A/N: 00;; Wow, I never expected THIS kind of response to the first chapter of the story. 9 reviews inside of 24 hours is a major record-shatter for me (with my previous record being at 3). All of it inspired me to put out this next chapter a bit early. This one is a bit longer, though only by a couple hundred words. I hope you all enjoy it as much as chapter one.
Chapter Two
"Naruto, I have a pair of missions that need doing," Tsunade was saying, a week later. "Both are C-Ranked, but I don't have any normal teams here. Do you feel up to heading on patrol?"
"Yes, Tsunade-sama. Where to?"
She handed him the two mission scrolls. "These are on the rock country border. It will take you a day or two to get out there, and the missions should take about a week to complete."
"Hai." He walked out of the room, headed for his apartment to pick up his gear.
Back in the office, though… "Shizune, we have a problem. A big one"
"What is it?"
"I need you and one other ninja of your choice, preferably either a medical nin or someone who knows Naruto well, to go out and keep a discreet eye on him."
"Tsunade, I don't understand. Why does he need watching? He's a Chuunin now, after all, and those missions are well within his capabilities."
"That's not it. This is a suicide watch."
"WHAT?"
"Think for a second. Since when has NARUTO calmly taken twin missions that are that far under his capabilities? He didn't even try to complain or get a better one."
"Hmmm…"
"And did you hear what he called me?"
"He called you 'Tsunade-sama', what wrong with that?"
"We're talking about Naruto. He didn't call me o-baa-chan or some such. There wasn't even any yelling in our encounter. This is serious, Shizune. He has been like this for more than a week, now, ever since he rescued Uchiha Sasuke. I need to know why, and I need it corrected. We can't afford to lose him, not now."
---
Though Shizune had thought she knew whom to ask, she wanted to make sure of her own choice. Thus, she stopped by the only place she knew Naruto frequented, besides his own apartment. Ichiraku's ramen stand was empty this time of day, and the owner was more than happy to help. However, the direction he pointed her was not to the suspected Sakura.
"The Hyuuga girl, Hinata is her name. She may try to hide it, but it's common knowledge how high she holds Naruto. From what I've seen, if you need an authority, she's the one to go to. The whole clan is good in a fight, as well, no doubts there."
"Not Haruno Sakura?"
"Sakura-san may know him, but whatever is wrong here probably has something to do with either her, Sasuke, or both. I don't know about all of that psychology, but I can't imagine she would be good to bring."
"Thanks. Do you know where I can find Hinata at this time of day?"
"Stay seated, she'll be here in about five minutes. Naruto has been distracted lately, to the point that he's forgetting to buy food. She's been making sure his refrigerator remains stocked."
---
"Neji, where has Hinata gone off to?"
"I do not know, Hiashi-sama."
"Go and find her. Just because she is no longer first heiress does not mean she can ignore our traditions. At this time of day, she should be at home."
Perhaps, oh WISE uncle, if you didn't expect it of her, she'd comply. And if you'd look beyond your nose with those eyes of yours, you'd realize that not only do I know, but also that I'll never tell you. She needs this, and Naruto does, too.
"I'll go look for her, but I can't guarantee anything. It's easy to lose track of someone in the noonday crowds, and the Byakugan isn't much help with this much disturbance around." With that, he turned and left, fully intent on doing nothing of the sort. He had other things to do, much more valuable to him than spying on his cousin. Paying a visit to Tenten, his teammate, being first among them.
---
"Oh! Shi… Shizune-sama, what are you doing out here?"
"Looking for you, actually. You have a mission with me, starting as soon as we can get back to your home and get your equipment."
"But…"
"Naruto won't be at home, he has one as well."
"How…?
"Would you stop asking questions and come on? This is important, Hinata!"
"D-does it have something to do with Naruto-kun's mission?"
"How did you know?"
Her face showed deep thought, and a certain anxiety. "He hasn't been… himself… for a while. A lot of us are really concerned about him, and I can't seem to find Sasuke or Sakura anywhere to ask them about what happened."
They talked little until outside of Konoha's gates, tailing Naruto through the woods of his home.
---
I'm being followed. It was from the village, though, so it can't be any threat to me. Why do they bother? It's not like I'm anything that needs guarding. At least, nothing under the sun could take me alive and willing. The power within me will remain out of enemy hands.
Naruto didn't stop that night for rest, and ate sparingly, on the go. He ignored his body's demands, indeed he cared little about them. He cared little about anything, save completing his next mission.
---
Hinata was breathing hard within the first hour. If Shizune hadn't been sweating from the rapid pace Naruto set, she would have thought herself far out of shape.
"Hinata, I need to give you the details of this mission."
"Y-yes, what are they?"
"This will sound bad, and it is. We are here to keep track of Naruto throughout the coming week. More than that, we are a suicide watch"
"On N-Naruto? Shizune-sama, why?"
"I don't know, and that's why you're here. Whatever her reasons, Tsunade is concerned enough to send an observation team after him. We're charged with finding out what got him this way, and finding a way to snap him out of it, if possible. You've probably noticed, but his continued gloom is putting something of a damper on most of the village."
The only sounds for a minute were their labored breaths and the tapping of their shoes on the branches of the trees as they tried to catch up to Naruto.
This is even worse than I thought! Whatever is wrong with Naruto-kun, I have to find an answer! I… I'd just die if something happened to him.
Shizune was rather shocked when Hinata burst out ahead, her pace increasing when she could barely hold up only seconds before. Hmmm, perhaps this was the right choice, after all. That is more than just "high esteem" at work in Hinata's mind. Much more.
---
It was a full day before Naruto paused for even the briefest rest, though he made a four-hour camp of it. Both Hinata and Shizune had to take Soldier pills to keep up the pace, and the respite was quite welcome to both of them.
However, the forest was thinning out by this time. Naruto's first mission was to perform a standard patrol of this particular area, looking for Konoha's supply caches to verify that nothing was stolen or rotten, and also looking for ones not marked. Though he made camp, he hardly rested, instead beginning his patrols for the day.