The Konoha Hospital was busy as always. Ninja of every rank were getting injured every day. Lady Tsunade had assigned more missions than anyone thought was possible. However, it was for the well being of Konoha, and all the residents were more than happy to carry out her will. There was so much work, in fact, that Lady Tsunade barely had time to punish Kakashi for the failed mission of Team 7. However, it can-not be said it was peacefully set aside. After she was finished treating the heavily injured Naruto and Sasuke, she went straight to Kakashi.
"A rank B mission and you failed?" she hollered at the silver-haired jounin before her. "And to think you brought back two half-dead genin!" The Hokage glared at him seriously, "This isn't the time to be easy-going. That nija you were to pursue…he's not normal. That is why capturing him is our top priority."
"Right, and the reason you assigned it to us," Kakashi began sarcastically, "Must be because you sent most of the jounin off already, or something like that?" He smiled under his mask to lighten the mood, "But you know, Sasuke and Naruto aren't that normal either."
Tsunade didn't look the last bit amused. "If you mean their intangible ego and level of disobedience, then yes. I guess I wouldn't call them the normal shinobi either."
Kakashi laughed lightly, it wasn't what he meant, but she wasn't wrong. Dead on , actually.
The distressed hokage let out a long breath. "Well, there is no one else that can handle this mission besides your team. After Sasuke and Naruto are better, you are to set off at once."
Kakashi gazed over at her with the same look in his eyes, "But this time…it'll be as a rank A mission?"
"Naturally," Tsunade nodded as she crossed her arms.
Although the masked ninja seemed as calm as always, he was actually a bit anxious about the upcoming mission. To put both Naruto and Sasuke in this state…he better be prepared.
"Ah, Kakashi-Sensei!" Sakura called from a far holding two beautiful tulips in her hands. She walked faster and bowed to the revered woman. "Oh, Lady Hokage, thank you so much for helping Sasuke and Naruto." She stared down at the ground sadly before looking back up.
The team leader nodded at Sakura from the spot he was leaning against the wall. "That's right, Sasuke. He said something about genjutsu…is Naruto alright?"
Tsunade looked away, "Yes, he did mention it to me as well…But…"
Sakura looked up worriedly, "Huh? Did something happen to Naruto?"
The Hokage looked serious, "Actually, Naruto just got out of the genjutsu testing and…"
"And there you have it," Kakashi finished happily in his usual happy-go-lucky manner. 'There is absolutely nothing wrong with Naruto."
Sasuke looked at him in disbelief. "Huh?" He was close to getting up from his bed.
"Well, besides all of his broken bones and ripped ligaments," the sensei continued.
"Lady Hokage says Naruto is fine, Sasuke!" Sakura quickly began covering up her big mouthed Sensei in the background. 'I'm just glad that you are, too, Sasuke," she added bashfully as she played with her fingers. When she noticed all the bandages around Sasuke's arms, she quickly settled down and got very depressed. Again…they got so injured….and I'm just fine.
"Che." Sasuke clenched his teeth and looked down at his wrapped hands. "If that wasn't genjustu…" the covers of his bed folded up as he tightly grabbed it. He remembered that psychotic face, and that face was not Naruto. "No, I can't believe that. I saw what I saw."
"And what exactly was it that you saw, Sasuke?" Kakashi began. "I'm not saying that I don't believe you, it's just…think of the circumstances."
Sakura looked over at her sensei who always seemed to know more than they did. Sasuke glared, still not buying what the medics said about the genjutsu. However, he knew there was no way to stop him from talking once he started.
"What kind of circumstances?" he grumbled.
Kakashi lifted two fingers and began the countdown. "If I'm not mistaken, you lost a lot of blood in that fight right? That can assist in hallucinations. And second, there's always fear."
"Fear?" Sasuke scoffed. "Something like that wouldn't make me mistake that. Life I've been saying, That….wasn't Naruto."
Kakashi only raised an eyebrow. He wondered what exactly had happened near that bridge. He let out a breath. Sasuke was out cold up until yesterday and the first thing he asks about is Naruto's condition.
"Speaking of Naruto," Sakura began, "Maybe we should go check on him now, Kakashi-Sensei."
The jounin nodded, "Right, sounds good. Sasuke, you better get some rest. We have a mission to complete soon."
"Right," Sasuke nodded as he watched the older ninja leave.
"Well, bye, Sasuke," Sakura began cheerfully getting up from the stool next to his bed.
"Hold on, Sakura,…" Saskue began. He wanted to tell her what he had seen. That way, she might be able to see the genjutsu as well. If he only explained it properly then the others were bound to find out as well, right? Then they could see it, the difference in him, all he had to do was enlighten them.
Sakura blushed, "Yeah, S-Sasuke?"
No. I can't get her involved. I couldn't do that..What was I thinking? Sasuke looked the other way. "Nevermind…it's nothing."
Sakura stared at him sadly, her green eyes pleading for him to continue. Again, Sasuke was keeping the truth from her. "Right..It's alright. You can tell me later, alright?" she smiled as she closed the door behind her, her face in shadows.
Inside his hospital room, Sasuke looked over at the white tulip.
Whatever happens to him…I'll be the one to…
A/N: Good evening~
This is Mira-Mira here! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please leave a review. I might update this story a little sooner because I have a three more chapters I want to upload! Haha. Love you all~!
