"I'm not good enough."
Raicho choked on her cafe au lait, the drink going down the wrong passage. She coughed some more, the drink trickling from her nose.
"Oh, that's gross. And it stings," Raicho said, tilting her head forward with several tissues, tears beading in her eyes. She sniffed, trying to clear both passages of coffee and milk.
"You okay?"
"No. It looks like you aren't either," Raicho responded, muffled as remained to lean forward, letting the liquid drip through her nose. She sniffed miserably, as Ino shifted in her seat across from her.
Ino, another good friend of Raicho, wanted someone to talk to, someone who was her equal but didn't try to criticize her. Sakura was her rival, there was no way Ino would give her any of her secrets. Tenten and Hinata were alright, maybe Hinata would understand her plight. However, Raicho had been conveniently walking by, so Ino conveniently asked Raicho to hear her out, and the two walked conveniently to a convenient street corner cafe that was located conveniently away from prying eyes and eavesdropping people.
"Yeah, I'm a mess," Ino sighed. "I'm not good enough."
"Why do you believe that?" Raicho asked, blowing her nose, disgusted at the brown mess on the tissue.
"It's...well..." she started uncertainly. Raicho cleared her nose as best as she could, as Ino absentmindedly wiped the spilled coffee on the table. "I'm not really compatible with my team. I try to work with them, but it's always me who's off the mark, who's too early or too late. I'm the one who's different or doesn't follow the formation exactly. Asuma Sensei tries to accommodate me, but then the plan fails epically. The boys are really nice to come down to 'my level,' but the training isn't really effective. My father tries to teach me, but I can't seem to get the hang of it. He doesn't say anything, but he seems really disappointed in me..."
"I see."
Ino sighed, resting her chin in her hands. "I know I shouldn't compare myself to other Genin, but I can't help it. Every time I turn, someone else is doing a great favor, nailing a technique, or getting recognition for something they did."
"What do you want to do then?" Raicho asked. Ino slumped back against her chair.
"I don't know. I want to please my father and work better with my team, but I can't do it. Also...I don't really want to tell them because...," Ino trailed off worriedly.
"You don't want to tell them because you're afraid they'll judge you or view you as incompetent," Raicho said assuringly.
"Yeah." Ino smiled at her companion. "It seems apprenticeship has done wonders for your insight on people, hasn't it? What's your advice?"
"You won't like it," Raicho began reluctantly, but Ino nodded for her to continue. "You might have to tell Asuma Sensei, at the very least. The boys might not know how to handle the situation tactfully, but Asuma Sensei might."
Ino stared at the tea in front of her. "I was expecting you to say that."
"Think of it like this: you'll be getting help from someone you trust, and this is only temporary. Besides, everyone's learning rate is different," Raicho said sagely.
"You're right."
The girls stayed for a moment longer before parting ways. Ino hurried back to training with her team, meeting them all up at the training grounds.
"Ino! We're going to formation practice today!" Choji called, waving to her as she approached the team. Ino's heart sank.
"Don't worry Ino, we'll get this down, for sure," Asuma Sensei assured her patiently. "Remember, find the right timing and try not to jump in too early."
"Right..."
"Let's go! Let's pull back the pace and see how we feel with that!"
Ino struggled to match with the boys, while Shikamaru and Choji came in together, on time. Ino was far too distracted today and just when she thought she couldn't get any worse--
An angry crack echoed, and she screamed.
"Ino!"
--she was injured when she stepped in too early into Choji's expanding jutsu.
"I'm so sorry, Ino!" Choji said frantically, his best friend trying to calm him down.
"It hurts," Ino gasped. There was too much blood--she felt dizzy--the intense pain, the disappointment in herself--it was all too much. Her breathing quickened and her teacher took notice immediately.
"Ino, breath. I know it hurts, but you have to calm down," Asuma Sensei said strictly, as Shikamaru and Choji knelt beside her.
"It--hurts," she gritted out. Her right leg was broken and judging by the numerous bone fracture piercing her skin, she knew this wasn't a simple compound fracture. No, her leg was broken in multiple places.
"We need to get her to the hospital. Boys, get the emergency medical aid," Asuma Sensei ordered sharply. Shikamaru took off, Choji at his heels.
Hours later, Ino was in the hospital with her leg in a cast. Her mother had left their florist shop to see if Ino was alright. Ino furrowed her eyebrows, seeing her mother so frazzled and worried made her feel guilty.
If I had focused on my part, Mother wouldn't have had to come here in the middle of taking care of the shop.
YOU ARE READING
Forked Shadows
Fanfiction"I'm leaving." Her eyes were slightly glazed, the once strong resolve shattered to pieces, and her shoulders hunched over in defeat. Her head tucked in, away from the accusing looks and mocking threats, and her entire appearance was that of a war s...
