Bonds

Unstoppable

Naruto's eyes were glued to the only source of light in the room, a lightbulb swinging back and forth. This was the last night for teams to make it to the temple. When they arrived, Team 7 was given a medium sized room. Each shinobi sat in their own beds. Naruto sat in the middle of the two kunoichi's. Glancing to his left, he noticed that Sakura was out cold. She had been like that all day.

Whatever has her ready for the third stage. Naruto thought to himself as he turned his head to the right, looking at Sayu. She had her arms behind her head as she looked at the light, just like Naruto had been. He wondered what was going on in her head. From the fight with Orochimaru, to suddenly being done with the forest, she has to be curious about certain things.

"Why don't you take a damn picture." Sayu said, her head not moving an inch. Naruto turned away, looking up at the light as well.

"Sorry, just can't sleep." he muttered.

"I don't care, look at Sakura, or something else." Naruto snorted at her response.

"My pleasure Lady Uchiha." he retorted. Sayu scoffed which made Naruto chuckle, the most amusement he had felt in a while. He stopped laughing after a second and looked over at her again, "You doing alright?"

"Why would I not be?"

"I don't know, maybe overusing the Sharingan the first time using it hurts your eyes." Sayu once again scoffed at the comment.

"What do you know about the Sharingan?"

"I know that it was the reason why Orochimaru was hunting you." Sayu was quiet for a moment. The same reaction she had when Sakura had first told her that it was Orochimaru they were fighting, not just some random shinobi. After a moment, she turned her head and looked at Naruto.

"How did you do it?" she asked. Naruto turned his head without moving the rest of his body.

"Do what?"

"How did you switch places with me? We were at least two dozen feet away from each other. How did you take the hit?" Naruto frowned as he looked at her.

"I...I have no idea. One second I was barely able to move, the next I was on my knees and that freak was biting my neck. He was like some snake vampire or something." Sayu narrowed her eyes at him. "Did you not see?"

"See what?" In response to the question, Naruto moved a bit closer to her and pulled on the left side of shirt, exposing the curse seal left by the Sanin. Sayu stared at it, confusion bubbling inside her. "If his target was me, then after he gave you this, why didn't he give me one before he left?"

"I couldn't tell you that." Naruto muttered as he moved his shirt back over neck. Naruto lowered himself back onto his bed. "All I know, is that whatever this thing is, it feeds on my chakra, and anger."

"How do you know that?" Sayu questioned

"When I woke up, I saw Sakura getting beat down. I was furious. I was focusing a lot of chakra, and then I felt this tingly feeling all over. Everything else is spotty, all I know is that Sakura said this marking covered me..." Naruto muttered. He seemed unsure of what he was saying.

"Are you sure there wasn't-"

"Can you guys please shut up! I'm trying to sleep!" A sudden awake Sakura snapped. Naruto turned towards her before apologizing. When he turned back, he held a light smile.

"We should follow her lead. Whatever's happening tomorrow is probably a big deal." Naruto stated. Sayu looked at the blonde for a while, analyzing his rare smile, before nodding herself.

"Rest well, wouldn't want you to embarrass us." she said as she reached over to the light switch and flicked it down. For a moment, she waited for Naruto to retort.