The Giver

◎Chapter 9◎The Time they knew

This chapter says about what happened to the others when Naruto was in the hospital...

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A young lady in her late teens came rushing in the humble restraunt of Ichiraku's.

"Ayame, you don't have to run in almost everywhere you go. Your a lady! Act like one would you." The owner scolded her daughter like a child.

"What! Dad come on--- Wait! I have some important news to tell you." She talked so fast that her father can barely make out on what she said.

"O-ok... so be on with it then." Teuchi says sitting down in one of the stools outside their shop after putting away the last of the things that should have been for the party.

"I when was walking around the market earlier. Then I heard some shop owner say that she saw a large crater early yesterday, and that was full of blood."

"So that's not uncommon. This is a shinobi village for crying out loud---"

"But you wouln't guess what else i've heard... That old bag also said that he saw the village hero's jacket, battered and bloody. And by the way she described the jacket, it seemed to be Naruto's. But then I saw Hinata sama and Neji san walking home lately. I saw their eyes were puffy. Especially Hinata sama. I aproached them to ask why didn't the party push through... I saw her shirt was bloody then I asked Hinata sama what happened instead." By that time everyone in the room came out listened. They were supposed to go jome and ask permission from Teuchi when they saw him in a state of shock. The Hyuuga's who volunteered to help packing up stopped in whatever they were doing when they heard their clan mates' names.

"She said someone special to her tried to suicide today and she found him near the death. And that person seemed to be Naruto..." She stopped to let her father comprehend what she just said and dropped her head.

"I checked the Hospital. And it seems Naruto is there... dying." She continued and tears started to run down her cheeks. Then she handed her fater a letter, shaded with dried blood.

"Hinata sama asked me to let you read it, but give it back to her." Then she turned her head to a random Hyuuga member.

"Can you deliver this letter after we read about it."

"Yes." He answered, eyes still in a state of shock.

"C-can you read it Ayame." Teuchi says, his voice trembling.

Then Ayame read the letter out loud, enough for their volunteers to hear. She ment not to be rude, but she knew the Hyuugas must know. After all, Naruto's in love with their heir.

By the the she finished reading, both she and her father were teary eyed. The Hyuuga's were speechless. And the others were simply shedding a few tears, unable to smile.

"Is that what you felt Naruto? Minato, I'm sorry I failed you and my Godson. Good Lord what is really happening?" Teuchi said, his voice breaking with every syllable.

"I-I ca-can't b-believe thi-this."

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(Moments before the Ichiraku's session.)

"You can go now Hinata, Neji and Shikamaru. Thank you for informing me." Kakashi said as Hinata finished reading the letter again. Her eyes were so swollen from crying.

"A-arigato H-Hokage sama." Shikamaru bowed his head low and exited the room with the cousins.

"Iruka you have not exited yet?" Kakashi asks the teacher sitting in the corner of the room near Yamato.