Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Combined Elements ❯ Explanations ( Chapter 8 )

Combined Elements

 

Chapter 8: Explanations

Sakura gasped as Saara collapsed. Without thinking about what side Saara was on, Sakura ran over and inspected the girl. Her whole sleeve was by now covered in blood. Sakura pulled out the kunai, her hands glowing green, and started to heal the wound. When she was done with the wound on the arm, she stopped the sluggish bleeding from the cut on her stomach. It would heal easily without her help, so it was better not to waste her chakra. Then she remembered how the girl had coughed up blood, and quickly her hands travelled over the body as she inspected her organs, muscles, and bone.

 

In the meantime, Kakashi headed over to Naruto and Gaara. He grinned playfully at the two frozen to the ground. Gaara was in the worst condition. The part of him that wasn't buried in ice was shivering, and his lips had a blue hue. Kakashi released a fire jutsu on the ice that covered Naruto, doing the mouth last. As soon as he was free, Naruto started mumbling something about evil and fairness. Kakashi smiled and headed over to Gaara. This would take a little longer, since Gaara was completely frozen in the ground. He got started, putting a constant fire power on the ice as it slowly melted. It helped warm up Gaara as well, and soon he felt better… except for still being stuck in the ground.

 

By the time Gaara was free, and standing dripping wet on the sturdy ice, Sakura had finished treating Saara. “Sakura, why are you healing the enemy?” Naruto frowned. He wouldn't forget that little mouth-covering ice trick any time soon. “Because I get the feeling she isn't our enemy anymore.” Sakura smiled, and continued to treat Gaara and Naruto. Kakashi was unhurt, so when she was done, he picked up the unconscious Jinchuuriki and they walked back to the spot where there things lay in the forest.

 

They set up camp again, gathered wood for the fire, and rested. It was decided that they would wait until Saara woke up. She owed them an explanation, several of them in fact.

 

****

 

Saara woke up ever so slowly. She felt a heat towards her right side, and a heavy weight rested on her body. When she opened her eyes, she saw a thick brown blanket covering her, and a large campfire on her right side. She thought back, trying to figure out what had happened for her to end up here.

 

Her sight was a bit blurry, so her hand reached up to touch her face: her glasses were gone. Saara sat up, wincing as her stomach complained. When she looked to the side of her mat, she saw her vest, neatly folded with her glasses on top. As soon as they were back on her body, she looked around.

 

At the other side of the fire sat the four opponents she had faced earlier. She frowned at the sight of them. Why had they taken her here? How come her arm was healed? At that point, the girl stood up and walked over to her. “You better lie down and let me inspect your stomach. It seems to be causing you pain still.” Saara lay down at the girl's command. “Who are you?” She asked, as the girl's hands started glowing green above her exposed stomach. Instantly, the pain subsided, and Saara's eyes widened in surprise.

 

When Sakura was done healing the girl, she nodded in approval of her own work. “I'm Sakura Haruno, healer and ninja from the Hidden Leaf Village.” She then pointed to the others. “Kakashi Hatake and Naruto Uzumaki are my team mates. Gaara no Sabaku is Kazekage of the Hidden Sand Village.” She noticed Saara staring at Gaara.

 

Saara's mind stumbled into a state of confusion. How could a Jinchuuriki be a kage of a hidden village? Why were these two normal ninjas hanging out with two Jinchuuriki? And why did it look like they were all friends?

 

Her thoughts were interrupted when Sakura pushed a bowl of food into her hands. “Eat that. Hopefully your stomach will settle down a little.” Saara looked up at her, confusion clear in her eyes. Then she looked back at the bowl, and shook her head. “No, it will never settle down. Not as long the Bijou is sealed within me.” Sakura nodded, understanding. “That's why you didn't release your full power right away, isn't it? Using that power is painful, because your stomach and some other organs are weak since the Bijou was sealed. Am I right?” Saara looked up at the other girl, trying to see how trustworthy she was, then nodded as an answer and picked up a spoon.

 

When the bowl was empty, Kakashi spoke. “Will you tell us why you were fighting for Orochimaru?” From that question, Saara seemed to remember something, and her hand flew up to her neck. When she felt the familiar gold chain under her finger tops, she calmed down. Her hand clasped around the round gold pendant that hung from the chain. Her eyes went back to Kakashi, who was still waiting for an answer. She didn't trust them, but they had taken care of her wounds, so she owed them an explanation.

 

Before she started, her hands ran down her braid. It was in pretty bad condition, barely a braid anymore. Saara took out the small blue ribbon, and her fingers ran through her hair, checking for knots. She had extremely thick, wavy hair, so while she took care of it, she began talking. “I was born in Water Country. The Bijou, Atarichi, was sealed into me at 4 years old, which is rather late compared to other Jinchuuriki. She is a water dragon with the eyes you saw when I released her power. Since she was sealed into me at a later age, my body barely accepted her and I've been having health problems since.”

 

At this point, she had finished brushing her hair with her fingers and started redoing the braid. “Orochimaru found me in the small village where I lived. He asked me to join him, so I could use my powers for proper work. I knew he was evil from his appearance and the way he acted. There was no way I would ever join him. Then one night, he came and stole the only reminder of my original parents. That is how he forced me to fight for him.” She shrugged, her story finished.

 

Kakashi frowned. She obviously kept back a large part, but that wasn't what bothered him. “So you did not live in a hidden village? Does this mean you never had ninja training?” Saara shook her head. “I do not fight unless forced to. Fighting to me is pointless and only gets people hurt or killed. When I do fight, it is with water only. I know nothing of ninja tactics or traditions.”

 

At this, Naruto stared. She was so powerful, yet not a ninja. Kakashi had warned him to stay quiet before the girl woke up, but he could no longer contain his curiosity or his beliefs. “That is not true! We fight for those important to us and for our village. Not to hurt or kill. That is why we should fight, including you.”

 

“And if people didn't fight, there would be no need to protect those important to you.” She glanced at him. He had obviously been doing his best to control himself, but she had a feeling that mouth was not something easily shut. “Besides, I have nobody important to protect except myself.”

 

Gaara closed his eyes when he heard her talk like that. It was so similar to what he thought before meeting Naruto. Except she hated fighting and he had loved it.

 

Naruto was about to argue again when Sakura threw a rock at him. “Shut up Naruto. She has talked enough. It is time for her to rest some more.” With this, she pushed Saara back down on the mat, and brought a glowing green hand to her eyes. With one touch, the girl was asleep, and Sakura brought the blanket back in place.

 

 

Author's notes: Eesh. Boring, I know. I've just been trying to have it all make sense.

 

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters in this FanFic except Saara Mizu and some of the minor enemies. The rest belong to Masashi Kishimoto.