Chapter 24

So much tragedy… so much death… a voice whispered in my head. Kaa-chan dead. 

I could help you, you know, I could give you power. Tou-san dead. 

So much power, I could give you. Minato-sensei, covered in blood, dead. 

You could get your revenge on everyone. Kushina-see, in a coma, never to wake up.

You could save everyone. All you need to do is accept…

… 

"Ah!" I sat up with a jolt. 

My body felt hot and feverish. What had happened? I couldn't remember. I was in the hospital again. Hen it all came back to me. 

Orochimaru happened. "Uhhh…." I covered my face with my hands. 

I felt my neck. He had left me a… present. At least I could feel that it was sealed. But those dreams it had brought me… I gasped. I could see all those dead bodies again. The deaths of people I couldn't save and the deaths of the people I had killed. Dang it… I was a shinobi… and shinobi don't… shinobi shouldn't- "Rin?" asked a quiet voice from the doorway, "Are you alright?" 

I nodded, "I'm fine," my voice was shaky, I wasn't fooling anyone. "I'm fine Genma, seriously." 

He gave me a worried look and shrugged. "You," he ordered the ANBU by the door, "Go get Sandaime." 

"Yes sir," said the ANBU. 

"Bossy," I commented. 

"I was a member of the Hokage's Guard Platoon so yes, I'm bossy," he said, "Are you really… alright? Orochimaru, he… when the ANBU found you on the floor, you were screaming like you were being tortured."

I opened by arms wide, "Obviously I'm fine." I poked him on the head and smiled, "See, I'm alive and real and not screaming. Though I might be come a snake, you never know."

"This isn't a joke," he said, "You-" his voice cracked, "We thought you were dead. No one thought you would… make it." 

I shrugged, "I'm alive, I'm fine, stop worrying." 

He shook his head, "Rin, you don't understand." 

"Understand what?" I could hear footsteps outside. Sandaime was coming. Oh god, I had to deal with him… 

"Rin, you're heart stopped multiple times. You died in front of me and-" 

I hugged him and slowly, he hugged me back. "Ehem," said Sandaime. 

We pulled apart. Genma coughed sheepishly, "I'm gonna… go…" he jumped out the window and I turned to Sandaime. 

"You're welcome," I said. 

"Excuse me?" he asked. 

"I didn't kill your student," I said, "Instead, I went easy and spared him, just like you asked me to. And what do I get in return? I fricking hickey." 

"Watch your language," said Sandaime, "And… I'm sorry about that… I didn't know he would." 

"I don't care," I muttered, "I'm leaving." 

I swung my legs over and stood up. I grabbed a stack of neatly folded clothes. "Rin," said Sandaime warningly, "Don't you dare… you're in no condition." he signalled the ANBU. 

The ANBU stepped towards me, "Rin-sama, please listen to okage-sama. You've been out for a week. You need rest." 

"Actually," I said, "I've been resting for a week. I'm getting out of here." I left them.