Hi again, here is the next chapter of my fanfic!
And before you say anything, yes I know, the chapter title sucks. If you should be in doubt, it's a pun! - A really bad one, but I was thinking about name for the chapter and that one just popped up randomly as a joke, but then I just couldn't get it out of my head! So yes bad pun... Hopefully you like the chapter better.
I got a bit stuck on it since I just couldn't seem to get it "right", but finally I finished it and I am content. So I am sorry if you think it is a fall in standard. Please do comment (praise or constructive critism).
Disclaimer: Omg the new Naruto with Boruto is out! But of course Kishi doesn't want to share him either. It's not fair! .
"Oh, Hello Sasuke. It's been a while since I've seen you. I don't suppose you're here because you want to become my apprentice?" Orochimaru asked still sporting his big creepy smile. He had offered Sasuke a place as his apprentice long ago since Sasuke wanted to study science. He had turned down the offer, however, but it didn't mean Orochimaru had given up on the subject.
Sasuke simply glared at him without answering. He didn't like the parts he had heard of his and Tsunade's conversation. It was too obvious that Orochimaru was up to something, and it appeared to involve Naruto which did not please the Uchiha.
"No, of course not. You're here for the Uzumaki brat. Well come tell me anytime you should change your mind." Orochimaru said before walking away, Sasuke staring at him as he did so.
Sasuke could hear Tsunade's footsteps as she went out of her office.
"Oh, Sasuke. Did you want something? And I mean other than pestering me for any news about Naruto." Tsunade asked not so surprised to find him outside her door.
"What were you and Orochimaru discussing?" The raven asked with a very serious expression. Tsunade wasn't all too surprised that he had heard their conversation.
"Don't worry about it. He won't be allowed anywhere near Naruto." Tsunade answered calmly. So it was Naruto they had talked about – not that Sasuke had really had any doubts about it.
"By the way Sasuke, no sleeping at the hospital again tonight! I am already allowing you here all day, enough is enough." Tsunade stated firmly. Sasuke only answered with a "Hnn" before walking back to Naruto's room.
It had been slightly unwillingly, but Sasuke had had to go home that evening. The next was Monday and he had classes which he had to attend to. Also, wearing the same clothes, not taking showers and sleeping in a chair did nothing great for the Uchiha. It didn't stop him from visiting him every day, though. The next one and a half week went by with Sasuke making daily visits and in the weekend he had spend almost the whole day at the hospital. Nothing had changed in Naruto's condition and no tests or scans had shown any obvious cause to his sudden heart attack. While Sasuke was happy that the blonde wasn't getting worse, he still felt rather uneasy and worried about him not having shown much improvement either.
The more time passed, the more Sasuke found himself having more difficulty focusing on keeping up with homework – keeping up in the Uchiha world meaning being almost a semester ahead of everyone else. Naruto would have smacked him across the back of his head if he had heard him make such a complaint since Naruto usually was AT LEAST a week late. The raven also found himself starting to think these thoughts about almost everything he did or thought; how Naruto would have reacted. This had worried the others – Sakura especially – since he would sometimes suddenly smirk for no particular reason which was far from what they were used to see from the stoic Uchiha.
As it turned Saturday yet again, ending the second week since Naruto's accident, Sasuke was preparing to leave for the hospital. As he was probably going to stay there all day until Tsunade or one of the nurses forced him to leave. He brought along a book to read as, as much as he cared for the blonde idiot, he was in a coma and Naruto or not, coma patients were not really all that entertaining. He had seen how for instance Kiba or Sakura would talk to him even though he was unconscious and didn't hear a damn thing anyway, which Sasuke had a hard time grasping the point of. He was not much for talking to responsive people so talking to one who couldn't even answer him just seemed like a waste of time. Of course, he had said a few things to him, like announcing when he arrived and left, and he had tried to "conversate" with Naruto like Sakura or Kiba, but every time he quickly felt like an idiot for talking into space, getting no response. Therefore, he settled with saying a few words every now and then – just in case Naruto COULD hear, so he would know how big an effort Sasuke was making and that he was not simply an uncaring bastard, otherwise settling with reading a book or something alike.
When he arrived at the hospital he passed the reception very fast, only going by to let them know he was there, before walking straight to Naruto's room. He entered the room and sat down in the chair next to the hospital bed.
"Hey Naruto. Just going to read again today, okay? Not that you can complain anyway." Sasuke said as he sat down. He took out his book and opened it. His eyes started looking down on the page as he read the passage he had come to. The sound of the heart monitor beeping and the slight ticking from the wall watch as the seconds passed by had become so familiar for the raven that he would either be able to downright ignore it or grow completely insane from the constant noise. On the other hand, he knew the beeping of the monitor was a good thing; it told him the blonde was still there and he found himself very quickly reacting if there was even a slight delay of his heart beat.
After reading for about an hour he found himself loosing focus as he started glancing over at the unconscious Naruto. The sun had found its way through the half-drawn curtains. The sight was just too captivating for Sasuke to look anywhere else. The light gave color to the normally tanned, but now slightly pale, skin and breathed new life into rebellious blonde strands, making it look almost golden. Sasuke took in the sight, only wishing that he could see the stunning blue eyes that belonged to Naruto. Soon, he found himself having put down his book and now standing next to the hospital bed, hovering over the almost angelic looking creature. It was weird to see the idiotic blonde look so… peaceful. In all the time he had spent visiting him, he had never really focused on how Naruto looked, not wanting to see him in his poor state. But right now he looked almost as if nothing had happened.
The raven raised his hand to the blonde's face, hesitantly putting it on the other's cheek and began gently caressing it, running his thumb gently along the whisker-like marks. If you were to later ask him why in the world he did that, he would not answer – and not just because he is Sasuke Uchiha who never answers any question unless he feel like it, but because he wouldn't really know what to answer. To say that his own actions confused him was an understatement. He knew that he felt strongly for the blonde being best friends and like brothers, but there always seemed to be more to it which he could not find a label for. He was not a complete idiot and had considered that it maybe could be infatuation, but almost every time he started considering this possibility, the idiot in question would do something incredibly stupid and piss Sasuke off beyond limits, making him drop the idea again. Right now, however, the idea didn't feel nearly as farfetched after all.
He couldn't stop himself from scanning every facial feature of peaceful blonde with his eyes. His eyes finally landed on the other's lips. They were slightly parted as the raven had noticed they always were when the blonde was in a peaceful sleep. Gently running his thumb over them, he found them incredibly and surprisingly soft. It had certainly not occurred to him back then; remembering their "first kiss".
The class was growing noisy as more and more students poured in. Sasuke was already in the class room, sitting silently in his seat. He couldn't wait for class to start so that everyone would shut up. Just as he thought the noise couldn't get any worse, Naruto made his loud entry as usual. Sometimes he wondered if the blonde was too deaf to hear the loudness of his own voice because he was certainly going to grow deaf if everyone (especially Naruto) kept being as loud and noisy as now. However, Naruto would probably be the main cause. Just as if someone wanted to prove him utterly wrong he heard a very familiar screech as one of his most persistent and annoying fan girls entered the classroom and immediately spotted him.
"Hey Sakura! I was wondering if–"Naruto didn't make it to finish his sentence as he was pushed roughly to the side, falling to the floor, by Sakura who was running towards Sasuke. Obviously annoyed by Sakura's interest in Sasuke when Sasuke obviously couldn't give a damn, Naruto angrily got off the floor and went over to the raven's desk, smacking his hand roughly down on the wood. He leaned forward, glaring directly at the Uchiha, Uchiha simply glaring back. What neither of them realized, however, was the student trying to get past Naruto on his way to his own desk. As he was passing Naruto from behind, however, he accidentally pushed Naruto in the back. Turning around to apologize he was frozen at the sight that had almost every other girl in class frozen with eyes popping out of their heads. The push had caused Naruto's hand to slip on the desk, and, since he had put most of his weight on it, caused him to fall forwards, their faces connecting right by the lips. They had quickly pulled away from each other, both coughing violently, trying not to choke or gag at the thought. The girls, finally snapping out of shock, were not pleased. That day, Naruto set record for earliest school nurse visit – class hadn't even started.
He couldn't help but wonder how it would feel now, as a real kiss and not simply from bumping into each other. Without realizing it, he had moved his head closer to the other's, now hovering only a few inches above the other. Before anymore thinking occurred in the raven's mind he lowered his lips to meet the blonde's. At first it was just a gentle chaste kiss, only lasting a couple of seconds before pulling away slightly. A few seconds passed and he closed the distance yet again, giving another chaste kiss, but soon the raven began to gently move his lips against the other's, gently running his tongue along the soft lips. If the raven didn't know better, he could have sworn that a small gasp escaped the blonde and that he heard the heart monitor's pace quickening in that moment. As he started moving back again, opening his eyes that he hadn't realized he closed, he wanted desperately to close the distance again and deepen the kiss even further. But he knew that he would probably just accidentally choke the blonde. Plus he wanted him to be able to feel it and kiss back. With a few calming breaths, he lifted himself off the blonde so he was just standing next to him, and just at the right moment: Just a couple or ten seconds later the door opened as Sakura entered the room. Was Sasuke ever relieved that she arrived then and not a minute earlier.
"Hey Sasuke, I knew you would be here." Sakura said smiling at him, oblivious to what had just occurred a minute ago. He didn't move, but simply glanced over her, with a look that asked if she wanted something from him. Knowing he was not going to give her any vocal response, she didn't wait for a response.
"I just met Tsunade and she asked if we would meet her in her office, it's about Naruto." Now she had his interest and after a few seconds he nodded his understanding before leaving the room with her. As they were walking in the direction of Tsunade's office, Sasuke could feel Sakura's gaze flicker to him frequently as if she wanted to ask him something, but unsure if it was a good idea. Apparently gaining the courage, she turned herself towards Sasuke.
"Sasuke, I just want to ask you if you're okay? You have been spending a lot of time here visiting Naruto. Not that I don't understand why, but just take care of yourself too, okay?" A few seconds passed with no answer and Sakura stopped expecting one, turning her attention back forward.
"Sakura, instead of worrying about me, you should worry about Naruto. Compared to him, I'm fine." Sasuke finally answered in a cold monotone, but almost reassuring, voice. She looked at him with a surprised expression before nodding understandingly.
"Yeah, I guess that's true." The rest of the walk to the office was silent and soon they reached their destination. They knocked on the door, waiting for her to call them in which she did promptly. They opened the door to see Tsunade sitting at her desk, already having pulled two chairs in front of her desk for them to sit in. They both sat down, feeling slight tense. They had yet to hear of any significant change in Naruto's condition and so they always prepared themselves for the worst, albeit not wanting to even consider bad news a possibility.
"It's good to see you two. I thought I might as well call you to my office, seeing as you're both at the hospital premises anyway." Tsunade started off, looking at the two youngsters in front of her.
"Well, let's get to it. I am not going to sugar coat it, he has yet to show signs of getting out of coma, but otherwise he's doing pretty well. His injuries are healing just fine, including the broken ribs." Tsunade explained, seeing the two visibly relax at the at least somewhat good news. She then remembered that she had something more to say, gaining their attention yet again when she continued: "Also it seems the heart attack a one-time thing. We increased the surveillance right after, but since he hasn't showed any signs of having another since then we have downed it again. I assume you've already noticed this, Uchiha?" Sasuke nodded confirmingly; he had indeed noticed that the nurses and doctors would come by less frequent. Suddenly they all heard a small beeping sound. It was Tsunade's pager that had gone off. Tsunade looked at the pager, only for her to abruptly stand up and go towards the door.
"It's Naruto's room." Was all she said as she opened the door, and all she needed to say to make the two jump out of their seats, following after her. Sasuke didn't like this one bit, his stomach clenching and tightening. What could have possibly happened in the barely ten minutes they were gone?! They closed in on the blonde's room, only a hallway away, when they could hear some kind of commotion up ahead. Soon one of the nurses came running towards Tsunade upon seeing her.
"Lady Tsunade! It's Orochimaru, he's in the patient's room and he has blocked the door! We can't get in!" Immediately everyone's heart sank at what he could possibly be up to. Tsunade instantly growing furious, stomped off towards the room while yelling at the nurse to get hospital security. The nurse immediately hurried off to get them. Sasuke was beyond shocked, to say the least. He could feel his blood boil to the point that he could probably kill that snake as soon as he saw him. Sasuke glanced at Sakura who looked in complete shock before running after Tsunade who had already disappeared down the hall. Not the type to sit and wait in a corner while Orochimaru was up to god knows what, he immediately followed. Turning around the corner, he saw Tsunade pulling violently at the door while yelling at Orochimaru to open the door immediately. Of course he didn't respond and a few seconds later, Tsunade kicked the door violently enough to break the door open. The loud banging noise could be heard through the room and half of the hospital, but Orochimaru stood completely unfazed by the sudden break in.
"Orochimaru! You better have a damn good explanation in two seconds before I put you in a coma! Permanently!"
"Lady Tsunade, this is a hospital. You should keep it down or you will be disruptive for the other patients." Orochimaru said in mock scolding voice, a smug smile on his face.
"Why you! Move away from him or I pull you out!" She threatened, walking a step further into the room.
"Now, now Tsunade, I wouldn't do that if I were you." Orochimaru said as he turned towards the doorway, revealing a syringe, containing some weird reddish colored liquid, in his hand, the needle already inserted in the IV catheter. Tsunade quickly stopped dead in her tracks, disbelief and rage both marring her face. Everyone looking in from the doorway looked on with shocked expressions, even Sasuke.
"Wha- what do you think you're doing!?" She yells, a tint of fear in her angry voice. Two security guards arrived, stopping by the door as they saw the scene. Carefully they entered the room, stopping behind Tsunade.
"Don't worry, this is nothing. Just one of my experiments, completely harmless… more or less."
"Yeah, as harmless as a cancer tumor! I told you to forget it! He is NOT one of your test subjects! So why are you doing this?!"
"The poor boy's condition is unstable. I would have thought it obvious after that nasty heart attack."
"You… It was you wasn't it? You made Naruto get a heart attack!" Sasuke gritted out in complete shock and anger as he was starting to boil inside. He could feel his nails pinching his skin as he clenched his hands.
"Come now, what would I gain from doing that? All I want is to help the boy."
"Yeah right, you wanna help him. Your help is going to kill him!" Tsunade howled.
"As it is now, Naruto will spend the rest of his pitiful life in a coma, nothing more than a vegetable, not very different than being dead already. Is that what you want? Especially you, Sasuke." Orochimaru inquired directing his gaze at the raven. Sasuke clenched his hands even more, his nails digging into the skin. He was right; he didn't want Naruto to "live" his life like that, but that sure as hell didn't mean he trusted any weird cook up of Orochimaru's.
Orochimaru's eyes were locked with Sasuke's for a few seconds, suddenly, his smile growing ever slightly, immediately alarming Sasuke. Before anyone could react, he pressed down on the syringe and emptied it, the alarming red drug disappearing into Naruto. Everyone stood still in complete disbelief and horror. No one seemed to move a muscle, but then they were thrown out of the state of shock as Naruto suddenly starting spasming and his heart rate rose rapidly, setting off the heart monitor's alarm.
Tsunade did not waste any time closing the gap between them, grabbing the collar of his shirt, pulling him, violently.
"You bastard! I'm gonna skin you alive and choke you with that disgusting tongue of yours!" Tsunade exploded, preparing to follow up on her threat.
"Now now, instead of focusing on me, shouldn't you focus on saving the boy?" Orochimaru asked smugly, putting his hands above his head, indicating his surrender. Tsunade grinded her teeth in anger, but let go and hurried towards Naruto immediately trying to save him. While a couple of nurses hurried to help Tsunade, the hospital guard grabbed Orochimaru to take him into custody until the police would arrive.
Before being taken out of the room, Orochimaru stopped just as he had passed Sasuke and looked back at him, staring contently at the back of the raven's head.
"Don't worry I'm sure he will survive, or maybe not. Depends on him, really." Orochimaru said, almost mockingly, before the hospital guard forced him out of the room.
That's it for now! Hope you enjoyed it - or at least didn't choke on it. I am gonna do my best for the next chapter, but please do say if I am doing something right or something totally wrong and I might be able to get better. See ya :-)