Don't know who voted for the Naruto story. But here it is. As usual, I'll never own Naruto or anything associated with it. Hope you like. Please read and review. Some action will take place soon. The OC's that will be involved are not mine though. I suck at making bad guys. So the OC's and a few other things are courtesy of Kuma In Pink. Anyway, here goes. So if I could maybe get some feedback and opinions, heck, I would love you for it. In a friendly way, not that way, though. Oh, for those who don't know, a konoichi is a female ninja.

Chapter 1

It was windy, dark, and raining outside. The village was heavily damaged. A group of former shinobi, now bandits, had attacked. While the casualties were at minimum, a lot of damage had still happened to the village. The leader was unknown, showing himself so briefly that only Naruto had seen him since he was so close. After the leader had destroyed a good bit of the own by himself, he had turned and ran. Naruto had given chase, going into the forest training zone. Everyone besides the leader had been captured and neither him nor Naruto had been seen since.

"Pakkun, do you still have the scent? We have to hurry." Kakashi ran along side Pakkun. He had summoned him shortly after finding Naruto still missing. Sakura had also come with him, preparing to do whatever was necessary to find and help her teammate.

"Don't worry. Despite the rain, I still can smell him. He's severely injured by the smell of it. His blood is all over the place." Sakura slammed a fist into a nearby tree, making it crash into the ground.

"Sakura, I know you're worried. But don't destroy the forest please." Sakura merely glared at Kakashi. Unconfined fury shone in her eyes. Kakashi had no doubt she was the Hokage's apprentice. She was learning her teacher's death glare.

"Don't worry?! You just said he was severely injured. And look on the trees around you. A lot of them are smeared in blood. Darnit, why do you have to be such a hothead Naruto!!" Kakashi remained silent as Sakura continued to vent.

Pakkun growled. "Not all of it is Naruto's. He managed to hurt his opponent as well. If we get to him quickly, he still has a good chance at living through this. In fact, we're almost there." Sakura went quiet and scanned the general area. There was a dominant trail of small holes and drag marks, a signature sign of Naruto's rasengan. But there was also blood as well.

Sakura saw Naruto finally. "Oh no. He's hurt really bad." She rushed to his side and looked him over, seeing what was the worst injuries. Half of his face was covered in blood, flowing from an open gash on his forehead. His hands were covered with chakra burns, probably from excessive use of his rasengan. His legs and arms sported several cuts, though they were already closing and not bleeding. A mini katana like Sai's was pinning him to a large tree through his right shoulder. "Kakashi-sensei, come over here and catch him." Kakashi ran over and caught him as Sakura pulled it out. Naruto was still and unmoving as Kakashi put leaned him against the tree. He backed off as Sakura began her work.

"He's still breathing. But's its labored. Probably a few broken ribs." She closed the gash on his forehead and stopped the bleeding in his shoulder. Sakura removed what remained of Naruto's shirt and jacket and checked his ribs. "A few broken ribs as well. We need to get him back to Konoha." Kakashi gently picked up Naruto like a baby.

"Lead the way Pakkun. Sakura, we move at a double pace." Sakura nodded and they set off. Naruto stirred vaguely and grunted in pain.

"This won't be for long Naruto. Just hold on until then." Naruto turned his head as best as he could to look at who was speaking. Sakura smiled encouragingly.

"Sa..ku..ra. And Ka..ka..shi."

"Don't speak. You have a few broken ribs and several other injuries. You need to rest." Naruto nodded faintly and passed out again. Sakura, Kakashi, and Pakkun increased their pace.

A little while later they made it to Konoha. Tsunade and Shizune had taken over the moment they arrived at the hospital. Now Sakura, who had been joined by Hinata, stood outside the door where Naruto was currently being treated. They had been there about half an hour when a couple orderlies opened the door and wheeled out a stretcher. Naruto was on it.

"Take him to a private ward in the ICU. I'll be there shortly. Shizune, go with them." Tsunade issued her orders and walked over to the two konoichi waiting for her. She looked exhausted and she was wringing her hands. "He'll pull through. Though he won't be moving around for awhile. Go home and get some rest."

"I suppose...that he can have no visitors yet?" Hinata was blushing furiously. Tsunade shook her head.

"If nothing happens tonight, you can visit him in the morning. Now I believe I told you to go home and rest. And Hinata, if you like him that much, you should tell him. He's too dense to fully understand love in this stage of life. It doesn't help that he's a boy. You're too subtle for him. You really have to smack him one if you want his attention."

Hinata couldn't help but giggle. She knew she could never really smack him. But she had a feeling the Hokage wasn't talking about slapping him physically. And with that thought in mind, Hinata smiled.