Four days later...

Naruto eyed the chunnin standing about twenty feet away from him and frowned slightly. Minoru had been cleared from his two weeks medical leave that restricted him from any chakra use, which meant no chakra training. They had stuck to open hand sparring instead. Naruto thought it would be that once he was cleared to continue his chakra training. And he was damn sure he wasn't going to let the same thing happen twice.

"Remember, tell me the moment you feel bad."

Minoru nodded and pulled on his gloves.

Naruto made a sphere out of chakra, "Remember what we spoke about last time. Don't think so much...Think about whatever you were thinking about last time."

Minoru fought a blush and nodded.

Naruto threw the sphere and Minoru's easily caught and after a moment absorbed it. He threw another one almost immediately after, and kept a close eye on him. The dark eyes glowed momentarily and he threw another sphere. He smirked when the younger man was absorbing the chakra easier. After a few more sphere he hesitated when Minoru swayed a bit, "You okay?"

Minoru's nodded, and gestured for another one. After a moment of hesitation Naruto threw another one. He absorbed it, not thinking about it, he just let it happen. His vision blurred momentarily and he moved his gaze to the older man and focused on him.

"Minoru," Naruto said with a warning tone.

"I'm fine," he reassured.

"Minoru - "

"Naruto," he said gently, taking a deep breath, "Trust me."

Naruto eyed him, taking note of the illuminated eyes, different than the ones he was used to. He trusted him and created another sphere and threw it, and watched as the younger man absorbed it before or even reached his hands. He watched as Minoru briefly closed his eyes before they opened and focused on him again. He moved closer as they closed, and felt the glare of chakra.

Minoru took a deep breath, tried to ignore the buzzing feeling on his body, tried to ignore the nostalgia it caused. He pushed it away and found himself thinking of stars. Thinking of the field with the bright stars that seemed to go forever. He thought about the depth, thought about the lax feeling that would wash over him. He thought about the kiss. Their first kiss. The feeling of the lips he couldn't stop thinking about on his. The dream like feeling they caused. His skin tingled and the buzzing was gone.

When he opened his eyes, Naruto was smiling at him. "It worked," he said surprised, "Naruto! It worked!"

Naruto laughed and was pounced on and found his arms full of an excited chunnin, "You did it!"

Minoru beamed, "Thank you!"

Naruto shook his head, "That was all you," he smiled, "Again?"

Minoru nodded and the older man distanced himself again. And they did it again, this time Naruto pushed him a little more and was pleased when Minoru managed again.

And again.

And as Minoru expected, he felt a bit lightheaded afterwards.

"Feeling alright?"

Minoru beamed, "More than alright!" He chuckled, "You?"

Naruto nodded, "But I think it's time for your shift?"

Minoru's smile softened, "Yeah."

Naruto smiled as a half gloved hand came up cup his cheek and lips gave him a chaste kiss. "I'll walk with you." He couldn't help but smile at the happy smile on his lover's face.

There was four of them manning the mission room. The pace if the day was steady, and there was fulling that needed to be done. And Minoru volunteered. He needed to clear out the file cabinets and file things into a box and into the storage room. He ignored the fact that he had to share his shift with Hatchi, and was thankful when the other two lessened the blow. He glanced at the clock and mentally groaned when he still had two hours left. He glanced at the double doors when they opened and did a double take when Naruto came through them and cerulean eyes fixed in him. He quirked a brow as the older man walked over to him with a smile on his lips, but it seemed off, forced.

"Hey," Naruto drawled casually, "Can I talk to you for a minute?"

Minoru searched the older man's face for a second before nodding. Hesquatted down and closed the lid on a box that was ready and picked it up. He followed Naruto out and down the hall towards the storage room. Once inside he set the box down and met the older man's gaze, "Is everything okay?"

Naruto hesitated, and smiled, "Yeah, it's just that I have an assignment. I need to leave soon, in a couple of hours"

Minoru's eyes widened a fraction, "Oh! So soon?" Naruto simply nodded, "How long?"

"A week, give or take." Naruto smiled as a half gloved hands pulled him closer and lips slipped over his in a tender kiss. He cupped the younger man's jaw, threading his fingers into the unruly hair at the base on the neck under the knot of the hitai ate. Their lips brushed for a moment as they pulled apart and Minoru smiled at him, a soft warm smile that he mentally locked away to recall later.

"Be careful."

"Always," Naruto grinned, "Don't miss me too much."

Minoru grinned back, "Likewise." The older man gave him a last quick kiss before leaving, the door closing shut and leaving him alone. After a moment he sighed picked the box back up to properly put it away.

Much to his displeasure, Minoru had to stay to cover shifts. In the end, he didn't mind the distraction, the only thing was that the pace had slowed down. He opted in drawing in his sketch book and looked up when the doors opened. To much of his surprise it was Genma, who grinned at him when he saw him.

"Having loads of fun I see."

Minoru smiled, "So much!" He took the offered sealed scroll, and placed it in a separate receiving bin.

"Are you almost done for today?"

"Yeah," Minoru said with a sigh.

Genma chuckled, "Are you seeing Naruto afterwards?" He said with a tease.

Minoru forced a smile and shook his head, "He left on an assignment."

Genma's expression softened, "You seem to handle that well, some of us are terrible."

Minoru laughed at that, "I'm not entirely sure what you mean."

Genma laughed, "Sorry, I don't make much sense when I'm tired. I meant handling the waiting. Like your Iru-dad, he tries really hard not to worry sick when it comes to either one of you."

Minoru's smile softened, "Oh, Iru-dad, I love him."

Genma chuckled, "And then then it comes to me, after a certain point I become Iru-dad." Minoru laughed in response, "Raidou is more externally calm, but worries on the inside. But you seem to do okay."

Minoru smiled and shrugged, "I don't know why, I just know he'll be okay."

Genma smiled, "I'm glad." He suddenly yawned and then that's when he realized he didn't have his senbon, "Oh, shit," he looked around, "Hm...I think this is a sign that i should go home."

Minoru chuckled, "Good night, uncle Genma."

Genma grinned, "Good night."

Minoru waited.

Ten days later...

Kakashi frowned at his son as the kunai that were embedded in the tree turned to paper. His frown deepened when Minoru glared at them.

"You're distracted."

Minoru felt his ears burn as he walked over to the paper kunai and picked them up and walked back to his original location, "No I'm not."

Kakashi looked at the praper kunai in his son's hand, "Silly me to think that."

Minoru frowned and the kunai materialized in his hand and deftly threw them, embedding them back into the tree.

"Use the distraction - I'm sorry, I mean the non existent one, as part of your training."

Minoru sighed and looked at the kunai, "Okay." He admitted and their third round of sparring started.

It was different sparring with Kakashi, he was more graceful and harder to read. Minoru credited it to his experience in ANBU and his general history of being the infamous Sharigan Kakashi. Which technically he couldn't be called that anymore. It wasn't that Naruto wasn't as strong, because he was in many ways, it was just different. They both had their strengths, different ways of fighting. Kakashi was harder to read and seemed to be a step ahead of him more than half of the time. While Naruto was spontaneous yet tactical, he was always paying attention to small details even when it didn't seem like it. Naruto also has a tendency to grin at him, for different reasons. And those blue eyes of his were always focused.

Minoru mentally shook himself as he blocked a kick from his dad and used it as leverage to push himself away and create distance between them. He focus on the fight, tried not to think of the blonde, tried not to think about how he missed him. He landed a swift kick but was caught by the ankle and with a grunt he was thrown on the ground. He flipped himself off the ground, earning him a glint of a surprise in the uncovered eyes. It was his turn to be caught by surprise when a chakra sphere came at him, he barely absorbed it in time to dodge a punch by a half gloved hand.

"Hey! You said open handed!"

"Surprise!"

Another chakra sphere and Minoru caught it, and threw it back at Kakashi who easily avoided it, letting it hit the ground and create a cloud of dust. Belatedly he realized that Kakashi did it on purpose, he knew he was going to throw it back at him. He scanned the dust and found himself being pulled into the ground. He gaped as Kakashi laughed down at him.

"That never gets old."

Minoru glared and heaved himself out of ground and looked over at the kunai that were still embedded on the tree. He let out a sigh and glared at his dad.

Kakashi chuckled, "Again."

Five days later...

Minoru found himself staring at the ceiling if his bedroom until he finally gave up and sat up. Tomodachi lifted his head in question and he gave him an apologetic smile as he got out of bed and moved to his desk. He turned on the lamp and opened a drawer to take out a drawing pad and different pens. He smoothed his hand over a blank page and stared at it. Tomodachi hopped onto his bed and yawned at him. He smiled and propped his chin on a hand and his eyes fell on the wooden mannequin that a certain blonde gave him.

"Mr.W a certain someone is late," he chuckled, "I guess you can call me cute all you want until he gets back."

The wooden mannequin kept tilting his head in question.

One week later...

Minoru sighed as he set down a box in the storage room. He didn't understand how many papers could be accumulated so quickly. He couldn't help but to glare at it as if it was it's fault for existing.

He walked down the hall and back into the main room where Hatchi looked up briefly from the reports he was logging. He sat down behind the desk and began doing the same. He opened the log book and started write down report numbers according to date and the name of the shinobi.

"Everything alright?"

Minoru glanced at Hatchi who was still wiring in the logbook, "Yeah," he answered simply. He wasn't about to get into details with him. He wasn't about to tell Hatchi that Naruto was late, and he was almost never late. He wasn't worried, but he couldn't stop thinking about him. Wondering why. Wondering what.

"It's just that you've been...distracted lately."

Minoru smiled and shook his head, wrote down another number, "I'm not." He looked up when the double doors opened and froze when an ANBU walked in.

This was never a good sign.

"Minoru-san, the Hokage would like to have a word with you."

Minoru swallowed, "I'm in the middle of my shift."

The ANBU looked at Hatchi who shook his head.

"It's fine, I can manage."

Minoru looked at Hatchi then back the ANBU who was waiting for him. He closed the logbook and stood.

The walk to the Hokage tower felt longer than it should've.

When he entered the office, he found Iruka giving Kakashi a disapproving look. Blue eyes turned away from Iruka and focused on him instead.

Minoru eyed them, "What's going on?" He asked carefully. Both of his dads were looking at him. It was worrying. This was almost never a good sign either.

"Have a seat," Kakashi said gently, and gestured to an open chair.

"It's okay, I'll stand," Minoru furrowed a brow and looked at Iruka who sighed and looked at Kakashi.

"Minoru, as you know, we have protocols," he said, and sighed, pulling down his mask, "depending on the rank of the mission, and expected return date, the shinobi is given a grace period...," he hesitated when he noticed the flicker in the midnight blue eyes, "Naruto has been gone for three weeks, for the assignment that was given to him he should have been back no later than a seven to ten days after he left... He was already given a one week grace period...and I gave him the benefit of the doubt with another week."

Minoru swallowed thickly, and looked from Iruka to Kakashi, "What are you saying?"

Kakashi hesitated, "Minoru, I have to declare him M.I.A."

Minoru briefly closed his eyes, "No," his voice was harder than he intended it to be and Kakashi's expression softened.

"Minoru - "

"No," he interrupted, he furrowed his brows, his jaw clenched, "I refuse to believe that he's not coming back, or even start to think that." He felt his eyes flicker but he couldn't bring himself to care, "I won't."

Iruka looked at his son, at the determined look in the dark eyes, "Minoru -"

"No," he said sternly, "He's coming back." It was a final statement and left.

Kakashi leaned on his hand covering the half of his face, and let out a deep sigh. Iruka moved to stand next to him, leaning on the desk.

"I told you," he said softly, and looked at his husband, noticing how the blue eyes closed as he sighed again.

"I didn't want to do that to him, Iruka," he said solemnly, "But Naruto should've been back by now."

"I know, love," Iruka said gently, and threaded his fingers through the silver sick of hair in a soothing gesture.

Kakashi sighed and leaned back in his chair and looked at the younger man, the somber chocolate eyes, "I don't know what to do..."

Iruka smiled softly, "We go home, and be there for him."

Kakashi nodded, and took a tan hand into a half gloved one and kissed the knuckles, "Okay."

When they got home Iruka instantly went to Minoru's room, and frowned when he wasn't there. He found Kakashi in the backyard standing in the deck, a solemn look on his uncovered face.

"He's not here...," Iruka said softly, looking around the backyard.

Kakashi sighed, "I'll give you one guess where he is." Worried chocolate eyes looked at him, and he felt a pang of sadness in his chest, "He wants to be alone..."

Iruka felt tears sting his eyes and took in a deep breath with a small nod. He felt a hand on the small of his back and turned to look at his husband, and found a guilty pair of blue eyes looking at him, "He'll be okay..." He wasn't sure who he was trying to convince. A pale hand came up and wiped at his eyes, "It'll be okay."

Minoru looked around the empty apartment. He sighed as he pushed off the front door he was leaning on and untied his hitai ate. He moved to the couch and sat down, placing his forehead protector on the coffee take. His eyes fell on the cross word puzzle book that sat on the wooden piece of furniture. He took off his gloves and placed them on the table before picking it up and flipping through it. A smile tugged on his lips at the completed puzzles, the idle doodles and notes. He reached an uncompleted one and had to close it. The book was put back in its place and he leaned back in the couch and rubbed his face.

He didn't want to think about it. He hadn't thought about it and he didn't want to start now. He wasn't naive. He knew what their line of work entailed. But he had never worried about Naruto. He just always knew that he would come back, one way or another, he came back.

And he didn't want to start now.

Minoru sighed and looked around the apartment and stood from the couch and walked over to the bedroom. He slid open the window and a gentle breeze waffed in. He sat down and took out his sketchbook, and mindlessly tapped his pen on the black page. The pen slipped it out his hand and flew. He frowned and got off the bed to retrieve it. He looked around and dropped to the floor to look under the bed. He found it. Along with a box. He gave the box a curious look before reaching for it and sliding it towards him. There was a moment of hesitation before lifting the lid and his breath caught.

The box was filled with drawings. His drawings. Doodles and sketches that he either gave to Naruto or left behind forgotten. He picked up the drawing of the shuriken that he was finally able to materialize the day Naruto had come back from a assignment. Some of the drawings he didn't even recognize or remember.

Naruto had kept every drawing. Every single one.

Minoru closed his eyes when he felt them sting. Taking in a deep breath, he replaced the lid and sat on the floor to pinch the bridge of his nose. He let out a breath and leaned his head back against the bed. Midnight blue eyes landed on the painting on the wall, and a smile tugged on his lips. He reached for his sketchbook still on the bed and flipped it open. He looked at the painting and wrote the words he knew were under the layers and layers of paint. He tore out the page and slipped it into the box before he slid it back under the bed. Knowing that the older man will see it when he got home.

He stood and sat on the edge of the bed and looked out the window, at the sky. He tried to ignore the pang of longing that hit him square in the chest. Tried to not think about what Kakashi had told him. Instead he laid down and pulled a pillow under his head that smelled like the absent man and let the breezes lull him to sleep.

It was late evening when Iruka opened the front door to the house. To say that he was surprised when he found a really tired looking Naruto standing on the other side, would be an understatement. The blonde's uniform had lost it's orange color under what looked like mud and maybe blood. There were a few scratches on his temple and a bruise under his left eye.

"Naruto!" Iruka said taken aback.

"Please tell me that Kakashi is here," Naruto's voice sounded as tired as he looked.

"Yes, come in!" Iruka let the blonde in and led him to the living room where Kakashi stood in surprise.

"Naruto - "

"I went to your office, and you weren't there. So I came here to show you that I am here. And…," he trailed off reaching into his pouch and pulled out a rather thick scroll, "What you requested. And everything else is taken care of." He heaved a sigh and noticed the almost confused look in the Hokage's eyes, "...what…?"

"Naruto," Kakashi started, setting down the scroll, "You were suppose to be back two weeks ago…"

Naruto sighed and scratched at the back of his head, his face turning confused when he found a leaf in his hair, "There was a blunder. Stuff happened, but I took care of it. And I'm here now."

Kakashi looked at the blonde, his brows furrowed, "You know protocol, Naruto...The grace period…"

Naruto's expression fell, his tired eyes widened a fraction. He felt his heart drop, "No…," he said softly.

"I had to declare you M.I.A," silver brows furrowed, "I gave you more than enough time…"

Naruto swallowed and closed his eyes briefly before they opened with concern, "Please...Please tell me you didn't tell Minoru this…" Kakashi's expression turned solemn. And that was all he needed. "Shit," he cursed softly and turned to make for Minoru's room but Iruka stopped him with gentle hands on his shoulders.

"Go home."

Naruto was completely confused, "What - but - "

Iruka smiled, "Naruto, go home."

Naruto stared at his former sensei when realization hit him. He gave Kakashi one last look and left in a rush.

Iruka looked at his husband as the older man slid his mask down and scratched at the back on his neck, "I told you," he said with a smile.

Kakashi shook his head with a chuckle, "And you were absolutely right."

Naruto opened the door to his apartment and his eyes fell on the extra pair of shoes at the entrance. He slowly closed the door as his eyes moved to his bed, where he saw feet near the edge of the foot of his bed. A small smile tugged on his lips as he slipped off his dirty jacket and let it drop to the floor with a light thud. He moved to the bed where the younger man was sleeping, rolled onto his side almost into a ball. The bed dipped subtly when he sat next to the sleeping man. Fingers brushed against a pale cheek, up to the forehead, brushing away strands of dark hair. The dark lashes fluttered and sleepy dark eyes turned to him and only took them a second before they grew wide and the younger man sat up.

"Hey," Naruto said softly and pale hands came up to cups his cheeks, dark eyes searched his face and the hands on his face pinched. He yelped, "What was that for -" his expression softened when the dark eyes flickered, and flickered again, "Minoru…"

Minoru felt something inside of him break. Tired cerulean eyes softened and the older man gave him a soft smile. And he felt himself come undone. He felt sudden tears well up in his eyes, blurring his vision, and he choked on a breath. Arms instantly wrapped around him as tears ran down his face. Tears of relief and longing and happiness and worry and everything he couldn't name, ran down his face, "Na-ruto."

Naruto's heart ached as arms wrapped tightly around him, the younger man's face burying into the crook of his neck, "I'm sorry," he whispered and the body in his arms trembled with a sob, "I'm sorry."

Minoru shook his head and pulled away, hands swiped away tears from his face, "I knew - I knew you were coming back - I knew all along. That's why I never worry, because I just know. But Kakashi-dad...I was okay," his voice cracked and fingers brushed against his cheek, moving to comb through his hair, "I was okay."

Naruto pressed their foreheads together and the dark eyes slid shut. The younger man took in a deep breath and let it out. He bumped their noses together as he angled their lips in a slow sweet kiss full of comfort and reassurance. The hands that had fallen away to his shoulders flexed slightly at the caress. When they pulled away, a warm smile tugged on his lips at the faint momentary glow in the midnight blue eyes that looked at him.

"You're back," Minoru said softly, a smile finding his lips, "That's what matters. Is that you're back," his smile widened, "Welcome home."

Naruto's smiled warmly at the younger man, "Thank you."

Minoru cupped the older man's left cheek, noting the bruise, "Are you hurt?"

Naruto shook his head, "No, just tired. And in need of a shower, but I don't think I can handle that right now."

Minoru grinned, "I can help you if you want."

Naruto softly chuckled, "That sounds nice," he brought their lips back together for a tender kiss, sighing when he felt Minoru deepen it.

"I missed you," Minoru whispered against lips that curved into a smile.

"I missed you too."

Minoru crawled out of the bed and hands instantly pulled him closer by the hips when he stood. The blonde head leaned on him, and the hands on his hips slowly moved to the small of his back. He tugged the older man's shirt off, and his eyes fell on a healing bruise that had bloomed on a bicep. He lightly gripped the older man's elbows and encouraged him to stand, and with a sigh the older man obliged. He steadied him before he undid the dirty pants and tugged those off as well. He took a hand into his and led them into the bathroom where he turned on the pipes and let the water run while he undressed himself. He caught the intent almost hungry look in the cerulean eyes and he narrowed his own in response as a warning. When they stepped into the shower he maneuvered the older man into the spray.

Naruto reveled in the hot water that washed over him. Sighed when hands lathered a generous amount of shampoo into his hair and massaged it into his scalp. He kept his eyes closed to prevent suds from finding their way into his eyes and steadied himself both his hands on the younger man's shoulders. The gentle hands maneuvered him to lean on the wall as they continued to wash him, scrubbing him clean, and being careful with healing bruises. He opened his eyes and smiled at the wet face in front of him and combed his fingers through the wet locks of hair, moving to cup a wet cheek, tracing the bottom lip with his thumb.

Minoru kissed the thumb on his lips and smiled, "Come on." The pipes were turned off and he helped the older man out of the shower, gripping his elbow when he swayed.

Naruto placed a hand on his lover's shoulder, "Minoru," his voice sounded strained, making dark eyes look at him in concern, "I'm going to crash."

"I've got you," Minoru said softly and the older man almost instantly collapsed onto him. He took him into his arms and supported his weight and managed to get Naruto into bed. Dark eyes studied the sleeping face, the bruise under the left eye, the scratches near the temple. Pale fingers gingerly brushed away the wet stray locks of hair that covered the older man's forehead. He leaned down and planted a kiss, before moving to stand, but a hand on his kept him.

"Stay."

"Of course," was his response to the barely whisper. He crawled under the covers and snuggled against the warm body, smiling when the older man subconsciously pulled him in closer. He smoothed his hand over the strong chest in front of him. He didn't notice when his eyes drifted closed and followed his lover into sleep.