Chapter 8: Hospital
Hi everyone! Happy New Year! Yes I am alive. I am so sorry I haven't undated this in forever. I feel so ashamed. The truth is I didn't have my laptop for a very long time. I recently managed to get one and so I have been starting up my writing again. I haven't been able to write a lot. So I don't know how frequent I can post. But I will work really hard to do so. New Year's resolution and all that… How is everyone? I hope you're good and everything is going well in your life. I have missed this fic and I really enjoyed getting back to it.
Here is the next chapter. I hope you enjoy it!
XOXO
HINATA feels like a terrible mother. She knew on some level that her kids would be surprised by the news of the twins. Change isn't always easy and when you're a child it's harder to understand why it is happening. Sometimes change can feel like a curse and you start to think why me? She's sure hearing you're going to have another sibling as a teenager may be a little weird, even more so when you factor in two siblings. No matter how much she thinks she knows her children, knows what they think about something or how they will act in a scenario the truth of the matter is she can never truly know everything. Boruto and Himawari are their own people and they reacted honestly. She can't fault them for that, even when their reactions pain her.
It hurt her to think that Himawari's first thought was that she and Naruto were replacing them. It was the furthest thing from the truth. As much as she wanted to go after Boruto she knew she needed to hold back and be there for her daughter. Walking away could be seen as Himawari being proven right. So she stayed and explained to her beautiful baby girl as best as she could how important she was in her life. Being a mother means loving all your children unconditionally. There's no question or thought to love one more than the other. It is love, wholly and absolutely. Naruto coming back into the lounge and reaffirming her words helped Himawari a lot. She likes to think Hima is in a better mental space about the twins, though she never explicitly said so.
Boruto on the other hand was a completely different story. Her children could not be more different from each other. Boruto is a lot like Naruto when he was younger, loud, impulsive, and firm in his moral standing. He is unlike Naruto in his upbringing. While Naruto grew up without the knowledge of his blood relatives she thinks the weight of Naruto's role as Hokage and his reputation as a hero has weighed differently on Boruto. As Bolt grew older, his relationship with Naruto became more complicated.
Hinata never wants to be put in a position where she has to take sides, and she tries her hardest to understand her son while still showing her unity to her husband. She has always accepted Naruto and his dreams and she will always love him for it. Getting Boruto to understand that is where she fails sometimes. All she wants is for the both of them to get along, to understand each other.
The days after Boruto leaves for his mission are very difficult for Hinata. She spent the first night oscillating between extreme guilt and utter turmoil. Throughout the next few days, she'd catch herself thinking about her son and his words and she'd burst into tears all over again. She felt like an egg waiting to crack. Any pressure applied and it would happen.
It's just that Bolt is her firstborn. He will always be a baby; her baby. He is the person that made her a mother; the very first time at least. She can't imagine him being upset or sad and not being able to do something about it. She knows she can't protect him from everything but this pain that he is currently feeling, she has contributed to it.
Hearing that he got injured; that he may have been distracted on the mission and that could have led to his injury inflicts a heavy weight on her chest.
When Naruto rushed into their house she knew something was wrong by the look in his eyes. She could tell he was worried but he held his head high, strength in his posture, to shoulder her in case she couldn't be strong.
They just made their way into the hospital. Side by side, Hinata held her husband's hand in a vice grip, unable to let go.
He opens the door for her with his available hand and they both make their way in. She can make out Mitsuki and Sarada at the side of the bed, adjacent to the window but she barely spares them a glance. Her eyes dart to her son.
At first glance, she cannot make out any injuries. The closer she gets she sees he is covered in bruises and cuts, typical of a ninja fight. He is propped up on the pillow, talking softly to his companions. He looks okay but all Hinata can see is her little boy, looking pale and tiny in a hospital bed. She is reminded that although he is a ninja, he is also a child, a teenager at best but a child nevertheless.
When she was a ninja she accepted that injuries were a part of the job; risky but necessary. They had lived in tumultuous times and sacrifices needed to be made. But she wasn't a parent then. Somehow, now, the thought of her kids being the ones to make the sacrifices seemed less necessary and more daunting to her.
Naruto lets her walk first and she makes her way to Boruto. He is in a hospital gown, making his position more evident. He turns to look at her and she sees him grapple with his emotions. Not waiting for him to speak she bends down and cradles him to her chest. The relief of holding him makes her tear and instead of letting go, she holds on tighter.
"Mom, I'm okay." He lets out a huff of laughter. "I can't breathe," he wheezes.
She pulls back and then grabs a hold of his face, giving him a once-over. She gently brushes his hair out of his eyes, "I was so worried."
His face falls, guilt overwhelming him. "I'm sorry for making you worry."
She waves her hand like it's no big deal despite feeling the exact opposite.
She steps aside to give Naruto a chance to speak. Her husband and son stare at each other for a few seconds before Naruto is leaning down to hug Boruto as well. Bolt is resistant at first but then accepts the embrace and reciprocates, his arms resting on Naruto's back.
"Naruto, not too hard; you don't want to suffocate him!"
Both Naruto and Bolt turn their heads to give her equal looks of disbelief. She can't be bothered as it gives them a moment of kinship which prompts them both to laugh.
The hospital door opens and Konohamaru steps in. He is using his standard ninja attire and his face looks worn out from the journey back to the leaf village. He takes the scene in as he walks into the room, offering Hinata a nod and a kind smile in greeting.
"Big brother Naruto!" He exclaims and then instantly realises his mistake. "I mean, Lord Seventh." He finishes off sheepishly, colour flooding his cheeks. Konohamaru has changed a lot since his childhood. Standing before them is an experienced leaf ninja. His admiration for Naruto still stands, as well as his playfulness, in the appropriate scenario.
Naruto waves his greeting off. Hinata knows that her husband prefers to be addressed by the name his friends are most familiar with, but more often than not he gets his official title.
"I understand that you and Mrs. Uzumaki must have been worried," he continues, choosing to stick to a formal address.
"We were," Naruto confirms switching to a more professional mode to match the mood. "We were just about to hear what happened."
Konohamaru nods his head but doesn't continue speaking, letting his students deliver this particular story.
Sarada sensing this begins speaking, "we were all searching the lab together. We knew that in unknown locations it's best to stick as a team as much as possible."
Naruto nods his head to show he is listening but motions to get a chair from the corner of the room. He places it right next to Boruto's bed and gestures for Hinata to take a seat. She smiles at his thoughtfulness and takes the offered seat. He stands behind her, resting his bandaged hand atop her shoulder.
"We were at different parts of the room, observing on our own. After a while, we realised Boruto wasn't with us anymore…"
Boruto takes control of the conversation without letting Sarada finish her sentence, "I heard a noise so I decided to follow it. It felt important." He tries to make his voice confident, to justify his course of action.
"Maybe so, but you didn't even tell us you were going. You just left! Do you have any idea how reckless that was?!" Sarada chides, her tone raising an octave.
"I know. I said I was sorry. How many times do I have to apologise?" Boruto shouts back, no doubt aggravated that he is getting a scolding from a person his own age, in front of his parents.
"That's not the point!" Sarada replies.
"Oh come on. I'm already in a hospital bed. How much more do you want to torture me?" He raises both his hands in an 'I give up' gesture before dropping them on the bed with a thud.
Mitsuki takes the opportunity to intervene. "Is it possible for you two to stop bickering like a married couple?"
Both Sarada and Boruto whip their heads to face him, equal faces of shock and disgust.
"As if!" Sarada states.
"She wishes!" Boruto retorts.
Konohamaru just gives them all a look like 'can you see what I have to deal with?'
Naruto places his fingers on his temple and massages it. Hinata is the only one it seems that finds the bickering funny.
Naruto sighs. "Enough. Both of you!" Everyone quietens down.
"What happened next?" Naruto questions, redirecting the conversation.
This time it is Boruto who speaks. "As I said, I heard a noise. So I went to see what it was. There was a guy, stuffing things into a backpack."
Naruto's face takes on a thinking expression, internally trying to connect the dots. Hinata is just as surprised. She wasn't entirely sure what her son's mission entailed, only that it was a D Rank mission, with little to no risk involved. At least that's what she thought.
"I told him to stop. He didn't. So I ran after him. We ended up outside and before we knew it we were fighting. I landed some hits and so did he."
Boruto hesitates, playing with the corner of his blanket. "And then, I don't know. He hit me… hard…and I fell flat on my back. It felt like all my chakra was drained out of me, or like stuck, like I couldn't access it."
His eyebrows furrow as he tries to remember. "He crouched down and I – I – thought he was going to kill me."
Hinata swallows a lump in her throat. The room is silent, save for her heavy breathing.
"I uh blacked out…after that." Boruto finishes, scratching the back of his head sheepishly.
"He just left you there?" Naruto ponders.
"By the time we found him, he was already unconscious," Sarada informs them regarding Boruto.
"We tried going back into the lab but it blew up. We think this person may have set off a timer. We were lucky that we were far enough that we weren't injured or worse…"
Killed. Hinata's mind finishes Konohamaru's sentence. They could have died. Not just her son, but his entire team.
Naruto still hasn't spoken, preferring to digest all of the information.
"There's something you're not telling us," Naruto says, locking eyes with Boruto.
Boruto jerks in shock.
"What do you mean?" Konohamaru asks.
"This… guy, he didn't say anything to you? He just left you there?" Naruto questions Boruto. Now Hinata can see the slight flush on Bolt's cheeks that the question prompts.
"I – I don't know. I'm not sure. I was pretty out of it."
"It doesn't matter. Even small details could be the one thing that helps put all the pieces together."
Boruto sighs and then mumbles something, his head bowed.
"Can you say that again?" Sarada asks.
"I think he took my blood," Boruto says, much clearer this time.
Of all the things she expected her son to say, that was not on the list.
"Why do you say that Bolt," she implores.
"When he knelt on the side of me, I felt the prick of the needle. But I could have been wrong." Boruto hastens to clarify.
Naruto steps out from behind her and motions to Boruto's wrist. Her son holds out his arm for inspection of his father.
Gently, Naruto's fingers run up from his wrist to the inside of his elbow. "He definitely pricked you. So it is highly likely you are remembering correctly. The question is why. Why would he need your blood?" Naruto asks.
The room fills with silence, each pondering the question, with no answer in sight.
XOXO
It's two days later that Boruto is cleared and allowed to go home. He thought that meant he could continue with his mission, determined to find the person that attacked him except he didn't factor in one highly significant detail: his mother. Hinata has imposed a house arrest. He is under strict orders to remain at home and in bed for the rest of the week to heal properly. After seeing her cry at the hospital there is no way he can disobey her wishes. It's not only that, his mother when angry is the calmest most deadly storm you can encounter. Boruto knows better than most how quickly she can change from sad to mad. No; it's better that he stays at home and listens to her.
It also doesn't hurt to have someone doting on you. Ever since he returned home she has been making him food, bringing him blankets, cleaning around him; overall taking care of him. It's too much care, to be honest, but he doesn't want to upset her any more than she already is so he leaves it at that.
His sister is no better. She clung to his side the rest of the day after returning from the academy. His father had to carry her to her room after she fell asleep next to him while they were watching television.
It is day 3 of his imprisonment, the house is quiet save for his mother's occasional noises as she patters around the house. He is in his room, trying to enjoy the silence except he can't stop thinking about his mission. Sure he was a little lost in thought about the happenings of his family but he wasn't so distracted that it affected his judgment. He knew following the unknown person was a little reckless but he had no other choice. He was a witness. He could have been helpful to their mission. Following the stranger was just him following his instincts.
He didn't expect him to be so strong. It was a challenge to fight him and all it did was remind Boruto how inexperienced he was; how much more training he needed to do to become a great shinobi. It doesn't help that Sarada threw shinobi rules in his face to add to his inadequacy.
When he was lying on his back, Boruto honestly thought he was going to die without ever really living. In those few seconds, he thought about his family; his mother and sister, and how sad they were that he left. But more importantly, he thought about his father, and how hurtful his last words were to him. At that moment he truly regretted his outburst and his cruel words to his father. He wished he could take it back. He wished he could talk to him and tell him he didn't mean it. Because he knows his father is important to the village. He knows the role he has to play, but his heart. His heart wishes his father could see how important he was to their family, to his mother and sister, and most importantly to him.
The truth is, he idolises his father, but his pride never lets him admit it. He feels if he says it Naruto would think that it excuses his absence. However, at that moment, when he thought he was going to die he promised himself that he would give his father a chance and he would try to be better the same way his father promised. The problem is, he doesn't know how to show that, or to bring it up.
He is at his desk, playing with the flower his father gave him all those weeks ago at Hima's academy festival. The flowers are dried up now, wilted but somehow still beautiful. He doesn't know why he kept it; he just couldn't let it go. It's pressed between the pages of a children's book he hasn't read in a long time, but somehow both the book and the flower bring him comfort. At the sound of a knock he slaps the book closed and places it under a pile of papers.
His mother opens the door, "can we talk?" She looks nervous; scared of his answer.
"Sure," he replies, dragging his answer out. He may not have lived long, but nothing good comes after the phrase 'can we talk.'
She nods and walks further into the room. Gingerly she sits at the foot of his bed. He turns his chair to face her.
"I wanted to talk about what happened before you left."
He knew it was coming. He's been practising what he wants to say but nothing seems to be right.
"I'm sorry if our news shocked you. I can imagine learning you're going to be a big brother to siblings with a big age difference is scary, especially when you never expected it."
"No mom, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have yelled. I- I was shocked but – that-," he takes a huge breath, "that was wrong."
"Can you tell me a little bit more about what you were feeling?" Hinata asks twirling her fingers. Boruto isn't all that good with feelings but he figures he owes his mother some kind of explanation.
"I don't know exactly what I was feeling. Just that I was bombarded." That's not entirely true so he starts again.
"When we were little, dad was almost always there and it was great; it was perfect. But then he started staying away more often and I just remember how sad it made Hima. It made me sad too. But you always defended him and I think I started to get mad about that too." He's playing with his fingers, trying to focus on something before he bites the bullet and looks at his mother.
His mom looks broken at his words. "When he became Hokage it was a lot worse. And when you guys told me about…the…babies, that was all I could think about. They're going to be born with a Hokage for a dad, not a dad who becomes Hokage. I didn't think about dad now, I just thought about how it might be and I didn't wanna become someone who has to be the one to explain his absences."
"It took me getting hurt to realise I was being selfish."
"No, Bolt." Hinata sighs. "You weren't selfish, not entirely. You were just trying to protect us. But baby, you don't need to protect me okay? Taking care of these babies will be my and your father's responsibility. All you need to do, all I want you to do is be a brother to them, in the same way you are to Hima, because, Bolt, you are an amazing brother. But you don't need to be anything more than that. Leave the worrying to us."
He takes in what she said and shows his agreement, but knowing that he couldn't fully commit to their promise, knowing he has to be a better brother than he was before.
"You said some hurtful things to your father."
"I know – I," she stops him from speaking.
"Your father is a wonderful man, who may have his faults but sweetheart, he is trying. Please, for me, for yourself, give him that."
Her next words are like iron, hard and unyielding, "and as his wife and your mother, I need you to apologise to him." He nods his head. He was going to apologise anyway.
She places a kiss on his head and quietly leaves the same way she came. Like he said, scary.
XOXO
Okay, so the thing is, Boruto tried. He really did, on separate occasions to speak to his father about everything, to apologise. The words just never made it past his lips. He didn't know what to say or how to say it. He would start talking, like, "hey dad you know…" and then nothing. His brain would work when his father wasn't there. He would practice in his head and then when it was time to actually speak his mouth would betray him and he would say something inconsequential like "let's go eat some ramen" or "let's play some video games" and internally he would cringe and be awkward and feel a little stupid.
And now, well past his recovery period and the fear clutches of his mother keeping him indoors, he still hasn't spoken to his dad. It's the classic case of waiting too long to do something and saying anything now feels worse. The thing is though, he feels like his dad knows and is just not bringing it up either. He doesn't understand why. It would be so much easier if Naruto just said something and he could do the whole, "yeah, I'm sorry" and they could leave it like that. The world is crueler than that. At least it feels that way to Boruto.
It's around two weeks after that they're at the table having dinner and things feel almost normal again. They are all coming around to the idea of the babies and are starting to talk about the changing future a bit more. But Boruto feels like his parents are holding back on their happiness in case he and Hima are still uncomfortable. He wanted to make it less awkward but he isn't sure how. Leave it to Hima to diffuse the tension.
"So mummy, today in class we were talking about babies," Hima says excitedly and they all look at her in attention. His mother looks a little startled, "did you tell your class about mommy?" his dad questions.
Hima shakes her head as she chews. "No, I know we're supposed to keep it a secret daddy."
"It's not a secret sweetheart." His mother placates. "Yes," his dad agrees, "we just have to wait a little longer to share the news. Grandpa still doesn't know, remember? We have to tell our family first before everyone else."
His sister rolls her eyes in exasperation and huff, "I know." Her tone of voice makes Boruto smile goofily to himself.
"That's not what I wanted to say." She continues.
Naruto nods his head, "we're sorry, continue your story."
"So anyway, Ren was telling everyone that his mom had a new baby and now he is going to be a big brother. I wanted to tell them that I was going to be a big sister to two babies, but I didn't because it was not the time. But we were all talking and there's something I don't understand." Her face scrunches in confusion.
"Like why mum's having two babies instead of one…" Boruto drags tilting his head forward in question. "'Cause I was thinking the same thing Hima. Couldn't they just have one like a normal family?" he jokes, purposefully going for a casual tone so his parents know that he is joking.
"Boruto," his mother scolds. He just shrugs his shoulders in response and continues eating.
"No actually. I was wondering how the babies got in your tummy mummy. Like how are they made? How do they come out?"
Boruto wants to laugh. He really does. His dad looks like he got a fish stuck in his mouth and his mother is frozen in place.
His parents take a few long seconds just staring at each other before his father makes a motion with his head.
"uhh….Hima…uh…you know…your mum...she uh, she uh explains it perfectly," he smiles widely at Hinata.
His mother just glares in response, "Naruto!" he mouths 'sorry' as if that solves the issue. And then Hima looks at him and suddenly it's not funny anymore.
She fixes her gaze on him accusingly, "do you know Bolt?" and then his parents are looking at him in inquisition. He doesn't know what the right response to the question is, because he does know, to the extent that it was explained in class. He didn't bother questioning it further because it was never something he bothered about, the details he does know were traumatising enough.
"Bolt, what exactly do you know?" Hinata questions, previous shock obliterated from her face.
"Yeah, Bolt, what exactly do you know?" his father regaining his composure enough to tease him.
"Nothing!" he hastily replies. "well I mean, not nothing nothing…just nothing" he trails off. His father looks at him in confusion.
"They mentioned some stuff in health class, you know, the basics basically." He shrugs trying desperately to sound normal. His eloquence knows no bounds.
"And anyway, why am I the focus of this conversation? I believe Hima asked you a question," he stares pointedly at them, hoping that would be the end of his contribution to the conversation.
His father scratches his head, trying to buy time no doubt. He then decides to speak before Hinata.
"Well, you see Hima, a man has a seed," he cringes as he speaks but soldiers through, "and a woman has an egg in her fillipian tube which happens every month…"
Hinata sighs, "Naruto no. Please stop."
"What!? I'm totally nailing it." He says flabbergasted.
"You're really…not. It's fallopian." She corrects, patting her hand on his soothingly.
"That's what I said!" Naruto squeaks and Boruto understands his father's pain because that is what he thought as well.
"Hima," his mother starts, giving his sister her full attention. "Your father was … partially right. A woman does have an egg and a man does have a seed…if you will. So when a man and woman love each other very much…and are married," she enunciates the last part zeroing in on Boruto.
Boruto raises both his hands in defeat, immediately. It's better to acquiesce his mother.
"They can create a baby. Your dad's seed can fertilise an egg and that's how a baby is made. You have to wait nine months and then the baby…arrives." His mother nods her head in assurance and Boruto just wants to die from embarrassment. They have all abandoned their food and Boruto just wants to abandon this conversation. Why did he decide to have dinner at home today? He should have joined his friends. They wouldn't make him suffer like this.
Hima looks like she understands what his mother is saying because she nods along with Hinata. "So you have to swallow the seed…hmm…that makes sense"
His father chortles and raises two thumbs up, "you're doing great love."
Boruto swears he has never seen his mother look at his father this way before. He would not want to be on the other end of her murderous glare…ever. He thinks his father is positively terrified but he just chuckles and places a hand on Himawari's.
"No Hima, that's not how it works. All you need to know now…is that a baby is created out of love. You and your brother were born because I love your mother very much and she loves me…even though she looks like she wants to kill me right now. The new babies will be here in a couple of months and when you're a little bit older and really want to know how babies are made, your mother and I will tell you."
Boruto is shell-shocked. Hinata is equally stunned but she finds her words. "Your father is right." And then she gives his dad a look he has seen before, one of adoration and they're cute in their own way. It still makes Boruto want to vomit but he can admit that there's a certain comfort in knowing his parents genuinely love each other.
XOXO
I hope it was good enough. If you liked it please leave a like and comment. I would love to know your thoughts and theories.
See you next time!