Chapter 18

Hospital Visits

I titled this chapter Hospital Visits because that's basically what it is. Arashi has landed herself in a hospital bed and gets to talk to some people as she recovers. Next chapter should have some more interesting people involved, but I felt like this chapter was necessary. One thing that I have tried to convey from the beginning is that she has a normal, loving family.

Thank you to the new favorites and follows – it's appreciated!

Ookami had just come in for an early shift at the hospital. There was nothing notable happening when he arrived. They had normal patients that rushed in for various reasons, but they were able to be cared for by the nursing staff or less experienced Iryo that needed the practice. He knew that Naomi would have preferred him to be home, but he hoped to make up for it by leaving earlier and spending the afternoon with her. It would allot enough time to even help Kazika with a couple things he was working on.

He felt optimistic about the day.

He went into his office, checked over the files and paperwork that needed to be completed, and then made a round on the floor to check in with anyone that was present. He peeked into patient's rooms and checked their vitals with a wave of his hand, greeted the staff, and answered questions from his medical team. With the Chuunin Selection Exam happening, he intended to involve some of the newer Iryo in treating injuries and teaching them their processes. He was thankful for his position, even if it kept him from being fully retired. It had been over a decade since he had to be in active combat, and he preferred it this way.

Now, he was able to enjoy helping people and advocating for their health. He was able to explore medicine, therapy, and treatments that were an afterthought during times of war. His goal was not just that of survival, but of a greater quality of life for the citizens in his village. That was what he had always wanted to dedicate his time and effort to.

"Ookami-san!" A nurse yelled from the hallway. "Critical patient!"

He left a cup of tea on his desk and dashed out of his office. He did not miss the tense expressions on his team's faces as he was led to the patient's room. Akio stood outside the door in bloodstained clothing. An uneasy feeling settled in the Jounin's bones. When he entered, he found his daughter unconscious and surrounded by Iryo. She was covered in blood and had two puncture wounds all the way through her torso. They had already begun a transfusion. One medic worked on trying to close one of the wounds while another worked on the second. Sweat beaded on their foreheads.

He stepped forward and held a hand over the area to channel chakra into her body. After a few moments, he had gotten an idea for what they were working on. Arashi was in bad condition. Several organs were damaged, multiple broken bones, and there was severe bleeding. Her breathing was labored, even with an oxygen mask.

A nurse cut through the scarf around Arashi's neck and gasped at the scar tissue that was exposed. Ookami stared in horror when he saw it. It was thick, bulging, and jagged. He tenderly ran his fingers across it. From what he could tell, it was old. Whenever she had received that in the past, he knew she should have died.

This was a situation where he would have suggested the Chikatsu Saisei no Jutsu, but he knew from the roster he had reviewed that they did not have skilled enough Iryo scheduled to cover that need. The time it would take to get them in would likely result in Arashi dying before they arrived. They had to get her stable enough to survive the wait.

Ookami called out orders for equipment and tools. Almost as quickly as he asked, they were provided. He inserted his fingers into one of the wounds until he was at her lung. With his other hand he maneuvered a tube inside. Carefully, he used his chakra to direct the blood and fluid that had collected into the tube. While it was draining, he focused on mending her lung. He needed to make sure it had the correct pressure to not remain collapsed. He lost track of the time it took until he was able to withdraw the tube and then finish closing the opening into the organ.

"The lung is good." He announced. "Ribs?"

"Still working on them." One of the medics replied.

Ookami shifted his attention to knitting the rest of the opening together. The process took several more minutes, but he was satisfied once he was done. He performed another sweep with his hand to check the status of their treatment. Bone growth took longer, but they were making good progress. The other puncture had gone through her bowels. The medic working on that was doing his best and had managed to close most of the damage. Regardless, Ookami was meticulous. He took over that portion and checked over everything. He found spots that needed some more work and finished it. She would need antibiotics to ensure no infections set up.

Lastly, he went through, checking her cartilage, tissue, and ligaments. It was tedious, delicate work, but he was determined. Arashi's body reacted favorably to their treatments. She wanted to live and was fighting for it as much as they were.

By the time he thought to check a clock, they had been tending to her for over an hour, but her vitals were stable. He was exhausted, but she was alive. If anything, he was now confident that she would not need anything as intensive as what he originally thought. He had treated few patients that were as receptive and recovered as quickly as she did. She would have more healing to do, even after they were done with what they could handle, but pride surged in his chest at the determination he saw in his daughter. A nurse urged him to take a break, but he brushed her off. The only thing that managed to draw him away was Akio's shadow in the doorway.

He asked the Aburame a single question, "Who did this?"

When Arashi woke up, her sight was bleary. The room was dim. She began to reach for her glasses before she realized where she was. The hospital?

Her body ached and she was still weak. The places that she had been stabbed still hurt, but she was able to breathe without choking on blood. Her stomach twisted with hunger for solid food. Ookami was by her side, his face and upper body resting on the bed next to her. He had fallen asleep while watching over her. She could see the bags and shadows around his eyes.

Not wanting to wake him, she remained quiet. She saw light glinting off her glasses and was able to reach them with minimal movement – which still hurt, but she was able to manage it. After sliding them back on, she blinked balefully at her surroundings. Despite working as a medic and spending a considerable amount of time within these rooms, she had never been in one as a patient. The role reversal was bizarre.

Ookami sucked in a breath as he woke. When he saw that she was also awake, he jerked his head up. "Arashi!"

"Hey, Dad." She greeted, her voice hoarse.

He wrapped her in a hug. She knew he was being careful, but she still grunted in pain. He released her and settled back into the chair next to the bed, but kept a firm hold on her hand. "I'm so proud of you."

He meant it. She could tell from the look on his face, as well as the way his signature resonated. Tears stung her eyes. "Why are you proud?"

"You should have died, Arashi. You've survived an encounter with Orochimaru. Very few can say that." He replied. "I've been filled in on roughly what happened by Akio. He was able to get more details from Anko."

"Technically, I did die." She huffed and laid back into the pillows positioned around her.

"You used that jutsu well. Good job." He held eye contact with her. It was too much eye contact.

Like he's afraid to look anywhere else? She thought and then it dawned on her that she was no longer wearing a scarf. Her heart dropped and with a gasp she touched her neck. It was wrapped in bandaging. For years, she had worked hard at keeping her family from knowing how close she had come to death. She never wanted them to see how badly scarred she was. There was nothing romantic or impressive about it. It was hideous and it railed against any vanity she still possessed. Now that secret was no longer hers.

The last person she wanted to know was her father.

He saw her reaction and released her. His expression softened. "Right before you became a Chuunin. You started wearing those scarves. I thought you were into a boy and you were trying to hide hickeys." He laughed, weak and quiet, into his hands. "I wish it was just a boy."

Arashi released a breath she did not know she was holding. This was not a talk she wanted to have. There were other things that should have been pressing. Things that were less personal. She averted her eyes to look through a nearby window. "How long have I been here?"

"You've been out for about two days. We decided that you did not require Chikatsu Saisei, but you were close. When we got you stable, we continued working on you as we could."

She nodded in acknowledgment. The second part of the exam was going into day two out of five. Tomorrow's the last day and then we'll be looking at a month before the last part. She chewed on her lips. That is, unless they're going to cancel because we've got bigger concerns.

"If you're thinking of returning to your duties, you can forget it for now. We'll be keeping you here a few more days, at least. You had traumatic injuries and your body needs time to rest."

She inhaled a deep breath and released it, slowly. "I'm aware."

"Besides, you've scared not only me. Your mother and Kazika have been beside themselves." He muttered. "Please don't rush right into danger again."

Arashi pursed her lips. "I didn't mean to get stabbed to shit, for what it's worth."

"I haven't met anyone that did." He pointed out.

She snorted and shook her head. She chose to change the subject. "Is Akio okay?"

"Ah, so you remember him bringing you here?" He tilted his head to one side as he thought. "He seemed alright. Furious. Tense. He's always been angry, but I got the impression there was a lot more to it this time. As soon as he found out you were okay and I had gotten to chat with him, he left to report to Sandaime-sama."

"I see."

"Daisuke has been by to visit. He left you a painting over there." He motioned to the other side of the room.

Arashi blinked. There was a painting that consisted of rolling fields, blue skies, and light, fluffy clouds. Not a tree in sight. As with all of Daisuke's paintings, she felt his chakra wash over her, making it feel real. She was struck with a single emotion: be well. She caught herself rubbing at her eyes to hide how bright they had become.

Next to the painting were flowers and a collection of candies.

Ookami watched her eyes travel to them and explained, "Chiharo left the flowers and Anko dropped the candy off. Asuma and Kurenai checked on you today, as well."

Arashi was touched. "That was very considerate. I'll need to thank them."

"I think Anko wanted to talk to you about what happened and was disappointed that you were still out. Expect a visit from at least ANBU tomorrow. I'd say your Sensei might be the one to stop by, if they don't have him too tied up with things, but with Orochimaru's reappearance in our village, it's like a beehive that's been knocked from a tree."

"I'm sure." She sighed.

"Anyway," he brightened. "Enough of that. Let's talk about other things."

He remained in her room, chatting about anything and everything but her injuries or the fight that she received them in until she fell asleep.

When she awoke again, it was to the smell of tea and tobacco. Sarutobi Hiruzen stood next to the window, peering out onto the village. His silhouette was outlined by the sunlight that flooded in, giving him an ethereal appearance. She noted that he was considerate enough to not be smoking, but the smell of it on him was an odd comfort. Instead of a pipe, he held a cup. She noted a second cup was sitting on a table beside her.

"Thank you for the tea, Sandaime-sama."

He turned and offered her a smile. "It's good to see you awake."

"I'm sorry if I kept you waiting." She knew he had not been there long. Steam was still rising from both of their cups.

"No worries. Do you mind if I sit with you?"

"Not at all."

He crossed the room and sat in the chair that had previously been occupied by her father. She nursed the drink with small sips, savoring the flavor and the sensation of it on her dry throat. Hiruzen watched for several moments before he spoke. "I'm sorry."

Her eyes snapped to his face. "You have nothing to be sorry for."

"I've lived a long life. I have a great deal to be sorry for." He replied, a spark of humor on his features. "But for now, I am sorry for what my student did to you. I'm glad you managed to escape his grasp."

"You're not responsible for his actions. I was too slow. Waited too long to break away."

"Tell me everything you gathered from what happened."

Even as tired as she still was, the words fell from her mouth in a rush. "The man that did this to me had the same signature as the Otogakure Jounin that I looked after in the first part of the Exam. I think he waited until he saw which teams passed and struck under the cover of night to steal the faces of those Kusagakure Genin. He then slipped into the forest to assume their roles and do…" She parsed through the memories she gathered from her shadow clone when it was destroyed. "He was after Sasuke." Her stomach twisted. That monster was after Sasuke. "I don't know why. He wants the exam to continue. Threatened Anko-san over it. He was just toying with me. I think I piqued his interest somehow when he saw a glimpse of my fuinjutsu. It wasn't even anything impressive. He remembered my name and used it before he tried to kill me."

Hiruzen sighed. "I see."

"I can find him again. I know his signature."

"I'm sure you can, but you would not survive another encounter with him and it's best if he continues to believe you're dead." He replied. "We've been discussing what to do with this situation. With so much attention on us from the other Lands, we have to step carefully. Any sign of weakness or unrest could goad them into striking. As of now, the wisest course we can take is to wait until the exam is over and to be vigilant. If we are to act, it needs to be secret. With that in mind, be sure you do not speak of what happened. Keep your head down."

She swallowed over a lump in her throat. "Yes, Sandaime-sama."

"I was advised that you will be released in a couple more days. Possibly sooner, with your rate of recovery. I want you to focus on watching after Naruto."

"I will."

"Thank you for your diligence in this." Hiruzen stood. "Now, I believe I need to get back."

She watched him go and then turned her attention back to drinking the tea. As much as she wanted to be confident that everything would be alright, the exchange she had with Hiruzen had left a bad taste in her mouth. Orochimaru was effectively holding them hostage during the exam. There was no way to know how many of his followers were present and they were, as far as she knew, unsure of his motives.

There's not a single thing I can do about it right now.

Arashi looked around her room but did not see any of her belongings laying out. With a groan, she slid out of the bed and shuffled across the floor, pulling the IV pole with her, while trying to keep the back of her poorly tied together hospital gown in place. It did not take long for her to find what she was looking for in a cabinet. Satisfied, she settled back on the bed with her crystal ball and began scrying. She had some catching up to do after being out for days.

Team 7 looked rough, but they were managing. Their clothes had a lot of wear and tear, but she saw no injuries that were concerning. Sakura's hair had been cut short and her skin still held hints of bruising. By all appearances, they had been involved in some rough altercations, but they had managed to make it out of them. As was expected and hoped for.

She noted that they were traveling with another Konoha Genin. He had white hair, black eyes, and wore glasses. From what she could tell, he was roughly her age. What is he doing with them?

Even if they were from the same village, there was no benefit to them working together in the long run. They all needed a set of scrolls. They all had the same goal. Watching him speak with them and guide them struck her as suspicious. She wondered if he was leading them into an ambush for his team. When her Genin squad took the exam, they had been meticulous about weeding out as many competitors as possible. The goal was to make the final portion as easy as possible.

Guys, you need to be careful with that one.

Arashi took a steadying breath, ended the jutsu and tucked the ball away. She had checked in and verified that they were alright for the time being. Now she needed to focus on resting. The sooner she could be on her feet and mobile, the better. If Team 7 happened to pass, Naruto would need to train for the last part. Fighting in front of a crowd was crude, but it was a way to showcase a skillset and capability. It could define a shinobi's career by earning them renown and new clients. It was also not without its own dangers. She had killed Satoshi in front of everyone present and faced no repercussions, had she not?

The thought did not bring her pleasure.

It's in the past. Leave it there. She told herself. Killing that boy had not restored a single thing to her, but it had spared any future victims the cruelty he would have dished out. His death had a reason.

Needing something to distract her, she peered around the room again until she found a stack of books. A glance at the titles or covers informed her that they had been left by her mother. They were trashy romance novels. Not one to shy away from them, she grabbed one from the top of the stack and returned to the bed.

Naomi considered herself and her family to be blessed. They lived in a nice home, they got to see each other regularly, they were able to make memories and live in peace. When she fell in love with Ookami, she knew there were risks. There was the possibility that he would die in a war or on a mission. There would be days, perhaps weeks that she would not see him or know if he was alive. Even still, they married and tried to build a family. Months turned into years, but they produced no children. That time was filled with hands held over an empty womb, wishing for a life to spark into existence. Time spent looking through baby clothes she had no reason to buy, but she struggled to put each article back. Worse yet was the overwhelming feeling that Ookami would be such a good father if she could just give him offspring. It grieved her.

When the war ended, her husband had returned home with a child. He was adamant about adopting her and going into retirement. Naomi had refused to take her eyes off Arashi. The girl's features were similar to her own. They both had brown eyes and hair. No one would know that she had not birthed this girl. She saw it as divine intervention. Naomi decided that day that no one would know any difference – this was their daughter. The loneliness that filled the Ran household was to be replaced with laughter and the sound of small feet running from room to room.

Grooming Arashi to become a shinobi had been something she disagreed with, but she swallowed that worry with pride for her family. Naomi had deep-rooted respect for her husband and every shinobi that served and protected their village. It made it easier for her to accept that the child she had pined for was being turned into a child soldier.

Seeing her daughter pale and weak in a hospital bed was something she had hoped she would never see. The woman knew that this was part of being a shinobi. She knew that her daughter had been injured in the past but was able to heal herself before coming home. She knew that Arashi had been in fights that were real and dangerous. Up to this point, it was just a simple matter of not seeing evidence of these events. Now she was face to face with it.

Kazika stood by her side as she examined Arashi. The kunoichi was sound asleep with a book resting on her chest. Ookami had refused to give many details about what had happened or how severe her state was. That was enough for her to know it was serious. They had been by the visit her every day, but she had not been awake.

Whether she was awake or not, Naomi needed to be with her. Quietly, she and Kazika found a place next to her and waited. She could have given into worry for her daughter and worry for future dangers her son would face, but she instead chose to be proud. Naomi would never be a shinobi, but she was strong in her own way.

Arashi stirred, feeling the signatures of her mother and sibling next to her. As soon as her eyes opened, Naomi gasped. No matter how well put together she was, the kunoichi could see the worried lines around her eyes and mouth. "Hey, Mom."

"Hey, baby." She whispered. "How are you feeling?"

"Pretty good, all things considered." Arashi replied.

Kazika had no couth. "What happened?"

"Zigged when I should have zagged." She responded without a hint of humor in her voice.

He nodded in understanding. "Rookie mistake."

"Yeah." She agreed. "Had to turn in my Chuunin card."

He patted her hand and informed her in a sweet voice, "My class has room for another student."

"I'm considering it."

"You're really okay, though?" He asked.

"Doing great. I'll be out of here in no time."

"Good, because you have to help me train! I made it halfway up a tree yesterday!"

She smiled. "I'm looking forward to it."

A little shorter than I planned. Originally, Ibiki and Daisuke were going to show up at this point, but then it dawned on me that Ibiki's hanging out in the tower at the moment since it's the last day of part 2 of the exam. He'll be showing up next chapter, along with Kakashi, and an additional character that might be a little bit of a surprise. It will be the beginning of setting up some extra plot for part 4 when we get there.

I'll be aiming to have the next chapter posted by Sunday evening. That's when I would like to do a normal upload schedule, but if I have a chapter done very quickly and I feel I can complete two in a week, I intend to throw one up on Wednesday as a bonus.

If anyone would like to share their opinions of the characters, the recent events, or any criticisms, please let me know in a review. I appreciate all forms of feedback.