-1Treasures Ignored

Ch. 3 Dead Last Leads the Pack.

It had been an interesting couple of days since Shikamaru and Hinata's first visit, their visits had become a daily occurrence now and the blonde shinobi couldn't be happier for it. Slowly but surely the other members of the Konoha 12 (the Rookie 9 and Gai's team) had given there well wishes in one way or another. Well everyone accept Sasuke who was still unconscious and Sakura who still hated him because of it. Kiba and Choji set up a tab with Ichiraku's ramen shop so that Naruto would have ramen delivered to him morning, noon, and night. A gift for which Naruto was truly grateful and made a mental note to give his two friends huge hugs when he got out. Ino had sent over one of the most beautiful bouquet of flowers Naruto had ever seen. Tenten had visited once and couldn't stop her self from crying while apologize profusely to Naruto for any and every wrong she had ever done to him, which Naruto found out that there weren't many of, but at least he learned that Tenten was horrible when it came to dealing with guilt. Lee…well Lee had visited once and challenged Naruto to a fitness competition, and tried to drag him out of bed when he refused. This earned him a scolding from Shizune, but thanks from Naruto who was beginning to get bored. Shino had a couple dozen butterflies fly through the window and deliver a get well soon card, to others this may not seem like much but to Naruto it was pretty significant that Shino of all people considered him a friend. Neji sent a card that had a challenge for a rematch, and a warning to stay away from Hinata in it. Naruto had learned enough about Neji to translate the card. It was Neji-language for get well soon and… well there was no second meaning behind the second half it meant plain and simply stay the hell away from Hinata.

Sakura was also having an interesting couple of days, bittersweet to put it simply. She was of course thrilled that Sasuke was back, but worried that he had still not woken up. She was angry at Naruto for hurting Sasuke, but couldn't help be angry at her self as well for her treatment of Naruto. Most of the villagers treated her like a hero after word had spread about her punishing the Kyuubi boy. However Naruto was not without his allies this was made perfectly clear when Ayame of the Ichraku ramen shop flung a bowl at Sakura's head as soon as she walked into the shop. After a scolding from her father she went to the back grumbling about ingrates with no hearts. Sakura decided it would be better to find a different place to eat. She had no trouble finding acceptance with many villagers however her friendship with most of her shinobi piers had become quite strained.

Most if not all of them had come to resent her for 'reaping the rewards of betraying Naruto' as Kiba once put it. Hinata seemed to be the most spiteful of them all, now Sakura and Hinata were by no means the best of friends but they were at the very least accuatainces, after the incident however Hinata had made no effort to even acknowledge Sakura's existence. Shizune and Tsunade refused to train her citing her as being to heartless to wield the strength she would gain responsibly. In the end the only friend that was still on speaking terms with Sakura was Ino, Taking all these considerations into account it was no surprise that Sakura would always end up in the Yamanaka flower shop. "So what brings you around here Sakura?" Ino didn't bother to look up from the flowers.

"Just need some human contact that's all" the pink haired kunochi sighed.

"Geez this whole situation is really eating you up huh?"

"I just don't get it. Everybody likes Sasuke better than Naruto, everybody…or at least they did. Although I don't know when it all changed. I mean what do they see in him? Isn't he still the loud mouth dim wit that everyone used to love to hate? Isn't he still dead last?"

"Damn Sakura you really are an idiot aren't you? You know that answer better than anybody don't you? Sakura just stared at Ino confused. "Look you really have to be blind to not notice that Naruto is no where near where he was when we started out. I mean he's saved us all numerous times, especially you. Remember when Garra had attacked? Not only does he save you from him but he pulls the little psycho out of his madness and single handedly mends the relationship between the leaf and the sand. Not to mention all the other stuff he's done, but I shouldn't have to tell you about that Sakura. I guess what I'm trying to say is that dead last as quickly fought his way to the head of the pack."

"You're serious?"

"Absolutely."

"I don't see but everyone else seems to. All our friends pretty much hate me."

"They don't hate you, most are just disappointed in you. Just give them some time they'll forgive you, they'll never forget, but they may forgive. Besides most of them have a valid grudge you know. They watched one of there closest friends practically kill himself to see you happy, and then you reacted the way you did."

"I'm their friend to you know. Besides it's not like Naruto wasn't my friend to."

"Oh was he now?"

"Y-yes."

"Mmmhmm you look like you understand now."

Before Sakura could answer the door to the shop opened and none other than Hinata Hyuuga walked into the shop. She began browsing around the shop without noticing who her fellow occupants were. Sakura and Ino exchanged some nervous glances at each other while Hinata walked towards the counter.

"Ah, hello Ino. Would you mind wrapping these for me?" As the young Hyuuga handed Ino the flowers she picked she hazarded a glance at Sakura who stiffened at her gaze. "Hello, Sakura." Sakura's name was said in an almost ice cold tone.

"Hello Hinata, how have you been?"

"Oh just fine Sakura, just fine." A long silence hung in the air as Ino went to the back room of the shop to wrap Hinata's flowers.

"So how's Naruto doing?" Sakura flinched as she noticed Hinata's fist clench. Wrong question to ask.

"He's doing just fine. A little disappointed to that you haven't visited, he desperately wants to apologize to you." Though the Hyuuga heiress maintained her composure anyone could detect a certain amount of venom in her words. Before the conversation could carry on Ino returned with the flowers. After Hinata paid she bowed slightly to Ino and began walking towards the door. "See you around Ino, thank you. Take care Sakura." With that she was gone.

"Remember the whole your friends don't hate you thing? Well I take it back she just may hate you." Ino said as she looked at her friend's bewildered expression. "Then again… that's probably to be expected. I mean she loves the guy."

"Doesn't matter to me. Let her have him, I hope they're miserable together-" Sakura was cut off by a firm but not harsh slap from Ino. "What the hell Ino!?"

"Listen to yourself. You know as well as I do you don't mean that."

"Maybe I don't. What's his appeal anyway what does she see in him?"

"You want to find out?" Ino began to smirk deviously.

"Explain."

"I've been studying one of my family's higher level techniques; basically we get to wander around a person's mind. We can experience their memories and really find out what makes them tick it's mostly used for spying and interrogation but I don't see why it won't work here."

"Do you think you can do it, sounds pretty high level to me?"

"Don't forget who you're talking to forehead." An arrogant grin graced Ino's face.

"Let's do it." With that Sakura and Ino ran off towards the hospital, preparing to gain a better perspective on Naruto from someone who seemed to have best.

Sorry guys that seems like a pretty weak chapter to me so I apologize. The next one will be better, you have my word. And My word Is My Law.

Thanks to everyone who take the time to review and help me out.