Chapter 3

News

After The War

Sakura runs straight to the hospital to meet up with Shikamaru. Shikamaru is asleep in the chair in the waiting room. Sakura walks inside the hospital and goes straight to Shikamaru.

"Shikamaru!" Sakura says.

Shikamaru jumps out of his chair. "Ahh! Sakura!"

"Any word on Neji?" Sakura asks.

"Not yet, unfortunately," Shikamaru says.

Sakura sighs and sits down next to Shikamaru.

"How long has it been?" Shikamaru asks Sakura.

"About 12 hours," Sakura says.

"What a drag," Shikamaru says.

Since the war had just ended, injured survivors are entering the hospital. The hospital quickly fills up. Within the next 10 minutes, every single seat is filled. Shoulders against shoulders.

A surgeon comes out of the back room.

"Shikamaru? Sakura?" asks the surgeon. "It's about Neji."

Without a second to waste, Shikamaru and Sakura jump up and run to the surgeon.

"How's Neji?" asks Sakura.

"Neji Hyuga survived. He's going to be okay," the surgeon said with a smile.

"YES!" Shikamaru shouts. "Thank you... Yuko!"

Sakura sighs with relief. "Thank goodness."

"Can we see him?" Shikamaru asks.

"Of course, follow me," Yuko says.

Yuko starts to walk back and Shikamaru and Sakura follow. When they get to a room, Yuko knocks on Neji's door. Yuko opens Neji's door slightly. "Neji, you have visitors!"

Yuko opens the door some more. Neji looks over to see who was there. Neji smiles and slowly sits up. "Hey guys."

"Neji!" Sakura says excitedly. Sakura runs to Neji and gently hugs him.

"I'll leave you guys be," Yuko says with a smile. Yuko then leaves the room and shuts the door behind her.

Shikamaru and Sakura grab a seat and sit next to Neji.

"How long have I been here?" Neji asks.

"About 12 hours," Sakura says.

"What happened?" Neji asks. "The last thing I remember is jumping in front of Naruto and Hinata and now I'm here."

"You got impaled by the 10 tails, and we immediately got you here," Sakura explains.

"I've been here the whole time waiting for you to make it," Shikamaru says.

"Oh, thank you both," Neji says.

Sakura smiles. "I'll be sure to tell you all about the war later, Neji. I have to go spread the word that you made it!"

Sakura jumps up and runs out of the hospital room. Shikamaru watches Sakura leave. Shikamaru honestly looks so relieved that Neji survived.

"Would you be cool if I turn on the TV?" Shikamaru asks Neji.

"Go ahead," Neji says.

The hospital had just gotten TVs to put in the patients rooms. They're not the best, but it's something so that the patients have something so that they don't die of boredom

Shikamaru turns on the TV after getting Neji's approval. The last thing that was on was the news. Shikamaru shrugs his shoulders and decides to watch the news with Neji.

"The Fourth Great Ninja War has officially ended. All the survivors are getting help, and going home to be with their loved ones," the news reporter says. Shikamaru and Neji smile at the good news. "More about the war later at 5. Now for some saddening news. Today marks the 13th year that Takara Uta has gone missing."

"Oh yeah, I remember hearing about that missing girl," Shikamaru says.

"And this is what Takara Uta would look like today, if she is alive," the news reporter says.

The news channel shows a picture of what Takara would look like. A very detailed drawing of a girl with long black hair and big blue eyes.

"Wow," Neji says.

"It'd be nice to know if she was still alive," Shikamaru says. Shikamaru leans back in his chair. "Lucky 13, huh?"

"13 years...," Neji says to himself. "Has there been any clues or updates on finding her?"

"No," Shikamaru says. "All we know is that she is from the Leaf Village and at 5 years old she was stolen from her home late at night."

"How horrible," Neji says.

"Yeah, I know," Shikamaru says.

Neji looks up. "Once I'm able to leave here, I want to try and rescue her."

"Are you sure?" Shikamaru asks Neji. "For all we know, she could be dead. She could have died years ago."

Neji looks over at Shikamaru."You and Sakura saved my life, I'd like to save someone's life too."

"But you saved Naruto and Hinata's life," Shikamaru says.

"Yes I did, but what's wrong with wanting to save more lives?" Neji asks.

Shikamaru shrugs his shoulders. "Nothing."

Neji smirks. "That's right."

"Well Neji, I'm glad you came through," Shikamaru says with a smile.

"It's because of you and Sakura," Neji says. "Thanks for risking your life for me."

"What are comrades for?" Shikamaru says.

Neji smiles and slowly lays back down.