Depression

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Naruto was sad. Worried, even. But mostly just sad.

Over the last few weeks, he'd seen a side of Sakura that he'd never known existed! The prankster side, she was really creative and she secretly loved pranks like his. They used to pull a prank everyday, run, and laugh it off like criminal buddies. Naruto always wanted a friend, and he got someone even better, a best friend. And with Sakura-chan of all people. It was his crush, and Naruto was in heaven.

Then...

Then..Sakura started acting like Shikamaru. It had happened slowly.

First, there was a week Sakura had vanished from existence. Naruto overheard some villagers talk about an old person from the Uchiha clan dying of old age, and he frowned. Sakura really liked old people, didn't she? She must have found out and been sad. That's why she cuts class, right? Naruto cuts class too when he's sad or bullied too hard and wants alone time, is that the same for Sakura-chan? Naruto knew when he wanted alone time, he really didn't want alone time, he just didn't have a friend. So, he tried to look for Sakura, certain she'd need someone's shoulder to cry on.

But, Naruto couldn't find Sakura. She wasn't at home, (and that was strange because her parents acted like everything was normal,) she wasn't at the Uchihas, she wasn't anywhere. Naruto never gave up searching, yet he never found her.

Then, Sakura returned.

She was a mess. Like, a monster had snatched her up, trapped her into the underworld, and transformed her before setting her free.

Naruto shook his head and looked on the positive side. Sakura-chan was back!

He bolted over and hugged her, not a thought about Sakura bopping him in the head and calling him an idiot for hugging her. In fact, he hoped Sakura would do that, it would prove that she's the same old Sakura!

Sakura didn't. She just stood there like a puppet, letting Naruto hug her.

Naruto pulled back to look at her face, and noticed the hollow look in her eyes, which were no longer the bright emerald green, but a mossy, murkier green, and the dark eyebags under them.

She looked like she hadn't slept in ages.

"Ah, Naruto?" Sakura smiled, rubbing the back of her head.

Naruto wondered if she picked this habit from himself or someone else. She didn't have it before she ditched him at their last prank. Nah, it was from Naruto, no one in Konoha has that mannerism so Naruto felt his chest swell with pride, and he grinned. "Yup! Glad you're back, Sakura-chan!"

That was when Iruka-sensei entered the classroom with a clipboard, pen automatically going to mark Sakura absent, but seeing the flash of pink, he withdrew his hand. "Sakura?"

She looked at him, and Iruka's lips parted into an 'o'

Mizuki-sensei followed behind, and leaned over to whisper something into Iruka's ear. He nodded, mumbling something about mourning and depression. They had a secret conversation, or an argument of hushed, yet loud whispers. It was a rare day, because it ended with Mizuki-sensei smirking and Iruka-sensei frowning. This meant Mizuki won it. Usually when a whispered argument ends with both teachers frowning, it meant Iruka-sensei won. This tended to be everyday, but today was not such a day.

Mizuki-sensei walked over to them, and placed a hand on Sakura's shoulder. "Welcome back, Sakura-chan. You look tired. You can relax for today's lesson," his eyes curled mirthfully. "You can relax for all the lessons." Maybe then, you'll fail the graduation exam and steal the Scroll of Seals for me. Iruka always has an eye on Naruto, but no one watches over you. Perfect.

Sakura nodded. "Thanks, Mizuki-sensei. I needed it." She made her way over to the abandoned seat, plopped down, set her head on the desk, and fell right asleep, not once considering how many weeks Naruto must have spent sitting by himself.

Now, there were two sleepers in class. A boy sleeping for the hell of it, and a girl sleeping because she needed it.

Naruto sat beside the occupied seat, glad his friend was back, but also feeling that she wasn't back. She was just a body.

Weeks flew by, and Sakura was always asleep in class. Naruto was reverting back to his old self, attention-seeking to the extremes and overly-considerate towards Sakura, too shy to ask her out anymore.

Mizuki-sensei smiled, content that Sakura's grades were decreasing as she napped through exams too. At this rate, she was bound to fail. He didn't realize Sakura spent 12 hours consistently studying medical-ninjutsu each night. Such a nocturnal schedule couldn't be good for a young developing body.

But, Obito had said that once Sakura became a genin, she wouldn't have enough time to properly study, plus her brain would have a harder time absorbing information as she aged older. Adding in a bit of persuasion involving the elders' wish for her to become Hokage and revive them, and that if she can't do something as easy and necessary as studying, then she can't reach higher goals, Sakura relented and did what Obito wanted.

All according to plan.

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