A/N. I return. It's been a bit, hasn't it? Once again I apologize for taking so long. I wanted to get this out before the end of July but... I failed to do so. Then I lost the remains of July and the entirety of August to Fire Emblem-Three Houses and sleep deprivation. I wish I could say that I took the time to plan out the story... But I can't. 'Cause I didn't. This story is still very much a mystery to me. I have a vague Idea on some plot details, but for the most part I haven't got a clue.
Anyways, I don't want to prattle on too long, given how long this took to write. But first, reviews. I said I would respond to them, and respond I shall.
Daisuke SSJ: I'll be honest, I don't speak Spanish. But based on what google translate tells me, I'm glad you liked what I have so far.
Sanas22: To be frank, I don't know. It's definitely an idea I've been playing with since before I started writing this, but who knows how things will go.
fanreader18: I'm so glad you liked it, and I'm SO sorry I took this long. I can only hope this chapter, short as it may be, meets your expectation.
Thank you all for the reviews, I sincerely hope you enjoy this chapter. So without further ado, let it begin.
The next two years were relatively uneventful, passing peacefully by as I spent my time playing and studying. After our fateful promise, the three of us became practically inseparable. We tended to only split when It was time to go home, and even then Naruto slept over at my house on more than one occasion. In typical school fashion, it didn't take long for rumors to start circulating about us. Honestly, they made keeping track of gossip both easier and harder. On one hand, It made it easier to tell how credible a source is. On the other hand, many of them became so widespread they made it harder to find anything NOT relating to Naruto. Hinata finds it strange how someone who hates rumors would keep track of them at all, let alone to the level that I do. To be honest, I can't explain it. I hate rumormongers with a passion, but gossip itself can sometimes shine light on seemingly unrelated events. One must simply take everything with a grain or three of salt. It was thanks to my habit of collecting gossip that something interesting finally happened though, so something good came out of it.
I had been complaining to Hana-neesan about the state of the rumor mill at school one afternoon, a strangely common occurrence, when she gave me an almost scared look. "Should I be worried that my little brother is turning into a gossip addict?" I merely shrugged as much as I could, sprawled out on the couch as I was. "Eh, probably not. Not any more than about me becoming a shinobi anyways." Honestly, something was wrong with these people if they saw no problem with children learning to kill. But I guess indoctrination does do wonders after a few generations, and if this village does one thing well its indoctrinate.
She merely shook her head with a sigh, an unreadable expression on her face. Was it amusement? Worry? Whatever it was, it was shortly replaced with a smile and a strange look in her eye. "Speaking of... You turned six not long ago." Her tone made me uneasy, a strange mix of excitement and pity. "Yeah. Three months ago to the day, if ya want ta split hairs." I couldn't help the chill that ran down my spine. She seemed... way too happy about something, the start of a grin playing at her lips. "I think it's time you start your medic training." My eyebrows decided to pay my hairline a visit, though the left one fell back down shortly. "Really?" I couldn't help my suspicion, she never gets this excited when the prospect of teaching me come up. It's always some form of reluctant resignation. But now, her grin unnerved me. "Yep! Go on and get change while I set everythin' up. Wear something light and meet me at the training grounds." She left before I could respond, leaving me alone with the three Haimaru bothers. "What's she up to?" I asked them but got nothing but a look of pity in return. Huffing a sigh, I roll off the couch and begin the trek to my room. 'Guess I'll find out the old fashioned way.'
"I'm here Hana-neesan!" I called out as I walked into the nearby training grounds, the crips October air keeping me alert as I finished pulling my hair into a high ponytail. The uneasy feeling in my gut only gets worse when I spot the large bag next to her, paired with her smile it makes for a terrifying image. "So, what's first?" I ask, choosing to ignore my dread. "First, is a small test." Before I could snark something out, she held up a finger. "Question one: What is a medics top priority on a mission?" Her demeanor is unchanged, contrasting her words quite severely. "A medics sole priority is the lives of their teammates. All other objectives are secondary." The sentences flow off my tongue with ease, having been beaten into my head over the past few years. Hana-neesan smiles and nods.
"Correct. Question two: What traits make for a good medic?" This one's a bit harder than the first, as it's largely subjective. But as a general rule... " The intelligence to understand the human body, the chakra control to perform precise procedures, and the compassion to care about your patients' well-being." Once again she nods, satisfied with my answer. "Correct, though some would argue compassion isn't strictly necessary for a medic. Lastly, question three: What are the four rules that govern medics?" Ah, this one. To be honest, I take some issue with one of these rules, but that doesn't matter right now. "Rule one: A medic shall never discontinue treatment until the life of the patient has come to an end. Rule two: A medic shall never stand on the front lines for any reason." I have to force myself to maintain eye contact. If she noticed my stiff tone, she says nothing. "Rule three: A medic shall never die until they are the very last of their platoon. Rule four: Only those who have mastered the Creation Rebirth - Strength of a Hundred Technique are permitted to discard the first thee rules." That last one's a mouthful, but hours of repetition allow me to recite it smoothly.
Thankfully, Hana-neesan nods in satisfaction. "Correct. Those rules are the basis of a medics' training. Total adherence is a must." She said, stressing the last point. "The third rule, in particular, is considered the most important rule with the second being a close, well, second." She hefted the bag up, a quiet metallic sound coming from within. "As such, the first thing an aspiring medic learns to do is dodge." She reaches into the sack, and I can feel the color drain from my face when she withdraws a metal ball. " Welcome to lesson one: Evasion Training." She said, wearing a look that can only be described as sadistic. "Ready squirt?" Why? Why did I insist on being a medic? 'Oh well. No turning back now, I suppose.' Taking a breath, I steel myself for what's to come. "Ready Hana-neesan." The glint in her eyes almost has me regretting this decision all over again. "J-just go easy on me... Alright?" After all, I've got school tomorrow.
"K-Kiba-san! A-are you o-okay?" "Ugh..." She didn't go easy on me... at all. As Hinata fuses over my bruises, namely my blackeye, I can't help but let out a resigned sigh. 'This is going to be a long year.'
A/N. As always, if you have any thoughts, advice or complaints please leave a review, I really appreciate it. Thank you for reading, and have a nice day.