AN: Well, I finally got up and posted this new chapter. ^^ OC's introduced
here, and I assure you that things will get a lot more interesting in the
next chapters. Thank you for all your reviews!
Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters.
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Vigilant Guard
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It had been three hours since Naruto had lost consciousness, but Sasuke still diligently guarded over his body. Occasionally he checked for Naruto's pulse, which he fearfully found was growing weaker and weaker. Sasuke had long since removed the needle that had poisoned Naruto shortly after he'd fainted. He had even tried sucking out some of the poisoned blood, but nothing had stopped the cold from seeping into Naruto's limbs. Desperate to keep Naruto warm, Sasuke had built a fire even though the possibility of other enemies finding them remained a looming danger. He could only hope that their people would find them first. Once they were found Sasuke was confident the Hokage could save Naruto. Although The Wind Master had claimed that an antidote did not exist, Sasuke chose to believe that one could be made.
For the time being he had to protect Naruto from death as much as from danger. Thinking these thoughts he resorted to his last option: he would give Naruto some of his chakra, just enough to sustain his life for the few weeks it might take before they were found. Sasuke's only concern was what the draining of such a large amount of chakra might have on him. Although a person could only die if his chakra were completely drained, he didn't think he could remain conscious after such a feat. And if this was the case, such a situation would place them both in a vulnerable position. Sasuke did not dare acknowledge the other fear dancing in the corner of his mind. Kakashi sensei had once mentioned, in his casual way, that large chakra depletion would, more often than not, leave a person crippled for life. But looking at the dying Naruto, Sasuke could not bare the thought of never seeing him wake up again.
Placing Naruto into a sitting position, Sasuke removed his orange coat, followed by his white t-shirt and two other under-shirts before he exposed Naruto's back. Naruto was shockingly thin. The skin of his back was pulled tightly over his shoulder blades, and the ridges of his spine protruded sharply. Sasuke recalled the wistful look on Naruto's face when he had mentioned his mother and wondered when Naruto had last had a fulfilling meal. He remembered Iruka sensei telling him that Naruto was orphaned since birth and realized the answer was never. The realization brought unexpected tears to his eyes.
"I promise, Naruto, if we get back alive, I'll cook you a ten course meal."
Having voiced this promise, Sasuke raised his hands. Looking at them intently he concentrated his chakra into the center of his palms. Once warmth flowed through is body and collected into his hands, Sasuke cautiously placed his palms against Naruto's back. Keeping his hands steady, Sasuke concentrated on transferring a consistent flow of chakra into Naruto's body. Time seemed to stall and eventually froze as Sasuke struggled to keep Naruto alive.
It was in this position that they found them. He had heard the sound of heavy running, and had wanted to cry out, but having transferred so much of his energy, words had seemed impossible to voice. Now he watched with dazed eyes as they drew him away from Naruto, prying free his hands. But before they succeeded in doing so, Sasuke had felt a change in Naruto's skin: it was warmer. The thought had allowed him to let go and it was only because of this willingness that they were able to separate them.
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Sasuke shivered with an inexplicable pain. His body felt pricked by hundreds of ice needles, except these were inside him, gnawing at his innards. A freezing cold was piercing his muscles and sinking deep into his bones, until they ached furiously. But what was a thousand times worse was the crawling sensation of these very needles forcing their way out of his body. He was on the verge of imploding! But the excruciating pain refused to stop. It went on for what seemed like hours, leaving Sasuke exhausted and in tears. Sasuke found solace only complete exhaustion, which allowed him to slip into unconsciousness. Closing his eyes, he wiped out the pain and the lingering thought of dying.
From somewhere far away a voice was calling to him, urging him impatiently to wake up.
"No, let me sleep," he murmured, but the insistent voice refused to leave him alone and Sasuke was forced awake.
Sitting before him was a little, blond-haired girl of no more than eight. She had her arms crossed and looked mightily displeased. When she saw that he was awake, her frown drooped even farther and she scrunched her face into a sour expression. The girl was sitting on a high stool next to his bed and in her hand was miniature leather whip, which Sasuke could see she was greatly fond of. Seeing that he was watching her, the girl shoved the end of her whip against Sasuke's chin and forced it upwards, until Sasuke thought his neck would snap.
"Didn't anyone teach you that it's rude to stare?" she spat and angrily increased the pressure on her whip. Just then the screen door slid opened and a tall man dressed in a white lab coat and carrying a large tray entered.
"That's enough, Miyoko," he said in a deep voice. The girl named Miyoko reluctantly withdrew her whip.
"You may go out and play now," the man spoke in an authoritative voice. But the little girl shook her head.
"May I watch, Dr. Ichari? Please?" she quickly added. The doctor gently patted her head and nodded. He placed his tray on the side table next to Sasuke's bed and removed the cloth that laid over top. Sasuke watched with increasing fear as the doctor removed an extraordinarily small IV bag filled with what Sasuke could only hope was blood, followed by its connective tube and the IV needle. He then rose and attached the bag onto a metal stand just above Sasuke's head. Then turning around he reached out for a small bottle of disinfectant.
"Doctor, please, may I?" asked the little girl, reaching out an eager hand. The doctor considered for a while, but finally gave his nod of approval and handed the child the bottle. The girl held it carefully and with her other hand picked up a cotton swab by the tip of a small forceps. She dampened the swab and dabbed at the inside of Sasuke's wrist. Then securing the bottle's lid she replaced it on the table and reached out for the IV needle.
"Miyoko," said the doctor, "try not to hurt our patient."
"Don't worry, doctor, I'll be gentle," she reassured.
"All right. Let's see if you remember what I taught you."
Miyoko's forehead creased in concentration as she inserted the needle into Sasuke's wrist. He watched in horror, expecting at any moment to feel pain, but surprisingly it never came. The needle was quickly inserted and a stretch of tape was placed over his wrist to secure it. The little girl finished her work with an demonstrative 'swoosh' of the cloth, which she replaced over the equipments that laid on the tray. She then turned and gave the doctor a most radiant smile. He returned it and ruffled her golden locks. Standing up he twisted the valve of the IV bag, which allowed the blood to drip down the long extension tube.
"Rest now, Mr. Uchida, I will see you in the morning."
"Come, Miyoko," he said, reaching out a hand to the little girl, who joyously grabbed it and the two exited the room. Sasuke was left to wonder what had just happened. They were the oddest pair he had ever set eyes on: the man draped in white and the little girl with the wicked whip. Sasuke rubbed his chin absently as he recalled how Miyoko had nearly killed him with it. The thought of her only being a little child did not rest well with him. He wondered where he was and who owed this house, but most of all he wondered about Naruto. He hasn't seen him since they were last separated in the woods. Had he died of the poison? And if he were still alive where were they holding him captive? Although the doctor had appeared kind enough, Sasuke could not brush off the feeling of danger. This was definitely not a hospital and as much as he wanted to believe that it was a safe haven, he couldn't.
The doctor's casual response to Miyoko's cruel actions worried him above all else. The man was equally as much of a threat as he was a friend. His face was awfully familiar too, Sasuke thought, although he could not remember where he had seen such a character. Surely a man of his appearance would be quite difficult to forget. After all, he was covered from his head down to his toe in white: from his white hair, to his white complexion, down to the very tips of his white shoes. The only parts of him that had color were his eyes: they were a deep violet, the same color, if only a little darker, than Miyoko's. Where had he seen those eyes before? And then it came to him. He had seen those eyes while fighting The Wind Master. He remembered it clearly now, the sight of The Wind Master's eyes as he died, the deep purple pools darkening. No wonder Dr. Ichari looked so familiar; he was The Wind Master's brother.
Sasuke feeling of uneasiness now became real concern, concern for his life and Naruto's. But as much as he despised the thought, he was dependent on Dr. Ichari. Until he fully recovered and Naruto was released there was nothing to do, but be on guard. In the midst of thinking this, Sasuke felt the start of another pain attack and clutched his chest where his heart hammered wildly. He curled into a fetal position and shook violently as ice seemed to re-enter his body. As he half expected rounds and rounds of pain followed in endless succession. But although the pain was just as excruciating as before, Sasuke noticed that they did not last quite so long, nor did they came quite so often, the time between each lengthening. To keep his mind off the pain Sasuke counted the intervals between each and prayed for dawn to arrive.
Just as the doctor promised he came early the next morning to examine Sasuke. Although Sasuke felt horrible after another night of unrest, a look at the doctor's face told him he was better. Encouraged by this, Sasuke dared to ask the question that had plagued him since awaking in this strange place.
"Is Naruto.is he."
"Mr. Uzumaki is fine, Mr. Uchida. However, I can't say the same for you. Although you've vastly improved, I wouldn't call you well. I strongly advise you to care for your own health, first. Now, please, lie still."
As Sasuke laid back down, Dr. Ichari produced yet another pouch of red blood, except this was even smaller than the one brought in yesterday. Sasuke looked questioningly at the pouch as the doctor rolled up the sleeve of his shirt. As he was about to insert the needle, Sasuke grabbed his wrist and stalled him.
"Whose blood is this, doctor?" he asked.
Dr. Ichari gently, but firmly, withdrew Sasuke's hand. "It is the donor's wish to remain anonymous and I must respect his request. You will not ask me this again, Mr. Uchida," he said, reaching out for Sasuke's arm once more.
"Then I use my right as a patient to decline this blood."
"You would rather risk death?" asked the doctor quietly, but seeing the determined look on Sasuke's face, he sighed.
"As a doctor practicing medicine it is against my ethics to reveal who he is" said Dr. Ichari. "However, as he wishes to see you shortly, I will allow you two to meet a week from today. You may guess who he is then."
"Amongst all the many others I will present to you," he added, dampening Sasuke's eagerness.
"But."
"Mr. Uchida, this all that I can do. Now, please, give me your arm. If you do not, even the opportunity of guessing who he is will be lost." Sasuke reluctantly gave the doctor his left arm. As the warmth of the blood swept over him, Sasuke felt strength returning to his body. Relaxing back against his pillow, he submitted to its healing effects. But a look at his right hand seconds later brought back his fear ten folds. His fingernails were turning black! As Sasuke watched, he saw the veins leading to his nails swelling with a dark fluid, undoubtedly the cause of the discoloration. Dr. Ichari had also noticed the abnormality. He lifted Sasuke's hand and examined the ever darkening nails. The sight brought a smile to his lips, which he refused to explain. Sasuke was left to expect the worst.
The next morning brought light into Sasuke's room. This was the first time he awoke to drawn curtains, which revealed a glorious morning, bright with the sun's rays. But just as the corners of Sasuke's lips curved upwards, it drooped. Not a single bird was heard outside, despite the opened windows. This was to be a silent morning, just like all the other mornings he had risen to since his stay. Sasuke had attempted to still his earlier uneasiness by acquitting the silence of those previous mornings to the closed windows. But now it was evident that another reason lied behind the stillness surrounding this mysterious place. The quietness reminded Sasuke of a similar incident not so long ago, but the explanation for that morning's silence could not be applied to this one. Sasuke refused to believe it was possible and pushed the disconcerting thought from his mind.
The morning of the fifth day passed slowly into the night with nothing to interrupt the boredom. Sasuke saw no one throughout the course of the entire day, except the servants who brought him his meals. They seemed to materialize out of thin air, their footsteps and movements completely soundless. After having strained his ears for what seemed like hours, attempting to detect them Sasuke had dejectedly given up. The appearance of a maid seconds later, however, left him completely speechless. It was only after this that Sasuke had began to suspect that all of the seemingly docile servants were, in reality, great martial artists.
Sasuke wondered how a man of Dr. Ichari's caliber could rule such a group of talented people so easily. Unlike the little Miyoko, who followed him wherever he went, Dr. Ichari did not emit any strong energy vibes. In fact, his were incredibly weak, confirming ever more strongly to Sasuke that the man was gravely ill himself. And yet he had no problems controlling those who served him. In truth, Sasuke knew he held more powers over his people than any other men much stronger than him could possibly hold. His guards obeyed his every command without hesitation, and Sasuke could see that his every frown brought great fear into their eyes. Sasuke had played with the ideas of Dr. Ichari concealing his true strength, but as quickly as he accepted it, he dismissed it.
It was quite apparent that the doctor was dying. Little Miyoko took great pains in ensuring that he remained healthy, forever insisting that he retired early for the night. His men were even more protective of his health. They flinched whenever he coughed and seemed terribly perplexed when he missed a meal. This troubled Sasuke greatly, who could not understand their behavior. It was evident to him that they feared the doctor, and if so his death could only bring great rejoicing and yet they had seemed even more frightened of this possibility than the doctor, himself. The entire scenario vexed Sasuke terribly and lingered on his mind all the many days he was in bed. He wondered over and over again what secret Dr. Ichari held over those under his roof. But this train of thought only led him to wonder what secrets the doctor had over Naruto and himself.
To be continued...
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AN: Just who are little Miyoko and Dr. Ichari? And who is this mysterious blood donor? Find out in the next chapter! Oooh, the suspense! *cough* Okay, not really. -___-; Please review!
Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters.
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Vigilant Guard
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It had been three hours since Naruto had lost consciousness, but Sasuke still diligently guarded over his body. Occasionally he checked for Naruto's pulse, which he fearfully found was growing weaker and weaker. Sasuke had long since removed the needle that had poisoned Naruto shortly after he'd fainted. He had even tried sucking out some of the poisoned blood, but nothing had stopped the cold from seeping into Naruto's limbs. Desperate to keep Naruto warm, Sasuke had built a fire even though the possibility of other enemies finding them remained a looming danger. He could only hope that their people would find them first. Once they were found Sasuke was confident the Hokage could save Naruto. Although The Wind Master had claimed that an antidote did not exist, Sasuke chose to believe that one could be made.
For the time being he had to protect Naruto from death as much as from danger. Thinking these thoughts he resorted to his last option: he would give Naruto some of his chakra, just enough to sustain his life for the few weeks it might take before they were found. Sasuke's only concern was what the draining of such a large amount of chakra might have on him. Although a person could only die if his chakra were completely drained, he didn't think he could remain conscious after such a feat. And if this was the case, such a situation would place them both in a vulnerable position. Sasuke did not dare acknowledge the other fear dancing in the corner of his mind. Kakashi sensei had once mentioned, in his casual way, that large chakra depletion would, more often than not, leave a person crippled for life. But looking at the dying Naruto, Sasuke could not bare the thought of never seeing him wake up again.
Placing Naruto into a sitting position, Sasuke removed his orange coat, followed by his white t-shirt and two other under-shirts before he exposed Naruto's back. Naruto was shockingly thin. The skin of his back was pulled tightly over his shoulder blades, and the ridges of his spine protruded sharply. Sasuke recalled the wistful look on Naruto's face when he had mentioned his mother and wondered when Naruto had last had a fulfilling meal. He remembered Iruka sensei telling him that Naruto was orphaned since birth and realized the answer was never. The realization brought unexpected tears to his eyes.
"I promise, Naruto, if we get back alive, I'll cook you a ten course meal."
Having voiced this promise, Sasuke raised his hands. Looking at them intently he concentrated his chakra into the center of his palms. Once warmth flowed through is body and collected into his hands, Sasuke cautiously placed his palms against Naruto's back. Keeping his hands steady, Sasuke concentrated on transferring a consistent flow of chakra into Naruto's body. Time seemed to stall and eventually froze as Sasuke struggled to keep Naruto alive.
It was in this position that they found them. He had heard the sound of heavy running, and had wanted to cry out, but having transferred so much of his energy, words had seemed impossible to voice. Now he watched with dazed eyes as they drew him away from Naruto, prying free his hands. But before they succeeded in doing so, Sasuke had felt a change in Naruto's skin: it was warmer. The thought had allowed him to let go and it was only because of this willingness that they were able to separate them.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Sasuke shivered with an inexplicable pain. His body felt pricked by hundreds of ice needles, except these were inside him, gnawing at his innards. A freezing cold was piercing his muscles and sinking deep into his bones, until they ached furiously. But what was a thousand times worse was the crawling sensation of these very needles forcing their way out of his body. He was on the verge of imploding! But the excruciating pain refused to stop. It went on for what seemed like hours, leaving Sasuke exhausted and in tears. Sasuke found solace only complete exhaustion, which allowed him to slip into unconsciousness. Closing his eyes, he wiped out the pain and the lingering thought of dying.
From somewhere far away a voice was calling to him, urging him impatiently to wake up.
"No, let me sleep," he murmured, but the insistent voice refused to leave him alone and Sasuke was forced awake.
Sitting before him was a little, blond-haired girl of no more than eight. She had her arms crossed and looked mightily displeased. When she saw that he was awake, her frown drooped even farther and she scrunched her face into a sour expression. The girl was sitting on a high stool next to his bed and in her hand was miniature leather whip, which Sasuke could see she was greatly fond of. Seeing that he was watching her, the girl shoved the end of her whip against Sasuke's chin and forced it upwards, until Sasuke thought his neck would snap.
"Didn't anyone teach you that it's rude to stare?" she spat and angrily increased the pressure on her whip. Just then the screen door slid opened and a tall man dressed in a white lab coat and carrying a large tray entered.
"That's enough, Miyoko," he said in a deep voice. The girl named Miyoko reluctantly withdrew her whip.
"You may go out and play now," the man spoke in an authoritative voice. But the little girl shook her head.
"May I watch, Dr. Ichari? Please?" she quickly added. The doctor gently patted her head and nodded. He placed his tray on the side table next to Sasuke's bed and removed the cloth that laid over top. Sasuke watched with increasing fear as the doctor removed an extraordinarily small IV bag filled with what Sasuke could only hope was blood, followed by its connective tube and the IV needle. He then rose and attached the bag onto a metal stand just above Sasuke's head. Then turning around he reached out for a small bottle of disinfectant.
"Doctor, please, may I?" asked the little girl, reaching out an eager hand. The doctor considered for a while, but finally gave his nod of approval and handed the child the bottle. The girl held it carefully and with her other hand picked up a cotton swab by the tip of a small forceps. She dampened the swab and dabbed at the inside of Sasuke's wrist. Then securing the bottle's lid she replaced it on the table and reached out for the IV needle.
"Miyoko," said the doctor, "try not to hurt our patient."
"Don't worry, doctor, I'll be gentle," she reassured.
"All right. Let's see if you remember what I taught you."
Miyoko's forehead creased in concentration as she inserted the needle into Sasuke's wrist. He watched in horror, expecting at any moment to feel pain, but surprisingly it never came. The needle was quickly inserted and a stretch of tape was placed over his wrist to secure it. The little girl finished her work with an demonstrative 'swoosh' of the cloth, which she replaced over the equipments that laid on the tray. She then turned and gave the doctor a most radiant smile. He returned it and ruffled her golden locks. Standing up he twisted the valve of the IV bag, which allowed the blood to drip down the long extension tube.
"Rest now, Mr. Uchida, I will see you in the morning."
"Come, Miyoko," he said, reaching out a hand to the little girl, who joyously grabbed it and the two exited the room. Sasuke was left to wonder what had just happened. They were the oddest pair he had ever set eyes on: the man draped in white and the little girl with the wicked whip. Sasuke rubbed his chin absently as he recalled how Miyoko had nearly killed him with it. The thought of her only being a little child did not rest well with him. He wondered where he was and who owed this house, but most of all he wondered about Naruto. He hasn't seen him since they were last separated in the woods. Had he died of the poison? And if he were still alive where were they holding him captive? Although the doctor had appeared kind enough, Sasuke could not brush off the feeling of danger. This was definitely not a hospital and as much as he wanted to believe that it was a safe haven, he couldn't.
The doctor's casual response to Miyoko's cruel actions worried him above all else. The man was equally as much of a threat as he was a friend. His face was awfully familiar too, Sasuke thought, although he could not remember where he had seen such a character. Surely a man of his appearance would be quite difficult to forget. After all, he was covered from his head down to his toe in white: from his white hair, to his white complexion, down to the very tips of his white shoes. The only parts of him that had color were his eyes: they were a deep violet, the same color, if only a little darker, than Miyoko's. Where had he seen those eyes before? And then it came to him. He had seen those eyes while fighting The Wind Master. He remembered it clearly now, the sight of The Wind Master's eyes as he died, the deep purple pools darkening. No wonder Dr. Ichari looked so familiar; he was The Wind Master's brother.
Sasuke feeling of uneasiness now became real concern, concern for his life and Naruto's. But as much as he despised the thought, he was dependent on Dr. Ichari. Until he fully recovered and Naruto was released there was nothing to do, but be on guard. In the midst of thinking this, Sasuke felt the start of another pain attack and clutched his chest where his heart hammered wildly. He curled into a fetal position and shook violently as ice seemed to re-enter his body. As he half expected rounds and rounds of pain followed in endless succession. But although the pain was just as excruciating as before, Sasuke noticed that they did not last quite so long, nor did they came quite so often, the time between each lengthening. To keep his mind off the pain Sasuke counted the intervals between each and prayed for dawn to arrive.
Just as the doctor promised he came early the next morning to examine Sasuke. Although Sasuke felt horrible after another night of unrest, a look at the doctor's face told him he was better. Encouraged by this, Sasuke dared to ask the question that had plagued him since awaking in this strange place.
"Is Naruto.is he."
"Mr. Uzumaki is fine, Mr. Uchida. However, I can't say the same for you. Although you've vastly improved, I wouldn't call you well. I strongly advise you to care for your own health, first. Now, please, lie still."
As Sasuke laid back down, Dr. Ichari produced yet another pouch of red blood, except this was even smaller than the one brought in yesterday. Sasuke looked questioningly at the pouch as the doctor rolled up the sleeve of his shirt. As he was about to insert the needle, Sasuke grabbed his wrist and stalled him.
"Whose blood is this, doctor?" he asked.
Dr. Ichari gently, but firmly, withdrew Sasuke's hand. "It is the donor's wish to remain anonymous and I must respect his request. You will not ask me this again, Mr. Uchida," he said, reaching out for Sasuke's arm once more.
"Then I use my right as a patient to decline this blood."
"You would rather risk death?" asked the doctor quietly, but seeing the determined look on Sasuke's face, he sighed.
"As a doctor practicing medicine it is against my ethics to reveal who he is" said Dr. Ichari. "However, as he wishes to see you shortly, I will allow you two to meet a week from today. You may guess who he is then."
"Amongst all the many others I will present to you," he added, dampening Sasuke's eagerness.
"But."
"Mr. Uchida, this all that I can do. Now, please, give me your arm. If you do not, even the opportunity of guessing who he is will be lost." Sasuke reluctantly gave the doctor his left arm. As the warmth of the blood swept over him, Sasuke felt strength returning to his body. Relaxing back against his pillow, he submitted to its healing effects. But a look at his right hand seconds later brought back his fear ten folds. His fingernails were turning black! As Sasuke watched, he saw the veins leading to his nails swelling with a dark fluid, undoubtedly the cause of the discoloration. Dr. Ichari had also noticed the abnormality. He lifted Sasuke's hand and examined the ever darkening nails. The sight brought a smile to his lips, which he refused to explain. Sasuke was left to expect the worst.
The next morning brought light into Sasuke's room. This was the first time he awoke to drawn curtains, which revealed a glorious morning, bright with the sun's rays. But just as the corners of Sasuke's lips curved upwards, it drooped. Not a single bird was heard outside, despite the opened windows. This was to be a silent morning, just like all the other mornings he had risen to since his stay. Sasuke had attempted to still his earlier uneasiness by acquitting the silence of those previous mornings to the closed windows. But now it was evident that another reason lied behind the stillness surrounding this mysterious place. The quietness reminded Sasuke of a similar incident not so long ago, but the explanation for that morning's silence could not be applied to this one. Sasuke refused to believe it was possible and pushed the disconcerting thought from his mind.
The morning of the fifth day passed slowly into the night with nothing to interrupt the boredom. Sasuke saw no one throughout the course of the entire day, except the servants who brought him his meals. They seemed to materialize out of thin air, their footsteps and movements completely soundless. After having strained his ears for what seemed like hours, attempting to detect them Sasuke had dejectedly given up. The appearance of a maid seconds later, however, left him completely speechless. It was only after this that Sasuke had began to suspect that all of the seemingly docile servants were, in reality, great martial artists.
Sasuke wondered how a man of Dr. Ichari's caliber could rule such a group of talented people so easily. Unlike the little Miyoko, who followed him wherever he went, Dr. Ichari did not emit any strong energy vibes. In fact, his were incredibly weak, confirming ever more strongly to Sasuke that the man was gravely ill himself. And yet he had no problems controlling those who served him. In truth, Sasuke knew he held more powers over his people than any other men much stronger than him could possibly hold. His guards obeyed his every command without hesitation, and Sasuke could see that his every frown brought great fear into their eyes. Sasuke had played with the ideas of Dr. Ichari concealing his true strength, but as quickly as he accepted it, he dismissed it.
It was quite apparent that the doctor was dying. Little Miyoko took great pains in ensuring that he remained healthy, forever insisting that he retired early for the night. His men were even more protective of his health. They flinched whenever he coughed and seemed terribly perplexed when he missed a meal. This troubled Sasuke greatly, who could not understand their behavior. It was evident to him that they feared the doctor, and if so his death could only bring great rejoicing and yet they had seemed even more frightened of this possibility than the doctor, himself. The entire scenario vexed Sasuke terribly and lingered on his mind all the many days he was in bed. He wondered over and over again what secret Dr. Ichari held over those under his roof. But this train of thought only led him to wonder what secrets the doctor had over Naruto and himself.
To be continued...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
AN: Just who are little Miyoko and Dr. Ichari? And who is this mysterious blood donor? Find out in the next chapter! Oooh, the suspense! *cough* Okay, not really. -___-; Please review!