Sorry, no update in a while, been swamped with schoolwork and such. I'm not really satisfied with how this chapter turned out, but it's a lot better than the first draft…

I really love reading your reviews, keep it up!

I do not own Naruto.

Chapter 2

Trees blurred as Kakashi raced through the forest to reach the incredible burst of chakra he had felt moments before. Actually, felt is too weak of a word to describe what he had just felt. It was like a massive explosion of power, power Kakashi had never seen or felt before.

I just hope I'm not too late…I don't know how long Naruto can stand up against Sasuke…He's always been so much weaker than Sasuke...

As Kakashi came into the clearing by the Valley of the End, he audibly gasped at what he saw. Craters in the massive stone statues, craters in the ground, blood spilled on the earth (most of it Naruto's), and finally, two small genin lying unconscious on the ground.

Oh Kami! How could they have done this much damage? Sasuke!

Kakashi sped down to the ground, inspecting the prostrate Sasuke. He lifted him up on his shoulder and sped off in a blur.

I've got to get Sasuke to the hospital as fast as possible! There's no time to lose!

Meanwhile, Gaara of the Desert along with Rock Lee were returning to Konoha, after their epic battle with the leader of the sound squad, when they saw a figure flash by them.

"Kakashi?" pondered Lee, dumbfounded. "What is Kakashi doing way out here?"

"He was carrying something. Or someone," said Gaara, completely nonchalant. "But it was only one person…"

"Who was he carrying though?"

"I have no clue, looked like he had black hair," Gaara sighed, annoyed at Lee's inquiries.

"It must have been Sasuke! Naruto beat him! THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH PREVAILS!"

"If Naruto beat him…where is he?"

2 Hours Later

"Let me get this straight. First, you arrived at the Valley of the End. Then, you find Sasuke and Naruto lying on the ground, injured and unconscious. Then you grab Sasuke, and rush him back to the hospital, leaving NARUTO LYING AT THE VALLEY OF THE END WITH A HOLE IN HIS CHEST!" screamed Tsunade, cocking back one of her fists ready to obliterate Kakashi who cowerd in a chair across from a very angry Hokage.

Kakashi had gotten Sasuke to the hospital, and the doctors were able to diagnose him with severe chakra depletion, broken ribs, and a broken back, seemingly from two severe blows to the back. Also, to the confusion of many of the doctors that inspected Sasuke, the curse seal had mysteriously disappeared. Rock Lee and Gaara of the Desert had returned half an hour after Kakashi had arrived, hauling behind them a severely bleeding Uzumaki Naruto, suffering from severe chakra burns, chakra depletion, a broken arm, his chakra system completely destroyed, and the obvious, a gaping hole in his chest, puncturing his lung.

Kakashi twitched, bracing himself for a crushing blow that didn't come.

"Ah, I'm terribly sorry?" Kakashi apologized to Tsunade.

"Sorry isn't going to cut it this time Kakashi. I'm taking your team away. It's obvious you have screwed them up enough already. You will be assigned a new team of genins. One WITHOUT anyone that you can screw up," Tsunade said with ice in her voice. "I will take Sakura as my apprentice, Naruto will study under Jiraiya, and Sasuke will be under probation indefinitely until I can figure out what I want to do with him."

"Yes Tsunade-sama," Kakashi muttered as he bowed. He had actually gotten off quite easily this time.

"That's Hokage-sama to you. Now get out of my sight," Tsunade said with a dismissive waive of her hand.

As Kakashi left, Tsunade began to think.

Naruto…the whole world seems to be stacked against you, doesn't it?

Tsunade looked out her window and gazed out at the sun setting just beyond the horizon of Konoha as she meditated on these things.

Sakura sat at the side of Sasuke in the hospital, gazing at his face. He was still unconscious, and Sakura had been by his side ever since she had met Kakashi at the gates, tending to Sasuke's wounds as fast as she had ever worked.

Damn you Naruto. Why did you hurt him so much? I asked you to bring him back to me, not send him back to me in a box! How could you do something like this to him! To me! You broke your promise! I will NEVER forgive you! Sasuke-kuuuuuuuuun!

Inside of Sasuke's Mind

I hate Sakura (A/N: I kinda hate Sakura. She's a whiny )

2 days later

"Sasuke-kun! Now that you're out of the hospital, we can go get something to eat together! Or go to a movie together!" Sakura cooed as she jumped joyously at the thought of her and Sasuke on her dream date.

"Get off of me," commanded Sasuke coldly as he brushed her off of his arm.

"But…but…Sasuke-kun! Why won't you go out with me?" questioned Sakura, tears almost coming to her eyes.

"I want to see Naruto," he replied plainly.

"Why Naruto? After what he did to you? I would want revenge if I were you!"

"Revenge is no longer my priority. I just…I just want to talk to him"

"Talk to him about what?"

"Just…leave me alone."

Sakura stopped dead in her tracks, and watched Sasuke's back as he walked away with his hands in his pockets.

If you don't want revenge on Naruto, then I'll have to get it myself.

Hey Kid! Wake up idiot! You are one lucky little human, you know that? Not only was I able to repair the chakra vessels in your body, but I was able to repair most of the damage to your body too. Those stupid doctors were so confused when the hole in your chest started to close up. You humans are just stupid as a whole, you know that?

Hey…fuzzball…how about shutting up? I feel like someone dropped a boulder on my head. And on my arms and on my legs and on my stomach and on…

Call me a fuzzball again and you'll regret it.

You're so cute Mr. Fuzzball! Yes you are! Yeees you are! What now you fuzzy fuzzy fuzzballl?

Have I told you I hate you today?

Not yet, I just woke up.

Well I hate you.

I love you too fuzzball.

I hope you die.

Then you would die too silly!

Damn.

And that was the last Naruto heard from Kyuubi for a while, as someone had just barged into his hospital room.

"Naruto? You're awake? YOU'RE AWAKE!" yelled Tsunade as she launched herself at Naruto on his hospital bed.

"GAH! OBAACHAN! IT HURTS! GAAAAAAAAAAH!"

"Whoops, sorry Naruto, I got carried away. It's just so good to see you awake!"

"It's good to be awake Granny Tsunade"

"Well Naruto, you should be fine by tomorrow, Kyuubi is healing you at extremely high speeds. I want to see you tomorrow morning as soon as possible for your assignment"

"Assignment? What kind of assignment? Is it a really hard mission?"

"You'll see tomorrow, now get some rest Naruto" chuckled Tsunade as she walked out to check on her next patient.

Meanwhile

Sasuke sat at the pier where he had learned Katon: Goukakyuu no justu alone. He looked out at the water, and thought about what had happened just a few days ago.

How did you get so strong dobe?

Sakura lie on her bed, covered in a pink bedspread. (A/N: any surprise there? Maybe I should have made it brown just to be different…)

How can I make you as miserable as you've made me Naruto? How can I wipe that stupid grin off of your stupid face? Let's see…

Hooray! Hope you liked it, read and review as always!