Chapter 14: A Time to Heal*
Naruto blinked slowly as consciousness returned to him, the sterile smell of antiseptic filling his senses. The bright light of the hospital room stung his eyes, and his entire body felt heavy, as if weighed down by stones. As his vision cleared, he realized something warm was resting on him.
Looking down, Naruto saw Hanabi curled against his side, her head resting on his chest. Her small frame rose and fell with each soft breath, her delicate face relaxed in sleep. A flicker of surprise ran through him—"Hanabi?"—before the sight made a warmth bloom in his chest. She must've been here a long time, waiting for him to wake up.
Before he could fully process the situation, the door to his room slid open quietly. Hiashi Hyuuga, the stoic head of the Hyuuga clan, stepped into the room with his usual composed demeanor. His pale, calculating eyes regarded Naruto without anger or frustration—only a steady calm that made Naruto feel strangely unsettled.
"Ah, you're awake," Hiashi said, his tone quiet but firm as he crossed the room. He glanced briefly at his daughter, still fast asleep on Naruto's chest, then turned his gaze back to the boy.
Naruto opened his mouth to say something—an apology, maybe—but Hiashi raised a hand, silencing him before he could speak.
"Kakashi has already told us what happened," Hiashi began, his voice measured. "He said you fought hard and gave everything you had to protect your comrades. In that, you have shown the strength of someone worthy of respect. I am proud of you for that."
Naruto blinked in surprise at the unexpected compliment, his mouth half-open. It wasn't often someone acknowledged him in such a way, especially someone like Hiashi.
"However..." Hiashi's expression remained calm, but there was a weight to his next words. "There is a difference between being brave and being reckless. You risked yourself without thought for your own well-being. You have friends and... people who care for you—people who were deeply worried about you when they heard what happened."
Hiashi's gaze shifted briefly to Hanabi, who stirred slightly in her sleep but didn't wake. "My daughter has been sitting by your side since the moment you were brought here. Kakashi informed us of your condition, and she refused to leave until she knew you would wake."
Naruto stared at Hanabi, feeling a mix of guilt and confusion twist in his gut. He hadn't thought about how his actions might affect others. All he'd been focused on was bringing Sasuke back—no matter the cost.
Hiashi's voice softened slightly. "I do not say these things to shame you, Naruto. You fought well, and for a noble cause. But you must understand—strength is not just about how hard you fight. It's also about knowing when to protect yourself so you can fight again another day."
Naruto lowered his gaze, absorbing Hiashi's words. He wasn't used to someone expressing concern like this—not in such a steady, measured way. It felt... strange. Comforting, even.
"Rest now," Hiashi said, his tone signaling the end of the conversation. "Your body needs time to recover. When you are ready, we will speak more."
Naruto gave a small nod, and Hiashi turned toward the door, his footsteps quiet against the tile floor. Just before leaving, he glanced back over his shoulder. "And Naruto... thank you for coming back alive."
With that, Hiashi slipped out of the room, leaving Naruto alone with his thoughts—and the sleeping Hanabi still curled against him.
Naruto looked back down at her, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. He raised a hand hesitantly, as if to move her off his chest, but stopped himself. Instead, he let his hand rest gently against her head, brushing a few stray strands of dark hair from her face.
For the first time since everything that had happened, Naruto allowed himself to relax, his heart lighter than it had been in a while. There was still a long road ahead—Sasuke was still out there, and things wouldn't be easy. But for now, in this quiet moment, Naruto let himself simply be.
He closed his eyes, letting the warmth of Hanabi's presence and the weight of Hiashi's words settle over him. Maybe, just maybe, he could learn how to be strong in the right way.
And maybe, he thought with a small chuckle, he needed to figure out what he was going to say to Hanabi when she woke up.
--
A few hours later, Hanabi stirred, her long lashes fluttering as she slowly woke up. She felt warmth beneath her head, and the rhythmic rise and fall of someone's breathing. When her eyes fully opened, she found herself face to face with Naruto, who was staring down at her with his usual bright, curious expression.
Her eyes widened, and a wave of embarrassment rushed over her. "I fell asleep on him?!" She shot upright, her face flushing a deep shade of red.
"Naruto! W-What do you think you're doing, staring at me like that?" she demanded, folding her arms as if to hide her flustered state.
Naruto blinked, confused by her reaction. "Uh, you were sleeping, so I just... stayed still. I didn't wanna wake you up." His innocent explanation did little to calm her.
Flustered, Hanabi huffed and shook her head, her anger mostly an attempt to cover her embarrassment. "That doesn't mean you should just sit there staring at me like some kind of idiot!"
Naruto scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "Sorry?"
Hanabi gave him a long, annoyed look but decided to let it drop. However, she suddenly remembered why she had stayed by his side in the first place. She sat back down on the edge of the bed, this time wearing a more serious expression.
"Naruto... you really scared me," she muttered, looking away as she fiddled with the edge of her sleeve. "You can't just fight recklessly like that. You have to think about more than just winning." Her voice wavered slightly as she continued, "You have to make sure you come back... to us. To—" She hesitated, her face burning red, "—to me."
Naruto blinked, surprised at her words. "Hanabi..." But before he could say anything else, Hanabi crossed her arms and quickly recovered, her tone now stern to mask her emotions. "The next time you're on a mission, make sure you come back in one piece. Got it?"
Naruto gave a small grin, recognizing the care behind her words, even if she tried to disguise it with irritation. "Got it."
Just as Hanabi opened her mouth to say more—probably to scold him further—a loud, boisterous laugh echoed from the open window, causing them both to whip their heads toward the sound.
There, sitting on the windowsill, was none other than Jiraiya, the legendary Sannin, with his signature mischievous grin plastered across his face. "Oh, Naruto! You've got yourself a good one looking out for you!" he said with a hearty chuckle. "Smart, strong, and she *cares* about you. You're a lucky kid, you know?"
"Pervy Sage!" Naruto groaned, embarrassed now as well. "How long have you been sitting there?"
"Long enough," Jiraiya answered, clearly amused by the entire scene.
Hanabi turned her head away, her cheeks still glowing red. "This is... so ridiculous," she muttered under her breath.
Jiraiya swung his legs over the windowsill and hopped down into the room, hands on his hips. His playful grin faded, replaced by a more serious expression. "Alright, enough joking around. Naruto, it's time we got down to business."
Naruto straightened up, catching the change in Jiraiya's tone. "Business?"
"Yeah," Jiraiya nodded. "We've been taking things slow up until now, but after everything that happened with Sasuke and the Sound Four, it's clear you need to be stronger—and fast. No more half-measures."
Naruto clenched his fists, his expression hardening with determination. "What kind of training are we talking about?"
Jiraiya's grin returned, though there was a glint of pride in his eyes. "We'll be training with the toads—and with the Hyuuga Clan's help, too. I've spoken with Hiashi. Between my experience and their insight into chakra control, you're going to improve your control, your power, everything."
Naruto's eyes widened with excitement. "Really?!"
Jiraiya ruffled Naruto's hair with a fond chuckle. "Really, kid. But it's not going to be easy. You'll be pushed to your limits—and then some."
Naruto grinned from ear to ear. "I'm ready for it, Pervy Sage! Whatever it takes, I'll do it."
Hanabi, still sitting beside Naruto, folded her arms and gave him a side glance. "You'd better. Because if you come back all beat up again, I'll make sure you regret it."
Jiraiya laughed again, clapping Naruto on the shoulder. "You've got yourself quite the little guardian, Naruto. Don't make her worry too much, alright?"
Naruto gave Hanabi a cheeky grin. "Guess I better make sure I don't mess up again, huh?"
Hanabi huffed but didn't hide the small smile forming on her lips. "Good. See that you don't."
As Jiraiya continued explaining their upcoming training schedule, Naruto felt a flicker of hope and excitement growing within him. Things weren't perfect—Sasuke was still out there, and the road ahead would be tough—but for the first time in a while, he felt like he wasn't walking it alone.
And that, more than anything, gave him the strength to keep moving forward.
