The walk the took to the hospital was utterly painful. Every step the blond took was like a massive needle had been shoved through the base of his fgoot before hitting his spine and sending his entire body into a cold shudder.

He was gasping, all the while using his hand to cover all that he could. The sounds of breath escaping his mouth were shaky, hoarse, and terrifying. He would have used both hands to mask his gasps, but Hinata held onto his other in a strong grip; pulling him forward, perhaps afraid of him attempting to escape.

His body slouched slightly, his composure disappearing rather quickly.

He didn't want to go to the hospital. He knew death was crawling within his subconscious, there was no need to worry anyone else. He could just as easily pass and go in his own apartment.

'I don't want to drag anyone into this mess. My own mess.'

He watched the two in front of him, only being able to see there backs. He watched the ground beneath him, moving opposite the direction he walked. He watched his own hand, the one clutching the Hyuuga's for dear life.

'Why...does my body reject me? Why won't it listen to my brain...?'

He closed his eyes before completely bringing his feet to a stop.

Hinata turned, surprised, staring at Naruto in a confused manner before asking, "What's wrong?"

His eyes were locked onto hers a moment before he turned his face, almost instantly becoming flushed on his pale cheeks.

Neji turned as well, but was slightly annoyed at what he saw- not that he saw it as bad or anything. "Naruto, what is it?"

They were halfway there. They could always turn back. It wasn't too much to ask of now, was it?

"Hey." Neji demanded.

Naruto hesitated a moment before he tilted his head only enough to make contact through the corner of his eye. His hair cascaded so much over his face that it was nearly impossible to see his cerulean eyes staring at the two.

"Naruto-kun..."

Hinata was getting desperate to know what was wrong while Neji knew the straight answer they would receive. He had already been planning to devise a response.

The blond used his free hand to clutch at his heart, pulling and wrinkling at the fabric of his orange jacket. "I-" He stared down at the ground, apprehensive at first of stopping them at their tracks after everything they had told him earlier. "You- you don't need to t-take me to t-the h-hospital..." His gaze flickered to a villager not far from him, walking by all the while pulling a cart of goods behind them.

'They're going to get so mad...but I never forced them. I never would.'

"I- I should just go home a-and...you know."

"Naruto-kun..."

"I- I'll be fine... I don't have to go to the hosp- pital..." He was pulling away now, not that the Hyuuga let go of his hand, though. She continued to hold it in her surprisingly vice grip all the while shaking her head and refusing to let go.

Neji frowned. "You're going."

"N-no-"

"Dobe, just shut it and go, will you?"

Naruto was so surprised, he flew around to find that a certain raven was glaring at him, arms crossed with face scowling.

"W-when did you get here?"

"A while ago." He stalked over to the blond, grabbed his arm and pulled him forward. "And you won't be saying no."

"B-but Sasuke-"

"Shut it, you idiot." The teen's voice released a slight tinge of annoyance and anger. "Do you really think I would just believe you missed training without a good reason. Sure, that'll happen." He stopped in his tracks a moment and turned to glare at the blond. "You wouldn't willingly give up on Sakura if you were fine, either."

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