Chapter 4
When Naruto awoke, he was dimly aware of the fact his skull felt like it had been split in two. He groaned, wincing as his head pounded, dragging himself to his knees.
He felt like he was going to throw up.
"N-naruto?"
"Eh..?" Naruto turned, his eyes barely cracked open, into a blurry mess of pink and green. "Sakura-chan?"
Sakura definitely looked the worse for wear- her hair was ragged with dirt and mussed from the undergrowth that surrounded them and her dress had been cut into a shirt, leaving her green shorts exposed.
Naruto realized suddenly that Sakura looked a lot tougher and more like a kunoichi that way. Not that he'd ever say that.
"Where are we?" he asked instead, casting his eyes around the clearing they had woken in. Sunlight streamed through the leaves of the dense canopy, sending dappled shadows dancing with the wind- the air was pleasantly warm.
"The road's over there." Sakura said, pointing off to the right. Her voice was strangely listless.
"What's wrong Sakura-chan?" Naruto asked immediately, concerned.
She shook her head wordlessly, handing him a scroll she had been gripping tightly in her hand. "I found it next to us when I woke up." Her voice was flat and devoid of emotion- like feeling took too much effort.
Naruto and Sakura,
I know when you get this scroll that we will never see each other ever again. At least, I hope we never do. Konoha politics had shifted; the Council of Elders has voted for your immediate execution and I was elected to carry out the punishment.
So why are you alive?
I once told you that a ninja who disobeys the rules are trash, but those who leave their friends behind are worse than trash. I believe it's time I started following my own advice. Sealed into this note is enough supplies to get you through the next few weeks- dry rations only.
My only advice to you is get out of the country. Hole up somewhere where they will never find you and where no one would question your existence. Stick to the big cities and use henge all the time- don't slip up. It could mean both our deaths.
Don't try to contact me, or Sasuke. It's too dangerous and Sasuke… Sasuke thinks you're dead thanks to a very clever genjutsu. Let it lie.
Keep your wits sharp and your ninja techniques at top par. I've written a few of the more basic genjutsu and techniques for your two to use in the seal along with your rations. You need all the help you can get.
Your sensei,
Kakashi Hatake
P.S. If you meet someone named Jiraiya who has white hair and red stripes on his face, trust him. He'll help you.
Naruto lowered the message with shaking hands, self-consciously wiping at the sweet that had beaded on his upper lip. "Oh man…" he mumbled.
"T-there's got to be some way-"
"There is no way!" Sakura hissed, all teary eyes and anger. "We are on our own. Sasuke-kun thinks we're dead. Our own village wants us executed! There is no way!" She heaved a deep breath, choking back tears that threatened to fall.
"I don't want to die." Sakura admitted, her voice small. Naruto noticed at tear trekking down her face but chose not to say anything.
"Neither do I." he muttered.
Sakura's head came down on his shoulder, burying her face into his chest as she wrapped her arms around him. He stiffened at first, surprised by the contact of Sakura, of all people, but soon shrugged and wrapped a comforting arm around her shoulders, burying his face in her hair. This wasn't romance, this was one teammate to another.
"I'm scared." Naruto muttered, his voice almost inaudible except for a steady thrum that echoed through his chest.
"So am I." Sakura admitted, and they fell into silence.
They took whatever comfort they could from each other for they knew it was probably the last bit of security they would experience for a long time.