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R&R.

Healing

Shizune ran as quickly as she could to the hospital. "Damnit. The one day I'm not at Lady Tsunade's side, and something important happens."

As she burst into Rm 2039, she almost barreled into Lady Tsunade. "M-my lady, what did you call me down here for?" she panted, out of breath a little bit from running.

Tsunade's expression was hard to read. "Black Ops found Naruto today. Somehow he managed to pick up on Kabuto's trail, and he abandoned his mission in favor of tailing the man. From what they gathered, it looks like they had a huge fight. I need to go heal Naruto. Your job is to heal Kabuto."

She nodded to the bed inside. "He's over there."

With a turn, she left, leaving Shizune no room to protest. "B-but Lady Tsunade!"

Shizune fumed as she prepared to heal the silver-haired man.

"I don't know why she would ever consider having me heal this man," she muttered. "He's brought enough trouble on the village, and probably doesn't deserve to live anyway. He's a nuisance every which way you look at it."

She continued on talking to herself. "We have every right to just like him die for the crimes he's committed."

"You're right," she heard a quiet voice respond. "You do have every right to let me die."

Shizune quickly turned her head toward the voice, finding her patient with his eyes staring intelligently at her. As she looked, he gave her a weak smile.

"You have every right to feel that way." He repeated.

She chose to ignore him, and continued preparing him to be healed. "You know, I used to be like you too."

"You're NOTHING like me!" she retorted angrily, unable to keep silent.

He didn't raise his voice. "I used to love healing. It was the passion that drove me to try harder because I couldn't stand to see anyone in pain. It was unbearable, and I always wanted to ease their suffering, in any way I could."

She simply looked at him. "There was once this little girl…I couldn't do anything to save her, and it tore me apart."

He looked at her beseechingly. "Why would anyone allow such a thing? She was only five."

Kabuto closed his eyes tiredly. "I couldn't forgive myself."

Shizune moved to turn around, uncomfortable in his presence.

Then the final soft words fell upon her ears. "She was like a little sister to me."

Her gaze softened as she gazed at him.

He didn't look evil.

He didn't look wicked.

He simply looked tired.

And her heart went out to the man, the one that desperately tried, but couldn't save the little girl he loved—couldn't save himself.

Kabuto opened his eyes to see her looking at him with acceptance, not hate like she should have been.

And she smiled back at him.

Just maybe she was the one that would finally heal him.

R&R.