Kei-Kei Yuki: Yes, ladies and gentlemen I'm on a roll!
Beta: Ana-DaughterofHades
Drabble Twenty-Four
Scary Encounter at Hospital
Yes, Jiraya felt proud of Naruko's accomplishment, but why, just why out of all the toads she could have summoned, did she summon that one!? Even while hidden, Jiraya could hear the two arguing. Naruko was definitely just as loud and fiery as Kushina. The only thing that was missing was Kushina's iconic red hair!
"You little brat!"
"Stop calling me a brat, you stinking old toad!"
Gamabuta was wreaking havoc all over the forest, trying to get Naruko off his back, but the blonde held on strong. She was stubborn and not the type to give up easily.
"You pip-squeak blonde! Don't go underestimating me!"
"I should be saying the same to you, old pops!" Since Naruko summoned the old toad, Gamabuta had a hard time believing that such a tiny tadpole had the ability to summon a toad of his caliber. In his mind, Jiraya must've put the pipe-squeak up to this, though as time progressed, his opinion of the brat began to change.
"No matter how many times you try to get me to fall, I refuse to fall off! In the name of the future Hokage, I will get you to recognize me as your master! So bring it on, you old toad, 'cause nothing can stand in the way of Uzumaki Naruko!" By now the sun was beginning to set; Naruko was drained and drenched from head to toe, but despite all that, she still held on tight to Gamabuta's back.
"You've got spunk, brat; I'll give you that!" said Gamabuta. From watching, Jiraya felt a twinge of worry for the blonde, aware that Naruko had already reached past her own limit. Despite the fatigue that she must've been feeling, the blonde refused to let go. Her resolve honestly amazed Jiraya.
Giving one last go, Gamabuta almost killed Naruko and was even close to knocking Naruko off of him, but even that failed. Summoning forth a bunch of clones that saved her, Naruko cheered on top of Gamabuta's head. "Yes! Yes! I did it! Take that, old toad. I did it! I did it! I... did it..." It seemed Naruko's fatigue finally caught up with her. Jiraya worriedly called out to the blonde when he watched her fall off the top of Gamabuta's mountain-sized head.
Though before Jiraya could react, a slippery tongue reached out and caught the small blonde. A cloud of smoke appeared right beside Naruko.
"Now you finally show your face, Jiraya."
"Maa, cut me some slack. Besides, the missy totally won. Can't believe she actually had the ability to hold on for so long." Unraveling the scroll in his hand, Jiraya threw it in front of Gamabuta.
"Tch, like father like daughter I suppose," grumbled Gamabuta, aware of the blonde's true heritage as he accepted the small blonde that he placed back on his head. Sensing that in the future this blonde pip-squeak was going to be someone great. After all, it was in her blood.
When Naruko woke and found herself lying in a hospital bed, the first person she saw was Shikamaru sitting beside her bed playing a game of shogi by himself. Only to panic seconds later once she realized that she had been asleep for three days and nights and that tomorrow was the Third Exam. Naruko was nowhere close to ready, not to mention her match was against Neji. The guy who she vowed to get revenge for what he did to her precious Hina-chan!
"Calm down, idiot! You're ruining my game." Shikamaru was happy when Naruko finally let go from shaking him back and forth.
"I can't believe I've been asleep for that long," pouted Naruko, looking like a kicked puppy that Shikamaru was confused how to cheer up. Luckily Sakura arrived just in time, carrying flowers meant for Lee, only to find out just as she entered the hospital that Naruko had been brought in three days ago and had just awoken.
This news instantly caused Sakura to panic, rushing straight towards the blonde's room to find her snacking on an apple. Those large azure eyes lit up once they caught sight of Sakura.
"Hi, Sakura-chan~!"
"Naruko, just where are you hurt? Why were you brought in here? I heard that you've been in a coma for three days!" Sakura rushed over to Naruko, checking for any bruises while throwing out questions, completely ignoring Shikamaru who was in the room.
"Sakura-chan, I'm fine. Just tired from training." This was Naruko's first time experiencing Sakura's heartfelt concern for her. Something which made her both happy and a bit sheepish.
"Training? Just what kind of training knocks you unconscious for three days-Ah! Shikamaru, I didn't see you here as well." Sakura finally took notice of the Nara who didn't mind being ignored as Sakura fussed over Naruko's condition.
'Her attitude towards Naruko has really changed. Wonder what triggered it?' Shikamaru kept his thoughts to himself, explaining to the two his reason for being here, which was due to Choji who caught a severe stomach ache from eating too much barbecue. After learning of Lee situation from Sakura, Naruko and Shikmaru went with Sakura to go visit him.
Except neither of the three was expecting to run into the red-haired psychopath sand ninja that was trying to kill Lee, as if breaking his arm and leg wasn't enough. "Just what the heck do you think you're doing to bushy-brow!?" Naruko threw a punch at the redhead after teaming up with Shikamaru. Sakura stood there terrified, recalling what the sand ninja did to Lee during their match in the Preliminary Round.
"I was trying to kill. If you get in my way, I'll kill you too," calmly stated the redhead sand ninja. The guy totally creeped Shikamaru out.
"Shikamaru, there's something not right about this guy."
"Thanks for stating the obvious, Naruko."
"That's not what I'm saying, Shikamaru! Those eyes, I have seen eyes similar such as those, because I had them in myself. Hey, you, your actions make others think of you as a psychopath but there's more to you." Shikamaru had no clue what Naruko was talking about, watching as she locked eyes with the sand ninja.
"Mother tells me that we're similar; that just like me, there is also a monster resting inside of you. Though we are nothing alike. My upbringing was terrible. When I was born into this world, the first life I took was that of my mother. All so that I could become the strongest shinobi. I was born a monster with a Sand Spirit sealed inside me called Shukaku," said Gaara.
"Your parents were definitely twisted to treat their own child like that," scoffed Shikamaru.
"Don't group me by your standards. I have no ties to my family. To me, they are nothing more than lumps of flesh." The more the guy talked, the more Shikamaru really wanted to get out of the room with him. Listening to this guy's back story, it was no wonder he turned into a psychopath.
Unlike Shikamaru and Sakura who were unable to comprehend Gaara's twisted way of living, Naruko could understand. She experienced living in fear and having everyone hate you because of a monster living inside of you. To be isolated and ignored, people like Sakura and Shikamaru could not understand, but Naruko could as her upbringing was somewhat similar.
'Since I was born, people called me a monster, a thing, causing me to wonder just why was I alive? For what reason did I even have to live. Until I met Ruka-nee. If it wasn't for Ruka-nee, Hin-chan, Old-Man Hokage, and even Teuchi and Ayame-nee. Who knows how I could've turned out...' Naruko knew that her life could have been much worse, and looking at Gaara, Naruko saw just what type of person she could have turned out to be. It was this realization that terrified Naruko more than Gaara himself.
End of Drabble Twenty-Four