Chapter 16-Was it worth it?

"How can I help you Hokage-sama?"

"Send Hatake, Kakashi in." Tsunade told the new jounin.

"Yes ma'am." The jounin disappeared in a puff of smoke, instantly returning with Kakashi.

"Kakashi, time for you to hear the outcome of your mission."

"What is it Hokage-sama?"

"Well, starting with Jiraiya: physically exhausted. He said that it was from fighting Orochimaru."

"Yes, we did have a run in with him." Kakashi told her.

"Inuzuka Kiba, Hyuuga Neji, and Nara Shikamaru have minor cuts and bruises. Hinata is physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausted. Haruno Sakura has minor chakra exhaustion. Now getting to the serious ones. I did hear what happened to Uchiha Sasuke from Kiba. Sasuke's injuries are: pleanty of broken ribs, some bones in his left arm and leg are broken, and unfortunately, one of the bones in his arm is not just broken, but it is crushed. He also has major bruising. Now for Uzu…now for Naruto…" Tsunade looked down at her desk. Kakashi saw a tear make its way down her face. "Naruto's seal is very weak. It seems that" Kakashi cut in.

"Akatsuki and Sound were trying to get Kyuubi out of Naruto. We have yet to find out how."

"Anyways, he is completely worn out physically and mentally, that, it could be…deadly…it took some time, but I finally got Hinata to stop crying long enough for her to tell me what happened to Naruto. And about how he was stabbed. Before any of the medics could do anything about it, it got infected. The infection had made his condition even worse, if that's possible. Other than that, he has numerous cuts and bruises." Tsunade concluded.

"Hokage-sama, has he woken up yet?"

"No Kakashi, but when he does, I will inform you immediately. I know how much he means to you." Tsunade told him.

"And Hokage, if you don't mind me asking, what did happen to Naruto?"

"Well, while you guys were in the middle of the fight, Hinata got cornered. The man had brought out his sword, and was about to kill her. But, right when he brought it down, out of nowhere, Naruto showed up. Right in front of Hinata. He got stabbed, right in the stomach." Tsunade started to cry even harder, just at the thought of Naruto getting stabbed. Kakashi looked down in regret.

If only I was there, then Naruto wouldn't be hurting like this…

"Kakashi, I know what you're thinking, and it's not your fault. Naruto did it to save Hinata…" Kakashi, without trying to stop it, let a tear run down his cheek.

"But you see Hokage-sama, Naruto shouldn't be able to know who Hinata is…"

"Kakashi, what on earth are you talking about?"

"You see, Naruto lost his memory." Right then, at that very moment, Tsunade lost it.

"Kakashi, you had better be able to explain this!" Tsunade wanted desperately to believe that Kakashi was lying, but she knew that he wouldn't do something like that.

"How?" She managed to say.

"Well here's what happened," Kakashi began telling her the story from when he had the 'polite' conversation with Akatsuki and Sound…

FLASHBACK

"Sasuke-kun, I don't think that he would be joking at a time like this."

The two gennin were so absorbed in their conversation, that only Kakashi had noticed that every single one of the Akatsuki and sound ninjas had smirks on their faces.

"What have you done to Naruto!" Kakashi yelled at them. This shocked Hinata and Sasuke; they had never seen Kakashi show, well, anger like this ever before. He was always one to hide his emotions. But Naruto was shocked more than any of them.

"Who are you!" Naruto said. But after saying that, he clutched his stomach from the pain.

"Naruto-kun…y-you mean, y-you really don't remember us?" Naruto shook his head. When Hinata saw that, she started to cry even harder. Naruto reached up to her shoulder,

"I'm sorry, but I just don't know you, or remember you." He had a sad look on his face, from making Hinata cry.

"I SAID, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO NARUTO!" Kakashi yelled at the Akatsuki. Only, to his astonishment, they started to laugh. One of the members spoke up,

"Well, we wanted Kyuubi. While he was here, he attempted to escape." The person next to him then said,

"We didn't want that to happen, so we performed a mind jutsu; so that he wouldn't remember anything."

"If he didn't remember his past, then he would have no reason to escape." One of the sound ninja said. After that comment, all of the Akatsuki and Sound ninja started laughing.

In the blink of an eye, Kakashi had his chidori out. He ran straight for the ninja. And well, he showed no mercy.

END FLASHBACK

"Naruto…" Tsunade was in complete shock. When Kakashi tried to comfort her, she just waved him off.

"Kakashi, I would just like to think."

"As you wish Hokage-sama. But before I go, what room is Naruto in?" Kakashi asked her. Tsunade just chuckled.

"He's in room 103 Kakashi."

"Thank you." Kakashi was about to leave when she said,

"But Kakashi, you might want to wait a while. You see, Hyuuga Hinata is with him right now." She smiled and him, and she noticed from the crease in his mask, he was smiling to.

Room 103…

Naruto, please wake up…

The young Hyuuga heiress was sitting in a seat next to Naruto. He had IV's attached to him everywhere. For the first time sense they had found him, he looked safe, and peaceful. For quite a while, she just sat and watched him sleep. She was lucky that the medics had let her in to sit with him.

FLASHBACK

Tsunade had just handed Naruto over to the medics.

"I want you to do all that you can for him. If anything what so ever changes, I want you to tell me immediately! Is that understood?" The medics nodded to her. "And I don't want anyone to go in and disturb him." The medics had once again nodded in agreement. When Tsunade began to turn away, she saw Hyuuga Hinata walking over to her. Hinata's face was red and puffy, and her breathing was shaky.

"Hinata, you are supposed to be examined before you can go anywhere." Tsunade told her.
"I k-know H-hokage-sama. B-but…" Tsunade went over to Hinata and wrapped her arms around her.

"Hinata, what's wrong?" Hinata looked up at her and began crying.

"H-hokage, please, l-let me g-go and s-see N-Naruto-kun."

"Hinata, I am sorry, but I ordered the medics not to let anyone in. Naruto needs his rest." Hinata started crying even harder.

"P-please! I-I need to s-see him…" Tsunade looked down at Hinata with pity. She had known that Hinata liked Naruto for ages, and she just couldn't turn her down.

"Alright. You, and only you, can go and see him." Tsunade looked at Hinata and smiled.

"T-thank you H-hokage-sama! L-let me hurry and go get s-something." Hinata turned and walked around the corner, and came back with a big bouquet of flowers in her hands. She quietly walked into Naruto's room, up past his bed, and placed the flowers on his nightstand. After, she took a chair and pulled it up right next to the bed. Tsunade just smiled and told the medic that she had to check on the others, and that she would be right back.

On her way back from checking the others, she took a peak inside Naruto's door. She saw Hinata asleep with her head and arms lying on the bed next to Naruto.