Civilians think ninjas don't sleep. Or that they do in a bizarre way, with one eye closed and the other open, for a lack of a better metaphor. They hear stories of assailants moving closer, attempting to kill one ninja in what they thought was their moment of vulnerability, but in the next moment, they attack the person as if they hadn't been sleeping in the first place.
However, the civilians think they're ninjas, so they aren't at risk for them. In their minds, before the no-name enemy can reach its sleeping victim, the sixth sense that all ninjas have, makes them wake up completely and immediately. As a result, they can stop their attacker with flashy movements, so afterward they can give a monologue of 'ha! You thought you could trick a ninja!' and then it's over.
The truth is not as fantastic as that. Or at least, not with all ninjas.
They don't have a sixth sense, though some call it that. The thing is when one is used to death, battles, and ill intent being thrown on a daily basis as if it was nothing (and in most cases, it is nothing), your subconscious develops in a way that can recognize it without trouble. It knows the feeling, and that's where half of the reflexes come from. It's experience; the other half being brought by old, plain training.
One won't suddenly wake up and go all ninja if they're just some genin wet behind the ears who hasn't seen battle yet.
Coincidentally, Sasuke is not one of them. A rookie, he means. His training with Orochimaru made sure he was always attentive to his surroundings, without caring if he was up or asleep. That's how, even if he's unconscious and hurts all over, he still can detect ill intent.
'Someone's trying to kill you', his mind screams.
He isn't awake yet, his mind still foggy from pain and lack of rest, but adrenaline is already flowing through his system. His eyes are open so the Sharingan is quick to react and process the information he sees, but his still clouded brain can't quite comprehend. He lets years of reflexes do his bidding and grabs the arm of the person holding the knife, leg moving to kick a stomach with all the strength he can muster even if his ribs protest. It's not much, but his body still attacks without holding back.
The result is the person now doubled over on the ground.
The knife is now in his hand.
Another person scrambles backward, leaking fear all over the place and Sasuke, who is now standing, uses the back of the knife against his nose before sliding a foot under the person so it falls to the ground, too. There's another who is pulling some sort of weapon from their waistband, but Sasuke stops the action mid-way, quickly moving behind. One arm gripping the weapon away from them while he points the knife to the neck.
It's over in less than ten seconds and is not until pain shots through his left arm, the one not holding the knife, that he wakes up completely.
He swears he's able to hear his bones grinding against each other alongside his loud heartbeat, and he holds a wince back. Definitely, something cracked there. He will be lucky if it's just bruised.
"…Thought ye said he wasn't going to stand up for a couple more days, doc," a man on the floor wheezes. He still seems to be trying to catch his breath from the kick.
The supposed doctor holds his own nose to check the damage; there are tears forming in his eyes from the pain, but he still manages to answer, "He's purple all over and has bruised ribs. His arm is not supposed to be working either, for crying out loud!"
So, he was right about the sharp pain in his arm then.
"Young man, it'll be best if we sit and discuss. You don't want to do something you'll come to regret later," says the one in front of him, nodding slightly at the knife on his neck.
Sasuke would scoff, but it's beneath him. He has the situation in control. He's not the one who will lose here.
"Who are you?" he asks calmly. His memory is vague and only remembers sealing Kaguya and then going through an open portal, his hand trying to reach Naruto before looking to the side to see a mass of red energy, who most likely was the Kyuubi, and then being thrown away from the blond.
One thing he's sure of: Somehow, it's Naruto's fault.
"May we know the name of our kidnapper first?" At Sasuke's pointed glare, he continues, "You're in Woodbury, young man. A nice haven from the horrors of the outside. We're secured here and no monster can reach us. Not even if they're inside. There are more than just us, boy. We protect our people, and if you think you'll be able to walk away harmlessly from here, you're sorely mistaken."
There's confidence in the man and arrogance that rubs him the wrong way, but if his guess is right and he's in another dimension, he needs information. He doesn't know how this world works and what's happening. What are these monsters the man mentioned? Are they truly powerful? He needs a secure place to heal his wounds and rest, but most of all, he needs the knowledge to survive.
Pressing the knife a little tighter to the neck and letting some of his killing intent soar, Sasuke whispers, "I don't think so."
The men go tense, sweat forms on their foreheads and there's palpable fear in the air.
.
.
Sasuke is injured, tired, and possibly a step away from chakra exhaustion. Yet, his mind is sharp; honed-battle experience still intact. His Sharingan can see their lack of training and strength; his rinnegan, their small amount of chakra. Even less than a civilian in his world would have but a sufficient amount to live. They don't even pose a threat to a genin.
"This is what we're going to do. You'll answer my questions and return my katana. You'll give me a place to sleep, food enough for a meal, and medical supplies. If you do that, I'll leave your people alone and won't kill you all."
The doctor looks up at him in protest and their eyes lock. His gaze widens with horror and awe. "What are you?" he whispers.
The man in his grip turns slightly in an attempt to catch what the other saw, the same happening with the one kneeling on the floor, and Sasuke lets them. Fear will work easier to make them comply. He increases barely the killing intent just when they see his face. He narrows his eyes but the action doesn't make them any less visible—it doesn't lessen their power. They stiffen, realization coming at them like a physical blow. They now know how much above their pay grade the situation has turned.
Sasuke smirks. "Let's start."
.
It still takes some light pushing before he obtains his answers without letting them know how much he doesn't actually know. If there's one thing he learned from his time with Orochimaru is the value of knowledge. He knows its power. And if thanks to well-used words, they assume he knows more than them, the better for him.
Now he only has to maintain that balance.
Doctor Milton, after making sure his nose is fixed and that Sasuke's finished retrieving all the weapons they have, goes to dress his wounds. Apparently, only one was already dressed, though, thanks to his sudden movements, the gash on his back made by his own blade opened. He doesn't think he could be able to change the bandages from that wound without help. Jutsus wouldn't be of any help with his current levels of chakra either.
A simple bunshin would be tough enough; the Kage bunshin is currently nigh impossible.
"It's kind of amazing how you don't even react to the pain." Sasuke glances at the doctor working on his back and raises an eyebrow. At seeing his expression, the doctor adds, "I'm not this kind of doctor, the one that stitched your back was another one and in the short time since this happened, I've just learned basic aid like all. I'm not really good and I'm sure I'm making more mistakes than not. Are you sure you don't want to have her check this?"
Sasuke holds his smirk back. In short, they've their own doctor, a female one. They're a lot of people or the 'event' they've been talking about happened not so long ago. And Milton is some kind of researcher like Orochimaru if he's the one in charge of looking into how he survived the fall. The doctor and the gruff man are better at throwing what they think is not useful information than their leader.
He's gained much just by letting them talk, but never he let it show. He simply answers, "Just make sure I won't bleed out."
He doesn't know if he'll have to fight again once outside, though something tells him he will. Even so, it's better to take precautions.
"And what do you plan to do once outside and after we've complied with your demands, young man? You've us in the palm of your hand. Will you demand our weapons, too? Supplies? All our food? Do you plan to kill us all? Kidnaping would only get you so far, after all."
The way he changes the tone of certain keywords amuses him. He's trying to make him slip. Sasuke doesn't know much about this world, but it doesn't seem like much if they use such weak psychological tactics on him. Or perhaps is his age? Do they think he'll doubt his actions because of what they assume is a rebel act from a teenager?
He would normally ignore him but... He glances at the weapon he retrieved from the Governor, the one that appears to frighten them more than the knife, before looking at the man. "How long has this place existed?"
Governor Philip Blake frowns but answers, anyway. "Since this disaster started. Milton must know the exact date."
"Eighth five days," he says nervously.
Not that long, then.
The doctor clears his throat. "Also, I've finished. Someone'll have to set your arm, though. It's already looking bad."
.
.
The Doctor is right about the injury; the skin is swollen and red. He only knows basic medic jutsu, the kind that can fix his bruised ribs but not his broken arm. It'll be enough to make the pain go away once the bone is set and the fever starts. He still needs that doctor, though.
"You mentioned a doctor. I'll have her see it. The Governor can then guide me to what will be my place."
"Thar a couple of empty houses. Or do ye have somethin' in mind already? Whatcha gonna want? A mansion, yer highness?"
Merle scoffs when he isn't able to get a raise of annoyance from him. Sasuke ignores him as he continues, "The smallest one will do. I just need a place to sleep and recover. It'd be preferable if it's far from your people."
"Yes, I think we've got a one-floor house close to the borders. Small but hopefully enough for our young guest," the Governor says with a bland smile.
Sasuke nods and stands up, motioning the others to go in front of him and guide him to the exit. The room is empty except but an older man sleeping in the corner. He doesn't spare him a glance as he moves, though he grabs a few pens he finds and shoves them into the pockets of the pants they gave him. The gun is still in his good hand, but the knife is in the pocket of the pants they gave him. He quickly changes their position. It's better to use something he already knows than fumble with something new and unknown.
When the Governor's hand is touching the door's handle, he turns to smile at him. "I hope you like Woodbury."
It's no surprise when he sees a man pushing the Governor away to punch him as soon as their leader opens the door, perhaps in an attempt to separate them and give the others standing near a good shot. Their weapons are slightly lowered, clearly not expecting much from an injured teenager, and that's going to be their downfall. Sasuke will not let someone as unprepared as them get the upper hand.
He locks eyes with the man who grabbed the Governor, and he uses his surprise at seeing his eyes to his advantage. There are only two sounds from the missing shots before they stop as Sasuke gives a good kick to his shin and grabs their leader again to use him as a shield. He takes a moment to check the position of his attackers before he counterattacks.
This time, he's the one shoving the Governor towards the bigger man on his right, making both of them fall. He runs towards the one nearest and doesn't give her a chance to shoot. A knee goes to the hand of one while he shoves the back of his knife into his temple. A man turns, but he has his elbow already on his face. A kick to one and a knee in the stomach of another takes two more. He uses what he can to immobilize most and knock out the others without hurting his own injuries. He threw away their weapons towards the door where he came from.
He merges some chakra into the pens he found and that's enough to use against the ones who are too far away. His chakra nature is not wind, but he still can pour some of his dwelling chakra into objects before they explode. The snipers only receive minor cuts on their hands and arms to make them throw their weapons. He can't kill them yet and give them more leverage for them to use rash actions against him when he's going to use the place as a base of sorts until he recovers.
When he finishes, he has the Governor again in his hold. Merle is pissed from the ground where he is, holding his missing hand close. The doctor hasn't moved from his spot since the fight started.
Sasuke tightens the pressure of the knife against the Governor's neck while he tries to clear the spots in his vision. There are moans of pain around and Sasuke can see a couple of people looking behind windows, afraid, but he ignores it all as he tries to not sway on his feet and show how much the fight has affected him.
He takes a deep breath, knowing the only thing keeping him awake is his Rinnegan that makes what little Sage's chakra he has going in through his system. Once he cancels it, he'll be unconscious for a couple of days at least and with sore muscles for more than a few weeks. If his tenketsu points recover from the strain, that's it.
He needs to continue then and stop it quickly. He can't stop now.
"Where's the doctor you mentioned?" he pants, his voice coming stronger than he actually is, even as he feels the blood pouring from his eyes.
The Governor's face is red with anger, posture stiff as he walks, not even once glancing at the men on the floor.
.
.
"I've never seen or known eyes as yours existed."
Sasuke doesn't answer, but he's faintly surprised she hasn't asked about the blood coming from said eyes yet, or why he uses a small bowl to contain it instead of a handkerchief to clean it.
"It's ready?" he asks when she takes a step back to look at her work. She used some wood so it would keep the bone firm in place, mentioning how lucky he was that it was a clean break to deal with.
Nodding, Dr. Stevens helps him put on a simple loose shirt, making sure to cut the part where the cloth meets his broken arm. She moves to button it, but Sasuke stops her; it'll be easier to check his bandages if it's open.
She hesitates but chooses to ignore it as another one of his quirks. "You're a strong young man if you could deal with the process without anesthesia. We don't have much of it, but you could have… asked for it."
The word 'demand' is obviously on the tip of her tongue, but she doesn't say it, choosing to glance at the Governor leaning against a wall instead. She shakes her head before turning at him with a familiar small stern face that gives her a motherly look around her that makes him frown and now Sasuke wants to leave. He stands up again and this time it's hard to stay that way. He grabs the chair he was sitting on and takes a shaky breath while waiting for the room to stop moving.
"You should take these. We've got a few stashed, so one less won't do much for now."
He looks up to see what she's talking about and in a way dissuades the feeling of throwing up when he sees bags with blood inside a freezer behind her. He points at them. "Give me one of those."
Dr. Stevens knows he's a step away from blood loss but doesn't ask why not make the transfusion right then. Why not ask for needles and other implements? Sasuke sees those questions on her face and more. He raises an eyebrow. She scowls at him and gives him a bag. Sasuke's muscles clench as he grabs it, but at least his hand doesn't tremble as they want.
"But take this, too."
It's then he notices the cane she's holding. He frowns, ready to refuse them, but the doctor points at his legs; they're trembling. Sasuke grimaces but takes it. He gives it a few tries with his good hand, doing some easy stances he's done before with his sword, too fast for them to really perceive, not needing the Governor to think he's now able to deal with him before he lowers it to the ground and walks.
"Let's go," he says when he notices the Governor is still behind him. He doesn't turn, knowing a simple movement will be enough to make him dizzy. Sasuke just clenches his grip on the cane a little tighter and waits two seconds before moving forward. After all, he doesn't have more energy to spend waiting.
.
.
Once he's sure there's no one inside the small house the man guided him—or near—Sasuke closes the door on the Governor's face. He doesn't check the windows or bother to lock the door. Sasuke needs a place to let himself fall unconscious, and he needs it now.
He doesn't longer care if his movements aren't graceful as he goes to the kitchen and opens every door he finds. The tap of the cane against the ground is loud as he grabs everything that's essential. Sasuke's not naïve. He knows it won't take long for the Governor's people to come in. From what he heard, all the houses have some canned food and other things that civilians shrug off as unimportant. He grabs it all and goes to the only bedroom there and is glad that there's only a window inside.
He glances at the big closet and lets a relieved breath escape his breath. That'll do.
Adrenaline is what's currently making him able to move, so he takes advantage of it until the last drop. Leaving all the items on the bed, he goes to shove the closet in front of the only window with gobbling legs and a throbbing headache. He then pours the blood bag into the bowl where there is some of his own already in it, some of the red substance falling into the sheets. He mixes it with a finger full of the last of his chakra and starts making seals on the door and walls.
He's no seal master, but he knows how to guard a place so only jounin level can enter. And that's more than enough to make the walls stronger. Thanks to his natural affinity being lighting, he can electrify the seals so the ones trying to go in will end up slightly electrocuted without needing to pour more chakra in them.
After finishing the bedroom, he goes to the bathroom and does the same, making it safer than the room. He then returns to the room and grabs pillows and sheets, some food, and a couple of empty glasses from the bed and places them some inside the tub, and others on top of the toilet seat. He places the cane next to it.
Taking a deep, slightly anxious breath, Sasuke goes inside the tub and lays there for a long time, tears he can't stop falling from his eyes as he ignores the cold, hard surface and lets the small amount of chakra in his eyes recede.
The moment his eyes turn to their usual black, it's as if a switch has flipped on and all the pain he has previously ignored comes back with a vengeance. He tries to close his eyes, but it doesn't stop the onset of full-body tremors that wreck his frame. Muscles that are strung tight as bowstrings scream as they seize for long seconds until something slaps into his insides and his mind goes blissfully blank.