Naruto’s POV

Chapter 1: Can’t be happening

This can’t be happening. This absolutely can’t be happening!

My mind spins in disbelief as my stomach does another nauseous flip threatening to send all of my dinner back up my throat and onto the white tiles under my feet. It doesn’t matter though because I don’t think anything will be able to make it up my throat. It feels like someone is strangling me making me take small but numerous ragged breaths.

I can feel the incredulous and concerned looks of people around me. I won’t look up though. Not again. The last time I looked up was three hours ago when I arrived and I locked eyes with that Yamanaka Ino girl…The look on her face just…it just…my heart squeezed and I lost all ability to stand and had to plop down in the closest chair I could find.

Actually…I’m not even certain if this is real. It could be a dream…That’s it! It has to be a dream! Great! There’s no way this could be real. Definitely can’t be real.

And yet my mind is screaming it is.

Oh God! Another wave of nausea hits me and I fold in on myself trying to hold back any noises that try to sneak out. Unfortunately one does sneak out making three people hurry to my side. I don’t pay attention to them as the sudden feeling of sadness hits me.

There’s no way I will cry. No way. I know my mind is now screaming that but my eyes are betraying me as I feel them fill up with water. I just have to keep staring at my feet. I don’t want to look at everyone’s expressions.

“Naruto, are you alright? Do you want us to get you some water?” someone asks me. They sound troubled and they put their hand on my shoulder. I don’t know if that’s trying to comfort me or steady me but I could care less.

I don’t know what the other two are doing but their words are blending together. I have absolutely no idea what they are saying until my mind snags on one word that comes from one of their mouths.

Sakura.

Instantly my head shoots up surprising the people around me. I don’t look at them, I just stare shocked at the hospital desk in front of me across the room. Someone bends down to me as they see my eyes are watering. But I won’t let a single tear fall. Not one. Because I know if I let one fall I won’t be able to stop the rest.

My attention is redirected as I see some feet walk into my line of vision. I took a chance and looked up but regretted it immediately when I saw who it was.

She looked confused as what to feel. Her face looked like she was sad but at the same time scared. But as far as I could remember Hinata always seemed unsure what to feel. But for some reason…the way she looked now made the sadness in me intensify.

Two more people came to “comfort” me as a sob wracked my body and I crumbled over again. I think one of them might have been Hinata because I saw a flash of purple before I pursed my eyes shut.

It was like that for some time now. A few more people entered the hospital and checked in at the desk talking with the lady at the front. A few people left from the hallway. A few people waiting fell asleep in their chairs. But after a few more hours I was dying for a few doctors to come out from the back.

Now that I got a better look and calmed down a little, I noticed who was really here waiting for Sakura-chan.

Hinata looked like she was still unsure of how to react standing in the corner by herself. She snuck a few glances at me but when our eyes locked we immediately broke contact as my eyes watered again.

Shikamaru was asleep in his chair and a irritated and depressed looking Ino was shaking his shoulders and scolding him for sleeping at a time like this. By them was Kakashi sensei who was having a conversation with Lee and Gai for some reason.

Fuzzy brows looked like someone just kicked him in the stomach multiple times and spat in his face. I’m sure glad he didn’t come over to talk to me. That would have made a mess.

I sigh and stare up at the ceiling. How long had it been since I got here after that dreadful message? Seven hours?

I feel so exhausted, but frankly, I don’t care. I would feel any pain in the world gladly if Sakura-chan would just be okay.

A shadow looms over me suddenly and I have no choice but to look up meeting the blank look of the boy in front of me. Shikamaru sighs and holds out a can he probably got from the machine over in the corner and sits next to me opening his drink.

Apparently he notices I’m staring blankly at the beverage and pulls it out of my hands opening it for me. Doesn’t matter much since I don’t feel like drinking it.

“Sigh…What a bother this turned out to be,” he says taking a sip from his drink and looking over at me with a tired expression. He’s missing out on precious sleep all because of a random accident.” You don’t look too good. If you’re not planning on sleeping then drink some of that. It’s got caffeine.”

“I’m not really thirsty,” I mutter and let out a breath. My head hurts unexpectedly and I don’t feel like breathing anymore. It’s such a hassle. The corner of my mouth nearly rises thinking I sound even lazier than Shikamaru but I’m so tired I don’t feel I could muster it.

“Caffeine’s good for upset stomachs too, and from the look of it, you look like you’re about to hurl any second.”

I look over at him then back at the drink.

“Do you think she’s alright?” I ask trying to ignore the clicking of the clock.

It appears that he expected me to say this and has a quick retort.” I have no idea.”

My stomach sinks farther down.

“She…she can’t be dead right?” I hear my voice crack but don’t seem to care. I really need some good news, even if it is a lie.” Sakura-chan can’t be dead…she just can’t be.”

Shikamaru pauses and leans forward looking at the clock.” Naruto, it’s not good to stress over something that you don’t know is true. It will just make you feel even worse.”

“But—“

“Naruto,” he cuts me off.” Don’t. Just don’t. It’s too late to be worrying out of control like this.”

I want to vent but his voice sounds so worn out. I bite my lip and take three long gulps from my drink.

He’s right…caffeine does help a little.

-

-

I’m surprised I fell asleep. I never intended to fall asleep when Sakura-chan could be dying. That doesn’t seem fair to her. But a rough hand on my shoulder snaps me out of it and I stare wide eyed at a man in a long white coat.

He looks tired too. I can tell from the light circles under his eyes that he’s been at work too long.

“Are you Sakura-chan’s doctor?” I blurt out unable to contain that question.

He gives a soft smile and nods. The smile is gone and is replaced with an exhausted and serious look. I think I can relate a little.

“You’re…Naruto I presume?” he asks and I nod eagerly waiting on every word he says.” Good. I heard a bit about you from various people here. It seems you’ve been the most worked up tonight.”

I don’t particularly like the way he worded that but nod, urging him to continue.

“Is Sakura-chan alright? She’s not dead is she?!” My breathing picked up slightly at the thought but he just chuckled slightly and shook his head.

“No, she’s not. She’s stable. It isn’t anything too major,” he says and I sigh with relief.” But something is a bit confusing about this whole thing. If you don’t mind, would you come back with me for a moment?”

Something in the back of my head tells me that something bad is going to happen but I nod and stand up. My knees shake and my head spins but I get to see Sakura-chan so this is no big deal. I just shake it off.

Now that I’m up and about I can see that most everyone left. Nobody was sill here except for a sleeping Ino in a chair gripping onto Shikamaru’s arm as he slept as if he was going to get up and leave. If he was awake I know he would.

As I walk down the hallway with the doctor he starts giving details about what happened to Sakura-chan. Even though I was called and told Sakura-chan was in bad shape and at the hospital, I have no idea what happened to her.

“Miss Haruno hasn’t been acting peculiar has she?”

I give him a confused look and shake my head.

He nods in recognition and looks at his clipboard for a moment.” She was found in the woods with two large cuts down her arms from her elbows to her wrists and several minor cuts on her cheeks and neck. Her head had a bump on it too as if she—“

“What?!” I blurt in confusion. He doesn’t seem to beat around the bush.” Sakura-chan was attacked?!”

He seems to slow down his pace but doesn’t stop for me.” Please lower your voice. We have other patients.”

I bite my lip and glance at the doors on both sides of me and mumble a sorry.

“I never said anything about being attacked.”

“Then…then what are you insinuating?” I asked hoping he doesn’t say what I think he might. But before he can answer, we’re in front of a large door.

He looks over at me and gives a curt nod.” We’ll discuss this later with Kakashi-san. He and I talked a while ago before he left and said to tell you about the situation. Naruto, if you know anything please don’t hesitate to tell us.”

With that he opened the door and gestured for me to walk in.

I wish I didn’t. I honestly wish that I hadn’t seen Sakura-chan tonight.