32. A Question Better Left Unasked

I walked down the hallway leading to the Hokage's office. Her office was at the far end of the hall behind two large, wooden doors. My feet made soft echoes against the wooden floor as I eyed that door. I'd been summoned to the Hokage's office this morning, but no one had seen fit to give me a reason why. I'd never been sent to the Hokage's office before; at least, by myself. Was I in trouble for something? Unease flipped in my gut. Regardless, I reached those wooden doors and rapped on the thick oak.

"Come," I could hear Tsunade's voice summon me through the door. Swallowing against my throat, I opened the door and slipped inside.

The office looked the same as it had when the third Hokage had occupied it. That big impressive desk still commanded attention and my eyes were thusly drawn to it. Tsunade-sama sat behind the large, oak desk, her striking golden eyes settling on me. Something about her stare and that unnecessarily large desk had me feeling very small.

My sudden inadequacy was wiped from my mind as I noted a figure standing before Tsunade and her desk. It was Nara Shikamaru, and he glanced over his shoulder as I entered the room. His confused expression probably mirrored mine. Bewildered, I moved forward, stopping before the desk on Shikamaru's left and bowing at the waist.

Tsunade gave a curt nod before immediately launching into what she had to say. "As much as I don't understand it, before the third Hokage died he had nothing but the highest praise for both of your performances during the Chuunin Exams. It seems he meant to recommend you both for Chuunin. In fact, all of those who observed you and your proctors felt the same. From this day on, I hope you strive to achieve a level of excellence worthy of that headband. Congratulations to the two of you. As of this moment, you stand a Chuunin."

Her words didn't sink in immediately. I continued to stare at her, expression blank, while they repeated themselves in my head. Only then did the surprise register on my face. Chuunin?

I glanced over to Shikamaru, though he seemed completely unfazed. Had he been expecting this? Or was it just his signature affect?

Shizune, Tsunade's assistant, stepped away from Tsunade's side, a smile on her pretty face. In each hand, she held a Chuunin vest. They were the traditional forest green with a red circle on the back where the village's kanji was printed in black. Small pockets were sewn onto the breasts. My vest was less bulky than Shikamaru's, sleeker and clearly tailored for a more slender, female form.

She held our vests out to us and for a moment, I could only stare in awe. I had not expected this; hadn't even thought about it. The Chuunin Exams had been surrounded by such pain and devastation that thinking about the true purpose of the Exams seemed almost laughable. I glanced over to Shikamaru, who glanced over to me, and I could see similar thoughts playing out in his eyes. Simultaneously, we reached out, taking our vests.

Hands dug deep in the pockets of my olive green cargos, I climbed the cement steps of Konoha Hospital. It was not lost on me that I'd walked this path more times in the last year months than I had in my entire life. The sun was so bright today that when I stepped through the sliding doors of the hospital, spots clouded my vision. I blinked them away rapidly, in time to see a familiar figure standing at the reception desk.

"Naruto!" I greeted, smiling as I moved over to him.

Naruto turned to see who had called his name and a grin broke out across his face at the sight of me. "Nakao!"

I moved across the polished tiled floor to meet Naruto at the desk. I grabbed the clipboard, noting Sakura's name scribbled above Naruto's; though she'd been here for an hour already. I scribbled my name beneath Naruto's, teasing him slyly.

"You're just now getting around to visiting our dear Sasuke?"

Naruto pointed an accusing finger at my chest. "Ah! What about you!?"

"I've been busy," I said a bit smugly, shifting my eyes to the ceiling playfully.

It took Naruto a full minute to understand me, but his eyes widened when he finally took in my new vest. "Woah, Nakao! You got promoted to Chuunin!?"

I couldn't help the grin that spread across my face. The shock was beginning to wear slightly and I was now beginning to feel the weight of my accomplishment. "That's right. Shikamaru and me."

"That's awesome! I can't believe it!" Naruto chirped, and he seemed genuinely happy for me.

I chuckled, a flush creeping into my cheeks.

"Come on! Let's go tell Sakura and Sasuke!" Naruto said excitedly, pulling on my arm before he practically sprinted down the hallway.

I followed close behind him, his joy infectious. We moved down the hallways, and Naruto flung himself into Sasuke's room, leaving the door open for me. I just moved through the doorframe when CRASH!

What the-!?

I jerked slightly in surprise at the noise. I stepped into the room, my eyes sweeping over the room. Sakura was standing at Sasuke's bedside, an abandoned stool just behind her. She looked surprised and confused, her hands shaking slightly.

Sasuke was sitting up in bed, white sheets pulled up to his waist. His head was bowed, avoiding any stares. His arm was raised away from him, as though he had just thrust it away from him.

My eyes wandered to the tiled floor. A shattered plate was scattered across the tiles amid slices of apple. I glanced back to Sakura and made the connection. Sasuke had clearly slapped the plate out of her hands; but why? Naruto was standing just inside the room, confusion twisted on his face.

"What's going on in here?" I asked, stepping further into the room, my eyes resting on Sasuke.

Sasuke slowly raised his head. His eyes flickered to mine for a moment before they settled on Naruto. Naruto continued to look confused, but Sasuke's face dissolved into pure hatred as he glared at Naruto venomously.

"What's with the look?" Naruto asked, confused but growing quickly guarded. Sakura glanced between the pair, concern already creasing her brow.

"Naruto, I want you to fight me," Sasuke said, his voice as sharp and rigid as his face. "Fight me now."

Sakura made a squeak of protest in the back of her throat.

"What?" Naruto looked more confused than ever. "But we're at the hospital; you just got patched up. What are you talking about?"

Dread had already dropped into my gut like a lead weight. Memories from the journey home on the boat came flooding back to me. Sasuke glaring at Naruto. My concern over the fact that Naruto had defeated Aoi and not Sasuke. That feeling of something invisible pressing in on me.

"Sasuke, this is hardly the time-" I started.

"Shut up!" Sasuke hissed at me with enough ferocity to make me cringe. But Sasuke didn't even seem to notice, or care. He turned back to Naruto, activating his Sharingan. "Fight me!"

Naruto's teeth were beginning to clench together and his own eyes were narrowing into a glare. "What?"

Sasuke suddenly threw back his sheets, hopping to his feet. Sakura wisely stepped back, her eyes shaking. He stalked towards Naruto so he was just a few feet away. "You did say you wanted to fight, right? Well it seems you have your chance. That is, unless you've chickened out?"

I winced. If there was a surefire way to get Naruto involved, that would have been it. I could see him grinding his teeth together, his thoughts clearly warring against themselves.

Sakura finally cut in, glancing between the boys, her voice pleading. "Wait Sasuke; don't do this! Naruto, say something! This is crazy!"

I was inclined to agree with her.

"Actually, this is just perfect," Naruto smirked at Sasuke. "I was just thinking about how I wanted to kick your ass!"

Sakura suddenly pivoted, desperately gazing at me just inside the room. "Nakao, do something!"

It was as though I'd been frozen in place. Sakura's shout seemed to have snapped me out of a trance and my eyes slowly moved to find her. Her face was filled with fear. And this time, it was completely warranted.

I mentally shook my head, setting my eyes on Sasuke and Naruto in turn. "Quit it, you guys. This is ridiculous! We're in a hospital!"

Despite my interjection, neither boy paid me any mind. It was as though I wasn't even present.

"Follow me," Sasuke said to Naruto, inclining his head towards the door. Naruto smirked in response.

I watched them walk past me through the door, Naruto trailing after Sasuke. Sakura was quick to chase after them and I was forced to follow. We wove through the hallways, finding the nearest stairway. Sasuke flung open the metal door and began his ascent to the rooftop. I quickly clambered up the stairs after them.

"You guys, knock it off!" I yelled after them. "You've both lost your minds!"

But once again, it was to no avail. They exited the stairwell onto the rooftop and Sakura and I followed after them. Both males walked to the center of the rooftop, facing one another. A chain-linked fence ran along the perimeter of the building and water tower was positioned on the far end.

The two stared at each other before Naruto let out a laugh.

"What's so funny?" Sasuke glared.

"I'm not laughing because it's funny. I'm just stoked," Naruto said cockily. "Because I know, today is the day when I finally beat you."

This was the last thing I wanted Naruto to say. Sasuke's face began to contort in anger and it all came together just then. Their rivalry had come to a head. Sasuke seemed to have realized that he wasn't the only formidable member of our team; that he wasn't undeniably the strongest amongst those we graduated with. Naruto was a threat to him now, and how could he defeat Itachi when he couldn't even surpass ninja of his own rank? And someone who had been bottom of the class no less?

"What did you say?" Sasuke lashed out. "Don't talk nonsense you inept loser."

I gasped, my eyes shifting between the two boys. Despite their history, I was still having a hard time hearing him hiss those words at Naruto. "Sasuke! Both of you, stop this right now!"

But they ignored me again. Naruto leveled a glare on Sasuke. "I won't be such a loser after I win today, will I?"

"An idiot like you has no business acting high and mighty!"

"Ha! What happened to the calm, controlled Sasuke? Am I making you nervous?" Naruto mocked Sasuke. "It looks like you picked a fight with me and now you're too scared to go through with it."

"Let's do this!" Sasuke glared.

"Put on your headband on and we will; I'll wait."

"Not to worry, I don't need that thing," Sasuke's smirk was devious enough to send a slight shiver down my spine.

"Just do it, come on!" Naruto glared.

"There's no reason to put it on," Sasuke pointed to his forehead with his thumb. "Because you won't be able to make a scratch on my forehead."

"That's not the point!" Naruto shook his head angrily. "Come on! You know that putting your headband on is a testament of fighting on equal terms as a Leaf shinobi!"

"There you go, acting all high and mighty again. You don't honestly believe that we're equals!"

"Hell yeah I do!" Naruto retorted. "All this time I've never thought I was inferior to you in any way!"

"You're a complete embarrassment!" Sasuke swiped his arm out viciously.

"Only because, next to me, you're embarrassed at how weak you are! Isn't that right, Sasuke!"

And it was that comment that sent Sasuke over the edge. He rushed at Naruto, a fist pulled back. Naruto copied and they met one another, catching each other's fists and struggling. Sasuke tried to kick at Naruto's abdomen, but he quickly blocked it. Grabbing onto Sasuke's leg, he swung him around. Sasuke maneuvered his body so that he could place both palms on the ground. Once he had leverage, he used his free leg to kick Naruto right in the gut.

Naruto flew back in the air, but he quickly back flipped and flew right back down towards Sasuke, fist pulled back. Sasuke caught him, throwing him away, but Naruto twisted and landed gracefully on his feet. Sasuke rushed Naruto again, sending a series of punches at Naruto that were so fast they were only blurs. Naruto was blocking them completely until Sasuke finally got a hit in. His fist caught Naruto's chin and the boy flew backwards, smashing through several clothes lines and landing on the ground.

I watched the pair in horror, eyes shaking. I felt paralyzed. I couldn't let these two destroy each other; because I had no doubt that they would try. But how was I going to stop them? Rush in between them? What good would that do?

While I pondered over my dilemma, the boys continued. Naruto rushed Sasuke, managing to catching Sasuke's face with a fist. Sasuke flew backwards but flipped, landing on the fence. He pushed off it, flying back at Naruto and punching him square in the jaw.

Naruto flew backwards in the air. Sasuke caught up to him and was soon kicking him to the ground. Naruto fell into a clothesline and a white sheet fell over him. Sasuke met him before he could rip the sheet off and punched him so hard that his body flew into the chain-linked fence. From there, Sasuke continued to punch Naruto in the abdomen continuously without mercy.

That's it! I've got to stop them!

I ran forwards, my feet slapping against the cement roof. My vision honed in on Sasuke's back and I ran with all my might. When I reached him, I flung an arm out, grabbing at his shoulder to wrench him off Naruto. "Sasuke, stop-!"

Before I could even finish my sentence, Sasuke pivoted and rammed a fist into my abdomen. The force sent me flying backwards and I struck the ground on my side several feet away. I coughed and wheezed, trying to catch the breath his punch had robbed me of. I found myself twisting to glance at Sasuke, my eyes shaking.

He just…he just…struck me…

This, if nothing else, confirmed it for me. Sasuke was here to end this rivalry. I wasn't sure that he cared how grievously he hurt Naruto, as long as he won this fight. And I wasn't sure if Naruto had held onto his common sense either.

My distraction had given Naruto time to throw off the sheet that had blinded him and kick Sasuke in the gut. The Uchiha flew backwards but he flipped in the air. Naruto leapt up to meet him and they began a parry of kicks and punches. They were equally matched for a long moment until Sasuke landed a hit and kicked Naruto towards the ground. But Naruto flipped and landed gracefully.

As Sasuke landed, Naruto activated his Shadow Clone Jutsu. In seconds, Sasuke was completely surrounded by clones. I had a front row seat, lying just outside of the Naruto-clone perimeter. The clones attacked Sasuke as one; but Sasuke held his own, fighting off the clones that came at him. He finally jumped into the air, forming the tiger seal.

My eyes widened in alarm. He's going to use a fire jutsu!?

Sasuke pinched his fingers together, spewing fire over the Naruto clones. They began to disappear in clouds of smoke, one by one. But this wasn't a normal jutsu. It seemed uncontrolled, just a mass of fury and flames. It was flying in all directions, including right towards me.

I gasped, whipping up a shield of wind just in time for the mass of flame to strike it. Before the fire could flare larger, I cancelled my jutsu with a great sweep that blew out the remaining flames that Sasuke had conjured. All the clones were gone save two; and they were focusing chakra in one of Naruto's hand for the Resengan.

"Naruto, no!" I screamed, desperate and shrill, hopping to my feet.

Sasuke, still in the air, activated his Chidori. They flew at each other, Naruto leaping into the air, Sasuke descending. The Resengan and the Chidori were Naruto's and Sasuke's most powerful attacks respectively.

They're going to kill each other!

"Stop!" I screamed and my feet moved.

"Nakao!" I heard Sakura shout my name.

But I kept moving, trying to close the distance between myself and the boys. I brought my hands together, running through handsigns. I could whip up a twister and throw it between them; separate them by force. I reached my last handsign and felt something grab the back of my shirt and I was suddenly being thrown, sprawling to the ground.

I bolted upright, eyes shooting to the boys. Kakashi-sensei now stood between them, each hand grabbing a boy's wrist. I watched him turn, flinging the boys in opposite directions. I winced as I heard two separate crashes.

Kakashi-sensei had hands firmly planted to his waist, his visible eyes looking to each boy in turn. "What are you two doing up here? That was a little intense for just a sparring match wasn't it? What's wrong with you two?"

The boys remained silent. Naruto had flown into a concrete wall and was struggling to his knees. Sasuke had slammed into the metal water tank, his fist completely twisted in the metal. With a sharp pull, he managed to yank his fist out and a cascade of water rushed across the rooftop.

"What were you thinking? Were you really going to kill him, Sasuke?" Kakashi-sensei asked angrily as he narrowed his eye on the Uchiha. "You really need to watch this sense of superiority. I did not teach you the Chidori so that you could use it against your comrade. When are you finally going to grow up, Sasuke?"

His face stony, Sasuke glared at Kakashi-sensei, then over to Naruto. With a sneer, he back-flipped over the fence surrounding the rooftop.

"Son of a bitch!" I hissed, hopping to my feet and sprinting over to the fence. I arrived just in time to see Sasuke dashing away. I swore, running a hand over my face.

Kakashi-sensei's words may have been true, but they were not what Sasuke needed to hear right now. He was going through some sort of…I didn't know how to explain it. Some sort of crisis. Like his identity had somehow been rocked to its core. That he'd come to some realizations that hindered something important to him.

I couldn't explain how I knew any better than when I sensed his thoughts on our journey home from the Tea Country. Maybe it was because I knew about Itachi, and was therefore the only one who, to some extent, understood Sasuke's drive. His desire to hunt down Itachi was as much a part of him as his need to breathe.

Whimpering infiltrated my ears like nails on a chalkboard. I pivoted to see tears streaming down Sakura's face, her wide eyes taking in the scene before her. "Kakashi-sensei…"

"Quit crying, Sakura," I snapped. "Act like a kunoichi."

It wasn't entirely fair to snap at her like that. But her dissolving into helplessness and despair was grating at my already thin patience. We didn't have time to fall apart. Our team was unraveling at the seams. Sasuke was breaking apart. None of us could afford to cry. At least not me.

The shocked look she shot me was the same as if I'd physically slapped her. But the whimpering stopped. Instead, her bottom lip quivered as silent tears rolled down her cheeks.

I could feel Kakashi-sensei's intense gaze turn on me. "Nakao…"

I sighed and glanced away from Sakura. "Yeah, yeah, I'll play nice."

"No," his answer made me glance up to him. His eye was narrowed in a reprimanding glare. "What were you thinking?"

"I-wait, what…?" I blinked, taken aback.

"Throwing your wind into that fray? Do you have any idea what kind of damage that could have caused?"

"I don't-"

"Those are two very powerful attacks; you can't just blindly run between them!" Kakashi-sensei lectured me.

My thin patience was stretched yet again. I felt the anger grow within me, rising until it exploded from my mouth. "So what should I do, Sensei!? Abandon my friends? Watch while they tear each other to pieces!?"

This halted Kakashi-sensei, taking away any words he had built up on his tongue. I'd stumped him, at least for now. I didn't wait for him to reply. Instead, I glared at him, daring him to contradict me.

"I'm gunna go find Sasuke."

And with that, I ran. I ran past Kakashi-sensei. I ran past Sakura, whose watery eyes followed me as I threw the door to the stairwell open and bounded down the stairs, my pounding footsteps bouncing echoes off the cement walls.

I halted in the middle of the dirt road, running hands through my hair as someone very precious to me had once made a habit of. A heavy sigh escaped my lips. The sun was setting, casting an orange hue upon the land. I had searched the entire bloody village, only to come up short.

Being unable to find Sasuke filled me with even more concern than I had already been harboring. I knew Sasuke wasn't in his right state of mind. And despite what he thought, I could not leave him to deal with this on his own. But I had no idea where to find him.

Heavy morose began to settle on my shoulders and I gazed out in front of me. In the distance, the Hokage faces carved into the mountain stared back at me. I remembered them from a very special memory; and I headed in that direction.

Ten minutes later I found myself atop the Academy building. I leaned against the railing that surrounded the rooftop, peering at the Hokage faces a short distance away. My eyes then fell so that I was now staring at a set of three cement steps. A small breeze blew my bangs into my eyes and I shook them away.

When I thought about it, it really hadn't been that long since I sat on that third step before a stranger and beside a pink-haired spaz, a blonde-haired spaz, and a dower boy who knew one facial expression. But it felt like a lifetime ago that I'd lamented over the team I'd been given.

Just when had those four idiots become important to me? How had they wormed their way into my world? Even Sakura I didn't want dead anymore; as much as we would never quite get along. It wasn't just her flippant attitude towards being a shinobi; but her obsession over Sasuke had always rubbed me the wrong way. How she proclaimed to love him when she didn't even know him. But I knew him, because we had been friends-

My head snapped up in realization, my mouth dropping open slightly. There was once place I hadn't checked. I pushed away from the railing and dashed towards the stairs.

My feet crunched against the dry leaves that littered the forest floor. The breeze was picking up a bit, stirring the leaves at my feet and my hair into my eyes. I picked my way through the brush until the stone structure came into view.

I paused before it, my heart rate picking up. What was I doing here? No doubt my presence was very much unwanted. But I took in a deep breath of air through my nose, squared my shoulders, crouched, and slid beneath the bridge.

And there he was, sitting against the stone of the bridge, one wrist dangling from a knee. He didn't look up when I entered, but kept his eyes trained on the crudely drawn stick figures etched into the stone across from him.

Wordlessly, I crawled towards him, plopping down beside him. I glanced at him, but still, his gaze never strayed. I pulled my knees to my chest and hugged them to me.

"So…" I clicked my tongue, gaze on those stick figures. "Do you want to tell me what the hell that was all about?

Sasuke remained silent. Because of course he would. That doubt began to gnaw on my brain. What was I even doing here? Why did I think this was a good idea? He didn't want to see me. He didn't need me. He didn't need anybody…

"You wouldn't understand."

I almost jumped when he spoke, so surprised that he had done so. I tried not to sigh and spoke softly, longingly. "Let me try…"

I turned my head to look at him, only to find him already staring at me. The heat of his gaze was so intense I immediately had to glance away.

"I need to be strong enough to kill him."

"It takes time, Sasuke-"

"I don't have time, Nakao," Sasuke replied, a bit impatiently, prompting me to glance over at him again. But he wasn't watching me this time. His gaze was on his lap. "I'll never grow strong enough here."

I felt my eyebrows draw together and a bolt of anxiety zapped through me. "What does that mean?"

But Sasuke didn't answer.

"Sasuke…" I whispered, desperate and sad and scared. Desperate to understand. Sad that he wouldn't allow me to. Scared that something was very wrong, but that I could not discern what.

The sound was pathetic enough that Sasuke turned his eyes on me. And the sight filled me with even more sadness. They were tired, dark bags discoloring the skin beneath them. I'd only seen this look one other time, when we were eight-years-old and he sat in a hospital bed. For the second time since I'd known him, he looked…defeated.

I didn't know what to do. I didn't know how to help.

"We'll figure this out, Sasuke…" I tried quietly, my eyes searching his, pleading with him.

His eyes were a storm. Emotions and thoughts and regret and a torrent of others warred against one another, merging together in a confusing blur. I wanted to take his face in my hands, the way my mother would do to me, gently caress his cheek and tell him it would all be fine. I wanted to take his pain away; even if I had to take it within myself. I felt a fierce need to protect him, care for him; if he would just let me…

But Sasuke shook his head and turned away from me. I had the sense that I was losing something, that something was fading away. And I didn't know what to grasp at. So, I did the only thing I could think of.

I got to my knees, pivoting in the dirt, and flung by arms around his neck. I pulled him close to me and held on tight, like he might vanish if I loosened my grip.

I felt him stiffen at my contact, his body growing rigid; but he did not push me away. Perhaps I surprised him too much. And so, I continued to hold him, gently burying my face into his neck. I took in his scent that was so reminiscent of my childhood and yet a constant in my present. A scent that made me think of warmth and security and promises.

I don't know how long we stayed like that, Sasuke trapped in my vice, myself trapped in my own thoughts. It felt like a long time, and yet time felt relative. I was desperate to keep him close, to keep him from drifting away in whatever was happening.

I wanted to wipe away his worries, as he had done for me as children. I wanted to shield him, as he had done for me in Haku's mirrors. I wanted to take this pain from him, as he had done for me during our fight with Orochimaru. I wanted to be his protector. I wanted to be everything he needed.

The thought hit me like a thousand lightning bolts. It raced through my veins, setting them on fire. It set my heart to pounding, my stomach to flipping. And it was my turn to stiffen. My breathing shallowed and I was suddenly torn. Part of me wanted to push away, to escape and run far, far away from these feelings and these thoughts; to leave them here under this bridge. Another part of me, a distant, softer part that seemed to be calling out to me very, very faintly, wanted me to stay. To take his face in my hands. To whisper promises, assurances, truths.

But my fear won over and I slowly pulled away from Sasuke. My heart was racing in my chest as we parted and stared at one another. Where had all the oxygen gone? Why did it feel so suffocating under here?

But Sasuke looked no better. My embrace hadn't seemed to help at all. Rather, Sasuke looked more distressed than before. His eyes were bright with emotions. Surprise? Confusion? Pain…?

But that was the only glimpse I got. Because I didn't need to run far away from here. Sasuke was already backing out from beneath the bridge. I blinked and moved after him, rising into the openness of the forest. But Sasuke was already gone. Only the blackness greeted me.

I sat cross-legged on my bed, a picture frame in my lap. Every light in the house was off, including my bedroom light. But it was a full moon out tonight and its bright, ethereal light flooded in through my window casting the photo in bluish light. Squad seven stared up at me and I smiled bitterly at the memory of that day.

"Get . out . of . the . way . Nakao!" Sakura gritted her teeth, pushing against my body with hers. Though she hissed at me through grinding teeth, she was still trying to smile at the camera which was about to go off any moment.

I was smiling. I triumphant, smirky smile.

Sakura had attempted to take center stage in the picture, standing perfectly between Sasuke and Naruto. But I was not going to be displaced that easily. And so I'd shouldered Sakura more towards Naruto as I stood beside Sasuke.

Meanwhile, Naruto and Sasuke were busy glaring at each other while Kakashi-sensei place a hand on either of their heads. Naruto had been grumbling the entire time. Muttered curses and broken sentences such as "pompous ass" and "can't believe it!".

Sakura shoved at me again. But I centered my gravity and crossed my arms over my chest. I was much stronger than Sakura and with a slight push from me, I forced Sakura in front of Naruto. I grinned triumphantly just as the photograph was taken, its bright light causing spots to form before my eyes.

Things had been simpler than. Much, much, simpler. Looking back on it, I realized I'd taken that time for granted. The familiar sense of guilt bubbled in my stomach.

Sighing, I glanced upwards at my ceiling. My team was deteriorating. My friendship with Kiba was strained; made worse by the fact I had been scheduled to meet him for lunch today and the incident with Sasuke had made me a no-show. And my brother was dead. Gone.

Another sigh. I couldn't help that my brother was gone. But I could repair my friendship and attempt to heal the rift in my team. The idea of that was daunting. But that would be tomorrow's agenda. For now, I yawned, stretching my arms up towards the ceiling.

Too lazy to get out of bed, I placed the framed photo on the ground next to my bed. I laid out on my mattress, gaze fixed on the ceiling, the events of today flickering inside my head. What a truly horrible day.

What else could go wrong?

Author's Note:

You all are so wonderful! I wish I could hug all my reviewers! I'm at 72 reviews; I feel so spoiled! And so I thought to myself, what can I do for these lovely people? Your encouragement + 4 days of vacation means I've plunged ahead on editing and I am now into the next arc! So there will be no delays in posting for a while.

Of all the Sasuke stories I'd written in my time (like 5), I don't think I've ever had readers request the main character leave with Sasuke! But a few of you share this! Some stories they left, some stories they stayed, which will Nakao do!? Stay tuned to find out!

FYI: Nakao may not be a planner like Shikamaru, but I image the Hokage would have been impressed that she had saved the audience during her fight with Natsuo. Just wanted it clear I didn't make her a Chuunin just because.