A/N Hello fellow members of FF and I am 9tailsfox2 and this is my first Fiction, Escape! I plan to make this a Naruto/Hanabi pairing but I am inexperienced in matters of love, which is part of the reason why I originally didn't plan the pairing but it appears that they seem to be forming a deep relationship, mostly best friends at this point, but they will be together eventually. I really hope I don't flop on this part, thus ruining a perfectly good fic, especially my first one. Italics means thought or environmental noise.

9tailsfox2: Alright good work fellow Naruto writers. I can't wait to release this chapter!

Random Worker: Uhh, sir we have a problem.

9tailsfox2: What is it?

Random Worker: You need to wake up.

9tailsfox2: What?

Random Worker: I said you need to wake up.

9tailsfox2: WAHHHH! Nabi-Chan! What the hell! What did you hit me for!?

Hanabi: Only Ruto-Kun may call me Nabi-Chan! You were dreaming that you owned the series again! You know as well as I do that Kishimoto owns the series and NOT you

9tailsfox2: Awww but Hanabi-Chan

Hanabi: No buts! You don't even own the characters!

Beep beep beep beep beep beep.

His eyes slowly open up as light fills the room. It's bright, so bright. "Ugh, where am I?" Then it hit him, whenever those words are uttered, the utterer must be in a place of recovery and/or rehabilitation, him having been an utterer many time before. Ah crap I'm in the hospital again. Naruto's thoughts were only confirmed when his vision adjusted to the lights around him and observed the white walls, the standard medical equipment in the corner. The next thing he noticed was that he was sore as he tried to move. Naruto checked his flexibility in his joints. Then Naruto slowly sat up and checked himself for visible injuries after seeing none, he decided to give walking a try. I don't know how I wounded up here, but I have to get out of here, Ramen is calling my name! As Naruto took is first few steps, he was a bit wobbly and light headed, but managed to gain his balance and senses back.

Naruto walked around the very familiar corner and checked the clock on the wall 9:00 pm sweet the shifts are just changing! Naruto was about to make the move when very unusual activity caught Naruto's attention. Several nurses and doctors were scrambling around but there was one man that Naruto thought he recognized a man with white robes. He vaguely remembered pain, a lot of pain, and a man with the very same white robes. Ugh what the heck happened? He moved closer to hear the conversation. "What's the update on the state of my daughter?" The doctor he was talking to shook his head. "Hanabi-Sama was recently reinstated as stable condition though she is till in immense pain. I cannot believe she held on to life as she has done for one week, she is very strong for a three year old. We still cannot figure who this Ruto-Kun is though. She has been saying this name over and over again. I checked the records to see if someone was named as such and did not find anything. I think it is an endearing nick name of some sort, it will be best to find this person as his presence can help her healing process." Naruto's heart dropped at this point, as he remembered everything that had happened… when? One week! Nabi-Chan must be in a lot of pain. I forget that I heal extremely fast. Wait a second, I was out for an entire week, and I have to see her!

"Hey! What room is Nabi-Chan in?" The doctor looked at Naruto with disgust. "It's Hyuuga-San or Hanabi-Sama to you demon boy!" The man with the white robe walked up to Naruto. "Uzumaki-San, you have attempted to protect my daughter, and for that you have my thanks. I have repaid you by bringing you to the hospital to get you healed up. Unfortunately, you are also the cause of the suffering and pain my daughter Hanabi, simply because you were with her. You were also the cause of the death of my other daughter, Hinata. As of now, you are here by banned from going near my daughter." Hinata-Chan I'm so sorry, why did you do something so stupid? "But Hinata-Chan protected me!" "And that is the cause of her death! If my daughter gets anymore attached to you, she will die!" Naruto shook his head. "I would rather die than to let harm befall her, especially death!" Hiashi sneered as he looked at Naruto. "ENOUGH! You are banned from seeing my daughter and that's final! Her weakness that day was clear enough, as she could not take care a couple of drunken citizens! I am highly disappointed in her for that and when she gets out she will start her intense training regimen and will continue until she is competent enough to take on the Clan Head Title, provided that she is of age of course." "How can you expect to have a three year old stand up and fight back against an entire crowd out to kill her!? How can you possibly say that about you own daughter you are her father! ACT LIKE IT!"

"Hiashi-Sama, you should go home, you could come back tomorrow to check up on your daughter." Hiashi sneered as he began walking towards the exit. "Make sure this runt does not enter my daughter's room, I do not want filth infecting my daughter. Failure to do so will result in punishment by my own hands." The doctor shuddered at the thought. While this was going on Naruto sneaked around the corner and hid behind a conveniently placed plant. When the two people walked away from each other, Naruto carefully followed the doctor as not to be seen and saw him enter a room labeled 'Hanabi Hyuuga'. Bingo! Above the door was a sign that said 'Critical Condition' and was not lit up. Nabi-Chan, please hang in there. After a couple of minutes the doctor walked out and Naruto quickly went past the door without being noticed or touching the door.

Oh Kami, it hurts, Hinata, why did you have to die, why did this have to- "ARGGGHHHHHH!" Hanabi arched her back in pain, but any movement cause her even more pain, as soon as the pain died down to normal level, which is still very painful. Why don't the painkillers work? They said that they have put the maximum legal dose in me, but it still hurts a lot. Oh Kami help me. How long have I been here? She felt tears run down her face for what she thought was the millionth time (She lost count at 250, which was within the first day). "Oh Ruto-Kun, where are you? Please be alive if only you were here, this would not be so bad." She heard footsteps that approached her stopped right next to her. "I am here Nabi-Chan" Hanabi then felt someone hold her hand then she slowly turned her head towards the voice as lilac tinged whit eye met with blue. Please don't be a dream; if it is please don't ever end! "Ruto-Kun is that really you? How long have I been here?" Naruto grimaced. "I heard a doctor said you were here for a week as I just woke up from a week's worth of sleep. Nabi-Chan, there is something I must tell you." Hanabi's eyes widened. I knew it! It was a dream! "Wh-what is it?" "Your father has banned me from seeing you, the only reason her took me here was to pay back for protecting you. Once you heal up he will commence intense training, which I'd imagine would not be pleasant." "Wh-why?" "He saw you as weak for not being able to handle a couple of drunk civilians." Hanabi shook her head "No I mean why are you not allowed to see me?" Naruto saddened at this thought. "It's because its my fault you got hurt, if you weren't around you would not have gotten dragged into this, and by extension, Hinata-Chan would not have died."

As soon as Naruto said this, Hanabi tightened her grip on Naruto's hand. Father, why must you make my life miserable? I know you are trying to protect me and all but still what is the use of a life if there isn't one to live? Hanabi looked up at Naruto, tears threatening to spill out of her eyes. "He doesn't believe that I can survive this world, he's trying to keep me from having a life unknowingly or not." Naruto shook his head and let go of Hanabi's hand. "Wh-what are you-" All of a sudden, Naruto shot his arms around the girl for a hug and Hanabi released her tears like a faucet unable to turn off while Naruto was patting her back saying soothing comforting words to her. "Hi-hi-hinata's d-d-d-e-e-e-ead, M-m-my f-f-fath-ther d-does n-n-ot b-believe i-in m-m-meeee-ee-e-ee. W-w-w-worst-t-t o-o-of a-a-all, h-h-he w-w-wi-ll n-n-ot l-l-l-et m-m-e c-c-cry f-f-for h-her, a-a-a-nd th-the o-o-on-l-ly per-per-pers-s-son wh-who i-i-s w-w-will-ling t-t-t-to l-l-le-lend a-a sh-sh-ou-lder h-h-he w-w-wi-ill n-n-n-ot l-l-le-t m-m-e s-s-see!" After that she couldn't say anymore as she was crying into his shirt. Naruto looked sadly at Hanabi. A three year old should not have to go through so much, why is everyone so cruel? He then remembered what Aya-Chan did to make him feel better and decided to do the same thing. Naruto started stoking her head, down her hair then down her back. Naruto sat there doing that while whispering comforting words in her ear. Hanabi felt his hand travel from scalp her down her neck, through her hair and down the back. She shivered as the sensation of his fingers and fingernails dragged down her back. It felt really good.

Eventually the crying was reduced to sobs. Hanabi looked up to Naruto's eyes saw the same compassion and understanding she saw last week in the woods. "Ruto-Kun?" Naruto cocked his head at the red-eyed, tear-soaked, red face and smiled. "Yes Nabi-Chan?" "Can you hold me while I sleep? I don't feel any pain while you are around." Naruto nodded, "Yes I will, if it makes you feel better." With that, Naruto crawled into the bed and held the three year old to him, as if letting go would have her killed. Hanabi snuggled her head into Naruto's chest and for the first time in a week, Hanabi was able to ignore pain, or not even feel it for that matter and was able to fall into a deep peaceful sleep, not the nightmares she always had, if she even did fall asleep. Hanabi dreamed that she and Naruto were playing and running around, a dream where she was being happy and having fun with her only friend. Naruto dreamed the same thing, as if their dreams actually the same one. If someone were to walk in right now they would see two friends holding each other, being truly happy would emit the unstoppable 'awwww'.

Click

A certain man holding a certain camera with a certain gravity-defying silver hairdo smiled and whispered. "And so begins a beautiful friendship." Kakashi Shunshined out and landed in the middle of the street. He then looked through the pictures within the camera from the very first one when Naruto was born, to the Hokage holding him, and not to forget the ones growing up, in each one, Naruto slowly getting sadder and sadder, until the moment when he first met Ayame. He took the picture of Naruto's first ramen bowl, when Naruto avoided a particular crowd. Naruto's first visit to the hospital, first apartment, and included everything important up to last week when he met Hanabi. Kakashi was scared Hanabi got pissed and ran off, but was pleasantly surprised when Hanabi stopped and Naruto comforted her. He then took a few of Hanabi and Naruto walking together, one when Hanabi took her first bite of ramen and some while she was eating. Kakashi then took the picture of the two when the looked over the lit up city, when they were watching the fireworks sitting down and when they were watching the stars lying on their backs. Kakashi even took a few as they were walking back; unfortunately he was then summoned to the Hokage's office.

He deeply regretted not being able to be there for his sensei's son, he once approached Naruto and had a casual talk with him, and Naruto pranked him and ran away. Ever since then Naruto refused to open up to this strange silver haired-man, and Kakashi decided to give up on that and decided to help from the sidelines. Providing his own extended stipend as he only wished for the boy's happiness, but he was constantly sent out on dangerous missions. He tried explaining to Hiruzen Sarutobi that he wanted to take time off to become a father to the boy. The damned council refused that and ever since then, the council has been pushing Kakashi away ever since. Kakashi sighed as he wished that the Council called just a bit later and he probably could have saved the children from pain and in the case of one, death.

In the ninja world, there are coincidences. It probably wasn't a coincidence that the attack happened right after he left, and the fact the council called him, which was extremely rare in the first place and they stalled him with petty nonsense, petty nonsense that the council would never call him for. The council had done something with the attack I just know it! But there isn't any evidence. I told the Hokage, but he just shook his head saying that the council would never have done some thing so stupid. Then a name came into his head. Danzo was the man who called from him and he wasn't even there! The council denied that Danzo called for him, the messenger must have slipped his tongue and by now it's probably missing. There were plenty theories surrounding the mysterious mummy man, and none of them were pretty.

Kakashi looked up as he felt someone land next to him. "Kakashi! My eternal rival! How is your youthful life going on!" Kakashi sighed. "Gai, do you remember what happened last week?" Gai sadly nodded. Gai's voice dropped (What's the world coming to!?) to match the overall tone of the conversation and where it was heading. "How can anyone even think to hurt and kill ones as youthful as children? Naruto is not the monster around here; it's those people that attacked them. There isn't a day that goes by that I think about Hinata, as I met her a couple of times, she had so much potential youth." Kakashi then imagined the young heiress in a green spandex uniform, similar to what Gai wears. Ugh I'm going need a lot of alcohol to get rid of that image. "Well didn't you notice anything strange with the story, you know like something is ff, or something bigger is going on?" Gai squinted at his long time youthful rival. "What are you talking about?"

Kakashi sighed as he explained. "You know how I always follow Naruto around and take pictures of his moments so he can have something to catalogue his life?" Gai then shook his head. "Kakashi, how many times did I tell you how unyouthful stalking is?" Kakashi stared off in the distance. "His father asked me to take his pictures for him should he pass away, as he was sure that Jiraiya would use the camera for more artful reasons. Anyways that's beside the point, the messenger said I was summoned by Danzo himself was to report to the Hokage Tower for a meeting." Gai looked at Kakashi with a squinted look. "So what Danzo say?" Kakashi sighed once again. "The council told me that Danzo wasn't even there to make the summons that it was one of the other members who have called. They wanted my opinion on a miniscule matter and dragged it out with the same differently worded argument."

Gai shook his head. "Doesn't the council call you only in emergencies?" "And that's the problem here, I think the messenger slipped his tongue and revealed too much information. Why would Danzo call me for trivial problems and wasn't even there for it, and lets add on to the fact that it happened right before the attack." "Kakashi, are you suggesting that there might be something unyouthful going on?" Kakashi nodded. "Yes, but it is only circumstantial evidence at this point and the council can just say that he made a mistake, even if some of them are not in on it, it would be true both ways. To those not in on it, it would be he released the wrong name, to those in on it he would have released the 'correct' name but because of that information was leaked." Gai sighed "Circumstantial or not, it might be worth looking into, all the more reason why you should go to the Hokage, you were summoned because he has a mission for you." Kakashi deadpanned at Gai. "Why didn't you say so earlier!?" "Because I knew whatever you had to say was important, more important than a measly summons." "Summons from the Hokage! Lets just be lucky that he doesn't hit people for being late." Gai laughed. "Some say that Youthful Hokage is too forgiving in this harsh world of ninjas!" Kakashi snickered as they Shunshined to the Hokage's Office, "Youthful my ass."

Sarutobi sneezed as the duo shunshined in. "Why do I even bother having a door when people can apparently just pop right in! You are late Kakashi… again." Kakashi looked down and muttered something that sounded like 'wasn't my fault.' The Third Hokage smiled and said "You are dismissed Gai." Gai gave his pose "No problem! If you have anymore problems just call on the Green Beast of Konoha!" With that Gai Shunshined out. Kakashi looked at Hiruzen and spoke. "Hokage-Sama, I implore you to look into Danzo right now I believe it is something worth looking into." The Hokage shook his head sadly, "I agree with you, something sounds off about this whole thing, and the whole thing with Danzo summoning you but not being there also sounds shady, but it is all circumstantial and as a Hokage, I need solid evidence before looking into it. As a result, I'm assigning you to protect one named Hanabi Hyuuga. Hiashi should arrive momentarily to give explanation to your duties and specifications."

As if on queue, Hiashi walked in and bowed to the Hokage. "Hokage-Sama, this is about my daughter's protection I assume?" Hokage nodded towards Kakashi, who bowed to Hiashi. "Hiashi-Sama I am honored to meet you, I believed I am to protect Hanabi-Sama." Hiashi hardened his. "You believe correctly, as I am the Clan Head, I cannot be around all the time and who ever I assign Hanabi to will be given the slip, so I have decided to have someone she hasn't seen in her life, also there are a few things I'd like to go over with you." Kakashi frowned, not that anyone can see. "Like what?" Hiashi took a moment to collect his thoughts. "You have to keep watch over her constantly, especially if she is outside of the compound, do not let her slip your sight, or there will be consequences. Do not let her make contact with commoners with more than what's important, as that will degrade her status as an heiress. There is one person that I will not allow contact with my daughter at ANY level and that is Naruto Uzumake, the demon boy of Konoha as he is a danger to her life as what has happened last week.

Do you accept these terms and conditions?" Kakashi gave it a moment's thought and nodded. "Yes." Hiashi nodded. "You start tomorrow by guarding the room Hanabi is in until she is released, Gai will be your replacement when you are unavailable or taking your break." Kakashi bowed "Hai Hiashi-Sama." Hiashi turned around and walked away to sleep for the night.

"Anything else Hokage-Sama?" The Third sighed. "You will use this guard duty and take note of any unusual activity around Hanabi-Sama. Other than that you are dismissed." "Hai." Kakashi bowed and Shunshined out to get some sleep himself. Sarutobi sighed. Danzo, what in the hell are you planning? You were such a great man, but you slowly became corrupted on power, cold logic and your militaristic ideals. Although you leave no evidence but circumstantial behind, you have participated in dark projects and the few times I accused you, there were no solid evidence even though you were clearly guilty. This is no different. In some way I am still obsessed with saving you from the darkness that has consumed you. Your cunningness has always been too good for you, but you may have gone too far this time, as what gain do you have by attacking the Hyuuga heiresses?

As these activities were going on, two particular children were unaware of what's going on as they are holding each other for they have yet to have to sleep in the arms of their parents in such a way. They were in a deep peaceful slumber as they had the touch they were yearning for their entire lives and were truly happy for the first time in their lives.

A/N The first half of this chapter was planned and the second half, my muse strikes again! I was originally planning to cut this straight towards the next morning, but my muse wanted this story to have someone cataloguing all the important events between Hanabi and Naruto's life. But I needed an excuse as to why Kakashi blatantly ignored the beating and killing of children and came up with this. Because of this, the story will be much longer than intended. Please R&R and as usual this is 9tailsfox2 signing off!