Waking up Naruto looked around the room to see he was in a hospital bed. His memory of getting here was quite foggy. The last thing he remembered was his dad giving him a piggy back ride. Sitting up, pain shot through his body causing him to fall back into bed.
"Look like you're finally awake you troublesome blond." Seeing the Nara stir from his chair made the blond smile, "Shika! You're here?! I was so worried."
"Yeah well, I faired better than you did. I had some chakra exhaustion. You though decided to break almost all your ribs, fractures in your arms and legs, and on top of that massive chakra exhaustion."
Rubbing the back of his head Naruto chuckled, "Yeah. I might have over done it!"
A pregnant silence followed as the two boys thought of the day prior. Shikamaru let out a sigh, "Naruto can I ask you something?"
"Yeah why?" Naruto asked but Shikamaru could tell he was nervous. "Naruto I've felt this w-"
"Oh by kami! You're awake!" Mito smashed through the door. Naruto chuckled nervously as she grabbed him, "That fight was insane! How the hell are you so strong!"
"Well it's Naruto of course." Shikamaru fell back in his chair and crossed his arms as he pouted to himself. Being so close to death made him realize he needs to be honest about how feels about Naruto. Whether the Jinchuriki feels the same or not.
"Well I just got lucky. That fight was still out of my league." Trying to down play his near Kage level battle. Shikamaru laughed when Mito smacked the blond in the head, "You fought a tailed beast and won! Don't be humble now!"
"She is right. You should be proud Naruto." Kakashi appeared at the window, "My little team is back together." Everyone jumped from the sudden appearance of the masked man. "I'm glad your all okay. You did well yesterday during the attack."
"How bad was it?" The blond asked. The realization that he was out during the enemy retreat set in. "Overall not to many Shinobi were killed. We lost a few dozen. Dozens were injured, there is one death you three should know about."
All three Genin held their breathe. Tears pricked the edge of Kakashi's eyes, "Lord Hiruzen was murdered by Orochimaru."
Naruto felt his stomach turn. One of the most powerful ninja in the world was killed by his own students. Not to mention what about his grandson. He didn't know Konohamaru that well, and yeah he had a clan but he was essentially alone.
"Sensei. What are we going to do now?" Mito asked confused and scared. "We will celebrate the life of Hiruzen and prepare for the next Hokage. His funeral will be in a couple days. Also Naruto your family should be here any minute."
That made the blond light up his room with a smile. He knew things were going to be tough. With the Third Hokage dead, people were going to want assurances that they will be safe. Konoha was now open for a sliver of weakness. Luckily though they defeated not one but two enemy villages to secure their borders.
"If we would have paid better attention or not allowed the new hidden village than Hiruzen wouldn't have been killed." Frustration radiated from the usually relaxed boy. Kakashi couldn't blame him, his own frustration for not making it to the barrier in time. He and Gai were two of the strongest ninja in the village. If they made it there they could of aided the Hokage in his fight.
A knock brought everyone's attention to the door. Entering the room was Kenshi followed by Sara and Yui. Naruto noted quickly how exhausted Yui's expression was. "Yui? Are you okay?"
Giving him a warming smile before sitting down, "Yeah. In just tired. Lot's of injured I had to deal with."
Kenshi approached the blond and ruffled his hair, "Hey Naruto. How are you feeling. You put up quite a fight." Looking into his dad's eyes he saw relief but something else was there he hadn't seen before.
"I did fight a almost fully released tailed beast ya know." Naruto smirked at his dad causing Kenshi to chuckle.
Kakashi decided this was a good time to leave the Oda's alone, "Shikamaru, Mito. Let's give the family some bonding time."
"Hai sensei." Mito jumped up and waved goodbye to Naruto and Sara. Shikamaru stood up and went to walk away when Naruto grabbed his hand causing the boy to feel his cheeks heat up, "I want to talk to you to later Shika."
Smiling Shikamaru looked his friend in the eyes, "Okay." Naruto let him go and watched him walk away. The image of his back as he left him behind during the invasion. Shivers shot down Naruto's spine thinking he could have lost his lazy friend.
"I think we should leave the village." His mother spoke for the first time since arriving. Yui looked at her mom in annoyance, "What?! We can't leave them now!"
Sara clicked her tongue, "You don't get it. This village is one strong push from collapse. I'm not allowing you and Naruto to live through something like a ninja village falling." Naruto didn't miss the pain in her eyes.
"I can't." Naruto gripped his sheets looking at his mom. "Konoha needs us. I have friends now. My birth parents died to protect it to."
Kenshi saw his son's passion. He understood his wife's reasoning though, "The world lost one of the most powerful men to have ever lived. We don't know what will come but I agree with Naruto. We should stay."
Leaning back Kenshi rubbed the back of his neck. He knew his wife was stewing in her frustration. Partly because she has experienced a village falling before. If that were to happen here it would destabilize the world. Konoha just can't fall.
"I understand how you feel Sara. I am still loyal to the Feudal Lord though. To keep the Nation safe, Konoha must stand." Tears bit the edges of Sara's eyes. Punching the wall in frustration before taking a deep breath. "I will allow us to stay for now. If it looks like the village is going to be destroyed than I'm taking the children out of Konoha."
Watching their mom storm off was tough for Naruto and Yui. The older Oda looked at her dad, "Do you think mom is right?"
"I can't say for sure. We will watch and if the village really does fall than we will remain together." Kenshi smiled but Naruto saw the other emotion again. "Dad are you okay?"
Looking at the blond Kenshi could see the concern in his blue eyes, "Hiruzen was an old friend. I will miss him is all. Rest up Naruto and when your healthy we will continue your training." Ruffling Naruto's hair again before leaving.
"They're scared for you," Looking at his older sister. She had fondness in her eyes for once instead of mischief. "They are scared you will die because of this village. I heard them talking one night while you were in the Land of Waves."
"I think you're to stubborn to die." Yui smiled at the Jinchuriki causing him to chuckle, "Well yeah. Even if I did die I'd haunt you."
"Please you'd haunt Shikamaru." Chuckling at Naruto as he made an impression of a tomato.
"I don't know what your talking about." Crossing his arms, Naruto tried looking everywhere but his sister.
Yui laughed at him, "Please. You know you like him." Naruto started to fiddle with his thumbs, "So what if I do."
"I knew it! Mito and I have had a running bet on when you would figure it out! So when did you realize you liked him?!"
Looking at his sister lean on his bed with stars in her eyes, "Um when we were trying to catch up to Sasuke." Thinking back to the fight again, he almost didn't let himself go after Sasuke. If he hadn't the Uchiha would be dead or severely injured.
"He stayed behind and I thought my heart was going to jump out of my chest ." Yui grabbed her brother and pulled him in for a hug, "Well you guys were brave going by yourselves with possibly no backup. Dad was really proud, ya know."
Naruto wrapped his bandaged arms around his older sister, "Yeah well I don't want to leave him behind like that again." Yui chuckled before separating herself from the blond. "Well I gotta go back to work. I'll be around so think about how you're going to confess to the shadow boy."
The rest of Naruto's time in the hospital was quite boring. He had had different people stopping by to see him. Shino and Sasuke who were both in the hospital also came to talk to him. Sasuke looked at him differently since the battle. Shikamaru and Choji who were also there said it was because he established himself as the strongest of their class.
Shikamaru was frustrated with the fact he couldn't ever get Naruto alone. Thoughts of the blond going after an Jinchuriki without him plaguing his mind. It was the second time they almost died and they were still new Genin. Choji told him that his thoughts were crazy. All of them that went after Gaara were heroes for not allowing him to transform in the village. Even so Shikamaru just wanted to talk with the blond so he could find out if the blond felt the same.
Before they knew it, they were at Hiruzen's funeral. Naruto was still bandaged pretty good. The pain of the village emanated from the event. Someone who preached peace but had no issues waging war to protect the people. In the end he sacrificed his own life for his village.
As people left Naruto stopped at the edge of the graveyard to see Asuma and Konohamaru still at there. "Hey Naruto you coming?"
Naruto looked at his sister and smiled, "I'll catch up." Walking back he stopped next to the Sarutobis, "Hey."
The small boy looked up to Naruto and immediately recognized him as the one who saved him from the sand shinobi. Tears still falling he smiled, "Thank you for saving me."
"No problem. You know if you want you can come over and train with me and Yui sometime at my home." Asuma smiled at the blond as he talked to the younger boy.
"Really? Why?" Naruto looked down at Hiruzen's grave with a sad smile, "My dad was friends with your grandpa. Plus my birth dad sacrificed himself for the village."
The boy froze at Naruto's words, "W-who was your real dad?" Naruto looked off into the distance, "My birth father was the Fourth Hokage. But my dad is Kenshi Oda."
Konohamaru's expression changed to one of wonder, "Your the Fourth Hokage's son! That's so cool!" Asuma gave Naruto a thankful smile. "So is that a yes than?"
Konohamaru nodded so fast Naruto was afraid his head would pop off, "Good!" Naruto bide his farewell as he went home.
Shikamaru decided he was going to go find Naruto at his home. He was tired of them not being able to talk. Arriving at the house he froze at the front door. Thoughts of the other boy not liking him back and him looking like a weirdo.
"What a drag." Letting out a sigh Shikamaru finally knocked on the door. Naruto's mother answered the door eyeing the boy before letting him in, "Naruto is in the training area. It's getting dark, I assume he wanted to star gaze."
"Thank you Sara." Shikamaru bowed before heading back. Walking into the grass he saw Naruto was still in his black kimino. It was such a contrast to the boys bright blond hair and blue eyes. Shikamaru could see the boy was lost in thought.
Naruto was staring at the sky as the sun slowly faded into the background. His thoughts were going back to everything that had happened the last few days. The sadness in little Konohamaru, watching his friends stay behind to fight, and finally the pain in Gaara's eyes after he was defeated by him.
'Would I have been like that if I hadn't found Kenshi and Sara?' It was like looking at an alternate version of himself. The redheaded boy was so angry and scared. Maybe Naruto would have stayed positive and pushed himself.
While spacing out, someone walked into view. Seeing the smirk on Shikamaru's face made Naruto's heart race and his stomach flutter, "Care if I join you?"
Naruto patted the ground next to him. The other boy dropped down and laid next to the Jinchuriki, "What you concentating on so bad?"
"Just thinking about everything. I offered Konohamaru to come over and train. He just has his uncle and a few friends left ya know?" The Nara nodded before gazing at the boy, "Damn blonds I swear. Something else is bugging you."
Naruto couldn't help but giggle,"I can't stop thinking about Gaara." Shikamaru gave his a concerned look, "I can't help but think that could have been me. Angry and sad. Thinking I was alone and wanted revenge."
"For being a genius you're an idiot." Naruto looked at the lazy boy confused, "Even if you had been by yourself you would still be the positive, caring, and strong boy we all know."
Naruto looked into Shikamru's eyes, "You think so?" Giving the boy a soft expression, "Yeah I know. I'm smarter than you remember?"
Laughing Naruto nodded before looking back up to the sky as the first few stars appeared. Shikamaru couldn't take his eyes off the blond, "Hey Shika."
"What Naruto?" Naruto started fidgeting nervously, "When you stayed behind I got scared I'd never see you again."
The feeling was something that was very much reciprocated. Shikamaru had thought the same when Naruto went to fight Gaara without him. Looking down he saw Naruto's hand at his side. Heart racing and butterflies invading his stomach, Shikamaru slide his hand over and slowly grabbed Naruto's hand.
Naruto jumped at the touch of Shikamaru's hand. Almost to the point of pulling it away. Letting himself grasp the others hand, "Shika I think I like you more than just a friend. I understand if you don't like me the same way."
Scooting closer still internally freaking out, "Naruto, I like you to." Shooting his gaze at the Nara he couldn't help but smile. His nerves were still going crazy but he couldn't hold back how happy he felt. Scooting closer to the Nara they slowly started to cuddle up. Shikamaru had his head on Naruto's shoulder and the boys watched the stars forgetting the rest of the world for the night.
Kenshi watched from the doorway. Thinking about his now dead friend. He was glad something good came of all this chaos. He wasn't wrong when saying Naruto could be very fox like. Imprinting on the young Nara pretty quickly. The old archer couldn't help but be glad the other boy seemed to care for Naruto just as much.
Looking at his desk he opened the box and scroll left by Hiruzen.
"Kenshi Oda. My old friend, if you have this than I have joined my wife in the afterlife. I have left similar scrolls with Asuma. Please help Konohamaru, I trust few with my precious Grandson.
Naruto I know will treat him like a younger brother and will help guide him. The boy is powerful and I know is the future of our village. Naruto will conquer the Nine Tails power and become Konoha's protector.
Inside I have my summoning scroll. If and when you feel Konohamaru is ready, please offer him the Monkey contract.
Seeing you again: Hiruzen.
Been about two weeks since I updated this. Kind of a fluff chapter but I thought was very much needed. I don't know if it shows but I like slow romances. Though there will be cuteness the romance won't truly shine till Naruto returns with Jiriaya.
Thank you for reading!!!