A thud sounded as Naruto knocked on the dark wood door of his father’s office, today though, he didn’t wait for a reply. His fingers found the doorknob and twisted it open, blue eyes met with an identical copy in front of him, “Can I talk to ya, dad?” He asked, his voice a bit shakier than normal despite his attempts to calm it. His eyes dropped to the ground out of nervousness while his mind reeled with scenarios of how this conversation could turn out, of course they all ended badly.

He took a seat in one of the ugly-printed chairs that were a requirement for each office in the building. Most of the time, when Naruto was sitting in one he was either being lectured or forced to participate in a one-sided conversation. This time it was different, for once, he would be the one trying to explain. His jean-clad legs were sprawled out in front of him and an elbow rested on a chair arm, his teeth gnawed at the stubs that were his fingernails as he tried to conjure up ways to approach the topic. I have to say this right. The thought crossed his mind but he quickly shook it away, there was no right way to say this.

“D-Dad, I-" 

Inside he slapped himself, how could he turn into such a coward at a time like this? Even if he was only 17, whenever he had something to say it usually just left his lips without a second thought, why was it so hard to do now?