"Daddy! Wake up daddy!" A playful little squeal bounced off the hardwood floors from one end to the other. And it seemed the voice wasn't alone.
"Daddy!" The pattering of little feet and girlish giggles finally made its way into the master bedroom. There he slept, blankets strewn about covering only half of him while he lay prostrate with his mouth wide open. Apparently the yelling of his little girls did nothing to wake him.
"He's still sleepin'. Mommy was right." One of them said as the snoring startled her at first.
"Mommy said daddy doesn't respond to sound well when sleeping. We gotta wake 'im up ourselves!"
The other girl giggled again and whispered to her younger sister. "Ok then. You ready?"
"Ready!"
"One…two…three! DADDY!" They jumped atop the bed with boundless energy. "DADDY! DADDY!"
"Daddy, it's time to wake up!" The littler one kept bouncing up and down.
"Wha-? Huh?" He rose up, scared near half to death by the sudden force on his waist and legs. He felt the arms of a little one wrap around his left arm while the other was on his chest, staring into his blue eyes with her own. Curtains of blonde and purplish hair covered his body.
"G'mornin' daddy…" The little one he faced smiled with pearly, semi-organized whites that was typical of those her age.
"Hmmmm…mornin' my little princesses." He brought his other arm around the daughter on top and gave them both a firm hug. "And what are you two doing up so early? It's a Saturday."
"Did ya forget daddy?"
"Forget what, my little Natsuko?" He asked the blonde one.
The girl wrapped around him answered. "It's your birthday, daddy! Did you really forget?"
"Me? Your dad? The greatest father in all of Konoha with the two most beautiful little girls on the planet, forget his birthday? No way! But I must warn you two…coming in and waking me like that earns you a little something."
"What?" Natsuko asked.
He slid his hands into position. "Oh…nothing but a little…tickle torture!" He sent his little girls into a maddening shriek of laughter as his fingertips ran gently, but effectively, across their sides and bellies. "Now I've got ya both where I want ya! Grrrrrrr…!" Their laughter picked up.
"Daddy…stop daddy!" They playfully pleaded but dad wasn't quite finished. Only to the point of hysterics and/or a complete loss of breath did he cease.
Leaving them giggling uncontrollably, he sat upright, his feet taking in the cold of the floor as the sun peered into the blinds of his room. With a yawn and a stretch, his back let out a crack that startled the girls. "Sorry my sweets, daddy gets a stiff back sometimes."
His daughters, his lovely little girls, only seven and six years old, showered him with love. He remembered them when they were just babies, Hinako with the grace of a princess and innocence unmatched, and the younger Natsuko bearing the energy of him and but the beautiful eyes of his wife.
His wife, his lovely wife Hinata. As he looked at his two girls not a day went by that he thanked the heavens and those who looked out for him long since gone that he was so fortunate to have a woman as her to mother them. They were the little angels they were more because of her, not because of him. When they were born he couldn't help but shed tears watching his physically worn-out Hinata sleep while he cradled each one in his arms. He remembered the gentle hand wiping those tears away and smiling as they watched their newborns squirm and open their eyes. Now they were already little kids, and their third one, a young but rather consistently sleepy boy by the name of Mitsuho no more than three, was soon to follow in their footsteps.
"Now tell me Hinako, where is mommy right now?"
"Ummmm…she's with Mitsuho shopping."
"Yeah shopping."
"Oh really? I wonder what's she's doing." He said in mock curiosity. "And I wonder why you two lovelies are with daddy this morning."
"It's your birthday, daddy. We're givin' you a special treat!"
"Uh huh!"
"That's right. Today is daddy's 'Day of Beauty!'" Hinako burst into excitement.
"DAY OF BEAUTY!!!" Natsuko mimicked with her hands waving about.
"Yep…we're gonna make you all nice and pretty for your birthday! You don't take care of yourself like mommy does and we're going to take action!"
"Take action, just like you would when bad guys are around!"
"Well girls, I don't think it's that…"
"Shush…you're always a messy dad. Mommy says it all the time."
"Yeah! We're gonna make you look beautiful!"
"Your mom…says that?" He was a little taken aback hearing it like it was a clean shot to his pride. He looked around and noticed his room that he shared with her a mess, his clothes in clutters, and even his own body grungy, worn, and stiff. "Well…I guess they're a little bit right."
"Ok daddy…get your robe on. The first thing we're gonna start with is a shower, because you stink!"
"Peeeeeewwwww!" Natsuko plugged her nose up.
They grabbed him by the hands and dragged him into the bathroom with all their might. Granted, their little arms could barely pull Naruto given his size and strength, but he let them think they made an impact by playing along.
"Ok, in ya go…and don't come out until you're not stinky anymore!"
"Yeah!"
He laughed. "Oh, ok sweeties. I won't be long."
"Also, don't come into the kitchen daddy." Natsuko grinned.
"Ok then, I won't. Give daddy a kiss before he gets in." The two gave him pecks on the cheek before running off to the kitchen. He sighed happily hearing them make a commotion across the halls. "Ahhhh they're too much. I guess I made 'em more like that than you, eh Hinata? Maybe little Mitsuho will be like you, he already looks half like you save for the blond hair."
Fifteen minutes passed that he spent getting all the dust and early morning crust off of him in the shower. He grabbed his orange robe and fixed his hair. Today was indeed his birthday. No need for donning the official Hokage wear, no need for formal attire, no need for diplomatic missions. His children wanted to treat him with a day of personal beautification anyway, so who was he as their father to spoil their fun?
"Girls?"
"C'mon in, daddy!" Natsuko yelled as loudly as she could, carrying that high pitch through the hall and into his eardrums.
He chuckled. "Oh she's definitely going to be the next 'me.'"
The two hushed their words as they heard the approaching footsteps. From the corner of Naruto's eye, as he rounded himself into the kitchen, he could see some makeshift streamers of orange and yellow. He already knew what they had in store. However, out in front of him was a rather impressive display.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY!" They cried as they rushed the tray tables over to him. Laid on the plate, although not in the neatest manner possible, were rice cakes and other assorted breakfast items, however they were strewn with candies and some shaped to look like him or had birthday messages on them. What struck Naruto though wasn't the quality of the food, but the sheer quantity.
"Oh wow! A breakfast for me?"
"Of course daddy," Hinako hoisted the tray to Naruto's hands, "you gotta have a good breakfast to start off your day of beauty."
"Day of beauty!"
"We made these all ourselves, no help from mommy or nothin'!"
"All by ourselves, believe it!"
Naruto laughed at the cute display of his classic phrase from Natsuko. Sakura on occasion gave him flak for inadvertently making his daughter adopt it. Alas, she was right. No way these were near the same level of expertise that his wife had, but of course they were kids. "Well you girls are already doing quite a bit for dad. It looks like a feast."
"A feast for a king!"
"For a Hokage!"
"So eat up! Like mommy says, a happy stomach makes for a happy man, beauty on the inside as well as the outside!" Hinako closed her eyes, waving her finger at Naruto like she was lecturing.
"Day of beauty!" Natsuko on the other hand…kept the energy up through repetition.
He smiled and rubbed his hands through their hair. "All righty then. If you're treating me to such a breakfast, then don't mind if I do." He grabbed the first rice cake, a semi-compact little thing that had a rather messy "love" character written on it. Bless them they were trying hard this early in the morning, the mess they made so very evident in the sink and kitchen with rice and foodstuffs scattered about. Biting into it, the rice…tasted a little odd. Upon further inspection he noticed a couple bits of fruit inside. The second one he had tasted of seaweed and what appeared to be bits and pieces of scallion and other items he remembered was in his ramen he had last night. His two girls apparently thought it'd be nice to add little surprises inside regardless of the rules of cuisine. In his mind, it tasted a little funky, but he stomached it. "Mmmmmm…delicious! May I have some more, my little princesses?"
They smiled and obliged. He willingly grabbed two, then three more, and proceeded to make a pig of himself. As Hinako and Natsuko giggled at his antics he couldn't help but revert back to his old form. Hinata wasn't there, so he'd indulge the girls. The breakfast food wasn't the greatest…in fact it could hardly be passed as breakfast, but they were from them. They could've given him stale bread for all he cared and he'd still love it.
"Gotta have your tea too!" Hinako walked to him with a nice, steaming cup of tea.
"Hinako…sweetie…did you use the kettle? You're not supposed to you know."
"It's ok, daddy. I was extra careful!"
"Hmmm…ok then. I just don't want you burning yourself or something. That stovetop is dangerous for little girls."
"Well I didn't do that daddy!" Natsuko proudly declared which drew a semi-irritated look from her older sister. "Here, I poured your some cold milk!"
"Well thank you, the both of you." He said with extra emphasis as to not spawn some sibling scorn this early in the day. The tea and milk were much better, the hot and cold both washing down the rice and other bits of food randomly assorted in the breakfast. He thoroughly enjoyed it for a little longer, encouraging his kids to not starve themselves and also partake of their cooking. They did, and humorously enough shared the same initial reaction to the very food they made, but they ate it. They couldn't go through all that trouble with all that pride and not be able to stomach their own food. They laughed and talked as a father and daughters would until Hinako noticed that time was already flying by.
"Ok daddy…breakfast is over. It's time for your…"
"Makeover!!!"
"Um…makeover?"
"Of course daddy! You don't put anything on your face and it looks boring and plain."
"Booooooorrrrinnnngggg…"
"Come now daddy, we're gonna style you up!" They yanked him by the hand again and dragged him towards their side yard, a small little area mostly used by Naruto and Hinata to relax and on occasion to watch the kids play.
"It's time for the mud bath!"
"The wha-?"
"Mud bath for daddy!"
"But honey, I just took a shower."
"But that was to get your stink off daddy…this is a mud bath to help esfolate the skin and make it pretty."
"Um, Hinako sweetie…you mean exfoliate."
"That's what she said daddy, s'foliate!"
"Well I certainly wonder where you kids got the idea of a mud bath for me." He knew months ago Hinata took the two of them to the spa, so if anything all these ideas were influenced by none other than his wife. They finally got to the side yard and in the middle was their little swimming pool…completely filled with mud. "Huh, so you weren't joking about this were you two?"
"Nope, nope, nope!"
"Here we are daddy, your special mud bath!"
He smiled again. They were so very enthusiastic about all this. Caving into the pressure, he dropped to his undies and slipped into the mud. It was certainly a sight to see the great Naruto Uzumaki sitting in a shallow kiddy pool filled with mud. Silly was an understatement.
"There you go, daddy...get it all over your legs." It was a bit of a tight squeeze but Naruto managed to fit in, his kneecaps sticking out along with his head. He noticed a bowl of some greenish paste to his left.
"What is that Hinako?"
"Close your eyes, daddy. We're gonna put mommy's special face cream on you."
"Sweetie, I don't think mommy's gonna like you using her stuff on me."
"But she said it was ok." Natsuko replied with a slight whine.
He closed his eyes and grinned at them again. "Well, all right then. Lay it on me, you little princesses. This is my day of beauty of course."
Hinako squealed with delight and pointed to a little stand to the right of Naruto. "Natsuko, get the slices for daddy's eyes. I'm gonna apply the creamy stuff." Naruto felt the delicate daubing of Hinako's fingers on his face that smelled delightfully of melon and aloe. A little got on his lips which tasted something fresh but he played it off. He could hear Natsuko rushing over and whispering to Hinako something he couldn't make out, but he didn't care too much. Then the cool feeling of what he deduced as cucumber slices were on his eyes as Hinako continued to massage the masque on his face.
"Heh…this ain't so bad. I can see the appeal in this, Hinata."
"Now just stay put daddy and let the face cream do its stuff. We gotta go get more stuff ready for the day of beauty."
"Yep, yep, yep!"
"As you command." As the two scampered off, he lay there in the kiddy pool for a good half-hour or so.
The gentle breeze and calm birdsong outside was nice. He rarely enjoyed such hidden luxuries as Hokage, his work exhausting him to the bone many a day. He could hear them talking, arguing, then going right back to talking cooperatively. He wondered what they were planning next. He chuckled at Natsuko's energy mixed with her adorable repetition of everything and smiled over Hinako's enthusiastic planning and leadership. "Those two are gonna grow up to be great ninja, something for Mitsuho to look forward to. I can't believe they're doing all this for me…and come to think of it, I can't believe they came up with this mud bath idea. And furthermore…where exactly did they get all this mud? They don't know any jutsu." He made a good point. This didn't feel like any special mud from a spa and upon moving around a bit, he through he felt plants. He just hadn't noticed it before. "Ummm…Hinako, darling?"
No response for about a minute until she heard Hinako running at full speed. "Daddy?" She rounded the corner and stuck her head out of the sliding door.
"Light of my life, where pray tell did you get all this mud?"
"Oh that's ok daddy, we got it from the backyard near mommy's garden. There was a big dirt patch that nobody was using so..."
"Oh crap…that was for Hinata's roses! She is gonna have a fit! Sorry honey, next time maybe the mud bath wouldn't be such a good idea." He gulped again. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, even if it was the sweet Hinata. Of course it was the kids who did it…they'd get a pass. "Oh…ok sweetie…just as long as you didn't use too much."
"How's the mud bath daddy?" She couldn't help but chuckle aloud seeing her father covered in the green masque with cucumber slices on his eyes. He looked like a horrible reject of a monster.
"Oh! Oh it's great! I feel my skin healthier already!" He praised as he slyly dropped some twigs and what he uncomfortably recognized as an earthworm off the side of the pool.
"Ok daddy, stay there for just a little longer and we'll get the cream thingy off you and you can get out of the mud bath for our next stage in the day of beauty."
Natsuko cheered from the kitchen. "DAY OF BEAUTY!"
He sighed. "Ok…ok…I will wait." His initial panic mode had to subside seeing how his girls already did the deed of digging Hinata's backyard up. The masque was surprisingly soothing as were the slices. The girls had done their homework. "My little ladies…mom taught them well."
Another half-hour passed by and like clockwork, the two of them came rushing in to a semi-snoozing Naruto.
"He's sleepin!'"
"Silly daddy."
"Shhh…let's get the slices off 'im." Moving so quiet you could almost hear a pin drop, they slowly grabbed each slice and exposed his eyes again. The brightness made him squint to where he was up again.
"Ohhhhh…girls?"
"Here, daddy. You were sleepin' again, daddy. It was almost a whole hour." Hinako scolded him for not paying more attention.
"Daddy likes his naps."
A muddy hand came out and poked Natsuko on the nose. "That he does, princess." She smiled right back.
The two of them carefully peeled off his masque. Hinako was being the natural commander again. "Now be careful with the masque Natsuko."
"I am…I am…"
"I'm just saying, you're clumsy sometimes." And as soon as she said that she had torn a chunk of the masque off and left it flapping on Naruto's face.
Natsuko gave her a raspberry. "Who's clumsy now?"
"Girls…no fighting on daddy's birthday."
They both nodded sheepishly as the last bits and pieces of the masque came off. "Ok daddy, it's time to wash off the mud and join us for your hair and nails treatment. I will get the water."
Natsuko directed Naruto to stand up and he did, dripping mud everywhere from his neck down. Not a second after he got up did Hinako hit him from behind with a hose. The cold rush made him yelp but there was no complaint getting this dirt and mud off of him. Natusko came rushing in with a warm robe once all the mud had come off. He felt like he was at a spa with such exceptional service…and the only tips he'd have to leave were hugs and kisses.
"Oh wow…a nice warm robe. Are you two sure you're not trying to run a spa here for others?" They giggled and both said no in unison. He ruffled his hair with his fingertips. "So you girls said you have something in store for my hair and nails."
"Yep yep!" Natsuko bellowed out. "Gonna make daddy's hair and nails shiny and pretty for the day of beauty!"
Naruto couldn't help but walk a little funny with that dirt on his undies and inside as well but for the sake of his kids he kept his composure.
They led him out to the porch where he and Hinata would typically sit, read, eat breakfast or lunch, watch the sunset, spend quality time together, and then spend "quality time" together on occasion. There stood Hinata's reclining chair, something she had gotten as a surprise gift from Yamato, made of fine wood and cushioned with soft, sliky pillows. Behind it, two buckets of water and Hinata's personal hair products. To its side, what looked like an emory and several other nail care items. "Oh…this'll be nice."
"Have a seat, daddy." Natsuko guided him like a maître d' to a patron. He snickered at the royal treatment, ironically fitting him being Hokage and all. He obliged and sat on it. He raised his eyebrows, now remembering how blissfully comfortable this chair actually was. Hinako moved behind him while Natsuko rushed to his right hand.
"Ok now we move on to the deluxe hair treatment, manicure, and pedicure!"
"Pretty up those nails!"
"I see, well let's get to it then ladies." Breaking the mood however, was his stomach which unexpectedly growled and raised the attention of his daughters. It had only been three hours though since he swallowed up the breakfast feast they prepared for him, every…single…bite.
Natsuko laughed. "Daddy are you hungry again?"
He was embarrassed. "Ummm…daddy's stomach is a little weird sometimes. Don't worry though my little cuties. It'll go away."
"I hope so, dad." Hinako spoke up.
"Judging by all that chatter in the kitchen, Hinako, I can imagine you've got another big surprise waiting for me after all this. Still…makes me wonder what Hinata is doing with Mitsuho."
"Ok daddy we need you to sit back and rest your neck."
He reclined and let his feet kick up and his head tilt back to where he stared at Hinako directly in her face, deep into those dark blue eyes of hers. He was told that they were that of his mother's, Kushina Uzumaki. When he found that out and saw an old picture of his mother, he nearly burst into tears. For a man of unbridled confidence and determination, his family was the one thing that made him melt like butter.
She smiled. "What's up, daddy?" She had no idea.
Shaking his head lightly, he dismissed his deep inner thought. "Nothing…nothing at all, honey. Just daddy thinking to himself."
"Silly daddy." Natsuko muttered to herself.
"Oh my little girls…if only you knew." He hadn't really talked much about his parents, mostly due to the fact he never got to see them save for that one time his father saved him from the demon inside him and from Nagato.
A sudden feeling of small lips hit him on the forehead followed by a giggle from Hinako. "Are you ready for your hair treatment now?"
"Whenever you're ready…"
He couldn't stifle his chuckling as her little fingers rubbed through his scalp, tickling the hairs from neck to top. Meanwhile Natsuko was busy rubbing his nails with the small files she borrowed from Hinata. Naruto could tell she was trying her hardest, especially with the clipper trying to get any and all signs of a hangnail or something that didn't meet up to her standards. It was cute he thought to himself, his daughters trying so hard to make his day just like at a spa. Hinako's work made it feel more like a deep massage than a hair washing, and he liked it, that and the soap bubbles tingling all over his follicles.
Natsuko was busy mumbling some gibberish common of a six-year-old girl while trying to knead into her father's hands with her little fingers. She smiled though, seeing her father's smile as the impetus to keep going and that she was making him happy. It wasn't so hard she thought. It wasn't like her dad's friend Choji's hands whose were the size of a bear's. And it wasn't like he was being difficult like her "uncle" Shikamaru, the "uncle" moniker more for his role as godfather of Natsuko. She wasn't the most observant of little girls, but she knew a whiner when she saw one, and many a time she asked her dad what was wrong with him. He would laugh and tell her about his wife "Auntie 'mari" and that when she got older she'd understand why Shikamaru was like that. With satisfaction she blew on his fingers and all the dust off. What Naruto hadn't noticed when he first got there, and much to Natsuko and Hinako's delight, were the bottles of acrylic and colored polish lying subtly by the clippers and file. It was their goal to give him a day of beauty, and by the heavens they were going to do it with the flair of pretty nails.
Hinako kept washing his hair with sweet-smelling shampoo and the finest conditioner that their mom had at her disposal. Naruto couldn't remember the last time he had his hair pampered in this fashion. Hinata would bathe him from time to time, singing her sweet melodies which usually ended up with her in the tub and on one very special occasion, her becoming pregnant with Natsuko.
What he hadn't noticed was Natsuko slyly applying the acrylic to his fingernails. She kept her snickering to a minimum as the gentle breeze and birds were drowning out the noise. "Almost done on the hands, daddy."
"That's good, Natsuko."
The wind was crucial in getting the acrylic to quickly dry. In the mean time she started to file his toenails and do the same song and dance as with the hands.
He was impressed with their efficiency. "Wow…this is feeling pretty good. Now I see what Hinata's talkin' about with the hand and foot rubs I give her." By the time Hinako was done letting the conditioner soak in, Natsuko had already gone to work getting the polish on his toenails. But by this time, his nostrils picked up a scent. "What is that…"
Hinako forced his head back. "Daddy, please! We can't make your hair beautiful if you keep moving around." She had just bought her sister some more time. "Besides, we're almost ready for the wash."
"Ok, ok…sorry…"
She nodded to Natsuko who quickly busted out the yellow, orange, and purple polish. "Mommy loves her purple and daddy loves orange and yellow. This will be perfect!" Now she had already coordinated where the colors would go so this was no problem. As delicately as a six-year-old could, she applied the purple polish to Naruto's toenails, the pinky toes being the biggest challenge for her. She could actually feel a sweat drop off her as her tongue stuck out in sheer concentration.
"What…what is that stuff Natsuko?" Naruto inquired.
Her heart jumped for a second, but then she thought of a good fib. "It's some special stuff daddy. Mommy uses it to fort'fy her," she paused trying to think of the word, "cu'cals." She probably meant cuticles but completely muddled the pronunciation.
Naruto mumbled something in acceptance. He rarely paid mind to Hinata's beauty products except for how he would occasionally mention that she didn't need them. Eventually he understood women will be women and like to have those things regardless. He knew she knew what he thought, but it was just the nature of the beast. He knew his little girls would be like that too someday. Besides, he wasn't going to complain about what they do to him in their faces. The cool water cascaded down his scalp and sometimes over his face, Hinako daubing the streaks with a soft towel.
"And now for the hands daddy…" The blonde one squeaked out as she first applied some moisturizer that smelled of lavender and some strange oils. It seemed to mask the smell of the orange and yellow polish perfectly.
"I don't know what you put on, but that smells much better than that other stuff." The girls snickered leaving Naruto curious. "What? What'd I say?"
"Nothing daddy. Just never saw ya like that kind of stuff that mommy puts on."
"I like it in secret, sugar. Let's just say mommy appreciates the fact afterwards without me saying anything." He knew they wouldn't get the subtle hint.
"Hair's almost ready…" Hinako grabbed a plethora of little multi-colored clips and hair flair she and her sister loved to sport and placed them delicately on Naruto's head, his hair thick enough for him not to even notice. She fluffed it up as best she could, in truth having no clue how to style hair. Natsuko in the mean time ran off to the bathroom and returned with a handful of different creams and moisturizers, all Hinata's of course.
"Gotta put these on, daddy. Mud bath was the first step to our pretty skin plan!" The loud squirt signified Natsuko's apathy towards conservation of the creams as he felt a big plop of the goo on his arms and thighs.
"And now…for the towel. We gotta have your hair dry and protected from the wind, so it stays nice and fresh." She wrapped the towel around as best she could, trying to remember how Hinata did it after she took a shower and when Naruto wasn't around sneaking a peek.
"Let's work on the eyes now." Natsuko went to him while his eyes were closed and stroked his eyelashes with some dark liner of sorts. She had no idea guys didn't wear this but she thought in her mind her father would look even better with it.
"This will hide those marks on your face, daddy." Natsuko went towards Naruto's cheek lines, the permanent marks of the demon inside him, with the blush. Everywhere else on the face she touched up except for that, but they weren't going away. "Hinako…they're…they're not dis'pearin'."
"Try harder…"
She daubed it even more, but they wouldn't fade. She started to whine in frustration. Naruto up to this point had allowed them to gussy up his face but he couldn't let his daughter get all worked up. His hand lightly grabbed her little one and she looked up at him with her little grey eyes. "It's ok sweetie. They're scars from a very long time, long before you were born. They're not going away no matter what you put on it."
"But why daddy?"
He didn't want to ruin their "Day of Beauty" by dropping the truth on them about the Fox. "It's something I'll tell you when you're older, ok? Until then, I believe you father still needs his beauty cream am I right?"
She paused but then shook her head. "Of course! Silly me…daddy still needs the finishing touches."
"Phew! That was a close one. Sorry girls, but I don't think you're ready to understand what's inside of me. Mommy does. She knows why I was hated when I was your age but she still loved me. Hell it's part of why I married her. But until you're older, I just cannot tell you."
"All done!" Hinako grabbed a mirror from the nearby drink stand and handed it to Naruto. It had taken them a good hour and a half or so but by the heavens they were getting there to bringing their father to the fullest height of aesthetic beauty.
He in return expressively displayed his enthusiasm. "Oh boy…can't wait to see…eee…eee…eee……" He was speechless staring into the mirror.
"Beautiful!" Natsuko cheered! "Our daddy is now the prettiest in all of Konoha!"
"I um…" He didn't quite know how to define what he saw, his hair wrapped tightly in a pink towel that beyond a shadow of a doubt the girls took from their linen closet. His skin overwhelmingly smelled of lavender and some sort of strange oils that he'd smell in a bubble bath. His body felt slightly tingly with the mint lotion applied to his muscles. However, most striking of all, was his face. Every single inch of it was covered in makeup. His eyes were lined with deep black mascara, his face was completely covered in a light beige blush that hid any and all blemishes save for the whisker marks. It also produced a surreal sheen to his skin that he only could really see in Hinata. Around his lips they had applied what he thought was simple balm but instead a sparkly gloss. He had looked more like a seven-year-old girl than a thirty-something man…he looked more like his two daughters. "Oh man…I pray the fellas never, EVER see this…" He had finally thought of the word that best described the job his kids did on his face, overkill.
"Do you like it, daddy?" They looked into his eyes with a piercing gaze, just starving for approval.
"It's…it's fantastic! I look like a brand new Naruto Uzumaki!" He boasted in a conscious moment of false bravado. That was before he noticed his nails. "And…and…wow! Such pretty color for my nails! Purple, yellow, and orange! Aren't you two creative?" He swore to himself that he looked more like a member of the now destroyed group Akatsuki than anything else with those polished nails. Inside he wanted to take a shower with a giant bar of soap, but deeper inside he smiled. He couldn't let his pride as a man ruin their intentions. The ruse worked. Their eyes shone with a surreal brilliance, like they were on some sort of S-ranked mission and had accomplished it without a hitch.
"Then I declare daddy's day of beauty…a success!" Hinako stuck her finger in the air and screamed at the sky.
"DAY OF BEAUTY!"
He had to hand it to them. It took them, overall, around six hours preparing his breakfast meal, his…interesting mud bath, the masque, the make-up, the polish, the hair treatment. Though he looked utterly ridiculous, he actually did feel the improvement of his face and skin. He figured such was the price of beauty. "C'mere girls!" They flocked to him as he enveloped them in a power hug. "MMMmmmmmMMM! Thank you, girls."
"Happy birthday, daddy…" Natsuko whispered.
He savored the soft grip of their hands on his robe as the setting sun started to bear its rays upon them. "Daddy loves you both so very, very much." Before he knew it, a small drop emerged from his eye and ran down his cheek, his daughters none the wiser.
"Are, are you ok daddy?" Hinako grew inquisitive.
"Yeah…yeah I'm ok. I'm just…thankful…that's all."
Her eyes opened up in shock. "Oh! We almost forgot! Natsuko…we gotta go to the kitchen! Daddy, you stay here and don't move outta here!"
"Oh…then…what should I do then Hinako?"
"Take a nap!" Natsuko answered for her older sister.
"Oh now they actually recommend it…" He rolled his eyes. "Ok my little sweet pea pods, I'll just sit out here and watch the sun.
"I'll get you a drink!" Natsuko sped off to the kitchen and in a few minutes came out with an ice cold glass of water. "There ya go!"
He casually took a seat on his own chair. "Thanks girls. Now…tell me…what other surprise did you have in store for me?"
"It's a surprise, daddy. No askin' questions."
"Ok then. Well…I'll be waiting."
"Good! Don't wanna ruin the surprise."
The two of them scampered off again, leaving Naruto to reflect as he sat there, covered in makeup, resting and reflecting for a moment. The hug he gave the two of them left him thinking deeply. He closed his eyes and remembered when it all started.
"N-Naruto…I have, I have something to tell you. You know how I've…I've been sick lately, feeling nauseous and all?"
"Is everything ok, Hinata honey?"
"Well, um, I went to the medical-nin. He conducted some tests and well…" She rubbed her belly subtly.
"Well…what? I see you rubbing your stomach but that's not answering the question."
"I'm expecting, Naruto." Her soft face revealed a smile.
He tilted his head in confusion. "Expecting? You expecting a test result or medicine or something?"
"N-no…I mean expecting…the other kind."
"What other kind? Really…you're keeping me in suspense here."
She was taken aback by his obliviousness. "That night Naruto…the night where we…well you know…" she fiddled with her fingers nervously, "I think you…well because of that, I have a little something inside of me."
"A little…something…? You mean…?"
She sniffled and nodded slowly, rubbing her revealed belly again. "Naruto…I'm pregnant."
He had to sit for a second, the shock coming at him like a fireball. "Oh my…y-you're pregnant? You mean, I'm gonna be…a father? You're gonna be a mom?" She nodded again. "Hinata…oh my God, Hinata." He hoisted her up with all his might, catching her unawares. "This is awesome! I'm gonna be a dad! I'm gonna have a little kid to teach how to be a legendary ninja!"
"Naruto…please…"
"Oh! Jeez…sorry! I'll put you down. Oh Hinata, I'm so happy. Sorry I didn't pick up on it earlier, I'm such an idiot."
"Naruto, it's ok." She started to tear up. It was a rush for her as well knowing she was bearing the child of the man she loved her whole life.
His hand brushed her hair as he held her close. "I love you…so much, Hinata."
"I love you too, Naruto."
He warped to the moment in the hospital, where Hinata lay there looking like she had just returned from the worst mission in her life. Oh how she screamed and cried, Naruto doing the best he could to calm and soothe her. She pushed and struggled, taking all the pain that the heavens had unleashed upon her, but in one all-encompassing moment, it went away. A tiny shriek was heard and their hearts jumped to their throats.
"Oh my God…" Naruto muttered.
"Mr. and Mrs. Uzumaki…congratulations. It's a girl." The nurses announced as they quickly dressed and cleaned the tiny, screaming infant. There, wrapped in a fluffy white linen, lay their daughter.
Naruto became choked up. "Hin…Hinata…it's our daughter. Our beautiful, beautiful baby girl."
"N-N-Naruto…" She herself could barely speak from the exhaustion and elation combined. "Our daughter…" She cradled the mewling baby in her arms as the nurse handed her over. Hinata started weeping. Naruto couldn't fight it back and wept with her. "I'm…I'm so happy, Naruto."
"I know…me too. Look at her, love. Just look at her. She's ours, our little girl." The infant had calmed down and opened her eyes, revealing a surreal blue deeper than Naruto's. "Those eyes…" It hit Naruto like a sack of bricks. He had once seen a picture of his mother and her eyes. This little one's…they looked identical to hers. "They're like my mother."
"Your…mother?"
"Yeah, her eyes are just like that of hers." She noticed tears running down Naruto's face well after their collective weeping of joy. "This is…embarrassing. I can't let my little girl see her daddy cry like this."
A hand brushed his cheek and left eye. Hinata had some strength in her to lift her arms. "My Naruto. It's ok. Nobody judges you. Your parents would be so proud.. We all love you, including our little girl…our little Hinako."
"Hinako?"
"I just thought of it. It means 'child of harmony.' I like it. She's our girl born in an age of peace you helped create Naruto."
"Hinata…" He looked at her, his exhausted but beautiful wife, and saw the confidence in her words. "Very well. Her name is Hinako. I like it too. I like the meaning behind it." He turned to the infant. "Our little Hinako. Hey there, welcome to the world. It's your mommy and daddy talking to you. You're very special do you know that? We love you…that's right…we love you." He cooed the wee one with his finger and soft voice. He looked at his daughter and swelled with pride, but as he turned he saw Hinata fall asleep before they could even wheel her into recovery. "My wife, my Hinata. You did well. We did well. I love you."
He remembered a little more than a year later, they were back in the hospital but this time bearing their second daughter, the blonde wildcat Natsuko. This time Naruto had worked off of Hinata's name scheme and named her this time, something that meant "child of the summer." The small tuft of blonde hair gave Naruto the notion she was going to be as sunny as the season.
"Looks like Hinako's got a little sister." Naruto commented lightly as Hinata lay in bed again. He walked around with the babe in his arms, Natsuko staring back at him with the eyes of the Hyuga. This time Hinata was elated to see that, but she would've accepted and loved her child no matter what the look was.
"She's beautiful, Naruto. She's going to look like you."
Naruto laughed, but little did he realize those words would ring true. "Am I going to have a little female Naruto on my hands?" He jokingly asked the infant who squirmed her arms looking for purchase. Her right hand found Naruto's finger and gripped it tightly. "Hinata! She's got some strength!"
"Maybe I will be right after all. She may have my eyes, the Byakugan, but she'll be you all over." He turned and smiled at her. "What?"
"By the heavens, are you sure you're not an angel? I didn't really believe that stuff but every day I'm married to you and when I see our kids, I can't help but think they're more half-angel than half-Hyuga."
"Naruto…"
"I dunno Hinata. Maybe when I see you, and I see the hurt I put you through for these kids, and then we see our beautiful daughters born, I can't help but think that I don't deserve you."
She took a deep breath and let it all out. Her eyes closed and she let out an amused chuckle. "Naruto, come here." When he was in range sitting down next to her she wrapped her arms around him. "Oh Naruto, I love you so much. It's not a question of deserving me. It's about the two of us just being blessed to be together. There's no merit involved, only love and devotion. When we married, you said that you would give your all to me like I did you. There was no hint of obligation in your tone…only the tender dedication a perfect husband like you could give."
"Hinata…" He reached in and kissed her, hovering to her ear. "I'm so glad I have you."
Then came Mitsuho, the first Uzumaki boy, his name meaning light and protection, a light that would be a new start for Naruto and Hinata and a break from their troubled past. In all honesty, the conception of their son was actually more the act of wild passion on the porch than the true intent of having another child. In short, he wasn't exactly planned but when the news came to them they were just as ecstatic as they were with their girls. Having a son was a whole new experience for him, a chance for him to really focus on building a prodigy.
"He's gonna be like me all right!" He boasted to a smiling Hinata who sat on the couch inside, holding the week-old Mitsuho. "I'm so excited Hinata. I'm gonna have a little me and he'll be Hokage one day too! Believe it!"
"Well…let's not rule out our daughters Naruto."
He looked embarrassed. "Right! How silly of me…I'm sorry. I guess they'll have to compete for it."
She snickered. "He's quite handsome, Naruto. He looks just like you." She cooed the grunting baby with a gentle hum, the same melodic tone that melted Naruto like ice on a scorching hot dirt road.
He sat beside her and nuzzled up. "Our kids, Hinata, our three perfect kids. I can't believe it."
Hinata was silent. Her expressions of wholeness were all Naruto needed to understand how happy she was. She had won his heart, shared his hand in marriage, and bore his children. Her dream had come true from all that time ago when he had once mentioned how she'd be a fantastic wife. She wouldn't tear up though. Those days were past her where she'd cry over anything she told herself.
"Naruto. I have everything I wanted, and it's all thanks to you."
He pulled her in close. "I say the same about you every day I wake up."
The baby gurgled out something. They both laughed.
"Well Hinata, I guess he has something to say about it too…our little Mitsuho."
He loved his girls and that was shown again and again, but there was just something different with a son. He had someone that down the road he'd be able to talk to about girls and parties and being a ninja. Mitsuho was his opportunity to raise a son the way his own father would've wanted to raise him. However, it had turned out his son was a lot shyer than predicted. If anything despite the clear Naruto-like looks he was like Hinata in character, gentle but timid. Hinata would baby him on occasion, much to Naruto's chagrin, but he couldn't stay bitter about it. He loved her and his son too much. Luckily, Natsuko with her infinite energy would always get Mitsuho in a mood of excitement and playfulness and tell him that he's going to be like dad, helping Naruto forge the bond with him a little easier. He remembered the happiness his birth brought the both of them and to Hinata's father who was more than pleased to have a young male to help spread the Hyuga bloodline. His friends were also congratulatory including Sasuke who, being such a good friend, chided him on finally getting a son.
He loved his son. He loved the bright and innocent face, a face just like his and without the whiskers painfully reminding him of the fate he carries. He loved the caring nature Mitsuho possessed that reminded Naruto of his wife and from what he was told his own mother as well.
So Naruto sat there in his chair, in rare and meditative form, thinking about the joy and anxiety his three children brought him. It was his birthday though. He shouldn't be thinking about the anxiety. His kids and his wife were the greatest gifts to him, far more than the recognition he once sought from the village and his title as Hokage. He thought to himself that he'd gladly give up being Hokage if given the choice between that and his family.
"My family…" He raised his glass to the sky. "Looks like I got to fulfill what you wanted me to, dad." The cool liquid cured his parched mouth.