Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. My respects for Kishimoto for creating an amazing manga full of great characters.
Opening his eyes felt strange considering he didn't expect to wake up. When he saw his eyes shut down; he thought that was it. The end of his life. Although he was saddened because he'd never be able to embrace his family again; he was content for he was blessed with a happy life even if it was cut short. No matter what he was going to watch over his family from where ever he'd be when he died. To his surprise he wasn't dead. He was in a lot of pain but definitely alive.
Sakura-chan you did it! I knew you'd be able to find a cure.
Naruto was ecstatic to know he was going to be part of this world a little longer. The thought of kissing his wife and hugging his children brought him happiness. He was grateful with Sakura because he knew she was the one who saved him. The first person he saw when he finally opened his eyes was Hinata. It was obvious she was crying behind the smile of relief she held.
"Naruto-kun you're awake! How I've missed you!" Hinata cried giving him an intense loving hug.
"Please don't do this to us again!" Hinata continued still hugging Naruto.
"H-Hi..." Naruto barely said as he attempted to reply.
"That's enough Hinata. You're going to kill the poor idiot...Welcome back Naruto." Tsunade interrupted with a serious look. Hinata reluctantly complied wiping her tears from her face.
Is that worry in grandma Tsuande's voice? Was I in a coma that long?
"Gr-Gra-Gra..." Naruto stuttered unable to speak fluently. The words he wanted to say we're not coming out resulting in him becoming irritated.
Damn it! Why can't I speak?!
"Easy Naruto. Since you've woken up from a comatose state you'll be experiencing side effects. Not speaking properly is one of those. You'll be okay soon. Now rest before you give your wife a heart attack." Tsunade explained with a coldness he wasn't accustomed of hearing from her.
Why is she speaking to me like that? Am I still in danger?
"Hinata!...Hinata, wake up!...Hinata!" Naruto yelled attempting to awake his wife who had fallen asleep hours ago. He knew he was being rude but couldn't stop himself. Minutes ago he had realized he can speak again normally. It had been several days of him trying to speak only to fail miserably each time. So now that he could he wanted to speak to his wife about so many things.
"Oh Hinata! Time to wake up! " Naruto continued trying.
"Naruto-kun..." Hinata mumbled struggling to open her eyes. When she finally was able; the first thing she saw was the man she had fallen in love. A happy Naruto with a wide smile and mischievous eyes.
"I could speak again Hinata!" Naruto happily shouted.
Hinata's reaction was a sudden kiss to her husband's lips. Oh how long she has waited to feel those lips against hers. Naruto naturally responded deepening the kiss.
"Hinata...I-you-I've never seen you so spontaneous" Naruto said not believing his wife's sudden reaction. He had never seen this part of her and he loved it.
"I've missed you too much, that's all." Hinata responded with a blush.
"Then shall we make up for lost time?" Naruto grinned followed with another passionate kiss.
"Naruto-kun..." Hinata said trying to make a statement only for Naruto to cut her off with another kiss.
"Someone could come in..." Hinata continued but Naruto kissed her once more.
"So?" Naruto replied in between kisses. Hinata tried again to stop the intimate moment fearing they might take it a little too far. To her relief she was successful when Naruto heard the door open. Hinata quickly started to comb her hair with her hands to avoid looking guilty.
"My, my. Don't you two look suspicious?!" Tsunade said accusing both of them with her eyes.
"Anyways, how are you feeling Naruto?"
"I feel brand new" Naruto replied grinning.
"You can speak again so that's progress" Tsunade commented with the same coldness she had been expressing since Naruto woke up.
"How long will I be stuck here?" Naruto asked curious. He was already getting tired of the hospital especially the food. He missed his ramen so much.
"I'd say a few more days if you keep up the fast progress. Anymore questions?"
"Ummm yea. Can you please notify Sakura-chan I can speak now so she can visit me? I swear she is the only one who hasn't visited me. But I'm sure it's because she didn't want to see me in the state I was." Naruto said eager to show his gratitude to his best friend.
"I see you haven't been told." Tsunade replied glaring at Hinata.
"Told of what?!...What's going on?...Where is Sakura-chan?" Naruto turned to see his wife for some sort of indication. The only thing he saw was a sad face in Hinata with a touch of remorse.
"Hinata where is Sakura-chan?" Naruto asked.
"I'm sorry Naruto-kun. I should have told you earlier." Hinata replied not daring to look at Naruto's eyes. She had meant to tell Naruto earlier. Every time she tried bringing it up she stoped herself when she imagined her husband's reaction.
"Tell me what?!" Naruto shouted with no patience. His heart started racing because he had a good idea of what he was going to hear.
Please not that. Please Sakura-chan be okay.
"That Sakura sacrificed her life for yours!" Tsunade blurted before storming out of the room leaving a devastated Naruto behind.
There she was on the hospital bed breathing with the help of machines. He could hear her slow breathing and the beeping of the machines keeping her alive. She looked so peaceful sleeping except she wasn't going to wake up. Or at least that's what he was told.
What the hell Sakura. I thought we came to the understanding you'd try to save me.
Naruto couldn't help himself from staring at her causing his heart to break a little more in every passing minute. It pained him so much that he was close to his limits in containing his anger.
"Hokage?" he heard a nurse call to him from the door.
"Not know, I want to be left alone" Naruto replied not bothering to turn around or conceal his anger. He really wasn't in the mood to speak to anybody even if he was Hokage.
"It's just we're here to disconnect Ms. Haruno. And was wondering if you were done with your goodbye." the nurse stated with hesitation knowing the Hokage was in no good mood.
"WHAT?!" Naruto growled this time deciding to turn around. He saw there was several people behind the nurse with items to disconnect Sakura and take her away.
"They didn't tell you? ... I'm sorry. ..I didn't know." the nurse apologized with signs of struggle in her voice. She was definitely intimidated with the Hokage's obvious rage.
"Get out!" Naruto demanded pointing to the door. He needed them to leave to prevent himself from doing anything he'd later regret. He was Hokage after all.
"But Hokage we have orders to disconnect her" the nurse insisted but scared to Naruto's reaction
"I SAID GET OUT!"
"It's not their fault Naruto" Tsunade said making her way into Sakura's room.
"Then who's it?!" Naruto hissed. By this time Naruto wasn't at the point of caring how he spoke to others even if he was Hokage. No one listened to him when he practically begged for Sakura not to sacrifice herself. He understood why Sakura did it but couldn't comprehend how the rest let her get away with it. Especially Tsunade who was supposed to care about her. They should have stopped her.
"We only kept her alive long enough for you to properly say goodbye. Now say goodbye so we can do our job." Tsunade replied irritated.
"How can you be so heartless like this with Sakura-chan? She is your student for heaven's sake! "
"Look brat! Don't you dare imply I don't care about her. She means more than only a student. This is hard for all of us. But we need to disconnect her fast before she begins to physically suffer."
"Suffer?! Can't you see she is resting like an angel?!" Naruto pointed out.
"For now but her condition will worsen. If we keep her connected the only thing waiting for her is a slow painful death. Is that what you want? See her suffer without being able to ease her pain?"
"You were going to keep me alive till I died."
"Your condition was different than hers. She was supposed to die right away yet she survived."
"Well I'm Hokage and I prohibit anybody from disconnecting her" Naruto declared not caring of any consequences. He wasn't going to let anybody kill Sakura.
"Naruto she is going to suffer!"
"I DON'T GIVE A CRAP! THAT'S MY FINAL WORD. NOW GET OUT!" Naruto shouted louder shocking everybody close by. This was a sight of Naruto no one had seen. They were used to the calm caring Hokage who was obsessed with ramen and enjoyed playing around. Not this angry fearful man who with his current eyes can kill right about anybody. Tsunade sighed and left signaling everyone to do the same. She too didn't want to deal with Naruto because she was hurting as well. After all it was her who did the chakra transfer. If anyone is to blame it should be her.
Naruto slowly began to calm himself for her. He decided to sit down next to her because he wasn't sure when he'd be able to leave her side.
First Sasuke now you want to leave me too.
Naruto grabbed her hand attempting to find comfort but he felt worse when he felt how cold her hand was. At first sight she looked like a sleeping angel however she is closer to death than anything else.
"Damn you Sakura. How could you do this to me...I guess this is it huh? We both die together in one way or another." Naruto muttered holding her hand tighter with tears falling down his cheeks.
Where am I?
Sasuke thought to himself while trying to decipher where he was when nothing seemed or felt familiar. He had recently woken up. There was a nurse tending to him when his eyes opened. The nurse surprised ran out of the room yelling like a mad woman. Then in that instant Sasuke's mind took him to someone precious.
Sakura! I need to get to Sakura before she starts to worry...
Author's Note: Aww poor Naruto! He is definitely taking Sakura's sacrifice hard. Thanks for the nice comments and the follows. They are truly encouraging :). Enjoy!
