A/N Sorry this took so long but the real world was calling and unfortunately I had no choice but to answer. This chapter isn't my favorite and I may have to revise it if something better inspires me… thanks for all the reviews. Hope you guys enjoy! Remember replies help make the world go round… or at least helps get chapters out quicker!

Fallen Sparrow

Chapter Four: No Thanks Needed

Konoha Hospital Three days later…

News spread fast that the Uchiha traitor had retuned. Not only had he come back but was now being treated at Konoha's hospital. There was an obvious mixture of emotions throughout the village. Those closest to him were glad that he was back if not a little confused. Others who had barely known him were nervous, frightened and justifiably angry that he would be accepted within the same walls of the people that he had turned his back on.

Of course none of that registered with him since he had been unconscious for the last three days. Kikashi and Tsunade had been his only visitors, her orders much to Naruto's dismay. She had insisted that if he needed to post vigil at someone's bedside Hinata should be his choice. Although Sakura took a little more convincing Naruto had given in almost instantly with guilt although Kakashi seemed somewhat hesitant to allow this to happen.

The younger blond wouldn't have paid it too much mind except that for the last three days he had witnessed on more than one occasion the two arguing outside of his old teammate's door much like they were now. He wasn't sure what it was about but it was definitely serious. Kakashi's one eyed stare had been severe and unforgiving during the heated exchange.

Naruto listened intently from around the corner of the hospital catching glimpses of the conversation.

"…do you have any idea what you've done?" Tsunade's voice was laced with anger and something that sounded strangely like sympathy.

"I did what needed to be done. It was my duty."

"It's her life! Did you think about that? Did the Third think about it?" She asked somewhat impatiently.

Naruto's ears perked up hearing the old woman mention the old man. 'Nani…' what did the Third have to do with Hinata being injured during the mission to bring back Sasuke? The conversation wasn't making any sense. There were too many holes in their conversation that Naruto couldn't fill. So caught up in his own thoughts he hadn't realized that silence that settled over the two.

"Naruto… it's rude to eavesdrop!" Kakashi stated lazily from behind his subordinate.

The young man jumped three feet in the air. Whirling around in surprise he stared at his Sensei. Scratching the back of his head and letting out an embarrassed chuckle he swallowed hard. "I was just… going to visit Hinata-chan."

"Her room is down the opposite hall… I suggest you turn around and go there." Tsunade remarked coming from behind Naruto so that he was now trapped between the two adults.

Looking up into the blonde's eyes he nodded. "Right… Just what I was thinking…demo… how is Sasuke?" He asked peeking around the old woman's solid frame and staring at the closed door.

Tsunade softened if only for a moment seeing the concern in Naruto's eyes. So much heart… he had so much heart and so much strength. There were so many ways he could have turned out. There were so many different roads that he could have taken, but he had remained just as sweet and caring as the first day she had met him. He truly was a rare breed. Reaching out she placed a hand on his shoulder. "Sleeping… he's sleeping but I promise that as soon as he is able to take visitors you will be the first." She stated.

He stared at her for a moment knowing that she was being honest but her original decision would stand. "Take care of him Old Woman!" Was his reply seeing the frown crease her brow.

"Stop calling me that!" She shouted as he ran down the hall side stepping Kakashi. The stare that was held between them briefly spoke volumes. There was something going on and both men knew that Naruto wouldn't give up… it wasn't in his nature.

Both adults watched him disappear around the corner before Kakashi spoke again. "It's not good for him to visit her so much."

"He is her friend… and in the next few days she will need him."

"He may get in the way… her feelings for Naruto are troublesome."

"Is this something that you and the Third failed to think about?" One of her eyebrows raised slightly above the other letting him know that she was being sarcastic.

He exhaled a tired sigh. They both knew that he didn't have to answer to her… not when it came to this. These arrangements had been made long before she ever became Hokage rendering her protests null and void and they both knew it. "She will need to be told." He remarked.

The blond exhaled deeply. "I suppose you want to tell her?" It wasn't really a question.

He nodded. "Sasuke is home. He was saved… isn't that reason enough for what we've done?" He asked.

"But at what price? The things that he has done cannot be easily pushed aside. These steps that you have taken have changed lives forever." She remarked. "And for what… what if it was all for nothing? He still ran away. He walked away from Konoha even with this bond that you put in place! You have forced one life upon another to save a boy who may not have wanted to be saved; and now what happens to Hinata's life? What choice have you left her with?"

"Her life belongs to Konoha as all Ninja lives do. You are careful with her because she is someone important to you." He was overstepping now.

She closed her eyes for a moment not needing to look at him to know that he understood her stance. "I am careful with her for many reasons!" She snapped and then walked away letting him know that even if the matter was not closed this conversation was over.

He watched her disappear around the corner before looking over his shoulder at Sasuke's room. Taking the steps in steady strides he gave a slight nod to the guard positioned outside his door before entering and stopped on the threshold… Sasuke was gone!

Meanwhile…

The sun was bright as it shined through the drapes of her hospital room. Blinking rapidly she clenched her hand into a fist feeling the sheets within her palm. Looking around she knew where she was but why or how was somewhat of a mystery. Moving to sit up she winced feeling the restraint of the bandages around her midsection. Slowly she pulled back the covers staring at the white terry cloth around her stomach and felt a deep sense of despair flush through her. She wasn't sure why she was here but somehow she knew that it was because she hadn't been quick enough to avoid an enemy… she had failed… failed her family and her friends.

'Sasuke-sama…'

She gasped slightly as images began to play across her mind's eye. She had tried to protect him. She had attempted to save him. "Nani…" She breathed out wondering what had happened. His eyes were the last thing that she remembered before everything went dark. Bringing her fingertips to her lips she worried of his well-being. Had he gotten away? She remembered the way he shook his head refusing to heed her warning... had they caught him? Was he dead? And her team? What of them? Were they okay... did they bring her back? Had she failed them?

So many questions that she didn't hear the door open and close... didn't realize that there was a hand on her shoulder until she felt the warmness of fingertips give her skin a small squeeze. Looking up she felt her eyes go wide at the sight.

"N-naruto-Kun..." She breathed out feeling a mixture of emotions swirl in the pit of her stomach. Her voice was hoarse and quiet but there nonetheless. There was concern shining in his blue orbs...

"Hinata-chan?" He questioned trying to ignore the slight blush that crept into his cheeks at seeing her in such an undressed state. At the moment he really was more concerned with her well being. She had been in coma for 3 days but it looked as if she was more awake then ever before… as if something inside her had come to light and made her pale skin glow…perhaps it was the rays of the sun.

"I'm… s-so sorry." She stated softly.

Looking up sharply he watched the guilt play across her face as clear as if the emotion could be seen in her eyes. He wasn't sure why she was apologizing. She had done what he couldn't… she had found Sasuke and somehow had brought him back… he was still sketchy on the details but he knew that his friend had been taken from Hinata's room late that night three days ago. What he was doing in there he had no idea… did she know?

He sighed making her turn slightly to look at him noting the seriousness on his face. It was rare that she had seen him like this. It always surprised her just how fast the boyish face could disappear and be replaced with the adult-like countenance she was staring at now.

Looking slightly away from her he swallowed hard. "Don't! Don't apologize to me. I… I should have been there… I should have been the one to find him." She watched his hands continue to clench in frustrated fists as small beads of blood emerged from the fingernails cutting into his flesh and it suddenly hit her. He thought he had failed. He believed that it was his failure that had put her here. She swallowed hard watching him slowly raise his chin and stare her straight in the eye. "Arigato, Hinata-chan. Thank-you… for Sasuke." He remarked with such passion that it brought a blush to her cheeks.

Something strange inside her chest fluttered with something she had never felt before… pride… she took pride in hearing his words of thanks. "I… I… did good; Naruto-Kun?"

He saw the hesitance in her eyes and smiled broadly seeing that she held no grudge against him and he nodded. "You were great Hinata-Chan!" He assured her.

Before she could say anything more, the sudden dryness in her throat became too much and she suddenly found it hard to breathe as her body began to dry heave softly. Naruto reached for the pitcher of water only to find it empty. "What kind of teme doesn't fill the pitcher?!" He asked mainly to himself watching the water well up in her eyes as her body continued to rack with the dry coughs. "I'll be right back." He stated dashing out of the room and heading down the hall as though he were a man on a mission.

Reaching up with one hand she wrapped her palm around her throat trying to sooth the soreness that was approaching fast. Throwing the covers off of her body she twisted her body around so that her legs were dangling over the edge as she attempted to swallow hoping to lubricate her windpipe. She distantly heard the door open and close and there was a cup in front of her face. She reached out and drank feeling the coolness of it hit the inside of her body. It sent a chill through her making her smile and shiver at the same time. Looking up to thank her friend she gasped.

"Sasuke-Sama!"

His black eyes stared at her, watching her. He didn't blink, his pupils followed hers intently. If they shifted slightly to the right then so did his, almost like cat and mouse and it was clear who was who. She felt her fingers press into the plastic cup out of fear… why was she afraid? He was Naruto's friend… she had saved his life; didn't she? He wouldn't hurt her… right?

She swallowed the panic. "Ano… what… are you okay Sasuke-sama?" She tried her best to keep her voice steady and failed at it miserably.

The question hung in the air like a heavy burden and she was sure that he would do something to her. Her body was beginning to sweat. She could feel the water begin to soak the bandages that were wrapped around her midsection. The beads of sweat were running down her flesh slowly as she became aware of her indecent appearance. She reached down bringing the sheets to right under her chin. There would have been a blush had she not been too afraid.

He watched her movement as she attempted to cover herself and felt one of his eyebrows quirk. What did she think he was going to do to her? What did she think he was there for exactly? The very idea that he would… that he could… it was almost amusing… almost. The pounding in the back of his head made it difficult to find anything amusing and the way his heartbeat seemed to thump harder in his chest made him wary. It was strange. He had never paid any attention to the sound of his own heartbeat until today… until this moment… it was almost as if he didn't have one… until now. Did she do this to him? How could she? She was weak… she had always been weak. There was no way… but then how? There were images again in his head… making it hard to separate. Almost as if he had two different paths… two different lives… and what did she have to do with any of it?

"You fear me." His voice was low and passive, much like that of his brother's and he watched her flinch. He was disgusted with her response. He watched the pale lavender in her eyes twist with a mixture of emotions. He didn't need his sharingan to see it… odd as it was. He was sure that no one else would be able to see it… the fear… the pain… the shame. Looking down he pushed the sheet aside hearing her slight intake of breath as he let his fingers graze over the terry cloth around her stomach. "You… you almost died that night. You risked your life and almost died." He remarked catching her stare once again. Before she could he say anything he exhaled a deep breath, dropping his hand and letting it rest at his side. "Don't do it again." It wasn't a request… it was an order. He turned his back on her ready to walk out forgetting all about the questions he had for her when her voice stopped him. It was soft but insistent.

She felt the sting in his unexpected words. "D-demo… Sasuke-Sama… we did it to save you… N-naruto-kun… he wouldn't allow you to be l-lost." She began when he looked up sharply.

The blackness in his eyes began to fade as the crimson began to bleed into his onyx pupils at the mention of his 'friend' and suddenly it dawned on him. "Don't save me for him. I don't need him." The words were low… laced with a quiet frustration that she didn't know he possessed but then again she didn't know much about him. "I don't need anyone." He whispered harshly suddenly feeling his heart begin to pound relentlessly against his chest… almost as if trying to break free from it's cage. Reaching up he placed a palm over his chest and felt his teeth grind together with unknown pain. His knees felt as though they would buckle beneath him and he felt himself fall into the wall. His breathing was ragged and his vision was blurred. Voices… faces danced across his eyes, bombarding him.

She was across the room in mere moments. "Sasuke-Sama… ano… are you okay?" The worry was evident in her voice.

"Leave me… alone!" He struggled to get the words out.

"Demo, Sasuke…" She reached out to assist him and felt the power that was the Uchica as he shoved her away. His hand hit her wound with so much precision that it was scary. He wasn't even trying to hurt her just to get her away but his skill wouldn't allow for him to do anything haphazardly it seemed. Her touch was like salt in an open wound… agonizing and burning… and he swung out of instinct not out of malice but he swung at her nonetheless. He watched her fly backwards but was paralyzed to stop it.

She hit the opposite wall hard, her head hitting the window glass cracking slightly under the pressure. Dazed and with the air knocked out of her she felt her vision lose focus watching as he struggled with his own pain. Her head drooped slightly and she could see the blood begin to spread across her abdomen; the seal that had bound her flesh together now broken. Everything started to go dark. Blinking once… and then again she looked up just in time to see the fuzzy images of an orange jumpsuit burst through the door followed by Kakashi and then it was all black.