Not too good

As they entered the medward, the Genin saw nearly every of the beds in there filled with shinobi that had been defeated in their matches. Some were less tended to, such as Kankuro who just needed some rest after having been drained of his chakra, but others like Kiba were observed closely. Naruto noticed that Rock Lee wasn't among them. It seemed his injuries had been so dire that they doctors immediately started an operation on the young Genin.

They finally found Hinata, with Sakura sitting at her side. Hinata was **** and she had an IV-infusion on her arm. It was a shock to Naruto to see Hinata so frail, so pale and delicate. It took him a moment to call out to Sakura. "How is Hinata-chan doing, Sakura-chan?", he asked what was going through the minds of everyone behind him.

Sakura, though a little surprised to suddenly see Naruto standing beside her, turned around and looked sad. "Well... to be honest... the doctors said that her injuries aren't fatal, but she sustained some internal injuries. She's not in danger anymore, but she'll take some time to fully recuperate.", she broke the news to them.

Naruto gritted his teeth upon hearing this. He had done this a lot today, but he just couldn't help himself there. He was angry at Neji, who was suspiciously absent. "That bastard... to do this to his own cousin... to do this to Hinata-chan!", he growled as he watched Hinata's **** form. A machine bleeped softly, indicating that, at least, Hinata was still alive. It had been a close call. Hadn't the Jounin stepped in, Hinata could've really died there.

A saddened air hung around the gathered group around Hinatas bed as an unfamiliar voice spoke up. "It was a fair match. But the outcome was not surprising.", a tall man in a black kimono said as he approached them.

"Kurenai-sensei, who is that?", Naruto asked. He had never seen this person, but his lavender eyes that were the same as Hinatas and Nejis gave him away as a Hyuuga.

"That is Hyuuga Hiashi. He is the head of the Hyuuga clan and Hinatas father.", Kurenai ushered in response.

Narutos eyes widened. So this was Hinatas dad. He looked nothing like his daughter. Mostly, the kindness he had gronw to love in Hinata seemed completely absent. "It pains me to see that, after all this training, my daughter still cannot keep her own in battle. Someone like her, so weak and fragile, is unfit to inherit my position someday. That girl is no longer the heiress of the Hyuuga clan.", he announced dismissively as he looked at Hinata with something of a mix of sadness and despise.

Naruto couldn't believe what he had just heard. "What did you just say!?", Naruto yelled, louder than intended. He didn't get it, but exiling Hinata from the clan after being beaten and hospitalized was downright cruel.

But Hiashi just stared coldly at the demon kid in front of him. "Someone who is not involved should not speak up. This matter doesn't concern you!", he said sternly and turned away from Naruto, ignoring him now.

'Hell yeah it does!', Naruto wanted to scream out loud. But he held it back in. Hiashi was right... he had no say, and he couldn't reveal his relationship with Hinata to him, out of fear it would only worsen Hinatas situation if they found out.

There was another moment of silence, but then Hiashi turned around and was about to leave. But, he was held back by an unlikely person. "Hiashi-sama, may I ask for permission to take Hinata in?", Kurenai suddenly said, surprising everyone.

"Kurenai-sensei...", Naruto, Ino and Sakura all muttered in awe at once.

Hiashi looked at the Jounin. Surprised, but he didn't seem to care all that much either way. "That's fine by me.", he consented with a nod before finally leaving the medward.

The gathered Konoha-nin looked at Kurenain in surprise. "You're going to take her in, Kurenai?", Asuma asked, most surprised of them all. After all, Hinata was his student, not Kurenais. And yet, she was willing to let her stay at her place?

Kurenai however nodded, not a doubt on her mind on this. "Of course. Or do you want to take care of her, Asuma?", she asked probingly.

Asuma scratched the back of his head. He had been put quite in a spot there. But he chose to be honest here. "No, I don't think I'd be really cut out to be someone's guardian, let alone a father.", he admitted sheepishly.

"Then it is decided. As soon as Hinata has recovered, I will take her in.", Kurenai said with finality. She had many reasons to do this. For one, she pitied the girl, but she also saw some potential in her. Potential in areas that she knew Asuma couldn't develop. And on top of that, she knew how attached Naruto was to her.

"Kurenai-sensei... thank you.", Naruto whispered almost inaudibly. It was even questionable if Kurenai herself had heard it, but Naruto just had to say it.

"Oh, you're all here, too.", Tentens voice called out. The group turned around and saw the brunette slowly making their way over to them.

Naruto saw that her right hand was bandaged. Apparently, the fall did have some consequences after all on Tenten, even though she didn't seem to be in pain, and her arm was not held in a cast. Still, Naruto was naturally worried about her, too, moving around like that already. "Tenten-chan, what are you doing here? You should rest!", he exclaimed as the girl approached them.

Tenten waved him off with her uninjured hand, although she appreciated his concern. "I know, I know, but... I also wanted to see how Hinata is doing...", Tenten admitted, her concern for her fellow girlfriend of Narutos obvious. Naruto was touched. Even though she was mildly injured herself, Tenten worried about Hinata more than herself.

"Ah, here you are. I had the feeling I'd find you here, Naruto!", a female voice called out, causing everyone to turn their head towards the owner.