Chapter 4

Amane came back and laid beside Kazuki with a smile and there was a glint of hope in her eyes. Naruto came towards a muddy area and looked around the puddle, he found the herbs he was looking for. He took off his shirt and took as much as he could before he found some mushrooms beneath trees. He grinned and smelled them before taking them as well. Naruto went towards the dry area where he broke some dry branches from trees and took husk of the tree. He had wide eyes as he also found bamboos just a little far away and again grinned. He could take the girls here after they were a little good. He took two stones too. He found a thick straw like branch which was hollow from inside. He took some of them too. Yeah, it was good. He turned back towards the flock.

Back in the flock, almost every girl had woken up except those who were unconscious. Their eyes showed despair and desperation.

Again conflicts had started among them. Kazuki had also woken up and the memories of last night hit her. She had wide eyes as she looked here and there but didn't find him. She had wide eyes, was it all a dream? Then, she found that her elbow wasn't aching anymore. She looked at the hole with a leaf on it and her eyes shone with happiness. It wasn't a dream!

Amane saw the conflicts and decided to tell them about the guy who said that he would help them. Kazuki was surprised that Amane also knew him but decided to ask later. Some girls were happy and some didn't believe her. But they agreed to wait for a while. Amane silently prayed that he would come soon. And true to his word, rustling was heard and instantly every head was in the direction. Naruto stepped in the clearing with a big sack over his shoulder, stones in one hand and branches in the other. Some girls blushed as they saw his attire and face.

He was only wearing a tank top now causing them to see how lean muscular he was. Even Kazuki blushed a little as his shoulder and neck muscles rippled as he took a step. The eyes which were filled with desperation and despair were now filled with renewed hope. Naruto stopped in his tracks as he saw all of the eyes on him and suddenly felt really nervous. He smiled nervously as he looked at every girl seeing their condition. Sweat dripped from his face. Kazuki seeing this couldn't help but smile. No one spoke for a moment.

"H-Hello my name is Naruto and I am here to help you" he said robotically and even Amane giggled seeing him like that. Then, after that moment, questions bombarded him. He grew more nervous as his eyebrow twitched. On the sidelines, Kazuki, Amane, and few other girls giggled.

"I'll answer your questions later, right now, you all need to be treated and I want those who are alright and can work fine" he said. Few girls along with Kazuki and Amane stood up and walked in front of him. He smiled and set all the things down. He opened the sack and grabbed the herb "Alright, those who have these bruises like Amy's then take this herb, rip it open and rub it on the bruise until all the liquid is applied like this," Naruto said and stood with the ripped herb in his hand. He gently lifted the bangs from Amane's forehead and applied the herb rubbing it lightly.

Meanwhile, she was as red as a tomato.

She was gripping the hem of her skirt tightly causing other girls to giggle at her. After a short while, he stopped while gently smiling at her, "You can go rest now" he said to which she nodded with blush and slipped away eliciting another giggle from Kazuki. It was nice seeing your best friend so flustered. "Alright, you have seen it now please tend to others while I do something about your appetites," he said with a chuckle lightening the mood. Those who were being treated looked at Naruto to see what he was doing.

They saw him taking a glass out of his pocket and holding it over the husk-like material of the tree. They had wide eyes as they saw sunlight being condensed in the center of fur. They watched in amazement as smoke rose from it. He quickly placed it inside the dry grass and blew air on it lightly. They were awed as the fire was ignited in it, on which he quickly placed the dry branches. The fire was ignited and was burning quite well. They saw him taking what seemed like herbs turned out to be mushrooms and they had wide eyes again.

He pierced them three by three in every stick and stuck the stick in the ground above the fire, roasting them. By the time he was done, there were thirty to fourth sticks. And, the treatment of the bruises was done with a sweet smell emerging from mushrooms. Every mouth was watered and some girls were even drooling.

Naruto saw the scene and he sadly smiled, they must be very hungry. He stood and smiled warmly at them, "Now that the food is getting ready, I want you all to see at your sides. You will see a leaf with a hole in the middle. Lift it and be surprised" He said and grinned at the end. Every girl saw the leaf at their side and lifted it to have wide eyes and jaws. Kazuki herself was stunned along with Amane as they saw water in the hole which was sufficient enough for every girl. Some girls had tears in their eyes as Naruto handed them straws and told them to drink from it. Naruto himself was totally stunned as some girls had even hugged him while thanking him with tears.

Amane also had tears in her eyes as he handed her and Kazuki two straws. "H-How ?" She manages to choke out. He grinned " Well I knew that in the night the atmosphere becomes really wet so I created this for everyone, it's pure so you don't have to boil it," he said and she wiped her eyes with a smile. Naruto stepped back and saw as they quickly drank to their full and sighed in content. Expressions of relief spread on their faces. They wiped their eyes as Naruto gave the two sticks full of mushrooms to every girl. Kazuki mouthed a thank you before she dug in. He stood on the sideline and watched with a smile as they ate hungrily. He saw that three girls were unconscious and their share was left.

He was about to concentrate on natural energy when suddenly two sticks of mushroom were poked at him and he was startled. He saw Amane and Kazuki stretching them towards him "Here, you need to eat too. You must be hungry" Kazuki said. " Yeah, we are in your debt that you did so much for us," Amane said. Naruto saw that other girls also nodded and he smiled warmly while shaking his head with a chuckle "Thank you, but I'm not hungry and you guys need to gain as much energy as you can. I can spend at least another day before I would be a little hungry" he said.

Kazuki stared at him for a while before taking it back. Amane had wide eyes, he knew so much about the forest and he knew how to control his hunger too? "How? Have you suffered from this situation before as well?" She asked and other girls were also interested. Kazuki already knew the answer and readied herself to be amused. Naruto sheepishly smiled "No, I haven't. I just watched Man Vs. Wild daily that's why" he said. Cue face fault. Kazuki laughed a little as every girl looked at him with a sweat drop. Amane shook her head and looked at laughing Kazuki. She also smiled. "Well not that you have eaten. Rest for a while and we will leave after that" He said.

Every girl nodded with a bright smile as they already felt getting healthy. Naruto walked up to the unconscious girls and looked at the first before kneeling down and placing a hand on her forehead. Nothing too severe just exhaustion. Same with the other two girls. Naruto sighed in relief and with the help of their friends, he made them drink water sufficiently. After a short while, they had groggily woken up and after a lot of smothering from their friends and explaining the situation, they also ate their share. It was already noon. Naruto sat on the ground while leaning on the tree.

He closed his eyes with a smile.