Mio bambinos, it's me again~

As ya'll know, the direction of this story is uncertain, I have no structured plan for what I want to follow. I started this on a whim. So please bear with me if the story direction suddenly changes. My story synopsis may change too. I'm just worried that I will disappoint people because the storyline was not what they were expecting. Oh well, onto the story, go go!

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The hospital was awfully busy, there was a sudden disturbance outside the Konoha village territory which requested more shinobis to scout and prepare for confrontation. More shinobis have been arriving injured; however, Sakura was grateful the cases were not all too severe. They were already understaffed and the thought of being swamped with patients was dreadful.

''The stitches will heal fine if you do not agitate or pressure it, rest and stay off the battle ground for now, no objections and no questions.'' She commanded swiftly. The shinobi nodded. Sakura turned her heel to head towards her office. He'll survive, the kunai just missed his vitals, so he'll live. 'Why is there a sudden retaliation beyond the walls? Just when the village was settling in…

She slumped onto her office chair, groaning as she stretched her stressed limbs. Someone knocked on the door. ''Come in'' she sighed. ''Shizune.'' She greeted simply, providing a soft smile.
''Sakura-san, greetings. I've come for the written reports for today.'' She waved an arm.
''Ugh, already? Shizune you're too dedicated, I just came back from my rounds!'' She grumbled, slamming her forehead onto the desk. Shizune chuckled, ''I'm just doing my job, we don't want you turning out like Tsunade-sama.'' Sakura shot her head up at her comment and smiled. ''I'm snitching.'' She smirked lightly. Shizune shook her head in defeat.

''Anyway, I need to meet Kaka- Hokage-sama about the increase rate of shinobis being admitted as inpatients. Evidently, something is transpiring beyond the wall, which is concerning…'' Sakura scrunched her eyebrows in concern.

''Very true. In addition to this, the shinobis seem to be holding similar conditions: high fever and violent coughs. I'm worried it's something more than just as squabble.'' Shizune was right, Sakura did not want to entertain the idea, but there's an awful pattern that's circulating amongst the shinobis. The two ladies hoping it is some seasonal flu, rather than something more dire...

Sakura made her way to the Hokage's office. She knocked three times and waited to be granted entry. ''Come in.'' Sakura opened the door. ''Hokage-sama.'' She paused in her tracks, noticing an orange head and a black head. What were they doing here? Sakura looked back to Kakashi in confusion. ''Ah, Sakura.'' He gently smiled from his desk. Sakura nodded in response.

''Sakura!'' Naruto waved gleefully, making his way to her. ''What are you doing here?'' Sakura smiled at the nine-tail holder, patently refusing to meet Sasuke's gaze. ''I have somethings to report to Kaka-Hokage-sama about.''

Kakashi waved his hand in utter negation, ''Call me Kakashi-sensei, Hokage-sama is awfully formal. The position does not suit me at all…''He sighed. Sakura tittered, most definitely, it did not suit him, but he does his job very well, regardless. The atmosphere suddenly changed and team 7 stiffened in response.

''More or less, we're all regarding the same topic at this moment.'' Kakashi started, automatedly, removing any joking demeanour from before. Kakashi carried on. ''There has been reports of suspicious rogue shinobis activity beyond the walls, disturbing our peace.'' He glanced at Naruto, signalling him to continue.

''During my last mission to the Sunagakure, I encountered a few rogue shinobis. Now that I think about it, there were quite a few of them, so for them not to be affiliated is questionable. They could be an independent organisation.''

''You didn't bother questioning them?'' Sasuke questioned. He was so quiet, Sakura almost forgot he was in the room. Naruto shook his head. ''At the time, I didn't think much of it, I just beat them to a pulp.'' Naruto bragged, clenching his fist in pride.

''Idiot.'' Sasuke retorted. Before Naruto retaliate, Sakura interrupted, all eyes on her. ''Yes, you were able to swiftly overthrow them, but what about the shinobis at the hospital?'' Sakura turned her eyes from Naruto to Kakashi. ''The numbers of patients are slowly growing Kakashi-sensei. It seems they are targeting specifically the Konoha shinobis. Have you contacted the neighbouring villages of any dubious activities towards their men?'' Silence washed the room.

''I'll have to contact them about it. They don't seem to be typical bandits or thieves.'' Kakashi noted. ''They're not, they looked really pale, comparable to the White Zetsu of the Akatsuki. And if I remember correctly, I saw no sclera or iris; It was pure black.'' Naruto added.

''What?'' Sasuke and Sakura countered in unison. The unexpected harmony took them both off guard, leading them flicker their eyes to one another. Sakura broke off the eye contact first. ''You didn't bother to mention this before because…?'' she genuinely asked. Why would he hold onto such important information?

''Idiot.'' Sasuke retorted for a second time. ''So why are you here Sasuke? You don't even have anything to add.'' Naruto spat.

''I called him because he was a missing-nin at one point; therefore, there is a high chance he has encountered anything we mention. We do not want to miss any given opportunity.'' Naruto glanced to Sakura at the words of 'missing-nin'; however, he saw no reaction.

Naruto brought his attention back to Sasuke. ''So? Have you?'' Everyone eagerly waited for some unlikely positive news in stillness. Unfortunately, he shook his head. ''I've never seen or heard anything of that manner.'' Everyone looked away in deject. ''However.'' Sakura shot up her head to the Uchiha at the unexpected comment. ''We can't ignore the possibility of manipulation. Through the form of illegal experiments and tests, its possible to make a whole clan, if needed.

Kakashi nodding, continued Sasuke's point. ''True, it's quite similar to Orochimaru. He experimented, spliced, and scrambled his victims genetics to make artificial clones; as well as using them as guinea pigs for his Fushi Tenshi technique.'' Sakura furrowed her brows at the likelihood, it's definitely possible – disgusting – but possible. As a doctor herself, the thought of people torturing patients for their own sick twisted motives, was repulsive. Sakura was lost in thought; unaware her eyes were still fixed on Sasuke.

Sasuke's eyes dropped to Sakura's. 'She's lost in thought' he mentally noted. Is it because she's a doctor? So, it probably hit close to home since the discussion was revolved around victims and patients. Regardless, Sasuke never broke his gaze.

''-akura.'' Sakura snapped back to a waving hand of Naruto in her peripheral sight, suddenly snapping back, she caught herself eyeing Sasuke. She turned away in embarrassment. 'I can't believe I got lost in thought and was staring.' She mentally beat herself. Regaining her composure, she turned to Kakashi. ''Also, I need to mention, a few of my patients are holding similar symptoms- high fever, violent coughs, and shivers. It's odd that they came back with these symptoms, but right now I want to assume it's just a flu. I don't have enough evidence to assume otherwise.''

''True, maybe it's just a seasonal flu and they've spread it amongst themselves but thank you for mentioning it.''

''Also, why are we the only people to have conference about this?'' Naruto inquired.

''I'll be summoning the relevant people; anyone that has had a mission within the past weeks or months or anyone that I may suspect will have crucial information. '' Everyone nodded in acknowledgment. It is understandable, in a sense, he is conducting a qualitative data for any similar pattern amongst the statements.

''You're all dismissed.''
_

Sasuke looked up at the blue tinted white sky. The sky invited his eyes to play as ever arching wings flapped. The serenity of the clouds sailed by, gently passing towards the unknown, anyplace where the wind commands them. ''Oi'' Sasuke searched for the voice. He was met with a pale individual, the same individual who took his place in Team 7. Why was he interacting with him? They barely knew one another. Sasuke replied with silence.

''What do you want with Sakura?'' He asked nonchalantly, not breaking his gaze on Sasuke. He frowned at the sudden query. ''What?'' Sasuke spat venomously. He doesn't need to be hearing this from a replacement of Team 7. Sai didn't catch his irritation, or he didn't care at all.

''Sakura clearly doesn't like you, but you are always shadowing her.'' Molten anger rolled through Sasuke. Almost choking on his rage, he replied, ''Shut up.'' Unphased, Sai carried on. ''If she doesn't want to interact with you, why don't you respect her wishes?'' Despite the loud volume from the streets, the silence was boisterous. Raging, Sasuke grabbed him by the collar. ''People tell me that I can't read the air and that I often lack the understanding of human relationship; however, I don't think you're any different.'' At this point Sasuke, was marinated in resentment, hatred and spite. Who was he to assume and judge Sasuke? He doesn't even know him. Sasuke wanted nothing but to constrict his breathing and lungs with only his fingers.

''What are you doing?!'' A voice screeched. Ino. Great, more trouble. ''Let go of him!'' Ino grabbed Sasuke's arm prompting him to unleash Sai. Sasuke watched the fire in the Blonde's eye. With no hesitation, he threw Sai to the ground causing Sai to drop violently. ''What's your issue?!'' Whispers of the onlookers were starting to formulate. 'Why is he being so violent?' 'He just came back and he's causing a ruckus already.' 'He should have stayed a missing-nin!' 'What was the Hokage thinking bringing him back, he's a threat to the village.' Sasuke slipped his eyes shut, blocking out the murmurs of the bystanders. ''If he ever shows himself before me like this, I'll kill him.'' Sasuke turned on his heel and headed straight to the Uchiha Manor.

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Ouuu I hope this is enough for now!
Ciao

-Grape