Surprise! Since the story is complete, I took my friend's advice to upload multiple chapters within a day. Thank you for the reviews, the follows, the favorites, and everyone who is reading this story!
I swear I did not mean to introduce DC Comics in the middle of MCU with the chapter name. It's actually a reference to Carl Jung's theory of archetypes. The Joker is a powerful character who is able to shift between worlds, regardless of authority, to shake things up a bit. Also, MCU's character Loki – Thor's brother and the God of Mischief – is a representation of this archetype. Loki is the epitome of "shaking stuff up". So, basically, chapter name is dedicated to Loki. Cheers!
PLEASE READ: Do NOT read this while eating or drinking (just in case).
Enjoy! :)
CHAPTER 11 – The Joker
Sakura knocks on the door to 10A. It's past nine and she hopes that they have leftover dinner because she can't even think about cooking right now.
Sasuke opens the door with a forced smile.
"What's wrong with you?"
"Nothing!" Sasuke quickly defends. "I have a surprise for you."
He moves aside to let her in. A little suspicious, because he said surprise but it doesn't feel like a good surprise, Sakura carefully steps inside.
A man with cropped black hair, black eyes, and palest skin possible without being an albino, is sitting at the couch. He's holding a mug. There's a suitcase near his legs.
"Sai?" Sakura pauses and stares.
Sai smiles, the same blank smile that used to freak her out. "Sakura."
He gets to his feet, keeps the mug on the coffee table, and strides forward to envelop her in a hug. Sakura sees Itachi scowling at them from his position at his desk.
"What's happening?" Sakura asks, a nervous laughter bubbling from her throat.
Sai pulls back, sporting a wider smile. "I was waiting for you outside your apartment door when your neighbours found me and offered me to come inside."
"Sasuke offered you," Itachi corrects him. "He's very neighbourly."
Sakura ignores the jibe. "Okay. But what were you doing outside my apartment?"
"I told you already, I was waiting for you."
She blinks. "I got that. Why were you waiting for me?"
He frowns in confusion. "Because you weren't home."
"Sai, honey, you didn't tell me that you were planning to visit. We spoke last week, and you didn't mention this."
Sai hitches on a bright face. "Surprise!"
"Who is this guy?" Itachi glares.
"He said he's a friend," Sasuke reminds him pointedly.
"And an ex-lover," Sai adds thoughtfully.
Sasuke and Itachi both look at her incredulously. Sai doesn't see their expressions.
"Right," Sakura says awkwardly. "Sai, we are not ex-lovers," she says patiently.
"But we used to have sex."
She gulps, her face flushing red. "Why don't we go over to my place? Since I'm home now!"
"Wait," Itachi stops them immediately. "Your ex-lover is going to be staying with you?"
Sakura glances at the suitcase again. "Looks like it."
"Sasuke," Itachi's voice becomes smooth and commanding. "Sakura is clearly tired from her shift at the hospital. Why don't you, as a good neighbour, offer her refreshment? I'm sure the lovers won't mind catching up in our apartment."
Sakura glares at him. "I think Sai would be more comfortable at my place."
"I don't care," Sai says. "I don't really know them that well, so their opinion of me does not matter to me."
"Excellent," Itachi smiles sweetly. "Sasuke?"
Sasuke hovers near the breakfast bar. "Er … would you guys like something to drink?"
"I'm already having tea," Sai reminds them happily and picks up his mug again. "Sakura?"
Sakura is hungry. If Itachi wants to be a jerk, then she should at least get food out of it. Even though that was the actual plan, anyway, before Sai barrelled in her apartment building.
"You have any food?" she sighs.
"I have pizza," Sasuke offers. "Do you want me to heat it up?"
"I can do it," Sakura says.
She goes to Itachi's desk under the pretence of wanting to keep her purse there.
"What are you doing?" she hisses at him lowly when she reaches.
"Getting to know your friends."
He's leaning against the desk with his hands crossed over his chest. Sakura has to crane her neck a little to get in his face.
"Don't act innocent," she calls out his bullshit.
Itachi moves his face even closer and narrows his eyes. "What do you think I'm doing?"
"What you always do. Making my life difficult. Annoying me. Getting under my skin."
"I get under your skin?"
"No shit, genius." She frowns. "Listen, Sai isn't … he's a surgeon, too, but he has Asperger's syndrome, okay? So just – be nice."
"You dated him."
"I wouldn't … it wasn't like that."
He frowns back. This close, his eyes are startlingly clear. "Don't tell me you had friends-with-benefits going on with a man with Asperger's syndrome."
"No!" she hisses. She glances quickly at the other two men. For a second, Sasuke and Sai appear to be more like brothers than Sasuke and Itachi ever did. Sasuke has joined Sai on the couch now, and is trying to make small talk. Sakura turns back to Itachi. "We did date, but it was never serious."
"He's going to be staying with you," Itachi reminds her unnecessarily.
"Yeah, so?"
"So are you saying that you won't date him again?"
Sakura stares at the man in front of her. She has already acknowledged that she might be harbouring a crush on him – for reasons that she honestly can't seem to remember currently. Sometimes, Itachi really does act like a child.
"Of course, not," she says. "Itachi, I have a two bedroom apartment. If Sai needs to stay for a few days, he is welcome to take the other room. And I don't see why you're having a problem with this."
Sakura thinks that Itachi might be blushing slightly, but the lights are dim so she can't be sure. Also, there's no reason for him to blush, anyway.
"I simply don't look forward to extending neighbourly courtesies to yet another person. You've been more than a handful."
She rolls her eyes. "Thanks," she says dryly. "Sai is not that bad. I bet you'll like him."
xXx
He doesn't. It could have been funny if Sakura doesn't feel so bad for both of them.
Itachi: Sakura says that you were friends during pre-med.
Sai: Yes, and ex-lovers.
Itachi: What kind of a surgeon are you?
Sai: Urologist.
Itachi: You operate on … penises?"
Sasuke: Who wants wine?
Sai: Yes, among other things.
Sakura: I need wine.
xXx
Fifteen minutes later.
Sai: You're a CEO?
Itachi: Yes. I run the company Uchiha Corp.
Sai: You deliver stuff?
Itachi: Essentially, yes.
Sai: That doesn't sound like an interesting thing to do. Why would you want to be a mailman-upgrade?
Itachi: I don't want to be "mailman upgrade". I run a company that revolves around courier.
Sai: That is what I said.
Sasuke: More wine?
Sakura: Yes, please.
xXx
Twenty minutes later.
Sasuke: What are you doing in the city? Did you take time off from work?
Sai: Yes. I haven't taken a vacation in two years. My Attendant forced me. She said that I will get assigned to Trauma Centre if I return before three weeks' time. I don't want to work in Trauma.
Sasuke: Oh. So you'll be staying here for three weeks?
Sai: Yes. Sakura and I have shared a bed for months. I'm sure we can share an apartment for a short time.
Sasuke: Right. We'll be happy to have you.
Sai: That's perfect. Maybe you and I can go for coffee sometime.
Sasuke: Oh. Sure. I guess we can hang out.
Sai: No. I mean to say that we can date for the period that I'm here.
Sasuke: I don't date men.
Sai: That's rather surprising. I pegged you as gay as soon as I saw you. I'm a bisexual myself. Are you sure that you won't change your mind once we have sex?
Itachi: Wine with rum?
Sakura: And vodka.
xXx
The next morning of Sai's arrival finds Itachi and Sasuke in her apartment at 7.15, preparing three mugs of coffee.
Sakura takes a seat at the table. Sai's bedroom door opens and he comes out wearing only sleep pants and no shirt. He takes a seat beside her, offering them a general "good morning".
"Aren't you feeling cold?" Sakura frowns.
Sai shrugs. "The weather here is much better than in Kiri. I showed you the snowfall on video call, remember?"
"Sorry, Sai," Sasuke interrupts, sliding Sakura's mug across the table to her. "We didn't know you'd be up."
"It's alright," Sai smiles. "I'm going to be home today. I'll make it later."
"Okay, good, because I need to go into work," Sakura says with relief. "Unless, you want to come with me?"
Sai hmms thoughtfully. "That could work. I can speak with your Chief and get a temporary permit."
"Aren't you on vacation?" Itachi points out.
"Well, yes. But my Attendant didn't say that I couldn't work anywhere else. She only said that I'm not allowed in that hospital."
"Don't you want a vacation?" Sasuke asks.
"It doesn't matter to me," Sai says dismissively. "I have only one hobby. I'm okay with working as much as is required."
"You are not required to work right now," Itachi says.
"I enjoy it," Sai shrugs as if that settles the matter.
It does, actually. At least, for Sakura. And perhaps for Itachi as well, because his lips thin and he doesn't question it further.
"Let's see what we can do," Sakura says encouragingly. It would be kind of fun to work with Sai, she thinks. Sai is an amazing surgeon, and it was a real shame that they didn't receive their internships in the same hospital.
"I'll go get ready," he replies, a genuine smile gracing his face.
"Can you take anyone to work?" Itachi asks her as soon as Sai disappears in his room.
"He's a surgeon. All the hospitals have the right to provide temporary permits for the service of any staff."
"And if they're not a staff member?"
"Then, no. Why would any non-staff want to come, anyway?"
"Just curious."
A stretch of silence.
"Why did you guys date, again?"
Sakura rolls her eyes. Itachi has already asked her this three times since Sai's arrival. She hasn't answered him on any of those times.
"Don't you have work?" she asks instead.
"Deflection, again," Itachi narrows his eyes.
"Was it?" she asks innocently with wide eyes.
"Itachi," Sasuke interrupts. "We need to leave. There's a meeting to prepare for."
Itachi shoots her another glare before they both finish their coffees and leave.
xXx
Dr. Tsunade tells Sai that she'd be happy to have him, more so when Sai says that he doesn't expect to be paid. Although, it requires paperwork and that will take two working days. Sai decides to go sightseeing.
xXx
In the evening, Sakura returns to her apartment and Sai is nowhere to be seen. She quickly calls him on his phone, wondering whether he is doing okay or she needs to rescue him or something, but then Sai answers the phone and says that he is hanging out with Sasuke and his friends.
Groaning loudly, Sakura takes a shower first and changes into comfortable clothing.
Sai is hanging out with Sasuke and his friends. Temari, Hinata, Shikamaru, and Naruto are gathered along with Itachi and Sasuke. There are many boxes of Chinese food laid out on the coffee table and cans of beer. Sakura greets them all and takes a seat beside Naruto on the floor. He passes her a serving of noodles.
"Your friend is just telling us some of his surgical escapades," Naruto grins at her.
Sakura tunes into Sai's voice.
"…group of interns but none of them could pinpoint the cause of the swelling. Naturally, they hit the books. Meanwhile, I suggested taking a CT scan to examine the innards. It's basic protocol. The patient history did not show anything unusual, but that was hardly surprising. The first rule as a doctor is to know that everybody lies.
"When the scans came up, we found there was a fish inside."
Almost everyone chokes and spits out their food, except Sakura, who doesn't understand what the big deal is about.
Then Sasuke croaks out, "There was a fish in his penis?"
And Sakura spits out her beer.
"Yes," Sai drones in his typical flat tone. "The patient had recently been near Amazon but did not mention it because he wanted to hide it from his wife."
"How can … there be a fish in … there?" Hinata asks, her face flaring up with red.
"This type of fish swims up the stream of urine and enters the urethra."
With that, everyone pushes their cans of beers away, wearing identical sickened expressions.
"The surgery was successful," Sai continues on, either not registering the collective revolt of the room, or ignoring it for the sake of his story. "The fish was quite a big one, I must say, and caused a great deal of pain to the patient."
"I can imagine," Naruto winces.
"Why don't we talk about something else?" Sasuke suggests bracingly. "Hinata, how are the wedding preparations coming along?"
Hinata catches on to the topic with visible relief. "Good! Which reminds me, Itachi, I need to discuss points with you."
"Go ahead."
"Band?"
"Call Jiraiya."
"Theme?"
"Winter – silver and pale blue decorations."
"Bridesmaid dresses?"
"Red – but not too bright. Perhaps wine color. We need the bride to stand out the most."
"Black tux for Shika?"
"Let's go with a blue tux."
"Done. I called Temari's father today regarding the tent. He said he will give me the contractor's number by tomorrow. When do you think we can drive down to Suna and take a look at the location?"
"How about next weekend? Will you be able to close your shop for it, though?"
Hinata nods. "That shouldn't be a problem."
"Perfect. I'll put it in my schedule. We can take my car."
"Also, we should check out the arrangements for the guests' overnight stay."
"Agreed. Let's narrow it down to two or three places through online research, and we can stay the weekend in Suna to give ourselves enough time to finalize the details."
"Next is the invitation. I have a friend who can give us a good deal on them."
"Design and print both?"
"Yes."
"Alright. Why don't we set up a meeting on Tuesday evening with your friend?"
"Sure. I'll fix it up."
Silence.
"I knew there was a reason why we picked these two," Temari comments with a smirk. "Itachi, tell me, what should Shika and I do?"
He doesn't miss a beat. "Show up at the venue on 23rd December."
The room laughs, except Itachi, who clearly did not mean it as a joke.
"You will be very efficient in your own wedding plans," Sai observes, looking straight at Itachi.
Sasuke snickers. "I'll say."
"I can now see your competency as a CEO," Sai continues thoughtfully. "You're very quick with your decisions."
"I'm aware."
Sakura rolls her eyes and exchanges an amused smirk with Sasuke.
"If you weren't straight, I think I would have asked you out."
"No, thank you. And you already asked my brother out just last night."
Naruto makes a sudden noise as Sasuke blushes. "He what?"
Sai elaborates, not understanding the rhetorical tone of Naruto's question. "I asked out Sasuke last night, but he said that he doesn't date men."
Naruto is staring at Sasuke, who is fiddling with his can of beer, eyes not meeting anyone's.
"Yeah, he doesn't," Naruto agrees in a strange voice.
"To be honest, though," Sai says, "you are more of my type than Sasuke is."
"Hang on," Sasuke suddenly snaps his neck up. "You can't go around asking everyone out, Sai."
"Technically, I can," Sai disagrees smoothly. "I think you mean to say that people might draw unpleasant conclusions about me if I do it."
"Let's go with that," Sasuke forces a smile.
"You haven't asked out Hinata, yet," Temari points out, ever the mischief-maker in such situations. Sakura has honestly begun to think that without Temari, life would be too static.
"She's too beautiful for my taste," Sai says instantly, as if he truly has considered Hinata as a viable dating candidate. "I cannot possibly stay in her company and not feel inferior."
Hinata blushes up a storm. "You're too sweet."
"No," Sai says displeasingly. "I'm not. I'm only being truthful. For example, dating Sakura was completely possible because she isn't exactly what I'd call 'beautiful'. She's pretty at best."
"Why did you date her, then?" Itachi scowls at him. "You keep saying that you are ex-lovers, but it doesn't sound as though you felt much for her at all."
"Itachi –" Sakura interrupts.
"Actually," Sai replies, ignoring her. "As I said earlier that Naruto is more of my type, and he is: tall, blonde, blue eyes, charming smile, and a kind personality. I'm utterly fascinated with these features. Sakura, on the other hand, is a semi-blonde person with green eyes, and not as tall. She can be rather short-tempered when hungry or tired. It's not like she was my type, but more that I was hers."
Sakura avoids everyone's gazes, even as she feels the weight of them. "It's not … that's not …"
"Sakura has a type?" Temari smirks wider. "Do tell."
"I realised it later," Sai answers. Sakura keeps reminding herself that it isn't Sai's fault for not knowing when to shut up. "The only inferences that I could draw between myself and Utakata were –"
"Who's that?" Sasuke asks curiously.
"The other ex-lover," Sai explains. "Between myself and him, I observed that we are both tall, with pale skin, dark hair, dark eyes, and an exceptional brain. Moreover, I believe that my AS and his voluntary social isolation also played a role. The difference is that I stayed within the programme and became a surgeon, but Utakata left in his second year."
Sakura's heart is hammering inside her chest cavity. She feels frozen to the spot. The weight of everyone's stares shift from hers towards Itachi, and she knows it even if she doesn't witness it.
"Is that why Sakura broke-up with Utakata?" Hinata asks in the silence. Sakura understands for what it is – an attempt to drive the attention away from the sudden tension between her and Itachi, who is sitting directly across from her.
"Yes," Sai replies innocently. "He said he wanted to travel the world. I did not understand it, to be honest. Utakata is an extremely talented man. He would have made a great surgeon had he stayed within the programme. Sakura told me that some people are not meant to live within four walls, that they're meant to fly. Free-spirited, she called him."
It's becoming harder and harder for her to breathe. She knows that Itachi is most probably remembering their conversation from Sasuke's birthday, the one where he admitted his desire to travel.
In fact, Uncle Obito had said those words to her when Utakata left. She'd merely parroted them to Sai, because she didn't understand it fully at that time. She supposed using Uncle Obito's explanation was better than having none at all.
Moreover, Sakura herself had not realised until this moment that she has a "type", as Sai called it.
Tall, pale skin, dark hair, dark eyes, exceptional brain.
Somehow, though, Sakura knows that it is not what attracted her to Itachi, even if it must have played a role. She herself doesn't know what exactly about Itachi attracted him to her, except that she always noticed the way his smirk is prettily crooked, his hair is ramrod straight, the way his eyes light up with amusement when he's particularly pleased, the way his fitted shirts slide across his skin whenever he moves. Or the way his eyes hold hers in a steady gaze that makes her want to spill all her secrets. Even his frustration and anger is fascinating – the way he seems to come alive, like an exposed live wire, as though he's bursting through his very skin.
"Sai," Sakura forces exasperation in her voice as she finally faces the others. "Just because you and Utakata had some similar characteristics does not mean it's my type." She forces a roll of her eyes. "I never got around to dating much, did I? It's just a coincidence. Besides, you described physical features and don't you think it takes more than that to date someone?"
No one seems to be buying it.
"I suppose," Sai concedes. "You are a sapiosexual, though, I believe."
"Who isn't!" she laughs nervously. "Being smart is obviously a plus point!"
Sai nods seriously. "True."
"I'm really tired," Sakura announces and gets to her feet quickly. "Long day. So I'm calling it a night."
"I'll come with you," Sai stands, too. "Thank you for the dinner. I enjoyed myself."
The others exchange a quick look between themselves, and then Sasuke replies. "We did, too, Sai. It's been great getting to know you."
"Yeah, totally," Naruto nods and grins genuinely. Sakura exhales with relief. She wants them to like Sai despite his eccentricity and unintentional penchant for stirring up trouble.
Still avoiding Itachi's gaze, Sakura drags Sai behind her all the way to her apartment.
xXx
Sakura makes sure that she avoids Itachi – and by extension, Sasuke – for the next two days. She brings Sai with her into work on the third day. They make a quick stop at the Chief's office for his paperwork and permit.
Sai is told to tag along with the respective department and Sakura goes to Dr. Orochimaru as per usual. She tells Sai to meet her at the cafeteria for the lunch break and that she'll introduce him to some of her work friends.
Her morning passes tediously. Maybe time seems to have slowed down because Sakura hasn't stopped torturing herself over Sai's words from that night at 10A. She hasn't spoken with any of them since then. She feels so sure that she must have given away something and now they all know that she likes Itachi in a romantic way. The thought of Itachi knowing that she likes him churns her stomach and throws her heart hammering away in a wild beat.
It's almost a relief when she's standing with Dr. Orochimaru for the incoming ambulance outside the Emergency Entrance.
The doors open and Sakura finds the EMT with her hand inside the patient's chest.
There's a momentary pause of surprise before Dr. Orochimaru begins to order everyone around and takes complete charge. Sakura assists him when they start wheeling the man and the EMT on the stretcher towards one of the Trauma Rooms.
As the EMT explains why her hand is inside the patient's chest – Dr. Orochimaru seems to be losing his mind over the sheer stupidity of it, Sakura hurries around them. The patient's wife bursts inside the room at one point and Dr. Orochimaru is shouting at Sakura to get her out when her words register in Sakura's mind and she comes to a complete stop.
"What did you say? Can you please repeat that?"
"Dr. Haruno," Dr. Orochimaru snaps. "This is hardly the time -!"
The wife is crying so loudly that she's barely coherent. But Sakura is sure she heard it right.
"He was playing around … with the stupid … he's such kid at times! Why can't he ever think about the consequences … it's the stupid bazooka –"
"Mrs. Kim," Sakura calls loudly and firmly. "Was there any explosion?"
The entire Trauma Room comes to a standstill.
The wife sniffs. "What? No, of course not! If there was one, he would be in pieces right now, wouldn't he?"
"I need you to step out," Sakura starts to push her.
"No, I need –"
"Right now," Sakura snaps.
"Everyone," Dr. Orochimaru calls out steadily, calmly. "Don't make sudden movements. And don't panic. Nurse, alert the Chief of the situation. Tell her to call in the bomb squad."
xXx
Sakura can't believe this. She wonders if this is better or worse than operating with a gun pointed at her. She honestly can't say anymore.
Sakura is standing with her hand on the unexploded bazooka in Mr. Kim's chest. Even as she's cursing herself for doing such a stupid thing, she is trying to figure out what the hell happened. All she knows is that the EMT started panicking when the room was asked to be cleared; Dr. Orochimaru refused to leave and Sakura stayed back to assist. And then the EMT panicked to the point of pulling her hand off the bazooka and Sakura took her place as if on instinct.
If Sakura keeps putting herself in suicidal positions on instinct, she needs some serious therapy.
She supposes that the leader of the bomb squad is kind of cute. He's also very calm, encouraging, and probably in his early thirties. For a hysterical moment, she wonders if she should ask him out on a date if they both survive this.
Sakura feels as though she is no longer in her body. It helps. If she is able to convince herself that her body is not in immediate danger, then she can focus on staying utterly still as ordered by the cute bomb squad leader.
She doesn't know whether it takes a long time or a short time for them to contain the explosive, to remove her from the equation, because she is not in her body. Time is suspended. All she knows is that the cute guy is now telling her and Dr. Orochimaru to leave the room quickly. Dr. Orochimaru was not really needed to be present in the first place, but her Attendant had refused to leave her alone.
The patient ends up losing his life. There was too much damage and it couldn't be controlled in time because they had to make sure the explosive is contained before they can do much.
When Sakura exits the Trauma Room, she spots the Chief waiting at the very front of the large crowd that is made up of hospital staff, reporters, and police. Sakura feels a rush of déjà vu. She strides towards the Chief. After Dr. Orochimaru, the Chief is usually the person that Sakura seeks out.
The entire Trauma Centre has been emptied out, and the upper two floors just in case. Sakura reaches Dr. Tsunade and the woman steps forward. Her hazel eyes, as always, X-ray her and even though Sakura feels like she can't breathe, she straightens her spine as if she were a soldier reporting to her Commanding Officer.
Sakura would hate it if Dr. Tsunade sees her in any form of weakness.
She's given the next few days off. Sakura immediately protests. Dr. Tsunade merely holds up one finger and Sakura shuts up. She repeats that Sakura is to take the next few days off, no discussion.
Sakura thinks about looking for Sai or Ino. But she just feels so tired. Who knew standing at one place can be exhausting? Even as she thinks this, her mind is supplying her the necessary counter-argument as if on auto-pilot, as if on reflex: the after-effects of adrenalin is hardly new to her –
She walks along the gathered crowd for a bit, ignoring the reporters, the EMT who rushes behind her with a blanket, or the random staff members. To her, they feel part of the background, nothing to fuss over, no one to really address.
And then she sees Sasuke and Naruto and Itachi and Kakashi and Uncle Obito. Sai and Ino are with them. Even as she watches them all rush past the barricades, she's focused on Itachi and his steady gaze, and thinks that the cute bomb squad leader doesn't even hold a candle to this man.
xXx
Sakura doesn't hide in her room this time. After giving her statement to the police and getting her fingers crushed again by Kakashi and Uncle Obito, they gather at her apartment and prepare dinner. Hinata, Temari, and Shikamaru join them soon. It's a squeeze, but no one really complains.
"Sai," Kakashi says as they eat, "would you be a lamb and sleep on the couch so that Obi and I can take the bedroom?"
"Dad, there's no need –"
"I did not ask you," Kakashi says in the tone that she knows shouldn't be questioned. She promptly shuts up. "Sai?"
"Of course," he agrees. "Or I can share Sakura's room with her."
"Not under my watch, son," Kakashi continues in the same voice. Sai promptly shuts up.
Sakura thinks that it's a fairly normal dinner, albeit a little tense. The surprising development seems to be Sai and Ino's obvious mutual attraction. If Sakura didn't know better, she would have pegged it as 'love at first sight'. If she believed in such a thing.
Hinata, Temari, Shikamaru, Naruto, Sasuke, and Itachi bid good night soon after dinner. Kakashi and Uncle Obito retreat to the other bedroom. Sai takes Ino out for a walk. Sakura lays down on her bed, staring listlessly at the ceiling. She finds it impossible to sleep. Every time she closes her eyes, all she can see is her hand inside the man's chest and Dr. Orochimaru's terrified gaze.
Sakura has seen and touched a human body's innards hundreds of times in her life. Her job description takes care of that. She has also removed strange non-living and living objects from a human body over the course of her studies and consequent career. None of those objects has been a live bazooka, though. She tries to see the humour in the situation. How many surgeons can say that they've held an exploding weapon in their hands inside a chest cavity and survived to tell the tale? The entire situation seems so absurd.
So Sakura tries to focus on the ridicule because if she doesn't, she's afraid that she might start to lose her mind.
At one point, she hears Sai entering the apartment and shutting the door behind him. She hears him shuffle a little, his feet pitter-pattering just outside her bedroom, and she feels better. Hearing signs of life seems to do wonders on her.
He eventually does sleep. The languid noises stop.
She stays awake, and refocuses her attention on the absurdity of her day.
Her phone beeps at 2.04 AM. Come outside.
Next update will be up soon, as well. Please review! :)