Several months later, September
He was walking through the park in the early morning. Itachi had been sentenced to 30 years in prison, while Danzō was to rot away in there. He had the pleasure of housing him, while Itachi was sent into another prison. Sakura was also released from prison a few weeks ago, and he was forced to learn martial arts in her new dojo. He sometimes wrote letters to his mother too, and got a reply back. Breathing in the cold air, he sat on one of the benches in the park. It was his day off, and he planned to relax as much as he could. A vibration in his pocket startled him from his calm state. He pulled his phone out, "Dr. Kibetsu" flashing on the screen. He picked up.
"Hello, Sasuke?" He grunted in reply, tensing. The man never called him unless it was after a therapy session to report, and he knew the blonde had one right now. "Something peculiar happened a few minutes ago. In the middle of the therapy, Naruto started shouting something about completing a deal. He asked to see you."
The Uchiha inhaled sharply. The blonde had never mentioned him after he woke up, and he asked Kibetsu and the nurses not to mention him. A painful pang had gone through his chest when he had realized the blonde may connect him with a painful memory. A memory he didn't want to unlock. "I know you didn't want to get involved, Sasuke, but-"
"Will this help him?" A pause followed. He glanced at the tree above his head and watched the colorful leaves sway. A golden-colored one fell from a branch and swirled in the air a little, before landing on the ground.
"We believe this is the key to his recovery."
"I'll come." A light breeze swept through and the leaf got carried away by it. Sasuke watched it go and got up.
Even if he had never been to this hospital, everyone seemed to know him. He got greeted at least a few times, not counting the polite smiles and nods, while walking towards the reception. An elder woman was seated behind the reception desk, and she shot him a warm smile.
"Ah, Sasuke-san, right? Kibetsu told us you'd be arriving. Third floor, room 301." The Uchiha nodded his thanks, and walked over to the elevator. He got inside, pressed the button for the third floor, and waited. His hands were clammy and he could feel sweat rolling down the side of his head. The elevator's doors opened, and he walked forward. Naruto's room was the second one in the hall. He took the handle, and stood there for a few seconds, bracing himself. He opened the door.
The sight of the blonde man lying there, with his wrists strapped to the bed squeezed his heart painfully. He wanted to just turn around and run away, he was a second away from doing that, when he heard the bed creak and froze. He watched as the blonde's eyes slowly opened. Dulled blue slowly glanced at him, and he froze. When the blonde's eyes shifted to something else, unfocused, he felt guilt settle in his gut. This wasn't the same Naruto. This was the broken shell of that man, lying strapped to a bed, cut off from the world.
The Uchiha moved to the chair next to the blonde's bed, footsteps echoing loudly in the silent room. There was only one window in the room, placed so that the blonde could look outside from his bed. It was like the man was a caged animal, forced to look at the freedom he may or may not receive. He sat down on the chair, body tense. He had no idea what to say, heck he was too scared to talk at all. He looked at the blonde's strapped hand and held it in his own before his mind registered the move. It was warm.
Suddenly, the blonde's gaze snapped to him. Piercing blue met shocked black. The blonde screamed. Startled, the Uchiha pulled his hand away. He didn't know what to do, but he knew he couldn't listen to the blonde scream like that any longer. So he leaned forward and smashed his lips on the blonde's. The kiss was desperate, and impulsive. He didn't want to hear the blonde scream like that anymore. It just hurt. He pulled away and looked the blonde in the eyes. They were clear. He knew Naruto was seeing him now.
"Sasuke?" The hoarse voice of the blonde startled him. He felt like crying.
"It's me. I..."
"Sasuke, I...I forgot the words. I'm so sorry, I...fuck, I can't remember them! Why can't I remember them?!" The blonde started muttering after that, tears streaming down his face now. He took a deep breath.
"Lake, arrow, boar, brothers, fear...hunt, pride, failure, wound, jealousy, competition, memory, children." The blonde stopped his muttering, surprised blue eyes meeting his again. He took another deep breath. "It's over, Naruto. I met Itachi. He explained everything to me. The real criminal was Danzō all along, the man who tortured you. He's in jail right now. And he'll stay there forever. Naruto I'm so sorry I didn't pro-" He was cut off by loud laughing, and he got scared he lost the blonde again. His fear vanished when those blue eyes focused on him again, clear and alive.
"I'm so happy. Oh god, I thought you had died, you know? I thought you would never find out what you were looking for all this time because of me. I'm so relieved." The Uchiha sighed and grabbed the blonde's head, pulling it towards him and bumping their foreheads together.
"It's because of you I found out what I was looking for, you idiot." The blonde grinned, and the Uchiha knew he was going to be all right. This wasn't the same Naruto, but it was still him and he still loved him. When he met those blue eyes again, he knew they were going to be alright.