Shattered Destiny:

Chapter 18: Lessons Learned

"A team of Shinobi is coming to scope out the damage." Junzo informs Koi. "They'll be here within the day."

"Just can't get a break." Koi sighs, rubbing the back of her head.

"It would be best for both of us that-"

"We aren't here when they arrive, I know." Koi cuts Junzo off. "If only we had more time…" Hopefully the Frost shinobi have found a new hideout by now.

Attacking caravans is one thing, but it's another can of worms to torch a village. "I'll go get my team and we'll leave."

"Thank you, Koi-sama." Junzo lets out a breath of relief. "I hope the next time we meet that it's under friendlier circumstances."

"Don't get your hopes up." Koi waves goodbye as she leaves the room.

"Koi-sama!" One of Junzo's genin greets as the door opens.

"Eiko." Koi returns the greeting. "Where's Zabuza-san and Satu-chan?"

"Satu-chan is helping with the wounded, Zabuza-san is with Kyuwa-san."

"And where is Kyuwa?"

"The Memorial." Eiko points down the road at the center of town, right now it's just a table with a list on it, but it'll be a proper memorial before long. Zabuza and the other surviving Lightning shinobi are paying their respects.

"Thank you." Koi nods to the genin, walking away.

"See you later!"

It's as if the world quieted down to pay respects to the fallen. "Zabuza-san."

"Sensei." His voice is flat.

"Koi-sama." Kyuwa's voice isn't as collected as the water nin's is, but he's keeping it together.

"We need to leave."

"Already?" Zabuza looks over his shoulder at his sensei.

"Another team of lightning shinobi is on the way, we need to be gone by the time they get here."

"How long?"

"Every moment we waste the more likely the chance we'll run into them."

Zabuza lets out an exasperated sigh. "I'll get my stuff."

"Be ready in five."

"Yes, sensei."

"Zabuza-san." Kyuwa says, placing a hand on the water nin's shoulder. "Thank you."

"The fallen deserve our respect, whether they're my teammates… or yours." He replies.

Kyuwa nods solemnly, taking his hand off of Zabuza's shoulder. "Next time we meet, I hope it's as friends."

"I hope so too."

"Five minutes." Koi reminds her genin.

"I know."

Kyuwa turns back to the memorial as the two water nin leave.

"Okay numskull." Koi tells the comatose Keiki. "We need to get you out of here." The best way would be to carry him, but how can she keep her hands free at the same time?

Just use some chakra. Koi gingerly wraps her genin in the blankets and sticks the bundle to her back… Would the villagers know to keep quiet about their visit?

Team Four will just have to deal with whatever happens, intimidation would make things worse and ruin the reputation they've gained from Keiki's impulse.

That needs to be taken care of. Immediately. Koi lets out a sigh as she leaves the room.

First thing's first. Koi heads down the hall, listening for her kunoichi's voice. "Not too much salve, there's others that need this." Koi stops and puts her ear up against the door.

"S-sorry, it looks really bad." Satu apologizes.

"Your heart is in the right place, not putting enough on the wound can lead to infection, but putting too much can be just as bad."

"How?"

"Then you won't have enough for the next time someone gets hurt."

"Oh."

Koi smiles a little, Satu's learning how to be a medic to help the team more… It's too bad she doesn't see how much she's helped already. Without a word Koi knocks on the door.

"Yes, yes?" The doctor calls.

Koi pushes open the door. "Sensei!"

"Satu, we need to leave."

"Already?" The kunoichi blinks.

"Yes, more shinobi are arriving from Kumogakure." Koi nods solemnly.

"And you shouldn't be here." The doctor rubs his beard.

"But you've saved our village, surely they won't care!" The patient pipes up.

"The life of a shinobi is a complicated one." The doctor explains, stitching the wound shut. "They're nin of a different country, I don't think that Kumogakure would care about intentions… only that they're here."

Koi nods, but doesn't say anything. "But Junzo and his team know they're here." He argues, wincing as the needle works it's way around the wound. "Surely they can put in a good word."

"If only it were that simple." Koi shakes her head sadly. "We shouldn't be here… but I'd appreciate it if you didn't tell anyone that we were here… That's all I ask for in return for saving your village." She bows.

"Sensei, what's on your back?" Satu asks, having noticed the bundle but just getting the courage to ask.

"We need to go, Satu-kun." Koi ushers her genin out the door.

"Don't be strangers, you'll always be welcome here." The doctor waves farewell as the door closes.

"It's Keiki, we're leaving as soon as your packed."

"What about Zabuza-san?"

"He's packing, get to your room and do the same."

"Yes, sensei." She sounds so disappointed.

"Satu."

"Sensei?"

"You're doing great, stop beating yourself over what if's." Koi pats the genin's shoulder reassuringly.

"O-okay." She doesn't sound convinced.

Koi lets out a sigh. "Five minutes, please." As much as she wants to help her genin, this is something that can't be put off for later.

Wordlessly, Satu leaves for her room.

Koi spends what little time they have left in the village paying respects at the memorial, more names are being added to the list. "Sensei." Zabuza approaches.

"Where's Satu-kun?"

"H-here!"

"Everyone packed?" Koi asks, her genin nod. "Then let's leave."

"Wait!" Eiko runs up. "Thank you." She bows deeply. "If it weren't for you, we'd all be dead." She points at the bundle. "I-is that?"

"Yes."

Eiko approaches the bundle on Koi's back. "Thank you for bringing your team here." She tears up. "They left me when they heard the noise… thank you."

None of them say anything, Zabuza and Satu glance at their sensei, speechless. "We must get going."

"Stay safe!" Eiko wipes the tears from her eyes.

With farewells being said, Team Four runs for the forest. "Where are we meeting Ai?" Zabuza asks.

"Where you told me they told you, no change in plans."

"D-do they know what happened?" Satu asks.

"What did you tell them, Zabuza-san?"

"That Keiki went off on his own and nearly got himself killed, in thanks the village and the nin staying there were letting us stay."

"They know that." Koi nods as they climb into the trees. "Keep your eyes open, it's possible that we might encounter the shinobi team coming."

Heaven knows that security is going to shoot through the roof with this assault. Thing were already going to get harder, but they couldn't risk alarming the populus… But now with a village being razed they don't have to hide the fact as much.

It might pull more shinobi from the Isle… Take the good with the bad.

Everytime a branch moves Satu lets out a squeak and Zabuza draws his sword, even Koi isn't immune to it, constantly drawing kunai or readying a jutsu.

But nobody shows up to stop them.

An hour passes before the atmosphere starts lightening. "It's us!" Koi calls, stopping on a seemingly random tree.

"I thought you'd be gone for a week or so." Ai says appearing on a nearby tree, her team shows up almost immediately.

"Change in plans, Lightning shinobi are enroute to the village."

"You weren't followed, were you?" Ai asks, looking around.

"To our knowledge, where's Ichiyo's team?"

"New campsite, we found the perfect place."

"I'll be the judge of that."

"That the trouble kid?" Ai asks as her team takes the lead.

"Unfortunately."

"You sound like you wished he did die."

"I hate how he has a free pass on injuries, he's going to get himself killed at this rate."

"That's quite the conundrum."

"How far away is the camp?" Koi asks, changing the subject… She doesn't want to think about this anymore.

My eyes shoot open as I have a coughing fit. I'm still not breathing right, but it's an improvement over the last time I was awake… my head is killing me, but it's bearable. I put a hand on the bandage on my chest where my breathing is uneven, and my hand sinks into the bandage slightly, despite the fact that it's tight to my skin. I don't feel it pressing into me.

My health bar is still mostly yellow. If only I knew what that meant… Are we underground?

With a struggle I force myself upright. Progre- Air fills my head, making me feel dizzy. Involuntarily I let out a groan. Where is everyone, are we at the new hideout?

"Sensei? Zabuza-san, Satu-chan?" I call out, trying in vain to get to my feet.

The door opens and in comes Koki-san. "You're up!" he says, surprise written all over him.

"Where's my team?" I ask holding my head while leaning against the wall with my back.

"Exploring the ruins with Ai's team."

"How's Fumimaro-san?"

"Better off than you, I saw Koi-sama change your bandages."

"Is it that bad?" I touch the bandage on my chest.

"How did you survive with a hole in your lung!"

"Hole?"

"People die from those!"

"Can you stop yelling, my head hurts."

"I'm sorry, having trouble breathing as well?"

"Actually…"

Koki throws his arms into the air. "You can't keep doing… whatever it was that got you that way."

"I can live through anything." But I see your point.

"But what if you don't?" Koki counters. "What if you get yourself killed next time."

"That won't-"

"What if it does!?"

I close my eyes and sigh, the shouting is hurting my head. My stomach rumbles, giving me an out to this conversation. "I'm starving, how long was I out?"

"Day and a half."

"What is there to eat?"

"Food pills."

"More edible sandpaper." I bemoan. "Can I get some?" Beggars can't be choosers.

"Stay here. Koi's orders."

I'm grounded!? I slump to the ground. "I can't go anywhere, can I at least see the camp."

"I'll have to ask sensei." Koki slips out of the room.

I don't have the willpower to try leaving the-

There is a distinct clacking of wood.

-Was I just locked in here? With renewed vigor I push myself unsteadily to my feet and put my weight up against the door.

Another clack as the door hits something barring it, Koki locked me in! "Hey!" I shout, sending a wave of pain through my head.

Not enough chakra.

I can't even throw firebolts anymore, I feel like crying. I just wanted to help people, why am I being punished for it, isn't it right to help people?

The door's lock is removed and I stagger away from it before getting knocked over.

Ichiyo enters the room, Koki behind him. "Evening." The jonin bows respectfully.

"Fus." I shout at the wall to the jonin's right.

"Keep an eye on the entrance."

"Yes sensei." Koki scampers off.

Ichiyo closes the door. "Upset?"

Wordlessly I drop to the ground, holding my legs to my chest… my chest hurts. "What did I do wrong?"

"Running off on your own and nearly getting killed for starters."

"I couldn't leave them to die." I say conflicted.

"Even if it put your team, and by extension your village at risk?" Ichiyo sits next to me. "I know where you're coming from, but ends don't justify the means."

"What?" I look up at him, a confusion written all over my face.

"Let's say that you had the chance to save someone, would you take it?"

"Yes." I say without hesitation.

"Even if it meant putting someone else in danger?"

"W-what?"

"There are two types of people in this world, Keiki-kun." Ichiyo starts. "People with good intentions-"

"And those with bad intentions?" I interrupt.

Ichiyo bobs his head from side to side. "Okay, three types."

I furrow my brow, confused.

"There are people with good intentions, bad intentions, and those who'll do anything to make their dreams come true."

"It's bad to seek out your dreams?" What reasoning is that!?

"No, no, what is your dream?"

I hesitate. "I want to understand my bloodline."

"And if destroying an entire village would get you closer to that goal?"

My eyes go wide. "You don't mean-"

"Yes Keiki, people would do that in a heartbeat if it meant completing their goals."

"How is what I did bad?"

"I can take this from here." I jump at sensei's voice.

"Koi-sama." Ichiyo nods in greeting. "I didn't mean to-"

"I couldn't have said it better myself." Sensei waves off his apology. "Go stand watch with Koki, we'll be out soon."

"Yes, Koi-sama." Ichiyo leaves the room, the door clicks shut.

The beating of my heart is so loud, I'd be surprised if she couldn't hear it. Sensei kneels in front of me. "You have no idea how much you scared me when I found out that you ditched us."

"Sensei…"

Sensei takes a deep breath. "Were we in water things would have been different."

"Why does nationality matter so much?!"

"Because we're at war Keiki, What part of that don't you understand!?" Sensei's voice is strained with anger, and relief. "There was no guarantee that the lightning shinobi wouldn't have attacked us the moment they saw us, or if they wouldn't have just taken us prisoner the moment the fighting was over."

I look down. "I'm sorry." I mumble.

"You can't do that again, okay? I need you to trust me from now on, okay?" She pleads with me. "If the circumstances different we would have gone to that village's aid." She promises me.

"If this was water?"

"No, but we need to take care of ourselves first." Sensei straightens her back. "Since you are determined to leap without thinking-"

I'm in trouble. I brace myself for anything.

"-You are going to be using this from now on." Sensei holds a bundle out for me to inspect.

"A shield?" I ask as it's unwrapped.

"I want you to learn how to use this, okay?" Sensei looks at me expectantly. "If you do, I'll let you start training again."

I take the shield and clamp it onto my arm, it's huge but I'll grow into it. "O-okay sensei."

"How's your head?"

"Light, very light."

Sensei thinks it over. "Come on, let's get you some food pills- I know how you feel about them Keiki-kun but they're what we have."

I stick out my tongue in response.

Author's notes: And another one done! I think that's my catchphrase now, I'm always excited when I finish a chapter, not only is it progress but it's also time to take a break, woo! Don't worry, it won't be any longer than what I usually take after I finish a chapter. I'm happy that you guys are enjoying Shattered Destiny so much! I hope I can live up to the expectations that are being set, and until next time!