Chapter 2
There has been much debate among scholars on the issue of what the Jinchuuriki thrall actually is. Most believe the thrall to be a kind of energetic link among pack members that allows the alpha almost omnipotent control of his or her subordinates. This explanation is, however, far too simplistic. From my own observations, I have come to believe that the thrall may differ in nature and purpose for male and female Jinchuuriki. The female pack members of a female Jinchuuriki have been said to describe the thrall as a feeling of deep connectedness with their alpha. When she exerts control, they are no more than puppets to her commanding presence. In a sense, the female jinchuuriki briefly possesses her subordinates through the link they share. Some have even argued that the female alpha can see through her pack's eyes and speak through their lips from great distances. The subordinates of male Jinchuuriki, however, describe the control of the thrall as akin to an irresistible urge followed by a reward of deep mental pleasure when the command is satisfied. While there is, at least in theory, opportunity for disobedience, the action is in opposition to every instinct the subordinate has. To resist the thrall is to ignore a powerful, instinctual desire that the subordinate has linked to unspeakable psychic pleasure. In a sense, the male lovers of a male Jinchuuriki become addicted to the feeling of his control.
Koumyuo Sanzo, Lives and Habits of Far Eastern Demons
Kiba Inuzuka sat beside his sister in the stands of the arena, trying not to look nervous. Dawn had not yet broken and the air was very cold, a prelude to the coming fall season. Akamaru whined softly beside him, the pony sized dog obviously agitated, his great ears pricked and searching for Hinata. Kiba raised his nose to the wind, but did not smell her. Hinata was likely still below in the rooms beneath the arena, dressing and probably praying… He sighed and the great dog beside him whimpered, pushing his head against his hip warmly. Akamaru liked Hinata. Everyone liked her. Kiba gently stroked the great dog's head gently, moving his fingers in soothing circles around his ears. Akamaru whined in pleasure at the petting, but his ears remained cocked towards the arena in nervous attention. Though he tried not to show it, Kiba felt the same way, his worry for her making his belly tense. Hinata was risking much for him, her very life, and though he had tried to discourage her from the match, the girl had chosen to fight. Nothing Kiba had said would change her mind. He had talked for hours, trying one argument after another, but she had only smiled softly and prepared for the fight ahead. He smiled. In her quiet and very gentle way, Hinata Hyuuga was an unstoppable force, afraid of nothing. Her kind fearlessness had even won over his volatile and terrifying mother as well as his brilliant sister. His family had welcomed her, delighted by her gentle sweetness and gorgeous manners. The entire Inuzuka clan was arranged behind him, eagerly awaiting the match and the triumph of Kiba's bride.
Even Kiba's grandmother was in fine form, the long fur of her matriarchal robes fluttering in the chilly wind, her lined face proud and placid. The fact that the matriarch herself, especially of clan Inuzuka, had come was a clear indication of the severity of the match. The Inuzuka clan had always been almost wholly ruled by women and Granny's presence meant that she had made this match clan business. Kiba knew that the old lady favored Hinata, but he also knew she wanted the political power that an alliance to Hyuuga would bring. Granny was politically minded, as was his sister Hana. The match meant much to them, an alliance and truce…or possible clan war. Kiba shivered. He loved Hinata, but he had no delusions about what a clan war with Hyuuga would be like. Many would die.
If Hinata won, there was a strong possibility that Kiba would leave his house to marry her. In a strong sense, the Hyuugas would see him as her hostage as much as a spouse. He would be the assurance of continued alliance between the two families. The thought made him anxious, but if it meant he could marry her…well…he could survive anything. Even life chained within the creepy, quiet gardens of the Hyuuga compound would be infinitely better than life free without her. Hinata was the heiress of the Hyuuga clan, while Kiba's claim to leadership was second to that of his sister. Unless old Hiashi decided to cede the birthright to Hanabi instead, Hinata would become matriarch of the Hyuugas. A powerful marriage and his family approved, even if Hiashi preferred to give her away to her icy cousin. The thought made Kiba angry, VERY angry. He growled under his breath and Akamaru raised an inquisitive ear in askance. He patted the dog comfortingly, but Kiba's mind was still roiling with worry and rage. The Inuzuka stood, peering into the darkened stadium, searching again for his lover.
"Kiba! Relax! You shame your woman looking so damn worried!" Granny Inuzuka snapped.
"Shut it Granny! I just wanna see her when she comes out!" Kiba shouted back.
"Respect your elders!" The old lady railed, shaking her well-polished walking staff menacingly. Kiba rolled his eyes.
"I ain't worried, okay?" Kiba snarled.
"Then act like it! You aren't gonna cut it in the Hyuuga household acting like that! That lot, they can smellweakness!" Granny nagged.
"I AIN'T weak Granny and they don't smell anything!" Kiba snapped.
"Smell or see with the Byukagan, it is all the same." Granny said superiorly.
"Yeah, right…" Kiba muttered unhappily.
"Sit down and act like a man!" Granny ordered gruffly. Kiba was about to respond when his sister interrupted.
"There's clan Uzumaki! I didn't know they had any interest in this…" Hana said, gesturing to where Naruto and his pack were entering the arena.
Kiba watched as Naruto waved and moved to sit close to him in the front row. All of them were wearing the dramatic orange and black livery of their newly established household. The design of the clothing was striking, almost garish, like an animal advertising to the world that it was poisonous. Kiba knew, at least in this case, that the reference was no idle boast. Hinata said that her father was deathly afraid of Uzumaki and the power they wielded in Konoha. Even with only a passing knowledge of clan intrigue, Kiba could see why. He had fought against Naruto and the blond jinchuuriki, for all his soft-hearted awkwardness, had only gotten stronger. He had fought against Sasuke too and had no wish to repeat the experience. Of the two of them, the one who was supposed to be a demon was a kinder opponent.
"Hi Kiba! Whew, whole family is here, huh!" Naruto gushed excitedly.
"Yeah…everyone is cheering for Hinata." Kiba said, smiling at his friend.
"Awesome! I feel bad for poor Neji already!" Naruto crowed. Kiba grinned wider, feeling the tension melt from his shoulders.
"How are you holding up, Kiba? All this has to be kind of hard for you." Sakura whispered kindly, smiling softly.
"Ok…I guess a little nervous…just a bit…" He replied with a shrug.
"Kiba! Introduce me to their matriarch!" Granny railed.
Naruto flinched, looking with wide eyed surprise up at the old woman in her furs. Granny smiled at him, nodding her head in greeting, but not offering a bow. Kiba groaned. Granny would only show her full respect to the female leader of their clan; it was Inuzuka custom. The stupid practice was also probably one of the reasons why Hiashi Hyuuga hated their family so much. As it was, Naruto smiled toothily, his hand held behind his head in a characteristic gesture of uncomfortable social confusion. Naruto had always done that when he felt out of place. The gesture was familiar and almost made kiba smile out of pure nostalgia. Sasuke stood behind the blond like a menacing shadow. The Uchiha's eyes narrowed at Granny, but Sasuke had the good sense to keep his mouth shut.
"Sakura-chan, this is Granny. She is our matriarch." Kiba said grumpily, gesturing to where his grandmother sat in a tiny, furious looking mass of fur and finery.
"An honor to meet you," Sakura replied, bowing deeply.
"And you my girl! A pleasure to meet the famed Uzumaki surgeon at last! You are dressed for power today! Good! You realize the importance of clan appearances I see!" Granny said, bowing low and smiling. Sakura blushed.
"I…I am trying." She replied.
"Yes, well, if my grandson tried half as hard, perhaps Hyuuga would not have objected to the marriage so noisily." Granny remarked dryly.
"Granny!" Kiba yelped.
"Kiba's great love for Hinata is evidence enough," Sakura replied, still blushing.
"Humph…he has no sense of decorum…" Granny grumbled.
"Neither does Naruto, but we manage to retain our dignity." Sasuke added sourly.
"Hey!" Naruto shouted indignantly.
"Hmmmm…You're the one aren't you." Granny said quietly, her voice rough.
She squinted her keen brown eyes, studying Sasuke with intense scrutiny. For a moment there was utter silence. The raven haired ninja crossed his arms and bared his teeth at her and Kiba only managed not to attack him by the thinnest margin. Naruto laughed too loudly and tried to step in front of Sasuke without looking too obvious.
"Don't worry Granny. Naruto keeps that thing on a short leash." Kiba spat. Sasuke scowled black daggers at him.
"Fortunately for you…" The once Uchiha snarled.
"Sasuke!" Naruto hissed.
The raven haired ninja scowled, but shoved his hands into the sleeves of his robe and said nothing more. Sakura moved to rest a comforting hand on his shoulder. Sasuke's expression never relaxed from the dark scowl, but he covered Sakura's hand with his own. Kiba snorted and wondered if Sasuke even had another expression. Naruto sighed, smiling awkwardly.
"Yes. I know of you, Sasuke Uzumaki. You killed my little brother, whom I loved…He was a very good man." Granny said quietly.
"So you say." Sasuke muttered darkly.
"Sasuke…" Sakura chided softly.
"Ah! Um…Inuzuka-sama…" Naruto began, looking panicked.
"Pity you failed to kill my uncle instead. He died the summer before your campaign against the council began. My brother took his place. Uncle was obsessed with power and was once sadistic to my daughter when she was a child. I believe you truly intended to kill him instead and so…I can forgive you." Granny said, finishing with a smile that showed her long, sharp teeth. Kiba felt like he might pass out from shock.
"Granny! What…why? How could you!" Kiba shouted.
"Enough hurt has already been wrought, Kiba, holding grudges is stupid…I said SIT DOWN!" Granny shouted.
Kiba sat down with a huff, glaring murder at Sasuke. The darksome killer was not paying attention to him, however. His black eyes were wide and filled with confusion, staring at Granny. Naruto kept looking from one to the other, his expression utterly lost and mildly frantic. Granny nodded to him, the movement barely perceptible. A small smile tugged at Sasuke's mouth and he nodded to the Inuzuka matriarch as well. Naruto watched the exchange, glancing at Kiba who shrugged. Sasuke yawned and moved to pat Naruto on the arm, the matter obviously at rest. Sakura giggled nervously, obviously relieved. With his usual easy smile Naruto shrugged and gently gestured his subordinate into a seat to his right, nodding his thanks to Granny. Kiba grumbled, feeling somehow left out of the whole exchange. He hated the times when Granny said so much without saying anything. Kiba was about to pull out a few kunai and re-sharpen them just to occupy his hands when Akamaru began barking. He looked up to see Hinata enter the arena looking calm and somber.
"Kiba! There she is!" Hana shouted, pointing.
"I see her, stupid!" He snapped.
"Be nice." His sister chided, unperturbed.
Hinata turned and bowed low before the gathered Inuzuka clan, smiling shyly as she caught sight of Naruto. The Inuzukas broke into a righteous chorus of howling, the sound of their cheering mingling with the ferocious barking of their many dogs. Above the din, Kiba could hear Hanabi shrieking high and excited, cheering for her sister from the other side of the arena. Kiba searched for her, finding her small, boisterous form easily amongst the still and somber Hyuugas. The other clan had gathered almost silently in the stands opposite the Inuzuka clan, sitting straight and stoic. Sasuke's hand crept to his sword, his sharingan eyes active and watchful. Hinata bowed formally to her family and received a formal bow in return.
"Geez! They look pissed!" Naruto exclaimed to Sakura.
"Hanabi doesn't." Sakura replied, waving to the girl.
"Hanabi's a pretty good kid, for a brat." Kiba said with a small smile.
"Hinata has caused a scandal by fighting in this duel. Her family is embarrassed." Sasuke explained quietly.
"All this clan stuff is confusing! All the cloaks and daggers and spies…what a pain!" Naruto whined.
"For once, idiot, we agree." Sasuke said, eyes scanning the shadowy edges of the arena.
"Sasuke, once they are really going at it, I want you to watch her with the sharingan…" Naruto whispered.
"What am I watching for, exactly?" Sasuke grumbled.
"Watch her energy…make sure she doesn't fade away." Naruto said softly, his blue eyes fierce.
"And…if she does?" Sasuke asked, worried.
"What do you think you could do?" Kiba asked, his voice suddenly filled with desperate hope.
"Whatever I have to. Don't worry! I don't just sit back and watch friends die, believe it." Naruto replied, smiling widely.
"I…I owe you, man." Kiba whispered.
"Hey! Take it easy! I haven't even done anything!" Naruto exclaimed, embarrassed.
"Still…you are a great friend." Kiba said seriously.
"He's a moron." Sasuke huffed, scowling.
"He'd have to be to marry you." Kiba snarled.
"Shhh…There's Neji." Sakura said.
Neji Hyuuga moved into the arena with the feral grace of a hunting panther, his long hair stirring darkly in the chilly breeze. The Hyuuga ninja was dressed lightly compared to his cousin, wearing only the traditional pale kimono and black pants of his clan and a mesh shirt beneath it. His customary bandages had been wound around both hands and one leg, making his limbs look weirdly pale in the morning light. Neji's face was distant and impassive, as if he was watching everything from very far away, separate from the action about to unfold. He bowed to the gathered Hyuugas and moved to face Hinata, looking at her with the barest hint of a frown. His body was slim and graceful as he assumed a fighting posture and nodded to his cousin. The girl nodded back to him and moved into a lower fighting stance, her hands soft and relaxed.
They remained that way for a breath and then another. Kiba fought not to move, to twitch, as the silent tension gathered like a thunderstorm in the arena. Hinata's face was calm, her silver eyes a match for those of her cousin as they watched each other. Kiba knew what she was doing, waiting for him to make the first move. Waiting was a smart strategy when it came to fighting Neji. Neji was a superb ninja, one of the best, in no small large part because he had the patience to wait for his opponents to make the first move. By staying defensive at first, Neji could use the Byukugan to anticipate a fighter's every attack and intention. Hinata waited, watching her cousin, hands resting in the air as the very wind held its breath. Sakura coughed softly. The Hyuuga cousins watched each other, neither blinking, waiting. Kiba wondered if Neji would ever move, if he would stand there forever, merely watching her. Then it happened, like a flash of lightening.
Neji moved, almost too fast to see, a blur of white and silver and dark brown hair. He was faster than a striking serpent, faster than a bullet, the concussion of his movement booming softly as he struck. Hinata sprang away, retreating from his attack, throwing shuriken as she went. The blizzard of missiles struck sparks as Neji batted them away as easily as one would tiresome insects. He lunged after her, moving to strike again. She evaded him by the barest margin, spinning hard to the right. Neji pursued her relentlessly, landing a shattering hit against Hinata's shoulder. The girl dropped her weight in the same direction as the force of his contact, saving her bones from being broken, letting his momentum carry into the earth instead of her flesh. Now on her knees, Hinata spun, creating a whirlwind of dust. Neji moved behind her, preparing a choke, but Hinata was already gone, leaping high above the dusty cyclone she had created. The girl hurled kunai into the cloud, aiming for Neji's face. Again, he deflected them easily, but the weapons had bought her time. Hinata reclaimed her ground, re-establishing her stance. The projectiles had given her sore shoulder a brief respite so she could heal it with a quick infusion of chakra.
She was allowed a breath, no more before Neji sent a volley of his own missiles against her. The girl deflected the weapons, sparks igniting off her arm guards. She sprang at Neji, launching a smoke bomb low and to the side as she struck a kunai hard against his cheek. Trying to follow two targets at once, he was slowed for a fraction of a second, but no longer. A thin line of blood appeared on his face. With a soft grunt, Neji grabbed her ankle and slammed her into the ground with a bone crunching crack. Hinata whimpered, but used the momentum to roll away, throwing another bomb into his face. Neji spun, clearing the air of the abrasive smoke with a whirling wind attack. The heavy burst of air almost rocked the girl from her feet, but Hinata dug a Kunai into the turf and maintained her stance in the face of the gale. Free of the smoke, Neji focused on her again, his silver gaze cold and analytical. She moved into a crouch as her cousin stalked forward once again.
She moved to throw a missile, but he was already there, his fingers closed around her wrist. Hinata moved to sweep his feet out from beneath him, but Neji recovered too quickly, darting his fingers into the crux of her damaged shoulder. Like a striking snake, Neji snapped his hand against the joint and Hinata screamed. Kiba twitched, biting his lip. Naruto watched, his face fixed in a severe frown of concentration, as if by sheer focus he could help her.
Hinata brought her elbow up into Neji's jaw, jarring him enough to escape. He hissed, rubbing the back of his hand across his lips, wiping away the blood. She threw an explosive tag and then another and the arena erupted in the flashing chaos of the charges. Neji dodged the bombs, moving fluidly, the flesh tight around his eyes as he activated the Byukugan. Hinata threw another kunai, following the weapon into Neji's guard. He struck the blade away, but caught Hinata's fist in the guts. Just as she had before, Neji moved with the force of the blow, letting himself roll away from Hinata's strike unharmed. He caught her again, slamming her roughly into the ground once more. This time, Hinata was not able to roll with the force of the attack and the breath was knocked from her lungs. She tried to writhe away, but Neji pinned her soundly to the turf. She thrashed as he crouched low, preparing to crush the air out of her chest and finish the match. She bucked hard beneath him, her forehead colliding soundly with his nose.
Neji cursed, slapping her hard across the face. Hinata brought her knee into his guts as they grappled for control. She rolled, trying to straddle him, but Neji struck her in the chest and the sickening crack of breaking bone rang through the arena. Hinata screamed again, but never stopped moving, striking him fiercely in the face. Neji weathered the blow, rolling away from the attack. Hinata tried to squirm out of his grip, but he caught her by the hair. He brought his arm around her throat, preparing to choke her out. Despite the awkward position, Hinata fought him with renewed ferocity. Like a cornered animal, the girl snarled and turned to bite him savagely on the wrist. Neji growled angrily and brought his knee down onto her thigh, shattering the bone there as well. Hinata screamed, her voice raw with pain. Kiba wanted to look away, he didn't want to see him hurt her, but the Inuzuka kept his eyes riveted on the match even as tears streaked down his cheeks. She would win. She would survive, somehow…
The arena was silent except for the sounds of the two fighters below. Neji tried to pin Hinata with his knees even as she shrieked and fought him, kicking hard. They fought, rolling in the dust, Hinata never stopping her attacks even as Neji countered and tried to grapple her into a hold. He pressed her, struggling to reach her arteries. She bit him, spat at him, clawed at his face.
Something seemed to snap in his countenance and the distant expression Neji had worn for most of the fight gave way to a fierce and angry grimace. He forced her against his chest, wrenching her wounded shoulder from its socket. Hinata screamed shrilly, writhing in his grip, tearing a heavy lock of hair form his scalp. Neji hissed in pain and struck her jaw. He hit her again, his face twisted with rage.
"Give, Hinata!" He roared.
The girl said nothing, but dug her fingers into his neck, pressing the pressure point there savagely. Neji shrieked in pain and struck her again, cracking her head to the side painfully with the force of the blow. Hinata coughed wetly, her broken ribs finally evident as bloody sputum flecked her lips. He hit her again in the chest and Hinata no longer had the strength to avoid the blow. She groaned, but did not yield and he brought his elbow down hard into her shoulder. Naruto watched in horror, his posture tense. If not for Sasuke's hand on his thigh, he would have sprung up to help her long ago. Kiba took shuddering breaths through his teeth, his fingers tight in Akamaru's long, white fur. He could feel it. Every broken bone, every bruised nerve, Kiba felt as if it were his own. Hanabi sat silently in the stands, crying and flinching every time Hinata screamed. The fight dragged on as Neji struck her, trying to find an opening to choke her out. Hinata did not give him one, fighting with everything she had, heedless of the pain.
Sasuke watched them, his mouth tight as the sharingan whirled and focused, watching her life force. Neji took hold of Hinata's hair, jerking her head hard as he dug his elbow into her throat. Hinata coughed and raked his eyes with her nails, but was obviously losing strength. Her face was un-recognizable, covered in blood and bruises. Snarling in frustration, Neji pressed his fingers into the bundle of nerves in her neck. The girl screamed and did not stop. Kiba bit through his lip and tasted blood. In his peripheral vision, the young Inuzuka saw Hiashi flinch and close his eyes, the coward. Hinata shrieked, still trying to fight him as Neji used his weight to pin her. Sakura vomited quietly behind Naruto's left shoulder, her face very pale.
Neji was practically lying on Hinata, his hands scrabbling against the nerves in her throat, trying again to force her unconscious. For a moment Kiba thought he had succeeded and then Neji's angry, frustrated expression suddenly changed to one of utter shock. The fighters were suddenly terrifyingly still. Sasuke gasped, his expression filled with shock and consternation. Sasuke moved to stand, peering hard at the silent figures in the arena, red eyes whirling madly. Kiba's heart stopped in his chest. Hinata, was she…?
Naruto stood, prepared to run down onto the turf and pull Hinata to safety. The Jinchuuriki crouched, ready to move but Sasuke gripped his arm, shaking his head. That same moment, Neji groaned and rolled to the side, revealing a kunai buried to the hilt in the center of his chest. The Hyuugas, as one, gasped in surprise. Hinata rose up onto her elbows, weakly raising her fist in victory.
OoOoOoO
"YEAH!" Kiba whooped, jumping high into the air.
"Fine girl!" The Inuzuka matriarch shouted.
"Sissy! You DID IT!" Hanabi shouted.
Naruto closed his eyes in relief. Thank Kami, she had won. The Inuzuka clan erupted in applause, howling with joy. The barking of their dogs was deafening. Kiba was laughing victoriously, the tears still streaming from his eyes unheeded. Naruto smiled and gave him a high five. Kiba's grandma was on her feet, cheering wildly, the long fur of her robes flapping in the wind. Akamaru jumped high, setting his front paws against Kiba's shoulder, barking loudly. Kiba vaulted over the railing, rushing down to Hinata. Naruto let go the breath he had been holding. Sakura groaned a little, but smiled. Yet, despite the wild happiness around them, Naruto sensed immediately that something was not right. Beside him, Sasuke's body was still tight and vigilant. The once-Uchiha was half standing, tense and conflicted. Naruto could feel his lover's emotions like a roaring storm through the link, panicked and indecisive. Sasuke shot Naruto a hot, urgent glance, his eyes still whirling with the sharingan. Naruto followed his gaze and felt his belly fill with ice. His subordinate was not looking at Hinata…but at Neji.
"Sasuke, what's wrong? Is it Neji? What is happening?" Naruto shouted over the din of the celebrating Inuzukas.
"He's…dying." Sasuke whispered.
"Oh shit!" Sakura exclaimed, moving to stand.
"Oh Kami! Sakura! Help him!" Naruto shouted, but his mate was already running full out into the arena.
Naruto felt his chest constrict. Neji was dying. The unstoppable Hyuuga who was almost his friend and he was dying, right there in front of them! Naruto darted down behind Sakura, Sasuke already moving like a flash beside him. The arena was crowded, with the Hyuuga's kneeling beside Neji and the Inuzuka's tending to Hinata's injuries. Sakura shoved her way through the throng, trying to reach Neji's side. One of the Hyuuga ninjas barred her way, drawing his blade threateningly. Naruto punched him soundly in the face, letting Sakura through. The girl threw herself down beside the too still form of Neji Hyuuga, trying to reach him.
"Don't you TOUCH him!" Hiashi roared, appearing out of the throng in a rage, grabbing Sakura's wrist.
"Release her or die." Sasuke hissed, his sword suddenly flush against Hiashi's throat.
"Damn you Hiashi! He's DYING! She must have nicked his aorta! Let me help him!" Sakura shouted.
"Please, father! She is an excellent doctor." Hanabi pleaded, coming close to hold the edge of her father's robes.
"Get your hand off my mate!" Naruto shouted roughly, his teeth grown long and deadly.
"I don't need your help!" Hiashi snarled.
"Well, HE does! I can do the surgery, but we are running out of time…" Sakura urged.
"Leave him alone! Oni bitch!" One of the other Hyuuga spat.
"Call our wife a bitch again, and I'll make her a necklace out of your teeth." Sasuke promised the ninja who had spoken, his hands still steady against the sword on Hiashi's throat.
"Keep your filthy hands away from my nephew!" Hiashi snarled. Sasuke growled and moved his sword threateningly against Hiashi's artery.
"Don't be stupid, she's a surgeon!" Naruto argued.
"Do you want him to live or NOT!" Sakura railed.
"PLEASE! He's DYING!" Hanabi shrieked.
Hiashi looked as if he wanted to argue, but the Hyuuga clan leader bit his lip and looked down at Neji instead. The young man was deathly pale and totally unconscious, blood pouring in pulsing gushes from the ragged wound in his chest. Naruto swallowed hard, trying to quell the rampant rage burning in his soul at the sight of Hiashi's hand on Sakura's wrist. Neji would die without Sakura's intervention and now was not a time when anger would gain anything, but the emotion was hard to restrain. Sasuke was apparently having the same reaction, breathing hard, mouth screwed into a ferocious snarl. Hiashi's expression twisted into a grimace almost like pain and he released Sakura's wrist, though the action obviously cost him. Naruto was disgusted by the other man's pride, but said nothing. The pink haired girl wasted no time, pulling an emergency surgical kit from one of her sleeves, dousing her hands hastily in iodine.
"Do it. Save him." Hiashi whispered.
"She will…if it isn't too late." Naruto growled softly.
"Call off your subordinate." Hiashi hissed, gesturing to where Sasuke still stood poised to kill him.
"I think I like him where he is." Naruto snarled, crossing his arms angrily.
"Quiet!" Sakura ordered and Hiashi bit back his retort.
Sakura tore the clothing away from Neji's wound, draping him hurriedly with sterile cloth. She soaked his skin with iodine, pouring the dark antiseptic generously over his chest. Once the area was as clean as she could manage in the situation, Sakura guided Hinata's weapon out of Neji's flesh. If the wound had bled badly before, it hemorrhaged horribly now. Sakura pushed her fingers into the opening, eyes closed, searching for the easiest route to reach the artery. She pulled a scalpel from her kit, cutting the flesh with quick, sure strokes. Hanabi covered her mouth with both hands, crying almost hysterically. Sakura worked her hand inside him, dissecting the tougher connective tissue away so she could reach the hemorrhage. Finally, Naruto saw a small, triumphant smile tug at her mouth. She had found it.
The girl pinched the tear in the vessel closed and poured healing chakra into the seam. Once the bleeding was staunched, Sakura quickly threaded a sterile suture needle into a pair of clamps and quickly stitched the muscular artery closed. She worked fast, her hands sure and graceful, reinforcing the closure before the pressure could find the weakness in the vessel and rupture again. Once she was satisfied that Neji's aorta was secure for the moment, Sakura whipped a few thick sutures through the opening in his flesh, closing the wound.
"He has a pneumothorax and needs blood. Call the hospital." Sakura ordered.
"Already done. They are arriving even now." Hanabi said.
"Good. Call them again and tell them to have surgical theater B ready for me." Sakura ordered, wiping her brow.
"Will he live?" Hiashi asked softly.
"If I can re-inflate his lung, and he doesn't die of sepsis or blood loss…yes, I expect him to live." Sakura said and turned away to meet the medics rushing into the arena.
The medics swarmed around Neji, securing him to a stretcher and starting IVs of both fluids and packed red cells. Thankfully, Hanabi must have told them to bring blood. Sakura moved to follow the horde of medical professionals off the field, removing her formal outer robe as she went. Sasuke tentatively released Hiashi from the threat of his blade and followed her, taking the robe from her as they walked. Naruto spared Hiashi one last glare, before moving to follow his wife.
"I will go with them and finish the surgery. We have to move quickly if we want to save his organs." Sakura said, almost jogging beside Neji's stretcher.
"Do what you can, love. He doesn't deserve to die this way." Naruto said, squeezing her shoulder.
"I'll go with you." Sasuke said. Sakura smiled, but shook her head.
"Only as far as the hospital, Sasuke. No one will try to kill me there." Sakura smiled into his mutinous expression, "You can't come into surgery and I will be busy a long time with this. I may be home very late tonight."
"Do what you have to. We will be waiting." Naruto said, resting a hand on Sasuke's shoulder.
"Fine." Sasuke said quietly, though it was obvious the situation did not make him happy.
"Prep him on route and get me imaging on arrival." Sakura ordered as she followed the medics out and towards the hospital.
OoOoOoO
Sakura watched the read out of Neji's vital signs anxiously. His heartbeat was regular and strong, but his blood pressure was still very low. She worried that it might be the early stages of sepsis and as weak as he was, infection would kill him. He had managed decently while she attached the surgical mesh over the laceration in his aorta, making the vessel wall strong again. She used a tight network of dissolvable stitches to secure the mesh over the vessel and was convinced that the bleeding had been stopped. Neji had not crashed out when she suctioned the blood out of his chest and abdominal cavity or when she applied negative pressure to re-inflate his collapsed lung. Still, his blood pressure was not recovering and continued to slowly grow weaker as shock fully set in. In the next room, Shizune worked on setting and mending Hinata's bones, but the Hyuuga heiress was already awake and asking about Neji. Sakura wanted to give her good news and assuage her conscience, but the truth was the Neji's life was still hanging in the balance. She had to stabilize him before anything else could be done.
"I want two more units of blood and an epinephrine drip." Sakura ordered.
"Is he still bleeding?" Her nurse asked.
"Not that I can tell, but I need to get his BP up and fast or his kidneys could fail. What is his temperature?" Sakura asked, trying to keep the tension out of her voice.
"99.6 degrees."
"Hmmm, that's a little high, but might not mean anything other than that his body is trying to respond to the blood infusions…" Sakura mused.
"You think he might be going septic?" The nurse asked.
"I hope not. Get me a culture of his blood anyway and start a broad spectrum antibiotic. Use cipro." Sakura ordered, reading Neji's vital signs again.
"We…could try a direct chakra transfer." One of the techs suggested.
"That is a very dangerous procedure and we don't have an appropriate donor." Sakura replied.
"What about Hiashi?"
"Hiashi is a clan head. Even if he wanted to, the clan might object to the risk." Sakura said angrily.
"Well…What about his friends?"
"Tenten is away on a mission and Lee is still recovering from that arrow he took a month ago. Kiba is almost certainly incompatible, even if he would agree. As far as I know, Neji doesn't have any other family or close friends…" Sakura said, frustrated.
There was silence from her staff for a long moment. Sakura sighed, knowing that they had someone in mind, someone they weren't sure she would approve of. Even with an appropriate donor, the procedure was difficult. Only Tsunade and a few others had successfully achieved proper healing without losing either the donor or the patient. Sharing chakra that way just wasn't natural…unless… Sakura bit her lip. No. She wouldn't do it. Not for Neji, not for anyone. The surgeon checked the read outs again, but the blood didn't seem to be helping. He was going shocky and Neji's organs were coming close to being at serious risk of ischemic injury. She practically growled.
"Who is it?" Sakura asked quietly.
"Well…chakra transfer doesn't really work, not with normal ninja…but…" The nurse said tentatively.
"But…" Sakura challenged, already knowing what she would say.
"But…a Jinchuuriki can do it." The nurse practically whispered.
"Naruto." Sakura said, her voice icy.
"Doctor, it makes sense. Naruto is one of Neji's friends, at least peripherally anyway, and he is one of the few people who could actually do it." The nurse pushed.
"That is not an option." Sakura growled.
"Shouldn't you let your husband decide that?" The tech asked, crossing his arms.
"I am NOT going to do it! He is my husband!" Sakura argued.
"This patient is dying…"
"That isn't Naruto's fault!" Sakura protested.
"No, but it will be yours if you don't even ask! We can still save him!" Her nurse spat.
Sakura was quiet for a very long time. The worst part was that she knew, deep down, that if the person in question was Gaara or Killer Bee or ANY other Jinchuuriki, she would ask. No. She would beg. Beg because her patient was dying and because she knew that it could be done. Sakura wasn't a brilliant surgeon because she hesitated to perform risky procedures, she was confident in her skills. She sighed, feeling cold and stressed. That Naruto would do it, she had no doubt. Naruto was fiercely loyal to his friends, even the ones he had only learned to like in passing.
"Call him. Tell Naruto the situation, be clear about the risks, and let him decide. Call Tsunade, we will need her for this." Sakura said tonelessly.
"But…the Jinchuuriki hasn't even agreed yet."
"Just call her and prepare for the procedure." Sakura said, looking at Neji's still face, "Don't you dare die now."
OoOoOoO
"You're worrying…" Naruto accused as he bit gently into the flesh of Sasuke's pectoral muscles.
"I…I..am…a little." Sasuke confessed as he panted hotly in Naruto's embrace.
Naruto paused, looking down into Sasuke's flushed face. His subordinate was breathing heavily and quivering beneath him, but his coal dark eyes were distant and filled with concern. Sasuke bit his lower lip, a gesture that Naruto almost always found fetching, and looked away. The Jinchuuriki studied him, deciding that being parted from Sakura was affecting Sasuke more than he had originally thought. The other ninja was worrying about her and, though he didn't know why, he knew that Sasuke would chew on the thought until he drove himself crazy. Naruto bent low, nuzzling the raven's throat, savoring the way Sasuke moaned and yielded to him.
"She will be fine. I can feel her even now." Naruto purred against the porcelain flesh.
"What does she feel like?" Sasuke asked breathily, still fighting the sensation.
"Hmmm…frustrated actually. I suppose when she gets home I'll fuck it out of her just like I'm about to fuck it out of you..." Naruto chuckled hotly.
"By Kami dobe! You have a filthy mouth…" Sasuke sneered.
"It will be dirtier before we're done, believe it." Naruto promised, licking Sasuke's nipple suggestively.
The dark haired ninja, ever sensitive to erotic touch, cried out as the jinchuuriki sucked the hardened point into his mouth. Naruto took his time, running his tongue softly around the areola and flicking the tip, trying to drive the anxiety out of Sasuke through sheer force of sensation. When Sasuke's cries took on almost pained urgency, Naruto shifted his attention to the other nipple. He liked the way Sasuke moved against him, the way the other man dug his nails heedlessly into his hips. Soon, Sasuke would only be thinking of how it felt as his alpha loved him, the delicate fear that came with penetration and the fierce pleasure of release. The jinchuuriki knew because he felt his lover's emotions through the link almost as clearly as he felt his own. The experience was one that he had never been able to imagine before claiming his mates. Naruto knew that even if a thousand years passed, he would never get enough of his subordinate or his wife, not ever. Sex without Sakura was odd and a little forced, but something told him that Sasuke needed the attention and desperately.
The dark haired ninja had been emotionally vigilant, held tense like a taught bow, for too long. Sasuke was a suspicious person and the trait often served him well, but the trade-off was that he only really relaxed when Naruto forced him to. The paranoia that was a fundamental part of his personality was slowly overwhelming him. Sometimes Naruto wondered if the suspicion was a subtle part of his breeding as the trait definitely made Sasuke a better ninja, if a more unhappy person. The jinchuuriki loved Sasuke and privately hoped that the Uchihas might have loved their child enough not to intentionally breed him into a nervous wreck simply for the sake of ninja perfection. As for physical perfection, well, art was still art…
Sasuke was almost too beautiful, stunning in a way that mere mortals should never achieve. As Naruto ran his lips over the fine features of Sasuke's face, he was reminded again that his subordinate was, not only one of the most gorgeous men, but one of the most beautiful people in all of existence. The jinchuuriki sighed as he ran his hands over the firm, slender lines of Sasuke's waist, moving lower to stroke his hardening length. Sasuke whimpered, eyes shut tight, the dark lashes lovely against the alabaster planes of his cheeks. Naruto moved his right hand to capture Sasuke's wrist, thrusting his thumb against the palm, keeping Sasuke's hand open. Naruto kissed him, teasing with his tongue as he moved his fingers over the raven's awakening body. Sasuke was almost fully hard and the velvety texture of him made Naruto eager to touch the flesh with more than just his fingers.
A prelude to his future intentions, Naruto took the fingers of Sasuke's captive hand gently into his teeth. The raven trembled against him, his moon lit flesh flushed in a ruddy stain that reached all the way down onto his chest. The jinchuuriki rumbled, aroused almost beyond the point of his control, and sucked the elegant digits wetly. Sasuke practically screamed, writhing against him wantonly in the undignified display of passion wrought only from the normally reserved ninja by careful seduction. Seeing Sasuke so unguarded was something Naruto lived for. The jinchuuriki felt hot wetness against his other hand and smoothed the warm pre-cum softly over the head of Sasuke's arousal. A choked cry escaped his lover's lips and Sasuke sunk his teeth hard into the muscles of Naruto's shoulder. Perhaps it was a token gesture of resistance or maybe just a way to keep from screaming again, but Naruto felt his blood ignite. He moaned and bit gently into the meaty part of the raven's hand. Another lover would have had problems bedding Sasuke safely, the man loved to bite and hard, but the action always aroused Naruto more than offended him. The feel of his subordinate's sharp teeth had almost become a form of communication between them, a way for Sasuke to let his alpha know he was ready.
Now well coated with the raven's own pre-cum, Naruto moved his fingers lower finding the tight opening. The lubrication was minimal, but Naruto seriously doubted Sasuke would be willing to wait while he found something better. Sasuke shrieked in pained ecstasy as he felt Naruto slip a finger into his body. The opening was small and hot and almost painfully arousing. Naruto moaned and moved lower, releasing Sasuke's hand and finally taking his subordinate's hardened shaft into his mouth. The jinchuuriki lapped him, tasting musky salt and wanting more, as the other ninja arched his back off of their bed. Naruto stretched him, moving his finger in a tight circle, enjoying the velvety smoothness of Sasuke's most intimate flesh. His lover moaned, thrusting against the invading digit and Naruto eagerly added another. The jinchuuriki found the tender bundle of nerves deep inside and pressed, shocked and stimulated when Sasuke spread his legs, too far gone in the pleasure protect his dignity. Apparently, Sasuke needed the sex worse than Naruto had thought. The jinchuuriki hastily opened him, stretching the tight muscles as he massaged his subordinate's prostate.
Sasuke shrieked and thrashed, his belly twitching with the force of the pleasure Naruto wrought inside him. The sight of him, sweaty and flushed, made Naruto ache with desire. He was tempted to rush, the allure of Sasuke's body almost too much to resist. The raven haired ninja's fingers were rough in his hair, demanding, and Naruto nipped his inner thigh sharply to remind him to be gentle. Finally, the intimate muscles were soft, the opening widened enough to receive him. With an almost desperate sigh, Naruto moved and pushed into the deadly dark haired beauty beneath him. Sasuke was hot, vulnerable, masculine and fantastic. He had moved once, deeply, and once more when there was a sharp knock at the door.
"What!" Naruto practically barked.
Sasuke bit his knuckles, mortified, dark eyes filled with angry embarrassment. Naruto soothed him with an affectionate nuzzle, but had to take a few breathes to keep the anger out of his voice. Whoever was on the other side of the door did not knock again.
"What?" Naruto asked, a bit more gently.
"Naruto-sama…I am sorry to disturb you…Neji Hyuuga is dying."
OoOoOoO
The circle had already been drawn, the silk cords tied like crimson spider webs around Neji's arms, ankles, wrists, legs and throat, and soaked in saltwater. If Sakura was able to direct the energy through the threads and into Neji's failing body, he would live, but if the chakra dissipated or jumped to another body… Sakure chewed her lip and ran a gloved hand over the ninja's pale, unconscious face. Neji was breathing softly and had not needed mechanical ventilation, but his heart had started to beat irregularly and she worried it would stop. Despite her best precautions, the wound had become septic. Neji's fever was now almost 102 degrees and his pulse was thready and weak, another few hours and he would be in full organ failure. Sakura knew he was strong, knew that the Hyuuga would easily pull out of the malaise given just a bit more energy. Neji had been the top of their class, a ninja of unrivaled skill and power. Everyone saw the fact that Naruto had defeated him in combat so many years ago as no less than some kind of miracle. Truly, a direct chakra transfer procedure, risky as it was, would be his best chance for recovery. His best chance was still slim.
The arrangements were perfect, she had checked them three times, but Sakura still worried. If the meridians were misaligned or the solution unbalanced, the chakra donor could easily be thrown into full arrest. Naruto knew this, but had come anyway. He arrived looking sleepy and concerned and Sakura realized that she had seriously lost track of time and that the hour was actually very, very late. Naruto yawned as he walked into the operating theatre, followed closely by a feral looking Sasuke. He was dressed casually in a white t-shirt and somewhat ragged black pants, the jinchuuriki's usual indomitable smile firmly in place. The smile, Sakura knew, was his armor and she wished for the thousandth time that her husband had just said no. Neji was his friend and friends meant everything to Naruto, but the procedure might not even work. Naruto's involvement offered them a chance at least, but Neji's survival was still uncertain. As for Sasuke, he was dressed all in black with an attached mask covering the lower portion of his face. Even with fully half of his visage covered, the once-Uchiha still looked absolutely lethal. The set of his shoulders, the way his fingers stroked the hilt of his sword were all tiny tells that her dark haired husband was not in a good frame of mind. She sighed, Sasuke in a chilly rage was a complication she seriously did not need.
Sakura could not be sure if he was angry because Naruto had chosen to risk his life for the nephew of a man Sasuke had come to view as an enemy or if something else had happened. Regardless, she quietly told her staff to give him a wide berth. Sasuke was upset, which made him twitchy, and she was told that one orderly had already been hauled away with broken fingers. She groaned and pinched the bridge of her nose where the headache was slowly spreading. Sasuke's mood, and who suffered because of it, was the least of her problems. Sakura had discussed the procedure with Tsunade, gone through the process again and again, but the Hokage worried that Naruto's chakra might not even be compatible. Giving energy wasn't like a blood transfusion, where proteins and antibodies could be measured so that a match was assured. The compatibility of donor and recipient had more to do with individual abilities and Naruto was very prominently a wind –type ninja, while Neji specialized in the esoteric somatic techniques of the Hyuuga clan. Techniques closely guarded and little understood by outsiders. Was wind, or the fire of the Kyuubi's spirit, compatible with the more mysterious energies that Neji had been bred to wield? Even worse, would the chakra signatures potentiate each other and tear both parties apart?
"Whoa…that's…um…whoa." Naruto said, staring round eyed at where Neji lay on the hospital bed.
Sakura tried to figure out what it was that had surprised him so much. Neji was looking peaked and awful but, still…She squinted. No one could deny that the Hyuuga was very beautiful, even on the cups of death. The scarlet cords around Neji's limbs contrasted in a strangely lovely way with his pale skin. There was something erotic in the limp spread of limbs bound tightly with the red silk, something a bit titillating in the way Neji's face was flushed with fever. Of course, Naruto might have been referring to the fact that the other ninja was mostly naked. Sakura rolled her eyes, but also began blushing herself.
"It's just a medical apparatus." She said testily. Naruto blushed.
"Right." He said, crossing his arms behind his head.
"Naruto, try not to be a pervert." She groaned.
"What? It's like something out of Master Jiraiya's books…or something. Hasn't anyone else around here noticed how he looks?" Naruto exclaimed, blushing pointing as if the idea should be obvious.
"Most of us have been busy trying to save his life." Sakura snapped, green eyes hard.
"Oh. Yeah." Naruto whispered, visibly deflating. Sakura immediately felt bad for getting angry.
"Sorry, I'm tired." She whispered, moving to hug him.
Naruto wrapped her in his arms and deep warmth spread through her back. She sighed. Safe in his arms, Sakura was finally able to access her emotions again. Even now, even without trying, it was so easy to become distant and forget what it was like to react emotionally. She could feel him smiling into her hair and knew she was forgiven. Sakura really should have expected his reaction, getting angry was stupid. After all, Naruto's rampant bisexual urges were part of what he was, part of what made the strange and wonderful creature she was married to so very special. She smiled and kissed his throat. In the hospital, her patients needed objectivity, but Sakura's feelings were still there. Like serpents writhing beneath the surface of her control, she could only lock them away for so long. She clung to him, letting the fear and the stress and the anger at howsenseless the whole stupid situation was crash through her. She sighed into his collar and it was almost a sob. Dammit. She wouldn't cry again, not now! Sakura bit her lip and tried to tamp down the tears. She felt another, cooler, set of fingers brush her cheek. Sasuke had come behind her, silent as a vapor, to wrap his arms around her. Held between them that way, the girl finally let herself come undone and found the strength to master her swirling thoughts again. When they separated, she felt powerful again, steady and confident. With a grateful smile she turned and pressed a chaste kiss onto the silk of Sasuke's mask.
"I just hope that this works. Neji is a good guy and I…it just isn't fair." Naruto said, his voice slightly angry.
"This is the best chance he has." Sakura said and motioned for Naruto to sit on the bed opposite Neji.
"Dobe is right though, he does look totally indecent." Sasuke sneered haughtily, eyes narrowed above his mask.
"Be nice Sasuke." Sakura chided.
"Where's Hiashi?" Sasuke asked, still glaring at Neji.
"Not here. I think he is ashamed of how he acted earlier. I guess that fact that I tried to help kind of took him by surprise." Sakura said with a shrug.
Sasuke said nothing, but he made a noise almost like a growl and stalked out of the room to lean against the wall just outside the door. Sakura pitied any hapless Hyuuga who might have to be sent past that dark sentinel. The girl released a breath that she hadn't realized she was holding and began preparing Naruto for the procedure. Her husband giggled as she worked the solution-soaked cords around his wrists, smiling relentlessly.
"Is it too cold?" She asked quietly.
"It's fine. Stop worrying baby, this will work. Believe it." Naruto said and winked.
Sakura smiled at him and tried. In the hall Sasuke had activated his sharingan, scanning both the hall and Naruto's body with long, meticulous gazes. Sakura was not sure what he was looking for, but she was glad to have the extra eyes on Naruto and the state of his chakra. The girl took a deep breath and nodded to her nurse.
"Ok," She said after another few minutes, "I'm going to activate the jutsu."
"Ok." Naruto said, shamelessly lounging on the hospital bed.
"Ready, Doctor." The nurse affirmed.
The girl pressed her hands together, summoning the energy from within herself to activate the jutsu. She made the flow of life clear of any entanglements, free of anything that might pollute the energy with her own personality. Neji would not tolerate a transfer involving multiple wielders; the chakra had to be pure. Sakura worked quickly, trying to achieve control while still retaining cognizance of her environment. Finally, it was ready. Glowing threads of green energy shot from her body, moving across the floor like water or lightning or both combined. The energy reacted with the circle, igniting it into a vast array of iridescent light, filling the air with the scent of grass and ozone. Sakura concentrated and extended the web of chakra out and through the silk cords on Neji's body. The saltwater conducted the chakra like a wire would electricity and the life force arched eagerly over his flesh. The Hyuuga ninja moaned softly as the chakra enfolded him, his heart rate spiking dangerously. Sakura grit her teeth and pulled back a fraction, controlling the sweeping energy, trying to direct it into Neji's flesh and praying he would be able to take it.
Neji groaned, writhing, but gradually his vital signs stabilized. Sakura focused hard, folding the energy around him, into him, tucking it around the injury. Then the girl moved to Naruto, sending a swirling tongue of chakra out through the cords on his wrists. The jinchuuriki yelped in surprise, but managed not to move as she manipulated the energy.
"Ok, Naruto, push against him. Try to push your chakra into him." Sakura instructed. Naruto blinked in confusion.
"Like you did with us, idiot." Sasuke hissed from the doorway.
"Oh."
Understanding dawned on Naruto's face and the jinchuuriki grinned lasciviously. Suddenly the swirling energy around Sakura was not just green, but red too. Sakura's eyes widened in shocked appreciation of the perfect control Naruto had over such vast energies. Most ninja would have had to meditate for hours just to leak the barest bit of chakra into the circle and Naruto was able to release a veritable flood of his life force on command. No matter how he acted or how well he had learned to fit into other people's narrow minded expectations, Naruto was not human. He had stopped being human sometime before he even really achieved true consciousness. He pushed the chakra out of himself with such ease, moving the life force out into the air as if the act barely even required active effort. Naruto pushed and the room filled with the hot sensation of burning wind. The feel of it, hot and a bit possessive, made her blush as she directed the thick currents of chakra into Neji's body. The Hyuuga ninja gasped, struggling to breathe, but Sakura could not pull back now. Naruto's energy was too forceful, too vast for her to control aside fromm a nudge and minor pull to work the chakra into Neji's wounds. Naruto was changing, his face growing feral and his pupils narrow slits as the fox awoke with the call for chakra. The jinchuuriki gasped, whining a little in pain as the pull of the energy finally taxed him. Sakura nodded, satisfied that her husband was safe and motioned for the nurse to check Neji.
The Hyuuga was breathing hard and shallowly, his heart irregular. She could tell that his body was fighting it, trying to resist the chakra instead of using the energy to heal. Sakura swore, trying to pull the scarlet chakra back a bit in order to find a balance of energy transfer that Neji could tolerate. Naruto was crouched like an animal on the bed, his long claws biting into the hospital sheets savagely. The jinchuuriki snapped his jaws, teeth long and menacing. Sakura's nurses paled and moved to huddle together at the far side of the room, terrified of the beast that the blond was slowly morphing into. The energy arched and spun, seeking a path against the resistance. Suddenly, Neji opened his eyes and screamed. The chakra moved, dove, through the cords and into the Hyuuga's body in a single fluid rush. Naruto hissed and swooned against the sheets. Neji screamed again and jerked hard, moving to writhe away. Moving in agonized reflex, the Hyuuga's body arched against the cords and Sakura saw one of them break. A bright surge of panic filled her gut.
"Sedate him!" She shouted.
"We can't! He's already sedated!" One of the nurses squeaked from where they were hiding.
"Now dammit!" She snarled.
"Any more and it will kill him!"
"If Neji breaks any more of the leads then we could lose them both!" Sakura shouted.
"I am TELLING you! Any more, and all of this will be for nothing!" Her nurse railed stubbornly.
"Naruto! Pull back! Pull back!" Sakura shouted.
"Ahhh…its hard…hard…" The jinchuuriki groaned.
"You have to! He can't take it!" Sakura shrieked.
Naruto made a frustrated noise of both pain and effort and the energy curling around them rippled violently. The chakra bucked like an enraged animal and Neji was shrieking in a tortured panic, yanking hard against the bonds holding the searing force against his body. Naruto grunted, pulling on his own scarlet silk, trying to pull back the chakra being forcibly sucked from his spirit. The scent of lightning and fire filled the room and the digital readout of Neji's ECG spiked dangerously. Sakura hissed, trying to will the energy into a more acceptable volume. Naruto roared, his flesh slick with sweat from the effort and the scarlet chakra became slimmer, calmer.
The jinchuuriki shook with the effort of holding the energy back even as the apparatus called it forth from his body. Neji stilled a bit, quivering, awake but still mad with the pain. The Hyuuga groaned, slowly beginning to relax. His breathing became a little easier and his vital signs came back under control as Neji adapted to the foreign chakra, no longer drowning in the life force. Sakura sighed shakily in relief. She watched as Neji slowly began to accept the energy, his body moving with the pulsing waves instead of against them. Naruto winced, the effort written all over his face, but Neji was responding. The Hyuuga's heartbeat slowed, becoming steady and strong as the foreign energy filled his damaged cardiac meridians. The wound on his chest began to close, even as they watched, resolving into a smooth pink scar. Neji's blood pressure rose and he began to sweat, the fever no longer running rampant through his flesh.
Naruto blew out a long breath, muscles trembling. Neji closed his eyes, made a sound almost like a moan and fell back into unconsciousness. Bit by bit, Sakura reduced her control over the energies, letting the flow settle into an organic rhythm of its own. Naruto was still slit-eyed with deep concentration, but for now it seemed that he was able to control the flow of chakra with relative ease. Sakura moved to brush the hair away from the Hyuuga's face and grinned. He was healing. Thank Kami, he was healing. Sakura laughed out loud, the heady feeling of victory chasing away the cold panic that had gripped her before. Naruto smiled, his long teeth making the gesture seem strange and a little wild.
When she cut the cords and separated Neji from Naruto's chakra, there were healing burns on the Hyuuga's wrists and throat, but Neji was alive. Not only was he alive, but his coloring had returned and his pulse was strong and even. The Hyuuga slept easily, his muscles lose and relaxed as the nurses prepared to move him to a recovery room. Naruto managed to sit up while she untied the silk on his wrists, face beaming with triumph, yet sallow with fatigue. Sasuke entered the room, sparing Neji a single irritated glance as he rushed to grip Naruto by the shoulders. Sakura was glad for the help. Naruto was not hurt, but the draw of energy had been difficult, even for him, and the blond was obviously exhausted. Sasuke moved to hold him as Sakura checked Naruto's pulse and temperature. Both were normal and she breathed a sigh of relief as Sasuke brushed his lips tentatively against Naruto's arm.
"It's ok Teme, I'm fine." Naruto panted.
"Moron." Sasuke whispered and pressed his cheek against Naruto's sweat damp hair.
Sakura used a cool cloth to sponge the perspiration off his face, checking her husband's hands anxiously for chakra burns. Finding none, the rose haired kunoichi sighed and finally felt the fatigue of the day catch up to her. Apparently, Naruto felt the same way. The jinchuuriki smiled, kissed her and promptly fell asleep in Sasuke's arms.