Confrontation

When Sai woke up the next day, early in the morning - the sun had not yet risen well on the horizon - he realized that he was alone in the room that had been assigned to him, Sasuke and Gai. The impression is that the room was left to him alone, as the other two's belongings were arranged so impeccably that no one would say they had been used during the night.

None of them had been able to sleep properly. They took naps now and then, but only because they were really tired from the battle; their minds were too disturbed. There had been no news of the companions who stayed in the hospital, which meant that everything was probably going on the same way. Sakura and Lee should have found a place there to settle down, since they didn't show up.

The brunette then got ready quickly, already knowing where he should go, the place where the other two were already. He remembered the path in his head, thankfully, as he could easily get lost in that village; he was not used to walking around, at the moment it was one of the only paths he knew. He quickly arrived at the medical post and, seeing no one he knew, went straight to speak to one of the receptionists.

They were friendly to receive him, a little different from what he expected compared to the way some residents treated them all. Well, maybe the hospital aura is unique, regardless of where you were. It was not long before he discovered the room to which the injured companions had been directed. He was accompanied there, discovering Sasuke alone, with his back to him, beside Naruto's bed. TenTen, on the other side, looked noticeably better, his belly area covered with a bandage.

He approached the brunette carefully, only noticing his apparent fragility when he was closer. His eyes were locked on the blonde's serene face, as if he were in some kind of trance or something. I wanted to say a few words, but I was afraid of the reaction I would receive from the Uchiha. He decided to try anyway.

"Where are the others?" The answer took so long to come that he was already beginning to believe that he had been ignored. When she finally arrived, he felt bad when he heard the hoarse and brittle voice of someone who didn't look well.

"Gai is in the Raikage office. He decided to send a message to the Hokage on his own. The doctors asked Sakura to look at other patients, she became a well-known doctor after the war, because of her deeds. More early, she told me that Lee stayed awake holding TenTen's hand and crying all night and asked me to convince him to get some rest. You must imagine it wasn't easy. I promised him that I would be by her side on his That alone made him accept a room to close his eyes for a few hours. I was beside her just now, but something ... so I'm here. "

With that speech, the former member of Ne was able to verify that the man was not doing well, as he had thought. The Sasuke I knew was not so talkative, especially about his feelings. In the end, Naruto and TenTen were not the only ones who had been hurt from the fight.

A strange silence ensued for a few minutes before he finally decided to speak.

"It wasn't your fault. We could never have predicted that it wouldn't work with Naruto."

"If we had thought a little more, this would not have happened. If I had paid a little more attention to detail ..."

"We were in the middle of a confrontation. The only thing we could think of was to survive. What happened was an accident ..." His sentence was interrupted by the murderous look he received. Sharingan and Rinnegan were glaring at him, and in that moment, he was really afraid of the ninja beside him.

"What do you know? Nothing. You don't know anything. How would you know?" The words were practically spat out in his face and then there was the personality he knew, the fragile side totally hidden behind that angry and cruel mask. "A ninja is trained to, even during a fight, plan various strategies, in a cold and impersonal way. It is not allowed for someone to be shaken by emotions ... as it happened. An accident cannot be admitted on a ninja mission. We we should have died before allowing that to happen. "

Sai had no words to answer that. He thought that he and Sasuke had finally built up at least an acceptance of each other, but no. He had been wrong all along. The words spoken hurt deep in his heart, reminding him how painful the feelings could be once they were felt. He took a step back, dismayed, feeling attacked. Was it really a good choice to get up that morning?

Giving no time for anything else, the Uchiha moved toward the door, his steps heavy and noisy across the floor. Anger consumed him, along with sadness and guilt. His whole mind was clouded by the combination of those negative feelings. He found Sakura at the door and, without really seeing her, just mumbled for her to take care of TenTen, before leaving the hospital, aimlessly.

The pink-haired woman did not understand what was happening for a moment. He entered the room, finding his petrified teammate in place, without expression. His difficulty in expressing feelings was common, but there was something different about the look on that day. She had overheard a little of the conversation between the two, when she was about to enter to visit friends, preferring not to meddle and wait outside. She didn't even have time to blush with embarrassment at being caught spying when her old teammate walked through the door. He didn't even look at her, just asked her to be next to the brunette with the bun.

"Get out? How are you?" The brunette nodded, not really seeming to process the information. What made the medical ninja put a hand on his shoulders, finally making him look properly. "Yes?"

"It's okay, Sakura, I'm just tired."

"Don't worry about Sasuke. He's like that." He was a little surprised by her speech; I didn't think I heard your little interaction.

"You were here all the time?"

"No, I was about to check on them when I heard you talking. I thought it was rude to interrupt, so I waited outside. But I couldn't stop my ears ..." She paused before continuing, taking the child's attention. friend to you. "Don't worry. As soon as he realizes that he is vulnerable, he closes. No one is able to penetrate this barrier that he creates in those moments. He will only do what he wants to do, without listening to anyone. If he is sad and feeling guilty, so if he so decides, nothing that none of us will say will take his mind off it. But in the end, he ends up seeing the mistake for himself and regretting it. So don't worry. Everything will be back to normal as soon as Naruto wake up. Don't put so much effort into it. "

How could he just forget or not think about it as she was suggesting? It was impossible. Even for him. Could not. It would occupy his mind every second of the day and he knew he would think of all the possibilities for that outcome. In several of them, Sasuke would never look at him again. In others, he would return to treating him with hostility, as before. And, in a slightly more optimistic scenario, they would solve problems among themselves and become companions; at least.

"Forget faith and take action." Both turned to the sound of a weak, familiar voice. They watched TenTen slowly open his eyes, as if the very act caused intense pain. Considering her situation, she made no effort to sit up in order to look them in the eye. They could just hear his voice, and from there, she would hear theirs. Her whole body was sore, especially the part that had been hit.

How long had she been out there? Luckily, I was alive. It could have been much worse if she was not already prepared to deal with that Rasengan.

"What are you saying? Don't try, you need to rest." Sakura approached, checking, again that day, the condition of the companion. Aside from the grimace of pain, everything seemed to be under control. There was no sign of blood on the bandaged part and she felt immediate relief when she saw this.

"If I don't speak, I feel like I'm going to go crazy. I'm a social being, you know? Interaction for me is key." She tried to laugh, but stopped as soon as she realized that it was not a pretty sound, and it was also not pleasant for her body. I was feeling intensely any action I took. He was even aware of his own, somewhat irregular breathing. Despite everything, I needed to keep talking.

"Just come and talk to him. Isn't talking about solving things when we have a problem with someone?"

"And would he listen?" Haruno asked, crossing her arms. I was convinced that I was right. Sai should just let things flow; no matter how hard he tried, the other would never hear him.

"Why wouldn't you? He's a human being like all of us. Stop putting him on a pedestal and start treating him like a normal person. I don't want to offend you, Sakura, but the Sasuke you met it doesn't exist anymore, so stop summing it up to a pit of cruelty. He's a different person now. "

The kunoichi with green orbs fell silent, berating herself in thought. TenTen was right; he was a different person, he proved it in many different ways, to everyone. So how much longer would she continue to hold on to the figure of the old Sasuke?

"I would like you to see him with my eyes. Or with Lee or Gai's eyes. Then you would realize how fantastic he is. He made a mistake. the series of mistakes, but who of us has never done that? If he sincerely regrets, we need to take a chance. "Sai listened to the words carefully.

The way the Gai team saw Sasuke was beautiful. He doubted that he and the Yamato team could immediately see him the same way. Perhaps they would never see him as she described. But the speech was beginning to give him some encouragement. Mitsashi was right. He was a human being, regardless of the difficult personality, he could just come and talk to him. The problem was not with the Uchiha, but with himself. Why was he so afraid? Why were you so afraid?

"He's just disappointed in himself." The brunette with coke commented, simply. The other two opened their eyes wide, in their minds it was impossible for someone like the famous Uchiha Sasuke to be somewhat disappointed in himself. They dissipated the thought as soon as it appeared, both. They needed to start seeing him with different eyes. "He doesn't feel guilty because Naruto was hurt. He would never feel. We were in a battle, anyone could have been hurt if we weren't careful enough. He's just feeling weak. Imagining that, regardless of the circumstances, he should to have managed to stop himself. Realizing, suddenly, that he is subject to accidents like anyone else ... that scares him. He is not used to making mistakes like that. Especially if someone else's health is involved. Especially someone with whom he didn't resolve himself in life. If Naruto died at that moment, without completely resolving himself… it's already happened to his brother. And then his best friend, along the same path… just try to put yourself in his place . It must not be easy to deal with all this emotional load. "

"How can you know so much?" The brunette didn't want to spoil the moment after those powerful words, but he couldn't contain his curiosity. It was as if she were the Uchiha himself or as if she were in his mind right now. How could she know all these things, read it so well? I had just woken up!

"I watched him from the moment he arrived. Our team never needed many words to communicate and understand each other. We can just feel what the other feels. We are a team. We are one." TenTen coughed loudly and dry. It was time to stop talking, the act was consuming more of itself than she expected. But she was strong, she was a warrior. I was still fighting a fight; and I wouldn't give up until I won it.

"Sasuke is too sensitive to be in a situation like this. His mind must be in chaos. Under that iron shield, there is a glass wall. And right now, the pieces are all over the floor. Someone needs to help him. to build a new wall. This time, of bricks and cement, so it doesn't break so easily. "

She opened her eyes wider to get a better look. She realized that they had snuck up on her, she hadn't noticed, curious. He stopped for a few seconds, thinking he was fully understood. When no one took any action, she started to get angry.

"What are you waiting for? Go after him." He instructed, authoritarian. The drawing master pointed his hand at his chest, asking, without words, if it was directed at him. When she made an impatient face, he was sure it was the subject. "Enjoy it while I'm bedridden; you won't have another chance to get me out of the way." Still seeing him standing there, she started to get up and her voice rose. "How many times do I need to repeat it? If you're sorry, just apologize. If you're sad, just say what hurt you. Why do people complicate the simplest things?"

A full minute passed before Danzou's former group member took action. His mind was confused, he felt motivated in a way, however he still didn't quite know how he would approach his target. Were things really as simple as the brunette made it look? The first conversation had not been very productive, why should I try a second time?

"Just be patient with him. Like you, Sasuke is still learning to deal with his own feelings. All it takes is a little understanding and caring. It's not as difficult as it looks. If you want it to work, then it will do. Just try. "

It was with this last incentive that he finally found the courage to leave the room and go after Uchiha. TenTen would work as a leader ... she had a natural talent for making people believe in her ideologies. He reminded himself to thank her later, if all went well. No, regardless of whether it worked or not, I would appreciate it. She had encouraged him to try and that in itself was already valid. It was better that he had tried, even if nothing worked, than to regret the possibility of "what if". Chances were fifty to fifty, after all. What if, by some chance of fate, it worked? If I didn't try, I would never know.

He looked for the Sharingan heir all over the hospital. He looked in the cafeteria, at the reception, in the parking lot. He was not in any of these places. Luckily, while looking for someone to ask if they had seen him around, he saw him under a tree, in the small garden behind the medical center. He walked at a calm pace, trying to control his heart and nervousness. I couldn't lose my head. I needed to be patient. The words of the only female member of the Gai team came to mind. Just come and talk to him. [...] He is a human being like all of us. May Kami bless you in this battle.

He had his back to him, standing in front of the tree, facing no point in particular. He immediately felt his presence and did not welcome it.

"What do you want now?"

It took a lot of patience for him not to speak the words that were already on the tip of his tongue, in a disorderly manner. He counted to ten mentally. Understanding and caring, she had said. Patience.

"I didn't mean to offend or hurt you. I apologize for my attitude." The speech earned him a look, but not too deep. It was only for half a second, before the other turned around again, as if the tree was more interesting than having a conversation with him.

With that attitude, Sai imagined that he had taken him by surprise; that was certainly not what he believed he would hear. I needed to talk more, to surprise him. It was time to be a little more aggressive in order to wake him up. He gathered all his courage to put his plan into action. I would definitely need it. Facing him was not going to be easy. He took a step closer, raising his voice so that he sounded, at least, bored.

"You need to stop blaming yourself and move on. If you're so sorry, why aren't you by his side, giving him the strength to improve, and instead you're crying around the corner like a damned immature boy?"

Now he had got his full attention. He saw the other turn towards him like a storm. His face was contorted in anger and he approached menacingly, the Sharingan activated, his eyes vivid and bright in his direction.

"Repeat what I said." His courage softened a little and he wanted to look away, but he couldn't stop now that he had gotten a reaction. This was the time to go even harder and not hide like a frightened mouse.

She continued to look at him boldly and lifted her chin to show that she had not been shaken.

"I'm not afraid of you, Uchiha."

"You should have." He spoke the words in a lower, warning tone, without retreating. There was a duel there, the one who dodged first would be the loser.

"You are not going to hurt me." Said Sai, trying to give his voice a little conviction. At that point in the championship, he was not so confident with his attitudes. Nervous, he couldn't even remember TenTen's words of encouragement anymore. Had she said something about hitting the head? I didn't think so. But now that he was there, there was no turning back. If that sucked, it had already been done.

"I wouldn't be so sure." These were the last words the Uchiha spoke before turning to go. The pale-skinned brunette already imagined that he would do this; in all the times they had argued, he always tried to escape the situation. Maybe I was afraid the other person was right? Probably.

Then, predicting what he would do even before he did, the designer held his wrist, exerting some pressure to keep him there; the "opponent" was strong and seemed convinced of actually leaving. After feeling the touch, Sasuke turned his orbs to face him, wondering why the audacity of the opposite side was so great.

"Listen, Sasuke. You are not the person I care most about in this world. But I need you now, balanced. Well. Without all this fucking guilt. Get your posture on, believe in yourself a little and get up." He said firmly, uttering the same words that had been said to him to help them get rid of Ikari's chakra lines. "As soon as you get rid of the bad feelings, we can be next to Naruto with positive energies."

It was like the sensation of falling out of bed, in the middle of a bad dream. The ex-nukenin blinked several times, feeling as if he had been slapped across the face. I could make several different comparisons for the same meaning: Sai had woken him up, extended a rope when he was at the bottom of a dark and lonely well. The guilt was consuming him in a way he had never done before. Why exactly was he feeling all sulky when, in fact, he should be in a room with Sakura or any other doctor trying to learn medical ninjutsu to save his best friend?

Option two matched her persona more current quality. Things did not work out expecting them to work themselves out; people needed to act in search of what they wanted. What had he done, even for a second, to think otherwise? He sighed, relieved, grateful. He would not be able to utter the words of thanks, his pride still did not allow him, not so recent to events, so he just asked a question.

"What did you do?"

"You said earlier that a crash could fix things. A strong emotion can cause the system to break down, right?"

Smiling was inevitable. Well, a smile in its own way, of course. He was happy. As if a big weight has come off your back, free from a ton of feelings that let you down. His mind was clear as water again. And his heart was beating lightly, rhythmically.

He turned to Sai, getting rid of the hand that held him. Instead, he put his own hand on someone else's shoulder, as he sometimes did with his teammates. In the beginning, when he returned to the village, physical touches still scared him. This passed over time, he had no other choice. TenTen, Lee and Gai were very energetic, so closeness to them was key. He was always hugged by one of the three and, little by little, he got used to it, until he lost his fear of what always bothered him.

The smile remained and looked at him gently, squeezing the shoulder under his touch.

"You're pathetic."

The dark man of both black orbs did not know how to react to the act of affection. Yes, I considered it a fondness. As much as the words sounded offensive, he knew that the other had not intended to offend him. And that was exactly the problem. His heart rate increased, he felt the warmth of his palm on his shoulder and his gaze strayed a little lower down his face, to his lips.

I didn't believe what I was doing. Really, really, was she looking at his mouth, as if she needed to kiss him right now? I could only be going crazy. How did they go from a forgiving conversation to that? He started to feel his face heating up without his control.

"Why did you suddenly get nervous?" The Uchiha decided to provoke him, approaching to whisper the words next to his ear. By Kami, I didn't know if it was worse to have him as an enemy or ally.