4. Housemates
Naruto wanted to get out of bed but Shikamaru refused to help. His friend needed to rest, it's not like he could physically get out of bed.
"You accepted the gifts.." the teen reminded him.
"How many?" Naruto asked breathless, giving up on his useless attempts to get out of bed.
"Ha...I didn't count them...but uhm..." He showed him car keys. "Congrats!"
"Shikamaru, this is not funny..."
"I find it entertaining..." he chuckled "I help an old lady and I get a piece of candy...you help an old lady and you get a house."
"Shikamaru" Naruto pouted "but I don't want all of these things"
"Big baby," he patted his friend's head "I'll get you that breakfast.... if I can get to the kitchen"
"That many?" He started crying.
"Stop crying, we both know you'll end up just donating them," he got up and his friend held his hand.
"Please help me downstairs, I wanna sit in the living room...please" his eyes big were heavy with tears. That was his one weakness, which Shikamaru had to admit, got him in a lot of trouble.
"Troublesome..." Shikamaru gave in and helped his friend downstairs. Naruto saw all boxes, different shapes and sizes. A large smart TV was the only one he could tell because it wasn't in any wrapping gift paper.
He sat him down on the couch, covered him with a blanket and left the keys of the brand new BMW parked outside.
Within minutes he brought him breakfast and fed him. He gave him the meds and sat down next to him.
For the following couple hours he did nothing but read his book as the blond friend peacefully slept, holding that red scarf as if his life depended on it.
He heard the key click and smirked anticipating Iruka's reaction.
"Shikamaru, why is there a car in front of the house? Why is the hallway covered in boxes?"
Every single time something like this happened, Iruka would assume Shikamaru is spoiling Naruto with gifts. After all the Nara was the son of a multimillionaire. The genius who creates the best softwares in the world and of course only a genius would think so far ahead as to keep their identity a secret for the protection and normality of his family's lives.
"I'm innocent," he lazily replied.
"Iruka, calm down" Kakashi followed, the brunet would have raised his voice more hadn't he been reminded that Sasuke was still scarred from the events of this morning.
"Sorry...you just know how I feel about him being spoiled" Iruka stressed.
"He's not spoiled" Kakashi reminded him.
It was true, Naruto was far from spoiled. The teen didn't even have a phone and refused to accept anything that was remotely expensive for any occasion.
Sasuke just followed as Kakashi was behind him leading him to the living room. Iruka had thought he had seen the last of it until he saw the two mountains in the living room.
"Shikamaru" Iruka whined.
"I told you, it's not me" he put his book down since he wasn't going to be left alone.
"You brought him downstairs?" The man rushed to the teen and fixed his clothes.
"He gave me his puppy dog eyes..." He cleared his throat "anyways...the girl he helped, her dad brought all the gifts..."
"He wouldn't have accepted them" Iruka knew his son too well.
"In his defense...he thought it was only this scarf and the man said he would have been offended if he was denied"
Iruka sighed, it couldn't be helped "Did he eat?"
"Yeah...and I gave him his meds...he fell asleep right after."
Sasuke finally found out who the mystery kid is. He kept seeing U.N and assumed the U stood for Umino but he was wrong. Iruka's son was none other than Uzumaki Naruto.
"Naruto?" Sasuke asked. "Naruto's your son?" He looked at Kakashi trying to get a reaffirmation.
"Yeah, I thought Iruka told you already" Kakashi raised an eyebrow.
"No, he never said the name." Sasuke mumbled "I'm going to my room if that's alright"
"Sure thing." Kakashi let him go "we'll call on you when lunch is ready."
Sasuke was bitter. Someone like Naruto was getting so much gratitude for something so simple. On top of it, he had a loving family. Sure they were not his real parents. But, judging by the way they worried about every single little detail, they loved him as much as, if not better than, any biological parent.
In his eyes, Kakashi's statement that Naruto wasn't spoiled was nothing short of a lie.
Why wasn't his life like Naruto's? Why did he have to be the one to suffer?
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Naruto had fully decided to reside in the living room, which had annoyed Sasuke. It meant he couldn't be in the area. He had compromised immunity and being near Naruto was no good, at least that is what he told himself.
If Naruto as much as coughed, Iruka would be at his side. Sure, Sasuke was jealous. Because in all his life no one had ever cared for him like that. His older brother was always stopped and his parents were shit.
But what bothered him most was they were making such a big deal out of something so small. Kakashi himself said the boy would be all better soon, so why make a big deal out a simple infection?
It's not like Sasuke wasn't getting any attention, Iruka made sure to bring him breakfast in bed every morning. Kakashi would help him if anything proved to be a struggle.
But he was jealous this wasn't his life from the get go.
When studies resumed a week later, Naruto was out from the couch he claimed as his and shuffled out of the living room, the boxes were still where they were initially placed.
"Naruto, you're not going to school" Iruka threatened from the kitchen.
The blond said nothing and got himself upstairs one step at a time. Iruka heard the shuffling resume and last a lot longer, suggesting Naruto didn't go to his own room.
"I'll go check on him." Kakashi put the mug down and walked upstairs.
"Iruka-san," Sasuke cleared his throat, looking away.
"What is it?"
"Is it okay...if I don't go to school either?"
"You're not feeling well enough?" Iruka asked seeing the redness on his cheeks. He put his hand on Sasuke's forehead "you're a bit warm...go ahead and change...we'll keep an eye on that fever" Iruka small smiled.
Sasuke nodded and walked upstairs, he saw Kakashi walk out of that fourth bedroom. He assumed since Iruka said nothing about it that it was just another guestroom.
Maybe it was another room converted for Naruto's whims. They made him a dark room for his photography hobby. They probably made him the second guestroom as this video game haven or something.
"Are you ready, Sasuke?"
"Iruka-san...said I don't have to go to school because I don't feel well."
"Mhm no problem then, I'll see you later." He walked downstairs. "Iruka,"
"Ha, how is he?"
"Sleeping, he was sleepwalking. I tucked him in the bed. He didn't get the chance to see him. If he is any better today we should go"
"I'll think about it" Iruka fixed his husband's tie and kissed him "I love you,"
"I love you too" he wore his coat. "I'm off then"
"Be careful, baby" Iruka pecked his lover's lips.
"Always" Kakashi smiled and left the house.
Sasuke had heard all of the conversation before he walked to his own bedroom. He changed to some comfortable pj's.
He knows there is a bed in the other room but he was curious about it. What else was in the room? Who was this him? Why were they being secretive about it?
He just got in bed when Iruka walked in.
"Hey, came to check your fever" he showed him the thermometer.
Iruka took note of the 38°C reading. It was not much above normal but he wanted to keep track in case it kept getting higher throughout the day.
"Iruka" the tired voice called from the hallway.
"Ha, Naruto. I'm coming" he informed and turned to Sasuke "I'll come check on you again in an hour okay?"
"Hn," he laid in bed and covered up. He saw just the silhouette of Naruto before Iruka closed the door.
"Did I get Sasuke-kun sick?" The teen asked.
"I don't think so sweetie. Just stay in bed" Iruka ushered him back to his bedroom. Sasuke heard the door close and their voices were no longer heard.
He found himself falling asleep at the view of raindrops out his windowpane. It had been raining nonstop for three days. Konoha was blissed with the most beautiful spring season at the cost of a very cold Winter and judging by how rainy this fall is, Winter was sure going to be icy.
On the blond's request, Iruka helped him take a bath. He left him to soak in a bit and went out to change the sheets of the bed and the pillowcases.
He helped Naruto dress up in his bathroom before he helped him out.
"You wanna sit here or go downstairs?"
"I think I'll come downstairs in a bit" Naruto informed as he took his meds. "I want to open the gifts"
"Breakfast first..." Iruka ordered as he left the room.
"Haaai" Naruto prolonged it as always. He stood up and saw a note on the floor.
"Naruto-kun, sorry for troubling you. Shikamaru-kun had informed me you don't like flashy gifts but this is the only way my father knows how to show gratitude (Specially after he found out it was your birthday that day).
I have selected some of the gifts myself.
Happy Belated Birthday!
Hinata."
He got downstairs slowly and skimmed through the gifts seeing a pattern. Only a handful of gifts had a light purple ribbon.
To his comfort, they were numbered. He counted twelve total.
He opened the first one, it was heavy and his mother had helped him. Another note was sitting on top.
"Naruto-kun,
I have talked to Shikamaru some more today. I wanted to know what you like and dislike. He said you love reading, I picked a wide variety of books, I didn't know which you would enjoy more."
"Ha...books" Iruka smiled "that's a nice gift"
"Yeah" Naruto smiled. "Hinata-chan hand picked these ones..."
"So I take it you're not interested in the rest?"
"No, I think twelve gifts is a lot already. And if they are anything like this book box...then it's cheating saying twelve."
"It's fine..."
"I don't know who you are...my Iruka would never say that" Naruto joked but ended up coughing.
Iruka watched him as he opened the gifts. He had a soft smile on his face. None of the gifts were expensive. Some simple wool clothes, some CD's of Naruto's favourite bands, a small toad plushie that Naruto wasted no time loving right away.
Then he got to the last gift, a rectangular box. The note for it was taped out.
"Naruto-kun,
Shikamaru-kun said you have the habit of donating stuff given to you. I'mafraid I will ask you to keep these gifts.
I wanted to have your phone number but Shikamaru-kun told me you don't have a phone.
This is the latest model from my dad's company, it's not even on the shelves yet so you absolutely have to keep it. I have already registered my phone number and I expect you to send me a message as soon as possible.
As for the last gift, I know it's really big and expensive. But I promise it is the cheapest car dad was willing to buy. If not for your sake then for my father's sake. He has a big heart and a bigger pride. I beg of you Naruto-kun, it'll hurt him so much. He took so much time to choose those gifts and he had never done anything like this before.
Hinata."
Naruto remembered how the man had bowed to him when asking to accept the presents.
"Iruka, uhm...we're accepting all the gifts" he didn't say why as he just showed him the letter.
He took a second to read it. "To not hurt his pride?"
"He bowed to me begging me to accept them....and I said I do. I want to honour my word and the time and effort he took"
"Okay then I'll check them...and we'll just donate our old stuff then"
"Thank you, Iruka. You have no idea how much this hurts me" he pouted.
"Only you think this is a curse." Iruka chuckled "I'm not taking the car...and neither is Kakashi. You know we love our baby girl"
"Iruka!" He whined.
"Nope, you have your driving licence."
"Iruuukkkaaaaa....my poor heart can't handle this" he fell on the couch backwards.
"Cry me a river, why don't ya?" Iruka walked away.
He heard his fake cry every time he passed by, for the entire day. Until Kakashi had arrived, he could still so faintly hear the whiny fake cries of Naruto.
The boxes that were once wrapped in paper were stripped and had his husband's writing.
"You donating? Why is he sad then?"
"We're donating old stuff...he got tricked into accepting everything..."
"Poor thing" Kakashi said sarcastically.
"Tell me about it" he chuckled. "How was work?"
"Same old" he shrugged "So have you thought about it?"
"You can take him... Anything to keep me from hearing his whiny ass,"
"Is Sasuke okay?"
"Yeah, I've been checking on him. His fever is at 38 nothing more nothing less. He's been in bed all day. I'll just go visit tomorrow"
Iruka really wanted to go but he prioritized Sasuke's comfort and well being.
Naruto stopped whining when he heard what Kakashi told him to get ready for.
He was so excited he just rushed upstairs, which wasn't smart on his part because he broke into a coughing fit.
"He's such a child" Kakashi sighed going upstairs.
"Both of you are" Iruka rolled his eyes.
Sasuke woke up at the sound of the hacking cough. He rolled in bed and got out when the coughing didn't stop.
"Can I get you anything?" Sasuke asked as he opened the door, the bedrooms were right in front of one another.
That was the first time Sasuke had asked to help. The three males have all taken it to heart but Sasuke was just annoyed with the blond's coughing.
"It's okay Sasuke I got it" Kakashi informed.
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Naruto was thankful his parents didn't change their mind. He left with Kakashi in his small car.
Iruka had made sure he was absolutely warm before he allowed him to leave. He wanted to see his brother more than anything else in the world.
The drive was two hours long to the hospital where he was kept.
Naruto signed his name first in the guest registry and tried to stop himself from running so he wouldn't break down coughing.
Kakashi had held his hand the moment he was about to run.
"I know you miss him. You'll see him in a minute"
That one minute was torture to him. But as soon as the door opened Naruto went to his brother's side.
Kurama was turning 24 years old in a few months. He had long red hair, a slender face, purple eyes. From the one picture they had of their parents, Kurama was the male version of Kushina.
He wasn't like Naruto, he was a troublemaker. But if it weren't for Iruka and Kakashi he would have slipped down a narrow road to a life of crime.
It was sad to see, that already eleven years old Kurama was no longer a child. Naruto could vividly remember the memories. He held his brothers hand, cried silently as he wished he'd get his hair tousled so he could whine about it.
He wanted to hear his brother's deep silky voice calling him a brat. He wished he could see him walk again through the doors of their home. It's been three years. Three lonesome years since he had an accident.
Naruto remembers calling his brother, the redhead said he was okay. He was taken to the hospital with someone who was severely hurt.
No one tended to Kurama, he remained there waiting and bleeding into his brain slowly. Naruto recalls running into the ER, the smell of blood lingered in the air. His tiny voice lost in the panics of the adults.
But he saw his twenty-one year old brother trying to help best he could with other patients. Fighting the tiredness that was slowly but surely overcoming him.
"Kurama!" He called but his brother turned around and smiled at him. Then he collapsed.
Kakashi's strong arms stopped him from going over to where Kurama was convulsing. A nurse was at his aid, then a couple doctors and then he was out of their sight.
Naruto tried to tell himself, if his last memory of his living brother was of him smiling, he was okay with it. But he really wasn't okay with it. All the gifts in the world and he really wanted one thing, his brother to open his eyes.
Naruto started telling him about the new kid that is in Iruka's custody. He told him about school, visiting their parents and all the good he's been doing to help bring him back.
Naruto had always helped those he could even if by just giving them a much needed smile. But after his brother's incident he had immersed himself in it so much believing that since the universe rewards him for his good deeds, he could do so much that would accumulate and he'd be rewarded his brother again.
That's why Naruto didn't like gifts from people. To him they'd cancel out his good deeds.
"I'm sorry, Kurama...you're gonna have to wait a while longer, but I promise I'll do something really big this time."
Kakashi didn't say anything to his sleeping eldest son. He only kissed his forehead. The man had lost words to say a long time ago.