I couldn't help but cross my arms as we walked. Kakashi had been lecturing me about the recklessness in the battle.

"I apologize sensei I'll make sure to not be reckless again." I say as we made it back to the village.

"You and Sasuke were the ones who ended up being hurt the most. I expect you two to head straight to the hospital and I want to see your medical report afterwards. Understood." Kakashi sensei sighed and we nodded.

"I guess you're all dismissed while I go turn in the mission report." He added as he sighed us in at the gate.

"C'mon nee-chan I want you to go to the doctor." Naruto stated tugging at my arm. "Fine." I stated as we walked to the hospital.

__________________

"You over excerted yourself again akumi-san. I do suggest you take it a little easy on training." The nurse stated as she wrote on her clipboard.

"But she's going to be alright, right?" Naru-nii asked and the nurse nodded.

"Give her another week the wounds were almost all healed up and just the strain in her system that's all." The nurse stated and Naruto-nii nodded.

"Here the copy for your sensei. And do take it easy."the nurse handed me a file. "You're dismissed." She stated and I hoped off the bed.

"Lets go." I say to nii-chan. Naruto quickly followed behind me as we walked down the halls.
__________

After handing sensei my medical report and a strict proabition on training too hard i was instructing nii-chan on how to use our kekkei genkai.

"Concentrate, the pain is nothing compared to the abilities you will receive by using the chains." I stated as I watched nii-chan trying to make more than three chains at once.

He was gulping in deep breaths and sweating as he tried to concentrate on keeping the shape of the chains.

"Control your chakra, don't make the chains different densities. The have to be the same thickness so it's sturdy other wise it will have a weak link." I say as I watched him trying control the chains density and movements.

"Its so hard though!" Naruto gritted out as he heaved. I sigh and nod. "Well don't strain yourself. Tomorrow before the team meeting we can try again. Don't over work yourself that's counter productive." I say as he let's go of the jutsu and the chakra chains disappeared.

He was breathing heavily and nodded. "Okay but you gotta promise me you'll help me train more." He said smiling as he looked up at me.

"Of course I will. I want you to be stronger so that no one can hurt you again." I say smiling as I patted his head.

___________

"Good morning Sakura-chan." Naruto happily waved at her as we arrived in the training grounds near the bridge.

Sakura turned and smiled slightly. "Morning Naruto, Akumi." She said as she stood up.

"Sensei late again?" I asked and heard a annoyed sigh and yes. I glanced over to see Sasuke leaning by a tree.

"Have you guys started conditioning for training?" I asked.

"Sasuke has but I've been studying the medical books you suggested and the book on long distance jutsu you told me about." Sakura stated as she held a few papers.

"I was wondering if you could give me some pointers on the notes I've made." She stated and I nodded.

"Sure why not." I say taking the papers she held out. "Nee-chan I thought you promised to help with my heavenly chain techniques." He groaned.

"It's not like I can't watch over you and read over her notes at the same time. Then maybe you and Sasuke could spar to make sure you learned the taijutsu form I taught you." I say crossing my arms.

"Okay okay. I'm fine with that." He stated as he took his jacket off. "Better watch out Sasuke once I master my technique you'll have a harder time fighting me." Naruto smirked and Sasuke snickered. "Don't forget I've unlocked my kekkei genkai as well so you better watch your back ." Sasuke stated smirking.

I rolled my eyes and sat by the tree. "Lets go over these sakura." I stated as she sat beside me. "Yeah."  she squealed in excitement.

I was reading her notes on herbs and making corrections or adding uses to them. I couldn't help but smile at how detailed the notes were. I was also looking up and telling Naruto what he was doing wrong while Sasuke was stretching and getting ready to spar with Naruto-nii.

"Man akumi, your amazing. How are you so good in the medical field?" Sakura asked as I handed back her heavily edited notes.

"That's easy because I'm the one that takes care of Naruto when anything happens to him. I hate medics and don't trust them." I stated shrugging as I watched Sasuke and Naruto start their spar.

"Hate them? Why?" She asked confused. I couldn't help but stiffen at the thought.

I felt my mouth go dry at the memories that surged.

~~~~~
FLASHBACK

Naruto held my hand tightly tears slipping down his cheeks.

To be honest I didn't understand him, he should be happy that it wasn't either of us but then again I knew he hated seeing others get hurt.

"H-help." I heard niko a boy around our age gurgle out as blood came out of his mouth. His face was swollen to the point he could barely open his eyes. He was trying to drag himself away with no avail, his right arm was bent in an odd way and he seemed to be choking on his own blood.

I gave naruto-nii's hand a reassuring squeeze. I looked around the table and the kids our age didn't seem a bit fazed they just ate silently and alike me had a small smile of relief that they weren't niko.

The older kids were a different story their plates were barely touched as they looked at niko wide eyed, most of their faces were pale while other ones looked like they were going to be sick.

"Ungrateful brat." Timoro-sama screamed out as she used the small steak knife to cut niko' s back and made him scream again.

I continued eating as I looked at niko who managed to grab my foot. I quickly kicked his hand away and Timoro-sama bursted into a fit of laughter. "Would you look at that even the most vile of the monsters locked up in my little home hate you niko-chan. Maybe this time you learn how not to be clumsy. That hand of yours daring to touch me." She sneered as she stepped on his oddly bent arm making a loud crackling sound.

Niko screamed squirming on the floor. I couldn't help but feel bad for him, but I hated being the one that was disciplined but as long as it wasn't me or nii-chan I wasn't willing to risk our safety.

Timoro-sama smirked as she limped to her chair. "Akumi dear get my food and clean the mess Niko made " she stated and I quickly hurried to do as I was told. I rushed and grabbed Timoro-sama's food. "Do you need more drink or anything kaa-san?" I asked bowing and not looking up at her.

"No not at all dear child now run along and clean the mess. Take him and throw him into a room or something." She waved her arm and I rushed to the kitchen and grabbed a bucket and sponge.

I began cleaning up the blood, the smell of blood seemed to make me cringe as I hurried. I helped niko stand up and dragged him out of the dinning room. "Are you okay?" I asked him as I took him to the bathroom.

His body trembled as I yanked his arm putting all the weird placed pieces of his arm back in place. "I'll help you clean up, I'm sure one of the older kids will come after dinner and fix you up."  I say as I began putting pressure on his back wounds.

"I'm scared, I don't want to be here. Timoro-sama scared me" he began to choke out and cry. "You were a bad kid. Just like me so we deserve getting punished." I say as he cried.

"Bad kids get punished. I hate being a bad kid. I'll do everything Timoro-sama says." He sobbed. I pulled away from him and washed my arms.

"I'm going to go eat." I say and left the bathroom and hurried to the dinning room.  I sat down beside nii-chan and began eating again.

When we were all done we waited for Timoro-sama to dismiss us.

She finished eating and was lightly wiping the sides of her mouth with a napkin. "Everyone's dismissed but akumi. "

I stiffened and so did Naruto-nii. "Go I promise I'll be okay." I say even though I was scared and terrified.

Everyone hurried out of the dinning room. I got out my chair and walked towards Timoro-sama.

She gave a long sigh. "Go on sit akumi." She said as she pulled a chair out that was near her. I didn't hesitate to do as she asked.

"Did you know that I'm a medic?" She asked. I softly nodded. "You've mentioned it before kaa-san." I say meekly afraid that she would lash out on me as well.

"Oh akumi you poor child, how am I ever going to tell you this." Her eyes swelled up with tears. I was shocked I had never seen her like this. "W-what is it k-kaa-san." I stuttered out in fear.

"Its your dear brother Naruto, he's.... He's ill" she began to sob out. "Ill what does that mean?" I asked concerned. Why was Timoro-sama crying?!

"It means he's very sick. I'm a doctor and I had noticed something was terribly wrong." She cried out again. "W-whats wrong with nii-chan!?" I asked my voice becoming louder as I felt tears brim my eyes.

"I can't..... It's too hard to tell you once you find out the horrible thing that's wrong with your brother you'll be devastated!" She sobbed out as she cried into her hands.

"Kaa-san what's wrong with my brother, he's sick. But what's wrong with him." My body began to tremble and I began to cry.

No matter how hard or how she hit me I never sobbed or cried. I always stayed silent but now that I was being told that my brother was sick I felt my chest fill with a horrible emotion.

"Oh akumi, his illness is horrible. It's his tummy. If he eats too much his tummy will burst and he'll die." She stated and I bit my lip. "Like, like a balloon?" I ask my voice trembling and she slowly nodded.

"How, how can we fix my big brother?" I asked and she let out a long sigh. "The only way he will ever get better is that we watch how much he eats. He can only eat small amounts of food. You can do that right make sure Naruto doesn't eat?" She asked and I quickly nodded.

"Oh Akumi, but it will be hard for you. His illness makes his tummy hurt and makes him want to eat. He'll start crying and begging but you must promise me that you'll protect him from himself. You won't let your dear brother eat anything other than what I say." She started wiping her tears and holding onto my hands.

"I promise, I'll make sure nii-chan doesn't burst." I say sniffling and she kissed my forehead.

"Oh akumi, I knew I could count on you....... because I know you'll protect ... your brother."

____________

"You could say I had a pretty bad experience with a medic once. I learned medical ninjutsu to protect naruto... and so that I know and understand everything I'm being told. I hate relying on someone else's knowledge." I say looking down at my hands.

I balled my fist up as I felt the surge of guilt boil in the pit of my stomach. Just remembering how long I had made my brother suffer on some petty little lie made me mad.

What kind of illness makes people burst from eating too much food? Who'd believe starving was the cure to such a ridiculous illness? And who would despite seeing her brother on his death bed think she was saving him by nearly starving him to death.

"Oh, was it bad?" Sakura asked and I bit my lip. "Naruto barley made it out alive. To be honest when other medics saw him, they wondered why he was still alive. Told me he should've died a year prior. It was ...... Just forget it I don't want to talk about it." I say as I felt the brimming tears.

"I'm going to jog." I say wiping my eyes and hurrying away from her. I didn't want to know what she thought or her reaction, I just wanted to forget the memory completely.
____________

"Hello my cute little genins." I saw kakashi appear in the middle of the bridge. "You're late kakashi sensei!" Naruto yelled as Sasuke and he stomped their way to the bridge after finishing their spar.

"Now now I was busy signing you up for the chunin exams." He said smiling as he held up four sheets of paper.

"Ah man! Thanks kakashi sensei." Naruto smiled pouncing on top of sensei.

"Its already time for them again?" I asked cocking a brow.

"You might've not noticed the foreign genin, but yesterday Sasuke, naruto and I ran into one of the hidden sand genin group's." Sakura stated and I raised my brows.

"I had no idea. Well at least we can test our skills and improvements." I say smiling slightly although I couldn't help but feel concerned. Maybe Naruto should sit out this year.

"Nee-chan your making that face again." Naruto stopped his happy dance and frowned as he stared at me. "What? I'm not doing anything." I say crossing my arms. "But you were thinking of something. Everytime you are thinking of something and get concerned you make that face. Makes me wonder what you're plotting." He stated narrowing his eyes suspiciously.

"Tch, I'm not plotting anything." I say walking up to him and ruffling his hair. "Stop worrying about what I'm thinking. Just worry about yourself and getting stronger, leave all the worrying to me okay." I say giving him a bright smile, his frown deepened.

"You don't change nee-chan, it's like you never do stop worrying." He sighed and looked away. "So kakashi sensei when and where do we turn in these applications?" Naruto asked and kakashi gave him a one eyed smile.

"At the academy tomorrow before 3:00 p.m , just know I trust all of your abilities and hope you all decide to enter." He stated and poofed away.

"Well looks like we will be training extra hard." Sasuke smirked. We all look at each other smiling and nodding slightly. "Guess we will go team attacks and formations." Sakura stated smiling.

_______________
Short chapter but got my point across.

Timoro sama isn't crying because she cares about Naruto's so called sickness. It's more of a way to manipulate akumi. Please comment about what you think about the green leaf orphanage and their headmistress Timoro Detsume.

Rosymalik