Difficult Engagements

Chapter 15

Naruto POV

Unwanted Visitor.

I look around; I'm in my fathers office again, the room is completely filled in shadow. A tall man grabbed me from behind and pulled on top of the desk. I can't get a good look at him. My eyes refuse to focus.

"Do you know how embarrassing you are?" The words surround me like venom seiring into my skin.

"I-dont…know?" it's getting hard to breathe, I keep trying to fill my lungs with shallow breaths. It's too cold here. So many eyes are on me now, it's like they are feasting on the sight of my exposed body. My tails try to cover me up like a blanket.

"Can you stop staring? It's embarrassing." I beg. The glint in his eyes looks like he wants to devour me whole in front of all of these watchers.

The beast lunges at me, sharp teeth bared, stopping at the juncture at my neck. I feel the sharp pointed daggers starting to press down one my flesh. One bite is all it really takes and I'm marked for life.

"I want to leave my mark on you." someone says into my neck. My instincts take over. I started to slash out. This gets him to back off for a short second.

Tears start falling from my eyes, there is nothing I can do. It seems like he predicted this reaction because the guards already had each one of my limbs. Two are yanking my legs apart with their sharp nails digging into my thighs.

"Just relax." the faceless man says to me.

I am so scared, I scream, "What… are you…doing?!"

"Do not struggle." the man with the canine grin said, as more hands held me down.

"Pleessee… please, please." I keep begging for him to stop.

"Relax." This is really happening. He won't stop. Fingers lace into my hair dragging my head back to expose my neck. Teeth find their way to that spot again again before -

A weight is next to me, the air thickens becoming saturated with heat rising from the dry ocher colored ground. It feels as if the waves of heat are lazily rolling over my body in a protective manner. Hidden deep in the warmth of the is the refreshing hint of cleansing water.

The gentle water washes over my body, and sends me into a clearing. I am outside now, warm earth beneath my feet. For the first time in a long time, I feel free.

I blink open my eyes.

Only to find teal eyes staring down back into my own.

"Naruto, did you have a nightmare?" the red haired man above me asked.

I quickly shut my eyes pretending I never woke in the first place. After last night I didn't want to face Gaara again.

The Kazekage is tentatively sitting on the edge of my bed. His hand caressing my face, thumbs tracing the scars on my cheek. Trying to gently wake me while I desperately struggled to stay asleep, fighting each and every attempt to wake up.

"I know you're awake." the man said with pure confidence, "I just want to talk."

I don't want to hear any of this. I just wanted to go back to my old life with Itachi.

"Naruto, please, just open your eyes." hearing this man beg was getting on my nerves.

Doesn't he know I don't want to see him after last night. I just want to be left alone. Gaara shook my body a bit and this was the last straw.

I jerk my body forward shouting, "Get out of here!"

In this action I slapped Gaara's hands away from my body. Pissed that he would even consider coming into my room, let alone touch me again.

"Naruto, I just want to talk." He pleaded, it sounds like he's not familiar with this.

If he really is like my father like everyone says, I am sure it is the first time he's begged like this. I've heard if the Kazekage doesn't get his way he has no problem killing for it, but he can't kill me, he still needs me, my body. He wants a family, and the only way he's getting it is using my body.

I'm going to be sick.

"I don't want to hear it! You took it too far last night!" I don't know if he understands me through my anger.

I loved my dad, but I didn't ever want to end up like him. Fearing the person you are supposed to love is not a part of my plan. My former plan was to live a long and happy life with Itachi. My new plan is… well it hasn't been made, but I sure as hell don't want it to be spent in fear.

Gaara attempted to grab me again, before he could I pushed him onto the floor.

Fuck. I shouldn't have done that.

"I'm sorry, Lord Kazekage!" I apologized quickly, not wanting to get hit or worse.

"No, Naruto, it's my fault. I did something wrong to you last night." He said while on the floor, before he hoisted himself up just enough so he could be at eye level with me. "I'm sorry."

I don't want to listen to him, I just want everything to go back to normal.

"Naruto, please, liste-"

"Shut up! You don't mean it." I knew from his dad's life that apologies meant shit, not that Kyuubi ever apologized.

"Naruto, I do mean what I say. I am sorry for my behavior last night. I lost control, and I hurt you." He said with clenched teeth full of fear.

He means this. He's sorry… that doesn't make it alright.

"I know that doesn't make it alright." can he read my mind, "but I do want this to work with you. You're going to be my mate and I don't want you to be afraid of me. If you give me one more chance, I will make it right."

He's telling the truth. I don't know why, but I want to trust him. I shouldn't. He hurt me. But it's not like I have much of a choice either way, I am promised to this man. Dad says I should try to appease him to avoid getting hurt.

"Fine one last chance. If you do anything to scare me like that again, I will never forgive you." I explained, knowing I can't actually leave him, I just had to make the best of the bad situation.

"Thank you." Gaara said sincerely, his body seems to relax fully at my forgiveness.

"Let's try to make a new beginning," I held out my hand. "Hi, my name is Naruto and it's a pleasure to meet you. "

Gaara smiled at that, it's actually pretty nice, "Hello, Naruto. My name is Gaara, it's a pleasure to meet you."

"Can I join you? Or would you like to go back over there?" He's so awkward and shy now as he points over to my window seat - I don't want to go back there.

"You can sit on my bed, but you have to keep your distance. No touching me unless I say so." I lay down my ground rules, I don't know if he'll follow them.

"Of course. Umm.. Thank you, by the way." he said awkwardly sitting on the edge of my bed again.

"Huh?"

"For trusting me again, after last time." he sounds so sad, I hate it.

"Uggh, we're starting over, that didn't happen. If you mean what you said, and you don't do anything like that again, then it didn't happen." I don't want to be reminded of it.

He just sadly chuckles to himself, "Yeah…"

"So," trying to start over, "what's it like in Suna?"

It's not too hard to imagine that it's the first time we're meeting. We're both still in the same clothes from last night. I guess that means he slept in his clothes too. He dressed so weird yesterday, we didn't match at all. The redhead was prepared for a battle, and I for a nice dinner. One of us got the wrong memo.

"It's a dessert, a lot of people don't like that, but I think you'd like it there." he sounds far off now, but the Alphas voice is much gentler than before.

"Why?"

"I know a lot of places there I think you'd probably enjoy." there's a faint smile on his face.

"Like… Where?" I want to get some hint of what this place is really like.

"There are too many places to list off. When you live there I'll take you to all of them. How does that sound?" It's like he's intentionally not telling me anything.

"I mean, I guess it sounds alright… But, like, I still don't know anything about the place. Like, what should I even expect?"

"You'll complain about the heat… After a while, though, you won't mind it. I think you'll like the scenery. There's actually a really good spot I know. You'll be able to see the entire city." he says as if recalling memories rather than discussing future plans.

"Oh? How big is the city?" Maybe I'll get something more from this.

"It's gotten a lot bigger over the last couple of years, actually. Since I've taken over I've been able to repair a lot of the damage that has been done."

"Huh, What happened?"

"My father."

"Oh… I understand that."

"I figured you would. I know Kyuubi's not the greatest either."

"Yeah."

A quiet lull comes over us for a bit, before I just spit out, "... So, you want a big family?"

"Oh, fuck, I didn't mean for you to hear that." he pauses for a second trying to find the right words, "Honestly, I don't know, I kinda just said that because I knew it would piss off Kyuubi."

"Huh?" He just wanted to piss my father off?

"I could tell he was insecure about not having a big family, so I used it against him. I really haven't thought too much about family, at least not yet."

"Then why are you looking for a mate?"

"I'm not looking for a mate."

"That's a weird thing to say to your future mate." I try to joke.

"I wasn't looking for any mate, I was looking for you." he said it so seriously.

"Why?"

He thinks it over for a few seconds, "I have this plan… and it involves you."

"What plan could you have that would possibly involve me?"

"I probably shouldn't tell you this, especially not here, but it's not like he doesn't already know, so I guess it wouldn't hurt. I'm going to kill Kyuubi and take over Konoha." he shrugs it off like this declaration of future war was nothing, "Both of those things are easier if you're by my side."

"Oh. Why are you telling me this?" Is this a test?

"Kyuubi is the same asshole he's always been. I don't think you'd want to stop me." he shrugs again, then looks me in the eyes "If anything, I thought you'd help."

I look down and break eye contact, "I don't think I'd be of much help."

He softly chuckles, "I think you would."

He breaks one of my rules, and touches my chin pulling my face up so I would look at him again.

"Why do you want to kill him?" I still don't look into his eyes.

"I could say he's been destroying everything he comes across and it's better for everyone if he's dead." he smirks, "but really it's just personal reasons."

"You're breaking one of my rules." I don't know if I want to know the personal reasons he's talking about.

"Huh? Oh, sorry." he quickly realizes what he's done and let's go.

"It's okay."

"If it was okay, you wouldn't have made it a rule." He reminds me.

"... I guess, yeah."

"I'll be better at it, I promise. It's going to be a little hard for me, so please, give me some leeway. I want to be physically affectionate with you."

"You don't seem the physically affectionate type." I don't know why I said this… I don't want to provoke him.

"I'm not, usually." he pauses again looking for the right words, "Around you, I want to be."

"You're weird." Why did I say that?

"Yeah, I guess so." He just breathlessly chuckled out.

Gaara waits for a second before saying, "Did you actually like the gift?"

"Huh?"

"The courting gift," he said plainly, pushing the words away as if embarrassed.

"Oh." I don't know how to respond to this, I try to joke "I think the troops were a bit overkill."

"Temari thought so, too."

"Who?"

"Oh, right… She's my sister. You'll love her and hate her at the same time."

"You got a sister?"

"Yeah, I have an older sister and brother. You'll meet them when you finally join me in Suna." he pauses, "Tamari takes over internal affairs when I'm not there. So she gets a little testy when I return, so don't hold that against her, okay?"

"I won't… Man, you're lucky, I wish I had siblings. It gets really lonely here sometimes."

There's such a pained look on his face before he says, "I know it's not the same, but I'm sure they'll consider you their brother in no time."

Gaara's a lot more gentle than he was last night, but he looks so hurt talking to me. He's way too honest, too. I don't know if he trusts me or if he's just confident enough to think he can really do that. Probably that one, he's em'the next great conqueror'/em after all.

But I feel a little safer with him, and if he's going to be honest with me, "Why did you act that way last night?"

"It's not an excuse, okay, but I just got off a rut and I think I still had some aggression built from it. I'm sorry… I should have wa-'' He fumbles over each of his words with the next ones that fall from his mouth. I guess that explains a little bit of it; I know alphas are supposed to be a bit more aggressive around that time.

"But you kept saying I should know who you are…"

"Yeah, umm, we were friends… When we were little kids." he says this so hesitantly as if he's afraid of what will happen.

"I don't reme-"

The Kazekage frantically talked over me, "It's okay that you don't remember, I shouldn't have expected you to. We were really little. Don't worry about it."

He seems really hurt that I don't remember, "but-"

"Please. Don't worry about it."

I am worried about it, "You said I've been to Suna, is that how you know what places I'd like?"

"Nar-" before he continued that thought, "Yeah, it is. We were little kids, so I don't expect you to remember this, okay, but you came over with your father. I took you on a tour of the city while our parents had a meeting. You really liked it."

"I'm sorry." I say, even though he tells me not to worry about it. Gaara seems so upset that I don't remember him… even if we were just little kids.

"Huh? Oh. Don't be." he shakes his head as if trying to shake off the feeling, but he can't shake away the sadness. It's overwhelming and unbearable, I can practically feel it in its entirety from here. It's a dark pit of despair that seems impossible to get out of.

I hate it.

I hate this feeling.

My head hurts so much. Everything's starting to feel so far away. And despite all of that, right now, all I can think of is trying to help Gaara. I have to push through this, to help him.

He's so sad.

Instinctually I place my wrist over the glands in his neck. I might have made a mistake, as his eyes widened in shock, by this sudden form of affection I gave him. It doesn't take long for him to relax into it.

Our scents mix together lightly. There's not enough of mine to over power his, just enough to try to relax him. I don't even know if he likes my scent, but I let them mix, my orange blossom trees to be rooted in his thick moist earth. I think they mix well together.

His eyes look hopeful, "... Can I?"

I don't know what he's asking, but I nod yes.

An arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me forward to quickly embrace me into a hug. My chest pressed against his, the new closeness pushing the glands on my wrist closer to the ones on his neck. His head finds its way to rest against my shoulder.

Is he going for my neck?

It's too soon. My body fully freezes. I can't breathe. Everything feels fast and slow at the same time. The pain slowly forming in my stomach gets worse.

He notices my anxiety, "Sorry."

His breath isn't against my neck, he wasn't going for that… he just wanted to hug me. He loosens his grip on me, but doesn't let go. He doesn't lift his head up either. He doesn't want to leave this, but he's readying himself for me to tell him to.

"Don't be… I… over reacted." I try to steady my breath, "It was just really fast."

It's just a hug. He's sad and he just wanted a hug.

I can do that.

I feel his breath hitch in his chest as I rub the glands in his neck one more time before wrapping my arms around his shoulders. I closed the gap between us. Gaara body slacks into me when he realizes I'm not pulling away.

"just… Just be slower next time." I pleaded with him.

"I can do that." He makes true on that promise, slowly moving his arms around my back to keep me close.

It feels nice.

Before anything else happens between us a crow pecked at the window trying to get our attention. It doesn't seem like Gaara wants to let go, but he does.

Walking over to the window he opened it slightly to allow the creature in, as soon as it could, the bird fluttered its way into the room. Gaara reached for the parchment on his leg with no objection, the second the letter was in his hand the bird flew off.

Whatever is on that note makes him mad. His brows furrow deeper at each line his teal eyes scan over. His knuckles fully whiten at the grip he has on it when he's done reading.

"Naruto, I have to leave." Gaara said, trying to hold back his anger in his voice.

"Why?" things were going well for a minute.

"It's important that I talk to Kyuubi now." he steadied the anger in his voice to a determined tone.

"Okay. Well. Bye." Of course he won't tell me - no one ever does.

"I'll let you know when I'm done dealing with him." he said as he left my room. I could feel that it took everything in him to not slam the door as he left.

I'm not given any time to think about what just happened, as Haku's voice rings through the door "Naruto, are you up?"

"Yeah I am."

Kyuubi POV

The Kyuubi was a patient man, especially when it came to his own family. He was well aware of their many downfalls, but chose to love and care for them nonetheless. Protecting his family was not an easy task as there were always new threats appearing upon the horizon.

Today's threat comes in the form of a familiar crow making its way to his son's is no mistake of who that crow belongs to, Uchiha Itachi. The black bird of death had fixed to his leg a small note that had potential to end a newly formed alliance.

The brilliant red fox had to fix this problem before it had more potential to spread. He quickly sprung to action, leaving his bed that held his sleeping lover.

"Nnann... What is it Kyuubi?" Kyuubi's beautiful blonde fox wondered, stirring from his deep slumber.

"None of your business." He said not wanting his mate to know the truth, in fear it might worry his fragile disposition.

As beautiful as he is, he could be very problematic when he had his own ideas.

If Minato knew that Itachi was alive, then the plan with the Kazekage would go down the drain. The Flame and The Wind would eventually get into another war that only held catastrophic ends.

As the great protector of his family, Kyuubi must be the one that baers this burden alone.

"I'm going to start work early." He said while going to their closet to gather the clothes for today, as last night's festivities left him in such a disarray as far as appearance goes.

While looking at himself in the mirror to ensure his besments were correct, the fox spotted his mate's reflection. A curious expression so plainly on his face.

"Stop wondering." He tried to persuade his lover to stay in his own realm. The man always seemed to make problems worse if he were given the chance.

Kyuubi left the bedroom for his office to prepare for what was coming. He took inventory of everything he had at his disposal for the upcoming battle. It did not take long for his opponent to make an appearance.

"Kyuubi, explain." the Kazekage said firmly while he slammed a small paper on his desk as if it were a decoration of war.

"My sources were unreliable. Don't worry, even if Naruto knows it won't affect this deal." he reassures the other. The foxes' most valued resource is very easy to control, despite how it appears to others.

"He doesn't know."

"Then why are you so impatient?" business was much easier the less the blonde foxes in his life knew. He could take his time with deals, and ensure everything was fair for all parties.

"Because your team confirmed that the Uchiha was dead. After I squashed their potential coup." the younger said with cold malice dripping from each word, as he was never one able to control his emotions.

If the Kazekage ever were to learn such a feat he truly would be a remarkable foe. Unfortunately, even with the years of separation it did not seem like he would ever be able to conquer such a thing. As what always happens when the other loses control, sand pours out from his gourd slowly covering the floors and walls. Such a fragile attempt to feel safe from the outside invasion.

"It was supposed to be a gesture of goodwill. Helping you with something that could have ended in a civil war large enough to dismantle everything you've ever made. I could have waited for that and picked up the scraps of your country after the dust settled." The Kazekage very easily could have waited for exactly that if he was not ruled by his tragic flaw.

"I did this for Naruto. Then, I get here, Naruto doesn't remember me at all. The Uchiha, his previous suitor, isn't dead. And you expect me to be calm." The sand has finally accumulated enough mass to make a full box around the room, trapping the two Kage's inside.

"You have nothing to worry about." the fox placating his opponents emotions, before things could be shifted into a disastrous ending.

"I hope not. You might not be in the middle of a civil war right now Kyuubi," the Kazekage reminds him, "but one of your greatest military strengths has been destroyed. The only reason you aren't being picked apart by your neighboring countries right now is my public support and engagement to your son."

"Naruto is still yours." The brilliant fox tried to reassure him, "You are right though, it is very dangerous here for my son. I think it's best for him to return to Sunagakure with you. It's a little unceriomonal, but so are the circumstances."

As expected the news seems to calm the younger down as sand starts retreating back into his gourd, the walls start to be more exposed. The exits are still strategically blocked off.

"Remember Kyuubi. My troops are helping rebuild after your little terrorist attack not too far from the place you sleep. If anything else threatens this union between me and your son, you are surrounded. I won't hesitate." the last of the sand is returned.

"I want his death confirmed." were the last words the Kazekage said before he left.

Kyuubi had to plan his next course of action wisely. There were still traces of the other man's sand in this room without knowing if that was a residue or if it was intentional, Kyuubi couldn't risk it. He presses a button on his desk.

"Call Haku and Zabuza to get Minanto. I also need the Akatsuki here." He lets go of the button sitting back down in his chair. Hands folded wondering how to get out of this mess he made for himself.

It seems, as predicted, his opponent's weakness is now, and will always be, Naruto. Offering up his greatest asset to his current opponent wasn't ideal, but it was a necessary step for future plans. He was hoping that the mere promise of this asset would be enough, but times have changed.

The quick witted fox was always good at adapting to change.

Eventually Minato, the light of his life, joins closely followed by Haku and Zabuza. The blonde beauty is fully dressed head to toe in white. His gorgeous hair is pulled back and tied up showing off his face, he left the bruise uncovered by makeup. Kyuubi's mate is trying to send a message, and as always, it's not the time for his foolish whims.

"Kyuubi. Is this about the letter?" Minato asked in a room full of witnesses, making a point to the piece of paper that remained on his desk. The Declaration of War.

"Yes." Kyuubi says, "Some of the Akatsuki members spotted some of the Sound Militia outside the capitol. We will be using some of the Kazekages troops to help us deal with them. In the meantime we need to ensure Naruto is safe."

"He's leaving with Gaara, isn't he?" Minato usually caught on to most plans, "Are you sure that's a good idea? We don't know how he'll react to Sunagakure…"

"It's the best option for us now. Haku will learn how to handle anything if it comes up, there are scrolls in the library that have all the information you need. Study them fast." He then makes an aside to give the closest thing to a compliment to his husband. "I just need you to be the one to tell Naruto, you're good at breaking this sort of news to him."

"Naruto needs to understand the importance of his job. Make sure he knows that." The kindness was quickly replaced with a firm reminder.

"I understand." Minato says, taking his hair down letting it cover his face as much as possible.

"The Kazekage's official caravan will leave in a week with all of the proper fanfare. We are having the two of them slip out before the official leave. That hopefully will allow them to travel in the security of secrecy. Haku and Zabbuza will be escorting them as well as a few Sand Nin." The sly fox tells them the part of the plan that pertains to them.

Minato leaves first, followed by the two former Mist Nin. The blonde seems to have some new found determination in his eyes. His beautiful eyes always shine brightly no matter the circumstance.

My Dear Naruto,

Since I have left you, my thoughts were consumed with the promise of when I would return to you. My happiness is reliant on being with you. The memories of your soft caresses and affectionate embrace are all I have to hold me over until the next time we meet.

Your charms and quick wit are what keep this flame inside me alive. Everyday I dream of the day I will rekindle the fire of my life with you. I hope you never forget what you mean to me. I will spend every day upon my return, ensuring that you are reminded of my love for you.

I am terribly sorry that this is the way you must receive this information. If I could, I would tell you all of this in person. Unfortunately, at this moment I have more pressing matters to attend to here. I want you to know that I am alive and I love you dearly. We can not meet up with each other for a while. I need you to keep pretending I am dead, but I could not stand to keep this information away from you any longer.

It is safer for the both of us that way.

With all my love

Itachi

3rd POV

"Lord Kazekage." Minato finds him in the garden sitting alone, he notes a stillness in the other's mindset, "This is where you two first met isn't it?"

"Yeah." the anger from before calming to a melancholy.

"You two were so little black then." the blonde lets himself get lost in a memory, "I was so worried you two wouldn't get along, ya know? Kyuubi made it seem like such a big deal that you two had to get along."

"My dad did the same." he paused, "Almost called it off entirely."

"Your father was a big worrier."

"You could call it that." a curt tone in his voice reminding both of them what he's done.

Minato tries to laugh it off, "Then I will. He worried way too much, you guys got along just fine."

"Yeah, we were really good friends."

"You were. I'm sorry… we should have warned you about his memory loss." The older one says trying to pick up the conversation from the night before.

"What happens if he does try to remember?" he asked instead of lashing out.

"It's best not to even try." not wanting to get the other one false hope, "The last time someone told him about it he freaked out."

"Was it really that bad?"

"…He… umm… well, he tried to kill himself."

"Oh," the realization of reality sinking in.

"We decided it's best to remove him from anything that might remind him of that time. It seemed to help..."

"I understand." the red head pauses again, thinking more, "Am I even safe for him?"

"I don't know."

The two just sit in a comfortable silence for a while, each thinking over the reality of their world.

The bruise lightly hidden on the older man's face reminds the other all that the blonde man has to put up with. The state of the other gives more conviction to the Kazekage's original plans.

The redhead promised, "I'll make sure he's safe in Suna."

"I'm sorry," Minato says in shame.

Gaara moved his hand to push the hair from the other person's face exposing the fresh injury more, "Does he do this to Naruto?"

"He started a few years ago." the blonde's head falls completely defeated by years of unchecked abuse, "I try my best to stop it… but I'm not strong enough. Please just take care of him."

"I will." the younger man promises again, before he let himself think, "Kyuubi always wins. Doesn't he?"

"Not always… but most of the time yes."

Before the Kazekage can ask for clarification the other continues talking, "Thank you for your time, Lord Kazekage. I have to talk to my son, he has to know it's not safe here for him."

It was never safe there for the two of them.

Minato finds his way into his son's room, the door left open. Haku had dressed his son in another larger loose knit sweater and shorts combo, assuming it was going to be a light day. He chose colors of a deep crimson red and sand brown, to be reminiscent of the Kazekages home.

"Naruto, you're going to be leaving with the Kazekage tonight. It's no longer safe for you here, they've spotted some of the same people from the terrorist faction around our city." Minatio decides to just rip the bandaid off.

Naruto examines the injured body of his dad as a reflection of his future self. Standing before him is the perfect looking glass of what his future holds for him. Bruised and broken stuck in a loveless marriage designed to tourcher him at every step.

Taking in the lesson that was meant for Kyuubi, Naruto responds "I don't want to."

"You have to."

"So I can end up like you?!" The younger one accused his dad, "So I can have some unhinged redhead order me around like you do?!"

"Don't worry you will never end up like me." Minato knew his life was nothing to covet.

"I think you might have a chance with Gaara, you two used to be very close." Minato tries to reassure him, forgetting of course of his son's memory loss.

"Why do you guys keep saying that? I just met him yesterday." He shouts.

"You don't have a choice. Naruto if you stay here you will end up like me. Kyuubi will make sure of it. You remember what he did a few months ago? It gets worse. It will get worse if you stay. You've seen what he's done to me." Minatio reminds him of the very real situation he is in, "If you leave you at least have a chance to be something else. I don't know what Gaara-kun is like now, but I do know what will happen if you stay."

This seemed to shock Naruto into the reality of his own life. He was always afraid of ending up like his dad stuck in a situation he couldn't leave. He was too worried about the future to notice that he was in that exact situation now.

Itachi used to be his hope out of this fate… but he was dead.

If he didn't leave now he would be stuck.

"You get it now?"

"Yeah…" the younger one was defeated.

"I'm sorry." Minato says one last time.

"I know."