Authors notes: Its been a little over a week...I know, sorry if you were waiting but my computer kicked the bucket and left me stranded...why? Riida why? lol if your wondering that was the name of my laptop (if you don't know riida mean leader in japanese and I took it from Ohno Satoshi who his group calls him leader) and I had to do some sketches for a class but still I wanted to get something out and I kept on thinking that it was too short and plus I was doing it on my small screened phone so...basically it was no good. I hope that you guys enjoy it, hope that it's not too drawn out and have to many mistakes for you guys and thank you for reading...if you read it that is ;)
As Naruto and the gang raced back to konoha, Naruto caught up to Kakashi who was leading the pack through the trees.
"Hey Kaka sensei how did the mission go?" He looks around just noticing that Sai wasn't there, so he asks that too. "Where's Sai?"
Kakashi turns his head to look at Naruto taking him in with his air of nonchalance. Lifting an eyebrow he says, "I bet you just realized Sai wasn't here." He says laughing but quickly getting serious.
"We never made it there." Sighing he continued reluctantly Naruto noticed, wondering why. "And Sai is now on a top secret mission as we speak."
It was something about the way he said it that made Naruto pause and think he should ask more but with it being a himitsu and all, he wasn't going to get anywhere especially with Kakashi. Sighing he decided to leave it alone but to him...Kaka sensei seemed a little out of it, depressed so to speak and that wasn't like him. Whatever Sai was in must be some deep shit Naruto thought risking a glance at Sasuke who settled next to him for the remainder of the journey. But as he trailed behind with the Uchiha beside him, he just kept thinking and replaying the attack on Sasuke and him, Sai's and Sakura's absence. What was really at play here?
(Outside of Tsunade's office)
Sai watched from the shadows as Sakura rushed out of Tsunade's office. He looks on as she mutters to herself and trashes the stack of papers she has into the nearest trash bin. Just as Sai was about to step out of the shadows to follow her he stops in his tracks as he starts to hear loud talking coming their way, Sakura hears too but its too late for her to escape as the familiar faces of her team turns the corner and almost runs straight into her.
"Hey Sakura chan," Naruto is the first to greet. But he's blatantly ignored as Sakura only has eyes for Sasuke, Naruto looks hurt but quickly brushes it off with one of the many excuses he uses for Sakura and her behavior towards him. She was mean when they first formed team seven but it was getting better he thought...but now she totally avoids him or when nobodies around she says slick things that could be taken as a joke or her just being mean. Naruto chooses to believe the former. He doesn't want to be the cause of any problems, so he decided to keep it quiet but he wonders if that was a wise decision as he watched her fawn all over Sasuke and give him her back. He was just about to walk around them to Tsunade baachan's office when Kiba said in a nasty voice.
"Damn Sakura you'd swear you only had one teammate by the way you just brushed Naruto off and went straight to Sasuke. Naruto was hurt too you bitch!" Kiba said stunning Naruto.
He knew that Kiba, who was one of his best friends didn't like Sakura in the least and one of the biggest mouths in konoha but...wait a minute is that suna he heard? Turning to look at the only red haired person in the hallway...Gaara, who was indeed letting his sand leak and run on the floor. By the murderous look on his face Naruto knew he was beyond pissed. Naruto couldn't blame them, he was feeling a bit raw himself knowing that she could care less if he was hurt or even killed he thought with a grimace.
"Can we stop this...I'm use to all of it so just stop it." As the last words come out his mouth he knew he shouldn't have said them because all eyes were just suddenly on him. But of course Sasuke beat everyone to the punch by saying in a deadly voice, "What do you mean by that?"
"Nothing...so lets drop this." Naruto said pushing through the crowd until he stood in front of Tsunade's door with his hand on the knob. Turning around to look at everyone but lingering a little longer on Sakura who had a nerve to look embarrassed.
"Really I'm fine, there has been people since the day I was born who looked down on me. There's always going to be someone who doesn't like another for some reason or another, you learn to get use to it." And with that Naruto smiled and turned on his heels and went through the now open door that led into Tsunade's office.
It was silent in the hallway as everyone took in Naruto's words. Kiba, Gaara, and Konohamaru sent Sakura their deadly stares before following Naruto. Lee looked upset but kept his mouth shut as he walked passed the girl he loved...loved not love he thought as he entered the room. Shikamaru followed muttering to himself about how everything was troublesome with Kakashi and Yamato. The last two standing in the hallway (that they knew off) was Sasuke and Sakura. Sakura could tell that Sasuke was angry, the side of his jaw kept clenching and unclenching just like his hands as if he wanted to strangle her, Sakura thought. But as she watched him take a slow breath to gain back some of his composure Sakura decided to chance it by speaking up.
"Sasuke...are you okay?" She said reaching out to touch him, but before her fingers could touch the sleeve of his shirt he moved in a blur. She didn't see him but she felt him as his fingers dug into her neck as he slammed her into the wall, lifting her a few feet off the ground. All she could do was grunt at the force of which Sasuke used. As he leaned in towards her Sakura noticed that his eyes had changed, to that deadly red color and she realized that Sasuke could kill her.
Sakura started to breakout in a sweat and go pale Sasuke thought as he watched true fear grow in her eyes. She must have thought that he was playing but realized her mistake...a little too late for that. He never plays around when it comes to someone he loves, she just stepped on a landmine he thought and smirked at her. That caused her to struggle and that made Sasuke tighten his grip on her neck making her turn purple in the face but relaxed his grip a little. He didn't want to kill her but teach her a lesson that she would hopefully never forget unless she wanted him to finish what he started today. As Sasuke looked at her he pondered if he should really do it, he had a feeling that she wasn't the type to heed his warning as he thought of the multiple times he told her and the countless other girls that he wasn't interested. But he didn't want to disappoint the one person that truly mattered...his Naruto. Sighing he loosened his grip some more and leaned in further to whisper in her ear.
"Sakura this will be the one and only time that I'm going to tell you this so listen real good...okay?" He said waiting to see her response, when she nodded her head tentatively he went on. "If I hear one thing about you bad mouthing or plotting something that deals remotely with Naruto or anyone that has a Na. a Ru. or a To in their name your finished, history. People will start to wonder what happened to that bubblegum pink haired girl...because you know what?" He said turning those piercing red, demonic looking eyes to her. The way those eyes looked at her she'd swear that he could see straight into her soul which made her breakout in hives and hitch her breath. Did he know? He didn't know, he couldn't know. She was so careful...no no he didn't she thought with a laugh but soon felt herself losing oxygen as Sasuke started to tighten his grip on her neck making her remember that he was waiting for her to answer him. Quickly nodding her head. Sasuke smirked, " Then tell me what would happen Sakura chan ~"
"Yo...you will...kill m...me?" Sakura said stumbling over her words.
"Thats not it, nope not in the least. You know I got Susanoo under control now," He leaned in closer touching his lips to her ear. "We could play with you for days, even weeks. The first couple of minutes you'll be begging for us to kill you but we won't, we'll just laugh as we watch you go mad and you know what? I think that I'll even use the sharingan on you, to make you experience the pain and torture over and over again, just for a little added fun of course. So Sakura when I say don't mess with Naruto again I mean it and I won't hesitate to kill you. In fact I would be just ridding the world of another stupid, useless girl." He ended laughing so close to her ear she startled jerking against Sasuke's hold. He let her go so abruptly that she ended up on the floor looking beyond pale and shaky as she watched Sasuke turn on his heels and enter the room without so much as a second glance.
Sakura stayed there astonished at what just happened. Sasuke the bastard who did he think he was talking to? No no Sakura don't get mad at him, yeah it wasn't his fault, he had no choice in the matter. Yeah he had to try and...and do what? She didn't know but one thing for sure Naruto was going to pay. If it wasn't for him then Sasuke wouldn't have spoken to her like that or the others wouldn't have looked at her like she was the scum stuck to the bottom of their shoes. They wouldn't have been like that towards her if Naruto Uzumaki wasn't here and in her way of love. She seen the way Sasuke looked at him and she hated it! Why couldn't he look at her like that? He will she told herself, it's only a matter of time that Sasuke will see what he's missing and come crawling to her. Yes! Then they could be together, marry, have kids...a girl and a boy that looks just like Sasuke. But first she had to get rid of Uzumaki.
Sai looked from the shadows as Sakura composed herself and started to smile, then laugh. Whatever she was thinking it wasn't pleasant in the least Sai thought as he watched her lose her lost and pale look. As she stood up a little shaky Sai noticed that she was chanting one word over and over...Naruto. Did Sasuke not realize that he was dealing with a basket case, who wouldn't go after him but the one she sees causing all of her problems? God, he had to hurry up and find out if she was the one behind the attack against Naruto and...Sasuke, hmmm no it wasn't against Sasuke too, he just was there in the crossfire Sai thought sure of himself. He came out of his thoughts just in time to see Sakura punch through the wall and growl out Naruto name with so much hate before she was gone...just gone right in front of his eyes. What the hell just happened? Where did she go? Was the thoughts that plagued Sai as he left the shelter of the shadows to take a closer look at where Sakura was standing. Right when he moved up to get a better look, he felt it in the air...a summoning jutsu. Just his luck Sai thought as he knew he couldn't track her, it just reeked of power. Whoever that was working with her was powerful and they weren't expecting that. Damn this thing just got a hundred times more difficult Sai thought as he turned on his heels and walked into Tsunade's office with everyone else. He knew that he wasn't going to be on her good side for this...ahhh some days he wished...wished what? He didn't know but he wouldn't want to be him right at this moment.
...
"What do you mean she escaped?!" Tsunade bellowed at Sai banging her hands on her desk. "Did she figure out that she was being followed?"
"I don't believe so and technically she didn't escape from me," Sai said pausing and in turn got a sharply raised eyebrow directed at him as if to say and?go on with it. He took a breath knowing that what he was about to say would change the whole game plan. It made Sakura seem more dangerous and that wasn't good...on her part anyway and Naruto's. Sai came to love team seven and now look at it. Sighing some more he looked up to find everyone's eyes on him. He was shocked that Tsunade didn't clear the room when he came walking in but all she said was not to use names.
"Well, all I can say is that she was summoned by someone with enough power to get her there with little to no detection." Sai told her and watched her face turn to dread then anger. He was sure she was thinking how could someone under my wing become like this?
"Do you think that she could have been coerced into participating in something like this?" But even to her ears she didn't sound convincing. Ugh Sakura was a smart girl she knew what she was doing and knew the risk. What could make her do something so underhanded like this? But she knew, just as she knew the sun would rise tomorrow. As she turned to look at the two who was the center of all of this. They were standing in the back of the room whispering to each other, Naruto looked embarrassed beyond belief. She smiled she loved the boy and have come to love Sakura but she vowed to protect Naruto with her life and she will do it even if it will cost her a ninja, nurse, and a daughter figure. Naruto was already family, her grandson in her mind, he reminded her so much of her little brother that it was scary at times but she wouldn't trade that for the world and definitely not Sakura Haruno.
"Sai keep doing what you've been doing, catch her in the act. Because if she or whoever's she's working with catch wind of this, I'm positive they'll disappear and do something drastic in the process." She said sitting down with a huff, she was exhausted from all the worrying about Naruto and this thing with Sakura. She barely slept, but now she could at least rest easy knowing that he was safe for now...hmmm she didn't like those words at all...for now? It just made her feel as if something sinister was in store for them and most of all Naruto.
"Ne ne Tsunade baachan, what was all that about?" He said snapping Tsunade out of her thoughts. She forgot that Naruto wouldn't mind his business...even though this concerned him more than anybody else in the room, since his life was the one in jeopardy.
"It has nothing to do with you, so don't ask again." She said on a sigh muttering for now at least. But as she looked back up she could have sworn that a few people actually heard her, first of all Sasuke Uchiha for one with his black pits were staring at her as if he could see right through her, she wanted to shiver under his intense scrutiny but resisted under the sheer purpose that she was the hokage, she didn't scare that easily. The next was Kakashi the super slacker but he wasn't slacking today to her utter dismay, it seemed as if he was a little more resigned then anything else as if he already knew. But she didn't want to tell him, not yet anyway...she wanted to be a hundred and fifty percent sure before she accused one of his students of trying to kill one of his other students. But it seemed as if the time has come as Yamato was giving her the same exact look. Then we had Shikamaru and Gaara she wasn't surprised in the least as they gave her their full attention. But she was surprised that little Konohamaru was tuned in as well, she was happy that Naruto, Lee, and Kiba was still oblivious to what was happening around them, let them stay like that for the time being. Tsunade just listened as Naruto blabbed to Kiba and Lee about getting some Ichiraku ramen after this. Tsunade realized that would be her way of getting rid of him, them...some if them anyway as she looked around.
"Naruto, Kiba, Lee, and Konohamaru don't you want to go and get some ramen, it'll be my treat." Naruto whipped his head around so fast Tsunade couldn't help but smile...hahaha she got him but Konohamaru decided to be the difficult one.
"Why? I want to know what's going on...I'm old enough to go on dangerous missions so why can't I hear about this one, I might even be of help." He said giving Tsunade a stern look as if that was suppose to back her down.
"Well you see, I'm the hokage and you follow my rules but I going to hold you to that so lets make this into a mission...shell we? You, Lee, and Kiba will guard Naruto and make sure that nothing happens to him while he's under your watchful eyes. But just so you know that if something does happen and Naruto does get hurt you're the one thats going to be in trouble and I'm not talking about something light either. Now is this dangerous enough for you?" Tsunade finished with a shit eating grin.
"Dammit Konohamaru look what you dragged me into, look here Tsunade sama I don't want any trouble...okay? can you not add me to missions that I didn't sign up for. Strictly putting it Naruto is a walking magnet for danger so we're bound to get into something. I don't want to end up at the mercy of you or anyone else...for that matter." Kiba said glaring at konohamaru as he said that.
Naruto decided to pipe up saying, "I can take care of myself, I don't need any guards and especially not these guys." He said jerking his thumb towards the ones in question but he pushed them aside saying, "But you can still treat me to some ramen."
"I don't have a problem with helping a friend, it'll be an honor." Lee said to Tsunade bowing but as he straightened back up he received a bone chilling glare from Kiba who wasn't the least bit honored.
"No no no all I want is the ramen, I'm starved can't you hear my tummy talking? He's saying feed me feed me. Come on we have to get some food in me before he tries to run away, come on mina~" Naruto whined rubbing his stomach.
Tsunade just looked at Naruto until he shut up and sighed dramatically raising his hands in the air in surrender mumbling fine but in exchange he wanted an all you can eat at Ichiraku. Tsunade then turned her stare to the other unwilling participant...Kiba until he let out a long drawn out sigh and nodded his understanding towards her. God how he hated his life right now. He just found out that his best friend was gay...gay like he couldn't believe it he was just chasing after that bitch Sakura the other day, and now he also just dragged him into his mess...some hero he was.
"Fine, whatever I don't want to know your secrets anyway." Kiba said turning away grabbing the collars of Naruto and Konohamaru vests as he exited through the door, all they heard was a bunch of kore's and teme's as the door shut behind them. Lee was left standing there but quickly followed them when Tsunade pointed to the door. He didn't have to be told twice.
There was a moment of silence until Sasuke decided to fill it in. Which Tsunade was dreading the most she didn't want to tell them. She didn't know how they would take the news especially Kakashi and Sasuke. Sakura was a member of their team and this was the biggest form of betrayal that Tsunade seen...well maybe not the biggest but it's up there.
"What have you been hiding from us?" Sasuke said getting straight to the point.
"I think I know what's going on but I hope you're wrong," Shikamaru said sighing. "This will crush him. He really liked her, it hurts him every time she treats him the way she does now."
"Just come out with it Tsunade, if he's right we at least have to know. We can't just let this go unnoticed even if we wanted too." Kakashi said leaning against the wall looking out the window.
"Okay I'll tell you." She said taking a deep breath then letting it out slowly. "We believe that what Shikamaru said is true, but we have no proof. We only have a feeling because she's been acting weird for a couple of months now, I just brushed it aside thinking that it was Sasuke problems again. But since this attack and Sai telling me about how she was treating Naruto I just started putting two and two together."
"So you're telling me that Sakura is the cause of this attack?" Sasuke asked quietly because he wanted to be absolutely sure.
"I said we think, there is no evidence that she was involved." Tsunade stated as she looked at him, " This is why I didn't want to tell anyone before I was absolutely sure. Look at yourself you're ready to bolt out of here and confront her aren't you? That would be a mistake, if and thats a big if...if she is one of the culprits what do you think she's going to do? Huh? I'm talking to you." Tsunade yelled getting everyone's attention. "She might do something unthinkable if cornered and we're not the ones in danger Naruto is. So before you decide to go and do something stupid think about who would be the one hurt, and she's not the only one we have to worry about."
"Dammit is there anything we can do." Sasuke asked running his fingers through his jet black hair with blue highlights. He was frustrated that there wasn't a damn thing he could do at the moment. Like hell he should have killed the bitch when he had the chance he thought as he clenched his fists.
"We can only wait until something happens but we'll have to keep an eye on Naruto. We'll need someone with him at all times, I don't want to take any chances." Tsunade said looking at everyone in the room as they all gave their consents to do what they can.
"I can stay with Naruto." Sasuke said and had the nerve to say it with a straight face.
"You just want to jump his bones." Shikamaru stated as he was sure everyone else was thinking the same.
"I think he should go back to sunagakure with me, it'd be safer and you guys here wouldn't have to worry so much." Gaara said putting the idea out there and looking at Sasuke all the while.
"The hell? He's not going there." Sasuke said giving Gaara his full attention. "Naruto will be just as safe here."
"Wait a minute, its not that bad of an idea." Tsunade said pondering the idea. If Naruto left konoha quietly with no one knowing, it should be fine...right?
"No, you can't honestly be thinking of going along with this?" Sasuke demanded turning his serious eyes on her. Tsunade just looked at him until he started to shift.
"Sasuke we're all here to help keep Naruto safe. If sending him away is the safer plan then so be it. I think he'd be better off somewhere else until all of this is settled...don't you?"
"Yeah but...we can keep this from him, he's already clueless so why can't we keep it that way? Plus he already knows about us guarding him."
"Yeah but he'll start to wonder why all the security and what we're keeping from him, he's not going to be oblivious the whole time." Tsunade stated the obvious as she looked around, and another thought came to her. "If we go with Gaara's plan we can even tell him its a mission or training. He doesn't have to go with Gaara, there is also Killer B and Raikage but I don't want anymore people knowing about this...so I guess Gaara is our best bet." Tsunade said more to herself than to anyone else in the room.
"Do you really think this is a go-" Sasuke was saying until Tsunade cut him off by addressing Gaara.
"Are you serious about this Kazekage? I don't want to bring trouble to your village." Tsunade asked Gaara who looked at her with his empty eyes but as she watched they filled with an intense intelligence...thats why he's the Kazekage she thought.
"I know the consequences of taking Naruto with me but I can keep him hidden and no one would be the wiser. Plus he's my closest friend, the one who is always there in my time of need...how could I turn away? I can't and I won't, I'll protect him with my power and the power of the sand village. We can even tell him that he's going with me to do Kage training, he'll believe that since I'm the Kazekage and he wants to be the Hokage." Gaara stated with a satisfied smirk in Sasuke's direction of course when Tsunade nodded in agreement.
"Okay since thats taken care of I'm sure I don't have to tell you all to keep this between ourselves." Everyone nodded but Sasuke still had one more question.
"When exactly are you planning to leave konoha Gaara?" Sasuke said dreading the answer. He just got Naruto and now he's about to lose him just as fast and he didn't even know how long he'd be gone for. Ugh fuck his life.
"As soon as I'm done here. Tsunade and I are only discussing where the next chunin exam should be held...so I should be done in the next day or two tops." Gaara said as he turned to look at Sasuke. "Is there a rea-" Gaara stopped short as he watched the door shut behind Sasuke.
As Sasuke left that bastard Gaara and the others he kept thinking about one thing, he had less than two days with Naruto.
Sasuke made his way down the hall towards the exit as he pushed opened the door, he hoped that Naruto was ready for him because it was going to be a very long and exhausting two days for them but very satisfying Sasuke thought with a smirk as he stepped out into the crisp night air.
