Sumire sighed as she walked into Transfiguration. After Quidditch practice last night, Crookshanks had chased after Scabbers and Ron and Hermione had fallen out over it. They hadn't said a word to each other today and Hermione's words towards Lavender outside the classroom just now only added more fuel to the fire. Sumire should have stepped in to get Hermione to keep quiet, but she felt her friend needed to learn that just because you don't believe in something and think it's a load of codswallop does not mean you needed to force it on people who did believe.
Professor McGonagall called Sumire up to her desk after she reminded the class about their Hogsmeade forms and dismissed them. "Miss Hatake, I know your tou-san signed your permission slip. However, due to the situation with Sirius Black, it is not recommended that you go to the village."
Sumire mentally smirked at the wording. Professor McGonagall had said 'not recommended.' In other words, she wasn't banned from joining her friends in the village. But… "Actually, sensei, I wasn't planning on going this time, since it's on Halloween."
"I understand, Miss Hatake," McGonagall-sensei said giving her a sad smile. "You should hurry or you'll be late for your next lesson."
Sumire nodded and left to rejoin her friends. Neville looked slightly exasperated whether from a fresh argument or their frosty silence.
"You've got to be able to go," Ron said. "You can't miss out on Hogsmeade!"
"With Sirius Black after he, it's safer if she doesn't go," Hermione hissed.
"Regardless of what Professor McGonagall said and the Sirius Black situation, who says I was even planning on going this time?" Sumire asked.
"But, it's the first Hogsmeade trip!" Ron protested.
"So? It's on Halloween, Ron."
Neville made noise of understanding, but Ron still looked scandalized at the idea she didn't want to go to the village. Sumire gave up trying to explain her reasoning and suggested they get to class.
In the morning, Sumire said goodbye to Neville, Ron, and Hermione. She worked on homework in the library until lunch after which she wandered castle to build up her mental map. While walking down one corridor she heard someone call her name. She turned to see Professor Lupin looking out his door.
"I take it Ron, Hermione and Neville are in Hogsmeade?" he asked. He studied Sumire when she nodded. "Why don't you come in? I've just taken delivery of a grindylow for our next lesson."
"A what"
In the corner of Professor Lupin's office stood a very large tank of water. Inside was a sickly green creature with sharp little horns and long spindly fingers.
"Water demon," Lupin said. "We shouldn't have much difficulty with him, not after the kappas. The trick is to break its grip. You notice the abnormally long fingers? Strong, but very brittle."
Sumire accepted his offer of a cup of tea and sat at his desk. She sipped her tea debating how to bring up his connection to her family.
"What did you want to ask me?" Professor Lupin asked suddenly. "You had a certain look in your eyes."
Sumire started. She hadn't figured out how to ask without sounding accusatory or like she was holding an interrogation. "Why did you step in and prevent me from facing the boggart?" That was safer for now.
"I would have thought that was obvious, Sumire. I assumed it would assume the shape of Lord Voldemort. Clearly, I was wrong, but I didn't think it would be a good idea for Lord Voldemort to materialize in the staffroom. I imagined that people would panic."
"That makes sense. Admittedly Riddle barely crossed my mind. Lord Voldemort's birth name was Tom Riddle," Sumire said. She'd seen Lupin's confusion at the name and then as to how she knew what his birth name was. "Although, if the boggart had turned into what I initially thought of, people would have probably panicked too. It would have been…bloody. But then I remembered the dementor."
"I see," Professor Lupin said. "Well, well…. I'm impressed. That suggests that what you fear most of all is – fear. Very wise, Sumire."
She blinked. That made a lot of sense actually. Fear would be the most likely reason she'd freeze and consequently get everyone killed.
"I get the feeling that wasn't what you wanted to ask me, though." Professor Lupin said, smiling slightly.
A knock on the door prevented her from broaching the subject. Snape came in with a smoking goblet. He exchanged a few words about it with Lupin before leaving.
"I hope that doesn't taste like it smells, because it smells absolutely rank," Sumire said with a grimace.
"It does unfortunately, and sugar makes it useless," Lupin said. "I've been feeling off colour. This potion is the only thing that helps. Professor Snape has been kind enough to make it for me. I've never been much of a potioneer and this one is particularly complex."
Any further conversation was prevented by a puff of smoke on the desk between them. It cleared to reveal a white and blue slug about a foot in length.
"Lady Katsuya?" Sumire asked in surprise and worry. Why would Lady Tsunade send her summons here? Now?
"Lady Tsunade asked me to deliver a message to you. She wants you to return to the village as soon as possible to assist Shikamaru's team in retrieving Sasuke Uchiha. He left the village to join Orochimaru last night."
Sumire swore long and violently in Japanese and English. "That power-hungry bastard… Lady Katsuya could you let Lady Tsunade know I'll head out after them as soon as I can." Sumire took a breath and Katsuya reverse summoned herself back to Konoha. "Professor Lupin, do you know if McGonagall-sensei is in her office right now?"
"I can check." Professor Lupin stood and walked over to his fireplace. "Is everything alright?"
"Emergency at home," Sumire said.
Lupin nodded and tossed some Floo Powder in the fire. He knelt down so he could stick his head in the flames. He exchanged a few words with Professor McGonagall before ending the call. "She says she'll be waiting for you."
"Thank you and thank you for the tea," Sumire said before running from the room, though not any faster than a civilian would.
The emergency portkey she got from McGonagall-sensei dropped her in a secluded part of the Hatake compound. Sumire bolted to the main gate after unsealing her katana and gathering extra weapons from her room. Thankfully Izumo and Kotetsu didn't ask her any questions as she signed out.
Sumire summoned Pakkun and they followed Naruto and the others' scents.
"There's another shinobi following Naruto and the others," Pakkun said after a little while.
"Friend or foe?" Sumire asked.
Pakkun sniffed the air for a moment. "He's from Konoha. We'll catch up to him in an hour or two."
"Then let's pick up the pace!"
Just as Pakkun said, about an hour later, Sumire saw who they were following. The green spandex outfit really narrowed it down and the slighter frame gave Lee away.
"Lee! What are you doing?" she asked as she drew level with him.
"Same as you. Going to help Naruto."
"Didn't you just get out of the hospital?"
"Yes, but I cannot sit by and do nothing."
"But you could end up setting back your recovery." She should know. That was the only reason she doesn't leave the hospital too early and rests up at home as well. She would take pretty much any opportunity to avoid the hospital as much as possible.
They continued on in silence. Eventually, Sumire looked down and ahead and saw a familiar figure slumped at the base of a tree.
"Chōji!" Sumire jumped down next to him and pressed her ear to his chest when she saw he was unconscious. She let out a small sigh of relief when she heard his heartbeat. It was faint but still there.
"Is he…?" Lee trailed off.
"He's still alive," Sumire said leaving off the 'just.' "Pakkun, I need you to go tell Lady Tsunade and then lead the medics here."
"Hai!" Pakkun ran back the way they came.
Sumire bit her thumb so she could summon Biscuit. She explained the situation and they were off again. They ran in silence for a little bit.
"Chōji will make it," Lee said. "The power of youth burns strong within him."
"Yeah," Sumire said not completely believing it. She'd seen how diminished Chōji's physique was. It must have taken some extreme chakra drainage plus who knows what else to cause that.
She was grateful Lee didn't keep trying to reassure her. She couldn't dwell on Chōji's situation right now.
The sun was starting to go down when Biscuit said something that wasn't a direction. "We need to be careful. I smell blood up ahead."
'Shit,' Sumire thought. A shiver trailed down her spine at the idea of any of her friends that badly injured.
"Neji!" Lee cried, dropping to the forest floor.
While he ran to his teammate, Sumire checked the Oto shinobi for life signs. She didn't find any thankfully. A few feet away from her Lee was gently turning Neji onto his back. Sumire felt a rush of relief that it wasn't Naruto, Kiba or Shikamaru and then felt guilty about it.
"He's still alive!" Lee cried.
Sumire hurried over unsealing bandages and gauze. She passed some to Lee and instructed him to put pressure on the wound in Neji's abdomen. Meanwhile she wrapped his shoulder.
"Biscuit, did they keep heading north?" Sumire asked. Biscuit sniffed around for a moment before confirming. "Right. I need you to go back to Konoha and lead the medics here. Lee, you need to stay here."
"But – "
"Lee, you just got out of the hospital. You shouldn't be in battle. Besides – "She looked down at a deathly pale Neji. "Someone has to keep pressure on Neji's wound, to try and stop him from bleeding out."
Lee looked down at his wrapped hands that were already stained with his teammate's blood. "I understand. Go! Help Naruto bring Sasuke back." He removed one hand to give her a thumbs up.
Sumire nodded and left a pile of bandages and gauze there for him. She ran on for a while until she started to hear distant sounds of fighting. Judging by the thinning tree line there was a clearing up ahead. She picked up the pace and paused at the edge of clearing. She didn't want to charge in blindly.
Sumire arrived just in time to see Sasuke run off and a white-haired shinobi with a large rope tied around his waist attack Naruto from behind. She sped in and kicked the shinobi away, unable to do anything else with him so close to Naruto.
"Who's this?" he asked when he landed on his feet a short distance away.
"Neechan?" Naruto breathed surprised. "But, what about – "
"Don't worry, Naruto," Sumire said. "Go get Sasuke so we can drag his traitorous ass back to the village. I'll handle things here."
"Okay. Just be careful. He uses his own bones for weapons. Watch yourself. This guy's strength is beyond belief."
"Get going, Naruto." Sumire flew through the seals for the Fireball Jutsu. She blew the fire towards the Oto shinobi which kept him preoccupied and allowed Naruto to run off.
Sumire observed her opponent as she threw some kunai and shuriken that he blocked with his sword-like weapon. Naruto had said he used his own bones as weapons which had to be one of the strangest kekkei-genkai's she'd seen. Judging by that he seemed to be more of a close ranged fighter. So, if she could just keep her distance, she should be alright.
'I need more mid-range or long-range jutsu,' Sumire thought. She and the Oto shinobi were stuck at an impasse. The clearing was covered in burnt patches from her fire and lightning jutsus. He'd been able to dodge her jutsus just as she'd been able to dodge the finger bones he'd fired at her. Seriously, that was a weird ability.
"This grows tiresome," he said and Sumire was in full agreement.
'Ah shit,' Sumire thought. 'He just has to have a bloody curse mark! Who knows what that is going to do?' Black lines crept up all over the Oto shinobi's body. She cursed as she felt his chakra spike.
The Oto shinobi made bones protrude from his torso and upper arms. "Larch Dance." He charged towards her, far faster than before.
Sumire jumped back to put some distance between them. She started to make the hand seals for her lightning shield. Before she could finish her jutsu the Oto ninja put on a further burst of speed and was right there and starting to spin. All she could do was bring her arms up to protect her throat and face. The force of his bones dragging through her flesh was actually causing her to spin as well.
His jutsu ended and they both landed on the ground. He landed on his feet while Sumire had to do a painful tuck and roll. She slowly stood and held out a hand. Small sparks ran across and around her hand. The fact she hadn't finished her hand signs earlier didn't matter. It'll just take more chakra.
Sumire got a small lightning shield up and it was slowly growing.
"This is over now," the Oto shinobi said. He grew several bones out of his arm so he had multiple daggers surrounding his fist. "Die!"
Just before he reached her shield, dozens of tendrils of sand appeared between them. They exploded outwards sending both her and the enemy flying backwards. Sumire would have hit the ground hard if not for the sand that cushioned her fall and carried her back to the one controlling it.
"Who're you?" he asked.
"An ally of Konoha," a male voice said from above her. "A Suna shinobi."
Sumire looked over as he walked forward. "Gaara no Subaku?" she said in surprise. She knew they were allies with Suna once more. Having your Kazekage murdered before the invasion Orochimaru who'd been and continued pulling Suna's strings tended to make one less at fault.
"Gaara. Is that what they call you?" The Oto shinobi crossed his arms in front of his chest to prepare his jutsu. "Digital Shrapnel!" He fired his fingertip bones at Gaara.
His sand blocked them, but due to their speed it took the sand a while to stop them completely. Gaara moved his sand to the side so he could see their opponent. "Impulsive, aren't you?" He turned to look at Sumire. "Are you alright?"
"Fine," Sumire said as she stood. "Lower chakra levels than I'd like."
Gaara's eyes flicked over the spreading patches of blood she had. "This is fine?"
"Yeah," Sumire shrugged. "Getting bit by a venomous thousand-year-old snake that's over sixty feet long that's not fine. I'm glad you're here and all but why are you?"
"I owe Konoha… I owe Konoha a great debt," Gaara said.
'More like Naruto,' Sumire thought. 'If most of the village knew he was like Naruto, they'd have wanted to see him dead.'
"I'll handle this," Gaara said as Sumire's blood dripped onto the grass. "You're not in any shape to keep fighting. I've got this."
Sumire winced as her slight movement pulled a couple wounds. "You're probably right. Just be careful. This guy uses his bones to attack. He can fire them like you just saw and he can force them to protrude from his body."
"You're Gaara no Subaku," the Oto shinobi said. "You wield sand, hence the name." He brought his bones back into his body before firing his finger bones at Gaara while dodging the sand attacks.
"A rather foolish nickname, isn't it?" he taunted. "You're nothing without that sand of yours."
"Sand Shower," Gaara said.
Sumire looked up to see a cloud of sand. The Oto shinobi went to move out from under it, but Gaara had trapped his feet. It was a great strategy. Keep him focused on the attacks so as to keep him from noticing the sand gathering above him. And then when he was focused above, come up from below.
"But as long as I have sand, I can do anything," Gaara said. He raised a hand. "The only fool here is you. If I need more sand I can easily use the earth we're standing on to make more."
Sumire looked over and saw that slightly behind Gaara, sand was being poured into a hole in the ground. She figured it must be pretty handy to not run out of your main weapon very easily. She watched him close his fist compacting the pillar of sand trapping the Oto shinobi.
Sumire stared as he forced his way out of the sand. Large patches of skin were gone, revealing white bone and he'd reactivated his curse mark. "Impossible," she breathed.
"That sure was a lot of pressure," he said to a glaring Gaara. "If I hadn't grown a membrane of bone underneath my skin, I would have been crushed beyond recognition. I underestimated you, but that's the last time I'll get caught in your sand."
Gaara widened his stance and sped through hand signs. A massive wave of sand bore down towards the Oto shinobi. "Sand Tsunami!"
'He's even changing the terrain!' Sumire thought. The sand was covering half the clearing and far into the trees on the other side.
"Giant Sand Burial!" Gaara slammed his hands on the sand at his feet compressing all the sand.
'Okay if that didn't finish him – '
"Why won't he give up?" Gaara wondered.
"What?" Sumire's jaw dropped. "How did he survive all that?" She waved a hand at the now desert-like terrain in front of them and winced when the motion pulled one of the many wounds on her side. What looked like a thick purple tail broke out of the sand. "The hell is that?"
Gaara brought sand around the changed Oto shinobi, but he managed to break free of Gaara's Sand Coffin. He charged toward the pair of them which allowed Sumire to see that his skin was now a greyish purple, his hair grey, dark marks were around and to the sides of his eyes and he had a tail. He was so fast he could outmaneuver Gaara's sand. When Gaara formed a sand shield he just plowed straight through it and slammed his shoulder and a couple of the half dozen massive bones protruding from his back into Gaara before Sumire could blink. Gaara was thrown back several feet.
"Is that the best your Ultimate Defense can do? I'm very disappointed," he said derisively. Gaara looked over his sand armor cracked. "I see, an armor-like shell of sand."
Sumire formed hand seals as she moved within range of their stationary opponent. She jumped up so that she had a better shot at his head and torso. 'Raikiri Stream!'
The Oto shinobi must have sensed her approach. He ducked under her jutsu and, at the same time, whipped his tail up towards her. It easily crashed through the sand shield Gaara hastily erected for her and slammed into the side of her ribcage. Sumire landed several feet away.
She slowly sat up one arm wrapped around her broken ribs. 'If it wasn't for Gaara, my ribs would be in pieces and getting far too acquainted with my lung. I'm definitely out of this fight now.'
"I'm tired of that sand," the Oto shinobi snarled with a glare at the still breathing, albeit painfully, Sumire. "You're first, Gaara." He reached up between his shoulder blades and ripped out a long strand of linked bones.
It took a moment for Sumire to register what she was seeing. 'He ripped out his spine?! How the hell does that even work? It's not the normal length.'
"Clematis Dance! Vine!" He whipped his elongated spine towards Gaara and it wrapped around the sand Gaara surrounded himself with. His left hand became surrounded by a swirl of bone that looked very sharp at one end and was as long as he was tall. "Flower."
"Ultimate Defense: Shukaku's Shield!" A giant tanuki with a gat and its arms out to the side formed out of sand in between Gaara and the Oto shinobi. The spine was passing through the tanuki.
The Oto shinobi slammed the 'flower' into the shield and barely drilled through it before the bones cracked and shattered. "It's so strong – "
"I took the hardest minerals in the soil I gathered and then I fused them with the sand using my chakra," Gaara explained. "Tell me. That's a very unusual jutsu. It's a Kekkai Genkai, right?"
"It belonged to the Kaguya," the shinobi who was as now identified as a Kaguya said. "But now it belongs to me and me alone."
"You're the last of your clan, eh? Then your clan perishes today."
"That might very well be the case. Due to sickness, my body may not last much longer. However – I will still live on. Because I am not alone. My existence has been subsumed into Lord Orochimaru's ambition. That means a part of me will survive in Lord Orochimaru's heart forever."
"Orochimaru's brainwashed you well," Gaara said. "You sad little pawn."
"I didn't even realize Orochimaru had a heart," Sumire said.
Gaara made a hand seal and started to sink the Kaguya into the ground. "I will bury you 200 meters below the surfaced of the earth under pressure so great you won't be able to move a finger. Imprisoned there until the end of time."
The sand stopped and Sumire and Gaara watched it warily. 'Please tell me he didn't survive that. He shouldn't be able to at least.'
"Dance! Bracken Dance!" echoed up from the sand shortly before spikes of bone erupted through the sand. They even made their way towards Sumire.
She shifted to move out of the way, but her wounds screamed in pain, and she could only watch the white spikes coming toward her. The sand under her rose up so she was floating on a cloud of it over the bones. Gaara was next to her on his own sand cloud.
"Thank you for saving me, several times," Sumire said. "Your abilities with the sand are impressive."
"Not really," he said. "I'm merely able to make the sand do my bidding. It's second nature to me now." Sweat beaded his brow.
"It's still impressive," Sumire said, smiling at him.
"A tenacious opponent, but this time it's over. We won't be seeing him again in this life."
"Good," Sumire said but she couldn't help feeling something was about to go wrong… again.
Gaara leaned forward, one hand on the platform. "My strength is gone. We must descend."
"I am not his pawn!' the Kaguya cried, torso coming out of a bone spear behind Gaara. Kaguya had a spiral of bone around his right hand. "He is the one! The only one whoever gave my life meaning!"
'How is this guy not dead?'
"But how could the likes of you ever understand!" he cried as he stabbed his right hand towards a shocked Gaara.
"Striking Shadow Snake!" Snakes shot out from Sumire's right coat sleeve and wrapped around the Kaguya's bone weapon. She yanked her arm back ignoring the strain on her ribs.
The Kaguya's attack moved between the two of them before the forward motion stopped. Sumire looked over to see blood pouring out of the Kaguya's mouth and his eyes wide and unblinking. She released her jutsu.
"He's dead," she said slightly surprised. After how he refused to die from Gaara's attacks, he died from illness. No matter how hard you fight, Mother Nature will eventually win.
Once they were back on the ground, Sumire could truly see the scale of Kaguya's Bracken Dance. The spires of bone were as tall as the trees and far more densely packed. She leaned against the tree next to Gaara's. They sat in silence while they caught their breath.
"I would have died," Gaara said. "Thank you. If you weren't here…"
Sumire smiled lightly. "Call it even? I could say the same thing about you. You saved my life a few times out there today."
Gaara nodded. He hesitated before asking, "Why didn't you listen to the villagers when you were in Suna?'
"Well, for starters, I can't stand bullies," Sumire said while trying to figure out how to word the next part. "And I can't stand it when people call others, especially children, freak, demon, or monster simply because they were different and had no control over what made them that way."
"Naruto?"
Sumire nodded with a half shrug. "Yeah. And my uncle only ever called me freak because I was born different. Just like my parents. Tou-san took me in, and I never saw him again, but he left an impression."
Gaara studied her for a couple moments. "It's strange. You're not treating me differently even though I attacked your home."
"You were just following orders." She tilted her head slightly at the look Gaara was giving her. "What is it?"
"You're different from everyone else. No one just sat down and talked to me like I was normal. Even now, it's mainly my siblings and Baki that treat me that way. Some of the village is slowly coming around, but…" He shrugged.
"We could write to each other," Sumire suggested. "Some of the snakes would be willing to transport the letters."
"I'd like that." Gaara saw some of the grass around Sumire shining red with her blood. "Do you have bandages with you?"
Sumire nodded and dredged up enough chakra to unseal the few bandages she had left. Gaara helped her wrap them around some of the wounds on her arms. There weren't enough to wrap her torso, so she pressed gauze against the worst one not on her broken ribs.
Rustling came from the trees as someone approached them. Gaara looked in that direction. "Temari," he said which allowed Sumire to relax.
A moment later, Temari and Shikamaru dropped down in front of them. "Gaara! Are you alright?"
"Yes. I've just used most of my chakra. Sumire will need medical attention though."
Shikamaru knelt next to Sumire and looked over her. "Broken ribs?"
She nodded. "Courtesy of Orochimaru's bone wielding pawn when he was transformed by his curse mark. Damn bastard wouldn't die. Even after Gaara buried him in crushing sand three times. He sent up that bone forest from under 200 meters of sand before he finally died."
"Naruto went after Sasuke?"
"He did. Hopefully, he can knock some sense into that arrogant prick."
Shikamaru bit his lip. "Did you see Chōji, Kiba, Akamaru or Neji? Chōji and Neji stayed behind to fight two of the Oto shinobi and we got separated from Kiba and Akamaru while we were battling two others."
Sumire grimaced. "I didn't see Kiba and Akamaru, but I passed by Chōji and Neji's battlegrounds. I left Lee with Neji and sent Pakkun and Biscuit to lead the medics to them." Her own fear for them was mirrored in Shikamaru's eyes.
"We should get the two of you to Konoha and have the medics there look at you," Temari said from where she was looking over her brother. "Kankuro was heading to your other teammate."
Shikamaru nodded and helped Sumire to her feet. "Let's get going them."
When they got to Konoha's hospital, Shikamaru's broken finger was wrapped and he and Temari went to wait outside of the operating room Chōji was in. Sumire was whisked into a room where a medic nin healed the worst of her injuries and bandaged the rest. As for her ribs, the medic accelerated the healing process and bound Sumire's ribcage to help keep them in place. She didn't require Sumire to stay in the hospital to the young chunin's relief.
Gaara stood up from where he was leaning against the wall when she entered the hall. He gave her a questioning look.
"I just have to take it easy for a couple weeks."
He nodded. "I spoke to one of the medic nins. Chōji and Neji are both still in surgery, but Kiba can have visitors if you wanted to see how he's doing."
"Thank you."
Sumire and Gaara walked through the halls. They came across Kankuro who looked up as they approached.
"There you are, Gaara. Are you alright?"
'Just some mild chakra exhaustion." Gaara stood next to his stunned older brother.
"Wha-? How? You-?" Kankuro registered Sumire standing there. "Sumire? What are you doing here?"
"Getting my broken ribs looked at. The Oto shinobi Gaara and I fought broke them while he was in the second state of his curse mark."
"You were on the same mission as the punk in there?" Kankuro said, gesturing to the room across the hall.
Sumire glared at him for the slight towards Kiba. She stepped forward and knocked on the door to Kiba's room. Behind her she could hear Kankuro asking Gaara what he did and Gaara telling him Kiba was her friend.
"I take it you're here to see Kiba?" Hana asked when she opened the door. She smiled at Sumire.
"If he's up for visitors."
"Is that Sumire, neechan?" Kiba asked.
"It is," Hana said standing aside. "Come on in."
Sumire was greeted by the Haimaru triplets when she entered the room. She gave each of them a couple scratches behind their ears. Kiba and Akamaru were both bandaged up and lying on separate beds.
"They'll both be up and running around in a few weeks," Hana reassured Sumire. "It was good to see you."
Hana and the Haimaru left the room. Sumire gave a sleeping Akamaru a gentle rub on his head, before sitting on the edge of Kiba's bed.
"Shikamaru said Lady Tsunade was going to send word to you. How are you going to explain your absence?"
"That I went home for a memorial for my parents."
"Good idea." Kiba sniffed the air. "You were bleeding. How badly?"
"Nothing life threatening. The worst injuries I had were a couple broken ribs and scratches. What about you?"
"I stabbed myself to attack the Oto shinobi who was merging his cells with mine."
Sumire didn't know which part was more horrifying.
"Don't worry. I'll be out of here in no time." Kiba grinned then turned serious. "Have you heard anything about the others?"
"Shikamaru just has a broken finger and low chakra. Chōji and Neji are both still in surgery. I haven't heard anything about Naruto."
"Naruto will be fine. He's strong and so are Chōji and Neji. They'll both pull through."
Sumire smiled. "They certainly are. I should let you get some sleep. I expect you to be up and about when I get back in a few weeks."
"When are you going back."
"I've got the bat first thing so probably right after debriefing. Depending on how long it takes. I might have time to grab something to eat and a quick shower. And check in on the others if I can."
"You should go then."
Sumire squeezed Kiba's forearm. "You better recover quickly, Anaguma, you hear me?"
"I hear you Okami."
"See you when I get back." Sumire smiled at her friend. She gave Akamaru a scratch and whispered to him, "Keep an eye on him for me."
Akamaru acknowledged her with a small whine before going back to sleep.
"Will he be alright/" Gaara asked.
"Yeah, they just need to take it easy for a while, but both of them should make full recoveries."
'That's good," Gaara said. He elbowed Kankuro to stop him from making the disparaging comment that was on the tip of his tongue.
Sumire knew Shikamaru would be beating himself up over the results of the mission. She made her way to the room Chōji was in since Shikamaru would still be waiting outside for any news. Gaara and Kankuro went with her since their sister Temari was there as well.
They reached ICU 6 where Temari was sitting on a bench and Shikamaru looked like he was in the process of walking away. He must have been stopped by his father who was standing in a side hall.
"You've got a chance to reflect on your mistakes and to learn from them," Shikaku told his son. "Use your failures to make yourself a better leader. You won't help your friends by running away. Instead, you should be trying to make yourself stronger for their sake, so the next mission goes perfectly and everyone gets home safe. The choice is simple, you're either a leader or you're a coward. So which are you?"
Sumire couldn't help but wince at the Nara clan head's words. It sucked that his first mission as chunin ended up with so many of their friends critically hurt. Shika's reaction probably wouldn't be as strong if he had a few successful missions as leader under his belt already or the shinobi weren't some of his closest friends. She stopped next to Shikamaru and placed a hand on his shoulder.
The operating room light turned off and Lady Tsunade stepped out. Both Sumire and Shikamaru tensed when they heard her sigh.
"He's going to be just fine," Lady Tsunade announced with a smile. "The antidote worked. The extermination of cells caused by the pills effects has been arrested. I couldn't have done it without you help, Shikaku. The Nara clan's sacred medicine guide was invaluable. The work that went into that manual. The years of research. Well, its quite impressive to say the least."
"Thank you," Shikaku said, inclining his head to his leader.
"Lady Tsunade!" Shizune cried running up. "Neji Hyuuga is safe. His condition has stabilized. And there's more. I've just heard that Kakashi Hatake and Naruto Uzumaki have returned and they've been examined. Naruto's injuries are serious but not life-threatening. He's going to be okay."
"Oh thank Kami," Sumire sighed as the last of her tension over her friends and Neji's fates vanished. She pulled Shikamaru into a hug and buried her face in his shoulder.
"Shikamaru, your mission was a failure," Lady Tsunade said. "However, everyone's alive. That's the most important thing."
"Next time, the mission will go perfectly," Shikamaru said, tears of relief dripping into Sumire's hair.
"The five of you, debriefing in my office in one hour," Tsunade said before she and Shizune left.
Shikamaru and Sumire separated and dried their eyes. "When do you have to head back," he asked her.
Sumire looked over at the wall clock. "Almost right after the debriefing. I've got the Kōmori first thing. Binns is after so I can pass out then."
"Shall we get some food while we wait?"
"Sure. If we go to Ichiraku we can give Teuchi and Ayame a heads up about Naruto."
Shikamaru turned to the Sand Siblings. "Do you want to join us?"
"What is Ichiraku?" Temari asked.
"Ramen."
"Never had it," Kankuro said.
Sumire and Shikamaru both instinctively braced for a whirlwind and a cry of outrage.
"What's wrong?" Gaara asked.
"Naruto thinks it's sacrilege if anyone has been to Konoha for more than a couple weeks and hasn't been to Ichiraku," Sumire explained.
"Is it that could or does he just like it that much?" Gaara asked.
"A little of column A and a little of column B," Sumire said.
Gaara's lips quirked upwards. "I could go for some food."
Temari and Kankuro glanced at each other and shrugged. The five of them headed out of the hospital and through the village to the ramen shop.