Security

Kakashi and Tsunade stood outside Naruto's door, waiting. Gaara had come out a few minutes ago, but since then there had been no movement. Kakashi sighed. "Wonder how he's taking it." Kakashi said.

"He's a tough kid." Tsunade replied. "It may take a little longer, but the Naruto we know will probably recover."

The door knob twisted and Naruto stepped out of his apartment to meet the concerned faces of his peers. He didn't say anything for a long time. Finally, he ran over and wrapped his arms around Kakashi's waist. Kakashi took a step back in surprise, Naruto still clinging to him. "Naruto?" Kakashi asked.

"Arigatoo, Kakashi-sensei." Naruto said. He let go of his teacher and held up the letter. "Thanks for giving me this, and for putting up with me for so long."

Kakashi smiled under his mask. "It's okay, kid."

"And Tsunade-sama," Naruto said turning to her. "Thank you, too." He said, bowing deeply at the waist before running over to her and clinging to her as well.

"uh, sure." Tsunade said. She turned her head to Kakashi and mouthed, "Sama?" to him. Kakashi just shrugged.

"Tsunade, is Hinata alright?" Naruto asked.

"She's fine. We took her to the hospital right after you left." Tsunade replied.

"Thanks." Naruto then turned away and started walking. As Naruto walked, he thought he felt time suddenly slow. His mind was racing so face. In the past few minutes, his entire life had been turned upside down and so much had happened.

But that would have to wait, right now he needed to go down to the hospital and make sure Hinata was okay. He felt so horrible that he had hurt her, even if it was because of the demon Chakra influence. He still had so many questions that needed answers from his mother, but he decided to wait until later to ask them.

Once he made it to the hospital, he felt butterflies in his stomach from nervousness. Right now probably many others would be in there with Hinata, and all of them more than likely never wanted to see him again. But still, he knew he had to go in. He found himself standing at the doorway to the hospital before he knew it.

He took a deep breath to calm down, then stepped inside. There were other people in the lobby, and receptionists behind the desk. Already he felt eyes crawling over his skin. Naruto came up to the counter, his head hung low in shame. "Excuse me, which room is Hyuuga Hinata being kept in?"

"Room 12 on the second floor." The receptionist answered in a cold robotic voice, perhaps to hide hatred. She did a poor job.

Naruto thanked her and made his way to the second floor and to room 12. He reached for the handle, then stopped. Was she even awake? What if she was? What would he say to her, sorry I almost killed you it was because of a monster demon's power? Yeah, that should go over well. And what if Neji was there? Or Hiashi? Or both? Either of them would kill him the second he stepped through the door.

He stood there with his hand held out in midair for at least three minutes, not moving. That is until the door opened in front of him and he jolted up and looked right into the white and seemingly empty eyes of Hyuuga Neji. Naruto stood in shock starring right at Neji. That is until Neji grabbed him by the shoulder and pulled him into the room. "Come on, she wants to see you." Neji said.

The Room was full of people. The rest of Team 8, Team 10, Team Guy, and Sand Trio, Sakura and Sai where all crowed in this small place. All of them looked up at Naruto as he came in, Naruto turned his face away so as not to meet their gaze.

Neji pulled Naruto into the room and dragged him over to the bed where Hinata was sitting. She was sitting up, bandages wrapped around her arms neck and a few places over her face, and a IV needle was stuck in her arm. "Oh, Naruto-kun. Are you okay?" she asked.

"Me? What about you, Hinata? You're the one that got hurt." Naruto said, sitting down in the chair next to her.

"It's not bad. I'll be fine." Hinata said.

Look at her, Naruto thought, Acting so brave like it was nothing. Trying to hide her pain. "Hinata, you don't have to be so nice. Please, don't cover it up. It was my fault, I hurt you like that." Naruto felt a lump in his throat form. "Hinata, if you hate me, I'll understand why. I won't blame you." A tear slipped from Naruto's eye and slashed on the floor.

A hand placed itself on his shoulder. "Why would we hate you, Naruto? You're are friend. No demon will change that." Shikamaru said.

"Yeah, come on." Choji grinned, opening another bag of potato chips. "You think we'd hate you after this? Even though you've helped save the life of virtually everyone in this room? Honestly, who in this room has not been saved or helped by our little knucklehead?"

Naruto didn't know what to think as he watched and crowd of his friends and peers laugh and smile in agreement around him. "So, you guys don't think I'm some kind of freak or monster?"

Kiba laughed and barking laugh. "Shino is a walking ant farm, Neji and Hinata can see through walls, Choji weights a ton, Sakura is stronger than a elephant, Rock Lee is …well, Rock Lee, and I talk to dogs. That's just some of us. You think you're a freak? We are a traveling and ass kicking circus freak show. You fit in just fine."

"How sentimental." A voice said. The side curtain separating one patient from the other slid along the rail and revealed Madara Uchiha II laying the bad adjacent to Hinata, and with more bandages that Hinata, too. "Everyone gathered around telling the Jinchuriki how much they enjoy having a demon thing around. I haven't been this close to tears since the time I was slicing up onions for dinner."

Naruto glared at her. He jumped to his feet, stormed over to her bedside and grabbed her by the collar. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't rip your head off right now?"

"How about a magic trick?" Madara asked. She laughed, "I would, but I don't know any magic tricks. How about a bed time story? I'm sure you want to know more about your family, the Clan of Uzumaki and I am the only living person to know about them." She stopped and looked up in thought. "Well, maybe not the only one, but one of the few and the only one that is willing to tell you."

"Why would you tell us anything, anyways?" Sakura asked.

"I was under orders from Orochimaru to kill Naruto here, but now Orochimaru had been killed by Sasuke. As such, I have nothing better to do than tell you everything." Madara said.

"What? Orochimaru's dead?" Naruto asked.

"A little behind the times, aren't we? Yes, the Sannin is dead. And now Sasuke moves to strike Akatsuki, or more specifically Itachi." Madara rattled off.

"If you have information, spill it!" Naruto growled.

"Well, the story of the Uzumaki clan is intertwined within the history of the Uchiha Clan and the Leaf Village itself. So, gather round children. It's time for Auntie Madara to tell a story."