A Ninja's Path (Kakashi X Reader)

Chapter Thirty Eight

You could feel yourself slowly returning to consciousness. Muffled voices broke through the silence, creating a dull pain in your head.

"I think she's awake!" A voice exclaimed from beside you.

You groaned in response, your mouth parch. There was so much pain, mainly centered around your throat. You tried forming a word, but it felt like knives were scraping along your esophagus.

"(Y/N), can you hear me?" A familiar voice asked.

You peeled your eyes open, blinking several times as you adjusted to your surroundings.

You were in a house... no... Mr. Igaku's house. Who was that beside you? The boy with blonde hair. Naruto. And the man holding your hand? Kakashi.

The name rang through your head and your senses awakened. Everything came back to you. Hebi strangling you. Memories returning from your past. Your mother...

You felt a tear drift down your cheek. You wanted to sob but your throat was on fire. You didn't dare make a sound.

"(Y/N)?" Kakashi repeated. He looked down at you, concern and relief all etched into his face.

That beautiful face...

You reached up with your free hand and cupped his cheek.

"What is it, (Y/N)? What happened to you?" The silver haired man asked. He wiped the stray tear from your cheek.

You only smiled, letting your hand drop.

"She won't be able to speak for awhile." Another male voice came from several feet away.

You sat up in your cot to see Mr. Igaku standing near the window. He stood as still as a statue, looking out the window absentmindedly.

You took that moment to survey your surroundings.

Naruto and Kakashi were seated on either side of your bed, the latter with his hand resting on top of yours.

Sasuke was sitting beside the cot parallel to yours. In it lay Sakura, sleeping peacefully.

You looked up at the dark haired boy and he gave you a small smile, a little wave. You smiled back.

"How long until she can speak again?" Kakashi asked as he turned to look over at Mr. Igaku.

The older man shrugged. "Several days. A week at most. But it will probably take closer to a month for her voice to sound normal again." He walked over to your cot, standing at the end of it. His gray hair was combed back neatly, hands clasped as he directed his next words to you. "It's a miracle you even survived that attack. Whoever that crazy woman was... she was brutal."

You subconsciously reached a hand up to your throat, rubbing it gently. It was definitely sensitive, probably with a lot of bruising.

Kakashi gave you a look of sympathy. "I hope you get better soon, (Y/N)."

You smiled at him in thanks.

Mr. Igaku fake coughed and you looked over at him. His eyes were darting between you, Naruto and Kakashi, his hands clenched into fists at his sides.

You wished you could speak, ask him what was wrong.

But the older man quickly regained his composure, an expression of indifference falling over his face.

You had a feeling that he was suspicious of your group. It would be better if your team left the village sooner rather than later. Speaking of which, how long had you been out?