Your body is getting weaker by the hour. Your heart beat is pounding against your rib cage, adrenaline rushing through your entire system. There's no escaping it; you're afraid. You try to hide; try to find any sort of escape so you don't have to face it. But it's burning through you. It's eating at your skin. It's not something that can be easily forgotten nor can you easily rid yourself of it. It's too late. Fear is already winning the battle, even if you try to deny it.
His sleepy eyes finally open as his body rests against the hospital bed. It's 10:23 in the morning, according to the clock hanging opposite to him. Sasuke looks around the room, noticing flower, candies, and cards spread across the table and seats. "When did I get here," Sasuke thinks to himself. A bitter sensation comes to his mouth. "Naruto." He checks around the room to see if anyone else is there. A familiar face greets his eyes as he sits on the floor, messing with his vest and picking dirt out from under his fingernails. His brown hair tied back in a pony tail and his familiar green attire instantly brings up a name; Shikamaru. The teenager waits for him to notice. "Hey, I didn't think you'd ever wake up," Shikamaru finally says in an unusual happy tone. "You were out for a good two days. Apparently tons of people came to see you. I just got back from a mission so I thought I'd stop by." He pauses, waiting for him to say something. "So how do you feel?"
Sasuke sits up slightly, noticing bandage after bandage covering his body. A sharp pain runs up through his rib cage, lowering him back down. He tries again, moving more slowly than before. Sitting at an upright position, he's finally able to respond in a feeble voice. "I've been better. Didn't think I had so many fan," he says sarcastically.
Shikamaru smiles, walking to the opposite end of the bed where baskets and bears sprawled across the table in an overflowing manner. "I didn't think you did either. Then again, news spread fast about your recent encounter with your brother. No one actually thought he'd come back just to attack you like that and leave you for dead."
The raven-haired teen looks away from Shikamaru, angered and embarrassed by it. "I hope that's all they know about what happened," he thinks to himself. "But Naruto, I didn't think he'd actually do something that sneaky. He promised me he wouldn't tell anyone about this." Sasuke grits his teeth, clenching his hand into a fist. He felt betrayed by him. A bitter feeling crawled up the back of his spine. He breathed in, trying to relax. He needed to know what all was said. "What all did you hear?"
"Only that you were beaten pretty good and Naruto found you. Some ANBU spotted Itachi in the forest and asked him about his business. When Hokage got word of this, she sent the Jounin to find you. Found you fast asleep against the wall, Naruto holding you against him and telling them to stay away. They thought you were dead for a moment until they brought you here. That's about it though."
Sasuke unclenched his fist. Naruto hadn't said anything in the first place. He was actually trying to prevent them from taking him to the hospital. At least he tried to. Sasuke smiles. "So hopefully they still don't know what happened." Sasuke looks up, seeing two more familiar faces standing in front of his bed. "Oh my gosh, you're ok," Sakura says. She turns over to Shikamaru, slapping his shoulder. "Why didn't you tell me he'd woken up sooner?"
Shikamaru stares at her confused. He waves to Sasuke, tells him to get better, then walks out the door. Sasuke looks over at Naruto, who isn't able to look back at him. His hands nervously fiddle with his hair and jacket. His look is that of a scared puppy. Tears are trying to hold back in his eyes. Sasuke tries to say his name and ask him what was wrong, but Sakura quickly interrupts him. "I was so worried about you, Sasuke. I'm just glad you're ok though. Good thing Naruto was there to help you before anyone else."
Sasuke nods in agreement as the green-eyed girl continues to ramble about how worried sick she was and about how they got him to the hospital. He can't listen to her right now. Naruto's actions are too distracting for even him to think about anything else. Why was he acting so funny? Why did he seem more distant? Was he scared of seeing Sasuke like this? Was he upset for breaking his promise to not take him to the hospital? There was something on his mind, and Sasuke wanted to find out. Before he could, another interruption disturbs him from finding out. "Would you two mind if I talk to Sasuke alone for a bit," Kakashi asks aloud.
Naruto and Sakura nod, walking out of the room. Sasuke takes one last glance at Naruto, mouthing to him that they needed to talk when this was over. Naruto nods, shutting the door behind him. Sasuke looks at his covers as Kakashi moves an assortment of items from a chair then placing it right next to his bed. The two remain silent for a moment. Kakashi speaks first. "I suppose you got away lucky this time," he says.
Sasuke doesn't look in his direction. "You call this lucky. I have a broken rib from the way this hurts, my body is covered in bandages, I have a blackened eye, a busted lip, and my ass is permanently scarred for life. Not to mention the mental torture this will bring me for the rest of my life. Oh yea...I definitely got away lucky. If only he knew the whole story," Sasuke says to himself. He doesn't reply to Kakashi. It was obvious to him that he didn't really have to. "So I suppose you think I don't know about what else happened to you besides you getting the life beaten out of you, don't you," Kakashi sneers.
The boy's eyes suddenly widen. He tries to keep his breath steady as his heart beat pounds against his chest. "He knows." Sasuke swallows hard, his hand slightly shaking. He tries to hide his quivering bones under the clean sheets. Slivers of sweat drip down his cheek. He could tell Kakashi was watching every detail, letting him know he was correct. Sasuke can feel his teeth chatter. He tries desperately to grit them. Why was he suddenly so fearful? "So I guess I'm right and now you're wondering how I found this out, am I right?" Sasuke doesn't respond. "Your doctor gave me your report to review after they were gone examining you. They found fluid on the back of your pants so they knew more had happened than the fast-spreading news had let on." Kakashi's now on his feet, walking around Sasuke's bed.
Sasuke tries to swallow his pride enough for him to speak. "You don't a damn thing about what happened so just drop it and leave it be," he shouts.
The man's face is suddenly inches away from Sasuke's. His eye glaring at him, the other one covered by his head band. "I know more than you think, Sasuke. Don't play that foolish act with me."
"You don't! You weren't even there to experience it so just drop it and leave it be. I don't want that memory to keep playing in my head. It already scared enough as it is, Kakashi, so just drop it and leave it be," Sasuke shouts, forcing Kakashi to take a couple steps back. Tears stream down the teenagers' face. He looks towards the window, Naruto watching the scene horrified. Sasuke looks back down at the bed as tears dripped down his beaten cheeks. "Please...don't make me relive it again. And don't tell anyone about this. No one else needs to know but me," he finally says.
Kakashi nods in agreement and walks out of the room, leaving Sasuke by himself. Sasuke can feel his whole body tremble; his heart racing as it pounded against his chest. The attack played again in his mind, making him relive the nightmare and the pain. His body stiffens in fear. "Why? Why does he constantly have to do this to me? Things were already bad enough and now this. I don't think I can stand much more of this. Itachi's already proven his point; I'm weaker than him. Why does he insist on beating me down even more?" The door quietly opens as Naruto slips his way into Sasuke's room. He sits on the chair, still trying not to make a sound. He can see his friend breaking apart. It wasn't the most common thing for him to see. In fact, he'd never seen him this way before. Not since he first saw him after it happened. The boy stands to his feet, walking over to Sasuke. He wraps his arms around him, feeling his body tremble against his skin. "Please don't cry. I know you're scared but please don't cry," Naruto says, trying desperately not to cry himself.
Sasuke could feel warmth returning to his body as Naruto held Sasuke close. His arms felt like silk as they held him. The trembling finally ceased. Naruto released his hug, sitting next to him on the bed. "I tried to keep your promise, Sasuke. I did. Only they got to you before I could prevent them. I'm really sorry."
Naruto leans back, laying against Sasuke. A small pain crawls up his rib cage. Sasuke ignores it as Naruto lowers his head onto his chest once more. His fingers stroke through the boys blond hair. That same silky feeling slid between his fingers. "You did. I'm not mad at you, Naruto. You tried at least."
"Yea but I promised you no one would find out about this. I swore that I'd give you time to heal before I took you to the hospital. But I was scared that you'd die right there in that room if I didn't get you help. I was scared that Itachi could've come back for you and killed you with me right in the room. I didn't want that. So I let them get you help, knowing you'd wake up and be angry with me."
"Do I seem angry right now," Sasuke asks. Naruto turns raises up to look Sasuke in the face. He nods his head no. "Exactly. I just wish he hadn't broken a rib."
Naruto smiles; just what Sasuke was after. That suppressed any thought of Itachi running through his mind; a miracle that only Naruto's smile could accomplish. He didn't exactly know why nor could he begin to explain it either. All he knew was that every time Naruto smiled, the chaotic storm that raged through his mind would cease. The treacherous waves of his past would calm. The snake of Itachi's being would die along with the rest of the malicious beings. Only Naruto could do that. It was awkward for Sasuke to admit that. Naruto suddenly brings his face close to Sasuke's. "I'm just glad you're ok now. You can go home in three days, according to the doctors. Sakura and I will help as much as you need us to until you're able to do things on your own."
Sasuke smiles back at Naruto. He kisses his lips tenderly at first, releasing before Naruto is ready. Naruto kisses him back, more passionately than before. When they break, Sasuke smiles at him. "I heal quickly so you won't have to worry much about that. Although I might need some help with lifting with this rib." Sasuke points to the water sitting next to him on the table. He could easily enough get it himself, but why miss the opportunity to pick on Naruto? Naruto glares at him, rolls his eyes, and reaches to hand him the glass of water. When Sasuke is done drinking from it, Naruto takes the cup from his hand and places it back on the table. "Thank you, Naruto."
"This is going to get annoying very quickly," Naruto replies, reaching over for a basket of goodies and opening a piece of chocolate. He sticks it in his mouth and eats it happily. The two boys talk for the remainder of the day. Sasuke didn't know why, but having Naruto around always made him want to heal faster or smile more. He was his best friend, but there was more to it. Something much more.
The black of night hung over the forest trees. Daylight has passed through the village and evening has crept through the world, blanketing the sky in black silk. Sitting motionless against a tree, Itachi watches from above as ANBU search the ground for him. He remains still and silent like an assassin, waiting for it's prey. Once they're caught off guard, he throws shruiken at them, hitting both members on the back of their skull and instantly killing them. He slithers his way out of the tree, leaping to the next one. "That was almost too simple." He hears footsteps coming from behind him. The rustling of leaves informs him that there's more that stayed behind. "It's obvious why they're hunting me. Sasuke. They must've found him and informed the Hokage of the horrendous attack and sent ANBU after me." Itachi hides among the branches. Once the other six members finally stop, he uses his sharingan to paralyze them and wipes them out with a simple jutsu. "They don't even know my next move and already they're trying to prevent me from attacking again. This humors me."
Itachi makes his way out of the forest, his cape close to his body. The night hides him almost completely in the forest, making it hard for ANBU or anyone else coming after him difficult to track. He leaps out of the trees, landing in front of a creek and staring at the city gates. He smiles maliciously at the leaf village. "If only they knew what was really in store for the only surviving member of the Uchiha clan. If only they knew what he was about truthfully endure." He snickers venomously as he cleans a blade with a piece of cloth. He stares in the direction of the Uchiha manor. "If only they knew what was really going to happen next."
End of Chapter 3