AN: Hello, and welcome to the third chapter of the story, I've tried to make this chapter longer than my previous ones and I may of rushed it a bit so I apologise if you don't enjoy this as much as the others, thank you and enjoy.

Grown Up

It was about late evening when Naruto and Sakura left the ramen bar to go to the hospital to see if Jiraiya was there.

It was much earlier that day when Jiraiya and Naruto were facing off against one of the most powerful ninjas in the ninja world, Pein. Jiraiya had told Naruto to run for his own safety, so Naruto did and left Jiraiya on his own to fend of Pein and that was the last time Naruto saw his mentor.

Naruto was walking right beside Sakura with his hands in his pockets and his head down, he was expecting the worst

"Cheer up Naruto. Knowing Jiraiya he probably defeated Pein in no time at all" Sakura smiled, but it was fake and Naruto could tell, Naruto was not as stupid as he acted. The way he acted was just him and no one could change that.

About a few minutes later they arrived at the hospital doors and by this time Naruto's heart was thumping really fast, what would he find? Would he find Jiraiya dead? Or is he not there at all?

Sakura generously opened the door of the hospital for Naruto, he said thank you as he walked inside.

There was a reception area in the centre of room and to the side was a waiting area and there were also hallways leading to the hospital rooms where patients got treated.

Sakura slowly began walking towards the reception, Naruto followed.

"Excuse but could you tell me if a man called Jiraiya has been admitted here?" Sakura spoke softly and politely, she had always been polite, well apart from when she used to be rude to Naruto when they were kids, but that has all changed now. Naruto felt that Sakura and himself had become closer and opened up more. That's what he thought anyway he didn't know about Sakura.

The young nurse began looking through her records to see if Jiraiya's name was there, but the longer she looked the less likely Naruto thought he was here.

Naruto let out a sigh of disappointment.

"Ah!" The nurse had caught Naruto's attention at last

"Yes!? What is it!?" Naruto planted his hands on the desk has he leaned forward

"There is someone by the name of Jiraiya here, he's in room six, but he's suffered serious wounds and is in a critical condition, you're welcome to wait in our waiting area if you like"

It felt like Naruto's heart just skipped a beat, his mentor could possibly die, he tried to hold back tears he could feel rise to the surface of his eyes. Instead he walked over to the waiting room and sat down on a chair, Sakura followed and sat next to him

Sakura could see the worry in his eyes, she knew how much Jiraiya means to him, and she wanted to be strong for Naruto.

What happened next was totally unexpected, Sakura didn't know what came over her she just wrapped her arms around Naruto and hugged him tightly. Naruto put his arms back around her. He could feel Sakura rub her hand on his back to comfort him.

"It'll be okay, I'm always here" she whispered these words gently into Naruto's ear so only he could hear.

"Thank you… Sakura-Chan"

During their hug a middle-aged male doctor came into the waiting room and walked up to Naruto and Sakura

"Um… sorry to disturb you, but are you Naruto and Sakura?"

Naruto and Sakura let go of their hug and looked at the doctor and nodded, the receptionist must have told the doctor they were waiting for Jiraiya.

"Well I have some great news, Jiraiya is now in a stable condition, you can go see him if you like" The doctor smiled brightly at them both.

The boy and his pink haired team mate stood up and followed the doctor who led them to Jiraiya's room he was being treated in.

The doctor opened the door for them and they walked inside and there layed Jiraiya with what seemed like a million wires attached to him leading to these machines, most of Jiraiya's body was covered in bandages. The mountain sage cracked a weak smile for them.

A tear trickled down Naruto's cheek as he walked up beside the bed and stared down at the Sannin, he had never seen him like this before.

"H-Hey… there N-Naruto…" Jiraiya's voice was weak and Naruto could just about hear him. Jiraiya tried to look up at him but his neck hurt too much, his eyes could only see his mouth and a few of his whisker-like lines on his cheeks.

Sakura stood in the doorway not wanting to ruin the moment.

Jiraiya's eyes drifted over to the figure in the doorway, he couldn't make out who it was.

"Naruto… w-who's that… pretty young girl in the doorway" Sakura immediately blushed, if Jiraiya wasn't in hospital she might of done something really bad to him.

"Oh… Uhh that's Sakura…"

"Oh my… she's grown up… a lot, and so have you Naruto, you're a fine young man and you're a great ninja too"

Naruto was flattered by Jiraiya's comments.

"Sorry, visiting time is over" The doctor rudely interrupted.

"He-he, well you kids better get going" Jiraiya's voice still sound weak.

"I'll come back and visit you soon" Naruto said before he left, Sakura said her goodbyes too and they both left the hospital.

"I'm so glad Jiraiya is going to be okay" Naruto said this to Sakura with a huge smile on his face, it looked he was back to old usual self again

"Naruto!! I've just noticed something, you don't call him 'Pervy Sage' anymore" Sakura was shocked at this but she thought it meant he was just growing up.

"Ha-ha yeah your right… but I'm not a kid anymore am I?"

"He-he, no Naruto… you're not"

They both gazed at each while they let out a chuckle

While they chuckled Sakura thought to herself:

"Naruto-Kun… I would of never have believed it but you really have grown up."

AN: Thank you for reading this chapter, be sure to look out for the next, I really hoped you enjoyed it. Thanks again, see ya.