Forgotten

Chaper 4: Scars

The next day’s practice left me wishing to go back to my home where I was only abused verbally not physically too. My blood dyed the grass a crimson red with each hit that my trainer bestowed on me.

            I went to strike his shoulder but once again just centimeters from touching his cloak my body was flung back against a tree. I fell straight down gasping for air to reach my lungs, but with every effort my lungs burned further as no air reached them. This training is going to be the death of me. I thought as I struggled to get up.

~Hour Earlier~

            I walked up through the forest plenty of time before dawn. I sat down and meditated silently taking in my surroundings. As the sun broke the earth’s surface the fight began straight away just as it had the day before.

            The only difference between yesterday and today was that instead of distance fighting mainly it was hand-to-hand combat. So this is why he had me go through those stances, he was preparing me for today. I thought as I jumped back, away from Sasuke’s chidori attack.

            “Today fighting will be on a whole different level than it was yesterday. Yesterday I went my easiest on you.” The black eyed shinobi said while I stared at him in disbelief that the skill used the morning before was him going easy. “Since you passed yesterday for the most part it won’t be the same. You are fairly decent at Tai jutsu, but today you’ll be fighting on a whole new level of intermediate Tai jutsu instead of the simple steps you know. You will have to use a more expanded knowledge of it that you should have learned in the academy.”

            I nodded stepping into one of the first stances the demon eyed ninja taught me. “Hai.” I said activating my blood line trait ready for one of his quick assaults. However, I couldn’t see it. He was gone and back in front of me before I could notice he had ever moved a finger.

He came at me with his right arm which I went to block easily, but his hand was only a decoy. I was concentrating on blocking that I had forgotten to check my blind spot. Before I could notice that he had moved his left arm I was thrown backwards tumbling past the clearing made into the dense forest.

I stood quickly getting ready for a combo attack, but when I stood he still remained in the middle of the clearing as if he was waiting for me to return to continue our fight. I examined his and my surroundings making sure I wasn’t stepping into a trap before I stepped back into the clearing. Once inside the small circle he attacked again with lightening speed. I barely blocked his attacks as each strike got stronger and more forceful. Just as I thought I couldn’t take much more I remembered my training and knew I had to reverse so that I was on the offensive side making him take on the defensive side. I instantly let my tense guard down allowing my body to move freely. I was still on the defensive side but I wasn’t being pushed back like I was before.

Sasuke grinned slowly as he attacked with more ferocity and speed. I dodged one of his attacks allowing me the upper hand to attack while he was still in mid momentum of attack. I did a combo of kicks to his side as my hands hit multiple chakra points. I went to lay a final blow to his chest and stop his chakra completely just as he had, but before I could a large hand grabbed my wrist. I looked up the arm to see a Cheshire grin plastered on his face. My body instantly froze. If this was a real fight I knew this would be the end of my life right here.

A small squeak escaped my lips as I felt my body being lifted from the ground. I looked down to see my feet hovered several feet above the dew covered grass. A malicious laugh brought my attention back to the culprit who had lifted me above his head. “You even squeak like a small mouse.” Sasuke said before he tossed me aside against a tree like a rag doll.

I slowly stood up but as soon as my feet were under me again an arm wrapped around my waist carrying me again to fly to the opposite side of the clearing.

I got up again but ran at Sasuke before he could grab me and went for his shoulder. Once again, centimeters from touching his cloak my body was flung back against a tree. I fell straight down gasping for air to reach my lungs, but with every effort my lungs burned further as no air reached them. This training is going to be the death of me. I thought as I struggled to get up.

My body was weak with fatigue as I finally managed to stand up on my shaking legs. I stepped forward and my knees buckled. I reached out to grab something, anything to keep myself from falling weak to this man. The wound that would never heal started to bleed. It was inflicted onto me during the chunin exams; I felt the blood rush into my lungs. I closed my eyes before I hit the ground. At least I thought I had hit the ground. Instead I was caught by a hard chest and gentle arms. The same arms that had the strength to fling me around like a rag doll.

“Sasuke,” I rasped out as my throat became clogged with blood, “I’m sorry that I’m so weak.” I said as blood splattered my vision. I didn’t panic I knew that with the force I was exerting and the hits I was taking that this would happen.

I felt my body being lifted up again, but it was different from before, it was gentle and careful. My eyes closed as pain slowly kept taking over my body. I felt my legs be lifted up by strong arms while another arm supported my back. I tried to open my eyes but the effort was too much for my body; my head felt heavy and slowly lulled to the side to rest against a living wall. I must be hallucinating. I thought as I heard a faint heart beat against my ear coming from the wall.

I remained conscious, but didn’t open or move like I was awake. A voice kept talking to me through the darkness. “How did this happen to you?” it asked repeatedly until I finally found my voice to speak.

“It’s an injury that will be with me forever,” I started as my diaphragm contracted and I went into a coughing fit,  more blood escaping my lips, “it happened during the Chunin exams when I was set up to fight my cousin, Neji.” I said weakly.

I felt blood trickle down my chin, but I couldn’t will my arm to move to wipe it away. My body shook as I used all my strength to move my arm up, but before I was able to bring it to my mouth a hand was already there wiping away the blood. “Thank you.” I mumbled smiling an unnoticeable smile. I opened my eyes and was locked into a vortex of concern. “Who are you?” I wanted to ask but stopped myself not wanting to offend the owner of the concerned dark eyes. I didn’t realize till later that it was Sasuke who had carried me. His expressionless eyes were the ones that had had contained so much emotion.

            I forced myself to stay conscious, talking slowly to the man carrying me. I felt my body start to slowly descend in altitude until a soft mattress rested against my back and the arms left me. A blanket was draped over my legs and torso. “I’ll be right back, Hinata.” The sweet voice said as I heard footsteps disappear in the distance. I fell into a deep sleep as the voice that had kept me conscious disappeared.