The Protector

Chapter 6

I suggest listening to this song as you read the chapter!

watch?v=mlmhMS_luX8

After Naruto was released from the hospital, Minato helped him into the car. Naruto was still a little out of it from the anesthetic and Minato knew he didn't feel where they had put in the port. He had the feeling though as soon as the medicine wore off he would be feeling it. It was a moment that Minato dreaded, he had always hated seeing his son hurt. This time was no exception, Minato watched Naruto from the corner of his eye. Naruto's head was resting against the window and his eyes were closed.

It wasn't a long ride from the hospital to The Uzumaki house, but Naruto slept the entire way. Once Minato had parked in his drive, he got out and walked over to Naruto's side. The kid looked so peaceful and Minato hated to interrupt his rest, he knew Naruto would need all the rest he needed in the coming days. Opening Naruto's door, Minato reached down and gently tugged Naruto into his arms. It had been a long time since Minato had had to carry Naruto. Minato almost felt like he had gone back in time to when Naruto was little. He honestly wished he could go back and change something to where Naruto wouldn't have to deal with cancer. Minato knew that no matter how much Minato wished he couldn't change anything. He hoped that Kabuto was right and that Naruto would come through this stronger than he was previously.

"Hear let me get the door for you." Minato heard Itachi say and a blur passed him to unlock and open the door for him.

"Thanks." Minato told him as he entered the house and took Naruto upstairs to his bedroom. Itachi walked around him and pulled back the covers on Naruto's bed. Minato lay him down. His heart filling with more love than he thought possible.

"The operation went well then?" Itachi asked and Minato nodded.

"As well as they usually go. He goes in for his first treatment tomorrow." Minato sighed and brushed the hair out of Naruto's eyes. "I wish more than anything that this wasn't happening right now. He's terrified that he's going to die just like his mother did."

"I think any kid facing cancer would be scared. All you can do is be there for him, because this battle is up to him and him alone." Itachi told him as he followed Minato out of the room.

"I know that, I don't think Naruto understands just how rough this entire process will be. It pains me just thinking about it."

"Naruto will get through it, Sasuke and I will be there for him whenever you can't be." Itachi said "The kid will have us to encourage him when it gets too hard for him to handle alone."

"You don't know how grateful I am to have you for a neighbor." Minato said "I think your friendship will prove to be just what we all need."

"You know I always thought Sasuke and Naruto would make great friend's. I think there is a still a chance for that to happen. I just have to force him out of his shell. He always expects people to think the worst of him, that's why he goes on and tries to prove himself as a bully." Itachi said "living with what our father done is hard on him, I try to tell him that he is the one responsible for his own reputation. Sasuke is stubborn and doesn't want to listen."

"Naruto is plenty stubborn too, so who knows maybe they will turn out to be friends after all." Minato told Itachi. Itachi left a few minutes later leaving Minato to bask in the silence of the house. Alone, and scared Minato was unable to stop the tears from spilling over. He had tried his hardest to be strong for Naruto but knowing what his son would be going through in the coming days, left Minato feeling helpless.

"Kushina, how do I help our boy?" he wondered out loud as he sunk down onto the couch. "How do I prepare him for what he will be going through. None of this is fair. Naruto's scared and I am helpless to do anything about it." Minato bent forward and placed his head in his hands. How was he supposed to stay strong through all of this? Naruto needed someone who could help him get through this. How could Minato do that when he could only think of the possibilities of the treatment not working. Sobs tore through Minato he didn't want his son to have to face this kind of nightmare, yet he was. There was nothing Minato could do but watch Naruto suffer and that would be the hardest thing any father ever had to do.

"Naruto, whatever it takes, I promise we will see this through. I will do whatever it takes to make you well again." Minato sighed, and rubbed away the tears. Crying wasn't going to help Naruto, but it would provide stress relief for Minato. Minato had the feeling he would have plenty of tears in the coming days.

The next morning, Naruto was up before his father. He knew today would be the day that he would start his first treatment. As he waited for his father to get up and moving, Naruto wondered what his few friends were doing at the moment. Getting ready for school, and going about their normal days? Naruto had never wished more than he could go back to being normal. No one should ever have to fight for their life against a disease that didn't care how young or old you were before it claimed your life. Sighing, Naruto knew he shouldn't be thinking like that. He should be positive, but when facing something like this how could one be positive?

Sighing, Naruto sat down at the table and tried to ignore the steady throbbing in his chest where the port had been placed. They had told him he would be sore for a few days. Naruto hadn't expected it to be this sore, he could barely move his right arm, the pain was pretty bad.

"Morning, Naruto" Minato said a few minutes later. "How are you feeling?"

"Sore, and scared." Naruto replied looking down at the table.

"The soreness will go away as for the other you have every right to be scared, but know that I will be there for you every step of the way. We will find a way to beat this!" Minato said as he walked over and gave his son a hug. Closing his eyes Minato could only hope that the words he told Naruto were true.

"Are you ready to go?" Minato asked after a moment of silence.

"No, but I suppose its better to get it started now." Naruto said glumly. He had dreaded Chemo from what he had heard it was going to make him miserable, but if it put a stop to the cancer that was growing within, he would do anything.

Twenty minutes later, Naruto was signing in on the oncology floor. After which he was almost immediately taken into a small room, with a hospital bed, and IV stand beside it. Naruto swallowed hard, and looked away. He still didn't feel ready but he would do his best to get through this.

Feeling a comforting hand on his shoulder, Naruto turned and looked at his father, who gave him a reassuring smile.

"I'm here kid, you don't have to be scared." Minato said softly. Naruto nodded and walked over to the hospital bed and sat down. Naruto bit his lip while the nurse proceeded to hook up the IV line to his port.

"This is going to take a few hours." She told Naruto "when this bag is empty you will be free to go home."

"When will the sickness start?" Naruto asked "Immediately?"

"Probably a few hours after you leave here. It's different for everyone." she told him. Naruto nodded and lay back on the bed.

"I'm proud of you, Naruto" Minato said softly "What you're going through isn't going to be easy. But you are already proving that you are stronger than you're fears." Naruto gave him a weak smile and reached and grabbed his father's hand. Naruto hadn't felt the need to hold his father's hand in years, but right now all he needed and wanted was a physical connection to his living parent. The touch was a great comfort to Naruto.

Naruto sighed as the chemo started slowly dripping into his bloodstream. He closed his eyes, drifting to sleep to the sound of the ticking clock, he was glad that his father was with him in this moment.

Minato smiled as he watched his son drift off to sleep, he refused to release Naruto's hand, knowing that Naruto needed all the comfort that he could get at the moment. He was proud of Naruto for being so brave about this whole situation.

"Just keep fighting, Naruto, you won't always have to suffer." Minato said "With time all your pain will cease to exist." Minato glanced at the wall clock. Naruto had about 2 more hours before his first treatment would be over. Minato hoped that he could get Naruto home before the sickness hit.

Hearing a knock on the door, Minato frowned but got up and opened it. Itachi was standing outside of the door with a scowling Sasuke by his side.

"What are you doing here?" Minato asked, though he was grateful.

"We were heading home, and decided to come see how Naruto was doing." Itachi replied and Minato moved so that the two Uchiha's could enter.

"It's going well so far." Minato told Itachi, though he noticed the curious look on Sasuke's face. He wasn't as unaffected by Naruto's situation as he claimed to be.

Just then as if hearing, Minato's voice, Naruto opened his eyes. He felt completely drained of energy. He didn't even have the energy to scowl at Sasuke when he noticed the younger Uchiha in the room.

"Is it almost over?" Naruto asked weakly, he couldn't believe how fast Chemo drained him.

"You have another hour or so." Minato answered wishing that it could end now. Naruto nodded and swallowed hard. Looking over at Sasuke he managed to ask about school.

"About the same as always. Boring." Sasuke said shrugging. He couldn't help but feel concerned about Naruto. He had never seen a person so weak in his life. Was this normal? Did the after affects of chemo get worse? Sasuke didn't think he wanted to know the answer.

"Rock Lee was asking about you." Sasuke said not sure how to carry on a conversation with the kid that looked like he was going to pass out at any second. Naruto offered him a weak smile for his efforts.

"Lee is pretty much my only friend. I'm surprised he wasn't too busy being youthful." Naruto murmured growing more tired. Closing his eyes he drifted back to sleep.

"Is that normal?" Sasuke asked alarmed. He wasn't an expert on cancer, he didn't know what was normal or not.

"It's perfectly normal." Minato answered. "He'll likely be like that for the rest of the day, and that's before the sickness kicks in."

"Being sick doesn't always happen does it?" Sasuke question unable to take his eyes off of the sleeping Naruto.

"It's very rare if that happens." Minato said "but it depends on how the person handles the chemo." Sasuke spent the next few hours sitting by Naruto's side. He didn't see the looks Itachi was exchanging with Minato. Looked like Naruto had another friend whether he wanted one or not.

An hour later, Naruto was being wheeled out to Minato's car in a wheelchair. The kid was pale and Minato could tell he wasn't feeling well. He hated that he couldn't change that for him. Itachi helped Minato load Naruto into the backseat, where he promptly stretched across the seat. Minato watched him for a moment, offering up a silent prayer that things would go well for Naruto.

When they reached the house and Naruto was safely in bed, Minato pulled in a chair to sit next to Naruto's bed. He knew the affects of chemo would be showing up soon and he didn't want Naruto to be alone when they did. Sitting in the chair, Minato grabbed Naruto's hand in his. Minato stayed awake for a little while but eventually his eyes drifted closed and he was sound asleep.

He was waken a few hours to the harsh sound of Naruto vomiting. Minato winced and helped Naruto sit up, before Minato went and got him a bucket where Naruto spent the next hour and a half heaving even though his stomach was now completely empty.

Naruto looked up at his father after a particularly rough round of vomiting, tears shined in his eyes and he seemed to silently plead for his father to help him.

"I'm sorry, Naruto, so damn sorry." Minato cried feeling tears shine in his own eyes, as he knelt down next to Naruto. "I wish I could change this for you, I would take your place in a heartbeat."

"I wouldn't wish this on anyone" Naruto mumbled as he leaned forward and vomited again. His stomach muscles were starting to get sore from vomiting so much. He wondered if this would ever stop.

Finally Naruto stopped heaving. Naruto looked up at his father, his hair drenched in sweat clinging to his forehead.

"Think you can go back to sleep?" Minato asked softly unable to stop his tears. He was afraid before this was over he was going to be a broken mess that no one could fix. Naruto nodded, and Minato bent down and picked him up.

"I'll put you in my room until I can get yours cleaned up." Minato said as he carried an already nearly asleep Naruto towards his bedroom.

"I'm sorry dad, I didn't mean to make a mess." Naruto slurred.

"You have nothing to be sorry for." Minato said firmly, as he reached his bedroom. Lying Naruto on top of the covers. Minato silently prayed for the strength for him to get through this. Naruto's suffering had only just begun.

Thanks for reading and reviewing! Liz