EPILOGUE

The expanse of greenery stretched out endlessly in the Uchiha compound. Laughter filled the air as children ran barefoot on the soft grass, their joyous cries a backdrop to the adults' chatter. A soft breeze carried the scent of freshly grilled barbeque and blooming flowers.

Sasuke stood by the grill, his sleeves rolled up, tongs in hand, and a faint scowl on his face. Naruto leaned lazily against the table next to him, a wide grin plastered on his face as he teased endlessly.

"See that?" Naruto said, nodding toward the lawn where his eight-year-old son, Shinji, was cradling a tearful two-year-old Hanami in his arms. The boy gently wiped her tears and whispered something that made the little girl hiccup a laugh.

Sasuke's eyes narrowed.

Naruto leaned in, his grin growing smug. "Looks like being in-laws isn't so far-fetched after all."

He didn't dignify that with a response at first, but when Shinji gently patted Hanami's head and smiled down at her, Sasuke muttered under his breath, "He's too old for her."

Naruto barked a laugh, clapping Sasuke on the back. "You should've stepped up your game! And how about all that confidence you had about your son being older than my daughter… look how that turned out!"

His gaze shifted to his two-year-old son, Haruki, who was happily playing with Naruto's five-year-old daughter, Aiko. Haruki handed Aiko a flower he'd picked, and she gave him a toothy grin, ruffling his hair like an older sibling.

Sasuke's brow twitched. "Your daughter is too old for my son."

Naruto doubled over in laughter, wiping a tear from his eye. "You've got no one to blame but yourself, teme! You were so cocky, thinking you'd win Hinata so easily. Didn't even consider the fact that it was the precious Hyuuga heiress you had your eyes on. You should've known better!" he guffawed.

With a sharp "tch," he turned on his heel, leaving Naruto's cackling behind as he carried the plate of barbeque to the picnic table. Sakura looked up as he set the plate down, her sharp eyes scanning the skewers. Some were blackened to a crisp, others suspiciously pink in the middle.

She raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

Sasuke's expression didn't shift. "Don't look at me. Thank your husband," he said dryly, brushing past her.

He walked over to where Hinata was arranging side dishes, her serene expression softening the moment he approached. Without a word, he leaned down and pressed a tender kiss to her cheek.

Hinata turned to him with a warm and teasing smile. "You smell like barbeque," she said in a light and playful voice.

"I am cooking barbeque," he replied, his tone low but carrying a subtle hint of amusement.

Her quiet laughter danced in the air, and she tilted her head slightly. "Where are the twins?" she asked.

Sasuke glanced over his shoulder, his gaze briefly sweeping the yard. "Haruki's chasing after Naruto's daughter," he said evenly, "and Hanami's with Naruto's son—being… spoiled."

Hinata followed his line of sight and let out a soft chuckle when she saw Hanami giggling in Shinji's lap. "She does love the attention," she murmured with fondness.

His eyes returned to her, their depths momentarily softening. "They're fine," he said simply, as if to reassure her.

Hinata reached up, gently brushing aside the strand of hair that had fallen over his eye. "Thank you for working so hard," she said, her pale lavender eyes holding his.

Sasuke's eyes lingered on his wife's face. The warmth of her gaze, the gentle curve of her smile—it was a sight he would never tire of.

He gave her a small nod, his lips twitching into the barest hint of a smirk, before turning back toward the grill. As he walked away, he caught Naruto's obnoxious winking from across the yard. Sasuke's smirk deepened slightly, a silent challenge in his eyes.

Naruto may have won this round, but Sasuke Uchiha always played the long game.