at a resolve

Chapter Five

Naruto seemed to have lost track of time as he dragged his feet across the hallway, numerous footsteps echoing around him.

He felt so lost in space as if his mind was swimming around blankly, despite being definitely aware of where he was and where they were going.

What time was it again?

Walking ahead of him were Kakashi and Ino who were previously striding; Naruto knew he'd slowed them down.

Sensing how the both of them stopped to wait for him to catch up, Naruto looked up.

"It's okay, you don't have to wait for me," Naruto said. "You can go ahead."

"Hmm," Kakashi chose to remain. "I was thinking it will be better if we all enter at the same time?"

Ino nodded.

Naruto considered it for a moment before walking. Once he'd caught up with his teacher, the blonde spoke once again.

"Eh, you should go ahead. Several people visiting at once may not be good for him because he just woke up," Naruto said, silently hoping Kakashi would find him reasonable.

Kakashi eyes him before nodding. "Okay, what you say so."

Kakashi proceeded to walk and once again Naruto was falling behind. The blonde placed both hands into his pockets and walked even more slowly.

He slumped onto a couch in the lobby just outside intensive care, as Kakashi peeked inside the glass doors.

"Are you sure you're not coming in with me yet?" Kakashi asked Naruto. Ino watched them concerningly.

Naruto nodded before smiling at Kakashi.

Kakashi pushed the door into intensive care and soon found himself entering Sasuke's room, with Ino following closely behind. A smile from his pink-haired student greeted him cheerfully.

"Sensei!" she said, standing up and walking toward where Kakashi stood, pulling a chair behind her to offer her former teacher.

"Thank you, Sakura," he said, before turning to his student on the bed. "Sasuke."

The bed had been inclined slightly, and a sheet covered his student all the way up to his neck. Thick bandages were heavily wrapped around his forehead and the breathing tube was still in place. Kakashi glanced at the monitors beside the bed and he knew the vitals displayed were a lot better than it had been yesterday. Sasuke's eyed fluttered open and he looked at Kakashi with half-lidded eyes.

"He's awake. Tired, but conscious enough to answer by moving his head or his hands," Sakura said, as she fixed the cap on Sasuke's head. "He woke up way earlier than I had expected, given he was in a deep coma."

Kakashi heard a very soft grunt from Sasuke.

"He still needs it?" Kakashi asked, pertaining to the tube attached to the ventilator.

"Yeah, I guess. He hasn't stabilized as well as I'd want to, so I'd rather have it in for a while," Sakura answered. "He tried fighting it off but I was able to talk him out of it."

Sakura walked toward Kakashi and lowered her voice so Sasuke couldn't hear.

"He might need another surgery, but we haven't decided yet. It's too delicate. But we're keeping a really close watch," she told him.

Sakura turned to Ino. "Thank you for bringing Kakashi here, Ino; that was fast." Ino shook her head lightly to tell her it was nothing. "Did you see Naruto?" Sakura asked.

Ino glanced at Kakashi for a moment before answering, "Yes, he said he'll be here."

Sakura's face lightened up. "That's great."