Chronicles of the Leaf

"The Fall" - Isamu II

Cough

I woke up to a blinding light and heard loud footsteps approaching me. I reached for my kunai but only felt the soft surface of the duvet draped over me. "Huh?" My fingers felt around until I could identify what it was I was touching then the light from the window softened and I could finally see.

It was a warm, sunny morning. The hospital room I laid in glowed with a cosy yellow tint yet my head still felt like a thousand needles were piercing me. I could barely turn it to see the source of the footsteps: A tall, beautiful blonde woman looked over to me. Tsunade of the Senju.

My eyes widened to be in the presence of a shinobi legend like her. Many questions ran through my mind: How did I get here? Why had Tsunade returned? How did Tsunade return? What happened to the rogue kunoichi?

Tsunade crossed her arms with a solemn expression on her face. I could tell she was going to give me some bad news. She explained slowly, "Your immediate injuries were saved by that rogue kunoichi you encountered. She's been put into temporary custody under the Anbu until they can decide what to do with her."

I smiled knowing that she was okay and even managed to turn herself in for good, even if I didn't know anything about her I could see that she was a good person. I've always had a good eye for people's true selves. Not to brag or anything. Despite this there was still an ominous feeling growing in the back of my mind, what was Tsunade Senju worried about telling me?

"Once you were in our care, I was the one to look over you and treat you whilst you were in a coma. It's been three weeks and although your condition isn't critical... I've discovered something growing inside your brain. I'm sorry Isamu, but I can't treat it."

That smile on my face faded with every dream I had ever had. The whole world felt frozen or like it was going at a slow enough pace to bore the most patient man in this world. My lips parted but not a sound was spoken.

There's something growing inside my brain.

"As a medical ninja, I have to suggest that you quit your life as a shinobi but-" Even if it was the legendary Tsunade speaking to me, I had to interrupt. I wouldn't even care if it was the First Hokage I was speaking to. With determination and anger at the thought of quitting in my voice I stated, "But I'm not going to. There's nothing else for me to do."

A couple days later when I could walk, I checked myself out of the hospital and went on another mission with my genin comrades: Jin, Kawaguchi and Konya. It was a simple mission to catch some runaway ninja yet all I could think about was whatever that was inside my brain. If not even Tsunade could figure out exactly what this thing was then it had to have been powerful. The idea of it was terrifying.

We had spotted our target and began chasing him down but I couldn't remember who it was. My three genin seemed miles stronger that me as I slowly limped my way through the forest to catch this guy. My face felt wet like I had just dunked my head underwater. My arms felt the same way. Was I sweating? This target wasn't even close to my level and I was sweating. Then came the coughing, though it felt like I was trying to use a Release jutsu on my organs. I couldn't even move I was coughing so hard. My senses had all blurred and I felt like I was about to vomit.

I could hear my comrades calling out for me. They had already completed the mission. They were my pride and my joy. I suppose I could've died it, there's a lot worse ways to die, except I didn't.