Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or its characters. I don't make any money either.
Chapter Six
**Day Six-Seven**
It didn’t take long for hordes of people to gather in droves outside the hospital after the broadcast, the sun lowering beneath the horizon and leaving a shining moon in its wake. Security was forced to intervene as the crowd increased to over one hundred and was still rising. They camped outside the hospital doors sending their well-wishes and prayers toward their injured future Senator, lighting candles for a vigil as they waited anxiously for any murmur within. Onyx eyes stared listlessly at the group from above wondering how they could care about a person they never met. They didn’t even know him!
Anxiety laced the air weighing it down with worry and dread. There hadn’t been a word uttered from the Dr.’s or nurses after Sasuke had been removed from the ICU, having rushed Naruto back into surgery. The silence was beginning to take its toll on everyone. Sakura was in the worst state, unable to stop crying. Her eyes were red and puffy and she winced every now and then as she wore a path in the floor. Lee had begged her to sit down and rest, that she had just given birth, but she refused to heed his advice.
It was obvious that she was furious with her husband who had been reluctant from the start to tell her that Naruto and Sasuke had been shot. She had demanded to be brought down to the third floor immediately and away from her beautiful twins. Lee could do nothing but comply under her wrath. As soon as she entered the room and was informed that Naruto was still in surgery she took to pacing the room.
Excusing himself, Lee left the emotionally charged room intent on feeding his twins without Sakura. She seemed hardly to notice his departure. Sasuke felt his heart twinge every time he looked at her anguish and more than once thought he had seen anger directed towards him, only to disappear and a small reassuring smile grace her lips when he blinked.
Shikamaru yawned from the seat next to Sasuke, repositioning his bulky crutches, and attempting to get as comfortable as possible. “Thank you for letting me see him first.” Sasuke muttered. “I know that must have been hard for you, being his best friend and all.” Shikamaru turned to stare at him, sadness etched into every line of his young face. He appeared to have aged 20 years in only a few short hours.
“Troublesome.” He sighed.
“I’m being serious here. I really appreciate it…”
“I was being serious, Uchiha. I felt that you deserved to see him first considering what you both went through.”
“Hn.” Sasuke snorted and turned to stare at the clock on the wall. He marveled at the passing of time feeling the effects of anxiety weigh on him. He wouldn’t be able to hold up much longer as even now sleep beckoned him. He was determined to fight it until he knew, for better or worse, Naruto’s fate.
“Naruto is strong and if anyone can pull through this he can.” Shikamaru whispered softly to himself. It was so quiet that Sasuke would not have heard him if he wasn’t seated next to him.
“He seems like a fighter.” Sasuke murmured.
“He is a fighter. He has fought all his life.”
“I really like him.” Sasuke wasn’t expecting to blurt it out like that, but he couldn’t take it back and he really didn’t want to. Uchiha’s stood by their word even if they were wrong.
“Clearly.” Shikamaru stated. Sasuke arched a brow in question. “By the way you have been acting it couldn’t be any other reason.”
“Hn.” Silence drifted over them as the hands of the clock ticked slowly forward and Sakura continued her pacing. Once again Sasuke thought he saw anger directed towards him, but the curve of her lips in a small smile gave him pause once again.
“Tell me how you found Naruto?” He whispered, eyeing Sasuke from the corner of his eyes, challenging him to speak.
“You didn’t strike me as being a pervert, Nara.” Sasuke snorted.
“You know very well that is not what I was getting at.” Shikamaru growled.
“Hmm, when I dropped you off at the hotel I felt like getting a drink...” Sasuke started. “I never expected to find Naruto there, but I saw a chance to follow your advice and apologize to him. You were right, he forgave me immediately.”
“That is Naruto for you.”
“I don’t know how it happened, but it happened. I don’t regret it one bit either.”
“You took care of him?” Sasuke turned to stare at Shikamaru, pinning him with a sharp gaze.
“I have
never used anyone like that in my life and I wasn’t about to start with Naruto. I don’t sneak out on anyone.”
“You’re too full of pride.” Shikamaru scoffed. Sasuke frowned at him, but otherwise remained quiet allowing a tense silence to make its way between them. He felt again the effects of anxiety weighing on him, his eyes drooping even though he struggled to stay conscious. Sasuke was thankful when Shikamaru spoke again.
“So, what was it about you that had Naruto throwing out all his beliefs?” Shikamaru asked, finally fed up with the silence. He couldn’t help the little wiggle of curiosity either. What was so different about Uchiha?
“What do you mean?” Sasuke questioned.
“Naruto bottomed for you?”
“Why would you need to know something like that, Nara?”
“Because Naruto has never taken that position, he wouldn’t allow himself to be so vulnerable to another person.”
“I don’t know...I didn’t know. It wasn’t like we thought it through. Yet, he seemed so eager; like he knew what he was doing...That could account for his reaction though?”
“He said he threw you out?” Shikamaru snickered.
“Given what you just told me it is more than understandable; but can you answer me this? Why would he think that I would leave him?”
Shikamaru sighed, wincing as he shifted in the uncomfortable seats. “As you have heard, Naruto is inclined to go out and pick up random people when he is in a particularly self-destructive disposition. I can’t speak for him because we haven’t really gotten into a full discussion about it, but I know enough to be informed. I think he regrets the way he acts the next morning and tries to make it right. He tracks his partners down and somehow convinces them to give him a shot; he’s actually made some really strong ties, but not relationship worthy ties.”
“So why didn’t you...?”
“As much as I hate to admit it Jiraiya warned me from him. He was adamant about it almost borderline threatening. He made me promise; Naruto was off-limits. And you never wanted to go back on your promises made to Jiraiya. He could make life difficult for you.”
“Then he probably wouldn’t have approved of me.” Sasuke muttered, not completely convinced of Shikamaru’s answer.
“Most likely not.” Shikamaru confirmed.
“Why hasn’t there been any word!” Sakura demanded suddenly, her voice echoing shrilly in the stilled room. She was still seen pacing the room, much to Lee’s dismay. He was incessantly following her, spouting something or other about how she had to preserve her springtime of youthfulness...something that Sasuke wasn’t too concerned about being privy too. It was just Lee being Lee.
“Saving a life takes time my dear.” Chief Sarutobi replied. He gave Sakura a reassuring smile which calmed her down enough to be comforted by her husband.
“Genma and Sai are outside; they are unable to enter because of the increased security.” Itachi sidled up to his chief and murmured in his ear.
“Sai is here?” He asked surprised.
“That is what Genma stated. This will not be good, Chief Sarutobi. You know what Sai is like, markedly against Naruto.”
“I am very much aware of his candor, but it can’t be helped right now. I will have to give Raido a call and see why he isn’t with his partner.” Chief Sarutobi made his way from the waiting room and down to retrieve his men, leaving Itachi standing there alone.
“Sasuke?” He strolled up and sat down next to him, eyeing his brother critically.
“I am fine, Itachi. You don’t have to worry about me.”
“You are my little brother, it is my job to worry about you...especially now. You’ve been shot.”
“Thank you, I never would have guessed that but for the searing pain in my arm.” Sasuke grumbled earning a frown from his brother. With a sigh he leaned back in the seat, staring at the clock hanging on the wall. “Look, I would have called you immediately and let you know if it wouldn’t have been for Naruto.”
“I know Sasuke and you should know that Naruto is strong, if anyone can pull through it would be him.” Itachi replied, reiterating what Shikamaru had said just minutes before. It did nothing to soothe his fears and actually made him angry instead. It rubbed him the wrong way that they knew Naruto better than he did; even his own brother knew more about him! “He has the will to live.”
“I’ve witnessed that. I thought that he had died right before my eyes. I’ve never seen someone...” Sasuke muttered shakily, trying to circumvent around his anger. “But the paramedics were able to bring him back. I can’t get it out of my mind though. I can still see the blood, can still feel how hot it was flowing over my skin...”
“Everything will turn out alright in the end.”
“I wish that I could be as certain as you.” Sasuke admitted, shaking his head and rubbing at his stained fingernails. He couldn’t help the blossom of doubt and, dare he admit it, fear in his heart. He really cared about Naruto and didn’t want to lose him; it was too soon.
“All you need to do is have faith.”
“I have no time for that nonsense, Itachi!” Sasuke snapped. Leave it to his brother to inject faith where it had no business being.
“It will be ok, Sasuke...” He soothed.
“Don’t tell me it will be ok! It’s not ok!” Sasuke shouted. The room grew quiet as they focused on him in concern. Sakura turned to stare at him sympathetically. “You didn’t see what I saw, you weren’t there! You didn’t hear the gunshot or see him lying there not moving! You didn’t see the amount of blood or feel it beneath your palms! Don’t tell me it will be ok! I should have been the one to go up those stairs, not him! It should have been me! Then none of this would be happening!”
“You do not know that, Sasuke!” Itachi growled suppressing a shudder at the thought of his little brother bleeding and dying.
“I do! Naruto would be safe and not fighting for his life!”
“You do not know that! There are so many variables that you just cannot possibly know!”
“I do know. It would have been better…!”
“No Sasuke...”
“I wish it had been ME!” Sasuke yelled, tears gathering in his eyes. For once in his life he wasn’t concerned about Uchiha standards and how they should dictate his life. His life was currently in an operating room struggling to live and that very thought brought him to the tears that he was now shedding. When had Naruto become his life? “It would have been better if it had been me...”
Sasuke froze when arms encircled him from behind, closing around his waist and chest in comforting warmth. Eyes wide, he turned just enough to see that it was Neji; Neji was cradling him. Everyone stood in shock waiting for the beating the Hyuga was going to receive for touching Sasuke, but it never came. Silent disbelief ensued.
“Don’t ever wish for something like that, Sasuke.” He whispered. “It is unfortunate that Naruto is in the situation that he is in, but never wish for it to have been you. Do you think it is fair that while you were the one fighting for your life Naruto was the one out here worried sick about you? Would you really wish that on him?”
“Wouldn’t it be better?” Sasuke whispered, his voice carrying just a hint of childlike innocence.
“No, I can’t agree with that.”
“But he would be alive.”
“He isn’t dead.” Neji murmured.
“Yet.”
“Are you giving up on him?!” Neji demanded.
“No. Never.” Sasuke replied weakly, his anger abating. His knees were starting to give out on him and he slumped against Neji’s chest in exhaustion. It seemed that he had finally lost his battle
“Good because he needs you to be strong; if not for him, than for yourself. That’s why I think what is best for you now is to get some rest, Sasuke. You wearing yourself out are not going to help Naruto. I promise we’ll wake you the moment we know anything new.”
Sasuke finally nodded in acquiescence, giving in to the demands of his weakened body. He was helped over to the couch where he sat down and closed his eyes. Within seconds he was asleep oblivious to the curious stares he was receiving.
Neji sighed and ran his fingers through Sasuke’s hair as his breathing evened out signaling sleep. He had longed to touch him like this again, but Sasuke never let him get close enough…not after what happened. His pale eyes shimmered with sadness as he continued to stare his eyes taking in the bandage on the right arm.
Itachi walked up behind Neji and laid a hand on his shoulder in sympathy before he took a seat the end of the couch. He wanted to be near his brother now more than ever. He could never let Sasuke know of the fear that gripped his heart when he was informed of the shooting. He wouldn’t lose his brother, not after they had lost their parents. It was a shame that he couldn’t coax Sasuke into becoming a lawyer instead.
~CALM~
Itachi looked up from his sleeping brother to see Genma and Sai enter the waiting room followed by Chief Sarutobi. It had only been fifteen minutes since he left and ten minutes since Sasuke nodded off; much to the delight of his attending nurse, and five minutes since the OR nurse informed them of Naruto’s condition. It was by mutual consent to allow Sasuke to remain sleeping.
“Tsunade, these are two of my detectives; Genma Shiranui and Sai.”
There was obvious staring from the Konoha detectives as they observed the newcomers critically. Their attention flitted back and forth between Sai, who bore a close resemblance to Sasuke, and Genma who was wearing a bandanna and chewing away at a toothpick. They were two of the most unlikely looking detectives you could imagine.
“Any word?” Genma asked worriedly.
“He’s out of surgery now; but they’re not optimistic.” Tsunade remarked sadly.
“Damn.” Genma whispered. “He’ll be ok though, no matter what, he’ll be ok.”
Sai plastered on a fake smile that unnerved those close enough to witness it and turned to stare at the Konoha Chief. “Are those real?” He asked pointing at her ample breasts.
A deadly hush fell over the room as a vein pulsed rapidly on Tsunades forehead. “What did you say, punk!” She growled.
“I asked if they were…” Genma’s hand slapped over Sai’s mouth, preventing him from finishing the sentence.
“Forgive him Chief Tsunade. He really doesn’t know any better.” Genma laughed nervously, sweat rising on his brow.
Tsunade didn’t seem satisfied but didn’t press the issue further. Without removing his hand, Genma swung around to address his own chief. “As I was saying, it was difficult getting here, Chief Sarutobi. They were turning people back at the bridge. There was talk of actually closing it because of the flood of well-wishers. Whoever this Danzo is, he has caused quite a stir. This should have been kept quiet.”
“Do they know what Naruto looks like?” Shikamaru asked worriedly.
“Not yet. They were attempting to find any picture of him when we left, but Jiraiya was cautious about that kind of thing. I’m doubtful they will find anything.”
“Is all the secrecy necessary?” Kiba asked. His confusion only mounted with this new tidbit of information. He couldn’t understand why everything was so guarded where Naruto was concerned.
“Yes. Naruto has, since his birth, been next in line to be a Senator. It was a position afforded to him when his parents disappeared, but considering he was three at the time, could not assume office. Under the circumstances Jiraiya felt it was necessary to keep him from the public eye. Only a limited few knew who Naruto was and even fewer know what he looks like. I agree fully with that decision.” The Chief muttered.
“Wow, so that was why Naruto’s files were sealed.” Kiba remarked.
“Yes, Jiraiya was responsible for that as well.”
“Chief, do you want us to go to the crime scene now?” Genma asked anxious to get going. He had a colleague to avenge here.
“Yes that will do. The CSI’s should still be there.” Genma and Sai nodded and made their way for the door, but they didn’t get far.
“If there isn’t a problem, may I join them?” Neji asked suddenly, stalling the two retreating men. His pale eyes were focusing intently on his own Chief, willing her to let him do this. He too wanted to avenge his colleague, the feud between them forgotten for the moment. She stared at him before nodding her agreement. “Thank you.” He muttered and made to follow the two men.
“Take Kakashi with you.” Tsunade replied as he passed her. Kakashi stood up from his seat and nodded in understanding. Once they were gone she proceeded to pace back and forth, following the trail Sakura had made until the nurse came in and forced her back to her room for rest. She promised to be back as soon as possible and no one doubted her word much to Lee’s dismay.
“How long do you think we can keep this under wraps?” Itachi asked.
“As long as we possibly can. The other Senator’s wish to be kept apprised of the investigation as well. They will not interfere for the time being.” Chief Sarutobi muttered. Itachi nodded as he turned to look on his sleeping brother.
“The media will have a field day if they discover that my mother and father’s deaths are somehow linked to Senator Jiraiya’s murder; if only through the fact that Naruto was shot with the same gun.”
“But whoever shot Sasuke and Naruto have to know that the gun already had bodies on it?” Shikamaru replied.
“If it was bought illegally then that wouldn’t be the case.” Ino stated.
“Do you really think it could be as coincidental as that?” Shikamaru asked shaking his head in dismissal. “They had to know.”
“Coincidence is a possibility and it should not be disregarded Shikamaru.” Itachi remarked.
“Does that mean there is more than one person involved in this sordid affair?” Ino questioned.
“But what does Senator Jiraiya’s murder have to do with your parent’s death?” Temari asked.
“There was nothing to indicate that Jiraiya was in that building because of the Uchiha’s.” Shikamaru replied. “And as far as I know, he wasn’t working on anything but his books.”
“Books?” Temari asked but he waved her off. Jiraiya’s books were a trivial matter, hardly a cause for concern.
“That isn’t important right now.”
“This makes very little sense.” Itachi murmured, leaning forward in thought.
“I agree, Itachi.” Shikamaru nodded.
~CALM~
A solitary man breathed out quickly from his perch on a nearby roof, the puffs of air rising in the chilly night. He was watching the gathering crowd outside the hospital with rapidly growing distaste. They couldn’t care less about the boy; they were just waiting for news on his death. Simpletons; the whole lot of them!
The man growled in disgust. They wouldn’t even be here if hadn’t been for ‘
him.’ Then the blonde Senator never would have been shot. Why did
‘he’ have to interfere anyway, why did ‘
he’ have to raise the gun forcing himself to retaliate? Why did the stupid blonde have to choose that moment to turn around?! He only hoped that
‘he’ hadn’t killed him, because if he did ‘
he’ would pay! The man pulled out his phone wearily and dialed a number seared into his memory, waiting for the pick-up.
“We have a problem.” He muttered as soon as the phone clicked.
‘Is he dead?’ “Not yet.”
‘You better hope that he doesn’t die or the same could not be said about you!’ “I understand, but there is more.”
‘Go on...’ The voice urged.
“He got ahold of
that gun.”
‘And how did he come about that?’ “I’m unsure, but I will find out and retrieve it.”
‘See to it that you do. I do not want to be forced to clean up this mess.’ “I understand.” The man replied, ending the call. That was something he did not want. If
‘HE’ was to come here things would get messy and that was something they could do without if their plan was to succeed.
~CALM~
Genma and Sai stepped inside the crumbling building and passed the CSI’s who were packing up with the remaining evidence, a grimace of repulsion on Genma’s face. “I can’t believe that Jiraiya would come to a place like this for any reason! It is also just like Naruto to want to see it up close.” He murmured taking in his surroundings. “He always was a bit impulsive.”
“From what Sasuke told us, they entered the first time and made their way to were the Senator was shot, which is right in here.” Neji remarked, pointing to the room off to the left of them.
“This would have been the dining area when it was a restaurant; it doesn’t look like much now.” Kakashi supplied.
“It doesn’t look much like a restaurant.” Sai remarked, his face frozen on that creepy smile of his. Kakashi stared at the man wearily unsure of how to treat him.
“After Naruto had a look around they made their way outside, where Sasuke says they were accosted by a lady complaining about someone being in the building. Upon re-entering they split up. Sasuke said he searched the first floor and Naruto took the upper floors.” Neji supplied.
“Let’s check out the ground floor first, Sai.” Genma replied. They searched over every square inch of area before finally making their way to the bottom of the steps. “I have to agree with you Sai. This doesn’t look like any restaurant I’ve ever been in.” He replied and pulled out another tooth pick to chew on.
“Only the first level was used for a restaurant. The second level was then converted to offices for the business and the third level remained a private living area. It passed through many hands that did nothing with it before finally being sold to a man who began the process of renovating it back into a restaurant before he suddenly died. What you see now is the result of squatters and poor maintenance.” Kakashi offered, starting to ascend the steps. He could clearly see the remnants from the paramedics and the large blood pool drying on the carpet. In all his years of working with crime scenes, he had never once felt queasy, not even with his first homicide at the tender age of 18, but the sight of Naruto’s blood had his stomach churning and his blood running cold. This was someone he knew and he would make sure that he got justice for this!
“How did he survive that much blood loss?” Neji asked quietly, pale eyes widened in concern and wonderment. He was looking green around the gills, his focus solely on the floor.
“He has a strong will to live.” Genma muttered around his tooth pick, appearing unfazed by the sight. But that would be a lie; he just masked it better.
“What did your guy say happened next?” Sai asked, effectively taking the conversation away from the topic of Naruto.
“He came running up the steps, noticing a man standing over Naruto, gun raised to shoot him again. Sasuke raised his gun and fired, but said that he missed him. He didn’t know that he had been shot himself until afterwards.”
“What happened to the shooter?” Sai asked.
“Sasuke said he ran off.”
“Do you know which way?” Genma replied looking around for possible exits.
“I don’t think he said...” Kakashi murmured.
“No, just that he ran off.” Neji supplied.
“Well, there isn’t much left here to look at. We would like to see all the files compiled so far so we know what we are dealing with.”
Kakashi nodded and led the way outside. Once he was outside he breathed in deeply trying to rid himself of the metallic smell of blood. His stomach churned again, but he forced it down.
At the precinct he handed them all the files they had on the investigation and no time was wasted before they were immersed in the documents, scanning over the details quickly. They even delved into the fresh paperwork from Iruka...a rush having been put on all the evidence collected.
~CALM~
**Day Seven**
Pain! Pain was the first thing to register in his foggy mind, excruciating and unbearable pain. Yet, he was made to endure it, keeping him from drifting off into a deeper slumber. He desperately wanted to sleep, he was so tired; and the beeping, that god-awful beeping! It was ever-present and seemed to be getting louder and more frequent the longer it persisted. Didn’t it know that there were people resting here?!
Begrudgingly, blue eyes cracked open, squinting at the bright light of the room and trying to dispel the blurriness from his eyes. Where was he? He didn’t recognize it. Something moved before him, bending in and getting real close to his face. The voice was soothing, but he couldn’t comprehend the words being said. What was going on?!
Another person entered his field of vision and shined a light in his eyes. Who the hell shined lights in people’s eyes?! More words were spoken, but they reached his ears in a jumbled mess. The man smiled his way as the lady exited the room hurriedly.
“Na…o?” He tried to concentrate on what was being said, but it was still a confusing heap to him, drifting through his ears and mixing together before filtering out. Why wasn’t the guy speaking clearly for him?
“N…ru…”
“Na…ut…”
“Nar…o…”
“Naruto?” And finally the words registered, the man was calling his name. Naruto stared directly at him, his eyes wide.
“Do…you…know…where…you…are?” The doctor asked the words slow in reaching his foggy brain.
Naruto shook his head slightly as the doctor answered his own question. “You’re…in…the…hospital. You…were injured.”
“Hmm.” Naruto groaned, trying to speak, but something was blocked his way. He tried to reach up toward his throat to see what hindered him, but the slight movement caused excruciating pain to ripple across his chest. He groaned out at the shock, tears gathering at the corner of his eyes, his heart rate accelerating and his breath stolen away.
“Try not to move, Naruto. I’ll give you something for the pain shortly and don’t try to speak. You have a tube down your throat to help you breath.” The doctor soothed. Naruto calmed immediately trying not to focus on the pain, which was proving difficult for him. It was overpowering his senses.
“Dr. Sabaku, they wish to see him now.” A lady uttered softly, standing next to the door.
“Thank you Matsuri. Let them know only two can visit at a time and not to wear him out.”
“I understand, Dr. Sabaku.”
“Matsuri?”
“Hmm?” She asked turning around to look at him.
“Call me Kankuro, please.” Matsuri blushed and nodded before rushing off, Kankuro grinning at her reaction.
~CALM~
Everyone stirred as Matsuri bustled into the room, their worst fears spinning in their minds. Sasuke stirred from his sleep and took in his surroundings. His line of sight drifted towards the waiting room door where he witnessed the OR nurse bustle towards them.
“He’s awake.” She smiled kindly, watching everyone deflate in relief.
“When can we see him?” Shikamaru asked hurriedly.
“I’ll ask the doctor and be right back.” She smiled, leaving back through the double doors.
“When did he get out of surgery?” Sasuke asked groggily. He scanned the room until he located the hanging clock, almost groaning when he realized that he had been out for almost eight hours. The early morning sun was shining in the room, giving Konoha a much-needed break from the miserable coverage of clouds.
“You were sleeping when they informed us.” Tsunade replied, waiving her hand to calm the raging Uchiha. “You had just fallen asleep and we wanted to keep it that way. All they told us was that he was out, critical but stable.”
“You promised you would let me know the minute you heard anything!” He hissed, feeling betrayed. Would they have even woken him if Naruto had taken an even further turn for the worse...or even died?
“You know now and there was no harm done, little brother. It would not have relieved you of your burden of worry, only increased it if you had known. It was better to let you get some rest...”
“The Dr. says you can see him now, but only two at a time, please, and try not to wear him out. He has a tube in place to help with his breathing so he won’t be able to speak with you. He may also appear groggy to you, but you needn’t worry. It’s just the effects of the medication and having just woken up from anesthesia, but as long as he is awake you can visit with him.” Matsuri smiled.
“I’m going.” Shikamaru stated and grabbed up his crutches.
“I will join you.” Sakura muttered suddenly. Eyes turned to stare at her and an out of breath Lee. “I snuck down.” She admitted, unashamed.
~CALM~
Naruto was staring at the white ceiling dazedly, listening to the stillness of the room and the beep and hum of the machines that were keeping him stable. The Dr. had given him a shot of pain killers, but it wasn’t doing much for the agonizing burning near his neck.
He heard the door flutter open and turned his head as best he could to see Shikamaru and Sakura walk in. They made their way to his bed side almost afraid to touch him. Naruto blinked at them tiredly. He may not have looked it at that moment, but he was happy to see them.
“Hey.” Sakura muttered sadly, tears in her eyes. Shikamaru stared blankly at him, unable to think of what to say to his friend. Naruto moved his left hand slightly, touching Shikamaru’s fingers in comfort.
“Stop that.” Shikamaru choked. “You shouldn’t be comforting me when you were the one hurt...” Naruto shook his head slightly, touching his fingers to Shikamaru’s again.
“I should have been there, and then maybe you wouldn’t have been hurt.” Yet again, Naruto shook his head slightly, but Shikamaru didn’t appear to see him. His head was bent with suffering and his eyes closed to the tears that wanted to fall...damn it, only Naruto could make him want to shed tears!
“You keep fighting, Naru.” Sakura stated and laughed anxiously. “Don’t you dare leave us?” He nodded as she wiped at her tears a small smile on her lips.
“I almost feel like being selfish and keeping you all to myself, but there are so many people who want to see you. So I’ll be back later, after I feed the babies. I’m so happy you’re ok.” She smiled and bent in to kiss his forehead.
Chief Sarutobi was the next person to enter, walking toward the bed stiffly. Naruto grunted around the tube in his mouth as his shoulder gave a nasty throb. He felt like he had failed his chief by being shot.
“You must be in an enormous amount of pain, Naruto.” He soothed. “You just focus on getting better right now and leave the rest to us. You’re doing wonderful and I couldn’t be more proud of you. But, there are others that want to see you so I’ll be back later.”
Naruto nodded gently, blinking back tears at his chiefs’ words. With a smile Chief Sarutobi nodded and retreated letting the next person enter.
Kiba made his way forward with a huge smile plastered on his face. “Hey, Naruto! Glad to see you awake!” He replied too loudly earning a warning frown from Shikamaru, who made no move to leave his partners side. He grinned apologetically and turned back to Naruto. “Sorry.” He muttered, rubbing at his shaggy brown hair.
“So you’re a Senator, eh?” He laughed, brown eyes crinkling in amusement.
“Kiba!” Shikamaru warned. Naruto’s eyes narrowed and he grunted around the tube in his mouth, causing Kiba’s grin to slide from his face in confusion.
“I’m sorry, now is not the time. Get better quickly, Naruto!” He stated and backed out of the room only to be replaced by Ino who glared at her partner and shoved him out of the ICU. She walked up to Naruto slowly, almost too afraid to approach.
“Naruto.” She smiled. “You had us all worried, but I’m glad that you’re going to be ok.” Shikamaru nodded his agreement, eyes focused on his friend whose blue eyes were drooping in weariness.
“Ino?” Shikamaru muttered and bent in to whisper in her ear. She nodded, said goodbye to Naruto and left, sending Temari in after her.
Temari walked up to him and bid him a speedy recovery before scampering off to let Itachi have his chance. By that time Naruto was starting to lightly doze off. Itachi walked in to see him resting peacefully. “I guess we wore him out.” He laughed slightly.
“I’m just glad that he is ok.”
“He still has a long road ahead of him; he is not out of the woods yet.”
“Yes, but he’s a fighter, Itachi.”
“I agree, only he could pull himself out of this.”
“It was always my fear that he would get himself into trouble like this and that I wouldn’t be there to help him. I should have been the one there with him.”
“Are you sure it would have changed anything, Shikamaru?”
“I don’t know and that is what scares me. It scares me to think that I could have prevented this, or that if I had been there maybe he would have died. Would I have been able to get up those stairs as fast as Sasuke had, would I have missed shooting the suspect, would I have hit him instead, would I have been the one to be in Naruto’s position and been shot instead? I don’t know, but I wish I had been there for him.”
“You are here for him now, when it truly matters.”
“That doesn’t make me feel better.”
“It will when he makes a full recovery.”
Shikamaru sighed and slid into the nearest chair, his head in his hands. He looked like a broken man to Itachi, something he was all too familiar with himself. He was in this exact same position after his parents were murdered and he was left to care for his younger brother.
“You should try to rest Shikamaru. You cannot do any more for Naruto, so go and rest a bit in the waiting room. I will stay with him until you come back.”
Shikamaru rubbed at his face and nodded. Itachi claimed the vacated seat and stared at the sleeping blonde, watching his chest rise and fall steadily, thinking that most of all he was the one that didn’t deserve this. Naruto deserved to be deliriously happy...
“You have us all worried, Naruto.” He whispered. “You can be reckless and impetuous, but I never thought that you of all people would be stalled by the likes of this. You are a fighter and if you have forgotten that I will remind you that you have unfinished business here. Don’t you dare give up on it because you are not a quitter, Naruto?!”
Itachi reached out a hand and brushed his cheek, almost as a lover would do. Sasuke stood frozen at the door, unwilling to register what he had just witnessed, but the only thing flashing through his mind like an enormous blinking sign was: Naruto and his brother?! He felt his hand tremble as he held the door open, but he couldn’t move. His legs wouldn’t listen to what the brain was telling them. He felt anger and jealousy course through him and he wanted to rip his brother’s heart out for being with Naruto! Naruto was his and brother or no brother he would make sure that Itachi knew just who the blonde belonged too!
“Are you going to stand there all day or are you going to come in and visit him, little brother?” Itachi murmured, his lips rising in a smirk that Sasuke couldn’t see.
Coming to his senses, Sasuke grit his teeth and made his way into the depths of the ICU. He stopped in front of Itachi his fist clenched painfully. “You were with Naruto?” Sasuke asked in barely contained anger.
“No, Naruto is nothing but a good friend.” Itachi murmured.
“You don’t come off as just being close friends. You were stroking his cheek like a lover would do.” Sasuke grit his teeth trying to control the thrumming impulse to throttle.
“I was rubbing at his scars, Sasuke.”
“Why?”
“That because I want him to be happy.” Itachi sighed.
“I don’t get it, Itachi. Your actions seem...”
“There are feeling there, but not in the form that you perceive. There is no doubt that if I had wanted to I could make Naruto mine and he would want for nothing. But he was consistently in relationships with less worthy individuals and you know I do not interfere with ongoing relationships.”
“No, you just find a way to work it to your advantage.”
“Does he mean something more to you than just a colleague at work?” Itachi smirked.
“And if he was more to me?”
“Hn.”
Sasuke clenched his fists tightly, trying to hold back the surge of anger. He didn’t care that he was putting strain on the muscle that currently had a bullet hole in it, oblivious to the pain. “Are you trying to warn me off him, Itachi?” He could barely keep the rage from his voice.
“Hardly, foolish little brother, Naruto has taken an Uchiha and if you are anything like our ancestors you will not give up on what you want. Do not blow it Sasuke, because with Naruto you only get one shot. Just remember this; if you do screw up I can be there to take your place. And that is a warning.” Itachi murmured, vacating his seat and indicating Sasuke to sit.
Sasuke glared daggers at his brother weighing the pros and cons of taking a swing at him. In the end he decided not to for fear of being parted from his dobe, something he was not willing to risk. And like hell was he going to give Itachi any chances to pursue
his blonde!
“You know, it really is amazing that you two found each other.” Itachi remarked cryptically.
“What is that supposed to mean?” Sasuke bristled, not sure why that comment rubbed him the wrong way.
Itachi laughed quietly and made his way towards the door. “Have a seat Sasuke. I’ll just be right outside if you need anything.” He made his way out, refusing to answer Sasuke’s string of questions and also to give him some time alone with Naruto. A smirk adorned his face as he manipulated his brother.
He fully believed that only an Uchiha could make Naruto happy, he just had to push Sasuke enough to latch onto the blonde and never let go. Of course, being an Uchiha, he could take Naruto away from Sasuke, but why would he do something so foolish? He had his own blonde that just so happened to have an obsession with explosives...it was a good thing he had a pyrotechnician license.
~CALM~
Taking his brother’s advice, Sasuke sat down in the chair and reached out for the tan hand lying limply on the bed. Flipping the hand over, he started rubbing circles into the palm with his blood stained thumb. Onyx eyes focused on the heart monitor, watching it beat out a steady rhythm as the ventilator helped him breathe.
“Dobe...” Sasuke whispered. “Please, don’t leave me. I have an answer to the question you asked me. It was always going to be yes; yes, dobe, yes. So wake up already and let me know that you still want this with me...”
Sasuke laid the palm of Naruto’s hand against his forehead, closing his eyes against the stinging pinpricks of tears. He wasn’t sure how long he sat like that or even when he dozed off, but the next thing he knew the hand was moving against his. Sasuke’s head shot up and stared at wide blue eyes and he couldn’t help it when a small smile quirked his lips.
“Hey, dobe...”
“Hmm.” Naruto grunted around the tube in his throat.
“Don’t try to speak. I’m going to get the Dr.” Sasuke made to pull away hurriedly, but Naruto grasped as tightly as he could the hand holding his. He turned to stare confusedly at the blonde, his eyes swimming with tears.
“Dobe?” He questioned confusedly, but Naruto shook his head slightly, wincing at the sharp pain in his shoulder.
“You’re awake again.” Dr. Sabaku smiled, startling Sasuke. He grabbed up Naruto’s file from the end of the bed and started checking over the vitals that must have been taken some time after Sasuke had nodded off. “Your progress is astounding; Mr. Uzumaki, but you still have a long road ahead of you. Good news though. Your O2 stats are climbing steadily and we can take out the ventilator; you’ll still require oxygen use though.”
Naruto nodded in understanding. Matsuri walked up to him, smiling kindly and turned to Sasuke. “Do you mind giving us some privacy? I’ll come and get you when we’re done.”
Sasuke nodded and exited the room, but not before squeezing Naruto’s hand and promising to return. Itachi and Shikamaru were standing right outside the doors and he raised an eyebrow in question.
“I was hesitant to disturb you after you fell asleep and Shikamaru just woke up. We decided to wait out here while the Dr. went in. How is Naruto?”
“He’s doing well from what the Dr. said and they are preparing to remove the tube as we speak.” Sasuke replied, eyeing his brother steadily. Itachi could only smirk, jumping with glee on the inside that his little brother took the bait. As soon as they took the next step in their relationship and was confident that they could withstand a F5 hurricane, he would inform him that he never had anything to worry about. Oh, how he loved to mess with his little brother!
~CALM~
Genma sighed and made his way towards the coffee pot to pour out a considerable amount of brew into a white Styrofoam cup. He blew over the top attempting to cool it down enough for consumption. He grimaced as it burned at the back of his throat and strode back to his chair. He took a quick glance out the window, just now aware that the day was progressing rapidly towards evening. They had spent an entire morning and half an afternoon just acquainting themselves with the investigations.
“I think we need to speak with Detective Uchiha and we should check up on Naruto’s status.” Genma stated. As usual Sai didn’t answer but continued to smile. Nodding and trying not to roll his eyes, Genma grabbed up his keys and motioned to Kakashi and Neji, questioning if they wanted to tag along.
~CALM~
Naruto stared at the ceiling focusing on the Dr.’s instructions. He was told to exhale while he pulled the tub out and to expect a coughing fit; which he was currently in the process of.
“That’s good Mr. Uzumaki.” Dr. Sabaku smiled. Naruto growled at the man as the pain erupted in bursts over his shoulder with each wracking cough. “I’ll give you something more for your pain.”
It was a welcome relief to Naruto as the pain subsided considerably into a more manageable burn. His attention swung to the doors as Itachi peaked his head inside a smile on his face as he witnessed Naruto’s staring. Dr. Sabaku motioned for him to enter. Wasting no time, Shikamaru and Sasuke followed him in.
“I’ll give you some time, but try not to wear him out.” Dr. Sabaku smiled.
“How are you feeling Naru?” Itachi asked. Sasuke frowned at the nickname, jealousy blossoming in his chest anew.
“Like I was shot.” Naruto rasped out.
“Besides that, Naru.” Itachi smiled.
“I’m fine.”
“You had us all worried.” Shikamaru remarked.
“I’m sorry...” He coughed. He shut his eyes against the pain, blinking them open to focus on Sasuke. Blue eyes scanned over the pale detective looking for any sign of harm. His eyes alighted on Sasuke’s bandaged upper arm and he felt his heart flutter.
“You were shot?!” He asked, jerking forward in panic. He hissed painfully as his shoulder erupted into thousands of tiny burning pinpricks, but he didn’t care. Sasuke had been hurt and that was all that mattered to him at the moment.
Itachi and Shikamaru jerked forward, but they were beat out by Sasuke who was next to the bed in a flash, pushing against the naked and flushed chest of his dobe.
“Lay back, dobe, before you really hurt yourself.” But the words lacked any malice and if you paid really close attention you would note the concern lacing his voice.
“You were shot?” Naruto rasped, tears springing to his eyes.
“Dobe, you have more important things to worry about than my being shot; which pales in comparison to your own injury.”
“I’m sorry.” He whispered out.
“For what? It was my own stupidity that got me shot. I ignored all of my training and rushed towards a man holding a gun.”
“I’m sorry...” He repeated.
“Don’t be dobe. I’m fine and you are going to be fine.”
“I know you just woke up, Naruto, but can you tell us what happened?” Itachi asked quietly, his onyx eyes rippling with curiosity.
“Don’t answer that, Naruto.” Genma muttered, stepping inside the room. Itachi turned to glare at the two men, his eyes taking on a strange reddish hue.
“I am an Assistant District Attorney with Konohagakure; I have the right to ask that question, Genma.”
“No, Itachi; this time you don’t. With the recent discovery we want you nowhere near the investigation.” Genma stated.
“That is why I have the right to ask the question.”
“Do you really want to jeopardize this investigation?” He questioned.
“You know that is not what I want.”
“Then let us do our job and you may just have your chance to prosecute this.”
“That will never happen, Yamato will not allow it.”
“With everyone watching we must do this by the book, but you can have a transcript when we’re done, Itachi.” He assured. “Give us a few minutes, please?”
Itachi growled and moved away from the bed. He reached out and dragged Sasuke along with him without a word. Shikamaru sighed and made to follow them out, hobbling along on his bulky crutches. When he reached the door he threw over his shoulder: “We’ll be back shortly Naruto, so don’t let them wear you out.”
“Ok.” Naruto rasped out, turning his attention to the two remaining men. He couldn’t believe that Raido wasn’t here and that Sai was sent in his stead. What the hell were they thinking in Konohagakure?
“We’re happy to see that you’re ok, Naruto.” Genma smiled, chewing on his toothpick. Sai, with his ever-present smile, made to speak.
“Shut up Sai. Whatever you have to say I do not want to hear it.”
“Whatever you say, ‘dickless’.”
“Damn it Sai.” Naruto sighed.
“Can you tell us what happened?” Genma asked, placing a tape recorder on the end of Naruto’s bed. He shot a warning glare at Sai, but only received his smile in return.
Naruto knit his brow and leaned back into the mattress, grimacing at the pain as he tried to get comfortable. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply, before snapping them open, focusing on the events from yesterday.
“We received a fax that stated the building was released and set to be torn down the very next day. I wanted to see the crime scene up close, so I asked Sasuke to take me there.” He began.
“Why did you ask Detective Uchiha to take you?” Genma questioned.
“Because Shikamaru broke his foot and would be unable to go.” He answered.
“Why didn’t you ask Lieutenant Hatake then?”
“Is there a problem with me asking Sasuke?” He rasped out angrily.
“We are trying to help you, Naruto. You don’t have to be defensive.” Genma stated. Sai made to speak again but Naruto told him to ‘shut up’ again.
“Sasuke was the first person I saw, that is why I asked him and not Kakashi. He was willing to show me the building and we arrived outside. From there, Sasuke showed me where Jiraiya was found...” Naruto stalled and gulped against the fresh wave of anguish.
Genma listened intently to Naruto explain the events in vivid detail; all the while having a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. Even though he was aware of the aftermath the lead up was still horrifying to hear. Genma couldn’t imagine having fared as well as Naruto had if he had been in that same position.
“I was just exiting the room when I heard something down stairs. It sounded like the building was collapsing so I rushed to the steps to see that there was someone already on the landing. I thought it was Sasuke at first, but as they got closer something told me it wasn’t. He crept out of the shadows, laughing at me the whole time. I went to raise my gun, but he beat me to it and raised his own. I asked him what he was doing in a crime scene, but he continued to laugh; and then I heard it. Another gun cocked behind me and I turned to look……I don’t remember what happened after that.” Naruto stated.
“There were two people? You’re sure about that?” Genma asked interestedly.
“Yeah, I remember hearing them and turning, then there is nothing until I woke up here.”
“You are aware that you were shot from the front and not from behind?”
“There was someone behind me.” Naruto certified.
“There was nothing collected at the crime scene to tell us that there were two perpetrators…hmm?”
“I know there were two of them, one in front of me and one behind me.”
“Are you sure you’re not mistaken, dickless? You were shot from…”
“I know where I was shot, Sai! I can feel it quite vividly, but it doesn’t change the fact that there were two of them!” Naruto growled, the machine to his right beeping rapidly. Leave it to Sai to irritate him to no end! The nurse wasted no time in making her way inside the room, calling for the Dr. immediately. Genma and Sai were forced from the room as Dr. Sabaku tried to lower Naruto’s rising blood pressure.
Fifteen minutes later Dr. Sabaku walked out of the room, confronting the two detectives. In the intervening time Chief Sarutobi had joined them, his brow drawn in consternation.
“I thought I told you not to stress him?! Do you realize the danger you just put him in?!”
“We apologize, it won’t happen again.” Genma stated.
“It certainly won’t, because as long as he is a patient here you are barred from seeing him.” Dr. Sabaku snapped and stormed off, Matsuri rushing demurely behind him.
“Sai.” Chief Sarutobi stated gravely, sighing and shaking his head.
“Naruto worked himself up.” Sai smiled.
“Yes, but you were the contributing factor. You should have known better with the history between you.”
“He seemed like his normal self, I apologize for not realizing that his health was that fragile.”
“What’s done is done. Did you finish the interview Genma?”
“Yes, I got everything I needed to know for now.”
Chief Sarutobi nodded. “Raido is on his way. Sai you are welcome to stay if you like.”
“I would like that.”
“Wait, Sai is staying on?” Shikamaru asked, his eyes displaying disbelief as he hobbled towards them. Itachi and Sasuke were close behind, Sasuke’s eyes roaming over Sai and Genma. He immediately dismissed Genma as competition, but this Sai was another story. He didn’t like him…he already knew he didn’t like him.
“Another set of eyes would hurt nothing, Shikamaru.”
“True, but must they be Sais’?”
“He is just as efficient as you and Naruto or Genma and Raido.” Shikamaru frowned but didn’t fight his chief on it.
“Hn.” Sasuke scoffed earning a smile from Sai.
“You must be Naruto’s newest lay? Tell me, how was it?”
Sasuke growled as Genma froze in horror, toothpick falling from his mouth.
“SAI!” Chief Sarutobi reprimanded.
Itachi reached out and laid a restraining hand on Sasuke’s shoulder as he moved forward to strike. It would not do to have him banned from the hospital. “He means nothing by it Sasuke. That is just how Sai is; rude, crude, and socially unacceptable at times.”
“Hn.” Sasuke snarled glaring painful death at the pale man with the creeping smile. “If there isn’t a problem, I’ll be going in there now.” He ground out moving past everyone and towards the room. He was anxious to get inside to Naruto and away from the urge to bash in the creeps head. Genma eyed his advancement before stalling him.
“I just have a question for you first?” Sasuke paused and turned to look at him, irritation etched on his face. He nodded stiffly.
“How many perpetrators were there?”
Sasuke frowned in thought. “There was only one that I saw.”
“Are you sure about that?” Genma asked.
“I only saw the one, standing over Naruto and gun raised to shot him again.” Sasuke affirmed. “Why, was there another person that I didn’t know about?”
“Hmm, Naruto says that there were two, the man on the landing and another person that came up behind him.”
“If he cleared the second level how could someone be behind him?” Sai asked. Sasuke snarled at him again.
“I don’t know and I can’t be sure that there really was a second person.”
“Naruto wouldn’t lie about something like this.” Shikamaru defended.
“I don’t think that he is lying, but I believe that he could be adding a detail from a previous case. You know that one I’m talking about where the guy was able to sneak up on him from behind.”
“Do you really believe that, Genma?” Chief Sarutobi questioned.
“There was no evidence that there was another person there...”
“That doesn’t mean that they weren’t there.” Sasuke growled. “If Naruto says that he was there then that means he was there.”
Genma laughed out loud, staring at Sasuke in amusement. “You hardly know Naruto at all, so you really can’t say that.”
“I don’t have to know him that well to believe in him.”
Genma’s smile faltered, slipping into a contemplative look instead. He eyed the young Uchiha up and down before deciding to speak. “What exactly is your relationship with Naruto?”
“What does that have to do with anything?” Sasuke frowned.
“Oh, it has everything to do with it. You are either completely infatuated with our Naruto and will believe every word out of his mouth, even if it was a lie; giving him the benefit of the doubt; or completely naïve. You don’t strike me as being naïve, Sasuke. So which is it?”
“Neither.” He growled and made his way into the hospital room.
“Hmm, he’s just like you Itachi.” Genma laughed. “But really, what is his relationship with Naruto?” His eyes sought out an answer, but everyone remained impassive. Could Sai really be right?
“We’re not really sure of that at the moment.” Shikamaru replied cryptically.
~CALM~
Sasuke sat down in the chair offered by the bed, sinking into the uncomfortable vinyl. Naruto appeared to be sleeping, which caught Sasuke off guard when blue eyes snapped open and eyed him critically.
“Dobe...?”
“If your answer is neither than why do you believe?” Naruto rasped.
“You heard that?” Sasuke asked incredulously. Naruto shook his head slightly. “Well, neither of the terms fit why I believe you.”
“Why do you believe me, then?”
“Because you don’t strike me as the kind of person that would lie about what happened or confuse an old memory with what really happened.”
“What if I am?” Naruto asked worriedly.
“I don’t believe you are.”
“I don’t know what to believe anymore. I’m certain there was someone behind me, but when I sit and think about it, there may have been no one at all.”
“What is your gut telling you, dobe?”
“That there was some one behind me.”
“Then there was some one behind you.” Sasuke affirmed. Naruto nodded, settling into staring at the wall. He was getting antsy and he couldn’t shake the bad feeling in the pit of his stomach; his thoughts finding their way to the building. He was so stupid for wanting to go there. It only resulted in him getting shot…and to make things worse he got Sasuke shot as well. He wanted to apologize again.
“I’m sorry, teme.” Naruto muttered quietly.
“You have nothing to be sorry about.” He whispered, kissing Naruto’s forehead.
Naruto sighed against the contact, his voice carrying away from him. “Please say yes, teme.”
