Naruto sat and stared at the spot where the enemy had stood. His son, Boruto, had destroyed him. He couldn't believe how brave, how strong, his son was, is. Boruto looked over his shoulder at him and smiled. And then he pitched backwards, exhaustion catching up to his small body. Naruto was at his son's side faster than a bolt of lightning. Boruto landed softly in the crook of Naruto's arm and he guided the child to rest on the ground.

"Dad," Boruto panted, laying on the ground. "I'm sorry."

"What?" Naruto grunted as he pulled the remainder of the black rods out of his arm, chest, and thigh. He looked over at his son, seeing him struggle to push up into a sitting position. "Shh, don't try and move too much, just rest."

"I'm sorry. I guess, I don't know," Boruto sighed. "I'm just, sorry. Sorry for cheating, for being a brat, for… For everything."

Naruto gazed at his son. Boruto lay battered and bruised, a sign of battle, something that he'd wished his child would never have to know. And yet, here he was, having fought an enemy for the sake of his village.

"It's alright, Boruto." Naruto reached out a hand to move Boruto's bangs out of his eyes. "I understand. And, I have to apologize to you, and to your mother and to Hima. I haven't been a very good dad or husband, lately."

"Naruto, let's go. Pick him up and we'll get back to the village." Sasuke's voice interrupted them. Naruto scooped up his son and cradled him close, mindful of his arm, raw and red, the skin having been burnt from the heat and the force of the massive Rasengan. He stepped them into the shell of Sasuke's Susano'o and in a blink of an eye, the three were back in Konoha. Sasuke had transported them, thankfully, to the middle of the medic zone, more specifically, right outside of Sakura's tent.

"Daddy!" Naruto paused. He turned to look behind him. There stood his precious little princess, her face shining with the light of a million suns. "Mama! Look! Daddy's here! And so is big brother!"

"Hmm?" Hinata looked up from the villager she was helping. "Hima, what did you… say…"

They locked gazes.

"Na…ru…to-k…NARUTO!" Hinata cried out. She stumbled as she pushed herself up from the ground and ran towards him. "You're here! You're back!"

She reached him and moved to throw her arms around his neck, when she noticed her son. "Oh my god, Boruto! My baby! Sakura! Help!"

Hinata took Boruto from Naruto's arms and gathered him close to her chest, sinking to her knees. His right arm hung limp, looking even redder, rawer, and so much more painful. Naruto flinched as his son let out a low moan, the pain obviously beginning to catch up to him. His heart clenched in his chest, listening to Hinata cry softly, whispering to Boruto that he would be fine, that it was all okay now.

Naruto felt a tug on his sleeve and he looked down to see Himawari. He stooped and picked her up, squeezing her, feeling her tiny body trembling, feeling her tears against his neck.

"I missed you daddy, please don't go away like that again." Himawari's little hands clutched at his collar. "Is big brother going to be okay?"

"It's alright, little sunflower, it's alright. I'm here now and I'm never ever going away again." He pressed a kiss to her temple, rocking her back and forth gently. "Boruto is going to be just fine, see look, Auntie Sakura is here. He's okay."

Naurto angled his body so he and Himawari could watch Sakura heal Boruto's arm. It seemed like an eternity as the Uzumakis watched the soft green light bathe the wound, the angry red slowly disappearing into a light pink.

"There, he'll be fine now. The skin is going to have to regrow on its own, so Hinata, just apply a little of your healing balm to his arm daily and then wrap it up. It shouldn't take more than a month, maybe two. I'll check on it in a couple weeks." Sakura stood up and looked in Naruto's direction. "Do you need anything healed?"

"No, I'm fine. Hinata can take care of what doesn't heal itself. Thank you, Sakura."

"You four… five, you five get some rest now. Head home. Hinata, I'll send Lady Katsuyu if I need you to come back." Sakura gave them a wave and entered her tent. Naruto shifted the now sleeping Himawari to one arm and held out the other to cradle Boruto. Hinata balked slightly but eventually placed their son in his hold.