Chapter 10 – Darkness

Disclaimer- I do not own Naruto. Nor will I ever. I only own Fei and her story.

I was floating in that darkness for a long time. I thought I had died and that was the end. It almost felt like an eternity later when I started to gain my hearing back.

I heard the whispers from the darkness and I pulled myself to them only to find myself stuck. A voice I heard only in dreams came forth and I listened to the gruff noise "Fei-" was repeated over and over again and finally I found the strength in me to shout out "What? What do you want?" that seemed to do the trick and I found myself free amongst the darkness.

I began to feel my body again; I wasn't just some ghost hanging on the edge of eternity. My sense of smell came next; all I could smell was cleanliness only found in the hospital. Finally, my eyesight returned and I was staring at a familiar white ceiling.

Turning my head to the sound of crying I found a familiar pink haired girl sitting in the chair beside my bed. All I could do was move my hand to her light pink hair. Her head had whipped up so fast and she was out the door shouting for Lady Tsunade.

Minutes passed and I was still staring at the plain white ceiling wondering how I had gotten there. My chest felt weird and my throat was dry as if I hadn't had anything to drink in weeks.

I heard the door slam open and Lady Tsunade was suddenly by my side as was Sakura, Naruto, and Kakashi. "Fei, how are you feeling." Lady Tsunade spoke although she sounded really far away and I tried to answer her "Fabulous." I whispered.

It felt like my heart was beating too fast and I couldn't breathe. Lady Tsunade ushered Naruto, Sakura, and Kakashi out of the room as I struggled to breathe.

"Fei, you need to calm down okay. This might hurt a little." And she waved her hand over my chest, her hand covered in a familiar green healing chakra. "Sleep, Fei."

But I didn't want to, shaking my head I waved my arm towards the door hoping she would understand. She did but didn't look too happy about it. "Fei, look your body is under a lot of stress and-"

I waved my arm again and she sighed in frustration walking out the door to gather my teammates. Sakura and Naruto appeared at my side. They were clearly upset and I sat up and put my hand on their head and smiled as much as I could.

I knew I looked like shit, I mean Sasuke had shoved an electrical current strong enough to kill me through my chest. I whispered "Where's Sasuke?" Naruto angrily looked down and Sakura looked ready to cry all over again. "I'm okay. Could someone just get me some water?" I whispered and Naruto volunteered running from the room. He returned quickly and I drank the whole cup of water.

My throat was feeling much better. "How- How long have I been out?" I whispered Sakura looked down "Two weeks. Naruto was released from the hospital about a week ago."

My eyes widened "Two weeks?" I looked down at my chest where I expected to see a hole or some bandages but found a large scar instead. My heart started to beat faster and I knew I was hyperventilating.

I grabbed Kakashi's hand as he stood next to my bed. My nails had grown longer and I was digging them into his hand which I knew hurt but that didn't stop me. "What? Where's the hole?" I questioned quietly

Sakura looked at me and gestured for Lady Tsunade to come closer "Fei, your wound it-. It was healed after a few days." My eyes widened at her next words "Honestly, that should have killed you. His hand went through your back Fei. It hit your heart and one of your lungs. It dislodged part of your spin and basically electrocuted you from the inside out."

I shook my head in denial. It wasn't possible, that should not have healed that fast.

I zoned out not believing what I was hearing before I realized I didn't know how the rest of the Sasuke retrieval group was. "Wait Lady Tsunade, how is everyone? Are they all okay?"

Lady Tsunade nodded slightly "Neji and Choji were in critical condition but thanks to the Nara clan technique they've been healed completely. Shikamaru only broke one finger and had a couple of bruised ribs. Kiba and Akamaru are also healed and Naruto is obviously fine."

I nodded "Good. What about Gaara, his siblings, and Rock Lee?"

"They're fine, already back in the sand and Rock Lee is training with his team." Lady Tsunade spoke

I frowned a little "I'm so sorry Lady Tsunade. The mission was a complete failure. I shouldn't be a Chunin, I'm really not worthy of the title."

Lady Tsunade stood "No, you're right. That mission was a complete failure." I looked down as she continued "I should take away the rank of Chunin from someone who held their own against a member of the famed Kaguya clan and came back with all of their teammates alive, something even some jounin cannot accomplish." I cried when she said that "But I'm a failure. They could have all died. Me and Shikamaru left them all behind. I left them behind for the mission."

"Fei, as a ninja you have to make choices. Not all of them are the right ones but you made them in the heat of a mission. Just be proud of the fact that everyone returned all right. You had the most damage out of everyone, be glad you're alive." And before she left the room she spoke once more "Jiraiya and Naruto will be leaving in two days. You will be going with them."

And she was gone. I turned to Naruto who was beaming "Yes! Fei it's gonna be awesome! We're gonna learn so much! 2 and a half years is a long time but it'll fly by with you there! Believe it!"

I looked at him in shock "What?! Two and a half years? Training? But-" I looked at my hands finding them more interesting than the discussion at hand and Sakura spoke out "Yea, Fei It'll be great! I'm training with Lady Tsunade and you two are training with Jiraiya!"

I looked at Kakashi who nodded at the information. I smiled lightly, spirits lifted, before stating "Yea, as long as Jiraiya doesn't perv out on me then everything will be fine!"

Everyone stayed a while longer before a nurse came in announcing visiting hours were over. It was quiet and lonely in the room as the lights were shut off and my teammates were gone and I had trouble falling asleep.

When I did I remember having the most frightening series of dreams and I woke up at dawn sweating and in pain. There was an ache in my heart and tears running down my face as I curled into a ball waiting to be released from the hospital.

Hours passed and I was finally released as I was physically alright. Lady Tsunade however was skeptical releasing me thinking I might have PTSD from the fight with Sasuke. Of course I did but I didn't tell her that and I went on my way.

I found Naruto, Sakura, and Kakashi at Ichiraku's and joined them for a going away ramen celebration. The mood was slightly somber as Sakura almost ran off crying at the thought she wouldn't see her teammates beside Kakashi for a couple of years.

Years, it finally hit me and I burst out crying hugging my friends "I'm gonna miss you so much!" Sakura's tears flowed soon after I had started crying and now Kakashi and Naruto had their hands full of two crying teenage girls.

We cried and hugged each other close. We had become such good friends in the year we had known each other and I was saddened at the thought of going two years without my pink haired friend.

Naruto piped in "Eh? WHY ARE YOU CRYING? Stop crying!" He denied the tears in his eyes as we went our separate ways for the night, Naruto and I would be leaving in the morning.

That night I slept waking in the midst of a nightmare and I couldn't sleep for the rest of the night. Meeting up with Naruto and Jiraiya I was still incredibly sleepy. Sakura and Kakashi joined to wish us well along with Team Gai, Team Asuma, and Team Kurenai. We waved and a few of us girls cried a little before we were off on our way.

Walking in silence until Jiraiya spoke "Look Fei, you won't actually be staying with us for the entire 2 and a half years. We're meeting an old friend of mine in Suna, you'll be training with her for the majority of time."

Naruto had a fit "Dammit pervy sage! She was gonna help the time pass!"

"Look Naruto time will pass fast enough with your training. I expect Fei will become much stronger. Don't you want to be as strong as she will become?"

Naruto nodded quickly shouting "Yea! I'll be stronger than you when we go back to the village Fei! Believe it!" I had chuckled lightly as we continued on our way.

A day passed and we arrived in Suna to meet the ever elusive ninja, Jiraiya spoke of. We finally found them in a bar, and them turned out to be Hisana Reimei. Naruto and I learned that Hisana was a legendary sannin alongside Jiraiya and Lady Tsunade. She was just kind of there though, no gallant stories of her strength and wisdom. Just the story that she had grown up right alongside the three and had achieved the title of sage. She was supposedly best friends with the three more known sages, well before Orochimaru went a little crazy.

Jiraiya nodded at Naruto and waved goodbye only an hour after we arrived. I hugged Naruto tightly and wished him well and soon they were out of sight heading back the way we came.

I had awkwardly stood next to Hisana as she downed one more drink and dragged me along "Come on kid. We start your training tomorrow. We'll head out at dawn."

I hadn't really said anything to Hisana until we got to the hotel we would be staying at for the night.

"Ms. Reimei-" I had started before she interrupted me "Hisana. My name is Hisana." I nodded before continuing "Hisana-. Why did you agree to train me? I don't even know you, you don't know me…"

I waited for an answer "Look, you're a Yamasaki aren't you?" I nodded even though I didn't know what she meant by 'a' Yamasaki. "I promised Jiraiya a while back. I owe him a favor. He's going to have his hands full with the Uzumaki so here we are. I will train you Fei. I will make sure you become strong. I've seen kunoichi go down for not being the strongest. That won't be happening to you."

She turned away from me and walked up the stairs of the hotel while I just stood there thinking about what she told me. I watched as she stopped and turned around "Well? Are you coming or not?" I cocked my head slightly before realizing she meant follow her to the room. I ran after her and she opened a room up and stated "I'm one over. Don't cause any trouble." And closed the door leaving me with a key.

I sat on the couch that night thinking I was going to be in for some adventure with this woman. She was rather eccentric with short black hair and bright blue eyes that rivaled even Naruto's. Dressed in brown shorts and a grey tank top she looked anything but a legendary sannin. Boy was I wrong the next morning when we made our way out of Suna.

I realized quickly that Hisana was blunt and rather scary. I had made my way out of the room at dawn hearing the shouting coming from down the hall. Hisana being one of them ran towards me and grabbed my arm. "Let's get out of here Fei!" letting her drag me down and out of the hotel we stopped at the edge of the gates to Suna when I asked what was going on. "Oh that guy. He said since we slept past 3 am we owed another days' worth of money." I cringed "You didn't pay did you." She beamed lightly "Nope." And started her way out of the gate and out into the heat of the desert.

She turned to me and kept walking backwards "Alright let's see. Jiraiya told me very little about you. Let's start with what jutsu you know."

"Well, I'm pretty good with earth jutsu-" she stopped me. "Earth jutsu! Okay, well you have a Kekkai Genkai right?" I stopped walking "Kekkai Genkai?" I questioned "Wait like the Sharingan?"

I noticed Hisana froze slightly at the mention of the Sharingan "Yes. Exactly like the Uchiha jutsu." I flinched and Hisana gave no indication she saw "The wood jutsu you possess is a Kekkai Genkai. You will need to learn how to use that on your own."

I started walking again "But I'm not from a clan. It has to be something else."

Hisana frowned "No I'm sure that Wood Release is a Kekkai Genkai. One that hasn't been genetically seen for some time. Are you sure you're not from the Senju clan?" She stared at me and I thought back to my parents and I told her their names

"My mother's name is Naname, I'm not sure about her maiden name but she married my father, Reiji Yamasaki."

Hisana looked at me snapped her finger and cursed "Shit! Your mother must have been Naname Senju." I shook my head "That isn't possible. Look I don't know what Jiraiya told you but I'm not from here. Like at all."

She smirked "Now that's where your wrong. You have to be Naname's child. Same hair and eyes. She had a kid almost damn 16 years ago."

She stared off into the distance "And trust me she was a Senju. Tsunade was her cousin."

She stopped and pondered for a moment nodding her head "Yea. Have you ever heard of Hashirama Senju? The first Hokage, the founder of the hidden leaf? He was Tsunade's great grandfather. He had a few brothers but his brother Tobirama was the only one to live long enough to become the second Hokage and eventually have a family of his own. I think Naname was his grandchild. Making you his great grandchild." She smirked and started to walk faster.

My mind was in a whirlwind with the information that was thrown at my face and I realized I was falling behind.

I ran after Hisana shouting "What the hell do you mean!? Didn't you hear me? I'm not from here! I was born not in this place." I broke down "I-I am an orphan. Adopted when I was lit-tle. They died years back and- and- I was left alone. I have no clan. I don't know what you're saying. Why your saying I have parents." I whimpered. Hisana didn't really do anything but stand there for a moment. "I can show you that you are certainly from here."

She sighed "From Konoha" she added I scowled "How in the hell do you plan on doing that?" She grabbed my arm quickly and I was thrown into my mind. At least I think it was my mind. Hisana still had a hold of my arm and I was shouting "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" she pulled me faster and opened a door that popped up out of nowhere and threw me and herself in before I could look around and notice what my mind looked like. I fell and fell and we landed in Konoha.

I turned to Hisana and shouted once more "What the hell are we doing? What is this?" she smiled "This is the result of my jutsu. A Genjutsu that shows memories. A pretty powerful tool against ninja with bad memories."

She pulled me along harshly and we stopped in front of a faded memory. I watched as a pretty young woman with bright green eyes just like my own ran towards a man with a bright smile "Reiji! Reiji look!" the woman shouted at the man with the bright smile.

I watched as she handed a mission assignment to the man. "Can you believe it Reiji? My first S rank mission!" Reiji picked the woman up and spun her around ignoring the chuckle of the blond man that was talking to him before the woman had interrupted.

"Naname!" Reiji beamed "That's amazing!" and he stopped quickly pouting "Awe man! That means you're at a higher rank than me."

I watched as he deflated and the blond spoke "Don't worry Reiji. I'm sure that you'll get there… Eventually." Reiji frowned once more "Awe man. I'm only a chunin."

I watched as his mood seemed to change once more "Ah! But I'm so happy for you Naname! My beautiful jounin wife!"

Suddenly a little girl popped up from around the corner shouting "Daddy!" I was incredibly shocked when I saw the little girl to be me when I was little. I stumbled back and Hisana put her hand my shoulder and we were taken to another memory.

Unlike the last one things were not pretty and bright. It was dark and we were standing in a house. Weeping could be heard and Hisana and I walked to the sound only to see Naname hugging a red haired woman tightly and crying while little me stood at her side holding tightly to a part of her dress.

Little me tugged "Mommy? What's wrong? Why are you crying?" Naname's cries only got louder and the red haired woman called over the blond from the last memory "Minato! Take her outside. Take her to Obito and Rin! Do it now!" the blond, Minato scooped little me up and took me outside.

I turned to Hisana to ask who Obito and Rin were but we moved onto another memory. I watched as little me, that looked a little older and taller stood silently crying next to a ninja as I watched a giant fox crush parts of Konoha in its rampage.

I walked passed little me and the ninja guard to see Naname standing in front of Minato and the red headed lady shouting "No! Kushina you can't do this! You can't leave Naruto alone!" She turned towards me in horror as she saw the Nine tails aiming for little me and she ran towards me. She got there with a second to spare and the tail went through her stomach just as another went through Minato and Kushina.

Nothing else escaped her mouth as she and the other two were struck by the Nine tails and killed. I shouted "No!" and tried to run forward but we were sent onto another memory.

This one was not in Konoha but rather in the orphanage I had lived in until I was 8. I watched as little me wailed at the doors of the orphanage and a little old lady came to the doors and I was ushered inside out of the cold night.

The memory flew by and was replaced with a new one of my foster parents adopting me and then suddenly to the car accident we had all been in. I was gasping when Hisana finally took us out of her Genjutsu.

I was upset and I trudged forward angry that somehow these memories had been blocked out of my mind for so long. But now they were as vivid as ever and something else came to the foreground of my memories and I heard "Fei." Somewhere deep in my mind.