The blackness faded to bright light. Jero could hear the hum of the florescent light above his head and as his vision came into focus he saw the small figure of Aritomo standing in a hospital doorway twenty feet or so away from him. Expecting to feel the surge of pain that would accompany his last memory of being hit in the stomach, Jero was surprised to actually feel well for the first time in eight months. Light and energized, not heavy and drained. The shock of reality suddenly hit him at that moment.

Wait!! I was hit in the stomach! The babies!! And Aritomo!! He got killed trying to protect everyone!! Taro and Yumi!! Where are they?

Jero placed his hands over his flat stomach trying to search for any movement or sign that they were still alive. Aritomo turned around, noticing Jero had awakened. "ANBU-san, you're awake!" The small boy ran and knelt beside the sitting Jero who looked up at him with slight desperation in his eyes.

"What happened? I thought you were dead."

Aritomo smirked shyly, a blush burning the ends of his cheeks. "Your technique…I didn't see it very well, but I figured it out. It was a variant of the substitution jutsu. I used it to get the shinobi's teammates that were hiding in the shadows." His eyes fell to Jero's stomach. "I didn't think that ninja would attack you, I mean- I thought Taro and Yumi would- or you could fight…" his voice faded with shame. Aritomo looked up expecting to get reprimanded for his inability to react as a good team leader. His eyes widened to see Jero, with tears running down his face, which had frozen into a blank expression of shock.

"A-ANBU-san…" Aritomo stated slowly not sure how to react. "ANBU-san! Taro and Yumi are okay! They're downstairs in the Hospital getting treated! And I'm okay too! After you got hit-," His voice trailed as he realized he would probably make things worse by repeating what had happened.

"I-I can't believe it…" Jero whispered softly. "I was always the best. I-I could always successfully pull off any mission I was given…" He looked up, his eyes dark and cold. "But, I failed the most important mission." He put his hands over his face and trembled feeling so horrible and alone.

"This stopped being a mission a long time ago, Jero."

Aritomo leapt to his feet. How could he not have noticed the young kunoichi, walking slowly down the poorly lit hallway? He grabbed a kunai in his hand and held it tightly, ready to defend Jero with his life. As the shinobi got closer he noticed her torn and battered ANBU outfit was one of a Konoha medical 

specialist. He stared in awe as she got closer, dropping his kunai completely as she towered in front of him. Removing her mask she looked down at the small boy whose eyes were wide in trepidation. She knelt in front of Jero who sat curled, holding his head in his hands.

Aritomo stared. Her eyes were so pretty and they radiated nothing but love towards Jero. She reached out and brushed some strands of hair from in front of Jero's face. She smiled slowly as he looked up.

"Naru-chan…" he whispered through tears.

"I should never have left you, Jero…" Naruko said, shaking her head slowly, wiping a stray tear from Jero's cheek with her index finger.

"Naru-chan...I-I couldn't save them…" he stated ashamedly. Naruko hugged Jero tightly. "It's alright, Jero. I understand."

"BUT ANBU-SAAAAN!!" Aritomo uncharacteristically whined ripping the two angst ridden lovers apart.

"You never let me finish the storyyyy!! You see after that guy hit you in the stomach the most amazing thing happened! I saw everything with my sharingan!!All the chakra you had stored in you, shot into the guy and like, devoured him!! He was all screaming and stuff when the chakra started going off like fireworks!!" The little boy declared wildly, jumping up and down as Taro would.

"Then it transferred back to you and I saw it all!! Your chakra flow corrected itself and started healing you at an amazing rate! It was crazy!! Then you passed out, but…" his voice trailed as he seemed to calm down. Aritomo stepped forward and rested his hand between them on Jero's stomach, causing Naruko to pull away and look down at Jero's flat stomach.

Aritomo's eyes flashed red. "They're still alive…just tired, I guess." He grinned wide, his cheeks flushing.

Naruko and Jero's eyes met as they glanced up at each other. Suddenly Jero burst into tears. Burring his face into Naruko's chest he sobbed loudly, releasing all the anxiety, and sadness he had accumulated over the nearly four months alone. Naruko held him closer and rocked him gently crying as well. She looked up at Aritomo and nodded, "Thank you for looking out for him. You can go down stairs and get treated with your teammates." Aritomo nodded and stood up. Opening the door he took one last glance at the two ANBU. He smiled hoping one day he could be that happy.

--

Okay...I'm sooo sorry I have not written in forever!! Two weeks was spent on vacation and the rest, I had massive writers block!!

AAAny wayz...I had always wanted Aritomo to not be as serious as Sasuke, but not as silly as Obito but he ended up being too stern. I'd like to think that Aritomo would be as silly as Taro if only Taro wouldnt beat him to it!

I wanted the character to be the a good fighter that was in the original Naruto series, but no one fit the age bracket! So I just had to make one up. It kind of sucks because since Aritomo's an Uchiha...you know...

Well be waitin' for the next chapter and sorry again! The big moment is coming up so don't miss it! Comment plz and have a nice day!!