Hatake

42

Once we arrive back at the village one of Danzo's personal goons drags me inside by my arm.

I don't even get the chance to set my pack down.

The man kicks my leg and makes me kneel.

"Akari why have you disobeyed me?" Danzo asks.

I say nothing.

Danzo then walks from around his desk.
He slaps the side of my face. My eye throbs.

"Why didn't you complete it?" He asks.

I don't say anything or move.

He slaps me again, harder. The sound loud and echoing in the room.

"Give me back the kunai." He orders.

One of his men pull it off of me. Then sets it in Danzo's hand.

I wait for something else to happen.

"I need you to obey me. This is your final warning." He says.

He grabs my left hand and cuts off my ring finger.

He holds it up and looks at the ring attached to it.

I clutch my bleeding hand.

"Get out and remember your lesson." Danzo says.

I scurry out and go the medical center, leaving a spotted trail behind me.

At the clinic I hide my hand from Tenzo and walk around him.

I find an available medic. She sees my hand and cleans it up without a hesitation.

After wrapping my hand she looks at my face and starts healing my head.

"Captain." I say seeing Tenzo at the edge of my bed.

"The quicker you heal the better." He says. His cold eyes searching my face.

I nod.

Once back in the barracks I strip off my clothes and put them immediately in the laundry pile. I sit on my bed just in my tank top and shorts.

Tiger's bed looks like he had already been back here. Cala's remains folded and untouched.

I pull on my sweater and some shoes and walk to the cafeteria. Tiger is sitting by himself as usual. He waves me over when he sees me.

I grab a cup of coffee and sit next to him.

"Did they fix ya up?" I ask.

"Yeah I'm fine." He answers.

I sigh and drink some of my hot coffee.

"Did Cala..." I ask.

"I think they're still doing surgery." He replies.

"Wow." I say.

He notices my wrapped hand.

"What's that?" He asks his voice lowering.

I shake my head.
"Nothing." I lie.

He looks like he's going to say something but goes back to eating.

I lean on my good arm and rest my head on my fist.

I catch myself staring a Tiger for too long. I take another drink of my coffee.

"What now?" I ask.

"We'll get a few days off. Then another job." He says.

"Do we ever get to go into town?" I say.