"Will you two stop it?"

"Huh?" Yuki glanced up from the bowl of ice cold ramen, which she currently had been stirring with her chopsticks. She glanced to Naruto who looked angry with both her and Akira. She shook her head attempting to clear the massive jumble of thoughts which clouded her attention.

"What were you saying, Naruto-kun?" Akira spoke up, running a hand over his shoulders. Even Yuki could tell she was disturbed by some heavy reflection which was causing her no small amount of distress.

She's worried about Naruto. I feel the same way.

It had only been an hour since Madara had attacked the unprepared Squad 19. Akira hadn't questioned any of Yuki's decisions during combat, but she feared that perhaps the demon assumed that Yuki's love was faltering. She shifted her weight in her chair, only to hear the derisive snort which came from Akira's husband.

"You two are hopeless."

The comment stung, and she stood up in a swift motion, wanting to hit him, only to remember what had happened earlier. She backed away, the comment stinging deeper than any physical wound was capable of.

We weren't strong enough to protect him. I failed to protect her like I-

Immediately, her vision blurred and it took every ounce of emotional restraint to not fall to the ground sobbing. Instead, she contented herself by settling back on her seat, accidently knocking over her bowl of ramen. She bit her lip hard, and reached for a mint from her ninja tool pouch. Her hand shuffled for a second in the expansive bag, before coming out empty handed. Her supply of addictive candies had expired, and she was left aching for the comforting sweets.

"Damnit!" she whispered, her vision blurring substantially. She felt her control slipping, and decided it would be best to not cause a scene in the middle of town. Just as she started to move, and the first tear slipped down, the sound of plastic being unwrapped filled her with a single moment of hope. She glanced to where the sound had come from to see a single unwrapped mint, held in the hand of the person she'd failed. She glanced at the kitsune who forced the round candy into her hand.

"Eat it. It's ok...Come on. Head up, Yuki-koi," Naruto spoke. Yuki's eyes met Akira's as she took the food, placing it in her mouth. The effect was almost instantaneous. Her heart rate slowed, her eyes dried up, and she felt a small smile form on her lips. The familiar taste took her far away, to a place where she and Akira were free to live together and-

"Yuki."

The voice brought her moment of escape to a close as she glanced to the Nine Tails whose gaze was ...soft?

"You have no reason to be upset. You did everything-"

"No, I didn't!" she snapped in return, bitter. Yuki immediately regretted it. It wasn't the demon's fault she had screwed up. She didn't understand one thing though. Akira had stayed by Naruto's side the entire time and never left him unprotected. So why was she upset?

"Both of you stop it!" Naruto's said, his voice harshly gentle. He pointed to the stool where both women sat down, on either side of the genin.

"You did your best, and I don't care what this guy thinks, he won't have you, Akira Uzumaki. I could care less about how you feel. You are special to me, and nothing will happen to you, as long as there is breath in my body. As for you, Yuki-chan...Akira-koi is right. You physically fought with everything you had. After the fight, Granny took me upstairs to go over the intel Tenshi had gathered. It was more substantial and critical, than the bingo book I received from Kabuto. Weaknesses, antidotes, even jutsu listed for each Akatsuki member, along with various notes on concerns of the organization. Tenshi did very well. But the one thing he left us was a list of guaranteed plans Madara intends to follow through. It's small. Only three things. One of them will be brought into fruition soon. He will be interrupting the Kage Summit, which he knew Granny would call for. Because we know he will be there, we will get a chance to not capture him, but perhaps weaken his physical capabilities."

Yuki's eyes widened and she glanced to the kitsune whose face also brightened up. If what Naruto said was true...

"We may get a chance to kill the bastard!" Akira growled, an evil look overcoming her face.