Naruto looked down at Tayuya with a mix of pity and guilt. Without a word, he began tearing strips from his orange jacket and fashioned makeshift bandages to stop her bleeding. As he worked, he couldn't help but notice the condition of her legs bruised, bloodied… yet her skin was still smooth and fair beneath the mess.
As he reached higher to secure a wrap around her thigh, his gaze accidentally drifted upward to her chest.
Solid C-cup… possibly D if she's pissed.
Naruto choked, swallowing his thoughts.
Damn it, Ero-sennin, you've ruined me…
'Looks like another super-pervert is sprouting. Kami help us all,' Kurama groaned internally, already dreading the future.
'WHAT?! No! I'm not like that pervy old man!' Naruto barked defensively in his head. Still, he had to admit Tayuya wasn't bad-looking. For a kunoichi who cussed like a sailor.
Kurama snorted at his weak denial.
Once the last bandage was tied, Naruto created a shadow clone and pointed toward Sasuke's unconscious body. The clone nodded, grabbed the Uchiha by the arm, and started dragging him across the ruined terrain.
Naruto turned back to Tayuya and scooped her into his arms with care. She winced and whimpered at the motion, but didn't wake.
An hour passed before Tayuya finally stirred. She blinked, confused by the gentle sway. Her body ached, but she was no longer pinned. She felt warmth her cheek pressed against a black fabric. She looked up.
She was nestled against someone's chest. Naruto's.
Her blush exploded across her face, but she stayed silent, staring. His spiky blond hair caught the light like the sun had exploded on his scalp. Her eyes then settled on the oddest part of his face: the whisker-like birthmarks on his cheeks.
What is this guy… a walking fox plushie? Still, her hand itched to touch them. She held back.
Naruto noticed.
"See something you like?" he quipped with a grin.
Tayuya jolted. Her face turned crimson. Caught red-handed.
WHAM!
"OW, come on! What was that for?!" Naruto groaned, cradling yet another fresh lump on his head.
"For being a smug jackass, obviously!" she barked. But then her gaze returned to his face to his eyes.
"Speaking of which… what's the deal with your eyes, shithead?" she asked, curiosity overpowering irritation.
Naruto blinked. "Oh, those? I dunno much. They just kinda awakened earlier. Kurama said they're called the 'Rinnegan' or something."
Tayuya's jaw dropped.
**"Wait. You mean the Rinnegan? The fabled eyes of the Sage of Six Paths? The same ones that could control life and death?!"
'Told you it was common knowledge…'** Kurama deadpanned.
'Yeah, yeah, shut up. How do I turn them off? I don't want this getting out.' Naruto thought, his nerves spiking.
Kurama scoffed.
'Did you just have a logical idea? Shocking. Just stop pushing chakra to your optic nerves.'
Naruto did as instructed. Instantly, his eyes reverted to their familiar bright blue.
Whew… that's better.
'Good. Don't need the ninja council flipping out again,' Naruto muttered internally.
'Relax. If needed, I can cast an illusion over your eyes to mask it.'
'I can't use genjutsu, remember?' Naruto reminded him.
Kurama huffed.
'But I can. Foxes are naturally attuned to genjutsu. Duh.'
Naruto blinked.
That's… actually useful.
'Then why the hell didn't you say that sooner?!'
'One, you didn't ask. Two, shut your trap, mortal. Three your chakra control's garbage. That's why you suck at genjutsu.'
Naruto growled. 'I hate you so much.'
'Love you too, brat. Anyway… your pervy sensei's heading this way. So get ready to explain why you're dragging his favorite student and bridal-carrying your foul-mouthed girlfriend.'
Naruto stiffened.
…I'm so dead.
While Naruto argued mentally with his tenant, Kurama, Tayuya kept ranting, utterly flabbergasted.
"There's no damn way someone like you has the Rinnegan! That's just straight-up bullshit! That's, like, Rikudō Sennin-level power. Are you even real?!"
But her curses tapered off when she noticed he wasn't listening. Naruto had completely zoned out, his eyes distant, lips barely moving.
It annoyed her to no end. "Oi, dumbass, I'm talking to you!"
Then she noticed something odd. His strange, ripple-patterned eyes the Rinnegan vanished, reverting to his familiar bright cerulean blue.
Just as she was about to ask what the hell happened, a rustle in the trees made both of them flinch.
"Yo."
A masked figure dropped from the canopy, hands in his pockets, posture relaxed.
"Kakashi-sensei," Naruto greeted him, voice calm. "You're late…"
"Heh. Traffic in the forest was murder." Kakashi gave his usual lazy excuse. His visible eye flicked to the unconscious Sasuke being dragged across the dirt by a clone. Then his gaze shifted to the redheaded kunoichi cradled in Naruto's arms.
"Mission was a success," Naruto continued flatly. "I retrieved Sasuke."
Kakashi's eye twitched when he noticed the way his prized student was being pulled through the dirt like a sack of rice.
"Now, now, Naruto… maybe you could show a bit more care and carry him instead of giving him a gravel facial?"
Naruto didn't flinch. "Maybe. But after being impaled by his Chidori twice I didn't feel especially motivated."
He shifted Tayuya slightly in his arms. "As for her, she's agreed to defect. I offered her protection in exchange for intel on Orochimaru."
He caught himself just in time. No more calling him Snake-fucker, not in front of Kakashi.
Tayuya, still woozy, gave a smug little smirk at his restraint.
Kakashi's expression turned slightly serious. "The rest of the team's stable. Neji and Chōji are in critical condition, but they'll pull through. As for the enemy… she's the last one left alive."
Naruto felt Tayuya's body go rigid for a second, then slack in resignation. A pang of sympathy stirred in him.
"Alright, Naruto," Kakashi sighed, stepping toward Sasuke. "I'll take it from here "
"Wait, Sensei." Naruto's voice hardened.
Kakashi paused.
"Sasuke's just roughed up a little. She's the one with shattered legs and possible internal bleeding. You should take her to the hospital first."
The jonin blinked as if he'd misheard.
Then he gave the same casual eye-smile Naruto had seen a dozen times.
"Naruto, I couldn't care less about her."
Tayuya stiffened, baring her teeth. "Tch, screw you, you one-eyed scarecrow!"
But Kakashi ignored her.
"She's just a hostile kunoichi from Sound. Sasuke is an elite genin the last Uchiha. His value to the village far outweighs hers."
Naruto stared at him, something twisting in his chest.
His own teacher, the man who preached "those who abandon their comrades are worse than scum," was now looking him in the eye and saying plain as day that some lives mattered more than others.
"And what about me, Kakashi-sensei?" he asked, voice quiet but firm.
"Did you forget the part where Sasuke shoved a lightning-covered fist through my chest twice?"
Kakashi didn't flinch. "You know how important he is, Naruto. It's about priorities."
Tayuya gasped, hearing what sounded like her own worthlessness being echoed in someone else's voice.
"I get it now." Naruto smiled but there was no warmth in it.
"Now I know exactly who you'd save in a life-or-death situation."
His smile widened. His eyes didn't.
"You're really doing a great job living up to that whole 'those who abandon their comrades are worse than trash' creed."
Kakashi's expression soured beneath the mask. His eye narrowed, but he said nothing. Instead, he turned away.
"Now's not the time for this, Naruto. We'll talk later. I have to get Sasuke stabilized."
With a flash of chakra and a swirl of leaves, he vanished with Sasuke slung over his shoulder.
Naruto stared at the spot where Kakashi had stood, lips pressed tight.
He adjusted Tayuya's position gently in his arms, then began walking through the ruins of the forest. Neither said a word.
The silence was heavier than anything he'd carried that day.