Big thanks to ZabuzasGirl for reviewing and favoriting and for the Guest who reviewed! It makes so happy when I read them. Also, thanks to Yusuna for following!
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"You're shitting me right now. Sasuke, this is no time to be playing ar-"
"No, you guys need to stop playing around!" Sasuke shouted, stunning Haruka to silence. "I'm sick of this-"
"Are you sure you don't remember? It's not funny to joke like about Azumi-"
"Why do you keep mentioning this Azumi person!? Who the fuck is that!?" He shouted, interrupting Sakura. She felt like she was suffocating...like if her lungs were being strangled from the inside. How could he forget her? A friend that, despite how she had mistreated her, was dear to Sakura. Just what in the world was going on?
"Sasuke, you teme, how dare you forget Azumi like that!?" Naruto shouted, lunging at Sasuke but was held back by Haruka as Kakashi took control.
"Naruto, control yourself." He spoke sternly, facing him until he turned back to face Sasuke once more. With a long, examining stare, he exhaled and began walking to the door. "All of you, stay put. I will be back with Tsunade and Inoichi in a few. Should I come back to a mess, you'll all be punished." And with that, he left.
The room was silent, that is, until Sakura's ragged breaths filled the room. She didn't understand why she was in this state. Was it shock? Was she devastated? What was it?
"Sakura, breathe in, breathe out." Haruka soothed, moving her hands in a slow up-and-down motion. Sakura nodded and did as she was told, eventually calming down.
"I think I had a mini heart attack." Sakura joked quietly. No one laughed or even grinned. The room itself felt suffocating with its negative vibes. Naruto was clenching his fists and staring at the floor, facing the window. Haruka was staring at Naruto worriedly, glancing at Sasuke every so often. Sasuke...he...he was in between anger and confusion. You could see it in his eyes. His face no longer portrayed his emotions. Not since... "AGH!"
"W-What's wrong, Sakura?" Haruka asked, kneeling down beside Sakura in her little corner.
"Everything's wrong! We shouldn't be in a hospital right now. We should be on a mission, together and alive. Azumi shouldn't be dead, Naruto should be his goofy self, and Sasuke shouldn't...well, he isn't supposed to have amnesia!" Sakura shouted as tears came to her eyes.
"I don't have amnesia! Why doesn't anything I say get through that big forehead of yours!?" Sasuke barked, causing several tears to escape Sakura's eyes.
"Listen here, Sasuke...don't talk to Sakura that way. She's having a hard time and is worried for your well-being! Just shut up and accept the kindness that she's generous enough to give to someone like you." Naruto faced Sasuke, glaring at him with not hatred, but concern.
"What's kind about being called an amnesiac?" Sasuke snarled, glaring at Naruto with such ferocity that Haruka was sure she'd wither under his scrutinizing stare.
"She's only concerned for you, Sasuke. Just accept it. She's the only other person who'll give it you since...Azumi's de-"
"There you go, again! Azumi, Azumi, Azumi! Why do you guys keep mentioning a nonexistent being!?"
"You know damn right she's real! You should know that better than any of us, after all, she was your girlfriend! Why don't you just admit it, Sasuke!? You're just too scared to admit that she's dead! That's why you're passing her off as nonexistent!"
For a moment, Sasuke's eyes widened, Naruto having struck a chord. That couldn't be, though. Sasuke knew for a fact that he didn't know who this Azumi being was. Then...why did he feel guilt? However, that feeling was immediately replaced by anger.
"Don't accuse of me of anything you obviously don't know! The only people I've lost is my family! You wouldn't know the pain of losing one, after all, you've never had one!"
"Naruto, don't!" The two females of the team shouted, rushing.
In mere seconds, Naruto was by Sasuke's side, aiming a punch at his face. Sasuke, being the advanced student he was, blocked Naruto's hand with his own and pushed him away as Tsunade and the others rushed in.
"What the hell do you think you're doing, Naruto!?" Tsunade scolded, pulling Naruto away easily. He struggled against her, glaring at Sasuke while shouting insults. Kakashi quickly grabbed Naruto and dragged him out of the room along with the other two females. He shut the door and left Tsunade and Inoichi to tend to his student, wishing that it wasn't what he suspected.
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Earlier
Kakashi barged into the Fifth's office in haste.
"Back so soon, Kakashi? Now what's wrong?" Tsunade asked. She had already been informed of the break-in at the Uchiha compound, having been told by Kakashi that he felt a faint chakra signature that was well masked. Nonetheless, he detected it and concluded that it belonged to someone they both despised.
But Kakashi had left just a few minutes ago and now he was back? Just what in the world was going on?
"Tsunade-sama, something is wrong with Sasuke and I'm assuming that it has to do with the break-in." Kakashi began. "According to Naruto, after I came to inform you of so, Sasuke went into hysteria and...he's developed the Mangekyo Sharingan."
"What." Tsunade couldn't believe her ears.
"That's not all." Kakashi recommenced. "Not just that but he appears to be having amnesia." Tsunade stared at him, waiting for him continue. But...it looked as if Kakashi were having an internal battle. He continued hesitantly, replying, "He claims to not know who Azumi is."
Immediately, Tsunade shot up from her desk. She called Shizune over, had her meetings cancelled, and made someone handle her paperwork.
"Oh, and, Shizune?"
"Yes, Hokage-sama?"
"Tell Inoichi to meet me up at the hospital. I'm going to need him."
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"Sasuke, do you know who Azumi is?" Tsunade asked, taking notice of his reaction. He was about to shout but quickly shut his mouth, choosing to speak in a more respectful tone.
"No, I do not. Why does everyone keep asking me that?" Sasuke calmly answered, a bit of anger escaping him.
"I'm not gong to answer that because I know if I put it bluntly, you'll be resistant to cooperate. Sasuke, I'm going to need you to close your eyes."
"Why?" He answered quickly, glancing between the two. Inoichi sighed. How in the world was it that this kid had girls on their feet for him? His daughter being one of them, as well.
"I don't know this Azumi person either and I'd like to see if she is actually real or not. According to your team, you knew her the best. Now do you want to prove them wrong or not?" Inoichi coaxed. Tsunade, seeing what he was doing, went along.
"You have to do it, Uchiha. It's an order from the Hokage. If anyone comes into my village without my consent, it's up to me to find out who this person is. Now shut up and let Inoichi do his job." Tsunade ordered, eyeing Sasuke for any hints of defiance. He merely 'Hn'ed and closed his eyes, laying back against the bed.
"Proceed."
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Kakashi closed the door behind him and faced his two students and Haruka. They were silent, only staring at the ground, refusing to meet Kakashi's eyes. The nurses who scurried past the group could see the irritation in the handsome copy-ninja's face.
"I suggest you all go home." Kakashi finally spoke up, breaking the silence.
"What! We can't leave Sasuke! He needs us-!"
"Sakura, maybe Kakashi's right." Haruka spoke up. Before Sakura or Naruto could interject, she continued, "So far, all we've done is argue with him. He probably doesn't even want to see us right now. I mean, how would you feel if you woke up with no recollection of anything and suddenly everyone began barraging you with questions and demands?"
They snapped their mouths shut and downcast their eyes. They knew she was right but they couldn't help themselves. They wanted to be there for him...to help him. That's what friends do, right?
She continued, "He's going through a difficult time right now and I don't think he needs us there to mess it up any more than what it already is." She turned to Kakashi, bowed her head, and walked away. It wasn't until she turned the corner of the hall that he realized...
"Does Haruka live alone?" Kakashi asked, catching the other two's attention.
Naruto's eyes widened as Sakura gasped. Naruto couldn't believe himself-how could he forget about the death of her mother!? Her dad was a traitorous bastard of a father who killed his own wife. He completely forgot that that disgusting man had given birth to such a beautiful creature like Haruka. How could he have forgotten such a crucial thing?
"Naruto?" Sakura asked, looking at him for verification. His expression was proof enough.
"How can I be so stupid!? I thought she was living with her father but I forgot that bastard Kazuma was her father. Agh!" Naruto shouted, kneeling on the floor while pounding his head. Suddenly, he bolted up and dashed down the hall shouting, "Wait for me, Haruka! I'm coming!"
However, Haruka was already by the markets, staring at the families that happily frolicked without a worry. The sunset came upon the village, filing it with a beautiful blanket of colors. But...all Haruka could see was dull. Her world was filled with melancholy...melancholic memories of her family and rival, Azumi. She felt a warm liquid slide down her cheek and soon, others followed. She lifted a hand to her widened eyes and wiped away the water, leaving her hand wet with salty tears. Why was she crying? She felt fine, she didn't want to sob or anything...then why were her eyes pouring themselves?
"Stop it." She commanded herself, wiping her eyes and covering her face from the villagers who were staring. Even so, the tears kept coming and so did the stares.
"Isn't that her?" Haruka froze.
"Oh yes, the poor child. Her mother was killed during a raid of some sort."
"Her father killed that poor woman. Traitor."
"I'm not surprised if she follows in his footsteps." Her vision was becoming blurred by the onslaught of tears.
"Tch, people like her-"
No, she thought.
"should-" Stop it.
"Die."
A gasp escaped her lips, soon turning into silent sobs. Her shoulders shook as she slowly knelt to the ground, holding herself. Die. It kept playing in her mind on repeat, becoming darker and more demonic every time. The world was dull. No longer did that sky shine it's beautiful reds, oranges, pinks, and yellows. The sky was a black and white monochrome. She had once considered herself as the only vibrant color in the picture. Now, she was just like the rest-dull.
"Haruka!" She heard a voice shout desperately. She gasped and rose from her spot, looking down the dull, dirt road. What she saw astounded her. With every step this yellow ball of energy took, the world became colorful once more. This kid...
"N-Naruto?" She asked before she was engulfed into a warm hug. Her eyes slightly widened at the contact, slowly returning to normal size at his comforting words.
"I'm sorry. I know I'm an idiot and I know that I'm not one for being serious, but know this...should you ever feel lonely or sad or anything at all, you come to me. I'll always be there to brighten up your day. Besides..." He pulled away from her and smiled at her surprised green eyes, continuing with, "We're Uzumaki's. We stick together."
Her green eyes glossed over and soon, she released the dam of tears and sobs as he pulled her along with him, holding her hand. Taking one last glance, he faced the villagers with a glare when his eyes flashed red for a split second. The villagers reeled back, murmuring to themselves and scurrying away.
He looked at Haruka's tear strewn face and thought to himself, "I don't care what they think of me. All that matters is that she's safe. I'll be damned if they hurt her. Tch, over my dead body!"
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After Naruto had ran off, Sakura was told by Kakashi to go home. However, before she could leave, the door to Sasuke's room flew open. Tsunade stood in the doorway, staring at the two before pulling the two in.
"Tsunade-sama, what's the meaning of this?" Sakura asked as she was dragged to a sleeping Sasuke's side.
"Inoichi was able to infiltrate his mind rather easily. We searched through all his memories but Azumi appears in none of them." Sakura gasped, horrified, as Kakashi simply closed his one eye in concern. "Or so we thought. There seems to be a seal on a certain part of Sasuke's memories. We've never seen one like so, weird, and that's where you two come in. I need you two to discover what this seal is."
"Tsunade handed Kakashi the picture and weird it was indeed. It resembled none of the seals he had ever witnessed. Sakura took a look and scrunched her eyes in disappointment. Being the bookworm she was, she thought she'd be able to identify it but that wasn't the case here. She didn't recognize it and she was sure this was the first time she'd seen one like this. Perhaps, was it..?
"Tsunade-sama...do you think this is a new type of seal that someone invented? You know, someone like Kazuma?" She spoke her thoughts, catching the attention of her superiors. "Ah! B-But I could be wrong! Hehe..?"
"Cha Sakura! You tell them!" Her inner raged.
"You could be onto something though. Kakashi, call Haruka back immediately. Inoichi, thank you for your services. Dismissed!" Inoichi and Kakashi nodded and shunshined away. Tsunade faced Sakura and smirked. "You are pretty smart for a kid your age."
"A-Ah, thank you, Tsunade-sama!" Sakura bowed, glad that she did because a small blush covered her cheeks.
"Well, Sakura, I'm going to leave you in charge of Uchiha for a while. I need to go handle some business first." And with that, she shunshined away. Sakura sighed and put a hand to her heart, internally squealing.
"I was recognized! Cha! In your face, Ino-pig!" Throughout her internal celebration, Sakura failed to notice a certain Uchiha beginning to rise and shine. Really, he should've been sleeping. It was night already.
The Uchiha mentally contemplated whether he should ask her what she was doing or to leave her alone. If he asked, she would start blabbering incessantly but if he didn't, she would keep making weird movements. From what he remembered, Sakura used to be much more obsessed with him. By now, she'd surely be pestering him by his beside, crying into the sheets and begging for him to hurry up and heal, just like on their mission in the Land of Waves. But, she wasn't.
Now that he thought about it, she started becoming less obsessed with him after...after what? Something was driving her away, but what was it? He couldn't seem to remember. It was probably just a figment of his mind but if that were so...why did he feel empty?
It was then that Sakura turned around to check on Sasuke that she seen him sitting up, staring distantly at the covers.
"S-Sasuke?" She asked, walking over to his bedside. He blinked and his gaze seemed much more alive, but only somewhat. "How are you feeling? Do you need me to get something for you?"
"Hn." He was back to one word uses.
"Sasuke-"
"Leave me alone."
"...Eh..?" And there it was again-that distant, faraway look. His eyes, though, seemed much more fierce. He wasn't staring blankly at the covers anymore.
He was glaring.
Sakura finally realized why it was that she couldn't breathe earlier.
Sasuke was officially broken.
He had gone back to his old ways. He was cold, hell-bent on revenge, and there was nothing that could save him. Not even her. Now that Azumi was gone...
There was nothing tying him to Konoha