Chapter 03: Snaps of the Reversible Past
Summary: A cure for Naruto's regression is one step ahead. Hinata loved cameras as much as Boruto did.
Uzumaki Naruto, the Seventh Hokage and a father of two was regressed into a five-month-old baby. This was an undeniable fact. As the blood test conducted on Naruto, the result from his DNA had solidly proven that he was the child of Uzumaki Kushina and Namikaze Minato.
"What's the verdict?"
Sakura hummed, closing her eyes to ponder. "Naruto's body and mentality are of a five-month-old infant. There's no strange solution compounded in his blood and we can be fairly assured that there was no jutsu used on him either. Strangely, his regression doesn't affect the jinchūriki seal," she coughed. "Here's the final evaluation on this matter: Naruto is in a perfect condition." Even more so since the Hokage's inauguration, she added to herself.
Everyone who held their breath sighed in relief, but it was short-lived.
"However…" she uttered strongly, her voice stressed in a warning tone. This situated them to tense once again as the air began to thicken in dread.
"However…?"
The prolonged interval of the next sentence was ominous.
The moment the pink-haired kunoichi laid her sight on Naruto, her serious eyes lost its intensity in a flash, her frown coiled into a goofy smile. "I didn't know Naruto being a baby is just too precious!" she squealed adoringly, tapping her finger lightly on the small Hokage's nose which prompted him to sneeze cutely.
Everybody was incredibly stupefied at the sudden loss of the situation's seriousness that they were temporarily speechless to voice out their reactions, but the tension amongst all those present inside the laboratory was gladly released.
"Isn't that right!?" Sarada bubbled in agreement of her mom's perception despite the previous nerve-wracking tension.
'She sure was quick to adapt,' Inojin observed, face apathetic.
'Women,' Shikamaru thought in relieved exasperation as Shikadai had similar notion in mind: 'Girls.'
"You're mean, Sakura Oba-san! You made us worry for nothing!" Boruto exploded indignantly, his face turned red in vexation.
"Sorry, sorry, I was a tiny bit distracted," said the kūnoichi with her eyes shut lightly, palms pressing together in an apology gesture. Then, calmly, she imparted, "But on some serious note, we have to find someone outside of Konoha who has knowledge on this particular field or I'm afraid Naruto will restart his life all over again as a five-month-old."
...
...
...
That stoned everyone on spot, viably earned each person's astonished silence. Why didn't she say so right in the beginning? Oh right, she was too preoccupied by Naruto's newfound cuteness.
Mama, thought Sarada, staring at her mom blankly to point out her speechlessness.
'Ara? I feel like I have said something wrong,' Sakura thought heedlessly even though she was conscious of the gloomy, despondent vibes clouding over everyone's head. Then, she realised why. 'Ah, I see. My bad.'
Shikamaru's brows knitted together; stroking the nape of his neck to soothe his agitation. His head throbbed; slightly stressed from overthinking the upcoming, new conflict that was ranged from bad to worst situation ever. They couldn't possibly put the entire responsibility on an infant's shoulders to govern Konoha, despite being officially positioned as a Hokage two months ago. In any cases, it would put both Konoha and the Hokage under the mercy of potential dangers.
"Are you... suggesting his infant form is irreversible?" he inquired, not liking where this was heading.
"It's highly feasible due to the unknown nature of what or who has altered Naruto's age. Therefore, whatever or whoever responsible for this circumstance doesn't apply the use of jutsu, needles or pills. There is no historical retrospect of similar case like this either. To put it simply, we are completely clueless for now," Sakura concluded, her expression similar to Shikamaru's distressed one.
"I see," Shikamaru acknowledged with a thoughtful nod. "Do you think it's possible that others might catch the same condition as Naruto?"
Recalling what the medical-nin had stored in mind, she addressed to the subject, "Given from the result of Naruto's blood test, what he gets cannot influence others from getting it – which makes our possible enemy evidently elusive."
"Toward this point, we can assume they're targeting the Hokage at worst," Shikamaru said slowly, contemplating at the probability. Maybe the security's been lax, he thought.
At that being said, Boruto's imagination began to run as wild as a hyperactive child being playfully creative and inventive in its own ways. His head bowed to mask the emotions flashing through his sky-blue eyes. Underneath them, his breathing was slightly irregular, shallow, as his protective hold on the baby somewhat tightened, a subconscious gesture of self-assurance to cast away fear; the fear of his dad being injured, being robbed away from him – the fear of everything misfortune that would befall upon his dad's safety and well-being. Sure, he was the Hokage, strongest shinobi in Konoha, but right now at his current stage, he was so soft and small that he could fit into Boruto's arms, with so many vulnerable points that the chances of his regressed dad getting harmed were high. And he was also Boruto's dad and any child in the right mind would want their parents to be safe.
But what if, what if– His six-year-old mind was the personification of a poisonous waterfall as of now, dismal enough that it led Boruto to circuitously wander its line of thinking in murk; feeding his brain with ideas of the worst possibilities that could possibly occur to his biological father. The boy gritted his teeth with a frown unsuitable for someone of his age.
Naruto, despite at this age, was able to sense the negativity projected from his temporary guardian. Looking up curiously, he dangled his chubby, small arms upward until they aimlessly landed on the other's cheeks.
"Aa?"
Boruto's eyes shot up in surprise when he felt something small and warm pushed up against his cheeks and kneading them in a circular motion. He glanced down at his occupied arms. Was his dad trying to comfort him...? Earnestly grateful, the selfless action made him smile tenderly, his posture relaxed as both his mind and emotion gradually subdued in placidity.
After he regained complete composure, he pulled back his attention toward the on-going discussion, minutes passed and his mind wondered elsewhere.
I'm bored.
He spared a quick glance at his dad and a thought hit his head.
Right, a baby needs their vitamins and toys, clothes too, Boruto thought, seemingly familiar with what necessity an infant should require. His mind travelled back to where he had duties to care for a younger Himawari. Where he was needed the most by her at that time; feeding her milk, changing her diapers, draining himself by playing with her until her energy was spent and protecting her from all threats. Despite the exhaustion, the basic knowledge he earned from experiences didn't disappoint him.
But Kā-chan doesn't know about Tō-chan's condition. I should go tell her about this. I wonder what reaction she would make.
With a curt bow, Boruto excused himself, "I'm going to take my leave now." But the two adults were too absorbed in their conversation that their ears blocked out what Boruto had uttered. "Are you three coming or what?"
"Yeah," Shikadai drawled. "Finally, I can't believe you just ask."
"Oh, shut up. You, Inojin?"
"Count me in. My ears bleed from listening to adults talking about this boring stuff all day."
"How about you, Sarada?"
"Maybe next time," Sarada said. "As much as I would like to be involved, solely because of Hokage-sama that is, I'm accompanying mom. Who knows what I'll learn from this boring stuff."
"Suit yourself." With that being said, Boruto happily left the building along with a joyful baby in his arms and the other two behind him.
"– can't believe this is actually happening. Nevertheless, I have to trust you on this one, Sakura. Do you know someone of such?" Shikamaru inquired with a tint of desperation in his tone.
Sakura nodded. "In a way, they were mentioned by a drunken Tsunade-sama once. We can locate them but the journey is going to be arduous without someone who possesses vast geographical knowledge."
"Not to worry, we've got capable ninjas at our disposal."
"I know that." Sakura smiled before frowning at the reminder of other problem that concerned exclusively to leaders and their advisors. "What about the conference of the Five Kages? Now that everything has come down to this, we need an acting Hokage to represent Naruto, don't we?"
"Yeah, I've got it all covered," Shikamaru replied confidently. "Kakashi-san will fill in that role once again as Naruto's substitution for that meeting and the rest of the Hokage works until Naruto's back to normal."
"Kakashi-sensei? Yes, that makes sense but he better not be late." Painfully aware of her former teacher's bad habit of being tardy too often and producing lines of cliché quotes to back up his excuse, most commonly: "Sorry I was late, got lost in the path of life", Sakura's face darkened, bumping her fist into her palm as if she was ready to punch something hard. "He better not be," she repeated firmly.
Shikamaru sweat-dropped and said, "Late or not, Naruto's absence is going to be bombarded with questions either way."
"True," Sakura admitted reluctantly. She looked around and blinked, noting the room rather spacious unlike previously, she started, "Where–?"
"They left. Boruto told you, but both of you were preoccupied with your discussion," Sarada briefly answered Sakura's unfinished question.
"They left with Naruto?" Sakura asked; apprehension smothered her cat-like feature.
"Yeah, mom," Sarada replied, eyeing her in confusion to why she looked panicky.
"That–"
"– is fine. I told Boruto to take good care of Naruto," Shikamaru cut her off, reassuring her.
"But if he's exposed outside with that vulnerable form–"
"Sakura," he said in finality. "I've dispatched an ANBU to watch over them 24/7, anyhow Naruto is much safer if he stays at his residence."
The pink-haired doctor inclined curtly, trusting the advisor's words.
"Now, do you know the location of the witch doctors?"
~La La La~
"Ne, Boruto," Shikadai began.
"Nani?"
"What are you doing?"
"Nothing," Boruto replied nonchalantly, his narrowed eyes glancing furtively on every side in search for potential threats, stealthily observing the hoi-polloi conducting their daily activities behind walls per walls; his position crouching on a knee with the orange jacket bundled around the baby safely in his arms.
"What you're doing is nothing, you say?"
"Yeah," Boruto said with a nod, still observing his surroundings in careful scrutiny. He added with a hiss, "Hush, Shikadai. You're blowing our cover."
Shikadai snorted. "You mean your cover."
"Whatever. We're almost home."
"Watching you doing this is tiring," he commented.
"Then follow my footsteps."
"That's even more tiring."
"You're not even doing anything, you lazy bum."
"I am – watching you and your ridiculous antics."
"Well, what do you know?" Shikadai discerned the blond's snide tone in his speech and he sure wouldn't like it even for a bit. "Watching is equivalent to doing nothing."
The six-year-old Nara's eyebrow twitched. "You're impossible."
"Impossible to defeat? I know."
Shikadai groaned while Inojin smiled, verily amused with the whole situation.
~La La La~
The echoing tick of the clock had proven how provocatively silent the room was, confining the sole source of the sharp, endless sound inside. Eyes closed, Hinata was seated on the sofa where it was usually her husband's spot when he was reading the newspaper or scrolls every morning like a well-memorised ritual. Subconsciously, her slender fingers brushed over her chin in unmoving contemplation. She opened her eyes as she rose up to her feet, briskly marching ahead to the house's doorway before stopping dead in her tracks nearly halfway to the exit, seemingly indecisive of her impetuous action which she had put considerable amount of thinking into it. She shook her head, walking back toward the sofa and sat back down with a tired sigh as if restarting this all over from the beginning.
"Mama, you keep doing that. Why's that?" Himawari asked. "Is something wrong?"
Hinata regarded her beloved daughter with a reassuring smile, although faint. "Don't worry, Himawari. Mama is just worried for your papa."
"What's wrong with papa? Is he okay?" Himawari's expression turned from curiosity to worry.
"I'm not entirely sure," Hinata answered honestly. She would lie to Himawari to retain the uneasy feeling from being contagious if she wasn't so worried sick for her husband. In a way, the worries made her candour with her feelings, yet indecisive with choices. "Shikamaru-kun mentioned your dad wasn't in his office so I'm worried if something has happened to him. This explains why... I'm quite agitated to your dad's well-being, sweetheart."
Himawari stared at her mother to process this bit of information in her head before her face hardened in understanding. She inched toward Hinata with a wide grin and confidently declared, "It's going to be alright, mama! Papa's strong, very strong, so nothing bad is going to happen to him! You told me so, right?"
Surprise fleeted across Hinata's gentle feature, before her lips curled up softly. In the end, any remaining of her perturbation consoled through her daughter's words of strength. Children grow up so fast.
"Certainly," she beamed in sentimental agreement, tousling her head gently in affection but not enough excitement to ruffle up the neatly brushed hair. Standing up from her seated position, she asked Himawari if she wanted to accompany and help her with groceries, which the youngest Uzumaki willingly agreed to offer her mother her help, much to Hinata's added happiness.
"Have you gotten the list with you?" Hinata asked, purse on her left hand.
"Yeah," Himawari chirped as she raised the grocery list carded between her thumb and finger.
"Ready?"
"Yeah!"
Just as they were about to leave the house, Hinata could have sworn she heard footsteps approaching the outdoor.
Is that Naruto-kun? Hinata thought expectantly, hand twisting the doorknob in anticipation.
"Ah."
Outside of the doorway, Boruto's hand was a few inches away from the opposite of the door handle, with Shikadai and Inojin at each of his sides, each appearing to be honestly surprised.
It isn't Naruto-kun...
Hinata was slightly disappointed but the curiosity smashed the former reaction to why Boruto was home rather early, in contrast of his announcement this morning.
"Kā-chan?"
Hinata broke out from her thought. "Okaeri, Boruto-kun."
"Okaeri, Nī-chan!"
"Tadaima, Kā-chan, Himawari."
"Good morning, Uzumaki-san," Inojin and Shikadai greeted her, bowing respectfully, which she returned back the favour. "Good morning to the both of you."
"Kā-chan, I gotta tell you something important."
"What is it?" Hinata tilted her head.
"Tō-chan is…"
"Naruto-kun?" She took a glance at what Boruto was holding. That is Naruto-kun's jacket and that's the bento I told Boruto to deliver it to him. Apprehension seized both her heart and guts. "Has something happened to your father, Boruto?" she demanded, the agitation in her tone was obvious.
"Well yeah… he, he's…" Boruto hesitated. He was fine before. Why did he find it so hard to tell his mom? Come on, spit it out, don't make Kā-chan even more worried as she is already, he told himself, shuffling his arms awkwardly and then inspiring oxygen into his lungs to prepare the words out from his mouth.
"Tō-chan has turned into a baby!" revealed Boruto, his eyes shut.
Hinata blinked. "Come again?"
"Tō-chan has turned into a baby," he repeated, his voice clear with calmness.
She blinked once again, her lips parted as if trying to voice something out but nothing came in mind. In all honesty, she was currently harbouring an internal conflict on how to deliver proper respond to Boruto's unique declaration.
Next to Hinata, her daughter approached her brother with curious steps. She stopped by his side. Her heels lifted from the ground, tilting her head upward for a better view. Boruto was reminded of their stature differences and helped her by bending his legs down a little.
Himawari's eyes slowly brightened. "Wah! It's true! Papa has become so small, even smaller than me," she commented, looking at what seemed to be fully occupied in Boruto's arms in glee.
"Ah, he's waking up. Mama, take a look at this smaller version of papa," Himawari encouraged her mom, unable to tear away her eyes from her shrunken-into-a-baby dad.
Hinata was pretty much lost for words that she let her body move of its own accord, though hesitation implied in her movement. The snow-eyed mother slowly peered down at her son's arms. As if time stopped by itself, the moment she landed her eyes on a very familiar-looking infant, she felt an arrow struck down her heart in a blink of an eye.
Oh my, a b-baby Naruto-kun! She enveloped her mouth with her palms to veil her surprised gasp. On the other side note, she had garnered series of pictorial collections of her husband when he was between the ages of ten to seventeen, and owned more than a handful of photos when he turned adult. But she had never seen Naruto-kun as an infant. Not ever. Her hands twitched. I have to have it.
"Hold on!"
"Kā-chan?"
"Don't move."
Boruto listened.
With a speed that would bring the Fourth Hokage's name to shame, Hinata came back with not only one but two devices ready in her hands, shooting pictures and video recording of her top interest at the same time.
Boruto and his friends sweat-dropped at the action displayed by the Byakugan holder. In time where technology revolution was introduced in Konoha, receiving her first rectangular-shaped mobile device in purple and a camcorder as a second gift from her father, she had successfully developed her habit of capturing pictures into a full-time obsession; recording every familial moment that mostly revolved around her husband and children, much to her great delight.
Once satisfied with the amount she took, she noticed the awkward expression her son and his friends had put on. "Oh, I'm sorry." She gave them an apologetic smile, removing both devices into her pocket but not before saving the video and pictures she had just acquired from the previous shooting activity.
"Boruto."
"Hai, Kā-chan?" The sudden change of air was tense.
"Tell me everything inside. You two as well," Hinata ordered in a tone where one couldn't find the strength to deviate, ushering the three boys inside the living room.
Once they complied with her request, she activated her Byakugan, thoroughly scanning the outdoor field to look through for any eavesdropper and found one camouflaging in the shadows of a tree. An ANBU… so Shikamaru-kun sends one as a safety precaution… good enough.
Sighing in relief, she shut the door in front of her.
"We aren't going out shopping, mama?"
When Hinata met Himawari's face of disappointment, she assured her with a smile. "We are, sweetie. Until we know what exactly happened to your papa from your big brother and his friends."
"Okay!"
~La La La~
"Make yourselves at home. What do you two want to drink?" Hinata's offer directed to the guests. "We have assortments of freshly squeezed orange juice and lemonade soda. Or would you prefer water?"
"A glass of orange juice, please," Inojin said.
"Lemonade soda would be fine, Uzumaki-san," Shikadai replied after a few seconds of deciding his choice.
"I'll be back in a moment."
Once Hinata fetched respective beverages for her son's friends, she placed each drink on top of the table and was thanked by Shikadai and Inojin. As soon as Hinata was seated comfortably on the sofa, she asked Boruto to explain how they encountered Naruto in that form.
"Okay, so," Boruto started. "You, Kā-chan, asked me to deliver the bento you packed for Tō-chan, so I went to the Hokage tower with Shikadai, Inojin and Sarada. Um, then, when we were inside the building, we saw Shikamaru Oji-san entered Tō-chan's office, so we followed him and overheard him talking to himself–"
"I warned him to knock the door first before entering," Shikadai cut him off. "He didn't listen."
"Hey! You were curious too, so you can't put all the blame on me 'ttebasa," Boruto countered heatedly with a huff. "Besides, it's your dad who didn't close the door and it was open wide too."
Putting faults on my dad now? The nerves of it. "Whose mouth barged in before their knuckles?"
Wait. Did he just insult me? "Are you saying I'm an idiot?"
If you don't get that, then you probably are. "If you want it to be, be my guest then." Shikadai smirked.
Ouch. Inojin flinched.
"Why you–"
"Children."
A word and everyone stopped as if it was an absolute command, all attention attended to the only adult in the living room. Since Naruto was technically an adult, but due to his current state, he was regarded as an innocent bystander who was giggling and watching the scene with oblivious, twinkling eyes as if mocking their misfortune.
Hinata resisted cooing, her fingers twitching. She held her stone-faced mask well.
Stock-still on their spot, everyone, except Himawari whose attention was locked on her dad in fascination, was filled with disconcertment that they wouldn't dare to look anywhere except the Byakugan holder's dead white eyes.
Goosebumps etched on Boruto's skin and he knew the reason why. His terrified eyes waveringly met Hinata's emotionless one and conceded, "I-I promise I will knock next time, Kā-chan."
Hinata nodded and regarded him with a motherly smile. "It is proper etiquette for everyone to do so."
Her eyes shifted to Boruto's friends. "As it's impolite to eavesdrop, but on some circumstances, it's unavoidable." The rest of the unsaid words hung in their heads: I know it's intentional so try not to make it a habit.
"Continue, Boruto. What happened next?" And he continued. He did his best recalling the discussion between the medical-nin and the Hokage's advisor, explaining from the beginning to the end with some verbal help from Shikadai and Inojin. But the bits of information weren't enough for Hinata to connect the dots regarding the matter of her husband's regression.
"I think you should see Shikamaru Oji-san for the rest of the details, Kā-chan," Boruto suggested. "We left in a rush," he added sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head.
"To be honest, the adults' conversation was sooooo boring that we left – is what Boruto meant as well," Inojin interpreted.
"W-well, that's half-true," Boruto reluctantly admitted. "But the reason I left early is because I thought it is best Kā-chan knows about Tō-chan's condition as quickly as possible."
Hinata gave her son a look of confusion, and the tilt of her head was a sign for him to explain further.
"Tō-chan's a baby, right? Then he needs baby stuffs, especially something for him to eat and drink, and I don't think we have those anymore since Himawari's already big enough," he explained. "Tō-chan, uh, his baby form, needs those."
Hinata's eyes softened. "I understand. Good thing Himawari and I have planned to do some shopping and while we're on that, we can buy some formula milk and cereals for your dad." She admitted that it felt strange hearing herself talking about her husband's desideratum for infant nutrition. Rather, the thought of taking care of her babified husband excite her.
"Kā-chan," Boruto addressed, hooking up a piece of paper from his pocket and extending it to his mom. "Here, I've written the things to buy for Tō-chan on this list 'ttebasa!"
"My, you're well-prepared, Boruto," Hinata commented in a surprised manner, fingers pinching up the list off of her son's hand and took a closer look on the content. On the top of the list was scribbled in Boruto's chicken scratch handwriting, titled as: Five-month-old essentials for Tō-chan.
'But this is seriously one complete list of baby items,' she thought in amazement, 'despite the bad penmanship.'
"Thank you Boruto, this lessens the hassle for us." Hinata said with a grateful smile, tousling her son's sunny-coloured hair the same way she did to her daughter.
Boruto proudly rubbed his nose at the approval. He had done well!
Inojin and Shikadai gawked. Since when did he write that?
Consulting the clock, Hinata decided they should be back early, with food and milk. A baby needed to be fed at least four times a day. "We'll be back before lunch. Take really good care of your dad, Boruto," she said firmly. She fully trusted Naruto in Boruto's care. He had done marvellously with Himawari, exhibiting patience and perseverance in his duty as an older brother, so the same thing she could say he would to Naruto.
"Don't worry, Kā-chan! He's in good hands 'ttebasa!" Boruto bubbled in confidence, pumping both fists.
I know. Hinata nodded, turning over to her daughter whose attention hovering all over the blond baby. "Hima-chan, are you going?"
"Hai," Himawari replied, rising up from her feet. Her attention, however, was divided, eyes glued at her dad's direction. She wanted to shop with mama, but she also wanted to play with her papa!
Hinata sighed. "Let's go, you can play with your papa once we've finished shopping," she convinced.
Himawari's grin brightened. "Hai!"
Once Boruto's mother and sister stepped out the house, the three boys and the baby were the only individuals left in the house.
"I know spending time with your dad has always been in your mind but do you have any idea what you're doing?" Shikadai asked, instantly breaking the silence. "Taking care for a baby can be a real drag."
"Yep, I've helped my parents a lot when Himawari was younger," Boruto replied. "So, let's start with putting him in proper clothes. Tō-chan–" is gone.
Gone!
"Where is he!?" Boruto burst out in wild panic, hysterics evident in his wide eyes.
"I don't know! He was just here seconds ago!" Shikadai replied, eyes flicking around the room to identify blond hair other than Boruto's.
Boruto furiously scratched the sides of his head in frustration. "Argh! We gotta find him!"
They scattered.
"Um, should I help too?" Inojin asked, pointing a finger at himself.
"Tō-chan!" Boruto shouted in desperate hope that his baby father would reply back or make some sound, paying no awareness to minor things other than setting his mind straight to an important mission: Find the elusive baby!
"Tō-chan!"
"Hokage-sama!"
Seeing as he was regarded without a slightest bit of attention, Inojin shrugged. "Oh well, might as well as be helpful." Cupping palms over his mouth, he increased his volume. "Hokage-sama, where are you?"
Searching frantically for the small figure was as hard as it seemed even with the distinguished hair colour and orange jacket combined. Boruto cried internally. Not to mention that the house's as spacious as it is troublesome. Ignoring the fact that he inadvertently picked up the Nara's quote, he rushed to the next room: his dad's study room.
"Tō-chan!"
He was greeted with nothing.
"Dang, he's not here!" Just as he was about to lift a foot out of the door, he saw something shuffling over the corner of his eyes. He rotated, with each step quiet and meticulous as he drew closer and closer to the source of his attention. Peering over the edge of the desk, he saw familiar blond hair sticking out beneath the desk's space.
Boruto sighed deeply. "Tō-chan," he muttered, rolling his eyes. "You can't just run away as you please you know…" He stopped midway of his sentence, looking over curiously. "What're you holding?"
Naruto was clutching onto a distinctly familiar plush. His mom said it was his personal chew toy when he was just about as young as the current Naruto before he outgrew his 'affection' over it for something new. In fact, it originally belonged to his dad when he was younger, without the transformation and stuff.
"Blech, that ugly toad must be ancient." Boruto stuck his tongue out at the sight of the slightly discoloured plush. He recalled something his father had said to him that it was a gift from someone precious. "Whoever gifted this to you must have a really bad taste," he commented. "It's dusty. Where could you have gotten it?"
Nearby his dad, Boruto saw a pile of mess scattered around a brown box. Which, he presumed, that ugly toad had belonged in there before his dad rummaged for it.
"Now I've gotta clean this up," Boruto grumbled to himself, picking up random items and threw them back to where they belonged; unconcerned by how the contents were initially arranged. Once done, he hoisted the box into his arms and placed it on top of the desk where his dad couldn't reach it with his grabby hands.
The blond crossed his arms and then nodded satisfyingly. He turned to Naruto. Well, not completely done yet. The toad was still in his dad's clutch. But the smaller blond seemed to put his fondness on that ugly plush, so he would leave it like that. Carefully picking up Naruto by his arms, he then frowned, distinctly recalling a collection of plush toads, which were presently stored in the basement. Better one toad than all those toads summed in numbers.
"First thing Kā-chan comes back, we'll have that ugly thing washed," the whiskered boy remarked critically. As he said this, he left the office with the baby who was communicating with his inanimate toy in his gibberish baby language. "Until then, we'll have to cloth you first," he added.
Moving nearby the living room, he heard shouts from both Nara and Yamanaka, loudly indicating they were still on the search. Boruto called over their names and told them to stop searching. He heard footsteps approaching near and not long after, Shikadai came into the view with Inojin next to him.
"Oh good, you've found him," Shikadai exhaled as if relieved and exhausted at the same time.
"Where was he?" Inojin asked, before tilting his head at the addition the baby Hokage was cuddling onto. That's one ugly toad, this thought crossed through his mind as soon as he saw it.
"In his office," Boruto answered airily. "The door wasn't completely shut, so that explains how he got inside. I'm going to the storage room; see if I can find something for Tō-chan to wear–"
That's not right.
The storage room was spacious, no– it was spacious before it was crammed with items of the past. Although, that amount of space capacity could easily grant a baby freedom. And that freedom plus a curious, eye-roaming infant led to unpleasant correlation: another panic-stricken heart-attack and the risk of losing the baby again. Since bringing his dad to the storage room wasn't a selectable option, he had to depend on either Shikadai or Inojin to keep an eye on the baby Hokage for a while, although Boruto was slightly reluctant to leave his dad alone with them. Not because of the lack of trust but because they had zero experience. Nevertheless, they were the only people present and available at this moment of time.
`It'll only take a moment,' Boruto thought, reassuring himself.
"Ne Boruto, you there?" asked Shikadai when he noticed the said blond being unusually quiet.
"Here, hold him." The whiskered boy handed the blue-eyed baby to Shikadai after a flick of seconds.
"Sure, wait – me?" Shikadai said incredulously, eyes widened as he withdrew his hands into his pockets. "Are you out of your wits? I've never held a baby before."
Boruto turned to the other light-coloured blond and offered.
"Absolutely not," Inojin said this with his hands raised in open palm and shook his head rapidly when the offer was handed down to him. "I-I have never held one too," he admitted meekly.
Boruto scoffed. "Come on, you all gotta learn how to hold one someday. What if your parents decide to have a baby sister or a brother?" he joked and received snorts of incredulity from both Nara and Yamanaka. "Orrrrr after we've officially become a genin, there will be a time where our mission is to babysit. What would you do?"
They stopped.
"That would be a drag."
"I would've no clue how to handle one."
"Hm, hm." Boruto nodded wisely. "Exactly one of the reasons why you should be prepared for the unexpected – Inojin, Shikadai, this is a rare chance for you both to learn what you haven't before that time comes."
They considered the odds.
"Fine," Shikadai quickly accepted after a thoughtful consideration. "Hand Hokage-sama to me."
"I'll guide you." The blond-haired boy elaborated, "Now – there are a lot of ways to carry a baby, but that depends on the baby's decision. Let's try chair position, see if Tō-chan likes it. Shikadai, I need you to let him sit on your hands as if he's sitting on a chair."
"How do I do that?"
"Imagine you're the chair, lift your arms," Boruto instructed as he passed his dad to Shikadai's awaiting, tentative arms. He continued, "Let him lean back on your chest. Careful with him."
"I am," Shikadai replied shakily. Without Boruto telling him to be careful, he was already doing it with extreme care. This ball of warmth in his arms was not just a normal baby, this was the Seventh Hokage.
"Then use your other hand to balance Tō-chan to prevent him from falling on the sides. And try not to falter your arms; it makes you look dangerously clumsy. Keep your handle sturdy."
The blue-eyed level-headed explanation impressed Shikadai; it was surprisingly on a commendable coherency, making it convenient for anyone to follow. Thanks to that, with each instruction successfully performed, the green-eyed boy was getting a good grasp of this baby business. He was ready for the next step. "Okay I'm good, what's next?"
Boruto grinned. "That's all actually. Keep in mind this position is actually suitable for babies who are able to support their heads." He added, "Himawari can hold hers when she was five months old and Tō-chan's five months old right now, so I'm sure it's not a problem."
"Noted." Shikadai nodded while Inojin rubbed his fingers on his chin.
"On some side note, it's very, very important to let him rest against your chest at all times. The point in this position is to prevent him from putting pressure on his spines. Not all that hard, right?"
"Yeah," admitted Shikadai with a nod. "But why can't you just bring him with you?"
"Can't risk him escaping while I look for his clothes, right?" Boruto replied. "Feel free to use my room. I'm counting on you both to watch over Tō-chan for the moment, so don't lose him!"
"We won't."
"And he's gone," Inojin observed. "Let's go."
Why did I drag myself into this mess? Shikadai sighed, peering down at his arms when he felt wiggling. At least Hokage-sama is comfortable… and adorable too.
Maybe it wouldn't be as bad as he would have thought.
~La La La~
Shortly after Boruto's arrival in front of the storage room, he allowed himself in and flicked on the light. Once the room brightened, he started his search from rooting about one box to another box.
"Scrolls, books, hm? Icha Icha Paradise…?" Boruto raised his brow. Curious, he picked up the book and turned to a random page, skimming some few lines before he concluded his opinion of the book with a single, denigrating comment that would make a certain, deceased author's perverted pride wounded: "Garbage." Like the garbage itself, he threw the not-so-innocent novel over his shoulder, not even bothering to put it back where it belonged. "Who would read that low-level garbage fiction anyways? Maa, like I care. Now… where are the clothes section– ah, should be this one, hmm… still no luck," he grunted, blue eyes rolling in annoyance as he stood up from his hunkered position.
Boruto had been here once or twice when assisting his parents to move some unused stuff in this storeroom, but he had merely helped them by carrying it, not packing it so he hadn't had the slightest hint where to look for. Nonetheless, he knew his parents were unbearably sentimental that they wouldn't discard anything that has connection to the momentous remembrance, like some of the old stuffs he had long outgrown their purposes. If so, then most of the said items could be found here, like the baby clothes he was searching for.
He scanned the whole room, and then sighed. This was going to be extensively tiring for him to look alone. The six-year-old slammed his fist downward onto his palm; an idea suddenly hit his mind like a storm. Maybe he didn't need to do this alone when he had more than two arms to assist him!
"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!"
Dispersing of the chakra-induced white clouds revealed Boruto who had manifested three clones of himself, each grinning widely to one another with identical enthusiasm.
"Alright! 'kay, you!" The original pointed at one of his clones. "Search over that side, and you the opposite side of him, and you look over the opposite side of mine. Got it?"
"Yeah!" Boruto's clones agreed simultaneously.
"Let's get crackin' dattebasa!"
With each clone assigned to their appointed direction, the original had continued his part. With sufficient amount of help, it didn't take long until one of them had acquired what they were looking for.
"Oi! Over here, I've found it!" A clone called out, pointing out a box looking alike as all the other boxes.
Boruto's lips stretched into a victorious grin as his clones disappeared altogether with a loud poof. Looking into the square-shaped container to double check, he gave himself a nod of satisfaction. He hauled up the box of clothes into his arms. "Omph, it's heavy." Seemingly he couldn't carry the weight all way up to his room and his dad wouldn't need everything all at once, he set it down and considered, "Right, let's just bring some upstairs."
Attentively, he assessed each garment with a judging glare like a strict, however doting mother taking her time to choose the most beautiful dresses for her beloved daughter. After a thoughtful moment of consideration, choosing which clothing would suit best on his regressed dad based by its colour and design, finally he picked up different sets of baby wear: two onesies and two babygros. "Oh, these are definitely cute, I bet Kā-chan would've agreed too," Boruto gushed, his blue eyes sparkled. "Maybe I'll take some gloves, in case if Tō-chan doesn't like the cold." Hand snatched a pair of warm-looking orange mittens.
Now that the blond was done selecting clothes, he flicked the light off and shut the door tight as he headed up toward his room. Getting closer and familiar to his destination, the blond's audioception had detected exchanged words of conversation, barely inaudible but he could perceive joyful excitement through the voices in his room.
With confusion and curiosity edging around his brain, he stopped in front of the wooden door. The doorway of his room was ajar, the light from inward visibly leaking outside. For better observation, the owner of the blue eyes encroached through the slats of the door as his lips quirked up in silent amusement.
"Hokage-sama, look over here, peek-a-boo!"
Giggles ensued.
"Shikadai, what you're doing is an old-school technique… that's not fun at all."
"Does it matter?" Shikadai's eyes rolled at the remark. "Hokage-sama's having fun." He covered his face with his palms and exclaimed: "Peak-a-boo!" and revealed his face with silly expression on it.
Naruto giggled happily. "See? Fun," Shikadai drawled lazily.
Inojin sighed exasperatedly. "You called that half-baked attempt of a diversion fun? I'll show you fun." A rather irritating smile crept up on his face.
Both Nara and Yamanaka glared at each other as eyes sparked in mirrored rivalry, Boruto could feel competition running in the air.
Should he stop them? Nah, this was getting fun.
As long as no harm lies on Tō-chan, things are fine.
"Well, bring it on."
Inojin smirked, turning to the Hokage. "Not quite good as my dad yet, but..." he mumbled, earlier cockiness replaced with slight uncertainty. Bringing out his equipment, he started to paint something out. Certain he was ready, he announced, "Ninpō: Chōjū Giga! Here are some colourful birds for you, Hokage-sama."
Round, innocent eyes widened in candid awe, witnessing many-hued avifauna soaring over and around his person. Cooing, the excitable little one was now clapping his chubby hands in an uncontainable transport of delight as if applauding to a well-deserved magic show.
Baby or not, the approval was from the Hokage. Inojin proudly smiled at his handiwork whilst Shikadai scowled, then smirked.
"But that won't stop me."
Inojin sighed. "Hokage-sama's going to get bored soon if you don't change your idea of 'fun'."
Shikadai's smirk was still on place. "I can think of an alternative later. If that ever happen, that is."
Lazy.
Shikadai continued making funny faces to entertain the baby, gaining a rather blithe reaction from the smaller latter. Inojin, determined he could easily win over the adorable baby's heart, had presented different coloured animals with his ninja art technique. The infant was clearly enjoying being the centre of attention.
It was all that unexpectedly hilarious to the whiskered blond. Truth be told, it was nothing he had ever seen from his fellow playmates. If he didn't do anything to preserve this unalterable scene, it would have surely gone to waste.
With his trusty dark pink-coloured device, silently, he had already taken some pictures before the temporarily competitive banter between the younger Nara and Yamanaka had occurred.
Oh, this is so priceless. Absolutely priceless.
Apparently, Hinata's obsession toward photography, as well as video recording, was a heredity passed down to her son. Observing the jolly sight once again, he snapped another picture. This time, a picture of an innocent, beatific Naruto playing with those colourful animals Inojin had produced.
A warm smile edged over Boruto's lips. His dad was so small and squishy yet completely vibrant – he was literally a crawling bundle of warmth and adorableness. Different, very different from his own dad, well, this baby was his dad. What he meant was that this current Naruto, in both mental and physical attributes, was different than his dad who wouldn't give a time off from his work for his family. For him.
The gloomy thought penetrated his mind before he shook his head to break his dour muse. No, leave the past alone for now. Right now, he ought to enjoy this opportunity while he could, even if the whole situation was going on as unusual.
Suddenly, an ear-splitting wail attacked Boruto's ears, distress clearly in its cry. As if it was a call for the blond to enact duty, he marched into his room with a newfangled motivation to handle a situation where both Nara and Shikadai were obviously clueless and inexperienced.
To be continued…
~La La La~
Omake:
Up above the heaven, a conversation issued between a deceased Fourth Hokage and a certain Ero-Sennin.
Minato was smiling goofily, gazing down at baby Naruto with pink hearts in his eyes as Jiraiya sighed. "Minato, you look absolutely creepy grinning like that."
Still grinning, Minato cooed, "I can't help it! My cute son is just too… adorable! I wish I had a camera with me right now. Ahh, Kushina would love to have a picture of our baby, I know it."
Jiraiya half-heartedly rolled his eyes at his student's tone of endearment. "Aren't you a pile of mush now…" he muttered with a faint smile.
"I'm sure," Minato admitted without fire, although love and guilt heavy in his tone. "Even though it's inevitable, my death I mean, I'm his father. It's just… a real damn shame to have never given Naruto the experience of having a father and I, never having the experience to care for him, never having to watch him grow up to this point, never having to compliment of his achievements… Now that I'm seeing my son in this form… not being there, his past, it gives me so much… regret." His chuckle was pained. "I'm such a horrible dad."
"Minato," said Jiraiya, his voice stern as he pressed a palm on his student's shoulder, causing the blond to turn to him. "You're right when you said your death was inevitable. You had to do what you had to do. It was your duty. But those losses, your ultimate sacrificial, have given Naruto so much. It was through your decision that your son's able to veer his life-long dream as a Hokage to reality through sheer determination, as he becomes the person who everyone loves and respects. To add with, he has a beautiful wife who cherishes him for life. Along the way, two children are blessed into their life. Those past, the irreversible, whatever regret you upheld inside couldn't take all those away from him. My point being is: you did your job as any good parent would do. Am I wrong, Minato?"
Slowly turning back to Naruto, Minato flashed his proud parent smile. "Perhaps not, of course, I think you're right, sensei."
"Hah! There's no 'I think' in my context, of course I am right! No doubt about that!" Jiraiya guffawed uproariously, striking a pose.
Minato shook his head at the juvenile behaviour his teacher exhibited. Going back to observe the surface world, the grandfather of Boruto noticed something familiar was held in his grandson's hands. Wait… is that…?
"But he's just six!" Minato exclaimed in a raised tone, horror painted across his face.
Jiraiya stopped laughing and joined Minato, seemingly to perceive the obvious distress and seriousness his student had displayed. "What's wrong?"
Body shaking, Minato turned to him, face red in suppressed anger. "Yes, you're what's wrong! It's your fault!" he accused, stretching a finger out to indicate the source of his outburst.
"My fault?" Jiraiya's confused eyes travelled to where Minato was pointing at. He roared in laughter. "Ahahahahaha! That's my boy! Already showing some interest in the opposite sex at that young age? How impressive!"
"Sensei! Now's not the right time to be impressed!" the angry father berated. "That horrendously venereal book of yours is going to corrupt my grandson's innocent mind!"
"–ey, it's not horrendous! That is a work of art created by the awesome Jiraiya-sama, in other words: me!"
"God, why's that book in that place of all time!?"
"Maybe it's destiny!"
"Sensei."
Jiraiya gulped when the Yellow Flash's eyes darkened.
"One more word, I will personally dish you out to Kushina and you will love it to the bone."
Jiraiya was sweating profusely. "Please don't."
Once settled, they went back to observe.
"Ohohoho, he's opening it, he's opening it!" Jiraiya excitedly chanted like a huge-sized kid opening up his Christmas present.
Minato shot him a look which quietened his excitement by half. Watching his grandson be corrupted by his teacher's lewd book was not so awesome. Oh no…
'Oh yes,' Jiraiya thought silently. 'Do it. Do it.'
"Garbage."
The single comment threw both spectators off-guard, the author of the novel especially.
"Who would read that low-level garbage fiction anyways?"
Jiraiya withered inside and outside, literally.
"Um, sensei? Sensei?" The said person didn't respond, however, Minato could hear him muttering 'garbage' over and over again. Okay, the student felt bad for his teacher, but it was just a micro-sized sympathy because that book which corrupted children's minds was evil.
The blond sighed. "Let's go back, sensei."
"Garbage… garbage…? Garbage…"
End of Omake.