Interlude/Bonus: This Future We Share
"Home isn't where you're from, it's where you find light when all grows dark."
― Pierce Brown, Golden Son
N/A: Yes, I did find this old file at 1:06 am of an old chapter that I'm following through with posting for a story I finished years ago. I like family fluff okay! This is just a little bonus chapter idea that takes place basically in the midst of chapters 1 and 2! I wanted a break from the darkness that is my other two ongoing stories at the moment. Hope you enjoy!
Naruto & Boruto
"Papa, this is the wrong way! We have to go towards the left to get home y'now!" Boruto affirms with a quick check of glancing around before tugging at his pants again. He points them back in the direction of Ichiraku's, the exact opposite way he wants to return to. A few lingering patrons smile and coo adoringly at Boruto's behavior, feel the need to mention once more how much Father and son act look and like each other when frustrated.
'What? There's no way I ever behaved this annoyingly, y'know!' Naruto frowns.
Boruto stomps his feet at Naruto's lack of answer or even look his way, the way he still regards him in total puzzlement when his eyes finally turn to meet his.
He wishes Auntie Sakura or Uncle Sasuke were here to explain things better maybe, or even Papa's assistant Shikamaru with how worldly he is. It's already gotten so late, silver full moon high above amid an ink black sky. Mama will be upset they missed dinner or worried where he and Hima have gone off too.
Naruto rubs his index finger against the bridge of his nose, the extra bowls of ramen he filled Boruto with have done nothing to make him sleepy and even more unfortunately, lower his voice!
This child is apparently his son, returning eagerly back to his side if he even dares to try and walk too far ahead of him ("Why ya walking so fast Papa, Mama will understand what happened once we explain!"). And just to prevent him from continuing to do that, Boruto grabs at his hand, tiny fingers lacing with his own ready to guide him back to a home that probably doesn't exist yet.
He withers under all these curious stares sent to them both, whispers that will soon turn into rumors.
'How long before this gets back to the Hyuga compound?' He briefly wonders as he turns over Boruto's crude napkin drawing in his hands.
Long violet hair used for the coloring of his Mom's hair, bright pearl orbs that remind him of snow or the moon, the way Boruto perked up in recognition when he guessed his Mother's name.
Hinata.
Hiashi won't be mad, right?
Hinata is probably just as baffled and embarrassed if this news has already gotten to her. They've only just recently started officially dating and now all of that will become clouded with talk of them having created two kids somehow in the span of weeks. As farfetched as that even sounds, he knows people won't be able to resist the gossip of what they were apparently up to before and after the war.
"Listen err Boruto, right? You can't just go around calling me Papa y'know! It's going to confuse everyone!" Naruto hisses, clamping a hand to his mouth before he can once again declare that he is his Dad.
None of it makes sense, he can't tell if Boruto has an overactive imagination or if he really is just telling him the truth as he knows it.
And it's hard to deny his remarks fully with how many similar features they share, deep azure eyes and sunny blond locks that match his own.
They even share the same pattern of whiskers upon their cheeks and manner of speaking he supposes the more he dwells on it.
"Can you tell me again how you got here?" Naruto decides to ask, even if he knows he's not going to fully understand it.
Boruto shifts between his feet, drops his gaze back to the cobblestone.
"The scroll. I know Hima and I aren't supposed to touch any of the ones in your office, you and Mama always say they're very important. I know I wasn't being a good big brother, it's just the one she pulled out looked so, so...cool! It was this dark green color and had like gold bindings all over it, y'know! She wanted me to read it to her and I guess I wanted to read it too." He admits in a rush.
Naruto nods for him to continue, lifts him up into his arms to keep him from getting lost in the night market and red light district crowds.
"From reading the scroll it said you could go back if you put your thumb in the center! I thought it meant back to tomorrow, that's when we all went to the Cherry Blossom Festival! Hima and I followed the instructions like it said, but when I woke up it was dark and I couldn't see where Hima went." Boruto finishes, looks remorseful enough that Naruto feels his frustration slipping away.
'Well, I can't just leave him alone. Whether he's telling the truth or not, he's clearly lost and unsure what to do about this situation.' Naruto decides.
"Alright, while I don't fully understand what's going on, I'm sure you need some rest! We're going back to my apartment and then we'll go from there y'know!" Naruto smiles.
Boruto nods slowly, still confused why they need to go to his apartment when they live in a big enough house for all of them.
'Maybe it's where Mama and Papa store their old belongings? Papa and Mama didn't sell the house; did they?' He wonders.
Naruto turns them back around only to stiffen at seeing one man having been casually observing the pair during that whole conversation.
Kakashi-sensei.
He waves cheerfully in greeting, nodding towards Boruto.
"Ah, I heard you created quite a ruckus at Ichiraku's not too long ago Naruto. I suppose this little boy here has reason to do with that?"
Boruto regards him curiously before recognition sparks in his eyes. He tugs slightly on Naruto's jacket to regain his attention.
'That's Old Man Kakashi! No wait, I need to call him Mr. Kakashi! He'll know what I'm talking about!'
"Mr. Kakashi! Tell Papa he's going to wrong way to our house!" Boruto directs, eager to get his confirmation that he knows who he is, that Papa is being silly or lost his memories of how to get home.
Kakashi merely blinks, looks from Boruto's excited smile to Naruto's awkward one.
"Hmm, since when were you a Papa, Naruto?" Kakashi instead asks.
Perhaps whatever lessons Jiraiya gave him in the past finally came to fruition!
"I'm not! At least, I wasn't until tonight!" Naruto retorts.
He can tell Kakashi is smiling beneath that mask of his, amused with whatever it is that's happening to him. Kakashi rubs his chin thoughtfully, before nodding as an idea comes to him.
"Alright, let's here Boruto out and follow his directions! After all, the only way we'll get more information is if we go to where your house is supposed to be, right?"
Naruto grumbles he has a point, readjusts Boruto in his arms as he starts to wriggle.
"...Fine." He huffs.
Kakashi gestures for Boruto to start telling them which ways to turn, catches Naruto's gaze again as they pass under yellow-orange streetlights.
"Congrats by the way." Kakashi mentions casually as he stuffs his hands into his pockets. Wherever they're going doesn't seem to be too far from the main centers of the village, though he can already tell Naruto has a long night ahead for himself by his exasperated look.
Naruto arches a brow, sure he's probably not going to like whatever answer he gives him. Already he senses another smirk building beneath that mask of his or him possibly poorly attempting to hold in a laugh.
"For what?" He asks slowly.
Kakashi gets a bemused twinkle in his dark eyes, partially wishes Gai was here to put pressure on Naruto with youth-related questions. Master Jiraiya would definitely be proud his last student has come so far.
"On becoming a Father of course!"
Hinata & Himawari
"Oh, where did Himawari go?"
Hinata chimes out the question aloud into her supposedly empty room, grins at her small figure highlighted in silvers and whites from the curtains.
Himawari is still very much awake since they started playing Hide-and-Seek over an hour ago, bouncing on her toes.
'She has seemingly endless energy like Naruto.' She realizes before feeling her face grow hot.
One of her and Naruto's children, their DNA a match.
Her stomach churns, Father and none of the Elders believed her really when she said she's never slept with Naruto yet.
"Hinata, you can tell me if you've had...relations with Naruto. I won't judge you, I know how much you care for the boy. It's common too for there to be baby booms after wars." Hiashi clears his throat.
"I promise you I didn't Father; take into consideration Himawari's age!" Hinata volleys back, squirms feeling the dozens of eyes upon her back before Hiashi shoos the attendants away.
Hiashi sighs, stretches allowing his legs to skim along the wood steps of the patio, feet landing against blades of damp grass.
"True, though you must see why I'm still a bit skeptical."
Hinata remains silent, nails making sharp crescents in her clenched hands.
Hiashi pats at her hands until she slowly unwinds them, Hinata meeting his gaze properly once more.
"It's okay; don't worry. We will keep Himawari here at the compound until we can better figure out what's going on."
"You found me Mama!" Himawari cheers, moving the away from the windows back into her arms. Her giggles ring in her ears, a happy melody considering how just hours ago she was found on the remnants of the battlefield, layered in dirt and scratches.
"When are Papa and Big Brother coming home? Why are we sleeping at Grandpa's and not our house?" Himawari starts again with her questions and Hinata reddens, still unable to find a suitable answer for her.
"Papa is...busy at the moment! We'll meet with him and Boruto in the morning." Hinata responds.
Himawari pouts then, tears springing to her eyes.
"But, I want to see them now! Papa always tucks me into bed while we read Mr. and Mrs. Toad books!"
Hinata gently shushes her before her voice can echo and bounce against the walls, hugging her close.
"We have to wait until in the morning Hima, when the sun is out before we can see Papa and Boruto, okay?" She urges.
Himawari's pout deepens, nodding slowly in acceptance when it's clear they aren't going to go in search of them tonight.
Hinata arranges the extra set of pillows and blankets brought out by Natsu and the others, lays Himawari down next to the panda plushie she brought home from the hospital.
"I'm not tired." Himawari voices, stubbornness reminding her again of Naruto as her lips twist in defiance.
"Alright, I'll stay up with you until you fall asleep then." Hinata smiles, brushing a hand through her dark locks. She picks out bits of dried mud and twigs from her hair she didn't catch from bathing her, wonders how long she was trapped on the war-torn field before she was found by the shinobi and civilians clearing the area.
"How...How did you get out onto the battlefield again Hima? Were your parents shinobi?" Hinata finds herself asking.
Himawari blinks slowly. "Big Brother was reading to me from that pretty scroll, it said to put our thumbs in the center if we wanted to go back. It was supposed to take us back to the festival, but when the bright flash of white hit us I woke up in that field and couldn't find Boruto."
She catches her breath as she turns over away from her, burrows into her blanket. "Don't be mad at Bolt Mama. I went in Papa's office first and he followed me."
Hinata shakes her head, pats at her cheeks gently. "I'm not mad Hima, just a bit confused."
'I still don't fully understand even with her short explanation on how she got on the battlefield, maybe an underlying property of that scroll she and Boruto used?'
One that deals with time and space.
She'll have to ask her again about it in the morning; do secondary research.
She drifts off watching her daughter curl at her side, breathing evening out.
"Mama, Mama, get up our else we'll be late!" Himawari bellows in her ears.
Hinata sits up to see Himawari's bright smile, violet hair streaked with yellows and scarlets of the coming sunrise. Hinata gestures for her to sit while she grabs for her comb on her dresser, brushing out knots from her hair.
"We should go to Meiji-Riku Garden Park! That's where they have all the best slides, swings, koi ponds, and trees!" Himawari mentions, looking up to her gleefully.
Hinata simply hums. That park just recently opened, construction having finished last month. Maple and gingko trees have been planted alongside cobblestone bridges and emerald green ponds. It's supposed to help people return back to and show an appreciation for the beauty of nature and have an open spot to mediate and calm nerves, warm autumn and spring colors coming to life the deeper one walked along the trails.
"Alright, let's get some food in you first." She suggests.
An hour later, Himawari races ahead of her into the park's entrance. Hinata activates her byakugan to follow her, figure hard to keep track of amid the other children weaving about the playground.
"Himawari, don't rush ahead of me!" Hinata orders, voice falling to the wind.
She moves through a crowd of joggers, a pair of twin boys gearing up to go fishing, wincing when her legs bump with another child.
"I'm sorry, are you okay?!" Hinata panics. In her haste to keep her eyes on Hima, she's gone and had another child crash directly into her!
The boy at least doesn't seem injured, instead clinging to her leg to keep her in place.
Hinata shifts, gazes down at the boy properly taking in blond locks, whiskered cheeks just like...
Himawari's.
Cobalt eyes shine in relief and excitement, nuzzling into her.
"Mama, I'm so glad I found you!"
Naruto & Hinata
"I can say it was definitely one of my most strangest nights y'know. Kakashi-sensei didn't even help me, all he did was tease me about our relationship! Ahh, though he said he would do more research into the scroll Boruto and Himawari used, so there's that." Naruto begins.
"I'm sure Boruto is from the future based on the way he describes Konoha's history, buildings, and tourism. It all points to that he's growing up in a time period more advanced and peaceful than ours were growing up." Kakashi regards.
Hinata laughs, smiling as Naruto gently tugs her close into his arms. "I'm sure it wasn't as bad as all the questions Father and the Elders gave me. They called into question when I became pregnant, if I was pregnant during the war, and when did I deliver without taking into consideration Boruto's already 6 and Himawari's 4."
Naruto smirks. "Trust me, I'll make sure when we do make love that it isn't forgettable!"
Hinata's face gains a bright shade of crimson, squeezing at his hand.
'Naruto and I are going to be parents; together.'
"Did Boruto explain things any better to you? On what's going on exactly that brought him and Himawari to this era?" She asks.
Naruto shakes his head, observing as he pushes Himawari on the swings.
"Well, I know it involves some scroll they were messing with in my office when they weren't supposed to. It sounds weird and even crazy y'know, but...I believe him. He knows things about my past, even my parents that I haven't told anyone about."
Hinata straightens at that, looks at Naruto curiously.
"Like what?" She breathes out.
Naruto scratches a hand to his cheek.
"Ah, nothing major! Just that he knew what they looked like, could list basic facts about them like my Mom's favorite foods, Dad's favorite books and clothes like Mom's scarf that a regular 6 year old wouldn't know unless someone told them. I probably told him, my future self that is." He describes.
Hinata nods in understanding; thoughtful.
"Himawari looks so much like you, but she has the byakugan. It doesn't normally manifest so early, even prodigies over the generations in our clan like Neji for example didn't show it until a few years later."
Her chest clenches bringing Neji's name up. He would've been happy to train Boruto and Himawari, fawn over them as much as Hanabi and Father have been doing...
Naruto beams, patting her hand breaking her out of her thoughts.
She follows his gaze to the clear sky, clouds tinted with pink as the day warms.
It clicks in now that everyone has been 'found', they need to figure out their housing situation for the interim.
"Do you think Yamato-sensei could build us a place using his Wood Release?" Naruto considers.
Hinata smiles uncertainly. "He's been quite busy doing repairs in the business district. I heard from Sakura that she's placed several orders in for him and the other construction companies for the next month or two to fix destroyed units of the surgical center and aid in building a new pediatric-mental health clinic for veterans and newly orphaned children."
Naruto groans. Boruto and Himawari pattering up to them before he can think of anymore options.
"Are we going to go live with Grandpa?" Himawari asks.
Boruto readily agrees. "Grandpa will let us sleepover until our house is rebuilt. Don't worry Papa!"
'Grandpa may not be too happy to see me y'know!' Naruto bemoans internally.
The last time they talked was shortly before and after Neji's funeral, light talks of his Hokage studies and the next steps of properly courting Hinata.
Now he'll just think he was lying about doing things 'in order' seeing two kids that are genetically related to them both.
Hinata catches where his thoughts have gone, deciding they can delay that inevitable encounter for a bit.
"How about we get a snack first on the way back!"
Boruto whoops cheerfully, Himawari copying him hopping up and down.
"Let's go get Thunder Burger, y'know! Wait, what time do they open?" Boruto counts with his fingers. He knows they don't serve breakfast there, but if they leave the park now, they should arrive just as it's opening.
Hinata glances back to Naruto to see if he recognizes that name, Naruto shrugging back with a soft no.
Thunder Burger, like many things Boruto and Himawari avidly tell them about, doesn't exist yet.
Naruto claps his hands. "Thunder Burger isn't open yet Bolt, but you know what is?"
Boruto's smile evaporates, shoulders drooping.
"Ichiraku's?" He guesses flatly.
Naruto nods, some things about himself never change!
"Ichiraku's!"
Naruto & Hinata- Ichiraku's
"Ah, I see you brought the whole family along Naruto!" Teuchi laughs warmly.
Naruto chuckles. "It's been a long morning into afternoon having searched for each other."
Ayame fawns over Boruto and Himawari, handing each of them a kid's menu.
"Take your time you two, we have plenty of options if you're not in the mood for ramen!" She beams.
"How fast times fly, it was only yesterday it seems like you were here Naruto getting celebratory ramen with Iruka over officially graduating from the Academy." Teuchi marvels.
Hinata smiles as she orders a miso and pork ramen to start. Her team frequented Yakiniku Q more often than Ichiraku's (Kurenai-sensei often using it as a way to see Asuma-sensei and his team). The menu has probably updated a lot more since Team 8's last proper visit here.
"So, tell us the truth. Ayame and I want to hear it directly from you two if these two youngsters are really your kids?" Teuchi asks point blank.
Naruto and Hinata glance to each other. There's no proper way to describe this situation without being confusing.
"Err, well yes and no! They're our kids from the future." Naruto responds.
Teuchi looks utterly lost at that comment and Naruto wisely decides not to further delve into the subject.
"We've taken on being their parents until we can get them back to their proper home." Hinata better explains.
Ayame's expression dampens.
"Oh no, I hope their parents weren't shinobi in the war! They're still recovering bodies and scattered weapons from the field." She whispers the last part. War can't bring back the dead, can't be rebuilt like the fallen stores and shops of the market and business districts...
"Ah, we're sure their parents are still alive y'know! It's just a matter of finding them is all!" Naruto relates to steer them back towards positive subjects.
Boruto points to the beef ramen, helps Himawari to choose before she settles on a chicken ramen with extra spice.
"Alright two bowls of miso ramen for Naruto, pork and miso ramen for Hinata and two small bowls of chicken and beef for the kids coming right up!" Teuchi reviews.
It's lucky they have Ichiraku's relatively to themselves; they need to plan out the rest of the day without getting the same questions over and over on how Boruto and Himawari are related to them or embarrassing stares on their apparent frisky behavior.
"Boruto didn't have any belongings on him, did he? Something to give us a clue how far in the future he and Himawari are from?" Hinata inquires.
Naruto shakes his head. "No, nothing of note that I could see once I cleaned him up. I'm assuming Himawari didn't have anything on here either, right? They must've been playing around in my home office."
Hinata hums thoughtfully. "Himawari mentioned a scroll. That's something we'll need to do more research into if it's a scroll our village has or one that was gifted to us previously from one of the other nations."
'It's also hard to ignore this sensation that we're being watched, like an agent or hunter is tracking us?'
But so far her byakugan hasn't picked up on anyone following them.
Teuchi brings out their bowls before either of them can discuss the topic any further, beaming as Himawari perks up seeing the animal carvings amid her noodles.
"The compound. I don't think Father will be too upset considering the circumstances and I don't want to keep the kids split up." Hinata voices as she watches the kids eat. It's better they stick altogether as to not frighten the pair any further.
Naruto simply groans in answer making Hinata giggle.
"We can only delay it for so long! Let's get some snacks for the kids for later and then head over." She relates.
Naruto turns back to Boruto and Himawari. "Make sure you two eat up. I'm sure Grandpa doesn't want you to fill up only on snacks between now and dinner y'know."
Himawari is making her carrot shaped pandas dance, spares one glance back to Naruto before going back to making the carrots swish through the air. "Okay Papa!"
Boruto half looks between him and an advertisement Teuchi has for an upcoming eating contest to win ryo and be a part of some type of adventure game.
"Sure thing Papa!" He cheers between reading the prizes for first and second place. First place has a chance to win 50,000 ryo and take part in making a choose your own adventure Shinobi Night Clash or Kamen Samurai game!
'If I have Mama's help, we could definitely win the ramen eating contest!' Boruto snickers to himself.
Nobody in the village can defeat Mom, not even Papa or Uncle Choji!
Naruto sighs as the two go back to half playing and half eating their food.
'Are they even really listening y'know?!'
Naruto & Hinata- Hyuga compound
"The guest room is ready for you Naruto." Hinata mentions from behind him.
Naruto catches her hand before she can slip away, lavender meeting blue.
"I'm a bit worried." He admits.
Hinata cocks her head curiously. "About Father? He's mostly just speaking in jest-"
"No, no; not that! I mean he does scare me a bit with that famous 'Hyuga glare', y'know! I meant in being a parent; a Father. I don't have any experience in what being a good parent is like." Naruto interrupts.
The little he's learned about his Mom and Dad are from other people's recollections, the moments he had with their spirits too brief...
Hinata settles along the patio steps beside him.
"Well, you know how harsh Father was on me growing up. He's mellowed out now yes, though when we first started out as genin he put me under Kurenai-sensei's care so he could focus on Hanabi's training alone." She mentions softly.
Naruto laughs gently, so they both have little to no idea how this parenthood ordeal is going to go.
Or for how long.
"Don't worry, we're both learning as we go and I don't think Boruto or Himawari are going to hold that against us." Hinata smiles, leaning into his neck.
She follows his gaze to the sunset, sky awash in reds and dark violets. The moon slips out of the darkness of the mountains, makes it's slow descent upwards into the bundles of stars.
Naruto gazes to her fully then. "And you're okay with me, right?
He clarifies at Hinata's lost look, scratches a hand nervously to his cheek. "I mean, being with me? I know I'm not the smartest guy or handsome-"
Hinata puts a hand to his lips. "You know I've always wanted you Naruto. Besides, it should be me that should be worried if I'm up to par! You've become so much more popular since the war ended. Hanabi is always telling me that we should make things more openly public so passing tourists and girls at the Academy will flirt with you less."
"You can't keep wearing those puffy jackets like you did when you were younger Big sis! It's time to expose your skin and body so Naruto sees all he can feast his eyes on!"
She flusters at the memory, of course a majority of Hanabi's ideas were about being more provocative; bold.
"Me?! Really? I mean, but guys are always looking at you! Sakura says she's seen suitors come to visit you when you volunteer at the hospital y'know." Naruto grumbles.
He smirks at a sudden thought, they'll probably be way less people bothering them once people connect the dots between them and their ties to Boruto and Himawari. A positive spin on the coming gossip and rumor mill!
Naruto thumbs at her chin to regain Hinata's attention, grin turning devious.
"You don't have to worry Hinata, I only want you too."
His lips are warm, taste of the sticky rise and broth they had with dinner. He pulls her into his lap eliciting a light squeak, kisses peppering her neck.
"How mad would Hiashi get if I tried to sleep in the same bed as you tonight?" Naruto whispers against her chin, Hinata gasping feeling his growing want for her. He knows that's what Boruto and Himawari want after all, to see their parents go to sleep in the same bed and snuggle close to see other like they're used to seeing.
And it would be terrible to break their normal routine up.
Hinata sighs, low moan making Naruto shiver in anticipation, fingers skimming the clasp of her bra.
"...Very."
He drops a long kiss against her pulse point, heat rushing over her, burrowing deeper into his hold.
'I can handle those odds!'
Though hours later they awaken to Hanabi studying them amusedly, glancing between them and Hinata's doorway.
"I hope you two came up with a cover story on why Naruto's not in the guest bedroom?" She asks, arching a brow at their shared blank looks.
Hanabi blows out a breath, Himawari and Boruto running in under her legs before she can give them a suggestion.
"Morning! Morning! Get up Papa, Mama!" They bellow in unison as they crawl onto Hinata's bed.
Boruto looks back to Hanabi with a wave. "Auntie, I can help you with breakfast y'know!"
Hanabi shakes her head with a laugh, she'd already heard from Naruto the interesting burnt creations he'd made back at his apartment.
"We can say the kids got worried we had a fight so to calm them, Naruto came in here." Hinata suggests to answer Hanabi's earlier question.
Naruto straightens with a nod, Hiashi can't get mad at him for that!
Hanabi rolls her eyes, shrugging considering she can't think of any other plausible things they could say at the moment.
Father will be annoyed no matter what they story they say.
She leaves them to get ready herself for the day, Naruto sending Hinata a winning smile before gazing to their children; their family.
It's the first of many excuses they'll need as long as they're these two's fill-in parents.
-x-
Like I said at the beginning of the chapter, I was doing a clearance through my old word documents and found this half-finished bonus chapter I made for The Time Strangers. I know a lot of this story doesn't make sense on account of the Time Police aspect, but hey that's what I thought of back then and I stuck to it! It's not perfect, but none of my stories are.
I also kind of just wanted a mini break from the darkness and sludge currently going on with Red Thread and To Repeat and Return lol. Next chapters for those will be out in the coming days, this was just a fluffy sidepiece I wanted to finish and post instead of deleting forever, hope you liked it!