I'm so sorry for the long wait, but i wrote a lot more to make up for it. It's a double chapter so you are warned.
Thanks to all of you who have reviewed my story
I do not own naruto
Chapter 2
It was two weeks before the girl awoke again and another week before she attained the strength to possess normal sleeping patterns. In this time Lady Tsunada, kept busy by her overwhelming tasks as Hokage, was unable to tend to her patient leaving Shizune in charge.
Guilt as well as curiosity drove Tsunada, just like it drives so many others, to make an appearance at the hospital visiting the forgotten girl. With her head held high, as is Tsunada way, she walked through the hospital only to stop short of her destination as Shizune appeared before her.
"How is the young ninja," Tsunada said with an attempt to sound professional, yet she was unable to keep the curiosity out of her voice.
"Better then expected. Surprisingly she isn't in need of any transplants; the major organs have healed on their own. Even the heart and lungs are in perfect working order."
Shizune paused making sure Tsunada didn't have any questions. With silence as her reply she continued, "I am worried about her nutrition intake. She was near starvation when they found her so the girl hasn't been able to take in any food. We've been forced to give her strictly liquids. She's dependent on the IV for the rest. I'm afraid if we can't get her to eat she may die anyway."
Lady Hokage deliberate what could be done about the eating disorder as Shizune examination the mounds of paper work ensuring that nothing important had been left unsaid.
"Keep her on the liquids, but in a few days slowly introduce other foods into her diet. The stomach muscles must be expanded slowly. How are her reflexes or motor functions? Her physical endurance and strength needs recorded as well."
"Well, I haven't been able to test any of these things. Every time someone enters the room her heart beat increases to dangerous levels. I've been forced to sedate her just to change the IV. Neji Hyuga is the only one able to approach her and she's still incredibly frightened."
Air left Tsunada lungs slowly as she sighed in reaction to the problems she would indefinitely be facing. She was very disturbed by the behavior of the injured ninja. Lady Tsunada took some time contemplating what could be done about this predicament.
"I need Neji. Find someone to locate him."
"Who do you need," Neji said coming down the hall toward them.
Slightly shocked at the convenience Lady Tsunada said, "I need you. Come with me."
Panic filled him as Neji considered the possibility of Tsunada knowing he didn't block the ninja's chakra. Following the Hokage towards her room, his distressed mind-set was well concealed as he worried that Tsunada was about to make him block her chakra for sure this time or worse that she had hurt someone.
Stopping in front of the door Lady Tsunada turned to Neji and asked, "How are the blocks holding up?"
"She hasn't used any chakra," he replied almost as though he was asking a question himself.
"That's good," Tsunada replied apparently talking to herself. "Have you noticed her moving at all?"
"She turns her head to look at me when I ask a question but that's basically it. One day I came in and she had her arm across her chest playing with something; I think it was just a strand of hair though"
"Has she talked to you?" Tsunada asked shocked, completely ignoring the rest of his statement.
"The only thing she's told me is that her name is Kara."
Slightly disappointed with the lack of information Lady Tsunada told Neji she needed him to convince Kara to allow her to conduct an examination. Reluctantly he agreed. Entering the room Neji looked over his shoulder at Tsunada before closing the door.
Kara looked up at the sound of the closing door. The usually anxiety absorbed her being sending all other emotions into the complicated layers of her psyche hidden form the view of even Neji's observant eyes.
Kara's anxiety quickly turned into fear as she sensed the uneasiness in Neji. Her eyes opened widely as her breath quickened alerting Neji to the panic he was causing.
"It's alright," he said slowly. "I didn't mean to frighten you. How are you feeling today?"
As usual a silence was the only answer he would get, but luckily he had managed to calm her down at lest a little. Yet strangely she had calmed down much faster then normal. Gazing at him through the tangled strands of wild hair, she followed his every movement.
Kara's POV
I'm not sure how long I'm been here. The days have bleed together making its impossible to tell when one ended and another began, just like the scars that envelop my body. I have lain here unable to move until the difference between day and night meant nothing.
I do know one thing, regardless of how many days it's been this man has come to visit me too many times to count. Each visit has been the same; Neji would talk to me trying to persuade me to speak. Yet no matter how much he tried to comfort me all I would tell him was my name.
As my distorted mind tried desperately to figure out this mysteries man, I have yet to decide whether I could trust him. His normal calming indifference was overwhelmed by a sudden uncharacteristic panic as well as reluctance; which lead me to further doubt. Neji's eyes traveled the room quickly and continuously the door always being his destination before darting back to glance at me.
Questions filled my brain demanding an answer and drawing my attention away from the man who clearly would rather be somewhere else. Why this sudden change in demeanor most of all left me with a headache of confusion as I tried to figure out what was going on.
Had I done something wrong? Had I unknowingly broken my promise? Or perhaps they decided they have no use for me because of my injures. Maybe I shall finally be facing the death that I have been avoiding for so long.
My extensive stay must come to an end. With a fleeting look toward the window I realized for the first time how much I missed the trees as well as the beautiful sight of the full moon. I desperately needed to leave this place not only for me, but for them too. I had to leave before it was too late.
Neji fiddled with his hands as he spoke. What he said I will never know for I was completely absorbed in my own thoughts. "Kara…Kara!" Neji's urgent voice sounded in my ears bringing me back to reality. It was clear he had sensed my inattentiveness.
"Please, you must listen to me," he begged. The sound of his voice confirming the obstacles I would soon be facing.
"Your injures…they were severe and well the best medical ninja in our village had to heal your wounds. It's been so long now…she's afraid that they aren't healing properly. She needs to examine you to make sure they're healing, but she wants your permission."
An extremely powerful ninja wanted my permission? Why would she not just do as she wanted? The look on my face gave away once again to the surprise and I admit overwhelming fear I felt. Though he obviously didn't notice my confusion or perhaps he miss read it as panic.
"It's alright, she won't hurt you. I promise," he said, "and I'll be here the whole time."
What were they up to? Is this some sort of trap? Even though the doubts that threatened to take over gravely out numbered the positives, I couldn't let go of the one hopeful thought of leaving as soon as possible. If this "examine" would help me get better faster then I should do it, right.
If by some chance things went wrong I would fight; both of them if I had to. No matter what I won't go back to the way things were. I…I mustn't show fear. I have to be strong.
End of Kara's POV
Neji watched the injured girl for some time, but suddenly she looked up at Neji. As the look of determination painted itself across her face she said, "I agree to allow this woman to examine me."
"Really," Neji said clearly surprised. When she nodded he breathed a sigh of relief and got to his feet. "I'm going to go get her now. I'll be right back." The satisfied Hyuga walked away mumbling something about destiny.
XXXXOXXXX
The door slid open quietly illuminating Kara's still form. Her eyes never left the ceiling, even after the door closed.
"Hello Kara," a women's voice said, "I'm Lady Hokage." The comforting voice was so out of character for Tsunada that Kara could immediately sense the falseness. She turned her head to see Neji and the Hokage staring down at her. The fear that passed through her newly gained stoic demeanor lasted for only a fraction of a second, but both ninjas had seen it.
Lady Tsunada slowly approached the girl not wanting to panic her. Yet Kara didn't seem to be paying any attention. Her head was facing the ceiling once again, but as Lady Tsunada came closer she found that Kara's eyes were shut tight blocking out the world so it couldn't invaded her thought and destroy the demeanor she desperately tried to maintain.
Tsunada didn't waste any time. She immediately began rechecking vitals, confirming what Shizune had reported. Neji merely stood by, helplessness absorbing his being. The Hyuga frantically wished to end the girl's distress, yet no ideas came.
After checking things such as her heart beat and blood pressure Tsunada glanced at her patients face. Lines of tension traveled up her neck distorting her features into something of true torment. Yet Kara was a rag doll in the hands of the Sannin.
It was in this time that a soothing melody began to drift through the air like leaves in the wind. The sudden noise dragged Tsunada's eyes from the limp girl as she scanned the room.
The words of a tale told to young boy filled the ears of the two women. Neji repeated the stories of his childhood with accuracy as the words rolled off his tough; the action as natural as breathing.
The calming sound of the stories his father use to tell him penetrated Kara's hard to reach consciousness. The tension melted away as the stories continued until her face was that of an innocent child. Kara was no longer open to the things around her. Even though she tried to stay alert Neji's voice had sent her away to a world he hadn't visited since his father's death.
Lady Tsunada looked upon the young man as a smile spread over her face, however; Neji did not return the smile. He was looking away, his face contorted with the pain of his memories eyes glazed as he looked off into nothingness.
Not wanting to extend the pain of either ninja the Hokage plucked Kara's arm from the bed examine the muscles and bones for injury. Tsunada then moved checking the rest of Kara's limbs. She was extremely unhappy with the results that were presented.
Tsunada did not intend to take such measures, but she had no other choice. The Sannin had to be positive. Picking up a small needle for the shelf across the room, Lady Tsunada walked back to her original position. She once again lifted Kara's arm and gently plunged the needle into her skin.
Kara remained in the fantasy, unaware of The Hokage's actions. Tsunada moved to other parts of her body, but when he arms and legs gave the Hokage no reaction she grew impulsive.
Replacing the needle with a small knife Lady Tsunada sliced a slit in the disfigured wrist of her patient. Turning her head Kara's eyes looked upon the Hokage. She showed no pain even though the blood was spreading onto the blanket. It was obvious to Tsunada as she healed the wound that Kara was incapable of feeling pain. The pressure the blade made alerted her to the problem, but the nerves where for the most part destroyed.
Tsunada did not want to fail the patient both shizune and she had spent so long trying to help. Her hands began to glow as she placed them over the girl's skin.
The entire time she worked Neji's voice never stopped. He flowed from one story to another. Neji was so caught up in his world that he hadn't even been aware of Tsunada's actions.
The Sannin worked for hours using all the abilities that she possessed. Finally she stopped sat down and breathed a loud sigh of exhaustion. After a few minutes Tsunada stood and examined her patient one last time.
"Neji can you come here," Neji approached the Hokage but he never stopped telling his story. "I need you to help Kara sit up." Neji nodded, Kara turned her eyes toward him and he stopped in mid step, the look in her eyes showing fear.
Kara looked away disappointed because of her own weakness. Then with a new sudden burst of courage she nodded to Neji showing him it was ok. He helped her sit up but had to remain with his hands on her shoulders. Kara did not have the strength to hold herself up on her own.
Using a small rubber hammer as her tool Tsunada stood before her patient. She stood hesitantly tool raised in the air. Fear is not what the great Hokage normally felt, but right now it gripped at her heart. Concerned for her patient caused this fear as she delayed finding out whether all her efforts had paid off.
The Sannin began repeatedly tapping Kara's knee trying to trigger a reflex, yet no matter how many times she tapped Kara's knee nothing happened. The Tsunada had failed. She let down someone who truly needed help just like she did when her loved one needed her.
Anger overcame the Fifth Hokage as she yelled out in fury slamming her fist through the wall and into the warm air outside.
Lady Tsunada stood for some time with her arm surrounded by plaster. Finally pulling away from the wall she turned to look at Neji.
"What's wrong? Is Kara going to be ok?" Neji asked. He already knew the answer, but Neji had to hear it and so did Kara.
Tsunada looked down in despair "No, I've done everything I could, but there's a 99 percent chance that Kara will be paralyzed for the rest of her life."
With one apologetic look at the horror-struck Kara, Lady Tsunada left the room not wanting to face the ninjas.
Neji stared at the door just as shocked as Kara, but then he felt a familiar chakra approaching. The young man prayed that the chakra wasn't heading to this room. The Hyuga's prayers were not answered, and it was a shock when the quickly approaching steps stopped in front of the door.
Suddenly the door burst open simultaneously as the number one knuckle head ninja yelled, "Grandma Tsunada, I…"
He was cut off as an ear shattering screech ripped through the air. Neji instinctively slammed his hands over his ears. With out the Hyuga's support Kara was unable to stay upright. She fell forward and hit the ground hard, her scream cut short as the air left her lungs with violent speed.
Naruto stood shocked by the scream as well as the girl's appearance for he had never seen her mangled body. Neji, however, jumped to help her, but as she turned her head he seen the look in her eyes and stopped. Naruto became aware of Neji's halted movement and also tried to help Kara. He took a few steps closer causing panic, she did not want either of them touching her.
Her eyes wide and filled with dread she tried to slide her body back against the bed, but found no strength, let alone the ability to move. Naruto did not realize her fears as he began to introduce himself and apologizes for barging in as well as asking if she was ok.
Naruto stopped in his tracks just as Neji had, but this time her eyes were filled with something else. As he looked into her eyes it was like watching a pure and terrible nightmare play continually getting more and more fearful as the little amount of color that resided in her face drained away.
Falling backward in shock, Naruto landed on the floor in the doorway a good amount of feet away form Kara.
The tremendous angry determination in her lavender orbs began to showed, taking over the fear, as she attempted to move her arms. After a few minutes Lady Tsunada walked in, having heard the commotion, to find Kara in an attempted to pull her arms back so that she could get up. She had not been able to move even an inch, yet it was obvious that she was trying.
Kara struggled to move her paralyzed body for some time until Neji couldn't stand it any longer. He jumped up to help her, but Tsunada said, "Stop. Don't touch her." He stopped even though he didn't want to.
Finally after a few hours Kara had raised her self up onto her feet. Her back was bent at the waist allowing her arms to hand lifelessly, because of her exhaustion she could not even hold her head up.
Kara's body twitched all over from the effort every second threatened send her back to the ground. She forced her struggling head up showing her eyes. The lavender orbs showed nothing it was as though her mind had left leaving the empty shell of a body behind. Then they closed and she toppled to the ground drifting into darkness.
XXXXOXXXX
It had been almost a month now since she had stood and Kara had been improving greatly. Her progress had moved rapidly and Kara now had the ability to walk. Her steps were still labored and extremely slow but it was a miracle she could move at all. It was a miracle she had lived.
It was in this time that Tsunada learn Kara could feel pain almost as well as anyone else; she just has a gigantic tolerance for pain. As a result of this any injure to the flesh is disregarded as the brush of a feather. Even when she broke her bones it was as if the pain was nonexistent. For Kara to be in physical agony the pain had to be so intense that a normal person would go insane. This was the pain Kara felt as she took her steps in therapy.
Kara was a very driven and determined person she would work her body to an extent far beyond normal endurance. It was this determination that convinced Lady Tsunada to make another rash decision. Tsunada compared Kara's state to that of coma, and so today she brought a guest to Kara's therapy sessions.
This was not the Hokage's best idea for no matter how much her health improved Kara hadn't opened up. Tsunada and Neji were the only ones she would talk to, yet she never said more then a few works. Anyone who attempted to touch her caused Kara to fall into a world of fear just like when she first arrived.
Kara had already started her therapy session for today. Neji, who was visiting her for the first time in about a week, told Kara more stories as she walked between the railings. Tsunada walked in unusually happy looking at both ninjas in turn, a smile never leaving her face.
Kara, having realized that whenever Tsunada smiled like that it meant she was up to something, stops what she was doing and turned to look at her.
"I've found a way to reduce your recovery time," Tsunada said.
Neji looked up excitement painted on is face as he opened his mouth to speak, but Kara interrupted him. "What must I do," the words came, hesitation lingering in the background of her mono-toned voice.
"It appears that you are able to force the shredded muscles and joints to work through shear will power, but it seems like your body has forgotten the proper way to move so all we have to do is teach it."
Kara sent Lady Tsunada a look of uncertainty as she asked how.
"Shikamaru, you can come in," the Hokage responded.
The young man entered the room, "What a drag," drifting from his lips.
Kara looked upon the man dread enveloping her being. Her eyes darted from Neji to the stranger that stood before her. Neji merely nodded, signaling to her that it would all be ok. Her throat tightened as her mouth became a desert, she tried to speak, but couldn't find her voice.
The always observant Neji took notice and spoke for her, "You don't want him to use his shadow possession jutsu no her, do you?"
"That's exactly what I believe needs to be done."
Kara shook her head violently, still unable to find her voice, the action caused her to loss her balance and she toppled to the ground. She made no move to get up and no one moved to help her.
"Kara you said you wanted to get better. This is the only way I can think of to speed up the process," Tsunada said.
Kara continued to shake her head. After a while of shaking her head and listening to the Hokage's pleas she agreed, but only when Neji told her he would have Shikamaru stand some ways off.
She positioned herself at the start of the railings as Shikamaru made his hand signs. The shadow stretched across the room resting under the girl's feet. Then he began to take steps, Kara mimicking his movement.
She didn't understand what was going on as the others stood by unaware of the chaos to come. Kara's chakra was responding on its own almost like a defense mechanism.
Shikamaru, believing it was her body that was fighting him and not her chakra, worked harder to complete his task. All the young man wanted to do was go take a nap and so his usually sharp intellect was pushed aside.
The jutsu fought with her defense willing it to obey, yet neither side had control. The defense ran through her body with speed expelling chakra against the delicate layers of flesh. Shikamaru pushed harder making her move.
Then like an intense flame had been lit within her Kara's skin burned. Patches of scorched flesh covered her body, but no one could see it through the long sleeved shirt and pants she wore to cover her scars.
A scream filled the room as Kara's arm shot out followed by a loud explosion. Once the dust had cleared Neji and the Hokage found Shikamaru within a pile of debris. There was a small round burned on his chest. As they helped him up Neji looked at the around. The entire wall had been blown out throwing Shikamaru and the wreckage in the next room.
He turned his eyes resting on Kara widened in shock. A visible orb of blue tinted chakra surrounded her as she knelled on the floor head down. Neji foolishly ran toward the orb; when he collided with it Neji was thrown backward only to have Lady Tsunada catch him.
Kara lifted her head slowly; tears ran down her face and over the patch of burned flesh on her left check bone. The orb dispersed resulting in clumps of ceiling to fall down around them. The bulging veins around her eyes faded as her small pupil showed it self again.
"I'm so sorry," she sobbed. "I did not wish to use my chakra, it just happened. I haven't broken our promise. Please forgive me." After speaking more then she ever had around them, Kara looked back down at the ground.
Neji didn't respond he was speechless. He turned to look at Tsunada who was also staring in astonishment. With her shock as proof of what he had seen Neji uttered, "She has…a Byakugan."
Well now that this is all over with the good stuff is coming so just hang in their i promise it will get better
Please reveiw i update faster when i have that motivation.
I like critizism so let me know what you really think.
Thanks for reading