Here's the next chapter, in poor, blind Sasuke's POV!
Why was he the one that these things always happened to? Why couldn't he just be blessed for once, instead of cursed? Sasuke moped in the tent, as Sakura looked his eyes over. The Dobe's hand was practically crushing his, while Naruto either unknowingly or purposefully was stroking the back of the hand he was crushing. It was really grating on his nerves.
Kami, he'd given anything to have his sight back. Then he wouldn't be under such unbearable scrutiny. But no, here he was blind as a bat, delaying their mission. Sasuke groaned, as he rubbed his forehead.
"Sasuke, please. Stay still", Sakura told him, comfortingly.
Sasuke took comfort in the girl's words, and nodded, before sitting as still as he had been a second ago. Naruto squeezed his hand, probably trying to comfort him too, but Sasuke ignored the sentiment, as he tried once again to pry his hand from Naruto's clutches. "Sasuke, you're supposed to stay still, now", Naruto chided him. Sasuke squeezed Naruto's hand as hard as he could, making the poor boy yelp.
"Ow! That hurt!", Naruto complained, as he let go of Sasuke's hand. Sasuke smirked, as he crossed his arms, not letting Naruto get another chance to snatch at his hand. "So, Sakura, what's wrong with him?", Naruto asked.
"Not sure. Give me another minute", Sakura told him. Sasuke scowled. He didn't like how Sakura had sounded.
After another minute, Sasuke heard Sakura sigh, before he felt her move away from him. Sasuke held his hands out, trying to grab on to her arm, but she was already gone. Instead, Naruto grabbed his right arm, and tried to hold his hand again, but Sasuke wasn't falling for that again. He quickly grabbed his arm away, and crossed his arms again. "Where's Sakura?", Sasuke asked him.
"Oh. I think she went to talk to Sensei. You want me to go check for you?", Naruto asked, cheerfully. Sasuke shrugged, not wanting to admit that whatever Sakura was telling Kakashi was eating away at him. "Be back!", Naruto said, right before Sasuke felt something touch his hair. A second later, Naruto was gone.
Sasuke touched his hair, smoothing it down, wandering what the Dobe had done to him. He knew that Naruto was affectionate, after being alone and hated for some many years, how could you not be, but was it him or was Naruto being a little overly affectionate towards him? Sasuke shrugged to himself, filing away the thought for later.
The rustle of the tent flap drifted to his ears, before a familiar scent floated towards him. He could identify that scent anywhere. "Kakashi?", Sasuke asked.
"Hm, how did you know? You aren't lying to us, are you?", Kakashi mused, the amusement clear in his voice.
Sasuke glared at where he thought Kakashi might be. "No, and you know that I'm not, so shut up. Must be real fun… making fun of the blind one", he bit out, sarcastically.
He heard Kakashi chuckle, before he heard the man move closer. Kakashi took his hand, and entwined the fingers. Sasuke tilted his face down, knowing that he wouldn't be able to stop the inevitable blush. Every damn thing the man done made him red. "You don't mind me holding your hand, do you?", Kakashi asked.
Sasuke shook his head, rather liking how their hands linked together so perfectly. "Good. It's strange, knowing that you can't see me", the elder said.
"How do you think I feel?", Sasuke mumbled.
Kakashi obviously ignored his statement, as he continued without commenting, "I'm sorry to tell you that although Sakura does see the problem, she doesn't know how to fix it"
"What's the problem?", Sasuke asked, as he looked to where he thought Kakashi's face was.
"Your Sharingan. That's why it won't turn off. Something's messing with it, and interfering with your sight", Kakashi said. Great. What problems didn't start with the Sharingan? "Sakura has had extensive training with Tsunade-Sama, but she told me that she's never dealt with the Sharingan before. She proposes that we take you back to the Hokage", Kakashi told him.
"But, the mission?", Sasuke asked.
"We'll have to leave it, and return to Konoha, so your eyes can be fixed. It's not like we can just leave you to find your way back, by yourself", Kakashi said.
Sasuke thought over the what the elder had said. The mission might be bogus, but it was still a mission. "Stop spouting crap. I'm going to Suna, if I have to go by myself", Sasuke said, firmly.
Kakashi sighed, as he squeezed his hand, before pulling Sasuke forward. Sasuke followed where Kakashi's hand pulled him, brushing past through the tent flap, and outside. After a few steps, Sasuke bumped into Kakashi, finding out the hard way that Kakashi had stopped. Footsteps were heard, Sasuke knowing that they belonged to Sakura and Naruto.
"So, Kakashi-Sensei, what are we gonna do?", Naruto asked.
"Unfortunately for Sasuke, he wants to continue to Suna. Fortunately for the mission, we'll be able to complete it. Did you two pack everything?", Kakashi asked.
"Of course, Kakashi. Sasuke-Kun?", Sakura asked him. Sasuke tilted his head towards her voice, raising an eyebrow in question. "Here's your pack", she said, as she took his free hand, and gave him his backpack. Sasuke smiled a little, as he let go of Kakashi's hand, and put on his pack, holding onto the straps, tightly.
"Alright. Now, to make up for lost time, as well as get there so we can return to Konoha as soon as possible, we should run", Kakashi said.
"What about Sasuke? He can't run in his condition", Sakura stated the embarrassing truth. Sasuke scowled, as he crossed his arms, hating that he was a burden to them.
Silence settled upon the group, and Sasuke squirmed, uncomfortably, hating the fact that he was able to see them. None of them were looking at him, were they? Sasuke ran his eyes where he was pretty sure the others were, straining to see through the darkness, to see what was going on. Couldn't they narrate their silence?
"Ooh!", Naruto suddenly yelled, cutting through the awkward moment, "I can carry him on my back! Then we could run as fast as we can!"
"Hmmm… Excellent idea, Naruto… But, are you sure carrying him wouldn't slow you down? He may look like a stick, but I'm sure he's heavier than he looks", Kakashi reasoned.
Sasuke glared at Kakashi's voice. "Gee, thanks", he said, sarcastically.
"Why, your welcome, Sasuke", Kakashi taunted him, lightly.
"Don't worry about me, Sensei! I'll carry Sasuke any day!", Naruto said, happily. Sasuke cringed at Naruto's voice. Something about the way he said, made Sasuke shift uncomfortably.
"Well, I'm sure you could, but I'd rather not risk it. I'll carry Sasuke", Kakashi decided.
"What!?", Sasuke and Naruto both yelped.
Kakashi chuckled, as Sasuke felt his hand descend onto his shoulder, "I am stronger than you. It would only be sensible. Don't you agree?"
Sasuke heard Naruto grumble, and he heard someone move around. Were they communicating silently with each other? Sasuke growled, loudly, trying to let the others know that he wanted back into whatever conversation they were having. "Fine", Naruto said, in defeat.
"Alright, then! Let's get going!", Kakashi said, happily. Sasuke furrowed his eyebrows at how ecstatic Kakashi's voice sounded. What, did he want to carry him? Sasuke jumped, as he felt a hand on his other shoulder. "Sasuke, are you with us, or have you gone deaf too?", Kakashi asked him.
Sasuke glared, as he shrugged the hand off his shoulders. "Hn?", he muttered.
"I need you to get on my back now. Can you do it yourself?", Kakashi asked him.
Sasuke nodded, and he heard Kakashi move around. Sasuke sighed, as held his hands out in front of him, searching for sign of life. His hands came into contact with what he figured was Kakashi's back. He ran his hands up, until he came into contact with Kakashi's shoulders. Sasuke grabbed onto the elder's shoulders, as he straddled his back. Gravity abandoned him, as Kakashi stood up straight, lifting him, and taking hold of his knee's.
"Hold on", Kakashi told him.
Sasuke flung his arms around Kakashi's neck, afraid he would fall off, as Kakashi took off, running. Sasuke blushed, as he held on. He had never been so close to Kakashi before… well, except for maybe that hug Kakashi had given him earlier. Wherever that hug had come from, it was obvious the man had a mental breakdown… or… Sasuke shook his head. He didn't know what he was thinking. Kakashi would never feel that way towards him.
It was hours later, before they stopped again. Sasuke felt Kakashi jump down, before he leaned down, letting go of Sasuke's knee's. Sasuke lifted himself off Kakashi's back, and was relieved, when he was able to set his feet on solid ground. Sasuke stood around uncertainly, while he heard the others move around. "Hey, Sasuke! If you want, I'll set your tent up for you!", Naruto offered.
Sasuke shrugged, as he took off his backpack, and held it out, for him. It was quickly snatched out of his hand, by an overeager Naruto. Sasuke crossed his arms, and stood around, awkwardly. After a few minutes of waiting around, he heard someone approach him. "Sasuke? Naruto's finished with your tent, if you want to go inside it. If not, I can make you something to eat, if you want?", Sakura asked him.
"Whatever", Sasuke mumbled, not really wanting to have to ask her for anything.
"Come on, Sasuke. If you don't tell us what you want, then we can't help you", Kakashi scolded him, somewhere behind him. Sasuke tilted his head to the side, towards the elders voice.
"I don't want any help", he grumbled.
"Sasuke! Stop being a stubborn teme! Come on and eat! You can have some of my ramen again!", Naruto said.
"No, thank you. I'd rather take Sakura's offer of food than your ramen again", Sasuke said.
"Great! Naruto, why don't you help him sit down, while I start dinner?", Sakura proposed. Sasuke listened to the kunoichi as she walked away, wondering why she couldn't have helped him, on her way? It wasn't like it would have been out of her way.
"Come on, Sasuke!", Naruto said, cheerfully, as he grabbed Sasuke's hand.
Naruto led him over to the campfire, and let go of his hand, as Sasuke set down and Naruto plopped down next to him. Sasuke crossed his arms, as he waited for his food. Sasuke raised an eyebrow, as he suddenly felt Naruto scoot closer to him, where although they weren't touching, Sasuke could definitely could feel the heat of his body.
"So, Sasuke, what's it like being blind?", Naruto asked him.
"I don't know. What's it like being a dobe", Sasuke asked him.
He heard Naruto growl a little bit, before he stopped, when Sakura coughed suddenly. Sasuke tilted his head at her cough. That was interesting. "Here you go, Sasuke. It's not much, only soup, but it's sure to fill you up… Do you need help eating?", Sakura asked, as she handed him a bowl, with a spoon in it.
"I know how to eat", Sasuke snapped at her.
Sasuke ate quickly, and set his empty bowl on the ground in front of him. He stood up, carefully, not wanting to trip or something and fall into the fire. Although, knowing his luck right now, he wouldn't be surprised if that did happen.
"Need help, Sasuke?", Kakashi asked, his voice suddenly next to him.
Sasuke scowled, as he held a hand out towards the man, nodding, reluctantly. Kakashi took his hand, and led him towards Sasuke's tent. When they reached it, Kakashi stopped, causing Sasuke to stop, as he held his free hand out, searching for the tent. When his hand reached the top of the tent, he let go of Kakashi's hand and felt along the tent, until he found the open flap. Sasuke held onto the flap, while he turned his head, to point his eyes, where he figured Kakashi was.
"Thank you… You didn't have to", Sasuke mumbled, awkwardly, before he sighed and entered his tent. Sasuke got on his knee's, as he turned back to the flap, ready to zip it closed, when the flap opened, although no one entered.
"Your welcome, Sasuke. Although, you didn't have to thank me, I was happy to help. You know, you don't have to be so stubborn about asking for help. We're your friends, and we want to help you", Kakashi told him, quietly.
"I know, I know. Is that all?", Sasuke said, annoyed at the little lecture.
Kakashi sighed, and Sasuke jumped, as a hand land on his hair. Kami, what was the man's obsession with his hair. He was almost as affectionate as Naruto. "Try not to wander off in the middle of the night. You worry me enough", Kakashi said, with another sigh.
Wait… He worried Kakashi? Sasuke blushed, and averted his head to the ground, before shook it off, and faked annoyance, as he asked, "Gee, Kakashi, I never knew you cared"
He heard Kakashi chuckle, as he patted Sasuke's head. "You have no idea, Sasuke", Kakashi murmured, amusedly, "Well, get some sleep. We'll be leaving first thing in the morning, so we can reach Suna by mid-afternoon"
With that, Sasuke heard Kakashi leave, as the tent flap closed and was zipped shut. Sasuke sat still for a second, as he tried to get the butterflies in his stomach to stop fluttering around. He touched his stomach, and sighed. After a second of willing the fluttering to calm down, Sasuke got on his hands and knee's, and crawled over to his sleeping bag, which Naruto had apparently laid out for him. He cuddled inside his sleeping bag, and replayed the days events in his head. He especially replayed the many hours he was able to hold onto Kakashi.
Sasuke scowled, as he replayed those hours. It would have been awesome to connect pictures to the scenes, but he couldn't. So, instead, he brought a picture up in his mind, of the last time he had fully looked at Kakashi, before his eyes blacked out on him. The last thing Sasuke saw, before he fell asleep, was Kakashi's face in his mind, since he couldn't see it outside of his mind.
Hope you liked! Kind of fun doing blind Sasuke. Anyways, thank you for the reviews! Aishiteru!