"..." Normal chat.
ABC. Thought.
Chapter 19
Kakashi demands answer, his grip on her hand's so strong that Nina can't escape. Meanwhile, Sasuke deactivates his cursed seal and tries to catch some breaths.
The girl's stubborn to give in but so does he. Though the struggle between them won't last long because as soon as the red aura on her body fades, Nina collapses on the spot.
Immediately Kakashi crouches down to check on her, finding that her breath is unstable, she seems to be in pain and her body's burning hot. Like someone's on high fever.
He lays the mattress down for her to lie on. To cool the temperature, Kakashi asks Sasuke to fetch some cold water, as fast as possible. Therefore the boy obeyed and vanished within seconds.
Turning back to Nina, who's still gasping for air and looks so vulnerable. His doubts about her being related to the dangerous legendary Sannin has been toned down somewhat.
"Just what have you gotten yourself into."
Kakashi sighs, searching for whatever inside her bag and his pockets that can help reducing the pain. Fortunately, there are a few remedies left for emergency cases. And once forcing them down her throat, he then uses his handkerchief to dry the sweats off her forehead.
"Ryu nii-sama..."
In response to his touch, Nina shifts her head a little toward him and weakly calls for a name that he has never heard of before. And Kakashi memorizes it right away, as this can be an important info which he can use on her later on.
Yesterday at the cliff
"Gaara is abnormal."
Before Kakashi could say anything, Nina confessed. And he noticed that frightened expression, which had yet to worn off from her face ever since the last incident.
It's understandable for her to be scared that boy, his power, his mentality, everything. As he had also been wary of that sand shinobi since the beginning of the Chuunin exam.
"But you're not going to ask me to make Sasuke quit the exam, are you?"
He asked, wanting to know more about what she had in mind than the actual answer. As the decision had already been made from the start and couldn't be changed. It's also obvious that Sasuke wouldn't give up on fighting a strong opponent just because there's someone telling him not to.
"Not at all."
Surprisingly Nina shook her head. Insisted that Sasuke must use his newly learnt technique to take Gaara down. It's good to know that she believed in her teammate and willing to support him.
Considering their discuss about Gaara and Sasuke ended. But that was not the main reason for them to be here.
"Last time you mentioned about an old friend, it's Orochimaru, wasn't it? You knew about his arrival."
Kakashi reminded her about a certain point that she had mentioned to him on that day, Orochimaru. And Nina nodded, without hesitation.
"How did you know about Orochimaru?"
"I read about it."
The girl with orange butterfly pin again used the same old tactic as an excuse. And what troubled him the most was that the girl didn't seem to be lying about this whole mysterious reading business.
"Is there any limit to this record?"
Hearing so, Nina's head tilted while counting with her fingers. "72 volumes and hundreds of documentaries. But that's still not the end of it I believe."
So much that they're even divided into volumes? Kakashi frowned, getting even more confused. Documentaries? What is she even saying?
From time to time Kakashi had to remind himself that he shouldn't believe in everything she said. Nina could be using these strange words as a tactic to confuse him. Since there could be someone from outside that had informed her about the event beforehand.
An ally of Orochimaru?
Quite possible, out of nowhere appeared a little girl carrying tons confidential information as well as full of mysteries. It's even more frightening when realizing there could be more of her lurking out there. Plotting to invade Konoha with these knowledge.
"What else are you hiding from me?"
Seeing his serious expression, Nina figured that it would be unwise to continue staying quiet.
"You still don't trust me, do you?"
Before answering his question, she asked him and forced a smile. The girl looked as if having read his mind but couldn't figured out a proper way to fix the problem.
"But it's alright. Things take time. Especially in this kind of thing."
Nina whispered to herself that only enough for him to hear, then she closed her eyes for a moment and took a deep breath.
"Someone's going to die."
Therefore she claimed, and Kakashi froze.
Death? Is this a warning?
Many people died every single day, anywhere and due to any possibilities. For what reason should I be cautious?
However he shouldn't be taking this too lightly after what had happened. As this person must be playing an important role. Either to him or to her, or to anyone, many or not. And above all...
"Has this person interacted with us?"
"They know you."
Nina answered half of the question, but at least he'd gotten a hint. Quite vague, but better than nothing. Then he tried asking for more details, gender, job, age, anything that related to distinguish a human being but failed completely.
"Not even a location?"
Unfortunately, she did not falter.
Kakashi had a strange feeling that it would be somewhere in Konoha, but it could also be a place within the Land of Fire. While there's nothing to confirm his doubt, there was no threat that could make her speak.
As he's about to give up on this pointless conversation, Nina gave him a little reminding.
"What about to happen is inevitable."
And that warning caused him frown. Confused and alerted at the same time. Something that could not be stopped even with my abilities?
An accident? As in natural disasters? Or Diseases? Perhaps Suicide? Killed by someone who's stronger than him?
Just what exactly is it? What is she trying to imply?
After everything had calmed down, Kakashi proposed that they would have a serious talk once Nina woke up. And when she did, Nina took all the blame to herself and that the whole team 7 had knew about her condition, except for Kakashi, her supervisor.
Despite hiding it well behind his usual smile, his students could see that he's angry at their irresponsibility. However due to her injuries, Kakashi decided that she would receive her punishment later when returning to Konoha.
The news about Nina's owning an abnormal power that could kill was not that much of a surprise to him. As he had his doubts way back to her first D rank mission, and that Sasuke was not the one responsible for the brutal massacre.
As if having discussed with each other from the start, Sasuke didn't mention a thing about Nina during their discussion back at the hospital, yet the boy's obnoxious reactions to most of his questions were pretty much everything he needed.
Yet there remained some stubbornness telling him that Nina could do that all by herself, as she must have received some help from someone. And with that in mind, the ex-anbu returned to the crime scene to do some research by himself, however what he had found didn't favor his theory.
It could take a while to solve the case, or they could do him a favor by admitting everything. And surprisingly, she did. Even showing him the strange power she had and what was costed for each use...
In one morning.
"You're going to report this to the Hokage, aren't you?"
Still lying on the mattress, Nina asks the man sitting on a boulder nearby. Though the answer's already obvious just by looking at his face.
"Of course, since that's my job."
Kakashi calmly replies, his eyes haven't left the pages from that adult book in his hand.
"Can you please not do it?"
"No."
An instant, straight forward response. She then sighs.
"So what are you going to do after knowing about my conditions, imprison me?"
"That depends on the Hokage's decision."
Closing the book, Kakashi jumps down from the boulder and finds Sasuke, who has just arrives to the spot, to ask him watching over his injured teammate before disappearing through flicker technique.
"How much longer are you going to be lazy around?"
Once settles down next to her, Sasuke places the fruits which she has asked, more like begged, him to get for her some days ago, on her mattress.
"We aren't here to nurse and feed you forever. You know that, right?"
The Uchiha has changed into his black, one-pieced attire. The one he wears for the upcoming Chuunin exam battle that god knows where and when he has gotten from.
Despite being busy with training, he still spends his time to visit her in his break for almost every day, which surprises her greatly.
Knowing him, someone with limited verbal skill, she has tried to figure out a topic to speak in order to clear the awkward between them.
For Sasuke's part, he welcomes the soothing silence in his short break. Until he's no longer able to watch Nina embarrassing herself all over and over, only because she wants to hear him speak a word or two. Sasuke decides to go along with her conversation and expresses his opinions from time to time.
Their talks usually don't last over fifteen minutes, starting from how his day has been, to his Chidori practices and Kakashi, his plans for the upcoming battle against Gaara and what he will do after that. Jumping to their friends back in Konoha, members of team 10, 8, then their own team. Sakura, and ends with Naruto.
Also that's when the mood turns sour.
Nina notices that it's fine at first, to mention about his best friend a thing or two. However gradually he just outright refuses to listen and returns to his training immediately.
Must be because of his over the top competitive nature. Or so she thought. After spending half an hour trying to figure out what's wrong.
Meanwhile Sasuke doesn't understand the reason for his mood swing either. It's just that every time he witnesses Nina talking about Naruto with those shiny eyes and smiles, Sasuke always feeling irritated and wanting to leave.
"Don't worry. I should be able to move again tomorrow."
Nina slowly sits up and picks an apple to take a bite.
"Why did you cover for me?"
After a while, Sasuke asks.
"You're still learning from Kakashi-sensei, aren't you? Causing him angry won't do any good to your training progress."
Nina explains her reason for protecting him from Kakashi's rage on that day, also telling Sasuke that she won't be expecting any appreciation from him so that he can train in peace.
"Is that so."
It seems that whenever there's trouble, small or big, Nina'd be there to help him go through. No matter the cost. And Sasuke simply doesn't understand why.
Why is she trying so hard just to get on good term with him. For what benefit will she gain exactly?
"And just what are you trying to prove in a friendly match?"
Recalling to the moment Nina's almost killed herself to bring him down back then, those questions slips out of his tongue and she stops chewing. But it doesn't take long for Nina to find an answer.
"Because I'm scared."
Nina points at the invisible mark on his neck. While he's taken aback by her confession, she goes on. "I'm scared of that cursed power that Orochimaru has given you."
"Why? Because it make me stronger than you?"
Sasuke frowns, following her words closely and Nina's stunned for a moment. The looks on her face seems to be telling him that's not the real problem.
"What are you even saying? You already are without that ridiculous mark."
Yet Sasuke doesn't buy any of her words. After failing to persuade him for nth times, she decides to use it on him as payback for his stubbornness.
"That's right. I've been holding back until now because you're so weak."
"You have no idea how tough it is to stay behind every single time watching you take all the spotlight for yourself."
She notices Sasuke's expression has stiffened while hearing her blabbing, they indeed have done some damage to him. However the joke doesn't last long as she can't continue holding and bursting out laughing.
Confused by the sudden change, Sasuke's eyes widened and he stares at her as if she's gone crazy.
"Dude, chill. I'm only kidding. Has no one ever told you that you're so easy to fool?"
"What the hell?!"
Once realize that he's been made fun of, Sasuke shouts but she can't stop laughing since remembering his confused face from earlier only making it worse.
"O-Ouch...!"
At result, the muscle pain kicks in and she's stopped abruptly. Making ridiculous expressions to endure the pain and ends up being laughed at.
"Very funny."
Annoyed but can't do anything to stop him, Nina cringes her teeth and suffers in humiliation. Then she realizes that this is her first time seeing him smiling so genuine toward her, it's truly a rare sight.
"What is it? Something on my face?"
Notice Nina has been staring at him for a while now, he asks and she shakes her head. "Nothing. I was thinking that how great would it be if Naruto being open-minded about my power as much as you."
As Sasuke's still listening, she continues.
"I mean. If Naruto saw me almost killing myself back then, he would have gone really mad and started throwing tantrum. Wouldn't he?"
Nina let out a sigh, imagining all the unnecessary dramas that would have happened if Naruto's here. On the other hand, Sasuke's cool demeanor has already withered the moment that name shows up.
"Jeeze, I sure do miss him."
Recalling to the overly excited yellow haired boy and his birdbrain moments, Nina chuckles, thinking how hilarious Naruto training days must have been with Jiraiya by his side.
"I wonder how Naruto is doing now. Bet he's also working his ass off for the upcoming battle."
And everything turns frozen, as Sasuke's no longer respond to anything she says while Nina doesn't know what to do next.
Slip of the tongue, definitely, but it's already too late to take them back. All that left is waiting for the Uchiha to lose his interest and leaves the place to train like he always does, which should be about in any minute now.
However...
"Are you done?"
Strangely, his voice sounds dead cold.
"Huh?"
Nina's mouth drops a little, somewhat is surprised by the sudden turn of event.
"Naruto this, Naruto that! I'm sick of hearing his name over and over. Is that bastard all you care about?"
Sasuke raises his voice at her, and Nina's dumbfounded immediately. Her eyes widened and she keeps staring at him like he has grown two heads.
Not going to wait for her to respond, Sasuke stands up on his feet.
"Forget it."
He leaves the spot, without looking back.
"Alright, I'm here."
Soon after Kakashi returns but his student's nowhere to be found. Confused, he asks her. "Eh? Where's Sasuke?"
A speechless Nina points at the direction which Sasuke has gone to and Kakashi sighs, thinking that Sasuke doesn't listen to his order and wanders off on his own. Not going to waste time, he leaves to find Sasuke so that they can continue with their training and Nina's left alone to rest.
Just like that, Nina and Sasuke maintain the awkwardness between them. And it only getting worse as days gone by...
In that morning.
Kakashi's waiting for me to take his hand, but I refuse.
"I know flicker technique too, so you two go up ahead."
Needless to say he's surprised, and Sasuke confirms that he has seen me trying that technique before in order to escape.
"Don't worry. I'm not going to run away."
Kakashi's obviously dissatisfies that I have been keeping secrets from him, but I ignore the man completely and explain my plan to them. Which is that I will be finding myself a seat within the audience area. Instead of appearing together with them on the battle ring. Mostly to avoid pointless attentions and misunderstandings.
"Now hurry up or you're going to be late."
It's only then Kakashi agrees to leave with Sasuke. And once making sure that I haven't left anything behind, I quickly follow.
The moment I arrive to the arena, everyone has already cheering for the contestants. After spotting where Sakura and the others are, I approach to greet them.
Of course the Anbu notices my presence but doesn't make any move, perhaps they have been informed about my arrival beforehand. Meanwhile the Sandaime's too focus on the battle ring to care, though I'm quite positive that our eyes have met just some seconds ago.
"Nina-chan!"
Sakura's the first one to react to my sudden appearance, then she asks Choji to spare his seat so that I can sit together with her and Ino.
"I can stand just fine."
I tell them that it's unnecessary, beside Chouji's doesn't want to give up on his chair as he hates standing for the rest of the battle.
However Ino and Sakura are too determined. At result, Chouji has to leave his seat since he can no longer handle those glares and loud nagging coming from both of the girls.
"Jeeze, Where have you been?! I was so worried!"
Right after sitting down, I'm being bombarded by tons of questions.
"Well... Stuff happened. You didn't read the note on my table?"
Therefore Sakura nods, then taking a folded paper out of her pocket and showing it to me.
"Yes I did. It said that you wanted to go outside to enjoy the beautiful world. But didn't specific where you would be going and when you would be back."
Enjoy the world, huh? Reading the message that Kakashi has *carefully* prepared for me, I frown deeply at how cringe it sounded.
"Right, sorry about that."
Then I make up an excuse for not leaving any info behind due to my carelessness and that after finding out the finals is opened for public. I rush straight home to support our team.
"It's okay, as long as you returned to us in one piece. I was afraid that you would get caught up in that again if traveling alone, you know?"
Sakura whispers to my ear, and I understand what that means right away. She's worried that those robots would appear and kidnap me like the last time in the forest.
"Yes, luckily nothing's happened."
I nod and Sakura smiles in relief. On the other hand Ino acts quite nonchalant about it. Probably because she doesn't bother about what other team's members are up to.
"You must be the new member of Kakashi's team."
Suddenly Might Guy approaches us from behind. "Nina, am I right?"
Lee's also curious and starts looking at us. As I stand up from my seat to greet the man.
"This man here is Might Guy, who is in charge of Team Guy, which conists of Hyuga Neji, Rock Lee and TenTen."
Sakura explains, also telling me that the smaller version of him standing nearby is Rock Lee, who is a contestant of this Chuunin exam and is recovering from his injuries at the moment. Therefore I say hi to him and he greets me back with a slight nod.
"Heya gal."
Soon Kakashi shows up, needless to describe how angry Sakura is but she quickly calms down on her own. After having small discuss about the mark on Sasuke's neck, the fight begins.
It's intense and amazing at the same time, just as expected from both incredible shinobi. Everything's played out exactly like how it should be. From Naruto shouting to stop the fight, to Gaara's sand cocoon and Sasuke's Chidori.
Finally, the big battle that everyone has been waiting for, Konoha Crush.
