Chapter Nine – Rolling in the deep

Yuri and my brother were immensely happy when they found out I could perform such a high level Jutsu, and were bombarding me with questions on how I learnt to do it. I was glad they hadn't reacted harshly when I told them about Ryu. "Akira-sensei, you knew?" I asked her. She just looked at me and went like "Hm? What're you talking about? Nah. Oh and by the way, nice cat Saya." She said. If she really didn't know, then she was great in not showing when she was surprised.

Ryu looked at me, and mewed softly, and transformed into a boy with gold eyes and soft green hair. "Greetings to you all. My name is Ryu, and I am of the Shape-shifter class of summons. Since Saya no longer has a reason to keep me hidden in form of a cat, I shall stay in this form and help you with your ordeals as much as I can. I kindly hope you would not be perturbed by my presence." Seth pulled Ryu by his neck, in a friendly way, and "Your too formal man! Loosen up!"

From that day on, Ryu decided on staying with me and Seth. Kai was shocked at first. But after seeing Ryu's boy form, she let him stay as she thought he was cute and adorable. Ever since my team and Kai found out about Ryu, things changed. For the better or worse? I couldn't tell. Akira-sensei and Ryu advised us not to take part in the Chunin exams. Akira-sensei told us we still needed training but Ryu, he was acting rather odd. I asked him when we were alone, and he said "Horrendous events will happen in those exams this year, I suggest you to observe them from a distance Saya." He wouldn't tell me more.

And as it turned out, Ryu's prediction came true. And I couldn't do anything! I was weak, and useless! I wasn't there when Sasuke was cursed by that snake freak Orochimaru! I wasn't there to help Sakura when those lousy Sound Ninja took her on! I wasn't there to help Naruto when he needed it the most! I wasn't there for Sasuke when Itachi almost killed him! And most of all, I wasn't there for my village when it needed me. I let it down, I was weak. The Third Hokage, or "Gramps" as I would call him, was killed by his own student! I wasn't there when he was fighting for his village single-handedly. I let them down. I let them all down. And here I was, in the hospital room of a fellow Ninja, Rock Lee, with Sakura, who's now beautiful hair was forcefully trimmed down. My heart stuck in my throat every time I even looked at her.

That night, I was walking alongside Ryu, who was quieter than usual. I felt down, and I didn't want to bring up any sort of a conversation. I visited Sasuke every day, in his hospital ward, and I remembered Naruto and some man with white hair left to search for the well-known Tsunade, to heal Sasuke and Rock Lee. I didn't feel like going back home, I was very depressed. The Third was very close to me, in his own way. His death was poignant and too hard to swallow.

I remembered that it was the Third who told me and Seth not to let our mother's death be in vain and that we were still a family and we had to protect each other. He was always a shoulder for Seth to cry on. He knew about my lack of confidence and was personally there to congratulate me when I graduated. Little things always matter most, I thought as I began sobbing.

My thoughts of Lady Tsunade were different from how she actually was. She was beautiful, and so not old. Jiraiya, the white headed man, who trained Naruto, was old, and perverted. She healed Sasuke, and Sakura was overwhelmed. I was happy too, I mean, why wouldn't I be? But, I felt a little uncomfortable when I saw Sakura hugging Sasuke, and I felt weird when I realized that Sakura saved their lives, all by herself. Was this jealousy? I thought.

Soon, Sakura became Tsunade's apprentice, and I was again, forgotten. Sakura was still my close friend, and the poor girl changed drastically ever since the Chunin exam mishap. She must really love Sasuke, I thought. I also began thinking if Sasuke was too good for me, and Sakura deserved him more than I ever will. Ryu was unhappy with my sudden distress, but it was the fact, and no one could change it. I trained very little, and Sasuke began training as well. We would see each other in the streets once or twice, but that was it. I even began thinking that, whatever Sasuke would've told me, would've been something close to a lie, as he barely even looked at me now. Lives were back to normal, and I was once again, unseen. But, except for Naruto though. He spoke to me, so well, it astonished me.

Naruto always found time to talk to me, and whenever he did, he tried to flirt, and that made me laugh. We grew so close, he even told me I was as beautiful as Sakura. There was something about this guy, which was enticing. And I loved hanging out with him, training with him occasionally. He was close to me, just like how Seth was. Naruto and I would talk about sweet nothings, and how he spoke about Sakura (his tiny crush), and I wanted to let him know that there was another girl who sought only his attention. Hinata's name never exited his mouth; the idiot was oblivious to her feelings. But one day, I had a feeling that they were going to end up together, making little hyper babies, and Naruto as the Hokage. His sensei, Jiraiya, flirted with every girl he spoke to, but not to me. He looked thoughtful and quiet when he saw me, and I didn't know why. Then one night, I was training with Ryu, when I realized I wasn't alone. "Master Jiraiya?" I asked dumbfounded. "You have his eyes." He said. Minato Namikaze, my uncle, was once his student. My mother used to tell me, that my uncle was the first person I opened my eyes to when I was a baby. She told me that I had his eyes, and when I looked at his photograph, I felt it was true. Uncle Minato loved me like his own daughter, she told me. I smiled at Jiraiya, and nodded. "Saya, your mother- I didn't know she-""Its okay, Master Jiraiya. I don't think she's gone. As long as I'm alive, a part of her will live within me." I said. "I'm glad you think that." He said.

Then something made me ask him, "Master Jiraiya?" I didn't know why I suddenly felt the need to ask him, but it was impulsive. "Yes Saya?" "Do you know who my father is?" He looked uncomfortable. Then I felt nervous, and I didn't know why. I felt a secret in the air, and that secret involved me. "M-master Jiraiya?" He turned to Ryu, who looked tensed. For once in my life I saw Ryu tensed. "Saya, you will find out if you're meant to." And that was all Jiraiya said to me before he vanished.

When I questioned Ryu about him, Ryu never answered. I felt so agitated and wound up, that my temper grew noticeably. One night, I was asking Ryu, yet again and he suddenly stopped. "What is it?" He quickly turned on his heels and ran toward the village exits. I felt a pang of shock when I saw Sakura and Sasuke talking, alone, and so close to each other. I wanted to shout, but no voice came out of me. Then in a swift movement, he knocked her out, and started to walk away. As soon as he was gone, I laid Sakura on the bench. For some reason, I knew Sasuke wasn't coming back, and for another, I felt terrible for my best friend. How could he do this to her? She loved him! My heart was shattering, and anger level rising. He didn't even say good bye to me. What was I to him? A toy? And how foolish was I to think that a guy like him loved me! And Sakura, poor Sakura loved him, and I began thinking that jerk didn't ever deserve the girl's love. She always thought she didn't deserve perfect Sasuke, but that jerk doesn't deserve someone like Sakura. "S-Sakura…wake up" It was no use. She was out cold. I felt fresh tears sting my eyes, and as soon as they came, I began crying. But, I couldn't help feel a pair of heavy set of eyes stare at me, I shrugged the feeling away and "I hate you Sasuke Uchiha" I said to no one, loud enough because if Sasuke was there he would've heard me, and I ran to find Izumo and Kotetsu. After this, I'd never want Sasuke Uchiha to come back to my village. Ever…