I finally got home. I leaned on the wall and started to think…
"How stupid can I get…I'm already accepting defeat…Well…I know those guys won't back down…But I can't depend on them…I can't sacrifice another set of friends…I can't let them die because of protecting me…"
I felt so angry because I couldn't defeat Orochimaru…I reflected on everything but I couldn't allow him to kill everyone special to me…Tears started to flow, guess telling them about my life made me remember about my parents. I felt the guiltiness that I felt when my dad and mom passed away. I wanted to change the past; I wanted to change my life…
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The next day I waited for them on the bridge. A few minutes had passed when the three genins arrived.
"Ohayo!"
Sakura greeted me, as always.
"Ohayo."
We waited for Kakashi, as usual, he was late. When he arrived he had his usual excuses. When we were complete I told them to meet me in the forest.
"Since I was out for days, we are going to play a little game. I think Kakashi already did this activity with you."
"Jin-san are you allowed to move a lot already? You aren't even supposed to get out of bed now…"
"Don't worry about me…worry about yourselves…you guys have the advantage…"
"Huh? What are we going to do?"
"You guys are going to grab these three bells from me…BUT…you are only allowed to use your skills in taijutsu."
"Taijutsu only?"
"Yes…Which means Naruto, you are not allowed to use Kage Bunshin. "
Kakashi was watching from a tree, observing us and at the same time he was reading his favourite dirty book entitled, "Come, Come Paradise".
"Ok…does everyone understand the rules…you guys have the advantage here…And Sasuke the sharingan is also not allowed, I won't use mine too."
"Hai!"
The three answered as they got into position.
"Ok, let's BEGIN!"
As I said those words the three genins attacked with all their might. This activity went on for hours, the three genins were tired and my arm was bleeding again.
"How fast can she get?"
Sasuke was trying to see how he could be able to get the bells.
"Heh…these guys are good…very well trained…"
They continued to attack until they all couldn't stand. The bandage on my arm was soaking with blood but I was having fun.
"Stand up guys…I still have a lot of blood to loose…C'mon! You guys haven't got a single bell…"
The three stood up and attacked again, but still their efforts were in vain.
"These guys can really fight…Their stamina's great and they can control their chakra well and their teamwork is superb. Good job Kakashi…Well done…"
I told myself. Naruto wouldn't give up he stood up and attacked again and again and again but still, he couldn't get the bells…We had to stop the activity already because the three genins couldn't stand anymore.
"Well guys, you did a great job!"
"Huh? But we weren't able to get the bells."
"That's ok…What's important is you guys can last long in a fight, your teamwork and determination are superb. With that you guys can be great ninja's. Your skills in taijutsu are good too. Kakashi you really did a great job on this three…"
Since I just recovered not all my strength was back so I had to sit down.
"Jin-san are you ok…?"
"Could you guys do me a favour?"
"Sure…"
"Grab some bandage and water and help me clean up this bloody arm…"
Sakura stood up and gave me some first-aid.
"You shouldn't have done that…"
"I needed it…"
Sakura said as she fixed me up.
"Kakashi sensei…Did we really do a good job?"
"Yes. I was surprised you lasted that long…"
"Oh Yeah!!! Alright!"
Kakashi smiled back at Naruto.
"Hey, we could call this a day…you guys are tired, go on! Go home and rest!"
The three smiled at me and left.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Several years has now passed since I first arrived here. My relationship with Team 7 just kept on growing. I was back to my usual cheery self. Staying with them made me feel happy and it showed me that there was still more to do in life. My cousin, Uchiha Sasuke is close to mastering the use of the sharingan thanks to me and Kakashi, Uzumaki Naruto can now control his chakra really well, and Haruno Sakura greatly improved in battle and last but not the least Hatake Kakashi, my best friend and my sparing partner. He is still one of the greatest jounins of Hidden Leaf Village. Since we had a very strong bond of friendship, missions became fun and easier to the 5 of us. During free time the five of us would play Hide and Seek (Ninja style) or spar with each other. My life has really changed since I met them. We cherished loyalty and friendship most and if ever the curse would act up, I was sure that they would always, and I mean always lend me a helping hand.
"Naruto, Let's play a game!"
"Sure! What's the game?"
"Hmm…we will hang upside down on a tree like a bat, who ever falls first pays for the ramen!"
"You're on!!!"
Naruto and I played a lot of games which had chakra control secretly involved, and because he only thought that they were all just games he never realized how good he got in controlling chakra. In the end of every game, he would always loose but I would always give in and pay for the ramen instead…
"Jin…I challenge you to a duel…"
"Hmm…Sure…Bring it on Sasuke!"
Sasuke and I would challenge each other to spar. Sakura and Naruto would cheer for us and Kakashi…he would just smile and read his dirty book…as usual.
"Sakura let me show you how to use a special ninjutsu called Chiyute no Jutsu"
"What does it do?"
"Well since most of the time Sasuke, Naruto and Kakashi always end up getting hurt you could use this technique to heal their wounds. It's a medical technique."
"How is that?"
"You have to focus an amount of chakra on your palm; the amount of chakra depends on how deep the wound is. If you concentrate really well a ball of healing chakra will appear. It needs a lot of practice but with your knowledge and excellence in controlling chakra you'll master this in no time!"
I would teach Sakura skills that will be able to help the team. Like the Chiyute no Jutsu because I observed that Sakura always ended up in the back while Naruto, Sasuke and Kakashi did all the dirty work and in the end they always ended up getting hurt so I taught her a few tricks I had up my sleeve.
"Hey…can I join you?"
"Oh, Kakashi…sure…"
"You really made those three genins grow…"
"It wasn't all me…you really made them strong and excellent genins…may it be physically, emotionally or mentally…"
"Heh…"
Kakashi and I…we would talk at night on top of the roof of the academy, we would discuss how the three genins improved and what things they should still improve on. But most of the time we would just enjoy each others silence and company.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
One morning while I was on my way to meet Team 7, I noticed that someone was following me. I stopped and looked around.
"This feeling…He's here…What does he want…."
I told myself…I readied myself for a battle.
"Orochimaru…What do you want?"
Then he emerged from the shadows of a tree.
"Hehehe…Jin-kun…you really are good…"
"Why are you following me?"
"I will kill you now…Now that you are alone…Hahaha…"
"Great…"
I used the sharingan and attacked him with everything I got. I used the skills of the sharingan to the fullest.
" Huff Huff Heh…are you enjoying…"
"Yes I am enjoying…I can see your future Jin…Death awaits you…"
"Heh…whatever old man…let's see who dies first…"
I was tired and I was almost out of chakra, my head was bleeding badly and my left arm was badly injured already. I attacked with everything that I had left but still my efforts were in vain. Orochimaru stabbed me with a kunai on my side and banged my body against the tree. I stood up still but then Orochimaru pinned me to the tree with shurikens.
"I'm already reaching my limit…I'm out of chakra…Damn…"
I whispered to myself.
"Hehehe…see…you are going to die…I've waited for this for so long…"
" Cough Heh…"
Then he threw 3 kunais at me, I couldn't move all I could do was to watch as the 3 kunais, one by one hit me on the chest. When it hit me he pushed all three in deeper. It was painful…
"Goodbye Jin! Hahaha!!! Victory is mine!"
Then he disappeared. My vision was getting blurry and my body felt numb as my blood kept on flowing.
"So… cough …this…is…it….I-I'm so-sorry…dad…mom…I couldn't avenge you… Ugh …Ka-Kakashi…Sakura…Na-Naruto…Sa-suke…I'm sor-ry…"
Then I lost consciousness.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Meanwhile Team 7 was training in the forest.
"Kakashi sensei…is Jin coming?"
Naruto asked
"Hmmm…I don't think so…she's not here yet…"
"Maybe something came up…"
Sakura answered. Then they heard someone laughing from behind a tree hidden in the shadows…
"Hehehe…Something did come up."
They all stayed in their fighting formation when the man appeared.
"Orochimaru…"
"What's with all those weapons? I'm not here to fight…I just came from one…"
"What do you mean?"
"My business here is done…I finally killed my target…I enjoyed killing her too…"
Kakashi was shocked so was Naruto and Sakura.
"Well…I just wanted to say…Goodbye…Hahaha!!!"
Then he disappeared. Kakashi, Sakura, Sasuke and Naruto were shocked.
"J-Jin-san…"
Sakura whispered…
"Kakashi sensei…let's find her…"
Naruto said…
"Hai."
The four searched the forest for me. Finally after a few minutes Kakashi found me pinned to a tree. When Sakura and Naruto saw me they were shocked…
"Jin-san! No!!!"
Naruto screamed. Then Kakashi got me down from the tree. I opened my eyes…
"Ka-kashi…I'm glad…to see…you… Cough "
When I saw his face he looked really sad. Then I saw the three genins.
"H-hey…You-You're here too…I j-just want to…say… Ugh! …Thank you…for making…m-my life…ha-happy…Damn…this hu-hurts…"
As I said those words tears started to flow from my eyes…
"Do me a favour guys…p-pull out those ku-kunais…f-for me…"
They did what I asked them to do. I held Kakashi's hand tight
"I-I didn't want…this t-to happen…Kakashi…I…ha-haven't fulfilled my pro-mise to av-avenge my family…It wasn't suppose to end here…I don't want to le-leave you…guys…"
"Jin…"
Then I heard Sakura's voice.
"Chiyute no Jutsu"
Sakura held my wounds and she tried to heal it but it was too deep but she kept on trying.
"Sakura…you mastered it already…gr-great…but…It won't work n-now… Ugh "
"B-but I have to try…"
"I-It's no use…my wounds are too deep…"
"I won't stop…"
I felt happy somehow that they really cared about me, then I felt really cold and my vision went blurry.
"Do me a favour g-guys especially you…Sasuke…don't d-die…I'm so-sorry…"
As I said those words, tears continued to flow from my eyes. Then my eyes closed and the grip on Kakashi's hands slowly loosened as it slowly dropped lifelessly on the floor…
"Jin- san! Jin-san! Wake up! You can't die!!!"
Naruto shouted and shouted but it was no use. Then Kakashi felt my pulse.
"Wait…her pulse…it's still beating...but it's weak. We have to bring her back to the village immediately."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
They brought Jin to the nearest village hospital. She was placed in a room where all critical patients were placed. The four had to wait outside for the doctor to explain to them about her condition. Outside the room the air was tense. Naruto kept on walking back and forth, Kakashi was sitting down facing the floor, Sakura was seated beside Kakashi she was in shock and she couldn't stop crying, and Sasuke was his normal calm self as he leaned on the wall.
"What's happening inside…How is she…I hope she's alright…"
Naruto said as he walked back and forth.
"Naruto…calm down and sit down…"
"How the hell can you tell me to calm down in this kind of situation? I'm not like you! She's your cousin but you act as if you don't even care that she's in a critical condition!"
"Whatever Moron…I'm calm because I know she'll be ok…I'm not like you! I'm not over reacting to some little thing! Hmph…Morons like you should've been made genins…you don't deserve to be here…You don't deserve to be a ninja…"
Sasuke leans his back against the wall trying to calm down…
"Sasuke…"
Naruto was surprised with what Sasuke just said…he stopped walking and stood with his hands tightly gripped his side.
"Huh? Now what's your problem now…Stupid moron?"
"You're lucky that you found out that you still have one more living relative…You're lucky you come home to someone who cares for you…You're so lucky Sasuke…everyone acknowledges you…and all strong ninjas want to challenge you…Yeah, sure…call me a moron…call me stupid…no one would care anyway…no one…But I deserve to be here…"
Kakashi had to break them up since things were heating up. Then Kakashi looked at Sakura.
"Ka-Kakashi sensei…she…she'll be alright…right?"
"Sakura…don't worry…"
Kakashi puts his arm around his student to calm her down.
"I hope that this ends soon…I hope Jin is ok…She…can't leave me…"
The four was experiencing the longest hours of their lives. They waited and waited and waited…Suddenly the door finally opened. Kakashi stood up right away and approached the doctor.
"How is she?"
"She's critical but stable…But she's in a coma now…she hasn't shown signs of life and she doesn't react to pain…"
"What are her injuries? Are they serious?"
"Her left lung is punctured and there was internal bleeding. Her head was badly injured which is why she is in a coma now. Her left arm with the mark is badly injured. Her chakra was drained which made her situation worse."
"Will she be alright?"
"Yes. But she lost a lot of blood and we need someone who can donate some for her."
"What's her blood type?"
"O."
"Good…I'll supply her…"
Kakashi said and smiled at the doctor.
"Kakashi sensei…"
Sakura was surprised about what Kakashi said because she didn't know how important Jin was to her sensei.
"Can we visit her now?"
"Yes."
The four entered and they saw Jin lying down lifeless on the bed. Her body was full of bandages.
"The only thing that could save her now is her will to live…There's nothing more that I could do. It's all up to her."
The doctor said as he showed them the way.
"Jin-san…please be ok…"
Sakura whispered.
"Hatake Kakashi?"
"Hai?"
"Will you come with us? We have to get the blood as soon as possible."
"Oh…ok…You guys stay here ok. If Iruka sensei comes tell him to wait I'll be back…"
"Hai."
The three answered. Then Kakashi left. Naruto suddenly became quiet and motionless he just sat down in one corner. While Sasuke was on the opposite side of the room calm as usual.
"Naruto…"
Sakura noticed right away and knew that what Sasuke said to Naruto earlier really affected him but this wasn't how Naruto usually took the insults that Sasuke would say to him…Something was wrong…
"Maybe…Sasuke is right…I'm no fit to be a ninja…I should've stayed in the academy…"
Naruto said to himself…
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The news about what happened to Jin reached the Hokage already.
"Iruka…Summon Kakashi for me…"
"Hai…"
Iruka left and went to the room of Jin.
"Sakura…where is Kakashi?"
"Iruka sensei…Kakashi sensei told us to tell you to wait for him here…he said he'd be back soon…"
"Huh? Why? Where did he go?"
"The doctor took him away…he volunteered to donate blood for Jin…"
"Really…ok…"
Iruka waited patiently for Kakashi after an hour he returned.
"Sorry…But it took long…"
"It's ok…"
The two sensei's headed to the office of the Hokage, When they got there Hokage was waiting for them.
"Sorry it took long for me to get here…"
"I know…you volunteered to donate blood for Jin…"
"She's…in a coma now…"
"Really…tell me more about her injuries…"
"She has a punctured left lung and internal bleeding. Her head was badly injured and her left arm is in a bad state too. She's in a critical condition but she's stable…"
"Hmm…Orochimaru really wanted her dead…"
"Yes…He left the village already…"
"I know…So this means you guys can watch over her now that he's gone…"
"Really…I'll tell those kids the good news…"
Kakashi stood up and left. He headed back to the hospital. When he got there Naruto was quiet sitting in one corner of the room away from Sasuke, Sasuke was on the opposite side of the room hidden in the shadows and Sakura was looking out the window. Kakashi noticed Naruto's unusual behaviour.
"Naruto…are you ok…"
Naruto just looked at Kakashi and nodded his head then looked away. Sakura then updated Kakashi about Jin's condition.
"Kakashi sensei…they put your blood in her already…The doctor said she's getting a bit better…"
"That's good…By the way the Hokage allowed us to skip training and watch over her…"
"Really…great…"
Hearing the good news Team 7 stayed by Jin's side day and night.
