Hello my dear! I'm happy to say that the last chapter will be updated in one week. I'll update more this weekend. I'm still not sure if I'll keep this, or delete it when I'm done.
Chapter ten
Naruto woke up in peace, he had no nightmares this night. He felt a bit more energy, and he was cuddle closer to his lover. Yes he could wake up like this all the time, he wouldn't argue with it. He loved the soft skin against his own, it made him feel safe for once. He snuggles even more, and he breathed in the smell.
"I know you are awake" he heard a voice say and he opened his eyes. To see Sasuke's pale lips slightly parted.
"Did I wake you up?" he asked low. Sasuke blinked his eyes open, Naruto meeting them for a second.
"Yes, but we need to go up now. We have work to do" Sasuke said with a husky voice. Naruto snuggle closer, his arm over his lovers chest.
"Just a moment more" Naruto muttered, closing his eyes once softly. The next moment, Sasuke raised up, pushing Naruto of him making the blond fall straight on his stomach against the cold floor.
"What was that for?!" he says as he sits up, glaring at his lover who had his back against him pulling on his shirt. There goes the morning sex he thought.
"You would fall asleep if I didn't do that" Sasuke replied while taking on his loose pants. Naruto glared slightly before raised up and pulled on his clothes. They walked together down the stairs, blue eyes focusing on everything except his lover.
Naruto walked on the street to Shikamaru's home. He had quit earlier to meet Boruto, Sasuke was half in charge now along with his clone. He was focused on the meeting his son. He haven't planned on how to comfort his son, even if he knew he could. He doesn't plan things often.
He saw the house soon, it was a normal size house. Shikamaru nor Temari was for the over class. Naruto felt slightly more pleased with this. He can help his son to recover now. Now that he had gained a little more strength. He felt a little more fresh with the normal hours of sleep. He had made a step closer, and he could help his son. The last thing he had seen Boruto was in the dark, but he remembers that Boruto wasn't in a good shape.
He stood in fort of the door, knocking with his bandaged right hand against the red door three times. He couldn't remember if he had been here before, but it seemed familiar. But he had seen it, but perhaps not been inside it. The door open and Temari stood in fort of him, her hair still the same as always with her spiky hair. Her thick curves were noticeable and more formed with her dress she wore.
"Boruto, your father is here" Temari said loud still looking at the Hokage. Naruto gave a short smile, before he saw blond hair in the background.
"Boruto, do you want to go out or do you want to be inside while doing this?" Naruto asked. He wasn't sure if Boruto heard him, being a little bit far away.
"I don't know if I can go outside" Boruto answered slow and with a low tone.
"We can stay inside" He answered, before remembering Temari standing there "If I can of course" he added.
"You can use Shikadai room. He won't come back for a while" Temari muttered and Naruto gave a short nod as he stepped inside. He saw Boruto run up the stairs and Naruto followed him. He saw the door close and he walked the short hall and knocked the door before opening it.
Boruto sat on the bed, his attention on his fingers. Naruto saw the dark lines on his face and how the shirt is bigger than it was last time he saw it on him. It was the same symptoms like he had. He didn't need to ask if he been well or eating. He already knew the answers, the older blond walked inside the room. Looking at the walls, they were plain green. He then walked to the bed, sat on it and it made a sound when more weight came. He didn't face Boruto, not yet.
"Are you going to do something?" Boruto broke the silence with his low tone.
"I'm doing something now. Try to look at me and I'll try to do it too" Naruto answered back.
"I don't think I can" Naruto could hear the pain clear in the other's voice. Boruto didn't bother hiding it.
"Neither can I" he says in a low voice "But we need to do this, let's just try if it's too much we can do something else" he added.
"But I can still feel it, the words you told and what I am. I think it's hard enough to do things like this" Boruto said.
"Let's do it like this. We can talk and neither of us need to look at each other. Is that fine?" Naruto suggested in a low voice. It would be harder to make a bigger progress, but a step is always a step. It was silent for a moment.
" Alright" his son responded making Naruto slightly happier that his son really did want this. Naruto wasn't sure what to question not to hurt his son or dig to deep.
"Have you been liked it here?" he questioned, trying to make his voice sound lighter. It probably failed.
"It's been fine, Temari can be sometimes rough" Boruto replied.
"She's a strong woman. She was always, but she can be rough. But she cares, even if she doesn't tell you it" Naruto responded with truth.
"How long have you known her?" Boruto questioned his father.
"When I did the Chûnin exams when I was twelve. She's older than the rest of us. But she made sure to never look down at her, just like every woman I know" He said in a dreamy voice.
"Who do you think is the strongest woman in the village?" Boruto questioned. Naruto began to think.
"It depends in what strength is. In physicist, Sakura. In ninjutsu, your mother. They all have different things they are good at. Temari is the strongest in wind chakra, will probably remain the master" Naruto responded.
"Okay" was Boruto's short answer. Naruto looked at his hands, his banged and his normal one. I wonder who's the strongest person in the village. He wasn't sure, and it made thoughts run wild in his head. Sasuke was fast as lighting, he had chakra control, analyst the enemy and have a talent in Ninjutsu. He wasn't sure who were the strongest. He was fast, not as good chakra control but had a huge amount, he wasn't good at analyst the enemy and didn't have much of a talent in ninjutsu. But he knew that Sasuke admitted defeat when they blew their arms away. But that didn't make Naruto stronger.
"Who do you think is the strongest in the village Boruto?" He asked after the moment of silent.
"I don't know. I haven't seen many that's super strong expect you and sensei" Boruto answered low.
"Haven't you ever thought about it? Many in your age think of it, and many have it like a goal. But much give it up before even trying" he replied. The strongest shin obi who ever lived was Kayuga. He and Sasuke sealed her away, with help of Kakashi and Sakura of course. But Kayuga, and the sage of sixth paths were the strongest. They after all wasn't that human at least in the beginning.
"I have thought about it, but never that I've found an answer to it" Boruto replied. Naruto remembered that Boruto wanted to be like Sasuke, being more free. Sarada wanted to be Hokage like himself. He didn't know Sarada's past and why she wanted to be Hokage. Himawari he wasn't sure wanted to do, he haven't heard anything at least. I really suck being a father.
Himawari was someone he couldn't figure out, she was his child. But she wasn't craving the attention like Boruto often did. She was more silent if she spoke to someone she wasn't comfortable with. She was a bit shy like Hinata was as a child, but never to an extreme like Hinata was. Boruto and Himawari had a strong bond, Boruto always took care of his little sister. Never wanting her to hurt or to suffer in a way. They were close, and Naruto gave a soft smile to the thought.
"Himawari was worried about you, she isn't herself without her big brother. But when you feel better you can meet her and Hinata. Both of them miss you. I explained to Himawari why both of us react this way to her" He said, and he felt Boruto move in the bed.
"I never meant for them to worry, they always do that. I never wanted to hurt them, p-please tell t-them that" Boruto began to stutter and Naruto heard his sons voice crack.
"You can't change what happened, and they know it too. But I will tell them that you miss them, and that you try to get better to meet them sooner or later. Himawari believes in you, just like me and Hinata. Sasuke and Sarada cares too, even if they don't say it often" Naruto said more confident and in a normal tone.
"I'm sorry d-dad" Boruto said low and in guilt.
"There's nothing you need to apologize for. You didn't know what was there and we didn't either" Naruto replied.
"But I made you and everyone suffer! Be it that you feel under the trap like me and that I can't be with my sister or mom. I never thought this would happen" Boruto said in a higher tone and with guilt.
"Boruto, neither of us knew what would happen. We can't predict the future, just like we can't change the past. You fell in a trap, but you are alive. You didn't die and that made us happier. You died everyone would suffer even more. You need to accept what happen and it wasn't your fault. Nothing with this was your blame. You are still worth full and you aren't a worse person with this. You are still a good person" he spoke slow hoping that Boruto would listen to him. But he didn't expect that Boruto would get it straight away. But he needed to try to get his son to understand. He found the words hard to believe himself.
"How can you be so sure?" Boruto answered in low bitter tone.
" Because you are human. This didn't make you worse, or better. You learn by this, and if you accept it you can soon learn to forgive yourself. If you forgive yourself, you are a big step closer to your goal" Naruto said with a little smile to himself. It was silent for a moment, he could hear Boruto's fingers tapping and his soft breathing. He looked at the clock, they been speaking for one and a half an hour.
"Think about it, we all care for you. We want the very best for you, and you can't fully get better without this step. I'll come back tomorrow, and we can take it step by step" Naruto says and stands up and the bed shifts. He slowly begins to walk towards the door, he grabs the door knob.
"Dad. Thank you" He heard Boruto's soft voice say.
"I will always be here, and you can always count on me. I will come back tomorrow. Try to get some food and shower" he said with a smile and opens the door, leaving his son alone again
Naruto walked inside the big hospital, Sasuke walking beside him. The blond couldn't do this alone, and Sasuke was a bastard but could be supportive. They walked to the receptionist, her brown eyes widen.
"Hokage sama! What are you doing here?" She said in a high pitched voice, they walked closer till they reached her.
"I'm here to meet Sakura-chan, she wanted to check on me" he replied in a normal tone and with a little smile.
"Of course, I'll message Sakura-sama right away. She will pick you up soon enough, please sit in the waiting room until she calls your name" the young lady said quickly. Naruto gave a nod and walked to the waiting room, Sasuke sitting beside him. They didn't need to wait long before Sakura's strong footsteps were heard. He felt his heart beat faster and the sweat come up. The imaged the memory came to his mind again.
The whole scene came, the killing. The red blood all over his hands, the dead bodies in front of himself. The killing scene repeated, screams high pitched in his ears. He couldn't do anything, he was useless. So useless, he couldn't even protect his family. He couldn't move his feet, he couldn't run. He was just that useless, he couldn't do anything at all.
"Naruto" a voice said far away. Not enough for him to hear it clearly.
"You are strong enough, we are here. It's alright. You are safe here, with us. It's just a memory" he heard a different voice say. He felt contacted with his body, to the reality. He didn't dear to open his eyes yet he clenched them shut hard. His heartbeat was on high and his breathing uneven. He clenched the arm rest hard, till it hurt his hands for clenching it too hard. He didn't know how long he stayed in the position, with close eyes. He didn't care much, but when he had his breathing under control. He felt a hand on his both hands, but he relaxed.
He gabbed each hand, trying to figure out who it was. One was as large as his, a little bit rough with long fingers. He almost smiled at it, Sasuke he acknowledges. The other hand was more soft, with long fingers but not as rough. They seemed feminine and flexible. Sakura. He breathed in and out before he open his eyes, still afraid of seeing the image. He saw nothing in front of himself expect the hospital floor. The glass white floor that was daily cleaned multiple times each day not to spread any more sickness.
"Sorry" He muttered out, his voice almost sore from what he didn't know. He undid his hands, put them in his lap. They were shaking.
"It's nothing you could control" a feminine voice answered to his right.
"I know" It made me feel even more useless. I should be stronger than this. But no, I'm still like this. Scared of looking at one of my closest friends. They grew silent for a moment, different thoughts in different minds.
"Can you look at me?" he heard from his right. He felt a shiver in his spine.
"I don't know, let me see your hand first" he answered, still in shock and still just afraid as he had been before. He saw Sakura's hand lay in his lap, he got a slight flashback. But not enough for him to freak out, he could control it. For now at least. He trailed his eyes over her wrist, and to her forearm. He saw blood on her arms, the arm grew colder and not alive at all. He closed his eyes again, gripping her hand. This isn't real, I can control it. Sakura is alive, all of them are alive. You are strong enough. You can do this. He tried to repeat in his mind. He breathed in and out,, and he slowly open his eyes again. Not seeing the imaged anymore.
"Should we do this another time?" Sakura's soft voice asked. Naruto shocked his head no.
"I can't live in fear all the time. Give me your other hand" he said and he heard the chair make a sound when Sakura change the position. Two arms were in his lap, he looked at them. He found himself breathing normal and he felt satisfied with the next step.
"Come in front of me, I'll try to control it" He says but didn't come out as strong as he wanted. He closed his eyes as he heard Sakura go up from the chair. He breathed and he open his eyes, his eyes on her neck. He felt the memory slowly come to reality, control it. He repeated and open his eyes. Blood on her neck, dead bodies. Why wasn't he strong enough. He was always weak. He saw the blood fade and he stared right at Sakura's worried eyes. They were soft green.
"Come on idiot, we need to check you" Sakura said and Naruto stood up as well as Sasuke.
Sakura turned around and began to walk down the beige hall the two males right behind her. It was silent for a moment, Sakura open the door and went inside and the other two followed her. The room was pretty large, with a lot of space if any more stuff wanted to come inside. She sat in a chair, her right leg over the other. Naruto and Sasuke sat on the opposite side in their own chairs. She eyed them for a second, before narrowing her eyes down.
"I can already tell that we need to check basic things. Heartbeat, weight and more. Take of your clothes, we need to check your weight" Sakura began and Naruto knew he had to listen to her. He stood up, taking of his shoes first. Sakura began to walk away, to the weight machine. He was thankfully for that and took of his shirt, but he really hoped he had an under shirt on. But he never thought that long, so bear chested it was. He took of his pants and laid them on the chair he sat on.
He walked to Sakura and he felt her eyes trail over his body in the corner of her eye. He took a step on the weight machine and stood there while the numbers made a stand. He didn't look at the number, but he looked at Sakura's features. He took the step of the weight machine and looked at Sakura.
"You've lost six lbs in matter of a month. This isn't good for a grown up like yourself. You are at least six feet tall. I can see that you've lost some muscles too" Sakura said "Baka, you are the Hokage. You need to take care of yourself first before the village" she added.
"I've been told" he answered without looking at her.
"Sasuke, I thought that you would get him food" Sakura turned her attention to the raven.
"I'm not his baby-sitter, but yes. I've made him food for the past days" Sasuke replied short. Naruto didn't look at either of them but he could feel the air tense. Sakura didn't reply but Naruto felt her hand on his back.
"I need to check heartbeat and breathing" she said shortly and Naruto followed her to Sasuke. The blond felt Sasuke's eyes on him, for what reason he couldn't point a finger at. Sakura took her instrument with earplugs that connected to a flat metal thing. He turned his back at her, and in matter of second he felt the cold metal on his skin. He tensed up, but forced himself to relax. It was quiet for a second.
"You can put on clothes and sit down" Sakura said after the moment of silent. Naruto pulled on his clothes, Sakura writing in her block and Sasuke looking at nothing. He sat down beside his lover and Sakura looked up from her block.
"You seem fine beside your lost of weight and lost of sleep" Yeah it's probably only mental everything else "You need to gain weight, and that is good things. Not only ramen. I could give you a sleep pill if you think it's needed" Sakura's voice grew in her doctor voice. Almost like his mother would sound.
"I can handle it, I've slept just fine the past days" he said and Sakura looked at the two of the males before turning to the blond.
"Alright, but I suggest that you cut down the work. You need the rest, for your mental health and your body" she said as she crossed her legs over the other. Her block balancing on her thigh.
"I did today and will be doing it the past week" he said "I will meet Boruto after work" his voice grew softer and Sakura's green eyes grew softer.
"Good, he needs you. Just like you need him" Sakura acknowledged in a soft voice with a alike smile. Naruto couldn't return the smile, he still felt bad that Sakura and Sasuke never made any progress.
He knew it was a thing that was about the other two. He just couldn't shake of the feeling, just couldn't shake of the thoughts. Sakura had said that it was alright, but Naruto didn't believe the words. Not by heart. He knew Sakura could hide things. He knew it and he couldn't hide the fact that she could do even now. The cards were in display. He didn't know if he should mentioned it, and if it would riddle up wounds that yet had to heal. He closed his eyes for a moment before opening them.
