Umm… Hello again! I know it's late, but I FINALLY updated the next chapter… -.-;
I solved the Haku dilemma! Thank you for all of your inputs, but the easiest road is to pair Haku with an OC, so I wouldn't have to make anyone OOC! There! Problem solved!
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, but I DO own Kazara Yume.
"blah" = speech
'blah' = thoughts
{blah} = demons talking to their respective vessels.
Silence. Complete and utter silence was all that was heard in Hiashi's office after he made his statement.
"Na… Nani?" Naruto managed to choke out. "What do you mean he's alive?" Hiashi let out a sad sigh and began to explain.
"He is alive, but not well. He's been in a coma for the past twelve years. His body's having a hard time adjusting to a demon that was forcibly sealed inside of him. There's a very good reason Yume's seal is meant to be used on infants. In an adult body, the inner coils system is set in stone, and would not be able to handle the shock of a huge, foreign chakra signal being added. In an infant, the inner coils system is not fully developed, so it's possible to…" he trailed off as he saw the look of confusion on the boys' faces. He sighed again, and felt a vein throb on his forehead. "Simply put, it would kill an adult." Sakura's brow creased as she thought.
"Hyuuga-sama, if it kills an adult, how is Yondaime-sama alive?" she asked. Naruto nodded.
"Honestly? No one has any idea. By all rights, Yume should be six feet under right now, but he isn't. It's like something is holding him here, not letting him die." Hiashi took a deep breath. "His condition has improved slightly in the past few years, and he might wake up someday. The strange thing is his body."
"What about his body?" Haku asked. He couldn't help but be interested in his favorite field.
"His body should be completely wasted away, weak and vulnerable. But, the doctors estimate that his strength has only decreased about 25%, if not less."
"NANI!!??" Naruto yelled at the top of his lungs. Sasuke, while not saying anything, had his mouth slightly ajar in shock. Hinata's eyes were almost the same size as dinner plates, and Sakura was numbly sitting there.
"Ano, Hiashi-sama?" Naruto asked.
"Nani, Naruto-kun?" Hiashi replied, looking at him.
"Ano, do you think…" 'Geez, I sound like Hinata!' "Do you think I could… maybe… see my dad?" Hiashi's pupilless eyes softened.
"Of course, Naruto-kun. Let's go see him now." Hiashi smirked as he looked at the other children. "And I suppose you four want to come also?"
"Ano… only if Naruto-k-kun says it's okay…" Hinata stammered.
"Hmf." Sasuke replied (a/n: Geez, this kid never says a full sentence, huh? XD)
"Hai!" Sakura said.
"I'm following Naruto-san!" Haku said with a smile. Hiashi smiled.
"Very well then. Let's go." With that, the elder Hyuuga rose from the table and headed towards the hospital with the five Genin in tow.
"Hyuuga-sama!!" The nurse at the reception desk exclaimed. "What an unexpected honor! Are you here to see him?"
"Hai. These young ones will be coming with me." Hiashi said as he gestured to the Genin behind him.
"Of course, Hyuuga-sama. You know the way, and the ANBU have been informed you're coming." The nurse bowed her head to him and smiled at the children.
"Follow me, little ones." Hiashi went up to a door labeled "RESTRICTED ACCESS" and walked on through.
'So much for security measures…' Sakura thought as a sweatdrop formed on the back of her head. The kids filed through the door after him, and soon came to a hallway that was crawling with ANBU. 'Oh, THERE'S the security!' Hiashi nodded to the ANBU, and they parted revealing a door.
"Kids, I'm only taking Naruto in with me this time. The rest of you wait out here." The kids nodded, and Naruto and Hiashi entered the door.
Lying in a single bed in the room is a man. He would be tall, if he was standing. Spiky, unruly golden hair falls down past his shoulders.
{THERE HE IS!!! I KNEW THAT BAKAYARO WAS STILL ALIVE!!! OOOOHH, if I only had control!!}
'Shut up, you stupid fox!' Naruto yelled at the top of his lungs. 'I'm not in the mood to deal with you now!' Hiashi sat in a chair beside the bed.
"Ohayo, Yume. How are you today?" Hiashi gave a sad smile. "I'll have to ask a nurse to cut your hair, it's getting long again. I know it's been awhile since I last saw you, but you wouldn't believe how stubborn the council can be. I brought someone with me this time. You probably won't recognize him, but it's little Naruto, your son." Hiashi stood up and looked at Naruto. "I'll wait outside with the others. You can come out when you're done." He walked out of the room, wiping a tear from his eye as he did. Numbly, Naruto walked over to the chair that Hiashi had sat in and his legs gave out.
"Ohayo, Otousan..." Naruto looked at his father's body, lying there peacefully. "I-I don't know if you can hear me, but… Oh, lord, I don't know what to say… I missed you, Otousan…" Naruto lost the battle to hold it all in, and he started sobbing. "I… I need somebody… Haku's great, he's helped me so much… but… I need a… family…"
Unknown to Naruto, Yume's hands twitched on the bed, and his eyes followed suit.
"Otousan…" was all Naruto could say. He was crying too hard to say anything else coherent. Suddenly, he felt a hand on his head. He shot up, and looked for the owner of the arm.
"Why… Why are you crying, Naruto?" Kazara Yume asked, his blue eyes filled with concern.
"Otousan… you're… awake?"
"Hai, Naruto-kun… I'm sorry… I couldn't be there for you…"
"Wait here, Otousan!" Naruto ran as fast as his feet could carry him to the door. "HE'S AWAAAAKE!!!! OTOUSAN'S AWAKE!!!"
Oi, how's that!? That should be the longest chapter yet! Anyway, on to the reviews!
element4life – I haven't seen one of that pairing either!
chicchai-raion – Yeah, I know that the chapters have been short. Trying to work on that… ;
Rednal29 – "Yondaime" literally means "the fourth." It's his job title (Yondaime Hokage = The Fourth Hokage)
Metanaito – a) Hyuk hyuk hyuk. b) Thanks. c) That's kinda mean… d) I'm TRYING!! Arigato, tomodachi!
ErikKoekkoek-sama – Did I explain it good enough? Thanks for pointing out the error, I'll fix it as soon as I can. Oh, about your fic… GAAAH!!! UPDATE, MAN!! UPDAAATE!!! I'M BEGGING YOU!!!! I've never seen this pairing before, but you make it so darn believable! You are SO going on my favorite author/story list!!
Anyway, might have the next chapter up tomorrow, it just depends. This has been the week from hell…
NEXT TIME: The Genin teams are selected, and you readers get to see how evil I can be. XD
