Chapter Thirty-Four

Rarely did Lord Minato conducted official business from his home office – Lord Sarutobi had taught him the importance of separating home life and official life during his early reign as Fourth Hokage. However, there were several times where it has proven necessary to conduct affairs of state from home when Naruto was a baby and Kushina was very much recovering from the trauma of his birth and similar postpartum depression. In order to be close at hand when his family needed him, he had insisted on having all the essentials of his office in place: the Hokage's seal, secure video-links for communicating with other high-level diplomats, and duplicates of all important legal documents for adjudicating business.

Minato had spent the past three days working from home in order to watch over his son. Naruto had been a real trooper, barely complaining of anything except being tired when he got home from the hospital – understandable considering how much energy he'd put into getting Hinata ready for her duel for months. However, the facade of strength disappeared when he was sleeping. Horrific nightmares plagued Naruto every time he closed his eyes. Unfortunately, Naruto's sleep was broken, and he was lethargic and prone to falling into short, nightmare plagued asleep throughout the day ever since the duel. Tsunade already had him go through a therapy session, and he was schedule for another one in a few days. Kushina meanwhile had given him a very mild sedative tea before bed last night; at least he slept through the night without an attack as a result.

"Lord Hokage, the Kazekage is on video line one," Shikamaru called from his corner of the room. He and Itachi were huddled around listening equipment and their own computers in the now cramped office.

"Put him on," Minato commanded. His screen came to life with the image of Rasa, the Fourth Kazekage of the Village Hidden in the Sands. The man looked surprisingly pale for a man who grew up in a desert. "Good morning, Lord Rasa," Minato tried for his most cheerful face. It was strictly bullshit; if he'd had his way, he'd be on a long camping trip with Naruto and Kushina far from the worries of the village or his office.

"Lord Minato," Lord Rasa replied fiercely, "I have reviewed your petition to delay the Chunin Exams by over two months! What is the meaning of this!"

"As the kage of my village, I'm well within my rights to delay the exam under any circumstance, Lord Rasa," Minato accented the Kazekage's name with extra bite, trying and failing to keep his temperament level.

"There are dozens of genin and their sensei staying at your village at great expense, in some cases personal expense as part of this exam, and now you want them to be your guests for possibly three to four months at this rate!"

"Might I remind, you, your lordship, that three of our top contenders for the test have undergone severe physical and psychological trauma from an assassination attempt, and my village is still on lockdown until we're sure we've apprehended everyone involved!" Minato was becoming steamed,, instinctively reaching for a pencil to twirl in his hand to distract himself from his rising anger.

"And might I remind you, your lordship, that there are dozens of your own genin who are now delayed because of your preferential treatment of your son." Lord Rasa paused and smiled as he gauged Minato's negative reaction, "Oh yes, word reached us even this far away. Now let's cut the crap; he and his friends can always wait two years like anyone else who suddenly got injured before the test next week!"

Something in Minato snapped, along with the pencil in his hand, at Lord Rasa's callous remarks. It was bigger than just his son. The Hyūga clan in one day lost twelve of its most senior members, including old man Hattori and Hizashi Hyūga. It was still a coin toss if Neji would keep his leg or not. Only now the psychological scars to Hanabi, Hinata, and the rest of the family were becoming evident. The thought of each and every injury built into a fiery rage in Minato's heart, expelling it through his words, "If you are going to take that attitude with me, and completely disregard the well-being of everyone affected by this tragedy," Minato pound a hand on his desk, "Then YOU can explain to your precious genin that their lives are meaningless, and they came all this way for nothing! THE CHUNIN EXAM IS CANCELLED!"

Now it was Lord Rasa's turn to be speechless, "You… you can't do that…"

"Can and will" Minato growled, "watch me! Shikamaru!"

"Yes, sir!" the boy replied.

"Issue orders to all foreign teams in the exam that the exam is hereby cancelled, and their visas are revoked. They have to leave in twenty-four hours or face deportation!"

"Lord Hokage! Let-let's not be too hasty!" Lord Rasa stammered.

"Oh, let's," Minato growled, "You just said it's too expensive for them to stay because three genin were traumatized, so let's just send them all home!"

"P-p-please! There has to be some arrangement we can make!"

"You have my first and only best offer, Lord Rasa," Minato crossed his arms in disapproval, "Take it or leave it, but complain one more time, then the deal's off!"

Lord Rasa became dead quiet, and his face pursed like he'd just swallowed a sour lemon, "It seems," he choked, I have no choice but to accept your offer, he squeaked. "Very well, I accept your terms. Part Two will begin on September Fifth per you petition." The video link cut off.

Minato sat spellbound for several moments. He locked eyes with Itachi and Shikamaru, "That was…"

"Weird?" Shikamaru and Itachi answered in unison.

"Yes," Minato replied. "Did he seem to cave awfully quick?

"If I didn't know better," Itachi said, "I'd say he had a lot riding on the exam happening on time."

"And a lot to lose if it doesn't happen at all," Shikamaru said. "What a pain, I hate this cloak-and-dagger crap!"

"So do I," Minato ran his fingers through his ample golden hair, "Where are we at with the assassination?"

"I'm afraid," Itachi sighed, "that's a major dead end. "We verified the man in red as Kenji Takahashi. He was one of Danzo's Root agents."

"The name raised hairs on the back of Minato's neck, "I remember him, he was a paranoid schizophrenic, why the hell wasn't he institutionalized."

"He was," Shikamaru answered, "but because of the classified nature of his background, the psych ward didn't know how damn dangerous he was. They tried releasing him under outpatient management, which is common for people with that disorder – so long as they aren't seen as an immediate threat."

"What about Mizuki?" Minato asked, "has he said anything?"

"I'm afraid he won't be saying anything ever again, sir," Itachi said grimly. "The Rasengan Naruto hit him with broke his neck. He died in the hospital two hours ago, never regained consciousness."

"I'm assuming we had their residences searched, Itachi?" Minato asked.

"Inch by inch," he replied, "Nothing to link either to anyone outside the village or anyone else in the village."

"So, there is no indication Danzo is involved?"

"If he is," Shikamaru interjected, "He's doing a heck of a job passing messages from solitary confinement at the Castle," she shook his head. "I won't say it's impossible, but it would be very hard for him to be pulling the strings from that deep in the hole."

"But not impossible," Minato sighed in frustration. He couldn't tell if he was making up an Oni from his nightmares of the once head of the ANBU taking revenge on his family, or if he was being prudent. "What other possibilities are there?"

"Simply put," Shikamaru replied, "it's possible that people with an obsessive hatred of Naruto crossed orbits at some point and decided to team up and to kill him, and it's truly no more complicated than that."

"I hate coincidences," Itachi broke in, "and right now we just had one of the largest coincidences of all time."

"You mean our little conversation with Lord Kazekage just now?" Minato asked curiously, "I thought about it, too. It was a very long way to go for word of an attempt on my son's life to go in only three days, especially with how quiet we've been keeping things."

"They certainly have genin acting as intelligence operatives, I can attest to that," Shikamaru replied. "But I don't think they were part of the assassination attempt."

"Why would Lord Rasa want my son dead?" Minato asked, "For that matter why would anyone else want him dead, assuming someone else was involved?"

"If it was just Mizuki and Kenji, then strictly just revenge. For that matter, same if Danzo was pulling the strings," Itachi said.

"Have we fully cleared the Hyūga Clan?" Shikamaru asked.

"Not a hundred percent, but anyone who stood to gain by killing Naruto or Hinata is dead. And the few elders that did survive have nothing to gain by it, either."

"So, no motive for any of the Hyūga Clan, what about Lord Rasa?"

All three men exchanged troubled glances. "Assuming that what we just witnessed wasn't a coincidence, but is related to the assassination attempts," Itachi spoke, "it opens possibilities both good and bad."

"What would he have to gain by killing Naruto?" Shikamaru asked.

Minato tented his hands, "Maybe Naruto wasn't the end goal?"

"I was starting to contemplate that as well," Itachi said.

"You mean, this was just some massive red herring?" Shikamaru shook his head, "I don't buy it."

"Maybe not completely a red herring," Itachi scratched his chin, "Killing Naruto would weaken our showing in the Chunin Exams,"

"As well, it would have had a major psychologic impact on me and my ability to make rational decisions," Minato gestured to the video screen, "my case and point."

"And you think that's why Lord Rasa acted so funny?" Shikamaru said, "But rather than break you, you were put on your guard." Shikamaru looked troubled.

"Which is what we should be doing right now," Itachi said, "I think at the least we should do a mandatory headcount of all foreign shinobi in the village and verify identities against their visas and other documents."

"Agreed," Minato said, "I also suggest we look for any blind spots in our security apparatus; if this was a distraction, then the planners were likely looking to exploit the situation regardless of the outcome."

"Agreed," the boys answered in unison. "I'll get to work coordinating the identity checks," Shikamaru said. "And I'll coordinate with the KIB, ANBU, and Military Police and try and see where out seals have leaks," Itachi said.

Ding Dong! The doorbell almost caused Minato to instinctively roll to the floor. Jeez, I am getting jumpy! "I'll get it," he said. He knew Kushina and Kakashi were both upstairs with Naruto; he didn't want to disturb them. A quick check of the peephole indicated it was Lord Hiashi. I got a bad feeling about this. He opened the door, "Lord Hiashi, good morning," Minato greeted.

"Lord Hokage," he bowed, "I need to speak to you, may I come in?" Hiashi asked grimly. The man looked haunted, purple eyes tortured from lack of sleep and too much stress.

"Of course," he motioned for Hiashi to enter and closed the door behind him. Hiashi sat in one of the armchairs in the living room, and Minato sat opposite him. "I get the feeling this is where you tell me to keep my son away from your daughter," Minato sighed.

"No," Hiashi shook his head, "I actually need his help." Hiashi sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose against a headache. That is unexpected.

"You are asking for Naruto's help?" Minato accented his son's name to be sure he'd heard correctly.

"Yes, Lord Hokage," Hiashi sat forward in the chair.

"Hiashi, when we're in this house, it's Minato," he interrupted, "please, go on."

"Minato, my family, my clan, is in crisis. I think Naruto is the only one who can break the cycle of what's happening."

"What is happening?" Minato tilted his head to the side. Tsunade had briefly called to speak to him earlier about Hanabi's physical and mental health; he hadn't yet called back.

"Where to begin," Hiashi sighed, "I suppose Hinata would be the natural starting point. She hasn't left her room in three days. Meals left at the door are barely touched, frequently uneaten at all."

"Surely she has to come out to use the restroom."

Hiashi shook his head, "When she turned ten, we installed a private restroom in her quarters, no communicating passage into the rest of the house."

"So, she doesn't have to come out," Minato shook his head, leaning back in the chair, "And you're sure she's not passed out."

"I respect her privacy, but yes, I did have a female clan member use her Byakugan to make sure she wasn't injured or otherwise unconscious."

"And she won't respond to you or Akemi?"

"Nope," he shook his head. "And I can't just barge in forcefully; she is now the clan leader."

"What makes you think she'll respond to Naruto, then?"

"Minato, surely you can't be blind to my daughter's feelings for your son?"

"I would have to be pretty blind to miss them," Minato chuckled lightly.

"Then you understand why it has to be him," Hiashi nodded.

"Hiashi," Minato felt stuck between duty to his village and duty to his family. Why is Hinata not family? You've treated her like your daughter for years, and someday she might actually be your daughter. So why not now? "I'll have to discuss with Naruto and Kushina."

"Minato, does he know he was the target, or does he still believe it was Hinata?"

"We haven't told him yet, one step at a time."

"Hinata asked me to keep it from him," Hiashi explained, "She blames herself for what happened, but I'm afraid hiding in comfortable lies and half-truths won't help anyone."

"Hiashi," Minato asked, "you said your family is in crisis. Who else is affected by this?" Minato wasn't sure he wanted to know.

"Hanabi and Neji…" the former clan leader looked ready to cry, "… are both on suicide watch at the hospital."

"Su-Suicide?" Minato stammered, not believing the words.

Hiashi nodded with a grimace. "Neji's nurse ordered it after speaking with him; he was contemplating if it was worth continuing on if he lost his leg," Hiashi shook his head in disgust, "He also felt he'd be nothing but a burden to his team now that they're out of the running in the Chunin Exams."

"I just delayed part two until September," Minato interrupted.

"And then there is Hanabi," he sighed, again shaking his head. This time, tears did leak from his eyes. "I… I never knew just how bad it was, how much she was keeping from me." Minato nodded for Hiashi to continue. "She was training even more obsessively than Naruto and Hinata. Father had made her fearful of what would happen if she lost; the nurses… tell me she's afraid that Hinata will come and finish her."

"That's ridiculous," Minato said in disbelief.

"I know that, but there's more," Hiashi paused, assessing Minato, "Grandfather was giving her emergency soldier rations, trying to give her an edge!"

"Dear god," Minato couldn't believe it. Emergency soldier ration pills were a potent mix of stimulants and ultra-high doses of vitamins. In an adult, it could boost chakra reserves, decrease hunger, and lessen the need for sleep for up to three days – after which you'd be completely exhausted. In a child… Minato shivered. The ration pills were never approved for anyone under the age of sixteen. While certainly safer than using hard substances, emergency ration pills in someone too young had noted side effects of irregular heart activity, persistent aggressive behavior, and frequently severe withdrawal symptoms. So that was how he was focusing her, controlling her. "You didn't know about this?"

"I didn't know a thing until Tsunade began asking hard questions at the hospital. Hanabi had lost almost fifteen pounds since her last check up in March, her blood panels for kidney and liver function were all over the place. That's when I went home and searched her room. I found them with a note from my father, reminding her to take them again just before the fight."

Minato shook his head incredulously, "How many had she been taking?"

"Not sure, but well in excess of what would be considered safe for an adult," Hiashi said. "So, you see where I'm coming from."

"Hiashi…" Minato paused, considering. An extremely selfish part of Minato wanted to tell Hiashi to man up and to stop involving Naruto in clan business. How could you be so damn selfish; if any of those children hurt themselves, you have blood on your hands! "… what do you want from me?"

"I need to speak to Naruto, to get him to talk to Hinata. If she doesn't step up as clan leader, we might lose Neji and Hanabi in short order."

Minato knew if either domino fell, Hinata would fall in quick succession, possibly Naruto. Still, it was cruel to possibly subject his son to the trauma of returning to the compound so soon. "He's afraid to go back, Hiashi," Minato bowed his head. "He wanted to see her the second she got out of the hospital, but he started having a panic attack the second we got the compound gate."

"Minato, I'm begging you… I'm about to beg him if you'll let me," he sighed, staring at the floor "I don't want to wave it around in your face that if he'd stayed home…"

"You don't have to," Minato crossed his arms, "but what's done is done. I'll talk to Kushina and Naruto, but ultimately I can't make him go if he can't do it."


Kushina sat at the foot of her son's bed, watching her son like a sentinel against bad dreams. Kakashi leaned back against the wall, appearing casual, but only appearing. He'd been on high mental alert since the attack at Hokage Rock, and he had spent the last three days and nights guarding the family the way he had when Kushina was pregnant with Naruto.

Kushina briefly turned her gaze from her boys. The walls of the room were decorated as expected for a pre-teen: posters for movies and comic books, a shadow board Kushina had made with Naruto's graduation photo - complete with black eye - and the two awards he'd won thus far. So much accomplished for such a young boy, a young man. On his desk, Naruto kept the photo of Team Seven's completion of its genin test. Next to it was a picture of Teams Seven, Eight, and Ten at Naruto's last birthday – everyone all smiles and giggles. The last photo was a picture of Naruto and Hinata each holding a Rasengan. Taken just after part one of the Chunin Exams, both kids looked weary but enthusiastic at such an achievement in the face of difficult times to come.

Her attention turned back to her son, his closed eyes darting rapidly side to side like an alien lifeform stirring beneath closed eyelids. Here it comes! While Naruto's body remained largely limp, the muscles of his face were fasciculating, slowly at first, but growing rapidly into violent contortion. His mouth moved as if he was trying to shout, but only a croaking wheeze escaped.

Kushina's first instinct was to shake Naruto from sleep, and she had to fight every motherly instinct to do so. The last time she'd done so, Naruto awoke into a panic attack, horribly disoriented. He spent most of the next day groggy and unfocused. As painful as it was, she had to let him ride this one out.

As his face writhed, the restrained words suddenly came to life, "H-HINATA!" Naruto screamed as he shot bolt upright, eyes wide with terror. "It's all right, son!" Kushina raced to her son's side, embracing him. "It's all right, it was just a bad dream," she ran her fingers through her sobbing son's hair.

"It's not all right, Mom," he wheezed, "she's in pain!" He hugged himself close to her.

Kushina wasn't sure, but his conviction sounded like it was more than a bad nightmare talking. "What do you mean?"

"I can feel her, Mom," he cried into her shoulder, "she's hurt, scared, and…" his words clung in his throat, "… lonely! She's so desperately lonely right now!"

She and Kakashi exchanged glances. Naruto by now felt limp like a baby that had cried itself into exhaustion. Kushina guided him back to his pillow. "Just relax, son, caressing his cheek," she said, "everything will be fine." Naruto was too spent to fight back.

"I don't suppose there is any know history of two jinchuriki communicating via their tailed-beast?" Kakashi asked.

Kushina shook her head, "No tailed-beast has ever been split among two people." She looked desperately at her son, "How could I let this happen, Kakashi?" Kushina fought back tears.

"Whoa, we're not playing that game again, Kushina," Kakashi said firmly as he walked next to her.

"Had I been a better mom, had I trained him better," she lamented.

"Kushina," Kakashi placed a hand on her shoulder, "Not only you, but your husband, Jiraiya, and I all trained Naruto and Hinata. Nothing more you could have done would have changed things. In fact, had you not stepped in the many times that you did, we might be consoling Naruto about Hinata right now."

"I failed them the way I failed Obito and Rin, the way I failed you!" she began crying.

"Dammit, that's enough of that talk!" Kakashi did something exceptionally rare, hugging her. "You did your best, and you never gave up on any of us! You were the closest thing Obito or I ever had to a mom for most of our lives, Kushina!" Kakashi held her now at arm's length, tears now running from his eyes. "You never gave up on any of us, and you never let us give up when it was the only thing we wanted to do sometimes!" He shook his head, wiping away his tears, "And through all of it, you were always there for your boy, and Hinata, even when you were in pieces!" He began crying in a way she'd never seen the expressionless shinobi ever cry, "He never had to worry about finding you the way I found father! You never took a coward's way out!"

"Kakashi, I'm sorry," she hugged him, "I'm being selfish."

"There's nothing selfish about worrying about your children, Kushina," he drew back, composing himself, "I find it is one of the more admirable traits in parents."

"You should try it yourself, someday, Kakashi," she said.

"Ha!" Kakashi laughed, "I'm even more hopeless than Jiraiya!"

Maybe not as far-fetched as you think! Kushina felt her lips curl slightly. After Jiraiya left on his mission, Tsunade had confided in her that the date the two had shared had gone much further than two old friends reconnecting. While Tsunade was confused by the event, she hardly seemed regretful. Hopefully another curse lifted.

A tapping at the door distracted her, "Honey, may I come in?" Minato asked.

"Of course."

Minato entered, looking pensive as he stared first at Naruto and then her. "Is he able to have a visitor do you think?"

"You have that look that suggests I have no choice; who is it?" Kushina asked.

"Hiashi, it's serious," Minato answered gravely

"Has something happened to Hinata?" Kushina asked, alarmed.

"It's bigger than just Hinata, honey," he replied, pointing his chin at Naruto. "Is he able?"

"Fate rarely calls on us in a moment of our choosing, Kushina," Kakashi said.

She looked back her boy. Every motherly instinct was to protect him from further harm, to tell Hiashi that her son had done his part. She thought of Hinata, the girl who Naruto believed in, "Naruto," she shook his arm gently, "Honey I need you to wake up."

"Uh," he moaned, "what's happening?

"Lord Hiashi is here, son…"

"Hiashi?" Naruto sat bolt upright, "ha-has something happened?" Alarm flashed in Naruto's face.

"I'm afraid, so, son, and it's damned serious," Minato answered. "I wouldn't even humor such a meeting if it weren't a matter of life or death, several lives on the line."

"Dad, what the hell happened?" Naruto asked, looking terrified.

"Perhaps I can better explain," Hiashi entered the room abruptly. Hiashi gave everyone a quick run down of what was happening with Neji, Hinata, and Hanabi. Kushina couldn't imagine what Hiashi and Akemi were going through. It was bad enough dealing with one traumatized child; she couldn't imagine three of them at once. "So, that's where it is," Hiashi said. "I need my clan leader, Naruto. Neji will listen to her orders, and she's the only one who can put things right with Hanabi. Son," Hiashi looked ready to cry, "I'm begging you."

"She really hasn't left her room, and she has barely eaten in three days," Naruto said flatly, without emotion. Kushina watch his eyes; they were staring straight ahead, looking past Lord Hiashi. Looking at what? Kushina saw Naruto's face morph through anguish, emptiness, and finally, determination. He threw off his blanket, still dressed in his green pajamas and his walrus sleep cap.

"Naruto, what are you doing?" Kushina asked, surprised by the sudden return of her young shinobi, as if he hadn't left.

"I have to go, Mom," he walked to his dresser, pulling out his mission gear.

"Naruto," Hiashi said, "thank you."

"Hiashi," Naruto paused, turning to stare at the former leader of the Hyūga Clan, "if I do this, you have to make a promise to me, with the Hokage as my witness."

"Anything, Naruto," Hiashi said.

"First," Naruto set his gear down, "you have to promise you won't interfere in her reign as clan leader, and you won't undermine her or support anyone who does so."

"That's reasonable," Hiashi nodded, "What's the second part?"

"You have to promise me," Naruto gazed sternly at Hiashi, as if he'd aged a lifetime, "that you will undergo counseling with the rest of your family, including Neji."

"Naruto, I," Hiashi stammered.

"Your father left you a terrible legacy, Uncle Hiashi. If you don't let it go and get your family the help it needs, what's stopping this from happening again?"

"A father's love can be a terrible thing, Hiashi," Kushina recited the statement frequently uttered by Kakashi. "You love your daughters and you love your brother's son. Hizashi died protecting all three of them, and he died protecting my son as well."

"It's time to bury our dead and face the world of the living," Minato added.

"I agree," Hiashi said, "Is there anything else?"

"No, sir," Naruto said, "I'll get cleaned up and we'll go."

"Naruto," Kushina said, "we're all going with."

"Mom, I can do this without a bodyguard," Naruto said.

"Naruto, I insist," Kakashi said.

Naruto looked at each of them accusingly. "What aren't you telling me?"

"Son," Kushina said, "Hinata discovered one of the assassins carrying a contract with your name on it. She was never the target."

"This was my fault," Naruto began tearing up.

"No son," Hiashi said, "it was the assassins' faumlt." He shook his head, "Hinata would have insisted you be there under any circumstance. She blames herself because she thinks she put you in danger."

"I'll… I'll be back in a few minutes," Naruto grabbed his mission gear and made for the restroom.

"Your son," Hiashi said, "is very spirited, Kushina."

"He gets the best of it from his father," Kushina smiled.

"And the worst of it from you," Kakashi quipped. Everyone laughed for the first time in what felt like years. For Kushina, it was like waking from a terrible nightmare to realize the nightmare world wasn't real.

"Kushina, Minato," Hiashi spoke again, "I did not just come to ask your son's help. I came to speak to you about the future – a future that involves Naruto."

"How is that?" Minato asked.

"We've danced around this issue for a long time now; my daughter loves your son," Hiashi crossed his arms.

"And you disapprove?" Kushina asked, feeling betrayed by the thought. After everything my son has agreed to do for you, how could you!

"And I think he feels the same way," Hiashi nodded, "I think it's time we arrange a marriage between the two."

To say Kushina was shocked was an understatement. Minato and Kakashi both stood wide-eyed at the suggestion. "Hiashi, that's most unexpected." Kushina said, "What prompted this?"

"I've lost my twin brother, my father, and most of my close cousins all in one day," he shook his head. "And right now, the future of my family, my clan, rests on that boy's shoulders."

"And Hinata's," Kushina corrected him.

"Yes, and Hinata's," he nodded. "What better act than to bring them together?"

"Hiashi," Minato spoke, "even if we arranged it, we're still over three years from actually being able to marry them. Let them be young, and let them learn what you and Akemi learned," Minato turned to Kushina, "Let them fall in love the way each of us did. It's already started between them."

"It will be more enduring that way that if we force the issue," Kushina remarked.

At that moment, Naruto re-entered the room, freshly showered and dressed, "Did I miss something?"

Kushina suppressed a smile. Oh son, your timing is impeccable as always. "Nothing, kiddo," Kushina ruffled his still damp hair, "How about you run a comb through your hair and look dignified! You're about to see the leader of the Hyūga Clan!"


A knot tying up Naruto's guts started tightening the second he left the house. He wasn't scared of another assassination attempt; he was scared of reentering the Hyūga Compound. The entrance to Hinata's room was on the far end of the courtyard where the duel had been fought – where he'd watched Hizashi get run through right in front of him. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw the image of Hizashi, still impaled, trying to speak to him.

Naruto shivered, trying to understand why the event scared him so much. He had seen blood, he had seen violence, and he had even taken lives. He hadn't hesitated for a moment stabbing Obito in the leg or chest, both potentially lethal attacks, on their first mission. During the mission to the Land of the Waves, Naruto had killed several opponents while defending himself and others. After the duel, he knew he had killed the man in the Shinigami mask, only to find out it was Mizuki. Naruto knew he'd broken the man's neck from the impact from the Rasengan. Naruto had reluctantly asked Dad before they left the house; he confirmed that Mizuki had suffered a hangman's fracture and had died this morning. He didn't feel even the least bit of remorse. So why do you see Hizashi hanging there impaled like a coat on a rack every time you close your eyes? Why do I keep seeing the blades impaling me and Hinata afterwards! What is he trying to tell me?

Naruto shook his head violently as the compound gate came into view. Naruto fell to his knees. "Son!" Dad called out, running to Naruto's side. "Son, you don't have to do this! Especially if you can't!"

"Dad," Naruto moaned through tears, "I'm the Hokage's son!" Naruto struggled to compose himself, to slow his racing heart. "And I'll be Hokage someday; I have to do this!" Naruto forced himself back to his feet. He stared at the compound, dark, imposing like a sea monster threatening to swallow him up. "I can do this!" I have to do this. Hang on, Hinata!

Naruto stretched out with his senses while the gate guard confirmed his identity. He didn't know if Nine-Tails was toying with him, if it was some other side effect from sharing Kyuubi's chakra, or if it was some unknown bond he'd formed with Hinata some other way; but he could feel her emotions. For the past three days, Naruto felt himself awash in confusion, sadness, and inadequacy. He didn't understand it at first; he was too out of it. But this morning a torrent of negative emotion had awoken him from his nightmares. For three days, she had needed him, and he was too paralyzed to do anything. He had let fear keep him from doing what needed to be done.

He approached the courtyard and paused. Before his eyes, Naruto could see ghosts of Neji, Hanabi, Hinata, and himself through the duel and its hellish aftermath. Naruto firmly closed his eyes and opened them again. The image was gone; the clan had long since cleaned the blood and removed any sign of battle.

Opposite the courtyard was Hinata's room. After her third birthday, her room had been moved from the old upstairs location to this more central location in the compound to prevent another abduction attempt. It's just a few dozen meters, you can do this! Naruto forced one foot in front of the other. As he stepped out, into the dirt and sand courtyard, he could hear his parents, Kakashi, and Hinata's parents behind him. "Wait," he turned looking at the concerned group, "Hinata might clam up if I'm not alone. Stay back to this side of the courtyard."

"If you need us, son, we'll be here," Mom said, trying to reassure him.

Naruto resumed his walk at a snail's pace. Dirt and sand gently crunched under foot. By now the sun was up in the late-morning sky, baking Naruto to a crisp the longer he took. Get moving! One foot in front of the other, Naruto felt like he was walking on a frozen like full of thin ice. One missed step, and you fell to your freezing death. He closed his eyes, remembering drowning in the river on his first mission, needing to be saved by Hinata. She needs you to save her now, quit clowning!

When he opened his eyes again, he nearly screamed. Hizashi Hyūga was standing in front of him, blade still protruding from his chest. Despite the blood running from the man's mouth and his ghoulish appearance, Hizashi's voice was calm and even. "Hey kiddo," he cracked a bloody smile.

"H-H-Hizashi!" Naruto felt like he was breathing with a plastic bag over his head, hyperventilating.

"I did my part," Hizashi's ghostly figure looked down at the warped blades protruding from his chest, smiling. "Now you do yours," Hizashi grinned crookedly, "Protect her, and," The ghost choked back what sounded like tears, "tell her I'm sorry."

Naruto blinked, Hizashi's ghost was gone. Naruto was halfway through the courtyard, not sure how long he'd been standing still. Deciding it wasn't worth waiting for another ghost to scare the shit out of him, he ran the remaining distance to the covered walkway that led to Hinata's door. By now, he was sweating like a pig and panting like a dog. He knocked on her door, trying desperately not to sound panicked, "H-Hinata," he heaved. Naruto began sucking in long gulps of air, but he felt like he was breathing through a straw. He hands were shaking, and his chest was constricting; he was having a panic attack. Dear god not like this! "Hinata, please," he sobbed, wheezing, "let me in!" The world began spinning around him.

"Naruto!" a soft voice called; his eyes bolted open. The room was familiar in its design even though he'd never seen it. It was traditional design, common to the homes of older clans like the Uchiha and Hyūga. "Naruto," Hinata's shaky voice called as she dabbed his face with a moist washcloth, "say something!"

"Something…" Naruto wished he could retrieve the words. Way to go, bonehead! Perhaps next time you could throw up on yourself, too!" Naruto suddenly looked down, making sure he hadn't thrown up. Instantly, panic and confusion swirled in his head. The room clearly belonged to Hinata, as was the bed he was laying on. He flashed back to the dream he'd had of being grown up, Hinata tell him she was about to give birth to his child. "Hinata," he squirmed, "how old am I?"

"You're twelve, almost thirteen," she replied, feeling his forehead reluctantly. "Naruto-kun, I don't remember you hitting your head when you fainted," Hinata searched his scalp for any sign of injury.

"Fainted?" Naruto furrowed his brow. He didn't remember entering the room.

"When you came to the door, Naruto. You were in a terrible shock," she explained. "By the time I got the door open, there was barely enough time to catch you."

The panic attack, along with the past three days of mental anguish came back to Naruto, as did the memory of feelings coming from Hinata. Now, Naruto felt unsure. Was I imagining it? Have I really cracked? Naruto stared up at her beautiful purple Byakugan eyes and sat up. Naruto recognized the pressed sunflowers decorating the walls, and he recognized the boxes stacked along the walls. "They never unpacked you; you never let them," Naruto said. He had seen it; the link was real.

He could feel her confusion emanating off her. "Naruto, what are you talking about?"

"Did you feel anything the past three days?" Naruto asked, standing, placing his hands on her shoulders, "Emptiness? Remorse?"

"Paralyzed, Responsible?" She asked, completing his thoughts. "What does it mean?"

"Hinata," Naruto explained, hoping he wasn't creeping her out too badly, "The last three days, I felt confused, inadequate, unsure… those were your feelings, weren't they?" She nodded. "Hinata, let them go, it's my fault, ya know know!"

"Naruto, that's not true!" she cried.

"They were after me, if I'd not forced you to take me along!"

"Naruto, you can't blame yourself!" she wept, "I know you were the target; father told you, didn't he?" her weeping turned to indignance. "I found out right afterwards; I told him not to tell you! I didn't want you to blame yourself!"

"Hinata, I…" Naruto paused as he felt the bizarre connection between them again. Hizashi weighed heavily on her shoulders, staring down at her in shame. "Hinata, he doesn't blame you," Naruto said firmly.

"What do you mean?" Hinata looked shocked.

"Hinata, take my hand, let me show you," Naruto held out his hand, feeling his chakra flowing through him. Reluctantly, she did. Her expression turned to shock as Naruto replayed the ghostly encounter with Hizashi in his mind, their now bonded chakra acting like a bridge between her and Naruto. "Protect her and tell her I'm sorry." She could see Naruto's worries, wondering if she would ever come back into his life after such a tragedy.

Tears welled up in Hinata's eyes, and soon Naruto was experiencing Hinata's doubt about being a clan leader, her responsibility for putting him and her family in danger, and her feeling hollow from so many people rushing to protect her, needlessly dying or being injured in the process. "Naruto," she cried, "can you forgive me, for being too scare to tell you?"

"Can you forgive me," he asked, "for being too scared to come to you sooner?" Naruto didn't know how they'd gone from holding hands to embracing each other tightly. Right now, Naruto didn't care. "Hinata," Naruto whispered, "it's time for us to stop being afraid and start healing."

"What if I'm a bad clan leader?" she asked.

"What if someone takes another pass at me," Naruto said, "and you're in the way?"

"I won't let anyone hurt you, Naruto!" Hinata said firmly.

"And I won't let you fail as clan leader, Hinata!" Naruto felt his conviction return. "Hinata, I made your father promise if I helped him get you to come out, that he wouldn't undermine you or allow others to do so," he nodded.

"You… got father to promise that?" she was astounded.

"Believe it," Naruto nodded again, "and I got him to commit to family counselling."

"Wow," she sighed, "You've been busy."

"Hinata," Naruto held her close, "There is a lot I don't know about, but I know you're special to me," he massaged her back, "You and me both have a long way to go to heal, but I'll be there with you every step of the way!"

"And I'll be there with you, too!" she cried, burying her head in his shoulder. For a long moment they held each other. "So, what now?" she asked.

"You hungry?" he asked.

"Starving, I couldn't bring myself to eat much of anything while worrying about you!"

"I say, we grab food, and we go to the hospital," he said.

"H-hospital!" she stammered.

Naruto placed a hand on her cheek, "I'll be there with you, I promise. We have to set things right with Neji and Hanabi, and that means both of us."

"Together, with you," she paused, looking him in the eyes, tears still dripping, "I think I can face anything!"

"Together then," Naruto hugged her again, holding her close. "I love you, Naruto Uzumaki." He felt her words rather than hear them. He wasn't sure if Hinata had intended for him to hear them, but he didn't want to leave her empty-handed. I love you, too, Hinata Hyūga! Naruto was uncertain she could hear it, but he hoped she could feel his thoughts. It would have to make do until the day came when they could say it aloud to each other.


Author's Note:

Hi everyone, I hope you're all safe and healthy wherever you are in the world. Apologies for this being about 24 hours late. This was in serious need of cleanup when I finished it earlier. I hope you all enjoy as usual!

-Adam