𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐃 𝐁𝐘 𝐘𝐎𝐔.

Chapter XXXV - Realization.

No one had been found.

The police had arrived right after Shikamaru had called them, yet there wasn't a single trace left of the men they'd met earlier on in the storage building. However--what was found were bloodstains, shattered concrete walls, and a few injured teenagers.

What was this to go on?

The police weren't going to believe them if they told them about a few madmen that'd practically kidnapped the pinkette, carried superhuman-like abilities, and completely disregarded the fact that they were in a public area. 

So, instead she made up some stupid story on the spot.

The officers who'd arrived were extremely gullible, it seemed. Sakura told the police that there'd been a few older men setting off fireworks and maybe even a few sticks of dynamite beneath the festival area; that she'd felt it and decided to rush to the area with a few friends.

Surprisingly, that'd happened before, so she went on; the pinkette explained how the men attacked them and were most likely drunk or caught under some drug-related spell that caused them to act irrationally; that the kids were unprepared, and as such, had received such brutal damage.

And then she'd told them that they ran off to call the police and hid themselves in the trees.

The authorities, first of all, started off with a search for the men, but couldn't find a single thing. Sakura thought that must have been because of their eyes--the sharingan; something she'd learned about during the time she'd spent in her head.

They had probably masked any traces or clues leading back to their identities, and although they were safe for now, she figured it wouldn't be the last time they would see them.

Sakura brushed her fingers gently through Naruto's hair, pulling out any knots and relieving any tension, or trying to. He rested his head on her shoulder, shallow breaths escaping his lips along with the trembling of his form.

She watched as the paramedic felt the area around his chest, searching for any injuries other than the broken ribs he'd found right at the beginning. The fact that Naruto was still awake, even with a serious injury like that--something that could be deadly, was an achievement all in its own. 

Both Sasuke and Sakura had gotten off a little easier, though. The Uchiha was being treated just outside of the ambulance, with minor injuries. The only near-traumatic injury he had was a large bruise across his abdomen--and there was probably a bit of internal bleeding, but he was more worried about Naruto.

Sakura began to hum a quiet song, soft and melodious, maybe she'd try and take his mind off his pain.

Perhaps hers, as well.

- - - - -

Sasuke watched from afar, kept his eye on his best friend; even on the woman sitting beside him. She was different now--or maybe she'd always been that way. Maybe she'd always been able to throw people through walls--maybe she'd always been able to speak in a such a harsh tone that it sent chills up his spine.

Maybe her eyes had always been that glassy.

He flinched as a cold pack was applied to his abdomen, completely droning out whatever the paramedic was saying as they helped him stand and began walking him towards the ambulance. Sasuke was sat down on a chair just adjacent to the bed within the ambulance. 

He watched, too, as two paramedics helped get Naruto onto the stretcher, as Sakura sat right next to it, running her fingers through his hair and humming a sweet melody. He watched as the paramedic hooked him up to machines that would help him breathe.