Ehh I took a while again there, guys. Sorry about that, busy time of year! I'll update sooner next time (Haha, that's what they all say, Taylor. That's what they all say...)
So hey guys, I plan on wrapping this story up soon and I was thinking that maybe, instead of another Naruto story, I would do a Kingdom Hearts one? How mnay of you would be interested in that/read it? I'm like 99.99% sure that it would be Roxiri (Roxas and Kairi) because I love that pairing. :D So leave me a review and mention if you would read it or not.
Yup. Speaking of reviews, this story has 99! XD So at least one person has to review ever again! (But really you should all review all the time~)
We just got one of our puppies fixed and he has a cone now. XD It's hilarious because he didn't know how to function with it at all at first and kept hitting everything with it. When he went outside he would accidentally scoop snow in it all teh time so we call him SnoCone sometimes. xD
Welp, enjoy~
Merry Christmas (late).
CHAPTER 13: AND WE'RE OFF
Kana sat in silence after Naruto explained his story. His voice had cracked midway through considering that he felt so desperate to save Sakura -to just keep her alive- that he could cry.
Naruto waited for her to say something, anticipation clawing at him.
"I would be honored to help the Keeper of the Nine-Tails," she spoke slowly. Naruto's hope shot up. "There is one problem though."
His hope fell back down. "What?"
She gave a small laugh, then gestured to herself. "I am an old woman. From my knowledge and what you have said, your village is far away, and we are in a hurry. I couldn't possibly travel that far, let alone quickly."
"Can you still concentrate chakra to your hands and feet?" Naruto asked.
Kana looked surprised by the sudden question. "Why, yes, of course."
Naruto grinned. "Then we'll be fine."
Kana told Naruto that they would leave first thing in the morning – the sun had already begun to set by the time they had finished talking. The Tailed Warriors led him to small, abandoned hut. Inside was a thin cotton blanket over top of some straw, and moonlight filtered through a small window.
"We apologize for such conditions," the main Tailed Warrior said, bowing his head. "We were not expecting you."
"It's fine," Naruto said, waving them away. "I'm good."
They bowed their heads, backing out of the hut and closing the door.
Naruto flopped down onto the bed, instantly regretting it as he smacked onto what was basically the ground. He didn't bother to get under the blanket considering that it was plenty warm out already. Naruto folded his arms behind his head and stared up at the moon that shone through his window.
How can I wait until tomorrow? Naruto thought, too impatient to sleep. Anything could happen overnight; I finally found something –someone- that could help, and we can't leave right away.
Naruto took a deep breath, rolling over so his back was to the light. Might as well try to sleep.
Eventually, Naruto drifted off.
He dreamt that he returned to Konoha with Kana, thinking of himself as a victorious hero, only to walk right in on Sakura's funeral. Everyone was crying; Tsunade was losing tears over the girl she considered her daughter. Even Kakashi had tears leaking out.
Ino was bawling hysterically. Hinata sobbed as Neji hugged her, looking ready to cry himself but holding it in. Kiba cried. Chouji was in a sobbing fit. Even Sai let himself show the emotion of sadness. Shizune let out a strangled cry that pierced the air and Naruto's heart. It started to rain.
Naruto was standing in the tree line, watching it all. Kana was gone. Suddenly, the shadows to his right moved, and Sasuke appeared next to Naruto. Blue eyes still stared at the funeral procession as his old teammate stood next to him, red sharingan eyes gleaming in the dark.
"At least I didn't kill her," Sasuke whispered in Naruto's ear before disappearing like dust on the wind.
Naruto woke up with a start. His eyes felt wet and his heart was pounding.
Sunlight filtered in through the window.
It was morning.
Naruto jumped up and ran out of the hut.
The Naruto Retrieval Team walked through the gates of Konoha, silence among them. Once in the city, they split up, each going their separate ways. Kakashi and Sai headed towards the Hokage tower.
After knocking, Tsunade called them in. She looked at them – just Kakashi and Sai with no Naruto- and sighed. "No luck?"
Kakashi shook his head.
"We were tracking him when suddenly he appeared, already turning into the Nine-Tails," Kakashi reported. "Since he had its chakra, we were no match for him. We lost him."
Tsunade sighed again, swiveling in her chair to face the window that overlooked the city. "I knew I should have sent Yamato with you. I could have called him back from his mission."
Kakashi shook his head. "I doubt he could have done much at all. His mission is important, too."
Tsunade's eyes found the hospital amongst the other buildings in the city. She thought of Sakura.
Tsunade rubbed her head, trying to push out her biased thoughts. Her personal feelings shouldn't interfere with being Hokage.
"Yes," she replied. "You're right."
Tsunade stood up. "I'm heading over to the hospital to work on Sakura. You may accompany me if you like."
Kakashi and Sai nodded, following Tsunade out the door and onto the streets.
Naruto paced back and forth in front of the temple, eager to leave.
Finally, Kana came out, accompanied by a Tailed Warrior; the one who represented the Eight-Tails.
She nodded her head at Naruto. "We are ready to leave."
"He's coming too?" Naruto asked, looking at the tribal man.
"Yes," Kana replied, "I cannot simply leave on my own – I am this village's leader and a powerful healer. No matter how much I trust you, I need one of my own."
"What about the Nine-Tails warrior guy?"
"He is the highest power in this village besides me," she explained. "He'll take my place while I'm gone."
Naruto nodded, then looked at the tribal warrior. "Can you concentrate chakra into your hands and feet?"
The man simply stared at him, confused.
Naruto sighed. "Fine. Let's go."
Naruto led them out of the village, back into the surrounding forest. He stopped and looked at the tribal warrior. "Hey, um… buddy?"
"You may call me Hachi," the Eight-Tails warrior said, bowing his head.
"Ok, buddy," Naruto continued. "Can you lead me to the nearest wide open area?"
"Of course, Keeper," he replied, bowing his head again.
Ok, the bowing is getting old, Naruto grumbled in his head.
Hachi led Naruto and Kana to the nearest end of the woods where there was a wide, open plain. They moved at an agonizingly slow pace due to Kana's age, which frustrated Naruto greatly.
"Ok, stay here," Naruto told them, walking out into the field. He then performed the correct signs and called Gamabunta.
A giant sigh blew a large wind, knocking Naruto back.
"Oh great, it's you again, kid." Gamabunta brought his head down and looked at him with one giant, yellow eye. "No enemies around, Naruto. Please don't tell me you've called me to be your horse again."
Naruto looked to one side. "Umm…"
Gamabunta sighed again, settling down low as Naruto brought Kana and Hachi over. "An old lady and civilian. Even better."
Hachi glared at the toad. "I am a warrior," he spoke in his rough, tribal voice. "No civilian."
Naruto brought Kana and Hachi up onto Gamabunta, making two trips. "I grabbed some sturdy looking vine," Naruto said, tying it around his waist, Hachi's, and then Kana's so that they were all connected. "Obaa-chan and I can hold on, so we'll try to hold you down too. This is just in case." Naruto nodded to Kana, giving the signal to hold on with her chakra.
"Wait," Hachi said. "Why I need to hold on? Is toad not walking-"
"Ready, Gamabunta!" Naruto shouted, letting out a whoop.
The toad sprung into the air, easily a couple hundred of feet high and covering a few miles in distance.
Hachi closed his eyes and prayed to the Tails that he would not die.
Here I come, Sakura! Naruto thought, a grin plastered on his face as his heart swelled with hope.
Tsunade walked briskly into the hospital, Kakashi and Sai trailing behind here. She made her way up to Sakura's floor, merely holding her hand out to the nurse at the reception desk. The young woman hurriedly got a clipboard and gave it to the Hokage. Tsunade didn't break her pace.
She looked at the papers containing Sakura's current conditions for the day. She didn't even bother to hope for them to get better anymore – she was just met with disappointment every day.
Sakura's legs had been placed back together, the bones mended, but the blood still wasn't circulating correctly through them. Her heart had stopped for a couple seconds again today before being revived. The bruising and cuts on her face were mostly healed, but it was still deformed. They had unwrapped the opposite side and spent some time working on it. They eventually wrapped it back up, all of them tired and out of chakra from just repairing her gums and teeth on that side. The rest was still gone. No cheek. No skin. No jaw bone.
Keeping Sakura hydrated and giving her the nutrients needed by her body was difficult as always.
Tsunade reached the end of the hallway, walking into Sakura's room and setting the clipboard on a table.
She barely let her eyes land on the girl in the bed. Tsunade sat in a chair next to it, taking over the position of slowly releasing a constant stream of chakra into Sakura's heart. The other doctor left. He was weary from his shift.
Tsunade set to work for the day. She knew it would be a long one without any progress – just like every other one.
STOP IN THE NAME OF LOVE!
Since you love me then review. :D And if you don't love me then still review. So either way, REVIEW.
If you don't review then Santa's going to come and take all your presents back. :D
We haven't painted my room yet. It was supposed to be my birthday present. My birthday was in September.
We MIGHT go get the paint today. But I mean psshhh it's like three o' clock in the afternoon I have to go to bed soon.
By the way guys, I got Assassin's Creed III for Christmas. :D
OK NOW REVIEW
GIVE ME MA HUNDRETH REVIEW BABY, MOMMA NEEDS A NEW PAIR OF SHOES!
I make no sense in life.