Uzumaki Nari

Somewhere in Konoha

Naruto ran like he never ran before towards the hospital. It's been almost two weeks since he last visited. The Chunin exams had taken up much of his time. Training for the final round was even more pressure on him, but he did not want to miss out again. Not this time.

The white building loomed up in front of him and he let out a gasp of happiness before putting more speed into his legs. He slammed the door open and before he could run straight to the room, the woman at reception stopped him.

'Sign in first, Naruto,' she scolded leaning over the counter to shout down the hall to him.

He ran back to the front, quickly scribbled the details in and then shot down the corridors, up some stairs, down another corridor, up another flight of stairs and then skidded to a halt outside a room, the last on the third floor. Nerves immediately bundled up inside of him. He checked the red roses he got at the Yamanaka flower shop. They were fine, still intact from his mad running. He eased the door open, half expecting the occupant to be awake. Closing the door behind him, he wasn't surprised to see her still asleep and hooked up to the machine that bleeped with her heartbeat.

He walked over to the window side and saw a white bouquet of roses. He placed the red flowers with the white so that his were surrounded and stood out. He eased the window open a little to let in some air and then took a seat beside the bed. He stared down at his hands, guilt, shame and hope present in his posture. The room was filled with the sounds of the machine bleeping and the respiratory system pumping oxygen into the girl's body. He looked up from his hands and onto the girl.

Her bright blonde hair outlined her body to her knees. The cover was tucked under her chin. A mask covered her mouth and nose so she could breath. Other than the machines, the only indication she was alive was the rise and fall of her chest. For seven whole years she stayed within the coma, her body growing and developing and yet her mind remained stuck at her age of five. Naruto hoped that she would wake, praying that she would. He longed to hear her voice, to see her looking at him, to be able to do things together like they did years ago.

The memories with her together were both a relief and painful. He always tried to keep his mind from them by doing missions. He wanted to get stronger so that he would be able to protect her much better than before.

He took her hand in his. It was small, warm and soft with no battles of hardship woven. No, her battles are all mentally. He had no doubt she was fighting to come back. All he knows is that as she is fighting her hardest in order to stay alive and come back, he'll do his hardest to become a really strong ninja so that next time he can protect her.

'I'm in the last round of the Chunin exams,' he spoke nervously and sadly. Could she even hear him? 'I've been getting on okay. It's a little quiet without hearing your voice. I'm training with pervy sage. It would have been much better if we could become ninjas together and learn the same stuff… Just focus on getting better, ne? I'll always be here for you, no matter what. I'll come visit whenever I can, so just hang in there. Love you.' He kissed her cheek before he left the room with one final glance back.

Just outside the hospital

Naruto shoved his hands deep in his pockets, head hung and eyes glaring at the floor. He kicked a stone out of his path and kept walking. Around him people avoided going near him and spoke about him once he passed. Naruto was too deep in depression to care. He bumped into somebody.

'Watch where you're going!' he snapped up at the man in the black one-piece suit, not recognising who he is.

'You little brat!' the man retorted. He and his team watched the blonde keep walking, head down and hands shoved in his pockets. 'Isn't he that kid that's always full of energy and over actively annoying?'

'I wonder why he's so depressed,' the girl spoke, carrying a smirk as if it amused her. She turned to look at the hospital a little ways behind her. 'He came out of the hospital too. Injured or visiting?'

'Temari, Kankuro, leave him, he's not our concern,' the jonin declared. However, the jonin himself was curious as to why the boy's attitude had changed from the one he usually sees him with.

Yamanaka Flower Shop

Yamanaka Ino was tending to some flowers when her once best friend and still rival entered the shop. Her once long pink hair had been cut during the second round of the exams and it was Ino who straightened it out for her. Finishing up with the flowers, Ino placed the watering can onto the desk and turned to face Sakura who appeared to not have noticed her presence. The pink haired kunoichi was bent examining some white flowers.

'Trying to get ahead with Sasuke-kun?'

Sakura jumped in shock hearing her archrival's voice but didn't turn to look at her. 'I don't know what you're talking about.'

She observed the white flowers some more before selecting two of them.

'If you think two are going to do you any good, think again.' Now Ino was just taunting.

'The other one's for Lee,' Sakura mumbled and smiled to herself.

Ino stared down at the kunoichi in surprise. Out of all the things Ino suspected the girl to say, she hadn't expected that. It seems that the more time passes, the more Ino realises that there is more to the girl than she originally thought. More to the girl she had once called her best friend. In silence they approached the register where Ino charged her and Sakura provided the money before leaving the store.

Hokage Tower

The third Hokage sat behind his desk reading through pieces of paper that were spread out on his desk. His company was a member of the Anbu Black Ops. He wore a bear like mask over his face and he stood tall and formal before his Kage. For some reason the Hokage could not concentrate on his work and he kept looking up or out of the window.

Sighing, the third Hokage pushed away the papers and looked up at the Anbu. 'Is there any change in Uzumaki Nari?'

Surprised by the question, the Anbu shifted on his feet before stilling himself. 'There has been no report of change, Hokage-sama. I believe the girl is still in a coma.'

The Hokage clasped his hands together and leaned them on the desk. He closed his eyes and drew in breath before releasing. He had no idea how Naruto was feeling at the present moment. He had never suffered with such loss before, especially not like he is. Seven years. It has been seven years since Nari has been in a coma. There has been no sign of change or that she is coming out of the coma. Naruto must be struggling terribly with the fact.

'Keep me posted if there is any change.' The Anbu bowed but did not leave the room as the Hokage had more business with him. 'Let's discuss the setup for the final round of the exam.'

In Konoha Hospital

Sakura visited Lee since Sasuke had all but disappeared. No one knows where he has gone and they couldn't find Kakashi-sensei to see if he may know. Lee was still unconscious from the fight between him and Gaara. His arm and leg are bandaged but they remained under the covers out of sight. She looked down at him with sadness and grief, almost as if she believed she were to blame for his condition. The white flower she had bought for him lay in the vase of water and gently bowed to the wind.

There has been some change in him, only that he woke once and then went back unconscious soon after. There would be change with his arm and leg. He would be able to do everyday things with them. The only thing that he cannot do is continue to be a ninja. And that is one thing that Lee is unable to live without. He has tried his hardest to become the ninja that he has become and now his dream has shattered because of that one fight. Sakura could not understand how he would be able to cope.

But then what about Naruto? How is he handling having to keep coming into the hospital on a regular basis? In fact, why does he even keep coming to the hospital? Is there something wrong with him? Shaking her head, Sakura refused to believe that something was wrong with her teammate. Believing there is another reason behind his regular visits, she decided she would ask him whenever she got round to it.

Nari's subconscious

Floating in nothingness she remained without. She could hear all things happening around her, even the machine that keeps beeping to her heartbeat. The noise is highly irritating but every time she hears someone in the room, she tried to tell them to turn it off, but found unable to speak. Something heavy weighed down on her, almost crushing her under its impossible weight. She even tried to move something when she hears Naruto. She misses him so much that she feels her very soul cry.

She had no idea where she is, how long she's been there or when she's getting out. All she knows is that it is like a prison and she is desperate to get out of its clutches. Banging mentally at the bars binding her in the dark eternal, she feels something react. Believing it to be progress she kept banging, hoping that it would loosen up some more so she can reach out again.

Naruto's last words clung to her and she felt a tear slide down her physical cheek. Touched by his success and his deep love for her, her body was incapable of holding that one tear back.

Congratulations… Naruto…