AN: Here we go again,

As always thanks for the reviews/feedback

Goku ~ The nickname she called him is the name Jiraiya used to call him earlier in the story. It's literally just Uzumaki with 'Ero (pervert)' inserted at the front.

Chapter 48 Trends of Concern

Kiba whistled at the impact crater, "This guy sure isn't messing around, whoever the hell he is."

"Thank you for that all so useful comment Kiba." Shikamaru answered in sarcasm, looking to the area of destruction. The alley was no more, and the closest buildings on the right and left were partly collapsed from the explosion.

"This is quite horrid. I assume this is the work of the same missing nin that attacked Temari-san?" Shikamaru nodded to Lee, who looked back at the crater and nodded sharply, 'These guys are strong...'

Sniffing the air, Akamaru barked, "We have their scent." Kiba translated.

"Which way?"

Kiba pointed towards the hills of lightning country, "It is in that direction, I cannot tell the distance, but it is fresh enough, that I am pretty sure it will lead to something."

Kakashi nodded, while turning to Shikamaru by his side, "What is your opinion?"

"...It is a gamble. It has been a day since they attacked Sakura and Hinata, however depending on how they are communicating with the others, they may not receive reinforcements for some time. However, if by chance they have fully regrouped, we would be walking into a very sticky situation without the other three with us."

"That is what I was thinking too."

"Also, whoever that woman was that poisoned Sakura...if one of us gets hit with that when she is not around...-"

"Understood, we would be taking far too much of a risk."

"We cannot permit them the opportunity to escape though."

Lee argued, walking up to them, "We discussed this before, together they would be very difficult to defeat, so we need to conjure a strategy to separate them. With the inclusion of this fifth member, that method is all the more important."

Shikamaru ran his hand through his head while sighing, "We know Lee, but the issue is...well you saw Sakura's state with your own eyes."

Lee nodded, "I know Shikamaru-kun. She was unconscious, and felt icy cold on touch. Her skin was so pale, you could even see her veins..."

"Now you see why, as much of an opportunity this is, Lee-kun, unless we have some way of countering this new person's poison, we are all in danger."

The silent Shino's goggles flickered, as he continued to listen to their argument. "Me and Akamaru can sniff them out, when we have a solid marking of wherever they are, we will come back. If their scent gets too strong or there are too many of them, we will just flee before they even know we are there." All eyes turned to the Inuzuka, who walked up to the huddled group.

Shikamaru groaned, "How strong is your nose truly?"

"It is just below that of a trained dog. If I wanted to though, I could easily enhance my senses to the point where I could even pick up the slightest traces of those fish Sakura keeps in that bucket, back in the other town."

"That's very impressive-"

"-Impressive, but still doesn't guarantee your safety." Shikamaru interrupted Lee's compliment.

"I can help if Kiba becomes exposed to this medic nin's poison."

All heads snapped to the neutral glancing Shino, "You can?!"

"Hai, I would have helped Sakura if need be, but it appeared her summon had everything under control. My bugs can absorb most of the effects of basic poisons and venoms as a defence mechanism to protect me. They are by no means a cure, or complete immunity, more so, I can slow down the symptoms that a poison brings after a period of time. If I accompany Kiba, I can be of assistance to ensure we make it back, if something goes wrong."

Shikamaru was about to protest, but this time Lee spoke up again, "Then I shall accompany you, if the situation becomes intense, I will be your fighting support. If we need to retreat, however, I can easily serve as a means of delaying them, and then escaping too."

"Wait a second-"

"And what if it all goes to hell, and you encounter all of them?" Kakashi took charge over Shikamaru, making all the others lower their heads to his scolding question.

"...This is why you will need me to tag along."

Shikamaru once again groaned, while slapping his forehead, "Troublesome, and what do you expect me to do? What happens if we get attacked while you guys go venturing off on a potential trap?"

Since Shikamaru now was the centre of attention, he continued, "We are the ones that outnumber them, despite the strength of these guys, there is safety in numbers. We split up, we are more worse off, than if we split them up. The swordsman was able to identify all of us, even by our clan's characteristics...They may well be exploiting your acute sense of smell Kiba."

Kiba scrunched his nose, "Damn it...you put it in a way that even the slightest mistake will result in us getting screwed...Heh, it almost sounds like we are trying to beat you."

"Our enemy used to be the captain of the ANBU...I am not underestimating his intelligence in the slightest, not anymore...I already made the mistake of underestimating someone in a past situation-"

Briefly looking knowingly at Kakashi in remembrance to his shogi matches, he continued, "-This is not a game of shogi though. I will not make that mistake in a real situation."

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Hinata by nature never was the intruding type, which was why when she saw Naruto crying in Sakura's arms, she respectively turned away, and left to give them privacy. Deciding then that she didn't need to worry about Naruto and Sakura since the later had woken up, she chose to go for a directionless walk through the town alone. She welcomed the quiet walk, since she now had the opportunity to not be concerned about anyone, and could try and think straight.

She would admit Sakura's rash decision to force her to fight, gave her the long needed time to talk a little about her past. Even if she wasn't completely direct with Sakura for the sake of her clan, and her father's solitude, it did lift a burden off her shoulders. Naruto always was someone Hinata would admire, since he was the start to her will for change her fate, to drive her will to prove to her father and herself, that she was not a disgrace.

Naruto never was direct with her on the matter, but his support alone during that time in the chuunin exams, was enough to motivate her to do better in her struggling efforts. Sakura's words that were aimed only at her though was a much needed remembrance of her personal goals. She still had to prove herself to her father, and her signs of acceptance that were brought out in their fight, had shown her that she was very off her mark.

The heiress meant what she said, Sakura really was an inspiration to her, since she had the qualities of the kunouchi she wanted to be just like.

'I must try and give it everything I have...Sakura-chan and Naruto-kun both believe in me, Kiba-kun, Shino-kun, and Kurenai-sensei do too...even Neji-nii-san acknowledges me...I won't let them down for believing in me.'

Hinata's eyes turned to the sound of a violent explosion to her east, her byakugan eyes activating on impulse to have a look.

Seeing the massive blue hue of chakra in the area from a dispelled jutsu, made her go agape, 'Naruto-kun?'

Running through the streets, she soon came to the street where the outpost was, and true to her suspicion, she saw a pink head looking out in similar shock.

Coming to stop near the entrance, Hinata made herself known, "Naruto-kun isn't fighting anybody Sakura-chan."

Tearing away from the large rising smoke cloud to address the heiress, Sakura sighed in relief, "Seriously...what the hell is that idiot doing?!"

"There is so much chakra dispersing, I can't make it out too well Sakura-chan."

Groaning at the news, Sakura turned and marched inside to growl at somebody, "Come back now Naruto...before I come out there, and drag you back myself!"

Hinata walked inside in time to see a cowering clone disperse from a harsh dong on the head, while Sakura sat down in a huff.

"Did he listen to me Hinata?"

Blinking, Hinata's byakugan returned to the area, to see the blond suddenly stand still, completely frozen from some kind of rush.

On closer inspection of his face, she went partially agape, but giggled, "He looks very frightened about something."

Sakura's dark chuckle brought Hinata's view back to in front of her, "Good, he should come back like his life depends on it then."

"...?"

Giggling at Hinata's blankness, she explained about the kage bunshins, making the heiress nod in surprise, "I see..."

"Is he hurt Hinata?"

Looking again at the running blond, she shook her head, "He looks a little tired, but he doesn't appear that seriously injured."

Sakura's followed groan made Hinata deactivate her byakugan, "I should have known better than to let that idiot go off and train alone, he always pushes himself too far...and it has not even been two hours!"

"I guess...how are you feeling Sakura-chan?"

Looking up from her tools, Sakura smiled, "I am perfectly fine now Hinata... by the way thank you for helping me. I was so stupid to get so angry."

"You're most welcome Sakura-chan, and you were not at fault to be upset by what she said."

Looking down at the tools scattered around, which Hinata recognised as a mixing set, made her walk up to inspect, "What are you doing Sakura-chan?"

"I have created an antidote to the poison that Tsuta Claara person used on me."

"Really?!" Nodding, she lifted up the senbon, that appeared painted a fluorescent blue.

"Hai. Like I explained to Naruto, most poisons that have fast spreading and acting affects are easy to detect, and also counter, by people that know what they are doing. There is no subtly to them, any object that is soaked in the poison can usually be marked with a special reactive dye, like what I have marked this senbon with."

Lifting the senbon, she continued while grabbing her mixing bowl, and a piece of torn cotton, "Since it sometimes is too risky to test if an antidote works on a patient blindly, by using this dye, we get a small sample of our antidote-"

She dipped the piece of cotton in her mixing bowl, which contained a milky white liquid, "-We expose the poison to it-"

Rubbing over the senbon with the cotton, she waited expectantly, "-If our antidote works, the dye will dim to dark blue."

Smiling when reality followed her explanation, she gave the agape Hinata a thumb up, "And There you have it."

Shaking off her shock, she smiled, "T-That is amazing Sakura-chan."

Sakura went to work again, placing the senbon by her side, whilst grabbing several small capsule syringes, "When everyone is back, I will give each of them one of these, and explain to them the symptoms, so they know when they have been exposed to the poison." She concluded.

"Can what you did with that dye thingy be used on all poisons?" A panted voice came from the door, making both kunouchi turn to see a partially exhausted, and a little tensed Naruto.

"As I explained to your clone before, slow spreading poisons are much more discrete than fast spreading poisons, therefore, they naturally are too complex for my dye to be of any use." Putting her instruments down, she marched over to the already paling blond.

"Now if only I had something that could detect your stupidity!"

"U-Umm-"

"What in the hell were you doing over there?!"

"...Training."

"That is not an answer!"

Naruto yelped when she grabbed both his hands in a tight hold, and brought them up for her to see. Hissing as if feeling his pain, she winced at the chakra burns, "...What on earth were you doing, to do this to yourself?!" She whispered, her anger practically radiating out through her question.

"...Oodama rasengan practice..." The glare said it all, and what was worse, was she had him already in a tight grasp, so he couldn't make a run for it.

Releasing her frustration with a groan, she pulled him into the room, "Can you please get me my bandages in my weapon pouch Hinata?"

"Sure thing Sakura-chan." Bringing him in, she then pressed down on his shoulders, instructing him to sit, while kneeling down in front of him and started healing silently.

Naruto simply watched, "Neh, umm Sakura-chan, you're not angr-OW!"

The quick hit to the back of his head interrupted him, "No...I have long gotten used to your ridiculous antics."

"That's mean."

"Deal with it you baka, or would you like the more 'traditional' mean's of informing you of doing something dumb?"

Gulping, he shook his head and hands in a blur, "N-No! I get it!"

Her growl only made him speed up, "Quit fidgeting damn it!"

"S-Sorry Sakura-chan."

"Baka!"

Hinata's light chuckle made both turn in question to see her waving her hand, while passing over the bandages, "Don't mind me."

Once Sakura was done, she sighed, "There."

"Thank you Sakura-chan."

Glaring made him twitch, but she smiled, "Your welcome. Do not do it again, unless..." Naruto felt a chill run down his back at her unfinished threat and nodded.

Hinata watched the entire exchange and lightly chuckled, 'Sakura-chan really does know how to set Naruto-kun straight.'

"Are there any signs of Kakashi-sensei and the others yet, Hinata?" Sakura asked, securing a capsule in a capped syringe.

The heiress formed a seal, "Byakugan!" and began her search.

After a minute, she nodded her head, "Ah, they just entered now back into town."

"Good, that gives me enough time to get changed."

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Deidara watched his hands munch away furiously on stuffing of clay, "Hehe, this is much more like it, hmm."

Claara sighed at her partner's antics, and finished stringing up her rope traps. "You are wasting your time with those old fashioned tricks. Once my clay has finished forming, not even a master of tracking will be able to get past them."

"If you say so." Claara answered dully, still continuing to set up more traps in the tree branches above. Deidara scoffed at her efforts, as his hands began to spit out hundreds of little clay balls that looked like spiders in his hands.

"Doubt my art again eh? Then see with your own eyes, hmm!"

Claara stopped her task and looked as Deidara threw his lot of miniature spiders onto the forest floor. After a moment, the enwrapped balls sprouted their eight legs, and scattered off in many different directions, some even crawling up the trees in a blurring speed.

"I told you, nothing beats a trap that can move at its own free will, hmm!"

"Just be sure they do not set off my traps, and there won't be any arguments...I do not plan to die from my own poisons thank you."

"Oh? Still think my art won't do its job?"

"Now I never said that..." Pulling out a senbon, she threw it so it hit a small invisible wire, which triggered a small yellow ball concealed in the branches above, to fall and crack like an egg on the forest floor.

Deidara snickered, "Planning to egg them for falling for such a flawed trap, hmm?"

"That 'egg' releases a small invisible and odourless cloud of toxic gas into the air, which if inhaled, will paralyse the victim for over a minute...still think it's useless?"

Deidara's eyes widened, and made a mental note to stay away from that spot for a while, "Whatever, I just hope they are foolish enough to do what Ronan predicted they would try."

"Who knows, but we have more work to do, so hurry up and lets go."

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"Neh, do I really need to carry this thing-"

"Oh you have got to be kidding me Naruto. Don't tell me you SERIOUSLY have a thing about needles."

Naruto scratched his head sheepishly, while Sakura continued her rant, "You face danger every day as a ninja, you get cut by kunai, blown up, and what not...and you are scared of one needle which is not even the size of your bloody pinkie!?!"

"Well when you put it that way..."

"Just take it for god's sake. There is a chance you won't need to use it, and I wouldn't be surprised if the Kyuubi can cure you of ailments too, if you give it enough time."

Naruto blinked for several moments, "...Now that you mention it, I have never been sick for more than a day."

"E-Eh?!"

"Yeah, one time, Sandaime-jiji said I had the flu or something, and told me to stay home from the academy for two weeks...but I felt great after some instant ramen and a good night's sleep...I honestly thought it was the ramen."

"..."

'Whoa!'

Shaking off her shock, she dropped the syringe in his hand, and moved on till everybody had one.

"How long does this antidote work for, Sakura?"

"It will kick in the moment you inject it into your blood stream. Once taken, you should be well out of the poison's harm for at least ten minutes. After ten minutes, continuous exposure to the poison will have weak effects, until after an additional five minutes...you will then need another shot."

"Were you able to create spares?"

Sakura nodded to her sensei's questions, "Hai. I have more than enough, if worse comes to worse. The problem is though, this antidote will only work on this one type of poison...if you at any time feel symptoms that are not of the one I have described, come to me immediately."

Shikamaru tossed the small syringe up and down in his hand, "Well, at least that is one hassle out of the way. As I was saying earlier, we now have yet another dangerous addition to Ronan's team."

"Not only that...but this Tsuta Claara knows me somehow."

"Do you at all recognise her?"

"No..."

Remembering something, she reached into her weapon pouch and pulled out Kakashi's bingo book and handed it back, "I looked through it sensei, I could not find her at all."

"I was afraid of that."

"Does that mean anything Kakashi-sensei, maybe your bingo book it not up to date?"

Kakashi put away the book, while answering Naruto's question, "That may very well be true, however, usually recent missing nin's try to lay low if they are working individually, since hunter nin's would be out searching for them...the fact that this kunouchi is not in my bingo book spells trouble itself."

Shikamaru groaned while leaning back into the wall, "Great...here we go again." He muttered.

"Why sensei?"

Kakashi crossed his arms as he answered Sakura flatly, "To have your name removed from the bingo book, it means you either have been apprehended, or you have been confirmed dead."

"So , it is out of date the-"

"OR...someone has gone to extreme lengths and measures, to make it look as if you are dead."

Both Naruto and Sakura held similar agape confusion, as Kakashi continued, "I myself have been involved with this kind of thing in my times in ANBU. We were to locate missing nin's from other countries, and barter with them for information on their rejected village. In return, we offer them means of escaping being hunted by their old country...including false deaths, and with a body to solidify the deal."

Naruto still was agape in shock, but Sakura was even worse off, since she had some understanding of the area, "B-But a deceased ninja is given a final check over by trained medic nins, that look for any such tampering or faux bodies! It's not...possible..."

"The shinobi world is full of mysterious and dark ways Sakura, there is no such thing as 'impossible' anymore."

Lowering her head, Kakashi continued, "For this Claara to have been offered this, it meant she contained vital information about something. Be it the villages secrets, bloodline information, anything. You would honestly be surprised if you knew that some fugitives of one village, were even being protected by an allied country. Like a Suna missing nin being protected via Konoha's bartering...nobody trusts each other anymore in this world."

"What are you telling me sensei?"

"I am telling you whoever this Claara is, she was somebody very high in rank, maybe jounin or special ops, depending on the village-"

"-And she has some kind of grudge against Sakura-chan?!" Naruto interrupted with a half shout, his concern clear.

"...Precisely Naruto."

"Sakura-chan..." Hinata's whispered, while the Nara muttered 'troublesome'.

Naruto was about to speak, but Sakura beat him to it, "So I have some crazed jounin after me for some reason. I do not care sensei, that is not going to stop me from fighting her again if she indeed does come after me."

Naruto stared in shock, while Kakashi gave a warming U shaped smile to her unwithered gaze and tone, "Is that so? well, I was only just letting you know then."

Naruto inwardly was not following the same pride filled thought, 'Sakura-chan...'

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Deciding their meeting had concluded, Sakura went for a walk to resume her dual jutsu exercise, with the orange afternoon sun blazing behind her back. Katsuya told her to take it easy, but she felt she was more than healthy enough to do other stuff than just rest. As she expected, The yard was empty. and she now got to see what Naruto had been doing, that caused such chaos earlier. A building had completely collapsed not far from the yard, by inspecting further, she guessed it was once a shed.

Walking over to the bench, she lifted up the bucket and pulled out two fish, unsympathetically donging their heads against the side of the bench, ending their struggles.

Beginning her task, she sighed, "You really suck at keeping your chakra signature hidden. I am not even a sensor type, and I know where you are, Naruto."

Pausing for a moment, she looked to the main school building behind her, and shifted her gaze up to see a Naruto standing on the wall, some two stories up.

"Get down here...and wipe that concerned expression off your face, or I will do it for you." Jumping down, Naruto failed at doing her second instruction.

Sighing again, she grinned, "That feeling...you probably are getting here."

She poked the part where his heart was, "Meet what I have felt since the moment I discovered about the Kyuubi. That sting you might be also feeling...was what I had, the moment I was told there was an organisation after your life."

Naruto looked at the ground with a grim smile, "Yeah...it really sucks."

"Hehe, I agree with you there." Turning back to the bench, she resumed her work, sensing the blond coming around and sitting on the other side.

Neither said anything over the two hums of burning chakra for a good few minutes, until Naruto spoke, making her pause to give him attention, "You really are not worried at all, are you?"

"Are you worried about the Akatsuki?"

"...Well yea-"

"I mean for yourself, and not worrying about what might happen to all of us."

Going partially agape, he corrected himself, "...Well sure, a bit-...not really."

Grinning, she grabbed and squeezed his hand, "That is exactly what I feel, I am more concerned about her hurting the people around me, than myself. "

"B-But..."

'I am worried about you!'

Sakura chuckled, "I think I see a pattern happening here." she stated, as if his thoughts were voiced aloud.

"...Hehe, I guess so."

"Naruto, I know I am probably wasting my breath, but don't worry, I will be fine."

"I'll try not to." With their agreement set, Sakura gave his hand one more squeeze, then reluctantly let go and got back to work.

"Anyway, How are you going with this training Sakura-chan?"

"Pretty much just burning chakra."

"Is it really that hard?"

"Ah...damn it!" She cursed, as the familiar smell of burnt feet reached their nostrils.

Naruto rested his head on his folded arms as he continued to watch, "Isn't there some trick to medical jutsu?"

"What do you mean?"

"Like how rasengan training had three steps, is medical jutsu the same?"

Once she had repaired the damage, she held out her hand and began counting them off, "Well, the first step with medical jutsu is analysing our patient. That can be done either by trained eye, or via analysis jutsu, which basically is just flowing a harmless amount of chakra throughout the patient's body. Second step after diagnosis, is repairing the damage itself, which has quite a few more finer details to it."

"So you are screwing up the second part?"

"More or less. Every individual's body is different Naruto, of course we all follow the same functions and have the same general organs, but medically, people are unique, bar a few rare exceptions. For example, one person may have a stronger set of lungs than another, or one person's heart is positioned on their other side. The biggest factor is height and shape, and the obvious difference being gender."

"I get it."

"These fish, although both have the same injury, are unique from each other. So I have to manipulate my chakra completely differently between them."

"Sounds...annoying."

Sakura lightly chuckled and shrugged, "I am sure I will get it eventually."

Sakura was about to start, until she could see behind her teammate's blue eyes his gears turning, "Hey, I think I might be able to help."

Sakura perked her eyebrows, as she followed Naruto out into the opening of the yard, "You can?"

Scooping up two leaves from the concrete, he presented them to her. She noted the size and shape difference between the two, "Hold out your hands flat Sakura-chan."

Doing as instructed, he placed one leaf in each hand, then enclosed his own over them, "Take the water out of both of them at once. Since they are different sizes, you might have to use your chakra differently. Heck, you could even make your chakra motion go in different directions to make it harder if you want."

Agape at his idea, she nodded, "I see, so a building block to medical jutsu, by manipulating my chakra on two different sized leaves in the suiton exercise..."

Closing her eyes to concentrate, she did as she was instructed. Naruto grew a grin by the familiar feeling of water drip down his hands, and she soon opened her eyes to have him present her work. The small leaf was completely yellow, while the larger one was still green around the edges, where the size difference came to play.

"It actually works?... I swear you are not Naruto."

Naruto's grin was coupled with an embarrassed flush, "Hehe, well you said two different objects, so I figured."

Sakura grew a smirk, letting the leaves fall as she took his hands again, and affectionately rubbed his holding hands with her thumbs, "...You don't need to hold my hands for me to do that though."

Going wide eyed as his blush flared, he tried to recover with a shrug, "W-Well-I-"

Giggling, she gave them a squeeze, "It's a nice touch though."

Taking a step forehead, she kissed his cheek and studied his eyes for a moment with a pink hued grin, while dropping her eye lids. She was surprised though, when her forehead met those soft lips she was aiming for, but the effect was still close to the same, as she perked open her left eye with a soft smile.

"What is it with you and my forehead? Not that I am complaining, but this better not be some attempt to avoid kissing me now...I did say I would ask next time."

She felt his lips vibrate with soft laughter, and after several moments, the warming contact left her forehead, so she could see his bashful expression, "No it's not that...your forehead is just amazingly huge."

Wincing, her smile folded to a frown, "H-Hey! it is not that big!"

Naruto blinked in genuine confusion at her traces of annoyance, "Why are you upset Sakura-chan?"

His innocent tone made her shoot puzzlement, as he shifted away her bangs to plant another kiss on it, and gave a fox smile, "I think it has always been very kissable, dattebayo!"

Naruto stated as if it was fact. He missed her agape features, as she released his hands, allowing him to walk off to do some training of his own, preparing to create some kage bunshin's in the process. The shocked Sakura didn't know why she felt her talk with Sasuke that time from Naruto's words, but a part of her strongly believed the two were related.

Reviewing the entire situation with the out of character like Sasuke, and him running away clenching his stomach, was the first snap of a link. The Naruto she saw walk up to her that time, and then do the same actions that Sasuke had done, was the sound of the second link connecting. What even made her mind's suspicion sink in to filling in the blanks, was knowing just how skilled the blond was at henge.

'Now it makes sense. The questions about Naruto, and what I thought of him, the saying at the start...It never was Sasuke...It was Naruto.'

Hearing Sasuke's words of 'Not, only Naruto would say something like that' made her giggle softly on impulse, 'That was because it was you!'

Sensing her laughter, Naruto turned and looked in confusion, "Huh? What's funny Sakura-chan?"

Sakura waved her hand dismissively, while rubbing away her tears with the other, "Nothing..."

She paused suddenly, in remembering her response to what she told 'Sasuke' that day, and suddenly felt a rush of guilt hit her head on. Naruto now was surprised by her one eighty degree change, as he saw her walk up to him with pain ever present in her eyes, along with what looked like responsibility.

He was taken aback to have her snuggle in to the side of his neck, with a genuine tear running down her cheek. Puzzled by her complete change of state, on impulse, he cradled her, "What is the matter Sakura-chan?"

"Nothing." She answered again, this time with a cracked voice instead.

"Neh, it don't look like nothing to me." He whispered in that knowing and cheerful tone, that made her chuckle while feeling the cold leave her from his comforting warmth. She wanted to apologise, but she had already pleaded for that before, and was given his response.

So she decided to do what Naruto said she could always say instead, "Naruto..."

"...What is it?"

Growing a soft smile that he felt form against his skin, he heard her soft voice radiate against his neck, "Thank you..."

"...?"

"Thank you...for never giving up on me."

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Night fall soon set in, and Sakura brought up her sheet to cover more of herself. Perhaps she was getting too used to her previous arrangement, but no longer having that comforting and warm shoulder to rest on, just was not the same in comparison to her current rock like backpack. Naruto was sleeping on the other side of the room this time, as they had agreed to keeping their relationship discrete from the others.

'It was only for keeping warm', she figured, although she was beginning to wonder if she was truly developing withdrawal symptoms from it. Said blond sitting up earned her gaze, seeing little traces of sleep in his eyes, but he never noticed her. She didn't call out to him, but watched as he stood up and placed on his forehead protector. She sat up herself though when he walked outside the building.

'Naruto?'

Looking around to the others, it appeared nobody else was awake. Now standing herself, she grabbed her weapon pouch and clipped it on to her cream medic-nin skirt, and picked up her forehead protector while walking out.

Kakashi, who had his head covered by his Icha Icha paradise book, pulled it down to reveal his mischievous plotting lone eye, 'Sneaking out in the night to be together. Awww, how cute...That also was in Icha Icha Tactics!'

Leaving the lone sensei to mourn for losing his book, Sakura figured Naruto was heading to the yard, and walked briskly through the night. 'What is he thinking?'

Entering the yard, she didn't seem her blond teammate at all. When she double checked, she now grew concerned, "Naruto?" She called out, only to hear her echo bounce around the deserted yard.

"Where are you?" she whispered to herself, walking back out the front of the school and trying to think where he could have gone. Her thoughts were cut off by the sound of a distant explosion just reaching her ears, and she looked in its direction to see thick smoke blocking the full moon's light.

"NARUTO!" She screamed, running in the direction of the smoke, which was on the other side of the town.

'What the hell was he thinking travelling out at this hour alone?! Who is attacking him!?' Trying to keep her fears suppressed, she kicked off the ground and began jumping between the buildings.

'Please be ok, please be ok!'

When she finally had some visual in the darkness, she saw a collapsing building, and the back of an orange jacket facing in the direction of the destruction. He was partially panting, but it didn't look as if he was fighting anybody. There were small traces of chakra burns sizzling off his hands that she could make out in the night.

'He is just training...' Letting out a long sigh of relief, she placed her hand on her racing heart, until it finally settled. Her eyes then flickered to full anger, and marched over to the still oblivious blond, to make her dilemma known.

"Damn it! I guess I need to-"

"NARUTO!"

The sound of demonic anger practically roaring behind him was enough to literally scare the blond out of his skin. He spun around in midflight to his reflex actioned jump, and then gasped to see those flaming jade irises glaring at him.

"S-S-Sakura-chan!?"

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING OUT HERE ALONE BAKA?!"

Naruto practically glowed in the dark, by his tanned skin paling, "I-I-I-"

"YOU SCARED ME TO DEATH, YOU IDIOT!"

"S-Sorr-"

She never gave him the chance to talk, as she grabbed his wrists and brought up his hands to see once again fresh burns through the bandaging, this time still smoking from the great load of chakra.

"Do you enjoy hurting yourself or something? There is a known condition for this you know?!" She growled lowly, making Naruto give that 'guilty' look.

"N-No, I was just-"

"Why didn't you at least tell somebody you were going out to train? and why on earth did you practically come on the other side of town just to do it."

"Well I was going to make a lot of racket...so I didn't want to get anyone annoyed and just moved away."

Holding his hands with just one of her own, she first slapped her own forehead, then delivered justice by doing the same to him, albeit a lot harder.

"Do I need to remind you of the bloody situation we are in?!"

Grinning, he shrugged, "But you told me you liked me better when I was carefree."

"Don't twist my words you idiot, that was in a different case."

"Alright...I'm sorry Sakura-chan, I guess I did do something stupid."

Sighing again, she began healing his hands for the second time that day, "That's fine Naruto, just tell me at least next time, or wake me up if you have to, I don't care about how late it is."

"It's a promise."

"Good...now what are you doing yet again?"

"Oodama rasengan practice."

"I can see that, but these burns...how many times are you practicing it?"

"Several, just trying to get my speed in forming it quicker, and then I sort of got a little carried away, and made it even more effective."

"...Go back a step here, what are you saying?"

"Hehe, let me show you then."

Reluctantly, she released his still injured hands, and watched as he created two kage bunshin. They stood in a line, with Naruto in the middle, facing a clear area.

Sakura watched as Naruto held both his hands out, joining his palms with his two clones, and she gasped, 'Don't tell me he...' True to her thoughts, she was blinded by the sudden fast build up of glowing chakra, forcing her to squint at the sight of the two monstrous spheres violently spinning in an undeterminable direction. There was a violent shockwave that sent her hair flying back, as both gigantic sphere's dispersed with a thick blue mist.

Naruto turned with a grin, "I call it Souseiji no te oodama rasengan."

'Twin handed oodama rasengan...'

"I see." She stated, but soon lunged forward to catch him dropping.

His deep pants made her gasp, "How much chakra is in those things?!"

"Heaps-I used to- use the Kyuubi- for keeping them stable- and for- chakra." He explained between pants, as she got him to sit down on the footpath to catch his breath.

"How many did you say you made again...including earlier and tonight?"

"Around a dozen or so."

"A DOZEN?!"

Sakura shouted in surprise, but calmed with a light chuckle, "Bloody hell, even without the Kyuubi, you still have an amazing load of chakra...if only you could give it to somebody that is dying for it."

"Hehe- I am up for- trading it for some control-" Giggling, she got out her canteen drink, and passed it to him to take several mouth full's.

When his hands were free, she started healing them, while he was still was catching his breath, "How did you know I was out here Sakura-chan?"

"...I couldn't sleep. You too I guess?"

"Yeah, so I decided what the hell, and got up to just go do some training."

"Fair enough...Is everything ok though Naruto?"

"Eh?"

"I mean, well you have been through a lot recently, with umm- you know...I just want to know your fine."

Naruto sighed and nodded with a sad grin, "I'm alright I guess."

His words did not convince her in the slightest, but she squeezed his now healed hands, "Fine then... but don't forget what I said before. Talk to me, I will listen to whatever you need to say about anything...got it?"

"I know Sakura-chan, I know."

Deciding to shift the topic a bit, she asked another question, "How are you finding the other situation?"

"...?"

Growing a flush, she sheepishly grinned, "...I am talking about us, Naruto."

Mouthing an 'oh' he blushed with a smile, "It's awesome Sakura-chan!"

If his voice could have sounded any warmer, she would have an excuse for her flush intensifying, "R-Really?"

"Hell yeah!...do you think so too?"

Sensing his uncertainty, she smiled back, "Shannaro!"

Raising an eyebrow at her, she shrugged, "...It was that or dattebayo, and there is no way in hell am saying that stupid saying of yours."

After a brief exchange of chuckles, serene silence fell before them, as they stared at each other's held hands with an identical soft smile.

"Naruto."

"Yes Sakura-chan?"

"...Just Sakura."

"Huh?"

"You don't need to add the 'chan' every time, if you don't want to, you never have needed to in the first place. If you are wanting my permission or something, then just calling me by my name is perfectly fine with me."

Naruto blinked for several moments in shock, but recovered with a nod, "Ok...Sakura."

Something about that empty response made the crickets sound very loud around them, as they looked at each other blankly. Sakura broke the stare off with a smile, "Naruto...everything I just said then...pretend you didn't hear it. Call me without MY 'chan' again, and I will personally kill you."

Naruto laughed lightly and nodded, "I was going to say 'no thanks' anyway, Sakura-chan!"

Looking elsewhere for a moment, she figured why not, "Then it is a deal then...Naruto-kun."

Those crickets that both teens could swear were deliberately waiting around for the opportune time, were at it again loudly, as Sakura clicked her tongue as if something spicy was in her mouth.

"...Naruto-kun."

That taste just would not leave her mouth, so she tried it a couple of times, "Naruto-kun...Hey Naruto-kun, does this sound as stupid to you as it does to me, Naruto-kun?"

The blond covered his ears as if he was trying to block a painful sound, "I think you have me confused with somebody else."

Giving him a friendly punch on the shoulder, she chuckled, "No, no. Looks like I will just call you what I always do, baka."

Naruto was about to smile, until he processed the name at the end and hung his head, "I'm thrilled."

She giggled while ruffling his hair, "Oh come off it Naruto, you big sook."

Raising his fox smiling head so she could see him, she cupped his cheek and traced over one of his whiskers with her thumb, "Cute baka...very cute."

Looking up at the moon, she guessed it was roughly ten at night, "I take it you still aren't tired?"

"No, you?"

"No..." Feeling him place his paw like hands on her shoulders, and looking at her straight in the eye with a sparkle, made her feel butterflies doing loops in her stomach.

"I got an idea Sakura-chan."

Feeling the heat to her cheeks, she smiled bashfully, "What Naruto?"

"How about...some late night suiton training!?"

Sakura literally felt her fantasy snap in half, along with a throbbing vein in the process.

Naruto blinked at her sudden annoyed frown, "Huh? ...Sakura-chan?"

"Never mind." She groaned in disappointment, while standing up, "Fine then, let's go."

Naruto followed the same action, as he watched her start to walk away in a huff.

"Sakura-chan."

"What?!" She barked, looking back at him in annoyance. His blushed grin made her eyes flicker with puzzlement, as she followed her gaze down to see his extended out open hand. She at first widened her eyes in surprise, but soon giggled with her bashful expression returning, and walked back and took it.

"Are you just going to copy everything I do when it comes to us?"

"Well, you seem to like the lame and boring kind of things."

"Really Naruto, just think outside the box, it's-...hey wait a minute!" Stopping in her tracks, she unconsciously tightened her grip on his hand as she looked at his mischievous expression, in detest.

"It's called being romantic you boring baka! "

"E-h?"

"Don't you 'eh?' me, are you seriously telling me that you find those sorts of things boring?!"

"Well-"

"They are what makes a relationship so much fun and special! I don't even need previous experience to know that!"

His laughter only made her growl, "What is so damn amusing?! It's those special moments, and surprises that really keep a spark ali-EEK!"

She was abruptly cut off, when she was scooped off her feet, and held in his arms as he span themselves around in a blur while holding her bridal style.

"So I need to surprise you more often by thinking outside the box, hey Sakura-chan?"

"P-Put me down!" He instead just laughed at her flushed shouts, but soon found his laughter was not alone.

"N-Naruto, p-put me d-down, now!" She cackled through her laughter, as he stopped and captured her gaze with his eyes and smile.

"Neh, don't be so boring Sakura-chan." He mimicked all so perfectly in a scolding manner similar to her rant before.

She went agape when his face leaned down slightly, but automatically dropped her lids, feeling the distance closed as they kissed. He then tried to pull away, but her hand had come up to cup his cheek, stopping him from leaving her lips. Eventually she released her hold, and stroked his cheek as they broke apart to stare into each other's joy filled eyes.

"...You deliberately said all that just to get me angry, didn't you?"

His smirk told her the truth and she lowly growled, "That is not nice Naruto."

"My bad Sakura-chan...you really are so funny though...and scary too."

"Hehe...now would you put me down already?!"

Tilting her so her feet could touch the ground again, she pulled him in by the cheek her hand still cupped, and kissed his cheek. "I must say Naruto...I was not expecting you to do that...I do approve though."

Naruto sheepishly grinned while scratching his head, "Hehe, It was just like that awe striking ending in that epic action packed manga with the princess kissing the hero!"

"...Now, if only it was possible to fix your constant habit of KILLING THE DAMN MOOD!"

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The sun blazing over Konoha marked the end of another day, and the beginning of a night that could be its last. The wind howled overhead, hauling within it the sinister roar of a great monster out for blood. The carried whisper of murderous intent was enough to make birds take flight from perking on the top of buildings, and make those with trained senses turn in the direction to where the source was coming from. The wind crashing against the Hokage's window overlooking Konoha was enough to make the attendants in the room turn their heads to the vibrating glass, reminding them of the coming danger.

The Kyuubi.

"Hokage-sama." An ANBU wearing a white cape with a hood thrown over his head whispered in alarm, although it was clear the only other person in the room heard it too. The other individual in the room was wearing a pure white cape, with burning red flames near blooming down at the ends. The young man in his mid-late twenties, had spiky blond hair, coupled with oceanic blue eyes that held authority and demanding respect within them...

He was Namikaze Minato, the Yondaime of Konoha.

Looking away from the window, the Yondaime met the ANBU's eyes through his tiger mask, "Call forth all of the ANBU, Chuunin, and Jounin, and have them meet me on the rooftop. "

Bowing his head in respect, the captain of the ANBU answered before forming a seal to shunshin away, "Hai, Hokage-sama."

Reappearing on the rooftop of a building not far from the hokage tower, the captain began to walk over to another ANBU, who was looking in the direction to where another howl of murderous wind came from, "The Kyuubi Kitsune...not only do we have one of the nine great tailed beasts heading straight towards our doorstep, but we have the strongest of all of them...talk about hard luck."

Standing next to the ANBU, the hooded individual nodded, "Ah...Gather everybody Araiki, Hokage-sama wishes to meet us on the rooftop of the Hokage tower."

"Hmmph, I think I know what he is going to order us to do, but as you command then."

Once his lieutenant had followed his orders, the captain stood at the front with an entire legion of fully armed and equipped ANBU, along with the other shinobi and kunouchi. Usually he would have ordered his subordinates to stand at attention and wait for the hokage to arrive, but the captain did not have the will to silence them...how could he? He himself knew what they were going to be ordered to do. The muttering was silenced by the sudden sparkle flying into the air, which looked like someone threw something from the ground. The ANBU silently watched the star like sparkle now descend, falling down looking to crash on the rooftop. On its decent, the captain was able to identify the object as an odd shaped kunai that held familiarity in every bodies minds. Just a meter from touching the roof, the kunai continued its course, until a hand grabbed it in midflight.

The Yondaime was now standing before them, with one hand in his pants pocket, as his other hid the kunai away in his cape. A deafening silence followed after his arrival, as not even a whisper was heard amongst the dozens of shinobi and kunouchi.

"May I ask the ANBU to remove your masks."

A chorus of confused gasps were heard all around by the sudden instruction near whispered from Minato.

Flicking off his hood to show his jet black hair, the ANBU captain repeated much louder, "This is not anybody addressing you, this is the Yondaime Hokage of Konoha. Do as he says."

As if to set an example, the captain took off his mask, revealing his mid twenties, shaven face, with dark onyx eyes which portrayed no emotion. Once their captain had spoken, reluctantly they all did the same, revealing faces that belonged to all different clans in the village.

The Yondaime then walked to the very back, and approached the member on the far left, and stuck out his open hand, "I am Namikaze Minato."

Minato walked around to every member, introducing himself personally to each person on the roof, and asking for their names. In the long run, he reached the front line, one away from the captain, "I am Hyuuga Araiki."

Finally, Minato now stood before the ANBU captain, and extended his hand out and looked at him straight in the eyes with radiating determination, "I am Namikaze Minato."

Taking his hand, the captain returned the handshake with matching strength, "I am Uchiha Ronan."

Once he was done, Minato walked to the end of the roof, so he could see all the faces of the shinobi and kunouchi he had just spoken to, and closed his eyes, "Listen..."

The wind once again carried the sinister roar over the hills, the murderous intent causing many to tense.

"...You all should know by now what that is...and you all know that it is heading straight for Konoha."

Opening his eyes, he looked at the group with a penetrating gaze, "I will stop it...but to do that, I need your help."

"Just tell us what is required, and we will execute it with our lives, at your service, Hokage-sama."

The Yondaime shook his head, "No Ronan, I am coming to speak to you not as your Hokage. I am here to speak to you as just another shinobi, as all of you are. I could order you to just do as I say, but as Hokage, it is my responsibility to ensure the protection of Konoha, and everyone in it. So I am giving you a choice."

The mutters flicked over the ninja's, as the Yondaime continued, "I am asking you to help me, but I shall not force you. I am willing to put down my own life to protect Konoha, not because it is my duty, but because I want to. I acknowledge though that some of you, if not all of you, have family or somebody you hold precious to you. I, and everybody here will understand and accept your decision to go home to them, without question or disgust, you have a reason that is legitimate to all of us. I will ask you this one question though...Do you have the will to protect those you care about? Do you have the strength to fight for the land you grew up in, so that the very memories we all cherish, will not disappear? I am asking each and every one of you, is your will of fire telling you to protect, or be with your loved ones?"

Silence once again fell over the group after the Yondaime's calm and respectful speech. As if to tempt them otherwise, the wind once again carried the howl of the Kyuubi closing in.

A lone kunouchi stepped forward, "To protect!"

As if to set off a chain reaction, others followed in her example, until it literally was a chorus of cried proclamations 'To protect!'. Not a single person backed down and walked away, and not one gaze held any signs of peer pressure, but glowed with determination and iron will.

The Yondaime smiled, "Thank you."

Closing his eyes for a moment, he reopened them again to show his own determination, "I have a plan to stop the Kyuubi, but in order to do it, I need time to prepare. What I ask from you, is to slow the Kyuubi's advancement from reaching the village. No jutsu will kill it, but it will at least slow down its progress. Once I am ready with the jutsu that can stop it, I will come and join you on the battlefield."

The sound of pants made several people look to the side, to see a puffed out slug sannin coming up the spiral stairwell. at the sight of the group, she froze and lowered her head as if to say she could wait.

Glancing at her for a moment longer, Minato turned, "You will group up at the front gates in an hour, I advise you all, to dedicate that time to the ones you are fighting for."

Within an instant, all the ninja first bowed in respect, and then shot off in several directions. Ronan unlike the others, did not use shunshin, but jumped across to use the roofs to head to the Uchiha district. On the first jump though, curiosity got the better of him, as he turned his head with his sharingan activated, to see Tsunade run up to the Yondaime, now showing her deep stress and concern. He didn't understand who they were talking about as he read their lips, but the flicker in the Yondaime's eyes from the mention of a woman, showed how serious the matter was.

"Minato...its Kushina...She's-"

"Ronan..."

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"Ronan..."

Thomas called out again, watching as the Uchiha opened his eyes from his sleep, to reveal the darkness of the night.

"It has been an hour like you said."

Nodding, the Uchiha stood up, "Very well...let's continue then."

AN: Just adding some backstory to my character to make him more believable. I just wanted to show that Ronan never used to be this way before, along with other things (lets see who can work it out...)