Special thanks to SaiDuck for giving me the idea for the future of this story. I edited her latest story "Eyes of the Clan" which you should definitely read.


"You sound grim Sakura. What's wrong?" Ino asked trying to keep their spirits up.

"The trauma caused minor hydrocephalus in my brain, which is swelling in the brain from water. It causes headaches, tunnel vision, mood swings and impaired judgment. If it's left untreated I could die in a few months, half a year if I'm lucky."

"Then get treatment Sakura!"

"It's a really specific condition and the only person the hospital knows who could treat me is Tsunade."

"I haven't seen her since Kakashi replaced her."

"Me too… I think."

"Any idea where she might be?"

"Gambling in some far away country probably. Hopefully Kakashi knows more. I'll get his permission to leave in the morning."

"Oh my God Sakura I really hope you get through this. How did Sasuke react?" Ino asked.

"I didn't tell him."

"What? He must be worried as hell not knowing, even if you're on a break."

"I don't want to worry him, and if I die I don't want to be close to him, you know, for his own feelings. Please don't tell him."

"Oh, um, okay Sakura."

"Thank you. Now enough about me, how are you and Sai?"

"We're doing great," Ino squealed enthusiastically.

The two friends chatted a little until Ino had to go. Sakura felt fine for only a few more minutes before the headaches came back. She turned the lights off and crawled into the big bed alone trying to feel better but not being able to.


Sakura couldn't sleep well so she woke up early. She couldn't go back to sleep so she took her time getting ready for her mission: find Tsunade.

She trudged to Hokage Tower before most people were awake, but she was sure her former sensei would be working. She had to walk past Sasuke's house and that brought up painful memories. She loved him unconditionally, but there was a good chance she won't find Tsunade in time or the treatments wouldn't work. She might die an early death and she didn't want to put Sasuke through that.

When she made it to the capital office, Sakura didn't have to wait very long to see Kakashi.

"Sakura, it's good to see you. Long time no see."

"Yes Kakashi-sama, I wish we could speak longer and under better circumstances, but I came for permission to leave the village to find Tsunade."

"Tsunade? Why?"

"After my accident, I developed a condition called hydrocephalus. It's fatal if I don't get treatment and Tsunade is the only one that has a chance of healing me."

"The last I heard she was in the Land of Iron drinking and gambling. We're in a time of peace, I could send out nearly any shinobi to gather more information on her whereabouts."

"This is pretty time sensitive; I need to go personally and alone for privacy's sake."

"I couldn't possibly send out my favorite Kunoichi alone, it's dangerous. I'm sure Sasuke would join you."

"No, no he doesn't even know because we're on a break."

"Well your personal business is your business, but you can't go alone. Who else knows?"

"Just Ino."

Kakashi chuckled a little to himself and said, "If Ino knows Sai knows. Take him with you."

"Sai?"

"Yeah it'll be a little Team 7 reunion."

"I don't think he and I going is such a good idea. Things have been a little weird between us."

"Go with Sai or don't go at all. Or, I could send out somebody else alone, but they would need to know how to convince Tsunade to leave her vacation and that could be a big mess."

"Fine I'll go out with Sai."


An hour later Sakura met Sai at the front gates. As awkward as it's been with him, Sakura knew Sai was fast, smart and strong and could really help find her old teacher.

"Hi Sai," Sakura greeted.

"Hello Sakura. Before we go, I just have one question: does Sasuke know about this?"

"No, now let's go."

Sai silently nodded and the two of them ran out of the village towards the Land of Iron. Sai was glad he knew more than Sasuke.


KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

There was no answer.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

Sasuke was about to knock one more time when Ino finally opened the door.

"H-hi Sasuke," Ino said, Sakura's situation on her mind.

"Do you know where Sakura is? I haven't been able to contact her all day."

"Uh, I ah, that's weird…"

"She asked you not to tell me."

"Yes," Ino admitted.

"Just tell me," Sasuke demanded in his typical angry tone.

"She's on a mission, that's all."

"A mission in her condition? You're leaving something out."

"Okay yes yes you're right, okay? Sakura went out to find a cure to her brain injury."

"Brain injury? More than amnesia?"

"I've said too much already, but I know you want to help. Sakura has some brain condition that Tsunade can cure so she went to find her."

Sasuke fell silent for a few moments trying to process all of this information, and then he asked, "Why wouldn't she tell me this?"

"I don't know, you'll have to ask her. I really wish I could help more."

"Thanks," Sasuke scoffed then began to turn around.

"Wait, Sasuke," Ino interjected, stopping him in his tracks, "do you want to come in for dinner?"

"No I don't want to see Sai," Sasuke venomously mumbled.

"It's okay, he went with Sakura."


Night had fallen upon Sakura and Sai faster than they would've liked it to. Sakura wanted to keep going but Sai insisted they make camp where they were. Sakura reluctantly agreed and they unrolled their sleeping bags on either side of a fire. They lay in their respective beds and starred up at the stars.

They were staying in silence, as they had most of this day of traveling, until Sai spoke up: "I'm sure it's no secret, but ever since I was recruited to help retrieve Sasuke, I haven't liked him."

"Yeah I figured."

"I honestly don't see why you and Naruto are so infatuated with him. I can see past his silence and hostility, but I can't accept how selfish, inconsiderate and prideful he is."

"Yeah, well…we all have our faults."

"You don't, not like he does."

"Of course I do."

"Your faults make you human, his make him inhuman."

"I've liked him for so long and I know he's a good person."

"The longer you tell yourself a lie the easier it is to believe."

"I don't know, maybe you're right," Sakura sighed, closing her eyes.

"I heard something about the sharingan that makes people crazy. Danzo was crazy but he was smart at one point so he had to have known something."

"Sometimes I think you're right, but Sasuke's been through a lot and he needs me."

"You shouldn't throw away your life for him, or for anyone."

"Thanks Sai, you're a good friend…let's just go to sleep."


KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

There was no answer.

Naruto used the spare key he "barrowed" from Sasuke to slip into his best friend's house. He walked though his house until he found Sasuke slumped onto his table with a couple of empty sake bottles.

"He Sasuke, time for another party…?"

"Not now Naruto," Sasuke groaned.

"Why so upset?"

"Sakura's gone."

"Gone where?"

"Mission…find Tsun'de…with Sai," he drunkenly explained.

"She went to find Tsunade, I assume for medical reasons, with Sai?" Naruto translated.

"Mmhm."

"You should go find her and help her."

"Didn't tell me," Sasuke burped, and then said with some clarity: "she doesn't want me."

"Well you can't let her be alone with Sai!"

"If that makes her happy fine," he stammered.

"Sleep this off, I'll be back in the morning and then we're getting permission to go after them."

"Hn," Sasuke collapsed on the table.

"I swear Sai acts differently around her…" Naruto said to himself.


The passenger train sped down a stretch of tracks. The Leaf mission in the Land of Snow had been a success. Sakura, Sai and Shikamaru had to protect the Shogun across enemy territory and they finished with minimal injury. The three of them had been completing missions for nearly a decade and this wasn't anything new. Actually, this was a pretty easy assignment for their high ranks.

"Jeeze what a drag. We weren't even needed," Shikamaru complained.

"It was nice getting back to this—" Sakura began, but out of the blue she fell backwards.

The train ran across a corner too fast and derailed. It fell down a cliff which threw everyone on board around like ragdolls. Sakura's head smashed against the window and everything went dark. She couldn't see anything but she heard screams and somebody yelling: "Hold on!"

Sakura went from peacefully sleeping to siting up, gasping for breath, in an instant. That was the accident and she knew it. It was a nightmare, but it was also a memory. She gasped and tried to catch her breath. She and Sai must have been sleeping for several hours.

"Sakura…? What's wrong?" Sai asked, waking up.

"It's, it's noth—, nightmare. Just a nightmare," she explained.

"What was it about? Are you all right?"

Sakura suffered from nightmares since she was young. Whenever she had one near Sasuke when they were on missions he would call her annoying and ignore her feelings. She wondered if it was still like that now. Either way it was nice to hear Sai have concern for her.

"It was the train crash that we were in. That's the first time I remembered it and it was…terrifying."

"That was frightening. How do you feel?"

"Headache…"

Without saying anything, Sai got up and grabbed a bottle of water. He sat down next to her and handed her the drink.

She gulped it down and felt a little better.

"Thank you Sai," she said as she stopped shaking and felt safer.

"You're welcome…we should go back to sleep."

Sai began to sit up, but Sakura grabbed his wrist.

"Wait, Sai, could you wait for me to go back to sleep? I know it's stupid but I just don't want to be alone right now."

"It's not stupid. You're not stupid and you're definitely not annoying."

Sai laid down next to Sakura and she cuddled up against him. His arm wrapped around her slender frame and her head rested against his chest. They fell asleep in each other's arms.


Don't forget to leave a review :) Also favorite and follow smiley face.

"Eyes of the Clan" by SaiDuck is a great OneShot.