"Now you die! Rasengan!"
Naruto's jutsu hit the mark. Kaito was hurled into the back of the cave. His impact caused a minor rock slide that buried his body. However, Naruto had forgotten about Naoki. As Naruto turned he saw a dozen kunai leave the ninja's hands. He had nothing to defend himself with and not enough time to dodge a vital hit. Naruto stared helplessly at his death coming ever closer.
"Naruto-kun!" Hinata ran into the cave shielding Naruto.
Hinata? What is she doing here?
"Shugohakke Rokujyuu Yonshuu!"
Using her unique technique Hinata began deflecting the kunai. There was one left. As she went to block it her arm gave out. Naruto could only watch as the last kunai embedded itself deep in Hinata's stomach.
"H-hinata?"
She tried to turn around.
"Naruto-kun are you alright?" she whispered as she fell to the ground. Naruto caught her and examined the wound. It wasn't good. The weapon had no doubt caused internal bleeding as well as the huge hole in her stomach.
"I'm fine Hinata, but why did you do that?"
"I didn't try it. My arm was still injured. I overestimated its range of motion and wasn't able to deflect the last kunai," explained Hinata weakly.
"That's not what I meant!"
Hinata was startled. She struggled to focus on Naruto.
Why are you so blurry Naruto-kun?
"Why did you save me?" asked Naruto.
"Because Naruto-kun, I..." she winced then tried again. "I've always looked up to you, and there's something... I never told you..."
Naruto looked expectantly at her.
What is she trying to say?
"I... you..."
Hinata trailed off as she lost the fight to stay awake.
"Hinata?!" Naruto gently shook her.
What did she try to say? Wait these guys said she liked me. Could she have been trying to say 'I love you?'
All of Naruto's memories of Hinata came back. Her behavior made sense now. What had seemed weird to him suddenly showed how much she cared about him.
I know she likes me but love? I need to ask her.
"Hinata, can you hear me?" Her eyes stayed closed and her head rolled limply as Naruto shook her again.
"Oops too bad kid. Looks like I killed your little girlfriend there."
Naruto needed no further goading. The fox's chakra burst forth, forming a vortex around him and Hinata. His teeth grew sharp and his entire body transformed.
"This will be your grave!" he snarled.
The fox's chakra burst through the top of the cave bringing the rock down on the criminals. Still in fox form, Naruto carefully cradled Hinata and raced off towards Konohagakure, one thing running through his mind.
Hold on Hinata. Please hold on.
"Tsunade-sama! Tsunade-sama!"
Tsunade glanced up from her paperwork as an out-of-breath Shizune burst through the door.
"What is it now, Shizune?"
"Naruto's back-"
"Then what's with the screaming?"
"If you let me finish. He came back but Hinata's in grave condition and there's a problem."
"What? Besides the fact a simple mission ended in a serious injury?"
"He's half-transformed into the demon fox and won't let anyone touch her but you. If you don't get there soon she will die!"
"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" questioned Tsunade as she rushed out the door.
Tsunade was shocked as she entered the hospital. Naruto was indeed half-transformed into the demon fox. Hinata was cradled to his chest and her blood covered both of them. He was growling at any nurse that dared get too close, then he caught sight of her.
"Tsundae-baa chan, fix her," he growled.
"Naruto, what happened?"
Naruto was visibly anxious, confused even, but her words seem to anger him.
"Why are you asking questions? Heal her! She can't die!" Naruto trailed off and just stared at the limp girl in his arms.
"Alright Naruto but you have to give her to the nurses here."
"NO! You need to fix her. I only trust you."
"I will be the one to fix her, Naruto. You need to calm down and hand her over or she will die."
Tsunade's stern tone seemed to get through. Naruto's eyes faded from bright red to his normal blue as he slowly gave Hinata to the nurses. As they rushed off to prep Hinata for surgery, Naruto stared at the blood on his clothes. Tsunade wanted to say something but Hinata was much more urgent at the moment. As she turned to go she heard Naruto speak.
"It's my fault," he murmured.
"What?!" Tsunade turned around.
He did say that, didn't he? He did. What the hell happened on that mission?
Naruto just looked up at her, his bright eyes dimmed.
"Please don't let her die."
Tsunade hesitated. She knew what she had heard but now wasn't the time to press him. Hinata needed attention NOW.
"I won't. I promise."
As she hurried towards the surgery room, she passed Sakura and pulled her aside.
"Take Naruto home. He's in shock and covered in Hinata's blood. I don't know the situation but he blames himself for Hinata being like this. I've never seen him like that before."
"Yes m'am," replied Sakura, but she was worried. If Tsunade-sama was worried about Naruto, something was seriously wrong.
Meanwhile, Tsunade had turned her attention back to the task at hand. Judging by the amount of blood on Naruto, it was doubtful Hinata would survive.
