Hooray! Here to put my faithful readers out of their misery! I hate leaving things on a cliff hanger. I just have to say a MASSIVE THANK YOU to my Beta reader katydid001! You have really helped renewed my passion for this story! I really do appreciate everything you do for me! And a big thank you to everyone who reviews! Happy reading!
Rin slid to her knees beside Obito. She began fluttering over Katsumi's fallen form, assessing her condition with glowing green hands. Katsumi's pulse was weak but she was alive. The gentle heartbeat was a glimmer of hope in the darkness.
"Rin-chan, I need you to hold her for me…" Obito's voice was bubbling over with so much rage that Rin could feel down to her bones. There was no time to ask all the questions she was longing to; not with Katsumi's life barely hanging on. She took her unconscious friend from his arms. The medical ninja cradled her wounded friend carefully, adding pressure to her chest while leaving the knife in place.
"Who did this?" Obito growled as he stalked towards the last standing enemies. "I said, WHO DID THIS?!"
Kakashi backed away from the fight as he felt Obito approach. He could feel his former teammate's murderous intent seeping into the field. The ninja who's blade struck Katsumi began to taunt the livid Uchiha; a fatal mistake.
Obito roared as he tore into the enemy.
Kakashi turned on his heels and ran towards his sister, not wanting to get mixed up in the carnage behind him. He dropped to his knees and started to clean the blood from Katsumi's face.
A familiar howl pierced through the screams behind them. Kakashi raised his head just in time to see Minori burst through the trees, followed by a flash of yellow.
"Give her to me Rin-chan, it's ok." The soothing voice of their sensei calmed their nerves as he scooped Katsumi into his arms. "I brought help. But I need to take Katsumi now." Without another word Minato teleported from sight.
Obito stood roaring with rage, bloody corpses strewn around him. It was only then that the ANBU came leaping down from the trees, swiftly surrounding the volatile Uchiha. Their captain made a swift hand sign. It took six trained ANBU operatives to pin Obito to his knees. The fight drained from the teen boy's body as a swift hand smashed into his temple. With a dull thud the boy hit the ground and the screaming finally stopped.
Katsumi woke to bright white lights. The searing pain in her chest was immediate, like she had been split in two. 'Pain is good, pain means I'm alive.' She reminded herself as she tested her fingers one by one. As each part moved her smile grew wider. Though her limbs were heavy, she was ecstatic to find that she was mobile.
With a pained grunt she moved to sit up, only to be gently tackled back down onto the bed by a warm body.
"Imouto..." Kakashi's raw voice floated to her ears. She felt wetness spreading in the crook of her neck where her brother had buried his face. Katsumi's arms wrapped around Kakashi's trembling figure and fisted the back of his shirt. Her own eyes pricked with tears as she heard the vulnerability in his voice.
"Nii-san? I'm okay." Katsumi's voice sounded timid; scared even. Kakashi just gripped her tighter. They lay in each other's arms for a long stretch of silence, relishing in the comfort of each other's presence. A knock resounded at the door which resulted in Kakashi helping Katsumi move to a seated position. He slid off the bed and stood beside it, holding her hand tightly.
"Enter." Kakashi spoke, all hints of emotion in his voice were gone. The door swung open to reveal Minato standing in the doorway. Katsumi felt her mouth twitch into a smile, but it quickly changed to a grimace as she clutched at the stitches in her chest.
"Good. You're awake, there is someone dying to see you." Minato moved to the side revealing an awe-struck Rin.
"Katsumi-chan! You're alive!" The medical kunoichi rushed to the side of the bed. Immediately seeking Katsumi's left hand and grasping it tightly in her own.
"Thanks to you, Nohara-san. Your wise decision to leave the blade in place made a real difference." An unfamiliar voice chimed from the doorway, causing the children to turn their heads in unison. Next to their sensei stood a beautiful blonde kunoichi with her hair tied in low pigtails. She was clad in a white medical coat with a clipboard pressed to her ample bosom. "Hatake-san was fortunate. The blade entered her chest at an angle, barely missing her vitals. Had it been removed, however, it would not have stayed that way."
"This, children, is Tsunade Senju; one of the three legendary Sannin. Tsunade-sama is the best medical shinobi in the whole of The Land of Fire." Minato praised.
"I just know what I'm doing. Anyway, I am actually here to check up on my patient's condition." Tsunade seemed completely unphased by Minato's compliment. She scribbled a few things down on her clipboard as she made her way over to the side of the hospital bed. The clicking of her heels punctuated every step she took. Rin stepped out of the way so that the skilled kunoichi could do her job. It was fascinating for the children to observe a medical genius in action. Placing the clipboard gently onto the bed she used her now free hands to check the state of Katsumi's stitches.
"Can you lean forward for me?" The medical kunoichi asked gently while placing her hand behind the young girl's shoulders to support her.
Katsumi nodded and pushed herself forward. The throb in her chest ignited with the movement, but she was strong in spite of the pain. A shudder ran down her spine as she felt one Tsunade's hands on her back. Warmth flooded her body, easing the pain as it went. The white hot pain that radiated from her sternum slowly ebbed away, leaving a dull ache in its wake. A satisfied sigh left the young twin's body as Tsunade's chakra worked it's magic.
"Your healing is coming along as planned. You may feel drained, but it is just a result of the chakra accelerated regeneration. Given a good night's rest you should be right as rain." The blonde shinobi pulled her hand back and helped her patient back into position. She snapped up her paperwork and jotted down a few more notes, before smiling down at Katsumi. "I will need to keep you overnight for further observation, but I should be able to release you tomorrow morning."
Kakashi gave Katsumi's hand a gentle squeeze. The confirmation that everything was going to be okay had the twins sighing with relief; the risen tension lifting from their shoulders.
"Alright visiting time is over, my patient needs her rest. You can come and collect your sister in the morning." It was clear that Tsunade's word was final as she motioned to the door with a flick of her hand. It was a definite signal for the guests to leave. "Nohara-san, would you mind joining me? I have something I would like to discuss with you."
The brunette kunoichi nodded swiftly before following the medic from the room.
"Kakashi-kun, you heard Tsunade-sama. I will bring you back here myself in the morning." Minato stood in the empty doorway, waiting for his student to follow orders.
Katsumi did feel fatigued, but something was on her mind. 'What about Obito? Is he alive?' She hurriedly signed to her brother as he tore himself from her side.
"Obito-kun is doing just fine, Katsumi. We will take you to visit him tomorrow. You are not to move." Minato ordered with a tone of finality.
The silver-haired girl nodded sullenly, her shoulders slumping in defeat. Kakashi waved her goodbye before turning his back to her. Minato placed a gentle hand on the young boy's shoulder as he led him away. With his hands behind his back Kakashi flashed his sister three signs before he disappeared around the corner.
'Two doors down.'
Trust Kakashi to come through for her when all felt lost. The fatigue weighing Katsumi down felt suddenly bearable as she thought about the chance of seeing Obito again. Raising a hand to her chest she shifted forward experimentally. Her injury throbbed under her fingers, but the pain was much better than it had been when she first woke up. Tsunade certainly did know what she was doing. With renewed confidence Katsumi shimmied her way to the edge of the bed before easing herself to the floor. Her body was tired, but it was better than being immobile with pain. Instead her chest ached persistently, a constant reminder of her injured state. She braced herself against the side of the cot as she got her bearings. After a few seconds of deep rhythmic breathing she felt well enough to move again. Trying her best to move silently she crept to her door, cracking it open just enough to peek down the hallway. The hallway to the left was empty, not a nurse nor ninja in sight. But to her left a lone shinobi stood with his back to the door, surrounded by an air of boredom. Instinctively she slipped the door close and stepped back.
Now what are the odds that he's in the guarded room? She thought sarcastically to herself before turning to the window on the other side of her room. An idea hit her like a bolt of lightning and she grinned mischievously to herself. It was a total risk in her less than perfect state, but in this life everything was a risk. Every stride she took towards the window gave her more confidence as she visualised her goal. Once she got to it she gently unlatched the lock and pushed it open. A cool breeze filled the warm room helping to chase away the creeping fatigue.
The young shinobi popped her head out of the window and was pleased to find a ledge below the sill wide enough for a skilled ninja to shimmy across. It looked like a challenge and the Hatakes love a good challenge.
She checked that her gown was nice and tight before hoisting herself up onto the sill. Her chest ached with the exertion, but she would deal with the consequences of her actions later. Right now the only thing on her mind was getting into Obito's room undetected. She slipped her legs out into the open air and dragged her bare feet down the wall to rest on the ledge. The kunoichi was happy to note that she had enough room to stabilise herself on the surface thanks to her small feet. With skill she slipped her whole body from the window and rested all her weight on the ledge; her palms slid down to rest flat against the wall for grip.
It was dark outside, the streets below empty of daytime foot traffic. The young girl took a deep calming breath before she began her journey across the outside of the hospital building, her back sliding along the wall. Mercifully, the breeze was gentle as it drifted by which made it easier for her to keep balance. She passed the first window with a sigh, thankful it was closed. Chancing a look at her goal she grinned triumphantly, noticing it was cracked open. It seemed as if luck was on her side tonight.
For a second she was flooded with a wave of nausea, causing her to wobble in place. Her body tipped forward in her daze, losing her balance for only a second. Katsumi let out a small yelp before she flung herself against the wall, gripping the rough surface with calloused palms. Panic gripped her as she fought to calm down and regain her composure.
To an ordinary person doing this kind of stunt with stitches in their chest would have been a death sentence. But compartmentalising pain was a skill taught to her by her father. Never before had Katsumi been so grateful for that training. Pushing the pain down helped her regain control of her legs. Even though she could feel her body begging her to stop.
It took a few more steps before she finally felt the sill of Obito's window beneath her fingers. Curling her digits around the window she tugged slowly on the glass, opening it up enough for her to enter. She gently sniffed the air escaping the room and released a deep sigh. This room practically oozed with Obito's scent, confirming her theory. With precise, controlled movements she managed to maneuver herself around so her front faced towards the wall, keeping her grip tight on the sill to stay anchored.
A gasp left her lips as she hoisted herself up and slipped her top-half through the window. To maintain balance she rested her stomach on the sill. It took all of her strength not to collapse forward onto the floor, her arms trembled with the exertion. Desperate not to fall, she summoned up a final burst of strength. This allowed her to swing one of her legs into the gap, effectively straddling the sill between her thighs. She silently celebrated her victory as she caught her breath in her sturdy position, clutching her chest to try and control the ache. She was going to get her ass whooped by Tsunade-sama tomorrow, that's for sure.
"Leave me alone… You're wrong…" The voice came from inside the dimly lit room, drawing Katsumi's attention to the bed. A figure lay with their right side wrapped in casts, their casted limbs strung up on hoists. Even in the shadows of the room the seals painted all over the bandages drew the kunoichi's attention.
"You can't make me… I know she's alive..." It was clear now that the trembling voice she could hear was none other than Obito himself. Though his whispers concerned her; Katsumi couldn't help the excitement that buzzed through her. Slipping her final leg through the window gave her the momentum to slowly slip to the floor.
There was a gentle tap as the balls of her feet hit the cool floor.
"Who's there?" Obito's voice came out raspy and dry, worry woven in his tone.
Katsumi decided it was best to make her way over to the bedside in order to assess her friend's condition.
When no one answered his question, Obito felt panic rise in his throat as he repeated the question. His sight was significantly hampered by his injuries, and he couldn't gauge whether the sound had been his overactive imagination.
The silver-haired girl studied the condition of Obito's injuries, her reply caught in a lump in her throat. She stepped up to his bedside noting the bandage covering the right side of his face and the patch over his existing eye. Worse for wear was a dramatic understatement.
Finally she swallowed thickly before answering him. "It's me, Obito," she whispered gently. The pain she had been pushing aside slowly made its way to the surface, causing her to place a soothing hand over her chest once more.
"K-Katsumi-chan? You're okay?" Obito whispered back, his voice trembled with awe. He lifted up his good hand, and searched for her in the empty air.
Katsumi quickly captured his flailing hand in her grasp and clung to it for dear life. "I mean I'm in pain, but pain means I'm alive, right?"
Obito squeezed her fingers gently. "It sure does…" A beat of comfortable silence passed between them before Obito piped up again. "At least you are up and moving. I can't even pee without help."
Katsumi muffled her giggle with a hand over her mouth. "I'm not supposed to be moving. But I just…" She trailed off, emotions getting the best of her. Everything seemed to be hitting her all at once. The past month flitted through her mind leaving a painful sting behind; remnants of her drawn-out grief. Even the thought of Obito being absent from her life had her body trembling.
Obito rubbed his thumb in comforting circles on the back of her hand as he let out a low chuckle. "I don't know how you got past the guard, but I have never been so grateful for you breaking the rules."
Katsumi groaned in pain as she leaned against the side of the bed, trying to take the weight off her aching legs. She took a deep breath for courage before speaking again. "I just had to prove to myself that you are really here. To be honest, I thought I had imagined you."
"Do you make a habit of dreaming about me Katsumi-chan?" Obito teased before letting out a dry chuckle. Katsumi was grateful that the Uchiha's eyes were covered because the blush that lit up her face glowed in the darkness.
"When you have no alternative, dreams are better than nothing." The young girl didn't mean to sound harsh, but the sadness in her voice felt like a punch to the gut for Obito.
The black-haired boy let out a weary sigh. "A lot of things have happened since I last saw you, huh?" He tried to keep his tone light, but even then he could feel the emotions rolling off of the girl beside him. "I'm sorr-"
Katsumi gave his hand a gentle squeeze and cut him off. "The only thing I want to hear from you right now, is how you are feeling. We can talk about everything else later." She rubbed at her throat as if it would ease the strain of so much vocalisation. If Obito could see, Katsumi would have preferred to sign to him. But desperate times called for desperate measures.
"I've never heard you speak so much. You should do it more often." The injured boy gave their interlocked hands a squeeze to emphasise his sincerity.
"It's horrible and I hate it." Her voice came out in a low monotone, resulting in a fit of pained chuckles from her companion.
The arm imprisoned in casts suddenly jolted, causing Obito to hiss in pain. "Fuck off you overgrown weed. I told you she was alive." The boy replied to thin air.
Katsumi studied the seals with concern, looking around in case she had missed someone hiding in the shadows. "Obito? Who are you talking to?"
"Ah, how about I explain everything when I'm not strapped to a hospital cot. The doctor said she is going to perform surgery on my side tomorrow. But… there is a chance that things could go wrong…" Obito turned his head slowly in her direction searching for her even though he was blind. Katsumi brought both of her hands to cradle Obito's, bringing his knuckles to her lips.
"You've come back from the dead before. I'm willing to bet you are invincible." Katsumi giggled at the sight of his cheeks reddening at her words.
"W-well… I-" the boy began to reply to her, but was interrupted by the door of the hospital room swinging open.
Tsunade stood in the doorway exasperated. "As impressive as it is that you made it here with only stitches holding your chest together, Hatake-san. I'm going to have to kick you back to your bed, or I will be forced to keep you here longer."
Katsumi grimaced but nodded sullenly. She gave Obito's hand one last reassuring squeeze before letting his fingers slip from her grasp. "I'll see you tomorrow after your surgery, Obito-kun."
"You really think so?" Came the Uchiha's timid reply.
"I know so." Katsumi forced herself to walk away, casting an apologetic look towards the medical kunoichi.
Tsunade just sighed before she gave the young girl a knowing look. With a shake of her head she guided her stubborn patient back to her own hospital bed.
Now I have had my fill of angst, so prepare for some humour and fluff! Cause I don't know about you guys, but I need something cute to help my heart 😂 Drop me your omake ideas bellow if you got em!