Silent Heartbeats

The hospital corridors were cloaked in darkness, save for the faint glow of emergency lights lining the halls. It was deep into the night—long past the hour when the hospital typically saw any significant activity. Yet, the emergency doors swung open with a loud bang, shattering the eerie silence.

Neji Hyuga stood at the entrance, his chest heaving as he held a barely conscious Sasuke Uchiha in his arms. Sasuke’s pale face and limp body were a stark contrast to his usual stoic composure, and the sight of him in such a state sent a shiver of fear down Neji’s spine.

“Someone—” Neji called out, his voice low but commanding. “Get Tsunade! I need Tsunade—now!”

A startled nurse peeked around the corner, her eyes wide with shock as she took in the scene. “T-Tsunade-sama isn’t—she’s not here right now,” the nurse stammered, clearly flustered by Neji’s urgency. “She… um, she left the hospital earlier in the evening. But—”

“Then get Shizune!” Neji snapped, his patience fraying. “Get her immediately. Sasuke’s condition is critical.”

He wasn’t about to let Sasuke be seen by just anyone—not after everything that had happened.

The nurse nodded frantically and darted away, leaving Neji standing alone with Sasuke. His mind raced as he held onto Sasuke’s frail form, the weight of everything that had happened crashing down on him. This wasn’t supposed to happen. Sasuke wasn’t supposed to suffer like this—not because of them.

Moments later, Shizune appeared, her expression a mix of shock and concern. , Her eyes widened in shock at the sight before her. “Neji? Sasuke—what happened?” she asked, rushing forward to examine the unconscious Uchiha. Quickly, she began checking his vitals, her brow furrowed with worry.

“No time for questions,” Neji interrupted, his tone sharp and unyielding. “Take him in. Now . He needs medical attention immediately.”

Shizune didn’t argue. Sasuke was severely underweight! And he’s burning up— She turned on her heel and began barking orders to the nurses on duty, her calm professionalism taking over. “Get a gurney, stat! Prep room 403 and have the IV drips ready. We need to stabilize him and run a full diagnostic scan.”

The nurses scrambled into action, bringing a gurney to Neji’s side. With practiced efficiency, Neji gently lowered Sasuke onto the bed, his hands lingering for just a moment longer than necessary on Sasuke’s shoulders before he stepped back. His gaze remained fixed on Sasuke’s pale face as the nurses wheeled him down the hall, Shizune following closely behind.

As they entered the designated room, Shizune began attaching the IV drip to Sasuke’s arm, her brow furrowed in concentration. “He’s severely dehydrated. We need to get fluids into him, but we’ll have to be careful. His body might reject it if we push too hard.”

Neji stood back, watching anxiously as Shizune worked. He knew Sasuke had been deteriorating, but seeing him like this—so fragile, so vulnerable—made his chest tighten painfully. How had things gotten so bad?

When Shizune finally finished setting up the IV, she turned to face him, wiping a bead of sweat from her forehead. “Neji, what happened? How did he end up like this?”

Neji clenched his fists at his sides, the memory of that night still fresh in his mind—the night when he’d seen everything fall apart. The confrontation, the betrayal, and Sasuke’s silent, tortured expression as he walked away.

The tension in the hospital room was palpable. Neji stood in the center, his presence calm yet charged with an unspoken urgency. Sasuke lay on the bed, his breathing shallow but steady, the soft beep of the monitors the only sound cutting through the silence.

“Neji, what’s going on?” Shizune asked quietly, her gaze shifting between Neji and Sasuke. Her eyes widened slightly as she noticed the subtle trembling in Neji’s hands, a sign of just how shaken he truly was., she wants to know what has happened. “Why… why are you here? Where’s Naruto?”

Neji’s expression darkened at the mention of Naruto. He glanced down at Sasuke, his jaw tightening. “Naruto’s not coming,” he said softly. “And I’m not sure he should.”

Shizune blinked, startled. “What? Why—?”

“I brought Sasuke here myself,” Neji interrupted, his voice firm. “And I need you to understand why this has to stay private—completely private.”

Shizune frowned, confusion still evident on her face. “What do you mean? What happened?”

Neji hesitated, then took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. “You know about Sasuke and Naruto’s relationship, don’t you?” he asked quietly.

Shizune’s eyes widened even further. “Y-Yes, of course,” she stammered. “I… I knew they were dating, but… why are you—?”

“Then you should know that things aren’t as simple as they seem,” Neji cut in, his tone grim. “Naruto’s been… involved with someone else. Behind Sasuke’s back.”

Shizune’s hand flew to her mouth, shock written across her features. “What? That’s… that’s not possible! Naruto would never—”

“He did,” Neji said flatly. “With Hinata.”

Shizune gasped, her gaze flickering back to Sasuke’s unconscious form. “But… Hinata? How…?”

“I saw it myself,” Neji continued, his voice low and steady. “Hinata was with Naruto. Sasuke caught them together. He confronted them—he saw everything. And after that…” He trailed off, his expression tight with suppressed anger. “After that, Sasuke disappeared. He’s been hiding away, barely eating, barely functioning. I found him passed out in his own living room, completely alone. And now he’s here, because of them.”

Shizune’s heart clenched painfully at his words. She looked down at Sasuke, her eyes softening with sympathy. The proud, stoic Uchiha looked so fragile now, his usually sharp features softened by exhaustion and pain. “Oh, Sasuke…” she whispered softly.

“That’s why I need your help,” Neji said urgently, his gaze locking onto hers. “No one can know about this. Not Naruto, and especially not Sakura.”

Shizune blinked in confusion. “But… why? Why not tell Sakura? She’s his friend too, isn’t she?”

Neji’s expression hardened. “No,” he said quietly. “Sakura’s feelings for Sasuke are… complicated. If she finds out about this—about how vulnerable he is right now—she’ll try to push her way back into his life. And if Naruto finds out, everything will come crashing down. I can’t risk that.”

Shizune hesitated, torn between her duty as a medic and the urgency in Neji’s voice. “But… if Sasuke needs support—”

“He doesn’t need their support,” Neji said firmly. “He needs time to recover, to get back on his feet. If Naruto finds out, he’ll force his way in, and Sasuke won’t be able to handle it. Not right now.”

Shizune swallowed hard, her gaze flickering between Neji and Sasuke. She could see the desperation in Neji’s eyes, the sheer determination to protect Sasuke at any cost. Slowly, she nodded.

“Alright,” she murmured softly. “I… I’ll keep this between us. But what about the nurses? They’ll need to be informed about what’s going on.”

Neji nodded sharply. “That’s why I need you to talk to them,” he said quietly. “Make sure they know—this is strictly confidential. No one outside this room can know anything about Sasuke’s condition. And that includes Sakura.”

Shizune bit her lip, worry creasing her brow. “But Sakura works here—she’s on duty almost every day. What if she comes in and sees—”

“She’s not on shift tonight, is she?” Neji cut in, his gaze intent.

Shizune shook her head slowly. “No, she’s not. But tomorrow—”

“Then we’ll move Sasuke somewhere else before she comes in,” Neji said firmly. “Somewhere private. A pod, deep in the hospital, where only a select few can access. Just you, Lady Tsunade, and the nurses directly involved in his care.”

Shizune blinked, taken aback. “A private pod? But those are for—”

“High-profile cases,” Neji finished. “And this is a high-profile case. If the wrong people find out about this, it could destroy Sasuke—and cause a scandal that the village can’t afford.”

Shizune hesitated, then sighed softly, nodding. “Alright,” she murmured. “I’ll make the arrangements. But Neji… are you sure about this? About keeping this from Naruto and Sakura?”

“I’m certain,” Neji said quietly. “Sasuke needs space. Time to heal. And if they find out… they’ll ruin everything.”

Shizune studied him for a long moment, then nodded slowly. “Okay,” she whispered. “I’ll talk to the nurses. But… Neji?”

“Yes?”

“If this goes wrong… if Naruto finds out later that we kept this from him…”

Neji’s jaw tightened. “I’ll deal with that when the time comes. Right now, all that matters is Sasuke.”

Shizune nodded reluctantly. “Alright. I’ll go inform the nurses now. And… I’ll make sure everything is set up in the private pod.”

“Thank you,” Neji said quietly.

As Shizune turned to leave, she glanced back at Sasuke one last time, her heart aching for the broken young man lying so still and silent. Whatever had happened between him, Naruto, and Hinata… it must have been devastating. To think that the usually stoic Uchiha had been brought so low…

She shook her head softly, then turned back to Neji. “We’re lucky tonight,” she murmured. “Sakura didn’t have a night shift. If she’d been here, it would’ve been almost impossible to keep this quiet.”

Neji exhaled softly, relief flickering in his eyes. “Yes. Lucky indeed.”

With a final nod, Shizune slipped out of the room, leaving Neji alone once more with Sasuke. For a long moment, Neji simply stood there, his gaze fixed on Sasuke’s pale face.

“You’re safe now,” he whispered softly. “I’ll keep them away. I promise.”

And as he settled back into his vigil, his resolve hardened. No matter what happened—no matter what it took—he would protect Sasuke. From Naruto, from Sakura, and from anyone else who dared to hurt him again.

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The early morning air was heavy with tension as Shizune stood outside the private wing of the hospital, watching the staff move quietly around her. It was just past 5 a.m., and the last of the night shift nurses were finishing up their tasks, eyes tired but attentive. They glanced nervously at Shizune, aware of the strict orders given to them. Sasuke had been moved to a private pod deep within the hospital, a room reserved for only the most critical and sensitive cases. The arrangement had been discreet, carried out under Shizune’s watchful eye to avoid any unwelcome attention.

She couldn’t stop thinking about Neji’s words—his insistence on privacy, his grim expression, the unwavering protectiveness in his voice when he spoke about keeping Sasuke safe from everyone. Even now, Shizune felt a pang of sympathy for Neji, watching over Sasuke through the long hours of the night, refusing to leave his side. It was more than just concern. It was something deeper, something fierce.

By the time Tsunade finally arrived, her footsteps echoing in the empty hallway, Shizune was ready. The moment she spotted the Fifth Hokage, she hurried forward, her face pale with worry.

“Lady Tsunade!” she called softly, keeping her voice low. The last thing they needed was to draw attention to the situation. “Thank goodness you’re here.”

Tsunade, still slightly bleary-eyed and sluggish from a night of heavy drinking, frowned at her assistant. “What’s all the fuss, Shizune? It’s barely dawn—why did you call me in so early?”

Shizune hesitated, glancing around to ensure no one else was listening. “It’s Sasuke,” she murmured, voice barely above a whisper. “Something happened last night. He’s… he’s not well.”

Tsunade’s eyes narrowed instantly, all traces of sleepiness vanishing. “Sasuke? What do you mean, not well? What’s going on?”

“Neji brought him in late last night,” Shizune explained quickly, gesturing towards the private pod down the hall. “I—I couldn’t believe it myself, but when I saw Sasuke—Lady Tsunade, he looked terrible. I ran some preliminary tests, but his condition is still unstable. Neji insisted that we move him to a private room, away from anyone who might… interfere.”

Tsunade’s brow furrowed deeply. “Neji? Why was Neji the one who brought him in? Where the hell is Naruto?”

Shizune swallowed hard, glancing nervously at the door to Sasuke’s pod. “That’s just it, Lady Tsunade. Naruto and Sakura should not know. And… Neji said that’s how it needs to stay. He was adamant—Naruto and Sakura can’t find out about this, not now.”

Tsunade’s frown deepened. “What are you talking about, Shizune? Naruto and Sasuke have been joined at the hip ever since the war ended. Why wouldn’t Naruto know if something happened to Sasuke?”

“Because,” came a quiet voice from behind them.

Tsunade turned sharply to see Neji standing just outside Sasuke’s room, his expression unreadable. His eyes, however, held a quiet storm of emotions—anger, pain, and something else. Something Tsunade couldn’t quite place.

“Because Naruto is the reason Sasuke is here in the first place,” Neji continued softly. “And Hinata.”

Tsunade stared at him, stunned into silence. “Hinata? What does she have to do with any of this?”

Neji’s gaze hardened, and for a moment, Tsunade saw something she had never thought she’d see—contempt. Deep, bitter contempt directed at Hinata of all people.

“They betrayed him,” Neji said flatly. “Naruto… he’s been seeing Hinata behind Sasuke’s back. Sasuke found out, and…” He shook his head slowly, eyes dark with anger. “I saw him confront them. I saw the look on his face when he realized what was happening. After that, he shut himself away. He’s been alone ever since.”

Tsunade felt her heart drop to her stomach. “Naruto cheated on Sasuke… with Hinata?” she whispered, disbelief coloring her voice. “But—how? Why?”

“Does it matter?” Neji’s voice was sharp, a rare flash of emotion breaking through his usual calm facade. “What matters is that Sasuke is suffering. And if Naruto finds out he’s here, in this state… it’ll only make things worse.”

Tsunade took a deep breath, trying to process what Neji was telling her. The implications were staggering. She had known about Naruto and Sasuke’s relationship, had watched them struggle and grow together. To think that Naruto would… that he would betray Sasuke like this… it didn’t make any sense.

But as she looked at Neji, at the fury in his eyes, the way his shoulders were drawn tight with tension, she realized something even more startling.

“Neji,” she said slowly. “You… you always protected Hinata. You were fiercely loyal to her. And now you’re telling me this? You, of all people?”

Neji’s jaw tightened, a muscle twitching in his cheek. “That’s right,” he said softly. “I was loyal to her. I would have defended her against anything. But after what I saw… after seeing her and Naruto together, after watching them destroy Sasuke like this…” He shook his head sharply, his gaze turning icy. “I have no loyalty left for either of them. All I care now is to keep Sasuke safe, lady tsunade if you have seen Sasukes face at that time ..Neji didn't complete

Tsunade blinked, taken aback by the vehemence in his voice. This wasn’t the Neji she knew—the calm, composed young man who always stood by his family. This was someone else entirely, someone driven by a burning need to protect Sasuke at all costs.

And if Neji felt this way…

Tsunade’s stomach twisted uneasily. This was far worse than she’d thought.

“Alright,” she murmured softly. “Alright, I understand, and Sakura she asks and neji says Sakura has always had a deep admiration for Sasuke, even while he was dating Naruto. If she finds out about his condition, it could complicate things significantly. If she pushes herself into his space, it might only add to Sasuke’s distress.” Tsunade nodded, understanding the potential fallout.

“We need to keep this quiet to protect him,” he urged. Tsunade sighed, her resolve firm. “I agree. But I need to see him for myself. I need to make sure he’s okay.”

Neji nodded slowly, stepping aside to allow her past.

Tsunade pushed open the door to the private pod and stepping inside. The sight that greeted her made her heart clench painfully.

Sasuke lay on the bed, pale and still, his dark hair fanned out across the pillow. There were dark circles under his eyes, his face gaunt and hollow. The proud, defiant Uchiha looked almost… broken.

“Oh, Sasuke…” she whispered softly, moving closer. She reached out gently, pressing her hand against his forehead. His skin was cool to the touch, his breathing slow and shallow.

“His vitals are fluctuating,” Shizune murmured quietly from the doorway. “I’ve been monitoring him all night, but… something’s not right. There’s something else going on, something I can’t pinpoint.”

Tsunade’s frown deepened as she studied the charts. “He’s stable, but… yes, I see what you mean. There’s something… off.”

She glanced back at Neji, who stood silently in the doorway, watching with a mixture of anxiety and determination.

“I’m going to run some more tests,” she said quietly. “I need to know exactly what’s going on with him.”

Neji nodded, his expression grim.

Tsunade murmured. “But I’m also calling Kakashi. He needs to know about this.”

Neji’s eyes widened slightly.

“He’s the Hokage,” Tsunade said firmly. “And Sasuke is still his responsibility. He needs to know what’s going on, especially if we want to keep this contained.”

Neji hesitated, then reluctantly nodded. Yes , Lady Tsunade. But please Not Naruto. Not Sakura.”

Tsunade nodded, her gaze softening as she looked down at Sasuke’s still form. “I promise. We’ll keep this between us.”

And as she turned to make the call, her heart ached for the broken young man lying before her—and for the devastating betrayal that had brought him to this point.