Disclaimer: I own the story and not Naruto

Hope you like this chapter… There is some angst and some fluff… you get to figure out which is which… yes I did have fun writing this chapter.

Chapter 24 – Connections…

Naruto came home very tired. He was greeted by the guard with a polite bow, which he would return to the guards as he passed them. Jiraiya told him to meet him again but at noon tomorrow for a different type of training. He entered his room and this time took a shower instead of going to the baths just so that he could avoid Neji. He was not sure why Neji was trying to pick a fight yesterday but he did not want to that problem again. He decided to make a point of avoiding him whenever and where ever possible. He tried to visit Hinata but she was sleeping and might not wake up until after dinner.

After his shower he changed into a standard robe worn around the Hyuga complex. While bland it was functional. He walked around and found the garden he remembered from years ago. It was the one the Jasmine would take Hinata and him to each week to tend to the flowers and trees. He noticed the trees were taller and some of the flowers were untended compared to what he remembered. He went to the stream and sat down on the rock bench there closing his eyes. He felt a presence but did not move or acknowledge it. He was suddenly hit in the chest and dumped into the stream. A younger voice yelled at him "what are you doing here? You do not belong here. Leave the garden or I will hurt you."

He opened his eyes to see Hanabi fuming mad at him while he was lying in the steam feeling very wet at the moment. "Why did you push me into the water Hanabi?" Naruto asked as he wiped water from his face.

"This is my mother's garden and you are not allowed in here." She answered nearly yelling with anger in her voice.

"I am sorry but I didn't know that I was not allowed. Anyways I would spend time here with your sister and mother." Looking at her sadly at her as he stood up soaked to the bone. "Do you miss her as much as I do?"

This infuriated Hanabi. "What would you know about her you are street urchin? You are not even loved by anyone. No one wants you. How would you know my mother?"

Naruto pulled himself out of the water and started to drip dry. With a faraway look he smiled. "I knew her before you were born. I was kicked out of the compound soon after she died." A sad look came over his face. "All I have now are memories of her. I remember her smile, her voice, and a few other things, like a feeling of belonging that she gave to me. I am sorry you did not get to know her."

"I do not need pity or lectures from a demon child. Why do they call you that anyways?" Hanabi questioned.

Naruto smiled and then chuckled. "You have no idea do you? Why they call me that?" Hanabi shook her head. "Well then I will tell you a story about a law and one you nearly broke, which could have cost you your life." She looked shocked. "Did you know there is a law that pertains to me and me alone?" She shook her head. "I am sure you have leaned your history on the Kyubi, am I right?" She nodded. "Ok they only told you part of the story. But remember what I am about to tell you. You cannot tell anyone who does not already know about this. You could be punished with the death penalty for breaking this law. Do you understand?"

She shook her head. "What about you and the Kyubi would have to do with a law that would require someone to die for telling people something about it?"

Again Naruto smiled. "Like I said, there is a law that only allows the sitting Hokage and me to divulge this information. For anyone else it is a death sentence." A look of surprise and shock went over Hanabi's face. "Do you understand why I am being so careful right now?" She nodded. "I do not want you to die. So why would people call me demon child?" She shrugged her shoulders. "Well for one the fourth Hokage could not kill the Kyubi."

"That is impossible. He was the strongest and killed the demon." Hanabi interrupted.

"Ah but that is what you were told. The truth is that even as powerful as he was he could not kill the demon. The Kyubi was after all the strongest of the demon lords. So he did the next best thing he could to save the village. He sealed it in a human vessel." Hanabi looked confused. "He could not kill the demon he had to remove it another way. So he sealed it in a child whose chakra system had not developed yet. This way the chakra would not have too much of an adverse effect on the person it was sealed in."

"So who was the fool that they sealed the demon in?" Hanabi asked.

Naruto just smiled. "Do you know what day my birthday is?" She shook her head. "What day is the celebration of victory over the Kyubi?"

"October tenth." Hanabi answer smiling.

"Yes. They are both one and the same. Do you know now who the Kyubi is sealed in?" She looked confused. "I was that baby that the forth sealed the Kyubi in." She looked shocked and then seemed to be a little scared.

Naruto pointed at his whisker marks, "These birth marks are from the sealing process." He began to undo his robe and revealed his stomach and molded some chakra revealing the seal. "See, there is nothing to fear. I have him locked up in side of me. I am his jailor and part time tormentor. Occasionally he torments me, it is a mutual thing." He laughs.

She moves closer and touches the seal causing him to laugh. "Does it hurt?"

"No, but if I pull too much chakra from the Kyubi it could. Now you understand why I am referred to as demon or demon child?" She nods. "Also remember you cannot tell anyone about this as I do not want you to die for making a dumb mistake. Can I ask you a question?" Hanabi nods. "Remember when I stopped you from attacking Hinata and ran to the hospital?" She nodded. "Why did you not stop when Hinata was on the ground? She was down and the match was over."

Hanabi looked sad and towards the ground. "I am sorry about that. The elder told me that unless I could decisively beat Hinata then I would have the caged bird seal put on me that night. She said that if I did not win they would immediately put it on me." She started to cry.

"I had no choice and I just got angrier and angrier until all I could do it just attack." She looked at Naruto very scared and crying. "I was scared that they would put the seal on me…" She started to cry and fell to the ground crying. Naruto noticed another presence and looked to see Hiashi standing at the edge of the garden. Naruto closed his robe and gently grabbed Hanabi's hand pulling her up and then led her to her father with his hand on her shoulder, trying to comfort her.

"How long have you been there?" Naruto asks Hiashi.

"Long enough. I will walk her to her room and you can go change." Hiashi smiles "You do have a way with people."

Naruto had made it to his room and was getting out of his wet clothes when there was a knock on the door. "Just a minute." Naruto replied to the knock.

"Naruto-sama, Hinata-sama is awake and would like to talk to you when you are available." A female voice came from behind the closed door.

"Thank you I will be there in a minute, after I finish changing." Naruto replied.

Outside the door Neji nodded to the female Hyuga to leave. She had tears in her eyes as she left. He readied himself to attack as soon as Naruto exited the door. Neji was in his Juken stance waiting for Naruto to leave his room. 'I will remove this blight on the Hyuga once and for all. He has insulted the family and pulled down the main house. I will not let this continue.'

Naruto had just put on a new kimono. He felt the killing intent just as he opened the door. He immediately dodged to the left but was hit squarely in the center of his chest knocking the wind out of him and sending him flying onto and then over his bed. He landed in a heap feeling very tired. He then noticed blood on the floor and breathing was becoming labored. With each breath he would cough up blood. He pulled himself up into a kneeling position looking over the bed. He saw Neji slowly moving towards him with a smile on his face. He then saw Yugito in the door way with terror written all over her face.

She stepped into the room "how dare you attack my oniisan. You will be disqualified for sure n…" Neji hit her in the chest sending her back into the hallway landing in a heap against the far wall.

"Now where was I. Oh yes removing a stain from the Hyuga compound!" Neji smiled and continued to advance.

"You will stop now or you will feel the seal in its full force." A look of fear came over Neji's face when he heard Hiashi's voice. "You will then report to you quarters and not come out until I have talked to the Hokage."

"Hai" Neji said as he turned and bowed to Hiashi and left the room.

Hiashi ran to Naruto's side as several female Hyuga brought Yugito into his room and set her upon his bed. "Naruto are you alright?" Naruto was still coughing up blood but fell on his back when he accidentally stepped in the pool of blood on the floor. Hiashi rolled Naruto onto his side as his eyes started to flutter and his breathing started to gurgle. "Send for the doctor now." Naruto's eyes continued to flutter as the blood flowed out of his mouth as he coughed trying to breathe. "Don't try to talk, help is on the way. Naruto can you hear me? Naruto?!" Hiashi yelled at the top of his lungs.

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A/N: Great another cliffhanger, I seem to be getting better at these… hehehe