Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
Summary: Oh, love. It wasn't exactly what Itachi was looking for at age 24, but his mother thought differently. It didn't appear time was on his side, either.
Additional Notes: Sorry this chapter took a little longer than the previous! It's been such a busy week I was getting sick of it – literally. But, I shouldn't be making excuses. On with the chapter!
C3
''So, you're suggesting a deep vein thrombosis detached?'' Tsunade asked the young student with a serious look on her face. She could already have expected this – yet, it still came as a shock. Itachi was so young. But, of course, it could happen to anyone.
''Yes, lady Tsunade.'' Sakura started, ''It seems the detached thrombosis detached and travelled its way to his lungs, causing a pulmonary embolism.'' She herself wasn't sure what caused it – it surely wasn't obesity or pregnancy (him being a boy and all), so what was it? She made a mental note to ask him what may have caused this.
Tsunade furrowed her brows and Sakura was sure she was thinking the same thing. ''I'll look into his record later. For now, concentrate on other patients for a while.'' she said.
''Yes, lady Tsunade.'' Sakura said with a monotone voice. ''I'll take my leave, then.'' she said, walking to the exit of Tsunade's office. The pink-haired girl closed the door behind her as she walked to the stairs, descending them. She would go see the patients, but first she'd go by Itachi's room to check on him.
Sakura could've expected this, as it was visiting hour. When she stood before the patient's room, she heard voices from inside. Out of politeness, she decided to knock on the door before entering. When she came in, she was again greeted by a loud noise of coughing. It seemed Itachi was almost coughing up his longs as Mikoto patted his back, handing him a glass of water. She looked at him with a worried expression.
''Everything alright?'' Sakura asked after Itachi had calmed down. She walked towards them, kindly smiling. Sakura still wondered what had triggered it. The sickness and all. Maybe something did happen on his mission with Shisui. It could be something different, of course. She didn't know what yet.
While Itachi was silently drinking the water his mother had given him, Mikoto decided to answer the young medic. ''He's been coughing on and off for a while now. Do you have any idea what's wrong with him?'' She asked worriedly.
''I may have one.'' Sakura answered. ''I need to check something first, though.'' she continued, looking at Itachi. His eyes were all watery because of the coughing earlier. Sakura actually felt bad for him, as he was so young and she didn't know what the outcome of this was going to be. ''Can I take a look at your legs please?'' she asked the ANBU captain.
''Sure.'' he said, a bit confused. Why did she want to take a look at his legs? He rolled down the sheets to his ankles and saw Sakura frowning. That made him look, too.
''Your legs are all red.'' she mumbled to herself. ''Do they hurt?'' she asked, a little louder this time. Itachi didn't really like where this conversation was going. He had never expected this to be actually serious, truthfully.
''A bit.'' he said, frowning. His mother didn't really like this, either.
''We don't know it for certain yet, but it's most likely a thrombosis. A deep vein thrombosis, actually. It's seems like it has detached, and moved its way to his lungs. There, it formed a pulmonary embolism.'' She said, frowning just like both of the Uchiha. ''It's not very serious yet. However, if we don't do anything, it will be.'' she looked up, glancing both a look. Itachi had narrowed his eyes while Sakura was talking, looking down at his hands that lay in his lap.
''Mrs Uchiha,'' Sakura began, startling Mikoto. ''has this ever happened before? With another family member, I mean?'' Mikoto looked down, thinking hard. Then, after a while, she looked at Sakura again.
''I don't think so,'' she started, frowning. ''it may have, but I'll have to ask Fugaku later.''
''That's okay, I'll check with the register later. It may be hereditary. '' Sakura said. Then, she looked at the clock. It was almost time for her break. Before that, she had to check on some other patients too. ''If we find out more, we'll contact you both immediately. I'm going to check on some other patients, now.''
The pink-haired kunoichi closed the door behind her as she walked out of the young ANBU captain's room. For now, she was going to have to focus on some other patients, as Tsunade was looking into Itachi's record. Sakura wandered to a room a couple of meters further. She took a look at the chart next to the door and read the name.
A while ago, a young man had been brought in, about sixteen years old. After a mission gone wrong, he broke his leg, along with a few other bones in his body. If everything was okay now, he could leave in a few hours.
Walking inside, Sakura had a smile on his face as she saw the shinobi talking to his younger brother rather loudly. ''So then I punched him in the stomach, and he flew meters away'' he said while his brother looked at him, sparkles in his eyes. He seemed to really enjoy the story, his mouth being opened in admiration.
Sakura walked up to the bed. ''So, you got him good, huh?'' she asked him, grinning. Both he and his brother then turned their heads around, seeing Sakura beside the bed.
The boy laughed and scratched his neck. ''Yeah.'' he said, sheepishly. Shizuo, he was called. Shizuo had been in the hospital for two weeks now.
''So, how are things going?'' Sakura asked Shizuo, who still had a smile on his face. When he came in, Sakura immediately liked him. He had the same goofy smile as Naruto, also not giving up on anything. Giving a thumbs up, he answered her.
''Everything's going fine. So when am I going home?'' he asked, as he and his brother looked at the medic with a questioning expression.
''Well, I need to check a few things and then you can go.'' Sakura smiled at both of them.
''Ah,'' the kunoichi sighed in relief when it was finally time for her break. She stepped out of the hospital, wandering once again among the houses of the Leaf. Sakura had decided she could just as well drop off the prescription at the pharmacy while she was taking her break. But first, she would get lunch.
While on her way to Ichiraku, she saw Sai and Naruto on their way to the ramen shop as well. Naruto talking endlessly while Sai just went along with it, faking a smile. He sometimes nodded or shook his head in response, but never really opening his mouth. That is, until he saw Sakura coming into view. ''Ah, Ugly.'' he greeted.
That smile makes it even worse, Sakura thought to herself. ''Hello Sai, Naruto. I thought you were training?'' she asked them both, though she knew what Naruto was going to say anyway.
''Time for a break! So, are you on your way to Ichiraku as well?'' the blonde asked in return, grinning. Sakura nodded as they all walked to said place together. It wasn't very busy at this hour, as it was already passed lunchtime.
''Ah, Naruto!'' Teuchi greeted. ''Oh, Sakura and Sai, too! Time for lunch, I reckon?'' he always seemed happy when Naruto walked in. But it wasn't only then, he always had a smile on his face. That was probably the thing that made his costumers happy too. His daughter, however, thought he went a little overboard with it. So, she liked to punch him.
''It's always time for ramen, Teuchi!'' Naruto said excitedly. With that, they all sat down next to each other. There wasn't much space, but there was enough.
With a full stomach, Sakura entered the pharmacy Ino sometimes worked at. She hoped she was there, as she hadn't had the time to talk to her lately. Sakura had been gone for quite a while, so she really felt the need to talk to her best friend.
Although they don't seem very friendly to one another, they've been friends for a long time. When Sakura was still very young, around the age of 4, they both met. With Sakura constantly being bullied because of her forehead, Ino gave Sakura the confidence she needed in the form of a ribbon. But when they both had a crush on Sasuke Uchiha, their friendship changed into more of a rivalry. It didn't matter as they still saw each other as best friends, or sisters.
''Ah, Forehead! There you are.'' Ino said, walking around the counter to meet Sakura. ''Where were you yesterday?'' Not waiting for Sakura's answer, she continued. ''I have to tell you something! Chōji and I kissed!'' Ino exclaimed a wide smile on her face and both hands on the pink-haired kunoichi's shoulders.
''That's great, Ino!'' Sakura said in response, not mentioning she knew it already. ''So, are you guys dating now?'' she decided to ask.
''Yeah, totally!'' Ino answered.
''Finally,'' Sakura sighed. ''it really was time for such a thing to happen, you know. I thought you'd be more persistent about it. You never let something, or someone, linger.'' She said with a smile, too. ''But,'' she started. ''I'm here because I have a prescription. I need some medicine for a patient. If possible by tomorrow?''
''Oh, sure. Let me take a look.'' Ino said and took the prescription from Sakura's hands. Walking to the counter, she read the piece of paper. ''Coagulation inhibitors, huh? I'll look for some. Wait a sec'.''
''Sure,'' Sakura said. A few minutes passed and she was still waiting for Ino to return. She looked on the clock hanging over door to the stockroom. It had been around five minutes now. Finally, the blonde returned.
''There weren't any in the stockroom, but I'll have them for you by tomorrow.'' Ino said.
''Okay, Pig. I'll see you later, then.'' Sakura said and waved when she walked out of the pharmacy. Walking back to the hospital again, she took another route then earlier. I hope he'll make it 'till tomorrow, Sakura thought. It wasn't that serious yet, but it could get painful for Itachi without some medicine. Even that wouldn't completely heal him, naturally. He probably needed to go into surgery, as this wasn't going to heal itself. Of course, Sakura could actually try to take out the blood in his lungs the same way she had done with Sasori's poison, she realised.
Arriving at the hospital, Sakura once again walked through the doors and entered a space coloured in white. The smell of cleaning products overwhelmed her. After such a long time, it didn't even bother her anymore. She was completely used to it. Sakura still preferred the scent of nature or home more, though. It was only natural.
Sakura decided to go to Tsunade first, so that they could check Itachi's records together. That way, they could maybe see whether or not it would return after a simple surgery or healing session. Walking up the stairs towards her mentor's office, she was greeted by Tsunade before she even reached the place.
''Sakura! I've looked into Itachi Uchiha's records. It seems he didn't inherit it. However, a while ago he had surgery in the area of his stomach. That may be the cause.'' Tsunade told her pupil. ''I think we need to treat him now, Sakura, as this is both the fastest and safest method.''
''O-oh, okay.'' Sakura muttered, a little overwhelmed by Tsunade's sudden appearance. They both walked towards the stairs and descended them, walking to Itachi's room. Tsunade knocked before entering and then walked in. Mikoto was still there.
''Ah, Itachi, Mikoto.'' Sakura's mentor greeted them both, ''It seems we've stumbled upon the cause of this pulmonary embolism.'' At that, Mikoto seemed happy they had finally found the source. But then the second part came.
''We think it's best to act now.''
A/N: Reviews make my heart all tingly, so thank you for them~!
I feel as if I get smarter every time I write more chapters on this story, haha! All that medical stuff; I'm not even good at biology.
So, like always, please review in order for me to improve both my English and writing skills. If you notice some errors, please don't hesitate to point them out to me. I'll correct them as soon as possible!
See you at the next chapter!