Author's note: In response to a reviewer, Naruto hasn't been sick, but he has been treated in the hospital for injuries before, so he knows what the food is like. I am back home, and working on my next chapter. I admit, I am stunned by the response this story has been getting. it's been up for a little over a week and already had over a thousand hits! Well, all readers, please, read, enjoy, and review if you wish!
Disclaimer: I own nothing to do with Naruto, but I do have a lot of Shippuden characters as my wall paper on my computer!
Tsunade sighed as she was dragged through the streets by a frantic Naruto. Today started out so well, she mourned in her mind. Shizune and Sakura are gone for three weeks to that medical conference in the capital, and I got all of my paperwork done. Now the gaki insists he needs me at his apartment ASAP and if I didn't get moving, he'd Rasengan me. What is going on with you today, Naruto?
When they arrived at the door of Naruto's apartment, 'Naruto' disappeared into a puff of smoke, shocking Tsunade. She hadn't realized that her escort was a Kage Bushin until then. She sighed and knocked on the door, extremely irritated at her favorite blonde ninja. Irritation turned to shock when a harried-looking Hyuuga Neji opened the door.
"Oh, Domo arigato, Hokage-sama, we really need your assistance."
"What is going on, Neji? Why are you here?" Tsunade demanded.
Naruto appeared next to his fellow Genin. "We'll answer that later, Baachan. Hinata-chan needs help right now!" With that, he dragged her inside. "She had a really bad headache, then she began throwing up and running a fever, now she's unconscious and won't wake up! She was also beaten up by some members of her clan earlier today." He had dragged her into his bedroom where Hinata was laying on his bed. "Please help her!"
I thought he still liked Sakura, but he is really worried about Hinata. Maybe he's starting to get over that silly crush and falling for the girl who really cares about him. Tsunade got to work, healing the girl's injuries and bringing her fever down.
"How is she?" Naruto asked once she had finished working in her.
"She'll be fine, but it will take about five days for her to get over this virus. She should be at her home..."
"No," Naruto interrupted her, "She said she didn't want to go home, and I promised her that she could stay here. Her own family beat her up, do you seriously want her to go back there?" Again, Tsunade was surprised by Naruto's vehemence. He cares about Hinata, but how much?
Neji added his two cents once it was apparent that Tsunade wasn't going to kill Naruto for his rudeness, "She wants to stay here. I will stay with Tenten's family. I trust Naruto to take care of her." And if he doesn't, I will make him pay.
Hinata's eyes fluttered open and she gasped out. "Naruto-kun? Neji-niisan?"
"We're here, Hinata-chan," Naruto said, taking her hand, "Tsunade-baachan is here and healed you. You really scared me when you passed out."
Hinata turned her head toward him, "I'm sorry for scaring you, Naruto-kun."
"It's not your fault you're sick," he replied.
"Ask her," she told him.
"What?"
"Ask her about Uzumaki Kushina."
Tsunade felt faint as she heard that name. She had help rescue Kushina from the Iwa ninja who had killed her mother, Sayuri. She had been impressed with the spunky red-head, and requested to teach Kushina when she became a Genin. Sarutobi-sensei had granted her request, and over time, the fiery, impulsive girl had become like the daughter she had never had, along with her other surviving student, Hyuuga Hitomi. Inuzuka Meiko, younger sister to Inuzuka Tsume, was her third student, but she had been killed on one of their earlier missions, leaving Tsunade with just Kushina and Hitomi to train. Both girls had gone on to become the famous ANBU team, Kitsune and Raven.
"How do you know that name?" she gasped out.
"Hinata's mother, Hitomi, had pictures of her," Naruto said, not leaving Hinata's side. "Hinata thinks she is my mother, because we both love ramen, pranks, training, and we both want to protect our precious people." The blonde boy stared her down, determined to get an answer from the Hokage.
Tsunade was torn. She knew the orders to not reveal Naruto's heritage until he turned sixteen, but he only wanted to know about his mother. I can't tell him about his father yet, but I can tell him about his mother. "You three, this is an S-rank class secret. Do not tell anyone without my permission. Kushina made several enemies during the Third Shinobi War and we wanted to keep them in the dark in case anyone wanted revenge on her. Uzumaki Kushina is your mother, Naruto, and she died giving birth to you."
Naruto was quiet as he absorbed what Tsunade had told him, and then asked, "Was she married to my dad? I have her name, not his."
"They were married, don't worry, Naruto. You are perfectly legitimate. You were given your mother's name because your father had even more enemies than your mother did. I will tell you who he is on your sixteenth birthday, and you can take your rightful name and receive your inheritance then."
Naruto nodded, gave Tsunade a grateful smile, and then gave Hinata a huge hug. "Thank you, Hinata-chan," he whispered into her ear, "You have given me a gift I can never repay. Thanks to you, I now have a piece of my past."
"You can keep the picture of your mom," Hinata replied, her face bright red thanks to both her fever and the enormous blush, "I know my Kaasan would want you to have it."
"I'll give you a frame for it tomorrow, along with some medicine for Hinata," Tsunade promised. Kushina's son and Hitomi's daughter. I wonder if their mothers are pulling strings where they are at. My girls, I miss you both so much. Hopefully you are with your beloved, Shina-chan, and you are also keeping Hitomi company. "Neji, I want to give you a flu shot tomorrow, so that if you do get sick, it won't be that bad."
Neji nodded gratefully. That was the last thing on he wanted to do, get seriously sick. And Naruto will be here alone with Hinata, which will help both of them get to know each other better. I can spend some time with Tenten and no one will be bugging us.
"Oh, Tsunade-baachan, Neji and Hinata know about the Kyuubi, and they are okay with it," Naruto quickly informed the Hokage.
"We figured it out on our own," Neji told her, "And no one told us and we haven't told anyone."
"Good," Tsunade commended him, "Keep it that way. This is Naruto's secret, so he is the one to decide when and whom to divulge it to. I"ll run to the store tonight for you, Naruto, and get some foods and drinks for Hinata that won't upset her stomach that much. Since she is throwing up, it is very important you keep her hydrated."
Naruto nodded in understanding. "Oh, Tsunade-baachan, can I talk with you when you come back?" I need to tell her about the problems Hinata is having with her clan and how I want to help her. She'll give me some good advice, which most likely won't get me into trouble.
"I'll head over to Tenten's once Tsunade-sama returns," Neji said, "She is expecting me."
Tsunade left and the three shinobi stayed quiet, each with their own thoughts. Naruto was thinking about Hinata and how to help her. Hinata was wondering what Naruto was thinking to help distract her from how terrible she felt. Neji was pondering about why the clan elders had given Hinata a rigged test, and then an almost impossible task, almost like they were determined to get rid of her and marry her to Yamada Tarou.
About twenty minutes later, Tsunade returned with food, drinks, and some medicine. "This will help with your nausea, but it will make you sleepy. Is that okay?"
"Yes," Hinata replied, "I want to sleep." I just want this day to be over with. Naruto helped her sit up while Tsunade gave her the medicine and made sure she swallowed it.
"Good night, imoutochan," Neji said as he gave her a hug in farewell.
Naruto also got up, "I'll leave the door open so that if you need anything during the night, just yell, I'll hear you, and come to help."
"If this knucklehead doesn't take proper care of you, don't be afraid to tell me and I'll teach him how to do it, correctly," Tsunade told her gently, ruffling the girl's short blue-black hair.
Hinata gave them a small smile and pulled the covers up to her chin, "Thank you, everyone. Thank you for taking care of me, Naruto-kun." I feel safer here than at the clan compound.
The three left the room, Naruto making sure not to close the door entirely. "I'll leave for Tenten's now, and I'll bring Hinata's things over tomorrow after I get that flu shot," Neji said, and then fixed Naruto with his pale stare. "Naruto, take care of my cousin, or I will beat you so badly even you will be in the hospital for a month. Understand?"
Naruto gulped at the look on the older teen's face. He knew that Neji could definitely make good on his threat. "I promise I will take care of her, Neji."
"See you tomorrow," Neji said as he left.
Tsunade turned to Naruto, "So what do you want to talk about, gaki, now that Neji is gone and Hinata is asleep?"
"It's about Hinata-chan."
A/N, take two: EVIL CLIFFHANGER NO JUTSU! What can defeat it? (Note to self, beware of how much sugar you injest while writing) Tell me what you think! I love writing! And NaruHina! And Sasuke dying! And... My sanity has reasserted itself and stopping the list right now. And I am addicted to NCIS! Okay, now I'm sane again.
