The setting sun shone on Naruto's eyelids with its lingering warmth. His lashes fluttered gently before his azure eyes opened.
It was dusk now, and a few crows flew past outside, cawing.
Mixed into those calls were exchanges between the crows, discussing things like whether to go soak in the hot springs at the bathhouse tonight.
"Naruto-kun, you're awake." Sitting beside Naruto's bed, Hinata rubbed her sleepy eyes. There seemed to be a tiny bit of drool at the corner of her mouth.
But compared with her own slightly dopey appearance, Hinata was more concerned about Naruto's condition.
"How do you feel? Does your throat still hurt? Blink if it does." Hinata stroked Naruto's head, though it did not really help.
Still, she vaguely remembered her father stroking her head like this to comfort her when she had been sick as a child.
She must have been two or three then.
"Ahem." The moment Naruto tried to speak, his throat felt dry and painful, but swallowing some saliva eased it. Under Hinata's worried gaze, he slowly spoke.
"It's okay. I'm fine now." Naruto was not pretending to be well, because he really had almost recovered. All he needed next was to fill his poor stomach, which had gone hungry all day.
Grrr-
Speaking of his stomach, it growled.
Naruto's stomach voiced its protest. This was the first time in ages that he had gone so long without eating.
"Are you hungry? I made dinner." Seeing this, Hinata immediately took three large meal containers out of an insulated bag and set them on the cabinet beside Naruto's bed.
She opened the lids, and hot white steam rose out. The aroma instantly filled the entire infirmary.
The first container held a bowl of thick porridge with red dates, wood ear mushrooms, ginseng