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Teamwork (naruto) Chpt.6.2
Still unfinished, unbetaed, and had to write by hand, during class, so some of it's probably not such good writing.
Sorry it took so long, Sakura doesn't talk to me as much as sasuke or naruto seem to... x_x
(also, thanks to Saro, Kyuubi ate my brain and decided to get himself a fic where he would do Neji, which is where most of my naruto-inspiration went these last days. I so don't wanna post what i've written of it though, because not only is it a total PWP, but it's NCS, which i've never written before and which i don't even like in general. Hell, if it's more than a vaguely alluded to element of a plot, i tend to skip or even hit the back button -- and there i go and write one. 'che. Stupid Kyuubi.)
previous: http://www.livejournal.com/users/askerian/118240.html#cutid1
"... Blood loss has slowed down," he admitted grudgingly. "But your chakra scalded his pathways. You won't be able to do it again."
"Don't care, so long as it buys enough time to get him to a hospital," Naruto shot back as he straightened up and looked for the blanket. It had fallen to a lower branch and was threatening to slide off. He jumped, snatched it, and bounced back. "Oi, Kiba, you can crawl out now," he called over his shoulder as he spread the blanket over Sasuke again. Sakura took over, making sure that it was snug around Sasuke-kun's body, smoothing the folds tenderly.
"How are we going to move him?" she asked Shikamaru. She had a few ideas but none that really pleased her; maybe he would have better suggestions.
Hands back in his pocket, Shikamaru walked down the trunk to stand on the branch again, by Sasuke's head.
"I'm afraid we have to clear up a few things before that."
Naruto threw him a disgusted/pouty look. "C'mon, Shika, there's no time for chitchat!"
"If we go in now, you'll be killed on the spot," Neji replied, still staring holes through Naruto's head -- not that Naruto seemed to notice.
"At least they will try," muttered Shikamaru as he eyed the blond speculatively.
Naruto finally seemed to notice the weird looks he was getting. "Eh? What --"
"Naruto, sit down," Sakura intervened, tone weary but authoritative. "Sasuke won't get any worse for now, and Kiba won't come out as long as you stand ready to attack."
Grumbling, he complied. She narrowed her eyes at Shikamaru.
"Now who sent you here and why?"
Shikamaru sat cross-legged against the trunk, casually. "Hokage-sama sent us. The Council is screaming for Naruto's blood. She wants to learn what really happened, so she can veto any decisions they'll try to push through."
"But we don't have the time--"
"Naruto, shut the hell up or I'll shut you up," she hissed without stopping her staring contest with Shikamaru.
The blond wilted. "Yes, Sakura-chan..."
"Good. What do you know of the situation?"
Ha! She'd surprised Shikamaru. He was used to seeing her boss the blond around, though. She wondered what had changed. They'd probably been told who Naruto was housing.
"We -- that is, Kiba, Neji and me -- know that Naruto felt threatened, took you two and bolted. We also know that it has something to do with the Kyuubi sealed inside him."
Naruto flinched.
"We were sent to determine if the seal had broken or been altered, permitting the demon to possess or influence Naruto's actions, and in case he was still sane, to convince him to come back so he could be judged for actions already committed and not be considered a missing-nin. We were also sent to determine the part Uchiha Sasuke took in these events, and to a lesser extent yours. They seem to assume you're a victim, Sakura," he added. The way he was looking at her, he had his doubts.
Naruto mumbled something, head low. Shikamaru arched an eyebrow at him. "What?"
"I said, the seal is fine."
"That's not what I'd say," Kiba growled from a safe distance away. He looked like Naruto had planted him face first in the ground; there were still leaves and clumps of soil in his hair. His dog was nowhere in sight.
Naruto's fists clenched, but he didn't move. She saw him search for a comeback, and not find any. Finally he looked down again, as if scared to stare his friends in the eye.
"Why did you attack us?" Neji asked.
Naruto flinched again. "I didn't attack you. You attacked first! I was just trying to get you to come here, Neji."
"You came at him as if you were gonna tear him apart!!" Kiba retorted from his hiding place.
"Well, sorry if I was in a hurry!!" Naruto finally shouted back, annoyed.
Sakura slammed her fist into the bark. There was a very satisfying crack.
"SIT. It was a misunderstanding, okay? Please, everyone calm down." /before I fucking calm you down/ Inner Sakura added, cracking her knuckles.
Shikamaru and Naruto stared at each other over Sasuke's prone body.
"How are we to know that Kyuubi isn't about to take control of you?"
Sakura stopped breathing. She trusted Naruto, because Sasuke did and because he just... was Naruto. But that was no material proof...
"Huh. If he could, why am I still here? Why would I bother saving Sasuke's ass?"
/Because you like doing X-rated stuff to it/ Inner Sakura commented irreverently, but Sakura didn't say anything. It would be a bad idea to inform Shikamaru's team that they were sort of lovers. If they didn't already know what exactly had happened the previous day, then it would only muddy up the atmosphere.
"Could he be influencing you?"
"He's not."
Neji snorted. "I'm sure if it did, it wouldn't bother advertising it."
"He's not," Naruto repeated with calm conviction. "When he tries, I can feel it. He... promise you won't tell?"
Shikamaru sighed. "We're on a mission, Naruto. We have to report what we find."
"... okay... promise to tell only the old lady Tsunade then?"
Neiji scowled, but nodded, and Kiba shrugged. Shikamaru nodded, agreeing for his team. "We'll report to her only."
"Sometimes he talks to me. I can tell when he's trying to push me into things or not. I know how that feels. But it's just words. He can't make me."
Kiba actually flinched. "Wait, he talks to you?"
Even Shikamaru looked a little out of balance, and maybe slightly queasy.
"W-what..." Kiba licked his lips nervously. "What ... does h-he say?"
Naruto blinked and looked embarrassed at the weariness, and even fear, he could feel in his friends. "Uh, right now or in general?"
Kiba flinched.
"He's not saying anything right now, and even if he was I'm not listening. In general it's mostly just kill, destroy, how dare blahblahblah, but I have to be pretty pissed off to hear him without actively trying to. And even then, it's just him running a commentary, I can ignore that easy. Most of the time I forget about him and it's just as if I was alone."
Even Neji looked unsettled. Sakura had to admit that she wasn't especially okay with the news, but then it wasn't precisely a surprise for her.
"But he--"
"Why the fuck does it matter now?!! I've been hearing on and off him since I was twelve, and it's never been a problem before!! I haven't snapped, and --Sasuke is dying! The interrogation can wait!!"
Kiba looked ready to roll over to show his belly, but on a branch it probably wasn't a bright idea. Sakura swallowed her fit of very misplaced laughter.
"He's right. We don't have that much time to waste. We can sort things out back home."
Shikamaru sighed, but nodded. "Fine. Kiba, you go on ahead, try to make sure they're ready to let us through without bloodshed. Neji, come here, we have to figure out a way to move him."
Kiba disappeared immediately, apparently relieved.
"Transport -- Naruto's frogs?"
"Too bouncy. Shikamaru, you're working on summoning jutsus, right?"
"... I'm still not getting anything better than fawns."
"I can carry him," offered Naruto.
Shikamaru and Sakura shook their heads at the same time. "No way. We can't move him."
"Stretcher," Shikamaru added.
"We'll have to move him anyway--"
"Not if we cut the bark from under him," Neji retorted. "It's thick enough, but not that well attached to the tree."
He made quick incisions to the bark, and with a quick burst of carefully controlled chakra, had it unstuck from the tree. Naruto lifted one end and Shikamaru the other, Sakura tied a rope around Sasuke just in case they lost their balance, and they jumped off the branch.
They couldn't avoid jostling him on their trek back to the fence, but he didn't wake up. Sakura couldn't tell if that was good or bad.
She'd been so focused on making sure Sasuke arrived back at Konoha quickly that she only realized how utterly terrorized she was when they reached the gate. It was open, and they were herded into it by jounin -- not that they hadn't been going there on their own will, but, as she noticed when she glanced quickly all around before jogging through the gate after the stretcher, there was no way to go anywhere else without considerable bloodshed.
They were guided up the streets the same way, and the absence of passersby or even curious people watching out of their windows was nerve-wracking. It gave her the eerie feeling of being hunted through an abandoned city. Naruto didn't appear to notice, utterly focused on Sasuke. She wondered what Neji saw, and whether seeing what he could see would make her feel better or worse. She was pretty sure there were a lot more ninja keeping an eye on them than she could catch glimpses of.
When they arrived at the hospital and saw a small group of mediconin waiting for them, and Kakashi-sensei leaning against the wall just beside them, she could have cried. Sasuke's pulse was still beating feebly, stubbornly under her fingers. He would be okay. And Kakashi-sensei would make everything else better.
She let go of Sasuke's wrist and threw herself at her teacher, knowing that people were watching but needing someone to anchor her, so she wouldn't watch as the mediconin lifted his prone body and dashed off.
"There, there," he muttered, patting her back with a long-suffering sigh.
She didn't mind that he seemed mildly put out by her emotional attitude. He wasn't saying anything, so it was okay.
The bark stretcher clattered on the ground and she heard the sound of Naruto's sandals dragging on the ground as he approached.
"You ok, Sakura-chan?" he asked. He sounded unsure; it was weird coming from Naruto.
She nodded, and rubbed her eyes discretely before pushing away from Kakashi's chest.
"Sakura?" Naruto whispered again as he saw her eyes.
"I'm okay, really," she whispered back.
Naruto frowned, then nodded with determination. "Good. Come on. Thanks Shika," he added as an afterthought as he pulled Sakura through the door.
"Hey!" she yelped. "What are you doing?"
"We're going to Sasuke," he replied, still holding her hand.
Sakura thought of resisting by pure principle, then she thought of what it would mean to the ANBU to see her struggle to free herself. It would cause less grief all around if she came along on her own. She didn't want to give the slightest hint that he was forcing her to do anything.
Kakashi ambled casually after them, watching Naruto with one eyebrow raised. "What do you think you're doing?" he asked, appearing unconcerned. "They won't let you in the operation room, you know."
Naruto seemed to falter, and finally looked up at Kakashi.
It was scary, sakura thought, that one as strong, sturdy and sure of himself as Naruto could look so scared and in need for so much reassurance. Gently, taking pity on him, she tugged her wrist free, and squeezed his hand comfortingly. He almost broke her hand when he squeezed back, with a desperation that equaled her own.
"He's going to be okay," Kakashi said softly as he gazed at their interlaced fingers thoughtfully. "He's too stubborn to let himself die now."
"... yeah... Where's Tsunade?" Naruto asked, finally stopping in his tracks. "I need her to check on my seal so she can shut up the Council idiots."
A few of the ninja who had followed them inside started, surprised by his tone, and she heard one of them choke on a shocked laugh.
Kakashi looked over his shoulder and waved one of them closer. "Yamada, find Hokage-sama and ask her where and when she can see Naruto and Sakura."
The ninja hesitated a second, then nodded and disappeared in a puff of smoke. The others stepped a little closer, eyeing their little group warily.
Sakura sighed, most of her concentration on rubbing and caressing the tension out of Naruto's hand. If he exploded now...
Naruto wanted to pace, she could feel it, but in the mood he was in, he would end up pacing like a caged tiger and letting people see how impatient, nervous and angry he was right now was a bad idea. He looked threatening enough already, with the way his blue eyes gleamed almost maniacally and his chakra gathered and rolled around him. He was always a minute flare up away from provoking the watchers into attacking. She didn't want them all to start slaughtering each other because Naruto wanted to kick a wall or something. She dragged him to an open waiting room and pushed him on a chair. He blinked up at her, momentarily startled out of his stress, but still on the edge of his seat. He wasn't going to stay seated, so she sat beside him and leaned against his side.
Kakashi leaned against the wall by the door, still watching them thoughtfully. Sakura blushed a little, wondering what he was thinking about, but couldn't manage to worry enough to feel honestly embarrassed. She put her head on Naruto's shoulder and closed her eyes, waiting for Tsunade-sama's convocation.
When, finally, the woman strode in, she still hadn't let go of Naruto's hand.
The day wasn't long, but frustrating. Now I am going to bed extra-early because i'm very tired and kinda cranky. Sera, you better be there when i wake up, because i miss you and you'll make me cry if you're not. Sol, i want more of the BDSM fic. I waaaant. *paws at protective!confused!duo* Saro, curse you -- Kyuubi wants prequels and sequels and a whole load of dark, disturbing scenes with his "harem". Jo-loves (both of you) i love upon you and will molest you as soon as possible. Everyone else *snugglepets* *falls asleep on*
Sorry it took so long, Sakura doesn't talk to me as much as sasuke or naruto seem to... x_x
(also, thanks to Saro, Kyuubi ate my brain and decided to get himself a fic where he would do Neji, which is where most of my naruto-inspiration went these last days. I so don't wanna post what i've written of it though, because not only is it a total PWP, but it's NCS, which i've never written before and which i don't even like in general. Hell, if it's more than a vaguely alluded to element of a plot, i tend to skip or even hit the back button -- and there i go and write one. 'che. Stupid Kyuubi.)
previous: http://www.livejournal.com/users/askerian/118240.html#cutid1
"... Blood loss has slowed down," he admitted grudgingly. "But your chakra scalded his pathways. You won't be able to do it again."
"Don't care, so long as it buys enough time to get him to a hospital," Naruto shot back as he straightened up and looked for the blanket. It had fallen to a lower branch and was threatening to slide off. He jumped, snatched it, and bounced back. "Oi, Kiba, you can crawl out now," he called over his shoulder as he spread the blanket over Sasuke again. Sakura took over, making sure that it was snug around Sasuke-kun's body, smoothing the folds tenderly.
"How are we going to move him?" she asked Shikamaru. She had a few ideas but none that really pleased her; maybe he would have better suggestions.
Hands back in his pocket, Shikamaru walked down the trunk to stand on the branch again, by Sasuke's head.
"I'm afraid we have to clear up a few things before that."
Naruto threw him a disgusted/pouty look. "C'mon, Shika, there's no time for chitchat!"
"If we go in now, you'll be killed on the spot," Neji replied, still staring holes through Naruto's head -- not that Naruto seemed to notice.
"At least they will try," muttered Shikamaru as he eyed the blond speculatively.
Naruto finally seemed to notice the weird looks he was getting. "Eh? What --"
"Naruto, sit down," Sakura intervened, tone weary but authoritative. "Sasuke won't get any worse for now, and Kiba won't come out as long as you stand ready to attack."
Grumbling, he complied. She narrowed her eyes at Shikamaru.
"Now who sent you here and why?"
Shikamaru sat cross-legged against the trunk, casually. "Hokage-sama sent us. The Council is screaming for Naruto's blood. She wants to learn what really happened, so she can veto any decisions they'll try to push through."
"But we don't have the time--"
"Naruto, shut the hell up or I'll shut you up," she hissed without stopping her staring contest with Shikamaru.
The blond wilted. "Yes, Sakura-chan..."
"Good. What do you know of the situation?"
Ha! She'd surprised Shikamaru. He was used to seeing her boss the blond around, though. She wondered what had changed. They'd probably been told who Naruto was housing.
"We -- that is, Kiba, Neji and me -- know that Naruto felt threatened, took you two and bolted. We also know that it has something to do with the Kyuubi sealed inside him."
Naruto flinched.
"We were sent to determine if the seal had broken or been altered, permitting the demon to possess or influence Naruto's actions, and in case he was still sane, to convince him to come back so he could be judged for actions already committed and not be considered a missing-nin. We were also sent to determine the part Uchiha Sasuke took in these events, and to a lesser extent yours. They seem to assume you're a victim, Sakura," he added. The way he was looking at her, he had his doubts.
Naruto mumbled something, head low. Shikamaru arched an eyebrow at him. "What?"
"I said, the seal is fine."
"That's not what I'd say," Kiba growled from a safe distance away. He looked like Naruto had planted him face first in the ground; there were still leaves and clumps of soil in his hair. His dog was nowhere in sight.
Naruto's fists clenched, but he didn't move. She saw him search for a comeback, and not find any. Finally he looked down again, as if scared to stare his friends in the eye.
"Why did you attack us?" Neji asked.
Naruto flinched again. "I didn't attack you. You attacked first! I was just trying to get you to come here, Neji."
"You came at him as if you were gonna tear him apart!!" Kiba retorted from his hiding place.
"Well, sorry if I was in a hurry!!" Naruto finally shouted back, annoyed.
Sakura slammed her fist into the bark. There was a very satisfying crack.
"SIT. It was a misunderstanding, okay? Please, everyone calm down." /before I fucking calm you down/ Inner Sakura added, cracking her knuckles.
Shikamaru and Naruto stared at each other over Sasuke's prone body.
"How are we to know that Kyuubi isn't about to take control of you?"
Sakura stopped breathing. She trusted Naruto, because Sasuke did and because he just... was Naruto. But that was no material proof...
"Huh. If he could, why am I still here? Why would I bother saving Sasuke's ass?"
/Because you like doing X-rated stuff to it/ Inner Sakura commented irreverently, but Sakura didn't say anything. It would be a bad idea to inform Shikamaru's team that they were sort of lovers. If they didn't already know what exactly had happened the previous day, then it would only muddy up the atmosphere.
"Could he be influencing you?"
"He's not."
Neji snorted. "I'm sure if it did, it wouldn't bother advertising it."
"He's not," Naruto repeated with calm conviction. "When he tries, I can feel it. He... promise you won't tell?"
Shikamaru sighed. "We're on a mission, Naruto. We have to report what we find."
"... okay... promise to tell only the old lady Tsunade then?"
Neiji scowled, but nodded, and Kiba shrugged. Shikamaru nodded, agreeing for his team. "We'll report to her only."
"Sometimes he talks to me. I can tell when he's trying to push me into things or not. I know how that feels. But it's just words. He can't make me."
Kiba actually flinched. "Wait, he talks to you?"
Even Shikamaru looked a little out of balance, and maybe slightly queasy.
"W-what..." Kiba licked his lips nervously. "What ... does h-he say?"
Naruto blinked and looked embarrassed at the weariness, and even fear, he could feel in his friends. "Uh, right now or in general?"
Kiba flinched.
"He's not saying anything right now, and even if he was I'm not listening. In general it's mostly just kill, destroy, how dare blahblahblah, but I have to be pretty pissed off to hear him without actively trying to. And even then, it's just him running a commentary, I can ignore that easy. Most of the time I forget about him and it's just as if I was alone."
Even Neji looked unsettled. Sakura had to admit that she wasn't especially okay with the news, but then it wasn't precisely a surprise for her.
"But he--"
"Why the fuck does it matter now?!! I've been hearing on and off him since I was twelve, and it's never been a problem before!! I haven't snapped, and --Sasuke is dying! The interrogation can wait!!"
Kiba looked ready to roll over to show his belly, but on a branch it probably wasn't a bright idea. Sakura swallowed her fit of very misplaced laughter.
"He's right. We don't have that much time to waste. We can sort things out back home."
Shikamaru sighed, but nodded. "Fine. Kiba, you go on ahead, try to make sure they're ready to let us through without bloodshed. Neji, come here, we have to figure out a way to move him."
Kiba disappeared immediately, apparently relieved.
"Transport -- Naruto's frogs?"
"Too bouncy. Shikamaru, you're working on summoning jutsus, right?"
"... I'm still not getting anything better than fawns."
"I can carry him," offered Naruto.
Shikamaru and Sakura shook their heads at the same time. "No way. We can't move him."
"Stretcher," Shikamaru added.
"We'll have to move him anyway--"
"Not if we cut the bark from under him," Neji retorted. "It's thick enough, but not that well attached to the tree."
He made quick incisions to the bark, and with a quick burst of carefully controlled chakra, had it unstuck from the tree. Naruto lifted one end and Shikamaru the other, Sakura tied a rope around Sasuke just in case they lost their balance, and they jumped off the branch.
They couldn't avoid jostling him on their trek back to the fence, but he didn't wake up. Sakura couldn't tell if that was good or bad.
She'd been so focused on making sure Sasuke arrived back at Konoha quickly that she only realized how utterly terrorized she was when they reached the gate. It was open, and they were herded into it by jounin -- not that they hadn't been going there on their own will, but, as she noticed when she glanced quickly all around before jogging through the gate after the stretcher, there was no way to go anywhere else without considerable bloodshed.
They were guided up the streets the same way, and the absence of passersby or even curious people watching out of their windows was nerve-wracking. It gave her the eerie feeling of being hunted through an abandoned city. Naruto didn't appear to notice, utterly focused on Sasuke. She wondered what Neji saw, and whether seeing what he could see would make her feel better or worse. She was pretty sure there were a lot more ninja keeping an eye on them than she could catch glimpses of.
When they arrived at the hospital and saw a small group of mediconin waiting for them, and Kakashi-sensei leaning against the wall just beside them, she could have cried. Sasuke's pulse was still beating feebly, stubbornly under her fingers. He would be okay. And Kakashi-sensei would make everything else better.
She let go of Sasuke's wrist and threw herself at her teacher, knowing that people were watching but needing someone to anchor her, so she wouldn't watch as the mediconin lifted his prone body and dashed off.
"There, there," he muttered, patting her back with a long-suffering sigh.
She didn't mind that he seemed mildly put out by her emotional attitude. He wasn't saying anything, so it was okay.
The bark stretcher clattered on the ground and she heard the sound of Naruto's sandals dragging on the ground as he approached.
"You ok, Sakura-chan?" he asked. He sounded unsure; it was weird coming from Naruto.
She nodded, and rubbed her eyes discretely before pushing away from Kakashi's chest.
"Sakura?" Naruto whispered again as he saw her eyes.
"I'm okay, really," she whispered back.
Naruto frowned, then nodded with determination. "Good. Come on. Thanks Shika," he added as an afterthought as he pulled Sakura through the door.
"Hey!" she yelped. "What are you doing?"
"We're going to Sasuke," he replied, still holding her hand.
Sakura thought of resisting by pure principle, then she thought of what it would mean to the ANBU to see her struggle to free herself. It would cause less grief all around if she came along on her own. She didn't want to give the slightest hint that he was forcing her to do anything.
Kakashi ambled casually after them, watching Naruto with one eyebrow raised. "What do you think you're doing?" he asked, appearing unconcerned. "They won't let you in the operation room, you know."
Naruto seemed to falter, and finally looked up at Kakashi.
It was scary, sakura thought, that one as strong, sturdy and sure of himself as Naruto could look so scared and in need for so much reassurance. Gently, taking pity on him, she tugged her wrist free, and squeezed his hand comfortingly. He almost broke her hand when he squeezed back, with a desperation that equaled her own.
"He's going to be okay," Kakashi said softly as he gazed at their interlaced fingers thoughtfully. "He's too stubborn to let himself die now."
"... yeah... Where's Tsunade?" Naruto asked, finally stopping in his tracks. "I need her to check on my seal so she can shut up the Council idiots."
A few of the ninja who had followed them inside started, surprised by his tone, and she heard one of them choke on a shocked laugh.
Kakashi looked over his shoulder and waved one of them closer. "Yamada, find Hokage-sama and ask her where and when she can see Naruto and Sakura."
The ninja hesitated a second, then nodded and disappeared in a puff of smoke. The others stepped a little closer, eyeing their little group warily.
Sakura sighed, most of her concentration on rubbing and caressing the tension out of Naruto's hand. If he exploded now...
Naruto wanted to pace, she could feel it, but in the mood he was in, he would end up pacing like a caged tiger and letting people see how impatient, nervous and angry he was right now was a bad idea. He looked threatening enough already, with the way his blue eyes gleamed almost maniacally and his chakra gathered and rolled around him. He was always a minute flare up away from provoking the watchers into attacking. She didn't want them all to start slaughtering each other because Naruto wanted to kick a wall or something. She dragged him to an open waiting room and pushed him on a chair. He blinked up at her, momentarily startled out of his stress, but still on the edge of his seat. He wasn't going to stay seated, so she sat beside him and leaned against his side.
Kakashi leaned against the wall by the door, still watching them thoughtfully. Sakura blushed a little, wondering what he was thinking about, but couldn't manage to worry enough to feel honestly embarrassed. She put her head on Naruto's shoulder and closed her eyes, waiting for Tsunade-sama's convocation.
When, finally, the woman strode in, she still hadn't let go of Naruto's hand.
The day wasn't long, but frustrating. Now I am going to bed extra-early because i'm very tired and kinda cranky. Sera, you better be there when i wake up, because i miss you and you'll make me cry if you're not. Sol, i want more of the BDSM fic. I waaaant. *paws at protective!confused!duo* Saro, curse you -- Kyuubi wants prequels and sequels and a whole load of dark, disturbing scenes with his "harem". Jo-loves (both of you) i love upon you and will molest you as soon as possible. Everyone else *snugglepets* *falls asleep on*