Hey guys! I'm back with another chapter! This one took longer than expected to write but I think it went alright. I think a lot of people will like it. It's that time of year again (snow falling, peppermint everything and warm blankets) and I want to wish all my readers a happy holidays. No matter your ethnicity, your religion, your location on this earth, I hope that you can spend this part of the year with family and friends!

Like always please review this chapter! Tell me what you think, your likes and dislikes, critiques and advice, I like hearing from you!

Now sit back, relax and enjoy!

Chapter 26

Hinata played with her fingers as humming could be heard throughout her room. The sound of papers shuffling and notes being taken seemed to eat away at her nerves. She looked up when the click of a pen seemed to signify the end of the scrutiny.

"The CT scans seem to show that the blood vessels have healed nicely," Hyuga Midori explained. "The iodine-based dye we injected into your blood stream would have shown thinned blood vessels or clog arteries following your surgery if there were any complications. We can take you off any diet restrictions, minus high fat content foods, and you can also begin walking."

"When can she start training again?" Midori's vision went from her patient to the stoic Hyuga Hiashi. He stood near the bed with his arms in the sleeves of his kimono next to his youngest daughter, Hyuga Hanabi.

Midori resisted the urge to roll her eyes at the patriarch of the clan. She found his strict and harsh demeanor to be excessive, even for a Hyuga. She looked at the charts again and pretended to think, even though she already knew the answer.

"The chakra pathways pose a potential threat to the blood vessels that had just been repaired." Midori put down her charts and looked the Main Branch member in the eye, no quivering in her vision. "When chakra is used it puts a strain on the blood veins, along with physical exercise that can spike the heart rate to the point that could cause her more complications if she comes back too soon from this surgery."

"That did not answer my question," Hiashi responded with a cold and harsh tone in voice. "When can she get back to her training and her shinobi responsibilities?"

Midori couldn't hold back the sigh that escaped her lips. Why couldn't they have this conversation away from her patient? She knew the answer: Hyuga Hiashi was a damn stubborn, prideful individual.

"A month before basic chakra control exercises and physical movement like jogging, two months before training like she was before the surgery and another three before I will clear her for C-ranked missions or higher. That is if she continues her treatment with myself or other med-nin to ensure her veins don't deteriorate."

Hiashi glared at the medic before closing his eyes and walk out of the room. "She will be assignment ready in two. I see no reason why she would not be able to train and still not go on missions." With that he vanished through the door.

Hanabi looked from her father to her sister who looked more dejected than when the duo had initially entered. Hanabi opened her mouth but was cut off by the voice of her father.

"Come Hanabi, we have things to do."

"Hai Otou-sama," Hanabi responded with a nod. She took her eyes off her sister and exited the room, leaving Midori and Hinata alone in an awkward silence.

Midori turned back to her patient. Hinata's eyes were downcast and looking into her hands that were interlocked in her lap. Midori walked over to the box on the far side of the room, where she had moved it to in case her charge got an idea in her mind to sneak a treat, and grabbed it. She moved to her patient and placed it in her lap. Hinata looked up, a look of surprise in her eyes. Midori simply shrugged.

"I did say you were taken off of dietary restrictions, didn't I?" Midori said with a wink and smile. She was rewarded with a small smile and thankful look in Hinata's eyes.

"Arigato Midori-san," Hinata thanked the medic.

Midori waved her off. "When we are alone you do not need to be so formal Hinata-sama. Midori is fine."

Hinata swallowed the bit of the pastry she had eaten and looked at her kin. "Th-Then you can call me Hinata too. I don't like being called –sama," she said quietly.

Midori nodded her head. "So what do you think about taking a walk outside today? After all it's about time we get you out of bed even if it is for a few minutes."

Hinata nodded her. "It-It would be nice to get some fresh air. It smells funny in here."

"Well we'll be sure to get you out of here in a few days. Rest for another two days then we'll need to preform another CT scan to make sure the movement and physical therapy doesn't undo some of the work that has been done." Midori noticed the grimace that graced Hinata's features at the mention of a second CT scan. "Is something wrong?"

Hinata played with the edged of the box and looked at Midori. "I don't like the dye. It feels weird, like my skin is wet and cold."

Midori chuckled at the response. It wasn't that surprising to hear from the younger Hyuga. She had heard the same complaints from her patients, civilians and shinobi alike. She remembered one time a patient had pissed himself in the actual machine because of the sensation of the dye in his veins. The analyst in charge of the machine had not been the happiest person in the world that day.

"We'll go after dinner, it's about the time the cafeteria opens up and takes orders," Midori explained. She grabbed a menu and went to hand it to Hinata before a voice could be heard over the sound system.

"Hyuga Midori please report to the Emergency Room. Hyuga Midori to the Emergency Room."

Midori nodded her head as if the voice could see her response. She looked back to her patient. "I'll be sure a nurse comes and checks up on you," she said before exiting the room.

Hinata bit down into one of cinnamon rolls and smiled as she thought about the person who gave it to her. I wonder when Naruto-kun is gonna visit?

•••••

Midori walked calmly through the halls of the hospital without a sense of urgency. If it had been a case that had been life-or-death the voice would have been more demanding and less polite. She greeted a few nurses and patients she passed before opening the dual door entrance. She walked toward the main nurses station that was in the middle of circular room that had eight rooms on the outside with sliding doors for easier access. She walked to the head nurse and was pointed toward a room with door closed and curtain drawn so no one could see inside; privacy was something they tried to provide for their patients.

"How can I hel-" she said as she drew the curtains back only for her voice to vanish. Lying on the bed was Uzumaki Naruto, his shirt torn to shreds, his face dirtied and a little bloodied, with weird black lines on the clothes and skin that weren't torn.

"A Hyuga? Surprising." Midori turned to see Jiraiya sitting on a chair next to the bed, leaning back with his hands folded across his chest. She could feel his eyes scrutinizing her, not in his usually lecherous way, but one that made her blood go cold. "Is this your first time in an emergency room?" he questioned when he noticed she had lost her voice.

Midori glared at the older man. "No it isn't. I have been on plenty of Emergency Room shifts."

"Could have fooled me," Jiraiya mumbled. He looked up to see the glare of the med-nin. "I'm not the one needing the exam, although if you're offering . . ."

"Highly unlikely," Midori scoffed. She saw the lecherous smirk on the older man's face and chose to ignore it. "What is wrong with Uzumaki-san?"

"It seems his tenketsu have been completely locked up," Jiraiya explained. "He hasn't experienced something like this before and they don't seemed to be opening on their own like they should be. Brought him here and they said they had someone that was perfect for the job. Have to agree, a Hyuga would seem to be aptly suited for the gig."

Midori didn't pause before activating her Kekkei Genkai and taking a closer look at her newest patient. She hummed when she what the issue was. His tenketsu were certainly closed and thoroughly, as if her clan had done this to him. She looked to the Sannin member. "This was very precise, no damage to the internal organs, no strain to the blood vessels or muscles surrounding the tenketsu. Who did this to him?"

"That isn't important," Jiraiya told her.

"Did one of my clansman do this to him?" She just cut straight to her point, the thing she wanted to know the most. There was no one else that she could think of that could be this precise.

Jiraiya just shook his head. "Not happening."

"Then what about these black markings? Clearly they are a seal of some sort."

"Laced with poison on top of that, but his . . . condition took care of it. He just needs his tenketsu re-opened and we'll be on our way," Jiraiya explained.

"He'll need a change of clothes then. That poison could rub off and cause someone else issues even if he is fine." Midori sighed and reactivated her Kekkei Genkai, it was obvious that she wasn't going to get the answers she wanted. She ran through a set of hand signs before bring her finger up and putting it on Naruto's forehead. A thin veil of lighting seemed to dance around his body before she took her finger off of him and looked back to toad summoner. "His tenketsu have been opened but he is suffering from chakra exhaustion. We'll set up a room for him and monitor him there, although, knowing him, he'll be ready to leave in a few hours."

Jiraiya nodded his head. "Thank you for helping him."

"It's my job," Midori shook off the gratitude. "I'm happy to help someone as kind as him."

"How do you expect to move him?" Jiraiya questioned.

"We have wheels on our beds incase we need to move a patient that is in a nonresponsive state. Makes our lives easier," she answered.

Jiraiya nodded and watched two nurses enter the room and begin pushing the unconscious Genin out of the room. Jiraiya followed them out and through the doors into the halls of the hospital. He walked side by side with Midori before a voice stopped him dead in his tracks.

"Where is he?"

The duo turned around to a very pissed off Mitarashi Anko. She glared at the two before walking over until she was right in front of Jiraiya. Trying her best to be intimidating, she looked up a bit but snarled still.

"Where is my gaki?" she barked again.

"Uzumaki-san is being transferred to a room to rest," Midori answered calmly.

Anko took a step back and looked at the Hyuga. Seeing she was wearing the outfit of a doctor, with her hitai-ate wrapped on her forehead, satiated the pissed Tokubetsu. She nodded before looking at the pervert in front her. "Good then you can leave. I'll be sure to tell the gaki you were here."

"Hey now, I was the one that brought him in and dammit I'm gonna talk to him when he wakes up," Jiraiya shouted back.

"You have no right to be around him right now," Anko shot back. "It's after visiting hours and you are not a family member, the Hokage or his sensei. I am, not you. Now leave."

"You can't keep him from me for forever," Jiraiya commented.

"Watch me."

"I'm trying to help him," Jiraiya responded, getting more and more frustrated but trying to get control of his emotions. "He has talent in sealing, something I can help with. He has shown talents in ninjutsu, something I'm proficient in. He has potential, something I have proven able to grow into reality."

"Then you can do that in the future but right now he is my student and until Hokage-sama tells me otherwise then he is my responsibility. Not yours."

"Then where were you when he was attacked?" Jiraiya nearly bit his tongue when those words got out of his mouth. He looked at the woman to see a startled look in her eyes. Obviously she hadn't known that fact.

Anko shook her and glared back. "He had a day off. Trust me, no one would have laid a finger on him had I been there."

"But you weren't" Jiraiya pointed out.

"And you won't always be there either."

"And right now both of you need to be quiet." The pair turned their eyes to Midori who stood there were hands on her hips and a glare in her eyes. "You're making a scene. Mitarashi-san, if you wish to stay then I ask that you please be quiet." Getting a scoff followed by a nod was enough for the med-nin before she turned to the second culprit of the noise. "I am sorry to say Jiraiya-sama but what she says is true. Since you are not a family member, sensei or Hokage-sama then you cannot be here right now. I respectfully ask that you leave here in a timely manner."

Jiraiya sighed and scowled at the victoriously smirking Anko. "This isn't over young lady," he snarled. He began to walk through the halls and exited the hospital in a bad mood.

Anko saw him walk away with a satisfied smile on her face, she turned back to the med-nin. Her smile turned to confusion when she saw the glare was still there. "What?" she asked the glaring Hyuga before her.

"Why are you here?" Midori questioned. She crossed her arms in front of her chest and raised a questioning eyebrow at the purple-haired kunoichi.

"As I said, I'm here for my apprentice. I heard the maggot got hurt and was being brought to the hospital." Anko looked around the Hyuga trying to see where they had taken said apprentice. She growled in annoyance when the green haired Hyuga moved in front of her view. "I'm here to check up on him, ok?"

"How did you find out about him being hurt? He hasn't been here longer than twenty minutes," Midori explained.

Anko shrugged. "Perks of being a part of the T&I Division. Word gets around quickly about stuff like that, especially about one of our own. Word got to me quickly when one of the Chunin saw the old pervert carrying Naruto to the hospital. I was done with my meetings for the day so I came to check on him."

Midori hummed. She turned on her heels and motioned for Anko to follow. "Fine then come with me."

Anko followed and entered the room to see Naruto splayed out on the bed and snoring. Anko just shook her head and chuckled. "Gaki is feeling better alright. Snores like that after a good work out. I give him three hours before he's up and ready to go."

Midori nodded. "I will give him a check up before he is allowed to leave. Come and get me when he wakes."

Anko went and sat in a chair next his bed when the Hyuga exited the room. She reached into her trench coat and pulled out a magazine that read Kunai Quarterly across the top with a picture of a famed blacksmith on the cover. She hummed as she went through the magazine's articles and buying selections.

"Oooo these look nice and sharp."

•••••

Midori looked at the clock and saw it was reading eight o'clock. She was on shift for another two hours and was beginning to feel tired but remembered that she had yet to take her afternoon break. She stretched from behind her desk and stood up with a groan. It was moments like these she missed the days of being a mission medic. While she enjoyed her work at the hospital it could be argued that the stationary lifestyle made her more sore than an average mission.

She walked through the halls until she came to Hinata's room. She knocked on the side of frame and leaned against it. Hinata was sitting in bed reading through a book that her sister had brought her earlier in the day. Hinata looked up and smiled.

"H-hello Midori-san," Hinata welcomed the Hyuga medic.

"Good evening Hinata," Midori greeted. "Did you enjoy your dinner?" Hinata nodded timidly. "Good, then it's time to go for a walk and get some fresh air, plus it's around sunset, perfect time to go out for a walk."

"Ok Midori-san," Hinata complied. She grimaced, her body protesting to the movement, as she got out of bed. She put a hand on Midori's shoulder, who had come over to help her patient, to stabilize her wobbly legs.

"You going to be ok to walk on your own?" the med-nin asked. "I can go get a walker for you."

Hinata shook her head. She took a deep breath and took her first steps forward. "I-I'll be alright. Just a little sore." Hinata began to walk, still on shaky legs, out the door of her room. She felt her confidence grow until her steps were more steadied, like she had not been in surgery just days ago.

The two Hyugas walked in amicable silence before Midori smiled softly. "Would you mind if we checked on another patient of mine before we go outside?" Getting the affirming nod she wanted, Midori turned to a door the pair was walking towards. She opened it to a sound of arguing.

"Ow what was that for Anko-sensei?"

"For being a baka! What were you thinking training out in the middle of nowhere? There are plenty of training grounds within the village walls."

Hinata froze mid-step when the voice hit her ears. She looked to Midori who was sporting a Cheshire grin. She waved her in. Hinata timidly walked in, messing with her fingers as she did.

"But then people would see Ish-" Naruto stopped when Anko slapped a hand over his mouth. She had noticed the door open when he hadn't. She didn't know how much the Sannin member knew, or if he'd blab to the Hokage, but the fewer people that knew about her apprentice's furry, little secret the less likely she was to get into trouble. Secrecy about something like a summoning contracts would probably not sit well with her superiors.

Naruto looked at his sensei with a raised eyebrow before he noticed the two newest occupants of the room. He swatted Anko's hand away before smiling brightly at the two Hyugas. "Hey Hinata-chan, Midori-san!" Realization hit him when he said Hinata's name. "Hinata-chan, you're walking! You must be feeling a lot better!"

Hinata felt her face heat up but still offered a small smile. She nodded her head and looked at the foot of Naruto's bed. "I-I feel much better. Y-your gifts helped a lot, arigato Naruto-kun."

"Uh yeah of course. I know how bad the food tastes here so I thought it would help." Naruto looked from Hinata to Midori. "No offense Midori-san."

Midori shook her head. "None taken Uzumaki-san. There is a reason I prepare my own bento boxes for lunch."

"A-are you alright Naruto-kun?" Hinata squeaked. She was worried by the sight of his attire, which was ripped, shredded and had what looked like blank ink on it.

Anko interrupted the excitable Genin. "He just got into a training accident. Right gaki?"

"Uh yeah," Naruto nodded when he saw the slight glare from his sensei. "Just working on a new jutsu and well . . . didn't exactly work as planned."

"Wh-what jutsu?" Hinata asked quietly.

Naruto perked right up at the question. "It's this awesome clan jutsu I just got. The old man gave me this scroll that belonged to my Kaa-chan. I was working on it when . . . well when things didn't go as planned." Naruto laughed and scratched the back of his head.

"Are you referring to Hokage-sama, Uzumaki-san?" Midori asked. Naruto just smiled and nodded. "Do you think it is wise to refer to the Hokage in such a disrespectful manner?"

"Don't waste your breath," Anko told her, waving off the Hyuga medic. "I've had the same conversation with the maggot. Goes in one ear and out the other."

"Hey jiji has been the closest thing to family that I've ever had," Naruto commented with a huff of indignation. "Well except now I guess." Naruto reached over to the table on the side of his bed and produced his mother's scroll. "This has a bunch of my Kaa-chan's jutsus and memories and stuff. Isn't it awesome Hinata-chan?"

Hinata stared at the scroll for a bit, recognizing the swirl that was painted on its side. She had seen that seal before in a few pictures of her mother when she was younger. While it wasn't on her mom, one of her friends always wore it prominently on her clothes.

"Hinata-chan?"

Hinata turned bright red when she noticed Naruto was talking to her. She started stuttering and looking at her fingers that she was playing with in front of her. "Um y-yes Naruto-kun?"

"Is something wrong? You totally spaced out there for a bit," Naruto commented. Anko had to stop herself from smacking her apprentice on the head. He had a lot to learn about reading people. Actual interrogations were going to be a pain she thought with a headache.

"Go-Gomen Naruto-kun. I-I-I was just thinking . . ." Hinata's eyes danced quickly around before stopping on the setting sun peaking through the blond Genin's window. "I-I was thinking about walking outside. Ma-Maybe y-you'd like to come with m-me," she squeaked out, her face growing bright red. She didn't know what possessed her to ask him, but that smile gave her hope and courage to take the risk and at least ask.

Naruto beamed a dazzling smile at the timid Hyuga. "That sounds great Hinata-chan! A walk would be a perfect thing to get these kinks out. Still a little sore but other than that I feel great!"

"That is good to hear Uzumaki-san," Midori responded with a curt nod. "I was planning on preforming a quick check-up and possibly releasing you since your others cuts and scrapes seemed to be superficial at best."

After a quick check-up and dismissal from the Hyuga medic, along with a farewell from the snake mistress, the pair of Genin found themselves walking around in an amicable silence. Advised to do one trip, maybe two, around the hospital at most the duo began their walk. Hinata played with her fingers and took sideways glances at her walking partner. She couldn't place it but he seemed more at peace than she had ever seen the excitable blond. His smile was still warm but it was subdued, the smile that comes only when one thinks of a subject that brings peace and harmony to a person who hadn't felt it before.

Deciding that the silence had dragged on long enough, Hinata spoke up. "Y-You seem re-really happy Naruto-kun."

Naruto turned to his friend, his smile never fading. "Yeah, I am Hinata-chan," he answered with a calm tone. Naruto couldn't explain it. He was so happy, so thrilled about the day, about finding out about his mother, about getting to walk with a friend and even his fight with Satomi. He was so happy, but the more his mind wandered to his mother's scroll, the calmer he got. "I finally got to know my Kaa-chan, even if it's her jutsus, it's something. I never thought I'd have anything from my clan, let alone from my mother. Being told how awesome of a kunoichi she was, how she was super strong was something more than I could ever ask for." His smile grew a little sad, he moved his eyes to the ground as the pair continued to walk.

"I guess the best thing though is that I finally learned she didn't abandon me. I haven't told anyone this, but my biggest fear was that my parents didn't want me, that they saw me as a burden and just abandoned me," Naruto said before chuckling softly and scratching the back of his head. "I'm sorry you had to hear all that Hinata."

Hinata shook her head. While she did empathized and even sympathized, after all she had lost her mother at a young age, she was happy he was opening up to her. It made her feel special and even strong. He was talking to her for support, he was telling her his fears. She could actually be there for him this time. He had supported her, given her so much confidence and courage, and now she could repay that even if it was just a little bit.

"It-It's ok, Naruto-kun," Hinata said with a little more confidence in her voice. "I don't mind listening. I-I'm just glad I can help. And, f-for what it's worth, she'd be proud of you."

Naruto looked at her with a small smile. "You really think so Hinata-chan?"

Hinata looked into his sapphire eyes and nodded. "I know she would be and I-I am too."

"Thanks Hinata-chan. That means a lot."

•••••

Hyuga Midori hummed as she walked into the room of the last patient check-up she'd have to make before going home and climbing into her nice, comfy bed. She walked in and looked to see Hinata smiling down and a small plush fox.

"How was your walk with Uzumaki-san?" she asked with a smile on her face.

Hinata didn't look up, but Midori could see a soft pink dusted across her cheeks that was joined with a soft smile. "It-It was really nice."