It was only natural that his uncle had offered to host the oshichiya, they were welcoming a new member of the clan. Still, Neji appreciated it, because his uncle was sparing the child the usual fate of a cadet branch member with no hard feelings. All their friends had been invited, and gathered around them now.
Tenten and Guy were here, Tenten's belly growing big. Lee and Hinata, who were both teammates and family. There was Kakashi and Ayame. Iruka, who had brought Kurenai and her daughter with him. Sai and Ino. And of course Sakura. Shikamaru, Choji, Shino and Kiba with Hanabi. Konohamaru. Yamato and Shizune. Tsunade. Everyone who had shared so many important moments in their lives.
Everyone offered gifts, the meimeisho displayed their son's name.
Kenji Hyuga
They stood by the Kenji's cot, their friends coming in turn to meet him. It made them both immensely proud to contribute a new citizen to the village they loved.
xxx
He couldn't wait to meet Neji and Naruto's child, going with Hinata to see them all.
"Neji! Naruto! You did it!" Lee grinned. "Kenji is incredible. Well done both of you!"
They smiled and thanked him, obviously very proud of their son. Kenji might be small now, but undoubtedly he would grow into a splendid shinobi.
Looking at them and what they had achieved, he felt competitiveness flaring up in him. Yes, Neji and Naruto were his friends and he was very happy for them, but they were also his rivals, and here was another thing they had surpassed him in. He loved the drive they inspired in him, and thought Kenji should have those things too.
"Maybe we should have a baby, Hinata! Kenji will need teammates."
Her eyes went wide and her cheeks flushed with colour.
"Oh, I, umm…"
"Lee," Neji said. "I think Tenten has that covered."
"Oh yes. Twins! There is a three-man team right there." He turned to Hinata again. "Maybe we can wait."
Hinata offered her congratulations too, and then quickly moved aside, because of course there were so many people here who wanted to see the new family too.
xxx
Ever since they were kids, Naruto had been different. Special. Even with the way most people had treated him, Shikamaru had always sensed it, that Naruto was going to go further than any of them. His courage and determination, and sometimes being too dumb to know when to stop, had seen to that.
He stepped up now to meet Naruto's child, a child that should have been impossible, but here he was as living proof of Naruto's unique genius.
"There you go again," he smiled. "Leading the way so the rest of us can't help but follow. He's really something, Naruto."
"Thanks, Shikamaru."
I guess the rest of us need get on with things too. The village needs its next generation.
xxx
"Big brother Naruto!" Konohamaru grinned. Once again his idol had managed to achieve the impossible and he couldn't wait to meet Kenji.
"Konohamaru!" Naruto grinned back, his usual self once again. He'd been a girl for basically a year, totally taking the sexy jutsu to the next level like a boss. "Come meet him. You've gotta be a big brother now."
Konohamaru looked down at the baby, who was cute for sure. He could see both Naruto and Neji in the kid, it was really cool.
"You really did it. He's amazing."
"Yeah. I really wanted him, you know? For me and for Neji. What'd you think, Konohamaru. Think you could do this?"
"Of course I could! But it's not like I need to. I'm gonna marry a girl."
"Oh yeah, I guess that makes sense. Picked one yet?"
"No, I thought I'd try a few out first."
"You're such a perv," Naruto laughed. "Ebisu sensei rubbed off on you."
"Except I'm not all talk," he smirked.
xxx
They brought a gift and offered their formal congratulations, but Tenten had already snuck over to Neji and Naruto's place to see their son. He was a beautiful baby, and she smiled down at him, Guy by her side.
"Good work you two," Guy told the new parents, giving them the thumbs up.
Tenten touched his arm and they shared a smile, knowing they would have their own bundles of joy soon.
xxx
He had spent a lot of time around kids, but now that he was seeing Kurenai and spending a lot of time with Mirai, not as a teacher, more like a parent, he understood things differently. And knowing that Naruto had that now, had made it happen for himself, he couldn't be happier for him or prouder.
With Mirai on his hip and Kurenai by his side, Iruka went to meet Naruto's child.
Looking at the baby, how content he seemed, the obvious resemblance to his parents, it got Iruka for a second. He'd had a front row seat to Naruto's difficult and lonely childhood, but all that was so far behind him now. Neji too. In all the village they'd had two of the toughest childhoods, but in each other, and with each other, they'd overcome it all to become admired and respected leaders.
"Congratulations," he smiled at them both.
xxx
Kakashi had let everyone else take their turn first, content to stand back and watch as so many people offered their genuine and heartfelt well wishes to a little orphan kid that had been crazy enough to make a family of his own that was as unique as he was.
When the group had dispersed, he went to meet them. Naruto was cradling his son, not a natural, but fiercely determined to get it right like with everything he did.
Kakashi couldn't help but smile.
"Well, Naruto, if anyone was going to pull it off, it'd be you. You did good."
"Thanks sensei," he grinned. "Hey, wanna hold him?"
"Oh, umm," Kakashi hesitated, but it was too late, the baby was just suddenly in his arms. He was a beautiful baby, with so much of both his parents in him. He had Neji's eyes, and yellow hair like Naruto and his father.
Can you see him, Minato sensei? You have a grandson.
"Hey there," he said to the baby then looked up at Naruto. "Kenji, huh?"
"Yeah, can't think why I wanted it to begin with a K."
Oh…
Naruto smiled and rubbed his neck.
"I know who my real dad was, but Iruka sensei, Pervy Sage and you were the ones who raised me, you know? I hope I can be here for Kenji like you've been here for me, hehe…"
"Naruto…"
"So just remember that when you and Ayame get around to having kids. I was your kid first. Okay? And you have a grandkid now. Believe it."
Something strong and warm welled up inside him.
"I'll do my best for him, Naruto. I promise."
"I know you will," Naruto smiled. "Because that's what families do."
AN: I named Kenji before I studied Japanese, so I know his name and the connection with Kakashi's name doesn't quite work, but by the time I figured that out Kenji was real to me and I couldn't take his name from him, so please forgive me and just roll with it.