Disclaimer: Naruto isn't mine and you know it. Sakura would be allowed to kick butt if it was. -_-

Warnings: Some swearing, sexual situations, and violence, throughout. Just minor swearing in this part. Also, there are spoilers, pretty much up through the current manga chapters. You really need to have seen through Itachi's return and when Naruto first meets Tsunade, to understand everything that's going on here. This is a sort of AU, beginning about a week after Naruto and Tsunade met. Since I'm a yaoi fangirl, there will be boy-boy love, but the het pairings are too cute to be ignored, so if you can't stand boy-girl love you may want to look elsewhere. And that's all, for now.

Rating: Probably PG-13 overall, may be subject to change

Oh and things in italics indicate memories…Don't groan, I don't use them that often.

Strange Rooms

Day 1 part 1

              Naruto woke slowly, blinking as he tried to figure out what was wrong. The ceiling wasn't his own. He couldn't tell exactly what it was, but something about it was off. And his head hurt.

              "Oww!"

              He winced, closing his eyes and trying to bring his arms up to his temples. Unfortunately, another problem appeared. His arms were trapped beneath a heavy blanket that had been tucked in tightly enough that it restricted his movement. "The hell?" He winced again and spoke in a quieter tone. "What happened?"

              Opening his eyes he looked around. The medical center. He was in the hospital. He remembered it; he'd been here after that pervert Jiraiya had pushed him off that cliff. But why was he here now? He couldn't seem to remember what'd happened to send him there. It must involve his head though, since that was the only part of him that hurt. He wriggled, trying to get free of the sheets. Whoever had tucked him in had been thorough; they must not have wanted him to go anywhere. After a large amount of struggling, he managed to pull himself loose. Finally free, he settled back against the pillow to try and think.

              He was all alone in a hospital room with no idea why he was there and a headache. No one had checked on him since he'd woken up, which meant he wasn't in critical condition. Either that or they were ignoring him. That would figure. He would've hoped that at least Iruka-sensei would come… He rolled onto his left side and stared at the wall, feeling miserable and confused. He'd been with the pervert trying to convince Tsunade to come back and heal Kakashi-sensei and Sasuke. That Itachi bastard had left a huge mess behind him before the open pervert had chased him off. So why was he here now?

              "Hey, you lazy moron, are you going to sit in bed all day?"

              He turned to face the door. Sasuke was standing in the doorway, frowning at him. They stared at each other for a long minute as Sasuke's expression slowly went from annoyance to vague concern. That clinched it. This was definitely a dream. Sasuke wasn't the concerned type. He was more of a 'stop whining and get over it' kind of guy.

              Suddenly Sasuke began to move, walking over to the bed and leaning down to put a hand on his forehead. "Hey, are you really all right? You didn't go dumb, did you?" His tone was brisk, his words clipped.

              Definitely not Sasuke. Naruto punched him in the stomach.

              Even as he doubled over Sasuke countered, hitting him in the head. Naruto groaned, fighting to stay conscious. Damn Sasuke, he hadn't held back at all! When Sasuke got his breath back he spoke. "What was that for?"

              Naruto blinked at him, trying to focus. "Huh?"

              "You hit me!"

              "Oh yeah. Doesn't matter though, since you aren't real."

              "What?"

              "You aren't real. You were worried. The real Sasuke would never be worried."

              Fake Sasuke's eyes widened and he started to speak but nothing came out.

              "And he's sick," Naruto continued. "So you can't be him."

              Fake Sasuke didn't even try to say anything, he simply stared at Naruto.

              "But that's OK. Because you're at least here and I'm tired of being alone."

              "How do you know I'm not real?"

              "Because you're worried. No one real worries about me. Except Iruka-sensei. That's why he's the greatest!" Naruto proclaimed proudly, smiling.

              Another silence.

              Naruto yawned. "Well, if you aren't going to say anything, I'm going back to sleep, Fake Sasuke." He curled up and pulled the covers to his chin. "G'night."

              "It's morning." Was the last thing he heard before drifting off.

*            *            *

              Naruto woke up slowly, sitting up and looking around. He wasn't in his room for some reason, but was in the hospital. "Huh?"

              "Ah! You're awake!"

              He focused on the speaker. "Hinata?"

              She blushed and stared at the floor. She was fiddling with a packet in her hands.

              "What are you doing here?"

              "Well…I was…um…"

              "What?"

              "I was worried…because you were so sick and…and…"

              "Worried? About me?"

              She was going to tear the packet open if she wasn't careful. "Y-yes. Because you were so very sick and…" She continued but her voice was too quiet for him to hear.

              "What was that? I couldn't hear you?"

              "I…I…"

              The door slid open and Sasuke stepped inside. "She's been here since she heard you were hurt. She's only left to eat and sleep."

              Hinata was now bright red and completely incoherent. She probably would've sunk through the floor if she could have. Naruto stared at her. "Really?"

              She nodded, unable to reply. Sasuke stepped forward and placed the pitcher of water he'd brought with him on the bedside stand. "It's a shame you didn't wait a few hours longer to wake up. Iruka-sensei wanted to be here when you woke again."

              "He isn't here?"

              "He has class." Sasuke looked around. "Where did Kakashi go?"

              "Sensei?"

              "Yeah." Sasuke responded with a shrug. "Iruka bullied him into watching you while he was teaching."

              "Really?" Naruto grinned foolishly. "But, but, wasn't he sick?"

              Sasuke tensed momentarily. "Yes."

              'Hmm…" Naruto through for a moment then comprehension dawned on him. He pointed at Sasuke, suddenly excited. "Hey! You were sick too! What are you doing here?"

              "Idiot."

              "Umm…Tsunade-sama came back with you and Jiraiya-sama and she healed them both." Hinata quailed as both boys stared at her. "So here he is!" She finished in a rush.

              Sasuke frowned at the door, probably trying to figure out how Kakashi had left without him noticing. Hinata pointed to the window. "He went that way."

              "Eh? Why'd he leave?"

              "To tell Iruka you are awake, obviously."

              "Really? Hey, hey, do you think he's going to come visit?" Naruto looked overjoyed at the prospect.

              "Why else would he want to know you're awake, idiot?"

              "Stop calling me that!"

              "Why shouldn't I? You are an idiot."

              "I am not."

              "Yes, you are."

              "No, I'm not."

              "You are. You're an idiot. A complete moron."

              "Sasuke, you bastard! I'm going to kill you!"

              "Kill me?" Sasuke was far too smug. "You can't even move."

              "Oh yeah? Watch me! I'm gonna beat your face in, y-ahh?" Naruto practically leapt out of bed to stand in front of Sasuke and glare at him. However, after only a few seconds, before he even finished talking, his legs gave out and he fell forward.

              Sasuke caught him. "You complete moron, what do you think you're doing?"

              "'m trying to kick your ass." Naruto grumbled.

              "You idiot."

              "I told you not to call me that!"

              "Then stop doing stupid things."

              "Don't act so high and mighty! I'm definitely going to beat you!"

              "You're going to try."

              "I beat dark eyes, I can beat you!"

              "Dark eyes?"

              "That freak from Hidden Sand village."

              "Gaara?"

              "Whatever."

              "That was just luck."

              "Was not! You couldn't beat him."

              "Shut up! I could have won, if you hadn't interfered."

              "If I hadn't jumped in you'd be dead!"

              "Don't think I'm like you, needing to be rescued all the time."

              "I don't…I'm plenty strong! I don't need your help."

              "Oh, really?"

              "Yeah! I beat Haku and Gaara and Neji and I freed Kakashi-sensei from Zabuza's-"

              "Only with my help." Sasuke interrupted.

              "Shut up! As soon as I can move I'm gonna kick your-"

              "You're repeating yourself."

              "Stop interrupting me!"

              "Why shouldn't I interrupt? You're just repeating yourself and it wasn't interesting the first time around anyway."

              "Sasuke, you complete bastard, even if I can't move I'll beat you!"

              Sasuke sighed. "Can't you do anything but make crude threats, you absolute idiot."

              "Just you watch, you'll see! I'll prove to you and everyone else just how strong I am!"

              They glared at each other, Naruto still leaning on Sasuke, their faces mere inches apart. Nothing was said for several minutes as they stared, trying to make the other back down with the power of their gaze. They were interrupted, however, by the sound of tearing paper and a startled cry. They turned to look at Hinata, who'd been forgotten in the background. She had torn open the packet she'd held in her hands. She'd knelt and was trying to push the powder that had been inside it into a neat pile with her bare hands. She looked up, sensing them staring, and blushed. "Umm…I…Um… You shouldn't fight! Naruto-kun is still sick and…"

              Naruto and Sasuke looked back at each other and started. They'd been so busy arguing they hadn't realized how close to each other they'd gotten. Sasuke pushed Naruto away, looking upset. Naruto fell back against the bed with a yelp then pushed himself up to glare at Sasuke again. "You could be a little nicer you know."

              Sasuke started to respond then cut himself off, frowned, spun on his heel, and stalked from the room. Naruto stared after him. "What was that about?"

              Hinata rushed to his side, distressed. "Are you all right?"

              "Eh? Me? I'll be fine."

              "Oh…"

              There was a long silence then he looked at her, face serious. "I am going to beat him."

              "Huh?"

              "Sasuke. I'm going to beat him some day. I'm going to beat him and prove how strong I am."

              "To him or to yourself?"

              He stared at her. "What?"

              "Ahh…It's just something Kurenai-sensei asked me once. 'Are you going to win to prove your strength to them or to yourself'."

              "Oh…" he considered that. "What did you say?"

              "I…well…I said I wasn't sure I would win but…I…I wanted to show that I could."

              "To them or you?"

              "Everyone."

              "Everyone…"

              "Naruto-kun?"

              "Eh?"

              "Do you need more painkillers?"

              "Painkillers?"

              She nodded. "Yes…Well, I accidentally spilled it but I can go get more."

              He fell back against the bed. "No. I'll be fine, I just…"

              "What?"

              "I just wish Iruka-sensei was here."

              "Oh."

              "And that I had some ramen."

              "He…Iruka should be here after classes let out. Konohamaru-kun and his friends usually come check on you then too."

              "Oh. Ne, Hinata?"

              "Yes?"

              "Why are you here?"

              "Me?"

              "Yeah. Sasuke was here to bother me, but why are you here?"

              "Well…I…um…I…ah! I'm going to get those painkillers! I'll, um, be right back!" That said, she rushed from the room.

              Naruto blinked. "She's so weird."

*            *            *

              Iruka glared at the two children standing before him in front of the rest of the class. The other students were watching intently, as eager as ever to see someone else getting punished. "Rin, Aki, what did you two think you were doing?"

              "He teased me!" Rin protested.

              "I did not!"

              "Did too!"

              "Did not!"

              "You did! And you pulled my hair!'

              "Liar!"

              "I am not. I'm not lying!"

              "Yes, you are. You're a liar! Rin's a liar!" Aki taunted.

              "Sensei!"

              "Enough." Iruka cut into the argument, losing patience.

              "But he teased me!"

              "So that makes it all right for you to hit him?"

              "Well…no, but…"

              "Ha." Aki chuckled, pleased Rin was in trouble.

              "And you, Aki! You should know not to tease others."

              "But I didn't! She's making it up. Because she's a stupid girl!"

              "I'm not stupid!"

              "Enough, both of you. You're both wrong so you both have detention tomorrow after class."

              "What?" They were as one voice in their indignation. "That's not fair!"

              "It is."

              "Why?" Aki wasn't going to take this quietly.

              "Because I say so."

              "Why?"

              "Because I'm your teacher."

              "So? What're you going to do? Fail me?"

              Iruka held back a sigh. Aki seemed to be in a rebellious phase. Before he could think of a reply that would cut the tedious argument short, the kids freaked. Some of them gasped, others yelled, but they all jumped. Rin leapt back so far she was pressed against a desk and even Aki looked disturbed. Iruka frowned, confused. He hadn't done anything yet, so why… He looked down to his left and nearly jumped himself.

              Kakashi was kneeling beside him, staring into Aki's eyes. No wonder the class was so surprised; even he hadn't heard him arrive. "Kakashi-sensei?"

              "Yo." Kakashi waved, not looking away from Aki.

              "What are you doing here?"

              "Delivering a message."

              "A message?"

              "Yeah."

              There was a short silence. "Well?"

              "Hmm?"

              "The message?"

              "Oh yeah."

              Iruka made a face. Why was everyone today so difficult?

              "You're needed at the hospital."

              "Eh? Why?"

              "Well… Naruto, he…" Kakashi trailed off, apparently searching for words.

              Iruka's eyes widened. No! Naruto wasn't… Naruto couldn't be… Not Naruto! He'd kill that Jiraiya, no matter how famous he was he-

              "He's awake."

              "Wh-What? Awake?"

              "Mmm." Kakashi nodded. "Moving and everything."

              Iruka could have kissed him, no matter how much of a bastard he'd been with that 'hospital needs you' line. Instead he just stared, unabashedly delighted. Naruto was going to be all right!

              It was impossible to tell, his facemask and forehead protector covering all but his right eye made reading his feelings extremely difficult, but Kakashi might've smiled. Aki wasn't so amused. "Sensei…"

              "Yes?" Iruka replied, automatically focusing on the boy.

              "Does this mean you're leaving early?"

              Iruka froze. Leaving… He couldn't just walk out, not in the middle of class. He was responsible for these children, not Naruto. Leaving them to run wild simply because he didn't want to wait a couple hours to check on him would be unforgivably irresponsible. But, still…

              "Iruka-sensei." Kakashi's voice was quiet.

              "Yes?"

              "I could watch the class."

              "Eh?"

              "I am a teacher."

              "For gennin."

              Kakashi waved that off. "Minor difference. Watch." He coughed lightly. "Konohamaru!"

              "Geh!" Konohamaru, who had just opened a window, turned to them and tried to look innocent.

              "Need some air?" Kakashi's voice was deceptively mild.

              Konohamaru smiled. "Yeah! That's it! Air."

              "Then you won't mind sitting down now that the window's open."

              "Uhh…I still need air. Lots of it."

              "Really?"

              "Yep."

              "Sit at the end of the row and take deep breaths then." Kakashi said, using his authoritative tone.

              Konohamaru was sitting before he realized. "Hey! You aren't my teacher!"

              "And?"

              "I don't have to listen to you!"

              Kakashi held up a hand to hold off Iruka's counter. "Yes, actually, you do."

              "Why?"

              "Because I am a teacher."

              "You aren't my teacher."

              "That doesn't matter."

              "Why not?" Konohamaru was defiant. He blinked as Kakashi vanished. "Huh?"

              A hand came down on his shoulder, causing him to squawk in protest. Turning, he found Kakashi standing behind him. "Because I say so."

              Konohamaru bit his lip. Kakashi definitely wasn't smiling now. "Fine."

              Kakashi ruffled his hair. "Good kid." Then he turned to Iruka. "Well?"

              "Well what?"

              "Are you leaving or not?"

              "Eh? Well…" Iruka considered. "I suppose. As long as you're here." He gave in. He held out his textbook and Kakashi moved back beside him to take it. "We're here. It's just lecture today, no tests, so you should be all right."

              "Yep. I will. Now get going. Naruto was looking for you."

              Iruka looked pleased. "Really? Well, I better go then. Behave, children!"

              "Yes, sensei." The children dutifully replied, though they doubtlessly didn't mean it.

              And he was gone. Kakashi smiled after him as he walked out the door. He preferred windows himself, so much easier to surprise people. The conventional was so dull. He looked at the book and flipped a few pages. "Sayings, hmm? How dull." Iruka definitely needed to get our and have some fun. It couldn't be healthy sitting inside all day teaching a bunch of brats boring facts. He'd have to do something about it. Going to see Naruto was a start, and Sasuke had said that he'd been asking for Iruka earlier…

              "Sensei?"

              He looked up at the boy Iruka had been lecturing. "Yes?"

              "Can we go back to our seats yet?"

              "Sure." He shrugged. He looked around as the pair sat. Should've asked for a seating chart. "This is dull. Have you learned about chakra yet?"

              Most of them shook their heads. The others probably had tutors. Kakashi tossed the book onto the desk and moved to the chalkboard. "All right then, let's learn."

*            *            *

              Sasuke leaned against a wall, arms crossed, staring at the floor. He was not worried. Not about Naruto. Especially not about that idiot. So what if he'd nearly died, spending a whole week in a coma. He'd been…sick…himself, thanks to… He shook his head. No, he wouldn't think about that now.

              But why would his brother be after Naruto, ignoring him?

              No! He wasn't going to think about it. He would train more, harder, learn better. He wouldn't think of how easily he'd been brushed aside, how casually Itachi had dismissed him, how little he'd mattered. He most definitely wouldn't remember those illusions. Those memories.

              "Uchiha-san?"

              He looked up, startled from his thoughts. "Eh?"

              A young nurse stood before him, holding a tiny paper cup. "The painkillers you asked for."

              "Pills?"

              "Yes. He should be able to take them, now that he's fully awake."

              "Oh. Thank you."

              She smiled sweetly, obviously charmed by him. Just like every other girl. She left, going to join a small gathering of other nurses, none even 30 years old. They were laughing and sneaking looks at him. Typical. So ordinary. So…

              How could everything be so normal? Itachi was back, he'd seen his parents die again and again, and even Kakashi-sensei had lost to him. And Naruto should have died.

              When he'd first woken, thankfully alone except for Kakashi, he'd gotten a quick recap of what had happened. Naruto and Jiraiya had found someone called Tsunade who had come to the village and healed sensei and him. Kakashi had recovered quickly, but he'd been laying in bed for a whole day and a half sleeping.  Sakura, and most of the female gennin, had been stopping by but the nurses kicked them our soon enough. Itachi was gone, vanished with that sidekick of his.

              Oh, he'd added, almost as an after thought, and Naruto's dying.

              He'd stared at his teacher, unable to comprehend. Naruto and dying didn't mix. Sure, he got himself in trouble all the time, but he also got himself out. Or someone else did. Kakashi must have been playing with him; he had a sick sense of humor sometimes. Kakashi had merely stood, heading out the door, telling him Naruto was in room 215 if he cared to visit.

              He had. It'd taken him about half an hour to force himself from the bed and to dress in the clothes that had been left on the room's chair. He'd gone to room 215 simply to check and see, he told himself, that Kakashi had been playing with him. Naruto had been laying on the hospital bed, unconscious, head bandaged with an IV hooked to his arm. The room was bare, not even a flower, and no one was there. Naruto lay alone, abandoned to live or die as he could. It wasn't the most disturbed thing Sasuke had ever seen, not even close, but it was…sad. It was somehow sad to see that someone so bright, so cheerful, so caring, could be so easily cast aside. Sasuke couldn't remember Naruto ever being ill, unless he was faking, and here he lay dying all alone. It wasn't right, it…

              Dammit, he wasn't worrying! He didn't have the time or the luxury to worry over that moron. He was an avenger; he had to concentrate on becoming stronger. He needed to train, not to sit in a room watching over a sleeping idiot, being accused of not even being real.

              The real Sasuke would never be worried.

              He wasn't. He was just… He was… standing at Naruto's door again. He sighed. He wasn't worried. Naruto was just a teammate. A former teammate, now. They may not even both be Chuunin, Orochimaru's attack and Hokage-sama's death had thrown the village into chaos and no one had decided what gennin had graduated yet. No one even really knew who would decide, since the Kazekage had died as well. So, he wasn't worried. Naruto was awake and as phenomenally stupid as ever. So…Maybe if he said it enough he'd believe it.

              "Sasuke-kun!"

              Sasuke started as Iruka ran up the hall, waving to him. Would people be startling him all day? Bad form. At least Iruka called him –kun. Uchiha-san was, had been, his father. "Sensei?"

              "Are you here to see Naruto too?"

              Of course not. "No. Hinata just asked me to get these for him." He handed Iruka the pills then turned and left.

              Iruka stared at him. "Such an odd child…" He opened the door to Naruto's room and stepped inside. "Naruto!"

              Naruto was sitting on the bed, looking out the window. He turned as Iruka entered. "Iruka-sensei?"

              "Hello. Kakashi-sensei told me you were-"

              Naruto cut him off, grinning like an idiot and tackling him. "Sensei!"

              Iruka staggered. He'd forgotten to account for Naruto's exuberance. "N-Naruto!"

              Naruto pulled back as quickly as he'd attacked. "You really came! Sasuke said Kakashi-sensei had gone to get you but I don't believe that jerk. Hinata said Kakashi-sensei had been here too though."

              "He didn't say anything before he left?"

              "Nope. Never even saw him.

              How strange. Kakashi had been Naruto's teacher for months, had fought beside him, yet he didn't even care enough to say anything to him?

              "Sensei?"

              "Yes? Oh! I'm sorry, I was just thinking."

              "About what?"

              "Nothing important. It's just nice that you're awake again."

              "Of course I am! I'm going to be Hokage, I can't be beaten here!"

              Iruka stared at him. He didn't know. He'd almost died and he had no idea. He should have died. He hadn't seen him until hours after he'd returned, when he'd been cleaned up, medicated and put to bed. Even that had been almost more than he could handle. Naruto, so hyperactive, lying shivering on a bed covered in bandages, the visible skin far too pale, looking dead already as the doctor told him there was no possibility of a complete recovery. His vision had blurred and he'd nearly fainted on the spot. When he'd come back to himself he was sitting in a chair as a nurse offered him a drink. And that was after Tsunade and the doctors had seen to him, how bad must it have been before? He'd heard the nurses talking. They'd had to throw away his clothes because they were soaked in blood and grime. But here he was, saying that it was a minor thing, something he just had to overcome. He should be dead!

              "So why was she here, sensei?"

              Iruka blinked and reviewed what Naruto had been saying while he was thinking. During his years of teaching he'd learned to mentally file things others were saying even when he wasn't really listening. "Well… I'm not sure exactly why, she never told me and I didn't teach her, but I'm sure Hinata has her reasons."

              "She's so weird!"

              "And you're normal now?" He teased.

              "Sensei! That's mean… What's that?"

              He looked down at the pill cup he was still holding. "Ah! The painkillers Sasuke brought."

              "Sasuke?"

              "Mm-hmm."

              "He-Oh, so that's where he went."

              "You didn't send him?"

              "Nope. He just walked out."

              "He was visiting?"

              "Yeah. He was here when I woke up."

              Again? Odd, for Sasuke to be there both times Naruto awoke. "Was anyone else here?"

              "Hinata. She said Kakashi was here. Sasuke had gone to get some water or something."

              Sasuke was definitely acting strangely. "Where did Hinata go?"

              "I dunno. She ran out saying something about painkillers."

              Same as Sasuke. "Do you need some?"

              "Not really. I have a headache, but it isn't that bad."

              "A headache?"

              "Yep." He thought for a minute. "It's fading though."

              "Huh." Iruka stared at him. "That's all? You were…and all… a headache?"

              "That's strange?"

              Iruka shook his head. "No… yes…no, it's… nothing. Never mind. Are you really all right?"

              "Yeah. I'm fine."

              "Naruto…"

              "Yes?"

              "What are you doing out of bed?"

              "Eh?"
              "You're still sick! Back to bed!"

              "But, but…"

              Iruka pushed him to bed and made him sit back against the pillows.

              "But, sensei, I'm fine. Really. I'm not tired at all."

              Iruka glared at him. "Stay there.

              "But, sensei-"

              The door to the room opened and a nurse entered, Hinata coming in behind her. "Hey! Who's making all this noise?"

              Iruka and Naruto pointed at each other. She frowned. "You, visitor, don't get the patient so upset. It's bad for him."

              "I'm sorry, I was just… visitor?"

              She turned to Naruto. "And you…"

              "Yes?"

              "Why aren't you under those covers? We don't need you relapsing on us."

              "But it's warm. I don't need them."

              Her eyes narrowed. "Really…"

              "But that's ok I'll use them anyway!" Naruto spoke quickly and buried himself under the covers. Hinata giggled as the nurse stalked over to the bed and straightened the covers, fussing. Naruto watched her; he looked vaguely scared. "Hey, hey…"

              "Yes?"

              "You were the one who tucked me in earlier, right? Don't overdo it this time, I couldn't even move."

              "I didn't tuck you in. I just got on-shift."

              "Then…"

              Iruka looked embarrassed. "Sorry. I guess I did overdo it."

              "Sensei, why did you do it?"

              "Well, you messed them up and I was stopping by on my way to class, and…"

              "You, girl!"

              Hinata jumped as the nurse spoke to her. "Y-yes?"

              "Bring me those pills."

              She nodded, walking over to the bed and handing a small packet to the nurse. The nurse took it and opened it, pouring the powder inside into a glass over water before handing it to Naruto. "Drink this."

              "But I don't need-"

              "Drink!"

              "Yes, ma'am!"

              As Naruto quickly drank the water, Iruka handed the pills Sasuke had given him to the nurse. "What should we do with these?"

              She frowned. "Where did you get those?"

              "Sasuke-kun got them."

              "Uchiha-kun? He was here?"

              "Yes?"

              "He was here." Naruto confirmed, finished. "He brought the water. Why?"

              "He's been hiding from us. We keep trying to get him in for a checkup but he slips awake. Was Hatake-san here as well?"

              "Hatake-san?" Naruto didn't recognize the name offhand.

              "Kakashi-sensei?" Iruka ventured.

              She nodded. "Hatake Kakashi-san."

              "He's been avoiding you as well?"

              She sniffed. "He set the example. Keeps sweet talking his way past the nurses."

              "Why do you need to see him anyway?" Naruto asked.

              "They were catatonic for days, we need to be sure they are recovering properly."

              "Why is it so hard to find them? They were both here earlier."

              "They never seem to be around when we check on you."

              "They use the transformation technique."

              They turned to Hinata, who had just spoken. "Pardon?" The nurse asked.

              "Umm…Well…When the nurses come, they use the transformation technique. So you don't see them."

              "Trans-" She shook her head. "Figures. Who started it?"

              "Kakashi-sensei, I think."

              The nurse muttered something they couldn't pick up. "Well, next time you see Hatake-san, tell him he better come in for a checkup before we go hunting for him. We know where he lives."

              "Yes ma'am!" The others replied at once.

              "Uzumaki-kun!"

              "Yes?" Naruto squeaked.

              "Are you feeling all right?"

              "Yeah. My head hurts a bit, but I'm OK."

              "No vision problems or confusion? No memory problems?"

              "Um…no?"

              "Do you remember where you were before you were hurt?"

              "With that pervert Jiraiya looking for Tsunade."

              "What about right before? What's the last thing you remember before waking here?"

              "I was…um…I was…I can't remember."

              "What can you remember?"

              "Just that we found Tsunade and she's a total…er… she's not very helpful."

              "I see."

              "Is that bad?"

              "It isn't a good sign, but it was to be expected." She reached out and took a hold of his chin, tipping his head back so she could look into his eyes. "You seem fine. You recognized your visitors?"

              "Of course!"

              She released him. "Very well. I'll let the doctor's examination wait until after visiting hours. Just be careful." She turned to Iruka. "I would like to talk to you outside for a minute."

              "Me? Well… All right." He stood up to follow her out, waving to Naruto. "I'll be right back."

              "Okay!"

              Hinata edged away from the door as the adults left. She looked to Naruto, blushed, and then stared at the floor. Naruto watched her. "Hinata?"

              "Yes?"

              "Why are you here?"

              "Eh? Well…um…I was worried…"

              "Hinata, you know, you're kind of weird sometimes."

              "S-Sorry…"

              "You need to be more assertive! Say what you think! No one will take you seriously if you don't speak up for yourself!"

              She was silent for a long time then suddenly spoke in a quiet tone. "I…I was worried. Because…you were really hurt and…I…I…" She bit her lip, trembling. "I…I…Because I like you!"

              He stared at her, either trying to interpret her near-mumbling speech or because he couldn't connect the ideas of people 'liking' someone and that someone being him. After a minute he compensated. "Of course. You're a nice girl, you like everyone. Of course you'd be worried." He laughed. "I should've known."

              "No!"

              He looked startled by her outburst. "Hinata?"

              "It's not just…I mean…it isn't…I…" What? 'I really like you?' 'I like, like you?' 'I wish you would…' what? Should she say? This was too hard!

              He looked confused again. "What?"

              "I…I…I…" Just spit it out! Say anything. "I really like you!"

              "Huh?"

              She should have read some romance novels. This sort of thing seemed to come naturally in those. "I meant…I really like you. I…"

              Naruto didn't say anything for a while. "Hinata, you…" His eyes glazed as he tried to think. "You…" Something seemed to click in him again. "Oh! Like, friends, right? Because of the Chuunin exam?"

              No. Why couldn't he understand? Well…if he couldn't understand her words, then maybe…

              Before she could think it through she rushed forward and hugged him. She half-lay, half-sat on the edge of the bed, arms locked tightly around his neck from a mixture of nervousness and determination to demonstrate her feelings. Naruto was stiff and unresponsive, not even making a noise. She held him for several minutes as she began to wish she could just die right there and not have to deal with this. "Naruto-kun?"

              He twitched. She took that as an invitation to continue.

              "I mean…I really, really like you…"

              He exhaled noisily and somehow tensed even more.

              "I always have. I mean…I…"

              "Why?"

              She started. He'd finally spoken! His voice was strangely dark, but did it mean she was getting through to him? "I…I'm not sure, but…you've always been so confident. Everyone was so cold but you're still strong and…and…"

              "Don't..."

              "Huh?"

              "You don't…at all…"

              "What?"

              He suddenly came back to life, shoving her away. "You don't understand!"

              Her training kicked in and she twisted her body to absorb the impact as she fell from the bed, rolling slightly. She looked back at Naruto who was hunched over, one hand braced against the bed to hold him up, the other clenched in a fist. She couldn't see his face.

              "Naruto…kun…?"

              "You don't understand me at all! You say you like me but you don't even know me." He looked up, clearly angry. "You aren't the kind…don't say things like that if you don't mean it! You're just like everyone else, you don't really see me! How can you like me when you only see what you want to be?" He collapsed to the bed, boneless, staring at the ceiling. "You…you don't know anything."

              She stared at him with wide eyes for a few minutes before she slowly stood. She tried to speak but couldn't find any words. Naruto lay silently on the bed as she gave up and fled, past the startled adults outside, out of the hospital itself. She ran through the streets, crying.

              She ran blindly, too horrified to think clearly. She wasn't aware of where or how long she ran, all she could see were her father and Naruto's angry faces.

              You don't understand at all. How could you?

              How can you claim to be a gennin? Are Hidden Leaf ninjas so weak?

              You only see what you want to be! You don't really see me!

              Naruto was right. She was useless, utterly hopeless. She was so blinded by her own desire to be stronger she only saw Naruto as someone to look up to and emulate. He stood up to the whole village and she couldn't even stand up to her own family. He was strong enough to be Sasuke's rival and had even gone on a mission outside the village while she was struggling not to hold Kiba and Shino back and to live up to Kurenai-sensei's expectations. She'd heard he had beaten former Anbu from Hidden Mist village. She couldn't even beat her younger sister.

              She was running and berating herself when she ran into someone. They spoke to her and held onto her arm, pulling her off the street. She was barely aware of them for several minutes until something started licking her face. The heated breath and damp tongue startled her from her self-pity. "A-Akamaru?"

              She looked around, noticing she was sitting in a booth in what appeared to be a restaurant. Akamaru was standing on the table, paws on her shoulders, tongue lolling from his mouth. She petted him, trying to figure out what had happened and where Kiba had gone.

              "Feeling a bit better?"

              She jumped as Kiba returned, carrying two steaming cups. "K-Kiba-kun?"

              He sat and put one of the cups in front of her, shooing Akamaru out of the way. "Tea."

              "Ah, thank you." She sipped her teas as Akamaru settled in her lap and Kiba settled into the seat across from her. "Um…"

              "Don't worry 'bout it. I know the owner."

              "Oh…well…"

              "What happened? Weren't you visiting Naruto?"

              "Mmmm. I was…"

              "Well?"

              "Well…um…I…" She sighed. "I'm an idiot."

              "Eh?"

              "He woke up and I…I was trying to…and then he…"

              Kiba stared at her as she trailed off. "He what?"

              "I'm sorry. I just…I was…I…"

              "You?"

              She spoke in a sudden rush. "I tried to tell him I like him, but I screwed it up and he got mad and now he hates me and it's all my fault."

              He blinked, trying to process that. "Uhh…Okay?"

              She drank some more tea as he thought.

              "So…you need me to beat him up?"

              "What?"

              "Naruto was the one that made you cry, right?"

              "Yes?"

              "So I should beat him up."

              "No!"

              "But he made you cry?"

              "But…But it was my fault!"

              "It was your fault he made you cry?"

              "Yes."

              "You told him you like him, right?" He waited for her nod. "And then he yelled at you and made you cry?"

              "Well…Yes…But…"

              "So, I got to go beat him up." Kiba replied, convinced by his own logic.

              "What? No! No, that won't help."

              "But he made you cry! We can't let him get away with that. Right, Akamaru?"

              Akamaru barked.

              "Why?"

              "You're my teammate. Someone bothers your teammate, you beat them up or hold 'em so they can beat them. Simple as that."

              "But that won't solve anything!"

              "Sure it will. He'll be too scared to try it again."

              "I don't want him to be scared of me!"

              "Oh…that makes it harder. Maybe if we just hit him a little?"

              "We aren't going to hit him at all!"

              "That's no fun."

              "Kiba-kun!"

              "All right, all right. So we can't hit him. What are we going to do then?"

              "Well…um…"

              "What are you two doing here?" A voice interrupted them. "Hinata, weren't you watching Naruto?"

              They jumped and looked up. Kurenai was standing over them, Shino at her side. "Kurenai-sensei?"

              "Did Naruto wake up? What happened?"

              Hinata sniffled, tears welling up in her eyes again. "Kurenai-sensei…"

              Kiba looked annoyed. "I just got her calmed down too."

              Kurenai looked at him curiously as she sat beside Hinata. "Tell me what happened."
              "Naruto-kun woke up and we were talking and I said I like him and he got mad and it's all my fault and now he hates me!" She took a breath then began to cry again.

              Kurenai wrapped an arm around her, lifting Akamaru from her lap and setting him on the table. "Kiba, Shino, I'm going to postpone our meeting."

              They nodded. She stood, pulling Hinata up with her. "We're going back to my house. If you need anything, stop by."

              They nodded again. Kurenai and Hinata started to leave but Hinata hesitated. "Kiba-kun…"

              "Yeah?"

              "Please, don't hurt him. It wasn't Naruto-kun's fault, so…please…"

              "Heh, fine. It'd be too easy anyway."

              "Thank you and…I'm sorry."

              "You're our teammate." Shino spoke suddenly. "Of course we worry."

              "Who's worrying?" Kiba looked annoyed.

              Hinata smiled faintly, no longer crying. "Thank you."

              "Hinata…"

              "Yes, sensei! I'm coming!"

              Kiba watched her run out after Kurenai, obviously still upset but not as badly as before. "I still wanna hit him."

              "She'll get mad." Shino warned him, sitting in the seat Kurenai had vacated.

              "I know, I know. How annoying."

              "Girls usually are."

              They sat silently for a minute as Kiba glared at the far wall, Akamaru moving to sit on his head. "Ne, Shino…"

              "Hmm?"

              "Why does she like that idiot, anyway? He's loud and stupid and weak."

              "He beat you."

              "That was luck! Luck!"

              "Who knows why girls like anyone? Most of them like Uchiha."

              "Idiots. He's even worse."

              Shino said nothing.

              Kiba stood. "I'm going to the park."

              Shino shrugged.

              "Well, later then!" With a wave, Kiba left.

              Shino sat silently at the table for a while then stood as well. "This…could be troublesome."

To be continued

Authors notes: Yes, yes, I know that fangirl Japanese is evil, but I think it's acceptable here. I think that it's really only a major problem if you have the characters mixing up their languages in their sentences, like 'Gomen, I'll fix that later'. What is the proper translation for kunai anyway? It isn't really a throwing knife, since they also use it for fighting. Or do I just need to check up on my weaponry? Also, I kept Gennin, Chuunin and Jounin because Chuunin doesn't really translate well. If it's too distracting I can think of something and fix it. I kept the suffixes, ex  -sensei, because…well… it seems very strange to write fanfic for Japanese series without the suffixes. I know some people can't even handle that but, well, if you're that picky my grammar will probably scare you off first. Any comments and criticism will be greatly appreciated, particularly for the little details, such as what everyone calls everyone else. Sometimes I miss things like that. Does Iruka ever actually directly address Sasuke in the series? I can't remember. And yes, this thing is going to be long. This is about a third of what I have written out and there's no sign of it ending any time soon. -_- Yay for me.