Haurutsuki: Melting of Beautiful Snow

3. The Hospital Visit

As the brothers admired their surroundings, walking through the gates of the village, two guards at their stall spotted the familiar cloaked figure. "Hey, Sasuke!" One yelled, and the three turned to see the two guards running up at them. "Morning, Sasuke." He greeted. "Welcome back. What brings you here so soon?" the other asked. "Urgent business." Sasuke bluntly stated.

The guards chuckled sheepishly, "Always is, eh, Sasuke." The first said. "Who's these guys?" The other asked. "These three need medical attention. Could you escort them to the hospital? I need to report back to the Hokage." Sasuke flatly said. "Uhr... Sure, Sasuke." He said, slightly surprised with being needed. "You take care of those three. I'll keep watch, till you get back." The other assured him. "Alright. I entrust them to you." Sasuke said, and just like that, he flashed away...

"Huh? Frozen shinobi?" Kakashi asked in disbelief. He sat from his desk in the Hokage Office. Sasuke nodded, "Yeah... My Rinnegan undone the jutsu somehow. I'm heading back to further investigate. I also have some questions for Orochimaru. It'll all be in my report. Once I finish it, I'll have it sent over. They're in the hospital now."

Kakashi nodded, "Alright. But are you sure you can't stay? I'm sure Sakura and Naruto would appreciate you stopping by." He nonchalantly suggested. "I don't have time for that right now. If that will be all, I guess I'll get going then." Sasuke said, turning to walk out the door. Just as he opened it, Kakashi spoke up, "Sasuke. It was good to see you again." He looked over his shoulder at Kakashi's closed-eyes smile. He then looked back to the door and said, "By the way, they said they're old friends of yours." He then walked out. "What? Old friends? Who could that be?" Kakashi frowned in curious disbelief.

Back at the hospital, after a check-up, Sakura turned from Miyuki in her hospital bed, to her worrying brothers. "She seems to have collapsed from chakra and physical exhaustion as well as malnutrition. A little bed rest, and a proper diet, and she'll be fine." She assured them. "Really? Oh man, what a relief. Thank you, nurse Sakura." Ryuu bowed. "It's just like Sasuke said then." Katsu added. "S-Sasuke?" Sakura stuttered, turning pink. "Nurse, if you don't mind, I have a question." Katsu stated. "S-sure. Sure. Why, anyone who knows Sasuke can ask me anything. I mean, don't ask me anything, but sure, ask away." She said, flustered with embarrassment. "Well, ever since we woke up from our coma, we haven't been able to tap into our chakra reserves. I can't even use my sensory abilities. Do you know why?" Sakura calmed as she thought it over. "Hmm... From what you've told me so far, and what I gather on your sister, you don't really have much chakra to begin with. Why don't we get you to your room and wait for the test results to come in. You can explain the details to me there while your sister gets some rest."

The brothers nodded, "Yes, please. Thank you." Katsu said before putting down Miyuki's hood-scarf on a chair near the window sile. He had been clinging to it, knowing that's where she'd want it later. With that, they left her hospital room and moved onto their own in the male ward.

Sometime later, Kakashi strode into the hospital and asked the receptionist for the room of their new patients. The receptionist gave him the directions with the brothers' room number. He thanked the nurse, took out his Icha Icha book. He began strolling towards the wards while reading. As he continued down the hall, he turned into what he assumed was the right ward, getting lost in his Make Out Paradise novel. He stopped himself when he realized he had been walking for a while. He looked around, 'These numbers don't look right. Guess I took a wrong turn back there...' He then turned around to go back the way he came when something caught his eye. "Hmm?" In the open doorway of the room, he spotted what piqued his interest. He turned his head up to peak into the room.

Right across the room from where he stood was a black scarf on a chair. The slightly opened window created a breeze. The scarf gentle swayed in the draft of the summer air. He shut his book, allowing his feet to carry him to the chair he was fixated on. He slowly stretched out his hand and lifted the long scarf to his face. 'It's like a hood... With moon phases on it.' He concluded as he examined the fabric in his hand. The lunar phases were sown into its rim with purple thread. Then, like a lightning bolt, it struck him. He turned 90 degrees and faced the owner of the hood.