"What do you mean he is in a coma?" A muffled voice said frantically.
"He hasn't woken up in days and isn't looking great. His injuries were completely healed the day after, but the exhaustion was too much for him." Came a more feminine voice, again too muffled to figure out who said it.
"Oh god. Why did this happen." Came the first voice again.
"Do not worry Sakura, Naruto will be up in no time!" Came a much more happy and enthusiastic voice. The voice and how he spoke seemed familiar.
"Even if he does wake up soon, he will have to be bedridden for at least 3 days. Not to mention the recovery time. He may heal fast, but his body still takes a toll." The person I assumed was the nurse said.
"To be honest... it might be best if he stays asleep, at least until everything blows over."
"Yeah, I just hate to see him like this."
After that they didn't really talk about anything important, so I decided to go back to sleep, for now. They weren't kidding when they said I was exhausted.
This time when I woke up there was no conversation going on and I felt a lot better so I opened my eyes. It was mid day, a few clouds in the sky, and the village was bustling, by the sound of it. Although the village was always kind of a tourism hot spot, so the crowd wasn't too surprising.
"Look who finally decided to wake up." Said a very bored voice that could only belong to one person.
"Hey, Shikamaru! How long have I been out? Where is Sasuke?" My voice a little hoarse from lack of use.
"Only a week and Sasuke woke up the day after you brought him here. They haven't let him leave his room though, well, you know why." He said looking at his nail.
"How are the others from the mission are any..." I figured he would get the point.
"Nope, everyone is alive and well. Granted some were critical when we got here, but they have already been released. Neji is benched for a while though, his injuries were a little more severe."
I sighed in relief that my friends were alive and well. I lied back on the bed and smiled at the ceiling. We did it, our little band of misfits completed the mission and survived.
"You know, I have to give it to you Naruto." Shikamaru said standing up and walking over to my side." You are one hell of a guy."
"Thanks, Shikamaru." I have him a smile that he returned.
With that said he took a step back as the door busted open and people came flooding in. The first to reach me was Sakura, she jumped on me and cried. My eyes widened in shock as I rubbed her back. Her tears, which I hoped here happy, soaking into the sheets.
"Sakura" was all I said looking down at her.
"You really had us worried there for a while." I looked up to see my sensei giving me his signature eye smile.
"Kakashi-sensei" I gave a weak smile to him. I winced in pain as I tried to sit up a little more. As soon as I winced his hand was on my shoulder holding me firmly.
"Hey, take it easy kid. You deserve it."
"I can't, I have to see how Sasuke and the others are doing." I tried to push against his hand and get up.
"Who do you think came to visit you?" He said amused, gesturing to the other people in the room. For the first time, I actually looked at who came into the room.
"Neji, Kiba, Choji, Lee!" I shouted with excitement, since they were the first ones I saw. Suddenly a weight jumped on the bed, next to my head. I looked over and got a lick on the nose and happy bark from Kiba's best friend.
"Akamaru you're here too!" I laughed and gave him a pat on the head.
I looked at the team that helped me bring Sasuke back to the village. Although we are all alive, you can tell we have been through a lot.
Neji was walking with an IV stand next to him, his whole torso was covered in bandages, and he had several bruises on his body.
Choji was relatively fine, just a couple bruises and band aids for minor cuts. The really noticeable thing though, is the fact he lost, what seemed to be, all of his body fat. His clothes were comically baggy on his now small frame.
It was weird seeing Kiba without his hoodie on. His brown hair short and spiky. His lower torso was wrapped in bandages, and he obviously he had minor bruises, cuts, etc..
Lee seemed to be the only one completely unscathed, I guess when he came to help we fight that bone guy he wiped he floor with him.
"You did well Naruto, you completed the mission single handedly. You deserve some rest." Neji said with a slight smile on his face.
I put my head down so they couldn't see my eyes.
"No I don't." Sakura raised her head and looked at me with questioning eyes, that were still tear filled.
"What do you mean?"
I raised my head, a huge smile on my face.
"I didn't do much. I just followed everyone and, once everyone was busy fighting, Lee had to come take up my slack so I could get Sasuke. If anyone deserves to be praised, it is these guys right here. They did all the heavy lifting." I motioned to other members of the mission.
"What are we, chopped liver?" A feminine voice called out behind Shikamaru.
From behind my friends came a blonde haired girl with a fan on her back, a guy with a black onesie with points at the top of the head, and a red haired boy with a gourd on his back.
My eyes widened," G-Gaara? What are you guys doing here?"
"We are allies with the leaf. While you worked to get the Uchiha back, we aided your friends in their battles." He said with his usual monotonous voice and dead face.
I looked at them stunned. Without a word, I moved out from under Sakura and stood in front of them. I slowly kneeled down, my joints popping from lack of use. I bowed my head to the floor.
"Thank you so much for helping my friends when I couldn't." I said as respectfully as I could, not used to formalities, but I felt it was needed since they protected my friends.
"Naruto." I heard Sakura whisper sadly.
I kept bowing to the sand shinobi, the room deadly silent.
I suddenly felt a hand gently get placed on my shoulder. I looked up to see Gara looking down at me with a tiny smile and his siblings smiling as well.
"There is no need to thank us. We are simply repaying our debt. Not just to the Hidden Leaf, but to you, Naruto." He said never breaking eye contact as he helped me up off the floor.
"T-to me?" I tilted my head to the side in confusion.
"Yeah, if it weren't for you, we wouldn't have our little brother." Kankuro said as he put a hand on Gara's head.
"If you hadn't stopped him, during our invasion, Gara would have been lost forever." Temari said as she put a hand on my shoulder,"We are nowhere near repaying our debt, but now we are one step closer."
I smile a huge smile and rub the back of my neck, "Consider the debt paid. You guys saved the people I cherish the most. Consider yourselves a part of my precious people" I say as I pull all of them into a hug.
Tears stream down my face with joy, "If you ever need anything just ask, please." I hear my friend let out a sigh as they sweat drop at my actions.
For a few moment it feels as if nothing is wrong with the world as we all talk and laugh as friends. We may be shinobi, but we are just kids.
~~~~~~~~~
"Come on Naruto! Just 249 more Push-ups before we do 100 laps around the village!" A certain, green jump suit clad, ninja said as he kicked a tree stump.
"Please *gasp* let *gasp * me breath." I say in between heavy breaths.
It has been 2 days since the hospital reunion with everyone. The nurses didn't trust that I was fully recovered so they, for some ungodly reason, are making me train with Lee as they monitor my every move. They even had ANBU for some reason, but I assume they were just chilling on a day off or something.
Neji wasn't quite ready to start training yet. Man, if I'm ready to go after my battle with Sasuke, Neji must have been really dinged up from his battle.
I was snapped out of my thoughts as a foot connected with my side. I went rolling across the ground. When I finished rolling I groaned and sat up looking at my attacker.
"What the hell pervy sage!" I yell as I look at him with anger.
He let out a hearty laugh, "A true ninja is always aware of his surrounding! I'm just getting you ready for when you come train with me!"
"Train, more like be you watch as you peek on women in the hot springs." I grumble as I dust myself off and walk over to him," anyway what are you doing here? I'm still 'recovering' as the nurses put it."
He sobered up and got his serious face on,"I came to tell you I'm going on a mission and can't start your training as soon as we'd like." He leaned in close to my ear and whispered,"Make sure you keep your guard up and stay safe while I'm gone." He then leans back and lets out a laugh that was too fake for its own good.
"Ok, thanks for letting me know, I need to straighten things out here before I leave anyway." I say in a bit of a neutral voice.
Jiraiya smiles lightly and puts a hand in my hair, roughing it up. "I'll see you soon kid."
"See ya pervy sage." I give him a big smile before he disappears in a plume of smoke.
I walk slowly over to Lee, who was now standing on his hands and kicking the tree post,"Hey, Lee, I'm calling it a day I have some stuff to take care of." I say as I walk away.
"Oh!" He jumps with his arms and lands on his feet next to me,"I shall accompany you!"
"Sorry Lee, I wish you could, but I need to do this my self." I say as I walk away. I turn and give him a smile,"Don't worry, I'll be here first thing in the morning. I'll show you the power of the flames of youth." I give him a thumbs up and walk into the hospital.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see the ANBU disappear and the nurses and doctors walk back into the hospital. I hope leaving training early doesn't make me benched from missions longer. I'm already sick of being cooped up in this hospital.
Thankfully Sakura brings me Ichiraku ramen almost daily. I don't know how I would survive with out her.
I walk through the hospital, heading to my room. I try to ignore the stares of all the staff as I pass. As much as I'd like to think they stare because they are glad I brought Sasuke back and think I'm a hero.
I know better.
They stare because they all saw the nine tail's chakra covering me when I came in. They think I'm a loose cannon. A wild card.
I shove those thoughts out of my head as I walk down the empty hallway that leads to my room. I turn around when I hear footsteps suddenly stop at the end of the hallway behind me. I don't see anyone, but I bet it is just a nurse walking past.
I get in my room and open the night stand next to my bed. I pull out a head band. Not mine, obviously, it was Sasuke's.