EPILOGUE

The moon hung low over the Hyuuga compound as Hinata stood in the courtyard, her feet bare against the cool stone as her pale lavender eyes traced the faint outlines of the village skyline. It still felt surreal—to be here, to be back, to live again in a world she had once thought lost forever.

Months had passed since her return to the Naruto universe, yet the weight of her journey lingered like the faint shimmer of chakra that now pulsed through her veins. The Codex Dimensio had been the key, but her return wasn't born of choice. In the moment of her deepest despair, when her sister had pushed her and she was sure she had died in her world, it was the real Hinata who had pulled her back. Hinata's voice, her presence, had whispered through the void: Your journey isn't done yet.

A voice cut through her thoughts. "Daydreaming again?"

She turned, her lips curling into a soft smile as Sasuke approached, his footsteps deliberate but unhurried. Even now, his presence commanded attention. The quiet intensity of his gaze, the effortless confidence in his stride. It had been weeks since they had faced a mission together, but the bond they shared had only grown stronger in their quiet moments of reprieve.

"Not daydreaming," she replied, her tone light but tinged with honesty. "Just… thinking about how far we've come."

He stopped a few paces from her, his dark eyes studying her intently. "Do you regret it?"

She shook her head without hesitation. "No. Never. But sometimes I wonder…"

"What?" His voice was softer now, the faintest trace of curiosity slipping through his usual guarded demeanor.

She hesitated, her fingers brushing against the hem of her robe. "If I've truly earned this second chance. If I've done enough to deserve it."

Sasuke's gaze hardened, and he stepped closer, his presence grounding her. "It wasn't about deserving it," he said quietly. "You've fought your way to come back, and the real Hinata saw something in you. She believed in you. And she gave you this chance. That's all that matters."

The sincerity in his words warmed her, chasing away the lingering shadows of doubt. She met his gaze, her resolve strengthening. "You're right," she said softly. "This is where I'm meant to be."

The faintest hint of a smile tugged at his lips, and he reached out, his fingers brushing against hers. It was a small gesture, but one that spoke volumes. They didn't need grand declarations or elaborate promises; their relationship was woven in the quiet moments, in the unspoken understanding that they had chosen each other.

"You don't give yourself enough credit," he murmured, his voice low. "You've done more than enough."

Her heart swelled at his words, but a playful smile crossed her lips. "Coming from you, Sasuke, that almost sounds like a compliment."

His lips quirked upward, a rare but genuine smile gracing his face. "Don't get used to it."

The sound of laughter drifted from the main hall of the compound. Hanabi and Neji were engaged in a playful spar, their movements sharp yet fluid as they danced across the training floor. She watched them for a moment, a pang of nostalgia washing over her. She had chosen to be called Hinata, honoring the real Hinata's belief in her and the new life she had been given. The Hyuuga clan had become her family in more ways than one, their traditions and unity grounding her in this world.

Sasuke followed her gaze. "They've accepted you," he remarked, his tone neutral but carrying a trace of approval.

"Not without challenges," she admitted, her smile faint. "But I think they've come to see me as one of their own."

"You earned their respect," he said simply. "Just like you earned mine."

She tilted her head slightly, a teasing glint in her pale lavender eyes. "Respect? Is that all I earned from you?"

Sasuke exhaled sharply, his gaze steady as he turned to face her fully. "You know that's not all."

Her heart skipped at the weight behind his words, the quiet certainty in them.

He stepped closer, his fingers brushing against her before he intertwined them with her own. "Walk with me."

Hinata held his gaze for a moment before she gave the slightest nod. Without a word, he started walking, and she fell into step beside him. Their hands remained intertwined, neither willing to let go.

The streets of Konoha glowed under the soft light of hanging lanterns, their gentle sway casting flickering shadows along the bustling pathways. The evening market was in full swing, with vendors calling out to passing villagers, their stalls overflowing with colorful wares and the rich aroma of grilled skewers and sweet dumplings.

Children dashed past them, their wooden kunai clacking together as they played, their excitement unrestrained. A few villagers greeted them warmly, offering smiles that felt sincere, familiar. She couldn't help but soak in the warmth of it all; the sense of home, of belonging, settling deep in her chest.

"I've missed this," she admitted, her gaze sweeping over the vibrant scene. "The energy, the connection. It's so different from where I came from."

He glanced at her, his expression unreadable but his tone gentle. "This is your world now."

She smiled, her fingers brushing against his. "And I wouldn't trade it for anything."

As the night deepened, they found themselves at the edge of the festival grounds, where a small clearing overlooked the softly illuminated village. Hinata leaned against the wooden railing, her eyes reflecting the warm glow of lanterns dotting the streets below.

"Do you ever think about what's next?" she asked, her voice soft.

Sasuke joined her, his gaze fixed on the horizon. "Always. But I'm not looking back. I'm looking forward."

His words resonated deeply, and she felt a surge of hope. Their journey had been far from easy, but they had found strength in each other. Together, they were building a future that honored their past while embracing the endless possibilities ahead.

His voice broke the silence. "We should start preparing," he said casually, as though discussing the weather.

She blinked, turning toward him. "Preparing for what?"

He glanced at her, his expression calm but his eyes betraying a hint of amusement. "The wedding. Or do you plan on keeping me waiting forever?"

A flush crept up her cheeks, and she stared at him, caught between shock and laughter. "You could've said something earlier," she muttered, though her lips curved into a smile.

Sasuke shrugged lightly. "I'm saying it now. Isn't that enough?"

Hinata laughed softly, shaking her head. "Only you would propose like this."

His lips curved into a faint smirk, the kind that always left her unsure whether to be exasperated or charmed. "It's part of my charm."

She rolled her eyes, but before she could retort, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small velvet box, flipping it open with the same effortless ease he did everything else. A simple yet elegant ring rested inside, a single diamond set in dark metal.

Her breath caught as she stared at it, her heartbeat hammering in her ears.

"I had this for a while," he admitted, his voice quieter now, his thumb brushing the edge of the box. "I was just waiting for the right moment."

For a moment, she couldn't find her voice. She had never imagined this—Sasuke, offering her something so small yet carrying the weight of everything he couldn't always say out loud.

His gaze remained steady on her. "So… is that a yes?"

Caught off guard, her breath hitched, her heart stuttering in her chest. A warmth spread through her, deep and consuming, as her vision blurred slightly. She barely noticed the way her fingers trembled when she whispered, "Yes, Sasuke. It's a yes."

The faintest hint of satisfaction flickered in his eyes as he took her hand, slipping the ring onto her finger with quiet certainty. "Good. I'd hate to have to convince you."

A soft, breathless laugh escaped her. The kind that came when joy was so big it teetered on the edge of tears. She stared at the ring, blinking away the stinging warmth in her eyes. Her heart felt impossibly full.

"I should make you work harder for it," she murmured, her voice thick with emotion but still laced with teasing. Then, glancing up at him, her smile turned softer, truer. "...but I don't think you ever had to convince me."

As the words left her lips, she found herself gazing at him, truly looking at the man before her. The warm glow of the festival lights softened the sharp lines of his face, but it only enhanced the quiet strength and unspoken tenderness in his expression. He was handsome, so achingly handsome, and she couldn't help but marvel at the fact that this moment, this life, was hers.

Her heart swelled with an overwhelming mixture of gratitude and disbelief. How had she ended up here, with him, building a future she had once thought impossible? She wondered fleetingly if it was even possible to be any happier than she was right now.

Sasuke raised an eyebrow, noticing the way her gaze lingered. "What is it?" he asked, his tone a touch more curious than usual.

She shook her head, a smile spreading across her face as she squeezed his hand gently. "Nothing," she said softly, her pale lavender eyes bright with emotion. "Just thinking how lucky I am."

For a moment, his guarded demeanor softened entirely, his gaze meeting hers with an intensity that made her breath catch. "You're not the only one," he murmured, his voice low but steady, as he lifted her hand and pressed a soft kiss to her knuckles. "I had a dream last night," he said suddenly.

She tilted her head slightly, the warmth in her smile deepening as curiosity flickered in her eyes. "A dream?" she echoed, her voice gentle, inviting. "Was it a good one?"

He didn't answer right away. Instead, his gaze remained fixed on the horizon, lost somewhere between the dream and the present. When he finally spoke, his voice was calm, almost offhanded, yet the weight of his words settled heavily between them. "You were there. And so were our children."

Hinata tensed up and nearly lost her balance, her breath hitching as she looked at him, wide-eyed. "O-our… children?"

He exhaled quietly, unaffected by the way her face had flushed a deep crimson. "I want a lot of them," he said simply, as though discussing a matter as ordinary as tomorrow's plans.

The warmth in her chest tightened, her heart flipping at the sheer ease with which he spoke. Sometimes, his words were so effortlessly devastating that she was left entirely defenseless.

"You—" She cleared her throat, willing her voice to steady. "You've thought about it before?"

"Of course." His tone carried no hesitation. "I always knew I'd rebuild my clan. That hasn't changed."

The night around them seemed to quiet, the distant hum of the village fading as she absorbed his words. She knew how much his clan meant to him, how much rebuilding that legacy had shaped his path. But hearing him include her in that future, speaking of it as something inevitable, made her stomach flutter.

"A-and how many is… a lot?" she asked hesitantly.

Sasuke turned his head, his expression unreadable. Then, with the same unwavering certainty, he answered, "Five."

Hinata choked on air. "Five?!" Her hands instinctively flew to her stomach, as if the sheer thought of it could make it real. "T-that's—Sasuke!"

A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. Genuine, teasing, entirely too self-satisfied. "What? You're strong. You can handle it."

She groaned, covering her face with her hands. She was going to die.

Sasuke chuckled, the deep sound laced with amusement. Before she could protest, he reached out, gently prying her fingers away from her face. His touch was warm, steady, deliberate. He laced his fingers with hers, absently tracing patterns along her skin, as though it was the most natural thing in the world. "I wouldn't mind more," he added, entirely serious. "But five sounds good."

Hinata melted. She wanted to argue. She wanted to tell him how utterly ridiculous he was being. But instead, she squeezed his hand, grounding herself in the steady warmth of his palm. And somehow, she already knew. Five would never be enough.

His smirk deepened as he pulled her closer, his breath warm against her ear. His voice dropped, smooth and deliberate, carrying the weight of unspoken promises. "We should get started on the first one."

Her entire body went rigid before heat rushed up her neck, spreading to the tips of her ears. "S-Sasuke!" she stammered, her hands pressing lightly against his chest, though she made no real effort to move away.

His fingers skimmed her waist, slow and teasing, tracing small circles against the fabric of her yukata. "What?" His tone was dark with amusement. "You agreed to five. I'm just taking initiative."

She groaned softly, torn between embarrassment and exasperation. "W-we haven't even had the wedding yet," she muttered, her gaze dropping, only to find herself acutely aware of how close he was, how effortlessly he made her heart stutter.

"If we're aiming for five," he mused, tilting his head slightly, "we better not waste time."

She swallowed hard, meeting his gaze despite the way her pulse thrummed wildly in her ears. His eyes, deep and unwavering, held a quiet promise, a certainty that sent another wave of warmth through her. She exhaled, her lips parting slightly before curling into a small, hesitant smile.

"…Maybe we should start with one," she whispered.

The shift in Sasuke's expression was slow. Measured, predatory. The glint in his eyes sent a shiver down her spine.

And in that moment, Hinata knew. She had just sealed her fate.

A/N: Okay, that's it! It's official! Both of them are a bit OOC in this story, lol! Well, Hinata has an excuse since she was isekaid, but Sasuke… Sasuke… well… let's just say he ended up becoming sweet, lol. (to her only, of course!)