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•••

Naruto P.O.V

Mom and I spent a bit more time talking, it was late but she really wanted to catch up on all that I've been up to which I obviously had to lie about. It didn't make me feel great that I had to lie to her but the truth just was too much to get into, even for me.

"Sounds like you've been down hard in the books." She complimented, her smile was so bright and inviting the way she bought all that I said. How could I possibly want to ruin that happiness for her by spilling the truth?

"Of course! That's what I went there for."

"Well, that's true, but what about leisure time? What about making a few new friends?"

"Friends?" I questioned, both for her and myself as I wasn't sure myself.

"Yeah, it's a new environment so it's make me feel better knowing my baby boy made some friends."

"Ha, right..."

"Well? Is that a yes or no?"

"Uh, yeah! I made a few friends, we're not really close though but we still hung around each other a few times, but not too often, ya...you know? Cause we're not close."

"Hm, alright I understand that. Will any of them be at the wedding?" She asked with hope in her eyes "I'd love to meet them."

"Uh, I'm not sure. I haven't told any of them."

"Why not? You'll need them for your groom part."

"I have Neji."

"Neji can't fill in all those spots, sweetie."

"Don't worry, there's TenTen too."

"Naruto..."

"Alright, I'll ask them if you want me too, but don't say I didn't try if they decide not to come." I lied.

They're all gone, gone with the impression that I would've ratted them out and gotten them all in trouble. To be honest, if I were them I'd probably do the same thing, it's no different than what I was doing now after all so why not.

"I wouldn't blame you, sweetheart. It's your wedding, I'm just giving some advice so it won't be as empty as mine." She stated, which puzzled me as I hadn't heard that before.

"Well, you can't just have family at the wedding, plus you know how our side of the family is and Sasuke's family will dominate the wedding and they can be so strict and diplomatic, it'll be great to have friends who can help ease that tension, ya know?"

"I'll keep it in mind, Mom." I replied as I noticed her using her tell but she oddly wasn't aware of it. Yet I had no time to react as she held me by my cheeks and playfully stretched them apart.

"Oh, I'm sorry if I'm giving you an earful, it's just your my only child and the day where I give you off to another family is finally here. It's kind of bittersweet is all I'm saying, you're still so young in my eyes."

"You're smothering me."

"Ha ha, it's called motherly love, sweetie. You'll understand when you and Sasuke have kids of your own to raise."

"Won't that make you a grandmother?"

"Please don't remind me and let's just be positive about this." Her eyes rolled as she dreaded the idea of aging.

"Haha, it's called childlike love, Mom."

"Well, let's keep the childlike love at bay for a while, no need to give me a glimpse of the future so soon."

"Hm, I'll keep it in mind."

"Hey, speaking of which how has the life of being a fiancé been for you? Is Sasuke absolutely smitten about as usual?"

"Usual?"

As if there was a time I could remember he has given me so much attention and love. Quite honestly the only admirable thing I can think of is him shamelessly is revealing his engagement to me so early and still loving me after not keeping in touch for so long.

But I guess, love can conquer any obstacle. Maybe I did really take him for granted and betrayed his trust with Kiba, so many times and in so many places.

"I'd say he's a lot more smitten now." A smile spread across my lips as I really thought about it, but I couldn't shake off the regret that came with it.

"I can tell, you look happier now."

"I do?"

"Yeah, your hair is a lot more shiny." She joked as she ran her fingers through and rustled my hair.

"Haha, I appreciate that." I chuckled lightly, but I had a burning question in my core that needed to be quenched with an answer. "But mom..."

"Yeah sweetie?"

"I have a question. When you and dad were my age did you ever have times when you wouldn't speak to each other?"

"What do you mean, like we had a fight?"

"No, not just a fight, but also just being too busy in life."

"Hm, well of course. It happens to all couples especially new ones and considering the fact that we were so young and you were on the way it was really stressful for us. You know your dad had to put his dreams aside just for me and part of me felt guilty for that, so we'd have days when we just wouldn't speak to each other and argue back and forth, but it didn't mean we didn't love each other."

"..."

"Just different feelings at different times can cause people to clash."

"I understand."

I was glad to have gotten clarification from her to better see my relationship with Sasuke, but why did it also shed some unexpected light on my relationship with Kiba. The way she described it felt like it could match both of them, having different feelings at different times was something I could definitely related to, but which guy was it for.

"You said he put his dreams aside for you?"

"For us, yes."

"What was it like? You said you felt guilty."

"I did, but he reassured me that this was something he wanted to do. He loved me and this was one of the ways he wanted to show it. Your father believed that dreams can change as long as it's the person's decision to change them. So he wasn't doing it just because he felt obligated to do so, but rather because he wanted too despite what anyone else wanted to say."

"Oh..."

I wondered if this was something I wanted to do too, if it was for me or if it was for someone else. I knew I began all of this for Sasuke and my parents, but after meeting Kiba, the confidence in me wasn't as prominent.

"How come you're so interested in all this so suddenly?" Mom asked, snapping me back from my train of thought, but somehow I must've been still aboard as I made a mistake.

"Oh, it's because ya know? Sasuke and I are getting married and I'm just curious about it, that's all."

Oh crap!

I forgot about my habit. Surely she'll know something is off with me now and probably scold me on top of that.

"Haha, I figured it had to be boy trouble." A gentle hand laid on my knee.  "I'm glad you came and talked to me about it though."

"You are?"

"Yeah, I'll be honest after you left for school I couldn't help but feel like I hardly knew my baby anymore. You used to be happier at one point, but now that you're back I can see a little bit of that side of you again."

"That side of me..."

"Yeah, I missed it, so does your father."

"He does?"

"Ha, don't tell him I said this but when you first announced your interests in boys he was so on guard about everything. Even creating ideas in his mind that suddenly all the boys at your school would be lining up at his doorstep for him to accept their sudden interest in you."

"You're joking, ha?"

"Haha I'm not, ya know! He was really fixated on that idea too. That you'd have the whole school smitten and head over heels for you."

"This is too embarrassing."

"Don't be like that. He's just looking out for his son, otherwise he wouldn't have accepted Sasuke."

"Haha, you guys accepted Sasuke cause he was a good influence on me."

"Ha, not really."

"Huh?"

"When we first met Sasuke he had this cold demeanor to him that kind of made me upset cause I thought he was too cocky and your dad didn't like how he treated you sometimes. That was until, we realized that you really liked him and would always go on and on about how much of the perfect guy he was. So we just went along with it because we saw how happy he made you in the end."

"How happy he made me?" Disbelief began to paint mind upon even hearing myself ask that question. They only picked Sasuke because of me, did I really just hear that correctly.

"Yeah, after all he is your fiancé. We support anything you want to do, Naruto as long as you're making the right choices."

Where are the cameras, this has to be a prank.

"So...if I had brought another guy home besides Sasuke, and I was head over heels for him. You guys would've approved?" I asked trying to gain clarification on what could possibly just be a figment of my imagination right now.

"Hm, depending on the guy, as long as he isn't bad company of course, ha."

I remained quiet as I just looked at her for a moment in disbelief. Still trying to process all that I just heard, because obviously this had to be a dream.

"But why would you ask a question like that sweetie?" She continued to speak, making it very hard to believe that THIS WASN'T A DREAM.

"Nothing, I was just curious about your answer. It's the first I'm hearing that so I was just surprised a little."

"Why would you be? We always support everything you do."

Alright, Kaguya this isn't funny anymore. Undo this alternative universe right now.

They weren't fond of Sasuke when they first met him but decided to accept him because of ME, whereas I thought they absolutely loved him to bits because he fit the criteria of a guy a goody-two-shoes like myself would date.

I don't even know if I can say anything else. What else is she gonna tell me? That they thought Choji and Shikamaru were good influences on me until I decided to drop them?

Wait a minute.

If they only go off things based on my approval then why did they behave the way they did with Sai. I personally don't have any problems with tattoos so that HAD to be done on their own accord, hence THAT wasn't because of me.

That still doesn't explain everything does it?

Was I in some kind of dream? Why does it feel like something is absolutely off at this point, like nothing is making sense. I thought that being the perfect child included Sasuke, so how could I be perfect if my parents didn't even like the guy I choose at first. He checked off all the criteria of what the perfect guy was so what was there not to like.

I have to call Neji.

"Hey Mom, it's getting late and I can feel my eyelids getting heavy-"

The sound of the front door opening and the combine laughter of my father chuckling with another person startled the both of us. It was still pouring outside I couldn't hear who the other person was, if I even knew them.

But frankly with how much was on my mind, I didn't care to look.

"Minato!" Mom called with worry in her voice as she got up and rushed over to the hallway. "Are you okay?"

"Haha, good night Kushina. I'm sorry about the interruption but the rain came down heavy out of nowhere and I fell on the side walk."

"Are you hurt?!"

"Just a little sore, but luckily this guy that was parked outside came to help me."

"Parked outside?" My heart skipped a beat as I rose from my seat and walked into to the passageway to see just who that guy was.

"Naruto?! When did you get here?" My father's smile lit up the room as I walked closer to them and revealed myself. Only to see none other than Kiba Inuzuka standing behind my parents completely drenched and trying to divert his gaze elsewhere.

"Naruto?" Mom questioned as she looked at me and then back at Kiba.

"Is there something wrong?"

"I'm sorry for the interruption as well, good night." Kiba uttered in an attempt to leave, but Dad stopped him.

"It's no problem at all. If it wasn't for you I probably would've still been out there getting soaked."

"Haha it's no problem sir. I was happy to help."

"Are you sure? You're soaking wet?" Mom asked as she pointed at his clothes.

"Kushina, you should've seen him. He ran out like a firefighter and just threw his jacket over my head as he helped me up.

"Ha, sounds like a superhero moment." Mom joked earning a snicker from both Dad and Kiba, but I just remained quiet and stood still. "Even so, he still needs to change before he gets a cold."

"Hm, son? Don't be a stranger, give me a hug. I haven't seen you in so long."

"Minato, wait the floor."

"Dad, you're wet." With a grimace I protested and tried to move away but he only grabbed my hand and pulled me into a hug while picking me off the ground and rocking me in his arms playfully.

"I'm your father. Do you know how many times you had gotten me wet from all those baths I gave you when you were young."

"Ha, he was always so active too." Mom agreed before she looked at Kiba who only looked out of place and embarrassed.

"Oh, I'm glad you weren't seriously hurt. I'll just be on my way now." He bowed before trying to make his leave.

"Wait, it's still raining." Mom pointed out.

It's not like he isn't used to water Mom, he can swim!

"Yeah, you might catch a cold." Dad added as he placed me back down. "Besides, I owe you at least a use of our washer and dryer for your kind act."

Cold? HE SLEEPS NAKED!

"No, you don't." Kiba and I replied in unison.

"Naruto?" Mom scolded. "Of course we do, come on inside. I'll get a towel for you to use and some of Minato's old clothes for you to change into."

"I'll set up the washer and dryer. Naruto keep our guests company until we get back, alright? We have a lot of catching up to do when we're done. I want to hear everything about your first college experience." Dad smiled as he ruffled my hair and left us in the room.

Kiba stood at the door way and looked away while I stood in the hallway and watched him. My mind was still a bit foggy from my talk with mom and just seeing him only made me feel even worse, but I still didn't feel worse.

Why does he have to look like a cute little puppy when he's wet. WAIT WHAT AM I THINKING?!

He shouldn't be making me feel any way at all. He's nothing but a stranger to me now, that's how he wanted it, right? So I'll just give it to him.

"Are you coming inside, sir?"

He looked at me with an unreadable expression.

"Come inside before you catch a cold. Wouldn't want you to get sick on the way back to wherever you're going as soon as your clothes are dry." I stated before attempting to walk out of the room, but I should've known he wasn't going to keep quiet for too long.

"Thanks for your hospitality, stranger." Kiba replied just as I was about to leave the room, a mixture of cockiness and something else I couldn't quite describe masked his voice, either way I didn't like it.

•••

I had to rewrite this and republish it. I know it's long overdue, but the procrastination has me by the nuts and I have it by it's nuts, and neither of us seem to be letting go (;_;)

Please accept this chapter as a token of my apology for the long wait on such a loved story. I'll try to keep up with it and the other ones (that are also a struggle to write) and I'll see you in the next update or announcement.

Later Kibuto Shippers ❤️