A/N: A lot of people weren't expecting what happened to Sakura. But that's ok, the story only goes on.

- Sober T

xXx

The horrors of the lab where almost three days behind us now. But the events of the last few days were still hazy in my mind for the most part. Having woken up in deep forestry to the sight of a crying Hinata cradling my head in her lap. Salty tears splashing onto my forehead, piercing sobs that burrowed their way into my ears until I was wide awake. I hated to see her cry.

It had been two days since I woke up, and she still refused to tell me how we escaped. But I decided not to pry too much. Instead, we steadied ourselves north, in hopes of reaching a break in the tree line and getting the hell out of God knows where. I kept her mind busy by babbling on about what we would do once we would finally reach civilization. Home, our friends, but she seemed to be in a trance of sorts. Occasionally going full predator once or twice a day when a bunny or a squirrel happened to hop along. Turning back to her normal self once she had had her fill of whatever poor animal happened to scurry by.

To say I lost my appetite after watching her eat would be an understatement.

But today had been different, no unlucky forest creature had crossed our path all day and night was quickly approaching. Thus, I could feel her eyes on me…

I turned to see eyes deep in thought, as if in a temporary daze. Staring straight at my own. But the look she gave me was somewhat foreign it was neither out of curiosity, love, lust... No this was something much more primal. A stare filled with instinct. Hinata was hungry, and now she was looking at me like I was a hot meal.

"Um, Hinata? Are you ok?" No response, just a continued stare that seem to be analyzing me from head to toe. "We're almost there, we don't have time for this." I reached my hand out for hers but I didn't exactly get the response I wanted.

"Fuck! Ow!" I pulled my hand back to see blood on my fingers. Turning to see a full sharp set of teeth looking greedily up at me.

"Hinata… don't. Even. Think about-"But before I could even get the words out of my mouth, I was pinned beneath 135 pounds of snarling female.

'God Damnit' Not exactly the situation I was picturing when I thought about being in this position.

"Hinata. Dear. Kindly, don't eat my face. I'll get you something to eat as soon as I can." If she had any recollection of what I just said, she didn't seem to care. Instead, long razor nailed hands kept my shoulders pinned to the forest floor. Large, oversized canines coming steadily closer to me. Dripping an excited stream of saliva on my face. "Gross…" Giving me a look like a lioness might give a fragile wildebeest.

"You know what, fine. Two can play this game." I gulped nervously and waited for her face to get as close as possible. Soon she was looking me eye to eye, sniffing to verify that I might indeed be food. If she wouldn't listen to me, I do know what she would listen to. I closed my eyes and focused deeply on the beast I knew I kept locked away.

xXx

"You know, Uzumaki, it's strange. You keep your gift locked up inside, almost as if you're ashamed of it." I was face to face with the deranged Orochimaru. Staring daggers into his soul through the cage bars that separated us.

It was more of a curse, but he did make a valid point. I seemed to be keeping better control over my urges than Hinata was. The only noticeable difference I could tell was my heightened vision in an otherwise dimly lit space. Compliments of the large orange orbs that replaced my once blue eyes, appearing only when I felt my hungriest. Complete with a void black streak across the very middle of each eye in place of pupils.

I scared myself senseless the first time I caught a glimpse of myself in a growing water puddle.

I looked to the cage on my left. It had been a few days since her last feeding, as a result, she was still in her beastly enhanced form. Curled up in a tight ball on the laboratory floor purring peacefully in her sleep. I allowed myself a small smile at the sight of her, At least she's comfortable I suppose.

"Ahh, I see. Perhaps it's the nature of the beast you both harbor." He stood, note pad in hand, strolling nonchalantly to Hinata's cage. "Perhaps being infused with a lion has made her naturally more aggressive. No cubs to protect of course, but she will protect herself at all cost. A primal instinct to exist, to survive. Whereas you Uzumaki." He stopped next to her cage and reached deep into his pockets.

"You, harboring a fox within, require a little more motivation. Foxes are known for their cunning, stealth... And oh so unique, famous even, since of greed." I gripped the bars of my cage, a deep growl starting to erupt from my throat.

"I suppose all I'd have to do to provoke you is…" The so called doctor pulled out a forearm sized black blade from his coat pocket. "Mess with something that's yours, eh?"

xXx

A gruesome roar could be heard in an otherwise quiet forest. My vision changed, and I knew I had tapped into my inner beast. I looked up at a now silent Hinata, a hungry stare now turned surprised as she simply looked down at me in awe.

"Hey, you in there?" The roar had been big enough to knock her out of her bloodlust, but I still didn't seem to wake her up from her primal binge.

I continued to stare back at her, until thankfully her expression changed. From awe to joy, her fearsome leering turning into an open mouthed grin. She smiled down at me, teeth still proudly bared. Giving me a light, affectionate purr. Finally giving up on holding me down and placing her head on my chest. I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding and held her in my arms.

*sigh*

"These little episodes are getting a little too close for my comfort, you know that?" All I got was a purr back in response. "I'll start biting back if I have too." I gently rubbed my now healing fingers. But my complaints fell on deaf ears as I soon realized she was fast asleep.

"Well… better a pillow than food I guess." I scooped her up and carried her to the base of a tall oak. Sitting down I placed her head carefully against my shoulder and sat her in my lap as I leaned back against the large tree.

I looked down carefully at the girl in my arms. She still resembled the Hinata I knew. Long Indigo hair matted from what I assumed was our months of captivity. Beautiful skin as pale as the rising moon above us. And a grey sweat suit the only thing covering her curvaceous form from the bitter cold of the winter air. Her feet bare and soiled from the rough forest ground.

A strong gust of cool air passed by us, sending her into a fit as she hugged me tighter in her sleep. 'Ouch' My only complaint being the razor sharp nails repositioning themselves on my torso. Although when she was finally comfortable again, she gave off a soft purr.

'Hm, she's almost like a big kitten when she's like this. Or maybe werewolves are like puppies... right? Wait. Werelion??' I could feel myself blushing from the closeness of her.

'Get it together man, you're holding a fucking killer in your arms. Not Hinata. You can crush over her when she's back to normal.'

My mental fortitude lasted all of about ten seconds, as her constant adjusting in my lap was a bit much for one young man to handle. But my dilemma was short lived as I encountered a much greater obstacle than a curvy girl sleeping on me.

I looked up at the passing clouds to notice that the moon had illuminated our night. Shining down brightly on us even in the full envelopment of night and the quickly passing clouds. But when the remainder of the clouds finally passed, it left us with the beauty of a gorgeous full moon. And the site of it was...

Intoxicating.

I could feel my eyes changing form to fully embrace the sight. My pulse quickening as I felt my body begin to change under the Moons powerful gaze.

'What's happening to me?' Strangely enough I had gone the entire three days without so much as a bite of Hinata's food.

'But right now I could probably eat anything.' The word "anything" echoed in my mind as my gaze dropped down to a peacefully sleeping Hinata. Safe In my arms.

'No, not safe.' I found myself feverishly staring at her up and down. My sights finally settling on her neck. 'I can almost feel the pulse of her blood rushing through her body. Bluffing through her skin. It'd only take one bite...' I could feel myself lowering my mouth to her neck. Mouth agape, wanting desperately to have a piece of her Between my teeth. To feed on her exposed flesh.

"No!" I stood up with a purpose, suddenly dropping a now, rather annoyed Hinata on the ground as I broke out north towards the tree line in a dead sprint. Running blindly into the thick forest.

'I. Need. To. Get. Away. From. Her.' Basic thoughts came in choppy pieces as I could feel the moon taking a hold of me. Churning my strong will into primal desire. A desire to feed.

'I need something. Anything.'

I could feel my heart trying to beat its way out of my rib cage, the sound of rushing blood drowning out my ear drums. The scenery around me fading as I pushed myself to run faster and further into forest. My last thoughts still echoing loudly in my head.

'Anything.'

xXx

A/N: Can Naruto keep calm? Is Sakura gone for good? Let me know what you think.