Gessen Instructor Pt. 4

The Gessen elite team had confined themselves to their ninja room for two days and awaited a response from Hanzou. The old man had promised he would be right there when they needed him but he was unusually quiet. As if to confirm the girls suspicions Hajime was absent from the academy. His room was still furnished with his goods but he had the convenient excuse of being called away on official business right as his loyalty was in question.

 

The girls sat together and contemplated their next move. Murakumo was worn from guarding over the the other girls during the night and could easily have put her mask on and drifted away and Minori was eager for a fight "That dummy said awful things."

 

"Can we really let that slide? Gramps is the reason we are who we are" Shiki wondered.

 

Yozakura was the only one to even remotely advocate for Hajime "What worries me is: what if it's true?"

 

"Being a shinobi means knowing death and-" Murakumo yawned "-Kurokage had a lot of scars that he could never explain."

 

"If it were just a misunderstand than perhaps it would be easy" Yozakura mused "but if it's true..."

 

Shiki's gave a concerned look "You don't think he'd actually try to kill us do you?"

 

Murakumo rubbed her eyes "He was friendly and pleasant with us but we don't know if he had a secret motive."

 

Confused Minori bounced between the girls "So are we gonna play shinobi when he shows up or not?"

 

Yumi, who had been silent up until now, merely uttered the words "What would Kurokage want?" She had the most to lose as, unlike the other girls, she was his flesh and blood and his legacy. Would agonised over whether to make amends for her family's past of defend her family's honor.

 

Hours later there was a commotion at the entrance reserved for the elite team. Hajime had returned and he shuffled and stumbled his way up the walkway like a drunkard and clutched his side. The girls ran out to intercept him and a flight of steps separated them. Hajime leaned against bricks and struggled with beleaguered breaths. His body was covered in scrapes, bruises and gashes and his pupils were dilated. He was in no condition to fight and even his own students could strike him down with ease.

 

Yumi demanded an answer "Why did you return through this way? We told you to stay clear."

 

"Maybe I was getting sentimental or desperate." Hajime's voice was soft and hoarse "Or maybe the blood loss is starting to affect me."

 

Blood loss?

 

"What are you talking about?" Yumi asked.

 

"Hey Yumi-chin, he's not looking good!" Shiki tugged at Yumi's sleeve and pointed out injuries.

 

"Yozakura you have strong hands right?" Hajime raised his arm to reveal a bloodied bandage "Could you put pressure on this?"

 

The girls were taken aback and Yozakura leaped down the flight of stairs to tend to his gaping wound she held on tight but blood was seeping through "I can't stop it!"

 

"Don't worry there's certain techniques for prolonging ones life. I'm not going away just yet." Hajime rested an arm on Yozakura's shoulders and limped forward "Perhaps someday I'll teach you."

 

Hajime only made a few steps forward before he collapsed to all fours. Yozakura tried to pull him back to his feet and the other girls raced down the steps to help. The girls had never seen such severe injuries and as they tried to treat him there was commotion and panic but a familiar voice cut through and brought peace; Hanzou had arrived just in time and judging by his point of entry it appeared he had been following Hajime.