Last Update: Oct 8, 2017 - Latest Update: April 4, 2019
Author's Note: Hi guys! I'm so sorry I went MIA for almost 2 years. I was in Japan and my laptop where I wrote all the chapters broke (I still wanna cry about it coz of all the lost files) and I seriously lost my motivation to write this but lo and behold, after taking a break, I decided to write again. But do forgive me coz I'll be taking it slow for now. I'm still busy with my thesis and I honestly forgot what I wrote before. Anyways, this will be a short chapter. Please review and don't feel shy on commenting what you like and dislike about this chapter. Thanks!
Previously:
It was probably almost half an hour when the doctor stopped prodding him and he's already tired. He just wanted to sleep, preferably with Kurama healing him back to 100% health. The doctor just finished injecting him with some antibiotics for his chest wound he still don't know how he got when suddenly, a flash of yellow appeared right beside him, on the right side as the nurse and the doctor are both on his left side. The nurse screamed in surprise as the doctor flinched away in shock, almost dropping the syringe he was holding.
There, standing beside him, is none other than his father, the Yondaime and the Yellow Flash feared in battle, Namikaze Minato. Naruto and Minato stared at each other with wide eyes, not knowing what to say. It was a few minutes later when Minato suddenly dropped on his knees, clutching Naruto's right hand tightly as he looked at his son's face with a mix of relief, joy, longing, and pain. Naruto felt his father's shaking hand and his eyes softened in guilt.
"N-Naruto…"
It was a whisper but his voice held raw feelings of worry and happiness. Naruto curiously glanced at his father and he noticed how Minato's scanned his body with concern, probably thinking how skinny he was. Naruto squeezed his father's hand, knowing how a simple gesture would release the tension on the man's shoulders.
"Y-you're finally awake."
All worries Minato had was set aside when Naruto beamed at him a smile as bright as he could make. Not caring that some people are watching them, Minato wound his arms around his son's body and hugged him gently, letting a few drops of tears escape his eyes.
All that matters now is that his son is awake. Naruto's finally back.
"You're awake!" Minato kept on repeating as he hugged his son, though not too tight as he's afraid he'll hurt the boy. "I'm so glad." He chanted next, his hands cradling Naruto as if he's afraid that he'll wake up from a dream and find out that his son is not yet awake. Minato knows that he's trembling – probably from combined emotions, but he didn't care that he's showing his weakness in front of his son and the medical staffs.
Naruto, on the other hand, was openly gaping at the turn of events. He was confused, surprised, afraid, and guilty. Really, just what can he do? He's not this world's Naruto. Should he say something? But what to say when he's just someone who's now possessing this world's Naruto's body? Should he hug back? But hugs feel too foreign for him. His body automatically tensed when he was reminded that someone is openly hugging him. It scared him that someone is touching him, his face immediately paling at the thought. During the war, many of Naruto's loved ones died, most of them in his arms as he tried desperately, begging for them to hold on as they breathed their last remaining breaths. It was a very long hard-fought war but it only resulted in him losing his precious people. Too absorbed in his depressing thoughts, Naruto failed to hear his father's worried calls and the doctor hurriedly checking his vitals.
"Son, are you okay?" Minato inquired, his face full of worries. "You look really pale. You should lie down and try to rest." He added as he guided his son on a comfortable position on his bed while the doctor and the nurse taking note of the vitals.
Son…oh what a nice word to hear, Naruto thought longingly. He was an orphan in his original world and the only parental love he got was from Iruka-sensei, but your Iruka-sensei is DEAD just like everyone in your world is, his mind supplied.
Everyone is DEAD, but this world's people aren't.
Naruto choked out a sob as he silently looked at his father with longing eyes to which Minato noticed. He never knew much about his father in his original world but in this world, he's given a chance to get to know his father. 'But do I have the right to?', the depressing thought made Naruto's face scrunch in bitterness and a few seconds later, tears are flowing nonstop his cheeks. He didn't even notice he's clutching his father's vest desperately like a child as Minato's arms wound around him in a protective embrace.
"Sshh it's okay. It will be okay." Before he could think of more depressing thoughts, Minato's soothing voice soothed him to sleep, the sudden breakdown taking a toll on his weakened body.
It has been an hour since Naruto fell asleep again with Minato still clutching his son's right hand desperately. He's afraid that his son waking up for a brief moment was just a dream but the redness and puffiness of Naruto's eyes concluded that 'No, it's not a dream and Naruto woke up and had a breakdown'.
What worried Minato greatly was how Naruto first looked at him as if he couldn't believe he's in front of him and then the way he responded to his hug, as if he's afraid of the touch – as if it's foreign to him. Another thing he noticed was how his son's eyes seemed haunted for a boy who just woke up after 5 years; and the longingness he shot at him as if it was the first time he saw him puzzled him greatly. Lastly, he almost panicked when Naruto suddenly broke down. Did he sense that he was almost dying and had a sudden revelation that he was so close to it? Did he have a terrifying dream when he was asleep all these years? Or was what happened years ago that traumatic for his son to act like that to him as soon as he woke up? All these questions running through his head are giving him a headache, but he doesn't mind. This is all about his son and he wouldn't let him get hurt again…over his dead body, his blue eyes narrowing dangerously as if to seal a promise.
It was quiet for a few minutes before an Anbu decided to make his appearance, silently kneeling on one knee as he informed the blonde of his schedule in a few hours.
Minato sighs as he contemplated if he could miss the event today as he grimaced. Of all days his son finally wakes up, it has to be a busy day. Facing the anbu and regretfully letting go of Naruto's hand, Minato's low voice echoed in the quiet room.
"Fox, for the rest of the day, I want you to guard my son. No one is to enter unless they're the medical staff and even then, I want you to be on full alert. If something happens…" A clear warning laced in his voice as 'fox' gave a curt nod before Minato added, "I'll be back as soon as I'm done with the event formalities."
"Hokage-same, it's the Fox Festival. I don't think the council would appreciate you leavi-" trying to reason out to his superior but Minato beat him to it.
"Surely my presence isn't needed the whole time there. I'm the Hokage and they know how busy I already am." Glancing at his son sleeping, "And I'll be damned if my son wakes up all alone again while I attend a yearly festival. My son needs my utmost attention and no one can change my mind about this." With that, Minato glanced at his subordinate before making a quick exit using his Hirashin back to his office.
Cursing in his mind at the wrong timing of this event, Minato donned his Hokage hat and adjusted his cloak. He needs to make his speech in less than 30 minutes.
A/N: Review please! Don't be shy on commenting what you think of this chapter. Also, thank you so much for all the reviews in the past chapters! Reading those makes me feel really happy and made me wanna rewrite this again. Have a great day, everyone!
