Chapter Six

Naruto's POV:

He just couldn't believe that he had a family with Sakura in another world, in another life. There wasn't a word in existence that could begin to describe how happy he was feeling. He had suppressed his feelings for Sakura in order to ensure her happiness, so for there to be another world where he truly had Sakura's love was something more beautiful and heartwarming that he could ever imagine. Even if Sakura would never love him in this life, it still brought him a world's worth of happiness to know they loved each other in another. Then, as if being woken from a dream he heard a voice coming from within him as he made his way back to his office.

"It's been a while since I have seen you like this, Naruto", said Kurama. Kurama continued, "It's about time you stop lying to yourself and going back on your word".

Naruto asked, "What are you talking about, you old Fox".

Kurama chuckled and said, "Refusing to confess your feelings to Sakura is what created the mess you find yourself in everyday. The brat of a son and a woman who acts more like a servant than a wife. Do you think your mother acted like that? She was my Jinchurki for decades. I knew her even better than the Fourth did. She would probably pound you into the ground for not listening to her and having such a mess of a home life, and then find some way to pound me for letting you end up like this".

Naruto replied back, "Look, things may not have ended up the way she or I wanted, but I won't allow you to speak ill of my family. They aren't perfect and I will admit I never truly loved Hinata, but they are my family. It's my role to be there for them, not go chasing feelings I hid a long time ago. Even if it hurts me everytime I see Sakura wear the Uchiha crest or think about how badly Sasuke neglects her, all that matters is her happiness and being there for her and everyone else I care about".

Kurama replied, "I can sense your feelings, you would want nothing more than to marry Sakura even now and give her the life Sasuke never would. I can sense the hope you got from learning about Shinachiku and what it could mean for you two. By Old Man Six Paths, I can even sense the heartache in Sakura regarding you two. I think she might finally be ready to admit the truth".

Naruto replied in annoyance, "Kurma let's just drop the subject of my screwed up love life. I can see there is no winning with you on this one. But onto a lighter subject, what did you think about Shina?"

Kurama, "It definitely seems like I was right about him having a similar chakra signature to you and Sakura. He seems like an interesting fellow. I sensed nothing but honesty from him, so it's fair to say we can trust him so far. We'll of course know more about him after tonight".

Naruto replied, "Yeah, I'm looking forward to tonight. I'll try to get everything done so I will make it on time, and hopefully we'll learn more about Shina and hopefully some way to help him find his way home",

Kurama then said, "I can sense you wouldn't be opposed to him staying here forever if you couldn't find him a way home".

Naruto shrugged and said, "You're not wrong, I got a good feeling about Shina and he is my son even if he is from another world".

Kurama laughed, "You always find some ways to amuse me Naruto".

They continued on their way to the Hokage's office in silence.

When he arrived back at his office, Shikamaru was there waiting for him, "Hey Naruto, care to explain to me what you were up to at the hospital?"

Naruto replied, "It was about the kid I saved last night. He woke up."

Shikamaru said, "Oh, that's good for him. Did you learn anything about why he was falling from the sky?"

Naruto said with a big old grin, "You can say that. It turns out that he is my son".

Shikamaru's face bore a clear expression of shock as he said, "What!? How!?"

Naruto chuckled, "I guess Sakura was right and that I need to be careful how I say it. He is my and Sakura's son from another universe. One that parallels our own, I believe is how Sakura put it. In that universe we were married and had a family together. He was sent here after being attacked in his world through some complex time-space ninjutsu that the enemy mistakenly thought would kill him.. The oldest is the one who ended up in this world, his name is Shinachiku but he likes to be called Shina. Then he has a younger sister Hanami and a younger brother named Arashi. Shina looks like almost a perfect combination of Sakura and me. Hanami seems to be just like though she takes more after Sakura in looks according to Shina and the picture he showed me. Arashi somehow managed to get my mother's red hair. Oh look at me I'm acting like a brand new father and I haven't even met two of them, dattebayo". Naruto paused for a moment and said, "Shikamaru can I tell you something, just between us. I feel more alive than ever. You know when I was younger that I had loved Sakura, right?"

Shikamaru replied, "Yeah, I even remember the hurt look you had when she asked you to bring back Sasuke. What does that have to do with this other than in that world she probably didn't ask you that."

Naruto replied with a sad look, "Even after all these years, I still love her with all my heart. Even after marrying Hinata and having a family with her, I still love Sakura more than anything else and even if it hurts me, I just want to see her happy. So seeing our son even if he is from another universe, fills me with such happiness. A world where all of my dreams came true. It almost seems too good to be true, but it's true. Even Kurama could sense the similarities between Sakura and my chakra and Shina's. I know it's too late to do anything about my feelings, but I'm just so happy that another me had his dream come true." Naruto paused for another moment, " Sakura and I are going to take Shina to Ichiraku at six to get to know more about him and the full story of how he ended up here. So far we only know a little about our and Sasuke's family and that Shina was attacked that night".

Shikamaru let a small smile out as he said, "I gotta be honest Naruto, I can really see it in you. You look more alive than I have seen you in years. You are right though, it's too late to do anything about those feelings with both you and Sakura being married to different people and have families of your own, but I can see how it would nice to meet someone from a world where it seems like all your dreams came true. Though I would be remiss if I didn't tell you it's already two and you got a lot of work with the upcoming chunin exams".

Naruto replied with a look of shocking realization, "Damit, I forgot about that and I still have to ask Old man Teuchi if he could give us enough privacy so we could talk to Shina!" Naruto quickly performed the shadow Clone Jutsu, summoning half a dozen clones. Naruto turned to them and said, "I need one to ask Old man Teuchi for some privacy so we can talk to Shina and eat dinner in peace, and everyone else we need to get through as much paperwork as we can so we can be there for Shina and Sakura". The clones and Naruto got to work, going through their assigned tasks as if they were men possessed.

Shikamaru let out a laugh as he said, "Looks like you just needed the right motivation".

Little did they know that a certain someone had been listening to their conversation.

Boruto's POV:

He couldn't believe that stupid old man, not only had that stupid old man missed his birthday and couldn't even be trusted to attend Himawari's birthday. He had come to ensure that his dad would come to Himawari's birthday, but to find out stupid old man's true feelings about his family was something he never expected to find. Now that stupid old man had flat admitted to never even loving his his mother and seemed to care more about people he didn't even know let alone met than his own real family. He ran out of the Hokage's mansion and leapt away, he needed to go blow off some steam. He would find some way to get back at the stupid old man.

Shina's POV

He had just finished his lunch and now had nothing to do but kill time until it was time for this world's version of his mom to take him to meet up with this world's version of his dad, at Ichiraku. He was curious about how this world differed to his own other than the fact his parents weren't together. What was the divergent point? Shina decided it was pointless to speculate with how little information he had at this point.

Shina wondered what he could do to use the timer he had efficiently. "Maybe I can try practicing my sage mode more, it wouldn't hurt and I can use some of the nature energy to speed up my healing," Shina thought to himself. Shina positioned himself in the mediation position and began gathering nature energy. It took some time but he entered into sage mode. The first thing he did was see if he could sense any familiar signatures in this version of the Leaf. He saw all the familiar ones such as his parents' friends, no aunt Karin but that was to be expected given the information had. Strangely enough he sensed a chakra signature very similar to Sarada's(daughter of Karin) signature. "I guess that was the daughter that Sakura-san mentioned. It's strange how similar their signatures are even when compared to the other counterparts and this being in spite of them having different mothers. If I wasn't as familiar with Sarada's signature as I am I would have assumed it was her," Shina thought to himself. He couldn't sense a few signatures that he expected to have counterparts in this world like Neji-sensi. Even if his friends didn't have counterparts he would have expected to sense Neji-sensei given his friendship with his parents. He sensed a presence that was similar to Hanabi-sensei's and Hizashi, but it was unfamiliar to him, along with two that seemed to be similar both to his own and the Hyugas. "Perhaps I will ask them if Neji-sensei is out on a mission right now, after all my Sage enhanced senses only have a range of 30 klicks," Shina thought himself. "Well, I guess that's enough sensory training for now. I guess I should try to speed up my recovery" Shina said. He started performing hand seals; ushi, inu, i, ne, tori, saru, tatsu, tora. Shina said, "Sage Art: Mystical Healing Trance". Shina concrentated as a green aura encompassed his whole body, he had been inspired to create this technique by his the Mitotic Regeneration used by Lady Tsunade and his mother, instead of using a concentrated pool of one's own chakra he relied on senjutsu to heal him. It was one of the last techniques he was training with prior to returning to the leaf, so far it still paled in comparison to the Mitotic Regeneration and the Hundred Healings jutsu , but it did allow to stabilise severe wounds that would be impossible for any other medical ninjutsu, by slowing down his body's functions to a near standstill with only the healing processes not slowed . Though it required him to be still for several hours and constantly absorb nature energy at the he messed up the ratio in any single point in his body he could start turning to stone. Several hours went by and Shina exited Sage Mode, he felt the pain of his wounds dull or disappear. He inspected the wounds he had received. He had successfully healed all of the lacerations and puncture wounds in his body and his internal organs and tissue had been healed and purged any remaining effects of the poisons used on him. The only major injury that hadn't been completely healed was the chakra burns along his left hand and arm, those have proved to be much harder to heal and the damage much more severe. Likely due to the energies released from his clash with the red oni masked man. There was a reason why Space-Time ninjutsu were generally classified as S rank jutsus. Shina turned to the clock on the Hospital wall, it was a quarter past five o'clock, soon enough Sakura-san should come to give him a final check up before taking him to meet up with Narutoat Ichiraku. No sooner had he thought a certain pink haired medical nin came through with a bag in hand.

Sakura said, "It's time to give you a final check up before I release you from the hospital and take you to Ichiraku". She began to check his injuries and then she paused. Sakura's face shifted into a look that Shina had seen more times than he cared to admit and said, "You have been using medical ninjutsu to heal yourself, haven't you?"

Shina's face contorted into that of a child who had been caught with their hand in the cookie jar and said, "Nope, I promise I haven't been using my chakra reserves. I've been using a senjutsu technique I created to heal and speed up my recovery time".

Sakura asked, "Senjutsu? You mastered Sage Mode, like Naruto and Lord Jiraiya?"

Shina responded, "Yeah, before my last mission, I spent almost two years at Mount Myōboku studying under Lord Fukasaku in the Sage arts. Due to the training, my last mission to save the Feudal Lord's daughter, and then the attack; I probably spent less than a week at home. I have managed to develop a new medical jutsu using senjutsu, mastered Wind Style: Rasenshuriken, and even mastered using Sage Art: Amphibian Jutsu; which my dad couldn't do since Kurama doesn't like to share Naruto with others".

Sakura said, "Impressive, though I can't believe my counterpart let Naruto teach you that jutsu though. Lady Tsunade labeled it a kinjutsu for a reason. It destroys the body at a cellular level and can permanently destroy the chakra network".

Shina quickly replied, "In dad's defense he told me it is forbidden unless I am in Sage Mode, and that my mastery of adding a change in chakra nature to the rasengan would be the sign that I was ready to start training under Lord Fukasaku. At the time I was barely able to master the basic Wind Style: Rasengan, it just took too much chakra for me. I was only able to master it after I learned Sage Mode. Even then I can barely make one Rasenshuriken in sage mode, if I'm not fused to Lord Fukasaku and Lady Shima".

Sakura sighed and replied, "Alright, I guess my counterpart was able to beat some sense into him".

Shina laughed and said, "Yep, you're the only one who can keep dad and three Uzumaki kids in line. I think it's a tradition that the men in our family like strong, hot blooded women. Even grandfather Minato knew better than to get on grandmother Kushina's bad side".

Sakura laughed and said, "I never got to meet her but Naruto always talked fondly of the time he got to meet her. I wish I could have met her".

Shina replied with a sad smile, "I wish I could have met her as well, as well as grandfather Minato".

Sakura then said, "I met him during the Fourth Great Ninja War, I didn't get much chance to talk with him .Oh before we go to meet Naruto, I brought you some clothes that you can change into. It's nothing special, just some spare Leaf shirts and pants. They're not the newest style, but they are in good condition. I'll close the curtain and let you change".

Shina replied, "My mom met him then too. Thank you, the clothes will suit me just fine". He grabbed the bag as Sakura closed the curtain.

Sakura asked from behind the curtain, "By the way you mentioned that you developed a technique to heal yourself. Did my counterpart teach you medical ninjutsu?"

Shina replied as he changed, "Yes, though I'm not as good as dedicated medical nin, but my mom says I'm a natural at it," Shina laughed, "She was pretty mad when dad and Konohamaru sensei had me sign the summoning contract with Mount Myōboku, dattebaro. She wanted to train me as a full fledged medical nin and pass down the techniques that were passed down to her from Lady Tsunade. I actually based my technique off Mitotic Regeneration and Hundred Healings jutsu, I use natural energy instead of using my own chakra, the downside is that it requires me to remain completely still but can heal even the most microscopic damage, though it can't heal destroyed organs and if I mess up the ratio I can start turning into a stone frog. It's not perfect and requires precise chakra control, dattebaro".

Shina opened the curtain after getting dressed and said, "Oh by the way, when I was in Sage Mode, I tried training my sensory abilities a bit more, but I couldn't sense Neji-sensei. Is he away on a mission?"

Sakura's reaction was painted clear across her face as she said, "What? Neji died during the War protecting Naruto and Hinata."

Shina wore a surprised look as he said, "Oh, I guess that must be the timeline divergence point. In my world it was Hinata who died protecting my dad and Neji sensei. My dad told me that while he was grateful for her sacrifice, he always felt guilty since he could never return those feelings she had for him, no matter what he would always love you".

Sakura wore a sad smile as she said, "It seems he is always playing the role of the lovesick fool," she gripped her skirt and said at barely above a whisper, "Damn it Naruto, I was such a fool when we were younger".

Shina was shocked to see the regret in his mother's counterpart, he began to piece together what must have happened in this world. That his father married Hinata Hyuga and that was the signature he sensed along with the two he sensed that seemed like a mixture of Uzumaki and Hyuga chakra. Shina moved closer to his mother's counterpart and placed his on her shoulder, as he said, "If this world's Naruto is truly anything like my dad, the number one hyperactive ninja and Seventh Hokage, then he will always love you with all of his heart no matter what happens, dattebaro. Maybe that's my reason for being sent to this universe instead of being killed. I'm to help you two realize what you have long suppressed, dattebaro". Shina's face broke out in the characteristic wide Uzumaki smile.

Sakura responded with a sad smile as she said, "You're just like Naruto. Always making big promises. It's too late though Shina, I won't become a homewrecker and I won't hurt Hinata like that. Anyway it's time to go meet up with Naruto".

Shina replied, "Okay, but remember an Uzumaki man never goes back on his word".

Sakura shook her head as she said, "You really are Naruto's son. Now let's go before we're late".

Naruto's POV:

Naruto was waiting for Sakura and Shina outside of Ichiraku. It took some effort, but managed to get today's workload done. It seems Shikamaru was right, all he needed was the right motivation and he could get it all done. Naruto turned to his head to see if they were almost here, then Naruto's heart skipped a beat when he saw them. The sight was too perfect to be real, it looked like something out of Naruto's greatest dreams. Sakura walking with their son.

Naruto was snapped out of his daze by Sakura and Shina greeting him. Naruto quickly tried to regain his composure, and said, "It's nice to see that you guys made it. My clone told Old man Teuchi what was going on and the Old man actually closed down the whole place for us, dattebayo".

Sakura replied, "I wasn't expecting him to do that, are you sure it won't be a problem?"

Naruto replied, "Yep, he said he would do anything for me and with what is happening it's probably best that we aren't bothered by anyone, dattebayo".

They entered the restaurant, ordered their food, and then talked for hours and hours with Naruto and Sakura getting to know all they could about their married counterparts and Shina learning all that he could about this timeline. Naruto's heart soared as he learned more about the happiness his counterpart had achieved. Oh how he wished that he could have some of that happiness. It all seemed like a dream, one that he wished that would never wake up from. Here he was sitting with Sakura and their son, their son from another timeline, but their son nonetheless. Shina had even followed in his, his father, and Pervy Sage's footsteps of becoming a Sage. Naruto could not help but feel such intense pride in Shina. They talked and laughed like a real family, something that he knew was absent in both his and Sakura's lives.

It was near midnight when they finished learning what they could about each other's worlds and helping Old Man Teuchi clean up and close up shop.

Naruto asked, "Shina, if you need a place to stay you can stay at my place, I'm sure Hinata and the kids would love to meet you."

Shina tensed, but before he could say anything, Sakura spoke up, "Naruto! You can't just bring him unannounced to your home, especially if you forget to mention that he is from a different timeline. Look, I have a spare guest bedroom that Shina could stay in. Even if that fails I will ask my parents to take him for the time being since they left my old room as is."

Naruto sighed and rubbed his bandaged hand against the back of his as he said, "I guess I forgot how big of a shock it might be, dattebayo. Maybe, we can all meet up tomorrow so our families can get to know Shina and Shina can get to know them".

Shina responded, "That sounds like a plan, I would be very interested in meeting everyone".

They exchanged their farewells as they went their separate ways to their homes.

Naruto heard Kurama's voice in his head, "Now can you see that she wants to be with you too? She was feeling the exact feelings of happiness as you were when learning about your counterparts. It seemed like even Shina was trying to get her open herself up about those feelings".

Naruto said, "Look Kurama, it doesn't matter what we feel for each other. We're both married to other people and have children of our own we can't just drop everything to pursue what should have been".