Disclaimer: The characters and concepts of Naruto belong to their rightful own. I'm just playing with them for a bit.

Warnings: Yaoi, some occasional swearing, angst and other things that may offend.

Author's Note: I have no excuse for this being late besides pure laziness. I hope you enjoy and please let me know what you thing. If you need anything explained or clarified, either review or send me a message and I'll do my best to help you.


Chapter 27 : True Love Leaves No Traces

Maybe I'm still hurting
I can't turn the other cheek
But you know that I still love you
It's just that I can't speak
I looked for you in everyone
And they called me on that too
I lived alone but I was only
Coming back to you

Coming Back to You by Leonard Cohen

X X X X X X X X X X X

"If you keep up this sleeping habit of yours people will start to think you're lazy."

A gentle kiss was pressed to his neck and Naruto opened sleep heavy eyes to smile at Sasuke leaning over him.

"Mah no one would believe you," he replied, burying his fingers in Sasuke's inky locks, rejoicing in the very fact that he could do such a thing.

"I could make them believe me," Sasuke murmured, pressing a chaste kiss to his lips. "It's getting late. Shouldn't you be heading back now? They'll be wondering where you are."

"They already think I'm asleep in bed. No one will go into my room," Naruto said, letting his eyes drift close again.

He'd fallen asleep on Sasuke's couch again, an open book abandoned at his side. It had become a routine of theirs in the evenings; Sasuke would paint or play the piano, and Naruto would read. They were simply indulging in their new found freedom to be themselves around each other. No barriers, no walls, no need to save face in front of others.

It was a new experience for Naruto, and it hadn't been easy to do. Letting someone past his barricades had been almost as if he were betraying himself and the protections he'd built to protect himself. It had stung like betrayal too at first.

While Sasuke could be incredibly impatient with himself as well as others, the same principle didn't seem to apply to Naruto. He'd simply stood back and allowed Naruto to come to terms with the new grounds of their relationship. There had been no words, because he seemed to recognize that Naruto wasn't a child who needed protecting, coddling or coaxing along.

He had managed to shield himself from a world of hurts for many years, and Sasuke seemed to know that if Naruto was going to relax and let him in, then it would be on his terms and in his own time.

So the quiet they spun around themselves in the evenings was never strained or tense. They did their own thing, but they did it together. They created a sanctuary for themselves in Sasuke's room, the quiet solitude they created for themselves a healing balm for the last couple of weeks that Naruto had spent recuperating.

It had been quite an exercise in patience for him. He'd wanted to get out there, and do what he loved but his own body had become his limitation. While he was ready to carry on with his life, his body let him down in being slow to heal. It had been hard, coping with the back spasms and shooting pains.

If it wasn't for the medications, and the unobtrusive care of Iruka (and secretly Sasuke) Naruto wasn't sure what he would have done. He had regained much of his range of movement, and apart from the odd twinge and ache that warned him he was approaching his limit, he was mostly healed.

Tomorrow, Kakashi had organized for his first ride after the accident. Both he and Raidou would be watching, but Sasuke had also insisted on being present. Naruto wasn't worried about it. He knew his own capabilities well enough; it was Kakashi who wasn't convinced he would call it a day when his body grew tired.

"Are you nervous about tomorrow?" Sasuke asked, as if reading his mind.

It was startling sometimes, how in touch they could be. It wasn't the first time Sasuke had caught him off guard and it wouldn't be the last.

"Not really," he replied honestly. "I know I'm ready to ride again. Kakashi is more nervous than I am."

"A lot of people would be too shaken to ride again after a fall like that," Sasuke commented, sitting up.

He trailed his fingers down Naruto's arm and picked up his hand, entwining their fingers thoughtfully.

"I've fallen before and I'll fall again no doubt," Naruto said with a rueful smile, sitting up carefully.

If he wasn't wary about it, sudden movement sometimes made his back hurt, especially after sleeping.

Sasuke was watching him move closely, as if assessing him for any signs of pain or restricted movement. Naruto hide his smile, the closely guarded concern he saw in Sasuke's eyes making his chest go warm and tight.

"Hm," was his only response though.

Naruto leaned forward and rested his forehead against the curve of Sasuke's shoulder. It had been a long time since he had had any doubts about the strange relationship between him and Sasuke. He couldn't even bring himself to feel that bad about lying to Sakura any more, and he wondered if that made him a bad person.

They hadn't put a name or label to the relationship they shared. No words were spoken about how they felt or commitment to the other and secretly, Naruto thought that they didn't need to. He knew that Sasuke cared about him, maybe even loved him a little and that was enough for him.

Sasuke made him feel like he was truly treasured, like he belonged to someone, and if anyone had asked him a year or so ago if belonging to someone like a possession was something he'd envisioned for himself, he would have run as far and as fast as he could.

He didn't see it like that though. His heart belonged to Sasuke. It was as simple as that and for him at least, there would be no going back.

He hoped that he provided some relief from Sasuke's own boundaries and commitments and that he found something of whatever it was he was looking for in him. He might not be all that Sasuke needed, but he was willing at least to try to be.

Of course, he had no idea of what Sasuke's goals or dreams were. They didn't talk about that kind of thing either. That was too dangerous, almost as if they would be able to share their futures.

Naruto wasn't naive; he knew that one false step or word could end this thing between them. He wasn't stupid enough to throw it all away without thinking about his every action and word before he said them.

A hand came up and buried itself in his hair.

"You're thinking too hard again." Sasuke said pressing a kiss to his hair before getting up and moving to his piano. He stood for a moment, fingers brushing against the polished wood before sitting down and resting his hands lightly on the keys.

Naruto turned to face him, crossing his legs and watching as Sasuke stroked the keys for a moment before pressing down on an elaborate chord. This was another thing he loved about Sasuke.

The man was as drawn to music as Naruto was drawn to horses. Some of it seemed unconscious, like it called to him in a way that no one else could see. But when he played, his music came alive.

Sasuke could paint pictures with the way he played music, every exquisite note hanging in the air and spinning stories that had Naruto enchanted from the first note. Sasuke lost himself in his music, zoning out everyone and everything around him so that he was focused solely on what he was playing. Sometimes it seemed as if he was in some sort of trance, the distant look on his face betraying the depth of his thoughts as he played.

The melody tonight was slow, and somewhat haunting but every note was perfect, and inspired a sense of inner peace within as he watched Sasuke's hand flow every the keys, grace in every line of his body as he played.

The feeling in his chest that overcame him whenever he watched Sasuke play was like no other. Sometimes he felt as if his heart wanted to explode out of his chest as he watched Sasuke in the warm light. More than anything though, he wanted those hands on him, showing him the grace and beauty they displayed for the world to see.

Like so many things about him, Sasuke's music and his art were fine examples of an artist's soul. Sometimes Naruto thought that Sasuke's creativity, which was the very heart of his being, had often been smothered by his responsibilities and the duties which his parents expected from him. Sasuke's obsessions were not things that benefited his lifestyle, at least, that was what Naruto thought was Sasuke's father's opinion.

Sasuke was, to put it shortly, a dreamer. Though not many would guess that, from his appearance and demeanor, but it had become apparent to Naruto. All you had to do was look around his rooms, and find the scraps of paper with rough sketches and the quickly scrawled patterns in the borders of magazines, the snatches of melodies and music adorning any available space and the rough portraits on any available surface to tell that art was something that came to him as naturally as breathing.

Naruto could relate very well to Sasuke's preoccupation with art and music, for it was the same way he felt about his own love of horses and reading and it only made him love Sasuke all the more.

Loving Sasuke was like flying, and watching him pour out his soul through his music was almost enough to give his heart wings to sour.

Standing up quietly, he went and stood beside the bench, watching Sasuke's hands with fascination. When Sasuke nodded at the bench beside him as he played, Naruto sat down and looked at all the sheet music that littered the top of the piano. It was all so intricate and complicated that it almost made his head spin. Sasuke was truly a genius at music, he had heard it said before, and looking at the tiny little notes crammed onto all the music, Naruto could believe it very easily.

But Sasuke didn't seem to be following any sheet music. Naruto listened raptly as he played, letting the music take over his mind and make him forget all the little things that were plaguing his mind.

"My mother first taught me how to play," Sasuke said suddenly, his hands not skipping a beat on the keys. "She has always loved music and had played since she was a little girl. When I was a kid, I remember playing on the floor with my toys while she played her piano. It made my father furious when he found out she was teaching me, but she never stopped."

It made sense that Sasuke loved music so much then, and Naruto listened in interest. It wasn't often that Sasuke talked to Naruto about his family, but when he did he always managed to surprise Naruto with what he revealed.

"Of course, when she realized that I had an aptitude for music, she didn't hesitate to get me one of the best tutors in the country. I think it was then that my father gave up on trying to get her to stop teaching me."

"You play beautifully. I love listening to you."

Sasuke stopped playing at that, and he could help but feel disappointed.

"It's just a hobby, nothing more," he said abruptly.

"You couldn't tell from listening to you," Naruto pointed out quietly. "Have you ever wanted to play professionally?"

"There are a lot of things I've wanted to do, Naruto," Sasuke replied, turning his face away to look out the doors leading the balcony. "It doesn't mean anything."

Naruto reached out and touched his hand where it still rested on the keys of the piano.

"It means something to you," he said simply. "You've encouraged me to do things that I've been afraid to do. I think you should do something that you love. Even if it means going against someone else's wishes."

Sasuke turned to look down at him, a small smile on his face.

"When did you get so wise?"

Naruto returned his smile. "I had a very good teacher."

He reached up and brushed a stray lock of hair out of Sasuke's face. Sasuke contemplated him for a moment longer, before leaning down and kissing him intently, pulling Naruto closer. He returned the kiss wholeheartedly, kissing him back with everything that he felt for Sasuke within his heart. He wrapped his arms around him, soaking in the warmth of his body, the softness of his hair.

After a moment, Sasuke broke the kiss and stood up, pulling Naruto with him and leading him silently towards the bedroom. He followed without protest, his body already humming with Sasuke's touch.

Sasuke created another type of music every time he touched Naruto, setting his body aflame, vibrating with need and resonating with every stroke of his hands.

When Sasuke gently pushed him down on the bed, Naruto when willingly, pulling Sasuke down with him and greedily helping his shed his shirt.

For awhile all they did was kiss, every touch and taste building the urgency he felt within up to a crescendo that had him falling apart at the seams and desperate for all of Sasuke.

The Uchiha seemed to sense his need, because he efficiently stripped them both of clothing. Instead of doing anything further though, he lay down on his side facing Naruto, looking into his eyes. Naruto couldn't help but touch, reaching out and laying a hand on Sasuke's arm.

"Sasuke?" he asked tentatively.

"I want to know that you're certain about this Naruto. I'm know you've wondered about how experienced I am, and I'm not going to lie to you," Sasuke said with deadly seriousness. "I've been with several partners. I'm not green, and I'm not a virgin. I know that this is a big deal for you. So I don't want to keep doing this if it's not something you want. If you have doubts, then say so. You'll get no recrimination from me."

Naruto smiled, yet again touched by just how concerned Sasuke was for his well being. He reached out and lay his hand along the side of Sasuke's face, gently stroking the satiny soft porceleine skin.

"I appreciate that, Sasuke," he said truthfully. "And thank you for being so honest with me. I'll not belittle your concerns by lying to you either. If there was anyone I wanted to be my first, it would be you. I trust you. And I want you to show me....show me what you know."

After several long moments, Sasuke smiled and moved forward to kiss him. He tucked his body alongside Naruto's, pulling him into an intimate embrace that had him gasping as desire ignited afresh, reminding him that they had halted.

"Oh god..."

Sasuke smiled against his throat.

"I can show you the world..." he whispered.

Naruto let himself be rolled onto his back, and could do nothing but lie helpless as Sasuke worshipped his body with those perfect lips of his, trailing down his chest and stomach, littering his hips and lower belly with sucking kisses.

Naruto finally thought he knew something of heaven.

"Naruto, hurry up with that extra hay!" Kakashi called across the yard from where the imposing horse transport was parked.

He hauled the last hay bale towards the trailer and hefted it into the storage unit with the others. Genma patted him on the back and he stepped away to help him close up.

It was early evening and every light in the stable was blazing. It was way past dinner time, but the stable yard was in chaos.

It was finally time to be leaving on the long journey across the country to attend the show. The horses were about to be loaded, the equipment was fully loaded and ready to go, and Naruto was practically buzzing with anticipation. Kakashi was in a tense mood, and everyone was getting in everyone else's way to make sure they followed his orders to the letter.

There would be two horse transports going by road, two flatbed trucks carrying the riders and their equipment following.

Sasuke, Ino and Neji would be traveling by plane the following day, but flying made Naruto nervous so he was glad that they would be traveling by car. The only thing he was worried about was spending twelve hours in the same car as Sakura and Kakashi.

Kiba, Raidou and Genma would be in the other truck, the one that had belonged to his father. When Kakashi had asked if they could use it, he had readily agreed. There was no point in keeping it if it wasn't going to be used, he reasoned, attempting to ease Kakashi's reluctance. It was probably a good thing Kiba and Sakura weren't traveling in the same car though. The thought alone was enough to send a bolt of sheer terror down Naruto's spine.

Naruto watched as the first horses were loaded. Most of the horses owned by Uchiha's were very well trained, and had no problem with transportation. Taira and Sora were different though, both being high strung creatures and both being very strong willed. Sasuke had instructed that Naruto be the one to load those two himself, and Naruto wasn't looking forward to that particular battle.

As if reading his mind, Kakashi signaled to him.

"Okay Naruto. Bring Taira on out and get him loaded on this truck. Sora will go on the other," he called out.

With a nod and a deep breath, Naruto fetched Taira. The large horse obviously sensed something was up from all the activity and didn't make it easy on him. He danced sideways as he led him into the yard, throwing his head up and scenting the air. Naruto ignored his friends, who stood nearby ready to help if he needed it.

Taira was pulling strongly, fighting to go forward faster, and Naruto held him in check with a little difficulty. They got to the ramp and he stopped dead, refusing to go any further. Naruto urged him forward, containing his glee when Taira stepped onto the platform.

"That's it boy," he murmured. "You're doing well."

He subtly signaled for Kakashi to stay back, letting Taira take his time. Eventually, the big horse rushed up the rest of the ramp with an angry squeal and flattened ears. Naruto and Genma quickly swung the barrier shut.

"Dodged a bullet there, kiddo," Genma winked across at him. "I'll get the ramp. You go and get your monster onto the other truck."

With a quick smile, Naruto left him and headed off for Sora. The big mare was nervous and sweating already, and Naruto was suddenly glad they had decided to head off a few days early, to let the horses settle down after the long trip so they could be at their best for the show.

"Okay girl," he said to her, patting her neck as he untied her lead rope. "We have a lot of people expecting great things out of us. Lets show them how amazing you are."

He led her out into the courtyard and watched out of the corner of his eye and her ears immediately flattened at the sight of all the people and the trailers.

He'd been right about it being a battle. She fought him every step of the way fight and pulling and dancing away from the trailer ramp. Eventually, they'd had to drive her up the ramp, forming a line of people to push her forward and throwing a rope around her rump to encourage her forward.

He patter he as they closed the barrier and felt guilty when she threw him an accusing look.

"We'll do better next time, eh?"

Naruto hurried down the ramp and wiped his sweaty forehead on his arm.

"Good work Naruto," Kakashi patted him on the shoulder. "Go grab a quick shower. We're leaving in fifteen."

Naruto hurried to do as he said, changing into warm, comfortable clothes and tugging on a heavy jacket. He paused for a second on his way out of the bathroom, looking in the mirror. He had changed so much from the little kid he had used to be, he thought to himself.

If only you could see me now, dad, Naruto thought. I wonder if you'd be proud of the man I've become.

He hoped he would be. He had an opportunity to show the world just how well his dad had taught him, away from all the rules and regulations of the riding schools and institutions. He would show them just how great his dad had been, by being a living remnant of the man Uzamaki Arashi had been.

He could hear Genma called his name, so he grabbed his bag and hurried out of the quarters. Tenten hugged him quickly in the courtyard.

"Good luck," she whispered in his ear. "And be careful out there."

She glanced at Sakura as they separated and he got her hidden meaning. Don't do anything to endanger his relationship with Sasuke. Don't give away the secret.

Shikamaru slapped him on the shoulder.

"Break a leg, man."

Naruto smiled at him as he climbed in the backseat of the truck. The horse trailers had left five minutes ago, and Naruto settled into the backseat of the cab, listening with half an ear and Kakashi ran over their checklists with Sakura as they pulled out of the stable yard.

Naruto looked out the window to the bright lights of the stable yard as they slowly disappeared and wondered just when his life had changed so drastically without him really noticing.

"This is stupid," Naruto huffed, crossing his arms and glaring at his reflection in the window glass.

He could see his father's reflection glance at him, but refused to turn around on principle.

"What's stupid?"

"Why do we have to move again? I liked it there!"

Naruto knew he was whining, but he couldn't seem to stop himself. He had made many friends in his last school, and he had liked the people his dad had worked with. It had been a good town, the kind of place where everyone knew everyone, and newcomers were always welcomed with curiosity and friendliness. His dad being who he was, had fit right in with the locals, and had been popular at the stables.

He didn't know what it was that made his father want to keep moving, and he had never questioned it. Naruto always followed with hardly a complaint, because his dad always lived life to the fullest, taking each day in stride with a confidence that kept him in awe, and he never failed to show him something new about the world wherever they went.

Naruto had inherited his wandering feet and free spirit, but there were times when he'd made new friends that he'd grown attached to and he loathed to leave so soon.

"I have another job lined up Naruto. It's a good place. You'll like it there," he father said with a smile.

"I liked it where we were," Naruto grumbled, but he subsided into silence at that.

He often wondered if his dad had been the same when his mother had died. If he felt the need to travel to far away places and see new things. Or had he and his mother been enough to keep him in the same place?

People often said that Naruto was a mirror image of the person his father was, and that had always made him proud, but there was something great about his father that he could never live up to.

There was nothing quite like the sound of the flatbed trucks wheels on the road, of the wind roaring through the partially opened windows. The radio was playing quietly in the background, and even though he was reluctant to leave his friends, he couldn't image a life any different. It was all he knew, and all he wanted to know.

"I know, kiddo. And I'm sorry about that. How bout I make it up to you?"

Naruto contemplated this.

"How?"

"Well, I was thinking when we get to motel we hire a couple of movies, pick up some junk food and crash in front of the television. You pick the food and the movies. How does that sound? Deal?"

Naruto turned to him.

"Deal!"

His father reached out and ruffled his hair, keeping his eyes on the road as he did so.

"I know we move around a lot, Naruto, and I hope that you'll tell me if it ever gets too much. It's not really fair of me to..."

"It's okay dad!" Naruto chirped, squirming in his seat with excitement at the thought of movies and junk food. "I really don't mind. I like it!"

"Really?" His father seemed surprised.

"Yup! Besides, I like meeting new people and riding all the different horses."

"We do meet a lot of interesting people, don't we?" his father grinned.

He blinked his eyes open slowly, staring sleepily at his reflection in the window. It was dark outside, the countryside whirring by in a dark blur.

An old ache had rekindled within his chest, and he felt a pang of longing for his father, who had been the center of his childhood and his very own personal hero.

But no matter how much he wished for it, those days were long gone and buried, and he had to make do with what he could build for himself. Naruto thought he had done pretty well for himself. He had people who cared for him, he had a place to call home where he felt safe and sheltered, and he had someone he loved with all of his heart.

But he had no dreams for the future. Not anymore at least. His life had no direction, and he often caught himself wondering where his life would lead him. Everyone he knew had dreams and aspirations. He had heard it said that they kept people moving forward and that they gave a person something to live for.

Naruto had none of that, and he wanted something, a dream he could call his own.

"Hey Naruto," Sakura twisted in her seat. "You awake at last?"

He sat up slight from his slumped position.

Sakura was illuminated by the light from the dashboard, and her cherry blossom hair seemed almost purple in the dull light. Her eyes sparkled though, and she was smiling at him. He could see the white of Kakashi's hair in the driver's seat before him.

"Yeah," he murmured, sitting up fully and wincing at the ache in his back.

He hadn't mentioned his sore back to Kakashi and he wouldn't. Nothing would stop him from riding in the competition, not when he had come so far.

"We're stopping for food in a minute. Any suggestions?" Kakashi asked, glancing at him in the rearview.

Naruto shook his head and looked out the window once more.

"Mmmmm, we've been driving for hours already," Sakure stretched. "And we're only half way there!"

"Be glad I don't make you drive...."

Naruto tuned out their conversation and looked at his reflection in the window. The reserved and solemn face looking back at him looked even more like his father had, minus the animated features and the laughter that had always been present in his father's eyes.

It was a painful reminder of the person he had lost every time he looked in the mirror, and one that often made his hate himself when it caught him off guard every now and then.

"There they are!" Sakura pointed out the window, to where the other truck was parked in the parking lot of the small gas station and cafe where they had stopped.

Kakashi pulled up beside them and turned the engine off. Sakura was out the door the moment they'd stopped, but Kakashi hesitated, looking at him in the rearview.

"You okay?" he asked. "You've been quiet."

Naruto shrugged and gave him a half-hearted smile.

"Yeah, I'm okay."

"Bad dream then?"

Naruto looked out the window, the where the others had gathered in a group and were standing around, stretching and talking.

"You have things in your past that you'd rather forget, right?" he asked Kakashi quietly.

"Doesn't everyone?" the pale man replied quietly.

Of course, Kakashi had been in the armed forces, and he had probably seen horrible things that would break many people. But everyone's pasts were different, and no one was haunted by the same ghosts. Everyone had their own demons to battle, and their own private wars to fight.

"How did you get to where you are now? With all of this?" Naruto asked. "How can you act as if it doesn't bother you?"

Kakashi was quiet for a long moment, looking off in the opposite direction to where Naruto was.

"You learn to forgive."

Naruto looked at him and frowned in confusion.

"The past you may not be someone who you are proud of. You may have done things that you regret and seen things you'd rather forget, but you learn how to not be so hard on yourself, given enough time."

"And then you can forget, right?"

"No. All you can do is forgive yourself and learn from your mistakes. If you can do that, you can become a stronger person and you appreciate what you do have." Kakashi paused for a minute. "We're not perfect, Naruto. We're only human, and everyone makes mistakes. Whatever it is that you're working through at the moment, it'll get easier. It won't hurt any less, but it'll get easier to live your life. You just have to be patient. It won't happen overnight."

Naruto nodded.

"I don't know how you did it, but...I think I'm ready to try," Naruto admitted, keeping his head lowered before he shoved the door open and got out.

Kakashit followed and clapped a hand on his shoulder, guiding him towards where the other's were waiting.

The meal passed in a blur to Naruto, his mind filled with half formed thoughts and notions, memories interspersed with Kakashi's words.

Towards the end of the meal when the conversations around him were starting to give him a headache, he stood up and excused himself, wanting to stretch his legs and ease his aching back.

He walked the parking lot a couple of times, the cold and dark wrapping around him like a long lost lover. There was no moon and the stars were brighter than ever. It was late, and quiet, the only noise the occasional passing car on the highway.

After awhile he sat on the curb in the furthers corner of the parking lot, under a streetlight. From his small bag, he pulled a battered leather journal and rested his hand on it. The pages were worn from years of use, the edges frayed. It was stuffed full of loose bits of paper and pages that had fallen out. The whole thing was held together by an old rubber band around the middle.

The journal was his fathers. He had found it in one of the boxes from the stuff in storage and hadn't yet had the courage to open it, not wanting to be privy to the innermost thoughts and feelings of his father.

Taking a deep breath, he carefully slid the band off and opened to front cover. Sitting between the cover and the first page were several scraps of paper with numbers and addresses and random, meaningless words and dates scrawled across them in his father's familiar hand.

Idly leafing through these, he stopped when he came across several worn photos. Picking up the first one, he stared at it.

Naruto hadn't seen it before, but the edges were worn and it was slightly faded, betraying how often it had been handled.

His father was lounging in an arm chair, his tall body sprawled out all over the place. In the crook of one arm, he cradled a sleeping baby Naruto. His father was smiling at someone outside of the shot, and Naruto traced the line of his smile.

He was so focused on the photo that when Kiba spoke, he jumped in fright.

"Is that your father? Kiba asked.

The other man sat down beside him, looking at the photo. Willing his heart to stop pounding from the surprised, Naruto nodded silently.

"You look alike," Kiba said with a nod.

"Are they finished in there?" Naruto asked, looking over at the bright lights of the cafe.

Kiba shook his head and rested his crossed arms on his upraised knees and propped his chin on them.

"Nah. Sakura booted me out to check on you."

"Sounds about right."

"So your father...." Kiba said slowly. "Where is he?"

Naruto swallowed and looked back down at the photo in his hands. He missed his father's face, and he missed knowing that he was loved more than anything.

"He died. A long time ago now," he answered slowly.

Kiba nodded. "I thought so. You never speak about your family, and you never go anywhere on holidays."

Naruto nodded, not surprised by Kiba's insight. The man's brash and brazen manner often hid his sharp intelligence, and many people thought he was stupid and thick. Naruto knew better, and often found amusement in Kiba's slightly skewed way of viewing the world.

"My dad died too." Kiba straightened a little and reached into his pocket to pull out his wallet.

He took out a small picture and handed it to Naruto.

He studied the black haired and dark eyed man in the worn photo.

"You don't look anything like him," Naruto commented as he handed it back.

Kiba grinned at him.

"Nah. Me and my sister looked like our mum. My dad was in the armed forces. He died serving his country. But it's okay. He died fighting for what he believed in and that's pretty cool."

"It is," Naruto agreed.

"How bout your dad?" Kiba looked over his shoulder at him and Naruto felt compelled to tell him the truth.

He looked down at the photo once more, before replacing it and closing the journal.

"He died saving my life."

TBC