The Trust 'Verse, Part II - Relinquish

The Trust 'Verse - Part II

Relinquish

Chapter IV

†

Naruto-san was leaving again.

Iwa honestly hadn’t expected it to be so soon.

Normally Naruto-san spent at least a week in Konohagakure when he managed to get back, but here he was, already packing up and getting ready to head out, and only after three short days, at that!

Iwa had gathered with his family, and a multitude of Naruto-san’s friends at the Gates, to wish him a safe mission. And yet, he couldn’t help but wonder when Naruto-san would be back next.

Iwa waited patiently as Naruto-san and Sai made their rounds, Sai lingering slightly behind and to the left of Naruto-san as they spoke with those who’d come to see them off.

People dispersed as soon as their regards had been given, until only Naruto-san’s closest friends remained.

Iwa watched as Nara-san and his wife said goodbye, along with Akimichi-san, who had been on their team during their genin days. All three of them were close, especially since Akimichi-san was also Nara-san’s best friend. The fact that Nara-san’s only daughter, Sae, absolutely adored Akimichi-san, mainly because he was known to dote on her so, had only further cemented their closeness.

Speaking of whom, Iwa sighed as he caught sight of Sae, leaning forward around the talking adults to wave enthusiastically at him, all the while blushing a brilliant red. From a purely aesthetic point of view, Iwa could appreciate that Nara Sae would one day be beautiful, with her spiky, dark hair and startlingly pale blue eyes, that she’d inherited from her father and mother, respectively.

Not wanting to offend, Iwa nodded coolly in reply. After all, Sae was his imouto’s best friend. Furiko, for her part, merely glared at Sae a moment, before breaking into a huge grin as they both began to giggle at only Kami-sama knew what.

Iwa liked Nara-san though. Having played Nara-san in both shougi and igo, both games described as ‘meetings of the mind,’ Iwa honestly believed that Nara-san was someone he could look up to, for both the strength and speed of his mind. Even Kakashi-sensei didn’t play chess as well as Nara-san did. What’s more, Iwa could most definitely appreciate Nara-san’s calm outlook on life. In fact, Iwa thought that Nara-san’s laidback attitude was really quite ingenious.

He knew that some people thought Nara-san lazy, and that Nara-san, himself, professed likewise, but Iwa thought there was a little more to it than that. To him, it was about balance. The speed at which Nara-san’s mind worked had to be stabilized by something, and that something was the outward lethargy etched into Nara-san’s overall demeanour. It was only fair then, that since his brain was working so hard, his body should earn some respite for it.

Iwa had tried it out once himself, but his academy sensei had just thought him ill, and he’d been sent straight home instead.

He hadn’t bothered to try again after that, acknowledging that it was too great a change from his usual behaviour to be accepted with any ease. That and it wasn’t worth the effort of a gradual effectuation.

Sae was likewise quite intelligent. Unfortunately, the vacuousness with which she perceived life completely negated any intellectual superiority she might otherwise have possessed. The fact that Furiko was similarly taken in by much the same was something of a slightly greater concern. Then again, they still had time enough to grow out of it.

Nara-san and his wife turned to go, taking Sae with them.

Nari and Makoto’s mother stepped forward, pulling Naruto-san into a firm hug. Their father hung back a bit, his arms full with his youngest, who at present, was trying to eat the occasional bug that popped out from under his father’s skin. The Aburame, obviously in an effort to keep his insects out of harm’s way, chided the little boy gently, in a manner that seemed more like an afterthought than anything, as if this happened so frequently he didn’t even have to think about doing so.

His eyes hidden behind shades, his expression seemed blank, but his nod towards Sai was cordial enough. They remained silent, like the rest of them, as Hyuuga-san whispered fiercely at Naruto-san.

Iwa could see Naruto-san smiling gently and nodding every so often in agreement with whatever it was that the now head of the Hyuuga Clan was saying.

Makoto grinned widely at him, whilst Nari smiled a little more tentatively. He simply smirked in return. The Hyuuga twins were in his class, and he got along with both of them possibly better than he got along with anyone else his own age. It had been strange for him, at first, their very existence – identical in appearance, looking vastly more like their mother than their father, but with personalities so entirely different it was hard to believe they were related at all.

If anything, from what he’d heard, Makoto was exactly like Hyuuga Hinata of today in personality, whereas Nari was said to be just like their mother had been as a child.

In all actuality though, he probably got along better with Nari than Makoto, if only because Iwa was rather fond of silence, something that was quite scarce around the younger of the Hyuuga twins.

With what looked to be one final squeeze, Hyuuga-san let go her hold of Naruto-san, only to bow deeply, which caused Naruto-san to flush and stutter. Hyuuga-san laughed and said something that made Sai snigger and Naruto-san turn an even brighter shade of red.

Iwa wondered what it was that she had said to get that kind of reaction. He’d have to ask Nari when he got the chance.

Hyuuga-san called for her husband and their daughters to come, elegantly shifting her hair off of her shoulders as she too turned and headed back into the village.

Naruto-san smiled as he watched her go, before shaking his head and muttering something to Sai, whose shoulders shook with silent laughter.

Iwa frowned, before looking away.

He wasn’t sure why it felt as though he were intruding. All he knew was that it did.

It wasn’t so much that he hated Sai, more to the point, Iwa hated the fact that whenever he saw them together, he felt… like an outsider. As if he had no right to be there, as if he didn’t belong.

And it hurt.

But then Naruto-san would look at him, and him alone, and the pain wouldn’t matter anymore. He could endure anything for Naruto-san’s sake.

Looking back up, it was Rock-san’s family who was now talking to Naruto-san. As they finished, Inuzuka-san made his way over, ruffling Ban’s hair and poking Mei in the forehead.

Out of all of Naruto-san’s childhood friends, Iwa liked Inuzuka-san almost as much as he did Nara-san, possibly because he was a lot like Naruto-san, personality-wise, maybe without as many sharp edges, and not quite so many defences. In that sense, he made Iwa think of what Toshirou might be like when he grew up.

Inuzuka-san and Naruto-san jostled each other playfully, like two overgrown puppies, Akamaru enthusiastically circling them both, until Tsunade-hime stepped forward to pluck Naruto-san up by the collar.

Iwa forced himself to smother the smile that threatened to break at the indignant yelp Naruto-san let loose. Others didn’t succeed quite so well, Inuzuka-san being one such example, howling with laughter as he was. Akamaru barked in a way that suggested he was laughing at Naruto-san too.

Once having been put down, Naruto-san crossed his arms and glared, slit-eyed, at Tsunade-hime, only letting up when she leaned forward and kissed him on the forehead. Shizune-sensei was swift to hug Naruto-san as soon as Tsunade-hime stepped back.

And then they were gone.

Only Iwa’s family remained, because as Iwa understood it, the Uchiha Clan was precisely that to Naruto-san and Sai both, according to Iwa’s Okaa-san.

Iwa hung back as the rest of his family wished Naruto-san well on his mission, Toshirou and Furiko exclaiming loudly that they wanted presents.

“Please,” Iwa’s Okaa-san chastised.

“Pleeeeease!” His kyoudai mimicked, unrepentant.

As his Okaa-san continued talking to Sai, and his Otou-san squatted to talk to his little brother and sister about manners befitting members of the ‘Noble House of Uchiha!’ as his Otou-san sometimes jokingly called their clan, Naruto-san made his way over to Iwa. Only, there was something different about this time.

Iwa could see it, glaringly obvious, in the hesitance with which Naruto-san approached him.

It was as if… as if Naruto-san didn’t even want to come near him.

Iwa bit his lip at the thought, watching Naruto-san’s steady, but unusually slow, gait.

Stopping before him, Naruto-san looked more unsure of himself than Iwa had ever seen him, including when Naruto-san had apologized and explained why he hadn’t come. And when Naruto-san reached out to touch him, it was with such reticence that Iwa almost flinched at the contact, at the feel of strong arms disappearing from about him far faster than ever before. As if, as if Naruto-san couldn’t stand touching him.

Why touch me when you so obviously don’t want to?! He wanted to scream. But he couldn’t. Not when he didn’t know the answer to the only question he could think to ask.

What had changed?

Iwa couldn’t think of anything he’d done wrong, anything he’d done that could’ve caused Naruto-san to react like this.

Naruto-san cleared his throat, and Iwa forced himself to refocus his eyes on Naruto-san, to pay close attention, in case there was some clue, some hint to be found in whatever Naruto-san was about to tell him.

“I,” Naruto-san began, his voice quiet, as he confessed, “didn’t bring anything home with me for your birthday.”

Iwa blinked. This couldn’t be the reason why Naruto-san was acting so strangely. Because of guilt?

“It doesn’t matter,” Iwa protested, trying to assuage Naruto-san’s guilt, if that was all it was, if that was all it would take for Naruto-san not to be so, so… distant.

“It’s enough that you came,” Iwa assured, lifting his hand, hoping that that was enough, that Naruto-san would stop shutting him out.

Naruto-san pushed a beautifully embroidered pouch into his raised hand, with such speed and accuracy that their fingers didn’t even brush.

Iwa stared. It was lovely, but… really kind of girly.

Naruto-san coughed. “Inside.”

Curiosity warring with hurt, Iwa opened it, and tipped its contents out.

A leaf pendant, to which a black leather thong had been attached, so that it could be hung about his neck. The dark jade was a warm weight in his hand, carved with such skill that the leaf’s veins laced intricately along the pendant’s surface.

“It’s beautiful,” Iwa whispered.

“It’s a symbol,” Naruto-san explained, straightening from the slightly crouched position he’d been in before. Standing tall, with the sun behind him, Naruto-san’s hair was a halo, and Iwa could do nothing but look up at him, and be amazed by the sheer brightness of his person. “It’s a symbol,” Naruto-san reiterated, “of who we are and where we belong.”

“To Leaf,” Iwa declared, right then and there, pledging his allegiance, because, for him, Leaf was Naruto-san, his home.

“To Leaf,” Naruto-san nodded, making no move to draw closer.

But if it wasn’t him, then there was little Iwa could do to change this sudden dissonance that seemed to resound between them, jarring to such an extent that Iwa wanted to wince at it. But he couldn’t, he couldn’t be a burden. All he could do was endure.

With a bright smile, plastered on his face, Iwa held his pendant tight, and stepped back and turned away. Unable to look any longer at Naruto-san, not while he was wearing that, that mask, the one he wore when it hurt.

Iwa raised his hand in farewell, before letting it drop, and making his way towards his family, the sun burning hot at his back.

He didn’t quite know what to make of the feeling that this goodbye would somehow be more permanent than he dared imagine.

Already the cold was seeping back in, from the inside out, even as he stood, his back ramrod straight, his head held high, under the harsh glare of the midday sun.

Itterasshai, Naruto-san.

†

Naruto watched out of the corner of his eye, as Iwa walked back towards Sasuke-teme and Sakura-chan, and Sai strolled over.

Naruto could see it, even now, the solemness of Iwa’s stance, the stiffness across his shoulders that spoke of his unease, that he couldn’t understand why his Naruto-san was treating him so coldly.

Naruto only wished he understood, too.

Sai brushed fingers over Naruto’s elbow. “You worry too much.”

Naruto laughed softly, and not a little self-deprecatingly, knowing what Sai didn’t, that he had reason to worry about the chibi. He had to get away; he couldn’t let kyuubi near him, not until he knew what he wanted, and why.

Trying to shake off the sombre feeling, Naruto replied, light-hearted as he could manage, “Don’t let anyone hear you; they’ll think you’re crazy.”

“You know I am.”

Naruto looked up sharply at that, his mouth curving into a delighted smile. And it was enough, somehow, to ease the knot of tightness in his chest just that little bit.

I love you, I love you, I love you, Naruto thought fervently.

“So this is what shared insanity’s like,” he said instead, aiming for nonchalance, in lieu of desperation.

He wasn’t sure he succeeded as he stole a quick kiss, wanting, no, needing the reassurance of Sai’s warmth, as they melted into the shadows of the forest, the sound of Sai’s melodious laughter scattered upon the wind.

†

Tsunade sighed as she looked at the giant pile of paperwork teetering haphazardly near the edge of her desk. The rest of her desk was otherwise covered in various forms and files, and letters of commendation, as well as letters of complaints, and mission reports and tax statements…

And Kami-sama, how she hated bureaucracy.

It was a good thing Shizune was such a stickler for it, or else Tsunade would’ve jumped the wagon long ago.

As it was, she knew she had to hold out. She was still the best person for the job, for now. But as soon as she could, she would gladly hand over this mantle to her boy.

Uzumaki Naruto.

If Dan had lived, she could only wish he would have given her a child like Naruto, so bright, and optimistic, and strong.

Then again, Naruto was hers to love like a son, anyway. So who was she to complain?

Smiling, Tsunade pulled out Naruto’s latest report, amused by his over-enthusiastic calligraphy style. She looked forward to the day that everyone else in the village had to deal with deciphering his almost artistic cursive, that was really quite beautiful to look at, but an absolute bitch to read. She wondered whether she shouldn’t blame Sai for this. On the other hand, she had no idea what Naruto’s hand writing looked like before Sai, so she figured, why not.

Her smile lessened as she considered once again the content, and Naruto’s concern regarding kyuubi and his increased state of agitation. There was a certain vagueness in Naruto’s statement of the facts, but she knew him, and she’d been watching him ever since he first mentioned it to her before he left.

It hadn’t been hard to put together.

Tsunade had to admit, Naruto’s fears were certainly understandable.

Iwa’s reliance on Naruto to start with, it was dangerous, now that kyuubi was showing a sudden interest in the boy, for whatever reason. And yet, she knew, Iwa was just as much a danger without it.

She could only hope that this would be resolved, and resolved fast.

“I can’t wait to retire,” Tsunade moaned. Just because the years didn’t show, doesn’t mean she can’t feel them weighing down upon her.

She raised her sakazuki to toast, “To long-awaited endings.”

With a serious look upon her face, she threw the sake back, before slamming the ceramic cup down on her desk with a thunk. Rubbing at the creases that were starting to appear between her brows no matter what she did, she sighed once more.

“It’s just not the same without you around, Jiraiya.”

†

Sasuke was worried. It was strange. He never used to worry like he did now.

It was almost time for Iwa to graduate from the academy. The date for this year’s chuunin exams was also rapidly drawing near.

Sasuke knew he’d been blind for too long. He had no idea what his son was capable of – what techniques he had mastered, which ones he was still weak in, which ones he’d chosen to focus on. He knew more about most of their friends’ children than he did about his own son.

He also knew if things were to change, he would be the one who would have to do something about it.

So he figured, small steps, right? Small steps.

The first of which he’d taken today – the only problem, he’d discovered, was that the path was far greater than he’d ever conceived, and it showed his utter ignorance.

His first step? Had been simple. Just ask your son about something any father could ask. So, “How was school?” had been his safe bet.

It was not a little horrifying to discover that instead of simply answering the question as either of his other two children would’ve, Iwa stared at him for a second, almost stupidly, opening his mouth, before closing it, to glance around furtively – as if he half-expected Sasuke to have been talking to someone else.

Having come to the conclusion that he was in fact being spoken to, Iwa replied, “Fine,” in a smooth tone, his initial surprise completely masked.

His son was not his brother, nor was he, Sasuke, apparently, his father. In fact, as far as Sasuke could tell, he was the exact opposite of how his father had been – lavishing time and affection on the younger, more cheerful siblings, whilst more or less ignoring the older, more gifted one. It was like his own childhood, only, in reverse.

“What did you do today?” He felt compelled to ask, to continue the conversation, the… connection.

“What it says on the curriculum,” Iwa stated, matter-of-fact, before continuing on his way before Sasuke could edge another word in sideways.

It was a sad revelation that Sasuke knew next to nothing about his eldest son. Then again, other than Naruto, Sasuke wasn’t sure anyone else did either.

This did not in fact make Sasuke feel better.

He remembered all too well the pain of loneliness, and with Naruto once again gone on another of his extended missions, that loneliness was bound get worse.

But not if Sasuke could help it.

†

Little did Sasuke know, but almost immediately after getting home from the academy and setting his things down, Iwa changed to get ready to go meet Tsunade-hime for his lessons.

Spending as much time in the tower as he did, he’d actually made a number of friends amongst the higher ranks of Konohagakure’s shinobi. He found most of them a lot more interesting, by far, than any of his classmates, and even sempai. Without their guidance and encouragement, he probably would’ve died of boredom by now.

Usually once Shizune-sensei had finished going over his theoretical analyses, Tsunade-hime would spend an hour or so with him, sometimes more and sometimes less depending on her other obligations, running through simulations and hypotheticals, as well as practical in-field training.

Iwa was just working his way up to surgical operation. He still had a lot of anatomical theory to cover first, before he would be allowed to try the hands-on approach.

Every time he had a lesson with Tsunade-hime, the necklace Naruto-san had given him, those few months ago, felt heavier than it usually did. He knew he was probably imagining it, but it weighed on his mind.

There was still so much that he didn’t know. And a lot that he’d only just learnt about. Procreation was something Iwa had been aware of for quite some time – it had been one of the earlier topics he’d covered in his lessons with Shizune-sensei.

The explanation he’d received had been, at once far more succinct, and far more technically in depth than the one he’d gotten today in ‘sex ed,’ because in ‘sex ed,’ as his teachers had called it, they’d tried to explain the social interactions that tied in so very untidily, with the biological processes by which individual organisms of a species are produced.

The social niceties, dating, and the like, they all seemed so… strange. A lot of the guys in his class had laughed loudly, in that brash way that young boys sometimes would, trying to belie nervousness or unease. Iwa had stayed quiet, as much interested in his classmates’ reaction to this new information as the new information itself. There’d been a lot of twittering, blushing and giggling from the girls. But that was hardly unexpected.

After a general overview, there was a further portion to the day’s lessons, where they were divided; the girls going off with a female teacher, while the boys were instructed by Kanagawa-sensei.

Everything that had been said had seemed so very, well, trivial. Iwa couldn’t help but wonder whether it was their age that had led their teachers to watering down some of the facts. There were other issues that they didn’t even touch upon, ones that were far more compelling, and that would probably go a long way to explain a lot of things that had Iwa confused.

That’s why he thought it would be best to get an outside opinion. He would’ve asked Tsunade-hime or Shizune-sensei, if not for the fact that they’d done what they’d done in class, namely split up the boys and girls to discuss certain issues. As such, Iwa wasn’t entirely sure whether it would be… appropriate for him to bring his questions to them.

Instead, Iwa figured he’d be safer talking to a man about men’s matters. And who better to talk to than someone with whom he was comfortable discussing just about anything.

After all, Nara-san was one of his favourite people, and he’d never before hesitated to answer a well-phrased question. There were of course times when Nara-san had made Iwa go away and rethink how he might ask something, “Sometimes to get the right answer, you’ve gotta ask the right question,” Nara-san had explained.

Unfortunately, as it turned out, this was one topic that apparently Nara-san had little patience for.

It was as they were lying outside, watching the clouds go by, that Iwa asked, “Nara-san, what do you think about women?”

Not the precise question Iwa had ever asked, but on occasion, if you didn’t know where to start, better to cast your net wide and see where the currents take you. It was the only way Iwa could think to begin. Even though there was a far more pressing question, one that given all empirical evidence so far, Iwa wasn’t sure he was meant to ask about.

“’Che, women? Too troublesome,” Nara-san muttered agitatedly.

Iwa blinked. That… wasn’t exactly the response he’d been expecting, although, it wasn’t all that unusual for Nara-san to say so. ‘Too troublesome,’ Iwa wondered if that made Nara-san a… masochist, was the word Iwa was looking for.

Not quite sure what to say, Iwa stayed silent on the matter, refocusing his attention on the cloud that looked a little like a monkey sitting on an elephant’s head.

The thing that had been bothering Iwa the most was that, as his teachers had explained, part of the social development of individuals usually included the forming of new familial ties, the attainment of a ‘partner,’ and the decision whether or not to have children. Their own families were given as examples of how they themselves might go about falling in love and marrying, etc.

What Iwa had seen in life, however, told him that there was more to it than that. All this talk of falling in love and finding partners… it had all coalesced into a sudden epiphany that not one of his teachers touched upon.

What if… what if the person you loved wasn’t a woman? What if a man fell in love with a man, or a woman with a woman? What then? And why wasn’t anyone saying anything about it?

That something different that Iwa hadn’t before been able to grasp, this was it. Sai was… Sai was Naruto-san’s partner, the one that Naruto-san loved.

And not Iwa.

Closing his eyes, Iwa could still feel the bright sunlight dance like red flashes through his lids shut tight.

What he’d always thought was true. The ‘whatever’ was now quantified. Now, he knew.

And just as before, this was what he wanted.

Nothing had changed really, except for how it had. Other moments and instances rose from the depths of his memory, and he realized that there was someone he could talk to about this.

Someone who knew what it must’ve been like to find yourself irrevocably in love with someone of the same sex as you, even if that wasn’t considered to be the norm.

What does it matter, if it’s love, Iwa thought ebulliently, opening his eyes wide to the clear blue sky above.

Stretching, he stood.

Nara-san cracked an eye open, and raised an eyebrow, not bothering to speak, the message loud and clear.

“I’m just going to go see Inuzuka-san,” Iwa explained.

Nara-san smiled slyly, as if he’d already read all these moves through to the end, and could see exactly where Iwa was going with this. Iwa felt a bit of a blush rise to his cheeks.

But Nara-san wasn’t one to tease, really, and for that Iwa was grateful. Instead, he simply relaxed back into his napping position, with a yawned, “Give the dog my regards then.”

“Hai,” Iwa said, before taking off.

†

Kiba wasn’t sure he’d heard that right.

Just to clarify, he asked, “You want me to tell you about gay sex?”

“Gay?” Iwa echoed, sounding confused.

“Yeah, gay, queer, homosexual, whatever you want to call it. We are talking about sex, between two or more persons of the same gender, right?”

“Oh,” Iwa said. “So they can have sex.” Iwa paused. “How come they didn’t explain any of that in ‘sex ed’?”

Kiba really couldn’t believe this. Uchiha Sasuke’s eldest son, asking him, for advice, about gay sex. “Because, as you probably know, it doesn’t traditionally lead to the conception and birth of offspring.”

Iwa’s eyes went very wide.

“What?” Kiba demanded.

“…Doesn’t traditionally?”

Kiba thought back about what he’d said. “I meant that as far as tradition is concerned, homosexual intercourse holds no value in the reproduction process.”

“Oh,” Iwa said again. “Okay.”

“Right,” Kiba said, sighing internally. “So, what exactly was it that you wanted to know?”

“How does it work?”

“I can’t believe I’m actually gonna have to draw a diagram,” Kiba muttered under his breath. “Got a pen and paper?”

Iwa nodded, before rummaging in his side pouch, and pulling out a scroll and calligraphy brush.

“Uh,” Kiba said, eyeing the brush in particular, he’d never been particularly good at calligraphy. “Okay, sure, whatever.”

Gamely, Kiba drew some anatomical representations, figuring he might as present this as he recalled them doing in his sexual education class, all those years ago. He could feel the brat’s eyes on his every move, hungrily taking in everything that he was seeing.

With a flourish, Kiba held out the scroll, before dropping to sit cross-legged and motioning for the brat to do the same.

“Alright,” Kiba said, once they were seated. “The basic idea for homosexual intercourse is to have one guy penetrate the other. Unlike in heterosexual intercourse, where you don’t have the option of insertion into the vagina, all that’s left, really, is the rectum. The guy penetrating is called the ‘seme,’ and the guy being penetrated, the ‘uke,’ for obvious reasons. Now, you’re probably wondering how everything all fits together, literally in this case,” Kiba grimaced a little, “which is why it’s important that you take precautions to make sure that both you and your partner are properly prepared. In the uke’s case, this usually includes both lubrication and adequate stretching, which is most commonly done through the insertion of, first, one well-lubricated finger, before gradually increasing the number of fingers depending on the desired tightness and how comfortable the uke is feeling. If you’re seme, you should always make sure to ask your uke if they’re ready, or what more they want or need, ya know, all that sort of etiquette.”

Kiba cleared his throat momentarily, “As for the seme, well, preparation on that side is generally making sure that your… uh,” Kiba paused decided then that cock, or dick, or any of the other terms he normally would’ve used, probably wasn’t quite what he was looking for here, “…penis, is properly lubricated, and then… it’s pretty much up to you and your partner, at what pace you go, and all those sorts of things.”

Kiba nodded, hoping that he’d covered most of it.

“Does it… feel good?” Iwa asked hesitantly, looking slightly concerned at this stage.

“Ah,” Kiba said, scratching his head, “well, definitely for the seme, see, anal penetration is something that occurs in heterosexual, that’s to say, between a guy and a girl, intercourse as well. In the case of homosexual relations, the uke, whilst bearing the brunt of the interaction, has the added benefit of this little cluster of nerves called the ‘prostate.’ The prostate is located,” Kiba stopped as Iwa pointed at a general region on the diagram, rolling his eyes and protesting, “I know where the prostate is located.”

“Oh, really,” Kiba teased, his feeling of amusement growing as Iwa tinted slightly.

“And then?” Iwa prodded, obviously trying to change the subject.

“And then, you just happily thrust away until you both get off,” Kiba concluded.

“Get off?”

“Ejaculate, usually, or reach orgasm, depending,” Kiba elucidated.

“…Depending on what?” Iwa asked, sounding confused.

“Well,” Kiba pronounced, “the two biological processes aren’t exactly the same, although in most circumstances they occur simultaneously, it is possible to ejaculate without orgasm, and conversely to orgasm without ejaculation. I guess you’d want both though. Normally.”

“…Oh,” Iwa said, once again. “So, that’s it?”

“Actually,” Kiba winced. “That’s just the penetration side. I mean, you can still have sexual relations without actual penetration.”

Iwa just blinked at him.

Kiba sighed. “Well, there are a lot of other things you can do, but, I think by the time you’re old enough to be having sex, you’ll probably have figured out what most of those things are anyway.”

Iwa made a slight face at that, before tentatively asking, “How old were you, Inuzuka-san?”

“Me?” Kiba startled, he hadn’t thought about that in an age. “Oh. Let’s see, I would’ve been, what? Fifteen?”

The memory of sweat-covered tan skin, and deep red eyes, rose unbidden, and Kiba shuddered a little remembering just how dangerous a game he’d once played. One that he’d had to, he knew. But still, one he didn’t like to spend much time thinking on.

“Did you always like boys?” Iwa asked, and Kiba was reminded of just how young the brat was. Still, he’d come looking for answers, from someone he knew and trusted, and better that he be given them, than the alternative.

“Yeah,” Kiba replied, truthfully. “I’m a man’s man.”

Kiba watched as the brat smiled a little at that, and couldn’t help the answering smile that stretched across his lips, which was pretty much wiped away by Iwa’s next question.

“So how did you and Hyuuga-san get together?” he asked earnestly.

Kiba opened his mouth, before snapping it shut. This brat, Kiba thought amused, that’s a pretty daring question.

In the end, he simply smirked and told him, “Come back and ask me again when you’re older.”

“What? Why?” Iwa demanded, looking quite adorably put upon.

Adorably? Kiba almost shook his head at himself.

“Because it involved a lot of swearing, and ended quite explicitly,” Kiba exclaimed, feeling his smirk turn into a grin as he took in the near glow of the brat’s cheeks, they were so red.

Who’d’ve known there was that much emotion lying beneath those calm surfaces?

Naruto, Kiba smiled to himself. Only you, my friend. Only you.

†

To Be Continued…

†

Word from the Author:

You know, in actual fact, one of the main problems I had with this chapter was trying to decide how exactly Kiba would go about furnishing Iwa with all the knowledge he seeks. Kiba, himself, I think probably would've hesitated much more in real life... In any case, it was kind of tough to write, in that sense. And took quite a few different draftings until I felt that it would be okay for Kiba to tell Iwa such things... because of this, I thought I'd share one of the firsts with you, of how it could possibly have gone : P

Omake

“You have to xxx his xxx so that he xxx his xxx into your xxx, and then with his xxx he’ll xxx your xxx, before you can both xxx and xxx,” Kiba explained.

Iwa just stared wide-eyed.

†

And there ya have it, folks.

Until next time,

Kamikumai.