Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
Sasuke?
Days passed, Naruto only came home once, and that was just to get some supplies before he came running out of his apartment chanting, "training, training" over and over again. He didn't even spare me a glance. And I haven't seen him since. Apparently the training field that Kakashi took his to is pretty remote and distant. It would have to be if Naruto's not even coming back at night. It's been pretty quiet at the apartments without him. But that's okay because it's plenty loud at the academy. Especially since the latest class rankings have just been released. Izumi is ranked first while Akio is second and I am third. Apparently our pencil game and our habit of not paying attention to every little thing that is said in class have landed Akio in second. And because of my one absence I'm stuck in third. Ever since then Izumi has been throwing her success in our faces, and has been walking around the school like she owns it. Akio and I have no problem with not being first, because, let's face it, we are terrible students. However, I do have problem with Izumi thinking that she is superior to me. So for the next month Akio and I have decided to be more devoted to our studies do to the fact that we both don't like being under anyone. Well, Akio is more or less joining in because studying beats facing training with Neji alone.
We started by actually taking notes in class. Though the first time we did this Iruka-sensei actually paused in his lecture just so that he could check that we weren't doing something else. It's good to know that our teacher has so much faith in us. Needless to say that when Iruka-sensei saw that legit note taking was taking place he got a pretty big shock. A pleasant shock, but a shock none the less.
The biggest change that we've made in our academic practices is that now we actually participate during class. It's actually turned into a competition between Akio and I. We try to see who can beat Izumi to the punch and answer a question before she does. Do to our efforts our quiz scores have gone up a little. Though as a result, both Akio and I are starting to feel like a pair of serious nerds. I wonder if this is how my book worm of a brother felt like.
Anyway, things are going as good as they can be considering that my supposed 'brother' never has time, though he did come home a couple of days ago to get more supplies before complaining that his training is being interrupted for some 'stupid mission'. Not that I've taken much notice of this since the fact that after school activities now just mostly consists of studying. Last night, for example, Akio and I got bored of regular studying. So we went to the training field, which luckily we had to ourselves, though considering that it was night it was border line freezing. But we like it there so we stayed there, deciding that true shinobi wouldn't be weak enough to be effected by the cold. There we'd quiz each other, and whenever someone got something wrong the other got to throw a couple punches. Of course the incorrect person was allowed to block. It wouldn't have been much fun if they couldn't. Pretty much our new study game just gave us an excuse to spar. The moon was high in the sky when we finally stopped. And it was then that the shivering and sneezing started. But it was worth it.
But that was yesterday. When I woke up today I had a stuffing nose and a heavy head. I had to force myself to get out of bed. The minute my bare feet touched the chilled floor I groaned due to a sudden dizziness, wishing for nothing more than to get back into bed. Man, now yesterday's sparring doesn't seem worth anything at all. But I have to go to the academy today. Today is a crucial day in Akio's and my plan to take the number one position away from Izumi. This, in other words, means that there is an exam today.
I shakily get dressed, only stumbling do to dizziness once or twice before I force myself to get something made for breakfast. It's never wise to take a test on an empty stomach, or at least that's what my mother always said to my brother during the morning when he had a big test at school. Though I take one look inside my food cupboard, feel my stomach churn, and think, 'in my case having an empty stomach might be a benefit.' After that I waste little time before stumbling out of my apartment to travel to the academy.
Instead of enjoying the peaceful chirping birds, and the cool breeze like I usually do I only focus on how the high pitched bird sounds are grating on my ears and how the cool breeze is causing shivers to go up and down my spine. I couldn't reach the academy fast enough. Though when I did I wish that I'm still walking, trying to get to the academy. No, I wish that I'm still in bed. If I thought chirping birds are loud then I clearly forgot what a schoolyard sounds like, filled with its random screams, laughter and giggles. Keeping my heavy head down, I sluggishly head for the classroom, not even bothering to look for Akio. Right now I'd probably find him too loud as well. There's still about fifteen minutes before class starts. So that's fifteen minutes that I can rest my head on the desk.
Once in the room I take my time getting to my seat. Just picking my feet up high enough to walk proves to be a troublesome thing. Though once seated I lay my head on my desk. The cold wood touching my face is like bliss. Closing my eyes I think, 'how much longer until this day is over', and then I sneezed. This is my first time getting sick in the village; actually it's my first time getting sick in years. I haven't been sick since my brother brought home a case of the chickenpox from school, which he then passed on to me. I was seven when that happened. I remember father putting oven mitts over my hands and mother making some chicken broth for both my brother and I. I didn't like the broth. It was too salty. Most of my mother's cooking always ended up too salty.
The next thing I know someone is shaking my shoulder. Groggily I pick up my head. Did I fall asleep? Has class started yet? I can't tell who shook me. Everything just looks like a mesh of blurred colors right now. It takes a few seconds for my eyes to focus before a frowning Iruka-sensei becomes visible. "Manami", He said softly as I do a quick sweep of the classroom. No one else is here yet. I guess that means I haven't missed anything. "Are you not feeling well too?" He asked.
What I want to say is, "Not at all. I'm right as rain", and see what sarcasm will get me, but what I do is ask, "Too?"
Iruka-sensei nods as he uses one of his hands to push some hair out of my face before placing the same hand on my forehead. Usually I'd smack his hand away, because personal space and I go hand in hand. But today that proves to be too much of an effort, and besides, this reminds me of my mother. Mother was always randomly feeling my forehead as well as my brothers whenever she thought that we were under the weather. Father only did that when we were seriously sick, like tossing our cookies. Generally when it came to illness father would just say, "Shake it off. You'll only be sick if you allow yourself to be sick". Then mother would glare at him, and force him to leave the house with the demand to go cut some wood.
"Akio's father just stopped by in the teachers' office. Akio's staying home today because of a fever. And by the looks of it you should be too". Iruka-sensei said as he removes his hand. I blink; if both Akio and I are sick then I guess training during a very cold night was a bad idea. Oh well, lessoned learned. "What were you kids doing yesterday?" Iruka-sensei asked.
I ignore his question because my answer is sure to bring about a lecture that I don't to listen to. Instead I shake my head and instantly regretted it. Biting back a groan I force myself to say, "There's a test today".
"I'll let you make it up later. You should go to the hospital Manami." Iruka-sensei said.
"Can't I just go home? It doesn't sound like Akio is going to the hospital."
"Akio has his parents to take care of him at home. You", Iruka-sensei pauses and that ugly, pitting smile of his appears again. Maybe I should sneeze in his face. That would teach him to pity me.
I finish his sentence for him. "Live alone". Iruka-sensei nods slowly. Sighing I said "Fine", before standing up.
"Do you know where the hospital is?" Iruka-sensei asked
If I didn't feel like Naruto had just shoved five bowls of ramen down my throat under five minutes then I would have laughed. "I know where the hospital is". Thanks to Kakashi I know where the hospital is. The start of school bell rings just as I leave the classroom.
The route to the hospital isn't long though I sure take my sweet time getting there. I don't think I've ever been to a hospital to get treatment. The only time I remember going was always to see Kakashi. Whether I wanted to see him or not. The village I was born in is too small to have a hospital. There's one doctor in the village though. He was this really old, shriveled man that had this resemblance to a raisin. His hands were always cold and he always smelled of disinfectant. Whenever there was a physical problem mother wanted to rush and go see him. But father always called him a quack and that the best way to solve any physical problem is sleep and a good meal. I usually agreed with my father about seeing the doctor because after seeing him I always felt worse than I did before seeing him.
Half way to the hospital a person runs straight into me. My balance wavers for a couple of seconds before I fall backwards, landing on my bottom. Letting out a small "oomph" sound I look up to see a boy around Naruto's age dressed as a monk with chin length dark gray hair glaring down at me. 'Oh boy this won't end well', I thought as I sneeze a couple of times. Man, my bed sure sounds good right now.
"Watch where you're going brat!" The boy scowls at me. I flinch; his face really isn't a pleasant one.
I shiver once before replying, "You ran into me".
The boy's face scrunches up and suddenly he's kneeling down to my height, and looks like he's about to do something, but a flash of white appears in front of me. I blink once before I see the back end of a dog. What's going on? One would think that a trip to the hospital would be simple. But I guess in my life nothing can be simple. I hear the dog start to growl, and the boy said "You wanna fight?" in a mean voice. Who picks a fight with dog? "I won't go easy on you just because you're a dog, you mutt", the boy monk continues. Though if they do fight I hope the dog wins, because as far as I can tell the dog has better manners than the boy does.
"Oi you", a new voice calls. "What are you doing with Akamaru?"
With droopy eyes I turn my head a little to see not one but two people. The new voice is a teenage boy who's wearing all black, has brown spikey hair, a head band tied around his forehead and two red triangles on his cheeks. That sure is a fashion statement. And the other person, oh look, it's my idiot, adopted brother. I guess he got back from his 'stupid mission'. "Naruto nii-san", I call out a bit weakly. None of the three boys or the dog for that matter seems to hear me. I guess it's just one of those days.
The boy that is dressed as a monk stands up to his full height and says in a haughty tone, "Are you the owner? You should keep him on a leash!"
The dog's, who I guess is called Akamaru, growling peaks at the mention of a leash. Smart dog.
"Akamaru's not a pet!" The other boy retorts as he starts to crack his knuckles. I look away from them to glance at Naruto. Only to see that he's standing a little ways a way looking dumbfounded. "He must have growled because he senses that you're a threat". Akamaru goes over to stand by his master. "Probably because you were doing something to that kid!" Akamaru lets out a bark of agreement. Well at least someone finally takes notice of me.
"Manami?" I hear Naruto say quietly to himself. Yeah idiot I'm somehow a part of this.
"That brat started all of this!" No I didn't. The monk boy gets a sneer on his face. "Besides I'm from the fire temple. I'm here to deal with Konoha".
Naruto takes this moment to jump in and offer an explanation. "Hey, sorry Kiba! A lot of stuff happened and now this guy's on my team". He said with his hands raised in a peace effort.
"Naruto", the other boy, who I guess is named Kiba, started. "He's with you?"
Though before Naruto can answer the monk boy speaks up again, "Yeah right! Like I'd be hanging out with this goon!"
Obviously put out Naruto turns his head to the monk and said, "Just shut up Sora!" So I guess the young monk is Sora. Cool, now I know everyone's names.
I start contemplating if I should get off the ground at continue going to the hospital. Though before I finish another voice said, "Don't fight. Let's all try to get along". Turning my head in the opposite direction of Kiba, Naruto, Akamaru, and Sora I see that Chouji, being the one who spoke up and Shikamaru are also joining the party. I sneeze, what fun.
Though it sounds like Sora doesn't want to have fun when he said, "Beat it fatso". Everyone, except Sora, stops whatever they're doing and adopted a horrified expression. Will this is getting more and more interesting by the second. Both Shikamaru and Naruto swear as Sora calls out, "Okay! Time for a battle royale".
"Are you stupid?" Kiba yells as he and Akamaru start to charge in. "You're on your own! Let's get him Chouji". Now would be a good time to get up and move, huh? I really should have stayed in bed today.
Sora leaps into the air, and somehow lands on top of a lamppost where he said, "Like that fatso can do anything".
Though once he has spoken Chouji appears behind him and starts strangling Sora while saying, "I'm not fat. I'm husky!" Then not long after the lamppost breaks and they all fall to the ground where Kiba and Akamaru join in on the fight.
Driven by pure curiosity I climb to my feet and slowly make my way over to pineapple head and Naruto. Not stopping until I'm standing between them. Naruto is watching the fight tensely, looking a little concerned while Shikamaru seems to care less with his arms resting behind his head. "There ganging up on him", Naruto said.
Shikamaru shrugs and said, "You reap what you sow". What does that mean? I know that sow is a term for planting seeds, but what does reap mean?
A few seconds pass in silence as we all watch the fight though not long after Naruto says, "Damn it all", and rushes forward. Not expecting the sudden movement I flinch away and end up stumbling into Shikamaru. But Pineapple head doesn't say anything; he barely reacts as we both watch Naruto charge into the middle of the scuffle. No doubt going in to even out the numbers.
But in a couple more seconds Shikamaru sighs and turns away from the fight, probably bored with it. He looks down and me and asked, "Why are you here Manami?"
Taking Shikamaru's lead I also turn my back to the fight. With my stuffed up nose making my voice sound weird I answer, "Iruka-sensei told me to go to the hospital but when I was going there that Sora boy ran into me".
Shikamaru sighs and mutters something that sounds like troublesome right as a puff of smoke gets blown in our faces. It makes me cough but Shikamaru, smirking, merely waves it away and said, "You're not going to ask why I didn't join in?" Turning to see who he's talking too I find Asuma.
Asuma lets out a chuckle as he said, "I know it's not your thing. Besides there's enough of them at it as it is".
But Shikamaru mouth quirks and he said, "I can think of one more who'll want to jump in". And Following his example both Asuma and I look over the horizon to see a figure flying towards us. A blur of green leaps over the three of us and throws himself into the middle of the fight.
"Lee?" I ask, sniffling
Asuma and pineapple head nod. "They're all pretty tough", Shikamaru starts. "This can go on for a while".
Asuma shakes his head and with a small smile said, "I guess that's enough then", and he prepares to go break up the battle. He successfully stops most of the attacks and the ones that he didn't stop pineapple head did with his shadow jutsu. What good team work. "Now that your fist-fight is over how about some barbecue?" Asuma asked. Being the teenage boys that they are, and if they're anything like Naruto, they can eat more food than I can dream of in a night, they start celebrating. Well, at least some of them do.
Stifling a sneeze I said to Shikamaru, "As fun as this been I'm going to go to the hospital now". Though before I can make an escape Naruto, suddenly remembering my presences, comes over to pineapple head and I, and said. "Hey Manami, why do you look all pale and cold?"
Shikamaru sighs. "She's sick Naruto. She's heading for the hospital". He directed the last part at me as a sign to get a move on. But Naruto isn't quite finished with me yet.
He gives me a long look before reaching out and touching his right hand to my forehead. I close my eyes, focusing of on how wonderfully cool his hand feels, and yet I'm still shivering, weird. "You just have fever. You don't need to go to the hospital for that!"
Opening my eyes I said, "Iruka-sensei said to go to the hospital".
Naruto pulls back his hand and places both hands on his hips. "Since when do you care about what Iruka-sensei says?" He has a point. "Besides", Naruto continues. "As your big brother I gotta help you", he stated proudly.
"Brother?" Shikamaru asked. Yes pineapple head, brother. Is that too troublesome for you?
I don't get to answer him, Naruto beets me to it. Nodding he said, "Yup! I made Manami my little sister. Now I'm going to be the best big brother in the entire village!"
Shikamaru blinks a couple of times before looking away from Naruto and muttering, "How troublesome". Called it.
I wrap my arms around my shoulders, trying to trap in body heat, before asking my 'brother', "So are you going to take me home then?" And stay, I add in my head.
Naruto only shrugs and asked, "Have you eaten anything today?" I shake my head. "Then you should come with us. I'll buy you some broth and then I'll take you back to the apartments", he said with all smiles.
I sigh, but it ends up sounding like a wheeze before saying, "I'm going to the hospital". Because really what type of barbeque place sells broth?
Luckily Naruto didn't pursue trying to get me to tag long again as he got swept up in the group again. The rest of the way to the hospital passed without any more interruptions, thankfully. Once in the lobby of the hospital the nurse stationed behind the front desk takes one look at me before telling me to take a seat to wait for an available nurse. I'm sitting only for a few seconds before portly looking nurse comes and ushers me into a room. One of those rooms where there's an examining table that's covered with paper, and a countertop and cupboards that contain medical supplies. This room is a lot nicer than the one that the doctor at my old village examined people in. The nurse, using few words, tells me to open my mouth before placing a thermometer in it. It's so cold and tastes metallic, I shudder. Upon taking it out, and reading it the nurse said, "It's a light fever. Should break by morning. You can go home. Just tell your parents that you need to drink lots of fluids and an early night wouldn't hurt either". I don't even bother to correct her.
As soon as I make it home I flop down on my bed, not even bothering to take my shoes off. Why did I even bother getting up this morning? My eyes close without me meaning to close them. If my mother was here I would have never gotten out of bed at all. She would have stayed with me all day. I want my mother. And I'm out like a light. The next thing that I know there's someone pounding on my door. I feel like I've only been a sleep for seconds, but when I open my eyes I see the sun has already set and the only light is coming from the moon. "Manami! Open up!" , said the person on the other side of the door.
Gee I wonder who that is. I rub my eyes, before getting out of bed, taking my blanket with me. Once at the door I open it just a crack and said half asleep, "Naruto Nii-san it's late".
Naruto grabs the door and pulls it open all the way. "I know that!" He said. I grimace, to loud. "But you're sick, and I already told you that as your big brother I have to take care of you. You're staying the night at my place". And he pulls me out of my apartment, slams my front door shut and ushers me into his home. I wrap my blanket tighter around myself and sigh. I blame myself for not predicting that he would do something like this. "Here you can take my bed for the night and I'll get you some water or something". Naruto said as he scratches his head and points to an open door on the far end of his apartment. On shuffling feet I head over there, beyond caring on what I sleep on as long as I sleep. With blanket in tow I climb onto his bed. When I get settled I spy a picture frame. Letting my curiosity take over I pick it up. It's Naruto when he looks to be around the age that my real brother was, with Kakashi and who could only be Sakura. But how's the other boy? The black haired one? He kind of looks like my father. He looks even more like that scary man with the red eyes that destroyed the life as I knew it. Naruto comes in with a glass of water when I'm still studying his picture. "Oh", Naruto said as he handed me the glass in exchange for the picture. "I looked a lot different when I was younger didn't I?" Naruto asked.
I want to say not really, but I settle for taking a sip of water and asking, "Who's that other boy?"
Naruto gets one of his rare serious looks on his face as he answers', "That's Sasuke. He left the village a couple years ago and no one has seen him since. But I'm goigng to find him and drag him back home!"
Though in all honesty I stop listening after he said Sasuke. So the mysterious name finally has a face. "He looks a little like my father".
Naruto makes a sound that sounds like he's choking on a chuckle and said, "He looks a lot like y-" But he stops himself, and abruptly puts the picture back on his nightstand.
"What?" I asked
But Naruto just says, "It's late Manami". He takes the nearly full glass from me, places it on the nightstand and motion for me to lie down before he readjusts my blanket around me. "I'll see you in the morning". And he leaves his bedroom.
What was that about? I thought as I close my eyes for the final time that night.