Tears of Hope
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, nor am I affiliated in any way with Naruto. I just like the show and mangas so I wrote this fanfic.
This fanfic belongs to me. If you want to use it in any way shape or form, you'll need my permission first.
This next chapter was a bit difficult for me to push out. I knew exactly what I wanted in it, but had a hard time piecing the different elements together. After reading through and editing it a few times I think I've finally managed to polish it up. Enjoy.
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Chapter Seven - A New Day
Light filled the streets of Konoha as the sun rose above the mountains. The shuffling of feet became a common sound as villagers began to fill the streets. Even though it had been a number of weeks since Orochimaru's attack, the remnants of destruction were still clearly visible. A small ruckus could be heard in the direction of the training field as a stalwart Lee laboriously continued his workouts. "Sigh... don't you ever stop to take a break." Lee looked over as Neji finished speaking. Both he and Tenten sat comfortably on the grass, looking intently at their near exhausted teammate. "Hokage-sama told you not to overdo it, especially since your operation was so recent." He continued. "Youth doesn't wait for anyone!" Lee smirked before shooting into his nice guy pose, teeth glistening through his wide grin. "And besides, Gai-sensei said he's busy on an important mission, so we won't be doing anything until he's finished." Neji turned his head and looked over to the village, thoughts flooding his mind. "I wonder what he's doing?"
At the same time, Hinata, Kiba and Shino we're exploring the woods surrounding Konoha village. It had become a daily ritual that they often undertook when they weren't on missions or training. Shino would collect bugs to study while Kiba raced across the treetops, Akamaru at his side. Hinata simply watched as they continued about their business. It was a simple pleasure for her, to see her teammates happily pursue their hobbies. Shino often recomendeed that she find a special something of her own to do, but inside she knew that she already had. Once the three had finished, they started back towards Konoha. "Lets take a different route today!" Kiba shouted with enthusiasm. "Akamaru tired of seeing the same trees over and over again." The others nodded in agreement, even Akamaru yapped as if to comply. It would be nice to try a new route for a change.
As they walked through the peaceful woods, a small breeze blew gently across their path. The leaves shifted from side to side, creating a rasping sound as they touched one another. It was so calm, so peaceful, as though playing a melody all there own. The three then began to talk to one another. First about the weather and then about what they would do next once they were finished. "Kurenai said she had important work to do today" Shino started. "So I guess that means we have the day off!" Kiba smiled, as the thought of a good break flowed through his eager mind. Hinata remained silent, a worried look forming on her face. "What's the matter?" Shino paused in his tracks, waiting for his shy friend to answer. He was always good at reading the faces of his teammates, and was one of the only people who could tell when Hinata was troubled.
"Well, it's just ... when I was coming out of the village to meat you guys, I passed buy Shikamaru. He said he was meeting with Ino and Chouji for a barbecue because Asuma had an important task to do. Shino's eyebrows raised as he contemplated what Hinata had just told them. "Asuma too?" he thought quietly to himself. "I wonder what's going on." "Maybe it's just a coincidence" He then replied to her before he started walking again. Just then a voice sounded through the trees. "What are you guys doing out over here?" The gennin turned to see Shizune moving over to them, an exhausted look apparent on her face. "We were just taking a walk" replied a nervous Hinata. Shizune looked quietly at the three. They were dangerously close to stumbling on the clearing that was being investigated. "Please don't go any further this way, we are busy doing something very important. Would you kindly take another route back to the village?" Hinata, Kiba and Shino looked confusingly at each-other before turning around. They were all thinking the same thing. Something was definitely wrong. They had only travelled a small distance when Akamaru began to smell into the air. "Sniff , sniff." He quickly jumped into Kiba's jacket only allowing his head to pop out as he gave a fearful yelp. "What's wrong boy?" Kiba asked as he looked down at his quivering friend. He then looked up at the trees before closing his eyes. He took a small whiff of the air around him. His face tensed as the scent reached his sensitive nose. "What is it?" Shino enquired. "I don't know, but it isn't good. It smells like the fear of a cornered animal, like death.
Back at the hospital, an exhausted Sakura had just awoken, sitting up in the chair that had become her temporary sleeping place while she stayed at Naruto's side. "Finally awake?" Sasuke grinned as Sakura turned to face him. She could see the exhaustion in his eyes. "Was he awake all night?" she thought to herself as she looked upon his tired features. Sasuke had obviously felt guilty about falling asleep the first time his friend needed him, he didn't want to make the same mistake twice. Sakura looked back over to a motionless Naruto. He was still sleeping soundly, almost completely at ease. She continued to look on, waiting, hoping to see his eyes open once again. "I've also been waiting" Sasuke groaned as he stood up from his chair. "He hasn't stirred yet. I wonder if he'll even wake up today."
Just as he finished speaking a grumbling noise came from Naruto's mouth. His teammates quickly jumped to the side of his bed and watched on with anxious stares as he slowly began to open his eyes once again. As a blurry world slowly came back into focus he glanced to his side, only to see his two teammates standing by him. He turned his head away from them, hiding it in shame as he stared at the blank hospital wall in front of his eyes, tears starting to running down his cheeks. "Naruto?" But Naruto didn't respond. He had wished everything was just a bad dream, that it never happened. But he knew in his heart that it was all very real. Sakura watched on nervously, her thoughts skipping back to what had happened the first time he woke up. She waited in silence, ready to act if anything went wrong. But Naruto just lay there this time, his body quivering as a cold, harsh reality sank in.
"You had us worried" Sasuke mumbled. Naruto's body froze as his eyes widened in surprise. "Sasuke was worried about me?" he thought to himself as his eyes danced around, exploring the empty hospital wall. "Why would anyone care about me? I'll get Tsunade-sama." Sakura announced, walking over to the door. As she opened it to go out, she looked back at Naruto. His eyes seemed so empty, so lifeless, almost as though his soul had left him. She turned around and exited the room, leaving Sasuke and Naruto alone. There was almost an endless silence between the two, neither knowing what to say to one another. A few moments passed before Sasuke spoke. "I'm sorry." Naruto turned his head to see Sasuke sitting on the chair beside him, his head facing the ground. "I'm sorry I wasn't there to help you when you needed me." Sasuke looked back up to Naruto, his eyes filled with guilt and anger as the image of his suffering friend filled his mind.
Jiraiya, Kurenai and Shizune were still out at the clearing, having nearly completed there survey they began to clean up the debris that littered the floor. Kurenai gazed up at the sky to see a messenger hawk making its way over to there location. As it landed on her arm, she removed the message it was carrying. "It's Naruto" she anounced, gaining the attention of her two companions. "He's woken up. Hokage-sama wants us to head back there immediately." Jiraiya's face lit up with relief as he heard her read out the rest of the message. There was no time to waste, he had to see the boy who he had come to regard as his grandson. The three then made there way back to the hospital, knowing that the time to find out what really happened had now come.
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Dum dum dum. The next two chapters are going to be difficult for our heroes. Be ready for them soon! P.S. If you're sensitive to things like this you may want a hanky or two. :'( ...Okay, I don't know if I'm good enough to bring anyone to tears, but well see how it goes.
NOTE: I want to say thanks to xxnarufanxx. I appreciate that you take the time to review my chapters and I'm glad you're enjoying reading it. It makes it easier to write knowing someone appreciates your work. :) Thanks also to everyone else for the positive feedback I've received so far. :D
