Naruto Tales: The Next Uchiha | SasuSaku, NaruHina, InoShikaTema, NejiTen +

V: While You Were Sleeping

QOTC: Did you know—that you could have been the first person who ever loved me?

- Naruto to Hinata

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Chapter 5: While You Were Sleeping

The world flared up around Hinata in an almost tangible blur as Neji carried her over the threshold of the hospital and down a long hallway, with Kiba and the others hurrying ahead of them. More than half-delirious, perhaps, she gazed as the corridor slowly unfolded before her, growing longer and longer like a corridor in a nightmare.

Tell me, Hinata. What would happen if the Sharingan clashes with the Byakugan?

You're even less worth than your sister. The Hyuga Clan has no use for such heir.

Hinata? Hinata are you alright??

Kiba, this was your fault!

My fault? Aren't you supposed to be the one watching after her?

Why you little—-

The memories swept in again. Suddenly she was lying on a cold surface, and hands were smoothing a blanket over her. Green eyes gazed down at her. "She's unconscious. She looks like she's been struck by a genjutsu or something," Sakura said to TenTen and the others, in a voice that warped and disorted like an old recording. "What happened to her?"

All eyes were on Neji.

"She was attacked by Sas—" But before Kiba could spat the last word out, Neji managed to land a fist into his jaw. "I did it." Neji's voice was full of disbelief, but his voice sounded so mean to Sakura as if he didn't want to be questioned more.

Hinata tried to speak, to say that she didn't need to be warmed, that she was beyond freezing, but the sounds that came out from her mouth weren't the ones she'd intended. She heard herself whine as Sakura injected her with some syringe, and then there was heat, thawing her left side—she hadn't even realized she was cold. Her teeth chattered hard, and she tasted blood in her mouth. The world began to tremble around her like water shaken in a glass.

"She's stuck in an illusion. It'll take quite a time for her to wake up." Tsunade's voice sounded hollow, as she busts in ahead of the panicking Shizune. "Whoever's responsible for this is going to pay."

Everyone stiffed tight, but the thought just short-lived. The moment the Hokage shifted her head at Neji, Tsunade just shook her head and sighed. So the rumors were right. The Uchiha is back in town yet she couldn't spread the word of it because of the pinkette that seemed to buy the whole show.

"I'm here, Hinata-sama." Neji said holding her hand. But Hinata didn't seem to squeeze it back. She was calling for someone, and Neji himself thought it didn't even sound like his place. "Naruto.." She says.

Neji, Sakura and Tsunade shared the same look in their eyes—Kiba always referred to it whenever shit goes on—it meant even how Hinata's body had been scourged from the inside-out and yet the Blonde Jinchuuriki hadn't been in here the whole time.

Neji shrugged as Sakura blinked uncomfortably. "I'll go get hot water."

When Sakura was gone, Tsunade balled her fists so hard that TenTen thought her bones could come out. "Shizune. Fetch Naruto this instant." She was staring at Hinata, anger and pity obliterating all over her as she turned to the rest. "And as for you, after we get to the bottom of this, I want you all to locate Uchiha Sasuke into the village. Find him. Do whatever it takes so he won't be able to lay another finger on the kunoichis. Or any of you. And when that time comes, send him in. Alive."

♕Thε Nεx† Uςhïhα ♕

AND DARKNESS SHALL HAVE NO DOMINATION

The hospital was a double-doored deck which was flooded by medics sweeping in and out of the main hall, each holding a clipboard. Sakura was one of them, having taken Tsunade's duties as a part-time job while she sat at the inquiry room taking in patients. The door bursted open, and the pinkette, having a very stressful day, looked up angrily just as the other nurses did. There was only person it could be.

Naruto plodded to her and asked where Hinata's room was. To her surprise, he didn't even try for a second to get into her nerve. For not rushing the Hyuga Princess into the hospital, for not being there at the training grounds. He just scratched his head and went upstairs. Sakura sometimes wondered what could be lying beneathe those blue eyes, if ever there were secrets in there he'd hidden.

He saw Kiba on the way, wearing that defensive look in his eyes as he stood against the wall. As if protecting a gold stored inside. "So she really had to get hurt to grab your attention huh?" He said. He left, but those words hung into the air like a horrid smell.

He was about to open the door when part of him hesitated, then decided to proceed.

*play song*

He had sat in one of the hospital chairs next to her bed. He had held her hand tight, hoping the warmth in his fingers might diminish the cold in her skin. They stayed together, just like that, waiting time to alert them as the blonde looked out into the window.

A nurse came in, about to inject a syringe into Hinata's wrist. But Naruto insisted, rather he never trusted any of the hospital's staffs who used to torture him mentally back in the day. He thought maybe a small pain might disrupt the Hyuga's sleep.

Then he talked. Hinata couldn't quite decipher his message but she tried to stay alive. Those words he'd probbably didn't want her to heed. "Did you know—that you could have been the first person who ever loved me?"

Wake up. Hinata said to herself. Pay attention.

"I don't even know what's gotten into you when I found out you had a crush on me." He chuckled. "But hey! Here I am. I could treat you to Ramen ya know," he searched for any sentiment of life inside of her, but there was none. "Besides, I borrowed money from baa-chan so you and I could go to this puppet show. Neji's bringing TenTen, Shika's going for Temari, Ino is with that dickless Sai, so, er, I was thinking if I could take you out and make it up to you when you get back."

For the first time, the blond Jinchuriki tried reversing their positions in his head. If only he was the one Sasuke had been after—to put an end into their fight and unending rivalry, if ever there was a slightest chance he won, he could still bring him back to Konoha. No one could ever get hurt, not the way Hinata was today... Not even Sakura or anyone else...

And he thought of Sasuke once again. The boy who shared the same fate as his. The hatred he feels for him, for the rogue-nin, it was so real and immidiate it made the blonde ball his hands into fists. All this, for his opprobrium bloody thirst for vengeance?

"I'm so sorry," Naruto whispered. He leaned forward and planted a soft kiss in her forehead. I'll make it up to you. I promise.

By the time he went out, Hinata was already crying.

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7.12.13

Myeheehehe this story needs more of NaruHina!!