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For Always
Epilogue: New Life
Naruto held his wife's hand as she went into labor. He was going to stay and support Hinata for however long it took. He silently hoped it would be over quick. Hinata vice-like grip on his hand was taking it's toll. Even with the accelerated healing the Kyubi's chakra gave him, he didn't think his hand could hold up to the abuse much longer.
"Come on honey breathe, just like we practiced," he said in a soothing voice. "I AM breathing!" He really, really hoped it wouldn't take too much longer. He didn't like this raving woman his wife had become. Wasn't childbirth supposed to be the most beautiful experience a woman could have?
Instead of the tears and joy he was expecting, he got glares and death threats. Apparently the whole situation was his fault and he was going to die for it. He was starting to wonder.
He got another 'I'm going to kill you for doing this to me' and he was fed up. "It takes two people for this you know!" He realized keeping his mouth shut would have been the right response to it all when his hand snapped under the enraged squeeze of his wife's grip. He was right. He couldn't take much more. He blacked out.
-ooo-
A foul smell woke him up. He opened his eyes to see a nurse pull back some smelling salts from under his nose. "Would you like to see your son now?" Naruto jumped up immediately and looked at the clock. "How long was I out?" "About twenty minutes. Your son was born ten minutes ago." It was 11:55 PM. It was December 4th. He walked over to where Hinata was lying with Hikaru in her arms. "Look Hikaru, your daddy finally decided to join us," she said with a grin. She held Hikaru out for Naruto. He took his son with such delicacy that Hinata laughed. "It's okay Naruto-kun. You won't break him." Naruto wasn't so sure. Hikaru seemed as fragile as a crystal glass. While he had doubts about his ability to hold his son, he knew without question that he would love him for as long as he drew breath. He looked at his sleeping son and cried.
-ooo-
"Hey Dad! I did it! I passed the genin exams!" Naruto jumped up cheering. "That's my boy! And only nine years old! I wish Sasuke-teme could have seen this. He would have been pissed!" He looked into his sons milky white eyes with pride, his new hitai-ate resting on his forehead in place of the goggles he had worn, so much like the ones his father had all those years ago. "You keep this up and you may get to be hokage before I do!"
Hikaru grinned. "So, I passed on my first try. You gonna teach me that ultimate jutsu like you promised?" Naruto nodded. "A promise is a promise. Watch closely, Sexy no Ju-" Naruto fell over as a frying pan collided with the back of his head.
"I will not have you teaching our son that jutsu Naruto-kun." "Aw, but Mom! We had a deal! If I passed the genin exams on my first try, he'd teach me the ultimate jutsu!" "Yes, well your father and I will have a talk about that. You'll get your jutsu just as soon as we agree on which one. Maybe the Kage Bunshin or Rasengan, but I won't allow that jutsu to spread." Hikaru forgot all about the technique his father was about to perform. "I can learn the Rasengan! Wait till the guys hear about this!" Hikaru ran off happily to find his friends.
Naruto walked over to Hinata rubbing the back of his head. "You didn't have to throw a frying pan you know." Hinata smiled. "I know. Maybe I'll make it up to you tonight," she said with a mischievous sparkle in her eye. "Now go get cleaned up. Tsunade-sama will be over for dinner soon. She's retireing soon so if you want the job, you better start impressing people." Naruto sighed. "Alright, alright."
Naruto went to shower, thoughts drifting. His son was a genin in record time, Tsunade was soon retiring and a new hokage would be chosen. He and Hinata where considering having another child. So much had changed over the years, and so much change was coming.
The winds of time never cease.
The End