They approach the safe house as stealthily as they can.
It's on the top of a hill, shining in golden glow of the setting sun. The bottom of the hill, where they're hidden in the trees, is already covered in dark elongated shadows.
Without breathing a word, they continue to approach. The trees grow sparser as they climb uphill and it becomes harder to hide. It's Naruto's hideous orange clothing that gives them away.
A kunai comes whizzing through the trees towards Naruto, who bats it away with one of his own, and at once, Team 7 falls into a defensive formation with Naruto at the tip and Sasuke and Sakura flanking him.
"I swear I'm going to destroy your neon costume the second this ends." Saskue mutters.
"Hey! This-" they never find out what Naruto meant to say because at the moment he turns his head to snipe back at Sasuke, a kunai comes flying at him.
"Naruto!" Sakura's sudden scream gives away their last hope for stealth. She tackles Naruto away and the kunai catches her on side of the neck.
The quiet after her scream seems to freeze them all. Naruto and Sasuke stand dumb-founded as blood pours from Sakura's neck and her chakra fluctuates crazily. She collapses gracelessly and Naruto has to dive to catch her before she hits the ground.
He puts his hands helplessly on her neck and tries to stem the flow of blood. Crimson blood leaks from between his fingers. He fumbles, shock giving way to rage as he raises bloodshot eyes to glare at the ninja in front of him.
"You..." his growl is cut off as Sasuke grabs his shoulder.
Sasuke's words are frantic. "Shut up teme! We need to get her to a med-nin."
Naruto looks confused for a moment before his eyes turn back to blue. Then he nods and mechanically winds a bandage around Sakura's neck, hoists her up and without another glance at the speechless ninja, turns and jumps back into the trees, Sasuke following him immediately.