Hi you guys! i know, i know, it's been a while since i last updated. i started another fic so i was using some of my time on that too. and i was kinda stuck on this one. i would really appreciate it if you would send me reviews, or personal messages and tell me what should happen and give me ideas. but, until then, enjoy the chapter!

Chapter 17-The way of the ninja

"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.

It was the next morning, and the sun was shining brightly over Konoha…

"Naruto…?" Hinata had just woken up, and she saw that Naruto's eyes were flicking open.

"Naruto!" Hinata lunged forward and hugged Naruto. But when she realized what she had done, she backed away with a dark red face, and played with her fingers.

"Um…Naruto, let me go get a nurse real quick." But before she got out the door, it had already swung open, hard enough that Hinata was lucky that she moved back in time, because the door had left a big dent in the wall; due to whoever had opened it. To no surprise, Tsunade walked in.

"Naruto!" Tsunade walked next to Naruto and gave him a hug. Although, Naruto was just too exhausted to respond, he merely looked at her. Tsunade was crushed from seeing him like that.

"How are you feeling?" Tsunade asked him, even though she knew that he wouldn't answer her.

"Let me do a scan on you real quick." Tsunade focused chakra into her hand and waved it over his body.

"Hm. Looks like the infection is still there," she looked over at Hinata, "but I think that he will be fine. He just needs some rest." Hinata nodded. She looked back over at Naruto, and he was asleep once again.

"Um, Tsunade-sama, do you know anything about what happened to Lee?" Tsunade sat down on the end of Naruto's bed.

"Well, it's quite funny actually. You know how Lee is, and how he can get over excited about things, right?" Hinata nodded. "Well, after you found Naruto for the second time, he just, well…got so excited that he wondered off and got lost…" Tsunade burst into laughter. "I'm sorry, I just can't hold it in! I mean, he wondered off and got lost!" Hinata tried to hold her laughter in to be respectful to Lee, but she just couldn't. She soon began giggling freely with Tsunade.

"You know Hinata," Hinata looked over at Tsunade, "ever since I came to this village, whenever I saw you, you always looked shy, and nervous." Hinata looked down at her hands. "Hinata, don't feel bad, I was just going to say that it's nice to see you smile. You are a pretty girl, and you shouldn't waste it because you are shy." Hinata looked up at her,

"T-thank you, Hokage-sama."

"Hinata, would you like to be my apprentice along with Sakura? We need more medic ninja's, and I think that you would do great." Hinata looked up at her, shocked at what she had just said.

"But, H-hokage-sama, why would you want me as your apprentice?"

"Because, a few weeks ago, before Naruto was taken, I was talking to Kurenai. During our conversation, I had mentioned that I had wanted another apprentice, to raise the amount of medic ninja. I asked her if there was anyone that she knew of, that was good enough for the job. Without hesitation, she said, Hinata Hyuuga. She told me that you are a hard worker, and that she thinks you would do a great job. So, Hinata, would you like to be my apprentice?" Hinata looked at her with a face showing that she didn't know what to do. "It's okay Hinata. You don't have to decide right now, you can think about it if you want to. I'll leave you and Naruto alone." Tsunade smiled at Hinata, and then quietly left the room.

FLASHBACK

"Tsunade-sama, I think that you should teach Hinata Hyuuga. She works so hard to improve herself. Every time our squad trains, she is always the first one to start, and the last one to finish. You see Hokage-sama, for years Hinata has looked up to Naruto. When everyone else in the village hated him, to Hinata, he was her inspiration. Hinata has liked Naruto since they first met. Since they were little kids, she has watched and learned from him. The only reason why she still trains is because of Naruto. And because of something that he once said. 'No way, I never go back on my word…that's my shinobi way'."

END FLASHBACK

You know, Hinata, that's the real reason why I want you to be my apprentice. Because if you are anything like Naruto…then I know you'll be amazing. Tsunade thought as she walked back to the Hokage tower.

Back in Naruto's room-

Hinata sat in Naruto's room, reading a book while he slept. She looked up and saw Sakura walk in the room.

"Hey, how's Naruto?" Sakura asked her.

"He's doing okay. Tsunade-sama said that he just needed lots of rest, but he should be fine." Hinata told her.

"Ya, same with Sasuke. It hurts so bad to have to see him in so much pain. The medics will be able to heal his broken bones, but they aren't sure about the bone in his arm that was crushed. Tsunade might be able to get the pieces back together, but…I don't know if his body can heal him enough after that. But hopefully it can." Sakura smiled at Hinata.

"Yeah, hopefully." Hinata told her.

In Sasuke's hospital room

Sasuke sat in the cold hospital bed trying to ignore the pain in his right arm. He had just woke up. He had over heard the medics talking and he knew that they didn't think that they would be able to fix his arm

Dang that Itachi why did he have to do that? He is such a pain. Why did I even think of killing him? I can't even hit him hard enough to make a bruise let alone kill him. (Well at least right now) and if my arm doesn't heal I don't know if I will ever be able to.

Sakura walked in after visiting Naruto and Hinata. Sitting down on the hard plastic chair next to his bed the pink haired girl stared quietly at the floor.

"Sasuke, how are you feeling? Does your arm still hurt?" She quietly asked him.

"Yeah"

Sasuke stared up at the ceiling, wishing that the pain would go away. After a minute of silence, a medic walked in with a shot to numb the pain.

"Here you go Uchiha-sama. This is to help the pain go away. Just to warn you, it will make you drowsy." The nurse smiled at him as she walked over, lifted his sleeve, and injected the shot. Sakura looked up at the nurse.

"It's okay if you stay with him Sakura. But when you leave, please inform one of the nurses." The nurse said, Sakura nodded in agreement, as the nurse turned and walked out the room.

Sakura turned her attention back to Sasuke. he was already struggling against the sleep that the medicine would ensure.

"Sasuke, it's alright, you need your rest." Sakura said to him. But he still didn't close his eyes.

Ugh…the pain got even worse after she gave me that shot. I am tired, but I don't want to just fall asleep in front of Sakura.

"I'll be here when you wake up Sasuke, but right now you have to sleep." Sakura told him. Sasuke didn't want an argument, so he finally agreed by closing his eyes. He couldn't see it, but Sakura smiled at him.

In a matter of minutes, Sasuke was in a deep sleep. Sakura stood up, and closed the window curtains. Before she sat back down, she pulled the covers up on top of Sasuke, and kissed him on the forehead. After that, she sat down and fell asleep.

was it good? i didn't really go over it like i do with my other chapters, so there might be some errors here and there...please forgive me...anyway, review or send me a personal message. depending on whether or not i get any, will determine how soon the next chapter comes out...so please give me your ideas!