Okay, like I said, new chapter already up! Yaaay!

For those of you new to the story, it is a continuation of my other story, "If Only." I recommend going back and reading it, but if you really don't want to, my prologue is that intriguing and you can't stand the tension, here is a summary (very breif):

Naruto encounters a strange box in the woods that knocks him out. When he wakes up, he finds himself in a world with his family, respect among the villagers and a girlfriend. However, he discovers that all of his friends are, in one way or another, worse off. He finds out that the box didn't send him to another world, it changed the world he was in and he had the power to change it back to what it was. He chooses to go back to the old world, where his friends are better and give up his family. He destroys the box and when he looks up, he sees someone he didn't expect.

Oh, and for the record, I destest character bashing, unless its done in humor, and the stereotypes that prevail on ff net. Don't expect any in this and if that's why you're reading, forget it.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

Chapter 1

"Naruto!"

Sasuke watched as the energy from the box overwhelmed the other ninja. He saw a flash of panic in Naruto's eyes before they went completely blank and rolled back in his head. The body slumped, going limp.

Sasuke noticed belatedly that the box-like thing that Naruto had stumbled over had disappeared. Part of his mind analyzed this, considering why the thing would put its energy into Naruto if it had been made completely of energy and where it went in the event that it had substance. He itched to dissect it, to discover the source of its power and if it could be trapped, used or controlled. He knew the immense chakra reserves had, thanks to the fox. It was no small feat to overwhelm the hyperactive knucklehead. Sasuke, for all his innate superiority, had only managed to a few times, and then with considerable effort. This thing had done it in a matter of seconds, with apparent ease.

So what was it and where the hell had it gone?

Sasuke was snapped out of his musings by a loud thump. He looked up and saw Naruto had fallen, completely unconscious.

He stood and stepped to Naruto's side, staring impassively at the blond boy. He would have preferred to simply leave him there; Sasuke didn't particularly care, but he was oddly reluctant to leave Naruto out in the woods.

Sasuke frowned slightly. Trying to lift him would be difficult and dangerous, considering his injuries. Besides, it wasn't like Naruto was a stranger to sleeping in the woods.

With that reassurance, and the knowledge that for all her wrath, Tsunade wouldn't harm a recovering patient, Sasuke walked away.

Three days later . . .

The entirety of Konoha was in a state of terror.

The Hokage was angry.

Rumors flew as to the exact nature of the Hokage's rage. Some said her lover had left her. Others said that she didn't have a lover, never did and her mind finally went from the lack of sex. One said she was mad to begin with and this was merely her true nature showing itself.

Most agreed with him.

A select few knew precisely what had sent Tsunade into an unprecedented fit of rage. They included, Shizune, Sasuke and, funnily enough, Tsunade herself. Usually, when she got this angry, the Hokage was rather drunk and couldn't remember why she was angry. This time she was certain of it and it was not a good sign.

Genma, Izumo, and Kotetsu knew this for a fact. If a fit of drunken anger, she'd smash everything in sight until she passed out. All one had to do was get out of her immediate vicinity and you'd be quite safe. When she was sober, however, she was far more focused and far more dangerous. She'd only use her inhuman strength to make a demonstration. Otherwise, Tsunade would sit behind her desk, fold her hands in front of her face and glare fiercely over her knuckles at anyone who didn't please her and a few who did.

"Find Uchiha Sasuke," Tsunade ordered to the three ninja standing in the room. "Now."

Not wanting to spend another moment in the presence of her enormous fury and killing intent, the three fled, searching for the not-as-intimidating Uchiha. Unfortunately, Shizune wasn't so lucky as to escape Tsunade's indirect wrath.

"Tsunade-sama, please calm down," Shizune pleaded. She was terribly worried about her mistress and had every right to be, judging by the steadily increasing number of veins that were pounding in her neck and temples. Though she looked it, Tsunade wasn't young. All this stress couldn't be good for her. Shizune pursed her lips and felt a wave of anger toward Naruto. Always stressing and worrying Tsunade-sama.

"You really expect me to calm down, Shizune?" Tsunade snapped.

Shizune tried a different approach. "Yelling at him won't do any good," she insisted. "You know he won't listen."

Tsunade's brown eyes switched from the innocent door to Shizune. "Are you trying to protect him, Shizune?"

The other woman quickly paled and tried to backpedal. "No, no—"

"After everything he's done, to this village and to Naruto, you'd defend him?" Tsunade's voice cut across her assistant like a whip. She slowly began to stand. "While you go behind my back to the council, betray me and Naruto—"

"Tsunade, Naruto is—"

"Tsunade-shishou!" Sakura burst into the room, forgetting to knock.

"Hold on Sakura," Tsunade ordered, holding up a hand. It took conscious effort for her not to curl it into a fist. Sakura froze. "Naruto . . . is what, Shizune?"

The dark-haired woman lowered her head and folded her hands in front of her. Thank the gods Sakura came in. Her loss of temper could have ended up being quite painful. She took a deep breath. "It is nothing, Tsunade-sama."

"That's what I thought, Shizune." She sat back down. "Now go do something else somewhere else."

Shizune hurried out of the room, equally torn between guilt, anger and fear. When she was gone, Tsunade turned to her younger apprentice. "What is it, Sakura?"

Sakura gulped. "Is it true that Naruto is in the hospital?"

Tsunade frowned, her anger and worry increasing tenfold. "Yes."

"What's wrong with him?" Sakura asked, gripping the edge of the desk.

"He's in a coma of some kind," Tsunade answered. She anticipated Sakura's next question. "I don't know from what. He was found unconscious in the woods behind the Hokage monument his morning. The last person to see him was Uchiha Sasuke, who people are looking for as we speak."

Sakura processed this information quietly, her expression giving away nothing. If Naruto's coma was brought on by a simple physical injury, Tsunade would have healed it immediately. It had to be more than that. But she said, "some kind of coma." It must be something she'd never seen before. That's why she needs Sasuke to figure what's wrong with him.

There are two options with Sasuke: he and Naruto parted ways before Naruto passed out, or he was there, saw what happened and left him.

If it's the first one, then he can't help us and we're stuck at square one, trying to fix what we don't know is broken. If it's the second . . .

Would Sasuke leave Naruto? If he knew that he was passed out and injured, would he just leave Naruto in the woods?

Sakura bit her lip and considered her ex-teammate. Two weeks ago, the scouting team had discovered Sasuke at the Uchiha hideout, all but dead from a disastrous fight with Itachi. They'd brought him back to Konoha and a team of over ten medic-nins had spent twenty-eight hours making sure he wouldn't die of blood loss, burst organs, shattered bones or any of the various injuries his body had sustained. He'd been in a coma, like Naruto now, for three more days.

During those three days, the council, the Hokage and the clan heads had debated what to do with him. Some of them argued for execution, as he was a traitor and couldn't be held above the law because of his bloodline. Other pleaded for clemency, provided that he swore fealty to Konoha again. Some said he should be stripped of his Sharingan and have his chakra sealed, to live as a civilian. It seemed that everyone and their brother had an opinion on the matter.

According to the predictions of the medics who'd worked on Sasuke, he should have been unconscious for at least a week after they'd ensured he wouldn't die. Those medics stared in amazement as he opened his eyes after three days. Two weeks after a battle like the one he'd been through, Sasuke shouldn't even be able to get out of bed, much less move about the hospital.

He had been mum about his remarkable and previously unknown healing ability. Sasuke had also been silent on the prospect of returning to Konoha, a fact that those in favor of full reinstatement had chosen to overlook when lobbying on his behalf.

Sakura had spoken to him a few times since then, sometimes as a medic, sometimes with Naruto as a part of former team 7. She'd come to one certain and disappointing conclusion.

He'd leave.

As soon as his injuries would permit him to get past the ANBU and guards he had, Sasuke would leave, again on a quest to avenge his family. Sakura was sure of that. The goal he'd had as a twelve-year old had transformed into an obsession.

No, it was an obsession then, too. I just couldn't see it.

Sakura had to resist the urge to rub her forehead. She pushed thoughts of the past aside and concentrated on the present, on what Sasuke had to do with Naruto's problem now.

He would leave Naruto now. Even if there is anything left of the Sasuke who was Naruto's friend, it isn't enough to make him expend energy on anything that doesn't benefit his cause. Unless he's ordered to.

Sakura frowned as she thought of something. In the past few days, Sakura had become sure that Sasuke could still use his Sharingan. She'd just caught a flash of it once when she surprised him. Yet, he was still in Konoha. If he was that determined to leave, why wouldn't he just throw up a genjutsu and waltz out to meet with that damned Hebi team?

It was something that had begun to plague her heavily. A part of her hoped it was because he wanted to stay on a subconscious level, but the rest of her knew that he could get the best medical care in the world here.

Of course, there's always the possibility that this is a genjutsu and we're all standing around drooling, unable to break free.

Sakura shook away that depressing thought as the door opened behind her to admit Sasuke. Think of the devil.

She tensed as she felt Tsunade's anger spike upon seeing Sasuke's indifferent visage. If Sasuke felt it—Sakura was sure he had—then he gave no indication.

Genma, who had escorted Sasuke in, closed the door quickly behind him. Sasuke stood silent and stoic, waiting for someone else to speak first. After a nerve-racking few minutes, Tsunade broke the silence.

"Do you know why you are here?" she asked.

Sasuke blinked. "No."

"Don't play dumb, Uchiha," Tsunade ordered. "It doesn't suit you."

He remained silent.

"Three days ago, I sent you up with water for Naruto, who was overworking himself as usual," Tsunade said.

" . . ."

"What happened?"

Sasuke stared at the blonde woman, debating whether or not to tell her the truth. It would be much easier for him if he didn't have Naruto chasing after him when he left. The Jinchuuriki wasn't a problem, but he was a nuisance and Sasuke's life would be much easier if Naruto wasn't in it. On the other hand, if Naruto woke up and told Tsunade that he'd lied, Sasuke would have an angry Hokage coming after him. That would be a problem.

"Naruto started running through the woods. I went after him, since you'd told me to look after him. He tripped on an invisible box."

He noticed Sakura move out of the corner of his eye, but ignored her and stared at the Hokage, whose eyebrows were raised. "An invisible box."

"Yes. When Naruto tried to investigate it, the box put out a surge of power and knocked Naruto out."

Tsunade and Sakura waited for him to continue, but he didn't. "Well? What happened next?" Tsunade prompted.

"I left."

Sakura's hands clenched. "You left him there?"

Still, Sasuke ignored her.

Sakura snapped, reached out and grabbed Sasuke by the front of his shirt. "Answer me when I talk to you!" she snarled at him. "Did you leave Naruto in the woods?"

"As I didn't bring him back, the answer is obvious," he deadpanned, utterly unimpressed with her temper.

Before Sakura could lose her temper and pummel him, Tsunade cut in. "Sakura. Put him down."

Slowly, Sakura complied with her mistress' order. Sasuke found his feet and turned back to Tsunade, dismissing his former teammate. "Is that all?"

"No, of course not," Tsunade snapped. "I'll need a full, written report. Get started."

She shoved paper and pen at him, then turned to her student. "Sakura, go start running tests on Naruto and get someone on the area behind the Hokage monument. If there are any residual traces, I want them found."

"Hai," Sakura agreed, then turned and stalked out. An invisible box?

He'd only see that if he had his Sharingan.

After Sasuke had finished his report, with much prodding for details, Tsunade looked it over and rubbed her forehead. Of course, it could be an attack not from without, but within. There was always the possibility that something was wrong with the seal.

Of course, the only person with experience and knowledge enough to tell her if something was up with that damned demon had left two weeks ago to investigate the Rain country and the Akatsuki leader.

Where are you, Jiraya? Why haven't you sent any frogs or any news?

Deep inside, she feared the worst, knew that Jiraya would have to be dead or severely incapacitated to not respond for this long. Either way, whoever the man leading Akatsuki was, he was trouble of the kind she had nightmares about.

If Jiraya can't stop him, I don't know who can. If he comes for Naruto, will I be able to protect him?

Tsunade closed her eyes as Shizune's repeating argument against Naruto started to run through her head. He'll bring Akatsuki down on Konoha. He'll lose control of the Kyuubi and level Konoha.

It seems he is the center of the trouble, as always.

The council and Shizune say that he is a danger to this village, in every way. If I were completely honest and objective, I would agree.

But I'm not objective. I believe in Naruto, I know that he can do this. He won't lose control of Kyuubi.

But I'm a compulsive gambler and borderline alcoholic.

Do I believe in myself?

Can I trust my own judgment?

Tsunade struggled with these questions and the ever-increasing threats to her village as the sun went down behind her.

Sakura and Shikamaru sat in Naruto's room, playing shogi. Shikamaru had been teaching her how to play it so that she could learn about strategy better, and Naruto's room was quiet.

It was quite ironic, actually, that the quietest part of the village would be in the hospital room of its loudest citizen. Not that he was so loud lately.

Sakura sighed as she looked at her unconscious teammate. The curtains in his room were drawn back, so that the sun fell on him. His hair hadn't lost its glow, his skin was still tan. He looked like he was sleeping. Whenever she came in here, she expected him to open his eyes, stretch and grin with a "good morning, Sakura-chan!"

But he didn't.

He just lied there.

Sometimes, she got so frustrated, she wanted to punch him. Naruto wasn't the one to be passive. She hadn't been surprised when she'd learned wind was his element. He was active, always moving, always changing, just like the wind. To see him constantly still, eternally quiet, it was like nature itself was backwards.

Shikamaru sighed, watching her watch Naruto. He twitched his nose slightly at the smell; people had sent bouquets of flowers, plants, chocolates, and ramen coupons upon hearing the blond was ill. It was funny that such an outpouring of emotion would come when Naruto couldn't appreciate it. And the gifts weren't from the Konoha twelve only. Some villagers had been taken by Naruto's grin and heart. He was determined to be a part of the village, even when it hated him, and his efforts had paid off. If Naruto wasn't training, he could certainly be found helping someone carry their groceries or entertaining children or fixing someone's roof. It was impossible not to fall in love with the kid, if one gave him the chance.

Naturally, there were a few stubborn ones who wanted to throw a party when news of Naruto's infirmity had spread. Most of those, unfortunately, were on the council.

Shikamaru knew that if they spent an hour with Naruto, they'd change their minds. But none of them would. He was a demon container and apparently the council was stupid enough to believe the condition was contagious.

In his spare time, Shikamaru planned out ways to overthrow the council, and the Hokage if need be. He wouldn't need to, though. He trusted Tsunade for the most part. But just in case.

"Shouldn't you be getting him new pajamas?" he asked suddenly. Shikamaru gave up on shogi. Sakura was just too distracted.

Sakura brought her eyes back to his. "What?"

In response, Shikamaru reached over and pulled the covers back, revealing Naruto's legs. His blue flannel pajamas were now several inches above his ankle. It looked like he was wearing flood pants.

Sakura frowned. "I didn't realize he'd grown so much," she murmured. "How tall do you think he is now?"

Shikamaru shrugged. "I'd guess about six feet," he hazarded. "In any case, those are too small for him now."

"How long has it been?" Sakura sighed. "Since he passed out, or collapsed or whatever."

"Twenty-seven days," Shikamaru answered without thinking.

"Do you believe Sasuke's story?" she asked. "About an invisible box?"

Shikamaru sighed. "He'd have no reason to lie, so until one presents itself, yeah, I guess I do."

"I'm glad Tsunade ordered his chakra sealed for the time being," Sakura said. "Since he's part of the investigation."

"He'll find a way out of it," Shikamaru said. "When he really wants to leave, he'll find a way out of it."

Sakura frowned. " 'Really wants to leave' What do you mean by that?"

Shikamaru closed his eyes. "If Uchiha wanted out of Konoha, he'd get out. That seal is nothing for him; he could get free of it in an instant. He's hanging around for some reason. What, I don't know. But I'm betting it has something to do with that invisible box."

"Why the box?" Sakura asked.

"Uchiha wants power," he said simply. "That thing was powerful enough to overpower Naruto. That would attract him, especially after his last defeat to Uchiha Itachi. He would be searching for anything to make him more powerful. Orochimaru didn't work; he needs a new avenue to pursue. He seems to think that it's the box."

Sakura chewed on her lip and looked over to Naruto. How do you always manage to get into these situations, Naruto?

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There's the first chapter. I'll try to signify the end of the chapter by a triple line. FYI.

I know people tend to see Tsunade as a woman who breaks everything in sight any time she's angry and is completely sloshed. She's not. Seriously. She falls asleep on the job, she doesn't drink. Geez. Stay true to the character, people.

Spoiler: I know that Jiraya's pretty much done for, but until Kishimoto draws his dead body, I won't place any bets on it.

Please, review! The bit with Naruto will be next chapter! I promise!