Don't Stare at the Sun or You'll Go Blind

Chapter 11

Sasuke felt the exact moment that Naruko's heart broke.

He watched the emotions play out on her whiskered face, confusion slowly morphing into disbelief and shock. Her arms fell to her sides as her bright eyes dulled and went vacant. She stood absolutely still, frozen in horror. Sasuke wasn't sure if he should try snapping her out of her stupor or if he should wait for her to come back to herself. She broke out of her daze, however, when Minato took a few steps forward.

"He can't be dead. Ero Sennin is..." she trailed off.

Sasuke could read the emotions that flickered past her features- too many feelings all at once. It was easy to put a name to each one. He could feel an echo of her feelings settling lowly in his gut and ripping through him.

"Dead," Minato finished firmly. "Fukasaku-sama was with him in his final moments."

Sasuke felt like someone had punched him in the gut. He watched Naruko hang her head in silence for several seconds before perking up and hopefully asking, "Baa-chan?"

"She's in the hospital. Jiraiya-sensei reversed summoned her to Mount Myouboku before she could succumb to her injuries," Minato explained. Minato hesitated for a few beats before moving towards his daughter and pulling her to him for a comforting hug. Feeling like an outsider, Sasuke watched Minato do his best to support Naruko, but she stood stock still with her arms at her side. Sensing that he wasn't having much luck, Minato shot Naruko another sad look before continuing, "I'm sorry. I have to head back urgently. I'll see you tonight."

The Hokage stepped back from his daughter just before vanishing without a trace. Immediately, Sasuke could feel his emotions compounding upon themselves as if a dam had broken loose. He stared at Naruko for some time, not sure what to say to her. He'd struggled with comforting her when Gaara had died, and he was at even more of a loss now. Frowning slightly, Sasuke took a few steps to close the gap between them. "Naruko, I'm...sorry," he started because he truly was.

Sasuke hadn't been too familiar with Jiraiya, the length of their interactions lasting only a few minutes at a time before their paths diverged. Although Sasuke hadn't been close to the man, he still felt a range of emotions from the man's death- all of them entirely due to Naruko. He was upset for her and her loss, but also angry and frustrated. Angry that Jiraiya had allowed the Akatsuki to kill him, especially after boasting about his strength. Angry that he would do something so careless and thereby hurt Naruko. Frustrated that the Akatsuki had taken someone else from her, permanently this time.

Sasuke wasn't sure whether she would appreciate any attempts at physical comfort. She hadn't responded to her own father after all. He did try, however. He rested a hand to her shoulder and turned her to face him. Whatever he had still been in the process of piecing together to say to her died on his tongue when she looked up at him with glistening, lifeless eyes. It rattled his core to see the animated eyes that he'd gotten used to look so empty. Sasuke frowned deeper, the combination of his pain and her own both filling him and leaving him hollow at the same time. He must have taken too long because she hung her head again while gently removing his hand from her shoulder. "I need to be alone," she said, almost too softly for him to hear, and quickly left him with a shushin.

Once the last trances of her chakra disappeared from the field, Sasuke sighed softly. He stared at the spot where she had stood for a few seconds before glancing around at the destroyed training ground. Not surprisingly, he didn't feel up to training anymore. With a hand of healing chakra pressed to his cheek where Naruko had almost managed to knock a molar loose, Sasuke slowly made his way back to the village.

Of course, he knew that he could chase after her. Despite her words, Sasuke was sure that Naruko never needed to be alone. She thrived amongst others. Any bit of solitude wouldn't do her any good. But he wasn't sure what he could say or do to help her. Maybe it would be best to give her some time, at least for now.