The Tale Of Saratobo Uramaka.

Chapter 4: A New Friend

As he opened his eyes, a bright light hovered over him. As he slowly regained his vision, he noticed he was in the emergency quarters. It's the Senju village.

"When, did I get here?" Saratobo thought as he slowly moved up his bed in severe pain.

"You're awake, finally. I am glad to see you're alive." replied Hiruzen. He then said, "after the battle ended, you turned to me, you were completely burnt out of energy, but, they shot a final ice blade that hit you on your side. You must've burnt through all your energy that you didn't sense it arriving."

Saratobo looks down. He feels his rib cage damaged but not a lot. He then says, "oh, just a graze then."

They both laugh. Hiruzen looked as good as ever. Saratobo figured it had something to do with the use of 'empty energy'. As he started to gain a little more shape, he then asks, "how long have I been asleep?"

"You've been out for about roughly four months now."

"FOUR MONTHS?! WAIT! ITS THE NEW YEAR!?"

"Yes, it's officially a new century."

"WHAT BUT...wait, does that mean, we're closer to-"

"Yes."

There was a long silence. Saratobo finally broke his silence and said, "I still don't understand why I was out for so long."

"Well, at the end of the battle with those 5 people, sure, we were getting overwhelmed. They had techniques I've never seen before either. They're all new to me. I asked Sensei Seto on investigating these techniques the moment we returned to the village. I can't quite figure out what happened to you exactly. For a second I thought you used 'surge' as a last minute resort with the very little energy to master 5 paths of nature. However, you moved quicker than I could even process, and by the time I blinked you were in front of me. I couldn't sense your energy at all. Whatever you did, you hit that big guy so hard, I think you broke a rib or two."

"So I exhausted my energy completely?"

"That's right. Normally that would kill anyone else, but I reacted quickly and used 'rejin' to feed you a very small amount of mine. Just enough to keep you alive. I let the medics handle the rest." Hiruzen replied with a big smile in his face. He then turned around to look outside and continued talking to Saratobo, "you're still too weak to take this village on your own."

Saratobo suddenly felt like he lost all his energy again. He thought he got stronger but looks like he stayed at the same position.

"Hey don't look so grim. You got stronger Tobo, you just need to practice a little more. Plus, we're in a peaceful time, not many times to fight and practice. There's only so much you can do." Hiruzen said attempting to lift his son's spirit.

It didn't help. Saratobo's confidence was sitting at an all time low. From the entrance from his room, emerged a familiar face.

"Tobo! I heard what happened! Are you okay?! How's your arm?! Are you-" spoke Hibana with worry then  immediately bowed to Hiruzen and said, "AHH, Lord Hiruzen I did not know you're here! I'm sorry for not bowing! And sorry for yelling! Lord, sir. Sir Lord."

Hiruzen laughs and responds, "I find it quite humorous how you will bow to me but not your new lord Hibana. I've already told you. You can relax."

"My sincere apologies," she said as she turned to Saratobo, and said, "you look like you just woke up."

With a confused look, Saratobo replies, "oh? Am I supposed to look more alive or something? My bad let me just pretend like I DID NOT NEARLY JUST DIE OR SOMETHING!"