Disclaimer: ...I don't own Naruto. But I might own a headband I entered an online contest for soon:D Read the stinking chapter, and REVIEW!
Chapter 5: Reflections
Ayumi smirked to herself as she walked away from the group. She knew she had raised some suspicion when they met. Giving a fake name was all right, nobody but the Hokage and possibly that damn copy-cat would know who she really was. But that boy, the one with the dog. He said his name was Kiba. Ayumi disregarded him as obnoxious. However, the dog itself might have caused trouble. It was a somewhat smart animal, it could sense her power.
They must be the newest Inuzukas. Kiba reminds me of Naruto, the way they're both so energetic and friendly. I should wash my hands soon, his seemed dirty. Also, the bug boy. Seems to be a good Aburame. Looks astonishingly like his father. Wonder if he suspects anything...oh, well. I don't care. Soon I'll be out of here for good.
(With Sakura)
The bubblegum-haired girl sighed as she walked down the street. Finally she was away from that creepy older girl, Ayumi. Frankly, the girl scared her. She never smiled, never seemed happy. What was her problem, anyway? Ayumi was so distant, so uncaring. She acted all sad when Sakura asked her about Sasuke, but Sakura could see she was faking it. This girl really didn't care about Sasuke, or any of them probably.
But then why bother hanging around us? Why act like you care, when it's obvious you don't? You befriended Naruto...but why? What are you really here for?
Sakura shook her head to dispel the thoughts as she continued to the hospital.
(With Sasuke, Hospital)
Sasuke stared at clenched fists, lips drawn into a thin line. How could that girl beat him? How could he let her get under his skin so easily? It infuriated him to no end. He was supposed to be one of the strongest genin in the Leaf Village! And all of a sudden, this stranger comes out of nowhere and kicks Sasuke's butt!?
...It's just another reminder... The dark-haired boy thought to himself. Just another obstacle to get over. Something that I can beat to make me stronger. I don't care what it takes. He looked out the window as a white bird flew by. I'll beat him.
(With Sakura again, Hospital)
The pink-haired girl stepped up to the counter, distracted.
The woman at the counter smiled. "Hello, Sakura. Here to see Sasuke?" The young girl sighed, and nodded. "Ok, right this way." The woman stood up and walked down the hallway, and Sakura followed, still thinking. "Just so you know, Sakura," the nurse looked over her shoulder at the girl, "he isn't talking to anybody. Sasuke is at the stage of recovery where he prefers to be alone."
Sakura sighed and nodded again. She could have guessed that much. "But, Sakura, about his injury...it's, well, strange." The kunoichi blinked. "What do you mean 'strange'?" The nurse halted. "...Something was wrong with his blood. Usually adrenaline makes the blood pump faster. And when you go unconscious, some aftereffect should remain. But when we discovered him, the flow of his blood had nearly stopped. It's not natural. His body was cold, too. Far below the temperature we expected for him to have after a fight. Tsunade herself had to come and take care of him, and even she had never seen such a thing happen before." She saw the scared look on the girls' face. "But, it's all right now. The Hokage was able to heal him, and he's awake. Only a few things are stopping him from jumping out of here."
"And what are those? What is still wrong?"
"Well, foremost, some of his joints seem to be frozen. He can't speak, or move his arms and legs well. The rest of him is functioning properly, though. Including the ability to glare at anybody that gets within three feet of him." The nurse chuckled as she remembered the trainee that had tried to feed him.
"But other than that, Sakura, he's fine. He'll be out of the hospital by tonight, if he recovers fast enough. And Sakura?" The pink-haired girl looked up at the nurse, whom had not resumed walking. "What is it?" "He's thinking. About...things I believe he doesn't need to be thinking about." "What things?" "Just, things. Try and take his mind off it for a little bit, okay?" "Okay..." Sakura trailed off. She wasn't sure what this woman was talking about, but agreed anyway.
The pair walked further down the hall in silence. Poor Sasuke... why are you so stubborn? Why can't you just be more open, and tell people how you feel? It's not going to hurt you, nobody would laugh. We just want to understand you and help...
"Well, here's his room." Sakura snapped out of her thoughts and looked at the door. Sasuke was in this room last time, too... "Sakura?" "Yeah, I'm fine." She opened the door and walked in. She sighed and looked up to see the Uchiha staring blankly at her. Why am I even here? He can't talk, or even move. Sasuke just wants to be alone, maybe I should go, now that I know he's alright...
Sakura sat down anyway, and sighed again. "Uh, are you feeling alright, Sasuke? One nod for yes, two for no..." The Uchiha nodded twice, and Sakura frowned. "Do you need me to call the nurse?" Again, two nods. "Well, what should I do?" The boy stared contemplatively at the wall behind Sakura. Then he sat up straighter. He Sharinganed his eyes, and closed one. "Uh, the Sharingan? One eye...you want me to go get Kakashi?" He nodded once.
"Ok, I'll be right back." The kunoichi stood up and walked out of the room. Their teacher could be difficult to find, when he wanted to be. Sakura decided she'd go see the Hokage about it.
(With Hokage, Office)
Why can't I remember who she is? the Hokage thought to herself. The name was so familiar, but...
The Hokage was pulled out of her thoughts as she sensed someone approaching. A knock sounded on her door, and the older woman called out for them to enter. Sakura stepped nervously into the room, and the blonde woman frowned. Would this team never stop bothering her today? "Uh, Hokage, have you seen Kakashi? I was just visiting Sasuke, and he asked me to get him."
The Kage sighed. "I just sent him out, Sakura. What did Sasuke want to see him for, anyway?" "I don't know. But I think it was important." The comment hung in the air as Sakura waited to be dismissed. But the Hokage ignored her, secretly hoping the kunoichi was going to leave on her own.
Silence commanded the atmosphere for a while longer. Finally, the Hokage put down her pen. "Fine. I'll go see what he wants. Come with me." The two ninja walked quickly out of the tower and toward the hospital.
The two walked along in silence, until when they were about halfway there. Tsunade stopped, and Sakura turned around to see what she had stopped for. The older woman was staring to the left, and Sakura looked over to see Kakashi in the bookstore...buying more Icha Icha Paradise books, of course. Figures that damn pervert would be here.
Tsunade, however, strode right up to the man. He turned one happily arched eye to the woman. "Oh, hello Hokage, ma'am." "Cut the crap, Kakashi. Why aren't you following her?" "Oh, I just came in here—" "No, I don't want to know why you're here. Sakura says that Sasuke told her to come find you because that Uchiha wants to talk to you."
"I thought Sasuke couldn't talk?" "Whatever. Just go with her. I've got work." The Hokage disappeared in a puff of smoke, leaving Kakashi standing in the store, and Sakura standing in the middle of the street, confused.
The Copy-Cat strode lazily out of the store, and the kunoichi glared at him. "Hurry up! I think what Sasuke has to say is important!" "Now, why would you say that?" "Just hurry up, already." The two ninja hurried over to the hospital, and they burst into Sasuke's room.
Well, Sakura did, anyway. Kakashi just walked in after her, almost bored. "Well, Sasuke, it seems you've told Sakura that you need to talk to me?" The Uchiha nodded. "So, what is it?" Sasuke looked down at his hands, which were still clenched tightly. "So, this is about your injuries?" He nodded again. "Is it about who attacked you?" Another nod. "Hm. Was it an enemy ninja?" Nod negative. "No? Someone from this village?" Nod negative. "Not from this village, not an enemy. Hm. Someone we know?"
Nod positive.
"That's interesting. You wouldn't happen to be talking about our visitor, Ayumi?" The boy's head shot up. "I'll take that as a yes." Sakura gasped. "What? Ayumi attacked Sasuke? But I saw her today!" "Yes, and did she seem regretful when she heard about what happened?" The kunoichi didn't even have to think. "No, as a matter of fact. She seemed unopinionated about it."
"I see. So, we have to find her." Sasuke grunted at this. Kakashi glanced at his student for a second.
Then he punched Sasuke right in the jaw.
Sakura nearly screamed, but Kakashi remained silent as the Uchiha gently moved his jaw. He popped something back in place as he turned to his sensei. "Thanks. I was waiting for you to do that." "No problem." "I still can't move my body, though."
"Tell me what happened." "I was waiting for everybody at the bridge when she showed up. She snuck up on me, and was taunting me about...my family. She called me weak, and it just, I don't know, it provoked me. I attacked, but she dodged me like I was nothing. Then, I said that she didn't know anything about me...or my family. She knocked me unconscious in three blows. I woke up here, and was told a nurse had found me outside. They said Tsunade came and healed me. But they didn't tell me what it was she healed."
"Hm. Sakura, did the nurse tell you what kind of injuries these were?" The kunoichi turned to her teacher. "Uh, I think she said something about Sasuke's blood slowing down, certain joints being immobile, and his entire body temperature being lower than it should." "That's not good. Do you think you can get up and move, Sasuke?"
The older man received a glare. "Do you think I can move? She just said I can't, so I can't. And I don't think that hitting me again will work. Also, every so often, these spasms occur." "What kind of spasms?" "I don't know. But they hurt. And I went unconscious last time, while Sakura was gone." "So, I guess I'll just have to carry you."
"But Kakashi, why? Sasuke should stay in the hospital to recover!" "Sakura, I'm going. Stop worrying so much." The girl decided to keep her mouth shut, for once. She'd argued with the boy enough times to know that it was pointless once he had made up his mind. "Ok, then. Let's get going." The group jumped out the window to avoid questions from the hospital staff as they moved across the rooftops, looking for Ayumi.
One hour later, the trio had searched the entire village, with no sign of the girl. Kakashi turned his masked face to one side. The other two looked to where he was looking, and saw Tsunade heading toward them. "Yes, Hokage?" Kakashi said. "You lazy bum! That girl is dangerous!" "Yes, it was Ayumi that attacked Sasuke. He still isn't mobile, as you can see."
"Oh, shut up, and follow me, all of you." The sannin took off out of the village and into the forest. The two ninja followed, Kakashi still carrying one Uchiha on his back. The Hokage was frantically scanning the passing landscape as they traveled. "Are we looking for Naruto?" "Of course we are!" "He and another person are about 500 feet ahead. Hokage, I think the other is Ayumi. But, there's also two more ninja that are attacking them." "Shit. We have to hurry." "Hokage, ma'am, who is she?" "There's no time to explain, just that she's dangerous." Sasuke let out a cry of pain, and Kakashi felt his whole body tense. His joints were shaking, and the Uchiha let out a snarl as he fell limp, nearly unconscious.
"Well, so much for those two...The foreign ninja are dead. And Naruto is running this way. We should catch up any minute." The Hokage sped ahead and pulled out a kunai.
"And besides, we have company." The girl seemed unfazed as the group dropped out of the tree.
This chapter is weird. I wrote it after the next chapter was already done, just to tie up some loose ends. Next chapter goes back in time to after chapter four with Ayumi.
FOR PEOPLE WHO LIKE SAKURA!!!!!!: I don't. Deal with it. There's a very high chance of her getting killed in about three chapters, so if you don't want me to, TELL ME DAMNIT!!! That is all.
