A/N: Hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own the Nartuo series…unfortunately :..(

Italics like this mean its thoughts in a characters head

Super important question in comments, please read!

Men of War

Ch. 2 Fatalities

Sasuke bent his head under a faucet and washed the sand out of his hair, they had been at war for over a month and he couldn't remember the last time he took a real shower. Sasuke splashed some water into face and reached for a small towel; he dried his face and gave a determined look into the mirror. Small bags were beginning to form under his eyes from paranoid, restless nights. Sasuke had kept his team safe and all his friends were alive but they had lost almost two-dozen soldiers and Sasuke was unpleasantly able to see many of them shot to their deaths. Sasuke tossed the thought aside, he expected to have men die in war; he just wasn't prepared to see them die in front of his face. Sasuke rubbed the towel through his wet hair and tried wiping all the sand off his face and arms. Iwagakure was definitely a different terrain; there were only cliffs of rocks and sandy grounds, no greenery.

Sasuke tossed the towel to the side of the sink and walked back into the barracks made of tents, majority of his team were sleeping or writing letters to their loved ones. Sasuke sat on his bed and rubbed his face, he really needed to get sleep. Sasuke had been doing very well proving his abilities but war was a far more intimidating experience than he imagined. Living a life of war was almost like living two lives, you showed your calm logical side while preparing for battle but once you got on the battlefield it was pure instinct, only a few rational thoughts in your mind. Sasuke laid down on his bed and stared at the ceiling of the tent; he knew they had a long way to go, ground was hard to cover in an unfamiliar territory.

Sasuke took a few calming breath and shut his eyes; they always went to bed early and woke up early for a day full of planning, traveling, and battle. Sasuke turned his head away from the light source, he missed the comfort of sleeping in a safe space but it was easily something he would sacrifice to protect his family and country. The night went quickly as all the soldier's bodies ached for sleep but they were soon awoken by the call of their commander and had to be on the move again.

Sasuke walked at a mild pace beside the rest of his team and his friend's teams, they were guarding trucks full of medical supplies while the army moved their soldiers and equipment further through the terrain. They left soon as the sun showed a streak of light to the ground and they had managed to go a few hours on foot with no interference, Sasuke was getting restless. It was uncommon to not have any sort ambush or run in with the enemy. Sasuke knew that they had a few quiet days but he was getting too used to battle to ever let his guard down. With that paranoid thought, Sasuke's intuition became true.

All the soldiers' ears perked and eyes became full of instinctive fear; unfriendly gunfire just took one of the front soldiers down. The Konohagakure soldiers started screaming commands and trying to find a way to safety as they attempted to find the enemy among the cliffs and fire back. Sasuke fired managing to take a few down as his team tried to protect the medical truck and take it to a safer place. Sasuke unhappily ignored the fellow soldiers, not from his team, being shot down and other soldiers attempted to retrieve their bodies at the chance they might live. Sasuke shot down a few more enemy and heard a heavy curse from behind; if he turned around he'd be shot, "Naruto what happened!?"

He could hear his team mildly struggling behind him. Naruto clenched his hand on his gun and fired at an enemy, "They shot the tires of the medical truck!"

Sasuke cursed under his breath and tried to formulate a plan, he glanced beside him between shots towards Neji's team who was attempting to help protect the medical truck as well. Neji was one rank higher than Sasuke so he took a few shots and tried to yell over the gunfire, "Captain Hyugga! Orders!?"

Neji spun in a tight circle taking enemy down from several directions and contemplated the best way out, "Sasuke, Naruto, Lee, and Kiba remain firing at the enemy! The rest fill your bags with as much medical supplies as you can!"

The moment Neji finished his order a bullet grazed his bulletproof vest and shot clean through his pectoral, under his shoulder. Neji let out a small sound of pain and slammed back into the ground. Naruto eyes went wide and he quickly shot the enemy who shot Neji, "Captain!"

Sasuke's eyes narrowed in further anger at the first time a friend of his was shot; he quickly reloaded and began firing perfectly taking down each enemy one by one with hardly a second in between, "Naruto! Get Neji behind the truck!"

Naruto immediately did so, trusting his comrades to protect him. He swung the opposite arm of Neji's bullet wound around his shoulders as walked him back behind the truck for cover as cold sweat slid down Neji's face and he stumbled along trying to ignore the pain. Naruto easily set him down and glanced at the heavy amount of blood beginning to soak the clothes around his wound, "It'll be okay Neji, we'll get you out of here!"

Neji gave a curt nod and pressed his palm around the wound, trying to stop the bleeding. Naruto quickly ran back out beginning to fire again and protect the men grabbing medical supplies. He moved his way beside Sasuke, who was now in charge, and shot another enemy down, "He's bleeding pretty bad! We need to get out of here!"

Sasuke clenched his jaw he tried to gather a plan while he consistently shot more enemy. His mind sparked with an idea, it was risky but it might work. He quickly divided the team into helping move the injured behind a cliff and the other half to go straight for the enemy. At his order Naruto guarded Sasuke and Sasuke threw a weak bomb that sprung sand way up in the air and gave the enemy no vision of them. The soldiers took that chance to retreat to a safer place with the injured and the offensive men charged towards the cloud of sand, protected by their goggles, and managed to get behind the rocks where the enemy was protectively firing. Once they got into the enemy's safety zone they could be easily taken down. The Iwagakure soldiers were distracted by the cloud of sand about to settle, thinking all the soldiers were still behind it, and weren't on guard from behind. It only took a few minutes to finish them off and Sasuke and the rest of the men could return to their wounded.

When they came back to the rest of the soldiers, it wasn't a pretty sight. The enemy had driven so many holes through he medical truck that over half the supplies were unusable. They had thirteen wounded and three dead only after a few hours into the day. Naruto stood behind Sasuke and glanced at the injured with him, he gave a grim glance. Their military was divided up into several teams and Neji was in charge of theirs, meaning with Neji wounded Sasuke was in charge. Naruto stepped into Sasuke's view, "We need orders…"

Sasuke clenched his jaw and narrowed his eyes as his head still pounded from the sound of gunfire, he needed to do something. Sasuke glanced around and bit the inside of his cheek and tired to think like Shikamaru. He turned to Naruto, "Pull out the map, we're going to the closest place with high rocks as a cover on at least one side of our camp. Take the two remaining trucks and place the wounded inside! I want five men guarding each truck while on it and the rest treating to the wounded! We have minimal medical supplies so treated heaviest wounded first and use spare clothes as bandages if you have to!"

The soldiers quickly ran about their orders trying their hardest to gather everyone in the two remaining trucks and escape to a safe zone before the enemy's reinforcements came. Sasuke almost tore the map and he opened it as fast as he could and located where they currently were. Sasuke quickly scanned his dark eyes over the massive terrain and his expression lifted as he found the perfect spot. He quickly drew an X on the map and handed it to Naruto who would be driving the head truck. Sasuke quickly ran to the second truck, full of wounded, and climbed to the top so he could have a good firing range, "Let's move!"

It didn't take long for the rest of the men to be piling on the trucks and speeding their way to the next location. Naruto sped over the rocky terrain perfectly avoiding obstacles and listened to the man beside him shout instructions of where to turn, he wished the truck would go faster. Naruto would never forgive himself if he let Neji die and he wouldn't be able to stand Hinata's crying face if she never got to see Neji again. Naruto wanted nothing more out of this war then keeping his friends and loved ones safe, they were everything to him. Naruto's father, General Minato Namikaze, sacrificed himself when Naruto was eleven to let the rest of his army escape; his father was the most regarded hero in their army and Naruto would much rather sacrifice himself than see his friends die and their families suffer.

Sasuke quickly jumped off the top of the truck as they safely reached their location and began to designate men in setting up medical tents, trying to contact headquarters over the radio, and treating men. Sasuke eagerly helped move Neji into the medical tent, he was bleeding out fast and four men had died on the drive there. Sasuke cursed as Neji was fading in and out of consciousness and he ordered Lee to keep pressure around the bullet wound to stop the bleeding. Sasuke turned as Naruto yelled they got contact with headquarters. Sasuke quickly grabbed the walkie-talkie attached the radio, "Headquarters?"

He heard a familiar voice crack through the speaker, "General Hatake, Sasuke what's your situation?"

Kakashi always referred to Naruto and Sasuke by their first names when he was worried or angry, they were his only personal students. Sasuke glanced back at the men trying to help Neji, "Seven dead and nine wounded, Captain Hyugga has a severe gun shot wound and majority of the medical supplies were destroyed. We need supplies immediately!"

Kakashi' chest tightened, "The soonest you can receive supplies is two hours, you need to try and find another way to sustain the injured."

Sasuke cursed as he tried to think; he raised his head as a man screamed in pain from the background. He pressed his hand against his head and gripped it in is hair, he needed medical help! He tapped his foot a few times and his eyes struck wide; he quickly fumbled trough his pockets and pulled out a card he received before war, "General I need you to put me through this phone number!"

Kakashi did so and Sasuke hopefully waited as the phone rang, not caring it was around four in the morning back home. "Hello?"

"Sakura! It's Sasuke, I need your help now!"

Sakura's groggy state of mind awakened from back home at the urgency in his voice, "What's wrong?"

Sasuke stared at Neji as he slipped back into unconsciousness, "I have a man with a clean gun shot wound through his left pectoral, below the shoulder. It didn't hit any bones but we barely have any medical supplies and he's been bleeding out the past fifteen minutes. We need him to last at least two more hours till the rest of the medical supplies get here!"

Sakura was sitting in her seat and quickly analyzing the situation in her head. "Take any kind of cloth, preferably clean, and leave a few layers under the gunshot and use someone's shirt the absorb the bleeding from the front. Do not use any alcohol, it'll kill the skin tissue around it."

Sasuke ordered Naruto to do so and he managed to find some decently clean shirts stuffed in someone's bag. Sakura listened closely through the phone to hear what was going on, "Now you need to elevate his whole chest off the ground if possible so he doesn't lose blood as fast, he'll die if he goes into shock from blood loss and isn't treated."

Naruto remained keeping pressure on Neji's wound and Lee managed to elevate his chest properly.

"You need to make his breathing stays consistent, try to keep him awake. It'll become very difficult to do CPR with his bullet wound, do you have any morphine?"

Sasuke scrambled through the remaining medical supplies on the desk before him, "A couple bottles!"

"Give him a mild dose of it, being in less pain will help his heart rate go down and not lose blood as fast."

Sasuke quickly tossed Naruto the bottle and gave him the same orders as Naruto managed to shake Neji back into consciousness. Neji groggily took the medicine and stared into Naruto's eyes. Naruto's looked deep in his eyes with a determined, "Don't you fall asleep on me Neji; I'm not going to let you die."

Sasuke gripped the phone tight in his hand, "What else?!"

Sakura's face tensed over the line, "You wait…just keep him awake and pressure to slow the bleeding and he should last long enough for help. Keep him hydrated so he can make more of his own blood too."

Sasuke stared at Naruto trying to attempt a conversation with Neji and relaxed slightly, "Thank you…thank you Sakura."

She gave a small smile over the line and pictured his face, "You're welcome…Are you okay?"

Sasuke listened closely to her voice, using it to help him calm down, "Physically…"

Sakura expression faltered a little in sympathy, "It'll be okay Sasuke…you're strong…you can handle more than you think."

Sasuke's lips tilted up the slightest bit, "Thanks…but I have to go, I'm in charge now and need to direct orders. Sorry for waking you."

Sakura smiled a little be safe, "It's no problem and you can do it. I'll see you when you come back."

Sasuke expression relaxed a little recalling the coffee date she promised him, "See you then"

Sasuke went on to observe the other injured which the worse injuries were bullet shot grazes and then got back on the radio with headquarters to create new plans and discuss medical help. Naruto consistently stayed by Neji's side keeping him awake and occasionally giving him water. Neji focused on Naruto's voice and trying to keep his breathing steady, "I usually find…your non-stop talking…annoying…but it's a pleasure for a change."

Naruto gave a small smile at Neji still managing to pick at him in his state, "Well you better get used to it, the medical helicopter probably won't be here for another hour."

Neji gave a small smirk, "I suppose I should if you end up marrying my cousin."

Naruto's face faltered and he stayed silent for a moment, "You know she's already engaged…and besides she wouldn't marry me."

Neji analyzed is expression, "But she doesn't love him…and it'd be very hard for her to force herself…to marry someone she doesn't care for…but she cares for you…don't underestimate yourself."

Naruto absorbed his words feeling a mild sense of hope but tried to laugh it off, "What makes you think I wanna marry her anyways?"

Neji rolled his eyes, "Did you seriously think…I haven't noticed you lurking at her…every time she visits? You're lucky I haven't tried…to shoot you."

Naruto clenched his jaw a little recalling all the paint ball fights Neji had slaughtered him during and he never understood why till now. Naruto gave a small, embarrassed laugh, "I guess you got me, I always wondered what you'd do to me if you found out I liked her."

Neji stared him down hard, "I'll just beat you up when I'm healed."

Naruto gave a small nervous laugh, "Hey as long as you agree you're going to be okay I'll let you."

Neji smirked, "I'll do it in front of her too."

Naruto gave an embarrassed frown, "H-hey that's not fair! I'm not going to going to hold back if she is!"

Neji had a devilish look in his eyes, "Wouldn't you prefer…I beat you up…and she tends to your wounds?"

Naruto was at a loss for words and then started laughing. He gave a smile at Neji, "As you long as you promise your uncle isn't there to to kill me."

Neji tried not to laugh knowing it would cause him further pain, "I'll see what I can do."

Sasuke glanced at them as they carried on their conversation and he discussed inventory of everything with a fellow soldier. He already had maps pulled out with possible traveling plans to their next destination and where would be the safest places to rest for the night. Whether he liked it or not he was in charge until they met up with another team with a higher-ranking officer and he knew it was a chance to prove himself. He continued going through plans for twenty minutes until he could hear a few medical-copters beginning to land earlier than expected. He quickly had uninjured soldiers begin helping the mildly injured on and let the medic team careful move Neji. Naruto smiled as Neji was getting loaded onto the helicopter, "Say hi to Hinata-chan for me!"

Neji mildly held up a thumbs up with his opposite arm of the bullet wound. Naruto gave a big grin as the medical-copters safely rose into the air and began flying away. Sasuke walked up beside him, "Seems like you two had a good talk."

Naruto patted him on the back, "Just talking about me marrying Hinata-chan. You should really find somebody to marry too Teme."

Sasuke raised an eyebrow at the idea of Neji trying to break Hinata's engagement so she could marry Naruto, "Really?"

Naruto gave a big grin and started walking back to look at the maps Sasuke drew up, "Yeah I mean you can't be alone forever Teme. That pink haired lady seemed nice though."

Sasuke rolled his eyes as he followed him back to the planning table and knew he was avoiding Sasuke's real question, "I'm not going to marry Sakura Dobe, I barely know her."

Naruto shrugged his shoulders and he started looking over the travel maps, "Then get to know her, ask her to write you a letter or something."

Sasuke sighed ignoring the idea, "We're at war, I don't have time to be picking out my future wife."

Naruto smirked, "So you do wanna get married! Ha! I knew deep down you didn't want to be alone!"

Sasuke gave another sigh inwardly scolding himself for giving Naruto the opportunity to say that, "I didn't say that."

Naruto's smirk grew, "But you didn't deny it either."

Sasuke frowned knowing Naruto wasn't going to let it go, "Fine. We're twenty-four Naruto, marriage has crossed my mind."

Naruto jumped mildly in joy at making Sasuke admit to not wanting to be alone, "Don't you worry Sasuke-teme, when the war's over you'll be sweeping that Sakura person off her feet! I'll even help you!"

Sasuke gave a displeased look and started plotting routes on the maps again, "No thanks"

Naruto gave a small frown, "I'm better with women than you think."

Sasuke shook his head a little, "Because you lived with that perverted hermit? I don't even want to know what he taught you."

Naruto crossed his arms recalling growing up with Jiraya after his father died, "Hey I'm not a pervert like him, okay!"

Sasuke gave him a small glance, "You don't hear yourself talking when you sleep. Neji would murder you if he heard you dreaming about Hinata like that."

Naruto became stiff and started to stammer, "Wh-what are you talking about? I…I wouldn't…I would never…Damnit! Just shut up, okay!"

Sasuke smirked at Naruto's embarrassment, "I was joking but it seems I do have something on you now."

Naruto paused a moment and stared at Sasuke in disbelief, "You…wh-…you…you tricked me!"

Sasuke smirked happily to himself as he continued to write up some battle formations, "And you fell for it."

Naruto's expression faltered back and forth through several emotions and he flexed his hands, "You…Damnit Teme! You just wait! I know under that cool exterior you're just a softie and have plenty of perverted thoughts too and I'm going to prove it!"

Sasuke rolled his eyes and kept his smirk on his face, "Good luck with that."

Naruto ignored his sarcasm, "Thanks but I won't need it."

Sasuke shook his head and Naruto and him finally got down to business beginning to explain to their teams what their plans were. After explanation the trucks with more medical supplies arrived and they were able to move out.

_in Konohagakure a couple of hours later_

Sakura rubbed her eyes as she ran through a few medical charts at work at eight in the morning; Sasuke's phone call made it hard for her to fall back asleep, not that she minded. Sakura would do anything to help save lives. With that thought she got up to check with the front desk if any soldiers had been brought in recently.

"Yes, nine wounded were brought in about twenty minutes ago but none were in critical condition."

Sakura gave a small smile hoping that meant the comrade Sasuke called about had survived, "Do you mind giving me their room numbers? I'd like to go check on them."

The middle age woman at the front desk gave a sweet smile and nodded, "Of course not, you're always so caring for our soldiers Sakura they should really give you more credit."

Sakura smiled as the woman handed her the list of room numbers, "It's alright, I don't mind at all. I'll just be happy to get my doctor certification next month."

The woman gave an encouraging smile, "I know you'll be fine, you're already such a prodigy and you're Dr. Tsunade's apprentice. We all know great work will come from you."

Sakura gave a small smile not minding the pressure that came along with that statement, "Thank you and thank you for the room numbers."

The middle-aged woman gave a small nod, "Anytime Sweetheart."

Sakura smiled in return and then went through the list and reading though each patient's injuries. She gave a small smile noticing the only grave injury was a man's gunshot wound to his shoulder and that meant Sasuke's friend had survived. She read the name and headed to his room to see how his injury was coming along. She slid open the grey door to find Neji propped up in his hospital bed attached to typical medical machinery and a blood bag, "You feeling any better?"

Neji looked up at the unfamiliar woman and tried to ignore her odd hair color, "Yes, the bleeding stopped and as long as I don't move the tissue will heal on it's own."

Sakura smiled as she walked further in and stood in front of his bed, "I'm glad. Did you receive any other injuries?"

Neji lightly shook his head, "No…nothing else besides watching my men die."

Sakura paused a moment as her expression fell a little, "I'm sorry…I gathered from Sasuke's voice over the phone that it had been a bad fight."

Neji's expression lifted a little, "You were the medic on the phone?"

Sakura smiled a little, "Yes, I just wanted to make sure you made it out okay."

Neji gave a small smile, "Well I thank you for your help. I wouldn't have made it back alive if it weren't for you."

Sakura's smile widened, "I'm glad I could help."

Neji prepared to ask her how she knew Sasuke but their attention was caught as the door was opened and Hinata came rushing through with a worried look on her face. "Neji-niisan are you okay!?"

Neji gave a small smile at his cousin as she quickly kneeled beside his bed and lightly grabbed one of his hands, "Yes, I just have to stay still for a while."

Hinata gave a sigh of relief, "I'm so glad."

Neji continued to smile at her and glanced up as Hanabi, his uncle, and an unfamiliar man walked in. Hinata watched as his expression narrowed at the unfamiliar man and she plastered a small fake smile on her face, "Oh, um Neji-niisan…this is my fiancé…Mori-san…"

Neji's face hardened as he analyzed the man; he was clean cut in a nice suit as to be expected. He had dark brown hair and amber eyes with a mild tan; Neji watched as he offered a welcoming smile. "I'm glad to see you returned safely."

Neji's eyes narrowed as something just seemed off to him, "Shot in the shoulder but yes I suppose safely."

His uncle narrowed his eyes at him, giving him a mild scold for his attitude. Sakura shifted awkwardly noticing the tense atmosphere starting to form and pursed her lip, "Well your family's here now so I'll go. I'll stop by later and bring you some real food."

Neji directed his attention back to the pinkette, "Thank you, do you mind telling me your name?"

Sakura gave a small smile as she headed towards the door, "Sakura"

Neji watched as she left the room and glanced back to Hinata's curious face. Hinata scanned his face, "Who was that?"

Neji could take a good guess at what was running through Hinata's mind, "The medic Sasuke called for help after I got shot; her advice ended up saving my life."

Hinata smiled and gave him a warm smile, "Well then I think she's wonderful."

Neji glanced up at his uncle, "Yes but Naruto and Sasuke also took a big part in saving me. Naruto brought me to safety, treated me, and then kept me conscious till help arrived. I probably would've died if he didn't."

Hinata paused a moment watching the way Neji was looking at her father as if he was implying something. She clenched her jaw as she held Neji's hand and gave a nervous glance up at him, "So Naruto-kun wasn't injured?"

Neji looked back down at her with a small smile, "No, he's perfectly fine."

Hinata tried to hide her smile with her fiancé and family in the room. Neji watched her reaction and glanced back up at his uncle, "Uncle, do you mind giving Hinata and I a few minutes?"

Hinata's father gave a stern look considering what he could possibly want to talk to her about, "Don't you wish to speak to both of your cousins? Hanabi is here as well."

Neji kept eye contact with his uncle, "And I am happy to see her. I'm happy to see you as well Uncle, but I wish to speak with Hinata alone."

Hinata's father gave an unhappy look instinctively knowing what it was about but decided after Neji's trauma he deserved whatever he wanted for a while, "We'll give you ten minutes."

Neji gave a respectful look as Hanabi, her father, and Hinata's fiancé began to file out of the room, "Thank you Uncle"

Hinata nervously looked at him and pulled up a chair next to his bed and returned to holding her cousin's hand, "What do you want to talk to me about?"

"I don't like him."

Hinata's jaw fell a little at his blunt statement, "Who? Mori-san? He's nice…and you've only just met him."

Neji gave her a serious look, "Something's off about him. I don't know what it is but I've been studying people's behavior in the military for a long time and something's not right with him."

Hinata frowned, "Okay…but I still have to marry him. Father arranged it, you know that."

Neji looked at her and squeezed her hand, "You know I'm not one to defy Uncle, but you don't have to do what he says. You're a grown woman Hinata; you should be able to chose to marry whoever you want."

Hinata avoided eye contact, "You didn't object to it before…"

Neji paused a moment, "No…I didn't, but I should have. I never liked the idea but being near death really made me realize life's not for granted…and yours shouldn't be used as a stepping stone for our clan."

Hinata momentarily glanced back up at him to see his caring face, "But…If I don't marry well then Hanabi will be under terrible pressure. I couldn't bare to see her suffer into a forced marriage."

Neji looked straight in the eyes, "You'll still marry well if you marry Naruto."

Hinata froze for a moment; her cheeks went red and she stared at the ground too speechless to say anything. Neji watched her reaction, "I can tell from when you visit how you feel about him…and I promise he has feelings for you too."

Hinata looked up at Neji with a surprised, hopeful look. She recalled how he wanted her to not follow through with her engagement before he left for war but they never got to finish their conversation. Her mind raced at the idea, "But…he's not here…how-"

"Write him a letter"

Hinata looked at her cousin and pursed her lips in apprehension. Neji lightly squeezed her hand, "I know you don't want an arranged marriage and I promise you he's not the right guy so go break off your engagement and write Naruto. Do what's best for you, not our clan."

Hinata's gaze lingered on Neji's face as she contemplated doing what he said. She clenched her jaw and thought of Naruto and the idea of at least trying to marry him instead of a stranger. She smiled and gave a small nod, "Okay"

Neji smiled at his cousin, happy she was finally doing something for her. Hinata slowly stood and took a deep breath before walking back out into the hall. Neji waited a couple minutes and then watched as his Uncle walked back in the room furious, "What did you do!? She just broke off her engagement, what the hell did you say to her?"

Neji tried not to smile as he could see Mori angrily walk past the open door and begin to leave, "I said I didn't like him."

Hanabi walked in with a calm face trying to stay passive to the whole situation. Hisashi growled and started pacing around the room, "How could you know that? He spoke a few words to you!"

Neji kept a calm face, "Military behavior analysis, trust me Uncle it's for the best. Besides…I think Hinata deserves to pick her own husband."

Hisashi stood speechless for a moment, "Yes…but the elders…ugh, fine she can pick…I'll take the heat from the elders…but if she doesn't find somebody suitable the elders with threaten her."

Neji gave a curt nod knowing how crude the elders of their clan were, "Don't worry I'll make sure her pick is worthy."

Hisashi didn't catch on to Neji's thinking about Naruto out of stress and glanced back at Neji, "Well aside from that I'm glad you're okay. I'm going to sign off on some medical bills and get some coffee. I'll be back soon."

Neji nodded as his uncle walked out and Hinata soon after walked in. Hinata immediately walked over to Neji and gave a soft hug around his neck, "Thank you"

Neji smiled in return and looked back up at his younger cousin, "Now that that's taken care of, Hanabi you are nineteen now. Care to share anything about your love life?"

Hanabi's expression faltered for a split second, "You know I'm not aloud to date without Father's approval."

Neji smirked, "And you know I'm a professional at reading people's behavior so I can tell your lying."

Hanabi's cheeks started to turn red causing Hinata to get a big grin on her face. Hinata had to force herself not to jump in glee for her normally serious sister to have somebody, "Oh Hanabi you have to tell! Please!"

Hanabi shuffled back and forth on her feet, "Well…"

_author's notes_

So I know there was more NaruHina than SasuSaku in this chapter but it's still early on and I have plenty of plans for Sasuke and Sakura. Anyways I hope you guys enjoyed. Sorry on the wait I was trying really hard to make sure I got the medical facts right when it came to Neji being shot and had to ask around and was also super busy at college since the semester just ended. I did make it a little longer than usual in hopes you'll forgive my lateness; I also realized while writing this chapter that I'll probably get a little more detailed when it comes to the physicality of relationships later in the story. I won't go lemon on you guys since I already made the story rating but they're in their twenties so it's something I can toy around writing with a little more.

Speaking of that, out of curiosity, what do you guys think of writing like that, getting really detailed about physicality and lemon? I've never done that stuff before but I'm kind of curious to push my writing capabilities but I don't want to do anything you guys wouldn't like in new fanfics. Please answer and review I'll respond!