Silent Heartbeats

The sterile hospital room seemed to close in around them, the silence pressing down like a weight on Sasuke’s chest. He lay in the bed, his gaze distant as he stared at the whitewashed ceiling. Neji was there, as always—standing silently by the window, his presence a steady, unwavering force. It was unnerving how calm Neji remained, almost as if nothing could faze him.

But Sasuke couldn’t understand why. Why was Neji here? Why did he keep coming back? It didn’t make sense. They had never been friends, never shared more than a few words in passing. So what did Neji want?

“What’s your reason for being here?” Sasuke asked abruptly, his voice cutting through the quiet like a blade. “Why do you care?”

Neji turned his head slightly, meeting Sasuke’s gaze with that same calm, steady look. “Because I want to be,” he said simply. His voice was low, almost gentle, yet there was a firmness beneath it that made Sasuke’s chest tighten.

“That’s not an answer,” Sasuke bit out. “You’ve barely spoken to me before now. We’re not friends. So what’s changed?”

For a moment, Neji said nothing, his gaze thoughtful. Then, with a quiet sigh, he moved closer, pulling up a chair beside the bed. When he spoke again, his voice was softer, more serious.

“Sasuke… I was there.”

Sasuke’s eyes narrowed. “There? Where?”

“The training ground,” Neji clarified. “The day you… confronted Naruto and Hinata.”

Something in Sasuke froze. His heart stuttered painfully, the memory of that day rushing back in a torrent of raw emotion. He remembered it vividly—the disbelief, the betrayal, the agony that had clawed at his chest as he’d watched Naruto, the person he trusted the most, cheating with Hinata. Touching her. Kissing her.

“You were… there?” Sasuke’s voice was strained, his eyes wide as he stared at Neji. “You saw it?”

Neji nodded slowly, his gaze never leaving Sasuke’s face. “I did.”

The silence that followed was thick, suffocating. Sasuke felt something twist painfully in his chest—a mix of anger, shame, and something else, something he couldn’t quite name.

“Why didn’t you say anything?” he demanded, his voice rising. “Why didn’t you—”

“What would you have wanted me to say?” Neji interrupted quietly, his expression pained. “That I saw everything? That I stood there and watched while they—” He broke off, his jaw clenching. “I was as shocked as you were, Sasuke. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.”

Sasuke swallowed hard, his throat tight. “You… saw everything?”

“Yes,” Neji whispered. “I saw you arrive. Saw the way Naruto tried to explain himself, the way Hinata looked at you—like she was guilty but couldn’t bring herself to stop. And then… I saw you walk away.”

The words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken meaning. Sasuke’s chest heaved as he struggled to breathe, his hands clenched into fists at his sides.

“After you left,” Neji continued softly, his eyes darkening, “I used my Byakugan. I didn’t want to, but… I had to know.”

Sasuke’s heart pounded in his ears. “What did you see?”

Neji looked away, his gaze distant, filled with something like disgust. Right after you left , They kissed again.

The world seemed to tilt, the ground crumbling beneath Sasuke’s feet. He stared at Neji, uncomprehending, the words echoing in his mind over and over.

“They… kissed again?” he whispered, his voice trembling. “After I—”

“Yes,” Neji murmered

A choked sound escaped Sasuke’s throat—something between a laugh and a sob. He squeezed his eyes shut, his whole body trembling. He remembered how he’d felt that day—the way his heart had shattered, the way everything he thought he knew had crumbled into dust.

“He didn’t care,” he whispered hoarsely. “He didn’t even care that I—”

“Sasuke,” Neji interrupted gently, leaning forward. “He's not worth it. Neither of them.”

Sasuke let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. “Not worth it? Naruto was everything to me, Neji. Everything. I trusted him more than anyone else, and he—” He broke off, his voice cracking. “He betrayed me.”

“I know,” Neji whispered. “And I’m sorry. But you’re more than just Naruto’s… whatever. You’re more than his shadow.”

Sasuke’s eyes snapped open, his gaze fierce. “Then what am I?”

Neji held his gaze, his expression unwavering. “You’re Sasuke Uchiha. You’re strong, and proud, and you’ve survived things that would have broken anyone else. You’re not defined by Naruto, or by what he did to you. You’re more than that.”

Sasuke stared at him, something shifting painfully in his chest. No one had ever spoken to him like this—like he was worth more than his connection to Naruto, more than the choices that had led him down the path of vengeance and isolation.

“You’re lying,” Sasuke whispered, his voice hollow. “You don’t even know me.”

“I know enough,” Neji countered softly. “I know you deserve more than this. More than being alone.”

The sincerity in Neji’s eyes made Sasuke’s breath hitch. He looked away, swallowing hard, his throat tight.

“Then why are you here?” he asked quietly. “Why are you telling me this?”

Neji hesitated, then took a deep breath. “Because I couldn’t stand by and watch. Not again. Not after everything I saw.”

Sasuke turned his head, his gaze searching Neji’s face. “What do you mean?”

“I mean… I couldn’t stand by and watch you break,” Neji murmured, his voice barely audible. “I’ve seen it before, in myself and others. I know what it looks like. And I don’t want to see it happen to you.”

Sasuke’s heart twisted painfully, something like hope flickering in the darkest corners of his mind. He looked away, blinking rapidly.

“Why do you care so much?” he whispered.

“Because… you’re worth it,” Neji said quietly. “Because you deserve someone to believe in you, even if you don’t believe in yourself.”

The words hung between them, fragile and tentative, but real. Sasuke closed his eyes, the ache in his chest dulling just a fraction.

Maybe, just maybe, Neji was right.

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The sun filtered weakly through the hospital windows as another day began. The air was still, a calmness settling over the room, yet beneath that tranquility was a sense of change. Neji could feel it, an inexplicable shift that had occurred since the previous night’s conversation. Sasuke hadn’t said much after that—the rest of the evening had passed in silence—but something between them felt… different.

Neji glanced over at Sasuke, who was seated on the bed, propped up by several pillows. His dark eyes were half-closed, gaze distant as if lost in thought. There was a heaviness to his expression, a weight that seemed to have settled over him. But there was also something else—a spark of defiance that hadn’t been there before.

The silence between them was no longer uncomfortable, but there was a tension to it—a charged undercurrent that neither seemed quite ready to acknowledge.

The tension in the room shifted subtly as the door swung open, and Kakashi stepped in, his expression as unreadable as ever. He paused just inside the doorway, his visible eye sweeping over the scene. Sasuke sat stiffly on the bed, his posture tense and guarded. Neji remained close by his side, his gaze sharp and protective. The atmosphere was thick with unsaid words, a charged silence hanging between them.

Kakashi’s gaze settled on Sasuke, concern flickering in his eye. “How are you holding up?” he asked softly.

Sasuke looked up briefly, meeting Kakashi’s gaze with a cold, hollow stare. “Like you care,” he muttered under his breath, his voice flat and lifeless.

Kakashi sighed softly, his shoulders slumping slightly. “I do care, Sasuke,” he said quietly. “That’s why I’m here.”

Before Sasuke could respond, the door opened again, and Tsunade entered, followed closely by Shizune. Tsunade’s expression was serious, her gaze immediately locking onto Sasuke. There was something tense about the set of her shoulders, something almost hesitant in the way she moved.
Morning,” Tsunade greeted curtly, nodding to Neji before her gaze shifted to Sasuke. “How are you feeling today?”

Sasuke’s lips twitched slightly, almost a smile, but the gesture didn’t reach his eyes. “Like I’m trapped in a hospital,” he muttered dryly.

Tsunade huffed softly, a glimmer of amusement flickering in her gaze. “Well, you are. And you’ll stay here until I’m satisfied with your condition.”

She moved closer, Shizune setting the tray down beside her. As Tsunade began her routine check-up, Neji noticed that the process seemed more thorough than usual. There were more tests, more monitoring. Tsunade’s brow furrowed slightly as she moved through the procedures, her attention focused entirely on the readings and results.

Neji’s eyes narrowed. Something was different.

He watched silently, a growing sense of unease settling in his chest as Tsunade and Shizune moved around Sasuke, checking his vitals, measuring his chakra flow, and murmuring softly to each other. This wasn’t the usual routine.

And it hadn’t been for the past two days.

Neji shifted, his gaze sharpening. “What’s going on?” he asked quietly, his voice low but firm.

Tsunade glanced up, her expression carefully neutral. “Just making sure everything is stable,” she replied evenly.

Neji’s eyes narrowed. “You’ve been doing more tests lately. More than necessary.”

Tsunade didn’t respond immediately, her gaze flicking briefly to Shizune before returning to Neji. There was something guarded in her expression, something she wasn’t saying.

Sasuke, meanwhile, watched them with a detached expression, as if the entire conversation was happening far away from him. His hands were clenched in his lap, tension coiled tightly in his shoulders.

Neji’s gaze shifted to Sasuke, something tightening in his chest. He could see it—the way Sasuke’s fingers twitched, the way his eyes kept darting toward Tsunade and Shizune, a flicker of something like fear in the depths of his gaze.

“We need to talk,” she said briskly, moving closer to the bed. Shizune stayed a step behind her, holding a clipboard filled with notes and charts.

Sasuke’s gaze darkened, a flicker of unease crossing his features. Neji shifted slightly, his hand brushing against Sasuke’s arm in a silent gesture of support.

“What’s going on?” Kakashi asked, his tone calm but with an edge of tension. He glanced between Tsunade and Shizune, his gaze narrowing slightly. “What are these extra tests for?”

Tsunade took a deep breath, her gaze steady as she focused on Sasuke. “We need to run more detailed checks to determine exactly how far along the pregnancy is,” she said quietly. “Based on the preliminary tests, we estimate that you’re around… twelve to thirteen weeks. That’s approximately three and a half months.”

Silence fell over the room, the weight of her words sinking in slowly. Sasuke’s face paled, his hands clenched tightly in his lap. Neji’s expression tightened, his gaze flicking to Sasuke’s tense profile.

“I need to confirm exactly how far along the pregnancy is,” Tsunade continued, her tone professional but gentle. “I suspect it’s around 12-13 weeks ,around three and a half months, but I want to be certain.”

Kakashi’s visible eye widened slightly, a flicker of shock crossing his features. He glanced at Sasuke, then back at Tsunade. “Three and a half months?” he repeated quietly. “That long?”

“Yes,” Tsunade murmured, her gaze flicking back to Sasuke. “And at this stage… there’s something I need to discuss with you, Sasuke.The possibility of termination is nearly zero,” Tsunade stated, her expression serious.

“Based on previous tests and what we know now, the chakra network of the fetus is incredibly strong—unlike anything I’ve ever seen. This child has a full-fledged shinobi chakra.”

Sasuke felt his heart drop. “What does that mean?” he asked, panic rising within him.

“It means that termination would pose a severe risk to both you and the child,” Shizune explained, her voice soft yet firm. “At this stage—about three and a half months—the likelihood of complications is near a hundred percent. The fetus is too powerful and has developed too far for termination to be safe.”

The chakra levels in the fetus are astonishing. It’s unlike anything we’ve seen before,” she added. “This child possesses full-fledged shinobi chakra.”

Sasuke’s heart raced at the implications of her words. “You mean… it’s strong? But that doesn’t matter! I don’t want this child!” The frustration seeped through his voice, mingling with despair.

Tsunade, sensing the depth of Sasuke’s emotional struggle, continued. “The scans will give us more information about the pregnancy. Right now, all I can tell you is that terminating it poses a significant risk to both you and the child.”

As Shizune prepared the machine, Sasuke’s heart sank. He had hoped for an easy solution, a way out of this nightmare, but the reality was closing in on him like a suffocating blanket.

Once the equipment was ready, Shizune applied the gel to Sasuke’s abdomen and moved the transducer over his skin. The image flickered on the screen, revealing the developing fetus.

Tsunade and Shizune leaned in, their expressions a mixture of awe and concern. “This is incredible,” Shizune said, her eyes wide as she examined the readings. “The chakra flow is remarkable.”

“What does that mean?” Sasuke asked, his voice laced with fear.

“It means this child is exceptionally powerful,” Tsunade replied, her tone serious. “And it also means that we cannot terminate the pregnancy . The connection between you and the baby is very strong, and severing that means...she stops .”

Sasuke felt his heart clench painfully in his chest. “But I don’t want it! I can’t do this!”I didn’t ask for any of this! I didn’t choose to be in this situation!” Tears threatened to spill over, and he fought against them fiercely.

Kakashi stepped forward, his expression serious. “I know it feels overwhelming, but you’re not alone in this,” he said, his tone soothing. “We’ll figure it out together.”

“Together?” Sasuke echoed, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “What does that even mean? I’m the one stuck with this!”

Neji’s expression hardened slightly, frustration flickering across his features. “Sasuke, we’re all here for you,” he said, his voice steady. “But you need to understand that running from the situation won’t make it disappear.”

Sasuke turned his gaze toward Neji, the rawness of his emotions spilling over. “What do you know about it?” he snapped, anger flaring. “You don’t have to deal with any of this! It’s easy for you to say!”

Neji didn’t flinch. “True, I don't have to ” he replied quietly, his eyes unwavering. “But I care about you, and I want to support you through this Sasuke. Let us help you.”

Tsunade watched the exchange with a furrowed brow, sensing the tension in the room. “Sasuke,” she interjected gently, “this isn’t easy for anyone. But denying what’s happening won’t change anything. You need to face it.”

Sasuke turned his gaze back to the wall, feeling cornered. He had always been the lone wolf, the one who faced his battles alone. The idea of relying on others felt foreign and uncomfortable, yet here they were—offering their support, their presence.

uncertainty flooding his mind. He felt like he was standing on the edge of a precipice, unsure of whether to leap or to hold back. There were too many unknowns, too many possibilities, and each one felt heavier than the last.

As Tsunade and Shizune began to gather their things, Kakashi moved closer to Sasuke, his voice low. “No matter what you decide, you have people who care about you,” he repeated. “You don’t have to face this alone.”

Sasuke’s face crumpled, his shoulders slumping in defeat. He looked away, his gaze distant and unfocused, it was too much to bear.

“There’s nothing I can do,” he whispered brokenly. “I’m… I’m stuck with it.”

Neji felt a surge of emotion swell in his chest—anger, frustration, helplessness. He clenched his fists, his gaze never leaving Sasuke’s pale, trembling form. He wanted to help, to protect him, but—

But what could he do? What could any of them do?

Tsunade sighed softly, stepping back slightly. “We’ll continue to monitor your condition closely,” she said quietly. “For now… try to rest. Focus on staying healthy.”

Sasuke didn’t respond. He just sat there, staring blankly at the wall, his expression hollow and numb.

Kakashi exchanged a worried glance with Neji, his brow furrowed deeply. Then he turned back to Sasuke, his voice soft. “We’ll figure this out,” he murmured gently. “You’re not alone, Sasuke.”

But Sasuke didn’t seem to hear him. His gaze was distant, his shoulders hunched as if he were trying to curl in on himself, to make himself as small and invisible as possible.

Neji bit his lip, his chest aching with a helpless, desperate kind of pain. He reached out slowly, his fingers brushing against Sasuke’s arm.

“I’m here,” he whispered, his voice low but fierce. “No matter what happens—I’m here.”

But Sasuke didn’t respond. He just sat there, silent and still, lost in a storm of emotions that none of them could reach.