The Sun and the Moon (BL)

Chapter 2

Sakura was already waiting for him by the nurse's station when he arrived. It looked like she'd only just arrived as well. She held her bag in one hand and was still wearing her coat and pink scarf.

Naruto doubted that he'll ever get used to the brightness of a hospital, or its smell. Oh god, the smell. Having spent enough time in one throughout his life, Naruto would have preferred to limit his time here.

"Sakura-chan!" Naruto beamed as he approached, startling Sakura, who had not noticed his entrance.

"Naruto, you scared me!" Grinning, she slapped him lightly across his shoulder. "Now come on." It seemed like she was having a great morning, her eyes were twinkling as she looked at Naruto and the grin would not leave her face as she pulled him along to the examination room.

"Sakura-chan, what are you in such a rush for? I'm not going anywhere." Not being able to hold the bubbling laughter rumbling in his chest, he finally let it out, alas, a hint of nervousness was present. Naruto wasn't sure what he should expect of this check-up. Sakura didn't tell him anything other than she had good news.

"How have you been feeling recently? Any pain?" Naruto tilted his head to the side, thinking about it before deciding it was better, to tell the truth.

"Sometimes, but it's not too bad. What's worse is when it tickles and I can't scratch it, Sakura-chan! Do you know how that feels like? There is nothing to be itchy! Nothing but air! And yet! So exhausting, can you get rid of it?" Naruto flailed his arm around in grand gestures, eyes wide as he recalled his experience.

"That's normal. A lot of shinobi who lose a limb experience phantom sensation such as itchiness; sometimes it's pain, other times it makes them feel like they're actually touching objects." Sakura explained in a professional manner. She didn't look at his face as she started examining his body. Her chakra pulsed through his body, his muscles, organs; checking his heartbeat, temperature, if his wounds healed properly. If something was amiss, it would not escape her keen mind.

"Good! You seem healthy." Clapping her hands, she looked Naruto in the eyes with a big grin on her face.

"Oh, so, can I go now, then? Since you're done." Without having to express his feelings regarding the matter directly, Sakura already knew about Naruto's hatred and evasion of hospitals so before he could even take a step outside of the examination room, she pulled him onto a chair.

"You can't! Sit!" Whenever she used her serious tone, Naruto was more likely to follow instructions – years of being friends has taught him that sometimes, it's better to just be obedient. "I have some good news for you."

The pause did not help to quell the sudden excitement Naruto felt building up in his stomach. Good news? That could only mean one of two things. The first one, Sasuke's return, was unlikely. But the second . . .

"You know that we have been experimenting with the Hashirama cells we took from the white Zetsu's, right?" Seeing his nod, she continued, "After seeing the effect they had on Obito, we thought it might be possible to mould them into limbs, which, once attached, would be fully functional. As if they never lost the limb in the first place."

"Does that mean that I'll – we'll – be able to get our arms back?!" The excitement rose a couple of levels, Naruto's eyes widened and twinkled in the brightly lit room; he couldn't sit still and jumped to his feet, his hand jittery from all the emotions he felt. It wasn't just about him getting back his arm, it was the fact that Sasuke will be able to have his as well.

"Hopefully. You'll be the first person that we will try this on; you are our best option with your quick regeneration." Sakura smiled knowingly. "After checking your condition, I am fairly confident that this has a high chance of success; we already checked to see if it is even possible through the samples we collected from you during the last visit. While there will be initial side-effects once the arm is attached, they will subside and disappear over time. We can proceed whenever you feel mentally prepared for it; you're in perfect health to be put on the table at any moment."