Disclaimer: same as previous.

Aftermath

Running a hand through his sleep-mussed hair, he stared at the slight gap between his closed curtains and wondered not for the first time why he was awake at two-thirty in the morning staring at the little pool of silver moonlight at the foot of his bed. If it was any other day he would've dragged himself out of the warm confines of his bed – there was no point lingering there if he could be doing something productive like reducing the amount of paperwork he would have to do in the morning – but not today. One reason being that he had promised a very disgruntled Tsunade that he wouldn't over exert himself in any way just so she'd release him from the hospital a week early. It had taken much convincing on his part, but even more convincing from Jiraiya's part because when he had walked out of the hospital building with an ever watchful Kakashi, his sensei was wearing a grin so wide he was afraid the man might split his head in half. But mainly the reason he didn't get up was the small warm body curled up tightly to his side.

Naruto's little face was pressed snugly against his chest, his ears catching every beat of his heart and Arashi ached at the sight. His son only ever slept in his bed when he had a nightmare of some sort or when a particularly scary storm was raging in Konoha, but for the past week Naruto had climbed into his bed when it was his bedtime and snuggled close during the night. Arashi didn't have the heart to try and move his little blonde back to his bed and found himself being Tsune's replacement. The fox plushie had been relocated to sleeping on the night stand instead and the tiny fists that used to clutch at the toy was now buried under the folds of his night shirt.

He had heard from a reluctant Itachi how Naruto had been hysterical when he had flat-lined and he unconsciously clutched Naruto tighter to his chest. The fact that his son would've been under the care of the people he trusted most if something had happened was comforting, but he hadn't considered how Naruto would've taken it. He knew the little blonde was strong, stubborn and determined but the helplessness and vulnerability of a child was something he shouldn't have overlooked at all. Swallowing down the rising bile, he took a deep breath and ran his hands through soft spiky hair. No, his son needed him and he was sure as hell going to try his damnedest to be there. Kushina would have his hide if he failed and that was something worse than hell.

Chapter completed 11th November, 2009

Author's notes: Okay, this is something short and sweet to finish off the little saga thing. I know some of you didn't like how I had to hurt Yondy-papa, but think of it as a means for Naruto to go? I don't know when the next chapter will be, going through patches of horrible real-life.