As the teams met up at the gates, Hinata could clearly see that Sakura was talking with Naruto as the two headed to the gates together.

I wonder..... does he love her? Hinata looked down slightly as she twiddled her thumbs together, her pale eyes downcast before she forcefully turned her body to go talk to Shino.

"Ah.... S-Shino-kun." Her soft voice twinkled a but as she looked up at the tall boy, making him turn his attention on her.

"Yes Hinata san?" Tilting his head he adjusted his glasses as she looked away.

"Ano..... Do you think... w-well uhm.... do you think n-n-naruto-kun likes Sakura-chan?" Stumbling and fumbling a bit with her words, she looked up at him.

"Well.... I don't know Hinata. I really don't." Shino answered back softly as he patted her head, bringing her into a comforting hug.

Her petite body relaxed into his arms as she wrapped her arms around his stomach. Burying her face into his chest as she instantly felt the warmth spread everywhere on her body.

--

As Sakura arrived with Naruto she went straight to Tazuna, the blonde following behind silently. His eyes were a shade darker with spots of red but quickly vanished as he kept a primal urge to himself, watching as Sakura walked. Her hair swaying and it seemed like her hips were swaying a bit or was it always like that?

"Tazuna-San. We are To escort you correct?" Sakura asked as she folded her arms.

"Yeah! You kids better pro-escort me home!" Tazuna almost slipped up as he started to sweat under the small blonde's icy blue eyes.

Sakura cocked her head to the side but ignored his slip up, her eyes scanned his frame as she sighed as walked away towards Kakashi, her hand held by Naruto as he followed.
Passing Sasuke as his dark onyx eyes caught their hands, his fist tightened slightly as his skin crawled. That..... when did she become uninterested in me? The young raven thought as he glared at Naruto.
As if feeling the glare Naruto turned his head giving a smirk as he pulled Sakura back a bit making her slow down and stop.

"What is it Naruto?" She asked softly as she looked at the blonde.

"Nothing really, I just wanted a hug." Naruto chirped out as he sent a subtle glare to Sasuke.

"Oh... alright then." Holding her pale, slightly muscular arms out, she smiled.

Naruto wrapped his arms around her as he laid his chin on her shoulder, glaring Sasuke down making the boy glare right back with fury as he clenched his fist.

"Okay kiddies! Time to go!" Kakashi called out as he yawned lazily. His eye drooped a bit as he started to walk, his team following behind. The trees blew in the wind gently as the two teams and client were walking, some talking commenced but not a peep from Team 7.

The sun beat down at them with a fury of a hawk as the rays blinded a fews vision, lavender looked up and looked back down, towards her laced up boots as she walked. "Ano.... K-Kakashi San. Where are we going?" Her timid voice rose as she twiddled her thumbs.

"The Land of the Waves, we will be helping Tazuna return home."

Do we need two teams for it? A small cherry blossom narrowed her eyes as she had her slim fingers on her kunai, Naruto looked at her tense body as he placed his hand on his shoulder, as if stretching, he grabbed three kunai from the hidden sleeves.
His sharp blue eyes were glancing around as he saw a puddle, the heat waves rising up around them.

Sakura also noticed the puddle yet she didn't say anything, holding Naruto's sleeve as her heart pounded loudly in her chest. Nimble fingers slipped a kunai out as she watched it happen in slow motion.

VWOOSH

CLANG!!

A hand, a large spiked chain collided at her as she gritted her teeth, Naruto also blocking a few spikes from piercing them both.

"NARUTO!" Kakshi yelled as he sped to them, yet the two shadowy figure had their chains wrap around him. Kakashi widened his eyes as he felt the chains tighten, tight and tighter as his body exploded in front of the kids.
Kurenai had vanished as Hinata and Shino got into a fighting stance.

Sakura gritted her teeth as she raised her leg up and dropkicked one figure, Their body vanished in a puff of smoke! Growling Naruto grabbed her arm as he smirked to her. Nodding she pointed towards Three o clock.
Nodding Naruto swung as he threw her sending her rocketing towards her escaped villain. Holding her kunai she whipped past him as she sliced the man's hand.

"Fucking kids.... always being meddlesome." The strange man growled as he readied his chains, bending his knees as he flew at Sakura. Chains raised high as he slashed downward. Only to have her block it with a dark smile.

"Mister.... that wasn't smart." She cooed as Naruto drop kicked the man in the back of the head.

"Get off Sakura." Naruto growled out as his eyes slowly bled into a dark red. Sakura reached up towards his face as he slowly calmed down with her gentle touch.

"It's okay! I'm okay Naruto." She whispered unbeknownst to a smouldering glare from a disgruntled boy that stood near a captured Demon. Brother.

The free one was still glaring murderously until a pop was heard above him, a streak of silver as Kakashi landed on the man. Reading his book with a kunai twirling on his finger.
"Disappointed." Kakashi muttered as he tied both of the brothers to the nearest tree.
"Alright... hmph... Did anyone get hurt?" Kakashi murmured as he was stretching.

Everybody looked at themselves and each other, nobody noticing Sakura with her hand shoved inside her pocket. A smile on her face as she shook her head.
"No sensei! Everybody is fine!"

"Great now Tazuna.... care to explain?" Storm clouds were shown in Kakashi's eyes as he cracked his knuckles.

"Uh.... uhm please..."

"This is a felony to the Leaf village. Hiring for a C rank mission when it appears to be an A rank mission. What do you have to say for yourself?" Kakashi sighed.

"I needed your help! I know.... I know it's a crime but please! I'll explain everything on the boat." Tazuna pleaded as he looked at the dirt.

"I think we can still go Kakashi." Sakura smiled widely, her eyes closed as she intentionally dropped the sensei.
Holding his chest Kakashi just nodded.

Kurenai walked over to Kakashi and sighed
"We might as well continue. But be warned. All this will be reported to the Hokage." Glaring at the old man, Kurenai cat walked away with her genin following.

Kakashi prodded Tazuna forward as he glanced at his team, his eyes grazed each of them watching as Sasuke was closer to Kakashi's side then his teammates.
Naruto was beside Sakura, a dark look in his eyes as he was tugging on her sweater.
Sakura holding a small smile until she caught Kakashi staring at them.

Oh shit. She saw me! Turning his head to look at the front, he could still feel it. A sharp piercing stare at the back of his neck.
She's just a kid.... she can't even.... hurt me. So why am I shaking like this?! Kakashi could feel it, his heart was beating, no Pounding! In his chest, he could hear the blood rush in his head. The dark clawed hand of fear gripping his chest as he forced himself to walk, with his blank face.

Sakura stared until she knew Kakashi wasn't watching her.
Looking at her blood soaked hand, she tilted her head as she could see the poison start to infect it.
"Ah ah..... it seems I was hit." She muttered as she looked at Naruto.
"Hand me your knife." Sakura whispered as she felt the cold metal pressed into her hand.

Taking the knife with a blank face, she pressed the blade into the infected area as she quickly slashed the wound open. Flinching as the amount of blood started to drip.
"Naruto... the bandages." She murmured.

Naruto grabbed her medical kit out of her pack as they walked, taking the long rolls, he started to wrap her hand as he finished off with a clip to keep it together.
"Why... you always get hurt. But me? I.... I know what I have." Naruto sighed.

"You do?"

"Yes.... I found out a few years ago. When you were looking into the incident."

"That night?! You were reading my files.."

"I was.... because on that day... just a few year later I was born, you killed your father."

"N-Naruto... please not so loud."

"Of course... I'll always.. always be with you. Even if it kills me in the end. I'll use this.... gift I have to protect you." Naruto smiled his foxy grin as he held her bandaged hand. "Now lets put your gloves on. We don't want this happening again."

--

The happiness yet cold terror could be felt with the golden sewers. The floor covered in pristine water as the jail cell held it.
A malevolent force kept behind bars. It's eyes slowly opened to the emotions it's Jailor felt.
This young human.... Is interesting. It's thoughts rumbled as the great beast rose, it's head brushing the rough walls of its Home but the small cage was just another way of punishing the being within.

It could see outside, played like a projection in the space it contained, small bits of it's Jailor's memories were stashed Inside a Small corner of the jail. Bits of knives, razors, ribbons and dirt covered shirts were there.
But outside the corridor where'd the great beast could clearly see. Was a blood stained hall, the water ran red and suddenly the gold was corrupted by the murky red darkness within the child's mind.
Flattening it's long angled ears, the beast crouched and backed away from the bars. Watching slowly as Insanity crawled up and devoured the kids mind. Slowly but surely.