AN: A little before story of "Taking a Chance" ( also see "A Christmas Mishap")

Also, NC-17

Naruto effectively blocked a kick, taking hold of Minoru ankle and used the momentum against him to push him down. But Minoru was quicker than that, he had learned that not too long ago, that after years of training with Kakashi sometimes it felt as if he was training with his sensei rather than his adopted son. Minoru pushed off the ground with a hand, balancing as he brought his other leg around for another swift kick. Naruto managed to block that one- but something happened, Minoru somehow managed to roll and disengage. Naruto pushed away to gain the upper hand and realized that Minoru had vanished. His eyes quickly scanned the field - he turned around just in time to grab a half gloved flying fist and pulled him in. Midnight blue eyes flickered at him as Minoru free arm crossed his chest and pushed him - wrestled him - down. He grunted as his back hit the floor and looked up at Minoru who was grinning down at him in triumph with one thigh near his hip and the other hallway meeting the ground.

It was moments like these that Naruto had to remind himself, and refrain. Refrain from reaching up to comb his fingers through that unruly dark hair. To reach up and...

Naruto gave Minoru a mocked offended look, "Luck!"

Minoru snorted and stood, giving Naruto a hand to stand up. He snorted again when Naruto dusted himself off, "If it makes you feel better, okay, it was luck."

Naruto narrowed his eyes at him, and chuckled when Minoru placed his hands on his hips and heaved a tired sigh, "Training with Gai before me has never been a good idea."

Minoru laughed, "Yeah but, how did he put it...ah, yes, 'Nothing comes easy even when you're in the springtime of youth!'"

Naruto considered, "Yeah, I guess." He snorted when Minoru leaned down and braced himself on his knees. "I suppose now is a good time to stop."

Minoru laughed and straightened himself, "Alright," he stretched one last time before starting his walk home, "Don't forget, dinner at my place tonight."

Naruto smiled and nodded, "Of course, I would never miss Iruka-sensei's cooking." He watched as Minoru threw him a smile before turning and walked away. His eyes studied the younger man's frame as he walked away, he knew what kind of strength that body was capable of, what kind of grace it possessed. And right now he absentmindedly tilted his head slightly as his eyes fell on Minoru's rear. He had to admit that Minoru had a really nice ass.

His expression turned deadpanned when he realized what he was doing and moved his gaze to the sky instead. He dropped his head down and scratched at the back of his neck and figured it would be a good idea to go home.

Naruto heaved a sigh when he entered his apartment and toed off his shoes. He undid his forehead protector as he moved to his bedroom and placed it on top of his dresser. His eyes moved to the painting that hung over it on the wall. Cerulean eyes stayed on it as he striped off his shirt and a slow smile tugged on his lips. He moved to the bathroom, throwing his shirt and pants into the hamper as he went. He needed a cold shower. He needed to cool off and stop thinking about Minoru so much. He shook his head and stepped into the shower, and sighed as the water washed over him. He closed his eyes and subconsciously let his mind wander. Let it wander to Minoru, how his body felt when he pinned him down -

The slap that echoed in the bathroom was unnecessarily loud and the groan that followed wasn't any better.

Naruto frowned at himself and quickly washed himself and turned off the pipes. He dried himself a bit roughly and groaned as he towel dried his hair.

"It's not my fault," he mumbled at himself as he walked out of the bathroom, the towel around his neck, "That he's so..." His eyes landed on the painting again. The painting Minoru gave him not too long ago, maybe a few months... Or was it longer? He plopped down onto his bed and looked up at the ceiling and turned his head to look at the painting, smiling when it looked different from this angle.

He didn't fight it when his eyes started to feel heavy, in the back of his mind he figured he had time for a nap.

"Naruto..."

Naruto brushed his lips along pale skin, eliciting a sigh from the younger man. He trailed his hands over warm flushed skin, loving the way he arched in response. He sucked lightly on it, moaning when slender hips rocked against his, feeling something blunt nudge his own hardness. He pressed closer, making the younger man moan. Warm pale hands smoothed over his sides, lips brushed along his clavicle, his jaw. A hand cupped his cheek and lips brushed over his in a sensual caress.

"Minoru..." He breathed, rolling his hips, and flickering midnight blue eyes locked with his -

Naruto stirred awake, shifting on his bed and sighed as he reached for himself, half-aware he was doing so. He moaned as he took himself in a loose grip while his sleepy mind was on Minoru.

"Naruto..."

Warm pale hands smoothed along his sides. Lips brushed along his skin, over a nipple -

Naruto's breath hitched and his grip firmed, he felt a heat wash over him causing his body to flush hotter with arousal.

The younger man's hot tongue flicked the sensitive bud, a warm hand moving lower, skimming his stomach as it moved to his erection.

Naruto panted for air as his hand quickened, he rolled his hips, smearing precum along his shaft. He groaned as he shamelessly thought about Minoru, about those hands that were so skilled, so deft -

"So hot..." Minoru grinned down at him, "So close..."

Naruto cursed under his breath at the tightness that built in his lower abdomen. His half awake mind had him convinced that it wasn't his hand stroking him, it was Minoru's, and right now he didn't want to think otherwise.

Minoru leaned over him, his free hand smoothing over his chest and up to his jaw as he leaned in closer and angled their lips together -

He moaned low in his throat as his hips bucked, "Minoru-" he said just above a whisper as his orgasm claimed him. He groaned as his hot seed spurted onto his stomach and smeared on his hand that slowed it's stroking. His panting echoed in his bedroom as he opened his eyes and looked up at the ceiling. He sighed as he brought up his clean hand and rubbed at his face.

This is getting ridiculous, he thought to himself and sighed again. Even though it was not an uncommon occurrence - anymore - he still felt rather embarrassed after the fact. Thinking and dreaming about his best friend in such a way...

Naruto hurriedly sat up when his mind started to wander and looked over at his alarm clock on his nightstand. He still had time to take yet another shower and head over to the Hatake residence for dinner. He frowned at himself. Of course I would do this right before seeing him. With a deep sigh he rolled out of bed and got ready.

An amused smile tugged on Minoru's lips when he opened the front door, "I was beginning to wonder if you forgot," he chuckled at the way Naruto looked as if he was thinking of an excuse, "Get in."

Naruto smiled as he stepped inside and toed off his shoes, "I'm not that late."

"I know," Minoru stated with a smile, "It's just not like you. Like someone else I know."

Naruto tried very hard not to blush when he unwillingly remembered the reason as to why he was late. And laughed instead. He followed Minoru into the kitchen and tried his best not to let his eyes wander over the younger man's frame.

Iruka looked over at the young men when they walked into the kitchen, "Finally!"

Naruto frowned, "I'm not that late!"

Kakashi hummed.

Minoru helped Iruka serve dinner while Naruto and Kakashi talked about random things. Which led to tangents. They talked as they ate, laughing and joking. Not noticing how time just clicked by.

After dinner, Minoru and Naruto sat outside at the patio table in the backyard as Iruka made something for dessert.

"So I have a thought," Naruto started.

"You don't say," Minoru teased and laughed when Naruto glared at him, "What?"

"I think we should start using Chakra in its purest form," Naruto said with a smile, earning him a furrowed dark brow, "The purest way to learn how to control Chakra that isn't yours. I mean without absorbing it." He put his hand palm up and created a Chakra sphere the size of a golf ball, "Take it but don't absorb it. Control it and make it yours." Minoru considered him before giving him a nod and straightened in his seat. Pale hands reached out and tentatively hovered over the warm Chakra sphere.

"Now, pour the smallest amount of Chakra to make it yours and simply hold it." Minoru did, it was tentative, but he could feel it. And it was a rather strange feeling. He could feel the sphere disconnect from him and transfer to the younger man. He slowly withdrew his hand but kept it in reach and watched as Minoru concentrated on keeping the sphere alive.

Minoru glanced up and noticed how Naruto was watching him, how he smiled at him. He lost his concentration. The Chakra sphere fritzed and lost his connection to it making him cringe at the prickling sensation on his hands that was almost painful and withdrew his hands without thinking. "Oh - shit -" he watched as Naruto caught it and the sphere disappeared in a little puff of smoke. "Sorry," he said sheepishly while rubbing his hands together.

"It's okay," Naruto said reassuringly, "It just takes practice, so that it can come naturally to you." He saw Minoru's expression change, it was subtle, but it happened. And the flicker in the midnight blue eyes confirmed it. Minoru looked away briefly towards the house before looking back at him again with a small smile - it was possibly something he said, but before he was able to say anything Minoru spoke.

"I know," Minoru said simply just as his dads came outside to join them.

"Chocolate bundt cake and ice cream," Iruka declared.

Minoru quirked an amused brow, "What happened to the cookies?"

Iruka gave Kakashi a look who returned his look equally. He smiled at Minoru, "A mystery."

Minoru and Naruto snorted.

After dessert, and rounds of UNO on the coffee table in the living room, Naruto decided it was time to head home. As he put on his shoes Minoru joined him, earning him a questioning eyebrow.

Minoru smiled, "I'll walk with you."

They walked through the dark roads of Konoha in a comfortable silence. Naruto smiled to himself, knowing how hard it is to find people like this, people that you can be either extremely talkative with or quiet without question. With Minoru, it felt natural. With Minoru it always felt right and easy. To just be himself, to just say what was on his mind, to confide in him.

"Want to come in for a bit?" Naruto asked as they reached his apartment and led the younger man inside.

"I shouldn't stay long," Minoru said as he toed off his shoes, "Uncle Gai wants to meet at the crack of dawn," he said with a frown.

Naruto chuckled, "Alright, let me get you something to drink." He moved to the kitchen and took out a couple of glasses followed by a bottle of iced tea from the fridge. He moved back to the living room to find Minoru sitting on the couch flipping through a magazine he had left on the coffee table. He placed the glasses on the coffee table and poured tea into them before moving to take a seat next to the younger man.

"Minoru," he started, hesitating when dark blue eyes gave him a questioning look over the rim of his glass, "Earlier... Did I say something?"

"You say many things," Minoru teased with a laugh, "What do you mean?"

Naruto chuckled, "I meant... Did I say something earlier when we were sitting in the back yard?" He noticed how Minoru's smile softened, "I ask because... Well, I noticed..."

Minoru looked away and down to the iced tea in his hand, "It's fine," he said and gave Naruto a smile, who looked unconvinced. He sighed, "It's just... You said something. About it coming naturally to me... And that sounds like such... A distant reality. It sounds foreign." He sighed, "I feel foreign to myself. A lot of the time I just don't feel like myself, especially with the new information that Kakashi-dad finds. But I'm trying," he said with a smile, "I'm trying, but it's just.. "

Naruto furrowed his brows worriedly, "Minoru," the younger man looked at him, and the look the midnight blue eyes made his heart ache, "In the end, the things that you are capable of are amazing. You're amazing!"

Minoru chuckled and looked back down at his tea, "Thank you. But to be completely honest with you Naruto, I don't see it let alone feel it." He took another drink and looked at the older man with a smile, "But thank you."

Naruto watched as Minoru finished his tea and stood. His heart was pounding for a reason he couldn't name. He instinctively stood with him, "Minoru wait -" the younger man turned back around to look at him and for some reason he drew a blank.

Minoru furrowed a brow in question, "What is it?"

"I don't see it."

He looked at him. All he saw was his best friend, the man who he found to be completely amazing, the man he was in love with. He couldn't let Minoru walked out that door thinking that he wasn't, "Minoru, you are an amazing person, you always have been. You have always been - caring, open minded, patient, and so passionate with everything that you do, whether it be your training or painting," he smiled when he noticed the flicker of Chakra in the normally dark blue eyes, "and you always will be, because you will always be you. Despite triggering your ability and feeling unsure of yourself, you will always be you, Minoru. Don't ever lose sight of that." His eyes locked with the younger man's, widening a fraction when they began to glisten and glow. He closed the distance between them as Minoru brought up a hand and swiped at his eyes with an embarrassed short chuckle, "Minoru..." He hugged him when he heard his breath hitch. Unbeknownst to him, Minoru took every ounce of warmth and comfort from that embrace before reluctantly pulling away.

"Sorry," Minoru said with a laugh that sounded more broken than he wanted it to. He cleared his throat and was glad when Naruto didn't step back to put some distance between them like he expected, "Sorry, I guess... I needed to hear that..."

Naruto smiled, "Just don't ever forget it." Minoru smiled, the kind of smile that was hopeful. The kind of smile that made him want to pull him in closer and just kiss him.

And that's when he casually took a half step back.

"I think with that i should go," Minoru rubbed his face in a way as if to refresh himself, "Same time tomorrow?"

Naruto smiled and nodded, "Of course." He saw Minoru out and leaned heavily in the door as he closed it. That was close. That was too close.

"Minoru," Naruto sucked on the pale throat, eliciting a deep moan from the younger man. Slender hips rocked up towards his, rubbing their erections together in a friction that caused a loud moan to rip out of him. "Gods, Minoru."

"Naruto."

He sat back and looked at the younger man, looked at him as he rocked his hips, his erection dripping with want. The moan that came out of Minoru as he took him in a loose grip made his own erection ache. He stroked him, the flushed body under him arched beautifully, the dark head arched back in pleasure, "Minoru," he gasped as a warm hand took his erection into a firm grip. He dropped back down onto a forearm, hovering above the panting younger man as they worked each other's flesh. Their rhythm turned feverish and legs tightened around his waist - he was close - so close -

"Na-ruto-"

Naruto moaned in his sleep, his hand on his erection quickened as he arched his hips. He came with Minoru's name on his lips, his hot seed spilling on his stomach. He groaned as he fully woke up and proceeded to glare at his ceiling. He sighed and looked over at his alarm clock. "Oh shit!" He scrambled out of bed, nearly tripping on his sheets, as he made his way to the bathroom to shower. He had just enough time to shower, get dressed, eat something, and run out his door.

Naruto found Minoru under a tree with a knee drawn up close to his chest and his sketchbook propped open on it. Midnight blue eyes gave him an amused look as the sketchbook snapped closed.

"Don't tell me you're gonna start making this a habit," he chuckled as he stood, "I'm gonna have two Kakashi-dads on my hands."

Naruto laughed, "Give me some credit."

Minoru made a noise, "Regarding?" There was a long pause where Minoru slowly looked over to Naruto with expectation. He gave him a look that told him "go on".

"Things," Naruto said matter-of-factly, and frowned when Minoru snorted.

"Okay," Minoru said in mock belief, "Whatever you say."

"Anyway!" Naruto cleared his throat.

"Naruto?"

Naruto quirked an eyebrow, "Hm?"

"Today, can we practice that thing you were telling me about last night?"

A wide smile tugged on Naruto's lips as he looked at the younger man, "Of course."

6 months later...

"Naruto..."

Naruto sighed at the way Minoru gasped out his name, at the way he arched his body so beautifully under him. He brushed his lips along pale skin, along the younger man's clavicle and up his neck, smiling when Minoru's breath hitched. He rolled his hips as his fingers pressed against that sensitive bundle of nerves, making Minoru gasp in pleasure followed by a deep moan. Warm hands trailed over his sides, over his chest, his nipples, up his neck, and glowing eyes followed. He leaned down, fingers threading into his hair and he sealed their lips together in a tender kiss. Minoru rolled his hips against his fingers and he took the hint. He pulled away, withdrawing his fingers and slicked his aching erection, and grinned when Minoru shifted closer, his erection bobbing with the subtle motion. He slowly pushed into that tight heat, swiping his tongue on a dark nipple as he did so, making pale hands find purchase on his biceps.

"Na- ruto-"

Naruto pressed his lips on the younger man's obscured forehead as he fully seated himself. He looked down at him, at the flushed panting younger man that slowly opened illuminated eyes to look back up at him, "okay?"

Minoru nodded, moaning as he rocked his hips. He couldn't help but grin as he cupped the older man's jaw and drew him in for a kiss, "More than okay," he whispered against lips before they claimed his. He moaned into the older man's mouth when he started moving, his rigid length pushing against his prostate.

Naruto rolled his hips, keeping their rhythm steady, and deep - oh so deep. He groaned as he wrapped an arm around Minoru's waist and changed their angle and the reaction was beautiful. Minoru cried out his name, rolling his hips with his, "Minoru," he moaned and glowing eyes focused on him. In that moment he felt as if he was dreaming. It had been almost two months since that night in the field, since their first kiss. And even though it wasn't their first time, it still sent a shock through his system. It still made his heart flutter at the way Minoru looked at him, at the way those eyes focused on him. And only him. The way those hands touched him, his they sent sparks through his skin.

"Oh - g-god -"

Naruto moaned in response and reached in between them, taking Minoru's dripping erection into a firm grip. "Gods, Minoru." He panted for air as Minoru arched his head back in pleasure, and hands found purchase on his hips. And when Minoru moaned deep in his throat and the hands on him flexed, Naruto moaned with him. He watched him, as his orgasm claimed him. As lips parted in pleasure hips continued rolling with him. He was so engrossed in the younger man his own orgasm took him by surprise, eliciting a gasp from the younger man as he filled him with his seed.

"Minoru," he breathed out, rolling his hips, emptying himself into the writhing body under him. He cupped a flushed cheek and traced Minoru's bottom lip with his thumb, a smile tugged on his lips when glowing eyes opened to look up at him. "I've dreamt about you so much."

Minoru smiled up at him, his fingers tracing up along his ribs, "Like this?" He asked a bit breathlessly.

Naruto smiled and brushed his thumb under an illuminated eye, "Yeah," he admitted softly. A hand moved up his chest and threaded into the hair around his ear.

"I'm here now," Minoru said with a smile, "And I'm not going anywhere."

Naruto's smile widened, "Are you sure?"

Minoru grinned up at the older man and swiftly rolled them over, straddling the older man's hips as he leaned down to brush their lips together, "Positive." He angled their lips together, sighing when hands smoothed over his thighs and hips.

Naruto moaned when Minoru ground down his hips, their slick erections creating a friction that made his hands flex on the slender hips. He gasped against Minoru's mouth when fingers teased his sensitive nipples before moving along his torso and over his stomach, "Minoru," he trailed off with a moan when one of those hands took his renewed erection into a firm grip and started stroking him. His hand went to the younger man's length, stroking the underside with his knuckles before wrapping his hand around it.

"Na-ruto - s-so good," he flushed hotter at the way Naruto hungrily looked at him, moaning when the hand around him quickened a fraction. He caught himself on a hand near the blonde head and hovered above him. He closed the distance between them, sealing their lips in a passionate kiss. He quickened his hand, circling the sensitive head with his thumb, smearing the precum gathered there. He smiled at the way Naruto bucked against him, arching his back slightly. "So hot," he whispered under his breath, half aware of doing so.

Naruto panted for air, feeling a sense of de ja vu come over him, "Mino-ru - I -"

Minoru grinned at the older man, the hand on his hip tightened it's hold, "Come for me," he panted out, feeling the familiar tightness in his lower abdomen, "Come f-for me Naruto -"

Naruto moaned deep in his throat as his orgasm washed over him, shooting his seed onto his stomach. His hand quickened on impulse, and Minoru quickly followed, adding to the mess on his stomach with a loud moan. He pulled Minoru down, smiling at the noise he made in the back of his throat, and sealed their lips together in a tender kiss, "I love you," he whispered against lips and felt them pull into a smile.

"I love you, too," Minoru pressed a kiss on Naruto's jaw and pleasantly shivered when fingertips stroked along his sides. He laughed when Naruto swiftly rolled them over and settled on to of him, and his lips descended onto his with a kiss that left a breathless.

"So much better than my dreams," Naruto said with a laugh.

Minoru wiggled his eyebrows, "Do tell!"

Naruto laughed and shook his head, "Oh no no no, you don't need to know about any of that."

Minoru grinned, "Did you think of me often?" He trailed his hands over the older man's chest, and sighed, "How was I so blind?"

Naruto smiled, "So was I. Sometimes when I think back, I think 'I should've known'."

Minoru laughed, "Why?"

"Because," Naruto started, "there were times that I thought I was just projecting... But it turns out..."

Minoru gave the older man a curious look, "Like when?"

"Like at the Christmas party, I know you were drunk, but there were moments... The way you were looking at me..."

Minoru flushed, "Wait - what?!"

Naruto chuckled, "The way you looked at me..." He considered his words, "Well. It looked like you wanted to get into my pants." He couldn't help but laugh when those midnight blue eyes glowed back at him and the younger man's flush increased. He opened his mouth to say something but a hand came up and slipped over it.

"Don't," Minoru groaned and Naruto chuckled, "Not another word."

Naruto moved away the hand covering his mouth and kissed the knuckles, "We aren't blind anymore at least."

"Yeah, now you can clearly see I want to get into your pants."

Naruto laughed as hands directed him into a passionate kiss, making him him in approval.

How was he blind to a love this bright?