"It's looking better these days," Neji said to me. We were currently walking through the village to ask the people about this disease. I don't care what we have to do at this point, we're getting some answers.
"I guess it is. I haven't really been paying that much attention as of late, but if you really look at it..." The buildings that were once full of rubble no longer but not yet a full building, just the structure. Still, progress is being made. "It's looking pretty good. I wonder how the people feel about it all? I heard from TenTen that some of them were a little apprehensive with the change."
"I don't know," As we walked further, Neji spotted an elderly couple sitting outside of their house. They appeared to be looking on at the construction workers upgrading the building in front of theirs. "Let us find out."
"Hello, I am Hyuga Neji-"
"Uzumaki-Haruno Sakura."
"And we're with the medical team volunteers. We have a few concerns about this disease going around and we're wondering if you could help us identify or at least give us hints on what this could be or where it originated from."
"...Okay. I guess we could answer a few things.." The elderly woman said. "My name is Mako Shiva and this is my husband, Mako Akemi." The husband nodded to us. "Ask away."
"Well," I started off, "First, how long have you been living in this village?"
"I've lived here my entire life, third generation. My husband came here from the cloud, we crossed each other's paths when I was doing a mission one day."
"You were a kunoichi?" Neji inquired.
"Yes, one of the best I believed," She chuckled hardily. " But yes, I was a Kunoichi, the first in my family. I wanted to help out in any way I could and the best way for me to fulfill that need was to become a Ninja. Now, during that time, we had another Kage reigning over us and he was terrible."
"Wait what do you mean terrible?" I now questioned. Though I didn't ask for a life story, this could prove useful later on when we put it into context...
"Well, he had a different way of governing. He was...how should say this in a nice way?"
"He was a bitch. Her husband, Akemi finally spoke.
"Honey!"
"It is true! You may tip-toe around his name but I won't. The guy was all about money and power, never cared about the people. And the elderly would get the worst of it."
At this point, we sat down in some chairs nearby. "How do you mean 'the elderly would get the worst'?"
"Go ahead Shiva, tell them..."
"...Crane was his name. He would price them out of their houses, extort them for money, and rid them once they became no longer useful. It was as if he had a distain for elderly people, very agists if you ask me. If he could not price you out of the property, he'd get his special Ninjas to force you out. Shit hit the fan once it became public but by the time that came, he was well rooted into our government. Of course the village knew about his evil ways but we were not in a position to question him. And if he did...well-"
"He'd kill you in an instant by his team of special Ninja," Akemi interjected. "I tried to convince Shiva to move back to the could but she wouldn't budge. She thought it would get better." He grimaced.
"Oh you, It wasn't just that, I couldn't leave my friends and family to be subjected to that man. Most of them around that time were getting there in age. I figured I had to protect them at some point if he decides to come after them."
"Let's take a step back, did he make the village this way?" I asked.
"Not entirely but he is at fault for the following. Believe it or not, we were once a peaceful village. Huai Village was known for its various array of wildflowers that would stretch over the hills. People from all over would come and visit just to see them at night."
"Why at night?" Neji asked.
"Because they glowed such bright color in the night. You can't see it now but," Akemi pointed over the open space over by the tents and just pass the building in front. "Those open spaces used to be full of them. Made a lot of money off of tourism alone because of that, which is what attracted that man to Huai village. Filled the former Kage with ideas and plans to help and once she died-"
"I'm sorry, she?" I interrupted.
"Yes, Kage Aikimi," Shiva answered. "She was so wonderful and beautiful, though she never married or had any children of her own. But, she treated us as if we were her children. Right to the very end."
"What did she die from?" Neji spoke.
"Cancer, specifically lung cancer. Oh, but she was a fighter that one. Said she would die in seven months when diagnosed but she lasted ten years after. I still admire her strength. She loved taking care of us. But yes, back to your question before, sorry for getting off-topic dear,"
"No no, it's fine," I assured.
"When he Crane came around, he completely destroyed us. As I said before, we are, or rather we were, a tourist village and he saw money but he wanted to empower our Ninja program meaning he wanted more child soldiers. Kage Akimi didn't believe in that. She only chose those who wanted to fight and who were adults, very rare at the time though I hear it is more common in bigger villages nowadays. As a result, things went left. Villages that once partnered with us did not, tourists came less and less..it was terrible. It got really serious once the Great Ninja war started. As you probably know, we were rated by rogues and war criminals. We tried to fight back but as you can see..." Shiva gestured to everything around her. "We got our asses handed to us. This is why it was partly Crane's fault. Those villages that we partnered with in the past protected us. Though we had Ninjas ready to fight before and after Crane, it still wasn't enough. Only so much could or wanted to fight and it wasn't a lot. Crane forced some of the children to become child soldiers but that did not work out. Instead, a lot of parents had to bury their own, far too young most of the time."
"My God..." I gasped.
"Yes yes. Kage Akimi would be turning in her grave. Luckily, it wasn't long before Ytua and Taka come. They started off as citizens, just moving in. We didn't know why they came I mean just look at the place. But in no time, they won over the village and we're voted into office as co kages. Since then, we've been in good shape. They haven't let us down yet."
"Wow, this place has a lot of history..." Neji spoke.
"Thank you for talking with us, we really appreciate it. Now, just one last question, do you know anything about the disease or know anyone who has had this disease?" I asked.
"Yes yes, the disease. I'm sorry, taking you on a whirlwind! This disease come around about three years ago, Crane was still in office but he was on the brink of death. He knew something about it months prior to us finding out but he kept it under wraps in hopes it would die out. That hurt us in the long run. Almost every child and adult I know has or had it. Personally, I believe it was our environment. I may not know much but I do know one thing, an environment this unsanitary will make anybody sick." Shiva explained.
"You should talk to one of the other elders, Lady Misao. She has some information, more than we do. Also, please do talk to a woman named Chinami. She lives right down there," Akemi pointed to the right of him. "Shes's had two of her own taken by the disease. Her last, and oldest child, survived but still not all the way recovered. She'll know something as well but be on guard, losing two children isn't easy. She's grieving ng so if she gives you any grief, don't take it too personally. She doesn't mean it. A-And speak to the children. THeir the ones dying, maybe they know something that they aren't telling their parents."
"Alright! Thank you so much for talking to us! It's been a pleasure!" I bowed to them.
"Yes, we will make sure to use the information you have provided us." Neji bowed as well.
"Of course, it was nice talking to you. You be safe now. And good luck."
"Such history..." I said to Neji as we walked deeper into the village. Knowing the background of everything, I've come up with some theories but I'll keep them at bay for now.
"Shiva said she believed it was the environment. You believe it?"
"I have my theories, but I'll let you know when we're all done here."
Silence overtook us once again so I took the opportunity to look around. Everywhere, children were playing in the midst of construction going on. Laughter was heard throughout. Some children, as I saw before, were messing around with the rubble, or what's left of it anyway, in the open meadow, and near a lake, I've never noticed. "Hey Neji, you noticed that lake before?"
"Hm? Oh, that? I saw it the first day. I was told nobody drinks it but I've seen people play in it numerous times."
"...Interesting."
We finally arrived at Lady Misao's house. I knocked on her door and waited for an answer.
"Yes, who is it?" A young man answered through the door.
"Ah yes, I'm Uzumaki-Haruno Sakura and Huyuga Neji, we're with the medical team. We're wondering if we can ask you a few questions, Lady Misao...?"
There was silence on the other end for a moment. Then, an elderly woman, though a little younger than the other couple, stepped out. "I am Lady Misao, ask me anything."
"Yes, well, we were just talking with Mako Shiva and Akemi, and told us to speak to you. We're trying to find out more about this disease. We have our theories but..." I trailed off.
"We don't live here and we thought the best way to get more information is to speak to the people who are living here." Neji finished.
"Well, you have come to the right place. And you did the right thing. I have watched over those who were sick long before Yuta and Taka set up camps. I was in charge of the adults. I tried my best with the home remedies but it could only do so much... Since I'm old, I was at risk Is Han still there?"
"Yes, he is," I answered.
"I think he's still using what I taught him on the children. I hope it's working, even just a little bit, to take off the burning sensation."
"I think so..." I assured.
"We heard you had some theories?" Neji probed.
"Yes, I do! You said you spoke to the Mako family, yes? Shiva and I have the same theory, though mine is a bit more in-depth since I've seen this up close. I think it's an intake of something. It's like...well, let's say have allergies but you don't know it. One day you get around these weeds and now you're sneezing like crazy, but you don't know why. Is that making sense? What I'm trying to say is that, these kids and adults are surrounded by, whether touching or drinking, something for them to catch this thing. Truly a product of their environment."
"You may very well be right. It's not uncommon for people to catch things from their environment..."
"Everybody that I have treated said they were healthy, tip-top shape even before they came with this. The only thing they could tell me was that they were eating, drinking, or playing with their kids before all of this. That is all I have to contribute, I'm sorry I could not give you more."
"No no, this will do just fine, thank you!" we both bowed to her and headed on our way.
"It's starting to make sense," Neji spoke. "People dropping like flies after doing something normally in their routine... I think it's starting to come together."
"If we're thinking the same thing then I would say you're correct," I replied.
"let's see..."
One last time, we knocked on a door, it was the last house on the right. Slowly but surely, the door creaked open to reveal half the face of a middle-aged woman. "...Can I ...help you?"
"We're with the medical team who came from Konoha village, we'd like to ask you a few questions," Neji answered. The woman looked at both of us, hesitation clear in her eyes before she opened the door wide open. "My Name is Hyuga Neji and this is-"
"Sakura...wife of the deceased Hokage..." She interrupted.
"Y-Yes... That is me."
"I know you, I was there when or Kage introduced you... What do you want with me?"
"Well... we wanted to see if you knew anything about this disease-"
"You're asking me?" She cut me off. "Why you should already know. That's what you're here for. To help!"
"Yes, we are. However, we want to talk to you so we could get a better understanding-"
"I thought you were a medical prodigy? Surpassing the likes of Lady Tsunade? And yet you of all people are coming to me asking for help?" Chinami spat. "The only thing I know is that two of my children are dead! Your husband...he said your village would help but it was too late... My children...suffered."
"Miss-"
"Get out..."
"But we-"
"I said get out!" she yelled before slamming the door.
"...Well shit."
