Hair as white as SNOW!
A Naruto fanfiction.
Disclaimer: Naruto is not mine, but Malli Elliku and her thoughts are mine
Chapter 11:
I took a deep breath and nodded for the frogs to continue. The welt on my right arm burned but I couldn't stop. I needed to be an aid to my people, to Naruto, to even Gaara. The war was on our heels, the battle just before us and here I was learning basics! No! Keep the mind focused, loose the focus and I would gain another welt. I opened my eyes and readied my body for another attack. Just as I put my body into position to strike, the large log came my way. No time to think a strategy, I slashed my hand through the wood; the large wood splintered and fell into pieces before me.
The goal was to reach the other side of the mountain in one piece. War didn't stop for you to catch your breath, war didn't pause to get water. War happened and you were either ready or dead. I clenched my hands into a fist, my body shaken from the adrenaline as I charged forward. Spike shot up from the dirt and I leapt over them, rolling back to my feet to keep going. Only, a man of black goo appeared before me with a kunai.
No fear!
"NO FEAR!" I cried out as I pivoted over my left foot, my right foot planted into his shin and my kunai into his neck. Fake blood spewed as I raced over him and into the group of three goo men before me. I dodged 2 attacks before I slammed my right hand into the stomach of one, the chakra exploding from me. Without a second to think, I flipped my free hand around, pivoted on my right foot, and grabbed the shoulder of another goo man. I used my body as an object to flip the man over before pivoting one last time and digging my kunai into the stomach of the other man.
As the man I flipped stood, I snatched my kunai back and flung it right into the head of the rising man.
When I turned to run once more towards the other side of the mountain, I found a real person there and I stopped.
It was one thing to take care of goo clones, to destroy things that were never really alive.
But this clone looked like a real person.
I hesitated and fear built in my stomach.
A grave mistake, as he pinned me to the ground and held a kunai to my neck.
"Why did you stop?" Shima called, the clone backed off of my neck.
"He… he looked so real." I whimpered as I laid there on the ground.
"They all will, but you have to understand Ninjas have to kill." Fukasuka growled as he hopped up to my side. I looked to the sky and shook my head. "What do you mean no? It's an occupational hazard!"
"No! I don't want to kill anyone if that's what it means!" I snapped up to a sitting position. My eyes felt on fire as I looked to the grandfather frog. "I thought being a ninja meant defending one's home, being the good guy!" I cried out, my whole stomach full of fear. I wanted to be useful; I wanted to be a great ninja. But I didn't think I could take anyone's life.
"Sometimes the good guy has to take the life of another to save the lives of their village." Shima whispered as she hopped over. A slimy hand on my thigh later, I felt blank and empty.
Could I kill anyone? Could I kill someone because I had to?
I couldn't even attack the man on the road who attacked me! Gaara had to save me! Taki is dead; Gaara took his life without a flinch, without hesitation.
"Am I weak for not wanting to kill?" I asked my throat hoarse.
"No, that makes you kind." Shima grinned, "You want to protect those close to you and prove yourself, right?"
"Of course!" I looked to her then Fukasuka. "I want to be the best, not for fame or fortune; I want to protect those who can't protect themselves. I want to show everyone that I'm worthy of my father's genes and Chakra. I want to show Naruto, Gaara, and Lee, that they didn't waste their time! I want to save everyone!" I gasped for breath as I pulled my knees up to my chest. What had felt like years spent on the mountain didn't end up being that long. Fukasuka said my father gave me plenty to work with; my genes would only bring me greatness when I was ready.
"Then, you my child are ready to go back."
~!~!~
"Malli?" A familiar voice asked as I ripped myself up onto the side of what I could see was a lake. My body soaked to the bone, through my clothes and my skin, I clawed at the dirt as I pulled myself up onto the dirt. They told me to dive and swim. When I saw the light I would know where I was. So I swam until I couldn't breathe and pushed myself up towards the light. Here I was, panting and cold as I pulled myself up onto the fully grassed area, out of the water.
"Huh?" I mumbled as I looked up and found 3 familiar faces. A weak smile graced my lips as I limply laid back down against the ground. Temari rushed to my side, her hands went right for my neck.
"Why aren't you with Naruto? How did you… you just came out of a pond!"
"They said I'd come to the place I was needed. Naruto doesn't need me, I guess." I coughed and felt it rattle my bones. Gaara and Kankuro knelt down beside me, a blanket pulled out and hands helping me to my feet. I looked up to green eyes that searched me from foot to scalp for injuries.
"Who are they?" Gaara whispered his eyes full of concern that touched me more than it should. I felt like fainting at the moment, but Gaara probably had enough on his hands than saving the same girl twice.
"The same people that trained Naruto." I grinned, my whole body beginning to sway. My body was numb now, my toes tingled and I could feel myself begin to drift. Exhaustion hit my body like a brick.
"She needs to sleep. Let's take her to Tsunade, she'll probably understand what she's babbling about." Temari stood up and dusted her knees off.
"Why don't… you take her Gaara, Temari and I have it from here."
I don't remember what happened after that, but I do remember waking up about 20 minutes later to a warm hand on my cheek.
"Wake up." Every muscle in my body begged to sleep longer, but my mind shot awake. I opened my eyes like creaky doors to see Gaara looking over me. Even my teeth hurt, not sure how that made any sense, but my whole body hurt.
"You over exerted yourself, Tsunade says you'll be up and running after you rest more." Gaara explained, his hand retreating. Without hesitation, I pressed his hand more into my cheek by rolling my face onto his palm and hoping he left it there.
"Then why did you wake me?" My voice felt like it just floated from my body. I heard his chuckle as he pushed my face back and took his hand back. I smiled, but all I wanted was to be warm and he radiated warmth. Maybe it was the lack of heat I produced under the sheets, or maybe crazed from lack of sleep, but I spoke more without thinking it through. "You could make it up, by lying with me."
I saw him smile, a genuine smile on his lips as he shook his head. He made a silent laugh almost as he placed his hand on my shoulder.
"I have to go. The Kage's need me, but I didn't want to go without letting you know that you're home and safe." His words were soft and I almost didn't catch them. But when I did, I furrowed my brows down and grabbed his hand with mine.
"Where… where is home?" I didn't want the truth.
The truth was I didn't have a home.
A fantasy was he would say Sunakagure, where Gaara was.
A good lie would be on the island with Naruto to stay.
"Konaha." He stated with a more serious tone. "Where your father would have wanted you to live."
Before I could drag him down to ask him more, he stood and left the room. The almost bland room, a hospital room no doubt, where the sheets were stiff but the blanket was thick and beginning to warm me up.
My father?
That meant, someone knew other than Lee. Was I wrong and thinking that no one would figure it out. My huge secret blown now to the red head leaving my room, the red head I wanted nothing more than to come back and smile at me again.
What horrible time for me to pick a crush on the most important man in the realm.
I closed my eyes and let out a sigh. No use crying over a secret bound to come out sooner or later.
Was Shima right? Was I ready to be back? Could I be the daughter Jiraiya deserved?
I gripped the blanket closer to my body as I curled up on my side. I didn't even have his picture to stare at. This time, I was completely alone. Exhaustion hit my body before any grief could. I welcomed the sleep and fell back into my floating darkness.
When I awoke, I would do whatever I could to earn the title my father bestowed on me.
The title that Naruto and I both shared now. I knew the jutsu, but could I use it as well as he could. I saw what Naruto looked like, the robes and the large scroll, the orange around his eyes. Naruto was truly amazing, and as I fell deeper in my sleep, I hoped he thought the same of me.
Amazing Sage.
Author's Note: SOOOOORRRRYYY! It took so long to get this posted, it just needed more that had not come to me yet. but here it is! Hope yal love it as much as I do!