Title : Growth
Author : Wolfs Catalyst
Disclaimer : I don't own any of the Naruto characters, I'd tell you who does but I cant spell the blokes name.
Summary : Sasuke's decision influences Naruto's and Hinata's lives more than they thought possible. The pairings are going to be NaruHina with a bit of SasuSaku, ShikaIno and maybe others.
I started writing this right after the 210 manga came out so I haven't included anything after that. This is my first fanfic, any constructive criticism is welcome but no pointless flames please. If I've got some minor mistakes like surnames spelt wrong just tell me and I'll get to fixing it. Thanks all !! ^_^
Text : 'Blah blah' = Thoughts
'Blah blah' = Kyubi talking
*Blah blah* = Memory/Flashback
Again I'd like to thank everyone who reviewed. So once again thanks too:
Wormkaizer, anon, Xoni Newcomer, kadashi the wandering reviewer, Gopu, Drekko, EmeraldBlossom, Cookie6, EfrainMan, oOoshortayoOo and Devinj2000
And thanks anon for the honorific explanation ^_^
Chapter 4
Lee was the first to be found, following Naruto's lead they back tracked from where he had originally chased after Sasuke.
When they found Lee they were shocked, the green clad Genin was standing over a knocked out Kimimaro singing in a horrible off key voice.
"Aaaaaaaand we'll drink and drink and drink and drink and drink and drink and fight HEY!! We'll drink and drink and drink and drink and drink and drink and fight HEY!!"
Every time he said fight he would lean over and punch Kimimaro.
Horrified Naruto and Hinata watched "Death by singing" was all Naruto could mutter. Hinata nodded mouth gaping.
Finally noticing the pair Lee perked up even more "NARUTOOOOOOOOOO!!" Lee shouted grinning like a loon "COME TO MY ARMS" with that said he preceded to run over to the startled Naruto and hug him, making him drop the still unconscious Sasuke.
"Hinata - chan….help….me" Naruto chocked out "he's crushing…….. me"
But before Hinata could intervene Lee released him "Have I every told you how great you are!?"
"Fuzzy eyebrows what's wrong with yo-" Naruto began but was cut off
"Me and you Naruto are in the springtime of our youth! We are the prideful beasts of Konoha!! We will make Gai - sensei proud, we'll prove that hard work overcomes genius…..YOSH!!!"
As he finished his sentence Lee raised his fist to the air the other wrapped around Naruto's neck his eyes burning with passion.
Sweat dropping Naruto tired to wrench Lee's hand from around his neck "Sure we will fuzzy eyebrows, but first -"
Suddenly letting go Lee saw Sasuke laying on the floor and promptly got into an argument with the unconscious boy about why Sakura - chan would be his.
"Hinata - chan!! What's wrong with him? Is it a genjutsu? It's mind control isn't it! Or they could have transformed a crazy person into fuzzy eyebrows or -"
"Naruto - kun" Hinata said as she walked closer to him keeping a weary eye on Lee "I think he's drunk"
"Nanni?! Drunk ? But how ?" he shouted looking at Lee with surprise on his face.
"I don't know but that's how some of the older men in the clan act when they've had too much to drink at feasts" she replied, eye's widening as Lee told the unconscious Sasuke that he didn't have the right moves to win Sakura - chan. Lee then decided to show him by flapping his arms around him like a chicken…….he seemed to be dancing. He then continued the performance with the moon walk.
"Although Lee - san is a bit more…………. unique" she finished with a wince as Lee's dance progressed into the YMCA"
Naruto watched Lees dance for a little longer before turning to Hinata "I've decided never to drink alcohol as long as I live" he said his eyes haunted by what he had seen.
Hinata smiled "I was about to say the same thing"
The two shared a smile making them both blush and turn away "Ahem anyway I've got an idea" Naruto said as he tapped the still dancing Rock Lee on the shoulder.
"Fuzzy eyebrows" Naruto began in a sweet voice, Lee turned to him grinning the sun reflecting from his teeth "SNAP OUT OF IT!" Naruto shouted punching Konoha's prideful green beast in the face.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Five minutes later after questioning Lee they continued their journey. Hinata and Naruto were surprised to learn that Lee didn't remember what happened after he had took his medicine, leaving it at that they traveled. Naruto carrying Sasuke and Lee carrying Kimimaro. They had decided to take the sound nin back to the leaf to find out more of the Sound village's secrets.
They met Shikamaru on the trail two minutes later, he had defeated his opponent but he could not find Kiba and Akamaru deciding it was in the missions best interests to help Naruto catch Sasuke he had hurried after them. Her team mate's disappearances worried Hinata greatly. They decided to return to the place of Shikamaru's fight, after using her Byakugan to search Hinata conceded defeat. They set off again taking Shikimaru's opponent with them. No one talked; Kiba's and Akamaru's disappearances had shaken them all and had them dreading about what had happened to Neji and Chouji.
After an hour of hard traveling they stopped.
Breathing heavily Shikamaru dropped his opponent on the floor "Troublesome woman, she's too heavy"
Following his queue Naruto and Lee both dropped the burdens they were carrying, in Naruto's case with more force than was necessary.
"Naruto!" Shikamaru said sharply "we've spent this whole troublesome day trying to get him back" he said pointing at Sasuke "don't bloody brake him throwing him around like that"
"Kuso!" Naruto cursed pouting.
Taking out some dried meat from a pocket in his coat Shikimaru began munching away, thinking to ask the others about how they had arrived on the scene of the rescue. Opening his mouth to speak he was interrupted by a loud growling noise originating from the blond Genin's stomach, Naruto gave him a puppy dog look. Sighing irritably Shikamaru took out some more meat and passed it to Naruto.
"Yosh!" Naruto cried happily as he caught his meal, Shikamaru expected him to stuff it down his face as soon as it entered his hand. Which he pretty much did but not before cutting the meat in half and passing the other piece to Hinata causing them both to blush and Hinata to stutter a "A-arigato"
'Well isn't this new' he thought eyebrow raised as he looked at the blushing couple, filing the information away for future use. 'Heh I'll have Naruto doing all my chores in no time to keep this secret' the lazy Chunnin thought with a slow smile.
Turning to Lee he threw some more rations his way earning a Gai pose, a wink and blinding grin. Sometimes Shikamaru really wondered about him.
"So" he began "what are you two doing here" nodding at Hinata and then Lee "Lee you I thought you were going to have a operation to be able to continue as a shinobi"
"Hai, the operation took place yesterday and as you can see was a complete success" another grin and thumb's up "they did tell me not to over do it but I promised my self I would help Neji and Naruto- kun or if I failed I would do five hundred back flips through the blast mine training area" he said gesturing wildly with his beef jerky.
Shikamaru's, Hinata's and Naruto's sweat dropped
'What's the point in getting an operation to be able to be a shinobi only to kill yourself the next day?' Shikamaru thought shaking his head in wonder. Well either Rock Lee was stupidly brave or just plain stupid, still one couldn't help but admire him ' Lee isn't a man, he's a force of nature' Shikamaru mused.
"What about you Hinata?"
"W-well for the same reason as Lee - san, I felt I could help" she said gently
Shikamaru couldn't help but look at her skeptically 'What could she do? I saw her fight Neji but the fight had to be stopped because he was beating her so badly'
Seeing Shikamaru's doubtful look Naruto jumped to Hinata's defense " Hey don't look at her like that Shikamaru, if it wasn't for Hinata I'd be dead now and Sasuke would be half way to the sound village"
"You saved Naruto's life and stopped Sasuke!?" Shikamaru exclaimed.
"H - hai" Hinata said, eyes fixed on the forest floor, uncomfortable with the evaluating gazes she was receiving from Lee and Shikamaru.
"Sure she saved my life but she broke Sasuke's nose!" Naruto gushed.
'He's more excited about her breaking Uchiha's nose than the fact that she saved his life. Naruto's priorities are so screwed up' sighing Shikamaru finished his food. Seeing that the others were done he told the team to get ready.
Suddenly there was the sound of branches snapping as if someone was moving at high speed towards them.
Quickly Hinata activated Byakugan while the others waited tensely, the sound growing closer.
"It's ok" she sighed in relief "It's your sensei" she said to Lee.
Lee's eye's widened making them even rounder than they currently were "Sensei!" he all but sobbed before running towards the source of the sound shouting "GAI - SENSEI! I'M COMING!!" for all he was worth.
In reply distant sounds of "LEE!" were heard.
The others followed to find the two ninja's hugging tears flowing down their eye's with alternating cries of "LEE!" and "GAI - SENSEI!" behind them the illusion of a sandy beach formed with the sun high in the sky, the sea's wave's breaking near the two shinobi.
Even Naruto who had seen this before couldn't help but shudder along with Hinata and Shikamaru at the uniqueness of the scene.
"Lee how could you leave the hospital in your fragile state" Naruto snorted "Fragile my ass" ignoring Naruto the two continued their dramatic scene. "I'm sorry sensei but I had to protect my friends like a true shinobi of the leaf!" Lee cried emotionally.
Pulling away from their hug Gai looked his pupil in the eye "Ah the hastiness of youth, Lee you have made me proud this day!" That statement of course set them both of on another bout of tears much to the despair of their viewers.
A few minutes later both had calmed down enough for Shikamaru to report their mission a success, leading Gai to their captives so he could see for himself.
"Is that Kimimaro!?" Gai gaped at the unconscious form of Lee's former opponent .
"Oh he's some kind of bone freak, he said that his blood limit allowed him manipulate his bone structure and density but fuzzy eyebrows still beat his ass" Naruto explained with a grin and a large wink at Lee.
"Then this truly is Kimimaro" Gai muttered with awe, quickly walking to Lee he grabbed his pupils shoulders and shook him roughly "you didn't use the move or open the gates did you Lee!?"
'Gai must be worried that Lee has used the Reverse Lotus or opened one of the seven gates of the body. There is no telling what could happen to him in his newly healed state since all of those jutsu's cause pain to the user as well as the opponent' Shikamaru realized.
"Well the last thing I remember is taking my medicine, but after that…" picking at the bandages on his arm's nervously Lee didn't finish.
A look of understanding crossed Gai's face "Ahh I see, don't worry Lee we will speak of this more when we return" earning a surprised look and a sigh of relief from his pupil.
Shikamaru looked at Naruo and Hinata expecting them to know what was going on, but all he got was a puzzled shrug from Naruto.
"Enough of this, we're still looking for our team mates" the Chunnin reminded them angrily as thoughts of Chouji dead flashed in his mind.
Hinata agreed giving a determined nod "Gai - sama, Lee - san we must find our team mates in case they are injured, the more we delay the more it is likely that they are dieing or dead" she said her voice losing it's usual softness.
"Ah" Gai laughed embarrassedly, scratching his bowl like hair "I forgot to tell you I came with some other Jounin's and we've already found them"
"NANNI! Why didn't you tell us that straight away!?" Naruto shouted.
"Well I got caught up in an emotional moment an-" he began
"Are they ok?" Hinata whispered harshly cutting the Jounin off immediately.
"They are all alive" Gai replied his voice turning serious.
Hearing what he didn't say Hinata immediately replied "How bad is it?" her hands clutched tightly in front of her fearing the worst.
"Your team mate is in the best shape, both he and his dog have been injured but a few days in bed will see them walking. Neji is in worse shape" his voice turned even graver "he sustained serious injuries during his fight and is in a critical condition. Your team mate" he looked at Shikamaru "is also in a critical condition, we're surprised he's still alive"
"What happened!?" the panic could clearly be heard in Shikamaru's voice
Gai hung his head "He took the third pill"
The color drain from the Chunnin's face as Gai's answer registered.
"No" he gasped, almost falling over from the shock, he had to cling a nearby tree for support "b-but he still lives!?"
Gai simply nodded
'Chouji told me that anyone who took the third pill of the Akimichi clan died as a result. The fact that he's still alive is incredible'
"Nanni? What's going on Shikamaru" Naruto asked, a puzzled expression on his face.
Shikamaru explained the Akimichi clan's way of fighting using enhanced soldier pills. That there were three pills that were used in combat to increase chakra production. The third pill worked by breaking down a persons body fat and turning it into pure chakra which heightened the users power amazingly. However the pills flaw was that it often continued working after all body fat had been burned away and began to destroy the users tissues and organs causing death after a short period of time. During the end of the explanation Shikamaru's voice became hoarse as he thought about what had happened to his friend.
Turning away from the others he felt anger and helplessness build up inside, he realized he was shaking with pent up emotion. Silently he willed the tears not to fall.
A somber silence followed as the other hidden leaf Gennin's contemplated what their team mate had survived.
Breaking the silence Naruto began to speak "You know" he began quietly his blue eyes downcast and thoughtful "I didn't believe you before when you said Chouji was strong. But after hearing what he went through to give us time to complete our mission…. there is no doubting his strength." Naruto said walking to the shaking Chunnin he put his hand on his shoulder " We'll visit him together Shikamaru and we'll bring so much ramen he wont even think of dieing!"
Smiling softly Shikamaru nodded, his eye's bright with unshed tears "Arigato Naruto" he whispered, then in a louder voice continued "that troublesome guy better not die or Ino will blame me and make my life worse than it already is"
Gai and Lee smiled at his attempted joke.
"HURRAY FOR BIG BONED PEOPLE!!!" Naruto's sudden bellow rang out through the forest startling the others.
Clasping his hands behind Naruto gave an embarrassed grin "Chouji would have wanted it said" he replied to their questioning stares.
Shikamaru gave a genuine laugh which seemed to surprise him, Lee punched the air with a loud "YOSH" to the statement while Gai looked on them benevolently muttering about the resilience of those in the spring time of their youth.
Hinata smiled at him, her first since hearing of her cousins and team mates conditions. Still seeing the worried expression in her soft lilac eyes he walked back to her.
"Don't worry Hinata - chan, Neji will be all right" he said sitting next to her " I mean he'll live just to spite the sound nin" he muttered nudging her playfully in the ribs getting a soft laugh from the girl "I suppose he would at that" she conceded. They sat smiling at each other "Thank you Naruto - kun for lifting my spirits" the young Hyuuga said, a small blush gracing her cheeks. "Hey! It's the least I could do!" the Kitsune exclaimed rubbing his head bashfully.
'Hehe! I lifted Hinata - chans spirits' Naruto smiled goofily
"Naruto pick up Sasuke we're going" startling him out of his thoughts he saw that Gai had picked up both Kimimaro and Shikamaru's opponent.
"Hey Gai why don't you carry Sasuke as well!?" Naruto started indignantly.
"We thought you'd want to present Sakura with her gift" Shikamaru all but spat, his earlier good mood vanished "after all you did promise to return her precious Sasuke"
Mumbling irritably Naruto picked up his charge.
"All right team let's go!" Gai's triumphant shout echoed through the forest.
Author Note:
This chapter was a bit sillier than the others but I couldn't help it! Rock Lee was drunk!! The song ole Rock was singing is called "Irish Drinking Song" by Flogging Molly (great band) I thought the lyrics were appropriate ^_~. Here are the lyrics to the entire song it's pretty funny
Regarding the number of body gates a person has I'm not sure if it was 7 or 8, so I just chucked in 7. So everyone read, enjoy and review!