Chapter 26

The second night

The sun started to set on the leaf village and Hinata was alone again watching over Naruto.

"Is it okay if I turn the lights out Naruto," Hinata asked as she walked toward the switch, "it helped you to fall asleep last night."

"Sure, but I don't feel tired at all," he added.

"Hmm, that's what you said last night too," she smiled

He started to laugh "I guess that's true."

She sat down in the chair next to his bed and grabbed his hand, lacing her fingers between his like she had done last night. He rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb. She knew he probably wouldn't be in the hospital much longer, and she would have to get some sleep.

"Are you tired Hinata?" he asked "I don't know how you can sit in the dark and not be."

"No, I'm fine, really," she replied "I've been on missions where we had to condition ourselves to stay awake, about 2 full days without sleep is all I can do, so I'm good for tonight."

"So you have to go tomorrow?" he said with a sad voice.

"Well, you won't be here forever either Naruto. At some point both of us will probably be going right?" She paused. "I'll stay as long as I can." She said with a smile as she relaxed her grip on his hand. She opened her hand with his and felt the lines on his palm, she wanted to remember how it felt when she left tomorrow and probably wouldn't get to be so close to him.

"I'm leaving tomorrow," he said.

"What do you mean, Naruto," she asked, "you can't mean you're going home. Didn't you hear what Sakura said?" she asked with surprise. She stopped moving her hand over his.

"Like you said, I have to go home sometime, why prolong it?"

"What if you have complications from your surgery?" Hinata asked.

"What if I do? Is being here going to prevent that? I can't be here anymore." He added. "Not if she's not going to be here," he thought. "it would be so lonely now, I've gotten used to having her here."

"If you think that is a good idea, let's both ask to talk to the Hokage in the morning so it can be settled," Hinata was holding his hand tight again.

"I'm going to miss this," he said as he squeezed her hand.

"Why do we have to," she whispered "We can still be friends," she hesitated "can't we."

"yeah, yes, of course we'll still be friends," he said the last word in a half hearted way. He would have to ask her if she could forgive him, he knew he needed to have her in his life.

"Good!" Hinata whispered loudly as she stood up. She bent down over Naruto, her soft black hair falling along the side of his face and his chest as she gave him a kiss on the cheek. This way if things didn't work out, Hinata would always have a sweet memory of a kiss with him, who knows if she would ever get that close to him again. She sat back down in the chair, never letting go of his hand the whole time.

Naruto was more than surprised, maybe Hinata could forgive him after all. He wanted to reach up and touch his cheek where she kissed him but wasn't willing to let go of her hand. Both of them didn't say a word the rest of the night but had smiles on their faces.

In the morning Hinata asked the medic ninja to have the Hokage visit them.

"Naruto, you're feeling better I see." Lady Tsunade continued "I see that Hinata has been taking good care of you." She gave Hinata a smile. Hinata didn't smile back but nodded her head at the Hokage. She knew Lady Tsunade wouldn't be happy with what Naruto had to tell her.

"Well Granny, there's no easy way to tell you, but I'm going home." He said as he stood up and got out of bed.

"Look here you little punk, you're not going anywhere." She yelled.

"I am tired of being here, I'm ready to get on with my life. I'm leaving!" he yelled back at her.

"I anticipated you would be difficult Naruto, but you only have 5 days left. The results of the operation need to be closely monitored, I forbid you to leave!" she yelled back.

"Forbid? I appreciate what you did for me grandma, but I feel cooped up in here. I need to get out of here."

"5th Hokage, what if Naruto did go," at this point Lady Tsunade's eyes shot daggers at Hinata "and he came back morning and night to be checked on by a medic. If there is something wrong then Naruto can come back?" Hinata offered.

Lady Tsunade made a deep sigh while she thought it over.

"Please, please granny!" Naruto pleaded "I can't take this anymore."

"…Okay!" she said "but on the condition that you do come to check in morning and night and that if you do start to have side effects you come in right away," she paused "do I have your word?"

"Yes, that's a promise," he shouted as he started to get ready to leave.

Lady Tsunade nodded and called out before heading out the door, "And Hinata," she paused, "I expect you to make sure he keeps his word."

"I will," Hinata replied while blushing.

After a few minutes Naruto had his things packed and ready to go and he squeezed Hinata's shoulder.

"That was great Hinata, thanks a million!" he said, beaming.

"Sure Naruto, don't forget to check in though, okay?" she added.

"Are you headed home," he asked, reminding her that their time had come to an end.

"Yeah, I guess I better get some sleep," she smiled.

"Come on," he said as he grabbed her hand in his, "I'll walk you home."