I shut the door behind me heading quickly to my room. I'm so preoccupied with everything that going through my head I don't even bother locking the door. I probably should because Sasuke's gone and he would be upset if I don't but I'm beyond the point of caring. It's such a little thing in the grand scheme of things. I just can't seem to get a break. It's just one thing after another.
I was trying to connect with Saukra on our walk. I started telling her some of my childhood and how important Sasuke has been. I told her how he stayed up with me all night when I couldn't sleep and brought me to school with him when I couldn't bear to be alone. Halfway through the walk Sakura broke down crying again. She said I deserved to know what's going on with my brother and recounted the entire chunin exam for me.
I find it hard to believe her story but I don't think she could ever make something like that up. A stranger, stronger than anyone Sakura has ever known shows up out of nowhere, demands a fight, bites Sasuke leaving him in excruciating pain, then disappears. Then she tells me he has this permanent bruise on his neck that makes him a different more violent person. I'm getting a headache just thinking about it.
I flop on my bed digging under my bed. It's where I keep my most precious treasures for nights when I can't sleep. I pull out a photo of my family from when I was a little girl. I couldn't be more than five in the picture. We all look so peaceful and content. I'll admit we didn't look ecstatic but we were happy. I trace my hands on the faces of each family member. I am sitting on Itachi's shoulders while Sasuke is between mom and dad. If you look close enough you notice Sasuke is pouting because he didn't get to be on Itachi's shoulders. So much has changed since then. The massacre made everything change in such a short period of time. I could hardly keep myself together back then. I think that's why I'm so worried now. It feels like things are changing even more quickly now.
The next few night are restless. I can't get my energy out because my leg has to heal and Sasuke isn't here so there isn't really anyone to talk to. Isamu, Hiro, and Emiko visit a few times which was nice but things are still pretty boring.
I'm finally been cleared to train and I'm excited. Squad five has scheduled a intense training session today. I head toward the village gardens where I plan to meet Hiro first. I find him pressing some roots into a book.
"What are you pressing this time Hiro?" I smile.
"Nami" Hiro walks up and gives me a big hug. "How are you?"
"It's been a rough few weeks" I admit, "I'm really excited to get some energy out." He nods.
We start walking towards the training grounds. "I'm excited to get some energy out too," he replies, "You know, I've been thinking about how we were injured on our last mission and I think next time we train I may have a prototype that could help us. I'm planning to make quick healing salves we can use in a pinch for minor injuries. It can work for our clients or for us.
I'll admit I'm impressed, "that sounds great Hiro. I bet they'll be amazing."
"Yeah," be blushes a little "I just need to work out all the ingredients I want to add."
We finally make it to the training ground and we arrive in time to see Isamu swing at a dummy with a sword with Emiko behind him. Sweat is dripping down his face and he's breathing heavily.
"You need to follow through with your swing more" Emiko reaches out and moves Isamu's hand down a little farther. Now that you have started your katana training the first thing you need to learn is to use your sword as an extension of your arm. Isamu nods still watching the sword in front of him.
I can't help but light up seeing Isamu training with his first sword. He has always dreamed of being a master swordsman and sword smith. He's even showed me a few of his cooler sword designs when we've hung out. I look over and see Hiro smiling too. Those two really seem to know what their doing. Hiro pressing his herbs and Isamu forging his swords, they are so passionate about what they're doing. I hope I can find something to be as passionate about someday.
"Hey" Hiro calls. Isamu finally breaks his gaze from his sword and smiles before running up to us. Emiko is not far behind him.
"Nice sword work there" I say "maybe someday you'll be as good as me," I tease.
"What are you talking about, I'm already better" Isamu replies.
"Uhuh, what do you think Hiro?" I turn toward him.
"Hiro backs away slowly "I'm not getting in the middle of this no way." Isamu and I laugh. Emiko comes up behind all of us.
"Alright it's good to see everyone's doing well but we did meet to train. We are starting missions again in a few day and I want to assess how much you've all improved." The three of us nod our faces becoming more serious. We're ready for anything Emiko throws at us. We are a team after all.
Emiko sensei watches as Isamu charges at me on my right and kunai are coming at me from Hiro on my left. If I try to dodge the kunai I know I'm leaving an opening for Isamu to attack, but I also know I can't just ignore them. I decide to weave the hand signs for a fireball jutsu. If I can pull this off I can heat up the kunai coming at me with the flames and then dodge them at the last minute so they hit Isamu.
I release the fireball but I overestimate the time it will take me to recover and react. One of the kunai nicks my arms and I wince leaving an opening for Isamu to nail me to the ground. He places his sword on my neck.
"Darn it" I yell wiggling under Isamu.
Isamu laughs, "I told you I was better than you Uchiha."
Hiro and Emiko walk over. "Tsk that looks like a bad cut Nami," Hiro says "let me take a look at it." Isamu gets off me and I sit up. Hiro pulls out my sleeve and starts to poke the tender skin around the cut.
"You need to work on your timing" Emiko looks down at me "once you are able to activate your sharingan more naturally it should help. I know your tired but show me your sharingan now."
She's right about being tired but I'm getting more comfortable with the exercise and tired feeling. I pool chakra behind my eyes and then push it through my eyes. I don't know why but I always feel more aggressive when I activate the sharingan. It must just be from the feel the extra chakra running through my body. Emiko nods. Hiro finishes wrapping a bandage on my arm.
"The good news is that the hot blade stopped the cut from bleeding. You should be good to go.
"Thanks Hiro," I say getting up "who's ready for round two?"
Four hours later I am covered in sweat and I feel like I'm about to pass out. But, I'm also feeling pretty good too so I guess it the good kind of I'm about to pass out.
"Good job everyone" Emiko says making eye contact with each one of us. "I'll see you all tomorrow, same time, same place." I nod trying to keep myself together. Once Emiko is out of sight I fall on my butt taking a deep breath. When I look up I realize Isamu and Hiro have done the same thing. I can't help but chuckle; at least in this I'm not alone.
"Oh crap I forgot to ask" Hiro says putting a hand on his forehead, "my mom wanted me to invite you both to dinner tonight."
"I'm always game for food" Isamu smiles, "I hope she cooks a lot."
"I want to get cleaned up first but I can go to." I smile.
"I'll walk with you" Isamu suggests, "I need to tell my mom I'm heading over to Hiro's anyway.
"So we'll meet up at your house in an hour?" I ask Hiro. He nods and he walks in one direction while Isamu and I walk the in other direction.
After a few minutes of walking I nudge Isamu "You looked pretty good with a sword out there." He smiles and for the first time I noticed his dimples.
"You're not a bad fighter yourself" he nudges me back.
"You really think so?" I ask. "From the way you kicked my butt today I would say otherwise." He stops abruptly. "What wrong?"
"You can't really think you're a bad ninja do you?" he asks.
I look at the ground "No, I just think I have a lot to work on" I reply.
"Nami," he pauses "please look at me."
"Why" I ask.
"So you know I am telling the truth." I meet his eyes.
"Now I know I'm not good with words but you are incredible. You have gone through so much and always come out stronger. It's impossible for you to be a bad ninja and even more impossible for you to be a bad person." I blush deeply.
"Wow, I never knew you thought of me that way," I whisper.
"Now you know," he says. We walk the rest of the way in silence.
Authors Notes: Another chapter done. I am trying to write a lot more so hopefully I can update more. Please enjoy and please review. Thank you for sticking with me for this long :p.