Author's Note: This is the second chapter of Out of Sight, Center of Mind. I will try to make this chapter longer than the first but please try to remember that this is my first fanfic, i'm sort of making this up as I go. I'm gratefull for the reveiws and will welcome suggestions on how this story could continue.
Out of Sight, Center of Mind
Chapter. 2 - Welcome Home
Sakura and Sasuke and their rescuee had been travelling for almost six hours straight only stopping for five or ten minutes at a time to check on Naruto, who apparantly still hadn't woken up although he did seem to twitch on the make-shift stretcher every so often. Soon enough their villige gates came into view, since the aftermath of the Chuunin exam, the gates had remained shut, where as before the gates would remain open, only opening to let teams in and out. At a simple hand signal from Sasuke to the sentries on duty the gates swung open. As they walked into the Konoha they only saw a few people doing their daily errands. A part of Sasuke expected a swarm of demented, screaming girls to materialise in front of him to greet him but the another part of him reminded him that almost no one chased after him since his betrayal to the leaf, in fact they treated him similary to how they treated Naruto, although some still looked at him as a heroic surviver of the Uchiha clan, but he still felt the pain from those who didn't, now the only girl who chased him now was his teamate, Haruno Sakura, not even her eternil rival Ino chased after him anymore. Sasuke knew that this pain wasn't as bad as Naruto's but ever since he felt this pain, he formed a new respect for Naruto, for he lived his entire life with an even greater pain and he still managed to keep a positive attitude.
After Sasuke and Sakura had dropped Naruto of in the hospital, Sasuke and the rescued villiger left for the hokage office to deliver the mission report. While Sakura stayed in the hospital waiting room awaiting news on Naruto, She waited for two hours before she decided to go look for Naruto, she walked around for a bit before she saw a flash of blond hair through an open door, it looked like Naruto was lying motionless on a hospital bed, he was probably still asleep since he never stopped moving when he was awake. On his face there was now a proper bandage which stopped just above his mouth and covered both his cheeks leaving only his mouth and chin exposed. As Sakura sat down she let out a huge sigh because it was the first time she sat down all day.
"...Sa...Sakura-chan?"
At the mention of her own name Sakura screamed, and when she realised that it had been Naruto who said her name, she was tempted to hit him for scaring her like that.
"How did you know it was me?" questioned Sakura
"Well, your the only girl who would come to visit me, besides, your the only one I know that sighs like an old door swinging closed"
Sakura's left eyebrow twitched quite violently at this "...old?...OLD!?"
Tsunade, Konoha's current Hokage was rushing down the corridor of the hospital in search of Naruto, once Sasuke had told her what had happened she was fully awake and out the door to the hospital. As she was checking each foom for her favourite loudmouth, she walked in to one room to be greeted by quite a sight, Sakura was pounding Naruto in the stomache. Tsunade forced a cough to signify her presence, at this Sakura turned around
"Hello Hokage-sama" greeted Sakura, her anger forgotten
"Huh, wah...OBAA-CHAN!" as Naruto realised that Tsunade was there
Fortunatly for Naruto, Tsunade decided that he had been beaten enough so let it by.
"Naruto i'm here to take a look at your injury, fire techniqes can be very damaging, especially to the face. Sakura I would like you to leave us, this could take a while, maybe you should go home"
"Your right, Hokage-sama, please do your best with Naruto"
Sakura left the hospital room and Tsunade proceded to remove the bandages that were covering Naruto's face. She activated an analysing jutsu and proceded to examine Naruto's face, a worried look came across her face as she noticed somthing.
"Naruto, please open your eyes"
With a gasp of pain he forced his eyes open, then he blinked over and over, Tsunade knew exactly what was wrong,
"Obaa-chan, I...I cant see"
As she was making her way through the villige to get home Sakura saw Hyugga Hinata, another kunoichi who she had become close friends with, Hinata looked a bit upset, to a passer by Hinata always looked upset by the way she kept her head down, but to a close friend like Sakura it was clear that somthing was troubling Hinata. Sakura walked over to Hinata
"Hello Hinata-chan" Greeted Sakura, supressing her concerns for Naruto
"Oh, Hello Sakura-chan" Responded Hinata "Did your mission go well?" Clearly she was trying to forget about what ever problem she had
"Well..." Sakura knew that she should tread lightly here, she knew all to well for her fondness for Naruto, looking back on it she must of been a fool not to realise it, it wasn't until Hinata admited it to Ino and herself while they were having lunch together.
"...Well" Hinata echoed and Sakura cursed herself for letting her mind wander away like that
"Well...We rescued the villiger but...there was an accident involving...Naruto" at the mention of his name Hinata looked right into Sakura's eyes with a very worried expression
"A-Accident?" Hinata repeated, she had obviously forgotten her previous worries and was deeply concerned about Naruto.
"Yes, an accident, you see, We...Sasuke and Naruto were fighting a pair of ninjas, as the fight ended, Sasuke-kun used one of his fire attacks and Naruto caught the edge of the attack on his face." As Sakura finished talking Hinata instantly turned around and started toward the hospital.
"Dont worry Hinata-chan, Tsunade-sama is with Naruto she'll help him" Sakura called after her knowing that it would be foolish to try and stop her. Sakura then decended back into her own thoughts about Sasuke, their next mission...whatever it could be, Naruto's condition and Hinata's infatuation with Naruto
"I wonder if they'll ever get together?" Questioned Inner Sakura "Oh well, whatever happens, happens"
As Hinata thought about what happened to Naruto she broke into a run, She started feeling very nervous about how much damage had been done, she shunned all negative thoughts and continued to run, It wasn't long before she reached the hospital. Hinata burst through the doors of the hospital and ran straight to the front desk
"Which room is Uzumaki Naruto in?" asked Hinata, completly ignoring the que of people behind her. The receptionest could see the look of deep concern in Hinata's eyes and started looking through a large ring-binder folder.
"He is in room twenty seven, go down that coridor and turn left before the stairs" The receptionest pointed to the corridor behind her
"Thank you" Hinata called to her as she ran down the corridor.
Tsunade canceled the healing techniqe she was using on Naruto but she still wore the same expresion of worry and concern.
"Naruto... I've cleared up the burns but there is some damage to the optic nerves...the nerves are just to small to heal with a jutsu, I've treated it but thats all I can do, there's a chance that your eyes will heal themselves given time, but i'm afraid that you will be without your sight for a while. We'll leave your eyes for a week by that time we wil be able to determine how extensive the damage is. but if you're unable to see even blurred images by then, you will probably never have your sight back."
"How big a chance is there that my eyes will heal?" Asked Naruto, his voice lost the energy it once held. Tsunade was hoping he wouldn't ask this
"I wont lie to you Naruto, its small...but you have to understand, you are very lucky, if this had happened to somone else, somone who didn't have kyubi's healing powers then there would be no doubt that they would never see again." Tsunade was desparate to raise Naruto's spirits but she feared that she may have made him feel even worse
"I understand, But do I have to stay in here for the whole week?" Asked Naruto, It was hard to tell if he was more upset about his sight or the prospect of staying in these uncomfortable hospital beds all week.
"Oh no, not all week, you will have to spend the night here, but you will be allowed to leave in the morning as long as you have somone to accompany you."
"Thank god for that! I'd die of boredom if i'd stay for a week" Naruto almost sounded happy but it was hard to forget that he couldn't see.
The door to Naruto's room opened and in came Hinata, she was red in the face, Tsunade wondered if it was because she had been running or because of the presence of Naruto.
"Hello Hinata, what brings you here?" Tsunade asked, inwardly she was grinning from ear to ear because she knew precisely why she was here. Naruto's head rose up
"Hinata?" Naruto was shocked that anyone would come to see him, Even Sasuke hadn't dropped in on him, even though he was the reason he was in hospital, this thought struck him very hard, Because of Sasuke he may never see again! He put that thought at the back of his mind for now and turned his attention to the new arrival
"Y-Yes Naruto-kun" In Hinata's haste to reach the hospital she never thought about what to say to Naruto when she got there
"How are you feeling Naruto-kun?" Hinata figured that as a good start
"I feel fine, but I'm going to have to give my eyes a rest for a while" Naruto tried to sound like his normal self but didn't do too well
"Oh, is it serious?" Hinata was starting to worry from the tone in his voice, Hinata could tell that somthing was wrong
"It could be, but only time will tell" Tsunade interupted Hinata jumped at the sound of her voice "Naruto I need to put a bandage over your eyes to ensure no light can reach the nerves, please sit up and keep your eyes comfortably closed, they wont be open for a week" said Tsunade as she reached into a medical bag for the bandages, Naruto did as he was told, he sat up on the bed and kept his eyes closed.
"This shouldn't take to long, Hinata, why dont you take a seat you look very nervous" Said Tsunade while she was sorting out the bandages
"Yes Hokage-sama" Hinata sat in one of the chairs that were lined along the wall and set it beside Naruto's bed, she sat down and watched as Tsunade placed the bandages on Naruto
Tsunade cut out two individual patches of the cotton bandage and placed them over his eyes, securing them in place with some medical tape, then she proceded to wrap a long bandage around his head covering his eyes.
"Okay I'm done, Naruto is that too tight for you?" Tsunade said as she was adjusting the bandage.
"Its fine thanks Obaachan" As Tsunade struggled to contain herself Naruto lay back down on the bed
"All right, I've spent enough time here, Hinata could you possibly be here tomorrow morning? Naruto is going to be out of the hospital and he needs somone to help him around the village" Tsunade asked, She silently applauded herself for asking her to, She killed two birds with one stone, One: She gave Hinata a chance to be close to Naruto, with any luck, spending time with Hinata may balance Naruto out, who knows, they may even become Konoha's newest couple. and Two: She wont have to look all over Konoha to find Sakura or somone else to do it, she needed to get back to her office for some sleep.
"Naruto, I'll be here in the morning before you two leave for the day. The nurse will be in soon with somthing to eat" Tsunade told him as she was leaving
"Ramen!?" Naruto asked excitidly
"NARUTO!, this is a hospital not ichiraku" Tsunade said
Tsunade walked out the room so it was just Naruto and Hinata left
"Hinata?" Naruto said, turning his head to Hinata's general direction.
"Yes Naruto-kun" Hinata was starting to lose her shyness around Naruto, She didn't know why. Before, the very mention of his name would send her heart racing but now she felt at peace
"Thank you for coming to see me, Not even Sasuke has come to say hello, your a good person Hinata" Naruto was feeling extremely thankfull for somone coming to see him, inside he was feeling scarred and alone but he did his best to hide it.
"Your welcome, Naruto-kun. Sakura-chan told me what had happened so I came to see if you were alright" Hinata smiled to herself for not stuttering
"Your sounding a lot more confident than you used to, my blind fold must be having a positive effect already" Hinata even let a small giggle escape at that, this made Naruto especially happy, He loved making people laugh, he alway has, even when those same people made him feel like dying. The nurse came in carrying a tray, it had some food on it but nothing more than a snack.
the nurse placed it over Naruto's lap
"Here is your food Naruto-san" said the nurse. Naruto jumped slightly from the unexpected contact
"Thank you" said Naruto but the nurse said nothing, but Naruto was used to this, Hinata however wasn't
"She was very rude to you, Naruto-kun" Hinata was shocked that a nurse of all people would be so cold toward a blind patiant
"Yeah well, i'm kinda used to it by now" Naruto was feeling around the tray on his lap trying to find the food "I cant tell where the tray ends and the food begins, they both have the same rough texture"
Hinata noticed what was on the plate, it looked like a brick of some kind of meat, it was bad even by hospital standards
"Hinata, could you please help me i'm not sure what i'm meant to eat" Naruto realised that this was just the begining, this wont be the only time he will need help, usually he wouldn't trust someone to help him but Hinata was someone he trusted, even if he rarely talked to her, Hinata turned red in the face when he asked for her help but she did as she was asked. She reached out her hand and put it on Naruto's wrist, both he and Hinata jumped at the contact, Naruto wasn't expecting it but he realised that he would have to get used to it and Hinata because she came into physical contact with Naruto, She guided his hand on the tray and placed it on the meat, she then let go
"Thanks Hinata, I'd probably take a bite out of the tray if I didn't have any help" Naruto said before he took a bite out of the brick, he chewed once before he realised the foul taste and dropped the brick, Naruto realised that it would be rude to spit out the 'food' in front of Hinata so he did his best to ask for a napkin, Somehow she understood but there wasn't a napkin on the tray so she brought one out of her pocket and put it into Naruto's hands. He put over his mouth and pushed out the food into it, trying to sound as least disgusting as possible. The napkin smelt very...girly, He realised that Hinata must of given him one of her own.
"Thanks again, Hinata" Naruto now thought that having somone to help him wasn't too bad, Hinata smiled silently to herself
"I dont suppose that there was a glass of water on the tray, I cant stand the taste of whatever that stuff was meant to be" Naruto said as he crushed the napkin into a ball and dropped it on the tray
"Sorry, Naruto-kun there is none"
"They probably did this on purpose" Naruto said "Never mind I probably still have some in my jacket, Hinata, could you maybe find my jacket and search the pockets for a bottle, please"
"Ofcourse Naruto-kun" She was feeling glad to help, Hinata got up and walked over to the wardrobe, she saw Naruto's trademark orange cloathing, Hinata often questioned herself why anyone would wear so much orange, as she searched through the pockets, she could tell the cloathes smelled like Naruto , she found the small bottle of water in an inside pocket of his jacket
"I've found it Naruto-kun" she said as she took away the tray and placed the bottle in Naruto's hand, she put the tray down on a desk next to the bed
"Thanks" Naruto chuckled out, he was saying thanks a lot, he unscrewed the cap and downed the whole lot "That was good!" Naruto felt better after drinking the water, he then let out a powerfull yawn and realised that he was tired, he had been awake since they had arrived back at konoha, he just decided to let himself be carried instead of being made to walk by Sasuke and Sakura if they found out that he was awake.
"I see that your tired Naruto-kun I'll go home and let you sleep"
"Okay then, Goodnight Hinata, see you tomorrow"
"Sweet dreams Naruto-kun" Said Hinata as she walked out the door, when the door shut behind her, she realised somthing, she turned around and walked back into Naruto's room
"Welcome home Naruto-kun" after hearing this a huge smile came across Naruto's face
"Thank you Hinata" Hinata turned around and walked out the room and proceded up the corridor with a noticable spring in her step.
Authors Note: What do you think? its longer than the first chapter and I got the first interaction of Naruto and Hinata in, you may notice that Hinata does a lot less stuttering in this fic but that is because I think that Hinata has confidence problems when people look her in the eye, but Naruto cant look her in the eye so she is more confident, in the following chapters she will do a bit more stuttering ( I think, remember, i'm making this up as i go, i have almost no plan) Please Reveiw and if you can give me a suggestion for the story i will take it into consideration. Thank you!