Part 4: Boruto Era, Colors.

Summary: A series of color associations regarding Naruto's family life.


Blue

"Tou-chan! Last week you said it was orange!"

"With all the beautiful colors you can see in this world, why are you guys insisting that I pick only one?" Naruto protested, but his tone was teasing. He loved it when he could twit his children this early in the morning. It proved he still hadn't lost his touch to annoy others.

Here they were again, at the breakfast table, sharing the meal Hinata had prepared, and once more Himawari had asked him about his favorite color. She was still trying to figure out what hers was and she just couldn't settle on one—which was why she'd made it a habit to bring it up whenever they were all together so that she could get varying opinions.

Today, Naruto responded with, "Blue."

In particular, the shade of blue in the eyes that stared at him over the kitchen table, the same shade that he'd seen in his Mom's eyes. Or in Himawari's case, the Fourth Hokage's eyes.

Meanwhile, Kawaki's gray eyes were puzzled, and Naruto noticed they were genuinely curious, not the usual fake bored expression he always wore. He made a note to mention gray the next time his daughter asked him the question.

He smiled at the disgruntled expression on Boruto's face. He was still complaining. "Tou-chan! You can't keep changing your answer. Favorite means only one!"

Naruto laughed. "You're right, Boruto. But it's a difficult question because situations can change, and as you go through each phase in your life, sometimes you're allowed to change your mind to fit your feelings." He shrugged. "It depends on my mood. Sometimes I like blue, sometimes I like orange."

Boruto pouted, Kawaki nodded slowly in understanding, and even Himawari seemed to have accepted the explanation.

"Now if you asked me who my favorite child was, that's easy to answer: Himawari, of course!"

"Tou-chan!"

"Nanadaime!"

"Papa!" But this one came with a happy squeal.

"Naruto!" Hinata said sternly as she slid into the seat next to him. "Stop teasing the kids!"

Naruto laughed and pressed a quick kiss of thanks on top of her head for refilling his coffee mug. "I'm only joking, Hinata!" But his face became serious when he gazed back at the three young faces looking up at him and said, "You know I love you all. I can never choose one because you're all my favorite."

Himawari beamed at him. Boruto looked abashed, glanced down, and then busied himself by taking a sip of his milk. Kawaki only blinked in surprise, unsure of what to say. Eventually, he picked up his chopsticks again and started eating.

Hinata suddenly laughed, causing him to look at her. "What?"

She was still smiling. She dropped her voice to a whisper. "Last night, you said it was pink, Naruto."

"What? Hinata, I never said—"

Last night.

The memories abruptly flooded his brain, making him freeze in front of his kids.

The darkened bedroom with the bright, lacy bits of pink coming off her body and flying through the air in his haste to get rid of them quickly so he could get to the good parts—the third set of underwear he'd ripped to shreds this month.

As if sensing his thoughts, Hinata added, "You owe me another one." Then she nonchalantly took a bite of her food and left him to stew in his embarrassment.

Really, Naruto thought as he took a sip of his coffee, he was pretty sure he was becoming that lingerie shop's favorite customer, he was there often.

There was a grunt of frustration from across the table and Naruto looked into Boruto's disgusted face. "Ew! Kaaaaaaa-chan!" he whined.

Oh, shit. The kids had heard that little exchange between him and Hinata. Now he was hot, especially because the children were watching him sit there and flush.

Kawaki was frowning and blinking, probably because he wasn't used to seeing Nanadaime this way being teased by his wife.

But at least Himawari was enjoying herself as she beamed at both of them. Then she asked, "What about you, Mama?"

Naruto shot her a grateful look as everyone thankfully shifted their attention away from him and focused on Hinata instead.

"What's your favorite color?"

"Hmm?" Hinata said with a smile as she looked at Naruto's cheeks.

"Mine's probably a very particular shade of red."


Orange

"Did he eat his vegetables today?"

Hinata had asked the question in the silent bedroom while she observed the slumbering Naruto beside her. As usual, he was sound asleep and was already snoring loudly. She adjusted the blankets over his body and rubbed a soothing caress over his chest, making him sigh. A few moments later, he was back to snoring again.

Still, she waited for her accomplice to arrive knowing that Naruto never woke up during these secret meetings.

"Yes," came the deep rumbling reply as ephemeral orange flames flickered from Naruto's body and flared into being, filling the dark room with the glow of his chakra. Kurama appeared before her, prepared to give his nightly report.

"He ate everything, every single one."

Hinata smiled at him. "I'm glad." Then she laughed. "I wasn't sure how he'd react to the double serving of broccoli in the bento I packed him today, but I'm happy he ate them."

"He doesn't complain as much as before," Kurama mused as he hovered above their bed. His tone was proud—like a father who finally got his picky child to eat vegetables.

She nodded. "That's good to hear!" Then she added a mischievous grin. "Tomorrow, I'm planning to add more carrots and some tomatoes."

Kurama rumbled approvingly. "That might be best."

They laughed together, both picturing Naruto's reaction to seeing a bento box full of healthy vegetables.

When their laughter settled, Hinata remembered something else she wanted to discuss with Kurama.

"You still haven't figured out the reason why his back's been giving him problems? He mentioned it again before going to bed." Hinata asked as she looked down with concern at Naruto. Then she brought her gaze back to Kurama. "I did a quick scan in the morning before he left for work and then again when he got home tonight, but I didn't see anything strange with my byakugan."

Kurama frowned. "No, I haven't found out the reason, either. His chakra reserves haven't been depleted recently and he's completely healed from the last fight he had."

"It's so strange."

Hearing the worry in her voice, Kurama was quick to reassure her. "It will sort itself out eventually."

She smiled at him with gratitude. "You're right. Thank you, Kurama."

"Hmph!" came his usual reply whenever she thanked him for the little things he did to show he cared.

"Good night, then."

"See you tomorrow."

The bedroom went dark again, and Hinata gave Naruto one last pat on the stomach before she, too, slid closer to him and finally closed her eyes.


Gray

"Naruto, what are you doing?" Hinata asked as she swatted at him playfully. His hands were in her hair, and more importantly, he was getting in the way of her getting ready for the kids to arrive.

"I need you to move out of the way because I'm not done yet. I still have to get the towels and the pillows ready for the children!"

He only squeezed her tighter and didn't let go. "I'll do that later. Right now, your husband desperately needs your attention."

"You always need my attention!" she answered with a laugh, but she crowded closer into his body because she wanted his hug. He was warm, always warm. Recently, the chilly weather affected her and she often felt cold. Luckily, Naruto seemed to know when she was feeling chilled because he would always come close, smile at her mischievously, and then gather her hands and rub them together. Afterward, he would kiss each finger in turn.

She loved that he was home most days now and they often spent time in the garden, the one she'd been maintaining for him so that it would be ready when it was his turn to tend the weeds and plant the seedlings.

But his lips were brushing all over her face, her neck, and now the top of her head. Then he gave a playful little poke at the chignon resting at the back of her head, the one she'd artfully arranged so that the kids wouldn't get their hands on her hair.

She laughed again and tried to get him to stop, but he only hugged her tighter to him.

"I love this new hairstyle," he murmured into the top of her hair. "I think it looks really good on you."

"Thank you, Naruto, but we still have a lot to do before everyone gets here!"

He pulled back and then grinned at her. "Leave it to me! I've still got it, you know."

Naruto raised his hands in front of him and then formed the seals to call up his shadow clones. Several appeared before the two of them and awaited their orders.

He pointed to Hinata. "Alright, boys. She's the boss. We do whatever she says."

They got everything ready. The futon and the blankets were laid out and waiting in the spare bedrooms, the kitchen stocked with the kids' favorite food, and the toys and knick-knacks were kept within reach in case anyone got bored.

Naruto grinned to himself, though. He knew that would never be the case because he made sure that the Uzumaki home always echoed with screams of excitement and enjoyment—much to Hinata's chagrin because they always had to apologize to the neighbors.

But mostly, though, spending time with each other made them feel rejuvenated and eager for today. After a long absence, the family was going to be together again.

Before everyone descended, however, there was enough time to enjoy a quiet cup of tea in the garden and the home that they'd built together.

But the happy intrusion of Boruto's voice cut through the peace and tranquility.

"Tou-chan!"

Naruto turned around with a grin and saw his first-born son walking towards him. His heart lifted at seeing him healthy, happy, and safe. It was only Boruto at the moment, but later on today, Himawari was scheduled to arrive in the afternoon. Tomorrow, they were all going to the station to form a welcome party for Kawaki's return to Konoha.

"Boruto!" he yelled in reply, waving his arms in the air knowing it still irked his son to see him do it.

But to his surprise, Boruto's answering grin met his, and he did his own frantic waving of his own arms in the air as he walked towards his childhood home.

And then Naruto's favorite part came after that, the one that still made him feel goosebumps, because there they were, the proof of his legacy, the reason why the first Hokage had fought so hard to build his village, the reason why Naruto was going to be a shinobi until he breathed his last.

The air was suddenly filled with sounds of happy little feet running towards him and the excited cries of:

"Grandpa!"