Author's Note: I don't own Naruto.

Chapter IV

School Drama and Comas

A regular start to the morning was always a good thing. But shit can go downhill really fast from there. Especially when Kata got to school on her second day. Almost all the kids were whispering about Kata being the daughter of Naruto. Nami was at the center of the rumors.

"Kata, answer us this question right now!" She said with a lot of authority. "H-huh?" Kata didn't understand what exactly was happening. "Are you Naruto Uzumaki's daughter?" Nami asked. Kata didn't know what to do, so she decided to pretend to be too tired to hear anything. "Huh? I'm sorry my cousin was sick last night and I had to take care of him until he got better." "That's a lie Kata, I saw you hug that Hyūga girl yesterday and I heard your conversation." Nami said as she got closer to the Uzumaki. Kata knew she was cornered, but that didn't mean she was defenseless. Kata shoved Nami out of her face. "Please don't get so close to me." She said.

Nami locked gazes with Kata. "You have to confess right now!" She barked. "You are Naruto Uzumaki's daughter!" "Nami, Kata doesn't have to disclose anything about herself that she doesn't want you to know." Iruka said as he walked over to the crowd. "Yes Iruka-sensei." Nami said upset that she had yet to convince Kata to reveal the truth of her being the daughter of Naruto. Iruka had the group of kids go inside while he had Kata talk to him out there in private.

"So it's true then? That you are Naruto's daughter?" he asked. Kaya looked down and finally nodded her head slightly confirming the question. "Wow...in all my years I never expected Naruto to be a dad." "H-he's a dad to three of us." Kata said quietly. Iruka nearly jumped back ten feet in surprise. "Three!?" "There's Boruto and Himawari, they're twins and my older siblings. And mama's said she's having another child." Kata said as she looked down.

Iruka never got a chance to contemplate the shocking truth before Hinata came charging in. Her eyes wide with terror. "Sorry Iruka-sensei, I need to bring Kata to the hospital right now!" She said shakily. "Hinata, what's going on?" "I-It's Naruto-kun, he's been attacked!"

Iruka nodded. "Fine take your daughter, I'll excuse her for the day." Hinata was too panic-stricken to detect that he knew. She grabbed Kata and tore the ground as she charged to the hospital. Kata could see just how fast Hinata was moving just based on her bangs. They were not even touching her ears. Hinata's hair was straight back behind her and her eyes were filled with terror, worry, and tears.

After what seemed an eternity, Hinata reached the hospital. She shakily asked the clerk at the reception desk which room Naruto was in. "He's in room 203. But only immediate-" Hinata took off yet again. With Kata still in her arms, Hinata was flying up the stairs to room 203. She knew the route to that room so well. The clerk was racing behind them trying to prevent them from getting to Naruto's room.

When Hinata got to the room, she raised a shaky hand to the door handle. As she opened the door, Tsunade looked up to see the mother and daughter enter the room. Hinata let Kata down slowly as she saw the state Naruto was in. He was covered in bandages. "N-Naruto-kun?" Hinata asked quietly. "He's in a coma Hinata. We are still trying to figure out who attacked him and why. But his condition has been stabilized." Hinata sat in a chair to Naruto's left and grabbed hold of his hand. Hinata began to cry as her emotions overwhelmed her.

The clerk broke into the room infuriated by Hinata's and Kata's charge into the room. "YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE IN HERE! YOU TOO LITTLE GIRL!" She yelled. "Leave them alone, they are his family." Tsunade said as she stood up. The clerk looked surprised that Tsunade was in the room. "H-Hokage-sama?" "You heard what I said, now go!" Tsunade said as her temper grew out of control. The clerk left the room quickly and quietly. As Tsunade settled down, Kata took a place to Naruto's right and held his right hand.

Hours passed and no one said anything. Hinata spent most of the time crying and silently begging for Naruto to wake up. "Don't worry about him you two, Naruto will pull through. I know he will." "I never seen papa in such a horrible shape though. What if he dies, what if he loses his memory. What if he, what if he..." Kata broke off into intense sobbing. Hinata reluctantly let go of Naruto's hand and walked over to her crying child. She sat down next to Kata and wrapped her daughter in an embrace. Pulling her close to her.

"Shh, it will be fine Kata. Naruto-kun will make it." Hinata said even as her own heart was worried about the same things. But as if a part of Naruto's soul sensed the distress. Her heart was comforted by an aurora that filled the room. It was powerful, but it was protective of everyone in the room. It screamed "try to take my loved ones I dare you!" to any threat that might try to harm Hinata, Tsunade, and Kata.

It was nearing dark when Tsunade knew she would have to leave. "Hinata, you can stay here tonight, Kata can stay here too. Though Kata, you will need to be in school tomorrow. We will let you know if anything happens." She said as she left the room. Hinata produced a sleeping bag and pillow for Kata to sleep on before she crawled into the bed beside Naruto. She wrapped her arms around Naruto and began to sleep. As she rested her head on his chest, she could feel the heartbeat that Naruto had. She drew comfort and strength from it before sleep claimed her.

Kata was awake for a little longer before sleeping beside Naruto opposite of Hinata. Kata took her father's strength and finally let sleep claim her.

In a tree not too far away, the assailant smirked. He knew that he severely injured the demon brat, especially when he was responsible for his own banishment the night before. Now all he had to do was take the girls away from Naruto and run him through. His smile grew wider with each passing second. "I don't think you should do that ya know." The man stopped. He slowly turned around to see the blonde hair, whisker marks, and blue eyes of Naruto Uzumaki.

In this case, it was an advanced shadow clone. But for the assailant, it was more than enough to strike terror. "NANI?!? HOW ARE YOU?!?-" he never got to finish his sentence. The clone attacked the assailant and killed him. The clone dispersed after this sending the news to Naruto that the assailant was dead. In his unconscious state, Naruto smiled.