Naruto now had a tail. Not a chakra tail, but a dark-colored flesh tail with a spearhead tip. And he didn't even seem to notice it.
Shizune whispered to Tsunade. "M'lady...?"
"I know Shizune, but right now we've got a bigger problem. For instance, where are all the other Anbu? This clearly was not the entire force so if this was only a fraction then why didn't anyone intervene? For that matter, why is no one appearing right now to see what happened?"
Shizune gasped thinking it over. "You're right. What's going on?"
Tsunade stepped forward. "Naruto!" She called out, gaining the boy's attention. "Help me take her body to the hospital. And create as many clones as you can and find every Anbu and clan head you can. Tell them I sent you and see how they react. Gather all the non-traitorous ones and bring them to the hospital. We need to see who all is still on my side here."
Naruto nodded and let go of Moegi before creating hundreds of clones that ran out in every possible direction. He turned to help Tsunade carefullly lift Shinju's body, making Moegi gasp. "Boss, when did you get a tail?"
"A tail?" Naruto repeated, completely clueless to her question. "I don't have a tail."
"Then what's that behind you?" Moegi asked.
Naruto felt his backside and quickly found a new appendage. "What the hell? Where did that come from?"
"I'll have to check that out too but for now let's focus on her." Tsunade said picking up Shinju. 'I don't think I can save her, but if there's a chance I better try.'
Naruto ignored his new feature and helped Tsunade take the civilian councilwoman's body to the hospital with Shizune and Moegi following.
"I'm serious Ino. Sasuke was trying to kill Naruto." Sakura told her friend, both girls inside the Yamanake flower shop. Ino's parents were out on a date that night so this felt like a good spot as any to have a talk.
"Really? But why? Wasn't Naruto sent out to save Sasuke-kun?" Ino asked.
"He was. But the problem was Sasuke didn't want to be rescued. I saw it Ino. Sasuke had a chance to come home, he was away from Orochimaru's henchmen and there was no one stopping him, but he chose to fight Naruto instead. He even used that lightning jutsu he used in the chuunin exams on Naruto twice. That move is an assassination move, so why would he use it in a friendly spar? He even tried using it on Naruto here in town before he left too. Sasuke honestly wanted Naruto dead!"
Ino was appalled. "But why would he do that? I mean, Naruto may not be the easiest person to be around, but I wouldn't say he deserves to die."
"I think... Sasuke's jealous of Naruto." Sakura suggested.
Ino arched an eyebrow. "Sasuke-kun? Jealous? Of Naruto? Why?"
"Why else would he feel so compelled to beat Naruto? It's not like he would get rewarded for it. The way I see it, Sasuke wants to beat Naruto just to reassure himself he can, and that could only mean he's jealous or threatened by Naruto." The pinkette said.
"But why would he be like that?" Ino asked.
"Ino, Naruto's a better person than we give him credit for. I mean, there is a reason Hinata likes him so much. Oh, you're not going to believe this, but apparently Naruto and Hinata are an item now."
"What?" Ino came close to screaming. "How? When? Why?"
"I don't know. I never got a chance to ask either of them. I didn't want to make them feel scrutinized while they were having such a good time together. But I think it was soon, since Naruto has been rather aloof to me lately. Even when I was on that date with him to talk to him he acted like he wasn't all there."
"Wait a minute. You actually went on a date with Naruto?" Ino asked.
Sakura looked down, saddened. "Kind of. It was more like a meal between friends so we could talk, but I called it a date to get Naruto to agree to it. If he wasn't already with Hinata by then, I certainly didn't give him any reason not to, and if he was, he probably didn't know how to turn me down."
Ino could sense the remorse in her friend's voice. "What happened?"
Sakura was a bit hesitant to answer. "I was confused about Sasuke and hoped that by talking to Naruto about it he could help me know what I wanted. He tried to reassure me that Sasuke wouldn't do anything wrong but I don't think either one of us really believed that. After that he cut it short, he probably saw that I had other things on my mind than spending time with him and felt hurt. I don't know, but I feel like maybe I hurt him."
"So? Naruto will get over it and be back to his normal self in no time. Don't beat yourself over it Forehead." The blonde mindwalker callously commented.
The pinkette lightly frowned at her friend. "That was uncalled for Pig."
Ino frowned back. "Well why do you care so much? You never cared how Naruto felt before so why now? I've seen you hit him like it's a reflex. And now his feelings are hurt and suddenly you feel bad? Before we get to my attitude, let's cover yours."
Sakura jerked back a bit but didn't argue. Instead she looked remorseful again. "You're right, I'm a horrible friend. But at least I've learned to admit it and am willing to change it. Would you do the same Ino?"
Ino shrugged. "Why should I? Naruto's never been my friend. I don't hate the guy but I've never even said more than one sentence to him at a time. Why should that change now?"
"Because someday you may have to work with Naruto and depend on him for something like I have. Do you really want there to be a wedge between you when it happens?" Sakura asked back.
Ino was confused by this sudden new attitude Sakura had. "Sakura, since when do you care what Naruto thinks? I mean Sasuke-kun's the only boy you would even give the time of day to and even last week he was the only boy you mentioned by name without someone else bringing them up first. So why now the change of heart?"
"You really want to know why Ino?" Sakura quietly asked, as if afraid to be heard. Her friend nodded. "Ok, the truth is-"
"DIE DEMON SCUM!" A voice screamed outside.