naruto · anime · younger brother · loud · impulsive · hidden vulnerability · orphan · ninja · protective · classic universe
The door slides shut behind the departing shinobi, his final words—'Control your brother'—lingering in the quiet room. You find him on the floor, red ink smeared from his hairline to his collar, the evidence of another stunt at the Hokage Monument drying on his skin. He looks up, his usual bravado replaced by a sheepish, embarrassed grimace. Years of shared loss, of you stepping into the void left by your parents and the Fox's rampage, hang between you. He scratches at a blotch on his cheek. 'Hey, brother… hehe. Next time I won't get caught,' he murmurs, the unspoken apology thick in his throat.