A Last Request
Written by: Mikami
Warnings: Profanity, sexuality, main character death.
Everyone kept the candles burning for Naruto after he was moved into the rehabilitation wing of Konoha Hospital. Tsunade made sure to keep him in a separate section that involved special cases due to the fact that the side effects of the healing process would probably include the Kyubi's intervention.
And she was right to expect it. Naruto's condition was graded as fair when he first settled into rehab. It would take additional time for his status to be upgraded to good in which his wakefulness and alertness would steadily increase. Tsunade made sure to monitor Naruto carefully and the results were astounding.
Within what should have been a two-month period, Naruto greatly improved in just one. He was fully conscious and regaining himself like before. The nurses spent a minimum of four hours a day to help exercise the use of coordination, balance and speech. For the first week, Naruto could only speak a little but it was blatant enough to tell the nurses that he wanted more than four hours for exercise. His nature permitted him to push himself harder to succeed.
Time significantly flew by for Naruto's visitors as well. He received at least one a day and was soon the most visited patient at the hospital. They watched as Naruto gradually reclaimed his full speech; after not being able to talk for the longest time, Naruto was quite the chatterbox.
One sunny afternoon Naruto plopped back onto his bed to sit down from six hours of rehabilitation. He was smiling from ear to ear at the pink-haired female that sat on a stool next to him.
" I'm beginning to hate it in here. I wish they'd let me go outside."
Sakura shook her head. " Naruto, it's not very smart to rush things especially after what you've gone through."
" Are you worried about me ?" he gave her a sly, teasing grin.
" Who says I'm worried ?"
" Well for one, you're lecturing me again. And for two, you wouldn't have sneaked in a cup of ramen just for me."
" What if it's not ? What if I just wanted to bring it here so I could eat it in front of you ?" Sakura joked with a hidden smile.
Naruto rolled his eyes. " It's miso ramen. You hate that flavor."
Sakura felt a warm feeling cascade into her system. It really meant Naruto was back since he never missed the slightest detail when ramen was considered. She let out a laugh and tossed him the cup.
" I've got to go. Shikamaru might kill Chouji for turning in an incomplete field report if I don't review it first." She said.
" You're back doing field assignments ? Lee said you were still teaching at the Academy."
" It's half and half now. I like teaching but field missions keep my edge."
" You just wait and see." Naruto said, standing up again. " I'll be back doing missions in no time."
No sooner did he say that, the excited youth wobbled a little on buckling legs. Sakura stopped him before he fell forward.
" Down boy," she remarked. " We all know the Kyubi gains a point for this favor. It's kind of ironic but still……take it easy."
" Nice of you to admit that for me. See ? You do care."
Sakura grumbled and shifted under Naruto's weight. She gently escorted him back to the side of the bed.
" Do yourself a favor. Stop being an ass and listen to the nurses for a change. You'll thank me later."
" I'm thanking you right now." Naruto said quietly. He looked down at his hands instead of at his friend. " Even if I wasn't conscious, I somehow knew you'd still be around."
" Naruto……"
" The dark place I was in was like being at the bottom of the ocean. And in there I was angry with myself for not being there for you after Sasuke passed away…I'm sorry."
There were occasional times when Naruto would be serious. Sakura hadn't expected it since he was already so giddy about his progression. Weeks ago Naruto found out about his rival's passing and it hit him as hard as Sakura.
" There's nothing to be sorry for, Naruto." Sakura replied. " Times are getting better now, albeit a little lonely."
Without warning Naruto threw his arms around her, bringing her close. He smiled warmly against her hair.
" I hope you don't punch me this time." He joked, breaking the somber atmosphere. " Besides, you owe me a hug."
When he let her go, Sakura ruffled his messy blonde locks affectionately. " If the nurses find out about the ramen, I had nothing to do with it."
" Aye aye Captain." He saluted. Sakura gave him a smile before exiting the room.
Naruto sat back in silence, eyeing the cup of ramen. Sakura's visit was short but he was glad for it. Any amount of her time would satisfy him and to receive the two things he adored in the last fifteen minutes—her and ramen—was a bonus. Many things were helping him to recover; friends and comrades, the Kyubi and her smile. If Sakura smiled then it meant that everything would be okay.
Nowadays, he noticed it was harder for her to keep her smile. Sasuke had only passed away months ago and the wound was still fresh. Naruto understood, since he'd watch the many times she wept because of the sole reason of Sasuke. But this time he wasn't there and it was something he was still angry about. Sakura deserved none of the pain that unexpectedly came her way. Naruto just wished he were there to help her shoulder the weight.
" Where's Sasuke ? Don't tell me he recovered before I did."
There was no laughing at the joke of rivalry Naruto made. Instead, there was no reaction in the faces of Sakura and Kakashi. A puzzled look crept onto Naruto's face; silence often drove him crazy especially when there was something he didn't know about.
He watched as Kakashi sighed and locked his gaze. The grin from Naruto's face faded into anxiousness.
" Where is he ?" he implored again, looking back and forth between Kakashi and Sakura.
Sakura was holding her breath and looking down at her hands as if they were the most interesting things in the world. She bit her bottom lip fervently.
" Sasuke isn't here……anymore." Kakashi said slowly.
" So he DID recover before I did. Damn Sasuke; even after the battle he's still showing me up." Naruto grumbled.
" No, Naruto." Sakura intervened with a strained whisper. " Sasuke's…gone…"
There wasn't a need to say anything further since the notion of his longtime rival's death dawned on him. It took Naruto by shock and his anger ensued. He was angry with Sasuke for leaving the world but even more because he was the last to know about it. Uchiha Sasuke: opponent, friend, comrade, companion, ally and much more...Naruto felt that fate had robbed him.
He'd taken it as hard as Sakura but there were no tears. Naruto knew Sasuke wouldn't have wanted his rival to remember him in such a way. He was strong and he needed to be remembered with a look of confidence and pride. To the very end Sasuke mirrored those qualities and Naruto agreed to keep them for him.
A delicious breeze filtered in through the opened window. It caused the curtains to lift in a teasing manner, making Naruto realize how stuffy it became in the room whenever solemn thoughts invaded his mind. He decided offhandedly that he needed some air.
Naruto crept quietly to the door and peeked outside to check for any hospital staff coming his way. The reception desk was down the hall and the nurses were occupied with a demanding man who looked very hysterical. The fox-like grin on Naruto's face reached new heights as he closed the door firmly and headed for the window. He figured the nurses would kill him later but his progress was better than ever; the longing to be outside was overpowering the rational side of his brain.
As quickly as he could, Naruto opened the window and thanked the heavens that his room was on the ground floor. He threw his legs over the ledge and escaped through the thick hedges. When Naruto stepped onto the sidewalk, he brushed off the leaves and twigs and proceeded to stroll down the street, whistling a tune.
The feeling to be outside again amazed him as he collected fresh air to his lungs. The hustle and bustle of the streets filled him with life and it didn't bother him that he was walking around in hospital pajamas and slippers.
He was dying to see a familiar face so he exited into the woods where he was sure to find anyone with training in mind. He could already hear the swift sounds of ninja skimming through the trees.
Maybe in a few weeks. Naruto reminded himself as he looked up thoughtfully to the high green branches.
His senses became more alert as he approached a nearby training ground. There was a clearing surrounded by shorter trees, allowing for straw dummies to be hung down from their branches by thick ropes. In the distance a rush of kunai was being cast towards the nearest dummy. The way they all hit the bulls-eye were giveaways to the identity of the owner.
Wanting to test his reflexes, Naruto's hand shot out toward the dummy and instantly prevented one of the kunai from being embedded into its straw head. The flow of weaponry stopped and Naruto acknowledged Hyuga Neji.
" You look bored." He said, twirling the kunai around his finger.
A wave of surprise washed over Neji but he quickly put it away.
" Pulling some escape tactics on the nurses ?" Neji asked, walking up to Naruto. He eyed the pajamas with a smirk.
Naruto flashed his teeth craftily. " I hope you didn't expect me to sit in there and rot."
" Of course not. I just thought you'd have done it long ago."
" Shut up."
Both of them let out a humored chuckle. It was among the unusual times when Naruto heard something close to a laugh come out of Neji's mouth. In reality, Naruto might have been the only one in the world to experience it since he and Neji leveled long ago with each other at the Chuunin exam. From then on, Neji was a little less grim but still stoic and haughty all the same.
" I heard you were the one that came out with the least scrapes and bruises." Said Naruto, sitting on the grass with his back against the tree.
" Somebody had to be that person."
" Yeah. Shikamaru and Lee got off pretty harsh though." Naruto paused, then uttered, " Neji…one question……what did you tell Sakura back then ?"
The sudden inquiry caught the Hyuga off guard, bringing him back to the banished thoughts of a pink-haired female.
" I told her the truth." Neji replied as simply as possible.
" It depends how you told her."
" She came up with it on her own. There were no insensitive contributions on my part, if that's what you're asking."
Naruto glanced at Neji, noticing that his voice had turned bland with the last statement.
" Everyone already told me what happened to Sasuke. But I heard you caught it all from start to finish. You let everybody else tell the story so now I want to hear your version."
" There's no point." Huffed Neji. " It'd just be the same thing for the hundredth time."
Naruto shrugged at his comrade's stubbornness. " I'm not the type that takes no for an answer. You should know that by now."
" You're in no position to make any threats." Neji smirked.
" Okay. You're right, I'm not but I'm going to take the risk anyway."
Before beginning, Neji gave Naruto a disdainful look. He figured that if he didn't comply with his request, he'd never get rid of him.
It was first time the story came from Neji. The Hyuga made it simple and short, not dressing it up with vivid details like Lee did. Somehow he also expected Naruto to seek him out for this reason alone, whether it be now or later. He just wasn't sure about the aspect of Sasuke's last words. The so-called responsibility was supposed to go to Naruto, not to him.
" Sasuke knew you'd slip into a coma." Said Neji.
" I should've been there to take care of her." Naruto gritted.
" Sakura had support. There's nothing for you to worry about."
" But she needed a shoulder to lean on."
" Sometimes I think you give her too little credit." Neji said without thinking. " She kept herself busy while you were in a coma. Now that you're out, you can start supporting her."
Naruto looked up with interested eyes. " She's been teaching at the Academy but Hinata said she's also been doing a little extra training……with you."
Neji shrugged offhandedly. " Sakura came to me, not vice versa."
" How is she doing ?"
" She's not ready to use the kodachi for open combat."
A quiet laugh escaped Naruto as he stared at Neji in silent mirth. Hyuga Neji would never openly admit if Sakura was good. He'd choose to walk around the words and make it sound like she wasn't improving at all. Naruto knew better; things weren't always what they seemed when it came to Neji.
" I wonder why she wanted to do this. A place with the Anbu in future ?" pondered Naruto.
" It'll take more than just 'good intentions' to reach that level." Neji denoted with a cross of his arms.
" She can reach it." Naruto said brightly. " After all, there's still my future to becoming Hokage."
" Oh yes, you've never allowed any of us to forget that."
For once the dash of sarcasm in Neji's voice didn't grate against Naruto's nerves. He was too occupied with enjoying himself outside.
" Just remember," Naruto articulated. " Sakura isn't made of steel like she wants to be. Damage her permanently in any way and I'll break your legs."
The Hyuga scoffed sourly in reply.
" Neji, that was a joke !" Said Naruto with a grin.
" Insert laugh here." Neji said with a straight face. Annoyance danced vividly in his pale gaze. " Aren't you due back at the hospital ?"
" Nah. I think I'm going make the nurses squirm a bit more." Naruto stood up and brushed himself off, executing a refreshing intake of afternoon air. He stretched his limbs to the sky and let out a victorious roar. Today was a beautiful day.
Naruto exclaimed, " I can't wait to get back to the missions."
" Don't get ahead of yourself." Neji responded dryly.
" Time flies by, Neji !" He said toothily as he started to head through the woods. " I'll be leading the next major mission."
" Whatever helps you sleep at night."
" And I'll make sure you're in my team, just so you could be my subordinate !" Naruto cackled, purposely trying to irritate the Hyuga.
Neji's tightlipped expression spread over his face like crop dusting. Naruto always took a stab at teasing him whenever he had chance. Even after the coma it was something that never changed.
He watched Naruto turn around again. " Hey Neji, one more thing."
" What is it now ?"
" Do me a favor and don't fall in love with her." Naruto then gave a last wave before departing.
The words had a strange effect and they bounced around in Neji's brain. It took a moment from him to realize that it was shock. A familiar feeling seeped back into his system—the same feeling that took him by surprise when he pinned Sakura's arms above her head; very close……too close……too dangerous…
Neji purged the following thoughts before they continued. They were thoughts not worth pursuing. He saw Sakura almost on the daily basis—they would never have a relationship that would cross over the chasm between his world and hers. He couldn't doubt his own self-control.
Stop it. Neji pushed it down with a burst of resentment.