Revelations Of The Mind

The light broke through the blonde’s eyelids, rousing him from the long seemingly endless sleep he had been seemingly trapped in. His dreams had been cold, and lonely. Even the fox, who was a constant commentator in his head, seemed to be vacant and lost. Needless to say it had confused him.

Still, they were just dreams in the end, though he couldn’t help feel some of it them could have been real…after all he had heard something in his dream that he always wished he would hear.

“He really does care for me…”

Acknowledgement from Sakura-Chan. But then again, she loved Sasuke, and he would always just be the 2nd man. It wasn’t that bad he supposed, at the very least he would always be by her side, to protect her and her happiness for eternity. It was a small happiness, but at least it was something he could grasp.

Naruto sighed, opening his eyes and stretching, his gaze falling around his hospital room. It was white and overly clean, smelling of disinfectants and other chemicals. He always hated this place, hated feeling trapped, yet he always ended up here.

He knew why he was here; after all he remembered the pain and the touch of Sakura as he fell into her arms. But he seemed fine now.

A flash of color caught his eye, yellow and black, he get a better look and found something rather unexpected. A Sunflower, it was beautiful and freshly picked. It was trying to face the sun, the creases on its stem indicated such, but since it had no grounding it had lost the ability.

Naruto reached out, shifting the flower and moving it gently into its intended direction, noticing a slight reduction in tension in the flower, as if relaxed in his presence as well as the sun light.

‘I wonder who brought it….Sakura-Chan maybe?’ thought Naruto

‘Nope, sorry kit, she’s in the room next to you…along with one of your kidney’s…’ said Kyuubi, though softer, as if not completely there, but more likely afraid of Naruto’s reaction.
‘She’s Hurt!?’ asked Naruto, surprised and worry for his friend quite evident in his voice. ‘How!?’

‘Protecting you actually, caused both of her kidney’s to be shredded, even being torn out in some areas…’ said Kyuubi, a grimace shown in his voice as well as Naruto’s face at the prospect.

Naruto’s grimace eventually gave way to a sad smile, ‘I failed…’

‘Yeah, but some times you have to let other people protect you kit…and you didn’t force her…she wanted to protect you…’ sighed Kyuubi, he was getting to like human emotions slightly, they played well on his few tender spots...and it annoyed him greatly.

‘Yeah…’ thought Naruto ‘so, who put the flower there then?’

“Oh good, your awake Naruto-Kun…” said Shizune giggling, carrying a bucket. “I was afraid I was going to have to give you a bath while you were still in bed…that far too much trouble.”

‘Ummm…yeah the lady with the bucket put it there…’ said Kyuubi, trying not to laugh as the full meaning of Shizune’s words started to trace across Naruto’s face.

‘Really?...wait…did she just say…’ thought Naruto, apprehension apparent.

‘Yep.’ Smiled Kyuubi, laughing.

‘Bastard…’ started Naruto, only to be cut off by Kyuubi, who knew there was a large string of curses following the first.

“Thank you for the flower Shizune-san…” said Naruto, blushing slightly as he focused his attention on the woman in front of him. He was always embarrassed that he felt so comfortable around her…he just could help it, everything about her just felt…well…comfortable and safe.

Shizune looked at him puzzled, “How did you know I put it there?”
“Kyuubi, he told me that you’ve did…” said Naruto, still blushing.

‘The fox…’ though Shizune, face turning hard. “Ah, yes I almost forgot about him…”

Shizune smiled, “Well, no matter, we need to get you clean…Strip!”

“No that’s okay…I think I smell fine…” said Naruto backing further into the pillow then should have been possible.

Shizune’s smile went away, changing into an almost feral grin, accompanied by a blank commanding stare. “Naruto, I’m in charge of your care, as such you will do as I tell you or I will force you too…do you understand…”

Naruto, in all his rebellious glory, tried to get away but was promptly snagged by the collar and yanked back, the door he had partially opened slammed back to be closed.

Outside the sounds of yelping and tearing clothes caused stares and tear drops galore, but they eventually went about their jobs as the sounds died down.

Humming softly, Shizune, took the now robe clad Naruto out of his room towards the hospital baths in a wheel chair. Both knew he was more then capable of walking at this point, but that doesn’t really matter when the Hokage herself commanded complete bed rest.

Naruto sat on the wooden bench, defeated and sulking. Listening to the sounds of Shizune disrobing and getting into a large towel to begin the bathing process, all the while humming a tune.

Shizune entered through the curtain, closing it behind her, wearing the pink and white bathing towel quite common in hot springs, causing Naruto to blush and look away. Shizune giggled slightly at his face, and continued to hum her tune as she moved behind him.

She filled the bucket she had brought with soap and water, allowing the foam to build up, and let the wash rags soak up as much as she could. She then poured some warm water on Naruto to permit the soap to better clean him.

After all the preparations done she reached for the rag, gathering soapy foam on it in the process.

“Alright, right arm up…” said Shizune, tone soft and kind, and restarted her tune.

‘That tune…what is it…” thought Naruto

“Ok, now the left arm…” said Shizune, watching Naruto’s left arm raise in response. ‘His body is just like his fathers…’

Shizune went about scrubbing; movement’s soft and comforting causing a contented sight to come from Naruto.

Shizune giggled at the action, so much like her husband, “And you complained…”

Naruto groaned as she set to wok on his shoulders, massaging them and removing whatever tension her medically trained hands could find.

Moving her hands down, Shizune began humming again causing a twang of recognition in Naruto’s mind yet again. Running the rag over his back she traced every scar from his many battles, including the new ones.

‘He really is like his father…and he even has his smile…’ though Shizune emotions riddled across her face, concentrations causing her to stop humming.

Naruto stirred, reaching back and grasping her hand to get her attention.

“Please don’t stop humming…” said Naruto softly, a look of pleading on his face.

“What?” asked Shizune, so caught up in her own thoughts she had failed to understand him.

“Please continue to hum, I don’t know why but it makes me feel very…well I don’t know what it makes me feel exactly but I know its good…” said Naruto blushing

Shizune’s emotion ridden face gave way to one of only happiness, a very broad smile, though Naruto could not see it. Signs of tears very present on her face and her eyes as she began her humming once again.

‘So he does remember something of us then…’ thought Shizune washing him again, thinking of his first baths as a baby. She was the only one Naruto wouldn’t splash…in fact the one time that the Fourth had tried it he looked like a smothered sloth his hair was so matted.

“Thank you” said Naruto, leaning slightly back into her hands.

Shizune finished with the back, moving around him to his front. Taking her soap laden rage, she began to wash his chest and a leg, still humming the tune, oblivious to Naruto’s growing discomfort in the situation.

“Well then, you have a choice, I can finish washing you, or you can do that part yourself…” said Shizune pointing at Naruto’s towel covered crotch, chuckling at his flinch.

“I’ll do that myself I think…” said Naruto, a small pathetic voice replacing his usual optimistic one.

Shizune smiled, clapping her hands together and smiled at him.

“Then I’ll do you hair” said Shizune, the prospect apparently quite fun for her.

“Ummm, won’t you be able to see…” asked Naruto, unable to finish the sentence.

“Oh don’t worry, it’s not like I haven’t seen it before…” Shizune giggled, knowing full well how true her statement was. “But if you’re worried I’ll be paying attention to your hair so I won’t be looking…”

With that Shizune moved around again, placing some shampoo on her hand and began working it into a lather as Naruto began to wash…himself.

With enough lather gathered Shizune reached up into his blonde locks, soaping them up thoroughly. This way and that, with no particular pattern involved, making his hair rather tangled and messy looking under the foaming shampoo.
‘Funny she washes it the same way I do…otherwise it comes out all flat and neat’ thought Naruto, following Shizune’s odd mismatched hand movements over his scalp, allowing her slightly massaging hands to take over his brain and her humming to fill his ears.

‘He has his father’s hair, it’s just as soft.’ Thought Shizune, feeling the soft strands pass in between her fingers like silk.

Naruto, immersed in the scalp massage, began to fall asleep, was shock awake as Ice cold water crashed over him. Naruto jumped slamming his face into the wall, trying to get away from the icy needles attempting to pierce his skin.

“Naruto!?” exclaimed Shizune, turning Naruto over quickly, to her horror seeing that his nose was broken. “Oh damnit!!”

A loud popping noise was heard as Naruto’s nose set itself and healed right before her eyes, a small amount of red chakra leaving the area like smoke.

Shizune looked at him, as his blue eyes opened, only his eyes weren’t blue anymore, they had some red in them now.

Naruto watched Shizune, trying to study the look that was crossing over her face, but it seemed to increase in difficulty as time went on, leaving him with only one choice, confusion.

Her face suddenly fell when she looked right at him, at his eyes. He saw it then, a look of mixed caring and fear, as if loosing something. He reached for her, or at least tried to, trying to comfort her in someway. But before his arms could even reach her she was gone, running out the curtain, leaving nothing but tears and a few words in her wake.

“I’m sorry…”

*Minutes Later*

Naruto was dressed, still stunned by Shizune’s rapid exit. He was drowning in the questions of it all.

“I wonder what she was sorry for.” Naruto wondered, not noticing the small cough from his friendly neighborhood fox.

Naruto, dressed in a hospital gown, moved outside. He thought it best to go back to his room, knowing that if he went anywhere else Shizune may get in trouble and at this point, no matter her reasons for running like she did, that was the last thing that he wanted to do.

At least that was the plan…but that went out the window when he heard a sweet voice he had been missing, though with a slight gruffness that he could not place, once again oblivious to Kyuubi’s nervous actions.

“Ino, damit get off, your cutting off my air!!” yelled Sakura, apparently just having awoken as Ino was just now causing her problems.

“Uh-Uh” whined Ino sobbing, chuckling could be heard coming from the same area.

“I would say she’s not letting go Sakura.” Said Kiba, enjoying the show thoroughly.

“Hey, you guys could always lend me a hand ya know!!” said Sakura, glaring angrily at the gathered people in her room.

“No, we’re all enjoying the show to much for that…” said Neji leaning against the wall, and uncharacteristic smirk on his face drawing the stares of everyone in the room. “What…?”

“Nothing…” said Kiba, looking astonished.

“It wouldn’t help anyway forehead girl. I’m not letting go for at least another five minutes…” said Ino, grip tightening.

Sakura grimaced, “Fine Fine!!1 Ino-Pig, just loosen up a bit would you!!! I only have one kidney, and I’d like to keep it!!”

The gather people laughed. Sakura had apparently finally accepted that Ino wasn’t letting go, stroking the blonde’s hair lightly causing her sobbing to subside.
The thoughtful looks on everyone’s faces were quite warming, she had made quite a few friends; Lee, Neji, Kiba, Hinata, Chouji, Tenten, and obviously Ino. The only ones missing were Shikamaru and Temari and they had priorities of their own. Then their were the ones who she wished were there…but that couldn’t be changed.

Sakura felt a little tickle in the back of her mind, eyes seeming to grow wider then should be possible as she shot her head to the left, her sudden movement causing like action of the gathered in concern for her sudden reaction.

“Naruto-kun…” gasped Hinata, surprised as the rest to see him up and about so soon, and unescorted. Sakura remained peculiarly silent.

It took the sharp action of one dog emulating man to knock the silence away.

“BAKA!!!” yelled Kiba, punching Naruto hard in the back of the head. “What the hell are you doing here!? You should be in bed!!”

Naruto raised his head back up, his usual retort never coming, and leveled his stare with that of Sakura, matching her gaze. Mesmerized in the pools of green that were her eyes, now laced with red like his own. Unbeknownst to them both the red began to glow slightly in the heat of their gaze.

“Oi Oi, Naruto! Aren’t you listening!” continued Kiba, thoroughly annoyed.

“That’s enough Kiba…let him be…” said Neji.

Kiba glared at Neji, fangs barred and claws as the ready, only to see Neji point back at Naruto and Sakura with a slight look of annoyance. Kiba followed the annoyed gaze of his opponent, and saw exactly what he was meant to see. There was silent communication going on between the two hospitalized ninja, and even if he had started a battle hear it would have been doubtful if it would have drawn their attention away from each other.

Never being one to get rid of adrenaline quickly Kiba grunted, placing his hands in his pockets tearing slight holes with his claws, and moved to the wall fuming, a small pout apparent on his face.

Naruto and Sakura starred at each other, nothing truly needing to be said, and all being transferred through their gaze. But as the gaze continued it weakened, Sakura’s eyes filling with tears disabling the connection.

“Naruto…” Sakura sobbed, a warm almost loving smile passing on her face as tears trailed down her cheeks.

Naruto starred awe struck by the beauty of the woman in front of him, unable to move in fear of breaking the scene in front of him, wishing to burn it into his eyes.

“Pregnant woman coming through, Outta the way!!” came a strong female voice. Naruto was pushed into the room, stopping just short of the bed, coming face to face with Sakura, the draw unimaginable.

“Sorry about that Naruto, she’s being a bit of a handful right now.” Chuckled Shikamaru, well aware that the action was not one of Temari’s hormone driven actions.

Naruto’s hand reached forward with his right hand cupping Sakura’s face, starring intently into her eyes while wiping away the tears that had fallen on her, he’d never seen something so beautiful.

Sakura watched the actions of the blonde boy, slightly awed by his compassion, and pressed her face further into the strong hand holder her face, trying to gain as much contact as possible. It was soft and strong making her feel warm and safe, and to her the memory of this man being the immature annoyance from the academy had been fully extinguished.

The others watched, surprised at such an affectionate display by the two, and Ino being the intelligent woman that she was moved away knowing that what was taking place now did not concern her in the least.

“Naruto..?” said Sakura, breaking the silence quickly

“Hai, Sakura-Chan?” replied Naruto, a soft smile laden in his face, thumb caressing the skin below her eye.

*Crack*

Sakura’s fist slammed into the top of Naruto’s head, issuing a large cracking sound…as well as a shocked faces from the surrounding people.

“Why aren’t you in bed!!?” yelled Sakura, previous emotion being replaced with a type of rage, one that one would wish to only see after they were dead as the pain to be received would not be felt.

“hatataha…” stammered Naruto rubbing the second bump on his head.

‘Damn, since when did she get so mean…I was really enjoying holding her…’ thought Naruto

‘I heard that…’ Sakura thought back.

Naruto’s mouth dropped and closed quickly, eyes falling on her left arm and the running tattoo that had newly appeared on her.

‘The kidney you twit…’ said Kyuubi in his head ‘She shares me with you, hence you share each others minds to a certain limit, thereby she can hear what you think if you don’t protect yourself correctly.

Naruto groaned, his eyes rolling, causing a giggle from the still mad but waning pink haired girl.

‘Fine, I’m sorry, how can I make it up to you Sakura-Chan?’ asked Naruto, a slight puppy eyed look on his face.

‘Well, first you can stop with that look.’ Said Sakura a rather annoyed look on her face, quickly giving way to a smile. ‘Take me out for dinner when we get out of here, Naruto-Kun, and I’ll forgive you.’

Naruto’s eyes shot open, surprise leaving its imprint all over his features.

“Are you serious!?” gasped Naruto, completely forgetting the insider communications.

Sakura giggled and nodded at him.

“You Got It!!!” smiled Naruto jumping up from his crouching position on the floor, doing a back flip in the process taking him outside the door. “Ok, I’m going to my room guys it was good seeing you all. Come to visit me too when you get a chance!!”

With that he was gone, running across the hall opening and closing the door in one swift motion leaving the gathered, excluding Sakura, with confused expressions on their faces.

“Does anyone have any idea what happened?” asked Lee, his conclusion being the same as the others as all the heads in the room moved in the direction of Shikamaru and Temari.

They both were dumbstruck when they realized they were the target of the stares in the room.

Temari sighted, “You know what guys even we can’t figure Naruto out…”

The groups’ attention then fell on Sakura, whose face held a small smile.