Nigai Yuki, Aoi Sora

Slowly I am trying to figure out what happened exactly myself. But here you go. Chapter two of Nigai Yuki, Aoi Sora.

Chapter 2

Fading in and out of consciousness, seemed to be the way of the world for Naruto for now. Everything seemed hazy, dazed. People tried to speak to him, but he couldn't muster a response or even felt like responding. Sleep felt so good to him at this point of his recovery. Sleep and the one who came to hold his hand at night. That warmth, he felt as he laid there some where between life and death. Who was it? He couldn't remember. But it felt so familiar to him, if he could smile, he would have been.

Hollow eyes stared off across the room into darkness of the room. He'd close them after a few seconds and then open again as time seemed to pass by. When he was awake, he could not speak, he really could not think either. His surroundings were dim; bleek... and someone at his side holding his hand. He wanted to turn and look, see who was sitting beside him, but the strength to do so, was not there. It probably would not matter anyways, no names came to mind on who it could be anyways.

Closing his eyes he could hear a voice calling out to him. Asking him to stay awake. It had been the same for the past couple times he found himself awake. If you wanted to call this awake. It was almost torture for the young blond. His ears rang, his head hurt. His body ached. But could not recall what had happened. But drifting back into another slumber seemed best. Yes for now, sleep was good.

"Naruto, stay awake!" Kakashi said reaching up to touch the boys face. But he was already unconscious. Sitting back down by the boys side, the older male sighed and closed his eyes. The injury to Naruto's head, was serious even though it did not look that bad on the outside. He also remembered Sakura saying she could not sense the Kyuubi's chakra at this time either. 'I wonder what happened... I wish he would wake up and tell me...' The male thought before opening his eyes.

This lack of sleep Kakashi was dealing with, was starting to get to him. He would stay by Naruto at night and during the day work on his duties as Hokage. Feeling responsible for sending the young man out on such a mission. Knowing there were probably better ANBU for it as well. He just so badly wanted Naruto to continue working hard on his skills, and polishing up on his different techniques he had. That was without relying so much on the power of Kurama. Thankfully during the war the two learned how to work together; but Kakashi still saw it as a power crutch. Knowing himself, Naruto could do better without it.

Right now, by order, only staff and Kakashi was allowed into the room with the young blond. It was not that everyone who saw what happened did not know Naruto or the fact he was an ANBU operative. It was to be a secret in the village to keep him from being targeted off duty. But if word got out that he had been injured. There was sure to be trouble. Or that was at least how Kakashi saw it.

His dark eyes falling once more upon the resting boy before laying his head down on the others stomach. There was only so much the hospital staff could do. What if he never pulled from this? What if this time, he pushed the boy too far and he did not recover? Normally, Naruto would have been up and about. Screaming and demanding to be let out of bed. Why did this one time have to be different? Why did it ache for him to see his young pupil in such a disposition? Laying his head down on the boys abdomen, he closed his eyes and sighed once again. It was going to be yet another long night and Naruto was not going to wake back up anytime soon.

Sitting at his desk, half asleep. Kakashi read through some of the papers he was to sign off on for village projects. His mind and heart just was not into the job. All he could think about was rather or not Naruto was actually going to make it out of the hospital this time or not. What could have gone wrong? And why was the boy rendered half dead with the only injury being to his head? Where was the demon fox? There was so many questions going on through his head. He just wasn't sure where to start with it.

A soft knock on his door, and the male looked up from his paperwork. "Yes?" He asked and the door opened. On the other side was one of the young males from Naruto's time int he academy. His black hair always bunched up into that sloppy pony tail. Studs in his ears and bored looking expression on his face. Yes, it was Shikamaru. Kakashi really had no idea who else to summon about this particular incident.

He watched amazingly as the other brushed the snow off his clothes. It had been snowing pretty hard again outside. Oddly it felt ironic to how he felt at this moment without Naruto bugging him for the next best mission. Sighing, Kakashi looked back down at his paperwork and started signing off. The silence between the two males were great. Shikamaru really had no idea what to do, since he really did not know Kakashi all that well outside of a few missions, the war and him being Hokage.

"I need you." The older male started out and then looked up at the younger male. "To form a four man squad. You will be captain. I need you to look for a man for me." he said. "Do not attack. Just locate him. He is very dangerous."

Shikamaru looked around. "What a drag...Where is Naruto when you need him."He said and then laughed lightly. "He's slacking again isn't he. So you send me instead."

Kakashi did not say anything to the younger male at first. Actually his words sort of stung. Then with a heavy sigh continued. "What I am telling you is classified. I trust you, and this stays between us."

Shikamaru blinked and then nodded slowly. Given the look the older male was giving him, this was pretty serious. "Yes...Lord Sixth." He responded.

"Naruto is in critical condition in the hospital right now. He and Sai were on the last ANBU squad we sent out to trace this very man and bring him down. Somehow only Naruto and Sai made it back barely with their lives." Kakashi said.

"No way." Shikamaru said in disbelief. "So it is that serious..."

"That is why I am telling you to not attack. Just locate the man and report back. I will assemble another team to send in after him once he has been located. And Shikamaru. No one knows Naruto's condition. And no one needs to know either."

The younger male nodded and then sighed. "Are all my trackers home?"

Kakashi nodded. "Except Hinata. She is out on a mission. But should be back sometime today. You can assemble and head out by daybreak tomorrow if you have to. I want you to have the best man for this team. This man, this rogue... he's going down."

When Shikamaru left, Kakashi figured he would turn in for the evening as well. He needed to get something to eat before going to visit Naruto once again. As he strolled through the snowy streets, no one seemed to ask him anything. There were no rumors on why Naruto was absent; even though some of them for sure saw him return the other day. Or if there were rumors, he had not heard them yet.

Stopping at a shop he pointed at a couple dumplings and then paid for them. Even though he was Hokage, he didn't ask for anything free, and visiting this shor in particular started to become a daily ritual with Naruto in the hospital. Pausing for a moment, he turned back to the shop and went ahead and ordered two more and had them also placed in the bag. Paying for those as well he then turned from the shop and walked off. Sitting down by the park, the white haired male looked out to see no one playing on the swing set or slide. Of course there was no children out. It was too cold. Or at least that was what he thought.

Reaching into the bag, he pulled out one of the sticks that had the sweet dumplings attached to it and started to pop one into his mouth when someone called out to him. "Hmn...?" He asked looking over. It was the pink haired female who he trained years ago, Sakura. She seemed somewhat panicked... or maybe she was just in a hurry to find him. Stopping a in front of the seated male, she knelt over placing her hands on her knees for a moment to catch her breath before looking up.

They stared at one another for a moment before she finally took in a breath. "Naruto had to be rushed back into the OR this evening." She said sternly, but Kakashi could catch the concern in her voice. "I would have told you sooner, but I must have just missed you at the office."

Kakashi froze. He hadn't even taken a bite of the food he had bought for him to eat, and he was already feeling sick to his stomach. This was really turning out to be worse than he expected. Sitting down his food, the older male tried to keep his composure in front of the young female. "W-what happened..." He finally managed to push past his lips without trying to show the turmoil that was growing deep inside.

"H-he woke up and... I don't know. I was not in the room when he woke up. I just remember one of the nurses screaming and...and...I left to come get you once I was sure he was in the OR. I planned on going in to assist once you were aware." Sakura spoke. It was clear she was upset over what was going on. The one thing she hated about working in the hospital was when her friends were admitted; namely Naruto. And even though she had seen him in rough shape before. She had never seen anything quite like this.

"S-seizures." She muttered lowly. And then took a deep breath before turning from Kakashi. "Excuse me, Lord Hokage. I need to return to my duties." she said shaky.

With the pink haired female gone, Kakashi leaned over and placed his hands into his face. He felt so torn up. Why was this happening to Naruto? What had happened during the mission. Why was he left in such terrible condition. He felt this knot in his throat. Choked up and ready to vomit. His heart ached with the idea of the boy being in so much pain. All he did was send him out on a normal ANBU mission, like the several before hand. Actually Naruto had become a pretty good ANBU operative from what he had observed from completed missions to reports from the head of ANBU. He had learned many great skills... that Kakashi personally wished the boy had learned in missions when he was just a plain shinobi.

Cry, scream. Something, he wanted to do something to release this pain he felt deep inside him. Something to make him feel better, and that everything was going to be alright. Scream so loud that villagers come out to see why he was grieving so hard. Or was he allowed to? Being Hokage he was still human. And someone dear to him, close to his heart. His mentor's son, his best friend; was laying in the hospital with an uncertain future.

After a couple moments to recollect himself, Kakashi stood up and started towards the hospital. Each step heavier and heavier. His body colder and colder. And once he got to the hospital, it did him no good to go to an empty room. And all the good nurse staff was attending to his friend in the OR. Do he awaited in the lobby for any news on his friend.

You guys wanted a second chapter. Here you go. Don't know how many chapters I'll take this. But I have a general idea how I am going to take the story.