Nightshift 24: M1-M10 Hallway
Recluse was glad that the Head Doctor didn't waste his time tonight. He held the pepper spray he had acquired last night in his left hand, sharpening steel in his right. He moved purposefully down the dark corridor, keeping silent
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When he looked up again he saw the determined look Lee was giving him. After a few seconds of surprise, he did his best to mirror it, adding a lopsided grin. "Yeah, well, if we can all get out of here, that is."
"And we will," he added as a fiery afterthought. Naruto was antsy for action now, but also remembered and thought of Sasuke most likely trapped in Solitary Confinement still. Overnight, the nurse had said. He wondered if he could resist sharing that information with Sakura when she showed up.
"Usagi-chan is in good hands," he agreed with Lee with another grin. "Those who abandon their teammates are worse than trash."
Unfortunately, repeating Kakashi-sensei's manta only redirected his thoughts back to Sasuke. Shit. But how could he abandon this group? That would be just as bad as anything. Naruto shifted his weight where he stood, uncertain. "Sakura-chan and I think Haku have some chakra use, but Zabuza cautioned us about some side-effects of using those. Lee, your taijutsu abilities are probably the most valuable asset we have. Usagi-chan, I haven't forgotten about your crystal. If we don't find it in the File Rooms we'll keep searching."
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Usagi blinked at Naruto's statement about teammates. "That sounds harsh," she said. Even friends were prone to losing their way, and she couldn't find it in her heart to hate them for it. Of course saying that was always easier than practicing it when the situation arose...
"When do you think the others will show?" It felt like there was a lot to do and she was beginning to get anxious.
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Lee hoped as well that soon the others would join them. Time was fleeing as they waited. Still, patience was important in such a delicate situation.
"They shall be here soon! I am certain of it!"
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As if on cue, the faint shine of a flashlight appeared at the end of the hallway, followed by a relieved, albeit hushed, greeting.
"Naruto! Lee!" Sakura sighed, glad that they hadn't decided to leave her behind for the night. She and Relena had made good time, and it wasn't like Naruto would leave her behind. But where were Zabuza and Haku? And who was the other girl standing with them.
Green eyes narrowed as she recognized the girl from the cafeteria that Naruto had been chatting up so happily earlier in the day. Sakura could hardly help that she associated pretty, blond girls with rivalry, but she couldn't figure out exactly why she could feel her temper flaring already. It was Naruto, and yet...
"I see you're making friends," she continued, a bit snippily as she gave the blond girl a once-over. Probably couldn't hold her own in combat anyway. "This is my roommate, Relena. It's her first night, so I thought it would be okay if she came along." No doubt it would be with the group present. Zabuza might have an objection, but it wasn't like Sakura really cared about his opinion anyway. "Relena, this is Naruto, Lee, and... I'm sorry, I don't know your name." Naruto and Lee could handle introductions.
Apparently, even her thoughts were deciding to be as difficult as possible. Without waiting to be introduced, Sakura's mouth ran ahead of her.
"Is Gaara coming?"
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She waited until the introductions were made before speaking up. "It's a pleasure to meet you two, and it's nice to see you again, Usagi," she said, though she didn't know why Sakura was snippy with the other blond girl. Usagi was just friendly with people and didn't seem to be the type to attack others without provocation.
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It was no sooner that Lee expressed his confidence that a flashlight beamed on them. Sakura made it! Naruto felt relief wash over him, smiling easily. "Sakura-chan!" He greeted in return, but didn't recognize the other person with her.
There was a shift in Sakura's demeanor as soon as she drew closer, which confused Naruto momentarily. He blinked, unsure about the tone with which she addressed Usagi, glancing between them once. Had they met before? Not gotten along? He nodded as she went on, still confused but acknowledged Relena by lifting a hand in greeting. "Yeah, nice to meet you."
So Relena did, but Sakura didn't know Usagi? Then what was with the attitude?
Before he speak again, Sakura had to say the thing she knew would make his brain short-circuit. Naruto made an unhappy, unintelligible noise and frowned very visibly while crossing his arms over his chest. "No, not that I know of," he answered and looked off to the side grumpily. "I haven't seen him since before lunch. Have you?"
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"You must be Sakura..." Usagi stopped herself from adding 'Naruto's girlfriend'. So she was the center of the love triangle! Well, she's pretty enough, Usagi thought, but the pink hair reminded her of Chibiusa. In fact Sakura's demeanor reminded Usagi of Chibiusa when they first met. The once-over glance was not appreciated either. This girl was sizing her up like competition! The senshi would just have to prove her worth, super-powered or not.
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Well, Sasuke was able to woo a woman by just looking at her. The beautiful always had all the luck. If only he had caught that final leaf so many years ago, maybe he would have actually had a chance. Yet he could never regret his actions that day...
He mentally kicked himself into action, putting a huge smile on his face and moving a bit closer to Relena and giving her a bow. "It is a great pleasure to meet you, Relena-san. Please excuse the members of this party. It appears that they are having a misunderstanding on the importance of friendship and love that is necessary to fight properly. Without their youthful joys, we shall surely fall to the evil that is this hospital."
Lee turned to the other three, and the smile never disappeared. "Please, my friends. I do not understand entirely what is wrong, but it is of the utmost importance that we not let trivial things get in the way." Each word was said from his heart. These were his friends. Nothing would change that. Nothing.
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Sakura crossed her arms over her chest, switching off her flashlight now that they'd found the group and had more than enough light. Seeing that Zabuza and Haku were not yet present, nor was Iruka-sensei, she assumed she could get in a few, more choice barbs that would probably land Gaara in a world of hurt at some point.
Casualties of war.
However, as soon as Sakura opened her mouth to reply that, no, she hadn't seen Gaara but had wanted to thank him and tell him she was pressing the flower he'd given her in her journal, Rock Lee decided to pipe up about the trials of friendship and love of all things, making her promptly shut it as her eyes went wide, and a pink flush spread across her cheeks.
A pink flush of rage. Certainly not from actual embarrassment. Of course not!
"Honestly, Lee!" Sakura tried to snap, though it came out a forced. She even shifted her hands to rest indignantly on her hips. "As if enough people don't already think I'm his girlfriend now!" And the blush stained her cheeks an even deeper shade of crimson. Dammit! Sakura turned her head to the side, tilting it up and away from Naruto and the group.
"Just where the hell is that big oaf Zabuza, anyway?"
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Lee's greeting made her smile, feeling a bit of hope that at least one of them could focus on the objective...whatever it was. Maybe the two of them could team up to keep the peace - perhaps she could focus on Sakura and Usagi, and Lee could take care of Naruto and this Gaara they've talked about.
Also, his logic was very sound. "We should be working together, not fighting about who likes who." She probably wouldn't get on her roommate's good side with that remark, but Sakura's apparent jealousy of Usagi would only be distracting. Evidence of note, her snappish behavior after Lee's comments.
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With Sakura-blinders properly in place, Naruto turned his head to watch her response carefully, to hear if she had met with Gaara at any point during the day or night.
Sasuke was one thing. Naruto respected and would encourage her love for their old teammate, and had long since outgrown any realistic notion that he might be able to hold the same place in her heart. It was different with Sasuke, for whatever reason, and he had always expected that fixing everything meant fixing Sakura and Sasuke. That was the way things were supposed to be.
When both Lee and Relena spoke, Naruto scratched the back of his head out of a small amount of embarrassment and forced himself to remember their mission. Right. Fuzzy Brows had a talent for this stuff, that was for sure.
"Yeah, we've got to keep focused!" He agreed with a renewed spark of determination and pounded a fist into his palm once. They had to show Usagi and Relena they were worth their weight in ninja. "As soon as the rest show up, we've got to get something done tonight."
But, Sakura was blushing so hard, it was even possible to tell in the dark. It didn't make a whole lot of sense, but...
A lightbulb clicked on. But it was so bizarre, he couldn't fully comprehend it at first. Naruto blinked at her three times, the dawning realization not fully jiving with his known version of the truth.
Somewhere among his sheer confusion, a bit of happiness burst in his heart. It spread strange warmth around and he felt a heat rise to his cheeks. So utterly flabbergasted (and surely in the wrong) by interpreting her behavior, he couldn't even gloat or make life harder for her at the moment. Naruto might have muttered her name once in a low voice, but ceased staring out of knowledge of how red in the face he must have been by now.
It had to be wrong.
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She slipped herself next to Naruto and nodded furiously at everything he said. "You're so right Naruto-san!" she nearly shouted, even though the others had said the exact same thing as him. Usagi inched even closer to the ninja and smiled adoringly at him. With one swift motion she grabbed his hand. For a second her heart clenched as she noted the difference between the boy's and Mamoru's hands. He wouldn't approve of her teasing people like this, but it was for a good cause! They all needed a little push.
Usagi punched both of their hands into the air. "We're all going to make a great team!"
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"Sakura-san, I never said that I thought you were Naruto-kun's girlfriend. I was always hoping for that position myself." He laughed. He had to laugh, for the good of the team. Oh, what would Tenten say if she were here? Probably smack him over the head and call him an idiot. He had the sneaking suspcion that she believed his infatuation with Sakura to be completely stupid. The old Neji would say it was fate, and the new Neji would probably simply keep to himself and think them all idiots. Lee was never certain what went through Neji's head, really.
"But even if we were not in this horrible place, is it not most important for friend's to be happy? After all, there is more to love than simply that of romance, but also the great power of the love for friends. No matter how many times I am rejected by others, as long as I have friends, then that will be sufficient." Yes, he would stop there. It was true that he could challenge Naruto or anyone else vying for Sakura, but now was not the time for that foolishness.
He moved away from the others, looking down the hall, and his cold, fighting mask in place. His eyes were sharper, noting movements and sounds.
"Perhaps it would be best to split up, some of us waiting for the others, while some moving ahead." Lee turned to face the others, but he did not remove his mask. "I am willing to move alone to scout the area ahead for enemies, and to take out those that I can. Even if I am captured, if I manage to take out a few, then that shall be less for all of you."
It was a foolish action, but if the others continued to bicker, then he did not want to be around to hear it anymore.
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-when the other girl grabbed Naruto's hand and pumped it into the air triumphantly, all the while gushing over him like some adoring fan.
A vein was probably bulging in the pink-haired girl's forehead now as all logic was lost and a hand shot out instinctively to grab Naruto's other hand and attempt to yank him over to her side. So she didn't have the benefit of Tsunade's signature jutsus here. The training she'd endured under her tutelage had been enough to greatly improve her physical strength regardless. Sakura didn't even stop to think about the repercussions of her actions on Naruto's ego. Nor how silly she was being.
Before she had time to be embarrassed, Lee spoke up again, his words ringing true as they ever did. Sakura's somewhat comically angry expression melted away into a concerned one. How easy it still was to get caught up in the motions of things, fall back into old habits, and unconciously probably cause others a lot of pain. Ashamed, she didn't even realize that she hadn't released Naruto's hand just yet.
"Lee..." Sakura's voice trailed off before she snapped out of it and offered her friend an apologetic smile. "We should really try to get something done tonight, but you shouldn't go off alone." Despite the fact that she'd done it time and again herself. To the rest of the group, grudgingly including Usagi, the kunoichi directed the same smile.
"I'm sorry, everybody. We should really be focused on getting something done, with or without Zabuza and Haku," she said, though the Demon of the Mist would certainly get a punch to the face if he gloated that they were all too scared to show up or something later. Or maybe she was just being exceptionally inclined to violence in her current state.
When her eyes fell on Naruto, Sakura felt them immediately drift to the hand she held, gently now, in her own. The flush returned immediately, and the girl released the hand like she'd been gripping a hot coal and just realized it. She looked away, bashfully casting her gaze at the floor.
"Ah- Sorry, Naruto," she stammered quietly.
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She was about to keep Sakura from doing something stupid to Usagi when Lee had spoken up. Maybe that was for the best, as she fairly sure if she wasn't strong enough to hold her roommate back from killing the first friendly face Relena had seen in this place.
Thankfully, Sakura was able to pull it together on her own and focus back on the night's plans. Whatever they were. "Who else are we expecting, and what will we be doing tonight?"
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Naruto had no idea what to make of Usagi's sudden closeness in proximity. Some part of him still expected people to keep a wide berth between themselves and the nine-tails, having grown up that way. He gave her a bit of an unsure grin and leaned an inch to the side unconsciously. Girls, least of all ones as pretty as Usagi, didn't normally hover around him.
And girls definitely never made grabs for his hand. His eyes went very wide and confused when the other blond lifted their hands in the air and expressed her confidence in their team. Naruto, by now, had an sixth sense for Sakura's rage and felt death in the air as soon as it happened.
What happened next might as well have scrambled Naruto's brains even more than they already permanently were. Yanked away from Usagi, he skidded unsteadily on one foot and nearly knocked his head into Sakura's shoulder before he got his footing and stood straight. Sakura had grabbed him and pulled him away-- Sakura-- holding his hand--
For once in his life, he was at a complete loss for words. Coherent thought flew out of his mind as he eyed her hand enclosed around his, his face flushed red. Needless to say, with guys like Sasuke around, this had never happened to Naruto before in his entire life. And he had never expected Sakura to become so possessive over him.
"Sa-Sakura-chan," was all he managed in his shock. And weakly, for how loud his voice usually was. It was Lee who managed to bring him back around to the real world. Naruto lifted his gaze and watched him carefully, brows furrowing the moment he spoke of going on alone.
"No!" Finding strength for his voice, he protested much less gently than Sakura. "Nobody's going ahead alone. My first night here, I didn't even get to go very far, and--" well, he didn't want to think about what might have happened to Gaara if he hadn't insisted on accompanying him. "No way, I won't let anybody do it. And they'll be here, they will," Naruto assured, with no doubt that Zabuza would bring Haku - no doubts in his mind at all about that, Solitary Confinement or not.
Apparently also forgetting about his grip on Sakura's hand, which had tightened a bit since he started speaking. When she let go his attention was brought back to her. He shook his head at her small apology, somewhat dazedly. He wasn't any less baffled, and it showed clearly on his face. His heart was pounding loudly in his ears.
Later-- in private-- talk-- something. Mission now. Focus. Naruto strode ahead suddenly and stopped at Lee's side, features hardening as he became equally serious. He took up answering Relena's questions: "We've been waiting for two other ninja, but since they haven't shown up yet," he paused with a good-natured smirk directed at Lee, watching him from the corners of his eyes.
"Since we have such a big group, it's not such a bad idea to send a scouting team ahead while we wait. To take out potential obstacles and wait for the rest to catch up at the Files Room. What do you think, Lee? Two strong shinobi should be enough for this dump."
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