Ma'at

Summary: When her eyes fall on him, taking in his condition, something terrifying flashes across her features. Sasuke knows, in that moment, that if his insides weren't hanging out of his body, if she didn't need to stabilise him as soon as possible, Sakura's own oath to heal would mean nothing. [SasuSaku Festival 2017 – Day 5 – Prompt: "Saving Her Man"]

Disclaimer: This story utilises characters, situations and premises that are copyright Masashi Kishimoto, Shueisha, Shonen Jump and Viz media. No infringement on their respective copyrights pertaining to episodes, novelisations, comics or short stories is intended by KuriQuinn in any way, shape or form. This fan-oriented story is written solely for the author's own amusement and the entertainment of the readers. It is not for profit. Any resemblance to real organizations, institutions, products or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

All plot and Original Characters except for those introduced in the canon books, manga, video games, novelizations and anime, are the sole creation of KuriQuinn. (© KuriQuinn 2016- )

Rating: M

Warning: Spoilers for pretty much everything up to Chapter 699. Graphic depictions/descriptions of torture and injury.

Canon-Compliance: As close to canon as fanfiction can possibly be. With a few personal additions :P Takes place during the Blank Period.

Beta Reader: Sakura's Unicorn

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It's the all-encompassing, bone-deep agony that draws Sasuke out of unconsciousness.

Pain radiates through his entire body, coming from too many points of origin to narrow down. There's an icy, wrenching ache somewhere below his lungs, but that's only the most noticeable. Sharp, stabbing sensations assault him from everywhere—his nails, the webbing between his fingers and toes, and even his hair follicles. His skin feels stretched and raw, as if it's been flayed from his body and then replaced.

Clearly, something happened to him while he was asleep, but he can't figure out what.

In fact, he's having a hard time organising his thoughts which is a sign of just how serious the situation is. Sasuke orders himself to concentrate, to take in whatever information he has about the situation—but there is nothing.

He can't remember what could have led to this.

There are bits and pieces, images and memory that jumble together in his head, but the pain is making it hard for him to filter. Slowly, he puts some of it in order—

Travelling through Suna. Accepting temporary work to help to rebuild a city wall. A tour of the new hydroponic system that...

Who was it? That mousy girl who follows Gaara around.

Whoever she is, she came up with it and was showing him and—

Wait.

Where's Sakura?

He struggles to free himself and makes a disturbing discovery—although he is aware of his body, mostly because of the amount of pain he is in, he can't control any part of it right now.

He is utterly paralysed.

Something across his chest, wrists, and ankles straps him in place; the burning, twisting discomfort is worse there than in his arms and legs. His neck is immobilised, some device at the back of his head pressing his face forcibly downward so that his chin nearly touches his sternum. It makes breathing hard, exacerbating the clawing, wrenching ache beneath his lungs.