Disclaimer: Naruto does not belong to me.

Admit Defeat

Chapter 4: Bitten by Snakes

By: Kisu

---

True to Shikamaru's word, Neji appeared at the hospital two weeks later. So Naruto wasn't surprised when the man suddenly sat down next to him while he was having lunch with Hinata in the cafeteria.

"Neji!" Hinata greeted her cousin in delight.

Neji frowned and glanced over his shoulder. He grimaced at the group of giggling nurses that had followed him into the cafeteria. "What kind of hospital is this?" He asked, irritated from his unwanted admirers.

"Must be your sex appeal." Naruto commented as he hid a grin behind his coffee mug. He examined Neji out of the corner of his eyes. From the last time he had last saw him, Neji hadn't changed much in appearance. But in physique, he had grown taller and leaner.

With dark hair slicked back in a ponytail and intimidating silver eyes, Neji sat casually back in his chair. The dark shirt and white pants he wore just added to the bad boy, rocker look he was sporting. So of course, it was natural that the young nurses were on to him like a pack of wolves.

"Girls." Hinata admonished, kindly. "Don't we have patients to look after?" She gave them a strict look and the nurses obediently filed out of the cafeteria, still giggling on their way out. Neji sighed in relief and glanced over the blonde he was sitting next to.

"Do you have this kind of trouble?" He asked. After all, the young doctor was a very handsome guy.

"Of course not." Naruto replied, softly.

"Don't lie, doctor." Hinata laughed. "When he first came in, the girls hounded him like there was no tomorrow." She paused and frowned delicately. "What did you do to make them stop?"

"I told them I was gay." Naruto replied casually as he took a sip of his coffee. Hinata's eyes widened and she looked down.

"Oh." She murmured, clearly disappointed. Naruto watched her over the rim with knowing eyes. Neji glared at the blonde with disapproval before quickly flicking his gaze back to his cousin with concern.

"Any guys coming on to you, Hinata?" He asked, changing the subject.

"Hardly." Hinata laughed as she watched Neji look around the cafeteria with wary eyes. "You scared them all away the last time you visited." She sighed. "On this rate, I'll never get a boyfriend."

"You're too attractive to settle down anyways." Naruto told her as he watched Neji steal his cup of coffee. "Besides, if worse comes to worse. You can just marry Neji." Neji choked and Hinata blushed a bright red.

"Doctor!" Hinata gasped. She frowned and shook her head thoughtfully. "I don't think Tenten would like that."

"Where the hell did you get that idea?" Neji exclaimed, angrily. He was still a bit flush from Naruto's previous comment.

"It was a joke." Naruto said, smoothly. He waved his hands defensively when the Hyuugas shot him death glares.

"Not a very funny one." Neji muttered.

"Serves you right for stealing my coffee." Naruto reminded him. Neji shot him a dirty look before downing the rest of the contents. "Well, are you free now? If you are, I'll meet you outside."

"Yeah." Naruto nodded. Neji rose out of his seat and leaned over to give a quick kiss on Hinata's cheek before walking out of the cafeteria. When the Hyuuga was out of sight, Naruto turned around to the head nurse. "Hinata?"

"Hm?" The pretty nurse looked up from her parfait.

"Hinata, I know you liked me." Naruto smiled, warmly. "You're a great woman so take your time in finding the perfect guy. Don't let me put down your self-esteem." Hinata blushed and looked away. "In fact, I consider you like a little sister. Your future boyfriends will have to go through Neji and me."

"Huh?" Hinata blinked, her head shooting back up.

"Call me Naruto from now on, all right? Don't bother with the formalities." Naruto reached over and gave her hand a squeeze. "I'll be on call if you need me." Hinata nodded wordlessly as the blonde got up and walked out of the cafeteria. Once the door swung shut, Hinata groaned and buried her face in her hands.

Little sister?

She was never going to get a boyfriend.

---

Neji had a destination in mind.

A casino.

Naruto shrugged and wordlessly agreed, just because he never went to a casino before and Neji haven't either. In fact, the Hyuuga family owned a large chain of casinos, hotels, and racetracks. They also bred champion racehorses for competitions. However, Neji didn't follow with these since they were mostly the concern of his Uncle Hiashi and his father.

They entered the casino and looked around. Naruto arched an eyebrow and turned to Neji. "So…are you going to…gamble?" He asked. He wasn't much of a gambling fan so he decided to just observe what Neji did.

"Uh…no." Neji replied, looking back at him. "I was just going to watch."

Naruto laughed and they made their way to the quieter area of the casino where the lounge was. They both ordered their drinks and sat in comfortable silence. Naruto was actually waiting for Neji to start talking, because that was what Neji did.

He lectured.

Naruto smiled at the waitress as she placed their drinks on to the table and walked away. Neji had always been considered as an older brother to him. The silver-eyed man was a year and a half older than him and he had always watched out for him if Sasuke wasn't around. Between the two of them, they had been very protective.

"Naruto."

Naruto looked up and turned to the Hyuuga. "Yeah?" he asked, willing him to continue.

"Sasuke told me that you weren't going to come back." Neji said, keeping his tone conversational.

"Yeah." Naruto replied, looking into his glass of brandy. The ice shifted.

"Mind me asking why?" Neji questioned. Naruto kept his eyes on the ice and watched as it shifted again. He looked up and met Neji's silver gaze with his blue one.

"It's history. I don't want to repeat it," he replied.

"It's hardly history." Neji frowned. "Especially when people are still out to kill you. They know about your reputation." Naruto sighed and folded his arms on the table.

"I can't come back until I find out who I am." Naruto told him, finally. "I need to find out who Uzumaki Naruto is. Because, I know who Uchiha Naruto is."

"Naruto is Naruto. No last name can change that." Neji said.

"Last names are everything." Naruto replied, placing his head down onto his arms. "It is your lineage. I need to know why I was thrown away."

"Naruto, you're an Uchiha now. Uncle Kenji adopted you into the family." Neji said, gently.

"I'll never be a peace if I don't find out who I am." Naruto murmured. Neji looked away and closed his eyes. Even he didn't know how to confront this situation. Now what will Sasuke do?

"When you do find out..." Neji said, slowly. "Will you come back?"

There was a pause before Naruto answered.

"I'll think about it."

---

Sasuke stalked down the halls with a frown on his face. The receptionist had told him that Naruto had taken off for the day. His frown deepened. He had wanted to see Naruto and to get his cast taken off. Suddenly he paused. Was all the space that he was giving to Naruto, all right? Should he be trying to convince him like the others?

Shikamaru had told them a few weeks ago that he had talked to Naruto but was left alone on the beach. Shino had only had told him that he was satisfied with his talk with Naruto. Now, Neji was giving a crack at it. But what were the chances of Neji succeeding?

Sasuke sighed as he sat down in an empty chair in the hallway. The four of them had been the closest to Naruto. Shino was an exception because everyone could tolerate him. So Sasuke had decided he would be the last one to try to convince Naruto to come back to the gang.

But now to find him…

"Mr. Uchiha?"

He looked up to see Neji's cousin staring down at him in concern. "Hinata?" he stated. She smiled and nodded. "I was looking for Naruto."

"Oh, Neji came by to pick him up." Hinata told him. "So, he's on call for the rest of the day."

"Is that so?" Sasuke frowned as he got up.

"Wait. You're here to take that cast off, aren't you?" Hinata asked, suddenly. Sasuke nodded blankly and she beamed. "I can take it off for you but you would have to come back to get Dr. Uzumaki to check on it. Come this way."

He followed Hinata down the hall and into a room. Then, he sat down on a chair while Hinata grabbed a few supplies.

"How is Naruto doing?" Hinata looked up and smiled at him.

"He's doing fine," she replied. "Now let's get this off, all right?"

"Yeah."

---

Naruto walked over to the sink to wash his hands. Through the sound of the rushing water, he heard a familiar voice.

"Uchiha Naruto."

These surprising visits were getting annoying.

Looking up and into the mirror, he stared at the man behind him. Then, he calmly turned the faucet off and proceeded to dry his hands with a towel. After he was done, he turned around and faced the speaker.

"I'm afraid you're mistaken." He replied, as he walked past him. A firm hand came down onto his shoulder and he paused in mid stride.

"Then, it's Uzumaki Naruto isn't it?" The man continued. "Dr. Uzumaki Naruto."

Sighing in exasperation, Naruto turned around and gazed at the man blankly. "Kabuto, what do you want?"

"I'm so glad you remember me." The man smiled, tilting his head. He pushed up his glasses to reveal his shifty blue eyes. Naruto gazed at him coolly and shoved his hands into his pockets, leaning back onto the bathroom wall.

"I remember leaving you for dead," he smirked.

A flash of anger flickered in Kabuto's eyes before his smile turned into a smirk. Kabuto was a few years older than him and the right hand man of Orochimaru's.

He had been his last opponent before he had left the gang. That night during the last fight against Shinja, he had gone crazy from his pent up emotions and had almost beaten Kabuto to death. So when he had realized this, he had dropped his bloody pipe and ran.

Ran away from the sight of blood.

Ran away from the Ryuujin.

Naruto closed his eyes and lowered his head so his bangs would cover his eyes. "What do you want, Kabuto? Revenge?"

"Hardly." Kabuto replied. "I don't stoop that low."

Liar. Naruto thought to himself.

"I came for Orochimaru. He has a preposition for you." Kabuto told him.

"I don't do deals with conniving snakes." Naruto replied.

"You're interested in your past, are you not?" Kabuto asked. Naruto's head shot up and he glared at Kabuto. "Orochimaru has the answers."

"How do I know you're not lying?" Naruto frowned.

"How do you know if I am?" Kabuto responded. He smirked and walked past him. "I'll be outside when you reach your decision."

With that, he opened the bathroom door and slipped out. Naruto gazed angrily as the door swung shut and he slammed his fist into the wall.

Since when did he start dealing with snakes?

But he needed to know.

And he also knew he was walking onto deadly grounds.

Neji frowned as he listened to the voice message that Naruto had left him before grabbing his keys off the table. Then he slid his cell phone back into his pocket and walked out of the casino.

Naruto had told them that he had an emergency call from the hospital, so he had left right away. Neji sighed and walked into the parking lot to where his bike was parked. He'll just head back to the hospital and wait for Naruto.

They still had things to talk about.

---

"Uchiha Naruto."

"Uzumaki Naruto." Naruto immediately corrected him.

"Ah." The man with a very pale complexion and dark hair that draped around his face got up slowly.

Naruto could almost feel his skin crawl as the man walked closer. He seemed like he was almost slithering. A pale hand touched his shoulder and brushed his cheek before returning to the side of its owner. Naruto found himself gazing into Orochimaru's amused dark eyes.

"The last of the Uzumaki," he sighed, dramatically.

"Get to the point." Naruto glared. "I'm a very busy man."

"Yes,I heard you area doctor." Orochimaru nodded as he sat back down in his chair. Kabuto stood to the right of him with a small smile on his face. "Are you trying to redeem yourself for your sins?"

"No." Naruto replied in monotone. Orochimaru grinned and clasped his hands together. "Enough. Tell me what you know."

"The Uzumaki have been a family of Shinja's for quite awhile." Orochimaru began. "They have served under me for a long time." Naruto flinched but kept his stony glare.

"Your family was quite useful. They were all "real demons" in the battlefield and very valuable to the success of Shinja," he laughed shortly and resumed his amused smirk. "Unfortunately, your father owed me a few large debts and haven't repaid me yet. Since you are an Uzumaki and he's dead, the debts have been passed to you."

"How did he die?" Naruto asked, quietly.

"Drug overdose." Orochimaru said, tilting his head to the side. "Those debts are from the drugs he bought from me, or rather…stole."

"How much?" Naruto asked, narrowing his eyes.

"Two million dollars." Orochimaru replied. Naruto paled and curled his hands into fists. "His payment to me was you. He was going to give me his own son to use as tool." The Shinja leader shook his head in mock dismay. "But he betrayed me and took you away. I'm surprised he hid you so well."

"I was found on the streets, Orochimaru." Naruto glared. "Don't spout lies."

"Then you must have been cast out into the streets right before he died." Orochimaru smiled. "Because he died on the hospital table as his body slowly shut down."

"I'll pay you back the money." Naruto told him, quietly. "Then, I want nothing to do with you again."

"I don't want the payment in money anymore." Orochimaru said, his smile widening.

"What do you want then?" Naruto demanded, angrily.

"I want the payment in blood." Orochimaru grinned. "Uchiha Sasuke's blood."

Naruto's eyes widened and he narrowed his eyes, dangerously. "I'm not killing Sasuke."

"Do you understand once he's dead, you'll be free of your past?" Orochimaru asked. "You will no longer be Uchiha Naruto, or the Kyuubi. You will live the rest of your life as Dr. Uzumaki Naruto. A professional." His smile became deadly. "How would your co-workers feel if they found out of your juvenile delinquency?"

"You can't blackmail me with my own past, Orochimaru." Naruto whispered, his blue eyes clouding over with anger. "There is no way I'm going to kill any member of my family." He smiled tightly. "What's so good about being an Uzumaki now? I don't like the idea of being a tool for Shinja."

"Well then…" Orochimaru smiled in delight. "Maybe you'll like this option…"

---

Frantic screams were heard throughout the hallway as nurses ran past him. Neji was filled with dread as he ran down the hall. Wasn't Sasuke coming in today to get his cast off?

"Hinata!" he yelled. "Sasuke!"

"Neji!" He heard Sasuke's voice as he rounded the corner. The gang leader was busy striking down his assailants. Neji ran toward him and punched out one of the men.

"Shinja!" he hissed, narrowing his eyes after he recognized the men.

He stood in front of Sasuke and turned in a circle, bringing down two men with a butterfly kick(1). Then, he landed and shifted his stance into a defensive one. His palms out and ready to attack the next man. The group from Shinja took the hint and took off. He turned around quickly and found Sasuke leaning against the wall, his right hand supporting his left arm.

"Sasuke, are you all right?" Neji chanced a glance at the Ryuujin leader.

"My arm is rusty from being in a cast." Sasuke groaned, as he stood upright. "Neji, your cousin..."

"Have you seen her?" Neji demanded, turning around and gazing about wildly.

"Shinja took her." Sasuke told him. "She jumped in and pushed me away."

"Orochimaru is up to something." Neji frowned. "Have you seen Naruto?"

"Wasn't he with you?" Sasuke stated, glaring at him.

"Oh shit." Neji's eyes widened. "It can't be."

"What's wrong?" Sasuke asked in concern.

"That's his plan." Neji whispered in dread.

---

"Hyuuga Hinata is in our hands now." Orochimaru said. "If you don't want her to get hurt, you will do what I say."

"What?" Naruto gaped. "How dare you!"

"So in exchange of Hyuuga Hinata, you will give me Uchiha Sasuke's head." Orochimaru smiled.

Naruto narrowed his eyes and swung around. "I won't forget this," he whispered, before running out the door.

"Mr. Orochimaru. Should we let him go like that?" Kabuto spoke up as he gazed after the fleeting blonde.

"He will be back." Orochimaru laughed. "There's no way he can retrieve Hyuuga Hinata at this rate."

"He shouldn't be underestimated…" Kabuto murmured softly.

---

"Bastards." Hinata backed up and felt the metal fence press into her back. "I won't let you take me without a fight."

"Come with us and you won't get hurt." One of the men told her. The foursome advanced on her steadily. Hinata pulled the nurse's cap away from her head and let her short dark hair spilled over her face. She slowly shifted her stance and raised her arms, with palms facing forward.

"You forgot that I'm a Hyuuga too!" She smiled, as her silver eyes narrowed.

She rushed at them, slamming her palms into the chests of the first two men. They fell back with blood spurting from their mouths. Then, she turned to the third one and raised her hand, only to find herself captured from behind with the fourth one.

Hinata quickly grabbed onto the man's arms and swung her legs out to catch the third assailant around the neck, slamming him into the ground. Swinging high up, she twisted her body to come down behind the fourth man. At the last minute the man turned around and kicked out. She flew in the air and her fingertips brushed against the top of the metal fence. She found herself falling off the hospital roof.

Her eyes squeezed shut as she waited for impact.

She heard the wind rush past her and a scream of terror.

Then she realized the scream was from her.

---

Kisu.

(1)Definition of a "Butterfly Kick". In Kung Fu, it's like a 360 degree circle while you face the ground, your back in the air and you turn, swinging both legs up. One after another. (Xiao Yu and Jun does it in Tekken)

In Karate, Tae Kwon Do, it is like…a tucked in roundhouse kick that you do while you are propelled in the air. (see Jin and Kazuya from Tekken )