It wasn't until the next day that Sakura was informed about Naruto's accident. She had been let off of work early the day before, and had just missed him. She had wondered why he hadn't come to Ichiraku's to get ramen with her last night. It was so unlike him to not come get ramen, he practically survived off of the stuff. She had assumed that he had either forgotten that he had promised to treat her to a bowl or that he couldn't afford it and had decided to save face by not showing up. She had been betting that it was option two, but she had never even considered that something bad had happened. It wasn't like Naruto to get into trouble that he couldn't handle. At least, not in the village anyhow. She felt terrible that she had been judging his character without knowing all of the facts. He had been severely injured and alone in the middle of his own village and there she was assuming that he was being immature and standing her up. She should've known that he wouldn't choose this time to break a promise. It wasn't his nindo to go back on his word.

"I'm sorry, Naruto. I won't doubt you again." She said to his unconscious form. He looked so peaceful while he was asleep. She still hadn't gotten over how much more mature he was since he came back from training with the legendary sannin, Jiraya. Not only was he less foolish, he was also kinda hot.

Sakura sighed. She knew that no matter how attractive Naruto became she would never be able to fall for him. It wasn't because she was still tied up with Sasuke. She didn't really love Sasuke anymore. He had caused her too much pain. She still wanted to save him from his own hatred though, before he hurt himself as badly as he had managed to hurt Naruto and herself. That's one of the reasons she became a medical ninja- to protect the ones she cared about from getting hurt.

But there were some things that she couldn't heal.

Sakura grabbed Naruto's hand. His palm was a little rough from the wear that the Rasengan gave it. He hadn't mastered it well enough to keep from causing callousing when used too often. Sakura smiled faintly. Typical Naruto, as soon as he thinks he's mastered something, he moves on to the next thing. Even if he hurts himself in the process.

As she looked back at how much Naruto had changed since Sasuke had left, she began to tear up. She had been so caught up with her own feelings at that time that she hadn't thought about his own. She asked him to bring Sasuke back for her, without thinking. After the retrieval squad got back and she found out that Naruto was badly injured she wasn't worried about his safety as much as she was upset that he had failed at his promise. But once he woke up he hadn't given up on the promise. It had completely taken over his whole mind. Bringing Sasuke back became more important to him than his lifetime goal of becoming Hokage. She had no doubt that if Naruto's death would bring Sasuke back to Konoha that he would willingly give himself to the knife. And that is what hurt her the most.

Sai said that it was because Naruto loved her that he had made the promise. Sakura knew that wasn't right. No matter how many times Naruto asked her out, he had never really meant it. She could tell it was just part of an act he put on when he wanted attention. Especially now that he had returned from his training, he really didn't like her like that. It was Sai's inability to understand emotion that he couldn't get the subtle difference between Naruto's love for her as a sister and love as in a relationship. She had come to the realization while Naruto was unconscious after trying to get Sasuke back that the one he truly loved was Sasuke. She wasn't sure if he even fully realized it himself. She wouldn't have known if she hadn't held his hand and managed to somehow feel the emotions he was feeling in his sleep while he was dreaming of Sasuke. She wasn't sure how she had managed to be privy to that information. She wouldn't be surprised of maybe it was his subconsciousness calling out for her help. He had sacrificed his own feelings towards Sasuke in order to promise to bring Sasuke back for her. He was willing to give up his own feelings so that she could be happy. And even now, he still wanted to bring him back. She didn't want Sasuke to come back for herself anymore, not that she told anyone that fact. Instead, she wanted to bring him back for Naruto's sake. He was the only one who understood Naruto's true self, the one she had caught a glimpse of once before. With Sasuke's return he could save Naruto, and vice versa.

She let go of Naruto's hand and began to skin some apples for him to eat when he woke up. The slicing was a way for her to relax and let go of the feelings of regret she had regarding Naruto and Sasuke.

She wouldn't be surprised if Naruto secretly hated her for making him make her that promise.

If it was the other way around, she was sure she would have hated him.

Sai entered the room with a painting he had made for Naruto. It was one that showed all three of them, plus Yamato and Kakashi and he had even drawn Sasuke in as well.

"Why did you add Sasuke?" She questioned.

"Because, he's part of team Kakashi as well." He replied. "I know that it means a lot to Naruto to keep believing that." He tried to smile, but per usual it was an obvious fake. He still was unable to let his feelings show, or express appropriate emotions at correct times.

"Is Naruto doing alright?" He queried. Sakura nodded and continued peeling apples.

"Don't you think you have enough apples yet, Sakura?" Sai commented, nodding over to the overflowing bowl of sliced apples that were already going slightly brown. Sakura frowned. She hadn't realized how long she had been sitting next to Naruto, musing over the past and slicing apples. Sometimes she wondered if that's all she ever did. It seemed like one of her friends was always in the hospital at any given time.

She finished the apple she was on and then put down her knife.

"Yeah, I just kinda got caught up in what I was doing and didn't realize. If you want some apple go ahead. I don't think he's going to eat all of those. Oh, but try to eat the ones that are browning first." She replied with a sigh. Sai took a few and thanked her before looking back towards Naruto.

"He looks like a doll." Sai mentioned. Sakura half smiled. Naruto did indeed look a bit like a doll the way he was right then. Quiet, and unmoving.

"Yeah, a little."

There was an awkward silence for a little while, and then Sai stood up to leave. He put the painting next to Naruto's bed and bowed to Sakura.

"I apologize for leaving you alone, but I must go. Danzou needs me."

Sakura waved him off.

"Of course. There is no need to be sorry." She replied. In fact, she was kind of glad that Sai was leaving. She felt freer to feel emotion when he wasn't there, being as emotionless as a billboard. She knew it wasn't his fault, and that he was trying to change, but still. It was too awkward. Sai made his exit and Sakura leaned forward onto Naruto's bed, resting her head on her arms. She was slightly bored, but felt guilty for feeling that way. She didn't want Naruto to wake up alone, knowing how much he hated to be alone. Especially after last night. Fortunately, Lady Tsunade had let her have the day off just so that she could be here, although part of her wished she could be training right then. Sakura grabbed Naruto's hand again, to test and see if she could see his dreams like that one time. It didn't work, not that she had really expected it to.

Looking at Naruto's face she noticed something she hadn't seen before. There were dark circles under his eyes, very similar to Gaara's. She knew they had to have been caused by insomnia.

"That's strange…" She wondered. Her experience with Naruto had been that he slept like a rock in any situation. He would fall asleep while running sometimes. Something must be seriously wrong for him to not be sleeping well.

"I wonder what's going on with you, Naruto. You've been different recently, and not in a normal way. You're more reserved and quiet. I guess I should be grateful for it, considering all the complaining I used to do, but now I kinda miss it. I can feel it in your Chakra that something is going on inside your heart. I can only hope you can overcome it. I don't think that I could lose you the way I lost Sasuke." Sakura's tears dripped down her cheeks. "I mean, The way we lost Sasuke."

Sakura didn't remember falling asleep, yet here she was being awoken by Lady Tsunade, who had come to visit Naruto.

"Sakura, has he woken up yet?" She asked. Sakura shook her head as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes. The sun was shining in the window and birds were chirping on the other side.

"Is it tomorrow already?" She questioned, surprised. Tsunade nodded.

"You didn't show up for morning training, so I assumed I would find you here." She said, "Plus, I planned on visiting Naruto as well. I need to ask you something, Sakura."

"I know. I felt it." Sakura replied. "Naruto is changing. I felt it in his Chakra." Tsunade looked surprised.

"I wouldn't have expected you to be that advanced in Chakra detection, especially considering that you aren't a sensory type. Of course, you are my student after all. Regardless, I knew you'd find out, just I thought you would have realized based on the physical symptoms."

"You mean the dark circles around his eyes?" Sakura commented. Tsunade shook her head.

"Sakura, did you even read the medical report?" She tsked. Sakura shook her head.

"No milady. I know that I should have but I was really worried so I only looked to see if there were any life-threatening issues. There weren't any mentioned so I didn't look at the non-life threatening injuries. I'm sorry. What is it that I should've seen?" She asked guiltily.

"Dark circles under his eyes are not enough to prove anything. But look at these." Tsunade lifted up Naruto's non-broken arm. There were bandages around the wrists.

"I'm sorry, Milady. I don't quite know what you are getting at. He hurt his other arm too? What does this have to do with the insomnia?" Sakura was confused at how cryptic her sensei was being.

"It's alright, Sakura. I know I'm not being really clear, but I know that this will hit you hard and I was hoping you would have come to the realization yourself about how the insomnia, Chakra, and hurt wrists would come together. I'll stop beating around the bush and just come out with it." Tsunade took a deep breath before she began.

"I'm sure you've noticed something slightly different about Naruto. He's been quieter and more accepting than usual. He almost never leaves his house. Even Ichiraku hasn't seen him for a while. You are the only person he really talks to anymore. He has been secluding himself more and more often. At first I thought it was because he was busy training or something. That's usually what's going on when he disappears for a few days. But as the time dragged on I realized that something was up. The medical records confirmed it. Naruto is undergoing some sort of depression."

Sakura looked confused.

"He can't be…not Naruto. He's usually so bright and cheery." Tsunade averted her gaze from Sakura's and look towards the blonde on the bed.

"The medical report said that there was evidence of self-mutilation and that there was a darkness in his Chakra that was unusual. His Chakra is usually so warm and inviting. And he has been suffering from insomnia. All of these factors are why the medics have diagnosed him as having depression. There is also some talk amongst the Medical Ninja that his fall from the roof may have been a suicide attempt."

Sakura gasped,

"Do you really think…" She started.

"No, I don't think he was trying to commit suicide. If there is one thing that I know about Naruto, it is that once he makes his mind up on something, he follows it through. As much as I hate to say it, if he had wanted to be dead, he would be dead. Plus there is evidence that he dragged himself to the entrance of the alley. If one was trying to kill themselves, they would not go to such lengths to survive." Tsunade paused and her eyes grew softer, "I don't think there is any doubt that he is feeling upset about something. But I refuse to believe that he would think of committing suicide. It's such a selfish way to die, and Naruto is so selfless that I doubt he's capable of such a death."

Sakura nodded in agreement.

"I can't believe that I didn't know. I thought that we are friends. I must be a terrible friend if I couldn't even see him changing like that. "

Tsunade looked at Sakura kindly.

"Don't blame yourself. Naruto has had to hide his feelings for most of his life. He is an expert. If he didn't want you to know, there was no way you would find out. Not by looking at him at least. No, I don't think there is any reason for you to blame yourself. He is lucky that he has friends like you by his side to stick with him, and peel apples for him to eat when he wakes up. You are a good person, Sakura, and an even better friend. Hold onto Naruto, and don't let him lose himself. That's your responsibility as said friend."

She sighed,

"And mine as a grandmother, even if it's only a nickname. I owe him that much."

Sakura looked at Naruto, feeling a lump in her throat. Was this all about Sasuke? About his need to deny himself to make others happy? About how he was treated as a child? Or was it something else. All she could do was wonder, because she knew that Naruto would never tell her.

Tsunade squeezed Sakura's shoulder and left her and Naruto alone once more. Naruto still hadn't woken up, but Sakura suspected it was because of his exhaustion at not having slept well recently. His body was probably trying to catch up while it could. Sakura didn't know how long she sat there, holding Naruto's hand and waiting for some sign of movement from him. A nurse came in and replaced the bag of liquids in the IV drip to keep him hydrated. She also brought Sakura a tray of food. She hadn't even realized how hungry she was. She hadn't eaten in almost two days. Even so, she couldn't bring herself to eat the rice and chicken that the nurse had brought her. It smelled tantalizingly delicious, but the thought of eating made her throat feel like it was tied closed. Tears would sometimes find their way down her cheeks. She felt a little empty inside, like it was her fault that Naruto was suffering so badly.

"Oh Naruto."

The flower that Sakura had brought was wilting. Flower petals were falling onto the bedside tables. She had brought him a daffodil. She remembered when Naruto had told her that they were his favorites.

"Why are we here again, Sakura-chan?" Naruto complained.

"I have to get Lee a flower to take to the hospital. His old one is wilting."

"Hmmph…" Naruto pouted.

"What kind are you going to get?" Ino cooed. Sakura shrugged,

"Maybe a tulip or something. Or a lily."

"NOOOO don't get him a lily…those are a sign of death. You aren't wishing for him to die are you?" Ino commented.

"Of course not! "

Sakura looked over and saw Naruto by the daffodils. He was looking quieter than usual and a soft, small smile played on his face.

"Naruto-Kun?" She asked. Naruto looked at her guiltily.

"Yeah?"

"Are you looking at getting a flower for Lee too?"

"Nah, I think Bushy Brow is fine with one. I was just thinking of getting Sasuke one." He replied.

Sakura was shocked. Naruto was being nice to Sasuke?

"Um, well if you go along that kind of reasoning, there are plenty of flowers in Sasuke's room. He has a lot of people who care about him bringing him prettier flowers than those weeds." Sakura replied, not meaning to sound as harsh as she did. Naruto got into a slight defensive stance and sighed.

"Alright. I'll meet you outside ok ,Sakura?"

"Oh um, alright." What had gotten into Naruto all of a sudden? Sakura grabbed a few tulips and paid Ino at the front desk before running outside to catch up with Naruto. He was sitting on the ground with his knees pulled up to his chest and was resting his head on his kneecaps.

"Naruto, what's wrong?" She asked. He stood up and started walking towards the hospital.

"Nothing, I'm fine."

On the way to the hospital they had run into a daffodil growing in the lawn in front of the hospital. Naruto had looked at it with warmth in his eyes and smiled that smile that Sakura had seen in the flower shop. A real smile.

Sakura sighed and squeezed Naruto's hand, wishing for him to wake up.

She remembered what he had said when she asked him about the daffodils.

He had said that he liked them because they like to pop up in unexpected places and it was a nice surprise when he would find one. He said that he thought that they were a message from his parents, telling him to look up and smile. Even in the darkest places in the woods, you could probably find a daffodil if you looked hard enough.

"Naruto, no matter how depressed you get, keep looking for those daffodils. Keep looking for the things that make you smile and laugh and feel warm inside. I'll help you find all the daffodils you need. Please, don't give up hope."

Naruto had begun to have a fever again. He had had it since he came into the hospital, but it subsided earlier. It seemed that it had come back in full force though, and Sakura went to the nurse to get some fever reducer to give Naruto.

"Because he hasn't woken up, you'll have to give him an injection." The nurse ordered while handing Sakura the needle.

"I know that," She snapped. The nurse looked taken aback: usually Sakura was really sweet. She decided she must just be really worried about Naruto.

"I'm sorry…I'm just a little tired is all." Sakura said apologetically.

"Don't worry about it. I understand." The nurse smiled back kindly. "It's tough."

Sakura smiled back sadly and returned to Naruto's room, where she found him moving in bed. It seemed like he was writhing in pain.

"Uhhhhhh…." He moaned and then flipped his head from side to side. Sakura ran over and put her hand on his forehead. The fever hadn't gone up anymore, so she doubted it was that.

"It's probably a nightmare." She mused. Sakura put the fever reducer shot on the bedside table and held Naruto down with one arm, using Chakra to strengthen her hold on him. With the other she began to pet his head to try and calm him down.

"Shhhh Naruto. It's alright, I'm here." She cooed, "I won't let anything hurt you anymore."

Naruto's eyes flickered and then opened. He stopped struggling and looked at Sakura.

"Hnnnnh…" He sighed before trying to sit up. Dizziness hit and he was fell back onto his pillow.

"Don't try to sit up, Naruto. Your head is still injured."

"Hmm." He replied. "I feel hot."

"You have a fever. Here, I have some fever reducer." Sakura picked up the needle from the bedside table. Naruto was looking the opposite direction, outside of the window. Sakura went up and gave him the injection. Naruto jerked away and growled.

"Sakura…" He moaned. "I don't like shots…"

"Well, it was the only way you were going to get fever reducer so suck it up." She snapped. Naruto didn't look up at her, but she saw some sweat drip down his face.

"Sakura…." He started before gulping deeply. "Get me some water…I think… I think I'm going to throw up…" He swallowed again. Sakura handed him a cup of water, which he took a few sips of while she grabbed a garbage can for him to vomit into. He took it from her and held it in his lap.

His stomach lurched a couple of times before he actually began to throw up. He swallowed hard, trying to postpone the inevitable.

"Please, I don't want to throw up, but if I must then please make it fast…" He moaned in his own head.

He felt Sakura place her cool hand on the back of his for support. His throat suddenly exploded into the bucket. He coughed and spit and took a deep breath before the next wave of vomit. It took him a minute to realize that Sakura was rubbing his back. Tears formed at the corner of his eyes as his stomach rebelled. At least it didn't taste bad. It was very watery and had no flavor, but because it was mostly water, there was a lot of it. It took him a few minutes until he was sure he was done, then he leaned his head on the side of the wastebasket and panted. Once he had his breath back, he coughed and spit the last of the sticky, mucus-y saliva that typically followed a vomiting session. Sakura offered him an apple to chew on.

"Here…chew on it to clean the acid off your teeth, but then spit it out. It isn't good to swallow apples right after you throw up because they are harder to digest. I'll go get some water for you."

Naruto took the apple and began to chew on it. It helped him get rid of the sticky taste in his mouth. His tears began to dry on his cheeks now that the sick feeling had passed. He spit the apple pieces into the wastebasket and Sakura returned with some water.

"Here." She handed it to him and he greedily drank it down to wash the acid out of his throat.

"Thanks" he gasped after draining the cup. He handed the empty vessel to Sakura.

"How long was I out?"

"Almost three days now." She replied quietly. "You had me worried."

"Don't worry about little old me!" Naruto replied, smiling. But this time Sakura was not fooled. His smile hadn't quite reached his eyes. Was this something new or had she just not noticed it before? Honestly, she was as bad as Sai when it came to reading emotions. If she was fooled for so long by a fake smile from her closest friend, then maybe she should join Sai in his research at the library. They could learn together.

"Naruto…I have to talk to you about something." She murmured. Naruto's eyes widened.

"Are you going to finally confess your love to me?! Yesss!" He teased, "It only took you 16 years!"

"No, Naruto. I need you to get serious for a moment, please." Sakura sighed. Was Naruto really feeling depressed? He sure wasn't acting very much like it. But Lady Tsunade had claimed Naruto was an expert at lying about his emotions.

Naruto looked at Sakura, surprised at her tone.

"What is it Sakura?" He questioned, worried.

"I need to ask you…about the fall from the roof. " She asked after a moment of silence. She looked Naruto in the eyes.

"What about it?" He asked, confused. Sakura began to cry when she asked,

"Was it really a fall? Or did you jump…did you try to commit suicide?!" She finished.

Naruto looked shocked and then sighed. He laid back onto the pillow.

"It was an accident. I promise." He replied. Sakura narrowed her eyes and scrutinized his face. Finally, she decided to believe him.

"Thank God…." She cried, letting the tears flow. She put her head on Naruto's chest.

"I couldn't bear to lose you to the darkness too."

Naruto lifted up his arm and looked at the bandaged wrist.

"I take it you…uh…you noticed." He murmured. Sakura lifted her head and wiped her eyes.

"How could you be so stupid, Naruto! Do you realize how many people care about you! Why do you feel the need to do that to yourself, when we are all here to support you!"

"I wouldn't expect you to understand." Naruto commented, "And so I won't bother explaining. It's just something that makes me feel better. It reminds me that I can still feel."

Sakura punched him in the spot where she had injected him.

"Can you feel that?! That's a shitty reason to do something like that to yourself. According to the medical records, you BITE yourself. Why does that make you feel better?!"

Naruto didn't respond, but turned to lay on his side, facing away from Sakura.

"Answer me!" She yelled out. It took a moment before he responded.

"Because at least I am doing it to myself and not to someone else." He finally answered. Sakura gaped at him, speechless. She realized that his shoulders were shaking and that soft sniffles were escaping from the other side of the bed. He was crying and trying to hide it. Sakura reached over to grab his arm in an attempt to comfort him. He shook her off.

"Just leave. You don't understand." He cried. Sakura grabbed his arm again,

"No…I won't…" She argued.

"GO! I don't want you here! Look, I appreciate you helping me, but I can't take it if you're sitting around here pretending that you know how I feel. Don't try to comfort me by acting like you can even comprehend what I'm feeling right now! Why do you think I don't tell anyone? I don't need your pity, your fake comforting. It won't help me!"

"But…" Sakura objected.

"Leave, Sakura. Just…go. Please." Naruto begged, looking at her with tears streaming down his face and snot dripping from his nose. "Please just leave me alone…"

Sakura looked at Naruto for a moment before turning around and running out of the room. She too, was crying as she made her exit, leaving Naruto alone again with his pain.

Naruto cried until he felt like he was out of tears. Then he just layed there feeling empty.

"What I said to Sakura…is the same thing Sasuke said to me…" He sighed, and bit his arm through the bandage until a sufficient amount of blood leaked through the wrappings and into his mouth.

That's why he did it. To remind him of the pain that he feels. To remind him why he always felt so empty. The metallic, salty taste of blood is the only thing that made him feel alive now.

That was something that Sakura would never understand.