Chapter 31 Conflict Aftermath
Naruto slowly opened his eyes to see nothing but a blur., 'Am I alive?'
The shooting pain when he fidgeted in his bed gave him his answer. His vision finally cleared to the point where he recognised the cream ceiling as the one in his hotel room, and the blinds to the window viewing outside were partially closed, but still revealed the clear sky of afternoon. His eyes squinted when he caught a shining light, which was being reflected from his forehead protector on top of his drawer. He became aware of his firm bindings of bandages across the entire left part of his body, along with his white shirt over the top. Naruto unconsciously lifted an arm to feel if his necklace was still there, and was inwardly glad when he felt the jewellery's cold touch in his hand.
Naruto then tried to sit up, but paused when he suddenly became aware of something heavy resting on his stomach. He focused his eyes on the figure, and soon recognised who it was straight away. It was Sakura, sleeping heavily with her face turned towards him.
Once Naruto's vision was normal he noticed just how exhausted she looked, with black lines under her now shut eye lids. He eyed the rest of her state and almost gave a sympathetic cry. Her soft, delicate face seemed rough and dirty, as if she hadn't cleaned her face for days. Her once vibrant red vest, was now two toned with dried dark red stains, and seemed to stick to her back from dried sweat. Her skirt stuck out like a sore thumb though with the red blotches of dried blood showing on the once cream shaded skirt. Sakura also seemed to give off a strange odour, most likely from not changing outfit for quite some time, along with her dried sweat reeking her clothing.
Naruto's gaze then fell to her left arm and he had to resist sobbing, it was heavily bandaged from her elbow down to above her wrist.
Naruto unconsciously lifted his left hand slowly, as he gently stroked her hair, feeling that she hadn't cleaned it in probably days, since its once silk like appearance, seemed to have an oily feel to it, along with her hair itself having bits pointing out all over her fragile head.
'Sakura-chan...I am so sorry I worried you like this...and you have no idea how sorry I am for hurting you.' He mused as he sadly smiled at his heavily sleeping friend.
His ears perked though when he heard the sound of furious writing to his right side, and he didn't even need to guess who it was as he span around and hissed silently not to wake Sakura.
"Ero-sennin! " Naruto glared at the now chuckling toad sannin, too loud for his liking.
"Keep your voice down Sakura-chan i-"
"She is out cold gaki!" Jiraiya said in full volume with a grin on his face. Naruto blinked and noticed Sakura didn't even flinch at Jiraiya's outburst.
Jiraiya explained in seriousness, "You have been knocked out for at least three days-" He ignored Naruto's light gasp and continued. "-Sakura refused to leave your side the entire time, and basically has exhausted herself physically and chakra wise to keep you alive. She probably would have knocked herself out from chakra exhaustion if me and Kakashi didn't semi force her to just bandage the wound. She even resulted to using those soldier pills to stay awake, this is the result."
Jiraiya then glared hard at his apprentice, "Maybe you haven't been injured when the Kyuubi's chakra is no longer rapidly healing you, but are you aware that a normal person will DIE from a sword going through their lung?! Consider yourself lucky that your girl potentially could become Tsunade's successor one day, or you would be dead because of your recklessness."
Naruto ignored Jiraiya's 'your girl' comment and asked in full worry, "What about her arm?"
Jiraiya blinked then sighed, "...The poison has been removed, it is fine." Jiraiya said assumingly, while remembering an argument they had on a similar situation not long ago. Naruto looked down apologetically at the sleeping Sakura, noticing she seemed to have relaxed as his hand rested on the side of her face, with a soft smile.
"What have I done?" He asked with a cracked voice.
"You were not yourself Naruto, do not blame yourself." Naruto felt too weak to argue with Jiraiya and just stared at her arm and thought void of emotion.
'I was no longer trying to knock Sasuke out...I would have killed Sasuke if Sakura-chan didn't stop me...but in return I almost could have killed her...'
Naruto then noticed something he missed before, on the same arm, Sakura's hand was in a cast, "W-Wha-"
"She sort of broke her hand when she introduced Sasuke's face to it." Another voice interrupted Naruto's question from his left. When Naruto turned to meet the other person, he met the single eye gaze of Kakashi who held it in a large U shaped smile.
"Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto beamed, seemingly more energetic than his negative demeanour a moment ago.
"Yo!...I saw part of it, Sasuke basically flew past me at amazing speeds, not stopping until he collided with a boulder...I think it's safe to say Sakura did not approve of his actions." Kakashi said simply, although his disappointment at his departed student was present in his tone.
Naruto then looked back at Sakura's sleeping form in shock, 'She did that?!'
"...Is-Is Sasuke..."
"Orochimaru took his unconscious and banged up body away...he is still alive Naruto." Came the slightly annoyed voice of Shikamaru from the door.
"Shikamaru!"
"Don't forget me, Naruto-kun!" Lee barged in past the shadow user and saluted, until seeing the situation in front of him, and rubbed his eyes away from the falling tears of joy.
"What an amazing display of the youthful power from the will of fire that radiates from the both of you Naruto-kun, Sakura-san!" Lee spoke through his sobs of happiness.
Naruto blushed, "T-Thank you Fuzzy Brows, but Sakura-chan is asleep." Naruto double checked to make sure Sakura did not wake up from Lee's shout and to his surprise, she really was out cold.
"Naruto..." Shikamaru's serious voice cut everyone's cheerful gestures like ice, as all eyes were on him.
"...You're not serious about still going after Sasuke are you?"
Jiraiya and Kakashi sighed in annoyance, almost as if they had been having this argument with Shikamaru the entire time he was out.
Naruto looked at Shikamaru straight in the eye, "Dattebayo!"
The blond didn't feel satisfied with just that, and then decided to explain, "Sasuke is our team mate, while the curse seal Orochimaru-teme gave him has clouded his sight in a blind path for revenge. The Sasuke I know is in there...WE know he is still in there!" He gently ruffled Sakura's hair again before resting his hand in its initial position.
"We will bring him back and free him from Orochimaru's grasp, because that is what friends do! We help each other, and stop our fiends from doing something stupid." Naruto said firmly while giving an amazingly serious smile that didn't seem possible to mould on his usual energetic self. Naruto could have sworn he heard a loud 'Shannaro!' come from Sakura, but looked to find her still asleep.
Shikamaru inwardly was not convinced, 'But even so, it's not as if the council will let Sasuke go easy after his treachery...but you always seem to make anything possible...'
"So troublesome." Shikamaru groaned to Naruto's speech, and his thoughts, but smirked as well along with the others, although Kakashi's smirk could not be seen.
"We will give you the run down once Sakura wakes up, until then in the mean time get some rest...that is unless you want the sleeping death trap to wake up and ENSURE you don't move." Jiraiya said through his smirk.
Naruto seemed to then relapse back to his sad attitude and nodded, fixing his hurt filled gaze on Sakura again. Jiraiya sighed, while the others made their exit.
"She told me everything that happened..." He announced but stopped when he saw Naruto wince.
"Ero-sennin...can we talk about this later, please?"
Jiraiya went wide eyed at Naruto's soft words, but relaxed. "Alright." He said softly, as he walked out and closed the door behind him.
'I have some things to think about first before I talk to you.'
"So how is he?" Orochimaru asked his right hand man in interest, although there was next to no concern in his voice.
Kabuto adjusted his glasses as he briefly glanced around the dark room. The only source of light in the near cave like room was the burning lantern on the side of the rock wall.
"Sasuke-kun will be alright, Thomas-kun's summon ink is incredible, It's a pity he didn't give me enough to sample it."
Orochimaru nodded while glaring at the still unconscious form of Sasuke, "It's a pity now that because of Sasuke-kun's failure, Ronan and Thomas have now abandoned us" Orochimaru's voice traced with scolding towards Kabuto's logic of 'pity'.
Kabuto lifted up his glasses and said in response, "Is Ronan-san always that harsh towards a subordinate's failure?"
Orochimaru snickered, "He follows the firm beliefs of Danzou, that being that if somebody is incompetent at doing their job they should be disposed of."
Kabuto raised an eyebrow, "That's funny, considering he had to run away from Kakashi-san."
Orochimaru laughed lightly, "That is just part of his Uchiha nature, turning a blind eye at their faults, and focusing on everybody else's."
Orochimaru set his eyes back on the unconscious body of Sasuke on the bed, "She put him in a coma from the force of her punch. Sasuke-kun could have died if she had attacked him without being in curse seal level two form." Orochimaru said conclusively.
Kabuto looked up at Orochimaru, "Do you think Sasuke-kun has now learnt his lesson to stop underestimating his opponents? You told Ronan-san he completely ignored Sakura-chan during the entire fight."
Orochimaru smirked but said gravely, "No, he probably won't, arrogance is something that the Uchiha clan seems too overwhelmed with."
Kabuto looked back at Sasuke curiously, while Orochimaru decided to add with disappointment clear in his tone, "Besides that matter Kabuto...it appears that Sasuke-kun's issue is not only underestimating his oppositions."
Sakura winced at her currently occurring nightmare, no matter how much she willed not to see it. Her mind kept repeating what had happened a couple of days ago. Each time she noticed a new horrific detail as it replayed in her mind. Every time though she felt a tear run down her face, she felt something warm and comforting rub away her tear, causing the image to disappear granting her peace.
Sakura slowly began opening her heavy eye lids to reveal her tired emerald orbs to the world, while emitting a moan full of her exhaustion. Other than some strange warmth she could feel on the side of her face, Sakura felt cold and numb all over her heavy body.
'This is why you don't take more than one of those soldier pills. I can barely feel anything at all.' She scolded herself for her earlier actions. Her eyes quickly shot open though when she saw a familiar pair of oceanic blue orbs and a soft smile to go with it looking at her.
"Hey Sakura-chan." Naruto said in an out of character like softness and quietness.
Sakura blinked her still tired eyes a couple of times and then grinned, "Hey Naruto." She replied quietly as she tried to slowly raise her impossibly heavy head, but gave up soon after a couple of attempts. Sakura then noticed at the corner of her eye the source of the strange warmth. It was the gentle hand of Naruto, which she could feel was a little damp, and then it all made sense to her.
'I have been crying in my sleep....he has been comforting me for god knows how long this whole time.'
Sakura's smile widened as she felt her pillow rise up and down as another realisation sunk in.
'He is awake...Thank you!' Sakura's mind cheered in gratefulness to whoever above was watching over them. Sakura was pulled out of her thoughts when Naruto stroked the side of her face gently. Sakura closed her eyes from the apparent soothing touch to her face.
"You really look horrible Sakura-chan." Naruto said lightly.
Sakura tried to give a warning hiss, but instead gave a weak moan.
"Sleep." Naruto instructed softly, and Sakura tried to protest but her heavy lids were already falling as she slurred.
"...Please...I want to know if you are ok."
Naruto playfully but gently ruffled her hair, "I am fine Sakura-chan, you however are not." He said reassuringly, while concluding he would apologise for hurting her later when she was more awake.
Sakura soon saw the familiar picture that had been torturing her for the past hours in her inescapable sleep and pulled her tired orbs opened, her fear ever present.
"I don't want to see what he did to you again...please, I don't want to sleep anymore!" She begged weakly to Naruto who now was slightly wide eyed.
'She has been having nightmares...about when Sasuke stabbed me!?' Naruto gave an understanding smile and rested his hand on her face and wiped away a rolling tear.
"Don't worry Sakura-chan, I am still here...because you saved me." He again reassured as he sat himself half up causing Sakura to open her eyes slightly wider in worry.
Her eyes almost bulged though when she felt him brush away her hair, and softly kissed her forehead. Sakura was in too much shock to even breathe in a sharp intake of air, as she stared wide eyed at his neck as her mouth went slightly agape. She closed her eyes after a second already had passed from the overwhelming warmth that brushed over her from Naruto's very un-Naruto like gesture.
'What...what is this feeling?' She asked herself, but received no answer, and soon didn't care. He pulled away and whispered in the most grateful voice Sakura had ever heard from him near her ear, "Thank you Sakura-chan...Not only for stopping me from possibly killing Sasuke... but for staying awake for over three days straight with all your willpower to save my life."
Sakura finally shook herself free from her frozen half shocked and slightly agape expression, as she opened her tired eyes again and smiled,"...You're welcome Naruto."
Naruto then leaned back on his bed as he still ruffled her hair as he said again, "Sleep, and don't worry about anything." Sakura's eyes finally closed, as her once pounding head seemed to have cleared from his earlier action.
Naruto then remembered something and looked to the side of his bed for confirmation, as he opened the top drawer, only moving slightly, which still caused Sakura's eyes to open in concern.
"Naruto...what are yo-" She was silenced when she felt a thick blanket fall over her half lying form.
Naruto smiled, "You look cold." He said lightly, as he returned his soothing hand to her slightly tensed face.
"Now rest, you can yell at me or hit me later for what I did."
Sakura gave a small smile, "Thank you." She half muttered as her tired eyes disappeared again, along with her equal breaths of sleep as her mind said her response.
'And I am not going to yell at you or hit you for showing you care about me.'
Naruto looked at her now angelic like smile as she was now sleeping again, but her face was less tense by touch, meaning she wasn't experiencing the same nightmare again. He suddenly wasn't feeling like sleeping any more, as he kept close watch on that smile that made her look so beautiful over the rest of her bruised and exhausted features. Sakura woke up after a few hours with a bit more energy, although she still had the same exhausted demeanour. Naruto was glad to see that she didn't cry in her sleep this time.
"How are you feeling?" He asked as he stroked her hair again.
Sakura gave a small smile, "Last time I checked, I was the medic-nin." She teased, although her voice still was full of exhaustion.
Naruto ruffled her hair playfully, "I am sorry, what does 'the medic-nin' say then?" He said with a chuckle, as she gave off a feigned angry groan in response but settled.
"I...I am alright Naruto, I am just very tired." She said as she yawned wide.
Naruto still spoke quietly, "Maybe you should sleep a bit longer then?"
Sakura shook her head, "You have done enough for me already." She said as she felt Naruto stroke the side of her face almost like a protest.
'He never acts so quiet and displays this sort of affection before...I am not complaining, but why?' Sakura mused as she closed her eyes at Naruto's soothing touch, too tired to care or feel awkward that she was resting on his stomach, and he was stroking her face, or what happened before.
She suddenly felt his soothing hand tense and she opened her eyes in question, "Naruto?" She then knew what was wrong when he saw his eyes turn glassy. She lifted her head up, leaving Naruto's shaking hand now over his stomach. The blanket fell to the floor as she sat next to his side. Naruto sat himself up fully and tried to speak.
"I-I" He said through a cracked voice, causing him to stop. Sakura then enwrapped her good arm around him and lightly shook him from side to side.
"It is ok Naruto." She whispered, as Naruto regained strength in his voice finally, and said what he was struggling to say.
"I am so sorry Sakura-chan"
"Shh, it's ok Naruto, I am not angry at you at all." She repeated in comfort.
"No, it's not alright Sa-" Naruto was forced to stop his counter argument when he began furiously coughing over her shoulder.
Sakura soon sprang to life when she could practically hear the blood splatter against his covered mouth, "Where is it hurting?" She asked full of concern. Naruto rubbed the area as he continued his coughing, while Sakura already had chakra running through her hand over the cause of his pain. Sakura gave him instructions to breathe slowly and keep his breaths short, while handing him a tissue to wipe his mouth.
"You ok?" She asked softly as her glowing hand dimed to normal.
Naruto nodded in minor gasps, "I-I guess so."
Sakura's eyes started twitching violently at the strain of pain in his voice, but no tears fell, as she took the bloody tissue in her hand and disposed it in the small bin not far from the bed.
'This is all my fault!' she inwardly cried.
Once she was convinced Naruto was ok, she lowered her hand and sat on the side of the bed with a loud exhausted huff. Sakura rubbed her glassy eyes from the small traces of tears that were built up from holding them back.
"Can I see it?" He asked suddenly, causing her to turn wide eyed in confusion. Naruto's gaze was locked on her injured arm again, making it clear what he was asking.
"Naruto...i-"
"Please." He begged, causing her to wince, and gave in as she eyed her bandaging .
'I need to change it anyway.' She concluded as she began reluctantly unwrapping the red stained bandages. Naruto winced when the bandaging cleared and revealed the horrid gash he had inflicted on her. Her skin was now smudged with dried blood, and the entrance of the marks looked dreadful, leaving large bumps on her once smooth skin.
He had to close his eyes as his strength was suddenly lost and he began crying, "I am so sorry Sakura-chan." He muffled through his covered mouth, as he sniffled.
Sakura shook her head, "You are not at fault Naruto." She repeated.
"Will it...will it scar?" He asked after soon settling.
Sakura shook her head, "No it won't, I promise." She reassured him, seeing his eyes wash over with relief.
"...R-Really?" He asked weakly as he was pulled into yet another embrace.
"It won't scar Naruto, I promise it won't." She repeated in a whisper in his ear.
'I am so glad Jiraiya-sama helped me when he did...If Naruto saw its state from earlier...' Sakura let her thoughts trail, not wanting to even think about what Naruto would have done.
Naruto returned the embrace this time, as he held her protectively, "I will never use its power again."
Sakura gasped in surprise at his sudden change to unbelievably serious, "Naruto..."
"I not only could have killed Sasuke Sakura-chan when I started losing it...I almost killed you."
Sakura tightened her one armed hold, "Naruto...."
"I will find another way to save Sasuke...and protect the people I care for...I will never use a power that will hurt the people that are precious to me ever again." He now spoke void of emotions as his grip tightened to near hurting, but Sakura didn't make a fuss.
"I will never hear that scream ever again!"
Sakura gasped lightly, 'He heard me when I screamed when the Kyuubi attacked me?'
"But Naruto...you have spent two years training how to use the ky-"
"I DONT CARE!" He interrupted with a yell, causing him to emit a violent cough.
"Shh!" Sakura said in comfort, as she rubbed his back unconsciously. Luckily Naruto calmed this time without coughing out blood and repeated softly.
"I don't care...I am never using the Kyuubi's power again." Sakura winced at just how serious he was being, without even his usual 'fox-teme'.
Sakura sighed, "Nothing I say will change your mind, will it?"
Naruto chuckled and relaxed his hold, "Dattebayo."
Sakura smirked at his one word answer, 'While I was strong for Naruto when he used it...I still didn't like seeing him like that.'
"I...am glad." She whispered, as she rested her head against the side of his. Sakura then felt her guilt from earlier surfacing again and tightened her hold.
"Please Naruto...don't you ever take the hit for me again...you really had me worried when you stopped talking to me when...it happened...I thought...I thought I was going to lo-"She emitted a weak yelp when she felt a sudden rush of warmth as Naruto pulled her back out and then back into a hug almost protectively, placing his chin over her head, and even though her forehead protector was partially in the way, She fitted in place almost like a jigsaw piece when her head was turned to its side.
"N-Naruto...?" Sakura asked softly in partial shock and surprise to his sudden out of character display of affection yet again, now feeling awkward from this gesture.
"Sorry Sakura-chan...But when I saw Sasuke coming from the distance…I thought I was going to lose you." Naruto softly said with sincerity as his voice vibrated on the side of her face, as all awkwardness was seemingly vanished.
Sakura held a small pink hue across her face, but didn't overreact to his words, "Oh you baka..." Was all she whispered as she unconsciously snuggled in to under his neck and almost fell back to sleep once again in the unbelievably comfortable spot with a soft smile of her own.
'Now I understand why he is acting this way...'
Naruto didn't want to ruin the moment but he had to speak about it, "Sasuke has changed…hasn't he Sakura-chan?"He murmured, as he felt Sakura's body tense and her hidden smile formed a firm line.
Sakura then relaxed and finally spoke, "...What has happened to him Naruto?" She said in hope that Naruto knew that answer, although she knew that he didn't. Naruto shook his head, which resulted in ruffling her hair and almost tickling his chin with her cold steel forehead protector.
"I really don't know Sakura-chan…when we were fighting...only a few things of the old Sasuke were still there." Sakura listened carefully to Naruto's words as he continued with a proud smile for their teammate.
"He really has gotten strong..." Naruto then remembered most of what happened in his fight and his smile widened.
"...But we aren't that far away, I know we will be able to bring him back next time." Sakura blinked at Naruto's choice of words of including her, when she was thinking otherwise. She didn't voice her beliefs though.
"Naruto…I know You-w-we are trying to bring Sasuke-kun back…but don't forget what I told you earlier..." She tried to tilt her head meet his eyes, but was impossible and continued.
"We should worry about yourself…" Naruto's brows furrowed, but Sakura continued.
"I still don't know the details yet Naruto, but to my understanding from what I heard from Kakashi-sensei and Jiraiya-sama, not all the rogue ANBU are defeated yet, some of them were able to escape." Naruto couldn't hold back the frustrated groan which Sakura felt through his neck.
Sakura then added, "We have plenty of time to save Sasuke-kun Naruto, a whole year to be exact. When the time is right we will save him...together this time."
Naruto grinned in memory, "Umm...about tha- OW!" He yelped out when he felt a fist dong him on the head non threateningly before resting on his shoulder.
"That is for trying to break our promise...and don't be a baby baka, that wasn't hard." She said surprisingly full of energy, with a tinge of amusement.
Naruto rubbed his head, "Hehe, I guess I deserved that." Sakura chuckled, but he continued, "Ok Sakura-chan, we will handle this problem first."
Sakura had to resist the feeling to emit a slight disappointed groan when Naruto finally released her and allowed her to recompose herself sitting on the side of the bed where she originally was. She shook her head to try and rid herself from the drowsiness but it was to no avail.
'Those soldier pills really did a number on me, at least I can move around now.' She mused as her eyes tried to close on impulse, but she refused to let them leave her blind from Naruto's gaze. Naruto looked to her injured arm again, that still hadn't been bandaged.
"Let me help." He said simply, while Sakura already was disposing of her other bandages in the bin, and pulling out her roll of extra bandages from her pouch. Sakura tried to protest, but gave in and handed him the roll and held her arm out to its side for him to work with. Sakura hissed in pain when she felt the sudden pressure of the bandage as Naruto enwrapped it tightly.
"Sorry." He said again as he continued until he was done. He then pulled away and chuckled when he saw her left hand resting in its cast.
"I wish I wasn't on the ground when you did that." Sakura was caught off guard and blinked a few times then asked 'huh?'.
Sakura then put two and two together and noticed his gaze was on her broken hand. She smirked while turning her face to hide her embarrassment.
"W-well, I-i didn't think really, I-I was just very angry...and Sasuke-kun was the closest target." She stuttered out. She then turned back with her gaze down though as she said in worry.
"I hope he is ok though, I honestly didn't want to hurt him...I was just so angry..." She trailed off but reverted her gaze when Naruto chuckled.
"Sasuke's ok Sakura-chan, Shikamaru told me he was carried off after he was dug out of the rubble."
Sakura's eyes blinked though, "Rubble?! Did I punch him into a mountain edge or something?!" She near shouted in shock.
Naruto shrugged and gave a sheepish smile, "I didn't see Sakura-chan, but Kakashi-sensei said he saw Sasuke fly past him, destroying trees and stuff until he collided with a large rock or something, and the thing shattered on impact." Naruto replied with a grin towards his stunned friend.
"...You didn't even notice Sakura-chan?"
Sakura finally responded by shaking her head, "I didn't really care at that time where he landed..."
She chuckled weakly, "No wonder I broke my hand."
Naruto raised an eyebrow, "Can't you heal your hand Sakura-chan...or your arm?" Sakura decided to repeat what Tsunade told her one time.
"While it is vital for a medic-nin to remain in good health, there are times where the patient comes first" she preached.
Then she translated to something more so what Naruto would understand, "You and Lee-san were quite hurt. I had put all my efforts in to help you both, Lee-san being by far the one in less danger...I didn't have any time to spare to treat it, so I just set it in a cast when I had some time...my arm is sort of the same story."
Naruto nodded his head dumbly, and tried to shake away his guilt, but failed, "I am so sorry Sakura-cha-"
"Stop it!" Sakura interrupted, while shaking her head.
"…Stop apologising to me...if there is anybody here that should be saying anything it is me." Sakura half shouted, her voice now cracked as her guilt came back.
"I am sorry...that I couldn't do anything, and I basically couldn't help you at all with Sasuke-kun." She trembled out, with her gaze falling to the floor. Naruto was agape but shook his head at her words.
"Sakura-chan...This was not your fault."
Sakura shook her head loosely, "Yes it was...you were too focused on helping me..and maybe if I wasn't such a burden...I could have helpe-" Sakura couldn't finish her sentence when Naruto cupped her cheek and pulled it around to look straight into his now serious eyes.
"You are not a burden Sakura-chan! You are letting that bastard Kabuto's lies sink into your head!" Naruto said strongly, not even knowing where his thoughts were coming from. Sakura didn't seem to hear Naruto, as she tried to look away, but Naruto's strong grasp didn't allow her head to meet the floor with her eyes.
"I couldn't even handle Kabuto by myself, he would have killed me if you weren't there for me...and I soon worked out that both you and Sasuke-kun are on an entire different level from me." she admitted in defeat.
Naruto dropped his hand, allowing her gaze to fall to the floor, "...Sakura-chan...don't be so stupid." Sakura gasped at his void of emotion words and looked up in shock, as a tear rolled down her face.
Naruto continued, "Kabuto arguably is as strong as Kakashi-sensei...you have nothing to even be ashamed of for needing my help...and Sasuke and me...well I am sure Sasuke would vouch otherwise...if he has woke up yet." Naruto said, going more cheerful at the end, as he brought up his hand again and rubbed away her tear for what seemed to be a brewing habit.
Sakura's mouth twitched, forming a sad smile, "B-Bu-"
"No buts Sakura-chan. You are not a burden, you NEVER were, you have let Kabuto get this crap into your head not once, but twice. Don't listen to him Sakura-chan...and as I said, you know you are better than that...I know you are better than that! " Naruto said, with no room to argue, still wondering where his words were coming from.
Sakura still hadn't wondered how he knew about what Kabuto said to her, as she leaned her face against the soothingly warm hand.
"Who are you, and what have you done with Naruto?" She asked more to herself, in wonder at what happened to the so care free and playful Naruto she knew, unaware that she was now smiling wide through her softly closed eyes. Oblivious to the pair, somebody's mind was racing at the doorway.
'OHHH!!!!!'
The observer was then flying through their notepad, with steam flying out of their nostrils like some kind of rocket exhaust, and emitted a perverted giggle.
"Sorry, I will be back later when your both less...occupied." The male presence at the door said innocently, as he put away his notepad after jotting some 'plot changing' notes, and made to close the door with an impossibly wide smirk across his face. Both of the teens span their heads and glared at the uninvited and unwanted intruder, neither showing any trace of embarrassment.
"Ero-sennin!" They both hissed quietly in perfect union.
Jiraiya decided to pretend he didn't see anything and walked back in, "Good to see you're finally up Sakura, how are you feeling?" He asked voicing slight concern.
Sakura dropped her glare, "I am fine, as I told you and Kakashi-sensei, I know how to take care of myself." She said in annoyance.
Jiraiya shook his head, "Have you looked in a mirror recently? you still do look like hell."
Sakura ran a hand through her oily hair and sighed, "Fine I get the picture." Sakura looked back at Naruto next to her.
"You are not to get out of this bed for any reason at all!" She barked out like an order.
Naruto nodded his head and smiled., "Hai, Hai I won't do anything stupid Sakura-chan."
Sakura grinned in return. "If you need me though, I am sure Ero-sennin here won't mind waiting here with you until I return." She said, emphasising each word for word past 'Ero-sennin' while glaring at the now paling sannin.
"O-Of course." He chuckled nervously as he entered the room.
Sakura turned back at Naruto again, "Try to keep your breaths short and relaxed, and as impossible as it is try to keep your voice down." She smirked when Naruto pouted.
"Sakura-chan, I am not that loud." He whined as Sakura laughed lightly.
"Baka."
Sakura stood up from the bed and past Jiraiya, but stopped next to him to meet his gaze, "If he feels any pain at all or coughs out the slightest bit of blood you come and get me. Do you understand, Jiraiya-sama?" She said in a voice full of concern and seriousness. Jiraiya normally would be jumping for joy that he was finally called 'Jiraiya-sama', but after their discussion from earlier, he knew what it truly meant.
-
Flashback yesterday, Hatake hotel – Naruto's room
-
"You are going to kill yourself if you don't stop!" Jiraiya shouted at the lifeless expression of Sakura, who still was wearing the same outfit from that day.
Sakura shook her head violently, "I don't care about myself! THIS IS MY FAULT!" Sakura shouted as more tears rolled down her face and dripped onto Naruto's bare chest, as she continued healing Naruto's wound.
Kakashi stood next to Jiraiya, "It was not yo-"
"PLEASE!..."
Sakura sniffled as she resumed her healing and said weakly, "...Just leave me alone...I don't want him to d...I don't want to lose him..."
"You won't, you already have saved him through the worst of it, and the Kyuubi's chakra is now helping you..." Jiraiya countered softly.
"That is right Sakura...you have done more than anybody could do, he is alright."
Sakura shook her head slowly, "B-But"
"Sakura...you have been healing him for being three days now, you are using soldier pills which are dangerous to use in succession to stay awake and restore your chakra...keep doing that and you will die...do you want Naruto to wake up and be told that?" Sakura cringed in defeat to Kakashi's protest, as her dimly glowing hands rested over Naruto's bare wounded chest.
The wound itself was mostly healed on the outside, but still had a nasty bloody scar where the sword puncture remained, which was too healing from the Kyuubi's chakra.
Sakura emitted a loud exhausted and trembled sigh as she mumbled, "...Please help me bandage him."
Jiraiya and Kakashi already took over, "You just sit there and rest, we know what we are doing." Sakura looked at both for several moments, and nodded in allowance.
Sakura rubbed her tears which were still falling, as she silently cried as Naruto was bandaged, and a loose shirt was covered over the wound. Sakura hissed in pain again at her arm, as she clutched over it protectively with her other hand. Kakashi eyed his other student with worry, and Jiraiya nodded to him saying he would stay behind.
Kakashi finally excused himself from the room closing the door, "Let me see." He instructed, as Sakura reluctantly pulled her other hand away, and removed the thin layer or now dark red bandaging.
The wound seemed to have worsened, and began to show signs of minor infection, since it was turning a disturbing shade of purple.
Jiraiya knew the reason of this state, 'She has been so concerned with Naruto, she didn't even care her own injury was getting worse.'
"H-He blames himself." She said through a sob.
Jiraiya sighed, "I was afraid of that, can you heal it?" he asked. Sakura tried to heal the wound, but even under her bright green glowing hand, the wound didn't change.
Jiraiya sighed again, "The Kyuubi's chakra is poisonous, making treating wounds very hard." Sakura's eyes widened with new worry.
"Are you saying it will remain like this?"
'Naruto will never forgive himself if this wound doesn't heal!' Sakura cried internally in hope that that was not the case.
Jiraiya shook his head causing her to release her held in breath, "Your wound isn't as bad as mine." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small bottle containing a strange liquid.
"Place this over the wound and try again." He instructed, oblivious to his mistake.
Sakura did as was told, but when she placed several drops of the liquid over the wound, she bit down hard on her lip as a trembled cry of pain escaped, that sounded a mixture of a groan and a scream. It practically felt like the impossibly cold liquid was burning her skin.
Jiraiya cringed, "I was about to say 'be careful, it will do a lot more than just sting' but you beat me to it."
Sakura gasped for air she held in, as the unbearable pain finally subdued, and she tried healing again, this time noting that her arm was now healing. Sakura's hand eventually stopped glowing however, leaving several large red gashes, which made a bump against her skin.
"That is all I can manage for now." She stated, as she felt completely exhausted, and out of chakra. She then remembered what Jiraiya said.
"....Your wound?" Jiraiya inwardly cursed at his error and emitted an annoyed groan through a frown.
"That happened during his training...." Jiraiya trailed off, causing Sakura's interest to deepen, as well as concern.
"what happened?" Her voice also tracing in question to if she could do anything.
Jiraiya gave in, and said slowly while removing his jacket to reveal his fish net shirt, "You know, there are two times in my life when I have come close to dying?" he said rhetorically.
Sakura's eye brow raised in question to his words, as he casually left his coat by Naruto's bed, "The first time I had six ribs and both my arms broken, and several of my internal organs were severely damaged."
Sakura gasped in shock, 'W-what?! How?!'
Jiraiya had to resist the small chuckle, "It happened when I was trying to peek in the hot springs, and Tsunade beat the hell out of me."
Sakura blinked and went agape, 'Sounds like something she would do...I know she would have regretted her actions soon after though.' Sakura thought in a light chuckle. Jiraiya lifted his fish net shirt.
"The second time-"
Sakura suddenly gasped in shock and covered her widely hanging jaw with her hand, "Oh...my...god!" She whispered in her shock at Jiraiya's large deep wound that looked similar to a type of impact crater, planted in the middle of his chest.
"-Was when the fourth tail formed." Jiraiya said conclusively.
Sakura bolted from her chair and looked closely at the wound in desperation to see if there was anything she could do, but shook her head furiously when she knew she couldn't do anything.
Jiraiya chuckled light heartedly, "You know, as charming as you are, I don't need a third close encounter with death from Naruto chasing me to the end of the earth if he saw you groping me, that and you're a little too young for my tastes." He said with a smirk.
Sakura glared at the older man, "Be serious for once!" She hissed as she returned to her concerned gaze and tried to use what little chakra she had left to mend the horrible scar, but soon her hand stopped glowing.
"T-this wound...I-I can't...do anything...I am sorry."
Jiraiya dropped his joke and nodded, not seeming to care knowing he was scarred for life, as she sat back down, and he put his shirt back on.
"I was forced to summon two elder toads that I knew could help. While they couldn't heal the wound they were able to create an ointment to remove the Kyuubi's chakra from my system, saving me from dying."
Sakura stuttered in shock, "B-But I have had this wound for over three days, and felt nothing but an occasional spike of pain."
Jiraiya nodded, "The poison wears off eventually over time. You were hurt by the second tail correct?"
Sakura nodded, "That is why you only felt pain, the Kyuubi's chakra wasn't as pure as it is in the fourth tail form...usually the poison can do much worse things than just pain and stopping the wound from being healed effectively..."
Jiraiya then decided to leave it from there and continued his story, "He wasn't conscious when he did this-" He rubbed over his fish net shirt as he put his coat back on.
"-Meaning he didn't even know about it at all, until our next trip to the hot springs...which was very eventful indeed." Jiraiya said as if recalling the large argument they had.
Sakura honestly didn't know what to think as she began recollecting all the events that had occurred while she enwrapped her arm with a fresh set of bandaging.
Once she was done, she suddenly began sniffling in memory to the fight, "...Was there anything I could have done?" Sakura asked weakly.
Jiraiya shook his head softly as he sat in front of the girl and placed a supportive hand on her slumped shoulder, "No, you did everything you could, you are not to blame."
Sakura shook her head in disagreement and Jiraiya sighed, 'God I hope you can get her out of this state when you wake up Naruto.'
Sakura said through a sob, "W-Why...does he always get hurt..t-t-to save me?!"
Jiraiya was taken aback but recovered, "...You already know why, you are an important friend to him. He would do the same for anybody he knew." He said neutrally.
Sakura sobbed, "B-But...why?"
Jiraiya again was taken aback, "What do you mean?" Sakura's tears continued to fall as she said above a whisper.
"I-I...I have been so terrible to him."
Jiraiya raised an eyebrow in confusion, but Sakura continued, "I have always insulted him. I-I-I h-hit him..." She continued in a cracked voice through her sobbing.
'This is like when she cried when she told me she still viewed him as a friend...and confessed those things...she has felt guilty about it for a long time.' Jiraiya concluded.
"...I don't deserve Naruto's friendship...n-nor his h-heart if he still l-likes someone as bad as m-me!" Sakura blurted out as she began crying in full force. Jiraiya shook his head as he placed both his hands on her trembling shoulders.
"No, no, you are not a bad person...you just made a mistake at the start and followed the crowd."
Sakura seemed to cry harder at that, "T-That means I am no better than the villagers that did those horrible things to him!" She covered her face with her hands, while Jiraiya inwardly cursed, he always seemed to screw up when it came to comforting this girl.
Tsunade probably was going to kill him when she found out how much of a wreck he made her apprentice.
"I-I...I don't deserve to be saved by him!" She cried, as her nails from her non broken hand were almost digging into tip of her head, while the other pressed firmly against her head in its cast.
Jiraiya pulled her small trembling hands away to reveal her lifeless orbs and twitching features, "He told me he thanked you, care to elaborate on what that meant?" He said almost commandingly. Sakura cringed and sobbed.
"H-H-He told me about-t how he w-was grateful by w-what I have done for him...s-since the start of this disaster."
Jiraiya smiled, "That is right, you have helped him from the very start with his fear of others knowing about the Kyuubi, and you even helped him when the Kyuubi was about to fully take over."
Sakura's eyes jammed shut, "T-That is why S-Sasuke-kun was able to h-hurt Naruto...a-and he couldn't do anything else but p-p-p-push me...out of the way." She cackled through her sobs.
Jiraiya shook his head, "I don't want to sound bad, but this was still better than what would have happened." Sakura glared through her tears and gritted teeth, as her knuckles turned to white.
"HOW WOULD THAT HAVE BEEN WORSE?!" She shouted in anger.
Jiraiya continued still quietly, "What would you have preferred Naruto like this-" He titled his head at Naruto's form then added, "...Or would you have preferred to have seen Naruto turn into a miniature Kyuubi with the fourth tail, with no conscious of what he is doing...you never would have gotten out of the situation alive if you hadn't of had stopped him...he would have killed you, possibly kill Sasuke, and then tried to kill the others just by him catching sight of them...how do you think he would have felt having known he killed YOU, and then tried to attack everybody else."
Sakura cringed and found the floor interesting as her nails had now split into her hands skin, causing a small amount of blood to form as she muttered to herself, "Why does everybody keep saying what he would feel if I did this?"
Jiraiya ignored her question then said softly, "You treated him wrong in the past..." Sakura winced at Jiraiya's bluntness, but he continued.
"...But you are making up for your past more than ever, and you and I both know Naruto is not the kind of person to hold a grudge." Sakura froze for several moments as if remembering something, but nodded weakly as she released her clenched fists.
"I know...but I want to tell him I am sorry..." She said, in a way that implied this wasn't the first time she had had this discussion.
Jiraiya raised his eyebrow again as she continued now more calmed, "I wanted to apologise to him, but I didn't know how to approach the topic...I even tried to avoid it...and now..." Jiraiya gave a knowing smile.
"I understand...you were afraid you were never going to get your chance to apologise."
Sakura nodded, "...Does that...does that make me selfish?" She asked in uncertainty, as she found the ground interesting.
Jiraiya shook his head and said in playful sarcasm, "Going beyond your limit to save somebody's life, not caring about your own injuries, and probably would have ended up in a coma from chakra exhaustion if you didn't stop...yeah I would say you are the most selfish person I have ever met."
Sakura gave a lightening chuckle, "...I guess not."
Sakura looked at the now resting Naruto, "I will apologise to him when I am ready." Jiraiya nodded as he dropped his supportive hands.
"Get some rest, you seriously look like the living dead...and smell like one too." Sakura gave a weak glare which didn't seem to lock with Jiraiya's eyes, but more so with his right shoulder.
"I do no-"
"I am over here." Jiraiya interrupted with a wave.
Sakura averted her closed heavy eyes, "...Alright, maybe I am a bit tired." Jiraiya stood up and was about to usher her out until he saw she didn't move and he smiled.
"...Don't want to leave?"
Sakura didn't say anything, as she reached into her pouch, and pulled out the necklace Tsunade told her about so much and placed it over Naruto's head, allowing it to rest above his shirt. Once that was done, she then lowered her exhausted head to its side, and rested it on the unconscious Naruto's stomach. She gripped onto his shirt with her good hand protectively and looked at his face, with a look that showed she desperately wanted to see him wake up.
Jiraiya couldn't hold back the smile at her actions, 'I can't believe it took him to almost die for her to understand how much she really cares about him.' Jiraiya opened the door.
"I will leave you in peace then." Sakura gave a weak smile in gratitude without moving her head.
"Thank you...Jiraiya-sama."
Jiraiya almost fell over backwards, "W-What was that?!" He stuttered in shock.
Sakura grinned, "I will only call you 'that' when I feel you deserve it...otherwise, please close the door on your way out...Ero-sennin." Jiraiya laughed and closed the door.
-
End flash back
-
Jiraiya nodded while looking into the Kunoichi's tired eyes. "Don't worry, I will get you the moment anything happens."
Sakura nodded in acceptance and then unconnected her weapons pouch, "Please leave that on the drawer, I might need it later." She said dismissively as Jiraiya took the pouch in his hand. Sakura walked out paying one last glance at Naruto with a smile and closed the door quietly behind her.
Jiraiya sat next to his student after discarding the weapons pouch, "Consider yourself very lucky to have somebody that cares so much about you gaki." He said surprisingly very calmly with a grin.
'She herself knows how lucky she is to have you caring for her safety, Naruto.' Jiraiya mused.
Naruto smiled at the door, "...Y-Yeah."
Ronan was very quiet during his and Thomas's trek through the borders of the rock country. Thomas eyed a strange sculpture, but payed no more attention to it as Ronan spoke dryly, "We are approaching our destination soon."
Thomas nodded, and was about to say something, but decided against it, "What is it Thomas?" Ronan said simply, and surprisingly calm.
"Araiki-"
Ronan's snicker stopped Thomas from speaking, as Ronan now hissed, although it was strained, "That fool, his arrogance finally caught up to him in the end...but I swear, we are going to avenge his death, along with our other brothers who fell that day."
Ronan clenched his shaking fist, as he stopped and eyed another strange sculpture, and changed his course of direction, and walked past it continuing straight.
Thomas continued in his void of emotion tone, "Why didn't we stay with Orochimaru then? Wouldn't it be best to form some alliances to continue our mission?"
Ronan sighed then growled, "I don't care what that snake says, I know he killed our comrade Mareo, I don't know how...but I just know."
Ronan then showed a strange softening expression, "...And It was my mistake to try and force Sasuke to kill his best friend, even if he boldly claims he doesn't care about him anymore."
Thomas turned in interest, although his voice didn't hold any trace, "But Orochimaru said that the girl interfered, which is why Sasuke failed his task."
Ronan shook his head, "Danzou's training has made it hard for you to read peoples body language."
Thomas blinked blankly as Ronan continued, "He was lying...while it's true this Haruno Sakura did interfere, I could tell Orochimaru was hiding something...and by the disappointment you could hear in his voice that was more directed at Sasuke that must have been the case."
Thomas nodded in acceptance to Ronan's conclusion, "So we are proceeding without their help then?"
Ronan nodded while speaking void of emotions, "It would be very unfortunate if yet another Uchiha's blood was spilled for a meaningless purpose...it would be best to not to get Sasuke involved with this anymore."
Thomas nodded again in acceptance then asked, "So what exactly are we doing here in Iwa?"
Ronan smirked, "We are searching for those allies you suggested we form."
Thomas held a blank expression, which usually was no different than his normal neutral expression, but Ronan had worked with Thomas long enough to recognise a questioning expression when he saw it.
"Since we are all that is left of the remaining ANBU from the Kyuubi invasion, we will have to resort to hiring the services of missing nin's, and according to my bingo book, there is such a nin who's services are known by a few extremists in the territory." Thomas recalled when they had interrogated a bandit that was carrying a strange explosive, and given them a directions to this nin's location.
"How are we going to convince this nin? I am sure your sharingan can work on a common thug, but a nin...sorry Ronan, but even I have my doubts there." Ronan snickered and reached into his weapon pouch under his cape. Since they were travelling in other countries, they disposed of their ANBU attires and wore cloths that made them appear as ordinary civilians, but concealed their gear through thick capes. Ronan had to lose his katana, since it would draw too much attention, and Thomas no longer had his large scroll on his back. Finally both were no longer wearing their Konoha forehead protectors, since neither were wanting to start a war between a country and their old village if a fight broke out.
Ronan presented a small sack that he shook that made the jingling sound of jewellery colliding with each other inside.
"We will do it the old fashion way of course, we will pay for their services. We may also be in luck, and the nin might have their own dislike against jinkuriki's, since the Kyuubi isn't the only Bijuu sealed."
Ronan stopped when they had reached a clearing, where a small house that seemed very out of place with its surrounding stood in the middle. The house seemed to be no larger than containing possibly three, maybe four rooms in total. Its red bricked walls reached to a single story in height, along with what appeared to a dark green roofing of colorbond. Surrounding the house were the strange, creature like sculptures, that held ceramic shading like cement.
Thomas blinked, "Very strange way for a missing nin to be living."
Ronan's smirk widened, "This man doesn't appear to have any fear at all for hunter nin's so it seems...good."
"It would seem I don't, hmm!" A voice called from behind them, as both turned to meet a lone young man. The man was wearing a long sleeved navy blue shirt, with fish netting worn underneath the shirt. The man was also wearing navy blue pants with shinobi sandals. The man had long blond hair that reached down to his back, along with a large portion of it covering his left bright blue eye, the other clearly visible eye was glaring at them.
The blond then smirked, "I usually don't mind if I draw a lot of attention, hmm. It is nice to see how my works of art handle those pests called hunter nin's." the man said in amusement.
Ronan narrowed his eyes in interest, the man then formed a single seal, "For example-"
He then pointed at a strange sculpture of a dog sized bird that was to Ronan's left at around twenty meters away.
"Katsu!" The man shouted, and straight after his announcement, the bird suddenly imploded for a split second, before bursting in a violent explosion. Once the dust started to clear, the man smirked.
"I believe art should be expressed with a blast, don't you agree hmm?"
Ronan's neutral expression formed a wide smirk, "I guess I can agree with that, Deidara-san." The man waved a dismissive hand, although the unique thing was that in his palm, was a smirking wide mouth.
"Just Deidara is fine...now what is it you require my artworks for hmm?"
Jiraiya frowned, "So you have made up your mind?"
Naruto didn't portray any emotions as his arms crossed over each other.
"You are not talking me out of this one. I am never using that power again." He said with no room left for argument.
Jiraiya sighed, "Then what will you use then?"
Naruto met his sensei eye to eye as he remembered his last words with the Kyuubi.
-
Flashback, inside Naruto's mind, 50 minutes ago
-
"You bastard!" Naruto hissed as he wished death on the Kyuubi, who was smiling wide showing his razor sharp teeth.
"Her scream brought back the good old memories, I must say I am glad I couldn't kill her, it will be great to hear it once again." The Kyuubi then laughed, rippling the water of the chamber as his sadistic humour could be heard echoing through Naruto's entire mind.
Naruto's knuckles turned white as his hands shook furiously, "I will never let you hurt her again!" He said void of emotions, causing the Kyuubi to subdue his laughter as he took Naruto's threat with a grain of salt.
"Whatever you say you hopeless mortal, maybe the next time she won't get so lucky as to keep her arm...and the Uchiha."
The Kyuubi growled, once again shaking the room, "I will be glad to dispose of him too."
"You will never get the opportunity to!" Naruto hissed, his anger just barely being held back from exploding and screaming at the Kyuubi.
"Your threats are useless, you and I both know how useless you are without me." The Kyuubi then broke into another laugh when Naruto's face went pale.
'H-He is right...I have relied on him too much in the past...' The Kyuubi stopped when Naruto recomposed into a serious expression and hissed.
"Then I will just have to become not useless then!"
Naruto continued, his voice raising by the word as his anger was no longer being held back, "I don't care if I am powerless forever, I WILL NEVER LET YOU HURT MY FRIENDS AGAIN!" Naruto screamed now at the Kyuubi, whose glowing slits were narrowed on the boy in front of him.
"You pathetic fool, you will die without my power!" The Kyuubi then spoke as if trying to strike a bargain with a tempting voice.
"Imagine the power you could have when you're old enough to wield all of my power, you will be undefeatable, your enemies will be at your feet. Nothing will be able to stop you from doing whatever your mind desired. You need me!" The Kyuubi spelled out for the end in conclusion.
Naruto averted his gaze to his distorted reflection in the water, as the Kyuubi's offer replayed in his head, causing the Kyuubi to smirk at his victory. The Kyuubi's eyes widened though when Naruto looked dead into his own slits and said in disgust.
"Spare me your lies Kyuubi! The previous Hokage's didn't need a Bijuu to become strong, I don't need you to become strong either!" Naruto turned and began walking away from the chamber.
The Kyuubi roared out in great hatred, "YOU JUST SEE HOW LONG YOU LAST! WHEN I FINALLY BREAK OUT OF THIS SEAL, I WILL ENJOY RIPPING YOUR SO CALLED FRIENDS APART LIMB FROM LIMB!" Naruto paused suddenly but didn't turn around.
"Tear my friends apart?" He said simply, as the Kyuubi smirked and continued.
"Indeed, and I won't stop there, I will track down that stupid Uchiha who apparently is your best friend and destroy him. Then when I get to that pathetic crush of yours, I will allow you to watch as she slowly torn apart, she will be begging for death when I am through with her!" The Kyuubi hissed in joy.
Naruto then turned and smiled, while saying in a Shikamaru like sarcastic way, "I see...thank you for the motivating speech, which I will always remember if the thought of using YOU ever comes again." Before Naruto could hear the Kyuubi's raged protest, he retreated from the depths of his mind, and came to sight of the still sleeping Sakura, as a tear rolled down her cheek in her sleep.
Naruto rubbed away the tear, causing her sleeping face to return to its soft relaxed smile.
"I will never let you hurt anybody ever again."
-
Present time
-
Naruto then spoke, his voice showing his seriousness, "I will use my own power to protect the people I care about, and to bring Sasuke back."
Jiraiya was stumbled by Naruto's change in personality but soon smirked, "...You really are growing up after all." He said honestly, as Naruto formed a small grin of his own.
"What? Are you turning senile Ero-sennin?"
"I AM NOT THAT OLD!" Jiraiya shouted at his chuckling student, before calming down.
"So I take it this means oodama rasengan is gone, never to be seen again?" Jiraiya implied, only to raise an eyebrow in interest when Naruto shook his head.
"I used the Kyuubi's chakra before, since I found I could improve my stability with the rasengan using his chakra...I will be able to perform it once I get better with creating rasengan without a kage bunshin."
Jiraiya nodded in understanding to Naruto's logic, while inwardly not knowing whether to be shocked or amazed that Naruto just referred to 'fox-teme' as 'Kyuubi'.
'Heh, I said it once, I will say it again, the gaki is growing.'
"What else is there for me to learn then?"
Jiraiya smirked as a few ideas ran through his head, "Oh I am sure I can think of something." Naruto already was turning back into his energetic and hyperactive self.
"What super jutsu will you teach me then?!" He almost beamed in joy.
Jiraiya waved his hands, "Settle down, you are in no condition to learn anything yet." He said through a chuckle as Naruto pouted.
'Typical yet amazing, he just decided to throw away all he learnt with using the Kyuubi, and now he wants to start learning new jutsu right away...and I guess he is still his old cheerful self.' Jiraiya thought in pride for his student, as he decided to read through his 'research' notes.
"Hey, Ero-sennin." Naruto said suddenly after several minutes of silence, causing Jiraiya to look up from his notes that he was summarizing .
"What is it Gaki?" Jiraiya asked, as he continued his writing.
He soon stopped though when Naruto didn't answer and looked in concern, "What is it Naruto?" he asked again, seeing his apprentice looking down at his sheets in thought.
"...Nothing never mind." Jiraiya wasn't going to let this one go.
"Is your chest hurting?" Jiraiya said in seriousness, Naruto didn't respond and Jiraiya sighed.
"I know you don't want Sakura to worry about you so much, especially considering her current condition, but this is yo-"
"Do you think Sakura-chan...still likes Sasuke?" Jiraiya was completely caught off guard and grunted in confusion.
"Huh?" Jiraiya quickly recovered though and sighed in relief.
"That was all you were going to ask?!" Jiraiya said in a half annoyed huff.
Jiraiya quickly formed a smirk though at an implication, "I thought you and 'Sakura-chan' weren't like that, although now I am starting to question it." Naruto slightly blushed but shook his head.
"We are not Ero-sennin, I am just worried that is all." he near whispered, although this time Jiraiya could sense a foreign trace in Naruto's voice that he knew well.
Regret.
Jiraiya raised an eyebrow, "What do you mean?"
"Sakura-chan liked Sasuke a lot when we were all together as a team... While I myself don't want to hurt Sasuke, Sakura-chan would not hurt him at all...even if her life is in danger...and Sasuke...he isn't what he used to be now." Naruto then winced in memory of Sakura's defeated words during his fight.
Jiraiya looked at his student like he spoke pure blasphemy, "She broke her freaking hand after she punched him square in the face with all her power AFTER HE HURT YOU! Does that not answer your question?!" Jiraiya said, emphasizing the part on him being hurt.
'Seriously, what is the matter with both of you?!' He screamed internally.
Naruto looked square into Jiraiya's eyes and with an agitated growl, "That doesn't mean I can't worry!" Naruto's eyes widened though as he coughed violently before settling, Jiraiya was already by his side.
"Alright alright! I understand you're concerned!" When Jiraiya was convinced Naruto was ok, he sat back down and decided to help his apprentice with the best answer he could give.
"Ask her."
Naruto turned wide eyed at Jiraiya, "I-I can't ask something so personal like that to Sakura-chan...or anybody for that matter!" he stuttered out.
Jiraiya glared at his apprentice, "Grow up Naruto! You are afraid somebody you hold dear to you could be vulnerable to an attack that could threaten their life...put it this way would you rather risk an argument with a friend, or do you want to be driven insane with your worry...or if something happens to Sakura?"
'And this entire disaster has brought you both close…regardless what either of you think.'
Naruto broke his gaze from Jiraiya's glare, "...You have been right before." Naruto whispered, causing Jiraiya to smirk.
Naruto then met Jiraiya's gaze with his strong eyes glowing with determination, "I will ask!"
Almost as if on cue a knock was heard on the door and when the door didn't open by itself, Jiraiya assumed he needed to answer it. He opened the door to reveal Sakura balancing a tray that had a bowl of ramen and hot chocolate in her hand and rested arm. Sakura had changed to her white shirt with a fresh vest, along with her ordinary shinobi sandals, she also was wearing her black skirt, instead of her usual knee length sweat pants and her medic nin skirt, which originally was stained in dried blood. She no longer had her Konoha forehead protector on either, allowing her now silky clean hair to flow more freely to just above her shoulders. Jiraiya noted she still had a very exhausted demeanour, and her eyes still had black lines underneath. Her arm seemed to no longer be bandaged, and only showed a red mark where the scratches were, implying she must of healed more after she had cleaned herself up. Her cast still remained however.
Sakura casually walked in and smirked when she saw Naruto's surprised and large smile when he saw the ramen, Sakura also inwardly sighed in relief when she saw how glad his eyes looked when he noted her near fully healed arm.
"You said you wanted to wait, but I think you have earned it early." Sakura said flatly as she placed the steaming bowl on a tray.
Sakura then flicked her attention to Jiraiya, "Was he alright the entire time I was gone?" Sakura asked in concern, ignoring Naruto's whining of 'you could just ask me Sakura-chan' Jiraiya scratched his head.
"He did have a little coughing fit earlier, but there wasn't any blood, and he calmed down soon after." He said as if reporting to a Hokage.
Sakura nodded, accepting Jiraiya's report as she picked up her cup and breathed in the hot fumes as she lifted the hot drink to her mouth, "When Naruto is done with his meal and his task...Shikamaru will be waiting in the dining lounge with Kakashi to give their report." Jiraiya spoke, looking straight at the now annoyed Naruto, as he walked out closing the door behind him with a smirk.
'You said you would ask, but I am not letting you have the option to chicken out of this gaki!'
Sakura lowered her cup and placed it back on the tray, and showed Naruto her face, which was full of confusion, "What did he mean by that Naruto?" She asked in interest, raising an eyebrow at Naruto refusing to look at her.
'Ero-sennin...I was going to wait until Sakura-chan at least wasn't so exhausted!' Naruto cursed his sensei mentally.
"Naruto?" Sakura asked again, now with slight annoyance and worry in her voice.
Naruto still couldn't look at her as he spoke, "T-There is something I have to ask Sakura-chan." He said with his voice full of hesitation.
Sakura blinked several times in confusion and in worry, "...What is wrong Naruto?" Naruto mentally slapped himself.
'Ero-sennin is right, I am being stupid about this.' Naruto finally turned and showed his worried face to Sakura, which made her eyes slightly widen in concern of her own as her rising panic did not settle.
"Naruto...please tell me. what. Is. Wrong.?" She asked for a third time softly, spelling out each word drenched in her concern.
"...Do you still love Sasuke?"