NaruSaku Her Arms
The Hokage of the leaf laid back against his pillow absent-mindedly stroking the hair of the woman lying on his chest. Naruto Hated hospitals more than anything, but the pink haired girl clinging to him eased his mind. "Sakura…" just breathing her name made his heart beat faster, and his face to flush. Said woman snuggled closer to his warmth in her sleep letting out a cute and contented sigh. She pushed her nose into the crook of his neck. Naruto could feel her lips graze his skin, how her breath made his hair stand on end.
There wasn't a doubt in his mind he would give up anything for the woman he loved more than life itself. Slowly he gazed down at his arm wrapped in a full cast. He could here Tsunade's haunting words, "Naruto about your arm…"
He knew it was shredded; his chakra pathways had been completely severed. He knew that he would never use that hand for jutsu ever again. He knew that fighting would be different, everything about his style had to change now. It was overwhelming, how much this one wound would alter his life. Naruto closed his eyes and leaned into his love taking in the sweet smell of her cherry-blossom scented hair. He was ok, he made his choice and he was happy. Because the one thing Naruto knew beyond a shadow of a doubt is that if he didn't have that wound Sakura wouldn't be with him right now.
Naruto grimaced as he thought back to the day they almost died. The fear he felt when he saw her fall off the cliff. The desperation and need he felt to save her. The burning in his legs as he poured his chakra into them when he jumped after her, the indifference of him losing his life to save hers. The determination he possessed when he was holding her awaiting the impact. The agony of his wrist, elbow, and shoulder snapping as his Rasen-Shuriken hit the water slowing there fall. The pain of taking his own attack, the searing torment that ran up his arm. Yes Naruto remembered that day well.
However he would gladly do it all again, trade it away for what he remembered from yesterday. The way Sakura's eyes sparkled with tears as she confessed her love. The warmth of her body as he held her close to him. The smell of cherry-blossoms he lost himself in as he rocked her. The warmth and delicious taste of her lips as he claimed them with his own. The way her eyes sparkled a new depth of emerald green when she hugged him.
Naruto couldn't believe all this was happening. Yesterday he had finally won the heart of his best friend and long time love. He was so happy and excited he couldn't go to sleep when the night came. He didn't mind in the slightest though, she was gorgeous when she slept. Like an angel gracing him with her beauty and charm. He was content to share a bed with her and simply watch her as she dreamed. Naruto discovered soon that she was an expressive dreamer and loved watching her face through the night. She looked calm, content, and all together beautiful.
Naruto looked down at her arms wrapped around his torso and his breath hitched. A pain shot through his chest as the memories he tried so hard to bury and forget resurfaced. The scars she had on her arms were so light and healed from long ago you could not see them unless you knew where to look. Unfortunately for him Naruto would never forget those scars, or where to find them. How could he when he was the monster who gave them to her.
---Flash Back---
It was a dark day, Naruto and Sakura were making there way through a dense forest. The mission to scout out a possible hideout of Orochimaru's was a flop. The two had traversed deep into sound territory and were now heading back. Naruto noticed Sakura falling behind so he decided to take a break. The blonde Jounin front flipped off a branch and fell twenty feet before landing in a crouch. Sakura landed next to him breathing heavier than normal. Naruto grinned at her as he tossed her his water "take a breather Sakura-Chan I'll go get some food." Sakura grinned at her best friend, and nodded to him.
Naruto made a few clones and sent 2 out for firewood and the other 2 followed him hunting. Within ten minutes he was walking back to camp with three fish, and a lot of berries and nuts. He sat down and made the fire to cook the fish and looked over to see Sakura leaning against a tree looking through her med supplies. Naruto smiled at her, 'she is still the most beautiful girl I have ever seen.' Naruto's daydream was cut short as he heard a whistling noise. Out of sheer reflex he rolled to the side and drew a kunai, five shuriken embedded in the ground where he was previously crouched.
Naruto looked over to Sakura, and saw her bound to the tree with wire. He jumped towards here hands forming a cross as he bellowed "Kage Bunshin no jutsu!" Naruto and his five clones landed ten feet from Sakura who had a sword to her throat. Naruto's eyes followed the blade up to the sound Nin who held it. Naruto felt the other two Nin land behind him. Quickly Naruto and his clones made a circle and took defensive stances. Naruto closed his eyes and stilled his breathing reaching out to the forest for its energy.
"Drop your weapons Konohoa scum or Pinky loses her head." Naruto glared at the man with yellow eyes. Now in sage mode he found that there were in fact 5 of them. 'Shit he thought, I don't think I can take all of them with her caught…' Naruto grimaced as he weighed his options, nervously gripping his Kunai. "Naruto you can take them! Don't worry about me," Sakura shouted earning her a slight slice on her neck. Naruto knew it was hopeless and dropped his Kunai and dispelled his clones. He could never let anyone hurt her when he had the power to stop it. He felt the power leave him as he exited out of sage mode. She was pushed forward and ran into his arms. He held her, with blood red eyes watching the sound Nin. "Switch hostages me for her." He felt her stiffen in his embrace as her breath caught. The man smirked at him "I don't think you understand the situation your in asshole." Naruto pushed Sakura away and braced himself as a fist struck him in the face from the right side.
He caught himself on his knee when a boot met the back of his skull. Naruto fell forwards into a sea of blackness before coming too a few seconds later. He was roughly grabbed and tied with wire as one of the Nin held him down. He was vaguely aware of Sakura calling for him. The leader approached him sheathing his sword in one fluent motion. "So what should I do with you two?" Naruto looked him dead in the eyes "Let her go you have me she is of no concern of yours." The man looked at Sakura then back at Naruto.
"Let go of a fine woman like that?" Naruto cringed as he could all but guess his intentions for Sakura. "She is just a medic, not a fighter please just let her go you have me she is no threat to you." The leader let out a laugh filled with malice, "It looks like this bastards in love!" This comment caused the others to hollow in laughter as Sakura's eyes grew wide.
"How would it make you feel if I had my way with her? What if I made you watch your little friend here get used by all of us?" Naruto paled at his comment. 'Oh shit I have to keep him away from her.' Naruto cringed as the leader walked towards his love. 'I can only do one thing to keep his attention off her. Shit this is going to hurt like a bitch.' "Hey ass clowns you know that talk was just for show right your boss is the biggest pussy I've ever seen." The leader stopped in his tracks as the area grew instantly still and quiet. Naruto laughed as the man turned to face him, his features contorted in anger. 'Naruto what the hell are you doing!' Sakura thought. Naruto looked at her and gave her a weak smile. Suddenly it clicked he's getting them away from me…"
"Care to repeat that?" The leader spit out in his fury. Naruto closed his eyes; this is the only way to keep his hands off her. He opened his eyes and met the leaders dead on. "I was only curious what a fag like you wants with her when…" Naruto was cut off by a spin kick to his jaw. He was thrown to the ground by the impact. As soon as he hit he was being picked up by two of the other Nin holding him up. The leader walked right to him. "I think its time we taught you to watch your mouth…"
Sakura watched in horror, as Naruto was beat and stabbed. She knew he did this for her, he always put her first but this was too much. Naruto fell limply to the ground after receiving one of the worst beatings he's ever received. Blood flowed off his clothes from his many puncture wounds and gashes. His mouth was filled with the metallic taste of his blood. Naruto felt a sharp pain as the leader pulled his head up by his hair. "Now its your girlfriends turn." Naruto could barely see his left eye was swollen shut. He spit the blood out of his mouth "Leave her alone you bastard!" This outburst earned him a kick to the stomach knocking the wind out of him.
Naruto saw her scream in pain as she was pulled to her feet by her hair. "Lets see what's under this vest bitch!" Naruto saw the man put his filthy hands on Sakura and then his world faded to red. The leader was busy feeling Sakura up when he was interrupted by a crippling dark chakra. It made the air heavy, and he was having trouble drawing breath. He turned to see the blond once again on his feet encased in a red aurora. "Get your hands off her." His voice was so different; it was so low and hateful. That's when he met his gaze and saw hate and furry etched into crimson eyes.
It took the leader a few moments to realize he was literally shaking in fear. "Kill him!" He shouted to his men as he drew his sword. Stab after stab seemed to not affect this monster. The leader looked behind him to see "Tails?" The wire around Naruto's arms was ripped apart with ease as he fell forwards on all fours. The leader looked in horror as he saw a sinister smile etch across the monsters features. "I'll kill you…" The voice made him freeze, there was so much killing intent in the air he was freezing up. He heard the girl scream "Naruto no!" as a claw exploded into his chest, 'I didn't even see him move…' The leader saw a red claw heading for his face. He felt the heat from the chakra and then knew no more.
The four men saw their leader decimated in two strikes and turned to run. However the were now staring at a monster with three tails still holding their leader up by his chest. "You won't escape." Two fell in an instant, deep slashes forming on their chests. The blood sprayed the other two awaking them from their stupor. They both heard the pink haired girl crying out for him. One made a dash for Sakura, as the other was beheaded by a claw slash across his throat. The only surviving sound Ninja cut Sakura loose with a Kunai and quickly dropped it on the ground.
"There she's free, please spare me!" Sakura turned and looked at the man who had set her free, he was in a wide-eyed panic. Sakura watched in horror as her best friend slowly walked over to them. Naruto stood, the red cloak whipping around his body violently as he towered over the cowering man. "You touched her…" The man started shaking, "please I'm sorry don't kill me." Sakura watched as Naruto placed a claw on the mans head and squeezed. She screamed in terror as he crumpled and fell to the ground in a heap. Sakura was too shocked to move, until she looked at Naruto. His body was convulsing and he kept muttering, "I'll kill them…"
Sakura slowly stood up and walked to him, she didn't want to see him get to four tails again. "Naruto" She whispered to him softly, his head snapped to her in an instant. Sakura couldn't bear to see him like this, his face it just wasn't Naruto. "Naruto its ok were safe, I'm safe." Naruto seemed to calm after he knew she was ok. She smiled softly at him "Naruto come back to me please…" Naruto's eyes flickered blue and he looked considerably less feral. "Sakura-Chan" he growled out as if he was in pain. That's when she noticed his skin was starting to peel off. Her eyes widened in shock, 'he's losing the battle for control with the Kyuubi.'
Sakura started to tear up as the memories of the last time he went four tails flooded her mind. Sakura watched as a claw reached out longingly for her, "Fight it Naruto!" She watched as he contorted in pain "Sakura-Chan…" The claw shot forward for her chest. Moments before it would have impaled her the other claw dug into its arm and thrust it into the ground. Sakura looked up at Naruto shaking and howling in agony as his skin had mostly been burned off. She then heard one last word through the growls and screams "Run..." Naruto fell to his knees as a fourth tail emerged and with a bloody roar he lost all consciousness.