Soon guards realized Sasuke was missing and they started looking for him.
They started looking everywhere including traveling carts.
Sakura soon heard a noise around them. She felt the cart coming to a sudden stop. Her heart was racing, she could hear them opening boxes. Sasuke was just looking down as if he was not aware of what was going on or as if he simply didn't care.
Sakura could feel they were lifting the cover of their box. She began moving her hands rapidly. Soon they opened the box and started looking around. They didn't seem to notice them. They closed the box and let them go. Sakura sighed in relief as her genjutsu had worked.
After an hour of a bumpy ride, the cart stopped, and they were taken into a small house outside of the village. The box was opened, and they were taken out. She easily came out and Sasuke was lifted into a wheelchair.
"Hello, my name is Katsumi, I will be legally representing Sasuke's case" a woman said while shaking Sakura's hand. She attempted to shake Sasuke's hand was he was just looking down.
"We will file a motion to have Sasuke fairly tried tonight" Katsumi said "I was personally contacted by Lady Tsunade, I am putting together a lawsuit to condemn the unlawful torture and detainment of Sasuke" the woman added.
"Will he be taken back tonight?" Sakura asked.
"No, he will be kept in this house for his protection until the trial ends" the woman added "I have brought a medical team to examine him and determine the injuries sustained" the woman said.
"He is in a fragile state" Sakura said "subjecting him to more intrusive tests may aggravate his condition" Sakura added worriedly.
"I understand, but if we don't know the extent of his injuries, we will not have enough elements to go to court" the woman said "you can stay here as he recovers, that might help" Katsumi said.
"Can stay during his examination?" Sakura asked.
"If you wish" the woman added "also, I believe you have access to an important diary. We will use it court. Please keep it here with you" the woman added to which Sakura just nodded.
They helped Sasuke inside who was still not talking. They laid him down in a medical bed. They began to put equipment around him.
"Wait" Sakura said.
She lowered herself next to Sasuke. She put her hand on his shoulder. He did not even flinch when she touched him.
"Hey Sasuke, It's me, Sakura. They are going to examine you so we can help you, okay?" Sakura said.
Soon they started the examination. They began with any visible wounds. They were checking for wounds on his head. They looked at his neck and then removed his shirt. Sakura gasped at the sight of Sasuke's bruised torso.
Sakura left the room when they began to undress him further.
"He is in good hands" Katsumi said to Sakura "come, I have some papers for you to sign"
They sat down at a table and began reading some papers.
"Does he have any family?" Katsumi said.
"They are all dead" Sakura answered.
"Alright, sign this" Katsumi said handing Sakura some papers.
"For his safety, I will advise you to not leave the premises" Katsumi said "do not share your location with anyone"
"Of course" Sakura said.
They stayed there for a few hours until the doctors came out.
"How is he?" Sakura asked.
"Well, I made a list of everything I found" the doctor said.
"Good, I will need that list" Katsumi said.
"What is wrong with him?" Sakura said.
"Well, he suffered a laceration to his head. He has a concussion, a busted lip, bruising around his eye, multiple cuts and burns on his back, torso, neck, and legs, he has a fractured knee, two broken fingers, a few broken ribs, an ulcerated esophagus, irritation in the stomach, and it looks like someone used sandpaper on his hand, and feet. He also has pneumonia, bedsores on his lower back and thighs, and possibly a UTI" the doctor finished.
"His blood work is not back yet, but as soon as we have it, we will give you the results" the doctor finished.
Sakura was overwhelmed by the amount of information. She felt like crying but she knew she needed to be strong for Sasuke.
The doctors gave her more information on how to take care of him and what medications to give him.
"I am leaving now; I have a motion to file" Katsumi said.
They soon left and Sakura and Sasuke were left alone.
The house was pretty and quiet. It had several rooms, and it was packed with everything they could possibly need.
It was at this moment that Sakura finally took a look at Sasuke's face. The side of his face was so swollen, she could barely see his eye.
"Sas…excuse me" she said as she left the room for a second.
She went to the kitchen and cried bitterly. She composed herself and went back to the room where Sasuke was.
"Are you… aah…hungry?" Sakura asked Sasuke who did not respond.
"Do you want to sleep?" Sakura said.
"How about I help you shower and then we go to sleep, it's really late" Sakura kept on saying even though he was not responding.
She helped him stand up and tried to get him to walk but he was limping, so she sat him down on the chair again. She wheeled him to the bathroom.
"Alright, let's take your shirt off" as she said that Sasuke began to take off his shirt.
He looked like a robot, or perhaps a ghost. He was so pale and skinny, he looked like a ghost. He was just skin, bones, and bruises. His hair was long reaching a little under his collarbone.
He kept on taking his clothes off as an automatic process. Before Sakura knew he was fully naked.
"Whoa whoa, easy" Sakura said wrapping a towel around his waist. She proceeded to help him into the tub.
He was still blankly looking into the distance. He looked nervous when she turned on the water. Only God knows how many times they had poured freezing water over his weak body.
His tense body seemed to relax when the warm water hit his aching body.
"It will be easier if you sit down" Sakura said softly touching his shoulder. He immediately sat down still quiet and lost in thought.
Sakura began washing his hair. His beautiful long black hair was matted, tangled, and full of dust, dirt, vomit, and blood. Then she began washing his back and chest. The water turned red with all the dried blood coming off.
Once she was done, she helped him up and sat him on the covered toilet.
"I can take care of this tomorrow" she said while pat-drying his hair.
She helped him dry himself and combed his hair gently. She gave him some clean clothes and waited outside while he changed. Once he was dressed, she helped him onto the wheelchair and wheeled him to the bedroom.
Truth be told, Sasuke could probably use crutches, but it would be pointless because his right knee was broken. With his left arm missing, it would be too hard to hold onto anything without putting more pressure on his leg.
She helped him sit on the bed and wrapped his knee. Then helped him lay down slowly and was careful to not cause him any more pain.
"I'll let you rest!" Sakura said turning off the light.
"Keep them on" Sasuke said still not making eye contact with Sakura.
"Sure" she said turning the lights back on "goodnight" she added while opening the door.
"Stay" he said this time looking at her and quickly looking back down.
"Sure thing" she said closing the door.
She sat down in a recliner next to him.
"Rest" she said while removing the hair from his eyes.
Sasuke held her hand without saying anything or even looking at her. Sakura understood the sign and didn't let go of his hand. Recovery would be a long process but at least she could protect him now.
Sasuke soon fell asleep.
The peace was slowly being restored.