-"speech"

-"thought"

A/N: Well, it's been some time, I hope this isn't too late of an update for you guys. I've just been so caught up with making an A grade in college I sort of ALMOST forgot about this. Study, study,study, but hey, we got to do what we got to do. I hope your enjoying the fic so far . . . and the plot thickens a bit now. I should have Part 2 of this up this week end along with Chapter 3 of my other fic, Parallel. Thanks, hope you enjoy. I'll be able to do more once Spring Break comes, if I'm not busy.

Naruto X

Chapter 14: The one I care for most, Part 1

By Suiiren

"Itachi-san, we should get moving now. We have been idle for hours now. What are you waiting for?" asked Kisame as he thrust a bored look at Itachi.

"Something is not right here." was all that Itachi relied as he looked at the hospital that housed Naruto. "There are too much ANBU here to guard just one person. Something is amiss . . .."

"Here we go again . . .." sighed Kisame as he prepared himself for how ever long it would take his partner to make up his mind.

'Too much ANBU to guard Naruto, they must also be protecting someone else, but who?' thought Itachi in his head as he tried to figure out what the ANBU was guarding besides Naruto.

Meanwhile in the Hospital

It was morning now at the hospital and Kakashi had been asleep at Naruto's side for some time now, he was awake now relieved that Naruto was safe for the time being. Looking at Naruto he was reminded of why the Fourth had given his life for the village and how the villager repaid his sacrifice in the way they treated Naruto.

'Naruto,' thought Kakashi, 'if only they understood the full brunt of your plight. That the burden you carry is one that is too much for a child to carry alone. If only-'

"Kakashi, I thought I would find you here." came a voice all of a suddenly interrupting Kakashi's train of thought at the moment.

"Rin!" muttered Kakashi out of surprise at the appearance of his old childhood team mate. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to see you, I came as fast as I could when I heard that Konoha was at emergency level 3 but it seems I was too late. I was away on border recon while things had gone to hell down here but I'm just glad that everyone seems to be alright." said Rin as she looked at Kakashi taking her ANBU mask off.

"Oh," was all that Kakashi could say at the moment, he never expected to see Rin here and he still didn't know how to talk or react to her after all those years after Obito's death.

"Is 'oh' the only thing you can say to me after all these years Kakashi?" asked Rin as she sat down on a chair near the window. "I thought you were hurt when I had heard that you were at the hospital, so I came as fast as I could. I never expected to find you here next to sensei's legacy. But now after I think about it a bit it's just like you, I should have expected it." smiled Rin slowly as she began to stare out the window. "You weren't like this before he died you know? You remember back then when we were still kids when you would used to say, 'A ninja is just trash if he doesn't finish his mission.'"

"I do." replied Kakashi.

"It's not your fault you know, there are things that happen that even you can't change no matter how much you want to, regret doesn't solve anything." said Rin to Kakashi.

" . . .." nothing came out of Kakashi's mouth as he listened to Rin.

"Why don't you ever say anything." said Rin as she started to stand up. "You should have known back then and even now that it wasn't your fault that Obito died. All ninjas risk their lives when they take on missions and besides . . ." said Rin getting more emotional "you should know that . . . that I . . . that I still lov-"

"Rin," interrupted Kakashi slowly. "Please stop, you know that-"

"But why!" exploded Rin loudly as she jumped in front of Kakashi arms wide open emotions exposed. "Why can't you!"

"I, I can't," said Kakashi as he slowly looked away from Rin, "back then . . . I was the kind of trash that would of have abandoned you . . . I'm not worthy."

"That was back then," said Rin hurt, "you're different now . . . can't you see that?"

"Rin . . . I-" said Kakashi before he was interrupted by the medic from last night, as she bursted in all of a suddenly.

"Kakashi! I found out more about Naruto's predicament in these books!" yelled Yuri loudly as she brought in a big stack of books. "Ara? Am I disturbing you? I can come back later if you want." finished Yuri as she was about to leave.

"No, I was about to leave anyways." said Rin slowly.

"Oh, sorry if I disturbed you two." said Yuri apologetically.

"It was of no inconvenience." smiled Rin as she got to the door and she shot a last glance towards Kakashi and said, "Kakashi, I'll wait for as long as it takes . . . even if it takes forever."

All Kakashi could do at the moment was stare down on the floor ashamed of himself. In his mind, when it came to Rin, he was still trash, unworthy of her, only her. Even though he knew that she still held feelings for him after all those years it was still too hard, too painful to let anyone in yet, especially Rin.

"Sorry, to have barged in all of a suddenly but I was kind of eavesdropping on your conversation and thought that I would make myself convenient to you." smiled Yuri as she plopped down the books in front of Kakashi.

"Thank you." said Kakashi in a fake smile as he rubbed the back of his head.

"You know as a medical ninja and doctor, I do not recommend you go on living trying to avoid love, it is human nature to want to love and be loved back. Not even being a Kage or Jounin can make you immune from the clutches of love." smiled Yuri as she plopped the texts down in front of Kakashi.

"Rin and I used to be in a team together when we were still Genins during the third great ninja war. Back then we were naive kids that learned the life of the ninja the hard way . . . I told her once that I would always protect her no matter what. She just mistook that for love . . . I don't know why I'm telling you this . . . but you're the first person I've told this to." said Kakashi as he fixed his forehead protector. 'It's not her that's lying to herself, its me.' thought Kakashi as he finished.

"It's all right, Kakashi-san, everyone has to battle their own demons. She's just looking at you for something that you can't provide her with . . . it's not too uncommon to find unrequited love in this day and age." said Yuri as she herself felt love unrequited for someone else.

"Well, enough of this depressing stuff." said Kakashi all of a suddenly. "I'm assuming that you weren't to just eavesdrop on me right?" finished Kakashi with a smile.

"Oh NO! How can I be so rude! I came here to tell you about what I found out last night, sorry." Apologized Yuri as she started opening a book that looked older than both Kakashi and herself combined. "Umm, it was somewhere here . . ." said Yuri exasperatedly as she looked for what it was that she found out the previous night.

"It's okay," said Kakashi as he sat there patiently, feeling a bit better about himself.

Hokage Tower:

"So, they have decided to exile Naruto." said the Third grimly as he sat at his desk.

"Yes, sir." replied his secretary Mizuki (not evil male Mizuki, OC female char)

"I had hoped that something like this would never occur." said the Third sadly. "Throwing a child like Naruto into the world could be very dangerous; the world is just too dangerous a place for someone like Naruto. I hope this doesn't have anything to do with what happened ten years ago."

Flashback:

Four months after the Fourth's death.

"Congratulations Uzumi-san, I heard that your daughter will give birth to yet another child. This makes it the third one, am I correct?" asked the Third as he and Uzumi were walking the halls of the Hokage tower.

"Yes, that would make it her third child so far." said Uzumi as he walked down the corridor. "And don't forget that if it wasn't for her there would have never been peace between the Sand and Leaf." finished Uzumi as he smiled proudly to himself.

"Well, if it hadn't been for your daughter the Sand wouldn't have become an ally of the Leaf and also if it weren't for her help and the Kazekage I would have shuddered what the other countries may have done when they had heard that the Fourth had passed away." said Sarutobi sadly, "the Leaf owes your family a debt of gratitude."

"Thank you, Sarutobi, hearing that from you is gratitude enough besides we should worry more about the Fourth's legacy; that boy's future will be a sad one if we don't do something, Sarutobi. I think you should-" but both Sarutobi and Uzumi paused in surprise as they saw a Genin appear in front of them holding a scroll up towards Uzumi as he stood on his knees.

"Sir, important news from the Sand . . . this letter was sent from Yashamaru, he said that this letter is of utmost urgency." said the Genin.

"Yashamaru? This must be about the birth of my newest grand child!" prompted Uzumi in pride. "I wonder what it is going to say?" wondered Uzumi as he quickly took the scroll from the Genin and unfurled it; reading the contents.

The Third stood there and looked at Uzumi with a bit of humor; it was funny seeing an old man like himself getting hyped about children. Uzumi was that way with children; he loved them all even if they weren't his he would still worry about them. But what the Third thought then as a letter of warmth and happiness took a turn for the worse as he saw Uzumi drop the letter suddenly with tears in his eyes.

"She's dead, SHE'S DEAD, he, he, HE KILLED HER!" yelled Uzumi loudly in aguish as he held the letter in the air, sadness and anger apparent.

End Flashback:

Sarutobi thought some more as he remembered what occurred right after that moment. Uzumi was ready to march off towards Sand himself and kill the Kazekage but was stopped due to the orders of the Counsel. The Kazekage had sacrificed his wife, Uzumi's daughter, and made his son into the container of the demon badger Shukaku . . . Gaara was the name of his grandchild. The alliance between the Sand and Leaf back then was more important than Uzumi's daughter and was essential for the survival of Konoha but because of that Uzumi had started to hate the Leaf just as much as he had started to hate the Sand, for as long as he was concerned; it was the Leaf that stopped him from getting his revenge and it was his responsibility to get avenge her.

"I'm truly sorry for what has happened to you and your family but the way of the avenger is not the way to go . . . the power of a Hokage can only be so much." was all that Sarutobi could mumble to himself as he stood there in his office, disappointed for the many mistakes that had occurred in the past.

Hospital, Naruto's Room:

"So, that's it . . . if Naruto ever uses the power of the Kyuubi once more he'll revert back to Kyuubi's girl form once more and most likely remain that way." said Kakashi as he looked at Yuri.

"Yes, that is correct, from what I can gather from the texts. Since Naruto and Kyuubi has fused both their chakra are fusing together causing the change. Right now Naruto is at a critical balance, even if he draws out anymore red chakra he would revert to being in the demon girl form. He might have mental dominance over his body but Kyuubi has the physical dominance . . . meaning Naruto will take on the traits and form of the Kyuubi. A human body can not normally hold the chakra of a demon without damaging his or her own body, but in Naruto's case it is different. The seal that the Fourth placed on Naruto acted as the catalyst for Naruto's body change, if it had been a quick process when the Kyuubi possessed Naruto's body he would of have died but due to the seal red chakra has been leaking into his system for years causing his body to tolerate it." lectured Yuri as she looked upon a somewhat confused Kakashi. "Without the seal to act as a medium anymore Naruto's body will most likely revert to Kyuubi's female form within a few years or shorter depending on what happens, if he uses his chakra at all."

"So this kind of thing is inevitable." said Kakashi disappointedly. "Within a few years Naruto would turn into the demon fox . . . but it will be Naruto, not the Kyuubi. Is there no way of preventing this?" asked Kakashi as the thought of seeing how the villagers would react to Naruto with in a few years . . . fear and repulsion was what he knew what the villagers would feel. 'Then, the village would have no excuse to get rid of this boy who the village had deemed a demon.' thought Kakashi in his head knowing full well what people were capable of when they were incited with fear and anger.

"I never said that kind of situation was inevitable did I, Kakashi-san. You know, you should hear me out first before you come to your own conclusions." said Yuri with a smile.

"What? You mean there is a way that Naruto can stay normal?" asked Kakashi surprised that such a thing was still possible.

"Yes, it is possible to set up another set of seals on Naruto preventing any more of Kyuubi's chakra to leak through, thus keeping Naruto still Naruto. But the drawback is that Naruto can't use the Kyuubi's chakra like he could if the Fourth's seal was still there. The seals will act like a dam, keeping the red chakra from going any further. Though the process is very complicated, it requires the sealing of more than one seal or more precisely overlapping seals above seals. The only drawback is that I don't have enough knowledge of seals to be able to completely make the seals permanent . . . I can only provide a temporary seal." finished Yuri with her explanation.

"Then how can you call that a permanent solution? You said that you were only capable of making the seals temporary." said Kakashi as he was both encouraged and disappointed by Yuri's answer.

"I said that I was not able to do it . . . but there is one person left who can complete the seals . . . my sensei." said Yuri sadly as she continued. "But sadly that person is no longer in Konoha or ever plans to return."

"Oh . . .." muttered Kakashi as he didn't even bother to ask whom this person was, knowing from the tone of Yuri's voice that it seemed impossible for this person to help them. "Well, then at least we can still perform the sealing ceremony on a temporary level. We can handle the future later." smiled Kakashi at Yuri encouragingly.

"You're right Kakashi, I'll get ready for the sealing right away." said Yuri as she got up slowly preparing to leave. "We should probably do the sealing tonight, you never know what might occur during times like these."

"Yes, I agree, I'll get some ANBU on it right away." replied Kakashi as he too got up and opened a window. "Well, I guess I'll use this way out." smiled Kakashi to Yuri as he gave her a smile and with that he jumped out of the hospital window.

'Copy Ninja Kakashi . . . such a kind hearted person.' thought Yuri as she slowly closed the door to Naruto's room. 'Don't worry Naruto; I'll do my best . . . for the both of us.'

Hiko's Room:

Hiko was awake now; she had been awake for several hours now and was contemplating about her actions the previous night. It had been awhile since her feelings had been stirred like that; it almost seemed like a lifetime ago that she was ever that angry. Anger was something she thought she had sealed away when she became master of Hiten Mitsurugi but now she knew that all that was just a lie that she was telling herself.

'Hmm,' thought Hiko, 'guess I haven't completely become numb to human emotions.' The thought of not having lost her emotions like many other swordsmen who slew too many men relieved her and angered her in various ways. It showed that she was still human but it also showed that she still had human weaknesses and that meant that she wasn't as perfect of a master as she thought.

'What a fool I am to lose so much of myself over that brat.' thought Hiko. 'What is it about him that made me . . . made me lose myself so?' But in Hiko's heart she already knew the answer to all her questions and it was Kenshin . . . Naruto had reminded her of Kenshin.

'Kenshin . . . Naruto, both are the same kind of idiots, albeit Naruto is much louder but just as dense and idiotic as Kenshin.' finished Hiko's thought with a grin. 'Are you having fun torturing me like this God? Making me meet these forever impossible people that can only bring me more grief. I thought you had your fun when you made me stumble into Kenshin but now this Naruto too? . . . Its times like these that I really wished I had my sake.'

As Hiko was thinking she didn't realize that someone had already gotten into the room and had snugly placed themselves on a chair looking at Hiko.

"Well miss, it seems that my presence here is of no concern to you." smiled the figure as he looked at Hiko.

'Who is this person?' thought Hiko as she unconsciously reached for her katana only to remember that she was in a hospital and her weapon was most likely being stored somewhere.

"Oh, don't worry, I'm of no threat. Let's say we introduce ourselves." said the figure as he stood up and pulled back his hood to reveal that he was an old man. The old man looked pretty much normal, grizzled beard and other similar features adorned him. "My name is Saiionji Uzumi, I work as an elder here in Konoha, and I just wanted to come talk to you."

"Hiko, Hiko Seijuuro." replied Hiko.

"So, the beauty has a name." smiled Uzumi. "You know, we at the counsel have not gotten around to your name so you are only known as the girl to us. It is good that you have such a strong name, a fitting name for someone of your caliber."

"Old man, flattery will get you nowhere." said Hiko sternly as she looked upon Uzumi with discerning eyes.

"Oh no, I guess I simply just started to babble off. I'm getting too old for my own sake." smiled Uzumi once more.

"What is it that you desire old man." demanded Hiko as she was getting tired of his talk of nonsense.

"Right to the point I see, what a very straight forward person you are. Heh, might as well get to the point. What I came here to ask you is; what is Naruto to you? Why? Why so much for someone everyone else deems so dangerous or worthless?" asked Uzumi finally.

The question had caught Hiko off guard as she herself did not really know the answer to that question. It wasn't that she didn't know the answer but how to answer it, what she had done for Naruto was more instinctual rather than thought out. It was something in her that told her to do it, something she had to do.

"I don't know." answered Hiko as she sat up a bit more in her hospital bed. She didn't know how to really respond to such a sudden question and her mind was just blank at the moment.

"Oh, is that so." said Uzumi disappointed at the answer that he got. He then slowly got and started to leave when he heard Hiko say something more.

"Do I really need a reason?" retorted Hiko a bit arrogantly as she looked at Uzumi. "And who said you could leave old man."

In the back of his mind Uzumi smiled as he turned around once more and sat down, preparing himself for what the Hiko would say.

"You ask why butdo I need a reason why."said Hiko. "You probably think that I'm a fool for doing what I did; risking my life for someone I should not even care about. People do it all the time, they abandon others when it becomes too hard on themselves or the other; it's only natural to want to save yourself. But when I think about that boy and how others had treated him, I thought how lonely he must of felt being alone in the world without any friends or very much support from others. That he would still sacrifice his home, time, and almost his life for me, a complete stranger . . . so who am I to complain. People don't need reasons when they want to help each other . . . and also . . ."

"He reminded me of what I used to fight for back then . . . for those who could not protect themselves. His eyes, at that time he was dying, awoke something within me I had thought dead long ago." said Hiko.

"And what was that?" asked Uzumi softly.

"The will to fight and protect those who I cared for and for those who could not protect themselves." said Hiko as she now focused more on her inner thoughts than her conversation now.

'That's good; I leave everything in your hands now Hiko-chan. Leaving Naruto in your care will be my atonement; never again shall he be left in the hands of those that hate him so . . . I won't let you end up like Gaara.' thought Uzumi sadly as he left Hiko's room and started towards Naruto's room.

"You know," started Uzumi as he slowly closed the door to Hiko's room, satisfied with what he had just heard from Hiko, "people who care about each other have that effect on each other. It's only natural that you would want to protect those who you love and care for; that's what people who love each other do."

'Love,' thought Hiko, 'could it be possible that I have developed feelings like that for that brat so quickly. Is it still even possible for someone like me to feel that again?' thought Hiko to herself as she looked outside the window. 'Happiness comes through doors you didn't even know you left open.' smiled Hiko to herself as she felt a wave of emotion hit. 'I'm such a fool . . . such a fool.' thought Hiko to herself as she buried her palm into her face, laughing at herself for being such a sentimental fool; noticing that small tears had begun trickling her cheek. She didn't know if they were tears of sadness or happiness, she didn't even know why she was crying at all but it just seemed right at the moment.

Some time later:

'He sleeps with such an innocent face.' thought Uzumi to himself. 'I wonder how Gaara is doing. How long has it been since he felt love, if ever. So many questions still unanswered . . . what a failure of a grandfather I have become.' finished Uzumi in his thoughts as he saw Naruto start to stir.

"Well, hello there young one I see you have finally awoke from your slumber. How has everything been, has anyone here been causing you any discomfort?" asked Uzumi with a smile.

'Who is this person?' thought Naruto as he looked at the old man. He could see it in the eye of the old man that he did not harbor any coldness in his eyes like the rest of the villagers, it almost felt like he was with the Third. "I have been treated fine. Yuri-san and one-eyed-san have been watching over me for sometime now." replied Naruto not knowing what kind of answer he would get in return.

"Oh, I see, so Kakashi has been watching over you and so has Yuri. Well, I'm glad for you, you know that Yuri is one of our best ninjas? She had just also recently started this job too. You're lucky Naruto." smiled Uzumi as he said that to Naruto.

"Is Yuri-san really that great?" asked Naruto wanting to know more about her.

"You can't even begin to understand." said Uzumi as he pulled his chair up near to Naruto. "You probably don't know me Naruto but I know you and I have been watching over you for some time now. You also probably know why the villagers stare at you the way they do now don't you?" asked Uzumi as he saw the look on Naruto's face start to pain.

"Because of Kyu-chan isn't it." replied Naruto slowly to Uzumi.

"Exactly." said Uzumi in return.

"But you don't have to worry now. Kyu-chan is-" before Naruto could finish he was interrupted by Uzumi.

"You know, I have a grandson that is about your age. His name is Gaara and both he and you are very alike. It would please me greatly if you two were to become friends." said Uzumi with a warm smile. "I am sure you two can become very good friends, of that I am sure."

"Gaara?" asked Naruto in return, curious to know what kind of person this Gaara was.

"Yes, Gaara, he is such a sweet boy with a kind heart but I fear that he may have closed his heart off to others. You see, Gaara is much like you, in that he has always been alone and has never been understood." said Uzumi sadly as he looked upon Naruto to see his reaction.

'Just like me,' was what Naruto thought as he looked at Uzumi. 'I never thought that there would be people out there just like me. I wonder if he likes ramen.'

"YEAH!" screamed Naruto at the top of his lungs as he jumped on top of his bed with an excited look on his face. "His name is Gaara, right? What kind of person is he? Is he older than me or younger than me? Does he like ramen? Is he also studying to be a ninja? If he is studying to be a ninja is he stronger than me? WAIT, if he is studying to be a ninja I bet I could kick his ass! Old man, old man, old man, can you tell more about him and can we really be friends? What's your name old man?"

This all came out of Naruto at once as the thought of having a friend made him overexcited, in all the time he was alive he had never really met someone like Uzumi who looked so sincere, except the Third, and wanted their children to play with him. To Naruto, something like this was more than what he could have possibly asked for. In his mind all Naruto could really think of was making a friend, any friend was better than no friends, like he was now.

"Boy, you sure are full of energy." said Uzumi with a smile as he looked at Naruto jumping up and down on his hospital bed with excitement and spouting unintelligible language. Uzumi just watched Naruto and smiled to himself; hoping that one day that Naruto and Gaara would one day become friends, if that were ever possible.

Shadowy alleyway near the hospital:

"So that is what they're planning to do with Naruto-kun." said Itachi slowly as he threw the lifeless corpse that was in his hand to the ground. It was the corpse of a medic ninja that was informed of the sealing ceremony about to be performed on Naruto.

"What was so important that you had to use your Sharingan on such a lowly ninja Itachi?" asked Kisame as he gave an irritated look towards the corpse of the unfortunate ninja.

"Kisame, get prepared for combat. As thing are going, we have to make a premature appearance. It can't be helped, so be prepared to use IT." ordered Itachi quickly as they leapt on top of the hospital building.

"Hrmm," smiled Kisame as he chuckled lightly. "You know when I use IT things can get quite messy."

"Whatever you do just do not harm Naruto-kun. He is our prime objective, so deal with the trash however you feel like." responded Itachi emotionlessly.

"Hrm, looks like things are going to get messy." smiled Kisame maliciously one last time before both of them disappeared into the night.

A/N: So what do you think? Part 2 will be up shortly, within 48 hours. So what do you guys think about this chapter? If you would like please leave some constructive reviews and/or ideas. An opinion or just plain old review is good too! Thanks for your continued support, I really appreciate it.