"Akira, you are doing well. You will join the ranks of ANBU soon, if you pass the final test." I bowed my head, pleased by the praise. Sensei rarely praised me, and it felt good to know that I was doing well enough to earn it. "You may go back to your room now. There's nothing more for us to do today." I walked back slowly, unsure of what to do. I had spent so much time training, that I didn't know what to do anymore. Too soon I reached my room. Collapsing on my bed, I sighed. Oh well, I may as well nap for a bit. I lay still, but couldn't fall asleep. I was about to try meditation when Asuka walked in. She fell onto her bed, legs shaking.
"Asuka? What's happened?" I asked, worried. Standing, I walked towards Asuka and sat beside her. Using the hem of my shirt, I wiped blood from her cheek. A large gash marked her face, just below her eye. She stared at the blood on my shirt, and started crying. She leaned on me, and I held her gently, waiting for her to stop crying. When she had cried herself out, I covered her with the quilt and watched her until she fell asleep.
"Asuka, that cut needs tending. Please, go get it treated," I beseeched. She smiled weakly. "Alright, I'll go get it checked out. I'll be back soon." She left the room, bare feet making no sound on the floor. I watched her go, worried. What had happened? Sensei appeared in my room, his mask muffling his voice. "Come, Akira. We have training to do." I followed Sensei to the training room. We were training when I heard the scream. "Asuka!" I ran from the room, Sensei yelling at me. I ignored him, and followed the scream to its source.
Running round a corner, I saw Hitaro advancing on Asuka, cheek bleeding. Asuka had her claws out, and was backing away, desperate. "Hitaro!" I yelled, trying to distract him. Hitaro hesitated for a spilt second, before aiming a Jyuuken strike at Asuka. I ran forwards and leapt in front of Asuka. She screamed as the strike hit me, and I smiled. She does care. Hitaro threw me aside, and I landed on the floor. I couldn't move, and I knew I was dying. Moving my eyes, I saw Asuka flee, and Hitaro give chase. Hitaro came back around the corner, and soon I saw why. Kakashi and my aunt had him backing away, and they looked pissed. I smiled again, knowing that my sacrifice had saved Asuka.
When my aunt spotted me, she screamed. She and Kakashi rushed over, and Hitaro fled. "Hold on Akira, we'll get you some help. Don't die!" I sighed. "A..suka," I coughed. Kakashi nodded. "She's okay. She's fled the village; I don't think we're going to see her again. But she's alive." I smiled weakly, and coughed again. My aunt sat behind me and put my head in her lap. Kakashi stood and began to leave. "Kaka…shi. Thank you," I whispered. "No problem," he whispered back, and left. My aunt began to sing, tears streaming down her face. I closed my eyes, and listened to her voice. That song was the last thing I ever heard.