This is going to be a long one. Sorry in advance if you don't like long chapters, but if you do…enjoy!
XXXXX
July 10th
Boruto had just wrapped up a C-rank mission that felt like it lasted forever, three exhausting weeks spent in unfamiliar territory, trudging through the forest and villages with Shikadai and Mitsuki. Normally, Sarada would have been with them, but she had gotten sick, so Shikadai filled in at the last minute.
The mission itself wasn't the problem. It was straightforward enough. But the worst part came when his father, Naruto, handed out the mission. Boruto did everything in his power to keep things professional, to hide the swirling mess of emotion inside. He hadn't told his friends about his parents' separation. They didn't need to know about the train wreck going on at home, and honestly, he couldn't even look at his father. Not without feeling that sting in his chest, that raw wound from seeing his family fall apart.
As they entered the Hokage's office, Boruto could feel his heart pounding hard against his ribs. He was doing his best to look anywhere but at his father.
Shikadai was the first to speak. "Mission complete, Lord Seventh," he said, standing in front of Naruto's desk. His voice was cool, and collected, like always. "We encountered a few issues along the way, but nothing outside the mission parameters."
"Great work. Sounds like you handled it well. Make sure to pick up your payment at the administrative office."
"Thanks, Lord Seventh," Mitsuki added with his usual calm.
Shikadai nodded, offering a quick "Later," before turning toward the door.
Boruto's body tensed when Naruto spoke again. "Boruto, can you stay behind for a minute?"
He wanted nothing more than to walk out of that office with Shikadai and Mitsuki, to escape this inevitable conversation. But he couldn't. Not when Naruto was asking him to stay in front of them. He watched as his teammate exited the room, the door closing behind them with a soft click.
The office felt too quiet. Too empty. Just him and his dad. Boruto clenched his fists, already bracing for whatever was coming.
"How have you been doing?" Naruto asked, his voice softer now.
He was trying to be gentle, Boruto could tell, but it only made his skin crawl. How could he ask that after everything?
Boruto shrugged, keeping his eyes away from his father. "Fine."
Naruto sighed, he could hear him leaning forward on his desk as if trying to bridge the gap between them. "I know things have been tough lately. With everything going on…"
"I said I'm fine," Boruto cut him off, his tone sharp. He didn't want to hear it. Not from him. Not now.
Naruto paused. "If you ever need to talk…"
"I don't," Boruto snapped, his fists tightening. He could feel the weight of his father's gaze, but he wasn't about to soften. Not now.
The silence in the office was unbearable, and Boruto refused to look up. He could feel Naruto's eyes on him, probably trying to think of the right thing to say, but Boruto wasn't interested in hearing any more excuses or attempts to "make things better."
"Boruto," Naruto began, "I know this is hard. I don't want you to feel like you're alone in this."
Boruto's jaw clenched, and his pulse quickened with frustration. "Yeah, well, I'm not alone. I've got Mom, I've got Himawari," he said, his voice cold. "I don't need you acting like you care now when you were barely there before."
Naruto flinched, and Boruto noticed it from the corner of his eye. He didn't mean to throw that last part in his face. His father had tried, but in the end, it didn't matter.
"I was…trying to do what I thought was best," Naruto said, a mixture of guilt and sadness in his voice. "I never wanted you or your sister to feel like you weren't important."
Boruto couldn't hold back his anger anymore. His fists shook as the words spilled out. "But we did! We were always second. And now, what? Now you wanna act like you care because you and Mom aren't together anymore?"
Naruto opened his mouth to respond, but Boruto cut him off again, his voice cracking. "You don't get to fix this now. It's too late, Dad."
The tears were close now, burning the back of his eyes, but he forced them back, refusing to let them fall in front of his father.
Naruto took a deep breath. "Boruto, I don't expect you to forgive me right away. I just…I don't want you to shut me out completely."
Boruto finally turned to face his father, his eyes blazing with hurt and anger. "You shut us out first."
Naruto winched again. "I'm sorry," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "For everything."
Boruto didn't respond. He couldn't. The pain was too fresh, the betrayal too deep. He just turned away, walking towards the door without another word.
As he reached for the handle, Naruto called out one last time. "Boruto…I love you."
Boruto froze, his hand hovering over the doorknob. For a split second, he felt something stir inside him, something close to the bond they used to have. But it wasn't enough to heal the hurt. Not yet.
Without turning back, he opened the door and stepped out, letting the heavy silence of the Hokage's office close in behind him.
XXXXXX
Kakashi strolled through the village streets, his eyes glued to the pages of Icha Icha Tactics, his well-worn copy in hand. The sound of bustling people and shopkeepers went unnoticed, his focus entirely absorbed in the familiar, spicy words. That was until something, or someone, caught his eye.
There, just ahead, was Hinata coming out of the supermarket, arms full with bags of groceries. Her face was calm, but Kakashi could see the strain in her steps, the slight struggle to keep the paper bag tucked under her arm as the other bags weighed down her hands.
He sighed behind his mask, closing his book. "Hinata-chan," he called out as he approached her.
Hinata turned to face him, her eyes widening slightly in surprise. "Kakashi-sensei," she greeted him with a polite smile, adjusting the bag under her arm. "It's nice to see you."
"Likewise," he said. "Looks like you've got your hands full. Need a hand?"
Hinata quickly shook her head. "Oh, no, thank you. I can manage," she said, though the way she shifted her grip told a different story.
Kakashi tilted his head slightly, his eye crinkled in a smile behind his mask. "Are you sure?" He didn't move, just stood there and watched her struggle with an insistence. "It looks like you could use a little help."
After a brief hesitation and another glance at the bags weighed her down, Hinata gave in. "Well…if you don't mind."
"Not at all." Kakashi easily took the bags from her hands, leaving her only the paper bag to carry. Hinata held it close to her chest, visibly relieved to be rid of the bulk.
As they walked, Kakashi found himself lost in thought. He hadn't spoken to Hinata much, especially since the separation, but he had seen the toll it had taken on Naruto. His former student has been handling it badly, no, miserably, but that wasn't surprising. Naruto loved Hinata deeply. Kakashi remember how Naruto would talk endlessly about her when they first got together, his face lighting up with stories of their dates. It was amusing back then, seeing Naruto gush over Hinata instead of Sakura.
And when Hinata had announced her first pregnancy, Naruto was the happiest person in the village. Kakashi could still picture that beaming grin on the younger man's face when Boruto was born. But things had changed after Naruto became Hokage. Nights out drinking with friends had turned into complaints about how Hinata was upset and how she didn't understand his responsibilities, yet Naruto never seemed to take action to fix it.
Kakashi glanced down at Hinata as they walked in silence. There was that same look in her eyes, a quiet sadness similar to what he'd seen in Naruto. The once-happy couple had slowly started to crack, and Kakashi wondered how deep those cracks had gone.
"How are the little ones doing?" He asked, breaking the silence.
Hinata's face softened at the mention of her children. "Boruto and Himawari are doing fine," she said. "Himawari is visiting my family right now, and Boruto should be on his way back home from a mission."
Kakashi nodded. "Glad to hear they're doing well." He walked a little slower, the awkward silence settled back in. He hadn't spent much time talking to Hinata when she was younger. Most of what he knew about her was from Kurenai. But even so, he couldn't deny her kindness, or how much she'd grown.
Trying to shake off the tension, Kakashi cleared his throat. "I heard from Naruto a while back that you were training with Sasuke."
Hinata blinked, her face slightly startled. "Oh…yes, for a while. But I haven't trained with Sasuke in some time now." Her tone grew distant, and Kakashi noticed the subtle shift in her mood.
He considered his words for a moment. She hadn't mentioned Naruto, and that's when he realized it might be about him. He couldn't say anything, Naruto made it clear that night at the bar that they were to keep his struggles quiet. Kakashi had kept that promise.
They continued walking, Kakashi occasionally glancing down at her, trying to read her mood. Finally, they approached Hinata's house, and she opened the door, surprised to find Boruto waiting at the entrance with a grin on his face.
"Mom, I'm home!" Boruto announced, his energy filled the air as he stepped forward.
Hinata's face lit up immediately, the sadness Kakashi had noticed earlier vanished as she dropped the paper bag and rushed to hug her son. "Boruto! How was your mission? Are you okay? Did everything go well? Did you get hurt?"
Boruto, clearly used to the treatment, sighed good-naturedly as he answered her rapid-fire questions. "Yeah, yeah, Mom, I'm fine. Everything went okay. I wasn't even gone that long."
As Boruto spoke, his eyes shifted past Hinata, and noticed him standing in the doorway. His face turned red, clearly embarrassed by the attention from his mother now knowing there was an audience.
"Mom, you don't have to hug me every time," he muttered.
Kakashi chuckled to himself. Boruto had grown so much, but he was still the same boy who could blush at his mother's affection.
His chuckle seemed to have caught Hinata's attention. "Oh! Kakashi-sensei, I'm so sorry!" She said quickly, pulling away from Boruto, looking flustered. "Thank you for helping me with the groceries."
Boruto stepped towards him, his hands outstretched. "I got it from here, sensei. You don't have to do any more heavy lifting." He grabbed the bags from Kakashi's hands and disappeared down the hallway, likely heading to the kitchen.
Kakashi watched him go before turning back to Hinata. "It was no trouble," he said waving off her gratitude. Just as he was about to leave, a thought crossed his mind. He turned back to her. "Hinata-chan, have you ever thought about going back on active duty?"
"W-What? I…I haven't thought about it. I mean, sometimes I do, but the more I think about it, with Boruto and Himawari, I don't want to be away from them too long."
He observed her for a moment. The devotion she had for her children was evident, and he couldn't help but admire it. Her family meant everything to her, and it showed in every action. "Your kids are lucky to have you," he said, smiling behind his mask as he pulled out his book again. "I was just curious.
He flipped open the book but glanced at her once more before stepping off the porch. "Sometimes, life throws us off course. It's up to us to find our way back, even if the path isn't what she expected."
Hinata's eyes widened, and after a brief pause, she smiled. "I'll be sure to remember that, Kakashi-sensei. Thank you."
With a nod, Kakashi turned and walked away, his eyes back on the pages of his favorite book, though his mind wasn't as focused on the book as usual. He hoped Naruto could fix things someday. He was already losing Hinata and from what he's been witnessing it was slowly breaking him.
XXXXXX
Naruto sat at his desk, lost in thought. His hand moved automatically, signing off on one document after another, his eyes unfocused. All he could think about was Boruto, the way his son had looked at him earlier…so much anger, so much disappointment. It ate at him. He didn't want Boruto to hate him, but lately, it felt like he did.
His heart ached, and for the thousandth time, Naruto felt like a failure…as a husband and father. Himawari at least still treated him with the same sweetness, but Boruto…Boruto was different. And then there was HInata. He hadn't seen her in weeks. He was giving her space, just like Shikamaru advised, but it was killing him inside. There were so many times he wanted to see her, hold her, tell her how much he loved her, but every time he thought about it, Shikamaru's voice echoed in his head: Not yet. It's a bad idea.
Naruto's hand stilled, and his pen dropped onto the desk with a soft clatter. He buried his hands and let out a low groan.
"Hinata…" he whispered.
The door creaked open, and Naruto quickly pulled himself together, his Hokage mask slipping back into place. But when he looked up and saw Sai standing there, his facade cracked, just a little. Sai had a way of seeing through people, especially him. Naruto managed a weak smile.
"How are you holding up?" Sai asked, stepping inside and closing the door behind him.
Naruto rubbed the back of his neck, forcing a casual shrug. "I'm…okay."
Sai didn't seem convinced as he took a seat across from Naruto and leaned forward slightly. "Are you going to start the divorce process soon?"
Naruto's heart clenched at his bluntness. Sai had been surprisingly supportive the past few weeks, but every time he bluntly asked about the split, it felt like a fresh wound. "I don't want to talk about that right now. If Hinata hasn't pushed it yet, I don't want to. You're gonna jinx it."
Sai said nothing, but Naruto could see the gears turning in his head. His silence wasn't judgmental, but Naruto could tell he had opinions. After a moment, Sai leaned back in his chair, exhaling a quiet huff.
Naruto sighed, leaning back in his chair as well. "Boruto's upset with me. I don't know what to do. Does Inojin ever get mad at you?"
Sai paused, his head tilted slightly in thought. "It rarely happens. We have a good relationship."
Naruto groaned, dropping his head to the desk. "Great. Just what I needed to hear."
Sai's voice softened, offering advice in a way only he could…practical and to the point. "Sometimes, it's not about fixing everything at once. Sometimes, it's about being there, even if they don't want you there."
Naruto sat up, his words struck something in his heart. "Thanks, Sai. I didn't expect you to be the one to help me figure this out."
"I've learned a few things over the years. And…you're my friend, Naruto."
Naruto felt a warmth spread in his chest. Despite their rocky start as teenagers, Sai had become someone he could rely on. He was glad to call him a friend.
Sai stood and eyed Naruto critically. "You should take a break. You look like you haven't slept in days."
Naruto knew he didn't look great. Between the stress and a recent panic attack, sleep had been scarce. With a sigh, he glanced down at the paperwork littered on his desk. "Yeah, maybe you're right."
Gathering what little energy he had left, Naruto stood and lazily created a shadow clone. He asked the clone to take over the rest of the paperwork. "Can you handle this while I take a break?"
The clone nodded, looking far too enthusiastic. "Don't worry, boss. I've got this covered!"
Naruto shook his head and patted the clone's shoulder. "Thanks," he chuckled.
As Naruto turned to the window, he smiled weakly at Sai. "I'll catch you later. Thanks again." Then, without waiting for a reply, he slipped out the window, his mind already drifted back to Hinata.
He wasn't sure where he was going at first, but soon enough, he found himself heading toward his old home. Jumping from rooftop to rooftop, he avoided the streets, not wanting to deal with anyone. When he reached the house, he hesitated. The garden Hinata had been tending to caught his attention, the flower and vegetables were growing neatly in their beds.
Naruto smiled softly to himself. She was so good at that, so patient.
"Naruto-kun?" Her voice was quiet, barely above a whisper.
He tensed, his body stiffened as fear crept inside him. Slowly, he turned around and saw her standing there in a purple sundress, her hair pulled into a low ponytail, and her bangs framed her face in light loose curls.
Her hair was longer. She was beautiful as always.
Then the realization hit him hard. "Hinata…" he said awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Sorry for just showing up like this."
He tried to read her expression, but her face was neutral. He had no idea what she was thinking, and it made him nervous. They both stood there, rooted in place, and neither made a move.
He wondered if she was as just afraid as he was. If her heart was beating just as fast.
Hinata didn't say anything, and the silence stretched between them, thick with unspoken words. Naruto shifted uncomfortably. "I can go if you want…"
Hinata glanced away as if she was considering it, but then she shook her head. "No, it's okay."
Naruto felt a bit of the tension leave his shoulders as she took a few steps closer to him. Now they stood face to face, so close that he could reach out and pull her into his arms if he wanted to. But he didn't. Not now.
They both spoke at the same time. "How are you doing?"
Naruto blushed, embarrassed, and so did she. He gestured for her to go first.
Hinata smiled softly, though it didn't reach her eyes. "I could be better."
He gave her a sad smile in return. "Same here."
They stood in silence again, and before Naruto knew what he was doing, he reached out, his fingers gently brushing a strand of her hair framing her face. "I like your hair like this," he said quietly, the words slipped out before he could stop them.
But the moment was short-lived. Hinata looked away, her expression strained as she stepped back. "Na-Naruto-kun…," she whispered, her voice shook. She kept her gaze away, and she added, "Can we…sign the papers soon?"
Naruto's heart sank, and a lump formed in his throat. His hand dropped to his side. "Are you sure you really want to?"
Hinata still wouldn't meet his gaze, and the silence hurt more than her words. Maybe he shouldn't have come. It was a mistake. What was he thinking? He was an idiot. Of course, she still wants to go through it. It was her decision to even mention divorce. So why would she answer anything differently?
He braced himself for another stab in the heart.
She hadn't met his gaze yet, just like Boruto earlier. "We shouldn't delay it," she said, her voice more steady.
There was nothing else he could do. He didn't want to keep pushing and drain her of her sanity. He clenched his jaw and forced himself to nod. "Okay."
She finally looked at him, and that's when he saw it the sadness in her eyes. It was the same sadness he felt, it mirrored in her eyes. He didn't think she would hurt as much, but he could still that she must had been hiding it and now her mask was beginning to break. Despite it, she held firm. The divorce was what she wanted.
"Come to my office tomorrow in the morning. We'll sign them then," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Okay," she replied, her voice equally quiet.
Naruto swallowed hard. "Is Boruto home?"
Hinata nodded. "He is."
Naruto hesitated. He wanted to see his song, to fix things between them, but the fear of another painful encounter kept him frozen. His heart felt like it was crumbling, piece by piece. His son was angry, and his wife didn't want him anymore.
A sharp pain gripped his chest, and he clutched it, feeling the familiar signs of a panic attack trying to come through. Hinata's eyes widened concerned, but he quickly tried to compose himself. "I…I just need to sit down for a minute…maybe have some water."
Hinata nodded and ushered him inside quickly, her kindness broke through even in this situation.
Naruto sat down at the kitchen table, he watched as Hinata poured him a glass of water. He gulped it down the moment she handed it to him, the cool liquid doing little to ease the storm inside.
The silence was heavy between them, and Naruto finally spoke, his filled with regret. "I'm sorry, Hinata. For hurting you all those years…and now, even more. But no matter what happens, I'll always love you."
Hinata turned away, and Naruto could hear the soft inhale, the telltale sign the sign that she was trying to stop herself from crying. He wanted to reach out, to comfort her, but he stopped himself.
Without waiting for a response, he walked toward his son's room, his heart heavier than ever. He couldn't get himself to follow Sai's advice towards Hinata. He held too much fear…fear of rejection for just trying to console her.
Naruto walked upstairs, each step felt heavier. Once her stood outside his door, his hand hovered the door. His heart pounded in his chest, each beat echoed the anxiety knotted in his stomach. He took a deep breath as he tried to steady himself.
Come on, Naruto. You faced down gods. You can talk to your own son. He thought to himself.
He knocked lightly. "Boruto?"
The was a shuffling sound, and the door creaked open a few inches. Boruto's eyes met his, surprise flashing before his expression hardened into a frown.
"Dad," Boruto said flatly.
"Hey," Naruto replied, he forced a small smile. "Can we…talk?" He could at least follow Sai's advice with his son and hope that he doesn't shut him out again.
Boruto's mouth opened, and Naruto could see the refusal forming. Panic surged within him. No. Not again. "Please," he added quickly, his voice pleading.
Boruto hesitated, his gaze searching Naruto's face. After a tense moment, he gave a curt nod and stepped back, allowing Naruto to enter.
The room was a mix of organized chaos, posters of ninja heroes adorned the walls, and training gear was piled in a corner. Naruto noticed a frame family on the desk, the four of them smiling brightly. His chest tightened.
Boruto sat on the edge of his bed, arms crossed, eyes fixed on the floor. Naruto pulled up the desk chair and sat facing him, leaving a respectful distance between them.
An awkward silence settled. Naruto rubbed the back of his neck, a nervous habit he never quite outgrew. "So…how was the mission?"
"Fine," Boruto replied curtly.
"I'm glad you got back safe," He said softly.
Boruto shrugged, still not meeting his gaze. "We're capable ninja. It wasn't a big deal."
Naruto sighed inwardly. This was harder than he thought. "Look, Boruto, I know things have been rough lately."
Boruto scoffed. "You could say that."
"I wanted to apologize," Naruto continued, his voice genuine. "For everything. I haven't been the father you deserve."
Boruto's eyes flickered up briefly before returning to the floor. "Why are you telling me this now?"
"Because I don't want us to keep drifting apart," Naruto said. "I miss you."
Boruto's jaw tightened. "You should have thought about that before."
Naruto felt the sting of those words but pressed on. "You're right. I should have thought about that before." Boruto was probably attempting to let out years' worth of anger towards him. He continued. "I was so focused on being Hokage that I neglected my family. I thought I was doing the right thing, but I see now how much I've hurt you and your mother."
Boruto looked up sharply at the mention of Hinata's name. "Is that why Mom wants a divorce?"
Naruto swallowed hard. He needed to be honest for once. "It's…complicated. But yes, my actions have led us here."
"Why didn't you try harder to fix it?" Boruto demanded, he could hear the anger and pain in his voice.
"I tried and I'm trying now," Naruto confessed. "But sometimes, when you hurt someone deeply, it's not easy to make things right."
Boruto stood up abruptly, pacing the small space. "You're the Hokage! You never give up! So why are you giving up on our family?"
"I'm not giving up," Naruto insisted, standing as well. "But I have to respect your mother's feelings."
"That's just an excuse," Boruto shot back. "If you cared, you'd fight for her!"
Naruto felt his frustration rising but he forced himself to stay calm. "Boruto, relationships aren't battles to be won. Your mother needs time and space. I can't force her to forgive."
He learned that the hard way.
Boruto stopped pacing, his shoulder slumped. "I just…I don't want our family to fall apart."
Naruto's heart ached at the vulnerability in his son's voice. He took a nervous step forward. "Neither do I," he said, softly. "I love you and Himawari more than anything. And I love your mother. That hasn't changed."
"Then why does it feel like everything is changing?" Boruto whispered.
"Because sometimes adults make mistakes," Naruto admitted. "Big ones. And those mistakes have consequences."
Boruto turned to face him, eyes glistened. "Do you even care how this affects us? How it affect Mom?"
"Of course, I care," Naruto said. "Every day, I regret the pain I've caused. I wish I could go back and fix things, but all I can do now is try to be better moving forward."
"Words don't mean much if nothing changes," Boruto muttered.
"I know," Naruto agreed. "That's why I'm here. I want to start making things right. With you, at least."
Boruto studied him for a long moment. "Why weren't you there for us?" He finally asked. "Why did you always choose work over your family?"
Naruto felt a lump in his throat. "I thought that by protecting the village, I was protecting you. I wanted to make the world safer for everyone. But I lost sight of what was right in front of me. I see now that being Hokage doesn't mean anything if I can't be a good father and husband."
Boruto's expression softened slightly. "Mom waited for you. She was always waiting."
"I know. And I let her down. I let you all down."
An uneasy silence filled the room. Boruto looked away, his voice barely audible. "I don't want you and Mom to get a divorce."
Naruto's eyes stung with unshred tears. He closed the distance between them before he placed a hand on Boruto's shoulder. "I don't want that either," he said. "But no matter what happens between your mother and me, I will never stop being your father. I'll always be here for you."
Boruto glanced up and met his gaze. "Promise?"
Naruto nodded firmly. "I promise."
After a moment, Boruto stepped forward and tentatively wrapped his arms around Naruto. Surprised, Naruto embraced his son tightly, and relief washed over him.
"I'm sorry, Dad," Boruto mumbled into his shoulder.
Naruto shook his head. "No, I'm the one who's sorry."
"They held onto each other, the barrier between them beginning to crumble. Naruto felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe it was the first step to healing some of his broken heart.
Pulling back slightly, Boruto looked up. "You'll try to fix things with Mom?"
Naruto offered a sad smile. "I'll do everything I can. But as I've said before I have to respect what she wants."
Boruto nodded slowly. "I just want us to be a family again."
"We'll always be a family. We're bound by blood." Naruto smiled, which brought a smile to his son's face. "I should probably let you rest," Naruto said, stepping back. "But if you ever want to talk, about anything…I'm here."
"Alright," Boruto agreed.
Naruto headed toward the door but paused before leaving. "I'll see you later, son."
As Naruto closed the door behind him, he took a deep breath. The conversation had been difficult, but necessary. He knew there was a long road ahead, but for the first time in weeks, he felt like maybe, just maybe, things could get better.
XXXXXXX
Sasuke's body moved with precision as he trained alone in the dense forest surrounding Konoha. The sweat dripped from his brow, but he paid it no mind as he leaped into the air, spinning, executing a move he'd seen Itachi perform countless times when they were kids. With one hand, he tossed multiple kunai at each of the targets embedded in the trees surrounding him, each one striking its mark with rapid precision. The wind whistled softly as the blades cut through it.
As he landed gracefully on his feet, his thoughts drifted to his parents. He hadn't allowed himself to think about them too much recently, but now, in the solitude of the forest, they were at the forefront of his mind. His mother would have adored Sarada and doted on her endlessly. The thought brought a strange ache to his chest. She'd been such a kind and loving mother, always encouraging, always there.
His father, on the other hand, had been stern, but Sasuke knew his father would have been proud of Sarada too. She would have been everything he had hoped for in a grandchild…strong, determined, and talented. A part of Sasuke wished they were both still around, to see Sarada grow and flourish. It was bittersweet.
Sasuke wiped the sweat from his forehead, heaving slightly as he took a moment to catch his breath. He walked over to the tree where he had left his water bottle, leaning against the tree as he took a sip. The cool water refreshed him, but his mind was still filled with thoughts of his family that had been dead for years and the family he lost recently.
Sakura.
A memory from his childhood surfaced, one he hadn't thought about in years. He had been out shopping with his mother, and they had passed by Sakura and her parents. He hadn't known who she was at the time, but his mother had pointed her out from afar and called her a "cute girl" and asked if he agreed. Four-year-old Sasuke had wrinkled his nose and replied that he didn't like "girly girls," which made his mother laugh.
His mother would have been surprised to know that years later, that same "girly girl" was the one he ended up marrying…and the one he eventually left.
Sasuke sighed and wiped the back of his hand across his forehead, as he tried to push the thoughts away. He wasn't proud of the way he treated Sakura, but he also couldn't erase the past. All he could do now was keep moving forward.
A rustling sound from the trees caught his attention and pulled him out of his thoughts. He turned his head slightly, his hand instinctively reaching for the kunai at his side. But when he saw who emerged from the trees, he relaxed, though only slightly.
"Kiba," His tone was flat, but he did acknowledge the man at least.
Kiba stepped forward, his hands shoved into his pockets and nodded. "Sasuke," he responded, but Sasuke could tell from the way Kiba eyed him that he was being studied closely.
The silence stretched awkwardly between them, and Sasuke wasn't interested in small talk. He had better things to do than stand around being observed like some rare animal. With a quiet grunt, Sasuke turned to leave.
"Sasuke," Kiba called out suddenly, his voice sharp.
Sasuke stopped and glanced over his shoulder. "What?"
Kiba crossed his arms. "You know I'm Hinata's best friend, right?"
Sasuke blinked, confused. He turned to fully face the male. "And?"
Kiba's posture grew tense, like a dog about to pounce. "Just making sure you know that."
Sasuke realized then what was going on. Kiba felt intimidated by his friendship with Hinata. A small, amused smirk tugged at Sasuke's lips. He decided it was a great opportunity to poke at Kiba's nerves, he took a step forward. "Oh? I'm her favorite best friend."
The reaction was immediate. Kiba frowned, his face twisted in annoyance, but Sasuke was having too much fun to let up.
"Hinata's important to you, I get it," He continued his tone casual but with a hint of smugness. "But between you and me, I'm her real favorite."
Kiba opened his mouth, no doubt to snap back, but before he could, a woman's voice interrupted them.
"Kiba, what the hell? You left me to carry everything. This picnic date was your idea!"
Sasuke looked behind Kiba to see a young woman with brown hair approaching, a picnic basket in one hand and a blanket in the other. Kiba's face flushed with embarrassment, and he quickly grabbed the items from her.
Sasuke tilted his head once he recognized the woman. "Tamaki?"
She smiled at him, though a little surprised. "You remembered me?"
Sasuke nodded. "Your grandmother, Nekobaa, was always kind to me when I was kind. I'm surprised you ended up with Kiba, though."
Who would have thought the cat lady and the dog man would be lovers. Sasuke could hear Kiba huff, but he wasn't paying attention. He gave Tamaki a slight nod before he turned back to Kiba, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Well, I'll leave you to your…picnic. But I should get going. Don't want a certain someone to worry about where her favorite best friend is."
Kiba growled in frustration, his face red with irritation. "You…"
Before he could even finish, Sasuke turned on his heel and walked away, his smirk widened. He wasn't going to see Hinata, but messing with Kiba had been too entertaining to resist. The man acted like a spoiled child sometimes, and it was fun to poke him.
As he made his way back toward the village, the hustle and bustle of Konoha's street grew louder in his ears. The chatter that filled the air pulled Sasuke back to the present.
He briefly wondered if Kiba would tattle on him to Hinata. He chuckled to himself as he tucked his hand into his pocket. But that chuckle immediately left when he felt the stares.
He kept his eyes straight ahead, avoiding contact with countless stares. He could feel them on him, like pinpricks against his skin, those looks of admiration from people who still viewed him as a legendary shinobi, those glances of fear from villagers who still remembered his past, the respectful nods from those who understood what he had sacrificed, and even the occasional gaze of lust from those who believed they knew him.
It was all exhausting. Annoying, even.
Sasuke had never liked attention, especially growing up. Everyone used to fawn over him for being "adorable" "cute" and "cool." As he grew older, the compliments shifted into things like "handsome" and "sexy." But there was envy and hatred from those who resented him for things he couldn't control, his talent, his lineage, his looks. He'd heard it all, and sometimes he wondered if things would have been different if he didn't look the way he did. Would people have left him alone?
He shoved his hand deeper into his pocket as he turned another corner. His mind wandered to Sakura. She has been curious about his love life recently. He figured the question would come eventually. He was surprised it took her so long to ask. He had been mildly amused by the relief on her face when he told her he hadn't dated anyone since their divorce.
It wasn't as if he wasn't interested in romance. That part of his life was done. He didn't regret his relationship with Sakura, they made Sarada, his pride and joy. But dating again? No, that wasn't for him. All that mattered now was focusing on himself and being there for Sarada.
Suddenly a group of kids playing in the street barreled toward him, too distracted to notice where they were going. One of them, a little boy no older than six or seven, collided directly with Sasuke. The boy fell back onto the ground, he stared up at Sasuke with wide, fearful eyes. Sasuke looked down at him. He noticed the nervous faces of the boy's friends standing behind him, clearly intimidated.
Sasuke let out a small sigh, knowing how his face could look to others. He attempted to soften his features as best he could as he crouched slightly to the boy's level. "Are you alright?" He offered his hand to pull the boy up.
The boy hesitated for a moment but eventually took Sasuke's hand and stood to his feet with Sasuke. "I-I'm sorry for not paying attention," the boy stammered, his voice trembling. His friends continued to watch from behind, their eyes still filled with caution.
Before Sasuke could say anything else, he felt a hand slam down on his shoulder. He looked up to see Naruto standing beside him. The stupid grin on his face. Fool.
"Hey, don't be scared!" Naruto said to the children. "Sasuke's a good guy. He just looks a little scary sometimes, but he's my best friend."
The kids, starstruck by the Hokage's presence, visibly relaxed. One by one, they smiled up at Sasuke and gave a quick bow because they scampered off again to play.
Naruto turned him, that grin still plastered on his face. "Man, you're so awkward, it's painful to watch," he teased as he shook his head.
Sasuke felt the urge to roll his eyes, but he knew Naruto was right. If it weren't for Naruto stepping in, those kids would probably still be afraid of him.
Naruto's tone shifted, losing its usual cheerfulness. "I just came from seeing Hinata and Boruto," he sighed. "We're signing the papers tomorrow."
Sasuke could hear the weight in Naruto's words, the defeat that hung heavily between them. He knew how much Naruto loved Hinata. He didn't know how to cheer him up, but he spoke anyway. "It's not like you won't see her again. Maybe…you'll get back together someday."
Naruto gave a weak smile, though it didn't reach his eyes. "I hope so," he murmured. "Things are so awkward between us. I don't even know how long it'll take before I can see her smile at me again."
Sasuke slipped his hand back into his pocket. "Be patient," he said.
Naruto rubbed the back of his neck. "Thanks, Sasuke."
Sasuke nodded, not saying anything. He wondered how Hinata felt when she saw him and if she was doing okay right now.
XXXXXXX
The next day…
Hinata stood before the Hokage's office, her hand raised to know, but she hesitated. Today was the day it would all be official, their divorce. She looked down at the wedding ring still on her finger, her heart ached with the weight of it. With a deep inhale and exhale, she finally knocked. She could hear Naruto's voice from the inside, telling her to come in.
She stepped into the office and immediately noticed Naruto wasn't alone. Shikamaru stood by Naruto's side and a man, unfamiliar to her sat across from Naruto. The man was neatly dressed in a formal suit, his hair slicked back and eyes sharp behind a pair of thin glasses. She assumed he must be the divorce lawyer.
Awkwardly, she glanced at Shikamaru and wondered why he was even there. He must have noticed her look, but he casted her a comforting smile. "I'll give you two the room," he said, offering a small nod of encouragement as he walked past Hinata. When he brushed by, he whispered slowly, "You'll be alright, Hinata."
Hinata nodded, though her body felt like it was on autopilot as she moved to sit across from Naruto. The chair felt too solid beneath her, and she felt herself sinking into it. She could barely get herself to look at Naruto, focused instead on the man beside her, the lawyer. She heard Naruto speaking, his voice directed at the lawyer, asking about the process and details, but his voice was muffled in her ears.
The sound of her own heartbeat drowned everything out as her mind raced, questioning if she really was doing the right thing.
Unconsciously, she fiddled with the ring on her finger. It was the only thing keeping her grounded in the moment.
"Hyuga-san?" The lawyer voice snapped her back to reality.
Startled, she blinked and realized both men were looking at her. "Sorry, what did you say?" she asked, embarrassed.
The lawyer gave her a patient smile. "I was asking about custody. Do you want full custody of the children?"
Her heart clench as she heard Naruto inhale sharply. The question seem to hit both of them harder than expected. Without hesitation, she shook her head. "No. Joint custody," she said, keeping her eyes on the lawyer. "I don't want anything else to change for the kids. I don't want his money or anything else. Just…the divorce."
The lawyer nodded and began explaining the next steps. Hinata barely processed the words as he pulled out the divorce paper and slid them across the desk to Naruto, along with a pen.
She glanced up briefly to see Naruto hesitate. His hand hovered over the paper for a moment before he finally signed. When he raised his head, their eyes nearly met, but Hinata quickly averted her gaze. The lawyer then slid the form to her, along with the same pen.
Hinata stared at it, the paper blurred slightly as her vision grew foggy. Her hand shook as she picked up the pen, the tip hovered over the line. She lowered it towards the paper, but before she could touch the line, she pulled back.
"Hyuga-san, are you okay?" the lawyer asked.
She nodded quickly. "Yes, sorry." She forced herself to focus and signed her name.
The lawyer glanced over the form and gave a small nod. "It's official," he announced. "You're both divorced."
The words hit her like a punch to the gut. Divorced. The silence that followed was suffocating as the lawyer stood to leave. Naruto thanked him for his time, his voice strained as Hinata followed the same sentiments.
Once the lawyer left, they were alone. She took a deep breath and began to twist the ring off slowly. The metal felt heavy as she slid it off her finger, and she gently placed it on his desk. "I…shouldn't keep it," she whispered. "It's beautiful, and I know you made it just for me, but…"
Naruto slid the ring back toward her without hesitation. "Keep it," he said, his voice was gentle.
She finally looked up and met his eyes, sadness, deep and raw, staring back at her despite the smile on his face.
"I can't," she said as she shook her head. "It wouldn't be right."
"I want you to have it. Please."
Hinata stared at the ring for a moment longer, her heart heavy with emotions that confused her. Slowly, she picked it up and slid it into the pocket of her skirt. "Thank you."
She stood. She needed to leave now. "I have a few things I have to attend to. So I will see myself out."
"Okay…" he said.
She turned to leave. Each step toward the door felt heavier and heavier. As soon as she closed the door behind her, her body sagged as she pressed her back against the door. The tears came without warning, flowing freely down her cheeks. She tried to wipe them away, but they kept coming. She hated herself for it. She was supposed to be strong.
Suddenly, the door swung open behind her and before she could react, strong arms wrapped tightly around her. She felt the warmth of Naruto's cheek pressed against the side of her head, and the wetness there told her everything…he was crying, too.
They stood there, back to chest, no words exchanged as he held her in his arms. Nothing needed to be said. The pain and love that lingered between them said everything.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
I know, I know. There weren't any SasuHina moments in this chapter. Though, I tried to throw in a little something with Sasuke taunting Kiba about Hinata for a little fun since I felt this chapter was a bit heavy.
The next chapter will have lots of SasuHina moments just to make up for the lackof in this chapter. Thank you all for the comments. It makes me happy to see you all are enjoying the story! Also, I think I will start adding the timeframe of the beginning of each chapter. That way no one would be confused about the timeline. I added one to this one. I'll be updating in a few days!