Shattered Pieces

Chapter 5 - Situation

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
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Sakura's POV
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I awoke the next morning with an unusual smile on my face. The sun's warmth felt nice as it brushed against my skin, and it made me think of him. I got out of my bed and took a quick shower, and got dressed for the hospital. Phwwooooo. I looked out my window as I heard an unusual sound of wind, and I saw something move from the trees. I looked closer, but found nothing there. It was odd, because there was no wind coming from the other directions. It must have been a bird.
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The hospital this morning was unusually hectic. Many other nurses and medical nin were running to and fro in the hallways; it was a frenzy. I suddenly remembered my neglect of two of my patients that shared a room - Hyuuga Neji and Rock Lee. I slapped myself, but was soon comforted as I remembered that their sensei, Gai, and their teammate, Tenten, would always pay them daily visits. I began my way through the chaos in the hallways, and I ran into Tsunade-sama.

"WATCH WHERE YOU'RE---Oh. Shown up for work today, Sakura?" She asked, looking at me with a hint of curiosity.

"Yes, Tsunade-sama. I'm sorry I've been missing so many days. Neji and Lee? How are they?" I asked, hoping my patients didn't die, even if they weren't in critical condition when I began missing work.

"They're getting better. Lee is in better state, Neji's still unconscious for some periods of time."

I sighed with relief, and Tsunade-sama just nodded, as if dismissing me. I bowed, and I began to make my way through the chaos once more.
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I arrived at Lee and Neji's room, and found Gai-sensei and Lee doing their good-guy poses with a creepy sunset background as they saw me come in, and Tenten dozing off on Neji's bed. I waved at Lee and Gai-sensei.

"Lee! Feeling better?" I asked, careful not to wake the sleeping prodigy.

"Hai, Sakura-chan!"

"You should be more careful on your missions. Though it seems that Neji exhausted his chakra...a lot more than you did. Did you use the Primary Lotus again?"

"Honestly, Sakura-chan! We've been over this tons of times! Of course! The flames of youth keep me going! Where have you been anyway?"

My face tightened for a minute as I thought about Sasuke's appearance, but I instantly smiled to cover up its expression change.

"Ne, I wasn't up for work, Lee. But I'm back now!"

He gave me a thumbs-up and began conversing with Gai-sensei once more, and I walked over to Neji's bed. Neji seemed to be unconscious, or sleeping, after a long night. Tenten lay by his side, silently snoring. I laughed at the cute sight. What would happen if Neji woke up to a sleeping Tenten beside him? I chuckled, and did a quick check-up on Neji. Everything seemed to be getting better about him. I turned to Lee and Gai-sensei.

"Lee? Why did Neji use so much of his chakra?"

"--ready again for the Primary---" Lee stopped as he saw my death glare, and continued, "Eh, he said he wanted to see someone if he were to be unconscious."

"Who? Any of the Hyuuga Clan? Possibly...Hinata-chan?" I asked.

Lee shook his head 'no', and chuckled. I was taken aback, but I smiled and look back at Neji and Tenten.

"Oh. I see. So he exhausted his chakra for---"

Lee interrupted, and nodded.

"Yes! Their flames of youth brought them together closer than ever!"

Just as Lee said 'flames of youth', Tenten woke up with fire in her eyes, and threw a sandal at Lee's face. Lee was instantly knocked out, and an abnormally large bump appeared on his head.

"WILL YOU SHUT UP ABOUT THE FLAMES OF YOUTH! I'M TRYING TO SLEEP! ...Wait...what am I doing on Neji-kun's bed...?" Tenten asked, a tint of pink appearing on her cheeks.

"Ah! Tenten! You're AWAKE! You fell asleep there, remember? You and Neji were talking amongst your youthful selves, and he dozed off, and you stood there staring at him, and you fell asleep and you somehow managed to get into that position without Neji caring!" Gai-sensei said, filling in for the unconscious Lee.

"O-oh..." Tenten said, her face turning into a tomato red.

I chuckled as Tenten slowly got off of Neji's bed, and went to retrieve her sandal from Lee's bedside. She saw me, and instantly sped over and gave me a hug.

"Sakura-chan! You made it! Why weren't you here the past few days?" She asked, her eyes gleaming with concern and curiosity.

"Eh, I haven't been up to work...and some things...kept me busy..."

Tenten eyed me, as if guessing I had a run-in with Sasuke.

"You better not have been in your room, crying your heart out, for a man that may never come back, Sakura-chan..." She said.

I sweatdropped.

"I thought we already covered that I would always wait for him?"

She sighed, and slipped on her sandals. She looked at me.

"If I see him around you, or if I see that he's the reason that you can cry once again, my shuriken won't hesitate to get that perfect accuracy. I will hunt him down if I have to."

She smiled at me, and I was shocked. How did she know I started crying again? I sighed. I forgot that Tenten had that amazing ability to read people's faces and tell what they're feeling, if they're lying, or what they've been doing. Her Neji toned that ability for her. I smiled at her and nodded.

"What's all the noise...? I've been listening to you guys talk...and I haven't been able to get any sleep...at all..." A very tired and irritated voice said.

I turned around, and found Neji sitting up on his bed, rubbing his temples. I smiled at him, and he just nodded out of politenes, but I could still notice his irritation. I saw Tenten's eyes widen, and she rushed to his bedside.

"Hyuuga Neji! You mean you were awake while Lee and Gai-sensei were ranting about flames of youth, while I fell asleep on your bed, and when I gave Sasuke a death wish?"

Neji smirked at her, and whispered in her ear.

"Awake for everything...but you know you liked sleeping beside me."

Tenten blushed ten shades of red, and gently slapped him.

"YOU HYUUGA NEJI, YOU!" She said.

They laughed together, and she hugged him.

"Tenten...that's...kind of..."

Tenten immediately broke off the hug, and laughed.

"Sorry! I forgot Neji-kun could feel pain!"

Neji smiled at her and lay back down, both hands supporting the back of his head, as he stared off at the ceiling.
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I began walking out of the hospital and to the bridge as I finished my shift at the hospital. Looking at Neji and Tenten's love blossom so much over the seconds gave me a pain in my heart. In ways, I was envious of their love, but I would never get in their way. It made me think of Sasuke and I. Neji used to be like him. He would always smirk, show an emotionless face, be oblivious to love. But seeing Tenten melt Neji's heart in such a way made me smile. The Hyuuga Neji smiled... It brought back the memories of when Sasuke smiled and chuckled. Could I have been the reason behind that? As I came to the bridge, I found myself looking off into the night sky and wishing upon a star. The lake glittered under the starlight, and I smiled at Konoha's serene beauty.

"Enjoying the scenery, little cherry blossom?" A voice said.

I began to pull out my kunai, but in an instant I was shoved against the railing and brought to my knees. I grimaced with pain, and looked up to find a pair of red eyes looking at me.

"Sas--NO! ...Itachi?"

The Uchiha smiled at me - smiled at my pain. Seeing his smile made me shiver, it was not Sasuke-kun's smile, it was a smile full of evil pleasures.

"You're quite the smart one. What have you been doing all these years while my dear brother has been training, trying so hard to kill me?"

I stared at him with wide eyes, and looked up at his face. He resembled Sasuke-kun...I could barely tell the difference.

"I have been hoping. Kill me if you wish, I won't weigh Sasuke-kun down."

He laughed at me, and held a kunai to my throat.

"I won't kill you...you're necessary to get my plan to work..." He whispered down into my ear, sending me into a series of shivering.

"Sasuke-kun will not care for me if he is in battle with you. His thirst for power years ago showed me that."

He looked at me with surprise, and shook his head 'no', with a very wide smirk on his face.

"You obviously don't understand the situation, Haruno Sakura. Have you too, been shoved away from love? Are you so...oblivious to it, like dear Sasuke-kun?"

I stared at him with wide eyes, and he just continued to laugh at me. I tried to kick him off of my back, but I found myself knocked to the ground.

"Haruno Sakura...prepare to see your beloved again..."

I heard one more laugh, before I was knocked unconscious.

No...I'm so weak...Sasuke-kun!
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Whee, another chapter! Things are getting kicked up. (: