Chapter 33: Inner Trials
It had been nearly three weeks since the evacuation of Tokigakure and, for the most part, everyone had settled into their new 'home'. Of course, ever the skeptic, Shikamaru refused to relax into a 'this is for good' mind set. After being tossed viciously from home to home for the past six years, it was no wonder that he didn't want to get attached to another place. He wasn't alone in his feelings either. Neji had up-ed his already psychotic training schedule and absolutely refused any of the others attempts to pull him aside for a day to relax and 'get to know' this new place. When Tenten, the only one brave enough, asked him why, he responded with a glare and a laugh.
"Don't be a child Tenten. We've been through enough by now for you to know better then to be hopeful. If we get to relaxed then we die. You of all people should know that after what happened to your brother."
Tenten's eyes went wide.
"Don't talk about my brother like that Neji."
"Why? He was a fool. Just like Itachi and Hikari were fools. They thought that they were so good being jounin at such a young age but they were just stupid. And your brother was the worst. He didn't even last two minu—."
A loud slap echoed through the common room of the house the large group was renting and a shocked silence fell over everyone inside.
"My brother fought and died to defend the village. He stood up against Orochimaru with strength, pride, and courage. He was younger then us but he was already willing to lay down his life to save as many as he could." Tears stung Tenten's chocolate eyes as she glared at the floor through her bangs. "He was a million times the man you will never be."
Neji rested his fingertips gently against his reddened cheek as he watched his childhood friend spin around and race for the stares. Feeling ashamed for his words the boy sighed and dropped his gaze to the ground. He blinked. Slowly he crouched and rested his fingers against the tatami mats where four darkened spots had been touched by tears.
"Hyuuga Neji!" Temari scowled as she stomped in the younger boy's direction, ignoring Chouji who was clinging to her hand in an attempt to stop her. "I have never met anyone as insensitive, cold-hearted, and completely cruel as you! You make my father look like a saint!"
Neji's fist clenched and he slammed it against the floor. "Don't you compare me to your father! I'm nothing like him!"
Temari huffed and crossed her arms as best she could with Chouji still trying to hold her back. "You could have fooled me. You may not order the murder of your own son but you sure as hell murdered your friendship with a great person."
A cool calm washed over Neji as he stood, his blank glare once again fixed on his face. "What do you know? I'll bet your father ordered your death too, you Suna academy reject. And that you're only here because Kyo-sensei took pity on you."
Neji never expected the fist that came flying at his face.
"Chouji!" Ino gasped. "What are you doing?"
Chouji ignored her as he glared at the boy on the floor. "You know, I was holding Temari back so that she wouldn't let her anger get the better of her and say something to you that she didn't mean. That doesn't mean that I was any less upset by what you said to Tenten, it just means that I still had respect for you. But if that's how you treat your friends who are trying to help you then I don't think that I want to respect you anymore. Heck. I don't even know if I want to know you anymore."
Every word struck Neji deep and he watched in silence as a stunned Temari hurried after Chouji as he left the room through the front door.
"They're right you know." Shikamaru said. "It's troublesome, but this is what we have to deal with. I don't like it anymore then you do but I think I'd rather keep running with my friends then die without them. At least until we're all ready to die together."
The two boys locked gazes while Ino looked on nervously from the side. Were they going to fight too?
Finally Neji broke the stare and let out a small sigh. "I get it."
Shikamaru smirked and held out his hand. "Troublesome."
"Yeah," Neji said as he allowed himself to be pulled up. "And about to get worse."
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Ichigo swallowed hard as she felt the leather straps on her arms and legs being tightened. She really didn't like the idea of being restrained but Kyo said that there might be pain involved and none of them wanted to run the risk of her clawing out her eyes should it be unbearable.
Gaara laced his fingers together with Ichigo's and his eyes brightened a bit as she gave his hand a gentle squeeze.
"Are you ready?" His voice was uncharacteristically nervous and Ichigo couldn't stop a small laugh as it wavered and almost cracked.
"I'm ready," She said. "Just so long as you don't leave. I don't think I'm brave enough to do this my self."
"Don't be stupid." Gaara said. "You're a lot braver then me."
Kyo smiled sadly as he watched the two from the corner of the room. They reminded him so much of when he and Kairi were young. Although they tended to argue just a bit more. Not as much as Itachi and Hikari (no one but them could argue that much and still be in love) but still more then these two. He wouldn't be surprised if their childhood crushes developed into something much greater later in life. Especially if they were able to get through this.
At that thought Kyo switched his gaze to the table where Baki was carefully putting the blood into the tube of a syringe.
"You aren't putting a needle on that are you? I just thought we were putting the blood in her eyes."
Baki sighed as he screwed on a needle. "And just how do you think we're putting it into her eyes brat? It has to go in. Not on."
Ichigo closed her eyes tightly and drew in a shaky breath. Gaara's grip on her hand tightened and he leaned in close to whisper in her ear.
"Don't worry Ichi-chan. I'm not going anywhere."
Ichigo smiled slightly. "Arigato."
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"I don't know Sasuke-kun." Sakura said as she fed Kaede. "I've been practicing for a while now but I really don't think that I'm ready."
"Sakura you have to do it. You're the only one that can. Under normal circumstances you would have forever to learn it but we don't have time. We have to do this now."
"Sasuke's right Sakura-chan," Hinata said. "You have to at least try."
"But to try it on Sasuke…It just doesn't seem like a good idea. Couldn't we try it on something else first?"
"The scroll says it has to be a person Sakura-chan, other wise I would have let you try it on Kyuubi-chan."
The small fox kit growled from Naruto's pocket but the boy just laughed and whispered a 'mostly kidding' to the angry fox demon.
Sakura glanced at Haku but he just shrugged. According to the scrolls it didn't have a negative effect on the user so he wouldn't stop her. It was completely her choice.
Sakura turned back to Sasuke.
"But Sasuke, if something goes wro—."
Everyone's eyes went wide and Naruto swiftly blocked Midori's view with his palm out of reflex.
Sakura gaped as Sasuke slowly pulled away and she rested her fingers unbelievingly against her lips.
"There," Sasuke said. "Now I have no regrets. Let's get this over with."
Still in a daze Sakura passed Kaede to Haku who gently resumed feeding the child her bottle as his pink haired charge stood and followed Sasuke over to the small clearing he had already picked out.
"This is going to take a while," Sakura said as she drew out a knife and slid it along the inside of her arm.
"Just don't over do it. The last thing I need is for you to pass out."
"Right," Sakura said before she slid her fingers along her bloodied arm and began to draw symbols on the dirt.
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Ichigo was scared. Of course that was understandable. Baki said that, because her brain was active at the time of her blinding, it would probably be best if it was active as they tried to heal them. This meaning he had to be awake. While they stuck needles in her eyes.
Gaara's face looked carved from stone as he tried to restrain himself from tossing Kyo away from the small red haired girl as the man grasped her left eyelids to hold them open for the needle. As it was he was able to restrain himself, but he couldn't stop an angry growl from escaping his lips as Shibuki did the same to her right eye.
"I'm not going to promise that this won't hurt," Baki said, his voice soft with concern. "But I will promise to try to get it done as fast as I can while keeping it safe."
Ichigo nodded as best she could with her head strapped down to the table.
"Alright," Baki said as he lifted the needle. "No matter what happens, don't let her eyes close until I'm done. Even if she screams."
Kyo nodded once while Shibuki broke out into as cold sweat, even as he nodded shakily.
Nothing else was said as the needle was gently inserted into Ichigo's right eyes. A half a second after the needle was removed the pain set in and the girl began to scream. The men all flinched but held strong, trying to stop her flailing long enough to administer the blood into her left eye as well.
Gaara's eyes were shut tight as he silently begged for this to be over quickly. He held tight to the smaller girl's hand as she screamed and tried to escape from her bonds. Her wrists began to grow raw and red as she fought against the restraints in an attempt to claw at her eyes.
Between the two of them Kyo and Shibuki had somehow managed to hold Ichigo's head still enough for Baki to administer the second dose but now they could only sit and watch as the small eleven year old writhed on the wooden table. Kyo closed his eyes and clenched his teeth hard as he prayed with all of his might that the pain his sister was feeling would quickly pass.
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Sakura blinked her eyes in irritation as the dull pain continued to bother them. She was about halfway through with this very complicated jutsu when it had started. It wasn't even a gradual thing it was just…there. And it hurt really badly. Still, she had quickly pushed it aside, not wanting anything to interrupt her concentration. She really didn't want to end up killing the boy she was in love with. To put it lightly, that would really suck.
"Alright Sasuke-kun," Sakura said, a heavy waver in her voice. "Are you…ready…?"
Sasuke's face was determined as he nodded an affirmative. "Yeah."
Sakura closed her eyes and bit her bottom lip as she quickly finished up the seals and slammed them onto the edge of the blood circle she had made around Sasuke. The blood lit up a bright pink at the touch from her chakra and it raced around the circle before it zigged its way along the symbols that had been drawn towards the center of the circle where Sasuke stood.
Completely engulfed in the bright lights, Sasuke couldn't stop a grunt of discomfort as he felt his body shift and mold itself into its new shape. The other three members of the Konoha Senshi waited with baited breath for the light to die down. Once it did Sakura couldn't stop the heat from rising to her face as both Naruto and Hinata looked on in pure shock.
"Well," Sasuke said with a smirk. "It seems as though it worked."
"S-Sasuke….kun…." Sakura said as she stared at the man before her. "I-Is that…really you?"
In response Sasuke stepped out of the blood circle and knelt down to the pink haired girl's level.
"What do you think?" He said before he kissed her soundly on the mouth.
"So," Sasuke said as he pulled away. "Who's next?"
Sakura simply passed out.
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When Kyo opened the door to the basement what he found was not what he expected. Twelve scared and teary faces stared up at their teacher as they slowly lowered their hands from their ears.
"S-Sensei…" Ino said. "I-is Ichigo-chan going to be alright?"
Kyo heaved a heavy sigh as he closed his eyes and leaned against the door frame. "I don't know." He said. "We've put bandages over her eyes now that she is unconscious but…"
"But?" Tenten prompted.
Kyo sighed again. "There is no guarantee that the operation will work. We all just have to hope for the best."
"How long will she keep the bandages on Kyo-sensei?" Chouji said, his mouth set in a grim line.
"At least four days but we are going to make it a solid week just incase."
"So," Shikamaru said. "We won't know until the end of the week." He sighed. "How troublesome."
For once nobody bothered to disagree.
End Chapter 33
Kaliea: Sorry bout the sudden break off. I didn't know where else to go. Anyway, in the next chapter you get to see what the jutsu Sakura is performing does and maybe, if your lucky, whether or not Ichigo can see again. I hope you enjoy!
Review Answers:
Hiei-Touya-icedemon: I'm so glad that you like my characterizing. I am most especially glad that you like how I write Itachi and Hikari, aside from Shikamaru they are the hardest for me to write. I hope you enjoyed the chapter!
ShinkuNoTenshi: I'm sorry. I didn't want kill them. I actually planned to let them all live until the end but then I came up with the whole scroll idea and…well. To make that work the teachers had to go.
Princess Ren: Hee,hee. I wanna know too. I have know Idea what is going to happen until I actually write it. I was most especially not going to stick a needle in Ichigo's eyes but then I thought, wait. If they're going to repair her eyes they would have to get the blood in her eyes. Dropping it on the surface wouldn't do much good. So I changed it at the very last second. A lot of the chapters are done that way.
Suki dah Turdle: I know, I'm sorry but it has really been a bit of a dark fic from the beginning. By far the darkest thing I have ever written. I'll be keeping it pg-13 though so I promise It won't be getting much worse.
grim reaper sakura: Well, Naruto is the kind of person to always be right about stuff like that. Sasuke would have to be a complete fool not to at least give what he says a chance, and we all know Sasuke is no fool. A jerk maybe, but not a fool.
HarukoElric-AKA-inufan005: A lot will happen with those three that will most likely be unexpected. That's really all that I can say for now though.
blackXpinksakura: It's been hard to update lately, I just really haven't been in the mood to write. To much going on.
Shinobi Darkbeak: I'll do my best. Thanks for the review!
Tears like Crystals: I'm glad you enjoyed it! To be honest I didn't think that a lot of my readers would stick with me for this long but I'm really glad you all did. There are a lot of names of reviewers that I remember from the very beginning that still review faithfully. I' really glad about that.
Danny-171984: A lot of things that are unexpected will be happening with in these last chapters. I'm not sure just how many more there will be but I know it will be a few. I hope that I can continue to surprise you all as well. That's really the whole point you know.
Dragon Man 180: Let's see, which adults. Yume (the fourth Hokage) Kyo. Baki (from the sand), Shibuki (from the falls), Kaemon (from the tree), a few random villagers from the falls that aren't really important, Zabuza, Sasuke, Sakura, Naruto, and Hinata. I think that's just about it, unless you count Itachi and Hikari as adults. Probably huh? Seeing as they're about to have a kid.
IX-ForgottenAngel-XI: I'm sorry about that. When I do the review section it's usually when I don't have the internet so the last people that where there when I last had a chance to look are the people that get put up. However, my non-internet days should be done for a while so it hopefully won't happen again. Thanks for reviewing again anyway!
Kaliea: Thanks so much to all that reviewed! I really appreciate it! Please review again. I enjoy getting feed back. Till next time, ja ne!