Coming
Home
By Chibified Kitsunes
Chapter One
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Three days after they had brought Sasuke back, Naruto woke up in the hospital from his coma, only to be engulfed in a hug so strong, he thought his ribs were going to break again. As he raised himself on his elbows, the figure immediately let go and sat on the chair next to the bed, cheeks flaming red.
“Hinata-chan, where am I, what am I doing here?” Naruto wondered, looking around him. His bed was surrounded by a light blue curtain, blocking out the rest of his surroundings.
“N..naruto-kun, you’re in the hospital, after you brought Sa..Sasuke-kun back, you fell into a coma. You’ve been asleep for 3 days. Y..you’re in the Konoha hospital…” Hinata whispered. Her face had now toned down to a little blush but her heartbeat was still erratic. I’m talking to Naruto-kun… And he’s talking back to me…
“Ehhhhhh… Who brought me these flowers?” Naruto said, foxy frown in place, pointing at the bouquet of red and white carnations on the table in front of him.
Hinata gasped. She didn’t think he would notice the flowers yet. She did not want to tell him the meaning of it. Not now.
“…Ano… uh… I made this for you…” Hinata whispered, eyes darting back and forth, trying to come up with a lie. “I should g..go now. I…I have training today. I’ll come back to see you again tomorrow.” With that she thrust something soft and orange into his face and disappeared between the folds of the curtain.
Lifting the soft cuddly thing off his face, his breath caught in his throat. Hinata had given him a plush toy of a chibi kitsune. It was so cute, he bet Iruka-sensei would love to cuddle it too. “Hehehe, I’ll call you Kyuubi Kyuubi!” He laughed, cuddling it to his chest like a child before drifting off to sleep again.
I wonder why she made this for me anyway…It’s not like I deserve it or anything. What have I done for her… She’s a little weird sometimes but she looks cute when she blushes. CUTE? Where did that come from? Yeah I guess she is cute, but why does she always blush when I talk or look at her? It’s just like when Sakura-chan talks to Sasuke, and Sakura-chan likes Sasu…
That last thought snapped Naruto out of his near slumber as realization hit him like a sledgehammer.
“She likes me…” Was all he could say as smiled and let sleep claim him again
= = =
Hinata burst through the curtains around Naruto’s bed, ignoring the glare shot by her cousin she fled the room. Naruto had been confined to a 5 person hospital ward, together with Neji, Shikamaru, Kiba and Lee. Since it made Tsunade’s work easier having all five ninjas in a room. From what Hinata could recall, Chouji was hospitalized in a different room because his injuries were more serious. After telling the nurse at reception Naruto had woken up, she ran to her training grounds. She had lied to Naruto about training. In fact, Kurenai-sensei had given the team the day off, considering that Kiba was still in the hospital. She had to calm down and her team’s training ground was the best place. Not only was it quiet, it was a fair bit away from the village.
>>Flashback begins<<
“Welcome to Yamanaka Flower Shop, how can I help you. Oh hi Hinata! What brings you here today?”
“Ano… I’m looking for flowers for…”
“Naruto?” Ino interrupted, smirking at the blush that was crawling up Hinata’s face. “I have just the thing for you. Hold on a second.”
Ino went around the shop looking for something, mumbling to herself.
“AHA! I got it!” Ino cried, shocking the quiet Hinata.
Ino returned to the counter, bearing red and white carnations in her arms. “This will be perfect for your feelings for Naruto.”
“The red carnation symbolizes the admiration you hold for Naruto and the white means that you’re innocent and” tweaking Hinata’s nose “that you love him! Simple as that!”
With that, she arranged it into a bouquet and wrapped it.
Thanking Ino, Hinata paid for the bouquet and left.
“Gambate Hinata, tell him you love him!” Ino cried out before the door shut behind Hinata, making her cheeks flame up in red again.
>>End flashback<<
Hinata’s cheeks burned as she thought about how she would express her feelings for Naruto. “I really should tell him…”
= = = =
The fifth Hokage was having a massive headache. Naruto and his team had completed their first ‘A’ class mission. She was proud of them, but this also created more problems for her and the village. Not only was Orochimaru still after Sasuke for his body, the Akatsuki was also after Naruto for Kyuubi. It was not good, not good at all… Two powerful enemies targeting the village was definitely not good.
“Genma” Tsunade called out massaging her temples.
“Hai Hokage-sama” Shiranui Genma answered, bowing as he entered the room.
“Tell Jiraiya to get his perverted ass right here as soon as possible. You know where to find him.” She said, suppressing a smirk/frown that was threatening to appear as a vein popped up against her forehead.
= = = =
Meanwhile, at the bathhouse.
“Ah…ah CHOO!!!”
“EEEEEEEEkkk!!! Pervert!!!”
Amidst the screams heard that day, punches, kicks and slaps could be heard as a white haired man was chased from the bathhouses.
“Itai!!”
= = = =
“Hai Hokage-sama, immediately” bowing as he left the room.
Sigh… Sasuke… Naruto…
“ARRRRRGH!!!!” Tsunade screamed out her frustration. Being the Hokage was not all that glamorous. There was so much paperwork to do, so many things to worry about. These were her last thoughts as she set her head down on the table to sleep.
= = = =
Somewhere in the village……
“Welcome to…”
“Ino-san, I need your help again.” A voice rang out.
Ino raised an eyebrow at the sudden outburst Hinata made. Usually the shy Hinata would stutter or blush, but this time, she had actually raised her voice and was standing stiffly in front of her, looking at her with determined eyes.
She really has been trying to change herself.
“Eh? For Naruto again? Definitely! Anything to help you express your love!” Ino cried out, pumping a fist into the air.
“H..how did you know it was a..about Naruto-kun?” Hinata whispered.
Shrugging her shoulders, “Hinata, everyone except that baka knows that you love and admire him. And I have no idea why you even bother. But it’s not my place to criticize you so I’ll help you. So, what do you want today?” Leaning over the counter she smiled at Hinata.
“Ano… I…I really want to tell him … to tell him… I love him and he’s so brave…” Hinata whispered and started to twiddle her fingers.
“HA! You’re lucky! The shop just received new stock today.” Smiling as she brought a bundle of red roses back to the counter. “Well, as you know, a rose represents love, but, did you know it stands for courage and respect as well?” Wrapping it up, she presented it to Hinata.
“Arigatou Ino-san, Naruto-kun will like this.” Hinata blushed as she fumbled around for the right change.
As Ino took the money from Hinata, she looked her up and down. “Hmmmm… You could use a makeover…”
“B…But…”
“No buts Hinata, if you want to get your guy, you have to get his attention. And knowing that baka, you have to wear something that you would usually not wear to get him to notice you. Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if someone dropped him on his head when he was younger. So that means, you have to make a BIG impression. And… with what you have on, it will never do. Wear something different, instead of that ugl… uh… plain white jacket you always wear. How about this, I’ll give you some of my old clothes. I was planning on throwing them away but I think I’ll give it to you! Come on!” Ino cried dragging Hinata out of the flower shop before she could even protest.
“B..but Ino-san…” Hinata was at a loss of words as she watched Ino put up a “Back in half an hour” sign on the door.
“But nothing Hinata! I want to help you get the guy you love! Look at me! I spent all my time chasing a guy I THOUGHT I loved and look what he did, he nearly killed his friends and teammate! I don’t even know why I liked him in the first place. Sakura can have that heartless creep, I don’t want him anymore!” Ino shouted angrily. “Come on, let’s GO!”
Hinata was too scared to further annoy Ino in her rant mode that she just sighed a ‘Hai’ and let herself be pulled along to Ino’s house.
= = = =
*SLAM*
“What did you want to see me for? It had better be good, interrupting my data gathering.” Jiraiya barged in only to find Tsunade splayed over the table sound asleep, drooling on her paperwork.
Grinning evilly, he picked up the wet brush lying on the table and got down to work, chuckling to himself………
“Tsunade-sama! Tsunade-sama! I couldn’t find Jiraiya-sama but I let the other jounins know about it so they could inform him if they saw h…heeheeheehee…. ahem him…” Genma quickly cleared his throat and finished his sentence before leaving as quickly as he had entered.
Tsunade woke up yawning and stretching when she heard Genma enter. She had fallen asleep while doing the paperwork and had slept the whole night through in her office. I could have sworn I heard him giggle. She thought rubbing the sleep out of her eyes, Is someone laughing uncontrollably? Nah can’t be. Yawning again, she decided to drop by the hospital to check on her 5 genins and chuunin. As she left her office and walked down the tower, she could not understand as to why the shinobis were all either staring at her with their jaws wide open or hiding smiles and suppressing laughter. Thinking nothing of it, she left the tower to check on her latest patients.
“BWUAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!” Almost as if they had all breathed in laughing gas, everyone burst into laughter. If any intruders were to enter, they would have found Konoha’s best shinobis rolling on the floor clutching their stomachs in laughter, with tears streaming down their faces.
= = = =
Meanwhile, on the way to Ino’s house.
“Hinata, I don’t mean to be rude or anything, but why do you like Naruto. I mean there are other guys, why Naruto, after all, he is the dead last.”
Although in her heart and mind, Ino knew this to be not true. Sure, Naruto had been dead last in the academy, he had a reputation of being a troublemaker, but when it came to protecting the ones he loved, he was a true friend and never gave up…
Ino smiled, thinking about what happened that morning when she had gone to visit her teammates.
>>Flashback begins<<
“Ohayo Chouji, how are you today. I brought you some flowers and your favorite chips, you’ll need it. Asuma-sensei said you stayed behind to protect the team and let them get ahead…You even ate those pills, knowing the risks involved. Please wake up soon. Team 10 won’t be the same without you. I promise I’ll treat you to barbecue when you wake up…I’m going to see Shikamaru now. I’ll come back tomorrow. Ja ne~”
“Chouji…”
Wiping away the tears that threatened to fall, Ino turned towards the door. Chouji had survived the fight with Jiroubou, but just barely. The side effects of his family’s pills left him exhausted and skeletal. He had fallen into a coma right after his fight.
Although it seemed that Ino was always bullying her teammates, she had always considered them her brothers. Because of Sasuke, they had gotten hurt. And for that she could never ever forgive him. EVER.
As she left the room, a butterfly flew in the open window and settled gently on the single flower resting in a vase.
She entered a bigger ward. Shikamaru had been placed together with Neji, Kiba, Lee and Naruto, because their conditions were not as serious as Chouji’s. It was the first time since they returned that Ino was able to visit Shikamaru. Their conditions, except for his, were critical and no visitors had been allowed. Shikamaru had been kept there for observation and to recount the mission for the Hokage. During that time, Ino had made full use of the three days sorting out her emotions. When she got word that visitors were finally allowed, she had rushed from the flower shop to the hospital immediately.
Akamaru was lying on his sleeping owner, Lee was muttering something about youth power in his sleep, Naruto was drooling in his sleep hugging a cute kitsune plushie and Neji was looking at a sobbing Tenten, his left arm in a sling. ‘Pfft, no experience with girls obviously’ She thought as grinning at the now uncomfortable boy. Walking over to Shikamaru, she noticed he was awake and looking out the window – ‘at the clouds as usual’, she surmised.
“Ohayo Shikamaru. I heard you’re going to be discharged this afternoon?”
“I only broke a few ribs and my finger, no big deal.” He replied, still looking at the clouds.
“I…I brought you some flowers…and I wanted to…” Ino started.
“Eh? Really, that’s nice.” Shikamaru interrupted, finally sitting up to face his teammate.
“Yeah, well this urm…I wanted to urm…” Ino whispered feeling a familiar heat rise up in her cheeks. ‘Argh what’s wrong with you baka! Just spit it out!’ She screamed inwardly as she mentally smacked herself on the head.
‘Ino is acting weird today…And she’s blushing, She never does that around me…Does she…?’ Out of habit, Shikamaru pushed these thoughts out of his head and said, “Mou, how troublesome.”
“I…I know that I wasn’t there to say goodbye when you left for the mission. The truth is, I…I was afraid that if I did, I…I would…” Ino never got to finish her sentence as she burst into tears and launched herself into a very VERY shocked Shikamaru’s arms.
Shikamaru was helpless. Wincing at the slight pain in his ribs, he looked over to Neji for help who now repeated the same action he had done minutes ago when Tenten started crying:
He smirked.
Shikamaru did not know what to say. As Ino sobbed more and more into his shoulder, Shikamaru felt a blush creeping into his face. His heart started to beat really fast, almost as if he had just run around the village ten times. He was at a loss of words, wondering what to do when she whispered in between sobs.
“I was afraid that if I did, I would never see you again…I love you Shikamaru. I was so scared…You going on a dangerous mission made me realize that I didn’t want to lose you…When you left, I felt so strange. I was so lonely and it felt as if my heart was breaking. I was so worried for you Shika-kun, and when you came back safe…I was overjoyed, this time my heart was bursting with relief. It was then I realized… that I love you Shikamaru…”
His heart skipped a beat and soared. ‘She loves me? I thought…’
Smiling gently, he brought his arms up to encircle Ino and pulled her closer into his chest and whispered into her ear, “Aishiteru Ino…”
“Gasp! Shikamaru…” Ino looked up into his face and Shikamaru’s breath caught in his throat. There in front of him was something even more interesting than clouds, the most beautiful sight of all. Ino blushing and looking at him with love in her eyes, unshed tears glistening in the sunlight.
Leaning down, he pressed his lips against hers in a gentle kiss and whispered again “Aishiteru Ino…” As Ino’s blush deepened, she leaned forward returning the kiss eagerly.
Unbeknownst to the love struck pair, Neji was having the same problem. After helping him to sit up on the bed, Tenten had immediately burst into tears even before Ino had stepped in. Having no experience with a crying girl, heck having no experience with girls at all, he had looked to Shikamaru for help but he had the audacity to smirk back. After a one sided glaring competition, he turned his attention back to Tenten. She had finally stopped sobbing a few minutes after Ino had entered.
“Gomen N…Neji… How are you feeling today?” Tenten looked up after wiping her tears away, giving him a tiny smile.
“Hn…Better.” Trying his best to act indifferent, eventually concern for his teammate won as he asked in a most annoyed manner. “What’s wrong?”
“N…nothing.” Tenten blushed looking everywhere except him.
“Tenten, you know that I can read people and their emotions. There’s no point in lying to me.” Neji frowned, agitated.
“…”
“What is it?” Neji was at the brink of losing his patience. His left shoulder was hurting again and this conversation with Tenten was going nowhere.
“Baka…Are you stupid or what. Can’t you tell when a girl l..MMmmmmfff!!”
Neji glared in the direction of the voice only to see Shikamaru giving Ino a full-on kiss.
Calming himself, he returned his attention to Tenten. Although he didn’t show it, he was extremely worried about his teammate. She never acted like that. She was one of the toughest girls he had ever met.
Tenten turned away from Neji and said, “Can’t a girl worry about the boy she loves? He almost died and there is nothing she can do to help.”
‘The one she loves, the one she loves……’ kept running through his mind. ‘What is this feeling in my heart?’ Being in the branch house, he was always ordered around by Hiashi and other members of the main house. Ever since his father died, no one showered love or care for him. His mother cared for him too, but that wasn’t enough. He always knew there was something missing.’
“Could this be it? Love? Can I really love somebody?” Neji whispered.
Neji reached out his right hand and touched Tenten’s shoulder. She turned around only to have Neji wipe a tear away and kiss her tear streaked cheek lightly. “Gomen… for making you worry and cry.” Embarrassed, he pulled back and faced the other direction which meant that he had to face Shikamaru and his girlfriend. Ino was crying rivulets of anime tears, eyes sparkling whilst Shikamaru was smirking. Again.
Tenten raised a shaking hand to her blushing face…‘Neji kissed me…’ Looking up at him, she noticed that though he was not blushing, his ears had a slightly pink tinge to it.
‘Kawaii…’ Taking advantage of the fact that he was glaring at Shikamaru, she leaned over and gave him a peck on his right cheek.
Neji’s ears turned bright red as he turned his face towards Tenten only to find her waiting to plant another kiss. On the lips.
>>Flashback ends<<
Ino giggled to herself as Hinata looked at her questioningly. If only I had a camera, the look on Neji’s face was priceless!! Ino giggled to herself some more before pulling Hinata into her house as she recalled what happened after.
>>Flashback begins (again)<<
Because of his pale skin, it was easy to see that the young Hyuuga was blushing. Heck, his WHOLE face had turned bright red and his eyes just bugged out before he fainted.
“Oh my God Tenten, you killed him with your love!!” Ino had screamed out, waking the room’s occupants.
The three sleeping genins had woken up to see a sight they would never forget. Neji, all red and passed out and twitchy.
“Ehhh? What’s a giant tomato doing here?” Naruto had been so sleep disorientated and hungry that he had no idea what was going on.
(A/N: see how dense he is)
>>Flashback ends<<
“Kaa-san! I’m going to give some of my clothes to Hinata, is that ok with you?”
“Hai, as long as you can’t wear them anymore.” Came a voice from the kitchen.
“Hai!!” Ino dragged Hinata up the stairs and into her room.
“Hinata! Are you ready to get the boy of your dreams?” Ino said as she threw open her bedroom door.
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