I wake up to the horrible pungent smell of hospital disinfectant. The room is silent beside the ticking of the clock and my heavy breathing. I slowly open my eyes, seeing blurry images. Looking up, the plain white walls of the Konohagakure hospital greets me.
"An unfamiliar ceiling?" I murmur, and quickly sit up and begin to squint at my surroundings while glancing at the room. How long have I been here? A wave of nausea hits me, and I feel my throat burn. I glance at the depressing white and blue colored walls of the medical room I now occupy, contemplating whether to go back to sleep or to inform the medical staff about my condition.
Out of pure impulse, I press a hand to my leg, touching the place where I was hit by multiple shurikens. Oh boy, that one's definitely going to scar.
I try to move around a bit and flinch at the pain. I step on the cold floor, and instantly fall down, crashing into some furniture and knocking over a vase. My body seems to protest this foolish action, as I literally feel my muscles burning while pain engulfs me. I just stay there staring at the door to my room, the urge to cry almost overcoming me.
Or laugh. That works as well. These hormones be fucking me over these days, eh?
Not even a moment after, two people wearing hospital gowns rush into the room to help me up. They're here anyways so I lean on them pathetically. Good god, this feels worse than a hangover! At least no one I know saw me in this state, or I'll get teased by them non-stop until the day I die.
…
I hope no one saw me, at least. I was unconscious so I dunno if anyone bothered to visit me. If they did, they better not see me drooling in my sleep.
"Uchiha, how do you feel? Is your condition fine?" One of them hurriedly asks. How am I supposed to know, dumbass? You're the doctor here.
"I feel just peachy! Hey, complete shot in the dark, did I suffer from chakra exhaustion?" I force a grin. God, even that hurts so much! "Every muscle feels sore for me, and I can't feel my chakra pathways, this must be a new fucking record, ey?"
"I can assure you, you're not outdoing me anytime soon, and you shouldn't aim to." Kakashi Hatake picks this time to crawl out of whatever hole he hid in, and I roll my eyes. "Plus, you have much more urgent issues to worry about, so you can try and break my records after this mess caused by your condition is over."
"Yea? Hit me with it, what happened while I was gone? Did Orochimaru come back and give someone a hickey?" All three people present start to stare at me. Hey, don't give me that look, it is a valid question! Who knows, Orochimaru might have set his sights on Itachi already and gave him the cursed mark or something. It didn't happen in canon, but there's butterfly effect and everything, so you can never expect things to be the same as the show. My existence probably changed and will change a lot of things that I don't even know about.
Or maybe I'm being too arrogant. You never know.
Kakashi and the two hospital staff are still staring at me like I was crazy, which is fair, but ouch. Consider my feelings in this, man. I'm as delicate as they come, you guys are going to hurt my feelings.
"Not quite, Akari! The situation is much, much worse." He smiles, leaning near my ear. "Do you want the short version or the long version?"
"The short one, I don't think I can deal with your bullshit today, Kakashi." The man has the gall to pout, how old is this guy even? He acts like some fifty year old man one day, spouting depressing but useful advice and the next day he can behave like a complete man child.
"Alrighty then! The Uchihas are rioting, while the rest of us are dreading a civil war! All because one little Chunin pissed off the wrong guy and got herself landed in the hospital! Think you know who that is, Akari Uchiha? Why don't you take a guess!" He nearly screams out the last few words, his voice bordering on insanity. "You being here is causing headaches for every person in this damn place, the Hokage's gonna be bald if this keeps up, and I haven't slept in days! This is not how you treat people who helped you in the past, Akari!"
Damn, all this for little ole me? I'm stunned. Touched, even. Genuinely did not think those fogies cared about me that much.
"It's that bad? How is this possible? I know I'm amazing but isn't this too much? How did it even come to this?" I put my hands up in a so-so motion. "Is that how you expected me to act? Don't guilt trip me, man. If a village almost blows up when one girl gets put into the hospital, it's not the girl's fault now, is it?"
Kakashi picks me up from the medical staff's arms, carrying me bridal style while ignoring my protests. He walks slowly towards the largest window of the second floor hospital I'm in, his smile getting wider and wider. No way.
"Hey, hey, hey! Put me down, I'm sorry for what I said, alright? Don't do what I think you're going to do, and why are you smiling like that?" I struggle against him but in my exhausted state, he easily overpowers me and thwarts my plans to run away. "Hey, this isn't funny! Don't you dare, Hatake! Come on, I've been cooperative and a good student, have I not?"
"Hmm… I'm not sure you have, Akari!" He informs me cheerfully while his other hand slowly opens the window while my face pales. He then grabs onto my tunic, dangling me out of the window with one arm. I quickly take in the scene in front of me, noticing several dozen ninjas and civilians alike suddenly quiet down, all gasping or pointing at me. Absolutely no manners, someone better stop gawking and save me already!
"Don't you dare leave me to all these dangerous men alone! I'm a lady, Hatake! Treat me like one!" I nearly yell out. "Pull me back in right now, and I just might forgive your crimes FFUUUCCCCKKKK NOOOOOOO!"
I land face first in the dirt. Pushing myself up, I glare at Kakashi while imagining kicking him into a deep pit, King Leonidas style. This makes looking at him almost bearable. Almost.
"You ass! You actually dropped me! I'm still injured, you little shit!" Kakashi waves at me, a bright smile stretching across his entire damn face while slowly retreating away from sight. "Don't leave me to deal with this! I just got out of a life or death battle!" I try to go after him but he's long gone. Of course. I groan, taking in the shocked faces of everyone around me.
"I'm a good person, right?" I ask no one in particular. I turn my face around and see someone nod, still with a shell-shocked expression on his face. Thank you, kind stranger! "Why does this keep happening to me then? What did I do to deserve this?"
Ah well, if I'm good at one thing, it's adapting to whatever fucking situation I'm in. Hell, I got through reincarnation without a major breakdown or too serious self-harming tendencies! I slowly get up, hobbling towards the direction of the Uchiha district. I can get through this! Probably! Maybe!
And if I can't, I'll probably die. So if that doesn't give me motivation, I don't know what will.
Maybe I do need to see a therapist after this. I can bother Shinya, but I actually care about his physical and mental well-being, so I won't dump all my baggage on him. Maybe I'll bother Inochi Yamanaka instead?
He might gut me for troubling him too much, so I'll have to walk a fine line. It's a bit exciting, that.
____________________________________________________________________________
"You want me to quit my job in the hospital? Do you hear what you're saying?" I ask in disbelief, looking at several clan elders.
The Uchiha clan elders are usually completely useless, some are either just yesman, agreeing to whatever the clan leaders or the more influential elders say, while the rest are plotting and scheming on how to benefit themselves the most. The rest of them are either bloodthirsty people who were handed too much power or newly promoted peps who are desperate for honor or glory.
News flash, ain't none of that here.
Uchiha Fugaku consolidated the clan's political power under the clan head, which is himself, what a lucky coincidence, eh?
Ever since then, most elders have lost a large portion of their political power. The meetings they hold now are just hours and hours of useless squabbling, never agreeing on a single decision or policy themselves, basically just people desperate to regain some semblance of power. This one time those fossils finally get off their old dusty asses and it's to collectively lecture me on how to take care of myself and advising me to join the Uchiha Police Force. I bet the only reason they aren't outright forcing my hand is because of my reputation of being a prodigy, and the fact I can and will fight them if they force me to join.
"Then what are you suggesting, Akari?" one scrunchy elder narrows his eyes. "You can't possibly think that being out of the clan district is safe for you anymore! You almost lost your life because of the neglect Konohagakure showed regarding your safety. We are simply worried about your well being, please do consider our proposal!"
"The only people able to beat me in spars consistently in the clan are Fugaku Uchiha, Itachi Uchiha, and Shisui Uchiha. Do you seriously think that limiting where I can go is a good idea for me to avoid further harm?" I question, a mocking smirk slowly showing on my features. "My my, did you really think the Uchiha clansmen are strong enough to protect me? You're going senile, old man."
"How dare you!"
"Respect your elders!"
I tune out the outraged words thrown at me, observing the elders. They are said to process unrivaled wisdom, and here they are, throwing tantrums just because someone dared to insult them. And stubborn too, to boot! Respect? What a joke! Even civilians have more guts and self-awareness than them. Why must old men wish to cling on to power, no matter how futile their actions are in the end?
I channel my inner Gilgamesh and give them the most disgusted glare I can manage. "Mongrels, all of you! All of you power hungry fools sit there and try and try again to regain some form of prestige and power, and for what? You guys' glory days are long over, just let go. What even is the true purpose of this meeting? If you think that I would be easily controlled or coerced into one of your plots, you really should just retire. I'm sure most of you here already have sore bones from sitting so long, why don't you go back and plot on your own?" I sneer at them. "You truly think that you have power? Enough power to order me around and drag me into your plans? I'm no lapdog of yours. Go find some random impressionable mind instead of wasting my time."
This… is starting to bore me now. Welp, I'll see myself out. "This conversation is no longer worth my time, I'll see myself out. Take care, elders." I turn around and head for the door.
One of the elders grabs my shoulders, stopping me in my tracks. "You think you can spit in the face of seniority and tradition? Some of us have been fighting a war before you were even born, girl! You will do well to listen to what we have to say!" I turn around, three tomoe sharingan swirling, and face the elders. Most of them quickly pale and turn away, afraid to meet my eyes, while only one of them glare at me defiantly, his own three tomoe sharingan blazing.
"War veterans or not, now all you amount to are cowards holding onto your fading authority. Hell, only one of you has the balls to look me in the eye!" I laugh without holding back. "It's been so long since I've heard the words of a fool, but since It's past noon already and I actually have duties in the hospital, bicker among yourselves as long as you wish. Unlike some of you, I actually have an important job in this village, so get the fuck out of my way."
I ignore the weak protests the elders make and walk out of the clan compound. It's funny in a way. My parents from my past life definitely would have been overjoyed at me working as a doctor. Man, meeting those old coots is always so tiring. Great, now I have to walk all the way back to the hospital too!
This is why I hate family reunions, nothing good ever comes from it. It's so awkward and suffocating.
Walking there only takes about a couple minutes, so it's not too bad. I'm just complaining cause I feel like it so I'll stop my whining now.
I arrive there after a bit, and Yushiro, the hospital director, greets me with a smile on his face. "Welcome back, Akari! Finally fit for hospital work?"
"You're a sight for sore eyes, boss. The guys gave me their permission, so I'm all set." I glance at the clock. I wanted to arrive at around ten in the morning, but instead I'm an hour late. Well, speaking with those elders usually takes forever, so at least it wasn't any longer. "Anything urgent for me to work on?"
Yushiro nods. "Sora's back to visit! He's waiting at the employee quarters. Your chakra still isn't fully replenished, so might as well humor the children!"
Sora is a six year old orphan, whose parents died during the Kyuubi attack. He was all doom and gloom before he got practically adopted by the Konohagakure hospital staff. He always helps out to the best of his abilities, forming bonds with the medics, doctors and patients alike. He has sort of become our mascot of sorts. And out of all the people working in the hospital, he always liked Yushiro and me the most, often trialing after one of us like a shadow. I was bored out of my mind once and tried teaching him basic chakra control exercises, and he turned out to be quite the prodigy! From then on, it wasn't too hard to find him in the hospital working next to the medical staff.
He even has some fangirls, because apparently they all think that he looks cute in a white suit. The lucky bastard! He might even have a harem if he grows up to be an absolute heartbreaker.
I still sometimes try to prevent him from working on patients that have too much blood on them, or if their condition is critical. Because you simply do not let children feel guilty about not being able to save a life.
However, as an orphan, he practically has to be a ninja, and Sora will have to use his healing abilities to injure someday. Orphans without any outside help usually don't live long after they graduate. Without any clan jutsus, all they have are the basic three jutsus the academy teaches you, and any mission C-rank or above and easily spell the end for any newly made Genin if they don't have any additional help.
Lucky him, I'm the help in this scenario. Even if it puts a bitter taste in my mouth practically teaching babies how to injure and kill by aiming at a person's weak spots, it's either him soaking up the knowledge or dying in a ditch somewhere. Even if every ninja respects everyone who died on a mission for Konohagakure, and every name carved on the memorial rock is remembered by someone forever, the person in question is still dead, and not everyone can revive the dead willy nilly. I'm looking at you, Orochimaru.
And don't think I've forgotten about your smug face, Kabuto.
I peek my head into the employee quarters, and Sora instantly tackles me. I laugh in glee, ruffling his hair. "How's my little menace doing?"
Sora whines. "Akari, why didn't you come visit for the last two days? I asked around, and no one wanted to answer me! It's because I'm small, I know it! The adults ignore me all the time!"
"I just got injured a bit, Sora! I'm a ninja, remember? You heal them sometimes too." I say to him. Noticing his worried look, I continue, "I'm fine now, it's nothing major, so don't worry your cute little head about it!"
"I'm not little! Stop saying that every time!" he pouts, "And I am not cute!"
"I mean, it's a compliment, but whatever you say pal. Whatever you say." I reply to him while patting his cheek, and he melts into my touch. Yep, definitely cute.
Whenever the days look bleak, whenever I feel incredibly homesick about my former family, I have the urge to cry, to stop trying so hard just to grasp another chance of living. Even so, I still find myself smiling fondly at Sora. It still stings, being separated from my loving family. It claws away at my heart. I hate this feeling, knowing that I lost a lot of precious things.
However, I haven't lost the most important things to me. I have no doubts that if my family sees me now, they will be proud that I am still holding on to my hopes and dreams, forging more and more precious bonds with the people in this new world I find myself slowly loving.
"So, what happened while I was away, tell me all about it!" I ask.
Because I am reborn as an Uchiha, with the ability to feel and love so strongly. And looking at the beaming smile on Sora's face, I truly feel that I am making a difference in this world, no matter how small it is.
In this unforgiving world where children might die before reaching the age of ten, I found a place I belong to and people who truly care about me, loving me with all their heart.
And because of that, I am eternally grateful to those who are the reason I can be happy again.