Butterflies and Hurricanes

*As always, Sasuke is out of character...which is how I like him.*

Naruto's confrontation between himself and the Uchiha gave him a sense of appreciation that wasn't felt when he was with Sakura, or any other woman for that matter. With them, there was pressure. There was the "Don't you dare embarass me!" and the "You IDIOT!!". Sasuke wasn't that cruel, or that judgemental. And then, there was Temari's relationship advice: "Men should be with men, and women should be with women. That way, they don't piss eachother off."

And maybe she had a valid point; men DID elicit a great deal of rage from her...Ryuu, a friend of Naruto's, had been abused by women in every relationship he'd had, and so, was involved with Lee, who treated him like a queen--in the positive sense. Were there any women like that? Naruto would wonder. It was then that he thought of Uchiha and the appreciation he was given by him. There was something truly genuine about the unconditional love of the same gender.

::About a Week Later::

"OW!! Christ, Sakura--can't you hurry up?!" Naruto howled as his pink-haired teammate delicately stiched up his wound. She did her damndest to ignore him, focusing all of her attention on the gash on the Kitsune's forearm.

"Oh, shut up. God..." She grumbled. "What the hell were you doing out in the Uchiha gardens, anyway? You know as well as I do that there's--" She paused for a moment and glanced at Naruto's childish face. "Well, maybe not. Either way, you're all done."

"Thanks..." He replied gingerly, examining the freshly sewn arm.

Pff. That was the last time he'd be falling for Kiba's lies again. Rare mushrooms, his ass...Nothing but thornbushes blanketing the neglected grounds as far as his eyes could see. Naruto's stomach growled loud enough to announce to Sakura of his blatant hunger. A slight smile swept across her face.

"So, wanna get some ramen when I get off work?"

The Kitsune pouted.
"But I'm hungry NOW!"

"Well, too damn bad. My shift lasts 'til five - you know that!"

"Ohhh!! Grr..."

Sakura then strolled over to tap in order to wash the various dirt and bacteria off her hands. Naruto gingerly folded his arms across his chest. You can only imagine how disappointed he was that he wouldn't be fed for another four hours. He then made up his mind to leave, pulling his standard Chunin vest over his shirt.

"Later, Sakura."

He'd get his ramen, Sakura be damned.

====

Uchiha Sasuke lay snoozing on a bench outside of the medical facility where he knew his Naruto would soon be leaving from. The genius had since trained his body to awaken and slumber at will based upon the various levels of chakra sent to his nerve system.

His mentor, Hatake Kakashi, would expect him back after he'd finished his nap...whenever that would be. His ear suddenly picked up the sound of his beloved's footsteps making an impact with the floor of the hospital. To the Uchiha, that sound smashed into his eardrums like an elephant's stampede. And as a result, he awoke, eyes fluttering open as his face was just a few centimeters away from Naruto's.

"Hey, Sasuke. How's it going?" The Kitsune smiled innocently.

"Naruto-kun! Wh-what b-brings you here?" Sasuke blushed a shade of red reminescient of Hyuuga Hinata. He immediately repositioned himself so that he was facing Naruto as the Kitsune sat beside him. Naruto tried to conceal his bad mood.

"Umm...Nothing, just had to visit Sakura about something."

Sasuke's long fingers began to trace the lining of the wound, bringing a light sting to it.
"...How did this happen?"

"Oh! It's stupid, don't worry about it..."

The Uchiha quickly obeyed and withdrew his fingers, throwing an arm around his lover. He could feel the man's chest rise and fall as he breathed. There was a certain peace in his arms.

"Have you eaten, Naruto-kun?"

"Uh, not yet." The Kitsune's whiskered face suddenly lit up. "Can we get ramen? Pretty please?"

Sasuke nodded.
"Of course. Shall we?" He suggested, taking Naruto's hand in his own.

====

:: Fifth Hokage's Office::

The Godaime Tsunade studied the MRI report of Uchiha Sasuke, her eyes moving rapidly over the troubling information:

"An abcess approximately one-half the size of a dime was found on the left occipital lobe as blood was being suctioned from the brain tissue. Substance was promptly removed thereafter and placed in a Ziploc bag for further reference."

The blonde found a typewritten copy of Akira's (usually Braille-style) "Post-surgical Life and Rehabilitation: Journal of Eien Akira", hoping that the young medic-nin's knowlege would provide her with some much-needed information on the Uchiha's case:

July 2nd
"Uhiha had awoken just two hours ago, claiming that he's heard the voice of an angel. He's still a very ornery fellow, reluctant to take the medicine I give him and remarking that the blind shouldn't be working in hospitals. Uchiha has reduced Haruno-san to tears. He has spent well over five hours talking to Uzumaki-san just this afternoon. I assume he will be visiting tomorrow as well.

July 9th
"A very troubling day. Uchiha had to be stapped to the bed in order to recieve morphine; the remaining surgery was schedualed for three this afternoon. However, with the assistance of Uzumaki-san, I was able to subdue him. Uzumaki-san has been visiting him for the past week, keeping him company when no on else would tolerate his attitude. Oddly enough, Uchiha has shown a great deal of affection towards his companion...and no on else."

With a great deal of frustration clouding her mind, Tsunade closed the journal. Akira's language was far too bland and clinical to give her any form of explaination on Sasuke's medical status. Though it was a miracle that the man was able to survive such a blow...there should have been a greater impact than just a simple personality change...Suddenly, a terrible thought struck the Hokage, her heart almost stopping dead from shock.

///