Chapter 3

A Day later...

The sun rose on a small town outside of Otogakure. People were just waking up and setting up their shops, as well as getting into the day by day routine they always followed closely. They paid no heed to a figure sitting in a window of a hotel room. They knew why he was here and who was in that room.

Within the room

Haruno Sakura rolled over as the sun hit her eyes. When she realized that she wasn't in Otogakure anymore, her eyes shot open and she sat up straight, looking around, until she spied the one who she did not expect to see.

"Awake now, Sakura?" spoke the boy.

Sakura clenched her fists, getting up as she slowly stormed over to the window where the boy sat.

"Naruto...what did you do and why am I here?" growled out Sakura, who did not look happy at all.

Naruto merely glanced over to her as he motioned down to her body. This made Sakura stop as she looked down at herself and her eyes widened, she was healed up, when she had in-fact had a few bruises and possibly more from Naruto's attack that had knocked her out. She looked back up to Naruto, as he stood up. Their eyes met, but she could not pick any emotions from his gaze, which saddened her.

"I saved you, like it or not." spoke Naruto, in a monotone.

"Is that so?" inquired Sakura.

Naruto simply nodded, before moving past her and throwing on a cloak around him and his hakama. He glanced to Sakura as he watched her turn and then, in a surprise, pin him to the wall. He did not fight back, and he didn't know why. His body did not agree with his mind in any case, but her words surprised him, albeit he did not show it.

"Wherever you are going, I'm following." demanded Sakura, her eyes glaring into his.

"You are not bound to me, you should return to Konoha, Haruno-san." droned Naruto.

Sakura then pulled away, still glaring. She walked away a few steps before taking a swing at him, turning around to do so. However, he was not there when she swung, and she cursed as she felt someone behind her. Arms locked around her, keeping her restrained.

"Tsunade taught you well, but you still have much to learn, Haruno-san." Naruto mused.

"Grah! How dare you!" Sakura growled.

"Calm yourself, Haruno. You may have use yet." spoke Naruto.

Those words shocked Sakura, as Naruto let go of her and she whirled around to face him, his face still unreadable. She then sighed, rubbing her temples lightly as she gave in, not wanting to fight someone obviously out of her league. She then remembered something and looked to Naruto.

"What happened after I was knocked out?" inquired Sakura.

Flashback

As Sakura dropped, Naruto glanced behind him as a pale skinned man charged at him, sending ink-drawn creatures at him. Naruto simply cut them down, before meeting the man in a sword fight. The two clashed for a moment, before Naruto's blood red eyes flashed and the young man was thrown into the wall to the right. Naruto then sheathed his sword as he faced Hatake Kakashi, Uchiha Sasuke, and Yamato.

Yamato acted first, slamming his hands together as wood flew at Naruto. Naruto's eyes narrowed for a brief second as he went through his own hand seals and sucked in air, echoing the jutsu in his mind.

Katon: Kitsune Kokyuu!

Naruto then breathed out fire, and lots of it. It raged forward, burning away the wood. As the fire raged on, Naruto turned around and walked towards the unconscious Sakura. As he reached her, he heard a crackling that he knew too well. He glanced behind him and saw Hatake Kakashi charging at him with Raikiri. Naruto sighed as he turned, raising both his hands. Kakashi's Sharingan began to spin as he thrusted Raikiri at Naruto at the right distance.

"Shouheki: Hogosha!" shouted Naruto at the last moment.

An explosion ripped through Otogakure, as Raikiri met the barrier technique. Kakashi jumped out of the rising dust, watching the cloud. Both eyes widened as he saw an 'Oni' guarding Naruto. The oni, obviously part of the technique, began to fade away as Naruto's chakra spiked. The two had a stare down, before Kakashi charged in again, attempting to meet Naruto in Taijutsu.

The two met one another in kick and punch, moving at a matched speed. Kakashi began to pick up on something, however, and jumped away from Naruto. He covered his Sharingan as he stood straight up.

"Leave now, Hatake. Take the Uchiha and the other two with you." growled Naruto, as blood red chakra spiked around him.

"I see...so you do care." spoke Kakashi.

"Shut up and leave." Naruto snarled.

Present

Sakura's eyes widened as she heard what happened from Naruto, who simply stared at her. She then smiled to herself, knowing that her Naruto was still in there. She then shook herself out of those thoughts and nodded to herself. She knew what her decision was, and she was set on it. Now, she just had to tell Naruto.

"Very well, Naruto." spoke Sakura as she put her hands on her hips.

"I will travel with you, no questions asked. I don't care about the consequences." barked Sakura

Naruto showed no reaction to this, but inside he reeled in surprise from such a demanding Sakura. He couldn't believe Sakura would give up her life as a shinobi of Konoha just to be near him. He knew his life was dangerous and with his upcoming plans, he would hate himself if Sakura got hurt. He then shook those thoughts from his head. He had to break that bond, even he knew it deep inside.

Gaki...why did you bother to save her in the first place if you are trying to break the bond?

Shut up, fox

Admit it, you care for the pink haired bitch despite all things. You would of killed Hatake Kakashi and the others if they dared tried to take her back.

…

I rest my case, boy. Now, get moving

Naruto sighed inwardly, as he motioned to Sakura to follow him. The two walked out of the hotel as Naruto glanced over Sakura, musing for a moment. He then walked towards a tailor shop as he had a quick conversation with the owner. He looked to Sakura, and motioned her over.

"You are getting new clothes." spoke Naruto, with no room for questioning.

"Fine." spoke Sakura, but deep inside she didn't mind.

Meanwhile, in Konohagakure

"WHAT!" came a shout from the Hokage Building.

"Sakura is now in Naruto's grasp, Hokage-sama." spoke Kakashi.

Tsunade snarled as she placed both her hands on her desk. She really hated her ex-teammate now and possibly hated Sakura for being so stupid. Tsunade then sat back, scowling over the news.

"That stupid girl and her crush..." growled Tsunade.

"Hokage-sama, if I may...I do not think Naruto has intentions to hurt her." piped Yamato

Tsunade gave Yamato a look and then looked to the two jounin. She sighed, knowing Yamato was telling the truth. She shook her head and stood up, walking behind her chair to the window. Tsunade knew what she had to do, to preserve Konohagakure and the safety of the village.

"I hate being Hokage in times like these." grumbled Tsunade.

"What will you do, Tsunade-sama?" inquired Yamato.

"The only thing I can do. Haruno Sakura is now a missing-nin." spoke Tsunade, with sadness in her tone and her eyes.

Elsewhere...

In a dark cave within Hi no Kuni, nine projections appeared upon rocks. Each one seemed to be cloaked in some form, and was of various shapes and sizes. One of the figures, having ringed eyes, shifted his right foot.

"We have located a number of the jinchuuriki, including the Nine Tails." droned the figure.

"Oh good, we finally get something to do." piped up another figure with sarcasm dripping in the tone.

"Quiet. You know which jinchuuriki is yours. Deidara and Sasori, you will start us off with the Ichibi." spoke the original figure.

"Hn." came two voices, followed by two figures disappearing.

One by one, the figures disappeared, until one was left, the first speaker.

"Soon, the world will feel pain..."

Glossary

Katon: Kitsune Kokyuu (Fire Element: Fox Breath)

One of the few Katon techniques used by Uzumaki Naruto, this technique requires breath control, needing just a few moments for the technique to be ready. When the technique is ready, Naruto will breathe out the hot flames, which will surge forward and destroy just about anything in its path.

Shouheki: Hogosha (Barrier: Guardian)

The second of six barrier techniques made by Uzumaki Naruto, this technique forms a medium sized 'Oni' (Demon) around Naruto. The oni is astral, however, and is only there to absorb an attack or two, depending on the attack's rank. This technique is a step up from Barrier: Prism

Author's Notes:

Here it is, part 1 of two of the first double chapter edition! Every now and then, I will be doing two chapters at once. This chapter is filled with juicy details, twists, and a small development on NaruSaku.

Yes, the Akatsuki have finally made their entrance, and I will do my best to portray them spot on from the anime/manga.

Short AN, but hope you enjoy and review!