Insouciant

It was rather stupid actually... now that he thought about it. Here he was, watching over the idiot like a hawk, or a concerned friend... whatever. Not that you could call him that... he and the blonde weren't even close...

Sigh

Sometimes, he wondered if he really is as smart as people think. Especially now. He can't even answer the stupid qestion that the perverted jounin asked him...

/Why are you here/

It wasn't like he was concerned for this stupid moron... He just had nothing to do. Yeah, that's it. He was bored... and watching the idiot sleep wasn't just as boring... /Yeah right... whatever you say./

The nurse assigned to the idiot entered the room impassively. Briefly allowing himself to close his eyes, he sighed again.

...But just as the girl was about to touch his blonde ward, his eyes snapped open. A whimper had left the younger boy's lips. Staring coldly at the shocked nurse, he muttered silently for her to leave.

Dropping into his seat as she left, he supressed a groan. Why isn't he here? The equally moronic teammate of this loud obnoxious brat... Not that he really was as annoying as people who'd rather you believe.

...It was at times like this that he wondered exactly what Naruto did to those villagers who hated him so much. He wasn't oblivious... especially not as stupid as that idiotic revenge-obsessive brat. He had seen the glares, the cold looks... even the bruises that Naruto always had upon entering the classroom. He just kept quiet. If it was him, he wouldn't want pity... so he did nothing. Just watched... and maybe, sometimes, he tried to help. Like the time that Naruto received that large bruise on the side of his face... a pretty neat first aid kit appeared on the fox-brat's doorstep after that day...

He thought that everything would change once they were genin. That he wouldn't have to watch Naruto be hurt again. And for a while, it was true. At least, that is, until that moronic Uchiha ruined everything. After he left, everything fell into shambles again.

And now, he (Sasuke) was back.

Stupid Uchihas. He thought briefly as he glanced at the still unconscious blond.

He remembered how it started. The first time, he was merely passing by, when he passed the slightly opened door. The lonely room occupied by Naruto. There were no visitors... or rather, there was... but Iruka-sensei is too busy with the Academy to stay and watch over Naruto. It was actually depressing. Seeing the bright ninja in troubled sleep.

So he stayed.

And watched. Like he always did. Just like in the past.

The following day, he passed by again. And he stayed.

It repeated itself day by day that he started bringing little things for him. But no, he wasn't visiting the blonde. Not at all. And he wasn't worried that it's been a week but he's still asleep... He wasn't worrying at all. It was just too troublesome to stop himself from the routine he'd created in the time that the idiot had stayed here. It was just too much of a bother to wonder if he'd woken up when he could easily see for himself...

"Shi..."

Turning to the source of the quiet whimper, he was faced with a deep sky blue. "Naruto." he nodded before handing the blonde the glass of water beside him.

"...Where?..."

"You're in the hospital."

"Wha...?"

"Kakashi found you on the outskirts of the village, passed out." /bruised and bloody.../ His mind continued as he watched Naruto drink in the information.

"...why..."

"Hm?"

"...you...stayed...?"

Shrugging, he replied. "It was too troublesome not to." Abandoning his seat, he walked towards the door... but just before opening it, he turned and said. "Take care next time. Ja."

A smile answered him. "Ja ne, Shikamaru..."

oWaRi