Chapter 10

Running

Temari POV

How troublesome.

This is what Shikamaru would say in this situation.

She never thought in meeting him here. She was in the middle of the forest surrounding Konoha at midnight. Alone. And he was very far away from his homeland. Alone too.

She had traveled from Suna all by herself. Even when their two brothers had protested about letting her go alone in her trip she had dismissed their concern and feeling proud of being a powerful ninja, even when her two brothers seemed to forget that easily. They weren't so thrilled at first and even her middle brother had tried to send someone behind her to watch over her but she noticed immediately. How naïve of him! Did they forget who she was? Geez… but well it was the thing that you usually expect when you have two brothers. Anyway she didn't want them to send ninjas to babysit her or spy on her to tell them who she visited especially in Konoha.

Did she meddle in their life?

Of course she did! And she had all the right being the oldest! In fact she couldn't meddle with their life because they didn't have anything to meddle anyway and that made her laugh in a joking way. Oh her dear brothers. At least her little brother seemed to have more confidence and faith in her and decided to let her do what she wanted. At least it was easier for him instead of having an angered and annoying sister complaining. She laughed remembering the annoyed face of his red head brother. She always ended with the upper hand by the way.

It was the government of Suna's idea to go and make a short visit to Konoha and give some papers from the Kazekage to the Hokage in person. She would be away only a few days and the two were doing a mess just because she had decided to go alone. She sighed while she was running through the forest thinking fondly and caring in them. She had advanced a lot and that was one of the advantages when you travel alone. But she was tired now and stopped to look for a perfect spot to rest and eat and even sleep some hours. Because of the peace and the calm in the villages recently she hadn't to worry a lot about it. So when she stopped and stretched her tired body looking for a place to start a fire she suddenly heard footsteps at her right side. Someone was there walking behind the trees. The pace was heavy and slow.

She used her ninja training and got closer without making any kind of sound. After hiding behind a tree she watched looking for the one who was there being so careless to be heard like that. The one there didn't seem to care if someone could be spying on him and planning to attack and kill.

After long minutes of being in silence curious and annoyed by the way and hearing the footsteps and the wind dancing with the old and tall trees she saw him.

In the past she would not worry about it and she would only left him alone without bothering. He was an experimented and talented ninja. But she had been reading all that had been happening in Konoha thanks to Shikamaru's letters and knew better now. That's why she got interested and concerned at seeing him here.

The one pacing there was no other than Sasuke Uchiha.

She observed him in silence with her furrowed brow. She knew that he had left Konoha again about 3 months ago. Shikamaru had written to her that he thought that Sasuke was aware of his reality and if he had the enough strength to leave again even being under surveillance and their care, could meant that he wasn't so sick after all. They had kept and eye on him after he had tried to hurt himself months ago. And even with all that Sasuke had abandoned the village without anyone knowing, without explaining anything or saying goodbye.

He was still so damn cute and handsome. She laughed at herself after thinking that from someone younger than her but she couldn't help to find him hot. Anyway Shikamaru like herself had always thought and said that looking didn't hurt anyone. And she wasn't blind and was capable in appreciating some male's beautifulness. She let Shikamaru to behold other girls besides her.

She snapped out of her daze and jokes and when she regarded the situation she got pretty serious wondering what to do.

She saw him thoughtfully. She wasn't scared of him even after all that had happened concerning him. She was just startled of finding him here and completely alone. His clothes were somehow a little dirty and he didn't bring any kind of baggage with him. He wasn't armed either. He was just walking in some weird pattern of circles. He went walking to his left but he suddenly stopped and then turned to the right. He advanced again but something that it wasn't there made him to step back slowly and he simply stayed still and quiet in the middle of the forest. He had a lost look in his black eyes and was pale and tired and his breathing was uneven. He seemed pretty exhausted.

His arms weren't bandaged and she took the opportunity to watch the scars that his supposed attempt of suicide had left in his skin with interest. They had weird forms and were there in his wrists and forearms. The amazing thing to her was that he didn't have a clue about someone watching him intensely. Was he so sick that he couldn't felt her presence? When she saw him pacing again slowly and weakly she decided to show up. She left her hiding and walked carefully at him trying to not startle or scare him. He didn't seem to care if she was there or no. He simple kept walking or trying at least, because he suddenly stopped and seemed thoughtful and confused.

She got closer to the black-bluish haired boy and he finally took notice of someone being there besides him. He turned slowly at her and she only smiled widely gesturing her hands with a signal of peace. She said hello with courtesy of course. He only stared coldly and distant at her.

Temari then remembered weirdly and suddenly those days when she and Kankuro had to travel with Gaara and kept an eye on him. Why was she remembering this and now? When he didn't say a word (she knew that he had chosen to kept silent since months ago and nobody knew why or if it was something related to his mind or heart) she just looked concerned and curious at his still posture. She had a flashback of Gaara in those past days and smiled sadly. The one in front of her was unreachable like his little brother had been before.

And that saddened her.

At least this one seemed calm and not dangerous. Just lost and indifferent. She sighed trying to be kind and acted with courtesy and decided what to do about it. She knew that the former Uchiha could have hurt and even kill her. But she had learned to live in danger and with the death at her side after all that had happened with her family and she wasn't tense as maybe others could be. She was a strong and tough young woman and ninja. And after looking at his empty and stoic face she knew that she was able to handle this like she had handled worst things pretty soon in her young life.

Sakura POV

"Do you know anything about him?"

Naruto looked surprised and worried at me. We were in my house's kitchen drinking lemon tea. I tried to sound calm and collected but I couldn't hide the horrible fear I felt. That's why I decided to keep my emerald eyes fixed in the liquid inside my cup.

"No… we hadn't… we don't know still where he is… or how is he. I have to say that I'm a little surprised to hear you asking for Sasuke, Sakura-Chan… we didn't want to talk about him around you… I don't know if we did well in doing it…"

He was looking concerning at me. I looked kindly at him.

"The fact that I don't want to see him or hear about him doesn't mean that I… don't worry about him… I know that all of you didn't talk about him around me and I'm very grateful for that… you respected my wishes… all of you. Not hearing about him in these 3 moths helped me to calm and move on… so I understand because you all did what I had asked you to do. I found peace and strength in this days without hearing from him."

I smiled trying to be kind and calm. But my friend knew me and I'm almost positive that he could see behind my charade that I was beyond sad. I was trying to be strong and be the same girl I was before even when Sasuke was here with us. Naruto could see my pretending and lying. But he was too kind to recognize this in front of me. And I was grateful at his silence about it.

"But now… you're asking about him Sakura-Chan… It's that ok to you?"

He was so worried about me. I nodded trying to not look at his blue gaze.

"Yes. I know that before you didn't tell me anything about him… even when he tried to commit suicide…"

"Sakura-Chan…"

He seemed guilty and was so serious. I half smiled sadly. When I had heard about that I went nuts in desperation and frustration. I was dying in my pain and suffering and I cried and cried alone feeling hurt and preoccupied for him. My Sasuke-Kun had tried to hurt himself seriously and nobody knew why. I had known of this because eventually my mother told me about it. I hadn't asked anything when I had heard that he was hospitalized again even when I had to contain myself to not run there and just look at him and be sure of his good state. When I knew of him trying to hurt or even kill himself I felt my heart being crushed with this immense and inevitable love but I calmed and controlled my deep and undying feelings and I didn't do anything to go and see him or ask for him. My friends had respected my wishes and I knew how worried they were for him. That was almost the first time that I lost my will power and when I saw that they were doing what I had asked them to do, not telling me anything about him, I found new strength and shivering faith in my decision.

Naruto just sighed angered and confused gesturing with his hands and fists to the air with desperation.

"But now... now he's gone again! I'm so angry and worried! I'm so frustrated! And he just keeps hurting you intentionally! He just keeps making you to suffer! That's unfair!! He had already broken your heart so many times Sakura-Chan... I'm still so mad with him for all that he had done to you and Miyu! I'm so damn angry!"

I listened at him with a moved expression. Naruto was glazing sincerely and caring at me. His blue eyes were so sad.

"But I had to ignore this fury and confusion I feel... How could I be still mopping in my anger and resentment if I have to live with him and stay seeing him like that? How could I?... But he went away again without a goodbye, without anything! I swear that when he's here again I would slap him for hurting you and for leaving like that! Only to let go of my anger and frustration!"

I took his hands in mine trying to comfort him and comfort me at the same time. I felt the tears in my eyes and I saw his. We kept silent just supporting the other with our company.

When I heard that Sasuke-Kun had run away from Konoha again 3 months ago I got pretty depressed and I had spent my free time worrying to death about him, wondering if he was ok and if he was alone. I felt dread picturing him hurt or death or being in danger or being danger itself to others. I tried to keep busy with my job and my house and my little girl but there were those inevitable and silent times like when I was lying in bed trying to sleep when I couldn't help to wonder about him. He had left again. I tried to assure my decision remembering how I had told him that he would do it eventually that time when I came to the hospital and talked with him for the last time. In that last goodbye. I had imagined that this would happen again. I had been right. But I couldn't find proud or relief in my premonitory words.

I was so damn worried and sad. I wanted to go and look for him. I was so deeply hurt understanding that maybe he had gone because there wasn't anything here in Konoha to him and he didn't care about anyone. Much less me or Miyu. He didn't care about how all we were so worried about him, how all of they looked for him in the villages next to Konoha, how all of us were concerned by his health and his well being. He seemed to not care a bit. He didn't care that I spent hours at night crying and praying for him. Should I have been surprised at this? Sadly I knew my answer.

"I felt like... betraying one with the other Sakura-Chan... you know."

Naruto said suddenly calmer and sad. He was looking guiltily at me.

"Because of what I did... taking him to my house... and all that..."

"Don't say that Naruto! You just wanted to help a friend. I know that the two of us are your friends and nothing will ever change that. I understand it, really. I'm not angry or hurt because you were there for him. In fact I admire how you could do it with all your inner and true feeling boiling inside of you. You are an amazing person Naruto."

I smiled honestly at him. He just seemed ashamed of the flattering.

"Don't say that! Hinata always say that... I'm not wonderful as all of you think..."

I just giggled finding fun in his childish expression of embarrassment. But I saw that he was hurt too by Sasuke-Kun. He was like a brother to him, his dear friend. He had done all in his power to recover him before and he was suffering too. I hadn't thought in this because I was so buried in my own pain and suffering. I knew that my friends didn't have it easy being in the middle of the conflict between me and Sasuke-Kun. They knew the both of us; they care for the both of us. They were our friends.

But I had have my friends always since the beginning, I had never been alone even before my mother came to apologize to me because I had them at my side. They had brought things and furniture to my new home, they helped me to take care of Miyu and they always find time to have lunch or go to a walk or have dinner. We talked and discussed about missions and trainings and I knew that I could count in any of them if I needed it.

They had prepared a party two months ago to celebrate that Ino and Naruto became my daughter's godparents and they bought her a lot of gifts and I had fun, really fun and laughed like I hadn't done since so long ago. They had been around me and around him, taking turns, caring and supporting us, without taking sides, without judging. I was so grateful and moved to all of them, to all the ones that were there for me and for my daughter and even for him. I hadn't been alone thanks to all of my friends and sensei.

"I'm sorry for putting you in this situation Naruto. I know that it has been difficult to you too."

I said sincerely kind and he just looked smiling sadly at me.

"You don't have to be sorry Sakura-Chan. You are my friend and teammate forever. I'm glad that I could help you. I know that I can count on you."

"You're right."

I just smiled at him blinking to not cry. He warmly clutched my hands in his smiling sweetly. He was so affected. I could see his worry and caring for me and for him.

"Well, where's my niece by the way?"

"Mom took her to the park. I was busy with accumulated work. Tenten, Neji and Lee came over before you and they said that they would go to the park to rest from their completed mission and that they would buy her an ice cream."

Naruto suddenly got stunned at hearing me and just snapped going up paler.

"OH DAMN THE MISSION! I have to meet Kiba and Shino at Tsunade's office!"

I just stared knowingly at him giggling. That was the Naruto I knew. It hurt me to see him so serious and sad these late days.

"Why can't I have vacations?! I'm sooooo tired!"

"Well you could ask for it Naruto, you know."

"You're right Sakura-Chan! But I will ask for vacations when Sasuke is here again to glue me to him and keep an eye on him always! I wonder if I could find and learn a jutsu powerful enough to do that..."

I just got up giggling at his determination and thoughtfulness in his last idea. He went to the door still complaining about the lack of rest and sleep and saying that he wanted to go to the movies with Hinata and sleep 20 hours. I resumed my duty at cutting vegetables to the dinner and before seeing him going I called him without looking directly at his direction. Naruto was standing in the door open curious.

"Thank you Naruto... for taking care of him and helping him and not letting him alone... for every time he goes... you are there even after all... thank you for not giving up on him..."

I went silent because I couldn't say anymore without hearing my voice breaking.

"Sakura-Chan..."

I sighed blinking away tears and sadness and turned smiling softly at him with the knife in my right hand.

"Do your best or you will never be Tsunade's succesor! You have to work hard to be the next Hokage, remember?"

"You're damn right! I'll see you later and then I will come over with Shikamaru to have dinner! So make tons and tons of ramen for the both of us!"

"I'll be waiting you then."

He left with stars in his eyes at my last lecture. I sighed still happy by the humor of my friend. But after some minutes I stayed still and lost in thought, wondering about Sasuke-Kun and his whereabouts. I keep praying for him to return safely and have a single glance at him again. Only that simple gesture could calm my throbbing heart and my melancholic soul crying silently for him.

Temari POV

The silence was so unnerving and awkward that I felt somehow irritated. But I sighed calming myself and knowing that I couldn't do anything about it. The one in front of me had gone mute since months ago and seemed so distant and cold that maybe it was better this way.

I had invited him to come to my perfect spot to rest. I started a fire and the two of us were sitting around its red and warm flames. I had offered him food and drinks and he took them nodding like a gesture of gratitude. I had told him who I was (in case he didn't remember me or didn't put any sort of attention before at me) and after having dinner I decided to pretend to be busy sorting and checking up the papers that Gaara had given me to Tsunade-Sama. I just wanted to watch him seriously because I had a strange hunch in my chest. A weird feeling. I didn't have any else to entertain myself anyway. So while I was pretending to be busy I chose to start a chat just because I felt rare without talking for an hour and a half. I was a talkative person.

"So I heard that you have a daughter with Sakura Haruno. That was unexpected. Who would think that could happen some day? Congratulations by the way."

I smiled honest and wide searching for his reaction. He just was looking at the fire with lost gaze. But somehow I knew he was listening to me.

"Your little girl is exactly as you I had heard. Wow you must feel like a proud dad about that."

His dark gaze turned to one side softly at my words. I kept my act watching him carefully and trying to look disinterested.

"I don't understand how you didn't think in birth control. Geez at least when Shika-Chan and I lost control, we"

But I stopped hearing myself. I gulped somehow ashamed and just giggled telling myself to shut up and praying to not be listened by some spy sent by my two brothers. At least the Uchiha was staring directly at me serious and stoic. I could imagine him being interested at last in something.

"Don' listen to me! I'm just tired and I don't know what I'm saying anyway!"

After all I went quiet and resumed my pretense. My persistent watching for hours, even being so damn tired, gave me the opportunity to study him. I knew that when I talked about Miyu Haruno he had been affected even when he didn't show it. I knew that there was something going on there and I wanted to know what it was. I was curious and interested and concerned too.

In those late hours I saw him standing up when I told him to sleep. He got up slowly and stared to walk to one direction but like before he stopped suddenly without an exact explanation and just looked at the horizon with lost and empty eyes. When he sat down for some minutes I saw him like pondering about something. His gaze was going to all directions like if he was looking something or seeing something that I couldn't see because it wasn't there. Sometimes he just sat there still as a statue and with a confused face and then thoughtful expression. There were times when he was just stoic and cold and he glared at me brooding and narrowing his ebony eyes.

But what appalled me the most was when he got up again and walked in one direction but got startled by some invisible force or being that made him to stop abruptly with a face filled with desperation and deep and true fear. I had seen him clutching his fists like if he was feeling angered or frustrated; I had seen him being startled to something that made him to turn quickly to one of his sides trying to reach something with his dark gaze. But I had never seen him with a slight chance of fear in his face.

Seeing that he had got paralyzed without a known reason I got up and kindly took him by his left arm trying to drag him to the fire again. He slightly turned to me with indifference and followed me after dismissing brusquely my gesture. I had had it difficult to gain his attention so I just sighed serious and watchful not taking personally. I knew that if I had fallen sleep it was probably that he would run away again so I couldn't take the risk even dying for exhaustion. But his stillness for some long minutes and silence, and later his movings and attempts of fleeing made me worried more for him. When I caught him with his gaze going to one point to another it gave me a very bad feeling.

"I would take you to Konoha even if I have to do it by force. I don't want Shikamaru to worry anymore for you or anyone else. It's time to come home Sasuke Uchiha. So don't anger me or try to escape. Even dragging you I would do it."

He glared at me with intensity trying to stun me or at least I felt like that. But he remained sitting and after I resisted his glare with a focused and powered look, he lowered his gaze slowly putting his obsidian eyes on the fire. I had won this little battle. But it wasn't the real war anyway.

I tried to not fall sleep. I really tried. But between trying and being awake sometimes I caught him shocking his head in denial or gesturing tiredly his hands in a way that suggested that he was trying to make something away from him. I tried to help him asking his help to do some things like checking papers and maps and other stuff. But when I couldn't find something else to entertain him I was left in silence watching at the fire and him again.

And then I saw him shivering from the cold and I got up and gave him a mantle to cover himself. He just took it without looking at me. Finally I gave him a cup of hot chocolate and I went back to my spot in front of him drinking mine in silence and watching him. He smelled it and drank it slowly finding a like in it. I just half smiled feeling proud of myself.

I was tired of not sleeping so I had to take urgent measures to make myself to rest and sleep well. And when I saw him closing at last his eyes and fell sleep I sighed relieved. I had won the war.

"I can't stay here without doing anything!"

Tsunade just looked seriously at the blond ninja in front of her.

"There's nothing else you can do."

She answered sincerely. Naruto was trembling in frustration.

"How can you say that?! Are you not worried about Sasuke?! He's sick and he isn't acting normal! How can you stay here and let me stay here without knowing anything, without doing anything! You all don't know what happened to him! You all don't know anything yet! Your tests and speculations hadn't done anything yet!"

"Shut up Naruto."

Kakashi said and put his hands in the blue eyed boy's shoulders indicating him to calm down. Shizune was scandalized looking at the young ninja.

"How can you say that to Tsunade-Sama!"

"Let him Shizune. He's right in being angry for that. It's true that we still don't have a clue about what exactly happened to him. That's frustrating and it angers me. I felt useless. But I deeply worry about Sasuke like all of you. Still we can't let ourselves to fall in desperation. We need to think cold and calm and be patient. We had a lot of people looking around for him."

"That's true Naruto."

The blond shinobi just sighed frustrated and beaten at Kakashi's words. His other friends were there watching worried.

"Still... I can't be here... without doing nothing… What if he's hurt or... dead?..."

"Don't say that. You have to hope for the best."

"Gai is right. Sasuke will return sooner or later and safe."

Naruto wanted to believe in Gai and Kurenai and in all of them but he was so damn desperate to have information about his friend. Anko looked at him in silence some seconds.

"You are scared of knowing that he had gone to the bad again, don't you?"

The silence that the question made by the Anbu brought gave the answer in itself. Naruto just nodded sadly and concerned.

"I can't... do it again... not again... I don't understand why he went again... I thought everything was going to be fine if I had him living with me... I can't help to wonder if I did something wrong... or if I didn't do a lot..."

"Don't say that Naruto. You did all you can. But Sasuke needs time to understand that he needs help and maybe he needs to realize the fact itself. The acceptance of needing help. You can't force someone to get better."

Kakashi looked softly at his student with sincerity and melancholy. Tsunade closed her eyes thoughtful. Her attention was called when she heard Lee addressing her suddenly.

"Hokage-Sama, please let us search for him again. All of us don't have any mission right now. We can do it! Let us look for Sasuke!"

Naruto looked grateful, surprised and moved at him. The young copy of Gai-Sensei just smiled widely and proud. Tsunade crossed looks with Kakashi, Kurenai, Gai and Anko and then just sighed with resignation.

"Alright then. You have my permission. But Shikamaru will lead the team. Understood?"

"Oh crap". That was what Shikamaru thought in fact. Naruto smiled hopeful and gave the thanks to Tsunade.

"I will find him and bring him here even with chains!!"

"Who are you going to bring with chains Naruto Uzumaki?"

That voiced called all their attention to the Hokage's office door. They saw Temari there dragging an unconscious Sasuke by his left arm lying in her shoulders. Naruto gasped surprised like all the others. The blond young woman just smiled at them and especially at Shikamaru with a flirting spark in her green eyes.

"Hello Shikamaru. Didn't' I tell you that I would come?"

After the impact and effect she had caused in all of them, Naruto immediately took Sasuke from her and with the help of Kakashi kept his friend standing and being securely supported by them. He looked relieved and sadly at him. Shikamaru dragged a chair to Temari and she sat down looking very exhausted in fact. She explained to them how she had met the Uchiha boy in the forest some kilometers away from Konoha after drinking some water. She was lost in thought before asking something that was bothering her.

"By the way, what kind of treatment are you giving him Tsunade-Sama?"

"Why do you ask?"

Tsunade seemed interested and curious. The Sand Girl sighed meditating and without looking at anyone in particular, like if she was seeing memories in front of her.

"I ask because of his hallucinations. That's why."

She didn't tell them her thoughts about it before because she had thought they already knew but looking at the faces of sincere and big surprise she knew she had been wrong guessing this.

"Hallucinations?"

Naruto asked worried and stunned. Tsunade just narrowed her gaze like if she was thinking in a lot of things in seconds. Temari related to them all she had watched in the Uchiha in those long hours.

"Yeah. I think that's it. I noticed while I was with him all night. I knew because I had seen it in some way in Gaara before, when he was still the vessel of Shukaku. When Kankuro and I had to travel with him I discovered that because my little brother couldn't sleep ever, his brain was sick or something like that. It wasn't working properly. And Shukaku talking and molesting him didn't help by the way and his idea of the sand being mother and talking with him too wasn't a help either. The lack of sleep traumatized his brain and its processes and made him to see and hear things that weren't real. I saw it in him a lot of times from time to time. Now he's still recovering from all those years and his body too. I now that it's different from Sasuke's case but I'm pretty sure that they had that in common. I know Sasuke sleeps so it's other thing. But I knew what I saw all night. I think he's aware of his reality anyway. He just lost it like last night."

"I think your guess could be possibly right but I had to do more tests on him. To be completely sure. We didn't think in that because he never was like that here. He just looked as a still statue. So these symptoms just appeared lately. And that worries me more."

No one dared to say what the words she wasn't saying were. That meant that he was worse than they had thought.

"First I thought that I could be awake watching him. I even had to force him to reorganize my papers and things to stop him in his hallucinations. I almost forced him to braid my hair!"

She sighed concerned and sleepy.

"You kept him focused doing routine things?"

Gai asked amazed at the smart girl. She nodded and Shikamaru just smirked proudly.

"Finally I gave up to my tiredness and sleepiness and I gave him drugs in a cup of hot chocolate. That made the trick. I'm sorry for drugging him by the way."

"That's why he's like this?"

Kakashi asked and Temari just nodded.

"It's just a medicine to sleep. I knew that I had to bring him here to all of you."

"Thank you Temari."

She just smiled kindly at Naruto who was facing her with deep sadness in his eyes and hurt concern. She could see the worry in the eyes of everyone. She hadn't brought good news.

"Well Sasuke needs to be hospitalized now. I will run different tests on him to be sure about everything and I hope you're wrong Temari."

"I hope so too."

But when the two crossed their looks they already knew the sand shinobi was right. Kakashi, Gai, Kurenai and Anko too. But they didn't say anything.

"Take Sasuke to the hospital, please."

Tsunade gestured to Gai and Kakashi. Gai went to his rival and Naruto who was thoughtful and watching worried at his dark haired friend. Then Kakashi helped Gai to carry Sasuke in his arms and they went out leaving a sad and silent Naruto behind. Hinata went and hugged him tightly supporting him. He smiled weakly at her.

"Don't worry. I will go and check him. All of you can go and rest; you had completed your missions. When you can visit Sasuke Shizune will inform you."

They all nodded excluding Naruto who was lost in thought and one by one the young ninjas left the office. Shikamaru helped Temari. Kurenai and Anko left too after them and Tsunade was alone sitting behind her desk thinking.

She knew that Temari was right. Even without the real proof about it. And she just sighed starting to ponder what had happened to the Uchiha boy and who had done it. But she couldn't have the straight and clear answers. Not yet.