…It's not taking me three months to update. Only 2 and 1/2!

WHOO. Actually, I've been MAJORLY into tons of different manga and anime lately. Blame them for my lateness -coughs-

Anyways, on to me old love, Naruto.

Warning: Boys love, yaoi, slash, shounen-ai, gay man love! Whatever you may want to call it. But it's there. And…uh…plot holes. Anyone want to donate plot hole filler cement?

Also, forgive the grammar and spelling mistakes, please. I seem to have lost my beta awhile ago!

Disclaimer: I don't own ANYTHING. I barely even own the plot, apparently -.-

IMPORTANT NOTE: sighs People, I asked you last chapter to not say anything that may even be mildly offensive, INCLUDING insulting my plot and/or story. To this particular person: I'm sorry if I'm going to lose you as a reviewer, and you are very important as one, but because of your comment I'm going to add extra Shin. At least 2 extra chapters. Ok? Ok.

Dedications: This one is to Isis-sama, cause she's kick ass in every aspect!

Bunraku: A large scale Japanese puppet theatre. The puppets are operated by many people, and about 2/3 life size. The puppeteers are on stage and not hidden during the show

Bunraku

I throw some clothes on in the dark,
The smell of cold.
Car seat is freezing.
The world is sleeping.
I am numb.

Now that I have found someone,
I'm feeling more alone,
Than I ever have before.
She's a brick and I'm drowning slowly.
They call her name at 7:30.
I pace around the parking lot,
then I walk down to buy her flowers.
And sell some gifts that I got.
Can't you see…
It's not me you're dying for.

-Brick, Ben Folds Five

The next morning brought an unwelcome revelation. Well, more like revelations, but Sasuke's sleep-heavy mind could only comprehend one thing at a time.

A) His head was going to split open any minute now. Any minute now…

B) In accordance with revelation Numero Uno, his shinobi skills were way down. He couldn't figure out why, but his instincts were telling (screaming at) him that something was off tilt.

C) He was freakin' warm. Warmer than usual warm. Plus his pants were around his ankles. He didn't know how this tied into the 3rd revelation but…

Wait.

His pants didn't belong around his ankles. They had never been around his ankles when he woke up in the morning, nor should they ever be around his ankles.

So this brought Sasuke Uchiha to his fourth and final revelation.

He'd done something he would regret last night. Something he regretted at this moment very moment.

In .3 seconds flat, the brunette had flown across the room, breathing heavily and eyes narrowed as he pressed himself against the far wall from the bed. He stared as the form on the bed slowly brought itself to a waking state, resting it's forehead on crossed arms so that it's upper torso was elevated.

Sasuke could have screamed when he saw who it was.

Green eyes blinked lazily at him, "S'uke, whatchur doin' in my bed?" My bed indeed!

"You're in my bed, idiot!" He glared accusingly at the other teen, thoughts still muddled by his trip across the room in that disoriented time after sleep. But he was wide-awake now, oh yes, wide awake.

"…Oh." He blinked, moving to sit up and stretch his arms above his head. What…How could this dumbass…this retard…act like nothing had happened! Something had happened, and he didn't know what, but…

"Make yourself decent!" Sasuke averted his eyes to the floor, squinting to get the image of Shin's…bits out of his eyes. Honestly, he hadn't been staring…But it was hard not to look…

"I could say the same for you." The temporary-blonde retorted, pulling his…Capri's up so they almost covered his hips. Sasuke blushed furiously, pulling his own pants up so they nearly covered his navel. He crossed his legs, holding onto his calves and leaning forward in a defensive position.

Now to ask the question he was dreading the answer of. "Do…" He cleared his throat, paling even further, "Do you know what…we…did last night?" He stared at Shin's chest, refusing to meet his eyes. No, he was not doing that purposefully, he just thought he saw a fleck of something on it…

Oh.

Fuck.

He did see a fleck of something on it.

Shin blinked again, before staring at him. "Do…? What?" He mulled over this a little. Soon, Sasuke could see the light bulb lighting over Shin's head. Maybe that was because he'd turned on the light…

But the other boy had discovered the meaning of Sasuke's question.

"We…Hm. Well, I don't think we screwed, cause I'm not sore anywhere. Are you?" At the mute shake of his head, he continued. "And…" He reached down and rubbed his hands together, making a face when pieces of white fell down. "We probably just jacked each other or something."

First, when had Shin become so smart?

Second, how did Shin know this?

"Were you even drunk last night?" Sasuke's voice came out gargled at the possibility that he'd been molested and said molester had done it without the inhibition-eraser of alcohol.

"Hey, just cause I didn't have tons of spiked punch like a certain someone," Sasuke glared, Shin flipped the bird. "Doesn't mean I wasn't drunk!"

Sasuke's eyes were still narrowed, and Shin flopped onto his back with a sigh, throwing an arm over his eyes before looking at the suspicious teen across the room. "Look, Sasuke, I don't want things to get weird between us…"

"Too late, ahou." He was standing now, arms crossed and back pressed against the wall. He stared down at Shin on his bed, and mentally he vowed to throw those sheets away. Or burn them.

Shin shot a glare of his own. "Look, Sasuke!" He exploded, sitting up, arms above his head before coming to a rest at his side. "I'm sorry if you hate the thought of doing anything with me," It was Uchiha's turn to snort. "But I actually like you, and if it makes you happy, I will pretend this hasn't happened! I won't tell anyone if it makes you happy, because you are the first person I remember I trust!"

Shin got to his feet, movements spastic and jerky. "I'll let it go if you do, ok? Ok?" He turned to him on his way out the door. "I'll never mention it ever." He padded out the door, and distantly he heard the shower running. He could have been there an hour, minutes, days…

"I'm going to Neji's!" A holler, a slam, and the house was completely silent.

There was no sound. Complete and utter silence.

That wasn't true. Sasuke could hear his hate.

OoOoOoOoOoO…..

"Tsunade-sama, I'd like to go on a long mission." His hands were splayed on her desk, on some papers she was (not) working on, and he stared down at her. He'd known her for a long time, so she would let him do this, wouldn't she? Even if he had to explain why, he would get out of this place for awhile…

"And why the request, Sasuke-san?" She tilted her head, chin resting on her hands as she leaned forward. "Any special reason?"

He paused, shaking his head slowly. Actually, she didn't have to know. He was a good liar, he had to be. "I just need a break."

"A break from what?" She shuffled her papers, leafing through them. The blonde pursed her lips, scanning the sheets before peeking up at him. "Since the Chuunin exams start in a week, I'd like you to be back at least 5 days before they actually start, because as you know, the Kage's are going to be gathering here. Also, you have an assignment, remember?"

"…" Stupid exams. Stupid assignment. Stupid genin.

"I'll be nice and let you go on a two day mission though. You do know you'll have several ANBU following you?" He nodded. Nobody trusted him yet. They just trusted him to be powerful. "What kind of mission would you prefer? Lot's of action, I suppose?" Another nod, and she smirked and handed him a piece of paper. "There you go, Uchiha-san. See you in two days."

He have a half smile before disappearing in the customary cloud of smoke.

OoOoOoOoOoOo….

"Hey, Sasuke! Wait!" He turned at the gate, ready to run off when he spotted Shin running towards him, hands waving and a hesitant grin on his face.

Should he even wait…?

He stared impassively as Shin caught his breath, hands on his knees and looking back when Neji appeared behind him, arms crossed and staring off to the side to offer them something of a semblance to privacy.

"Sasuke…" He sucked in a breath before standing up, looking at the expressionless boy before him, "Sorry for not coming to see you sooner, but…"

"Hm?" Something of a question, or a prod for him to continue.

"I'll see you later. Come back home safe, ok? I'll be waiting." Shin threw his arms around Sasukes' neck in a form of an awkward hug.

He froze, becoming stiff in the embrace and staring over Shin's shoulder. Maybe, just once…he could care…?

Sasuke uneasily did the same, flushed because people were around and he barely ever did something like this, much less touch someone in public.

His track of time was screwed up, because when Shin pulled away it seemed short of an actual, real hug, but he didn't mind in the least.

"…" He waved, and he was gone, holding onto the image of the other teen's smile.

OoOoOoOoOoOo….

The only sound in the large clearing was his heavy breathing. Not even the birds dared to sing.

Mission accomplished. Assassination, complete. He was satisfied, drained of all resources and confident that he had killed everyone and everything that was a threat within a 25 mile radius.

A sigh, and he retrieved a canteen from his back pouch, scowling when the last remains dripped out through a large hole in the center of it. Great.

There was a rustle, and a soft voice called out, recognizable and deadly.

"Hello, little brother." He whipped around, eyes narrowed and the only kunai he had left clutched in his left hand. Coal eyes met with Mange Sharingan, and he saw red, and he could hear the chidori chirping in the background of the silence…

"Itachi." He ground this out from between his teeth, spitting the name as if a vile word not to be spoken. There before him stood the one man he had sworn to kill…And who was that?

In fact, there was someone standing beside his brother. This person was a lot shorter, and wearing the uniform of the organization the older Uchiha was in, hat pulled low over his eyes and collar of the black coat turned up. He assessed this…person was not a threat. His hands were in a seal formation though, so he filed that in the corners of his mind. Temporary information that may be dangerous…

He stopped.

All he could see in the gap between the hat and the coat were blue eyes. Familiar, wide, blue eyes.

He tore his own away, leveling his gaze with Itachi's constantly-amused one, eyes slit to a dangerous point as he activated his own bloodline limit, satisfied that so far, he was on par with Itachi.

Except for one thing.

"Where's your little partner, hm?" He mocked Itachi, as he did not need a partner. He'd learned everything about the Akatsuki…Their ranks, their limits, their abilities….

Orochimaru had been good for something.

"Kisame?" Itachi raised his chin at the question, looking beyond Sasuke. His hate coiled in his stomach, and he made a quick check behind him. The bastard was mocking him. "But it isn't him you should be worrying about. It should be Naruto here you worry about."

The shorter figure looked startle, eyes wide and staring at Itachi, though he maintained whatever he was holding. Sasuke was staring, eyes impossibly big and chidori still making noise and he couldn't think.

"…Naruto?" He choked, not believing whatever he had heard.

Blue eyes shyly met his own, "Hi, Sasuke-chan." He could feel the grin under the cloak, and he knew. He knew, and he thought, and he could not comprehend.

So he rushed forward, and everything faded out to the screams of the ANBU team following him.

OoOoOoOoOo…

It took awhile for Sasuke to figure out where he was. He blinked slowly, before scowling deeply.

'Hospital.' registered in his mind, because he'd been here more times than he could count, and he was beginning to detest the white ceiling and sterile smell that wafted on the air in the building.

He turned his head as the door opened, not surprised, but mildly disappointed when Sakura appeared, tray in tow and smile on her face. "Sasuke-kun! I'm sad to see you in the hospital again…But I'm glad I can see you, it's been such a-"

Sasuke glared at her, "Sakura, stop it." She instantly closed her mouth and nodded. "Where's the ANBU who followed me? Did they get him? Did any die? Why did I pass out? Which jutsu's were in effect? Where's the detailed report?" He tried to ask more questions, but she was holding up her hands in a submissive gesture, as if telling the Uchiha she gave up. He shot her an annoyed look, but remained silent.

"To answer each question, one sentence will do." The kunoichi placed all of his medicine on the bedside table, before continuing. "All the ANBU are dead by use of Mange Sharingan, Sasuke-kun." She looked at him, disappointment shining clearly in her eyes, "You have been convicted of this crime, and will not be allowed out of Konohagakure, as you will also be doing work without pay. The only reason you're not in jail is because of your status, and it would be useless because without a doubt you could and would pay the bail fee."

"What!" He ripped his covers off, stumbling out of bed only to sink to his knees in pain, surprised when he coughed up blood. "I…" He coughed again, doubling over and holding his stomach. "It wasn't…" The floor felt cool against his forehead. "Itachi…and…Naruto" A gasp. His voice faded out as he slumped to his side, the last words he heard startling and angering him.

"Ah, Sasuke-kun…" She sighed, and he closed his eyes, slipping into the dark yet again. "I'm so sick of your excuses…"

OoOoOoOoOoO…..

Sasuke's eyes adjusted to the harsh light, and he blinked, squinting and rolling his head to the side to take in his surroundings. His memory was still foggy, and the last thing he remembered was a smiling face….

He gasped, shooting up only to cry in pain, falling back to the bed and shivering. He arched his back to raise his shoulders off the bed, screaming silently in a way that was painful to watch. He panted as the pain subsided, vision swimming into focus.

"Subconsciously, you used chakra, Uchiha-san, and those restraints around your wrists and ankles are specially made to deliver a rather painful backlash." He looked to his feet, embarrassed and enraged that Tsunade had seen him like she had, full of pain and anger. "You're in a special intensive care unit, because we have ANBU accounts that you tried to attack Sakura-san yesterday afternoon, even though she adamantly declares that you were just getting up."

Sasuke stared at her, eyes cool even in the face of these accusations. Tsunade continued on, oblivious to the killing intent aimed at her. "Sakura-san briefed you on your charges, didn't she?" He nodded, and she acknowledged this with a brief tilt of her head. "Added onto those charges will be an attempted attack, though it will do little but add a couple of months onto your sentence."

Finally, he spoke up, voice gravelly from disuse and sleep, "I didn't do that. I didn't do any of it." She looked thoughtful, and he continued. "It was Itachi." She nodded sagely, and he was surprised she wasn't surprised. "Tsunade-sama, Itachi, a missing nin, is in the vicinity of Konoha! He has his partner and Naruto! Naruto's in the Akatsuki!" He struggled against the bonds, gritting his teeth against the pain and satisfied when he heard a crack, right hand freed. "Tsunade-sama, Naruto's alive."

There was a flash, and Sasuke's hand was nailed down again, literally impaled through the wrist . He looked up, startled and eyes hazy as he felt the tears dripping on his bleeding appendage. He looked up, voice silent because he wasn't even able to comprehend what was happening. "…?"

"Sasuke…" Tsunade was close to crying, head bent as if praying, "8 families have lost their sons and daughters. 8 more families to hate you, Sasuke! Don't you get it? Stop making…" She clenched her teeth, tightening her hands around the blunt pole impaling Sasuke's wrist, "Stop bringing back the dead, foolish boy."

He stared at her hazily, face paler then normal, even as she healed the wound she herself had caused. "I'll be back tomorrow. We'll release you then."

OoOoOoOoOoO….

He was up by the time she came around, and he heard voices conversing behind the locked door. The brunette closed his eyes as she walked in, leaning against the wall of the bed.

"I see you broke the restraints," Tsunade commented idly on this before pulling up a chair, sifting through the file in her lap.

"Did you expect less, Tsunade-sama?" He watched her coldly, no familiarity considering what had happened just the evening before. "I didn't think you thought I was like those seven ANBU guarding my room."

She recognized his words by waving a hand, and he looked at her in annoyance before she continued. "You do know that in an hour and a half, you're due for the job at the school? Shikamaru's already there, and he's under your command, Uchiha-san.." Sasuke glared at her from behind his bangs, before nodding and throwing the covers off.

Something screamed for attention in his mind, and he spoke when he realized just what. "Was Shin under Hyuuga-san's care all the time I was gone?" His evened his gaze out, eyes cool but urging her to answer quickly.

"I could find out," She said thoughtfully, biting her lip before nodding and flashing him a grin, "But you have a job to do, Uchiha-san, and I suggest you get there soon."

"If you get out of my room, I can be there in less then 15 minutes, Tsunade-sama," He watched her stand up, and she smiled at him.

"Alright, Uchiha-san. Have fun babysitting." She walked out, and Sasuke was left with his loathing.

OoOoOoOoOo…..

Sasuke, it seemed, got annoyed a lot lately. Especially when people were late.

He was patient, of course he was. You got patient when your teacher was Hatake Kakashi, your old teammate was a girl that tried to impress you, and your guy teammate was an annoying blob of sun.

But Shikamaru being late? After Tsunade had told him that said man was already there?

That, in fact, was very irritating.

"Uchiha-san, you must be losing your touch." He looked down, aggravated at the small 12-year-old a couple inches shorter than him before he realized who it was, "You should be changing soon, as there are some kids who like to avoid the rush."

"Shikamaru, go stand at your post and cast the stupid illusion," Sasuke ground out, turning his back to the shorter version of his partner.

Sasuke thought for a few moments, trying to decide what his Henge would look like…

It only took him a few seconds, and soon he was joining Shikamaru beside the fake examination room door. The brown-haired shinobi looked at him, amused and slightly curious before turning to the door, in which a team of genin had already walked through, looking unsure.

He threw a cocky grin at the three, looking much like the 12-year-old he was impersonating. "You guys better turn back now, 'cause you sure as hell ain't gettin' past us!"

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo……

So far, only three teams, in the last three hours, had furtively left, most likely to move one floor up.

What the hell was Konoha coming to? With the war too, there was no doubt that this stupid village was going to crash and burn!

He growled silently, deflecting another attempt to get past them with ease. The crowd around them had grown, and he smirked cockily, hands behind his head, and he started babbling, telling them how weak they all were.

Shikamaru was doing very much the same, randomly throwing in tidbits and snaky looks at the few closest to him.

"Hey, he looks like that retard that ditched a few years ago…"

Sasuke's ears pricked up, and Shikamaru was undoubtedly listening in on these two genins conversation as well.

"Yeah! 'Cept he don't have those stupid scars…"

Sasuke continued talking, boasting, also feeling guilty because they were, indisputably, talking about him.

He had stolen his appearance from Naruto, after all. Right down to the smallest detail.

"Hey! I'll tell you something that Dad told me, but you have to promise not to tell anyone, ok! He said he'd get in trouble, but it's real cool top secret info!"

Now Sasuke and Shikamaru were listening, both having fallen silent at the mention of top secret info. The group was still tittering, and these two wouldn't have stood out at all if they hadn't mentioned Sasuke's Naruto-Ness.

"'Kay, sure! I promise I won't tell anyone! On my honor as a shinobi!" The kid had the gall to laugh, and Sasuke grit his teeth, hand tightening on his kunai though they had been told specifically to not use weapons.

"'Kay, but you know that blond there, the one that looks like the traitor?"

Both ANBU had been able to locate the two boys in the crowd, though neither could see them without risk of exposure. Shikamaru surreptitiously placed a mirror above all of the children's head, so both he and Sasuke had a clear view.

"Yeah, the one who looks like the village idiot." A bark of laughter before he motioned for his friend to continue.

"Well, you know the Kyuubi that attacked 16 years ago? We just held a festival to honor the ninja who died for it, so you know the demon fox, right?" There was a nod of affirmation, before the boy continued.

The silence was jarring in Sasuke's head before the sentence was uttered. He saw red.

"Well, the Kyuubi never died, he was sealed in that stupid blond!"

"I HATE him!"

Sasuke hadn't even realized he'd released the jutsu, hadn't even comprehended the fact that he had the two kids at kunai point, pinned against the wall, until he felt several ANBU all softly touching the points of death on the human body. He closed his eyes, willing the sharingan away.

"I'm sure, Uchiha-san, you realize your rights as a shinobi and what happens if you violate the shinobi code." The voice was soft, and fuck, it was Kakashi, speaking formally as if they'd never known each other.

He nodded, closing his eyes and standing submissively, arms hanging loosely as he allowed himself to be led away.

Shikamaru scowled. Figured that Uchiha bastard would leave him to clean up all his mess.

How troublesome.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOo……

While all this had been happening, Shin had been glad to escape from Neji's clutches for the moment, sore and tired. He didn't care if he would get in trouble, being in the company of one person for more then a week on end was annoying, and he knew the Hyuuga felt the same way, even if he wouldn't admit it.

Which was why he snuck out when the pretty-boy had been sleeping. Ha. Where was his shinobi skills now, huh?

In fact, all his slyness was making him hungry, and even if he was tired, his stomach was growling…Which was something he should take care off. But there was only that Ichiraku place around here…

He wrinkled his nose. Ew. Where else to go?

While he was submersed in his unquestionably deep thoughts, he hadn't noticed the crowd gathering, nor had he noticed the procession that surely signaled the arrival of some very important lord, or something of the like.

"Hey, ow ow ow!" Being shoved onto the street was not nice. Being shoved onto the street in front of a very tall, very murderous-looking redhead was, typically, worse. The crowd tittered, looking surprised and excited at this new development. A newcomer, blocking the Sand Kage's path?

"Come on, buddy, help a guy out, would you?" Shin held out his hand, green eyes looking defiantly up at this new arrival, who in fact, looked very surprised that someone would offer a hand to him, even if it was an ask for help.

Especially in a non-life threatening situation.

The redhead looked mildly off put before reaching down and pulling him up roughly, and Shin moved to thank him before he realized that said man was not letting go. "Prepare a room for me. None of you are permitted to accompany or monitor anything I feel the need to do."

With that, Shin was dragged away, the other man ignoring his protests and the villagers ignoring his cries for help.

OoOoOoOoOoOo…..

"At least tell me the name of my rapist!" Shin moaned in disgust, flopping on the rather comfortable bed he'd been thrown on, and he risked a glance at the elaborately dressed man, finding himself fairly adoring the hat.

"Naruto, drop the act." He blinked up at the angry looking male, shifting so he was leaning on his elbows.

It took a few moments for the name to register, but when it finally clicked, hr growled, throwing himself to his feet. "How come everyone thinks I'm this Naruto kid? I've never met the stupid idiot in my life, so how the hell am I supposed to be him? Am I really that good of an actor?" The shorter of the two huffed, crossing his arms and glaring.

"I'm Gaara, Naruto," He was speaking softly, advancing on the brunette, eyes focused on him like there was never anything more important. "Don't you remember me?" Those eyes were chilling, but captivating, and Shin didn't resist when Gaara grabbed his hand, pushing their palms together.

"I know you have to be Naruto," Green eyes looked at Gaara inquiringly, and the redhead started explaining, all the while pulling his hand away from Shin's, looking like he was pulling something. "Because Shukaku…"

"Calls to Kyuubi." He jerked, and hanging between their hands were transparent strings, red in color and barely visible. If you squinted, you could see two actual reds moving together, sliding against each other as if grappling.

"I…" Shin looked helplessly up at him, not paying attention to how different his own chakra was from the chakra he'd seen on Sasuke or Neji. "I don't know what it is, o.k.? I don't even know if I've ever been a ninja or anything either!"

Gaara was staring at him, green eyes revealing nothing to the confused teen before him. "You wanted to be Hokage."

"I don't even know if I was this Naruto kid, o.k.! I doubt you even knew me before I lost my memory, so screw off, Gaara!" He narrowed his eyes and backed away, promptly snapping the chakra cord connecting them. "Let me leave."

Said redhead stared at the vulnerable brunette who, subconsciously, was trying to make himself as small as he could. There was no smile in his eyes now, because he realized that if this was Naruto- subconsciously or not- He would be proud that he was here, and not try to fold in on himself. "I'm sorry, Nakitama-san," Shin looked confused that the man had known his name- He'd had one of his subordinates get the file and give it to him before they arrived, of course. "I'll be sure to mention your visitation, thank-you for your time."

Gaara turned, preparing to leave before he felt a tug on his sleeve. He turned a cold eye, and surprisingly, the boy leaned up and touched his tattoo- It felt weird, he would admit. People didn't walk up and touch a demon's forehead regularly.

"You're not a demon, ya know…"He was speaking hesitantly, bright green eyes off to the side and a faint blush on his cheeks. "You'd be nice if you didn't think I was that stupid Naruto kid!" He huffed before turning around, as if signaling that the other could finally leave.

He took the hint, closing the door softly behind him and looking, annoyed, at the guards. "Research forceful amnesia, won't you?" More of a demand then a question, and he swept off, ready for Tsunade some inquiries of his own.

OoOoOoOoOo….

A frickin' asylum. They put him in the frickin' asylum.

They'd said, "Oh, nobody will know you're here!" and they'd exclaimed, "It's for the better!"

He'd show them for the better.

"Sasuke-kun, it's time to take your medication for the day."

It was useless to look up, with his eyes covered like they were. 'To prevent the Tsukiyomi' they told him. They were, of course, afraid of him. They'd always been afraid of the Uchiha's.

Speaking of afraid…

"Uchiha-san?" The voice had become more timid, a far throw from the boisterous and familiar attitude she had burst into his cell in. He snorted before opening his mouth, waiting and hating every minute of it.

It didn't take long for her to pop the two pills into his mouth, and he sipped the water offered to him, scowling and moving his hands to his lap.

He could hear her flinch. As if he could perform any jutsu's…There was an ANBU to his left, in the shadows, and he couldn't even move his hands to perform the seals, thanks to these damn stiff gloves.

"I have a message from Hokage-sama for you, Uchiha-san," He tiled his head up, focusing on her as if he could see her, and he was satisfied that he could get a faint image. He could see she was trembling, too.

He would have at least three seconds to get out of that opened door, if he wanted to, before the ANBU would catch him.

He nodded, as if to tell her to speak up, and she took this as a sign, trying to keep the trembling out of her voice. "Regarding your question as to whether Nakitama, Shin-san was with an escort during your mission out of the city, she has responded with a reply to state that he was gone for 1 hour without any care or watch whatsoever, on his request." She bowed her head, continuing to rattle off facts and figures while Sasuke ignored her.

He'd gotten what he wanted out of the message, and he quieted his mind to calm the questions, the one's causing him to wince from the headache they were causing. He listened to everything but the prattling, from the ANBU's non-breathing to the voices of other patients in the hallway.

"I can't believe Hyuuga-sama is dating the newcomer!"

"It's like a romance novel- The man with no past or memories has wooed the one from a prestigious clan!"

"Come on, you guys…"

"Oh, come one, Hinata! That's so…Wow! Hyuuga-sama and Nakitama-san…It has a ring to it!"

He didn't even know what he was doing, really- It seemed he was becoming more apt to black-out when feeling extreme emotion. Next thing he knew, though, was that he had Hyuuga Hinata up against the wall, hand closing around her throat as he hissed threats.

"If you ever hurt Shin, I'll kill your whole clan." What was this burning, brutal sensation in his heart?

"If you ever cause him a sliver of pain, I will tear out your eyes," Why was there a vice around his heart?

"But because he's dating you, he must think you worthy," He spat in her slowly reddening face, full of an intent he didn't understand. "So if you ever…" The other nurses were screaming for the guards, and the patients were screaming in glee at the idea of somebody being hurt, and the ANBU was whispering in his ear to Let go, or I'll be forced to carry out extreme measures.

He slowly released his grip, aware what the pinprick had meant. He relaxed as he was dragged away, pulled away from the gasping Hinata who was trying to get something out of her throat, trying to speak.

"Uchiha-san…" She gasped, and he could see the words on the edge of his vision, "Nakitama-san isn't dating me…" His hearing was going, just like the rest if his motor functions, "He's dating Neji-kun…" He stared blearily, letting the words soothe him as he slipped back into the dark that he always seemed to relapse into.

The words weren't that soothing, come to think of it.

OoOoOoOoOoOo….

There, done for another chapter! At a measly 5,500 words or so…And as a prediction, I think this story will end around 15/16 chapters! Let's see if it comes true.

In other news…Well, there isn't any other news. I believe there isn't any notes either! Cool!

-pokes the review button, which is eating her hand.- I think it needs to be fed. Want to donate food?