Minato's POV.

My eyes scan every crack and corner as I run through the village. The rain is coming down hard and my hair is sticking to my salty face.

I skid to a stop, almost fall into a puddle, and double over grabbing my thighs. Panting hard, I take my time to think of a possible place where he might be.

Where are you Naruto?

"Be careful, you don't want to fall into the puddle!"

I turn my head to where the noise is coming from, and spot a father with his son. The kid is laughing as he jumps into the puddles, holding his father's hand firmly. The father is smiling gently at his bouncing son.

My heartaches at the scene.

Why couldn't I ever be that type of father? Instead, I wasn't even a part of Naruto's childhood, and the only way I became a part of his life is through his memory loss.

His memory loss of me.

I shut my eyes tight, take a deep breath, and stand up.

I need to stop sulking, and start caring.

I won't give up on him, not now, not ever.

Turning around, I come face to face with my soaked student. Stumbling back I focus my eyes on him, and notice he's holding a child.

My child.

"Sensei, I found him!" Obito pants out.

I look him up and down in astonishment. Obito's jacket is covering Naruto's half wet, half dry body. His black hair is soaked, his headband soggy, and his eyes fixed with concern. He holds Naruto closer to him, making sure he doesn't freeze under the rain.

"Where did y-" My voice is drowned out by the booming thunder.

"He was unconscious when I found him, let's hurry and bring him to a hospital." Obito yells, turning around and racing in the other direction towards the hospital.

I follow him, in disbelief that the knucklehead was able to find my son, yet I couldn't.

At the Hospital

"Get him to an emergency room quick." Obito firmly states, leaning over the front desk. The woman looks Obito up and down, and spots the shivering blond boy in his arms. Her eyes widen, and immediately two nurses flood into the waiting room, taking him away.

I sit down, let go of an exhausted breath, and run my hands down my tired face.

This is the second time in the course of a few days that Naruto is once again in a hospital. Just what exactly happened to him, and why is Obito the one that finds him? Not being rude or anything, but Obito isn't really the greatest ninja around. I would expect Kakashi to find him…not Obito.

There's something going on, and I'm determined to find out.

Time to question my spontaneous student.

A warm hand gently grabs my tense shoulder, pulling me out of my thoughts.

"Hey, Sensei how are you doing?" Obito asks, his voice gentle and sympathetic.

I look over with tired eyes at him. There's a towel lying over his soggy hair, and I finally realize that I'm absolutely freezing under my wet clothes. Shivering, I bring my hands to my mouth and let out a warm breath that heats my numb fingers.

"Here." Obito hands over the towel and wraps it over my shivering shoulders. I give him a warm smile.

"Thanks Obito, for everything."

"Don't thank me, not yet." He mumbles to himself, something I'm sure I wasn't supposed to hear,

"Hm?"

"I mean, yah no problem Sensei! Anything for Naruto." He shoots me his million dollar grin, and I raise a skeptical eyebrow.

"Where did you find Naruto?"

"The woods." He answers simply, leaning back into his chair.

"And how did you find him? How were you able to trace him when none of us were?"

He sighs.

"You're suspicious of me, aren't you?" He says, letting out a small tired chuckle.

My eyes widen.

"Thought so." Obito responds, scanning my shocked face. His face falls at my expression, and he lets out an exhausted breath.

"Sensei, I don't think you understand, but Naruto is like a little brother to me. I've known him since the day he was born. I've spent everyday with him when he was little, and when I have the time I'm usually with him. He's told me everything, his fears, his worries, his happiest moments, his embarrassing stories, his crush, absolutely everything. You really think I wouldn't know the one place he loves to go to clear his mind?" His voice is gentle, caring.

He looks over at me.

"When I knew he'd gone missing, the first place that popped into my mind was the forest. He'd always tell me, even at a young age, that the forest was the one place he felt safe. It was where he was able to get away from the village, from home. The trees sheltering him, the animals his companions, the stream his song. It was a getaway for him, and every time he wanted to play, we'd always go to the woods, every time he felt sad he'd run to the woodlands and just sit there for hours, thinking and being alone."

He leans his hands on his thighs.

"I'm sorry, that it's not you who knows all of this, but me." He looks down at his hands, and I see a single tear escape his eyes before he rubs them.

We sit there, listening to the tick of the clock, and the rush of nurses beyond the closed doors.

"I'm glad Naruto has someone like you Obito." I finally say, breaking the thickening silence.

He looks over at me, slightly turning his head. He smiles, a sad smile.

"I should go. Let me know how he's doing."

I give him a nod, watching him exit the hospital doors, and he looks back for just a brief moment, his eyes filled with a stream of never ending tears. Then turns around and heads out, the blow of the cold wind filling up the room.

"I'm sorry." He whispers before the doors close.

He's hiding something.

Obito's POV

I was going to tell Minato, but when I was about to open my mouth and confess to him, I couldn't.

I just couldn't.

How could I possibly tell him that I'm the one taking away Naruto's memory? Even though it is for a good reason, but still…knowing Sensei he wouldn't understand. He'd flip out; probably blame me for budding into his personal life.

But, I'm not doing this for him, no; I'm doing this for Naruto.

Besides, he's the one that asked me to help me him after all.

I look up at the grey sky, the clouds cry as the droplets fall onto my face.

Sighing, I shove my hands in my pockets and head home.

What a day.

AN: Hey! Sorry for the short chapter, I've been really crazy busy this week! D: Its only the second month of school and I already need a break ;-; AND YOU GUYS I STARTED GOSSIP GIRL AND FINISHED IT YESTERDAY. (Cries) BEST SHOW EVER. (If anyone has watched it and would enjoy reading a fan fic on it from me I'm considering writing one...)!

Also, hopefully you guys like this chapter. Isn't Obito just the cutest? Awwh I love him so much and I always imagined that if he was alive he'd be the best older brother to Naruto (way less awkward then Kakashi xD)

Anyways, not much to say, but I hope you are all enjoying the story! :D

Until next chapter, toodles~