Un Beta'ed

5: Silence and Screams

"It's been a week. It turns out Naruto's wounds weren't as bad after all, that or it could have just been his inhumane healing ability. Really, Naruto is a miracle in it of himself."

The pink haired girl sighed in relief as she was talking to a distraught Shikamaru, who for the most of it looked nothing short of a mess. His spiky un-kept hair was even more in disarray and his eyes had sunk from lack of sleep. Lack of sleep, can you believe it? the Shikamaru Nara hadn't been able to sleep much these past few days and who could blame him. Sakura knew she was not any better herself. Turning sideward dull green eyes met a reflection of themselves. Her eyes too were sunken, complexion ashy and posture a little sluggish. She doesn't even want to think about why she looks so. She knows she'd been staying up late at night haunted by thoughts of what was happening around them… thoughts of her parents. Waiting. Waiting until the lines blurred and she wasn't so sure whether the way she stood by the door was considered waiting or grieving.

But it's understandable.

Shikamaru looks onto the girl in-front of him, aware of her silent assessment of herself. He rakes his hand across his head and sighs as he looks off to the side. They were all tired, they might have been cooped up in this apartment for 7 days but It wasn't as if the last days were uneventful.

The third day they've been here they scouted the floor. The group decided to be positive and look for anymore surviving people that stayed in the apartment complex, that and the fact that they were running low on food and painkillers also played a part. It didn't seem like anybody was home that time they came crashing in, the need to restock weighing heavily on their thoughts. Deciding that the risk was worth it the group moved into action.

4 days ago:

It was a bright day outside, the streets were silent for the most part, but if you listen intently, focusing on the sounds just below the open window you can hear it.

The silent groaning of the undead.

Naruto did his best to fill in the silence, his voice not too loud, his jokes not as wittingly humorous but despite his lacking everyone silently appreciated his actions. They were all friends here, non of them ever doubted Naruto's understanding of the situation, how grave it all is. Instead they all appreciated his efforts of trying to distract them from reality, god knows they could all go easily insane from what had happened... from what's currently happening.

Naruto's bright personality, his positivity and his shining optimism is something they all silently leaned on. But there are times that Naruto had to go to sleep, and it became quiet again. They were going to eventually run out of supplies, signals were still jammed and they needed to wait the minimum amount of time until all of them can be mobile again. For the time being Sasuke suggested they check out the floor.

"There could be open apartment rooms; if the floor really is empty I think people had left in a hurry. We could loot for some supplies that way." The brunet addressed the group, minus Naruto who was sleeping from his pain killers.

"I agree, we might meet up with other survivors maybe we can help each other..." Sakura helpfully supplied, meeting Sasuke's eyes briefly before he turned away sharply. Her heart sank.

"Yeah, survivors or victims." Shikamaru drawled out lazily.

At this Sasuke turned to him sharply. His face a blank mask of stoicism though his aura undoubtedly serious, regarding Shikamaru's quip earnestly "We'll need to equip ourselves before we leave this room."

Shikamaru sighs, resigned. Face scrunched up in distaste, "I don't really want to go back out there... too troublesome."

"Hn, you don't have to you can stay behind."

"Woah wait your planning on doing this alone?!"

"Hn." was Sasuke's quip reply as he stood up and started shifting through kitchen knifes. This prompted Shika to stand up as well, stomping as he walked over to the raven.

"Do you have a death wish Uchiha?! You can't possibly go out alone"

Sasuke didn't spare him a glance but his voice was sharp, quip and very irritated when he said; "It can't be helped, if the plan is to leave then we need to pack supplies as well. Naruto isn't going to get better with just canned soup...

You should stay anyway, if something were to happen while I'm away."

"Don't be so illogical Uchiha, even you can't take down hoards of those things yourself."

Sasuke had been inspecting the length of a significantly long butcher knife and all eyes zeroed in on the sharp glint of the hard metal. The rooms' temperature dropped and stomachs sank. Sasuke then shifts quickly and grabs some magazines and tape. At this point a long silence had stretched and Shikamaru is starting to simmer.

"I'll go with him"

All eyes turn to the soft voice that spoke. The raven-haired girl that had been silent till now met Sasuke's eyes with a determined intensity. "Your right Sasuke-san we can't sit idly, Naruto... We all need to keep our strength. If there is a chance we can help others and ourselves. We should take it. Natuto-kun would have done the same."

Onyx eyes bore down on the girl, but she didn't quiver. So much has changed about her. Her timid personality ebbing away with the arrival of maturity, and now that the situation calls for it, she apparently found it in herself to be, just a little bit, bold.

She has become more of a character, and more devote to a certain blonde.

"I won't save you again."

"Sasuke!" Both Shika and Sakura say in incredulity.

"That's all right" Again their eyes shift to the female raven, here pale eyes still not wavering.

"Hn." Hinata was a sheltered girl. Growing up affluent like most of the kids in their school do. She was trained in defense and elegance, protected from the harshness of the open world, brining forth a naivety that can only be born from such upbringing. He knew she wouldn't be totally defenseless. But he didn't like it. Sasuke didn't like her. He didn't like that look in her eyes, her boldness, but over all those traits what he truly hated was the motivation behind her actions.

"If Hinata is going then I'm going as well." Sakura stood from her seat. "No." was Sasuke's quipped reply.

"What?!" Sakura shrieks, hands fisting on her sides. Why won't he let her go?! her eyes drop to the ground her from shaking with irritation.. And helplessness. Did Sasuke think she'd be a liability? Was Hinata of more use then she was? "I mean I am the person most suited for this right? It's my apartment complex." The room was silent again. All eyes were on the raven and he simply stared down on the pinkette. It made Sakura step back a little but her eyes didn't leave his, not willing to give up on the fight.

"No." Was all that Sasuke said again before he proceeded to ignore everyone and rummaged through kitchen cabinets.

Sakura was frozen in her spot. She couldn't believe it. She was right… right? It would be best if she came along, it was logical. Did Sasuke just really…

Shikamaru's eyes shifted between the two the tension almost splitting his head into two. It almost made him want to join the hoard instead, that way things won't be as complicated and all he'd have to worry about was the loss of his free will. Shikamaru sighed, damn this was all to fucking troublesome. "Ma-Mah, Sakura. Naruto needs you. You're the one most medically equipped among all of us here. Besides, Hinata has been here a few times right? She knows the place. It's just most strategic this way, when they get back… well, it would be better if you weren't needed then." Green eyes darted to him as he spoke, glaring. A look that could have chocked him had it any arms.

Shikamaru then pointedly looked at Hinata pleading. She looked back at him confused at first before hurriedly stammering until her soft voice spoke, placating; "Shikamaru just means that you need to stay in case Naruto wakes up Sakura-chan. we can't just leave Shika-kun and Naruto-kun alone. Naruto needs the most assistance, he is quite heavy and-and mobility well in ... in... in case... a-anything h-a-appens...N-Not that Shikamaru is physically weak or an-an-anything." Lavender eyes slip of to the side and you could definitely hear a "hey!" from one brunette. Hinata was slowly flushing as she talked. Apparently she's overheated from bringing herself out there too much. This all caused everyone else in the room to worry a little. Sakura bows her head in defeat, unable to say anymore. She bites her lips and leaves the room, giving space for the two to ready themselves. Onyx eyes followed Sakura's movements as she left noticing the way her nails dug in her hands.

Hinata and Sasuke leave the apparent soon after equipped with kitchen knives, Sasuke's double butcher knifes and Hinata's long ranged makeshift spear; a mop stick with knifes stuck in the end. Magazines strapped to their forearms and legs with tape. Soon the duo was in front of the door. Sasuke's face a blank mask of indifference, Hinata beside him gripping tightly to her spear as Sakura hugs her tightly. "Remember, just run back as fast as you can, if anything happens just scream. We'll help you guys." Sakura let's go and Hinata looks her in the eyes, her chin tilting slightly upward to compensate for their slight height difference.

"Don't worry Sakura-chan I'll be careful, and Sasuke as well."

Sakura's attention shift to onyx eyes that wouldn't meet hers, biting her lips the pinkette nodded.

All to suddenly it was as if they were all back in the ceiling vents back in school. The room fell silent and all they could hear was the loud beating of their own hearts. As if in slow motion Sasuke's hands reach for the door, he twists the knobs and it opens. Cautiously at first, the door only opens a crack. Sasuke peers outside and listens, it was silent. He looks back to the group and nods, opening the door just wide enough to go through, Hinata follows suit. As the doors slid close green eyes never left pearlescent lavender.

The hall way was dimly lighted and eerie, the fact that some lights were out was unsettling but at this point they should be grateful for the fact that there was power. Sakura's apartment was near the elevator that didn't give Sasuke much of an insight to the floor plan, instead he settled for following Hinata. There was traces of hurried movement it was highly probable that most of the buildings inhabitants, if not all, had evacuated before they came.

Just how long did it take before the epidemic had reached their school? If this place was evacuated before they came here then what other safe zone could they possibly go too? Could they even leave this place? They weren't able to get any information before coming here, not like they had any opportunity to anyway it is without a doubt that staying here forever is not an option, and the longer they sit by idle the harder it would be to get out. They needed to find civilization and fast.

If only the signals weren't jammed he could use the number his brother gave him… Naruto's plan seemed plausible, but it's missing an entire fore plan for it to even work. These thoughts raced through Sasuke's mind, his attention divided as he listened through each door they came across, knocking silently before trying to turn the nobs. Sasuke turned to Hinata and both of them nodded, silently agreeing that this area of the floor was clear. Sasuke raised his foot ready to break the door down and loot the place till they heard a loud thud and shattering.

A.N.:

Terribly sorry for the SUPER LATE UPDATE! We have this 3 day brake from school so I'm making the most out of it. To say the least I have no other excuse as to why I haven't been updating this for a while. I feel like if every Naruto fanfic author could be honest, we could all confess to the fact that inspiration is just so hard to come by now a days. I used to always want to write about these characters because I'm constantly reminded of them every week. With a new chapter of Naruto a new fire in me was also lit. With Naruto's end... it's tough.

Despite this I'm still going to do my best so thank you to those who reviewed and inspired me to continue with this story! I hope you'd enjoy!

A little uneventful this chapter I admit, but more action to come in the next I promise!