Peace for Traitors

The behavior of jinchuuriki is understood best as an amalgam of both human and demon social tendencies, no element more important than the others and each in balance. Though the jinchuuriki are, in essence, artificial creatures created by the merger of a human soul with a powerful elemental manifestation they retain the most important elements of each. I argue that the so called vessels are a distinct species in their own right and that only time and chance have prevented the birth of a true jinchuuriki naturally from the seed or womb of another. I am, however, alone in this opinion. Other scholars argue that Jinchuuriki energy, being both vast and foreign, is totally incompatible with the human constitution. They claim this inconsistency as an evolutionary reason for the behavior of pack formation, a kind of side-effect of the vessel's unnatural origin and a way to reproduce without generating true offspring. Still one must wonder what terrible power might be bestowed upon a child already imbued with a demon conceived at the same moment, and if such a child would indeed be one vessel born to another. A jinchuuriki born, not made, would be a force the world has never known.

-Koumyuo Sanzo, Lives and Habits of Far Eastern Demons

Sasuke was woken abruptly by the indescribable sensation that someone was present, watching him slumber. His body felt heavy and sore, fighting full consciousness in favor of more sleep, but the feeling was impossible to ignore. Too many years of sleeping lightly, able to wake in an instant if the environment changed, had conditioned Sasuke's body and mind to come to alertness in the presence of another person. He opened his eyes only to gaze directly into another pair of dark portals, slate black and nearly as flat as the eyes of a portrait. Sasuke groaned and poked Sai hard in the forehead where the artist was crouched over his prone body, nose mere inches from his own.

"What the fuck?" Sasuke whispered hoarsely.

"You're so pretty when you sleep." The artist answered, eyes crossing as he looked up at where Sasuke's finger was still planted firmly against his brow.

"You're lucky I'm too tired to kick your ass." Sasuke muttered.

"Hmm." Sai replied, still watching him intently.

"Where's Naruto?" Sasuke asked, shutting his eyes and letting his hand fall back against the pillow.

"With Sakura. He told me to watch over you for a while." Sai replied.

"Oh, is that what this is supposed to be?" Sasuke huffed, raising an eyebrow.

"He's worried. He said you were talking to yourself and you only do that when you are having a nightmare." Sai whispered.

"He can go fuck himself and watching does not entail crouching over me like some kind of Oni." Sasuke snapped.

"He just said to watch, he didn't say how close, and being closer makes my chest hurt less." Sai explained, looking away.

"So you're upset." Sasuke stated.

"I'm scared."

Sasuke was not entirely sure how to respond to the confession so he arched his neck instead and brushed his lips over Sai's mouth, noting the fine tremble in the other nin's lips. The touch was soft, uncertain, but Sasuke savored the touch of Sai's mouth and the other nin did not pull away. As usual, the man met him with a hungry sigh, yielding to the tender kiss eagerly. Sasuke explored the artist's mouth, darting his tongue between Sai's soft lips, stroking the velvety muscle of his tongue. The ink nin moaned a little, meeting him with a hint of intensity, his lips hot and stimulating. Sasuke wrapped his arm around Sai's neck, guiding him down until the artist's body was lying flush against his own, pressed together through the comforter. Sasuke ran his fingers tentatively through Sai's heavy hair as they kissed slowly, gently. Their tongues moved and twined, leaving moist trails of luscious heat in the wake of their play. Sasuke's mouth was tingling and sensitive, each brush of Sai's lips more sweet and tempting than the last. The artist's movements were awkward and a bit tentative, nothing like Naruto, but then Sasuke already knew that not all kisses were the same. Sasuke sighed and sucked the other's lower lip into his mouth, enjoying the way Sai yielded to him, how he made his mouth so soft. The ink nin took a shuddering breath that was nearly a sob and Sasuke moved his hands in comforting strokes down his back, enjoying the feel of Sai's body nearly as much as he enjoyed the tender press of his mouth. It was strange, holding the other man this way, but he was tired and aching and the comfort it brought was irresistible.

"This is good, better to touch…" Sai whispered.

"Yes." Sasuke agreed simply.

"I think I love you."

"I don't think you know what that means." Sasuke argued, biting him softly on the chin.

"Shino explained it to me and I think I do. I love you. I love Naruto. I love Sakura. I don't ever want to be alone again." Sai whispered.

"We won't be alone." Sasuke said sternly, looking away.

"How do you know?" Sai said, his voice soft and uncertain.

"Part of loving someone is learning to trust them. That's the hardest part." Sasuke sighed, irritated.

"Sakura says she's fine. She's lying you know." Sai muttered, his voice almost angry.

"That's different."

"I don't understand."

"Naruto believes that I can figure this out and so I will. Simple." Sasuke snapped.

"Simple…" Sai murmured.

Sasuke was grateful that Sai did not press the issue, he was in no mood to argue, especially about something so pointless. The artist pressed a kiss to his neck and nuzzled under the raven's chin. They lay together silently for a while and Sasuke wondered when he had become so accustomed to Sai's presence, when the weight of his body had become so familiar. The artist's breath was soft and warm against his throat and for a single, terrible moment Sasuke wondered what he would do if Sakura dragged them all into death. Sai was not under the thrall, he would be spared even if Naruto succumbed to the pain, but Sasuke was not sure that surviving something that way could even be considered a mercy. The raven knew about being left alone, left behind, what it meant to be a 'survivor' when everyone else was gone. If he did not solve the puzzle and find the answer it would happen again, in his house, a single person left alone with the corpses, but this time it would not be him and somehow that made the thought even worse. His breath hitched and the tears came, dripping down his face and into Sai's hair, but the artist never moved. Sakura had always had the stupidest ideas about crying, about how tears were supposed to be good for you…it was such bullshit. He loved her bullshit.

"Are you crying because you are sad or angry?" Sai asked tentatively.

"Both." Sasuke snarled.

"Are you angry at me?"

"No, moron."

"Do you love me too?" Sai asked.

"No. What would make you think I do?" Sasuke snapped cruelly, but never released the artist from his embrace.

"You kiss me and call me names." Sai said, smiling against Sasuke's jaw.

"Whatever." Sasuke sniffed.

Sasuke was about to tell the artist to shut up and get off so he could get back to work on the energy refraction equations when the sound of running feet caught his attention. Sai stiffened against his body, pulling a kunai from his belt and handing it to Sasuke covertly before arming himself with his ever present tanto blade. They stilled together, almost relaxed and yet vigilant, ready for combat. Sasuke clutched the borrowed weapon and both of them watched the door warily. Naruto was with Sakura, Sasuke could feel the warm thrum of his presence from the other side of the house, so the only person left who might be dashing towards them would be…

"Neji." Sai whispered, but did not relax and Sasuke was reminded that the two of them had nearly beaten each other to death only a few days ago.

"Hai." Sasuke agreed, adjusting the angle of his body in case he needed to rise quickly.

The door burst open, nearly flying from its track as Neji rushed into the room, face flushed and smiling exultantly. The Hyuuga ninja was carrying a spiral notebook that Sasuke noted with a sudden surge of anger as his own and several large scrolls. Sasuke scowled and prepared to beat Neji into a puddle on the floor, furious that the Hyuuga had so much as touched his property, much less taken it. Sai sprang up and onto his toes, tanto held in a firm right guard over Sasuke's chest, face an impassive mask as usual. The raven grumbled darkly. Not only was the artist blocking him from attacking, but the stance was clearly protective and Sasuke felt his cheeks heat with shame. Sai was protecting him, as if he weren't strong enough to handle the situation alone and there was very little he could do about it. The position was awkward as it was and thrashing about would only ruin Sai's stance and make both of them more vulnerable. There was no way to know Neji's intentions, however, and so Sasuke swallowed his pride with a snarl and settled for glaring instead. Neji paused, eyeing the other nin, before closing the door carefully and moving to kneel a few feet away. Sai did not relax his stance.

"You better have a damn good explanation for that," Sasuke growled, gesturing with his chin to the notebook, "I am in a really bad mood."

"Go back to sleep, Sasuke." Sai whispered pleasantly.

"You shut up! Baka!" Sasuke snapped, rolling onto his side.

"You need more rest. I will handle this." Sai said, eyes motionless and focused on Neji.

"I apologize for the intrusion, but I urgently need to speak to Sasuke. Now." Neji said steadily.

"He's resting." Sai said icily and Sasuke's eyes widened at the tone.

"Clearly." Neji said, raising an eyebrow.

"You aren't needed here." Sai said, smiling his awful plastic doll smile.

"Let Sasuke make that decision for himself." Neji hissed, narrowing his eyes.

"Enough! Sai! Get off me!" Sasuke snapped and shoved Sai hard in the face.

The artist absorbed the push and simply rocked back onto his feet, expression unchanged. He backed away, but kept his blade naked and ready, regarding Neji as one might a bomb about to explode. Sasuke sat up with a soft groan and readjusted his kimono, trying to regain at least a bit of his dignity before regarding the other nin. Neji tipped his chin up haughtily and waited, fingers drumming impatiently against the worn cover of the stolen notebook. Sai's eyes flicked to the book and up again and the smile, false as it was, melted from his face.

"That is not yours." The artist stated darkly.

"What do you want and why do you have my notes?" Sasuke snarled.

"Forgive me for borrowing them, but…I figured out how to finish your work, how to perform the procedure. The equations cancel out."Neji said. Sasuke's eyes widened.

"You…you what?" Sasuke breathed, afraid he had misheard the Hyuuga.

"I have it, the answer. I was able to finish your proof and create the procedure you postulated." Neji said and smiled triumphantly.

"Kami…" Sasuke breathed.

"I…I think it will work. We can save her…" Neji whispered urgently, leaning closer.

Sasuke was up in an instant, moving to crouch beside the silver-eyed genius, gesturing impatiently for the notebook. Neji flipped to the relevant pages and handed the notes to him carefully, as if the paper was very precious, and Sasuke could barely breathe. He read over the corrections eagerly and then once again to be sure, but the Hyuuga was correct. The equations canceled and Neji had even made procedural notes in the margins explaining how to best put the theory into practice. Everything he needed to save Sakura had been accounted for: mass, voltage, momentum, optical refraction projections, it was all there. Sasuke gasped and tried to stop his hands from shaking so badly. Neji had done it, done what he could not; he had found a way to save her. Sasuke stroked the pages in awe. Sai moved to look over his shoulder, clearly mystified. Sasuke could hardly blame him, some of the principles were even a bit beyond his own ability, but the theory of it made sense. If they were able to isolate her meridians, the child's own energy could be used to support one of Sakura's organs. By making the fetuse's chakra responsible for one or more of her organs, they could allow greater flexibility of Sakura's own energy, thus removing the danger of organ damage due to chakra blockage. The girl's own energy would still be safely shielded from that of the child's and both could live. The idea was exactly what he had hoped to achieve, only even more elegant than he had imagined. The mathematics was formidable, but Sasuke quickly ascertained that the problem had not been with his theory, but with the fact that he had somehow managed to miss a crucial variable. Even more intriguing, the missing variable appeared to be something as simple as another spacial dimension. Sasuke idly chewed his thumb, trying to comprehend how Neji had managed to fix his unworkable equation into a seamless proof.

"This…This can save her?" Sai asked, fingers shaking against Sasuke's shoulder.

"I believe it can. It has to." Neji said, excited.

"I don't understand. The math seems to work, but it's almost like your equations are using more than three dimensions…" Sasuke murmured, almost to himself.

"There are more than three dimensions. I actually believe that there are six." Neji replied.

"Six…?" Sai asked, sounding confused.

"How did you have come up with this? I have never read about that, not anywhere! I have never seen this in any research but…it seems to work…Where did you find this information?" Sasuke asked suspiciously.

"The Byukugan uses the fourth dimension to anticipate action, that is common knowledge among my clan, and…well…most of the rest of it is my own research." Neji whispered.

"How long have you been working on this?" Sasuke asked, impressed despite himself.

"Since I was eleven." Neji replied.

"It's incredible." Sasuke breathed and meant it.

"Can we save Sakura with this?" Sai asked again, eyes wide.

"If we refract the chakra through her cardiac meridians, we will have more flexibility in terms of how much energy we can move and how to shield her energy from the baby's." Neji noted, blushing a bit at the attention and pointing to where the procedure was explained in the notes.

"Yes, but by doing that the child will be forced to sustain its own development. The baby is remarkably mature, as far as chakra goes, but I don't believe she can survive without at least some of Sakura's energy." Sasuke argued.

"I had thought about that, but I think it will still work because the baby will be receiving energy indirectly through Sakura's blood supply and through her pelvic meridians. The key is to give her enough energy to use, but not so much that it suffocates her." Neji replied.

"I think you might be correct. Your math at least suggests the proportions are right, but that all assumes that you are using accurate values to begin with." Sasuke muttered.

"I checked all the equations twice and cross referenced my values with Master Jiraiya's notes on meridian potentials. That is the most accurate resource to date." Neji said, a bit defensively.

"Jiraiya's research is pretty good, but we will have to correct for the angle here though…my master's research consistently showed that Jiraiya's calculations were incorrect in that respect. Jiraiya always assumed that the female energy would be grounded in the uterus, but it's actually in the abdominal aorta." Sasuke noted, pulling the pencil from the spine of the book and making the correction.

"How…how would Orochimaru have known that?" Neji asked cautiously.

"You don't want to know." Sasuke replied darkly, shooting the other ninja a meaningful look.

"Regardless, the procedure will work." Neji pressed.

"I hope you're right, we don't really have any way to test the theory and if Sakura can't tolerate the refraction…" Sasuke muttered, chewing his nail.

"We don't have any choice except to try."

"Agreed." Sasuke conceded.

"I'll go get the Hokage." Sai stated, standing quickly and dashing from the room.

Sasuke watched him go, a little startled by the abruptness of the ink nin's departure, hoping that he was not acting prematurely. Sai was clearly much more upset about the entire situation than he appeared, not that Sasuke blamed him, though he did envy the artist his control. He had never been able to be that way, to feel emotions and yet show nothing. Despite his best efforts, everyone knew when he was angry or grieving and the reaction of others to his emotions had always made Sasuke feel vulnerable. Before being taken by Naruto, Sasuke had considered vulnerability another kind of weakness and hated himself for the way he felt. Still, he supposed, feeling too much was better than feeling only angry. Sai's running feet disappeared down the hall, the artist making no effort to mask his steps in his hurry. Neji blinked a few times towards the door where Sai had left and Sasuke noticed for the first time that his face looked pale and exhausted. There were dark shadows beneath the other ninja's eyes and Sasuke noticed that way Neji kept drumming hi fingers, a technique they had both learned as a way to stay alert when deprived of rest. The Hyuuga had been working hard, trying to save Sakura just as he had been and the knowledge made Sasuke feel faintly guilty. Neji was not even supposed to be here and yet he was struggling along with the rest of them. He owed Neji something for this, if his theory worked and they could save her. The Hyuuga sighed and rubbed his face, looking fatigued.

"How long was I asleep?" Sasuke asked.

"A little over two days." Neji replied softly.

"And Sakura? She is…is she…?" Sasuke was not sure how to ask it.

"Very close to death, she has not woken once in the past twenty four hours and her vital signs are unstable. We need to hurry." Neji reported.

"Fuck! And no one woke me!?" Sasuke hissed.

"Naruto thought that it would be best for you to sleep, at least until something changed. He was worried about you. You were talking to your brother…" Neji whispered, looking away.

"She could have…What if…and no one FUCKING WOKE ME!" Sasuke roared, incensed.

Neji weathered his flash of temper, looking irate, but mostly just tired. The silver eyed genius thrust his arms into his sleeves, leaving the notebook in Sasuke's hands and saying nothing. Sasuke glared at him, but Neji merely waited, his posture restful and still attentive. The behavior was incredibly annoying, but somehow Sasuke knew that yelling like a maniac would only make him feel more foolish. As it was, the raven found himself panting angrily while the damn Hyuuga waited on his emotions and felt chided anyway.

"Would it have made any difference?" Neji asked after a while, watching Sasuke steadily.

"I would want to see her again, even if it was the last time." Sasuke hissed defensively, hiding his eyes.

"Yes, I suppose so." Neji said, inclining his head slightly in agreement.

"What would you know about it? It isn't like you have any reason to care." Sasuke snapped.

"I feel the same way." Neji whispered, his tone sharper than before.

"About what?"

"About her." Neji stated.

Sasuke's eyes narrowed as he studied the other ninja, trying to gauge the truthfulness of his statement. After a tense beat, Sasuke activated the sharingan and watched Neji's energy, looking for the small cues that would indicate a lie. The Hyuuga scowled, offended by the clear indication that Sasuke did not believe him, but the raven ignored him. Sakura was precious and he was not prepared to risk her life based on motivations he did not understand. Detecting a lie was a subtle art, but one that he had mastered long ago since learning under Orochimaru had required a proficiency in detecting deception. Sasuke's master lied nearly half the time he said anything and expected his students to know the difference or suffer the consequences. Neji, however, was not lying as far as Sasuke could tell.

"You have come to have feelings for Sakura then." Sasuke accused.

"Yes. I think so." Neji replied.

Sasuke watched his energy, but saw nothing in the chakra to indicate anything other than absolute sincerity. Sasuke sighed, looking for the tells he had come to recognize, but there was nothing there. Either the Hyuuga was the best liar he had ever met, or Neji had truly fallen in love with Sakura. The feeling was there, written in his energy, in the slight tremor around his cardiac meridians and in the way the energy of his arteries glowed just a little more brightly. Sasuke had seen the same thing in Naruto for years, every time the jinchuuriki looked at him, every time they touched. Sasuke pressed his lips together and halted the sharingan, meeting Neji's eyes.

"Why have you done this?" Sasuke asked suddenly.

"Done what?"

"You know what, dammit! Helped her, worked through all this! It isn't like anyone told you to, it isn't like you had any reason and…How does it benefit you?" Sasuke snapped.

"I…I'm not sure that it does, but Sakura saved me, she always saves me and…and well I suppose that's just who she is…"

"But…"

"But…I think maybe I love her for caring so much about what happens to me. Even if it isn't real, even if I'm wrong, just that fact that she would do the same for me is more than enough." Neji, blushing brightly.

"So…it's about a debt." Sasuke said, raising an eyebrow.

"I'd like to think that's all it is, but she makes me feel…different. I've never met anyone like her and for her to die now…just when I think I am beginning to understand…I just…can't." Neji finished lamely, clenching his fists.

So, the Hyuuga Clan's sacrificial offering had managed to see in Sakura what all of them had noticed eventually, what he had loved despite how hard he had tried not to. Sasuke bit his lip. A large part of him wanted to argue, wanted to deny Neji's confession, to tell him that he had no right at all to love her, but those feelings were really pointless. The silver eyed genius had done what he had been unable to do, done what no one else could have ever even attempted and it might save her. If he could save her, wasn't it only fair that Neji should love her? If Neji came to love all of them the way he obviously loved Sakura, Naruto would put him under the thrall and Sasuke might even be able to sleep again. The Hyuuga had been sold to them for the price of peace and Sasuke had always assumed he would be nothing more than a hostage, but what if there could be more? Naruto had always thought so highly of Neji and if he really loved her, if all of them could just be happy…no one would lose anything. Sasuke decided that if it meant Sakura's life, if it meant peace in his house, that he would be willing to try. He was willing to at least offer the chance despite his pride, despite the fact that everything would be different…

"Please say something." Neji whispered miserably.

"Well…I suppose it's not really unexpected, after all she has been spending a lot of time with you and she's the only person you've been willing to talk to without some kind of incident." Sasuke said, shrugging.

"Whatever." Neji hisseded, looking away.

"You're in love with her, but only an idiot would think that loving someone like Sakura would be simple…"

"Nothing is simple." Neji interrupted bitterly.

"…You'll have to put up with the rest of us, of course, and come to terms with Naruto always telling you what to do. He's a jerk about covering your face in public and Sakura will make you eat mushrooms in everything and badger you about going out on dates…" Sasuke continued.

"Wait…what?" Neji asked, startled.

"…Plus, when Naruto is in heat you'll probably be fucked into unconsciousness every damn night and don't even think about saying no. He always looks so pathetic and he'll spike a fever if you can't take it so you just have to put up with the sex, even when you fall asleep in the middle of it. It's really a lot more effort than it's worth, but…if you want…if you want to love her…it…it can be really good too." Sasuke finished quietly.

"Sasuke…" Neji said, eyes wide.

"It's not like anyone cares about my opinion anyway." The Once-Uchiha finished with a shrug.

"Sasuke…It…But…You…You aren't angry?" Neji asked, looking faintly terrified.

"Tch. I never said that." Sasuke growled, crossing his arms.

"Oh." Neji replied, looking both hopeful and confused.

The two men surveyed each other for a moment and then another, each uncertain of how to react or what to say. Finally, Sasuke sighed and leaned forward to set the notebook gently back into Neji's lap, letting his hand rest on the other's leg a few seconds longer than necessary. The Hyuuga looked at him nervously, unsure what to do. Sasuke's heart was beating too fast, leaving him suddenly breathless and slightly light headed. The raven looked into Neji's eyes, body apprehensive, trying to predict what the other ninja's reaction might be. It was awkward and Sasuke felt his face redden from the sheer closeness alone. There was a kind of nervous tension stretched between them, tingling and electric in the few inches of air between Sasuke's hand and Neji's thigh. The flush across the Hyuuga's cheeks was bright and warm against the creamy palor of his face. Truly, now that he bothered to look closely, Neji was far more striking than Sasuke had once thought. He now understood what Naruto had been talking about those distant weeks ago in the hospital when he implied that Neji was beautiful. The Hyuuga's face was smooth and very perfect, an indication of careful breeding, and his dark brown hair only served to emphasize the fine delicacy of his features. Perhaps the aesthetic was not one he had appreciated before, but the beauty was there and gazing at him so closely stirred something in Sasuke's blood. He found Neji attractive and the realization sent a quivering shock through his spine, almost enough that Sasuke pulled away. His eyes widened, but Sasuke did not retreat. Instead, he leaned forward and paused, waiting for a gesture of denial, but though Neji watched him closely the other nin made no attempt to move away. A shaky breath and another and Sasuke moved to brush his lips against the Hyuuga's mouth, the touch as light and brief as the brush of a sparrow's wing. Both of their eyes were open, watching one another like opponents as Sasuke kissed him, but the emotion in Neji's strange silver eyes was neither anger nor disgust. After a moment that felt like an eternity, Neji closed his eyes and cupped Sasuke's jaw, drawing his mouth once more against his own. The kiss was soft, chaste, but Sasuke could still feel the quiet authority in Neji's fingers and it reminded him of Naruto. The gentle press of flesh and hands was finished within the space of a heartbeat and both men leaned away, breathing hard.

"Thank you." Neji whispered.

"What? For a stupid little kiss?" Sasuke huffed, crossing his arms and blushing furiously.

"Come on, the array will take some work to build and activate and I want to check it before Tsunade arrives." Neji said, rising quickly and turning away.

Sasuke said nothing, but rose as well and followed the Hyuuga out and towards the library, sending a silent prayer to anyone who would listen that their theory worked.

OoOoOoO

Sai ran, ran like he had when he was a child and falling behind meant no less than a slow death by starvation. He ran like he had once run from Danzo's lash, ran like the man's ghost was hard on his heels, desperately and with no regard for his body. They had done it, Sasuke and Neji had solved the puzzle and found the solution that Sakura had promised him so many painfully long days ago. She might live, at least now there was a way to save her. She could survive and Sai trusted that she would if the others gave her even a small chance, she was strong. Sai was elated and the feeling overwhelmed him enough that tears threatened at the corner of his eyes, blurring his vision as he ran. He wondered if he was happy, perhaps it was happiness, even if the visceral character of the feeling was remarkably close to terror. Emotions were so difficult to understand and he had never felt so much, so deeply before. There were too many sensations to sort out, some in his body and some in his mind, too many to try to understand and all of them vitally important. The memory of Sasuke's lips against his own was still full and vivid in his memory and it made him want to paint if for no other reason than for some way to expel the fullness in his chest. Sasuke could him feel warm and vulnerable with only a look and the feeling was a discordant counterpoint to the brittle, frozen terror that gripped his spirit whenever Sakura's heart skipped a beat. Sai was not sure if he loved Sakura more than Sasuke or if he loved Sasuke because Sakura also loved him or if the love for each of them was just different.

Sai forced more air into his burning lungs and ran faster. Shino had warned him. He had said that a relationship with a jinchuuriki was complicated, that life would be hard, and for the first time Sai thought he might understand his friend's concerns. If Sasuke and Neji failed and Sakura died, Sai was not sure what he would do, how he would go on or if he even could. The pain that had been gnawing against his ribs would surely destroy his myocardium and then he would die. Death was appealing if it meant he could stay with them and Sai wondered if that meant he was really a coward. The artist did not know if a feeling could kill, if someone could die of love. Sakura had told him that such a thing was ridiculous, but if an emotion could be deadly perhaps that was why Danzo had taught them to feel nothing. The thought was more attractive than the idea that Danzo had tried to numb him for no reason at all, but Sai doubted that the man had ever understood enough about love to worry about it killing his soldiers. Tsunade's residence came into view as he turned a corner, nearly plowing over a pair of lovers strolling in the soft autumn evening, and Sai put on another burst of speed. In a matter of moments the artist stood before the Hokage's door, trying desperately to catch his breath, chilly sweat pouring down his back. As soon as Sai thought he might be able to speak without vomiting or passing out, he pounded on her door, shaking the ancient wood on its hinges. A loud barrage of cursing came from within and the door was thrown open with a thunderous crack.

"I'm coming dammit! You better have a DAMN good reason for…Oh, Sai. It's you." The Hokage paused mid-rant to address him.

"S…Sakura…Neji and Sasuke made the…the refraction…it works now." The artist panted desperately.

"What?" Tsunade asked, confused.

"The…the equation Sasuke has been working on. Neji finished it. Please come. We…we can save her." Sai panted urgently.

"Kami…" The Hokage breathed.

"Please…I don't think she has much time." The artist urged.

"We have to grab some supplies at the hospital. Go on ahead and run home, I'll be there as soon as I have what I need." Tsunade ordered. Sai nodded.

"Please hurry." He managed with a gasp, leaning low against his knees.

"I will and Sai?"

"Yes?"

"Has…has Naruto made love to you?" Tsunade asked quietly.

"I don't think so." The artist shook his head.

"I think you'd know if he had, so we can assume that you aren't under the thrall. That's good." Tsunade said with a relieved sigh, rubbing her temple.

"Why?" The artist asked.

"The thrall is a very dangerous thing. If Sakura does not survive the procedure, there is a good chance both Naruto and Sasuke will die with her. Neji too if Naruto has bedded him. If things go badly, you should be prepared for that possibility." The Hokage lectured softly.

"Prepared? How should I prepare?" Sai asked blankly.

"Just realize that life is sometimes fragile, be aware that nothing is certain in this." Tsunade said, a little sadly.

"If the others die, I will survive?" Sai asked in a whisper, feeling a deep cold settle into his belly.

"Yes. You aren't connected to them through chakra yet."

"Is that what is meant by making love? Is it love that you are worried will harm me?"

"Um…no. Love is powerful, but…um… this is different." Tsunade sighed, frustrated.

"Can love kill?" Sai asked, almost to himself.

"Naruto's can." She replied.

"Yes, I agree. Sakura's love can kill too, I think." Sai mused.

"What do you mean?"

"I think, if I lose them, that my body will die." Sai replied.

"I know it might feel that way, but you have to be prepared to live Sai. It's what they would want..." The Hokage chided.

"I do not want to be alone again." Sai argued, feeling hot and shaky, like a fever.

"No one does, but it still happens."

"Like Sasuke. Like when Itachi killed his family." Sai murmured.

"Yes…sometimes even like that." Tsunade nodded sadly.

"How can people learn to feel so much! How can we feel so much, so strong… and…and still SURVIVE IT!?" Sai shouted suddenly, the tears hot in his eyes again. Tsunade's expression softened, but the artist was not sure what that meant.

"Most of us learn it little by little and then it doesn't seem so overwhelming, but the truth is that no one knows what to do when the people they love are hurt, when the people they love die. Some people are able to grieve and struggle and move on, but no one is ever the same. You just have to do the best you can, because life is precious, because people are depending on you…" Tsunade sighed, her eyes dark with some private memory.

"I don't know what you want me to say." Sai whispered, fingers shaking.

"Nothing. Knowing is enough." Tsunade said and turned away.

OoOoOoO

Toki laughed and played with Akamaru, jumping up onto the gigantic dog's shoulders and riding him awkwardly around the garden. Kiba smiled and tried not to fidget in his Hyuuga livery even though the heavy silks still felt strange and uncomfortable against his skin. Without his furs, the newly christened Hyuuga consort felt oddly undressed, as if he were walking about in his pajamas. Hinata assured him that the strangeness would pass, that things would become comfortable bit by bit, but Kiba knew that nothing would ever be the same. The marriage had been formally agreed upon and dowry had been paid, his marriage contract now lay in the Hyuuga library, locked away securely along with Hinata's. Kiba had been elated to sign the papers and give himself over formally to the woman he had loved for nearly five years, but he was not naïve enough to think that such a thing was without consequences. He would never be woken by the howling of the dogs again or play bones with his sister in the courtyard, he would no longer wear furs or paint his face at parties and he would no longer bow to women...Kiba bit his lip at the thought, feeling strangely angered. Standing as Granny embraced him, forcing himself not to bow as she stood and left had taken an effort of will beyond what he had ever expected. Granny had gone and for the first time Kiba wondered if he really could live as a Hyuuga without going insane. He had known all along that life would be different, foreign, but it was somehow worse for being alone.

Even something as simple as the absence of a bow of respect changed the entire culture of a place and not, he thought, in a good way. He had grown up in a clan ruled by women and now simply pretending that they did not exist seemed shameful. True, it was irksome that the Inuzukas held females in such high regard when many of the other clans passed their leadership through the male line, but living without the gesture felt alien. Hyuuga women were usually ignored, status being recognized instead of gender, but simply walking past them without so much as nodding his head made Kiba feel anxious. The once-Inuzuka still felt the urge to approach Hinata's mother on his knees, much to the lady's discomfort, and bowed to Hinata in private just so his body would not feel so strange. The look in Granny's eyes had told Kiba that the matriarch pitied him even as she admired his courage and he knew, viscerally, that he was a prisoner.

The marriage was a collar and one that he would have to grow to love if he wanted to retain his pride. In many ways, he had far more power in the Hyuuga clan than he had ever been given in his own, but with it came all sorts of silent shackles. As a consort to their princess, he would never be allowed to leave the compound without an escort, except while on missions, and even then the clan reserved the power to decline the work should they see fit. Everything he said or did was tied to Hinata's reputation. Kiba was a Hyuuga now and the silver-eyed clan preferred formality in every aspect of life. There was a proper way to speak, to eat, to cough, to sit and probably even to fuck though Hinata had been good enough not to mention it. Life in the Hyuuga clan was delicate and restrictive, filled with unspoken judgments and complicated customs, but Kiba was determined to persevere. If the only comfort would be in the arms of his wife, that would be more than enough. Kiba missed the smells of his home and the frankness of his clan, but he was determined to make the most of his position in the Hyuuga compound. They were his family now and they needed him.

He sighed and tapped a kunai against his thigh, lost in thought. Toki would live and for that he was grateful, but the implications of Granny's cure were vast. Someone had poisoned the boy and Kiba's nose told him that, as his matriarch implied, Hyuuga clan leadership was to blame. As Granny advised, Kiba had been sniffing all of their food and drink, finally deciding that Hinata's tea smelled too suspiciously to be ignored even if the heiress was not ill. Lately, Kiba ordered that their meals be prepared by Kagura, the woman whose child he had saved. Kagura was an excellent cook and as a branch house member, she was obliged to serve him in any way required. Even if their positions were reversed, Kiba liked to think that Kagura would have done what she could to protect him anyway, simply because he had managed to save her son. The arrangement was good for everyone. Kiba could rest secure in the knowledge that his food was not being tampered with and keep Toki close in case the killer decided to attempt the child's murder again. Kiba had built a fortress within the Hyuuga compound in order to protect his family, he had had to.

"Faster 'Maru! Faster!" Toki shouted, urging the dog to leap over small hedges.

"Toki! Be careful!" Hinata admonished softly, hands on her hips.

"Hai, Hime-sama!" The child chortled.

Kiba watched them and tried to let the scene melt the shell of cold worry around his heart. He had managed to make a small team, even here in his wife's world, and the knowledge that he was close to trusted friends soothed Kiba greatly. There was peace in the company of friends and trusted vassals and Kiba wondered if Naruto felt the same way resting among his subordinates, sleeping between Neji and Sasuke. The mere thought almost made him wince. Kiba certainly would not have felt comfortable sharing a bed with the unholy terror of all civilization and the unstoppable human weapon of the Hyuuga clan, but then again Naruto had his own ways with people. Kiba sighed. He hoped that his friends could manage to be happy even if such a thing seemed almost impossible in the boiling intrigue that had consumed his own life.

Toki tried to toss a large ball for Akamaru and ended up in a heap as the large toy overbalanced him. The dog barked sharply, moving to lick the child roughly. Hinata smiled softly and moved to dust the little boy off before he could begin to cry and cause too much noise. Kagura laughed softly to see the antics as she set a small tray of tea and rice cakes near Kiba's right hand.

"Kiba-sama is quiet today." The woman remarked.

"A dog can be taught not to bark." Kiba replied under his breath.

"To Kiba-sama, dogs are important, even when their voices are sharp. The dog is strong in his spirit and lends him a good nose." Kagura said.

"I guess so."

"Perhaps…Kiba-sama misses his people?" Kagura pressed.

"I am among my people." Kiba replied, sipping the tea.

"Yes, but our ways are strange to you."

Kiba did not refute her, but decided to do as he had watched the other Hyuugas do and say nothing at all, leaving Kagura to make up her own mind. He silenced his bark much more frequently lately and was beginning to see why everyone round here was always so damn quiet. If the Inuzuka clan worshipped their dogs, Kiba decided that the Hyuugas worshipped their silence. No one in the Hyuuga compound walked loudly to announce their presence or called out greetings to one another. No one spoke if an expression or a gesture was enough to convey the point and music was only played softly. Silence was a way of life, a kind of hidden command in everything that the Hyuuga clan did. Even something as simple as admiring a landscape or comforting a friend was done in the most intensely soundless way possible. Kiba drank his tea and tried not to mope. Maybe he was lonely and maybe the silence was suffocating, but moping was for losers.

He turned his attention to the lovely formal garden surrounding his new home, trying to find peace in the elegant lawns and late flowers. Hinata had commented that the garden was lovely today, just the way the Hyuugas preferred it and Kiba found the sentiment more than a bit ironic. The mist crawled across the ground in swirling waves, obscuring the bushes and paths, leaving sparkling moisture behind to hang like an omen. Everything was washed of color, softened by shadow and made even more noiseless than usual. Toki's peals of laughter seemed strange and too sudden in the heavy air. As gardens went, this one was not his favorite. Kiba decided that beauty lost something when there was no sound or color associated with it, but bit his bark on that sentiment as well. Arguing over aesthetics was even more futile than trying to stop a pup from ruining leather shoes. Kiba took another sip to stifle a groan and rubbed his temple.

"The garden is beautiful today." Kagura noted.

"Hai." Kiba agreed, resting his forehead against his palm.

"My lord is unhappy." Kagura said, resting a hand against his shoulder.

"I'm not anybody's lord."

"You are Hinata's husband and so you will be lord to us all when Hiashi-sama passes into the next life." Kagura said, her voice blank of emotion.

"Hinata will be clan head, I'm just…just here." Kiba sighed.

"You are here and we are grateful to have Kiba-sama among us. Everyone loves him and his dog." Kagura said affectionately.

"Not everyone." Kiba whispered.

"No, but this is the way of things. Those in power are to be pitied."

"Why?"

"Because those with power must keep it." Kagura said wisely, raising an eyebrow.

"You are seriously way too smart to be a servant." He acceded, smiling a little.

"I am pleased if I am Kiba-sama's servant." Kagura said with a conspirator's smile.

"You take care of me and I'm really grateful for it too, ya know? It's not like you have to…" Kiba said.

"My young lord needs looking after or he becomes melancholy." Kagura grumbled, a bit self-righteously.

"Nah, I ain't melancholy or whatever. I just hate how quiet it is today. My home was pretty loud most of the time and so it still feels a little weird." Kiba confessed.

"Many important dogs bark, yes?"

"Yes. They bark all day and play and fight. Everybody has to shout over the racket." Kiba said nostalgically.

"Perhaps Kiba-sama might bring some dogs here to bark for us?" Kagura offered.

"Nah, Hiashi would kill me and our dogs are way too important for Granny to give away like that." Kiba sighed.

"Kiba-sama's happiness is important too." Kagura huffed indignantly.

"Tell me, what is it that is important to Hyuuga? The way dogs are important to me?" Kiba asked softly.

"The Byukugan of course."

Akamaru tackled Hinata to the ground and began licking her. The girl struggled against the dog, but finally gave into his affection, laughing wildly. The laughter was pure and delightful and lifted Kiba's spirits to hear. He paused, wondering for a moment.

"The Byukugan is what you believe in, eh?" Kiba wondered aloud.

"With it all things hidden can be seen and all secrets come undone. The Byukugan gives both strength and knowledge." Kagura explained.

"Hmm…I guess having the place noisy makes it hard to get a good look at things." Kiba noted with a smile.

"Yes, quiet makes it easier to focus."

"Weird, but I think maybe I get it." Kiba said with a nod.

"Kiba-sama understands better than he thinks, you also watch carefully and observe, waiting for the right time." Kagura whispered.

"I really hate to wait, wait for someone to do something…It's stupid, just sitting around, but there ain't nothing else I can do! I have to protect her, even if it means a muzzle." Kiba growled softly, eyes fixed on where Hinata leaned against Akamaru's side.

"Yes, to wait is vexing, but your nose tells you that timing is important, yes? Just as the Byukugan tells me that Kiba-sama will not wait forever…" Kagura whispered.

"What if I have to? What if being impatient could just get everyone killed…" He murmured.

"Kiba-sama is not a man to hesitate when faced with matters of deception. If he were, then my Toki would be dead now. Your nose is too sensitive to abide the stench of evil things." Kagura said, looking at him steadily.

"I don't like bad smells." Kiba agreed with a low snarl.

"Then maybe my lord should sniff them out." Kagura urged softly.

"You may not like where the scent leads. Hinata may not like it…"

"I will be loyal to you regardless of what my lord smells and my Hime has never refuted the truth of things. You love her and so you know that what I say is true. We would never betray you even if the smell leads to…unexpected places."

"I know, but it really ain't simple like that, is it? " Kiba whispered, lightly pressing his fingers against the cloth covering the curse mark on Kagura's forehead.

The woman looked down in shame at the gesture, her face twisted for the barest instant with an expression almost like rage, before smoothing into a polite mask once again. Kiba removed his hand with a low whine, feeling cold and very lonely. He expected Kagura to bow and excuse herself, to gracefully abstain from the intensity of the conversation, but the woman stood beside him for a heartbeat and then another. Kiba watched Hinata, watched her smile and let the sight warm his blood a little as the brittle apprehension of the moment stretched.

"Kiba-sama feels his leash as I feel my own." Kagura finally breathed softly.

"Hai." He agreed.

"But a leash is no shame if the master is honorable and your bonds are held by Hime Hinata-sama and through her you will one day hold mine. You give your freedom gladly to our Hime, because you recognize her honor and kindness and strength. Akamaru gives you his loyalty for the same reason. We are connected this way and so we are partners, not prisoners." Kagura whispered.

"I am not the one who compels your loyalty, Kagura." Kiba snarled darkly.

"Not yet, but my Master holds many leashes, many, many and one by one his hounds pull away from his grasp." Kagura promised and there was a hint of savagery in the statement.

"That's treason, you know." Kiba whispered, a smile tugging at his lips anyway.

"Can a slave be a traitor?" Kagura asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Neji would say that we're all slaves, to fate or something." Kiba groused, shrugging.

"If that is so, then Neji fights against his Master anyway, even if he doesn't know that he does so. He has no natural talent for servitude and he has never merely accepted his position." Kagura argued.

"Yeah, I guess that's true."

"Even a dog cannot resist a leash held by a kind and loving master…but pulls hard when the bond is in the hands of a tyrant." Kagura noted with a laugh.

"You know a lot more about dogs than I thought a Hyuuga would. In fact, you'd make a pretty decent Inuzuka, lady." Kiba laughed and meant it.

Kagura shrugged, but smiled at him, her strange silver eyes alight with merriment and also ferocity. Her words had warmed him and Kiba knew that she was right, that he would never accept helplessness. If Hinata did hold his leash, then she did so loosely, trusting that he would know what to do and an Inuzuka never disappointed his woman! Kiba returned the woman's smile fiercely as he stood and embraced Kagura roughly, feeling the icy stillness melt like a curse being broken. The woman let out a startled squeak, but chuckled gently and returned the embrace. Kiba gave his first loyal servant one last squeeze and then bowed his thanks to her, pleased by the embarrassed blush that crossed the woman's face at the unexpected honor. Akamaru barked loudly, wagging his tail in excitement as Toki bounded up from behind a small rise to chase after the massive dog. Their play was rough, the boy darting and lunging at the dog in a passionate game of tag. Kiba laughed aloud, shattering the stillness of the garden, and Hinata turned to smile happily at him. Her beauty no less than luminous in the morning mists and Kiba was reminded that his wife always knew far more than she said. He was not down yet, not beaten by a long shot and even here Kiba knew he would be able to make a difference. He strode out into the garden and howled as he had when he was a boy. The sound was deep and powerful with victory, echoing against the manicured perfection of the Hyuuga compound just as the sun surged through the heavy clouds to burn the mist away.

OoOoOoO

Naruto held Sakura close, pressing her damp hair firm against his cheek, praying frantically that whatever Neji and Sasuke were doing would work. The two men crouched over a vast array drawn on the floor of the main audience chamber, feverishly checking and re-checking the position of every symbol. Copper bowls filled with salt water had been strategically placed around the circle, ready to be used to direct Sakura's chakra. Sasuke had told him that they were going to try to separate Sakura's energy from that of the baby, keep the ki separate and balanced so that both could live. Naruto had been so elated when Sasuke told him that he nearly started crying, but the truth was that their solution was anything but certain. Tsunade had used a machine to filter the girl's blood in order to stave off the poison slowly growing in the girl's body. The Hokage had given her three full courses of fluid and a multitude of drugs in order to facilitate the procedure and protect Sakura's organs from shock as much as possible. Even with everything the Hokage's considerable expertise could offer, Naruto still knew that his wife's chances were terrifyingly small.

She had fallen into a deep stupor and had not woken even when Tsunade had cleaned her blood with the dialysis filter. The Hokage's mouth had gotten firm, tight with some unspoken curse, after the procedure and Naruto knew she had expected Sakura to regain consciousness. The implications were ominous, but Naruto had not shared them with Sasuke or Sai. The raven needed his focus to be absolute if they were to have any chance to save her and Sai was barely holding onto his composure as it was. Oddly enough, Naruto had settled for telling Neji, more out of desperation than any logical reason. Neji had calmly accepted the information even though he looked longer and more desperately at Sakura and then moved to make a few corrections to his calculations. Naruto felt soothed by the Hyuuga's quiet confidence even if his arms were shaking around Sakura now. The long plastic IV fluid lines inserted into Sakura's thin arms looked macabre and not only because of the dark bruises that the needles had left in her flesh. Years had passed since Naruto saw Sakura bruise and looking at her now, pale and gray and covered in small un-healing wounds, made his heart tremble with fear. If she could not heal, if she could not live…Naruto stifled the fear and pressed his lips lovingly to her forehead, stroking his nose gently into her sweat-soaked hair.

Sakura was wrapped in a long length of heavy silk, maneuverable enough to allow his subordinates to access her meridian points and yet warm enough to protect her fragile body from a chill. Tsunade was only a call away if they needed her, but the Hokage had wisely chosen to leave the Uzumaki clan to their work in private. Naruto was grateful, grateful that only Sasuke and Neji's hands would be on Sakura's body, that none of the girl's own nurses or assistants would have to see her so weak. Sai leaned heavily against his back, arms wrapped like a vice around his shoulders, the artist's breath coming fast and terrified on his neck. The ink nin was worried that Sakura would die, but Naruto knew it was worse for him and Neji because of the possibility that he and Sasuke would follow her into death. Naruto wanted to say something to him, to offer some comfort, but every time he thought of losing his mate the pain was almost unbearable. The heavy, agonizing stillness in his chest would be enough to stop his heart unless he fought with all his strength to stay alive and the Jinchuuriki was tired, so tired. The blond had lost Sakura once before, the first time they ever made love, and he knew how real death's embrace could be without her.

"Please, don't go." Sai whispered against Naruto's neck and the Jinchuuriki wondered briefly if the ink nin had managed to read his thoughts.

"Sasuke is going to save her. Everything will be okay. Believe it." Naruto said, holding his wife's too-still body a little closer.

"I have to be prepared." Sai said.

"I guess so." Naruto sighed, leaning back a bit into the artist's embrace.

"If you have to go…won't you kill me too?" Sai asked, small and frightened.

"Sai…"

"If you make love to me, can't I stay with you?" The artist asked his voice brittle and filled with too much feeling.

"Nobody is going to die today." Naruto said firmly.

"I love you." Sai whispered, his voice trembling a bit.

"I love you too." Naruto replied and knew that the words were only the truth.

"It hurts…them love…it hurts now." Sai murmured.

"I know, sometimes it does…" Naruto whispered softly.

Sai said nothing, but wrapped his arms around Naruto's shoulders a bit more tightly and buried his face in the nape of the Jinchuuriki's neck. Sasuke had finished checking the circle and was waiting impatiently for Neji to finish his own calculations, tapping his fingers against the wooden floor in irritation. Naruto took a deep breath and pressed a soft kiss against Sai's hand where it gripped the shoulder of his t-shirt. All of them were dressed simply, in pajama pants and rumpled T-shirts, at least one of which Naruto was pretty sure Sai had stolen from Sasuke. Neji wore the simple, colorless clothes Sakura had bought for him to sleep in and had pulled his long hair back into a tail to hide the fact that he had forgotten to wash it. Sasuke still had ink on his face and cuts on his hands and showed no indication that he cared. They had been working tirelessly, all of them, together. Naruto knew that all of this would be a very good thing, at least if they managed to survive.

"We're ready." Neji said, gesturing towards the center of their circle.

"Right." Naruto replied taking a deep breath.

He disentangled himself enough from Sai to stand and began the tedious and nauseating process of disconnecting all of Sakura's IVs. Sai helped, gently closing and unclipping the lines with far more precision than Naruto could have hoped to achieve. Soon the girl was free of her life-support and Naruto lifted her into his arms once again.

"Put her here." Sasuke directed.

Naruto nodded and laid their wife in the center of the vast array already beginning to sparkle with the pale surge of Neji's energy. He wanted to stay and hold her, but the jutsu would never work with so many confounding variables, and he had to leave. The action took a terrible effort, but Naruto finally stepped back, hugging Sai tightly as soon as his toes left the massive chakra device. The artist clung to him and both of them shuddered, trying to muster enough self-control to stand still and watch. There was the sharp scent of gunpowder and something almost like incense as Neji stretched himself fully into the jutsu, the array pulsing with the serpentine current of his chakra. Sasuke knelt and pressed his palms together, his expression filled with the same terrible focus as the day he had nearly beat Naruto to death in the valley of the end. Sasuke was serious and Naruto knew better than anyone that the very world trembled when Sasuke set his eyes on a goal. The raven exhaled and the circle ignited with a shock of royal blue lightning, the sparking energy dancing and sizzling across the lines to meet and surge around Neji's. Their life force tangled and snapped, filling the air with ozone as both men struggled for control of the writhing energies. Naruto watched, fascinated and terrified, one hand wrapped tightly around Sai's wrist as if to ground himself before the awesome power of the spectacle. The artist's eyes widened as the roaring power swept through the room with the force of a typhoon, ripping Sakura's tapestries from the wall and flinging the china from the shelves.

A storm erupted before them, a vast whirlpool of fire and lightning and ice and metal, too many elements clashing and battling for dominance. The two geniuses fought for control, each trying to find harmony and synchrony in the wailing hurricane of the primal energies they had unleashed. Sweat had begun to mist on Neji's face and the Hyuuga's mouth twisted with the strain. Sasuke was already breathing hard. Naruto grit his teeth and prayed. There was a moment of awful tension as the energy moved like waves, furious and chaotic, slamming against itself and then everything was suddenly quiet. The silence was startling after the shrieking power of the chakra storm and Naruto's breath sounded deafening in his ears. As he watched, the ki settled peacefully into a smooth, reflective pool and Neji let out a shuddering breath in relief. Sasuke was smiling fiercely from the other side of the array, his arms trembling against the contact points on the array. Naruto had no idea what had just happened, but he breathed a heavy sigh of relief anyway and stroked Sai's hair. The Jinchuuriki figured that if the others looked so happy, this must be how the damn thing was supposed to work. No longer flaring, the chakra glowed gently, rippling gracefully around Sakura's huddle form. The placid energy swirled and slowly, so slowly, began to soak into the limp body of the girl in its midst.

Sakura groaned a little and the energy jumped. Naruto held his breath and felt Sai do the same, but Sakura only sighed and the chakra began to flow like a river into her body. Sasuke engaged his sharingan, eyes moving with inhuman speed over the weaving lines of primal energy. Neji waited a beat and then activated the Byukugan, watching carefully as well.

"Okay, move it to the left." Neji instructed.

Sasuke nodded and moved his hands, the glowing commands of the drawn justu following his movements and transmitting his will into the ki. The chakra bucked a bit, flaring angrily, and Neji scowled. Sasuke bit his lip and corrected, settling the roiling light back into a more sedate pattern.

"I said left." Neji snarled.

"Yeah, and if you meant left and deep then you should have said so!" Sasuke snapped.

"Oh, I forgot you can only see in two dimensions." Neji muttered, not entirely apologetically.

"Just shut up and lock that chakra juncture." Sasuke ordered.

Neji moved to obey him, shifting the pool of glowing life-force to accommodate the command. They worked, carefully realigning Sakura's meridian lines, shielding her energy from that of the baby's. The process was excruciating to watch, probably even more so to perform, and Naruto found that he had accidentally locked his knees while watching. He would have probably fallen over, but Sai noticed in time and saved the blond from collapsing. The artist guided both of them down to sit on the floor, trying to make as little noise as possible, and the surgery stretched on. One hour passed, and then two before Naruto finally lost count. Sasuke and Neji were both soaked in sweat and panting hard as if they had run a great distance and Naruto pushed a bit more of his own chakra through the raven's body, hoping it would sustain him. Hours passed and Naruto heard the birds begin to stir and sing outside. Neji and Sasuke worked on, pushing and pulling the chakra into ever more exact and vital positions, their commands becoming ever more exact.

"Turn the hepatic meridian 62 degrees and force it deep 4.5 mm." Neji ordered in a dry whisper.

"Hai." Sasuke gasped and moved to make the correction.

"Lock the left renal meridian 8.6 mm from the renal pelvis and rotate 130 degrees." Neji said.

"Done. Reinforce the left lateral splenic vector down 4/8 of its length." Sasuke panted.

"Hai." Neji replied weakly.

Naruto was breathing heavily and sweating as well, the drain on his chakra finally taxing his reserves as his subordinates worked and the hours passed. Sai lay in his lap, looking blank and clutching his knee with tight, panicked fingers. Yet, despite the strain, Naruto could already tell that the procedure was working. Sakura's bruises had begun to sluggishly heal before his eyes and her color was returning bit by bit. The jinchuuriki wanted to laugh, or cheer, but his endurance was already being taxed to its limit merely trying to remain conscious.

"Rotate her cardiac meridian 96 degrees left and force deep 1.18 mm, lateral .68 mm and then lock in position." Sasuke ordered.

"Uh…repeat." Neji said shutting his eyes a moment, shaking his head.

"Once again: Rotate her cardiac meridian 96 degrees left and force deep 1.18 mm, lateral .68 mm and then lock in position." Sasuke said again and Neji moved.

Finally, both men were still, leaning forward on their arms and trying hard to catch their breath. The work was finally done, but Naruto knew that there was still a terrible risk of Sakura's heart jumping into an arrhythmia as soon as she was released from the energetic web Sasuke and Neji had created. Her heart could stop and even though they were prepared, there was no telling whether or not she would live. Neji looked up, meeting Sasuke eyes, and the raven swallowed hard.

"We need to release her, we can't sustain this." Neji whispered.

"I…I know." Sasuke replied shakily.

"Are you ready?" Neji asked.

"Hai."

Naruto wiped the sweat off of his face and held his breath as his subordinates aligned their energy for the last time. Sasuke nodded and they both removed their hands, cutting the connection. There was a snapping crack of displaced air and the array flickered once and darkened.

The pain was instantaneous and deep, an icy, sucking void in the center of Naruto's chest. The Jinchuuriki tried to move, to help, but the sudden emptiness within his mind was too shocking for his brain to find a way around. His body did not know how to breathe, how to move. Like being plunged in freezing water, the shock was impenetrable. Naruto gasped, struggling, trying to hold on. Somewhere to his left Sasuke was screaming and writhing on the floor, suffering the agony of her passing as well. Neji screamed too, but the sound died high and awful as he ran out of air, gasping like a fish dragged onto dry land to die. Naruto tried, tried to pull back and away from the blackness, from the frozen darkness reaching for his heart, but it was like fighting against a tidal wave. Someone was running, but Naruto could not see who it was. He fought, fought to pull away from the death and back into the heat, but every fiber of his being was screaming in agony. She was gone, she was just gone…