"..." Normal chat.
ABC. Thought.
Chapter 10
The moment waking up, I feel a bit fuzzy.
For how long have I been out already?
Naruto is sitting by my bedside, dozing off. While Kakashi's standing against the wall several steps away. Both Sasuke and Sakura are also nearby. Probably staying in the next room.
Ugh! My limbs feel numb and my throat's so dry.
Feeling thirsty, I try to grab a cup of water sitting on the nearby table. Yet cannot move a muscle.
What was the last time I've been put into this state again? Probably a couple of years back.
It's my first experience activating this mysterious energy, when I was desperate to free Ryu from the enemy's grips. And ended up being bedridden for a whole week long due to serious Ki loss.
Luckily, Momiji was there to help me speed up the healing progress by imbuing her spiritual life-force into my body. Or else I would have died out of boredom for not being able to do anything in such amount of time.
..
...
Years ago.
Once regaining consciousness, I found myself lying on my bed. Feeling completely worn out. And sitting by my side was Ryu, who was no longer in his usual shinobi black suit but a simple dark-greenish kimono.
"How are you feeling?" was the first thing he said to me as I felt his hand touched my forehead.
When I blinked in response. Ryu smiled.
"Your body was burning hot like a mini furnace. Everyone, especially Momiji, was very worried."
Despite laying unconscious throughout the chaos, I could imagine Momiji's expression perfectly inside my mind.
She was angry and sad, plus disappointed in between, because I didn't listen to her and followed Ryu out of the village on my own. Only to be held captured by the opposite shinobi's clan and interrupted Ryu during his important mission.
And if I didn't awaken this strange power within that critical moment, none of us would have been able to get out alive.
"Ryu nii-sama... Are you mad at me?"
Hearing my faint whisper, his hand stopped.
"Why would I be mad? You almost risked your life to save me, Nina. I couldn't be thankful enough."
Though Ryu's face grew serious, as if he's blaming himself for letting this happened to us.
"Starting from today, you're forbidden from activating that dangerous power in any way, any situation."
Then he declared. Not giving me a chance to object or express my opinion about this matter. Whatever, I'm going to find a way to figure things out without his consent.
"At least not until you're trained enough to fully control it."
Seemed to have read my mind, Ryu added in another line.
"Promise me."
And that was the first time I saw him asking for something so desperately. Just how could I possibly refuse?
...
..
"It's been two days already. Will Nina-chan be okay, Kakashi-sensei?"
Since his friend hasn't showed any sign of waking up, Naruto asks his teacher.
"The doctor said that she's sleeping, Naruto. Have a little faith."
Getting tired of Naruto's constant whining, Sakura ensures him.
Meanwhile Sasuke, who's still in his patient gown, is standing beside them and as quiet as ever. And the only one who can make him open his mouth is Kakashi. Though whatever they have discussed forever remains a mystery.
"I'm sure that she's fine. Go look for yourself."
Kakashi points his index finger at Nina's bed and everyone turns around. Surprised to see that she's awaken and is now staring back at them.
A few days later.
"Nina-chan!"
Naruto, who is as enthusiastic as always, is here again to visit me. And he also brings breakfast, per my request since last time because hospital's food are too plain.
"Thank you so much!"
It's a couple of nicely done onigiri and a bottle of tea.
"We can't wait to go on the next mission with you!"
Naruto watches me eat with a grin on his face.
"...Me too."
Staring at the half-eaten rice ball in my hand, I answer him. A little reluctantly. Because unlike everyone in the team, I do not looking forward to what so called *next mission*
Will it turn out to be another disaster? And more importantly, that D rank mission was not supposed to happen. Right?
That's what I have been asking myself ever since. So much that I'm about to develop an anxiety for it.
"Why? You don't want to?"
Seems to have noticed something's wrong, Naruto asks me. That bright smile on his face's dropped.
"I don't know, Naruto. Am I really suitable for the team?"
Despite saying those words clearly, I don't have the heart to look at him in the eyes.
"Why are you saying that all of the sudden?"
Naruto sounds confused. Still, he remains calm and listens to what I have to say.
"It's... my fault for acting too reckless. Both Sasuke and I were only lucky to get out of that hellhole alive."
When Sasuke went on suicide mode against those bandits. I had to use that power to help him. Even if it meant costing my own life.
"But things are getting out of my control now, Naruto. I just can't..."
Since my existence has affected the story line. There's a chance that your future will no longer be the same. And not knowing a way to fix it scares me greatly.
"Don't give up! I'm not letting you get hurt like that ever again, you know!"
Meanwhile Naruto's thinking that I'm sulking over being weak and tries to cheer me up.
Please. Don't sacrifice yourself for me. Because everyone depends on both you and Sasuke to save the world.
Of course, there's no way I can tell him any of that. Not now, at least.
After a while, Naruto begins to open up about his tough past. How he's treated as an outcast. Struggling to grow up without parents and to be acknowledged by the people around him.
To Naruto, no one is perfect from beginning. And it took him a lot of time to improve his shinobi skills to get to where he is now.
"I'll always be here whenever you need my help. Believe it."
In the end Naruto asked me to reconsider leaving the team. Though if I resolved to quit after thinking thoroughly, he promised to respect my decision completely.
Next morning.
Sakura visits to inform me that Sasuke has been discharged this morning. While I'm still stuck in this place for a couple more days or so.
If I didn't collapse for every ten steps or so, I would have jumped out of the hospital's balcony and gone home already.
Staring at the same old scenery for nth times through windows, I sigh in boredom and return to my bed to get ready for the upcoming check-up.
When the door is opened, the person who steps inside isn't one of the expected medical-nin but Kakashi, with a basket full of fruit in his hand.
"How are you holding up?"
He gestures his hand to greet me and casually makes his way toward to my bed. Grabbing a chair to sit down and placing the basket onto the small table nearby.
"You're not here to interrogate me, are you?"
The moment being questioned, Kakashi gasps and pretends to be heart-broken.
"How could you think so poorly of me, Nina-chan? You're making your sensei sad..."
Konoha Hospital
After having tended Nina's injuries, they're told by the medica-nin that it was a very close call. Her life force was drained almost empty and she's suffering from a terrible blood loss. Most importantly, Nina could not be healed by Shosen no Jutsu (Mystical Palm Technique)
"Because Nina possessed no chakra within her body."
Therefore the medical-nin had to make use of the old fashioned method, similar to how they had done since Nina was first brought into Konoha, by patching her with bandages and medicines.
Judging by the look of Kakashi's carefree attitude, I bet that he has known something. Meaning there's more explanations to do and I definitely don't like the sound of that.
"There is no need to rush things. Today, I'm simply here to see how you're doing."
Kakashi offers me a fresh apple taking out from the fruit basket. Yet his eyes stay fixed to a specific spot at the wall behind my back.
Hmm... Sasuke must be hiding out there and eavesdropping us in order to gain information for himself.
"If you say so."
Accepting the bright red apple from him, I take a bite onto it. Sweet and crunchy.
"Sensei, I heard from Naruto that we gained quite a good amount of Ryo from the last mission due to the bonus from defeating Kibutsuji. Was it true?"
Since I've been fed with nothing but plain food for the whole week straight. I'm going to treat myself with some good food once getting out of this place. And that means I need money.
"Alright, what do you want?"
As expected from our infamous scarecrow, he figures out my intention right away.
"Well... The faucet is leaking so I can't sleep peacefully at night. My door and windows get stuck quite often."
"Okay."
Kakashi nods and starts writing my request into a small notebook.
"There isn't much food left and my monthly allowance is running low."
"Done."
He continues noting and waiting patiently.
"I've been sleeping on the old tatami ever since living in Konoha, so having a proper bed would be nice."
For a second, I see his hand halts writing before giving in. "Fine."
"Then can I get a new TV too?"
"Don't push it!"
Having enough, Kakashi shuts his notebook. And after telling me to rest, he stomps out of the room to leave space for the medical-nin who has just arrived for my check-up.
"Thank you, sensei!"
Then I notice that Sasuke's presence is gone. Perhaps he's bored with our lame talks and goes home.
Eh, who I am even kidding. This is Uchiha Sasuke, not some random shinobi people see on the street.
After what happened, I bet that he's now up to no good. And that Curse of Hatred from that damned clan is definitely not something to toy with.
Man, just by thinking about it stresses me out already.
..
..
Two days worth of waiting passes and I'm officially discharge from the hospital. Finally.
"Sakura? You're here to buy shampoo, too?"
While wandering alone around the street to look for several skin and hair care products. I bump into Sakura, who is also shopping for her cosmetics.
"Uhm, Nina-chan. We heard that you..."
Thanks to the incident from last time that got me immobilized for almost a week long, everyone in team 7 has learnt that about my strange condition. Although none of them has yet to figure out why.
"I'm fine. It's nothing too serious to worry about."
To me, having no chakra is not that big of a secret and I have no intention to hide. Sooner or later everyone will know about it. Especially when a skilled sensor type appears. Like Karin, or Ino in Shippuden.
"But shouldn't you be resting more? I mean, you just got out of the hospital."
Asked Sakura when she's told that I was ready to join the team for the upcoming mission.
"There's no need to. I'm all healed. See?"
Therefore I show Sakura my shoulder, which is completely healed without a single scar. It's Ki that my body's lacking but it'll be manageable.
"Oh! About this Ki. I've read about it!"
Much to my surprise, Sakura's well informed about Ki. Stating that she had spent the last day or two in the library swimming in books to get to know this energy better.
With the usage of Ki, I can do what most shinobi here can do. Walking on wall and water surface. Even casting specialized Ninjutsu (Ninpo), which I have yet be able to.
However, techniques that based solely on Chakra like Genjutsu and Shosen no Jutsu, including everything under those two branches, are a no go for me.
Similar to Chakra, Ki is a form of life energy. Except that I won't die if it depletes, unless being in critical state like heavily injured or terrible blood loss. Because I can't regenerate without Ki.
"Be extra careful, okay? Because you can neither heal or be healed."
And Sakura concludes her lesson time with another forewarning.
"Uhm... Thank you, Sakura, you are so kind."
By then, I'm completely moved by her kindness.
"Come on, don't be so polite. We are friends. Aren't we?"
Hearing so, she grins brightly.
"Yeah. You're right."
If the author didn't overwhelm everyone with countless scene of her punching Naruto and swooning, crying over Sasuke during the entire series. We would have seen a better version of Sakura, who was a nice girl and a good friend.
"Say, how about we have some sweets after this? It's my treat."
Figure that this is be a good chance for me repay her troubles, I suggest us visiting an ice cream shop nearby. Since it's almost noon and the air is getting hot.
"Sure!"
Therefore Sakura gladly accepts my offer and is ready to go.
The next day.
It's around noon when Naruto decides to drag the whole team 7 to Ichiraku restaurant. So that we can celebrate our mission success, which has been postponed till now due to mine and Sasuke's hospitalization.
Once arriving to the restaurant, I'm told that Kakashi isn't going to join us today however. Since he has an important task to finish within today. What a shame.