A/N: I meant to have this up way sooner, like 3-4 days after the last one, but one of our young family dogs started having violent, awful seizures out of nowhere, which freaked us the hell out, so it's been an incredibly stressful week over here! Lots of sleep deprivation, haha! Still, I did my best on this chapter, so really hope it's okay!

Since this is an emotional 'arc,' if you will, I didn't want to overwhelm anyone with an 8k+ chapter, so I decided to split it into two chapters! This is the first!

A note on any possible weirdness in Sakura's characterization during-confrontation can be found at the end!

Once things settle down, Tsunade has Naruto eat what he can of a healthy, light dinner and then gives him something to help him sleep. Naruto isn't exactly thrilled.

"I know, all you've been doing is sleeping lately and staying still isn't your forte," hell, anywhere near it; Tsunade smirks all too fondly, "but right now, you need to heal, and good sleep is the best way you can do that. I've already given the nurses more with instructions to give it to you after dinner the next few days, and I'll check you over again after that to see if it needs to continue." She pokes his forehead, gentler this time. "And I'm serious, Naruto: if you need anything, no matter what or when, please don't hesitate to ask." She winks. "Being the Hokage has its perks, you know!"

The medicine she gave him works quickly, so while he hears everything and appreciates it a lot, he's already yawning and his eyelids are drooping by the time she's done. Tsunade helps him lie back down, and he smiles with a whisper-quiet "Thanks, Granny…"

The last thing he remembers before drifting off is her hand in his hair, her voice saying "Sweet dreams, Naruto," and her kiss on his forehead.

He ends up sleeping through the rest of the night and the entire next morning. When he wakes up a few minutes after noon, he's feeling better. Not by much, but it hurts a little less to move, and he's less fatigued than he was before. Honestly, he'll take what he can get.

He's partway through his brunch when, once again, there are rapid footsteps in the hallway coming toward his room. He raises an eyebrow at Shikamaru, who shrugs in taking back his bed-tray and smirks easily. "You're a popular guy, Naruto, and I told you how worried everybody's been. I'm sure they'll all be breaking down the doors to come see you soon enough."

As if on cue, the door slides open so hard it ricochets, and a sweaty, heavily-breathing Iruka Umino steps into the room, leaning on his knees to catch his breath. He doesn't look up for a second or two, almost like he's afraid he won't see what he desperately wants, but when he does, his eyes widen.

Naruto beams. "Iruka-sensei! Good morn—!"

He blinks, and Iruka's standing in front of him, fists clenched at his sides and tears gathered at the corners of his eyes. He looks like he's at war with himself, caught between hugging the crap out of him and giving him the lecture of his life. Naruto braces himself.

Figures he'd go for both.

"You idiot!" Naruto cringes. Yep, there it is. Shikamaru winces in empathy. "What the hell were you thinking, jumping into a fight like that?! You could have died! You almost did—!" Naruto flinches at the crack in his voice, the way he's started trembling, too. "Do you have any idea how worried I was? How worried we all were? You should have seen Kakashi and Sakura when they brought you in! Covered in blood, paler and more panicked than I've ever seen them! Kakashi is a silent panicker, but it's there if you know what to look for, and once you were taken care of, he was on the verge of an attack! Hell, he might have given in to it after he disappeared to be alone, I don't know! And don't even get me started on—on how you—!"

His voice splinters again, he chokes on a sob, and that's when a tear lands on Naruto's sheets. Naruto looks up to see that more of them have started flowing down Iruka's face, and he feels a sharp pang in his chest. Sure, he knew this was coming, but that doesn't make it any easier. He hates making him cry… "I-Iruka-sensei…I…—!"

He's cut off when Iruka hugs him like there's no tomorrow, just like he knew he would. It's a little painful, but Naruto knows it's just payback for scaring the crap out of him, so it's pretty fair. It's not like he'd ever actually hurt him anyway. He soaks up the comfort he offers like a sponge, returning the embrace as best he can. "I came every day…" Iruka tells him softly, voice slightly raspy and wobbly, the way it always gets when he cries. "I waited here…for hours f-for you to wake up. I couldn't…stand seeing you like that, w-when I couldn't do anything to help you… I…I hated it…"

Naruto's shoulder is wet again, way more than with Granny Tsunade, but he was expecting that, too. He doesn't mind at all. If anything, he feels guilty and horrible for scaring him so badly, the others, too, but also so incredibly, indescribably lucky to be so loved. He wouldn't trade interactions or moments like this for anything in the world. "I'm sorry…"

Iruka nods and sniffs, but keeps going. He needs to get this out. He's kept it in for far too long. "I was so worried… L-Lady Tsunade said you should wake up on your own, but…we'd never seen you like that… Y-you weren't healing either, at least not—not like you normally do, so…w-we weren't sure what to expect…" He swallows thickly. "But—but she's the one who told me…you were finally awake… She told me your healing is still slow, but you're—y-you're going to be okay now…" His heavy sigh is shaky in its relief, a happy sob catching the end. His voice is barely more than a whisper. "I-I'm so glad…"

All things considered, Naruto takes it like a champ.

They stay like that for a good few minutes, just happy to be in each other's arms again, to hold each other again. At their side, staying in his own lane as best he can, Shikamaru can't help but smile. These two are pretty funny together, he'll give them that. There's no denying they're good for each other, though, and as long as Naruto's happy, that's good enough for him.

When they finally pull away and compose themselves, the smile that comes to Naruto's face is apologetic, but touched and adoring, too, a peculiar combination. "Yeah, I…I've heard about how worried everyone was… I'm sorry. I never meant to scare anyone. I just…all I could think about was protecting Sakura and Kakashi-sensei…and…" his voice drops, "…and trying to… convince Sasuke to come home…" His smile, while still pained, shifts partway into accepting and determined, and while Shikamaru is proud, if hurting for him, Iruka is surprised and concerned. "But…I know how stupid I've been now. Sasuke…he's not coming back, and I'm…working on accepting it…"

Okay, now Iruka is worried. "The Naruto I know wouldn't say that…let alone take it so well...if at all…" he says, brow furrowing slightly. He takes a heavy seat on the bed at Naruto's side. "Is there something you want to tell me?"

Naruto half-freezes and hesitates for a long moment, and Shikamaru double-checks the mostly-open set of his shoulders and the nervous (not scared) look in his eyes before deciding he'll be okay without him. Standing up, he does his best to be discreet in heading for the door, but Naruto leans around Iruka anyway to call, "Shikamaru! Where you goin'?"

Shikamaru looks back over his shoulder, a reassuring, part-teasing grin on his face. "I'll be right outside if you need me, but I'm not about to intrude on this. I know better than anyone that father-son heart-to-hearts are nothing to mess with."

Iruka instantly goes red and speechless, mouth dropping open slightly. Naruto cocks his head, not really getting it, but then he gasps a second later and squawks, "W-wait, what?! Did you just call Iruka-sensei my Dad?!"

Shikamaru smirks. Of course he did. He's not an idiot, after all. He's known since they were kids that there was more to their relationship than just a teacher-student bond. He's a genius who holds all the cards – so he will gladly lay them down as he pleases.

This is one of those times.

Already on his way out the door, he gives a lazy wave without looking back. "I know what I said!"

The door slides shut, and with that, they're officially alone. Silently thanking Shikamaru for this, Naruto takes a deep breath.

Well…here goes nothing.

Somehow, getting everything out a second time, while still hard and painful as hell, is easier, if just slightly. He doesn't cry nearly as much this time either. Naruto calls it progress.

"I see," Iruka says once he's finally done, and Naruto's grateful to find nothing but thoughtful acceptance in his tone. Despite Shikamaru's reassurances, there's always the worry in the back of his mind that the others will be pissed and hate him for his decision. "And you're sure about this?"

Naruto gives him an utterly baffled look. "What'd'ya mean? I thought you'd be happy..."

Iruka waves his hands in front of him sheepishly, a nervous laugh escaping him. "O-oh, I am! You have my full support, don't worry!" He sighs a bit, some of the tension leaving his shoulders. "To be honest, when you two were kids, I never imagined things would turn out like this. I knew there was a rivalry between you two, at least on your side, and I could tell he had some problems, but nothing that would incite him to…" he gestures to Naruto, the action and what it means making his stomach churn, "…do this."

Naruto gives a sardonic huff of a laugh. "You're tellin' me…"

Iruka nods. "And I admit, as you've grown, it's always terrified me, the way you chase after him. I lie awake sometimes and worry that, one day, when you leave the village…you won't come back. You'll keep chasing him, to the point where I'll never see you again…or…." Given their situation, he can't bring himself to say the other option aloud. This was already way too close for anyone's comfort. He shakes his head to clear it and gives Naruto a small smile. "I'm happy about your choice, though, I promise. Relieved as hell, actually. I just…" his smile slips, a more serious expression overtaking it, "…I want to make sure this is what you want and that you won't change your mind later. This is…a big decision, after all. If you go back on it after this…" He doesn't even want to to think about how Naruto's friends would react, namely Sakura and Shikamaru.

Naruto's eyes flash, his expression perhaps more earnest than Iruka's ever seen it. "I won't. I never go back on my word, remember?" Of course, that makes him think of his promise to Sakura, and he cringes, but he pushes that aside with a clenched fist. He'll tackle that later. "I'm serious. I'm not going to change my mind. I'm done giving everything for someone who doesn't want anything to do with me." A heartbeat, and then he shakes his head and softens, a small smile blooming. "I want to be here for you and Shikamaru and the others. You've always been there for me, and Sasuke…he never even made it to the starting line." A cleansing breath, and he melts further, smile growing. "I love you guys too much to worry you anymore, good intentions be damned. I'm really sorry I ever did it in the first place."

Iruka pulls him into another hug, this one much softer. "Don't you dare apologize. You have nothing to be sorry for, son." Naruto's eyes widen at that last, heart stutters in his chest, tears sting his eyes, but he doesn't bring attention to it. It'd ruin it. He just hugs him back as tightly as he can and burrows into his chest. Iruka rests in Naruto's bright blond hair, a small smile on his face. "You wanted to help someone you considered a friend. You thought you could save him from the darkness. There's nothing wrong with that. You don't think Master Jiraiya was wrong for trying to save Orochimaru, do you?"

Naruto shakes his head quickly. "No, of course not. He was…"

"Just doing the same thing as you? Exactly." One hand starts to card through the tiniest of blond waves at the nape of Naruto's neck. Kushina's influence, he's sure. "Despite what some enemies may say, there's nothing wrong with having a good heart, Naruto," he holds him a little tighter, "and you have the biggest, best heart of all." He presses a kiss to his hair, unable to help himself. He's just so, so happy he's alive. "That's something to celebrate. Everyone who loves you certainly does."

Naruto sniffs and smiles wider, nodding into his safe, warm chest. He wouldn't want to be anywhere else. "Thanks, Iruka-sensei… You're the best."

Iruka's not surprised at the sudden compliment, but a light blush still dusts his cheeks. He chuckles happily. "Y-you're welcome. Thank you, too."

They keep talking while Iruka makes sure Naruto finishes his meal, and then, around 2:30 in the afternoon, Iruka reluctantly tells him he has some business to finish at the Academy before evening, so he has to go. Before he does, though, Naruto has a favor to ask.

"Iruka-sensei? If it's not too much trouble…would you mind telling Kakashi-sensei and Sakura that I need to talk to them? I…" he fixes his eyes on his sheets, curls a light fist in them; his heart pounds at the very idea, "…I need to tell them…w-what I've decided…"

Iruka is about to respond when someone flashes into the room. "No need, Naruto," the newcomer says, clicking his book shut. There's an amused tone to his voice. "I'm already here."

Naruto brightens. "Kakashi-sensei!"

Iruka laughs, rubbing the back of his head. He thought he'd sensed Kakashi's presence materialize in the tree outside a few minutes ago. "H-hello, Kakashi. It's good to see you."

Kakashi nods in polite greeting. "Iruka. Good afternoon. You don't have to worry about Sakura either, by the way. I've already sent Pakkun to fetch her. I appreciate the offer, though."

Iruka nods. "Of course!" Then, though, he remembers, "Oh! But didn't you just get back from helping the ANBU a few minutes ago? Don't you want to eat and get changed first?"

Kakashi hums noncommittally. "Eventually," he concedes with a shrug. "But—" he plops a hand on Naruto's head and ruffles his hair, making him beam and laugh, lean into it, "—my number-one knucklehead of a student is more important."

Naruto's learned to read his sensei over the years. He can hear the warm smile in his voice, see the way his good eye's closed in his joyful amusement. It just makes him smile more.

Iruka melts, seeing this. They're so different, but they make a good team. "Understood. If you need anything, you know where to find me."

Kakashi nods. "Got it. Thank you."

Shikamaru, who'd sneaked back in during Kakashi-sensei's arrival (a Kakashi clone had told him it was okay), just watches with his chin in his hand, expression helplessly adoring. Naruto really is the sun... Everyone always revolves around him.

Iruka bows politely. "Forgive me, but I really should get going."

Kakashi raises a hand in farewell. "Good luck with your grading. From what I've heard, you have quite the rowdy class this year."

Iruka laughs tiredly. "That's an understatement… And here I thought Naruto and his class were a handful…" Naruto and Shikamaru trade glances and fist bump each other, snickering and huff-laughing respectively. Turning back to Naruto, Iruka smiles sympathetically, pride there, too. "All right, Naruto, I'm heading out. Take it easy, and listen to Tsunade and the staff, you hear me? I'll hear about it if you don't, and you won't like how I come down on you." Backing up toward the door, he stops and promises with a big grin, "Oh! And once you're well enough, we'll go to Ichiraku Ramen together! My treat to celebrate your recovery!"

"Woohoo! You're the best, Iruka-sensei!"

Once Iruka's gone, things go quiet. Naruto's eyes fall, and his chest feels tight, like he's afraid to take a full breath. He's…nervous, to put it mildly. Not as much about telling Kakashi-sensei as Sakura, but…there's still some fear of backlash.

"So…how much did you hear out there?" he asks quietly, not really feeling like beating around the bush. Hell, maybe this still counts as that, but…well, he wants to know anyway.

Kakashi doesn't react to Naruto sensing him outside. He's not surprised. Instead, he reaches up to scratch his head with the corner of his book in thought before slipping it into his pouch. "I got here when Iruka was…telling you not to apologize? For what, I'm not sure." He shrugs, leaning back against the wall. "I could hazard a guess, and I'm confident I'd be right, but to be honest, I'd rather hear it from you. We should wait for Sakura to get here, though. I sent Pakkun for her when I heard things winding down in here, so she should be here soon…" he pauses, looking to the side and crossing his arms over his chest, "…I hope, at least."

Naruto's ears perk at that. He narrows his eyes in confusion. "Wait, what's that mean? 'I hope'?" An awful thought hits him, and he sits up a little straighter and clenches his sheets some, eyes going wide. "H-hold on—she's not hurt or anything, is she? Shikamaru said you two got out fine, so—"

Kakashi waves calming hands toward the floor, doing his best to keep his voice low and comforting. "Whoa, whoa. Calm down, Naruto. We're both in perfect health, no need to worry. We were barely touched in the fight, and what few scrapes and bruises we had healed in a few days or so." He smiles gently. "But thank you. We appreciate your concern."

Naruto sighs in relief, shoulders sagging with it. "Thank goodness…"

Kakashi's smile grows a smidgen before it fades. He returns his hands to his pockets. "I only meant that Sakura's been holed up in her house ever since that day. She refuses to speak to any of us, and according to her parents, she's been irritable and crying. She hasn't been eating or sleeping well either. Basically, I think…she's having trouble processing everything."

"Something like this would be hard for anyone to process," Shikamaru offers, rubbing his head; he's been trying to stay out of this, Team business and all, yet some outside perspective seems like it might be beneficial here, "but especially for a teammate in a situation like this." Naruto's gaze snaps to him, and he can't help softening. He doesn't know what it is, but...something about Shikamaru always makes him feel at ease. Always has, really, but…he's noticing it more and more the older they get. (And don't think for a second Kakashi doesn't notice.) "I can't imagine Choji or Ino turning on me, for example, and I'm sure it's the same for them. Honestly?" He fixes normally-sharp brown eyes, now soft and concerned and almost reverent, on Naruto's bright blues, a small, kind, protective smile on his face. "I don't know how you do it, Naruto."

A heartbeat, and Kakashi nods. "Shikamaru's right. After what Sasuke tried to do to her, what she witnessed him do to you without hesitation, having you nearly die more than once under her care… While there's no doubt she's an amazing medical ninja, we also know she's always been more emotionally sensitive than most. This is, for lack of a better word, a special case that hits very close to home, to her heart, in a few different ways. So, all that being said…" he sighs, "…I'm just not sure if she'll actually come. She might throw Pakkun out or slam the door in his face, maybe the window if he goes that way." He shrugs. "I wanted to warn you, Naruto, because I didn't want you to be too disappointed if she doesn't show."

Naruto looks down at himself, at all the bandages, remembers what Shikamaru told him about how Sakura helped save his life, and he smiles sadly. "Don't worry, I understand. If she doesn't come today, then…" his smile grows the way it does when he's trying to be positive while his heart's hurting, "…I'm sure she will eventually! She's strong and smart like that! She'll figure it out!"

As if on cue, the door slowly slides open, and Pakkun comes through…with a dazed-looking Sakura. She's even paler than usual and definitely doesn't look like she's been eating or sleeping well at all from the dark bags under her red-rimmed eyes and the slight indent to her cheeks, but honestly, Naruto was afraid she'd be a lot worse. Kakashi, too.

Naruto smiles softly and waves his good hand in greeting, not wanting to bother her with his usual loudness. "Hi, Sakura."

Sakura perks up at the sound of his voice, green eyes lighting up a bit. "N-Naruto?" Looking around, she only just seems to realize where she is, and when she sees Naruto, everything stops. Tears invade her eyes, start down her cheeks, and the next thing he knows, she's hugging him like crazy. Like teacher, like student, indeed. "Naruto!"

He manages a laugh through the very tight, also painful hold she has on him, wrapping a gentle arm around her. "H-hi, Sakura… L-long time, no see…"

Naruto's keen ears pick up on Kakashi and Pakkun talking near-silently behind them, and while he'd like to know what they're saying since it's almost certainly about Sakura, he does his best not to eavesdrop. He can always ask after she leaves or something. Not that he wants to talk about her behind her back, but…if she won't tell him, he needs to find out how she's doing somehow.

"I-I was so worried…" Naruto tunes back in when he hears her voice, tightening his hold some when he feels her shaking. "I-I was so afraid… I-I've been—having nightmares…about—about Sasuke and…a-and you… I'd wake up screaming…a-always your name…c-crying my eyes out… E-every time, I close my eyes, I…I see you dying in—in my arms again—!" She breaks off on a sob and has to take a minute to cry to get her breath back. Naruto just holds her, rubbing her back in a way he hopes will soothe her. "I-I wanted to…I wanted to come see you e-every time, but…it was past visiting hours, and I…b-by the time my parents got me back to sleep, I…I was too afraid to c-come during the day…a-afraid my nightmares were real… It was…it was awful—!" Her voice drowns in another sob, and he shakes his head, swallows, holds her closer. "I'm—I'm so sorry…"

Eyes snapping open wide at that, Naruto draws back just enough to stare at her. "What? What are you apologizing for? Sakura, without you, I would be dead! Even with Granny Tsunade's help, she might not have been enough by herself! The way I heard it, it took you, Granny, and the Nine Tails to keep me alive! You're amazing!"

For a moment, Sakura looks like her world's just been rocked, but given another, she smiles through her tears. "Thanks, Naruto."

Naruto's expression goes soft and empathetic. "If it makes you feel any better…I had a nightmare about Sasuke the other night, too." He nods toward his bedside companion. "Shikamaru had to wake me up and calm me down." His smile warms with gratitude and adoration just looking at him, and it shows in his voice, too. "He was the best."

Shikamaru's cheeks color instantly, and even as he looks away to hide his embarrassment, he can't help the small, shy, happy-touched smile that paints his lips.

Sakura breathes a laugh, more than she has in days, they're sure, and it sets them at least a little more at ease. Thank goodness. "I'm sorry you've been having nightmares, too. But still…I'm even happier that you're okay. I'm…" she has to choke back another sob, but he doesn't mind, "…I'm so happy…"

Shaky legs unable to support her anymore, she sits down heavily on the bed and hugs him again as she finally breaks down. He holds her a little tighter, reaching up to sift his fingers through the ends of her hair. Letting her get it all out now will probably help her in the long run. "I'm glad you're okay, too…" he whispers. So much more than she knows. "I was worried about you and Kakashi-sensei…"

They stay like that for several minutes, and once she's cried herself dry, she composes herself as best she can. When she smiles again, it's still tiny, but bigger than it was before, so Naruto counts it as a win. "Now…Pakkun said you have something important to tell us. What is it?"

Instantly, Naruto's smile and mood plummet, his heart and the color in his face, too. Shikamaru reaches over to set a strong, knowing hand on his shoulder, and when Naruto looks at him, so anxious and uncertain, even scared, it tears at Shikamaru's heart something fierce. He only feels worse for him when Naruto reaches up to squeeze his fingers for strength and purchase with shaky ones of his own.

Steeling himself to be the rock his friend needs, Shikamaru flips his hand over to return the squeeze with a stronger one and offers an encouraging smile and nod. I'm right here, he tells him silently, steadfast and unflinching.

Finally, Naruto takes a deep, if tremulous, breath and, returning his smile and nod, swallows before turning back to face them.

"It…it might be hard to hear, but…just hear me out, okay…?"

It goes about as well as he expected.

He's barely finished the last word when Sakura's leaping from her seat like it's burned her, fists trembling with rage at her sides, unable to even look at him. Naruto tenses sharply. "What the hell are you talking about, Naruto?!" Her voice is a low growl, not the sharp yell he was expecting, but this is almost worse.

"S-Sakura, I—!"

She snaps up, eyes furious and fierce and blinded by tears that are already streaming down her face. "You promised you'd bring him back to me! You promised! I thought your Ninja Way said you'd never go back on your word! Where's that now, huh?"

Naruto flinches at that, even if he already knew it was coming. She's not wrong, after all, not…really. This is exactly what he was afraid of, though, that she'd take it just like this. He remembers the first time he failed to bring Sasuke back, how she pretended everything was fine even through his many apologies, and it…it hurt, even more than her yelling at him now does. He thinks it's because she was lying to him then, closing off her heart instead of being open with him, like she didn't trust him anymore, and now… They're older and stronger and hopefully wiser, and she knows she can't try to run off to fix it by herself this time, so…she's done pretending. As messed up as it is, he thinks…he might prefer this.

"Sasuke is part of Team 7! How can you even call yourself his friend if you give up on him like this?" He winces, looking away. "How can you just abandon him?" He cringes, closing his eyes. "How can you just be a—a promise-breaker because things got too hard?!" Naruto clenches his teeth so hard that they groan, curls his good fist so tightly that nails start to bite into skin. "He's lost his way, he talks crazy, but that doesn't mean he's beyond us! We can still—!"

"He tried to kill you!" Naruto bursts out in an almost-roar, unable to take her berating anymore, her defense of Sasuke no matter what. That stops her tirade in its tracks, the whole room and what feels like the whole world coming to a standstill. He grits his teeth to try to hold back the rage he still feels at that, blue eyes on fire. "He would have if I hadn't been there! Kunai straight through your neck—!" His voice breaks. He wants to be sick at the very thought.

It's like a reality-slap to the face for her. She steps back, trembling, but only half with rage this time. She—she knows that, remembers that, but—!

"He was never our friend, Sakura!" he implores, voice a touch softer now, looking her right in the eyes, blue on green. She wants to look away, but his gaze is too compelling. "Think about it – and I mean, really think about it. Did he ever say we were anything but annoying and pains in the ass? Did he ever tell us happy birthday? Did he ever even say hi?" Shikamaru blinks, understanding dawning. He was confused about this train of thought at first, but now he thinks he gets it. This must have been part of Naruto's own thought process in coming to his decision about Sasuke. Smart. "He saved me once and you a few times, I'll admit that, but was that really for your benefit or because he said his body moved on its own like he did with me?" No answer, but her lower lip trembles as more tears flow. That's what he thought. "Did he ever treat us well at all, like friends, even a little bit? Because I was there the whole time, and if he did, I don't remember it. How about you?"

Sakura shakes her head vehemently, tears flying. "That's not— h-he didn't know how to interact, connect! H-he was alone, orphaned young! How could he—?!"

"So was I!" He laughs bitterly, almost offended that she would even use that excuse. "I was even more alone than he was! He had a family for a few years, at least, and even when he didn't, everyone still liked and admired him because he was handsome and always so good at everything! Meanwhile, I grew up completely alone with almost the entire village hating my guts and wishing me dead just for existing!" He has to take a moment to catch his breath after that, chest heaving. Shikamaru reaches over to rest his hand on his white-knuckled fist. There's obviously still a lot of pent-up rage and pain there, not that Shikamaru expected any different. Hell, he still wants to kick the villagers' asses himself. He squeezes. A heartbeat, two. When Naruto speaks up again, he's quieter, a little calmer. "I'm not saying that to compete with him like this is some kind of sick competition. I'm just saying that we were both alone, and you don't see me trying to carve out your voicebox." Sakura and Shikamaru both flinch at the imagery in the pissed-off fury of his voice, Kakashi looking away guiltily.

"How can you still defend him, Sakura? How can you still trust him? How can you still want to say you're—you're in love with him after what he's done?!" Tears gather in Naruto's eyes and begin to streak down his face. He looks as heartbroken as Sakura feels. It's the first time since this started that he's shown just how broken these pieces of himself really are. "I told you I'd bring Sasuke back. That was the promise I made you, wasn't it?" A tense silence. "Well, I can't do that now. The Sasuke we knew doesn't exist anymore! You know that, too, don't you? You just can't admit it to yourself!"

WHAM!

Drip…

Drip…

Drip…

Pain explodes in his nose, red dyes the sheets, and Naruto's world comes to a grinding halt.

Shikamaru and Kakashi are on her like a shot, Shikamaru stepping between her and Naruto and trapping her with his Shadow Paralysis jutsu before she can blink. "Sakura, what the hell do you think you're doing?!" he demands, all snarls and protectiveness.

At her side, Kakashi has tight hold of her wrist and is glaring hard. It's clear to all who know him that he's pissed. "Sakura. That's enough."

That seems to snap her out of her livid haze, and her eyes widen when she gets a good look at what she did. Naruto's nose…! She…she just broke Naruto's nose…! The blood rushes from her face, tremors overtaking her. She…she hurt her teammate…the teammate who saved her life…whose life she saved in turn…! She's a medical ninja! She's—she's supposed to be the support and save, never hurt! What is she doing…? What did she just do…?!

"N-Naruto, I…" For a moment, she forgets she's caught in a jutsu. She tries to reach for him, but Shikamaru's shadows don't let her move more than a millimeter, if that. It's still enough to make Naruto flinch away from her in a way he never has before, dulled eyes fixed on the small, but growing blood pool in his lap, and it all hits home in a way that makes her want to be violently sick. She purses her lips as tears start falling, struggling against the paralysis and managing to pull just slightly on her wrist. She does have Tsunade's monster strength, after all. "Let me go," she begs, pulling harder. "Let me go." It's weaker this time. "Please…" it drops to a shaky whisper, "…let me go."

Kakashi and Shikamaru lock eyes, and with a second's silent conversation, they back off as one. She's gone in a flash.

There's a tense, pregnant silence in the room, all of them still shocked at what happened. Kakashi watches Sakura run off down the street, while Shikamaru immediately drops onto the bed beside Naruto with tissues in hand, surprisingly gentle fingers guiding his head back and helping him apply light pressure to his nose to try to staunch the bleeding.

As for Naruto himself, he closes his eyes and does his best to let the tension leave his shoulders as he sighs heavily, heavier than they've ever heard. Shikamaru's still-pounding heart sinks even lower in his chest, and even that's nothing compared to the shadowed expression on his face. "You okay?" he asks, scarcely above a whisper.

"Yeah…" The word is quiet, slow, and meticulously measured, and even if it weren't, he's in a room with two geniuses adept as hell at reading people. They know he's lying, and he knows they know. But they don't push. If he needs to talk, he will. They can wait.

It's quiet for a good few minutes while things calm down. Then, a deep breath.

"This is messy, but it's real," his voice is soft and low, a little raspy from the yelling and crying, "and that's...part of the healing process, too." A heartbeat, and he breathes a laugh, a tiny, half-sad, half-nostalgic smile coming to his face, tears he has to swallow back stinging at the corners of his eyes. Shikamaru can't help but immediately empathize, already knowing what this is. Missing your master… He understands better than anyone else ever could. "At least, that's what I try to tell myself… Something else Pervy Sage taught me…"

"It's good advice," Kakashi encourages. Shikamaru nods in agreement, concentrating on keeping Naruto's nose elevated. He's made peace with the fact that he's an open book when it comes to Naruto a long time ago, so there's no need to go to the trouble of repeating himself.

"Yeah…" Naruto agrees quietly, "…it is. When Pervy Sage wasn't being a creepy old man, he could be really wise." He chuckles, looking out at the setting sun. "Sakura…she'll come around eventually. She just…needs some time. I believe in her."

A/N: About Sakura's characterization here (no hate on Sakura/SasuSaku ship is intended, but just in case!): I struggled with writing her argument for continuing to try to get Sasuke back for two days before I realized why I was having so much trouble - because Kishimoto himself never rationalized it! He just banked on 'loving Sasuke' being enough and his excuse of being unable to write women as butt-cover, which...means I had to navigate that illogical mess myself! lol. So, I did my best, and hopefully it's good enough!

Also, my month-long work leave is coming to an end as of today, so sadly, I have to return to my 2.5 'essential' jobs tomorrow. T_T That said, I don't know if I'll be able to keep up my motivation and energy enough to update as regularly as I have been, but I promise I'll do my best! I'm so excited for this fic, already have a lot of future scenes planned out! Just wanted to warn you guys, though, in case I suddenly don't/can't update as often! Hopefully you understand!

Thanks so much for reading!