Thank you for clicking! This story is a little something that popped in my head months ago and I just had to get this down. I've been MIA for a bit and I do apologize for that, but I guess I got lost on the path of life. Anyways, this story isn't going to be long. Two chapters, max, I'm pretty sure. I really wanted to write write some angsty NaruHina, but it's hard finding one that is realistic fits with canon. This fic deviates from canon after Chp. 699.

I noticed that I don't see much love for NaruHina, and that makes me pretty sad, since they're my OTP and all, but then I realized something. Canon NaruHina pretty much spoils us. It's almost unnecessary to make stories of our own when canon is so satisfying.

But I need angst. Angst keeps me going. NaruHina is pretty vanilla, but that's what I love so much about them. Two lonely little kids find love in each other and have the security and comfort they were never able to have before. I don't think it's boring at all.

Anyways, I didn't plan to upload this for NaruHina week, but I thought this fit pretty well for Prompt #3 "I'm Sorry." So here it is.

I'll stop rambling. Enjoy!

"Someday when my life has passed me by

I'll lay around and wonder why

You were always there for me"

-Sugar Ray, "Someday"

Some days, he felt it.

That something wasn't quite right.

He didn't know what it was, but it churned in his stomach and bit at his brain until he distracted himself with other thoughts.

Like work.

He would work and work and work until those thoughts went away. Because those thoughts were wrong. He knew they were wrong. That he should be ashamed of those doubts that made him question something like this.

Missions are easier to think about. And his path towards becoming Hokage. They make sense. He knows his goals and he knows what he will do to accomplish them. The thoughts go away.

"Naruto-kun?"

And just as quickly, they would resurface.

Just like now.

He glances up. She is staring at him, questioningly, and with a furrowed brow. A stack of laundry is balanced on her forearms and he blinks, realizing that he has blanked out in the middle of a conversation. His hands drop to the shirt on his bed and he quickly refolds it, adding it to his own pile of laundry.

"Nothing's wrong." He answers automatically before she can ask him the dreaded question—dreaded, because he himself has no idea what is so wrong. He sees the way she sucks in her bottom lip and he can't help looking away shamefully. He worries her, he knows. And she doesn't deserve that.

"Well," She continues. "You should be on your way, right? For your mission?"

He nods and stands from the bed, reaching for his forehead protector on the dresser. She stands to walk him to the door, shaky legs making her wobble. He places a hand on her back to help steady her.

Wrong.

They walk to the front door and she watches him as he tucks on his boots and straightens his clothes. When he finishes, they look at each other expectantly.

Wrong.

"Good luck."

"Thanks."

"Come back to me, okay?"

"I will."

Wrong.

"And to Boruto." She adds, placing a hand on her stomach.

His hand joins hers. "I will."

Wrong.

With that, he opens the door and walks away.

Naruto Uzumaki does not know what is so wrong.

With his wife.

With his child.

His fists clench.

Wrong.

One day, he heads out to buy groceries. Not ramen, of course, but things that normal people buy. Milk. Eggs. Butter. Cream cheese. Bagels.

He never thought he'd ever be eating bagels for breakfast, but he does. Bagels, with scrambled eggs, and coffee. It makes him feel like an adult, to eat real breakfast, and wear clean underwear every day.

Having a wife can change your lifestyle, he supposes.

Not oblivious to the excited whispers and giggled surrounding him, he pays the grocer and heads home. He's not keen on being out in public anymore, it's too much of a hassle. Some days he wishes the villagers would go back to ignoring him, but he quickly reminds himself how far he has come and how far he still needs to go. There are people counting on him, watching him, he knows. People that support him and want to see him accomplish his dream.

With that thought, he thinks of a girl he hasn't seen in a long while and idly wonders what she is up to. Maybe missions? Clan stuff? He doesn't know. Doesn't think much of it. Besides, he comments to himself, if he ever needs her, then she'll be there like she always was.

He cuts across a small playground to save time, checking around for any villagers who might see him and try to approach. It is in that moment of alert cerulean eyes scanning the periphery that he catches the sight of something that makes him freeze.

She's here.

Sitting on a bench.

Naruto stares and stares, trying to remember when she had let her hair grow out. Or, more importantly, when she had stopped wearing that jacket of hers. He almost hadn't recognized her without it, until he had caught sight of the eyes that had always reminded him of the moon. He'd never forget eyes like that. Eyes like hers.

When he comes back to his senses, he starts to wonder what she is doing.

She's alone, a hand folded under her thigh as if protecting it from the cold, and her other hand fisted under her chin. She looks thoughtful, lost in her own mind. He can tell by the bouncing of her knee that she is uneasy. Nervous, maybe.

What's wrong?

Just as he decides he should probably go check on her, his question is answered.

His perfect view of Hinata is blocked by the back of a man who is leaning towards her, stooping to her eye level. Quickly, she stands, hands coming to her sides and clutching at the fabric of her skirt. They stare at each other for a few seconds, speaking quietly to each other.

Naruto watches carefully, wondering if he should intervene. Clearly, this man is making her uncomfortable. Mind made up, he moves to step forward just as the two move to step away. Together. Side-by-side.

They walk slowly, further and further away from him, and he can see the backs of their heads tilt towards each other. He says something. She smiles. Naruto can tell because she has looked away.

He stands there and stares, even when they are no longer in view. He's not sure how long exactly, only that by the time he has gotten home, the milk is warm.

His son looks just like him, he thinks fondly as he watches the baby blonde boy. He's only a few weeks old, but he's his spitting image. The blond tuft on his small soft head is lovingly combed back with bandaged fingers. Blue eyes open sleepily, regarding the smiling man in front of him.

Naruto has never felt so happy.

"Don't rub his head so harshly, you'll hurt him." She warns from the sidelines, watching carefully with dark scrutinizing eyes. He glances at her partly in annoyance, and another in curiosity. Most of the time, she's level-headed. Doesn't scream or snap at him too often. But ever since Boruto was born, she's been so…

He sighs.

"Here," She continues, stretching out her arms. "I'm going to lay him down." Naruto hands over the baby easily enough, knowing he'll get fussy if he's not curled up in his blankets soon.

"Okay. Hey, uh, make sure that he's not too warm. Sakura says—"

"I don't care what Sakura says." She whirls on him, and he realizes his mistake in bringing up a name that is not welcome in his household. Before he can correct himself, her rampage has started. "I'm Boruto's mother! Not Sakura!"

He holds up his arms in surrender. "Ok, ok! Dammit, calm down!"

Her eyes narrow and she looks like she is about to say something before deciding against it. Naruto's eyes widen at the scene. He has not seen her hold anything back for a long time. Quickly, she storms away from him into the nursery. He knows better than to follow.

Sighing, he throws himself on the couch, trying his best not to think. He starts to get angry when he thinks.

It's my fault, he decides. I know how she feels about Sakura-chan and I still brought her up.

It's been a while since he's hung out with her. Has only seen her in passing, really. Another surge of bitterness passes through him. He had always thought that Sakura would deliver his baby. Turns out she's not really trained as a midwife and when he had told her of his intentions, she had laughed out loud and turned away from him. It had taken him a few seconds to realize her shoulders were shaking, not from laughter, but by her sobbing. She was happy, she told him. Touched and honored. He had felt so happy that he had felt like crying too. She apologized for not being able to deliver his baby, but she had told him excitedly that she really wanted to be there when he was born.

"I don't have to be in the room with her!" She said quickly. "I can wait outside, right?"

He had agreed but when news reached his wife that Sakura was handling her files and monitoring the progression of Boruto's development, she had thrown a vase at him. A vase of flowers that he had given her. The next day, he found out that she had personally gone to see Granny Tsunade and demanded to keep her files from Sakura. She didn't want her anywhere near her or her baby and she had personally selected her own midwife.

"By the way," She had said as they walked home from the hospital from a check-up. "I don't want anyone there after I give birth. Just you."

"Just me? I can't invite anybody?"

She was silent for a few smoldering seconds. "Your parents aren't here anymore, and mine are back home. I don't see why anybody else should be here."

He didn't say anything after that. She always brought up the fact that she didn't have anyone here. That she was all alone because her family and her friends were back in her home country.

"I left them for you!" She would scream whenever he had pissed her off. "I'm here all alone, locked up in this house, with nobody, and you don't care!"

Of course he cares. He wants her to have friends. He wants her to be friends with his friends. He had envisioned her and Sakura becoming best buddies, going out to lunch and doing girl things together like shopping and painting their toenails or whatever girls did.

He thought she was so much like Sakura that they were bound to get along. Maybe they would have if it hadn't been for…him. They had clashed at first meeting each other, he realized. At the time, their insults and shortness came in passive aggressiveness he wasn't savvy enough to see through. And then she'd start to tense up whenever he mentioned his friend. It didn't take long before she told him tearfully that she didn't like it when he called her 'Sakura-chan.' Of course he had no choice but to agree to stop.

His friends would later assure him that it was bound to happen. Wives and best female friends don't mesh well.

Naruto decided not to push a friendship between the two of them like he had planned to and he set his sights on the rest of his friends.

"The blonde is a whore." She had said as they walked home from a small get-together with Team 10. Naruto had been so shocked that he didn't know what to say.

He couldn't help feeling bothered. Ino was his trusted comrade and, more importantly, a close friend. But…she was his wife.

So he did not say anything as she continued. "Look at the way she dresses…are all kunoichi that provocative?" He didn't answer but he knows for a fact that they are not and neither is Ino. "The guys are okay. The fat one's kind of weird though. And the other one kept staring at me the whole time." She pursed her glossed lips and clicked her tongue a few times.

Her opinions of the rest of his comrades didn't go well either. Naruto had almost lost his temper and snapped at her when she loudly expressed her disgust and fear of the loud green-clad ninja 'with the awful haircut'. Lee hadn't taken it too personally but he made a point of staying away from her and not greeting her as 'youthfully' anymore. And Naruto could tell from the fire in Sakura's and Tenten's eyes that his wife had crossed a line. Poking fun at Lee and ribbing him was good fun when they did it because it meant nothing. Lee was one of their best friends and was, in his opinion, one of the most admirable people he had ever met. His wife did not agree. Her insults were real and she meant every word of them. That was why he really didn't like arguing with her, but they ended up arguing all the time. Then, she'd cry and he'd calm down. It didn't take him too long before realizing that was her way of winning their fights.

They had passed by Kiba on the way to the market, and Shino on their way back, and she had snorted when he thought to mention to her the good times they had.

"Kiba's a loudmouth jerk but he means well. Akamaru's real cool too. I fought them during the Chunin exams, remember?" At her shrug, he tried not to be offended. "And Shino's kind of creepy and he doesn't talk much, but he always has your back. He's dependable and he's actually really cool when he's not ignoring you. They're part of Team 8 and their specialty is—"

"Team 8?" She surprisingly interjected and he remembered that he had mentioned them in passing before. "Where's their girl team-mate? I haven't met her." Her eyes were already narrowed in suspicion; the way they always were when he mentioned any girl around her.

"Uh…I…" Naruto paused, suddenly aware that he had been very careful to never mention her. Subconsciously avoided them all when she was there. He's not sure why but he knows for a fact that his wife would hate her. Even more than Sakura-chan. And he didn't think he could stand it if his wife said anything negative about Hinata. "I don't know where she is. Hey, wanna get ramen?"

She had met nearly all of his friends—everyone, except her—in the first few days that he had brought her home. He had learned very quickly she didn't really like anyone and preferred it if he didn't spend so much time with them. She was his wife, after all, and she had used some pretty convincing methods to coax him into staying home with her.

"Naruto! Can you come here?" Her voice echoes from down the hallway.

"Yeah, just a sec!" He rolls off the couch and quickly heads to the nursery. "What's up?" He approaches her slowly as she stands in front of the crib, watching their son.

Her voice is stern and cold when she asks, "Who's Neji?"

The question makes his blood run cold. For a heart-stopping millisecond, all he sees is white eyes. Brown hair. Blood. Horrible pain. A bare forehead.

He doesn't know how to answer. He doesn't want to answer. He's told her everything, he acknowledges, but not this. Never this. Finally, he answers. "Who told you?"

"The girl with the buns. She stopped me when I was walking with Boruto outside. She asked me why my son was named in honor of her teammate." There's a tense silence that Naruto is reluctant to fill. "She asked me if I even knew anything about him. Asked me why I thought to name him Boruto. I told her what you told me. You said you liked the name and that it sounds like yours." She knows now that this was a lie. "Tell me. Why did you name our son after a dead man you used to know? And why didn't you ever tell me?"

Naruto thinks of her question and answers honestly because Boruto is her son too. He tells her that Neji was an important friend of his and had taught him so much. "Neji was a brave man," he tells her, "and he gave his life in battle for me. I thought I'd honor him by naming my son Boruto because their names mean the same thing. Plus, it sounds like mine." He does not tell her that he had chosen his son's name because whenever he says it aloud, he remembers. Remembers a bond between two cousins that he had fought hard to repair. Remembers a vow dipped in blood. Remembers him and swells with gratitude. Remembers her and her palm on his cheek. His hand gripped with hers.

Of course, he does not tell his wife. And they pass a year like that.

He's sitting in the Hokage's office, waiting for another stack of papers Kakashi-sensei has been having him fill out as practice.

The world is so peaceful, it's almost boring. He and his friends rarely go on missions anymore. Fresher Chunin need the experience after all and there's hardly ever a need for a jonin, except as back-up on escort missions.

He's so bored, he wants to cry, he thinks to himself. Idly, he stares out the window and watches Konoha. The activity amuses him for a few minutes.

He sees a toddler run away from his mother and smiles when she chases after him. He sees academy kids weaving through the crowds, playing ninja, and throwing imaginary shuriken. He sees genin teams being led to their D-rank missions. He knows this, because he helped assign them.

He sees a girl with long indigo hair holding hands with a brown-haired boy. Naruto is at the windowsill before he can stop himself, staring with wide eyes.

It's her. He knows it's her.

But he doesn't know who that man is. Certainly not any of their friends. Not a ninja either, he's studied the registry of all the shinobi in their village.

His eyes zoom in on their joined hands, wondering why they would walk around in public like that. Suddenly, his mind takes him back to that day he saw her in the park walking with that same brown-haired man. The memory strikes him cold.

A loud thud nearly makes him jump and he quickly turns around.

Kakashi straightens the stack of papers he has just dropped on the desk and looks back at his pupil tiredly. "Let's get started on these now, it'll take a while to sort through them."

Naruto blinks in surprise and then quickly turns back to the window only to discover that they are already gone. Unwillingly, he steps away from the windowsill and hurries back to the desk, ready to dive into the world of the Hokage that will help him forget.

"Remember," Kakashi says as they both settle in their chairs. "Scheduling missions has everything to do with success rates. A mission failed on a Monday could be a victory on Tuesday."

"Right, right." Naruto grumbles. He picks up the first sheet and examines it. "This one is an escort for a couple of merchants going to the next country." He falls silent, thinking, and Kakashi watches him. "Team 16 comes back from their mission in three days, on Tuesday. They can take this mission on Wednesday then, right?"

"Aa. But Team 14 is on their day off and are back in rotation tomorrow. We could take care of this mission sooner if we use them."

Naruto shakes his head. "Team 14 scores higher on ninjutsu, but Team 16 has a Hyūga." His eyes narrow slightly and he quickly snaps himself out of it. "So…they're better suited. The pass the merchants are taking go through a few mountains, so there are bound to be bandits. The Byakugan will be a big help."

Kakashi nods. "Good work. That was an easy one though."

"Heh, I know." Naruto grins as he picks up a pen and fills out the details of the mission. For the next three hours, the two go through various mission requests and the best assignments that can be given to them.

"I think I'll ask Lee and Tenten to supervise on this one. The genin in this team could use some exposure to close-combat. Let's see…this Thursday should be fine."

At this, Kakashi turned to him quizzically. "This Thursday? The twentieth?"

"Uhh…yeah? Why? Is something going on?"

"You're kidding right?"

"It's not my birthday, is it?" Naruto asks, half-joking. He's forgotten before.

Kakashi sighs exasperatedly and kneads his hands behind his head. "Guess you've forgotten. Hinata's getting married on Thursday, so I'm pretty sure Lee and Tenten won't be able to take this mission or any of your other friends for that matter. Got anybody else in mind?" Kakashi opens up their file of the mission rotation schedule for this ranking and doesn't notice his pupil stiffen in his chair. The silver-haired Hokage hums to himself as his eyes scan over the documents but his mind is elsewhere. "Can't wait for that feast. Hinata told me Yakiniki Q's catering so it's bound to be…Naruto?" Alarmed, he stares at his slack-jawed student who is staring holes into the wall. "What's the matter with you?"

Snapping out of it, Naruto turns back to his teacher. "What? Oh, uh, yeah. I forgot." He mutters. "Hinata is…Hinata's getting married. I forgot." This is a lie because Naruto had no idea she was getting married. Not now or ever.

"Riiiigght. Uh, let's call it a night. You seem tired. We'll pick this up tomorrow morning."

"NO, I'm fine." Naruto snaps, quickly snatching another mission request. Kakashi has no choice but to sit down and continue monitoring him. Naruto acts as natural as possible, deciding the best course was by talking. A lot. "Wow, this Thursday already? Time sure flies, huh Kakashi-sensei?" His pen flies at top-speed over the document. "It's great that she's getting married. Isn't it? Yeah it's great. Hey, I told her once that she'd make a heck of a wife someday and now look, she's out there, and she's going to be someone's wife. Heh, who ever thought?"

"Uh—"

"Yeah, it's great and all, but it's a little early too, don'tcha think? Hinata's real young too. Sakura's not getting married yet and neither is Ino or Tenten. Dunno why she has to get married now but I guess the early bird gets the worm, right?" Naruto laughs at his own proverb, though he's pretty sure it has nothing to do with the situation at hand.

"Well, some like to settle down quickly—"

"Yeah, well, settling down sucks." He blurts without realizing it. Kakashi stiffens and turns in his chair to face the wide-eyed Hokage-in-training. "I-I mean…"

"…Naruto? Is something wrong?" Kakashi can't help but reach out a hand hesitantly but Naruto quickly waves it away.

"Sorry I'm just a little stressed out is all." He rubs at the back of his head.

Kakashi stares knowingly at him before sighing again and rubbing the bridge of his nose. "I'm going to get some coffee. I'll be right back." He murmurs half-heartedly, inwardly sighing at the thought of the long night ahead of them.

Naruto watches him leave and feels like an overreacting fool. His friends were bound to get married someday. Even Hinata.

You're married to, he realizes. And you have a child. You have your family already. Now Hinata is going to get hers.

He's happy for her because he knows that she is happy for him.

Naruto returns to his training, diligently finishing up a report, painfully aware of the blood pounding in his ears.

Later that night, he finds the wedding invitation he thought he had never received.

Naruto fishes the thick crumpled envelope out of the kitchen garbage bin and turns it over, recognizing Hinata's neat and loopy handwriting that spells out his name and address. Even the name of his wife is spelled out next to his own.

He sees that it has already been opened and pulls out the white card.

You're Invited!

Please join Kosuke Hamasaki and Hinata Hyūga as two lives become one…

Darkened cobalt eyes scan over the date and address and land on the inner corner of the card where a purple pen has left a note for him.

Naruto-kun,

I know how busy you are these days but I hope you can make it. It would mean very much to me. By the way, Teuchi-san has agreed to cater for a few hours :)

Yours always,

Hinata

Fire bubbles in his stomach as he checks the date of the envelope and realizes his wife threw this letter away almost a month ago. She had never planned on telling him. She had wanted him to miss the wedding of one of his dearest friends.

And Hinata had asked for an RSVP that clearly had never been sent.

He tucks the card into his pocket and storms into their bedroom where she is flipping through a book, deciding he has every right to pick a fight.

Their argument escalates into a full-blown quarrel, and picture frames are smashed, vases hurdled, and punches are thrown, all of them by her. He seizes her wrists before she can try another useless hit and demands, "Why?!"

Her glare is cold as she stares into his eyes. "I know who she is to you. You think I don't, but I do. You thought I wouldn't find out, but I did."

He releases her quickly, as if her touch burned him. "I don't know what you're talking about. Hinata's my friend and this is really important to her so I—"

"Save it, you idiot! The only one you're fooling is yourself!" She breathes heavily and shoves him away from her, only managing to push herself back. "She doesn't want you there. Trust me."

At this, he can't stop from snapping, "You don't know anything about her!"

"I know that you're the last person she'll want to see at her wedding. After me, at least." She is surprisingly calm as she says this and Naruto's instincts are on high-alert.

"Wha…what are you talking about?"

"What am I talking about? I'm talking about the fact that this girl is clearly in love with you!" She smirks as he freezes up, his eyes widening to white saucers. His jaw drops. "Or, at least, she used to be."

Naruto doesn't know how to react. Though he is still frozen in shock, his brain reminds him how unlikely that is. That she is just trying to provoke him and piss him off.

But one look into her grinning eyes tells him everything.

He realizes just now how clever his wife really is. Not in the strategic sense like Shikamaru, or even academically like Sakura, and definitely not anything remotely similar to the wisdom in Jiraiya.

This is a cleverness that sees through everything. That knows a person's weakness with one look into their eyes. Her cleverness was what separated her from all the other girls who had thrown themselves at him in his first tour around the world shortly after the Fourth Great War. Her cleverness had seen straight through him and knew how to get him to agree to a date, and to the one after that. Seducing him had been child's play to her and convincing him that marriage was the only solution to her 'unexpected' pregnancy had been even easier.

He sees her eyes and her knowing stare and wonders how he could have missed it. She had planned this all along, from the moment she found out that the Naruto Uzumaki was coming to her village.

He sees the true colors that had hidden themselves away until it was safe to come out, until it was too late to turn back.

He sees and he knows that this time, she isn't lying. She has no reason to. Realization hits him like a Rasengan to his heart. Only the Rasengan hurts less.

Her arms cross over her chest as she turns back to the bed and climbs back in, picking up her book and resuming where she left off. "I'm not going to her wedding. If you really think it's a good idea, go ahead." And because she is so clever, she knows that he will not.

On Thursday, the twentieth, Naruto tells his friends he's not feeling well and sends Hinata a letter with a very short message:

I'm sorry.

Naruto Uzumaki is the Seventh Hokage and the world is at peace.

Kakashi-sensei is happily retired but also a valuable member of his council.

Most of his friends have already married, except for the ones who have decided not to, and their children study to become the shinobi of the next generation.

His life is so perfect that he almost can't believe it.

Naruto signs an important letter, dates it, and then glances at the framed photograph on his desk. Boruto Uzumaki's foxy grin stares back at him and love swells in him.

Dammit, he loves that kid. Loves him so much that it's easy to forget how much he can hate the little brat too. Just a few hours ago, he had watched as his son forcibly cleaned off the graffiti he had painted onto the Hokage monument, but not without his fair share of insults, wails, and accusations.

"You never pay attention to me!"

"You're supposed to be my dad, and you're never home!"

"I don't CARE if the village needs you too! I didn't choose to be your son!"

Naruto frowns. He had known that Boruto might not adapt easily to his new position but he really thought he would eventually understand. He had taught him all about his predecessors, especially the Fourth, his own grandfather. He was hurt but not shocked to see that Boruto cared for none of it. The kid was such a brat.

He admits to himself it's probably because his son takes after him very strongly. He was emotional as hell and after years of being the center of his parents' lives, he didn't take sharing the spotlight well. He acted up the way Naruto had done when he had been his age. Trouble, he realized, was the best way to get attention.

Insults were another one of his specialties. Like his mother's, they always hit close to home. Naruto can see her cleverness in Boruto's knowing blue eyes, the arch of his brow, the sharpness of his jaw and cheekbone.

Boruto being a whiny brat would be fine, expected, really, had it not been for the way he so callously treated others. He regarded Shino without the slightest hint of respect and didn't care for any of his classmates. The new Ino-Shika-Cho generation are, according to him, "predictable and boring. Plus, ChoCho's fat and weird, Shikadai's a know-it-all, and Inojin's mom is a whore." He had received a sound smack to the temple at that.

Even Sarada Uchiha, who Naruto had thought might have been able to strike a friendship with his son, came in tears and an angry mother in tow after a horrible comment Boruto had said about her father. Sakura had almost demolished his office, demanding to know why he would tell Boruto about Sasuke's dark days. Naruto had insisted he hadn't told Boruto anything and they had both realized just who had.

Boruto was every bit the annoying troublemaker Naruto had been, and while Naruto was a pretty nice guy, it seemed it wasn't enough to balance the mischievous kid. Compassion and kindness was something Boruto sorely lacked.

With a sigh, he decides he should probably get home before his son makes it back from school. Today of all days, he knows he should go home for dinner.

The sky is a terrific blue as he heads home and the day is perfect. Naruto nods and waves simple greetings to passing villagers who all stop and stare at their famous Hokage. He doesn't blame them; he rarely mingles with them. After all, he's never been so busy in his life.

He passes by the Konoha Cemetery and Memorial and he decides to pay his respects before heading home. It's been a while since he has had the chance to stop by and say a few words.

He visits the graves of the Third Hokage, Asuma-sensei, Shikaku Nara, and Inoichi Yamanaka and mumbles words of thanks. He bows at the memorial of the Third Great Shinobi War. Stares and silently prays as he kneels before the memorial of the Fourth Great Shinobi War. He has one more stop to make before heading home and he crosses over there hurriedly.

He realizes very quickly that Neji Hyūga's grave is currently being visited.

Hinata Hamasaki looms over the plaque, hands on her bent knees, and long indigo ponytail picking up in the breeze. A little girl kneels besides her, her bright yellow shirt similar to the petals of the vase of sunflowers in front of them. They speak quietly to each other and Naruto is stunned and horrified to realize how long it has been since he has heard her voice.

"Of course. Since these flowers have the same name as you, Himawari."

Himawari, Naruto thinks. Hinata's daughter.

The little girl giggles. "Next time, maybe Papa will come with us."

There is a moment of silence and Naruto realizes he has been discovered. He braces himself, bandaged hand forming a fist before immediately relaxing as he stares and waits to be acknowledged.

It's like slow-motion as he watches her straighten and turn her head slowly to regard him. Pale eyes widen and his own blue ones can't stop themselves from staring.

Motherhood suits her, he discovers, as she turns fully to face him.

Slowly, he takes a few steps towards her.

"Hinata…I…it's been a while." He says sheepishly, hand scratching the back of his head. Hinata doesn't respond, only continues to stare, until a hand tugs on her shirt.

"Mama," Himawari whispers, ducking to hide behind her mother from the strange man.

This snaps Hinata out of her stupor and she gently pulls her daughter to her side. "Mind your manners. Say hi to the nice man, he is your Hokage." Her eyes lift back to Naruto's and she speaks again, this time to him. "Hokage-sama, this is Himawari. My daughter."

Naruto bites down on the corner of his lip at the sight of the young girl. She looks so much like Hinata that it hurts. Her hair and her face, the softness of her features, the gentleness of her expression. The way her little fingers play shyly with each other as she looks up at him and then quickly looks away. It reminds him of a time he wishes he could go back to.

Gingerly, he steps closer and bends his knees to meet her eyes. "Hey Himawari. It's nice to meet you."

She smiles at him bashfully and then turns her head to bury in Hinata's leg. Naruto's heart jumps at the sight and he can't help the fondness he feels towards her. Maybe it's the nostalgia, he reasons. He lets himself look at her for one more moment before pulling away.

Himawari Hamasaki is the most beautiful little girl he has ever seen.

And yet he cannot stand to look at her.

He cannot help but recoil at the sight of the light hazel eyes she carries, or the freckles on her cheeks. Traits that he knows she did not receive from her mother.

He smiles at her once more before standing to his full height, which is a good foot above Hinata. The top of her head barely comes to his chin, he realizes. Hinata is still staring at him, a question in her eyes and Naruto quickly answers.

"I, uh, I wanted to come see Neji. Pay my respects, y'know."

"Oh." Hinata ducks her head, a small smile on her lips. "I see. Thank you."

"I'm the one who should be thanking him." He says decisively, eyes narrowing slightly and Hinata's brow dips at the sight of his fleeting turmoil. His eyes drop back down to Himawari and he clears his throat. "Himawari, your uncle Neji is one of the bravest men I ever knew. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for him." His eyes flash back to Hinata's. This time, he does not look away. "Or for your mom."

Their stares meet and hold and for a few seconds, Naruto feels as if his world is slowly fading away. There is nothing but Hinata and her knowing eyes.

And then Himawari's tiny voice breaks him out of his trance. "Th-this is Naruto-kun?" She whispers to her mother. The Hokage's head snaps to Himawari in complete surprise to hear her say his name like that. When he glances back at Hinata, his throat locks up at the sight of her darkening cheeks, a signal of her embarrassment.

Hinata clears her throat softly. "Naruto-kun was an important part of Neji-niisan's life, after all. I told her about everything you've done for him." Her eyes close briefly and Naruto wonders if his heart is going to jump out of his chest, it's pounding so violently. The knowledge that Hinata has told her daughter stories of him…it makes him feel almost short-of-breath. But thankful mostly. So thankful. He wants to thank her, ask her how her life has been, tell her he hopes she's happy. Apologize for drifting away from her.

But he is content to stand there and watch her pretend not to notice his stares until she breaks their silence. Taking Himawari's hand, she bows politely to him. "It was nice to see you, Naruto-kun. I hope you are doing well. Remember to rest, I know you can over-do it sometimes." She smiles at him and he grins sheepishly at her honesty. "Have a nice night."

He can only repeat her words back to her in a mumble as he watches the mother and daughter slowly trail out of the cemetery.

When he gets home, he sits down for dinner and ignores the way his son loudly berates him for being late. He disregards his wife as she stares at him suspiciously. He tunes out the rest of the world as his mind plays and replays his meeting with Hinata and Himawari.

Nothing can ruin today.

Nothing.

Winter is a beautiful sight in Konoha.

A light layer of snow hangs off the leaves of trees and the roofs of homes, bringing with it a chill that requires jackets and hats.

Well, except for Naruto. The cold doesn't really affect him, now that his chakra control is so good, he can use it to even out his temperature without even trying. Anyways, he thinks, ramen can warm him better than any coat or hat can.

Besides him, his wife and son sit and sip from their own bowls. It has taken a little bit of time and a lot of effort on his part, but he really is trying to patch up his relationship with his family. He tries to understand things from their point of view and he knows he should be more sensitive to their needs and feelings. So far, it has worked. He managed to get them to agree to come out and mingle with the village.

"Daaaad," Boruto whines. "Just tell me—you won't put that loser Mitsuki in my team, will you?"

Naruto sighs heavily through his nose. "I'm not telling you anything. You're not even graduating for another year."

"Hm." Boruto crosses his arms. "I could graduate right now if you let me."

"No, you couldn't. You're going to stay in school."

Boruto sulks. "You always say how proud you are of me, and Aburame-sensei himself said that I'm a prodigy. If that's true, then how come you don't believe in me?"

"It's not a matter of not believing in you."

This time, his wife is the one to speak. "Boruto is at the top of his class." Boruto shoots him a victorious grin. "His team better not slow him down. Don't pair him with the dead-last."

Naruto huffs and fumes silently at the way she openly questions him in front of their son. "Boruto, you can't choose your teammates."

"I'm not choosing, I'm just suggesting that—"

"We're not talking about this anymore. End of discussion. Got it? Now eat your ramen." He makes the mistake of glancing up and notices the way Teuchi and Ayame watch the scene carefully and rigidly.

He considers calling out to them, wanting to joke and chat like he used to when he was just a little brat. But they haven't treated him the same since the day he came home from his tour with a wife in tow. One whose tummy hadn't even started to show yet, but she held it firmly and caressed it in a way that let everyone know who she was and that she was here to stay. It made a lot of people start looking at him differently, he realizes.

A little girl's giggles force him out of his thoughts and he focuses on the wind-chime laughter that reminds him of a girl who always hid her laughter behind her hands. He turns around slowly, mindful of who is beside him, and not wanting to attract attention to himself.

The Hamasaki family strolls down the village path, each sporting grins, and flushed cheeks. Himawari, clad in a pink fur-trimmed jacket, winter boots, and a yellow beanie swings through the air happily, her hands holding on tightly to the hands of her parents at either side of her.

Hinata is a vision in the snow, with her warm form-fitting clothes, and a white-trimmed cap that partially obscures dark cropped locks. When did she cut it? Her eyes close and she smiles openly at her daughter's overjoyed shrieks of laughter as she and her husband swing her once again, careful not to pull at the little girl's arms too harshly.

Then they release her, and Himawari skips happily in front of them, happy and excited to be out in the snow, but also mindful of her parents and she knows to stay close to them.

Behind her, Hinata and her husband walk together a little bit closer, hands coming back to find each other. A red, thickly knit scarf is wrapped around his neck and even from the distance, Naruto can clearly see that someone special has made it for him.

He thinks to look away before it is too late, but luck is not on his side. He witnesses Hinata's husband pull her close to peck her cheek, Hinata responding predictably by flushing red and glancing around to make sure nobody has seen that public display of intimacy.

Their eyes meet.

Horror shows in both their expressions at making eye contact with the other, but it is quickly dropped. Naruto lifts his hand in a greeting, trying to smile as brightly as he can but only managing to muster a crooked grin. Hinata nods in response and turns away slowly, leaning slightly away from her husband but keeping her hand in his grasp. They walk out of sight.

Naruto releases a breath he didn't know he was holding and keeps his face turned away from his family until he can slap an appropriate expression on. Thirteen years ago, he would have pondered on his heavy heart for only a few seconds before deciding to forget about it. He knows now that his teenage self was so inexperienced with feelings and relationships that the slightest complication, the smallest change from normalcy made him believe he was only overthinking things. It was that way of thinking that kept him believing Sakura to be the girl he wanted. That made him believe Hinata was only his friend. He knows now that while he normally embraced change, his younger self had been so confused and startled by this slow change of heart that he had done the only thing he could think of: ignore it.

Thirty-year-old Naruto is not so naïve. He can identify and name everything he is feeling at this moment. Shame is the strongest one.

There is one man in Naruto's life that he feels has the answer for everything.

Regrettably, this is not something Naruto feels he should confide Iruka-sensei in. He trusts the man like no other, but this…he doesn't want his father-figure to see him like this. Especially considering Iruka's role in Naruto's life. He had been the one Naruto had taken with him—along with Sai—to visit the Hidden Villages of the world. Iruka had warned him to be careful with women, to not fall for any sweet words.

"There are plenty of girls to swoon over you back home. No need to leave a trail of broken hearts wherever you go. It's not like you're ever going to see them again anyways, right?" Iruka had said with a shrug.

It was that way of thinking that had gotten Naruto into all this trouble. His belief that he would not have to face these girls ever again made it easy to agree to one date, to let a girl fawn all over him if only to see what it would feel like. He had no way of knowing how quickly one thing led to another.

He would never forget the look in Iruka's eye when he explained to him why he had to marry the girl he had only dated twice, the very same girl that Iruka had warned him to stay away from. Uncharacteristically, Iruka had yelled at him. Not in the funny way that reminded him of their academy days, but the kind of yelling with choked throats and tears in his eyes. Iruka had forgiven him because, really, it was too late to do anything about it. But there was a trust that Naruto had lost when he had disregarded his teacher's advice.

There was another man, though, that Naruto felt far more comfortable admitting his problems too—if only because this man had committed many of his own mistakes and would tell Naruto so. It was too bad he was dead.

It didn't stop Naruto from going to see him anyways, a bottle of sake in his hands. The memorial he had built in the forest with his own two hands fourteen years ago had stayed strong, as long as Naruto remembered to return and maintain it every so often.

"Hey Pervy-Sage!" He announces as he steps into the clearing. "Look what I brought you!" He holds up the bottle, a cheesy grin on his face.

"Great, we were just starting to run out!"

Naruto nearly shrieks and drops the bottle before noticing it is only Granny Tsunade sitting in the corner with a drunken flush on her face. "Granny! What the hell?!"

"Oh, calm down brat! And give that bottle here! Don't just stand there." She demands with a huff. Rolling his eyes but not able to stop his fond smile, Naruto lowers himself besides her and hands over the bottle. "Anyways, don't mind me. Just came to get a few things off my chest." She refills her saucer and sips from it with a pleased hum.

"Oi, granny, you're gonna ruin your liver if you keep on drinking like that."

She sighs in annoyance. "Naruto my boy I've got two words for you," She holds up three fingers and counts them off as she speaks. "Cellular. Regeneration. Isn't that right, Jiraiya?" She laughs loudly at her own cleverness. "Anyways, do me a favor and be quiet, brat. I'm just…" She trailed off in a loud yawn. "I'm just gonna rest my eyes for a second." Tsunade slumps forward, already snoring, and Naruto sighs heavily at the sight, wondering how stressed out she must be feeling to be visiting Jiraiya this late at night and drunk enough to pass out. He'll take her home as soon as he finishes here.

"Well, Pervy-Sage, I know it's been a while since I've dropped by and I'm real sorry 'bout that. But I've been pretty busy, y'know, being the Hokage and all. I don't really have time for much. Not even for my own son." He sighs through his nose. "But…I have a problem now. I dunno how to fix it. If it even can be fixed. But, I figured, if anybody knows, it's gotta be you, right?

"So…so here's the deal. Uhh…I'm married now. To this woman I met when I was touring the world after the war. We have a son together and everything. My life, it's…it's everything I've always wanted. I'm the Hokage. I'm married. I have a son who looks just like me. We have our problems, but we love each other. I'd protect my family with my life. They're the most important people in the world to me.

"But… I can't help but feel…like I'm missing something. Like my life wasn't supposed to be like this. Like everything is just wrong. I've been ignoring it for years now but it's just…it's eating me alive. I'm a horrible person, aren't I?" He sighs. "Anyways…I have to stop. I can't keep doing this. I want to be happy but I don't think I can be if I can't put this behind me. I just don't know how to do that." Naruto leans back on his arms and stares up at the heavens. "So? What should I do?"

The silence is comfortable as Naruto waits. He's not stupid enough to think he'll get an actual answer, but telling Jiraiya all about his situation—something he has never acknowledged out loud—is hopefully the best way to make himself realize the answer.

"Ah. Love problems."

Naruto's head snaps up to the sound of Tsunade's sleepy, drunken voice and he watches as she clumsily scoots herself up. "Granny? You ok?"

"I'm fine. Just had to sleep a little of the booze off, I guess."

"How much did you hear?"

"Nothing I didn't already know."

"What?" He blanches. Tsunade shrugs lazily.

"Can't say I'm surprised. You married a girl you knocked-up by accident. Of course your marriage was going to be a little rocky." She sighs through her nose and looks up at Naruto, eyes hooded.

"Granny…" Naruto hesitates but presses forward. "You ever been in love?"

"Aa."

"Not with Pervy-Sage though, huh?" He can't help the heavy feeling in his chest as he asks this.

At this, Tsunade's brow furrows. Expressive brown eyes dart to the memorial and then lower. "No. I was in love with another, back when I was much younger." Her fingers grip onto the sleeve of her cloak. "I loved Jiraiya. I did. Of course, I cared for everybody and my duty to the village came before everything. But Jiraiya was the one person I could always depend on. Losing him was tough. Why do you ask?"

"Well…because…"

"You don't love your wife."

Naruto's eyes widen and he's quick to defend himself. "NO, I do. Love her, I mean. I swear I do. I'd protect her with my life."

Tsunade ponders this with a hum. "What makes you think you love her?"

Naruto blinks, a little shocked at the callousness of her tone. "She's my wife." He states simply. "And the mother of my son."

"That doesn't answer my question. Why do you think you love her?"

He hesitates for a few seconds, thinking it over, wondering if it is really okay to say these kinds of things out loud. Then again…he is the Hokage and so was Granny Tsunade. There are lots of secrets only the two of them know. So, he decides to continue. "Well…when I first met her, I thought her hair was real interesting. It's like…what's that color? Maroon, I think. Yeah. Maroon. Not exactly red, but not purple either. She's funny, you know? When you get to know her. She likes to laugh a lot. She smiles a lot too. I thought she was pretty. Plus, she liked to hit me sometimes. Not hard or anything, but just a tap. Just to touch me, I guess. And I thought, a girl like her. That's the kind of girl I have to be with." At this, Tsunade turns to him. "It didn't have to be her, I guess, but I wanted it to be. She fit the bill, you know?" He scratches at the back of his head sheepishly. "She reminds me of my mom, you know." His eyes lower a bit and his hands fist at his side. "Before my parents died, my mom told me everything she wanted me to know before it was too late. She wanted me to do good in school, take care of my money, eat healthy, all that stuff. She was also worried about what kind of girl I'd end up with, and she told me to find one that was like her. Anyways…. I guess that's why I chose her."

Tsunade leans back on her elbows, staring up into the dark sky. Naruto waits patiently for her advice. She's smarter than him, he knows, and he believes that Tsunade might be able to understand what's going on with him. Finally, she turns to look at him, opens her mouth, and takes a chug straight from the bottle, tossing it aside with a satisfied hum. Finally, she says, "That's stupid. What made you think you needed to be with somebody like your mother when you're already just like her?" She turns to regard him, slightly shaking her head. "That's why you and your wife don't work. Being friends is fine. Dating is fine. But spending the rest of your life with a person that matches you in everything? It doesn't work out."

Naruto is silent, taking in this new information. "But…my mom…she said I should be with a woman like her." The Hokage suddenly feels like a complete idiotic mama's boy. He was too old to be talking like this!

Tsunade barely notices. "And what exactly is a woman like her?"

"Well, you know, loud, and strong, and opinionated, and stuff. Girls with confidence, I guess. I dunno." He feels uncomfortable now, suddenly feeling extremely stupid for even bringing this up.

"And how many girls do you know that are like that?"

"Well…my wife. And Sakura." His eyes lower to the ground before suddenly widening. Fuck.

"Now you get it." Tsunade chuckles lowly before taking a sip straight from the bottle. "That's what happens when you treat love like a game."

Naruto doesn't respond, very aware of the way he had steadily lost interest in pursuing Sakura once he didn't need to fight for her attention anymore. But this was different. He hadn't ended up marrying Sakura. He had married a woman he barely had any interest in in the first place.

All this time, he had thought there was something wrong with him. He couldn't understand why he couldn't make himself love a woman who was supposed to be a good match for him.

Now he knows.

"Damn it." He mumbles. And then it hits him. "Damn it."

"Hey, calm down." Tsunade eyes him warily, already lowering the bottle, not liking the way his body is trembling.

But he can't calm down.

Because he had known.

He thinks of words said long ago, in fact, the very last words he had said to his father. Words he had asked him to take to his mother. He had wanted to tell his mom how hard he was trying to make her proud and that he was doing most of the right things, doing the things she had wanted him to, but when he had reached that part, the part where she had asked him to choose a woman like her…he hesitated. Fumbled. Wavered.

But he had tried to do it anyways. He didn't want to let her down.

And now he was…

"Naruto." Tsunade's strong hand clapped down on his shoulder, steadying him. "Calm down."

He takes a few seconds to compose himself, slowing his breath, reining in his emotions. "Granny. I fucked up."

She doesn't question him, knowing full well what he's referring to. "It's not too late to change things."

"Yes it is."

"No, it's not. You can still be happy with her."

"I've already tried!"

"You haven't. I could see it the second you brought her to the village. You keep her at arm's length."

Naruto doesn't deny it, dull blue eyes narrowing. "…what should I do?"

Tsunade sighs heavily, her pity for him evident. "Just…just be happy, Naruto. You have a wonderful family. You're the Hokage. You have everyone's respect. And hey," Tsunade lifts her arms in a carefree manner. "Being in love isn't that important. There are plenty of people who've never married and never even cared for it." Naruto thinks of Kakashi-sensei, Iruka-sensei, Tenten, Shino…they do seem pretty content. They're not slowly dying from the inside like he is.

"So…I can just…pretend?"

"Well…just don't overthink it. Instead of thinking about everything you missed, why don't you focus on everything you've gained? A pretty wife. A talented son. A family."

"Yeah…yeah, you're right. It's just…I'm trying. I really am. But…"

"But what?"

"Well…I mean…I wasn't always like this. Before, I was fine. I was happy enough. I think…I could have gone the rest of my life like that. I could have stayed with her and I would have been happy just to have somebody. But that changed. The day she got married. I…I don't know how to explain it. All I know is…I didn't want to try anymore after that. It felt so wrong after that."

Tsunade stares at him. "Naruto. You have to move on already."

His hands ball up. "I can't. It's not that easy. If I could just forget about her, I would, but I can't." His hands relax when a thought crosses him. "Maybe…maybe if she just never got married. If she never met him. If she never had a daughter. Maybe then…I could have forgotten about her." He laughs humorlessly. "It's selfish, isn't it?"

"Incredibly selfish." Tsunade admits easily. Naruto sighs and then hangs his head in his hands.

"I don't know what to do, granny." His voice cracks from the weight of his shame. From the self-hatred. He can't forgive himself for this. Tsunade sighs through her nose and glances at her successor.

"Everyone has regrets, Naruto. We've all made mistakes. I would know; I've made plenty." Her eyes narrow slightly. "But that's how life works. We make choices and we have to live with the consequences. There's no going around that. The only thing we can do is make peace with our decisions. You can't spend the rest of your life worrying over what-ifs. It's a waste of time. Time that you, Nanadaime-sama, do not have." Tsunade stares at him pointedly. "Naruto. You're the Hokage now. You have a village to protect. You're not some lovesick teenager. You don't have the luxury of only thinking about yourself. Understand?"

Naruto's eyes do not soften but he nods resolutely anyways. "I know."

Tsunade nods. "Good. I'm going home now. Thanks for the sake." She stands slowly, hand still holding on to the bottle he brought.

"'Night, granny. And thanks."

Tsunade holds out a hand in response. "I'll see you later." She only takes a few steps before halting. Without turning to look at him, she speaks again in a low tone. "Naruto. Go home. Your wife must be waiting for you."

Naruto nods and stares at the ground as he listens to the sound of Tsunade heading home. He glances up at Jiraiya's grave.

"Well…wish me luck, Pervy-Sage."

When he's here, he feels like he is at the top of world. When he's here, his problems do not come with him. He is alone up here and maybe that is why he feels so at peace.

Naruto perches on the tallest peak of the Yondaime's sculpted likeness on the Hokage Monument, watching the village below him. His own face is carved just to his right, but he feels uncomfortable just looking at it sometimes. He finds it odd, considering it had always been his dream to have his face up here, but the thought seems so trivial now.

He doesn't come here often. Doesn't have the time to do that. But when Shikamaru is in a good mood, and the workload can wait until tomorrow, he'll leave three hours early and come here. When he's here, silent and pensive, he can understand why some people can live as hermits. There's a freedom in solitude, he knows, and remembers a time of his life when he had been alone, had always been alone, and had hated it. It's different now. He feels suffocated under the weight of the people that depend on him. But this was his choice and it is still not a choice he regrets. He is the strongest and with power comes responsibility.

With that thought, he bends his legs, arms laying slack atop his thighs. Kurama's chakra engulfs him, sharpens his every sense, strengthens his every fiber. The power of the mighty fox's chakra does not overwhelm him, not anymore, and he easily reigns it in to form his chakra cloak.

Shadows dance around him as the glow of chakra surrounding him fluctuates until stabilizing. At last, he can breathe. Bright golden eyes open slowly, narrowed in concentration. Now, he can begin. A nightly sweep of the village has become routine, though he normally does it from his office. But it feels better here. He can feel better from here.

In this mode, he can feel any type of negative energy and pinpoint its' location. Combined with his chakra-detecting, it's a safe, non-intrusive way of combing through the village for any malicious intent. With his several years of practice, he can do this in just a few minutes. Usually, the only negative thoughts and feelings he picks up on are from the villagers who've just had a bad day. Not uncommon.

Tonight, however, his brain halts so suddenly, that he's on his feet before he even knows what he's doing. For just a split second, he hesitates, because he remembers that this is exactly the kind of thing Tsunade has warned him against, but his hesitation melts away.

Hinata is in trouble. He can feel it. Her chakra—usually light and warm and so very familiar—is tinged with confusion, sorrow, and the littlest bit of anger, but it's enough to make him decide he'd better check out the situation. Especially when he realizes she is alone in the middle of the forest. She needs me, he thinks.

He leaps off the spike of his father's hair, soaring the air, calculating the correct time to bend his knees, and he lands perfectly on a rooftop before taking to the air again. A prickling of his senses lets him know his ANBU are on the move, startled by his sudden action, and he signals a safe-word to let them know this is not an emergency. He pauses and waits for them to fall back before continuing.

He is getting closer, and he narrows in on Hinata's signature…only to realize that she is also on the move. Naruto grits his teeth and focuses directly onto her chakra, tuning out all others, and he can sense that he is being watched. No doubt, Hinata's Byakugan is activated and she had seen him coming.

But then…

Did that mean she was running away from him?

The thought startles him, saddens him, but also makes his brow furrow. Determined, he presses forward.

He is not the Hokage for nothing, and in a split second, he has moved so fast, that he appears directly in front of Hinata. Her sprint comes to a halt as she skids to a stop, arms braced at her sides.

He drops his Sage mode, lets the Kyuubi's chakra recede, and now he is only Naruto.

For a long while, no one spoke. Only stared.

Hinata's Byakugan deactivates and he sees her lips press tightly together—nervousness, he knows. Her eyes lower and she drops her defensive position, slightly turning to the side. Naruto himself also relaxes, takes a breath he was not aware he was holding, and then looks her over.

Hinata is in navy training gear, with shin-high shinobi boots, and a shinobi pouch clipped to her back pocket. The sight of this confuses him; Hinata is retired and has been for several years, since the day she discovered she was pregnant. The memory of receiving her letter of resignation and staring at it, re-reading the same medical check-off in Sakura's handwriting, comes to him and he quickly pushes it away.

He looks at her head-on now, waiting for her to speak, before realizing she is not.

There is nothing but silence.

Dead silence.

And a lot of awkward staring. It reminds him of a day that passed more than eighteen years ago. He remembers hurrying to the final round of the Chunin exams, passing through the forest, and running into Hinata. It was the first time he had a conversation—a real conversation—with her. And, like now, it had been very weird and awkward. But also nice. Nicer than he had felt in a long time.

He comes back to the present and sees the way she stares cautiously at him, a question in her eyes, but not willing to ask it. Naruto is suddenly very aware of the fact that they have not been alone together for more than thirteen years.

He clears his throat. "I, uh, I didn't scare you, did I?" He attempts to sound as carefree and non-threatening as possible, but for the life of him he cannot get rid of that ball in his throat that cracks his words and deepens his tone more than he means to.

Hinata's lips part, and then close. Her eyes dart to his and then glance around themselves. "No. No, I was just heading home."

He nods. "What, uh, what are you doing here? It's late. You probably shouldn't be in the forest by yourself."

Hinata nods once in agreement. "I know." He waits for the rest of her explanation, and when it doesn't come, he decides to keep pressing.

"Your Byakugan was on. Did something happen? Something I should know about?" As soon as the words come out, his brain screams at him. IDIOT! STOP PRYING!

Hinata shakes her head. "No, Hokage-sama. Nothing to worry about."

Naruto winces slightly at the title. "Ah, that's a little too formal. I mean, we're…friends, right? You can call me by my name. You always have."

Hinata grins slightly. She agrees with a nod and says in a low tone, "Okay, Naruto-kun."

He grins in return. A small part of him thinks he is much too old for an honorific like that, but he beams anyways. He can't help it. "Hinata." He replies back. He watches the way her cheeks tint slightly and then remembers his reason for tracking her down in the first place. "Anyways, what are you doing here, Hinata?"

She tugs at the sleeve of her shirt. "I was training. Just for a little bit."

His brow furrows. "Aren't you retired?"

"Yes. Yes, I am, but…I don't think I could ever stop training actually. It's a habit."

"Oh. So…you've been doing this for a while?"

She nods. "Yes. Not usually here, but…I suppose…I just felt like being alone." Her eyes drop to the ground as she says that, arms coming up and wrapping around her chest.

"Oh. Makes sense, I guess." He scratches at his head and when Hinata doesn't respond, he continues. "So…you're retired now. That's…nice. What do you do now?"

"Um…not much. I help with the shop most of time. When I'm not doing that, I'm with Himawari."

"Right, right. So…uh…" He doesn't know if it's the right thing to do, but he decides to ask anyways. "I guess you saw me coming, huh?"

Hinata hesitates, looks down at the ground, her bangs covering her eyes. "Y-Yes."

He nods at this, looks down at his feet. Slowly, he glances back at her and waits for her to meet his eyes. "Why did you run?"

Her eyes widen and he can almost hear her heartbeat pick up. Hinata's hands clench and she takes a few steps back, away from him. "I-I have to get home." She tries to go around him, and Naruto finds himself moving to block her way. Her widened, startled eyes ask the same question that he has been trying to figure out for years: what are you doing?

He doesn't know.

But he realizes he will probably never have this opportunity again and he doesn't intend to let this go. "Can we talk?" He asks in a low tone, almost a mumble, and he stares cautiously at her. "It won't take long. Just a couplea minutes."

Hinata's hands come together to fist on the front of her shirt, reminiscent of her childhood tendencies, that familiar quirk of never being able to stand still. "It's very late, Naruto-kun. If…you wanted to go back to your office, we can talk tomorr—"

"Now's fine."

Her argument dies on the tip of her tongue. Instead, she slowly nods.

Slightly amazed that she has agreed, Naruto lowers himself to the ground and looks up at her expectantly. Hinata lowers to her knees, ankles bent behind her.

It's quiet again, and though it's not wholly uncomfortable, Naruto doesn't think he can stand to let this go on any longer. "It's been a while," He begins, looking down at his hands, examining the wrappings on his right arm. "Since we talked, I mean. At least, just the two of us." He thinks of mutual friends. Children. Spouses. Conversations that didn't last beyond a few minutes. Greetings. Good-byes. Thirteen years, he thinks, is a long time to let things go unsaid.

She nods.

"I'm sorry that I came at you out of nowhere. I didn't mean to scare you or anything."

"It's okay. I know what you were doing."

"You do?"

"Mm." She nods. "When I train, I use my Byakugan. I can see…practically the whole village at once. So, I've seen you using Kurama-sama's chakra and sweeping the village for it."

Naruto nods. He lets himself ponder on the fact that Hinata has been watching him—maybe unintentionally, maybe not—and he files it away to think about later. "Are you okay?"

Hinata smiles and it startles him to see how grim it is. "I just had a bad day. Nothing to worry about. I didn't mean to alarm you."

"Do you…maybe wanna talk about it?" He is not surprised to see her shake her head. Though he is aware that there is no reason he should expect her to open up to him, the fact that she doesn't still hurts a bit. "Hinata…we're still friends, right?"

She nods immediately. "O-Of course we are."

He relaxes a little, somewhat relieved. He never dwelled heavily on it, but a small part of him had always feared that she hated him. He's smart enough to know that maybe she doesn't like him as much as she used to, but at least she doesn't hate him. Then again, he thinks, Hinata's not capable of hating anybody. "That's good. 'Cuz, you know, I kinda thought that…" He hesitates, then changes the topic. "Anyways…we should talk." Naruto looks at her in a way he hopes she can understand.

And, because she is Hinata, she does. She nods in agreement, and he can sense the heaviness in her decision. This will not be a light discussion. This will be a conversation years in the making. And they are not unaware that maybe, for that very reason, this is not something they should talk about.

Naruto watches her for a few seconds, slightly marveled that Hinata, who he knows doesn't like conflict and goes out of her way to avoid it, has agreed to this. Maybe, he thinks, Hinata needs this too. The possibility that Hinata might feel the same way he does—might know the thoughts that have plagued him for years—encourages him to keep going.

"So—"

"You didn't come to my wedding."

Naruto's words die in his throat and it takes a few seconds to snap himself out of it. But he can't shake off the shock that Hinata is the one who brought this up, and he stares at her with widened eyes. For once, she stares back without any hesitation. Her dark hair, cropped to her narrow shoulders, sways slightly in a breeze, lavender eyes set in a hard stare, and if this isn't the image of a vindicated woman, he doesn't know what is. For once, he doesn't know what to say, except maybe the one thing he knows she doesn't want to hear right now.

Hinata finally drops her stare. Her hands fold on her thighs, and she clears her throat lightly. Waiting.

He tells her the truth because, though he has lied to himself often, he would never lie to her. "I didn't think it would be a good idea if I went."

Hinata's head lowers at this. "Ah. So…you know, then."

It's odd, he thinks, how calmly she has said this. This that has haunted him ever since he realized it. Slowly, he nods. Mutters a low, 'Yeah.'

"I thought so." Hinata replies softly. "That's why you avoided me, isn't it?"

Naruto is hit with the strong desire to refute it, to deny that he has ever gone out of his way to evade Hinata. But that's his shame talking, and he knows it. So he nods again, not trusting himself to speak.

"You didn't have to." Hinata continues.

Naruto shakes his head. "I know. I know, but…I didn't think it'd be fair to you." He hangs his head a little. "I didn't want to hurt you anymore."

Hinata draws back a little, settling on her backside, and drawing her knees up to lean on them. "I waited for you. I thought, maybe, you were just running late. Sakura-chan asked me to give it an hour. But then your letter came and I knew." She pauses and Naruto is glad because he really doesn't want to hear any more of his crimes. "How did you find out?" There is nothing but curiosity in her tone.

Naruto hesitates, not wanting to recall that night of screaming and breaking glass and revelations that came too late. And it hadn't really been him that figured it out. Before he can respond, Hinata cuts in.

"Did your wife tell you?"

Hearing Hinata say that makes his jaw clench and he turns to her. "How'd you know?"

She hesitates slightly too, but presses on anyways. "I just had a feeling. After we talked—"

"You met her?!" Naruto is dumbfounded by this. He couldn't even fathom the thought of Hinata and his wife being in the same room together, let alone speaking. And he thought he had done a pretty good job of keeping them separate.

Hinata nods. "I went to your house to give you the invitation. You weren't there, but she was." Naruto is silent at this simple explanation, wanting to hit himself for his stupidity. "She invited me to come inside and have tea." At his look of complete bewilderment, she laughs a little bit. "I thought it was weird too, especially after everything the girls told me." The girls, Naruto thinks, being Sakura, Ino, and Tenten. All women who hated his wife. And probably had every reason to. "She was very nice to me. Mostly, she asked me questions."

"About what?" He asks almost fearfully.

Her lips pucker slightly, her distaste evident. "What happened with Pain." Hinata gripped her arms tighter, fingers clenching into her skin. "And the war. Neji-niisan."

His nostrils flare reactively, and he grits his teeth. "I'm sorry. She had no right—"

"It's okay." She says softly and he forces himself to relax. "She was…just curious. She said she had heard some things and wanted to see if they were true. That was all. But…I had a feeling there was more to it."

There is silence again, a contemplative, heavy silence.

Naruto looks sideways at her, studies the bridge of her nose, the flare of her bottom lip. The way she purposefully avoids his gaze. He thinks of her words. From the Chunin exams, to Pain's invasion, to the great war. Their light conversation in between. He wonders how he could have missed that she loved him. How he had fooled himself into believing the depth of her feelings for him did not go past the love she felt for everybody. Hinata was so nice and caring, it was easy to convince himself he wasn't that special in her eyes. But that also feels like a lie. Maybe he had known. Maybe he had just been afraid.

"Hinata, I…I didn't mean to avoid you. I wasn't ignoring you or anything. I know it must sound dumb, but I…I just didn't get it. It didn't click for me the way it clicked for—" He almost makes the mistake of uttering his wife's name. "I was too stupid. I'm still too stupid."

"You're not stupid, Naruto-kun." Hinata says softly, tugging at her sleeves. A little part of him hurts when she says that, because he knows she means it. It reminds him of when they were younger, and how…secure he had always felt with her. How easy it was to let down his guard with her. Show her the vulnerabilities he'd never had the courage to let anyone else see. It's a trust he doesn't have with anyone else.

Maybe that was why it had hurt so much to learn she had always been insecure with him. Had kept a secret from him because she didn't trust him enough not to break her heart.

"It's not your fault." She states strongly, clearly noticing his torment. "It's…it's me. It's always been me. It was never about you." She studies her hands, her fidgeting fingers. "In the end…I waited too long. I kept holding myself back." Her head lowered. "I was a coward."

He can't help feeling outraged just hearing her say that. "You're not a coward! You're the bravest person I know!"

She shakes her head, completely unaffected by his burst of emotion, and he is almost amazed by how easily she can disregard herself. He wishes she could understand how fascinating he has always found her. The silent strength, her unbreakable resolve. The way she always shouldered her pain with a smile. "You know…I had promised to myself that I was going to talk to you. I was afraid, but I convinced myself rejection was better than never knowing. I was so nervous." She smiled a little, clearly embarrassed. "I counted down the days until you would return from your tour." His heart stops. "And when you came home…" Hinata's eyes lower. She sits in silence as his throat tightens.

It hurts. It hurts to breathe.

Naruto thinks of the crowd he greeted when he returned home from the tour. Of the people he passed by as he headed inside the village.

The thought of Hinata standing there, waiting for him, only to see him with another woman, a pregnant woman…

He wants to die.

Die so that he would never again have to see that sad, sweet smile on her lovely face that crushed him into a million pieces.

A lot of silence passes again, strained and tense, as they stare ahead of them. There is nothing but the sound of chirping crickets and leaves crinkling in the breeze. He waits for his breathing to return to normal.

"I'm sorry."

She turns to look at him, pearly eyes widening slightly. "There's nothing to apologize for."

He shakes his head. "Yes there is. I was so stupid." He pauses for a second, recalling everything that has led to this moment. "I never wanted to hurt you." He turns to her again and stares at her, silently willing her to understand. At her doubtful expression, something in him snaps. "Hinata, you have to believe me. Out of everybody, you're…you're the last person I'd ever—" His voice cracks and breaks when she turns away. Hinata refuses to look at him. So unlike her, that the raw emotion in such a simple act destroys him. His resolve dies, along with his word. What more is there to say? No amount of apologies in the world can make up for betraying someone like her.

Hinata sighs heavily through her nose. Her eyes are fixed in the distance. "I don't want you to feel sorry for me."

"No. No, that's not…I don't…" He hesitates.

Is it? Is this why it hurts to look at her? Why he avoided her?

At his silence, Hinata turns to glance at him. He can feel her eyes trail over him. Examine him. Analyze him. "I'm happy." She tells him. The corner of her lips pull up in a half smile. "Don't worry about me. Okay?"

His stubbornness makes him want to refuse. He wants to be selfish and tell her he'll always worry for her. But he can't do that. Especially not now when she looks like she is trying so hard to convince him and herself. The guilt in him wells up so strongly that it settles in his stomach like an anchor. He feels like a curse.

It's ironic, he thinks, how fiercely he had always protected her when they were younger, had vowed to fight for her and her honor.

You were supposed to be the hero.

Slowly, he nods. "Okay." It sounds like a whisper, but she hears him easily. Smiles, though it doesn't reach her eyes. Hinata rises to her feet, and Naruto is quick to jump up beside her. "You're leaving?" He can't help his shock.

She nods. "I should have been home thirty minutes ago. They might worry." Arms stiff at her side, Hinata bows politely. "Good night, Naruto-kun." She turns to leave.

"W-Wait," He blurts before she can take another step, and Hinata pauses, glancing behind her. "Can I at least walk you home?"

Her hand curls to her chest, as if she has been asked the meaning of life. Even Naruto can see the hesitation, the doubt plaguing her.

But Hinata is nothing if not polite and well-mannered, and he is not surprised when she nods. Slowly, she turns and continues, waiting for Naruto to fall into step beside her. Out of respect, he chooses to keep a pace behind her.

"It's not far." She says from in front of him, and he nods though she can't see him. The walk back into the village is silent, and Naruto doesn't complain. There is a lot to think about, after all. He chooses to focus on her instead. He watches the swish of her hair bouncing from her shoulders, the bobbing of the pouch strapped to her backside, the strain of her knuckles fisted into the sleeves of her shirt.

He listens to the sound of dirt crunching underneath their shoes—the light tap of Hinata's feet, followed by the louder thud of his.

For once, it doesn't feel so wrong. For once, as short-lived as it may be, Naruto and Hinata are on the same path. Just this once, they're side by side again.

Suddenly, she stops and Naruto pauses behind her. She turns slowly and gives him a small grin. "This is me." Naruto looks up at the building she has stopped in front of. His brow furrows. An apartment complex. Seeing his stare, Hinata continues. "It's the one with the green curtains."

He stares up to the third floor, and catches the sight of olive colored silky curtains. A lit candle is at the windowsill, just barely illuminating the room inside. He can see the outline of a lamp.

An apartment, he thinks bitterly. She lives in an apartment. It's unacceptable. Hinata is a Hyūga. She was born in the lap of luxury, and has been reduced to this. Naruto wonders why she would accept a man who clearly can't maintain the lifestyle she is used to.

And that's another thought. He doesn't like that Hinata still sees the need to keep up her training. She's not a kunoichi anymore. He remembers very specifically when they were seventeen years old and she had confided to him that she had planned to retire soon. He had understood, no questions asked, and had even reassured her that he'd be her Hokage and would protect her from anything.

It's clear to him that Hinata is the protector in her family, the stronger one in her marriage. Her husband can't keep her safe. Or secure. Or happy.

He is a failure.

Naruto's darkened eyes narrow.

"It's bigger than it looks." She continues quietly. "And it's enough. Plus, there is a market just down the street, and it's next to the shop." She gestures toward a store across the street, the lights off, a Closed sign hanging off the doorknob. An apothecary. Naruto hadn't even known what that was until he found out what Hinata's husband did for a living.

Without thinking, he responds, "The Hyūga compound is on the other side of the village." Hinata's eyes lower, and he's quick to apologize. "I didn't mean anything by it, I was just, y'know, thinking out loud!"

"It's okay." There is more silence until Hinata clears her throat. Reluctantly, Naruto acknowledges that it is time to say good-bye.

"Hinata?" He waits until she is looking at him. "Thanks. For talking with me. I…I needed it."

She nods. "Do you feel better?"

"Mm." He nods once.

"That's good."

"Yeah. Uh. Maybe…maybe it doesn't have to be so awkward anymore. I could…I could say hi, right? And it wouldn't be weird? I wouldn't make you uncomfortable?"

Hinata smiles and it's the most genuine one she has given him in a long time. "I would like that."

A small sigh of relief escapes him, and he grins good-naturedly. "Good." His eyes screw shut and he smiles so widely, it hurts his jaw a little, but he presses on, "I'll say 'hi' tomorrow! And the day after that! Count on it!" He opens his eyes and allows himself to gaze down at her for a few seconds, study the way her eyes have also closed in a warm grin, and he can see that her hands have relaxed. She doesn't look so pained now, and he decides he will never make her feel that way again.

She had said herself that avoiding her had been unnecessary; she was happy and that wouldn't change if he decided to come back into her life.

They say a quick good-bye, and though Naruto has never liked that word, it's different now. The farewell comes with a promise, a promise that he can give her and that won't betray him or her.

And as they part, he can feel it in the air as he takes to the roof tops, and heads home.

I'll see you soon.

He finds her in the marketplace, like he does every Thursday. Her back is to him, perusing through a stack of turnips, and he takes this rare moment of her obliviousness to watch her. A vendor approaches her, greeting her warmly, and she smiles in return. The easiness of her comfort intrigues him, beckons him, and he approaches steadily.

Exclamations of "Hokage-sama!" and "Nanadaime!" cause him to pause, and he looks back up just as Hinata turns around. Their eyes meet, a silent greeting in both their expressions. Her small smile and the tint of her cheeks. His widening grin and the lowering of his lids.

She pays for her groceries and starts to head out, mingling into the crowd of villagers, and he's quick to make another few Shadow clones. One goes to an elderly lady hobbling around her cane, another to a cluster of merchants who were expecting him, and the other to…

"Hinata!"

Naruto jogs to her side, cape flying behind him in the wind. Hinata isn't surprised to see him—again—and she nods and smiles. "Ah, Nanadaime-sama" She doesn't call him 'Naruto-kun' in public. "I've been running into you a lot."

"Yeah, I've always gotta bunch of clones out making rounds. So, you were bound to start see me everywhere eventually." He laughs a little too forcefully and immediately falls into step besides her, like he always does.

It hadn't been long after their meeting that Naruto realized how easy it was to run into Hinata—or rather, how easy he could make it. Anyways, it wasn't like he was being irresponsible or anything. They were just clones. He had thousands of them at his disposal, and the real him was safe and sound in his office.

Anyways, it's not like Hinata noticed. She always looked just as surprised to see him as he was to see her.

"Need a hand with that?" He offers nonchalantly, and is not surprised when Hinata tries to refuse him. "Hinata, I'm the Hokage, ne? I can carry groceries. Promise I won't break your eggs."

She laughs softly at that and hands them over. "Okay, but if you pop, you owe me new groceries." Hinata's attempt at banter always leaves him slightly breathless, excited to see a side of her that is willing to joke with him. The two slide into easy conversation.

Nothing major. There is no heavy talk, like there had been at their reunion. It was simple conversation. She'd ask about his day, and he'd tell her how boring it was to be the Hokage. He, in turn, asks her how Himawari is doing and listens with a smile as she recounts how Himawari is doing at school, how she is still learning how to mold chakra, and that her Byakugan will probably awaken soon.

He isn't surprised to learn that Hinata always has something to say. Even to things he would expect her to shy away from.

"Boruto-kun acts up because he is too much like his father." She said with a grin. "He doesn't mean it when he says he doesn't care about you or the village. He just wants to know that he is important in your life, more important than being Hokage."

"Of course he's more important!" He couldn't help snapping. This felt like an argument he has had with himself a hundred times over. Hinata didn't flinch. She focused a sharp look at him, eyes narrowed.

"Have you ever told him that?"

"I…" He was momentarily stunned at her expression, the motherly instinct that almost made him cower. "I shouldn't have to. He's my son."

"Sometimes, even when it's obvious, people like to be told that they are loved. Especially when they're insecure. I should know." She laughed a little at that, and her eyes lowered to the ground, looking like she was reminiscing. "Anyways…you should spend some time with him. I bet he'd love to train with you all day if he could."

"You think so?" Sometimes, Naruto was convinced that his son hated him. That nothing he could do would win back his affection.

"Mm. I know so."

Naruto should have been surprised that Hinata knew his son so well, but he wasn't really. Her intuition was tuned to perfection, and he knew that Hinata's judgement—even if only based on instinct and first impression alone—was sound. He supposed that was why she had always been kind to him. Even when he was an annoying brat with zero to little social skills, Hinata treated him like she treated him now as the Hokage. It's what made him believe their closeness was inevitable, and though he didn't weigh much on things like fate and destiny, Naruto decided it was out of his hands.

"So what's for dinner tonight?" Naruto peeks through her bags, not surprised to see nothing but healthy foods.

"Salmon, I think. I haven't decided if I'm going to make kimchi though."

"How come? You don't even like fish."

"Uh…" Hinata tugs at the sleeves of her white long-sleeve. "Ah, I did tell you that, huh?" She clears her throat. "Um, well, my husband likes seafood so…"

"Oh."

There is silence for a few awkward moments. He wishes he never asked.

"Ah, Kiba-kun!" Hinata gasps in excitement and Naruto stiffens beside her. Sure enough, the bearded best friend of Hinata comes strolling towards them, an eyebrow lifted.

"Hey Hinata." He turns to the Hokage. "Nanadaime."

"Kiba." He acknowledges. "Where's—"

"ARF!" Akamaru trots to Hinata's side, nuzzling her thigh.

"Hello Akamaru." She scratches at his ear and looks back up at Kiba. "How are you, Kiba-kun?"

"Ah, not too shabby. Hey, I'm heading your way so I'll walk ya." Kiba steps towards Naruto and reaches for the bags. "I'll take 'em."

Instinctively, Naruto draws the groceries closer, eyes narrowing. Kiba's brow furrows and Naruto quickly snaps out of it. "Uh. Here." He slides the bags into Kiba's waiting arms and backs off, not daring to check Hinata's reaction. The indigo-haired woman steps towards Kiba and then turns around.

"Thank you for helping me with my groceries, Hokage-sama. It was a pleasure seeing you."

He holds up a hand, waving away her gratitude. "Yeah, anytime, Hinata. I'll, uh, see you around." He returns her smile and lets it drop as soon as she turns around. Kiba and Hinata walk off together, Akamaru at their side, as Naruto watches.

Kiba glances at him from over his shoulder, and their eyes meet in a weird, uncomfortable way that Naruto has never felt before. Just as quickly, Kiba looks away and his attention is re-focused on Hinata. Naruto watches them for a few seconds more before dispelling.

At the Hokage tower, Naruto's head lifts from his busywork.

Naruto is not surprised when it begins to catch up to him.

"People talk, Naruto. What you and Hinata are doing…it's not right." Sakura stares at him pleadingly, hands folded in her lap. The Hokage doesn't spare a glance at her as he types away at his computer, eyes trained on the screen.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Don't act dumb. Especially not with me."

At this, he sighs and lowers his hands from the keyboard. He wants to look exasperated, but is finding it slightly harder not to show his panic. "Sakura...it's…it's not your business."

"Excuse me?"

"Look, whatever you think is going on, you've got the wrong idea."

"Oh really? Care to elaborate? What exactly am I thinking?"

He fumes silently. "So I talk to her sometimes. What's the big—"

"Talking? Me and you are talking. What you're doing is not just talking." Sakura cuts in. Naruto opens his mouth to retort that, but she quickly cuts in again. "We've seen you, Naruto, so don't deny it. Carrying her groceries for her. Walking her home. Looking for her."

"Those were my Shadow clones." He clarifies, like it means anything. "It doesn't cut into my work."

"That's not the point."

"Then what is your point? My clones run around the village carrying old grannies around all the time, no one's coming here yelling at me for that."

"I'M NOT YELLING!" Sakura's fists almost slam down onto his desk before they catch themselves. Taking a deep breath, she closes her eyes. "I'm worried. Okay? Hinata's my friend and I don't want—"

"She's my friend too." His voice takes a defensive tone, straightening in his seat to stare at her head-on. "Look, Sakura, you don't get it, okay? I'm not—"

"Don't get what? That you feel guilty for ignoring her for more than ten years?" She doesn't flinch when his eyes harden. "That you're trying to make up for lost time? That you want to be there for her now the way you never were before?" Green eyes stare challengingly into blue ones. "I get it. Believe me, I get it. But you're going about it all wrong."

"How?"

"Because it's not just you, Naruto. This isn't just about you and your feelings. This is about Hinata too. Your wife. Her husband. Boruto. Himawari. This isn't just about you. And the village…" She shakes her head. "There are already so many rumors about you and your wife, you're just dragging Hinata into the mix." Sakura waits for him to say something, but his jaw is clenched and he doesn't meet her eyes. "Just…leave her alone."

"No."

"Naruto."

"I won't do it."

"You idi—"

"I'm not gonna hurt her again. Don't you see? I can't hurt her again. I won't do it."

Sakura's eyes widen and she stares at him, this man who has changed so much from the thoughtless boy she used to know. "Naruto…you've got to get over it. What happened…that was years ago. "He rolls his eyes, dismissing her as he gets back to his work. Angered, Sakura raises her voice. "You're blowing things out of proportion. You keep insisting that there's some deep history between you two when there isn't. You don't have to beg for forgiveness for not returning her feelings! Hinata's over it! She's married! You're married! I'm married! We're all married and happy so stop ruining it!" Naruto doesn't reply, soundly ignoring her as he types at his computer. "This isn't some tragic romance. This is real life. And in real life, first loves aren't always forever."

"Easy for you to say." He mutters. "You got Sasuke in the end, didn't you?"

"Don't make it sound like I trapped him!"

"I'm not saying you did! But don't say you understand what I'm going through because you have no idea—" He freezes just as Sakura's glare becomes glacier.

"I knew it. I knew you were—"

"Go home, Sakura."

"You're kicking me out?"

"No. I'm asking you to leave. Shikamaru's here." The Hokage stands from his desk just as there's a knock on the door. Sakura stares at him heavily.

"I warned you. Don't say I didn't warn you." She picks up her folders and storms out of his office, just as Shikamaru steps in.

"What's her problem?" The adviser glances at her over his shoulder.

"No idea. Got something for me?"

"Aa. One more meeting and you can go."

Naruto's eyes narrow, glancing at his planner on his desk. "I didn't see anything about another meeting."

"This one came in just a few moments ago." Shikamaru replies casually, flipping through a folder. "Shouldn't take too long."

Naruto sighs, running a bandaged hand through his short blonde hair. "Whatever this is, it better be important. Can't believe you let someone in without an appointment."

"Yeah. Well." Shikamaru shrugs and turns back to the door to retrieve the guest. Naruto lowers back onto his chair, hands clasped together on his lap as he waits.

Through the windows behind him, the skylight darkens. His office dims.

The door slowly opens, a lean figure stepping through and closing the door softly behind him. "I apologize for the intrusion, Hokage-sama. Thank you for seeing me." The man bows lowly.

Naruto stares. He'd know this man, this wisp of a man, anywhere.

"Hamasaki-san…"