Chapter 10: Uzumaki-Hyuga Family Dinner
Hi everyone. Hope you're good. I'm so grateful to each and every one who reads this story. It truly means a lot. Thank you for every like and comment. This chapter was not very easy to write for reasons I'll explain at the end.
I hope you enjoy it.
XOXO
By the time Hinata made her way out of bed, the kids were done with breakfast and were busy being couch potatoes. She and Naruto had a quick breakfast and then she kicked them out of the house while she tidied up a bit. Naruto took the opportunity to take the kids into the backyard where they did some sparring, just light hand-to-hand combat. Hinata made another rule about jutsu training in their backyard when they were constantly damaging the house and ruining her garden. So jutsu training had to happen in an open space far, far, away from the house. But she permitted hand-to-hand training on home grounds.
Naruto was allowing Himawari to participate this time. It took a while for Naruto to feel comfortable with the idea of his daughter fighting. In the beginning, he was so afraid of hurting her that he didn't want to engage in training at all. Hinata tried speaking to him until he relented but then Himawari complained to her that he went too easy on her and she couldn't learn anything.
Hinata started training her on her own then. It was their special bonding time and if she chose not to mention it to her husband, then that was okay. The truth is, Hinata didn't want Hima to train as well, because she knew how difficult her own childhood was in that regard. But her daughter wasn't her. And Himawari came to her, on her own. Hinata loved her enough to respect her choice and made the decision to train her.
The kids stayed out for a couple of hours. Naruto came inside to do some work in the study and Hinata prepared a small dish to take to the Hyuga compound. They all went their separate ways and began getting ready for dinner.
XOXO
Hinata was nervous. She had already changed her outfit three times. During that time, Naruto finished off his paperwork and both the kids were done in the bathroom. There was always a sense of foreboding when they went to the Hyuga compound. It was a long time since she considered the compound her home. When Hinata really thinks about it she can't remember ever truly feeling at ease there.
At the crux of it, her relationship with her father was complicated. She doesn't like talking or thinking about it much. The truth was Hinata felt like in comparison to others she didn't have much to complain about. She had a family. She had a loving sister. She was never left hungry or in need of basic necessities. Naruto, for instance, had so much hardship in his life, talking to him about it felt wrong.
So she always kept her feelings to herself. Naruto would try to get her to talk about it but she never really did. It was a kind of pain that was only hers. And it didn't bother her that much anymore.
There was a time, she hated her father, and then she hated herself for hating him. He wasn't the warmest or kindest person, not to her or her sister. He pitted them against each other when he should have been championing a relationship instead. They didn't have a mother but they had each other. For the longest time, Hinata felt robbed of a relationship with her sister because of him.
Things got even more complicated when her sister became the official Hyuga heir. Hinata was always put in a box. She was quiet and shy and kind. She was graceful. She needed to be okay with everything, accepting, and never ever angry. But Hinata could admit to herself that her father choosing Hanabi was a piercing to her heart; the final nail in the coffin. He never really saw any worth or promise in her. When someone tells you your whole life that you're weak and useless, it's difficult to shake off the feeling.
The older she got the more she learned to compartmentalise and push things down. There was a part of her that was glad to have married Naruto, glad to have given up the Hyuga name. It was less pressure for her. She and Naruto loved each other. They became a family, even when it was just the two of them. And later they had Bolt and Hima and Hinata had a family she loved, who loved her in return. It was hers entirely and her father's actions and words began to lose weight and didn't bother her as much anymore.
She chose to forgive her father for herself. She chose her kids. She chose them having a good relationship with him even if she never got it. They get the affection and love and patience she and Hanabi never got. But her father is trying, and she tries because of that.
She is brought back to the present when Naruto walks into the room. "You still haven't decided what to wear?"
"It's not so easy Naruto. Some of us don't have uniforms."
"I don't have a uniform! I just like to be comfortable. There's nothing wrong with having favourite clothes. That's the whole point of clothes."
She rolls her eyes, "Just get in the shower!"
"Fine. I'm going." He raises his hand in defeat, then stops at the entrance of the bathroom and looks over his shoulder. "By the way, you got a little something, something you didn't cover up." He smirks gesturing to her chest.
She looks down to see a red bruise on the top of her boob, peeking out of the lining of her top. She needs to put some makeup on it. Looking up she took the object nearest to her, a hairbrush, and hurled it at him, "and whose fault is that!?"
He catches it easily, laughs, and closes the door on her. The interaction makes her momentarily forget her stress.
Hinata finally decides on an ankle-length white dress with a red floral print on it; the neckline of the dress, although V in shape isn't too deep, and the material is soft and breathable. It doesn't hug her figure too much, which allows her to safely conceal her growing bump.
As satisfied as she can be with her clothes, she finishes off with a light dusting of make-up, red lips, and a soft blush. Since she still is at the beginning of her pregnancy she chooses brown wedged heels to complete the look.
She makes her way out of their bedroom and across the hall to her daughter's room to check on her progress.
"Wow Mama, you look so pretty!" Himawari exclaims.
"Aww baby, thank you! You look beautiful as well." Hinata returns the compliment with a kiss on her hair.
The dark-haired girl was sitting in front of her dresser. Hinata smoothly takes the brush from her hand, "let me help." She stands behind the stool, both of them facing the mirror. She gently runs the rush along her daughter's shoulder-length black tresses.
"How are you Hima? Did you enjoy training with Boruto and dad today?"
"Yeah! It was really cool to watch Dad and Bolt. Daddy is so good! He's so fast. And Bolt could barely keep up." She then rushes to correct herself, "but Bolt was good too. I mean not as good as Daddy, but still good."
She smiles at the girl's enthusiasm. She can hear the excitement in her voice. Hinata opens the first pulling draw on the cabinet and pulls out a few ribbon options. She held them up against Hima's head.
"Which one do you like?"
"Hmm," Himawari pondered seriously. "I like the pink one. But I think I'll go with red. So we can match." She grins.
"Are you sure?"
She nodded her head. "Yep, yep, the red one is perfect."
Hinata placed the rest back in the drawer and began tying the red ribbon into a bow on her daughter's head.
"Do you think we could do a little more training? I want to learn more about the Bykugan. But I don't want you to hurt the babies."
Hinata took a few seconds to process her daughter's request. "I would love to help. You don't have to worry about the babies. We can still train without hurting them."
Her response earned her an ear-splitting grin. "Thanks, Mama." She turns around in her stool to hug Hinata, her head buried in her belly and her arms tight around her waist.
"Hey, are you ready to go?" Naruto pops his head into the bedroom.
"Yes, Daddy. We're all done." Himawari exclaims, racing out of the room and shouting for Boruto.
Naruto walks further into the room, hands in his pocket whistling casually. "Wowza, Hina. You look ravishing tonight. Maybe we should let the kids go without us."
"Don't be silly Naruto," Hinata flushes and hurries out of the room only to be blocked by a muscular arm.
"No, I'm serious my love. You look gorgeous," he whispers against her lips, nipping playfully.
"Thank you, Naruto. Now let's go."
XOXO
Hinata was greeted with a warm hug from Hanabi upon entry. Her sister's embrace brought her a measure of comfort and she felt less nervous to share her news with her family. The children ran straight to her father and Naruto followed behind them to greet him.
"Ahh, Hinata. It's been a while. I've missed you," she hugs her tighter. "You look so good! You're like glowing." Her sister compliments her.
Hinata blushes at the comment hoping Hanabi doesn't dwell on her own words or Hinata's reaction. She doesn't want 'I am pregnant' to be the first words of the night.
"Hanabi. It's good to see you. I have missed you as well."
They chat for a few minutes before walking up to the rest of the family. Hinata leans in to give her father a hug.
"Hello, Father. You're looking good. Are you well?" She unconsciously switches into a more formal tone, her upbringing, and training automatically coming into play.
"Hinata dear, it's good to see you. I am well; now that I get to see my grandkids. It seems they are too busy for an old man," her father teases, aiming at Boruto. His words have the desired result and Boruto flushes fire red. Himawari and Hinata used to come by often to visit Hanabi and the older Hima got the more often she would come without Hinata. Boruto on the other hand found numerous excuses to avoid the visit citing classes or training.
They spend a few minutes conversing casually before moving into the dining room. The table is set, and pristine. They all move into their respective places.
At the head of the table is her father's place. Originally he had offered the other end to Naruto as a sign of acknowledgement. An action that showed praise for Naruto's position as a hero and later the Seventh Hokage. But Naruto, unpredictable at best, refused the seat.
She was shocked at first, but not as shocked as her father, who balked at the insult. She tried to get him to accept the seat but he chose to sit next to the crown, and next to her. The kids sat across from them and Hanabi sat next to their father and the kids. The head seat remained unoccupied and no one commented on it.
It was an unspoken rule thereafter and they sat in the same fashion ever since. Every time she remembers the impact of that choice stuns her. It was the first time someone chose her first, the first time she was seen as a priority. Despite how it may have insulted her father's pride, at that moment she fell in love with Naruto all over again.
"Boruto, my boy. How are you feeling?"
"I'm good Grandpa. All healed up." Boruto reassures raises his hands to show his muscles, smiling toothily.
"The life of a ninja isn't always an easy one," Hanabi added.
"That's true. It's still worth it though," the blonde boy commented.
"I second that," Naruto agreed.
"And you Himawari," her father shifts the attention. "Are you excited about the birthday party you were telling me about? It's a sleep-over correct?"
"What birthday party?" Hinata speaks, confused.
"Ren's party Mama," Hima responds as if the answer is supposed to be obvious. Hinata looks at her husband.
Naruto shrugs his shoulders. "She didn't say anything to me."
"Hima, you really need to tell me these things in advance," Hinata says.
Himawari looks sheepish now. "I think I forgot. I'm sorry." She pauses for a few seconds. "Mama, can I go to Ren's party? For a sleepover? Oh, and can you make those chocolate truffles for me to take?"
Hinata fixes her with a look of disbelief then just sighs in defeat. "We'll talk about it a little more when we go home." Himawari accepts the response. Hinata knows she and Naruto will most likely allow her to go after speaking to Ren's parents.
The conversation lulls for a little bit, breaking off into mini conversations about various different topics. Hinata takes the time to motivate herself to speak. Naruto places a comforting hand on her thigh, squeezing. She appreciates the gesture. He does that a lot when she comes home. He takes her hand in his, or he rests his hand on her shoulder, chair, or leg, reminding her of his presence, grounding her. She's grateful for the affection. He does it without being asked, without her knowing she needed it.
"Erm, So Naruto and I have some news we would like to share." Hinata starts.
Her father surprises her by commenting, "I think I might know your news. I actually wanted to talk to you about it."
Hinata looks at her husband in confusion only to be met with an identical look. They both turn to her father.
Her father gestures with his hand in a 'the floor is yours' motion. Hinata takes a deep breath before speaking. "Naruto and I are going to be parents again."
Her father sighs in disappointment or at least that's what it sounds like to Hinata. She looks over at her sister to find her eyes wide in shock.
"You're – You're pregnant? Like you're voluntarily having another baby?" Her sister mumbles.
"Well actually, it's twins." Hinata corrects.
"And of course it's voluntary!" Naruto pipes in.
Hanabi is slack-jawed but recovers quick enough to tease her husband. "Wow Naruto; didn't think you had it in you."
Naruto blushes. Her father chastises, "Hanabi that's enough."
"You're pregnant Hinata? With twins." He sounds shocked and almost…awed. He looks lost in thought.
He shakes his head, strengthening his resolve. "I did not expect that, which is why my next inquiry is all the more significant. Is it true… that you want to…house the criminal that almost killed your son?"
Hinata did not expect that. She turned to Naruto and his brows furrowed in concentration.
"I don't understand Mr. Hyuga." Naruto says before becoming more serious. "Where did you hear that?" Naruto probes.
"I have my sources," her father replies. "That's not important. What is important is the fact that you are willing to allow a stranger, a criminal, into your house. You would let him live under the same roof as your pregnant wife, the son he tried to kill, and your innocent daughter. Do you not see how dangerous that is?"
"Dad, what is he talking about?" Boruto enquires. "Are you seriously thinking about letting that lunatic come stay with us? Are you fucking kidding me?"
"Language!" Hinata interjects, out of habit. This dinner is getting blown out of proportion. How does her father know about everything?
"You have your sources…" Naruto says. "That's concerning to me as Hokage and we're going to have to discuss that."
Her father looks troubled but then turns to Hinata. "Hinata! You have equal blame in this. You're letting him do this." His voice raises with each word. Hinata may be an adult but every word out of her father's mouth is making her shrink into her seat. Familiar insecurities cloud her mind, twisting in her head.
"You understand where I am coming from Hinata. I am concerned for you, for my grandkids. Naruto, you cannot do this, and Hinata you cannot let him. I expected more out of you Hinata. You were supposed to be smarter than this."
Hinata flinches at the words, feeling reprimanded and ridiculed.
"Dad. He cannot come to stay with us," Boruto whines.
"That's enough." Naruto's voice is hard, but Hinata can see he is barely concealing his anger.
"It's fine Naruto," Hinata places her hand over his tightened fist resting on the table.
"No, it's not fine. Hinata is my wife. You do not get to talk to her like that. No one gets to talk to her like that. No one! Not even me. " Naruto declares firmly to her father. He then turns to their son. "Boruto, we will discuss this at home."
"Wait a minute. Can we rewind a bit?" Hanabi says. "You're pregnant with twins? Did I get that right?"
"Yes, Aunt Hanabi. I'm gonna be a big sister!" Himawari exclaims. Himawari either doesn't feel the tension in the room or she is trying to diffuse it in her own way.
"Hanabi, could you watch the kids for a few minutes. Hinata and I need to discuss some stuff with your father." Naruto asks politely.
"Naruto, Hokage or not, you do not get to make orders in this house." Her father says. This is not going the way she wants it to.
"Father, I understand that you are worried, about me and the kids," Hinata says in a soft tone. "But Naruto and I will do what we think is best and you have to let us."
"Hinata, how can you not see that this is not right? You are willing to let a young man into your home. You have a young daughter. He could hurt your kids at any time. You cannot do this. I forbid it!" He yelled in frustration and Hinata pushed herself back further into her chair.
"That's enough. I will not remind you again Mr. Hyuga." Naruto warns. Hinata thinks her father actually heeds Naruto's warning. She can feel Naruto's frustration, like an aura spilling around him. He takes a deep breath to compose himself. "I think we all need to take a step back. Consider everyone's feelings and then regroup."
Her father makes eye contact with Naruto. "I think that's best." And that is where the conversation ended, with no resolution and everyone a little bit high-strung.
Hinata does feel slightly better because Hanabi gives her a tight hug when she leaves. "Congratulations, Sis. I'm happy for you! I mean, I was in awe of you when you had two kids. Now with four! You're going to be even more amazing. I love you."
XOXO
The entire trip home was in silence, everyone lost in their thoughts. Naruto was trying to be calm and level-headed. He needed to be the rational one so that Hinata was safe to be the emotional one if she needed to. He knows Hinata has mixed feelings about her father, and he tried to get her to open up to him about it on many occasions but let it go when he saw how uncomfortable it made her to talk about it. So now he just chooses to be there for her and allows her to decide whether she wants to talk about it.
The kids went straight to their room, Hima more than likely confused at the events of the night, while Boruto was most likely angry.
Naruto stays behind, making sure all the doors and windows are locked before making his way upstairs. He is greeted with a slam of the door. Yep Boruto was angry, and he made sure to wait for Naruto to be within earshot to hear it.
He knew he needed to talk to both of them. He wanted to talk to Hinata first though, to see how she was doing.
When he walked into their bedroom, he found Hinata sitting on the bench at the foot of their bed, looking dazed and confused. She had her leg propped up on her thigh, her hand poised on the strap to undo her heels.
Naruto walked forward and then bent on one knee. He gently grabbed her foot in his hand, taking over the task. He learned it was better not to ask her if she was okay but rather just to wait. She would speak when she was ready.
"He- he didn't even," she closes her eyes and sighs. "He didn't even ask about the twins. He just barrelled through with his questions."
Naruto reached for her other leg, tugging on her strap.
"I don't know why I'm surprised. Every time he acts the same and I'm still surprised. And I know it's my fault for having expectations."
"It's not your fault Hinata, for wanting more; for knowing you deserve more."
"He's so good with the kids. I look at him with them, kind and patient and loving," her eyes are swelling up, tears coming to the surface. "I get jealous and I hate it but I do. He's so good with them…why can't he be that way with me? Why do I not get that kind of father?"
She was crying now, tears streaming down her face as she fought to be silent.
"I just froze. I hate that he can still make me feel…weak…and…useless." He placed a kiss on her ankle before rising up.
He sits next to her on the bench, half pulling her into his lap. "Hinata, you're not weak or useless. You're the best person I know." He wipes her tears with the sleeve of his shirt. He then cradles her face in his hands.
"I'm sorry your father made you feel that way. He doesn't deserve your tears. You are strong." He kisses the falling tear on her cheek. "You mean so much to me, to our kids. You're everything to us. Remember what you told me at the beginning of our relationship?"
Her hands are gripping him tightly, by the elbow. She shakes her head, thinking hard, trying to remember.
"You said we were a family; you and I. And one day we could add to it. We could have kids and make our family bigger." She's looking at him with wide tear-stained eyes. "We could have a family with all the love we didn't have. And we do. We're not perfect but I have no doubt that we live in a home filled with love. We did it baby, you and I; we did it!"
She all but flings herself into his arms, her head resting on his shoulder. She continues crying and he lets her. He continues to hold her, softly stroking her hair, offering encouraging words here and there; "It going to be alright my love;" "you're perfect the way you are"; "you're enough." Naruto doesn't care that she is soaking his shirt, or that she is holding him too tightly. He just lets her take whatever comfort she needs from him.
They still like that for a while until Hinata feels comfortable enough to speak.
"We should talk to the kids. They're probably really confused." She pulls back wiping her face and drying her tears.
"Actually, is it okay if I speak to them?"
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah, we can talk to them again tomorrow. But I really wanna talk to the both of them and explain."
Hinata wasn't really up for this conversation right now. She was exhausted, Naruto could see it in her eyes, feel it in her body but he didn't want to exclude her, knowing her input was important.
"Okay, you talk to them. I'll check in on them again tomorrow."
He kisses her on the forehead. "Get ready for bed. I'll join you soon.
XOXO
Naruto closes their bedroom door quietly and walks across the hall to the other side of the house. Hima and Bolt's bedroom doors face each other and he looks at both the closed doors, contemplating who to speak to first. He knew what needed to be said just not how and he also knew he needed to allow them to say whatever was on their mind as well.
He can hear Boruto shuffling about in his room, and can hear the loud music vibrating along the walls. When Boruto was annoyed or mad he wanted everyone to know, especially if the reasons for his feelings were in the vicinity. Naruto has been on the receiving end of his moods quite often now. Himawari was the exact opposite. She was kinda like Hinata in that way, a silent terror, waiting for the right moment to strike.
He decided Himawari would be a better option, seeing as she was probably more confused. He knocked on her door and peaked it. He and Hina had a rule about locked doors. They allowed them closed doors but never locked.
"Hima, it's Daddy. Can I come in?"
"Yes, Dad, it's open." She called him Dad. She never just calls him dad. It's always Daddy or Papa. Naruto had a lot of explaining and making up to do. He might have to resort to some form of bribery.
His daughter is sitting on her bed, covers drawn halfway up. She had a book on her lap, pencil in hand, and busy doodling.
"Sorry to disturb you. Can I talk to you about something?"
She doesn't say no so he takes it as affirmation. He moves further into her room, sitting at the bottom of her bed, a little to her side, where he can see the outline of her feet under the covers.
"I'm sorry tonight got out of hand. I imagine you're probably confused and a little hurt."
She leaves her book and pencil on the bed to the side of her. "I don't understand daddy." They're back to Daddy and Naruto lets out a sigh of relief. "I've never seen Grandpa so mad and Mama looked so – so" she frowned, "sad."
She didn't give Naruto a chance to agree or refute her words, she just carried on talking. "What did Granpa mean about a criminal coming home? Is it true?"
"Not entirely," Naruto hedges.
"What does that mean? And don't lie to me, Daddy. I'm a big girl. I can take it." She warns him seriously, wagging a finger in his face.
He can't help it. He smiles and pats her leg over the comforter. "I wouldn't dream of it."
She nods her head, taking his words to heart.
"Your mother and I were discussing the situation-"
"What situation?"
"Relax. I'm getting there."
Himawari pouts but otherwise remains silent.
"You see, the thing is; the guy that tried to hurt Boruto… He – well he is not that much older than your brother. Your mother and I were thinking about letting him stay with us." He realises his words didn't offer much in the way of an explanation judging from Hima's face.
"Why does he have to stay with us?" his daughter muses.
"Well, he doesn't have to stay with us."
"Why do you want him to?" Kids were so direct sometimes. Hima just speeds through these questions, leaving him no time to think about how to answer them.
"I want to help him."
"But why, I mean if he's a bad guy?" She's genuinely confused as to why he wants to do this. He can't really explain good and bad and grey right now but he tries to make her see the bigger picture.
"I don't – I don't believe he is a bad guy. I think that he didn't have a very nice life and I think that we can help him."
He doesn't think he should mention the little information he does have. She's too young to really understand it and he doesn't think it would be right to expose the unknown boy's scars without his permission.
Himawari is playing with the corner of her blanket, processing his words.
"But Hima, I don't want you to feel uncomfortable." Naruto makes sure she is looking at him, listening to him. "This is your home and if you feel like you wouldn't want a stranger to live here…if you feel scared in any way…then I will figure something else out."
"Where would he stay?"
"You wouldn't have to worry about that. I'll figure it out, okay?" He grabs her hand and squeezes it in comfort, letting her know it's alright if she doesn't agree to this.
"Okay," she smiles. "But Daddy, I think I'm good with him staying here."
"Huh?" He did not expect that.
"You said he didn't have a nice life. You said he needed our help. So," she shrugs, like it's not a big deal, "let's help him."
"Gosh, kid, you're amazing. You're too much like your mother at times," she smiles fondly.
Himawari beams at the compliment. "That's good. Mama is awesome. I would love to be like her when I grow up."
"You should tell her that sometime," he chuckles.
He stands up, and stretches a bit, feeling relieved at the end result of this conversation. "if at any time you feel scared or unsure or uncomfortable at our new living arrangements, you can tell me Hima. I won't be mad at you. I could never be mad at you."
"Okay, daddy."
He ruffles her hair before placing a kiss on the crown of her black locks. "Goodnight Princess. I love you. Have sweet dreams."
"Love you too Daddy. Night night. Sweet dreams."
XOXO
That wasn't as hard a conversation as he thought it would be. Now though, he would have to face the obstacle that was his son. Boruto was not the easiest person to talk to, at least for Naruto. As a child, Naruto could read him backward and forward. He was happy and easy to please and loved spending time with Naruto. They could be doing anything and the boy was ecstatic. The shinobi remembers vividly how his son, on legs too small and untrained would trail after him constantly.
But as he grew older Boruto became harder to decipher and Naruto felt further away from him. He would think he could understand what Boruto mean when he said something or acted in a certain way but then like whiplash his son's mood would shift and Naruto was left dazed and confused.
The more he tried to get closer, to connect the more Boruto would resist and his son seemed further away to catch up to. Things were finally settling with them after their last heated confrontation but now it feels like that progress was for naught; one step forward and two steps back.
He opens Boruto's door to find his music blasting through the speaker and his son playing a fighting game on his desktop. He doesn't bother to look up, just continues button smashing.
Naruto walks further into the room and heads straight for the speaker, turning off the music entirely.
"Hey! I was listening to that."
"Not so loud. Your mother and sister are trying to sleep, and you and I need to talk."
Boruto rolls his eyes and Naruto refrains from making a comment about it as it would end in a tirade and send them completely off-topic. He was told that having kids would be a lot of work, especially during the teenage years but this was beyond what he was expecting. It's like they argue just for the sake of it.
He can't know what it would have been like for him, but surely he wasn't as dramatic and challenging in his teenage years. He'll have to ask Kakashi Sensei about that sometime.
Boruto seems to reach some conclusion in his head. He swivels in his chair to face Naruto.
"Okay, Dad. Let's talk." He aggressively places his controller on the desk and then interlocks his fingers. On any other occasion, Naruto would have chuckled at the gesture. "Let's talk about the fact that you want to bring a literal stranger into our house, someone who wanted to murder me. Did you not even think about me?" He questions jamming a thumb into his chest. "About how I would feel?"
"Boruto –"
"No. No. why do you do this? You're ruining my life."
Tiredly, Naruto drags a hand over his face.
"I thought I was going to die, Dad. Do you not even care about that?"
Naruto's heart seizes at the thought of his son dying and the further implication that it would not affect him. "Do I not care?" He questions in disbelief. He walks towards his son, seating himself at the edge of the bed so he could be at eye level with Bolt during the remainder of this conversation.
"Okay. Here is how this conversation is going to go. I am going to talk to you like the ninja you are training to become." Naruto crosses his legs at the ankle.
"This conversation will not leave this room. Do you understand?" he prefaces seriously.
Bolt looks startled at the subject change, eyes showing caution at his father's tone but he nods nonetheless.
"You apprehended a suspect. We have kept him prisoner for almost a week now. We questioned him and we got no viable, useful answers."
"If you would just let me talk to him - " Boruto interrupts.
Naruto crosses his arms. "No, it would only end in a fight. And that is not why I am saying this. I am saying that we don't have any evidence that he did anything wrong."
"You have me!" Boruto yells righteously. "I'm the one he attacked. I have the scars to prove it."
"I believe you Boruto, you know I do…but this guy…" Naruto pauses, "there's no record of him. We need his information."
"But there is a lot of red tape," Naruto explains. "He's a child in the eyes of the law. I can't keep him, prisoner, forever. It wouldn't be right and you know it." At the core of it Boruto has strong moral convictions, so appealing to them may help Naruto to get the boy to understand the situation.
"But why does he have to stay with us?" Boruto whines. At this point, Naruto knows he more or less understands and is complaining for the sake of complaining.
"I'm getting to that, back to what I was saying. If we lock him up we could be creating enemies with other nations and not know it." Boruto tilts his head in a slight nod, silently agreeing.
"This way we don't let him go and we have an opportunity to learn more about who he is and why he tried to hurt you." Naruto decides to settle for the logical reasonable perspective. His son would be more receptive if he understood it from a tactical standpoint.
However, Naruto doesn't have it in himself to not tell his son the truth. He wants Boruto to know that he also just wants to help the boy.
"But that's not the main reason I want to do this. I can't say much, because we really don't have all the answers. I can say this, however, this boy… I have a feeling that he didn't have the best life growing up and may be involved in something bigger than he is and he doesn't know a way out."
Boruto sighs knowingly, "and you feel sorry for him."
"I want to help him," Naruto corrects even though his son is partially correct.
"You can't save everyone, Dad. It's not possible." Ironically, Boruto is echoing the same doubt Naruto himself had just had yesterday. He contemplated the same thing.
"I know son, but it's worse not to try. You may regret it for the rest of your life." Naruto admits, using Hinata's words. Naruto truly believes if he doesn't do this he'll regret it forever.
"What if he tries to hurt Mum? Or Hima?" Boruto frowns in thought.
"I will make sure he doesn't have an opportunity to. I promise if I ever feel like him being here is unsafe for our family I will make sure he is gone." Naruto promises with conviction.
"If you ever truly feel unsafe or uncomfortable you let me know and I will deal with it."
Boruto seems to ease at the promise, calmed by his father's reassurances. "Guess I don't really have a choice," he grumbles flicking a pencil back and forth on his desk.
Naruto chuckles at the petulant tone but decides to move past it. He'll take this as a win.
He stands up from his position on the bed, straightening his t-shirt. "About what you said earlier, me not caring about what happens to you… that's not true."
"You can't even begin to comprehend how much I care." Naruto vehemently states. "I would die for you Boruto. I would do…unimaginable things if it meant saving you; if you needed me to."
Boruto looks taken aback at his words. Naruto can see the guilt start clouding his face. "I am not saying this to make you feel bad Bolt. You don't need to feel indebted to me because I love you; because I can provide all these things for you," Naruto gestures to all the things around him, a room, shelter, and luxuries.
"I'll love you even when you don't appreciate it. I will love you even when you think I'm ruining your life. I will never not love you." Naruto needs to say these things. It's important to him that Boruto knows. Hinata literally cried herself to sleep because of her father. Naruto similarly had many nights not knowing his parents, thinking they never loved him. Then knowing they did but being robbed of the opportunity to have that love, to have a normal family like everyone else. He never wants Boruto to feel the way he did growing up, or the way Hinata feels. So if he has to constantly remind his son of the fact, he would do it, without hesitation.
"My love would never be something you have to earn or be grateful for. You will always have it, no matter the circumstances."
He stands up to leave the room, leaving a kiss on his son's messy blonde hair, ignoring the blush from Bolt. "Try and get sleep okay."
"Dad…" Naruto pauses at the threshold.
"I'm really sorry about what I said before…" he trails off. "I know you're trying. In fact, I might not…hate you for it…I might even…love you."
Naruto smiles at his son's attempt to return the sentiment. It's nice to hear it. He knows his kids love them, but it's really nice to hear it, even if it comes from an emotionally constipated teenager. He makes sure his son sees his grin on his way out.
XOXO
So I know you might have thought this chapter was going to be all sunshine and daises and I'm sorry to disappoint. When I had to write this chapter I thought about going that route, I did. All the clips I've seen from Boruto show Hiashi as a loving grandparent. I wanted to do that, I did but I couldn't forget the way Hinata was treated by her father throughout the anime and I wanted to address it a bit. I also kinda wanted to show Naruto defending her (so that scene was mostly for me). I really wanted to flesh out Hinata a bit and show the complexity of her relationship with her family. I didn't know if I did it very well, but I felt like I needed to do this.
Anyway, besides all that…what did you think of the chapter? Any ideas? Anything in particular you may want to see? Let me know…Until next time