Chapter 21 - ch.21

The doctor came out, with a grim face, her forearms still covered in blood. "I-is she...?" asked Naru, fearing the worst. The doctor put on a sad smile. "She'll live." Naru smiled at this new. "So, she's alright!!?" She said, suddenly excited. The doctor's head dropped, clearly even she was in pain from this news. "We did all we could, but the wound was well placed. Her survival rate was less than 5%. If your friend here hadn't put in such effort, there is no way she would have lived. However, the wound was placed at the worst possible spot. It competely severed her chakra line from her pool. There's no way to fix it."

"W-w-what do you mean?"

"I'm afraid...she can no longer build up any but the smallest amount of chakra. Even her eyes are as useless as ours now. She most probably can no long be a shinobi."

The news hit Naru like a ton of bricks; she was visibly shaking, sweating, and her eyes darted erratically, unfocused. "No, no it can't be. She'll be disowned. she'll be miserable. She'll..." She was crying even harder, knowing that death may have been a preferable alternative.

"I'm sorry. There was nothing we could do, the damage was too severe. I suggest you go home. There is nothing more you can do here. Get some rest, and I will call you when she is fit for visitors."

"No." Naru said flatly.

"Please. You should rest." The doctor pleaded.

She looks at the doctor with a look that told her she may kill her if touched, her eyes slitted and red with the fox's influence. "Me and Sakura are staying." She managed to say calmly, even through her tears. The doctor retreated a step before turning and moving on to other duties.

Grimm gets up, and shows a rare moment of compassion, putting a hand on her shoulder, with a gentle(er) expression on his face. "Stay as long as you need. I need to tell Eva about this." Naru nods in understanding, and is thankful for his kindness.

Soul, Maka, and Crona, basically being dragged, passed her next. "This is so uncool. Tell her I wish her the best, and I'll visit her asap, k?" she nods again.

"If you even need to talk, me and Soul are always there for you. That goes for Sakura too." Naru nods a third time, her eyes unfocused. They walk away, Crona actually glad to get away, muttering something about not knowing how to deal with Naru when she's like that.

Naru got up, and walked to Sakura, and sat next to her, causing enough movement of the cushions to finally wake her. "Where...? *gasp* Hinata! Where's Hinata!?" Naru, in a flat tone, explained that she save Hinata's life, and the cost of living. Sakura covered her mouth with both hands as tears began to flow. "No! But then her family...!" Naru nods, knowing exactly what she meant. The Hyugas were well known to be incredibly inflexible. Hinata losing her jutsus would probably have her disowned, no more a Hyuga than Sakura was. And Sakura knew the pain her grandmother went through for her love. Sakura buried her head in Naru's shoulder, sobbing loudly. Naru just sat there with a depressed face, stroking her hair.

After nearly an hour, she finally lifted her head, staring at Naru with tearful eyes. "Please! Please tell me that the one who did this at least paid for what she's done!" Naru nodded, seeing the beam sent into the sky by Grimm, that she hadn't, so focused on Hinata. Sakura gave her a sad smile. "At least we have that much." She said with a slight sense of relief as she leans on Naru again and falls asleep again. Naru stays awake, too shocked to sleep until she sees Hinata.

--------------------------------------Deathroom--------------------------------------------

Maka was figiting nervously, and Soul was sweating slightly. They had brought Crona to Death, explaining their reasoning. Still, they couldn't tell what he was thinking as he closely observed the clearly frightened boy. "Well!" Everyone jumped at his voice. "Maka, you sure have put me in a pickle! I sent you to kill the butcher and collect his soul, instead you bring him here, almost untainted. What on earth happened out there?"

"W-well.." Maka scratches her head nervously before describing the events after they arrived in the town, including what happened in Crona's mindscape.

Death listens intently through the end. "So, that's what happened, huh?" Maka nods. "well, Maka, for disregarding instructions, endangering your teammates, and especially your weapon, you shall be..." he paused for dramatic effect.

'Man, here it comes! Goodbye, DWMA!'

'I cna't be kicked out! Cool guys arn't kicked out of school!'

"Rewarded." they both responded with a dumbfounded "Huh?" "We arn't training soldiers who only follow instruction! We raising meisters who know the right course of action, even if it counterdicts orders. You trusted your teammates, and they trusted you back, even though you have only known each other a short while, and what's more.." he turned to Crona, who was still cowering. "..You saved an otherwise innocent soul from a terrible fate. So, you are to be rewarded!"

"Yes! you hear that Soul!? We're no being kicked out!" She hugs him as he stands there with a huge grin, and hangs an arm around her.

"Well, that's not entirely true. You still broke school rules for bringing and potentially dangerous threat into the city, so you are suspended until further notice!"

Their jaws drop. "Suspended!? What about all that not training soldiers crap!?" Yelled Soul.

"Calm down, calm down. Technically, that IS what it will say on your transcript, but in truth you are getting a very secret mission. I've heard Medusa has ties to Orochimaru, and fiend even more dangerous and twisted than Medusa ever was. I've also heard he came from the leaf, so I'm sending you in to investigate. Let me be clear, I don't suspect the village in the least, but it is our only lead!"

Just as he finished, Grimm walks in, rather annoyed. "What do ya want? I've got places to be!"

"I am entrusting Maka and Soul into your custody for training!"

"Like hell you are! I'm not gonna just replace Hinata like that!"

So what will you do? One is permanently incapacitated, and the other soon will be to heavy to safely train, much less take on missions. While they do work best together, they can work independantly if needed, giving you a three-man team to work under you. It seems the best choice!"

"Can't I at least get something better than these beanpoles?"

"I'm afraid Blackstar would be too much for any single person to handle, even you or me! and Kid never parts with his weapons. They are a package deal."

"What about all the others roaming the halls?"

"They are extras with no significant importance. Quite frankly, I don't even know most of their names!"

"Damn, I guess I got no choice. Man, am I in for it when I get home. Fine! We'll leave as soon as Hinata's able."

"Oh, one more thing! Hinata will be staying here. Think of it as a student exchange!"

"WHAT!! Why the hell would I let you do that!!!?"

"Because, while she is unable to perform jutsu, she still has potential to be a meister. There is nothing wrong with her chakra network, it simply has no power to draw on! A weapon could replace this source! She could yet be a powerful shinobi, but she must stay here."

"Arg, dammit! You always have the plan, huh. Fine. I don't like it, but I don't have any choice. I really hate you, you know that?"

"Yes, yes. I figured that out the first time! Maka, Soul, go with Grimmjow. He's you sensei now."

"Right!" they respond in unison.

"Wait!!" the voice came from Crona, who had listened to every word. "My best friend can't leave! I wouldn't know how to deal with that!"

"And you are adamant on this?" Asks Death. Crona cowers from him again, but nods. Death sighs. "Very well. Grimmjow, Crona will be placed under your custody as well!"

"You know what, I don't even care anymore. C'mon, scaredy-cat. I got word just before that Hinata's awake." He walks away, his three new students following him. "Quite the pickle, indeed." Death says after they are gone.

-------------------------------------hospital----------------------------------------------

Hinata moans weakly, and opens her eyes slightly, only to snap the shut from the bright light. She tries again, adjusting to the light. She tries to move, but only manages to tilt her head. She forces her self to push herself up to sit, but is met with searing, blinding, mind-numbing pain after lifting only an inch. she drops again, her eyes full of tears from the pain, still feeling her entire abdomine throb in pain. She groans, a little stronger than before from the pain. A nearby nurse heard her, and came in. "My, you didn't try to sit up, did you!?" Hinata nodded. "Oh my, I have to check your stitches!" She pulls down the sheet, showing Hinata was all but naked, wearing only her panties, which felt cold and sticky. After checking the front ones, she carefully lifted her, making her groan in pain. "Sorry, honey, but I gotta check! I'll make it quick!" She sees that all the stiches are still in place, and quickly but gently layed her back down. "Just one moment." She leaves, and several minutes, Naru walks in, clearly depressed.

"Hey, Hinata. Not in too much pain, I hope..."

"Naru.." Her voice sounded slightly hoarse. "What's wrong. I'm alive! Soon enough, I'll get out of here, and we'll kick her ass! We'll-" Naru lifted her hand to stop her.

"I got some bad news, Hinata. I told the nurses not to tell you, that is would be best from me..."

Hinata's face scrunched up in worry. "Sakura's safe, right!?"

"Sakura's fine. Sensei Killed her before anyone else was hurt. but..."

Hinata could see it hurt her just to think of it. "Naru, what happened. you can tell me!"

Again, her tears began to run. "You-your chakra, you can't use it anymore! The injury cut you off from your chakra pool!"

Hinata's eyes went wide in shock, as her pupils shrank in fear, and she started to tear as well. "Naru...you mean..." A look of utter dispair shrouded her face.

Naru nodded. "You-you-you can't be a ninja anymore!" Naru started sobbing and crying, as though it were her burden and fault.

"N-Naru, calm down. It's OK." her face was somewhat serene, though the tears continued to flow.

"B-but your family, and you jutsu!" She blubbered between sobs, grabbing the sheets next to her, and sobbing into her side.

She looked down at her, as best she could. "Yes, I am likely to be disowned, and may not be a shinobi anymore, but as long as I have you, I can handle it." She put her hand on Naru's head. Naru liftes her head. "I love you, Naru. As long as I have you and Sakura, nothing else matters."

Naru's heart was overfilled with emotion, and her tears redoubled. "but..." She hugged Hinata by her neck, crying in her shoulder. "Hinata! I love you too! I don't know what I would do without you!"

Hinata hugged har back lightly, not wanting to use too much strength. After a few moments, They came apart. "Is Sakura here? I want to see her too."

Naru nodded. "Yeah, she's just outside; the nurse said one at a time for now. I'll go get her." She wipes her tears away, glad the Hinata was so strong.

Several minutes passed before Sakura came in, rushing to Hinata, hugging her as Naru just had. "Naru told me everything! I'm so glad!" She was crying even more than Naru.

Hinata hugged her too. "I don't know what I would do with myself if I lost you two. I wouldn't know how to handle it!"

Sakura gave a choked chuckle at her reference, hugging her tighter. "You don't have to worry! We arn't going anywhere!"

Several minutes passed before Hinata let her arms fall. "Sakura, I'm feeling a bit tired."

Sakura jumped back, her tears dried up. "O-of course. I'll be back to visit tomorrow!" Hinata nodded before closing her eyes, falling fast asleep. Sakura closed the door quietly as she left, seeing Grimm talking with Naru, who looked in slightly better spirits. Sakura approached them. "What's up?"

"Hinata still has a chance at being a shinobi." Said Grimm. Sakura looked at him increadulously. "She has no chakra, and therefore, no jutsu. But, remember how weapons work?"

Sakura's eyes went wide in realization. "They share their chakra with their meister! So if we find a weapon fo Hinata...!

"She can still fight." He said with a slight grin. "She's one lucky bastard. If it were any other village, she would be screwed. Of course, she still has extreme limitations."

Sakura looked at him curiously. "Limitations."

"First, she will only be as strong as her partner and zanpakuto. She can never reach her full potential. Second, she will have to always have one or both on hand to even protect herself, otherwise, she may have trouble standing, much less fighting. And last..." He looked apprehensive. Naru's drooped her head drooped in dispair. "We have to leave her here to train..." He looks away, clearly not approving the idea, but seeing no other choice.

"But- but for how long!?" Ask Sakura before looking over her shoulder at Hinata's room.

"Who knows. A year, a decade? We may never see her again."

"No." Naru speaks defiantly. "Even if she were on the other side of the world, I would find her. No matter where she was, or when it is, if she called, I would come, without fail. Count on it. Until then..." she looks up at Grimm. "I gotta get stronger! I refuse to let anymore of my loved ones get hurt ever again!!" He sees her eyes slit and grow red again.

Grimm grins. "Soon, kid. As soon as those lumps of flesh fall out of ya, I'll put you in a training regimine that'll make you regret those words."

"I wouldn't expect any less from you." Naru responds.

Sakura backs away before their chilly auras. "W-well, exactly how are we gonna break this to Hinata?"

"We're not. We're leaving as soon as Maka comes back, leaving a letter explaining everything."

"W-what!? We can't do that to her! Tell him, Naru!"

"I agree. I'm no good at goodbyes, and it'll hurt less if we leave as soon as possible. I'll right the letter now." She starts taking off her pack to search through it as she walks to a nearby table.

"But, but, but you two can't do this. It's wrong! She deserves better!"

"don't you think I know that!!!!" roars Naru. She finally broke, and released all her emotions, far more than she had in Hinata's room. Frustration, anger, love, joy, hate, and so many other emotions from the last few days flooded her. "I know she deserves better! She deserves more than she had ever gotten. She's nearly died twice! She...she.." Naru quiets down."She doesn't deserve me...I couldn't even protect her when she needed me. That's why I'm leaving. I can't handle it anymore." She finished writing the letter, barely legible through her tears.

She snuck into Hinata's room, placed the letter in her hand, and gave her a tear-ridden kiss. "I'm so sorry..." She leaves just as quietly. She leaves, heading for the entrance, with Grimm behind her, dragging Sakura behind him, who refused to leave. They met Soul at the entrance.

"Ready?" He asks.

"No." Naru responds, walking past him.

He drops his head and respect, and followed, quickly taking the lead, and heading for the truck. He stops her just before she get on. "Are you sure about this? You can turn back at anytime." He asked in a stern voice, ensuring he's being absolutly serious.

She looks at him with a cold stare. "I'm sure." He sighs, and lowers his arm, allowing her on board. Grimm tosses Sakura in, having knocked her unconsious from sheer irritance. Naru caught her, and layed her down in the back, sitting next to her, her head in her knees as she pulled the close. She broke down again, already regretting her decision, but to stubborn to say so.