Akira's POV
I look at Sasuke laying on the ground, Senbon pierced all over his body. His blood is scattered on the ground. I was holding him just staring at his face, lost. I stare at him as if he will open his eyes at any moment.
His figure in my hand slowly vanishes, making me panic. I look around in an attempt to find him, to know where he is, to know where am I. I look at my hand feeling it becomes wet. I quickly stand up seeing a pool of flood soaking my entire hand and knees.
Chirping of birds can be heard, I turn to look at the person as they fall on the ground, their blood flooding the ground. I hold on to my head when the chirping of birds echoes inside my head.
I back away scared that their blood might touch me. My heart beat faster as I turn my back on them and start running away from them. As I run the blood is slowly covering the entire surrounding wanting to engulf me with it.
I hold on to my head as I keep running. People crying for help start clouding my mind, people screaming in pain pleading for their lives. Closing my eyes, I just run faster and faster as the voices in my head get worse and worse, hoping that it will just disappear.
It suddenly becomes quiet, the environment becomes very peaceful. The wind blew making the leaves rustle. I look up feeling the sun rays touch my skin. The entire surrounding become engulfed by the light, the sun rays brush on my skin like its trying to sooth me. In just a matter of second, the whole surrounding suddenly turned into nothing.
I quickly open my eyes, dark grey eyes look at me worriedly. I stare at him not knowing what to do.
(What the hell happened?)
He stares at me for a few seconds before eye smiling, the worry in his eyes is quickly replaced by relief.
"You're awake" He said very softly.
"huh?" I said confused, he just chuckles, and the feeling of a tight hold around me tightens.
I quickly look around, confused. I frown realizing it just now.
"Put me down." I said as I try to move.
"Ah, well, unfortunately, I can't" He said just looking straightforward and continuing to walk.
(Why is he carrying me anyway?) I ask myself. A thought flashed in my mind making me grip his vest in an attempt to jump down from his hold to the ground.
"Sasuke, where is Sasuke?" I said panicking. His hold on my shoulder tightens making me unable to jump down.
"Sensie!" I said annoyed.
A smirk can be heard from his side.
"You're panicking too much, Akira" The familiar voice said. My eyes widen as I use all my force to jump down from Sensei's arms.
"Sasuke!" I said shock, my eyes glimmering with relief.
"You... You're alive!" I said as I touch him on his shoulder slightly shaking him. I blink repeatedly, to know if I'm dreaming.
"Sasuke..." I said again still shock.
"Akira, I think you shouldn't shake him like that" I heard a very worried voice said. I turn to look at her.
"Sakura!" She smiles at me and walks beside Sasuke, holding him up. I look at the person next to her, a frown on his face.
(Naruto...)
"How come I am the last one you noticed, this is Uzumaki Naruto where talking about Akira-ttebayo!" Naruto said attempting to look disappointed, but his eyes are glimmering with relief. I just smile not really caring about what he said and shrug at him when he pouts at me, still trying to look disappointed but the corner of his lips curled into a small smile.
I look around to know where we are, I look beside Sensei seeing the same two figures holding bodies. My eyes widen seeing who are the two person that is being carried.
"Zabuza, Haku-san..." I whispered, looking at them you can tell that they're already dead. I look at Sensei, confused
"We'll just tell you later, we needed to find a place to bury their body" Sensei said eye smiling at me. The two clones that carrying the body nodded, as well.
"I see..." I whispered, all the adrenaline from my body slowly fades.
"You should stop putting wait on my shoulder" I heard Sasuke said with difficulty. I turn to look at him.
"S-sorry..." I said realizing that my hand are still on his shoulder. As soon as I let go of his shoulder, my knees become weak and shake. I stumbled back trying to regain my balance.
"Akira!" Sakura said.
(I-I can't feel my legs...)
I grimace as I completely lost my balance, I ready myself for the fall, hand ready to at least reduce the impact, but a lean body and an arm hold me.
"That's why I told you I can't" He said, standing up.
"N-No put me down..." I said as I look at him. I can clearly see the smirk on his masked lips.
"Put me down." I said seriously
(No way in hell, I will let myself be carried to this guy bridal style... I can walk, besides...) I crossed my arm
"Naruto can help me, right?" I said looking down at Naruto.
"I'm sorry but I actually can't" He said scratching his neck, smiling at me apologetically.
"The fight causes a strain on my body, my body aches" He said trying to flex his shoulder making it crack slightly.
"Then why am I the only one getting carried. Sasuke and Naruto also needed some help." I said looking back at Sensei.
"Well they can walk completely different from your situation. Also, I tried doing the same to Sasuke but he insisted for me not to and said that he rather die than him being carried by me" Sensei said looking at Sasuke. I turn to look at Sasuke and see him looking to the side, frowning. Sakura chuckles. I frown and look back at Sensei.
I think of something to tell him but nothing came up, I just look at him, not even one thought in mind.
(Why my brain can't think properly at a time like this... or maybe I know that I actually can't walk, damn it!) I just frown and look to the side. I hear him chuckle as he positions me on his arms.
"Guess we could continue now" Sensei said the slight amusement can be heard in his voice
"If I just can walk, I would rather die than be carried like this..." I mumble, his body shaking slightly as he laughs very quietly so I look at him and squint my eyes at him.
(There's nothing funny. I swear this will never happen again.) I just look to the side and continue to frown as they all started to walk again. I heard Sakura chuckles again making me frown more.
(I really swear...)
-skip-
I look at the grave in front of me. A sad smile appearing on my lips.
"But you know, Kakashi sensei..." Sakura said getting our attention.
"Hmm?" Sensei hums,
"I wonder if the way a Ninja should be is really as these two were saying" Sakura said looking at the grave. She then stands up and walks back to the team.
"Shinobi should not seek the reason for their own existence. What's important is to exist merely as tools. That's the same in the Land of Leaves." I heard Sensei said.
"I wonder if that's what it really means to become a real Ninja. I guess...I guess! I don't like that!" Naruto said making me look at him.
"Do you think so, too?" Sasuke said
"Hmm...Well... that's why all Ninja lives trying to figure that out without realizing it...Like Zabuza ... and that kid..." Sensei said looking at the ground. I look back at the grave in front of me.
"Okay! I've just decided! I'm going to pursue my own Way of Ninja! I'm gonna sprint straight ahead and pursue a way that I absolutely won't regret!" Naruto said making me smile. I look at the grave in front of me and trace the cross sign on it.
( I wonder... why am I living...hmm...what's my purpose in life... that's actually a hard question. No, one thing for sure I'm gonna protect all of the people precious to me. I can't promise that I can always save them, but I will do everything in my power...no matter what's the cost. Even if it means sacrificing my own. Maybe...after all, I would be glad to be a weapon just for their sake...) I thought, looking at the sky.
(Gosh, now I'm wondering what did my okaa-san and otou-san taught me or maybe... they actually didn't teach me anything...)
There was a weird feeling that flows in my body. I look at my hands and pouted, I tilted my head to the side, confused.
(What's that?)
My heart dropped when I got suddenly carried.
"We need to go now" Sensei said eye smiling at me and he averts his eyes to look at the team. They all nodded as they all take a last look at the graves and started to walk again
(Really, why is my body like this, I hate myself) I frown again. I look at Sensei, my eye twitch in annoyance seeing him smiling.
-skip-
"Sensei, what is it?" I said looking at him.
"You've been looking at me for days like that... Tazuna-san bridge is almost finish." I said. I avert my eyes to look out on the window, the moon is the only source of light in the room.
"..." Not getting any answer I look back at him with a poker face, as we have a staring contest with each other.
"Did I do something wrong or what?" I ask my brow twitching.
"hmm..." He said looking up at the ceiling and putting his hand under his chin.
"Why don't you just drop it, Sensei." I said, sighing and looking out the window again.
"Well, I have been wondering...since the fight with Gato..." He said making me look back at him. The confusion is visible in his right eye.
(The fight with Gato... few days had already passed and it's still bothering him...?) He suddenly grabs my arm and lifts the jacket's sleeves up. I didn't push him away or do anything actually curious about what is he trying to say or do.
"What's wrong with it? It looks normal to me." I said confused examining my arm. (What's bothering him...It's really unlikely of him.)
"That's why I am confused... Before the mist got thick, you are already wounded with senbon all over your body, the same as Sasuke." He said making me look up at him. Our eyes meeting.
"When the fight finishes you don't have any wounds, different from Sasuke and your situation before the mist got thicker." He explained, his brows knitting.
"Well, I actually don't know..." I said pulling my arm away from him but failed when he didn't let go. I look at him confused, he just looks at my arm.
"I never hear from the Hokage-sama you being a fast healer...It will be on your file if you have any ability to heal yourself...It didn't even leave any scars..." He said looking mesmerized all of a sudden, his thumb caressing my skin.
"M-Maybe blood-related, please let go of my arm. " I said pulling it again, my discomfort clear in my voice. He lets go of it and looks at me apologetically.
"Oh, Sorry, sorry. I really got amazed." He said scratching his head while chuckling awkwardly, his other hand clenching on his lap.
"Err- It's okay" I said pulling the sleeves down.
"Maybe it's really blood-related, hm..." He said again, attempting to make the uncomfortable silence less awkward.
"nhn" I hum and fix my futon. I fix myself on my futon and just look at my hand waiting for him to say anything more.
"Well I think we should sleep we still going to travel back to Konoha, tomorrow," Sensei said backing away to make himself comfortable on his futon. I sigh, relieved by the distance that has been put between us.
"nhn" I hum again and lie down on my futon, turning my back on him. I bring the blanket over half of my face and just look at the dark part of the room.
"Goodnight, Akira" I heard him say from a distance, his voice sounding worried but I just dismiss it.
"Night" I said this time.
(That's actually an improvement...) I thought a small smile appearing on my lips
(But I can't say that the Kyuubi -Naruto's chakra did that, or rather I don't know how I will explain it...) I sigh and closed my eyes and just let the tiredness from helping build the bridge, take over my body.