Chapter 2

A/N: Heart fell thanks to all reviewers and others who marked this story as favourite or chose to follow.

Hinata woke to bright light streaming through the window, she looked around to find that she was in her own room, but couldn't remember getting there. As she continued to lay about her mind couldn't help, but wonder to the events of yesterday, trying to help Naruto had gotten them swept downstream where they were rescued by a kind stranger.

Her body protested the attempt to get out of bed, the pounding in her head and the aches in her body were signs she had not fully recover, but nonetheless she was thankful to be alive. The door to her room opened just as she managed to lift herself from the bed.

"Good to see you're awake Lady Hinata." The voice of Natsu greeted her. "I've prepared a bath for you after which you can have something to eat."

"How long have I..?" Her parched throat prevented further speech but Natsu got the drift.

"You've been in and out of consciousness since yesterday. It is now afternoon which means, you missed team assignment, but your sensei was kind enough to leave the information. You are on team 8 with the Inuzuka and Aburame; your sensei of course is Kurenai Yuhi." She responded. "Come now, I will assist you in the bath."

"Thank you for the information." Suddenly her stomach gave a loud growl and she grabbed if as though in pain, but was perhaps more out of embarrassment.

"Your father request your presence in his office as well, so I suggest you get a move on it. Wouldn't want to keep him waiting unduly." Half-hearted she made her way to the bath while undressing.

Foregoing eating she made her way to her father's office, knocked at his door she waited for permission to enter.

"Come in Hinata," the voice of her father commanded, "I trust you are fully rested."

"Yes father, I am."

"Good, take a seat we have much to discuss." Without delay she sat herself at the low table opposite her father. "I'd like to understand what happened yesterday."

The discussion lasted half an hour, before she was excused with the admonition to not embarrass the clan. Here she thought if just briefly that perhaps he, her father and not the clan head would have made an appearance; that he would let her see that he still cared for her well-being. Was it really too much to ask of a father? Apparently with him it was.

Loud growling shook her from her thoughts and once again she grabbed her stomach as if in harrowing pain, oh yes, how could she have forgotten her need to eat.

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The next day, she was the first to arrive. She'd hurried from the compound to avoid her father's penetrating gaze and usual words of admonition. How she hate those words. 'Don't shame the clan.' They were like thorn in her flesh, an irritant to her ears. Couldn't he once just wish her well in her day like fathers are supposed to do? Then her mind shifted to the events from two days. So lost in thought that she'd missed the arrival of the others. That was until they spoke.

"Good morning Hinata, glad you could join us."

She jolted from her thoughts of…

Soundless screams that could pierce even the heartless.

Tears enough to fill a river, failed strength and near death.

These thoughts had plagued her dreams… kept her from being fully rested for the day ahead. Now they occupied her waking moments as well. What would they think of her? Surely they saw the bags under her eyes. Would they ignore them or worst question her? 'Damn it Hinata, now is not the time to revert to a scared child hiding behind her father's legs, you are a ninja. Stand straight look them in the eyes and greet them back like you mean it.' Easier said than done.

"G…Good m…morning Kurenai-sensei, Kiba, Shino and of course you too Akamaru." She greeted sincerely. Hoped that her voice had sounded clear and firm to them. 'There, only a small falter, I can do this, just need to stay focused.' She thought to herself.

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Tap, tap, tap, tap, tap…..

'That gawd awful sound. Must he do that every single time?'

Tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap….

'It's willful, I just knew it.'

'Might sound rhythmic in its timing. Not really. Coded, maybe.'

'Damn! Was it annoying as hell.'

Tap, tap, tap…

"Hello Danzo, what can I do for you today?" He was in no way ready to deal with this man. Especially today.

"Don't take that tone with me Hiruzen, you know dam well why I am here."

"Not really, but enlighten me."

"I just heard about the daemon brat. Now tell me Hiruzen, do my ears deceive me or I am really to believe the rumours about the jinchuriki?"

"You'll have to be more specific Danzo, I'm not a mind reader."

"I'm talking about him failing the academy for the third time and now being kicked out!" Anger rose in his voice as his hand gripped his cane until it creaked.

Hiruzen paused his writing. Leaned back in his chair and regarded the man with a cold hard stare. He said nothing.

Infuriated by the man's silence Danzo continue his tirade, not letting the lack of a response deter him. "What the hell have they been teaching at the place Hiruzen? Our weapon is a failure, absolutely useless!" He shout, panting afterwards. Still no reply. His anger edge up a notch. He slammed his hand on the desk. "Say something damn it!"

Finally when he thought the man's anger had perhaps ran its course, then he spoke. He spoke carefully and clearly. "What would you have me say Danzo?" He paused. If it was for effect it was lost on the other man. "I'm not the one who leaked the boy's status to the village. I can legislate all I want, but I can't make people think differently than they do."

"Nonsense Hiruzen, you are the Hokage of this village, your word is law." The response to that statement was a raised eyebrow. "Tell me you have a plan to get the weapon up to scratch, he's still young, thank Kami for that so there is still time to hone him into something desirable."

"Haven't you heard Danzo? The boy has disappeared from sight." His attention had returned to the paperwork before him and he spoke almost dismissively.

"Surely, you don't expect me to believe you do not know where the boy is? You might be playing senile, but I know differently."

"Think what you wish, but if there's nothing else. Leave me be, unlike you a have a mountain of work that needs to get done." Just like that, he'd dismissed his rival without a second glance.

Not willing to cast out like some insubordinate genin, Danzo left his own parting shot.

"One last thing before I grant your wish and leave. Have you thought about what you will tell that student of yours? After all, the boy is important to him so surely you must plan to inform him."

If looks could kill.

Except it didn't.

"Why Hiruzen, don't tell me you were planning on leaving him in the dark."

He continued to gourd his rival.

"Well, goodbye Hiruzen and good luck with that." With that he turned and exited the office. His cane once again a nuisance to those around him.

Tap, tap, tap, tap, tap…..

All the way out.

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When Naruto woke up again, he didn't feel much better at all. He could move, but his body protested against the slightest twitch in his muscles. Still, he nearly jumped out of the bed when Mosu entered.

"I see you're awake, boy. Here is something to eat because I don't really think you have recovered yet." He placed a bowl of steaming noodles on the little nightstand besides Naruto and set a fork besides it. The blonde looked at the food, and even more so at the fork, and wondered who exactly the man was. A fork? Here in Konoha? It wasn't like metal grew on trees. Having metal cutlery was reserved for the rich and famous. And the man looked not exactly like a noble man. "It's not poisoned boy, unless you're allergic to ramen, that is." The word ramen mellowed him. It was the only food he could ever go and buy and with the ramen stand of old man Teuchi and his daughter Ayame, he also had some kind of social contact. Sure, it tasted awesome and all, but in the back of his mind Naruto suspected that it had to do with the fact that he liked the old man and his daughter. Hunger overcame pain and he took the bowl and the offered fork and dug in. The warmth of the broth was a wonderful thing as it had been many times before. While he was eating, he still watched Muso. It was not like he had no bad experiences if he didn't watch his back. He was a ninja- No... he wasn't. He had tried to be one. But he wasn't and would never be. The tears returned and he focused his eyes on his meal, praying that his weakness wouldn't show. But if Muso had seen, he didn't acknowledge it. He sat at the desk beneath the window, fiddling with some metallic thing. Naruto couldn't tell what it was.

"It's an armor plate," Muso said without looking away. "Got to finish this before noon. These Anbu guys don't like delays."

Naruto wiped the tears away after he placed the empty bowl back onto the nightstand and looked curiously at the blackened metal. "You... you are a smith?" He didn't ask about the Anbu. He didn't have anything to do with ninjas anymore.

Muso laughed. "Aye, lad. That and much more. Forge master, they call me, but that's just a title." He held the armor plate up into the light. "Shoulder piece. Light and durable. Got to make about ten more, eleven maybe? Hmm..." He rummaged through a stack of papers that sat on the far end of the desk. "Nah, twelve even," he sighed and put the piece of metal into a wooded box underneath the working table he sat on. Standing up, he headed for the door and halted in front of it. "Want to watch, boy?"

The question surprised him. Did he want to watch? He shrugged and said "Sure." But getting out of bed was painful. Still, even when he nearly fell down once, Muso made no move to acknowledge his struggle. And for once, Naruto was glad to be ignored, he didn't like being weak and knowing it. The first thing Naruto recognized when he and Muso entered the next room was the heat. It was incredibly hot in here. It was a big circular room with an enormous oven of some kind in the middle. Attached to it were truly enormous bellows. They moved on their own, Naruto didn't see anyone working them.

"They are moved by the water wheel. The one you and your friend nearly got in yesterday, kid." He sat down by an anvil, the pit of glowing, hot red coal right beside him. He didn't seem to mind the heat. Out of a shelf with many, many drawers he pulled out a square piece of metal not unlike the armor plate from before. But it looked rough and way thicker and smaller than the plate piece was. And so Naruto sat there and watched Muso work. Heating, hammering, cooling and heating again. More hammering. Naruto was fascinated by Muso's work. Out of the metal piece he had formed an armor plate that would later serve to protect a ninja from harm.

"Want to tell me what happened yesterday? Of course if you don't want to that's fine. I'm just a curious old man looking to make conversation." Muso watched him from the corner of his eyes, looking for signs of distress at been asked to remember.

"Nothing much to tell, I failed the graduation exam for the third time and they won't let me try again." He paused to swallow back the sob that threatened to erupt from his throat but forged on as was his custom. "It's painful because I really wanted to be a ninja, wanted to be Hokage."

"I see." Was Muso's only response, knowing the less said, the unlikeness he would offend the boy by showing pity to his plight. "Do you have a backup plan of any kind?" It was a fair question, basic, but he doubted there was one, there never was with their type. It was ninja or nothing at all. As though it was wired into their brain from birth.

"No, there's no backup plan." It came out choked, emotions still raw from the events of yesterday. To be honest he wasn't sure when he'd be able to speak of it without tearing up or feeling betrayed by those he thought had his back.

"Give it some time and thought, something is bound to pique your interest. In the meantime, rest is good." It was good to have company, another voice besides my own. Should the boy stay it would make for interesting times. Muso could help, but pray the boy would see his trade as something worth his time.

Another day and still the old man had not asked him to leave and Naruto was on pins and needles waiting for the proverbial shoe to drop. Walking into the forge he was once again taken with how hot it was, not that it bothered him. "Hey, Muso I wanted to talk to you about something."

"Sure kid." Not pausing from his hammering, he raise his head towards Naruto indicating he was listening. Unable to meet Muso's eyes for fear of what he'd see, he kept his gaze on the flood while scuffing his foot disturbing what dusk was there.

"Well umm, when you said I could stay did you mean forever or just until…" The question had been on his mind all night, not wanting to get comfortable and then being told to leave. He thought it best to ask now before he got ahead of himself.

"Listen boy, I say what I mean and if I said you could stay then that's what I meant." He could see the relief that flooded Naruto's eyes and knew he'd said the right thing. "Did you need something else, my boy?"

"Yes, if it isn't too much trouble; could you accompany me to my apartment to retrieve my things? It's nothing much, but they are of sentimental value."

"Would lunch time be good for you?

"Yes! That would be great." He would have jumped and shouted, but the slight pain in his body deterred him. "Thanks Muso."

"You're welcome my boy. Now don't just stand around, the fire needs tending too." Chuckling to himself at the obvious change in demeanor, he returned his full focus to the task at hand.

As promised Muso had accompanied him, but left for the market to gather food now that he was not alone. Packed and cleaned he returned the apartment key to his now former landlord. Deciding it best to meet Muso at the market, he set off.

"Would you like some help Naruto?" Naruto pause in his step. He was sure he'd heard wrong, but the voice was unmistakably Kiba's. The bag suddenly became extremely heavy, sweat collected at his brow and his heart began to race. 'No, no, no, why them? I'm not ready to face any of them. Face the mockery that's sure to come for being a failure. She's here too. Oh gawd! What do I do now?' Pretend you idiot, pretend you don't see them. The voice whispered in his mind.

"Hello Naruto, I'm glad that you're okay, I was really worried about you." He heard her, but he really didn't register the words she was saying. The beat of his heart drumming in his ears, the feel of not getting enough air was just too much.

"What do you want?" He hadn't meant to shout or be cross with them, but… couldn't they see he wasn't ready to deal with any of them. Breathe, breathe. Breathe! A hand on his shoulder grounded him. He knew whose it was, Muso, thank goodness.

"Breathe my boy, they don't bite."

"Easy for you to say."

"Are you okay now Naruto?" Kurenai asked, placing herself between him and her students, hoping that would help calm him. "You know, they were just happy to see that you're okay, especially Hinata. I think you should talk with her, when you're ready. Okay?" She winked at him, waved goodbye and left with her team.

"Well now, enough excitement for one day, let's head home." Still not uttering a word, Naruto heft his bags and turned in the direction of his new abode. Not wanting to seem like a meddling old man, but still the adult in the relationship, Muso thought it best to nip things in the bud early. "Listen Naruto, it might be none of my business, but please hear me out." Hearing the loud sigh from his companion, Muso forged ahead with his word of wisdom. "Don't take this the wrong way, but I think the sooner you face that girl; the better. Thank her at least for her efforts to save you, then give her a chance to speak. While she does that you, my little friend need to listen with an open mind. Can you at least promise that?"

"If it would get you off my case, then yes." His response was followed by incoherent mumbling.

"Wonderful!"

"Yeah, great."

Days passed.

They curse, threw things, ate, worked, slept and cursed some more. Wash, rinse repeat. It was how instruction manuals got written.

Then they adjusted.

"Want to try, kid?" Muso asked, pausing his hammering at the anvil. He held out the hammer to Naruto who, after some hesitation, took it. The hammer was heavier than it looked and Naruto's arm shivered under the strain as he raised the hammer to strike. "You wanna make it as flat as possible, the curve we add later," Muso told him, showing him an already finished piece. Naruto nodded and began his work. It was even harder than it had looked. Where Muso had to heat the metal once, Naruto's needed to go into the hot coals for three times, but the old man was patient and led him through the process until it was finished.

"Not bad, now we need to fit these inside the vests and we may actually make it on time." After Naruto made another two, with Muso's guidance of course, he took over again and finished the other pieces. Far away from the heat of the forge on the other side of the room besides a big window were a lot of mannequin torsos. Each and every one wore the standard Anbu vest. Muso began to fiddle with needle and thread while Naruto was told to put the plate piece into the shoulder padding. That was easier said than done because he had to hop and jump a few times before he got it in. Having used the needle and thread more than once already to flick his clothes, Naruto also sewed some of the vests shut, this time standing on a stool. Muso was surprisingly fast at sewing with his truly enormous hands. After some Anbu with a dog mask and silver hair collected the vests while Naruto stayed in the backroom, Muso continued to work and Naruto watched and occasionally helped. It was strange, they worked as if it had to be like that. Naruto stayed to watch and Muso let him. Secretly he was glad to have some help in the forge. Demands for steel were rising and he, as the only Forge master going around these days, got the bulk of it and no matter how good he was, it was hard to do alone. Naruto was attentive and did not shy away from hard work, but that and the fact that he was an orphan was all he knew about him. The name he got just so because he didn't want to be called kid or boy all the time. And time went by fast.

'Oi! Naruto! Where the hell you at?"

"What the hell old man, I'm not deaf you know."

"Sure seem that way, been calling for a while."

"What is so important you got to shout my name so loud?"

"You got a visitor."

"What visitor? I'm not expecting any one. You sure it's me they want old man?"

"See for yourself then."

Stepping out of the forging room and into the general are where they met customers, Naruto came to an abrupt stop. Before him was… "Hinata! What are you doing here?"

"Hello Naruto."

The silence became palpable.

A palm smacked into the back of his head, grumbled words that some eerily like, have manners.

"Sorry about that, you caught me off guard."

"That's okay Naruto, I understand." What she said and what she thought were very different. Is it really okay Hinata, do you really understand?

"I… I've been meaning to talk to you. To say thanks for what you did." These feeling were foreign to him. No one did things just to be nice to him, usually there was a motive, but he couldn't think of one Hinata might have. "Why'd you do it, why would you risk your life to save mine?" He was almost pleading to be given an answer to his burning question. Could I have misjudge her? Analyzing people's motive was something he did on a daily basis. How could he not when it meant the difference between getting stabbed in the back or avoidance.

'Remember Hinata, stand straight, look him in the eyes and speak out.'Again, easier said than done. Never let him see your weakness. Open your mouth and speak girl! "I-I…" mouth clamped shut, hands came together as if to twiddle fingers, then drop. 'Breathe in then out, now try again.' "You were my classmate and you needed my help. Is it so wrong to offer you help?

"No, I never said it was. It's just we never really talked back in the academy so I wasn't expecting it, that's all."

"Why is that, huh Naruto? Why weren't you expecting anyone to help?"

"What! I don't know, I just wasn't okay."

"You said we never really spoke before, but I've tried to befriend you; on several occasions while in the academy, you never reciprocated. Sure you answered if I asked you a question yet not once, did you ever start a conversation with me. Why was that so?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"I could see you were lonely, that you needed a friend. I offered mine and you'd ignore it. Was it because I'm weak, a weirdo or not as confident as you portray yourself to be? Do you even know what it means to be friends with someone?" She looked at him intently yet there was no malice in her gaze.

"W…What! I never thought that." Anger rose, his fist clenched and he grounded his teeth. "Why all the questions, I never remember you being this talkative in the academy? He paused for a moment, wondering if his own words were true or just to placate her. Then he remembered to add something. "Of course I know about friends." 'Do I really know or is she right in her analysis?' That was his afterthought.

"You're right I wasn't." She breathe in then out, opened her mouth and closed it, then she opened it again and spoke. "It was the near death experience, or the maybe it was the lack of compassion from my father. Perhaps it was both. It did something to me I think. Not sure if it's temporary, but I could get used to it." She walked to the table, inspected its contents, but never lost sight of him. "I too was lonely in the academy, still am. Needed a friend just like you did. It's why I always tried no matter how you ignored me. I thought we could be each other's friend, but I guess you saw things differently."

"I'm sorry, if I made you feel unwanted."

"You don't need to apologize. You seemed to be searching for something and not finding it, but what I never figured out."

"Neither did I, thou." He hanged his head. Shamed faced.

"Then let's search together."

"What! What do you mean?" Taken by surprise, her declaration sure is bold for a girl, who used to be so timid not long ago.

"Well, you're looking for something in a person, a requirement of sort to be your friend. I'm also in search of a friend. If we search together maybe we'll find what we're both looking for." Shrugging her shoulder, she extended her hand and gave him a friendly smile. "Shake on it?"

He peered at the offered hand, look at her face for signs of deception. When none was found he extended his to clasp hers. "Sounds good to me."

There were smiles all around. In the background clapping could be heard instead of hammering of steel.

Nosey old man.

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Time passed by faster than expected, he was spending time getting to know Hinata. More importantly learning what it meant to have a friend and be one. He never realized it was so difficult. There were times he said the wrong thing, or simply took things said the wrong way. It was a learning period and the lessons were getting easier over time.

'Does he want me to work with him?' He was reading through one of Muso's books on forging. 'Am such an idiot.' The thought had hit him like a ton of bricks. Remembering how the old man had asked about a backup plan now that he couldn't be a ninja. Why didn't he just asked me? Adults are so weird. The question was though, did he want a job with the old man, and could he see himself doing this kind of work? 'Why the hell not, it's not like anyone else will offer me a job.'

"I'll tell him what I've decided tomorrow." He resolved as he continued to read. The book was interesting and he wanted to learn to make the weapons illustrated within.