Heroes [Naruto]

12 ; LEFT BEHIND ☼

"Welcome to--" the girl started with a smile, before realizing who was at the door. "Oh, guys! Hey!"

The four looked at Ushio, surprised. "Ushio? What are you doing here?"

"Well..." she started awkwardly, scratching her newly scarred cheek.

"You're supposed to have bed-rest." Sakura lectured. 

"Yeah," Kakashi agreed. "What are you doing here?" he wondered, confused. Ushio sighed, struggling to explain what happened.

○

"Dad, I'm back!" Ushio called, grasping her torso tightly. She just left the Hokage's tower, after the full report of Zabuza's death. Her sneaking out to take care of Zabuza and Haku's bodies really has taken its toll on her wounded body. She blinked at the complete silence, "dad?"

Confused, she walked through the house slowly. Her dad was gone. She was about to leave to the hospital, when her mother appeared at the door.

"Ushio!"

"Mom!" she said happily, hugging her mother. "I've missed you!"

"I was worried!" she hugged her daughter tightly. "Are you safe?" Stepping back, she frowned. She didn't look safe, and her cheek was already showing a scar.

"A bit wounded," she laughed awkwardly. "But all in all I'm fine... where's dad though?"

"Oh, well, you should know something."

"Hm?"

"Your dad finally went and did it..."

"You don't mean...?!"

"Yes."

"You mean it?! You mean that--"

○

"See, my dad finally went ahead and opened a restaurant."

"And why are you here?" Naruto wondered, stomach grumbling.

"Because he needs help, he's working on his own right now," she sighed, rubbing her head. "Very inconvenient for me, but whatever, I woulda lost my mind if I stayed home all that time."

"Are you healed though?" Kakashi eyed her strangely, knowing Sakura's question had an obvious question; of course not.

"Almost," Ushio smiled at Sakura's concern. "I should be back to missions in a few days."

"That's good," Kakashi spoke up, although he didn't believe her all that much. Her posture was rigid yet, somehow, slumped-- as though she hadn't had the ability to stand up right. "Did you get to practice?"

"Not much," Ushio admitted. "I've been doing a bit of push-ups, and ran just a bit. Mostly I try and do what you tried teaching me."

"And?"

"Not doing too well," Ushio shrugged. "So! Table for four, or will someone be joining you?"

"Just us," Sasuke affirmed, and Ushio nodded, smiling.

"Follow me please, then," she started walking through the small space, allowing them to take one of the smaller booths, "I'll get you your menus."

"It's so bizarre, getting service by Ushio," Sakura mumbled.

"AHHHHHHHHH I'm so hungry!" Naruto whined, "Kakashi, why did you put lunch off to that hour?"

"It's only two p.m., Naruto," Ushio told him, hitting his head lightly with the menus. "Sit straight, it's hurting your back sitting with your back all hunched like that," Naruto straightened up, looking rather sour. "Have I mentioned the amazing Ramen my dad makes?"