Reborn
Active member
Awards
Chapter 69: A Request
The breeze that flows through the village enters into Naruto's room, brazing Hinata across the faces as she lay asleep in bed. She awakens to see Naruto standing at the window, staring out into the sky with his robe on. “Naruto-kun?” Hinata gets out of the bed, though keeping the blanket over her chest to conceal her body. Naruto doesn't respond to Hinata, he doesn't even flinch at the sound of her voice. “Naruto you can't keep losing sleep like this. You need to rest so you're well focused.”
“There's so much to worry about, so many things still shrouded in mystery,” Naruto says. Naruto places his hand on his head and grits his teeth, “damn it I always hated being left in the dark!”
Just then Hinata's arms appear around Naruto and she hugs him from behind, pressing her body against him, smiling softly, “Please don't feel like you're worrying about this alone Naruto-kun.” Hinata whispers. “Don't ask too much of yourself when you have everybody else behind you...especially me.” Hinata kisses Naruto on the cheek and she heads back into bed. “Now if you don't come to bed and go to sleep I'll make you regret it.” Hinata's threat is said with cynical soft tenderness which causes Naruto to cringe as a chill runs up his spine.
“Y-yes Hinata-chan.” Naruto turns around and begins heading towards Hinata when suddenly a knock on the door intercepts him.
“Pardon the late intrusion Hokage-sama,” A shinobi says behind the door.
“What is it?” Hinata says with slight irritation in her voice, sitting up in the bed.
“Forgive me, but there are two Suna shinobi here who say they need to speak to you.” The shinobi says.
“Tell them it'll have to wait,” Hinata says, “Take them to the office and tell them to wait until the morning, Naruto needs to rest.”
“But—”
“No buts,” Naruto says yawning, “If it was urgent, Gaara would've sent a message ahead of time and—”
“What the hell is taking so long?!” A voice yell from down the hall way.
“That voice...” Naruto says.
“Wait, you can't be back here this is Naruto-sama's personal quarters.” The shinobi says.
“It couldn't be—” Naruto is interrupted by his door flying open, Koichi appearing in the doorway.
“I don't have time for this I need to talk to...” Koichi ceases to speak as his eyes are drawn to Hinata. Hinata quickly covers herself as Koichi stares at her with his lip quivering and his nose beginning to bleed. The veins in Naruto's head bulge and his eye begins to twitch.
“Why you little!” Naruto begins just before Temari appears beside Koichi sighing and she punches him square in the face knocking him further down the hallway.
“Forgive me Hokage-sama.” Temari says.
Several minutes pass and Koichi and Temari stand before Naruto and Hinata in Naruto's office; Koichi's right eye slightly swollen. “You need Sakura for an operation?” Naruto says with confusion.
“Yes, we need her to save one of our shinobi. She doesn't have much time. None of our medics can do anything for her. Sakura is the only person who can even hope to pull this off.” Koichi says.
Naruto scratches his head with the predicament, unsure how to answer the young shinobi. “Do you know what you're asking of me here?” Naruto says.
“Yes...I know full and well what I'm asking you,” Koichi begins. “I'm asking for the help of the best medic in the world, one of your top personal officers and friend to save the life of one of my comrades.” Koichi pauses for a moment, his face filling with guilt. “It's all my fault that Maiyuri-sensei is even in this situation.” Naruto raises his eyebrow, “I was the one who almost killed her...well not me exactly but the Shukaku.” Naruto cups his hands together and places his elbows on his desk, his full attention and focus on the young remorseful Jinchuuriki. “Koga, Masaomi, Shizuko...they're a family, Maiyuri is their family.” Koichi looks up at Naruto, “They've lost their family once before, and so have I...I understand what they're going through but I won't be able to help them if they lose Maiyuri. I can't fathom what it would feel like to lose it again.”
Naruto has a brief moment of relapse remembering his fight with Sasuke at the Valley of Ends. Naruto brings his arms down and looks at the two shinobi, very focused. “You remind me a lot of myself Koichi, you love your people and you'll go through any means to achieve your goals...But I don't think I can help you in this situation because—”
Just then Sakura enters the room, her face buried in reports. She looks up, surprised to see people in the room at the hour. “What's going on?” Sakura says.
“Sakura is preparing for surgery with Shikamaru. She needs to successfully complete for Shikamaru or...” Naruto stops looking at Temari. She grips her pants in anxiety, understanding full and well the implications.
“Hey!” Sakura shouts, getting everybody's attention, “What's going on? What are these two doing here?”
“They came for you Sakura.” Hinata says.
“Me? What for?”
“We needed you to help one of our shinobi in critical condition...but—”
“Hold on a minute!” Temari cuts off Koichi, “We can't take her, my father—”
“Calm down Temari, I wasn't going to say anything that might harm your dad's chance at getting better,” Koichi says. “It's just...” Koichi clinches his fist, “Ahh damn it! What the hell am I going to do now?!” Koichi shouts in frustration, holding his head.
“What's so dire about the situation that you'd call for my help?” Sakura asks. Koichi hands Sakura the documents on Maiyuri's condition and she quickly scans it. “This is...really serious.” Sakura says.
“That's why I came, I begged Gaara-sama to let me come here, but now I have nothing to show for it. I promised that I'd get Maiyuri better.”
“Even with me at the helm, this would be a very difficult issue...I can't come back to the village with you but I may be able to find a way for your medics to do something. I've worked with your medics in Suna before, I have a general scope on their capabilities. If I can come up with something to hold her over for a little while, then after Shikamaru's surgery, I could come and help you.” Sakura explains.
“Really?!” Koichi asks.
“With Naruto's permission I may be able to spare a few of our own medics to assist.” Sakura says, still scanning the document.
“I wouldn't mind that so long as—”
“Good.” Sakura cuts off Naruto. She throws the files she came in with on Naruto's desk and walks out of the room, leaving the others.
Temari watches as Sakura leaves and turns her head towards Naruto and Hinata, “Is everything alright, Naruto-sama?”
“Y-yeah, everything's fine,” Naruto gets up and quickly walks past the two Suna shinobi, heading after Sakura, “excuse me for a minute.”
“You two can stay in the guest quarters until Sakura finishes her analysis.” Hinata says.
“Sakura wait!” Naruto says running after her. Sakura doesn't stop, completely ignoring Naruto, “Come on Sakura!” Sakura stops in the middle of the hall way and Naruto runs into her. Though he falls as if running into a brick wall, Sakura still stands.
Sakura turns around and faces Naruto with a neutral expression on her face, “I'm busy.” Sakura says with coldness.
“Why are you so intent on helping those two with this matter? I mean, I'm not saying you shouldn't or anything but you seemed to jump at the opportunity.” Naruto says.
“What of it?” Sakura says.
“Well, It just doesn't seem like you, is all.”
“Well maybe I've changed a little, ever consider that?” Sakura says with a tone of sarcasm.
“You're still mad at me about Sasuke aren't you?” Naruto says, picking himself off the ground.
“Of course I am!” Sakura exclaims, “But I'm not going to blame you.” Sakura says with a little more tenderness, confusing Naruto. “I talked with Ino and it got me to realize a few things about myself that I never really came to terms with.” Sakura's tone has completely transformed, opposite of what it once was. “I didn't expect you to lie to me but maybe I should have...I was beginning to hate you just for this but that was because I couldn't see the truth about what I had become as a result of everything that happened. I was in denial like you and everybody else thought and I managed to see what it was doing to me...and more importantly you Naruto.” Naruto doesn't say anything in response, he just watches Sakura.
“Don't get me wrong, I'm still mad and I will be for a while. Just because I understand why you lied to me and kept this a secret, doesn't mean it still doesn't hurt and that I don't feel betrayed...but I don't hate you Naruto. You mean to much to me, which is why I was able to catch myself. You've always been there for me and I'm grateful...” Sakura smiles slightly and turns around again, heading on her way again. “And the reason I agreed to help, was because it's kinda like helping another you.” Sakura says walking away.
“Another me, what does that mean?” Naruto says scratching his head.
“God damn it you're slow!” Kurama says, shaking his head inside Naruto's subconscious, “Shukaku, is you're brat this oblivious too?” Kurama addresses Shukaku through a link between Naruto and Koichi. The Ichibi doesn't respond to Kurama inside his prison within Koichi. “Still sulking I see.” Kurama says. Shukaku grunts inside of a large steel block with no openings minus a small rectangular hole with a sealing tag running down it vertically. “You know, actually getting to know the person you're living inside makes things less irritating.” Kurama says.
“Hey, what was Sakura talking about?” Naruto asks, speaking to Kurama. Kurama picks his arm up and flicks Naruto off his head.
~Mid Morning~
Temari wakes up, lifting herself out of the bed in the guest quarters. She rubs her eyes and yawns. She looks around the room and notices Koichi gone, “He's already up and gone, it's only been about 5 hours.” Temari stretches and heads to the window of the room. She sees Koichi sitting on the edge of the platform below. “Where you out there all this time?”
“I couldn't sleep,” Koichi says as a breeze rolls through the area, “I couldn't stop worrying about this.”
“worrying about these things only makes the time pass slower. Sakura will find a way, we just have to be patient.”
“I promised that I'd save Maiyuri. I'm not going back on my word.” Koichi says. “More than anything now, I just want Koga, Masaomi, Shizuko to keep their family together.” Temari's gaze becomes sullen thinking about her family in relations with her father. Koichi turns his head up to Temari standing at the window and he gets up and goes to her. “Sorry Temari, I know this is a big deal for you too. You're facing the same issue.”
“I've never thought about it too much in depth before. My father...I don't know what I'd do without him. He's more than just a lazy sack,” a small smile comes to Temari's face under her look of sadness, “There's nobody more dedicated and loyal to his family and his village than him. He's so amazingly strong in so many senses of the term it's just unbelievable. He's everything I aspire to be.”
Koichi smiles, “Well of course he is, every parent is what their kid aspires to be,” Koichi looks up into the clear skies of Konoha, “Till this very day I want to be just like my parents, I want to protect my village and my people until my last breath...and even after that. I want my children to know that they are part of my legacy of a still standing Sunagakure. That's what my parents left to me and what I want to honor the most.” Temari looks at Koichi's happiness as he speaks about his parents, “And if it's any conciliation Temari, I believe you're on the right path to where you want to be.”
A knock at the end of the room gets the attention of the two Sunagakure shinobi. A Konoha shinobi opens the door partially and faces Koichi and Temari, “Pardon me, but Sakura-sama has asked for me to call the two of you to the medical core.”
A knot ties in the stomachs of Koichi and Temari at the words of the Konoha shinobi. Koichi and Temari make their way across the room and follow the Konoha shinobi as he escorts them to medical corp.
Their travel is silent as the two compile the countless thoughts that run through their head. The three shinobi make it to the hospital and the Konoha shinobi directs Koichi and Temari to Sakura's location before he departs.
Temari looks at Koichi as he trembles slightly with tight fists, “Koichi...” The two pass through double doors and see Sakura and Ino at the end of the hall with another shinobi with his back towards the Suna-nin.
Koichi squints his eyes at the other shinobi and quickly recognizes him, “Koji?!” Koichi shouts in surprise. Koji and the others turn their attention to Temari and Koichi walking down the hall, “What are you doing here?”
“I was called here to consult with Sakura-sama.”
“Consult about what?”
“The situation with Maiyuri. They needed more information about Suna's medical system to assess the options for Maiyuri. I arrived about an hour ago.”
“But why wouldn't the consult a more skilled medic?” Temari asks, “No offense Koji but aren't you still just a student?”
“I specifically requested Koji for his knowledge on chakra.” Sakura says. “Koji's medical rank was only a small factor in this area. Every one of his skills have one common factor, they all require a high degree of chakra control and knowledge of manipulation of chakra. The issue with Maiyuri requires such a chakra delicate procedure I needed somebody well versed in the field and who was easy to obtain on such a short notice.” Sakura explains.
“Medical students don't do much of anything besides repetitive practice,” Koji says, “it's quite tedious, but it was convenient for this situation.” Koji looks at Koichi with a blank expression, noticing the discontent in his brother's eyes towards him.
“Even so...” Sakura begins, expression straying south into disappointment, “Maiyuri's situation is too severe and beyond the capabilities of any of your medics to sustain until I get through Shikamaru.”
“There has to be something!” Koichi shouts, “Don't underestimate us, whatever it is we can make it work!”
“There is nothing that we can do to sustain her, surgery is required immediately and to figure out the appropriate measures needed would take too long.” Sakura says.
“Pardon me, but what about the procedure you mentioned you were going to preform on your village's Shikamaru?” Koji says. “The components fit the situation, injuries contributing to the failure of chakra reserves.”
“We thought about that before you came here,” Ino says, “But the fact is, it's a new method that only Sakura and myself know how to do meaning it requires several parties to train before hand. Not to mention we have Shikamaru to worry about.”
“Show me.” Koji says, “I know this is asking a lot, to reveal your village's medical procedure to an outsider, but allow me to read your notes and information. If I can memorize this information in time enough to train those needed back at Suna, maybe we could—”
“It wouldn't work. Even with your capabilities Koji, the fact that a steady hand is needed to conduct the brunt of the work, something you'd need intricate knowledge of the procedure to do confidently. You have that quality of adaptation, however it doesn't constitute for years of experience, as you've said yourself. I'm sorry but...there's nothing we can do to save your comrade.” Sakura explains solemnly.
Koichi bangs his fist on the wall, holding his head down in frustration. Tears roll down his face, “Damn it!!” Koichi shouts, “If I can't even keep this promise, how can I...” everybody else fixates their gaze Koichi, sharing guilt for him. “What do I do now...”
“You'll take Sakura with you to Konoha,” a voice at the end of the hall gets the attention of the five shinobi. Hinata walks down the hall and comes before Sakura and the others.
“Hinata what are you talking about? I can't go to Suna, not with Shikamaru the way he is.” Sakura protests.
“I've read your notes Sakura, I believe if I were to step in and help, Ino could take your position while I fill in for hers. I understand the procedure and I feel it's within the parameters of my abilities. This could be a solution that benefits both parties.” Hinata explains.
“Hinata, this is too risky of a situation to gamble on. The procedure is almost sure fire with both Ino and myself here but...even with your strong medical capabilities, I don't know how much that could affect the rate success—”
“Sakura, you said it yourself,” Hinata moves her eyes softly towards Koichi and Sakura turns her head to look at the young Suna shinobi, “You need to do this, to help keep him on that path...just like we did with Naruto.”
Sakura says nothing, silently agreeing with Hinata. “Wait! What about my dad, what if this only makes his situation worse?!” Temari says with worry.
“Temari-chan, have faith in us,” Hinata says in a soothing tone, “Shikamaru is important to everybody, we'll do everything to make sure he pulls through this.” Temari says nothing, still in a state of worry but she places her faith in her comrades in Konoha.
“Sakura-san...will you be able to save her?” Koichi says, approaching Sakura.
“Like I said, this procedure will be difficult, her base chances even with my help is well below 50% but I'll give every ounce of my being.”
“We should depart soon,” Koji says, “time isn't something we can spare.”
“Wait a minute, does Naruto know about this?” Ino asks.
“Yes, he agreed to this after some...'persuasion'” Hinata says, “There's no need to worry.”
“Very well then,” Sakura says, turning towards the three Suna shinobi, “I'm need to prepare a few things for the operation, I'll meet the three of you at the village gates in an hour.” Koichi, Koji, and Temari nod and everybody heads towards their own paths.
As the three Suna shinobi make their way towards Konoha's gates, they travel in silence, a thick discomforting tension lurking between Koichi and Koji, leaving Temari out of place. “What?” Koji says, breaking the silence. His voice is mellow yet it holds annoyance as his eyes shift towards his brother.
“Nothing, I'm just surprised is all, seeing you go so far out of your way for your comrades in the Sand. I didn't expect it from you.” Koichi's intentionally mocks with an equally irritated tone.
“Gaara-sama gave me the mission to help out in anyway I could. I'm just following orders.” Koji's response equally as mocking as his brother.
“What the hell is the matter with you?!” Koichi shouts, “You just left them back there to fall at the hands of the enemy while you ran like a coward!”
“Are you still on that?” Koji says without turning his tone, “I follow my orders to get the best possible outcome. Trying to get things to work out as comfortably as you'd like is unrealistic.”
“That's not the point, the point is you should try even if it means giving your life, at least then it's known that you gave your best and that you were truly dedicated!”
“The only thing that's known is how foolish you are for unnecessary sacrifices. What sense does it make to die for something so worthless?”
“Dying for your friends and comrades is worthless?!”
“No, dying and letting more people die because you want to save everybody,” Koji's voice is stern and scolding towards his older brother. “You say you'd rather die trying to save everybody, well what if that only means you end up putting more people in danger. You die doing the exact opposite of what your intentions are, and for what, to have people know what you stood for? The only thing that people would see you stand for is being a fool.”
Koichi widens his eyes in anger and proceeds to go towards his brother, however he's rendered motionless, as well as Koji. “Both of you shut up.” Temari yawns, “I know siblings fight and all, I have my moments with Tenzen as well, but you're both harping on things neither of you can change.” Temari holds both her comrades in her Shadow Imitation technique. “You're polar opposites trying to force yourselves on one another. Thing is, you're both equally bound in your ideals to be persuaded by the other meaning you're butting heads without giving way. If you guys want to get to a place of understanding, you need to accept each other's way.”
The three make it to the village gates and Temari releases Koichi and Koji from her technique. “I'll never accept any type of ideal that has one turn their back on their comrades.” Koichi says, heading to one end of the gate away from Temari and Koji. Neither Temari nor Koji say anything as they wait for Sakura's arrival. A little over an hour passes before Sakura approaches the village gates, donning her Konoha attire with her hair tied back in a ponytail. As she approaches the three shinobi she immediately picks up on the negative vibes emitting from Koichi and Koji. Both conflicting and both complete polar opposites. An even greater unsettling feeling arises in Sakura from the vibe of the two brothers. “Lets go.” All four shinobi set out in a blaze towards Suna, traveling in complete silence as they do.
Author's Note:
hmmm, so yeah...I lied about the one chapter a week thing. doesn't look like that reality came true or will be :ghehe: However I have started writing again, and I have not lost my spark. I can't promise when I will be writing, releasing chapters, but I can promise that I will keep writing for a while to come. Well people are still interested 
Anyway you know the drill. Please comment on the chapter, what you liked/disliked sugestions, etc. To those of you who Read/comment/rep and like this post I thank you, enjoy 
Anyway you know the drill. Please comment on the chapter, what you liked/disliked sugestions, etc. To those of you who Read/comment/rep and like this post I thank you, enjoy 
