Let It Burn: Death [Sasuke Uchiha]

Chapter 36

The return to Konoha was a silent one after Kakashi and Sai managed to seal the weapon inside a scroll to transport back to the Village. But the air was a tense silence as no one knew what to say. Naruto carried the Phantom Ninja on his back, holding her legs in place around the hips while her arms were wrapped around his neck, cheek pressing against the back of a shoulder. She had stopped crying, but he could hear the older teen's breathing, which was staggered at times. There was no telling what Mai had gone through under the sword's control, but one could imagine. The Be Fong was a private person, Team 7 knew they weren't aware of everything she was involved in, but it had to have been traumatic to warrant a reaction like that.

Approaching the front gates of Konoha, Kakashi moved ahead to warn Izumo and Kotetsu what had happened. To allow the rest of the team to enter without question. Their eyes flickered up watching as the four came into view before nodding to the Jounin.

"From documents it was supposed to be a routine extermination of targets," Kotetsu spoke lowly. "What exactly happened out there?"

"Later," Kakashi said. "But it didn't go according to plan. We were blinded to the truth."

Once inside the young man spoke up, "Sakura, Sai, with me. We will report to the Hokage. Naruto, take Mai to the hospital." He noticed the Be Fong shift on his back, knowing she was going to deny help, stating, "That's an order. Then you can join us, Naruto."

Nodding, the blonde entered an alleyway in order for them to move through the shadows without detection. Mai wouldn't appreciate it if people saw her showing weakness.

"If I leave you in the hospital, will you actually stay there or do I have to follow you around to be sure you've actually been released by doctors?"

"I'll stay," she muttered.

He didn't exactly believe her, causing him to sigh heavily. "Just please get checked out, Mai. I'm worried about you."

Her parted eyelids shifted to stare at the surface of his jacket. "You don't have to..."

"I still will."

"I'm fine," she stated after a beat of silence. "I was just taken off guard."

He gave a humorless chuckle. "You're a terrible liar." There was another moment of silence. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"No."

"Mai... it's not healthy bottling this up. You need to talk to someone."

"You can probably guess everything it said to me... You were present through most of my struggles, even when I tried to not let it show. Everyone in Team 7 knows... It's like you said, I was the perfect host for it."

The Be Fong's presence inside the hospital caused a bit of concern as they waited by the front desk before a nurse from the trauma center came by to take them to a room.

"You can put me down now," she muttered, still being carried on his back.

"Not a chance." He threw a small smirk over a shoulder. "You may try running off. And then I'll have to chase you down."

Eyes rolling, they came to a room where the nurse moved about to make it more comfortable for the Be Fong's stay. The woman offered a medical gown when the Jounin finally allowed Mai to stand on her own two feet.

"I'll be right outside."

"You should be reporting to Kakashi," the Phantom Ninja stated. He went to protest when she continued, "You don't want to get in trouble with the Hokage for not making a report, do you?"