Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ The Next Generation ❯ Confession ( Chapter 8 )

The next few days went by quickly and Alzid's condition only worsened. He took out a scroll one afternoon and bit his thumb. He wrote the words, `Shadow Clone,' in blood and then rolled up the scroll. He lit a match and set the scroll on fire. After it had completely burned out, a shadow clone appeared in a poof of smoke.

Alzid coughed and asked, “How did you do that without chakra?”

“Miaki-chan made it for me. Guess now is a pretty good time to use it.”

Alzid smiled and then coughed again. Ichinaru turned to the clone and said, “Do anything she asks.”

The clone nodded and Ichinaru headed toward town. He checked the message center, but not a single bird had arrived yet. The shop keeper apologized again and Ichinaru left. He took his time checking out the shops, seeing as the shadow clone was watching over Alzid. He was half way done shopping when he sensed his shadow clone dispel. He heart skipped a beat and he dropped his bag.

He turned around and shot though the crowd, knocking people over in the process. People yelled and cursed at him, but he wasn't paying any attention to them. He had to get back to Alzid fast. He tripped, but his hands hit the ground first and he threw himself into the sky. He flipped once and landed on his feet, still running. He arrived at the camp in half the time it normally took him and he skidded to a stop in front of the hollow.

Alzid was lying down, her chest barely moving. Ichinaru knelt by her side and took her head into his arms. Ichinaru said, “It going to be alright. I have some medicine right-”

Alzid cut him off, “You know full well, that I won't be here much longer. Don't try to fool yourself or so help me.”

She feebly raised her fist and then it dropped to the ground with a plop. She sighed and said, “This is really not how I wanted to go, I mean poison? It's the oldest trick in the book,” she coughed loudly and then continued, “Ichinaru we both knew the risks when we became shinobi. You just got lucky. I guess my luck ran out a while ago.”

Tears welled at the corners of Ichinaru's eyes, threatening to stream down his cheek. He looked at her and said, “Don't say that. You'll be fine.”

“Dammit Ichinaru!” she yelled hoarsely, “You know full well that I won't last the night, now stop trying to cheer me up.”

Ichinaru nodded slightly and the tears flowed down his cheeks. Alzid smiled gently and said, “The great Ichinaru, crying? It sucks that I won't be able to tell everyone back home. Home…” she said the word with uncertainty. She thought a moment and continued, “Ichinaru promise me you won't go getting yourself killed. Because if you do when you make it to the other side, you'll wish you had gone to Hell.”

Ichinaru smiled sadly and said, “I promise.”

“And find out what you can about my past. I really would like someone to remember what happened before I met you.”

He then frowned and said, “Alzid, I can't lose you!”

She reached up and wiped a tear away from his eye and asked, “Why not?”

And with that question, the life left her body. He hugged her tightly and said, “Because I love you Alzid, so very much.”