Say it.

Heh heh, I made you all mad and confused, and thanks to Akaiko Y for pointing out my mistake, I do appreciate this people, we fanfiction writers may seem like gods but no! we are only human and to err is human.

Everyone calm down, this next chapter should have you all set and yes, before you ask this is the penultimate chapter, the next one shall be the end and yes the final chapter shall contain almost complete citrus with some fluff… sounds like a mouldy fruit bowl!


(NaruHina)

"I haven't visited for a while… it wasn't intentional. It's just been a crazy few weeks… hell" Hanabi sighed "…it's been a crazy year."

Looking at her sisters unresponsive face Hanabi felt her lip trembling but shaking her head she pulled herself together. "Dad was finally sentenced, it's hard to believe he managed to give Tsunade the run around for so long. I guess that's what happens when you've known all the councils for your entire life, you have enough sway to make even the Hokage think twice. He had something on elder Fujiwara from like six years ago, apparently they were in another town and got a little tipsy… can you imagine dad tipsy? Anyway the two of them separated and dad found Fujiwara the next morning in bed with two people, and you'll notice I didn't say two ladies, there was one lady and one guy! Fujiwara was still married at the time and he almost died when his son found out! Tsunade told everyone about it, every time one of the council members started being on dad's side she began interrogations, researching their history tracking people down until she found out what dad had on them. She was amazing you'd have loved it, every secret dad had on everyone she's released, the papers have been going crazy. I thing the newsprint industry has done twice as well during the last year."

Hanabi laughed her eyes fixed on Hinata's face "The old Hinata would have laughed, you've gotten very quiet these days. I think you should open up to the people who care for you. You know?" still nothing "And people say I'm the unemotional one. You're supposed to be the one that reacts to what people say." She stood now, she was getting angry with her sister "Come on Hinata! Do something!"

The door opened making Hanabi jump back and scrub at her eyes.

"Sorry"

"It's alright" Hanabi smiled at Naruto as he walked to the opposite side of the bed and kissed Hinata's cheek. The two visitors gave each other a smile and for a brief while an uneasy silence came over them.

Naruto and Hanabi always took a few moments to get used to each other, she had forgiven him straight away for what had happened but it took him a long time to forgive himself. He had attacked the sister of the woman he loved, he had bitten her, though she suffered no effects from the injury she still bore the marks of his attack, he knew that much from Tsunade. They spent a lot of time together these days united in their goal to bring Hinata back to the land of the living but they were rarely alone and it always took someone else to get the conversation going.

"You told her the news yet?"

"I was getting there"

"Well don't let me stop you"

"Ok…" Hanabi retook her seat and held Hinata's hand once again, opposite Naruto copied her "he's not going to die or anything, Dad I mean. He's lost everything though, he's no longer allowed to lead a clan, turns out Tsunade as Hokage is supposed to be informed when a death sentence is passed in any clan, he claimed it was just punishment and would probably have got a medical professional to back him up any other time but… this is Tsunade, there's no fooling or persuading her so she was able to prove that it wasn't. Anyway, because of this I am now officially leader, got sworn in last week, the elders have done a complete 180 and are sucking up like nobody's business but… your boyfriend is helping with that" Hanabi smiled at Naruto encouraging him to speak.

"Like I'd let anyone bug my girlfriends little sister, she's even got boys after her as well"

"Hey!" Hanabi flushed reminding Naruto of Hinata

"She is so like you sometimes, any minute now she'll be poking her fingers together"

"Shut Up! Seriously Hinata what do you see in this guy, he's completely annoying"

"And you're a completely bratty kid"

There was a shared smile before they both looked back down at the still form between them.

"Anyway… the elders are gone now… oh and Kakashi is helping Naruto and Jiraiya look for a cure, in fact there are several older male shinobi that are helping out, they all took a sabbatical to help, it shows just how much Naruto and Jiraiya are respected"

"Uh yeah…" Naruto scratched the back of his head nervously, he had so far managed to hide from Hanabi the true reason for all the help. Feeling guilty at what had happened to Hinata, Jiraiya had dedicated all his time to helping her, great news for Hinata, not so good for all the men awaiting the release of his next book. Kakashi had grilled Naruto over it and after a few hours Naruto had let it slip to Jiraiya's biggest fan the reason why the book had been delayed, the next thing they knew help was pouring in from all over town and even neighbouring villages, one of the older branch members of the Hyuga clan had known ? and was helping out with the research. "So…" Naruto wracked his brains to try and find a safer subject "Neji said he's a new advisor to you…"

Hanabi's visit lasted an hour and during that time Naruto and Hanabi managed to keep each other smiling, it was only when the Hyuga head had to leave that solemnity descended. Naruto had never been one to allow himself to remain maudlin for long but these days it was getting harder and harder to smile. He hadn't told either of the Hyuga sisters that ? had died a few weeks ago. He never came out of his coma and just slipped away peacefully of old age.

Alone Naruto paused before he pulled her blankets back and kicking off his shoes climbed into bed beside her, he wrapped his arms around her frail still body he nuzzled Hinata's neck. A year, an entire year without seeing Hinata's smile, without hearing her laugh, or say his name, without touching her stunning body for purely pleasurable reasons. These days he was only allowed to touch something other than her hand when he was helping the physio therapists to exercise her body. He wanted to offer to help sponge bath her but was afraid it would cause Sakura to punch him though a wall and result in someone forcing him to keep to regular visiting hours. It wasn't for a perverted reason, it was just a longing he had, a desire to help but at the same time to touch what he missed so dearly.

Kissing the skin on her neck Naruto began to whisper to Hinata about how much he missed her and exactly what he was going to do to her when she woke up.

(NaruHina)

The door to the Hokage's office burst open and a triumphant man holding a large scroll in his arms stood in the doorway, Tsunade blinked in surprise as the toad sage entered the office scraps of paper fluttering to the ground around him.

"What is that Jiraiya?" Tsunade asked looking at the scroll in his hands

"It is the most dangerous technique I have ever attempted" Jiraiya told her nervously "Tsunade I need a favour"

"Anything legal" she told him trying to lighten the mood but it didn't work, suddenly doubtful that what he was about to ask was legal she frowned "Jiraiya… what do you need?"

"I need the Hokage book."

"The what?" Tsunade played for time but it didn't work

"I need the Hokage technique book Tsunade and if you want that kid out of her coma you'll give it to me"

Tsunade gave him a speculative look, the Hokage book was a great secret, a large book containing techniques that had once been commonly used were now forbidden or just too risky. Some of the techniques were so destructive that you needed to be days away from all civilisation before it was safe to use it. "There's no other way"

"None, but the technique will not harm anyone." 'I hope'

"I'll get you it."

As Tsunade left the room Jiraiya began work, he knew he was asking a great deal of his old teammate but right now it was the only thing he could think to do. He opened up a large scroll and laid it flat in the middle if the office, summoning a messenger toad Jiraiya sent it to Naruto telling him to bring Hinata to the office, this was the only place safe enough to use high levels of chakra and to do a job as secret as he now planned to so. If anyone got curious they would just assume that Tsunade was chewing someone out and the hokage's office had more protection that the family planning clinic.

Once he was sure Naruto was on his way he began painting seals across the paper.

By the time Tsunade had returned with her book Jiraiya's paper was covered with the most intricate seals and designs, some of which she recognised from her time with her other former team mate.

"Jiraiya?"

"I know what you are thinking. It's not the same hime, it's just similar"

"I don't understand Jiraiya, this looks like Orochimaru's old mind control secrets what exactly are you planning here?"

"Simply put Tsunade I intend to wake Hinata up."

"And un-simply put?"

"I intend to search through every single strand of chakra in that girls head, every synapse that jolts through, every cell that is damaged and work out what I need to do to wake her up. I will systematically find the nerve endings that are receiving the most strain and force them to stop working and if I am correct this will jumpstart her brain"

"And why do you need the book?"

"Because in order to do this I may need to spend an entire month working inside that girls mind, not only do I need to keep her alive without a functioning brain for a month or so but I also need to remain awake for a month and not even stop to eat or go to the bathroom. Only one person ever had the secrets to doing both of those acts"

"The second Hokage's assistant." Tsunade nodded "Shizune would have loved to have been able to put this seal on me sometimes"

"There's a reason why it's forbidden Tsunade sama," Jiraiya didn't tell her of the strain it would cause him or the danger there would be to anything not shielded from the chakra he exuded "I need your office and your best men keeping a chakra shield around this place at all times."

"Done and Done." She nodded her hands twisting nervously "This technique led to the assistant's early death…. Jiraiya is there no other way…?"

"No, and even if there was it will be just as dangerous to me… at least I'll have tried everything"

At that moment Naruto arrived holding his beloved in his arms "Jiraiya?"

The sage grinned at him "How long can you wait?"

"I can wait forever"

"Well forever seems a little long, lets round it down to a month" taking Hinata from Naruto Jiraiya lay her in the centre of the markings he had made

"A month?" Naruto's voice cracked as he questioned his teacher and the old man gave him a kindly smile.

"A month, now you make sure you keep eating, you want to be healthy for when Hinata wakes up"

"A month" Naruto muttered to himself as he was dragged back out the door, Tsunade looked back at Jiraiya.

"We will be ready within one hour"

(NaruHina)

Alone in the room Jiraiya prepared Hinata's body, with the help of seal the body would continue to function without the brain. After removing her clothes he painted over her bare skin in dark ink, her skin was pale as paper making the whole process a lot like simple writing… if it wasn't for the contours of her body… what? He was still human for gods sake!

Exactly fifty minutes later he felt the chakra shield go up, it was time. Painting a few quick seals copied form the book Jiraiya placed them strategically on his person and then making some hand seals activated them.

Damn it hurt!

Jiraiya wanted to scream but knew he couldn't without being heard. Biting his lip he waited until the pain had passed and then… energy, he was filled with boundless energy, he could have an endless race with Gai and win, then he could then take on Lee and win, after all that he could probably take on Naruto and win he wanted nothing more than to work and he felt invincible. With a quick motion he activated the seal to keep Hinata's body going and disconnected her brain. His eyes wide and slightly maniacal he began his work with more speed than he ever remembered doing anything before.

(NaruHina)

Naruto sat outside Tsunade's office everyday, he did his training in the roof above her office, he slept behind Shizune's desk beside her office door and he ate on the balcony near her windows. Many times he tried to make out what was going on in the office but could see nothing, finally after two and a half weeks something happened. He had been training on the roof when he felt someone cancel the chakra shield around the office. Running down the stairs he arrived at the office door just in time to see it open. He could see Jiraiya standing in the doorway, he looked exhausted but alert and he was smiling "You'd better go see her Naruto, she'll be awake any second" Jiraiya almost fell back as Naruto flung himself at him and embraced him "Get on in there!" Jiraiya pushed him into the office with a grin. He was soo tired but it was worth it, it was so worth it, as Naruto approached his girlfriend Jiraiya shut the door to allow them their privacy.

Panting slightly he grinned at Tsunade as she ran down the corridor towards him. He appreciated the view as she came running forwards but kept his eyes fixed on her eyes as a mark of respect… and of course to avoid the pain.

"It worked?"

"You'll need to give her a check up soon. She's never gonna be a shinobi again, she'll have real trouble controlling chakra and her eyes won't work, but I managed to close off the seal. It was weird in there, it's like Hiashi was still activating it all this time, that's what the technique does, it stops the punishment to some degree but the part impairing their mental faculties remains going. Other than that, she'll be just the same as before"

"Oh thank God" Tsunade embraced her friend and then standing back grinned "You still have another week before the seal keeping you going wears off"

"I know, don't worry I'll put it to good use" Jiraiya grinned lecherously as he considered the amount of research he could get done if he didn't need sleep, after all, he owed it to all the people who had helped him.


(NaruHina)


Placing a hand on her shoulder Naruto gave his girlfriend a little shake "Hinata?" Naruto was extremely nervous as he spoke to his unconscious girlfriend "Sweetheart can you hear me?"

Hinata shifted in her sleep and grabbing his hand pulled it towards his chest to hug it, Naruto grinned and immediately moved to lie down next to her. He traced the soft skin following the patterns Jiraiya had made on her body, she twitched as his touch approached her more intimate areas.

"Hinata Hime?" he whispered nuzzling her hair, once again he felt her move only this time she moved to embrace his whole body, he turned her head and kissed her hoping that once again she would react to him, she did and his perverted side kicked in, he rolled them so he was on top of her and began to mutter teasingly to her as she tried to kiss him in her sleep. Finally unable to make him kiss her Hinata's eyes began to flutter "That's it my hime, wake up, open your big beautiful eyes"

"Naruto?" her voice thick and tired Hinata finally woke up, she looked up to find him staring down into her eyes and immediately blushed "Naruto" she cooed brining his head down to kiss him again, their lips were just touching when suddenly the memories of what had happened hit her widening her eyes she jerked in his embrace

"What? What is it?"

"My father he was… he…"

"It's alright, you're safe" he wrapped her in his arms and pressed kisses on the top of her head "That was all a long time ago I'm afraid."

"A long… how long was I out?" she pulled away to stare at him properly, he was sadder somehow and his eyes looked tired but he wasn't too much older.

"You've been gone for a little while, too long in my mind." She looked at him in surprise, worry filled her for all the time he had been alone. "A year at least."

"A year?" Hearing that she started and tried to sit up but her arms were too weak, slowly Naruto manoeuvred them so he sat n the floor and she sat on his lap, as he did so Hinata noticed that he was thinner "Oh Naruto. Have you been alright? You've been looking after yourself right?"

His heart was so filled with joy and love it hurt, Naruto began to laugh as Hinata questioned him more worried for himself than her own welfare. It was so like her to think more of others than herself and it made him feel more loved than he had ever been before "Hinata I'm fine… how about you? Do you feel OK?"

"I feel…" she smiled as she thought about it "I feel kind of weird. Good weird"

"Hinata…"

"Yes my love?" she smiled at him, he looked nervous about something and she tried to relax him by running her hand over his cheek. "What is it?"

"I love you"


(NaruHina)

Don't worry so much people, Hanabi's bite was just that, a bite. No silly marking or Kyubi mating. Just a wound received in the heat of battle that was treated

Hot Lemon in the next chappie and a nice little round off for those that want it.

Please R&R