A/N: Hi everyone! Here's the next chapter. Hope you like it!

The Pride of an Uchiha

Chapter 15

An earth-shattering crash greeted the townspeople of Konoha on a usual, busy morning when a monstrous orange-and-blue striped frog appeared on the hospital grounds. A woman was carefully lowered to a stretcher and immediately sent inside the emergency room where treatments were promptly started. Cardiac resuscitation was begun while a bag valve device was placed over her mouth and nose, forcefully delivering oxygen.

A blue curtain was pulled over by a round, middle-aged nurse. "I'm sorry but you have to stay there." She pointed to a corner where a small row of chairs were set for relatives and friends of the patient.

"No," growled Sasuke. "I need to see her."

"You are injured too. I suggest you seek medical treatment now," suggested the nurse.

"I don't need your advice," replied Sasuke with a glare. "Get out of my way."

"I'm sorry but we want to see her," said Naruto with an apologetic shrug in behalf of Sasuke's rude behavior.

The nurse nodded with a sympathetic look on her eyes but she remained firm on her stand not to let them in. "I'm only following hospital policy. Please stay over there while she's being revived."

"She's not yet dead!" Naruto cried in aghast.

"I didn't say she's dead-"

Sasuke took a threatening step towards the nurse. "I don't give a damn about your policy here. Now I want you to get out of my way or else-"

"Or else what, Uchiha?" A loud, booming voice came from behind them.

"Baa-chan!" Naruto called out in surprise.

"Hokage-sama," the nurse bowed respectfully and left with a relieved sigh.

"Tsunade," acknowledged Sasuke, his face impassive.

"Both of you," Tsunade gestured to Naruto and Sasuke. "Get out!"

"No, you don't understand Baa-chan!" Naruto pressed on. "Sakura needs us!"

"Just because you are the Hokage does not mean you can stop me," glared Sasuke. He took a step past her when Tsunade grabbed his arm.

"Look at the state you're in." Tsunade gave him a sweeping look from head to toe. "Your eyes are bleeding not to mention your physical injuries. If I let you in, what use are you going to be? Moral support? Will that revive her?"

Sasuke's eyes narrowed. The Hokage hit the bull's eye and he knew that she was right that he can't do anything to help. And it angered him. "I have the right to know. I am her husband."

Tsunade's eyebrow arched as she looked at him coolly. "Until when?"

"What kind of question is that?" Naruto interjected, his blue eyes looking from Tsunade to Sasuke and back and forth. He is clearly missing something here. "Is there something going on that I need to know?"

Neither Sasuke nor Tsunade replied to Naruto. The two continued to assess one another with cold anger.

"Fine," said Tsunade, breaking the silence. "You may go inside, Uchiha."

"How about me?" Naruto protested.

"Shut up," snapped Tsunade.

Ignoring their banter, Sasuke walked past them but he had merely taken a few steps when he felt a fingertip pressed on his nape. A weird electric current passed from the fingertip down to his body. Abruptly, he fell to the floor at the sudden loss of sensation on his lower extremities. Then, he felt a sharp object on his arm. Someone had given him an injection.

He shot a murderous, accusing glare at Tsunade before his vision blackened.

"Baa-chan, what have you done to him?!" It was the last thing Sasuke heard before he lost consciousness.

Bright white lights and steady, beeping sound of a machine greeted Sasuke upon waking up. He stretched out his hand to shield his eyes from the sudden glare. Upon doing so, he noticed a small device placed on his right index finger connected to a monitor where the beeping sounds came. He looked around and saw that an intravenous fluid was connected on his other hand.

Where am I? It was his first thought as he forced himself to sit. He felt weak, drained and hungry. Slowly, flashes of the past few days replayed on his mind.

What happened to Sakura? Panic rose inside him as he immediately jumped from the bed. He yanked off the device on his right index finger and the intravenous fluid on his left.

How long had he been unconscious?

"Ah, you're finally awake." From the corner of the room, Kakashi roused and walked towards him, carrying a small book which undoubtedly was another version of Icha Icha Paradise. His white hair was dishevelled from sleep.

"How long have I been unconscious?" Sasuke asked immediately.

"Two days," answered Kakashi. "Your eyes were treated to prevent the spread of infection after the hasty removal and transplantation on Kirigakure."

"How did they know about the eye transfer?" No one knew about the eye transfer except him, Sakura, Chojuro and Ao.

"The Hokage scanned your whole body particularly your eyes. Chojuro confirmed the Hokage's diagnosis. By the way, Tsunade advised that you don't use your Sharingan for at least a month."

So the Hokage finally knew the whole story from Chojuro's mouth. Hokage or not, he would never forget that she knocked him unconscious when he thought that she had already permitted him to see Sakura. Even though she had treated his eyes, he wished that he would not see her anytime soon or else he might do or say something he might regret later on.

"Is Sakura...?" Sasuke trailed off. He had been dying to ask but he realized he feared the answer.

"Yes, she is alive," Kakashi answered his incomplete question. The Copy-ninja gave him a fatherly smile tinted with sadness.

Letting out a relieved sigh, Sasuke ran his hand through his hair. Sakura is alive after all. The gods have answered his prayers.

"Sasuke," Kakashi called his attention again. "Sakura is the only one alive."

"What do you mean-"Sasuke wanted to ask when he realized what Kakashi meant. His eyes widened at Kakashi's downcast eyes.

Kakashi nodded then exhaled as if he does not want to be the one to give the news.

"Sakura lived but your child did not."

A heavy blow on the stomach.

That was how Sasuke felt at the moment as he fully absorbed the confirmation from Kakashi. He could still remember the moment when Sakura told him the news of the pregnancy. It was a spark of hope for him. The dream of reviving the Uchiha clan and returning the name to its former glory slowly coming true.

"Does she know?" Sakura would be crushed at the news.

Kakashi shook his head. "No, she is still unconscious. Comatose to be specific."

"Comatose?" Sasuke repeated the word hoarsely. He stood up angrily. "You said she is alive!"

"Yes, she is alive. Breathing and beating but unresponsive." Kakashi eyed him gravely. "Tsunade said that if Sakura's just an ordinary civilian, she would be surely dead. But she is fighting."

Goosebumps erupted all over his body at this news.

Comatose.

It means that the machines were the only ones helping her to survive. He was so stupid! If only he had realized earlier at that time that she's missing, he could have prevented all of this.

"I need to see her." He stood abruptly and went to the bedside the cabinet to rummage for his clothes. The sudden movement caused him to feel unstable and dizzy.

Kakashi quickly came to steady him on his feet. "The doctors said you still need to recuperate."

"I will see her now." Sasuke said stubbornly, grabbing a pair of clothes.

Sighing in defeat, Kakashi knew that when Sasuke sets his mind on something, nothing can stop him. "Alright, the least I can do is to take you there."

Sasuke did not say anything and put on his clothes, discarding the flimsy hospital gown on the floor muttering in annoyance. "Seriously."

"We knew you'd be looking for those," Kakashi smirked at him, gesturing on the clothes at the bedside cabinet. "Naruto went to your house and got those."

"I'll treat him to an unlimited ramen for a day." Both of them knew that an unlimited day of ramen is not enough to repay Naruto for everything he had done and sacrificed. Maybe until the day he dies, he would not be able to fully repay Naruto for all the trust and friendship he had shown him.

"Why don't you eat first?"

"Later." Sasuke opened the door leading to the hallway. He can already feel the pangs of hunger gnawing on his stomach but it can wait. Besides, he hated hospital food. It tasted bland. "Where is she?"

"Sakura's a few rooms across from yours, the nearest one besides the nurses' station." As they were walking in silence, Kakashi decided to strike another conversation to lighten up the mood. "I forgot to say that Naruto had also borrowed some of your clothes."

"Why?"

"Didn't want to do laundry, I guess."

"Figures," Sasuke smirked. Naruto's apartment always a big mess. All dirty clothes were scattered around, the dishes piled in heaps, weapons and scrolls strewn across the floor. He was not a neat prick either but at least he separates the dirty from the clean ones.

"He had a hard time choosing clothes because he said that your clothes are always black, blue or white. Plain and boring as I quote his exact words." Kakashi snickered at the poker-faced man beside him.

"I will never wear something as hideous as orange," replied Sasuke. They finally reached the room and entered on which an ominous silence greeted them punctuated by the steady beeping sounds of machines.

If not for Kakashi's support, Sasuke felt like he would have gone weak at the sight that greeted him.

Sakura looked fragile and weak amidst the bed and all the tubes and machines surrounding her. A tube on her mouth was connected to a mechanical ventilator which helped in delivering oxygen. On her right side, an inch-wide semi-transparent tube was connected to her side and draining to a small closed bottle.

"What's that for?" He asked pointing to Kakashi the tube on her side.

"According to Tsunade, the tube is punctured to her lung to drain the fluid that has accumulated in it when she drowned." Kakashi explained. "One lung at a time. After the right side has improved and cleared, they would do the left one."

Punctured on her lungs?

"What are you doing here?!" A sharp voice said behind them.

Kakashi and Sasuke turned to see a middle-aged red-haired woman on the door carrying some packs of ramen.

"Haruno-san," greeted Kakashi with a respectful bow. "We came here to visit Sakura."

Sasuke bowed too, feeling the intense glare of the woman on them.

"He's not allowed," she said coldly to Kakashi, referring to Sasuke.

A tense silence stretched between them before Kakashi broke it with a light banter.

"Ah, Sasuke just woke up and he wanted to see her," explained Kakashi.

Sakura's mother glared at Sasuke. "Now that you have seen her condition, you can leave."

"He cares for your Sakura-chan," said Kakashi.

"Look what have you done to my daughter!" She shouted at Sasuke.

Sasuke was at a loss on what to say.

"You did not take care of her as you promised us. Now her child was lost and heaven knows if she would wake up..."

She started sobbing but it did not stop her from her angry outburst.

"This could not have happened if she did not marry you in the first place! Of all people in Konoha, why YOU?!"

Kakashi cleared his throat and rose to Sasuke's defence. "Nobody wants this to happen. Sasuke did everything to save them both."

"We never wanted you for Sakura! She loves you and that's the only reason we gave our blessing to your union. We wanted our daughter to be happy but look what had become of her. If I were her, I would have chosen someone better."

"Like Naruto?" Sasuke intoned quietly. He knew that Sakura's parents favoured Naruto for her even though the two stressed out that they were only best friends. Naruto was the hero of the Fourth Shinobi World War and the next likely Kage. What parent would not want him for their daughter?

"Yes," she answered. "If I can have it my way, I would have picked Uzumaki Naruto for her."

"Instead, she chose to marry a former S-class criminal, right?" Sasuke retorted in a tone full of coldness.

Sakura's mother was about to retort when Naruto and Sakura's father arrived.

"What's going on?" Naruto asked upon arriving at the scene. The tension between them could practically be felt.

Sakura's father went to his wife and took her by the shoulders. "Come on, you need to rest."

"But what about-"

Sakura's father shook his head firmly. "They're going to watch over her. Let's go."

Shoulders slumped; they left the room with Sakura's father giving a small nod to Sasuke.

"What was that about?" Naruto asked when they finally left. "I heard some shouting."

It was Kakashi who answered him. "Let's call it simply as a "mother hen" mode."

Naruto shrugged and let the subject dropped. He went over to Sakura and stroked her hair tenderly, his blue eyes showing brotherly love and sadness. "Morning, Sakura-chan!"

"I brought some flowers and foods for you. Hinata bought the flowers but she can't visit you today because she has a mission. I bought some food but if you don't like them, can I just have it?"

Naruto continued talking and making silly jokes now and then as if Sakura was awake and conscious. Well, if she were, Sakura would probably smacked Naruto on the head a dozen times.

Yet, he could not help but feel a twinge of stupid jealousy and insecurity as he recalled what Sakura's mother had said awhile ago. "If I can have it my way, I would have picked Uzumaki Naruto for her."

Naruto loves Sakura like a sister no more. Yes, he used to have a big crush on her when they were still chuunin which had grew into something deeper when Sasuke left their team and became a missing shinobi. Naruto made a promise to her that he would bring back Sasuke to Konoha no matter what. Whether Sakura might or might not have reciprocated those feelings, he did not know and he didn't want to know. But when he finally returned and as the years passed, Naruto realized that he loved Sakura only as a sister and a best friend. He confessed it to him one night a few years ago. And now, he was dating the shy and soft-spoken Hinata steadily for quite a few years.

"Sasuke," Naruto interrupted his train of thoughts. "You got some serious explaining to do."

"About what?" Sasuke frowned at the sudden change in Naruto's mood. It was evident in his blue eyes that he's angry and hurt.

Naruto looked at him with those piercingly; clear blue eyes and he had never felt more uncomfortable under his scrutiny.

"I saw the divorce papers."

Sasuke was discharged the next day with an eye patch on his operated eye. He was firmly instructed not to use the Sharingan for at least three weeks to allow his operated eye to heal fully. He and Naruto had a brief deep talk about what happened. Thankfully, Naruto was a good listener. He did not judged or blamed him for what happened. On his part, he felt good and relieved to be finally able to share the heavy burden he was carrying inside.

Days passed and Sakura's condition improved. As soon as she started breathing on her own, Sakura was finally extubated. Both of her lungs had cleared and she was starting to move too although she's still unconscious. Not large, jerky movement but small ones like twitching of the fingers and fluttering of the eyelids. Nevertheless, it was significant.

To avoid nasty encounters with encounters with Sakura's parents, Sasuke made sure to visit at night. Although Sakura's parents forbidded him to visit, Tsunade saw nothing to agree with them and allowed Sasuke.

After almost a week, Sakura finally woke up.

It was probably two to three in the morning where most of the people inside the hospital were asleep except for the nurses and medical staff going on with their shifts. It was Sasuke's shift to watch over her and he chose to sit near her bed. Even though his eyes were closed, he was alert to every alarm, movement or presence.

So he was stunned when he felt a feather-like touch on his face. At first, he thought it was just another of her involuntary, jerky movements. But when he saw her opened green eyes looking at him, he was speechless.

A smile broke out on his face as he gazed into her soft, droopy eyes.

"Sakura," was all he could say as he took her hand in between his. Yet, as much as he relished that moment, Sasuke knew that he had to inform the doctors of this major progress. He reached for the intercom and pressed the red button.

After careful clinical evaluation and some more laboratory tests, Sakura fell asleep once again which the doctors said were normal. Visitors started pouring in including her parents and friends. Sasuke decided to leave so as not to disrupt the positive atmosphere caused by his unwanted presence. Even though he wanted to watch and wait for her to wake up again, he knew he should leave and just be happy and contented with her progress.

The sun was already peeking over the horizon when he left the hospital and went to the apartment to eat and change his clothes. The wreckage caused by Ao's attack were repaired and the house was restored to its original look.

If only things between him and Sakura could be repaired that easily, he thought sullenly.

He took a five hour sleep and went back to the hospital. He wished Sakuraa's parents had already left but that's wishful thinking on his part. To his surprise, Naruto was waiting for him on the hospital lounge.

"Hey, Teme!"Naruto waved to him enthusiastically.

"What?"

"I've been looking for you!" Naruto berated him. "Come on, let's wake Sakura."

"Idiot," Sasuke replied. "She had woken up already a few hours ago. Let her sleep."

"But she's sleeping for almost a week!" Naruto complained. "Come on, let's go to her room. Stop whining."

Due to Naruto's insistence, Sasuje went with him although he was contented to just sit outside her room. The noise inside the room instantly died upon his arrival. Kakashi, Ino, Hinata and Shikamaru were present with Sakura's parents. Fruits, balloons, flowers and get-well-soon cards filled the room. Sakura's mother gave him an annoyed look but thankfully remained closed-lip about his presence with them.

"How's your eye?" Kakashi asked.

"Good."

"Have you been using your Sharingan?"

"No."

"Look!" Naruto's loud voice interrupted their conversation. "Sakura just woke up!"

All attention focused on Sakura who was stirring up. There was a slight crease on her forehead as if she was irritated at the noise made by the people around her. Then, slowly, she opened her eyes and scanned the people around her.

"SAKURA-CHAN!"

"Forehead!"

"Musume! "

Cries of delight erupted all around and they swarmed over her like bees to honey. Her eyes widened at them obviously surprised and overwhelmed. Sasuke remained standing on the corner, watching the scene with a small smile tugging on the corner of his mouth.

"How are you, my dear?" Her mother asked tearfully.

"Are you hungry?" Naruto asked.

"Such a strong girl," chuckled Kakashi.

"Our fight is not yet over, Forehead!"

They kept talking and asking Sakura all at the same time, giving her no chance to speak. She just nodded, shook her head or smiled.

"Water," she croaked out hoarsely.

All at once, water was offered to her. After drinking, she started to talk.

"Thanks," she said after drinking. "That was refreshing."

She looked at the people surrounding her and beamed at them. "You're all here!"

"Of course, Sakura-chan!"

"For you, my dear," Sakura's father said softly.

"Do you know why you're at the hospital?" Kakashi asked.

Sakura thought for a moment as if trying to recall what happened. "The last thing I remembered was I fell to the water with that Mist-nin. After that, nothing."

"Naruto arrived and he and Sasuke searched for you. You were barely alive." Kakashi supplied. "In fact, you were comatosed for almost a week. But now you're finally awake."

"A week?" Sakura can't seem to believe it. "Well, it's a miracle that I'm alive. Tell me the whole story later. By the way, where's my baby?"

She looked around the room as if expecting to see a crib where her newborn child would be placed. A deafening silence descended upon the room and everyone suddenly avoided her gaze, pretending to be interested on something else to do.

Sakura looked around and waited for an answer. "Okaa-san, where's my akachan?"

Startled, Mrs. Haruno looked to her husband for a silent plea of help.

"Okaa-san?"

In a false, cheery voice, Mrs. Haruno attempted to divert the subject. "Honey, why don't you eat first? I brought your favourite foods – "

"No," Sakura said firmly. Her green eyes suddenly turned suspicious at this abrupt change in subject. She knew her mother when she's nervous or lying about something. She looked around her and found everyone's eyes downcast as if avoiding her gaze.

Unfortunately, Sakura caught Sasuke looking at her from the corner. Sasuke held his breath. This is what he's dreading.

"Sasuke," Sakura called out softly. All eyes turned to him. "Where's our baby?"

A/N: Thank you for reading! I know this chap is sad.

Two more chapters and I'm done!

Please read and review!