"You know what, Ariza! You're going to lie here as long as it takes until we figure out why your heart suddenly hurt!" Yoshi-san glared at me menacingly. "So just try to go anywhere, and you'll regret it even more than now!" From her scary voice, I swallowed and pulled the blanket over my head. "The medicine's on the table; in an hour you'll go for procedures, and in the evening I'll check on you again. And just try doing your meditations here!" she shouted as she left.
After lying for another minute, I quickly threw off the blanket and jumped out of bed.
"Jiro, come out, she's gone," I said, and the Uchiha climbed out of the closet in the corner of the room. He walked over and handed me my backpack.
"You know, Ari, I don't like what you're about to do a little," he said, watching me pull clothes out of the backpack.
"Thanks, but this concerns only our team. I'm not going to slack off while my comrades are on a mission," I said, starting to undress. Seeing me casually take off my sweater, leaving just my bra, he instantly turned beet red and faced the wall.
"He could've just not turned away; I've seen so much while training that I'm no longer embarrassed to undress in front of someone."
"But you're not slacking; you're in the hospital. For important reasons!"
"I know the reason for my condition. They're going to search for several days for what I've already found."
"And what happened?"
"I was wounded in the heart back then, in the battle of Konoha and Sand. And now there's a defect there," I decided to keep quiet about losing my diary.
"I heard they pierced it clean through. Rumors were going around Konoha that you were already dead. I only found out two days later that you were okay," he said a bit tensely, exhaling in relief at the end.
"Mmm, well, they didn't heal it properly, and now during stressful situations I can have attacks like this," I said calmly, putting on shorts. Though what else this might lead to in battle, I don't know. Main thing is no more such attacks.
"And what was your attack? I mean, what caused it?" he asked.
"I lost something very important. I lost my diary," I said sadly. The panic that someone took it was gone. I just realized I screwed up big time. I acted extremely irresponsibly! What was I even thinking then?! I don't always hear my intuition, but now it's screaming that this will come back to bite me hard!
"Ooh," I heard his surprise and flinched. "A diary?! What was in it?"
"There were techniques, plans, my life story, dreams, about… " I stopped in time, realizing saying I described the entire future there would be extremely stupid.
"About what?"
"Doesn't matter anymore," I sighed, now dressed. "You can turn around." I lowered my head and looked sadly at the floor. I was left without hints. Yes, I still remember a lot, but… "I lost a part of myself with that diary and… I don't know what to do now."
"Ari," I heard from my left, and turning to Jiro, I instantly felt a light push from a firm hug. "Take care of yourself."
"Jiro?" I asked, just standing there doing nothing. No one besides Hinata, Sasuke, and Naruto has hugged me like that (in this life).
"I can't tell you what to do and what not to. Just take care of yourself on the mission," he buried his face in my shoulder, and I finally hugged him back. "I couldn't find peace those days. Just couldn't believe it. Like it was a really bad dream."
"Jiro, bro, it'll be fine," I pulled away. "Don't worry."
I grabbed my packed backpack and headed to the window.
"Ariza, wait," he tugged my sleeve. "I want to give you something for the road. So you don't go without protection." He pulled out a scroll, unsealed it, and handed me that very sword that had been thrust into my heart. "This is your sword, right?"
"Um…" I was a bit stunned. "No, Jiro, this is my enemy's sword," I shook my head.
"Oh, yeah?" he was surprised. "Sorry, please," he lowered his head. "I didn't find any other swords there. But take this one at least; you're going on a mission now, and you don't even have a weapon." He handed it to me, and I noticed it really resembled Sasuke's sword from the anime.
"It's really unpleasant to hold this sword. The sword that defeated me. But I understand your concern; right now I really am without my weapon. Thanks, I'll carry it for a bit, then buy another," I nodded to myself and fastened the sword to my belt. I felt no hatred for ordinary weapons. But it still weighed on me somehow.
"Forgive me again," he said quietly.
"Jiro, it's nothing; I'll buy another sword," I ruffled his hair like I usually do with Naruto, and the Uchiha smiled. "No need to apologize."
"No. Not about that. I lied to you. About the rumors. Yes, they were going around, but I wouldn't be upset by some info floating around Konoha. I saw you. Myself. There. At the battle site. I was scared to approach you then and ran for backup, but when I came back, you were gone. Just the sword and some black bags nearby. I thought it was your sword then. I cleaned it and polished it. I wanted to keep this sword as a memento of you. I really didn't know for a long time. How stupid," he covered his face with his hands. "If you'd died, I'd have kept the enemy's sword that killed you as a memento."
"Yeah, that would've been weird," I chuckled a bit to lighten the mood, in case he started crying; he's still a kid. "Jiro, calm down, buddy," I put my hand on his shoulder. "It's fine. Thanks a lot, and let's drop the topic," I offered my fist, and he bumped his against it. "When I get back from the mission, we'll hang out more, okay?"
"Yeah, let's! See you!"
"Bye!" I shouted and, grabbing the sword, jumped out the window. Alright, I'll catch up to the guys and go with them. Whether they want it or not! They've gone too far—going without me!
"Ariza, shouldn't you be in the hospital?!" sensei said when I landed next to them.
"Ari, go back to the village," Sasuke sided with Kakashi.
"Ariza-chan, it's really not safe for you; you haven't recovered yet!"
"Yes, I know, Naruto, that's why I'm going with you," I smiled a little and after five seconds realized everyone had stopped while I walked ahead.
"You can't."
"Go back."
"Sorry, but the guys are right," Kakashi-sensei, Naruto, and Sasuke were against me; only Jiraiya-sensei watched all this in high spirits, with a sly half-smile that didn't leave his face. Hm…
"Fine…" I made a serious face; time to play a bit. "If you want me to leave that badly, make me," I took a few steps back and drew the sword. "Basically, by genre law, you have three options: either drag me back to the village by force, or you pass but only over my dead body, or I go with you." I got into stance and felt the sword start feeding on my chakra and cover in fire without my command. I pretended it was all according to plan and finished: "Choose…"
I smirked, reading in my teachers' and dear friends' eyes one phrase: "What are you doing, girl?!" Basically, the reaction was the same from everyone—indignation at my disobedience and joy that I'd be with them.
"Alright, fine," Jiraiya-sensei said. "Nothing bad about Ariza-chan coming with us. After all, we're not going to fight." He walked toward me. And at that moment I smiled. My plan worked perfectly. "You're no weak girl; don't scare your friends—they're still kids," he said, leaning down a bit.
"Okay," I nodded happily.
"Hey, pervert old man, what are you whispering?!" Naruto shouted.
"Haha, you're one curious kid," Naruto ran up, and the Sannin ruffled his hair.
"Hey! What are you doing?!"
The rest of the team approached us, and we moved on. I was uncontrollably happy about this little trip with the whole… family?.. Yes… Exactly… with my family.
I smiled at my thoughts and lifted my face slightly to the rays of the autumn sun. Yes, summer was over; now the wonderful season of autumn had come. Soon all the trees would turn yellow, and as a new and completely different person, I'd spend this wonderful time.
"Listen, Ari, you promised to show techniques," Sasuke said next to me.
"Well… um, yes," I nodded.
"Show now?"
"Later, when we stop somewhere?" I asked permission.
"Hm… alright, fine."
Then we just chatted. Jiraiya said we were going after Granny Tsunade but didn't say if they'd appoint her Hokage or not. Well, I have a feeling it'll go by canon. Though I still don't understand why. Why not differently? Why the hell is everything going toward canon and not the other way around? I absolutely need to find out, and I even know who to ask.
Then we stopped in one town; the next day we went to another. Jiraiya and Kakashi searched there while we sat in the room, and the next day closer to noon we arrived at the third, where, according to Jiraiya, the legendary failure was. I can't wait to meet her! To me in the anime, she was always a great and charismatic woman. Though I won't let her hit Naruto.
"Alright, kids, this is our inn; everyone inside," Jiraiya said and opened the door.
"Wait here," while the Sannin went to the administrator, we all stood examining the interior. It was the most ordinary Fire Country building: rectangular walls painted beige; ordinary wooden baseboards, a bit worn but still fairly neat; the most ordinary square window in a wooden cross frame. And in one corner stood a large ficus. And that was it.
"We have a situation: only two rooms left—one with a double bed," he showed us the key with a red tag, "and the second with three singles." He showed the second key with a blue tag. "Anyway, we need to decide."
"No need," Sasuke said and, to everyone's surprise, unhurriedly took the red key. "Ariza," calling me, he took my hand and pulled me toward the stairs. "Let's unpack."
I didn't resist and, shrugging, went after him. Already on the stairs, I turned to see the others' reactions and saw offended and abandoned Naruto, slyly smiling Jiraiya (I'll remind him of this later!), and Kakashi, just Kakashi, behind whose mask no emotions were ever visible anyway.
We entered a small room with Sasuke with a tiny window that wasn't enough to light even this little room, one fairly bulky closet, a clean and wide double bed with nightstands on both sides. This bed was surely meant for kuhm… couples. And in the corner by the window stood a small wooden table. Anyway, all this was plenty for a few days.
"Sasuke," I called, putting my backpack on the bed. "And what was that?"
"Well, I'm against you sleeping in a room with other men."
"And the fact that in the ICU both naked men and women lie doesn't bother you? And only in some exceptional cases, like with you, do they put a separate room and guards," I said, and he instantly blushed. What's with you Uchihas? Maybe they're really just kids still. Kakashi probably wouldn't be embarrassed by anything. Or anyone.
"Where'd you pick that up?" he asked and went to the closet.
"Hah, better not know, Sasuke," I started unpacking and froze a bit when Sasuke pulled out a cot from the closet. And then, noting the comedy of the situation, I burst out laughing.
"What're you laughing at?" he asked surprised. And at that moment I remembered Jiraiya's smile and laughed even harder. "What?!"
"Hahaha, hah, wonder what Jiraiya would think, haha, expectations and reality. Kami, you're still so little. So sleep on your cot, and I'll go wash up, then to training," smirking, I approached the door, but Sasuke's voice stopped me.
"So I'm little, huh," turning, I saw Sasuke drop unpacking and walk toward me confidently. I already wanted to ask what got into him. But they didn't let me. In a second I felt his lips on mine and was a bit shocked by his boldness. He pressed me firmly against the door, deepening the kiss, and I realized I'd pay for the word "little" now.
"Sasuke," I pulled him away, "you've gotten way too bold?"
"And this is me being bold?" he whispered in my ear and kissed my neck.
"This for 'little'?" I asked.
"For 'little,' for coming with us, for scaring me twice," he lightly bit the skin on my neck, sending shivers through my body. "And for the seal too."
"Sasuke, stop, I can't pay off that many debts," I said, feeling him sink into my neck intending to leave a hickey and at the same time interlacing our fingers, pressing my hands to the door. I felt very unusual sensations and pulled my neck from his lips, knowing I couldn't explain it later.
"You'll pay with interest," he smirked, and I lightly kissed near his lips, then his lips, going into a deeper kiss and closing my eyes in pleasure.
But all pleasure crashed as the door opened, and I started falling. All air rushed out of my chest as my back hit the floor. Luckily, Sasuke reacted and didn't fall right on me, propping himself on his hands on both sides of me.
We jumped up instantly and, dusting off, realized the situation was a bit weird. At least Naruto, Kakashi, and Jiraiya standing in front of us clearly hadn't expected this.
"Kuh-kh," I coughed a bit, trying to catch my breath and zipping up fully so no one saw the hickey. Though I realized Jiraiya and Hatake had already seen it. "Are we going somewhere already?" I asked as if nothing happened.
"Didn't they teach you to knock?" Sasuke asked gruffly, fixing his hair.
"I don't get what you were doing here?" Naruto shouted, pointing at us, and we, exchanging glances and blushing, looked away.
"Naruto, Naruto, easy," Jiraiya put his hand on the student's head. "They were probably just training," he grinned pervertedly. "Right?" he asked, and Sasuke nodded. While Kakashi just stood aside quietly chuckling.
"Jiraiya-sensei, but that's not fair! Teach me something too! Kakashi went to train Sasuke, you gave Naruto an assignment, what am I supposed to do?! Just sit?" pretending to be upset, I said.
"Well, let's step aside and see what to teach you," we left the clearing with training Naruto together and went to the nearby river. "And what do you want to learn?"
"Please help me with natural chakra. I want to learn to gather it quickly and a lot," I said, watching Jiraiya's mouth open slightly, then he nodded to himself as if agreeing and looked at me seriously.
"Try gathering it right now," he said, and I took a few steps back and sat in lotus position. Folding my hands and concentrating, I started sensing all the chakra around us. It's everywhere. In the grass I'm sitting on, in the ground, in the air, in the trees surrounding us, and in the calm river flowing behind me. I started pulling this chakra to me, gathering it. I felt it filling me, but suddenly…
"Ow!" I grabbed my head and looked up at the Sannin. "What was that?!" I asked, but seeing the hilt of my own sword, I understood what hit my head.
"You're not concentrating fully. Try again," he said sternly and, squatting in front of me, put his hand on my stomach.
I tried again despite the aching head. Started feeling for chakra, pulled it to me, and got hit on the head again.
"What the hell? What now?!"
"Stop suppressing your chakra volume. You're wasting energy and strength on it."
"Well, you can't just flare your chakra everywhere!"
"Relax; right now, no one's here but us. And don't hide it, okay?"
"Yes," I nodded and, closing my eyes, stopped suppressing myself.
"Excellent, good girl, now gather chakra," sensei ordered, and I started gathering energy. And as soon as I did it without hiding chakra, I found all the energy flowing to me faster. But as soon as natural energy approached balance with mine, I felt terrible pain in my neck.
"A-a-a-a! It hurts so much!" I fell onto the grass, clutching my neck. The pain was so sharp and sudden I wanted to howl and roll on the ground. All over my body where the seal was, even the tiniest curls, it was like scalded with boiling water, then they started carving those patterns over the burns with precise detail. "Aaaaaa! Aa!" I screamed, clawing the ground.
"Ariza! Spend the natural energy! Now!" sensei shouted, grabbing my shoulders.
"Get away!" with eyes squeezed shut from pain, I shouted and, quickly using Fireball to spend the natural chakra, slammed the ground nearby. From the explosion I flew several meters and, rolling, curled into fetal position. The seal pain started subsiding, but I wasn't hurrying to open my eyes or get up. I lay quietly, feeling the adrenaline fade and pain come from burning my hand again, though not badly.
Inhale-exhale, inhale-exhale.
"Ariza," Jiraiya approached me. "Training's over."
"Wait," I started getting up with difficulty. "Please!" I took a few small steps forward and, nearly falling to my knees, clutched the seal on my neck. Breathing heavily, I quietly asked for help and felt myself starting to lose consciousness.
"Where am I?" I asked, opening my eyes already in some cave. And it seemed we were deep in the cave, as white light didn't reach us. In the middle burned a fire, and nearby sat Jiraiya.
"We're in a cave not far from where Kakashi and Sasuke are training. Honestly, I wanted to spend less time on you and go gather material for books. But you turned out to be a persistent girl."
"Pff," I fell silent and noticed my hands were bandaged. "You wanted to just leave me there," I said offended and turned my head away. "So what am I doing here?"
"Your Cursed Seal…"
"How do you know?.."
"Don't interrupt. Your Cursed Seal doesn't let you gather a large amount of chakra normally. Tell me, has this happened with the seal before?"
"Yes, the first five attempts in Mzarth ended like that."
"Mzarth?" he asked, and I nodded. "Isn't that from a legend of the distant past?"
"I don't know from what legends, but six to ten people were definitely there before me. But that's not the point. I think I get what happened. When I showed the guys the seal a few days ago, I weakened it a bit to use it. But I didn't know there'd be such consequences."
"If that happened in battle, it'd be pure suicide."
"Yes, I understand," I lowered my head.
"About hiding chakra—I'll give you a scroll later; there's a technique that hides your chakra without your help. But not now. Anyway, I decided to put a seal on you, but not the one Kakashi put on Sasuke, a weaker one."
"And what does that require?"
"Come and see," he said and headed deeper into the cave. We didn't walk long before reaching a dead end. This end was much wider and taller than the rest of the cave, like a specially prepared spot. And as I saw, Jiraiya had already prepared. Burning candles stood along the edges, and seals were already drawn in the middle. Wonder how long I was unconscious?
"Sit in the middle and open the seal," he said, and I, replaying anime moments in my mind, not stopping trembling from fear of the upcoming pain, sat in the spot.
"It won't hurt, right?" hopefully asking for "no," I asked, and pulling down my clothes, tied my hair in a bun.
"Sorry to disappoint—it's going to hurt a lot," he replied casually, and I felt him start drawing seals on my back. Propping on my hands, I lowered my head, clenched my fists, and prepared for agonizing pain. Though you can't really prepare for it.
I heard Jiraiya start forming seals, then felt his hot palm on my neck, and after that…
After that, besides ringing in my ears from my own screams and flashes before my eyes, I remembered nothing…
***
Read the story months ahead of the public release — early chapters are available on my Patreon: Granulan