- ◊ (25: Welcome Back!) ◊ -

∆ (Konoha) ∆ - ¤ (A Month Later) ¤ - Φ (None) Φ

Naruto and Hinata arrived in Konoha with warm welcomes from everyone. "Hello Naruto, Hello Mrs. Hinata." Hinata giggled hearing Mrs. In front of her name, it was still new for her. "Welcome Back!" The gate opened and they walked in. There was standing everyone.

Shikamaru and Ino were standing there, he leaning against a tree and she sitting beside him, resting against him. They're attendance during the wedding was all over the place, she was dragging him around and they were talking to everyone and chatting everything up though she played a major part in the wedding though she was here-and-there all over the time. There was a knowing smirk on Shikamaru's face and Ino was close to laughter.

Tenten and Neji were standing there side by side and you can tell that they had either just finished training, or they had just been making out but either didn't give an obvious clue by their looks beside the subtle rustle of their hair meaning they had rushed here. Tenten smiled and Neji nodded with a small smile.

Sakura jumped up and hugged Hinata. "I'm so glad you're back. It's been like a forever that you've been gone." Sasuke was off to the side and he had was sitting there with a kind of smile-smirk on his face but that was directly focused on Naruto, a more diabolical and knowing look than Shikamaru. Sasuke's gave hint to events that had happened here without him, which was unconsciously meant to provoke Naruto, a truly unspoken challenge.

"It's only been a month, Sakura-chan."

"Well I've missed you and we have a lot of catching up to do."

"Back off Sakura, she's my wife." Naruto said.

"No way Naruto, you've had her to yourself for the last month. It's our turn." Sakura said.

This caused everyone to laugh. "Give up Naruto before this gets bad. You know you won't win against everyone who's been missing Hinata. I'm sure there are tons of people who can't wait to talk to her. Get used to sharing because though she's your wife she's friends and family to the entire village." Kiba said with his arm around Aki as Naruto pouted.

"Yep. I intend to have my time with her too." Akira said. "Sorry Naruto but she's ours for now."

"How about we give them all their wedding presents and get them settled in, as well as let them rest from their journey before we tear them apart and drag them everywhere." Tsunade said walking toward the group.

"Oh right. Come on Naruto, you have a lot of presents waiting from you from people in the village alone with tons of presents for your guys' wedding; but don't worry Hinata, the Hyuugas sent their gifts too."

"Gifts for what?" Hinata asked.

"You're their new leaders. They want to be gracious and get on their good side. Don't worry, they're all really happy to have you. You should see how much mail you have." She said with a smile. "Naruto, you'll be especially happy to see this amount of mail."

"Normally the only mail I get is hate mail." Naruto said, thinking about how much everyone hated him as he grew up. "I didn't get any mail besides that, and sometimes stuff from the Hokage, if he didn't have time to give it to me himself. Mail was never a good thing."

"Neither is paperwork, ever." The three laughed as they walked toward Naruto's new house.

Hinata looked around at her surroundings. "Where are we going?"

"Close your eyes." Naruto looked at Hinata who shrugged and she tied a blindfold around their eyes and she guided them through the street. "Aren't you guys excited?"

"Kind of. I'm too confused with everything, to be excited." Hinata said.

"I'm totally lost." Naruto said shrugging.

"Alright, we're here." She stopped and removed their blindfolds, not that Hinata couldn't have seen anyway if she had wanted to. Hinata and Naruto looked at the house and then at each other; it wasn't registering to them.

"Where are we?" Naruto asked.

Tsunade sighed. "You two are a little slow aren't you?" She said shaking her head. She smiled and held her hand out, closed, facedown, after digging through her pocket. "Hold your hands out."

"Alright." Naruto said with a smile, figuring he was getting a gift. She dropped a pair of keys into his hands and his eyes went wide, he was shocked. Hinata was in utter disbelief and shock as well. She couldn't even manage to speak but she hugged Tsunade.

"Thank you so much." She said as she cried. "This is so wonderful."

"A house, a house… just for us?" Naruto said, still trying to register it.

"Yep, it's all yours." Tsunade said watching their reactions carefully. Hinata hugged Naruto and he just smiled and hugged her back.

"You're awesome, you know that." Naruto answered smiling and walking to the front door and opening it up, unlocking it. Hinata was at his side excited and happily waiting for him to open the door. He pushed the door open.

"Surprise. Welcome Home!" Everyone they knew, close friends and family screamed. Hinata had jumped back into a defensive position but quickly she realized that it was a surprise party. Naruto turned to Tsunade and just smiled.

"Thanks. You're the best." He said smiling while he wrapped his arm around Hinata's waist and went inside. "So who's giving the tour of our new home?" He smiled as he looked at Hinata, it was new start for them, and there was us as well as our. They had a home where they could live together and have their family as well as invite friends and enjoy their company.

"I think I shall since I've been preparing for you two's arrival… since before you left." She said laughing. "I made sure everything was ready for you guys, shopping's taken care as well as furniture though I figured a lot of your wedding presents would take care of the decorations and stuff. There wasn't much at your apartment but what I thought was important I brought it and put it in your room upstairs."

"You rock." Naruto said.

"I can't believe you'd do this all for us. Thanks so much." Hinata said smiling.

"It's not everyday that I get to spoil people who are so important to me. I mean there are birthdays but I mean you two getting married, it's normal to spoil the couple so I decided, I'm really going to spoil you two. Well, let me give you the grand tour. This is of course your living room which is furnished and through there is your dining room and then the kitchen. The stairs lead to your upstairs, which has four bedrooms, and your master bedroom and bath, there's another bathroom up there and one down here. There is a huge basement that you can use for whatever, a bathroom down there too and a bunch of other random empty rooms. That's about it." Hinata and Naruto laughed but she smiled. "I hope you really enjoy it. Have fun opening gifts and partying. I have a lot of work to do. I don't want to leave you with it all Naruto." She winked. "I expect you to take over soon."

"Really."

"Yeah, but I think 20 sounds right." He folded his arm. "Don't worry, you'll be busy enough without being the hokage right now. You'll want to do missions, they're much better and you'll want time to spend with Hinata. You're very ready now but most won't be comfortable with an 18-year-old hokage. I'm sure that with a lot of prepping and the impressiveness you're sure to show them they'll be ready in two years… at the latest."

"Yeah!" Naruto said. Hinata giggled.

"You two enjoy yourself, Hinata you'll be instated as the head Saturday. (It's Monday afternoon now.) Be sure you're ready, because they'll expect you to be."

"She'll be ready, but the real question is, are they ready for her." Naruto said smiling wide.

"Take care of yourselves, I'll be checking in on you guys." Tsunade said almost laughing.

"You keep a key?" Naruto asked.

"I'm the hokage. I can get keys to any place." She said walking off.

"She avoided my question." Naruto said. Hinata laughed.

"Come on, let's go back inside." Hinata said as they went in.

"Now it's time to really talk." Sakura said sitting on the largest couch, which also had Ino, Shikamaru and Tenten on it. Sasuke was leaning on the wall, as was Neji. Aki was situated on another large couch with Kiba. Naruto and Hinata sat down on another couch across the room from them.

"What do you want to talk about?" Naruto asked. Everyone just looked at him with his or her own individual interpretation, which can be summed up as are you really asking that. Hinata just laughed though she knew he was serious.

"The honeymoon was great; it was beautiful there and truly relaxing. There was a beach. I got to do a lot of swimming, and I watched Naruto surf. He's not very good but he got the hang of it by the time we started home." Hinata said remembering moments when Naruto tried to surf and totally wiped out and laughed.

"It probably would have been easier without a surfboard." Naruto said. "I mean you could do it. I'm sure I could have to."

"You tried remember, you fell in."

"Oh yeah, I tried to ride that huge wave using chakra to hold me up, but I fell headfirst in."

"Still can't handle your chakra, huh?" Sasuke said smirking. Everyone laughed as Naruto pouted. Most of those in the room knew the reason that Naruto couldn't truly ever completely control his chakra, though some didn't.

"Hey, I'm getting better." Naruto argued.

"Wasn't it cold there, it's practically winter?" Aki asked. They all looked at her.

Hinata covered smoothly though. "It's Spring Country; it's always warm there, well, like spring." Aki nodded.

"Did you know that years ago we saved Spring Country?" Naruto asked. "Team 7 did, practically by ourselves."

"You really did almost all of it Naruto, with the princess and saving her and getting her to face her fears. You fought hard and in the end, it was all worth it. It used to be Snow Country." Sakura informed Aki.

"Wow, that's amazing. I didn't know stuff like that happened in real life." Aki said in shock.

"Yep, everyday… well not stuff that amazing but a lot of exciting adventures do." Kiba said. "It's nothing big; it's just a normal day in the life of a ninja."

"Well what happened while we were gone, that's what I really want to know." Naruto said jumping up and going into the kitchen to try to find something to eat. "Hinata come here!" He yelled from the kitchen. Hinata, and everyone else, went into the kitchen to see tons of ramen packing tons of shelves. Hinata laughed. "Isn't this awesome?" Everyone just laughed.

"I'll make it, you go figure out what happened while we were gone." Hinata said getting ramen out and beginning to cook.

"You're the best Hinata." He said smiling. He kissed her and then went into the living room. She came in quickly with his ramen handing it to him and sitting down.

"So you didn't get him any closer to avoiding ramen?" Sakura said. Hinata just laughed. "Figures, it's not really good for him."

"Luckily I'm a ninja and I'm in very good shape, plus I don't just eat ramen. Hinata makes a ton of other food and my guess is it's healthy, I wouldn't know. I just know it tastes awesome." Hinata blushed.

"So you cook huh? I could have figured that out. It's probably one of those skills that they teach all girls in a clan to have." Shikamaru said skeptically.

"Yeah, my mother taught me young how to cook and I later took lessons from my close friend Ana, the chef at the complex and she taught me. Usually it's your mother that teaches you, but my mom died early." Hinata said, getting quieter toward the end. Shikamaru nodded.

"So what other amazing skills do you have Hinata?" Ino said. "I mean besides being strong and cooking, there must be other stuff that you're not telling me. I'm sure Naruto will tell us anyway."

"Nah. I think I'm just going to keep quiet now." Naruto said being annoyed by Ino's glare.

"I don't know, I can cook and clean like anyone can then I'm a ninja but I'm not that special besides that."

"She's also really beautiful and nice and kind to everyone, if you call those skills and not just talents." Naruto said which caused Hinata to blush.

"So back to what happened while we were gone…?" Hinata asked.

"Nothing much." Tenten said. "Neji and I planned most of the stuff for the wedding. It's going to be in another few months. I believe you two are going to be there." She said, sort of phrasing it like a question.

"Of course we will Tenten." Hinata said smiling.

"You bet." Naruto said. "We wouldn't miss it."

"Good to hear." Tenten said. "Well I definitely want you to be so helpful in this. You've already been through a marriage and helped Aki with hers. I'll need the help, Hinata."

"Of course I'll be there for you Tenten." Hinata said smiling.

"Well Sakura, why don't you tell her what's been up!"

"Uh, Sasuke and I are going out." She said. Sakura was smiling happily, the happiest Hinata had ever seen. Even Sasuke seemed to be quite happy as well, not that he gave very much away. Not enough to prove anything. However, to Sakura, it's probably obvious how he feels. She's the most important person to know how he feels.

Normally, one would expect Sasuke to say something about Naruto chasing after Sakura all those years but even Sasuke knew how far to go. He also had enough manners to know where to step and with Hinata as Naruto's wife Sasuke would be advised to not antagonize Naruto in her presence, not to say he wouldn't do it later.

"It's about time." Shikamaru said sighing. "I figured it'd be forever until you two got together. I didn't think it'd ever happen after everything that's happened."

"Good thing Hinata and Naruto have good pull with everyone around the city, including the council and your jury, huh?" Ino said.

"So what is the sentence? I totally forgot the trial was held while we were gone." Naruto asked.

"6 months probation. I can do any level of missions up to B but they still don't want me leaving the village without an ANBU escort or other approved escorts."

"Let me guess, us?" Naruto said laughing.

"You've got it." Sasuke said. "I can't leave the village with any of you guys not that I plan to anytime soon really, maybe if there's a huge mission and you guys need me. Though I think you've guys got it under control."

"With Hinata staying here mainly for clan purposes we probably will need help." Shikamaru said. "She's been the lead and headed every mission since she became captain though she never even passed the test. She just took most of all the missions ANBU or otherwise."

"Yeah, most of the time you didn't even want a squad, as much as that annoyed Tsunade-sama." Ino added. "You had that huge argument about that one mission when you had to protect that kid and she insisted that you couldn't take care of that kid and manage the mission."

"Yeah and you guys didn't help at all though she insisted you'd help." Hinata added.

"Who knew you could take care of that child and make it all the way back to his village without getting caught and then help save the village." Ino said. "I was even shocked at how well you could take care of the poor kid."

"What mission was this?" Naruto asked.

"It was probably after I trained with Dawn-chan. I had been taking care of children there, it's part of basic training and when I came back there was a kid who they found who had been kidnapped from another village. Tsunade-sama made me take Shikamaru, and Ino with me to take him home. They fell into so many traps it took twice as long to get there and back."

"The kid cried and we couldn't concentrate." Ino argued.

"Ino admit it, we just couldn't make it through. It was difficult and even while Hinata was carrying the kid she made it through." Shikamaru said. "You're really effective, then again you've got your Byakugan to find all the traps and such."

"It didn't help that you weren't paying attention." Hinata countered.

"Tsunade-sama assured us that there wouldn't be any problems. It was the main reason you didn't want back up. I didn't expect the country we were returning the boy to, to have traps set in place. I mean now that I think of it, it makes sense seeing as they he was kidnapped but it didn't really go through my mind then." Shikamaru said.

"How many missions have there been lately?" Naruto asked.

"There have been a few, not a lot of interesting ones though we've been out on a few in the last month." Sakura said. "I haven't because I've been working as a med-Nin."

"Shikamaru, Choji and I went to guide a man back to his country, we ran into a few ninja but they weren't a real challenge." Ino said thinking about their mission. "Besides their techniques, but we got around that after we got hit by them… 12 times."

"Every time we though we had observed their techniques they had new ones which pushed back our efforts a lot of times of getting past them. Eventually we found a strategy that worked… I held them off until Choji and Ino got passed and took them out and then we continued but we took a few of those attacks pretty hard." Shikamaru said recalling distinct details about the mission to the group.

"Neji and I went on a recon once, we retrieved a lot of information on other countries and anything they're planning… not anything that we can share but it was a slightly exciting mission. We were gone for a few days, Neji had to get back to the clan to watch it until you returned but they needed us."

"It was it difficult to infiltrate them?" Hinata asked.

"Not anything that a small jutsu couldn't manage. We're heading back soon for some more recon though. Hopefully, you can help us manage a lot of marriage details while we're on this mission. They are expecting them."

"Can you share your cover story?" Aki asked. "It sounds really interesting."

"Tenten was my fiancée and we were looking around at different places on the country-side to live. Her name was Tina and I was Nigel." Everyone laughed, as Neji shared the story. "People were truly nice there but we got a lot of indirect information, while we did head in as well as did some ninja exploring."

"When are you guys leaving?"

"Tonight. She made sure we were back when you guys returned. We got back late last night and we woke up and came here as fast as we could. We haven't been sleeping well, or a lot. We had to put on an act of normalcy during the day for the people and steal secrets at night, hardly any time to rest but naps work, then there's training at night always to, to keep in shape." Neji said.

"Yeah, but it's nice to act normal, not that we're truly normal. Though it's fun to be normal. I mean it's not a life I'd accept happily. Ha, I don't think I could live like that without going insane."

"Girls are seen and not heard. They are just the playthings of men. I just want to kill them all." Tenten said yelling and then breathing hard as she tried no to choke someone. Neji just smirked.

"Good thing this is a major ninja village and you were raised here, huh Tenten." Neji said. "It was hilarious when she first met some people in the village they were shocked because…"

"I was frowning and showing my ankles." Everyone in the room faked utter shock and disbelief. "She said I should be happy I have a man who can stand how… I don't even remember half the insults she flung at me and of course Neji wanted to smack her to but all the guys were enough for him."

Everyone looked at him. "Apparently her frowning and ankles was a sign that I wanted to share her with the entire world, or male population; let's just say she dressed better the next day and didn't leave my side." Neji said glaring menacingly at no one in particular.

Naruto just laughed. "I'm surprised you two kept your cover."

"We didn't long. There was a surprise shower of kunai after I asked Neji if he could forgive me requiring using the bathroom." Tenten pouted.

"Wow, and this was just a normal city, not a socialite one?" Hinata asked.

"Oh yeah, a city of mainly farmers and merchants. Though they wanted to buy and sell me from Neji." Neji managed to calm Tenten down. "You should have heard the personal things they asked Neji about me, it was insane. They should have been killed, a slow and painful death." Neji laughed.

"You're next Neji."

"You didn't go along with this did you?" Hinata said shocked.

"Of course I did. It entertained me but I had to keep my cover, but as soon as we were home, Tenten wasn't nearly as pleasant or calm about it. I think I still have scars from her anger fit." Neji said.

"The details that they were talking about and Neji didn't do anything but help!" Tenten yelling.

Shikamaru laughed. "That does sound entertaining." He however did suffer for his comments, a hard smack to the back of his head, which did knock him to the floor.

"I don't think I could have done that. I would have fainted by then. I still haven't completely stopped doing that when I'm embarrassed." Hinata said. "How did you guys manage?"

"After we learned that all. Tenten properly dressed herself covering her ankles and didn't let go of my arm the entire time we were in public. She also acted like a petite fragile weak woman like she should-have, or so they thought."

"It was pretty insane with the acting. I suppose I'm abused too because I should fear and respect Neji and never speak back; that's the reason there's a cut on my cheek."

"Training?" Sakura asked. Tenten nodded. "Wow, that's some crazy mission. I can only imagine a mission like that. Hey Hinata didn't you get sent on a mission like that, though it was an assassination."

"Yeah. That was harsh and cruel. That was pure torture as well as physical and mental abuse to me. I couldn't believe anyone would need that. I thought the stuff they'd need done like that was only done years ago by Kunoichi." Hinata said shaking her head. "I had nightmares about that stuff."

"What?" Naruto said, upset about Hinata's reaction. He pulled her into his arms as she rested against him.

"It was another mission shortly after my mission with the kid, actually I think it may have been before. All I really want to say about that is it was S-rank but not for danger at all. It was a true as they'd call it a 'kunoichi mission', for reasons like you had to seduce your enemy and try to earn their trust and then, well kill then before things go too bad. It was just very bad." Hinata said closing her arms.

"Tsunade wouldn't let you do missions a while after that. Your dad kept asking what had happened on the missions and trying to figure it out."

"He would have, aside from the fact it was S-rank and she couldn't say anything." Hinata asked. "Since I was under 16, he had parental rights anyway and could know the details of any mission aside from S-rank and other confidential ones by ANBU."

"Neji and I have to get ready. We have that crazy mission to get back to, not that I'm looking forward to it." Tenten said. Hinata hugged Tenten and Neji good-bye while Neji then wrapped his arms around Tenten's waist as they walked home whispering words to her quietly in her ear.

Shikamaru stood up. "I'm going to head off. I'm going to relax and watch clouds before I head home to deal with my mom. She's angry at me for who-knows what reason." He shrugged. "Something about me being lazy and behind with something. I'm taking further to ignoring her."

"I'll go along too." Ino said. "Bye guys. Hinata and Naruto enjoy all your gifts and this house. It's amazing. You guys deserve everything… and have fun checking your mail, I've heard there's tons of it." Ino caught up to Shikamaru suddenly.

"How long have they been like that?" Naruto asked, just suddenly noticing Ino chasing Shikamaru.

"Close, like forever." Sakura said. "They've been dating since… I don't know. I don't remember it was before Hinata left to get you, quite a while before but everything was really a blur back then. Choji got them together. Shikamaru can get her to stay calm and just relax. He's been really showing his feelings for her since she helped Hinata. However, he's always been protective of her and liked her forever too. It's good to see them together, just like Tenten and Neji."

"You think they'll get engaged soon?" Sasuke asked, his eyes closed as if he was sleeping, and seemingly not even paying attention.

"Probably, it'll probably happen when we don't expect it, knowing Shikamaru." Hinata said.

"Sakura, let's go." Sasuke said. "We'll see you later."

"Where are we going?" Sakura asked.

"Kiba, Aki, you should be coming to. We're going to let them settle down in their new home and relax some more." Sasuke said looking at them.

"Alright." Aki said. Kiba shrugged. "Bye, have fun opening all those presents and letters. Good to have you guys around again."

"I'll call tomorrow, Hinata." Sakura said. Aki nodded.

"Sasuke, Kiba, you guys want to practice in the morning while the girls catch up with one another?" Naruto asked.

"Sounds good with me." Sasuke said shrugging.

"I can't wait. See you Naruto." Kiba said. Soon the house was empty and quiet, well until Naruto jumped up.

"So let's get to opening these presents and reading letters, ok Hina-chan?" Naruto asked her.

"Sure, but just let me look around the house. I think I'm going to go out and by something to make the house, less-empty." Hinata said noticing how empty the rooms were.

"That sounds good; it is kind of empty with just us two though it's nice and comfortable." Naruto said. Hinata wondered around the house mentally taking notes of things she should buy for the house. Naruto just watched her walk from room to room while lying on the couch. "What do you think of the house?"

"It has a lot of rooms but it doesn't have that completely empty feel to it which is really nice. The doors make it seem as though there are other people living here."

"How big are the rooms? How many are there?"

"They're all fairly big, nice and spacey. It's a very nice house. There are a lot of rooms that I don't know what to do with, if that's what you mean."

"Why don't we let our friends live here? I mean that way they're never too far and besides, if either of us are ever here by ourselves it's going to be lonely. I can't imagine you being here in this house by yourself if I'm on a mission." Naruto said.

"I think that's a brilliant idea." Hinata said before kissing Naruto. "I'm sure Tsunade-sama wouldn't object, I'm sure she'd be happy to hear we're having other people."

"I'm thinking why in the world did she get us this huge a house anyway. Even when we start a family we won't need a huge house, I'm sure we could fit half a village in hear easily." Naruto said. "I wonder how many clones would fit…?"

"Naruto." Hinata said crossing her arms and pouting.

"Yeah, probably not a good idea." He said. He went upstairs and grabbed a huge cardboard box full of letters, and Hinata went up and grabbed another box with a series of smaller boxes inside. "Can you believe that whole room is filled with gifts, and part of the other room too, that's crazy."

Hinata pulled two smaller boxes from within the larger box; in each of the boxes were tons of letters, one box full of letters addressed only to Hinata, the others with ones to only Naruto. She handed him a box. "Wow, this is a lot of mail."

Naruto opened the first one, taking a kunai to the top of the letter, as carefully as he could. "Hinata, look at this, it's one addressed to me from my dad." Hinata leaned over and read the letter Naruto was holding.

Naruto: This is from your dad. I know that by now you are aware that I'm dead and how I died. I'm sorry that I had to leave you like that but I had to save the village, I'm the hokage, it's my job. I'm sure you'll understand the hokage's duties someday, and if you're anything like me you'll want them for yourself; except hopefully, you won't have to sacrifice yourself leaving your child on his own. Your mother died shortly after you were born, fighting and I have sealed within you, the Kyuubi, as you probably also know by now. I hope that things have been great for you so far in life and hopefully they treat you as a hero, though they're tough in the village. I know I'll never truly get to know you in person but I can only guess because you're my and your mother's son that you'll achieve great things and be very happy no matter what path you take. I'm sure you'll be strong as well, hopefully the Kyuubi doesn't do anything to harm you. I love you very much and I'm sorry but this is the path that I must take to save the people of the village and the lives of children like you. Hopefully by the time you get this you're happy just being a great ninja on your own and hopefully have a girlfriend, maybe more knowing how I had your mom when I was 18. I told the 3rd to give this to you when you're 18 so that you could somehow indirectly know some stuff about me. I hope you can forgive me for sealing the Kyuubi in you, and hopefully you're happy and the Kyuubi has only helped you to be strong. I hope you have a great life and live happily. I'm sure that you know now that you're going to be receiving a ton of money from the entire clan that was killed by the Kyuubi. Don't spend it all in one place and be wise with it. Take care of yourself; be happy and just as I'm finishing this I have to seal the demon inside you now. With All my Love, Your Dad.

Naruto was at loss of words. He didn't know what he should say, or even how he should feel. He just looked at the parchment, it was all he had from his father, from his parents at all, and it was a lot of stuff that was just apologetic or hope for the future. His dad was a man full of hope, of wishes for a bright future. That's what he wanted though he couldn't have understood everything Naruto had gone through. Hinata understood much of his pain but even she couldn't understand all of it. She had family and some people cared about her, if they hadn't maybe she wouldn't have grown to love him unlike anyone else had, but she did and she was everything to him. He realized then, that he was crying. Hinata, she was crying too but she was holding him because he was so lost. The millions of letters from other people didn't matter now; he had a letter from his father. It was the greatest gift Naruto had been given, though he had never received very many physical gifts. Hinata was a gift of her own kind but this gift was physical and real, it was all he had of his past, all he knew besides pain and it meant so much to him. Naruto held it to his chest and like a child curled up and rested his head on Hinata's lap, just crying. She gently stroked his hair as he cried because it was so much.