Bellicism Arc: Poison

Orochimaru explained the procedure before administering the first dose. She wasn't allowed to mess around with anything while she hung around the lab waiting to see if she would experience any side effects. He had to lower the dose because of her age and size, but that was to be expected.

Thankfully, she had the foresight of brining a book. She was half way through when she decided that mithridatism wasn't as frightening as it sounded. Everything was perfectly fine.

She read another twenty pages before she shivered. It was suddenly cold. Her vision slightly blurs as the letters double.

She took it back. She knew it took a while for substances to take effect, but she had thought the interval had passed considering poison was considered a weapon.

"Orochimaru-sensei, I'm not feeling so well." Her voice wavered on the last word.

He looked over. "What symptoms?"

"Cold chills, blurred vision, and increasingly nauseous."

"Tell me if it gets worse."

It was what they discussed, but Yuina's opinions changed quickly when she had to experience it. She was supposed to push through for a while unless she experienced severe symptoms. She needed her body to be exposed for an extended period of time.

There wasn't a clock but she could still hear the ticking as time went by painfully slowly.

She wanted to be happy when she finally consumed the antidote, but she felt drained of all her energy.

"You'll manage on your own?" Orochimaru passed her a box. She slid the top a little as confirmation it was more poison and antidote for the remainder of her trial.

She initially told him she would be fine. It was sitting around hoping her body would build a resistance. There wasn't much involved aside from guaranteeing she didn't die. There was no point in someone standing around waiting on her, however, she could more clearly see the benefit of someone acting as a nurse and checking in time-to-time. "Tou-chan's home. We'll make it work."

"Tou-chan?" He repeated back to her with his eyebrows raised.

What was wrong with that— Her eyes widen as she coughed.

"I didn't know you spoke that way."

Yuina's cheeks started to hurt as she flushed. "Otou-san is home. Otou-san."

"Are you going back to hiding it now?" His teasing amused him but it made her want to punch him in the face so she could wipe that smug expression away.

She didn't have to listen to this. "I'm going home." She stood up and a second wave of nausea washed over her.

Orochimaru caught her and the supplies. "I'll take you back."

Yuina felt like a sack of potatoes as he carried her. She'd been doing well at keeping her home life and outside life separate, but all it took was some poison to unwind her. She wasn't going to live it down. Orochimaru might start treating her more like a child after this.

"Sakumo, I leave her in your care."

Was she home already? That was too fast.

"Tou-chan." With Orochimaru gone she cried into Sakumo's embrace.

Sakumo would come to over the next several days that she was needy and clingy when she didn't feel well. She would beg for cuddles. She was picky with what she consumed, but would cry when he left her to fulfill her requests as she craved continuous comfort.

Then the symptoms lessened and lessened which was a great sign. Ha! If this was all it took then she should try to build resistance to more poisons.

It got to the point where she started to question if all the vials were poison. She was no longer nauseous and she was full of energy. She hadn't felt that good in a long while. Bye-bye stress. Hello freedom!

"I passed." She heard Kakashi's voice as she descended the stairs. He was home? She quickened her pace down the steps.

"Congratulations—"

"Kashi-chan, you're back. I missed you so much." She hugged him tightly.

"Let go." He was trying to escape. Why was he trying to escape? Yuina looked in the direction Kakashi glanced to before urgently looking the other way. It was Minato. Minato was here. In their house. Looking amused. Why didn't it bother her that Minato was in their house?

"But you've been gone for so long—" She puked over his shoulder.

"You're crazy." Kakashi broke free only to step onto the mess she just made. If he hadn't been dealing with Pakkun's messes this past year then it would have been worse, but he still wasn't happy. "I hate you."

Minato stood uncomfortably. It was amusing at first as Kakashi squirmed to flee, but the situation quickly turned as he only understood the word 'Kashi-chan' out of Yuina's mouth before she vomited. Once Kakashi broke free she vomited again then dry heaved a few times before throwing up a third time. Sakumo gently rubbed circles on her back.

"Water," said Yuina.

"Is everything okay?" No, clearly it wasn't but Minato didn't know what to do or say.

"She wants water," answers Kakashi who reluctantly gets her a glass.

"She's dealing with some side-effects," Sakumo answered without going into too much detail. He was worn down by the whole thing.

"We were supposed to go out and celebrate." Kakashi thrusted the cup in front of her face. They didn't get a chance to celebrate in Kiri so Minato-sensei promised him they could when they returned. Now that was ruined by Yuina. He wanted her to get better but he cursed she was sick today of all days. To make it worse, she was acting weird and embarrassed him with Minato-sensei right there.

"We can still go." She felt queasy. "Maybe not. You can still go. I'll be fine alone."

"I don't mean to interrupt, but can you understand her?" Minato worried she became delusional.

"Mostly," said Kakashi.

"A little," answered Sakumo at the same time.

"She said to go celebrate without her." Kakashi crossed his arms. Minato gave him a look. "Really. That's what she said."

Yuina shakily raised one hand and gave a thumbs up and Kakashi looked back at Minato with an 'I told you so' glower.

Minato's inquiry made her realize she'd been speaking English. If the vomit wasn't apparent enough, her inability to distinguish languages at the time was a sign that continuous consumption of poison had blinded her own self-awareness. However, even her own adaptability couldn't disguise the burn down her esophagus.

She switched back to Japanese. "Sorry Kakashi. I promise to make it up to you."