Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Duty ❯ Chapter12 ( Chapter 12 )

Chapter 12

 

“I think my water just broke,” she whispered in shock.

 

“Yeah, I'd gathered that,” Naruto sighed.

 

“You can see in the dark?” Natsuki asked, peering at Hinata and not seeing anything but shadows and faint features.

 

“No, I can smell it,” he said rubbing his head uncomfortably. “Damn it! You can't do this here!” he protested in frustration.

 

“I'm not doing it on purpose,” Hinata cried, her heart pounding. Another explosion rent the air and then there was more clashing steal. “Maybe you should get them out of here and then come back and get me. I won't deliver for a while anyway.”

 

“I can't just leave you here,” Naruto growled. “Fuck! You're nearly two months early!”

 

“And arguing with me isn't going to make it any better!” she cried out in uncharacteristic frustration.

 

“Oi, what's all the arguing about?” a young man called down to them from a tall tree. Three shinobi, Chuunin by their uniforms landed before them.

 

“Oh thank you,” Naruto sighed out. “You three, get the two civilians to safety in the Hokage's Tower and tell the Hokage that I need her at the hospital for Uchiha Hinata. Get there as fast as you can, split up if you need to. Tell her that Hinata's water broke already and the intruders are being engaged.”

 

“Sir?” one asked in confusion as he helped Natsuki onto his back and settled her.

 

“She'll know what you're talking about,” Naruto said scooping Hinata up and ensuring that Ayame was safely in the arms of another Chuunin. “Now hurry!” The men could hear the battle growing closer and nodded, jumping into the trees. “Ready?” he asked Hinata gently.

 

“Yes,” she said blushing in horror at him holding her so closely, despite her soaked clothing. It was especially difficult to accept that he could smell her. What girl wanted to know that kind of thing? It made her wonder how many times she'd been around him after training all day and reeking of it. Of course Kiba was the same way and he didn't complain.

 

The buildings of Konoha began to blur by after a few moments and soon she could see the hospital growing larger before them. She could still hear the sounds of fighting in the distance, but it had begun to draw attention and other shinobi, mostly genin, were racing in the opposite direction of Naruto and herself.

 

Naruto flew through the doors of the hospital, immediately drawing attention to them. A young nurse hurried forward. “Labor?” she asked assessing Hinata's state.

 

“Yes,” Hinata said rubbing her belly as it began to clench again.

 

Naruto felt her beginning to stiffen and looked urgently at the nurse. “Where should I take her?”

 

“Room 214 is open,” the woman said with a gently smile. “Are you the father then?”

 

“No, I'm his friend. He's tied up at the moment, but he should be here soon; Uchiha Sasuke,” he said hurrying down the hall to the stairs.

 

“You're Uchiha Hinata?” the woman asked excitedly, following behind. “There have been whispers all night that Uchiha came back, I guess it's true.”

 

“He's back,” she breathed out quietly, wishing Naruto would put her down so she could pace the pain off. She couldn't believe how much it hurt. He finally reached her room and set her on the floor. “Thank you,” she said quietly. He nodded and smiled shyly at her, unsure what to do now.

 

“Here you are Madam Uchiha,” the young woman said handing her a short gown. “Put this on and give me those clothes. I'll get them washed for you. Your doctor will probably be here shortly, I'll let you know who's free.”

 

“Tsunade is taking this one, or Sakura if she makes it back in time,” Naruto said firmly. “No one else.” Hinata and the nurse blinked at him, and then Hinata smiled. Naruto was definitely channeling her husband a bit at the moment. She didn't doubt that Sasuke would have said something rather similar had he been here at the moment.

 

***

 

“Sasuke, behind you!” Sakura shouted, grabbing Ichiro's arm as he brought his knife down and sent him hurtling though the air. She smirked in satisfaction as he screamed in pain and surprise and landed on his brother right behind Sasuke.

 

Sasuke spun as the two men went down in a tangle of limbs. They'd put up a surprising fight for two non-shinobi, but it had only taken about fifteen minutes to reduce them to a groaning pile of bruised and bleeding flesh. It couldn't have happened any sooner either. They'd made it a fair distance back into the city and the back up shinobi that had come, ended up protecting civilians more than actually fighting.

 

Straightening he nodded to Kakashi as he jumped down from a building and began to tie up the twins with strong wire. “I'll get these two to a holding cell. I just got word from Naruto. He took Hinata to the hospital already. Her water broke.”

 

Sasuke felt is stomach drop out and was off before anything else could be said. All this time and all the fighting, none of it mattered because his wife and children were still in danger. Even he knew that eight weeks early wasn't an impossible situation, but with two of them, it was certainly a big risk. The only comfort he could drudge up was that Tsunade was the best medic around and Sakura was the second. Since he could feel her presence close on his heels, he relaxed a little in relief.

 

“Maternity is on the second floor!” she called as she started catching up. “Her name should be on the door!”

 

He nodded back at her and sped up, knowing she would keep up anyway. Five minutes later he was standing outside room 214, stomach in his throat and his heart pounding. It was so quiet he almost thought the room was empty. Sakura brushed past him and opened the door without a word. Sasuke sighed in relief and saw that Hinata was sitting quietly in a pristine bed, Naruto in a chair at her side.

 

“Sasuke!” she cried happily, trying to get up.

 

Sakura frowned and pressed her back. “Just lay still, geez Hinata. He can come to you just as well and he's not in labor.” She quickly washed her hands and picked up the clipboard as Sasuke and Hinata said hello in a manner that had Naruto blushing and looking away. Sakura smiled to herself as Sasuke drew back from a long, deep kiss and smoothed Hinata's hair back. She could hear his soft murmurs of love and apology, and his promises to never let such horrible things to happen ever again.

 

“Nurse Satoko!” she called, finally looking at the files on her board and seeing them empty. “Where's Tsunade and why hasn't anyone checked Uchiha's condition yet?”

 

The floor head nurse hurried in, looking worried. “Tsunade is on her way, but we only just got Madam Uchiha settled. I was coming to do the initial physical just now ma'am. I'm sorry. We're just shorthanded tonight with five nurses and three medics out with the flu.”

 

Sakura sighed, “Very well. I'll just do it. Watch for Tsunade and send her in. I'd like you to find a place close-by for Naruto to wait too.” The nurse eyed the blond, blushing, but nodded and waved him towards her. Sakura smiled again, seeing the blush. Naruto really was a handsome man now. He tended to draw more admiring looks than scowls these days. Naruto looked like he was going to protest for a moment, but when he seemed to realize where the babies were coming from, and whose wife it belonged to, he coughed uncomfortably and hurried out.

 

“We'll let you know what happens, don't worry,” Sakura called after him. She turned to her young patient and smiled widely. “So it looks like those babies are ready to come out. Are you ready to say hello?”

 

“Not much choice in the matter,” Sasuke muttered, heart pounding. Hinata smiled at him.

 

“That's the spirit,” Sakura said with a laugh.

 

***

 

Sasuke yawned hugely and blinked his eyes in exhaustion. He couldn't even remember the last time he'd slept, his time was so messed up. Hinata's labor had taken ten hours, something that just didn't seem right. Seriously, when a baby decided to come out, why didn't they just do it already?

 

Hinata had been weak and panting by the end, her gown soaked in sweat, but she still managed to look beautiful in his opinion. As first one tiny boy and then another was placed on her chest, she'd beamed with glowing pride and cried happily. He had to admit, looking at his two sons in their tiny cradle at her bedside, he felt nothing but pride and love for them.

 

Tsunade had even said they'd be fine, though they were still a little on the small side. They had a bit of a stay in the hospital ahead of them, but she'd assured them they should be able to go home within the month. At least their fragile state meant that they wouldn't be swamped with well wishers. Hiashi, Hanabi, Naruto and Kakashi had all been in to visit personally, but everyone else had to make due with peering through a tiny window by the door.

 

Tsunade opened the door quietly, drawing his attention. “I can't believe you're still awake,” she whispered. “Have you even eaten?”

 

Sasuke nodded, “Sakura brought some food an hour ago.” He looked at his sons and then at his sleeping wife with pride. “I didn't want to leave them alone.”

 

She sighed and nodded. “I'll have a cot brought in for you. Hinata's going to need to stay for a few days to have a chance to rest and recover, so you might as well stay too.” Tsunade sat in the chair next to him for a long silent moment. Finally she sighed, “So how does it feel?”

 

“How does what feel?” he asked.

 

Tsunade patted him on the shoulder. “You've fulfilled your duty finally; you took a wife, produced an heir, and protected your home.”

 

“Protecting my home and loving my family had nothing to do with duty,” he said shaking his head.

 

“Very good Sasuke,” she sighed softly, leaning in to kiss his cheek. She smiled at him like a proud mother and nodded in satisfaction. “That's a very good answer indeed.”

 

 

 

 

A/N: What's this? It's the end? YUP! Thank the gods!!! When did I start this? Like a year and half - two yeas ago? Man it's taken forever. Well I can't say I'm happy with all of it. Some of it's silly, some rushed, some just great, but all that matters is that I'm glad it's finished and you all followed me so faithfully all this time. If you have comments review or drop me a note at bean120001@yahoo.com. I love you all! :)