Naruto never imagined the words that had come out of his old Sensei's mouth.
"Okay Naruto, Shikamaru here is going to whip you into shape for the Jounin exams. It's high time you start studying, because I won't accept anyone else to replace me as Hokage. But you're still young. Don't even think about making me retire until you're at least 30."
He felt giddy just thinking about it, as he worked late into the night with Shikamaru, his nose buried in boring books. There was no doubting his ninja abilities, being the hero of the Fourth Shinobi War and all, but his mental prowess? Well, nobody could deny there was room for improvement.
He of course worried about Hinata, his mind drifting to her and wondered how she and Boruto were fairing. He wasn't dumb. He knew that things were extremely strained and difficult right now. His late nights workings to take over the position of Hokage, coupled with an increased mission load to make up for Boruto's expenses, was certainly taking it's toll.
Naruto tried his best to be there for Hinata and Boruto when he could, he loved both his girlfriend and his son. But right now his time and attention had to be split and there wasn't much he could do about it. For the future, the bigger picture, he would make it.
However, he also worried for Hinata, her status, her reputation.
Her official retirement paperwork went into effect and in the quiet of the night she returned to the village, hidden away with Boruto because there were too many questions and not enough answers he wanted to share.
Hinata would forever be a Chuunin and he felt so, so guilty about it. His life remained largely unchanged, but hers? Her entire world had for all intents and purposes, shattered.
Why should Hinata have to give up her career? He knew why, of course, but it just wasn't fair. He worried for her. For their friends. Only Shikamaru knew of their situation and even then it's not like he could be asked to help much.
Naruto knew that Hinata and himself would have to answer to their fellow ninja, their friends, and the village. He knew that he would be on the receiving end of Sakura's fists, but he couldn't handle the fallout right now.
Just a little while longer...
"Naruto, your thoughts are a million miles away. You haven't been home in days. Go."
Shikamaru noticed the frown permanently etched on the future Hokage's face for the last hour and a half. He was personally spent himself, but he waited for Naruto to crack. His stamina was ungodly. This was the perfect opportunity.
Naruto stretched his arms and neck, sighing. "You're right! It's definitely time for me to head home." and with a cheeky fox like grin, Naruto poofed out of existence, leaving Shikamaru in a significant fit of rage.
Hinata was so thankful that Naruto had taken pity on her and sent a clone in his place tonight for his training. Hinata needed sleep. Desperately.
She couldn't remember the last time she'd had a good, full night's rest, as Boruto was still a small baby who needed feedings every two hours, and Hinata's one woman milk factory was open for business. With Naruto home to take over some of the care, it allowed Hinata a blissful, worry free sleep. Her hand pumped, spare bottles in the fridge and freezer allowing Naruto to feed Boruto on occasion.
Hours had blended into days and days had blended into weeks for Hinata. She couldn't remember heads or tales, seemingly stuck on a cycle of baby care, feedings, sleep, and repeat. It was like she was perpetually stuck in a cycle of fight or flight and no amount of coffee could save her.
She was itching, physically manifesting red blotches on her skin from hay fever. Her guilt was gnawing at her. She thought of her best friend, Ino, often and wanted nothing more than to contact her, to tell her she was alive and she was okay. She had no one to rely on but Naruto, and it felt awful.
It was also a pity, too, that when Naruto was finally home, Hinata was incredibly exhausted and too tired to spend time with him, desperately needing sleep. They were in a listless cycle, feeling more like roommates than lovers at this point. But this was the hand that fate had dealt, and she would play her part for her son's future.
Hinata wondered, though, what her fellow ninja's thought about her disappearance. Did they think her dead? POW? MIA? Would they hate her if she came back alive? Would they be angry she got pregnant so young and strained Naruto's future? Her own future?
It made her skin crawl, thinking of how messed up everything had become during and after the war. When was the right time? Was there even one? Hinata and Naruto needed help. Hinata needed an extra hand and she didn't know how much longer she could fight this monstrous PPD (Post Partum Depression).
It seemed like Hinata blinked and her sleep had ended, feeling not nearly rested enough. But when she looked at the clock, she indeed had slept a full 8 hours.
"Hinata-chan, it's time to wake up. I have to go back to the Hokage Tower for tutoring." Naruto had gently nudged her awake, Boruto fast asleep, cradled in his other arm. Naruto must have just gave him his last feeding of the night. Hinata smiled gratefully and gently took Boruto out of her boyfriends careful embrace. She continued to sit up in bed, rocking him gently.
"Go. We'll see you when you come home." Naruto half smiled and laid a gentle kiss on Hinata's forehead. He didn't deserve her, truly. But he would do his best to work hard now so that Hinata would never have to live a life of struggle ever again.
As Hinata heard the front door click, she sighed.
It was just themselves again. And like the breeze, Naruto's warmth had left as quickly as it came.
Hello. I didn't die lol I just started this story as something to write when I'm not writing my main stuff and need a break. So please don't expect frequent updates but I will keep updating this story I promise lololol
Okay, that makes me look bad. But anyway. I am ngl, I skipped a bunch of the war/fights. I can't write MAJOR fight scenes and it's just not my style. So sorry if you were expecting that, but this story had always been a more feelings/what if focus, yanno?