Prey chapter 5

Chapter 5: Don’t die

“We have to take him to the hospital and quick, or else he might die,” Sakura said.

A shockwave hit the six ninja as they were looking to their sick friend. Hinata, who already thought so, was scared. Now that Sakura said it, it sounded so definite.

“Right, Lee, you bring him,” Shikamaru said, calm again. The group stared to him. “Take those weights of and go, don’t stand around,” Shikamaru said. Lee nodded and dropped the weights. He picked up Naruto and laid him on his back. “Bring him to Tsunade immediately,” Sakura said strict. After that Lee dashed off with his enormous speed.

Sakura helped Hinata standing up. “Let’s go,” Sakura said. Everybody nodded and they started to run back to the city, though not as fast as Lee. Sakura looked at Hinata, who was beside her, she looked terrified and worried. Sakura hoped Naruto would survive, but something was going on with him. Something she didn’t like at all, but it made him go to this state. Naruto has never been ill before, so what made him ill now?  

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When Lee reached the village he ran to the Hokage building and kicked the door of Tsunade’s office open. “What the h…!”

Tsunade looked at Lee. He was carrying Naruto on his back. The blond boy only wore his underwear and had a red face. “He has a high fever,” Lee said, “I came as fast as I could.” Tsunade walked over to the two boys and felt at Naruto’s head. It shocked her how warm he was. “Take him to the hospital. I’ll follow you within a minute.” Lee nodded and was gone the next second.

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Kiba looked over to Hinata and sighed within himself. Why did that stupid boy run of? Just for the ears and tail he had? Why didn’t the dope understand she loved him? That she would be worried? Now he was almost dead and Hinata was afraid he might really die. ‘Just stay alive, dope,’ he thought.

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Hinata wanted to cry, but knew it wouldn’t help Naruto. She didn’t want to think of what she might do if he dies. He may not die; she hadn’t told him she loved him. And even if she had and he didn’t like her back, he still may not die. She cared too much for the boy. And now that he shared his secret with her, his fear, she cared even more for him. She understood the reason he left, more than anyone. It wasn’t his fault, it was everyone’s fault. Everybody that treated him like a monster. Including her own father.  

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Naruto lay on a bed in the hospital. Lee left the room and only Tsunade was in there now. She first tried to cool him down a bit and after that searched for the reason he was in such a state. Was it those fox ears and tail, she wondered.

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Once in the village Sakura took Hinata with her to the hospital. Hinata had to tell Tsunade what happened and Sakura had the feeling she wanted to see Naruto. Sakura asked where Naruto and Tsunade were and then pulled Hinata with her. She didn’t mind knocking and opened the door immediately.

Tsunade turned her head and saw her student together with a pale faced Hinata. Sakura closed the door. “Hinata, can you tell us what happened?” Tsunade asked. Hinata told the whole story, leaving out some details, like he told about the Kyubi or his fears. “So, he had pain attacks and the last one made him pass out,” Tsunade repeated. Hinata nodded. “And he had that last attack after the ninja struck a kunai in his arm.” Hinata nodded again. “It’s sound like the kunai was poisoned,” Tsunade said thinking over the events, “but I couldn’t find any. That never happened to me before.” “Let me check him,” Sakura said and already walked over to her team-mate.

After ten minutes she stopped trying, frustrated she couldn’t find anything either. Tsunade left to search for an answer in the library. She said she had read about such a thing when they were searching for the ears and tail problem. Sakura sighed and looked to Hinata. She was sitting on a chair and cried. Sakura didn’t know what to do. She wanted to comfort her friend, but didn’t know how. She walked over to Naruto to check his temperature again. It was quite high.

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“So, you’re back here again.”

Naruto opened his eyes and saw the familiar bars with the seal. But something was definitely different. The bars were surrounded by some green stuff. He also saw strange blue bubbles hanging in the air. What were those?

“As you can see, this is why I can’t give you any chakra. This green stuff blocks it.”

Naruto couldn’t say a word.

“The blue stuff you see is the poison. It transforms into this.”

The Kyubi touched the green poison on the bars. “Then why do I have those attacks?” Naruto asked.

“Well, I think it’s because of the poison. The first time you got it into your body, it attacked the bars. But now there’s no place for more poison left so it started to attack your body. This time you WILL transform into a fox, if that old hag and the pink haired girl don’t remove it quick. As you can see most of the poison is here. I don’t really know why.”

“So?” Naruto didn’t understand. Sakura and Tsunade would find the poison everywhere.

“Brat, because of that there’s not a lot of poison in the rest of your body. It makes those two medical ninja unable to find it. They have to search here, or else you might transform into fox! ” The Kyubi said angrily.

“Since when do you care about me changing into a fox,” Naruto wanted to know.

“I don’t want to be in a boy that was stupid enough to get caught by such an idiot and turns into a fox!”

Naruto grinned.

“Get lost Brat!” the Kyubi snarled.

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Naruto felt a hand on his head and opened his eyes. He wished he hadn’t woken up, then he didn’t have to feel the pain in his entire body. Also the feeling of being ill was uncomfortable. Slowly he got up, noticing Hinata was also here. She was crying.

“S-Sakura,” he said with a hoarse voice. He felt the hand go and Sakura looked a bit surprised. Before he could talk any further, he first had to endure an attack of the poison again. He heard somebody else entered the room, but wasn’t interested in who it was.

The attack stopped for a while. “It’s- it’s poison. The same poison I got while protecting Hinata. It gave me those ears and tail. Search for it near the seal. It’s attacking the Kyubi’s c-cage. Over there is also some transformed poison, don’t mind about it. It can’t harm me; it only p-prevents Kyubi’s chakra from getting into my body.” After saying so much with the awful feeling he had he started to gag.

Sakura jumped to the side just in time. Naruto head was over the edge of bed and was throwing up. It scared her as much as he told about the poison and the Kyubi. Sakura peered to Hinata. Did she know? Had he told her? Hinata looked scared and worried, still crying. He hadn’t notice her most likely, that’s why he told about the Kyubi.

Sakura looked back at her friend. He had one of those pain attacks Hinata told about, while throwing up. Cold sweat was running down his forehead. It was almost unbearable to watch. After a while he stopped and was breathing heavily. Sakura walked to Tsunade, who had entered the room before Naruto explained what it was that was hurting him so much. Tsunade nodded to her and Sakura grabbed Hinata’s hand. Hinata looked surprised, but let her lead to the hall. “You better not watch the rest,” Sakura said in a soft voice.

Hinata nodded. Actually she wanted to stay, but seing Naruto suffer so much was too painful. “Go home, your father is worried. I’ll talk to you after removing the poison out of Naruto’s body.” Some tears rolled down Hinata’s cheeks, but now they knew why he had those pain attacks and all, she knew Sakura and Tsunade would be able to heal him. Hinata walked to the exit of the hospital.

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Sakura watched her friend going and then ran to get some stuff to clean the gag. She went back to the room where Naruto was laying with a mob and a bucket with water. After cleaning it up, she helped her teacher.

Tsunade had found the poison, exactly where Naruto had said it would be. The seal. She also found the transform poison, but it was difficult to remove and Naruto said it wouldn’t harm him, so she didn’t pay more attention to it. With help from Sakura she managed to remove all the poison at that spot and searched for more in the rest of the boy’s body. Now she knew what she was looking for, it was easy to find little traces of it. In the beginning Naruto had a lot of the pain attacks, but they had been reduced and now he seemed to be fine.

Tsunade stopped and sighed, whipping sweat from her forehead. “We have everything now, except for the transformed poison.” Sakura looked relieved, but saw Naruto had still the foxy ears and tail. “Why does he still have those?” She pointed to the ears and tail. “I think because of the transformed poison. But that stuff is difficult to remove and has to wait for later. Right now, he must rest and so must I.” Tsunade sat down on a chair. Sakura did the same.

To their surprise Naruto got up after a few minutes. “Naruto, you should…” Sakura started but was shut down.

“I’m not Naruto.”

His face turned and Sakura saw his eyes had changed. They were red and the whiskers like stripes were different too. “H-how?” she only managed to say.

“That transformed poison is weaker without the other poison around. Also I’m not using chakra, only my spirit, which makes me able to take over for a while, though I can’t fight two women with monstrous strength.”

Sakura and Tsunade sighed relieved, though Tsunade was still on guard. “Why are you here?” she asked.

“To tell you something about that man that’s after that purple eyed girl. I remember something like that. He’s a blood limit hunter. Before I was sealed in Naruto, I heard about a blood limit hunter that almost kidnapped one of the Ushiha’s. Uchiha Obito to be exact. But the boy got away by luck and died in one of the mission not soon after that.”

Tsunade looked stunned.

“What happens with those he caught?” Sakura asked.

“They force them to cooperate or take the part of the body that is used for the blood limit. Sometimes they manage to place it into themselves and were able to use it. Like the Sharingan Kakashi has.”

“Then what about the wolf? Do you know something about her?” Tsunade asked. The Kyubi shook his head.

“Don’t tell Naruto I took over. It’s not good for him right now. And if he dies, I die as well.”

After that the Kyubi disappeared and Naruto’s head fell on the pillow. “That was… strange,” Sakura said. Tsunade nodded.

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Hinata was in her room, she has to stay there for the rest of the day, as a punishment for running away. She wasn’t allowed to get any visitors too. While some tears dropped to the ground, she was hoping Naruto would survive.

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Sakura knocked on the door. It was Hiashi that opened it. “If you’re here for Hinata, you’re not lucky. She isn’t allowed to get visitors or get out of her room,” he said in a rude way. Sakura already suspected this and nodded. “I am not here for talking, Tsunade ordered me to check her on the poison the hunter used on Naruto. Maybe she has got some in her body too. So to make sure she hasn’t, I have to check her.” Hiashi was astounded. He couldn’t go against that. Finally he stepped aside to let Sakura through. “Make it quick,” he growled. “If I rush I might miss some poison,” Sakura said and walked up to Hinata’s room.

Hinata turned around when her door opened. She was surprised to see Sakura entering her room. “How did you…” Sakura grinned, “I told your father I had to make sure you don’t have any of that poison in your body. Sit down on a chair. Your father is probably watching us with Byakugan.” Hinata nodded and got a chair. She sat down and Sakura pretended she was checking her. “How’s Naruto?” Hinata asked shy. “He’s fine for now. We got all the poison except for the transformed stuff. I think it will take a few days until he’s over his fever, but he’s no longer in live danger.”

Hinata looked to the ground. She was relieved Naruto would survive. “It was scary,” Hinata said in a low voice. “What do you mean?” “When I found Naruto. He was so… not like himself. And I don’t mean the ears and tail.” Sakura nodded.

“Hinata, did Naruto tell you about the Kyubi?” Hinata looked to Sakura’s face and then to the wall. “He did. He was afraid I would hate him because of it.” “Well, he has the right to be afraid of such a thing, hasn’t he? After all the things the villagers did to him.” Hinata nodded. “How long are you not allowed to leave your room?” Sakura asked and stopped with checking her. “Only today,” Hinata answered. “Then you can visit him tomorrow.” Hinata nodded and followed Sakura to the door.

“You don’t have any poison in your body, so you’ll be fine,” Sakura said as if she really searched for poison. “Thank you Sakura-chan,” Hinata nodded. Sakura grinned and left the Hyuga building.

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The next morning Hinata ate a bit for breakfast. She forced herself to eat, because she wasn’t hungry at all. After that she had to promise her farther she wouldn’t leave the village, though he still didn’t trust her. Thus now Neji was walking next to her both as bodyguard and babysitter. “You’re going to Naruto I presume,” he stated. Hinata nodded a bit blushing. “I have better things to do then watching him the whole day. Is it ok if I pick you up tonight?” Hinata was glad to hear him say that and nodded. So when they arrived at the hospital, she went inside and Neji left.

When she saw Naruto, she started to cry. She wondered if this all was her fault. Then Sakura came in, she was holding some clothes. “Hinata, you’re already here?” Hinata nodded unnecessary. “Could you help me pulling him this on?” Hinata looked from the clothes, a pyjama, to Naruto; he was still only wearing his underwear. Hinata blushed a bit, “O-ok.”

She helped Sakura pulling on the shirt, but didn’t want to help with his pyjama trousers. But Sakura failed at doing that alone so she was forced to help. As she did, she hoped Naruto wouldn’t wake yet.

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Hinata went to see him everyday. It was always the same. Neji walked with her to the hospital and she was sitting there until he picked her up in the evening. Five days past. She was sitting there again. Unsure if he would wake up soon. She gazed at his ears; they were still like a fox. Then he moved and Hinata was shocked to death because of it.  

Naruto got up, not realizing the world around him. He looked spaced off.

Hinata watched him for a while, started to cry from happiness that he was finally awake. Without knowing what she did, she wrapped her arms around him. He didn’t do anything, like he didn’t notice it at all.

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Sakura was walking to Naruto’s room, wondering if Hinata was still with him. When she opened the door she saw Naruto sitting up straight and Hinata was hugging him. The first thought that came to Sakura’s mind was leaving the two, but then she saw Naruto’s expression. He may be sitting and his eyes may be open, he wasn’t on earth at all. Sakura entered the room and softly closed the door.

Hinata let Naruto go and turned. It was Sakura. “Hinata, go tell Tsunade he woke up. I have to check him.” Hinata nodded and stood up. Quickly she walked to the Hokage building.

Sakura walked up to her team-mate and tried to get his attention. “Naruto,” she said, but it was like he hadn’t heard her at all. Even yelling his name was useless. Sakura sighed. ‘Do I really have to hit him in the face,’ she thought. But there were no other option, so she hit him on his head. Naruto fell back in his pillow, putting his hands on the hurt spot.

‘Ouch,’ Naruto thought, ‘What on earth was that?’ He rubbed his head and looked around. He saw Sakura standing beside his bed. No, it was a bed in the hospital. What happened? It took a while before he knew it again. The poison, the pain attacks, the awful feeling. He remembered them all. He also remembered he had told Sakura where to look for the poison and that he had thrown up.

“Sakura, do you really have to hit me all the time?” Naruto asked. Sakura sighed relieved. “Sit up so I can check you.”

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Hinata knocked on the door. “Come in,” she heard Tsunade say. Carefully she opened the door. She saw her cousin and his team and Shikamaru, Chouji and Ino. They all turned to her, what made her nervous. “Uhm, Tsunade-sama, Sakura told me to inform that Naruto just woke up.” Tsunade stood up, “It’s about time he did,” she said gladly. Hinata give a slight nod and noticed the expressions of the others. They were all glad he finally woke up. “Let’s go see him,” Lee shouted and was already on his way to the door. “Lee, we’re here for a mission,” Tenten protested. “It’s ok. The mission can wait,” Tsunade said.

The group went to the hospital. Lee in front together with Tsunade. Then Choji, Shikamaru and Neji. Ino and Tenten were walking next to Hinata. “Hinata is it true?” Ino asked. To Hinata the question made no sense. What was she talking about? “What do you mean?” she asked. “Does Naruto have fox ears and a tail?” Ino asked. “Neji told me about that, but I don’t really believe. It’s just stupid, but then again. Neji never lied,” Tenten said. Both girls were looking to Hinata with interest. “Does he have them?” Tenten asked. Hinata nodded.

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Naruto looked to the side. “Looks like I still have the tail,” he said in a quiet voice. A bit afraid he felt at his ears. ‘Still foxy,’ he thought and sighed. “Naruto, be glad you’re alive,” Sakura insulted him. “I am, but I still can’t go outside,” he muttered. “You can hide them, but for now, you have to stay here.” “What, why?!” Naruto protested. Sakura couldn’t answer, because somebody came inside.

Naruto was surprised to see a crowd entering his room, but he was also scared. He still had the tail and ears, what would they think of him. “It’s true, he really has them,” Ino said and walked over. Tenten did the same. ‘What are they up too,’ Naruto thought. The two girls grabbed his tail and started to feel how soft it was. “Whoa, it’s like silk,” Tenten said.

‘What the hell?’ Naruto thought and started to turn red.

Tenten rubbed the orange tail against her cheek. “So soft, feel this Ino.” She rubbed it against Ino’s cheek, but then Naruto grabbed his tail out of their hands. “I am not a toy or pet, you know!” he shouted embarrassed. His friends were laughing, except for Shikamaru, while Ino was studying his ears. “He really looks cute like this,” she whispered to Sakura. Sakura smirked a yes.

The door opened again and this time Kiba entered, he was looking for Hinata. In one hand he was holding a stick, he had played with Akamaru. “Yo Naruto.” Naruto turned his head to Kiba. “Fetch,” Kiba said and threw the stick in the air. Naruto jumped of his bed and caught the stick in midair with his mouth. He landed on his feet. It was quiet and his friends were looking at him. Then Naruto realized what he just did.

‘WHAT… am I doing,’ he wondered.

Then everybody started to laugh and Naruto got the stick out of his mouth. “Stop making fun of me!” “Sorry, I couldn’t help it,” Kiba said and hit Naruto on his shoulder. Naruto could laugh about it though and walked back to his bed. He sat down on the edge.

“How did you get thos?” Lee asked, pointing to the ears. “Some poison, it actually had to transform me into a full fox.” “How come that didn’t happen,” Choji asked. Naruto shrugged his shoulders. He didn’t want to tell them about the Kyubi.

Hinata watched Naruto talking about what happened. She knew he let a lot of stuff out of his story. “Hinata.” Hinata turned her head. It was Kiba. “Shino and I think you have to train again. To improve, so you can stand another attack of that wolf.” Hinata knew he was right, she still had a long way to go, but hesitated. She wanted to stay here. She looked at Naruto, he was enjoying that everybody was concerned about him and that the girls find his tail and ears cute, although he didn’t like it when they touched them. He hadn’t notice her most likely. If she goes, he wouldn’t notice either. Thus Hinata nodded to Kiba and left.

Naruto grinned to Lee and grabbed his tail so Ino couldn’t get it. He looked to the left and saw Hinata leaving. His grin disappeared. If there was somebody he wanted to talk to, then it was Hinata. He wanted to at least thank her.

“But it isn’t all you want to tell her, right brat.”

‘No, it isn’t,’ Naruto said to the Kyubi.