A/N Thank you to all the people with the kind words and encouragements.

Kindling Hearts

Chapter 2: Awakening

Shikamaru

I felt something poking at my side. A voice I did not recognize spoke "Wake up!!!" Well at least it wasn't my mom. She would have gotten rather violent and threatening if I didn't awake when she called. Curiosity gnawed at me but sleep got the better of it. The voice spoke again, "Are you sure she said it was ok to do that?"

Another voice replied, "Just don't kill him." I opened my eyes in fear as I looked upon the two figures. One had tossed red hair and teal eyes that were surrounded in black marks from sleep deprivation. The kanji for love was embedded on his forehead, just above his left eye.

"Ga...Gaara... I'm awake, I'm awake" I managed to stutter out before running past the two. As I ran past I noticed the other, she had blonde hair that was let loose from her usual ponytails and ran slightly past her shoulders. She had dark blue eyes that watched me as I raced past them. She raised her right hand to her mouth as she tried to stifle a giggle. "How troublesome" I muttered to myself as I quickly showered before going down for breakfast.

I saw my Dad sitting at the table conversing with Temari. Every instinct in my body told me that the topic of the conversation was more trouble than it was worth. My mother stood at the stove finishing preparing breakfast. Gaara stood by the door with his arms crossed. He seemed lost in thought.

I sat down and hadn't even begun to eat before my mom started to berate my dad about him being late. "Shikamaru... um... show us around Konoha... onegai?" Temari seemed to be nervous as she spoke. It was the first time I had ever seen her like that. Then she smiled at me. A feeling that was unfamiliar yet so right encompassed my mind. It made me feel uneasy and yet warm and vibrant. I nodded slowly while muttering about how troublesome this was going to be.

Her reply was unusal and unexpected. "I'm sure a Chuunin can handle a couple Genins."

This was true in most circumstances but here the Chuunin was me, and one of the Genins was Gaara. I was pretty confident that even a Jounin would have trouble 'handling' him.

My dad spoke in a whisper, "So I see you finally grew up."

I could only think of one response, "How troublesome."

Hinata
I did not realize it when the screams ceased. I felt the comforting hands of Tsunade surround me as she spoke words of comfort. I only caught a few words here and there. "He's ok." "It was only a nightmare." "There's nothing to be worried about."

I wanted to believe her. I truly did. But something told me there was more to it than what she said. Why didn't he wake up if it was only a nightmare? Why was Tsunade so exhausted? Why was she even still here?

I shook my head. It was impolite and rather rude to question the Hokage's abilities and motives. My mind cleared dramatically as I willed myself to calm. I whispered the spell I always depended on as I brought forth new resolve.

I stood and walked over to Naruto's sleeping body. I reached out to touch his slumbering face. I stopped an inch from his skin. He looked so peaceful. The eyes seemed so different from when it had been contorted in anger. I traced my hand around the edge of his cheek without touching him. Those birthmarks that ran across them seemed so unnatural.

I smiled in silence. Tsunade watched in silence as I gazed upon the boy that had for so long been the light that illuminated my darkness. He had been the strength that carried me through all my failures and disappointments. I wanted to give some of that back. To become the source of strength for him, to be a light that would call him back from any darkness that surrounded him. It felt like he was fighting something in his dreams, something that he must not lose.

I cried aloud when I saw the wounds reopen. Blood flowed once again covering the sheets. His eyes were contorted in pain. The birthmarks now ran rampant across his cheeks. They were enflamed and almost feral. Tsunade swore under her breath. She ordered me to leave but I refused. Whatever was happening I wanted to know. Why did those wounds reopen? Why? Why? I covered my mouth as I feared for his safety.

Naruto

I was surrounded in darkness. The only thing visible was a figure some distance away. He had red eyes with swirls within them. His dark hair blended with the darkness. Dark flame-like markings covered his body. The sounds of birds chirping surrounded me as blue chakra covered his left hand. I had lost count of the amount of times I had 'died' from this attack or that he had 'died' from my Rasengan. I charged blindly at him. He thrust his arm forward. I ducked under it as I planted a kick into his abdomen. Something felt wrong. It turned to a block of wood before my eyes, Kawirimi no Jutsu. I swore when I saw that. A burning sensation penetrated my back. I looked down to see a bloody hand penetrating through my chest. I coughed blood as red chakra encompassed me. I separated myself from him and spun rapidly. I grabbed his arm and snapped it in half. The wounds on my body did not recover as it had in the past. I was breathing hard. I did not know what was going on.

Temari

The first place Shikamaru led us to, was the hospital. As lazy as he claimed he was, he cared about his friends. I smiled inwardly as my impression of him grew. We signed into the hospital as the three of us proceeded to Chouji's room. Kankurou had decided to remain at the house when he overslept. I knew fully that the feelings I had towards him were still developing, but there was no doubt in my mind that it would blossom into true love. The only problem was to convince him I wasn't as troublesome as he claimed women to be... or at least convince him that it would be more troublesome without me. Regardless, now was not the time for something like that. His best friend still lay in a coma. I stood by the door and watched as he spoke to the unconscious boy. Gaara stood on the other side of the wall seemingly lost in thought.

I was well aware of the gradual change that was overcoming my previously murderous younger brother. I smiled at him trying to hide the pain I felt watching Shikamaru conversing with a comatose friend. He nodded silently and then made a seal before disappearing in a swirl of sand. Part of me was happy to be left alone with Shikamaru, part of me was annoyed with Gaara for leaving so abruptly. I sighed as I turned around only to be greeted by Shikamaru standing next to me. His hands were tucked into pockets as he looked around. "How troublesome" he muttered.

"Umm... I don't think you need to worry about Gaara causing any trouble so it's ok..." I tried to alleviate his worries.

He groaned audibly. He proceeded to a small field that was enclosed with a fence. There were many deer that could be seen scattered in the distance near the tree line. He sat down under a tree and gazed into the sky. "It's my turn to watch the deer, but I'll take you around later." From my perspective he wasn't looking at the deer but at the sky. I sat next to him. Before I knew it I was staring at his face. I blushed when I realized what I was doing.

A large deer with huge antlers approached us. It prodded Shikamaru with its nose. Grumbling his favourite phrase, he scratched the creature's ears before fishing out a sugar cube from his pocket. He fed the oversized animal while gently caressing its neck.

Hinata

Naruto had calmed down once again. Tsunade worked hard to seal the wounds, but I could tell she was beyond exhausted. Sweat ran down her face as she struggled with the phantom injuries. Breathing heavily, she ran her right arm across her forehead. She pulled a pill from a small packet before swallowing it. Instantly her depleted chakra returned as she continued her operation. It was a 'soldier pill'. I had seen Kiba use it on multiple occasions. However, I had never seen anyone take so many in such a small time. In the garbage bin there laid multiple packets resembling the one she had taken the pill from. Tsunade was pushing herself beyond human limits. I was afraid. If she pushed it any more, the Leaf would lose another Hokage.

I reached over. I wanted to stop Tsunade from killing herself, but at the same time I did not want to give up on Naruto. I stopped myself before touching her shoulder.

She turned over to me and smiled. "Do you know what I said when I decided to become the Godaime Hokage?" she asked.

I shook my head. I did not know any of the details of why she chose to become Hokage.

"To protect the Hidden Leaf, from now on, I too will bet my life" She replied. There were obviously more implications to those words than I understood. I knew then that regardless of what I said or did, she would not stop. This continued for a long time. I wanted to help. I became determined to learn those medical jutsus. Next time, I would be the one to risk my life protecting the one important to me. Next time, I would not be weak and only stand around being useless. Tsunade collapsed suddenly. Her genjutsu had faded. I saw a very tired old lady lying on the ground beside Naruto's bed. I picked her up and lay her on another bed. I placed a damp cloth over her forehead.

"Let me help." I heard a voice. I turned around. There stood the most dangerous person I knew, Gaara. His eyes seemed melancholy. I bit my nails as I nervously nodded. He watched over Tsunade, changing the cloth regularly, attempting to lower the disastrous fever she had developed. I tried to stop the bleeding as much as possible. I placed bandages over the many wounds; applying pressure. I leaned over and kissed him on the forehead. Tears ran freely from my eyes. "Please come back to me, Naruto-kun" I whispered inaudibly.

Naruto

I did not know how long this fight had lasted, hours, days, weeks. I was losing all hope for an end to arrive. Then within the darkness I saw a light. I strained my eyes to see it clearly. A silhouette stood within that glamorous hope. She had dark blue hair, cut short. Her silver eyes were crying. The large jacket she wore shook with every tear. Then I heard her speak, "Please come back to me, Naruto-kun."

"Hinata-chan" I muttered. New resolve filled me. I would end this now. There was at least one person waiting for me. I could not keep them waiting any longer. I would not be the cause of sorrow for those precious to me. I looked at Sasuke. The bastard was laughing. I rushed at him with my Rasengan thrust ahead. It contacted with his head as it tore apart. I thought I had won. I needed only to get to the light, to where Hinata was waiting. I was wrong. Blood gurgled out of my mouth. Sasuke's arm thrust through my neck. 'I'm sorry' I thought to myself as I collapsed onto the ground.

I opened my eyes screaming. Pain erupted from the sudden movement. I felt a weight lying at my side. I looked at her. Tears were running from her closed eyes. I reached over and spoke silently "I'm sorry for making you worry." I then noticed another presence. Standing by the door was a lone figure with a large gourd on his back.

"Welcome back" his words were spoken with what seemed a sign of relief. He quickly vanished in a small display of sand.

Elsewhere

Another figure awoke. "Kukukuku" he laughed insanely. He raised his hand to his face as he understood. He had killed him. His eyes turned red. Three spirals appeared before joining together in the Mangekyou Sharingan. He had the strength he desired. Performing several seals, he used his jutsu, 'Katon: Goukakyuu no jutsu'. A large fireball tore through the walls. Several guards stood astonished outside. Several more seals were performed before the chirping of birds became audible. Blood covered the ground as the survivor of the Uchiha clan disappeared into the shadows.


A/N I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter as well... I'll try to have the next chapter ready by next week...

Thanks again everybody!!! .