Nightmares of ghosts crowding his hospital room, yelling and dripping red ooze sat at the forefront of Sasuke's skull.

As much as he empathised with Itachi, that kid seriously messed him up.

"Maa~ off with the fairies again, are we?"

Sasuke follows the sandals making patterns atop the lake up to Kakashi.

Beyond, he spots Sakura knelt by the river's edge not unlike himself, cautiously toeing water - and Naruto bounding past. Ending with a wet flop, large splash and shouting.

Today's teaching was water-walking focused. They had a two hour window before Kakashi's shadow clone jutsu popped where it was guarding Tazuna. His speedy recovery meant the man no longer looked like a mummified cyclops.

"I was wondering whether Itachi slept well."

"Probably not." Not much can be conveyed through a single eyeball of a stone-cold killer. However, Sasuke gets the unfortunate impression he was being greatly judged.

"Uh huh," Sasuke eyes past the man's shoulder to where Rin was chatting happily to Inari's dead stalker. Not too far, Inari himself had his back to the group, fishing line taught in grubby hands.

Kakashi angles his head into Sasuke's vision. "Aren't you going to ask what I was thinking?"

"Not particularly something I care for."

"I was thinking about that big ol' swordsman of the mist."

"...Uh huh."

"Following that, I thought how my backup are wet behind the ears genin who are no more capable of taking down a chunin let alone a bloodthirsty Jōnin with the body rate of a mortician," again, even without much to go on Sasuke has the impression Kakashi was giving him a look. The look that said ' you get where i'm going with this you neanderthal? '

"Er," says Sasuke.

" - and one of them is severely suicidal and severely untrustworthy to watch his teammates backs. You, Sasuke-chan, strike me as though you'd sacrifice another's life if it meant you could go along with them."

Only water bombings of Naruto filled that sheer grimful silence of Kakashi's look .

"You know," he says, "I reckon things aren't going so well for you."

"How astute of you," Kakashi says and takes one of his wrists. Peeling back the bandage inch by inch to reveal nasty, blood crusted stitches that were for sure going to scar.

Wary, Sasuke watches the man deposit a med-kit from his satchel to the ground and opens it up to re-dress his wound.

"Why has the mission continued?"

Studious, Kakashi works on one wrist, "Technically speaking we're on standby. I've sent word to the Mission Desk and ANBU have been dispatched. They'll arrive here in a day's time and take over."

"Your new role is to stay at the house and watch over Tazuna's family until they do. The second we return to Konohagakure I am going to file a request for you to see a psychiatrist. I've been careless in your wellbeing," Kakashi moves to his next wrist and pauses for a moment. "You're worse than I initially thought."

Sasuke bites his cheek thinking of the amount of ghosts that haunt hospital grounds. How their icy presence sends his mind into a fight or flight frenzy.

"I'm fine."

"No," Kakashi dabs a harsh amount of alcohol on his wrist and Sasuke holds back a cry. He meets the one eyed glare, focusing on the suppressed fury of the black iris and not Kakashi's thumb pressing the cotton pad into his stitches. " No ," he reiterates. Voice scarily calm, "You are not fine. Nor is the complete and utter lack of care you hold for your teammate's lives. I understand that you want to die. I do. Believe me you've made it abundantly clear you will take just about any opportunity to cut your life short - but have the God-damn decency to keep Naruto and Sakura out of it."

Sasuke wheezes a pained laugh as the thumb eases and Kakashi goes back to redressing his wrist.

"Hell of a way to build a fucking bridge."

"I warned you the first time, Sasuke- chan. You've left me no alternatives," Kakashi says. "And that bridge? I'm doubtful I'll be the one to build it. Let's leave bridge work to Tazuna-san."

- ; -

Inari's haunt floats behind Tsunami in worrying mumbles as she preps what little food they had for dinner. Sasuke was going to ignore the man and lounge outside to read a book he found in the room they were put in when he caught wind of his last sentence.

'Everyone is in danger! Please, please listen to me!' the ghost screams, 'Gato is going to attack tonight!'

Somehow, Sasuke breaks a decade's worth of studious self-training to openly gape at the ghost and blubber; "Tonight?!"

Tsunami jerks two carrots from her hands and doesn't see them fly through her dead boyfriend's chest. Nor does she notice the ghost staring in utter wonder at Sasuke.

"Uchiha-san, what about tonight?"

'You can see me,' the man swoops over. Obscuring Tsunami picking up her carrots, carefully glancing at him. 'Please. Please tell your teammates of the imminent attack!'

Imminent death maybe?

Sasuke brightens in a ping and skitters out the house, calling over his shoulder at Tsunami to stay put. The man hovers alongside him, rattling off details he's heard from other ghosts about Gato planning to bring his men to the bridge tonight after his hired shinobi takes care of the 'little runts'.

'If you let your team know I promise on my ancestors, that I won't tell anyone you can see us.'

"Hold on now," Sasuke stumbles to a halt in front of a dreary little pawn shop. "This can't be happening. Not again."

The ghost swings around him, half-guilty and bullheaded, ' I apologize Uchiha-san, but, um, I am, um, serious. '

Sasuke was, um , seriously pissed.

'I'm pleading with you, Uchiha-san. Tell your team.'

"I'll tell them," he grumbles and returns to a speedy march across town. "If you promise to not spill my beans."

'You've got a deal young man,' the man affirms. Had he limbs he would have probably saluted.

"Now hang back, don't want Rin seeing you with me."

' Understood!'

Blackmail dealt with, Sasuke takes a breath and mounts the bridge full of workers. Ahead he spots Kakashi overseeing Naruto and Sakura's water-walking below. Rin somersaulting in the air nearby as she watched fish.

- ; -

"Gato's men are gonna attack tonight," he walks up to Kakashi before the man can ask what the heck he was doing abandoning Tsunami. "I'll stay here and assist protecting Tazuna, if it's all the same to you. I wish to be of service."

My ass, screams Kakashi's lazy eye.

"And where did you come by this information, Sasuke-chan?" Kakashi raises both eyebrows. Sasuke could tell because the fabric of the forehead protector bounced.

"A source betrayed Gato."

"Hey!" Naruto shouts from below. "What's goin' on?"

"Get back to training, Naruto," Kakashi's gaze doesn't waver from Sasuke, "Whether or not what you're saying is true -"

"It is."

"Maybe," Kakashi admits. "However, if your source is correct you shouldn't be here. We don't need any liabilities and right now you're leaving Tsunami-chan and Irani-kun as open targets. Ripe for picking."

"Hey now, don't be a stubborn bitch about this. You're going to need all the help you can get," Sasuke says. Kakashi makes a swallowed giggling sound.

Alright. Okay.

Sasuke could hardly begrudge the man's incredulity. There was no reason to believe he wouldn't try to leap into the fray once fighting began. He was about as competent as a toddler with a throwing knife and often of times, he would get looks from Naruto as though saying, 'They let you pass the Academy but barred me?'

Speaking of, Naruto and Sakura were making their way up from the lake.

"Sensei," Sakura calls. "Is Sasuke back on duty?"

"He was just returning to his post," Kakashi blocks Sasuke's sight of them and in a hushing voice unloads news. "There has been information about a possible raid on the bridge tonight."

"Epic," Naruto says and Sasuke peeks around Kakashi to quickly input;

"I'll help guard Tazuna-san."

"You shall not," Kakashi blazes back around. Appearing as a spectre of Godfrey's latina auntie. "You will be with Tsunami-chan and Inari-kun. Keeping them safe."

"Sensei makes a strong point, Sasuke-kun," Sakura steps past Naruto. Sending a sympathetic look. "Somebody's got to care after them."

"Yeah," Naruto says, far more uplifting than he had any right to be in Sasuke's mind. All this agreeing was putting Sasuke farther from the limelight of action. Zabuza was the only reliable person Sasuke could think of that would offer to kill Sasuke in a single blow. A happy blow.

Goons would be goons. They'd fling a bunch of weapons at him, all incompetent-like.

"Don't worry teme," Naruto reaches over to pat his shoulder. Striking a thumbs up. "You can be helpful."

"Ah. You got me. I want to be helpful," Sasuke is hardly able to stop himself from glowering and telling them all to fuck off with the foreplay. "I'll be back at the house then. Being helpful ."

- ; -

"You were warning your sensei about something, weren't you?" Tsunami asks, handing him a cup of warm tea and lowering herself in a chair. "There's something going on you're not telling me."

'She deserves to know.'

Sasuke spares the ghost over Tsunami's shoulder a baleful glower.

' Or…I'll -'

"Gato's men may attack the bridge tonight."

"Oh," Tsunami says, staring into space between her entwined hands. "You're here to protect me then, Uchiha-san?"

"That's the verdict."

"Thank you," Tsunami keeps her blank stare while getting back up to pitter about the house. "Inari should still be near the family pond…"

"I'll go fetch."

- ; -

Four brutish men come rampaging into Tazuna's house. Swinging slabs of wooden planks littered at the tip in nails and riling each other up. Sasuke puts the learnings of catching rabbits as a child to good use and slings two men up by the ankles with ninja wire. Leaving the other's staring, gobsmacked at their shrieking counterparts and flapping arms.

Sasuke flings an awkward kunai at one, dimly seeing it land just above the groin while stabbing the other one in the sternum. Speed, surprise and to be honest his height gave him a certain advantage.

' Nicely done, lad ' the ghost, having warned him five minutes prior to set such basic traps, looked as though he could clap were he able. ' Your sensei will be proud .'

Whacking the hung men upside the head with their own weapons, Sasuke arches an eyebrow and asks whether Zabuza had arrived at the bridge.

' I…suppose not quite?' the man would have scratched his face if he had hands. Peering in a squint through the house, ' It is not yet sunset…'

"Then I can probably catch them," he says and shouting up the stairs for Tsunami and her son to keep hiding, he dashes from the house in the vague direction of the woods. "You said Gato's place was somewhere around here, yeah?"

' Are you hoping to get them by surprise? I understand getting those four goons by the good and curlies might have boosted your self confidence but let's be realistic Uchiha-san, those shinobi will kill you!'

"Probably," Sasuke half grins at the ghost. Sees the moment when the penny drops and continues his mad dash towards death.

' No! I cannot let you do this, Uchiha-san!' The man swirls in front of him as though Sasuke couldn't easily phase through. ' Think of your teammates'

"Zabuza," Sasuke shouts above the man's worrying dribble. "Hey, Zabuza!"

"If it isn't the sad kid," a voice dropped behind and Sasuke twists. Stunned to find the large, cow-printed shinobi looking every bit as intimidating as he had done not a few days ago.

' Uchiha-san, it's not too late, ' the ghost flows through Zabuza's bare chest, face pleading, ' You can send out a - a signal to your team. Please don't throw your life away like this, think of your sensei - '

"Shut up," Sasuke sighs. "You can't change my mind."

"Eh?" Zabuza's eyes peel the bushes. Going tense

"I'm talking to him," Sasuke pointed to the stricken ghost, finding peace in not having to explain away his oddities this close to death. "Now," he flays both arms. "Do as you will."

Zabuza's sword lowers. Tip hitting earth. The ground shudders under Sasuke's feet, similar to an elephant collapsing from exhaustion. Zabuza leans against it as one would do with a cane.

Peering.

"Little imp, you sure you're a shinobi?"

"Sorry?" Sasuke asks. Eyes popping. "Am - am I being too subtle? Do you think this is a ruse? I'm asking you to kill me!"

"Enemies tripping over themselves asking for decapitation are not only embarrassing for the shinobi, but also the decapitat-ee."

"I'm embarrassing? I'm consenting you useless jackass!"

"Mmmm," Zabuza's head cocks. "You'll make good bait for the copy-nin Hatake."

"Fine. Don't kill me. I was joking anyways."

Zabuza doesn't blink, "Uh huh."

He picks Sasuke up by the collar of his jumper and in a blink they have covered the distance between the forest and bridge.

Naruto spots them first in a squeak, "S-Sasuke?!"

This had to be the cherry on top of his misery sundae.