„What? You gotta be kidding me? Seven more days?"
Eyes widening in horror, I looked towards Genma. He couldn't be serious. No way. Nah, definitely not. Even if they had put me back in the room with the barred window. I wouldn't let that happen to me. I would...
„Don't do that, Tora. It won't do you any good either way. Shall I tell you again all the injuries you got in the fight? A bruised ankle, the deep bite wound, then the claw wound on your hip and ... "
„It's okay," I interrupted him angrily. „I get it. It's just annoying to stay in the hospital while the others can train. And for a whole week now."
My uncle's features softened again before he spoke up again.
„I get it. Not many like this place very much. But still, be glad you don't have injuries as serious as young Rock Lee."
Abruptly, I closed my mouth. He was right, because the things that had happened to the boy in the fight against Gaara, no one wanted. At the moment, he had barely survived Tsunade's serious operation and now it remained to be seen what would happen to him. Of course I hoped for the best, even if I didn't really know him. But that didn't matter.
Inwardly, I was very glad that I hadn't seen the fight. What I had heard alone had made me sick. Gaara had kept to every word he said. He lived to triumph over others. But still, there had been moments when I had seen humanity in him. And during the conversation just before the Suna-Nins had fled...something had happened with him...
Still. They were traitors. And always would be. I had trusted Kankuro and he betrayed me. Twice already. Still I didn't know why he had poisoned Hinata. On the one hand, I wanted to find out, but on the other, I had not the slightest desire to cross their way again.
„Forget your anger at Sunagakure Tora."
Could he read my mind? Only now I noticed that my hands were clenched into fists. Shakily I opened them again.
„You don't understand, Genma," I said quietly, looking down at the ground. No one understood. I had seen a friend in Kankuro and in Gaara ... well that rather not ... but I could sympathise with his pain and that ...
„Maybe. But I think it's important to let the old things rest and focus on the new. Suna and Konoha are now allies again."
I had to let this message sink in.
The brown-haired man noticed that too. Thoughtfully, he shoved the senbon from one cheek to the other but interrupted himself and stood up.
„I'll leave you alone for a while," he said quietly and I could only nod. What else could I do, my brain had a lot to process now.
Sighing, I leaned back into the snow-white pillow and took a deep breath. The smell of the hospital immediately hit my nose and I wrinkled it. Nah ... this place really needed to be aired out. It just stank of disinfectant.
Carefully I lifted the blanket and revealed two thick bandages, one on the foot and one on the hip. Kiba and Hinata were to blame for that. But I wasn't really angry. It had only been an exercise, although the Inuzuka had seen the whole thing as a possible revenge with me. It was good that Neji had taken him off from me afterwards.
I probably wouldn't be able to walk with my foot. But could also work with one leg. Focused, I hopped to the window on one leg, paused briefly to keep my balance, turned the handle and a gush of pleasant, fresh, cool, soothing and ...
„What are you doing?"
„Aren't you on bed rest?"
Startled, I lost my balance, slipped off the tiled floor and would have landed pretty hard on my rump if two hands hadn't rushed forward and grabbed me by the arm and hip. The uninjured one.
Dark eyes sparkled at me. Naturally annoyed and ... a little worried.
Slowly, Shikamaru helped me to stand up. I was still far too frozen to take a proper step. It wasn't until he poked me in the back a little impatiently that I finally made my way to the much-hated bed.
Silently, I let myself sink into the pillows and watched as Shikamaru sat down on the edge of the bed.
"Believe me, I would love to trade places with you. Being a chunin is a thousand times more annoying than a week in hospital."
I grinned wryly. Of all the candidates it could have been, they had chosen the laziest shinobi of all, Shikamaru Nara. And that he now had to break away from his old "habits" did not please him at all.
So everyone who knew him could smile about it. Except for him, of course.
„If Genma and Kakashi hadn't strictly forbidden me to get up, believe me, I'd be long gone by now," I snorted.
„Huh ... I thought that was one of the Medic-Nin?"
Confused, he scratched his head.
„Well, they did. But after I tried to run away ..." I added almost embarrassed and Shikamaru paused. Staring at me like a sheep. I could almost see the brainwheels rattling.
„That one too," he muttered and began to stare into space.
„Hmm. What's the matter? I guess I'm not the only one who seems to be making trouble?"
But the Nara didn't seem to be in the mood for jokes, for he shook his head in exasperation and brushed back a few black strands that had come loose from his spiky braid. So it seemed he was actually really serious.
„It's about Naruto and Sasuke. Since the fight in the forest, the both of them have been acting completely out of line. And yesterday ... the whole thing kind of escalated. They meant to have a fight similar to the one in the forest and went at each other with Rasengan and Chidori."
An annoyed growl escaped from his throat.
„Those idiots. I never thought it would degenerate like this between them."
I had to think about the news first. At first with Suna and now the competition, which was almost no longer a competition. The way Shikamaru looked, it almost seemed as if they had declared war on each other. And when the Nara really took something seriously, it was really fierce. I remained silent and my counterpart sighed softly before looking me in the eye.
„I'll slowly be on my way again then. Just wanted to stop by and see how you're doing and stuff..." He didn't finish the sentence and I just nodded.
„Thanks."
„You're welcome." Then the black-haired boy was out of the door.
Lost in thought, I leaned back and closed my eyes. I now had a lot to digest.
Something echoed off the walls of the hospital corridor. Footsteps. Hurried and frantic. I turned my head from side to side. Probably some emergency operation again. Medic-Nin were constantly running down the corridor to get to the operating theatre as quickly as possible. Five days had passed since Shikamaru had visited me.
The wounds had healed well and the ankle had calmed down again. To my great relief. Maybe they would even let me out of the hospital a little sooner. Never give up hope. I didn't even want to think of Shikamaru's pessimistic saying, but nevertheless it began to spark through my head.
Hope dies last ... but it dies. Thank you for the motivation.
In the meantime, Hinata, Shino, Kiba, Kakashi and Shizune had also visited me. Strangely, however, there was no Naruto. Which disappointed me a little personally. But well, nothing could be done about that. Maybe the Uzumaki was in one of his moods again. I hope so.
I literally cringed when the door to my room was yanked open and even more so when I saw our newly appointed Hokage standing there in the frame. Her straight blonde hair was sticking out on all sides, while a hectic and impatient expression had spread across her face.
Shizune appeared behind her, Tonton in her arms. The pig was squawking incessantly. So something had happened.
„Get up!" the blonde demanded, and slowly I followed the words.
„Up, up. Get dressed. Quick. That's an order."
Taken off guard, I looked at her. What the heck had happened here? What was all the fuss about?
Ready dressed, I stood before her and she eyed me frantically.
„Alright, you grab your weapons. Bow, kunai, shuriken ... whatever you need and then set off, together with Rock Lee. We've already sent the others ahead. You two follow now. I'll see if I can call for other reinforcements, but ... "
Cautiously I raised my hand, as if to report in school. Sure enough, it worked and the blonde paused.
„If I could ask Tsunade ... what happened?"
Her eyes narrowed noticeably and her voice also grew sombre as she began to speak.
„Sasuke Uchiha was kidnapped from Otogakure. Orochimaru had it in for his power from the beginning."