Spiraling

Chapter 37

On the 11th floor on the shinobi side of Konoha General Hospital was flooded with hot steam. Several personnel came in and out with buckets of ice to fill the rapidly melting healing pool of ice that was housing one patient.  Naruto Uzumaki was still unconscious and has been for the last two weeks. He's been in this ice pool since his mother had managed to stop his internal bleeding before rapidly ordering the pool to be filled with ice for him to kill the fever that was steadily fluctuating. Tsunade couldn't fathom why Naruto's fever refused to break but she wouldn't stop until it did. 

Konohamaru was in their shared medical room looking over various combinations to be used in the event of a massive fever like this. The problem with Naruto was that when his heat melted the ice it turned the pool water hot as well if they aren't quick enough to change it. It's been running medical staff in the dirt on night shifts. He needed a cooling seal and so far all the ones he's tried made the water freeze completely. Naruto needed a stable source of water cooling him down. This cold turning in hot was making his body confused as to which direction to follow in terms of temperature. 

The young boy sighed and gripped his head. He was so on edge, what if his brother fell victim to a mere fever?! Naruto would never forgive himself in the afterlife. He chuckled slightly and looked up at the door that was opening, he couldn't bring himself to look proper and alert, the last few days were hectic as it is and pretty much everyone knew that Konohamaru wasn't moving from this goddamn sauna until his brother at least opened his eyes. It was Shikamaru that came and he was deep into a scroll of some sorts while carrying a fresh set of clothes for the other. Shikamaru either didn't acknowledge or knew about it but he gave off motherly instincts. 

Konohamaru knew Naruto like the back of his hand, it wasn't womanly instincts Naruto went after,  it was the ones who could be potentially great mothers. Shikamaru wasn't an exception, something must've set Naruto off to be nailing Shikamaru down into his inner circle. The teen was lazy by Nara trade but, was also smart and calculating, also by Nara trade but it was his unmentioned actions that spoke volumes. Before Shikamaru had even been apart of their household he and Naruto would cuddle on the sofa, usually him sitting in the blond's lap. No matter how old he got Naruto never waned to have him sit on his lap so it became their thing. 

But on one of the nights he was looking to cuddle Shikamaru was already sitting in Naruto's lap which was understandable, they were a couple and Shikamaru probably didn't know how intimate they were in this family but he was caught off guard when he found himself being pulled into Shikamaru's lap and having his brother's arms circle the both of them. Shikamaru never said a word but his actions, oh his actions were speaking volumes. Konohamaru accepted it, Shikamaru's thighs were different from his brother's. They were soft, plushy in a way that reminded him of being suffocated by Tsunade's breasts on off chances. 

He was comfortable with Shikamaru and for a person who claims to be a lazy bum he could cook just as good as Naruto. He cleaned and tidied when he was staying over and at first he thought it was to impress his brother since Naruto was borderline OCD since he was a medic but no, it was just plain Shikamaru. He later admitted his mother had rubbed off on him which serves to drive the point home and the ultimate kicker was how Shikamaru treated him and his friends. Forehead kisses and encouragement whenever it struck him. Shikamaru did the kisses unconsciously and none of them told him because frankly Shikamaru's lips are damn soft. 

'Naruto must've really seen the Omega in you, tucked away in a corner and just had to pull it out for his benefit.' He thought as he took the clothes and headed inside the adjoined bathroom to have an extremely cool shower. Once he came out he saw Shikamaru, with shaky hands drafting a seal. "What are you doing?" He found himself asking. He noted that Naruto's carvings were on display since he pulled his gray sleeves up. 

The clan symbols for the Uzumaki and Nara clan, a sign that Naruto was looking for a future union which the dark haired ninja. He doubted Shikamaru knew he was walking around with an engagement on his wrists.  He never knew what led Naruto to carving into his loved ones but if it made him happy then Konohamaru would gladly carry his. Konohamaru's mark was on his back, it was the symbol of the Sarutobi clan. He was the final heir and Naruto made sure he knew it.

'Your the first lover he's carved into meaning your staying forever.' Konohamaru's eyes widened a bit as he waited for Shikamaru to answer his question. Naruto has been attached to others, sometimes borderline in love. The ultimate test was if they would bare a mark for him. They fled to the hills. Naruto always wore this knowing but disappointed look on his face when they did but he didn't blame them. His brother had questionable tastes but it was nothing he couldn't handle. He was merely a toddler when Naruto lost his parents and only a few months later did his follow. They bonded together of being alone in the world. Naruto was Konohamaru's coping mechanism and Naruto saw him as one of his coping mechanisms others being, carving etc. 

The little quirks that made the Uzumaki what he was today. 

Naruto raised him up and though many thought Naruto was a saint, which he clearly wasn't Naruto was still the best parent/brother Konohamaru could ask for. He never felt neglected or lacked anything he needed. He was trained regularly and Naruto supported his dream. He wanted to be Hokage and Naruto responded that by then saying he would still be the Head Medic and TI Head Commander and somewhere along the way he envisioned Shikamaru as his Jonin Commander. And his friends who were siblings at this point were his advisors. It was a picture he wanted to become reality. 

Shikamaru looked up as he finished whatever he was drawing. 

"I'm not good at drafting seals but I'm pretty sure if you can craft this perfectly then our problem will be solved." Shikamaru pushed the slightly messy seal forward as Konohamaru sat down beside him to look over the seal as he began reading his scroll again. Konohamaru was at first confused as to what he was looking at but it soon clicked. 

"Shikamaru you goddamn genius. This might actually work." Konohamaru sprung up from the seat and got around the drafting table. "At first I was confused why you would start out with a condenser base seal but now it makes sense when you attach it with the water seal. Combined with a regulator for temperature and we've got a winner. Fresh eyes really do make all the difference."

"I just wanted to help I couldn't stand feeling his body heat fluctuate from just a floor below." Shikamaru looked off distantly and Konohamaru sighed on the inside. 

'Naruto really chained you to him. Then again Naruto doesn't say those three words casually. Love isn't a joke to him. Nobody in this family took the word love as a joke.' He took the slightly messy seal and drafted it over properly. When he allowed it to dry he ran out of the room and up to the 11th floor. He was aware that Shikamaru was right behind but he pushed pass the bustling nurses who were either hauling full buckets of ice or running away to get more with their empty containers. 

They slipped into the room to see Naruto still unresponsive with a scrunched up face. Konohamaru kneeled at the edge of the pool and coated the seal in his chakra to protect it from the water before dipping his hand to attach it to the bottom of the pool. The water was boiling hot but it didn't matter, steam clogged his nose but it didn't matter. He reached the bottom and slapped it on. 

Once it activated he sighed in relief. The water steadily became colder and stayed that way. He retreated his hand which was going numb from having it under their to ensure it didn't back fire. Shikamaru had stopped the nurses from bringing in buckets of ice after explaining the situation. He came and dipped his fingers in before pulling back in hast. It was cold, just perfect for the blond. The steam continued to roll off his body but now he had a chance to break his fever.

"Look he stopped scowling." Shikamaru bumped shoulders with Konohamaru who smiled to look at Naruto's now neutral features. 

"It's gonna be okay now, it's gonna be okay." Konohamaru muttered to himself as his eyes fell shut. Shikamaru caught him before he went face first into the freezing water.  

"Now you can finally sleep." The Nara muttered as he wrapped his arms protectively around the Genin. He crossed his legs and adjusted Konohamaru into it as he sighed. "Wake the fuck up Naruto. People are going crazy with worry, even me."