Uhm...Pigstyes DOESN'T OWN NARUTO. That's beautiful Kishimotos job x3

Our crazy protractor for this session of the exam, Mitarashi Anko, had just finished talking to everyone. I don't like her. Maybe if it were different circumstances…

Naruto began to mimic the crazy woman and I must admit, the kid knows how to make a person laugh heh...oh HELL NO! EW! Ughh...no, never mind, I really don't like her. She's such a bitch. Not to mention she was nice to that creepy ass grass nin that just handed her back her kunai stained with Narutos blood...now...it would have been normal if anyone else did it but this guy...oh ho ho. He hands it back with his long ass tongue...that's just...wrong on so many levels...ugh...I think I'm going to barf.

Back in our group we were all given these wavers for…if we die. Great huh? Although I don't really see what the big deal is, shinobi need to risk their lives every day. If I die here then, then I don't deserve to be a shinobi and I'll have gotten what I deserve.

"Geeze…" Shikamaru looked mellow as usual which is so like him. No matter what that guy can always keep his cool. Chouji however was another story. The poor guy was munching like crazy on his chips, a bad habit he has whenever he's nervous. I'm glad that I don't eat when I'm nervous. Then no guy would ever like me.

It took a pep-talk from the lazy ass and soon I was walking over to Anko to give her our registrations. "Don't need Sakura messing the order up." Those words rang through my ear and caused me to wince. Sasuke-kun…my darling seemed to have a pretty venomous tongue. Knowing Sakura she was probably sniffling like crazy. Oh well. Nothing I can do about it…well…actually….but…

Oh my Kami! Oh my Kami! Oh my Kami! While on our search for a team of shinobi weaker than us, (though Shikamaru deemed that impossible), we came upon Team 7. The team that had my ex-best friend, my crush, and…and…well…what was Naruto to me…no, no this is the wrong time to think of that!

The very same Rain Nin from before, the one with the revolting tongue, was currently beating up my loves team. Sasuke-kun was knocked out it appeared, yet there was this really weird purple haze swirling around him. I-I think that it's chakra but I have no clue why it would be such an ominous purple. I'm afraid.

Naruto was on propped halfway against a tree and Sakura was running to Sasuke. Grabbing him she tried to hoist him away but soon some those stupid sound nins were hurdling Kunai. I-I wanted to help but…but…how can I? I'd just cause trouble but..they need me-I stiffened as my gaze was drawn away from the pink haired girl to a more interesting object.

I'd like to say that my darling Uchiha was revived from his empty stupor- but that is not the case. No, it was that angry red chakra, those enhanced whiskers against his cheeks, the red eyes…the only word to describe them would be absolutely demonic. It was so weird. Usually they were such a dazzling blue but now…they were showing such a primal thirst for blood, for chaos, the resentment and, and- he smiled directly at our little ShikaInoChou group and I shivered. He knows. For a split second I feared that he might attack us instead of the enemy. It was, it was scary. Who knew that Naruto could ever look that blood thirsty and dare I say it, crazed?

Charging headfirst the blond snarled at them and his hands moved together as if he were going to use a jutsu, at least that's what it looked like, but soon he was clawing them and fighting just like an animal. Strange, I never noticed how animalistic he was but, the way he leaps branch to branch, those whiskers…Maybe I'll ask Kiba about it later since he seems pretty animalistic as well.

Red chakra swirling around Naruto in the vague shape of a tail, he swiped upwards palming one of the sound nins succeeding in a spray of blood splattering upon his tanned face. Another ninja suddenly appeared behind him and before I could even yell out a warning, without even turning around, an orange leg sweep kicked him. Naruto then cart wheeled twice and turning on his heal he slashed his claws into a shoulder. I winced yet couldn't close my eyes and I knew for a fact that neither of my team mates could. Their heavy breathing was proof of that.

Followed by more moves that seemed highly random and of the kind that were spurt of the moment I found my mouth dry. Even if I was capable of talking I wouldn't know what to say. This was just-amazing. He, we all thought he was a drop out. That he was the least capable, the worthless screw up.

Yet there he was, not Sasuke, conscious and fighting, kicking total ass, not like Sakura, not hiding, not crying into the lifeless (figuratively of course) corps that she,Sakura, couldn't protect. There he was, fighting for all of them, protecting all of them, with his life on the line. Inside me, overcoming the fear of him that I never knew I had was this... acceptance and respect that I've never felt before. Strange.

Narutos movements were a blur to my eyes until he froze and the blood drained from his face. The red faded away to show a baffled and fearful blue. The orange clad boy shivered and his eyes fluttered a few times, a tired smile ghosting across his face.

Then he fell.

There was a sharp intake of breath from the boys beside me and unable to take it any more, I leapt through the bushes. This team wouldn't make it-not in the mess that they'd been left in. "Naruto…" the name was a soft whisper through my barely cracked lips. It was a voice I'd never heard before. Let's put it up as extreme worry shall we?

"Naruto." I whispered yet again, this strange urge to caress his face tenderly came across me and I barely was able to stop myself as it stopped not even an inch away. My hand was so close that I could feel the heat rising from his tanned skin. Examining him head to toe for any injuries that I could maybe help dress up, I growled.

Behind me Sakura was sobbing and moaning. I mean, as horrible as it is...it's her own damn fault. Instead of holding on for dear life she should have run away or something. I needed to do something because…I sympathize...but…

Her hair was matted against her cheeks and as I called out to her she stared at me bleary eyed.

"I-ino?" her voice was pathetic. It was weak and desperate. "Are you alright?" she shook her head side to side, bust lip trembling. Reopening her eyes she seemed to have calmed down a tiny bit but then her eyes dragged themselves to the boy who's head had been moved onto my lap. "Na-nar" her eyes widened in slow motion and I winced.

Here we go…

"NARUTO!"

Said boy unexpectedly jumped up and out of nowhere was sitting up with a kunai. He was poised and ready for battle. Out of the corner of my eyes I saw him turning his head and looking to me with wide eyes.

"What is it Sakura?" Naruto jumped up and was well on his way down but I caught him. In thanks he gave me a heartwarming smile. If he can smile like that then he must be alright…Relief flooded my body, but I shivered hearing my once-upon a time best friend shrieking in fear.

"Sasuke won't wake up! How'll we make it to the tower now?"

There was a second of stiff angry silence , tension vibrated in the air. Where was it coming from?

"Maybe if you would've been protecting yourself instead of hiding behind Sasuke like some weakling, WE WOULDN'T BE HAVING THIS PROBLEM!"

Ah. Thats where...The silence came back with an unheard of fury and I suddenly became aware of my eyes shifting back and forth between Naruto and Sakura.

"I-I…You're right, I'm sorry Naruto and when Sasuke wakes I'll apologize too. Do you think he'll forgive me?"

Afraid on Sakuras behalf of what Naruto may let slip out I intervened "doubt so forehead girl, but he'll accept it."

Naruto nodded to me before speaking again, his voice hard yet somehow still retaining its kindness

"You might never get his trust back, Sakura, be prepared for that.", his voice became energetic once again, "Come on, Sakura-chan, we need to go the tower to get Sasuke some medical attention. Help me lift him."

The two proceeded to lift Sasuke up soundlessly. Soon enough they were leaving.

"I-ino."

Eh? Chouji stared at me nervously. Wonder what got his boxers in a bunch.

"What?"

His gaze shifted to the ground where he was drawling circles with his foot. "Do you think that they'll make it?"

Shit…Those guys just barely made it out alright… "I…"

"As long as they take all precautions they should be fine." I forced a smile at Shikamaru and Chouji "Y-yeh. They should be fine."

Strands of cotton candy pink flew past Sakura. They fluttered like butterflies in the wind, bending and twirling before finally falling to the floor.

Right before my very eyes Sakura was becoming a woman. That hair that she just cut off… I remember when we were told how Sasuke-kun likes girls with long hair.

And so I watched as Sakura was brutally beaten by these…these…animals. But she never gave up.

"From this day forward I will beat you." Sakura was handing me her red headband, the ribbon I gave to help her not hide her forehead. "No, its yours to keep." She shook her head, arm still extended. "I don't need this anymore because now I have this." She pointed to her forehead protector. Grasping the red ribbon I nodded.

She was so sure of herself. This was her choice. This was something neither of us could walk away from unchanged. And I shook her hand, red ribbon being the only thing binding us together.

Now on the ground, not too far was a pile of pink and Sakuras headband, the Konoha symbol sullied by dirt. Look at her now…how could she have changed so much? How could she have- she screamed.

Horrified, it took all I had to not scream alongside her and at the sight of her. She was crumpled to the ground, eye swollen from the punches from not letting go and holding on. Even in her most feeble attempt, biting at the sound ninja Zaku, she didn't stop. And here I am hiding in the bushes…Here I am…nothing…not even moving forewords. Staying the same and never ever moving forewords..am I even making an effort anymore?!

The fists curled up at my side were wound so tightly that the insides of my palms now had blood trickling down them. My eyes widened even more and a strangled sound was heard from…somewhere…

"Ino…try to be quiet…" Turning to Shikamaru I slowly realized where that weird sound originated from…that scared and frightened sound came from…me…

"Hai…" Closing my eyes to divert my attention, I was met with the sight of a smiling Sakura. She was beaming at me with admiration and-

"Ahh!" without my consent my eyes flared open and I saw Sakura huddled in front of Sasuke and Naruto.

'Damn it!' I swore to myself 'I can't stand this any longer!' my body was already moving when it was stopped, for a second, out of hesitation. 'What if's' plagued me and I turned to stare at my two team mates 'can I ask them to risk their lives for-' In their eyes I understood immediately what must be done. Shikamaru nodded lazily, but I could see into his eyes. He really wanted to help and I couldn't quite place it but there was a slight desperation in his eyes. Or maybe it was the reflection of my own eyes in his...I couldn't quite tell so...

Giving what I hoped was an encouraging smirk, I grabbed both my teammates, Chouji by his scarf (because he didn't have the guts to do so himself) we began our battle… Which eventually was…tied…I felt suddenly cold. Something bad was going to happen...I could feel it all throughout our battle.

Just as our battle was to progress even farther the handsome Neji Hyuuga, the boy I'd tried to seduce, showed up with his teammate, some girl with twin buns of brunette atop her head. They were about to fight when Neji stopped. I shivered from that feeling again, stronger than before. 'Something wasn't right!' my body screamed 'Run away! Run AWAY!'

"Sakura…Who did that to you?" everyone turned to face Sasuke-kun who had strange markings all over himself and again, that frightening aura around him. Such power such…such…blood thirst. I involuntarily shivered again 'why is everyone all of a sudden revealing such a blood thirsty and demonic side?!' I thought with wide eyes, unable to move.

The girl ninja and the ninja with the weird thing on his back seemed weary but that stupid cocky one (who by the way if wasn't such a bastard would tooooooooootally be attractive) smirked "I did it."

Everything from there went downhill….for them…but the one thing I know for sure is…that isn't the real Sasuke-kun.Sasuke-kun would never be like that. Not with those...eyes...no...

Things quickly progressed from 'Sasuke-kun' getting a satisfying revenge on Zaku by ripping apart his precious arms and the next Sakura was hugging 'Sasuke-kun' from behind trying to reawaken the real him. Then Naruto finally awakened with the help of Shikamaru and we were all on our way.

"Ino…." I turned to Naruto who had his cerulean orbs glimmering with curiosity. "Hai?" I looked behind myself and behind him. Our teams were waiting for us so I tapped my foot impatiently "What is it that you need eh?" He scratched the back of his spiky head and seemed to bite back whatever it was he was going to say then smiled cheesily "A-ah well I owe ya one so if you ever need to be saved you know uh….I'll be there. I promise!"

My cheeks warmed up. No one had ever….

"Tch. Alright remember that…gaki…" I smirked at him as he began to twitch his eyebrows then glare at me. "YEH WELL!" I rolled my eyes "Naruto just go back and try to get to the end of this…place." I added a soft smile…at least I hope it was a soft smile. One to help him feel, maybe, like he was in a less threatening place than here "yeh…" his voice was soft like a petal his eyes were very warm. From there we parted.

My eyes stared open in shock at the monitor. Sasuke-kuns match had already passed and so had others, but now, now it was my turn and….I was up against "Sakura Haruno! Report down to the stage now or you will be disqualified."

There was a lump in my throat and my stomach was tied up in knots. 'Sakura…' memories of our past friendship flew through my minds eyes. I was sure that I couldn't give this fight my all. After all I couldn't stop myself from seeing that pathetic little pink haired girl with pebbles being thrown at her forehead. But then I couldn't just forfeit to her…shit…I had no clue what to do.

Then I heard the loudest, most obnoxious voice ever. "YEH! GO SAKURA-CHAN!"

It was then I knew that I had to atleast try to give something...even if it wasn't my best. I couldn't just leave her hanging with a team mate like that cheering her on.

'Someone.' I thought staring at her as she walked down 'someone please believe in me like that.' Naruto was still yelling and hooting 'please someone cheer for me like that.' Finally we were face to face. I put on my strong face, the mask that I wear around everybody. Because a ninja never shows their weakness.

Thankyou so much lovely reviews D it was beautiful to se your words floating up from the blinding white computer screen. Muahahha. Hope this chappy twas satisfactory for you. Sorry that we took forever to get this is. This was actually my fault heh heh...stupid school giving stupid homework. lmao. YES! We have potential! MUAHAHAHHAHAH!! cough anyways...

Please review I suppose. It makes us very happy and Thanks to those that put Lamps and I (Pigstyes) on their alert, but please, review as well, we love to hear what you think about our story. annnnnnnnnnnd

Namikaze777 thankyou very much. Hopefully we can drag you in enough so you'll end up reading the final chapters anyways rofl. If it helps, there will most likely be a sequal haha.