A Last Request
Written by: Mikami
Warnings: Profanity, sexuality, main character death.
Seeing him hooked up to a machine was heartbreaking like it had been for the past four weeks. It infuriated Sakura further when she was faced with the fact that she could do nothing. He just lay there on the hospital bed, unflinching and still as a corpse. But he wasn't dead—Sakura didn't have the nerve to think that—Naruto was just as unresponsive as ever.
There was no visible expression on his face. It was just the look of a person in slumber where no other could reach him; under millions of leagues of sleep and lost in the ocean of his own unconsciousness.
It made Sakura greatly frustrated to know that she couldn't just "wake him up". Try as she might to yell at him, scream death threats, smack him on the head, punch him, kick him—it was all for nothing because nothing could be done.
The stool she sat on beside Naruto's bed creaked slightly as she leaned over again to clasp his motionless hand with hers. His hand was still warm, showing that he was alive. However, it brought little comfort when Sakura compared it to the true loss of his presence. Missing Sasuke was already hard enough, and missing Naruto maximized the weight.
" Hinata just told me that she began extra training for the Jounin Selection Exam." Sakura spoke to him with a saddened smile. " Tenten has been filling her in on a few things, even if Kurenai forbid it."
Sakura let out an empty laugh. " The whole thing's supposed to be a huge secret."
She paused, as if waiting for Naruto to respond. But now she could only hear faint traces of his vibrant laughter echo inside her head. For a second Sakura tried to make believe that he had answered her by trying to mentally recreate the exact tone and pitch of his voice. It didn't work.
" Anyway," she continued. " Tenten and Hinata got caught by Kakashi. The idiot threatened to tell Kurenai if both of them didn't treat him to ramen twice a week until the Jounin exam. Honestly, that guy thinks he's the living end."
" Oh yes, speaking of ramen, Ichiraku made five new dishes. They're called Combination Typhoons. I think you'll like the Squid-Chicken combo."
Sakura kept talking but during that time she was unaware of her hand squeezing Naruto's tighter as she went along. She also didn't know about the other visitor that was watching her from the door.
Tsunade smiled unhappily as she gazed at Sakura's back. The girl had been coming to the hospital almost every day for the past month to see Naruto. She would sit at his side to watch him for an hour or two. Within those times Sakura would tell him stories and incidents of the village, as well as gossip among their crowd. To Tsunade, it was a sad sight.
" How long have you been here ?" she finally said, revealing herself.
Sakura didn't turn around. " Almost two hours."
" I see."
" I'm just telling him about what's been happening lately. You know Naruto, he can't bear to be left out of anything."
The Fifth Hokage let herself grin a little but then it dropped to a frown when Sakura turned to face her.
" Why is he still like this ?" She asked softly.
Tsunade replied, " Naruto suffered a severe blow to the head. We found splinters of wood embedded into the skin of his neck and back and traces of wood chips in his hair. He must have been thrown harshly into the base of a tree."
" That's happened to him millions of times ! What's the difference between now and then ?" Sakura declared, frustrated.
" The velocity of the speed he was thrown plus the area of where his head connected was a dire predicament." answered Tsunade, " Anyway, the length of a coma cannot be accurately predicted or known. It can last days, weeks, months or even……indefinitely."
" But, it won't be like that. It can't be. Not with you or Jiraiya checking up on him everyday." Sakura's eyes widened in fear.
" It's been four weeks," sighed Tsunade. " This length of time determines that Naruto reaches a vegetative state. He has no reaction to any stimuli at all. Not even to pain."
Sakura seemed to back away from the Hokage as a shaking hand touched her forehead in disdain.
" Why……is this happening to me ?" she grievously demanded. " I've never felt so alone."
With compassion in her eyes, Tsunade put her arms around the struggling young woman. Sakura was going through so much as of late that her mental focus on missions had been slipping dangerously. The results of the reports brought back to Tsunade were close calls to unsatisfactory and clients had started to complain. In every one of those missions, Sakura had been failing to perform the duty of a Jounin's position.
" Hush now." The older woman whispered comfortingly, " Naruto isn't dead; he'd never let this beat him. Sure, it's taking him awhile but I know he'll pull through. Naruto always does."
She felt Sakura nod slowly against her shoulder.
" The coma is just a prolonged healing process that travels through different levels of consciousness. Naruto WILL overcome this. If he could talk right now, he'd promise you that himself." Added Tsunade.
Sakura furiously blinked back tears and tried her best to put on a brighter face. The tears were better reserved for nighttime.
Suddenly, receiving comfort from Konoha's Head brought Sakura the feeling of unworthiness because of her recent lack of effort as a Jounin.
" I'm sorry……for all the missions as of late." Sakura mumbled with lowered eyes.
" I know your concentration is wavering precariously and so far every one of those missions are unsatisfactory." The Hokage said with a deliberate tone.
" I'm sorry Hokage-sama, I— "
But Tsunade's hand was raised to silence Sakura, " That is why I'm going to grant you a little time away from the mission environment. It's essential for your own mental well-being and the teammates you cooperate with. These days we cannot afford to permanently lose any number of Jounins."
The sudden news brought a shock to Sakura and she looked as if someone heavy had stepped on her foot. She couldn't believe that the Hokage was issuing to her a temporary leave.
" No arguments." Said Tsunade, patting her shoulder lightly.
Sakura cast her eyes downward at this. Everything about her shaken frame of mind was true. With a physical blow she could recuperate but an emotional one scarred heavily, especially when it dealt with Sasuke. And now Naruto was added as the weeks progressed.
" I……understand…" said Sakura softly.
Sensing her subordinate's wounded pride, Tsunade tried to give an encouraging smile with a new idea.
" That doesn't mean I've completely let you off," she said a bit haughtily. " The Ninja Academy is going to be short one Chuunin in a few weeks because of an upcoming mission to the Water Country. From the results I've been receiving, the class that she teaches is at the bottom in academic standing. The short-term conditioning from a Jounin should push them in the right direction."
The idea was surprising but it held no bad afterthought, even though her eyebrows were raised. Sakura's ears were also perked up, gaining an interest to the fresh piece of news.
" You really want me to teach for awhile ?" she asked again, making sure her hearing was correct.
" For the last time, yes. Kids will be kids but they're also going to be the next generation of shinobi. They'll be needing you."
Sakura sighed heavily, " I don't know about that. They wouldn't want to be taking lessons from the Queen of Misery."
" That's a chance I'd be willing to take since I'd rather the 'Queen of Misery' not jeopardize future missions." Responded Tsunade with crossed arms.
" Besides," she continued, " It'll be something refreshing. Even shinobi that don't have your problem need time away from the mission atmosphere."
" What about Kiba and Ino ? I was assigned to a team mission three days ago. It's supposed to commence tomorrow."
" Don't worry too much. I've already had Tenten cover you."
" Your advance planning to take me out really reflects how badly my focus has been." Sakura said in an ashamed tone.
With a shake of her head, Tsunade sighed, " Try not to take it too harshly. Just think of it as a recuperating phase. Down the road, those children will probably be thanking you for the time you will give them."
" Alright." The pink-haired Jounin reluctantly agreed.
Sakura walked out of Leaf Hospital fifteen minutes later after bidding goodbye to both Tsunade and Naruto. On the way out she passed Jiraiya, whom she waved to with one hand, while the other one kept her skirt down from any unwelcome breeze that would reveal her unmentionables to his prying eyes. Jiraiya was a master Sennin and she respected and enjoyed his company—she just didn't enjoy his pervert streak all that much.
She took a walk through the village trying to head home when she remembered the promise she made to her parents about treating them to a home cooked meal. They've been complaining in the past that ever since she moved out of the house, her visits to home were becoming few and far in between. So, instead of turning the next corner, she continued on straight toward the marketplace.
The market was a bustling area full of people that lived to shop and sell their wares. It was especially full where the food was sold and the market contained many last minute shoppers. During the time before lunch or dinner, there were several handfuls of people who preferred to shop for their meals an hour or two before, thus making it quite the hassle for others like Sakura.
Sakura looked at the sky above and noticed the time. There were a couple of hours left until supper; it would give her a chance to prepare everything before paying the visit to her parents. But the market was still at a fair walking distance. Her pace turned into a jog as she swerved left into a shortcut through the woods.
Wind whipped through her petal locks as she jumped from branch to branch. The trees were closer together in this part of the forest and leaping through them was a faster way of getting around. The freedom she felt helped soften the inner anguish that plagued her system every day.
When the trees grew further apart, Sakura slowed her pace and jumped to the ground to walk the rest of the way. She was glad to be able to work her legs a bit.
As sunlight streamed through the ceiling of leaves, the sound of a bubbling stream echoed in her ears. It was a calming and peaceful sound, not visible to her eyes but not far away from where she walked.
Up ahead, Sakura saw the clearing of the woods, signaling the beginning to the stone street where Leaf Market was. She was about to hurry on when a sudden jolt of instinct shot through her bloodstream and caused her to whip out a kunai.
" You're trespassing." Said a toneless voice from behind.
Whirling around quickly, Sakura first set her eyes on a high reddish-brown, shingled roof that was attached to several other roofs, peeking out from behind some of the taller trees. It looked like an old building but undeniably elegant. Then her vision fell further down, into the gaze of Hyuga Neji.
Sakura lowered her kunai. " Trespassing ?" she said stupidly.
" Yes, trespassing—the act of entering into another's land or property without the sole permission or rights." Neji said, matter-of-factly.
" I know what it means !" Sakura felt annoyance replace her instinct of danger.
" Obviously not, or you wouldn't be strolling around on Hyuga property."
For a while she couldn't say anything. Her mouth opened angrily to defy him in order to save face from his accusation. Now she fully recognized that the house with the shingles in the distance belonged to the Bunke of the Hyuga Clan.
He watched Sakura's mouth open and close as she struggled with the next thing to say. It was almost amusing.
" Well, I'm not an intruder and I didn't know this was your place. Besides, there's no reason I'd have to be here." She finally said.
Neji tilted his head to the side, " I don't know that, do I ? Intentions remain hidden until they're pried out."
" I was…I was only…"
Sakura stuttered with annoyance and a dash of nervousness. It made her nervous to think that she'd been treading on private ground, making her wonder if there was any penalty in store. However, annoyance overpowered it because of Neji, who she sensed was using her for his own entertainment that very moment.
" Intruders are dealt with in a swift way." He said.
" You're acting as if I don't know anything. So what are you going to do ? Fight me ? I know you don't like to waste your time, Neji."
" What are you doing here ?" He went straight to the point. " Make it quick."
When Sakura realized that she had just dismantled his amusement, she put on a smirk and shrugged her shoulders.
" Can't a girl take a stroll through the woods ? It's a nice day."
She nodded toward him, " And I see you've taken advantage of it too."
In place of Neji's usual beige shirt and dark shorts, were a dark blue hakama and a gray hakama-shita. The voluminous pants reached his ankles and strapped to his feet were leisurely-looking zouri. He had chosen to roll up the long sleeves of the hakama-shita partially, revealing the bandages he wore around his right arm. But what stood out the most from Neji's attire was the katana he held in his hand.
The long silver blade reflected the bright sun off its length to wink at Sakura; making her wonder if Neji ever used a weapon other than kunai or shuriken.
Neji shifted his weight from one foot to the other, seeing the attention she gave to the katana. Sakura was right about one thing; he'd been out since early that morning in a secluded area of the woods that only he dubbed as a private place. He'd usually go there to train on his own.
" Extra work doesn't hurt." He said.
" Are you going to let me go this time ?" Sakura tried to tease him, even though the voice at the back of her head told her it wasn't a very smart move.
" It would be useless to waste time anyway, as you have put it already. Just be thankful that it was me who caught you and not another." Neji gave a smirk just off sardonic.
He was playing with her again as he started to walk in the opposite direction toward the house.
" Neji ?" Sakura called meekly.
" What is it ?"
She stared at his back, " I want to you know that I wasn't angry with you…"
" The interaction between us is virtually nil. Why would I think that ?" He responded blankly.
" Because……you brought me news that I dreaded to hear." Sakura's voice softened. " At first…I hated you for bringing it. But that was only for a moment. I didn't mean to act so distant a month ago at the funeral. I wasn't trying to put any fault on you for telling me."
The apology caught Neji by surprise. It was a month after Sasuke's death and she was apologizing to him.
" Don't be sorry for something you couldn't help." Said Neji flatly.
" I also want to…thank you again for staying with me a little while. I never expected you to."
She saw him shrug as a reply before walking off. A few seconds later, Neji disappeared through the trees.
He was always so cold; while his distance set him apart from the other shinobi, what still kept him in was his natural skill. Neji had also been an Anbu member for a month now. Sakura wasn't too familiar with how the elite team worked but there was a mission conducted in the Wind Country not long ago that had an assassination request.
Sakura ended up scowling after Neji departed. There was no reason to waste breath on him, since his poker-faced manner did nothing but annoy her in the past. All she had to do was thank him politely for the support he unexpectedly but hesitantly gave her a month ago. Now it was over and they could go their merry ways.
As she walked down the rest of the forest path, the blade of the katana flashed inside her mind's eye. It was interesting to see him with something other than a kunai. It made her wonder if she could expand to that stage. After all, she never tried.
The time that Sakura left the forest shortcut, Neji had reached home. He sat on a stone bench in the garden, next to the pool that held a few dazzling, orange fish. His eyes traced the katana, remembering the attention Sakura paid. He saw that it sparked her interest just as it did the same for him when he turned eighteen. He'd been using it for practice for eights years but he hadn't seriously comprehended on using it for missions. It was more of a leisurely thing.
Hinata's father, Hyuga Hiashi, aided him in developing the skills to use the sword. Since Neji already had a natural talent for combat, the use of the katana came easy as well.
Sighing from the long day, Neji decided to go inside to get away from the humid air. He traveled slowly through the large and ancient house that belonged to many generations of the Hyuga Bunke. On the way to his own quarters, he stopped by the foyer, catching a glimpse of a stack of papers that sat on a table near the front doors.
He picked them up and shuffled through them like he always did until he found one addressed to him. It was message from the Fifth Hokage, demanding his presence as an Anbu at the Ninja Academy in a few weeks.
" What ?" He muttered to himself as he read it over again. " As a sentinel ?"