Naruto was in an incredibly sour mood. His sensei had just poofed into nothingness like always and Sasuke turned towards the brooding blonde, Sakura heavily breathing as she laid on the ground exhausted from the training session.

"What's up with you?" Sasuke couldn't help but point out his friends bad mood. The blonde always seemed a little bored with life yet also like he was yearning for more. Needless to say he wasn't usually this upset though.

The week with Hiiro and the twins had passed much quicker then Naruto wanted it too and after a painful month of coddling on Minato's part Naruto had barely managed to find time to see the trio in the past month. Between D-ranks, training and the family time his 'father' had insisted on to make up for missed bonding during his and Kushina's three week mission, Naruto was yearning to spend more time with the red light trio, namely Hiiro.

"Probably cause he won't see his boyfriend while we're away on the C-rank," Sakura teased, still too tired to get up. Little did she know she was right.

"Oh shut up," Naruto mumbled out half hearted. Team 7 went their seperate ways for the night, preparing for tomorrows mission. Naruto sighed as he made the trip home, he shouldn't be so disappointed he thought. It had taken Kakashi a solid two weeks of pestering and a dinner at his house where with the help of Kushina he was finally able to convince Minato in allowing them a c-rank mission outside of the village. An opportunity his classmates for sure would not get for a while and a very valuable experience. The added time spent away from home would have been an added to the bonus to the blonde, before he met the red light trio. Now all he could think about was having to spend even more time away from the makeshift found family he found himself longing to be with.

That being said he took a sharp turn into a side street, semi-familiar to him now, and sprinted towards his dear friend's place. Kushina would definitely be a bit worried about him but a small lecture was worth letting Hiiro and the twins know he wouldn't be around for a couple weeks at most he decided. A familiar mop of dark hair caught Naruto's eye as he sounded another corner. It seemed he had just caught Hiiro on the end of a run.

"Hiiro!" He called out. Wrapping his arm over the other he pushed the door open and dragged them both inside the small apartment, not giving the other a moment to catch his balance. The two stumbled into the kitchen and Hiiro managed to put his bag down before Naruto spoke again, "I missed youuuu." The boy laughed in response, letting his head fall back on his friends shoulder.

"Missed you too, Ruto," despise his friend's playful words he could feel the tension the blonde held, "what's wrong?" Naruto sighed and the twins peered into the room at the commotion.

"First c-rank mission," Naruto grumbled out. The twins let out an 'ooo' in sync, Naruto's shinobi life fascinating their young minds.

"Shouldn't you be a bit more excited?" Hiiro's question was valid but Naruto only frowned.

"It's outside the village, three weeks minimum if all goes well." The room fell silent at that. Naruto looked over at the taller only for his frown to deepen as he saw a slight smirk appear on Hiiro's face before the older turned his head to the side, effectively hiding his face from the blonde. Naruto felt his heart sink slightly at the other's expression and he began overthinking before he could stop himself. Did Hiiro want him gone? Was he glad? Was Naruto not welcome here anymore? Was Hiiro sick of him? Hiiro broke his train of thought before anymore unwanted questions could plague him.

"Let's sit down and have some dinner together before you have to go then. No need to fret too much, it's not like you'll be gone forever, plus I'm sure we'll see each other soon enough after your mission begins," Hiiro pulled the blonde to the table and sat him down, the twins resuming their ever present chatter as they too sat down. Naruto thought over Hiiro's words as said teen prepared a simple dinner.

The dinner passed as it would any of the other numerous meals the blonde had spent with the trio but there was an anxiety set in Naruto's stomach at the other boy's attitude. Before he could make sense of it Hiiro was urging him home, knowing Naruto's parents would not take lightly to the blonde being missing for two long. He still hadn't told Hiiro who he was or who his parents were, just telling him how controlling his father could be, but he had the sneaking suspicion that the boy already knew.

Kushina and Minato were, as he suspected they would be, angry at how late he'd stayed out, the former much less then the later. Minato being hokage meant he knew Naruto's exact schedule with his team and unlike Kushina, had no idea there was a special 'friend' Naruto was spending all his spare time with. He tuned them out, sharing a knowing glance with Kushina before heading up to his room. Packing a mission scroll was quick and he packed a few other essentials into a backpack, sleeping bag tied to the top. He flopped down onto the bed but sleep didn't find him, just couldn't no matter how much he tossed and turned, Hiiro's smirk plagued his mind and not in the way it usually did.

He sat up after a while, assuming a meditating position and let his mind clear, focusing on his chakra. It filled him with a buzzing energy, playful and electric. Greeting him like an old friend he focused, pulling it through different parts of his body. It was calming and helped in easing his mind. There was a subtle knock at the door and Kushina peaked her head in.

"Hey, noticed you were up," Kushina smiled at him but it didn't reach her eyes and she dropped it after stepping in and closing the door with a soft click. It was awkward for a few seconds, both wondering what to say. Kushina was acutely aware how much they felt like strangers at the moment. With Naruto spending so much time away from home he smiled more. The red haired kunoichi wasn't a fool, she could see the loving smile the dropped as soon as he'd walk into the doors even if he wasn't aware of it himself. Most of all, she knew what love felt like and it was obviously creeping into her son's heart. There were times she wanted to stretch her chakra out, get a better feel for where Naruto was but she'd restrain herself. There was no use in alerting every other sensor in the village. Plus her inherent skills allowed her to feel the boys chakra while he was in the village, just not as accurate as she could doing it manually.

"Are you ready for tomorrow?" She asked, keeping her tone light. Naruto nodded and she followed his gaze over to the packed bag he had set out, "You seem worried and I'm guessing it's more then just about the mission."

"Yea, I just uh," Naruto's hesitation made kushina's heart tighten a bit. She knew she wasn't as close as to the boy as she could and deep in her heart she knew that the mother role she was pushing onto him was only pushing away but she was just so desperate for him to acknowledge her and to love her as she loved and cared for him. She really did care for the boy, raising him after Minato had brought him from an orphanage one night, eager to present her with a child that looked just like him. It was Tim for change she decided.

"Naruto, let's start over," Naruto's head snapped to her and he looked confused as she walked over and sat on his bed, not before placing a barrier seal on the wall. The blonde recognised it from the many books he's studied in the family's library. No sound would be escaping this room. "I'm sorry, I don't know why there's this distance between us and I'm sorry about Minato. He's definitely become over bearing over the year but he was never like this and I do love him-" She cut herself off, realising she was rambling. Naruto still didn't say anything and she made a move to speak again, "I want you to know that no matter what I will always see you as a son and I'll be here for you. I know you don't see me as a mother and I'm not going to try and force you anymore. Just please don't push me away, I want to help you and see you grown and become a strong and proud young man. I love you, Naruto."

Naruto teared up and found himself hugging the woman. It was what he needed to hear right now.

"I'm sorry," he started aswell, Kushina humming lightly in acknowledgement as she rubbed his back. "I cant be your son but I love you too," Kushina's heart tightened but she took a deep breath and listened to the boy, she needed to hear this, "I just, it just doesn't feel right and I can't do it." She reassured him, her hug was warm and the two sat there for a minute.

"It's ok," She said. Naruto pulled away but let himself lean against her, his head resting on her shoulder.

"I'm scared Hiiro doesn't want me anymore.," Naruto started, Kushina perked up. The name was unfamiliar but the warmth in Naruto's voice let her know exactly who he was talking about. "I went to tell him and the twins about the mission cause I'd be away for a while and he just didn't seem upset like I was. He had this smile and I just don't know, I feel-"

"Heartbroken," Kushina finished for him. He nodded. "Naruto, I don't know this boy but from what I've heard from you, you care for him a lot and by the sounds of it he cares about you too. I'm sure there's more to his smile and he's not just happy that you're going away," she reassured the boy and he immediately felt a little lighter, her reassurance was much needed, "there's always more then what you can see. People are complicated and it can be hard to understand someone. That being said there a lot that can be said without words and I'm absolutely sure that there's something just beneath the surface that you haven't picked up on yet."

Naruto pondered over her words. What she said made sense, it always did. He nodded against her shoulder and she rubbed his back again. Naruto's mind thought back to Hiiro's hand ruffling his hair and he sighed but said nothing.

The two stayed like that for a while, both thinking and letting the silence talk. It was comforting tho and the two genuinely took in the others company. After a while Kushina patted his back and moved to stand.

"Get some sleep, you have a big day tomorrow," she smiled at him and it reached her eyes this time. He smiled back at her.

"Thanks, Kushina." The red head's smile got a bit wider and she gave him a small wave before the door clicked shut. Naruto fell back onto the bed, tired now that the anxiety had been tamed.

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Yooooo! Long time no see. Doin a bit of a QnA with the comeback so feel free to leave a any questions in the comments and I'll answer em in the next chapter which should be out soon enough.