Chapter Twenty-One
Jiraiya ground his teeth in frustration as he watched Obito somehow shrug off having two of his chakra points pierced, or at least, part of him did. The right side of the man's body, clearly not natural, sprang to life, pinning Hinata to the stone rock face in a chokehold. Goddammit! There was about a dozen meters between him and Obito – Hinata would be dead by the time he could cover even half that. Cold sweat trickled down his side at the thought Naruto's lady-friend getting hurt or killed. If Kushina and Tsunade don't kill me, I don't know if I can live with myself if the worst happens.
Jiraiya breathed in deep, centering himself for the moment to open. Kakashi was preparing to make a rush attack; Jiraiya immediately gripped Kakashi's shoulder. "Wait," the older man said calmly. Times like this were hard to wait, but reckless action could lead to greater injuries or deaths, "Kakashi, we're on a narrow cliff path; all he has to do is one major earth release to collapse the rock shelf, and the others are dead." Jiraiya pointed his chin at Kurenai, Asuma, Ino, Sakura, and Shikamaru, laying unconscious on the ground.
Kakashi's shoulders sank, "Goddammit!" he hissed in frustration, "I can't just stand here!"
"It's up to Naruto for now," Jiraiya nodded to his grandson as Naruto gave them the hand signal not to approach. "Wait! Let's be reasonable!" Jiraiya kept himself primed focusing his chakra discretely for an opening. He could sense the tingling of hairs on his arm as Kakashi was focusing an attack, possibly Chidori. Just be careful where it goes off!
"Fool, just like your father!" Obito chided Naruto as the left half of his body went from a limp sack of potatoes to standing confidently upright. The kunai sticking out of Obito's chest ejected itself, stained a sickly red. As it dropped to the ground, Obito's voice became deep and inhuman, "Drop your weapons and surrender the fox to me, or I'll crush this pretty little creature's neck!"
He's still after the fox! Don't do it kiddo! Jiraiya thought of all the damage Obito could do if he got his hands on Naruto's half of Kurama. "Jiraiya, we can't just let him take him!" Kakashi whispered harshly.
"We move and get Hinata killed, we could be in a world of shit even worse than if Obito gets half," Jiraiya said grimly, concentrating the chakra building in his throat, "The kid has it under control, but be ready once the balloon goes up." Take your time, kid, think it through! Jiraiya turned toward the two still upright genin, "Choji, Shino, the moment we attack, start getting the others downhill. We can't guarantee the fight won't take up room; so, get them away as best as you two can!" The boys nodded, understanding the gravity of what was about to happen.
Jiraiya gazed back at Naruto, hoping he, too, understood what was at stake here – he knew his grandson knew all too well. Naruto might be impulsive, but he was no idiot. Kakashi had trained Naruto non-stop since the boy could walk and talk, and Naruto had showed the ability to deal with high stress situations like what happened with Mizuki. Even still, Jiraiya was putting an incredible amount of faith in a rookie. Obito's human voice spoke again as Naruto raised his hands in surrender, curling his right pinkie and ring finger in a get ready hand signal. "That's a good boy! Now heel and drop your weapons, dog boy!" Whatever you're going to do, do it fast, Naruto!
Naruto's lips curl into a grin, "Gladly." The boy dropped his kunai. With lightning movements, Naruto brought his hands together, using a perverted sexy transformation jutsu. "Come and get some, big boy!" Naruto teased Obito. Jiraiya's jaw dropped at Naruto's transformation form. Huba-huba! He can do that around me any time! Jiraiya wondered if Tsunade looked half as good as Naruto's transformations. It would be the coup of a century to find out!
The naughty moment came to an end as flames shot from Hinata's mouth, immolating Obito in a cloak of flames. The human and inhuman parts of Obito howled with ungodly sound, flinging Hinata toward the edge of the cliff. "NOW!" Kakashi and Jiraiya surged forward, careful to avoid their comrades as they closed the distance. There was a roller coaster of panic, relief, and more panic as Obito tossed Hinata toward the edge of the cliff. She initially didn't go over, but Obito pounded the ground, causing the edge to collapse, just as Jiraiya worried he might. "HINATA!" Naruto yell as he leapt out into the open air after her.
"NARUTO!" Jiraiya yelled as his nephew vanished over the jagged edge. Jiraiya resisted the urge to go over the side after him. Although clearly pained by the fire-release attack, Obito and whatever the hell was bonded to him was already starting to regenerate clear second and third degree burns with supernatural speed. However, it was taking Obito real effort to heal this time, unlike his ability to heal piercing or slashing wounds. Cause enough damage over enough of the body, and he's just as helpless as if he didn't have that thing helping him!
Jiraiya focused his chakra, feeling the sickening sliminess of toad oil forming in his mouth. Obito wouldn't stay still for long, and they had to wrap this up quickly. From the corner of his vision, Jiraiya saw the dark-hair genin, Shikamaru stir. The boy's eyes were unfocused, but his concentration was there as his shadow stretched along the ground toward Jiraiya's distracted target.
Obito thrashed violently, causing the already injured boy to flop about like a fish out of water. Jiraiya let off the oil bombs from his mouth, the now restrained target unable to dodge being soaked in the sticky, flammable gunk.
Shikamaru let go of Obito's shadow, and Kakashi rushed forward, bright crackling energy pulsated in his cupped hands as he charged up his attack. A loud, chirpy whistle built from Kakashi's hands, and he rammed the Chidori lightning attack into Obito's center mass. A bright flash of lightning, and Obito's body when flying back up the mountain, the oil on him igniting in a fiery blaze.
Jiraiya admired the effect of the Chidori attack as static tingled throughout the air around him, causing his hair to stand on end. Jiraiya, himself, would never use it, except maybe in a true emergency. It was a young man's attack, flashy and with great cost. It required getting up close and personal with the enemy, often half-blinded, and it soaked a huge amount of chakra. Watching Kakashi hunched over, both hands emanating smoke and angry burnt red, reminded him why he preferred the more difficult Rasengan. "You okay?" he asked Kakashi. The words felt inadequate to the situation.
Kakakashi shook off his hands, "I'll be fine." The younger man ran toward the edge where Naruto and Hinata had gone over, bring his hand to his eyebrows, "No sign of them!"
"Dammit!" Jiraiya ran to the edge. The river was swift, but thankfully lacked major spots of whitewater for some distance down. Assuming they didn't die on impact! Jiraiya shook away the thought; Naruto was a survivor, that much he was sure.
"We need to go after him!" Kakashi said, getting ready to jump.
"Wait!" Jiraiya, gripped him by the shoulder.
"Wait what!" Kakashi said angrily, "Wait broke the bridge! Those two are my responsibility!"
Jiraiya pointed sharply back behind them, "So are they." By now, Kurenai and Asuma were getting to their feet. Sakura was on her hands and knees, trying to catch her balance. Shikamaru was kneeling, gripping his right arm to his side, face curled in agony.
"Ino! INO!" Asuma and Kurenai rushed to the blonde-haired girl. Kakashi rushed forward toward the fallen genin. From behind, Jiraiya heard Sasuke and Kiba. "You two okay?"
"I will be," Kiba said, placing his left hand on a lump forming on his forehead.
"Sasuke?" Jiraiya asked.
"Nugghghgh," Sasuke groaned, "What the hell happened?" The boy rubbed the back of his head, the hand drew back from his black hair covered in red.
Jiriaya rushed forward and inspected the injury, "Nothing broken I think, just a cut that should heal!"
"INO!" Sakura's voice screeched. All three of them joined the rest of the group gathered around. Sakura and Kurenai were desperately working to save her.
"What's happening?" Kakashi asked desperately.
"She was closest to the blast," Kurenai groaned through clenched teeth. A thin rivulet of blood traced down her forehead to her nose. Jiraiya noticed a large red stain pooling through Ino's gloriously blonde hair. "She's in shock, and I'm feeling what might be a skull fracture!" Kurenai turned her attention to Sakura, "Where we at with vitals!"
"Pulse is rapid but weak," Sakura whimpered through tears as she placed Ino's pack under the unconscious girl's legs, "about ten respirations a minute, uneven."
Kurenai stared at both Kakashi and Jiraiya with pleading eyes. "I'm declaring a medical emergency. Skull fracture or no, just being in shock could kill her."
Jiraiya didn't even hesitate. He let off a series of three vertical lightning strikes in rapid succession and tossed a decorative kunai with Minato's mark to teleport in. Minato arrived in a flash. Minato frozen in horror as he took in the grizzly sight. "What happened?"
"Obito," Jiraiya said grimly.
"Where is he!" Minato drew out a kunai scanning the battlefield.
"He's gone for now!" Asuma spoke up, coughing vigorously, "But so is Ino if we don't get her to a Hospital immediately!"
Jiraiya nodded in confirmation to his adoptive son. Before launching the mission, Minato had agreed to stay out of the mission unless an absolute emergency occurred, like the one they were in now. It was anyone's guess if this would invalidate the genins' first mission, but their survival mattered more than a D-ranked mission checked off in their logbooks.
"Is there anyone else in need of emergency care?" Minato said, kneeling down next to Ino, about to teleport to Konoha Hospital.
"Kid," Asuma jutted his chin toward Shikamaru, "you have a broken arm, go with them!"
"What a pain! I'll be fine! Naruto and Hinata the ones I'm worried about!" Shikamaru quipped.
Ah crap! Jiraiya felt Minato's eyes on him. Jiraiya didn't wait for him to ask. "They went over the cliff and in the river," he shook his head. We will start searching with what we have left."
Minato nodded, his wide, blue eyes betraying a father's worry. Jiraiya remembered being worried sick when Minato ran off solo to rescue Kushina when she'd been snatched at about Naruto's age. His fatherly panic had been unfounded then, but he was pretty sure Minato was right to be worried about Naruto and Hinata. "We'll find them," Jiraiya said firmly, "and we'll signal if we need further assistance, now go!"
Minato beckoned over Shikamaru. The boy limped visibly, hinting he was worse injured than he initially let on. Minato put his arm over the boy and the three vanished in a flash of light. Jiraiya, knowing there was nothing they could do waiting here spoke up, "Alright, we know they went in the river, so it stands to reason they'll be along the riverbank!"
A shaky voice spoke, "I know where they are, sir." Jiraiya turned to see Shino, the awkwardly shy kid with dark glasses looking through a pair of binoculars, comparing his map to an unseen sight.
"Shino, what do you see?" Kakashi asked desperately.
"There is a rising plume of smoke approximately three clicks north by northwest following the riverbank," the boy's voice became solid. "Based on time in the water, flow of the river, and visual reference of the smoke; that puts them about here," he pointed to a red X on his map, roughly three kilometers upriver.
"We'll have to hurry," Jiraiya said, and find a way down.
"We should descend right here," Kakashi said, getting ready to take the plunge.
Again, Jiraiya had to be the voice of reason, a task he hated. "Kakashi," he paused, placing a hand on the man's shoulder, "We have to stay together. We still have injuries to tend to, and we don't know if Obito is done with us or not. If we split up, we are easier pickings for him."
Kakashi's hands balled into fists as he stared out at the now visible plume of smoke. He took several deep breaths before composing himself as if nothing had happened. "The ANBU we are meeting with are maybe an hour's hike downhill, and there is a safe river crossing there." He turned his back to the view of the woods, "We'll be able to find them faster if we link up with them; let's go!"
Jiraiya was about to join the group when he noticed something unusual at his feet. A thin flap of white material, too coarse to be cloth. Human skin? It took a moment, but his heart jumped at the realization. "Shino, come here!"
The boy rushed to his side, "Yes, Jiraiya-Sensei?" he spoke nervously.
"You still have the collection jars you use for insects right?"
"Yes, sir," he nodded.
"Collect whatever this is," Jiraiya gestured to the white square, "but be careful not to touch it." Shino pulled out a pair of tweezers and cautiously transferred the scrap into a jar before sealing it. "What is this?" the boy said as he scrutinized.
Jiraiya took the jar from Shino, holding it at eye level. "I don't know," he replied, "but I get a feeling it might answer a few questions about how Obito became so powerful. He tucked it in his bag. "Now then, let's saddle up, and find Naruto and Hinata."
Naruto worried his teeth would break he clenched them so hard against the searing pain in his right side. Now that the adrenaline rush of being alive had worn off, the right side of his face felt like he'd fallen onto bricks instead of shadow clones. His right eye, too, began swelling to the point he could barely open it. Nevertheless, he supported Hinata as they limped toward a slightly higher spot set back from the river shore. The ground here was dry, and there were ample trees nearby. "All right Hinata," he groaned, "I'll need your help getting my pack off."
Hinata hobbled the torn pack off his shoulders, supporting his pack with one arm while gently sliding the straps off his shoulders. Even with the right shoulder reset in its socket, the act of sliding anything over it felt like pouring lemon juice on sunburn. As she slid the pack off him, Hinata let out a whimper and collapsed to her right side, banging her fist on the ground as tears fountained from her eyes. "Na-Naruto!"
"Hinata, what's wrong!" Naruto wheezed, feeling the inside of his chest tickling and his right side aching like a tooth extraction from his sudden movement.
Through sobs, she said one word, "Shoe!"
He eyed her bad leg. The fading light shaded everything in shadow, but Naruto could see obvious discoloration, dark purple on the part he could see of her ankle and toes. A quick attempt to unlace the shoe was met with a sharp hiss of pain. The foot felt hot to the touch and puffy just under the surface of the shoe. If they didn't get the shoe off now, her foot would likely be gangrenous by morning.
Naruto reached for his remaining kunai. "Hold real still, Hinata." He slid the blade under the laces, even the slightest pressure from the blade elicited a wince of protest from Hinata. "It's all right," he tried reassuring her, "it will hurt for a minute, but should feel better when I'm done." A short raking movement of the blade, and all the laces came apart. Even still, the foot had swollen so badly he couldn't slide the shoe off. With surgical concentration, Naruto ran the razor sharp edge along the seams of the material until the shoe fell away. Hinata's breathing slowed to deep breaths, her face released its contortion for gentle relief.
Naruto breathed what passed for a sigh of relief, only to feel a sharp tickle in his chest. A cough ensued, followed by a sharp needle of pain that lasted several moments. As the pain receded, Naruto took what shallow breaths he could, feeling the incessant tickling in his chest return. He took a deeper breath, this time followed by gurgling. OH GOD! The coughing spell struck like lightning hitting him in the chest. He rolled to his left, riding out another excruciating wave of coughing out slimy, green and red-tinged phlegm. "Naruto! I'm coming!" Hinata shouted as he heard the sound of her dragging herself along the ground.
When he finally stopped hacking, Naruto found himself shivering in a fetal position. Hinata had his head resting on her good knee. "Easy, Naruto," she gently caressed her left hand through his hair while her right hand was wiping away green snot tinted with blood from his mouth and lips. His lungs felt coated in a layer of greasy dust, and sweat was trickling down his back despite being cold and soaked. He wanted to lay down here forever. He wanted to close his eyes and not wake up. Giving up so easily, child? Kyuubi taunted him in his head.
Nothing was fair about it; he had some of the best survival training in the world and was about to die regardless. If I close my eyes, I won't wake again, ever. I'll die of hypothermia, and so will Hinata! The thought of her struggling to survive all alone and cold caused Naruto's chakra to surge. Can't leave her like this! Mustering his strength, Naruto pushed off the ground, fighting through discomfort.
It took a few attempts, but he got to his feet. "Hinata," he said weakly, "wait here, I'm going to start gathering firewood."
"Naruto, I want to help!" she protested.
He nodded, "Try and sort what we have left from our packs!" he said breathlessly. "I'll be back shortly!" Naruto lumbered toward the tree line, looking for loose branches on the ground and snapping low lying branches off trees with his left as he scoured the area near the camp. His body began quaking with shivers, even the simplest branches became a chore to snap loose. Come on, Kyuubi, where's all the damn strength now?! Dizziness threated to overcome him.
"Nartuo," Hinata's soft voice almost made him jump out of his skin. He turned toward her, two thick branches acting as primitive crutches. "Sorry, you started to space out there."
Naruto blinked almost not believing her, "H-how long was I out?"
"Maybe ten minutes," she replied, her eyes wide with concern. "I brought the backpack; I figured we could use it to carry wood without aggravating you ribs." She hopped and turned to let him load up the bag.
"Are you sure you'll be able to carry more?" Naruto asked.
"Yes, as long as I don't put weight on my leg, I'll be fine."
Naruto nodded. He couldn't do this alone, at least not efficiently. He had survived bad things before because Hinata had been at his side. Even in a survival situation, it was no different. Help is coming; you just need to survive long enough. "All right, let's get this camp together!"
The campfire crackled a warm, brilliant orange as Hinata sorted what little they had left of their kit – which wasn't much. She had her first-aid kit, her sleeping bag, the torn remains of her backpack, her metal canteen, a pack of water purification tablets, two shuriken, and the clothes she was wearing. Thankfully, her clothes and sleeping bag were finally drying out by the fire's heat.
She watched Naruto carefully rig the remains of his pup tent, replacing two lost poles with relatively straight sticks at one end – lopsided but stable. His surviving kit included most of the tent, a kunai, some parachute cord, the chopsticks from his mess kit, a box of waterproof matches, and thankfully, three packs of instant salt ramen.
As he tied off the tent, Hinata activated her Byakugan despite the gnawing headache that came with it. Naruto's lungs were full of crap. Between lack of sleep, nearly drowning, and hypothermia; Hinata wouldn't be surprised if he wasn't fighting full-blown pneumonia. Thankfully, he didn't seem to be bleeding internally from where his ribs were broken. "Naruto, it's ready," she gestured toward the ramen cups warming by the fire.
They each took a cup and said, "Thanks for the food," in unison. Observing formality now seemed stupid, but she would never again take for granted having a hot meal after this ordeal. They passed the chopsticks back and forth, hardly sanitary, but right now neither of them seemed to care. The fire wouldn't last all night, and they were both too exhausted to keep feeding it all night. With the real possibility they might die from hypothermia tonight, they might as well enjoy their potential last meal together. This actually wouldn't be a bad date if we both weren't so close to death.
Hinata smiled inwardly. She didn't want to die, but that was possibly beyond their control right now. She slid over to the sleeping bag draped near the fire; the material was cold by dry to the touch on inspection. The air was cold enough for her breath to turn into steam. One person might not be enough for it to stay warm, but maybe two. "Dry as it can be," she said, handing the bag to Naruto.
"All right, here goes nothing," he slid the semi open bag into the tent, removed his jacket, and slid into the bag. "Ready whenever you are," he patted the spot next to him.
Hinata nervously hobbled over, shook offer her jacket, and slid into the bag next to him with some difficulty. They slid her smaller jacket around their feet and his larger jacket around their bodies. He reached over her and zipped the bag shut. He laid with his right, injured side up, and she laid almost nose to nose with him, her left leg up. There was a short moment of awkwardness, and they finally gave up the idea of personal space in favor of cuddling to stay warm.
Naruto shivered in her arms despite the radiant heat of the fire and their combined body heat. She, herself trembled, but not because she was cold. She ran her hands up and along his back and shoulders, trying as best as she could to warm him up. He held her closer, and he eventually stopped shivering. For a long while, his glassy blue eyes stared into hers. The fire was slowly dying down. "Hinata," he coughed slightly, "we have to go to sleep."
"I don't want to," she shivered again from fear. Just the thought of closing her eyes made her uneasy. "What if Obito comes back? What if the bag doesn't keep us warm? What if…" she began to cry.
His hand gently caressed the side of her face, wiping away tears. "It will be okay, Hinata, I promise!" Naruto gave her a wide smile. "Believe it," he coughed.
Having barely slept the past forty-eight hours, it didn't take much for her lead-weighted eyelids to close. His reassurance disarmed the final barrier to her eyes closing. Despite being shrouded in darkness, she could feel Naruto's warm presence. As long as she had him, she was safe.
"Hinata," a familiar voice called to her. Mom! Her eyes shot open in an unfamiliar room. "Hinata, taking a nap in that outfit! You know better!" Mom pulled her to her feet. "Now sit down, we're almost out of time!"
Despite the uncertainty of where she was and how she got there, Hinata sat up from the plush couch she had been laying on. Mom rushed her to a chair in front of a nearby vanity strewn with makeup, hairpins, combs, and other beauty products Hinata had never seen used before.
As Hinata's eyes reached the mirror, she froze at what was staring back. A beautiful young woman, lovingly made up, and dressed in a brilliant white kimono with red trim stared back from the mirror. Mom placed an impressive flower in Hinata's hair, and Hinata looked down to realize the woman in the mirror was her! I'm grown up!
She looked back at the mirror in disbelief. "You look gorgeous, sweetie! Your soon to be husband is a lucky man!" Mom rubbed her shoulders, "Now come on, let's see how well the groom cleaned up!" Mom guided her from the chair into a foyer room with large windows. Hokage Rock towered over them. Two new faces were carved into the mountain – both oddly familiar.
A young man stood nervously tapping his foot. He wore formal black and grew robes, and he had short, cropped blonde hair. Hinata felt her heart sink; she hadn't agreed to marry anyone! She wouldn't agree to marry anyone against her will! The young man turned, his serious features morphed into concern, and finally the smile that always made her heart flutter. Naruto! "Hey, gorgeous!" he walked up to her, taking her hands in his. "You ready?"
"Big sister!" Hanabi, Father, and Neji entered the room, all dressed in formal attire. Hanabi had father on her right arm and Neji to her left. "Doesn't she look amazing, guys!" Neji gave a thing smile and nod. Father, too, forced his normally stern features into a soft smile.
She turned back to a Naruto. "Hinata…" he whispered. "Hinata…. Hinata…."
The sharp sound of coughing and wheezing woke Hinata from her dream, "Hinata!" Naruto's voice gurgled as he shivered. He turned his head and sharply coughed into the ground, each cough sounding like the barking of a dog. "Naruto, honey, what's wrong," Hinata felt her cheeks redden at her slip of the tongue.
"Cold…" she shivered through clattering teeth, "so cold!" She hugged him close; he felt clammy all over and sweaty. Momentarily she took her eyes off of Naruto. It was sometime in the morning, judging by gray, milky sky. "H-H-Hinata," he chattered.
"I'm here, Naruto," she tried her best to reassure him.
"Hinata," he focused his words, "in my cargo pocket… the map and my compass." He paused, taking several shallow breaths, "There is a logging road about half a click west." He gasped and coughed, "Follow it south, and there is a forest service station about half a day's walk."
Hinata recoiled at what he was asking her to do, "I'm not leaving you!"
"Hinata, send back help," he sniffled as he shivered, "Please… just GO!"
She placed her hand on his face, forcing his eyes to meet her, "Naruto, think for a minute! You're sick and you're hurt!" she scolded him. "I'm moving, at best, half of my normal walking speed on good terrain. It would take at least two days to get there, assuming I don't freeze to death in the woods!" Tears streamed from her eyes as she tried moving her still-bad left leg. "I'm going to get the fire going, and we're going to get you warmed back up."
"Hinata," he croaked, trying to interrupt her.
"No buts!" She placed a finger on his lips. "The ANBU and the others are looking for us! They will find us a lot faster if we stay put and get the fire going!" She let her tone soften, "Just stay here, and stay warm, and I'll be back shortly. Hinata awkwardly unzipped the bag enough to slide out and slither to her makeshift crutches. A quick check confirmed that putting the pressure on the foot was equivalent to holding a lighter up to the bottom of her foot.
Morning fog clung in patches to the moist, frosty ground, but at least it hadn't rained or snowed. Hinata hobbled to the tree line and began snapping off low branches as fast as she could until the backpack could hold no more. It had only taken a few minutes, but it might as well been a dozen lifetimes. She still exhausted, and the injury was not helping things. Quickly, she began stacking twigs and branches into a moderate sized fire arrangement. She sucked in a long breath, focusing whatever chakra she had left. Fire breath release worked; the fire caught immediately, giving the homey smell of burning wood in the air.
"Come on!" she slid toward the sleeping roll holding Naruto and tugged with all her might to pull him closer. His shivering slowed but did not stop. Hinata threw in several larger branches, including a green one that would put off extra smoke. The thick plume danced skyward. If the ANBU can't see it, no one can!
Content for the moment, Hinata crawled back in the back and zipped it shut. Naruto seemed calmed, but still shook slightly. "Naruto, it's going to be okay. Does that feel better?" He nodded weakly. She collapsed beside him, still exhausted. In a bit, she'd fetch the canteen; they were both likely dehydrated. She cuddled tight into Naruto again, as much for warmth as to reassure herself. Help is coming, help is coming!
"Hinata… Naruto!" a voice called faintly in the mist. At first, she couldn't be sure if she was delirious until she heard it again, much clearer, "Naruto, Hinata!" a familiar voice called.
"NEJI!" she screamed with all her remaining might.
"This way, I see them!" she heard her cousin shout.
Her heart raced at the prospect of rescue. But soon anxiety gripped her, Naruto's coughing resumed uncontrollably, and soon he had her locked tightly in a bear hug.
"WHAT THE HELL YOU DOING TO HER!" Neji growled as he ran up through the mist like a ghost taking solid form. He torn down the zipper of the bag and dragged Hinata away.
"Neji, wait!" Hinata moaned weakly.
"You've been hanging out with perverts way too much!" he moved to strike poor Naruto until a stronger feminine voice commanded, "Neji, wait!" Tenten and Rock Lee emerged from the mist at a trot. She panted several deep breaths. "My god, Neji! Let the poor kid alone!" Tenten brought an ear to Naruto's chest and listened for a long few moments. "Well dammit, signal the others!" she said as she rose to a kneeling position. Neji used a lightning release, sending a bolt skyward. Kakashi, Jiraiya, Sakura, and the remains of their expedition appeared shortly after, as did several masked ANBU.
Sakura ran toward Hinata first but soon changed course when Hinata pointed toward Naruto. "Naruto! Naruto!" Sakura shouted angrily, "Don't you die on me, you big idiot!" Sakura placed her hands on Naruto's chest, trying her best to heal him.
"Hinata, how badly are you hurt!" Kakashi asked as he and Kurenai approached. Kurenai did a preliminary check of the foot and knee before Hinata could reply. She saw Jiraiya send off a rapid release of three lightning bolts and then throw a kunai into the ground.
A brilliant flash, and Uncle Minato appeared. He ran first to Naruto, still being attended by Sakura. "Son!" He shouted as he knelt next his son.
"He'll need a hospital," Sakura told him, "Hinata, too by the look of things!"
In the blink of her eyes, Minato hoisted her up in his arms and set her next to Naruto. "Hang on, this is going to feel a bit strange!" he exclaimed.
A bright, disorienting flash left Hinata dizzy for a moment. When she her surroundings stopped moving, she took a moment to orient herself. They were in the courtyard of Konoha Hospital. "Naruto! Hinata!" Aunt Kushina rushed toward the group, as did Lady Tsunade. Satisfied that they were safe, Hinata finally stopped to breath and passed out on her back.