Can you save me…from myself?

Prolouge: The Return

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or any related items, just the storyline.

Genre: Romance/Action/Drama

Pairs: Naruto/Hinata (Main) Neji/Tenten, Sakura/Sasuke, Ino/Shikamaru, Temari/Shikamaru

Author's Notes: I'll attempt to keep as much to their personalities as possible, though their personalities may change throughout the story. Also, this story focuses are Naruto and Hinata, the others may or may not appear throughout the story, the pairs are simply listed to display for the readers which characters will be with whom in this story.

First, a quick review of Japanese:

"-san", "-kun", "-senpai", "-sama", "-chan". "-sennin", "-sensei": These are honorific titles, meant to show the relationship between two people and used much like Mr., Mrs., Lady, Lord. etc in English. I'll go from formal to informal.

"-Sennin" – the equivalent of master. It can be used either by a servant to their master or to call someone the master of something. For example, Jiraiya is the 'Gama-sennin', or Frog Master.

"-Sama"- is the equivalent of Lord or Lady, depending on who it is pertaining to.

"-Sensei" – Literally, teacher.

"-San" - symbolizes that you know the person and respect them, but they aren't a 'close friend'. This is used either between an adult and a child, from child to parent, employee to boss, or between two people who know one another but are not close.

"-Senpai" – Senpai is used between students. A younger student will call an older 'Senpai' to show seniority. This is between two close people and since it shows seniority, it is almost exclusively used with a younger student (such as in a school) to an older. Pronounced "Sen-pie"

"-Kun"- This is used between two friends, usually two close friends or people who like one another. Though it is not male only, it is usually used for males as –chan implies femininity. This can also be used between family members (brothers, father to son)

"-Chan" – Chan is usually used for girls, especially between friends and implies femininity. Rarely does it apply to men, unless it is an insult or teasing. Chan can also be used like Kun between two people who like one another (boyfriend/girlfriend). This can also be used between family members (sisters, mom to daughter)

-Notes-

Family names come first (Hyuuga Hinata) and if you address someone by their first name it implies familiarity or closeness.

-Letters are sometimes pronounced differently in Japanese Romanji.-

"A" is pronounced 'aw' (awful)

"E" is pronounced 'eh' (met)

"I" is pronounced 'ee' (meet)

"O" is pronounced 'oh' (cold) or 'oo' (mood, usually at the end of a word/name. Kimimaro (Kee-mee-mar-oo)

'U' is almost never pronounced, or pronounced very little, when using the syllable 'su' (and in some other cases). For example, Naruto is 'Nar-to' (special case) and Sasuke is 'Sas-kay' (syllable 'su'). However, when two are used, it makes 'u' pronounced 'you' (Hyuuga) or 'oo' (mood). For example, Hyuuga is pronounced 'Ha-you-ga' (y is not a vowel)

"Ei" is not pronounced 'ay'. It is a longated 'e' as in 'met'

"R" is pronounced as 'dd' in 'Eddy'. It is used to substitute for the 'l' sound in foreign words.

"G" is always like 'gone', never 'gin'

"Ch'" is always like 'chocolate', never 'charade'

"Y" can't be a vowel. Therefore, another vowel is added. Instead of 'Toy-o-ta' it is 'To-yo-ta'. It can also be used as slide between two letters, such as in Hyuuga or Tokyo.

Please note: This is an in English examples with Romanji using the English alphabet

-Japanese Words-

Gomen (nasai) (ne) - (I'm) sorry

Arigato, Doumo – Thank you

Hai – yes

Iya or Ile – no

Kawaii – Cute, adorable, lovable

Kage – Shadow

Aishiteru – I love you

Ano, Eto – Used like 'um' or 'er', a pause word used to display hesitancy

Hentai – Pervert, Perverted

Linazuke – Fiancé

Baka – Idiot

Masaka – Impossible, This can't be happening

Nani? – What?

Ohayou, Koniichiwa, Konbanwa – Good Morning/Afternoon/Evening

Itadakimasu – I receive (Before eating a meal)

Banzai, Kanpai – Hooray! Cheers! Good luck!

Sumimasen – Excuse me… (Can be used to get someone's attention. "Sumimasen, Are you Naruto?")

Mata ne – See you, Later, Cya (Casual)

Han - half

Kuso – Sh.t

Check http:www.learn-japanese.info/ for more info, vocabulary, or learning Japanese. I hope that helps some pronunciation errors or misunderstanding in this story or others. Please note that all references are based on English. Any other language will be difficult to compare to.

"" – Talking

Italics – Thoughts, or emphasis

(AN:….) – is an Author's Note

PoV Name – is a point of view change. These will be few and far between, as I prefer third person. However, important chapters or drama related ones may have PoV changes.

- Is a scene change.

This story starts shortly before Naruto fails to bring back Sasuke. The first chapter is simply an introduction and a kind-of 'catch-up' on what's happened so far. I hope the fight scene is okay.

-Ryuu


Hinata stood on the wall near the north gate, looking out at the forest in dismay and quietly wiping the tears from her eyes. Her father had been angry at her again after she lost to Hanabi-chan… She sighed and looked at the ground sadly. She had been coming here the last few days after she had fights with her father, waiting for him to come back. Her father had always hated her, her clan hated her… she even hated herself for being so weak. But he had never hated her. He had never thought she was weak. N-naruto-kun, I hope you're okay… Hinata thought, looking out at the trees waving in the wind as she sighed again and settled in for another night of waiting. She'd wait forever, if that's what it took.

Flashback

Hinata could have sworn she felt her neck crack as her father's slap fell across her face. She reigned in her tears, knowing that she would only receive another slap if she displayed any weakness.

"You're 12 years old and you can't even beat your seven year old sister. Perhaps you're not worthy to be the heir, you couldn't lead this clan even if you were strong. You're worthless, I can't believe I raised a daughter this weak!" Her father's face looked down on her in scorn and anger as she held her cheek, which was slowly turning red from the force of the slap.

"G-gomen n-nasai, otou-san …" Hinata replied as she looked at the floor, holding back her tears.

"That's all I ever hear from you. 'I'm sorry, father'. Stop apologizing!" He glared at her and looked ready to hit her again, the hatred in his blank eyes seemed apparent to Hinata.

"I-I'll become stronger O-otou-san…"

"So you always say, but I never hear anything but promises. Remove yourself from my sight immediately! I have no wish to look upon failures."

"H-hai, Otou-san…" Hinata sniffed and ran out into the night, the tears running down her face in rivets as she ran.

End Flashback

And so she sat here, up on the wall, looking out on the north forest in hopes that Naruto would return soon. The tears escaped from her eyes again and she tried futilely to wipe the away. She'd always be weak, she knew, nothing would ever change that. Hinata sighed again and allowed the tears to fall, beginning to sing quietly to herself and she stared at the empty, hopeless forest in front of her. The song was one she had known since childhood, the only lullaby she had ever learned. Her grandmother as she had told her that her mother had died giving her birth and that this song had been written only a few days before she died. Father, Hanabi-chan, and the whole clan hated it because of the memories it brought up. But to Hinata, it was her only comfort in a world where everyone hated her, including herself.

Ue o muite arukou
Namida ga kobore nai you ni
Omoidasu haru no hi
Hitoribotchi no yoru

Ue o muite arukou
Nijinda hoshi o kazoete
Omoidasu natsu no hi
Hitoribotchi no yoru

Shiawase wa kumo no ue ni
Shiawase wa sora no ue ni

Ue o muite arukou
Namida ga kobore nai you ni
Nakinagara aruku
Hitoribotchi no yoru

Omoidasu aki no hi
Hitoribotchi no yoru

Kanashimi wa hoshi no kage ni
Kanashimi wa tsuki no kage ni

Ue o muite arukou
Namida ga kobore nai you ni
Nakinagara aruku
Hitoribotchi no yoru

(Translation at bottom of chapter)

Hinata sighed and looked at the waving trees once again, her heart feeling desolate and alone as she hoped and prayed for his return. She knew that she'd wait for him forever if she had to.

But she'd never tell him…


Naruto grinned.

Here he was, fighting his rival, his brother, his friend. A fight he had waited his whole life for! Well, maybe not his whole life, but ever since he met Sasuke. A fight to decide who was stronger, once and for all. All thoughts of bringing Sasuke back, of his promise to Sakura, of anything was instantly forgotten the moment this fight started. The fight was everything. All that mattered was winning.

"I'll beat you Sasuke! I'll prove to you I'm not a failure! I'm going to be Hokage!" Naruto shouted into the trees where he thought Sasuke was hiding, following his words up with a few kunai and rushing in after them, another kunai ready to attack Sasuke. He jumped through the bushes and found…

A log…

He turned around as quickly as he could, looking around wildly but he didn't see Sasuke anywhere.

"You shouldn't yell out and give your position away, baka…" The voice came from behind him and he swung around wildly, shocked to see Sasuke standing behind him with a quiet smirk on his face.

"There's a difference between me and you, Naruto. You can't defeat me. And now, I'll show you why... Curse Seal Release: Level 2." Black symbols immediately began to cover half of Sasuke's body and his eyes flashed red from the Sharingan, the power flowing off him in waves. Naruto stepped back, surprised. Sasuke smirked and pulled out a kunai, rushing at him.

Kuso…He's too fast… Naruto thought right before Sasuke's blow slammed into him, the kunai penetrating deep into his stomach. Sasuke whirled around began to pummel Naruto with blows, hitting a few major points before ending with a kick that sent him into a nearby tree. The resounding crack echoed as the tree broke and Naruto slid to the base of it, hitting the ground hard.

Naruto groaned and coughed up blood as he struggled to stand up again, looking over at Sasuke. Kuso…What am I gonna do? I'm still exhausted from my fight with Kimimaro… And I don't know if I can tap into the Kyuubi's chakra… But if I don't, he'll beat me! Naruto's thoughts were interrupted as Sasuke advanced on him again, forcing him to move. He was barely able to move out of the way before Sasuke's fist slammed into the tree, destroying what was left of it, and still got clipped at Sasuke spun around quickly and aimed a kick at him. I've got to tap into Kyuubi… It's my only hope… But how! Naruto held his palms together and closed his eyes, concentrating on the flow of chakra with-in himself and finding the Kyuubi's chakra in his center, near the seal. But he couldn't get at it. Naruto concentrated harder, and suddenly the Kyuubi's chakra ran through him. He could feel the chakra building up inside him and overflowing him as his eyes changed to red, cat-like slits. He reopened his eyes to see Sasuke staring at him from a few feet away, smirking.

"Huh... another new trick of yours, Naruto? Or just another pathetic attempt to make yourself less of a failure?"

"I don't need any new tricks to kick your ass, Sasuke!"

"Baka… Don't be so overconfident. The only thing that will do for you..," Sasuke rushed at him, advancing with shurikens and pulling out a kunai as he went, "…Is get you killed!" Naruto pulled the kunai out of his stomach and brought it up just in time to block Sasuke's attack. Naruto twisted his body and spun lower, sweeping a kick underneath Sasuke's feat. Sasuke dodged, bringing the blunt end of his kunai down on Naruto's head at the same time Naruto angled his own bloody shuriken up into Sasuke's chest. They broke apart and jumped back, both breathing heavily, Sasuke nursing a chest wound and Naruto one on his head. (AN: Though with his thick skull, it's doubtful that he noticed ;) ) Sasuke growled, looking annoyed and Naruto just grinned.

"We're evenly matched Sasuke!"

"No, Naruto. We will never be evenly matched. I…" Sasuke looked up at him, his red eyes flashing as he looked into Naruto's same and yet opposite ones, "Will kill you…" Sasuke hands flew together in a flurry of seals. His eyes concentrated on Naruto who had begun his own seals, his hands flying together in motions Sasuke had seen him use in nearly every battle he had ever fought. Heh… So predictable Naruto…

"Katon Housenka…"

"Kage Bunshin no Justu!"

Hundreds on Naruto's clones appeared in front of Sasuke, grinning at him. Their faces changed to shock as Sasuke's fireballs flew out at them, making them all change to smoke as soon as they were touched.

"You're too predictable Naruto. Even a blind fool could see you were going to use that Jutsu. However, now it's too late for you…"

From out of the smoke had appeared the shurikens that had been hidden with-in the fireballs, too many to dodge. Kuso… Naruto threw off two shurikens and dived to the side just as the shurikens reached him. Half the shurikens hit him full force and he was thrown back, his body flying along the ground and landing against the tree once again. Sasuke easily deflected the two shurikens onto the ground near him and stared at Naruto's bloody body.

"It's over Naruto…."

"Kage Shuriken no Jutsu!"

What… Kuso…! Sasuke cursed under his breath and spun around as the 'Naruto' he had been looking at disappeared in a puff of smoke. Naruto stood behind him, grinning as he picked up the other shuriken he had thrown. He twirled it in his hand, grinning wider as he yelled at Sasuke.

"Ero-sennin taught me a few good tricks, Sasuke."

"Feh… So you were able to dodge it Naruto, congratulations…" Sasuke rolled his eyes but cursed at himself. How the hell could I have missed him! Fooled by Naruto, of all the…, "Well, Naruto, let's finish this…" Sasuke held one hand by his wrist and it began to glow, the power flowing off it in waves. Naruto grinned and summoned another clone, preparing his own technique.

"This is the end Naruto…"

"For you, Sasuke! Rasengan!"

"Chidori!"

The two rushed at one another, their attacks combining with explosive force. Jiraiya and Kakashi were not there to stop them this time and the resounding force knocked them both off their feet, destroying everything nearby in the process. The trees around them blackened instantly, as if burned, and everything was cleared down to solid rock for a hundred feet around.

As the smoke cleared, Naruto looked up from where he had been thrown forcefully into a tree, almost fifty feet away. His body was bloody and beaten, covered in cuts, bruises, and barely able to stand. Sasuke lay against another tree across from him, not in much better shape. He attempted to stand wearily and fell to his knees, coughing up blood. He glared at Naruto, his eyes showing nothing more or less than pure hatred.

"Kirigakure no Jutsu…" The clearing was enveloped in mist and Naruto could vaguely make out another ninja walking over to Sasuke and pick him up, slinging him across his back. Naruto felt rather than saw Sasuke look over at him from across the clearing.

"G…Give up…..and go…home, Naruto…. You can't save people from themselves…."

Naruto blinked as the darkness began to close in around his eyes. No… I can…I will save them… I promised…Sakura-chan, forgive me… The darkness closed in around him and the last things he saw were Sasuke's Sharingan eyes reflected in the mist.


Hinata gasped.

Something was wrong. Naruto was supposed to be back two days ago and a team of jounin who had had been sent out this morning to look for them. But she could feel it in her heart, something was wrong. The sun had just set an hour ago and the jounin were still not back. Naruto-kun…

Just then she heard shouting by the gate and calls for a medic. Oh… N-no… Naruto-kun! Hinata ran over to the north gate where the team of jounins was standing, out of breath and looking haggard. On five stretchers were laid out Shikamaru, Neji-onee-san, Kiba-kun, Chouji, and… Naruto-kun… Hinata hung off to the side and watched as they were carried them all to the hospital. All were bloody and beaten, but Naruto looked worse of all, his clothing stained so much that it almost looked red. She could hear the medics whispering about how he might not make it and fear jolted her heart. Oh God… Please let Naruto-kun be alright!


Hokage-sama! Hokage-sama!"

"Whaaat! Can't you see I'm busy!" A long line of drool was clearly apparent on Tsunade's desk as she raised her head to peer at Gai. She obviously wasn't doing anything, as the stack of files that was always next to her seemed to have doubled overnight. The room was cluttered, books lying all over the floor and papers strewn everywhere. It was in complete disarray and Tsunade sighed again when she realized who it was that had walked into her office.

"THE EVER VIBRANT YOUTH HAVE RETURNED!" Gai screamed in obvious excitement as jumped about the room, making her office even more of a mess. Tsunade sighed and rubbed her ear. Did he always have to be so loud?

"Don't yell, baka… What the hell are you talking about?"

"HOKAGE-SAMA! THE YOUTH HAVE RETURNED! BUT ALAS, FOR THEIR MISSION WAS A FAILURE AND INJURIES WERE GREAT! AH, THE POOR, CUT DOWN SPRING OF YOUTHFUL-"

"You idiot!" Tsunade yelled at him as she grabbed her cloak, pushed him aside and headed out the door for the hospital, "They'll need treatment right away! Get the medical staff on it Gai! Immediately!"

"I will perform my duty for the good of Konoha, Hokage-sama! And if I can not do so in 5 minutes, I will do five thousand laps around Konoha!"

"Just get the med staff, baka!"


N-naruto-kun… Hinata sat by Naruto's bedside in the hospital, holding his hand in hers. He had been unconscious ever since they had brought him in and his breath was shallow and far between. None of the medics knew if he was going to make it but they all assured her that Hokage-sama would be on her way soon to check up on him. She just didn't know if 'soon' would be soon enough.

"I told you, I had to check on the others as well! Naruto can't possibly be that injured, there were only supposed to be four shinobi and he has…" Tsunade broke off as she stepped into Naruto's room, staring at him. Naruto was covered from head to toe in cuts and bruises, his dry blood staining the sheets. I…never expected…something like this… Tsunade growled and cursed herself for not coming sooner, then blinked as she noticed Hinata, sitting next to Naruto's bedside and holding one of his hands in her lap. She really does care about him, doesn't she? Darn brat more dense thanI thought he was...

"Hinata…?"

Hinata jumped up out of the chair with a guilty start and spun around to stare at Tsunade, then looked at the ground immediately and began to play with her fingers in a nervous habit, "H-hai, Tsunade-sama…?"

Man, that girl really needs some confidence… Perhaps I do need to consider switching out the Genin teams sometime soon. Shino and Kiba aren't exactly the ones to build up her confidence… "What are you doing here, Hinata?"

"A-ano… I-I was making sure N-naruto-kun was okay…" Hinata blushed furiously and trained her eyes on her shoes, hoping Tsunade wouldn't notice that she had blushed when she said 'Naruto-kun'.

"You don't need to worry now Hinata; we'll have Naruto back to his normal, hyperactive self in a few days…" I hope… His injuries look extensive… "But, you'll need to leave for awhile while we treat him, okay? I'll send someone along as soon as he wakes up."

"Ano… A-arigato Tsunade-sama…" Hinata curtsied hurriedly and rushed out the door, leaving Tsunade shaking her head as she looked at Naruto. You'd better be okay, brat. If you don't wake up, I'll follow you to wherever you go and yell at you for leaving that girl behind. If I can even get that through your thick head… Tsunade pushed a small button on the wall to ring for the other doctors and sighed as she bent over Naruto, ready to get to work.


(Song Translation)

I look up as I walk
So that the tears won't fall
Remembering those spring days
But I am all alone tonight

I look up as I walk
Counting the stars with tearful eyes
Remembering those summer days
But I am all alone tonight

Happiness lies beyond the clouds
Happiness lies up above the sky

I look up as I walk
So that the tears won't fall
Though the tears well up as I walk
For tonight I'm all alone

Remembering those autumn days
But I am all alone tonight

Sadness lies in the shadow of the stars
Sadness lurks in the shadow of the moon

I look up as I walk
So that the tears won't fall
Though the tears well up as I walk
For tonight I'm all alone


That's it for the Prolouge, hope you enjoyed it. Please Review (I appreciate critisim, so don't hesitate to speak up if you see something out of place. I tried to stay IC as much as possible, but if you see something just totally out of character please tell me. Oh, and praise is always nice too. Btw, even though this is mostly NaruHina, I will be adding others in. I am open to suggestions as to what order i add pairs in, so please give me some opinions.

Updates: Fight scene wording changed (Sasuke should not have known about Kyuubi),Ages at beginnig changed (Hanabi to 7, Hinata to 12), Hospital scene changed (Tsunade's shouts reworded slightly) -Courtesy of Xoni Newcomer, Thanks for the input

Thanks for the reviews all!

-Ryuu