By: Kisu
A/N: Sorry for the wait! I think I dug my own grave when I started a fourth fanfic! sweatdrops Also I've been trying to do some fanart, coloring is so hard!
Well, hope you like this chapter! Dubbed Shaman King is gross…;
Disclaimer: Naruto does not belong to me.
3.3: Recover
"Naruto is awake?" Tsunade repeated as she swung around, her eyes wide with relief. The ANBU before her bowed and ducked his head.
"Yes, Hokage-sama. But he escaped the hospital." The ANBU told her.
"What? He can't be on his feet! His muscles would be stiff!" Tsunade exclaimed. "Not to mention the malnourishment of his body!"
"He has a strong will, Hokage-sama." The ANBU commented, softly.
---
Fingers twitched on the hospital bed as the occupant's eyes moved underneath closed eyelids.
"Something is happening out there." The ANBU turned around from the window.
"Yes." The other ANBU replied, softly. "Something to do with the Raikage and his niece. The village also has been alerted that Hyuuga Hinata had been kidnapped."
"Kidnapped?" The first ANBU with the bird mask gasped in an astonished whisper.
"Hin…ata…?" The soft voice broke through the silence and both ANBUs glanced at the bed. The occupant on the bed slowly opened his eyes—a vibrant cloudy blue.
"Uzumaki Naruto! You're awake!" The female ANBU quickly walked over to him and checked his pulse. "How do you feel?"
"How long was I asleep?" Naruto asked as he turned his head slightly.
"Two years and some." The ANBU replied.
"Two years?" Naruto repeated. He slowly raised his arm and clenched his hand, testing out the muscles. "I heard you say something about Hinata."
"Ah, it was nothing." The ANBU with the bird mask replied quickly. Naruto sat up with some difficulty and to the female ANBU's protests.
"You're lying." He said, pinning him with his intense blue gaze. The ANBU cleared his throat nervously and the female ANBU shot her head up warningly at the other man.
"No one is lying to you." She replied, softly.
"I feel his presence." Naruto said, gripping his sheets. Chakra began to swirl around him and the ANBUs gave a gasp of surprise.
"Your body is still fragile, Naruto." She gasped. "Don't use that much chakra in one time!"
"Thank you for your concern." Naruto smiled, softly. He brought his hands together and the ANBU quickly reached out only to miss as Naruto disappeared in a puff of smoke.
"We have to inform the Hokage!"
---
"So, he heard you speak about the incident?" Tsunade asked as she stood up from her chair. Her eyes fell onto the figure sitting with her back against the wall. "Well, then. To find Naruto, we'll just have to find Kazuo." She walked over to the girl and watched as her defiant brown eyes gazed up at her.
"Bring me to Naruto-Oniisan!" Cho demanded, angrily. Tsunade bent down and gripped the girl by her shirt. Cho was forced onto her feet, unsteadily.
"Gladly." Tsunade smirked.
---
Sasuke shifted and slowly sat up behind Naruto. He stood before him and Sasuke took in his appearance. Still in pajamas and fresh from the hospital, Naruto stood on trembling legs. He looked pale and frail in strength. With a grunt, Sasuke got up onto his feet and reached out to him. But stopped when he saw the angry expression on the blonde's face.
It had been rare to see Naruto express so much emotion so Sasuke was surprised. Naruto's blue eyes were blazing with rage and his lips were set in a thin line.
"Kazuo." He hissed through clenched teeth. The Raikage looked amused as he studied the young man with calculating dark eyes.
"You don't look as well as you did when I saw you last, Naruto-kun." Kazuo replied in a cheerful tone. "You haven't been sick or anything lately, have you?" Naruto simply glared at him before suppressing a shudder from the light breeze that went through the thin cotton material of his pajamas.
"Naruto, I'll handle this." Sasuke told him as he shifted so he could stand in front of him. Naruto's blue eyes narrowed even more and he glared at the back of Sasuke's neck.
"No way, bastard." Naruto yelled, angrily. Sasuke tensed in shock and swung around to stare at Naruto with wide eyes. Naruto blinked as Sasuke stepped forward suddenly so they were face to face. With a frown, Sasuke raised his hand and placed it on top of Naruto's forehead.
"No fever." He mumbled as he pinched his cheek absently. Then, he quickly pinched Naruto's cheek.
"Itai!" Naruto whined as he pushed his arm away. "Bastard, what are you doing?"
"You're acting like yourself again!" Sasuke gaped, staring at him. "You're loud and obnoxious!" A fox-like grin spread through Naruto's features and he placed a hand on the back of his head.
"I am?" Naruto asked. His eyes dropped to the ground and his grin changed back to a sad smile. "Maybe it's because Itachi is gone." A small shudder ran down his back and he wasn't sure it was from the chill in the air or his nerves.
"Stop chit chatting." Kazuo's irritated voice cut through their silence. Sasuke swung back around and faced the Cloud-nins with a glare. The Raikage gestured with his head at the two of them. "Kill the dark haired one, leave the blonde one alive." Then the Cloud-nins rushed forward and Sasuke smirked, as his dark eyes changed into crimson red.
"Sharingan!" One of the Cloud-nins gaped as they fanned out. Kazuo looked up in interest.
"The Uchiha blood limit?" Kazuo asked, eyes wide. "You're-."
"Uchiha Sasuke." Sasuke announced as his hand dropped behind his back to where his shuriken pouch was located at his waist.
"I must have those eyes!" Kazuo yelled enraged. "I need the secrets of the Byakugan and the Sharingan!"
"Greedy." Sasuke smirked as Naruto suddenly collapsed on to his knees. "Naruto?"
"I'm fine." Naruto managed as he looked up at him. "My muscles are still weak."
"Stay behind me." Sasuke ordered as Naruto glanced up at him in amusement.
"Hai." Naruto grinned as he massaged his legs. Sasuke deftly drew out several shurikens and flung them behind him. The Cloud-nin that was chancing for a back attack fell to the ground. Naruto hadn't looked up from his task and a log replaced the Cloud-nin.
Things were getting interesting. Several shurikens were hurled toward him and he deflected them with his kunais. Bunshins of the three Cloud-nins darted toward him and Sasuke frowned. He had not time for games; it was hard protecting Naruto and fighting at the same time.
"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" He heard Naruto yelled from behind him. Two clones appeared next to him and gave him a wink and a grin.
"Yo!" They greeted him as they darted forward. Sasuke looked behind him and Naruto waved.
"Go ahead Sasuke, I'll be fine." The blonde told him. With a nod, he dove forward, picking out the real Cloud-nins with his sharingan and launching his taijutsu combo attacks onto them. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Naruto bring his hands together and suddenly paled.
"Naruto!" He yelled as he punched out the remaining Cloud-nin. Naruto coughed up blood and he fell forward on his hands. The Bunshins that Naruto had created, dissolved and Sasuke rushed over to him. At the same time, Kazuo saw this and ran toward Naruto, drawing a kunai out as he went. "Naruto, look out!" Sasuke yelled as he pushed his chakra to his feet, Naruto lifted his head up at the sound of his voice and stared at him. Then, he quickly whipped his head up to stare at the Raikage who was within a few meters away. The kunai in the Raikage's hand flew toward him and Sasuke yelled out.
Naruto could only stare as someone appeared in front of him and deflected the kunai away with her own. The Raikage's eyes widened as he took in the new person. Sasuke stopped and stared in slight awe.
The Hokage of Konoha stood in front of Naruto, glaring frostily at Kazuo. Tsunade in her full power was very scary and right now, even Sasuke felt a little nervous. Her white robes billowed around her lithe frame as she spoke, her tone stoic and filled with hidden rage.
"What are you doing, Kazuo?" She asked.
"I want to say the same for yourself, Tsunade." Kazuo responded with a smirk. "I'm sure you haven't realized that your Leaf-nins attacked me."
"Have you forgotten your attempt to kidnap Hyuuga Hinata?" Tsunade asked, slightly amused. "I'm not that naïve, Raikage-sama." Kazuo smiled at her and sighed dramatically.
"I don't know what you mean, Hokage-sama." Kazuo replied with equal venom.
"Naruto Oniichan!" A small cry made them turn toward the forgotten blonde and Cho dropped to his side. "Are you all right?"
"Cho?" Naruto stated, staring up at the girl. "Is that you?" Cho bobbed her head and smiled through her tears.
"It's me, Oniichan! You woke up!" Cho cried. Naruto nodded and raised his hand, Cho grabbed on to it, placing it next to her cheek. "I thought you would leave me here all alone! They're so mean to me, Oniichan! All of them! Especially Sasuke!"
Sasuke narrowed his eyes, suspiciously and Naruto looked over at him. "You probably just got on his bad side." Naruto laughed as Sasuke scowled at him. Cho shook her head wildly as tears kept falling from her eyes.
"He hates me! They all hate me! You'll hate me!" Cho sobbed.
"For what?" Naruto asked, quietly.
"For placing Hyuuga Hinata into the enemy's hands." Tsunade spoke up as Cho whimpered softly. No pity was expressed as the Hokage kept a straight face and stared at Kazuo. "Tanaka Cho is your niece, is she not? I understand the bargain you made with her."
"What is the Hokage talking about Cho?" Naruto asked, softly. Cho shook her head wildly.
"You'll hate me!" She wailed.
"Cho." Naruto said, sternly. "Tell me."
"Uncle told me that if I bring Hinata-Oneechan to him, he would let me marry you." Cho said, softly. His anger exploded and the outline of the Kyuubi appeared in red chakra and howled wildly. Wind rushed at their faces and Cho fell back, eyes wide with fear. Then as soon as it came, the chakra disappeared and Naruto fell onto his hands coughing up blood. In a flash, Sasuke was next to him.
"Naruto?" Sasuke demanded as he held him in his arms. "Are you all right?"
"Ugh." Naruto responded as backup came. Tsunade quickly knelt down next to Naruto as several shinobi landed and kept the Raikage under watchful eyes.
"Baka." Tsunade snapped as she placed her hands on Naruto's chest. "You tore up your chakra system again, you weren't supposed to get out of bed in your condition."
"I'm fine, Tsunade-Baba." Naruto said, softly as he tried to appease her. "Don't make such a face, it'll give you wrinkles."
"Insolent brat." The Hokage replied, glaring at him. Naruto grinned as Tsunade stood up and a hand came down and ruffled his blonde spikes affectionately. "We will meet in my office, Raikage-sama. Kakashi and Anko, escort him there please." Neji and Tenten were already attending to the unconscious Hinata as Naruto was helped onto his feet.
Sasuke gave Cho a patented glare and Cho took a hold of Naruto's arm, she quickly let go when a growl was emitted from Sasuke's throat. The two ANBUs that was attending to Naruto before dropped down next to him. The man with a bird mask gently placed a hand on Cho's back.
"We'll talk later, Cho-chan." Naruto warned as Cho dropped her head meekly and let the ANBU guide her away. The female ANBU smacked Naruto on the head and Naruto winced. "Gomen nasai." He apologized for his earlier departure.
"Let's go." She said as she placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder. Sasuke blinked as they disappeared in a cloud of smoke.
"Ah, Hokage-sama." Tsunade turned to stare at the young woman with pink hair who landed onto the roof before her.
"Naruto is being brought back to the hospital, he will be allowed visitors. Inform your friends about this." Tsunade told her, kindly. Sakura smiled softly and nodded before jumping off the roof.
With speculating eyes, Tsunade watched as a Kurenai, Asuma, and Gai picked up the three unconscious Cloud-nins. Then, she turned to the last ANBU next to her. "Inform the others that Hyuuga Hinata have been captured." She ordered. "But, keep the village on alert. The Raikage may deceive us." The ANBU nodded before disappearing in a cloud of smoke and Tsunade sighed softly.
What will happen now?
---
I swear this chapter was so boring. I'm sorry if you guys were bored to death! I'll make it up in the next chapter! This one was horrible!
3 Thanks for reading!