Chapter 1 - Sacrifice 1: Discovery

Ryouko…no, he had to stop thinking of himself like that! He wasn’t ANBU right now! But he wasn’t a civilian either.
Maybe it’s fine to pick a ‘normal’ name?

That didn’t matter right now. What DID matter was that he was hearing the worst possible kind of thing. Concealed in the shadows in Konoha’s vast underground passage-system, Ryouko was lending an ear to a conversation not meant for him.

Elder Danzou was speaking to his trusted team. Ryouko wasn’t part of that group. Instead, he made it his business to keep an eye on them. Lady Tsunade hadn’t objected to him doing that. If anything, her glances at him had been encouraging. So he kept listening.

Now that seemed like a bad idea. He had just heard Danzou’s plots to get hire the Akatsuki to take out the Leaf’s current leadership. That by itself wasn’t bad- it was good that someone heard that.

The problem was that Danzou knew that he heard.

Ryouko began to run- he HAD to get this information to Lady Tsunade! He took off in the maze-like underground path system of the Hidden Leaf. He didn’t know it quite as well as the twisting streets, so his progress was a little slow.

THOCK!

An ANBU sword hit Ryouko in the back as he ran through the dark, twisting hallways. It was a fatal strike. As soon as it hit, Ryouko coughed up blood. He hit the ground hard, getting his arm in front of his face to brace himself just barely in time.

But I can’t die right now! he thought desperately, using the last of his strength to perform a body flicker jutsu. He also wondered why he didn’t think of doing that before. It was most likely the shock of hearing an insider planning Konoha’s undoing.

-

His jutsu didn’t get him far enough. Luckily, he had put himself a safe end of town. Right near Sakura’s apartment!

I’ve…gotta make it! Ugh!

Ryouko dragged himself toward Sakura’s home. Where the hell were the night patrols?! There were supposed to be Jonin and Chunin patrolling the streets, even at this hour! He hadn’t dared pull the sword out of his back. Sometimes pulling something out a stab wound was a bad idea. In this case, Ryouko decided to leave it to a medical professional.

-

KNOCK KNOCK!

Sakura sat up, rubbing her eyes sleepily.

Huh? It’s so early! It’s not even four in the morning!

She padded to the door in her bare feet and somewhat short and loose white nightgown. One strap fell down off her shoulder. Sakura knew she should fix it, but was too tired to care. Her hair was falling over one side of her face, adding to the ‘I’m so sleepy’ look she was projecting at the moment. She rubbed her eyes again, trying to make herself feel and appear more awake. Her bangs just fell back across one eye, so she gave up on that for the moment.

Had she known it was a boy knocking, she would have cared a little more. But the only person who called at this hour was Shizune, or Lady Tsunade herself.

Besides, the ‘off-the-shoulder’ strap is sexy! her half-asleep brain provided helpfully.

Sakura opened the door. She looked around, but didn’t see anyone. Then, by chance, she looked down.

“Oh my God!”

Ryouko was laying on her doorstep, his breathing heavy and his eyes out of focus. Not to mention with a sword out of his back. Blood had leaked out of the wound and Ryouko’s mouth. It was coagulating on Sakura’s front step.

Ryouko was in no shape to bow, so he offered her a salute. “Sorry to disturb you so…(cough) late…”

Sakura immediately knelt down and picked Ryouko up by getting under his arm. She dragged him inside and gently laid him face-down on a tatami mat in the center of her apartment.

“Hold on, okay?! I’ve got to get something to slow the bleeding!”

Ryouko grabbed her wrist, shaking his head, though his entire world shook when he did that. “No…no time. Lady…Tsunade had to hear this! You’ve got to tell her! I’m…not gonna make it…”

Sakura was in tears, but she knelt down by his side anyway. He started to outline everything to her. While he did, she began to work on his back. She got her hands bloody, but that didn’t matter to her. She’d never lost a patient before, and she wasn’t going to start now! Especially not someone carrying confidential information for Lady Tsunade!

My first death won’t be a friend, either! Hang on, Ryouko!

Ryouko kept talking. His back had long gone numb, and he couldn’t feel his legs. Those were the symptoms that made him decide that he wasn’t going to reach Tsunade in time. At least he could tell her apprentice, so the message would get to her.

“…So…please tell her…I’m sorry…You can…put me outside…It would be…problematic to die here.”

“Shut up! I’m not done yet!” Sakura demanded, giving Ryouko a smack on the back of the head. “You don’t get to die! You understand me?! While you’re a soldier in the Leaf army, under my care, dying is NOT ALLOWED! Now you stay with me!”

Sakura took a deep breath. She had stabilized him and slowed the bleeding. His shirt and vest had been cut off him. (She KNEW he was critical when he didn’t blush at that point) Now she had to perform the psuedo-surgery- pulling the blade out while she kept him from bleeding out. Then, she had to immediately close the wound to keep it from getting infected. Not to mention she probably had to repair a cracked vertebrae or two. Ryouko was lucky that the sword hadn’t been heavier and sunk in deeper.

Okay, you can do this, girl! Just stay calm, pull slowly, and keep Ryouko distracted! You can do this- and he can survive! Here we go!

Ryouko closed his eyes. Sakura felt his breath start to slow. She began to pull as fast as she could without damaging him any more.

Just a little more…Got it!

The sword came free. Sakura threw it aside and immediately closed the wound and healed most of the damage. Immediately, Ryouko’s breath began to even out again. But now they had a new problem.

His fever spiked from the pain and injury! He might have even been delirious! After what he told me, I don’t dare take him to the hospital, in case he isn’t dreaming this. And I can’t move him… Leaving him to get medicine is out… And I don’t have any here… Damn it, if I don’t do something, he’ll die from a stupid fever! Wait… I know!

Ryouko’s fever was so bad it made him delusional. Fortunately, he was also weak and couldn’t fight her as she stripped him. She was kind enough not to look at his naked body as she half-walked, half-dragged him to her bathroom.

“C’mon, stay with me!” she told/ordered him. Not caring for the moment about how this looked, she stepped into the shower with Ryouko. She held him up as she turned the water on. Even though she was now going to freeze, she didn’t have the means to give him an ice bath. So an ‘arctic shower’ would do in it’s place.

I WOULD wear a white, loose nightgown the night a dying boy who turns red around kunoichi shows up. Although it’s not white anymore. Now it’s red from blood, and see-through because of the water. If he wasn’t completely out of it, I wonder if I would do this?

For him? Yes. He’s as trustworthy as they come.

After a few minutes of the freezing water raining down on them, Sakura shut it off. She laid Ryouko down on the bathroom floor as she ran into her room to grab towels. She didn’t even think of herself as she began to dry Ryouko off.

Don’t look, don’t look, don’t look… Sakura reminded herself. She turned away when she wiped his private area out of respect for him. She still got a handful, but since a towel was in the way, it didn’t count as ‘fondling’. Besides, this was an emergency.

Once Ryouko was dry, Sakura dragged him to her bed. She tucked him in tightly under her thick red comforter. She put a hand to his forehead, sighing.
That lowered the fever a little bit, but it could climb back up too easily. There’s only one more option now…

Sakura took a towel for herself. She pulled her nightgown off over her head, tossing the wet and ruined garment into the corner. Next, she dried herself off as fast as she could. Once satisfied, she paused to gather her wits.

I’ve got to get into bed with him. I can absorb his fever through direct skin contact. (gulp) At this point, that’s all I can do. He’s got to live! Besides, this is Ryouko! He’ll panic once he wakes up and I’m clutching him. If I can trust one boy in the village, it’s this one. So suck it up, girl, and get in bed with him!

Sakura, still naked, lifted her comforter. For this to work, she had to lay mostly on top of Ryouko. It couldn’t be helped, so Sakura didn’t hesitate very long. She winced at how hot his body was, even after the cold shower, and that strengthened her resolve.

Sakura put her hands around his neck (to keep them from wandering somewhere less safe), and laid her upper body against his. She laid her head on the pillow, fitting it next to his head.

Should I just tell M’lady now? …No, what if he was already delirious when he started talking? Besides, if it’s ANBU hunting anyone who knows, I’ll need someone watching my back. And leaving Ryouko alone, with this fever and those enemies…It’s not an option.

Somehow, they both succumbed to the pull of sleep. The rest of the world was an enemy until further notice, but somehow there was an unspoken comfort in lying next to someone you trusted like this.

Sakura had one more thought before drifting off to sleep, though. How could things have happened like this? It must be that Ryouko was hallucinating, or was delirious. No way Elder Danzou would be in league with the Akatsuki!

--

Ryouko’s eyes fluttered, then opened. Some small rays of sun were poking their way into the room through the blinds over the windows. The room was still very dark, and for a few moments Ryouko thought he was home.

Wait…that’s not right. What happened? And what’s this warmth on my chest?

Imagine Ryouko’s surprise when he found a girl he had a crush on for a long time laying on his body. And, surprise!- They were both naked!

No way! If we did anything, I’d remember! Wouldn’t I?! PLEASE, I wanna remember! Wait…wait… That’s right! I was dying last night! What happened?! And why do I feel alive today? Aside from my back killing me…and I’m all sweaty! And naked! What the hell happened?! Not what I’d really like, obviously…

Sakura stirred, then sat up. She found Ryouko’s hazel eyes staring at her. Immediately, she launched herself up and off his body. Or, she tried to. She found Ryouko’s arms around her.

“Oh! I’m sorry! I didn’t know I was…” Ryouko sputtered, letting go and apologizing. Sakura was busy covering herself with one of the towels from last night.

“Never mind!” she snapped, pushing him back down so she could feel his head. “Let’s see…your fever broke! YES! Now, turn over!”

Ryouko obediently turned over on his stomach. He was all too thankful, actually. This was pretty high on the turn-on scale. From one to ten, this was a fifteen, at least. And that was before you got to her ordering him around!

That number climbed to twenty when Sakura began rubbing his back, probing the area of the wound gently with her hands.

“Good, good! You healed nicely, thank God! You gave me a quite a scare!” Sakura admonished, ruffling Ryouko’s hair. “Dragging yourself in half-dead, and telling me those things!”

Ryouko sat up quickly, forgetting he was naked. At this point, he didn’t care, even if his crush was present. All that mattered was delivering his information to Lady Tsunade.

“Sakura, you’ve gotta believe me! That was real! I’ve gotta tell Lady Tsunade! Where’d my clothes go?”

Sakura made sure she was covered before telling him “You can’t wear those! They were destroyed! The pants might be salvageable, actually…”

“That’s fine!” Ryouko told her urgently, running for his clothes. Sakura blushed, doing her best not to stare. It was kind of hot having a naked guy run around her home. After clutching him all night, Sakura had felt Ryouko’s muscles, and she’d be lying if she said he wasn’t more attractive to her now.

“I’m going to get dressed, then! You’re not going anywhere alone; not after I spent most of last night patching you up!” Sakura called back, running over to her closet. She rifled through her drawers for underwear, then tossed on her normal clothes.

“Okay, let’s go! Wait, are you stopping at home first? To get more clothes?”

Ryouko shook his head. “I can’t. They know I heard them- they’ve got the place booby- trapped by now. These’ll have to do until I get a new uniform from Lady Tsunade.”

Ryouko paused, looking at Sakura out of the corner of his eye shyly. When she met his gaze, he blushed even harder.

“Thank you… for saving me, I mean! I really appreciate it!”

Sakura smiled and waved his thanks off.
But that look in his eyes…that wasn’t just a ‘thank you’ look… He was blushing awfully hard…could there be something else in his mind? No way, he’s a career man! He doesn’t have time for girls! And why me anyway? A handsome boy like him could have anyone. I’m just reading into a blush! From Ryouko at that! After last night, I’m surprised I’m not lit up like the sky on Chinese New Year!
--

Ryouko barged past the guards and into Tsunade’s office. Beat up, wearing nothing but a pair of blue, blood-stained pants, and with a scar that hadn’t healed yet on his back, Ryouko outlined all he had heard and seen last night to the head of the village. The fearsome FireShadow, the Hokage. In this case, the Hokage was also a legend worthy of her own book- Lady Tsunade, legendary healer (or legendary sucker; it depends on who you ask).

It’s frightening to see this much intensity from him, Sakura thought, nervously smoothing her skirt despite standing military-straight. He’s normally so hard to read. But now, he’s pounding on her desk, giving ‘orders’, and outlining a scary situation. I saw his injury, so I know he isn’t faking it. No way he got that from training.

Tsunade didn’t seem all that surprised. In fact, if anything, she seemed to have her thoughts together as soon as she heard what Ryouko had to say. As if she had been expecting some disaster like this.

“Ryouko, listen to me- this is an order. You will take Sakura and Sai, and flee the village immediately. There is no time for discussion. Everything you need to know will be communicated to you through Sai when you need to know it.”

Ryouko didn’t protest. In fact, he seemed more military-ish himself.

As if this wasn’t a complete surprise to him, either… Sakura thought, deciding it was a little suspicious. And yet, not surprising all the same. Ryouko had earned the trust of those who were more powerful than he was through hard work, discipline, and extraordinary actions when the situation called for it.

“My Lady, I need some new clothes. No doubt my place is booby-trapped by now,” Ryouko informed her crisply. Shizune went into a storeroom next door and brought a new jonin uniform for him.

“You’re going to have to get dressed here. Shizune, Sakura- watch him. I’m sorry about this invasion of privacy, Ryouko. But we can’t turn our backs, not even in here. If you heard that, they’ll want you eliminated right away, no matter what.”

Ryouko blushed. “M-My Lady, no disrespect intended, but-”

Tsunade stood up, a commanding presence even at fifty-plus years of age. “Are you stripping yourself, or do I have to do it for you? And don’t even whine about sexual harassment! Not when we’re protecting you! Now, STRIP!”

Ryouko finally did as he was told. He pulled his pants off as fast as he could, then replaced them equally as quick. The girls in the room blushed, but nothing like Ryouko.

Aw man! Naked in front of girls for the first time, and it happens twice within a day? Well, at least it’s girls I can trust. But, damn it, not in front of the girl I have a crush on! I hope I’m ‘impressive’ to her! No, better yet, don’t look, Sakura!
…
No, don’t get turned on now! Think of bad things! Ugly things!

Ryouko finished dressing, deciding he would buy a trench coat. If he had to get naked again, he would keep the thing with one of his summons so he wouldn’t have to stay naked for long. Although he hoped his nudity wouldn’t be a pattern (special circumstances aside).

Tsunade nodded. “You look fine. Good boy. Now, come here.”

Ryouko did, and Tsunade pulled him into a hug. She whispered into his ear “Take care of my girl, Ryouko. Protect her; protect her like I know you want to. Danzou will come for me next. He can use the council to overrule me. If that happens, I’m going to make someone else Hokage until I can take care of the problem. Naruto is safe with Kakashi and Yamato. That leaves Sakura…and you. Take care of each other.”

Tsunade let go, and nodded to Shizune. She hugged Ryouko while Tsunade went to Sakura.

“Ryouko…give these to Sakura. If you have to leave her side for any length of time, these will protect her…” Shizune whispered. She always had a soft spot for Ryouko, so she gave him an extra squeeze. “And…you might have to kill to protect her and yourself. Can you do that?”

Ryouko whispered back even as he felt Shizune’s eyes looking deep into him: “I can, and I will if it comes to that. If you told me to, Shizune, I would go kill Danzou right now, and end this problem. But I can see that won’t happen. So just take care of M’Lady, okay?”

Shizune gave him a warm smile before depositing an armband with spring-loaded needles dipped in poison. Shizune found it to be effective in combat and was betting that someone of Sakura’s considerable talent would find it useful.

After hugs and goodbyes were exchanged, Tsunade told them that Sai would meet them at the gate. After that, they should run to Tanzaku town, lose themselves in the crowd for a few days, then keep moving until they received word via summon of what had happened.

After that, it was out the door. Ryouko looked over at Sakura, and saw how nervous and upset she was. He was the jonin of this impromptu group, so he had to keep things together. Forcing himself to be friendly, he reached over, patted Sakura’s head, then set his face in a look of grim determination.

Sakura felt the pat on the head, and was surprised that Ryouko would do that.
Even though I’ve seen him naked, it’s still hard to believe he’s human. Especially with that super-serious look on his face. He must be trying to intimidate anyone we pass. That’s a good move. And if that doesn’t work, I’ll intimidate with my fists.

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