NO I DO NOT OWN NARUTO! Sheesh…
Author's note: I just wanted to clarify one thing… I know that Asuma was killed by Akatsuki and not Orochimaru. In chapter two, Kurenai is simply venting on ANYONE. There will come a time when revenge against Akatsuki will present itself. ( yes, that means I intend to make this one massively long saga of a story.)
And to answer another question I received…the only spoilers in here were for the people who didn't know Asuma was dead and that Sai was introduced and so on and so forth. That was why the warning was placed.
Thanks again! –Oh and I added an extra surprise to this chapter that I was going to save for later on.. but oh well.
Chapter 4: Kakashi vs. Sasuke, Sakura Awakens, Kurenai's gift
"Kakashi."
Sasukes weary gaze greeted the copy nin that morning as he walked into the hospital room.
"Welcome back, Uchiha Sasuke."
The use of his formal name betrayed the coolness with which his former sensei spoke. Kakashi leaned against the door frame, arms folded across his chest. "Tsunade tells me you're no threat to us now."
"You don't believe her?"
Kakashi shrugged. "I don't think I've made up my mind yet."
"I've given you no reason to doubt my word." Sasuke said.
Instantly, the silver-haired ninja was next to the bed, his face inches from the Uchiha.
His voice was barely a whisper. "Your actions have left someone close to me near death. That, I believe, is reason enough to doubt you. And the fact that you haven't even inquired about her or Naruto makes me wonder if you even care."
They stared at each other for a long, tense moment.
Finally, Sasuke broke the silence.
"Caring is the only thing that kept Orochimaru from taking over my body completely."
Backing away, Kakashi shook his head. "Then give up this foolish quest for revenge. Don't make your friends lose you again." He frowned. "And, quite frankly, I don't want to spend another three years of my life chasing after you."
"Itachi must pay." Sasuke turned his face away. "My resolve in that has not changed."
"Then mayb.."
"Kakashi!" Shizune threw open the door. "Tsunade sent me….Sakura is awake! She's asking for you."
"We'll continue this later." Kakashi strode through the door.
"Umm…Sakura…she's asking for you too, Sasuke." Shizune shifted uncomfortably in the doorway.
Sasuke couldn't meet her gaze. "I don't wish to see anyone."
Shizune's unsure expression turned to one of sadness. She closed the door without a word.
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Sakura tried her best to smile as one by one the visitors came and went. It wasn't that she didn't want to see her friends. She just didn't have the energy to give each of them the attention they wanted from her. Poor Ino had been close to tears—something Sakura had rarely, if ever, seen. Most of them came with gifts of some sort and Lee, of course, had brought her way too many flowers.
Naruto had come and gone a number of times and Sakura was surprised that he hadn't set up camp in the corner of her room.
Now here he was again, holding out a steaming cup of ramen to her, a giant grin spread across his face.
"Here, Sakura-chan. You must be hungry after sleeping for so long."
"Uhh… thanks.. Naruto…" She reached for the bowl but was saved from having to eat it by Tsunade.
"No soup yet, Naruto." The hokage handed the bowl back to him. "You'll just have to eat it for her."
"Oh, well sure! I mean, it's pretty fresh and it'd be a shame to waste a bowl of ramen."
Sakura almost laughed but the pain in her abdomen sent a searing reminder to her and she winced, doubling over.
"Sakura-chan!"
"No, Naruto, it's okay," Tsunade held him back. "Just be a little more on the quiet side until she feels better, okay?"
The kyuubi boy looked crestfallen, but he nodded and shuffled over to the corner to eat his ramen.
"Alright," Tsunade called out to the nurse in the hallway. "Hold off on the visitors for a moment."
She leaned down to Sakura, who adjusted herself on the bed. Placing a hand on her forehead, Tsunade closed her eyes. Sakura could feel the comforting sensation of the healing chakra coursing through her body. For a moment, the pain in her abdomen lessened and she gratefully relaxed.
Tsunade pulled away.
"You're healing slower than I like, "she frowned. "But perhaps when your own abilities are back, you will be able to do more on your own."
"Thank you, Tsunade."
The sannin smiled and turned to leave. " I'll let the world know they can start coming back in."
"Sakura, maybe when you're feeling better," Naruto wiped the ramen from his face, "then you can come with me to get some ramen."
She smiled, "That'd be nice, Naruto."
"Ahh," said a voice from the doorway. "That fake smile. But I don't think you're quite able to hit anyone at the moment…"
Sakura turned to see Sai, Kurenai, and Kakashi outlined in the doorway.
"She might muster up enough strength just for you, Sai," Kakashi smiled at her. "Or I'm sure Kurenai wouldn't mind doing it for her."
"That I wouldn't," The red-eyed woman walked over to the bed. "How are you feeling?"
"Well, for being stabbed the stomach a second time, not too bad I guess." Sakura said.
"We're just glad to have you back."
Kakashi pulled a chair up to the end of the bed, putting his feet up where he found room. While Sakura talked with Kurenai and Sai, he studied his pink-haired comrade. Shes in more pain then shes letting on. She looked older somehow too. Something in her eyes.
Kakashi pulled out his book for cover.
He wondered silently if Sasuke was going to come see her. Probably not. He cringed. No matter how much she gave him, it would never be enough. She deserves better than thi..
"Kakashi?"
He looked up to see the three of them staring at him. "Kakashi, you saw Sasuke this morning?"
Damn. Who had told her that? He glanced accusingly at Kurenai and Sai.
"Uh, yeah. Yeah I did."
"And?" She looked at him expectantly.
"He's healing fine."
Sakura knew she wasn't going to get more out of him than that.
At her gloomy expression, Kurenai spoke up. "Naruto… would you mind talking to me in private?"
The young man looked up, "Sure, Kurenai-sensei."
She nodded. "I'll visit again Sakura."
"And I'll be right back," Naruto assured her.
Sai took up Narutos seat. Taking out his supplies, he began to draw and Kakashi settle back in to reading his book.
This was fine with Sakura. She was beyond tired and she was more than willing to settle back into the covers of her hospital bed.
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"There is something I wanted to speak with you about." Kurenai stared out at Konoha from the roof of the hospital. "Something very important to me."
Naruto looked up at her. Kurenai continued.
"When Asuma died," she closed her eyes, "a part of me died too. And I was left with nothing but an intense feeling of loss…"
A tear slid down her cheek.
I thought that by continuing to fight, that I would lose that pain. But the killing only made it worse. I learned a valuable lesson that day near Sound. I learned that revenge is not the path for me. Asuma would not want me to live my life that way.
Naruto swallowed hard, knowing full well what revenge could do to a person.
"…But I can't go on thinking that his killers are out there and will never pay for what they've done to so many…."
She held out something to Naruto. A small parcel wrapped in cloth.
He took it slowly, his eyes wide.
Kurenai held on to the package a moment longer before saying, "He would want these to belong to you."
Opening the gift, Naruto didn't know what to say. He stared down at it for long moments before turning his blue eyes back to Kurenai. She was once again staring out at the horizon.
"I don't have the chakra to use them." She smiled, her gaze distant. "They belong to you now."
"Thank you, Kurenai-sensei," Naruto whispered, staring at the trench knives.
"Just promise me, Naruto, that if you ever get the chance…you'll use them to avenge Asuma."
"I promise." He gripped them close to his chest. "I promise."
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Sasuke was sleeping when Kakashi came back.
"You're not as quiet as you think," he said, annoyed at being woken up.
"I wasn't trying to be quiet."
"You've come to yell some more?"
The copy nin stared hard at Sasuke. "I never yell. But I have come to warn you—that I'll be watching you."
"Good to know."
Kakashi turned and left.
Sasuke stared at the ceiling. He had known that if he was ever brought back to Konoha that it would be hard. He was beginning to wonder if he even wanted to be back. There was nothing this place had to offer him.
Nothing.
But he knew that wasn't entirely true.
He had learned from Orochimaru that trust put in the wrong people had dire results. With his friends—if they were still his friends—he knew there would always be loyalty and…concern. They had spent years of their lives training simply to bring him back.
As much as that was comforting…was that what he wanted?
He had almost lost focus once.
Sasuke frowned.
He hadn't been this confused in a long, long time.
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Sakura wasn't sure what woke her.
She glanced around the dark room, vaguely aware that the window was open.
What's that? She squinted. For a moment it seemed as if there was an added darkness in the corner of her room.
Great, you're going crazy now, she thought.
Sakura sat up, swinging her legs over the side of the bed. She watched the small sliver of the moon through the window. She held her head in her hands.
He didn't come see you today. He still hates you.
She sighed. "I know, Sasuke-kun. You've always hated me."
She stood and limped her way to the bathroom, hand clutching her bandaged wound.
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Sasuke stood there for a moment after the bathroom door swung closed. He almost didn't leave. But before the door opened again he had slipped through the window and back into his own room.
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Update ASAP chapter 5: Tsunade's Offer
Summary: Is there any offer that will make Sasuke want to stay?
Sorry, I know this chapter was mostly dialogue, but twas needed to build the story :)