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Naruto and its characters belong to Masashi Kishimoto

Warning: Shonnen Ai and course language

Thanks to Hatochan she is my beta reader

Chapter 9

Genma POV

It has been three years since Raidou died. His death was so sudden. He died of a blood clot to his brain.

They called it an aneurysm.

We had just gotten back from dinner and were slowly making our way to the bedroom between heated kisses and promises of what we were going to do to each other when he collapsed. At first I thought he had fainted until I saw he wasn't breathing. I rushed him to the hospital and that was when the doctor told me; That with the aneurysm, Rai was dead before he hit the ground. And I was left to make to the decision whether or not to leave him on life support.

I chose to let him go.

Two years ago, I was visited by an angel. I had been visiting Rai's grave when it started storming. I sat down next to his stone and stayed there 'til I felt a warm hand take mine and pull me up. I was led by a blond child that was chastising me for not having enough sense to come in out of the rain. All I could do was stare at him as he lead me to his home. He led me inside and walked me past two people that were already there. One I recognized as Iruka-sensei, the other was Sasuke Uchiha. I could tell by his looks and the crest on his back.

The blond took me to the bathroom and began to strip me . I started to protest and he gave me a look that informed me that one way or another this would be done .

I shut up and did as he wanted.

He had me sit in the tub as he turned on the taps to a suitable temperature. I cringed as the warm water hit me and he grumbled about me trying to die from hypothermia, telling me there are much easier and faster ways to die if that was what I wanted.

I look up at him and tell him no, I don't want to die. I just wanted more time with my Rai. He gave me a funny look and told me that Rai was in my heart and would stay there for as long as I wanted him.

I started to cry. I hadn't cried in years, not even after Rai's death or at his funeral. The boy just held me and said nothing, letting me grieve. I finally finished crying after what seemed like hours.

As the boy wiped away my tears I asked him his name. "I am Naruto. "

" Naruto, I am Genma."

Naruto nods at me and helps me out of the tub, dries me off and hands me some clothes, telling me to get dressed and come to the living room. I did as he said. When I got in the living room there was a third person. This boy had long dark hair in a pony tail and the biggest eyes I had ever seen. He just looked at me and gave a small smile and gestured for me to sit next to him on the couch. After I sat next to him I was handed a bowl of soup and a plate of tempura. Iruka-sensei looked over at me and told me to eat. For some reason I couldn't find it within myself to fight or argue. After eating, I lean back on the couch and close my eyes.

When I open them again it's daylight and I have a blanket over me and I am alone. Sitting up, I see a note on the table telling me my breakfast was in the oven, please wash my dishes after I eat, and please lock the door when I leave. It was signed Uzumaki Naruto.

I go and look in the oven. There is a HUGE omelet, rice and a cherry danish. Not wanting to be rude I eat it all, do the dishes, fold the blanket and lock the door on my way out. I walk back home and begin packing away all of Rai's things and getting ready to distribute them amongst our friends.

Naruto was right; Rai is in my heart and he will stay there forever.

It takes me almost a week to get all of that done. All of my friends were happy, yet, surprised that I had decided to move on. After all, who can blame them? Over the past two years I had become a recluse and only came out to go the cemetery. I had even quit doing missions. I had been seen as a threat to my own safety. When my friends approached me about any of it all I did was yell and scream for them to get out and leave me the hell alone. Yet, somehow Naruto got through to me... I am glad that he did.

Once again I was alive and starting to mingle with people again .Hayate came over more to help me train and get ready for missions again. The Hokage agreed to let me take a few light missions then, IF I was ready, I could resume my regular duties. In the mission room I could usually find Iruka taking reports and giving missions. I found myself wanting his friendship. I started talking more and more to Iruka. It was nice talking to someone that only wanted me to be myself. Having Iruka as a friend proved to be a lot of fun as long as my reports were neat and legible.

I swear I have never been afraid of a chunnin until I accidentally pissed off Iruka. Really, it was an accident. I had bumped into him, sending a pile of scrolls on the floor, just to have my coffee join the scrolls. Needless to say, the scrolls were ruined. To this day ,I am not sure which is scarier; the quiet anger or the screaming anger.

I had made a point to keep track of Naruto, never letting him know that I was watching over him. So when Gai asked me to help train him I jumped at the offer. When I went to the training field and saw Lee and Naruto sparring I was very impressed. Gai ended the match and had them do exercises while he and I talked.

"Naruto, come here please. " Gai called out.

"Yes Gai-Sensei?" Naruto answered as he ran over.

"This is Genma and he wants to teach you how to use your weapons more effectively."

Naruto looks at me and smiles "Really ? Alright when do we start Genma-sensei ? "

I look at him and smirk saying, "Tomorrow evening, after your training with Gai."

When I get home I start packing because tomorrow I will be moving in with Naruto as part of an exercise that Rai had started. He called it the "Trust exercise" . It is a hard, yet, easy exercise to learn. All you have to do is trust the other person with your life. Seeing as how I am a complete stranger to Naruto, this will go over real well.

The next day I meet him at the training field. Gai is already getting him ready for what I have planned. "Alright Naruto listen up. Genma here is going to be teaching you some different techniques. Do your best and I will see you tomorrow. " With that Gai and his student leave us.

I begin to tell him what I have in mind. "Alright Naruto, we are going to start an exercise that takes 95 percent trust. First off, do you trust me ? "

He looks me in the eye and replies, " No, I don't know you at all, so how can I trust you?"

I smirk at him. " Good answer. Trust is earned not given. Tomorrow I am moving in with you. "

I can see fear, shock and panic going across his face. " LIKE FUN YOU ARE !!" He yells at me.

" Naruto, this will become your exercise in trust. " I tell him in a calm tone .

"You got evicted from you home didn't you ...sensei ?"

" I did NOT get evicted and we will be spending A LOT of time together. Why? Would you rather move in with me?"

He chokes and his face turns a shade of crimson as he snarls at me. " Fine ! Move your damn stuff in, but know this ..YOU are sleeping on the couch !!!"

I start laughing at his rage. ' He is so damn cute when he's angry. ' In between my laughter I tell him, "Fine, I will be moving in while you are at school and I expect you to come straight home afterwards to begin our training."

He turns and all but runs away from me. I shake my head and finish getting the last few items I will need for tomorrow.

I arrive at his house with Asuma, Hayate, and Ebisu. Just as I begin to get the door, Naruto opens it. He looks at my friends and I and smirks. "Naruto, why aren't you in school? " I ask him as we all walk in and begin setting boxes down.

"Did you really think that I wouldn't be here when you came? I mean, what kind of roommate would I be if I wasn't here to help you??"

I froze as the sarcasm and hostility hit me. I look up at him and see the feral grin he gives me. "Riiight... Naruto, we need to talk now, alone. " He shrugs and leads to me to his bedroom I shut the door behind me and look at him. We stare at each for a few moments before I say, " Naruto, I told you this is an exercise in trust."

He nods at me. " Yeah well, if you want my trust then keep my secret. I am actually very smart. No one knows that and that is the way I want it to stay. I wear a mask and at the moment I want it to stay. Keep my secret and I will start to trust you...maybe. Betray me and you will have hell to pay." After he gives me that speech he sits on his bed.

" I see. " I tell him, wondering why he wears a mask and has a desire to be seen as less than what he really is. "Your secret is safe with me and seeing as you stayed home you can help me get my stuff put away."

We walk back in to the living room and I am amazed by how much stuff I have. I see Gai's student walk in the door. " Naruto-kun, I heard that you had a new roommate and I thought I would help you get him moved in ." That boy has an aura of power and determination about him.

" Yeah , this is Genma-san. Genma-san, this is my best friend Rock Lee. "

I watch as Lee blushed a bit. 'Hmmm, strange kid. ' "Rock-san. " I say, nodding to him.

" Oh please, just call me Lee!" If it was possible Lee turned even redder.

"Lee then. " I say nodding .

"Come on Lee. Grab those two boxes and let's get this done !" Naruto yells.

"Yes !!" Lee also yells. They grab two boxes each and got moving .

I look at my friends and we just shake our heads as we begin unpacking. Four hours later I was officially moved in.

Lee and Naruto made lunch. They had made sushi, tempura, and miso soup. Lee and Naruto started talking. While I started eating. I was famished. Before I knew it, I had eaten all of the food. "Damn..." I said. Naruto almost choked, Lee was laughing like a damn hyena.

"Hungry ?" Naruto asked, looking at me.

' Nope not now anyways.' I felt my face get hot.

Naruto stood up and said, "Come on Lee. I will treat you to lunch. "

" No, I will treat you both to lunch... after all I did eat it all. " I tell them just to hear Lee laugh while thanking me. After lunch, I started the trust exercise with Naruto. We started out by going to a training ground and I had him try to find me by keeping his eyes closed. After that, it was the catching exercise; as in I catch him before he hits the ground. Small steps work best with him, so I was saving the blindfold exercises for later. After all, this is day one.

For dinner I treated Naruto to ramen, afterwards, walking back to our apartment, we discussed what we could do for entertainment. We started watching a horror movie and we were really getting in to it. When there was a knock on the door he literally sprang up and leaped to the door. Before I had even had a chance to move.

I heard him greet the guest by saying in an annoyed voice, " Sasuke-teme what are YOU doing here?"

The reply was just as sweet. "Dobe..."

Next thing I knew , it thundered and Sasuke was almost in Naruto's arms. " Saaa... ok come on in, but you will be sleeping in my room tonight ...teme." He led him in. Sasuke looked as pale as a ghost and was visibly shaking. "Genma-san, this is Uchiha Sasuke. Sasuke-teme, this is Genma-san, my new roommate. Genma-san, I need a word with you. " Again we went to his room and I shut the door, leaning against it .

" Listen, Sasuke has a fear of storms. For the last two years he comes here. So say nothing, got it ?"

I nod saying, " Listen, call me Genma. If we're going to live together I much rather you call me that. " His face turns an interesting shade of crimson as he nods at me. By the time we get back in the living room, Lee was there with his sleeping bag and backpack. I arched one eyebrow and shook my head. Next second, the power went out.

" Lee get the candles, Sasuke get the flashlight, Genma sit down." Naruto commanded everyone. Sasuke got out the flashlight and turned it on.

Immediately I noticed that Sasuke was looking more pale than five minutes ago. "Sasuke, it's alright. Let's get the candles lit and then we can play a few hands of poker. "

I was getting ready to look for the cards when I hear a another knock on the door. Sasuke then went and answered the door. I heard Iruka-sensei say "Sasuke, how are you ?"

I look over and see that Iruka-sensei also has his sleeping bag, and back pack. "Naruto, could I have a word please...alone. " I feel the others looking at me as we go to Naruto's bedroom. .Again I shut the door behind me. " Tell me, does this happen every time it storms?"

He looks at me. "Yeah, pretty much it turns in to one big sleep over. Why? Do you have a problem with it ?" He asks me, starting to glare.

"No, I was just wondering that's all. " ' Ok, so he doesn't like being questioned about his friends or their habits. '

He nods at me as he reaches past me to open the door. Following him to the living room, I see that the cards have been dealt, drinks and snacks put out and everyone waiting on us. I sit across from Naruto, next to Iruka. I start to twirl my senbon out of habit and I can feel Iruka start rubbing his hand over my knee. I hear Naruto as he starts whispering to Sasuke. "Pssst, Sasuke... I bet that he has a crappy hand ne?"

"Hn. " is all that Sasuke said.

Meanwhile, Iruka kept caressing my knee and my thigh, all the while wearing a mask of innocence. An hour later, and after the loss of all my pretzels, I finally admit defeat. I can't help but wonder if Iruka was doing that on purpose to let them win or if he was wanting some action tonight.

I smirk slightly, looking at Lee and Sasuke who in turn were eyeing me. Iruka stands up and says, "Ok guys, it's bedtime. "

" You know Iruka -sensei, it would be nice of you to share your winning secrets with us." As if on cue, ALL three of them give Iruka the ' puppy eyes' look.

"Naruto, how many times have I told you and the others that that is a trade secret ? Now all three of you get ready for bed. " Iruka said with a smile. They leave and go to bed.

Meanwhile I walk over to Iruka. "You know, that isn't very nice, distracting me while playing poker ...right?" I tell him this as he walks towards me with a small smirk .

" You know, I couldn't help myself. How long has it been ? Almost two months? I have missed you. " He tells me this as he reaches over and pulls the senbon out of my mouth and gives me a deep kiss. I lean into it and grab his hips and pull him to me. I feel a moan erupt from me as he growls back. After a few minutes he breaks the kiss and we look at each other "Genma..." He whispers. I pull him back to me and jutsu us to someplace more quiet and private. Iruka isn't my lover, we are friends with benefits . That was why I enjoyed him so much; no commitment no strings. Just an understanding that we could help each other.

The next morning I get up with Iruka and we begin making breakfast. Sitting down at the table, Naruto asks Iruka and me how we slept as they eat their breakfast. I find this a nice way to start the day. Afterwards, the boys do the breakfast dishes. Iruka, Naruto and Sasuke leave for school and I leave for work.

Six months have passed so fast and Naruto has come so far. I have been begging Hayate to consider training him with a sword. Gai has told me that he is arranging to let Kakashi see just how good Naruto has become with an exhibition match. I love the idea and hope that Naruto has taken some of my pointers to heart. Because if he does, Gai is in for one hell of a surprise.

I get to the training ground and watch Naruto as he takes off his weights and starts stretching out. I tell Gai what I think would be good for this. " Seriously Gai let Naurto use all his weapons and jutsus. That will definitely make Kakashi see just how damn good he is. " He nods at me as he begins telling Naruto what he expects.

I step forword and have them face each other. "Alright, with this match anything goes; taijutsu, ninjutsu, genjutsu ,as well as kenjutsu. However, there will be NO killing and will be ended only by KO, forfeit or if I deem that a fighter can not go on. Understood ?" I asked both Gai and Naruto, who answered yes while eyeing each other. They face off as I yell, "HAJIME!!" and jump back.

Gai goes after Naruto, who immediately goes on the defensive. He blocks his kick and uses the momentum to go backwards, chucking four shuriken. They miss Gai, but once they hit the trees they explode from hidden explosive notes. Suddenly, Naruto disappears under ground. I feel extremely proud of him, knowing how hard he has worked to get this far.

I see hands pop up from the ground as two more Narutos come out of the trees with kunai and senbons. I see a fifth Naruto throw at least six senbon at Gai. Suddenly, Gai destroys the earth clones and knocks Naruto into a tree. Naruto stands up and gives Gai a deadly grin as he lunges at him with a kunai, slicing Gai open along his gut.

I yell out, " THIS MATCH IS NOW OVER! " I run over to Gai as Lee, Iruka and Hayate come out of the woods and bring the medical kit. Gai starts snarling about how his leg is numb. I pull out the senbon and notice that there is Novocain coating them . I can't help but laugh. I tell him why his leg is numb and he starts cussing while the others laugh.

A little while later we get Gai home and Hayate and I go my place. We are sitting back relaxing and discussing when he will be training Naruto, when Naruto and Kakashi walk in .

" Naruto, you better get a shower and get to sleep. You have a very busy day tomorrow. " Kakashi tells him as Naruto waves and walks to the bathroom.

We look at Kakashi, having an idea that he is ready to start bragging. "Genma, I taught Naruto the summoning jutsu and the first time he did it he summoned Shizuka."

Hayate spit his drink across the table and I almost lost my senbon. "WHAT? ARE YOU SERIOUS? NOT EVEN YOUR FATHER COULD DO THAT !!!" I was whispering loudly.

"Yeah I know, needless to say that daytime hours will be mine and Naruto's alone. At the rate he is going ..." Kakashi let the sentence fall and we both nod.

"I will start training him with swords tomorrow. After what I saw today he will be a pleasure to teach." Hayate said while looking at Kakashi as he leaned against the wall and looked at us. " Mind if I ask what you plan to do about Sasuke?" Hayate asks him.

" Well, I will help with the development of his sharingan. But, as for teaching him the things I am teaching Naruto, forget it. I refuse to teach someone my skills that is only out for revenge. However, if the need arises for him to need MY skills then yes, I will be there for him. "Again we both nod.

"Well, I need to get home and get some sleep myself. Jaa. " Kakashi let himself out.

Hayate and I look at each and smirk. " You know that he is going to do his best to make Naruto a jounin and an ANBU, then have him put on his team right ??" Hayate and I start laughing as we hear Naruto come out of the bathroom. I call him over and he tells me that he will be there after he gets dressed. About five minutes later he comes out and we tell him that Hayate will begin teaching him how to use swords.

" Thank you, Hayate-sensei. I will do my best to not disappoint you. " I am amazed by the enthusiasm that he is showing.

Hayate just smiles at Naruto and says, " I am sure that you won't and I will see you tomorrow, now get to bed."

Naruto nods and leaves the room.

About an hour later Hayate leaves and I get myself a shower and lay down on the couch. I close my eyes and immediately fall asleep.

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I am gently kissing Naruto, telling him how much I love him and want to be with him and only him. He looks up at me with his deep blue eyes and tells me that he loves me as well. He pulls away from me slightly . Suddenly his breath hitches and he falls into my arms. I go to make him stand upright and he falls to the ground . He has died just like Rai...I feel a scream erupt from me.

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I sit up and immediately go to Naruto's room. I gently brush his cheek and feel his warm breath on my hand. Suddenly, his eyes open.

"Is there something that you need, Genma?" He asks me . I back off and shake my head 'no'. " Really ? Then why are you in here?"

I can't say anything. The dream was too real and my voice is gone, all I can do is keep staring at him.

"Genma...please tell me what it is that you want. " He says as he sits up.

"I am sorry that I woke you. I just had a bad dream and wanted to make sure that you were..." I whisper.

He gives me a soft smile and gives me a small hug. I swear that my heart almost stopped from the contact. "Genma, I am fine and so are you. " He tells me as he leads me to the living room. He has me sit on the couch while he goes to the kitchen.

He places the glass of water on the table and sits next to me. He leans back against the couch and pulls me against him. He starts running his fingers through my hair. This so nice. I wish that he would do this more often. After awhile I fall back asleep.

Next thing I know, Naruto is gently shaking me awake. I look up at him and immediately jump off him. I can't have him know how I feel about him yet. He is still too young. I have to wait .