A/N: I'm ba~ack! One week, just as I promised! I know not everyone has had a chance to read last chapter but oh well. For those of you that did read it, I'm glad you all are really looking forward to what happens next. Now for an announcement. There might be a slight lull, two to three weeks, before my next update. It's finals week here at college so sorry but please bear with. Now on to the next installment! So as always, read and review please!

Chapter 29: A Blessing and a Curse

Naruto didn't know how, but he suddenly just knew something was off. It started as a strange sensation in his gut, right where his seal was. The next second there was a sharp pain that had him doubling over and grunting.

"Taichou are you okay?" The commander asked. When no response came they all began to worry. "Taichou?"

A scream of pain managed to rip itself free of Naruto's throat as he gripped the table in front of him, his knuckles going white. His other hand gripped his stomach, doing whatever he could to stem the pain.

"M-My seal." He hissed through his teeth. "S-Something is wrong with my seal!"

"Naruto!" Kurama's voice suddenly shouted frantically through his mind. "Naruto can you hear me?!"

"Kurama?!" Naruto struggled out loud in confusion. "What are you—" Naruto started before he doubled over in intense pain. He stayed like that for a split second before another wave of pain the likes of which he had never experienced before in his life washed over him. Jihibiki was almost to him when suddenly he shot up and went completely rigid –every nerve ending feeling as if it were on fire.

Another scream, this time even more blood curdling than the last, ripped through the cave hideout. The walls began to rumble as the chakra from Naruto suddenly rolled out of him in huge amounts –the air becoming nearly too heavy to breathe in. Potent red chakra began to seep from his skin and swirl around him. The killing intent slammed into everyone in the room, causing them to freeze momentarily from the intensity of it.

"What's happening?!" Shikamaru shouted over Naruto's continuing anguished screams.

"Something is wrong!" Jihibiki shouted back, urging his body to move. "Something is very wrong!"

The elderly Uzumaki pushed forward against the chakra pouring out of Naruto's body, desperate to reach him. It seemed with every step he took the chakra rolling off of Naruto increased more and more. Just when he was within reach, Naruto suddenly tilted his head back a silent scream, blood beginning to trickle down from beneath his mask. Although they couldn't see it, his eyes had constricted to nothing more than pinpricks and his entire body was beginning to vibrate.

Not wasting any more time, Jihibiki lurched forward and managed to press his hand to Naruto's chest before being blown back along with everyone else in the room in a blinding explosion of chakra. The men in the room crashed backwards through furniture, documents, and models before slamming into the cold unforgiving walls of the cave.

When they finally managed to regain their bearings, they found Naruto in a crumpled heap in the center of the room. Mask blown off of his face, eyes focused into the distance, blood seeping from the corners of his of his mouth, and his jaw fixed in a never ending silent scream.

Things were bad. Really bad. He couldn't touch Menma. He couldn't use any chakra attacks. Hell, Kurama was pretty damn sure even looking at the creature would allow it to take his chakra at this point. And yet here he was, battling nine dark Naruto clones in a vain attempt to keep them from reaching the chakra source. And how was he battling them? He was smacking them away with trees, one in each tail. He swore if anyone saw him doing so he would die of embarrassment. But that sort of reflection could wait.

"Will! You! Just! Die! Already!" He shouted in frustration, swinging a tree bearing tail with each word.

The Menma clones' only responses were to laugh maniacally as they jumped, dodged, and were occasionally painted all over the foliage after being struck with a tree. Before Kurama could act, all nine of the clones suddenly blurred in different directions in an attempt to circumvent the fox.

Out of options, Kurama formed another Bijudama and fired the beam of pure energy in an arc. Everything for miles in front of him incinerating, the clones included. But he didn't waste any time, he knew they'd be back so he didn't wait for them to show. Instantly connecting to Naruto, Kurama did his best to work damage control.

"Naruto! Naruto can you hear me?"

"Kurama is this you?" Naruto's voice asked, suddenly heard through the air. "Are you doing this?"

"This isn't me," Kurama shouted. "It's—gah!"

Before the fox could say anything else he was suddenly surrounded by a swarm of Menmas and forced to cut off his explanation; one of them managing to grab his foot, instantly shooting pain through his body while pulling out the negative energies within him.

"Eat shit you sadistic little fuckers!" Kurama bellowed as he smashed the clone with his fist, ignoring the pain he felt.

"What's happening?" Naruto asked in confusion.

"It's this foreign chakra! Whatever you're doing out there stop! If you keep going, you'll only make it stronger!"

"Make what stronger?"

"I don't know! I –I've never seen anything like this before! It's—GOD DAMNIT, WHY WON'T YOU FUCKING DIE!" Bellowing in rage, Kurama quickly ignited the entire area with a raging fire.

"What the hell is happening in there, Kurama?!"

Kurama was about to respond when suddenly twice the number of Menma clones burst through the fire, all converging on the chakra source. Without even thinking Kurama fanned his tails out and spun, pumping as much chakra through his tails as he could. The result was immediate. A massive tornado formed with blade like winds whipping around viciously and cutting down everything in their paths.

"Kurama?"

Kurama stopped his spinning and grinned. Sitting in the center of his devastating vortex, the fox watched as everything around him was sliced away. However, it quickly vanished when he noticed the winds slowing down. Focusing through the dying winds his eyes widened at what he saw.

"No way! That's…that's impossible!"

Standing in the vortex was Menma, his grin stretched across his face in a grotesque way. Orange rings surrounded his eyes and instead of a just having vertical slits, his pupils had rectangular bars as well.

"Isn't it great?" Menma asked throwing his head back with a laugh. "Every skill he possesses, every ability you wield, it's mine! All mine!"

"You bastard!"

"I guess that's one thing you could call me." Menma laughed as he held his arm above his head. Dark energy began to collect and spin around his palm until the all too familiar screech of a Rasen Shuriken filled the air. The action was mirrored by all of his clones. "You're outnumbered and outmatched, Kurama. Submit to me! Submit to me and I will grant you all of your inner most desires. I'll purge this village from the maps and do it with your power!"

"Go to hell!" Kurama spat.

"I'm already there." Menma spat back as he and the other clones took aim.

Kurama's eyes darted back and forth searching for some way to rid himself of the clones surrounding him. He'd be lying if he said he wasn't in trouble. But Kurama was drawing a blank on what to do. I one last desperate attempt to stop Menma, he formed another Bijudama and fired it at the one he had been talking to.

Menma didn't even try to dodge. Bringing his jutsu down, he used at as a shield. Slowly sliding backwards from the attack, he lifted the Rasen Shuriken back up and with a loud cry pushed the Bijudama up over him effectively redirecting the attack. Kurama watched in awe and horror as his massive ball of destruction sailed away.

"Nice try, fur ball." Menma panted. "But it's over."

Suddenly Kurama's attack exploded in the distance setting off a chain reaction. The first was the sudden and strangled cries from Naruto that float on the wind. The second was the ground began to tremble causing everyone present to struggle for footing. Next, movement caught Kurama's eye off in the distance and when he did look he couldn't help the grin that began to spread over his face.

"Minato you magnificent bastard!"

Menma and his clones followed Kurama's eyes to see the willow tree that held the seal slowly rising into the sky. He snarled as he watched the tree grow rapidly, its' trunk expanding and extending while the branches reached further and further out –the seal on the trunk glowing ominously like a beacon.

"What did you do?!"Menma demanded, turning back to the fox. His answer came as another blast of wind pounded him and his clones. The vortex once again reaching up into the skies.

"I've only got one shot at this!" Kurama shouted. "Sorry kit but I've got no choice, I'm cutting the connection!"

Tilting his head back, Kurama began to draw on every bit of chakra he possibly could. The ball of energy above him growing bigger and bigger until he was literally dwarfed in size by what he created, the ground cracking and breaking beneath him from the extreme weight. And still he pushed more into it. Until he lost all feeling in his extremities, and his skin clung to his bones like a living skeleton.

As soon as he felt the winds dying down he acted. Letting out a mighty roar, Kurama fired the biggest Bijudama he'd ever created. The massive moon like creation blew the vortex away, and created a path of destruction. Confused, Menma followed the path of the attack and found the target. Eyes widening in shock, he quickly turned towards Kurama with a glare.

"Get to it!" He shouted near hysteria and all eight-teen clones launched themselves at the chakra source at once.

It was a race against time. Kurama lashed out with his tails and claws, trying to fight back the swarm of clones as they relentlessly pushed forward. The Bijudama might as well have crawled to the tree because it was the longest few seconds of Kurama's life. Just as the fox's attack was about to land, Menma managed to slip through Kurama's defenses and reached out for chakra.

It all happened in slow motion. Menma's fingertips managed to brush the edge of the chakra beam just as the Bijudama impacted the tree. Feeling the powerful foreign chakra pulsing through him, Menma was about to laugh when suddenly the earth began to rumble. Out of nowhere four gigantic roots burst from the ground, throwing Menma back and boxing in the purple chakra by forming a massive pillar that reached up into the clouds. Then more roots erupted from the dirt, latching on to anything with a chakra source. Menma was quickly pinned to the ground as was Kurama. The dark entity glared at the fox who smiled back.

"You think this is over? You think you've stopped me?" Menma raged. "This is only the beginning!"

"Oh, I wouldn't be so sure about that." Kurama answered with a knowing smirk.

Menma was about to demand an answer when something suddenly overshadowed him. Looking up, his eyes widened when he saw that the willow tree was the one doing it. Its' branches reached out covering everything, the seal on the trunk glowing with absolute authority. In the distance, a screeching could be heard as the tree branches and roots found the black cesspool where the original Menma resided and sealed it away. By the time the shrieks faded, the tree was larger than the entirety of Konohagakure.

"Don't think I'll be contained by this fox!" Menma shouted before dispelling itself and reverting to a black goo. The liquid made it a couple of inches before the roots suddenly morphed around it into a makeshift bowl and sealed the top with more roots.

"If I didn't know any better I'd say you were rooted to your spot!" Kurama said with a grin. Letting his grin faded he did his best to get comfortable in his new bindings before letting out a sigh and closing his eyes.

"The rest is up to you kit." He murmured. "Our connection has reverted back to before we even met for the first time. You'll have to come to me again. But one thing is certain. This isn't over…not by a long shot."

It started off as a whisper in the market place. It was in hushed tones and she couldn't really make out what was being said. But as she progressed further into the crowded streets she noticed people glancing at her, covering their mouths, or trying to discreetly point at her. It confused her, why were people acting like this. Like she had done something or something had happened to her. It was making her uneasy and she was so lost in thought that she didn't even realize she had arrived at her destination until she heard the man calling her name.

"Hinata-sama, it's so good to see you again!"

Hinata's head shot up as she jumped from the sudden proximity of the voice. However, she smiled when she saw the baker behind the counter smiling at her warmly.

"Ikinoii-san, it's good to see you as well." She said with a pleasant smile.

The man chuckled. "I'm relieved to see you okay. I haven't seen you in over two weeks; I was starting to worry about my best customer!"

"No, no, I'm fine." Hinata said reassuringly. "I've just been extremely busy."

The Ikinoii nodded in understanding before smiling. "I take it you want the usual?"

Hinata shook her head. "Actually I'd like you to double it."

Ikinoii raised an eyebrow. "Hinata-sama, I know I'm not one to patronize one such as you but don't you think you'd get a stomach ache?"

"Th-They're not all for me!" Hinata said looking away with a blush. "I-I was planning on sh-sharing them w-with someone."

"You mean with Naruto-sama?" He asked surprised.

"Y-Yeah." Hinata stuttered out before noticing the look on his face. "Is s-something wrong?"

"Oh it's nothing." Ikinoii said rubbing the back of his head slightly embarrassed. "It was a bit presumptuous of me, but I assumed because of the rumors going around that something happened between you two."

"R-Rumors?" Hinata asked as her face started to heat up and a sense of dread started to sink in her stomach. She suddenly found herself not very hungry.

"You mean you haven't heard?" Ikinoii asked surprised again. Hinata shook her head and he suddenly began to shift uncomfortably. "I don't know if I should tell then. It's not my place to say and they are rumors after—"

Ikinoii was cut off as Hinata's hand suddenly came across the counter and grabbed his sleeve.

"P-Please t-tell m-m-me." Hinata asked quietly, staring up into the man's eyes.

The baker did his best to avoid the desperation in her eyes; he knew that if he looked at her face he would be done for. However, the pleading in her voice caused him to glance her way and immediately he admitted defeat.

"Okay, okay." Ikinoii sighed, conceding defeat. "How do I say this? Shoot…ah…there are rumors going around that um…Naruto-sama was seen with a red headed woman on his back, smiling and laughing, while walking through the streets…and…um…they were…er…"

"Th-They were w-w-what, Ikinoii?" Hinata whispered, her breath trapped in her throat.

"They were seen heading towards…Naruto-sama's apartments…H-Hinata-sama?"

Hinata's world suddenly came to a screeching halt as the words left Ikinoii's lips. The second the words registered in her mind she was walking, carrying her away on their own free will as her thoughts began to run rampant. On the outside she appeared to be calm, perhaps even a little lost in thought. But on the inside a war was now raging violently. One side defiantly arguing that what she heard was untrue, logically reasoning that Naruto would never do such a thing: the other viciously deprecating herself, telling her she lost her chance for not putting more effort into trying to make the blonde hers. Telling her she deserved what was happening and he was far too good for her.

"H-He asked me to the f-festival though…" She tried to reason, her head down. Although the streets were crowded it felt like everyone's eyes were on her.

Suddenly the whispers became deafening. She felt trapped. Embarrassed. Ashamed. She had to get out of there. Away from everyone. Away from the voices talking about her. She needed to find answers. Her throat was starting to close up, but she couldn't figure out why. Was it because she was scared there was another girl? Was it because she thought she was special to Naruto? Was it because Naruto was with another girl?

A sudden anger gripped her and she clenched her fists. If she were aware of it, she'd also realize she was starting to release a dark aura that was causing many to back away from her. The random and sudden uprising of anger slightly frightened her but at the same time she embraced it.

"I swear," she muttered to herself as her feet carried her away, "if he is leading me and my feelings for him on…the Shinigami himself is going to be too scared to collect his soul when I'm through with him!"

Before she knew it she was already halfway to Naruto's apartment. Realizing she was nearly there, she increased the pace. He wouldn't lie to her. He would tell the truth.

If he knew what was good for him.

When Karin finally came to the first thing she realized was that she had no clue where she was. She was warm and comfortable, yes, but she was somewhere she was not familiar with which instantly put her on high alert. Her eyes quickly surveyed the room and she realized she wasn't wearing her glasses. Glancing at the nightstand next to her she found them sitting there and quickly snatched them up and put them on. Sliding to the edge of the bed, she then noticed that she wasn't wearing her prison clothes anymore, but a gaudy orange and black track suit. Still, it was comfortable and warm.

Pushing off the bed, Karin wrapped her arms around herself for comfort as she slowly made her way to the bedroom door. Cracking it open she peered into the hallway. No one was home, or so she thought until she heard some clattering of dishes and voices coming from what she expected was the living room. Moving slowly down the hallway, Karin's soft padding of her bare feet was the only noise she made as she silent inspected the house.

"...but don't you think it's about time you looked into a bigger place, Naruto?"

"Baa-chan, I don't have time to be thinking about something as unimportant as that. With everything that is happening, it just isn't important enough to give it any thought right now."

There was a "humph" before, "You're so serious now. What happened to you?"

A chuckle followed. "You two got to me."

Karin came around the corner just in time to see the older red head whirl around at the sink from where she was washing dishes and point accusingly at Naruto, who was sitting on the couch in the living room with his back to her –his legs crossed and arms stretched out on either side of the couch –relaxing.

"Don't go tryin' ta pin this on us!" The red head she remembered as Renge shouted. "You're just like your father! That serious streak comes straight from him!"

"The hell ya talkin' about?!" Naruto shouted incredulously. "You're the one that was all like 'to be an Uzumaki is to be powerful…omniscient…serious.'"

There was a smack and a yelp followed by, "Those words never left my mouth you lyin' lil brat!"

"It was understood!"

There argument came to a halt when a giggle caught their attention. Karin instantly stopped and hid behind the corner of the wall, peeking out just enough for her to see.

"Glad to see you finally woke up Kar-chan." Renge said with a warm smile.

Caught off guard and put on the spot, Karin said the first thing that came to her mind.

"A-Ano, did you change me?" Karin asked. It wasn't what she wanted to ask but it was the first question to pop into her head. It didn't matter but it still brought a slight blush to her face.

"No, that would be Naruto-kun." Renge said with a wink.

Karin froze, mortified, before turning to the blonde to see him smiling and wriggling his eyebrows at her.

"W-Wh-What?!" She shouted as her face burned bright crimson.

Both looked at her before looking at each other and bursting out in laughter.

"Oh man, did you see the look on her face?" Renge gasp out as she wiped a tear away.

"That was just cruel." Naruto managed to get out.

Karin shouted in embarrassment and anger as she jumped out into the room and pointed at the two. "Th-That wasn't funny at all! The hell's wrong with ya?! Is that how ya treat someone ya just met?" Instantly her hands came up to cover her mouth, her face deepening in color. She always had this problem –no filter when her emotions started to run.

Both Naruto and Renge looked at each other in surprise before they smiled again, but this time it was smaller.

"Told ya she was one of us." Renge said with a smirk.

Karin blinked in surprise and in that split second Naruto had vaulted the couch and had wrapped her up in a hug.

"Yep!" He shouted with a laugh as he started to spin her. "She most certainly is!"

Releasing her, Naruto took a step back and blinded her with his face splitting grin. Karin couldn't help but blush a little at the praise and attention she was getting, and she could feel the grin that was starting to make its way across her face as well. What could she say, it was contagious. After a moment though Naruto's grin dropped as if he had just realized something and took a step back. Smiling sheepishly he spoke.

"Ah! Where are my manners?"

"—You don't have any." Renge muttered dryly.

Shooting a small glare her way he then bowed and introduced himself. "My name is Uzumaki Naruto, and this here is my great great grandmother, Uzumaki Renge."

Renge gave a short bow with a smile as well to which Karin returned with a smile. Then something clicked and she took a step back in utter shock. "G-Great great grandmother?! How old are you?"

Naruto threw his head back and laughed while the elder crossed her arms and scowled. "Old enough to know disrespect when I see it!"

Karin was about to apologize when Naruto interrupted her. "Yeah, if ya can still see!"

To make a point he waved a hand in front of her face. However, Renge's hand suddenly came up and gripped his hard earning a couple of audible pops in the process.

"What's that? I couldn't hear you over the sound of your hand breakin'."

Naruto yelped out in pain before suddenly snickering, causing Renge to narrow her eyes. "So not only are you blind, but you're deaf to, eh?"

Karin couldn't help it as the giggles escaped her lips. Renge's eyebrow twitched hard before she suddenly brought her staff down on top of Naruto's head, driving him into the floor.

"Damn disrespectful brats!" She shouted waving her staff around.

Naruto's only response was to pop out of existence in a cloud of smoke.

"W-Wha?!" Karin asked taking a step back in shock.

"…Oops…" Renge muttered rubbing the back of her head.

"That was…a shadow clone?" Karin asked in disbelief.

Renge nodded. "I asked Naruto-kun to leave one in case I had to go take care of some things but I guess that's not happening now." She gave a sheepish smile, at least having the decency to look embarrassed.

Karin gave a small smile and shook her head. These people were so strange and yet so like her at the same time. However, she was suddenly drawn from her thoughts when she felt a small pulse of chakra. Looking at Renge, she saw the small look confusion on her face as well.

"What was that?" Karin asked.

Renge looked at her strangely, as if to say 'you felt that?' However, her own confusion took hold of her as she raised a finger to her necklace and pulsed chakra through it. There was a pause before frantic and sporadic pulses began firing back at her. Renge's eyes widened in surprise, disbelief, and –Karin could have sworn –panic.

Flipping through hands seals at insane speeds, Renge slammed her hand on the floor of the living room. A seal shimmered into existence and stayed there. Without wasting any more time, Renge brought her finger to her necklace again and pulse a few more times.

"R-Renge-san," Karin said meekly. "What's happening? What is that seal?"

"I don't know." Renge scowled as she grabbed Karin's wrist and drug her into the kitchen. "And you're about to find out."

Before Karin could even ask what she was talking about there was a flash by the front door and suddenly the old man from before slid into the center of the living room on his knees with Naruto in his arms. Except Naruto was covered in blood and his clothes were in tatters. His shirt was completely gone and his pants were barely hanging on. His mouth was clenched tightly in pain while staring off at some distant object.

"What happened?!" Renge shouted as she and Karin rushed forward.

"Something happened when he put the mask on!" Jihibiki replied as he laid the blonde down. "He was saying something about his seal before he started screaming. The next thing we knew, chakra was literally exploding from his body!"

"How is the seal?" Renge asked as she peered down at the black ink on his stomach.

"From what I can see its fine." Jihibiki replied.

"And the blood?"

"His. He's been screaming so hard it's destroying his vocal cords."

"I-Is he okay?" Karin asked worriedly.

"For now." Jihbiki said with a nod. "But whatever caused it took a lot out of him. We need to get him patched up before there's any permanent damage."

Renge sighed. "Well I don't know any medical jutsu and neither do you. I guess we better haul this fool to the hospital so he can get patched up."

"I, um…I know medical jutsu." Karin said quietly. It annoyed her how timid she was acting now, but if she was honest, these people were intimidating.

"How?" Renge asked amazed. "Uzumaki have never been able to use advanced medical jutsu unless a limiter seal was placed on them. Our level of control has never been high enough due to our large chakra reserves."

Karin shifted uncomfortably under their gaze. "It's not really a jutsu. C-Can I just show you?"

Renge looked at Jihibiki who just shrugged, so she nodded.

"Help him sit up." Karin instructed as she kneeled between Naruto's legs. Each grabbing an arm, the two elders hoisted the blonde up into a sitting position before watching the red head intently. "N-Naruto-san? Can you hear me?"

Naruto made no move to indicate that he had. His eyes still fixed off in the distance.

"Naruto-san," Karin said waving a hand in front of his face, "I need you to listen to me so you can do as I tell you." When she received no response she tried again. "Naru–"

"—Wake up ya idiot!" Renge shouted in his ear while whacking him over the head.

"Gah!" Naruto's raw voice rasped out as his eyes shifted to confusion at first before settling on a glare fixed at his grandmother.

"Listen to Karin-chan." Renge ordered as she nodded to the red head.

Naruto's eyes shifted to the girl in front of him before he suddenly jerked back and shifted uncomfortably, noticing that she was kneeling between his legs. Karin blushed slightly but made no move to acknowledge she understood.

"Naruto-san, I know this is going to sound strange…" She started getting his attention, as she spoke she slipped the jacket off causing his eyes to go wide. Ignoring his look and forcing down her blush, she pulled down on her shirt at the shoulder revealing her left shoulder. "But I need you to bite me."

Everyone was quite for a moment as they stared at the red head in disbelief. Then Jihibiki broke the silence.

"The hell?"

"I know it sounds strange –bizarre –abnormal even, but please trust me!" Karin begged before looking down. "I…I want to help."

Everyone fell silent as they stared at Karin. Naruto could tell she wanted to help, and although he didn't know much about her –she was family and that was more than enough reason to trust her in his opinion. Finally nodding, he carefully leaned forward and opened his mouth wide enough for his canines to grab some flesh between them. Looking up at her, Karin gave him a slight nod and he bit down lightly. It caused Karin to actually give a short laugh.

"Naruto-san, you have to bite hard enough to draw blood."

Naruto's eyes bulged again and he made an incredulous noise in the back of his throat. He started to draw back but Jihibiki finally lost his patience.

"Oh just hurry up already!" The old man shouted grabbing the back of Naruto's head and giving his chin a stiff upper cut with his free hand.

Karin gave a short yelp of pain as her eyes squeezed shut for a moment. The next second Naruto's mouth was full of blood, the metallic life-giving fluid running over his tongue and filling up slowly. And it took everything he had right then and there not to vomit.

Naruto didn't mind blood. He had tasted his fair share of it in the past. But the major difference between then and now was that when he had tasted it before it had been his own. For some reason, the idea of drinking someone else's blood –let alone having it in his mouth –started to make him sick. Luckily, Karin seemed to pick up on this.

"Forgive me Naruto-san," She said as she closed her eyes and concentrated. "I was caught off guard. Give me a moment."

There was a paused and suddenly the iron taste disappeared. He could still feel the small amount of fluid sloshing around in his mouth, but the blood taste had disappeared all together. In fact, there was no taste at all. Only a slight tingly sensation he felt all over the inside of his mouth. Almost like carbonated water without the bitterness.

"Try swallowing now." Karin ordered.

Naruto gave a slight nod and found it incredibly easy to do so. The moment it washed down his throat he felt instant relief and practically moaned into her arm. The raw, pulsing, stinging pain was quickly replaced by a cool soothing sensation that left his throat slightly tingling. Sucking on her arm, he drew more and more of the healing liquid from her shoulder. What he didn't realize was just how much he was drawing out.

Karin let out a soft grunt as sweat began to slide down her face. Her eyes squeezed shut as she concentrated on healing the blonde man's throat. However, her discomfort did not go unnoticed by the other two.

"Are you okay dear?" Renge asked as she placed a hand gingerly on the girl's shoulder. Naruto stopped immediately and looked at her in concern.

"I-It's fine, really." She said. "Please continue Naruto-san, you're voice box was completely destroyed and it will take a little bit longer before it is properly healed." Seeing him continue to hesitate she gave him a small smile. "Really, it's okay. I promise."

Naruto gave a short nod before closing his eyes and continuing. Renge noticed the strain it was putting on the girl and the sweat the girl's body was producing from the effort of keeping up with Naruto's demand.

"Jihibiki, be a dear and go make a pot of tea for Karin-chan." Renge ordered as she stood up. "I'm going to go warm a bath for her."

Jihibiki nodded stood as well to go make tea while his wife made for the bathroom. Room was quiet as Naruto continued to heal and after a few seconds, Karin slumped forward into him. Naruto stopped immediately what he was doing and looked at her, his arms moving to her in support.

"Are you okay?" His voice rasped out, clearly not complete with the healing.

"I-I'm…fine." She assured as she rested her head on his shoulder. "Please continue, your throat isn't completely healed."

Naruto shook his head. "This is fine. It's mostly healed; I can finish it myself with some help from Kurama."

"But…" Karin started but stopped when she caught Naruto's look from the corner of her eye.

"It's fine." He assured with a smile. "I'm an Uzumaki after all. This will be taken care of in a few hours."

Karin gave a slight nod as she closed her eyes exhaustedly with a sigh. "If you say so."

"I do." Naruto said quietly.

Suddenly there was a knock at the door drawing everyone's attention to it.

"Who the heck is that?" Naruto asked. The knock returned only this time much louder, as if the person could hear the voices inside.

"Were you expecting company?" Jihibiki asked. Naruto shook his head and the knocking on the door became booming. Naruto was pretty sure the hinges were about to give.

"Who the hell is that?" Naruto wondered. "I know it isn't Baa-chan. It's not Sakura. So who—"

"Don't you think you should answer it?" Karin asked Naruto, glancing up at him from where she was still resting on his shoulders.

There was a sudden pause in the knock as soon as Karin spoke. For the next second everything became deathly quiet and for some unknown reason a chill of terror ran down both Naruto and Jihibiki's spines.

The next second the door was blown off its' hinges and completely disintegrated. Coughing a little, Naruto looked through the dust in confusion before his eyes went wide in fear and he started stammering.

"H-H-Hin-Hinata?!"

Standing in the doorway to his apartment was Hinata, confused, shocked, and shaking with anger. She stared at Naruto with an incredulous gaze before it shifted briefly to betrayal and then to rage. Her mouth moved, but nothing came out. Her breathing became hyperventilated. Her eyebrows knitted together and tears began to slide down her face in torrents. And why not?

There sitting in the living room of his apartment was the man she loved, his shirt off, holding another woman, and practically being straddled by this…this red headed bitch. And even though she wanted to run away, far, far away from there, she found that she couldn't. All she could do was stare in horrified shock and anger.

As soon as Naruto saw her face he understood what she thought, and he quickly did his best to set about explaining it. Unfortunately, in his scramble to come up with something to say to placate her, he failed. Epically.

"I can explain!" He rasped out as he raised his hands away from Karin.

Hinata gritted her teeth.

"It's not what it looks like, I swear!"

Her hands clenched into fists.

Realizing nothing was working, Naruto raised his hands slowly and spoke. "Look, Hinata! Just…no."

As soon as the words left his lips he realized it wasn't going to get through to her. He could see it in her eyes, in her body, the way she tensed up. She was getting ready to do something. And what exactly that was terrified Naruto.

"Hinata!" Jihibiki said loudly causing the girl's eyes to cut straight to him and even made him flinch. "I promise it ain't what it looks like sweetie."

Hinata stared at him for several seconds until Renge entered back into the common area and saw her.

"Oh, Hinata-chan! It's so good to see you dear!"She exclaimed before noticing the girl's appearance. "Is…something wrong honey?"

"Jihibiki-san…Renge-sensei…Naruto-kun…" Hinata said in a sickly sweet voice that made the two men want to vomit. "Who is this hussy?"

"Well things just got interesting." Jihibiki laughed. He instantly shut up as the dark aura around Hinata increased and she leveled him with a withering glare.

"You. Don't. Speak." She hissed out.

"Yes, Renge!" Jihibiki cried out in fear before babbling. "I-I mean Hime! H-Hinata-sama! S-San! Chan! I-I mean -chan!

The poor man received one more killer glare before she turned to Renge. "Sensei. Explain."

Renge was doing his best to hide her laughter as she looked at her student. "Long story short: Karin is new to the family, Naruto got hurt, she was healing him."

Hinata looked from Jihibiki, to Naruto, and then finally Karin.

"Are you okay, Naruto-kun?" She asked a hollow voice that Naruto found oddly familiar but couldn't quite place it.

"Yeah," he rasped out with a weak smile, "I am now."

"That's good." She said calmly in the same tone as she seemingly stared at nothing.

"I jumped to conclusions." The Hyuuga princess thought. "I worked myself up over nothing, made a scene, and embarrassed myself by looking like such a mess. I'm a baka…"

It was like life was suddenly set to fast-forward as everything that had happened caught up to her. It was like an emotional vertigo, and the prevalent emotion being embarrassment. She was embarrassed she literally broke into Naruto's apartment. Embarrassed that she thought he was fooling around with someone else. Embarrassed that she was a speechless crying mess in front of everyone. And most of all embarrassed that she found herself practically drooling over Naruto's hard, muscular, naked torso now that she knew nothing was happening.

"I…I think I'll be going now." Hinata said in an empty, unattached voice.

As soon as he heard it Naruto's memory finally snapped to earlier that day. It was the same tone she had used when he asked her on a date.

"O-Oi, oi, Hime! Are you okay?" He asked as he tried to scramble to his feet.

"I'm fine, Naruto." Hinata replied simply. "I'm going now."

"Wait, take it easy! Remember what happened–"

Hinata spun around on her heels and that was all it took. By the time she made the one-eighty she had already crashed to the ground unconscious.

"—last…time…" Naruto finished with his hand still outstretched towards her. Lowering his hand and shaking his head with an exasperated sigh he then looked at Karin. "Karin, go get cleaned up –you've earned it." Turning his head back to the bluenette on the ground a tired smile made its way onto his lips. "I'll take care of her."

"Thank you, Naruto-san." Karin said with a grateful bow.

"Tch, stop sayin' that!" Naruto said over his shoulder as he picked up Hinata bridal style. "Name's Naruto, that's it. Got it?"

Karin blushed lightly before nodding slightly with a small smile. "Then thank you, Naruto-niisama."

Naruto let out sigh and shook his head before grinning at her. "That's as good as its' gonna get, huh?"

"Pretty much!" Karin said winking and sticking out her tongue.

"Whatever." He said with a smile. "And thank you for takin' care of me! Now go get cleaned up!"

"H-Hai!" Karin said excitedly before leaving the room quickly, thrilled with the idea of letting her tired, exhausted, and dirty body soak in the tub for a good long while.

Turning to Jihibiki, Naruto's voice suddenly took on the tone of a commander as his face hardened. Something that didn't fail to impress either of his grandparents. "Go back and let the others know I'm okay."

"Are you going to be alright?" Jihibiki asked.

Naruto nodded. "I'm fine. I'll be back in a little bit after I talk to Hina-hime and Kurama." His eyes narrowed slightly. "I need answers to what happened and I know he'll have them."

Jihibiki nodded and made for the door. "Tea's done by the way. Take a cup to Karin-chan, darling."

Naruto then turned to Renge. "Since I'll be here for a little bit, you can go and take care of whatever business you had planned earlier after you bring Karin her tea."

This caused Renge to stiffen slightly and Naruto noticed Jihibiki had paused at the door as well. The two spouses stared at each other for a moment before both breaking out into reckless grins.

"Okay, Naruto-kun. I shouldn't be away for too long," Renge practically sang as she picked up the tea tray and made her way down the hall towards the bathroom.

Jihibiki seemed to laugh manically as he left the apartment complex leaving Naruto alone with Hinata in his arms. He couldn't help the shiver that ran down his spine from the way the two had acted.

"Why?" He asked himself as he made his way to his bedroom. "Why did I have to get stuck with such a mischievous family?"