Journey of the Three Failures

Chapter 5: Missing Ninja

Journey of the Three Failures

Chapter Five: Missing Ninja

Hanabi ハナビ

"So then, just gather up your chakra, concentrate on where you're going, and..." I saw in the corner of my eye as the pink-haired kunoichi materialized beside me with a pop. "Of course, it'll start to come naturally with enough practice... Hanabi-chan?"

Kiba sighed. "But it looks like all Hanabi feels like focusing on is the Land of Snow." His puppy whined in agreement.

No... not nearly that far north... I somehow knew.

Something plopped onto my shoulder. "Huh? Oh, hey Aka-chan," I said, removing my gaze from... What was I looking at? Generally the sky to the north. The little dog began licking my cheek.

"Don't scare us like that," Sakura berated gently.

"I guess I sort of ... zoned out..." I said as I glanced again in the direction. An abrupt wave of dread chilled me, and my mouth fell open as a breeze rolled through the wasteland.

"Woah, let's not start this again!" Kiba said, waving a hand in front of my face. I shook my head, and he continued, "What's wrong? If your chakra's running low, tell us."

"No, it's not that..." Shaking my head again, I formed a hand seal. "I'll try the jutsu again. I'm sure I can get it right..."

"It'll be dark soon. We can keep working on it maybe another twenty minutes, but then we've got to head in for curfew," Sakura said. "Remember that it's a chuunin level technique, Hanabi-chan. You've got good chakra control, but when Shikamaru taught it to us even we couldn't all get it in one day."

"I have to try, though," I said. "I don't want to go one more day as the only one who can't shunshin!" I focused my chakra. I don't want to just sit here. I want to be able to help them...

/I was alive. But I didn't know how. Had I activated seals? Had I... killed? It was all a mysterious little blank spot, a blur. All I knew was that there was blood. Blood. So much...

The steady sound of sandals striking against the street was barely audible as he swore and muttered under his breath. I opened my eyes. "K-Kiba-san..."

He looked down at me. "Don't worry. You're okay now."

At this, somehow, I felt kind of safe. Safer than I'd felt... since Nee-chan left.

I managed a small, grateful smile as the dark world blackened again.

I next woke on a bed in an unfamiliar room, waking to the sound of quiet talking. The smell of blood no longer plagued my lungs and nauseated me; my hair and body felt clean. I was clothed in a slightly too-big pair of pajamas. Moonlight streamed through an open window, and I could see in the gentle glow two people, one seated at the edge of the bed, and another near the wall.

"Thankfully she didn't have any serious injuries," a girl's voice whispered, "but I don't see why she's fainted."

"She wasn't hurt badly," Kiba agreed, "I think she's hemophobic."

"How awful... she must be traumatized..." She turned her head and gasped.

"Hey, you're awake!" Kiba said.

"How are you feeling, Hanabi-chan? Are you comfy?" the girl – Sakura, I remembered, as how could one forget? – asked sweetly.

"Mm-hm," I answered quietly, giving a slight nod.

Kiba (making no effort to speak softly, as Sakura had) demanded, "Who did this to you?! If it was that Neji, I swear–!"

"Kiba," Sakura intervened, "Obviously she's been through a lot; let her rest."