Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Intel ❯ Mission Accomplished ( Chapter 3 )

A cloud of dust was settling and in the middle stood two figures, hunched over, both gasping for air. As the dust cleared, it became clear to see that both Sakura and Rock Lee had fought a hard battle. “It…it is over.” Lee said in between breaths, “the…scroll is…yours.” As he reached into his pouch pulling out a scroll labeled ‘confidential’ on it, he walked over to Sakura and put her arm around his neck. “Here.” He handed her the scroll and she put it away immediately, “Now allow me to help you to the hospital.” Sakura didn’t answer, but instead smiled and nodded her head ‘yes’. Her leaf headband, barely tied, hung limp on her head. Her mouth was bleeding and her face was bruised. She found it hard to stand up right. Lee didn’t look any better. At the hospital, “Oh, hello Sakura. Lee.” The familiar voice was that of Kakashi, “I see you both got a workout.” A smile flashed across Lee’s face, “Indeed, it was quite a battle sir.” Kakashi to them that Naruto and Hinata had only just arrived as well and that the nurse will show them to their rooms.

Lee shared a room with Naruto and Sakura with Hinata. All four laid in their beds, battered and bruised and bloodied from their fights. “So,” Naruto’s voice echoed across the room to Lee whose eyes were open, “you fought Sakura, huh?” Naruto’s voice was horse and rough. “Yes,” Lee responded, “it was a great match, she is so strong.” A smiled flashed across his face as did Naruto’s. “And you,” Lee continued, “your battle was with Hinata, was it not?” Naruto did not respond immediately, but instead laid there thinking back to his fight. “Naruto?” Lee’s voiced echoed in Naruto’s head causing him to snap out of his trance. “Wha…oh, yea, Hinata was something else.” Naruto’s words were the last of the night between the two as they both fell asleep.

Down the hall Hinata laid in her bed awake looking out the window at the moon. The night was clear and warm and the moon was full and bright. Sakura had long been asleep. Hinata, however, found it difficult to sleep and kept thinking back to her fight with Naruto. But more importantly to what had been said during the fight…(flashback)… “Naruto, don’t hold back, fight me as an equal.” Hinata’s voice was strong and sure. “I can’t, I don’t want to hurt you. I care about you too much.” Those words indeed came from Naruto who had been refusing to go at her with a hundred percent. “But I love you and I am willing to die if it were to prove to you how much stronger I am,” Hinata’s voice grew loud and even more strong than before, “now fight me damn it.” Naruto stopped dead in his tracks, “What? What did you say Hinata?” The question seemed rather pointless since Naruto heard what she said clearly. The two of them stood facing each other catching their breath. Hinata looked up and caught Naruto’s eyes that were fixed upon hers. “I, I said fight me damn it.” Her voice shook as did her body. “No before that.” Naruto’s words pierced her like a knife, for she knew what he meant. “I said,” her voice was trembling, “I said I love you.” She looked down at her feet instantly, her face turning a light shade of red. There was silence. The sun had since vanished under the horizon and the moon had begun to rise. Minutes went by when Hinata looked back up at Naruto, who was now standing a foot away from her. She stood frozen at the spot looking right into the eyes of the boy she had just admitted her feelings to. Naruto brought his right hand up to Hinata’s cheek, she quivered when it touched her, and wiped away the blood from her lips. He then leaned in and kissed her on her other cheek, whispering back the words she had hoped to hear: “I love you too.”…(end flashback)…Upon the memory of these words, Hinata fell asleep in her hospital bed, content and happy.