The Red Tiger Flash, A Dark Past Revealed

Chapter 67: A Bloody Escape

(Blood mentioned throughout the chapter in multitude; viewer discretion advised)

Hana's eyes were wide, as she stared at Sakura.

"And I was just working on her when she just vanished! I have no idea what happened...but Kakashi sensei is pretty messed up..." Sakura said as Hana raised an eyebrow.

"Rose sensei just vanished? Was she alive when you were still healing her?" Hana questioned as Sakura looked down.

"No..."

Naruto gritted his teeth, as he clenched his fists tightly.

"Rose sensei has a special ability, she can form into shadows just by touching them. But there's no way she could have just formed into one if she was dead...unless..." Hana's eyes widened as she shook her head.

"What is it, Hana?" Naruto asked hesitantly, not daring to make eye contact with Hana.

"Well its just, it could have been one of her clones-" Hana started but she was cut off.

"Impossible. There was...there was a ton of blood. It definitely wasn't a clone." Sakura said as Hana gritted her teeth, covering up the pain that resided in her stomach.

"Well, I don't know a whole lot, but there almost like a kinda of genjutsu, but clones? I don't know how to explain it exactly. But when a clone is killed, which rarely happens unless the connection between her and the clone is disrupted, it forms back into the shadows. Almost like how a shadow clone disappears in a poof of smoke." Hana said as Naruto nodded.

"It couldn't have been! I saw what..." Sakura lowered her voice, "What kakashi sensei did to her. There's no way it was a clone. Maybe your head is messed up from what Sasuke did."

Naruto clenched his fist tightly as Hana narrowed her eyes.

"I'm perfectly fine." Hana said as Sakura growled slightly.

"How can you be fine after something like that?! His arm was literally through your stomach!" Sakura yelled as Hana stared at Sakura.

"Shut up, Sakura. I'm not an idiot. My theory is probably correct, but we won't know till later." Hana said monotonously as Naruto clenched his teeth.

"How can you be so-so heart less?" Naruto questioned as Hana looked at him with a blank face. "Rose sensei is dead and you don't even have a shred of sadness on your face!"

Hana stood up, gritting her teeth as she looked away from Naruto.

"Because I have hope. Hope that she's still alive. I know Rose sensei wouldn't-"

"Hana...I know how you feel. Rose sensei was like a mother to you. But, I'm sorry to say, but I-I felt her heart stop." Sakura choked out as her eyes welled up.

"She's not..." Hana said, but there was clear doubt in her voice as Naruto rested a hand on her shoulder.

"Hana-"

Hana shrugged Naruto's hand away, as she shook her head.

"I refuse to believe she's dead. I'm not losing anyone else. Rose sensei is strong, I'm sure what I saw was just, was just a genjutsu. It can't be real." Hana was in severe denial.

"Look, Hana, about what I said earlier..." Naruto trailed off as Hana chuckled dryly.

"Naruto, I understand. What you said...just forget it. I've heard those words so many times in my life..." Hana turned around, her back facing Naruto. "I just didn't expect them to come from you."

Hana walked away, slightly limping as she groaned.

Hana's arm throbbed painfully, sharp pains running through her stomach as she gritted her teeth.