Chapter 30: Leave

'Inner thoughts'

Writing/sounds


Yukino's POV

Sitting in the waiting room I looked around and saw other patients. Mostly those waiting for check-ups or because they were sick. Looking down at my hands I tapped my fingers together feeling jittery.

"Yukino Uzu-" I cut the receptionist off as I stood up immediately. Knowing where to go I walked down the familiar halls.

Knocking on the door three times the doctor's familiar voice said, "Come in." Taking in a deep breath I opened the door and slithered in. "It was about time you showed up." She said clicking her pen in an irritated manner.

"Hi…" I said sitting on one of the chairs.

Rotating her chair to face me she clicked on her pen once more and tapped her clipboard. "Something must have happened for you to finally come here. So what is the problem?" She asked.

"Um… so when I was traveling around… you know for my vacation. I bumped into this man who said that I looked ill, ill enough to say that I probably had this disease."

"Hm." She wrote it down in her clipboard. "You shouldn't believe what that person said unless they were a doctor and knew what they were talking about." She looked up from the clipboard and sighed. "If you want I will perform tests to make sure nothing is wrong."

"Really? Thank you!" I put my hands together happy that she was going to look into it.


3rd POV

Performing a variety of tests starting with the ones which could get her an immediate report Dr. Satomi Hyuga frowned slightly when she looked over the results. Making her way to her patient she called her name in the waiting room. "Yukino-san," She called for her in her usual professional voice, the girl who was playing with her hands in the waiting room looked up. "Come with me for a second." She waved her over. The other hearing the small urgent tone in her voice stood up and followed dreading what will come.

"Its bad isn't it." She whispered as she followed the woman to a different room.

"It may be an error but I just want to see for myself." She stood away from the girl. Taking in a deep breath she did the hand signs necessary. "Byakugan!"

"Do you see anything?"

Deactivating her eyes the woman rubbed them and nodded. "The results seem to be correct, and it seems your chakra natures are wind and water." Crossing her arms she closed her eyes silently thinking on what to do. "I'll give you your results. In the meantime, I will look more into this." She left the room going back to her office.

・・・

Going back home with her results in a small sealed packet, Yukino sighed heavily the moment she entered her home. No one was there to greet her which brought some relief as she would have time to think on her own. 'When did the symptoms start appearing?' She asked herself as she went up the stairs to her room. 'Oh… how could I forget it started when I went to Kumogakure.' She thought, thinking back on her time in Kumogakure when she stopped participating in missions. Sitting on her bed she opened the packet and looked over the results. 'Mm… this isn't so bad. If I produce excess chakra when I'm not using it then I just have to find a way to use it.' Laying on her bed she looked at the ceiling. Extending her hands towards it she remembered her transformation seals. 'They use up a little bit of chakra to keep it sealed…' sitting up she looked through her bag for anything useful that she could seal up.

Ring… Ring…

The ringing of the door caught her attention, standing up she ran downstairs knowing who it was. Opening a small portal and taking out her Anbu mask she put it on before opening the door.1

On the other side stood her captain. "Tenzō-san" She greeted the man standing in uniform.

"Fuyumi-san," he nodded, "I came to inform you that you will be placed on leave until further notice."

"W-wait why?"

"We've been updated on your health and your doctor has determined that it would be best for you to take it easy."

"Oh… I see." She nodded. "I will take it easy I guess." Saying that he teleported away without a goodbye. 'Anbu are boring people.' She told herself as she awkwardly closed the door. Going back to her room she opened a portal and rummaged through the clothes she had, realizing that the clothes that she did have, no longer fit her except for the four same outfits she bought that looked like civilian clothing. 'I really don't have clothing for missions.' Sighing she looked at the drawer of clothes she had. Picking up a small dress she had when she was like seven she folded it up and tucked it away in some corner of her storage space. 'It still looks wearable… I'll keep it for someone else.' She hummed as she stored everything else.


Yukino's POV

Walking through the shopping district I saw Hinata, a boy with long hair, and a younger girl. "Hina-" before I could finish the boy saw me and led Hinata in a different direction. The younger girl, Hanabi, saw me and was about to point it out when the boy placed a finger in front of his lips. 'He did not just do that.' I scoffed internally. About to go and intercept their path I stopped. 'Maybe there having a family outing or something.' I crossed my arms. 'Maybe I shouldn't bother them.' I sighed deciding to do the shopping on my own.

After many twists and I arrived at the store I was looking for. It was special, you see, the clothing was slightly pricey but it was worth it for the quality and durability.

Walking into the quiet store I began walking around looking at the outfits. 'Maybe I should dress up as ordinary as possible.' I told myself looking through the pants and shirts. 'But I would also like to wear a dress again… No!' I shook my head. 'I need to keep up the appearance of a common villager.' I thought as my eyes caught the sight of a red-brown kimono blouse. 'But I can make a small exception…'

Asking for the fitting room I took the blouse with me and put it on. The sleeves were slightly long and fit me slightly big. 'I'm still growing… so I will grow into it.' I thought looking at myself in the mirror swinging my arms.

Deciding to buy it I left the fitting room looking for some black pants I saw. "Yukino-chan?" Turning around I saw Hinata.

"Hinata!" I extended my arms hugging her. "Hi!" I let go.

"You're back." She smiled noticing the blouse in my arm. "You came back for supplies?" She asked.

"Oh, this?" I held it up. "I'm currently on leave. So I decided to do some shopping." I began walking over to the pants I saw. "I saw you with your cousin and sister. You guys looked so happy that I didn't want to bother, you know?" I shrugged. "Where are they anyway?"

"Oh, Hanabi was looking at some outfits for Neji nee-san." She laughed quietly.

"That's nice," I said remembering something. "You two seem to be getting along better."

"Ah…we are.."

"That's great then! Introduce me to him." I nudged her playfully.

・・・

"So Neji really did that." I smiled, glancing back at Hanabi who was distracting Neji. "That's so sweet." I beamed. "To go through something so dangerous so you can see the fireworks." I squealed internally. "That's something so pure and brave!" I clutched my hand to my heart. 'He must've avoided me to spend more time with them.'

"If I had known it was that dangerous I would've stopped him and asked you." She said. "Maybe you would have had the herb in your garden."

"I don't think I have it." I closed my eyes going through the mental map of the garden. "I do remember hearing about it but I've never seen it. I should add it to my garden but from you said I don't think I would be able to." I sighed.

"Maybe someday," Hinata said.

"Yeah, someday…" I stopped. "Well, get back home safe. Bye Hinata." I ran to the path leading away from where she lived. "Bye Neji and Hanabi-chan!" I called turning around for a moment before running home.


Going to my first home for the first time in a long while. I sat down started clearing the entrance. I had taken everything with me when I moved out leaving only the ceramic cups. The space was small, leaving me with a small space for me to move freely inside. 'Wow. I was really small back then.' I sighed sitting there looking around. Standing up I touched the small scratch on the ceiling. Passing my hand over the wood I knew now that my home had been carved into and it didn't just spring out of the ground as I thought for so long. 'Ah, I should've thought she did that to trick a young kid into trusting her.' I sighed remembering how I trusted her so easily back then and even now.

Crawling out of the tree I wiped away the dirt and climbed the tree to the small hidden spot where I could talk to her. "Tsukiyomi," I said her name not really knowing how to catch her attention. After all, she always appeared when I needed her.

"I have been waiting," I heard her say behind in a low voice.

Turning around to face her I saw the woman who hadn't aged a day since I met her, "Hm. I'm guessing you knew what I would do once I learned the truth." I sighed and closed my eyes remembering. "When I visited the island I was informed of something… I'm guessing one of the four had the disease that they passed on to me." I told her watching her carefully.

She nodded and closed her eyes, "Indeed, it was really problematic having to deal with it at times but eventually they found a way to live with it." She looked me in the eyes tilted her head to the side slightly, "Training you since you were young worked out in both of our favor." Her lips thinned as she formed a smile.

"How did the other person deal with it?"

"As they kept growing they found a way to divert the extra chakra and just got used to it at one point." She said while fixing herself to be more in the shadows. "There was no trick to get better, they just found a way to incorporate it in their lives." She looked to the side slightly as I could tell there was more to be said. 'I guess she wants me to find out on my own.'

"Hm, okay. I have something else that I need to ask." I changed my seating position. "Why didn't you tell me there were still people in Uzushiogakure?"

"Would you have explored this world if I had?"

"Then I guess you making me was for something else then?"

"No… it is still the same reason." She gave a closed-eyed smile, which seemed different than what I was used to. "The things you have learned are for you to share."

"Do you want me to help them?" I asked knowing that somewhere in her vagueness she was telling me to.

"You tell me. It is your choice."

Going back home, I was greeted by Kitaro looking outside from the kitchen window. "Did you two make up?" Kitaro smiled awkwardly referring to my encounter with the siblings at the tea shop, his lips twitching slightly as he tried to keep the smile on his face.

"No." I sighed plopping down on the couch. "But at least it's one step to reconciliation." I patted the space next to me. "I've been wondering for a while do you guys come here every day?"

Taking the seat next to me his smile became real as he rocked himself happily. "No. There's a tag by the entrances to the village that tells us when you come in," he hummed.

"Huh, interesting… do you think I could have some of those tags?"

Nodding he stopped and raised a finger. "You need to ask Misa-san. She holds them." He jumped up from the seat. "I'll go get some." He said about to run out but stopping. "What will you use them for?"

"Well obviously to have an alibi," I told him as he ran out.


A couple of days later


Traveling to Suna by the time the week was up I popped in to see that they would be delayed for quite a while. Stepping into the sandstorm I covered my ears and looked around me unable to see properly. Making my way as quickly as I could to the Kazekage building by memory, I pulled open the door and squeezed myself in.

Looking around I was glad to have gotten the right place. Sighing I began to pat away the sand right there in the lobby. Going up to reception I looked for the secretary seeing the empty desk. 'They must be home.' I concluded.

Going up to the small area with a sofa and plant I sat down and opened a small portal taking out a book. Flipping through the pages of the familiar novel I sighed in boredom. Walking to the reception desk I looked around finding a novel I've never read. Love among the Camellias. The title read as the back had the number 18 with a circle and line across it. Without knowing any better I picked it up and brought it with me.

Sitting down on the sofa I read the blurb first. Forbidden love of enemies, rivals, and two men from different lands. Love among the Camellias dives into the love of a Samurai and Shinobi. Loyalties or love? Which will they pursue?

Interested by what I read I opened it to the first page and read from there. With every page, my sense of time became distorted as it held me in place. Finishing the fifth chapter I closed the book needing a break. My face was red and steaming from what I read. 'Wow.' Was all I could think as I could imagine the scenario happening. 'What will he choose?!' Squealing internally I placed the book on my lap to calm down. 'What if he chooses the wrong choice! He probably will, there are still too many pages left.'

Looking up at the clock I gasped at how much time had passed. Standing up I decided to leave and come back tomorrow when the door opened. "Come on Temari, that boy couldn't have the hots for Gaara." Kankurō's voice stopped me looking around quickly I hid beside the sofa I was sitting on.

'Don't tell me they are still talking about that.' I thought as I sat in between the sofa and the plant. "I couldn't have been an accident. How many boys are there that look like Gaara?" Temari asked as I hid a meter away. 'They really think I'm a guy.' I thought while blanking out my surroundings as the conversation went somewhere I didn't want to think about. "They're gone now," Baki-san said snapping me out of the spell. With a sigh of relief, I stood up.

"Good. They can be a bit too much, you know?" I asked him knowing that he understood. "So… do I return tomorrow or…" I waved a hand around.

"I will gather the council." He said. "Wait here." He went towards the stairs going up. 'Well then… more waiting for me.' I sat down opening the book from where I left off.

・・・

Hearing heavy footsteps coming down the stairs I closed the book and placed it back on the secretary's desk. Standing straight I looked at the old council members and Baki. "Majority has agreed to allow you access to the archives," Baki announced clearly so those that disagreed heard.

"You better not disappoint us, boy." One of the guys said going towards the door, slamming it shut behind him.

'Boy?' I asked myself before it clicked in. Kneeling down I lowered my head. "I will do everything to the best of my ability to restore the lost files," I deepened my voice slightly.

Looking through my bangs I looked up to see them nod in smug satisfaction. 'Ah, I forgot how much I hated them.' Closing my eyes I waited for all of them to leave except for Baki. Wiping the dust off my pants I said, "Let me guess. I'm a boy in Sunagakure since they wouldn't want to rely on a girl to help them?" A small sigh escaped him as he nodded. "Good thing I look like one." I shrugged. "I will start tomorrow since I wasted most of my day waiting." I stretched. "See you!" I headed towards the door.

"Where will you be staying?" He asked.

"Some hotel, whichever one has a good price." I lied already at the door.


After looking through a portion of the archives I mentally noted which files were missing. But as I did that I found traces of burnt paper leading to the discovery that recovering the files from Orochimaru would be impossible. 'That snake burnt them.' I sighed, sending the information to the council.

Feeling pain in my back I left a couple of clones to look through the rest of the archive while I went to remove the pain. 'Sand bath…' I nodded heading to the place.

Finding a spot and being buried I shifted slightly. The softness and heat of the sand enveloped me as I was cocooned. It's softness contrasting my past experience of being encased in sand. Shoving the memory to the side I tried thinking happy thoughts. 'Hot springs… ramen… tea…' The warmth of the area almost caused me to fall asleep if it weren't for the man beside me. "What are you doing here?" Baki asked.

"You're here to." I sighed. "I need to get my thoughts in order to accurately write down the information," I told him as I lay there absorbing the warmth. "Just give me thirty minutes and I'll start with the most recent files." I sighed shifting slightly underneath the sand.

・・・

'Ah, the botany' Stepping into familiar territory no matter where I went I saw a clumsy guy being handed a plant. "Be careful with its leaves. They're poisonous." I walked towards the guy.

"O-oh," the guy held the plant away from himself the moment I said it. "Thank you."

"No problem. Hey, do you know where I can find this person?" I pointed to the name on the file.

"Third floor there should be a plaque." He said giving a small nod before heading to the greenery. 'Step one complete.' I told myself feeling my pocket heat up. 'It seems I have a visitor.' I told myself exiting the building to find a place to open a portal back home without anyone noticing.

・・・

In Sunagakure no matter where I went I always seemed to almost cross paths with the siblings. Today was one of those rare moments where I didn't see them at all. Walking along the edge of the village looking for a place to practice my new technique I saw what seemed to be a person hitting one of the rocks set up around the village. Quietly walking over I sat down and watched the person. 'Must be practicing their taijutsu… speaking of which I also need to practice on that.' Looking behind me for anyone I continued walking, not wanting to stay in one place too long.


A month or so later…


'That mission went smoothly.' I praised myself as I headed back to Konohagakure on foot. Looking up I saw a huge flock of birds flying away. 'Woah,' deciding to go in the direction of where they came just in case there was a fire I was met with something far worse.

Stepping into a clearing I backed away immediately seeing the huge spikes protruding from the ground at an astounding speed. Running I jumped up on a tree, as the spikes kept coming.

Holding onto the top of the tree a spike pierced through the tree leaving me an inch away from being impaled. Realizing I had been holding my breath I exhaled and gathered some water to make a platform. Slowly going to the top I saw two boys hovering above the spikes on sand.

Closing my eyes I sensed the surrounding area sensing them and one beneath the Earth coming back up. 'Wait this chakra feels familiar.' Realizing who it was I opened my eyes to see the Kimimaro about to pierce Gaara right through his head, expecting to see blood it never came as he stopped.

Slowly the sand platform moved away revealing Kimimaro. 'Is he dead?' I asked myself, 'He was moving a second ago.' Creating a shadow clone I sent it in the direction of the two boys just in case. Waiting for both boys to leave the area I hovered to Kimimaro to see what happened for myself.


Shadow Clone's POV

Running over to the two boys one of them lay against the tree looking at the spike while the other sat squatted near another doing the same. "What happened?" I asked while running towards them noticing Gaara in a completely different outfit. 'It actually fits him.'

"Yukio? What are you doing here?" He asked.

"I'm supposed to be on another mission." I walked over to the boy with the bowl haircut noticng his injuries first. "If possible can you not include me in the mission report? I'm supposed to be heading back to my village at the moment. If I may?" I asked the boy with the bowl hair cut.

"Go right ahead!" He winked giving a thumbs up and a sparkling smile. 'How did he do that sparkle?' I asked myself hovering my hands over the boy sensing for any major internal injuries. "What happened to your legs?" I asked out loud before shaking my head. "Nevermind." Putting my hands in my pouch I lowered my head hiding my eyes as I used them to create a portal. 'He's weakened and came out of surgery recently… I can't heal him. If I do it will take some of his stamina. The most I can do it prevent infection.' I sighed taking out ointment. "I'm sorry but the outfit has to go," I said meaning to keep it in my head.

"You can't cut it!" He put his hands in between. "It's one piece just like Guy-sensei's!" He said which caught my interest, 'Guy-sensei… where have I heard that name before…'

Looking at his outfit more carefully I realized he was telling the truth. "Fine, then just use this." I handed him the ointment. "Are you hurt anywhere?" I asked turning my attention to Gaara.

"I'm not injured." He said. "Rock Lee needs the help most."

"Okay then." I nodded wondering what else to do. Looking over I saw Lee put on the ointment with a look of amazement.

"Neji! He was with the others, I need to bring this to them!" Lee stood up immediately surprising me.

'Neji! He's in his team!' Placing my hand on his shoulder I pulled him down with a firm grip. "A recovering patient will do no such thing…" I said wanting to ask why they were here in the first place fighting sound shinobi. 'If there are more they need medical attention. I will need to focus on that first and foremost.' I shook my head for thinking of something unimportant at the moment. "Can you tell me the path that your friends took?"

"Yes!" He said handing me back my ointment. 'I'm so glad I experimented with these.' I thought looking at his closing wounds.


Yukino's POV

After collecting the blood sample and being told where the injured could possibly be I headed towards the direction of the village looking for any signs of a fight. Making more clones I headed towards the weakest signature that I sensed.

Knowing very few genin of the village I hoped that the one I was heading towards wasn't someone I knew. But as luck would have it the one with the weakest signature was Neji.

Running to the boy on the ground I kneeled in front of him. Looking for a pulse I was grateful for finding one. 'Good. He's still alive.' Moving his long hair from the wounds. I opened a small portal and took out gloves. Lifting his shirt to see the wound I hissed as I saw that it went through him. "Neji… please don't die." I placed my hands on his chest giving him some of my chakra. Gathering some water I held him in place as I attempted to clean the wound going through him. Watching the water redden I tried focusing on the small broken veins inside of him, using that same water I tried creating veins with the water to connect the broken ones in the meantime.

"Hgn…" Opening his eyes he looked up as he began to regain consciousness. "Yukino…?" He asked with obvious confusion.

"Hey, Neji… please don't move I'm trying to stop the bleeding." I said returning my focus to the wound as my water bubble held the blood into clot the wound. "It's just temporary. Just until the real medical-nin come, okay?" I asked as he slowly nodded. "Hey, hey," I shook him slightly as his eyes started to slowly close. "You fought well so please hang on," I told him trying to keep his mind active.

・・・

The moment the medical-nin were near I let go and left heading back to the village. 'I will just be in the way.' I told myself when I left.

Signing myself back into the village I headed to report my mission. I had done everything I could do for Neji and his companion from the Akimichi clan, but even then I knew that their condition would remain serious. 'I hope they recover…' I walked towards the building opening a portal and taking my mask out with shaking hands. I put it on and leaned against a nearby wall. 'I need to go report the mission…' I pushed myself off continuing the rest of the way.

・・・

"We decided to put you on leave once again." I was given the news right there as I gave my mission report. My clear shaking from exhaustion and dirty appearance from the rain were the main factors that decided my unfitness to return. Sighing I nodded 'So it seems I have more time on my hands…'

Exiting the building I walked back home taking my mask off on the way when no one was looking. Stopping to rest momentarily I considered going to the hospital and visit but the distance was greater than my house. 'They are working on them at the moment… so going there will be pointless.' I sighed, standing up and continuing. A sudden gust of wind tickled the back of my neck causing me to cover it and turn around. 'No one.' Is what I thought at first but I knew better. A message had arrived for me. Not having the energy to run all the way back home I jogged the rest of the way. Going to the pond I lifted the second biggest rock finding a note under it.

In the land of Iron, there is another shrine that's different from the rest. In it there should be a stone with a seal that the royal family used to mark those of the main branch. Retrieve it. In exchange, I will answer any questions you have about your blood.

Not needing to know the name of the sender I knew who it was from. The writing was in one that I knew after all. 'I'll go tomorrow.' I told myself walking into the house.