Cold sweat, tears, rasped breathing.

He was shaking as he pulled himself together fighting off the panic that came from his chest.

He gripped his heart under his shirt and let out a shudder.

It was his fault.
If he were much stronger than he could have been. Never would it have turned out to be like this. The endless cries, pleading and bloodshed cast upon his young eyes as the sight of his brother conquering all of this pain was an existential crisis casting immense gore on his beloved clan.

The explanation for what he felt as he dreamt about this nightmare on endless nights were wretching his chest and tearing his mind apart. He had watched the scene again and again yet it did nothing to numb him from the pain as he replayed every scene. He would never get used to it.

He wanted to throw up. He was drowning from all of the misery his head was showing him and the gruesome feeling it left hi heart. He was nothing but an excuse for a small boy entitled a name of power and royalty whom never had been any close to his brother's achievements and lacked on every aspect a shinobi would be.

He couldn't control a situation of panic. He felt so weak, so unguarded and vulnerable no one could stop what he was about to do. He couldn't control his own body. The last thing he ever wanted to do was kill himself. But then again, maybe hurting himself might ebb away the misery he was feeling inside.

He looked around in the small bedroom of his apartment breathing harshly and in panic. He needed this. He wanted to get rid of the demons inside his head. He wanted them to stop even if it's just for a moment. If only he could-

A shining object was the reason for the sudden pause of his panic-stricken figure. In his bedside table lay a sharp tool. He knew very well. It was a kunai.

He quickly grabbed it and held his wrist in front of his sight illuminating his pale flesh from the moonlight that gush outside his bedroom window. Yes, if this is what can make his demons shut up for a minute then he would do this for an entirety of his being. He was worried, sometimes not even cutting himself worked this way. However, tonight he hoped it would.

The slight sting of the sharp tool stabbing his skin with a single cut wasn't enough to satisfy his needs. The single wound drew a string of blood from the long cut he decorated his skin with. "

"No this isn't enough." He said. As he decided to pierce deeper and longer wounds.

Cut, Cut, Cut. Several wounds decorated his wrists.

After a few minutes of self-torturing the sensation was enough. His mind woke up in surprise as he found the view of his wrist. It was sickening. He felt so disgusted with himself.

The moon had illuminated his then pale flesh to a blood angry wounds. The drops of blood from the previous cuts were now gashing out generously and was puddling his sheets and blankets in the process. He cursed and gasped, He felt so stupid. He turned and ran for the bathroom sink.

The cold water washed away the blood from his wrist. It stung painfully yet it numb the feeling his heart and mind had felt earlier.

He did it again. He did it to himself. He just wanted to cry. He should never ever be doing this to himself. What would his friends say? It was just unimaginable. Yet, He shrugged it all off. Why would he care? He wasn't here to make any friends. He was in Konoha so he could become stronger.

He was alive because he had to kill his brother. It was the sole reason for his existence. The thought of his brother made his blood run cold. "I will show him no mercy." No one can ever kill the bastard but him. And if people were blocking his way, then he'd have no choice but to get rid of them.

Pressing the tortured wound on his wrist made him strangle a quiet cry. He grabbed a few ointments and drank some pain relievers and antibiotics after wrapping his arms with bandages. Good thing he wore those wrist protectors. This way, They wouldn't know he ever suffered. Any traces from last night's torture would be perfectly hidden, as if nothing ever happened.

It was already 4 AM when he finished so he decided he cooked his own breakfast and head his way off to train and start early.

The sun had risen and the heat illuminating the young pinkette's face was annoying the hell out of her. With her face crinkled and her mouth forming a cute pout. She turned around in the comforts of her small bed but did no justice in blocking the blinding light the sun bore out. It only made her back annoyingly warmer.

She got tired of fighting dominance and got up.

Today was a fresh start. And a new day to begin her routines. She sighed closed her eyes and began the day with a smile.

"Hmm…Training starts at 7. It's only quarter to 5." she thought as she dressed herself in fresh clothes. She looked at herself in front of the mirror as she brushed her short hair carefully until she was satisfied with how the strands fell.

"Maybe I should help out in the hospital for a bit." She thought about this just after she woke up and decided it was the best thing to kill her time.

Grabbing her things and her favorite book about medicines, she got down and took some apple in the kitchen and run off to the front door of their house. She was too lazy to get a proper breakfast. And wanted no more than to waste limited time that was supposedly led for the hospital.

"Wait! Sakura! What about your lunch?!" Her mother half-shouted in a sleepy state whom just the looks of it entered the kitchen because of her sluggish manner. Sakura walked backwards on a brisky pace and met her mother's face as Sakura turned her head back and smiled cheekily. "I'll get back to it right after Kakashi-Sensei dismisses us!"

Her mother yawned and brushed the sleep from her eyes. "Alright, I'll pack it up and leave it on the kitchen counter. Your Father and I are supposed to be at the market at 8. And be off on the afternoon for movies. Wanna come?"

"Hmm…I'll think about it, Thanks mom! Love ya!" Then Sakura went her way to the hospital.

It was the usual sight. It was 5:00 in the morning and most of the stall and shops has just been completely set.

She liked these early morning walks, it refereshes her mind and gives her a sense of peace. Something that most people her age don't cherish.

The walk to the hospital wasn't long as she checked her watch. "I've still got more than about two hours." She headed off inside and met the receptionist.

"Good morning Ami-san!" She waved cheerfully.

"Oh! Good morning Sakura-Chan I see you're up early. You want to volunteer for help again right?"

Sakura nodded and beamed. "Yes! Is there any assistance I can give today?" she asked hopefully.

Ami gave a thoughtful expression and immediately she remembered something. "Actually, there is! Check the ER. The Medic team might need some help. I believe the part over there is hectic at this hour after some Jounins were rushed off and almost flood the whole room." Sakura gasped at this. "What happened?" The pinkette asked.

'So many shinobi injured at this time.' She thought.

"Well, from what I've heard there's been some kind of poisoning. From their last mission." Ami answered reluctantly exchanging information from a genin. "You think you'll be able to handle it?" she asked for her welfare.

"I've been reading some stuff about some complicated poisons so I think I'll be able to handle it. Please don't worry!" Ami smiled and sighed thankfully. Truly this girl would do anything to help others. 'She's such a sweet girl.' Ami thought.

"Well then that's good news! Good luck Sakura-chan!" She smiled at the twelve-year old kunoichi. Sakura answered in a nod. "I'll head off there now. Thank you, Ami-san!" Sakura said and ran off with a wave.

Running off to the hallways. She was very close to the emergency room but halted as she spotted a very familiar dark-haired boy from a nearby mini-operation room. The door was slightly ajar. And she could hear some slight conversation going on inside.

So, in her curiosity she hid her chakra signature and peeped inside.

"They were bruises I acquired in training." Sasuke said. The doctor didn't look convinced as he gasped at the wounds. But the look Sasuke gave him told him to shut up and just do his job.

"Well… It's been cleaned thoroughly. But these are big cuts Sasuke-san. I think some might even need stitching."

Sakura's eyes widened at the sight of Sasuke's wrists. His delicate pale wrists were decorated with generous amounts of cuts and scars.

Sakura like the doctor wasn't also convinced. How could he acquire such deep cuts in training alone?

"Alright, I'll clean these up with some aqua oxigenada after I administer you with some shots and start stitching." "Have you drank some antibiotics this early morning?" The doctor asked as he assisted him to sit on the medical bed.

"Yes." He answered shortly. Very typical of him Sakura thought. "What time?" As the doctor prepared and sanitized the needed medical tools and readied the syringes for the needed shots.

"4 AM." He answered. "What milligram?" the doctor asked as he flicked the syringe with his fingers.

"Hn." Sasuke answered. The brunette doctor smiled and chuckled as he scratched the back of his neck. "I guess that says you don't know." He scribbled some things on the medical chart after washing his own hands and wearing some latex gloves. "I'll administer you with a small injection of anti-biotic just in case you drank a very weak one, And… of course some anaesthesia."

Right before the first injection. The door gave out a loud thud. This startled Sasuke whom also looked at the direction. The doctor came up and peeped at the door but found no one to be there.

"Hmm… someone musta've bumped it accidentally The emergency room is hectic today." And then he shrugged it off and approached a very troubled looking Sasuke.

Sakura ran off the mini-operation room right after someone bumped into her while she peeped on the room Sasuke was in. This in turn made the door give out a loud thud. And almost tripped her inside the room. Good thing her reflexes were quick.

'I can say that, but I wasn't really paying attention to my surroundings.' She thought sheepishly.

After a few steps away she scrunched up her face and pouted deep in thought.

'speaking of… Sasuke-kun never really visited the hospital alone, if he did it would usually be with Naruto tagging along because of their intense spars.

"Not only that but… those cuts it looked like they were-'

Her thoughts were diminished right after she saw several Shinobi indeed filled the emergency room. Several medics were bustling on their ways for supplies or for sanitation.

"Ah! Sakura-san! Perfect timing! I will need you to clean some of the Jounin's wounds and take a look of some. If it's okay with you?" The familiar Medic-nin Sachi said.

She looked so stressed and much in a haste.

"Alright Sachi-san!" Sakura said accepting eagerly. "Check wing A-1. Thanks so much Sakura-san. I'll put my trust in you this time!" Said Sachi in a hurried state.

As the pinkette opened the mint green curtains and was met with a weak shinobi struggling in difficulty. His neck was turning into an oddly shade of blue-ish gray.

Koji who was administering the dextrose catheter on the struggling Jounin. Was having a hard time injecting the needle.

"Sakura-San. It's good to see you! I'm sorry to say this so urgently but can you please hold him off for me?"he said in a struggling voice

The pinkette didn't need to be told twice and immediately held the man's wrist in a define grip. "Alright, Koji-san I guess you can insert the needle this way now."

Koji inserted the needle in the Burly man's hand and pretty much the rest were done by taping out and sealing the catheter on the patient's hand.

"Phew, Thanks Sakura-san. I've been struggling there for a few minutes now." As he wiped his forehead with sweat.

"Forgive me for the sudden intrusion but What happened Koji-san?" Sakura asked.

"The poison has been spreading out quickly for the past hour." "We find it difficult to grasp the perfect formulas for the antidote."

"We're still having a look at it, I think Sachi-chan is assigned for the cure but the time's limited."

"Oh… so that's why she's in a hurry!"

"Yeah, She specializes in poisons and is the best in the hospital of its knowledge yet, she told us that such poison as this was quite exquisite because the poison doesn't travel on the bloodstream nor the airways."

"The patients couldn't breathe because their lungs are somewhat trapped. And we can't communicate with them effectively." We have checked everything through the radiology department.

"Their kidneys are also failing and their intestines and throats are inflated. Also his blood pressure is skyrocketing."

"The symptoms are different for every patient as well. Because some suffer from a fever or diarrhea most of the patients have no fever and some showing most of the symptoms."

Which is strange since poisons usually don't work that way."

"Wait, did you say no fevers?" Sakura asked. I think I've read that on some of my medical books." Sakura said in thought. "Really? Let's hear it out Sakura-san. I heard you're the one of the smartest in your class. I think this one would be pretty good." Koji said praising her. Sakura blushed at this and said.

"Well… I sort of think it's Salmonella infection which is commonly a bacterial. But I think this one would be an intense version of the poisoning since you said his blood pressure is too high and that their lungs are somewhat trapped."

She paused for thought. "What are you thinking about Sakura-san?"

"Can I check him?" Sakura asked curiously.

"Eeeh?! Are you sure?" Koji asked bewildered. "Sachi-chan might have my head if something goes wrong."

"Don't worry Koji-san. Sachi-san said she's putting all of her trust in me." Sakura says politely despite being looked down on.
"Alright if she says so I'll put my trust in you as well"

Sakura inspected the breathing of the patient by putting her ear on the patient's chest. His breathing were raspy and they whistled plus the pattern of the heartbeat wasn't coordinated. There's a possibility that if this poison lasted far much longer then they would cough out blood in just a few hours.

She put some latex gloves nearby the patients' bed side table and put them on. After that she held the burly man's jaw on her palm opening it wide for her to inspect. Carefully grasping its jaw professionally.

Her other hand's finger dipped in through the patient's mouth. Touching the uvula and going as far on the throat as she could. It was inflated and the movements from the throat was uncoordinated from the right pattern it should be.

This made Koji's mouth dropped on the floor. A twelve-year old can make disgusting inspections like these? She had the guts despite her looking like a ballerina.

"They must have drank or ate something which contained a bacteria right after they finished the mission. I've heard their mission wasn't even that far so it's possible that they could have eaten or drank something before they departed from their journey." Sakura said.

Taking in Koji's composure "Y-you mean, some of the bacteria were stuck on their throat? and that all of this is just some sick food poisoning?" Koji said.

"It's something like that and yes It is but way more intense. However, I think The bacteria wasn't just stuck. The bacteria left off its remains after it traveled down onto his abdominals and intestine. That would explain why the airway was locked and what made their lungs inflated which by blocked their communication at all. As well as the fact that the poison has been running quite quickly in their organs as well. The kidney is damaged as it is. They could have eaten some red meat with bacteria. Usually red meat damages kidneys more intensely."

"That's an interesting theory Sakura-san! You're amazing. Sachi-chan has been finding the formula all throughout the night and hasn't slept. I'll handle the patients here. You go off and find her. She should be at the hospital library or her office. she's better off with your help anyways, Besides I really feel something good's about to happen."

Sakura smiled sheepishly. "No more teasing Koji-san!" Sakura said as she blushed. Koji laughed and said. "Hey! It's the truth anyway! You should take credit for yourself sometime y'know? You deserve something as little as this." Koji said in a definite answer. "Thank you, but are you sure you'll do fine here Koji-san?"

"Definitely. The staffs are scarce but I think Sachi-san needs you the most today." "We need that cure more than anything as soon as possible." Koji said seriously. She nodded in understanding.

"Alright, Koji san Thank you for the information and good luck! I'll be heading off now." Sakura said with a smile.

"Alright! We'll fight things through I really hope you guys find the cure!"

"I'll try my best Koji-san. See you!" Sakura waved and left.

''alright, with Koji-san's comment I'm positive enough that I'll able to find the cure within an hour.' She thought as she walked hastily into the hallway just a few meters away from the operating room she tries so desperately to avoid.

However, A very familiar handsome face came crashing into her accidentally and lost her balance. It was an unexpected encounter. 'I didn't see him coming this way!' Sakura gaped.

Despite loving him and always wanting to be by his side, he was the last person she didn't want to see today. If he caught her spying inside that operating room he would be mad at her. She could just feel it. There was an air of darkness in his eyes when she saw him inside that room. It was like he was trying so hard to hide something. Something so deep, so personal.

But yet again, he always did hide things from them. And what he wants he would always get his way around it no matter how troublesome it could get.

Yet this time it was the kind of secret she needed to know, something that she needed pay attention to, it was something that should be dealt with delicate and utmost care.

"tch, You should be more careful Sakura." He said as he held her shoulders in place and grabbed the book that fell from her hold.

'holy-shoot this is so embarrassing, he's holding me!.' She thought nervously. 'I hope I'm not caught!' she fidgeted her fingers nervously.

"Oh, Sasuke-kun! I'm sorry I was in a hurry! I'm helping out in the hospital. The ER is quite hectic today." Sakura answered as she smiled sheepishly. 'phew that came off better than I had wanted.'

"Hn, I've been told." Sasuke replied. "I didn't know you volunteered help." he answered as he gave her the fallen book.

"Thanks. Err Actually, I've been volunteering in the hospital for almost 3 months now." She was truly devastated. 'I thought he knew. Even Naruto and Kakashi-sensei knows.' She thought hopelessly.

Sasuke's eyebrows seems to have rose at this. He looked amused.

"Anyways, Take care Sasuke-kun! I need to help out in the hospital I'm in need of a very important study today. I'll see you at 7!" She waved off with a sweet smile.

"hn."

'smiles, her smiles are always so innocent.'

He thought as he watched her retreating back as she hurried for the stairs.

For a really weird reason he found her smiles the most comforting. Yet he would never say it aloud.

He scowled quietly and followed the path to team seven's training grounds.