Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ The Reflection of Oneself ❯ Recuperation ( Chapter 10 )

[ P - Pre-Teen ]

The Reflection of Oneself

Chapter 10: Recuperation

Healing.

It comes in all shapes and forms, miracles and vessels. It can repair wounds of the body, wounds of the mind and wounds of the heart, though each one is more different to mend then the next. For being as complex as ourselves, we are so very simple. If we put our minds to it, we could have the power heal anything. Unfortunately it is our beliefs that deny us that incredible power from within.

We also have the power to wound others and ourselves in unimaginable ways. Whether it by weapons, by words or by loss, we do so much harm upon ourselves. It is only if we allow ourselves that moment to heal, then a magic will wash over you and all, with time, will be good again.

There is also the natural healers out there that do much for all of us, easing the pain and bringing us joy. But remember never to abuse someone as gifted and precious as that, for as they heal you, they are taking your darkness into themselves. If you do not allow them the chance to shed the anguish they have consumed for you, then you could very well kill them.

Such is the torment of a healer that is unable to stop healing, for they are unable to heal themselves.

“Mendokusei…”

Although it had come with its perks, Nara Shikamaru rued the day he was chosen to be the Nanadaime Hokage of Konohagakure no Sato.

When the war with Oto had started six years ago, the Council of Elders had forced Jiraiya to take the seat of Rokudaime in order to help Tsunade, who was the Godaime. They decided that Konoha had a better chance of surviving the outcome of the next several years if two Hokage were running the village, like when the Shodaime and the Nidaime founded Konoha all those years ago.

The war and making him Rokudaime had served to distract Jiraiya from his everyday perverted disposition, if ever so slightly. The women of Konoha were truly happy that he old pervert didn't have nearly as much time to peek on them. Unfortunately, that led to the geezer using the crystal ball that had belonged to his sensei…

But now that the war had reached a deadlock a year ago, the two aging Hokage had decided it was time to look for young blood among the younger generations. As of the final decision six months ago, there had been a few worthy candidates for the title, but in the end it was because of his troublesome mind that he had been chosen.

“Dang troublesome luck…” he muttered, sorting through the mountain of paperwork before him. “And all the paperwork too”

So as it was, he accidentally on purpose took a leaf from Tsunade's book and chose to sleep through most it. That was, whenever his secretary wasn't yelling in his ear. Damn the council for choosing Ino for that job, whether she was good at it or not.

Sighing tiredly, the lazy Hokage scratched the back of head.

A few more mutterings later, he was looking down at a report sent by one of the current Anbu boarder patrols, this one stationed at the boarder between Fire and Rice. The report spoke of rumors that were filtering out of Otogakure by shinobi and civilian alike. From the sound of things, Orochimaru was formulating a new attack plan and had some kind of a super weapon he planned to use against Konoha.

If the rumors were true, they were frighteningly troublesome. They would need to learn what this super weapon the Snake Sannin possessed and find some way to combat it. That was why he had dispatched the nearest Anbu he could find to locate four of their comrades. He trusted only those four with infiltration mission. One might question his judgment once they knew who the four Anbu would be, but when he decided to go with something, it always turned out to be the right thing.

As if on cue, there was a loud rapping on his office door.

Sensing their chakra signatures, he called out them to be let in. Pushing the stacks of paperwork aside so he'd have a peephole and clasped his hands as the four Anbu he had sent entered the room.

The first two to enter wore a hawk and a wolf mask - Hyuuga Neji and his fiancée Atsuigane Tenten. The third wore a dragon mask - Rock Lee. And the fourth wore a tiger mask - Umino Iruka. Each of them had changed greatly during the past twelve years, in different ways then others. Each one of their changes steamed from the same thing - the death of Uzumaki Naruto. Neji had put aside the self-pity because he had owed it to the blonde that had helped him see differently. Tenten had adapted to her weaknesses, determined to earn justice for her fallen comrade and the other hurt on that failed mission. Lee had traded the spandex /bowl cut combo for a more natural look, as he became the butt end of many nasty jokes that degraded both his appearance and that of his departed friend. As for Iruka had become distant, the loss of his little brother having closed off that warm part of his heart so that he could cope with the pain.

“You sent for us Nanadaime-sama?” Neji asked calmly.

“Yes…” Shikamaru nodded, sighing again. “A report from the Fire/Rice boarder patrol arrived a few hours ago. Apparently the Sound is getting lax, allowing information to leek out of their walls. Word of mouth says that Orochimaru is formulate a new plan of action, which means it's only a matter of time before this Cold War comes to an end and the battles resume. There is also word that they have a super weapon, but the rumors are inconclusive as to what”

“You want us to find out what this super weapon is, right?”

Shikamaru's gaze turned to Iruka, who had his arms crossed and most likely a calculative look on behind his mask.

“Yes. As troublesome as it is, we need to know what dangers the Sound has in store for us if we plan to win. I want you four to infiltrate Otogakure and find out. I'd go myself, but then the council, Tsunade-sama, Jiraiya-sama and Ino would skin me alive. I highly doubt they'll let me do anything these days…”

Tenten snorted. “With a mind like yours, they'd be fools to put you in the immediate way of danger” the brown haired woman replied. “You are the first Hokage that has been chosen not just for strength and success, but because you are the single smartest person the village had even seen. It was because of you that we managed to drive off the Sound”

“Only for a year Tenten-san”

“But it was a glorious year that allowed the Flames of Youth to revitalize our spirits!” Lee ranted, punching the air with a fist. “Thank to you, I don't have to worry about the safety of Sakura-chan and the twins so much!”

Shikamaru smiled. “How are Sakura and the twins doing?”

The Taijutsu Master did a happy dance, much like any happily married parent would do. Lee and Sakura's children were a part of the newest generation of children in Konoha. Like all the young ones, they had been jealously protected from harm during the warring years. At only four and half, the Rock twins were a handful in themselves.

The elder of the pair was Liang, a little boy with a copious amount of energy. He had inherited Sakura's temper and wide green eyes, while inheriting Lee's enthusiasm and shinny ebony hair. The younger of the pair was Lien, a little girl with wit so sharp it could cut like a kunai. She had inherited Sakura's thirst for knowledge and bright pink hair, while she had inherited Lee's round black eyes and unfortunately, his case of underdeveloped chakra coils. But they worked together to overcome Liang's `Inner Liang' and Lien's inability to use chakra. When the started at the academy in a few years, they would surely make as much noise as they parents before them…

“They are doing very good thanks! Tsunade-sama has been given Sakura-chan more time off from her duties at the hospital to spend time with the twins. Lien and Liang are pure bundles of joy and I love them to pieces!”

“That's good”

The pineapple haired young Hokage turned a smirk to Iruka now. “So… has Anko tried to pounce you lately?”

The older man shuddered.

“You wouldn't happen to have repellant would you? She won't leave me alone no matter what I do!”

The rest of them laughed at his unfortunate predicament.

“I guess that's what you get for adopting the tall, dark and sexy look Iruka-sensei” Tenten teased. “Sure there was a lot of girls that like the whole shy and cute thing, but now your so appealing its pulling in the fangirls by droves! Now you know what Neji goes though ever day!”

The indigo haired man glared at his fiancée while Lee burst out into delight filled laugher and Iruka chuckled, almost too softly to be heard. Shikamaru couldn't help but smile. It was good to see that his people could find something funny to laugh about at times like these, especially Iruka. If it weren't for moments like these, they would all break under the strain.

He could only hope and pray that the moments like these would continue to last.

-.ooOoo.-

Six Days Later:

“Beep… Beep… Beep… Beep…”

Onyx eyes blinked wearily, focusing and blurring as they fought to keep themselves open. It was thanks to the annoying beeping sound of the heart monitor that keep him awake, warding of the slumber that wanted to rob him of his consciousness.

Two and a half days - he had gone with almost no sleep in two and a half days. As tired as he was, the memory of what had transpired only days before remained sharp in his mind, haunting him. He sat there in the silent hospital room, watching over an unresponsive form that wouldn't wake up. Like a ghost of his past, a faded memory came back to him and taunted him. It had happened before, to himself in fact. That time it had been Sakura waiting by his side, forcing herself to stay awake while he had been hurt. This must have been like exactly what she had gone through all those years before.

Sasuke sighed, rubbing a hand over his face.

This never should have happened. It just wasn't fair, but then who was he to talk? He had pretty much handed his student over on a silver platter like he done with the others he had used to save his own ungrateful ass.

Nearly three days ago he had been wondering what exactly had Nanikato so excited. It had went on all that day, thus the blonde could barely concentrate on his lessons. This secret something was frequently distracting, but no matter how hard he tried to weasel it out of the boy, brat had remained frustratingly tightlipped. As their day together had come to an end, he had vowed that he would find out what was going on…

Only he had found out all too late.

Leaning back in his seat, the Uchiha could vividly remember what had happened that night. When he had finished with his duties that afternoon, he had gone in search of Nanikato. He hadn't found the boy in his apartment and it was only thanks to a passing chuunin that he learned the blonde had gone to see Orochimaru. That had been like an hour before. Filled with foreboding, he had sought out the old snake's office. Upon entering, he was shocked to find the sannin and Kabuto standing over Nanikato, the boy unconscious and fighting against an agonizing fever. He knew the signs immediately - Orochimaru had Nanikato a curse seal; a permanent collar to keep him near - a loyal slave.

To say that the Uchiha had gone apocalyptic would have been an understatement.

Unfortunately, things had gone wrong. Apparently the blonde had exhausted almost