Disclaimer: I own nothing

Warnings: Yaoi, Lemons (Later on though), Maybe Mpreg (BIG maybe I'll let you guys decide).

Review Answers for Chapter 3:

random person: yes they defiantly are! They are just too cute together!

Melyway: I had a fan girl moment writing this, I'm glad they're back together!

ougley: To tell you the truth I've been toying with it since then we can find out what Sasuke's been through when Naruto was gone. But I'm not sure if I'm going to do it since after they meet again the storyline will be the same...I might though someday.

Shane: Will do!

LouiseUchiha: Thank you!

Dragon77: I'm glad you think so!

gunslayer12: I'm glad to hear you like it.

TKM: I'm glad you find it interesting.

Explanations and Problems

A cool hand twitched around his warmer one as the pair groggily stirred. Sasuke was currently curled up on his left side. Naruto's head was resting on the bed, the bare knees where the hospital gown had slid up were pressed comfortably against his neck, much like a support. The blonde's head was tilted up buried in the crock of the Uchiha's neck. The other male's hand was tangled in the blonde locks from where he had been stroking the hair while the Anbu captain slept. They shifted slightly every once in a while but did not wake up.

The blonde haired male was the first to wake up. He shifted slightly causing Sasuke to awaken, smiling apologetically cupped the pale cheek softly. The now mismatched eyes searched his face chewing on a pale pink bottom lip. They were pleading gently, the smaller hands weaved through his hair.

"Don't..." The smaller male gulped softly voice shaking slightly as he tried to figure out the correct words or maybe he was gathering the energy to speak again. "Don't leave...please?" Naruto melted chewing the inside of his cheek softly. The begging eyes made it impossible to decline. A soft sigh escaped his lips softly as he smiled gently.

"Visiting hours haven't started yet...I just need to go to the office and grab my badge okay...? I don't feel like getting in trouble..." He whispered hoping to help the male relax. The blue eye watched the pale figure reach out to the bed side and hold out a badge.

"This?" He asked softly and pinned it to the black shirt with nimble fingers.

"Sakura brought it in?" He asked chuckling softly and sighing softly. "I had one that lasted a year but I guess it expired..."

"Why so long?" The black haired male asked confused.

"I came every night so Sakura signed me up for it..." He shrugged lightly.

"Every night, why?"

"I wasn't about to leave you on your own at night...You had Sakura and Kakashi during that day but I know night can be the hardest so I decided to make sure my missions were in the day time so I could spend nights with you here..."

"Dope, a chair is not a good place to sleep." The Uchiha muttered.

"I've had worse." Naruto replied lightly. Leaning back in his chair the blonde yawned softly and closed his eyes. Outside the window the sun was rising slowly coloring the sky with multiple colors of pinks, oranges, purples and blues. Stretching slowly he sighed slowly before a ninja appeared by the window farthest away from the pair.

"Fox-taicho, the Hokage requests your presence at ten..." The Anbu with the Bear mask said with a low bow before a smaller box of respect to the Uchiha after.

"Got it." With a nod Bear disappeared silently. The blonde glanced over at the clock glad to see he had five hours until he had to leave.

"You're a captain?" Sasuke frowned softly before reaching over and pulling up the left sleeve of the shirt Naruto was wearing, as if to make sure he hadn't been hearing things. Black-blue eyes widened as pale fingers traced the tattoo that marked the blonde as a Anbu operative. "They didn't tell me that..."

"An Anbu operative's identity is supposed to stay hidden at all times..." The blonde sighed softly before scratching the back of his head.

"...Dope...Now I'm going to worry even more..." The Uchiha muttered. The blonde rose an eyebrow silently.

"Why would me being an Anbu worry you?" The Uzumaki asked frowning.

"Because you'll get sent on hard missions and might not come home." The raven haired male scowled annoyed.

"Oh geez, have a little faith, I'll be fine..." The male muttered crossing his arms over his chest.

"What if you aren't, Naruto?" Black-blue eyes found the single blue one.

"I'll always come home to you, Sasuke." Naruto smiled faintly, his eye gentle and soft. The raven just nodded mutely and chewed on his bottom lip softly obviously not convinced at all. The blonde rolled his eye and reached out tilting the pale chin up and kissed the forehead softly before pulling away. "I'll be back in a bit..."

Standing from his chair the blonde slide his hands into his pockets and walked outside turning his badge in so he could get it when he came back after his meeting with the Hokage. He still had quite a bit of time about four hours now. Sighing softly he walking into one of the stores that had just been opened for the morning. Greeting the man behind the counter he walked through the store pulling the things, mostly food, off the shelves before returning to the counter and checking out. Nodding his thanks he pulled the lighter out of the plastic case it had been in before unwrapping the plastic casing around the pack of cigarettes. Lighting one he slid it between his lips and tucked the pack and lighter into his back pocket. He had started smoking a few years back, he didn't really know why but it helped him relax. Sakura and Tsunade still did not approve of his habit but since Kyuubi seemed to be immune to any and all human sicknesses, hence why the blonde never got sick.

He stepped into his apartment a few minutes later and put away his groceries before cooking a breakfast of eggs and toast. After eating the blonde cleaned his dishes and put them away before going to take a shower. Changing his bandages relieved to see they hadn't re opened and looked better then before he pulled on his uniform and laid down on his small couch for a nap before he left. Tucking his arms behind his head he fell into a light sleep easily.

The soft beeping of his alarm clock jolted him into full awareness and he glanced at the time. He had ten minutes to get to the Hokage Tower, pulling on his mask he walked out after strapping his katana to his back. He disappeared with the wind as soon as the door clicked shut, unlike other shinobi he moved silently thus everything he did was quiet.

Appearing in front of the Hokage he knelt down on one knee his arm resting across his knee while the other was positioned on the floor hand curled in a fist to keep him steady.

"You called me, Hokage-sama?" He said respectfully keeping his head bowed.

"Yes, I am aware I told you last night that your report is due Friday, but I need an explanation now." The seated female spoke in a demanding voice. "Please stand, Fox."

"Yes." Standing he stood at his full height, ram rod straight and aura of authority and power surrounding him. "The mission was extremely easy. But..there was something...odd...The scroll in which we were asked to receive was out in the open and not guarded well at all. For a forbidden technique that was stolen from Konoha it was very odd since it was obvious the enemy was letting us take the scroll. The chakra in the area itself was very strange, it was...blood thirsty and cold...but the person was not in the area. So I allowed my team and I to get caught. During this time we gathered information, there was no way the three men in charge of the station were the masterminds. They had almost no chakra reserves...D- rank rouges at the most, they had someone else telling them what to do...They were much too simple minded and dull, their torture methods were childish." The blonde sighed slowly running his fingers through his blonde hair. Before touching the wound over his chest that was having difficulties healing. "The person who inflicted this on me was stronger then them, granted I was blindfolded and a drug in my system prevented me from properly detecting and memorizing the chakra signature...I believe he is the mastermind behind it all..."

"And what of Kyuubi? That wound should be healed, even if he was still asleep, he should be able to heal them anyway." The Slug Queen asked crossing her arms over her chest.

"Kyuubi is still sleeping, he used too much chakra but..." The captain sighed slowly. "I was waiting to tell you later...I wanted to be sure we were correct..."

"What are you talking about?" The older blonde frowned her eyes filling with worry.

"We, Kyuubi and I, are dying...It's been happening for quite some time...The toads were the first to notice when I went to visit them...He can no longer heal me like he used to...Larger wounds will heal like a normal person, soon even small ones will be a challenge."

"What do you mean? Naruto what do you mean?" She panicked her eyes widen and tears threatening to fall. Naruto inwardly flinched at her distress, he hated seeing the people he cared about like this. Outside his face behind the mask remained calm and collected.

"Both our chakras are too much for my body to handle, as a result it's killing me from the inside out. Before you say to drain it we can't because it is also keeping me alive, at the same it is trying to heal me.." He scratched his neck softly. "Sorry, it's confusing..."

The Fifth Hokage stood shakily all color had drained from her face. Walking over to the man that was much like a son to her she reached out pulling the mask off the male's face placing it on her desk softly. Cupping his face she bit her lip as tears flowed freely down her face, a whimper caught in her throat. Pulling him into a hug she allowed sobs to wreck her body because she did not want to lose her last precious person. The tanned male wrapped his arms around her in response rubbing her back tracing small comforting circles and sighed softly. He was not used to seeing her cry normally she would have punched someone or something throw the wall in her sadness.

"It doesn't hurt too much..." He whispered trying to offer some comfort trying get his mother figure to stop crying.

"H-How long until you..." She choked out unable to finish her sentence before sobs over took her once more.

"No idea...It's a slow process...Kyuubi is holding back the chakra as much as possible so we think I'll live until I'm forty. That's a long time right? I'm happy with that." He offered a soft, gently smile. "Twenty or so years right? That's plenty of time. "

"What about your dream? To be Hokage?" She sniffled wiping her eyes and pushing away her tears.

"Being in Anbu allows me to protect Konoha better, besides you're doing a great job." She laughed softly and shook her head softly.

"You are an odd man, Naruto..." She said ruffling his hair softly.

"I know." He smiled faintly.

"So the reason why Kyuubi can't heal you is...? She asked wanted to be sure she was correct.

"He has to heal in small amounts because large amounts would destroy my insides. I can't use his chakra anymore at all, but you already knew that part...I have the pills you made me after all. The problem is the healing process is taking up a lot of his energy so he can't heal me as easily as before. He'll fade away if he uses too much of his chakra and I would with him since we are connected." He smiled softly before shrugging. "My chakra is safe, but I try not to use too much just in case..."

The older blonde nodded slowly and wiped her tears away sniffling before managing to make herself presentable and look like she had not been crying.

"Just...don't tell anyone...not yet alright?..." Naruto asked with a shaky smile and a faint sigh. "I don't want them to worry about me anymore then they already are..."

"Alright...but if you get worse I'm pulling you out of Anbu and I'm telling your friends if you don't within an hour of the time I pull you out, or Kami help me you'll be a poster on my wall." Tsunade threatened shooting him a glare as if daring him to oppose her. The male just chuckled holding up his hands as if to say 'okay okay, you're the boss just don't punch me through a wall again.' She smiled and gave him one last hug before returning to her desk. Taking his mask off his desk he tied it back on over his face. Naruto left her to her work a few seconds later walking out of the building and into the busy streets.

'Kit?' The blonde barely halted in his steps as the deep voice echoed through his mind.

'Hey, Kuruma. How are you feeling?' He thought softly back careful not to make his thoughts too loud. The nine-tailed fox sounded tired. He had obviously just awaken from sleeping in hopes of regaining some of the chakra he had lost to heal the wounds.

'I'm fine, I tried to heal the wound on your chest but I don't have enough energy to do so...I'm sorry...' Naruto could almost see the large fox in his cell half asleep, his long tails curled around the red furry body as he struggled to stay alert.

'It's alright, go back to sleep. You've over worked yourself helping my other wounds. This one is not causing harm. It will be healed in a few weeks or so.' Naruto comforted him.

'Night, Kit. Thanks.' The tired voice went silent and Naruto knew the fox had slipped into a land of peaceful dreams and painless memories.

Walking to Sakura and Sai's house knowing they would be home since it was around lunch time he knocked softly. The door opened to reveal Sakura who grinned in happy to see him.

"Naruto! How are you? We were just about to eat lunch. Care you join us?" She asked ushering him inside, the male quickly slid off his shoes. Sai, who was currently setting the table caught his eye and Naruto in turn gave him a look that could only be read as 'I don't think I have a choice, I might get slaughtered if I say no'. Sai just smiled, a real smile, Sakura had gotten him to understand and reveal his emotions as easily and a normal person. Although he fell into his emotionless state a little too easily for anyone's comfort on missions. The joke in the group was he would be the first to become a creepy robot and murder everyone in sight. But it was a joke of course, the first few times Sai actually took it seriously and tried to make Sakura destroy his brain if he ever showed signs.

The babbling nonsense of a small girl stole his attention away as he looked around only to feel a tiny hand gripping his pants leg. Looking down his eyes locked with bright emerald green orbs that shined with happiness. The little girl had hair had went a little past her chin and was pitch black. The perfect mix of her parents. Kneeling down he smiled gently pulling his mask away from his face positioning it on the side of his head. Her curious eyes stared up at him in wonder moving back and forth between the mask and his face. He chuckled softly holding out a finger which she grabbed tightly for a child her age, she would probably inherit her mother's monstrous strength.

"Himori, this is your uncle Naruto. He's been gone on a mission and just got home." The little girl in response gummed on his finger causing them all to laugh.

"It's a pleasure to meet you kiddo." The blonde smiled softly scooping her up and carrying her to the high chair at the end of the table. Placing her carefully inside he buckled her in and took his seat, he came over for meals a lot, on invite of course, so he had claimed his own chair so to speak. There were even chairs for Kakashi, Yamito, and Sasuke. Although Sasuke had never used his it was still there for when he would eventually be able to.

Eating a meal of fried rice and shrimp they talked about random things laughing softly as Himori babbled like she understood everything. She was a messy little eater, the baby food spilling down her chin before Sai or Sakura would skillfully catch in in the spoon she used to feed her and put it in the little girl's mouth as the child waved her hands around giggling away.

"She's adorable." Naruto chuckled as Sakura cleaned her up before he stood gathering the plates and bringing them to the sink. Washing and drying them the blonde put them in their places in the cabinets knowing exactly where everything went.

"Thank you." Sai responded with a smile.

"I've got to go, I promised Sasuke that I would come back to visit." He smiled softly hugging Sakura and patting Sai on the shoulder before picking up the tiny child ruffling her hair then handing her back to her mother. "See you guys later, thanks for lunch."

With a final wave he slid his shoes back on, pulling his mask over his face before he walked outside and headed towards the hospital.

Please Review. Any flames or suggestions are much appreciated. Thank you so much for reading and I hope you liked it.