Akira's POV
My eyes fluttered open and I quickly look around the room.
"Akira! You're finally awake-dattebayo"
"Ahh, mo..." I said when someone shouts.
"Let me sleep, please" I said covering my face.
"Ohh, wait..." I said suddenly standing up and removing the covers. My head slightly spins but I didn't pay attention to it.
"Akira?" Sakura said worriedly
"Ohh, you're here, did Tazuna-san already finish for the day?" I asked confused.
(How did I even end up here...)
"Yeah... Are you okay?" Sakura asked worriedly
"Err- yeah... why...?" I asked confused.
"Sensei said he found you in the forest sleeping, are you tired you can sleep..." Sakura said walking towards me.
"Besides, you actually kind of hot..." She said touching my neck.
"Really?" I asked touching my forehead.
"I'm okay, maybe I just got tired earlier, you know, my body isn't used to it..." I said feeling that I was actually hot, laughing awkwardly.
"Akira, you're so reckless-dattebayo" Naruto said sitting on the floor
"Look who's talking " I said mocking him.
"You look like you can't even stand" I said as I saw his legs slightly shaking.
"I can-dattebayo" He said trying to stand up but his legs give up making him fall. I catch him before he falls to the floor
"Yeah right..." I said with a poker face
"You're sick..." He said touching my neck.
(I know, Sakura just told me) "It's okay, this will be gone tomorrow" I explained smiling at him.
"tch..." He said frowning
"Gomen, My head hurts earlier so maybe I decided to sleep in the forest... That's really stupid of me" I laughed awkwardly.
(I am not even sure if that's what happened, All I remember was me getting the last materials and then losing consciousness)
"Ohh you're awake Akira, that's good, you see I have medicine in the kitchen, drink it so you could heal faster." Tsunami-san said as she enters the room. She walked towards me touching my forehead. I pulled away not wanting when someone to get too close to my face.
"mhm... you're not as hot as earlier when you're Sensei first brought you here" Tsunami-san said smiling at me
"You recover fast, Akira" She said with a really kind smile, making me smile.
"Come on now, follow me so you can drink the medicine I made. Also, the food is almost done cooking, so it's better if you wait downstairs" She said walking towards the door. We nodded before she leaves the room.
"Naruto, can you walk?" I ask looking at him. He just chuckles scratching his neck
"No, it's okay, I can walk-" He rambles seeing me about to help him.
"No, you can't walk. I'm just sick, it's not like I will die if I help you" I said putting his arm around my shoulder to help him stand.
"You're the one who is always overdoing it..." I mutter helping him walk, all of us following Tsunami-san. Sakura is also helping Sasuke walk.
-skip-
"Akira, here drink this" Tsunami-san said giving me a medicine that's color green.
"Thank you, Tsunami-san" I said bowing my head slightly
"Ohhh, it's really nothing. Besides you all are protecting Otousan. Come on drink it, so you can recover quickly" She said giving me a smile and walking away to continue preparing the food. I quickly drink the medicine. I almost choked when I taste it.
(Damn, that's bitter) I thought, drinking water afterward. Trying not to make a face.
"Akira, you sure you're okay?" Sakura asked looking at me concerned.
"Mhm, don't worry Sakura" I said with a smile
"You're overdoing it." Sasuke suddenly said making all of us turn our heads in his direction
"Ohh, becoming a softy" I teased making Sakura giggle. Naruto has a cheeky smile teasing Sasuke.
"nhn" Sasuke said looking to the side with furrowed eyebrows
"hahaha... sorry, sorry, won't happen again" I said his frown on his face disappearing. He tried to hide the small smile forming on his lips by looking at the side
Suddenly the door opened revealing Sensei.
"Ohh, You're right on time, Sensei. I just finish cooking" Tsunami-san said putting food on the table
"Sensei! Where did you go?" Sakura asked looking at him
"Ohh, I just check the area, we can't be sure if there's an enemy," Sensei said making us nod our heads.
Then he averts his eyes looking at me very seriously.
"W-Why?.." I asked uncomfortable by the sudden intense gaze.
Sensei seems like he snapped out of his thoughts. "ohh, nothing..." He said taking a seat beside me.
"Are you feeling okay, Akira?" He said looking at me worriedly.
"mhm, I'm feeling a lot better since I woke up, thanks to Tsunami-san's medicine" I explained to him.
"I see..." Sensei said but looking like he was lost in thoughts again.
(What's happening to him?...)
Kakashi's POV
*Flashback*
I walk towards the bridge Tazuna-san is building. I look around to find Sakura and Akira. But I only find Sakura giving food to the workers.
Sakura turned to look in my direction
"Sensei!" Sakura said waving a hand in my direction.
I walk towards her Yo! Sakura... seems like you didn't just guard Tazuna-san but also help" I said ruffling her hair a little.
"Mhm, Akira is the first one to suggest it, besides we're not really doing anything so we decided to help" Sakura explained smiling at me
"Oh, that's good. So, where's Akira?" I asked looking around.
"She's getting some materials in the forest. She should be here actually..." Sakura said also looking around.
"Maybe she's having some trouble...that's why she's still not here." She said making me nod
"I see..."
" If you want Sensei we could find her, Tazuna-san also said that we're about to finish..." Sakura explained to me.
"No, just go with Tazuna-san. I'm just gonna find her" I said ruffling her hair. She nodded her head walking towards the other workers.
"Now I needed to find Akira..." I mutter, walking towards where Sakura is looking
(I guess this is where she went) I thought walking faster, noticing that it was already getting dark.
-skip-
I reach the destination where she's supposed to be, seeing materials scattered around
(Where is she?) I thought looking around.
My heart started to pound faster hearing a scream echoing through the forest
(That's Akira's voice... I can't detect any chakra around...) I thought panicking
I weave hand signs [Boar → Dog → Bird → Monkey → Ram] "Kuchiyose no Jutsu!" I said cutting a little on my finger drawing blood, then slamming my palm on the ground
"Yo! Kakashi." Pakkun said once the cloud of smoke clears.
"Pakkun, I need you to find Akira, her scent should be around here" I said trying to be calm.
"Hai!" Pakkun said smelling the area. He suddenly stop making me confused.
"What is it?" I asked as he looked at me. He shakes his head as if he's getting rid of something and smells the ground again.
"Follow me..." Pakkun said running.
Pakkun's POV
"Pakkun, I need you to find Akira, her scent should be around here." Kakashi said sounding calm but you can see the panic in his eyes.
"Hai!" I said. I started to smell the ground, trying to find Akira's scent.
(This... scent, no, this scent smells...) I thought making me stop
"What is it?" Kakashi said snapping me out of my thoughts.
(No... I must have mistaken it) I thought shaking my head, then smelling the ground again
"Follow me..." I said following Akira's scent.
-skip-
"... somethings wrong with the surroundings," I said smelling the ground, trying to catch Akira's scent again.
"I feel like they put something here..." I said as I continue sniffing the ground.
"Was it something like a barrier?" Kakashi said examining the area
"...It's possible..." I said also examining the area
"I see... maybe that's why I can't sense any chakra around. I can't even sense Akira's Chakra" Kakashi said looking around.
Kakashi's POV
"No please, stop it, stop it!" The air whispered, sounding more like Akira's voice.
(Damn it! Where is she, her voice is everywhere) I thought, clenching my fist
There was a Chakra surge as the atmosphere in the forest lifted.
"I can smell her now!" Pakkun said running faster this time.
"Ahhh! Stop it!" Akira's voice echoed through the forest, the atmosphere becoming cold.
"Are we close?" I said panic clear in my voice.
"We're almost there..." Pakkun said. I nodded and keep following him.
*Pakkun barks indicating that we're here.
"Akira!" I shout jumping down the tree and running towards her. Her chakra going haywire.
She looks up at me with scared and teary eyes. My heart almost broke seeing her.
"Kakashi-s-" she whispered losing consciousness. I catch her before she falls to the ground.
I look at her and wipe the tears on her cheek
"Akira..." I whispered with a sad tone. I positioned her on my arms in a more comfortable position. I wipe the blood on her cheek seeing a small wound.
"Kakashi..." Pakkun suddenly said looking at Akira with confusion.
"Pakkun?" I called him
"huh?..." He said looking at me startled
"Why are you looking at her like that?" I asked confused
"...nothing... should I go?" He said shaking his head again just like earlier.
"No, I still need to investigate this area and I need your help"
"I see..." He said putting his paw on Akira's forehead with a saddened look
"She's hot I think you should let her rest in a more comfortable place." He said as I put my hand on her forehead. I nodded feeling her forehead really hot. I tried to put her on the ground, but she clenched her fist holding my vest.
"It's okay, Akira" I whispered trying to reassure her, my hand caressing her cheek. Her hold on me loosened enabling me to put her on the ground.
"Kage Bushin no Jutsu!" I said as a clone appear beside me
"You know what to do..." I said to my clone as he nodded, picking Akira. Akira whispered something but not loud enough for me to hear. She clenched her fist again and pressed her head to my clone's chest as if trying to hide from something.
"you can go now," I said fixing Akira's hair a little. The clone nodded and then disappeared.
"What do we do now Kakashi?" Pakkun said looking up at me.
"Well just check this area if there was an enemy, also why Akira acted like that," I said with a sigh. Pakkun nodded trying to find some evidence while I look around.
*After a few hours
"There's nothing Kakashi. Akira's scent is the only scent I can smell around" Pakkun said looking around. He suddenly runs, then he runs towards me again giving me something. I look at it and noticed that it was Akira's hitai-ate. I look at it and clench it.
"I also can't find anything... but I'm sure someone here is with Akira...There is someone that prevented us from detecting chakra and smells earlier" I said getting frustrated not having any progress.
(But, it was Akira's chakra that surged earlier... That chakra... what happened to her?) I thought remembering the feeling of her chakra.
"Kakashi, I think we should stop. It's getting pretty late" Pakkun suggested.
"...You're right, you can go now Pakkun." I said as he nodded, disappearing
"What happened, Akira?" I whispered looking up to the sky, then look at the Hitai-ate in my hand.
*End Flashback*
"Sensei?" Someone said, snapping me out of my thoughts
"Sakura?" I asked seeing all of them looking at me
"We've been calling you like 5 times already, Sensei." Akira said crossing her arms
"ohh, Souka... I'm just thinking something, gomen" I just said.
"Maybe you're still fatigued, you always space out" Sakura said concerned
"Maybe, I should probably rest more" I said nodding. I turn to look at Akira who is eating looking at Naruto and Sasuke fastly eating.
(does she remember nothing?...)
"Akira..." I whispered getting her attention.
"hmm?" She hums not looking at me
"Don't you remember anything?" I asked making her look at me
"Actually, no... Maybe I was too tired earlier that's why I collapsed, nothing weird happen right?" Akira asked. I shook my head at her and gave her an eye smile. She turns to look at the food again.
"Thank you, Sensei for bringing me here" She said with a little smile, not looking at me
"I'm your Sensei so it's my duty." I said eye smiling even though she was not going to see it because she was looking at Naruto and Sasuke who is puking. I chuckled seeing her disgusted expression.
(Maybe, it's best if she doesn't know anything...She look so scared earlier) I thought a painful smile hidden under my mask.
Akira's POV
"Naruto try to eat a little slower" I said when he pukes again.
"But I'm really hungry..." he said mouth full of food, My eyebrow twitch at his response.
"Man, this is really fun! It's been a while since we've had a meal with this many people!" Tazuna-san said very happily
"Calm down you two..." Sakura said looking at Naruto and Sasuke
"Second please!" They both shout but immediately sit down to puke.
"What the hell...You're both disgusting" I whispered my head starting to hurt again.
"Stop eating if you're going to vomit!" Sakura said annoyed.
"no, I'll eat" Sasuke said wiping his mouth
"I have to eat even if it means enduring. I have to get strong as quickly as possible, so..." Naruto said
"Yes yes! But vomiting is different." Sensei said nodding his head, with crossed arms but they ignored us and continue devouring the food
"here, you can have this" I said pushing my plate not wanting to eat anymore. They both quickly eat it making me sigh.
"Sensei? why didn't you eat?" I asked not seeing him doing anything.
"ohh, you probably know why" He said eye smiling at me
"Ahh..." I said nodding my head realizing it then I looked at the chibi eating with us with a sad look.
(He always looks sad...) I thought concerned
-skip-
"Why is the picture torn off?" Sakura asked getting our attention
"It's my husband..." Tsunami-san said
"He's a man who was once called a hero of this town..." Tazuna-san explained. Inari quickly stand up with a sad look
"Inari! Where are you going?" Tsunami-san asked turning to look at him but the chibi just ignored him leaving
"Dad! I'm always telling you not to talk about that person in front of Inari!" Tsunami-san said following the chibi. We turn to look at Tazuna-san confused. Tazuna-san, having a sad look.
"What happened with Inari?" Sakura asked
"It appears there's some kind of good reason." Sensei said looking at Tazuna-san.
"Inari had a father not related by blood...It was like they were a real father and son who get along really well...Back then, Inari was a child who laughed all the time..." Tazuna-san explained sadness clear in his voice
"However... Inari has changed... ever since that incident with his father. The word bravery was eternally taken from the people of this island and from Inari... With that day, that incident, as the trigger." Tazuna-san said crying
"That incident? What happened to Inari?" Sensei asked
"It was three years ago... when Inari met the man...His name was Kaiza and he was a fisherman who'd come to this land from another country in search of his dreams. After that, Inari really took to Kaiza, he became attached to Kaiza. It didn't take long for Kaiza to become... a member of the family." Tazuna-san said making us smile
"It was around that time when Gato set his sights on this land. Then one night, Kaiza died to the hands of Gato. Ever since the hero of the Land of Wave died, Inari has changed...as well as Tsunami... and the townspeople." Tazuna-san said
No one talked for a few seconds processing the story.
Naruto suddenly stands with shaky legs.
"Naruto..." I said shocked by the sudden aggressiveness. His legs trembled more making him fall.
"oops" I said catching him again before he fall
(God that makes me dizzy) I thought balancing myself too
"What're you doing, Naruto?" Sakura asked
"You've had enough training for today. You've built up too much Chakra. You'll die if you move any more than that." Sensei said crossing his arms.
"I'll prove it." Naruto said trying to stop his trembling legs
"Prove what?" Sakura asked confused
"I'll prove that...there are heroes... in this world!" Naruto said managing for his legs to stop trembling. I can't help but smile.
I remove the hand holding him. He shakes a little but manages to stand on his own.
"I'm going to train-dattebayo" He said walking towards the door with a shaky leg. I just sigh and put my hand on my forehead feeling my head hurt again.
(Maybe, I should follow him... besides I could guide him on his training) I thought as I started to walk
"Akira, what are you doing, don't tell me you're gonna follow Naruto" Sakura said walking towards me and then putting her hand on my neck checking for my temperature
"Akira you can't be moving too fast, you still need to recover" Sensei suddenly said getting my attention.
"I'm okay now, I don't even feel anything that hurts." I said with a poker face
(Sure, Akira you are...) I thought my head keep pounding but I keep a poker face
"It's true... you don't even feel hot, You're really a fast recoverer Akira" Sakura said removing her hand on my neck.
"See..." I said with a smirk putting my hands in my pocket
"Ma, you're not gonna take a no are you?" Sensei said looking defeated
"You got that Sensei," I said still smirking
"I'm the Sensei, but I'm the one following my student..." He said like a moping child.
"You're too old to act like that..." I said my eyebrows twitching
"Here..." He said throwing me something.
"What's this?..." I said looking at the button and mic like a bracelet
"Wear that, just click the button to alert me if something happens..." He said showing another bracelet
"I see...so can I leave now?" I said wearing the bracelet
"mhmm, please don't over do things, okay?" He said with a bored tone but concern shining in his eyes.
"Yeah sure... I gotta go! Naruto might be dying there already" I joked running towards the door
-skip-
I was walking down the stairs of the porch when someone suddenly poke my side. My heart literally drop "BOO" They whispered shouted
(Damn this shithead) I thought calming my heart and started to walk again
"What are you doing here I thought you already leave" I said looking at Naruto mischievous smile on his lips
"Well, I was waiting for you. I know you're gonna follow, even if your sick or tired because you love me so much-dattebayo" He said teasing me
"Who told you that? I Hate You" I said crossing my arms
"Ohh, well piggyback!" He said suddenly jumping on my back
(ooff, my head) I thought with a frown
(You want this Akira, you're to blame)
"oi, why?" I asked with fake annoyance.
"You see I want to rest my feet for a while before I started training again-dattebayo" He said putting his chin on my shoulder. I positioned him and started to walk again
"Well, that's okay Naru-chan" I said with a smile on my face. He groaned by the nickname but didn't say anything.
-skip-
"Naruto don't you want to at least rest?" I ask looking at him by a tree.
"No, just a little bit I am starting to get it-dattebayo" He said breathlessly
I yawn and stretch my arm, Naruto notices me.
"You can sleep, Besides you already taught me. I will just wake you up or you can go back to Tazuna-san place-dattebayo" He said. I shake my head yawning again
"I just stay here, I'm too tired to walk," I said leaning my back on a tree
"I already show the amount of Chakra you should use, just follow that and get used to it and try to maintain it. You will get it soon" I said closing my eyes.
"mhm" I heard him hum
Fast footstep on a tree is the last thing I heard before I let sleep take over me.