AN: So, there might be another 4 chapters. Maybe. I'm working on that.

But thank you to anyone who is reading! Much appreciated. Let me know what you think so far!

Also, NC-17.

Two months later...

Minoru caught the chakra sphere poured more chakra into it and threw it back at the older man. Naruto dodged it easily and let it create a smoke screen. Minoru lept away from it, and scanned the area. He felt him, behind him. But he felt it. It wasn't him. He grabbed the clones forearms and pulled its chakra making it disburse into a puff of smoke. Arms came around him, hooking from under his shoulder and getting him into a headlock. He managed to hook his l leg under Naruto's and pulled, making him lose his balance. He used the momentum and loosened grip to flip away, he turned but Naruto was already gone. He cursed to himself and found himself fighting three Narutos. He dispelled two of them and the third grinned at him and punched a gust of wind square in his chest. It threw him back, making skid across the ground but he managed to absorb it, add more force into it, and throw it back. It overtook him and Minoru gaped as the older man met a tree.

"Oh shit! Naruto! Are you okay?" He closed the distance between them and the older man coughed and then laughed.

"Impressive!" Naruto grinned, "You won that one."

They both looked up when a crow cawed above them and circled twice before swooping down and landing on Minoru's shoulder. Minoru gave it scratch on its head before taking the scroll from around it's neck. It squawked before departing. Minoru unrolled the scroll and read, "Kakashi-dad needs us at his office right away. It's urgent." He gave Naruto a concerned look and Naruto returned it equally.

When they reached Kakashi's office they found Sakura and Lee already inside. Kakashi gave them a nod and sighed.

"The scrolls that you retrieved have been taken, and I suspect Ishigakure. They can't be far, I trust you for won't have any trouble retrieving them." The four shinobi in front of him nodded, "Retrieve them with all means necessary. Because frankly I'm getting tired of this."

The shinobi standing in front of him knew what that meant, and they tried not to cringe.

They moved through the forest, taking to the trees, tracking down the nins. Kakashi was right, they weren't far, the tracks were still fresh and they were getting closer after an hour of traveling. They stopped when the tracks stopped. They knew what that meant. And the opposing nins struck without hesitation. They knew they were being followed and obviously weren't going to lead them back to their village. Obviously they were going to lead them into a thick part of the forest.

There was five against four and Naruto was looking rather pissed off. A battle ensued, but something seemed off. This didn't make sense.

Then it struck him. Naruto eyed them, "They're not here."

An opposing kunoichi smirked, "Looks like we have a smart one."

Lee's opponent fell back injured, "They must be up ahead."

Naruto clenched his jaw when the kunoichi looked over to Minoru, "Maybe you're not smart enough. Inui, isn't this the one that said to keep away from the Hokage's son?" She grinned at Naruto, "Make sure you take care of him." Naruto blocked a hit, using it to push away. From the corner of his eyes he saw the one called Inui go after Minoru, taking out a katana from its sheath.

Minoru unsheathed his tanto blade and stopped the katana, the force made him skid back a bit. The man was bigger than him, but he didn't move like it. In the back of his mind he knew this was taking too long. They needed to end this to retrieve the scrolls, once they got into the village it was going to become more complicated. Part of him wasn't worried, the other part was trying to hold off the man that was trying to cut off his head. He ran up a tree, lept from one branch to another, threw a few shuriken to gain distance while his hands made the quick seals and two more of him appeared and charged at him. He was taken by surprise when the man disbursed.

It wasn't the real one.

Minoru should have seen it. Should have seen it when the one that came at him disbursed when he cut it. When the real one attacked him, his katana going through his right shoulder, pinning him to a tree. His grip on his tanto became limp and pain shot through his arm as blood dripped down. He gritted his teeth as the nin named Inui chuckled at him and let the katana hold itself as he let it go.

"Not bad for the Hokage's son," he said tauntingly, "Expected more though."

The nin made the mistake of coming into arm's length. Because Minoru shot his hand up around his throat and drew his chakra out, "Then again I am the Hokage's son," Minoru's eyes glowed as he drew the chakra out, drew it out until the man was gasping and color left his skin and went limp in his grip and drop to the ground.

Minoru watched as the kuonichi Naruto was fighting dropped to the ground, cerulean eyes sought him out and Sakura lept into eyesight. Naruto was suddenly there and grimaced, "Just do it," he said said through gritted teeth. And Naruto yanked the katana out and tossed it aside. It must have been the excess chakra in him, because it made a slight lightheadedness hit him. He briefly closed his eyes as Sakura put pressure onto his wound. He canceled out the chakra in him and somewhat regretted when the pain became more apparent.

"Go," Sakura told Naruto, "Go catch up to Lee. I'll take care of him and we'll catch up."

Naruto hesitated for a second and midnight blue eyes have him a reassuring look, "Okay," he said and took off.

Minoru sighed and Sakura smiled at him as she healed his wound. As the pain faded he felt it, an odd numb feeling that tingled inside his shoulder and a caused a momentary wave of nausea. He had a sinking feeling and the look in the green eyes confirmed it. He swallowed thickly, "I know."

Sakura furrowed her brows, "How did you know?"

He smiled sheepishly, "Training with Genma," he explained. "How long do I have?"

Sakura sighed, "I don't have much experience with this poison, it's foreign I know that much. I can formulate an antidote once we're back in Konoha. What I can do is delay it to gain us some time."

Minoru nodded, and the pink haired kunoichi did something that made her hands glow.

"We need to tell Naruto - "

"Don't tell him," green eyes gave him a confused look, "It'll be a needless distraction." He sighed at the unsure look Sakura gave him, "Please?" It was obvious Sakura didn't like the sound of that.

"Fine," she gave him a stern look, "I can delay it again, but we need to get you home as soon as we can."

Minoru nodded and sheathed his tanto blade before they took off to the direction Naruto and Lee headed. Miles later they found them, found Naruto and Lee searching the two bodies on the ground. They both made triumphant noises. And much to their chagrin three more nins came or of the woodwork.

"Are you kidding me?" Naruto deadpanned.

The battle that ensued was a lengthy one that left them a bit winded. But they headed back to Konoha nonetheless with the scrolls in tow. Sakura pressed her hand into Minoru's shoulder before they departed and took into the trees. The way back felt longer than it should've. Minoru found himself falling back to catch his breath and waved off the concerned look Sakura shot him. When he caught up he heard the conversation Naruto and Lee we're having up ahead, that Sakura rolled her eyes and shook her head.

Naruto raised a dismissive hand at Lee, "You don't know what you're talking about."

Lee frowned, "Eating so much ramen can't be good for you. It's salty and full of nutrients that your body can do without."

"Lies!" Naruto shot back.

Sakura groaned, "Why are you guys talking about ramen anyway?!"

Lee's frowned deepened, "I mentioned that I was hungry and Naruto mentioned ramen and I don't think he realizes how bad it is to eat it so often."

Naruto frowned. Minoru had pointed it out to him but still treated him to it every so often.

"I can't deny you of anything!"

He looked back at Minoru and stopped walking. The younger man looked pale and out of breath, "Minoru?" His heart dropped when he noticed the flicker in the midnight blue eyes and the way he staggered. "Minoru?"

Minoru couldn't respond to him, he was concentrating too much on his breathing. He blinked when his vision blurred and tried to focus. He had to stop walking when the ground shifted. Sakura was suddenly right there and he felt his knees give out. He felt a familiar strong hand grasp at him as he passed out.

"Shit!" Sakura cursed and pressed her hand into Minoru's shoulder as Naruto held him.

"What's going on?" Naruto's voice sounded off even to himself, he tried not to think about how Minoru sounded as if he was struggling to breathe. Sakura didn't respond to him as she pulsed her chakra into the unconscious man in his arms, "Sakura."

Sakura clenched her jaw, "The katana that stabbed him, it was poisoned. I've been delaying the effect but I can only do it so much until it begins to resist and my efforts become useless," she finally met the cerulean eyes that were looking at her in disbelief. "We have to get home right now, Naruto. Once we're home I can make an antidote."

Naruto gathered Minoru into his arms and stood. They had miles to go before they were home. He looked at Minoru and then to Sakura, "Why am I barely finding out about this?"

Sakura hesitated, "He didn't want me to tell you, he said it would be a distraction." Her expression turned stern, "We need to get him back to Konoha."

"He'll be fine," Lee reassured. And they took off.

Naruto's grip on Minoru was like a vice as he moved. And tried very hard not to think. Tried very hard not to panic.

Naruto shifted in his chair and rubbed his face. He looked at the unconscious man on the hospital bed, at the lack of color in his pale skin. He let out a deep sigh as he gingerly took a resting hand into his and pressed his lips to the knuckles. It had been hours since they arrived at the hospital, hours since he was waiting impatiently in the waiting room, hours since Iruka came rushing in in hope for news, hours since Kakashi did the same. It had been hours since he was told that the poison was gone, that they just needed for him to wake up.

He straightened when he heard the door opened and looked over to see Sakura give him a soft smile. He tried smiling back.

"I thought you would have gone home to rest," she said softly and looked over Minoru's chart and moved to check his vitals.

Naruto shook his head and looked at Sakura, "Why didn't you tell me?"

Sakura looked at the blonde and moved back to Minoru's chart, "He asked me not to, saying it would distract you," she responded softly, her expression solemn, "I'm sorry, Naruto. I know I should've..." She trailed off when he shook his head in dismissal, "He's going to be okay."

Naruto's eyes were on Minoru, "I know," he squeezed the hand in his, "I know."

"You should get some rest," Sakura suggested. "I'll come by later to check on him, alright?"

Naruto nodded, "Thank you."

Sakura looked at him, the tone of voice soft and genuine and so full of appreciation that it took her a bit aback. She smiled and gave her teammate's shoulder a firm reassuring squeeze as she left the room.

When the door opened again Iruka walked with a bag in his hand. Naruto gave him a questioning look as he handed it to him.

"I knew you were still going to be here," Iruka said softly, "Meaning I knew you haven't eaten."

Naruto took the offered bag and smiled when he looked inside, "Ramen."

"And if you don't eat that then that's worrisome," Iruka smiled as Naruto took the container out, "How's he doing?"

Naruto looked at the still unconscious man, "He hasn't woken up."

Iruka sighed and moved to the side of the bed and gingerly brushed away the stray strands of hair obscuring the pale forehead, "Kakashi's been stuck at the tower," he said softly, "Worried sick but trying not to show it." He smiled softly and looked at Naruto, "It's comforting that you're here with him," his expression turned worried, "But you should get some rest."

Naruto smiled, "I will," he lied, and he knew Iruka wasn't convinced. But Iruka knew better than to argue with him.

When Iruka left, which wasn't until Naruto forced himself to eat and finish his meal, he must've dozed off while leaning on the edge of the hospital bed. He was awake the moment the fingers in his hand twitched. He looked up at the younger man with the aid of the light that filtered in through the large windows nearby as the dark lashes fluttered for a moment before lids struggled to open. He stood and midnight blue eyes blearily looked up at him. A smile tugged on his lips as he brushed away the stray stands on the pale forehead and a pale cheek as he leaned down and planted a kiss on the exposed forehead, moving down to give him a chaste kiss. He half sat on the edge of the bed and gave the hand in his a firm squeeze, "Hey."

Minoru's lips tugged into a small smile, "Hey," he rasped out. The thumb on his cheek brushed under his eye in a soothing gesture. Naruto stroked his cheek with his knuckles, his thumb moving to tracing his bottom lip.

Naruto let out a sigh of relief, "Minoru... Why didn't you tell me?"

Minoru averted his gaze and the thumb on hand rubbed his knuckle. He looked back up at the cerulean eyes, "I'm sorry," he said softly, "I'm sorry, Naruto. I...I didn't want to worry you..." He noticed how the older man's expression became somber.

"...How do you think I felt when you collapsed?" He asked softly, tracing the younger man's brow, "When Sakura told me what happened?" His thumb traced the younger man's bottom lip again, "Please don't do that again, Minoru."

Minoru nodded and Naruto leaned back down to give him a brief kiss. His hand tightened when he felt him move from the bed. The cerulean eyes locked with his with understanding.

"I'll be right back, I'm just going to get you some water," Naruto told him softly and the younger man seemed to have relaxed at that.

When he got back and Minoru drank the water as if he hadn't drank water in days, and settled back down and fell asleep almost instantly, he watched him. He didn't even realize when he leaned forward on the edge of the bed and fell asleep.

Minoru stirred and woke up to an unfamiliar dark ceiling. He looked to the side and saw the empty chair next to him. He sighed as he pushed himself up into a sitting position, and looked around. An unsettling feeling slowly crept onto him causing him to shiver. He looked at the window, through the slight part in the curtain and tried to ignore it. He jumped when he heard the bathroom door open and Naruto emerged from it. A wave of relief washed over him that was soon followed by worry, "I thought you left to go rest."

Naruto smiled and shook his head as he moved to sit on the edge of the bed, "I wouldn't be able to go home and rest knowing that you'll wake up in the middle in the night in a place that you hate."

Minoru looked at him worriedly, "I'm sorry."

Naruto's smile softened as he took a hand into his, "Minoru," he thought about his words, "Why do you do this?" Midnight blue eyes gave him a confused look, "Why do you think you're not worth the trouble?"

Minoru averted his gaze and looked down at the hand holding his, the warm palm and fingers that made his cool skin tingle. A long moment passed before he was able to answer, "When...I was little, when I was in the orphanage, I thought that...I didn't deserve to have a family," he swallowed and rubbed his thumb on the inside if the older man's wrist, "I thought I didn't deserve to be loved. That's why I always withdrew from families that showed interest in me...I didn't want to be a burden to anyone, so...I had a tendency to push people away." He heard his voice crack and the older man's thumb rubbed his knuckle, "But then Kakashi-dad and Iru-dad came along, and it felt different. I don't know why, but with them...it felt right. And it was," he felt tears sting his eyes, "and I didn't feel like that for a really long time. I learned to accept the love of others and knew I wasn't burden. But then my ability triggered, and everyone made a fuss about it and didn't want that...I didn't want to trouble you, or Kakashi-dad or Iru-dad."

Naruto gave the hand in his a gentle squeeze, "That's why you stopped your training," he said softly, and got a small nod in response.

Minoru swallowed through the lump in his throat, "That was one of the reasons," he admitted, "but you helped me through that," he looked up at the older man and offered him a smile, "You're always helping me one way or another, aren't you?" He said softly and looked back down at their hands, bringing its pair to clasp over Naruto's, "I haven't felt like that in a really really long time. I even felt like that towards you at some point, when I first started having feelings towards you...I told myself that...I didn't deserve your love." He choked on his words and a hand came up to cup his cheek and direct his gaze to the older man who gently wiped at his eyes. He couldn't help but softly laugh at himself, "That didn't work." He smiled when Naruto chuckled.

"Please tell me you don't feel like that anymore," he smiled when Minoru shook his head.

"I feel like this...on occasion...like when I get poisoned and end up in the hospital and you end up staying with me because you know that I hate hospitals," he grinned slightly, "But I try not to."

Naruto combed his fingers through the dark locks of hair and pulled Minoru in to plant a kiss on the pale forehead, "For what it's worth, I stayed because I wanted to, because I care about you, and because I love you."

Minoru smiled despite the tears the blurred his vision, "I know," he said softly. His smile widened as Naruto smiled back at him and leaned in to seal their lips in a sweet kiss. Minoru sighed as the kiss broke and Naruto pressed his forehead on his. He lightly tugged on the hand in his and cerulean eyes gave him a look. He shifted and sighed when it took a bit too much effort to move, but managed and patted the space next to him in the narrow bed.

Naruto chuckled and moved to lay next to the younger man. They shifted and laid facing each other. He smiled when fingers brushed against his cheek and moved down his neck to rest on his chest. Lips kissed his in a chaste kiss before Minoru snuggled into him. It didn't take long for them to follow each into sleep.

The next day in the afternoon, Minoru was discharged. Naruto treated him to lunch, which to much of his amusement Minoru just wanted anything that wasn't hospital food.

They wound up in Naruto's apartment after lunch. And to his surprise he found himself being pinned against the nearest wall by a languid kiss that sent a spark through him. He pulled Minoru closer by the small of his back without thinking. He pulled away, thinking to say something along the lines "you should rest", but the thought fled his mind when he saw that look in the younger man's eyes, the glowing gaze that made his heart skip a beat. Instead he pulled him in for another slow kiss. Their movements were slow, sensual, they took their time undressing each other. Naruto took his time as he made a trail down the younger man's body, the soft moans and quickened breaths echoed in the room as he moved lower, dipping his tongue into his navel. Moving lower with his tongue, pressing it on the head of the erect member that wanted his attention. Minoru gasped above him as he wrapped his lips around him, massaging the length with his tongue, tasting the drops of precum. The whisper of his name made his erection throb, the fingers that tangled in his hair and followed his movements made him moan. He traced a slick fingers on the puckered entrance, exhaling sharply when the younger man spread his legs wider for him. He splayed a hand above the younger man's navel, feeling the muscles twitch and contract under his touch as he pushed a finger in. Minoru moaned above him, rocking against his intruding fingers and into his mouth. When he pressed another finger inside and teased the sensitive bundle of nerves and swirled his tongue on the bulbous head before taking him back in, the fingers in his hair flexed, the pants of air quickened and Minoru was coming with a long low moan that went straight to his aching flesh. He swallowed every drop, milking him until the slender hips bucked towards him. He crawled over his panting lover, smiling at the flush in the fair skin. Illuminated eyes looked up at him as a hand cupped his cheek and directed him into a deep kiss, groaning when the younger man's tongue slid against his. He pressed against the younger man's prostate making him gasp against his mouth. Hands smoothed down his chest as he withdrew his fingers and slicked his erection. He let out pleasant sigh when Minoru reached between them and positioned him. Their lips met in a sensual kiss as he pushed in to that tight enveloping heat, moaning into the kiss as Minoru rocked his hips.

Naruto steadily thrust into the younger man, his lips latched onto the pale neck. He found himself being rolled over and Minoru circled his hips and ground down on him. He lifted his knees and wrapped an arm around Minoru back as he rode him, and he couldn't help but smile when Minoru had to pause and breathlessly gave him a sheepish smile. Because he knew how much he loved riding him, but today was not one of those days. But that was okay, he rolled them back over and pressed his hips flush against him and thrust hard and deep into the younger man. His lips latched onto that spot, making him cry out his name. He reached in between them, noting the hitch of breath as he took the sobbing erection into a firm grip and began stroking him in time with his thrust. Hands gripped his shoulder blades as the dark head thrashed back with a loud moan as his features contorted in pleasure as he came, hard, in between them. Naruto moaned at the resulting contraction, "Minoru," he breathed out and the younger man locked him in a searing kiss that pushed him over the edge, making his hips falter and drive to the hilt as he came inside of him.

Minoru softly chuckled when Naruto hummed against his neck. He planted a soft kiss on a shoulder and Naruto pushed himself up to look down at him. He cupped the older man's face and kissed his nose, "I love you," he said softly, his words making a wide smile bloom on the handsome face.

"I love you too."

Naruto watched as the younger man inevitably fell asleep. He smiled and gave a cheek a kiss before pulling away and making a quick trip to the bathroom. He gave both of a courteous wipe down and climbed back into bed, pulling the covers over them. Minoru shifted closer in his sleep, making a smile tug on his lips.

And he wasn't surprised when he woke up later in the evening and Minoru didn't stir when he got out of bed and made a quick dinner for them. He did, however, watch with amusement as the younger man wolfed down his food.

"You know," Naruto drawled, earning him a quirk of a dark brow, "One of these days you dad is going to chidori my ass if I keep not returning you home when I should."

Minoru grinned and propped himself on a elbow, the sheet around his waist leaving little to the imagination, "Don't you want me all to yourself?"

Naruto didn't even try to disguise his leer, "I believe that's what would get my ass chidoried"

Minoru snorted, "Don't just make up a word."

Naruto laughed and moved to the bed and sat down next to Minoru, letting his hand trail over the exposed flank, "Well, in the end, it's worth it."

Minoru couldn't stop the blush that spread across his cheeks. And the way that Naruto smiled at him didn't help either. And the way he tilted his head back with a hand under his chin so that he could slip their lips together in a loving kiss, took his breath away.

This love simply took his breath away.