Disclaimer: ~I don't own Naruto~

AN: Sorry about any grammar or spelling mistakes (I hate commas and they hate me!). This is my first shot at a chapter story. Reviews and constructive criticism are appreciated (like telling me if I should continue with this story or if this story sucks and I should just stop). I'll also try to work on making the chapters longer because I know that they are kinda short.

Chapter Two: In the Hospital

"He looks just like you, Minato-kun," said the red-haired women as she held her newborn child. "Isn't there another way? Or another child you could use? I don't want Naruto to be - "

"I'm sorry Kushina-chan," Minato said as he took the sleeping infant out of his mother's arms. "I've searched countless scrolls and records but I've found that the only way to defeat a bijuu is to seal it. I don't want to force this burden on Naruto but how could I ask someone else to give up their child if I was not willing to give up my own."

"Please reconsider this! Please, I… I've heard about the treatment of jinchuuriki in other villages. How they are treated like weapons or monsters. How they are shunned and feared and hated. And I… I don't…. I don't want that kind of life for our child. Please, Minato-kun, please. I'm already losing you. Don't make me lose my son too."

"There is no other way Kushina-chan. Our son will be viewed as a hero for keeping the Kyuubi sealed away. He won't be hated or shunned because he hasn't done anything except help to save the village." As soon as Minato made that last statement Naruto suddenly woke up and started crying.

"What if he's not?" Kushina asked looking at Minato with tears in her eyes.

"What if he's not what?" asked Minato calming Naruto down by rocking him back and forth in his arms.

"What if he's not viewed as a hero? What if he's rejected and hated or feared and shunned? You have too much faith in the people of Konoha. What if… what if they don't view him the way you think they will? What if I can't protect him?"

"Have faith Kushina-chan. Believe in the people of Konoha as I do," Minato said as he sat down on the hospital bed beside his wife. Minato leaned over and gave Kushina a one-armed hug, holding their son in his other arm. As Kushina leaned into him, Naruto reached his arms up and gurgled happily. After smiling at Naruto, Minato turned to Kushina and said, " I must go but I promise things will work out in the end. And although I might not physically be here, I'll always be watching over you."

Minato leaned over and gave Kushina a kiss before standing up and heading towards the door. But before he could leave the room he heard Kushina say, "I believe in you, Minato… and I forgive you."

Stopping to turn around Minato said, "Take care of our son and know that no matter what I'll always love the both of you."

As the door shut, signaling that Minato had left, Kushina let her tears finally fall and said, "You were always too noble for your own good Minato, but that's part of what made me fall in love with you. I just hope you haven't unknowingly condemned our son."

---

Naruto woke with a start. He knew that something was happening to him. It became more noticeable after every dream he had. Well, after every dream he knew was important but couldn't remember what happened during the specific dream. He thought that his reflexes were becoming sharper. He was starting to notice that his vocabulary was getting better. He also knew things he didn't know about before. For example, he never bothered to learn about plants but when they were in the Forest of Death, he knew random facts about plants he doesn't remember learning. Like what kinds of plants were edible and what kind of plants helped with burns or cuts.

Naruto decided to figure out where he was because the ceiling he was staring at wasn't the one in his room. The ceiling in his room, above his bed, had a water stain that kinda looked like a rabbit. He knew he had a couple days before the final stage of the Chuunin Exam. Naruto and his team, along with the rest of the rookies, had passed the written exam. They had also passed the second part of the exam in the Forest of Death. But, during the second exam, he had been knocked out by that gender-confused grass ninja and his dreams had stopped. Once he passed the preliminary matches and ditched the closest pervert, Naruto had found Ero-sennin to train him. The dreams back started up again after Ero-sennin had hit those pressure points on his stomach to help with his chakra control. The last thing he remembered was summoning Gamabunta.

As he sat up and looked around suddenly became aware of two things. One, he was in the hospital. Two, Shikamaru was looking at him funny.

"Ehh? Shikamaru? What am I doing here, how long have I been here, and what are you doing in here too?" Naruto asked.

"Troublesome. You had chakra exhaustion and you've been in here for about three days. The finals for the Chuunin Exam are tomorrow."

"WHAT?! HOW COULD I HAVE SLEPT THAT LONG!" Naruto shouted, jumping out of the bed he had been laying in.

"Quiet down Naruto. You can't do much about it now anyways," said the lazy genin.

"Oh, well, you still haven't told me why you're here."

"Chouji's in the hospital with bad indigestion. I was going to bring him this food basket but since nurse said he can't have it, I figure we could share it," Shikamaru said as he tossed an apple at Naruto.

"Thanks," Naruto said as he caught the apple but before he could take a bite out of it, he had an idea.

"Hey Shikamaru," Naruto said with a foxy grin. "You wanna eat this in front of Chouji?"

Shikamaru sighed then said, "Sure."

"Alright! Let's go."

---

"I'll see you later Shikamaru. I'm just going to head home," said Naruto waving at Shikamaru who was still looking a little bit spooked.

"Bye Naruto," Shikamaru said as he turned and walked the other way.

They had just left Lee's room where they had stumbled upon Gaara attempting to kill Lee. Gai-sensei had come into the room before anything bad had really happened.

"I wonder what he meant when he said that he had a monster inside him. Did he mean he just had issues or is he a jailor like me?" Naruto asked himself as he continued to walk to his apartment. 'Maybe I should talk to the Old Man about it. And I think I'll also tell him about my dreams. They're starting to happen every night now and they're really frustrating me. As soon as I think I'm starting to remember what was happening it slips away. They might not be important but how else can I explain my sudden increase in knowledge?'

---

AN: Yes, I know I just skipped over the first and second exams but nothing else happened and it would have been the same as what happened in the anime. I didn't feel like writing exactly what happened word for word, so I decided to do a very short summary that fit into a single paragraph. (I know I'm lazy).