By the time he had reentered his home he still wasn't quite sure what to make of that man in the shadows. He had said he was a family friend but as far as he or anybody else knew he had no family. His adoption into the Yamanaka clan while nice wasn't the same as a biological family. Still, he had a feeling he knew them but when or where he couldn't place. Placing the book aside, for the time being, he got into bed and fell fast asleep soon after.
Bang
Bang
Bang
Came the sound of somebody pounding upon the door with great force. Whatever or whoever he expected to be on the other side of the door he would never have guessed it would be his teammate Sakura Haruno who looked utterly frantic.
"Naruto it's...it's my mother they say her mission was upgraded to an S rank. She's being taken into intensive care". Sakura said as tears fell down her face in a never-ending torrent. At once she was in his arms crying as he rubbed her back in a soothing motion.
"It's ok Sakura-chan come on we'll go see her". Naruto said as he and his understandably depressed teammate slowly made their way to the hospital. All the while the villagers all eyed him with looks of utter disdain and hatred. Luckily it seemed Sakura was far too busy crying to notice the blatant acts of hatred being aimed at her teammate. Naruto, of course, did notice but now wasn't the time to worry about what some idiot villagers thought about him. His teammate was hurting and he was going to be there for her. Stupid villagers be damned.
Entering he was soon stopped by a doctor who eyed him with no less hate but was careful to not allow his teammate to notice.
"I'm Sakura Haruno I'm looking for my mother. I was told she is in IC (intensive care) can I go visit her"? She asked as the nurse looked her up. In seconds she was buzzed in and in she walked. However, Naruto was booted out almost as soon as the doors closed behind her.
"Why don't you just fucking die you worthless demon brat"? The doctor yelled as he tossed him out with one last good strong kick for good measure. Getting back to his feet he spat out a mouthful of blood before making his way back home.
Meanwhile, Sakura entered the room and saw her mother wired to more than a dozen machines all of whom were beeping or displaying various statistics. From her perspective, she looked more or less dead. It was only the constant beeping that told her that she was, in fact, still alive.
"Sakura-chan...how are y...you my dear"? Her mother asked with a weak voice.
"I'm fine, mother". Sakura answered before a new wave of tears formed in her eyes.
"That is good. What of your team? Do you like them"? Her mother asked. Sakura answered that she did.
"That Naruto boy is on your team...yes"? She asked as she eyed her daughter. A look of unending pride for what she had accomplished.
"Yes, mother his on my team". Sakura replied as her mother nodded.
"Sad thing not knowing one's family. You mustn't blame him for what he is nor what he does". She said cryptically making Sakura eye her quizzically.
"What he is, mother? What do you mean"? Sakura asked but it seemed she would have to wait as a doctor entered the room and ushered her out.
"I'm most sorry but she needs her rest. You may visit tomorrow". The man said as she nodded and made her way back to the waiting room. Once there she looked for Naruto only to found he was gone.
"Um, nurse where did Naruto go"? She asked.
"He left an hour ago. He left as soon as you entered the ICU". The nurse answered as she resumed her work filing away paperwork. Sakura was puzzled why would he leave? Didn't he say he would go see her too? Thanking the nurse she soon made her way back to his place. A few heated questions already forming in her mind.
