Team Konohamaru silently entered the village hidden in the Leaf a little before sunrise. This has been another successful mission, yet the three were desperate for food, a shower and some rest. Missions in Kirigakure were fun, but one always ended up soaking wet, covered in mud and dirt.

Itaru greeted the guards at the gates and walked ahead, trying to give the other two some privacy. "I'll go give the report to the Hokage," he noted and did not wait for a reply but ran ahead, disappearing in the darkness.

Hayato sighed and made a note to kick his twin next time he saw him. The third member of their clan, Mai, was walking silently next to him, staring at the distance ahead.

Mai Akira was a kunoichi skilled in so many things that it was hard for him to make a list. Aside of being one of Sakura's best pupils, knowing all possible healing techniques, she was a master of both ninjutsu and kenjutsu. This meant she could not only beat anyone into a pulp in 64 different ways, but she could wield her father's sword in a way that even Sasuke Uchiha admired.

"You are staring at me," the girl noted and smiled upon seeing her teammate immediately look away. "And you also missed your turn, the Uchiha compound is that way."

"I'm walking you home," Hayato answered, returning his dark eyes to her face.

"I'm turning 18 in a month, which is when this stupid thing my father made you vow to will drop. I can walk myself-"

"I'm walking with you because I want to," the young man noted, "and not because your father threatened me into it."

Mai pouted. "I can fend for myself."

"You think I don't know that? I have yet not to be amazed by your skills when I watch you fight. And as I said, I walk you home because I like to."

The girl felt her cheeks burn and it was her turn to look away. "Admit it, you are flattering me to get on my good side, but you are actually horrified of my capabilities."

Hayato laughed but did not answer. He was usually the one that horrified the people around him. Due to what Kabuto had done to him 15 years ago, his abilities were beyond even what his parents were capable of handling at times. Itaru, having unlocked his powers naturally, was a master at using his Sharingan, his Susanoo was a calm and steady beam of energy that was like an extension of his own body. Yato however did not have that level of calmness that his twin possessed, he was raw and stubborn, and sometimes he let himself lose control just a little, when the situation allowed it. He didn't mind being different from his brother though, this was actually why the two were such a great team, they balanced each other perfectly.

"Well, thanks for walking me home," Mai spoke, seeing clearly how her voice tore the Uchiha out of his thoughts. He was not the most talkative of people, but she didn't mind.

The young man looked up the building that belonged to the Akira clan, knowing well that his teammate was staring at him. He remained like that, hands in his pockets, his dark hair just long enough for him to tie it in a messy bun in the back of his head. His bangs hung in his eyes enough to allow him to watch her without her realizing this, especially in the darkness of the early morning.

"Sure," he noted, yet didn't move.

"So," the girl started, looking at her feet. "This was our last mission as a team."

"Hn."

"I thought we should go celebrate, maybe have some ramen at Ichiraku's." His expression immediately reminded her of his dislike of ramen. "Or maybe somewhere else," she added, returning a dark flock of hair behind her ear.

"Mother insisted that she cooked something special for us today," Yato explained, rolling his eyes. "Even though we continuously reminded her we weren't kids anymore."

Suddenly Mai gasped and covered her mouth with her hands. She turned around to stare at the sky, as if the rising sun had accused her of something unspeakable.

"Your birthday!" she exclaimed, her voice muffled by her palms.

Hayato's lips curled in a barely visible smile. He reached in and removed her hands from her face. "Calm down," he spoke, his voice lighter than usual. "You know I don't care for birthdays."

She pouted at him. "What kind of monster are you, not caring for birthdays?"

He smiled. "So?"

"So what?"

"Will you be coming over for dinner? I will come to get you, you're still too young to walk around alone, remember?"

Mai kicked his shin and he laughed. "I'm just a year younger than you!" she hissed at him.

Yato backed away a little, just in case, and watched her for a moment. He and his brother had started school a little later than usual, at 9 years of age, as his parents had wanted to have things settle well after the war with Kabuto, before letting the twins become chunin. It had been a rough five years, as there was a lot of discussions, issues and controversy around the topic of Sasuke and Hinata Uchiha remaining in Konoha and becoming part of the Leaf village again. But now, 10 years later, things were back to normal so much, that he barely remembered his life before school. Konoha was as steady as it could be, with Naruto as a Hokage people felt safer than ever.

The young Uchiha man watched the sky as it turned lighter, the Hokage mountain outline now clearly visible.

"I'll come to pick you up at eight," Hayato noted and glanced at Mai one more time before turning around and walking away.

"Wait!" she called and ran ahead, catching up to him.

The girl reached him and, without much hesitation, lifted herself on her toes and kissed him. It was a short, light kiss. They were both tired, messy and covered in dirt, yet somehow he forgot about everything at once. She pulled away, smiling lightly,

"Happy birthday, Yato," Mai noted, then spun on her heels and entered the building of her household.

The Uchiha remained like that for a few more moments, taking the time to watch the lightening sky. For 10 long years he had held back, trying not to delve into what he felt for his teammate, concerned that anything more between them could jeopardize their team, their education, their friendship.

But he could finally let go of all these worries now. Hayato breathed in the fresh morning air and finally headed to the Uchiha compound, only to stop dead in his tracks. There was a masked man in the shadows some feet away, he was watching him. The young shinobi rolled his eyes and approached him.

"Good morning, father."

Sasuke Uchiha didn't move, he was leaning on a building wall and was examining his son. In a few long seconds, when his Sharingan had checked every inch of him, making sure he was alright, the man took off the ANBU mask.

"Come with me," the older Uchiha noted and walked ahead.

Hayato followed, slightly annoyed at his father for eavesdropping on his private life, yet slightly curious at where he was leading him. In a moment more he found out where they were headed. He had spent much time of his younger years in the ANBU headquarters.

The two quietly entered the large building. It was almost empty, except for the few masked shinobi and kunoichi who seemed to be returning from a mission. The same mission that his dad had probably just attended. The people around them greeted them both with silent nods. Sasuke walked up the stairs to his office and let his son close the door. He took the seat behind his desk and looked at Hayato, keeping silent for a moment.

"I wanted to speak to you," he started.

"I figured that much," Yato replied. "Itaru went to report to the Hokage."

"I know. I wanted to speak to you first." Sasuke's lips curled just a little. "You should know that I didn't mean to see you and Mai kissing," he teased, then laughed at his son's angry face. "I wanted to be the first to give you a birthday present, but she beat me to it."

Hayato returned his dark eyes to his father. He was not one to be sentimental and have presents prepared. "It's fine," he mumbled.

The older Uchiha then proceeded to take out a small package out of his desk drawer. He stood and walked to his son, handing it to him. Yato looked at the present, it was a light package, covered with a dully colored paper. He quickly unwrapped it, then stared at it blankly. It was an ANBU mask, one of a falcon.

The young man turned to face his father. "ANBU? Really?" Ever since Sasuke had inherited the position of Chief of the ANBU ops in Konoha, Hayato's ambition had been to join the team. After all, it was an Uchiha thing. It was where they belonged.

"Do you like it? I decided on a falcon, after all this is what your name means. It suits you."

"I like it," Yato lied. He loved it. "I've always imagined myself in a cat mask, but this is better."

"Ah," Sasuke laughed lightly. "I'll save your uncle Itachi's mask for myself for now," he noted, gesturing at his own mask on the top of his desk.

There was a gentle knock on the door, then a woman with long, dark hair tied in a high ponytail walked in, still wearing her doe mask. Upon seeing Hayato she hurried and hugged him, then placed her palm on his face. Through the holes in her mask he could see her white eyes, hey Byakugan was activated.

"Mom, I'm fine," he told her. "How was your mission?"

"Ah, the usual," she answered.

The usual for a mission that his parents both attended usually meant that it was difficult, it involved a lot of fighting, running and killing, but that it was completely successful as well. After finally being accepted as part of the Leaf village again, the Hokage had tasked Sasuke and Hinata into the ANBU ops, this way creating one of the best teams so far. The two were unstoppable. It was definitely a family thing now, after all his mom was no longer a Hyuuga.

"Do you like the mask," she asked him, bringing him out of his thoughts.

"Of course," he noted, then placed it on his face. It felt surprisingly comfortable. "This means that Taru is in the ANBU squad as well, right?"

"You two are top of the class ever since you were chunin," Sasuke explained. "It was natural that you proceed within the ANBU. Itaru's mask is also waiting for him, given that he wants to follow this path."

Hayato smiled. He knew exactly what his father meant. "We'll see."

Itaru quietly entered the Hokage building, then climbed up the stairs and knocked on the office door a little before sunrise. Yet, the Uzumaki was already there, all bright and lively as if he had not spent the whole night reading through scrolls again.

"Come in," he called, then smiled widely upon seeing the young Uchiha. Taru had dirt on his face and all over, yet it didn't make his features any less handsome. The twins had grown up to be an amazing combination of their parents, having inherited most of their father's features, yet there was much of Hinata in their faces, they lacked the constant frown that Sasuke sported. And their eyes, as dark as they were, emitted a softness that only their mother carried.

"I have come to bring you the report, and the scroll that you had tasked us to retrieve. Though I see you have enough of those."

Naruto waved his hand in dismissal, as if the towering pile of scrolls were a bug that he could shoo away.

"Your brother and Mai?"

Itaru hesitated. "They are fine. I let them get going, I thought I could report to you alone."

The grin on the Hokage's face was obvious. Naruto, as well as pretty much every single person in the village, knew that those two liked each other. "Good thinking," the blond noted, finally getting up from his chair. He walked to the window and looked outside. The sun was slowly rising and the sky was lighting up, yet some stars could still be seen.

"This was your last mission as team Konohamaru," the man continued, looking at the young Uchiha before him. "Have you thought of how you wish to continue ahead?"

Itaru knew exactly what he wanted to do and what future to pursue, yet wasn't sure how or if he should voice it. The blue eyes that stared at him were persistent. "I was thinking that I may join the ANBU."

"That's a good idea, you will be a great addition to the ops. But is this what you want, or is it just your natural path as an Uchiha?"

Naruto's seriousness caught the young man off guard. It was now or never. "I want to become Hokage."

"Now that's more like it!" the blond man jumped up with a wide smile. "You know, Itaru, there is a reason why people often tell you that you resemble your uncle Itachi that much. It's not so much of a physical thing, although with that long hair of yours you are going there. It is what you carry in your mind, and most of all, in your heart. You have everything it takes to be an amazing leader."

"But I thought… Mirai-"

"Ah!" Naruto laughed loudly. "My son really doesn't seem to have any interest in the position, and this office," he gestured to the place, usually wide but now appearing small, cramped up with documents and scrolls all around. "He seems to be taking after his mother in his interest in medical jutsus. Last time I insisted that we spoke of his career he shanaroo punched me so bad that I can still feel it," the Hokage laughed and rubbed his stomach. "Besides, right now his main interest seems to be protecting his sister from all the teenage boys in Konoha."

Itaru couldn't help but smile. Mirai was one year younger than him and Hayato, and he was the twin's best and closest friend. They had been through so many shenanigans when they were younger that the Hokage never forgot to thank the gods that the three didn't end up in the same team together.

As for Naruto's daughter, Kazumi Uzumaki was just as energetic and feisty as her brother, but in a much well-mannered way. She was almost 13, just finishing her chunin education, and was in the same team with Lee's son, as well as Anna Hyuuga, Hanabi and Tao's daughter.

And even though people often reminded Itaru how huge the Uchiha clan was once, and how small their family was now, it surely didn't feel like it. Anna was such a gentle and calm child, that the twins had taken a vow to protect her from everything from the moment they first saw her, even though they were just six-year-old then. She was just like a real little sister to them, as Sasuke had refused to risk their mother's life with any further pregnancies, given how hard it had been for her to carry the twins. As for the Hokage's kids, they were just as much of the twin's cousins as Anna. They were all one big family.

"So what do you say, would you like come work in the council? You will still be assigned to plenty of missions," Naruto explained, there was a strange twinkle in his eye. "You will get to visit Suna much more, you know."

Taru felt a rush of heat hit his face. He was flustered at both the amazing opportunity that the Hokage was offering and the fact that it appeared the Uzumaki was somehow aware of his secret relationship with the Kazekage's daughter. Nora was two years younger than him, they had met during a mission some time ago, and communicated mainly by exchanging short messages via her sand birds she could sent away to surprising distances. She had a way of always finding him even if he was on missions, which he really adored about her. Too bad lord Gaara was not so keen on him.

"Will you come for dinner tonight," the young man asked Naruto, deciding it was best to change the subject.

"Absolutely!"

"I'm not putting on a party hat," Hayato grunted, giving Mirai a very mean look.

The blond boy before him laughed and adjusted the one on his own head. "Fine," he started," I'll wear mine though, it suits me and brings out my green eyes."

Yato rolled his eyes, but was smiling. In the other side of the room Kazumi and Anna were busy with neatly braiding Itaru's long hair, who was sitting on a chair, concentrated into writing something on a very small piece of paper.

The pink haired girl finally stood up to marvel at her masterpiece. "Not fair," she started, pouting at Taru. "Even with braids and bows you are still too handsome." She narrowed her blue eyes, then sighed. "Honestly, that Uchiha thing that you two have is frustrating."

Hayato made sure to take a step back, in case the girls decided to do anything to him as well. He ruffed up his bangs, making sure the elastic at the back of his head still head his small pony-tail in place. This, however, attracted Kazu's attention as she extended her hands, trying to reach him. He held her by the shoulders, backing away in one of the walls.

"Back away, devil!" he yelled at her.

But the damage was done, she had somehow managed to put his bangs back, clipping them with a pink bunny hair-clip. He tried to remove it, but she held his hands, god she was strong.

"Come on, it suits you!" she called.

"Is this why you came early, to torture me?" he asked, finally giving up and letting her go.

"Nii-san, I am sure that Mai will like you like that," Anna spoke, giggling lightly.

Yato looked at his twin, who shrugged. He threw his hands in the air in defeat and flashed his Sharingan at Mirai, who had not stopped laughing the whole time. It was almost eight o'clock, he had to get going. Hairclip or not, he didn't want to be late.

He had to resort to exiting through the window, as Kazimi had barricaded the door, trying to get more hair pieces on him, but it wasn't a problem. The main Uchiha building was a two story one, so soon enough he was already headed to pick Mai as he had promised.

Several girls giggled at him on his way, but he ignored them. For some reason he felt a strange feeling in his stomach, as if there was a small Chidori stuck below his ribs, making his heart beat irregularly. Was he not well, or was he just nervous? He wasn't used to being nervous.

And while he still pondered on whether he was under some unknown jutsu, he reached the tall house of the Akira family before he knew it. He didn't need to knock on the door, Mai was standing before it, wearing a long dark-blue dress that complimented her skin, especially in the light of the setting sun. Suddenly Hayato felt underdressed, he should have thought this through, instead of wearing his usual black pants and shirt. Their eyes met and the two stared at each other from a distance, before she finally placed a hand over her mouth and giggled. Yato approached her and gave her a questioning look. The girl, still smiling, extended her hand and touched his forehead.

"What a pleasant surprise," she spoke.

Just now he remembered about the hair-clip. Feeling his face warm up he rolled his eyes. "A courtesy of Kazumi," he noted, but as annoyed as he was, something in the way she looked at him made him forget how pissed he was at the Hokage's daughter.

"Honestly, it really suits you. Rarely do I get to see your eyes that well." She noted and looked away.

Hayato suddenly felt the awful sensation of not knowing what to do with his hands, so he put them in his pockets. "Ready to go?" he asked, although it was painfully obvious that she had been waiting for him for some time, even though he was right on time for their date. Meet, it was a meeting, not a date.

She nodded and they headed down the alley, headed for the Uchiha compound. After the war with Kabuto, Sasuke had worked hard to restore the lands of his clan, and instead of debris and buildings falling apart there were now several small houses that he used for ANBU stuff, some vacant ones that he had claimed he is preparing for his sons, and the rest of the land was cleared to be turned in a decently large private park. With time it was to be built upon, once there were enough Uchihas to occupy it.

"So," Mai started. "My dad tells me that you will be joining the ANBU ops."

He turned to look at her, forgetting that his bangs did not cover his eyes as usual and that she could clearly see how he was staring at her. There was a flower ornament in her dark hair, a lily. "I am," he confirmed, still watching her, trying to figure out how she felt about it. To his surprise she smiled.

"And what about Taru?"

"He was offered to join as well, but he will take place in the council, he'll work with Naruto."

Mai's smile got brighter. "He's going to be an amazing Hokage one day, don't you think?"

"He is," Yato agreed and for a moment they proceeded walking in silence. People were giving them strange looks, but he ignored them. And he could swear that he passed a few teenage boys who sported the same hair-clip hairdo that he had. It appeared that he had started a trend with just one walk in the city. But he did not find the will to take it off now, seeing that Mai really did like it.

"I was offered a mask as well," the girl beside him noted, "but my father is trying to interfere."

Hayato raised an eyebrow. "As if that will stop you."

"Not at all," she confirmed. "I have great plans for my ANBU career." She then moved her hazel eyes and watched him for a moment. "I was wondering if you'd like for us to be a team again?"

"Of course," he answered much quicker than he himself had anticipated. But this made her smile widely.

"I mean, imagine, we could be as deadly of a duo as your mom and dad are," she explained and her face had that dreamy expression that usually girls had when they spoke of their crushes, and not about fighting and killing. Sasuke and Hinata Uchiha had long been her dream team.

He laughed. "Or even deadlier," Hayato noted, still watching her. Things were different now. And if they were assigned on ANBU missions together it would make keeping her safe much easier.

There was a blush in her cheeks and he wasn't really sure whether she was thinking about anything in particular, or if it was the setting sun playing tricks, she was not one to blush that easily.

"What's your mask?" she asked.

"A falcon."

"Ah, fitting," she noted. It was definitely not the sunset.

"Are you blushing?"

"Mine is a raven."

His father had definitely done the bird thing on purpose, yet he wasn't really mad, not at all. They finally reached the Uchiha grounds, the main building was lit up, laughter and voices could be heard inside. Hanabi and Tao were already there, some more of their friends and classmates had arrived.

They were still in front of the door when one of the windows at the upper floor opened slightly to release a small bird in the air. It flew away in an instant, disappearing from sight.

"Oh, it appears Itaru has received a gift from Suna," the girl noted, giggling. Being together on so many missions, the two of them were already used to the small sand creatures that brought messages to Taru every now and then.

Smiling, Hayato removed one hand from his pocket and extended it to Mai. She looked at his palm for a moment, it was as blistered from using his sword as usual. She then looked up at him. He was much taller than her and remembering how she had to tiptoe to kiss him made her face burn again.

"Want to go on a walk before going in? You've been asking about seeing the Uchiha park for some time."

Her eyes lit up. "Are you asking me out on a date?" she joked.

"Of course I am," he confirmed and before she could blush any further he took her hand and the two walked around the main house, headed to the Moon pond. He really wasn't sure what he was doing, yet he just knew it felt nice being alone with her, not on a mission, not with other teammates. He would soon start his ANBU assignments, Itaru would work with the Hokage and things were about to get complicated. But for this one night he wanted to be at peace, to be in his favorite company, and to savor every moment.

Itaru is named after Itachi, he is the twin that was born first while Sasuke and Hinata were still in the western lands.

Hayato means "falcon", Hinata chose his name to both be starting with an 'H' as per the Hyuuga tradition, and for the meaning of his name to be relevant to the eagle that Sasuke could summon, she loved the bird and it was an Uchiha thing.

Mirai means "future"; Kazumi means "harmonious beauty". Naruto named his son after Minato, and his daughter after Kushina.

In Unbreakable Bonds the twins are 4 years old. In the epilogue Itaru and Hayato are 19, Mai and Mirai are 18. Kazumi and Anna Hyuuga are both 13.

Sasuke, Hinata, Naruto and Sakura are roughly 43 of age.

Hope you liked the story. There will be no further updates on it. Thank you for your continuous support!