head up like a small child would.

"Would you mind sitting in here while I shower," her voice squeaked out like a mouse and her cheeks matched her hair as she looked anywhere but him. "I don't know why but I just have a really weird feeling," she sighed, putting her head against the door frame. She looked down at him opening the door a bit more revealing her with just a small white towel wrapped around her stopping mid way up her thighs. Naruto had to rip his eyes away and saw the nervous look in her eyes and shook his head trying to clear them of his very vivid fantasies of Sakura. She didn't need him drooling all over her right now.

He smiled up at her and stood from his spot on the floor. "Of course Sakura-chan," he beamed. He selfishly loved her need to always have him around because he wanted to spend every second in her company. He walked into the bathroom behind Sakura. He closed the door and turned back to find his chest centimeters from pressing into Sakura's in the tight quarters of the hospital bathroom. Naruto's face heated up as he rubbed the back of his head. "Soo.."

"Turn around while I get in the shower and then just sit there if you want," Sakura gestured to the closed toilet seat. Naruto nodded, turning to face the door. The thought of her naked while so close to him was making his mind hazy. "Okay you can turn around now I'm in the shower," she called out.

Naruto turned around and felt his jaw drop as he could see the silhouette behind the hazy glass shower door. He sat down and looked straight ahead, trying to ignore the fact that Sakura was naked barely a couple feet from where he sat. After about ten minutes Sakura poked her head out of the shower. Leaving Naruto to lose his senses for the third time that night. She looked beautiful with her wet pink hair framing her face, the rest of it flat against her back, her delicate collar bone on full display.

"Naruto," her sweet voice brought him out of his trance.

"Uh.. Yeah. Yes Sakura-chan," he managed to ramble out trying to keep eye contact and not let his eyes roam.

"I asked if you could pass me my towel," she asked nodding her head to where her towel laid on the sink. She felt self-conscious, but the way Naruto was watching her made her feel something she had never felt before. Naruto passed the towel to her and she quickly retreated back behind the door. She leaned back on the cold tile of the shower wall, and rested her head against the wall. She shook her head and wrapped the towel around herself.

She stepped out of the shower and looked at him sheepishly. "It felt nice to take an actual shower and not gave a stupid sponge bath," Sakura grimaced. "Are you still going to shower," she asked, pointing back at the shower.

"Yeah, a shower sounds good. That is if you don't mind," he asked watching her as she walked to the sink picking up a brush and started combing through her silky hair.

"No, go right ahead," she said, turning to face the door. Naruto thought at first it was to leave but she just stood with her back to him.

"Um Sakura-chan.. Is something wrong," he asked.

She turned and looked at him over her shoulder, a blush clear on her cheeks, "I thought I could stay in here." She closed her eyes tightly covering her face with one of her hands in mortification. "I can leave if it makes you more comfortable. I know it must be annoying having me basically be your shadow."

Naruto smiled at her, "You are the furthest thing from annoying, of course you can stay." She turned to him and gave him another one of those rare smiles that made his stomach somersault. "Now turn around you pervert," he glared jokingly. She shoved him lightly before turning around to face the door.

End flashback

Naruto wondered how much would change once they left the hospital. He was worried about how Sakura would adjust to another change, she was just getting used to being in the hospital. He knew she was eager to get out though.

"You ready to get out of here," he asked her, cupping her face. She nodded her head eagerly. "Alright then Tsunade said you're all set to go. She got dragged into a meeting so she said she would see you later," he started walking to the door and turned to see Sakura just standing in the same spot looking at the room that she had grown accustomed to. He held out his hand to her. She studied the room one last time and then walked forwards interlocking their fingers as he led them out of the room. Sakura took a deep breath today was the day where she started to try and pick up the pieces and resume her life.