AN: You guys have noooo idea how excited I am for the next few chapters coming up! This chapter is going to be more of me trying to get some information out of the way to help build what's coming next (with a bit of fluff mixed in, of course.) I'm trying to get back into writing more often so I can give quicker updates. Life is been kind of crazy with work and family things that I won't get into. Btw, thank you so much to the people who have reached out to me on Instagram! It's so cool getting to see the people who have been reading this story. This community is so amazing and supportive. Hope you enjoy this chapter!

I do not own Naruto.

Chapter Sixteen

It took Sasuke two days to return to the small village where Sakura was watching over the boy who was caught up in the heinous tragedy they were working to solve. He'd gathered information quickly, traveling throughout the area to gain a lead on where the perpetrator may have gone. Confident that he'd found the right path, Sasuke came back for Sakura in hopes that she had uncovered a cure for whatever was plaguing the victims.

Sasuke entered the rundown clinic to find Sakura sitting at the young boy's bedside. He was unconscious and Sasuke watched as Sakura gently brushed her fingers against the boy's forehead to push his hair back. As Sasuke approached the two, he noted that the boy was no longer confined in the straightjacket that had been keeping him from hurting himself and others.

Sasuke stopped behind Sakura, who glanced back at him and gave him a small smile. It always seemed that Sakura was able to understand him without the need for words because through that one look she opened her mouth to answer his silent question.

"I was able to concoct an antidote and he's been unconscious since." Her eyes shifted back to the boy who was sleeping so soundly, you would have never guessed the trouble that had been plaguing him. "I took him out of that straightjacket. I thought he'd be more comfortable."

"Did you find out what happened to him?" Sasuke asked.

She gave a small nod, still keeping her attention on the boy. "It's a drug-like poison. It causes the victim to hallucinate heavily and produces effects that can be commonly seen in schizophrenic patients, but on a more extreme basis. Once you've been injected, your thoughts and visions can't be trusted. What you see and hear isn't always reality," Sakura said, giving a matter-of-fact explanation. Her eyes narrowed. "He's drugging children and tricking them into believing that they need to kill their families."

"What about their illness?" he asked.

Sakura scoffed. "He isn't curing them of anything. They're still sick. The drug gives them energy and numbs the pain, causing it to initially look like they're on the road to recovery." She looked up at Sasuke sadly. "I noticed right away when I began treatment that the boy is still sick. Luckily, after I got the poison out of his system, I was able to move on to his physical state. I've already set him on the road to recovery and instructed the doctors on how to proceed from here." Sakura gave him a small smile and said, "He's going to survive and fully recover..." She hesitated and her eyes shifted away as she mumbled, "Physically at least."

Sasuke hesitated briefly before placing his hand on her shoulder. He was truly amazed that in merely two days, Sakura was able to not only find an antidote but had also saved this boy's life. However, he also knew by seeing the bags under her eyes how hard she'd worked and how much this was taking a toll on her heart. Understanding his gesture, Sakura closed her eyes and slightly leaned her head against his hand.

"I won't know much more until he wakes up," Sakura said. "What about you? What did you find out?" she asked him, peaking up at him with her innocent emerald eyes.

"The other villages I visited also encountered a traveling doctor. His name is Kei and he hasn't been collecting payment so I'm not sure what his motive is yet. I think I've discovered his pattern and where he's headed next."

Sakura nodded and sighed heavily as she lifted her head from his hand. Right then, the boy woke with a groan and clutched his head with his hand. Springing into action, Sakura turned her attention on him and asked him how he felt.

"Head... ah..." he gritted his teeth. "It hurts."

Without hesitation, Sakura placed her hands against the boy's temples and poured green healing chakra into the area. Once she was satisfied, the boy slowly began to sit up with her assistance and he groggily looked around the room, trying to piece together his surroundings.

His brows knitted together as he asked, "Where am I?"

"You're at the hospital," Sakura said, softly. "You're going to be okay."

Sasuke stood back and watched the boy closely who was blinking slowly as he asked, "The hospital? Why..." His eyes widened. "Oh no... What..." There was a pause and Sasuke's stomach twisted as he watched the dawning comprehension appear on the boy's face. "What have I done?" He stared up at Sakura, his eyes full of the kind of fear that begged her to tell him that the reality of the situation wasn't true.

Sakura's eyes widened as she glanced back at Sasuke. They both knew what his response indicated. He was remembering what he did.

Sakura turned back to the boy, concern etched into her facial features. It seemed she wanted to ask the child what exactly he remembered but was afraid of the answer. The boy began to hyperventilate and this brought on a coughing fit. He hacked violently into his hands and when he moved them away from his face, a splash of blood painted his palms. The sight of the blood on his hands seemed to unlock more tragic memories because now he began to shake.

"What have I done?!" he cried out and clutched his head.

Sakura knelt in front of the boy's bedside and placed her hands gently on either side of his shoulders. "It's okay, you're safe now."

"WhatdidIdowhatdidIdoWhatdidI-I-I..." His body became racked with sobs that were so heavy, he could no longer speak coherently. Sakura hugged the boy close to her chest and smoothed his hair down as he cried.

"It's okay..." she whispered. Sakura squeezed her eyes shut and Sasuke could tell she was searching for words. Any words that could comfort the boy in this time of intense grief and despair. But there were none. Not right now. This, Sasuke knew better than anyone else.

The boy looked up at her and hiccupped, "I k-killed them d-d-didn't I?"

"It's not your fault. We'll handle the person who did this to you, I swear." Sakura's eyes shifted towards Sasuke and he had to look away. The scene unfolding before him was almost too much to bear.

Who the hell would do something so awful? Who could possibly do this to a child? Sakura thought angrily, gritting her teeth in frustration and vowing to make this Kei person pay for his crimes.

The nurse had come in to assist Sakura once she realized that the patient had woken up from his mild coma. They had wanted to ask the boy questions, but his reaction had told them everything that they needed to know. Besides, in his state, he wouldn't be able to answer coherently, and forcing him to would be cruel.

Once the nurse sedated the boy so he could rest considering he was still on the road to recovery, Sakura pulled the nurse aside. The pink-haired medical ninja handed the woman the necessary information to contact the nearest mental health clinic Sakura had helped establish in the Land of Waves. After what this boy had been through, he was going to require psychiatric help, otherwise... Sakura didn't want to think about it.

Even after doing all that she could, Sakura was still torn on leaving the boy. Seeing her state of distress, Sasuke said, "The best way we can help now is to prevent this from happening to more of them."

Sakura nodded and squared her shoulders, with a determined look in her eye. "You're right." She reached into her pouch and pulled out two syringes filled with light blue liquid. "I was only able to concoct three antidotes. This village has limited resources so there wasn't much to work with. I can try to make more later but we'll hold onto these two for now."

"Alright. But you need to rest. We'll leave first thing tomorrow."

Sakura wanted to protest. She couldn't help but worry that the more time that they wasted, the more victims there may be as a result. But Sakura was also exhausted from working around the clock and knew she'd be a liability if she didn't sleep.

She sighed. "You're right. Okay, fine. First thing tomorrow."

Sasuke's information had brought them to a village that would still be considered small when compared to Konoha, but it was fairly larger than the previous ones they had visited. This immediately pricked Sakura's concerns, because coming to a village of this size meant that the enemy was becoming more confident.

"Should we make our way to the hospital?" Sakura asked.

Sasuke shook his head. "This village's hospital isn't like the clinic we visited. They have more resources. I think we should look for the poorer area of town."

Sakura nodded, knowing he was right. An unaccredited doctor wouldn't have such an easy time convincing an established hospital to let him treat their patients. "Let's go," she said, tightening her glove.

It took no time at all for Sasuke and Sakura to find the more rundown part of town. Every village had one and Sakura eyed the broken beer bottles on the ground as they walked the street. They crept in the shadows, keeping a close eye out and asking civilians if there were any families in the area with sick children.

After what seemed like an excruciating amount of time, an old woman sitting in the road with a sign begging for food gave them the information they were looking for. "How nice, are you traveling doctors as well?" she asked.

"As well?" Sakura asked, glancing at Sasuke before giving the woman her full attention. "Has another came through here?"

"Oh yes! Nice fellow, he even healed me for free."

Sakura's eyes widened. "Did he give you anything?"

"Pardon?"

"I mean, did he give you some kind of shot or medicine?" Sakura clarified.

"Oh, no, nothing like that," she said, waving Sakura's question off. "He asked if there were any sick children in the area and when I told him about the Takanaki's, he did that fancy medical ninjutsu on me. Healed my bum hip, he did. Now I feel fit as a fiddle!" she said and cackled loudly.

So he's a medical ninja... Sakura thought, her brow furrowing in concern. It makes sense if he was able to come up with such an intricate poison.

"Where do the Takanaki's live?" Sasuke asked.

The old woman raised her eyebrow at him and smiled, her gums pulling back to reveal yellow, crooked teeth. "That's gonna cost you, handsome boy."

Sakura reached into her pouch and placed a few coins into the woman's weathered hands. The woman smiled again and quickly pocketed the money before pointing east. "That-a way."

Sasuke nodded and took off in the direction that the old beggar indicated. Sakura followed after him, but not before bowing to the woman and thanking her for her assistance. They darted down the road as quickly as their legs could take them and Sakura had the sinking feeling that they were fighting the clock. It was only a matter of time before Kei "treated" his next victim.

As Sakura rounded a corner, she felt Sasuke grab her by the collar of her cloak and yank her into a nearby alleyway.

"What-?" Sakura asked but her question was halted by Sasuke's hand over her mouth.

"Sshhh," Sasuke hushed her, his breath tickling her ear. He removed his hand from her mouth and pulled her close to his chest as he peeked around the corner. Sakura's face heated, all too aware of her hands pressed against his chest and Sasuke's right arm holding her waist.

Sakura quickly shook the flustered thoughts away to focus on the situation. Get a grip, Sakura. We're on a mission. Sakura followed his gaze and noticed a man with gray hair and glasses, perfectly fitting the description of the perpetrator, who was exiting a home. A woman followed behind him, fidgeting with the skirt of her apron and sobbing. She looked up at the man, Kei, with eyes full of gratitude.

"I-I just don't know how we'll ever repay you," she said and clasped her hand to her chest as if she were holding her heart into place.

The man flashed the older woman a smile that made Sakura's stomach turn. "It's nothing, really. He'll be up and running around with the rest of the family in no time." The man pushed up his glasses that were sliding down his nose and smirked. "You won't even be able to recognize him."

Sakura sneered. This bastard reminded her of Kabuto, the despicable medical ninja who worked for the snake of a man, Orochimaru.

"Well," Kei continued, bending over to pick up the briefcase sitting on the ground. "I better get going."

Sakura's eyes flickered to the suitcase, curious of its contents.

"Of course!" The woman said, her eyes widening. "You must have more patients to see. I'm sorry for keeping you. Thank you again, really."

Kei gave the woman a small smile and waved as he began to walk in the opposite direction, away from Sasuke and Sakura. Afraid of letting this moment pass by and thinking quickly, Sakura stepped away from Sasuke and used the transformation jutsu to change her appearance. Sasuke blinked a few times in surprise as he was met with the form of six-year-old Sakura. The bangs of her short pink hair covered her forehead and her cheeks were splotched with dirt.

Not taking the moment to answer Sasuke's questioning gaze, Sakura rushed down the street towards Kei's retreating form. Sakura's bare feet smacked against the dirt path as she darted past the man. Her shoulder bumped into Kei's hand that carried the briefcase, causing the contents to scatter when he dropped it. Sakura skidded to a halt and looked back at Kei, who scowled at her and bent to retrieve his belongings.

"Gosh, I'm sorry, mister!" Little Sakura said, her innocent green eyes widening as she ran back to help him. Sakura eyed the syringes and documents as she helped him gather them back into the suitcase. "Are you a doctor?" She asked. "You know that kid in there is real sick!" Her face dropped. "We used to play, but not anymore..."

"She'll be fine now," the man mumbled as he snapped the briefcase shut. As he stood, Kei looked Sakura over. She stared up at him innocently and he returned her look with a smile. "What about you? Need a doctor?"

Sakura placed her hands on her hips. "Momma says I'm as healthy as a horse!" She deflated for a moment and looked away, mumbling, "Little sister isn't doing too great, though."

"Oh?" Kei asked, raising his eyebrow.

Sakura nodded her head. "She's had a real bad cough and high fever for a few days now. Momma says she's saving up money to take her to the hospital..." Sakura stopped and looked the man up and down. "Hey, mister, how much do you charge?"

"Oh, I don't charge anything." Kei glanced down at his watch. "I would love to meet your little sister, but I have somewhere I have to be. How about you meet me with your little sister tonight? You can bring your parents." Kei pulled a scrap of paper to scribble a note before handing it to Sakura. She glanced down at it to see the location printed in neat script.

Sakura nodded excitedly and waved as she ran away yelling, "Thanks, mister!"

When she was out of eyesight, Sakura rounded a corner and quickly backtracked to meet Sasuke.

When Sakura made it back to him, Sasuke was still eyeing the spot where Kei had been, his Sharingan activated.

"Well?" Tiny Sakura asked. "What did you see?"

Sasuke looked down at her and saw Sakura's wide green eyes staring up at him. Seeing her in this form brought back a flood of memories of their early Academy days. However, Sasuke had never noticed her this way, with Sakura's bangs covering her face and looking so meek. Sasuke only ever remembered the pinkette with a red ribbon in her hair, looking animated and full of life. He pushed his thoughts aside and made a mental note to ask her about that at a later date.

His brow furrowed in concern as he said, "He's looking into the Infinite Tsukiyomi and the Otsutsuki."

"W-what?!" Sakura stuttered. "Why the hell would he be looking into that?"

Sasuke shook his head. That's exactly what he wanted to know. "Whatever the reason is, it can't be good."

Sakura reached into her pocket and pulled the scrap of paper that he'd seen Kei give her. "I guess we'll find out tonight, hm?"

Sasuke glanced down at the paper and his eyes flickered back to Sakura. She had her hands on her hips, looking so proud of herself that Sasuke almost wanted to laugh. He reached his hand up and patted the top of her pink head.

"Good job, kid," he said, smirking down at her.

Her face flushed in embarrassment and Sakura transformed back to her current form as if she had only just remembered her appearance. Once she was back in the body of a woman, Sakura stuck her tongue out teasingly.

"Come on," she said. "I'll check on the kid, you go after K-"

A woman's scream split the air and their eyes widened as they looked back at each other. Without a word, Sasuke and Sakura rushed into the home across from where they were hidden. Once inside, they were met with the sight of a small girl hovering over her mother. The woman clutched her bleeding hand that had a knife stabbed through it. The handle was against her palm and the blade stuck out of the back of her hand, indicating to Sasuke that the mother had been holding up her hands in a defensive measure.

Why did this happen so soon? Sasuke wondered. With the children before, it seemed like it took at least a day for the hallucinations to set in.

"Hana, w-what are you doing?!" The mother yelled, cowering in fear on the living room floor.

The child stomped her foot and screamed at the top of her lungs before rushing at the woman. The child's arms were outstretched, reaching for her mother's neck. Sasuke yanked the child back and when her wild eyes looked back at him, he caught her gaze with his Sharingan. The girl fell limp and Sakura used this opportunity to plunge a syringe filled with antidote into the girl's arm.

As the antidote spread throughout the child's veins, she passed out and Sasuke caught her. Sakura rushed to the mother's aid, quickly pulling the knife out of her hand and using medical ninjutsu to heal the wound.

The woman didn't seem to care about her injury as she asked, "What happened to my Hana?!"

"She'll be fine," Sakura said as Sasuke gently laid the child on the couch. "What she did to you wasn't her fault. That doctor who was here poisoned her."

"B-but why? I don't understand!" She asked, her head whipping back and forth and she questioned Sasuke and Sakura. "Why would he do that?!"

Sasuke made a sound out of the back of his throat. They didn't have time to waste here, answering questions. Sensing his frustration, Sakura stood and said, "It's hard to explain, but she's going to be okay now." Sakura pulled a card out of her pouch and handed it to the woman. "Contact that clinic. They'll take care of Hana."

Sakura caught Sasuke's gaze and they nodded at each other. Without a word, they flashed out of the home to catch the man before he could destroy another family.