-1Chapter 15: The Truth Not Yet Revealed
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"How did you find this?"
Haku smiled, blushing a little, "Well... I kind of fell in the dark bringing you up here." He rubbed his head not wanting to be so embarressed. "Shall we go down?" Sakura smiled and nodded.
It was dim in the tunnel. She had to put her hands on the cool smooth stone walls, in order to keep her balance. Haku was close behind. "So, this goes all the way to the bottom?"
"Not exactly," their words echoed through the tunnel.
"What do you mean by 'not exactly?'" Sakura was worried about the silence towards her question. "Well? Haku you still there?" Haku grabbed one of the torches from the wall and handed it to Sakura. It helped some as she held it in front of her. At least she could see where her feet were stepping.
She heard metal on metal as Haku grabbed another torch for him. They continued on their way. "What I mean is that at the end of the tunnel there's a drop off. It's only about fourty feet to the ground. So don't worry, we can climb or jump down." Sakura let out a sigh of relief.
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A young boy stood in emptiness. His silver hair flowed back and forth. The mask that would cover his face was pulled down. It melted in his hands. Little lights danced around him. Shining through the darkness. He caught one in his hand. But it shattered into a million pieces. But he was distracted by a far off sound getting closer. It roared like nothing else he heard before. Then he reconigzed it. With great force he was pushed over.
whoosh Water raced passed his body as he stood there. A deep blue color was all around. It fluxed and changed from dark to light. He felt out with his hand and the air moved around it. Causing little bubbles and lines in the color. Then out of the darkness came hands of water. They reached forth and grabbed him. Pulling him further into the darkness.
His mouth opened to say something, but water rushed into his lungs. Deeper and deeper they pulled him. 'Is this the end?' No. A bright light flashed and then...
"Hold on, he's coming to." Kakashi opened his eyes to reveal several doctors standing around him. Tsunade was one of them. Her shoulders relaxed and a smile spread across her face. "You gave us quite a scare for a moment. We thought we had lost you." Tsunade moved down the bed to the other doctors. "Well done, and arigato. I couldn't have done it without your help."
There were three other doctors. Each were younger than Tsunade. Two young women and a young man. He spoke first, "Anytime. Honestly I've never seen anyone with this much chakra depletion. Surely he rested between using his chakra."
Tsunade nodded, then motioned them to leave. Kakashi stared up at the ceiling. He listened to the rythm of the heart monitor. Each beep was in order. Each identical to the last one. Tsunade slid the door shut and then looked at him. They hadn't removed his mask or anything else from being in such a rush. They had to cut straight through the clothing in order to reach his heart.
Kakashi listened to himself breath. His lungs filled with nothing but air. His chest slowly rose up and down with each intake and exhaust. Both jounin and sanin were quiet. Tsunade had to tell him what had happened. After all he was passed out cold for the whole thing.
The chair slid on the floor as Tsunade sat next to him. He turned his head towards her, his neck a little sore.
"Whay happened exactly?" His voice was soft and quiet like.
Tsunade smiled, "It's nothing serious. But I suggest only using as much chakra as necessary for the next few days. The needles you got hit with when Haku attacked, remeber there was a liquid on them?"
"It provoked pain. Attacked the nerves?"
"Yes, well it did more than we bargained for. Naruto was lucky to get hit with such little ferocity. Plus he hardly used his chakra after he was attacked. He should be fine now though." Kakashi didn't mind her explaining or telling him that Naruto was safe. But what was so important about the needles. Was something wrong with the way his body reacted to them. What? "Anyways, what I'm getting to is that the posion on the needles causes your body to use up more chakra than you intend. That's why you suffered from severe chakra depletion."
Kakashi still layed there. 'So close to death and I survived, but I let go of Sakura's hand.' His visible eye looked sad. His head turned back up to the ceiling. All he was concerned about right then was how Sakura and Naruto were doing. "Tsunade-sama, did they find Sakura yet?"
"I'm sorry, but no. The search parties are still looking. Naruto's taking the news pretty hard himself. Kakashi, you'll be out of the hospital in a few days. Once you have regained most of your chakra you may leave without my consent. Until then I ask you to stay put." Kakashi nodded. He wasn't like Naruto and wouldn't try to escape and try to find Sakura.
Kakahsi turned to Tsunade, smiling under the mask, "Who's watching Naruto?"
Tsunade's face looked worried as she sat up and rushed out the door. Kakahsi chuckled in his head. 'This should be interesting.'
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Tsunade raced down the hall. Naruto's room was the last one on the end of the hall. When she reached it the door was already open. The sight that she saw was one to laugh at. The window was wide open. Two orange legs were wrapped in arms as four nurses held on to Naruto. Tsunade could hear him screaming.
"Let go, let go! I need to help Sakura-chan! Let me go!" Tsunade couldn't help but laugh. She walked over to the nurses. They moved aside (still holding onto Naruto) and let her slip in. Tsunade reached out the window and latched onto to the top of Naruto's pants.
With one pull he came through the window. Almost knocking over the other nurses. "Tsunade! Let me g-"
"Naruto! Your spirit may be ready to find Sakura, but your body still has to heal. Now sit!'' She dropped him on the bed and shut the window. Naruto sat there with his jaw jutted out and his arms and legs crossed. Tsunade let out a deep breath she had been holding. She was angry at the boy, but that wasn't hard to be.
Naruto scowled and sat there. "They haven't found her yet have they?"
"No. But they are looking. Don't worry she'll return safely. Now, have you felt tired all of a sudden?"
Naruto thought about this. "Nope. Why?"
"Good. Nothing really. Don't use a lot of chakra though until the posion has worn off," this caught Naruto's attention. He was curious.
"What posion?"
"The one on the needles. It drains chakra when you use it."
"That means Kakashi-sensei..."
"He's fine. He did give us a little scare earlier, but now it's taken care of." Tsunade stood up to leave, before she did she turned to the nurses. "Bar the windows and lock the door until tomorrow morning when he's healed." Naruto's mouth gaped open in surprise. 'She's going to imprison me in here!'
She left with a smile on her face and the nurses got to work. All Naruto could do was sit and watch. This wasn't what he wanted. He wanted to find Sakura, to see Kakashi, to complete his mission on finding Haku.
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Sakura could see a light in front of them. "Haku, there's light."
Haku put his arm beside her, pushing her a little close to the wall. "Let me go first. The drop is right as the tunnel ends. I think that there use to be a bridge there." Sakura pressed up against the wall. The tunnel was only about four feet wide. Haku passed in front of her and then they continued.
The light got brighter and brighter. Soon it engulfed both of the young shinobi. Sakura covered her eyes with her hand. They had been walking in the dim light for fifty minutes. The sudden brightness had nearly blinded them. Then Sakura bumped into something and realized that Haku had stopped her with his arms. "Now watch me go down and follow. Stepping everywhere I do on the rocks. When I tell you to, you can jump down."
"Ok,'' Sakura waited and watched as Haku climbed down for about 10 minutes and then jumped to the ground. Sakura started the same way. Making sure to place her feet int he same spots as he did.
Haku looked up at her and watched. 'Is it this easy to make friends?' His thoughts were interupted as Sakura hit her mark. "Ok, you can jump now. It's safe." Sakura nodded and jumped backwards off the cliff. She landed with a thud on the ground. A small cloud of dust encircled her feet.
She stood up and dusted off her clothes. "Ok, now which way is Konoha?" Haku smiled and then turned around. He surveyed the area. Finally he turned back to Sakura and answered.
"I believe it's North of here," he thought again and then pointed, "This way." Haku started walking again and Sakura stepped up beside him. "Want to run?" She smiled and nodded.
They took off. Dust floating in the air behind them. Sakura looked over to Haku and yelled, "I bet I can get to the gate before you!"
"Oh really! Well first one there by sundown wins. The prize, the other one buys them a bowl of ramen."
"Alright! I like naruto on mine!" Sakura sped past him. Haku had hardly any money left, this equaled motivation. He soon was off himself. Coming in close on Sakura.
Twigs snapped, leaves rustled, the two ninjas were blurs amongst the trees. One minute they would come in sight of each other, the next they disappeared. Haku came in close to Sakura. Now it was a neck in neck race.
Some branches were to low and symultaneously, they jumped up to the higher one. They had been racing for eighty minutes when Konoha's gate came in view. Haku smiled and so did Sakura. When they saw each other their faces turned into determination.
First Haku, no Sakura, then Haku, then Sakura; each pulling ahead and falling behind. They were so busy in the race that they didn't notice a small group of ANBU members running through the woods. They sped past leaving the members in confusion on what was going on. Then one pointed out who they were and soon three other people were in the race.
Sakura and Haku were oblivious to the members. All they were focused on was winning. Both of them were having fun though. Then it was the last few yards. The guards at the gate saw the scene and rubbed their heads. They saw all kinds of different things. But nothing like this.
Two young ninjas were running at top speed. Three ANBU members close behind. But having a little trouble catching up to the kids.
It was close to a tie, but Sakura got one step ahead of Haku and crossed the gate. She skidded to a stop and didn't have to look back before Haku was kicking up dust beside her. Both were breathing heavy from the excitement.
Next thing they new they were cracking up. The three ANBU members stopped behind them. Then disappeared into the village to inform the Hokage.
Haku wiped the sweat off of his brow. Sakura did the same, "Wow, I didn't know I could go that fast!"
"Your saying wow, I didn't know I could move half that speed. Well I guess I lost." Haku smiled at her. He wouldn't mind buying his new friend a bowl of ramen. Sakura smiled back at him.
"How about the loser just buys me a drink. We can have ramen Naruto tomorrow. Ok?"
"Good, I'm short on cash." Sakura laughed and then started walking down the street. Haku was close behind. This was her village and he thought it best to follow her.
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Naruto sat on his bed. The sun was now setting and his room was growing darker and darker. 'Why did Granny Tsunade have to lock me in?' It was tearing him apart, waiting for knews on Sakura. 'Where is she? Is she okay? I hope so.' He stood up and ran his fingers along the cold bars on the window.
"Maybe if I use rasengan I can..." His thoughts trailed off as he heard footsteps down the hall. Naruto went over to the door and put his ear on it. The steps were quick and close together. Whoever it was was in a hurry to get somewhere. Then they stopped in front of his door. He heard keys jingle and the door knob was turning.
In a moment of panic he jumped back on his bed just in time. The door opened to reveal a smiling Tsunade. Her face was happier than usual. Perhaps a little too happy. "Oh good, your not asleep and your still here," she turned her head outside and called, "You can come see him. I want to see his reaction." Now Naruto was confused, curious, and worried what surprise Tsunade had for him.
But it wasn't a bad one. In fact Naruto could feel his stomach settle, his face bright up, and his heart lift out of his chest; which was grownig lighter. A weight came off his shoulders and he was a lost of any words. Joy overwhelming the boy as Sakura stood in the doorway.
"Sakura-chan!" Naruto lept off his bed and didn't land until he was right in front of her. Her name was that he could say. Relief of her being okay choked his voice box. He took her hands in his and just held them. His eyes grew large and his vision grew foggy. Sakura smiled and let him hold her hands as tears streamed down his face. "Sakura-chan..."
"I'm alright, Naruto." Tsunade was smiling in the back. Then Sakura turned her head to the hallway and back. "Naruto, I need you to settle down and listen. I'm unharmed and alright thanks to one person." Naruto smiled and was getting excited again.
"I don't care who it is as long as they helped you."
Sakura sighed and mumbled so he wouldn't hear, "Or so you say." More clearly she told Naruto, "Now, promise me you won't freak out or do anything stupid."
"I-I promise." 'What is Sakura-chan talking about?' Then his smile faded as he saw who walked up behind Sakura. "YOU!"
Sakura rolled her eyes and sighed yet again as Naruto let go and jumped back. Pointing and acusing finger at Haku. "Hi," was Haku said as he stood behind Sakura.
Naruto jumped back up to Sakura and pulled her away, "What's he doing here? He's the one who hurt us! Why is Haku here?" But Naruto had gone too far too fast. Next thing he knew he was on the floor rolling around and with a large lump on his head. Tsunade and Haku stood silently watching Sakura beat up Naruto. Tsunade couldn't help but let out a small laugh.
Haku smiled and did the same. Only his sounded like it belonged to a mouse.
Naruto stopped moving long enough for Sakura to pull him back up by the collar of his shirt. "Now listen to me Naruto," Naruto looked at her. "Haku saved my life. He watched over me and fed me. He's now my friend. If you can't except him then oh well. He's staying." With a muffled thud Naruto fell back to the floor.
'I want to be happy about Sakura-chan's return, but Haku... Well if he saved Sakura-chan then he can't be all that bad. I'll give it a shot.' Naruto stood to his feet. Sakura stepped back and put her hands on her hips.
With his head hung down until he got to him, Naruto walked over to Haku and held out his hand. "I would like to get to know you." Haku smiled and shook his hand. Naruto returned the smile. 'Maybe this can work.'
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Kakashi was moved to an observation room; a place for patients with critical conditions. It was isolated from the other rooms and it allowed the necessary machines to be placed in there. He had a heart monitor and a machine that measure his blood pressure every half hour. To be sure he got enough air, an oxygen tank and a mask were given to him. Kakashi layed there with an iv coming out of his arm. It would help keep his heart stable until most of his chakra was regained.
The beeps and cliks of the machines had put Kakashi into a light sleep. Hospitals weren't his favorite place to be. Especially after the one incident in Nakamuru's village.
The room was closed off with no windows. It was bright with lights and every square inch was white. Kakashi stood out like a mountian on flat plains. Once in a while a doctor would look through the door and then go into the room in which all the machines were controlled from. There, camera's watched Kakashi, and doctors could check up on his condition without bothering him.
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The celebration of Sakura's return was calming down. Now Sakura and Haku were seated in chairs next to Naruto's bed. Where he was expose to be resting. But now he was slightly bouncing, still excited to see Sakura alright.
Sakura would giggle once in a while at him as they talked. Haku told of how he was getting by and how he had come to get out of the grave. Naruto felt pity for him. He would never want to go through something like that.
Then Sakura thought about Kakashi and wondered how he was doing. If he had known about Sakura, then wouldn't he have come to visit? She turned to her teacher, "Tsunade-sama? Where is Kakashi-sensei?" Naruto was curious about that too. He had never gotten a chance to ask Tsunade if he could visit his sensei.
Tsunade's face grew dim, she looked at the three shinobi. With a sad sigh she explained, "You see, Kakashi suffered more damage than you two. Haku, I'm not blaming you and don't blame yourself, but the needles you used were covered in that liquid. Well it did more than cause pain."
Haku's face showed that he was surprised. His eye's widened and his mind had so many questions filtering through it, "W-w-what do you mean?"
Naruto knew the answer and blurted it out. "The posion also depletes chakra. Since Kakashi-sensei was hit with so many..."
Haku felt his heart almost stop. 'Why didn't I know this? The person who gave me the posion only said that it provoked pain. Wait!-that same person was with Sakura's group!' "It's his fault!"
"It's not Kakashi-sensei's fault!" Naruto yelled at Haku.
"No. Not him, him!"
"Who?" Sakura asked.
Haku's hands began to shake again. A cold sweat ran down his face and he felt afraid. "That man... he was with you."
Sakura felt her heart leap, Naruto stopped breathing for a moment. Then he asked, "You mean..."
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"Kawada, it's good that you've returned. Is the brat dead?"
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bum bum BUM! Who was it that sent Kawada? What's his plans? What about Kakashi? Find out in the next chapter of 'A Heart Bent On Revenge.'
Read on...
