The Light Of Konoha

Brilliant Flash

Aki's P.O.V

'I'm not gonna throw up.

I'm not gonna throw up.

I'm not gonna throw up.

Kuso.'

My vision was swimming, I was barely keeping up with Haku's little speech.

So this is what it meant by 'side affects'.

It's pretty obvious that altering the structure of my body so drastically wouldn't be healthy but it's highly impractical during a fight to feel this nauseous.

'It's no good... I'm just a liability to them... I can't even see straight...'

I managed to grasp feebly at Naruto's arm, it was enough to get his full attention, and that was all I needed.

"N-Naruto... I have... A plan..." I wheezed.
"When he attacks.... Don't try to protect me, leave me be, let me get hit... I need you to trust me...
You too Sasuke."

I knew he'd been listening in.

Naruto had a grim expression,
"I can't do that..."

"I don't care... You have to....
Trust me Naruto..."

I said those words with all the finality I could muster, putting all my effort into showing him that I was serious.

I knew Sasuke would trust that I had a plan, but Naruto's more emotional than logical and cold like Sasuke.

I need this to work.

Haku was already straining, my efforts have weakened him and he'll slip up more easily. This will work...

Without waiting for his reply, I dropped to the ground.
I was both unable to stand a moment longer and letting myself fall.

It wasn't long before Haku started his assault.

He sliced all three of us. He wasn't stupid enough to assume I was out of it,
Not yet at least.

I took the pain with a wince but making no move to protect myself.

Naruto saw each slash appear on my translucent skin and the turmoil of conflicting wills was clear in his expression.

He wanted so badly to try to protect me, I knew it.

But that would draw attention to me, and that would ruin everything.

"So you'd leave your fallen comrade defenceless?
Perhaps you do have the will of a true shinobi..."

I breathed deeply, my heart rate slowing and my vision clearing somewhat.

But my head still swam with an overwhelming sickness.

'It's not working, I can't recover like this...'

Suddenly, flashbacks of our journey appeared at the forefront of my thoughts.
Naruto's promise...
And how he proved his determination...

Discreetly, I pulled a kunai from my belt.

"Fool, what do you think that will do in your state..."