"Brat."
I look up casually, unfazed by her unforgiving tone and equally harsh glare.
"You're going to eat this meal whether you like it or not. Don't make me shove it down your freaking throat," she hisses and I shrug nonchalantly in reply, angering her even more. "Look, I know you're still dying to meet Sasuke, so don't die of starvation before he finally decides to get his bastard filled ass down here."
She shoves the plate in my face to emphasise her point and I take it wordlessly. She watches with satisfaction as I silently and slowly eat my meal, taking no notice of the sickening feeling it gives me. I ignore her and she eventually leaves after I down most of the plate.
Sakura comes in about an hour after lunch and she frowns as she silently assesses my health. "Naruto, it's been only a week and you've lost a lot of weight. You need to eat more. If this continues…"
We both know what she's about to say, and I look away sullenly. "What's the point of living anymore if I'm just dead weight? I don't remember anything or anyone. My health is declining rapidly even without my eating problems. Everything hurts. Why won't I just die sooner and end everyone's suffering. It's not like Sasuke's going to come and see me before I fucking die," I mutter quietly.
The slap on my cheek surprises me quite a bit. I hold my reddened cheek and look up at Sakura's face. Her face is scrunched up in intense anger, but I can see a couple of stray tears already running down her checks. "Don't you dare say that Naruto!" Her voice is shrill and demanding, but I can hear the pain laced underneath it. "You think you dying is the solution to everything?! You're just running away, you fucking coward. What happened to the Naruto who took everything head on? What happened to the Naruto who never gave up? I'm sick and tired of seeing you like this, Naruto. We're all trying to get Sasuke to visit you, and yes, it does pain us to see you like this. So don't you fucking lie there and act like you're the only one who's suffering!"
She storms off after that and I stare wordlessly at her fast retreating back, still holding my stinging cheek. Her words repeat themselves in my head and I bite my lip painfully. Have I been wrong to act that way?