SIKE!! YOU THOUGHT!!

HA! APRIL FOOLS, MY BELOVEDS!!

You guys didn't actually think I was gonna stop, did you? So, did you take it my announcement to your heart?

Don't worry, you can tell me. I'll only laugh.

Please don't kill me.

I hadn't even planned on playing such a joke, but then I remembered the date today and I was like ,"Well, I've definitely gotta do this."

Hehehe...

Anyway, here you go, my lovelies!

ENJOY!!

-Your patiently-awaiting-death-threats-and-now-definately-hated-author.


The hardest thing to do is to watch someone you love, love someone else.

-Poise


The beeping of the heart monitor was the only thing heard in the hospital room, the only thing breaking the silence within.

Beep. Beep.

The patient on the bed was as still as death, her already pale complexion turning a dusty grey, her lips, once plump, now parted and chapped as breath slowly entered and escaped, her chest heaving slightly with the motion.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

The atmosphere was tense as Tsunade concentrated, her hands glowing a soft green as they hovered above the woman's chest.

A bead of sweat steadily made its way down her forehead, her breathing ragged, her hands slightly trembling as she gave it her all to saving her patient.

Just a little more, she told herself, Just a little more, and everything would be fine.

She could feel her chakra draining, her teeth gritting in effort.

Beeep. Beeep. Beeep. Beep.

This was one of the reasons why she'd decided to become a medic-nin. Every parient was different, and each one required for her to push past her limits. She was expected to be ready always. No one knew when a patient might arrive.

Beeeeeep. Beeeeeep. Beeeeeep.

Being a medic-nin was what she loved. But, along with it came a price.

The truth was, she couldn't save everyone.

When one of her patients had died for the first time, she'd felt it: The guilt--the realization that she wasn't good enough. That she probably never will be.

To cope with the guilt, she'd done the same thing she was prone to doing with all her problems.

She got drunk.

Beeeeeeeeeeeep. Beeeeeeeeeeeep.

Experience had told her a lot about whether she would be able to save someone. Only rarely were there miracles that proved her intuition wrong. She really hoped this would be one of them.

Tsunade knew Death. Even now, she could feel its presence looming over the room, breathing down her neck, ready to take with it, another person precious to her: Konoha's Byakugan Princess.

Beeeeeeeeep. Beeeeeeeeep.

She couldn't help but count off all those she'd lost.

Nawaki. Dan. Jiraya. Sensei. And now...

"No," She whispered, as she strengthened her resolve, intending to change Fate and save one more. If this patient of hers died, she doubted any amount of sake would help her forget the guilt.

Another drip of sweat trailed down her forehead. She grunted as she kept going.

"Just a little more," She repeated out loud, as she felt her body loose feeling, the chakra overuse finally taking its effects.

"Just a little-" And then,

Beep. Beep.

Tsunade collapsed as soon she heard the heart monitor go normal, her slight trembling a mixture of relief and exhaustion. She took deep breath, trying to calm herself.

Stealing a glance at the face of the almost lifeless body in front of her, Tsunade felt her hear stir in grief, as it always did when she thought of the kind Kunoichi.

Hinata, what happened to you?

It suddenly occured to Tsunade that those were the exact words she'd asked Hinata, years ago, after she'd returned from the mission. It was after that mission, that Hinata had started isolating herself. She'd returned from the mission all bloodshot eyes, and she'd been trembling like crazy.

Tsunade had asked her the same thing back then. And what had Hinata answered?

"I'm fine. I just...saw something. That's all."

When you were a Shinobi, no one questioned answers like that. And neither had Tsunade.

But, she should've.

Something had clearly happened on that mission, and it ate Hinata on the inside.

But, the thing is, Tsunade had suspected, that even if she asked, it would've led to nothing. She'd seen others asking, seen Hinata bite her lip, and avert her eyes guilt reflecting in them.

And then, there was that letter...

No, she didn't want to follow that train of thought. Not again.

Right now, she had more important things to worry about. Her questions could be answered later.

Sighing, she stepped outside the room, meeting the eyes of her two all-time biggest problems:

Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke.

Both shot up as soon as they saw Tsunade.

"How is she?"

It hurt to see Tsunade the usually bright so broken. Hinata's abandonment years ago had effected him a lot. He was never the same. Tsunade was lost in such thoughts when a voice cut through.

"Well?"

Tsunade took note of the impatience in Sasuke's voice, her eyebrow twitching at the lack of respect in his tone. But, she soon remembered the brief summary Naruto had given her of the situation, and, for once chose to say nothing. After all, he, too, looked like hell.

Must be hard on him too.

She sighed.

"It was a close call, but she's alive. Though, I doubt she'll be waking up anytime soon."

Both sighed in relief.

"Can we see her?"

Tsunade hesitated for a moment, then relented.

"Fine, but hear me well..." She gritted out her words, cracking her knuckles, "You do anything that endangers her life, I'll ban you from every Ramen shop in the village."

The old Naruto would've cowered, screamed for his dear life. Now, he only forced a grin, rubbing his neck.

"Sure, Granny."

And with that, they both entered the room.

Naruto took a seat in a nearby chair, as Sasuke stood by his side, watching him.

Her face was ashen. She didn't look as if she were breathing, the only indication that she was doing so, being the rise and fall of her chest. Not for the first time, Naruto felt his breath catch, as he took her in.

She's beautiful.

Naruto felt the urge to take her hand, but refrained from doing so. He suddenly realized that he would never have the chance to again. She had found home in the arms of another.

He'd hoped, that now that she was back, that maybe he had a chance. But, Reality was a bitter thing, and Fate seemed intent on making sure he had a taste of it every once in a while.

He remembered how frantic he'd been when bringing her to the hospital. He remembered the way she'd, still unconscious, clutched at his shirt, the way she'd buried her face in the crook of his neck, the way she'd snuggled into him.

He remembered how happy it had made him, despite everything that had been happening. And along with it came hope, that maybe she could still look at him the way he looked at her.

And then, he remembered his heart breaking into million pieces when she'd whispered the name of another.

It was a hard pill to swallow; that someone had held the way he never would. The fact that Hinata had a son with Itachi hit him full force.

He clenched his fists as they rested in his knees. His head was bowed, as he gritted his teeth, his whole form shaking.

Sasuke pulled another chair and seated himself beside Naruto. He didn't know what to say. All of this was so sudden. He'd been so caught up in his own storm of emotions, his game of revenge, that he hadn't even thought of what his brother might've lived through.

But, then again, this was Itachi he was talking about. Itachi, always the mysterious type. No one had truly known him. Not Sasuke, not Obito, not Kakashi.

Sasuke glanced at Hinata.

But maybe, just maybe, she would.

But, before that, he needed to know who she was.

Analyzing the woman carefully, his eyes caught something glistening in her hand, it's bright colour contrasting sharply with the white all around.

He frowned slightly as he squinted his eyes, trying to get a better look.

They widened as soon as he made out what it was. He shot up from his seat and took ahold of Hinata's hand.

"No...way." He breathed out, without even realizing.

"What is it?" Naruto's hoarse voice broke through.

Sasuke's fingers trembled slightly as he traced the ring adorned on Hinata's finger.

He'd seen it before, felt the press of it against his skin as a child, traced the imprint it had left behind on his mother's corpse.

The band seemed to be made of the clearest silver, on top of which was adorned the darkest, the most beautiful ruby. It was angry red, the colour of a bloody rose. The colour of a Sharingan.

"This-This belonged to my mother."

Had Itachi given it to her? Had she really been that important to him?

He sighed, running a hand through his hair.

"Hyuga Hinata." He said, though his eyes were on his sister-in-law.

"Tell me everything about her."