…Did I mention that I do NOT own Naruto….
Author's note: Thanks so much for all the positive feedback! I'm sorry that the first two chapters seemed short and choppy—I wanted to get as many perspectives in and that seemed the best way to do it. I also apologize for the not-so-exciting fight scene with Orochimaru. I'm sure when it finally happens in the manga it will be 100x better with way more Naruto kicking ass. Sakura was the main focus in that chapter. Perhaps when all is said and done I will go back and revise it to have more action and a little more description.
Chapter 3: Sasuke
Tsunade groaned inwardly as she watched Naruto pace back and forth in front of her desk. If she had the heart to, she would have thrown his butt out the door and made him go get some sleep. But she knew after all that had happened that sleep would not come to the young man for days.
As was expected, Yamato and Naruto had been the first to awaken after the battle near Sound.
The blond's wounds were slower to heal this time, but he bounced back with his normal resiliency. Yamato had suffered only minor injuries, but the former captain had remained in the hospital frequently checking on the status of his companions—as had every other ninja involved in the battle.
"Come on, Old Lady Tsunade!" Naruto ground his teeth. "When can we go see her?"
"Naruto," she was losing her patience, "Sakura won't even know you are visiting her and I doubt she'd want you to see her in such a state."
"Well WHEN will we be able to?"
Tsunade bit her lower lip. She sighed, aware that it could be a long time before Sakura was better—IF she got better. Perhaps I should let them see her…just incase…
"Alright. Fine. Just let me send Shizune in to check before you go barging in there with half the village."
She had barely got the sentence out before Naruto was on his way towards Sakura's room.
Kakashi, who had waited patiently in the back ground, turned to follow him. Before he reached the door, he turned to Tsunade.
"How's Sasuke?"
"Still sleeping, though I expect him to wake some time today. I don't want anyone visiting him until I assess him when he's awake. Even though it was Orochimaru who injured our crew," She shook her head, "We have to remember that the Sasuke we knew is probably gone. He did not hesitate before to try to kill Naruto…and that was when he was himself."
Kakashi nodded. "I was thinking along those lines as well. Sakura mentioned drugs at one point in time… could they have altered his thoughts enough to make him want to kill them?"
"It's possible, but not a chance I want to take. For now, we'll assume that he's still dangerous and should be watched closely."
The copy nin turned to go. "If you need me, I'll be with Sakura." He pulled out his book. "It's about time I got back to this thing anyhow."
The Hokage shook her head in dismay. "Jiryia—I should have known he'd grow up to be a smut author."
Kakashi smiled to himself, hearing her remark as the door shut behind him.
He continued down to the hospital, his mind a mass of thoughts. Yamato had given him a good idea of what had happened on the hill, and Naruto had filled in the details about when he was separated from his companions. He hadn't expected the turn that their story took. But it made him proud.
They had all known that the one chance to save Sasuke would be to defeat him to the point where he had no energy left and then use Sakura's healing ability to flush Orochimaru out of him.
But Kakashi hadn't known she was strong enough to do what she did. And he didn't know that Sasuke had such power over the Kyuubi. Something about that Uchiha clan…he thought to himself…there's more to it than we realize…there's something more as to why Itachi wants the fox.
"Hai! Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto was waiting patiently outside Sakura's door. "Shizune won't let me in yet!"
"Just wait a moment, I'm sure she's not doing it on purpose."
They stood in silence for the few seconds before the door opened. A tired looking Shizune emerged, giving them a half-hearted smile.
"There's chairs for you, if you like."
Naruto glanced in the room. "Why's she sweating so much? It's freezing in here!"
"The kyuubi chakra," Shizune frowned. "It acts like a poison in a wound. That and she had a good dose of Sasuke's chidori from that sword."
Quietly, Naruto and Kakashi entered the room. Shizune remained out in the hallway and closed the door behind them.
Sakura lay motionless on the hospital bed, a thin white sheet drawn up to her shoulders. Her skin was pale and ashen and her pink hair lay in a wet tangle around her face. Beads of sweat rolled slowly down her skin.
"It's my fault," Naruto whispered quietly, grasping Sakura's fevered hand. "If I could have controlled the kyuubi, she would have had chakra left to heal herself!"
Kakashi put a hand on the young man's shoulder. "Sakura did the only thing she could have in order to save the two people she cares most about. Don't do her the injustice of making excuses. Let's just remember the courage she has shown and hope that it's enough to keep her alive."
"Y-You don't really think she might die, Kakashi-sensei?" Naruto seemed shocked.
"Surely it has occurred to you that this might be the last time you see her…" Kakashi frowned, looking at his former pupil's expression. Apparently that had been the furthest idea from Naruto's mind.
The copy nin took up a chair and pulled out his book, but Kakashi was unable to focus on the words. His eyes traveled back to Naruto, still standing at the edge of Sakura's bed.
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Tsunade entered the room cautiously, dismissing the ANBU from inside. Without a word she move towards the bed and held out a glass of water to Sasuke.
For a moment she didn't know if he would accept it, but eventually the Uchiha took it from her and downed it in one gulp.
"Tsunade," Sasuke nodded in thanks.
The hokage sat on the foot of the bed. "Tell me, Sasuke, how far am I to trust you?"
If her bluntness surprised him, he gave no reaction. "I have no ill will towards Konoha…or anyone from this place."
"And your quest? Your revenge?"
"I will still find a way to avenge my family."
Tsunade sighed. "I must have your word that you will not seek out Naruto with the intent to kill him."
"I give you my word."
"They'll want to visit you," She glanced at him from the corner of her eye. "And I think you need to stay here for a while longer. Your body underwent a massive trauma."
"I… I don't want to see Naruto or Sakura yet." He bowed his head. "Maybe only Kakashi… if he wishes."
"Well, Naruto won't like that much, he's been after me about seeing you non stop. And Kakashi, I'm sure, will want to stop in now that you're awake." She paused and Sasuke knew who she hadn't mentioned yet. "Eh…Sakura…she may not be able to come see you…for a while."
"Why…" Suddenly the memory of it hit Sasuke with such a force he almost fell back onto the bed.
He remembered now; remembered Orochimaru stabbing her with his blade. And he remembered how she had grabbed him even as the light was fading from her eyes. She was the reason he was free—and he had almost killed her.
Tsunade saw the comprehension in his eyes. She did not miss the deep look of pain she saw there as well. "I'll leave you for a while. Rest. If I see Kakashi, I'll send him here."
Sasuke was barely aware of her leaving. He leaned back against the pillows, one memory replaying itself inside his head.
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Tsunade approached the second room with less caution and chuckled softly to herself as she witnessed both Naruto and Kakashi snoring away in their respective spots. Naruto had fallen asleep on the floor next to the bed and Kakashi had let his book slip into his lap as his head lolled from side to side.
The sannin's smile disappeared as she placed a hand on her apprentice's forehead. Calming herself, she applied her healing chakra to Sakura. Within a few moments the fever had broken…just as it had every day Tsunade had treated her. I wonder,she thought, will the fever return again today, as with the other days? Or will we get a small ounce of improvement?
Only time would tell.
"Hnn…Old Lady Tsunade?" Naruto groggily shook his head.
"Alright you two," she motioned him to go wake Kakashi. "Visiting time is over. You can come back in the morning."
Naruto grumbled on his way out the door but made no other objections.
"Kakashi," Tsunade stopped him. "Sasuke is awake. You may visit him if you like."
The silver-haired ninja said nothing in acknowledgement but nodded curtly.
Once they were gone, Tsunade walked over to the window and unlatched it. She opened it slightly. The night air was warm, warmer than she wanted Sakura's room. But if her hunch was right, this was a healing step for more than just one person.
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That night…..
She hadn't moved since he'd entered the room. He could tell it wasn't a restive sort of sleep.
She had moved at some point in time because the covers were kicked off of the bed.
The night air is too warm for her. He frowned as the little droplets of sweat were quickly absorbed into her already soaked hospital gown.
He approached the bed to see her more clearly.
It hadn't been all that long since the last time he had seen her. She had come barreling out of the caverns with fire in her eyes, ready to lay low the one they called "Sai". He had been surprised to see her, to say the least, and had even blurted out her name.
And out of all of them, she had surprised him the most by trying to attack him.
Would he have killed her, then? What if Yamato hadn't stepped in front of her? He shook his head. Those memories weren't clear to him.
How she had changed!
Something compelled him to want to touch her still-short hair, but he didn't. He just stood and watched her.
She could have died. You could have killed her.
Sasuke stayed in Sakura's room until the rays of early morning sun began to filter through the sky. When he didn't dare wait any longer, he left for the emptiness of his own room—exiting the same way he had entered—through the window.
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Update ASAP!
Coming soon… chapter 4- Kakashi vs. Sasuke, Sakura awakens
