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

Suspended

Ryuu opened his eyes, sighing as he felt the comfort of sleep leaving him and the pangs of hunger return. He had gotten used to that feeling, so he didn't really mind it, but it still wasn't exactly pleasant. He pushed himself up, looking around. He had slept blessedly well in comparison to the last year and a half. he actually felt rested. He stood, walking to his room's bathroom and closing the door, showering and brushing his teeth before walking back into the room and getting dressed. He stretched, trying to work the overexertion back out of his muscles, then walked out of the room, heading downstairs. He wasn't sure exactly what time it was, but he knew it was probably almost midday.

"Oh my God!" Fu gasped. "He's awake!"

A moment later, Fu was spinning him around and around in a hug before setting him down and stepping out of the way, allowing Yugao to do the same.

"What's going on?" Ryuu asked. "You guys just saw me."

"You've been asleep for a week," Tayuya said. "We were all afraid you weren't going to wake up."

"I was?" Ryuu blinked.

"Yeah," Fu nodded, slipping her hand into his and lacing their fingers. "I'm glad you're alright."

Ryuu smiled, squeezing her hand before looking around. "I'm starving. is there anything to eat?"

Yugao laughed and nodded. "I'll make you some food. But you're going to have to take it easy. After being malnourished for a year and a half, you'll get sick if you eat too much."

"We'll see," Ryuu chuckled. "I'm eating until I'm fat if it'll get rid of the hunger pains finally."

Fu smiled, shaking her head and they walked to the kitchen, Ryuu sitting down at the table while Yugao and Fu cooked. Once they were done the first round, they set it on the table and Ryuu ate it rapidly. Same with seconds, and thirds. Finally, he finished, using Medical Ninjutsu to keep himself from getting sick from overeating. Yugao shook her head, smiling.

"Your Medical Ninjutsu's come a long way," Yugao said.

"Thanks," Ryuu said, smiling for a moment before it faded. "Kabuto taught me after every fight."

And just like that, the mood came crashing down. Finally, he stood, sighing.

"I'm going to go to church," Ryuu said. "I'll be back in a while."

Yugao nodded and Ryuu left, walking through the streets in silence. After about twenty minutes, he reached the church, walking inside and finding that it was empty, aside from the pastor, a short round man with a kind smile, grey hair and a bushy grey mustache and a pair of round wire-rimmed glasses. The pastor looked up, smiling upon seeing Ryuu.

"Welcome," he greeted. "It's been some time."

"Yeah," Ryuu said, not quite able to force a smile. "I...I think I might need your help."

"With what?" the pastor asked.

"Praying," Ryuu said. "I...I don't know how to ask for forgiveness for what I've done. There's...there's so much."

The pastor was silent for a moment before nodding. "Come. Kneel before the altar, and we'll see what we can do."

Ryuu walked forward, kneeling down in front of the altar and and closing his eyes. The pastor knelt beside him, resting a hand on his shoulder.

"Now, tell me what's troubling you," the pastor said.

"I...I was held prisoner for a year and a half," Ryuu said. "While I was, every coupe days...I...I was forced to fight against other prisoners. And...I was made to kill them all. It was either that, or I would have had my eyes ripped out and then would have been killed myself."

The pastor was silent for a moment before nodding. "Do you know how many?"

"Two hundred seventy five," Ryuu said. "Including two of my friends."

The pastor stared at him before sighing and nodding, bowing his head and beginning to pray. He prayed asking God for forgiveness for Ryuu, and for Ryuu to be free of the burden of his guilt over it. He prayed for Ryuu to be able to sleep at night, and for him to be able to make peace with his actions. Finally, after a much longer prayer than Ryuu was used to, the pastor stood, helping Ryuu up.

"Thank you Father," Ryuu said, the pastor chuckling.

"I keep telling you, Ryuu," the pastor laughed. "This isn't that kind of church."

Ryuu smiled, nodding, and waked out of the church, stopping as he found Fu, Tayuya, and Yugao walking toward it. Ryuu smiled, hugging Fu, who hugged him back, then looked to Yugao.

"Lady Tsunade wants to see us all," Yugao said.

Ryuu nodded and they all headed to the Hokage's office, Yugao knocking and Shizune opening the door. Tsunade sighed, beckoning them in.

"There you all are," Tsunade sighed. "Ryuu, I'm so sorry. I know you're not fully recovered yet, but-"

"It's fine," Ryuu smiled. "I can handle it. Whatever you need, I'll be okay."

"No, it's not that," Tsunade said. "It's not a mission. It's...it's a demotion."

"What!?" Yugao demanded.

"But why!?" Fu asked.

"What the hell did he do!?" Tayuya demanded.

"Guys, it's fine," Ryuu said.

"It's out of my hands," Tsunade said. "Koharu and Homura...they both tried to argue that Orochimaru could have turned you. They used you showing up with Kabuto, and you bringing not only Kabuto, but also Tayuya, two former Hidden Sound shinobi, into our village, as well as two of Orochimaru's other prisoners, as evidence of you bringing spies into the village. I told them that it was none of their business who you saved from Orochimaru, but they didn't like that. So they, along with Danzo, unsurprisingly, all went to the Feudal Lord with the matter. The Feudal Lord didn't see a problem with it, thank God, so you haven't been stripped of your Shinobi status. But in order to get them out of his hair, he did demote you back to genin."

"Okay," Ryuu nodded. "When's the next Chunin Exam?"

Tsunade smiled. "I figured you'd ask. I already submitted your paperwork for your entire team. It begins in two weeks. Will you be ready by then?"

"I'd be ready now," Ryuu smiled. "But yes. I can get back to looking the part by then."

Tsunade nodded and dismissed them. They all headed home and Ryuu back to bed.

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