Metallic Wings (Kakanaru)

Chapter 1: I don't need protection...

The doctor watched in horror. Inu could only clench his fists in murderous anger as a feverous itch grew on Inu's hand, tempting him to leave the Hokage's side and snap into a much needed brutal killing spree to serve much needed justice for Naruto. Even the Hokage had stopped smoking his pipe which trembled paused in the still air. The pregnant silence which spread through the room reigned for a few moments before the Hokage dryly commented. His eyebrows furrowed in turmoil.

"Any reason the Kyuubi could not heal the scar?" Inu felt his throat go dry at the sound of the name he dreaded to hear. He could only unclench his fist to exercise extreme caution because of his now unstable mentality. He stared at the soft golden bronze skin plain of Naruto's neck to only loathe at how the image was damaged by the scrawny red scar reading: 'Demon'. It made him ache all over to see the harm which had come to the boy in his absence. If only I was here. If only I didn't leave. If only someone more competent was in my place, maybe this wouldn't happen. Was all Inu could think over the hushed whispers of conversation between the Hokage and Doctor.

Inu reached out unconsciously to caringly push the dishevelled glorious morning sun hair out of the boy's face. The doctor could only let a twitch of a sympathetic smile appear on his face. Having known Inu for years, he feared for Inu's mental strength after having joined ANBU in his youth. There were times when Inu would physically shut-down to be caged in his head for his thoughts to adjudicate him guilty or innocent. And he never come out innocent. This self-harsh treatment has lead the man to believe any atrocious event to be unexplainably linked to his failure in action. The Hokage watched in slight amusement and pride, Inu has grown faster than any ANBU he knows with the courage to take full responsibility without fear for a loss in a mission. A true soul to be admired like his Sensei.

Mechanically Inu turned to the Hokage, staring with desperate yearning. "Hokage-sama I have stayed behind in the ANBU department as I respect your wish for me to remain. But I have reached my limit. I will perform the mission to look after Uzumaki Naruto but as the real me. Not a henge. Not from the shadows. But as me. I don't desire to betray Uzumaki-san's trust when being his guardian to later snap him with this earth-shattering news. My only request is that." Inu could not help but add the tone of desperation at the end of his condition. Hoping, for the first time in his life, that any divine being watching this scene would turn all odds in his favour. Behind the inanimate mask Inu's face was contorted into terror.

"Inu, you know that the Civilian council will make up some kind of unworldly excuse to plunge Naruto more into his living nightmare." Inu snapped his head up, in a flash of anger, to a see a scheming smile plastered on the Hokage's chapped lips. His pipe blowing out smoke at a wondrous pace as the man shifted his gaze to Naruto. "But I think I have had enough. Inu you are to guard Naruto with your life, if the situation does enter the extremes you have my permission to cause damage." The man ended cautiously letting the joyous words sink into Inu system. The ANBU blinked several times to refrain a disrespectful 'ha?' escape him.

"Now this old man had work. Paper work..." The man grumbled gazing gently at Naruto seconds longer than necessary but never the less wonders down the hall grumbling grumpily to himself with a flock of ANBU scouting ahead and following obediently at his tail. Inu looked down at Naruto and back at the double doors the Hokage had exited from. His brain still processing this glorious news as the morning sun peaked through the window with golden steams of orange light. The doctor himself had patiently checked the injurie's vitals before excusing himself politely for a break. The light patter of feet became distant giving Inu the signal to relax and survey Naruto's injuries.

His hands reached for the whitened covers, smelling comfortingly of linen, prodding Naruto's bandages only stopping when the boy's peaceful face contorted into a light grimace. He needed to know. No. He wanted to know.