After two days, Naruto woke up. He saw the white walls of the room and he knew he was admitted in the hospital. The next thing in his head was that he was hungry. And he started thinking of good Ichiraku's ramen smelled and tasted. The brightness coming into the room told him that it was a pleasant sunny day.

The hospital and resting is the one thing he would hate forever. He wanted to get out of there and he wanted to be free for whatever he needed to do. Training on a day like this would be so refreshing, he would not become tired of it given the weather. He wanted to jump into the sun. With thoughts running through his mind, he turned his head towards the brightness of the day that was emanating from the window.

Someone was already in his room. It was a while until his eyes got adjusted to the reflecting sun rays. Then he became aware of who his visitor was.

"Hinata?! H-Hey!"

She was standing by the window, looking into the peaceful village. Her height slightly increased when she heard him speak. She held her breath for a moment. Then she responded composing herself.

"Naruto-kun, you woke up," she stated as she turned around.

"Yeah, I just did."

"I should go inform Tsunade-sama."

She left with that as she looked at him only when she turned around as she closed the door to his hospital room behind her.


After two minutes or so, the Hokage stepped in. Naruto sat up due to the sudden bang of the door.

Whoa, she's already pissed, he thought as she entered and went near him.

"How long has it been?"

"Um..from when, Obaa-chan?"

"From when you were brought back from your mission, knucklehead."

"Two days," he answered, "and two days is a long time to stay at a hospital.."

"It's good that you were being conscious. You should have been dead by now, judging from the intensity of healing you went through," she said and paused expectantly to hear from him.

"Well, Kurama didn't want me to die. He kept healing me through out that fight with Sasuke. I have a feeling that he is really good."

She knew of this reason. It was the same as the time when Naruto died during her fight with Orochimaru. It was because of the nine tails that Naruto gained his consciousness back after life seized for him for a few moments.

"Nine tails didn't want you to die because it has no choice," she stated.

"Ah.. doesn't matter," he had to say that for himself.

She sighed, "Anyway, how are you feeling now, Naruto?"

"Totally fine, 'baa-chan, so when am I getting out of here?"

"I will decide that later," she said and left before he was about to retort.

He kept looking at the door and then let out a loud sigh.

Soon after, Kakashi came in.

"Naruto."

Whoa man, he's serious, Naruto noted at the back to his head.

"Hey, Kakashi-sensei," he greeted, his cheerful self evident.

"Listen to me. From now on, no going after Sasuke. Understood?"

"There is no need for that either, sensei," he said giving Kakashi an eye to eye grin.

Kakashi raised an eyebrow at that. Now that was exactly the opposite of what he had been expecting. And then he had sakura to convince too. He thought he would start with Naruto first unlike always knowing Sakura's feelings for Sasuke. And then here he was, unable to comprehend the situation.

"You wanna know where Sasuke is, sensei?"

Kakashi was still too surprised for all this. Yet the eye patch jounin caught the teasing tone behind his student's voice when he said 'sensei'. By the determination in his eyes and the grin plastered across his face, Kakashi knew it was Naruto who won against Sasuke this time, for sure.

"Yes Naruto, please tell me." He requested trying to act a little uncool even after the shock he was his mentally hit with has worn off. He wanted to please his student was all, of course.

"He is with Chief-toad, 'ttebayo!"

Kakashi stayed silent. He was not understanding a thing of what was going on.

Naruto knew the situation he put Kakashi in and decided to elaborate.

He took a deep breath and started, "well sensei, when we were fighting just before, I was able to get some of the teme's blood. Yaknow, the idea was totally Gamatatsu's. And just as I filled the tube with maybe two or three drops of it, I gave it away to Tatsu and he went to Myoboku and made a contract with his blood, and when I couldn't fight anymore, he reverse summoned Sasuke! Poor teme, food sucks there," he ended giggling to himself.

Kakashi was stunned. But I never heard of such thing, he said to himself.

"But is there a possibility of making the contract without the person?" he asked.

"Well, that was our plan, nah, more like Gamakichi's and Gamatatsu's. They said they were only experimenting, but I've got a feeling that it worked. Because, if not, I should be at mount Myoboku. That's what we planned. If I could not keep fighting anymore, it was likely that Sasuke would kill me; he is not in a state to listen to anyone," Naruto paused making a bitter face.

"Okay, so when are you going to confirm?"

Umm..hmm, thought Naruto. He could use this excuse to get out of the hospital.

"As soon as they discharge me sensei," he sang the last word like the girl clone of his.

"Okay, your wish," Kakashi said with a monotone voice as he turned around to leave.

"Hey, sensei, are you going to get me out of here or not?" He was desperate that his sensei would be as desperate as him to know if Sasuke was at mount Myoboku or not. But his eyes widened and his face reflected complete shock at Kakashi's response, as he voiced his fears out. It was that same old one expressionless eye.

"Don't summon your toads here, Tsunade won't be happy," he said and left the room.

Of course she wouldn't be happy..and that's another reason for me to get outta here. And after giving the changes, for good or bad, that their team has gone through in the recent past, he slept some more, with the one that has been bothering him. He was not sure of Sasuke's reaction to all of that, it would be up to Kakashi as to when they would summon him back. He thought it would be better if Sasuke stayed somewhere like that which has no connection to all the others, some solitude should do some good to his friend. Also how is he going to tell Sakura about this? How was he going to explain what all he has faced during their fight and what horrible condition Sasuke put himself in? Because that would be the very next thing he would be questioned once she meets him.


A/N:

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