Coming Together for Him

Chapter 6

Naruto awoke a few hours after Tsunade had been in to check on him. He remembered waking up earlier, hotter than he had ever been in his life. Naruto didn't feel that bad right now which meant Tsunade had probably figured out something that would help.

Looking over to his left, he found his father sitting there studying some papers.

"Dad" Naruto murmured and Minato looked up and gave him a small grin.

"Look whose awake. How do you feel?" he asked.

"Not too bad considering." Naruto said. He shifted in the bed to see Itachi standing at the door with a dark look on his face.

"Does he ever smile?" Naruto asked, he seemed to remember talking to Itachi for a few minutes before going back to sleep.

"He doesn't really have much to smile about." Minato said quietly knowing that Itachi probably heard him anyways. "But trust me when I saw I couldn't have found a better person to guard you."

"He said they caught the guy that drugged me." Naruto mentioned.

"They did, and we believe he will lead us to the main guys." Minato said.

"Doesn't that seem like it's been a little too easy?" Naruto asked. "When was catching a major criminal ever this easy?"

"We haven't caught the main one yet." Minato reminded him "but you are probably right. Itachi believes that they are trying to lay a trap." Naruto narrowed his eyes, he didn't like the sound of that especially if he would be the one used to bait the trap.

"Can't you give them what they want and be done with it?" Naruto asked.

"You know I can't." Minato replied "Because it would put all of Konoha at risk."

"So you don't mind risking my life to save people who could care less about you trying to save theirs?" Naruto asked bitterly. For once couldn't see his father that it was his own actions putting Naruto at risk. So much for his father wanting to protect him and keep him safe.

"I'm trying my best here, Naruto." Minato pointed out "the situation is very complicated."

"It shouldn't be." Naruto stated "it just comes down to whose more important your own son or people you don't even know."

"You can't just give in to people like this." Minato said with narrowed eyes "If I do they will be walking all over me for however long I am the Mayor." Naruto scowled. He was so tired of this situation, he was ready to go home and get back to school. He was tired of the near constant pain he was in.

"If you don't do something they are going to keep coming after me" Naruto grumbled. "I don't want to spend the rest of my life in the hospital."

"I'm doing the best I can, Naruto" Minato said patiently "but it's going to take a little time before things can get back to normal."

Naruto scowled and turned away to look out the window. His father wasn't the one lying in the hospital bed so he couldn't understand what Naruto was feeling.

"This whole situation would go a whole lot easier if you weren't being a brat about it. I know that its not easy for you to be in the hospital and away from your friends but you will be with them soon." Minato said frustrated.

"I won't be with them soon enough." Naruto said but he didn't add that he wasn't sure that he had friend's anymore. After all not a single one of them had bothered coming to the hospital since he had been admitted. Naruto was sure the whole school knew what had happened because someone was always around to feed the rumor mill.

Minato didn't say anything in reply to Naruto's attitude, he knew his son was frustrated but that frustration wasn't going to get things done by giving him attitude.

"I'll be back when you can get your attitude under control" Minato told him and Naruto snorted and refused to look in his father's direction. He'd been in the hospital almost two weeks now, he was more than ready to get away.

Minato shook his head and stepped away from Naruto's bed. He couldn't blame his son for being upset about his current situation, but he had to understand Minato had pledged to do what was best for the community. Was it really worth risking his son's life to protect everyone else? Naruto was the one who had suffered at the hands of these people, and he was apart of the community that Minato vowed to do his best by. Minato couldn't help but wonder if he was a failure as a father, it seemed like whatever decisions he made lately always led to his son getting hurt.

"Kushina, if you're looking down on us, please keep our son safe while I try to figure this situation out." Minato said softly before disappearing down the hallway.

Naruto lay in bed scowling out the window. It was just like his father to choose everyone else over his own family. He'd been doing it ever since he became Mayor, so why was Naruto not surprised that he wasn't about to change his ways, not even to keep his own son alive. Closing his eyes Naruto wondered if his father even loved him as much as he claimed to, if he did why didn't he just let this situation come to an end instead of dragging it out. Naruto desperately needed some peace.

"You're father means well" Itachi spoke from the doorway. "You shouldn't give him problems the man is stressed enough." Naruto snorted and turned to look at Itachi.

"Really? Seems to me he's just trying to make sure the citizens of Konoha are safe from these creeps."

"Last time I checked you were a citizen too." Itachi pointed out. Naruto rolled his eyes.
"That's not the point I am trying to make." Naruto muttered, he was sick of lying in bed, being uncomfortable. His broken arm ached just about as badly as his chest. He figured the heart attack would leave him sore for a little while. "He's always been too busy to be a real father to me. He's always put everyone else in front of his own family. So might as well use me as bait, maybe this time they will actually succeed."

"That's enough." Itachi said "You're father loves you and is trying to protect you. You're being pretty selfish right now." Naruto narrowed his eyes and glared at Itachi.

"I'm selfish for stating the truth. He's never had time for me so might as well let those guys take me out. He won't have to worry about stressing over how to protect me." Naruto snapped. Irritated with Itachi for not seeing his side of things.

"At least he's a father that tries to protect you." Itachi stated "some kids have parents who couldn't care less if they were alive or dead."

Naruto sighed and turned away. It was pointless Itachi was clearly on his father's side. No one seemed to get that Naruto was the one stuck in bed, the one who had to deal with all the pain. He was tired of it, he just wanted things to go back to normal.

Twenty minutes later, Tsuande entered the room and proceeded to check Naruto over. She spent a few minutes listening to his heart.

"As badly as your heart is damaged. It sounds pretty good, so as long as you continue to do well through the night, I'm going to release you tomorrow as long as promise to take it easy, and don't play any sports. You don't need to add any stress to your heart. It's already working too hard as it is."

"Good." Naruto told her "I'm ready to go home. No offense to you but I am tired of being here."

"I'm sure you are." She said reaching out and ruffling his hair. She was glad the kid was going to be okay, she didn't like seeing him in the shape he'd been in. "I want you to come in once a week to have your heart looked at."

Naruto nodded he would agree to anything at this point. He hated that he wouldn't be able to play soccer anymore. But if he wanted to live to see his college days, he had better do whatever Tsunade told him to do.

That night, Naruto went to asleep easily knowing that he would be going home in the morning. He was happy that he would once more be able to rest in his own bed.

"Naruto" a soft familiar voice called "My,son" Naruto looked towards the doorway and there was his mother.

"Mom." He cried out before slipping out of his bed and going to her.

"My brave, strong boy." She murmured. "I'm proud of you for surviving all that you have."

"The only thing I've done is stay in bed." Naruto replied "I'm not as strong as you think I am."

"But you are. You're still, kind and thoughtful. You're experience hasn't changed you. Your attitude comes from your frustration and that is perfectly acceptable." Kushina told him as if reading Naruto's mind. "I know how tired you are of this mess but I can promise you it will be over soon, and you will have the peace that you dream of." Naruto smiled her words bringing him peace. Though he wondered at what she meant when it was over, would he be dead or would the situation be at an end? He only hoped it would be the situation and not his life. He was 14 years old, he wasn't ready to say goodbye to all that he knew.

"You'll be ready quicker than you think" Kushina murmured her face beginning to morph into that of the blonde man who had tried to poison him. Naruto stared back in horror as hands reached towards his throat. Naruto tried to back away but found himself cornered with no where to turn.

"You're time is coming, Naruto Namikaze, you won't have anything to fear when you're dead!"

With a jerk, Naruto found himself sitting up in his bed breathing hard. He could feel the sweat fall down his face. He wondered what had brought that dream on. He hoped that the man's message wouldn't come to pass. Surely his father could find some way to stop them. Naruto looked over beside the bed, his father's chair was still empty as it had remained since his father had left. Naruto wished then that his father was there, he needed to tell someone his fears. Something about that dream had seemed almost too real.

Even as Naruto lay back down stared up at the ceiling, he could feel his heart race as he struggled to calm down. He couldn't forget the fear, it felt like a snake had wrapped around him and refused to let go. Naruto was almost afraid to close his eyes, he didn't want to dream anymore.

Naruto lay there for several minutes, trying to calm his racing heart. When he heard the door open, Naruto turned to see who was entering and he froze.

"Naruto" A blonde haired man, named Deidara said "I believe you have an appointment with the grim reaper.

Thanks for reading and Reviewing! Liz