Naruto raised his head when he heard the door open. "Hey dad..." The older man had a wry smile, his son obviously was about to ask that question. "Why did you put Sakura in lockdown?" He didn't want to have this conversation, even more after what Hiashi told him. "Son, she stabbed a fellow villager, I couldn't let her stay out and endanger more people." Minato had a fist clenched behind him, recalling the times she bullied his son. "But I know her! She wouldn't do something like this! You should forgive her!" This brat... he truly messed up his upbringing. "Even though the person she almost killed was your best friend, Hinata?" Naruto was stunned, not believing in his ears. "Hinata?! Is she alright?" Time to drop the test. "No, she's at death's door, because of your 'Sakura'." Minato sighed at the confused expression, maybe he only heard the bits that said that Sakura had attacked a person, not knowing who.
Hinata was confused due to her dream, still trapped in her unconscious state. "What did that mean? Will I have to make a decision? The village, or Kurama..." Unnoticed by anyone, her body moved slightly in real life.
Jiraya was nursing a mug of beer, watching the hunters discuss about the mysterious beast of the forest. 'Haah... why can't they drop the subject? If they pry too much the fox might get angry.' He didn't have animosity towards it, owning his life to it and knowing that the forest was a place out of village laws, only the strong and the ones with common sense lived. 'Un... and even though I was wounded, it didn't try to attack me. Maybe he was a cursed human?' He had heard of many legends like that, so there should be at least one sliver of truth. "Hunf, he's our protector and those fools want to kill him." He kept musing over the strange existence that had rescued him so long ago. 'But the Hyuuga... He has good taste!' Letting out a pervy giggle, he chugged down the remainder of the beer.
Naruto had heard his father berate him and couldn't stand it, running away to the bar. He was trying to mingle while holding a mug, disheartened. Then everybody began shifting from the beast to the Hyuuga girl, discussing about her situation and some betted on her health, trying to figure if she'd live or die with morbid curiosity.
Neji had gotten out, going to the shed to get more firewood, but on his way there he bumped on something. "Hrm?" He scooped the snow out of the way and found a man passed out. "Shit!" He put the arm of the stranger around his neck and took him to the house, praying that it wasn't too late. After telling Hanabi to wrap the man with several pelts, he went to get Tsunade.
Well, one more chapter, stay tuned and review your opinions.
Goddamn... why did you kill my inspiration Kami? "I thought it'd be fun." Bitch. "Thanks for the praise~"