Back to the story: Here is a recap. Chapter 1.2 - The Greatest Rivals!

Naruto and Sasuke will fight. Sasuke will try to kill him,
and will pull out the Level 2 Curse. Right when he is about to kill him,
Naruto will explode with chakra, and will begin to turn into the demon fox.
This time, he will sprout nine tails, red/orange fur, and will begin to
resemble a fox more than a boy. Note that somehow the seal is not broken yet
on Naruto. They will both go for one final assault on each other and unleash
an enormous amount of energy. This will create an enormous explosion and
demolish a whole bunch of land. The leaf genins will notice the explosion,
and
in Konoha village, people will see a flash of light on the horizon and wonder
what it is. Someone will mention that it is in the direction where the Genins
and Shikamaru left, and someone(s) will pray for the safety of the others or
start thinking about them ( I.E. The Hyuga family, Kiba's family, Shikamaru's
mother, Sakura for sure, Hinata for sure for Naruto and Neji, and probably
Gai, Jiraiya, Tsunade). Back where the Genins are, Shikamaru makes the
decision that they need someone to go see what that was but at the same time
they need to collect their wounded. Gaara goes on ahead, and what he sees
confirms the new beliefs that he holds. Naruto and Sasuke are still standing,
but suddenly Sasuke falls, defeated. He asks Naruto to kill him, and Naruto
calls him a moron and confesses that he will bring him back to the village
since he can't kill his friends. He also says he did not completely call the
Demon Fox for the reason that he didn't want to kill Sasuke. They manage to
make it back to Konoha with the help of Gaara. At this point, Gaara's opinion
of Naruto has grown. They get back and will both end up in the hospital for
awhile...

Chapter 1.3 - Return and the end of a quest

The Leafs and Co. Begin to head back to the village. As they leap through the
trees, they spot Neji on the ground. He is in extremely bad condition, but
still alive. Kiba takes out a blood-stopping pill and takes one for him and
one for Neji. Neji groans, but the bleeding stops and he starts to relax. Kidomaru is
starting to stir behind then. Temari and Kankuro immediately grab him by the
neck and question him. He laughs that Sasuke is already with Orochimaru and
they can't do anything. Kankuro and Temari laugh, say "Oh yeah?" and then
Kankuro knocks him
out with some paralysis poison from the puppet. He gets his other one out and
puts him in the other puppet, saying that they should interrogate this guy.
Shikamaru agrees, and then decides that they need to go and get Choji. They
find Choji, and are surprised at the carnage. Lee picks up Choji by the arm
and states that he is not dead, it is just his body has produced so much
chakra and expelled it that he will need to rest. They then all head back. As
they reach the gate, they are joined by Gaara, who has an unconscious and
bashed Sasuke and a shirtless, almost sad, looking Naruto, both supported by
Sand Clones. They ask him what happened with the explosion. He said that it
was a big fight and did not say with whom, only that the fighters (Sasuke's
Level 2 form and the Naruto-Demon Fox being) are gone. They enter Konoha, and
immediately people start to stare and shout that the Genins are back. Sakura
and Tsunade immediately runs up to great them, while others like Hinata and
the families stay back some. She is shocked to see everyone, especially
Sasuke and Naruto, battered. She asks what happens, and the only response she
gets is from Gaara who said that "There were some problems convincing him to
return (referring to Sasuke), but he fine now". Hinata watches and
thinks "Naruto-kun..." Shikamaru cuts everyone off stating that they are
happy to see them, but if they don't hurry, someone will die (he says this
while sounding like his old self, which makes Temari Chuckle to herself).
They all then head to the hospital, where the Leaf Team is put in care
immediately. Kidomaru is taken to the hospital escorted by 3 ANBU captains.

Chapter 2.1 - Far away

Everyone is currently in the hospital. In the Lobby, Sakura loudly berates a
worker for not letting her in to see the others. The worker says that the
patients are still too damaged to see anyone. Sakura yells that it has been 2
days since they returned, so why can't she see Naruto or anyone else. The
worker says that she may see the others, but not Sasuke or Naruto. Hinata
shows up and timidly asks if she could see Naruto. Sakura notices that she
has a geranium (flower of determination) in her hand and asks if that is for
Naruto. Hinata blushes a furious red, and says yes. Sakura is surprised, and
tells her that the flower suites her. Hinata looks up at Sakura in surprise
and says thank-you. The worker then tells them that they still can't see
Sasuke or Naruto. He then says, "Physically, those two have recovered and
their internal structures are fine. However, they can get no response from
them mentally. This is the best way to put it...(Pan to shot of a shocked
Sakura and Hinata) It's like they are here, yet there minds are lost in
another world. (Pan to picture of Naruto and Sasuke in separate rooms lying
in a bed with their eyes open, but glazed as if in far-off thought.

Chapter 2.2 - Neji's achievements

Three days later....

Neji is dreaming in his mind. He remembers the words that Naruto spoke to him
during the Chuunin exam and the fight he had between him and Kidomaru. He
then thinks or his father and family, smiles that his father had been right
before, and then he thinks of all his friends, and how everyone is strong and
they respect him. He hears a voice that he thinks is his father telling him
to awaken to the light. He opens his eyes to find Hiyashi Hyuga standing
over, smiling and asking if he is okay. Hinata and Hinabi are with him as
well. He says that he is fine and sits up. He winces slightly and looks at
the points where the arrows pierced him. The holes are gone, but there is a
scar in place. Hiyashi said that he had been out for five days and they were
extremely worried about him. He then takes a box out of his robes and says
that Neji desires this now since he has proved himself beyond anything else.
Neji opens it and finds his father's headband and a note saying that if he
got this, he would have excelled beyond anything he had hoped. Neji is
overcome with emotion. Hiyashi says that he needs to return to the Hyuga house
when he is completely ready. He ends the sentence with the address
of "beloved nephew", smiles and leaves. Hinabi follows him, and Hinata asks
him if he is fine. He says he is fine and thanks Hinata for her concern. She
smiles. He suddenly remembers the mission and asks if they got Sasuke back.
Hinata says they did. Neji asks why she suddenly looks so sad. She says that
Naruto-kun was badly hurt and seems to have suffered some mental damage and
will not come "to this world". Neji looks down thoughtfully. He then says
that if anyone can return, it is him. Hinata looks up, and agrees with him
with a smile and a prayer.

Chapter 2.3 and more to come next time!
Choji's new strength, Shikamaru's new purpose in life, Kiba's determination,
the Sands new conviction, and the terrible secret behind the condition of the
rivals!