Aww you guys...this chapter's kinda sad :(

I hope she'll get better!

(Inner Dragon-chan: You're the author, stupid.)

Oh...yeah!

Nori was released from the hospital later that day. When she was released, she went straight back to her parents' house, unable to go to the house she shared with Iruka.

"Mom?"

"Oh, Nori! Honey, are you alright?!"

"I'm fine, Mom." Nori answered stoically, without a hint of emotion.

"Are...are you sure?" Asked Mrs. Haruno, looking at Nori oddly.

Nori cracked a painful smile, but it was enough to fool her mother. "I'm sure, mom. I'm a shinobi, remember? We're used to loss." Her voice cracked on the last syllable, but she turned it hastily into a cough. "After everything that happened with Itachi, I'm perfectly used to losing important people."

"Oh, of course, honey." Her mother smiled sadly. 'Such a sad existence...and to know that Sakura will end up that way as well...'

"Mom?"

"Huh? Oh, I'm sorry. What were you saying?"

"I asked you if I could move back in for a while."

"Oh, of course, honey! But what about the apartment you and Iruka rented?"

She stifled a sob, and when her mom looked at her oddly, she said, "Choked on my own spit."

Her mom laughed.

"Anyway...we only rented it for a month at a time. I can't keep up the cost on my own, so I wondered if maybe I could pay you guys a little rent to stay here?"

"Honey, you can stay for free. It'll be alright. We're just glad to have you back."

Her mother smiled at her happily, and Nori smiled back as convincingly as possible. "Well, Mom, I'm still a little tired from that fight, so I'm going to go up and lay down. I'll talk to you later, ok?"

"Sure, honey. I'll have Sakura bring dinner up if you're still sleeping."

"Thanks, Mom."

As Nori walked slowly up the stairs, the tears began to fall. She collapsed onto her bed and cried herself to sleep.

She was woken by a hesitant knock on the doorframe. "Nii-san? Mom sent up some food for you..."

She sat up and tried to smile. "Thank you, Sakura." She took the plate her sister was carrying and looked at it for a second. "But...I'm not very hungry. Will you eat it instead?"

"I guess so." Said Sakura, coming in and sitting down at Nori's desk to eat. "How...how are you feeling?"

"Tired, kiddo. Tired." Sighed Nori, flopping back down onto her bed.

"Are you...going to be okay?" Asked Sakura, feeling like she was pushing her limits.

"Yeah, Sakura, I'll be fine." She smiled. "So what's new with you?"

"I've decided to become a medical ninja."

"Oh?" Nori raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah. I mean...I'm not as strong as everybody else, and I'm always letting them down...but no more. I'm going to be useful!"

For the first time, Nori saw the light of determination in her sister's eyes, and she smiled. "Well, kiddo, you might make a fine ninja yet."

Sakura smiled. "Thanks, nii-san."

Nori's eyes darkened. "What about Naruto? How's he taking this?"

"Oh, he seems fine, actually. He's just training a lot more than usual."

Nori nodded. "Alright..."

"Sakura!" Called their mother up the stairs.

"I'd better go see what she wants." Sakura stood, taking the plate, and paused in the doorway. "Nii-san...are you sure you're alright?"

"Of course I'm sure, Sakura." She smiled.

"Okay." Smiled Sakura. As she turned away, though, she frowned. Although her sister had been smiling, there had been no happiness in her eyes.

In her eyes, there was nothing.

AWWWWW ITS SO SAD!!!! I really hope I make her get happy again!

(Inner Dragon-chan: --;; I'm a dumbass on the outside...)

BD333, out!