Hey people, I know I haven't done a lot of stories yet but no ideas came to me so I started R.L. Stine and his stories are very good so I was inspired to write this.

Disclaimer: I. DO. NOT. OWN. NARUTO!

"Hey, Sakura! Wait up!"

From halfway down the corridor Sakura Haruno turned to see a huge cloud of silver balloons drifting towards her. Bobbing under them was a cute, yellowed-haired, pony-tailed girl, clutching the balloons as if the helium could lift her to the ceiling. Ino Yamanaka, Sakura's best friend, rushed up, panting.

"Where's the party?" Sakura asked.

"These are for the kid in Room 901, Ino said. "He's got so many toys and flowers in there already, there's no room for him. What are you doing on the Children's Floor?"

"I just got assigned here this morning," Sakura said. "Some change from the Orthopedic Floor! You wouldn't believe how many ways people find to break their bones!"

Ino rolled her eyes. "Tell me about it," she said dryly.

"Come on," Sakura said. "I have to deliver these X-rays to the Nurses' Station."

The girls fell into step as they walked down the gleaming corridor and Sakura dropped her X-rays off.

"Meet me in the cafeteria for lunch?" Ino asked.

"Sure. Maybe today's day you'll find that handsome ninja you've been dying to meet. Then you can retire for the rest of year and concentrate on your social life." Sakura said laughing.

"Get real! In this?" Ino stopped and tugged her tunic with disgust. "I don't know howyou manage to look so put together wearing it. It's not fair!" Ino shook her straight hair with envy and despair. "Anyhow, I wouldn't quit now. It's not the worst job I've ever had. I stopped hating you for talking me into it."

A nurse in starched white cap and uniform bustled up the hall, carrying a tray of medicines. She glowered at Sakura and Ino as she came up to them. "Okay girls. Get on with your work. You can't just stand her chatting all day." Then she was off in a swish of skirt and a squeak of rubber-soled shoes.

"Uh-oh!" Ino said. "That's Nurse Itaki. Kimo Itaki. Stay out of her way. They say she actually smiled once, but that was probably before you and I were born. Here's 901. See you at lunch." Ino pushed open the patient's door and shepherded her balloons inside.

Sakura continued down the hall of few steps. The noise of construction grew louder as she approached the new wing that would soon be part of the hospital. Outside the heavy door that blocked off the new wing, Sakura saw the bright warning signs: DANGER! KEEP OUT!

'The Dark Wing. Not exactly the greatest name for a hospital wing,' Sakura thought with a shiver.

She topped to listen to the workmen hammering, riveting, and sawing inside. In a sudden lull, she heard a very different sound: A child was crying nearby.

She looked around. The quiet sound was coming from Room 903, just across the hall. Sakura crossed to the door and listened to the soft, pitiful, and weary weeping that sounded as if it had been going on for a long time. She knocked softly on the dorr to Room 903 and quietly tiptoed inside.

A small boy was lying in the high white hospital bed. His head was turned away from the door.

"Hello, there," Sakura said.

The child did not turn toward her. He just continued crying, more softly now, his voice hoarse.

Sakura looked around the room. It was bare of flowers, toys, cards. There was nothing to cheer up a sick, frightened child.

"I came to visit you," Sakura said.

The crying stopped with a small gasp, but the little boy kept his face turned away. He stared out the window opposite the door, ignoring her. Sakura stepped to the end of his bed and read the medical chart hanging there: "Konohamaru Sarutobi……seven years old……pneumonia."

'His temperature had been normal for several days, so he should be going home soon. Why was he so unhappy?' Sakura thought confused.

She approached the far side of the bed.

"Hi, Konohamaru. My name's Sakura. I work here." She looked down at the small, pale face. His spiky brown hair was hair was held up by goggles. "I'm a rookie nurse," Sakura continued in a quiet voice. "I run errands-like, I deliver things, and sometimes visit people who feel sad and lonely away fro home. Is that how you feel?"

Konohamaru hiccupped once and sniffled. Sakura pulled a tissue out of the box on the side table and dabbed at Konohamaru's wet cheeks. He sniffled again and turned away. Sakura took his small hand in hers.

"I don't blame you. I'd cry, too, if I were stuck I here. But you're almost all better. I bet you'll be going home soon."
A tiny sob escaped from the boy, and he squeezed his eyes tightly shut.

"Don't feel like talking? That's okay. I'll just keep you company for a while." Sakura said, stroking his soft hand, trying to soothe him. "Would you like me to read to you? I could go get a book and read you a really nice story. Would you like that?"

The door opened and Nurse Itaki marched in.

"What are you doing here?" she demanded.

"I-I was just talking to Konohamaru, to cheer him up," Sakura said.

"Don't waste your time," Nurse Itaki snapped. "He won't talk to you. He won't talk to anyone. You're just bothering him And you're in the way here, anyhow. Will you please leave."

Sakura was stung by the nurse's harsh tone. But she reminded herself that most nurses were terribly overworked and could get pretty grouchy. One of her friends back in Suna said that her mother was always tired and cranky. As Sakura left the room she glanced back once more at Konohamaru. He was watching her now, his tear-filled eyes staring at her from behind Nurse Itaki's broad back.

Sakura felt a sudden jolt. She was sure that, silently, the child was pleading for help.


Wow! That was long! Update soon

-Spider Shinobi