warning:malexmale, dub-con.
They had been caught in a trap.
The area had been carefully examined before the transfer started, but when the shinobi escorting the Hokage arrived to the Land of Rivers, they had discovered that no official meeting had been required.
As soon as they had exited the gates, they had been attacked by powerful shinobi wielding unknown chakra stealing devices that made their opponents stronger, while they could only rely on taijutsu.
Nevertheless Minato's speed and Itachi's fighting skills, along with the little sharingan he could muster, had assured their victory.
Just before disposing of the enemies, one of them had managed to escape, landing a chakra infused blow against Minato.
Itachi had thrown himself between them, and was hit full force.
Minato had ordered the Anbu to head back immediately while he healed with Itachi and waited for his chakra to replenish so that he could flash-step home the day after.
With not enough chakra for a decent medication, he clumsily closed the bleeding gash, extended from Itachi's left shoulder to half of his chest.
The blond man helped him take off his upper clothes, focusing only on tightening the bandages around his torso, even though it was impossible not to look at the thin but defined muscles twitching at every movement and remember –beasts prey on the wounded too –that body, open and obedient, beneath him.
"Thank you for taking care of me."
With a feeble voice the Uchiha shook him out of his badly timed thoughts.
Minato moved the hair plastered to his forehead, tucking the longest ones behind his ears.
With an almost affectionate gesture, he caressed his cheek, and he started tracing with his fingers every part of the young man's face, from the straight nose to the deep lines, from the cheekbones, to the arch of the thin eyebrows.
Lastly, he brushed his mouth, subconsciously applying more pressure, remembering the feeling of that hot wet mouth around his manhood.
During his ministrations, Itachi impassively let him roam his finger wherever he wanted – He could not be dismissed from Anbu. Sasuke was more important than anything else. The man beside him wanted something, and even if he hoped to be left in peace for the time being, he must do what he said–but little shivers and the sheen of sweat on his forehead revealed that he was in pain.
This realization, and the need to stay focused in case other enemies should attack them, brought the Hokage's common sense back.
Still, he didn't feel like letting go, even if he knew that the boy needed rest.
"Why did you protect me?"
He asked, removing his hand from his face to mark his resolve.
"It is the main duty of the Hokage's personal guard to protect him at all costs."
Not a hint of doubt or resentment.
Indifference was so much worse than hate.
Submitting the shinobi had been easy –he couldn't refuse his Lord–but sometimes he'd preferred to see him struggle, even openly hate him, instead of putting on that polite façade.
He was free to use the shinobi's body as he pleased, but he started to crave his mind.
He hated how hard it was for him to keep his own demons inside and play the hero, while Itachi seemed naturally detached from everything, even when he laid on the floor, naked, battered and bruised.
"Still, you may have reasons to hate me." He pressed. He wanted to see the Uchiha angry.
He wanted to submit him after a fight, now.
"Hating you would be treason. Furthermore, you saved my life."
Itachi replied, wincing from the pain.
Feeling defeated, despite the fight he wanted hadn't even started, Minato pushed him against the ground, as he had done many times before.
This time though, it was a gentle gesture, to coax him to sleep.