Amaya POV
I regained consciousness, having to close my eyes quickly because of the blinding light where I was. Unlike what I was used to upon waking, I wasn't submerged in my tank.
I felt I was lying down, on something like a table, but much less uncomfortable. I heard footsteps nearby, and with that, I opened my eyes quickly.
I didn't recognize the place I was in, so the last memories before I passed out came back to me: Minato and Sakumo. They saved me, I thought. If I wasn't mistaken, Minato had said they were taking me to Konoha.
But had that really happened?
I scanned my surroundings and saw a silhouette in white to my left.
– You're already awake…? – she asked, more to herself than to me, and I stared at her.
The woman came closer, without sudden movements, and stopped by a dresser beside the bed. She had medium-length dark hair, tied back.
She fiddled with something on the dresser and I noticed a surgical kit there. There were scalpels and also syringes. She picked up one of the latter and raised it to eye level, analyzing it briefly.
At that instant, my heart raced. The sounds around me dimmed and my breathing quickened. Instinctively, I froze. I saw the woman's lips moving, but I couldn't hear anything.
That wasn't real? I thought. Am I still serving as an experiment? No, I don't want to go through that again…! But unlike during the usual tests, I wasn't under the effect of any tranquilizer.
I'm fully conscious, I realized, and my body is responding. The woman stepped away from the dresser and toward a cabinet, turning her back to me. I won't get another chance, I thought. I know what I have to do…
I slid silently off the bed, my feet touching the cold floor. I crept to the dresser and grabbed one of the scalpels.
One strike, ten centimeters below the groin. That'll hit her femoral artery. If she doesn't stop the bleeding, in two minutes she'll be dead. That'll give me enough time to escape.
That was the only vital point I could reach, given my size, but it was enough. I moved quickly and silently toward the woman, who was still turned away.
When she spun around, she immediately noticed me right there. Her face turned to shock. Without hesitation, I lunged. She wouldn't be able to dodge or stop me. It was going to be a sure strike.
For a split second, I saw her close her eyes. Then I felt something grab my wrist. I looked at the scalpel, halted just millimeters from the woman. A hand was holding me back. I turned and saw Minato.
– Amaya-chan! – It was only then that his voice cut through the fog in my ears.
I looked at the blond and then at the woman I had tried to attack. Her face was full of fear, the same I felt during the experiments. So… she wasn't one of them? I thought, dazed.
My fingers loosened and the scalpel clattered onto the floor with a metallic echo. The woman backed away from me and Minato in a rush, leaving the room without hesitation.
– Amaya-chan, do you realize what you were about to do?! – Minato asked, his voice raised. I met his eyes – If I hadn't arrived in time, you would have killed that woman!
– I–I… – I whispered, lowering my gaze – I thought she was one of them…
– Who? – he asked, and I looked back at him.
– One of the ones who ran the experiments – Minato's expression softened instantly, and he released my wrist.
__________________________________________________________________________
After the incident, Minato stayed with me in the room. He explained that I was in Konoha's hospital and that they were running tests to make sure I was okay.
I asked him if any of the other children like me had survived. With clear sorrow in his voice, he told me they hadn't managed to save any others alive.
He asked me not to dwell on it for now, because the priority was my recovery.
A few days had passed since then, and since the incident, that nurse had not come back into my room. The others also avoided it unless Minato was with me.
Usually, he stayed through the morning and part of the afternoon. The rest of the day, he said he had "important matters" to deal with. I didn't talk much, nor ask many questions, just accepting things until I could make sense of them.
It was around 3 p.m. Minato had left half an hour earlier. No one would enter or speak to me until evening, when they brought food to the patients in this wing.
I was sitting at the large window of the room, my legs dangling outside. A soft breeze blew, tossing my short hair.
I lifted my eyes toward the village, watching the houses that seemed so far from the hospital. How many people live here? I wondered absently.
I tilted my face up to the sky, closing my eyes, feeling the setting sun on my skin. This warmth, I thought, so different from the endless cold of my old life.
– You shouldn't sit there – I heard someone say calmly, and I turned toward the voice – People might think you want to jump.
At the door stood someone about my height. I can't see well from here, I thought, but it looks like a boy.
He walked in and stopped beside me. Unlike with adults, I didn't freeze at his presence or feel fear. He's like me, I thought. He reminds me of the other children…
Now that he was closer, I could see better: dark, slightly messy hair, large black eyes, and dark blue clothes. He studied me just as I studied him.
– Your hair… – he said quietly – You're the second person I've seen with hair like that. But yours is a bit darker – He looked me straight in the eyes – Can I touch it?
I nodded faintly. He raised his hand slowly and I tracked it with my eyes, not moving. His fingers brushed through my hair, and his expression shifted to mild confusion.
– You've got a strand of a different color – he said, and smiled weakly – Same color as my hair.
He turned his attention back to my hair, still smiling faintly. Why isn't he like the others? I wondered. Why doesn't he fear me like the adults?
– What's wrong? – the boy asked, and I looked at him – Your face looked sad.
– You… – I whispered – You're not afraid of me?
– And why would I be? – he asked, tilting his head slightly.
– The adults here are – I said softly.
– Maybe it's your expression – I stared at him, not understanding – You look unfriendly.
– Unfriendly? – I asked, more confused.
– Yeah. Like someone who doesn't talk much – he explained casually – You haven't smiled once. Maybe that's why people avoid you.
– Maybe… – I said quietly – Or maybe it's because of the nurse I attacked – My hands tightened at the memory of her terrified face.
– Did you mean to? – the boy asked after a pause. I looked at him again – Did you attack her because you liked it or for another reason?
– For another reason.
– Then you should try apologizing.
– Apologizing? What's that? – The boy laughed.
– You really are different – he said, and I frowned in confusion.
– Is that a good thing?
– For you, yeah.
– Could you explain more things to me? Like what "apologizing" is?
– Only if you smile first – he said – I can't keep talking while you look like that.
I felt a small smile tug at my lips. The boy grinned back and sat on the window ledge beside me. He looked out at the village, then back at me.
– By the way, I'm Shisui. Shisui Uchiha – He extended his hand, and I looked at it, confused – This is called a handshake. You do it when you meet someone new – I raised my hand as he did, and he shook it lightly – What's your name?
– Amaya – I said, meeting his eyes.
– Amaya what?
– Just… Amaya – He shrugged.
– Well then, "Just Amaya" – he laughed softly – I'll explain what "apologizing" means. – I nodded faintly.
At that moment, anyone watching would think I was just another child. Talking with Shisui reminded me of how I felt with Minato – his normality toward me.
Shisui had to leave after a while, but before going, he told me not to worry so much about what others thought. His words were sincere, and they calmed me.
The next morning, Minato came as usual. I was sitting on the hospital bed, him in a chair nearby. He seemed a bit restless, like something was on his mind.
– Minato-san? – I called, and he looked at me.
– Yes?
– You want to ask me something? – He seemed surprised at my sudden question, then sighed.
– I know it might be hard for you to talk about… – He looked at his hands – But how did you know exactly which vital point to hit to incapacitate someone? – He paused – I'll understand if you don't want to… – I cut him off.
– They taught us – I said calmly, and he looked up.
– Taught you? What do you mean?
– Besides experiments, they implanted information in us. From what I remember, they said it would be useful for us.
– What kind of information?
Before I could answer, someone appeared at the door. I recognized the nurse I had tried to attack. Fear was still written clearly on her face.
– Nurse Yumi-san… – Minato said, and she looked at him – Is something wrong?
– The test results are ready – she said – Could we talk outside for a moment?
Minato glanced at me briefly, gave a faint smile, and stood, heading for the door.
– Yumi-san… – I said, making both her and Minato look at me – Please… forgive me – I lowered my head slightly, as Shisui had taught me.
I looked at the nurse. Her face was now a mix of confusion and lingering fear. Minato smiled faintly and stepped outside with her.
It's just like Shisui said, I thought. Apologizing is a way to reconcile or fix misunderstandings, but people won't always forgive you. Still, I feel less heavy now.
Minato and Yumi stayed outside for a while. I couldn't hear their words, and even though I wanted to know, I didn't try to listen.
I'd learned a lot from Shisui that day, and like Minato, I decided to see him as someone to follow — someone who made me feel okay. Will I see Shisui again? I wondered. I'd like to ask him more things.
Minutes later, Minato came back alone. He seemed distant, standing there, staring at nothing.
– Minato-san…? – I called, and he snapped back to himself.
– Sorry… – he said with a faint smile – Amaya-chan, can you wait a few minutes? I'll be right back.
– Is there a problem with my tests?
– No, no… – he said quickly – On the contrary. But I need to take you somewhere different today, so I have to get you some clothes – I looked at him, confused.
– These clothes don't work? – He laughed softly.
– Hospital gowns aren't really worn outside hospitals – I nodded slightly, still not fully understanding – I'll be back in a moment.
The next second, Minato vanished right before my eyes. I kept staring at the spot where he had been, stunned. He disappeared…? How? A few minutes later, he reappeared, holding a package.
– Here we go – he said, coming toward me.
– How…? – I asked, and he looked confused – How did you do that? You were here, then suddenly gone… – He covered his face with his hand and chuckled.
– Of course, no wonder you're confused – he said – That's my version of the Flying Thunder God Technique – the blond stopped by the bed – It lets me teleport to any place I've marked with a special seal.
– Amazing… – I whispered, and he held out the package.
– I think these clothes will suit you – he said, scratching his head – Times like this, I wish Kushina were here to help me – he added softly, a small smile crossing his face.
– Kushina-san is someone you like? – I asked, and he looked at me, slightly flushed – I learned that when people talk about someone they like, they smile quietly, like you just did.
– Yes, she's someone I like – Minato smiled faintly – You'll see when you meet her. She's on a mission now, but she'll be back soon – He looked at me – Now go change, and then we'll head out. – I nodded slightly.