the unplanned plan // sasunaru

chapter 7

Everyone tensed at the question, head turning to both Sakura and Hashiro, hoping for them to explain the dreaded news.

Feeling all the stares, Hashiro cleared his throat and began speaking. "Well, Naruto, this is probably going to be hard to hear, but you have the right to know; during your...attack," Several of the nins in the room growled at the word. " Your eyes were injured as well. As i already told your friends, i can heal broken bones and bruise, but the eyes are a bit more difficult. I wasn't able to heal the damage t your eyes, so from now on,...you are blind. I'm sorry."

"No!" A voice broke out, all heads turning to Naruto this time, who was clutching his head and shaking it, tears visibly leaking out of his faint blue eyes. "I-I can't be blind! I-I have t-to become H-Hokage!" He started trying to get out of bed, causing his friends to grow alarmed. The heart monitor neck to his bed started beeping loudly, as he hyperventilated, causing Hashiro to curse and sternly tell the others. "You need to leave right now, his heart is still extremely weak and he is having a panic attack. Out, now!"

All of them rushed out, hearing shouts of "No!" and "It can't be!"

Sakura was the only one allowed to stay behind, because she was medic and close to Naruto.

The hallway had a tense feeling floating, all of Naruto's precious people worrying, still hearing shouts, though this time the doctor's.

After an hour of tense semi-silence, the door opened and Sakura stepped out.

All eyes foccused on her, hoping for some good news. "H-He's stable, but we can't mention his blindness again, because it might cause another panic attack, and next time we might not be able to save him." She looked up at their grim expressions, unable to tell them anything better.

After Hashiro stepped out, he instructed the ohters to go rest in their hotels or homes, but unsurprisingly no-one obeyed, all staying out in the hallway in favor of waiting for Naruto to wake up again.

Naruto lay on the hospital bed, blindly staring up at the ceiling, squirming and restlessly trying to see. He gave up after countless attempts, coming up with no result except for the constant darkness filling his vision. With his increased hearing - courtesy of having a demon fox sealed inside him - he heard the room's door open somewhat quietly. The intruder was obviously trying not to disturb him as he entered, settling down in the chair next to the bed.

He turned his head towards the intruder, hoping to miraculously see him. Unfortunately, as the doctor had told everyone, he was completely blind.
"So," Started the voice in the darkness. "How are you feeling Naruto?' Asked Kakashi.

Naruto grunted in response, before actually forming an actual sentence.

"Aside from the obvious problem of my sight, shit. You? If I recall you were also injured?"

"Hm, it's nothing compared to you." Mumbled Kakashi, hoping Naruto wouldn't hear.

Naruto stiffened and ground out through his teeth icily. "I might be blind, sensei, but I'm not yet deaf."

Kakashi gave a barely audible gasp, Naruto hearing it again. "I'm sorry Natuto, it's just horrible to see my own student failed by my hand. And so early too. Barely 18. I've already failed my teammates, now my student as well. I really am a failure."

Naruto was startled my his sensei's speech, not used to seeing - hearing - his sensei display so much emotion.
Naruto might've been dead last in the academy, but that didn't mean he was an idiot; he knew that most of his sensei's emotions were fake, just like his.

He nodded in response to his sensei's words, silently accepting the slightly cryptic apology. He sighed after a few minutes of silence, head tilted back to stare blankly at the ceiling once again.

Kakashi stared down at his hands, fighting his depressing thoughts. Now was not the time to start getting emotionally out of control, his student was his most important responsibility. He lifted his head to watch his student, noticing him starring up at the ceiling. His eyes automatically focused on the faded blues of his student.
'How could i have let this happen'

Kakashi frowned slightly as he noticed Naruto's eyes rapidly squinting.
"What're you doing Naruto?"
He visibly tensed and stopped squinting.
"Nothing." He mumbled.
"You're trying to see aren't you?."
Naruto stayed silent after that, and Kakashi quickly understood that he was right.
"As much as I hate to say this Naruto, the doctor and Sakura confirmed that you can't and won't be able to see anymore. "
As soon as the words left his mouth he regretted it for numerous reasons.
Firstly because in a split second he realized how much of an insensitive bastard he sounded like, and secondly because a freezing stare pierced him. The fact that Naruto was blind made it more icy because he seemed to be staring right through him, the effect of being pierced by his eyes intensified.

Naruto ground out through his teeth, his voice surprisingly icier than his stare - a feat Kakashi never would have thought possible.
"I think it's time you leave, Hatake-sensei, I need to rest, I'd like to recover as fast as possible."
Without waiting or expecting a response, Naruto turned over on his side and uselessly shut his eyes.
'It made no difference, it was still as dark.'
Kakashi got up solemnly, heading for the door, but looked back at Naruto once more, noting something shiny on his face. He choose to dismiss it as a trick of the moonlight and shut the door as he stepped out.

Naruto controlled his breathing as he listened to Kakashi leave, hoping his teacher didn't see the crack in his ice wall, in the form of a small wet tear.
As soon as he heard the door click shut he released his breath and let the ice wall shatter, the small pieces melting near his eyelids and leaking down his face. Naruto let out another shuddering breath and felt himself fall asleep, hoping for a better day as dawn showed it's colors.