For my Master's Love
Ch. 1
Speaking: normal
Thoughts, flashbacks, com-link, and notes: italicized
Jutsus, summons, demons: bold
Summons's and demon's thoughts: bold italicized
(): author speaking
…: Time change
~: Scene change
Summary: This is an alternate yaoi spin-off of my story "A Brother's Return." The story takes place after Tsunade's return. In this story; Naruto is an Anbu, Cairo is the Yamikage, and Konohamaru needs Cairo's help to win Naruto's heart before Sasuke can try to steal him away.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. Sadly, that right belongs to Masashi Kishimoto.
Konohamaru looked out of his window to watch the sky. It was a few minutes to twelve, which meant that his master would soon be passing by on his way to lunch. He couldn't help but smile when he thought about the boy that he one day just decided was his boss.
From his bright gold spiky hair, to his brilliantly blue eyes, everything about Naruto Uzumaki made Kono's heart jump. The first time he ever felt that way, he went to talk to his grandpa about what it could be.
Flashback…
Konohamaru rushed to the Hokage's office where Sarutobi was battling the bane of every Kage…the dreaded monster known as paperwork. As the old man filled out sheet after sheet, Kono walked into the office and provided him with a needed distraction. "Jiji, I have to ask you something…in private."
Sarutobi dismissed his Anbu before asking, "What's got you so worried, my boy?"
Kono had to pull himself together before saying, "My heart and stomach feel funny."
That had Sarutobi paralyzed in fear. He quickly ran to his grandson and said, "Are you alright? Do you need to see a doctor?"
Kono grabbed his hands and said, "It's nothing like that. It's just that whenever I get around a certain someone, my heart starts beating faster and I feel like my stomach is doing back flips."
Sarutobi turned his head as he tried to stifle a giggle. Once he composed himself, he turned back around and said, "Konohamaru, there's nothing wrong with you. Those feelings just mean that you're in love with someone."
Kono shook his head. "Grandpa, I can't be in love."
Sarutobi looked confused. He placed a hand on Kono's shoulder and asked, "What in the world would stop you from pursuing what your heart desires? Why would you want to be unhappy?"
Kono used his sleeve to wipe away his incoming tears. "He's four years older than I am. It wouldn't work between us."
At that moment, the final gears turned in the Hokage's mind. He wrapped his grandson in a warm embrace and said, "Konohamaru, your parents and I will support any decision you make. However, I must warn you that if you decide to lock away your heart from this person, you might wind up hurting the very person you love. Also, there is the possibility that someone else might attempt to whisk them away."
Kono brushed his last tears away. "What do you think I should do jiji?"
Sarutobi gave him a warm smile and said, "If you really love Naruto-kun as much as you say you do, fight for him with your last breath. And once you have him, you have to fight even harder to hold on to him."
Konohamaru half choked and said, "I-I never said I liked the boss."
Sarutobi smirked at his flustered grandson. "You never said that you didn't like him."
Konohamaru shook the cobwebs out of his head before leaving the office. Before he could get out the door, Hiruzen quickly called out, "True love will always find a way to make things work, Konohamaru."
Flashback end…
It had only been three days after that conversation when Konohamaru decided to spend more time with his boss. As days gave into months, he couldn't help but admit to himself that he was in love with Naruto.
Eventually, with Cairo's recommendation, Naruto began to work part-time as an Anbu. Kono was elated when Cairo mentioned that Naruto gave him the very first of the invitations for the celebration that his parents threw him.
During the party, Minato personally handed him his new Anbu mask. Kono watched in awe as Naruto became the new Anbu Kitsune. His mother was even more excited seeing as how he was wearing her old mask.
Once the party got underway, Naruto chose to spend some of his time with Cairo. Kono resigned to sitting in a corner and moping until Cairo found him and said, "I just want you to know that Naruto hasn't stopped talking about you. He's really happy that you came, Kono."
That news was enough to brighten Kono's mood. Sadly, his mood started falling when he noticed that the Uchiha had been giving Naruto some uncomfortable stares.
A few days after that, Sasuke had actually taken to demanding that Naruto go out on a date with him. Even though his boss would constantly turn Sasuke down, the Uchiha was about as relentless as Sakura.
He had even gone so far as to use that kiss from their academy days as an excuse for Naruto to go out with him. He could almost hear his grandpa's words from their conversation. "If you really love Naruto as much as you say you do, fight for him with your last breath. And once you have him, you have to fight even harder to hold on to him."
It was then that Kono decided that he would take matters into his own hands. If he was gonna win his master's affections, he needed to bring his A-game. His first destination would be to see Tsunade.
Hokage's office…
Tsunade, Minato, and Sarutobi were rapidly filing stacks of paperwork when Konohamaru stormed in. Normally, Tsunade wouldn't tolerate just anyone barging into her office. However, the need for a break pushed out her anger.
"Konohamaru," she said, "would you mind explaining why you felt it important to barge into my office without any form of warning or invitation?"
Kono bowed and said, "I'm sorry, Tsunade-sama, but I need your assistance on something very important."
Tsunade and Minato looked confused but Hiruzen already knew what was going on. "It seems that you've made you finally made your choice, my boy."
Konohamaru nodded before turning to Minato. "Yondaime-sama, I have something I need to say to you. I just don't know how you're going to take the news."
Minato just zeroed in on him as he continued, "Yondaime-sama, I-I'm in love with Naruto."
Minato just nodded and said, "I'm glad to hear that. Maybe you can drive off the Uchiha before my wife can get her hands on him."
Minato paused to think about the situation before continuing, "On second thought, lay low for another week so my wife can get her hands on him."
To say that Kono was surprised was a bold understatement. He was completely shocked that Naruto's dad didn't have any qualms with his pursuing Naruto. He quickly sobered up and said, "Sir, I need to speak with Cairo. I think he's the only one who can help me with this problem."
Minato nodded and said, "I'll get you to the Shadow Village but you have to understand that you're making a big decision. Are you sure you want to do this?"
Kono let out a breath and said, "I would do anything for Naruto's happiness."
The Yondaime activated a seal on Tsunade's desk. The seal caused a black portal to open in the center of the office. "This is a one-way trip. Someone over there will have to send you back."
Konohamaru turned to his grandfather and said, "Thank you for supporting me, grandpa."
Sarutobi directed him to the portal and said, "Remember to follow your heart and you will find your happiness."
As soon as Kono was gone, Sarutobi said, "Minato, we have to keep the Uchiha away from your son until Konohamaru returns. That brat is getting bolder by the day."
Tsunade groaned in agreement. "That little rat actually had the nerve to petition the council for a marriage contract between him and Naruto."
The Yondaime clenched his hands and said, "I think I'll let Kushina know about this tonight. Tsunade okaa-chan, you should probably have everyone return to their homes. Anyone who gets in Kushina's way will only be collateral damage."
Tsunade scoffed and said, "Those twins call me grandma and you call me your mother. I'm only your cousin at the most…on Kushina's side of the family."
Minato shrugged his shoulders. "That may be true, but you're the closest thing to a mom I've ever had."
The Godaime blushed and waved him off. However, the familial feeling still lifted her mood. While she would never admit it, Kushina and Minato were the closest things she had to children.
Kagegakure no Sato…
Konohamaru appeared in a very large office and looked around. Sitting behind a large and elegant desk with a scroll laid out in front of him was one Cairo Uzumaki. Kono shuffled up to him and said, "Cairo-sama, I need your help."
Cairo raised an eyebrow as the boy continued, "I need you to make me thirteen years old."
Cairo cupped his hands together and said, "That is a very serious request. I hope you realize that if I do this, you'll never be able to go back to your old age."
Kono nodded and said, "I understand that. I still want to go through with this."
Cairo removed his hat and asked, "I already know why you're here, but are you truly willing to do this for Naruto? Are you sure that this is what you want?"
Kono stepped forward. "I've never been surer of anything. Naruto means everything to me and I don't intend to let that prissy Uchiha get his hands on him."
Cairo smirked and said, "That was the answer I was looking for. Follow me and we'll begin the jutsu at once."
Konoha…
Minato watched his youngest son in awe as he and his mother clashed blades. Kushina smiled behind her new Dragon mask as the training session ended. "You do my old mask the justice it deserves. I still can't stress how nostalgic it feels to see it again."
Naruto pulled the mask from his face and said, "Kurama agrees with you. He also thinks you should use that blade of yours to scare Sasuke-teme out of the village."
Kurama chuckled in Naruto's mind. "I didn't say 'out of the village'. I said 'out of the country'."
Naruto laughed and said, "Correction, Kurama wants you to chase the teme out of Hi no Kuni."
Kushina giggled and said, "I think that could work. After all, Muramasa and I can be very persuasive when we need to be."
Suddenly, everyone was brought out of their mirth by an Anbu at the gates. Minato flashed down to the gates only to return with his war face on. "Sochi, your okaa-chan and I have a meeting to attend. We'll be back in an hour or two."
Naruto nodded as his parents vanished in a yellow flash. He then removed his Anbu gear and thought, "I wonder what Konohamaru is up to?"
Council meeting…
Tsunade was a second away from rampaging when Minato and Kushina appeared in the middle of the room. After taking her seat on the dais, Kushina turned to Tsunade and said, "What has the esteemed council called today's meeting for?"
The Godaime sighed and said, "Apparently, the Uchiha is pushing for another marriage contract between himself and Naruto."
Minato quickly shouted, "I refuse to let that motion pass! My son should be free to marry anyone he wishes!"
Danzo slyly said, "Minato-san, you seem to forget that the Uchiha is the last of his clan and falls under the CRA. He is well within his rights to marry Naruto-san if that is his wish."
Kushina snickered and said, "Yeah, no he's not. As matriarch of the Uzumaki clan, I hereby enact the ancient rites of clan marriage. Oh, and don't address my husband as if you both were on equal terms."
While the civilians were trying to make sense of Kushina's words, Tsume had fallen over in laughter. She slowly righted herself and asked, "Don't you think that's overkill, Shina-chan? I'll admit that the little prick is…a prick, but that's just a little too much."
Kushina smirked and said, "Of course it is. It's also the only course of action that he's going to understand."
Homura cleared his throat to gain everyone's attention. "Kushina, would you be as kind as to elaborate on what you've done?"
Tsume leaned over to Hiashi and whispered, "This is gonna be so much fun."
Hiashi nodded and whispered back, "I'm hoping that they agree just so the Uchiha can get what's coming to him."
Kushina waited for her friends to finish talking before she said, "Normally, if a suitor wished to marry a female clan heir, they would have to fight the patriarch of the family. Seeing as how Naruto is a male heir, the Uchiha will have to fight me if he wants to marry Naruto."
Before anyone could cause a scene, Tsunade stood up and said, "I grant Kushina her rights as the Uzumaki clan head to enact this old law. This meeting has come to a close."
As everyone started to leave, Minato and Hiruzen asked the clan heads to remain with them for a few moments more. Tsunade closed the doors and said, "Now that the trash is gone, we can hold the real meeting."
Tsume smirked and said, "I knew that something was gonna happen today. So what do you need us to do?"
Kushina sat down again before saying, "That Uchiha is getting relentless about hounding our son. We need your help to keep them away from each other for at least five months. Can any of you offer some help?"
After a moment of silence, Hiashi took a stand. "I'm sure that Hinata and Neji would be more than willing to assist you."
Tsume cracked her knuckles and said, "I know that Kiba would have no problem in keeping those two away from each other."
Shibi adjusted his shades and said, "I can assure you that Shino will be willing to help your son."
Shikaku groaned. "Man, that Uchiha is troublesome. I'll get Shikamaru to help out."
Inoichi nodded and said, "Ino will be more than happy to help. What about your son, Chouza?"
Chouza grunted and said, "Chouji will be happy to run interference for his friend."
Minato nodded and said, "I appreciate you all helping us, but it won't be enough. Does anyone have any extra ideas?"
Hiashi took up a thinking position. After a few moments of formulating plans, he calmly said, "I can offer a team of Hyūga clan members to act as your eyes in the village."
Tsume nodded and said, "That's a good plan. I would recommend that you have the team senseis help run interference when possible."
Sarutobi grunted and said, "You could always ask the Ichiraku family to assist you. They would do anything for Naruto. I also recommend that you enlist Ibiki Morino and Anko Mitarashi."
Tsunade stood up and said, "I can keep the little rat on D-Ranked missions every day to keep him busy. I can also send Naruto on phony scouting missions that'll keep him out of the village for periods of time."
Everyone nodded as they managed to draft a final plan when Tsume suddenly said, "Shina, don't you think it would it be a good idea to ask Cairo-dono for help?"
Sarutobi just chuckled darkly. "Don't worry about that, Tsume-sama. Cairo-dono is already playing his part."
Kagegakure…
Cairo looked at the boy in front of him and said, "You've taken the first step to fighting this battle. Now you have to keep moving forward. Do you regret what you've done today?"
The boy said in a slightly deeper voice, "I have no regrets in fighting for Naruto-sama. He'll always be worth more than anything I can ever give. That just means that I have to give it my all."
Cairo smirked as he whipped out a blunted kunai. "I'm glad to hear you say that, Konohamaru. Now prepare yourself because you're gonna be here for a while."
Kono pulled out his own training kunai as he thought, "Wait for me, Naruto-sama."
