AN. I've gotten the story planned out, and with what route I want to take and have decided which path is the best overall. I thank everyone for following and the one review I've already gotten. More reviews are always welcome and appreciated. Didn't think I'd get these many followers, even if it's only 7 so far, and even 5 favorites. Anyways, I'll be trying to tie up some things and explain certain things in the story which might be confusing.
Naruto woke up in his room at the hospital, looking around and taking in the surroundings, the plain white walls and the machine connected to him as well as lots of bandages over his body. The nurse who was watching over him stood up and walked towards him after checking over the machines nearby, presumably to make sure Naruto was stable.
"Good afternoon Naruto, how are you feeling? Anything out of the ordinary?" The nurse looked at Naruto, looking for anything that should alert her about a problem with Naruto's health.
"No, I'm quite alright, I feel really sore, as well as hungry and thirsty, could I get something to drink?" Naruto asked, slowly leaning up on his bed, pushing his back towards the wall to sit up properly.
"Yes, in a bit, I just need to check to make sure you are healing properly. I'm going to check for anything that stands out, I'll be pushing on you and just tell me if anything hurts" The nurse walked to the bed right near Naruto and started to move her hands onto the boy. She was prodding around his shoulders and upper chest when Naruto blurted out.
"It stings a bit when you push over the left side of my chest a bit," He said, slightly clenching his teeth as the nurse nodded and kept examining the boy. She went lower towards his stomach and stopped when the only part Naruto said hurt was his left side of his chest.
"The pain from the left side of your chest must be because of where you were struck, you had a big wound there. If anything, you're very lucky to be alive right now." The nurse smiled at him, she knew his situation and held no ill will towards him, even wished he could prove everyone else wrong because she knew he didn't deserve all the hate he got from the villagers. "I'll get your water now, be back in a moment, and don't push yourself right now, you're still healing" She walked out of the room to get the boy some water that he asked for earlier, making sure to ask for him to get his meal soon as she got him the water.
(Hokage's tower)
Tsunade was doing paperwork, she had focused on it to keep her mind out of thinking about Naruto and his predicament. As she was reading over some of the papers for something about a mission that was C ranked she noticed an ANBU operative drop down into the middle of her room.
"Hokage-sama, Naruto has woken up and is in a stable condition, his wound is still sore but he seems to be making great progress." the ANBU Boar said as he waited for her orders.
"Thank you, dismissed," Tsunade said as she got ready to go to the hospital and pay Naruto a visit, as well as check over him personally, make sure all his bones were set properly and his lung wouldn't fail at a bad moment. She asked Shizune to come with her since she wanted Naruto to have as many friendly faces in the room as she could.
(Naruto's Hospital Room)
"Thank you for the water," Naruto said as the nurse handed the cup to him and he quickly drank most of it, stopping to look at the nurse when she spoke.
"Of course, also, I told the others in charge of food that you woke up and you will be getting some food shortly, a bit of a late lunch." The nurse walked out of the room, stopping at the machines and checking them once over again and then nearly bumping into Shizune as she walked out.
"Oh, pardon me, I didn't see you there," Shizune said as she stepped back to let the nurse leave. The nurse bowed to Shizune and Tsunade, then continued out to help out the next patient or do some of her own paperwork.
Tsunade and Shizune walked into the room, Tsunade walking up to Naruto and hugging him tightly. "You worried me so much Naruto, don't scare me like that again." Tsunade thought of Naruto like family, quickly thinking of him as her own son in a sense, worried about what could happen to him.
"I'm sorry Baa-chan, I had to try and bring Sasuke back, but I just failed. I bet Sakura hates me now for breaking my promise to bring him back..." Naruto said as he started to feel more down about his failure to bring back the missing-nin.
"It's okay Naruto, it's not your fault he left the village, and you shouldn't bring yourself down about it. Another time you'll meet him again, next time will be different though" Tsunade said with a smile, trying to bring up his mood.
"Besides, once you are all healed up, me, you and Tsunade will go to Ichiraku's Ramen place, and we'll both pay for it," Shizune said, she knew Naruto loved the place and the owner and his daughter, knowing this would bring up his mood.
Naruto immediately looked at Shizune with a smile and gleaming eyes, "Really Shizune? Promise?"
"I promise Naruto, I'll make sure of it" Shizune finished, glad that Naruto's mood had perked up, and her plan worked.
"Naruto, we do need to talk about something though..." Tsunade brought up, with a sad tone to her voice.
"What's that? Did something happen while I was gone" Naruto asked, unaware of what happened and curious about what was causing Tsunade to be a bit sad in her tone.
"Your home... It was burnt down while you were gone" Tsunade finished, waiting for Naruto's reaction, or words, but there were none, just a sad look from him. "However, there is some light in this though,"
(Flashback, Hokage's Office)
A knock was heard as Tsunade was drinking a bit of Sake that she kept in her desk to help her out when the paperwork got really tough. It was the day after Naruto got back and was put in the hospital, the light of the afternoon shining in through the windows in the room.
"Come in," Tsunade said, curious as to who wanted to speak with her. Tsume I. walked into the room, standing in front of the Hokage's desk.
" I have a request Hokage-sama," Tsume asked, slightly nervous but not showing it at all, she wouldn't let herself show any weak emotion, especially as the clan head of the Inuzuka.
"Alright, let me hear it," Tsunade replied, curious to know what it was at such a random time.
"I would like to let Naruto into the Inuzuka clan household. I know how he has always been alone and that he lives in that awful apartment, I want him to live with us. If possible I'd like to adopt him, but he would choose to either keep his current surname or adopt the Inuzuka surname. It's been too long since the council has kept him alone from people. With all due respect Hokage-sama, this is bullshit. He deserves much better." Tsume said, giving confidence in her statement, but not being disrespectful to Tsunade.
"I'll try my best to see what I can do, I'll do what I need to do," Tsunade said, already thinking of how to make this possible.
"Thank you Hokage-sama, if I'm not needed, I'll be taking my leave now," Tsume bowed and reached for the doorknob.
"Thank you Tsume, I'm glad you don't see him in a bad light" Tsunade replied, wanting to show gratitude to the woman offering a hand to her godson.
Tsume nodded her head and continued out of the office, heading back to her Clan's compound.
(Naruto's Hospital Room)
"Tsume invited you to join her and live in her clan's household," Tsunade said, curious as to how Naruto would react to the offer.
Naruto just stared at her. Tsunade was a bit worried as to what he was thinking but Naruto was just so happy that someone was willing to help him. Someone, the clan head, offered him a place to stay, he felt so happy after all that had happened and how the village had treated him but someone outright invited him to live with them. He might actually have a sort of family and learn to what it would be like for him every day as he wouldn't be so alone.
"Really? She invited me to live with the clan?" Naruo asked, his voice a bit low and unsure of itself.
"Yes, she did, I've already had everything sorted out if you do want to and it would be no problem. That is if you accept her offer," Tsunade said, still a bit unsure of what he would choose.
"I do, it's just... I've never had an offer like this before, it's like when old man Hiruzen told me he would let me go attend the academy." Naruto said, his voice shaky, obviously shaken up by the hospitality by Tsume.
"Well, then, I'll make sure to let her know and after you've gotten all better, you can head to their compound and get living arrangements sorted out.
"Thanks, Tsunade Baa-chan" Naruto said, his voice coming back and smiling at the Hokage who felt a pang of happiness when she knew how happy it made Naruto, but also sad since this couldn't have happened sooner.
"Of course, now, sadly I'd love to stay here longer but I have things I have to do, I'll check you again to make sure you healed properly over the past 4 days and can get out of the hospital either tomorrow or the overmorrow," Tsunade said with a heartwarming smile. Naruto smiled as well until he realized
"I've been unconscious for 4 DAYS?!" Naruto screamed, just now learning how long he was out. And it would take another day or two until he could leave.
"You try healing a body from the near dead back to perfect condition" The Kyuubi spoke from inside Naruto, causing the blonde to realize his situation fully, and it makes more sense to him.
"Yes, don't worry, the days will go by quickly and it won't be all too bad," Tsunade said, trying to calm down the shocked boy, not knowing if he would hurt himself.
"Jeez, I didn't know I was out for that long, at least I don't have to stay here for much longer, I can't stand laying here all day," Naruto said, a bit disheartened about the time he'd have to spend in bed.
"Don't worry, you'll get to spend this time reading to find a style that suits you, since throwing yourself at opponents even with your clones, is not a style, or a good plan do to either." The Kyuubi said. He wanted the boy to get better, slowly growing to respect the kid after all the kid did for him. Naruto never held the attack of the village against him, the Kyuubi thought about telling the boy he didn't mean to, he was actually being controlled by that cursed Sharingan user. He just wanted to stay away from all of humanity as all they caused was an annoyance.
Tsunade got up to check over Naruto, scanning over him with her hands. When she was satisfied with everything she hugged Naruto again and headed out with Shizune in tow.
"Good-bye Naruto, get better soon," Shizune said as she closed the door behind her.
AN. I know, still a short chapter, I'll be writing these daily and still have to do my work and such, I'll not skip a day if I can avoid it and as writing comes more natural to me in time the chapter length and quality will increase. Anyways, thank you all for reading the story, please follow the story and review it with your criticism. Thank you, and have a good one.
PS. If I get 10 followers after I update this, I'll post the next chapter tonight.
