I do not own Naruto Shippuden or any of the characters.

Bedridden Again

Ryuu stared out the window. Rain pelted the glass, obscuring his view of everything. But he could sense the shinobi. More than a dozen dead. Including Lord Hokage. And here he was, stuck in a bed. And a full body cast. Fu had promised to give Lord Hokage a flower and say goodbye for him.

"How are you doing Ryuu?" Ryuu's new nurse, Kaori, asked.

"I should be there," Ryuu said. "I knew Orochimaru was there, and I didn't warn Lord Hokage. It's my fault he's dead."

"That's not true," Kaori snapped. "You fought a Tailed Beast. You're lucky to be alive. You have no guilt in Lord hokage's sacrifice."

"It wasn't a sacrifice," Ryuu said. "He lost."

"he sealed a part of Orochimaru's soul," Kaori said. "The seal killed him."

'But I might have been able to save him," Ryuu said.

"No," a voice said from the door, Yugao walking in with her mask on.

"Master," Ryuu greeted. "Why aren't you at the funeral?"

"It just ended," Yugao said. "Fu's waiting outside. Ryuu, you couldn't have saved Lord Hokage. Orochimaru reanimated both Lord First and Lord Second Hokages to fight. You would only have been in the way. But if you hadn't fought the Jinchuriki, we might all be dead now."

"Naruto could have handled him alone," Ryuu said, then sighed.

"Can you give us a moment Kaori?"

Kaori nodded, walking out of the room. Ryuu nodded to Yugao and she opened the door, Fu walking in instantly and slapping Ryuu before kissing him.

"You idiot bastard," Fu growled. "Don't you ever get tired of being in the hospital? Or of scaring me?"

'Trust me," Ryuu smiled. "The hospital is the last place I want to be. How are the others?"

"Everyone's okay," Fu said before grinning. "I think Shikamaru claimed the title of biggest idiot."

"Is that right?" Ryuu asked.

"Oh yeah," Fu grinned. "He saved Temari. Bandaged her wounds and took the time to hold her head in his lap, then let her go."

"Damn," Ryuu grinned. "And here I thought me and Naruto were the foolishly merciful ones."

"How long do you think it'll be until they're dating?" Fu asked.

"I'd give it a year, assuming we don't go to war," Ryuu said.

"We won't," Yugao said, removing her mask. "Without a Hokage, the Village Elders have to get the Shinobi Council to agree in order to go to war. The Shinobi Council so far has refused to to to war, with Shikaku Nara being the loudest voice."

"Shikamaru's father?" Ryuu asked.

"Yes. He's every bit as smart as his son," Yugao grinned. "Maybe smarter given Shikamaru's decision with the Hidden Sand girl."

Ryuu nodded, laying his head down. "I need to get better at Medical Ninjutsu. After that, I want to learn stronger Genjutsu."

Yugao nodded. "You've had to fight like you meant to kill an awful lot recently. Are you okay?"

"I'm alright for now," Ryuu said. "The nightmares that have come are getting better."

"Good," Yugao smiled. "I'm glad you're okay."

"Did he ever get used to it?" Ryuu asked.

"No," Yugao sighed. "Never. I don't want to imagine what he must have gone through after killing his family."

"Probably Hell itself," Ryuu guessed. "What if I could save him? What if I could bring him home?"

Yugao's eyes widened, tears forming in them before she shook her head. "You can't. Itachi is a traitor. Even if he did return, he'd be killed on sight."

"Not if he was restrained," Ryuu said.

"I'm not talking about the average shinobi, or even the average ANBU," Yugao said. "Danzo Shimura would have him killed instantly."

"That sounds more than a little suspicious given the intel Itachi could have," Ryuu said.

"It is," Yugao agreed. "But Danzo has a reputation for hating traitors enough to defy the Hokage in order to kill them."

Ryuu's eyes slowly narrowed. Yugao seemed to sense his train of thought.

"No," Yugao said. "Danzo is not a traitor."

Ryuu sighed, nodding. Fu slipped her hand into his, squeezing lightly. Yugao sighed, pulling her mask back on.

"I should go," Yugao said. "I've got a mission."

"Please be careful," Ryuu said.

"I will," Yugao nodded. "I'll see you at home."

Ryuu nodded and Yugao left, Ryuu sighing. He did not want to live at the hospital again. Fu slipped her hand into his, smiling as Kaori knocked.

"Come in," Ryuu said.

"Just need to switch out your morphine bag," Kaori smiled.

Ryuu nodded. "Once my cast is off, if you find Fu and I are gone, don't panic. We're just getting fresh air. We'll be back."

Kaori nodded before finishing and leaving. Ryuu set his head down and began to drift off.

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