Characters

Daichi= Sakura's college with a obvious attraction to Sakura

Saori= Daichi's cousin and waitress

Mrs Izumi= Older Nurse works at the hospital alongside Sakura, and is familiar with Sarada.

Itaru Fumetsu= Man missing, with a rare blood limit.

Hideki Fumetsu= Older man, rescued by Sasuke, also shares rare blood limit.

Lilly= Head Scheduling nurse

Chapter 21

Bookstore

As Sarada looked at her father after his declaration that he would pay Daichi a visit personally, along with finding a long overdue relief come over her; as he would surely set things right once and for all. The Uchiha turning back to relay to Boruto the wonderful news , found the young ninja unexpectedly having a distraught expression on his face after his own talk with his father, as he looked to be in physical pain; making her anxious by this and the Hokage's unexpected appearance.

"Boruto?" Sarada had questioned under her breath, before seeing the Hokage coming up to her and Sasuke as well.

"Sorry, I heard from some reliable sources that the kids were spotted on their way here; so I tried to hurry as fast as I could." He apologized directly to Sasuke, causing Sarada too look back at her father as they briefly eyed one another.

" … It's okay they were actually a great help, we've determined that a doctor by the name of Daichi is also a member of the Fumetsu clan." He revealed to Naruto, before Hideki unexpectedly stepped in to speak to the Hokage next.

"Nanadaime my apologies… It seems we may have caused trouble once again for Konoha. I've explained to Sasuke here that you may do what you wish of me." He spoke to him directly, before seeing Naruto lifting his hand; as he waived it for him to say no more, as he instead presented the confused man with a warm smile.

"That's not necessary whatever difference Konoha had with your people it is long since forgotten, I just wish we could take back the tragedy that happened to your people…" he paused while giving him a sincere look. "Sasuke also informed me of your willingness to help in spite of the past… And for that we're in your debt." He added next before noticing the newly dead man lying on the ground.

"He took his own life… I couldn't get him to talk much but from what I can tell, he was more scared of this doctor than of me…. He ended up taking this," Sasuke spoke after noticing Naruto's concerned expression, as he next handed over the syringe the man had used.

"Really?" Naruto commented to himself while examining the empty container. "He must be dangerous… We'll need to work fast to apprehend him, the last time I spoke with him Shikamaru was still around the area, I'll send word for him to go to the hospital as soon as he can. To obtain this doctor until we can get there." He added next, as Sasuke nodded in agreement to the open suggestion.

Watching the interaction between her father and the Hokage as she was still highly unsure of everything that was happening, Sarada noticing Boruto slipping away outside while their fathers continued to speak with one another; found herself next turning to the old shop keeper Hideki. Before she decided to ask him directly while the adults were busy, what was truly happening to Konoha and what it meant to be a Fumetsu; as from all accounts it seemed to her to be more of a curse than anything else.

"Excuse me sir, could you explain a few things to me? She asked quietly enough for only him to hear, while giving him a serious expression.

Hospital

At the hospital as she examined Mr. Ito's body for a second time while Daichi was away getting something for the pair to drink, Sakura seeing no other abnormalities with the odd puncture mark on his arm; as it was far from a fresh wound. Found something else catching her attention instead, as she noticed a small bandage virtually hidden on the underside of Mr. Ito's lower back upon further inspection; making the Uchiha admittedly aware even with her own strong eye she had missed this earlier find, since she had spent more time examining the insides of Mr. Ito's body opposed to the out.

However in moving the stiff body carefully so she could get a better look at the dressing, as she began to peel it away slowly; Sakura seeing a small injection mark as it seemed fairly new, felt her eyebrows frown as it was abnormal to have this kind of mark on his body; especially after death.

"What is this?" She spoke to herself, before seeing there had been more faded marks along the side of his back as well; as they were harder to notice than the initial fresh mark she had found first.

Flashback

"Good morning Mr. Ito." Sakura said after entering into a hospital room, with a very cheerful man sitting in a hospital bed hooked up to various machines.

"Ah…Good morning to you Mrs. Uchiha… Hope everything is well." He asked happily while giving her his undivided attention, as he had been reading prior.

"Ummm….As well as can be expected despite things becoming so busy around here. I hear my colleague has been taken very good care of you in my absence, but I wanted to check on you myself … " She spoke while she pulled up his chart, to mark her visit with him.

"Yes your colleague has treated me kindly, though he does seem to be green around the edges…" he added with a chuckle causing Sakura to smile back at him.

"He is still learning but I'll make sure he does well and succeeds in being a good doctor… and as for you… Are you feeling any better today?" she added purposely eyeing him to answer honestly.

"Well about that… Don't tell the Mrs. …I thought I was feeling better, but it seems like today I haven't been feeling very well… I've also been having some pain in my back when I wake up in the mornings." He added making Sakura concerned by this complaint.

"Shall I have a look?" She asked next before seeing him stopping her quickly.

"It's okay I'm fine don't go fussing over me; you have plenty of other patients to see and take care of … Besides I'm sure it's just from old age," He said optimistically despite his sickly condition.

End Flashback

Recalling her conversation with Mr. Ito as she looked at the markings on his back, Sakura knowing she hadn't gotten to visit him much on his last few days alive; as she had been overly busy with other new patients. Next went to her clip board for her old patient, as she flipped frantically through his documented pages; before confirming quickly the only other doctor that had seen Mr. Ito other than her.

Outside

Elsewhere while Boruto sat outside of Hideki's show as he threw around some rocks, Sarada stepping outside shortly after him as she sat next to the teen; tried her best to get him to talk about what was going on, since she wanted to support him as he had supported her through her tough time with her parents and with the situation with Daichi.

"Boruto…" she spoke first before he interrupted her quickly.

"Okasan is really sick… and my old man doesn't know what can be done to heal her." He spoke while looking away, as he tried to play cool about the dreadful situation.

Shocked to hear this as she initially was at a loss for words, Sarada thinking about all the sick people she had seen in the hospital herself; along with what Hideki had revealed to her about the Fumetsu clan, tried to give Boruto encouragement as she wanted him to trust in her mother and the power of the Uchiha.

"Listen Boruto… The old man Hideki said whatever this may be it's caused by a special blood limit that is in him and Daichi. Once we explain this to my mom she can use this information to find a cure… Believe in her she's the best doctor there is." She reassured before hearing her father, coming out of the store next.

"I'm heading there now …" Sasuke spoke before suddenly taking off, ultimately leaving Sarada behind much to her surprise.

"Papa?…" She called out before turning around, and seeing Hideki coming out of his shop as well, with some assistance from Naruto.

"Are you sure you are willing to do this?" Naruto asked the slow moving man, as he closed the door to his shop.

"Yes more than sure." He answered back with a smile.

Seeing Hideki was going to come with them to the hospital, as she began to worry about his beyond turtle slow pace; Sarada anxiously looking back at the slow moving man, as she had wanted to be there personally to see her father pummel Daichi the moment the two met once again. Found the Hokage abruptly making eye contact with her, before he nodded his head in approval catching her off guard by the gesture; as he spoke secondly to ease her worried mind.

"Sarada go ahead… We'll catch up." Naruto spoke as he gave her a thumbs up in support.

"Nanadaime… Arigato…" She bowed before turning and rushing off to catch up with her father as her eyes changed intensity.

Hospital

Opening up the door slowly using his back as he held onto two covered drinks, Daichi setting one down while placing the other on the table gazed around before reaching into his pocket; as he poured something into one of the coffee's before mixing it up and placing the lid back on.

"Sakura san I've brought your coffee." He spoke up, before noticing how quite the room had been after a minute or two of not hearing a response.

"Sakura-san?" he questioned while setting down the drinks, as he noticed looking around more carefully; that some of her things were already gone along with her as well.

"Where did she," he found himself mumbling next until he noticed the partly uncovered body for Mr. Ito, causing his curiosity to spike after he recalled seeing for himself Sakura covering him up fully; long before he had left to retrieve drinks for the pair, as the half-done worked seemed oddly out of place especially for her.

Deciding to check things out for himself over the oddness and Sakura's unspoken departure, as he got closer to the body; Daichi finding the chart for the patient lying on the ground as he bent down to pick up, found himself next removing the covering on Mr. Ito completely. Before seeing for himself on brief examination that a dressing he had placed earlier on his back, was fully removed making the doctor suspicious of Sakura's thoughts on seeing the bandage; especially since he didn't report it on his autopsy sheet, as he gradually became nervous and anxious .

Sakura's Office

After rushing back to her office as she shut the door right behind her, Sakura moving some things out of the way to make room on her semi cluttered desk; next set up a microscope she had taken from the examination lab earlier, as she prepped a new blood sample she had retrieved on her way to the personal room before taking a look at it, after tucking some hair behind her ear as she nervously awaited her findings.

Flashback

"It was Daichi" Sakura said before dropping her clipboard to the floor, at seeing he was the only other doctor to visit Mr. Ito.

"Why did he…" she asked herself next. Before turning around slowly and staring at the blood plated slab sitting on her microscope, as she recalled back to him giving it to her already prepped and ready; making her aware that it was most likely tampered with, causing her previous negative findings despite thinking otherwise.

Finding herself at a loss for words as she couldn't understand why the doctor would willingly do this, Sakura remembering she still had an older blood sample from Mr. Ito she could still utilize; decided almost instantaneously to go back to her office to confirm once and for all, if there had been truly a connection linked with Mr. Ito's fatal sickness and the blood limit of the Fumetsu like Sasuke had suggested.

End Flashback

Focusing her tool more on the blood sample she had retrieved as on first glance the blood seemed completely normal, Sakura however changing the intensity of the glass lenses as her perception was increased a hundred fold; found stunningly the blood had slightly looked different than her assessment before as it seemed vaguely abnormal, with the invading cells being slightly bigger than the typical ones and in an unusual shape and structure.

"So it's true…" Sakura found herself saying while sitting back a few moments, as she tried to understand now; why Daichi had an involvement with the Fumetsu clan.

However thinking of his possible connection before she reached into her coat pocket next, Sakura pulling out the handkerchief she had retrieved from the floor with Daichi's blood freshly on it; had decided next to test a small sample of it, as she was interested to see what the results would determine.

Outside

Arriving to the hospital as he found his feet hitting the dirt covered ground, Sasuke seeing Sarada had kept up with him as she wasn't very far behind; began walking up to the hospital door, before seeing two Jounin standing on guard on the outside. Making Sarada recognized the pair from before being the ones that stopped her from pummeling Daichi earlier.

"Excuse me Uchiha Sasuke-san … You may pass but I'm afraid she cannot." One of the Jounin spoke up while placing a hand in front of Sarada stopping her from going any further inside.

However seeing a scowl look on the adult Uchiha's face at his gesture as he quickly took back his hand, the Jounin easily recognizing Sasuke's outstanding authority without as much as a word from him directly; moved away quickly from the door after his single serious glance, causing Sarada to hold back a smile at her father's strong presence, before following close behind him back of the hospital once again as this time they wouldn't be stopped.

Hospital

Walking rapidly down the hallway as it was still highly busy with nurses and patients rushing around the ward; Daichi trying to track down Sakura after she had disappeared, since he had wanted to talk with her personally. Found himself stopping at hearing some distinct talking once he turned the next corner, forcing him to hide at seeing a spiky hair Jounin following behind the scheduling nurse Lily; as the two seemed to be in a hurry of their own, walking towards the place he had just come from in an obvious hunt of someone specifically.

"He should be in the autopsy area? What is going on why do you need to speak with Daichi?" Lilly had asked Shikamaru directly, after she had pulled out a pair of keys before attempting to enter the sectioned off area.

"We just need to have a word with the doctor that's all." He added before the two continued on.

Daichi waiting for the pair to go through the doors first, before his expression shifted into a glare; found the newest turn of events troubling; as he started to move once again this time being more cautious about being noticed as he was highly on guard.

Sakura's Office

Feeling terrible for not seeing the connection sooner as her hands ran through her freshly tussled locks, Sakura seeing that Daichi's blood cells looked similar to that of the ones that had attacked Mr. Ito's; as she was able to determine after a brief assessment he had been an actually carrier of the vaguely defined blood limit described in Sasuke's earlier notes.

Sakura having several thoughts racing through her mind at this outcome, as she now more than ever needed to find a cure for this devastating illness; found her concentration shift abruptly at hearing the door suddenly turning, making her concerned that it had been Daichi as she kept on guard while the door opened up slowly.

However seeing on the other side of the door a tall silhouette as she blinked her eyes several times in disbelief, Sakura seeing Sasuke standing at her door instead of the doctor; as she was beyond shocked by his presence, found quickly a second surprise in seeing Sarada coming out from behind him, as she without hesitation rushed over to her mother giving her a big hug causing her to stumble back.

"Sarada?... Are you alright?" She asked while bending down to check her, since she had been worried about her the entire time.

"I'm fine are you okay?" she asked in return, while equally being just as concerned for her mother.

"I'm fine… I'm sorry I couldn't get to you sooner," She spoke softly before giving her a hug, while equally looking up at Sasuke as he continued to remain silent.

"Mama there is something we need to tell you … Papa and I found out something about Daichi and…?" Sarada said before her mother interrupted after letting her go from the hug.

"I know…" She said surprising not only Sarada but Sasuke as well. "Daichi-kun… I mean Daichi is a part of that clan in your notes isn't he?" she asked Sasuke directly whom only nodded in return.

"How did you find out?" Sarada asked unsure she would have even believed her let alone figuring it out on her own.

"One of my patients that passed away had injection marks along his back, Daichi was the only one other than me assisting with him..." Sakura paused as she felt sick to her stomach thinking of him taking advantage of patients.

" …. I don't know why he did it but we need to find him." Sakura added somberly next.

"Don't worry… Nanadaime sent for Shikamaru sensei to find him, and with papa rushing to get her so fast I doubt he will get far," Sarada said happily.

"Hontou?" Sakura commented at hearing Sasuke rushing to get to the hospital.

Sarada however watching her mother eyeing her father, as she began to recall how her parents hadn't really talked with one another since their fight the night before; as now was the perfect time with the two in the same room together, to be left alone. Quickly recalled to Naruto and Boruto, being on their way with Hideki as she excused herself from the room, to bring them to where her parents were now as she quickly began to take off.

"Mama…Papa… I'm gonna go find the Nanadaime... I'll be back." She spoke before leaving abruptly, catching her parents a little off guard.

Sasuke however watching his daughter leave before he looked back at Sakura, found her walking closer towards him before falling into his chest; as he without thought placed a hand around her shoulder.

"Anata… Gomen…." She said almost mimicking the gesture he had shown her the night before as she was to drunk and angered to respond properly at that time.

"You … you don't need to apologize…" He spoke as he allowed her to get even closer to him after she wrapped her arms around his firm waist.

"I was wrong to get mad at you …" She started to say before feeling Sasuke suddenly silencing her after lifting her chin and pressing his warm lips against hers, as her eyes quickly expanded and lowered at the softness of his kiss while her cheeks began to flush.

So I won't go too much into the Sakura, Sasuke are clueless thing, cause I respect everyone's opinion and views of this story as they are going to be different. I do want to mention I love the characters as much as everyone else, and I will say its best kept in mind that despite the many chapters this does happen in a short span of time, honestly in two days for the last few chapters. :)