Fight (a Naruto reborn fanfiction)

🩸🥀 XXIV 🥀🩸

Once again broken the record for most words in a chapter! It's over 2100 this time, and I could've kept going. The only reason I didn't is because I love myself some juicy cliffhangers. Even though I guess this one is more like a soggy fry. But oh well.

School has started again my friends, and it's been kicking my ass left right and center. At least I got a new laptop so I can now write on it! Shocking, I know. Hopefully you don't suffer as much with this chapter as I did at my first vocabulary check-up of the year. Latin can go suck a soggy wiener for all I care. Anyways.

Have fun with this chapter, because I certainly did! I did a bit of planning, but not too much, because I'm afraid I'll loose interest in this again if I do. Let's just hope the plot comes out allright.

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When Himari awakes from her short nap, unharmed and with a child in her arms, the sun has already begun stretching its first rays into the land of the living. The anger, the turmoil of the day before has passed. All she can feel is acceptance.

Her tears have dried up long ago, there's no use in fighting against the inevitable. She will not be remembered. The history books won't spell her name, she will be gone like a summer breeze. No trace left behind. Nothing about her struggles, nothing about the things she has done. Lost in the swirl of time.

She wonders if this is how old people feel, when they know their end is near. Unlike them, she would've had so much of her life before her, were it not for fate and its cruel plays. But. But she has saved someone. Someone who meant so much to her. Himari can only hope that they will forget her too.

When someone dies, the living have it much harder. The dead don't feel, unless they are as cursed as her of course. The memories haunt, the happy moments turn an acid sort of bittersweet. And if she meant as much to her friends as they told her, she hopes that the sweet relief of forgetting overtakes them soon.

Little Kisame opens his eyes with a protesting whine. He blinks at the sight he is presented with, presumably not used to seeing anyone up close. She smiles at him and mouths a few words. The child goes back to sleep, and she carefully places him next to a tree.

His hands try to clutch onto her thumb, to prevent her from leaving even in his sleep.

"Goodbye, little one. I wish you luck with your journey."

She puts her shoes back on and summons a little blanket from a storage scroll. It's autumn, and the weather reflects that. The early morning hours are cold, even more so now that he won't have a body next to him, keeping him warm.

She can't do much more than leave the blanket on top of him, securely tucking him in, and lay the little food she has next to his little head. She won't be needing it, after all. With a last look over her shoulder, confirming his comfort, she leaves.

Her steps don't make a sound, she has honed her skills for a long while after all. There is little distance between her and Kumo now. The thought of not going doesn't even cross her mind. She has come here to die, and die, she will.

Unbeknownst to her, there is a turmoil going off at camp. The letter, black as a raven's clothes, has been discovered. Because she has no living relatives in Konoha, it has been sent to her closest friends. Jiraiya, holding the envelope in disbelief. Tsunade, spaced out, nothing reaching her.

Orichimaru, unguarded facial expressions. Sakumo, hands clutching his blade, tears streaming down his face. Kagami, furious.

The moment passes, and all hell breaks loose. Nothing is to see on the outside, because they are trained professionals and people die in their line of work every day. But inside, there is this grief, quickly replaced by anger for some, slower for others.