Chapter 38

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An overwhelming happiness filled you. You felt new tears, tears of happiness sting your eyes and you let them out. You didn't care that you were exhausted, Itachi would live. That's all you cared about. The tiredness was taking over you, and you gladly let it. The last thing on your mind was to get back home. And the last thing you saw, was a bright orange coming towards you.

"Aiko!" they called out, but their voices were far away as the darkness overcame you.

~Naruto~

Once the wind had somehow died down, Naruto was the first to bolt forward.

"Aiko!" he called out and caught her as she began to fall forward. He looked at Itachi as he lay there, looking peaceful yet troubled. His chest rose and fell steadily as he breathed. Naruto turned back to Kakashi. "Kakashi sensei, we can't-"

"We won't do anything to them Naruto," Kakashi reassured. He turned to Sakura. "Sakura."

She nodded. "Right," she said and knelt down beside Naruto. She took the girl from his arms and gently placed her on her back. "Kakashi sensei, you can take him right?"

Kakashi nodded. He bent down and carefully placed Itachi on his back. Kakashi turned toward Yamato. "We'll have to make camp somewhere."

Yamato nodded. "Yeah, but not out in the open, we should take shelter in the woods."

Kakashi nodded in agreement and they set out to find shelter. All the while, Naruto was right beside Sakura and Kakashi. He had to make sure nothing happened to either Aiko, or Itachi. He had to make sure they were both safe and well-treated. She had helped them out before, the least Naruto could do was return the favor. And return that favor he would.

~Aiko~

Your eyelids fluttered open and you stared up at a brown... roof? Immediately, you shot up from the bedroll- wait, how'd you end up in a bedroll? You looked down at the blankets and around the room. Your eyes landed on a raven haired male in another bedroll on the other side of the room. You removed the blankets from you and got out of the bedroll. A dizziness swept over you and you placed a hand on the wall for support. You shook your head to get rid of the dizziness and once it was gone, you took slow steps to the bedroll across the room. Once you reached the bedroll, you sighed. Itachi's breathing was normal. I did it. You thought. Itachi is alive. You stared at the band-aids on his cheek and the bandages around his left arm from the shoulder to the elbow. You raised an eyebrow. Who helped us?

You heard something slide open and turned. Naruto grinned at you from the doorway.

"Hey! Good to see you up and about already," he said as he entered and closed the door behind him.

"Naruto," you murmured. "What are you doing here?"

His grin widened. "I was tracking down Sasuke with a group when we came across you."

"Sasuke..." you whispered. "He was there, he did this to Itachi."

"I know, but he wasn't when we got there."

"What? But I was there the entire time, and I didn't sense him leave or anyone come for him."

"That's weird," Naruto said as he sat on the ground with his legs crossed. He put a finger to his chin in concentration.

"Drop the act," you said.

"Huh?" Naruto looked up at you with a clueless look.

"Serious doesn't fit you," you told him.

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