𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐄𝐘𝐄𝐒 || Naruto Uzumaki

╎006

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『 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 - 𝟎𝟎𝟔 』
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━『  Not good enough 』

Finally, we reached the high gates of Konoha, after a warm welcome back in my high village. First order of business: the hospital. Kakashi had fared worse after Guy's ecstatic sprint across the desert. The moment we entered the village, we whisked him into a room, where he was shortly settled, quite pale and tired, into his bed.

Sakura, Naruto, and I sat beside Kakashi's bedside. The room was in-filled with the beeping of soft medical monitors. Restless, Naruto paced about; Sakura fidgeted with her hands while her eyes always stayed on Kakashi's face.

Tries to get a peak under that blanket to see his face.

It was not long after that Tsunade, the Fifth Hokage herself, entered the room, her presence called for. Sakura straightened up, about to speak, but I felt I could not wait any longer.

"Lady Tsunade," stepping forward before Sakura could engage her, I said, "I need to discuss some private matters with you."

Tsunade's eyebrows arched a little in confusion. "Yeah, sure," she said as she looks at me confused, probably wanting to know what I'd need her for. "Let's step outside, then."

We continued to Tsunade's office, until she was there sitting at her freshly stained oak desk. She lets out a sigh before resting both her legs on the wood, one ankle over the other while relaxing her back into her chair. Tsunade looks me up and down, more than likely trying to gauge what I wanted from her.

"What is it you need?" Tsunade asked, raising a brow. "Sakura has got something to tell me as well so if you could please make it short."

"I need the supply of the next month," I said in a pleading tone.

She frowned confused, trying to understand. "I gave you a new set of pills just for this month two weeks ago. Why do you need the next batch already? You don't need any more—"

"Just give them to me," I snapped, my breathing heavy and I knew she can hear how desperate I am. Her eyes narrow in suspicion while she threw me the next container of pills.

As I caught the container, I squinted to read the label. Same ingredients as always. It boiled over and my teeth ground in annoyance. "Are you even trying?" I mumbled, almost more to myself than to her.

Tsunade let out one of those sighs like she does whenever she knows something is about to—. "I'm trying as hard as I—

"Well, you obviously aren't trying hard enough, then!" I spat. I flung the medication aside so the vials rattled on the floor. She was taken aback, staring at me, and the room fell silent with tension.

"Misaki!" she yelled, reprimand dripping in her voice.

"They already suspect me! Everyone knows that something's wrong!" I shot back. "And Naruto-he's concerned about me too, I can see it!"

Tsunade lets out a sigh before changing her seating position, legs under the desk and forehead buried in the palms of her hand as she rubs her temples. "I am making new formulae, Misaki. But I just don't seem to get any as workable as this one."

"'I'm getting my hopes up for nothing,'" I whispered, my head drooping to look at the panelled wood floor while I bite my bottom lip so hard that I thought it would begin to bleed.

"Misa—"

"I should have just gone with Sasuke if I knew my fate wouldn't change with you here. I would still be dead," I continued miserably, my voice raising with every word. "I would have let Orochimaru—!!"

I hadn't finished when the door burst open and Sakura entered. Her face red form running here. "I'm sorry, Lady Tsunade, it's urgent."

"I'll just figure this out on my own," I said to Tsunade, causing Sakura to hear as well due to my tone and how loud I said it, I turn away. Tsunade let out an agitated sigh.

"Wait! Misaki!" Tsunade finally called out and there, she'd finally realised it, why I've asked for a new batch this early.

She finally fathomed the reason why I had asked for the pills two weeks ago, I was now taking two per day in desperation for something, any sort of improvement.

But her epiphany came too little, too late.

I pushed past Sakura, and she gasped in surprise as I went, stumbling a little in my steps. My vision started to blur, and a sharp, throbbing pain exploded within my head. Every step was heavier, my surroundings fuzzier.

I had hardly any thoughts of concentration-the headache increasing in intensity by the passing second; it felt like my skull was being demolished between the jaws of a vice, an unbearable pressure upon it and fuck it hurt. I could barely see where I was going as I staggered forward, my peripheries darkening.

"Stop, Misaki!"-this was Tsunade's voice, but its echoing, but I could not turn around. Maybe the only clear thought in my head was that I needed some distance to get myself right.

I stumbled out into the hallway, clutching my head in hopes the whirling would cease. It was an inhumane ache; every heartbeat pounded and my head would hurt even more. I hunched against the wall, wheezing, my lungs closing up on themselves as my legs threatened to go out from under me.

But I got out before Tsunade came after me.