Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto nor am I affiliated with any associates of the popular manga/animé

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto nor am I affiliated with any associates of the popular manga/animé.

Note: This takes place after the Sasuke retrieval squad fails to bring back Sasuke. Couple of things to point out; these next three chapters are NOT edited and were rushed. With time I will get around to editing them hopefully, will focus on Naruto and Sasuke for the main part. I will respond to reviews and such, and depending on hits and reviews I will try and update this as frequent as I can. Could use some help from the reviewers WHEN the time has come and the question will be flung out there, and I will respond to all reviews.

Chapter 1: Shikamaru's failed mission.

Naruto awoke to his dismay in a hospital bed. When he awoke, he saw four blurs with multiple colours about them. As he began focusing his eyes back to normal, he found out that the four people were Tsunade, Jiriyia, Sakura and Kakashi. He sat up as he looked at them all. "I see you came to, Naruto, you had us worried." Added Tsunade as she looked at the monitor displaying his vital signs. She carefully takes note of it. " I don't care if I'm fine or not," began Naruto as Sakura noticed his shaky voice.

"I was the only one left to get Sasuke, and I couldn't. I couldn't bring him back when the others did their jobs, giving one hundred and ten percent. I couldn't capture Sasuke Uchiha. I failed you grandma Tsunade, you pervy sage, Sensei Kakashi and most of all, you Sakura Haruno. I let you down the most, I can't…" Naruto felt the heaviness in his chest, as he reached for Kakashi's belt and successfully grabbed a kunai.

Jiriya and Kakashi managed to hold back Naruto, as they could see the cry of despair in his eyes. In all of the months that both of these two had trained him, they have never seen Naruto in such a depressing state. Sakura gasped out of shock as she realised what he was about to attempt. Tsunade just stared at Naruto, unsure of what she saw. "Tsunade, take the kunai away from him now!" Yelled Kakashi as he actually struggled to hold Naruto's arm down.

She then snapped out of her daze and snatched it away, as Kakashi and Jiriya both let go of him. Naruto then burst into sobs. "I think you three should leave. I'll talk to Naruto." Added Jiriya as he closed he eyes attempting to think of a plan to help Naruto out.

"As much as I want to agree, Jiriya, Naruto is still my student. I feel I should be here with him…" Added Kakashi as he slumped into the chair, "and besides I don't have any missions for the time being."

Tsunade nodded as she took Sakura out of the room. "Come now, Sakura. I think it's time we started your training." Added Tsunade as they left the room, leaving the two wise men and the endangered boy, closing the door.

"Naruto, I understand your feelings towards this, but there is nothing you can do about it. You tried your all, but this is nothing to lose all hope over." Began Kakashi, as he looked up at the blonde haired boy.

Naruto began to calm down as the tears still streamed down his face. He faced Kakashi as he looked afraid, almost scared. Kakashi could feel his emotions through the glares of his blue eyes. "Listen, you were outnumbered, and on top of that you were facing ninja with powers far greater then mine or Jiriya's put together. In the forest there were twojounin leaf shinobi taken down by the four sound ninja. They said their powers were stronger then their own powers, and that is saying a lot."

Jiriya was the one most shocked by Naruto's self-guilt. He was never one to get caught up in it. But now, he's struggling to overcome this one incident. It is a shame, because he if loses it, his days of being a shinobi are finished. "Naruto, you can't let this mission get to you, in speaking logically, right now, Sasuke is beating you and has the upper hand. You're so wrapped up in this guilt, that your letting him get the best of you." Added Jiriya as he looked upon Naruto placed a hand on his shoulder.

"But he told me himself…that The hidden…hidden leaf village is fall…falling apart… and he must train, train to become stronger… stronger then me… stronger then Oorchimaru himself and you, pervy sage… but he told me I was wasting my time trying to bring him back…" Began Naruto as had a throat full of frogs.

Kakashi listened intently as he remembered hearing what little Naruto and Sauske had said. "Listen, Naruto, I know how much Sasuke means to you…" Jiriya begins to explain his statement as Naruto counterattacks.

"Just buzz off you pervy Sage. I want to be alone… and I don't want to listen to your rants. Same with you Kakashi Sensei." Yelled Naruto as he pointed at the door.

Both Jiriya and Kakashi sighed as the left with out saying anything.

Naruto lay back down and curled into a ball. He didn't want to offend his sensei and his trainer like that, especially since he looks up to them both, but Naruto felt they were wasting their time. He began feeling the same pain as when he was a kid; an idiotic failure. He cried for several hours. The thought of everyone on the Sasuke Retrieval squad, barely able to beat their opponents but, managed to shine through and complete their given tasks. He was glad they weren't killed, but he let them down. He couldn't bear to face them. He knew they would all take their shots at blaspheming him. And the thought of the elders like Tsunade and Jiriya, losing the last of the Uchiha clan… He couldn't take it. He sat back up, as the tears blurred his eyes. He looked around the room for something; something he thought was going to help him from his problems.

Meanwhile, a little navy blue haired girl was going to the hospital to visit someone that meant everything to her. She held two roses and walked awkwardly to the entrance of the hospital. She walked past the automatic sliding doors as she walked up to the receptionist. "Hello," quietly spoke Hinata, as she twiddled her thumbs, "ummm… could you please tell me where Uzumaki Naruto's room is?"

"It's the room across from the last room to the right, room 211." Added the receptionist as Hinata bowed in front of the receptionist then walked slowly towards the last room to the left. She reached it without any hassle, but as she went to open it, her muscles began to stiffen and she began to sweat. Her cheeks slightly blushed a light tint of red. She stopped and took a breath as she opened the door without fear, as she took her first step in the room, and dropped the flowers.

On the floor laid what seemed to be a lifeless body that belonged to Naruto. She rushed over as his body was on his side. She grabbed his shoulders and lowers him flat on his back, as she noticed his attempt to escape. Blood stained the floor where his arms laid, two long gashes running from his wrist and leading to the insides of his forearms. Hinata began to gasp and cry as she screamed trying to get someone's attention. She kneeled as she clutched Naruto's shoulders and held him tightly fearing she might lose the one she truly loves. Finally minutes after she yelled a nurse and two doctors came. The doctor rushed over to Hinata. "What is… Oh my… WE NEED MEDICAL NINJA, PRONTO!" Yelled the doctor as he rushed out of the room.

Hinata just clenched on to Naruto tighter and tighter, as tears dripped off her soft delicate cheeks and onto his bloody stained chest.

It was two and a half hours later and finally a doctor came out. "Is he…is he going to be alright?" Quietly spoke Hinata, still uneasy about the whole situation.

She spent the first hour crying and processing what she had seen. Her chest felt heavy with grief. "He's in stable condition. He's going to be fine. Thank you for showing up when you did, or else any longer and he would have died. Thank you Hinata for saving his life." Added the surgeon ninja, as he walked off towards the staff area, probably to clean up the blood on his hands.

Hinata sighed in relief as she fell back into the chair.

Late in the night, Hinata had decided to stay the night in the hospital. She wanted to be one of the first people to see him. She slept soundly as a nurse walked by and placed a blanket over her. The breeze began to blow softly as the wind slightly whipped her hair in her face and she slowly woke up when she heard a noise come from Naruto's room. She opened the door to see a blonde haired boy almost about to jump out the window, when she acted quickly; she ran over and wrapped her arms around him. This caught him off guard as he semi grunted. "Naruto, please don't leave your still not better… I don't…" Hinata trailed off as she clenched her eyes shut, "I don't want to lose you again… Naruto… I love you…"

"Why do you love a failure?" Asked Naruto as he looked down at the floor.

"You are not a failure Naruto. You are a true success story. You are one of the best shinobi Konoha has to offer. Please don't let one single failed mission let you get down, Naruto." Sobbed Hinata as she held him tighter not wanting to let go.

"I let the whole village down… I can't be Hokage I'm going to be making mistakes like that…" Spoke Naruto, as he sounded sullen.

Hinata then let go and grabbed his arm, and spun him around as they faced each other. Hinata stared willingly into his eyes, as he stared in hers. She felt her heart pump fast, faster, faster until she grabbed around his neck and brought him in to a kiss. Naruto's eyes widened in shock as her lips landed on his. He didn't know what to do. Hinata was unsure if it was the right move. But right now she didn't care. Her emotions intoxicated her senses, making it almost impossible for her to break the small lip-lock. Naruto then gave in to the intoxicating hold as he wrapped his arms around her waist. He loves me… he really does! Thought Hinata as she place arms around his neck.

Two guards that are commonly seen around Lady Tsunade rushed to the scene, only to find the two teens exchanging their love for each other. They blushed then left them to be by themselves.

Naruto then began to remember all the times that they both spent talking, fighting or walking around the village. He too grew a liking for Hinata, but refused to show it. He didn't want to embarrass Hinata or disgrace her father. He decided to keep those feelings secret from anyone. They finally broke the lip lock, as both genin stared into each other's eyes, almost getting completely lost upon the night's bewilderment. "Naruto, since we attended the academy together, I grew a liking in you. You showed me what it is like to believe, to be confident in myself, to stop hiding behind walls or people. You showed me that I can make a difference if I apply my mind to whatever I want to achieve, but most of all, you shown me what a real ninja shows. Determination to protect the ones you love, and Naruto you're the one I love and no matter what I will protect you, even if it cost me my life, that is my nindo, my ninja way." Explained Hinata as she slightly blushed while staring in his eyes.

Naruto then stared at the ground. "I guess I've been sort of selfish… but Hinata, I have had the same feelings for you, I would throw them away because I was scared I was going to offend your father and your clan. I didn't want to get you in trouble. But I do love you Hinata." Added Naruto, as he pulled Hinata with him.

"Follow me, Please Hinata." Added Naruto as he let go of her hand and leaped out of the window.

She nodded as she followed suit. "What are we doing Naruto?" Asked Hinata as she looked up at him.

"Well, I don't know about you, but I'm running away from the leaf village." Added Naruto as he formed his hand signs for his shadow clone jutsu.

Hinata gasped for a second. "But Naruto that would put you on the Missing-nin list and into the bingo… I don't know if I could…" Hinata stopped for a minute as two shadow clones popped around Naruto. "Yes, I'm coming."

Naruto then used the rest of the chakra to replicate a Hinata clone. He motioned at the clones to go back in the hospital room in case the Jonin came back. He grabbed Hinata's hand, kissed her on the cheek and they both began running down the street, as Hinata couldn't help but smile. Her dream of being with Naruto were coming true, she just hopes he 'doesn't rush' into certain things.