I've had this story for quite some time...maybee two or a year and a half, haha. I've been a bit hesitant about posting it, then I started reading DN fics again and got so pumped. And I also got a bit of inspiration from our little marshmallow, whose birthday is today, along with mine the next day ;)

Sorry for the weird half flashback in the middle of the story, I'd italicize it but I'm doing this on a tablet, which would probably take hours upon hours. When my laptop gets fixed I'll fix it.

Enjoy~

I sighed as I looked at my former teammate. Her pink hair surrounding her head. Her breathing a steady rhythm. They had to sedate her again. They always had to sedate her sooner or later. Her disease is getting worse each day. Grandma's switched her off so many medications; we were left with the last resort medication. Although, that doesn't seem to be working either.

I bent over and leaned my elbows on my knees and rested my face on my hands. I closed my eyes.

Grandma Tsunade said Sakura had Schizophrenia. It was bad. It was really bad.

I curled my hand into a fist in anger.

It was all his fault. He had done this to her. 'Sasuke' How could he do this? To his teammate, friend! I clenched my eyes tight.

It's been six months since we discovered Sakura's been ill, but Grandma said she may have had it two to three months earlier. At first we didn't know what had caused this. Sakura's family has had no background of Schizophrenia or any kind of illness. Then I remembered Sakura had ran into Sasuke, and had returned to Konoha only to be sent to the hospital. I yelled at Grandma and told her to tell me what was wrong with Sakura. She said I wouldn't like the answer. I didn't.

She told me Sakura came across a Sharingan user. My heart stopped for a second, only a second. Sasuke. Sasuke had done this. I was angry beyond belief. Grandma told me to calm down and didn't start explaining until I was. When I was she told me what she found. She said Sakura had been exposed to the Tsukiyomi.

My eyes widened. 'How could he do this?!', I thought. Did he want to kill Sakura? I asked myself. I shook my head. 'No'. No, he couldn't have. We're his teammates, friends, family. I stared hard at the floor. ' He would never hurt one of us...' Grandma spoke.

" Naruto, it doesn't help to deny reality... It just makes it harder to accept." A tear shredded from my tightly closed eyes. I took a deep breath and moved my head up to look into her eyes.

" What room?" I asked softly.

Her eyes softened at my gaze. " 1031."

I sprinted to her hospital room. When I opened the door to her room I found our Sensei sitting in the chair next to Sakura, his back towards me. " Kaka-sensei." I spoke, my voice scratchy and deep.

He turned his head, just enough to see me, and just enough for me to see the pain in his revealed eye. He turned around. I took the chair from the other side of Sakura's bed and moved it next to Kakashi-sensei and in front of Sakura.

" Where's Sai?" I asked looking at my Sensei.

" Mission." He said.

" I thought he was suppose to be coming back today?"

" Aa..." He stated eyes still unmoving from her still form. We sat there for awhile just looking at her. " I'm sorry." I heard from troubled man. My head whipped up.

" Kaka-"

" No, I should've taken care of this problem a long time ago. I'm your Sensei. I'm suppose to protect you, not let you guys run around and kill one another." He said angrily, then in the softest voice I've ever heard him speak before he said," I'm sorry... I'm a failure as your teacher."

I narrowed my eyes at him and spoke firmly," NO. Your wrong. We were-are suppose to protect each other! It's not your fault. You're not a failure Kaka-sensei." I said to him. He turned his head to look at me. I gave him a soft smile. " You're always there for us. In the toughest, strangest, and most humiliating times, you're always there. You were there for me and Sakura when we lost Sasuke, when we meet with him three years after, when we fought against Haku and Zabuza. On missions- everything... I've never said this before, but... Thank you Kakashi-sensei." His eyes widened. I grinned. " Besides, if you weren't there half the time, who would pay for my ramen when I didn't have enough money?" I said, and rubbed the back of my head with a sheepish smile.

I cracked an eye open and saw the old man slightly smile at my attempt to lighten the mood. At that moment I heard my Sensei's stomach growl for lack of food. I sweat dropped as he scratched the back of his head with a sheepish smile.

" You better eat." I suggested.

His eyes glided over our teammate. I knew what he was thinking. He didn't want to leave her.

" I'll stay, go. She'll be fine with me!" I stated reassuringly as I pointed a thumb to myself, a grin still plastered onto my face. I saw him give a small smile and nod.

He got up to move towards the door and asked," Do you want anything?"

" No. I'm fine." My eyes not leaving Sakura's face. I heard him open the door, but not close.

Then I heard him speak quietly," You can't save him." The door shut. My eyes widened. My eyes looked over Sakira laying on the hospital bed immobile because our brother. It saddened me. How could Sasuke have done this?

It was a week later that Sakura woke up and another week until she was dismissed from the hospital. She was fine. Happy, breathing, just Sakura. It wasn't until a few months later we would discover symptoms of her fatal illness.

I heard the door to Sakura's room open. My head whipped up to see the face that entered her room. It was a nurse. It was time for Sakura's medicine.

" Sir." She said. I nodded and got up from my chair next to Sakura. I stepped out of her room and closed the door behind me. It was about ten minutes until the nurse came out and told me Sakura was awake. My heart jumped for joy getting to know that I'd be able to see her awake and not just laying there. Now if only she could talk to me. After the nurse told me she opened the door, and I happily went inside. I heard the door close behind me as my eyes were on Sakura. Her eyes snapped over to me when the door shut.

" Sakura." I said happily. I smiled and she smiled back. I took my place beside her bed, like always. " How do you feel?" I asked.

" Like a million bucks." My smile increased, that's my Sakura. She rolled her eyes at my smile. She then put a hand over her IV and her smile turned into a frown. I furrowed my eyebrows in worry.

" Sakura? Are you alright?" She looked up with big eyes.

" Huh?...Oh... yea. It's just... I... hate this. I hate being like this. Not being able to control my actions, not being able to know if I'll wake up being myself or some crazy loon. Knowing soon that the voices and hallucinations will come back sooner or later. I... hate it." She said, her voice cracking at the end because of her tears. My heart clenched with sadness. I didn't want to see her cry. I leaned over in my chair to hug her tight. She hugged me just as tight as I did, clinging to me like a life preserver. The last thread of life. I could feel her cold, salty tears wetting my white shirt, but I didn't care. After she calmed down she pulled back, and I leaned back into my chair. I gave a slight smile and asked," Shouji?"

After about an hour and a half we got done playing the game. I sucked, so it didn't take long for Sakura to beat me. Usually these things go on for hours. I know. One time I watched Shikamaru play against his dad, because I wanted to see how to play. That game lasted for a good six hours, I'm pretty lucky this one only lasted how long it did.

I was putting away the game underneath Sakura's bed when she spoke.

" Naruto?" she asked quietly.

" Hmm?" I said while getting up from off the ground.

" When..." She hesitated. I started to dust off the dirt from my hands and knees when she started again. " When I go, will you remember me like this?" She asked. I froze in mid action of swiping my hands together. Suddenly my head snapped up, disbelief written all over my face.

" Wha…" I trailed off, not knowing where she was going with this. " What're you talking about?" I asked her with big eyes. She looked away.

" When I... When I die," She turned and looked at me," Will you remember me for me, and not like that..?" She stared at me, her eyes pleading for an answer. I felt confused though. 'Why does she think she's gonna die?' I thought.

' She can't...she can't possibly think that she's going to die, right? Right? I mean, there's no way she could anyway...'

Suddenly I felt enraged. How could she think something like that?!

" What're talking about, Sakura?" I asked angrily with narrowed eyes.

" Will you remember me and...-and as not some crazy person!" She asked her eyes begging.

" No! You're not dying and you're not going to!"

" Yes, yes I will, Naruto! You and I both know this. Just accept it! I can't beat-I can't beat whateverthis is!" She shouted back. I glared at her.

" NO! You're going to be fine. So stop saying that you're going to." I growled.

" I'm not fine, Naruto! I'm sick, and nothing's working! I'm a hopeless case, and I know that damn well! Lady Tsunade has tried everything from a therapist to pills, and I don't feel the slightest bit better. Don't you think that means something? Don't you think that everything else you might do will be futile too?!" She screamed.

" No. As long as there is hope I won't give up on you. I won't let you die, Sakura! I'll protect you-"

" How Naruto? You can't protect what you can't control!" She yelled and shut her eyes tightly.

" Why do you want to die Sakura?" I asked in a more soothing tone. She shook her head, and I can see her clasp the sheets in her hands tighter turning her knuckles white.

" I-I don't." She stammered.

" Then why do you keep saying you will?" I asked softly, taking a step towards her.

" Because..." She said, her voice shaking.

" Because why?" She put her hands up to her head, grabbing her hair.

" Because... I have to...?"

" No you don't. You can get better." I said while she just kept whispering 'Lies' over and over again." You can get through this. I'll help you."

" Lies, lies...all of them...all LIES " She wailed. " I know what you're really thinking! You want me to die! You want to see me die! You're Lying!" My eyes widened as she gripped her hair more forcefully. Then she started ripping her hair out while giving a bloodcurdling scream. I winced.

" NonoNO! LIES, STOP WITH THE LIES!" I rushed towards her, trying to make her stop pulling out her hair.

" STOP! NO! STOPITSTOPITSTOPIT!" She yelled while thrashing around on the bed.

" Sakura. Sakura! STOP!" I tried to yell over her, but couldn't. I tried grabbing onto her wrist, but she keep wiggling out of my grasp. I tried her forearms, but then she started thrashing around more. I reached my arm over to the other side of her bed and pushed a button to alert the nurses. I really didn't want to do that, but I had no choice, I didn't want her hurting herself.

" Sakura! Sakura! Calm down!" I grabbed for her arm again. This time she bit me, and she bit me hard. I gave out a yelp and fell back. At the same time the door burst open and in came into two nurses, a doctor, and Grandma Tsunade. Once they got in they all ran towards Sakura to try and restrain herself from hurting herself even more. I just sat there on the ground unmoving looking with panic unaware of my wound on my arm. Grandma Tsunade quickly walked over to me and crouched down in front of me.

" Naruto?", she tried, "Naruto.", she spoke more firmly, "Follow me." She stood up, I slowly followed.

The door clicked behind us when came out of the room. I could still hear Sakura screaming. Tsunade examined me and her eyes fell on my arm.

" Your arm, Naruto." She said her mouth slightly agape. I looked down and cringed. I big chunk of flesh was missing. It started throbbing; I only now noticed it, because she pointed it out. " Common, I'll patch you up." She said and turned her back to walk away, but I wasn't going to let her leave without giving me answers. To hell with me.

" Tsunade." I spoke firmly. She froze. " What's going on? You're keeping something from me." We stood there for a minute in silence. " What's going on-?" She cut me off.

" I took her off of paliperidone-"

" What?!" I snarled.

"Listen!" She yelled, then spoke in a firm tone," It was affecting her immune system. Left her open to diseases."

" Then why'd you put her on it in the first place?" I asked coldly.

" It was our only option." She answered calmly.

" Did she get any?"

Silence.

" Diseases. Did she get any?" I asked again in a tightly. She took a moment to respond.

" Yes."

My breath hitched in my throat. My big eyes looked at her green jacket.

" What is it?"

" An infection in the lungs."

I felt my throat close up and burn from trying to surpass tears from shedding.

" No! You're not dying and you're not going to!"

" Yes, yes I will, Naruto! You and I both know this. Just accept it! I can't beat-I can't beat whatever this is!" She shouted back. I glared at her.

' T-that's what she was talking about.' I leaned my side on the wall next to me.

I hugged my knees tightly and cried silently as Sakura's screams echoed the dark hallway.

I actually researched very intensely on Schizophrenia when first starting on this story, and I found out it doesn't have to be genetic compare to what the general public thinks, it can be brought on by a multitude of things. Stress and a sudden horrific incident can trigger it, for mental stability for the persons' awareness, because they can't take reality, something upon those lines.

I realize Naruto's probably a bit... whiney? And emotional? But his almost brother destroyed his best friends state of mind and ultimately ruined her, mentally and physically. And I don't think any of you realized how much Naruto used Sakura's name all the time instead of pronouns, I did that on purpose to show how much he cares for her, if that... Makes any sense? Like any of you care right? Haha.(I dare you to go back and count how many times he used her name.)

Let me know if you want some L already or want to see what's up with Sakura, it's already typed up so just ask away!

Did you guys also get Sakura's room reference? Kuku, if you know I mentally high five you. ;)

Review, pm, favorite, alert me, love me! Thanks for reading, more will be on its way.

~WAC

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NEAR!-may you have all the toys in the world-probably already do...(may you always look as soft as you probably feel).

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TEMARI!-may you foster in that Eternal Tsukiyomi with Shika;D

(EDITED: decided not to italicize fb, too mashed in the story.)