Syncope

Chapter 4

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When the door to her hospital room opened, Sakura expected to see her husband, punctual and precise to the fault, and underneath it all so, so tired. He never said anything, but she noticed that he was getting more and more tired of everything—of the hospital, of the false hopes, of her illness. Sakura hated herself for thinking like this, for doubting him, but she couldn't get rid of a deep-seated fear that one day he'd just get tired of her and leave. What use he had for a sick, bed-ridden wife? She was only bringing him trouble.

She started to think that maybe she should just end it quickly. It would be kinder to both of them, heroic even. She'd be sparing them both so much unnecessary suffering. Sarada would take it hard, but she was young and children were resilient. With her father there, she'd bounce back from the loss and become an excellent kunoichi. Be happy. That's all Sakura ever wanted for her daughter.

When instead of Sasuke, Kakashi appeared in her doorway, Sakura knew that her fears came true. The realization took her breath away. She didn't even consider any other explanation for Sasuke's absence. She knew her husband too well. If he was still in the village, he would have come to her.

Sasuke left.

Sakura's eyes were stinging with tears, so she quickly turned her back to Kakashi and pressed her face into the pillows, hiding the emotion.

"Yo! How's my favourite student doing today?" he asked gently, pretending he didn't see anything. She was thankful for his tact, though she wished he'd leave her alone.

"I'm sick, sensei," she mumbled into the pillow. "Go away and let me rest in peace."

"I'm afraid I can't do that, Sakura. I came here to read you some books and if your husband hears I ditched you, he won't like it."

Sakura froze, then turned her head to peer up at Kakashi. He gave her the crinkled, masked smile.

"Sasuke went to find a cure for you, Sakura. You know he's not a type to just sit around and do nothing when his loved one needs help," he answered her unspoken question.

"Yeah..." Sakura croaked out and wiped her reddened eyes as a wave of relief coursed through her. She felt ridiculous and foolish. Of course Sasuke-kun wouldn't abandon her.

"Sarada went with him, so it's going to be just you and me. Just like in the old times," Kakashi said lightly, earning a faint smile from her.

"I have other visitors, you know," Sakura pointed out with an arched brow. "You said they went where?" she asked about her family.

"So which book do you prefer? I recommend the new Icha Icha Love Pentagram, but Tactics is an old and much beloved classic," Kakashi said, ignoring her question as he pulled out the two books. He was obviously avoiding the topic and that instantly picked her interest. Sakura looked at him with calculation, trying to figure out what he was hiding from her.

However, her head was starting to feel heavy from too much intense thinking. She decided to let the matter drop. She trusted Kakashi's judgment and she trusted Sasuke to protect Sarada with his life, so wherever they went, she was safe with him.

Sakura shifted around and made herself comfortable. "The new book is fine with me..." she requested softly.

"Great choice, actually I think the new author surpassed Jiraiya with this one," Kakashi said. He flipped the trashy romance novel open and started reading to her out loud. He had a nice, soothing reading voice and soon Sakura was lulled to sleep. She didn't even last through a whole chapter.

When she drifted off, Kakashi briefly stopped reading to look at her with concern. His student seemed so small and vulnerable, reminding him of that young, fresh-faced genin that needed his protection. Except that now Sakura was a powerful kunoichi. And she was fading too fast.

You better hurry up, Sasuke. She needs you, more than you can imagine, Kakashi thought and continued reading in silence.

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"Sasuke-kun and Sarada-chan. What a pleasant surprise to see you back so soon," Orochimaru greeted them in a simpering tone as he slithered out of his shadowy dungeons.

"Orochimaru, I need information about a cure for chakra illness," Sasuke stated his business bluntly. He wouldn't waste time to play nice with the old snake.

"Ah yes, I heard that Sakura-chan is very ill. You realize that even if I had a cure, it can still be too late to save her," Orochimaru said. "Some antidotes don't work if you don't give them immediately."

Sasuke's eye flashed crimson, but when he spoke, he was entirely composed. "I already told you, my wife isn't that weak."

"And yet, you keep coming here to ask for my help to save her. I'm starting to see a pattern," Orochimaru commented with a nasty chuckle.

Sasuke and Sarada glared at the snake Sannin in unison. The family resemblance was so strong that it prompted another laugh out of him.

"Are you going to help or not?" Sasuke demanded coolly.

"Of course I am. I'm a reformed man, aren't I? And it would be so sad to see Sakura-chan pass away before her time," Orochimaru said in a darkly delighted tone that suggested he thought quite the opposite. "Come." He turned and started walking away. Having no choice, the Uchiha duo followed.

"Can he really help Mama?" Sarada whispered to her father in doubt. She didn't forget how the last time the DNA test she'd taken at this place was wrongly interpreted by Suigetsu. It didn't inspire her confidence in Orochimaru's methods.

Sasuke gave Sarada a pat on the shoulder. "He will if he knows what's good for him."

"My, my, no need for threats, Sasuke-kun. Have some faith in your old mentor," Orochimaru said and stopped at the door with a 'Lab 1' sign. "You're in luck, my best researcher is back on the base." He opened the door. "Karin. Say hello to our guests."

Sarada, who was still wrapping her head around the mentor slip, gasped in surprise when she recognized the woman who came out of the lab. It was the same red-haired woman with glasses that she had mistakenly assumed to be her real mother.

Karin adjusted her glasses. "Sasuke. Long time no see," she said in a brusque manner. Then her cool eyes moved to the girl, widening in shock. "Is that...?"

"This is my daughter, Sarada," Sasuke introduced.

"Hello, Karin-san," Sarada said politely. "It's nice to finally meet you." Karin was staring at her strangely and it made Sarada slightly uncomfortable and self-conscious. Did she have something on her face? She surreptitiously wiped around her mouth, expecting to find crumbs from her last snack, but there was nothing.

"Aren't you going to let us in, Karin?" Orochimaru said and Karin woke from her trance.

"Right, sure, whatever. Come in," she said distractedly.

In the lab, Sasuke gave the two copies of Sakura's medical file and the research notes pertaining to her illness. Orochimaru and Karin would then cross-check this information with their database. It was going to take some time before they got any results, so the Uchihas were escorted to a lounge.

"Would you like anything to drink? Ice tea, juice, soda?" Karin offered, rummaging through the cupboards.

Sarada was about to ask for tea, but her father beat her to it. "We're fine. You can go."

Karin shut the drawer loudly and turned to say something back but one pointed look from Sasuke had her swallow back the words. "Fine," she said quietly and left them alone, shooting a glance at Sarada.

"Papa, that was rude," the girl commented with a frown. "And I'm thirsty."

"Here." Sasuke gave her his canteen. "I told you not to trust anyone in this place."

"You think they'd try to poison us?" Sarada asked with a doubtful frown and took a drink.

"Not necessarily poison, it can be some strange new drug. With Orochimaru, you never know. He sometimes likes when his subjects don't know they're experimented on. Says the data is more honest that way," Sasuke explained with a faraway look.

Sarada gasped in outrage. "Isn't that... illegal? He can't just make people into his guinea pigs without their consent! Does the Seventh know about this?"

Sasuke regarded her with amusement and sadness. Her passionate reaction reminded him so much of Sakura. His wife never forgave the snake Sannin for his many heinous crimes.

"He knows, which is why Orochimaru was put on a tight leash after the war," Sasuke said and patted Sarada's head. "Don't let down your guard here."

Sarada nodded and gave back the canteen. Then they waited.

And waited.

The girl was dozing off on her father's shoulder when Orochimaru and Karin returned with the results of their search. Sasuke sat up straight on the couch, waking Sarada, and looked expectantly at the Sound nins.

"Well?" he asked.

"Well, Sakura-chan has a truly fascinating case of a rare chakra disorder. Quite unique," Orochimaru said. Sarada was unnerved by his praise for her mother's illness. He completely didn't care that it could kill Sakura.

"Is there a cure?" Sasuke got straight to the point.

"There might be..." Karin replied. "We once had a subject with a very similar condition. You heard of him. Kimimaro of the Kaguya clan."

"He wasn't cured, only died in battle," Sasuke remembered. "How is that going to help Sakura?"

"The old research on his illness and treatment should be useful to Konoha medics. And..." Karin hesitated, wringing her hands, "... I need to come with you."

"Why?"

"I was Kabuto's assistant back then. And I'd like to study Sakura's chakra myself," Karin explained.

Sasuke pinned her down with a piercing look, then closed his eyes. "Very well." He swiftly got up to his feet. "Get what you need for travel. I'll be outside."

Sarada jumped to follow him as he navigated the confusing corridors easily, as if he already had them memorized. Karin and Orochimaru trailed behind them for a while before disappearing. There were a few traps on the way, which Sasuke disabled without breaking a stride. Sarada's appreciation of her father's ninja skills grew along with her determination to become even better than he was.

Sasuke was marching so fast that he got far ahead, while Sarada stayed behind to check if the other two were coming. She caught a wisp of conversation that clearly wasn't meant for her.

"This is probably your last chance. If you play your cards right, they won't realize a thing." Sarada recognized Orochimaru's quiet rasp.

"I know," came Karin's equally low reply and then they came into view from behind a corner.

Sarada sped up to reach her father who was waiting back at the entrance, his posture emanating impatience. Her head was swimming with questions. What Orochimaru meant? Karin's last chance for what? She was getting a really uneasy feeling about this.

"Let's go," Sasuke ordered when Karin joined them.

"Before you go, Sasuke-kun, there's something I have to ask you," Orochimaru said. "What will you do if you fail and your Sakura-chan dies?"

Sasuke paused, jaw clenched, body taut with volatile energy rolling through him. Everyone held their breath. Karin even took a cautious step back from him.

"She won't die," he finally ground out.

"Of course," the Sannin agreed with a placating, fake smile plastered on his face. "But if she does, that could be interesting... for both you and your child." Sarada shuddered when his cold, snake-like gaze slid over her. "Even the world..." Orochimaru mused.

"Another interesting thing could be your severed head on a pike," Sasuke responded evenly.

Orochimaru let out a creepy chuckle. "Ah, forgive me. I was being insensitive. It's only because of my scientific curiosity. Is the curse of hatred truly broken? I still wonder..."

"Then stop wondering and wasting my time, old man. We're leaving." Sasuke closed the topic and turned with a sweep of his cloak. He headed out with Sarada and Karin on his heels.

The way back to Konoha took significantly less time. Sasuke set a merciless pace and during the few short breaks he agreed to, Sarada was too wiped out from the mad dash to talk to him about what she overheard, not that they had any opportunity to speak in private. The girl noticed that the older kunoichi was even more winded than her, though Karin didn't voice any complaints. She didn't speak up at all, only shot them both strange looks. Those aimed towards Sarada's father were filled with a certain sadness and longing.

When Sasuke took the lead again, Sarada decided to approach Karin as they hopped on the trees.

"Do I look strange? You keep staring at me," she opened the conversation.

"I do? Sorry. It's not like that. I was only thinking you really grew up. The last I saw you, you were still a baby," Karin explained.

"It's been fourteen years," Sarada deadpanned, getting a snort from Karin.

"Yes, you're right. I didn't think you'd stay little forever," she said, then her expression softened with a shy smile. "I'm happy you're wearing my old glasses."

Sarada's eyebrows shot up. "They were yours?"

"Yes, when I heard from Sakura about your eye problems, I sent them as a gift. She had to change the lenses to your prescription, but the frames were in good condition. You look nice in them."

"Thanks..." Sarada didn't know how to react to unexpected praise, so she grasped for another topic. "You were my father's teammate, right? What was he like?" she asked.

Karin gave a surprised look. "Sasuke? Well, he was... commanding. You couldn't go against his orders even if you wanted. And he was strong. So powerful that it was sometimes scary. But it was also comforting, to be at his side, like nothing could ever hurt you..." she trailed off, eyes clouding in reminiscence.

"I see..." Sarada hummed thoughtfully. She remembered Karin's blushing face from a team photo and her dreamy tone now confirmed some of the girl's suspicions. The red-haired woman still held a flame for Sarada's father.

Unsure what to do about this nugget of information, Sarada upped her pace to break away from the woman. She couldn't make up her mind about Karin. She genuinely didn't seem like a bad person, but she was working for Orochimaru. Sarada decided to reserve her judgment and discreetly keep an eye on the woman. Just in case.

The trio arrived in Konoha late at night. Karin was brought to guest lodgings to rest, so she could join the medical team in the morning. Sasuke and Sarada despite the late hour went to see Sakura. They took only a peek at her from the door.

"We're back, Mama," Sarada whispered softly before Shizune chased them out of the hospital.

Sarada didn't remember how exactly she got back home. Her father must have carried her. She sank on the soft mattress of her bed and immediately fell asleep.

In her dreams, a snake strangled her mother and then the world burst into black flames.

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AN: Thanks for reading! I hope the chapter wasn't completely predictable. Please review and see you next time :)