Breathe. In and out. Slowly. Ignore it. It doesn't hurt. Focus on running. Focus on getting away. Emotions are useless. You're fine. Your body isn't tired. It's ready for action, waiting for use. Nothing hurts. Breathe. Breathe. I'm so blatantly lying to myself that I refuse to listen to the thoughts I know will keep me moving. Blood? What blood? There is no blood. Yes, no blood coats my shaking fingers as I shove a young ninja off my body. His limp figure falls to the floor and hits it hard.
You think you're hurt? No, no you aren't. Just be gentle with your wrist. Everything is okay. I've broken it, though. Or at least, it feels as if I have. It's bleeding as well, but that's because a fragment of the bone in my forearm is showing through my skin. Even thought I've tricked my body into momentarily thinking it's perfectly normal, I know I need to get my arm taken care of, and that Kisame, Itachi, and I need to leave now.
The fighting still isn't over. I keep my bad arm inside my cloak and attempt to keep it immobile while I launch kunai with my left arm. The men Kisame is fighting fall to the floor. Itachi is the only one locked in combat, but he ends the fight with his genjutsu. Our mission this time has been a success. We've done the filthy deed asked of us, although it isn't without consequences. Mercenary missions aren't exactly the easiest missions out there.
We flee. The ground below us appears a blur, and although it isn't as fast moving as it usually seems, we are not going any slower than usual. I cradle my arm to my chest. The sooner we get back to Akatsuki, the sooner I can stop lying to my body. I am, however, surprised that I've gotten injured in this way. Of course, I did have it coming. Nobody in their right mind attempts to stop their fall by latching onto a tree branch with one arm. I'd fallen afterward, and my right arm was caught beneath my body. It still hurts.
None of this is unusal, though. Casualties are a common occurrence. I'm grateful all I am is injured, and I'm not among the bodies left behind. Each jostling of my arm forces me to grit my teeth. Unfortunately, I was unable to find a way to break my mask this time. Perhaps another time. What will the next mission be? We stop for the night.
My aching body slides down the tree trunk as Itachi starts a tiny fire near the center of our miniscule clearing. Although the smoke may give us away at night, it's dusk at the moment. We'll be safe. My adrenaline has gone down, and the ache in my arm is becoming more acute. My jaws clamp together tightly. The only good things from that mission was that a) we're all alive and kicking, and b) I've added another chip to my mask.
It isn't enough, though. The blood on my hands reeks, so I excuse myself quietly and go to the river that gurgles near by. My mask comes off first. With both hands, I gingerly clean it of any dirt, debris, or blood that may have gotten on it. Then I clean off my hands and examine my wrist. It's most likely just a sprain. It's the center of my arm, midway between my elbow and wrist, that really hurts. White chips of bone have pierced my skin and forced me to bleed. I wash my arm off to try and keep infection away a little while longer. When I get back, Itachi has medical supplies out. My eyes narrow instantly.
"Are you injured, Itachi, Kisame?" I ask, tilting my head to one side so I appear to be listening more intently. Itachi shakes his head, as does Kisame. "Then why the medical supplies?"
"Your arm." is Itachi's only response. I sigh softly.
"My arm will be perfectly fine."
"Sit." It's no use to argue with Itachi. I humor him and sit just before his own body. Ever so gingerly he grips my wrist and holds my arm away from my body and straight out. Bending my arm in this way aches, but I don't say anything. It's best to get this over with. He needs to set it correctly, and I hope he knows what he's doing. "Don't worry. I know a little medical ninjutsu. Enough to get it set straight." The worry in my eyes must've been evident, since Itachi actually takes the time to reassure me of his capabilities.
YOU ARE READING
Death's Angel {Naruto FanFic}
Fanfiction"I'd never wanted to have emotions." Chishi Tenshi of the Hidden Leaf most certainly did not want to feel emotions. She enjoyed her rather bland existence. While on a mission, Chishi discovers she's wanted by Akatsuki, and she's not happy. After esc...
