Mending The Past To A Better Future

Chp.9 Cold Nights and Warm Days {Part-2}

Slight voices tickled the edge of Naru's mind.

"...Become infected if it doesn't heal properly." The voice was serious and Naru felt her eyebrows furrow. Whoever was speaking should lighten up a bit. And who was injured?

Another voice pricked her interest.

"...Stupidly reckless, she has no sense of self preservation. Her leg wasn't even the worst part. I'm more worried about her back."

"Calm down, Kakashi." The voice admonished. "Rin is taking care of her right now. Her back has already healed, and it looks good as new. She'll be okay."

As he said that, a burst of heat covered her leg until it began to tingle. Naru let out a soft chuckle. It tickled.

"Naruto?" A high voice called. "Are you awake?"

"No, Sakura-chan. Let me sleep." Naruto grumbled and nestled her head into the softness beneath her. "Training is cancelled."

There was a pause before what had to be Sasuke exclaimed; "She's gone delusional, Sensei!"

"Who's Sakura?" The same soft voice asked.

Naruto felt an unexplainable giggle bubble out of her, her eyes shuttered close. "Don't be silly, Sakura." Blindly, she reached up and groped at the air until she met soft skin. She felt around until silky strands of hair pooled between her fingers. "Your hair is so nice, Sakura-chan. I bet Sasuke-kun loves it." Her voice took on a teasing tilt, and there was a choked sound before she laughed again. "Don't get shy on me. You know how those Uchiha are."

There was a loud cough and then Sakura was speaking again.

"Those Uchiha really are something." Sakura agreed hesitantly.

Naruto pulled her pillow firmly under her and ignored it when it squealed. Weird. She didn't know pillows could do that. "Too bad Sasuke's the only one we got to know. I bet Itachi and Shisui weren't so broody."

A different voice came suddenly, and it was deeper. "Shisui huh?" Her head rumbled oddly.

"Shisui." Naru said sleepily back. "You know. Itachi and Sasuke's older cousin." This was Sai wasn't it? "Sai? You sound different. And where's Kakashi?"

There was a couple of quick sounds above her again, before Sakura was covering her with something thin. "Go back to sleep, Naruto. You can talk to Kakashi when you wake up."

Snuggling down, Naru smiled obliviously. "Kay. Make sure he's not late okay, Sakura-chan?"

There was indignant spluttering and then Naru went dark again.

+*+*+

Naruto woke up and was surprised to find herself back in the tents that they had used to shelter themselves in with before their mission. Instead of Rin, though, Minato was sitting criss-cross apple sauce, watching her with indulgent eyes. Her whole body was stiff and ramrod straight like she had been stretched apart. Her muscles protested vehemently when she tried sitting up and her complete and utter pain shot up her leg like a bullet when she twisted it slightly. Gasping, she clutched her thigh. Her breath came out short and her chest ached and contracted.

His blue orbs met her own and she was stunned by the level of concern that stared back at her. "Good morning, Naruto-chan! How are you feeling?"

"Minato-sensei? What happened? Why does-" She winced as a wave of feverish heat rolled through her leg making it throb, "Why does my leg hurt so much?"

His expression darkened. "You took a tumble over the cliff."

"...Over the cliff," She repeated uncertainly.