Chapter 5: Suffering

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"Eita! Yo, Eita! Aren't you up yet?" Teruko called as she knocked on my door. "Come on, Eita! Wake up! You're gonna be late to the academy!"

I groaned in annoyance and shoved the pillow on top of my head. "Come on, Eita. You can't stay in that bed forever. Get up already." Teruko said as she shook me. "I'm not going to the academy today." I mumbled.

"What was that? I can't hear you." Teruko said. I took the pillow off my head and sat up. "I said, I'm not going to the academy." I repeated. "Eh? Why not? Didn't you pass the exam?" She asked.

"I did, but because Naruto didn't pass, I decided not to become a ninja. It won't be any fun without him." I explained. "Aww, you quit because of Naruto? That's so sweet, considerate, and thoughtful." Teruko cooed.

"Thanks, but spare me the flattering." I said as I fell back on my pillow, attemtping to go back to sleep. Teruko laughed at my comment.

"But seriously, though. At least get up and do something. You can't stay in that bed forever. Go outside and take a walk or something. Be active." Teruko said, shaking my shoulder. "God, you sound like Mom." I complained.

"Yeah, yeah. So, what? Are you gonna get out of bed, or will I have to force you to get out of bed?" Teruko said. "If it'll get you to get out of my room, then fine." I said. "That's the spirit, Mr. Grump Pants!" Teruko said, ruffling my head.

I heard her leave and close my door. I went back to sleep for about fifteen minutes and cried out in pain when I started to get a pounding headache. "What's the matter, Eita?" Inari asked. "My head... it hurts." I said.

"Would you like me to heal you?"

"No, I'll be fine." I shook my head. "I just need to get some medicine, and I'll be fine."

I got out of bed, headed to the bathroom, and grabbed a bottle of painkillers. "You can't hide from me, Eita," I looked at the mirror and gasped when I saw Orochimaru's reflection. "I'll be coming for you soon, my boy. I promise." He said with a smirk.

"Leave me alone!" I yelled, punching his reflection. The mirror cracked as my knuckles began to bleed. "Eita, calm down! It's not real! It was just your imagination!" Inari said; She saw what I saw since I wasn't wearing the eyepatch over my right eye.

I looked down at the bottle of painkillers. "Eita, I know what you're thinking. Don't do it. Don't overdose." Inari said. "I don't think... I have a choice. Orochimaru will always find a way to haunt me." I said, pouring a handful of pills in my hand.

"Don't do it, Eita! You'll die!" Inari said. Ignoring her warning, I put the pills in my mouth and swallowed them down. "No! Eita, throw them up! Now!" Inari yelled at me. I stared at my reflection in the cracked mirror as my vision began to blur.

"Inari..." I whispered before passing out on the floor. "Eita!"

*****

"Eita! Eita, can you hear me?!" I slowly opened my eyes, trying to get my eyes to adjust. When I could see clearly, I saw my mother's face. "Mom...?" I whispered. "Eita, my baby!" Mom hugged me close to her as she began to cry of relief.

"What were you thinking?! Are you out of your mind?! Why were you overdosing?!" Teruko yelled. "Honey, were you trying to kill yourself?" Mom asked, in which I nodded. "Why? What made you want to overdose?" Her eyes were filled with concern and sadness.

I hated seeing my mother upset. It broke my heart. "I'm sorry... I just... I thought..." I trailed off as I didn't know what to tell her. "Don't ever scare me like that again! Do you hear me?" Mom said, sternly. Her voice was filled with anger, worry, and relief.

"It won't happen again. I promise." I said. "Oh, Eita..." Mom hugged me again. Teruko joined the hug as I closed my eyes for a moment before opening them. "Mom... Could you not tell Dad about this? Please? I don't want him to be angry with me." I said.

Mom looked at me, then at Teruko. "Okay, Eita... Just don't ever do something like this, okay?" Mom said. I nodded my head and I was hugged again.

After that incident, I stayed in my room for the rest of the day. I sat in my bed as my legs were pulled to my chest. "Inari... How long was I out for?" I asked, quietly. "Nearly the whole day. I tried to wake you up with my chakra, but it was impossible." She answered.

"You had me worried, you know? I was afraid you would never wake up and..." Inari trailed off.

"I'm sorry I worried you. It won't happen again. I won't worry any of you again." I said. I hugged my knees to my chest for tighter as I hid my face in my knees. I wish I could go back to that frozen slumber.

Because when I was asleep... the thought of Orochimaru coming back for me never came into mind. Not once, did I dream of the torture... the torment... the fear...

I just want to fall asleep, and never wake up.

"Squawk!"

I lifted my head and glanced towards the window, spotting a messenger bird by the windowsill. "A message from the Hokage?" I mumbled, getting out of bed. I approached the window and opened it. "Not from the Hokage. From Iruka."

I went into the pouch the bird was carrying and took out a Leaf Village headband. "A headband?" Inari asked. "I guess Iruka wants to encourage me to become a ninja. That guy..." I said, frowning slightly.

"I've already decided if Naruto wasn't a ninja, then neither am I."

"What's this? This is unexpected." Inari said. "What is?" I asked. "Kurama's chakra... Naruto is... smiling?" She said.

"Smiling?"

"Ne, Eita. I think you should become a ninja."

"Huh? Why? I already told, I-"

"Just do it."

"Why?"

"Just do it."

I sighed. "Fine. I'm too tired to argue with you," I mumbled. I accepted the headband and the bird flew away. "I'm going to bed."

"Without dinner?"

"I'm not hungry."

I climbed into bed, pulled the blanket completely over my body, and closed my eyes.

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