Chapter 18: Medicine

Suigetsu's soft snore filled the room for an hour before he woke up. Hibiki, hearing him wake up smiles down at him.

"Have a nice nap?" she asked.

"Yeah I guess." he replied yawning.

"We still have time; you can sleep longer if you'd like." Hibiki said, her hand resting on his forehead.

"Nah, I'm good." Suigetsu denied the offer.

"Then can you tell me about your fight with Kisame? I didn't actually get to see it." Hibiki asked.

Suigetsu smiled widely, "Are you sure?" he half asked half joked.

"Yes, I want to know how it went. You've been waiting for this fight for a while now. It must have been exciting." Hibiki encouraged.

Suigetsu stayed resting his head in Hibiki's lap while he recounted the fight, he had with Kisame. Excitement and joy filled his words. Hibiki listened intently. Across on the other sofa, Karin was lounging, a book in her lap, rolled her eyes.

Gross, Suigetsu is just gross. I'd smack him unconscious if it were just us. Karin thought. She glanced at Hibiki's face; I'll tolerate it as long as Hibiki is happy. She sighed.

During Suigetsu's story Juugo returned from a walk. He made tea hot for everyone and took a seat on the sofa with Karin and listened in on the conversation. After he finished his own tea, he rested his face in his hand and fell asleep. When Suigetsu finished his story Hibiki petted his head.

"I'm proud of you, you had an even fight with a senpai you've admired. You'll beat him someday." Hibiki beamed. Suigetsu crossed his arms and donned a smug smile.

"Hibiki, how much longer is Sasuke going to be?" Karin asked, looking up from her book.

"Let me see." Hibiki said closing her eyes and furrowing her brow. She sat still for a minute before opening them again.

"I need to go." Hibiki said, standing up. Suigetsu stood up too, catching Hibiki's arm as she rushed to the door.

"Where to?" He asked. "What's going on?"

"I need to go help Sasuke," Hibiki said. "You guys should stay here; I'll bring him back with me."

"No, no way are you leaving by yourself again." Suigetsu told her.

"It's ok, everything is going to be fine," Hibiki reassured him.

"No way, last time you came back half dead. If you're going anywhere, I'm coming too." Suigetsu argued.

"It's different, I promise everything will be fine. Sasuke just needs my help, and you guys should rest more." Hibiki bargained.

"No, Send Karin, or Juugo, or me. You're not going alone." he demanded. Hibiki sighed. Just as Suigetsu was saying something, he was hit from behind and fell into Hibiki's arms unconscious.

"Suigetsu?" Hibiki panicked.

"I just knocked him out. He'll wake up in an hour or so." Juugo said taking Suigetsu from Hibiki and sitting him on the sofa.

Karin burst into hysterical laughing.

"Man, I wish I thought of that first, I wanted to knock the idiot out." She said between fits of laughter.

"Hibiki are you sure you will be fine on your own? You won't come back hurt again?" Juugo asked.

"Yes, this is different." Hibiki promised.

"Then go, Karin and I will hold Suigetsu here. How long will you be?" he asked.

"14 days at least. We are traveling to…" Hibiki started but was hushed by Juugo.

"Don't tell us. The less we know, the less Suigetsu will know." Juugo explained.

Hibiki reached over and brushed Suigetsu's hair off his forehead, then placing a small kiss to it.

"I'm sorry." She sighed. Hibiki started to the door, meeting Karin who handed Hibiki her pack and hugged her.

"Don't die. I kind of like having you around." Karin smiled.

Hibiki nodded and paused at the door.

"Suigetsu is going to be so pissed." She said as she left.

Hibiki looked to Sasuke's location from hers, and slowly made her way outside and through the woods, she stopped after a few feet and checked her positioning. She was too tired to use her front vision (AN: What she did in the fire. She calls it her front vision.) It began raining as she took a man-made path up the side of a mountain and entered a man-made cave near the top. Inside Hibiki could feel the warm fire. She followed the cave wall to where Sasuke was sleeping and sat next to him.

"I was wondering if you were coming, Young crystal. Tell me why you have not brought the rest with you." Obito's cold voice filled the small space of the cave. Hibiki felt claustrophobic. She held her head high and faced the direction Obito was sitting across from her.

"The others are not needed. They would be unhelpful for the mission. They need to rest for when Sasuke and I return." Hibiki reported.

She could feel the air change around her, a pressure pushed on her.

"Visual genjutsu is useless against my blind eyes." she growled.

"HAHAHAHA, it seems so. I was just checking. No need to be so hostile young crystal." Obito smiled. "I'm sure you have questions for me, please ask. We have some time before Sasuke wakes."

"You call me 'Young crystal', is that a confirmation that you know about me. Who I am?" Hibiki accused.

"Yes, Little Omoikane. I know everything." Obito's voice becoming deeper with his words.

"Don't say that name aloud." Hibiki scolded.

"Yes of course, wouldn't want others to come steal the young crystal."

"Am I to expect to be used?" She said, leaning against the cave wall.

"Can you not see that yourself?" Obito played.

"It's a possibility. Your purposefully causing blind spots. You don't want me watching your actions."

"HAHAHAHAHA, then my methods are working, that is good to hear. And no, you are not in our plans. Stay out of the way and you will be left alone." Obito said.

"Understood." Hibiki stated.

It was raining again, Sasuke awoke to find Hibiki next to him. His eyes hurt. As he sat up he looked at Hibiki and Madara. The two seemed tense. Sasuke sighed and turned to Hibiki.

"Hibiki, I have heard Itachi used some eye medication, Kotaro. Find it." He ordered. Hibiki closed her eyes and furrowed her brow without a word. In the time Hibiki searched, Sasuke stood and got ready to leave.

"Howling wolf Village, 3 day run to the village, the medication takes 7 days to make, and a three-day run back." Hibiki reported standing.

"Then let's go," Sasuke said. Hibiki walked forward to the caves entrance.

"'Madara. We are not to be followed." Hibiki said to Obito.

"I'll keep watch over the kids while you're gone." he agreed. With that Hibiki got on Sasuke's back and the two took off to Howling Wolf Village.

Sasuke didn't ask why Hibiki was with him, He knew better than to waste his breathe. The three days to the village was quiet, neither speaking. However, as they reached the villages outskirts, he let Hibiki down and turned to her,

"How much do you know, about Itachi." Sasuke asked. Not looking at her.

"I could only see his death, and your regret. Everything else was blurred purposefully by Itachi." Hibiki explained. Sasuke nodded and the started walking to the village, Hibiki right behind him.

"You learned something haven't you." Hibiki stated. Sasuke looked at Hibiki for a moment before deciding to speak. He gave her a quick summary on his fight with Itachi and what Madara had told him. Hibiki eyes saddened.

"Sasuke," Hibiki started.

"I know." He responded. Hibiki took a deep breath and let it out slowly. I should have pushed harder; I should have looked harder at Itachi. She thought as they entered the villages gates.

In the village the two walked by pedestrians, Sasuke stopped and asked a few people about the medication, but got no information on the subject. The people seemingly frightened by the topic. Sasuke lead Hibiki over to a bench to rest.

"Hibiki," He said. Hibiki nodded and searched for the information they needed. "The medicine came from a store called Rengyōdō that lies on the outskirts of town," she said, opening her eyes.

"And the store produces saigenzai, an addictive narcotic." She finished. Sasuke and Hibiki stood and continued through the village and into the surrounding forest. As they were following a path, Hibiki directed them down, Hibiki's nose burned with the familiar stench of corpses. The two stop and Sasuke looks at one that had washed up by the river.

"Their chakra was sucked out." Sasuke says quietly to Hibiki. Hibiki grips Sasuke's shirt. Her stomach becoming unsettled.

"This place is making me sick." She told Sasuke. As they walked on Sasuke steered Hibiki away from two more corpses they passed. Soon they came to the store's front door.

"It's closed." Sasuke announced.

"What time is it?" Hibiki asked.

"Midnight probably." Sasuke answered.

"Man, my sense of time is screwed." Hibiki groaned.

"There is a shrine over there, lets rest inside." Sasuke said. Hibiki agreed and the two sat just inside the shrine's walls.

"Sasuke I don't like this place." Hibiki confessed.

"What's wrong?" Sasuke asked.

"It's making me feel sick, I only feel like this when I'm in danger. It's my precognition warning me of my possible death." Hibiki worried.

"Have you looked to see what is going to happen?" he asked.

"Yeah, I've been trying, but there's an unpredictable presence in the area. Its blurring my vision." Hibiki said.

"We'll have to be cautious than." Sasuke sighed.

"As far as I can tell, if I stay away from people, I should be fine." Hibiki guessed.

"Do what you must," He agreed. Sasuke heard some movement nearby, and stood suddenly, walking out of the shrine.

"Sasuke?" Hibiki called.

"Stay here." He ordered. The next half hour was filled with many sounds. A fire, a boy, Sasuke, and another person speaking. Hibiki tried to use her precognition but got no answers. She hatted not having her vision. It made her completely blind and useless.

Sasuke returned and explained the situation, the shop was on fire, he was suspected of setting it. The owners came one attacking him the other noticed he was an Uchiha. Sasuke laid down to rest, His eyes blurring.

Hibiki tried to relax after everything settled down. She could hear Sasuke sleeping nearby. The sick feeling of her own demise prevented her from sleeping.

The next morning Sasuke and Hibiki sat in the shop owner's kitchen, invited in for breakfast. The owners where a pair of brothers, young still. The breakfast consisted in a dish of vegetables, some broth and some onigiri. It was very simple, Hibiki ate happily, the warm food giving her some comfort. Sasuke at first refused to eat, but after Hibiki elbowed him, he gave in.

"Itachi loved seaweed onigiri. Are you fond of it too?" Kina, the younger brother asked Sasuke.

"Oi, Kina! That's no way to talk!" Reishi the elder brother scolded him.

"What did I say wrong?!" Kina asked.

"I like the ones with dried tuna in it best." Sasuke answered. Hibiki fought a smile, she use to make it for him when they lived with Orochimaru.

"When will you understand, Kina? People get to know who you are by observing your attitude." Reishi instructed.

"I don't give a damn about what the villagers think!" Kina barked back.

"Please forgive his insolence." Reishi apologized.

"It's fine. We are in your home." Hibiki smiled.

"Do you like it, Itachi's brother? I cooked these seaweeds with my own hands!" Kina proudly told them.

"Sasuke."

"Uh?"

"My name is Sasuke. This onigiri is not bad." Sasuke answered. Hibiki smiled, Sasuke was in a good mood. He humored the boy's questions, something he was usually against doing. Then Hibiki frowned, those two brothers must remind him of Itachi and himself. This trip was going to be straining for Sasuke, Hibiki was right to come with him.

"So, who are you lady?" Kinu asked.

"I'm a friend of Sasuke's," Hibiki simplified. Was friend the right word?

"So, are you here to steal our medication?" Kina asked Sasuke.

"Why don't I do the dishes? Can you lead me to your sink please?" Hibiki blurted out, standing. Kina lead Hibiki to the sink and gave her the breakfast dishes. She washed them slowly, knowing Sasuke needed to be alone with the two. Hibiki also felt that the further from the situation she was, the safer she was. As Hibiki turned off the water Sasuke called for her.

"Hibiki, let's go."

"Coming Sasuke." she called back. On her way out she bowed and thanked the boys for their hospitality. Sasuke and Hibiki returned to the shrine.

...

The next few days Hibiki stayed by the shrine, Sasuke was with Kina. The boy was attached to Sasuke, and Sasuke seemed to like the boy too. Hibiki searched the future to little luck. However, there was something she could do, the hole reason she came with Sasuke. Hibiki began to plan, walking in the woods around the shrine, listening and feeling. She had an important task to complete.

Back at the Akatsuki hideout, she had seen only a flash, but it seemed the likely future of Sasuke killing himself was getting close. The future blurred now, But Hibiki was here to insure they both lived. She had made a promise to keep him breathing.

…

A few years earlier

I was placed on a bench in the nearby village. Orochimaru was constructing a new hideout nearby. I was brought along to make sure the base was built to protect against any possible attack, no matter how unlikely. The man was paranoid. It was winter, and it was cold. I wore a jacket over my dress and held my exposed knee's close enough to hide under the jackets warmth.

"Hello." A male voice said. "May I sit with you?"

"Sure." I said, cautious. I hadn't seen this; it must have been a very unlikely event. I knew this was going to shift the future and destroy my current knowledge of events.

"You are Hibiki correct, of that clan," He asked. I tensed up,

"Maybe."

"You know Sasuke Uchiha right?" He asked.

"Yes." I answered. I slid my knees out of my jacket and sat them on the ground, I inched to the edge of the bench ready to escape.

"You don't need to be scared. I'm not going to harm you. I just wanted to know what the future looks like." He gently asked.

"Ok," I said.

"What will happen to Sasuke after his brother's death?" He asked. The man was calm and had an easing aura. I sat back on the bench properly.

"After. How long after?" I asked.

"Nothing specific, just what his general fate is." I closed my eyes and furrowed my brow. I found Itachi's death by Sasuke's hand and followed the most likely path forward. It had not changed so far.

"As of now it's very likely he will commit suicide," I answered. The man tensed and was silent. Sasuke's suicide had been the most likely future for some time now. I looked to see what would happen if I talked him out of killing itachi, or even stopped him all together. This was a very unlikely path. It would take me stopping Sasuke with my own hands to keep him from killing Itachi. And even then, when Itachi dies he goes on to commit suicide. It was apparently unavoidable. Sasuke wasn't good at expressing himself. His emotions would pour over and be too much for him.

I kept this to myself, away from Sasuke and Orochimaru. Just as mother had taught me, the future is a secret to be kept from everyone, only exposed in times of need. Sasuke living past 16 did nothing for my own future, my own survival. So, his death wasn't to be reported. The man grabbed my hands scarring me. He placed something in my hand, it was hard, jewelry of some kind?

"Please, please help him." The man begged. "This can be sold for a lot of money, money that could take care of you for a long time."

I felt shocked. Why Was I being paid by this man?

"Mister it's not my place to," I started,

"I understand what position you're in. But I'm begging for Sasuke's life. As much as you can possibly do, to keep him living." he begged, his voice cracking. Warm wet drops fell on our clasped hands. I sighed and closed my eyes and furrowed my brow.

This path was new, the future shifted by this man's words and by my choice. I saw a path were Sasuke could grow old and die from a long life. Nothing strenuous on my part needed to be done, I opened my eyes again.

"Fine, I'll do everything I can to keep Sasuke alive, I can't promise success though." I told him.

"You promise?" he asked.

"Yes, I promise." I sighed.

"Thank you young crystal," He whispered before vanishing. He was there holding my hands, then he was gone. I called out for him, but he isn't near.

…

Thinking back on it now Hibiki should have known it was Itachi. She never gave it much thought until recently. She couldn't lie to herself though, she didn't rush into the fire to save Sasuke because of this promise, that was an impulse. Sasuke mattered to her now, he was a lot of things, but she knew Sasuke wasn't that bad of a person.

The bastard grew on me. Hibiki thought. This is the time Sasuke was destined to kill himself. He needed her to help him, to get him through this.

On the 7th day of their mission, Hibiki acted. This was the day she would keep her promise. Sasuke sat down exhausted from the day, he sat by the shrine and buried his face in his hands. The more he learned about Itachi the worse he felt. Hibiki had tried to warn him, but he didn't listen.

A soft tap on his shoulder made him look up at Hibiki. She held her hand out to him.

"What?" He asked.

"Come with me," she smiled. Grumbling a bit, he took Hibiki's hand and stood. She began walking off with him in tow. They walked some ways into the forest before coming to a sudden stop. Hibiki then pointed to a nearby tree. Looking up he could see a nest.

"What.." he started, then a crow flew by and landed in the nest, it had a worm and began to feed its chirping children. Sasuke watched the crow quietly for a long time before Hibiki spoke.

"Sasuke who was Itachi?" She asked. Sasuke was surprised by the question, looked at her. She had her head tilted up, looking blindly at the crow's nest. Sasuke frowned and continued to stare at her.

"Itachi was an older brother, one who adored his younger sibling. Itachi was brave, and kind. But Itachi could also be selfish, and scared. He was the monster in your dreams, and in your life. A scapegoat to focus your anger on." Hibiki answered her own question. She tilted her head to Sasuke and squeezed his hand.

"Itachi wasn't simple, or easy to understand, there is still so much you can learn about him. So much you can learn from him." She continued. Hibiki turned and made Sasuke look at her. She put her hands on either side of his face. "Don't look at Itachi as a monster, and don't pity him, don't think about his story as tragic. Itachi was a human. He made his choices and lived his life. He knew where his choices led. His life wasn't easy, but life isn't easy. Sasuke, you need to look at your brother for what he really was. You need to accept Itachi's choices, and you need to accept your own." she explained.

"You can't hold onto these feelings and thoughts; you need to accept them and move past them." she finished. Sasuke could feel so much emotion building inside, emotion he normally tried to push away or convert to anger.

"You don't always have to be so tough. It just me, no one else is around." she whispered. She took Sasuke's hands in both of hers and waited.

They stand there for a while, it's quiet and Hibiki doesn't know if Sasuke is crying or not. But she knows since she can't see him, he will not feel ashamed if he did. That he was processing emotions he avoided for years. After doing as Hibiki had told him, he looked at the last living person he trusted. Sasuke had for a long time considered what Hibiki was to him. What word would describe their relationship. He still wasn't sure of the answer. She was something between a friend and a Sister.

When he was ready, the two walked back to the shrine. Hibiki had an odd way of removing him from a situation, even if it was only for a moment. It was a moment he needed. As much as Hibiki hated Naruto, the two were similar in many ways.

AN: I changed some details, as well as time frames. The original book , where I got the content from is (Naruto Jinraiden: The Day the Wolf Howled). I only skimmed through the books contents, most of my research was on the Wiki Fan site.

Thank you for reading.