"Wake Up & Dual Shock"
'Italic' – Normal thoughts
'Words' – Naruto talking to Kurama
'Bold Italic' – Kurama's Thoughts
'Bold Words' – Kurama talking to Naruto
Disclaimer: Naruto is not mine. I wish he was. I wouldn't have mind Sasuke either when he was not being revenged obsessed, that is.
Author's POV:
It was a cool morning of the second week of March. The Sun is yet to visit the land of leaves. The sky was twinkling with early morning stars. Venus was shining particularly bright today. In the serenity of early morning, you would find only two kinds of people out of their beds; hard working Shinobi's and Doctors & nurses suffering their night shifts. And both of their lives were halted by a shrill distress shout coming from Hospital's Northern Wing Room No. 205. . .
"AAaaaa . . . aah!"
For a moment everybody stood on high alert, expecting an invasion or an attack of some kind. Then a ward boy was heard saying Room No.205 patient just woke up. Nurses and Doctors nodded in understanding while Shinobis continued on with their duties leaving the matter at doctor's capable hands.
When all this was going on outside the Room 205, the little girls lying inside was having a shouting match inside her mindscape. An equally surprised Demon was so stunned with the knowledge that this girl, formally a boy, has managed to tie his mind and soul to a tattooed seal on her. And thus, he is forever, ever & ever, bound with the kit. He decided to ignore everything that his kit was shouting.
'But she better finishes her temper tantrum soon or I'll change her to a Pig and leave her to Oink her way through her 2nd life.'
Ah! An irritated Kyuubi can be really evil. But guess what? Being in a female body makes you more aware of your surroundings. Our favorite blond boy turned girl shut up immediately after hearing Kurama's thought aloud. After all, nobody wants to turn into a Pig, then captured and killed, then cut into small pieces to roast on fire, then devoured by humans, probably a certain Akimichi. That thought sent a shiver down her spine.
'Stupid fox, pervy fox . . . temper . . .' but even that can't stop the soft mumbles '. . . stomach ache . . . chibified . . . .' Um, yeah those. . .
'Kit! Now that you are awake and calm enough. Do you need to find out where you are? Do you remember anything? We need to check if everything is in the right order or if any alteration has been made with us being here?' Kurama, the voice of reason between the two, listed off.
'Well, now that you asked, I think I was in an unfamiliar room with white ceiling & smells of antiseptic. There was a beeping sound too so probably a hospital room. I don't know the state in which I was found but going by your theory I would have been naked but I am covered now so we'll have to confirm that later.'
'What about your memories? Did the memory preservation seal worked?'
'I am not sure Kurama; I'm having a huge head ache thinking anything. And I still feel tired.'
'Okay, I'll search for the seal inside your mindscape. It should be linked with my cage so no one would pry what we don't want.'
'Okay, fine. I'm going back to sleep. –'
'Before you do, let me remind you. I'm almost as useless as you are right now in terms of chakra. So, try not to hurt yourself. All your documents are in the storage seal of your left hip. And rem –'
'Z-zzz . . .'
Twitch.
'I might as well take a nap for a while.' After a few minutes, if one was to invade Naruko's mind, they would hear twin loud snores echoing in there.
When now identified Naruko was busy speaking with her Demon. There was a tensed atmosphere outside. Four people were standing in the Room 205; A nurse who had rushed to call the head of the hospital, The head of Hospital, Jonin Minato- whose team were responsible for bringing her in and who was also her appointed guardian for the time being and lastly the Hokage himself- Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"What is her condition Doctor? We were informed that she woke up." Minato asked noting that Sandaime was not pleased for being ill informed."
"Yes, she woke up five minutes ago. But went into a shock attack immediately afterward. That is why you see her unconscious again." The doctor, Kai Mour, replied trying to justify that the Hokage was not ill informed just informed too quickly in these types of cases. The Doctor continued . . .
"Her brain is functioning a lot more than any other that means even though she is unconscious to the world, she is conscious in her mind and probably reliving the horrifying incident; which is dangerous if she continues like this."
"Isn't there any way to make her stop?"
"We cannot force her to stop thinking about it. It's a nightmare that cannot be erased. But we can force her to realize that she is tired and need to sleep. Nurse, prepare the injection." Mour said directing the nurse their next course of action.
"Hai, Kai-sensei!"
"What can you tell us about when she would actually wake up?"
"Normally cases like these they take weeks to wake up and be coherent enough to listen and months to actually respond. Patients like them were really unpredictable. Everyone responds differently. It varies from crying their heart out to be indifferent & clod to attempt suicidal."
"Would you recommend appointing a guard inside the room to stop such things from happening?"
Nodding his head, he replied "Sure, but I would strongly recommend a female guard but preferably not from ANBU. Masks tend to scare people." He explained himself laughing apologetically.
"Then it would be done. Mour-san, you'll have to excuse us now." Finally, Sandaime spoke in his commanding voice.
"Ah! Sure Hokage-sama! I'm done here anyway."
With that, he scurried off to somewhere unimportant. After making sure that the doctor is gone, Hiruzen continued.
"Minato, I don't want to employ any ANBU other than those two stationed outside. I am already stretching my forces with those two just because of the seals on her and the place she was found. I would have asked your team but I need you & them in other places. So it would have to be a genin team. But with the war going on –"
"Sandaime-sama, why not appoint a nurse? It would spare us stretching our already thin force."
"Regular nurses don't have the clearance for guarding a possible enemy above C-rank, alone; they would have to be a medic-nin, Minato. They are not trained enough to be constantly alert for any surprise attack and be able to defend themselves efficiently." Understanding drawn on Minato, he nodded.
"If so, then how about appointing Rin? Obito and Kakashi can help her out after a nice Henge no Jutsu. Our mission is yet to be concluded and the patient is now part of it, so I can do the outside swipe while they handle her. So, what do you say Sandaime-sama?"
"Hmm, I don't think they would sit ideally though. Those two would get bored easily and Kakashi would think of it as a waste of time."
"Oh, you don't have to worry about that Sandaime-sama! I'll keep them busy enough!" Minato smiled mysteriously that lead Hiruzen to send a wish of luck to the kids.
Next morning found Team 7 consisting of Minato Namikaze, Kakashi Hatake, Rin Nohara and Obito Uchiha at the training ground 7. Minato had a backpack on his shoulders and three other backpacks at his feet. His cute little victims . . . um, I mean students were gaping at him. One with joy to get to learn Medical Fuin- Jutsu, one with the thought of punishment that would be bestowed upon them if complained and one with frustration on being left behind with two losers and that too to guard a foreign girl who could very well be an enemy. He was a chunin dammit not genin like those losers in his team. He should be allowed to go on missions with sensei not waste time standing ideally.
"Sensei, the only good thing I see in this, is finally getting to learn Fuin- Jutsu. But teaching them to Rin and this loser? What were you thinking?" Kakashi whispered to his sensei.
"Now that's not nice Kakashi-Kun; you all are same to me, my cute little minions. You see, I am your teacher, everyone is going to assume that you would be, if not master, at least be proficient enough with these. Trust me it would eventually happen to you all as it happened with me." Minato added when he noticed Obito opening his mouth with an odd expression.
"The reason I am asking you all to teach other your portion of it because; for one, Fuin is a very vast field of learning. It would be faster if you distribute the work and teach the other what you learned. Secondly, I want all three of you to have some knowledge of Medical-Jutsu or at least Medical-Fuin. You never know when you'd need it. It's better to be prepared in times of war." He continues with a very serious air.
They thought back to all the gruesome sites they have come across and the deaths that this war had caused and is still causing. Finally, after some moment they looked up at their team leader and nodded in acceptance, understanding & determination shining in their eyes.
Another chapter is done. Please read and review. I love reading them. If you have any suggestions on what you would like to see in the coming chapters, please leave them in the comment box.
Ja ne.
