Living Out A Prophecy

Chapter 7

     It had been a few days since Futoshi had been found and brought to the hospital and that Nao had met the other genin. Sasuke had been getting missions about everyday. Nao spent her time helping out in the hospital, keeping Futoshi company, or hanging out with Shikamaru, Hinata, or Shino mostly. Of course it was a day like today that she wasn't helping out in the hospital and couldn't hang out with anyone because they had all gotten missions leaving her with nothing to do.

     She wasn't worried per say about Sasuke and Naruto. They had a simple C ranked mission to escort a man back to his country then stay there until he finished his bridge. Nao couldn't help but sigh when Sasuke had told her it would take up to two weeks and it took about two to three days to just get there. All in all it didn't make her happy in the least, but he made up for it when he said he'd bring something back for her.

     Nao sighed and decided she would visit Futoshi. Maybe he was feeling well enough that he could finally tell her what happened on his mission. She knew it was supposed to be Futoshi, Daichi, and two people she didn't know so it confused her that only Futoshi got back to the Leaf.

     Nao didn't notice she had made it to Futoshi's room until she heard talking. She could hear Futoshi's voice and three others. She recognized the Hokage's voice, Hiruzen, too. Nao just couldn't believe it when she heard the one name that sent her into a panic: Orochimaru.

     Nao flung the door open and ran into the room. She stared at Futoshi incredulously with fear on her face. Futoshi and everyone were looking at her wide eyed as tears started to run down her face.

     "It was him wasn't it?" Her voice came out as a mixture of a sob and whimper.

     Futoshi's eyes softened and he frowned. He opened his arms and Nao stumbled to him. She clutched his shirt tightly with her small hands.

     "Please tell me I heard it wrong. Please tell me it was someone other than him that got Daichi!" Nao yelled as she stuffed her face into his chest.

     Futoshi picked her up and sat her in his lap. He gently rocked her until she calmed down and she looked at the two in ANBU outfits then at Hiruzen.

     "If you knew why did you send him?" Nao hiccuped.

     Hiruzen sighed and looked at the ground. It broke his heart that the girl was hurting so much.

     "If I may speak Hokage-sama, may I say something to Nao-himi?"

     "Tenzou..." the ANBU woman said in a whisper.

     Nao looked up at the man in the ANBU uniform. Hiruzen nodded to him and he removed his mask. Nao studied his face. His eyes were wide and shaped kind of like almonds. She thought it was creepy at first, but then she noticed the gentle look in his eyes.

     "If it does anything for you Nao-himi," Tenzou stated with a soft smile. "Daichi-ouji sacrificed himself to save us. He wouldn't let us stay and help him fight off Orochimaru's men. He instead used this amazing jutsu to push us back and make us leave.

     "Your brother Futoshi-ouji stayed and fought until Daichi finally made him leave. We couldn't find him and that's when we got a letter from Hokage-sama that he was here. Your brothers are amazing Nao-himi. We won't stop looking for him and we won't give up on him. I don't let my comrades go that easily."

     Tenzou smiled brightly at Nao as she looked at him in shock. She then smiled and hugged him. Tenzou was shocked but hugged the small girl back.

     "Thank you," she whispered making him smile. He nodded and she let go.

     The two ANBU then disappeared from their spot leaving the siblings and Hiruzen. For a bit Hiruzen just smiled at the spot Tenzou was.

     "That's why I trust him," he said softly as he turned his smile to Nao. "Your brother is in good hands and I assume that Futoshi will be joining them soon in the search?"

     Futoshi scratched the back of his head knowing he had been caught.

     "So you found out, huh?" He asked and looked at his little sister seeing she was frowning. "I was going to tell you I swear!"

     Futoshi laughed nervously but let out a relieved sigh when Nao smiled. "Bring him back safe Futoshi," she demanded.

     Futoshi smiled and nodded. Without another word he left in a column of smoke. Hiruzen motioned to Nao and she got up from the empty hospital bed. She took Hiruzen's hand as he held it out for her and he walked her home. Without anything to do, she just hoped nothing bad was going to happen.

~

     Daichi woke in a dimly lit room. It was the same room for the past few days. He still felt the chains around his ankles and wrists and felt the coldness of the table underneath him.

     "How are you doing my little experiment?" A voice asked.

     "I could do without the chains, but other than that great you imbecile," Daichi stated with a laugh.

     He groaned in pain when he was slapped.

     "Damn it! I think you broke my nose this time!" Daichi muttered through clenched teeth.

     He was already covered in cuts and bruises. 'Why not add a broken nose to the list of things?' Daichi though bitterly and spit out some blood. The cut on his lip re-opened from the slap. Daichi let out a humorless laugh.

     "You really are a sick bastard," Daichi muttered as he shook his head.

     Snake-like eyes glared at him through the darkness and with another hit to the head he was out cold.

~

     Sasuke sighed as he sat in the boat. He'd much rather be back with Nao and her brothers doing something like training than be there at the moment. Nothing was happening. Other than being attacked by the demon brothers, nothing fun or interesting was happening. He couldn't prove himself. Sasuke zoned out what everyone was talking about until he heard the bridge builder talk about the man that was after him.

     "His name is Gatou," Tazuna stated. "He is a small man with a very large shadow. He sees the bridge as an obstacle that needs to be removed."

     Sasuke stopped listening after that. To anyone it would seem like he was, but he was thinking about Nao and wondering what she was doing. He hoped she was at least having more fun than he was at the moment.

♪Koneko♥