Haruno Sakura
The shinobi tasked with changing the light bulb in Sasuke's cell finally arrived and began working on the problem.
For a few minutes, no one talked in the cell.
Despite the unique masks, she was positive the Anbus handpicked by Lady Tsunade were staring at the former avenger down menacingly. She could pick up the the Anbus defensive stance. They were very much alert, muscles taut and hands ready to grip their kunais or any other nin weapons they had stashed in their clothes. Sasuke, on the other hand, showed no signs of attacking or resisting. He looked the same as always since she began coming down his cell for medical visits.
Then again, this was Sasuke.
He rarely showed any sign of emotions. He had mastered the art of being aloof and showing not even an ounce of emotion. It was a familiar trait of his that she had grown used to from the moment they were thrown in together as a team. Still, there were times when he would drop this front and actually enjoy interacting with his sensei, the dobe, and her.
The annoying one, she fondly thought.
But ever since the war ended, it seemed like his detachment took on a different level.
Sasuke and Naruto were in coma for a week. The blood loss from their severed arms had taken its toll on a dangerous level. She and Tsunade-sama took turns healing the two war heroes who were still unconscious at the time. So when she came to see him one day and found that he was awake, she was overjoyed. She rushed to kneel by his side.
"Sasuke-kun you're – "
"You shouldn't be here."
Sakura froze. It was that same, cold voice that always made her retreat inside. She felt rooted onto the spot she knelt on.
"Well, I've been assigned to treat you and Naruto…" Sakura said, trying to keep her voice steady.
"You shouldn't be here, Sakura." The former avenger replied.
"Not around someone like me." He continued to say without sparing her a glance.
Sakura exhaled slowly and tried to forget the memory. "Is it done?" She asked the ninja working on the light bulb.
In the exact moment, the room was brightly lit.
"My apologies, it took a while Sakura-san." The ninja said climbing down the stool he brought and bowed down to Sakura. "If there's anything else you need, please don't hesitate to call."
"Arigatou." Sakura replied.
And with that, she turned towards Sasuke who sat silently on the makeshift bed.
"How are you feeling today?" Sakura asked.
"Fine."
There goes his one-word answers again. Sakura sighed. "Open your mouth."
She took out her medical tools for the basic check-up: mouth, eyes, chest, etc.
Sasuke, who by now, was quite familiar with the process, obeyed the medical-nin without a fuss. This was something Sakura found strange. The Lady Tsunade claimed that Sasuke behaved differently during her checkups. She noted that he would be really still for a few minutes or so, staring emotionlessly at her and the guards [or through them, like he was waiting for someone else to come in], before finally obeying what the Sannin asked him to do. According to the Fifth Hokage, Sasuke wouldn't even say a word.
At least he spared Sakura more than the usual "Hn" replies. He gave one or two-word answers when the pink-haired nin would ask questions medical-wise. Whereas he only nodded or shook his head slightly when the Lady Hokage would ask questions about his condition and how he was feeling.
This was a bit foolish considering Tsunade-sama was the renowned Slug Queen who basically invented a lot of the healing techniques used today. Ninjas all over the continent come to see her for her vast knowledge in the medical field. And she was the one making the prosthetic arms for both Sasuke and Naruto so there should be no reason for him not to at least trust her and speak to her.
Then again, maybe because Sasuke still carried the guilt over the fact that he did try to kill the Kages and destroy the village in the past. This guilt, among other things, must still weigh heavy in his heart and mind.
But with her, Sasuke seemed comfortable enough. No complaints. But no long conversations, too.
"Nothing wrong with your vitals, Sasuke." Sakura said as she pulled out some syringes from the metal case.
Sasuke nodded. "Hn."
"The good news is, your health is starting to improve. Naruto as well." Sakura continued as she administered some medicine through injections. "Tsunade-sama reckons you need two more weeks here, though. And you still need to drink the medicine she prescribed to ensure that your body will fully regain its strength. I replenished your stock." She continued on as she settled 2 bottles of medicine beside Sasuke's makeshift bed.
"Alright." Sasuke gave another nod without looking at the medic-nin. "Arigatou."
"No problem," Sakura replied. "Oh and I got you some food. It's at least different from the usual food they're serving you here."
Sakura said and moved the woven basket she brought closer to Sasuke.
"Fish, rice pickled radish, and I included some tomatoes and barley juice."
"You didn't have to." The raven-haired ninja replied.
"I know," was Sakura's immediate reply. "Hey, you got to eat more to get stronger, after all," she added.
"Hn." Sasuke muttered.
When Sakura packed up the last of her medical tools, she stood up with her case and turned quickly away from Sasuke. "Well then, I'll see you again tomorrow."
With that, she left the room with the two anbus following after her and closing the cell firmly.
No point waiting for his reply. Sakura thought. After all, I'm just a nuisance to him.
n