Rabbit Princess [Gaara] [1]

☾ 49 ☽

But Naruto managed to get up the next morning. Once he had gotten dressed, Naruto and Tsukiko decided they would head out to the training area and see one last time for sure that he had managed to perfect his Rasengan execution when they come across something very curious in the hotel’s hallway.  

Shizune was laying on the floor, curled up, and Tonton was squeaking around her.

For a moment, Tsukiko wondered if Tsunade had kicked the younger woman out of the room last night and caused her to sleep in the hallway.  

“Excuse me?” Tsukiko muttered as she crouched down next to the woman and poked her slightly. “Are you all right?” There was no response and Tsukiko wondered if she was knocked out or something. “Usa, are you alive?” 

Shizune cracked her eyes open.  

“Tsukiko-Kun? Naruto-Kun?” Shizune asked groggily. Then, she jumped up rapidly. “Oh, no! What time is it? No, what day is it?!” 
Tsukiko and Naruto shared a look of confusion.   

“It’s only Monday, Usa,” Tsukiko answered. “Is everything all right with you? How long were you supposed to be sleeping out here?” 

Shizune seemed more surprised at Naruto being awake.  

“Is your body okay?” Shizune asked Naruto. “As I recall, you were supposed to sleep for two full days...” Naruto took off the bandage that Tsukiko had put on his injury.  

“No matter what the wound, I’m always able to recover if I sleep one night, dattebayo!” Naruto answered. Tsukiko nodded. Shizune seemed to realise she was looking at two Jinchuriki. “More importantly, where’s that stupid old woman?! Today is the promised bet day!”  

“Then, what about that Jutsu...” Shizune started. 
 
“Well, it’s not complete still, but I can wing it!” Naruto said. Tsukiko snorted. “Believe it!” Shizune tried to laugh but seemed to be in pain. Then, she rushed toward the nearest window.  

“Tsukiko-Kun, Naruto-Kun, please stay...” Shizune said as he slid open the window only to find a Kunai fly past. 

Tsukiko and Naruto rushed over to see who it was and found a dishevelled and weak Jiraiya. 

“Wait, Shizune!” Jiraiya said. Tsukiko, Naruto and Shizune jumped out of the window and toward him to see what had happened to him. “That darned Tsunade spiked my drink. I can’t build up my Chakra well... and my body is so numb, I can barely throw a Kunai!”   

“That’s lame!” Naruto said. “Here you’re always bragging about how you’re this awesome Ninja! And you’re nailed by her perverted attack? You, Pervy, Pervy Sage?!” 
 
“Shut up!” Jiraiya said. Tsukiko shook her head at the two idiots. “Even if she’s rotten, she’s still a medical specialist. She’s the only one who could concoct a tasteless and odourless drug for Ninja. But to think I'd be caught off-guard, no matter how intoxicated I was...”  

Tsukiko looked at Shizune, who seemed to be holding back something with great difficulty. But then they moved to stabilise Jiraiya by giving him water and the look had vanished from Shizune’s face. Tsukiko wondered what was going on.  

“How are you feeling, Jiraiya-Sama?” Shizune asked of the Toad Sage once Jiraiya had finished drinking the water. He moved his glass to have more water and Shizune poured more water to him.  

“Quite a bit better than this morning, I guess,” Jiraiya answered. “But be that as it may, maybe around thirty percent...” 

Tsukiko looked up, feeling as if they were being watched but saw no one. She was about to use her Byakugan when Jiraiya’s words distracted her, “Hey, Shizune! It’s about time you tell me what the hck she was talking about with Orochimaru,”