The Littlest Sannin II: Sound in Autumn
Disclaimer: Don't own.
Sequel to The Littlest Sannin
Chapter 2
(Konoha General Hospital)
Gaara looked at the one person outside of his sister that he trusted the most. "Naruto will be okay Gaara-kun." Hinata said softly. He amended his previous view in adding her to her trusted list. The past month had been interesting for him in many ways.
"It is rare to see him so still outside of meditation, and even then there are twitches." Gaara said.
His gaze went to his sister, his blackened circled eyes could see the strain she was under keeping herself together when he knew all she wanted to do was breakdown.
His gaze went to Naruto once more. You best wake up soon my friend. Temari and the others are falling apart without you.
Gaara had been shocked when Natas had struck Naruto. At first he thought his friend was just unconscious, but then Jiraiya explained the seal and he felt dread well up in him. Shukaku was concerned at what could hurt Naruto and the Kyuubi could be done to him and his container as well.
Gaara's eyes landed on the last figure in the room. Haku's shut down almost like Naruto, except she has no seal. She's awake, but unresponsive.
"Would you like me to get you something to eat?"
Gaara looked at Hinata and nodded. She started to go, but he reached out and took her hand, surprising both her and himself.
"I am…sorry." He said.
"For what Gaara-kun?" the Hyuuga asked, her eyes wide at his nervousness.
"I am not giving you the proper attention…I…" he was uncertain on how to continue. Until he'd moved to Oto and made friends with Naruto, he'd been alone, his own siblings had feared him.
"Its okay." Hinata said, her free hand rubbing his while it held her other one. "He is your friend, and he's mine. I understand." She said.
He nodded then brought her hand up and kissed her knuckles. "I will make it up to you." He said.
Hinata blushed. "I…I'll be back with some tea and rolls." She said and left the room.
"She's good for you."
Gaara looked over to his sister who was sitting at Naruto's side, her hand holding his, her thumb rubbing over his knuckles.
"He will be fine. Lady Tsunade and Lord Orochimaru won't let this stand." He said trying to make her and himself believe that the blond would wake up, it was only a matter of when.
"You love him." Gaara stated.
Temari nodded. "We all do." She said looking at Haku, then back to Naruto. "This loud, energetic blond wormed his way into our hearts. He's kind, patient, gentle…" she closed her eyes. "He doesn't show favoritism to any of us, but loves us all equally and he makes sure that we're taken care of and are having fun." She looked at Gaara and nodded her head at the battle fan by the door. "Did you know that he had that specially made for me? It's a light weight but super strong metal from the Village Hidden Amongst the Stars."
Gaara looked at it. The craftsman ship was master work.
"He did something like that for each of us. Haku got a pair of wrist blades. Kin got senbon needles with seals to return them to the pouch. Tayuya he went and got her a flute from the Royal Academy of music, along with sheet battle music so she can do more than those ugly summons of hers."
Gaara knew Naruto cared for all four girls. He realized how much the blond thought of all of them with the thoughtfulness of the gifts.
"I wish he was awake so I could ask him." Gaara said.
"For what?" Temari asked her younger brother.
"Advise." The jinchuriki of the one tailed Ichibi said.
The siblings kept vigil over the blond and Haku in silence until Hinata returned.
XX
"Shizune, please…how is Naruto?" Kimimaro asked.
She'd avoided telling him as she knew the leader of the Sound Five would blame himself.
"The truth, please." Kimimaro asked. "I can tell by the looks of the others that things are not well."
Shizune sighed and looked at the man in the bed. "He's stabilized, but he won't wake up."
She told him about the seal and the message, she saw the look in his eyes get bleaker.
"I failed." He said.
"No." Shizune said touching his arm. "You didn't fail. Natas is a foul, evil being. Jiraiya will…"
"What if he can't?" Kimimaro asked.
"Then Lady Tsunade and Lord Orochimaru are contemplating on meeting Natas." She finally said after being quiet. Kimimaro nodded. "I require aid in preparing to move…"
"You can't." Shizune said. "Kimimaro, you were badly injured. You'll need…"
"I will not stay in bed while Lady Tsunade goes to meet with that monster and Naruto-sama is incapacitated. Now, either you get me healed and prepared for travel, or I will seek another doctor."
Shizune looked at the man who had sworn his life to her teacher and the boy she saw as a younger brother or nephew.
"Very well." She said and focused chakra into her hand. "Accelerated healing will hurt and it will take some time off your life…"
"Do what must be done. Pain is no concern and if my life can be given for Naruto's or Lady Tsunade's then so be it."
Shizune nodded and began her work, a tear slipped from her eye as the man she respected gritted his teeth in pain while she worked on mending his body faster.
XX
The roof of Konoha General Hospital looked like an armed camp. Four members of the Sound Five prowled the roof. Two civilians had tried to gain access during the night, their cooling bodies were to the side under a tarp, they would report it to Lord Orochimaru later.
"Tayuya, you chould be with…" Jirobo started, but the red head's glare stopped him.
When the two Konoha citizens used ladders figuring they would use the roof to slip in and kill the Kyuubi brat, they weren't prepared for Tayuya's assault as she used some of the music Naruto had gotten for her to blast them with lightening and slice them with wind.
After their bodies hit the roof, she'd proceeded to kick the hell out of the corpses and swearing with each blow. It had been Sukon and his twin who pulled her off but it had taken a word from Anko who had heard the commotion to settle the girl down.
Now the curse spewing red head was pacing the roof like an angry jungle cat, looking for someone stupid enough to try again so she could unleash her anger, aggression upon them. Her team knew that fear, anger and sadness were the fuel keeping her going. They saw as she would slip down to the room with the whisker marked blond. Kidomaru watched as his teammate hurt, but like the others they wee smart enough not to say anything or have what was keeping her going turned on them. Anko warned it was only a matter of time before she broke down and ordered them to keep an eye on her and radio her when it happened.
It was nearing late afternoon when they heard it.
"Are you sure the demon is on the top floor?" a male voice said.
"Yes. They said those Oto nin took over the top floor. They are actually concerned for the monster."
The males on the roof flinched as Tayuya went still, her expression hardening.
"Well this is Konoha, and we don't care what the Oto nin think. We'll finish off the demon while its weak and be labeled big damn heroes."
The grappling hook sank into the ledge and Jirobo was going to grab it and toss it away, but Tayuya's growl froze him in place. She pulled out her flute and waited, listening intently as they heard someone climbing up the backside of the hospital.
The two figures reached the top, their backs were to the roof they were ignorant as the red head stood there and slowly brought the flute to her lips, her sonnet of death was the last thing the two Chuunin heard as death rose up and destroyed them.
XX
(Mount Enya)
Jiraiya had arrived at dawn and after speaking with the master of the temple he'd been allowed access to the ancient library hidden deep in the mountain.
His hands shook with exhaustion as he hadn't slept or eaten since the day of the finals for the chuunin exam in Konoha.
Damn it Jiraiya. You brag and boast and when it comes time to do something about it, you are as useful as a fork while eating soup.
He read scroll after scroll the lantern refreshed by young monks who asked him if he needed anything only to be ignored as he poured over ancient text.
Come on Jiraiya-dobe. Naruto needs you. You can't fail him. You can't loose him. He thought as he closed another ancient scroll and put it in the pile to be returned.
"DAMN IT TO THE SEVEN LEVELS OF HELL!!!" he roared as he slammed his fist into the table.
Ever since his last encounter with Natas, Jiraiya had been disturbed. The bastard has gone out of his way to taunt us. And with him calling me ero-sannin, there have only been two people who ever called me that. One is dead and the other is in a hospital bed…
Grabbing a new scroll Jiraiya opened it and started reading. His mind divided about finding help for the boy he along with his teammates had taken in as their own, and the identity of the skull masked nin who had been taunting them for over a decade.
AN: And there is the second chapter. It will be a while before Naruto wakes, but the others aren't going to be idle much longer.
PS: NO CHAPTER NEXT WEEK. BE BACK FIRST WEEK OF DECEMBER. HAPPY THANKSGIVING