Restoration Book 3/3: Sakura's Fate

Chapter 10

While waiting for the bath to fill and the medicine Tsunade had given me to kick in, Sasuke caught me up on everything that happened after I passed out in the town hall. The Meishu went through Matsuri's memories and realized our intentions. He came downstairs and stopped the chaos throughout the building and surrounding streets so he could locate the samples. Once he verified their error, he issued an order to return to the water and spread the word to do so.

While that's fantastic news, the exact thing we needed to happen, he wasn't quick enough to prevent casualties. Kisame and Hidan were dead, not to mention hundreds of others outside the town hall building. That's not even counting the likely thousands or millions of others worldwide that perished.

Many were injured, as well. Obito lost one of his eyes, Hinata broke her arm, and Kiba and Kankuro both suffered broken ribs.

Luckily, Kankuro and Temari gave quick directions to this hospital that still had plumbing and electricity, not to mention medical supplies. Naruto and Matsuri were still unconscious, and everyone suspected I would be one of the last ones to awaken, minus maybe Matsuri. I was unbelievably shocked and relieved when I found out she was alive. Even further, I was floored by the news that Naruto had been shot point-blank in the chest and survived.

Just like Tsunade said, Hinata's group had come across the safehouse we'd been given the coordinates to while on their way here and managed to gain a large number of reinforcements. Among those were, of course, Dr. Tsunade, but also her husband Jiraiya, Shizune from the asylum, and Konohamaru's aunt and uncle.

Oh, poor Hinata.... I bet she's distraught right now since Naruto's unconscious. Sasuke said he wasn't sure how everything went down but saw Neji having to forcefully hold her still when he passed by while carrying me out of that awful building.

Thinking about it brought the image of Sasuke's grieving face to mind, the last glimpse I'd gotten of it before losing the ability to open my eyes, and my chest ached. Tears immediately flooding my cheeks again, I shakily grabbed onto the bedside table and stumbled to my feet, "B-Baby...."

He popped his head out of the bathroom before quickly coming up to hold my hands when close enough, "What the hell, Sakura? I told you to stay in bed."

I pressed my forehead to his chest and cried, pulling my hands from his to hug him close. The man seemed to hesitate but eventually ran a gentle hand over my hair, returning my embrace, "What's wrong? Let me see." His irritated tone was much softer.

"I'm just sorry, is all."

Slowly, Sasuke knelt so I could hug around his shoulders, resting my head there, as well, "Come on. Shut up about it already." That familiar tug had finally returned to his voice, the one he gets when things get emotional, and he's not as comfortable with talking.

My legs weakly gave out under me, and he reacted before my knees could hit the ground, swooping me up against him and rising to hold me bridal-style. Wordlessly, he carried me into the bathroom and sat me on the counter to pull the oversized shirt off over my head.

I stared at him with watery eyes, and he stared back. As upset as he is with me right now, and as I am with myself, all I can sense from the Uchiha man is adoration and relief. The narrowed eyes, furrowed brow, and frown can't mask it. All I could think about was how I could look into his beautiful eyes forever, and it'd never be long enough.

Sasuke's cheeks suddenly offered a soft pink color, the tension in his expression releasing into surprise. Baffled by his appearance change, I provided a surprised look myself, "What? Is there something on my face?"

I tried to turn to the mirror behind me, but he shook his head, a smirk tugging at his lips as he reached under my arms and around to unclasp my bra, "I think that medicine's starting to kick in."