CHAPTER 19

Poll up for Chunin exams that will be closing soon. As always all reviews welcome and appreciated.

The journey back to Konoha was one of relative silence and worry. Naruto appeared to have no outward damage done, but he still wouldn't wake up and he was the medic of the group so they had no one to see what was wrong with him.

Sasuke and Hinata were worried about Naruto, but Kurenai seemed like she would fall over in worry. Naruto had told her that he liked her and was even completely honest about how he was part of the C.R.A and how he already also liked someone who also knew of his situation but had accepted it.

Kurenai was still unsure of the feelings that were coursing through her. On one hand she was unsure of the feelings, but on the other side she was in denial of what she was sure her feelings where. Above all else though she was fighting with the understanding that if she did like Naruto and ventured into his life she would have to share him.

The biggest trouble she had was accepting that, the knowledge of knowing that even if Naruto were to become hers, he wasn't hers alone. Kurenais thoughts had been more involved then she realized and before she knew it they had arrived in Konoha.

After the group had passed the gate they had quickly rushed Naruto to the hospital and called for Tsunade. Tsunade had rushed to the hospital as fast as she could when she heard Naruto had been admitted.

When Tsunade arrived she was quickly lead to where Naruto had been set up on a medical bed. "What's wrong with Naruto?" Tsunade asked as she began to check his vitals. "After his encounter with Yagura, Naruto went down from chakra exhaustion and hasn't woken up since." Kurenai reported being the sensei.

"I checked his vitals and he doesn't have any damage to himself or his chakra network which isn't a surprise, but because of this I don't know what is wrong with him so for now we will have to wait for him to wake up." Tsunade said with worry in her voice.

Before Tsunade could leave the room Kurenai quickly called to her. "Tsunade-sama could I talk to you in private for a moment." Kurenai said. Tsunade looked at Kurenai in surprise for a moment before she nodded and followed Kurenai out to a quiet location.

"So what do you need Kurenai-san?" Tsunade asked. Kurenai struggled with herself for a little bit before she resolved to talk to Tsunade. "Tsunade-sama I have some questions about Naruto and I figured you being his grandmother could answer them best." Kurenai said.

Tsunade raised an eyebrow in surprise before she nodded to Kurenai. "Very well Kurenai-san what is troubling you?" Tsunade asked the young jounin.

"Well Tsunade-sama, Naruto told me some things and now my mind is in turmoil." Kurenai said. Tsunade arched her brow in curiosity again. "Please explain Kurenai-san." Tsunade said. "Well Tsunade-sama it was eight years ago…

Almost a week had passed since team seven had returned from Kiri and it had been a hard week. Naruto had yet to wake and everyday everyone that knew him grew more and more nervous, none more so than Kurenai now that she had self reassurance.

When Kurenai had talked to Tsunade about Naruto, she had told about everything, her past, her fears, and her doubts. Tsunade had taken it all in stride and had given her some words of advice that she wouldn't soon forget.

Tsunade under Kurenai's pleading had also told Kurenai about the person with whom Naruto was infatuated besides herself. Tsunade had also told Kurenai that the women would be coming to the upcoming Chunin exams when Naruto entered them.

Because of that fact Kurenai had resolved to tell Naruto when he awoke that she would give a relationship with him a chance but only after he was a chunin. She would do this to give him an incentive and her more time to think.

Kurenai quickly found herself ripped from her thoughts as she felt a large dose of the Kyuubi's chakra escape from Naruto's hospital door that she had been about to open. In an instant Jiraiya Sasuke and Tsunade were by her side before the four burst into the room.

Once inside the four were shocked, Naruto had changed from the person he was when he went into the coma like state. He had grown a few inches from his normal 5'2 to a tall 5'6 and his muscles had become even more defined then before.

Tsunade was the first to react the medic in her wanting to know if her grandson was ok. "Naruto-kun are you ok? And what happened you have been out cold for almost three weeks." Tsunade asked and informed.

Naruto stretched a bit before answering getting accustom to his new height while his tails waged in happiness? behind him. "during my fight with Yagura-niisan I pulled on four tails worth of kurama's chakra and my body wasn't ready for it so Kurama pulled me into the seal.

"he had me stay there for awhile to train with him as he sped up my body's growth rate so that it could better handle his chakra." Naruto said. Jiraiya then stepped forward. "no problems with the seal right it didn't loosen because of that?" Jiraiya asked.

"no after he did what he needed to Kurama actually strengthen the seal slightly." Naruto said. Sasuke would have asked something but Tsunade had caught Kurenai's stare and knew she wanted to talk to Naruto NOW and ALONE, so she grabbed Sasuke and Jiraiya and left.

When his small family of three that was there left Naruto shifted his gaze to kurenai. "is something the matter sensei?" Naruto asked with a half-hearted smile on his face and his tails slowing slightly. Kurenai at this moment couldn't look away from Naruto and decided that now would be the moment to tell Naruto.

Kurenai took in a shaky breath before turning to look at Naruto. "well after you collapsed and where in the coma for those weeks I had time to reflect on what you told me." Kurenai said her voice getting softer as her speech continued.

Naruto's tails waged slightly faster. "I-I-I'm afraid to be honest Naruto-kun," Kurenai said adding an affectionate ending to his name that Naruto didn't miss. "because of something in my past I'm afraid to be in a relationship with a man." Kurenai said really low.

Naruto was paying rampant attention and was slightly surprised when Kurenai was almost in tears after her last comment. "you really are a nice person Naruto-kun I can feel it from the bottom of my heart but I'm still afraid." Kurenai said.

Naruto frowned slightly as Kurenai did indeed have a few tears now. Naruto had effortlessly moved forward and wiped the tears from Kurenai's face. Kurenai smiled at Naruto even as he wiped the tears from her eyes.

Kurenai mentally laughed at he was now taller than her small 5'5 figure. "I-I want to give a relationship with you a chance Naruto-kun, so I decided that we could spend time together and go on small dates until the upcoming chunin exams and if after them you're still alive and we have similar feelings then we can make it an official relationship." Kurenai finished.

Naruto smiled deeply as his tails waged about. Naruto threw kurenai into a warm hug from him and wrapped his tails around them to make her feel safe. "I can feel your deep grief Kurenai-chan and I only hope that in the future you will tell me what troubles you." Naruto said.

Then it was almost like a dam broke as tears poured from Kurenai's eyes and she buried her head in Naruto's chest to muffle her sobs. Kurenai was friends with many men like Kakashi and Guy to name a few, but even around them she didn't feel as safe as she did right now in Naruto's arms.

'In Naruto's arms.' Kurenai thought to herself, it was almost like a revelation had sprung forward or another dam had broken. After the eight years of Kurenai hiding and killing most of her emotions most had sprung to the surface in this short moment.

None of that however compared to all the locked up hormones and desires she had kept hidden. In one moment in the most un Kurenai like moment Kurenai had gently grabbed a hold of Naruto's hospital shirt and smashed her lips to his, the only word she could think to describe what she felt was bliss.

Naruto had been utterly surprised by it, one moment he was hugging Kurenai to reassure her that she was safe from whatever haunted her past and the next she had grabbed his shirt and kissed him deeply.

'warm.' was Naruto's first thought as his lips pressed to Kurenai's. Naruto's hands that had been around Kurenai's back for the hug had on their own accord snaked down to Kurenai's waist trying to pull her closer to deepen the kiss. As if on instinct Kurenai's own hands moved to Naruto's neck pulling him in.

Going on instinct again Naruto's body looked to find a way to deepen the kiss more as he unconsciously licked at Kurenai's lips with his tongue. In response to Naruto Kurenai also acted on her bodies' instinct as she opened her mouth to Naruto.

When Naruto felt her lips part he slowly eased his tongue forward with question before he hit Kurenai's tongue and they lightly battled each other before they wrapped together and Kurenai moaned lightly at Naruto's ministrations.

The new pair now slightly separated from one another as air became needed. Naruto could only breathlessly get out one word as he placed his forehead against Kurenai's. "Amazing." Naruto barley whispered out.

Kurenai slowly found herself replying as though asked a question. "Ya." She was able to mumble. Naruto then leaned back down and captured her lips again in another heated moment of passion. Kurenai didn't mind as she felt really good and very secure in Narutos arms. 'in his arms huh.' Kurenai briefly thought to herself again.

Naruto and Kurenai then forgave all thought as they relished in the glow of their heated kiss. Kurenai had lost track of how many kisses she had shared with Naruto or how much time had passed, but kurenai had been surprised by a few things.

She was elated with extreme joy at Naruto's actions as they confirmed that he meant what he said but for some reason she questioned why she doubted he would do anything but tell her the truth especially because he was the one with the chance of getting hurt.

Kurenai's other thoughts were of how much self control Naruto had, even after the half hour or so of kissing not once had he moved his hands from her waist. Kurenai again questioned herself as she knew Naruto wasn't the kind of man to force himself on someone.

Naruto wouldn't do anything unless the other wanted or approved of it. 'that must have been why he was so shy when he used his tongue' Kurenai thought although she blushed as it was the first time she had also ever used tongue in a kiss. Hell she might not admit it till later but that was also her first kiss that she had shared with Naruto.

Kurenai then hesitantly grabbed Naruto's hands with hers and placed them softly on her ass, as she moaned slightly. She felt Naruto stiffen though as he tried to move his hands but Kurenai kept them where they were.

"Kurenai-chan?" Naruto asked in a hazy confusion. "its-its okay Naruto-kun I don't know why but I need this closeness right now, its okay." Kurenai said, and smiled when she felt Naruto un stiffen and gently kept his hands on her ass.

Naruto then slightly understood what kurenai had meant and realized she meant it was okay for his hands to be there so he tentatively moved his hands and squeezed Kurenais ass lightly, he was glad and surprised when he got a low but deep moan from Kurenai.