Kaze No Kokoro (Naruto fanfic)

Memories

But dawn did come.

And as it did she aimed her face to the outside, where life continued, not knowing what darkness had threatened to take away. She stood and headed to the bathroom to shower and change. She didn't know how to properly adjust the temperature yet so decided to leave it cold. She just couldn't seem to care, she was emotionally exhausted.

After getting ready she skipped breakfast, she didn't know how to cook anyway. She briefly wondered what Kakashi would say if he knew, would he be upset? Was he worried about her? She just knew she was worried about him, the pit in her stomach still hadn't gone away, and something told her it was because of him.

She shook her head trying to shake away those thoughts as she left the apartment to return to the interrogation headquarters. Once she arrived Ibiki was already outside, waiting for her.

Ibiko noticed that her eyes seemed puffy but didn't speak, he just nodded in greeting and she returned the gesture. Together they walked back to the room. The room she wanted nothing more than to run from. Midori wasn't angry with them, she knew they were just doing what they had to, she just wished things were different.

'Why couldn't I have just been born here.' Her thoughts were interrupted by Inoichi, who started talking to her after she sat down in the same spot once more. "Today we would like to take a look at how you escaped, could you help lead us there?" She nodded curtly and the blond placed his hand on her head once again. Starting what was likely to be a long day once more.

~Midori's pov~

I woke from a restless sleep once again. Shivering, I moved my eyes to the cell across from me, Shiro's cell. I recalled the days since his arrival, they had been so much better than what I went through before. We spoke a lot, well atleast he did, mostly about his village, Konoha.

He told me that although Orochimaru was also from that place it was nice, peacefull even. The people were kind, the colours vibrant, food was everywhere. Yes, he especially missed the food.

Shiro taught me most of what I knew, he talked about ninja's, beds, shops, family. He never went into specifics though, he said it was safer not to, safer to keep secrets.

We enjoyed each others company but lately his health was taking a turn for the worst. Orochimaru's experiments were taking a toll on him. I was never really experimented on, or atleast not the same way others were, the snake said he wanted to keep my blood pure, for now.

As I shifted my focus back to Shiro's cell he let out a raspy cough, which was accompanied by the scent of fresh blood. He was dying and we both knew it. Tears threatened to fill my eyes and spill out as I imagined life here without him. I wasn't sure I would survive it. He noticed and tried his best to give me a reassuring smile, I did my best to make it seem like it helped by smiling back.

There weren't many people left here, neither guards nor prisoners. Maybe the time of this place has come to an end. Ah, what a happy thought, I would finally be able to rest easy. I had no delusions I would leave alive though, atleast I thought I didn't, but life had a way of throwing me for a loop.

"Girl, listen to me. What Orochimaru injected me with, I've seen it at work, I'll change into a monster, but that might be exactly what we need."

I looked at him puzzled before he continued. "What we need for you to escape of course. Now listen to me and don't interrupt we don't have a lot of time." His speach sounded more and more strained, he was holding on to his humanity by a thread.
"Once I change I will break the seal on the cave, it won't take long for them to fix it so you need to be ready to leave immediately. Run, run girl and don't you dare look back, don't you dare feel guilty for me, live and your debt will be repayed."

I quickly nodded as he let out a strained scream, I heard keys rattling in the distance. They heard him! If they managed to restrain him before he can break the seal it will all be over. The sound of bones cracking brought me back to Shiro, he was deforming, growing larger and more inhuman by the second before letting out a roar that shook the entire cave.

I heard the henchman running over skin snapping, bars bending, and then the seal was undone. I dissolved that very second and escaped through the tiny hole in my cell, one of my holds on sanity. The guards had arrived in time to see me dissolve and immediately sounded the alarm. Those posted outside were sent to intercept me. I materialized and started running, I had to use my chakra sparingly, the seal had drained me of most of it.

I heard one last roar, Shiro's dying encouragement. I would not let his death be in vain. Tears streamed from my eyes as I ran faster than I ever ran before, guards hot on my tail. I knew I couldn't just outrun them. Making handsigns as swiftly as I could I placed traps on the trees I passed.

They worked, there were less guards now. I jumped in the air as high and far back as I could. Using my power I changed direction in the air once I was behind them and, dashing towards them, imbued my hands and nails with wind chakra, cutting straight through four.

I continued running, only two left. In front of me there was a cliff, jumped over, hiding my chakra, and clung to the wall. The guards jumped over me, in the air, which then weighed down on them like an anvil. Using my power I had sent a surge of air down on them, causing them to fall down to the ground faster than I could imagine anyone surviving.

That seemed to be the last of them but I couldn't risk it so I kept running.

Running to a brighter future.

~Pov end~

Once Inoichi saw the familiar silver haired ninja he removed his hand. Everything else they knew. He looked at Ibiki and asked how long it had been, an hour apparently.

"Thank you Midori, that was very helpful. Here have some water." The girl accepted, feeling parched, as if she had had to do it all over again.

"Were you able to trace back her steps to where she was held?" Ibiki asked Inoichi. "Impossible, her focus was all over the place, without being able to see anything it was just a jumbled mess. She rarely ever looked where she was going." Ibiki nodded and went to report to the Hokage, meaning the others could have a short break.

"Did you bring lunch, Midori?" Inoichi asked. The girl shook her head no. "Well come on then, let's go to the break room, you can have some of mine." It didn't seem like he left any room to refuse so Midori stood, slightly unsteady, and followed him.

Once there he had given her some onigiri."He seemed like a nice person, did you know him long?" Midori cocked her head to the side as if to ask who."Shiro" Inoichi replied. Midori simply nodded but sensing he wanted more of an answer she spoke. "I knew him for several years I think, maybe two. It was hard to keep track of time."

Inoichi hadn't heard her voice before and was surprised it took so little effort to get her to talk. He'd have to remember that. "Do you know his last name? It would help us identify him." The girl shook her head. Inoichi supposed he'd have to ask more open questions, but for now this was fine. They'd put her through enough stress today he didn't want to add to it by making her talk when she didn't want to.

"I saw the memorial stone with Kakashi. Is his name on there?" Inoichi's eyes widened, she talked on her own, then he answered truthfully. "I don't know. He might be or..."
"Not." Midori finished for him. Inoichi nodded solemnly. "If he isn't can he be put on it. Kashi-nii said the names of heroes that were killed in action are on there. He-he died fighting, he -he saved me." She said looking down, a pained frown evident on her face as her fists sat, clenched on her legs, with tense arms.

She was nearly shaking.
'Ah, I should've known. It's effecting her a lot more than I realised.' Inoichi thought, then he thought about what she said. He had to admit it made a lot of sense. "I'll ask the Hokage about it."
Midori looked at him surprised, thankful that he would atleast look into it.

And with that lunch was over and the time for peace had ended.