It's been several days since Nayuki and Butsuma had their conversation. As of now Butsuma hasn't addressed the topic further. However, Nayuki can clearly see him thinking hard on something these days – hopefully her words. Looking out of the window, Nayuki spots a lone squirrel running through the snow searching for food. Nayuki follows the little fella with her eyes. It's been some time since she enjoyed such a peaceful day. Thinking about it she nearly feels lonely. Hashirama and Tobirama were ordered to resume their training, Hanabi has taken baby leave as her own little rascal is due any day now and Kawarama and Itama are sleeping well fed at the moment.
It's nearly unbelievable that the clan was already starving with weaker ones knocking on deaths doors when she returned. As the clan heads wife she has attended several funerals since her return. She feels bad about letting those people down even if it were mostly old people, but the few toddlers in between broke her heart. It still hurts her terribly when she thinks about the sobbing and whimpering, occasionally outward screaming mothers who had to bury their children.
Shaking her head, she tries to chase away those terrible thoughts and the heavy guilt she is feeling every time she thinks about it. She gets up and cleans up the left dishes from breakfast before checking up on her younger sons.
When she enters the boys room she can see Kawarama smiling at her. He waves his mother enthusiastically and babbles whatever comes to his mind. More often than not it involves kaa-san and otouto. Gently she lifts the boy into her arms. Softly she removes some strands of hair out of his face before placing a kiss onto her sons forehead. She takes the young boy with her as she goes back to the living room.
Playing with her sons is one of her favorite past times. Every of their laughs and grins bandages the never healing wounds of losing everything. It has become seldom that she thinks back to her old life. That doesn't mean she has forgotten about her dead friends, but that she is doing what they would have wanted from her - to look in a brighter future. Her beautiful family in this dangerous world is her anchor. After some time playing she checks up on time. Soon her shift in the infirmary ward will begin. She heard that today several teams from the frontline will arrive. Fast she shakes her head to not think about the terrible wounds she is going to have to treat soon.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Too fast has the time gone by and it's time for Nayuki to leave the peacefulness of playing with her sons and taking care of the household behind her in favor for trying to save lives and healing terrible wounds.
Upon entering the infirmary wing she is greeted with absolute and utter chaos. Medic-nins run around trying to take care of every last of the wounded newcomers. Screams sound throughout the building, whimpers come from corner and Nayuki doesn't know where to begin. There seems to be need for an extra hand wherever she looks.
Gruesome bloodied bodies get carried around; corpses are building up in a separate corner. Tears burn in Nayukis eyes as she tries to clear her thoughts. Now is no time for sentimentalities – she has to help save whomever has a chance to survive.
Just as she is about to aid one of the younger medics Taiga comes up to her. "Nayuki-hime!", he addresses her, "I'm so glad that you're finally here. Could you take control of the eastern wing? There are the children located. I can't take care of everyone of the medics…"
Nayuki nods sharply, "Gladly. Who is the most pressing patient there? Anything I should know before going there?"
Taiga sighs tiredly and answers, "A young kunoichi by the name of Toka. She is about Hashirama-samas age and has a terrible gut wound. She has lost a terrible amount of blood and the wounds won't stop bleeding. I have little hope for the young girl. The medic-nins in that wing are divided and take care of whoever they can but little Toka is more or less given up on…"
In Nayukis belly forms a knot. A child around Hashiramas age bleeding out? Not if she has anything to say about it. No longer paying her mentor any mind, she rushes past him to find the dying girl. Her footsteps are focused and her mind cleared as she strides up to the girls bed. A middle aged medic is crying while trying to stop the bleeding.
Nayuki puts her hand on the desperate woman's shoulder and addresses her, "What's your name? I'm pretty sure you know me but I'll still tell you my name. I'm Nayuki. Pull yourself together! If we act now, we'll save young Toka, don't worry!" To emphasize her point Nayuki flashes the crying woman a smile before taking in the extent of the wound.
Fast she covers the wound in healing chakra – feeling the torn flesh. Deciding that simply trying to mend the flesh with chakra won't get her very far, she get up to get her surgery tools. The crying woman watches the clan matriarch wide eyed. Never have they seen similar tools before.
Wary the woman observes as Nayuki begins working on the injured girl in front of her. Like a hawk the woman watches Nayukis every move, sometimes she even grasps for Nayukis hand to demand an explanation before letting her continue.
After the third interruption Nayuki hisses at the middle aged woman, "If you want for her to be safed you'll let me continue as I please. Your interruptions cause me to lose concentration and that can be deadly while being in surgery!" Shocked the woman flinches away and lets Nayuki proceed as she pleases.
It takes several hours for Nayuki to perform the surgery, before she deems the wounds prepared enough to give its final touches with healing chakra. Slowly she starts mending the wound together minding the different organs.
Seeing the results of her matriarch medical knowledge the woman begins to calm down. "My name is Midoriko. I'm Tokas mother, Nayuki-hime. Forgive me, I have lost my husband several hours ago. I couldn't bear to lose my only child too…" Midoriko hiccups silently, but regains hope for her child.
"Don't worry", Nayuki calls out soothingly, "we'll save your daughter" Sweat is running down Nayukis cheeks as she concentrates on mending the flesh wound in front of her.
As soon as she deems the wound closed enough for Toka to pull through she stops. Being satisfied with their work Nayuki eyes the mother next to her. Now that the life of the girl isn't on the line anymore she can observe the other medic silently. She has dark brown hair – almost black. It seems to be a shared trait of mother and daughter. Midorikos dark eyes are red from all the crying for her husband and daughter she presumes. In contrary to her daughter Midoriko seems to be civilian except for her medical education.
"Bandage the girls Tokas wound carefully and try to not destroy my hard work again. Your daughter should be asleep for several hours – maybe there is a chance that she wakes up tomorrow around midday", Nayuki informs the worried mother.
Deciding that there are enough other patients to attend to, Nayuki leaves the mother alone with her unconscious daughter. She knows that she has lost a lot time with saving Toka, not that she would ever regret it, mind you, but there are many other patients in need of help.
Nayuki eyes the bloodied and wounded children and now even adults that are gathered before her carefully and decides to not waste any more time before attending to her next patient. Other Medic-nins watch her from the corner of their eyes. Every last one of them saw her perform a surgery and are wary of the newfound form of medical attention. Not at least disturbed by the extra attention Nayuki gets started. Swiftly she takes care of the remaining patients in her wing.
Finally finished with her last patient Nayuki sinks into a bench exhausted. Tiredly Nayuki takes a few breaths before addressing a medic-nin not to far away. "I was informed that there would be teams returning from the frontline, but I was under the impression that we don't send children to the frontline…", she states darkly.
"You're right to a certain extent, my lady. There are about five children fighting at the frontlines – well not directly. They are kind of the guards taking care of the camps several hours away from the battle ground. However, our forces were forced back and not only got our camp destroyed but two teams returning from a mission got involved.", the blonde man replied, "it's said that it became a massacre about twenty of our men got killed on the spot. Several others died while trying to flee and the others well, I believe we saw them first hand …"
Nayuki looks at the blonde. He seems to be around her own age, so 17 years give or take. His long blonde hair is bound to a high ponytail. His green eyes are glazed with a faraway look. She takes a deep breath and asks, "So the Uchiha won ground on us and did it in one hell of a bloody battle… I'm sorry but I didn't get your name…"
The man turns back to her and smiles, "I'm Sousuke, my lady. I have to admit I was skeptical when Taiga sung you high praise, my lady, but you've got me convinced now. You are definitely a very practiced and skilled medic-nin. Even if I have to confess that I'm a bit spooked of the way you handled Tokas wound. I have never seen something comparable before…"
.
.
.
.
.
.
The aftermath of the day is hours of cleaning the infirmary wing. In Sousuke Nayuki found a compassionate partner to take care of everything. As the night draws near they are the last remaining medic-nins still cleaning in their wing. Most of the others have already gone home because they were too exhausted.
After putting away the last cleaning utensils Sousuke bits Nayuki good night before heading home. Nayuki herself gathers her things and is about to head home when she spots Tora sitting on a bench near the birthing rooms. A smile pulls on her lips as she strides over to her friend and sparring partner.
"Tora, my friend, how long are you here already? And shouldn't Shikaku be with you?", she addresses the rather ill looking blonde. Pale as he is the scar on his cheek is even more visible than normally as he looks at her. Seeing her approaching, he smiles weakly.
Hoarse he answers her, "About three hours and I still didn't hear anything from in there. I'm getting nervous here. About Shikaku, he's on a mission right now. I wish he would have been here. It's agitating to wait on your own in front of a closed door for hours… "
The smile on her lips broadens at the sight before her. 'Really? He's so cute when he worries', Nayuki thinks to herself. "I'm sure everything is alright. Sometimes it simply takes more time to give birth and from what I know the first time always takes the longest.", Nayuki tries to reassure him.
As if to answer her words the door to the birthing room Hanabi currently occupies swings open. Taiga walks up to them obviously tired. It probably didn't help that Hanabis child decided to be born on such a busy day. Taiga looks at Nayuki and pats her on the shoulder, "Thanks for your good work today. From what I hear young Toka will survive."
Nayuki nods in acknowledgement before hinting at the man standing next to her. Taiga looks at her bemused and addresses Tora next, "Oh Tora! You here too? Didn't see you there!" Seeing as Taiga is in mood to joke around she guesses that Hanabi and the child are both alright. She has to laugh at them as Tora fumes and nearly snaps at Taiga in worry.
"Now, now Tora. Calm down. Your darling wife and your beautiful daughter are both well. You can go inside to meet the new addition to your family if you want.", Taiga grins at the fuming man in front of him.
Hearing Taigas words Tora rushes by both of them and disappears inside the room to greet his daughter. Nayuki smiles at her mentor and states, "From your easy going tone I assume that everything went by smoothly?"
Taiga nods at his student and smiles, "It was one of those births where there was no need to interfere. Mother nature, Hanabi and young Miyu did all the work themselves. I'm glad that I'm allowed to end my day with this happy occasion."
"I'm glad too. After the chaos and desperation earlier it's nice to have a reason to go home cheerfully. Miyu, huh? Good name.", Nayuki agrees with the aged man happily.