Chapter 13

Sakura's Point Of View

It was happening again. I could see it with my own eyes this time, what had been the scene like when I was in place of Naeko and Naruto was there in place of Naeko's brother.

Yes, I remember that day clearly . It was after we had the chunin exams. Sasuke was hurt really bad. And Naruto was the one who saved him and me from the the sand jinchuriki.

Sasuke was admitted in the hospital when this happened. I don't know why but both of them wanted to see who was stronger. I did not want them to fight. I did not want any of them to get hurt. And all I did was crying. I was no one at that time. Calling me a ninja at that time would have only insulted them. All I knew was how to cry and all the book worm things.

I wanted to stop them. So what did I do? I did the worst thing that could have been done. Between the rasengan and the chidori , I ran and stood. Actually, I wanted to do something, but I was paralised in between both of them. And they could hit me anytime, because they couldn't stop and they just couldn't stop because they were mid air.

And that is what was happening in front of me, again. But this time I didn't wanted to be worthless. I had to do something!!

Sasuke's Point of View

Who was this girl? Why is she running between us. Just one hit can kill her. She is merely a human!

But it hit me hard. Haven't I been in this situation already? Last time fortunately Kakashi saved Sakura by throwing me and Norito to the other side. We hit the water tanks. That was the first time ai witnessed his Rasengan and I didn't know its power. At first glance when it hit the tank, I was laughing from inside because the impact was so less that it couldn't even make the water flow out and on the other hand the tank I had hit with my chidori was already half.

But when I realised the power of rasengan, it was too late to go back. I made up my mind to beat Naruto and become stronger than him. And I left. And now I was a rogue ninja of Konoha. But still they want me back, why?

The answer to this by Naruto was always , "because of the bond we share!"

Naruto's Point Of View

Shit! This has to stop! I have seen this before and I don't want it to be repeated.

So I luanched myself in. Before they could reach her, I covered her from behind and crouched down along with her. A layer of protective chakra to block the attack.

Meanwhile , Sakura and the old lady were behind me and they did exactly what Kakashi had done, thrust them aside. They landed with a loud crash. The other guy was badly wounded and Sasuke was also bleeding .

Then I looked at Naeko. I felt her shivering. My first thought was that she was scared but then I sensed it and to my horror, saw it too. I backed away from her as fast as i could .

"Watch out! " I shouted as the familiar red chakra leaked out of her body in each direction. The way she was clutching her hands as her eyes turned from blue to red. Angry black marks appeared on her face.

Everyone was dumbstruck, especially Sasuke. Sakura and I had known about her mark but didn't expected this. Her brother was unconcious and the old lady, well, a worried look had crossed her face. Sakura had noticed it too.

Naeko's head turned from left to right, taking in the scene. As soon as she registered her brother, she started to shout and then lurged forward at Sasuke. Instantly , I had also released my Kyuubi chakra and using it , I was in front of him in a flash.

Since my chakra was under control, unlike Naeko's , I was more powerfull. I suppresed her strength right there at that time. She shrieked again in agony. There was no regognition in her eyes as I looked straight into them. The blue eyes that belonged to both of us had vanished. Gone totally. But I felt her giving in as I kept staring right into her eyes.

Still not taking away my eyes from her, I leaned forward slowly. She growled under breath and I stopped for a second just for precaution. And then when she didn't struggle to attack me, I hugged her tightly. Bringing my mouth close to her ears, I whispered , "Everything's all right Naeko-chan. Calm down. Look how everyone here is worried. Even your brother is okay." Hearing about her brother, I felt her stiffen. Then I moved backwards and put my hands under her chin and make her look into my eyes. "Come back Naeko-chan. You belong with us." I said and smiled.

The chakra around her started to fade in. She stumbled in my arms and collapsed. I picked her up and then turned towards everyone else, "Who are you all? And what relation does Naeko has with me?" I asked, mostly to the old lady.

Naeko's Point Of View

All this time I was in bed, taken care of by the others, I knew that Naruto was the one to look after me mostly. Since the time I saw Shun getting hurt, I couldn't shake off this pain and suffocation I felt . I used to sweat a lot, I cluthched the bedsheet beneath me whenever I felt the hard feeling of pain shooting through me and I used to scream. Scream a lot.

I couldn't remember what had happened. I had a muffled memory of that time. I know someone protected me by shielding me with chakra but that had a very different impact on me. In coming in cotact with that chakra, I felt my body shiver and then I felt the pain. After that I just remember that I had a glimpse of my eyes and someone telling me that everything was okay. I felt my body getting numb and then I woke up on bed.

Waking up is not the right word I should say. I did become conscious of what was going on around me. I could hear voices of others and the hands of people gripping me. But I just couldnt force my eyes open. It was as if , my eyes were not under my control. And neither I could speak. I was in a state of Coma. I had to fight for my life.

But I needn't had to do anything. Slowly, as the time passed by, I drifted into a long sleep and when I woke up, I was feeling way much better. I could see and as well as speak.

As I blinked my eyes open, I realised that someone was holding my hand and someone was asleep on the chair, nearby. When the foggy view cleared off, I saw Naruto holding my hand and Shun besides me on the chair. I smiled to myself.

All this time since these people have been with me, I was trying to find out what exactly is my feeling towards Naruto and now I understood. Before this time I just forced myself to believe that I was in love with Naruto but after the real Naruto was in front of me, I searched for an answer to the relation we have. Now I know that I like him and he likes me too. He cares for me and I care for him too. But this liking was not what I had thought, it was merely a sisterly care and affection I had towards him. And I think its the same for him.

I squeezed his hands with mine and when he opened his eyes and looked sleepily at me , he stood up excitingly and woke Shun up.

"Naeko! Finally you are awake!" he said and hugged me.

Then Shun came and he too hugged me. But said nothing. I was glad to see that he was alright even after the fight wit--- and then the memories flooded me.

"What really happened, here? How did you acquire Sharingan all of a sudden? "

"What Sharingan..." he said more like a statement than a question. He didn't look at me when he said that, so I turned to Naruto for the answers.

"What happened to me? And Sue? What about her?" I looked at him hopefully.

"I-uh... Sue said that she will tell us the story, uh, the truth...once you wake up."

"The truth?" I eyed him but his innocent face showed nothing.

Then Sakura came inside with a tray . "Oh! You are already awake? How are you feeling?" she asked setting the tray down on the nearby table.

"What do you mean by 'already awake'?"

" I thought , it may take you a day or two recover! But look, you are alright in just 5 hours! How come?" she said and smiled.

Just five hours?! It felt like weeks, staying there half unconcious with the unbearable pain!

"The healing power of Kyuubi..." I heard Naruto whisper to Sakura.

Kyuubi? What in the world are they talking about? Did Naruto use his Kyuubi's power to heal me?

"Did you heal me? " I asked him and he blinked at me unknowingly.

"What?"

"Nothing..." I said and started to get up. Then a hand caught me from beyond me and jerked me back, "where do you think are you going in such a condition?" It was Shun. I had totally forgotten that he was also there.

"Sue, to ask her what's going on?" I said and pulled my hand away from his.

I was almost at the door with everyone following me when I heard a voice from the dark corner of the room. I hadn't noticed that someone was there as well, until I recognised the voice.

" You shouldn't hurry. Maybe there is something you wouldn't like to hear or something you won't like to believe." he said as I turned to look at Sasuke sitting in the corner most seat with his hand locked under his chin and leaning forward. Plus, as usual , his eyes were glowing red..

"You shouldn't worry about me." I said and moved forward, without another glance.