Overcoming the Odds.

Chapter 15

Chapter 15: Regret

The group rose up in the morning to begin another grueling day of traveling in the forest. By now everyone was tired of the journey and wanted nothing more than to just go home. They ate whatever rations they had for breakfast and then packed their tents for the long trek home. Soon, they took for the trees and dashed across the enormous branches.

After several hours of travel, it was finally getting to them. At the very front leading the group was Jiraiya, his white long hair flowing behind him with every leap he took. Suddenly he stopped and put his hand up in a serious manner, signaling the others to stop just as he did. They all landed on the branch and were alert for any danger they may have come across.

"Enemies?" Sai asked.

Jiraiya stood still for a moment. "Not quite..." He bent forwards and groaned while putting a hand on his back in pain. "My back is killing me!"

"What?!" Both Sakura and Naruto yelled out in confusion and disbelief. Of all the things it could have been.

Jiraiya continued to put on a seemingly genuine fit of him holding his back in pain. "Oh my back..." He said in a slight whisper.

"What's wrong?" Naruto asked.

Jiraiya looked at him with comical tears streaming down his face. "I must have slept wrong," he cried and a series of pained groans followed afterward. "I've been trying to hide it all morning..."

Sakura crossed her arms with an annoyed look on her face. "Well maybe you should think twice about sleeping on watch duty you jerk. A log isn't exactly a good bed you know."

Jiraiya ignored her. "I think we should take a break."

Sakura took off her survival pack and walked towards him. "Serves you right. Now, where does it hurt?" She asked. Her hands reached his back and started to glow a radiant green. "A little lower..."

Sai dropped his backpack as well and took out his painting materials, while Naruto planned on excusing himself from the others. "I'll be somewhere else," he said and turned to leave for a more secluded area where no one would invade his privacy.

After a few minutes of hopping around some trees, he decided he was far enough from the rest of the group. He let his knapsack fall on the enormous branch and he sat down with his back against the smooth bark of the tree. He grabbed his bag and opened it, then he rummaged through the contents until he found a plain looking scroll. He looked at the familiar text that addressed him and opened it to look at the drawing that was inscribed.

Every time he looked at it, no matter how many times he's seen it, a feeling of longing to be with Karin overtook him.

With the calming sound of birds chirping all throughout the forest, he found it easy to close his eyes and think about the girl that haunted his mind. By now he knew that he wanted to be with her in any way possible; telling Jiraiya his troubles had greatly lifted feelings of doubt off his chest.

He thought about when he would go back and made up countless scenarios of him and her together, including the possibility of her being released soon. If that were to happen, then all of his uncertainties would be reduced to zero. If that were to happen, then maybe, just maybe could Jiraiya be right about him being able to find love.

He grew embarrassed and tired from his thinking, and before he knew it the calm chirping of the birds and cool afternoon air soothed him into a slumber. His eyes stayed closed and his head drooped. Before he knew it, he had fallen asleep atop the tree.

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Jiraiya's healing session finished long ago, with his back ultimately feeling much better. The group was currently waiting for the blonde shinobi to return to them, but by now Sakura grew impatient and worrisome at his absence. So, she decided to voice her concern.