Disclaimer: I. DO. NOT. OWN. NAR.U.TO. Obviously.
Mind, Body, and Spirit
Chapter Six
"AHHHH!"
Immediately after Sakura screamed, an ANBU rushed in. When she saw him come into her room, she started to panic even more. Sakura did not trust anyone anymore. For all she knew, the ANBU could be Itachi disguised. There was no way she was letting him near her.
When the ANBU saw the pink-haired woman, whom he was ordered to guard, he was nearly shocked. Only nearly because, in his profession, he was trained to never be surprised about anything. He had seen Sakura around Konoha, at the hospital, and he'd even been teamed up with her on a mission once, and he did not believe his eyes. Could this frightened little girl be the same strong-willed, fearless woman he knew? He did not know the konoichi well, but he knew her enough to understand that it would take a lot to break her thick walls.
When he finally broke out of his thoughts, he noticed that she no longer had her oxygen mask on and the IV was no longer attached to her arm. He went for his first instinct and went out quickly to grab a doctor. Once he found the doctor, he brought him to the room.
As both men entered the room, Sakura noticeably tensed up. She still sat on the floor by her bed, and she looked up, locking gazes with the ANBU and then the doctor. The doctor slowly made one step closer to Sakura, as if she was about to attack him, and spoke to her as if speaking to a child.
"Sakura… remember me? I'm Dr. Tanaka. We did an autopsy together last month… remember? I'm your friend. Not enemy…"
Dr. Tanaka took one more step closer to Sakura, but she screamed, "No! Stay away! Don't you even think about getting near me! If you do… I'll… I'll… Just stay away!"
"Sakura… I need to put you back on your medications… so I'll need you to get back on the bed. But you're too weak to do it yourself, so please let at least one of us help you."
Sakura weakly shook her head. "No," she said softly, "No. Don't put those… those… tubes back inside of me! I won't let you… I don't trust you… I don't trust anyone!
Dr. Tanaka and the ANBU started speaking in low, hushed voices that Sakura could not hear. "I don't know what to do… she needs to rest. She needs to get back on that bed… I need Lady Tsuande. That's the only thing I can think of… I can't do this myself," said Dr. Tanaka hopelessly. He wanted to help, but in the long run, he just couldn't.
The ANBU whispered in reply, "I know. My partner is on his way to get Lady Tsunade as we speak. She should be here soon. Really soon."
Dr. Tanaka nodded his head, slightly relieved. Then he turned his attention to Sakura, who was just staring at the floor. When he spoke her name, she nearly jumped. In a shaky voice she said, "W-what?"
"You may not trust us, but what about Lady Tsunade? When she comes, will you let her help you? Hmm? How about that?"
At that very moment, Sakura thought about how she said that she trusted no one. But she was wrong. Right then and there, she could immediately think of four people she could trust with her life, no matter how screwed up she was in the head, she knew that she would always trust them. Naruto, Sasuke, Tsunade, and Kakashi.
Her answer was a no-brainer. "Fine," she said, "But neither of you come any closer until Tsunade is here. Understood?" Both men nodded their heads, praying that their Hokage would get there as soon as possible.
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Tsunade was still discussing important matters with the copy-ninja when…
"Lady Tsunade!"
The Hokage's head perked up a bit as she turned her head to the entry way to her office. "What?" She asked irritated looking at the ANBU who barged in on her conversation. She had a lot to deal with at the moment, and she didn't need another problem to deal with.
"You're needed at the hospital!"
"Why?"
"Sakura!"
Simultaneously, Tsunade, Kakashi, and the ANBU disappeared in a flash, only leaving an empty room filled with smoke.
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Sakura sat on the cold floor for what felt like an entire lifetime. Every second mattered. Every precious second that prolonged her life… She felt hopeless, useless, like a rag doll dropped on the floor that someone needed to pick up. Sakura felt ashamed of herself. Inside, she knew that the doctor and the ANBU were just trying to help her, but could she take the chance of them plotting against her? Planning her downfall? Her demise? Could she be positive that they really were allies?
Sakura clung to the only thing she truly had. Her life. She no longer trusted people, including herself. She felt like she lost her sanity long ago, and her mind is now filled with swirling and confused thoughts. In her current position, all she could do was rely on other people, a habit she broke several years ago, and a habit she no longer wanted. Everything was wrong.
It was quiet. No one said a word as they all waited. Sakura kept her eyes closed and concentrated on deep breathing. No one in the room made eye contact with Sakura, thinking it would be a dangerous idea. And it would have been.
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Footsteps… more footsteps… three pairs of feet running hurriedly down the halls of the hospital...
"Where is she!" Boomed the voice of the Hokage.
Tsunade had given strict orders to the two ANBU she had assigned to guard her apprentice. She told them that every night, Sakura was to be placed in a different room of the hospital, for safety reasons, that is why she yelled to the whole hospital staff, asking where Sakura was. Also, the second that Sakura woke up, one of the ANBU were to contact her immediately. No matter what. And that's what they had done. Mission complete. Almost.
"This way, Lady Hokage," said the ANBU who told Tsunade the news of her student.
Sakura could hear the commotion that was going outside the walls that kept her inside. She wanted Tsunade to come, but she felt embarrassed in her present state. She was being nothing more than a baby… at least that's what she thought. Crawled up in a ball on the floor, refusing help… how childish, and yet, Sakura still did not bother getting up.
Sakura was also worried about the two other people that were with Tsunade. What would they think of her when they saw her on the tiled-floor? Would they think less of her? Surely these people knew who she was, and what her status in this village meant to her. She was thought of highly in Konoha, and if this little secret got out to the public, how would people treat her?
Sakura quickly stopped thinking, breathing, and moving when she heard the door creak open. She closed her eyes, waiting for her doom. She didn't want to see the other two people who came with Tsunade. She only wanted Tsunade. Sakura thought she sounded like a child who wanted her Mommy, which, in a way, Tsunade is like her mother. But still, she did not want to open her eyes and look up. She really did not want to open her eyes and look up. The room just got a lot hotter.
Sakura heard several pairs of feet leave and then the door closed. She took a huge chance and opened her eyes, but not looking up. She saw two pairs of feet. Tsunade and a mystery person who wore standard ninja sandals. Sakura kept her eyes down to the floor, about ready to close them again.
"Sakura," said a voice that was way too low to be Tsunade's.
It couldn't be… could it? Kakashi?
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Author's Note: Oh my goodness! You guys went crazy with the reviews last chapter! I feel so loved! Please keep it up! Who knows… maybe I won't update again until I get 40 reviews… Just kidding. Not really. Just kidding. Sorta.
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