The Way Through Stone Village (Naruto)

57: A Big Storm Coming

[OP: "Constellations"--The Oh Hellos]

The rest of that afternoon, Sakura was busy trying to figure out remedies.

The Village Relief Effort had to be put on hold for the time being, or so Mirai assumed, but Shine told her that they would still discuss it and try to get back to her the following day about it.

Mirai expressed sympathy that they weren't feeling well--and admitted to them rather shamefacedly that people got sick often in Rain Village. The weather plus the low amount of nutritious food didn't do anyone's health any favors.

Momo began to worry that it might not just be the food but that there could be fungus or bacteria in the building they were in. She said it was so dirty in the corners that she was sure there was mold somewhere.

Dabi said he was allergic to mold. And he kept coughing and sneezing also.

They gave him tea, but it didn't help for long.

Shoto was fine. He never got sick.

He was still in a dark mood though. But...he did feel a little guilty when he heard how banged up Sasuke was. He'd never thought he'd have been that badly hurt.

"I don't think he could have caught something from our fight," he tried to tell Bakugo.

"I don't care," Bakugo said. "The b-----d probably deserved the beating anyway, but you know he took it easy on you."

"What do you mean? He cut my face."

"You dumba--. Uchiha could cut the clothes off people's bodies in training. Didn't you study that part? If he wanted to gut you like a fish, he would have. And the black fire crap too, he could have just set you on fire."

"I think I could have put it out now."

"And if you didn't in time? Could still blind you or something," Bakugo said. "Some people are just too dumb."

Shoto was disturbed by this. "Sasuke wouldn't take it easy on anyone."

"Sure," Bakugo said flatly. "Like he didn't take it easy on Naruto when they fought the first time and chose not to kill him at the end. Or when he didn't take it easy on all those goons he didn't kill for Orochimaru. Or take it easy on the other people he fought and not put them into the Mangekyo."

"Bakugo, what are you saying? I'm not good with vague answers."

"Is it really that hard to understand? I'm saying that Uchiha holds back all the time. Which, normally, I'd say makes him a fool, but when you have the kinda cracked out demon powers that he does, maybe it's just smart to hold back. You picked a fight with him, and if he wanted to lay your a-- out he probably could have. Stop acting like you're such a tough fricker for it. Makes me want to puke."

Shoto was bothered by that, he was sure Bakugo wouldn't have said it unless he meant it.

"I guess he just didn't want to get kicked out," he said.

"Are you ever gonna admit he's done anything good? Seriously, I thought I was the one who didn't give people their dues out of spite, but you're starting to make me think it's you."

"What do you mean anything good?" 

"Ugh! I hate that I have to spell this out," Bakugo huffed. "Uchiha's been following along with Shine's rule this whole time. He hasn't used his attacks till today, amd you pushed his buttons, didn't you? If he hadn't felt threatened by you he wouldn't have done that so easily, not after holding off for so long. He's also defended Shine a few times, and he caught that stupid rock while the others just stood there, from the sound of it. He wasn't always a monster either. Once he was...well, he was a prick, but he wasn't a monster. Whatever's eating you, you're not even acknowledging the facts anymore. Freaking moron."