Chapter 7

Sakura quickly did a check up and then put a drop on him. Naruto had already lost a lot of blood and it was necessary to try and lessen the damage soon. She softly tried to pull the gauze away from the wound but the many layers of blood made it difficult. Sasuke had no idea what to do, so he slowly sat down on the chair beside the bed. Naruto still looked too pale for his taste and he hoped the fresh blood would soon take effect.

"Knife" the firm voice made Sasuke tear his eyes away from Naruto's face.

"Hnn?" Sasuke frowned

"I need a knife, he has gone too long without medical care and I can't look at the wound properly before I have removed the gauze" Sasuke picked one of his kunais from his pocket and handed it to her. She tore the gauze apart and gasped. The wound was bleeding too much, it should have stopped after a while with the compression from the gauze. She went to get a bowl and some water to wash the blood away to get a look at the damage. The metallic smell filled the room and Sasuke soon felt nauseous. Sakura came back and softly washed the wound. It was long and deep, but it shouldn't keep bleeding like this. The edges was red and irritated and Sakura began to suspect some kind of poison could have been used.

"You need to help me keep the flesh held together" Sasuke hesitantly got up and went to the other side of Naruto. He put his hands onto his skin on each side of the wound and pressed them together. The blood began pouring again and Sakura quickly began sewing the edges together. She knew they probably should find out if and what kind of poison was infecting him before they sewed him together, but she was afraid he would soon die of blood loss if they didn't do it. Naruto was still unconscious and Sasuke just hoped he would keep still until they were done. It wouldn't be good if he began moving from waking up or from the feeling of the pain. At least like this he wouldn't be in too much pain.

After Sakura had sewn him together she began testing his blood for poison. She had no idea what kind it could be and it was going to take a long time to test for them all. She just hoped she would find out before he couldn't be saved. Sasuke was sitting on the chair again and watched as Sakura ran around and took blood sample after blood sample and looking him over to see if there was any kind of symptom she could use to get a better idea of what could be wrong. He felt helpless. This was something else, it was out of his expertise. He couldn't save him, he had to wait and wait and wait and just hope that others would be able to figure out what was wrong. Sasuke sighed deeply and got out of the chair, he couldn't take sitting there anymore.

He slowly made his way to Tsunade's office. He had to inform her of their mission and about Naruto's condition. He knew that even though Tsunade always seemed irritated over Naruto, she actually really adored him. He walked slower, he really didn't want to be the one to tell her this, but he was the leader and this was his responsibility. He hadn't really seen Sai since before Naruto fainted. He wasn't sure where he went of to, but he probably had to find him and find out what they should do. He stopped before the door to her office and took a calming breath. This wasn't going to go well. The small knock on the door signaled his arrival and after hearing a "Come in" he opened the door.

"So how did it go?"

"We got attacked, but managed to protect the subject and bring him to the meeting point. Both Sai and I got minor injuries, but Naruto is in the hospital. We still have no idea what is wrong with him, for now he is unconscious and his wound is bleeding profoundly" Sasuke's voice was void of all feelings. This was how it should be, he should be emotionless. He could see the color drain from her face and continued before she would be too concerned for Naruto to think of anything else.

"I suggest that Sai and I get a new partner to work with until Naruto is healthy again. If we work well together with the new member, I would want you to consider that he could take Naruto's place permanently"

"And why would you want that?" Her voice showed how irritated she had became. She just wanted to leave and check up on Naruto, but apparently Sasuke wasn't that concerned with him and just suggested moving him.

"We don't work well together and it was his fault we nearly lost the subject today. I want a new member, who is more serious and who will do as they're told" Tsunade was already packing her things together as Sasuke spoke.

"Fine. I'll find someone and I'll think about a more permanently arrangement. Is there anymore?" She just wanted him to go, so she could get to the hospital, she wasn't really thinking about changing the groups members. She liked this group dynamic, they were so different but matched each other well. Where one of them had a weakness one of the other had a strength, that was what made them one of the best groups she had seen. Sasuke bowed and walked out again. He hoped she was serious about changing the groups. He had to get away from Naruto and this was a good opportunity.

"Sasuke" He heard his name from behind him. A guy named Kakashi walked up beside him.

"I heard about Naruto. We're about to interrogate the one who wielded the weapon to find out what kind of poison they might have used on him. I was hoping you had some free time and could come pick him out" Sasuke nodded and followed after him. Kakashi had been one of the coaches who had taught them different fighting styles before they had become an official team. They walked through the big building and down the stairs to the basement. Kakashi stopped before a door and opened it. He moved to the side and let Sasuke into the room. He looked around the room and quickly found the man who had cut Naruto. Kakashi released his handcuffs from the wall and pushed him out of the small cellar. All three of them moved further down the basement until they came to the interrogating room.