Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Leaf in the Desert ❯ Chapter 18

Chapter 18

 

Sakura ran.

 

She ran as fast as her legs could take her, racing her own heartbeat, which pounded deafeningly in her ears.

 

Please… please no… let them be wrong…

 

She came to the emergency room and threw open the door. One of the nurses pointed down a corridor, knowing why her senpai was in such a panic.

 

The room she entered smelled of smoke, burnt clothing, charred flesh… and blood. She paused, then walked slowly, extremely hesitantly, toward the figure on the bed covered with a white sheet.

 

Ino stood nearby, tears in her eyes. Inoko held onto her mother in a tight embrace, and Chouichi had his arms around Ino's shoulders as if keeping her upright.

 

“Th-They got him, S-Sakura,” Ino rasped, her voice breaking as she tried to hold in the sobs which threatened to overwhelm her. “Those… those bastards… They k-killed…!”

 

Sakura moved over to the bed, feeling very much like she was in a nightmare she couldn't wake up from. Day in and day out she had to help the medical team to heal the wounded, people she knew and had grown up with. She'd had to tell friends that their loved ones hadn't made it, but so far, it hadn't been anyone so very close to her and Naruto.

 

She carefully lifted the sheet and gazed down at the face underneath. Peaceful and relaxed in death, unmarred save for a deep cut across one cheek, the face of an old and beloved friend looked as if he were merely sleeping.

 

The bloodstains soaking the bed linens and the burn marks all over his shoulder and arm exposed the harsh reality.

 

“Chouji…”

 

Ino lost it. Her legs gave out and she fell to the floor, holding onto Inoko and rocking back and forth as she let out a wail, tears sliding down her cheeks. Chouichi knelt by his mother, embracing her as he, too, mourned his father's death.

 

The door slammed open and Sakura turned to see Shikamaru standing in the doorway, his expression pure panic. He took several shaky steps toward Ino.

 

“Tell me it isn't true. Dammit, Ino, tell me they didn't get him!”

 

Ino turned her head to look at her old teammate- and the look of absolute loss on her face was answer enough for him.

 

Shikamaru screamed out his frustration and grief as he fell to his knees, slamming his fists against the tiled floor.

 

Sakura reverently replaced the sheet over Chouji's head. She didn't say anything, her throat too choked up to get words out.

 

“Damn you, Chouji!! You promised me we'd always be together!” Shikamaru yelled, tears dripping on the tile. “How could you let those Iwa bastards beat you?!”

 

“It was an ambush,” Chouichi managed to explain, his voice cracking. He wiped the tears off his blue-zigzagged cheek. “They got his whole squad.”

 

Shikamaru stared at the floor, his face an expression of pure anguish. “Dammit,” he swore through gritted teeth, his voice hoarse. “First Lee… now Ch-Chouji…”

 

A figure appeared in the doorway, rather out of breath. He leaned on the door jamb. “They just told me,” Naruto said as he entered the room, at once taking in Ino's grieving family and Shikamaru's pained appearance. “What happened?”

 

“Ambush,” Sakura replied softly, wrapping her arms around herself. She moved over to Naruto's side, her steps heavy with sadness.

 

“How many more, Naruto?” Shikamaru whispered roughly. His black eyes locked on Naruto and the Hokage could see the fury within them- and he understood it. “How many more of us have to die in this fucking war?!”

 

Naruto moved in front of Shikamaru and knelt before him. “This is war, Shikamaru,” he reminded his old friend quietly. “If I could trade my life for theirs, I would. But Chouji died so that we can keep going and try to defeat Kanaye. You know that as well as I do. He lived and died a true shinobi, an honor to Konoha- and we can't let his death be in vain. We have to be strong… and win against Iwa no matter what.”

 

Shikamaru's head dropped again and soon sobbing was the only sound in the room.

 

---------------------

 

Kin paced back and forth in Gin's hospital room, Shirabara fussing on her aunt's shoulder. She continually patted the baby's back, trying to calm the child down.

 

“I don't know why Sakura left you with me,” the teen muttered. “I mean, I know there was an emergency, but she could've pawned you off on one of the nurses or something…”

 

Shirabara hiccupped and whimpered.

 

“All right, all right. I suppose I can watch you. But no poopy diapers, got it?”

 

The door slid open and Kin froze. Oh, crap! No one's supposed to know I'm here!

 

She stared at the person who entered, all the blood draining from her face. Shirabara let out a small cry.

 

“D-Daddy…!”

 

Neji narrowed his gaze at his daughter and the infant she was carrying. “Kin? What are you doing here?” His eyes moved to the baby. “And whose child is that?”

 

Kin's expression could only be described as horrified. “Um… well, you see… I was just… checking on Gin and, um…”

 

Neji stepped closer, crossing his arms over his chest. “Kin.”

 

Now I'm in for it.

 

“She's… she's…”

 

A movement out of the corner of her eye caught her attention and Kin turned. Her eyes widened.

 

Gin's hand was no longer resting by her side. It hung off the side of the bed. Without thinking, she pushed the fussy baby into Neji's arms and moved quick as a flash to Gin.

 

“Gin? Gin, can you hear me? It's Kin!”

 

Neji regarded the infant in his arms briefly before moving to Gin's other side. He leaned over his unconscious daughter and used his Byakugan to check her chakra flow. He let out a shocked gasp at what he saw.

 

“Her chakra… is moving faster,” Neji told Kin.

 

“Is she waking up?” came the anxious question.

 

The baby fussed louder and Neji unconsciously soothed the child. “It is possible,” he said, not wanting to hope too much. “Go fetch Sakura- and be quick about it.”

 

“Yes, Daddy.”

 

As Kin raced out the door to find Sakura, Neji sat at the foot of Gin's bed and turned his attention back to the now-burbling baby in his arms.

 

The child blinked large aquamarine eyes, staring at Neji curiously. Her dark brown hair had been decorated with a cute pink bow and Neji couldn't help but remember when Kin and Gin were this little.

 

My little girls… they're all grown up now. The baby cooed and gave Neji a drooly grin. And they would smile at me just like that, pure innocence and joy.

 

“…D…D…”

 

Neji's head snapped to the side to look at his daughter. Her eyelids were fluttering and her lips were parted, hoarse, rasping sounds coming from her throat.

 

“Gin?”

 

“…D…D…ad…dy…”