Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.



Chapter 4: Protect the one you love.

"Look. Master Talas, we must seperate the girl and the fox before her feelings for him surface. Her feelings are still hidden within her and it is our best bet... No our best interest is for us is to attack now, while the girl's feelings are still within her. If we do not attack now, later it'll be too late."~Cloth person.

"Good point. Go attack them and bring the girl here."~Master Talas glared at the cloth person. The cloth person bowed. "Bring the fox to me. Alive. So, I can kill him in front of the girl. For disobeying me."~Master Talas dismissed the cloth person.

"Sakura,"~Master Talas staring at the crystal ball with Sakura scolding and teaching Naruto how to dance. "I'll have to cage you up. You are a natsy little girl for running to my target. Soon you'll see that it is not nice to disobey me. The fox is death will be preformed right in front of you. What will you do, Sakura?*chuckles*"~Master Talas.

~~~~~~~

"Sakura-chan, when do we learn how to slow dance?"~Naruto "I guess, we can do it now."~Sakura walked up to Naruto. Sakura placed Naruto's hands on her hips. Naruto wrapped his arms around Sakura's waist bring her against his chest.

'Naruto's chest is so warm. I like how his muscles feel on his chest.'~Sakura blushed a bit touching Naruto's chest with her soft hands. "Sakura-chan, that tickles."~Naruto chuckled. Sakura realized how close they were and backed up abit, staring at the ground avoiding Naruto's face hidding her blushing.

"Is this how close we are to be in slow dancing?"~Naruto's heart was up his throat and gulpped looking nervously at Sakura. "Yes."~Sakura wrapped her arms around Naurto's neck. 'She's goin' to head lock me.'~Naruto.

"Sakura-chan, why are you blushing?"~Naruto. "Because, it's too hot in this house."~Sakura looked up at Naruto. 'Sakura-chan,'~Naruto blushed laughing nervously.

"Should we open a window for some cool air to come in."~Naruto. "No. I'm all right."~Sakura stepped on her tiptoes.

'Does she want to kiss me? Am I dreaming?*b-bump. b-bump*'~Naruto's eyes widened as Sakura's face was five inches away. 'Sakura-chan.'~Naruto leaned his head down only an inch away from joining. Closer and closer both hearts racing. *beep.beep*~Naruto's alarm clock beeped spoiling the moment.

~~~~~

"AH!"~ Master Talas yelled falling back. "That sure was close. They have almost kissed. My plans would have been ruined."~Master Talas sat back up. "Cloth person better hurry up and capture the bait."~Master Talas.

~~~~~

'Damn alarm clock. It couldn't beep after the moment.'~Naruto frowned throwing a pillow at his alarm clock. The pillow covered the alarm clock. "Uh... Naruto let's start."~Sakura changed the subject. 'What just came over me? Why did I want to kiss Naruto?'~Sakura pulled his face closer to her face.

"Naruto, pay attention."~Sakura whispered in Naruto's ear. 'Heh. Heh. Sakura-chan has a soft voice. I just love her so much.'~Naruto made googlely eyes as he drooled abit. "Slow dance is easy. All you have to do is go left to right. If I move my left foot you move your right, or if I move my right you move your left. Got that?"~Sakura. Naruto nodded. "Remember, go slowly following the beat."~Sakura.

"I'll lead first and then you try."~Sakura pulled him back taking one step back with her right. Naruto took one step forward with his right stepping on Sakura's foot. "Ow!"~Sakura yelled. "Sorry, Sakura-chan. I was..."~Naruto.

"Stupid Naruto! You are suppose to pay attention. We're like a mirror. If I move to the right, the reflection moves to the left. It's the opposites. You are so helpless."~Sakura yelled at Naruto. "Like our personality are the opposites? That's why we attact each other?"~Naruto.

"Naruto, will you forget about that. I'm not attacted to you. You'll be the last guy in this universe, that I'd be attacted to. That's it! We're done the slow dancing lesson."~Sakura pulled her arms off from around Naruto's neck.

"Sakura-chan, I'm really sorry for stepping on your foot. I didn't mean to. Come on, let's try again. I promise, I'll pay more attention."~Naruto bagged keeping his arms around her waist refusing to let her leave. Sakura side-long glanced at Naruto.

'His eyes look so sincere. Maybe, I should let him have another shot at slow dancing.'~Sakura smiled. "All right. One more time. Got it? If you mess up again, it's over."~Sakura wrapped her arms around Naruto's neck. Naruto nodded.

"Try to keep up with me."~Sakura moved her left leg to the right as Naruto moved his right leg to the right. "Good. Now watch our feet."~Sakura backed up looking down. Naruto looked down. "One. Two. Three."~Sakura whispered barely for anyone to hear her as she was moving her feet right to the left, forward twice and back three times. Naruto done the opposite of Sakura's steps.

"Good, Naruto. I think you are finally getting the hang of this."~Sakura lifted her head. "Yeah. I have a beautiful dancing teacher."~Naruto looked up into Sakura's hazel eyes. "Are you ready to try lead now?"~Sakura. Naruto nodded backing up twice, right three times, forward once and left twice. Sakura moved her feet the opposite of Naruto's feet. (They done this 5 times)

"Good, I'm a bit impressed."~Sakura smiled. "Sakura-chan, you haven't seen nothing yet."~Naruto took his hands off Sakura's hips, taking her hands that were wrapped around his neck. Naruto held onto Sakura's right wrist twirling her against his chest.(Sakura's back against Naruto's chest) He twirled her out to the right, pulling her back past his chest to the left and pulled her into his chest.

Twirling Sakura's body in front of him, then stopped having his right hand on her hips bending her backwards, leaning his face closer to her face. "Are you impressed now?"~Naruto "All I know is that I'm feeling dizzy."~Sakura. Naruto swing their bodies back up. Sakura pulled away from Naruto waddled past Naruto, stumbling left to right losing her balance and resulting to falling to the ground.

"Sakura-chan, are you all right?"~Naruto kneed down beside her. "I don't feel so good. I feel like vomitting."~Sakura covered her mouth. "Sakura-chan, you should rest for awhile."~Naruto picked up Sakura in his arms carrying he to his bed. "Naruto, I'm fine. I'm too heavy."~Sakura. "Nonsence. I am a gentleman and I'm not going to let you walk when you're so dizzy."~Naruto layed her down on his bed. "Now do us both a favor and get some rest."~Naruto covered her up with his yellow blanet.

"Don't worry, I'll watch over us both. I won't let anything bad happen to you. Sakura-chan, rest now."~Naruto ran his fingers through her hair. "Do you want me to jump in bed with you to calm you down for a rest. We can sleep together in the same bed, my bed."~Naruto teased. Sakura's face went bright red. Naruto leaned his head down to her face. Sakura glared at Naruto opening her mouth to speak, but Naruto placed his fingers on her lips. "Shh...Rest now."~Naruto closed his eyes kissing her forehead backing up removing his fingers off her lips.

"Naruto, I'm kind of hungry right now."~Sakura. "Yeah."~Naruto walked up to the table taking the bowl walking into the kitchen putting some Ramen in the bowl. Naruto walked back to the bed stiring the flavor in the Ramen. "Open up."~Naruto spoon fed her.

"Mmm... You were right, Naruto. My Ramen is really great. I'm such a great cook."~Sakura. "Yes. Yes you are a great cook."~Naruto agreed. "I wonder wonder if Sasuke-kun will like my cooking?"~Sakura sollowed. "I'm sure he will. Now eat and then rest. You need you're rest for taking care of me."~Naruto held back his rage hearing Sasuke again, continuing to feed her until she fell asleep.

"*sighs* Sakura-chan, still loves Sasuke. She'll always hate me.'~Naruto frowned brushing her bangs off her face. Naruto looked out his window. "The sunset looks lovely. As lovely as Sakura-chan."~Naruto stared at the sunsetting.

A kunni flew in the window past Naruto's face hitting the fridge door. Naruto stood up looking out his window seeing no one and at the kunni. There was a paper attached to it. Naruto walked up to his fridge, ripping off the paper, reading the letter. Naruto crumppled the paper excited dropping the crumppled paper on the ground as he recklessly ran out the door towards the monument looking down on Hidden Leaf Village.

"Soon, little girl. You will be our bait to lure our target. You have won the fox is heart. Master is wonderful using you to soften the fox is heart, making it easiler to slay. Yes, it's all thanks to her. Master's plan is in motion."~Cloth person vanished from the tree peaking in on Sakura.

~~~~~~~~

"Where are you my challenger?"~Naruto. "I'm right here, Uzumaki Naruto."~a voice said. Naruto turned around seeing a cloth figure raising up form the ground. "Hey, I must warn you. You oppose no threat to me."~Naruto. "Heh. Heh. I have only come to slay you, fox boy. I'll be the one to slay you and taste your demon fox power."~Cloth person rampaged towards Naruto.

~~~~~~~~~

"Sakura-chan, we'll meet each other again."~Naruto smiled as he floating away. "Naruto. Wait."~Sakura ran after him as his image slowly drifted farther away from her. "Naruto, don't go. I-I love you."~Sakura cried as she jumpped at him. She crashed into his chest wrapping her arms around him. Naruto's body became pixie dust. Sakura opened her eyes realizing she was hugging nothing as the pixie dust floated away into the sky.

"Naruto, don't leave me."~Sakura woke up with tears running down her face. 'Why do I keep having dreams about Naruto?'~Sakura crawled out of the bed. "In my dream. I told Naruto, I didn't want him to leave me and that I loved him."~Sakura noticed a crumpled paper on the floor. She bend down picking up the paper and unfolding the paper, reading the letter.

"I challenge you, my nemise to a duel. Come to Hokage Mt. if you're bold enough to accept my challenge. I'll be waiting."~Sakura read.

"Naruto wouldn't."~Sakura looked up. "*sighs* He did."~Sakura closed her eyes. "Stupid Naruto."~Sakura jumpped out of the window, running towards Hokage Mt.

~~~~~~

The cloth person threw a thread aiming it for Naruto's neck. Naruto jumpped back. "You're not goin' to catch me off that easily."~Naruto took out his kunni making the assult.

~~~~~~~

"Almost there. Naruto you better be all right, so I can give you a piece of my mind. You're so reckless and stupid for accepting an anonymous challenge."~Sakura jumpped tree to tree nearly at Hokage Mt.

~~~~~~~~

Cloth person threw thousands of threads at Naruto. Naruto slashed the threads. "Quit playing games!"~Naruto yelled fearious slashing his kunni at the cloth person's face. *slash* "Huh?"~Naruto's eyes widened as the cloth person blocked out his assult with another kunni.

"So, you're stronger then I imaged. I'm excited. Let's quit playing games and fight to the death."~Cloth person took off his hood revealing his orange spiked short hair. Naruto smiled jumpping back. "I never had a challenge like this in a long time. I'm totally exicted. Tell me. What's you're name?"~Naruto.

"My name is Tala. I can't wait until, we feed off your power and blood."~Tala licked his lips looking blood thristy at Naruto. 'I'm going to enjoy this.'~Tala. Both Naruto and Tala had a stare down. A stone cracked rolling down the Mt. Naruto and Tala vanished clashing kunnies together.

~~~~

Sakura arrived on Hokage Mt. "Where is everyone?"~Sakura. A kunni was thrown at Sakura. "*gasps*"~Sakura looked up as a kunni was heading towards her. Sakura reached down to her grab her kunni. The kunni was canceled as another kunni knocked it to the ground.

"Don't harm Sakura-chan!"~Naruto jumpped down in front of Sakura holding another kunni in front of his face. "Naruto."~Sakura thrilled. 'Naurto, canceled out that attack with his kunni.'~Sakura felt a stiring in her heart. "Sakura-chan, leave here. I don't want to worry about your safety."~Naruto coldly told her. Sakura felt insulted glaring at Naruto.

Sakura headlocked Naruto. "Naruto, I came because I was worried about you. This is how you greet me? You insult me."~Sakura tightened her headlock. "Sakura-chan, get back."~Yami-Naruto pushed her back to the ground as he was facing her . "Naruto, you're eyes."~Sakura noticed Naruto's eyes were red not blue.

A thread wrapped around Naruto's neck choking hm percing his flesh. "Naurto,"~Sakura. "Sakura-chan, get outta here."~Yami-Naruto kept one eye open looking at Sakura, having his hands on the thread trying to rip it off.

"You can't rip it off with you're hands. But go ahead and try. Make yourself bleed more. Isn't this the perfect way to die, fox boy?"~Tala licked his lips as blood ran from Naruto's neck. "Heh. Heh. That's what you think."~Naruto side-long glanced at Tala.

"I'm goin' to be the world's greatest Shiobi and become greater then Hokage-sama. *chuckles* It's goin' to take more then the likes of you to slay me. I'm Uzumaki Naruto!"~Naruto screamed releasing his chara. 'He's strong. Stronger then thought. I can't hold him off.'~Tala pulled the thread choking and cutting Naurto's neck deeper.

'Who's that?*gasps* Naruto's goin' to die. No, I won't let that happen.'~Sakura took out her kunni throwing it cutting the thread freeing Naurto as he fell forward on his knees. "Naruto."~Sakura jumpped catching him in her arms. "Sakura-chan."~Yami-Naruto whispered. "Stupid Naruto! You could have died!"~Sakura scolded. Naruto ripped off the thread from his neck.

"Shall we continue?"~Tala. "Naruto is wounded. He needs medical attention."~Sakura scolded glaring at Tala. "It doesn't look it."~Tala pointed at Naruto's cut on his neck healing. 'Naruto's wound is healing?'~Sakura puzzled.

"It's time to continue."~Tala walked up towards Sakura and Naruto. "Stay back."~Sakura took out her kunni holding it in front of her face. Tala continued to walk towards them. "Sakura-chan, get outta here."~Yami-Naruto slowly stood up.

"No."~Sakura shook her head. "You'll be killed."~Sakura. "I thought you hated me. So, why should you care if I live or not?"~Yami-Naruto. "No, that's not true. I don't hate you. I-I..."~Sakura stopped herself. "Naruto-kun, we'll continue this later."~Tala vanished.

"Sakura-chan, these duels don't concern you."~Yami-Naruto walked off. "Naruto, he changed."~Sakura stared at Naruto. "Are you coming or what?"~Yami-Naruto coldly asked. 'Naruto, what's wrong? This isn't the Naruto. I know.'~Sakura's bangs covered her eyes making them have shadows over her eyes as she walked up to him.

~~~~~~~~~

"Master Talas, soon Naruto-kun will be under you're control with the thread that mixed with his blood."~Tala bowed. "Good. He'll be under my control. That's what I like to hear. Now for the girl. I must cage her up. Soon, I'll control the entire world with the fox. Sakura, you don't know how useful you are. But it'll be your fault if Naruto dies as his demon self. You haven't seen nothing yet."~Master Talas.

~~~~~~~~~

Yami-Naruto walked up ahead of Sakura as they walked in silence. Yami-Naruto side-long glanced at her. "Sakura-chan,"~Yami-Naruto broke the silence between them as his red eyes changed back to blue. Sakura looked up at Naruto. "I didn't mean what I said. I just don't want you to get killed."~Naruto.

"I'm glad though. Thanks for getting me out of a near-death situtation."~Naruto rubbed the back of his head laughing his classical laugh. 'Oh, Naruto. I can't help but not be mad at you.'~Sakura smiled wrapping her arm around Naruto's neck.

'Sakura-chan, is goin' to give me another headlock.'~Naruto looked at Sakura. "Naruto, let's go home."~Sakura smiled. Naruto nodded as they both walked home. 'I'm goin' to beat that guy.'~Naruto grinned wrapping his arm around Sakura.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Next Morning:

Sakura was walking to the store to get some blankets and a pillow. "This is a beautiful blanket."~Sakura picked up a rosy red blanket. "Sakura."~a deep voice said standing behind her. Sakura turned dropping the blanket.

~~~~

"I wonder what is taking Sakura-chan so long?"~Naruto sat on the ground looking at the time on his clock.

Flashback:

"Naruto, I'm going to go buy a pillow and blanket. So you won't catch a cold again by sleeping on the floor. Don't worry. I won't be gone long."~Sakura left the house.

End of Flashback.



'I hope she's all right.'~Naruto layed down on the floor.

~~~~

"Dad, hello."~Sakura. "Sakura, we want you to come back home. Besides Uchiha Sasuke asked to take you're hand in marriage. Please come home to accept your beloved Sasuke."~Dad. 'Sasuke-kun wants to marry me?'~Sakura blushed. Sakura's father took her wrist leading Sakura out of the store. "Sasuke is at our house. Hurry Sakura."~Dad pulled her towards their house.

"Sakura, I have been waiting for you."~Sasuke leaning against the wall of the building. "I'll leave you two."~Father left. "Sasuke-kun, is it true?*b-bump. b-bump*"~Sakura. "Is what true?"~Sasuke. "You want to marry me?"~Sakura.

"Sakura, of course I want to marry you. You know you look lovely when you blush. You're the only girl, I would ever want to marry. You are the girl of my dreams. I really love you and I just needed to be away from you until, I realized I couldn't stop thinking about you."~Sasuke walked up to Sakura, embracing her in a hug.

"Sasuke-kun, I love you too. But what about Ino?"~Sakura. "What about Ino? All I see is you."~Sasuke stared into her eyes. Sakura felt like melting in his arms. "I don't want to marry Ino. I want you, Sakura."~Sasuke placed his fingers on her chin, lifting her chin up towards his face. "Sasuke-kun..."~Sakura's eyes softened as she closed her eyes awaitting until their lips met.

A kunni canceled their kiss. Sakura opened her eyes looking at the intruder and groaned. "Naruto! What are you doing here? Sasuke-kun and I are busy. Go away."~Sakura. "That's not Sasuke but Tala."~Naruto. "Naruto!"~Sakura yelled angry as Sasuke let go of her.

"Very clever, Naruto-kun. You saw through my discuise. I'm excited."~Sasuke looked up licking the blood from his cut. Sasuke transformed into Tala. Tala ripped off his cloth wearing lime shorts and green t-shirt.

"Ewwww!"~Sakura backed up covering her mouth. 'I can't believe I almost kissed him. Eww...'~Sakura felt ill. "You'll pay for playing Sakura-chan's heart."~Naruto. "Don't worry, Sakura-chan. I'll have you a bit later. I just need to get rid of the garbage."~Tala blew a kiss to her. "Enough!"~Naruto assulted.

Naruto and Tala clashed their kunni together. "How much do you care about the girl?"~Tala. "Leave Sakura-chan out of this!"~Naruto hissed landing on a branch. Tala slyly smiled throwing a wind blade at Sakura. "Sakura-chan!"~Naruto yelled. Sakura turned her back kneeing on the ground holding her head screaming havin' her eyes closed. Blood splashed.

TBC...

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Tari-chan: Long chapter.