Shizune hid at the mouth of the cave; it had taken her a while to find where they were, it had been Tonton who had found them in the end.
I wonder how they found this place, I don't think even Tsunade-sama knows of this. What should I do? As expected of these two, they've guarded the entrance with seals to keep anyone out; I need to do something to test them further... For Tsunade's wish to be fulfilled. That Kakashi, wanting them to confess their love for each other... Tsunade-sama needs focussed Shinobi in Konoha. If they did end up together, it would be a hazard in missions.
The kunoichi thought for a while, then clicked her fingers.
That would work! Sorry Tsunade-sama, but I'm going against you on this one. For once I'm doing it my way.
She stuck the small pieces of paper to the cave mouth and left.
There! Oh... I hope there's nothing dangerous in that cave... Ah! I'm sure they can handle it! See you in Konoha guys!
"Oh no..." Sakura sighed the next morning; she'd woken up and dressed before Naruto and was no fully clothed and equipped while he rubbed his eyes, having just opened them. His tousled blond hair pointing every which way as he sat up and looked at his friend.
"What's wrong Sakura-chan?"
She turned to him with her hands on her hips, quite clearly pissed off.
"We've been sealed in!"
"What?! Sealed in?! But- HOW?!"He jumped out of the bed and ran over to the cave entrance, only to be stopped in his tracks by the seal on the other side. Sakura punched the wall in frustration; her fist almost reached the other side of the wall but was stopped by the seal.
"Damn!" She punched it again, "Damn! Damn! Damn!"
"So they're still testing us." Naruto picked up his Konoha headband and tied it around his head, "We'll have to find a different way out I guess."
The girl relaxed and smiled apologetically at him, "Yeah, sorry I got so worked up, one of us had to I guess." She smiled, and so did Naruto, only two years ago he'd been so easily riled that it got in the way of missions countless times. He wasn't kidding anyone, he still got frustrated easily and could get extremely impulsive sometimes, but he had matured and mellowed down a little, and he could think out the consequences of his actions... even if he ignored them. It had to be said though, Sakura would only freak out in situations where there was no danger, and in the field she kept her cool and used tactics. Now she was older though, she'd fight more too.
Naruto got up and went to get dressed while Sakura examined the cave mouth. Once the blond ninja was ready, they sat down together and discussed their options.
They didn't notice a pair of red eyes watching them from the dark recesses of the cave.
Tsunade and Shizune sat together on the balcony of the Hokage building. The blonde woman was idly checking her scratch cards and pouring yet another cup of sake for herself.
"So I sealed them inside." Shizune glanced at her friend and mistress cautiously, but there were no visible signs of wrath on the woman's face so she put her hand to Tonton's head and petted it absentmindedly.
"That was unusually risky for you Shizune. I'm surprised at you." The female Hokage smiled. "It sounds like something I'd have done. You're gambling with their lives, a cave we didn't know about... There of all places." She sipped at her sake after finishing all of her scratch cards... None of them had won... that was a relief. Bad things happened when Tsunade won. Her two sweet kiddies were ok. For now at least.
She did have a sort of maternal love thing going on with those two. She couldn't help it.
She got up and walked back into the office.
I just wish that I could go on those missions too, damned office job.
"I give those two five days before we go to search for them." She called back.
"So I guess it's our only option." Sakura agreed, getting up from her place on the floor and dusting herself off, she looked at the seemingly impenetrable blackness at the back of the cave and sighed, she could feel a heavy weight in the pit of her stomach. Something was wrong somehow. And now they were going to explore it.
Can't wait(!)
I bet. You'll get lost you know, and then you'll be nothing but a burden to Naruto, something worthless. Just like before.
Stop it.
He'll wish he'd never come back, never been put on the same team as you.
Stop it!
Then- who knows? Maybe you two will find something in that tunnel, maybe you'll hold him back, and he'll get hurt protecting you. Maybe you won't be able to heal him...
I said STOP IT! You're in my head, but you're not me, you're NOT! I know that I've improved; you just want me to depend on you. If we do get into trouble then I'll help Naruto, not be a problem, not anymore.
You really think I'm not you? Maybe I'm the real you, the one who's trying to voice the truth.
Nope, I don't believe that. Not anymore.
The girl picked up a torch and held it up to illuminate the tunnel that they had decided to follow. Naruto stood by her side.
"Here goes nothing, you ready?"
"Sure Sakura-chan! Let's get out of this crappy mountain." He looked annoyed and Sakura understood; he didn't like being trapped.
They both advanced into the darkness.
Whew, this place is really cold. Naruto thought, shaking in his orange jacket, he glanced at his companion in concern, she wasn't wearing anything you'd call warm. But she didn't seem the least bit cold, in fact, her face was slightly flushed and she had a look of impatient determination on her face. Her green eyes were shimmering slightly and she was breathing slowly.
She looks completely unaffected by the cold. Is that some sort of medical ninjutsu?
No kid, she's just in more control of herself than you could ever hope to be. Honestly, you're useless. Never heard of "Mind over matter"? She's not letting herself be cold.
Not letting herself
No. She's controlling her body temperature with the power of her mind, a handy technique, and it uses up miniscule amounts of chakra... That Hokage woman must have taught it her. The girl has a good mind... I gotta say I wish she was my Jinchuuriki...
Hey... About what you said before... About hurting her. You- you can't really do anything can you? I mean... You're sealed securely right?
Hey... You listening?!
Heh...
Bijuu? Don't... please... Even if you ever break out somehow, or- or gain control... Don't hurt her. You owe me... I'm your landlord right?
Don't start kid.
Naruto took that for as close an assurance as he was going to get, so he sighed in something close to relief. He wondered how Sakura would react if she knew that he could talk to the Kyuubi monster inside him, and since recently, they'd been having uncomfortably lengthy conversations. She'd probably get freaked out... Talking to people, or monsters, in your head... that was something only crazy people did... right?
Ironic really, because at that moment... Sakura was thinking the same thing, about her inner person. The friends really were more alike than they realised.
Sakura controlled her breathing and kept her mind open as they walked steadily through the darkness, she couldn't help feeling troubled at this constant darkness, were they walking down a ramp? It felt like it.
Maybe this wasn't such a good idea... It's so dark and cold here, it's difficult to believe that it's still morning outside.
She glanced at Naruto; he was shaking with the cold. Obviously Jirayia hadn't taught him to manage his own body temperature the way Tsunade had taught Sakura. Maybe she should teach him at some point, maybe she should do it now? They didn't exactly have much else to do.
"Sakura-chan... I noticed that you... you're not cold." Naruto said, between shaking and his teeth chattering, he swore it got colder with every step he took.
"Yeah, and I noticed that you... you are cold. Naruto, do you want me to teach you how to control your body temperature? Tsunade-sama taught me how." She punched his arm lightly, and started to explain the theory behind mind over matter.
After an hour or two (it was difficult to tell in the tunnel), Naruto had grasped the basics and could keep himself warmish... as long as he concentrated quite hard. He was putting this to use as they kept walking, and Sakura found herself slowing the pace so that she could make sure he didn't trip or fall over while he was concentrating on keeping warm.
It still takes him a little while to grasp new concepts but his improvement is remarkable, since the last time we learnt a new technique together he's improved in his learning abilities. I have to say, it's definitely a relief.
"How are you doing?" she asked, as they turned a corner to the right. Naruto grinned and rubbed his head.
"I think it's getting easier you know, I'm putting less and less effort into it but the results are the same!"He gave her a thumbs-up and she nodded.
"Oh good. Wait- what was that noise?" They both stopped and listened to the distant tapping, it sounded like something knocking against wood...
Both ninja's took out some shuriken and crept onwards, Sakura extinguished the torch and they headed towards the noise, relying only on their sense of hearing as a guide, moving slowly so as not to trip or bump into anything. A faint light was just visible in the distance, so they crouched down and approached with caution, Sakura leading since, she thought, she could easily dodge a surprise attack, giving Naruto time to go all Kage Bunshin on their assailants.
Suddenly the tunnel was filled with a bright light and strangely shaped blades came spinning towards them, Sakura and Naruto had already jumped up to avoid any attack and they ran along the ceiling, presenting a more difficult target while their eyes got over the flash of light. Was this still part of the test?
The tunnel shook violently like a severe earthquake, Sakura jumped back to the floor and with a shock realised that she was now in a shallow pool of water. Her eyes adjusted enough to make out a figure standing about eight feet away from her. She threw a shuriken at it which was easily dodged. She blinked several times; where was Naruto?
The water directly in front of her burst upwards and she ran backwards, not on the surface of the water as she wanted to conserve her chakra. Her vision cleared enough and she saw that the man in front of her was holding his arm high.
Oh god... Please... No!
She knew that man too well. She had the face carved into her mind so clearly. She gritted her teeth in determination. Knowing the outcome of this battle, which it would go in his favour... But she'd be damned before she let him get out of it unscathed.
"So it looks like you're still after Naruto huh? Uchiha Itachi!" She threw her other shuriken at him and ran at him with a kunai drawn, which, after dodging the shuriken, he easily batted out of her hand. She grabbed his wrist and brought forward her other hand which was curled into a fist.
Her fist connected with his shoulder and she heard bones break, she grinned in satisfaction. He had so clearly underestimated her. If he'd been sufficiently alert, he could have easily countered that attack. But something was still on her mind.
Where is Naruto? Don't tell me that other Akatsuki guy has him? Kisame? No, Naruto wouldn't be taken so easily.
She dodged a fist and took care not to look Itachi in the eyes, or even at any of his skin. In case he caught her in that illusion world of his.
At least I've hurt him now. If this is it, I'm glad I got him.
She knew the instant that he caught her. A subtle change in the light of the cave alerted her to it. She closed her eyes in annoyance.
So quickly... I got caught so quickly...
She looked him in the eyes.
"How long will this one last?" His red eyes narrowed.
"So you noticed. That is... not a problem."
She was shocked out of the illusion by a small amount of foreign chakra. Naruto had instantly caught hold of her and pulled her out of the illusion.
"I'm sorry I took a while getting here Sakura-chan."
He'd pulled his forehead protector down over his eyes. He reached out and did the same to Sakura, who was lying on her back in the water. She stood up and turned to face Itachi. Time to put into practice a new technique the two had thought up with Kakashi.
They both sent out tendrils of chakra and caught hold of Itachi, now they would always know where he was, as long as they could hold up this exhausting technique. Itachi stood still though. Unsheathing a katana he laughed softly.
"The Jinchuuriki is mine." He whispered. His voice sent chills down Sakura's spine and Naruto bit his lip, drawing blood. They were both terribly afraid, they knew where Itachi was, but, now that their eyes were bound, they couldn't see the area around them. Itachi still had the advantage over them.
Sakura stood firm. She would not flee, she would not lose, and, most importantly, she would not let the Akatsuki have Naruto. Even if the worst happened and she failed, she would not give up; even if the Bijuu was extracted and Naruto died... well... she'd watched Elder Chiyo's technique very carefully.
As I said before, I'd give my life to protect him, as my closest friend, I will not let him die.
Yes, we will protect our friends with our lives as Shinobi... Hell yeah girl!
Let's go.
"I swear Itachi; I will never let you get him." She said in a low, dangerous tone.
"You think that you can stop me? The Kyuubi is mine already. How fortunate that you both happened by my home today. I've been contemplating my next attempt on the Kyuubi but now I see there is no point in planning... He always comes to us first."
"Why you- You sick bastard!" Naruto yelled, and Sakura could feel waves of chakra emanating from him, she prayed that he would remain calm, that he'd remain in control. His anger could be so fearsome when it was truly unleashed. This is what Kakashi had warned her about; he'd given her that little seal for if it got out of control.
"But..." Itachi murmured, "What should I do with you little girl?" He laughed, and Naruto got even angrier. "How should I deal with you? Hmm... Maybe I'll take you alongside the Jinchuuriki, make you watch it die..." Naruto could feel his blood heating up, raging inside of him. "Maybe, after that... Oh I don't know... should I let you live? Keep you until little brother finds me? Make you watch him die too? Then that man, Kakashi? I could do so much to kill you, but I think that your physical death should wait until you're completely broken inside..." He laughed that laugh again. "Or maybe I'll kill you here, now. Yes, I don't think that you'd be worth all that effort... I'll kill you now, and make the Jinchuuriki watch. You can't really stop me, you've become blind, relying on your chakra strings, like a puppet master but weaker, and they only tell you where I am. You can't stop me."
Naruto couldn't take much more of this taunting, he wasn't in the mood to chat. He let out an inhuman roar and charged at the Uchiha. Who easily deflected the attack, even with his shattered right shoulder bone. Sakura threw two shuriken at his injured side and Itachi jumped out of the way. Sakura felt the waves of red chakra coming from her teammate who pursued their enemy, and knew that it was happening. She removed her blindfold and looked up at the roof of the cave, she was right.
They were in a large cavern of some sort, standing in an underground lake, still inside the mountain, Itachi and Naruto were fighting each other, both hanging upside down from the high roof, leaving Sakura forgotten beneath them. Naruto was bathed in red chakra, already showing two red demon tails.
Her eyes widened. She had to stop this. In this state... he may well defeat Itachi, who was already weakened, but the cost was too great. She had to force the chakra back, and even with only two tails out of nine, it would leave him exhausted.
The orange blur darted at Itachi whose usually passive eyes widened in something resembling fear, the Jinchuuriki was so fast. He'd known that this one could access the powers to a certain extent but this was unprecedented, it seemed that when it was riled, the Jinchuuriki would become possessed by the Bijuu inside.
I wonder how they force it back in...
They locked themselves in mortal combat. And this time. Itachi was the one at the disadvantage.
He wasn't allowed to kill the Jinchuuriki, and he didn't have that sort of power, and he was the only one seriously injured.
Another tail emerged from the Jinchuuriki.
Itachi knew defeat when he saw it; his Mangekyou Sharingan wouldn't trap a Bijuu.
He ran away.
"COME BACK HERE YOU COWARD!" Naruto shouted, his voice tinged with a demon roar. He began to chase after Itachi but his path was blocked by a pink haired girl. Her green eyes narrowed at him in determination. She put something on his forehead just as he threw her out of the way.
The girl crashed into the cavern's wall and Naruto could feel his anger receding, ebbing away as his eyes closed slowly. Why was he so tired?
They fell into the shallow lake at opposite sides of the cavern.
As Naruto's eyes closed completely, he was vaguely aware that somewhere inside himself, he was crying.
Tsunade gasped in horror. She put a hand to her heart and closed her eyes. The scratch card that she had been holding fell from her hand, joining several more... all of them wins.
"SHIZUNE!" She yelled at the top of her voice, the pale girl ran in instantly.
"What-what is it Tsunade-sama?" She panted. Then stopped when she noticed the winning scratch cards. "Oh! That's wonderful! It reminds me of the time you won on those fruits machines! Right before... oh... right before that fight with Orochimaru... so, this means that Naruto-kun and Sakura-chan are in trouble..." She frowned in sadness.
"Send ANBU to the cave NOW! I don't blame you for this Shizune, I swear."
"Yes mistress..." Shizune ran to get ANBU.
You may not mistress... but I do.
Sakura regained consciousness slowly.
God... My head is killing me...
She tried to get up but whimpered in pain. She had a damaged spine, three broken ribs, and a crushed left arm... from what she could tell. She concentrated and slowly gathered up enough chakra to heal herself, it would take some time, but she didn't need to do that much... Just enough to be able to walk and check on Naruto. He wouldn't die on her watch.
She smiled grimly and licked some blood from the side of her mouth. Her teammates came before herself... That was the purpose of a medic ninja.
She got up slowly, testing her feet and how much control she had over her own body. She looked over to the orange figure lying face up in the water. At least he was face up. She healed herself as she limped towards her friend.
When she reached his side she fell to her knees and lifted his head into her lap; he was unconscious, as she'd feared. She gently peeled the seal off his headband and pulled the black band up from his eyes to rest once again on his forehead. She stroked his cheek with a sad smile and concentrated on the healing.
After what seemed an age, he began to stir. His eyelids fluttered once before closing again. Sakura patted him slightly.
"Don't try to open your eyes yet, I'm still healing you baka Naruto." She dashed some tears from her eyes before he tried to open his again. "Honestly, making me worry about you again! I hope that this won't become a habit."
Damn straight!
Quiet, I'm just glad he's awake.
What? You're the one who said it first!
"What the hell are you saying? Kisame!"
"You heard me... the Akatsuki leader just found out himself... There is a tenth Jinchuuriki!"
"No... The other part, the part about who it is!" Itachi caught the cloak of his friend in his fury. "You should have told me this earlier!"
"The tenth Jinchuuriki is the ten-tailed Bijuu, the inner child. It's been missing for many years, and has been passed down through generations. The Sakura. It is Kyuubi's teammate."
"And to think... I almost killed it."
Naruto tried to open his eyes again, his entire body was soaking wet... he must have fallen into the lake. He looked up but could only see bright light, he blinked several times but couldn't focus at all so he closed his eyes again and sighed.
How had he gotten here? Oh yes... that's it... he'd been fighting Itachi in that brightly lit cave with the lake... that must be where he was now. And then he'd felt so- so angry it was unbelievable, it was like when he was fighting Gaara all those years ago. Then... oh yes... he'd felt the Kyuubi's control for a bit, and... How many tails?! How many tails came out?! How much control had he lost?! He could remember something of that time... but what?
Argh! What happened? I remember... I had a tail of the Kyuubi's...
You don't want to know kid...
What happened?
You're not strong enough to protect her...
Who? Oh... no...
He tried to open his eyes again, it was easier this time, and he could focus a little better. There was a hand moving over his head, with green chakra emanating from it, healing chakra. He was being healed? Now that he thought about it, he was feeling less pain with every second that passed. Sakura?
"Sakura-chan?" His voice was hoarse, and it grated along his throat as he said it. He knew this feeling... the Kyuubi had possessed him again.
"Yes Naruto, I'm here. You had a few tails but I used Kakashi's seal and-well... You collapsed." She shifted on her heels slightly, the water was freezing cold, she had to get them both to dry land as soon as possible.
"Sakura-chan, did I... I don't really remember much... Did I do anything? To you?"
"Ah... No." She smiled. "As if I'd let you."
"I know but- when I'm like that-" He stopped; he'd never really discussed the Kyuubi with Sakura before. And then he sat up straight and grabbed her by the shoulders, causing her to wince.
"I did this didn't I? I knew it!" He crashed back to the floor and put his hands over his face. "I'm so sorry. I really-"
"No! It wasn't you Naruto, it wasn't! The fact that you can only partially remember is proof! It was an accident of the Kyuubi's, that's all, brought out because you didn't want Itachi to hurt your friend." She narrowed her eyes at him. "Now keep still and let me heal you!"
He gave up, he couldn't defy her in this state. He couldn't defy her in any state. She used the green chakra to heal him completely, He had some sprains, cuts, bruises, the odd broken bone from the fall and she healed them all. He could feel himself becoming stronger again and he looked at her again. He couldn't believe what he'd done...
Her cheek had split open, she had severe bruising on her face and neck, her arms and legs were covered with cuts and bruises varying in severity. He top had torn across her left shoulder and her boots were torn as well.
How was there so much damage? How had the Kyuubi done so much without him realising? He saw her wince again and roll her shoulder before continuing the healing, he looked away. The medic ninja's, he knew, weren't common, and yet they healed other teammates before themselves. He felt the Kyuubi stir and ignored it. He didn't trust himself to speak to it.
If he'd done something to hurt her this badly... why had the Kyuubi stopped?
"Sakura-chan... How did it happen?"
"Hmm? Oh... it... I'll tell you after, I need to concentrate." Her forehead was beginning to perspire with effort. She was coming within reach of her limit.
"Stop now Sakura-chan, I'm fine."
She shook her head. "Not yet."
"Please stop Sakura-chan... Please." He took a hold of her wrists and sat up in the water, keeping his face averted. "Don't heal me anymore." She looked at the back of his head in vague surprise, then lowered her head to look down at the water.
"I don't blame you Naruto. Not for anything." She got up, pulling out of his grasp and walked away from him, towards the edge of the lake. "I really don't."
"How can you not blame me?" Naruto asked, his voice trembling. "This fight, they came after me, I'm the one who couldn't control the Kyuubi which hurt you. I've hurt you a lot... I can't help it I just- keep failing you, in every way... I'm the one who couldn't bring him back for you!" He ended up shouting, still facing the other way, kneeling in the water with clenched fists trembling.
"And I'm the one who made you promise. I shouldn't have done that, put you in that position... You had other things to take care of. How can you not blame me? I've hurt you too Naruto... too much."
They were both silent for some time, neither wanting to turn and face the other, it seemed too invasive to look and see each other.
Then they looked, and smiled a little, because they knew what it was to be forgiven, and to forgive. They had never even thought of blaming each other, but forgiveness was needed or else they could never move on from the dark memories and pains holding them back. Forgiveness was needed... and given readily.