Chapter 18

"I'm not dead am I ?"

Although this was my mindscape, I just want to verify it.

"Nope." the Shadowy figure replied, with a very amused voice. " You're one tenacious bastard."

"That aside, is Kuromaru in alright?"

"Well there are only few people, that faced an explosion at point blank range, and lived to tell the tale, that includes you two freaks of nature. Honestly, without your auras, you two would have become-"

"About that..." I interrupted him, " Well... What was that armour that covered mine and Kuromaru's body?"

He then gave me that creepy smile, I usually wore. "That was what I called, 'The Awakening'."

"So... What Kind of Awakening?" Kurama asked, wanting to get into the conversation. "

"I was going to ask him that." I said, looks like this furball, is openin up a bit.

" Oh! sorry if have ignored you Kurama-san." The Shadowy figure said.

" That smells like sarcasm, but I'll pretend I didn't hear that." Kurama said, a bit offended, but could not do anything, as the cage was preventing him to rip that black head from his neck.

" This aura you chatter about, I remember it was used for protection, so why that happened.?"

"If you do recall, I did also said that it can be defined in many ways, and these two just managed to awaken another definition of protection."

I and Kurama were very lost, " What the actual fuck." We both blankly said.

" Let me explain this in another perspective." The shadowy figure cleared his throat. " Aura as you and that one-horned bull of yours, defined it as a type of protection that heals your injuries, the one which protected you was a type of protection that reduces damage to well... that would most probably kill you to just seriously injuring you. And to awaken these certain protections, you have to experience certain events. Like when you were injured, you wanted to get healed and it happened. And when you were about to be blown into bits by that explosion, you wanted to shield yourself and it happened."

" Oh I see." Kurama got the idea of it.

"So what's the catch?" I said all of a sudden. " The healing protection, it takes nutrients from my body and increases the body's healing factory to inhuman levels, or in other words I need to have a high amounts of nutrients for this healing factory to work. No nutrients means no inhuman healing for me. Everything comes with a price, so what do I need to pay for that aura armour to work?"

" Well actually, if I have to guess... that would be your stamina, the longer you wear it the more your stamina will be depleted."

"So..." I said, my voice began to sound serious. " If I used any of those protections, till my body no longer has nutrients or stamina, or if my aura is completely depleted, I'll die right?"

" Yup, that is very true." The Shadowy figure, just gave me that creepy smile.

" So my aura, the protections, all depends on how good my physical condition is right?"

"Yup."

" So the stronger my body gets, I shall have a bigger reserve of aura right?"

"Yup."

" Well, I got to increase my training a bit then."

The Shadowy figure, took a deep breath, " Well I got to go now."

" Hold up! Atleast tell me your name. You may look suspicious and creepy, but you did save my sorry ass a few times."

The Shadowy figure, just smiled, " Time will come Naruto, time will come... Until that day then."

The Shadowy figure disappeared with a puff of black smoke.

"Well that's it then." Turning to Kurama, " So how's life?"

Me and Kurama spent the time talking, about random shit, till he told me that my body was in the Hyuga compound and Hinata was very worried about me.

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I opened my eyes, to see a very unfamiliar ceiling, I sat up on the soft bed that I was sleeping on. My body was aching like crazy, I then took the time to look at my surroundings.

I was currently in the hospital and was sitting on a hospital bed. Attached to my body, were tubes and other stuff, even I don't know. I don't like this place, not even one bit.

Then I look at my self, or just my hands and rubbed my head. My right arm, was like a nightmare, the scars made my hand look like it belonged to a demon. My head... well to be simple, I'm bald.

I was already scary enough, now I am even scarier. I hope Hinata-chan won't be disgusted at my appearance.

The door of my room was opened and what greeted me was Neji, carrying a tray of what seems to be food I guess.

When he saw me, he just stood there like a statue, eyes and mouth opened wide.

"Sup." I greeted him, which he replied by dropping the tray and lunged at me, burried his face on my chest and cried there. The impact was not that bad, but still hurts like a bitch.

"Aniki you're awake. You're awake." He said between sobs.

"Fine,fine. But get off me, you're gonna break a rib or two."

After that, I asked how long was I unconscious. And to great surprise, I was unconscious for a whole week. He even told me that Hinata would come here often, and fed me with this tasteless hospital food I'm currently eating.

Later in the evening, I was visited by the Hyuga household, and Kuromaru as well, who healed quicker than me as he had received even less injuries than me. Lucky bastard.

" I don't how to even thank you Naruto-kun." Hinami thanked me, while holding Hanabi in her arms. Hanabi was very cute, but my Hinata-chan is even cuter.

" It's not a big deal." I just shrugged it off. Technically killing a group of Ninjas, getting blasted in my face and spending a week in a bed was a big deal. But hey! Who am I to complain, if the results were a peck on my cheek from Hinata's soft and warm lips. Mind you, the sensation I received from that peck on my cheek was worth the trouble.

A few days later, I was discharged from the hospital. Even though I was fully healed two days ago, but...who in the right mind would leave the hospital, when Hinata-chan would feed me by her own hands. The tasteless hospital food, which was nothing but a white paste seemed to taste like a divine delicacy.

As I was leaving the Hospital with Kuromaru, a Hyuga side branch member greeted me with a bow.

"Greetings Naruto-san, Kuromaru-san."

"A pleasure to meet you." me and Kuromaru replied.

"I am here to inform you that the Hyuga elders wanted to meet you."

That was unexpected. I don't know what those old farts wanted to meet me for, but I think I have a hunch that something is gonna be interesting.

As we reached the Hyuga compound, we was led to a room, which many Hyuga main branch members mostly were old people were present. They looked at me with those eyes that looked down at my existence, I hated those eyes that mocked my existence, if not for Hinata's presence on that room, I would have gouged those from their sockets.

" Naruto-san." Said one of the elders. "We all have gathered here to extend our gratitude to your selfless service in protecting the Hyuga matriarch."

The words that came out from his mouth had no emotions at all, and despite all the emotionless faces of those elders present in this room, they all were not exactly happy that it was me who saved Hinami.

The elder then continued, "We Hyuga are not a very generous clan but you have done a great service to our clan... ask whatever it is that you wanted... we the Hyuga will do whatever it is within our power to fullfill your wish."

This was going as I expected, Oh this is going to be good. But first, I got to make sure.

" Really... Whatever I wish for you'll fullfill it?"

" Yes. What ever you want... money, fame, power... what is it that you want?"

Damn! I just hit the jackpot!!!

I cleared my throat and then said, " I wish for one thing..."

"What is it?

" I wish for..."

"Yes..."

"That neither Hinata-chan nor Hanabi-chan is to be branded with the Caged Bird Seal."

It was like hell just arrived on earth, they were all enraged at my wish, well I can't blame them either.

" You imbecile who gave you the right to demand such things from us!!!" Another Hyuga elder shouted at me.

"Aren't you the one who said that you'll fullfill whatever wish I wanted, or is it that you Hyuga can't keep promises. I wonder what others would think if they heard this."

My statement silenced any fool who wants to oppose my wish. But there were still some persistent fools trying to do the best to change my wish.

"But that's too much. Can't you ask for something else."

I began to scratch my bald head, pretending to be thinking of something.

Well plan 'A' didn't work, looks like I have to use plan 'B'.

" Hmm... I know! how about you stop using the Caged Bird Seal then."

Well in the end, they didn't accept my second wish, but they did accepted my first wish.

Now they will never pressure Hiashi nor Hinami to brand either Hinata nor Hanabi.

That put a full stop to any of the imbeciles, among the Hyuga elders who planned to destroy the lives of Hinata and Hanabi, via the Caged Bird Seal.

The Hyuga elders, all made a foolish mistake in underestimating me. I made a promise to protect Hinata and I plan to keep that promise, even if I had to use any underhand methods, I would gladly do it.

The meeting ended very well in my point of view. When I exited the room, I was tackled to the ground by an indigo blur, who was none other than Hinata, as she wrapped me in a bear hug, snuggling her face on my chest, saying thank you over and over again.

I looked up to see that Hinami was smiling, and Hanabi, who was carried by her mother was giggling. I think I even saw a small smile on Hiashi's face.

I then look at the girl who saved me just by her smile, I am very grateful for her gentleness, her kindness and especially her smile, that smile that helped me escape hell. I vowed to myself that as long as I exist, no tears of sadness shall flow from her eyes. This I will make sure of it.

And if any scum does not heed my warning, I'll make sure he regrets the days he was conceived.