Intertwined

"HURRY THE HELL UP!" Naruto shouted back to his comrades.

"NARUTO!" Jiraiya yelled up to him, "SLOW DOWN,"

Naruto was far ahead of the others, followed closely by Sakura and Jiraiya. The remaining nine had split into their three-man-teams to emulate their abilities together, but stayed in a decent order, given to them by Shikamaru.

"NO WAY!" Naruto screamed back and he sped up a little.

"Naruto!" Sakura called to him, eager to keep his pace, and even with all her training he was still a little to fast for her, and when he increased pace she put her all into catching him.

"NARUTO, I UNDERSTAND!" Sakura screamed up to him, "I'll catch him, and make him go even faster," she thought

Everyone else was starting to feel the effects of going top speed for hours on end, and Jiraiya, Sakura and Naruto were developing sore throats from all the yelling. Suddenly, Sakura went to call out for Naruto again, but her leg gave out and she fell from the treetops. As she was falling she let out an ear-splitting scream uttering one word, "NARUTO!"

"Sakura, what's wrong?" Naruto shouted behind him blindly, waiting for a response.

"Shit!" Jiraiya said,

"HELP!" they heard Sakura's voice calling from the depths of the forest.

"Sakura–. Oh Shit!" Naruto exclaimed as he realized, "SAKURA!" he shouted as he leapt down into the darkness, "please oh please let me make it in time!"

He heard a crippling sound and a rush of fear drenched his body so terribly, he almost had a mental break.

"Sa- Sakura-Chan?" he questioned the darkness, were he thought she might be, "hey, no kidding around now, we've gotta go finish the mission remember, come on, no more playing,"

"She'll be out cold for the next few minutes," said a calm, cool and affirmative voice from the darkness, "but, she's not injured, you should be thankful of that,"

"Who are you?" Naruto questioned as he drew a kunai and readied himself for combat, "I swear if you touch her I'll cut you into pieces!"

"Now, now, is that any way to greet the man who just saved her?" replied the voice, and at it an out of place sound started creeping along with light footsteps toward Naruto, "honestly, I was hoping for a welcome, and thanks, not a threat," at this he paused slightly, and Naruto became very attentive, then as he moved into the light, "old friend,"

"Wha- What are you doing here!" Naruto asked extremely shocked, "why are you here, in this country even!"

"Ah, still, I was expecting a welcome, not an interrogation Naruto," the voice said, the body matching the voice was slightly shorter then Naruto, adorned in simple black clothing, and pale white skin. With red hair and bearing the character for "love" on his forehead, stood Sakura's savior.

"GAARA!" Naruto exclaimed, "You look, well a lot less dressed then usual.

"I have my gourd and overclothes with Kankuro and Temari, I did not have need of them, as I can create sand, so long as I have a little to begin with, I wouldn't need the gourd for a little recon," Gaara explained.

"Either way I'm really glad you're here, regardless of the reason," he stared at Sakura, then at Gaara, "I am curious, however, to know why you're here, I mean its like a three day trip from the Sand, so I'm guessing you're not just wandering,"

"Do you ever learn, Naruto," Gaara said, stoical as ever, leaving Naruto extremely confused, "let me explain, I'm the Kazekage, am I not,"

"Yes..."

"And you are from Konoha, and under the Hokage, right,"

"Umm, yea,"

"And Konoha and the Sand are allies aren't they,"

"Right, I sure hope so,"

"Look, your Hokage asked us to help you out on this mission, I took it up myself because it involves you, and because there are those who would have held you from it, because of what we are,"

"Tch, whatever, so long as you're here, and we kick ass together, I don't care,"

"Same Naruto as always," and even Gaara had a slight smile, "now, about her," indicating Sakura,

"OH-YEAH, how could I forget! Sakura-Chan!" he exclaimed as he brought her into his arms, and noticed how bruised up she was, her whole body was tense from the journey so far, and I would have pushed her even further, how could I... He sat there with her, brushing her pink hair with his hands, and tears of self frustration and sadness at the fact that she would've been dead if not for Gaara, because of his foolishness, and for the same reason he shed tears of relief. She cringed in pain from the excess stress she put on her body, and instinctively recoiled from the pain, though it would do her no good and cause her only more pain from her own body. I swear, I'll never let this happen again, as he was thinking this she let out a couple of coughs, and even more so recoiled from them as well. Still only half-conscious, she didn't completely understand the situation, but felt strong, warm, tender arms supporting her back and head, she heard someone crying, but was unsure of who. Everything was black, until she realized her eyes were close, but she was too weak to open them. She felt a single tear drip upon her cheek, and then she felt a strong embrace, and a whisper, if nothing more, "Sakura-Chan, forgive me,"

Forgive you, for what, she thought, and more importantly, who are you, and why are you crying, did something happen?

Slowly she regained herself, and was able to move around a little, she opened her eyes first, instinctively, to assess the situation before acting rash and being in danger. Slowly, as though it were very difficult to do, she opened her eyes and saw a little black and orange to the bottom, and a little blond hair to her left, who is this, wait its, but even before she could think it a tear fell from his face onto her neck, "Sakura-Chan, I'm sorry, I pushed you to hard, its all my fault, but I swear I'll protect you from now, at any const, I'll be aware of you forever, even if it kills me," that's, Naruto, what on earth happened,

"Jiraiya-Sama," Gaara said blankly

"Who's there," questioned Jiraiya, "everyone, on your guard!"

"Really, that's the second time I've been threatened by someone I was expecting a welcome from, its starting to make me doubt friendship,"

"Show yourself! Any friend of ours should know we must be on guard for anything and everything,"

"Hmm, and as Kazekage you expect I don't already know that?" he questioned, rather teasingly, but yet still emotionless, for the most part,"

"Gaara?"

"So, took you long enough, I expected better of the great Jiraiya-Sama, honestly," and Gaara revealed himself, still dressed lightly and without his gourd as he had been in front of Naruto. Instinctively the sand put a barrier around him, "Now my friends throw knives at me?"

"I had to be certain, I'm sure you understand,"

"Yes, I just wanted to inform you that the one who fell from your ranks is safe, I happened to be nearby and I was able to aid her, I left her with Naruto, I trust he's the best person for her to be around at the moment,"

"Naruto, its good that someone is there, but he can be rash at times,"

"No, you misunderstood me, let me make this very clear," Gaara imposed a bit of anger and fear into those on-looking him, "I do believe Naruto is the best person to be looking over her,"

"And I told you that he may be good temporarily, but he is too rash and we need to get a more suitable person in charge of looking over her," Jiraiya responded calmly, and yet firmly, "wha- what's going on, I can't move!"

"I do not with to restrain you, but I must make myself perfectly clear, Naruto is the only person acceptable, is that clear, you may see him as a kind-hearted, rash, and impatient kid, but I can see him clearly, as he can see me clearly, and believe me when I say this, because it was him who opened my eyes, to myself,"

"Look, I understand how you feel, but this mission is important! We need those skilled in their own fields doing what they do best," the sand gripped him tighter.

"That's perfect, two of your ranks are already doing their tasks then, Naruto and you," and he released the sand, as it took up a lot of chakra because he had to make it all from scratch.

"Very well, we'll camp here for the night, we'll make way from Naruto and Sakura, and let them do what they need to do, as for the rest of you, set up camp, secure food and water, and choose the order of guard yourselves,"

"Agreed," they all responded in a similar manner.


Sakura was beginning to regain full consciousness, and could feel everything around her, and on her. She could feel just how cold the day had become, and turned into night, and this feeling was amplified by the warm embrace of her comrade and friend, who held her tightly, refusing to let go, making her back warm in one spot, but like ice in the rest. She could still feel the cold spots on her shoulder from were his tears had fallen. She could feel his skin, and his warmth radiating from his shoulder were she rested her head, still tired from the days events, and likewise could feel the cold on the exposed part of her face, but didn't care, and remained motionless, allowing the embrace to continue. It had made her blush furiously when she first realized it, but had found comfort I it now, and wanted nothing else now. She could feel his heart, beating, it was very loud indeed, and filled with all his emotions toward her. It was only then that she realized her own heart was beating very loudly as well, causing her to blush again. Soon, the separate heartbeats, while extremely steadfast about their own pace, were off from each other. During the time he held her, minutes, hours, they were both uncertain, nor did they care, but the two heartbeats, became one, beating together in precise rhythm. Sakura, as much as it hurt her body, she didn't care, but she was determined in her plight, she raised her own arms, from were they hung, and embraced Naruto back, "Sa- Sakura-Chan," but she made no vocal response, but held him as tightly as she possibly could without pushing herself too far. Then, as if to return the favor, Naruto felt something on his right shoulder, a teardrop, Sakura, is, crying? And without a word, he managed to understand it, and he held her as he had been, and he became weary himself, for he had a harsh day himself, and had pushed himself harder then her, even if he was stronger, he was still tired. "Naruto," Sakura barely managed to whisper, and it used up all the rest of her strength just to make such a meager notion as whispering a name, a name that had become like instinct to her over the years, "Sakura-Chan," he replied, and she slowly fell asleep on him, Uzumaki Naruto, her savior, and the only one she cared about in that moment. Slowly Naruto fell asleep, resting his own head upon that of the cherry blossom he had loved for so long, the only one he cared about, and the one he would willingly end his life for, to him, nothing meant anything without her love, and he would have no reason to live if she were gone.

There the two lay, Uzumaki Naruto, and Hanaru Sakura, two bodies, one mind, one heart, one future, the two lay, intertwined.