Reaching the hospital Naruto wondered what curse was placed upon him of all people to recognize him first. Why in the Hokage's name did it have to be his dad who immediately ran toward him in a panic demanding."My god what happened? Who did this?"
"Dad I'm not dead," Naruto exclaimed grimacing when the man poked and prodded his wounds.
"Naruto do you even realize how much blood you're losing.' Iruka scolded with panic instructing Hayate to place him on a bed in the room he moved to assist the other Medic-Ninjas one of the two exclaimings."Thier something wrong! The wounds are not healing."
What does that mean?"Iruka demanded placing pressure on Naruto's back.
I don't know?"The man admitted calling out bring me the sewing kit. We have no other choice, but to stitch the wounds until we figure it out.
Stitch! What does he mean?"Naruto questioned
Iruka explaining."It a crude way of closing wounds, but don't worry we will give you something before they start."
"What! but dad!"Naruto protested , he felt something pierce his skin glaring daggers he growled."What the hell did you do that for?"
"Naruto language." Iruka scolded
Feeling suddenly numb Naruto panicked"Dad what going on? Why can't I feel my legs or my arms?"
"Relax kid It's Normal. Just a bit of medicine to numb you in preparation.
Naruto just snorted before asking."Dad why can't they heal me with chakra."
"I don't know Naruto.' Iruka admitted truthfully
One Of The Two medics speaking."In order to heal a person with chakra, we need to be able to push chakra through the body. Something is blocking your chakra flows not allowing us to."
"I don't understand how can that be?"Iruka questioned glancing to make sure the medic ninja sewing his sons back was doing it properly.
Naruto didn't seem to notice his eye widen biting down on his lip
Iruka suddenly got a really bad feeling seeing that look on his son's face he questioned."Naruto! Do you know something?"
"Um maybe."Naruto admitted trying to look anywhere, but at his dad knowing this was going to happen.
"Listen, kid, if you know why your Chakras blocked you need to tell us. It will certainly save us time in healing you." A medic ninja spoke up.
"I um- well." Naruto stuttered uncertainly how to tell the truth with his dad staring at him
Iruka snapping."Naruto!"
"Please, dad swear to me your not going to get mad. I know it was stupid and I should have told you, but I kind of forgot and just wanted to know the truth "Naruto stuttered
Iruka stopping Naruto from talking in a panic he calmly spoke."Naruto it's alright. Please, you need to tell me what is going on."
"I sort of lied the other day when you asked me what happened here at the hospital." Naruto Finally Admitted
Lied? What do you mean lied?" Questioned Iruka a bit upset.
"I didn't leave the hospital because of what I said up quickly" Not that I was lying about the whole abuse thing that does happen. I swear," He quickly added seeing the disbelieving look of disappointment on his Dads' face.
"Naruto explain now!"Iruka demanded to his frighten son. Silently he wondered What Naruto had gotten his self into now.
"He said he knew my parent's. He could have hurt me when he attacked, but he didn't he just kind of placed a seal on my left hand. He promised to take it off if I met him , but I guess he forgot and I sorry dad I know I should have said something, but I know you would get angry and I was afraid I never get to find out."
Iruka eye widens swallowing with fear asking."Naruto who told you?What seal."
"I don't know! I only saw it for a placed it on my hand. I couldn't stop him, dad, I swear it just happened and I was curious cause no one would tell me the truth."
"Naruto your not making any sense. I need you to explain better."Iruka tried to calm the panicked boy
A the medic ninja interrupting ."Listen whatever the boy did or didn't do is not important. Right now I am more concerned about this seal. I need to know. What did it look like? How was it placed?
"he used some kind of an ink brush. some sort of circle with star point. I don't remember exactly it just disappeared into my hand. that's all I remember.
"Left hand."The Medic questioned
Naruto nodded the man picking up his hand forced Chakra into it the seal suddenly appeared the Medic frowning spoke."Damn I never saw a seal like this. I'm not even certain I can remove it."
"But you have to! I can't use my chakra. I could barely fight that guy when he attacked me."Naruto exclaimed
Iruka stepping in calmed him.
Naruto panicking isn't helping. Calm down we will figure this out, but I need you to explain to me what happened.
It was after you left earlier that day he just came out of the shadows like he was a part of them or something I don't know, but I tried to run only I wasn't quick enough he trapped me and slapped some kind of a seal on me. I couldn't move dad. I swear! I couldn't move or even speak."
"Alright, I believe go on,"Iruka assured him calmly.
"He said he didn't mean to hurt me. He only wanted to talk to me. He only placed the seal to make sure I couldn't escape. He swore he'd take it off of me if I came to him that night.
Naruto why didn't you say anything? Do you have any idea how dangerous that was? How foolish it was.
"I know dad! I swear I know, but he knew my Mom. He said he wanted to fulfill the promise he made to her.
"Naruto! you did not know if he was lying. I know you want to know about your parents, but you need to stop and think. You could have been seriously hurt.
"He was telling the truth dad. He proved it. He had scrolls and pictures He even had a picture of my dad."
"You didn't know that!'Iruka choked a bit in fear wondering if Naruto really knew the truth knowing in truth that he did when his son snapped."I know my Dad I know who he was. I can prove it I look like him only I didn't realize it not till I really looked at the album.
"Oh god! "Iruka eye closed
Naruto instantly knowing gasped.'You knew! All this time you knew."
"Naruto please you have to understand. I wasn't allowed to tell you. I wanted to, but I just couldn't.' Iruka tried to explain
Naruto looked at his dad with hurt asking."Why?"
"Iruka glanced at the ninja asking."Let me finish. I think my son and I need to talk."
The two nodded leaving Iruka to finish the stitching.
Naruto watched his dad thread the needle cleaning the blood he was stalling for time
Naruto snapping."You tell me to trust you, but you knew all this time and you didn't tell me."
"Iruka closed his eyes for a moment taking a deep breath he tried his best to explain."Naruto it isn't I don't trust you or that I was trying to hide this from you. I didn't have a choice ."
"Didn't have a choice! what do you mean? , Did the old man order you?' Naruto spat with anger.
"It wasn't like that! Naruto it wasn't like we were trying to hide it from you. We were just trying to protect you."
"Protect me from what?' Naruto demanded.
"Naruto who do you think your father is?' Iruka needed to confirm the truth if Naruto really did know his dad.
"If you're hoping I don't know. Your wrong turn around glanced out that window. I am sure you can see the resemblance."
Iruka didn't need to turn around knowing Naruto really did truly know his Father sigh he spoke."Alright, you know the truth. Your right the fourth Hokage was your Father. There is no use denying it, but please understand your Father was powerful Naruto as many people respected and loved was an equal number of those who hated him"
"So that is the big reason! Everyone lied to me."Naruto scoffed with anger.
"Naruto we were not trying to lie to you! We were trying to protect you. If word got out, Can you imagine just as many who loved him how many hated him and what would have happened."
Naruto suddenly realized what his Dad meant his anger dissipating he blushed ashamed replying."I would have been targeted by his enemies. That's why no one told me."
"Yes, Naruto. please don't be anger. I just couldn't stand the thought of knowing at any minute I could lose you because some idiot wanted to take revenge on a man who has already passed on.
"I guess I understand, but Dad that still doesn't make it fair I should have been told why couldn't you have trusted that I wouldn't have said anything to anyone.'
"I understand I swear I do and I know I hurt you that we all hurt you and I am so sorry Naruto, but you did the same you didn't trust me enough to tell me what was going on."
Naruto blushed again in guilt admitting."It's just I was afraid Dad. I was afraid you would make him go away. Then I wouldn't have ever known about my parents. I never told anyone this, but I hated the fact everyone had someone to go to or, at least, knew something about their past, but me I was just some bastard kid with no family no history.
"Oh Naruto.'Iruka dropped the needle reaching up he pulled Naruto in his arms holding him tightly saying.'I'm so sorry. I never realized you felt that way. Hurting you was the last thing on my mind. please believe me. All I wanted to do is protect you. I couldn't stand the thought of losing you .'
"It's my fault too Dad. I guess I should have told you. I should have trusted you enough to not be so afraid. It's just so hard. I try I really do, but I never really had anyone before and I guess it's just a habit of doing everything on my own sometimes.
"It is a bad habit." Iruka sighed pulled away he gripped Naruto chin forcing the boy to look into his eyes he spoke with care and truth."Naruto swear to me from now on you will never hide anything from me again."
"I swear."Naruto truthfully replied knowing he meant it and he had a lot to make up for.
Together the two hugged before Iruka pulled away tears stinging the corner of his eye he gave a soft smile saying."I need to get you stitched up. Then into bed. I need to talk with the Medic ninjas about what we can do about that seal.
"Dad I really am sorry. I wouldn't blame you if you punish me."
"I think this time just so long as you mean to keep your promise Thier no need for punishment," Iruka admitted assuring the boy with a smile
Naruto just gave a small smile in return wondering how he could ever have hurt his Dad like that. He really did love the man more than life. Turning his attention to watching his Dad sewing him up skillfully he questioned ."Hey, Dad where did you learn to sew so good."
Iruka chuckled saying."When you have as many students who I did wrecking havoc there always seems to be a rip in clothing that needed to be fixed. I learned by experience.
" I don't remember you ever sewing before," Naruto questioned with confusion.
"Well, students tend to be embarrassed so I always make sure to give them their you, I have to admit I never once had to stitch any of your clothing up."
Naruto blushed confessing."That's because I did it myself."
Iruka was a bit surprised saying."You know how to sew."
" I had to learn. It wasn't like there was anyone to do it for me. Besides I didn't have much money to buy new clothes so I learned quickly."
Iruka studied his son face sadly offering a smile filled with love whispering."You always have me now."
"I know at least I'm learning."Naruto grinned at his father Shyly his different color eye reflecting his own feelings of love Iruka smiled before turning back to the job at hand
It was not soon after Iruka had Naruto tucked securely in bed. Placing him in a private room he dosed Naruto with pain medication the anesthetic wearing off. Smoothing his bangs he whisper saying."Go to sleep Son I'll watch over you.
kissing his son's head, he tucked him in tightly smiling he left the room Leaving the boy to rest, before moving in search of a medic ninja to discuss the seal.