Insanity's Slip

Chapter Twenty Two

By Boejangles

A/N~ -gets ready for yelling- Alright, I am really, really, really sorry. I know I said in under a month, but the week after I posted the last chapter I had an accident while hiking with my friends. I ended up breaking a few ribs and getting a bad concussion. I was out of school and on bed rest for a couple weeks. I still get nasty headaches from it. I have also had tons of trouble concentrating, because of the pulsing in my head. Then, because I was out of school I had a lot of makeup work, plus all the new work they were doing so I was swamped. Let alone, after I came home from school I was so exhausted and in pain that I would go to sleep right after finishing homework. I am really, really sorry that I made you guys wait so long and I hope you can forgive me. I don't know when I will have time to update, because I am taking a few college level classes, some that I have to pump out a story once a week. I am not going to set any more deadlines though; every time I do I end up in an accident of sorts and can't follow through. Anyways I hope you like this chapter. If anything makes absolutely no sense, blame the concussion.

Naruto's body arched off the ground and his arms flailed at his side. His legs twitched as his head shook back and forth, and up and down at the same time.

Sasuke rushed over to his brother not know what to do. "What's happening"?

Shikamaru was next to Naruto instantly and was holding his head still to keep the boy from injuring himself. "Pin him down so he doesn't break something."

Sasuke complied and held the blonde's arms and legs down, "What's happening to him"?

"I don't know. He has been doing this in odd intervals since we found you guys. The first time he bit open his tongue," Shikamaru spoke in a calm voice.

Ino approached the group with a bowl of water and a piece of ripped shirt. She moved the wet cloth over the Naruto's face. As she did this she hummed, trying to calm the boy.

Soon the youngest Uchiha's body stopped twitching and became still.

Shikamaru sighed and let go of the boy's head, "That one was much shorter." The female of the group responded with a nod and continued running the cloth over the boy's face.

Sasuke moved off of his brother, but pulled him into his arms. He rocked back and forth holding his brother close. "Naruto, oh Naruto, what happened to you"? He slowly laid the younger boy back to the floor, not wanting to start him into another fit.

"Oh, you are awake," the cheerful voice of Sakura came from the entrance of their hideaway. Choji smiled and gave a wave from his spot next to the pink haired girl. The girl's smile broke at seeing the sad looks from around the blonde. "What's wrong with him"?

Naruto hugged himself and shook, it was so cold. Or he should have thought it was so hot, the truth was the air around him was so intensely hot, that it was cold to the sense. The blonde took a fearful look up from his knees at the two beasts fighting.

A giant crimson fox was battling a black monster. There was no other word for what the black thing was.

"I will not let you harm my child!" The fox boomed at the black creature.

The inky monster laughed in response. "Fine, let us fight and tear the boy apart from the inside out." A booming laugh shook the room, "You will kill the boy by not letting my have him."

Naruto shoved his head between his knees and covered his ears.

Shikamaru looked Sasuke directly in the eyes. "Are you sure you will be alright? We can wait till Naruto wakes up."

Sasuke shook his head, "No, go get your scroll. There's no point in all of us being useless. Sakura and I can take care of him."

Shikamaru nodded and looked at his teammates, "Alright, let's go."

Ino brushed back Naruto's before placing a soft kiss on his forehead. "Get better my baby." With that she got up and moved over to Shikamaru.

Choji looked over the three of team seven and smiled, "Take care of him, and be safe. See you at the tower."

Sakura waved them all goodbye as they left. She turned her attention back to her blonde teammate. "Oh, please wake up soon."

A/N~ Gah, my head is absolutely killing me. I wanted to let you guys know I was alive and I wasn't letting the story die. –rubs my head- I will do my best to write more this weekend when my headache goes away, no promises though (since we all know what happens when I promise.) Please review, even though it isn't much, and tell me what you think.