Ace

Chunin Exams

Naruto blinked slowly to catch his bearings. "Guys, he's awake."

He heard Asuma's voice and looked around the room he was in. Hospital screamed at him from the smell alone. He remembered he'd been stabbed through the back and felt at his chest. There wasn't a hole at all but he knew there wouldn't even be a scar. Nothing that happened to him ever scarred. Looking back towards the occupants he saw their eyes were dark. Had they not been sleeping well or anything? Then that brought another thought.

"How long?" He said, mouth dry from not having any fluids.

"Three days. That poison was a bit of a problem and really hurt your internals." Asuma said playing with a cigarette within his fingers.

"Dang...is. Is there any water around?" He said rubbing at his throat.

Ino quickly left the room and returned with the cup of water. Helping him drink it despite his protests. Though to her surprise, he gulped down the entire cup wanting another. It wasn't until he'd had ten glasses that he finally relaxed. "What was that about?" Shikamaru said when Naruto laid back in the bed.

"It felt like everything was so dry, so barren. A fire burning a field and all that's left is that dry emptiness."

Asuma nodded. "They said you may feel like that for a while. Drink plenty of fluids. Anything to get your system running again."

Understanding, Naruto got up from the bed and yawned. "I'm going home to sleep in my own bed. I will see you guys tomorrow." Then he left in a puff of smoke.

"Geez! We wait for him and are here this whole time just for him to ditch us like nothing!" Ino said crossing her arms. "Does he not realize that we were worried for him?"

"I'm sure he does. He saw your faces." Asuma said leading them out.

"Then why?"

"He probably just didn't know what to do or say. I mean, he did get pretty messed up without even being able to do anything. Probably guilt." Asuma said with a shrug.

Sasuke looked over the bridge into the running water beneath. The team's meeting spot aside from the training ground. Usually, they met here when taking a mission since otherwise it would be at the training ground. They'd heard about Naruto's condition once team ten had returned from their mission by Kakashi. As well as that he'd woken up a few days ago. He hadn't seen the blonde in a good while, but such news certainly sparked another fire within he and his team. At least it seemed that way. Choji and he were working on a potential collaboration jutsu. Sakura...he was unsure.

"Sasuke, think we could train together?"

Turning to his left, he eyed the pink haired girl. Scoffing, he looked back ahead. She was getting annoying in a new way. Pestering about training with him.

"You haven't done anything on your own." He said without looking at her.

"I don't know what I'm supposed to really do..."

Scoffing he shook his head. There was plenty of things that she could be doing. It just sounded like an excuse to find a new way to be around him. Rather than ask for a date, it sounded like asking to train was her way of weaseling her way into his presence. He would not humor such attempts.

Frowning, Sakura lowered her head to wait. Choji's heavy footsteps on the bridge broke the silence. Said boy got no greeting from Sakura as she was upset about being cast aside when seeking help but did get a nod from his Uchiha teammate that he returned with a wave.

"What kinda mission you think we got today?" Choji said once he got closer.

"Hn, anything is fine. Just not some D rank."