"Foolish Hearts"

'Chapter Three'

Kakashi had taken watch over the two men, checking their vitals through the night, making sure nothing dramatic happened. Naruto's fever was going down, and Sasuke didn't seem to be thrashing as much.

Kakashi was aware of the chakra signatures behind the door, not caring to turn around as he heard the door click open.

"Sakura. Tsunade." The jounin murmured without even turning around.

Tsunade's arms were over her chest, her gold eyes taking in the sight before her. One side was Naruto, one side was Sasuke. She took in a deep breath, running a hand through her hair, "Kakashi… what's going on?"

She knew bits and pieces from Sakura, from the villagers, but truly... what was going on?

Sakura had been at the bridge when the battle took place, the girl had even helped take her two former comrades to the hospital. But, beyond that Tsunade was a little clueless on the whole matter.

Was Sasuke really nuts? Why did he come here? So many questions were behind her eyes.

Sakura had immediately run to Naruto's bed, looking at his face, then down his body at his wounds. Concern was in her green eyes for this man, and across the way -- confusion, curiosity and fear shone for the Uchiha who was coated in the darkness of the curtain.

She glanced up as Tsunade took a seat next to Naruto's hospital bed, her back to Sasuke. "Did Sasuke say anything? Why now? Why this?" Tsunade asked, nearly at her wits end. For a year now the path of death had been coming their way, and there was no hope of stopping it.

Sasuke had came upon them so soon.

"He wouldn't explain anything." He started; Sasuke would explain things when he felt it necessary, and not a moment sooner.

Looking back over to the boy Kakashi sighed, "He's lost his mind,"

Walking back over to the Uchiha he gently turned the man slightly, so he wasn't resting so much on his bad shoulder, "I think he wants to fix things, but there's something in his mind stopping him."

"Lost his mind?" Sakura repeated, her green eyes looking off towards the Uchiha -- her small hands finding Naruto's own, holding it -- comforting herself more than the unconscious man.

Tsunade glanced over her shoulder at the Uchiha, "Fix things?" She frowned, "How do you know this? Or is this just what you're hoping?"

Her gold eyes followed Kakashi's gentle movements, "Kakashi... he was your student, but he isn't any longer. He made his choices, and murder and torture will not be forgiven just because he has a change of heart after all these years." Her voice was hard, firm.

Kakashi narrowed his eyes at the words, "Maybe for you." He started, keeping a protective stance over the Uchiha. "Sasuke's never been mentally stable, I can mentally prove that." He took a step towards the Godaime, "We can save him."

"Save him?" Tsunade scoffed, though the unwavering look in Kakashi's eye stopped her from going any further. She turned from the man, resting a hand on her head, her gold eyes on the fox.

She paused, not looking directly at the other man. "Kakashi don't look for light in a void." She murmured, "You'll just lose your own mind in the process."

She let the silence fall a moment before she changed the subject, "Is Naruto stable, no lasting damage?"

"Mild poison, but he's going to be fine." He answered, not letting Tsunade move towards Sasuke. He watched as Sakura moved the sheet to examine the wound and looked back at Tsunade, reaching into his pocket he grabbed the recorder and held it out to the woman, "Just listen to this."

Moving to sit at the edge of Sasuke's bed, he tilted his head slightly, "He can and wants to be saved."

Tsunade let out a breath as the recording finished.

Up and down.

Sasuke's mood was swinging, his words were different one moment and another a next. She held her head in her hands, the last haunting words sauntering through her head. "…Kakashi…" She mumbled, "How do you propose we save him then?"

Sakura was quiet, Sasuke's dark voice hurting her conscious. She kept her eyes forward, on the unconscious Uchiha… what happened to him?

To her...Sasuke?

Tsunade got out of her seat, turning to the silver-haired man, keeping her distance -- Kakashi looked like he was a mother hen guarding her chick. Not a good thing; especially given Sasuke's mental state on top of his crimes.

"We need Naruto." Kakashi slowly turned his dark eye towards the unconscious fox, watching the gentle rise and fall of the fox's chest. "Until then, I'll keep watch and charge over Sasuke."

"That's for Naruto to decide." Tsunade narrowed her own, golden cat eyes.

Kakashi nodded his head and looked back to Naruto and Sakura.

--

Sasuke had opened his eyes; they were pure black, shining like obsidian.

He took in his surroundings, the light bleeding in through the windows, hinting at early morning. He took in the sight of Kakashi slumped in the chair between Naruto and him and finally he took in the sight of the sleeping fox, watching his chest rise and fall. The hint of numbing still an itch in his brain, allowing his dark eyes to have control for a fleeting moment.

Sasuke continued to stare at the fox, an unknown expression on his face, his black eyes soft. "Naruto…" He murmured to himself, raising a shackled hand, setting it on the bar, as if he were trying to touch the fox.

...he was in control, for this sparing moment.

The fox slowly opened his eyes and looked up at the bland ceiling. He was comfortably numb at the moment, the pain from the wound not bothering him for once.

Turning his head he found Kakashi slumped in the chair, his legs pillowed on the table in the middle of the room, his strong arms crossed over his chest. Looking further into the room, he caught sight of Sasuke's eyes on him.

"Sasuke..." He breathed out, his mind in a little more control than he had been the night before, his conscious not so much affected by the medication now.

Sasuke just watched the fox, unsure what he had wanted to say now that he caught Naruto's attention. After a moment his black eyes fell, he was still turned towards the fox, but silence settled in on him. He was holding on to that itch in his brain, keeping his mind straight, trying to ignore the biting pulse behind his eyes.

Naruto watched as the man turned away from him, his eyes now downcast. He seemed to be struggling, but it was hard to tell with what -- there had been a point in time where he could read and understand Sasuke, but now it seemed that he had a better chance at reading a rock instead of Sasuke.

Yesterday the Uchiha seemed so full of hatred, and anger...

"You didn't know I was the Hokage," Naruto murmured, his voice almost a whisper, "Did you?"

Sasuke's palms were sweating -- nervous, he was getting nervous.

It had been so long since he had really seen Naruto, been around him, remembered him.

Yesterday he had almost killed him.

"No." Sasuke said, equally soft, "I didn't."

The fox sighed, and closed his eyes, "I thought so..." He smiled gently, turning so he was looking back at the ceiling once more. "I tried my best to get a hold of you." He started, shifting on the mattress, "I went," He paused, "To the Hokage monument, and let the wind take the letters." He stopped, looking back to Sasuke, "I thought that maybe you'd get at least one."

Sasuke wasn't exactly insane, per say.

Power.

Power is what was coursing through him constantly, an unbidden power that was birthed from his blood line's eyes -- and furthered his destruction of his mind from its horrid power. Sasuke's mind was weak, he couldn't fathom or control the essence that his eyes gave him -- the blood lust, the need for constant movement, constant fighting. He could see, see everything -- feel no pain, and his energy was just immense.

It made him crazy with need -- with a desperate want for control, to try and expel all this energy and power to try and gain back what the eyes were taking from him.

There wasn't two beings inside of Sasuke.

Just Sasuke's hideous goals and Sasuke's misplaced dreams.

If he could control his eyes, he could control himself.

But, even right now he was losing that control. His dark eyes were rimmed with red, the itch of medication filtering out of his system and a raw power started crawling up his limbs, making his body begin to tense.

Sasuke tried to hold onto Naruto's words, sweeping his eyes back to the fox, trying hard to remain focused, to ignore the surging energy. "The wind?" Sasuke tried not to care that his heart flipped from Naruto's words. It was nice, knowing Naruto did miss him, or had missed him.

Sasuke was quiet a moment, feeling the dark eyes attempting to activate, the red trying to swallow the black. "…what did the letters say?" He asked after a moment, focusing on the fox with all the will he had.

Hearing a tense note in Sasuke's voice the fox opened is eyes and looked over to the man, catching the tint of red in the eyes. "I have copies." He stopped for a moment and let out a small laugh, "Truthfully, I went out to every important place between you and me and let a letter go." He said, "The Bridge, the Tea County..." He closed his eyes.

"I got each one back after a few years; but I still have them, each one was a bit different." He moved slightly, the medication starting to wear off on him as well.

Silence.

Naruto cleared his throat, "I have them hidden in my office if you want to read them."

Naruto…

Naruto's eyes were so bright blue, so kind.

Sasuke's body was tense, his head was starting to hurt, but he tried to ignore it. It was strange how Naruto could always be so calm, so accepting. He had almost killed him and he was talking of their past, of letters he shouldn't have cared to send to a mad man such as him.

Sasuke's breathing was uneven, his eyes a muddy color of red and black, niether in control. His hands clenched, nails biting into his palms -- good, he could still feel pain, he was still himself.

"Sure.." He said, his tone strained, his eyes swept over the room noticing the medication button in Kakashi's hand. More numbing could keep the power at bay but he couldn't reach it, Kakashi was too far from him, and Sasuke was a little tied up as it were. "I'd like to read them." He finished, a little breathless -- his mind really starting to pulse, to hurt.

Naruto narrowed his eyes in confusion.

What was wrong with the Uchiha?

Why was he looking at Kakashi like that?

"Are you okay?" The fox asked concern in his voice and eyes.

Sasuke wanted to lie, say he was fine.

But…

God, his head felt like it was going to explode, he couldn't keep control of this energy. It was like trying to bottle a tornado. He leaned back heavily against his pillows, his eyes clenched shut, he could feel the burn in his eyes; the pain in his hands and head started to recede.

"No." Sasuke said softly, "I'm not… okay." He ended in a frustrated growl -- what the hell was so wrong with him? His stupid god damned eyes!

Naruto's eyes widened slightly, he needed to get Kakashi's attention. Forcing himself to sit up, he let out a sharp gasp, holding the wound. Reaching behind him, he groped for the pillow, and gripped it tightly. Drawing in a deep breath, he threw the pillow over at Kakashi, hitting the man in the chest. The momentum from the throw took the fox over the side of the bed, a yell escaping him, as the IV came out and he landed on his wounded side.

Kakashi jumped a kunai in his hand instantly. He blinked in confusion looking down to the curled up fox, and the pillow.

"What are you doi-"

"Help...him." Naruto slowly curled his hand, pointing to Sasuke.

Sasuke's blood colored eyes glared at Kakashi, his mouth a frown -- though his brow was furrowed, Sasuke was trying his hardest to be in control.

But...

It hurt so much, trying to push the power out of him -- it wouldn't hurt at all if he just let it happen.

...but he couldn't be weak.

Naruto had been talking to him, looking at him with those eyes…

Fuck!

His brain felt like it was spasming, he was having trouble breathing, he wanted so badly to just give in -- "P-push the button!" He growled, his voice deep, haggard.

Kakashi blinked unsure of what was really going on.

Naruto was on the floor and Sasuke was asking for pain medication.

Seeing the taut look on Sasuke's face, Kakashi quickly reached for the button and pressed it once, hoping it would be enough. Moving he knelt down next to the Hokage, he rested his hands on the man's shoulder, keeping him still.

"What is going on?"

Sasuke was still a good five minutes or more.

Just letting the numbing drug course through him before he actually took a good long breath. Slowly but surely his eyes turned black and his body lost it's tense pain. Slowly he rolled on his side, a mild pain still pulsing in his head as his dark eyes looked over to Kakashi and Naruto.

Kakashi had gotten Naruto back on the bed, but still looked confused.

At least the medication would help -- for now, until they shoved him in a cell. Leaning over the rail, Sasuke looked like a lazy cat, drunk from medication and pain. "…it's...hard to control." He admitted, finally hinting at his issue, his black eyes catching sight of bright blue a strange slack expression on the Uchiha's face not an impassive mask, allowing Naruto to really see him, for the first time in years.

The fox looked over to the man, really seeing him. Seeing the worn out emotion, and exhaustion from trying to control his blood line. The haggard look in his eyes that wanted to be done, but couldn't.

"Your eyes?" The fox asked, his head tilted slightly.

How could he control it? How could he help Sasuke control it?

"How did it get so out of control?"

"It…started with Orochimaru," But Naruto already knew that chapter of his life, knew of that chaos when Sasuke first turned on the kit.

Sasuke closed his eyes, his cheek against the cool metal of the rail, his arms lazily slack over the side the chains a faint sound in the background of blips and beeps. "But I just kept getting stronger, my eyes kept getting better and better."

"I…killed Itachi." He was scattered, his past bits and pieces of sanity. "I found out things I didn't know… It was like... like, my eyes are all the evils in me." His voice was quiet, strained.

He slowly opened his eyes, black as the cool night, letting the fox see into his broken soul. "…my mind is too weak, and their power is... too strong." He let out a sigh, closing his eyes again, hiding this time, turning his back on the fox not sure what he was feeling, not sure what he was really trying to say.

Reaching out?

Feeling that self-loathing.

...this was stupid.

They couldn't help him any more than he could help himself.

His eyes were just going to destroy him.

His eyes would fulfill the dark needs in his soul, while his body and mind paid the price.

"Then we help you strengthen your mind." Naruto's answered was quick and simple. His eyes narrowed in a determined manner. He had the look from when he was a kid, the look that said he would never give up. And he would never give up on Sasuke, ever. He'd give his own life before letting someone take Sasuke's.

"Orochimaru didn't care about you." He pointed out, "Itachi didn't care about how his twisted plans affected you." He snarled. "I'm going to fix this, Sasuke. We're going to strengthen your mind."

"What if I kill you Naruto?"

Sasuke's voice was quiet, his dark eyes staring at a point on the opposite wall, his broad back to the fox -- scars cut into the flesh, some fresh, some old. It had been a long road of death to get here.

"Would you still try to save me when I have a blade to your throat?" His voice was soft, haunted.

Naruto smirked, "As long as the blade is at my throat and not through it." He wanted to get up, but the look on Kakashi's face told him otherwise. "See, if it's just at my throat, I can still get away." He continued as if he really needed to elaborate on the subject.

"God Naruto..." Sasuke closed his eyes, a rare faint smile on his lips -- not that the kitsune could see. "..I missed you."

Naruto smiled himself, his eyes sparkling. "I missed you too." The kit wanted to reach out and touch the other man, but knew he couldn't reach. "We'll get you through this."

--

Tsunade was at the door, she had been listening to most of the exchange between them. She sighed, feeling a headache coming on. Naruto's heart was just too damn soft. Sure, Sasuke had once belonged to this village; but that was years ago, and any ties now were broken, his slashed headband told the world that. Naruto was trying to save something that didn't want to be saved. Deep down Sasuke enjoyed his power, otherwise why didn't he stop his murders long before now?

She didn't buy it. She didn't buy any of it.

Quietly she pushed the door open, gold eyes looking to Kakashi and Naruto, avoiding Sasuke.

Her heels clicked on the white tiles as she slammed the thick folder on the table next to the silver-haired man. "Crime reports." She said evenly, "All of Sasuke's crimes are listed right there, including the murders on the bridge, and the attempted murder of our Hokage-sama."

"When he's well," Her tone was hard, her eyes sweeping across all of them, "He's going to be put on trial, and from there we'll see what happens."

She'd be amazed if Sasuke didn't get sent to death.

She wasn't being cruel.

She took a seat by Naruto's bed, ignoring Kakashi's unwavering gaze. "Kakashi, its facts. You can't stand here and protect him; you can't just ignore what he's done." She flipped her hair over her shoulder, she had a protective side as well -- but her side fell to Naruto, to the bright child she helped and watched grow. Sasuke was just a loose cannon, a broken man with a mind for only killing. The reports she had read, typed up, were disturbing even to her as a high ranked ninja.

He used torture, had killed countless unarmed civilians, destroyed whole families and towns just to get here -- to get his misplaced revenge.

Tsunade did not pity that monster.

Sasuke was hearing everything, but he didn't respond to a word of it.

Naruto narrowed his eyes.

He loved Tsunade, he did. She had helped him gain his childhood dream, but she didn't have the heart he possessed. "My word is the only word that court will be listening to." He growled.

Kakashi looked back and forth between the file and Naruto, before his gaze drifted over to Sasuke.

"My word is the one they'll have to listen to." The fox snapped. "I am the only one who can protect him Tsunade."

The blonde woman's eyes widened. She wasn't used to Naruto snapping at her, "You can't protect hi-"

"I can and I will!" The fox yelled, "I'll die before I see him behind bars!"

"Naruto!" It hurt, to see the fox so mad at her.

But...

He couldn't do this.

She had seen what happened when Sasuke left; how sad Naruto had become, his smiles had been rare, he usually just locked himself in his tower, away from everyone. Finally Naruto had started getting back to normal again, and then Sasuke shows up, and throws that thorn right back into Naruto's side.

"Naruto, you have to see this for what it is. You are the Hokage-sama, but will you risk your entire village on a chance?" She said softly, her gold eyes looking at Naruto's determined blue ones. "What if this is all a sham?" She didn't care that Sasuke was there, that he could hear her.

"You don't know him like I do." Naruto shook his head at her words. "You don't understand what we went through together." He glanced at Sasuke, doubt starting to enter his mind.

Was it as sham?

"The only thing I risk is myself."

Sasuke closed his eyes; his body had been so still he would have been mistaken for sleeping -- especially through all these words. Sasuke had logged Naruto's words into his lost heart and if he could help it, if he could control it, he would not hurt his kitsune again.

Tsunade was quiet, her head bowed, her gold eyes turning to Kakashi knowing she would get no support from him, and no other response out of Naruto. "…whatever you say Hokage-sama."

A/N:

Another chapter done! So happy for all the reviews we have so far, I'm glad you all like it. Please send us some more feed back!