Viscosity Chapter 7: Punishment, a naruto fanfic

VISCOSITY

Word Count: 9819
Song: "Shameful Metaphors" by Chevelle
Author's Note: Same song since it's really part two of the previous chapter. The line below is from the aforementioned song. I did not write it nor do I make money from it in any way. Please support the artist and purchase their works, along with supporting Naruto and purchasing that too. I still haven't seen Naruto: The Last yet, but more on that at my note after the chapter. To be honest, the more I read through the last chapter I posted, the more I detest it, so expect some editing to that soon. To those who read and reviewed, thank you. I hope you like this chapter, as I think it's much better than the last! I'm sorry this took so long. Now that I've survived midterms, I really hope I can speed up my updates - but as you can see, the word count is climbing and climbing, and although I love coming out with long chapters, it does take me a while. So we'll see I guess. Anyway, on to it!

Punishment

"The finest river, the ravens tend…
All along insisting, we're worlds away…"

At sunset, Sasuke watched the sky turn a kaleidoscope of beautiful colours. The orange glow seeped from the sinking sun up towards clouds bathed in pink and purple, as the pale blue sky faded behind him to midnight black on the other end of the horizon. Stars peeked out, waiting for their turn to shine across the world above. He sat cross-legged on the dock, listening to the waters as they swished against each other, his hands on his knees.

He needed time to assimilate all the information from that afternoon into his mind. His conversation with Shikamaru had not yet solidified in his brain, and it floated in pieces with the past three days around his thoughts. He couldn't tell whether that was from the drugs in the hospital or the sheer amount of knowledge – and restrictions – he'd been given.

"No one doubts how important you were in saving us. But no one knows you anymore, either. All we know is what you can do, but not who you are."

The words echoed back and forth across his head, with sounds of the grasshoppers singing outside working their way into his recollections. Sasuke closed his eyes, trying to block out the vivid dusk so he could concentrate on the memory.

The small blue scrolls rolled slightly on the desk, as if to taunt him into picking them up and unfurling them. He wanted to know what was inside. He had to read them, to understand them, before he could acknowledge them. This entire ordeal was becoming a grand test of his patience.

"Alright, so here is everything you need to know. I'm guessing Kakashi lectured you pretty well, huh?" Shikamaru said.

"Aa." Sasuke replied.

"Don't tell me he read you that whole speech? What a drag. That thing took forever." the Nara followed. Sasuke squinted his eyes in response. "Oh wow, he actually did. You know, for someone as quiet as he is, he sure can go off on a tangent pretty well. But it's all for the greater good, I suppose. Maybe you just… bring that out in him."

Sasuke narrowed his eyes even more.

"Anyway. These three scrolls are copies of your decree, if you will. You get one, and we keep two. They're all the same, so it doesn't matter which one you take." At this, Shikamaru took one and un-did the knots holding it together. "I'm not going to read all of this, since you can do that yourself. But let's go over a few things. You already know about the months of service to perform in other nations, correct?"

Sasuke nodded ever so slightly, eyes angry slits at this point.

"Right. Well, it's going to work a little differently here. Tsunade knew better than to sequester you here for a period of time, doing who-knows-what. So your sentence here is not determined by month, but rather, by person."

"By person." Sasuke repeated, meaning it to be a question, but having it come out as a disdainful statement instead. What the hell was this guy talking about?

"Yes. By person. Here…" Shikamaru stated, peering through the blue scrolls until coming upon one in the middle of the pile. He picked it up, and handed it to the raven-haired ninja across form him. "Open this." Sasuke took the scroll and undid its binding, unfurling it to its full length to see the contents. It read:

"As laid out in the contract issued by the Hokage, Hatake Kakashi and Senju Tsunade,

I, NARA SHIKAMARU, assert that as retribution for crimes against Konoha and the Land of Fire, the accused Uchiha Sasuke shall give compensation to me in the form of:

Saving all of Konoha from great destruction.

To be completed on the following date:

Witnessed by:

Signed:

This agreement is legally binding and can only be unsealed by the present Hokage. Rejection of these conditions will result in a trial for the accused. Failure to comply with the aforementioned terms is punishable by severe penalties including but not limited to lifetime imprisonment."

Sasuke was never one to gape at something, mouth open, feeling foolish – but if ever a moment lead him closest to such a behaviour, it was this one. "Saving all of Konoha from great destruction?!" He asked incredulously. "What… what is this?"

Shikamaru smirked and shrugged his shoulders. "Well of all your actions, I had a short list to choose from as to the ones which were… admirable." Sasuke gritted his teeth in response. "Are you messing with me?" he sneered.

"No. You can open another, if you don't believe me."

Abruptly Sasuke reached for an alternate blue scroll without checking the name first, hastily ripping it open. This one read:

"As laid out in the contract issued by the Hokage, Hatake Kakashi and Senju Tsunade,

I, YAMANAKA INO, assert that as retribution for crimes against Konoha and the Land of Fire, the accused Uchiha Sasuke shall give compensation to me in the form of:

To be completed on the following date:

Witnessed by:

Signed:

"It's blank." Sasuke said. "The part where I'm supposed to make…" He struggled to force out the ridiculous word. "Compensation." he finished. He couldn't bring himself to mention how the threat of imprisonment reverberated in his mind, sinking deeper and deeper like weights had been attached to his conscience.

"Yeah, most people either didn't know what they wanted or we didn't get to ask."

Sasuke could feel his blood vessels enlarging, to pump his growing irritation through his veins. He was in between a rock and hard place - that much he was sure of. Part of him was enraged that all of this had been arranged without him; another part knew that he had sins to account for, and who was he to proclaim innocence? This offered him concrete proof of their completion, which he could not achieve on his own. But the threat of imprisonment… The thought of not being free anymore… It was sickening. And terrifying.

"So… you basically just gave everyone in Konoha a giant I.O.U. card for me?"

"Not everyone. But essentially, yes. And look, you've already completed mine, so here's a freebie. I'll sign it as soon as Temari or Shizune come back, to witness it. This is the least burdensome way, to get our little contract over with, since you've already performed this while destroying the giant Tsukuyomi. Now you can focus on the other tasks for other people."

"That's nonsense." The Uchiha couldn't fight how ludicrous it all seemed.

"We figured you'd say that. Luckily I thought ahead." Shikamaru sighed, rolling the large black scroll up once more. "You know what, I changed my mind. I don't need to read from this because it's stiff and boring anyway. I'm going to lay it out for you plain and simple."

Sasuke grimaced. He was too intelligent for 'plain and simple,' and he knew Shikamaru was aware of that fact. Of all the Konoha rookies, Shikamaru had perhaps been the easiest to be around, albeit it was a little bothersome that he was so lazy. But so often he seemed to share Sasuke's disdain for useless, foolish things, and Sasuke had always appreciated this. He was also not a loud-mouthed idiot… But even now Sasuke was thinking of a certain loud-mouthed idiot he'd rather see than have to sit and be scolded for actions he was already sorry for.

"You know what, Sasuke, I get it. You're pissed off that this is late and seems like we're treating you like a child. But did you really think you would just get off scot-free after all you ruined? Running around for years, killing people, attempting to murder Killer B, attacking the entire group of Kage at the summit, joining the Akatsuki, and all the other crap you did?"

Sasuke averted his eyes to the floor.

"And when were we supposed to instigate this with you? You left right after the fourth Shinobi war and didn't come back for months. Anyone in their right mind, upon further thought, would consider us totally, utterly mad for just letting you wander off to your own desires. You're lucky you were part of team Seven at all, because without Sakura, Kakashi, and Naruto especially, you'd probably be chained to the ground right now in some dark cell somewhere. Or, if this were the Land of Lighting, you'd simply be executed.

"So this is how it's going to work. You're going to read this scroll, and all the others, and carry them with you until you complete all the tasks, no matter how asinine, you've been given. Then and only then can we consider you absolved of everything. We're essentially gifting you an official direction on the road to a clean slate. You should take it while you can get it. Others didn't have the same opportunity."

Sasuke clenched his teeth, hating that he felt the need to bite his tongue but also realising he didn't know what to say to all of what he'd just heard. This place between anger and regret… He loathed it. Shikamaru slid the pile of scrolls closer to Sasuke and then placed the other large black ones back in his desk, locking the drawer and putting the key back in his vest. He then leaned back in his chair and placed his hands in his favourite circular thinking position. It was times like these when he really wanted a cigarette, reaching for that last connection to Asuma-sensei he had. But that troublesome sandy blonde, how she annoyed him into quitting them… He'd just have to go without, he supposed. Thinking of her reminded him of the letter she had just given him, and he broke his rounded hands to pick it up and place it on top of the pile of scrolls.

"By the way, this came for you, apparently." Sasuke ever so slightly raised a rigid eyebrow. Oh great. More rules, perhaps? Hate-mail? "Don't ask, 'cause I don't even know. I just got one myself." Shikamaru added, shaking his head.

"…" Sasuke stayed as placid as he could. This conversation was already hard to digest, without any additions.

Shikamaru leaned back in his chair once more, crossing his arms. "But back to what I was saying. You can gawk at this sentence if you want, or be annoyed by it, or whatever." He said. "But this is child's play considering what could have happened to you. You seemed remorseful, but does that make up for all of your crimes? Yes, you were pivotal in the war. No one doubts how important you were in saving us. But no one knows you anymore, either. All we know is what you can do, but not who you are.

"Tell me, Sasuke." He pondered aloud, squinting at the raven-haired man across from him.

"Do you even know?" He asked, but was met with only silence.

Somewhere in his musings, Sasuke had lain down on the dock, his hands clasped underneath his head. He stared up at the sky, wondering how to answer Shikamaru's question, and becoming incensed when he realised he couldn't. He had no idea who he was, in essence. "Oh, I'm the reincarnation of Indra Otsutsuki, son of the Sage of Sixth Paths," didn't roll off the tongue easily, nor was it knowledge Sasuke would readily bequeath to just anyone. He wasn't even sure if he believed it himself, sometimes. Lately all he'd been inside was a muddled mess of nightmares and anger. The only thing he could state about himself with certainty was that he was a shinobi, and the only shinobi left to hold the surname Uchiha.

Something about that thought sparked a curiosity in him. He knew it had been three days since his operation, and Kakashi's given time period of not using any jutsu… Tsunade had told him similar limitations, but he had expected as much. He knew it must be something to do with his chakra flow, and making sure the arm adjusted properly, but three days sounded like too long. He wondered if it was so long simply because everyone was still so afraid of him. Those dolts.

Well, it made no matter now. He'd waited, and now it was time to test it out. It had been so long, he was itching to see what he could do. So he stood and brought his hands together, interlocking his right and left fingers to form the serpent symbol. "Mi." He said, feeling the rush of chakra through his hands, spreading throughout his body.

Next, he took his left index and ring finger up, leaning them atop those of his right hand, leaving the rest of the fingers woven together in the symbol for the ram. "Hitsuji," he said, and the chakra began to channel further from his hands to his chest. It was a welcome feeling.

Sasuke exhaled and separated his hands, only to bring them together once more with his right on top of his left, palms touching one another. "Saru." He repeated to himself, letting his words de-crescendo into a near-whisper as he felt the chakra drop down. Halfway there, he inhaled again.

"I." He murmured, bending his wrists and fingers together in the shape of the boar. He could feel it boiling in his abdomen, just like years ago, the first time he had ever done this jutsu in front of his father. More quickly than his other hand seals - for by now he could feel his stomach expanding, putting pressure on his lungs in the process – he flipped his hands up, making his index fingers meet and intertwining the rest in the seal for horse. Uma. He recited, this time in his mind as opposed to out loud. His chakra was churning and growing within him, threatening to travel up his lungs…

Tora. He thought, bringing his wrists together and forming the final hand seal. Almost. Almost… He thought, tracing the chakra until it was right there, right about to emerge…

Katon: Goukakyuu no Jutsu! He thought, and expelled the flames from his mouth until they extended far beyond the dock. He gave it every last breath, watching as the colossal fireball lit up the waters below, reflecting the last remaining orange colour of the setting sun. It felt amazing, this burning release; this great exhalation of his talents and tension in a single blow. It had been so long, he hadn't even noticed how badly he thirsted for it. A smirk tugged at the corners of his mouth as the flames diminished, the memories of his first time performing the jutsu for his father pulling back at him. It was a piece of pride he kept close, one that had never been tainted by everything else in his screwed up past.

As the flames died down entirely, the last Uchiha watched the sun sink fully beneath the horizon, calling the stars out to take its place. The water rippled slowly under the dock, and spring frogs began a soft song on the edges of the lake. In the quiet twilight, he moved to sit again, until he saw his left hand – it was shaking, ever so slightly.

"Nani…?" he said to himself, bringing it up for closer inspection. The tiny tremors were taunting him, begging for control, yet they disobeyed his commands… He tried to bend and flex his fingers, finding they would not move all the way and were delayed in the movements they did achieve. He raised his right hand to grip his left, to still the trembling, until a sudden tightening in his chest stopped his movements entirely. His vision doubled and he swayed, catching himself on the post of the dock. Searing pain traveled up the shaking left arm that had narrowly stopped his fall until it reached his heart, his right hand flew to grab where the agony lay in his chest, and then…

Sasuke collapsed on the boards, the stars spiraling in his eyes until the whole world turned black.

"Ino-chan! Good to see you." The small brunette squeaked, rushing past the counter to give the tall beauty a hug. Ino smiled and embraced her in return, inhaling the sweet, familiar scents of the Yamanaka flower shop. "Thank you, Hiroko. How are you? How are things?" She replied.

Hiroko broke free and tucked a stray wisp of brown hair behind her ear. "Oh, it's not the same without you, but, you know. It's busy. We had two weddings last week, an engagement party, and a funeral. It was crazy!" The girl bubbled. Ino had always enjoyed Hiroko's vivaciously happy personality. "Wow, sounds like you've had your work cut out for you." She told the girl. "Oh yes, and with the extension being built at the hospital, there's heaps and heaps of people coming through here every day!"

Ino beamed. Moments like these reminded her that her past few weeks of little to no sleep, suffering the onslaught of new responsibilities at every turn, were worth it. Beyond the smell of freshly cut wood and construction mud lay the beginnings of a beautiful glass greenhouse, and just two days ago she had passed it, admiring the workers as they carved out the word, "Inoichi" into a giant wooden beam. Each time she saw it on her way to work, her eyes stung a little, but her heart swelled with pride.

"Some things came for you the other day; I'm sorry I didn't get anyone to run them over to you." Hiroko energetically said to the medic-nin, interrupting her thoughts. The bell of the shop door jingled as two men walked in, boisterously arguing about something. "Ohayo! Welcome to the Flower Shop! I'll be right with you!" Hiroko chimed as earnestly as the bell three seconds before. "Um, let me get them for you, I'll be right back." She said, and rushed to the back room.

Ino shook her head slightly, amused at the girl's energy. No sooner had she turned to help the men herself than Hiroko appeared with two letters and a small box in tow. "I don't know what this is, but I think it's files or something, for the hospital. And these were addressed to the Shop, but to you." She said as she handed the items over. "Thanks, Hiro-"

"I'm telling you, her favourite colour is yellow, so go with that!" One of the men shouted to the other. Hiroko gave Ino an apologetic look. "Sorry! See you later!" she said, walking over to the arguing pair. "It's alright, thank you!" Ino called out, leaving the girl to tend to her customers. She looked outside and sighed. The sun was higher now, telling her to hurry back to the hospital lest she be late for her morning meeting. Ino felt tired just thinking about it.

She absent-mindedly brushed past the men on her way out, reading the addresses on the envelopes. The first one seemed to be a letter from the Village Hidden in the Rain, probably regarding their new transfer medics, and the second was from – "The Land of Water?" Ino thought aloud. Who did she know there? It must be someone from one of the sister hospitals, she surmised – at least, until she saw that the address of the Yamanaka Flower Shop was written in a different handwriting than that of the return address, and it looked familiar, almost like…

Abruptly Ino stopped in her tracks, eyes widening. She slammed the package and the other letter onto the edge of a vendor's stand near the shop, almost knocking both pieces over in her haste. "Excuse me miss, you'll have to get those off of there." The vendor said. Ino waved away his concerns with a flippant hand as she focused her entire energy on opening the letter. Hands now shaking, she ripped open the envelope to expose the paper underneath, and unfolded it, finding that her suspicions were entirely correct:

The letter was from Sakura.

He was gasping when he rose, dripping in sweat, his right hand sore from clenching his chest for so long. The dragonflies who had made their resting place on his toes suddenly flew off, disturbed by his unexpected movement. Sasuke's eyes burned as he slowly registered the dock under his body, and the splinter it had lodged in his thigh. It was nothing compared to the pain radiating from his heart down through the ring finger on his left arm. It felt like a giant needle had been thrust under his nail, leaking poison into his veins until it settled in his chest, and it took all of his energy to keep from screaming as he gradually came to sit up on the planks. Just in time, too, for a few seconds after shoving himself up he heaved what little he had left in his stomach into the waters below the dock. He shut his eyes forcefully, trying to will the misery to cease.

After a few minutes of hanging over himself, desperately clinging to his breaths to steady them, the sounds of the world came into focus, and after that, the smells. The air was cool, but fresh, and sweet with the promise of spring. Sasuke would have appreciated this more, had he not been in considerable pain. But as it was, even opening his eyes back up was irritating; his vision was overwhelmed with how bright everything was as the sun reflected off the water.

It's already morning? Sasuke wondered. Well, this was certainly frightening: he'd been out cold the whole night. At least I lived through it. He thought.

The pangs in his chest were stinging him fiercely now, and he didn't want to waste any more time pondering their origin. Something in him was wrong, very wrong, and he thought it might be deadly if he let it continue. Should he go to the hospital?

Screw that. He thought. Anywhere but there. However, he knew he had to find someone who could help him fix this. Sasuke forced himself to stand, although it took a great deal more effort than he had anticipated, and he took a few minutes to steady himself. Who could he go to?

Sasuke rattled his brain for the answer, knowing he had to find it before he set off in whatever direction he was headed, for he anxiously thought he might not have the time or ability to turn around if he changed his mind. Tsunade might help him, although finding her might be difficult, and with all those ANBU to worry about. Ino was probably at the hospital, and who knew if she even had enough expertise to diagnose him. That meant the only one left, the only person who he could think of who had been at his operation and knew how to fix his chakra channels, if that was indeed the problem, was…

Hyuuga Hinata.

Sasuke sighed, and would have shaken his head in frustration had he not been so unwilling to move any more than he had to. Did he even remember where the Hyuuga mansion was? Another throb in his chest gave him the answer: he had to remember, and fast. Hopefully Tsunade was right about that Hinata had "already forgiven" him.

Ino was distracted on the rest of her walk to work that morning. Twice, she bumped into other people on the street, and had to awkwardly apologise. She didn't mean to be so clumsy, but she couldn't get Sakura's words out of her mind. They enveloped her, weighing her down and clouding her vision as they careened through her mind.

Ino-Pig!

I miss you already. How are things at the hospital? I'm so sorry I had to leave so suddenly… I don't know how much you've been told, to be honest I wasn't told much myself. Right now I'm on my way to the Land of Rapids to tend to the gardens.

Speaking of gardens, how is the Flower Shop? Do you even have time to work there, when you're doing so much already? And have you gotten any new students yet?

I wanted to send you a bouquet, but I'm worried it wouldn't make it there in time. I was thinking of sending some country roses, but I don't think they bloom in Hayase no Kuni. That's my impression, anyway. I'm told I desperately need to plant some yarrow and mint, but the chrysanthemums are invasive where I'm supposed to seed. I guess I'll find out when I get there. Hopefully I can sneak some anthurium and amaryllis in there as well? All this planting; I'm exhausted just thinking about it! Especially since I don't even know who's going to help me with it. I'm worried I'm going to get there and only find petunias and aster flowers; wouldn't that be just my luck?

I hope you get the angelica and daffodils in this year, instead of the orange mock and monkshood. And please, no oleander! There's already too much.

Have the bleeding hearts come in yet? It's that time of spring… I'm sorry to miss it. I wonder if they have any where I'm going.

People on the ship are… interesting, but strange. I wonder what the Benisu are like. Say, do you think I'll run into Bando? It won't be as fun, without our little fox to taste-test the plants for our amusement. Oh well.

I'll try to write as often as I can, but I don't know what the postal situation is going to be. I wish I had that Yamanaka charm to get through to everyone, although I know there's a limit to the distance. I'll try to send some zinnia and alstroemeria your way soon.

So long, sweet pea,

Sakura

If she didn't put so much effort into maintaining her heathy nails, Ino would have chewed them off at this point. Thanks to the letter, she was filled with worry about her best friend. The fact that Sakura had resorted to flower symbolism to communicate with her already signified her distrust with the situation, but the ones she had chosen… The message was clear: it was a warning, and she fervently wanted Ino to heed it.

Just what was in the Land of Rapids, anyway? Apparently Sakura was doing something medical there, as she said she needed to plant yarrow and mint, meaning the prevention of illness and healing. Anthurium and amaryllis hinted that she was… Supposed to bring people together, in harmony? Ino wasn't sure. Perhaps Tsunade was having Sakura do something similar to Ino, heading up some hospital there?

But what for… That thought scared Ino most of all. Invasive chrysanthemums? Petunias and aster flowers? Did Sakura think all that awaited her were nasty surprises of anger and death?

Ino was now a few feet from the hospital. She looked over to the "Inoichi" sign that still sat on the ground, and bit her lip at the sight. Her father's blood pressure would have increased tenfold upon reading such a letter, although he never would have shown it. His kunoichi daughter wanted to do the same, to steady herself before the barrage of interns and medic-nin assaulted her with questions and permission slips as soon as she set foot in the hospital.

She couldn't help but feel anxious, though, for two flowers in particular stuck out in her mind: monkshood, and oleander. Sakura knew what she was doing in using those blooms. She was telling Ino that something was coming, something big, something horrible, and something… To beware.

"Are you feeling better now, Sasuke-kun?" Hinata asked, handing him a glass of water. "Aa." He said, gratefully accepting it. He sat on the steps, staring into a space Hinata couldn't make out in the training ground of the Hyuuga compound. An attendant nervously approached them from Hinata's right, but she shook her head to signal the attendant to leave. The girl scurried away, happy to find something else to do.

Sasuke still wasn't over the strangeness of it all. He had fought tooth and nail to get to the Hyuuga residence, somehow – somehow – remembering where it was even in his anguish. With the agonizing pain seeping through him, he had trudged what felt like forever until reaching the gate. He had almost toppled over several times, thankfully when no bystanders were there to witness it. His arm had felt as if a kunai had been lodged inside of it, slowly expanding until it extended into his lungs, growing larger still with every pounding heartbeat. Finally, with his breathing laboured, he had nearly collapsed into the door of Hinata's home.

The attendant who had answered - seeing Sasuke almost keeling over by the wooden entrance - had been very confused, indeed. "State your business." He had said matter-of-factly, trying not to betray his shaky words. He knew who the Uchiha was, but had no idea why he was attempting to visit the Hyuuga mansion. Was he planning to attack, feigning a pitiful stance and need of comfort? Had he been attacked himself, by someone who held a grudge against him, and the Hyuuga home happened to be nearest to the location he had been struck? A million possibilities had roamed through the guard's mind, but he settled upon none.

"Hin…na…ta." Sasuke had forced out, feeling like the stone walls and dark clay roof where going to fall down on him at any moment. The pain had started to spread everywhere at this point, and he was feeling more powerless by the second – not a feeling he was used to.

The guard had been even more perplexed by this, but given that the ninja's and Hinata's mutual friendship with Naruto was common knowledge, he had supposed it was possible they were acquaintances. She hadn't mentioned that she was going to expect anyone today, however. Trying to find an answer to the situation, the guard had told him: "Wait here." He could go ask Hinata herself just what was happening, and there was no way a shinobi of this powerful yet questionable status was going to enter the compound for no reason.

Hinata had been more than surprised when the guard had interrupted her training with Hanabi to tell her she had a visitor. "Who?" she had asked. If it had been any of her common friends, like Ino or Sakura, wouldn't they have been let in without hesitation?

"Uchiha Sasuke." The guard had replied. Hanabi's eyes went wide as she stared at her sister. "Onee-chan… Why is he here?"

Hinata wiped sweat from her brow. "I don't know. Did he say anything?" She had asked.

"No…" the guard had anxiously replied. "He seems…" Dare he say it? "Hurt."

"Hinata, what's going on?" Hanabi asked then. "I… I'll be right back, Sorry, Hanabi. We'll finish later, okay?" Hanabi had pouted her lip, but said nothing. "Hinata-sama, I don't think we should let him in…" The guard had nervously stated. He clearly wasn't coming for a social visit, not that that would have been acceptable anyway…

Hinata was already brushing past him when he spoke, knowing that she hadn't any time to waste. "Hinata-sama!" He had called after her. She didn't stop to wait.

"Byakugan!" She had shouted, activating her ability to its fullest potential as she ran across the dirt yard. When she had thrown open the doors to the compound and found Sasuke, pale as a ghost and kneeling on the ground, she had immediately assessed his channels. Whatever he had done to himself was atrocious… His chakra was barely flowing, the tenketsu growing dimmer and dimmer except for…

Hinata had gasped then, seeing just how close he had been to death at that moment. Instantly she was hitting him in various tenketsu, trying to re-route the damage stemming from the clots which riddled the channel from his left arm to his heart. He had been fading rapidly, until she had prodded the very last pinpoint of chakra, screaming at it in her mind to go where it needed to. Sasuke had lost his grip on the ground at this point, and she dove under him, to prevent him from falling sideways onto the hard stone. She had lowered him slowly to the ground then, not prepared for his weight. "Sasuke-kun, please breathe…" He had been turning grey, and she had feared the worst. She had lain him down on his back after lowering him, telling him softly to just keep breathing, just keep breathing…

Gradually, as his lungs had filled back with air and the black had started to recede from the corners of his vision, Sasuke came back to reality – but only somewhat. When his eyes had rolled back into his head once more, Hinata had done the only thing she could think of – she had slapped him, as hard as she could, across his face.

The shock of the smack had jolted Sasuke back from his fading consciousness. He breathed in sharply, and deeply, until he regained his senses. Hinata had shaken him slightly, then. "Sasuke-kun! Can you hear me? Are you alright?" She had asked fearfully. "You have to wake up! Are you okay? SASUKE-KUN!" she had fervently yelled.

"Alright. Yes." He had said, still a little off, but not lost entirely. He had then closed his eyes and felt his body sink into the ground, glad to be alive once more. Hinata then sat back, letting him regain his bearings in the quiet. They had stayed like this for maybe half of an hour before Sasuke was able to sit up, feeling Hinata's apprehensive eyes on him. He hadn't known how to say thank you to her again, so he had looked at her through his thick, obsidian bangs with what he hoped was gratitude instead. Hinata had swallowed and told him to stand when he was ready, and when he was she had directed him inside, fighting the urge to try and support him for she had suspected it wasn't something he let just anyone do… Even if she had just saved his life.

When they had chosen a place to rest on the steps, Hinata had told him to wait, for she would be right back. Sasuke had done as she requested, until she had returned with the water.

And now they sat, feeling the awkward, silent tension grow. Neither of them were great and lengthy speakers, but it was for completely different reasons which didn't lend themselves to the situation. After a few more reticent minutes, Hinata finally summoned the courage to speak first.

"Sasuke-kun… what happened? What did you do?"

Sasuke gulped down his water and placed the glass between them on the steps. "…I used my clan's fireball jutsu."

"And then what? How long did it take you to get here?"

"I used it yesterday. Then I passed out on the dock."

"…Yesterday?" Hinata asked incredulously. "What happened today?"

Questions, questions. Sasuke didn't like questions. But he owed it to the woman to answer, didn't he? "I woke up." He said to her.

"And?"

"I…" How could he possibly explain the torment he had just experienced? "It… Hurt, from my arm to my chest. I had sweat in my sleep… I couldn't breathe." He pushed the words out of him like they were poison. It was all too unreal.

"And then you came here?" Hinata queried.

"Yes." He finished. The heiress folded her hands together to still her fraying nerves. "Sasuke-kun…" she whispered, staring at her thumbs. "How did you even make it? You could have died."

The wind started to blow over them, lifting their hair into the air in the process, letting their black strands float around them peacefully. Hinata's eyes stung as she continued to gaze at her hands. She tried to stifle a sniffle, but it came anyway. She tried to steady her shaky breath as Sasuke turned to her, utterly confused.

"…What's is it?" He asked. Was she crying?

Indeed, the heiress raised a hand to her eye to wipe the tears away. What was happening? Sasuke was perplexed. What was her deal? Hinata sniffled once more. "Sasuke-kun…" She started. "You don't get it."

"Spit it out, already." He told her. He was in no position to boss her around, but he'd rather she just get to the point, since he had no idea what was going on. Dirt started to swirl off the ground, drifting around them like foam on the waves of the sea. Hinata lowered her hands to her knees, trying to calm herself before she spoke once more.

"I know… we're not friends." She said. Sasuke swallowed, still watching her. "I don't know you, at all, and you've never really talked to me much, but… Sasuke-kun, you are… Important to me." The Uchiha blinked his onyx eyes in surprise. He didn't know whether to be weirded out or thankful for the sentiment. It made no sense, but then, she had just saved his life - and now at least he had a better clue as to why.

"If you died, everything would change. Don't you know how devastated Naruto would be? And Sakura? Naruto is…" The love of my life? My reason for breathing? She thought to herself. There was no way to explain her feelings for Uzumaki Naruto; how much it hurt that he was off on some mission without her, how tormented she had been all the years he was chasing after the very man who sat before her now… How suffocating it was, for her to be able to do nothing for so long. And how astonished she was now, seeing Sasuke react just to the mention of Naruto's name; he tried to hide the slightest twitch at the corner of his eye, but she had seen it all the same.

"Naruto and Sakura…" she changed words to include the both of them, and save herself from the embarrassment of declaring her infatuation. "They are my important people. They're part of my family, and a part of me. If they were without you –"

"Naruto and Sakura aren't even here. They're without me right now, and they're probably getting along just fine." Sasuke told her, looking away across the compound. He wrapped his right arm around his bent right leg, feigning the most casual of stances. But Hinata, who saw the grief in his stance, and heard the trepidation hidden in his rushed voice, wasn't fooled. She was sweet, but not naïve. War had made her that way.

"Sasuke-kun." She stated more forcibly than before, the trembling gone from her voice. "Something is very wrong with you." He hardened his jaw at this, narrowing his eyes as he continued to look away from her. He poked his new hand at the pebbles by his feet, an idle motion to keep it busy. "I don't know what it is… Maybe the new cells don't interact with yours correctly, like they're a different chakra nature or blood type or… or… I don't know, but it's something that has to do with that arm. It's affecting your chakra network to an obscene degree, and if you don't fix it, you're done for."

Sasuke began to pick up the rocks from the ground at the bottom of the steps, shifting them around in his hand to prove his control of it to himself. It didn't block out her words like he had hoped. "And what do I do about it? Chop it off again? Have you follow me around and deal with me in case another attack happens?"

Hinata shook her head. The best person to deal with this, who knew enough about him and his body to assess the problem and solve it without condition because she loved him without restraint was missing right now. Hinata had gotten some letter from her the day before, and remembering her words let a strange calm come over her. The wind died down until the air was still around them, and Hinata leaned back on her hands on the steps. "Sakura-chan would be the best person to see…" She mumbled. Sasuke clenched the pebbles tight in his hand, and glared at her. "Oh really? I guess I'll just stroll down to see her, then?" He said sarcastically.

"But since she's not here, you're only option is Tsunade. You already know that, though… I guess." Hinata finished. Sasuke ceased his glaring and focused back on the rocks. "Hn." he said, hating that she was right. He put the pile of pebbles back on the ground and fished around for a flattened one, and began skipping it across the compound, pretending the field before them was a pond. "What do you want from me?" He asked quietly, changing the subject.

Hinata was taken aback. "Sasuke-kun? I don't want anything from you… You don't owe me for this." She said.

Sasuke sighed. "No. I mean…" he skipped another rock across the way. "For compensation. Your scroll was blank." Just like most of the others. He thought. Hinata cocked her head to the side, until the memory came back from a few months ago, when she had been asked to write a task for Sasuke's reparation scrolls. She hadn't a clue of what to put then, and she certainly didn't now. "I don't know." She answered.

"Tch." Sasuke grunted, skipping the stones more fervently now. "None of you do. Or so it seems." He said. Hinata could hear the annoyance in his voice. Perhaps he wasn't so akin to the idea of compensating the people of Konoha.

Hinata breathed deeply, looking around to their left. Hanabi had come out, still dressed in her training garb, to practise her hits on the tree with the mat nailed to it: her favourite spot when she had to be alone. She felt bad for stopping their session when her sister had so little time to spend with her these days as it was. Both of them were laden with duties of the Hyuuga, with what felt like more responsibility in maintaining the clan being put on their plates in every passing minute. What would Hinata be like, without her sister to help shoulder the burden? She tried to put herself in Sasuke's place, to understand him rather than pity him. How would she feel in his position? If she came home one day to find Hanabi drenched in blood from killing her entire clan, telling her to seek out her vengeance when she wasn't so weak? If she completed that revenge, only to feel emptier and more betrayed by everyone? It would have driven anyone mad.

And what would it be like, to lose enough control to hurt almost everyone around her - the few people left who cared? Until only Naruto remained to try and save her from herself, and even after succeeding to do so, still carrying the hate of so much of the world? What would it be like to return to Konoha and be told about her punishment from the ninja who had previously worked so hard to save her? She couldn't entirely fathom it… But she did know the feeling of eyes being on her at all times, watching every move. She knew what it was like to be kicked to the side – by her own family, no less.

"I don't have to matter to you, Sasuke-kun." She started. The rock he was skipping went sideways and rolled across the field to the grass, his aim being skewed by his reaction to her unexpected answer. "I don't need you to do anything for me, or the Hyuuga, or even Hanabi. You've already saved us from everything." Sasuke gave up on the rocks, wiping the dust from his hands and bending his other leg up to rest both his arms on top of his knees, clasping the hands together. "I'm sure you have enough scrolls full of arduous tasks and things you don't want to do. But I don't hate you or expect anything of you. I just want you to live. Not for me, but for Sakura, and Naruto."

Hinata stood slowly, and extended a hand out to Sasuke to help him do the same. Sasuke never took this offer from people usually. But Hinata was different – warmer, more serene. He knew she was aware of how much stronger he was than her, and how thinking he could ever need her help up was ridiculous. "I don't pity you." She said, reading his thoughts. "I'm here for you, Sasuke-kun." Her hand lowered slightly, but the offer still hung in the air. Cautiously, Sasuke put his right hand in hers. They pulled against one another until he was upright, and in that moment Sasuke understood she was his ally: for she, wanting nothing in return, would always help him stand.

"Arigato." He said, taking his hand from hers and resting it on his hip. "So what do you wish to put on the scroll? It can't be nothing."

"Do you have it?"

"…" Sasuke thought for a moment. He knew he had taken it with him from the dock, but as he looked around, he didn't see it. "Ah… I think we left it on the porch." he said. Hinata blushed. "Oh." she said, embarrassed that she had forgotten it when he was obviously in no state to remember his own belongings. She swallowed guiltily and walked with him towards the entrance to the compound, and upon reaching the door, he bent down to retrieve his pack from the ground. Fishing around in it for a moment, he found her scroll and handed it to her with a pen. Hinata unrolled it and bit her lip, trying to think of something.

Abruptly the idea struck her, and she quickly wrote a single word, handing it and the pen back to Sasuke. His eyes went wide at reading it, and he looked at her. "Just that? That's not really a task." Hinata stepped forward, rolling the scroll up and sealing it while it was still in his hands, then pushing it to his chest. "You should see Tsunade, and find out what's going on. That's all I want of you, Sasuke-kun."

Sasuke put the scroll back in his bag with the pen and closed it, grabbing the strap of it with his hand to shift its weight. He did have to see her, but he certainly had no intention of telling her about his malfunctioning arm. His wounds were always fast to patch themselves up, and he would figure this out on his own. He'd have to figure out how to complete her scroll another way; thankfully she hadn't been specific.

After all, the only thing she'd written had been, "heal."

"…I will see Tsunade." He assured her. But not for the reason you might want. He added in his mind.

"He came in yesterday, with signs of a slight fever and nausea. We thought it was the flu, so we sent him home with a prescription and an order to drink fluids."

Ino shook her head. "How much did you look into his symptoms beyond that? There isn't a flu going around." She was disappointed in this new crew, as of late. They were inexperienced, and she had so little time to train them otherwise.

"We've been buried with work in the rehabilitation unit from war injuries… All of our personnel and funds go there."

"I'm aware." Ino sternly told the red-headed nurse. "But the fact that he's back today, and in such a worse condition, leads me to question if he received the proper care yesterday."

The young medic hung her head. "Please forgive me, Ino-sama."

It was strange to hear her name with that suffix, but it was starting to grow on Ino. However, she had less time to appreciate it given the circumstances. The moment her meeting with the heads of staff at the hospital was over, she was approached by the young medic Aki about a man with a rather odd assortment of ailments they couldn't identify. Most cases of diagnoses were beneath Ino's duties at this point, but Aki seemed determined to ask her about it. Her hushed voice indicated an ashamed demeanor, and something else Ino couldn't quite place. Something secretive, like Aki and her colleagues didn't want anyone to know about this sick man.

"Why is this my concern right now, Aki? What's really going on here?" Ino asked, venting some of her frustrations.

The flame-haired woman shifted her feet awkwardly. "Um…" she started, beads of sweat forming on her forehead. "Ino-sama, we just… It's something we haven't seen before. It's not the flu. His fever is rising, and his symptoms are getting… stranger."

"Stranger." Ino repeated. Sakura's words whispered to her from the back of her mind. People on this ship are… interesting, but strange.

"Has he recently traveled? Have you checked for foreign ailments?" Ino asked, Sakura's words inspiring her to think in different directions.

"We're doing a complete blood count now, but I'll add that to the list. It's been horrendous just trying to get his fever down. And he writhes in pain whenever we try to insert the I.V."

"Well then hold him down. You can do it, Aki. If the chakra channels are not the problem, you must do everything to find out what is."

And please, no oleander! There's already too much. Ino exhaled, trying to breathe the ominous thoughts away. Something was already off about this day.

"Yes, Ino-sama. I'll get on it." The medic affirmed.

"Thank you, Aki." Ino said, trying to conceal the worry that plastered the walls of her head. She had appointments to make, and this distraction wasn't helping. Especially when Tsunade was waiting for her at the current moment… But the thought of Tsunade only reminded her of Sakura more. I'm worried I'm going to get there and only find petunias and aster flowers; wouldn't that be just my luck? The thought echoed in her head.

It would be mine, too. Ino replied inwardly, making her way down the hall.

Tsunade wasn't in her small office when Sasuke went to find her. In fact, most of her possessions weren't either; it looked as if she was moving out of the place altogether. Boxes were on the desk and the chair, which had been shoved in the corner, and the room was absent of any and all knick-knacks save for a small lamp across from the desk. Sasuke furrowed his brow. Where could she be? He just wanted to get this over with.

He walked to Kakashi's office only to find it also vacant of its owner. After seeing the same of Shikamaru's workplace, Sasuke clenched his right fist. If they were all missing, there must be some kind of important meeting somewhere, which meant he might not find any of them for a while. He would have to figure out where they were. Asking the ANBU were out of the question, and Shizune wasn't around which meant… Sasuke rolled his eyes. The only place he could think to go, to find Shizune or Tsunade, would be the hospital. Damnit… He thought. It was the last place he wanted to go right now. Hopefully through Hinata's handiwork and his generally intimidating demeanor he wouldn't be approached by nurses or medic-nin regarding his worn-out condition. Hopefully.

So, he made his way through the Konoha streets, stopping only to purchase an orange from a fruit stand. Replenishing his vitamin C, he knew, was probably a good idea. The tomatoes at a nearby vendor tempted him, with their luscious, red skins and their plump, round shapes… But he ignored them, telling himself he'd have his fill of them when he was free of his business at the hospital, provided he didn't lose his appetite entirely.

The day was warmer than the previous one, and the sun shone down joyfully on the people milling about their daily life. Sasuke watched a small bluebird as it rummaged through a rubbish bin for a straw-like object with which to build its nest. It flew off as he tossed the orange peel into it, and he hoped it would stay down. He was certainly feeling better than this morning, but with this arm, he really just didn't know what to expect anymore. And Hinata wasn't around to save him whenever he needed it…

Not that he'd ever admit he needed saving.

"I was wondering when you'd be back to see me. How's the arm?" The Godaime asked him when he had finally found her. She was apparently in some meeting with Ino, which was testing Sasuke's nerves. He really didn't want anyone fawning over him right now; Hinata had done enough of that for one day. Or at least, she had fulfilled his quota of people caring for him.

"It's fine." Sasuke half-lied. Well, thanks to the Hyuuga, it was. "I came to ask about these." Sasuke said, pulling the two blue scrolls out of his pack and putting them on the table in front of Tsunade. Her eyes widened and a mischievous smile played at the side of her lips.

"So you've talked to Shikamaru. Good. How was the discussion?" She asked, eyes brightening. She was enjoying this far too much.

"Late." he replied, a great summation of his feelings on their timeliness for the entire ordeal.

"Did you like our idea for your redemption?" She was growing more beamish by the second.

Sasuke stayed silent, imagining what it would be like to use his Chidori on the entire room. How much could he get away with, before they slapped chakra constraints on him? Would it really get out all the anger that was brewing in him from the acquisition of these stupid scrolls? Probably not. He thought to himself, trying to dispel the fantasy.

"I'll take that as a negative. Have you read my scroll yet?"

"No." Sasuke replied.

"Well then, open it now." Tsunade instructed. Sasuke sighed and grabbed it off the table, unfurling it to see just what she wanted him to do.

He was not prepared for what he saw.

"Is this a joke?" He asked, pressing his tongue behind his teeth, to keep from exploding. She has got to be kidding. He thought.

The blonde broke into a full grin, leaning forward on one hand. "Most certainly not. What did you expect of me? Hard labour? Babysitting the genin? I'm not naïve, Sasuke."

"This is… this is just…" the Uchiha was at a loss for words. He reread the task over and over, hoping that it would change if he just stared at it long enough.

It didn't.

"Before going on this journey in search of atonement, you wasted away your time in anger and vengeance. You took people's lives unnecessarily, Sasuke. It's time you start saving them, instead."

Sasuke suppressed a sneer. "And how am I supposed to do this, exactly?" He asked.

"Ino and I were just discussing it, actually." Tsunade replied, clasping her hands together on the table. The room was staunch, and bureaucratic. Tsunade and Ino sat in stiff-looking rolling chairs around a wooden, ovular table, framed by windows overlooking the village behind them. The sunshine outside was a stark contrast to the madness that was happening in Sasuke's thoughts. Fluorescent light shone down on the three ninja, and Sasuke felt suffocated by it.

"Tsunade-sama, what…" Ino started. They had been discussing improvements to the hospital training before Sasuke had randomly appeared in the conference room, looking handsome and annoyed, as he usually did. But as attractive as he was, they certainly weren't talking about him…

"Hand the scroll over to Ino, please." The Godaime asked. Sasuke begrudgingly did so, succumbing to the urge to grit his teeth. It was a bad habit now, but he couldn't help it. "Have you decided what your compensation is yet?" He asked the younger blonde, thinking he might as well get it over with as soon as possible.

When Ino took the scroll from his rigid hands, a wave of recognition flooded over her. Her scroll… She had had no idea what to put on it, when Shikamaru had presented it to her months and months ago. Could she ask for anything? Anything? He could work in the Flower Shop, next to her – she could feel him near her every day for weeks if she wanted…

Ino shook her head, fighting the blush that wanted to climb to her cheeks. Control yourself, lady! She chastised her desires.

"I have not. Sorry." She answered him, as securely as she could without giving her smitten thoughts about him away.

"Hn." Sasuke replied, crossing his arms and looking out the window behind them. Figures. He thought. Nothing was ever easy, was it?

Ino looked down, not really seeing the scroll at first. He was supposed to do what she asked of him, how was it that he made her feel so bashful for not knowing what that was yet? "Ino can take you downstairs and show you around, to start. We'll discuss the remainder of our itinerary later, Miss Yamanaka." Tsunade said, bringing Ino's thoughts back to reality.

The kunoichi inhaled deeply, reading through the familiar script of the scroll, coming to the underlined part where her master had specified just what was irking Sasuke so terribly at the moment. It read:

"I, SENJU TSUNADE, assert that as retribution for crimes against Konoha and the Land of Fire, the accused Uchiha Sasuke shall give compensation to me in the form of:

Learning medical ninjustu and assisting in the care and treatment of war victims for no less than six months."

"Oh wow…" Ino said, not meaning to say it aloud. The blush she had been fighting was winning its way onto her face. How in the world was this going to happen? Ino was totally lost. Leave it to Tsunade to shake things up completely before she left.

This day is just getting weirder and weirder. She thought, lamenting the fact that the one person she wanted to help her through it was worlds and worlds away. So long, sweet pea she thought to Sakura, wondering if it would travel across the ocean. It was the saddest part of the letter, and it made Ino's heart sink lower in her chest upon remembering it…

Because sweet pea flowers meant goodbye.

End of Chapter Seven

Author's note: Would you believe me if I told you that I still had to cut this way off from what I wanted it to be? I'm really having a time changing my chapter layouts around haha. It was going to be over 12,000 words! Gah! Once again, I'm sorry it took me so long. Anyway, moving on… As stated in the beginning author's notes, I haven't seen Naruto: The Last yet. With my schedule being as packed as it is, it's looking more and more like I'm not going to get to see it anytime soon. It doesn't help that there are no theatres playing it in my area. I watched this summary of it online, but I'm conflicted. (Apparently Sasuke is in it for like 10 seconds, which is total BS but whatever…) There are some inconsistencies with that and what I've read on Narutopedia, and I'm going to have to do some research or find a good quality copy of it… So let's say this: by chapter ten, I will have made my decision along with any changes I have to make to the previous chapters. I was planning to do an editing job once I reached that chapter anyhow, so this'll give me a chance to do everything I want to do. Hopefully this appeases everyone!

By the way, does anyone have any thoughts on my assumption that Tsunade's last name is Senju? I looked all over for it and people in forums were apparently wondering the same thing, so I just thought it might as well be the same as her grandfather's. They never even talk about her mother or father, so I have no idea if Hashirama had a son and then passed the name down to Tsunade or if he had a daughter who took on someone else's name… Ugh. Too confusing. Anyway, let me know what you think, please.

As stated previously, the quotes at the beginning are by a band named Chevelle, not me. I make no claim to them nor do I make money off of them. Please support the artists and purchase their works.

Thanks for reading, and please leave me a review! ; )