I don't know why I put so many disclaimers but since I quote so many things I feel like I have to, I do not own Naruto.
Blood splattered.
All over Sakura's face and her tears stopped completely, because she knew… it wasn't hers.
Before the Kunai could reach its target a hand had reached up and intercepted it taking the hit for her. But what stopped her tears was that the hand that the kunai had pierced looked eerily familiar. The size, the color it was something that she had associated with only one person; someone who should not be moving.
And the sound ninja must have thought so too as he back up with eyes wide,
"Naru..to?"
His hair was on end though, the whisker marks were darker and more ragged, fanged canines protruded his mouth and all around a powerful chakra began to leak from him. But what really stunned her were his eyes, no longer were they that beautiful blue that people often got lost in, that were usually filled with mirth and light;
No.
They were different. Blood red in color and the pupil...they were not human, formed in a slit like a predator.
"Oi"
Even the voice was different Sakura noted dazed, it wasn't as high and cheerful in that way that she so often mentioned annoyed her. Instead it was deep and gravelly like a beast if it could talk,
"Don't touch my friends"
Sasuke would admit that he was relatively sheltered. He lived in a prominent household and being the heir he was always protected. Sure his father and the village pressured him to be like his brother but his brother was so overprotective he never really had to do much.
And truth was: he never saw a person die.
That time on the bridge, he had been knock out. He hadn't seen Kakashi kill Haku or Zabuza kill Gato and then die too. He woke up at the end when it was all over. But still even if he had never seen it he was sure this was not how it was suppose to look.
The tearing of limbs as if they were just branches on a tree, the ripping of flesh, blood pouring all over the forest. This went beyond killing… this was terror and Sasuke and Sakura were too frozen in fear to move.
So they watched.. In horror as the friend they thought had died and come back to life destroyed the three sound ninja as if they were simply prey on a hunt.
And Sasuke knew they shouldn't..they should be running and getting far away because watching he realized,
THAT was not Naruto…
And whenever THAT THING finished with those guys they were probably next…
Naruto stood in the middle of the forest drenched in blood and they just watched,
"Naruto…"
Sakura whispered her voice hoarse from all the crying she had done,
"Naruto… that's enough…"
Sasuke jumped down from the trees he was in to land next to Sakura tense. He wasn't sure what THAT THING would…
"...ru…."
It was so quiet that they hadn't heard it, and Sakura being the kind hearted one stepped forward but Sasuke put a hand up to stop her from going too far,
"...Run…"
This time they heard him, and they noticed his hands were shaking,
"Naruto… what's wrong?"
Sasuke was ready to pull Sakura and run, Naruto had said it hadn't he, run so that's what they should do right? But then Naruto turned….
And even though his eyes were still blood red they were filled with tears; and Sasuke couldn't move. Because never once had Sasuke seen him look so pained and vulnerable…
"Would you give up?"
"Even if i tried to kill you…. Would you give up on me?"
Sasuke remembered blue eyes blinking at him as he had asked that question. He remembered how he counted on Naruto's Ninja way to give him the answer they both knew it was...
Naruto gave a huge face splitting grin,
And that's why after seeing those tear stained eyes he couldn't… he couldn't just run..
"NEVER!"
And Sasuke turned,
"Then what does it matter. "
Sasuke Stood in front of Sakura,
"NARUTO! I WON'T RUN!"
Two tomoes spun in his eyes as he looked at Naruto but whatever humanity Sasuke had seen disappeared as a red film of chakra began to cover Naruto. It bubbled like lava shielding him and creating it's own form. His lips began to turn black, and Sasuke could swear that tails were beginning to form…
"STOP! ENOUGH! I DON'T WANT TO HURT ANYONE ELSE!"
Dark heavy laughter echoed in the cage,
You think this is me? This is YOU! DRUNK ON POWER!"
Sasuke's body shook but he knew if he ran away… he might just lose Naruto..
He glared at the former friend as the beast turned toward him.
"NARUTO! WAKE UP!"
And then what had been Naruto leaped into the air so fast if Sasuke didn't have his sharingan he would have missed it, and faster than Sasuke had ever see Naruto raised his claws to pierce Sasuke and he sure… it was over….
"Naruto…."
He thought he saw a flicker of blue pass over red eyes...maybe… maybe Naruto was still there...
"RASENGAN!"
A light so bright crashed into Naruto slamming him to the ground
"NARUTO!"
Sakura screamed, waiting as the dust cleared, and there in the midst of the forest just a bit in front of Sasuke stood two of the most powerful people they knew,
"Lord Minato…?"
Sasuke whispered, And Sakura knew who the other one was. She had read the history books and memorized the names,
"Master Jiraiya?!"
The large White haired man stretched his back until it cracked,
"Geez i don't think i'll ever get use to that teleportation jutsu you got"
He said with a smile, Minato sighed,
"I don't really think it matters whether you do or don't to be honest.."