The Great Medic (discontinued?)

10: As Time Flies

A/N - Apologies for this chapter taking so long to be published. For starters, I'm still writing on my tablet right now and haven't had any chance to use my mom's PC at all so, sorry if this chapter doesn't exactly flow that well. Plus, another reason for the delay, I had to work eight days straight at my job which thoroughly exhausted me. I haven't had much time to write or motivation to do it either. And, of course, this chapter was a bitch to write. Nothing was flowing right and I didn't really have a clear idea of what I wanted.

I'm not very good at writing epilogues or time skips as it feels too bland and boring - I prefer writing dialogue and monologues, really. I really hate this chapter but it's needed if we're to go any further in the storyline. Plus, it'll be a good buffer between the previous chapter and when we finally get closer to the academy graduation exams - which I'm really excited about. For my readers who read the original 'The Great Medic', the only hint I'm going to give regarding the Mizuki incident is that it's not going to go the same way it did in the original. Be prepared.

So, to finish this author's note out, thank you for waiting up on me and I hope you enjoy this... not too exciting chapter!

Naruto rubbed his temples harshly, pushing away from his desk before letting out a long sigh. He searched the paperwork scattered in front of him for anything that would keep his attention, but, sadly, nothing really stuck out. He'd been asked a couple of days ago if he could fill out some things for Teruya so that she'd have more time to work on the sudden surplus of walk-in patients instead. It was this lull in his current work and the inability to keep his attention where it needed to be that pulled him into his head, thinking back on the last three years.

It's been rough since the ninth annual Kyuubi festival, he mused to himself, learning of his heritage as well as his burden that is. The blond-haired teenager lounged heavily in his chair, letting his head fall back to stare stoically at the ceiling.

For starters, he and Hiruzen had pretty much ceased any and all contact. Although the unspoken ban relating to speaking about Naruto's status had been lifted - something that shocked and eased some of the villagers' stress to no end, something that still makes the blond hiss in anger when he thinks about it - the two of them still weren't on speaking terms. The old Sarutobi man never dropped by his apartment anymore and Naruto rarely ever went and asked him for help when it came to his medical studies or questions that only another ninja could answer. The Third Hokage still gave him a monthly allowance to help him purchase things as well as continue to live in his apartment, but they just... didn't talk anymore.

Naruto frowned, leaning forward in his chair, settling heavily in it. He let those thoughts slip away from him, moving to close the binder of paperwork before stuffing it into his backpack full to the brim of anything and everything medical-related; he usually brought this bag to the hospital with him whenever he went to volunteer. The blond-haired teen shoved himself away from his desk and started making his way towards the bathroom, having decided to take a shower as he no longer had the motivation to do any more paperwork before school tomorrow. As Naruto turned on the water, watching it fall for a couple of seconds, the academy student couldn't help but think of Hiruzen again.

Once he'd rid himself of his clothes, the teen climbed underneath the heated water, allowing his mind to wander once more. Hiruzen was like a grandfather to him - emphasis on the 'was'. After everything that had happened the Night of Grieving as the fifth night of the Kyuubi festival was dubbed, Naruto couldn't help but hold some anger towards the older man. Every time he saw the Third Hokage, his jaw tense and all those emotions from that night three years ago would flood back in. The wound on his heart was still fresh despite the years that have passed, but it hurts... being away from the man who'd basically raised him since he was a baby.