Hinode General Hospital

Hinata

The interns were surprised and maybe a little scared. Their wide eyes sparkling with the interest and the fear told me that much at least.

But the more experienced doctors who sat a little more up closer to me were far more impressed with the report.

"There are many different type of GSW wounds inflicted on the patients in Eskon," I continued, by nodding to Kazuki to change the slide on the presentation to a picture of one of the children who was accidentally hit during a showdown in one of the smaller villages between the gangs and the civilians. She had lost a lot of blood by the time we arrived at the scene; only to have to wait about half an hour longer while Naruto's team took out the remaining gang members.

She was no more than ten years old and a gunshot to the shoulder had shattered one of her bones. I was surprised she could even stand after her treatment.

As I told the story of this child to the spectators, I couldn't help but smile at the concern that plastered many faces. And of course the interns were probably thanking whatever their religious belief was to have not been put in the situation as many of the people in Eskon.

I've only been back in Tokyo for about a week and a few days. But my team and I were all pulled into giving a whole bunch of lectures and storytelling to the doctors, nurses and literally every single employee (the janitor wanted me to tell a funny story involving Kazuki).

Luckily though, I didn't have to explain any romantic situations to anybody. I made sure my team swore they wouldn't say anything about both Naruto and Hajime just yet. I'm not quite sure I can handle being in that situation just yet.

It's not until I told the stories did I realize how much my team and I were put through in such a short time. The people's personal favorite was when I saved a child's life but I have yet to tell them that that child is currently being watched by his two aunts.

Who spend their entire day staring at the baby as if he would explode into tears at any given second until either my boyfriend or I come to pick him up...

"And that concludes today's report on day sixty-seven in Eskon," I concluded just as the lights turned on. Claps filled the room, some standing doctors nodded their appreciation as well.

I bowed, accepting their cheers and their applause.

"You did good, Senpai," Kazuki appeared beside me with a smile. "Better than my report at least."

I gathered the little note cards I had scattered all over the podium, "That's a l-lie. You tell the best stories."

"Yeah like helping Sai try to win a stupid game of chess against Shikamaru," he chuckled. "Yeah, that's one hell of a story."

I patted his shoulders, "Come on. It's our turn to take ER duty. Hisao-senpai and Minako will join us later."

"I'd prefer to never go near Mina ever again," he said as we made our way towards the elevators.

He pressed the button with a deafening breath.

"Hey give her a chance," we both stepped in at the same time just as I punched in the first floor button. "M-Mina is learning how to feel. Maybe you can teach her."

"That's the thing, Hina-senpai I don't think I can," Kazuki looked on sadly. "Like you said before it's been over a decade and not once has she mentioned that she is interested in me."

"Or anybody for that matter," the elevator dinged. "Just give her a chance, idiot."

I ruffled his perfect blonde-dyed hair, "Try being patient for once. You m-might actually change the ice-cold Mina into a hopeless romantic."

He only laughed gently and threw an arm around me as we made our way to the dreadful ER; which is nothing compared to what we had to witness in Eskon.

The moment we pushed the employee doors open, we were greeted with painful beeping; nurses and doctors shouting at one another about a patient's conditions, and the cries of a few family members on their knees as the she-devil informed them that their loved one has a slim chance of surviving.

My war.

Kazuki let me go so I could begin commanding the battlefield as he went to get ready himself.

I looked around once more, my mind already setting to work on a list of duties to do in the order of importance.

Alright, I walked over towards the hand santizer body on the nurses' station's desk.

Time to win this fight.

"''''''''''''''''''''''''

"There you go, sweetheart," I tightly wrapped the final bandage around the child's sprain ankle. "Try not to move it so much for the next week or so, okay?"

The boy wiped his eyes with the back of his hands then nodded furiously. His own father ran his hands through his son's soft hair.

"Make sure to make a-appointments with our pediatric orthopedic for daily checkups to make sure that sprain doesn't get any worse," I addressed the father. "I'll have one of the nurses give you that information right away."

The father bowed, "Thank you very much, Dr. Hyuga."

I bowed in return, "Of course."

I bent down and gently pinched the child's chubby cheek, "Rest well. In no time, that ankle will be as good as new."

"Y-you promise?" he hiccuped once more.

"I promise," I smiled at him warmly.

The boy couldn't help but smile back at me.

I headed over the nurses' station after bidding the parent and son good night.

Damn, I'm sore.

My left hand automatically grabbed my right shoulder as I rolled the arm back, stretching the muscle a bit. I instructed the nearest nurse give the bill to the father along with the information about the specialist.

"Oh you're still here?" I rolled my eyes when another chart was slammed down beside me. "I expected you to have already bailed."

The three nurses who didn't have anything to do all looked up.

But I continued writing up the final diagnosis in the child's chart, "Of course I'm still here. I'm t-the chief of the ER after all, Karin."

"Aren't you all high and mighty?" Karin mocked me. "Don't you have a fake boyfriend to get home to?"

"Fake?"

She nodded, "People are spreading rumors that while you were stuck in that country, you started seeing one of the hot soldiers there."

Hanako-senpai or Kazuki...which one is responsible for this?

"Who am I kidding?" Karin laughed under her breath. "He's fake for a reason, right?"

Can I just - "What makes you say that?"

"Uh, you were supposed to be off an hour ago but yet you took another patient when you had five minutes left," Karin handed the chart to one of the nurses whose eyes flashed from her then to me waiting for my retort. "If you really had a boyfriend, you'd just clock out and dance off into the sunset with him, right?"

I closed my own chart as well turned to her with my arm still resting on the desk, "I can't just l-leave someone in need all alone."

"Just proves your case that you didn't want to go home to an empty, dark house," Karin crossed her arms and leaned the same exact object as my arm. "Admit it, Alien. You're still the same-old lonely soul."

Let me just - "Hey, look here -"

"No boyfriend, no friends to comfort you," she shook her head as if giving me sympathy but her smirk told a different story. "I'm so sorry life hasn't gotten better for you."

I just want to smack the living hell out of her right now! Can I do that? I even have witnesses to back me up with the director because she was the one who provoked me first!

The door behind us suddenly slid opened followed by Hisao-senpai's voice, "Seriously, you should've just taken the elevators, Captain."

Karin's life was literally saved when both our attention turned towards the doctor who had his head turned towards another person walking in beside him; his hands in his lab coat pockets and his stethoscope swinging back then forth.

"I needed the exercise so why not run the thirty or so floors," a familiar chuckle excited my entire body.

"Why the hell would you think the ER would be on the thirty-fifth floor?" Hisao-senpai asked.

The man walked around the doctor, his face shaped into a cute sheepish smile. He was wearing a the familiar military uniform and a belt without any weapons. As usual, his thumbs was tucked underneath.

A sight I never thought I would ever see again.

"Naruto!" I shot a glare at Karin who literally gave a fangirl-like scream at my boyfriend. "Naruto Uzumaki is that you?"

Naruto turned from his friend to the bitch, his mouth dropping open, "Karin?!"

"Oh my gosh!" Karin continued, bouncing over to him before pulling him into a hug that he didn't return, "How are you? I heard you joined the army after you dropped out! And let me tell you, it did good things to your body."

"Yeah well," The soldier took two steps back. "Wait, why are you here?"

"What do you mean, silly? I work here," her giggle made me want to take the patient's chart and ninja chuck it at her face.

Hisao-senpai finally noticed me, "Hina! Have you been standing there the entire time?"

Yes, hoe I have.

Naruto turned to where I was standing immediately, "Hinata?"

"Naruto-kun," I crossed my arms causing him to visibly gulp.

"Awkward," Karin suddenly cut in again. "Two exes seeing each other after ten years. Awkward doesn't even begin to explain this situation."

"Exes?" two new voices joined in. Mina and Kazuki walked over, their eyes wide with complete interest.

Kazuki looked at Naruto, "When did you get here, Cap?"

"An hour ago," the captain ran his fingers through his new short hair.

What the hell...

"Were you looking for Hina-senpai?" Mina asked.

"Why would he be looking for Hinata?" Let me just grab a scalpel and stab Karin along with every single annoying word she breathes. "They broke up like a century ago."

Kazuki shook his head, "That's not right."

"What do you mean?" Karin rolled her eyes. "I was there when it all went down."

The two first years looked utterly confused with the entire situation.

"Karin," I sighed, frustrated before tapping my foot once, twice.

"What?"

"That rumored soldier boyfriend I supposedly started," I glared at her, then inclined my head in Naruto's direction, "is standing right there."

Her red eyes traveled to my boyfriend then back to me before making their way back to him.

It continued a few more times before the devil burst out laughing, "Stop lying. You sound so damn desperate."

"She's not lying though," Naruto made his way over to me. "Hinata's my girlfriend. I'm her boyfriend."

It was Karin's turn to look shock along with the nurses who were enjoying this little scene too much.

"I-I don't believe it," She shuttered, holding her head high.

"Smooth pulling the denial card, Karin. You're losing your touch," Naruto continued. "If I wasn't her boyfriend, then she'd never let me do this."

Do what exactly?

Oh...

My mind might register asthma symptoms faster than the speed of a cheetah, but Naruto's kisses was still something it's learning to do.

The kiss did last long but long enough for me to respond with the love I had for the man without having to pretend to display it.

Karin was a storming mess when we separated and he brought me into his body, kissing the top of my head once more.

"Whatever!" she snapped before marching away without another word.

Hisao-senpai was the next one to figure out that Naruto probably came here to talk to me alone so he ushered the two confused first years out of the way.

Is Naruto really here to talk to me?

"Naruto-kun," I looked up at him.

"Hm?"

"Why are y-you here? I thought we'd just see each other at home..."

Naruto glanced at his watch, "Dammit. I don't have much time."

Much time?

He grabbed my hand and started leading me out of the ER towards the main entrance of the hospital. All I could do was follow my boyfriends' footsteps without saying anything until we were by the valet booth waiting for the man to retrieve his car.

I was afraid that if I said something; my suspicions will come true.

But I'd rather not not say anything for the last few minutes.

"Naruto-kun," I sighed. "A-are you leaving on assignment?"

I could see him close his eyes slowly before opening them again, "I knew nothing can get pass you."

"So i-it's true?"

"It's not going to be as long as the Eskon one but," he bit his lip. "I'm going to be gone at two months at most. I have to help save some civilians from a war the terrorist group raged on them."

I can't believe this, "But y-you were promised a month of leave."

"I know, I know," Naruto looked at me, my own sadness reflecting his his own. "I don't want to leave you or Hajime again so soon either."

"Naruto-kun -" I couldn't help the small tear rolling down my cheek.

He looked away but his arms pulled me into body, engulfing me tightly into his uniform, "I'm so sorry, Hinata."

I urged myself to stop crying. I have to be strong for both our son and Naruto. I can't have him leaving so distracted and so worried about what's happening here when Hajime and I are so safe. He's the one that's going into the belly of the beast and he needs all the focus he can get.

"Hey," I said softly, into his uniform. "You better be careful. D-don't do anything reckless, okay?"

My boyfriend's arms tightened, "I won't."

"Promise," I demanded, looking up.

"I promise," Naruto kissed my forehead. "I promise I'll come home to you and to Hajime safe and sound."

"Then go," I looked up at him, forcing a reassuring smile. "Save those people then come home to your family."

Naruto's lips met mines, "I have something for you actually."

"What?" I opened my eyes.

He reached into his pocket before pulling out a familiar perfect white stone. The strong scent of peppermint hit my nose immediately.

"A peppermint stone?" I gasped.

"I'm sorry I couldn't take you back to that beach one last time," Naruto continued. "So I went back before I came home to get you something to keep close to you while I'm gone."

I took the stone from his hand, turning it once.

"I love you, Dr. Hinata Hyuga," Naruto attacked my lips gently once again. "Thank you for making my life like a dream come true."

"Well the dream became a reality when I saw you that day a-at the airport in Eskon," With the stone in hand, I grabbed his shirt, pulling him against me before murmuring against him, "I'll be here waiting for you; no matter how long it takes." my thumb caught a tear that had escaped his eyes and made its way down his whiskered cheek.

Shakily, I wrapped my arms around Naruto's neck; pulling his forehead until it kissed mines and closed my own eyes, "I love you, too Captain Naruto Uzumaki."

'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

Country of Astal - 1 month later

Normal

He half ran, half dragged his soldier out of the hole. A dozen more gunshots blasted his eardrums causing me to stumble forward and behind the nearest cover; a bomb destroyed car at that. The soldier's entire body immediately cringed with the pain that it had to endure when it was underground against a knife and a gun.

More explosions sounded nearby, followed by shouts of some of his comrades.

Coughing woke the soldier from my trance.

"No! Sasuke!" he snapped, turning to the soldier he led into battle. "Stay! Stay with me!"

More explosions and gunshots came from overhead. The captain threw his helmet to the side, "Come on. Stay with me!"

The deputy coughed again, blood staining his uniform.

"Captain Kyuubi!" Three shouts surrounded us suddenly. It was so dark that the captain barely recognized the rest of his team's battle scarred faces crouching beside us.

"There's a small copper landing in twenty-three seconds!" the genius shouted over the loud sounds of war. "But it's only big enough to fit four of us! However I just got word that another will be coming in fifteen seconds after the first departs!"

Just as he finished, the whirling sound of the promised helicopter came overhead. The captain looked up just in time to see it lower itself just level enough for the soldiers to jump in without a rope ladder.

That's good, he thought. His deputy was in no condition to climb the rope anyway.

"Here!" Captain Kyuubi shoved the deputy over to his sniper and his canine expert. "Take Paper Fan and get on board!"

His sniper looked at him, "What about you?!"

"Do it now!" the captain snapped. "I'll take the next copper!"

Canine opened his mouth, too but wasn't a match for his captain. Kyuubi was already using what was left of his strength to push his soldiers on board. They struggled a bit, pulling the deputy into a better position in the seat closest to the pilot.

"Captain!" the genius shouted.

"I'll be fine, Shikamaru!" But his captain had already made his decision; smacking the side of the helicopter twice was the confirmation. "I'll see you all at home!"

The soldier took a few steps back; just in time to duck just as a few more gunshots were fired in his direction and the coppers.

Only fifteen seconds before he could go home.

Go home to his giggly son.

Go home to the woman he was madly in love with.

To live their life out together as family.

The dream alone made him smile in this bloodstained battlefield.

He wasn't aware his team was all aboard the copper, counting down the seconds until the second one arrived to save their captain. Sure enough, there it was ready to lower to the ground. They were already a few hundred yards away and was safely in the air but the burning buildings that lit up the night sky was still in full view.

They were going to make it.

They were all going to be safe.

"Captain Kyuubi," Canine happily said into the communicator they were all attached with. "It's almost there!"

A heartbeat past until, "I can see i-"

He was cut off with a single sound.

A gunshot.

"Naruto!" They shouted in unison. Even the injured deputy in the passenger seat had enough strength to shout the name of their captain.

The communicator went dead soon after.

"Fuck!" Shikamaru panicked, pulling the earpiece out of his ear. "Pilot! Turn around!"

As soon as those words came out, however.

A blinding explosion erupted into the air.

At the same exact location where they left their beloved Captain Kyuubi. The copper sent to rescue him was hit and whirred out of control before it went down.

"No!" the Special Forces team shouted, their tear-stained faces making their visions completely blurred.

But their cries of terror; their cries of absolute despair -

Never matched their helpless pleas of frustration.

''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

Hinode General Hospital - Meanwhile

Hinata

"A-are you sure?"

Mina and Hanako-senpai both raised their eyebrows, both crossed their arms, both offended.

"I-I'm not saying you're misreading it or anything," I continued; my own heart pounding with complete disbelief.

"Hina-senpai we know what we're looking at and this is our diagnosis," Mina slowly cracked a smile at me.

No flipping way...

"Congratulations," Hanako-senpai also smiled warmly at me. "Hinata Hyuga, you are expecting Naruto Uzumaki's baby."