Disclaimer: I don't own naruto...DUH. Anyway I'll try to make the chapters longer but that means I won't update as much...so yeah...anywho here is ch 4...hope u enjoy! Please review

CHAPTER 4: Broken

Hinata visited Naruto everyday in the last 3 that passed. On the fourth day however she wasn't the only one to enter the boy's room to see him. Neji, Chouji, Shikamaru, Kiba (and Akamaru), Rock Lee, even Iruka and many others. Every person entered the room, glad to see their friend home but walked out with an expression that only showed disappointment. When Rock Lee left the room he turned to Neji who was waiting for his turn to enter and shook his head sadly,

"He's...that boy in there...is no longer the Naruto I knew..." Lee said clenching his fists, "Its like he no longer has that youthful or determined spirit anymore...its as if he just...gave up."

Rumors easily spread throughout Konoha about Naruto's weakened seal and most believed the evil fox spirit Kyuubi could free himself at any moment he wanted. Some even went to the Hokage, Tsunade about their beliefs on the issue. In the late afternoon, Hinata, Kiba, Akamaru, and Shino passed a group of gossiping villagers and Hinata flinched as she heard their cruel words as they passed. Kiba noticed this and his eyes narrowed and both he and Akamaru listened in, slightly curious to what they really were saying.

"I can't believe the Hokage-sama, she doesn't even seemed concerned about it!"

"I say we should just toss him out of the village ourselves...we can't risk that damn fox getting free..."

"What will that do? If it gets free after that then it will just come back to the village for revenge!" one person exclaimed.

"The best way is to just kill him...then both him and the fox will be dead...it'll solve our problems...I don't even understand why they're caring for him in the hospital anyway."

Kiba clenched his hands and a small growl escaped his throat and he pushed himself into the center of the crowd and glared at the people around him.

"How could you...! After he worked so hard for this village! Even after you treated him so badly he didn't even think about revenge but look at you now! Show at least some respect! Naruto was one of the most selfless and determined people I ever knew! He would give up his life to protect Konoha! You have absolutely no right to be talking about him like he's not even human anymore!" Kiba shouted. The villagers looked at him slightly startled but went silent and turned around and began to walk off.

"Isn't there anything you have to say for yourse----!" Kiba was about to yell but he felt someone place a hand on his shoulder.

"Now lets try not to make a scene..." Shino stated, while look back toward Hinata "and besides..." Kiba blinked, slightly confused but then looked in the direction Shino was and saw Hinata. She was sitting on a bench, her head hanging low and the bangs covering her eyes. She was just patting Akamaru's head and the dog let out a small whimper of concern toward her but she didn't even seem to notice or care. Kiba grew quiet and let out a small sigh, even he knew of her feelings for Naruto, considering he had known her for so long and he remembered how she always used to look at him before Naruto had been captured. Kiba walked toward Hinata and sat down next to her,

"Hey don't worry...I'm sure...He'll be fine..." He said trying to reassure her. Hinata didn't respond and just stood up,

"I'm...gonna go visit Naruto-kun..." she said quietly as she began to walk off. Kiba watched her and let out another sigh, he then saw Hinata turn back toward him and manage a very small smile,

"thanks...for..standing up for him...Kiba-kun..." she stated before turning to walk off again. Kiba looked at her and just shook his head,

"Hinata should be fine..." Shino stated, watching the girl walk away as well.

Hinata walked into the hospital room, wiping some tears from her eyes, 2 white carnations being clutched in one of her hands. To her surprise she saw Naruto sitting up in the bed. One of his arms were extended and his hand was gently fingering the flowers that Hinata had placed there earlier. They were drooping and a few of the petals were lying on the small table top. Naruto gently pushed the head of the flowers up but they just fell over again. He just tried and tried again mindlessly, he stopped and watched a petal fall and he just stopped touching the flower all together. Hinata looked at him for a moment before walking over to the bedside table and replacing the flowers with the new ones. The teen just watched her do so and then looked up toward her face. Hinata was getting used to his stare and just lightly smiled back at him,

"Your being more active...Naruto-kun.." she said, her voce not as quiet as it usually was. Not only did she get accustomed to the stare, but also talking to him and not getting a reply, this even made it easier for her to talk to him. He looked at her and back at the flowers and then towards her again. Hinata walked over to the other side of the bed and sat down, she grabbed an apple from a fruit basket he had been given and grabbed the plate and small knife the nurse had given her so she could peel the apple. Naruto gazed at her hands wistfully as the knife cut into the apple and creating small slices. She hummed slightly and he listened. When she finished she set the pieces of the fruit on the plate and set it on the bed so he could reach it.

"You should eat something...then you can get some of your strength back," she said as she looked up at him and began to smile again but she suddenly felt him grab her wrist and pull her closer to him.

"N-Naruto-kun?" Hinata asked, blushing. As always, he was silent and just pulled her closer enough to wrap his arms around her tightly. He buried his head into her shoulder and Hinata looked at him startled. She felt her shirt get slightly wet and Naruto's shoulders shook slightly, that's when she realized...that he was crying.

Phew...this one took a while...well it's a longer ch right? Well stay patient plleeeassseee I type when I can well that's it! Keep reading and reviewing! (looks at box of kisame plushies, or is it hisame?) Hmmm I can't throw these...I know!11 (throws them into furnace)

BURN!

Itachi:...ookkkaaaaayyyy