The next day, Sakura and I started helping rebuild the village. It was a mess! The best thing I could do was move debris into a pile. Later, her mom called us to deliver dumplings to Ino's house.
"I think I'll give some to Sasuke and Naruto." Sakura thought.
"I don't think Sasuke will accept your offer, but you can try." I warned.
"Maybe, but I know Naruto will."
It's been such an adventure with Sakura, getting to actually connect with her in any way I can has been fun, I wish it could last forever. It saddens me day by day that I'll have to say goodbye, my heart can't in that pain and hope again. I could be wrong, but I know it'll hurt. When we arrived at Ino's house, we knocked on the door and she answered.
"Sakura, what are you doing here?' she asked.
"We came to deliver some dumplings to you." Sakura said holding a bag of them out.
"Thanks."
"You're welcome."
We then head out to deliver the rest to Naruto and Sasuke. But when we arrived at Naruto's, he was gone. "We can just leave some here." I suggested. Sakura did just that and we bumped into Sasuke as we left.
"Where's Naruto?" he asked.
"I don't know, he's not here." Sakura said.
After he heard that, he dashed off. "Wait! Do you want some sweets?" But he didn't listen. I wonder why he's in such a hurry to find Naruto? Oh well, it doesn't concern me at the moment. With that done, we returned home to have some lunch. The food was good, but sorrow took my appetite away.
"What's wrong?" Sakura asked.
"I'm not hungry." I said pushing my bowl away.
"You seem sad, why?"
"I just wish I didn't have to leave after I fulfill my purpose here."
"Who said you'd be leaving?"
"Don't you remember? I'm not from here, this is not my home. It'd be selfish of me to stay and put a burden on my family back home."
I meant what I said, but the pain only grew bigger. "I understand. I know it must be bittersweet to you. It'll be a relief to your family, but it'll hurt you in the process." Sakura set her food aside and got up.
"Where are you going?" I asked.
"To help repair the village." she said.
"Then I'll help."
I was willing to help, but it didn't help ease the pain. Trying to smile was hard and I couldn't look at anyone in the eye. Still, I wanted to help, besides, it was almost done. But when we heard the news about Sasuke, we went to visit him. "Oh, Sasuke, what happened?" He couldn't answer, the poor guy was beaten up.
"Rebekah, I'm planning on staying here until Sasuke recovers. You can practice or look for the next scroll." she suggested.
"I don't know, I really wanna stay here with you." I said kind of on the verge of tears.
"Why?"
"Remember the first day we met: I came here for you, to help in any way I can. I won't go back on my word, Sakura! Because I love you."
She smiled and blushed a little. I got close and wrapped my arm around her. The heartwarming moment took my pain away so I can smile again. At least for now,
A week later, the fifth Hokage, Tsunade arrived and healed Sasuke. She seems to be a medical ninja or at least studied for that. Well, no duh!
"That's incredible! I've never seen anything like that!" I exclaimed.
"It's medical jutsu, you can heal wounds using chakra, but it uses up a lot." Sakura explained.
The following day, Team 7 got some missions to do so I was left alone. That said, I planned on getting the fifth and final scroll in the Hidden Cloud Village. It's a long trip, but I have to start somewhere. I head north from the Hidden Leaf which is where the Land of Lightning is. As I traveled, I wondered if I can make it back before Sakura does or let alone out alive. I've had so many close calls and faced so many trials just to get these scrolls. Now I really wish Sakura was at my side, but it's too late to turn back now.
I came all this way just for her, but I have a destiny to fulfill. It doesn't help that the void in my heart constantly demands to be filled. If I never got into the mess of getting attached to someone then I would still be whole, or would I?
All I ever wanted was a friend, someone to be with me when I'm alone, and comfort me when I'm grieving. Is that too much to ask? But so far, all it's done is hurt me and sometimes others. Maybe if I can get rid of my heart then I won't suffer as well as others. I won't hurt myself or others anymore. But if I did that, then I can't portray love or other good emotions towards people. That said, I will keep my heart no matter how much it hurts.
When it started getting dark, I had to find a place to rest. There was a remote cabin nearby with a hotel so I stayed there. It was a rather nice, quiet town. Very well lit streets and no bad guys in sight. Still, the Hidden Leaf Village is where it's at. But I'm content so I can adapt well. The next day I continue on to the Hidden Cloud Village. I managed to sleep well so I'm wide awake for adventure. The village isn't that far away and yet not so close.
I came to a dock and a ship was getting ready to set sail. "Wait!" I yelled. The sailor waved me on so I ran and made it on board. "Is this heading to the Hidden Cloud Village?" I asked. The sailor nodded. "Yes mam!" With that, I rested easy. It was smooth sailing ahead, however, I doubted I would make it back in time for Team 7's arrival.
"Land ho!" the sailor announced. I finally got onto land and mad dashed to the Hidden Cloud Village. Of course, it was cloudy and there were buildings. I talked to people to gather information about the Hidden Cloud Scroll, but they needed proof. The proof was the scroll I carried in my bag. "How do we know you didn't steal them?" they would ask. That's when a guy named Lient showed up. He has white hair in a ponytail, red marks on his cheeks, and wears a white robe with black pants.
"Who are you?" he asked.
"My name is Rebekah and I'm the one chosen to obtain the Hidden Scrolls." I explained.
"We'll have to test you then, if you should fail, then it will cost you your life."
"I've come this far, I'm not turning back!"
"Then follow me."
Lient takes me to his dojo which was massive on the inside. He takes up his katana from a stand, then takes a fighting position. "If it's the scroll you want, then you're gonna have to fight me for it." he said. Just like always, I wait for my opponent to attack. My only disadvantage was that he has a sword and I only have my hands and other weapons. As he came my way, I block his attack with my kunai and punch him with my other fist. He charged back at me so I threw shuriken, but he deflected them. I blocked his sword attacks with my kunai, but not for long. After Lient flung my weapon out of my hands, he sliced my arms, legs, and body.
"How pathetic!" he said kicking me.
"I'm just a Genin, what do you expect?" I asked.
"Very true, but you failed your test, thus it will cost you your life."
"I did my best, therefore, I have no regrets."
"It doesn't matter, now, how do you want to be killed?"
"It does! Ninja all over do their very best to protect their village from evil. If you insist on taking my life, so be it."
Lient thought for a moment and decided, "You pass the test." I was confused, wasn't I supposed to defeat him? "You have the right frame of mind to be a ninja: doing your best to protect those you love even if it costs your life. Now, here is the Hidden Cloud Scroll" Lient hands me the scroll, I open it and a white ball enters my body. Sent into one final trance, the light speaks its final words of wisdom. "Let your light so shine to where the darkness rises from the earth. The gate then will open, obtain victory at all costs." The final jutsu I learn is Wind Style: Hurricane Spin.
When I come out of the trance, I feel accomplished. "Thank you for everything Lient." I said bowing to him. "You're welcome." he said bowing back. I've got all of the scrolls from the main villages. I wonder, do I have to visit all of the villages? One way to find out, I run to the outskirts of the village to test my theory: I lay all five scrolls in a circle around me. I focus chakra throughout my body and wait. "I hope this works."
The scrolls lit up in their colors and started to float. They spin around me like the Chaos Emeralds for when Sonic goes Super. A big white flash occurs and I was in yet another trance. A white light stood before me and spoke, "You managed to get all of the Hidden Scrolls, however, they're are not at their full power yet. Train hard and mature with your friends. Meanwhile, the scrolls will remain inside you and will grow with you. Bear them well." The light shined brighter than before, then I woke up back at the Hidden Leaf Village.
It was sundown so I must have been out for a while. From that point on, I ran back home and rested. But Sakura was not home yet. I'm worried, where can she be?
