Chapter 4: Letter


"I'm sorry but can you please simplify?" Hinata asked as the doctor was flooding her with words only official medical people know.

"Chills, paleness, convulsions, faint spells… Those are the primary symptoms of this disease." The doctor sipped his green tea served at the Hyuuga manor. He is actually discussing the epidemic to Hinata.

"But what caused this?" Hinata asked.

"It's the black mandragora otherwise known as man-eater plant. This plant blooms every eight hundred years or so. In ancient manuscripts, the place was once in the heart of a cave somewhere in our forests. When it blooms, it spreads pollen. This pollen can spread miles away from its original place… It pollutes the air… And when people have an intake of this air they will catch the virus but will only have a fever."

"Only fever? So it's not that deadly?"

"Well yes and no… If your immune system is weak… and when natural defenses are down. The pollen then can manage to get into your bloodstream and then damage charka points or in several cases also the organs, only in this way can it be deadly. In Neji's case, he was wounded during a battle from one mission. My theory is that when he came back here the pollen might have got into his wounds –"

"And directly to his bloodstream and slowly damage his charka points." Hinata continued.

"Yes. Yes." The doctor agreed. "In actuality the other medic-nins are already searching for the location of the plant to destroy it. The process of annihilating this plant is very easy compared to the arduous task of searching for it. And the only thing we doctors here can do now is give you supplements and advise you to eat nutritious foods to strengthen your bodies."

"But what about the elderly and the children. They have weak defenses… What would happen to them?"

"A good question Hyuuga-sama…. The children and the elderly are taken to a ward in the hospital, where they will live in momentarily… A man by the name Yuji Kurosawa made a fantastic invention. You won't believe it! It purifies air. It's a very complicated contraption sadly he only managed to sell one in Konoha." The doctor gave his beard a stroke. "And they said to me that the hospital doesn't need one!"

"Oh it's very fantastic indeed." Hinata stated.

"Are there still any questions you'd like to ask?"

"Yes doctor… I'd like to know the cure for the disease."
"The cure… Another good question but I'm sorry to tell you that it is lost. Remember the attacking of the Biju, Kyuubi." The doctor looked at her face which was puzzled. "Oh silly me how could you remember that, I bet you weren't even born when that happened." The doctor faked a cough. "Anyway when it attacked the village, it destroyed Konoha's official library that holds the documents of this rare epidemic. Your grandfather on your mother's side which was my mentor by the way has also kept documentation but the last time I checked it was gone."

"Oh no! What should we do?" Hinata was worried both for her cousin and the others infected. "Oh I know Shinonome!"

"Oh yes, Shinonome Shigure, one of the best medicine makers and scientists, I have known." The doctor apparently praised him.

"Y-yes… I might get the cure from him." Hinata had here hopes again.

"Sadly they don't live here anymore. I think you better go and tell this little plan to the Hokage." The doctor suggested.

Hinata stood and gave him a nod. "Thank you so much, Doctor Yamanagawa." She bowed.

"You're welcome."


"This sounds interesting…. Continue, Hinata." The Hokage stated.

"Yes Hokage-sama. Now if we can go to Yubikiri Island we might find something about the cure. Shinonome-sensei could help us."

"Well I might admit I'm impressed with this Dr. Yamanagawa and his knowledge… But it's a pretty long shot…" Tsunade began flipping pages of a file folder she has in hand.

Then suddenly Shizune came in and announced, "Tsunade-sama the number of people infected by the epidemic has reached to –"

"What, Shizune?" Tsunade asked her assistant.

Shizune walked near the Hokage and whispered something surprising that Tsunade's eyes widened.

"But that can't be possible…! Even the medic-nins." Tsunade then maintained her composure when she realized Hinata staring at her.

"Oh sorry… Hinata."

"Tsunade-sama would you let me go to Yubikiri Island? I know this might be unsure but still… we could try." Hinata's eyes were eager.

"Well I couldn't let you go –" Tsunade looked at her. "Alone that is. You're still not sure about this and you still are physically unstable, am I correct?"

"Y-yes. I guess having someone as a companion in this mission will be okay. But who would be free at these times?"

"That's the problem but I think there's someone for that job." Tsunade said.

"Who?" Hinata asked.

"Hmmm… what about… Sasuke? What do you think Shizune?"

"He's –" Shizune paused and took a glance at her clipboard. "He's currently in suspension."

"Oh I almost forgot about that. Remind me to talk to him later."

"What about Ochan? He knows a great deal about these things."

"Ochan's on leave, he's actually sick."

"Are there any other people available?" Tsunade's becoming irritated. "What about Naruto?"

"Oh wait I'll take a look at the records." Shizune looked at her clipboard. "Okay! He's available."


That same night Hinata got ready for tomorrow's mission with Naruto.

Neji was in the hospital and Hanabi was on a mission. She was alone for now except for some of the Hyuuga residents in the compound but in their part of the house it was deserted.

After several hours she arranged her bed and tried to sleep. But as much as she tried she cannot sleep. And she's a little annoyed because she was tired for she trained a little that afternoon. And she had also fixed everything, before she leaves, from her late father's files to organizing a short meeting with the whole family that evening. She pretty much did well and thought that was good.

But this was not good. Morning is nearing and she's still not asleep. Every sound made by the ticking of the clock was like the pounding of a drum so she stepped out of bed and made her way to the kitchen. She got some herbs in order to make tea. It could somehow calm her nerves a little. She puts the teapot on the stove for the water to boil.

She then made her way to her parent's room while waiting. She looked at the emptiness and then saw one of the closets open. She saw a box for a kimono and she neared to it. She took it and opened it and saw non-other than a kimono. Then she hears a banging sound. Suddenly she woke up.

It was just a dream.

Her eyes then fixated on someone at the door. "Na-Naruto-san! What are you doing here!" Hinata blushed and covered her face with her blanket.

"Oh I guess I was a little early…hehe! Anyway you should get ready the ship leaves in thirty minutes." Then he closes the door and leaves Hinata.

"A little early…" Hinata looked at the clock. "Thirty minutes!"

Hinata got up so fast and gets ready for their mission.


"Oh good. You're ready." He grinned at her.

"You know we should better get going… As you said fifteen minutes ago the ship is about to leave in thirty minutes, so that leaves us about fifteen minutes to get there…" Hinata said.

"Oh yeah come on." Naruto started running but Hinata remembered that she forgot something. "Hinata! I thought we should be going." Naruto said a couple of meters from where Hinata was standing.

"I'm sorry but I forgot something. I'll be right back." Hinata hurried to her parent's room. In her dream it was empty but the truth is it isn't there were a lot of boxes inside the room. "Oh no… I should get the kimono box. Where have they put it?"

Then something fell from a hole at the ceiling. It was Nanami and around her a pile of boxes. Hinata saw the kimono box and opened it immediately. There wasn't a kimono inside but there was something else and it was a book. She took it and smiled at herself.

"Be careful in cleaning Nanami. Bye!" Hinata said.

"What was that about?" Nanami asked no one in particular.

Hinata went back to where Naruto. And he was there all excited. "Come on! Come on!"

"I think I found something." Hinata said. "This." Hinata held the notebook up.

"Ok what do we do with that?" Naruto asked.

"Well I'm not sure I think I should just sit down and read this. It's a book about medicine, I think my mother might have written this."

"Sit down and read! But we have no time for that we need to go to Yubikiri Island!" Naruto exclaimed then he took Hinata's hand and ran towards the pier.


"This is the ship?" Hinata said looking doubtful at the piece of metal in front of them. "This is a steamboat."

Yes it was a steamboat and a very rusty and old one.

"The old lady told me it was supposed to be really big. She even told me that it was supposed to be a cruise ship." Naruto stared at the steamboat. "I don't think we could get to the island alive in that piece of cra –"

"You two shut up and get o'er here!" The captain ordered them. "You've been late for about twenty minutes so stop complainin' or I'll cut your tongues and eat 'em for dinner!" Then the captain muttered something under his breath, "Ninjas always thinkin' their some hotshots."

The two of them kept quiet and headed to the deck.

"You see it ain't that bad." The captain said to them reassuringly. "Now get in your cabins and leave me and the crew alone. We'll get you there in no time!"

"What time is 'no time' exactly?" Hinata asked.

"Well maybe tomorrow morning or this evening depends on the weather. But as far as I can tell it's all goin' to be fine and dandy."

"Hey is there something we can eat around here? I'm hungry." Naruto suddenly asked.

"Lunch isn't served until its lunchtime." The captain answered.

"And when's that?"

"Later."

"When's that?"

"I don't know! Would you just go and leave me alone!" The captained was annoyed. "Shish… ninjas."


Hinata was alone in her room. They just had their lunch. And now she's reading the book she had took from her mother's kimono box.

The book was old and the some of the pages were missing. The text was really old and she finds it hard to read it.

Someone knocked at her door.

"Come in." Hinata said.

"Hey there." Naruto grinned at her. "You know I've been exploring inside this boat and no one seems to be going our way except for some group of people from Suna and an old couple from our village." Naruto informed her. "It's pretty dull, huh?"

"No, not really." Hinata said without looking up.

Naruto went over and looked at the book she was reading. "This is so complicated how can you read this? I can't even understand the characters."

"Well I can understand some of them but it's still confusing." Hinata said. "I should've given this to Dr. Yamanagawa first, I think he could understand some of this."

"Dr. Yamanagawa? Who's he?"

"He's our family doctor and also a close friend of my mother and grandfather."

"Do you think we can get there tomorrow morning? The clouds are awfully gray I saw it when I got out having some fresh air." Naruto gave her the book back and sat next to her.

"I-I just wish so…" Hinata blushed a pale shade of red.

Naruto grinned at her and patted her back. "Yeah me, to. I guess I'll see you later…" With that Naruto stood up and headed for the door. "And ummm Hinata… I have to tell you something." He stood there waiting for something.

"What is it?" Hinata asked.

Then Naruto almost tipped over. There was a wave and the steamboat shook a bit.

"I need to tell you…" Naruto then stopped. "Nothing in particular, really… I was just… you know, trying to start up a conversation but I couldn't think of anything to talk about." That was a lie. Naruto could tell her a lot of things. First and foremost is how she got into a coma. He wanted to say it to her but Neji warned him never to do so. He felt like a jerk just standing there smiling at her like nothing happened but a warning was a warning he can't tell it to her no matter how guilty he is right now.

And then he left feeling bad and all.

Hinata tried to ignore her curiosity to what Naruto was going to say. Then a minute later she felt a little drowsy. The steamboat was still and she felt like she needed a nap.


She woke up just in time for dinner Naruto was already knocking at her door and yelling something that sounded like, "I'm hungry!"

But it was raining and the boat was rocking side to side. Hinata felt sick. She managed to get up quickly, though.

"Hey are you there! Hinata! I'm going to eat now I'll be waiting for you in the dining area!" Naruto shouted.

"Go ahead!" Hinata told him still not opening the door in her room.

Naruto knocked. "What did you say!"

Hinata opened the door and said, "Go ahead. I don't feel hungry at all. I'll just stay here."

"Are you alright? I could get you something if you like?" Naruto asked. "I think you should eat 'cause you look kinda pale."

"I do…? Well that would be very nice of you. Thank you Naruto-san." Hinata thanked him and he left.


Naruto never came back. Hinata wasn't really waiting for him, though. She was focused on interpreting the book. But gave up on it several hours ago.

And now she's guessing that it's midnight.

The lights were on and off there might have been a problem with the engine. And she guessed that it might have something to do with the rocking of the boat.

Hinata barely heard any voices, it was strange because it was rather calm inside the ship. She toyed with the idea that she might be dreaming again. She blinked hard and pinched her right arm. It hurt. She wasn't dreaming now but it would be nice if she could sleep. She's been having trouble sleeping due to the fact that she thinks of her clan most of the time. She thinks of her sister safety during her mission and her cousin's health. The profuse raining and the thunder clapping didn't help at all. So she remained sitting on the floor staring at the ceiling and hoping that tomorrow would be a lovely day.


While Hinata was wide awake, Naruto was dreaming. He tossed and turned and called out her name. Hinata's name.

"I'm sorry…" His voice trailed off. He turned again and pulled his blanket from the floor. He tossed and soon he was lying on the floor. He quieted down. He seemed more comfortable lying there than in the lumpy excuse for a bed the captain gave him.


Hinata toyed with the idea that Naruto wanted to tell her that he likes her. She giggled and thought, 'Why would I want him to do that? It's not like I have a secret love for him.'

Instead of giggling some more, she grimaced at that thought. Somehow her eyes became more concentrated in the ceiling then she breathed out, "Why?"

Then she got up slowly and carefully and took the book from her bed. She read it in the dark, her eyes were clearer still. She tinkered the book like it was some kind of puzzle. The boat shook again and the book slipped from her hands. It flew all the way to the other side of the room. She took it and noticed that the pages are more torn than before. Then something fell. She picked it up, it was a piece of paper stained with a little bit of cough medicine. She read the beginning and it said: To Hinata, My Daughter.

"From mother!" She exclaimed.

She opened the letter slowly.

To Hinata, My Daughter,

From the moment you were born, your father and I knew that you were a blessing.

Your father wished hard that you be a boy, but the fact that you're not, didn't stop him from crying tears of joy when the nurse handed you to him.

You were so little, fragile and beautiful. You were like a snowflake, untouched, so pure.

With your hair like the midnight sky, your cheeks white and rosy at the same time, you were my exact copy except for your eyes.

Your eyes were like your father, like pearls. And he was very thrilled the first time you looked at him with laughter.

And now as I looked at you today going to school… I felt a different kind of excitement. You're growing.

And I always want you to know that in good and bad times I will love you.

And no matter what happens to me I want you to know that I love being a mother of you and Hanabi.

There was another letter but it was for Hanabi and she didn't want to tamper with it. She felt warm and nice. This must be the last piece of writing that her mother had made just right before she passed. Hinata didn't cry, though in contrary she smiled a smile, pure like that of a snowflake.

And that put her to sweet slumber.


A/N: Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

Note that the black mandragora is a made-up plant and probably never existed in the Naruto Universe.

The name of the Island, which is Yubikiri is a made-up place. In Japanese it means pinky-swear for those who don't know that. I had no idea why I named the island that. Maybe it was because I was out of ideas so there.

Thank you all.