Sasuke huffed crouching down on the ground holding his head. Right before he left, as soon as the bright light had ended he couldn't see her. Naruto had been lying unconscious in the middle of the clearing but Kira was nowhere to be seen. As tired as he was he couldn't leave. He couldn't leave without making sure she was okay.
Sasuke limped frantically towards the one side looking at the ground for any source of blood staining the rocks or staining the water pink but when he didn't see any blood he rushed towards the other side. He started to use what little energy he had to dig, the rocks were heavy. Incredibly heavy. He didn't think he would be able to move them.
After struggling for five minutes he saw her bloodied hand. Tears sprang to his eyes as he reached forward. "Don't be dead. Please don't be dead." he begged clutching onto her limp fingers. He felt his heart break in his chest at his own stupidity. She felt so cold. The tears stained the rocks around her "I'm so sorry...I'm sorry."
There was nothing he could do. There wasn't anything left for him now. She was gone. He didn't experience the immense feeling of the new Sharingan. He didn't want it this way. Ripping out a stray kunai from the side of one of the rocks, he carved the Uchiha symbol on the back of her hand, forever branding her as an Uchiha.
Maybe if Sasuke wasn't drained of energy and maybe if he was thinking clearly he would have realized the reason he didn't get the Mangekyou Sharingan was because she wasn't dead. She was just knocked out and needed medical attention.
Sasuke just felt blind hatred towards Itachi, he would do anything and everything to kill his older brother. He didn't even care if Orochimaru wanted to use his body afterwards, nothing else mattered. She was gone. She was gone and it was his fault.
Kakashi returned the next morning after three missions. He desperately needed some rest but today he had a full schedule of helping his sister and changing some things up training wise. She was in no condition to fight just yet. She'd probably be better in a few weeks.
He wondered how she'd react when she finds out that Naruto will officially be training under Jiraiya. It'll be hard on her for however long he'll be gone. They've never been separated for more than a few weeks at most. Upon entering her hospital room he found her sound asleep curled onto her side with a boy sitting beside her. It wasn't Naruto either. It was that boy, Gaara.
Gaara quickly looked away from her sleeping form toward her brother. Kakashi nodded towards the boy and walked towards her. She didn't look like she was in pain. She looked like she was in the middle of some sort of conversation. "She talks in her sleep." Gaara nodded towards her.
"What about this time? She's been speaking in her sleep since she was I think six I believe." Gaara grinned thinking about what she might be talking about since she was a kid. "She once said she was going to be the King of Candy Mountain." Gaara tried not to laugh, it sounded like something any child would want to be. "So what was it this time?"
"Something about her friend to leave her alone." Kakashi furrowed his eyebrows trying to figure out which friend. "Sasuke, I believe." Kakashi nodded in understanding taking a seat on the other side of her bed. She snuggled closer into her pillow, Kakashi was quick to notice Gaara's features softened when he watched her.
"How was she last night?" Kakashi questioned "Did she have any trouble?"
Gaara shook his head already feeling annoyed at having to deal with Kakashi's questions but knew not to attack. He was probably just as worried as he was. "Her nurse refused to come in to change her bandage or check on her throughout the night while I was here." Kakashi frowned glaring at the door. That wasn't right at all. It didn't mean anything to him that Gaara was keeping watch over Kira. He wasn't the happiest that this boy was alone with his sister all night but even he knew Gaara wouldn't do anything with his baby sister in a hospital.
"Thank you for keeping an eye on her for me." Gaara nodded looking away, he still wasn't used to other people treating him like any normal person. Kakashi watched as Gaara looked away towards the door, he should probably leave. He wasted enough of her time as it was, not to mention her brother was back.
"Hey Kira you up yet!" Naruto slammed the door open jolting the girl up in a sitting position cringing to herself in pain. Gaara and Kakashi both gave Naruto a 'are you serious right now' look "Whoa Gaara? When'd you get here?"
"Yesterday." Naruto grinned walking still wrapped up like a mummy but otherwise acting the same as he usually was. Gaara forgot about how loud Naruto could be.
"Hey Naru," Kira grinned sleepily using her left hand to rub the sleep out her eye. Her hand stung from movement but she figured it was because of the rock slide. "What're you doing out of bed?" Believe it or not she felt much better after a full nights sleep...or half a nights sleep after spending most of the night talking to a certain redhead sitting beside her.
Naruto grinned quickly joining her side and plopping down on the bed by her feet. "I can't stand being in there, the nurses are gossiping about some weirdo or whatever. It was getting on my nerves."
Kira rolled her eyes annoyed with the damn nurses."Yeah my nurse only came in once. Gaara was nice enough to help me change the bandages." She shook her head at their incompetence. How hard is it to do their job and take care of a patient. She hoped the other nurses were better than hers. "You getting out today?"
Naruto shrugged "If I can get Iruka sensei or someone to sign me out then yeah, what about you?" Kakashi let out a deep sigh shaking his head when Naruto gave him a pleading look.
"Tsunade has to talk to her then she can leave." The idea to leave this horrid hospital room sent joy through her system. She wondered what Tsunade wanted to talk to her about, probably telling her she won't be able to be a ninja anymore. It was going to be the worst news she'd ever heard.
Naruto and Kira glance at one another practically agreeing on what Tsunade was going to talk to her about. "I should leave you." Gaara announced standing up from his seat. He saw her confused look "I need to speak with my siblings. I can meet up with you later if you'd like?" She nodded her head rapidly making Naruto snicker.
Kakashi walked Gaara out of the room leaving the two friends alone together. "I got something to tell you." Glancing over at the blond haired boy she found him staring at her with a serious expression. "Pervy Sage paid me a visit last night…" When she didn't speak he saw she had a knowing look. Fear rushed through her stomach twisting in knots. "He took me on as his disciple."
She knew this would happen but it still hurt seeing that it was actually happening. She was losing her best friend for who knows how long. "I had a feeling…" That surprised Naruto. He saw her pull her legs to her chest, her hand wrapped around them as her eyes stared out the window. "Kakashi said that he wanted to train you. It's a great opportunity."
They sat in silence Naruto's hand reached over and rested on her foot, he himself was staring at his own feet. "How long will you be gone?"
"Three years."
Kira cringed feeling her heart squeezed painfully in her chest. That was so long. "I won't go if you don't want me to…" She snapped her head towards the boy. What the hell is he talking about? Staying when he could train under Master Jiraiya one of the three great Sanin.
"Are you insane?! Of course you're going!" She snapped kicking one of her legs out and feeling her foot slammed into his side. Naruto yelped falling off the bed in surprise. He let out a hiss as he collided on the cool tile floor. "You big dummy."
"I thought you didn't want me to go…" Naruto grumbled rubbing his butt glaring up at her.
Kira threw her arms up, it looked rather silly seeing one arm raise higher in the air then the other but she looked so mad right now. "Of course I want you to go! He's the best person for you to train with in order to get stronger!" Naruto looked at her surprised. "Master Jiraiya and you get along and he pushes you to do better. He's the perfect teacher for you! Why would you give that up because of me?!"
Her voice was getting higher than before. He's only ever seen her get this angry only a handful of times, one of which was with Sasuke. "I know it's a great opportunity but we won't be able to hang out like we usually do if I go away with him."
Outside the hospital room Jiraiya stood listening in on the two kids. Last night Naruto had some concerns with leaving. Now he understood why he wanted to think it over. He needed to talk it out with Kira first, even after all the weird feelings between the two of them he couldn't just up and leave her. Jiraiya couldn't help but smirk leaning against the wall.
"Look Naru, it's a great opportunity. You'd be an idiot if you didn't do this. And you Naruto are no idiot." She watched him roll his eyes plopping back onto the bed. "Seriously, just think about it. Coming back home after training for how long?"
"Three years."
"Right you'll be gone for three years. Now just imagine what that old man could teach you, you could probably do that thing where you'll turn the room into a pile of innards. If you don't take his offer then I will." She grinned at the boy in front of her.
"But what about us? What if while I'm gone we'll just stop being friends…" She leaned over hesitating at first before punching him in the shoulder. He laughed knowing that was a stupid question.
"No one could replace my best friend. You Naruto Uzumaki are always going to be my best friend." Naruto grinned feeling better with himself. He still wondered if going would be the right decision to leave. Things would change, things have already changed. "Seriously Naru, you shouldn't even question it."
"Okay, I will." As soon as Naruto said those words Kira felt herself relax some. She wouldn't let Naruto make such a stupid decision to stay back when she knew he'd hate it. He didn't stay long, saying something along the lines of having to talk to Jiraiya. Lady Tsunade came in around twelve looking exhausted, dark bags started to form under her eyes.
Lady Tsunade seemed to pull it off though, she acted like she was fully awake that she had a shot of energy five minutes ago. She started to look over my chats and ask questions about how Kira was feeling. "Now the big question is, do you want to continue working for the village?"
That was the big question. "I thought I wasn't able to be one anymore… You said that about Lee…" She muttered staring at her lap. A deep depression built up in her at the thought of not being a ninja anymore. She had trained so hard and after a stupid mistake she would be trapped to be a normal citizen...This just sucked.
"Of course you can be a ninja. I could have reattached your arm if Kakashi had brought it with him. From what they told me, there was no way to lift the rocks off. I'll recommend you to a specialist who works well with amputees." Kira's eyes widen in surprise. Tsunade chuckled shaking her head scribbling something down on her clipboard. "Did you think you were done?"
"Well yes. There isn't many amputee ninja's…"
Tsunade chuckled again smiling to herself. "Of course, there aren't many. Usually when a ninja has such a traumatic encounter like you had, those ninja's no longer wish to. Thats why I asked if you wanted to still work for the village."
Kira felt her body relax to the point where she fell on her back staring at the ceiling. A smile started to etch its way to her face. She could still be a ninja. "So how're you feeling?"
"Perfect." she grinned staring at the woman.
"I wouldn't say that. I think we still need to fix that botched haircut your brother gave you. Then you should be." the older woman grinned picking up strands of broken choppy hair. "But I'm sure Shizune should be able to help get you the look that best fits you."
Kira felt like she could be jumping up and down with excitement. If she wasn't in pain she would have been jumping up and down.
Two months of lying in a hospital bed and staring at the same blank white walls Kira could feel herself growing agitated. At least she and Naruto could spend the last bit of time together. Tsunade after all the nurses requests had agreed to let the two room together. Before they were constantly sending clones back and forth being messenger pigeons, or one was screaming down the hall with questions on what to do with their boredom.
It took the nurses two weeks before they finally broke and started to beg Lady Tsunade to let the two room together. Kakashi was busy most of the time and Sakura wouldn't come visit so this was the best they could do. Shizune had come in the next day with some scissors and a razor and got to work fixing her hair the next day. Instead of having one long braid like she used to have, Kira was forced to have a majority of her remaining hair removed. There was nothing they could have done with it. The back of her neck was shaved so all she felt was the short strands starting to grow. On the top of her head the hair was longer, long enough that she could have bangs if she wanted to but with some hair gel she was able to push it back. She had a 'boy' haircut as Naruto put it.
In all honesty the cut wasn't that bad. She didn't have to worry about tangles anymore, the hair itself felt super soft, she thought she looked good so thats what matters. She often caught Naruto staring at her confused. His excuse "You look so different now!" She would always roll her eyes and try to throw the closest thing next to her at him. Usually it was a pillow.
Choji, Neji, and Kiba had left the hospital after two weeks of recovery. Kiba was still banged up but chose to meet up still banged and bruised.
"I never took you for one of his fangirls." Kiba remarked partially disgusted while staring at her hand. He heard her let out a loud groan slumping further in the bed glaring at the male. Naruto started laughing so hard his stitches almost popped.
She was so mad at that stupid Uchiha now more than anything. Apparently he thought it was best to carve his clan's crest in the back of her hand. The stitches were finally out and she was forced to have the scar for the rest of her life now because of that asshole. "I don't like him." She snapped annoyed running her hand through her new hairstyle. "I don't know when he did it but apparently when you see someone passed out it's your chance to mark people." she grumbled looking annoyed.
Kiba glanced over at the blond laughing hysterically. 'I figured as much. You like Naruto right?' Kira reacted differently than Kiba expected. She didn't blush, she just had a faint smile on her lips staring at the blond.
'Maybe I did before, but things are different between us.' Reaching her left hand over she scratched the fur behind Akamaru's ear. She gave the pup her full attention watching the white dog whimper when she stopped petting. 'He found out a while back. Things have been weird between us for a while now.'
Kiba cringed slightly looking at the blonde grinning and saying something about the battle. 'Sorry to hear about that.'
She grinned snickering at what Naruto was saying absentmindedly petting Akamaru's head again. At least he seemed to be enjoying himself. 'Its fine,'
So after that encounter everyone seemed to know that Naruto didn't recuperate her feelings. They started to pity her. She ignored it as best as she could. Two months in the hospital and she would finally get to meet the specialist Tsunade had recommended. Apparently this guy was a very big deal.
During the two months that Kira was armless she had slowly started getting good at writing with her left hand. To help pass the days the nurses brought in children's writing assignments for the girl to adjust to being left handed now. After writing lessons they moved onto physical therapy. It was incredibly challenging and her physical therapy would have to start up once again so that she could adjust to her new prosthetic.
Naruto was healing nicely each and every day. He had his own physical therapy but seemed to be better every day. The two were watching some game show right now Naruto was flipping through the channels looking for something to watch when the door flew open. The two kids jumped in an upright position staring at the door. A large bulky man stood in the doorway glaring at the two kids. He gave off a wave of danger just daring you to mess with him. When his eyes locked onto Kira's arm he smirked and walked in the room.
"Who the hell are you?!" Naruto snapped glaring at the man before them. The man just ignored Naruto as he got to work looking over the nicely healed wound. He took out a long yellow measuring tape and started to see the length of her left arm. "Hey answer me!"
Kira's eyes widen when he picked Naruto's body up out of bed and into a wheelchair wheeling him out of the room, shaking his head annoyed. "You're the specialist..." Kira muttered feeling his rough hands move around her arm taking notes and measurements. "Right?"
The scary man looked up at her, she noticed a large ugly scar running across his face at a slant. "Right you are sweetheart." He called in a cheery voice grinning happily. "So sorry this had to happen to you deary, but not to worry just let Shiro take care of you." he sounded so much happier and giddy than he looked. Kira glanced out the door towards Naruto who was trying to sneak a peek inside before facing the man again.
"Why don't you test some of my toys out for a bit." Shiro pulled his duffle bag on the bed and rummaged around pulling out different silver arms.
He started looking over the material fondly. Grasping a brown harness he slipped the large harness over her arm. Kira watched amazed as he tightened it up till it felt secure. "Now hold your arm like this, see?" he positioned her arm to hold out in the air while Shiro pulled out a black robotic arm that looked like if she wasn't careful it would break in half.
He strapped it in place grinning to himself "Well move it around," he chuckled watching her move her arm around, trying to make a fist with that hand only for it not to work. The next one he put on her looked like a crane there was a hook at the end. She could be a pirate if she wanted to but it really didn't scream her. Shiro seemed to see that she wasn't the biggest fan of his last two models. Letting out a sigh he shook his bald head. "You ninja's are all the same. I'm guessing you want something that will let your chakra flow through for missions?"
He saw her nod her head blushing and looking away. "Well this last one should do the trick then." Detaching the arm from her holster she watched him pull out an adult sized arm, colored black and silver. The mechanics looked incredible she was even more impressed when he attached the machine to the holster that she felt a spark run up and down her arm. To her amazement, the thing actually started to work. The fingers were moving as she thought of what to do.
"It, it works." she could feel the tears start to well in her eyes at the thought of having a regular arm again.
Shiro chuckled detaching the arm once more, the surprised terrified look crossed her face when he put it away. "Thats the one huh?" she nodded numbly unsure what to say or do. "It should take me a week to construct you an arm to fit your body but fear not. Shiro has everything under control!" The man grinned patting the girls head. "I'll speak with Tsunade. She will be able to explain to you everything you need to know."
He left twenty minutes after he arrived. Naruto hobbled back inside the room grumbling at being shoved out.
Kira stood at the gate with Naruto, Kakashi, and Jiraiya. Finally three months after returning from trying to bring Sasuke back Naruto and Kira were discharged from the hospital. Kira now sporting a new mechanical arm. She would stare at the mechanical arm and flex her fingers open and closed. But right now she was trying her best not to tackle Naruto in a hug and never let go.
Her best friend was leaving for three years and she'd miss him like crazy. "This is it…" Naruto whispered, Kira could see how excited he was to leave and couldn't be happier.
"Yeah…" she whispered staring out at the gates. "Call me so I know how you're doing okay?" Naruto pulled Kira into a hug and she couldn't help but feel better. Kakashi and Jiraiya watched the kids hug it out.
"I will." Naruto promised. "I'll be back soon."
"I know, I'll miss you." She whispered sadly. "But you'll be back soon." she grinned pulling away. "Just stay safe will you?"
"I will, you let me know how your doing back home alright?" Pulling away Kira was forcing herself to hold back tears. She grinned placing a kiss on his cheek.
"You'll be great. I'll see you soon."
Jiraiya snickered shaking his head "Don't worry, he'll be in fine hands." She gave him a stare that said she didn't believe him. Kakashi laughed resting a hand on her shoulder grinning down at the boy.
"Take care Naruto."
"Keep an eye on Kira okay Kakashi-sensei! I'll be back before you know it!" Naruto yelled running off after Jiraiya. Kira's smile soon left her lips leaving her frowning watching them leave. They stayed for another fifteen minutes before going home. Kira still felt bad but she was ready to get stronger. Who knows by the time Naruto comes home she might be just as strong as him.
Okay thats it for this chapter. I got tired of the writers block and wanted to finish this chapter soon. So here we go. It might be OOC or pretty weird but I just wanna skip to the next chapter. Oh well hope you all enjoy the day!