Hi! This is chapter 3… 'Nuff said…
Chapter 3 – Retuning
Hinata waited by the front gate of the village. Her mind filled with thoughts of Naruto as she pressed her index fingers together and blushed. The sky was a cold gray.
'Looks like it's going to rain soon…' Hinata thought as she looked up at the sky.
Her gaze returned to the road leading out of the village. A shadowy figure could be seen in the distance. As the figure closed in on the village they became more visible. Naruto was carrying Sakura in his arms. Hinata felt disheartened when she saw them. She stared at her feet. Guards at the village gates seemed alarmed. Hinata heard them call of a medical team and she looked up. She rushed to them. Then she saw Sakura, dead in Naruto's arms and Naruto's near fatal wounds. Hinata felt tears well up in her eyes.
"Naruto!!" She shrieked as she ran to him in alarm. A guard took Sakura from his arms and a light drizzle began to fall.
"Naruto! You have to get you wounds treated!" Hinata cried as she placed her hand on Naruto's bloodstained cheek.
"I… I couldn't do anything… I didn't get there in time…" Naruto murmured.
"Naruto… I'm so sorry…" Hinata said as tears fell from her eyes.
A medical ninja ran up to them.
"We have to get his wounds treated immediately!"
"Right." Hinata nodded.
Hinata eased Naruto's arm onto her shoulder and she guided him to the medical ninja. Naruto clutched Hinata's hand tightly.
"Hinata… Could you… Stay-" Naruto began.
"Don't waste your energy. Of course I'll stay with you." Hinata forced a smile.
Hinata held Naruto's cold hand as he medical ninja led them to the emergency room. They placed an anesthetic mask over Naruto's mouth and nose and opened his ripped anbu vest and revealed the wounds Kabuto inflicted on him. Hinata stared in shock. His stomach had already begun to heal as the Kyuubi's seal glowed. The medical team were drawn backwards as well. They bandaged Naruto's larger wounds on his head, torso and back.
"He'll be out for about three hours. You can stay with him until he wakes up if you like." A nurse said to Hinata, leaving a clipboard at the edge of Naruto's bed.
Hinata nodded. The nurse left the room and Hinata gazed at Naruto's sleeping body. His bare chest was covered by bandages. Hinata stroked his cheek with the back of her hand. She placed his hand in her other.
'I can't imagine how you must feel right now Naruto-kun… But I promise that I'll be here for you. What ever you need, I'll always be here for you. I wish I could do more for you now but I don't know what else I can do. But I promise I'll do everything in my power to help you…' Hinata thought.
She removed her hand from his cheek and gently pressed it against Naruto's exposed chest. She gently laid her head on Naruto's chest. His heartbeat was soft and calm. Hinata brushed her hand against the warm surface. She closed her eyes and stared at his face. His scars were beginning to heal.
"I promise I'll be here for you." Hinata said quietly as she closed her eyes once more.
"Thank you Hinata…"
"What?" Hinata said abruptly, opening her eyes.
Naruto was half smiling at her with tired eyes.
"Ummm… You heard all of that?" Hinata said, her blush returning.
Naruto nodded and forced a smile. The sorrowful expression returned soon after.
"I'm sorry…" Hinata whispered as she looked at her feet.
"… I couldn't do anything to help her… I didn't get there in time to save her." Naruto began.
"Don't blame yourself… Please. You shouldn't be so hard on yourself… It wasn't… It wasn't your fault." Hinata said, tears slowly falling down her face.
Naruto seemed surprised and forced another smile.
"If there's… If there is anything… Anything I can do to help, just let me know, alright?" Hinata wiped the tears from her eyes.
"Hinata… I don't want to put you through any trouble." Naruto began.
"It's no trouble at all! Please…" Hinata said with wide eyes. "Are you hungry?"
"Umm… Yeah sort of I guess." Naruto mumbled.
"Miso pork ramen, right?" Hinata smiled.
"Thanks Hinata-chan…"Naruto smiled.
"It's nothing really! Anything I can do to help!"
Hinata left Naruto's room and closed the door behind her.
'Hinata… Thank you… You're making this a lot easier on my part… Letting Sakura go seems possible now since you're with me…' Naruto thought as he closed his eyes.
"One extra large miso pork ramen to go, please!" Hinata said above the noise in the restaurant.
"That seems like a lot for just you." Teuchi questioned as he began preparing Hinata's order.
"Oh! It's not for me it's for Naruto-kun." Hinata smiled.
"Poor thing… Word of what happened already spread around the village. It's on the house for him. Can you tell him I'm sorry?"
Hinata nodded and took the large box and held it at her waist. As she walked through the village, she heard people talking about what happened. She tried to block it out. Hinata closed her eyes and ran back to the hospital. The voices followed her in, lingering in her mind as she stood outside Naruto's room.
'Why? Why do I feel guilt…? I never wanted it to happen like this! Not at the expense of someone else's life... I wish… I wish Sakura had never been involved… No…No, I… I couldn't have become so despicable that I would wish that… I… I just want Naruto-kun… I just want him to return my feelings…' Hinata thought to herself as she clutched the box ever tighter.
Hinata opened the door, leaving her thoughts behind her.
"Here's your ramen Naruto-kun!" Hinata smiled.
"Ah… Thank you Hinata…" Naruto said as he looked onwards towards the window and squeezed his right arm.
"What's wrong?" Hinata asked as she placed the ramen on Naruto's bedside table.
"Nothing. Kabuto hit some pressure points in my back and now my arm hurts. It's nothing…" Naruto forced a smile.
"Will you be okay?" Hinata asked wide eyed.
"Yeah! I can't move it too much though…" Naruto forced another smile.
"Hmm… Then should I… Feed you your ramen?" Hinata questioned as she pressed her index fingers together shyly.
"Sure that would be great!" Naruto blushed slightly.
Hinata's face became a beet red. She slowly opened the package and broke the chopsticks. Her hand shook nervously as she slowly picked up a few noodles and brought it to Naruto's mouth.
"Ahhh…" Naruto opened his mouth wide.
Hinata gulped as her daintily placed the ramen in his mouth.
"Um… How is it?" Hinata asked nervously, her blush still eminent on her face.
"It's great!" Naruto grinned.
Hinata felt her heart beat rapidly through her chest. She hid her excitement and nervousness behind a smile. Suddenly the door to Naruto's room opened.
"Naruto, I need to speak with you for a moment. Oh, you have a guest…" Tsunande announced as she opened the door, holding a copy of Naruto's medical data.
Hinata placed the bowl of ramen on a table and bowed. Tsunande responded with a nod of her head.
"Hinata, would you please leave the room for a moment? I need to talk to Naruto in private." Tsunande said.
Hinata began to leave, but Naruto's grasp on her hand didn't allow her to leave.
"Anything you have to say to me, you can say to Hinata as well…" Naruto said dryly clutching Hinata's hand even tighter.
"Fine then" Tsunande sighed.
