~Mask of Pain~

Sakura watched as Naruto's smile faded, and his eyes opened a bit, and she could see. Hurt. And it seemed to spill over into her, because all this time she was blind… all this time she never knew. He never told.

And it hurt. Cut her like knives, sharper than any kunai, with edges so thin the skin just joined back together. Leaving nothing but pain… burning, hot, slicing pain…

Sakura knows she isn't the only one who knows. Gaara knows. Gaara knows because he understands Naruto as if he folded him together like an origami crane. Gaara knows, because he will understand Naruto better than she ever could. And that hurts. It cuts deep. Slices into her, and she swears it scrapes against bone. But she smiles, and waves at Naruto. And he knows. They know.

Pain is a contagion, inflicting itself on others like spillage from an oil tank.