I have written this short drabble/one-shot after seeing an art of amazing artist (nipye). Sadly she didn't allow me to use it as a cover, but I believe you all know which fanart I am talking about from this. I hope you will like it.


He could recognize those small hands everywhere. Even if he was blindfolded, he would know whose hands they were as a small form of his son sat on his back. He could feel the shivering and sobs he wanted to hide yet were escaping by each exhale.

"Boruto?" He called in a quiet, knowing voice. He had to admit, he was caught off guard when his son approached him with tea. What a trick he fell for. What a trick to fell in because of your son. He could hear Kurama telling him how stupid of the Hokage it was to fall for such simple trick. Yet the nine-tailed fox was nowhere to be heard.

"They told me to." His voice was nothing but a whisper as both of them knew if he spoke, it would break. "They told me to…" he repeated. "Dad…" his voice was even quieter. "What should I do?"

If he wasn't tied down and blindfolded, he would hug him and tell him there is another way. But he felt nothing, not even Boruto's warmth, except his heaviness. "It is alright." He found himself saying. "Are Himawari and your mother…alright?" He heard his own voice, still drowsy from the drug.

"Mm" Boruto nodded and tightened his grip on his father's hands.

Naruto's lips turned up in a small smile. "It is alright, Boruto." He spoke once again and only now did he feel wetness. His heart broke and he wanted to free himself and pull his son in a hug. He wanted to break free, find the ones that made Boruto do this and kill them. He wanted to protect his son.

Yet he couldn't move a muscle.

"Hey Boruto," he called after a moment.

Boruto didn't say a word.

"Promise me to protect Himawari and your mother no matter what."

There was another moment of silence, which was deafening. Yet the quiet sobs and hitched breathing of his son was everything that calmed Naruto.

"Promise me…" He found himself drowsy and losing consciousness.

"Mm… I promise."

As the darkness took over Naruto, he realized he was glad. Glad that his family will be safe. And that was all he wanted.