Chapter Ten: Can We Save Her?
I DON'T OWN NARUTO!
Sasuke may seem like a dick, and he is for the most part, but he honestly cares about his teammates even though he never acts like it.
Neji looked at Shizune with wide eyes. "Will she be ok?" He asked. "I don't know to be honest. Sakura's strong but this disease nearly killed her the first time. It could very well kill her this time. As strong as she is, it would be a shame for something so...insidious to bring her down." Shizune replied softly. "How did it go undetected for so long?" Neji asked. "Sakura's parents were giving her something to keep it under control I'm guessing. It has something to do with her chakra system itself I think. I can't tell you for certain because I haven't examined her disease up close like Tsunade-hime has." Shizune replied helplessly.
"Sakura-chan!" Naruto yelled when he saw the pinkette stripped to her underwear and bindings with wet cloths all over her. Shizune tutted and removed them. "She's heating them up too fast to be of help. Neji scan her with your Byakugan and tell me what you see." She said. Neji obeyed and his eyes widened. "Her chakra system is twisted and black. Like it's dying. It's choking her normal chakra functions slowly until they no longer work." He said. "Oh no. Not again." Kakashi groaned softly. Shizune looked to the other man and her eyes saddened. "It's stronger this time. She might not survive this time." She said. "Do you think you could get a tub up here?" Shizune asked Neji desperately. "Yes. We have one downstairs where we um...interrogate particularly resistant enemy shinobi." Neji replied. "Bring it up here. Now." Shizune ordered. Neji nodded and went to go get it. "What can we do?" Sai asked calmly. "Do you know any ice jutsu? Or any water jutsu?" Shizune asked. "Kakashi does. I know a few but I mostly stick to ink jutsu." Sai replied. "Sakura's body is cooking itself slowly inside out so we need to get her internal temperature down. If you guys know any jutsu that will help her, please use them." Shizune said. Kakashi nodded. "I can help. I know some ice jutsu." He replied.
Neji returned with the tub and Shizune sighed. "Water jutsu please." She said. Kakashi filled the tub to Sakura's chest and sighed. "Are you sure this is what you should do?" He asked. "I have to do something!" Shizune replied. "Alright." Kakashi said. He used an ice jutsu to chill the water and the pinkette shrieked and flailed, trying to get out. Shizune charged her hands with chakra and immobilized Sakura enough that she wouldn't tip the tub or splash the water out but not so much that she'd slip under the water and drown. Sakura calmed down as the water warmed with her body temperature. Shizune kept monitoring her temperature. "Use it again. She's not cooling down enough." Shizune ordered calmly. Sakura shrieked all over again as the temperature of the water plummeted again. Sai looked away, unable to see her suffering while Sasuke watched calmly. "She's sick right? So just cure her with medical jutsu." He said. "It's not that easy Sasuke." Shizune replied. "It should be. You're the second best medic in Konoha. Surely this isn't a challenge for you." Sasuke taunted her. Shizune glared at the ravenette but didn't take the bait. "Sakura? Are you coherent? Can you tell me if it hurts?" She asked softly. Sakura opened glazed eyes and coughed. "I feel sick. Like when I was younger only worse because it hurts in a place I can't point out. It hurts deep inside. Where my soul is." She rasped. Shizune closed her eyes. "I was afraid of this. She relapsed." She said softly. Kakashi placed his head in his hands and sank down on Neji's couch. "What do we do?" He asked. "I don't know. I've never known anyone to survive this disease." Shizune replied softly.
"So she's just going to die? And you're going to let her?!" Naruto demanded angrily. "There's nothing we can do! Tsunade-hime is in some very important meetings with the other Kages. It would have to be an emergency to get her out of there!" Shizune protested. "Sakura-chan is an emergency! You tell that old hag to heal her!" Naruto snapped angrily. "Who will monitor her? Who will make sure she stays still without drowning? You? Don't make me laugh! You're no medic! Sasuke? Pfft what a joke! He'd drown her the minute she lashed out at him!" Shizune snapped back. "I will." Sai replied. "What?" Shizune lost her steam. "Go inform Hokage-sama about her apprentice. I'll make sure everything goes ok here. Neji and I will handle it. Kakashi will be here too." Sai replied. "Ok." Shizune said. She disappeared and Sai took her place. "Sakura look at me." He ordered quietly. Sakura looked at him obediently. "You're not going to die. You'll be fine. You have to finish our bet right?" He demanded. A pained smile appeared briefly. "Yeah. I have to finish our bet." She rasped. Kakashi chilled the water again and Sai kept her focus on him and not how cold she was. "You're not cold enough. You're body is cooking inside. This is needed." He said. Sakura nodded weakly. "Could I have something to drink? I'm thirsty." She asked. Naruto went to get her some ice water while Sai continued to keep her coherent. "You aren't going to die. Say it. Say it and believe it." He said. "I'm not going to die. I won't die." Sakura repeated. "Do you believe that?" Sasuke snorted. "Yes. I have faith in Tsunade-shishou." Sakura replied softly. Naruto returned with the water and Sakura took a sip. "Thank you." She said.
Shizune burst into Tsunade's office and panted. "It's Sakura. She's relapsed." She panted.
Chapter ten is here. Enjoy ^_^ If anyone could create a name for this disease would be even better. Thanks.