Sweet, Innocent Hinata-Chan (COMPLETE!!!!!)

Sakura slammed her hand down on Tsunade's desk.

"TSUNADE-SAMA?! WHY NOT?! It's been almost TWO FULL WEEKS! The boys shouldn't be missing for so long!"

Tsunade sighed, Jiriya by her side as she sat behind her desk. True, it HAD been two weeks and still no report from the Yonnin. Right now, she had to deal with four VERY upset kunoichi who were demanding to know where their men were.

"Sakura-San, I cannot send you on a mission if I fear it is nothing more than to be a trap. It's too dangerous."

"But...!"

Temari, standing beside Hinata and Sakura looked at her enraged friend. She was damn nervous as well...She'd returned to Konoha on word that the boys still hadn't returned yet. She told her brother, Gaara and leader of the Sunagakure village, she'd be on personal leave for a week. Gaara just assumed it was her period which earned him a huge lump on his head.

"Godiame-Sama, please...We're worried about them! How can you expect us not to want to take action?" Temari demanded.

Tsunade looked at the Suna woman who was enraged even more so than Sakura, but because she was in a different village, she was keeping a TIGHT leash on her anger. Tsunade sighed a little.

"I will send the fifth Shinobi selected to complete the official Gonnin squad, if it relaxes your minds."

"It doesn't!" TenTen whimpered.

Hinata put her hand on TenTen's own and stroked it gently as TenTen cried. TenTen missed Neji more than anything and hadn't even taken off the white ribbon she kept fashionably wrapped around her neck like a little choker. All of the girls had been left with something: Hinata herself, had been left with a son, Temari had been left with one of Shikamaru's earrings and Sakura had been left with nothing more than words of his promised return...and a child as well. Sakura was probably the most fragile out of all them at the moment.

"What happens if the final last one of the squad fails?" Hinata couldn't help but ask.

Tsunade smirked and the girls suddenly became nervous.

"The last Gonnin is by far the strongest. Great skill and amazing technique, to boot."

Temari huffed a little as she turned to leave.

"I want Shikamaru back...Safe. We don't even know if they are alive."

"TEMARI!" TenTen snapped.

Temari turned to look at TenTen with a scowl.

"Do you have any other proof otherwise that they are still alive? I want to see it with my own eyes."

Tsunade sighed a little.

"Very well. I have no right to stop you, Temari of Suna, since you are not bound by our laws. But, as for the rest of you Konohagakure kunoichi, I completely forbid you from leaving the village of Konoha."

"WHAT?!" Sakura raged.

Tsunade stood up, glaring at the four girls.

"If something happens to you, we won't know what it was or who did it to you. Temari-Sama, I strongly suggest you find companionship outside of the village for your journey."

Temari glared at the Godiame as she looked out of the window. Hinata sighed, looking at Jiraiya who'd remained silent this entire time. He smiled with a wink at her and Hinata found herself a bit confused by the old sage's knowing grin. Tsunade excused the kunoichi who left, with much reluctance. Upon leaving the vicinity of Tsunade's office, the girls walked silently through Konoha, all wondering what they were possibly going to do. They stopped off in a small resturante and grabbed a table. After ordering some tea, Sakura looked at Temari.

"So, do you really plan on leaving Konoha and going North?"

"You bet your ass I do!" She said, setting down her tea.

Temari looked down at the green water with a sigh.

"It's...almost tormenting me not knowing wether they are alive or not, but if there is a body with no life in it to be found, I want to see it for myself. I won't just wait around for the news that my husband..."

"HUSBAND?" TenTen quickly asked.

Temari's eyes widened and she bit her lip with a sigh. Dammit...her and her big mouth.

"It...it happened sometime after the last Chunnin exams...Shikamaru and I took off on a 'training mission' and well...We got married by a buddhist monk in a temple a ways away from here."

"Why didn't you tell us...Temari Nara?" Sakura smirked.

"WHY YOU...!!!" Temari blushed.

The girls all laughed a little at their blushing friend.

"Well, your secret is safe with us, Temari-Chan." Hinata smiled.

"You mean just like the secret of Sakura's baby?"

Sakura blushed bright red, her green eyes turning to look at Hinata.

"I didn't say a word...!" Hinata quickly said.

"You didn't have to." Temari smiled.

The girls looked at Temari who was smiling a little.

"When a woman is pregnant in Suna, you just know, I guess. So, I picked up on it not too long ago that you were pregnant, Sakura. Which, is why I wonder this..."

She stared intensely at Sakura who felt her presence all around her even though Temari was only sitting across from her.

"Why would you want to endanger your unborn child's life by going to help his father?"

It was easy to see that Sakura had taken offense, but was also comprehending well what she was saying. Sakura sighed, looking at her still flat stomach.

"S...Sasuke doesn't know I'm pregnant."

"Didn't tell him?" TenTen asked, taking a riceball from the small tray in front of them.

Sakura shook her head sadly,

"I didn't want to deter his focus during the mission..."

Sakura looked at Hinata who put her hand on her shoulder with a smile.

"Sasuke-Kun...is very smart. I'm sure he knows what the situation is and if anything, that is making him more determined to come home."

"Gosh, Hinata-Chan," TenTen began.

Hinata looked at TenTen who was smiling at her.

"How do you stay so strong?"

Hinata blushed a little, unsure how to answer the question. She just looked down into her bowl of miso soup and blushed.

"I guess...it's because my life isn't my own any longer. I share it with both Hikaru and Naruto...OH! Hikaru! I have to pick him up from Ino's!"

The girls all got up, paid the tab and headed to Ino's flower-shop. Ino was busy watering her roses when they walked in.

"Hey, girls! How did it go? Will you be bringing them back?"

Sakura shook her head with a small sigh.

"No, Tsunade is gonna send out the final Gonnin to retrieve them."

"Reeeally?! Did she say who it was gonna be? Chouji is hoping it's gonna be him." Ino giggled.

"Someone mention my name?"

Hinata smiled happily at the sight of Chouji walking out from behind the desk with a sleeping Hikaru in his arm. Hikaru was wearing a flower crown of daisies in his blonde hair, but looked very content. TenTen burst out laughing.

"Who made the crown for Hikaru?"

Chouji blushed and smiled in his usual jolly manner.

"Well, ever since I started working here, I've been learning about flower design and stuff. Hikaru is really, really good baby, but he's a picky eater, isn't he?"

Hinata didn't have the heart to tell Chouji that Hikaru wouldn't eat what wasn't identifiable and most of what Chouji made was...well, unidentifiable.

"Yep! Just like his father!" Hinata laughed.

Hinata took the sleeping baby and continued to talk with Chouji while the girls looked around the shop and talked to Ino. When shouts could be heard down the road from the flowershop, Ino stuck her head out of the door.

"What is going on out here?"

"What's wrong?" Sakura asked.

Sakura and Ino stood side by side, watching the commotion unfold that was obviously heading there way. Sakura instantly recognized four of Tsunade's best medical nins, carrying a stretcher with someone on it.

"OUT OF THE WAY! MOVE IT!" one panicked.

"HE'S LOSING MORE BLOOD! THE BLEEDING WON'T STOP!"

"APPLY PRESSURE TO THE WOUND, STAT!"

"PULSE IS FAINT!" another announced.

Everyone in Ino's shop walked over to where Sakura and Ino were standing.

"What the hell is going on out here?" Chouji asked.

"Maybe someone was hurt? They might be from another village or something..."

"Sakura-Chan, maybe you should go and help. You're better than any of those medical nins, right?" TenTen smiled.

They watched the medical nins, all dressed in white, rush past them so fast, they almost didn't catch a glimpse of who that was on the stretcher...Ino quickly grabbed Hinata while Temari grabbed the baby from Hinata as she almost went into a dead faint.

"W...was that....?!" Hinata barely breathed.

Sakura chased after the medical nin while Temari tried to sooth the baby who was crying, hating his abrupt awakening.

"There's no way that could have been him!" Chouji said, watching Sakura.

They watched Sakura disappear with the medical nin to Tsunade's. Hinata tried to regain her composure, but wondered why Ino's grip on her shoulders had become so damn tight...

"Ino-Chan...that hurts..." Hinata winced.

"H...Hinata...." Ino barely stuttered.

Hinata turned her attention to Ino who was staring at the man approaching them. Hinata's heart nearly hit her throat.

"...F...Father..."

Hiashi walked towards them, stopping only to look at Hinata and then the baby in Temari's arms who the woman guarded fiercely. He huffed a little.

"Aren't you going to follow them? That IS your husband that just went by on that stretcher."

"Wh...what...?"

"Y...You're lying! There's no way that could have been him!" TenTen growled low in her throat.

Hinata ran off before anyone could stop her as tears cascaded down her face as she screamed,

"NARUTO-KUN!"

Temari glared at Hiashi Hyuuga.

"How do we know this isn't a trick?!"

"Because, Suna wench...I was the one that rescued him."

"How DARE you insult the sister of the Kazekage!" Chouji flamed.

"W...wait, you rescued him?"

Hiashi sighed, looking at the girl Neji had chosen for a life-mate.

"One of my scouts had mentioned that there was someone near the Mountain Pass, half-dead, bleeding and frozen. I ordered my scouts to bring him back and lo and behold...it was Naruto Uzamaki."

Ino wasted no time in quickly closing her shop as she accompanied her friends to the hospital, meeting up with Kiba and Shino along the way. Moments later, they all found themselves once sitting in the waiting room. Ino sat beside Chouji who was keeping Hikaru quiet with a pacifier. Kiba sighed heavily, looking at Shino. They'd just come back from a training mission with Shino's dad, but both were devistated they couldn't do anything more for their teammate, Hinata. TenTen stood, her back against the wall, calm yet paralyzed with fear: The body they'd seen go by on the stretcher was so bloodied, you could barely see Naruto's hair or actual skin. God...what if there had been a massacre of some sort?! She slid down to her knees, trying not to cry. It seemed like an eternal two hours before Sakura finally emerged from the operating room. Her white smock was covered in blood, causing Ino to cover her mouth and cease a gasp of horror.

"He's barely stable. Only time will tell. He lost so much blood..." she sighed, her voice cracking.

"Where's Hinata-Chan?" Kiba asked.

"With Tsunade. I'll go tell them that Naruto's out of surgery. You can go see him, but...I'd rather take Hikaru. Those machines in there might scare him."

Chouji nodded with understanding and once Sakura was changed and clean, handed over the sleeping baby who was completely oblivious to what was transpiring. Temari grabbed Sakura's shoulder before she walked out and asked,

"Is...there any news about...?"

"No news."

"I see..."

Sakura walked to Tsunade's office while her friends went in to see how Naruto was doing. Sakura tried not to cry once she was by herself, but it was just too damn hard...What if Sasuke was as hurt as Naruto, or worse...? She knocked on Tsunade's office door and entered when she was allowed. Sakura was more than surprised to see Hiashi Hyuuga open the door.

"Y...you..."

Sakura instinctively held the baby closer to her body. Hiashi huffed and walked past her, taking his leave. Sakura entered the room only to see Hinata sitting down in a chair in front of Tsunade's desk. Hinata's hands and the front of her shirt were dirtied with Naruto's blood and the usually cheerful girl didn't even bother to look up when Sakura sat beside her in the second chair.

"Naruto's out of surgery."

"Thank you...Sakura-San..."

Hinata stood up and looked at Tsunade who nodded for her to go on.

"I'll see you first thing tonight." Tsunade nodded.

Sakura was a bit confused, but Tsunade's voice snapped her out of her confusion.

"Sakura-San, Hiashi Hyuuga was the one who found Naruto."

"WHAT?!" Sakura yelled, almost waking the baby.

Tsunade nodded with a sigh.

"Yes. He swore there was no one else with Naruto, so, we are going to dispatch the final Gonnin as soon as possible. I want you to know...there may be bodies to bring back, Sasuke's included."

That hit Sakura like a knife in her heart and finally...she broke down, tears rolling down her soft face. Tsunade stood up, walking around her desk and taking the baby. Tsunade never noticed how sweet the baby smelled and how soft it was. It almost made her want to have one of her own...

"Sasuke-Kun...!" Sakura sobbed.

Sakura buried her hands in her face and nearly shrieked Sasuke's name over and over.

"Sakura-San, we do not know if they are alive or dead...But we also do not know what it was that attacked Naruto. Whatever it was...Well, you saw his wounds."

Sakura cried for the next half-hour before Tsunade told her to leave the baby with her while Sakura herself went to Naruto's bedside. She was just arriving at Naruto's room when she saw her friends leaving the room.

"Hinata needs a few minutes to herself." Shino stated simply.

"I see..."

"Sakura-Chan..." TenTen tried not to cry.

Sakura sighed and went in the room. Naruto was attached to Konohagakure's most advanced medical devices. An oxygen mask covered his mouth and nose, while double IV's were atatched to the back of his hands, trying to replenish the lost blood. His head, washed of all the blood, was wrapped with a bandage around his skull and a white eyepatch was placed over his left eye. He was completely shirtless, revealing his right arm wrapped from shoulder to wrist in a thick, white bandage. There were even bandages around his neck and wrapped around Naruto's stomach. Beneath the white hospital blanket, both of his legs were wrapped in thick white bandages as well. Hinata looked up at Sakura, instantly noticing her child was gone. Sakura managed a small smile.

"Hikaru is with Tsunade..."

She walked over to Naruto's bed side. Hinata remained silent, her powder blue eyes focused and intense on her husband. If it weren't for the slowly beeping heart monitor, she would have been certain he was dead.

"Will he be...?" Hinata began.

Tears soon began spilling down the Hyuuga beauty's face and Sakura sighed, knowing she had to suppress her own emotions in order to be able to help Hinata understand.

"His has massive head damage, his eye was damaged as well, but by what I'm not sure. Both his arms and legs are completely broken and there was a very, very deep gash going across his torso, so...we aren't sure, Hinata."

Hinata buried her face in her hands and cried hysterically. She bit her lip, using the futility of prayers to beg whatever god watched over them for Naruto, HER Naruto, to be alright.

"Needless to say, Hinata-Chan...he will be out of commission for some time. He seemed stable for a while, then he just lapsed into a coma and we have no clue why. We aren't sure when he'll wake up."

Hinata had never known Naruto to be comatose...Unless you include him sleeping for almost ten hours straight, but still...Why would he...? Hinata's powder-blue eyes widened, wondering, possibly if Kyuubi was trying to heal him and this was the only possible way to do it. She prayed, once more, that this was the case. Where were the rest of the Yonnin...? Kamis, she prayed they were safe.

Hinata stayed with her love until sunset when she knew Tsunade would be calling for her. She stood up, stretching a little bit and looking at Naruto. She looked at his chest, watching it rise and fall. She would have never imagined her love, her husband...in such a situation. A knock on the door startled her out of her reverie and a face she wanted to see peeked into the room.

"Hinata-Chan?"

"Kurenai-Sensei..." Hinata smiled gently.

Kurenai, adorned in a beautiful and tight red kimono walked over to her student and embraced her tightly.

"How have you been lately?" Kurenai asked, looking into the eyes of the girl who'd become a beautiful young woman.

"I have...been well, I suppose."

Hinata sighed, looking at Naruto who hadn't so much as budged.

"Where is Hikaru?" Kurenai asked.

"Sakura-San came in and told me Tsunade had been taking care of him, but...Tsunade started to get a little irritated when Hikaru trying to breastfeed from her every second, so, Sakura delivered him to TenTen's."

Kurenai snickered a little before girls both broke into laughter. Hinata felt a little bit better...but she was still very troubled.

"Kurenai-Sensei...what should I do...? I'm so afraid right now..."

Kurenai sighed, walking over to Naruto. His heart was faintly beeping and his breathing almost seemed non-exsistant. Bandages covered his throat, around his head and over his eye and on various parts of his body...Who could have done this to him?

"I'm terrified for Shikamaru, Hinata-Chan...But, at the same time, we have to continue to have the hope that our Yonnin are still alive."

Hinata whimpered a little before Kurenai turned around with a smile.

"Why don't you go home for the evening, Hinata-Chan? I think it would be best."

Hinata nodded, grabbing her stomach as well. She hadn't eaten anything all day despite the fact her friends had offered to take her out for dinner. At present, from what she knew, Sakura was in Tsunade's office, TenTen was baby-sitting and Temari was currently staying with TenTen, helping to play baby-sitter. Hinata looked up at the bouquet of beautiful daisies and baby's breath that Ino had Chouji deliver. Chouji had even asked her about her pendant around her neck...But what answer could Hinata possibly give? Mentally, she chastised herself: If she had gone with Naruto and the other Yonnin, would Naruto be laying here...? Kurenai watched Hinata whimper a little before tears slowly began cascading down her face.

"I...I couldn't do anything...! I feel so weak...so powerless..."

Kurenai put her hands on Hinata's shoulders, eyeing the pendant.

"You have been given responsibilities that only a strong kunoichi with a pure heart could have even been blessed with. I go so far as to say when Tsunade steps down, you will make a very good Godaime."

Hinata blushed, shaking her head with a small smile as she wiped away a few stray tears.

"No...I couldn't take that chance away from Naruto-Kun...He's wanted it forever."

Kurenai definitely knew that to be the truth. While Kurenai meant that Hinata was strong, she wondered how strong...Physically, she was somewhat capable, but mentally and emotionally? Kurenai feared for her favorite and best student.

"Hinata...I suggest that you do all you need to do. See Hikaru, see your friends...It is only a matter of time before Tsunade calls for you once more to deliver the news...about Naruto-Kun."

Hinata was absolutely terrified of going to see Tsunade, especially when she didn't know to what it pertained to. She was certain her father reveled in the fact Naruto was basically helpless, but what worried her even more was the fact that Kyuubi hadn't prevented any of this from happening to Naruto...

After seeing TenTen and to check up on Hikaru, Hinata returned, with Kurenai, to Tsunade's office. When she walked into the Medical Nin's office, she saw Tsunade staring pensively at her. Hinata swallowed nervous.

"H...Hai, Godaime?" she bowed.

"Hinata Hyuuga, effectively...You and I are to do battle."

"BATTLE?!" Hinata's eyes were full of alarm.

Hinata looked at Kurenai for any objection, but Kurenai's red eyes were more focused on Tsunade, knowingly. Tsunade stood up, looking as if she was ready for a battle.

"So, what do you say, Hinata-Chan?"

"I...I..."

She looked down at her feet nervously. Why? Why was this all happening to her? Was it some sort of test? For the love of god, she was just three weeks into being a new mother with her husband lying in a hospital bed and teetering between life and death. So why make her do this now? Still...who was she to turn down the Godaime? Especially if Kurenai hadn't said anything against it...?

"Hinata Hyuuga, forgive my forwardness about the battle, but I just want to see something for myself. This battle will give me peace of mind, if you will..." Tsunade smirked.

"Something...?" Hinata muttered.

"Let's just say...you WANT to take this challange."

Hinata swallowed that rock in her throat and nodded. With her fists balled at her side and her head held high, she looked Tsunade directly in the eye and replied,

"Then, I accept your challange, Godaime!"

"Perfect..." Tsunade smirked.

A small chuckle went unheard as a familiar white-haired sage listened in on the conversation. He walked away before he made his presence known, heading towards Naruto's room. He looked down at the shinobi, his favorite student and godson by way of Minato Namikaze. Jiriya couldn't help but smirk a little, despite the dark situation.

"You know, Tsunade may not seem like she has all of her rocks in order, but I promise you, there's more to her than those giant funbags she has on her chest."

He was almost certain if Naruto could hear him, the blonde would have laughed, still he remained silent and motionless. Jiraiya sighed a little bit, looking at Naruto.

"Listen, kid...I want you to know that anyone who trains under Tsunade is bound for greatness. Look at Sakura-Chan...Best damn medical-nin around and at such a young age. But...Hinata is something very special. I know it, Tsunade knows it...Hell, your father and Hinata's mother knew it. You two are unstoppable together, yet you have never had a reason to work together, despite your being together this entire time. I wonder...How special is Hikaru? Two special people can only make another special person..."

He rested his hand gently on Naruto's with a sigh.

"I'll watch over Hikaru the same way I watched over you and just like the same way Kurenai watched over Hinata. So, you rest up, okay, boy?"

Jiraiya had barely taken a step before he felt something grab his sleeve. He turned around, his eyes wide. He looked at Naruto who seemed to be struggling just to open his eyes.

"It's...Hinata....isn't it....?"

Jiraiya barely recognized the small, raspy voice as Naruto's. Jiraiya looked at Naruto with a sigh and nodded, despite the fact Naruto's eyes were still closed. Naruto heard Jiraiya's sigh and went silent for a moment.

"W...why her...?"

"She's probably the only kunoichi, the only female ninja, who can take on Tsunade...OR this mission for that matter."

"Why...?"

Jiraiya wondered if he really should tell Naruto about this...He released a heavy sigh.

"...Let's just say, Hinata's roots began in Yukigakure...even if she doesn't remember it."

Naruto looked as if he were trying to turn his head and look at Jiraiya. Finally, he managed to turn and open his eyes, even if they were half-open.

"...There...are....f...four girls there...they said something about...Hia..."

Naruto groaned in pain and Jiraiya steadied him with a worried look upon his face.

"Just rest...I just fear that Hinata-Chan's homecoming won't be the happiest...Naruto, I need you to know something: While Hinata-Chan is the daughter of Hiashi Hyuuga and Shioriko Natsuyuki, Shioriko was..."

He sighed, shaking his head.

"I don't want to tell you anymore. It's best if you learn these things for yourself, just as Hinata needs to learn this. All I can tell you is this...Hinata-Chan may have regal blood in her from being in the the Hyuuga clan, but her real royalty comes from her mother's side."

Naruto's pain finally got the best of him after a while as his eyes closed and he slipped back into unconsciousness. He left the room, sighing a little bit.

"Shioriko Natsuyuki...is your daughter still protected? Still protected by the same entity that protected you after Yukigakure's downfall? Still...protected by you?"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

(A/N: I thought it was about time that everyone got to see what all was happening back in Konoha since we hadn't seen the girls for a few previous chapters. Oh, gasp! Poor Naruto! Poor Hinata-Chan! I promise, it will all start to make sense...reletively soon, lol. Kuroneko: *MORE E-HUGGLES FOR YOU!!!!!* Lol, trust me, I have a sister, so I TOTALLY understand how much of a pain in the ass they can be, lol. Lemme know whenever you need an E-Huggle or an E-Puppy, I have plenty, lol! Thanks again, hon. Spartan, thank you SOOOOO much, I was blown away by like your second post! I was like, Yeah! Sock it to him, Spartan! Whooo!!!! Oh and don't worry! You can totally call me Sho-Chan if you want! No problemo! Thanks again for all the good reviews and here ya go: *BIG E-HUGGLES* for you as well! Amaya, you're a complete doll and I love your reviews! I can't wait to post more chappies soon! Thanks so much to everyone's reviewing, much love and E-Huggles for everyone who needs them!!!!!!

Yours truely, Sho-Chan)