PART 13

Hinata slowly lifted her eyelids, and white light flooded in. She turned her head to observe her surroundings. But her eyes settled on a woman with pick hair.

"Ah! Hinata, you're awake!!" Sakura exclaimed. "How do you feel?"

"Like a million Akamaru's are jumping on my head."

The medic giggled at the reply. "Well, Naruto and Sasuke are coming to see you."

"How did I get here?"

"Well, Naruto and I were worried about you and Sasuke, especially when Sasuke came through the hosptal doors carrying you. Your arms are terribly injured from using Amaterasu. You might have some blood of the Uchiha, but you don't have the body of one. Don't use it anymore. Next time, you could die."

"I…I understand."

Suddenly Naruto burst through the door with a loud, "HINATA!!"

Then Naruto was knocked down by Sakura for being so loud. "Shut up! This is a hospital!"

Sasuke walked in smoothly ad silently. Sakura immediately cooed over him, but he ignored her. His gaze was on Hinata.

"Are you feeling better?"

She smiled gently, "Yes, thank you for saving me."

He didn't reply, and glanced at Naruto, who was back on his feet.

A frown crossed Sakura's face as she said, "Tsunade-sensei was going to meet us here right? I wonder where she-"

"Sorry for being late," the Hokage announced, sliding the door open…and then breaking it off it's hinges by accident.

"What do you want?" Sasuke asked with a tone of irritation.

He was sent a glare, but that didn't really affect him.

"The mission you took had two parts," she began holding two fingers up.

"The first part was to see if reports were true about Zurui. If they were not, then we wouldn't need to carry out part 2. But apparently they were. I would have had you four come back, and send a squad of ANBU to defeat him, but it seems that you four got to him first.

"Sakura told me about how you guys worked together to save each other. This proves many things:

"Uchiha Sasuke, you now have the trust and respect of the village.

Hyuuga Hinata, I am promoting you to ANBU.

Haruno Sakura, I will leave you in charge of the entire hospital-"

Sasuke cut in, "I risked my life just to gain the trust of the village? You won't ever trust me!"

Tsunade smiled tauntingly, "I won't trust you. But the Hokage will."

She turned to Naruto and smiled. "Naruto, the council has declared that you are the Sixth Hokage."

Everyone in that room froze. Then Naruto was yelling and jumping happily, tears forming in his eyes. Sakura was also crying with joy. Sasuke just smiled a hidden smile, that none could see. Hinata also laughed and smiled.

"But, Naruto, there is one condition."

Everyone stopped.

"You and I will have to rule together. To protect the village, to protect our people."

"ALRIGHT!! That's fine with me, Tsunade-obaachan. I'M THE HOKAGE!"

He jumped to the bed and squeezed Hinata in a hug so hard, she was gasping for air.

"Naruto, let go. You shouldn't suffocate injured patients," Sasuke muttered.

Tsunade turned to Sakura and Hinata. "Well? Do you accept your titles?"

Sakura nodded immediately, but Hinata seemed to be hesitating.

"What's wrong, Hinata? Don't you want to be in ANBU?" Naruto asked.

"I do, but…Tsunade-sama, how much am I needed in ANBU?"

Tsunade's face turned grave. "Greatly, our men have been dying out there on more dangerous missions."

A shadow overcame the room and Sasuke thought that he felt Hinata's gaze upon him.

"Tsunade-sama, I will become ANBU on one condition," she said slowly.

"And what would that be?"

"Please make Sasuke an ANBU, too."

Nobody moved. Tsunade was staring at Hinata as if she were a ghost, and the pale girl was red for asking such a favor.

Naruto was surprised that Hinata would ask such a thing for Sasuke. He felt a twinge of jealousy in his heart and he couldn't push it away.

Sakura was glad that Hinata had asked for such a thing. She knew she was kind and gentle, and knew here purposes for doing so.

Sasuke, on the other hand, felt as he wasn't awake. He couldn't believe that Hinata had asked for a position like that for him. A traitor.

Tsunade regained her posture and she said, "Very well. Since we are in need of so many ANBU, Hinata, I accept your request. But you will be sure to keep him in line?"

"Hai, Hokage-sama."

The Hokage's face brightened and she said, "Well, then! There's nothing to worry about! I gotta go, before Shizune discovers the hidden paper work in the restroom. Get well soon, Hinata."