Chapter 23
I change as soon as I get home, and Gai-sensei was right! It's a perfect fit! It hugs the body, not too tight, not too loose, and extremely easy to move in. In fact, easier to move around in than my other clothes! The fabric is a soft luxury on the skin and it holds my chest perfectly!
"Speaking of chest.." I mutter, looking down at them. "I hope they don't stick out too much.." I go across the hall to the bathroom and look in the mirror. "Nope! I'm glad I'm small, they hardly stick out at all.. though not exactly flat, but not too big. Rather perfect!"
"What're you going on about?" Takashi asks, walking down the hallway.
"Nothing~" I chirp then exit the bathroom. One look at me, and Takashi seemed to become pale. "Huh? What's wrong Uncle Takashi?" I ask.
"W-wh-what the hell is that?" He questions, pointing to my new bodysuit. I grin and give him a thumbs up.
"THIS IS GAI-SENSEI'S ULTIMATE TRAINING BODYSUIT!" I exclaim rather loudly and enthusiastically.
"Oh lord no! No no no! Take it off! It's hideous! What has he done to you!"
"I don't want to take it off! I love it!" I exclaim. I then scratch my chin thinking. "I wonder if it comes in blue.."
"NO! Setsuki take that disgusting thing off!" Takashi scowls.
"No!"
"Yes!"
"NO!"
"NOW!"
"... no." I mutter.
"Ugh." Takashi grumbles and slaps his hand across his forehead. "I swear, if you grow thick eyebrows I will never speak to you again."
"Kuh, don't be silly, thick eyebrows aren't for girls! Silly Takashi." I coo. He frowns at me as I skip happily past him. "Oh! I should put my headband around my waist too!" I say. I take my headband off my forehead and look at the strap. "It's very small... I wonder if it will reach.." I mumble, then put it against my waist, it wasn't going to reach. "Time to go shopping!" I chirp then scurry off down the streets in my awesome new suit.
As I run I could already feel the difference, I felt so much lighter, my legs could move faster, thus my running felt like lightning! …. Not that it was though.
"Setsuki? Setsuki!" Sakura calls. I immediately stop.. well tried to, I went sliding for a meter before tripping and tumbling across the ground. Sakura runs over.
"I'm okay!" I exclaim, jumping to my feet. I realize it's going to take a while to get used to stopping in such light clothing. I look up at Sakura's expression. "...What?" I ask.
"What the hell.. are you wearing?" She asks, giving a disgusted look. I grin and give her a thumbs up.
"Gai-sensei's ultimate training bodysuit!" I exclaim.
"... Why would you wear that?" She asks.
"Sakura-chan, you need to try one on! Trust me, they're great!" I exclaim.
"... Yeah, no. Never! They look disgusting!" She gushes.
".. You're mean.." I mumble, pouting.
"Ugh, anyway, I wanted to talk to you." She says.
"Not now Sakura-chan! I gotta show Lee-san!" I exclaim.
"You can hold off for a minute, geez!" She grumbles and pulls my wrist, dragging me to a building.
"Yamanaka Flower Shop?" I ask, looking up at the sign.
"Yep."
"Daisuke works here? Ahahaha!" I laugh.
".. No, Ino does." Sakura replies, my laughing stops.
"Oh.." Sakura walks to the counter where Ino was fixing up a vase of daffodils.
"Ino!" Sakura calls. Ino faces us with a raised eyebrow and stands up straight.
"Well well, if it isn't billboard brow and.. what the hell are you supposed to be?" Ino asks.
"Youthful!" I reply. She sweatdrops.
"Can it Ino!" Sakura gushes.
"What're you gonna do about it?" Ino questions.
"You two remind me of Daisuke and Susumu.." I mention. They both sigh.
"Look, I came to talk about something." Sakura says.
"What is it?" Ino asks, catching on to Sakura's slight sad face.
"It's about Sasuke-kun." Sakura says.
"Ugh.." I groan. They both glare daggers at me. "Wh-what?" I ask, raising my arms defensively. "S-Sasuke's too young for me anyway!"
".. You've got a point there.." Sakura says.
"Hm, one less girl for Sasuke-kun to chase." Ino says dreamily, then faces Sakura. "So? What about Sasuke-kun?"
Sakura looks down. "He's in the hospital."
"What?" Both me and Ino ask.
"Again?" I ask in a way that would make him seem weak. They glare at me again.
"Yes. Again." Sakura scoffs.
".. So.. why am I here again?" I ask.
"Because of the reason he's in hospital." Sakura says.
"I didn't do it! I swear! Seriously! I have nothing to do with whatever happened to him!" I exclaim, waving my hands innocently.
"Well, actually you do.." Sakura says.
"What? How dare you hurt my Sasuke-kun!" Ino wails in anger.
"I-I DIDN'T!" I shout.
"OH YEAH!"
"YES!"
"IF YOU'VE HURT HIM IN ANYWAY I'M GOING TO TEAR YOU APART!"
"I'LL... I'M INNOCENT THOUGH!" I exclaim.
"SURE YOU ARE!"
"YES! I AM!"
"YOU TWO SHUT UP!" Sakura shouts over the top of us. We both quieten down. "Sheesh! No the reason why Sasuke-kun is in the hospital is because he was attacked by.. his brother.. Itachi."
My eyes widen in fear. "I-Itachi?" I stutter.
"Yeah." Sakura replies.
"No way!" Ino exclaims. Sakura faces me.
"And I heard from Asuma-sensei that you have met him." Sakura says. Ino gasps.
"YOU'VE MET ITACHI!" She questions.
"N-not really.. well.. sorta..." I reply. Ino plops both hands on my shoulders and shakes me back and forth.
"YOU'VE MET UCHIHA ITACHI AND YOU DIDN'T TELL ANYONE?" She screams. I was getting dizzy.
"Ino, stop it." Sakura grumbles. She stops and lets go of me, and I fall over. "So, what was he like Setsuki?"
"Uhh.." I sit up rubbing my head. "Well... he's sorta.. dark and mysterious... and really scary.. but he's kinda calm as well... not someone I'd want to be around.. AND HIS PARTNER! HE'S A SHARK!" I exclaim, getting wide eyes.
"... Itachi sounds just like Sasuke-kun!" Ino says.
"Yeah! Except for the scary part." Sakura says.
"A SHARK!" I exclaim again, emphasising my fear. "A WALKING SHARK!"
"I wonder what he's like though, I mean, would he be anything like Sasuke-kun?" Sakura asks.
"Well, he is Sasuke-kun's brother." Ino mentions.
"GUYS! A WALKING SHARK!... WITH BLUE SKIN! BLUE! …" I stare at the two going on about Itachi, not even listening to me. "Blue... blue is a cool color though.. blue skin.. cool!" I smile to myself and stand up. "Imagine how cool it would be having blue skin! Wait..." My eyes widen. "I'm admiring a bad guy!" I run out of the flower shop.
I run down the street, completely forgetting what I was doing.
I found myself in a very quiet street, and it got on my nerves the stupid feeling of being alone with no one around hit me, and I did not like it. I run down that street and into the next street without even slowing down, because in this new bodysuit, stopping is hard. I begin to slow down to come to a clean stop. Which I successfully performed. I smile, proud of myself. I look around the street, not really looking for anything in particular, just, you know, casually looking around. Something caught my eye.. bubbles. I blink.
"Ehehe! Bubbles! Ahah!"
"Daisuke?" I ask, seeing the immature boy jumping around like an idiot, popping them. He immediately pauses at the sight of me.
"S-Setsuki?" He questions. "What are you doing here?"
"You like bubbles?" I ask.
"... A little.."
"Looks like you really do enjoy them.." I mention.
"Uh.."
"They go 'pop'!" I exclaim then smile at him.
"Uhh..."
".. Okay! Fine! Don't laugh.." I grumble, folding my arms.
"Setsuki?"
".. What?"
"What.. the hell.. is that?" He questions, pointing at my suit. I sigh, not in the mood for repeating myself.
".. Wait a minute! I was gonna show Lee!" I exclaim. "Thanks for reminding me Daisuke!" I call as I run straight past him, headed for the hospital.
"Rock Leeeee!" I call, running down the corridor, his door was open. I run straight past it, but grab the door frame to prevent taking off, and I fall over as a result.
"Setsuki?" Lee asks from inside. I stand back up and make a big step and go inside, smiling. His eyes widen at the sight of me.
"Look what Gai-sensei gave me! It's a perfect fit!" I exclaim, smiling bigger. Lee was in awe.
"Th-that.. I-it..."
".. What's wrong?" I ask. His mouth moves in all different ways like he was trying to say something. I blink. ".. Lee-san?"
"SETSUKI THAT IS AMAZING!" He shouts. I feel a bit modest now. "I-I never expected anyone else to wear one of Gai-sensei's ultimate training bodysuits!"
"They're amazing!" I say. Lee smiles big.
"Haha, now you just need leg warmers like mine and a red headband and we'll be almost twins!" He mentions. I got an idea from that.
"Leg warmers... Lee-san, do you think those leg warmers come in blue?" I ask.
"Blue? Uh.. I do not know." He replies.
"Maybe I should ask Gai-sensei.."
"Yes! Gai-sensei will know! He knows everything!" Lee exclaims. I walk over and sit on the bed.
"I'm still getting used to feeling so light." I laugh. He laughs too.
"Yes, I was the same, but it is effective with training!"
"I believe you! I mean, I don't want to take it off!" I laugh.
"Yes! Soon enough you will build up so much leg muscle that you may need to wear weights to slow you down!" Lee says.
"Weights? L-like the really heavy ones you wear?" I ask.
"Yes.. maybe not quite that heavy for you, I mean, I have been training for many years so I am used to it." He explains.
".. Lee-san."
"Yes?"
"I'm going to become as strong as you!" I exclaim, pointing at him. He chuckles slightly.
"Setsuki-san.. I think you already are.."
"What?"
"You.. have defeated me once.."
"Psh, Lee-san, Gai-sensei never stops talking about you, and how strong you are. It makes me feel weak. So I have to train up and get stronger!"
"G.. Gai-sensei talks about me that much?" He asks, tears rolling down his cheeks. I felt bad, I think I made him cry..
"S-sorry.." I say.
"I KNEW I MADE GAI-SENSEI PROUD!" He happily exclaims, more tears of joy falling. I smile. "Oh! Oh! Setsuki-san!"
"Yes?"
"They're letting me out of the hospital on Monday!" He exclaims.
"Monday! Really! That's great!" I exclaim.
"Though, I'll still need my crutch..." He says, his spirit falling.
"A-at least you'll be out of his jail..!" I say, trying to cheer him up a bit. Lee nods.
"Yes, you are right." He says. "Just three more days. Then I can resume my training!"
"... Yeah." I say, I don't want to be the one to prevent him from fulfilling his dream, but I don't want him to hurt himself.
"Setsuki?.. Setsuki~? .. Daisuke are you sure she came to the hospital?"
"Yes! Of course I'm sure! I'm never wrong about these things Susumu."
"Psh, yeah, coz you stalk her."
"HEY!"
"... They're louder than me." I mumble. Lee immediately nods in agreement. I thought about it for a second, Lee hasn't actually heard how loud I can be. 'He'll find out one day.'
"Setsuki~?" Susumu calls.
"I'm here!" I call through the door way. I heard the two pairs of footsteps make their way down the corridor and into the room. Susumu's eyes widen at me.
"You weren't kiddin'..." He says.
"I never kid!" Daisuke exclaims.
"Yeah you do.." I say, butting in on the argument. The duo look at me. "So what are you two doing here?" I ask before they could say something.
"We've been called on a mission." Daisuke says.
"But we can't go on a mission! We're only Genin, and Komaru-sensei is sick!" I exclaim.
"Nah, we're getting a temporary replacement." Susumu says.
".. Is it Kurenai-sensei?" I ask.
"No. No it's not Kurenai-sensei." Susumu says.
"Then who?" I ask.
"We'll find out when we get there. The elders are the ones giving out missions in the meantime while Naruto-kun and Jiraiya-sama are going to look for Tsunade-sama." Susumu explains.
"Wow! A mission! It's been ages!" I say.
"I know!" Daisuke agrees.
"... Well, I wish you luck, Setsuki-san!" Lee exclaims, trying to hide his inner disappointment. I didn't really pick up on it.
"Thanks! We'll be back in no time!" I say, giving Lee a thumbs up. Lee nods. "Well, see ya later Lee-san!" I say.
"Yes, I'll still be here." Lee says with a slight chuckle. I smile but then Daisuke and Susumu begins pushing me out of the room.
"Um, what kind of mission is it anyway?" I ask.
"Dunno, we'll find out when we get there." Susumu says.