Rain's Truth (Rain Part I) 8- Friends
"No way! No thank you! Boring!" I sigh. Naruto is getting annoying. But yet, strangely attractive. I admire his spirit. We've only been doing menial missions for about a week now. I ignore the lectures and wait for the Hokage to give in. He does.
"Very well. Since you put it that way. I will permit you to attempt a C-rank task, usually preserved for Shinobi of the Chunin level. The protection of a certain individual."
"All right! Who is it?! Some great lord? A Daimyo?! A princess?"
"Compose yourself. I'll perform the introductions right away. Please invite him in." The door opens and a guy with a bottle of sake walks in.
"What's going on here? They look like a bunch of wet-nosed brats. Especially the midget. He's got the face of an imbecile. It's a joke right? You kids aren't really ninja, are you?"
"Huh? Who'd you mean? Which midget? Which one of us…?" Sasuke, Sakura, and I step closer together and Naruto realizes that he's the shortest out of the four of us. "I'll kill him!"
"Now, now, no killing the old man you've been assigned to protect."
"He looks like a total ass."
"You're right." The old man introduces himself, embellishing every detail.
"We'll meet at the gate in thirty minutes." We nod and head out to pack. Sasuke and I pause in the front room of the house.
"Are you okay? You looked like you were having trouble breathing earlier."
"I'm fine. No worries."
"You looked kind of upset when the old man was talking."
"He was drunk. And on top of that…"
"You like Naruto."
"No I don't!" Sasuke laughs and starts walking to his room.
"You do! Just wait till he figures that one out. It should be funny since he thinks you're a guy."
"Shut up Sasuke!" I run after him and he disappears in his room. "Loser!" I stick out my tongue and go to my room to pack some clothes for the trip. This wrapping is really tight. I was having trouble breathing earlier. But if I loosen it, I'll be discovered. I sigh and throw my bag over my shoulder.
"Ready?"
"Yep!" We run to the gate and wait for the others.
"All right! Road trip!"
"Is this guy for real?" We nod.
"Let's go Naruto!"
"He's such an idiot. I can't understand what you like about him."
"Shut up. Talk about that crap in public and they'll figure me out."
"They'll figure you out eventually. You can't keep that concealed for too much longer. Especially since…" I put my hand over Sasuke's mouth.
"Shut up, baka." He shrugs and pulls my hand off of his face. We start walking. After a while, Sakura asks about foreign ninja, causing me to flinch slightly.
"So I don't have to worry about encountering any foreign Shinobi?"
"Of course not." I glance back and see that the old man has a strange expression. I have a bad feeling about this. We walk past a puddle.
"Hey Sasuke. It hasn't rained in a few days right?"
"Yea."
"Then why is there a puddle…?" I turn around when I hear the clanking of a chain.
"Kakashi-sensei!" Two Kirigakure ninja have a chain wrapped around him and cut him to pieces. Shit.
"It's only your blood right?" I nod.
"As long as I'm not hurt, everyone will be safe. From me at least." The two go after Naruto next. "Sasuke!" He jumps up and throws a shuriken at the chain, pinning it to a tree. I throw a kunai to lock it into place before Sasuke lands on their arms. He kicks them away from the tree and breaks the chain. One of them goes after Naruto and the other goes after Sakura and the old man. I run in front of Naruto and Sasuke gets in front of Sakura. I feel the claw cut into my skin and close my eyes.
"Kiro-kun, are you okay?" I nod and open my eyes, hoping I'm not…shit. I stare at my hand and Sasuke reacts. "Kiro?" I look at him. "You okay?"
"Don't." Kakashi starts towards me and I back up.
"Kakashi-sensei. That's not a good idea."
"Those claws are poisoned." I frown when he continues trying to get closer.
"Don't touch me. Sasuke!" He nods and steps between Kakashi and me.
"It's really not a good idea to get any closer to him." The wound burns, the poison must be spreading. I close my eyes and sit down, counting in my head. After ten seconds of no movement, and no contact, it should wear off, the uncontrollable strength and killing instinct. "Kiro-kun? Are you okay now?"
"I…think so."
"This is going to sting. You can open your eyes."
"NO!" Both Sasuke and I yell at the same time.
"Why not?"
"You really don't want to know. Just get it over with." Something stabs my hand and I flinch, almost opening my eyes. Hands cover my eyes and Sasuke sighs behind me. "Thanks."
"No problem."
"There."
"Is it safe?"
"Yep." I open my eyes and Sasuke moves his hands. My hand hurts.
"I really need to be more careful."
"Okay, why were your eyes solid black?"
"Huh? Oh…um…that happens when I see my own blood."
"And you didn't want to be touched because?"
"Because, you idiot!"
"Calm down, Kiro." I nod and turn.
"Let's go." I trip and fall.
"You okay?!" I nod and get up.
"Damn I'm really clumsy." We start walking again. I pause.
"Something wrong?"
"I'm fine."
"You look pale. Are you okay?" I nod.
"I'm fine. Really." Actually, I can't breathe.
"Kiro!" I fall forward and black out.
*Sasuke's POV*
"What's wrong with him?" Did she really have that stupid wrapping too tight?
"We should go back. It looks like Kiro-kun is sick."
"He's not sick."
"Then what's wrong?" I sigh. She's gonna be pissed about this, but it can't be helped.
"Turn around." This is very awkward. Hopefully, the clasp of the wrapping is on her back. The others are turned around. I take a deep breath and reach under her shirt. I find the clasp of the wrapping and undo it.
"What are you doing?" I flinch and look over my shoulder. Kakashi is staring at me. Heat rushes to my face and I pull my hand back.
"Anno…"
"Sasuke-kun?" Shit. Calm down. I have to remain calm. They think she's a guy right? There's no way I should be embarrassed for trying to help her. She's just my friend right? We're just friends. But, she's a girl. And I'm about to reveal that secret to them.
"If I tell you, and you betray me…I'll have to kill you." This isn't a betrayal. She can't breathe with that thing wrapped around her chest. This is a predicament. I have to tell them.
"Sorry."
"Huh?" I take a deep breath.
"Kiro-kun…is really a girl."
"You're funny. Is that a joke?"
"No. Sakura, can you get that wrapping off of her chest please? That's why she passed out."
"Huh?"
"Come on." I pull Naruto and Kakashi-sensei behind a tree and Tazuna follows. Sakura screams after a minute and I sigh.
"If Kiro is a girl, why did you have your hand up her shirt?"
"I was undoing that stupid bandage!"
"How long have you known this?" How long?
"About a week…I guess. Why the sudden interrogation?!"
"It's safe!" We walk back to the path and I help Kiro up.
"You okay?"
"Yea. Thanks." I nod.
"That's what friends are for." She smiles and dusts herself off.
"Okay! Let's get going!" Figures she would try to lighten the mood. We continue on to Nami no Kuni.
