I wasn't sure if my eyes were open or not. It felt like they were, but I couldn't see a thing.
"Hey, you're awake!" a raspy voice exclaimed.
"Who are you, and where am I?"
"My name is Naruto Uzamaki, believe it! Don't you remember me from the academy? You're in the hospital."
"I am?"
"Where did you think you were?"
"Are my eyes open?"
"Well yeah, that's how I knew you were awake. Is something wrong? You're saying weird things."
"I'm blind," I realized bluntly.
"No way. How do you fight if you're blind?"
"I wasn't blind earlier, you idiot. Something must have happened after I got swept into the funnel."
"I bet Kakashi Sensei can help, I'll be right back!"
"Naruto, Miss Mitsuki is not my responsibility to look after. I'm surprised you aren't more concerned for Sasuke."
"Sasuke will be fine. He always is. But Ayami is really hurt."
"Why wouldn't you fetch a doctor then?"
"It's not a normal sort of hurt."
I heard Kakashi Sensei sigh before coming into the room.
"What is troubling you, Ayami?"
"Don't act like you care. I heard your whole conversation. You were at my door, and it's not like you were quiet."
"One of my students risked a great deal to save you, and Naruto hasn't left the hospital since you were brought in. When my students care, I care."
"Go get a doctor then."
"Ayami, this stubborn streak doesn't help anyone."
"What happened to Sasuke?" I asked in place of telling the sensei anything.
"He was more discreet than Naruto or Sakura, but he was watching your team, too. He rescued you from the jutsu combo. He got some minor burns, but should recover in due time. You're dodging the problem at hand. What is ailing you?"
"Are Niyana Sensei and Miyugi okay?"
"They should both fully recover within a couple of days. I want to know how I can help you."
"You can leave me alone as intended."
"She told me she was blind!" Naruto informed him.
"Is that true, Ayami?"
"I don't need your help!" I insisted as I hurled a kunai in the direction Kakashi Sensei's voice was coming from.
"I suppose that answers my question. More than a foot off, where I remember your reports stating you had uncanny accuracy up to one hundred twenty feet."
"Why would you have looked at my records?"
"To see if you could be on my squad. I did want to train you, Ayami. None of the other instructors were willing to accept Naruto, so he was given to me by default, as everyone agreed I have the best chance of getting him to shape up. That played a large role in my selections. You have all of Sasuke's natural talent, and all of Naruto's persistence, but your combat style is too similar to make putting you on a team with Naruto effective. Do you understand?"
"Sensei, you really only took me because no one else would?" Naruto asked. He sounded dejected, the way I did when the other kids ignored me at the Academy.
"I wasn't opposed to mentoring you like the others."
"Oh."
"Now, if that is cleared up, will you let me assist you, Ayami?"
"I guess so."
"Close your eyes, clear your mind, and hold still."
"Why do I need to hold still?"
"Because moving requires thought, and thinking will make an already complicated process more difficult."
I did as he asked, doing my best to act brain dead and trying to quell the shiver of panic in my gut.
"You should begin to see again within two days, and you should recover fully in time so long as you keep your head safe. Your brain really got knocked around. I can't decide if I'm more jealous that you will get to experience such a debilitating disability and never take your vision for granted again, or that you somehow didn't get a concussion in the process."
"I'd rather have the concussion," I grumbled.
My stomach chose that moment to gurgle loudly. It was only then I remembered the lunch I had earned from Niyana Sensei.
"Can I have something to eat?"
"Naruto, go get something nutritional for Ayami, not just something that tastes good. Don't skimp on the protein."
"Sure, Kakashi Sensei. What about the others?"
"We'll address that as they wake up."
I heard the blond's shoes pounding down the hall.
"Ayami, I need you to tell me what happened out there. I saw you fighting with Miyugi. Why?"
"It doesn't matter. I'm the one that'll be in trouble once I'm better."
"It absolutely matters, not just for matters of punishment, but also for both yours and Miyugi's futures as ninja."
"I don't think I'm fit to be a ninja anymore."
"Your blindness is only temporary, Ayami. You'll be just as capable as before once you've healed."
"It's not capability that worries me."
"Then what makes you think you are no longer suited to the ninja way?"
"I don't fit in."
"How do you mean?"
"I got in a fight with a teammate. I hurt people. I wasn't even in control of what I was doing."
"Why were you and Miyugi fighting?"
"I-...he...forget it."
"Ayami, why did you confront Miyugi?"
"I was worried about Niyana Sensei. I heard her cry out after Trigyoko attacked, but Miyugi wouldn't release the jutsu."
"And you assumed if you could break his concentration, Niyana would be freed?"
"Well, yeah...I guess...but it didn't work, and I just made things worse."
"You did the right thing, Ayami. Can you explain to me what you meant by feeling like you weren't in control?"
"Just that. I didn't do those wind jutsu. My body acted of its own accord."
"Hey Ayami, I got you the good stuff! You like ramen, right? Ichiraku's is the best, and I told him to give you double the pork, too!" Naruto announced his return loudly.
"Oh, uh...great..."
"What's wrong?"
"She can't eat that, Naruto. It's my fault, really. I should have been more specific when I told you to get something for her."
"What's wrong with it? It's fresh, and the old man even added extra veggies and an egg on top for free."
"She's a pescatarian. After a minimum of three years, and quite possibly longer if her diet was the same before she came to Konoha, giving her red meet could make her sick."
"Why? What's a pisecatarian, anyway?"
"A pescatarian is like a vegetarian, but will eat seafood. The last time I ate meat that wasn't fish, I couldn't finish the food, and I spent the next three days puking my guts up."
"Maybe Sasuke will eat this, then. I can go get you something else. What kind of fish do you like best?"
"Salmon on a bed of rice with a side of steamed broccoli."
"That doesn't sound like everything you need to get better."
"Why not? Salmon is a great source of protein, fatty acids, and the B vitamins found in red meat. The rice is a good source of carbs for long-term energy, and has protein itself. Broccoli is a good source of potassium, which I'll need while I can't train to prevent muscle cramps, a good source of fiber, and a great source of vitamin C. My diet may not satisfy most people, but I take my nutrition seriously."
"Okay, okay, I get it. I'll go see if anyone in the village makes that to go."
"Wait," Kakashi said simply before I heard the door click shut. "There's something I want to talk to the both of you about. This relates to how you said you weren't in control, Ayami. Naruto, you can not talk about this matter with anyone, and I mean anyone, understood? Neither of you can let anyone know I revealed the truth to you."
"Why would you tell us a secret among the adults?" I questioned.
"Because it's your secret, Ayami."
"Why are you telling me, too?" Naruto spoke up.
"Quiet down!" Kakashi hissed. "Naruto, you are already aware of the tailed beast contained in your body."
"Thanks for spilling that in front of one of the few people that didn't know, Kakashi Sensei!" Naruto growled.
"I don't care if you're a jinchuuriki, Naruto," I reassured.
"You don't?"
"No. You aren't the beast inside you. I don't know what the beast did to the village, but you didn't do it. I've read about how a bijuu can be sealed away in a host before. Every day you control that monster, you're a hero. You're saving people."
"I'm glad you feel that way, Ayami, because that is your secret, too," Kakashi admitted.
"What is?"
"You are a jinchuuriki. Unlike in Naruto's case, we have no idea which beast is sealed in you, and the only people that know it's there are the instructors and the Hokage."
I started laughing. I couldn't help myself. "I don't have a seal anywhere on me. No weird markings. I can't be a jinchuuriki."
"Have you ever seen your back?" Kakashi's tone hadn't changed. He was as serious as ever.
My laughter died. "There's a seal on my back?" I whispered, reaching behind me and running a hand over the smooth skin.
A larger hand grabbed mine, gently guiding my arm until my hand rested over the space between my shoulder blades, a spot I could never see without a mirror.
"It's there," Kakashi confirmed softly.
"Those jutsu...the funnel...the beast?" I had to know.
"From what I could see and how you've described what you felt when you made the funnel, the beast's power leaked out, channeled through you."
"What happens now?"
"That's why I'm telling both of you about your nature. I want you both to keep each other in check. If the others knew about your seal being weak, they would kick you out of the village, Ayami. They would consider it the only course of action as we don't know what kind of seal it is or how to strengthen it. And Naruto, if your seal ever began to fail, and strengthening it didn't work, you would be killed to force the beast into remission."
"What?" Naruto and I exclaimed simultaneously.
"You have to protect each other. Next time I may not be the only witness with the knowledge of your bijuu, Ayami."
"Your secret is safe with me, Ayami," Naruto stated confidently. "I'm going to leave this ramen with Sasuke, and then I'll get you something you can eat. Be back real soon!"
Naruto ran away as boisterous as usual.
"I'm going to check on Niyana, Miyugi, and Sasuke. Will you be okay by yourself?"
"I'm used to being alone, Kakashi Sensei. It's being on a team I still have to learn."
"It's a lot to take in, and with your injury, I don't want to overwhelm you. I just want to make sure you'll be alright alone for now."
"I'll need help eating, but I should be fine until Naruto gets back."
"Do you want Naruto to help you eat, or someone else?"
"Someone else, please. Naruto is a good guy, but he's too much energy right now."
"I'll send someone more mellow. I think I have the perfect one in mind."
Unlike Naruto's thudding feet, I lost track of Kakashi's steps almost immediately once he was through the door.
I didn't have to wait long before I heard someone flop into the seat in my room.
"This is such a drag! How did I end up stuck babysitting some kid?"