He Sees Darkness, But Smiles Like The Light

By The Unwanted Angel and Beta'd by Carrie2sky

Warning: Rated M for this chapter for language

We do not own Naruto

CHAPTER 8

Of course, with sight comes sight-seeing. Which is what both father and son did that day. Minato couldn't help but smile, just being in their own house was an adventure for Naruto. Naruto already knew the objects in his house by touch, but by sight he was amazed. Even the large TV in the living room amazed Naruto. But what really amazed Naruto was when he stepped outside. Minato was happy that they were blessed with a bright sunshine-y day. The sky was a bright blue and the clouds did not block the sun.

Naruto grinned while waiting for Minato to undo the barrier around the property.

Naruto was curious. "Papa?" He asked.

"Yes, Naru-chan?"

"Why is there a large wall around us?" Naruto asked. Minato cringed a bit then almost hesitated.

"Uh..." He spoke, turning to look at a puzzled Naruto. Naruto, of course, never knew about the wall but Minato never thought he'd have to explain the wall to his son. His son just a short-while ago was blind. And had been for six years, yes he was more than happy to know that Naruto could see. But, the questions Naruto would ask, would be a painful bridge to cross.

"Well, Naruto...You see, the wall is more for-"

"You." Naruto interrupted. "Because you're Hokage, right?"

"Well, yeah." Minato spoke. That was half the truth. But Minato actually hired officers to build the wall because of the safety for Naruto. Minato one day took Naruto out of play in the grass since he was in his crawling stage and Naruto rolled over and kept rolling down the hill they lived on. Of course when Naruto was "rescued" by his father all Naruto did was giggle while his dotting father phanted and gasped while shakily clutching Naruto. Obviously out of breath for "saving" his child.

"So, Naruto. I want to take you someplace. This is a cause to be celebrated." Minato smiled holding up his index finger.

"Who? Who Papa?" Naruto asked excited.

"The hospital?!" Naruto groaned. He didn't need sight to smell that awful smell of the hospital. He already knew of the hell just by smelling it.

"I should have kept my mouth shut about my sight, then I wouldn't have to be here!" Naruto pouted.

Minato sighed. He went to reach for Naruto, to pick him up and carry him into the hospital, when Naruto pushed his arms away.

"Nu-uh. I wanna' walk!" Naruto protested. Minato felt a bit broken-hearted. When Naruto was blind, all he ever wanted was to be carried. That and Minato didn't want Naruto to trip and fall. Naruto looked around the room, it was strange and to his mind a hellish place. Small children with colds sat in their parent's laps and a few adults were either sleeping or filling out paper work.

"What is this, evil and horrible place, Papa?" Naruto asked.

"This is the hospital, Naruto. I want Tsunade to check with your eyes." Minato explained. Naruto huffed and folded his arms. It was a long wait, it always is in a hospital. Naruto took a look around him, no one was paying attention to Naruto until a nurse who remembered seeing Naruto a while ago asked out-loud.

"Aren't you blind?" That attracted attention. Pretty soon everyone in the hospital was looking at Naruto. Almost all of them had facial expressions of either jealousy, curiosity or amazement. Naruto began to feel very small at the moment. Minato loudly cleared his throat, not looking up from the magazine. In an instant, people turned around, fearing the Yellow-Flash for a second. Minato looked at Naruto, who had taken one of the side of his coat and hid inside.

"You alright, Naruto?" Minato asked, wrapping his arm around Naruto he couldn't help but feel a bit worried.

"Yeah..." He lied. "I'm fine."

Tsunade stared in disbelief. Minato couldn't help but smile while Naruto sat in his father's lap, arms crossed and staring back at Tsunade.

"What? Got something on my face?" Naruto rudely commented, receiving a light smack to his hand from Minato. Tsunade at first thought this was a joke (knowing the smaller blonde and his love for pranks) But when Minato was smiling, she knew this was for real.

"Um...I could check." She spoke, bringing over the camera-telescope. Naruto kept his eyes open wide as she took pictures. When Tsunade's pictures had developed, she gave the most puzzled face. Minato gulped, was something wrong?

"Minato...it shoes his eyes haven't changed. How can he see, when the pictures show he's blind?" Tsunade asked.

Minato looked at Naruto. Naruto looked back and smiled.

"Naruto." Minato sighed. "May I talk to Kyuubi?"

Naruto thought for a moment. Tsunade was officially freaked out, when "Naruto" developed red eyes, and dashingly red long hair. Kyuubi had taken over Naruto's body. He yawned and stretched, but noticed he was sitting in The Fourth's lap, immedatly he avoided Minato's lap like the plague and jumped down. Hands on "His" hips.

What do you want? Kyuubi asked, still bitter and mean as usual to Minato.

"Kyuubi...Tell me the truth. As much as I like it, are you the cause for Naruto's sight?" Minato asked. For a few seconds, Kyuubi and Minato had a glare-off. Until Kyuubi smirked.

Yeah, I am. But my Chakra won't last long. He should be able to see at least one a day for maybe two hours at the most. Kyuubi explained. And until he can fully control my chakra, he might be able to manipulate it so he won't be blind for life. Minato was surprised. All he had to do was work with Naruto on controlling the chakra and presto, Naruto wouldn't be blind anymore. Minato smiled, with Naruto not blind, he wouldn't have to worry so much. But that won't stop him from being a little protective. Naruto was still his baby, blind or not.

Kyuubi frowned then in the most sarcastic voice he boomed: Meaning he's timed now! Naruto's eyes went back to their crystal blue and he smiled.

"Papa! Can we go see Sasuke? Please? I want to see him!" Naruto jumped for joy.

Minato smiled and nodded. "Alright, Sasuke's it is."

Sasuke huffed and puffed. Exhausted would be an underestimate. More like I'm-going-to-drop-dead-from-tiredness was more along the lines of how he felt at the moment. He was sparring and had been for the past two hours. He had to beat his older brother! He had to! Sasuke admired his older brother like any younger sibling would. His brother, Itachi was there for him when others weren't.

Sasuke phanted, taking a break wasn't an option. He had to beat Itachi.

"Sasuke!" A voice called for him. It was Mikoto, his mother. Sasuke knew there were to be no breaks (in his mind at least) but he wouldn't disobay his mother. Rushing as fast as he could to his house, he was surprised to see Naruto. For some reason, Naruto was different. He couldn't put his finger on it. It wasn't until he noticed the blue in Naruto's eyes. Sasuke gasped, Naruto guessed Sasuke figured out he wasn't blind anymore; Naruto grinned.

"Hey, Sasu-chan!"

"Hello, Naru-kun"

"Sasuke, you can take Naruto out to sparr with you, but be careful" Mikoto smiled. Minato's eyes widened. Sasuke was what? Sparring?

"Um are you sure that it's safe for them to sparr at such a young age?" Minato asked.

"Oh, of course it's fine" Mikoto smiled. "Itachi has been sparring ever since Sasuke's age. It's safe, and the targets are simple. Nothing to worry about, Hokage-sama."

Minato still didn't like the thought of his baby neer a kunai. Hell, he didn't like the thought of his baby growing up.

"Wow! I did it, Sasuke!" Naruto smiled. The Kunai was tossed and had hit the target. Not a bull's eye but Naruto could care less.

"Good job, Naruto" Sasuke smiled. He was overjoyed. Naruto could see! His best friend in the whole world was able to visualize with his surroundings. Of course Naruto explained to Sasuke how he used Chakra (not explaining who's) to see better. Sparring was forgotten and Sasuke took Naruto sight-seeing on his property. The Uchiha's had a very large property, they even owned four acres of wooded area. It was slightly chilly and the sky didn't promise snow just yet. But Naruto and Sasuke had fun jumping into leaves that had fallen before. Naruto loved the orange leaves, he decided that orange was his favorite color. But now that he could see, he liked all colors.

Sasuke showed Naruto the bridge that was above the babbling brook. They sat at the edge their feet swinging and swaying. Naruto's ears perked up.

"What was that?" He asked.

"What was what?" Sasuke answered. Then he heard it himself.

"Ribbit!" "Croak"

Then Sasuke got a brillant idea. He wanted to show Naruto what that noise was. He smirked on how Naruto would react to the noise.

"Hold on, Naruto. I'll be right back." Sasuke ran off the bridge, and skipped in the opposite direction of Naruto, listening for the sound. Naruto was preoccupied with the trees. He smiled. They were so pretty. He saw a rather orange leaf land in the water. But then, he gasped. That was him in the water too! He leaned over to see himself at a closer range, but felt himself slipping.

SPLASH!

Sasuke smiled, holding the large, fat frog. He giggled then took off running to Naruto. "Naruto!" Sasuke called. "I have something for you-"

SPLASH!

Sasuke gasped, running faster to the bridge. Then to his horror he saw Naruto being carried by the fast current down the brook. Sasuke dropped and ditched the frog. He had to save his friend!

"Naruto!" He screamed. He phanted and ran faster trying to save his friend. Naruto himself was trying not to die. The water was cold and froze at his small legs. He tried to breathe but water kept escaping into his mouth, and he started choking. What was worse was his sight was slowly disappearing.

"Naruto-o-o!" Minato set his tea cup down.

"Did you hear somthing?" He asked. Mikoto heard it too. That was her son! She quickly stood up and opened the sliding doors, darting to the voice that screamed, Minato right next to her. Itachi had came from around the corner and accidentally bumped into her and Minato.

"Mother. I'm sorry, what's wrong?" Itachi asked. "eh? Hokage-san?"

"Itachi! It's your brother! Where is he?" Mikoto asked.

"Sasuke? What's wrong?" Itachi was confused but followed the two parents. He was confused. The last time he saw Sasuke was this morning before he went into the village. Sasuke had asked to train with him and he told Sasuke to go sparr for practice and that he'd meet up with him soon. Was Sasuke in trouble? And the Hokage was here, meaning Naruto, Sasuke's friend, was here.

Itachi closed his eyes, listening for any sign of the two children.

"Naruto!" there it was again! It was Sasuke.

"Naruto! I'm coming!" Sasuke had managed to find a large tree log that had fallen over and he ran ahead, giving him time to climb the log to save his friend. He reached his arm down.

"Grab on to my hand!" He yelled.

Naruto went to reach, but gasped. His sight, it was gone! Naruto couldn't believe it. He had sight not even two seconds ago. All the colors, shapes and faces. They were gone. He put his arm down. Sasuke screamed.

"Naruto! Give me your arm!" Sasuke desperately cried out.

What's the point anymore...Naruto thought. All of that happiness he had because of his sight, it was gone. All of it, drained from his mind, heart and emotions. Everything felt blank and the colors he had seen for only a few hours were gone. That light, those shapes and colors. All gone. Now his world was in the pitch black he'd known his whole life. Naruto's body began to sink down deeper in the brook, Sasuke's screams became more and more faint and it grew colder.

Naruto shivered, he tried to breathe, but water filled his mouth, choking him.

Naruto dimly closed his eyes.

I'm...I'm gonna' die!

A long arm and large hand reached into the water, yanking the blonde locks and pulling the small boy out of the water. Naruto wasn't breathing! The panicking father began to use two hands to press on the small boy's chest. While doing this, he prayed. His baby can't die!

Naruto's eyes widened and he coughed out most of the water that was once in his lungs.

"Naruto! Are you alright?!" Minato frantically asked, while patting his son's back.

Naruto shivered against the cold wind. Letting out a sob and burying his head into his knees.

"Darling, are you hurt?" He asked once again.

"Papa...I...I can't see anymore!" Naruto cried. One sting to the heart, and another reason to cry. Minato sighed, hadn't Kyuubi told him that sight was temporarily and timed? He knew he shouldn't have let Naruto go so far from him. Picking up the smaller blonde he held him close.

"Sasuke...Thank you, for trying to save my son." Minato smiled at the younger raven. Poor Sasuke, he was still so terrified and shaken up he too was crying. He clutched to Itachi's shirt, crying softly. Today had just been a bad day. Or had it? As soon as Minato and Naruto arrived home, Minato decided Naruto needed a nap-a long one. He had changed Naruto into more dryer clothes and taken his temperature, making sure Naruto hadn't had the start of a fever. He applied the cream to Naruto's eyes, but Naruto hadn't known what he was about to do that and he cried in pain. It burned and stung. But the bandages were applied and the sensations did linger but started to reduce.

"Now just rest, okay Naruto?" Minato ordered. Naruto was in no mood to argue, a nap did sound nice at the moment. He rested his head on the pillow, snuggling into the covers. Minato sighed, today had been going really, really good too. Why horrible things always happened to his son, he didn't know the answer to; and that made him mad. No, mad would be an understatement, furious is more like it. He hated how Naruto grew up blind and motherless. His son deserved everything and more in life. Minato felt frustrated.

Maybe, it is my fault he's motherless and miserable. He thought. Naruto would have a mother if I just-

BNG-BANG-BANG-BANG

"MINATO! OPEN THE DOOR!" a desperate cry for help came from outside Minato's front door. He raised an eyebrow and gently opened the door, only to have Jariaya to jump on him, and slam the door. He phanted and groaned.

"What are you doing?" Minato asked.

"I...was being...chased..." The pervert gasped.

Minato looked out a window at a few teenage boys, they must have been eighteen or nineteen. There were five of them and they all looked angry. Minato sighed.

"What did you do this time?" He asked.

"I didn't know those girls were their girlfriends, I sware I didn't know!" Jariaya screamed.

Minato rubed his temples, why must his old teacher be like this?

"I'll go calm them down, stay here and keep an ear out for Naruto. He's sleeping at the moment." Minato ordered. The pervert nodded, making himself comfortable on the sofa, noticing a bag of chips, he muinched away. It took a while, but Minato managed to get the crowd of very upset teenage boys away from his house and Jaraiya. He promised each boy a restraining order for their girlfriends to keep the pervert away. And currently he was sitting next to his old teacher, staring at the TV.

"So..." His teacher spoke with a mouth full of potato chips. "How's Naru?"

Minato glared at his teacher but soon his face turned a light green seeing the food fall from his mouth.

"Um...it's a long story." He replied. The pervert smiled and turned.

"Minato...I'm an author, I like long stories, short stories and girls. I have time." He smirked.

Minato smiled and shook his head. He began with what happened at the festival last night, and the kidnapping, Orochimaru (who was at the moment rotting in jail until the trial that was to be held later in the month, Minato had made arrangements) and Naruto's sight and how he lost it. The pervert sighed sadly looking at his ex-student; Minato shouldn't have to put up with this, He thought.

"Well, Minato. I don't know the sadness or pain you're going through, but I do know something you should do, from now and forever and ever." Jariaya spoke.

Minato gave a questioning look.

"Love and support him." He smiled. "He's your son, encourage him and know you're there for him, blind or not."

Minato smiled. "Thank you."

Jariaya smiled. "OH MY GOD! WHAT A POETIC AND SWEET THING I HAVE SAID, I'LL TRY THAT SAYING ON MY NEW GIRLS!" He screamed running out of the house, Minato following him trying to stop him from any perverted actions that would get him killed by any protective or angry boyfriends.

Naruto had been depressed ever since that day. Even after Minato had taken him out for ramen last night. Naruto just hadn't been in the mood for anything. Minato was worried, ever since the incident at the Uchiha's Naruto hadn't smiled, hadn't laughed he wasn't happy and it was driving the father crazy! Minato hoped that today at school, Naruto would cheer up.

"Alright Naruto. Time for me to go to work." Minato smiled. Naruto just stood there, holding his lunch box, frowning. Minato bit his lip.

"I love you." He said.

"Love you too, Tou-san." Naruto mumbled, walking to his classroom. Minato sighed, heading to his office. It pained him to know his baby wasn't happy. Ever since Naruto was a baby, Minato had tried everything to make sure Naruto was happy. He didn't care how much it cost, as long as his baby was happy. Minato had told him and explained to him about the time limit he had for sight, Minato guessed he shouldn't have said anything about that, because Naruto only looked more upset when he finished.

Sasuke noticed Naruto in his desk and smiled, Naru-kun is okay.

"Naru-kun?" Sasuke asked.

Naruto looked up. Then back down.

"Naruto...for what happened at the brook. I'm sorry." Sasuke apologized. "It's my fault."

"No, it's my fault." Naruto said. "I shouldn't have did what I did."

Sasuke and Naruto sat in silence for a while. Then Sasuke smirked, starting to fold ends and shapes in a piece of paper. Naruto heard this and asked what he was doing.

Sasuke presented Naruto a paper frog.

"I wanted to show you a real frog. But-"

"I like it!" Naruto smiled. "His name will Amagaeru-san!"

Thank you to my Beta and co-writer Carrie2sky for anything that I either misspelled or goofed up on. And a big round of cookies being passed out to my reviewers, anyone who put this story on alert or added to their favorites. Thank you all so much.

Until next time this has been Angel and Carrie.