NaruHina One Last Sunset- Chapter 2

Naruto walked slowly to the store. His slight paranoia did not keep him from looking over at the side roads to see if he noticed anything odd. He felt jumpy and out of place as he walked, hoping desperately no one knew it was him. He had little confidence in his disguise. However, just as he reached the grocery, Sakura and Ino stepped out. He stopped dead in his tracks, hearing the end of their sentence.

"He's not coming out Sakura." Ino said. "Face it. He's sick of Konoha right now. The only reason he's still here right now is because of his dreams to become Konoha's leader. He doesn't want us hanging around him until things have cleared up."

"He's locked himself in his house! " Sakura cried out in frustration. Naruto felt a stab of guilt go through his chest. " He's got to stop being so selfish! We want him back with us! What is so bad now that he can't just come back?" Ino shook her head.

"Naruto needs some time to adjust." Ino said. "And…. Maybe some time away from you." Sakura looked at Ino incredulously, curiosity in her eyes. "I mean… you did kind of confess your uh… 'love' for him out of the blue you know." Sakura blushed with chagrin and turned away from Ino.

"I don't really know how to feel anymore." She said under her breath. She walked and slammed right into Naruto, who was paralyzed with shock.

"Er… sorry sir…" She barely glanced at his face and continued on. Ino looked on at her in worry, than turned to look at the disguised Naruto.

" She didn't mean to slam into you." Ino said quietly. "She's just a mess lately." Naruto shook his head.

"Um… I hope she gets better then…" He stammered. Ino's eyes narrowed suspiciously for a moment, but then she too walked away without another word. Naruto took a deep breath and continued on to the store.

Hinata stared at her father calmly. She knew she couldn't go on much longer without letting him know, but she didn't know how to tell him. But it looked as if he'd made the conclusion himself.

"Hinata, I have been watching you for a month now." He said slowly. "I am worried for you health… these bruises, the mood swings and your changing eating habits… I have an idea of what's going on. And I need to know." He looked at her, his face stern now.

"Are you pregnant?" Hinata recoiled in surprise, her eyes wide.

"P-pregnant?" She stuttered. "Father… I- I'm a virgin! I would never dishonor the family name so!" Her face turned such a shade of purple that her father instantly believed what she said.

"Relax Hinata, relax… you're father is recovering from a bit of shock himself…" Neji said, coaxing her to breath normally. She took a deep breath.

"Father…" she said looking at him. "That is not the issue… There is another problem."

Hiashi raised his eyes in confusion, and Hinata took a deep breath.

"I went to the medic office about three weeks ago." She said. "They gave me some bad news…" Hanabi at that moment stumbled in, and Hiashi looked sternly at her.

"What is it Hanabi?" Hiashi asked coldly. Hanabi kept her eyes down.

"Father… There is a doctor here to see you. He says it is important." Hinata's eyes widened in shock.

"A doctor?" Hiashi asked in confusion.

"I will let him in." Hinata said standing fluidly. "He… he'll explain what I…" She trailed off and left the room. Neji looked on in pity and Hiashi looked at him.

"What is it Neji?" Hiashi asked. "I know she confides in you." Neji sighed and turned his gaze to his uncle.

"Since you're about to find out anyway…" He took a deep breath and looked his uncle in the eye. "Hinata is dying."

Naruto had no trouble getting what he needed from the store and getting on his way just as quickly. The manager of the store barely looked at him twice as he paid, and no one paid him any mind as he walked stiffly out of the store. So far, his disguise had held up.

He was passing by the Hyuuga residence when he saw a Medic-nin standing at the door. Hinata was standing there conversing in a low tone with him. She looked distressed and slightly irritated. Her eyes were narrow and had dark shadows beneath them. Her skin had a sallow, pale color to it. Naruto stopped short, slightly startled by her pallor. Sure, the Hyuuga heiress was quite pale for someone of the leaf village, especially in comparison to himself, but she was nearly bone white.

Despite himself, Naruto felt himself lean forward to hear what she was saying to the medic-nin.

"I asked kindly that you would wait until I had asked for an audience with you to come see my father." Hinata said, her voice uncharacteristically sharp. Her eyes seemed tired.

"This cannot wait Hyuuga-sama." The medic replied strongly. "You're condition is only getting worse. You cannot waste another day putting off telling your family that it is serious."

"They will know. On my terms." Hinata said, the exhaustion in her voice clear. "My father noticed today. I know I cannot hide that I am dying anymore."

Naruto's breathing stopped. The bag he was holding spilled out of his hands. His eyes were wide in terror.

Hinata was dying.