AN: I was re-watching some episodes of Naruto the other day when I came to the Sauce-gay retrieval arc and I was like, 'Sasuke's a dick!' And then I watched the episode where Kakashi brought Naruto back and Shizune's all like, 'Lady Tsunade! Naruto's back but Sasuke's not...' And the weird way my brain works, I was like, 'INSPIRATION!' I saw Tsunade running down the halls cursing people out who got in her way and pushing sick people aside so she could get to Naruto. And BWAHM! Chapter 5, home-dog.

Disclaimer: I don't own any-thing! (I sang it for you...if that makes it better)

Her entire body jumped when the heart monitor skipped a beat. She turned her head to the occupant of the bed, scanning over every inch of his beaten and bandaged body. The monitor beeped rapidly now, beep-beep-beep, like a mantra of robotic birds. Her honey-brown eyes flitted back to the blonde in bed, small, dark circles underlining the glistening orbs that were his eyes.

"He's having a bad dream…" Tsunade whispered as she smoothed back some of Naruto's hair. His forehead was soaked in a cold sweat and the tips of his cheeks were tinged in a light blush. Tsunade bit back the hot tears stinging the edges of her eyes as she cupped Naruto's burning cheek.

She remembers running down the halls of the hospital, searching each and every room until she found the head of sun-kissed blonde lying unconscious on the gurney. She remembers swatting Shizune's hands away from the boy as she ran her own over his entire body, her mind not even bothering to hide the panic oozing from every pore. She remembers yelling at the other doctors and nurses who tried helping her, glaring daggers at anybody who came anywhere remotely near her boy.

And now she sat on the edge of his bed, biting her nails and fretting over every little groan and moan the boy let loose. He was in pain, that much was obvious. But what was getting Tsunade jittery was the emotional pain.

The twelve-year old, a child in Tsunade's eyes, had just lost the closest thing he had to a friend. And from the report Kakashi had given her, the little dick had left him on some cliff half dead and torn to ribbons.

Tsunade was more than livid, and she didn't mind letting it show. This boy, this boy she loved like her own child, was betrayed by some little power-hungry, emo brat, and Tsunade had to grind her teeth to keep the growl from escaping her throat.

"Naruto, Naruto, Naruto…" Tsunade cooed as she lowered her head until her lips touched his wet forehead. Tsunade closed her eyes as a tear fell from them and landed on Naruto's cheek. She wiped it away with her thumb and stared at him, frowning as her eyes travelled over the copious bandages covering his skin.

Anger was once again boiling in her stomach, rising like bile. Flashes of memories sped across her forehead as images of Orochimaru zoomed across the backs of her eyes. That misleading smile, those slick, sulfur-sweet words that wormed their way into your brain. And those eyes, those soul piercing, pride degrading animal-like orbs that drew you in and never let you go.

That Uchiha brat had the same eyes.

And Naruto was naïve, innocent, sweet, and lonely enough to fall into the trap.

"I'm sorry nobody was there to protect you…" Tsunade whispered as another set of tears flooded down her cheeks. She was furious at herself when she first heard the report of the Uchiha going rogue. She almost wanted to just let the kid go, let Orochimaru do what he wanted with the boy. But then she imagined what Naruto would holler at her.

She couldn't blame him; she did the same thing to Sarutobi when she first heard of Orochimaru's defection. She knew the blonde would only be just as belligerent. And her being the procrastinator she was, Tsunade avoided the headache and let him go.

God she was stupid.

"I'm sorry I couldn't protect you." She cooed, still habitually smoothing back his hair. Another skip of the heart monitor and Tsunade was sweating bullets.

"Baa-chan…" Naruto croaked as he slowly opened his eyes to meet her honey-brown. Tsunade took a sharp breath and lowered herself to him.

"Hey, hun…" She smiled and kissed him on the cheek.

"How are you feeling?" He groaned a bit as he turned on his side to face her better. Her hands were instantly on him, cradling his head.

"Been better…hey, where's Sasuke?" Tsunade closed her mouth and set her jaw into a hard line. Naruto's cerulean orbs watched her turn away in shame as her eyes diverted from his gaze.

"Baa-chan? Where-?"

"He's gone, Naruto…" Tsunade whispered flatly. The boy laid there, eyes watery as he looked at the woman he saw as a mother, pity and anger painted on her gorgeous face. Naruto didn't say anything as he returned to his pillow.

"Okay…" Naruto breathed, eyes focused on Tsunade's knee. Tsunade herself was feeling more tears sting her eyes and she just couldn't stand it. Her boy wasn't allowed to be sad.

It just wasn't right.

Tsunade rubbed circles on his back, wide, soft circles she remembers her mother doing to her when she would get upset. Under her hand, she felt a sudden shudder, and then a hiccup. Tsunade looked down on Naruto and held her breath.

Naruto was crying, sobbing silently to himself as he gripped Tsunade's pant leg tightly in his hand. Her hand left his back and moved to his hand. She dug her fingers into his, freeing her pant leg and holding his hand as she lay in bed next to him. With one hand holding his, Tsunade's other hand brought the blonde boy's head closer into her embrace, laying his head on her chest.

"It's gonna be okay…just let it out. I'm right here, I won't leave you, I promise…" Tsunade whispered into Naruto's hair and held him closer as the sobs rocked his body, each one stronger than the last. Tsunade cried with him, holding him tight and trying to keep her pain hidden. She wasn't allowed to let her boy get hurt, she wasn't allowed to let others inflict pain on him. She would kill them if she had to. Her boy wasn't allowed to hurt:

It just wasn't right.

IT'S JUST NOT RIGHT! Naruto's not allowed to be sad TT... it makes me sad. And hell yeah for Tsunade gettin all, 'MOVE BITCH!' when she swats Shizune away, that was fun to write.

Review please, I like those!

PEACE :P