Naruto stood still, clenching his fists. Ice cold sweat dripped down his back.

"What..."

Glancing hesitantly behind him his eyes met the gaze of his son. Naruto watched as his face contorted in confusion, anger, and disbelief.

"Your... that's what you guys were..."

Naruto thought for a moment. Hinata had mentioned that Boruto knew they were keeping a secret from him. And he had seen the resentment in Boruto's eyes day after day. Naruto fully turned to face the young Uzumaki. Boruto's hair was completely covering his eyes.

"I understand if your angry, and you have every right to be mad at me." Naruto began softly. "I shouldn't have kept it a secret from you for so long. I should have told you sooner, and Hinata's reaction proved to me that the way I chose was wrong. I just..."

Naruto stopped and looked at the ground. Tears were starting to prick his eyes, but he couldn't show weakness.

"I didn't want you guys to have to bear the burden of losing a parent. My thoughts were misguided, and I apologize for that."

Boruto lifted his head to look his dad in the eye. "You are dying..." Boruto's face evidently showed that he didn't want to believe it. They may have had a rocky relationship, but deep down inside, Boruto loves his dad.

"I don't want to believe this. Mom knew didn't she. All those times when she zoned out, or fell asleep crying it was because of you wasn't it." Boruto clenched his fists and looked angrily at his dad. "You kept something like that from us? Something as terrible as that?"

Naruto looked away from his son. The accusing gaze telling him that everything he did the past few days were wrong. The secret, his illness... Hinata was right. It would only turn out wrong if he kept it this long. He should've been honest with them from the beginning.

"I'm sorry... Bor-"

"Stop! Don't make any excuses!"

Boruto stood up, swinging his arms in an attempt to shut his father up. It worked though, and Naruto widened his eyes in shock. Boruto stood still, trying to calm his breathing. Hearing your dad was dying, was shocking, and he didn't know how to react. A million thoughts ran through his head, he was racking his head in an attempt to find a reason his dad kept something like that from him.

"Why?" Boruto asked in a broken voice. "How is this happening? You were supposed to be my dad. I had hoped that after you resigned it was because you finally saw that your family was more important than your job, but it seems you weren't thinking about your family at all. You refused to tell us something that is most likely going to change this family forever!"

Naruto took a step forward but thought against it. He wanted to comfort the boy in front of him, but he knew it was all his fault, and any attempt to comfort him was just going to be swatted away.

"Look, Boruto. I'm sorry... I should've told you sooner, but I was blinded by my own shock. I don't want to go out like this, and it hurts me to see that my family is suffering from my bad choices. I didn't want it to turn out this way... I thought that if I told you before it would've ruined the time we had together. I didn't want that to happen. I'm... so sorry"

Boruto remained silent for a few minutes. The room was completely silently, except for the quiet talking of the ladies on the next room. He didn't know if they heard him or not, but he didn't care. He tried to get his thoughts in order. It was no easy feat though, as his mind was still reeling. A part of him wanted to run up there and hug his dad, but the other wanted to never talk to him again.

"I..." Boruto clutched his head. "I don't know what to think. I'm mad... but..."

Naruto stepped forward and put a hand on his sons shoulder. He didn't care if his son swatted him away. He wanted to comfort his child. He pulled Boruto into a hug and cradled his head on his chest.

"I'm sorry Boruto..."

Boruto remained silent. Tears dripping down his cheeks.

"What happened?" Boruto managed to say on a weak voice. "Why are you like this?"

"You know I'm a jinchuuriki right? Well... my tailed beast is the nine tails. For some reason we have not identified yet, his chakra is slowly eroding my body. Sakura is trying to find a cure. Sasuke is also on a mission that Sakura asked me to send him on to find something that is supposed to help. He hasn't returned yet though." Naruto hesitated. "There... is no cure."

Boruto wiped his eyes, sniffling softly. "I thought so. I'm mad... and I feel... so bad, right here." Boruto put his hand on his heart. "It hurts."

Naruto winced internally. It was all his fault. First Hinata, then his own son. When will he learn how to not make a mess of things.

"I know... it's my fault. I shouldn't have put you through this. I should've told you sooner. You don't know how sorry I am."

Boruto chuckled. "I think I do. You've told me six times already. What... what was mom's reaction, when you told her?"

Naruto sighed. "She was... stronger than I had expected. I'm very thankful for that."

Boruto nodded, before standing up. His face was red from crying, and slightly puffy. He grinned in an attempt to make himself feel better. Naruto saw right through it. It was a mask he had used so many times in his youth. The pain, he hid behind a mask so no one would worry. It always worked though. He even managed to convince himself once in a while. Boruto obviously didn't inherit his skill of covering up his painful emotions. He could be read like a book.

"Were supposed to be going somewhere. You have to get ready, remember?"

Naruto sadly grinned at his son. He was hurting, but at least he didn't push him away.

N*A*R*U*T*O

Boruto and his dad calmly walked to the next room. Hinata was sitting quietly while Koyuki was describing something to her.

"It- oh. Naruto, you finally showed up. Did you have a nice rest?" Koyuki grinned mockingly, her eyes smiling. Naruto just shrugged, staring with despondent eyes at the duo of women. Hinata took one look at both of their faces and immediately knew what had happened.

"Oh Naruto..." Hinata stood up and grasped Naruto's hand. Giving him a reassuring smile, she led him to the door.

"Lets get going, Koyuki can activate it when we get there. We'll be sightseeing. Boruto, can you walk with me?" Hinata hesitated when she invited her son to walk by her side. She didn't know what Boruto's reaction to Naruto's confession, but she needed to help the situation. Naruto looked depressed, and he wasn't normally like that. Boruto didn't seem to try to avoid his dad, which was good.

"So... Boruto did he tell you?"

Hinata looked expectantly at her son. She saw his shoulders tense, and fists clench.

"Yes... I... how are you so calm? I know I'm not very close to him but he's my dad. We used to be close... I just don't know what to think."

Hinata took a glance behind her and sighed. Naruto was half listening to Himawari and half watching them. Hinata sent him a smile and turned back to Boruto.

"So... what do you feel." Hinata put her palm on Boruto's chest. "Does it hurt? Does knowing that he didn't tell you till he was half dead hurt? It does. But Boruto, you have to remember the past. The Future will bring pain, but if you remember the past, and all the good things that happened then, it doesn't hurt as bad. I remember that Naruto was the best thing that ever happened to me besides my children."

Hinata lowered herself till she was level with Boruto. "The good memories overrule the bad. The joy overrides the pain. The sadness we will face in the near future will be immense, but I know Naruto wouldn't want me to be depressed. He would want me to be strong. And I know he would ask the same of you."

Boruto gasped at the speech his mother made. He never though about death that way. Death, to him, was never being able to see the lost loved one ever again. The person would leave a gaping hole, none would ever hope to fill. Boruto grinned, squeezing tears out of his closed eyes. He clutched his mothers hand in his own.

"Thanks mom..."

Hinata nodded thoughtfully. Turning, she gave Naruto a thumbs up to which he responded with a smile. Himawari was tugging on his arm, rocking her body back and forth. They were stalled since Kisuke had to bring the car around. Koyuki was animatedly talking with Naruto and Hima.

"Alright! He's here. Shikume will join us later, he had school." Koyuki noticed the surprised glance Naruto gave her. "Despite having important guests, I never let up on school. If he wants to be my successor, he needs to be well educated."

Naruto shook his head and sighed. "Well, look at me. Not the brighter tool in the shed but I make a great Hokage."

Koyuki nodded. "That may be so, but your an adult with years of fighting experience. He's just a kid. Sixteen years old, he is a bit too old to be called a kid eh?"

Naruto looked at her a few more moments before looking at Hinata and Boruto.

"Ah. There he is!" Koyuki stood up as two cars came into view. "There isn't enough room for all of us in one car, so I have to have two."

"But, there is enough room for all of us." Naruto raised an eyebrow. "Are you trying to get rid of us?"

"Nah. There are six seats in each vehicle. Two for the kids, and two for the adults. I am required to have body guards. There wouldn't be enough room in one vehicle for them."

Naruto frowned. "I'm the Hokage, what better bodyguard could you get?"

Hinata nodded. "We could all ride in one car, in case you wanted to take another guard as well, it would still work out."

Koyuki sighed in defeat. "Ah... okay. You win. Kirato, take the car back around. Sorry!"

The driver gave a sigh and climbed back in his car. Kisuke watched with a solemn expression.

"Okay, Kisuke. You will take our whole group. Do you remember where we'll be going?" Koyuki questioned.

Kisuke nodded just as a man came into view. He had dark black hair, and piercing yellow eyes. His body structure wasn't one to laugh at either, he was tall, and strong looking.

"Oh... Lord Hokage." The man gave a low bow. "Fancy seeing you here. I wasn't aware of the circumstances."

Koyuki grinned. "Always so nice aren't you." She leaned in to whisper to Naruto. "He's my favorite."

"Hello, I am Hitamaru. I serve her majesty as a body guard." Hitamaru smiled, softening his tense features. "I will escort you to her highness' favorite place."

N*A*R*U*T*O

Okay... this was harder to write then I had anticipated, but I hope it's satisfactory. I apologize if it's not how you think he would react, but I honestly don't know how to write these kind of scenes.

Thanks for reading, and until next chapter.

Hina-chan signing off!