Hospital Room

When Chiya woke up, everything before his eyes was blurred.

The white ceiling swayed in his vision several times before slowly coming into focus. He blinked, and a needle-like pain immediately shot through his eye sockets.

"Ugh..."

He instinctively raised his hand. The moment he moved, the IV needle on the back of his hand was tugged crooked.

The nurse beside him immediately woke up.

"You're awake? Don't move, you can't move around recklessly yet!"

Chiya did not hear the rest of what she said.

His mind was a mess, as if someone had stuffed it full of shattered images. Blood, the passageway, Root ninjas, and Ino lying on the ground.

Ino.

Chiya abruptly sat up.

"Where's Ino?"

The nurse jumped in fright and hurriedly reached out to press him down.

"Lie back down first!"

Chiya shook off the nurse's hand and flung aside the blanket. The instant he moved, tearing pain shot through his chest and waist at the same time. Gritting his teeth, he forced himself out of bed.

The moment his feet touched the ground, he nearly collapsed.

"Where is Ino Yamanaka?"

His voice was terribly hoarse.

The nurse's face changed with anxiety.

"Don't run around! Your injuries haven't healed yet!"

Chiya steadied himself against the bedframe, his vision darkening in waves. But he had no time to care. He pulled out the needle in the back of his hand and staggered toward the door.

The moment he pushed open the ward door, a figure flashed outside.

Kakashi stood in the corridor and reached out to stop him.

"Chiya."

Chiya looked up at him, his eyes still unfocused.

"Teacher Kakashi, where's Ino?"

Kakashi looked at him and fell silent for a moment.

In that instant, Chiya's heart sank sharply.

"She..."

"She survived."

Kakashi spoke.

Chiya froze where he stood.

Kakashi continued, "The medical team has treated her wounds. She's out of danger now. Her body is still very weak, though, and she needs rest. No visitors for the time being."

Chiya stared blankly at him.

Only after a long while did he slowly lower his head, as though he had finally let out the breath he had been holding.

"As long as she's alive..."

His voice was very soft.

The next moment, overwhelming exhaustion washed over him.

His vision went black, and his body went limp.

Kakashi immediately caught him.

"I told you not to move around."

Chiya wanted to speak, but no sound came from his throat. Kakashi carried him on his back and returned him to the ward.

Back on the bed, Chiya leaned against the pillow, his face deathly pale. Kakashi secured his IV needle again and called the nurse over to deal with it.

As the nurse inserted the needle again, she could not help muttering under her breath.

"Running around the moment you wake up. You really don't care if you die."

Chiya said nothing.

After the nurse left, the ward fell quiet.

Chiya looked at Kakashi.

"What about Naruto and the others?"

"They were all injured."

Kakashi leaned against the window, his voice quieter than usual.

"Sasuke was hurt more seriously, but his life isn't in danger. Naruto used up too much chakra and is resting too. Sakura is fine. She should come visit you soon."

Chiya nodded.

"What about Gaara?"

"The Sand Village people took him back."

Kakashi paused. "There were problems on the Sand Village side as well this time. Someone will handle it afterward."

Chiya did not ask any more questions.

His head felt terribly heavy, and his eyes hurt too. His right eye in particular felt as though needles were stabbing deep into the socket whenever he shifted his gaze even slightly.

Kakashi watched him for a while before finally speaking.

"There's one more thing."

Chiya looked up.

Kakashi's voice was very soft.

"The Third Hokage... died in battle."

The ward suddenly fell silent.

Chiya had known all along.

Ever since before the Chunin Exams began, he had known that this day would come. Even when he saw the Kazekage seated on the high platform, he had imagined this outcome countless times.

But when he truly heard those words, his chest still felt heavy.

That old man, the Third Hokage, had ultimately died on this very day.

Chiya lowered his head, unable to tell what he was feeling. Perhaps the air in this room was simply too oppressive.

Kakashi did not speak either.

People hurried past outside the window, and hushed conversations drifted through the corridor. Konoha Hospital was filled with wounded people. The smell of medicine and blood mingled together, impossible to disperse.

After a long silence, Kakashi suddenly asked, "How are your eyes?"

Chiya's fingers paused.

He raised his head and looked at Kakashi.

His vision was somewhat blurry.

Chiya suddenly remembered something.

Kakashi should have possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan long ago, so he must have recognized the pattern in Chiya's eyes at the time.

Chiya rubbed his eyes and frowned from the pain.

"They hurt."

His voice was slightly hoarse.

"And I can't see very clearly."

Kakashi did not interrupt him.

Chiya paused for a moment before continuing, "When Ino was injured, my mind went completely blank. Then my eyes suddenly started hurting badly. After that, they bled, and then I felt like I had gained control over some kind of power."

Kakashi was silent for several seconds. Then he looked at Chiya, his gaze becoming much more serious.

"Chiya, you've probably awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan."

Chiya looked up at him, pretending it was the first time he had heard the name.

"Mangekyō?"

Kakashi nodded.

"The Sharingan beyond the Three-Tomoe Sharingan. Only a very small number of people in the Uchiha Clan can awaken it."

As he said this, his voice slowed.

"It grants extremely powerful ocular techniques. Everyone's ability is different, but the cost is immense as well."

Chiya looked at him.

"Overusing it will cause your eyesight to deteriorate. In severe cases, you can go blind. The reason you can't see clearly now is one of its costs."

Chiya said nothing.

He had known that already.

"Teacher Kakashi, you..."

Kakashi nodded gently, his gaze somewhat distant.

"I awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan too."

Kakashi fell silent for a while, as though he had recalled some old memories.

Then Kakashi looked at Chiya and said,

"Unless it's a life-or-death situation, don't use that power carelessly."

Chiya nodded.

"Mm."

Kakashi stood up.

"You should rest first. I'll have someone keep an eye on Ino. If anything happens, I'll tell you."

Chiya immediately looked at him.

Kakashi seemed to know what he wanted to say.

"You're not allowed to go over there yet."

Chiya opened his mouth, then closed it again.

Kakashi's eyes curved slightly, but his smile was faint.

"Wait until you can walk on your own."

With that, he turned and left the ward.

The door closed softly.

Chiya leaned against the headboard as sleepiness surged over him like the tide.

He had wanted to think more about Danzo, to consider what to do next, but his eyelids refused to obey him. They drooped shut, and he fell asleep.

This sleep was chaotic.

In his dream, he was sometimes in the little rental apartment from before he had crossed over, takeout containers piled on the table while the computer screen glowed late into the night.

Then he was in the bloody night at the Uchiha Clan Grounds, flames burning in the distance and black shadows covering the ground beneath his feet.

He dreamed of Naruto calling out to him, and of Sasuke standing far away before turning his head to look at him.

Then he dreamed of Ino again.

She stood at the entrance of the Yamanaka Flower Shop, holding a bouquet in her arms. Chiya wanted to walk over to her.

But the moment he took a step, the wind scattered the petals. He reached out abruptly to catch them, but caught nothing.

Finally, he dreamed of Kaguya. Her figure was faint, terribly faint, her beautiful and sorrowful form framed by long white hair trailing across the ground.

Kaguya's eyes were filled with tears as she reached out to touch his face.

Then, in the next instant, he abruptly opened his eyes.