AN: NC-17 ;)
Disclaimer: Don't own
The next day, after his morning shift, Minoru met Naruto at their usual training spot. He eyed the older man as he approached when he beamed at him.
"How was your shift?"
Minoru shrugged, "Alright." He continued eyeing him, "What?"
"Today, we are going to practice with your jutsu!" Naruto continued beaming, "So pull up some kunais and stick them into that tree over there," he pointed at said tree.
Minoru nodded and pulled out his sketch book, and flipped to a page where he had a couple of kunai already draw. He swiped his hand over the page and the kunai materialized and went flying out of the sketchbook and towards the tree where they effectively stayed embedded.
"While those are there, we are going to spar."
Minoru quirked a brow as he put away his sketchbook, "Open handed?"
Naruto nodded, "You lose the round if you lose the link on those kunai."
Minoru nodded and threw a glance at the kunai still embedded in the tree. And Naruto came at him. He effectively blocked a kick with a forearm, using the leverage lift himself and direct a kick towards the older man's head. A hand met his shin and pushed, and he went flying. He spun in the air and touched the ground with a kick.
Naruto blocked the younger man's punches and kicks with his own, one of them meet his side and he momentarily skidded across the ground. He lost sight of the chunnin amidst the dust and felt the chakra signature above him, and lept or of the way just before the younger man's fist met the ground with a loud crack. He grinned and went for him one of his kicks threw Minoru off balance but he quickly recovered.
Minoru quickly glanced at the kunai and barely blocked a punch.
"Stop thinking!"
Minoru took the fist into his hand and pulled, swinging the older man and sent him skidding across the training grounds and took off after him. His eyes followed the older man as he recovered and came to a stop, hands went through quick seals and two shadow clones appeared and immediately took after him. He fought them off, keeping track of them until the popped away leaving behind smoke. He found his back meeting the ground and a fist meeting the ground next to his head. He looked at the older man above him as the blonde head turned to look at the kunai that were now paper falling to the ground.
Naruto stood, and watched as the younger man dusted himself off and walked over to the paper kunai, materializing almost instantly before he embedded them back into the tree. "Stop thinking," dark eyes turned to him, "Again."
They engaged in another round, this one lasting longer than the first, however ending in the manner.
"Again."
Another round, Naruto had Minoru locked in consecutive kicks and punches. And much to his surprise Minoru managed to grab both of his fist, use the leverage to lift himself, going over his head and pulling him as went. He found himself being heaved over head and thrown down on the matter of seconds. He caught his breath as he looked up at the younger man before looking over to the tree and finding to see the kunai still there.
Naruto grinned and got up, dusted himself off as he walked over to the kunai and pulled them out from the tree. He tossed one to the younger man, a half gloved hand caught it and twirled it.
"Now, no cheating."
They engaged in another round, Kunai clanking together when they blocked each other. Minoru threw a kick that the older man deflected by flipping him. He managed to recover and land on his feet as Naruto charged at him. It was too late, he braced himself and felt himself skid when a kick met his side. He went tumbling, but swiftly pushed himself back up barely moving out of the way of the older man's attack.
Naruto saw the flicker in the younger man's eyes, and frowned as he blocked a kick, "Stop thinking!"
Minoru knew, and Naruto had a point. Part of his mind was on the kunai and Naruto was able to tell. He mentally shook himself and let it go. He concentrated fully on the sparring session with Naruto and just went with it.
Naruto grinned knowingly and charged at the younger man. Attacks were blocked, deflected and used as leverage as their round continued, and to Naruto's approval, longer than their previous rounds.
Minoru blocked the older man's kunai at the same time a leg hooked under his. His knee buckled, and he struggled for a moment before his back met the ground. Much to his disappoint, the kunai that hovered over his neck signaled the end of the round. He looked up at cerulean eyes as they shifted from him to the kunai still in the sun kissed hand.
Naruto grinned as he stood and helped the younger man up, "I think that went better than I hoped!"
Minoru chuckled and took the offered kunai from the older man, and let them turn back into paper before slipping them into his holster.
They both looked up when they heard a crow caw above them. And they both frowned when it continued circling.
"Oy! Are you just going to fly around like an idiot?!"
Minoru mentally cringed, he knew those birds could have a mind of their own and can have a rather distasteful attitude. The black bird swooped down and aimed at the blonde. It flapped it's wings and squawked at Naruto's face before taking liberty to perch on his shoulder. He snorted at the deadpan expression on the older man's face as the crow peered at him sideways.
Naruto reached for the scroll and glared when the bird squawked at him again, "You have one job!" He struggled with the crow as he snatched away the scroll and shooed him away. "I swear your dad sends me the messengers with the worst attitudes on purpose."
Minoru only smiled, he wasn't about to give his dad away.
Naruto unrolled the scroll and scanned over it, "Seems like I'm leaving on an assignment, I have a debriefing to go to." He rolled the scroll back up and stashed it away as he looked at the younger man.
"I'll walk with you," Minoru offered and they made their way to the Hokage tower.
As it turned out, two days later Naruto left on a mission that estimated to last around weeks. Minoru kept himself busy with helping his dads, the mission room which much to his chagrin had him covering shifts that involved working with Hatchi. He managed to keep himself busy, especially when he was left alone with the other man.
"Have you known Naruto long?"
The sudden question almost made him jump from where he stood at the file cabinet. He slowly turned to look at him and find the nearly teal eyes looking at him, "I'm sorry?"
Hatchi offered a smile, "How long have you two known each other? I only ask because the last time I saw you two you seemed close."
"Uhh...," Minoru said intelligibly, "Yeah, we've know each for...," he trailed off doing the quick math, "About thirteen years."
Hatchi whistled, "No wonder."
Minoru smiled, a sudden longing hit him, "Yeah, it's a pretty long time." He closed the cabinet and moved to sit behind the desk, pulling the tray of recent reports towards him.
"How did you two meet?"
Minoru gave the other man a sideways glance. It struck him as odd that the other man was trying to have a conversation with him. Usually they successfully sat in awkward silences whenever they had a shift together. It wasn't that Minoru wasn't good at talking to people, he had no problem talking to others he worked with. But for some reason, this guy made him a bit weary.
"During my eighth birthday. He had just turned twelve." He turned his attention back to the reports. Ignoring how a silence fell over them.
"Did you know?"
Minoru gave him a questioning look, "Know what?"
Hatchi seemed to have hesitated and was saved when someone came through the double doors.
Minoru had a suspicion what he was going to ask, and he refused to believe it. He refused to believe that people are still quick to judge and belittle the person he cared so much for. So he glad that Hatchi was interrupted and they slowly got a line.
His shift couldn't end any faster.
After his shift he made a trip to the art store he frequented for a new sketchbook, pens, ink, paint - anything and everything. It was one of the few places he could spend hours in.
He wandered down an aisle, looking at different paper pads. He took sheets in between in fingers and rubbed, testing the texture and thickness. He pulled out a drawing pad and tested it's thickness that reminded him a bit of card stock. He considered it for it a moment and stopped. He knew someone was standing next to him before he even looked up. Dark eyes slowly looked up and he felt them flicker when he realized exactly who it is.
And he was sure Sasuke noticed when the dark eyes narrowed a fraction.
Minoru cleared his throat and put the drawing pad back, "Sasuke-san, I don't think I've seen you around here before." He looked at the Uchiha who was talking a sudden interest in a hand sized notebook.
"You're the Hatake's son, right?" Sasuke put down the notebook and looked at the younger man who followed the motion.
"It seems that everyone knows me before even meeting me," Minoru said with a forced smile.
"Hard not to know the Hokage's son."
Minoru sighed and took out a different drawing pad.
"Do you like to draw?"
Minoru slowly turned a confused look to the older man, "I think it's safe to say that you didn't follow me in here to ask me what my hobbies are." The statement earned him a chuckle and it seemed to have lightened the awkwardness, "Is there something I can help you with, Sasuke-san?"
Sasuke looked at the aisle behind them, "I wanted to apologize, for the other day. I didn't mean to interrupt whatever it was that you two were doing."
Minoru starred for a moment, "...What? You don't - "
"I noticed that I made you uncomfortable," Sasuke interrupted gently, turning to him, "Those weren't my intentions."
Minoru moved his gaze to the drawing pads, "It's not what it looked like."
"What it looks like is that you two are pretty close," Sasuke watched as a drawing pad nearly slipped out of the younger man's grasp, and Minoru casually caught it. "I don't mean to make you uncomfortable - "
"You're not," Minoru interjected, "It's fine. You didn't have to go out of your way to... Apologize. It's not... It's not what you think." He offered a smile, "So, don't worry about it."
The Uchiha considered the younger man for a moment, "You're good for him."
Minoru's head snapped to look at the older man, "What?"
Sasuke smirked, "Never mind. It was nice meeting you Minoru-san. It was a pleasure."
"Likewise." Minoru watched as Sasuke left the store and he felt like he could finally breathe. To say he was confused by what just happened, would not even begin to cover it. "That was... Strange?" He said to himself. And tried not to think about it as continued his browsing.
Seven days later...
Minoru slowly woke up when a noise caught in his ears. He vaguely wondered what time it was, and if he had dreamt the noise he heard. He rolled over towards the window and fully woke up when he found Naruto perched on it, giving him a sheepish smile. He moved to the window and slid it open with a smile, "You're back!" His smile faltered a bit when he noticed the hesitation in the older man, "You're early."
Naruto shifted and cleared his throat, "Yeah...I got back around nine? I don't remember, I was exhausted... But I couldn't sleep." He hesitated, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you - I'm not even sure what time it is, I - "
"Naruto," Minoru said gently, and the older man stopped, "Stop rambling and get in here."
Naruto wavered, "Maybe I should go..." He trailed off at the deadpan look Minoru gave him.
"Get in here," he reached and grasped the older man's hand, noticing how his fingers were cold, "Come on," he tugged. And tugged harder when the older man didn't budge. He slid the window closed and turned on the lamp on his nightstand before he moved to sit on his bed, gesturing for the older man to join him.
He knew something was off, it wasn't like Naruto to seem so distracted, so serious. It just wasn't like him. Let alone to be hesitant with him.
"I want to show you something," Minoru reached for his sketchbook on the nightstand and flipped it open to a flower he had drawn. The flower bloomed from the page as it materialized. "Take it," he held the book closer and watched as the older man carefully picked it up. Minoru moved his eyes from the flower to three older man and back.
Naruto's eyes widened as the flower in his hand seemed to bloom bigger, doubling - almost tripling - in size. He smiled at the younger man that was intently looking at him with amused eyes, "You got it!"
Minoru chuckled, "It seems that way, doesn't it?" He let the flower decrease back to it's original size and back to it's original form. Naruto gave him a warm smile as he handed over the flower paper cut out. He slipped it into his sketchbook and looked at the older man. He reached for a whiskered cheek letting his fingers brush over it as he hand moved to cup his jaw, "Are you okay?"
Naruto sighed and briefly closed his eyes as a thumb brushed under his eye, "Yeah, I just...," he trailed off, and offered Minoru a smile, "I couldn't sleep...I kept having nightmares...," he shook his head, "I haven't had nightmares in a long time." He sighed as fingers moved to thread into his hair soothingly and looked at the younger man who was giving him a soft smile in return.
"You're here now," Minoru told him softly, and leaned in to give a cheek a kiss, "Welcome back."
Naruto smiled, a genuine smile that Minoru always seemed the have the power to do, "Thank you."
"Now let's get you to sleep!" Minoru shifted and laid down on his side and patted the space next to him.
Naruto opened his mouth to say something, but decided against it. He wasn't about to pass up the opportunity to sleep next to this welcoming warm man, in this bed that smelled so much like him. He took the offered space and laid down on his back, smiling when Minoru moved to cover them with the blanket. He found himself staring at the ceiling, his hand tracing invisible patterns on the pale hand on his stomach. As if noticing, he felt Minoru move, and suddenly found the younger man looking down at him while straddling his hips. He looked up at the concerned eyes, and reached up to cup a pale cheek, moving his thumb to traced the younger man's bottom lip. He saw the flicker in the dark eyes and pulled the younger man down, making him drop to his forearms. His fingers threaded into the dark unruly hair, deepening the kiss. He hadn't realized just how much he had missed this, he had been so distracted over the past week that now that he was here he was hardly catching up to it. It felt like weeks - plural - since that day they made love, since that day that Minoru pressed him against his kitchen counter after helping him get his groceries -
"Stop thinking."
The whisper against his lips brought him out of musings, and his eyes locked with the illuminated gaze. There was a warm smile on the younger man's lips that brushed against his and whispered again - "Stop thinking" - and he did just that. He felt the soft lips slip over his again, sensually, felt the younger man's hot tongue slip against his playfully, felt those strong hands move over his chest, caressing, mapping. Those warm hands snaked into his shirt, trailing over his stomach moving up, dragging his shirt along. When the soft lips parted from his, he panted for air as the dark head moved down, making a wet trail of kisses as his hot tongue circled a nipple. He choked on a moan when a hand came up to tease it's pair. His hands found purchase on the younger man's flanks as he arched his back.
"Just so you know," Minoru whispered against a nipple, brushing his lips against the hard nub, "My dads aren't home," he moved down nibbling on the taut stomach, "It's their anniversary weekend. They went to the hot springs," he explained briefly as his hands quickly undid Naruto's pants, letting his eyes wander up the aroused body as he pushed them off letting the straining erection spring free, "Just so you know."
Naruto groaned as he lifted his hips so that Minoru could rid of his jeans. He sat up, a bit too quickly, earning him an amused surprised smile from his lover. His pulled both of their shirts off and latched onto the pale neck, eliciting a sigh from the younger man. Minoru leaned forward, making his back meet the mattress. He felt the younger man shift and before he knew it they were moaning loudly as their erections met, grinding in a delicious friction that had him thrusting his hips. "Minoru," he breathed out, and felt the body above him lean over and heard a drawer open. He grinned in amusement as the younger man retrieved a tube of lube from his nightstand.
"Better ready than sorry," Minoru said playfully and leaned down to give the laughing older man a deep kiss.
Naruto groaned when a warm hand wrapped around his erection, giving it a firm squeeze. He was too distracted to even register the slick finger trace his entrance until the finger pushed itself in. His body flushed as he gasped and let out a groan, the finger inside of him began to pull back and just as soon pushed back in. He trashed his head to the side when the digit dragged against his prostate, and a groan ripped out of him when the digit sought it out again ,"Oh - fuck!" Lips kissed under his earlobe as he struggled to breathe in enough air. He untangled his hands from the sheets and wrapped one around the back of Minoru's neck and directed him into a hungry kiss. His hips couldn't decide how to move; back against the finger or up against the loose grip around him. He broke the kiss with another curse and his hips continued to buck indecisively.
Minoru was in a trance, the older man was writhing under his touch, gripping at sheets for dear life. Strong legs spread wider for him and he pushed another finger in, making the blonde head trash back against the pillows. His hands fell into a rhythm, pushing and pulling and the slender hips followed. Half lidded cerulean eyes locked with his, and the emotion he saw in them made his already frantic heart skip a beat.
"Naruto," he groaned when the body under him tensed, a hand found purchase on his shoulder and gripped almost painfully, but he didn't care, not when Naruto looked like this. Not when that flush increased in that handsome face. Not when he was crying out his name and coming in his hand, spilling his hot seed in strong spurts. He wanted to see it again, and again. Wanted to make love this man that he grew to be so fond of.
Naruto panted for air, feeling his body twitch when the fingers inside of him withdrew. He opened his eyes to find Minoru looking at him, the glowing eyes full of lust and love. He noticed the slight hesitation in him, and pulled him down for a tender kiss and whispered "Stop thinking," against lips and couldn't help but grin when the younger man chuckled. He watched, subconsciously licking his lips as he slicked his own erection, subconsciously shifting his hips closer. And when Minoru pressed inside of him, he wrapped his legs around the slender waist, urging him. And before he knew it all they could managed were moans and gasps of pleasure as Minoru steadily thrust into him.
His body felt too hot, too sensitive and felt that familiar tightness at the pit of his stomach all too soon, and as if sensing it a hand began to pump him in time to the steady thrust. His orgasm took him by surprise, his face buried itself into the nape of the younger man as he panted for air. Naruto threw his back against the pillows when he felt the steady hips falter and drive to the hilt with a low moan as Minoru came inside of him. He splayed his hand along the flushed face as he rode out his orgasm - he had to see that face when it contoured in absolute pleasure, it was quickly becoming one of his favorite expressions. He caught the younger man as he collapsed on top of him and thread his fingers into the dark locks. Neither one of them noticed when it slowed to a stop.
When Minoru woke up the next morning, his eyes focused on sun kissed skin. A smile tugged on his lips as his eyes watched the older man peacefully sleeping next to him. He gingerly combed his fingers through golden locks, and cerulean eyes fluttered open to focus on him, and he didn't know why but he felt his heart skip a beat.
"Good morning," Naruto greeted, his voice husky with sleep.
"Good morning," Minoru grinned widely, "Did you sleep?"
Naruto chuckled, and pulled the younger man closer, "mhmmm."
"You know what sounds good?"
"Hm?"
"Eggs, bacon, pancakes with banana and honey. Oh and some fruit!"
Naruto's stomach loudly agreed.
Minoru laughed and felt lips kiss his forehead making him blush. He slipped a hand over a whiskered cheek and blue eyes looked at him, "I missed you."
Naruto smiled and kissed the palm of the hand cupping his face, "I missed you too."
Minoru let his fingers thread into the blonde locks, "How about I make breakfast?" Be smiled when Naruto beamed.
They reluctantly got out of bed and realized that they needed showers before anything else. They showered rather quickly, trying to refrain from any other activities. Minoru slipped on a pair of sleeping pants and a worn T-shirt and let Naruto borrow an extra set he had that fit him just a tad more fitted.
Minoru made eggs, bacon and pancakes as promised - making sure to make enough for seconds for a certain someone - and cut up some strawberries and bananas for toppings. They ate in a comfortable silence, mostly due to their hunger. Minoru looked up find Naruto looking at him with a smile, and he tried not to flush. He returned the smile with a quirked eyebrow.
"I always thought about this," Naruto said, earning him a tilt from the dark head, "I always imagined how this would be like... Between us. I remember thinking that maybe it would be awkward? Maybe reserved?" Naruto chuckled at himself, "I never would have imagined for it to feel so...," his eyes met the midnight blue pair, and saw the warmth in them making his smile wider, "Right, and good, and natural... And I didn't even think it was possible to feel closer to you." His hand moved to cup the younger man's jaw, noticing the flicker in the midnight blue eyes as his thumb traced his bottom lip, "and yet here we are."
"And yet you still manage to make me nervous," Minoru grinned and took the thumb in between his teeth, "But in a good way." He choked on a laugh as the older man gave him an amused smile, "Please don't tell I'm the only one."
"You're not," Naruto answered simply. Minoru grinned and wiggled his brows at him as he bit into a strawberry. He chuckled and took a few more bites of his breakfast, "Anything happen while I was gone?"
Minoru hesitated and took a bite of his pancakes to stall a moment. He took his drink from Orange juice and cleared his throat, "No."
"Have I ever told you, that you're rather bad at lying?"
Minoru glared, "I don't have a good poker face when it comes to you for some reason!"
Naruto grinned and nudged the younger man with his foot, "Spill."
Minoru sighed and took another drink, and hesitated, "It's a funny story really," he laughed, "I was at the art store the other day, and guess who I bumped into!" He laughed again taking another drink, "Sasuke!" He paused, "Does it count as bumping into someone if that someone followed you?"
Naruto stared, "Wait what? Why?"
Minoru gave a slight shrug, "he said he wanted to apologize, I told him he didn't have to," he looked at the older man's confused expression, "I don't know. I wasn't really going to tell you since even I thought it was a bit strange."
"That is strange, that's really unlike him."
Minoru shrugged, "I don't know. I know that I've expressed my feelings towards him because of how he hurt you... But maybe he's trying to change?" He paused, thinking, "So I'm trying to give him the benefit of the doubt."
Naruto nodded and dark eyes turned to him, "I suppose you have a point." He watched as Minoru smiled and stood, clearing the plates off the table, waving him off when he tried to help. His gaze stayed on him as he moved to the sink and started washing. He sat there, entranced, letting his mind wander to the previous night. His intentions had been to go for a walk, to go to that spot in with the open field where the stars seemed to be the brightest in hopes to clear his mind. But instead, he found himself at Minoru's window.
In the past, he tended to deal with any post mission stress, or nightmares in general, by himself. He simply didn't want to feel like a burden, and frankly, he was used to it. He could only recall a few times that Minoru had seen him in such a state. It was one of those times that he came home to find the younger man under his window. Minoru treated him to ramen and they went back to his apartment where they opted to watch a movie on his TV. Minoru had fallen asleep on his couch and he didn't have the heart to wake him. He couldn't remember what the nightmare was, all he could remember was that he woke up in a cold sweat with a warm hand on his shoulder and equally warm eyes looking down at him. He could remember the soothing voice telling him "Its okay. You're okay. You're safe now." And he believed them. He remembered holding on to those words as he went back to sleep, and to this day he's not sure if it was a dream or not, but he could swear that he felt fingers in his hair and lips on his forehead.
He stood and walked over to the younger man and wrapped an arm around his waist, planting a kiss at the nape of the neck. He turned him around to find a soft smile on lips and a playful glint in the midnight blue eyes. He traced the younger man's jaw as his fingers made their way to the base of his neck, threading into the hair there. He smiled at the flicker in the blue eyes as he leaned in and sealed their lips together in a slow tender kiss. Warm hands moved up his biceps to his shoulders as arms wrapped around them. He sighed into the kiss at the feeling of the younger man's strong body against his -
"We really need to stop finding you two like this."
They both froze at the sound of Kakashi's drawled voice. Minoru bit his smile as he smiled and tried not to laugh at Naruto's mortified look on his face. They pulled apart, and Minoru directed his smile to his dads, "How was your weekend?"
"Wonderful," Iruka answered, "A much needed break."
Naruto tried very hard to calm his heart that was still trying to break out of his chest. To his horror he noticed how Kakashi gave him a once over - and he became very much aware that he wasn't wearing his own clothes.
"I take it you're mission went well?" Kakashi asked, a hint of amusement in his voice.
Naruto nodded, "Yes."
"I might have an assignment for you two soon, I'll let you know the details once they're finalized," a smack meet Kakashi's arm, and he frowned at his husband.
"What have I told you...," Iruka said sternly.
Kakashi whispered an apology earning him a smile from his husband. and turned back to the younger men in the kitchen, "We'll talk."
Minoru nodded, "Naruto was going to help me out with a few things." He gave the older man a sideways glance, "Once he regains his natural color."
Naruto glared, and Minoru grinned.
"We'll leave you two alone," Iruka teased and took his husband's hand and pulled him down the hall towards the back yard.
Naruto could've sworn that the uncovered eyes gave him one last knowing look.
They stood across from each other, a good ten feet in between them. Minoru shook his hands and rolled his shoulders and intently looked at the older man.
"You know the deal," Naruto started, "You have to tell me the moment you start feeling bad. I don't want a repeat of last time."
Minoru's eyes were that of concern, "Naruto, that wasn't your fault."
Naruto frowned, "Even if you say that, it doesn't make it better."
Minoru frowned in response.
Over the years, Naruto and Kakashi had been helping Minoru practice an aspect of his ability that neither of them really knew how it worked, but tried theories that seem to do work. When it came to Minoru's bloodline and the chakra transference ability he carried, he was rather quick in learning how to control it and use it. Minoru learned he was able to draw chakra from others and use it as his own, giving or transferring chakra either to others or inanimate objects. But the trickier part has proven to be absorbing chakra to either conserve it or cancel it out. He didn't understand it at first. He learned how to transfer chakra without the use of seals rather quickly, even began to fiddle with ideas in his mind about his drawings. He got that. He learned that he was able to take chakra and simultaneously use it, in a way the chakra didn't become part of his own which became useful when deflecting and dispelling jutsus, especially of the elemental variety. But of course, it wasn't that easy. He learned he needed high endurance and stamina which he was grateful for Gai and Lee.
But there was a part that he was having difficulties with which involved taking, and not using. He thought of it as recharging a battery, the one problem was that he didn't know where the limit was. And therefore didn't know what do when that limit l was reached. Which was one of the dangers that Kakashi had spoken of.
There were theories they investigated, one was to transfer the excess chakra to an animate object, but they soon found that it would have to an object equal to our greater than to support it. Another theory was to transfer it to another person, but he didn't like the idea of possibly hurting a teammate - it was bad enough he didn't know his own limit, let alone somebody else's. Then there was the question of if he was alone. And giving chakra to an enemy sounds rather unproductive. Although, he thought it could be a way to cause damage, once he mastered it, which was not where he was at right now. Another theory was to learn how to cancel it out, which has proven difficult. He tried not thinking about how little working knowledge he had, he tried to figure things instead. However, Kakashi pointed out that when dealing with this sort of thing, one had to be careful not to damage chakra points and channels. That taking in too much could do more damage than good, and taking in for too long could actually lead to poisoning. Because, as always, everything came with a price.
Through this whole process, Minoru first needed to find out the limit as to how much chakra he could hold onto in order to learn how to control it and possibly cancel it out. Naruto was helping him, patiently as always. But one day Minoru pushed himself too much, thought he could handle it. He caught one too many chakra spheres from the older man and felt his body react with a crippling pain. Needless to say, he found himself in the hospital and a very guilty Naruto that did a bad job of avoiding him.
Now, whenever they did this kind of training, Naruto made it clear that he needed to communicate with him.
"Okay," Minoru said simply and watched as the older man's hand created a ball of chakra, it glowed a faint people and made a crackling noise.
"Ready?"
Minoru nodded and Naruto tossed it to him, he caught it in the space in between his gloved hand. He ignored how the foreign chakra crackled at him as he transferred his own into it. It changed into a light blue and then it was gone.
Naruto took cues from the midnight blue eyes when they flickered and glowed. It was a different kind of illumination that he was not as familiar with. He knew the flicker he was fond of, that he would see that gave the younger man away, some that were hardly noticeable unless someone was really looking for it. Some were more prominent, like light catching directly in them but without a source. And there was the glowing that was seeing more of during intimate times. Regardless of the reason, he always found them endearing.
These were different. These were a steady pulse of chakra that lasted a second before receding. He noticed that sometimes the dark eyes would unfocus for a fraction of a second before getting back on track.
So he watched. He created another sphere and tossed it. Half gloved hands caught it with ease and absorbed quicker than the first. He noticed how the dark eyes closed briefly before looking at him again, "Okay?"
Minoru swallowed and nodded, "I'm okay."
Naruto eyed the younger man for a moment before creating another. Tossing it and closely watch the younger man as he took it in.
"I'm okay," Minoru assured him. He caught another sphere and then another.
Naruto stopped from making another when he noticed how Minoru staggered back half a step, "Are you okay?"
Minoru nodded, "I'm okay." Naruto closed the distance between them and reached for a hand. He looked down when he brought it up into view. That's when he realized his hands were shaking.
"I don't think you are," Naruto said and dark eyes locked with his, "At this point you have to either expel the excess or try to cancel it out." He smiled, "Try not to think too hard about it."
Minoru nodded, it was hard to focus, his body felt like it was on a over loaded. He blinked a few times and the hand on his gently squeezed, "I'm okay." The older man wasn't convinced, and neither was he. But Naruto let go of his hand after a moment and took a few steps back. He closed his eyes, he always found it easier to tone everything out. And he felt it. He could feel the chakra that wasn't his. He imagined that this is how a transplant would feel like. He imagined how it would feel like to accept it as his own rather than reject it. To let it disburse and fizz away.
Naruto watched closely, and felt the younger man's chakra flare before settling back down. His hand shot out when the younger man wavered, almost losing his balance. Flickering dark eyes looked at him with a surprised look. He couldn't help but smile, "Good?"
Minoru nodded, "Again."
Naruto considered the younger man for a moment before nodding and walking to take his place across from him again. After a few spheres, he noticed that Minoru was catching and absorbing them with more ease. "What are you doing different?"
Minoru looked up at Naruto without thinking as a sphere came at him, and he caught his mistake too late. He found himself being pushed back, skidding from the force. He barely caught the chakra, but something happened, he wasn't sure what, but he was being pushed back, making him lose his footing. In a matter of seconds his back effectively met a tree with a loud crack.
"Oh shit!" Naruto rushed to the younger man who was rubbing at the back of his neck, "Shit, Minoru - I'm sorry!" He helped the younger man up, "Are you okay?"
Minoru nodded and rubbed at his shoulder, "Yeah, it's okay, I'm fine." Blue eyes looked at him concerned, "It's fine. It was my mistake. But hey! I still managed to absorb the chakra!"
Naruto looked at him, really looked at him. Dark eyes closed briefly and he felt the younger man's chakra waver before flaring.
Minoru sighed bringing his hand up to pinch at the bridge of his nose, "This is frustrating. The moment I think I have an understanding, I realize that I don't." He sighed again and looked at Naruto who was giving a concerned look, "Everything is just a mystery, and I..." He sighed and looked across the field.
"What were you doing different?"
Minoru looked back at Naruto, "Different?"
"I noticed that it was becoming easier for you, you were absorbing the chakra like it was second nature. I'm curious as to what you were doing different," he tilted his head when the younger man averted his gaze and cleared his throat.
"I wasn't thinking about it."
Naruto quirked a brow, "What were you thinking about?" He witnessed how a blush crept onto the fair skinned cheeks and the dark eyes looked at him for the corner of his eyes.
"Stuff..."
Naruto grinned, "Whatever stuff you were thinking about, it was working." He looked up in thought, "Maybe the best approach to your ability would be the same way you approach your drawings and paintings."
Minoru thought about it. He thought about how he could get lost in the process of a drawing, or painting, how hours could pass without even noticing. He thought about how through the process, the last thought on his mind was whatever he was working on. Because whatever it was that he was working just came naturally. That was one of the reasons he loved it. He didn't have to think about it, he could do it while his mind wandered onto other things, or nothing. That's actually how he came upon the idea of transferring chakra to paper.
"I think you're right."
Naruto beamed, "How about we put that to practice? Let's do some rounds of open handed sparring. But this time make the scale bigger!"
Minoru couldn't help but smile back with equal enthusiasm.