Goodnight Kiss Chapter 6: Mercy, a naruto fanfic

I'm typing this chapter on my laptop because a horrible storm just swept through the area where I live. The power's out, lots of devastation, possible another storm will come tonight; the National Guard is helping out, and to make it even worse: today's the hottest day of the year so far! I'm over at my grandparents' house; they actually have power. I hope you like this chapter, sorry it's short, heed my warning, though! I'm rating it in between T and M just to be safe for graphic scenes.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto!

Don't review if you don't like it. If you don't want to read it, just scroll to the bottom and read the summary of the chapter I put at the end. I swear this is going to be the only chapter like this!

WARNING: THIS IS NOT FOR THOSE WHO DISLIKE BLOOD AND GORE. THIS CHAPTER IS RATED IN BETWEEN T AND M! It talks about real injuries acquired during the natural disaster of a volcanic eruption and the surgery that follows.

Mercy:

A deafening explosion rang throughout the village. People screamed and fell to the ground as Ruru clutched her ears and cried out for her mother, but she could no longer hear her own voice. All of a sudden Tenten was in front of her shaking her and screaming at her and pushing her inside of the house. A ringing sounded in her ears as slowly her hearing came back. Ruru was being shoved by Tenten into a corner in their small hut. It was suddenly dark and Tenten threw herself over her daughter. The last thing Ryu saw was ash being pushed up through the cracks in the floorboards.

(&)

The Konoha guards were alerted as two figures stumbled out of the mist in the late afternoon. The sky was covered and gray; everyone was in a panic. It was pointed out that the smoke and clouds were coming from the volcano many miles away, near the village of Keiko.

One of the figures supported the other, who seemed to be unconscious. As they approached the guards could see that it was two women; one seeming to be around eighteen and one in her middle ages.

(An/ It gets worse in the next paragraph. Just a warning.)

"Who goes there, and what do you want?" called one of the guards. The woman who wasn't unconscious didn't answer. Or was it that she couldn't? As they came yet closer the guards noticed that their clothing was torn and covered with ash and blood. Their bodies were no better. They were burnt and their skin was hanging off everywhere, thick and moist with the ash that stuck to it. Small drops of blood were left with every step as the two malformed women made their way towards Konoha.

"We need help here!" yelled one of the guards. A few rushed forwards, catching the women as the only conscious one finally collapsed. "We're going to need Tsunade-sama and Sakura-sama immediately!"

As the guards lifted the bodies and carried them into the village, trying not to look at them. Those who did felt like retching. "Who do you think they are?" asked on of the guards.

The other grunted. "Even if we did know, they wouldn't have been recognized. Who knows? We might actually know them."

(&)

"Lay them here. Sakura, prepare to give them blood!" Tsunade ordered everyone around. "Bring me lots of pain killers, and I'm going to need tweezers, a scalpel, and a lot of clean clothes boiled in water!"

Tsunade bent down and checked the women's eyes, her own eyes widening. "This one's a Hyuga!" she called. "Alert her clan!"

Tsunade sat down in a wooden chair as the items she requested were given to her. Sakura was already giving them blood from their stored supply. "Sakura, when you've finished with the blood, I'm going to need help here."

Sakura felt sick just looking at them, but she held it back. "Do you want me to get Hinata?"

Tsunade shook her head. "She'd be horrified, also considering that one of these women is from her clan." Tsunade began dabbing part of the Hyuga's arm with a warm rag. When only half of the arm was done, Tsunade had to use a new rag. Ash and dirt mixed with blood soiled the rags as one by one they were dropped into the bin beside Tsunade and a different one beside Sakura.

Ruru felt a heavy pressure, which threw her to the ground. She couldn't breathe, for it seemed as if the air had been sucked away. Lumps of pumice rained down on her body; each was larger than the last. No longer could Ruru stand, for her mother was now covering her, protecting her.

After two hours of work, Tsunade and Sakura got almost all of the ash and blood off of the women with the constant help of other nurses and many boiled rags. "Tsunade-sensei, it's Tenten and Ruru-chan!" Sakura exclaimed, finally recognizing her friend and her friend's daughter. Sakura turned to one of the nurses. "Tell the Hyugas that it's Neji's wife and his daughter; Tenten and Ruru!"

The nurse lingered, saying, "B-But I didn't know Tenten was married to Hyuga-sama!" Sakura smirked. "She's just as good as married to Neji. Now go!"

(An/ Again, in these next few paragraphs it tells about the surgery. You don't have to read it if you don't want to.)

"Sakura, watch me carefully," Tsunade ordered her student. With Sakura watching closely, Tsunade lifted a bit of charred flesh hanging off from Tenten's body. She brought the scalpel up and with utmost precision delicately sawed through the tissue. Sakura had to use all of her self control to keep from being sick and simply gagged. A couple of the nurses watching excuse herself to use the restroom, while others just gagged and turned away.

Tsunade now took the tweezers and began to pick out pieces of dirt from the raw, bloody skin. Afterwards, she dabbed up the blood and sprayed antibacterial spray onto the wound; she then began on another injury. One of the weaker ones came back from the restroom and saw this. She ran back to the bathroom in tears, clutching her stomach.

Ruru didn't even have time to be scared. A sudden stillness came over the village, and Ruru tried to get up; but with no avail. Finally she managed to get herself up, and in a doubled-over position lifted her mother onto her back and made her way to the door. Ruru plunged into the hellish darkness, not realizing how dangerous it was. All she knew was that she and her mother needed help; and they needed it now.

Neji paced the floor along with many other Hyuga members. Some, including Hinata, were crying. They had all loved Ruru and Tenten before that. Tenten always seemed to brighten the atmosphere if even just a little every time Neji brought her by after training.

Sakura and Tsunade worked all night and far into the morning. By the time they were finished Sakura had tears streaming from her stinging, red eyes, and Tsunade didn't look well either. They were both completely worn out. After finally bandaging Tenten and Ruru, Sakura almost literally ran out into the waiting area to her husband and children, who had spent the night along with a few Hyugas including Neji, Hinata, Hanabi, and Hiashi.

Sakura ran into Sasuke's embrace. "Kaa-chan, what happened!" Rei demanded.

"When can we see them?" Kazemaru asked impatiently. Soon everyone was crowded around Sakura, asking her questions.

"SHUT UP!" Sasuke screamed. Everyone quieted. "Can't you see she's worn out? Kazemaru, Rei, I'm taking your mother home. You may stay here if you wish." Sasuke led Sakura out of the hospital and everyone resumed their seats.

A nurse came into the room. "Um…Excuse me, but Tsunade-sama says that Hyuga Neji-san, Uchiha Kazemaru-san, and Uchiha Rei-san may come and see Tenten-san and Ruru-san now. She also says that she has received word that there were no other survivors in Keiko after the eruption." Whispers ran throughout the room as Neji, Kazemaru, and Rei stepped forward.

Ruru walked forward into the stillness, stubbing her toe on a deformed mass stained with red. Not paying any attention to it, or not being able to, she continued forward. Ruru must be dead, and on the path to hell. She can no longer tell where she is as she entangles herself in a nightmare of branches. Finally it is clear and Ruru stumbles along the road; hopefully headed for civilization.

A single tear ran down Neji's cheek as he held the hands of his love and his daughter. Kazemaru held the other of Ruru's hand, upset by the sudden turn of events. 'I would have rather never had her back…than to see her like this…'

"I'm sorry…" Neji whispered quietly, alerting Kazemaru and Rei.

"Wha-" Rei began, not understanding.

"It's my fault that Tenten left in the first place. But Ruru said that she already knew about the incident with Sakura…and how it wasn't really me…but…it must have been because of me that she didn't come back. She couldn't face me again…" Neji continued.

"That's not true!" Kazemaru yelled, jumping up. "It can't be your fault; there must have been a reason!"

Neji laughed wryly. "There was a reason. I just said that; it was me."

Kazemaru shook his head. "There must have been another reason."

"Something she didn't want you to find out about besides Ruru. Something personal…" Rei mumbled.

Kazemaru and Neji looked at her. "What?" Rei asked, glancing up. "Did I say something?"

"Yeah," Kazemaru said. "You said there must have been something personal."

"Oh," Rei shrugged. "Just an idea. I'm a bit tired."

"You can go home if you want, but I'm staying here until Ruru wakes up," Kazemaru told her, sitting back down.

"Yeah. Mom needs me anyhow. I'll come back tomorrow morning with breakfast for both of you, okay?" Rei asked, standing up.

"Hn. Thanks," Neji said, turning back to Tenten.

Ruru finally came to realization after about an hour on the road. The volcano had erupted. She was in pain; more pain than she had ever been in. Skin hung off in large amounts and Ruru understood that she was burnt and bleeding horribly. But Tenten was worse, after protecting Ruru from the falling pumice. Ruru smiled wryly. At least she would be able to see Kazemaru again.

(&)

Okay, here's the summary for all of you who didn't want to read the entire chapter:

Ruru and Tenten's village, Keiko, was destroyed by a volcanic eruption. Ruru dragged the unconscious Tenten back to Konoha to receive medical care; there were no other survivors. Neji and Kazemaru discuss why Tenten didn't come back after she knew the truth: A single tear ran down Neji's cheek as he held the hands of his love and his daughter. Kazemaru held the other of Ruru's hand, upset by the sudden turn of events. 'I would have rather never had her back…than to see her like this…'