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: There is a time skip in this chapter! Not right away, but there's a notice when it starts. It isn't really a big one, either.


C4


Mikoto Uchiha looked at both of the medic-nin standing before her. She was kind of shocked at the news. They wanted to act now? What did that mean? She had actually been hoping medicine could help him, but now that they said that, did it mean he had to go into surgery? ''Wha-what are you saying?'' she asked both of the doctors, ''Surgery?''

Then, Sakura interfered. ''Well, I may have found a solution to that. I'm not saying it'll work, but it's worth a try.'' she said with a friendly smile.

It was soundless for a while, until Itachi broke the silence. ''Let's do it.'' he said, neutral expression on his face. Sakura couldn't really guess what he was thinking, but she didn't think he was even scared at all. She knew he was brave, of course, being such a well-known ninja and having graduated so early.

''Okay!'' the pink-haired kunoichi said. She was happy she could do this. This way of handling things such as embolisms could actually make things a lot easier. ''Let's start right away, then.'' She told Itachi. Sakura then turned to Mikoto.

''I'm sure this won't take long. Do you want to wait outside, ma'am?'' she asked her, and she saw Mikoto nodding to that.

A few minutes later, Sakura was preparing everything for the following procedure. She already fetched a few bowls of water, having placed them beside her on a mobile table. Sakura tied up her hair, and spoke to her teacher, Tsunade. ''I need some people to help Itachi down, lady Tsunade, as this is a delicate procedure. I can't have him moving.''

''I'll get you a few people.'' Tsunade answered her pupil, then turning away to – probably – get a few shinobi.

Sakura then turned to her patient, Itachi, again. ''With this method, I can get most of the blood out of your lungs. I won't be a very pleasant feeling, so I'll have to put you under general anaesthesia.'' She saw Itachi nod and Sakura walked over to a countertop with a small sink in it. She reached up to a cabinet hanging over it. There, she grabbed a needle and walked back to Itachi. On her way, she reached into her pouch to get the anaesthesia and put it in the needle.

''I'm sure it won't take long, you'll be on your feet and out of bed in no-time.'' Sakura told him with an encouraging smile, ''But,'' she continued. ''This doesn't mean it's permanent. It could still come back, so we'll have to check up on you every once in a while.''

''I know,'' Itachi said.

''Okay,'' Sakura said, ''I'll put you under anaesthesia, now.'' She pressed the needle down into his arm slowly. In a few minutes, Tsunade would come back and Sakura could start the procedure.

When Tsunade finally returned with some shinobi, Itachi was completely unconscious. Sakura actually thought he looked peaceful, as he normally had serious but clearly tired look on his face. ''Okay. Please stand around the bed, everyone.'' Sakura told the shinobi. Tsunade had brought four shinobi, on each side of the bed stood two of them. Sakura didn't really know them well, though she'd seen some of them a few times. ''I need you all to hold him down for me when it's needed. I've put him in a coma, but this is just to be sure. Last time, things didn't really go well the first time either.''

Everyone did as she said, holding Itachi to the bed. Not really firmly yet, but Sakura wasn't sure it was needed anyway. ''I'll start now,'' she said. Holding her hand above one of the tiles of water, it formed a sphere under her hand. Moving it above one of his lungs, she inserted chakra into it as to get the blood out of the lungs. But it didn't go without a struggle. As soon as the sphere touched his chest and Sakura inserted chakra, Itachi started to struggle. It really was a good thing Tsunade had found the shinobi, or she wouldn't be able to go on with it.

Sakura went on with the procedure and pushed the watery sphere into his chest, getting it to his lungs. From there on out, she drew the misplaced blood out with her chakra. She absorbed them in the ball and pulled it out. The sphere that was once transparent, was now filled with a few little drops of blood. Meanwhile, little drops of sweat had formed on Sakura's abnormally large forehead. She moved the sphere to a bowl and released it.

''Well,'' she mumbled to herself, ''that was one. Now the other.'' Sakura wiped her forehead with a cloth and took a deep breath. The medic-nin moved her hands above the tile again, forming a sphere of water once again, starting the procedure for the other lung.


Sakura sighed as she closed the door of Itachi's room behind her. The hall was really silent; normally, she heard some visitors or nurses talking. She also couldn't see Mikoto anywhere. She might be in the waiting room, Sakura thought to herself. With that thought, she walked a few meters further; walking down the stairs. There, she saw Mikoto. Indeed waiting for news to arrive.

Mikoto was a very sweet woman. Although Sakura didn't see her much, she could really see how much she cares for her boys. Mikoto was clearly the housewife or the household, too. Always taking care when Sasuke, Itachi or Fugaku was sick. Fugaku, instead, was a really strict man; always watching over both Itachi and Sasuke's training. He was always making sure they were doing all they can; that made him a good father at some point.

''Mrs Uchiha,'' Sakura greeted her, ''the procedure went well. There were no complications.'' she continued with an encouraging smile on her face. The kunoichi walked further towards the bench Mikoto sat on. ''Itachi's still asleep because of the anaesthesia, but he'll wake up soon. You can visit him, if you want?''

When Sakura spoke, Mikoto had immediately looked up to see the young kunoichi standing there. ''I'd like that,'' Mikoto said with a smile on her face. Although her son was a true prodigy and could save himself from a lot of dangers, she often found herself worrying about him. But she realised earlier, he couldn't be any safer than here; Itachi had found himself in a place with the most renowned medics in the entire shinobi world. Mikoto trusted Sakura to do the best she could.


((TIME SKIP))

''So, how are you feeling, Itachi?'' Sakura asked the patient before her. Itachi lay on the bed before her as Sakura examined him, checking if embolisms were forming again. It'd been a week or two since the kunoichi experimented the new technique on Itachi. He had gone home after, as there were no complications at all.

''I'm feeling alright, Sakura.'' Itachi answered her, ''I haven't been coughing as much as I did before, luckily.'' he added. He looks better, too, Sakura thought. She thought it was great the technique worked, everything would be a lot easier. Why hadn't she come up with it earlier?

''That's great, Itachi.'' Sakura said, hands still shining with the green glow of chakra. She hadn't found anything. It could be one-off thing. The medic certainly hoped it was. ''Well, I've got good news, Itachi.'' Sakura said, looking up at Itachi. She had stopped the chakra supply and so her hands weren't glowing anymore. ''I haven't found anything that could result in more embolisms.'' Sakura said with a bright smile. Although she'd been healing patients – from a broken leg to an internal haemorrhage – for a while now, Sakura always felt good when she made someone feel better again.

Even though Itachi didn't clearly show it, he was clearly happy with the outcome of the examination. He looked away from Sakura and a small smile formed. His trance was broken soon, though, when the kunoichi continued. ''However, this doesn't mean it can't come back. We'll have to check in a week or two again.'' Her expression had changed from a cheerful smile to an encouraging one.

''Thank you, Sakura.'' Itachi looked back at her, eyes meeting.

When Sakura walked out of the hospital a few hours later that day, she sighed in relief. It seemed she was doing that more and more these days. It'd been so exhaustive, working at the hospital for so many hours a week. With every patient she had to use her chakra and it was tiring her terribly. Don't get it wrong, though. Sakura really liked helping people and all, but it was slowly taking its toll. Luckily, she had tomorrow off. Sakura was planning on working on her taijutsu.

''Ah, Sakura!'' when said kunoichi heard a voice yelling her name, she turned around to see Mikoto walking up to her, waving her arms around. The pink-haired kunoichi stood still and Mikoto reached her. ''Sakura, honey, how are you doing?'' she asked her, clearly interested.

''I'm fine, Mrs-'' Sakura was cut off by Mikoto, who had nothing but good intentions.

''That's good to hear, child!'' she said in response, ''I just wanted to thank you again for taking care of Itachi. Fugaku and I are really thankful for that.'' Meanwhile, Mikoto had grabbed both of Sakura's hands while talking. ''What do you think of dinner at our place, tonight?'' she asked the kunoichi.

That certainly knocked the kunoichi off her feet. ''A-ah, well... Sure, why not?'' Sakura muttered a bit overwhelmed.

''Perfect!'' Mikoto said, ''I'll see you at seven!'' She smiled. Then, she waved and walked away, leaving a stunned Sakura in the middle of a marketplace.


A/N: I'm sorry if this story comes off as ''slow'' to you, but I intent to make it more of a realistic, as far as that's possible with Naruto. However, that means I have to time things realistic, if that makes sense, haha. Also, do you guys think it's too medical? I feel like I'm looking up too much, making the story boring. If so, please let me know.

Also, a while ago I dicovered a cosplay group called Fighting Dreamers Productions. I've been absolutely in love with them! They've got really good cosplays, plus they're funny, too! I suggest you check them out if you have the time.

I hope you've enjoyed my story so far! Same goes for every chapter. If you notice any mistakes, please let me know!