The poison had caused severe damage to Chocho's chakra network. She was not able to regain her energy and had lost her appetite. It was a way for her body to protect itself since her chakra was connected to her calorie intake. Sakura explained that the treatment to regenerate the chakra network would take 20 days. If the treatment were unsuccessful, Chocho would lose her capacity to manipulate chakra and, therefore, her shinobi skills.
During Chocho's time at the hospital, Mitsuki visited Chocho every day to help her with physical therapy and encouraged her to eat. Boruto asked his father not to send Mitsuki on missions unless necessary since he was helping with Chocho's recovery, and Mitsuki was recovering from the biggest scare of his life.
Mitsuki was happy to see Chocho every day, even though it hurt him to see her in such a weak state and struggling to take a few steps.
"Try to take one more step, Ms. Akimichi. If you need support, hold my arm."
Even if she didn't need the extra support, she would always hold his arm to feel close to him. In other instances, Mitsuki offered his hand to help Chocho stand up, but once he had her hand, he did not let it go. Chocho loved those moments, especially after remembering their time at the beach, where she unsuccessfully tried so hard to make Mitsuki hold her hand.
Although Chocho was not eating much, Mitsuki brought one of her favorite snacks every day to encourage her to eat. She tried her best to take a couple of bites at least.
"How come you eat the dumplings Mitsuki brought and not my dumplings?" Choji asked his daughter with a fakish jealous tone.
"Papa, don't be rude. Mitsuki went out of his way to get them." Chocho replied while forcing herself to take a bite.
Since Chocho had difficulty holding her books or magazines due to her lack of energy, Mitsuki read to her in the afternoons. They sat on her hospital room's couch, close to each other.
"The young woman's heart was conflicted. Should she run away with her soulmate, or accept the fate imposed by her family and marry a rich older merchant?" Mitsuki read and put the book down for a second.
"Now, I understand why your syndrome keeps getting worse. No wonder after reading so many romantic novels. Why do you like these books?"
"The stories are so relatable. You would never be able to understand the heart of a young woman."
"Do you relate to these stories? When was the last time your father forced you into an arranged marriage?"
"It has not happened, but it is completely possible," Chocho added with an earnest face what would make anyone wonder if the easy-going Choji was capable of forcing his daughter into a loveless marriage for monetary or political gain.
"You know I come from one of the four noble Konoha clans, and I am the next head of the Akimichi clan. The clan might see it necessary for me to marry someone from one of the other noble clans to strengthen our partnerships. Maybe someone from the Hyuga clan, like Boruto."
"So you really think that your dad will make you marry Boruto?"
"It is a possibility. Or maybe someone from an influential clan, like the Sarutobi. Thinking about it, marrying Konohamaru sensei would not be that bad."
"If you agree to the marriage, it is not forced; therefore, you would not be in a love dilemma. In conclusion, it is not relatable."
"In my opinion, it is relatable. And if not, it is still entertaining."
"Since you insist on arguing that it is relatable, would you mind sharing who your love interest with whom you would run away with, in the unlikely case that your dad forces you to marry Boruto?"
Chocho's face was red, and she didn't know what to say. The guy she had feelings for just asked her who her love interest was.
"What kind of questions if that. We were talking about a hypothetical scenario. Anyway, let's go back to the book."
"Okay. I will keep reading, but I will pick the next book."
Although Chocho enjoyed the conversation with Mitsuki, the exchange took a lot of her energy. She felt too tired to stay seated and needed to lay down. She laid down on the couch and put her head on a pillow against Mitsuki's lap. That move took Mitsuki by surprise.
"Ms. Akimichi, would you prefer to lay down on your bed. It is more comfortable there. I can read to you later."
"I am comfortable like this unless you are uncomfortable," Chocho replied with a little embarrassment. She was too tired to calculate her moves and feared she might have been too forward.
"I am fine. Shall we continue?" Mitsuki replied with a smile.
A few minutes later, Chocho fell asleep. He stopped reading and stayed still, not to disturb Chocho's sleep. After admiring Chocho's face, he caressed the top of her head softly. He was perplexed with the emotions he was feeling at the same time. He was sad because Chocho's condition didn't seem to improve, but he enjoyed the moments that he had been sharing with Chocho. Sometimes, like that moment, he wished that time would stop.
Towards the last days of the treatment, Sakura met with Chocho and her parents to discuss the results. Unfortunately, the treatment was ineffective, and there was no sign of her chakra network regenerating. The next steps in the treatment would only help Chocho regain her energy and mobility to live a mostly normal civilian life. Chocho's spirit was destroyed after hearing the news. Her whole identity revolved around being shinobi. Her parents, her family, her friends, the only occupation she knew. Her spirit felt that she lost her place in the world.
As a medic, Sakura felt obligated to disclose all the possibilities available to Chocho, even one that was unthinkable for Chocho to accept.
"There is one treatment option that I do not recommend because the price to pay is too high," Sakura said with remorse of what she was about to introduce. "To regenerate your chakra network, we will have to use a powerful Jutsu that will pull energy from each cell of your body. The process is painful, and …"
Chocho interrupted, "I don't care how painful it could be. I will take any pain if it is what it takes to go back to normal."
"Chocho, it is not only painful, but the energy extraction from your cells will result in shortening of your lifespan. Between 20 to 30 years. It is not worth it."
The announcement was devastating for the Akimichis. "We definitely won't consider that treatment." Choji firmly stated.
"Wait, Papa… I want to think about it." Chocho said, surprising her parents and Sakura.
Karui, Chocho's mom, intervened, "What are you saying, Chocho? What do you need to think about? You heard Sakura. It is 30 years of your life. That treatment is out of the questions."
"Not for me. I am a shinobi and the next head of the Akimichi clan. I cannot simply let go of my identity and my place after working hard to become the shinobi I am. The shinobi world is the only one I know. I am not saying I will do the treatment. I am saying that I want to think about it."
After a few seconds, Sakura broke the silence. "Chocho, if you choose to do this treatment, we will have to start as soon as possible. You have until tomorrow morning to give me an answer since the window of time for the treatment to work is closing."
To reflect on her options, Chocho asked her parents for space and was left alone in her hospital room. Karui went home to rest and cry alone, while Choji stayed in the waiting room if Chocho needed help with anything. They could not believe that Chocho could be considering such a taxing procedure.
Around the same time, Mitsuki showed up to visit her. His chest hurt at the sight of a crying Chocho. When she noticed that Mitsuki had arrived, she was delighted to see him, although her face didn't show it through her tears.
As soon as Mitsuki sat next to her, she softly asked, "Could you please hold me?"
"Hold you?" Mitsuki asked because he was not sure how. He knew what a hug was but was insure due to the context of the situation.
"Put your arms around me."
As requested, Mitsuki embraced Chocho, and she put her head against his chest to cry. Mitsuki had many emotions at that second. His chest hurt even more when hearing Chocho's cry, but at the same time, feeling Chocho's warmth had a calming effect on him. Her scent and touch gave him a satisfaction that he could not comprehend. He did not want her to cry but felt that at that moment, he just needed to be with her.