"..." Normal chat.
ABC. Thought.
Chapter 20
There's an explosion, following with an area-wide Genjutsu that puts everyone into deep sleep. And the next thing I know, Gaara's already in progress of transforming into Shukaku on the battle ring. While Sandaime's being held hostage by Orochimaru inside a barrier at the rooftop.
Oh god! It's finally happening!
After taking a quick scan around the area, I count that there's at least ten armed enemies. And it seems that none of them have yet to notice my presence.
What now? Should I wait for orders or start planning for my next move?
Despite having faced several complex situations, I always had Ryu or Momiji stay by my side to guide me through difficulties. Telling me where to go and how to act in accurate orders.
However this time, I am alone!
Right now, the air is too intense that it's hard to breathe. And my limbs are trembling from the thoughts of being assassinated in any second if I ever let myself act careless.
"H-Hey! What's going on?!"
Meanwhile on the battleground, Sasuke's confused by the sudden turn of event.
"Sorry, but the Chunin exam is over. You go after Gaara and the others, right now."
After speaking to Hayate and receiving order from him, Sasuke looks up at the audience area. Our eyes meet briefly before he turns away and jumps over the tall wall up ahead.
"Nina-chan! Are you okay?!"
Hearing Sakura's voice echoing by my side, I turn to her. She isn't surprise to find me being unaffected by the enemy's Genjutsu.
"I'm fine. But it's not safe right now."
"W-What do you mean? What is happening?"
Getting curious, Sakura gets up from her chair to check the surroundings. Once knowing that it's Orochimaru who is behind the attack, she tries to look for Sasuke at the stage but he's nowhere to be found.
"Sasuke-kun! Had you seen where he went?"
"...I think that he's chasing after Gaara."
Her eyes trace from my finger toward to the tall wall not too far away. Without realizing that there are two figures who are swiftly making their way toward to our spot.
They're here!
In instant, I drag Sakura down with me. While waiting for Kakashi to arrive and finish those shinobi off in one hit.
"You okay?"
As I'm about to help her stand up, she charges forward and pushes me down onto the ground.
"Watch out!"
Turns out there's another one hiding behind my back and he happens to get into her field of view. Luckily, Might Guy's there to take the shinobi out before his kunai's blade can reach to anyone of us.
Ugh! This war's pressure is messing up my senses.
To not even realize that there's an enemy up close to my neck, I groan at my own amateurishness.
Come on, Nina. Focus!
Wiping the blood off my cheeks, I try to get up again. Much more carefully than before.
After telling us to watch each other's back, the Jounin take off to hunt down the sound shinobi to balance the numbers. And because Kakashi cannot leave his current duty, he requests us to form a team of four to help Sasuke.
"This guy, Pakkun. He will be able to track Sasuke down by his scent."
Therefore he summons Pakkun, which will act as our support and supervisor, in this A rank mission.
"Undo the Genjutsu on Naruto and Shikamaru to wake them up."
As instructed, Sakura approaches Naruto to release him from Genjutsu. While I help her look for Shikamaru, who's trying to sleep his way through the attack nearby, to wake him up.
"Bah! Who cares about Sasuke."
Shikamaru refuses to help us right off the bat, while being bitten by Pakkun for pinching his cheeks without permission.
"Alright, this should be enough."
When everyone's come to, Sakura begin counting the members. However Kakashi stops her right before my name's put on the list.
"Nina's staying."
Needless to say the other three are shocked.
"Why not letting her go? You have your whole team right here already!"
Because Shikamaru won't stop nagging about not wanting to get involved with troublesome missions. Kakashi has to explain to him that the team needs an advisor, and he fits the role well.
Also, this is an order and Kakashi won't take no for an answer.
"I will stay here to help the others keep the villagers safe."
While I'm not that surprised by Kakashi's decision. Since I'm currently in his top suspect list and needed to be keep in watch. To avoid future troubles, I have to do as he says.
"Alright, be careful."
Both Naruto and Sakura agree that it's better for me to stick close to the Jounin during the mayhem. As they cannot risk facing more powerful enemies during their important A rank mission.
For Shikamaru, well, let's just say that he cannot escape his fate no matter how much he tries.
After watching everyone dispatches through the hole on the wall, I pull out the Kunai from my pocket to defend myself. Since it'll be unwise for me to use my twins dagger or activate that power here. The less attention, the better.
...I can't leave, or hide. So the only thing left is to fight.
It's tough attacking the enemies while protecting the villagers at the same time. And I'm thankful for the others Jounin who are staying around and willing to support me whenever I'm in need.
Fortunately, Kakashi notices my efforts and loosen the chain up a little. Giving me more freedom in my actions.
The battle goes on until only two remaining invaders left. After Kabuto reveals himself before us, those two retreat. Then, the Jounin begin their search for Sandaime and I quickly tag along.
"Sandaime!"
Every other Jounin has gathered around the Hokage's body. He's smiling peacefully, while utter sorrow and regret cover others faces.
"You're dismissed. We'll take it from here."
Therefore being a Genin, I'm sent home while the Jounin remains to resolve of the unfinished matters.
In the afternoon.
When things have settled down somewhat, I come to the hospital to visit the team 7. There, I'm told that they're suffering from various injuries, some light and heavy, but not life-threatening.
Once arriving to the room, everyone's soundly asleep on their beds except for one, Uchiha Sasuke, whose bed is nearest to the window. He recognizes me through my footsteps but doesn't turn his gaze away from the sunset view before him.
After checking on both Naruto and Sakura, I approach Sasuke's bed and see that he's also covered in bandages, mostly on his left arm. And judging from his cold attitude, I figure that he doesn't even want to see me right now.
"How are you feeling? Any better?"
However since I'm already here, may as well try to endure it for a few minutes.
"..."
Sasuke doesn't answer. And dead silence gradually swallows us whole. Because he's keeping his face away from me, I can't see his expression to know what's running inside his mind.
Is he sad because of Sandaime's death? Or fuming with jealousy after witnessing Naruto releasing his hidden power?
Something in him has changed. While Sasuke doesn't want to speak, I can't find anything else to say to him. We've been so awkward to each other after that incident and this horrible event only making it worse.
Sigh... What a mess. Is there even a way to fix this?
It's going to take some time to mend this damaged relationship. Sadly, I won't be blessed with such fancy, when Itachi's about to arrive to Konoha to hunt for Naruto and turns everything upside down.
Minutes then feels like hours. Bored, I turn to watch the slowly moving cloud up behind those windows. Only to have the drowsiness kicks in even faster and I decide that it's time to leave.
"Get well soon, okay?"
They are the last words I say to him before heading home.
From then on, I have some free time on my own. And instead of wandering around the village like always, I decide to stay at home to rest. Washing my dirty clothes from the last forceful journey, also cleaning up the room since it's too dusty after being abandoned for almost a month straight.
The next day, I'm informed that team 7 has been discharged from the hospital and continues recovering at their places. Since there's no shop available due to the damages caused by the invasion, I come to Sakura's house to borrow her black attire to attend Sandaime's funeral and takes that chance to see how she's doing as well.
"Nina-chan! You're not going to believe what happened!"
When we meet, Sakura tells me about their battle against Gaara, who turned into a monster and almost had them killed. However she fainted after defending Sasuke and missed out most of the fight. Still believing that it's Sasuke who had saved her from the dangerous sand.
"Naruto, I'm here."
Later on I visit Naruto, who is still sulking from Sandaime's death to speak. Figure that he needs some time alone to recover from the shock, I go home after leaving the takeaway food on his table.
The next morning.
Sakura, Naruto and I wait for Sasuke to arrive so that we can depart together.
"Let's us go."
It starts raining soon after everyone gathers at the destination. One by one, we line up to offer flower to his grave. Some cry, some not. Once everyone finishes with their talks and the sky clears up, we separate and go on our way.
Not wanting to return home just yet, I pass by the river bank and sit there. Hoping to find some peace of mind from the artistic scenery.
"Nina..."
All of a sudden, I hear Sasuke's faint voice in the wind. Thinking that it's some sort of an illusion, I don't respond to that call. Until Sasuke approaches me from behind and speaks again.
"Nina."
Surprised, I turn around. Seeing a figure standing before me is the usual aloof Sasuke. His voice sounds strangely soothing.
"Sasuke?!"
Speechlessly I watch him takes a seat next to me like nothing has happened between us.
"Your injures... How are they now?"
Once having calm down, I initiate the talk.
"Only minors so they healed up fast."
And it takes another while for him to open up about their battle against Gaara two days ago. And how shocked he is after witnessing Naruto summoning thousand of his clones and Gamabunta to withstand Shukaku's attacks. All by himself.
"Even with the cursed seal. I couldn't do anything."
Not knowing a thing about Kurama, which takes the most crucial role in that battle, Sasuke states bitterly. And he's been doubting his abilities ever since.
"There's still a lot of time and opportunities for you to improve. Also, we're always here to help."
"Too slow, it's not enough."
Despite not admitting everything to me, I've already known that Sasuke's been comparing his progress to Naruto's and starting to feel inferior. Torturing himself day after day by repeating such act.
"Say... You don't hate Naruto for his power, do you?"
After thinking about it thoroughly, I decide to ask Sasuke how he feels about his best friend. While praying that his hatred toward Naruto isn't worse than what's described in the original work.
"I don't hate him."
And Sasuke's positive answer almost makes me think that this is a dream.
"Alright? Then why were you so fed up whenever we talked about Naruto back then?"
"Because he's all you talk about every single day. And it's starting to get really annoying."
In reality, Naruto's only a fragment amongst various topics of our conversations. If I remembered correctly, we discussed about his daily training, Kakashi and Sakura way much more...
"I-Is that so. My bad then."
Not that it matters anymore, as long as our misunderstanding is cleared.
"So, what are you going to do from now? Continue training?"
"Obviously."
Then we remain for a little chit chat till it hits noon, Sasuke leaves for his training routine and I walk home to seek for some rest after a stressful day.
The next day.
Just as I'm about to leave for the market to buy groceries, I see Sasuke's walking alone down the street. And he's carrying something that looks like a Dango-ya's medium sized sweet box in his hand.
The moment we meet, Sasuke hands over the sweet box to me.
"Huh? Is that for me?"
While I'm dumbfounded by his strange action, he explains.
"I heard you liked sweets."
Sasuke recalls to my first introduction before the whole squad on the day of my bell test. Surprising me even more.
"To be honest, I didn't think you would remember any of that."
Opening the box, I count around six pieces of Dango that are neatly arranged next to each other. Needless to say the sight of delicious dessert cheers me up greatly.
"Thank you so much!"
It seems that Sasuke's in a good mood today, as he's seen to be smiling like I do.
"Right. See you later."
Probably realizes that I'm looking at him, Sasuke coughs into his fist to stay cool and walks away.
If Sasuke is on his way back after seeing Kakashi. Then today must be the day he faces his brother, Itachi...
"Hey, Sasuke?"
The moment his feet halt, I realize my mistake instantly. But it's already too late to take those words back.
What's wrong with me?
To think that I've lost control of my emotions and tried holding him back. Despite knowing full well that Sasuke has to suffer through these hardships in order to grow stronger. Like he's always wanted.
Don't answer me. Don't turn around. Please, keep on going.
And I have no rights to stop him, no matter how much it hurts.
"What is it?"
Still, Sasuke doesn't ignore my call and turns back to face me.
"I-It's nothing. I'll see you later."
Therefore I fake a smile. While hoping that he will soon to take his leave because my feet are glued to the ground.
"If there's something you want to say to me then say it."
"Huh? No... Why are you asking that?"
"Then why are you looking so dejected?"
His question instantly hits me hard. What kind of face am I making now, I wonder. But for Sasuke to point it out like that. It must be horrible.
"Well I..."
Usually I'll cover it with a dumb excuse to get away. However, after having imagined what kind of things he's about to go through in a few hours, it feels almost impossible to do so.
But if I don't say something now, Sasuke will get suspicious and won't let it go until figuring out what this is about.
"That's because I have stomachache."
Holding the box tightly in my arms, I say. Gaining what left of courage inside to look him in the eyes to make it seems more convincing.
"Huh? Fine, then."
Fortunately, Sasuke believes in that white lie and we part our ways.
Later on, I receive the news that both Sasuke and Kakashi are in comatose at the result of fighting the outsiders.
So I rush to the hospital to find them. Once there, I find Sakura is standing outside of Sasuke's room. Trembling in anxiety while waiting for the doctor to finish examining him. And the moment Sakura sees me, she bursts into tears.
"Nina-chan...! Sasuke-kun is..."