Tada! I told you I'd have a chapter for you today! It may be a little short, but it's a chapter none the less.

Aishiteru, Hinata-chan

Chapter 20

~*~*~*~

Naruto Uzumaki's condition had only gotten worse over the last 3 days. He had horrible fever and he mostly slept. Whenever he tried to hold a conversation for too long, he would pass out. The nurses had to keep a constant watch over him. Considering everyone wanted to keep a tab on him in case he… They all knew it was bound to happen.

It was the morning of the fifth day.

The entire hospital knew Naruto since he had been in hospital so many times. They all dreaded him being brought down at such an early age. Not being able to fulfill his dream that he boasted to everyone he had ever met in his entire life.

Tsunade walked into his room softly, not wanting to disturb him if he was asleep.

He definitely was not. He was staring out the window with lidded, glazed and dull blue eyes. Her face saddened at the lack of happiness that they usually held.

"Hey Kiddo." She stood next to his bed and ran a hand through his hair.

He blinked and turned her way before smiling weakly. "Hey Kaa-san," he whispered hoarsely.

She forced a smile and cupped his cheek. "Are you hungry? I can get you some ramen."

The shinobi shook his head. "I'm not hungry, actually."

The Gondaime's eyes widened to full capacity before she excused herself out of the room. When she was in her confined office, she sank into her chair and sobbed. The boy would never give up ramen. Especially while being held in the hospital against his will.

She knew his time was coming. And she was helpless to stop it.

~*~*~*~

"Where are you?"

Kakashi's voice sounded through my ear radio. Sasuke and I had just given word that we knew of Hinata's whereabouts.

"A 2-story house, cream-colored, with a porch swing out front. Two blocks away from the large mayor's building."

We waited for all of 3 minutes before the rest of our team was assembled outside of the location of our Hyuuga friend. Kurenai nodded and I walked forward. Using my chakra, I touched the floor in front of the door. I spread my chakra throughout the house.

"In a room on the far4r side of the house, there are 4 people. That's it."

Sasuke quickly opened the door and we all snuck around to the entrance to a long hallway. The door creaked open and we crept down the long walkway. The room was completely wooden, one window and another door on the far side from where we could see from the position we were in. Kakashi opened the door and we all flooded into the room with various weapons present.

I blinked and shared a glance with the others in confusion.

Hinata was in the middle of the room, embracing a young looking woman with long black hair. A man with broad shoulders stood next to an older man that looked a lot like the young woman and they were both staring at us.

Well? How was that? OMG!!! It's the morning of the 5th day?

Will Ryo be willing to give up the antidote?

What will become of Rumiko, Tomuro, and Ryo?

Will Hinata make it back to her Naruto in time?

Well, I sure hope so!

ja ne,

-Tsunei-chan