Chapter 3! Woot woot woot!! Ugh! Story ideas are attacking my brain and I just can't seem to get far with some when I start typing. I mean, at first I can type a couple of pages when I start, but then I go back a few days later and it's like my brain does an automatic shutdown and a large flashing error message covers what is supposed to be my imagination. Well, none of those are published yet so no worries. Anyway, on with the chapter!

Disclaimer: I don't know why I have to keep doing this, but I don't own Naruto because I'm not the Japanese author…whatever his name is…can't remember it right now…plus I'm not even a guy so yeah.

Chapter 3: The Decision

The Hokage Tower

Kakashi stood inside the Hokage's office, ready to finish telling him the events of Squad 7's mission after a short, unnerving silence was passed between them.

"I see," the Hokage replied, breaking the silence, "So did you find out why the ninjas attacked Naruto?"

"After his other teammates and I fought and captured them, we managed to get them to tell us. Apparently, someone had put a hit out on his life. We don't know who set up the hit, but there are people investigating that as we speak, sir," Kakashi answered.

"Hmmm…this is troubling at best, Kakashi," the Hokage said.

Kakashi nodded in response, not really sure what to say. Now that it was out in the open, it was hard for Kakashi to talk about the injured Naruto. The hyperactive, knucklehead ninja had grown on him in the short period of time he had been Naruto's sensei.

"Kakashi," the Hokage started, breaking their momentary silence, "you do realize that we can't let him die alone, don't you?"

"Yes I do, Hokage-sama. But what can we do about it? Naruto doesn't have a family."

"That is sad but true, Kakashi."

A silence enveloped the two men once again, both in the process of deep thought. Naruto was the only ninja in all of Konoha that would have the unfortunate fate of possibly dying alone. And as a shinobi of Konoha, that outcome was an undesirable circumstance to say the least.

"Why can't we get one of his teammates to stay with him?" the Hokage proposed.

Thunderstruck for a second, Kakashi replied, "Do you really think that would work, Hokage-sama?"

"It's the only thing I can think of. Now, which one should we get to do this?" the Hokage wondered aloud.

Kakashi wondered on this as well, a headache already forming when he went through what would most likely happen depending on which teammate they picked. Neither result was particularly a good one.

If they picked Sakura, Naruto wouldn't mind, but it was difficult to determine how Sakura would act. She claimed to not like Naruto, but she came pretty close to crying her eyes out in the waiting room. And that blatant outburst of emotion just might upset Naruto more than he probably already was.

If they picked Sasuke, Naruto would most likely hate the arrangement until the day he died. If the two didn't kill each other before his death was supposed to happen that is. They argued a lot on missions so there was no telling how worse it would get if they moved in together. A bloodbath was imminent.

Kakashi was about to unsurely suggest Sakura for the job when the Hokage asked, "How about that Uchiha kid?"

"Sasuke? Are you sure about that, sir?"

"Well, he doesn't have a family either, remember? Besides, it'll give them the opportunity to see that they aren't so different from each other after all."

Kakashi just stared at the village leader, dumbfounded at the Hokage's choice. The old man just gave him a smile back.

"Oh come now, Kakashi. It won't be that bad," the Hokage said.

Kakashi sighed before replying, "Whatever you think is best, Hokage-sama."

"Good then. I suggest you go ahead and inform them of their new arrangement."

"Yes, sir."

With that, Kakashi disappeared in a puff of smoke once again, leaving the Hokage in his office alone. The old man chuckled to himself quietly. Things were about to get fairly interesting for the two young ninja in due time.

The patient ward

Sakura was the first one to burst hurriedly into the patient ward, followed not so closely by Sasuke. He wasn't in such a rush to see the extent of Naruto's injuries. He probably wouldn't have come in at all if Sakura didn't make him. Sasuke was never too eager about visiting the injured.

"Hey, Sakura-chan," Naruto said weakly.

"Hey, Naruto. How are you doing?" Sakura asked, tears welling up in her eyes for the second time that day.

"Come on, Sakura-chan. Don't cry," Naruto implored, trying to sit up, but not having the proper amount of strength to do so.

Despite being told not to, Sakura started to cry, tear after tear streaming down her face. She just couldn't hold them back anymore and she eventually started to make small noises that indicated that she was indeed crying in a very upset manner.

Sasuke listened to Sakura's sobs while leaning against the wall, his eyes closed the entire time. Saying he was uncomfortable was an understatement. But as always, he portrayed himself as unemotionally involved as possible. And he would keep this up at least until Sakura left, but he wouldn't breakdown like her. Sasuke wasn't that emotionally distraught by Naruto's misfortune, but it did strike a cord in his heart in some way.

"I-I'm s-sorry, Naruto," Sakura said in the midst of her weeping.

"It's okay, Sakura-chan. I'll be fine," Naruto said, his voice straining a little.

"R-Really?"

"You bet. I'll be outta this hospital bed in no time!"

Naruto flashed her one of his carefree smiles, making Sakura break out into a tiny smile herself.

Suddenly, Kakashi appeared in the room behind Sakura. She jumped a little with the abrupt return of their sensei, still somewhat on the edge from earlier.

"Sakura, could you come outside with me please? We have something we need to discuss," the gray-haired ninja said.

Looking slightly confused, Sakura replied, "Of course, Kakashi-sensei."

The two stepped out of the patient ward and into the waiting room without glancing back once at the two boys.

Naruto and Sasuke kept themselves in an uneasy silence for close to ten minutes, neither one of them exactly willing to talk to the other. But someone had to break the stillness eventually and Sasuke figured it had to be him.

"You lied."

"What's it to you?"

"You shouldn't have done it."

"It's none of your business."

"Well, I'm sorry to say that you're wrong, Naruto" Kakashi said after noiselessly stepping back into the patient ward.

"What the hell are you talking about, Kakashi-sensei?" Naruto asked, wishing that he were alone for the first time in his life.

"The Hokage and I talked it over and it's been decided that Sasuke is going to live with you for a while, Naruto."

There was a calm quiet in the room for a few moments, but as the meaning of what Kakashi said sunk into their heads, the two boys got angry rather quick.

"What?!" the two boys yelled in unison.

"I don't want Sasuke to live with me!"

"I don't want to live with that idiot!"

Sasuke and Naruto glared at each other irritably, their own anger directed at each other in the depths of their eyes. Kakashi just sighed while standing inbetween the two, his temples throbbing in pain from his growing headache.

"I'm sorry, boys, but it's not up to you. It's already been decided."

"But I don't get it! Why do I have to live with him?!" Sasuke yelled at his sensei, losing ever-present his cool.

Kakashi was quiet for a moment, hesitating a bit before he asked Sasuke, "Naruto didn't tell you?"

It was quiet for the second time in the patient ward. Sasuke just stared at Naruto unknowingly while the blonde avoided the Uchiha's gaze completely. Part of him wanted to tell Sasuke the truth, but the other part didn't want anyone to know.

"I've already told Sakura about the arrangement--"

"You didn't tell her about…you know…did you?" Naruto asked.

His sensei glanced over at him and replied, "I didn't give her too many details, but I figure she'll have to know eventually."

Naruto sighed a bit in relief, but he felt an obvious twinge of pain in his heart. What Kakashi said was a sickly, unwanted reality. Ultimately, everyone in the village would know about Naruto's fate sooner or later. It was a sad thing to think about for the blonde.

"But," Kakashi started, placing his hand on Sasuke's shoulder, "don't you think you should at least tell Sasuke? He is going to have to stay with you whether you like it or not."

Naruto looked back over at the two standing near the wall, finally sighing in defeat.

"Fine."

Kakashi nodded and stepped out of the room, feeling that his presence was no longer required in the space anymore. The decision was already made and he didn't see why the two boys had to argue over something that was already determined.

And Naruto told Sasuke everything the medic had told him. He tried to keep the explanation short and to the point, but the more he talked about it, the more he just wanted to scream. He didn't want to believe that the end of his life was looming somewhere in the shadows of time that had yet to pass. Just because it was a predicted guess didn't mean that it couldn't be avoided somehow.

But it was hard for the blonde to think of a back way out of his unwelcome deal with death.

Author's Notes: Well…chapter 3 is done. And now I feel like crying my eyes out. *pitiful noises* I don't like writing about people crying because it makes me want to cry. That and poor Naru-chan. *pouty sad face* Why does this have to be so depressing?! Anyway, I thought the last little bit at the end sounded pretty ominous. What do you guys think? Leave me some reviews pretty please! I beg of you to push the review button! Even if all you're gonna do is tell me how sad you are. I just really want some kind of feedback.