Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Four Girls and Four Boys Helping Them to Forget ❯ What She is Really Like ( Chapter 10 )

The morning light filtered through the vast windows of the house. Hinata, Naruto, Ino, and Shikamaru slept peacefully with the silence of the morning. The birds were humming a lullaby, which further lulled them to stay asleep. It was probably one of the most peaceful nights the two girls have ever had.

They lay embraced by two boys who have made their way into their lives as comfort and support. They were the pillars in which they could depend on. They could lean on them. They could trust them with anything. It was a good feeling to have such security. It was a feeling they never had.

The front door opened quietly. Still, the four lay asleep. In walked two familiar people. “Neji, they're still asleep. Should we wake them up?” Ten-Ten asked quietly. She was leaning on Neji due to her injuries.

Ino stirred at the sound of a voice and slowly her eyes opened.

“I don't think we have to,” he replied.

Ino looked up at them and her eyes widened. “Ten-Ten…TEN-TEN!!!!” She sprung to her feet and ran over to her, embracing her in a hug. “I've missed you so much!! When did they let you out of the hospital!? How are you?!”

“In…pain…” She replied indicating that Ino's affection was a bit overwhelming.

She quickly stepped back. “Oh! I'm sorry.”

“It's alright. I've missed you too.”

So, the morning quiet was shattered. The other three quickly woke at the sound of Ino's piercing voice. They smiled at Ten-Ten. Everyone was glad to have her home. Neji helped her over to the couch and she sat down carefully. “How is everyone?” she asked.

Hinata took a seat next to her. “We're fine, as you can see. Ino's arm is healing well and our bruises are starting to fade, but we should really be asking how you are.”

“Well, the doctor said that I shouldn't move around a lot and that I would have to come in for a check up once a week. He also said that in about a month or so, I should be able to continue on with normal life. I'll be able to move without pain.”

“That's great,” Naruto said.

“Yeah,” Shikamaru agreed. “Good for you!”

Neji took a seat on the other side of Ten-Ten. “She wasn't supposed to leave the hospital for another week, but the doctor released her because she wouldn't stop complaining about how she wanted to leave. So he did. What a sight it was.”

Ten-Ten elbowed him in the stomach. “Hey! How would you feel if you were stuck in a bed all day?”

“You're still going to be stuck in a bed you know,” Neji replied. “The doctor said that you need to take it easy.”

“Yeah,” Ino said. “We want you to get better really fast!”

“On that cue…” Neji picked up Ten-Ten carefully. “Up to you're room you go.”

“Aw! Come on! Already?!”

“Just think about it this way,” Naruto started, “The fast you get better, the faster Neji can share that bed with you.”

Everyone laughed while Ten-Ten's face turned beat red. “Shut-up!”

Neji carried Ten-Ten up the stairs and the others calmed down.

Hinata smiled. “What a great morning this is,”

“Seriously!” Shikamaru said chiming in. “I never expected to see them here so soon. Neji hadn't been home once since the incident.”

“Speaking of home,” Naruto said. “I'm ready to go.” Hinata looked at him hurt. He immediately began to explain. “No, no. I mean, I want to go take a shower and change clothes and that kind of thing.” He wrapped his arms around her. “Leaving you is something I don't want to do.” He kissed her softly and she smiled and nodded.

“Same here,” Shikamaru said. “And I'm sure you girls want to do the same.”

Ino nodded and kissed Shikamaru. “Call us if you want to come back over. Okay.”

He nodded and both left. Ino and Hinata sighed simultaneously.

* * *

 

Back at their house, Shikamaru and Naruto were surprised to see Sasuke's car parked out front. They dashed inside to find him in his room looking out his back window. He glanced at them and then turned back to the scene of vast forest.

“You're back,” Naruto said. “How did things go?”

“Fine.”

Shikamaru quirked an eyebrow. “What's with you?”

“Nothing.”

“Oh! I know,” Naruto started. “You're heart-broken. She didn't want you, did she? I knew she was a heartless bitch. Sorry man, but there are plenty of…normal…girls out there who would be perfect for you.”

“Yeah,” Shikamaru said. “Don't know why you wanted her in the first place. We should have stepped in sooner.”

“Will you two shut the fuck up!?” He snapped. “You don't know anything about her!”

“What?” Naruto asked.
Sasuke stood and faced them. “You've all judged her from day one. You all called her cold and a bitch. `How could she ever possibly care about someone', is what you all said! But you know what? She cares about every single one of you! She cares about Ten-Ten, Hinata, Ino, Neji, and you two as well. I don't see why though. You all treat her like she is nothing. Like she's nothing but trouble. Yeah, she does put on a tough act, but that's all it is. An act! She's so tired of being hurt! She hates when you're all talking about her so badly. She has been suffering too! But none of you cared about her! And now you don't have to! She's gone. Just like you all wanted.”

“Sasuke…we didn't mean-”

Shikamaru was cut off by Sasuke. “What? Are you going to say that you didn't mean to hurt her? Is that it? Because I see it differently. When she came from the hospital, you all kicked her out! Neji put his hands on her! What the hell were you all thinking! Did you even ask why she went to the cops!? It's because she wanted to protect them! She also thought that if it was only her that went that she would be the only one that would be punished if something went wrong. Things did go wrong. You all betrayed her.” Sasuke dropped down to his knees. “She spoke to me from her heart, while she cried to me.”

Naruto and Shikamaru felt their hearts sink into their stomachs. They had lumps in their throats as they listened to him. He was spilling his heart out to them. They've never seen this side of their friend. He was always so cold, or so they thought. They know what happened to his parents and yet they never understood why he was so distant. They were blind.

“I don't ever want to see her cry again. I don't want to see her hurt and yet…I left her there. I left her alone.”

Naruto bent down next to him, putting a hand on his shoulder. “Go to her then.”

Sasuke looked at Naruto. “I've been up all night. I've been wondering if I should, but every time I was about to leave, I stopped. I don't to hurt her…”

“You are hurting her though,” Shikamaru said. “I don't know what happened between you two, but you not going back is probably hurting her more than anything in the world.”

“Yeah,” Naruto said. “So go.”

Sasuke stood and headed for the door hastily, but Naruto stopped him. “Hey. One more thing. Tell her Naruto and Shikamaru apologize. We'll talk to everyone as well.”
Sasuke smiled and left.

Naruto and Shikamaru looked at each other and sighed heavily. They had made a huge mistake. Everyone has.

* * *

 

Neji lay next to Ten-Ten on her bed and they quietly talked. “It's so nice to be in my own bed, but it's even better because you can lay with me.”

Neji smiled. “Yeah. They had rules against that in the hospital.” They laughed.

“The atmosphere seems so much more peaceful for some reason.”

“It's because Sakura is gone,” he said bluntly.

Ten-Ten looked at him. “Maybe.”

“Let's not talk about her right now. Okay?”

“You're the one that brought it up.”

“Now I'm dropping it.”

Ten-Ten sighed. The air became heavy with the awkward silence that now circulated around the room. “I don't like this,” Ten-Ten finally said. “I don't want things to feel awkward right now. I just want to enjoy this time with you.”

Neji smiled. “Me, too. I'm sorry.” He kissed her forehead. They continued talking and laughing. Just spending time together was nice.

* * *

 

Naruto and Shikamaru returned not long after they had left. They had showered and dressed quickly. They knocked on the door and Hinata answered. “Oh. Hi guys. Back already?”

“Please come in,” Hinata said appearing in the hall.

They did so, but became serious real fast. “We need to talk,” Naruto said. “Neji and Ten-Ten are upstairs right? They need to hear this too.”

“Wait,” Ino said. “What's going on?”

“Just go upstairs,” Shikamaru said. “We'll talk when everyone is together.”

They all went upstairs and into Ten-Ten's room. They looked over at them.

“What's going on?” Neji asked.

Shikamaru and Naruto looked at each other and then at everyone else…