M13731: Honestly? I have no clue why the following chapters are so damned FLUFFY but I love it ;)


Chapter 6: What you don't deserve

Naruto woke slowly, he could feel arms holding his body up. Kyuu had told him he'd only been asleep a few minutes but because of the strange sleeping cycle while being tortured, he would be waking up frequently for a few days. He could feel eyes on him and blinked his own open. He smiled seeing his Godfather's kind and concerned orbs staring back at him.

"H-hi." The blonde croaked, lack of water affecting his voice

An awkward moment passed while everything was silent.

"I-I'm s-s-sorry." Naruto said, shakily

Jiraiya looked at the teen in confusion. His smile dropped.

"What? Why would you say sorry?"

"Because I-I wasn't s-strong enough." His Godson replied, voice cracking, looking away

"Naruto. Look at me." The blonde obeyed, "You were tortured for three days and you didn't loose hope. You're plenty strong enough."

"Jiraiya." Kakashi's voice came from a metre a way, "We're home."

The sage looked at his blonde charge- he was asleep again. Jiraiya looked at the great green gates ahead of them and tree-hopped faster, kakashi and their prisoner at his side.

Tsunade was waiting by the gates, having sensed Jiraiya's chakra signature. She had a slightly haunted look on her face as she waited for news on the teen who was like a son to her. Suddenly, there was a shift in the air as four men arrived inside the Leaf village. Upon recognition, Tsunade smiled sadly until she saw the bloodied, blonde teen in Jiraiya's arms.

"Naruto!" She gasped

The ninjas and their captive came closer and Tsunade went straight to her favourite blonde, checking him over, frowning over each newly discovered cut, bruise or bite mark.

"We need to get him to the hospital right away." The blonde Hokage stated, fire and anger burning in her eyes, "And Kakashi, take himto the Anbu unit prison. I want him guarded. I'll deal with him later."

Both ninja nodded and Kakashi set off towards Anbu HQ, giving Naruto a worried look as he left. Jiraiya inclined his head towards the hospital and without words, both leaf nin ran there.

Crashing through the doors, Tsunade started shouting left and right, ordering people around and getting Naruto the most trusted doctors. Tsunade walked into a vacant room with Jiraiya - who was clutching Naruto to his chest. The sage lay his Godson on the white sheets as Shizune came running into the room.

"Naruto?" Shizune gasped

"Lets get started." Tsunade commanded


"Naruto? Naruto, it's okay, you're okay. Rest. I'm here."

That voice... He knew that voice. That gentle, caring voice.

A flash of long white hair.

A perverted grin.

A worried look.

A small smile.

"I'm here Naruto, I'm here."


The white lights were blinding. Sapphire eyes fluttered open and the pupils dilated as the bright hospital lights hit them. The pale figure let out a croaked groan and the form shifted under the snow-coloured blankets. Blinking the lights in his vision away, Naruto looked around the room in silence. The injured blonde noticed a weight on the bed and looked down. Jiraiya was sleeping, his head on the bed and a hand clutched his smaller one. Naruto smiled.

"Heh... Stubborn old pervert. You just couldn't let me suffer for my sins could you? At least you're not hurt. I'd never forgive myself. Not again."

It was then that Naruto noticed the old sage's eyes opening. The blonde hoped he hadn't heard anything. Jiraiya tightened his grip around his student's hand and slowly straightened up. He looked at Naruto and his eyes narrowed.

"You idiot."

Naruto paled, he'd heard.

"They are not your sins. They are the Kyuubi's. And I do not blame you for what happened when we were training. You weren't ready - it was my fault. Not yours."

Jiraiya wiped away the steady stream of tears flowing down Naruto's cheeks and the blonde closed his eyes in comfort. The sage put a hand against his charge's face and Naruto leaned into the touch.

"If we looked after you better, shit like this wouldn't happen. If people in this village weren't so quick to place blame and be stupid, you wouldn't have to protect yourself in your own home. Tell me, Naruto, the black eye and split lip you had last week; it was the villagers again, right?"

Naruto nodded against Jiraiya's touch and whimpered, not trusting himself to speak yet but he thought his godfather had to know.

"T-They broke my ribs last month too."

"Why aren't you defending yourself? Is it because you think you deserve it?"

Naruto nodded again, a tear slowly making its way down his face. Jiraiya tightened the grip on his hand.

"God, Naruto... No one deserves that. Especially not you." The sage thought for a moment, "What about another training trip? Just you and me. We can work on some new Jutsu and relax. Get you healed properly away from here and give you some time to rest."

Naruto looked up with hope in his eyes.

"Yeah, that sounds good."


The voices were faint and distant when Naruto was waking up again.

"So he's stable enough?"

"Yes, I can see your reasoning..." A sigh, "You can take him. But be careful for the first few days."

He knew these voices.

Suddenly, pain shot through him and he gasped, eyes clenching shut. The blonde's bandaged hand trembled and he felt it being gripped lightly as another hand was placed on his head, the fingers running through his hair.

"It's okay Naruto, we're here." Jiraiya soothed

Naruto started coughing violently, the force raising him slightly off the bed with each hack. Jiraiya moved from his seat and lifted his Godson onto his lap, holding him up as the blonde spasmed. Tsunade moved round the bed and began to run her fingers through the teen's hair; much like Jiraiya did. Naruto brought a hand up to his mouth and he doubled over, Jiraiya started to slowly rub his back.

Soon, the coughs subsided and Jiraiya brought an exhausted Naruto back to lean against him. There was blood covering the blonde's hand and some was running down his lips. Tsunade cleaned the teen up and looked over to Jiraiya. The sage was hugging Naruto to him and the younger ninja's eyes were closed in comfort.

"It's just an after-effect. His lungs had been punctured, it's his body's way of dispelling the liquid. He'll be doing it for a couple days. Keep an eye on him while you're gone." Tsunade stated, worry lacing her voice

"Oh, I plan to not let him out of my sight for a minute." The white sage replied

"Still here." Naruto replied, blinking his eyes open

"How could we forget about you?" Jiraiya said, "You're always so loud."

"I resent that." The blonde huffed

Tsunade placed a kiss on his forehead.

"I think it's time for you to sleep." The blonde medic said

"Fine." The teen replied, looking up at Jiraiya he whispered, "Stay?"

"Yes, Naruto, I'll stay."

He lay down with the blonde in a more comfortable position and Tsunade covered them with the blanket, looking out the window she saw that the moon was at it's peak in the sky. She flicked off the lights and opened the door.

"Goodnight, boys." She whispered and left, the door clicking shut behind her

The sage ran his fingers through Naruto's hair, giving a little smile as the teen's eyes fluttered closed.

"Goodnight, Naruto."


Naruto woke early the next morning, smiling as he saw his teacher still asleep. He moved carefully out of Jiraiya's grip - which had loosened in the night and grabbed the clean clothes that Tsunade had layed out for him. He walked into the small bathroom and got dressed - being mindful of his more serious injuries. Naruto walked out the room and stood by the window, watching as the sun rose, his left hand resting on the glass.

Jiraiya woke quickly after realising that Naruto was no longer laying with him and surveyed the room. He gazed as the sun's new light seemed to surround the blonde standing by the window, giving him a golden halo. The sage stood and walked over to his charge; Naruto looked up as Jiraiya came to stand beside him.

"Morning." The blonde croaked out, voice still not yet fully healed

"Don't use your voice to much. We need you to heal."

Jiraiya gave him a smile and ran his fingers through the sun-like hair in front of him. Reassuring Naruto that it was okay and that he was there if he needed him.

"W-when are we l-leaving?" The teen asked, voice cracking

Jiraiya looked thoughtful for a moment.

"As soon as Tsunade gives you one last check-over. How's that?"

"Perfect." Naruto smiled

They stood there, watching the sun rise and Naruto leaned against his teacher slightly. Jiraiya responded by placing an arm around the blonde and pressing a light kiss to his hair. It was then that the door opened.

Tsunade stood in awe at the seen, smiling at the pair stood by the window. Naruto looked like an angel from where she stood; his form bathed in a gold light. Jiraiya's stance was protective, whether he knew he was doing it or not was unknown. She decided to break the silence with a small cough. Naruto needed to leave to rest.

"Shall we get this over with?" Tsunade asked with a soft smile

Naruto answered with a smile of his own and walked slowly back to the bed, taking a seat upon it. He carefully removed his light shirt and gazed, unseeing, as the blonde hokage began to unwrap the many bandages that covered his torso and arms. He made no sounds of pain until Tsunade discovered that one of the strips was stuck on with dried blood. Naruto gave a wince as she gently pulled it from his skin and Jiraiya held his hand.

"Why are these taking so long to heal?" The blonde medic asked, pointing at the smaller wounds

"Kyuu's tired. He was keeping me in a safe place most of the time we were there." The teen looked thoughtful for a moment, "He'll be fine in a couple days and then I should be up to full speed in a week or two."

At the blonde's worried look, Jiraiya gave Naruto a reassuring smile.

"Don't worry, I'll protect you."

Naruto gave him a grateful smile and then winced, squeezing his Godfather's hand tighter. Tsunade gave him an apologetic look and kept wrapping the bandages around his body. When the fifth Hokage finished, she sat on the bed next to Naruto with a sad sigh.

"You can go tonight. You sooner the better - you'll be able to heal. And YOU," She said pointing at the sage, "better take care of him."

Jiraiya looked shocked, "You think I'd do anything less?"

"Yes." Came a quietly giggling voice from against his chest

The toad sage looked down at Naruto to where he rested and raised an eyebrow in question.

"I was tired and you two are funny."

Jiraiya huffed, "It's a good thing you're cute, kid. Fine, stay there."

The white haired man shifted back so he was leaning against the headboard and brought Naruto up against him, laying the blonde's head on his toned and well-muscled chest. The teen giggled again, snuggling into his Godfather - Tsunade almost aw-ed at the sight.

"You know, Naruto," She started as she got up, "It's good you get these quiet moments to be a kid after not knowing what it was like."

"I know." The sleepy blonde replied

Tsunade paused as she came to the door and looked back.

"Get some sleep." She said with a smile and shut the door

The blonde slept peacefully that day.

TBC~~~


M: WHY AM I SO SAPPPPPPYYYYYY~~~~~? Eh.