Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Together With You: A Gaara Story ❯ Risky Procedure Proves Near Fatal ( Chapter 22 )

Disclaimer: Naruto is not mine.....nor will any of the characters ever will be.......*sighs* I need a Gaara T^T

 

Recap:

“Tsunade-sama. She's fine. Her heart is weak but...she should be alright. We're ready for the operation,” Sakura said, turning to Tsuande.

 

Tsunade nodded. She turned back to Gaara. “You, Kazekage, hold her down. This is a delicate operation. Even the slightest twitch and she could die.”

 

 

Chapter 22: Risky Procedure Proves Near Fatal

 

Gaara nodded and hoped that Shiruki would not die because of this. After all, there was the impending threat that she could very well die with such a risky procedure. Gaara walked to Shiruki's body and Tsunade and Sakura started to remove her shirt. Banages were covering her chest, that much Gaara was thankful for. “Hold her down by her shoulders. Like this,” she said, demonstrating how to press down on her shoulders to keep her from squirming. She released Shiruki and Gaara did as he was told. He held her down softly at first, until Tsunade spoke again. “Alright...tighten up. Here it goes.”

 

The procedure was to have Shiruki drink a potion that specialiezed in relaxing the body, then they would send chakra through her body, to get her heart pumping faster to awaken her. In other words, they were going to increase her adrenaline. They had to be careful, though, because if the chakra, especially that high of an amount, were sent into the wrong part of the heart, Shiruki would go into cardiac arrest. The procedure was indeed tricky and should only be performed by the most skilled of medical ninja. Sakura saw the uneasiness of Gaara as he held Shiruki down. She tried to touch him, but Shukkaku shot up and wouldn't allow it. When the sand retreated, Gaara looked at Sakura. She had hurt in her eyes, but she still had a smile. “It'll be alright. Don't worry. Alright?” she asked as she prepared a potion her and Tsunade made seconds earlier.

 

Gaara nodded and looked down at Shiruki. This was killing him. Tsunade sighed. “Now, Kazekage...” she began. Gaara looked at her for a second. “Whatever may happen, do not lose control. There will be screaming. Do not be alarmed. It is her body rejecting the chakra at first. Once she stops resisting, the screaming will regress. Understand?” she asked, looking at him seriously. Gaara looked at Shiruki again and nodded. “Good...Sakura...the potion,” she said, handing her the potion. Sakura sighed before lifting Shiruki's body up to elevate her. She poured the conconction in and stroked Shiruki's throat to make her swallow it. She laid her back down and waited. Once she saw that Shiruki was starting to reject that potion, Tsunade started to form a ball of chakra in her hand. “Sakura!” she yelled as she put her hand near Shiruki's chest. Sakura assisted Gaara by pinning Shiruki's wrists above her head. Tsunade started to inch the ball into her chest and Shiruki's eyes squinted shut in pain. It wouldn't be so bad, at least that is...until she started screaming bloody murder. Naruto and Sasuke stood back, Sasuke holding back said blonde. They watched in fear as Shiruki emitted ear shattering painful screams. Gaara turned his head to the side as he held down her thrashing. Tsunade looked at him and then back at Shiruki. She inched the ball of chakra further into her and Shiruki screamed louder. Her legs kicked and her back arched, but they were firmly held in place by Sakura and Gaara. Naruto came over to hold her legs as soon as Tsunade almost got kicked in the face. Tsunade kept inserting the chakra and finally, Shiruki's body gave out in defeat. Her screaming became minimul with silent winces and twitches and Gaara was relieved. He saw the sweat covering her forehead and he wished this wasn't happening. He had to watch his love go through pain. Unimaginable pain. And he did nothing. He was holding her down so she could endure it. How pathetic he felt. And that she did. She endured it. She endured it to the very end.

 

Tsunade felt her heart pumping slowly in her body through the ball of chakra and closed her eyes. “Things are going to get tricky now...” she whispered to Sakura. Sakura nodded and she increased her grip on Shiruki's wrists, nudging for Gaara and Naruto to do the same. They did and she nodded to Tsunade. She proceeded to then transfer her chakra into Shiruki at waves. Steady blastful waves that would shock her heart into faster beats. She had to be careful because even the slightest of inconsistancies would prove fatal. With a steady push, Tsunade forced chakra into Shiruki's heart. Her heart beat heavily and then went back to beating regularly, not increasing in the slightest. She remained motionless. Tsunade then pushed again. This time with more force. Her heart beat harder than last time and went back to normal again. Nothing changed. Tsunade was getting frustrated, but she must remain calm. If she lost her temper, she was bound to insert too much. With another push, something terrible happened. Shiruki's body was sent into convulsions.

 

Shiruki sat up, against Gaara and Sakura's will and clutched her chest in pain. She screamed loudly and convulsed. “Damn it! Get her down! I need to extract the chakra before Nikkaku takes this opportunity to surface!!” Tsuande yelled. Sakura and Gaara attempted to get Shiruki back down, but only got a slap and a slash from said girl. Her heart was beating much too fast. She screamed and tore at her chest, trying to relieve the pressure that suffocated her. Her breathing was much too fast and the sweat on her body was drenching her pale skin. Gaara watched in terror as he put a hand on Shiruki's shoulder. She tried to get him off, but he remained. He forcefully pushed her back and Shiruki kept clutching her chest. Her heart felt like it was going to implode or explode, whichever happened first. With each strangled breath, it hurt more. Tears leaked from the girl's eyes as she clutched her chest harder. Her heart beat was irregular and much too rapid to be safe. Then, with a final scream, she fell back, limp. Tsunade's eyes widened. She quickly formed another ball of chakra and performed a sort of...chakra induced CPR. She had to jump start her heart again and then it was back to square one. She put the ball of chakra into her body again and performed the “CPR” which was not too easy. After a few minutes of desperate attempts to get Shiruki back to the living, it succeeded. Her heart started beating. Weakly at first, then more pronounced. She sighed and rested her forehead on Shiruki's chest in relief.

 

She looked at Gaara and nodded. Gaara lolled his head back weakly and sighed. Sakura looked at Naruto and gave a thumbs up. Naruto's face perked up and he wiped the tears away. Tsunade looked at the seal. Only five minutes left, judging by the weakness of the seal. She growled and formed more chakra. “Hold her down. We must hurry! Only five minutes left until Nikkaku surfaces.” Gaara and Sakura and Naruto all took their respective places in holding down the girl. Tsunade inserted the ball of chakra into Shiruki's chest again and sighed before attempting it again. She pushed once...nothing. She waited a few seconds, pushed again...slight increase. It was working. She waited a few more seconds, pushed again...another slight increase. She smiled and pushed again after a few more seconds...instant rapidity. She quickly retracted her hand and Shiruki's eyes burst open. Her breathing was staggered of course, but nothing to be concerned about. She started panting and blinked a few times, trying to regain her vision. Sakura released her hold, as did Naruto. Gaara stayed in disbelief. Shiruki sat there panting quietly. Tsunade smiled when Shiruki's eyes landed on her. “Listen to me carefully. Move your fngers.” Shiruki hesitantly moved her fingers with much force. She was exhausted. It wasn't everyday that you died from a medical procedure then brought back not even a minute later. “Good. Now, lift you right arm.” She had to be sure her body was responding. If she could lift her arm, the procedure was a success.

 

Shiruki did as she was told and lifted her arm. Tsunade smiled and nodded. She looked at Gaara, who was standing there with wide eyes, unbreathing and motionless. “Uh, Gaara? Breathe,” Tsunade instructed. Gaara looked at her slowly and realized he wasn't breathing. He started to breathe again and he blinked. Tsunade nodded and looked at everyone present. Shikamaru, Kiba, Choji, Neji, Lee, Naruto, Sasuke, TenTen, Kakashi, Gai, Hinata, and even Ino. She smiled and nodded. “The operation was a success. She will live!” she said as she exited. She went back to her quarters, leaving happy shinobi crowding around the bed where she lay. They were all happy she was alive.

 

Sakura sighed. “Give her some room...she still needs her rest...” she instructed. Everyone nodded and stepped back, and out of the room, leaving Gaara and Shiruki alone. The door was shut, but some still looked through the window.

 

Gaara and Shiruki looked at each other. Her breathing was still struggled, but she was awake. He smiled sincerely and removed the demon sealing jutsu instantly. Shiruki was still looking at him as though it were the first time. Neither of them spoke. They just looked and admired. Shiruki brought her hand up to Gaara's cheek and Gaara siezed it, pressing it lovingly against his cheek. She smiled her bright smile. Though it still had weakness and exhaustion, it was her smile. “Sorry to keep you waiting,” she whispered. A single tear fell on her hand and she looked at him. She sat up and was instantly siezed in Gaara's arms in a tight embrace. Shiruki returned it and cried in his arms. “I-“

 

“Don't ever leave me again,” Gaara whispered. Though it was more of a plea than a demand. It killed him just now. To see her writhing in pain. Knowing he could do nothing about it. That he couldn't save her earlier with Takuya and Kasuke. “You...you died,” he whispered, his grip tightening around her. “You screamed...you were in pain...” he whispered more desperately.

 

“Gaara...I'm fine now...I'm not going to leave you.” She brought her hands up to his face and pulled away a little to look at him. She brought her lips to his and kissed him softly, pouring all her renewed love and passion into that single kiss.

 

 

Meanwile...

“Wow...who knew Gaara had game?” Kiba whispere, looking through the window. All the Leaf Village shinobi that were present looked through the window, awestruck. Gaara was kissing someone. And that someone was no ordinary someone. It was Shiruki. Akamaru whined a little and tilted his head to the side under Kiba's hood.

 

Shikamaru scratched the back of his head with a small blush. “What a drag...” he said simply.

 

Ino grinned. “But, Shikamaru...you're only saying that because you wanted to do that,” she teased, earning a blush from Shikamaru and a stillness.

 

He looked at her with a bright red face and then averted his glance. “You're so annoying...” he said bluntly. Ino just giggled. “Anyway, why are we spying on them? Don't you know that Gaara will probably be pissed?” he warned.

 

The rest just grinned sheepishly at him. Shikamaru sank back and sat on the bench, losing interest. He sat quietly while the others spied. Neji soon joined him, along with TenTen, Choji, Sakura, and Kakashi. They all stood there awkwardly with smiles on their faces. She was alive.

 

 

TBC

 

 

A/N: Don't ya just love how we have spies among the hidden leaf village? And those spies are always nosey? ^^ At least I saved Shika, Kakashi, and Neji from the upcoming- *is gagged and tied to prevent spoilers*

Yes...um....anyways.....on with the next chapter!!! Should be out soon! R&R