Healing Pains

Chapter 2: Loveable idiots

Naruto, Konan, and Yahiko were strolling back to Konoha (what was left of it), Konan resting her head on Yahiko's chest, with a vulnerable look on her face. She had just gotten through explaining everything concerning Akatsuki's crimes, the hunt for the Jinchurikii, Jiraiya's death at Nagato's hands, the destruction of Konoha, Naruto's actions, and Nagato's sacrifice, and needless to say, Yahiko's mind was spinning.

Years of events had been crammed into one hour of small talk, throughout which, Yahiko read a range of emotions from Konan. There was no doubt she had endured deep emotional struggles with him gone, and had made a great many mistakes, along with Nagato. There was no doubt that Konan had committed terrible crimes.

However, as Konan spoke, she explained how deep down, part of her told herself that what she and Nagato were doing; the murders, the manipulation, the oppression, was wrong. She didn't show it, but she had been guilty for a long time.

"But…" Konan had said, "I felt it was my duty to carry out your vision of peace Yahkiko. Nagato even more so, after what you entrusted him to it. It was our purpose in life. Therefore, whatever happened to us, to those we hurt, didn't really matter."

The words hung heavily on Yahiko. All this suffering, all this pain, had sprouted from his words. Maybe if he had seen through Hanzo's plotting, had been less trusting, hadn't gotten himself killed, he could've been there for Nagato. Been there for Konan.

As if reading his mind, Konan looked up at Yahiko. "Hey, don't you ever blame yourself." Then she repeated that rare action of smiling that warmed Yahkiko's heart instantly. "I'm supposed to be the guilty one. You're supposed to be the loveable, carefree idiot."

Naruto felt a little excluded so he commented in: "Yeah, I would say I'm loveable." Konan veins pulsed, but she kept her smile. "Well than the idiot part isn't emphasized enough for you." Yahiko chuckled while Naruto simply growled at the verbal jab.

"Now that we're back to lighter topics, I have a serious question Konan." Konan perked her head in Yahkiko's direction. "How do I remove all these metal rods inserted in my body?" Naruto grimaced as he remembered the chakra rods embedded in every section of Yahiko's body. 'What would suck is if he has rods in certain… areas' Naruto thought deeply disturbed, as many phallic images crossed his mind.

"Oh I forgot, do they hurt, are you in pain?" Konan was now hurriedly examining a very flustered Yahiko. "I'm fine, just calm down. I don't know why, but I don't seem to feel much right now." Yahiko explained. Konan thought about it. "Your nervous system is probably in disarray from all the chakra rod usage. You'll probably start feeling the pain tonight." Konan said indifferently. "Well that's… encouraging", Yahiko stated, sweat-dropped.

"Don't worry, I'm going to surgically remove all the chakra rods after inducing your unconsciousness. I won't lie though, it will still hurt quite a bit."

Yahiko grimaced. "I'll be sure to make to make it up to you though…" Konan added with a small tone. Yahiko glanced at the blue-haired nin. Her expression was now quite reserved, almost fearful, as if she were afraid she would push him away. 'Like she could..." Yahiko thought looking upon his childhood friend, wind rustling her hair in a light, graceful fashion, just adding to her angelic appearance. When Konan's eyes finally came up and met his, she noticed he was staring at her. They moved a little closer to each other, and stopped walking for a short moment, gazing deeply into each other's eyes.

"Whoa guys, get a room." Naruto stated offhandedly. Yahiko and Konan as a result, turned in opposite ways blushing. Naruto started cracking up. Yahiko was about to go teach him a lesson, when he heard a heavenly sound. He turned, and saw Konan giggling, if lightly. None of the shinobi present could easily recall such an action coming from Konan, not even herself. In good nature, Yahiko joined in, and after sharing that happy moment, the three nin continued walking.

The trio was holding a brief silence when Naruto spoke up. "To think, only a couple hours ago, we were hell-bent on killing each other. Now, we're talking like old friends." Yahiko and Konan smiled, in appreciation of the odd situation. "I believe there will be a day when people can truly understand each other…"Naruto said. "Those were the words of Jiraiya, our common master. It was his belief."

"It's mine too." Yahiko stated. "But conflict, hatred, pain, are all-consuming. They spread like fire, in a fragile world like ours, and are the toughest blazes to conquer. I've now seen how they corrupt and confuse people like Nagato, and even you Konan. It will take everything we have as humans to achieve true peace."

Konan and Naruto nodded in understanding. "But if we could come to peace with each other, then there is still hope." Yahiko stated with a smile on his face.

"So what you're saying is…" Naruto smiled mischievously. Konan and Yahkiko raised their eyebrows. "That you better believe i-" Naruto was about to finish his signature phrase, full wink/thumb combo and all, when he realized how tired he was, and started to fall over. Alarmed, Konan moved to catch the teen, when a certain white-haired masked nin caught him.

"Kakashi-sensei…" Naruto uttered happily. "Gotchya." Said Kakashi Hatake whimsically. Naruto smiled, relieved to see his teacher alive. But... "It's great to see you… but you smell really bad sensei…" Naruto complained, perched on Kakashi's back. Kakashi only sighed. "I come back from the dead, and the first thing you do is insult me?"

He then took notice to the former Akatsuki members behind Naruto. "So you two are really on our side now…" The one-eyed nin stated offhandedly. Naruto turned to his former teacher questionably. "How did you know?"

A blue-white slug crawled out of Naruto's pocket. "My clones spread the information to the rest of Konoha. I've been telling them about everything about the fight between you and Pein, your talk with Nagato, and Yahkiko. I might warn you that a huge crowd is waiting to welcome you upon your arrival back in Konoha." Naruto looked at the slug known as Katsuyu in surprise.

"There are people waiting just to cheer for me?" Naruto questioned. "Have a look for yourself." Kakashi stated plainly. Naruto then recognized a low murmur in the air. The group was breaching the outskirts of Konoha, and as the last of the trees constricting their view cleared, they could begin to see a massive crowd gathered.

To Naruto's disbelief, the citizens of Konohagakure were all indeed applauding him, and cheering his name, as the new hero of the Hidden Leaf made his entrance. Naruto got off Kakashi's back, and walked towards the crowd. Multiple schoolchildren began crowding around Naruto, and started pounding him with questions.

"Naruto-kun, how was your fight with pain?" One girl asked excitedly. "You're so strong Naruto-sama!" One boy shouted enthusiastically. Naruto was dazed by all the sudden attention. Among the crowd were so many people whom had looked down upon him, who used to fear him, hate him, see him as nothing more as the trouble-maker freak, nothing more than a weakened Kyuubi. But here they were, calling him hero, clapping their hands. A part of him was overjoyed by the attention. But deep down, he felt a darker side of him sickened by the hypocrisy.

Only after proving himself various times, giving his all for a village that used to hate him. Only after achieving insane power did he become recognized by the villagers. Where was their hate now? How come the sudden change? The Kyuubi smiled viciously within Naruto as he felt Naruto's dark side very present.

While Naruto stood dazed, a Pink-haired medical-nin stood some distance from Naruto. She had been waiting for him, but didn't know what to say after seeing his truly breath-taking actions. Sakura Haruno finally resolved to scold Naruto for his blatant foolishness, and then immediately express her gratitude. She knew it was a lame way to express her feelings, but she wasn't entirely sure how she felt about him. She wasn't sure of herself.

But as Sakura walked over to her Blonde team-mate, she saw a kunoichi whom for the first time in a very long time, was sure of herself. A kunoichi with raven-blue hair, lovely lavender eyes, a pale complexion, and a perfect, lithe figure. A kunoichi, whom to everybody's infinite shock, especially so Sakura's, rushed up to the blonde-haired, blue-eyed Jinchuuriki, and wrapped her arms around him in a teary embrace.

"Thank God Naruto-kun…" Hinata Hyuuga uttered joyfully, tears of joy streaming. She no longer cared about the mass of people watching them, as she held the boy she had come so close to losing. "Hinata-chan…" Naruto stated solemnly, images of Pein's blade piercing her delicate frame coming to his mind again. He held her closely. "You shouldn't have risked yourself like that."

Hinata only smiled. "People do stupid things when they're in love." Naruto just held her tightly and thought to himself her words.

(Flashback)

"I'm here because I want to be. This time I'm going to save you Naruto! I was always crying and running away before even trying. I made the wrong turns so many times. But you helped me find my way and take the correct path, Naruto. I always chased after you. I wanted to catch up to you. I wanted to walk beside you all the time. I wanted to be at your side always. Your smile is what saved me. Thats why Im not afraid to die if it means I can protect you. Because . . . I love you, Naruto."

(End Flashback)

Naruto understood now. Why growing up Hinata had always seemed so strange, and so weird around him. Why she panicked whenever something happened to him, and always worried about him. Why she always seemed like she was hiding something, always was hiding. She was entirely and utterly in love with him, and Naruto never even recognized it.

"I'm sorry though…" Hinata said slightly shamed. "I couldn't even help that much, despite that big mouth I had before jumping in to rescue you."

Naruto stepped back in awe. "Hinata, you jumped in to a dangerous situation, overcame your fears to tell me your feelings, and nearly sacrificed yourself for me, and your saying sorry!? Hinata what you did was amazing! Beyond anything you could ever expect anyone!"

Hinata stood surprised. 'He's acknowledging me. He really believes in me.' It was Hinata's long-time goal to be acknowledged by Naruto, and to stand beside him. She realized she had finally done both.

Naruto put his hands on her shoulders, and looked her directly in her eyes. "Hinata, you're one of the, no, the best girl I have in my life, and I should be the one apologizing for taking so long to realize it!" He said this sternly, but calmly, a gentle look on his face. "I don't entirely know how or why you came to love me, but I want to know. I want to know everything about you, because…" Naruto stated, putting his head down slightly, and removing his hands. "I think I might be in love with you now..."

Hinata was in a dazed state. 'Naruto… love…might…' Hinata's brain was fried, and as her face turned a bright red, she felt a familiar feeling overtake herself. "N-n-Naruto…" She uttered before she went limp. Naruto almost didn't catch the Hyuuga fainting, but moved like hell to grab her. He caught her just in time, and held her in his arms.

Naruto then really looked at Hinata's unconscious face. 'She really is beautiful…' Naruto thought, a certain part of himself genuinely excited by Hinata's touch. 'How could I have missed so much…' Naruto thought as he gently lifted her bridal style.

He lightly smiled as he felt her breath, her chest lightly lifting and falling. He thought it was cute.

Author's note: Hope you liked it, since I sort of wrote this on a whim. I've always been a huge Naruhina fan, so I was excited to do this chapter. I'll still try to capitalize on Konan and Yahkiko though.