Crimson Stained

Chapter 21

Breaking Down

Nikushimi had never felt her heart stop like that. To hear that her friend, Uragiri, was the spy. Nikushimi's heart started to beat fast, and the room seemed to almost spin. Akane had started to scream, but Uragiri had silenced her with a grab to the throat. Akane was thrown over to the floor where she stayed limp. A green-blue hand print was visible on her throat.

"No… you have to be lying." Nikushimi whispered, her eyes widening. Uragiri walked up to Nikushimi, looking down at her.

"And to think, that I was in front of you for this long… I'm the one who placed the bombs in the hospital; I detonated them right after I left you. And I'm the one killing everyone. I was thinking of killing you, but… I've decided to leave you with even more pain. I'm going to kill your loved ones! My Kekkei-Genkai is flawless, if I even touch someone, they will die in a matter of seconds because I suck every single last drop of chakra, which you need to live, from your chakra system. It makes my chakra levels rise too; I'm basically an undefeatable soldier because I will never run out of chakra!" Uragiri laughed maniacally. Uragiri, who had once seemed so calm and collected, was now a psychopath who was about to go on a killing spree.

"Poor, poor, Nikushimi. Soon all her loved ones and comrades will be dead!" Uragiri gave a laugh before she used her chakra to dash out the door. As she ran down the street she would grab random civilians and ninja, easily and quickly sucking the life out of them.

Nikushimi was frozen to her place in the café. It seemed like forever, but she finally snapped out of it. And it was because of something she remembered.

"My dream… no my goal is protect those who I care for, no matter the cost! Even if it means I have to die… then so be it."

After she snapped from her daze she ran over to Akane. Before she even checked Akane's pulse, Nikushimi knew. Akane's chest was still, her eyes glazed over. Akane, the girl Moyasu had been crushing on, and the girl who Nikushimi had seen as someone she could count as a loved one, was dead.

'I didn't protect Akane… I was just… frozen… and now… I need to tell the Hokage!' Nikushimi quickly got up and sped out of the café. She ran down the streets, running faster than she had ever run before.

'I should have seen this coming!' Nikushimi thought as she dashed down the street.

'All these people dying… they're all my fault! I should have stopped Uragiri, I should have seen this coming!' Nikushimi continued to berate herself mentally as she dashed through the streets to the Hokage's office. When she reached it she flew in, ignored the outraged yells of the secretary and ran upstairs to the Hokage's office.

'I'm so slow! I could have been here already if I had my chakra!' Nikushimi thought angrily as she slammed into the door for the Hokage's office, making a loud thud. She fell backwards but scrambled up and pushed the door open.

The Hokage looked up from his paperwork in shock as the small girl flew in. The Hokage had come to see Nikushimi as a grandchild almost; she was very cheery and friendly. The Hokage though knew something was wrong from her panicked look.

"Nikushimi, what's wrong?" The Third Hokage questioned as Nikushimi gasped for air.

"T-the spy!" she sputtered. The Third Hokage's eyes widened.

"It's a b-blue haired girl named Uragiri. She's running around killing people! She sucks the chakra out of the bodies using her Kekkei-Genkai!" Nikushimi shouted, breathing heavily.

"Nikushimi, tell me-" But the Third Hokage's words were blocked from Nikushimi's ears because then Nikushimi realized something.

'She said she was going after my loved ones…' Nikushimi realized.

"Obito!" Nikushimi shouted, making the Hokage look at her strangely.

"She's going after him because of me! Oh shit!" Nikushimi sprinted out of the door, ignoring the Hokage's calls for her. Nikushimi once again began dashing through the streets.

'Where!? Where is Obito at this time!?' Nikushimi racked her brain desperately. Then, realizing it was just about time they would train together, Nikushimi headed to the training grounds.

'This is my fault, if Obito dies… NO! I'm not letting Obito die, no! I am not going to let him down like that! If he dies… I'm not letting that happen!' Nikushimi thought. And the usual fire came to her eyes. She started to run faster, being only a blur to those she passed. Unknown to her, she was focusing her power and strength in her legs.

She reached the training grounds and was able to see Uragiri approaching Obito casually.

"Hello Obito, I've been looking for you!" Uragiri chirped, walking towards Obito. Obito looked at her with a slight smile.

"Oh, good morning Uragiri, have you seen Nikushimi?" questioned Obito. Uragiri looked sad.

"The spy got her… I'm sorry." Uragiri lied, faking a sympathetic face. Obito's eyes widened.

"What?" he asked, shocked.

"I feel for you, I'm sad too. But don't worry…" Uragiri reached for Obito's chest as a twisted smile overcame her face, "You'll be joining her in seconds." Obito realized too late what she meant, and couldn't move. However, he didn't need to.

"OBITO!" Obito heard Nikushimi screech as a force plowed into him, sending him flying. Nikushimi had pushed him out of the way. Obito landed harshly, he rolled across the ground harshly and looked up only to watch Uragiri glare at Nikushimi.

"You little shit! You moved him before I could suck all his chakra out! I bet his chakra was sweet too, but now… now your chakra will be mine!" Uragiri screeched, and she reached forward, putting a grip on Nikushimi's neck. But then, she stood there in shock. Nikushimi realized what was happening almost right away.

"You suck chakra from the chakra system… that's great for people who have chakra systems… because of my Kekkei-Genkai; my chakra isn't in a chakra system. You can't get my chakra!" Nikushimi realized with a smirk. Uragiri's eyes widened and she continued to pull at the presence of chakra she felt in Nikushimi.

Nikushimi felt something happening, she could feel her body being tugged and jerked because of Uragiri. But she didn't focus on that. Instead, she grabbed a kunai from her pouch with her uninjured hand.

"You asked what I would do if one of my friends did this… and here's my answer!" Nikushimi yelled, her eyes starting to glow slightly. Uragiri's tugging at Nikushimi's chakra had done something. She had unplugged some of the buildup blocking Nikushimi's chakra. A sudden chakra spike was created and sent to Nikushimi's kunai, encasing it in an eerie red chakra aura. It came out and was sharpened to make the kunai longer.

"Die!" screeched Nikushimi, using her good hand to pull the kunai up and before Uragiri could remove her hand from Nikushimi's throat and move out of the way, Nikushimi's kunai plunged into the side of her head.

Blood was splattered everywhere as Nikushimi ripped her kunai back out and plunged it in again.

"I will protect my friends! I won't let you kill Obito! I won't let you kill anyone!" Nikushimi screamed, plunging the kunai in again. And again. And again. From his position on the ground, Obito watched Nikushimi. Her face was twisted in an unreadable emotion with blood splattered all over her. Her kunai was covered in the scarlet blood as Nikushimi repeatedly stabbed Uragiri's obviously dead corpse.

By the time other ninja got there minutes later, Uragiri's head was unrecognizable. The scene was gory; Obito having sat there the entire time, almost threw up multiple times. Nikushimi though, wouldn't stop. Her body was trembling and she looked on the verge of a mental breakdown. Various substances from Uragiri's head were spilled all around Nikushimi, who was sitting with her knees on either side of Uragiri's stomach.

"Nikushimi." Obito was able to recognize Moyasu, Nikushimi's sensei, as one of the ninja who had arrived.

"Nikushimi." Moyasu repeated, more firmly. But Nikushimi either ignored him or couldn't hear.

"Nikushimi stop, she's dead." Moyasu ordered, taking his hand and stopping Nikushimi's kunai as she tried to plunge it back into the bloody mess.

"C'mon, let go of the kunai." Moyasu cooed softly, and Nikushimi did as she was told. She brought her hands to her face, and her eyes widened. She continued to tremble as she stared at her hands, which were drenched and dripping the scarlet blood.

"I-I… I killed her…" Nikushimi murmured to herself. She wrapped her arms around herself and closed her eyes.

Obito couldn't believe his eyes. The entire time he had known Nikushimi she had been strong. She had never looked like this. She looked vulnerable. She looked so young and fragile.

'Nikushimi looks so small… she looks like a kid…' Obito thought, 'She's a ninja… is this really what being a ninja does to you?'

Moyasu scooped Nikushimi up and hugged her to him like a small crying child.

"Sensei…? Sensei!" Nikushimi clutched his neck and buried her head into his shoulder. Moyasu looked to the other ninja and made a gesture, most likely telling them what to do, or what he was going to do. He looked to Obito who was slowly standing, making sure not to look at the gory scene.

"Come with us, Nikushimi might need you." Moyasu ordered Obito gently and quietly as he rubbed Nikushimi's back, trying to sooth her. Nikushimi still wouldn't stop trembling.

Moyasu jumped up to one of the rooftops with Obito following. They flew to the hospital where they entered the psychiatric ward. A nurse quietly led them to a room where Moyasu sat down on the bed and allowed Nikushimi to clutch to him.

"She's crying." Obito realized quietly when he saw the scarlet tears dripping down her face and down Moyasu's green Jounin vest.

"Nikushimi, it's ok. It's over." Moyasu cooed to Nikushimi, petting her head and rocking her back and forth. A doctor entered the room, but he was ushered out when Nikushimi refused to move from her position clutching Moyasu.

It could have been hours, or maybe minutes. But they just sat there, Nikushimi never stopped trembling. Her injured hand was loosely hanging down off Moyasu's shoulder while her other hand gripped his vest so she couldn't be removed from him easily.

"Moyasu?" Moyasu looked up to see one of his fellow Jounin standing outside the door.

"Yeah?" he asked quietly, continuing to try to calm Nikushimi.

"You're needed, can you give her to someone else?" the Jounin asked, gesturing to Nikushimi.

"I'll be out in a minute." Moyasu told him, and the Jounin nodded, exiting the room.

"Nikushimi… Nikushimi." Moyasu whispered, trying to get her attention.

"Yeah?" she asked quietly after a few seconds.

"I need to go, but Obito is here. I'm sure he wouldn't mind sitting here with you." Moyasu said gently. Nikushimi clutched Moyasu harder, but then her grip loosened.

"Ok. Obito." she agreed in a whisper. Moyasu stood and handed Nikushimi to Obito. Automatically she koala clung to Obito. Moyasu grinned at Obito, pat Nikushimi's head once more and left. Obito meanwhile sat on the hospital bed and leaned back slightly so that he was comfortable. He rubbed Nikushimi's back, similar to how he had seen Moyasu try to comfort Nikushimi.

"I feel sick." Nikushimi informed him a few minutes later in a quiet voice.

"What kind of sick?" asked Obito. Nikushimi thought for a moment.

"Like I'm going to throw up, but my heart hurts too. But not physically." Nikushimi explained in a quiet murmur.

"It's ok Nikushimi." Obito replied, "You're safe now." Nikushimi gripped him tighter.

"I don't care what happens to me. After Uragiri left for you, I ran trying to find you. I thought I wouldn't make it and that she'd kill you. I was so scared. I've never been that scared before. Then, I didn't even think before I pushed you out of the way. I was lucky that she couldn't get my chakra because I don't have a separate chakra system." Nikushimi mumbled.

"I care what happens to you Nikushimi. You're my best friend. I was scared back there too, watching you and Uragiri. I thought you were going to die, and then… you just killed her. And you didn't stop." Obito admitted. Nikushimi stayed silent for a few moments.

"I trusted her Obito, I really did and she ended up being the spy… how could I have not realized? All those lives could have been saved had I realized." Nikushimi murmured. Obito shook his head.

"No, you couldn't have known. It's not your fault Nikushimi." Obito whispered, squeezing Nikushimi in a hug. They sat in silence, Nikushimi's thoughts not leaving the subject. Soon she fell asleep and Obito placed her on the bed where she curled up and hugged the pillow.

"Is she finally asleep?" he heard from the door. He looked up to see Rin pop her head in. Obito nodded and Rin walked in to take a seat on the bed next to him. They both looked at Nikushimi.

"How is she, mentally?"inquired Rin.

"Mentally? I can't tell, she didn't stop trembling until she fell asleep. She looked different when she was like that…. she looked younger, and more fragile. She was really spooked by it, and she blames all the deaths from Uragiri on herself." Obito explained. Rin nodded slowly.

"I think she'll be fine after she wakes up because most of the shock will be gone, why don't we take her home so she wakes up in a familiar place?" Rin suggested. Obito nodded and picked Nikushimi up gently. Rin took the pillow from her and tossed it back on the bed.

"Where's her apartment?" inquired Rin. Obito paused.

"You know, I've never been to her apartment. I don't actually know." Obito replied.

"I know where it is, I was there a few days ago." they heard. They turned to find Moyasu standing there, grinning. But despite the grin on his face, he looked tired.

"How many did Uragiri kill?" Rin questioned quietly. Moyasu shook his head, his grin fading.

"Bodies are still being found, but so far there have been two dozen dead. Bodies are still being found on the streets." Moyasu answered grimly.

"Oh…" Rin murmured.

"How is Nikushimi doing?" inquired Moyasu, looking at the sleeping girl Obito was carrying.

"She's fine physically, mentally though... she had a lot of shock. She'll be fine tomorrow morning; we're taking her home because it'll be better for her to wake up somewhere familiar." Rin explained. Moyasu nodded.

"Alright, follow me." Moyasu ordered lightly before he left the room. They followed him as he led them down streets. Obito was making mental notes of where Nikushimi's apartment was so that he could visit her tomorrow.

"Her parents aren't there actually, so it will just be Nikushimi unless someone stays with her." Moyasu informed them as he turned into Nikushimi's apartment building. Obito blinked.

"Where are her parents?" he asked curiously.

"Nikushimi didn't tell me exactly." Moyasu replied evasively, reaching Nikushimi's door. He tried opening it, but it was locked.

"Hm, she must keep her key in her pocket or pouches." Moyasu decided, looking to Obito. Rin searched through Nikushimi's pouches, eventually finding the key. They unlocked the door and entered the room.

Nikushimi's apartment was clean, there was a closed door and then an open door that led to a bedroom and a door that was open and showed the bathroom next to the bedroom door.

"That must be Nikushimi's room." decided Obito, looking at the open bedroom door. He maneuvered around the couch to get to it. He walked in and looked around. Her room was somewhat clean. Although the bed was a mess with blankets and pillows all over. Obito put her down on the bed and looked at her dresser which was next to her bed. She had two pictures so far.

The first was of her team. Moyasu had a hand on Tatakau's and Shogai's shoulders and was pulling them in. Shogai was smiling slightly while fixing his glasses a bit and Tatakau was smirking, although he didn't look like he wanted to be in the picture. Moyasu had a large grin on his face as he bent over so that his head was only a few inches above Nikushimi's. Nikushimi had her eyes wide and her smile was large, rivaling Moyasu's own grin.

'This picture is pretty good.' Obito noted, picking it up and looking at it closer. He turned it around to find that Nikushimi had dated the picture on the back and had labeled it 'My Team' and she named her sensei and teammates under it. It also had written that the location it was in was Konoha. He placed the picture back down and looked at the next.

This one was face down, most likely put that way. But Obito picked it up and scanned it. In the picture Nikushimi, who looked to be around three years old, was smiling. She was sitting on a man's shoulders while a shorter woman was smiling up at them from her own short height. The man had black hair with dark red eyes. The woman meanwhile had red and silver hair with silver eyes. It was a cute picture; the small Nikushimi's eyes were closed as she threw her arms up, most likely squeaking and giggling.

'Nikushimi and her parents.' Obito realized, picking the picture up. From behind Obito, Moyasu looked at the picture from over his shoulder.

'Her parents don't have the same eyes as her, Nikushimi has slit pupils, and her eye doesn't have the whites. Her parents have normal eyes with colored irises.' Moyasu thought, comparing Nikushimi to her parents.

'Although, I can see a resemblance with the facial structure. But even though they're both pale, Nikushimi is much paler. And looking at their smiles, Nikushimi seems to have sharper teeth, although that isn't a big difference.' noted Moyasu. Obito turned the picture around to find the picture was dated eight years before. However it looked like Nikushimi had tried to scribble out what was below it. Obito squinted, trying to read it. He wasn't able to make out anything, he couldn't read the scene either.

'It's too illegible.' Obito sighed and placed it back down, facing up. Moyasu looked over to Nikushimi with a look.

'Something tells me there's more of a story, and something about that story Nikushimi doesn't want to tell.' Moyasu thought. He picked the picture up again and turned it over. His flame colored eyes ran over the back. He squinted trying to read the location.

'Ketsueki…clan… compound… something illegible, and then Hikari.' Moyasu was able to make out. He placed the picture down.

'Hikari… why does that sound familiar?' Moyasu thought, trying to remember. He decided later he would look it up at the library.

"Do you think someone should wait here until she wakes up?" questioned Obito. Moyasu blinked, getting thrown out of his thoughts.

"The shock will most likely wear off so we can go." Rin answered. Obito took a quick look at Nikushimi and nodded.

"Alright." he agreed. The two of them left and Moyasu looked out the window, finding that it was starting to snow.

'It's snowing, although it is December 11th.' Moyasu noted, then he looked at Nikushimi.

'I hope that when she wakes up in the morning, she isn't scared.' Moyasu hoped, leaving and locking the door behind him.

AN

Poor Nikushimi had a breakdown. But, the breakdown was crucial!

Fun Fact- Nikushimi's parents died when she was three.

So, I leave next week for another trip. The good news is I almost have the next chapter finished.