AN: Takes place in the "Ours" universe. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Don't own.

Four days later...

Iruka looked at Minoru, and watched him as he picked at his breakfast. He frowned and it went completely unnoticed. To say that their son was distracted, would be an understatement. Something was on their son's mind that had him so out of sorts that even his training with his Uncles have been taking a toll on him. He was coming back from his training sessions more sore and bruised than Iruka and Kakashi had yet to see. His dads also noticed their son's lack of sleep mainly due to the random uncontrollable yawns throughout the day. It was unlike their son, he wasn't being his usual energetic self, and it was rather worrying.

The last time Iruka saw him in this state was when he first unlocked his abilities, Minoru had thought there was something wrong with him, that he had done something terrible. The young boy lost sleep and his appetite, and even stopped training. Even after much reassurance from his friends and family. It wasn't until Kakashi asked Naruto to talk to him, from experience, to help his young son to understand that there was absolutely nothing wrong with him. And he did. Naruto talked to him, spoke about his past and the people that helped him get through it. How he knew exactly how he felt, how he once felt different, as if there was something wrong with him too.

"But look at me now!" Naruto had told him simply.

Not until then did Minoru accept himself, and willingly began his training.

So, it was worrying, to see the young man like this. To see him so distracted.

"Not hungry?" Iruka asked gently, and watched as his son took a half hearted bite of his eggs.

"Kind of."

Iruka studied him for a moment before continuing, "Something bothering you?" Minoru sighed in response and shook his head, "hmm are you sure?" Iruka gently, and blue eyes glanced at him before he took another bite. There was a long silence before his son spoke.

"Would you...," Minoru hesitated, "I mean. I know you did..." He picked at his eggs for a moment, and sighed, "Is it worth risking... A friendship for something more?"

A warm smile tugged on Iruka's lips, because part of him - a small part of him - knew, "Well, for me it was," he watched as Minoru's fork paused for a moment, "You know, Kakashi-dad and I were good friends before we started dating, and yes, at first I didn't know if it was a good idea. Oh, but am I glad we took that chance." His smile widened at the memories, "I can honestly say, that I don't know where I -let alone Kakashi - would be if we didn't... For one thing, we wouldn't have you in our lives," dark blue eyes turned to him, and his son gave him a soft smile.

Iruka thought about his words before continuing, "I think... It's important to consider the what if's. If you don't, will you regret it? Will you forever wonder what could have been? Can you even phantom the thought of them being snatched up by someone else?" Dark blue eyes turned to him, the young face looked more serious than usual, "Are you willing to pass up on something that has the potential of being...well... Amazing?"

Minoru's gaze had moved while his dad spoke, he looked at the plate of food that was turning cold. He let the words sink in, and let him mind wonder to Naruto. His best friend. The one that he had gone through so much with. The one that was more than happy to help him with his training. The one that knew what to say or do when he needed some cheering up. The one that had his back despite the situation. The one that he missed more than he should when he was away. The one that he took care of - after much banter - when the older man would manage to get sick. The one that he could spend hours talking about who knows what with, or hours in comfortable silence.

A long while passed until Iruka casually cleared his throat, "Are you going to see Naruto before he leaves?" He said in the most off handed way he possibly could, as if he had just remembered. The question earned him a confused looked from his son, "He didn't tell you?" Minoru's brows furrowed in question, "That he's leaving for an assignment for about a week he said. I think he said he's leaving around noon."

"I - no he didn't, I guess he forgot to mention it." Minoru frowned down at his plate, and glanced up at the clock that told him it was nearly ten.

For some reason, the thought of Naruto leaving, even if it was for a short period of time, didn't sit well with him. He didn't know what kind of assignment it was, or when Naruto knew about it, let alone why he didn't tell him.

Do you hate me? For what I did?

He swallowed when his heart skipped a beat in his chest. He glanced at the clock again and back down to his food. He needed to see him. He stood, apparently a bit too suddenly when he received a questioning yet amused look from his dad, "uh - I - uh," he felt himself blush when his dad gave him a knowing smile, "I have to go."

Iruka nodded and watched as Minoru left the kitchen and popped back around the entrance. He quirked an eyebrow in response.

"Thank you, Iru-dad."

Iruka's smile widened and couldn't stop the chuckle that left his throat, " Go!" He encouraged. He chuckled to himself and shook his head as he ate a strawberry that he has cut that morning.

Moments later Kakashi wandered into the kitchen, scratching at the back of his neck.

"You weren't kidding about sleeping in, huh?"

He smiled at his amused husband and his eyes fell on the almost full plate and then back to Iruka, "I thought Minoru was here?"

Iruka smiled as he ate another strawberry, "You might want to sit down."

Minoru sighed and glared at the door in front of him. Just do it - knock! And he didn't. He ran a frustrated hand through his hair and glared at the door again. With a slight nod to himself he raised his hand right when the door swung open to narrowed eyes and a furrowed brows.

"You've been out here for at least five minutes. Were you going to knock, or do you need some more time with my door?" Naruto gave the younger man an amused smile.

Minoru mock rolled his eyes, "Can't a man admire another man's door without being questioned?"

Naruto chuckled and opened the door wider, "Get in."

Minoru followed the older man into the well sized apartment, which had the floorplan of a studio more than anything. The entrance led to a small living room, with enough space for a three seat couch with a good sized TV across from it near the wall, and a smaller one seat sofa couch next to it. There was a coffee table and a makeshift side table made out of a crate, and behind the living room space was the relatively small kitchen, with an open counter that looked into the living room. The kitchen had a small adjoined dining room that sat in a corner with a table for two next to a nice sized window. The room flowed into the bedroom that Naruto separated with a moveable three screen wall that effectively hid a good three quarters of the bed, a nightstand, and the door to the bathroom. The adjacent wall had a window that Minoru was very fond of; it let in a beautiful amount of light and breezes during the day and filtered just the right amount of light during the night. It was one of his favorite spots to draw, either under it while sitting on the bed, or at the desk that sat at the foot of it. On the opposite wall sat a dresser where framed photos of friends sat on top of it along with random knick-knacks from Naruto's traveling. On the wall hung different jackets on hooks and some of Minoru's drawings and paintings.

It would be an understatement to say that Minoru liked his apartment. He was very fond of it, every piece of it, especially the man that lived in it.

He followed Naruto to the bedroom side of the apartment, and leaned on the sturdy desk as his eyes fell on the gear on the bed, "I heard you're leaving?"

The corner of Naruto's mouth pulled into a smirk, "Yeah," he checked one of his packs, "shouldn't take too long though." He checked another pack before looking up at the younger man who seemed to be doodling on a piece of paper he found on his desk. He studied him for a moment before continuing his packing.

"Alone?"

Naruto groaned, "With Lee...again."

Minoru chuckled and drew a shuriken on the paper he was pretty sure wasn't important.

Naruto scratched at the back of his neck while he mentally checked everything. He looked at the younger man, watched as a pale hand effortlessly drew a realistic shuriken on the piece of paper. He always enjoyed watching the younger man draw, let alone paint. It was one of the things he didn't know how to do, and Minoru had a raw talent for it. He kept every drawing the younger man gave him, or left forgotten in his apartment, he still had some from when Minoru was younger

He glanced at the clock and was glad that he still had more than an hour before he had to leave, "Did you need anything before I leave?" The pale hand paused before setting the pen down. Midnight blue eyes turned to him and the younger man's lips pulled into a smile.

"Yeah," Minoru answered, "... There's something." He pushed away from the desk and closed the distance between them. He didn't let himself think twice about it, he just let it happen. He reached up, cupping the blonde's jaw and pulled the older man down to make up for the couple of inches of height difference and locked their lips together. He felt Naruto's breath hitch in surprised, and a second of hesitation before the soft lips kissed him back. He sighed into the kiss when he felt hands fall to his waist. He reluctantly pulled away, he could feel he was blushing but he couldn't bring himself to care, and he wasn't the only one that was.

Their eyes locked, and Naruto couldn't help the smile that tugged on his lips when he noticed the glow in the younger man's eyes. The hands on his jaw fell away to his shoulders, and he saw the slight uncertainty on the younger man's face.

"I don't want to be scared, Naruto," Minoru said softly, "I don't want fear to keep me from something that can be... Great." Naruto smiled at him, a hand came up to cup his cheek, and he naturally leaned into the touch. "Do you think it's a risk?" He asked after a moment, and a thumb brushed under his eye and vaguely wondered if they flickered.

"A risk? No. A chance? Yes." Dark blue eyes looked at him questioningly, "The word risk implies that you can lose something... And I really don't think we would." He smiled at the flicker he saw in the dark eyes, "You're my best friend, Minoru. And I wouldn't want to do this with anyone else."

Minoru felt a flutter in his heart and pulled Naruto into another kiss, and couldn't help the smile that pulled on his lips when he felt the other pair do the same.

When they pulled away, a bit too breathless, Minoru smiled against the older man's lips, "I could get used to this," he whispered and felt Naruto's chuckle. He pulled away away, cerulean eyes looked at him, "Can I treat you to ramen before you leave?" He asked with a grin.

"Now that's something I can never say no to."

They left Naruto's apartment, with everything he needed for his assignment in tow. They reached the ramen shop and ordered their regulars. Once they started eating, Naruto looked at Minoru long enough for the younger man to give him a questioning look as he ate his noodles.

"Can I ask you something?"

Minoru swallowed and nodded, "When can you not though..."

"True," he ate another mouthful before continuing, "How long were we being idiots?" He gestured between them with his chopsticks.

Minoru choked on noodles when he laughed, "Oh god," he wiped at his eye, "Do you want to play a guessing game?"

Naruto looked up in thought, "Two?"

Minoru quirked an eyebrow, "Two... What?"

"Years?"

Minoru felt himself blush and shook his head, "Three?"

It was Naruto's turn to blush, and shook his head, and then narrowed his eyes, "For you... Three years?"

Minoru swallowed his food, and nodded slowly, and halfheartedly glared at the older man's smug look, "...Four?" He ventured and he chuckled mischievously when the older man slowly nodded.

"That long, huh?" Naruto ate another mouthful, "Man, we're dumb."

Minoru nodded in agreement, "You said it." He ate in thought for a while and looked at Naruto as he finished in ramen, "Wait... You liked me when I was what? Seventeen?"

Naruto cleared his throat, "In my defense... you were about to turn eighteen," he hesitated, "give or take a year."

Minoru laughed and finished his ramen, and the pair left and have their thanks. He walked with Naruto to the gates and smiled at Lee when he came into sight. Before he could properly react to the gentle hand on his elbow, lips slipped over his in a gentle kiss. He felt himself flush when Naruto pulled away with a grin.

"Don't miss me too much."

Minoru grinned back despite himself, "Likewise."

He watched as Naruto walked away, and Lee gave him a thumbs up from the distance. He stood there until the gates closed behind them.

Before he knew it he was home, he didn't remember the walk but in the end it didn't matter. When he walked into the house he was greeted by Tomodachi, who almost caught him by surprise. They moved down the hall, the golden dog at his heels, and found his dads in the living room. He gave them a smile when Iruka gave Kakashi a light smack on his shoulder with a laugh.

"Hey," Iruka greeted, "Everything okay?"

Minoru smiled and nodded, moving to sit on the couch adjacent to the one they were sitting on. Tomodachi joined him settling, next to him.

They put on a movie and Kakashi was called in to the hokage tower. He sighed as he took his leave, asking Minoru to come in later to help him with a few things, and gave Iruka a kiss.

After a while, Iruka looked over at his son, who was absentmindedly petted the golden dog that was using his thigh as a pillow, "How did it go with Naruto?"

Minoru smiled and before he could respond Tomodachi lifted his head, "That's who I smell on you!" The dog said in realization. Minoru's hand froze and he felt his ears burn as he stared down at the dog.

Iruka had an amused smile on his face when wide eyes slowly turned to look at him, "So, I take it went well."

Minoru walked into the hokage tower in his shinobi attire. He didn't wear the standardized flak jacket, which saved for certain missions. He wore the dark navy pants, and leg wrappings. Accompanied by a tucked in dark short sleeved jersey with a dark gray stripe that ran down its shoulders, with a similar collar of the standardized uniform. Most of the time, when he would visit Kakashi at the tower, he didn't bring his weapon pouches or the tanto blade that Kakashi had handed down to him when he graduated from the academy. He did however wear his pouch on his hip pretty much everywhere he went, it contained a small sketchbook, pens and other miscellaneous items.

He went up the stairs and down the hall. He greeted people that recognized him as he went through the building. He reached the doubled doors with the two ANBU guards and stopped a good five feet in front of them.

"He's in a meeting," one of the guards with a rabbit mask told him, "He'll probably be done soon though."

Minoru nodded and walked down the hall and through a different door that led him outside to a courtyard with tables. He walked up to the railing and looked down over the village. Of course he would tell me to come here while he has a meeting, he chuckled at himself, he has such a bad sense of time.

He reached into his pouch with a half gloved hand and took out his sketchbook and a pen. He flipped to a blank page and drew a four pointed shuriken, quickly drawing the outline from memory and quickly sketching in the details. Once he deemed it down it clipped the pen to the opposite of the sketchbook. He traced the drawing with a finger before pressing his index and middle finger to two points of the shuriken. He focused his chakra through the inked black lines that glowed momentarily before the drawing popped out of the paper. He furrowed his brows and took the shuriken shaped paper in between his fingers. He frowned at himself and tapped a corner to his chin, considering. He clicked his tongue and placed the shuriken flat on the open sketchbook and channeled more chakra into the drawing, the paper changed into a gunmetal color and then there was a puff and Minoru's frown deepened when he was left with a little pile of ash, "Seriously?" he told himself, and blew off the ash.

He unclipped the pen and drew a similar shuriken, this time smaller. He repeated the process, the paper turned into a gunmetal color, this time he was left with a three dimensional shuriken rather than a pile of ash. He carefully picked it up the palmed the shuriken that must have been at least two inches in diameter. He considered it for a moment, feeling its weight in his hand, before letting out a sigh.

"Not bad."

Minoru frowned and closed his hand, causing a little pop. He opened his hand to the paper shuriken and placed it back into his sketchbook, pressing his fingers into it and making it mend back into the paper, "Not bad if I'm planning on throwing it at miniatures," he responded and looked at this dad.

Kakashi chuckled at the dejected look on his son's face, "It takes time, you're teaching yourself something without the aid from someone else, that's really impressive."

Minoru sighed and leaned on the railing, "Impressive would be to make a real sized shuriken like I want to. Impressive would be to be able to control the scale despite how big the original is," he leaned his chin on the palm on his, "Impressive would be if half of my attempts didn't turn into ash."

Kakashi couldn't help but laugh at his son's tone of voice, "Give yourself some credit. It takes time and practice. Putting yourself down won't help you much."

Minoru nodded and put away his sketchbook, "Yeah, I know," he said and clasped his pouch shut, "You said you needed me to help you with something?"

"Ah, yes!" Kakashi turned and leaned back against the railing, "But first things first," He gave his son a sideways look, "So...Naruto?" He smiled under his mask when he saw the flicker in the blue eyes.

Minoru looked away and down at the village, and felt his face heat up, "Uh…," he scratched at his cheek, and then pulled on his gloves, "Um...maybe?" He chanced a glance at his dad, and then back out to the village, "….why?"

Kakashi looked up at the sky, "'Cause, he's a good guy."

Minoru's lips tugged into a smile at the unspoken approval, "Yeah. He is."

After a moment, Minoru followed his dad back into the building and into his office. He looked around and his eyes fell in the rather tall stacks of paper on the desk, "Let me guess..."

Kakashi sighed and frowned as he scratched at the back of his head, "Unfortunately." He sighed again, "There isn't anyone I trust enough to file these away and put them into storage." He eyed the stacks of papers, "and I'm afraid that if I add anymore... They'll fall over and make me cry..."

Minoru laughed at his dad's grave tone, "I'll help you put them away, its okay."

Kakashi continued eying the stack of papers, "I wish I was kidding," he grumbled. "Once you're done with these, we have a different matter to discuss," midnight eyes looked at him, "We have to talk about you starting to work in the mission room."

Minoru frowned, "The day I was dreading. I've heard so many wonderful things."

Kakashi chuckled, "It's not as bad as we make it sound. But it is a requirement."

Minoru sighed with a nod, "Yeah, I know."

He got to work on the stack of papers, filing them away appropriately and proceeded to put them into to boxes. He managed to get a good amount into a box before sealing it and labeling it. Before he could store it away, Kakashi made quick hald seals and effectively locked the box with his signature. Minoru lifted the heavy box with ease and walked down a hall towards the storage room. On his way there a shinobi accidentally bumped into him, causing him to momentarily lose his balance and effectively bump into the wall.

"Oh geez! I'm sorry! I wasn't paying attention."

Minoru adjusted his grip on the box and smirked at the other man and pushed himself off the wall, "It's fine. It happens."

"Do you need help with that?"

Minoru quirked an eyebrow and quickly gave the other man a once over, and guessed he was possibly around his age, maybe a year or so older. Possibly the same rank as him, considering the standardized uniform. "No, its fine. I got it." The other man tilted his head, and he narrowed his eyes in response.

"Are you the hokage's son?"

The question was genuine, Minoru noted. And considered the other man, "...What?" He watched as the other man stammered, and scratched at his dark hair.

"Sorry, that sounded rude. It's just that I've seen you around here often, and I have a suspicion that you're the hokage's son….um….Minoru?" he ventured a guess.

Minoru adjusted his grip on the box, and glanced down the hall then back to the man, "Creeping much?"

"Sorry! My name is Hatchi," he offered a hand for a handshake, but then remembered the box, "Right, sorry."

Minoru offered a smile, "I would introduce myself but you seem to know about me already." He adjusted the box again, awkwardly, "Now...uh, if you don't mind."

"Oh, right! Sorry!" he gestured, "I'll let you get on your way."

"Thanks," Minoru gave a slight nod and walked down the hall towards the storage room that he knew was unknowingly being guarded. He adjusted the box to his side, and fished for the key with his free hand. He managed to unlock the door and push it open enough to slip inside, and kick the door closed behind him. He set the box into a shelf and pushed in it in, and looked around before leaving the room and closing the door behind him.

When he got back to the office he found his dad reading over some papers. He quirked an eyebrow when he gestured him to sit, so he did.

"You know," Kakashi started and set the papers on his desk, "I'm still trying to look more into your bloodline," he frowned when Minoru sighed in response, "Minoru, it more important than you'll like to think. Not only for your training, but for your well being."

Minoru sighed again, "I know, it's just…," he frowned, "It's tiring, being reminded of how little I know about what I can do. I know what I'm capable of, and I know how to control it now. I mean, that's what is important, right?"

Kakashi thought about his words before he spoke, "It is, but is also important to understand the impact of things," he paused for a second, "Take me for example, when I had my sharingan, I didn't necessarily have anyone that hand first hand experience on how to teach me how to use it. I had people that knew about it in theory, knew about its bloodline, how it worked. If it wasn't for that, I could have easily hurt myself. Could have easily put myself into the hospital," he leaned on his desk, "But we don't have that for you, Minoru," he continued gently, noticing how the dark eyes looked off to the side, "Yes, we know what you're capable of, and you now know how to control it now, but we don't know what we don't know. And that is equally as important."

He looked down at the papers in front of him, "And I found something," Minoru looked at him in slight surprise, "Its almost something that we already knew but more details," he looked over the papers in front of him, "I was able to find a file on your great-great grandfather, apparently when he was in the academy something traumatic happened, something regarding a classmate….," He paused looking over the papers, "Ah, something regarding a classmate, wherein he accidentally hurt her when trying to move her from a stray kunai during practice. The reaction caught him off guard and triggered his ability out of fear, the academy teacher didn't know what was happening and tried to calm him down….," he trailed off, furrowing his brows, "He unintentionally hurt the teacher, burning his hands when he tried reaching for him. He...had to be hospitalized, since he was too young and didn't have the proper chakra control."

Kakashi sighed and looked at his son who had a deep frown on his face, "I know you don't like to hear this," he continued gently, "But -"

"I know," Minoru interrupted gently, he sighed and closed his eyes, "I know, dad." He took a moment before looking back up, "I know…" he repeated.

Kakashi sighed, "Minoru…," he trailed off when his son stood and started to work on the pile of papers again. He let it go, he knew he had to at least for now. He glanced at the clock and clicked his tongue, earning him a confused look for his son.

"I'm late."

Minoru gave his dad a grin, "When are you not?"

Kakashi chuckled and stood, opening a drawer and taking something out of it. He looked at Minoru who looked at him in response, "I'm sorry - "

"No, it's okay," Minoru interjected gently, and smiled, "I know that it's only for my own good, and my bloodline is a damn mystery that I'm left to figure out stuff on my own," he caught some papers that threatened to fall over, and looked over at his dad, "but I'm not on my own, and I'm grateful for that. I'm grateful for the dedication you guys have towards me and my well being... Thank you."

Kakashi smiled and moved around the desk to give his son a hug. "I have to go," he said, pulling away, "Maybe when I get back we'll talk about the mission room." He laughed when Minoru groaned in response.

Minoru continued to file away the paper work, using a couple of more boxes and labeling them accordingly. He nodded at his handy work, and looked at the desk to make sure he got everything. His eyes landed on the file that his dad was reading earlier. A half gloved hand slid it closer and opened it, he felt the flicker in his eyes when they landed on the picture of the academy student. Dark blue eyes read over the file and reports. He closed the file with a slow sigh.

"I know how it feels, to be the only one, to feel different. It's not a good feeling. But you have to remember that you're not alone. You have us, you'll always have us, and we'll always be there for you."

Minoru smiled at the memory of Naruto's words, and let his thoughts wander to the older man. He straightened himself when his dad walked back in, noticing how he sat down heavily. He quirked an amused brow, "Everything okay?"

Kakashi sighed, "Yeah", he looked over at the spot where the papers were, his silver brows rising in surprise, "You finished!"

Minoru crossed his arms triumphantly, "I conquered the terrible stack of papers, the stack that threatened the emotional stability of the great hokage-sama."

Kakashi barked a laugh, and shook his head. He stood and made the quick seals to lock the boxes. Minoru took them one at a time, walking down the halls and trying to avoiding bumping into others. As he walked back he crossed paths with Hatchi who was leaving the hokage's office. He quirked an eyebrow when the other man gave him a small smile as they passed each other.

Kakashi turned around from the window he was looking out of when he heard the door open and close. He tilted his head when he noticed his son's expression, "What is it?"

"Who was that?"

"Who?"

Minoru frowned, "The guy who just walked out of here."

"Oh, Hatchi-san? He'll be showing you around the mission room in a few days. He's been working there for a year now, I thought it would be a good idea to have someone closer your age to show you the ropes." He furrowed a brow when his son's frown deepened, "What?"

"I don't know, that guy gives me bad vibes," he shook his arms in emphasis.

"Hmm," Kakashi considered and moved to his desk, "Well, if he gives you any trouble just let me know."

"Wait," Minoru put a hand up, "I'm starting in a few days?"

"Yup," the exposed eyes smiled at him.

"Oh, lovely."