PART 6
Sasuke opened his eyes to light. He was confused for he recalled being in a dark room. He tore away the straps that binded him to the bed, and sensed several presences.
They were at the side of his bed: Tsunade, Sakura, and Naruto. They were bending over a girl, who seemed to be flinching in pain.
"Sakura, where is he?" Tsunade cried out in frustration.
"He's coming."
As if on cue, a doctor slammed the door open and was immediately examining the girl.
"The sleep's passed on to her. I can't remove it, but I can decrease the number of days she has to suffer it."
"To how many days?" Naruto asked worriedly.
"Mmm…about 4 days. That's the best I can do." Hinata was transferred to a stretcher and carried out of the room. That's when Tsunde, Sakura, and Naruto seem to realize that Sasuke was awake.
"Uchiha Sasuke, you are extremely fortunate," Tsunade said menacingly.
However, Sakura on the other hand, cried out happily, "Sasuke-kun! Are you all right?"
He grumbled, "That's a stupid question. What happened?"
Naruto looked at him strangely, "She took your punishment."
"That girl that was lying on the ground? Why?"
"She hates cruel punishments. Her dad always mistreats her and she feels no one else should suffer what she has." To Tsunade, "Does Sasuke have to take up a new punishment?"
Tsunade was silent. Then decided, "No, it's alright. Hinata will probably interfere again. Sakura, take Sasuke to a room to rest."
Sakura complied. Naruto was silent, with almost a worried look. Sasuke wondered what was wrong with him, since it was so unusual.
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Three days later, Sasuke was released, and he met Naruto at the Ichiraku Bar.
Naruto had seemed down lately, and hardly showed his goofy grin anymore.
"What's wrong dobe?"
Naruto sighed a heavy breath, and said, "It's nothing. Just one more days and she'll wake up. I'm so worried about her."
She's just a girl, Sasuke thought. But he kept silence.
But it did peak his curiosity about the girl for she had taken his punishment, and she seemed strikingly familiar. Besides this girl…he didn't know her name.
Who was she to help someone she didn't know?
Who was she to make Naruto depressed?
Who was she to have the Hokage upset?
Who was she to make him feel so strange without even speaking?
Who was she?
So many questions, but he didn't want to ask Naruto. The owner of the bar set down two bowls of ramen, and Naruto immediately began digging in.
"Ne, Sasuke, what are you going to do now that Itachi is dead?" Naruto asked with a stuffed face.
Sasuke was quiet. Honestly, he didn't even know himself. "I'll try raising up the ranks of ninja. Perhaps ANBU since there is no higher."
"What about restoring you clan?"
Jeez this kid is nosy. "I don't need to think about that yet. I'll wait for the right moment."
"Are you going to eat that?" Naruto was staring hungrily at Sasuke's untouched bowl of ramen.
"Here ya go." The bowl was pushed, and soon it was empty. Sasuke felt as if he had lost his appetite thinking of that girl.
Sasuke went home, to the Uchiha manor. It was familiar, the whole place, but it was still lonely, not that he cared.
His eyes were about to close with sleep, until he heard a loud knock on his door.
Naruto was standing there. I can't leave this guy for even a nap!
"Sorry, Sasuke, but I'm so worried, I can't even think straight."
Oh. It's about her again.
"Naruto, go tell someone who cares, ok? Let me sleep." Irritation was obvious.
Enraged, Naruto cried out, "She's in that sleep because of you! Couldn't you care at least?"
"If I knew her, then I could. But I don't. I'm thankful, but I don't know her well enough to care."
A fist lashed at Sasuke, who was shocked. He stumbled back, and then thrust out a kick at Naruto who collided into the wall.
A fierce battle without ninjutsu erupted between them. Suddenly, the door swung open, and Kakashi and Sakura were standing there.
Kakashi held Sasuke back, and Sakura pulled Naruto away.
"How can you guys act this way?" Sakura scolded.
"I'm going to make him take back those words!" Naruto screamed.
Sasuke who had recovered his cool, asked, "What are you guys doing here?"
"Well, we wanted to let you guys know that she woke up early. She broke it 12 hours early."
Naruto stopped fidgeting, and was beaming. "Let's go visit her."
Sasuke groaned, "There goes my nap."
XXXXXXXX
She was definitely familiar. Her skin was a snowy white. Her hair was the color of the night sky, long, and draped over her shoulders. She looked shaken and scared.
Naruto cried out, "Are you better now?" The girl looked at him scared a bit, but then smiled a weak one.
"Yes, Naruto-kun," her sweet voice said. Naruto hugged her tightly, and a little color rose to her icy cheeks.
"Are you Uchiha Sasuke?" the girl asked once her gaze fell upon him.
"Oh, yeah!" Naruto yelled. "He's the one who was sentenced with that poison sleep." To Sasuke, "This is my girlfriend, Hyuuga Hinata."
His words almost made Sasuke fall over.