What If Naruto and Hinata Had Boruto Before the Fourth Great Ninja War?

The twilight bled across Konoha's horizon like spilled ink, shadows stretching long and thin across the village streets. Naruto Uzumaki stood atop the Hokage monument, wind whipping his blonde hair into a frenzy as his blue eyes scanned the village below. Sixteen years old, and already his life had twisted into something unrecognizable.

"Naruto."

He turned. Hinata Hyuga stood there, moonlight casting her in silver, her dark hair dancing in the same restless wind. Her hands trembled slightly as they rested protectively over her abdomen—still flat, still secret.

"I'm here," he said, voice uncharacteristically soft. "I'm not going anywhere."

But they both knew that was a lie. The world was spiraling toward war. Akatsuki was moving. Sasuke was lost. And now, this.

"I'm scared," Hinata whispered, the confession torn from her lips by the wind. "What will Father say? What will everyone think? We're so young and—"

Naruto closed the distance between them in three swift strides, arms encircling her as though he could shield her from the coming storm. "Let them think whatever they want," he said fiercely. "This is our child. Our family."

The word 'family' hung in the air between them, precious and fragile. Naruto had never had one. Hinata's had been a cage. But this—this tiny spark of life growing inside her—this was something entirely new.

"We'll get married," Naruto decided suddenly. "Right away. Before anyone can say anything."

Hinata's pearl eyes widened. "But the elders, the clan, my father—"

"I don't care," Naruto cut in, cerulean eyes blazing with sudden determination. "I love you. I have for longer than I even realized. And I'm going to protect both of you, believe it."

Far below in the darkening village, neither of them noticed the masked figure watching from the shadows, a single red eye gleaming with malicious intent. The pieces were moving, the board rearranging itself. Another variable had entered the grand equation.

Madara Uchiha melted back into darkness, his mind already calculating how to use this unexpected development to his advantage.

The countdown to war had begun.

Dawn broke over Konoha with knife-edge brilliance, cutting through the mist that clung to the village like reluctant ghosts. Inside the modest apartment that had been Naruto's lonely sanctuary for years, four people sat in tense silence.

Tsunade's honey-colored eyes narrowed as she took in the two teenagers sitting across from her. "You're absolutely certain about this?"

"Yes," Naruto and Hinata answered in unison, hands clasped so tightly their knuckles had gone white.

Shizune fidgeted uncomfortably beside the Fifth Hokage. "Lady Tsunade, the political ramifications alone—"

"I'm aware," Tsunade snapped, then sighed heavily. "The Hyuga clan will be furious. The village elders will call for my head. And with war looming on the horizon..." She trailed off, eyes flicking to Naruto's stomach, where the seal of the Nine-Tails lurked. "Your child will be a target from the moment they draw breath."

Naruto's jaw set stubbornly. "I've been a target my entire life. I know how to protect what's precious to me."

"And I'm not as weak as everyone thinks," Hinata added quietly, a steel in her voice that made Tsunade raise an eyebrow.

For a long moment, the Hokage said nothing. Then she reached for a scroll and brush. "Very well. As of this moment, you two are legally married under my authority as Hokage." Her brush moved in swift, decisive strokes. "We'll keep this classified as an S-rank secret. No public ceremony, no announcements. Only those in this room will know."

Relief flooded Naruto's face, but confusion quickly followed. "But what about when the baby comes? We can't exactly hide that."

Tsunade's expression hardened. "By then, we may be at war. And in war..." She let the implication hang heavy in the air. In war, normal rules bent. In war, unexpected things happened. In war, people died and were born with little ceremony.

"What about my clan?" Hinata asked, voice barely above a whisper.

"We'll deal with Hiashi when we must," Tsunade replied. "For now, Hinata, you'll continue living at the Hyuga compound. Naruto, you'll maintain appearances as though nothing has changed. Your training with Kakashi and Yamato regarding the Nine-Tails must continue—perhaps with even greater urgency now."

Shizune stepped forward, medical scroll in hand. "I've prepared a special seal that will help mask the pregnancy's chakra signature. It won't work forever, but it should buy us a few months."

Outside, a sudden thunderclap shook the windows. Rain began to fall, battering against the glass with surprising violence. Inside, four people looked at each other, each carrying the weight of secrets that could shatter the fragile peace they all fought to maintain.

"One last thing," Tsunade said, eyes locking with Naruto's. "The Nine-Tails. Have you told it?"

Naruto's hand unconsciously moved to his stomach. "No, but... it probably knows. It sees everything I see, feels everything I feel."

"And if the seal weakens during childbirth, as it did with your mother?"

A flash of naked fear crossed Naruto's face—not for himself, but for Hinata. "I won't let that happen."

Lightning split the sky outside, illuminating the determination etched into every line of his face. In that moment, with that expression, he looked startlingly like the Fourth Hokage.

Tsunade saw it too. Her expression softened fractionally. "Your parents would be proud, Naruto. Terrified for you, but proud."

For the first time since entering the room, Naruto smiled—that brilliant, sun-breaking-through-clouds smile that had the power to change hearts and minds. "We're going to be a family," he said, squeezing Hinata's hand. "A real one."

What none of them realized was that their conversation had not gone unheard. Outside, perched in the driving rain, a small ink mouse observed everything before dissolving into a black puddle that quickly washed away.

Miles away, Sai blinked as the information flowed into his consciousness. His face remained impassive as always, but his hand paused over the report he was meant to be writing for Danzo.

For the first time in his life, Sai hesitated.

The mouse's observations never made it into his report.

Hinata moved through the Hyuga compound like a ghost, her steps silent, her presence barely registering to the guards and family members she passed. She had always been good at being invisible—a skill born of necessity in a household where drawing attention often meant drawing criticism.

Now that skill was saving her from scrutiny.

Two months had passed since the secret ceremony in Naruto's apartment. Two months of stolen moments, of whispered conversations in shadowed corners, of coded messages passed through trusted friends.

Her morning sickness had been violent but mercifully brief. The seal Shizune had placed just below her navel—invisible to normal sight but a burning presence against her chakra network—seemed to be working. No one had noticed the subtle changes in her body, the slight fullness to her face, the careful way she now moved.

No one except her sister.

"You're different," Hanabi said bluntly, cornering Hinata in the garden one evening. At twelve years old, Hanabi was already showing signs of the formidable woman she would become—perceptive, direct, uncompromising.

Hinata's heart stuttered. "What do you mean?"

Hanabi's pale eyes—so like her own—narrowed slightly. "You smile more. When you think no one's looking. And you're training differently. Protecting your center." Her gaze dropped pointedly to Hinata's midsection. "Is it Naruto's?"

The world seemed to tilt beneath Hinata's feet. "Hanabi, please—"

"I won't tell Father," her sister said quickly. "I'm not stupid. I know what would happen."

Relief made Hinata's knees weak. She sank onto a nearby stone bench, cherry blossoms drifting down around them like pink snow. "How did you know?"

A rare smile tugged at Hanabi's lips. "Because I'm the only one who really sees you, sister." She sat down beside Hinata, suddenly looking her age rather than the miniature adult she usually presented. "Is it true? Are you and Naruto actually married?"

Hinata twisted the simple ring she wore on a chain beneath her clothes. "Yes. Lady Tsunade performed the ceremony herself."

Hanabi was silent for a long moment. Then: "I want to be the aunt who teaches your baby all the cool jutsu Father never let us learn."

Tears sprang to Hinata's eyes. She pulled her sister into a fierce hug, cherry blossoms caught between them. "Thank you," she whispered. "Thank you for seeing me."

That night, as Hinata lay in bed, hands curled protectively around the small, secret life within her, a tap came at her window. She activated her Byakugan instantly, then relaxed, sliding the panel open.

Naruto climbed in, rain-soaked and grinning. "Hey," he whispered, kissing her quickly. "I can't stay long. Kakashi-sensei has us running drills all night—preparation for..."

He didn't need to finish. For the coming war. The threat that hung over them all like a guillotine blade.

"Hanabi knows," Hinata said quietly.

Alarm flashed across Naruto's face.

"It's okay," she added quickly. "She's on our side. She won't tell anyone."

Naruto relaxed fractionally, then reached out to place a gentle hand on Hinata's stomach. "How's our little one doing?"

"Growing strong," she replied, covering his hand with hers. "I can feel their chakra now. It's... bright. Like yours."

Pride and wonder transformed Naruto's face. For a moment, they weren't two teenage shinobi standing in the crosshairs of history. They were just two young parents, marveling at the miracle they'd created.

The moment shattered as a distant explosion rocked the village. Naruto's head snapped up, eyes instantly alert. "That came from the border."

"Go," Hinata said immediately, Byakugan activating. "I'll be fine."

He hesitated for only a heartbeat before nodding sharply. "I'll come back as soon as I can."

Then he was gone, a yellow and orange blur leaping across rooftops toward the disturbance. Hinata watched him until he disappeared from even her enhanced sight.

Her hands returned to her stomach. "Your father is going to save the world," she whispered to the life growing inside her. "And we're going to help him do it."

Outside, the rain turned to hail, pounding against the Hyuga compound with increasing fury. A storm was coming. More than one.

Four months. Four months of secrets and stolen moments. Four months of Naruto's training intensifying to brutal levels as Kakashi and Yamato pushed him to master the Nine-Tails' power. Four months of Hinata crafting increasingly elaborate genjutsu—with Kurenai's careful guidance—to conceal her growing belly.

Four months of war preparations accelerating across all five great nations.

The breaking point came on a sweltering summer afternoon.

"Hinata Hyuga, you will explain yourself immediately."

Hiashi Hyuga's voice cut through the training ground like a blade, causing every head to turn. Hinata froze mid-strike, the gentle fist stance she'd been practicing collapsing as her father's imposing figure appeared at the edge of the field.

Kiba, who had been sparring with her, stepped protectively closer. "Lord Hiashi, we're in the middle of team training—"

"Silence." Hiashi's command wasn't loud, but it carried such authority that even Kurenai straightened to attention. "My daughter's genjutsu may fool civilian eyes, but it cannot deceive the Byakugan." His pale eyes bored into Hinata. "Did you think I wouldn't notice? The fluctuations in your chakra? The way you protect your center during training?"

Hinata's blood ran cold. Around her, confusion bloomed on her teammates' faces—all except Kurenai, whose crimson eyes reflected grim understanding.

"Father, please," Hinata began, voice barely audible. "I can explain—"

"You will return to the compound immediately," Hiashi interrupted. "The elders are waiting."

The implications hit Hinata like a physical blow. The elders. A tribunal. Judgment.

"No."

The word hung in the air, surprising everyone—including Hinata herself. She hadn't meant to speak, hadn't planned this confrontation, but now that it had begun, she found unexpected strength flowing through her veins.

"What did you say?" Hiashi's voice dropped dangerously.

Hinata straightened, one hand moving protectively to her stomach. The genjutsu fell away, revealing what she had been hiding for months. Gasps echoed across the training ground.

"I said no, Father. I will not be judged by the elders. I have done nothing wrong."

Hiashi's face could have been carved from stone. "Nothing wrong? You have disgraced our clan. Compromised your position as heir. Who is responsible for this? Who has dishonored my daughter?"

"No one has dishonored me," Hinata replied, her voice gaining strength with each word. "I made my own choices. And I'm married, Father."

This revelation sent a new shock wave through the onlookers. Kiba's jaw literally dropped. Shino's insects buzzed agitatedly. Kurenai closed her eyes briefly, as though bracing for impact.

"Married?" Hiashi repeated, disbelief coloring his tone. "Without the clan's permission? Without my blessing? Impossible. You speak nonsense."

"It's true," came a new voice—one that sent simultaneous relief and panic coursing through Hinata's body.

Naruto stepped into the clearing, Kakashi close behind him. The blonde shinobi's face was set with unusual seriousness as he moved to stand beside Hinata.

"Lord Hiashi," Naruto said, bowing formally—a gesture so uncharacteristic it momentarily stunned everyone present. "I am responsible. Hinata is my wife, and that is our child she carries. I'm sorry for the secrecy, but I'm not sorry for loving your daughter."

The silence that followed was absolute. Even the birds seemed to hold their breath.

Then Hiashi did something entirely unexpected. He laughed—a short, bitter sound devoid of humor. "The Nine-Tails jinchuriki. Of course. The dead-last orphan boy. This is who you chose over your duties to your clan?"

Every word was calculated to wound, to diminish. But instead of shrinking as she once might have, Hinata reached out and took Naruto's hand.

"Yes," she said simply. "I chose love over duty. I chose Naruto. I always will."

Something dangerous flashed in Hiashi's eyes. His stance shifted subtly—a movement any Hyuga would recognize as the precursor to attack.

Faster than thought, Kakashi was between them, his single visible eye crinkled in what appeared to be a friendly smile but was anything but. "Now, now, Lord Hiashi. Let's not do anything we'll all regret. This is a family matter, certainly, but it's also a village matter. The Hokage has already recognized their union."

Hiashi's eyes widened fractionally. "Tsunade approved this... this travesty?"

"Enthusiastically," Kakashi lied smoothly. "In fact, she'd be quite disappointed to learn of any... unpleasantness directed at the young couple."

Tension crackled in the air like lightning before a storm. For several heartbeats, no one moved.

Then Kurenai stepped forward. "Perhaps we should continue this discussion somewhere more private. For Hinata's sake, if nothing else."

The mention of his daughter's welfare seemed to penetrate Hiashi's anger. He looked at Hinata—really looked at her—and for the briefest moment, something like concern flashed across his austere features.

"Very well," he said finally. "We will speak at the compound. All of us." His gaze swept across Naruto, Kakashi, and Kurenai. "This matter is far from resolved."

As they walked toward the Hyuga estate—Naruto refusing to release Hinata's hand despite the stares they attracted—Hinata whispered, "How did you know to come?"

"Kakashi-sensei got word from one of Sai's ink birds. He said it was urgent." Naruto squeezed her hand. "Are you okay? Is the baby—"

"We're fine," Hinata assured him, though her heart was pounding so hard she wondered if the baby could feel it.

Behind them, Kakashi and Kurenai exchanged worried glances. "I've sent word to Lady Tsunade," Kakashi murmured. "But she's in meetings with envoys from the Sand all day."

"This could tear the village apart at the worst possible time," Kurenai replied quietly. "The Hyuga clan wields enormous influence. If they turn against Naruto now, when we need unity most..."

Kakashi's eye curved into a grimmer version of his usual smile. "Then I suppose we'll just have to make sure that doesn't happen."

Ahead of them, the imposing gates of the Hyuga compound loomed. As they stepped through, Hinata felt a chill run down her spine that had nothing to do with the weather.

Inside, seated in the formal reception hall with the clan elders arrayed behind him like vultures, Hiashi Hyuga looked less like a father and more like a judge about to pass sentence.

"Explain," he commanded once they were all seated. "Everything."

And so they did—Hinata finding her voice, Naruto tempering his usual exuberance with unexpected eloquence, Kakashi and Kurenai providing context and support. They spoke of love and commitment, of the Hokage's blessing, of their plans for the future.

What they didn't mention was the war brewing on the horizon. The target already on Naruto's back. The dangers their child would face simply by virtue of its parentage.

Some truths were too heavy for even this moment.

When they finished, silence reigned. The elders whispered among themselves, faces grave. Hiashi's expression remained unreadable.

Finally, he spoke. "You have broken with tradition. Defied our clan's customs. Acted without consideration for the consequences." His gaze shifted from Hinata to Naruto. "But what's done is done. The child you carry is Hyuga by blood, regardless of its father."

One of the elders leaned forward. "Lord Hiashi, surely you're not suggesting we accept this union? The boy is—"

"I know exactly what he is," Hiashi interrupted coldly. "As do you all. And that is precisely why we must proceed with caution."

The atmosphere in the room shifted subtly. Naruto tensed, sensing the change.

"The Nine-Tails' power, combined with the Byakugan's potential..." Another elder murmured, almost to himself. "The child could be..."

"A valuable asset to the clan," a third elder finished, not bothering to disguise the calculation in her voice.

Naruto's grip on Hinata's hand tightened painfully. "Our baby isn't an 'asset,'" he growled, a hint of the Nine-Tails' rage coloring his voice. "And they won't be branded with that cage seal either."

The temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees. Hiashi's eyes narrowed dangerously. "You presume to dictate Hyuga clan matters, boy?"

"When it comes to my child? Yes," Naruto replied without hesitation. "I know what it's like to be seen as a weapon instead of a person. I won't let that happen to our baby."

The standoff might have escalated further if not for the sudden arrival of an ANBU operative, materializing in the center of the room with urgent purpose.

"Forgive the interruption," the masked figure said, addressing Kakashi rather than Hiashi—a telling choice. "But your presence is required immediately. All of you. The Hokage's orders."

Relief and concern warred on Kakashi's face. "What's happened?"

The ANBU's mask tilted slightly toward Naruto. "It's Sasuke Uchiha. He's been spotted near the village border. With Akatsuki."

The world seemed to stop for Naruto. Sasuke. Here. Now.

As if in response to his emotions, Hinata gasped suddenly, her free hand flying to her stomach.

"Hinata?" Naruto turned to her, previous conversation forgotten. "What's wrong?"

She looked up at him, eyes wide with wonder rather than pain. "He kicked," she whispered. "For the first time. He kicked right when they said Sasuke's name."

For a suspended moment, the looming war, the clan politics, even Sasuke's return—all of it faded to background noise as Naruto placed his hand on Hinata's rounded belly. Beneath his palm, he felt it—the definitive proof of the new life they'd created. A tiny foot or hand, pushing against his touch.

"Hey there, little guy," he murmured, tears springing to his eyes. "Are you trying to tell me something?"

The ANBU shifted uncomfortably. "Uzumaki. We must go. Now."

Reality crashed back. Naruto looked up at Hiashi and the elders, then to Kakashi, torn between responsibilities.

"Go," Hinata said softly. "I'll be fine here."

But Naruto shook his head, suddenly decisive. "No. We're a family now. Where I go, you go. Where you go, I go." He turned to Hiashi. "Lord Hiashi, I swear on my life I'll protect Hinata and our child. But this conversation isn't over—it's just postponed."

Before anyone could object, he had scooped Hinata into his arms and followed the ANBU out the door, Kakashi and Kurenai close behind.

Left in the suddenly empty hall, Hiashi Hyuga closed his eyes briefly.

"Lord Hiashi?" one of the elders prompted. "What are your orders regarding this... situation?"

Hiashi opened his eyes, the Byakugan activating with cold purpose. "Gather the clan council. Immediately. There are preparations to be made."

Outside, thunder rolled across the sky as storm clouds gathered once more over Konoha.

"Put me down, Naruto. I can walk."

Hinata's gentle admonishment finally penetrated Naruto's focused determination as they reached the Hokage tower. He blinked, then carefully set her on her feet, though his hand remained protectively at her back.

"Sorry, I just—" He ran his free hand through his spiky hair. "Everything's happening at once."

Kakashi placed a steadying hand on his student's shoulder. "Focus, Naruto. One thing at a time. First, we find out what's going on with Sasuke."

The ANBU led them not to the Hokage's office as expected, but to a secure briefing room two levels below. Inside, they found Tsunade standing before a large map, Shikamaru Nara and several jōnin clustered around her. The atmosphere was tense, charged with purpose.

"Good, you're here," Tsunade said without preamble. Her sharp gaze took in Hinata's evident pregnancy with a raised eyebrow but no comment. "Thirty minutes ago, our border sensors detected a significant chakra disturbance. Sasuke Uchiha and a small team crossed into Fire Country territory near the Valley of the End."

Naruto's heart rate accelerated. "Is he... is he coming to attack the village?"

Shikamaru shook his head. "That doesn't appear to be his objective. Based on their movement patterns, they're tracking something—or someone."

"Or leading us into a trap," one of the jōnin suggested grimly.

Tsunade's honey-colored eyes narrowed. "That's what we need to determine. I'm dispatching a reconnaissance team to observe and report back. Under no circumstances are you to engage unless absolutely necessary."

Naruto stepped forward. "I'm going."

"No." Tsunade's refusal was immediate and absolute. "You're exactly what they want, Naruto. The Nine-Tails. This could very well be Akatsuki's attempt to lure you out."

"But it's Sasuke," Naruto protested, a familiar desperation edging into his voice. "If anyone can reach him, it's me. I promised Sakura—"

"And what about your other promises?" Tsunade cut in sharply, her gaze flicking meaningfully toward Hinata. "What about your responsibilities here?"

The question landed like a physical blow. Naruto fell silent, conflict evident in every line of his body.

Hinata stepped forward, her hand finding Naruto's. "Lady Tsunade, I understand your concerns. But if there's even a chance Naruto could bring Sasuke back—end this part of the conflict before the war truly begins..."

Tsunade studied the young Hyuga with new respect. "You would risk your husband? The father of your child?"

"I would trust him," Hinata corrected quietly. "As I always have. Naruto never breaks his promises. He'll come back to us."

The certainty in her voice seemed to shift something in the room. Shikamaru sighed in that put-upon way of his, but there was a hint of a smile on his face. Kakashi's visible eye crinkled slightly.

Tsunade held out for a moment longer before throwing her hands up in exasperation. "Fine. But you don't go alone, Naruto. Kakashi, Yamato, and Sai will accompany you. And you will follow their lead—no solo heroics, understood?"

Relief and determination transformed Naruto's expression. "Understood, Granny Tsunade!"

The Hokage's eye twitched at the nickname but she let it pass. "Depart in thirty minutes. Shikamaru will brief you on the exact coordinates and what we know of Sasuke's companions."

As the meeting broke up, Naruto turned to Hinata, cupping her face in his hands. "Thank you," he said simply. "For believing in me."

She smiled up at him, brave despite the fear lurking behind her pale eyes. "Always."

He kissed her then—quick but fierce, heedless of the others in the room. "I'll be back before you know it. Take care of our little one."

"Boruto," Hinata said suddenly.

Naruto blinked. "What?"

"Boruto," she repeated, a gentle smile lighting her face. "For his name. It came to me just now. Boruto Uzumaki."

Wonder spread across Naruto's features. "Boruto," he tested the name, grinning broadly. "I like it! It's like my name and Neji's combined."

"And your father's," Hinata added softly. "Bolt, like lightning. Because he'll be as quick and bright as his father and grandfather."

Emotions too complex for words welled up in Naruto's chest. He knelt suddenly, pressing his forehead against Hinata's rounded belly. "Hey there, Boruto," he whispered. "Your dad's going to bring your Uncle Sasuke home. And then I'm coming right back to you and your mom. That's a promise."

Above him, unnoticed, Tsunade and Kakashi exchanged worried glances. Promises were powerful things—and dangerous ones for a shinobi to make.

Naruto leapt through the trees, chakra propelling him forward at speeds that made the forest blur around him. Ahead, Kakashi led the way, with Yamato and Sai flanking their formation. They had been traveling for hours, following the faint chakra trail that Sasuke's team had left behind—whether deliberately or carelessly, they couldn't be sure.

"We're getting close," Kakashi called back. "The trail's fresher here."

Naruto nodded, senses heightened by both urgency and the Nine-Tails' power simmering just beneath his skin. He could almost smell Sasuke—that distinctive chakra signature that had once been as familiar to him as his own.

"Remember the plan," Yamato reminded him. "Observation only. We need to determine Sasuke's objective before making any moves."

"I know, I know," Naruto replied impatiently. "But if I get a chance to talk to him—"

"You'll take it," Sai finished for him, expression neutral as always. "Because that's who you are."

Before Naruto could respond, Kakashi held up a hand, signaling an immediate halt. They froze in place, chakra signatures dampened to near invisibility.

Below them, in a small clearing, stood four figures.

Sasuke Uchiha, taller than Naruto remembered, dressed in black and purple, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. Behind him, a massive figure with orange hair, a lean man with sharp teeth and a massive blade, and a red-haired woman adjusting her glasses with nervous energy.

"They've stopped moving," the woman was saying. "Either they've realized we're tracking them, or—"

"They've reached their destination," Sasuke finished, voice cold and flat. "How many, Karin?"

The woman—Karin—closed her eyes in concentration. "Six... no, seven chakra signatures ahead. One is massive—bijuu level."

Naruto's breath caught. Bijuu level? Another jinchūriki?

"Perfect," Sasuke said. "Suigetsu, Jūgo, get ready. We move in five minutes."

The sharp-toothed man—Suigetsu—grinned wickedly. "Finally. Some action."

In their hidden observation post, Kakashi signaled for a retreat. Once they were safely out of earshot, he turned to the team. "This changes things. If there's another jinchūriki ahead, and Sasuke is tracking them for Akatsuki..."

"We can't let that happen," Naruto finished grimly. "We have to stop him."

"Or," Yamato suggested carefully, "we need to warn the jinchūriki. Get them to safety before Sasuke reaches them."

Sai's brow furrowed slightly. "If this jinchūriki isn't from the Leaf, why would they trust us? For all we know, they're already working with Akatsuki."

Naruto shook his head emphatically. "No way. No jinchūriki would willingly work with the people hunting us. Trust me on this."

Kakashi considered for a moment. "Naruto's right. We need to attempt contact. Sai, send one of your ink beasts ahead—see if you can get a visual on this other jinchūriki."

Sai nodded, brush already moving across his scroll. Moments later, a small ink bird took flight, disappearing into the deepening dusk.

"What about Sasuke?" Naruto pressed. "This could be our chance to reach him—to show him he's being used."

"One problem at a time," Kakashi counseled, though his visible eye reflected understanding. "First, we identify the jinchūriki and Sasuke's objective. Then we'll decide how to proceed."

They didn't have to wait long. Barely ten minutes later, Sai straightened suddenly as information flowed back from his ink creation. His normally impassive face registered genuine surprise.

"It's the Six-Tails jinchūriki," he reported. "Utakata, from the Hidden Mist. He appears to be injured, traveling with a young girl. They're being pursued by Hunter-nin from their own village as well as Sasuke's team."

"The Mist is hunting their own jinchūriki?" Yamato frowned. "That doesn't make sense unless..."

"Unless they're working with Akatsuki," Kakashi finished grimly. "The political situation is even more complicated than we thought."

Naruto's fists clenched. "Politics doesn't matter right now! There's a jinchūriki out there who needs our help, and my best friend is about to make the biggest mistake of his life helping the people who want us both dead!"

For once, none of his teammates corrected his outburst. Instead, Kakashi nodded slowly. "You're right, Naruto. Sometimes the simplest path is the right one." He pulled up his headband, revealing the Sharingan eye that usually remained hidden. "New plan. Yamato and Sai, you intercept the Mist Hunter-nin—delay them any way you can. Naruto and I will go after Sasuke and try to reach the jinchūriki first."

"What if Sasuke won't listen?" Sai asked, his bluntness both his greatest flaw and strength.

Naruto's blue eyes hardened with resolve. "He'll listen. Even if I have to beat sense into him first."

The memory of their last battle at the Valley of the End flashed through his mind—rain and blood and broken promises. But things were different now. He was different. He had even more to fight for.

"Let's move," Kakashi ordered, and the team scattered into the gathering darkness.

Back in Konoha, Hinata sat in Naruto's apartment, hands folded protectively over her stomach. She had refused to return to the Hyuga compound after the confrontation with her father. Instead, Kurenai had escorted her here, promising to return with supplies and news.

The small space that had once seemed so empty and sad to her now felt like the closest thing to a true home she'd ever known. Naruto's presence lingered in every corner—his half-eaten cup ramen on the counter, his training gear tossed haphazardly across a chair, the slightly wilted plant he diligently watered despite his frequent absences.

A gentle kick from within reminded her that she wasn't truly alone, even now.

"I know," she murmured, rubbing small circles over the spot where Boruto had just made his presence known. "Your father will be back soon. He always keeps his promises."

A soft knock at the door interrupted her thoughts. Byakugan activating instinctively, Hinata relaxed when she recognized the chakra signature. "Come in, Sakura."

The pink-haired kunoichi entered, arms laden with medical supplies and what appeared to be food containers. Her green eyes widened slightly at the sight of Hinata's visible pregnancy—evidently, news traveled fast in Konoha, but seeing was still believing.

"Lady Tsunade sent me to check on you," Sakura explained, setting her burdens down on the small kitchen table. "And... I wanted to see for myself."

A flicker of awkwardness passed between them. Though they had always been friendly, there had also always been Sakura's feelings for Naruto—feelings that had grown more evident as they'd matured. Feelings that Hinata had never confronted her about, out of both shyness and compassion.

"Thank you for coming," Hinata said softly. "I'm fine, really. The baby too."

Sakura's professional demeanor took over as she began unpacking her medical kit. "I'll be the judge of that. Lady Tsunade says you've been using a concealment jutsu for months. That could put strain on both your chakra network and the baby."

As Sakura's chakra-infused hands moved expertly over Hinata's abdomen, the tension between them gradually eased. This was familiar territory for both of them—the business of healing, of caring.

"He's strong," Sakura commented with professional approval. "Good chakra development. Healthy size." Her voice softened. "Have you chosen a name?"

"Boruto," Hinata replied, unable to keep the pride from her voice. "It was... it just felt right."

Sakura's hands paused momentarily before resuming their examination. "Bolt. Like lightning." A small, sad smile touched her lips. "It suits Naruto's son."

The acknowledgment—so simple yet meaningful—broke something open between them.

"I'm sorry we didn't tell you," Hinata said quietly. "It all happened so fast, and then the secrecy became necessary, and—"

"It's okay," Sakura interrupted, though her eyes betrayed the hurt beneath her words. "I understand why you kept it quiet. The political implications alone..." She trailed off, then squared her shoulders. "What matters is that you're both happy. And that this little one comes into the world safely."

Hinata reached out impulsively, taking Sakura's hand. "I want you to be his godmother."

Surprise flashed across Sakura's face, followed swiftly by tears. "Hinata, you don't have to—"

"I want to," Hinata insisted. "You're important to Naruto. You've always been there for him, even when I couldn't be. And there's no one I'd trust more with our child's well-being."

The simple truth of the statement hung in the air between them. After a moment, Sakura squeezed Hinata's hand in return.

"I'd be honored," she said, voice thick with emotion. Then, with visible effort, she composed herself and returned to her examination. "Now, let's make sure you're both in perfect health when those knuckleheads get back from their mission."

Outside the window, the first raindrops of another summer storm began to fall, pattering against the glass like distant shuriken.

Miles away, Naruto and Kakashi raced through the forest, closing in on their targets. The rain made tracking by scent difficult, but they had something better—Naruto's unique ability to sense negative emotions, enhanced by his connection to the Nine-Tails.

"There!" Naruto shouted over the increasing downpour. "Two o'clock, about half a kilometer ahead!"

Kakashi nodded, conserving his breath for the pursuit. They altered course slightly, pushing even more chakra into their leaps.

The scene they burst upon minutes later was chaos incarnate.

In a rain-lashed clearing, Sasuke and his team had indeed found their quarry. The Six-Tails jinchūriki—a slender man with dark hair—stood protectively in front of a young girl no older than twelve. His arm was bleeding heavily, and his breathing was labored, but his eyes burned with defiance.

Surrounding them in a loose semicircle were Sasuke and his three companions, weapons drawn.

"Enough running, Utakata," Sasuke was saying, voice carrying despite the rain. "Surrender the Six-Tails, and the girl can go free."

"Like I'd believe Akatsuki's promises," the jinchūriki spat back. "Touch Hotaru, and I'll level this entire forest—even if it costs me my life."

The standoff might have continued, but the sudden arrival of Naruto and Kakashi changed the equation dramatically.

"Sasuke!" Naruto's voice cracked like thunder across the clearing.

All heads turned. For a heartbeat, time seemed suspended as blue eyes locked with mismatched black and purple.

"Naruto." Sasuke's tone was flat, emotionless, yet something flickered in his gaze—recognition, memory, perhaps even the ghost of their former bond. "Always showing up where you're not wanted."

"Funny, I was about to say the same to you," Naruto shot back, stepping forward. Rain plastered his blonde hair to his forehead, running in rivulets down his determined face. "What are you doing, Sasuke? Working with Akatsuki? The same people who are hunting me?"

A flash of confusion crossed the faces of Sasuke's teammates, but Sasuke himself remained impassive. "My goals temporarily align with theirs. Nothing more."

"They're using you," Naruto pressed. "Just like Orochimaru did. Just like—"

"Enough!" Sasuke's voice cracked with rare emotion. "You know nothing about my path, Naruto. Nothing about what I need to do."

Behind them, Kakashi had moved closer to Utakata and the girl, his stance clearly protective. The Six-Tails jinchūriki regarded him with wary hope.

"Leaf shinobi?" he questioned quietly.

Kakashi nodded once. "We're not here for you or the Six-Tails. We're here for him." He tilted his head toward Sasuke.

Understanding dawned in Utakata's eyes. "Another jinchūriki," he murmured, gaze shifting to Naruto.

Meanwhile, tension continued to build between the former teammates.

"Come home, Sasuke," Naruto said, voice dropping to something almost like pleading. "The village needs you. I need you. There's a war coming, and—"

"I don't care about the village's wars," Sasuke interrupted coldly. "My only concern is avenging my clan. Itachi will die by my hand. Nothing else matters."

Naruto's fists clenched at his sides. "Everything else matters! Your friends matter! Your future matters! My son matters!"

The words escaped before he could consider them, raw and honest and desperate.

Sasuke blinked, genuine surprise breaking through his carefully maintained mask. "Your... what?"

Even Kakashi looked startled by Naruto's outburst. This hadn't been part of the plan.

But Naruto was beyond plans now. He took another step forward, rain streaming down his face, mingling with tears he didn't bother to hide. "Hinata's pregnant. We're married. I'm going to be a father, Sasuke. And I want—I need—my best friend there. I need you to be part of my son's life."

The revelation landed like a lightning strike in the clearing. Sasuke's teammates exchanged bewildered glances. Utakata's gaze sharpened with new interest. The young girl—Hotaru—gasped softly.

Sasuke himself stood frozen, a kaleidoscope of emotions flickering across his face too quickly to read. "You're lying," he said finally, but there was no conviction behind the words.

"You know I'm not," Naruto replied simply. "You've always known when I'm telling the truth."

For a suspended moment, it seemed like the walls Sasuke had built might actually crumble. Something ancient and true passed between them—the bond they had forged as children, as rivals, as brothers in all but blood.

Then Karin gasped sharply. "Company!" she hissed. "A lot of it—from the east!"

The moment shattered. Sasuke's expression hardened once more. "The Mist Hunter-nin. Earlier than expected." He glanced at Naruto, then at Utakata. "This isn't over."

Before Naruto could move to stop him, Sasuke gave a sharp signal to his team. "We're leaving. Now."

"What about the Six-Tails?" Suigetsu demanded, gesturing with his massive blade.

"Another time," Sasuke replied, already turning away. His eyes met Naruto's one last time. "Congratulations on your impending fatherhood, dead-last. Try not to get yourself killed before the kid is born."

With that parting shot—delivering more emotion than he probably intended—Sasuke and his team vanished into the storm-lashed forest.

Naruto moved to pursue them, but Kakashi's hand on his shoulder stopped him. "Let him go," the jōnin advised quietly. "He heard you, Naruto. That's enough for now."

Frustrated tears mingled with the rain on Naruto's face. "It's not enough! He's still out there, still being used!"

"But he's thinking," Kakashi pointed out. "You planted a seed. Sometimes that's all we can do." He nodded toward Utakata and Hotaru. "Besides, we have more immediate concerns."

The injured jinchūriki was swaying on his feet, the girl supporting as much of his weight as her small frame could manage. "The Hunter-nin," he muttered. "They won't stop. Not until they have the Six-Tails."

"They'll have to go through us first," Naruto declared, pushing aside his disappointment over Sasuke to focus on the new priority.

In the distance, they could hear the sounds of combat—Yamato and Sai engaging the approaching Mist forces, buying them precious time.

"We need to move," Kakashi decided. "All of us. Back to Konoha, where we can protect you properly."

Utakata's eyes narrowed with suspicion. "So your village can use the Six-Tails instead? No thank you."

"That's not how we operate," Naruto said fiercely. "I'm a jinchūriki too, remember? Konoha is my home, not my prison. It can be your sanctuary too—at least until we figure out what's really going on with the Mist Village and Akatsuki."

The sincerity in his voice seemed to reach Utakata. After a moment's hesitation, the older jinchūriki nodded wearily. "For Hotaru's sake, if nothing else. She deserves safety."

"Then it's decided," Kakashi said. "Naruto, can you—"

He didn't need to finish. Naruto was already creating shadow clones—one to carry Hotaru, two to support Utakata, and several more to fan out as decoys and scouts.

As they prepared to depart, Utakata fixed Naruto with an evaluating stare. "You're actually going to be a father? In the middle of all this?"

Naruto's smile was tired but genuine. "Yeah. Crazy timing, right? But maybe that's exactly why it matters so much. We're fighting for the future now—not just some abstract idea, but for real faces. Real lives."

Understanding dawned in Utakata's weary eyes. "Perhaps that's what we jinchūriki have been missing all along. Something tangible to protect, beyond ourselves."

"Something to come home to," Naruto agreed, thoughts turning to Hinata waiting in Konoha.

They moved out into the rain, heading west, toward home—their small group carrying an unusual cargo of hope and responsibility. Behind them, the storm continued to rage, nature itself setting the stage for the greater tempest yet to come.

The return to Konoha was neither swift nor easy. Utakata's injuries, coupled with the persistent pursuit by Mist Hunter-nin, forced the team to take a circuitous route. What should have been a two-day journey stretched into five, with Yamato and Sai eventually catching up to provide additional protection and support.

By the time the village gates came into view, Naruto was operating on sheer determination. He hadn't slept properly in days, his chakra reserves—even with the Nine-Tails' power—were running dangerously low, and worry for Hinata gnawed at him constantly.

"Almost there," he murmured, more to himself than his companions.

Beside him, Utakata walked under his own power now, his wounds partially healed thanks to both the Six-Tails' regenerative abilities and Kakashi's basic medical ninjutsu. The jinchūriki had remained quiet for most of the journey, speaking mainly to reassure the young girl, Hotaru, who rarely left his side.

"Your village," Utakata observed as they approached. "It feels... different."

Naruto glanced at him curiously. "Different how?"

Utakata seemed to struggle for words. "The chakra. The atmosphere. Less oppressive than Kirigakure. More... alive."

Pride swelled in Naruto's chest. "That's Konoha for you. It's not perfect, but it's home."

As they passed through the gates, nodding to the surprised guards, Kakashi peeled away from the group. "I'll report to Lady Tsunade. Yamato, escort our guests to the secure quarters we discussed. Sai, debrief with Intelligence. Naruto—"

"I'm going to find Hinata," Naruto finished, already scanning the village with senses heightened by anxiety.

Kakashi's visible eye crinkled in understanding. "Give her my regards. And Naruto... good work out there. With Sasuke, and with Utakata. You're becoming the shinobi your father always believed you could be."

The rare praise washed over Naruto like warm sunlight, but he had no time to bask in it. With a quick wave to his teammates and a promissory nod to Utakata—a silent pledge that they would speak again soon—he raced off toward his apartment.

He found it empty.

Panic fluttered in his chest until he noticed the note on the table, written in Sakura's neat hand:

Naruto, Hinata's at the hospital. DON'T PANIC! Routine check-up only. Everything's fine. Come find us when you get back. - Sakura P.S. You're going to be a father. What were you THINKING not telling me?!

Relief made his knees weak. Hinata was okay. Their baby was okay. And apparently, Sakura knew everything now. That conversation would be... interesting.

Without pausing to even shower away the grime of the journey, Naruto turned and bounded toward the hospital, his exhaustion temporarily forgotten.

Hinata lay on the examination table, the cool gel on her exposed belly making her shiver slightly despite the warm summer air flowing through the open window. Sakura moved the ultrasound wand carefully, eyes focused on the grainy image displayed on the monitor.

"There he is," Sakura said, voice warm with professional satisfaction. "Right on track for development. Strong heartbeat, good size."

Hinata's breath caught as she studied the monitor. It wasn't the first ultrasound she'd had, but each one filled her with fresh wonder. That tiny form—head, spine, hands, feet—was their child. Hers and Naruto's.

"He's perfect," she whispered.

Sakura smiled. "Of course he is. With your genes and Naruto's stubbornness, he's bound to be extraordinary." She adjusted the wand slightly. "Let me just check his chakra pathways one more time. With a Hyuga mother and a jinchūriki father, his development in that area is... unprecedented."

As Sakura channeled medical chakra through the wand, the door to the examination room burst open. Both women turned, startled.

Naruto stood in the doorway, travel-worn and exhausted, blue eyes wide with concern that melted instantly into joy at the sight of Hinata safe and smiling.

"Naruto!" Hinata's whole face lit up, arms already reaching for him.

He crossed the room in three swift strides, embracing her awkwardly around the examination table and equipment. "I'm back," he murmured into her hair. "I'm sorry it took so long."

"Ahem." Sakura cleared her throat pointedly, though her expression was soft with affection for her teammates. "If you could hold off on the reunion for just one minute, I'm in the middle of an important scan."

Naruto pulled back slightly, but kept one hand firmly clasped in Hinata's as he turned his attention to the monitor. His breath caught visibly. "Is that...?"

"Your son," Sakura confirmed, unable to keep the smile from her voice. "Very healthy and developing perfectly. I'd say about six months along now, which means you have approximately three months to get your act together before becoming parents."

The teasing assessment contained so much genuine warmth that even Hinata laughed. Naruto, however, couldn't tear his eyes away from the screen.

"Boruto," he whispered, reaching out to touch the monitor with reverent fingers. "Hey there, little guy. Your dad's home."

As if in response, the baby on the screen moved, a tiny hand seeming to reach out toward the sound of his father's voice.

"He knows you," Hinata said softly. "He's been more active ever since you left. Like he was looking for you."

Emotion welled up in Naruto's throat, making speech impossible. Instead, he pressed his forehead gently against Hinata's, eyes closed tight against the tears threatening to spill.

Sakura, recognizing the moment for what it was, quietly turned off the machine and began wiping the gel from Hinata's stomach. "I'll just go check on your bloodwork results," she murmured, slipping from the room to give them privacy.

When the door closed behind her, Naruto finally found his voice again. "I saw Sasuke," he said quietly. "I told him about the baby."

Hinata's eyes widened slightly. "What did he say?"

Naruto's expression twisted with complicated emotions. "He ran. Again. But... I think I got through to him, at least a little. He seemed... surprised. Almost like he'd forgotten people could have normal lives. Families."

"He lost his so young," Hinata observed gently, running a soothing hand through Naruto's tangled hair. "Maybe seeing you build one will remind him of what he's fighting for."

The simple wisdom in her words struck a chord in Naruto. "Maybe," he agreed, then his expression brightened. "Oh! And we brought back another jinchūriki! Utakata, the Six-Tails host. He was being hunted by his own village and Akatsuki."

Hinata sat up straighter, concern crossing her features. "Another jinchūriki? Here in Konoha?"

"Yeah, we're keeping him safe until we figure out what's going on. He's got this kid with him too, Hotaru. She's his student or something." Naruto rubbed the back of his neck. "It's complicated. But I think having him here is a good thing, especially with war on the horizon. The more jinchūriki who stand together, the better chance we have against Akatsuki."

Hinata nodded thoughtfully. "You should introduce us. Perhaps he'd be more comfortable around another jinchūriki's family."

The suggestion was so perfectly Hinata—kind and thoughtful even toward strangers—that Naruto couldn't help but kiss her again. "I'd like that. He's... not used to being accepted, I think. A lot like how I was before..."

"Before you changed everyone's hearts," Hinata finished for him, her belief in him as unwavering as ever.

The moment was interrupted by a tentative knock at the door. Sakura poked her head in. "Sorry to interrupt, but Lady Tsunade is asking for both of you. Apparently, there have been some... developments... while you were away."

Something in her tone made Naruto's hackles rise. "What kind of developments?"

Sakura hesitated. "It's about the Hyuga clan. And your baby."

The Hokage's office was unusually crowded. Tsunade sat behind her desk, fingers steepled before her, expression grave. Shizune stood at her side, clutching Tonton a little tighter than usual. Kakashi leaned against one wall, posture deceptively casual though his visible eye was sharp with attention. And in the center of the room, as straight-backed and imposing as ever, stood Hiashi Hyuga.

The atmosphere was thick with tension as Naruto and Hinata entered, Sakura close behind them.

"Good, you're here," Tsunade said without preamble. "We have a situation that requires immediate discussion."

Naruto instinctively moved slightly in front of Hinata—a protective gesture that did not go unnoticed by anyone in the room. "What's going on? What's he doing here?" He jerked his head toward Hiashi.

"Show some respect, boy," Hiashi began, but Tsunade cut him off with a raised hand.

"Naruto, Hinata—please sit. This concerns all of us."

Reluctantly, Naruto complied, helping Hinata into one of the chairs before taking the other. His body hummed with tension, ready to move at the slightest threat.

Tsunade sighed heavily. "While you were away, Naruto, the Hyuga clan council held an emergency session regarding Hinata's... situation. They've reached a decision that they insist I enforce as Hokage."

Naruto's fists clenched. "What kind of decision?"

Hiashi stepped forward. "The Hyuga clan formally acknowledges the marriage between Hinata and yourself."

The statement was so unexpected that for a moment, Naruto could only blink in confusion. "You... what?"

"Furthermore," Hiashi continued, voice revealing nothing of his personal feelings on the matter, "the child she carries will be recognized as a legitimate heir, with all rights and privileges therein."

Relief began to replace Naruto's tension, but Tsunade's continued gravity gave him pause. "That's... good, right? So what's the problem?"

"The condition," Hiashi stated flatly, "is that the child be raised within the Hyuga compound, under the direct supervision of the clan elders."

And there it was. The trap hidden beneath the apparent concession.

"No," Naruto said immediately, rising from his chair. "No way. Our son will not be raised as a... a weapon or a political pawn!"

Hiashi's pale eyes narrowed dangerously. "Watch your tongue, Uzumaki. You know nothing of our clan's ways or traditions."

"I know enough," Naruto shot back. "I know about the Caged Bird Seal. I know how Neji was treated. I know how Hinata was treated!" His voice rose with each statement, years of witnessed injustice fueling his anger. "Our son will not be branded or controlled or made to feel less than what he is!"

"Naruto," Hinata's soft voice cut through his rage like a blade through butter. She had risen too, standing tall despite the obvious strain of the confrontation on her pregnant body. "Father, please. There must be another way. Boruto is as much Uzumaki as he is Hyuga."

Something flickered across Hiashi's stern features at the mention of the name—recognition, perhaps, or memory. "Boruto," he repeated. "You've named him already."

Hinata nodded, one hand unconsciously moving to her belly. "After Neji, in part. And after Naruto's father."

This caught Hiashi off guard. He looked more closely at Naruto, as though seeing something new in the young man's features. "The Fourth Hokage," he murmured, almost to himself. Then, with visible effort, he resumed his stern demeanor. "The name is... acceptable. But the condition stands. The child must be raised within the clan."

"And if we refuse?" Naruto challenged.

Hiashi's expression hardened. "Then the Hyuga clan will consider the child an outsider, with no claim to our bloodline or protection. In times of war, such isolation could prove... dangerous."

The threat, though veiled, was clear enough. Without the clan's acknowledgment and protection, their child would be even more vulnerable to those who might seek to exploit the combination of Hyuga and Uzumaki blood—not to mention the possible influence of the Nine-Tails' chakra.

Tsunade, who had observed the exchange with calculating eyes, finally spoke. "There may be a compromise to be found here. One that respects both the clan's traditions and your legitimate concerns."

All eyes turned to her.

"The child could split his time between the Hyuga compound and his parents' home," she suggested. "Formal training with the clan once he's of age, but day-to-day life with Naruto and Hinata. A foot in both worlds, as it were."

Hiashi considered this, his expression unreadable. "And the matter of the Caged Bird Seal?"

"Will not be applied," Hinata said with sudden steel in her voice. "Ever. That is non-negotiable, Father."

The quiet defiance from his normally reserved daughter seemed to surprise Hiashi as much as it did everyone else in the room. For a long moment, he simply looked at her—really looked at her—as though seeing the woman she had become rather than the girl he had so often dismissed.

"The seal," he said finally, each word clearly costing him, "is a matter that the clan has been... reconsidering... in recent months. Thanks in large part to Neji's ongoing... observations on its limitations."

Naruto's eyes widened. "You mean you might get rid of it? For everyone?"

"That," Hiashi replied stiffly, "is an internal clan matter and not open for discussion with outsiders. However..." He hesitated, then continued with evident reluctance. "However, I am prepared to guarantee that your son will not bear the seal, regardless of the clan council's ultimate decision on the broader issue."

The concession was unexpected and significant. Naruto looked to Hinata, reading the cautious hope in her pale eyes.

"And we would live together? As a family?" Hinata pressed. "Not separated by clan tradition?"

Hiashi inclined his head slightly. "Quarters could be arranged within the compound that would accommodate... both of you." The effort it took him to make this statement was visible in the slight tightening around his eyes. "And when the boy is not in formal training, he would be in your care."

It wasn't perfect. It wasn't the simple family life Naruto had begun to imagine. But it was a bridge between worlds—a recognition of both their son's heritage and their rights as parents.

Naruto looked to Tsunade, who gave him a subtle nod of encouragement, then to Kakashi, whose visible eye conveyed understanding of the political realities at play.

Finally, he looked at Hinata. "What do you think?" he asked softly. "It's your clan. Your father."

Hinata took his hand, fingers intertwining with his. "It's our decision," she corrected gently. "For our son." She turned to face her father. "We accept the compromise, Father. But we have one condition of our own."

Hiashi raised an eyebrow, clearly unused to his daughter negotiating terms.

"When the time comes for Boruto to understand his heritage—all of it, including Naruto's parentage and the Nine-Tails—we will be the ones to tell him," Hinata stated firmly. "Not the clan elders, not anyone else. His parents."

The condition clearly touched on matters Hiashi had not expected to be raised. His gaze flicked to Tsunade, who nodded once—confirmation of a truth he had likely suspected but never heard officially acknowledged.

"Very well," he agreed finally. "The child's... complete heritage... will be yours to reveal when you deem appropriate."

With that final concession, the tension in the room eased perceptibly. Hiashi turned to Tsunade. "I trust the Hokage's office will formalize these arrangements?"

Tsunade nodded, relief evident in her honey-colored eyes. "I'll draw up the documents myself. Shizune, prepare the official seals."

As Hiashi turned to leave, Hinata stepped forward suddenly. "Father, wait."

He paused, looking back at his daughter with mild surprise.

"Thank you," she said simply. "For being willing to compromise. For seeing Naruto as more than..." She trailed off, not wanting to explicitly reference the Nine-Tails in such a formal setting.

For a moment, something almost like tenderness crossed Hiashi's stern features. "I see more than you think, daughter. Always have." His gaze shifted to Naruto. "The village is changing. Perhaps... perhaps it is time the Hyuga changed as well."

With those enigmatic words, he departed, leaving a thoughtful silence in his wake.

Naruto released a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. "Well. That was..."

"A diplomatic triumph," Kakashi supplied helpfully, finally pushing away from the wall he'd been propping up. "One that may have far-reaching consequences beyond your immediate family."

Tsunade nodded in agreement. "The Hyuga are one of the most traditional and insular clans in Konoha. If they're willing to make these concessions, it could signal a broader shift in attitude—exactly what we need with war approaching."

"So our family drama might actually be good for village politics?" Naruto asked incredulously. "That's just... weird."

"Welcome to the world of leadership, Naruto," Tsunade replied with a wry smile. "Where personal and political are often inseparable."

Kakashi placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder. "For what it's worth, I think your parents would be proud of how you handled that." His visible eye crinkled. "Diplomatic when necessary, stubborn when it matters."

The mention of his parents brought something else to mind. "Oh! I almost forgot with everything going on—we found another jinchūriki! Utakata, the Six-Tails host. He's here in the village."

Tsunade's expression turned serious once more. "Yes, Kakashi briefed me. Having two jinchūriki in one village is unprecedented—and potentially dangerous. The Mist Village has already sent formal demands for his return."

"They were working with Akatsuki!" Naruto protested. "We can't send him back!"

"And we won't," Tsunade assured him. "But his presence complicates an already tense political situation. The Five Kage Summit is scheduled for next month, and this will certainly be raised there."

"The Summit," Hinata echoed softly. "The last step before open war."

The sobering thought hung in the air between them. So much was happening, so quickly—personal joy and global crisis intertwining in ways none of them could have anticipated.

"One day at a time," Kakashi advised, reading the overwhelm on his student's face. "That's all any of us can do."

Naruto nodded, arm tightening protectively around Hinata's shoulders. "One day at a time," he agreed. "Starting with getting Hinata home and making sure she and Boruto get some rest."

As they left the Hokage tower, stepping into the warm summer evening, Hinata leaned into Naruto's side. "Home," she mused quietly. "I suppose that means the Hyuga compound now."

Naruto's step faltered. "We don't have to go there right away. We could stay at my place until—"

"No," Hinata interrupted gently. "We made an agreement. And besides..." She smiled up at him, moonlight catching in her pale eyes. "Home isn't a place, Naruto. It's wherever we're together. You taught me that."

His heart swelled with so much love it was almost painful. Wordlessly, he bent to kiss her, there in the middle of the street, heedless of the curious stares of passersby.

Their future might be complicated, the world might be rushing toward war, but in this moment—this single perfect moment—they were just two people in love, preparing to welcome new life into the world.

One day at a time.

The last days of summer gave way to autumn's crisp embrace. Konoha's famous trees began their transformation, painting the village in hues of red and gold. Inside the Hyuga compound, similar changes were unfolding.

The wing allocated to Naruto and Hinata had once been guest quarters, separate from the main family's living area but still very much within the compound's protective boundaries. In the two months since their compromise with Hiashi, the space had been transformed.

What had once been austere, traditional rooms now reflected their unique family. Naruto's colorful posters and eclectic collection of mementos mingled with Hinata's pressed flowers and delicate ceramics. The nursery—freshly painted in sunny yellow—contained both Hyuga heirlooms and handmade gifts from Naruto's many friends.

Even the garden outside their quarters had been repurposed, with a small training area next to a patch where Hinata grew medicinal herbs. The fusion of their two worlds, imperfect but earnest, much like the couple themselves.

On this particular morning, Hinata knelt carefully in that garden, her now-prominent belly making the simplest movements a challenge. At eight months pregnant, everything required planning and consideration.

"You shouldn't be doing that," came a stern voice from behind her.

Hinata turned, smiling at the sight of her cousin. "Hello, Neji. It's just a bit of weeding. The medic said light activity is good for me."

Neji's severe expression didn't waver, but he knelt beside her, wordlessly taking the small trowel from her hands. "Allow me."

As he methodically cleared the weeds from around her precious herbs, Hinata studied her cousin's profile. Since the announcement of her pregnancy and the clan's subsequent compromise, Neji had appointed himself her unofficial guardian within the compound. His protectiveness went beyond duty—there was genuine concern there, and perhaps something else. A kind of wistful curiosity about the child who would be named, in part, for him.

"Have the elders been bothering you?" he asked suddenly, eyes fixed on his task.

Hinata shook her head. "Not since Father's decree. They keep their distance, though I sometimes feel them watching."

Neji nodded, unsurprised. "They're afraid."

"Afraid?" Hinata echoed, genuinely puzzled. "Of what?"

"Change." Neji looked up then, pale eyes meeting hers. "Your child represents everything they fear. The dilution of the Byakugan with outside blood. The breaking down of traditions they've clung to for generations. A future they cannot control."

The assessment was pure Neji—perceptive, unflinching, and brutally honest.

"And you?" Hinata asked softly. "What does Boruto represent to you?"

Something like a smile touched Neji's lips—a rare sight even now. "Hope," he said simply. "The possibility that the next generation might be free of the cages that confined the last."

Tears sprang to Hinata's eyes. Before she could respond, a commotion at the garden gate drew their attention.

Naruto burst in, breathless and wide-eyed. "Hinata! Neji! You'll never guess what happened!"

Despite his obvious excitement, he crossed to Hinata carefully, helping her to her feet with gentle hands that belied his boundless energy. Neji rose more gracefully, brushing dirt from his knees.

"What is it?" Hinata asked, recognizing the particular gleam in her husband's blue eyes. It usually preceded either brilliant inspiration or spectacular trouble.

"I just came from a meeting with Granny Tsunade and the Intelligence Division. They've decoded more of Pain's plans, and—" He paused for dramatic effect. "The attack on Konoha isn't scheduled until spring!"

Neji frowned. "That's... good news, I suppose. But why are you so excited about it?"

"Because!" Naruto exclaimed, practically bouncing with energy. "It means Boruto will be born before the war really kicks off! We'll have time to get him somewhere safe, maybe even outside the village entirely if necessary."

Understanding dawned on Hinata's face. For months, their greatest fear had been that the baby would arrive in the midst of battle—that Naruto would be torn between his duty to the village and his duty to his family. This news changed everything.

"There's more," Naruto continued, taking her hands in his. "Gaara sent word from Suna. They're offering sanctuary to the families of key shinobi when the fighting starts. He specifically mentioned us, Hinata. You and Boruto would be protected by the full might of the Sand Village."

Hinata's breath caught. The gesture was incredibly generous—and strategically significant. For the Kazekage to offer protection to the family of another village's jinchūriki was unprecedented.

Neji's brow furrowed in thought. "The Hyuga council won't like it. They'll want the child kept within the clan."

"The council can deal with it," Naruto replied dismissively. "This isn't about politics or bloodlines. It's about keeping our son safe."

"It's a generous offer," Hinata said diplomatically. "But there's something you're not considering, Naruto."

Both men looked at her questioningly.

"I'm not leaving you," she stated simply. "Not when you'll be facing the greatest danger of your life. Boruto and I will stay wherever you are."

Naruto's expression fell. "Hinata, you can't be serious. The battlefield is no place for a baby, and you'll have just given birth."

"I'm a kunoichi of the Leaf," she reminded him gently but firmly. "And your wife. My place is by your side, protecting what matters most—just as yours is by mine."

The declaration hung in the air between them, a testament to how much Hinata had grown from the shy girl who once couldn't even speak to her crush without fainting. Now she stood before him, round with their child, gentle as ever but unwavering in her conviction.

Neji, sensing the brewing argument, cleared his throat. "Perhaps this is a conversation best continued in private. And in any case, you have time to decide. The baby comes first, then these... arrangements."

His practical intervention broke the tension. Naruto sighed, running a hand through his spiky hair in frustration. "Yeah, you're right. One thing at a time." He turned back to Hinata with a softer expression. "I'm just worried, that's all. I can't fight if I'm terrified about you and Boruto every second."

"I know," she replied, stepping closer to him. "But remember what Kakashi-sensei always says about making plans."

A reluctant smile tugged at Naruto's lips. "No plan survives contact with the enemy."

"Exactly." Hinata placed his hand on her belly, where Boruto was currently performing what felt like advanced taijutsu maneuvers. "Let's focus on this little one coming safely into the world. Everything else we'll figure out together."

The baby kicked vigorously against Naruto's palm, as if in agreement with his mother, and Naruto couldn't help but laugh. "I'm outvoted already, and he isn't even born yet. Fine, we'll talk about it later."

Neji, watching this exchange with carefully concealed amusement, was reminded yet again how much both of them had changed—and how some things hadn't changed at all. Naruto was still impulsive and protective, Hinata still kind and quietly determined. Together, they balanced each other in ways few could have predicted.

As they turned to go inside, a messenger appeared at the garden gate—one of Sai's ink creatures taking the form of a small bird.

"Naruto Uzumaki," it announced in Sai's distinctive monotone. "Your presence is requested at the Intelligence Division immediately. The subject is Sasuke Uchiha."

The bird dissolved into a puddle of ink, leaving stunned silence in its wake.

"Go," Hinata said immediately, giving Naruto a gentle push. "This could be important."

Naruto hesitated, torn between duties. "But we were supposed to have dinner with your father tonight. The formal introduction to the clan elders—"

"I'll explain to Father," Hinata assured him. "He'll understand that village security takes precedence."

"I'll escort Hinata to the dinner," Neji offered. "And make your excuses to Lord Hiashi."

Still Naruto hesitated, blue eyes troubled. "Sasuke," he murmured. "What's he done now?"

Hinata's hand on his cheek drew his attention back to her. "Whatever it is, you'll face it as you always do—with courage and that incredible ability to see the good in everyone. Even Sasuke."

Her faith in him was like sunlight, warming him from within. Naruto managed a smile and kissed her quickly. "I'll be back as soon as I can. Save me some dinner?"

"Always," she promised.

With a last grateful nod to Neji, Naruto raced off, leaping over the garden wall rather than bothering with the gate.

As he disappeared from view, Neji glanced sidelong at his cousin. "You never cease to amaze me," he observed quietly.

Hinata looked at him in surprise. "What do you mean?"

"The way you understand him. Support him. Most wives would demand their husband stay for something as politically important as tonight's dinner. Especially with the baby so close."

Hinata smiled softly, one hand resting on her rounded belly where Boruto had settled into more gentle movements. "That's because most people still don't see Naruto clearly. Everything he does—even rushing off like this—is for the village. For the future. For our son." Her smile widened slightly. "Besides, I suspect the clan elders will be relieved he's not there. He tends to say exactly what he thinks, and they're not used to that."

Neji's rare laugh surprised them both. "An understatement. Come, let's get you ready for this dinner. I, for one, am looking forward to watching Lord Hiashi explain to the elders that the Nine-Tails jinchūriki is more concerned with village security than impressing them."

As they walked toward the main house, neither noticed the shadow that detached itself from beneath the engawa of their quarters—a shadow that moved with deliberate purpose toward the compound gates, in the opposite direction from where Naruto had gone.

The Intelligence Division headquarters was unusually active for the late afternoon hour. Shinobi hurried through corridors, scrolls and coded documents clutched in their hands. The atmosphere hummed with purposeful tension.

Naruto was led immediately to a secure briefing room, where he found Ibiki Morino, Inoichi Yamanaka, and, surprisingly, Kakashi waiting for him.

"What's going on?" Naruto demanded without preamble. "Sai's message said something about Sasuke."

Ibiki, imposing as ever with his scarred face and towering build, gestured to a chair. "Sit, Uzumaki. This may take some time to explain."

Reluctantly, Naruto complied. "Just tell me—is Sasuke okay? Has something happened to him?"

"In a manner of speaking," Kakashi replied, his usual lazy drawl replaced by something more serious. "Early this morning, a message was intercepted from Akatsuki to their operative within Otogakure. It contained orders regarding Sasuke."

Naruto leaned forward, every muscle tense. "What kind of orders?"

Inoichi slid a decoded transcript across the table. "It appears that after your encounter with him, Sasuke began asking... inconvenient questions... about Akatsuki's true objectives. Particularly regarding the plan for the tailed beasts."

"In other words," Ibiki continued bluntly, "your little chat made him suspicious. And suspicious assets are liabilities in organizations like Akatsuki."

The implication hit Naruto like a physical blow. "They're going to kill him," he whispered, horror dawning. "That's what this is, isn't it? An execution order."

"Not exactly," Kakashi corrected. "They still need him—or more specifically, his Sharingan. The order is to 'neutralize his resistance' and bring him to a facility on the northern border of Fire Country." His visible eye met Naruto's squarely. "They plan to break his will, Naruto. Make him compliant through whatever means necessary."

Rage bloomed hot and fast in Naruto's chest. He could feel the Nine-Tails stirring in response, its chakra reacting to his emotions. "When?" he growled, voice dropping to a register that wasn't entirely human.

"The extraction team is scheduled to move in three days," Inoichi replied. "Which gives us a narrow window if we're going to intervene."

"We?" Naruto repeated, hope flaring. "You mean... the village is going to help save Sasuke?"

The three men exchanged glances that contained volumes of unspoken communication.

"Not officially," Ibiki said finally. "The Hokage cannot sanction a rescue mission for a rogue ninja who has aligned himself with enemies of the Leaf. Especially not with war on the horizon."

Naruto's hope crumbled as quickly as it had formed. His fists clenched on the table. "Then why tell me all this? Just to torture me with information I can't use?"

"I said not officially," Ibiki emphasized, a dangerous glint in his eyes. "What the Hokage doesn't know about certain... intelligence-gathering operations... can't compromise her position with the Council or the other Kage."

Understanding slowly dawned on Naruto's face. "You're talking about a black ops mission. Off the books."

"I'm not talking about anything," Ibiki replied smoothly. "I'm simply briefing a valuable asset on intelligence relevant to village security."

Kakashi's visible eye crinkled slightly. "And if that asset were to take a short leave of absence to, say, visit a sick relative in a northern outpost... well, the Hokage would certainly grant such compassionate leave. Especially given the asset's impending fatherhood and the stress that entails."

The conspirators looked at each other across the table, the unspoken plan hanging in the air between them.

"Why?" Naruto asked finally. "Why would you risk your careers, maybe even your lives, for Sasuke? You've always said he made his choice when he left the village."

Inoichi's expression softened slightly. "Because he's one of ours. Whatever else he's done, whatever path he's chosen, Sasuke Uchiha is a son of Konoha. We don't abandon our own to torture and enslavement."

"And," Kakashi added quietly, "because sometimes we need to be reminded of what we're really fighting for. Not abstract ideals of peace or security, but people. Flawed, complicated, real people."

The words struck a chord in Naruto's heart. Wasn't that exactly what he'd told Utakata on their journey back to the village? That they were fighting for real faces, real lives?

"I'll need a team," he said, already thinking practically. "Sakura obviously, and—"

"No." Ibiki's refusal was immediate and firm. "This isn't a standard retrieval mission with your usual squad, Uzumaki. This is deep infiltration into enemy territory to extract a potentially unwilling target. It requires a specialized team."

"A team that's already been briefed and is waiting in the adjacent room," Inoichi added. "If you accept the mission."

Naruto blinked in surprise. "You already assembled a team? Before even talking to me?"

"We know you, Naruto," Kakashi said simply. "Was there ever any doubt about your answer?"

There wasn't, of course. Not when it came to Sasuke. Not when it came to saving someone precious to him, whatever their differences.

But for the first time in his life, Naruto found himself hesitating. Not because he didn't want to go—every fiber of his being screamed to rush to Sasuke's aid—but because of what, of who, he would be leaving behind.

"Hinata," he said softly. "She's due in less than a month. If something happens to me..."

Understanding flashed across the older men's faces. This was no longer just the impulsive boy who would rush headlong into danger for a friend. This was a husband, a soon-to-be father, weighing responsibilities that pulled in opposite directions.

"The operation is designed to get you in and out within forty-eight hours," Ibiki said, his gruff voice containing an unusual note of compassion. "Well before your child's expected arrival."

"And," Inoichi added, "we've taken the liberty of arranging for Hinata to stay with my family while you're gone. The Yamanaka compound is secure, and my wife and daughter would welcome the company." His expression softened further. "Ino is quite excited about it, actually. She's been collecting baby things for weeks."

The thoughtfulness of the arrangement tightened Naruto's throat. These men—these hardened veterans of countless battles and missions—had considered not just the tactical aspects of the operation but the human ones as well. His family's well-being, Hinata's comfort and safety.

"There's one more thing you should know," Kakashi said, his tone shifting to something more grave. "The intelligence suggests that the Akatsuki operative tasked with Sasuke's... conditioning... is Itachi Uchiha."

The name fell like a stone into still water, sending ripples of shock through Naruto.

"Itachi? But that's—" He stopped, realizing the cruel elegance of the choice. "They're using his brother against him. The person he's been trying to kill all these years."

Kakashi nodded grimly. "Psychological warfare at its most brutal. They know Sasuke's singular focus has been killing Itachi to avenge his clan. To be helpless before him, to be broken by him... it would destroy something fundamental in Sasuke's identity."

The thought of it—of proud, powerful Sasuke reduced to a shell of himself at his brother's hands—filled Naruto with cold fury. "I'll do it," he said, voice hardening with resolve. "I'll bring him back. Whatever it takes."

Ibiki nodded once, sharply, then pressed a button on the table. The door opened, revealing the team that had been assembled for this impossible mission.

Shikamaru Nara entered first, looking characteristically bored despite the gravity of the situation. Behind him came Sai, expressionless as always, followed by—to Naruto's considerable surprise—Utakata, the Six-Tails jinchūriki.

"This is it?" Naruto blurted out. "Three people?"

"Four, counting you," Shikamaru corrected with a lazy smile. "And trust me, any more would be a drag. Stealth missions get exponentially more complicated with each additional person."

Naruto frowned at Utakata. "No offense, but why are you here? You barely know Sasuke, and this isn't your village."

The older jinchūriki regarded him with calm, steady eyes. "I'm repaying a debt. You saved me and Hotaru. Now I help you save someone important to you." A slight smile touched his lips. "Besides, having two jinchūriki on this mission significantly increases the odds of success, wouldn't you agree?"

"The plan," Shikamaru continued before Naruto could respond, "is simple in concept, complex in execution. We leave tonight, travel north under cover of a standard border patrol. Tomorrow at dusk, we infiltrate the Akatsuki facility, locate Sasuke, extract him—willing or otherwise—and get out before anyone realizes what's happened."

"And if someone does realize?" Naruto asked.

Shikamaru's smile turned grim. "Then we improvise. That's your specialty, isn't it?"

Sai stepped forward, unrolling a detailed map of the northern territory. "I've scouted the facility from the air. It's well-guarded but not impenetrable. The main challenge will be identifying which section Sasuke is being held in before the extraction team arrives."

As they bent over the map, discussing entry points and contingency plans, a peculiar sort of calm settled over Naruto. This was familiar territory—mission planning, strategy, the focused preparation for danger ahead. A temporary respite from the newer, less charted waters of impending fatherhood.

Yet even as he committed the facility's layout to memory, a part of his mind remained fixed on the image of Hinata, waiting for him at the Hyuga compound, their son kicking impatiently within her.

"I need to tell Hinata before we leave," he said suddenly, cutting through Shikamaru's explanation of guard rotations. "She has to know where I'm going and why."

Ibiki frowned. "That would compromise operational secur—"

"She's my wife," Naruto interrupted, blue eyes flashing with rare defiance toward the intimidating interrogator. "And the mother of my child. I'm not disappearing for days without explanation. Not now. Not with the baby coming so soon."

A tense silence followed his declaration. Then, surprisingly, it was Utakata who spoke.

"He's right," the Six-Tails jinchūriki said quietly. "Secrets between comrades are sometimes necessary. Secrets between spouses are poison." Something in his tone suggested personal experience with this wisdom.

Ibiki looked like he wanted to argue further, but Inoichi placed a restraining hand on his colleague's arm. "A compromise. Naruto tells Hinata he's going on a mission—no details, no specifics, just the duration and the fact that it relates to Sasuke. That should be enough."

Naruto nodded gratefully. "Thank you. I'll go to her now, then meet you all at the north gate at midnight."

As he turned to leave, Kakashi caught his arm. "Naruto. Be prepared for the possibility that Sasuke won't want to be rescued. That he might fight us every step of the way."

The warning was necessary but painful. Naruto's expression tightened. "I know. But I'd rather have him alive and hating me than broken by Akatsuki." His smile turned rueful. "Besides, he's already tried to kill me a few times. What's one more attempt between friends?"

The gallows humor drew reluctant smiles from the assembled shinobi. As Naruto left the room, their conversation resumed behind him, details of the mission being refined and finalized.

Outside, the evening had settled over Konoha, painting the village in shades of purple and deep blue. Lights winked on in windows as families gathered for dinner, unaware of the secret missions being planned, the invisible threads of fate being woven around them all.

Naruto paused on a rooftop, looking out over the village he loved—the village he was pledged to protect. Somewhere out there, beyond the comforting circle of those lights, Sasuke was in danger. And here, within those same protective walls, Hinata was waiting, carrying their future within her.

Two loyalties, two loves, pulling him in different directions.

With a deep breath, he leapt toward the Hyuga compound, the choice made but the conflict unresolved in his heart.

Hinata listened in silence as Naruto explained the situation—or as much of it as he was permitted to share. They sat in their private garden, the moon casting silver light across her concerned face, the dinner with the elders long concluded.

"You have to go," she said when he finished, her voice soft but certain. "Sasuke needs you."

Relief washed through Naruto, although he wasn't sure why he had expected any other response. Hinata had always understood his bond with Sasuke, had never asked him to choose between his responsibilities and his promises.

"I'll be gone two days, three at most," he assured her, taking her hands in his. "I'll be back well before Boruto arrives. And Inoichi has offered to have you stay with his family while I'm gone, just as an extra precaution."

Hinata nodded, though something flickered in her pale eyes—a shadow of worry quickly suppressed. "I'll be fine. We both will." She guided his hand to her rounded belly, where Boruto responded with a vigorous kick. "See? He's telling you to go bring his uncle home."

Naruto laughed, though the sound caught slightly in his throat. "Uncle Sasuke. I'm not sure he'll appreciate that title."

"He'll pretend to hate it," Hinata predicted with a small smile. "While secretly being pleased."

The simple domesticity of the conversation—planning for a future where Sasuke was back in the village, part of their extended family—made Naruto's chest ache with longing. It was a beautiful vision, one he desperately wanted to make real.

"I should pack," he said reluctantly, not wanting to break the peaceful moment but aware of time ticking away. "We leave at midnight."

Hinata rose carefully, one hand supporting her lower back in a now-familiar gesture. "I'll help you."

As they moved through their quarters, gathering equipment and supplies, Naruto watched Hinata from the corner of his eye. There was something different about her tonight—a certain tension in her movements, a carefulness beyond her usual grace.

"Are you feeling okay?" he asked finally, pausing in the process of checking his kunai supply. "You seem... I don't know. Different."

Hinata looked up from folding an extra set of his clothes. "I'm fine," she assured him, though her hand moved unconsciously to her belly again. "Just tired. The dinner with the elders was... draining."

Naruto frowned, setting down his weapons pouch to cross to her side. "What happened? Did they say something? If they upset you—"

"No, nothing like that," Hinata interrupted quickly. "They were perfectly polite. Cold, but polite. It's just... sitting formally for so long in my condition isn't comfortable." She smiled reassuringly. "Really, I'm fine. Just ready for bed once you've gone."

Something still felt off to Naruto, but he couldn't pinpoint what. Before he could press further, a small ink mouse scurried under their door—another message from Sai.

"Time adjustment. Departure in one hour. Northern gate."

The mission was being moved up. Whatever intelligence had prompted the change must be significant.

"I have to go," Naruto said, renewed urgency in his voice. "Sooner than planned."

Hinata nodded, helping him finish his packing with swift efficiency. When everything was ready, she walked with him to their garden, where he would leap over the wall rather than exit through the main compound gates—less chance of being seen or questioned.

Under the moon's watchful gaze, they held each other one last time before parting.

"Be safe," Hinata whispered against his chest. "Both of you."

"I will," Naruto promised, kissing the top of her head. "Take care of yourself and Boruto. I'll be back before you know it."

He knelt briefly to press his lips to her belly. "Look after your mom while I'm gone, little guy. That's your first mission as a shinobi of the Leaf."

With a final kiss to Hinata, he leapt atop the garden wall, pausing for one last look back. The sight of her standing there in the moonlight, hands cradling their unborn child, burned itself into his memory—an image to carry with him into whatever danger lay ahead.

"I love you," he called softly. "Both of you."

"We love you too," she replied, voice steady despite the tears glistening in her eyes. "Now go. Save Sasuke. And come home to us."

With a nod, he was gone, a shadow moving swiftly across the rooftops toward the northern gate, where his team awaited.

Behind him, as soon as he vanished from sight, Hinata's composure crumbled slightly. She leaned against a garden stone for support, one hand pressed firmly against her lower back, face contorting briefly with discomfort.

"Not yet," she whispered to her belly. "Not until your father comes home. Just a little longer, Boruto."

The baby kicked in response—whether in agreement or protest, only he knew.

The forest blurred around them as they moved through the night, four shadows leaping from branch to branch with the fluid grace of elite shinobi. Naruto took point, his enhanced senses scanning constantly for danger, Sai close behind with ink beasts scouting ahead and to the sides. Shikamaru and Utakata brought up the rear, the formation designed to maximize their respective strengths while compensating for weaknesses.

They had been traveling for hours, maintaining a grueling pace that would have exhausted ordinary ninja. But this team was far from ordinary—two jinchūriki, a ROOT operative, and the hidden leaf's premier strategist, each driven by their own reasons for undertaking this unauthorized rescue.

"We should rest soon," Shikamaru called from behind. "Another hour and we'll reach the border checkpoint. We'll need to be sharp to pass inspection without raising suspicions."

Naruto wanted to argue, to push on without stopping, but he knew Shikamaru was right. Exhaustion led to mistakes, and they couldn't afford any—not with Sasuke's life hanging in the balance.

With a reluctant nod, he guided them to a small clearing barely visible from above, the dense canopy providing natural cover.

"Twenty minutes," he said as they touched down. "No fires, no unnecessary noise."

The team dispersed to their assigned tasks—Sai creating more ink scouts, Shikamaru reviewing maps, Utakata establishing a subtle sensory perimeter that would alert them to approaching chakra signatures. Naruto, meanwhile, closed his eyes and entered a light meditative state, balancing the need for rest against the necessity of remaining alert.

"You're worried about more than just the mission," Utakata observed quietly, settling beside him after completing his task. "Your wife?"

Naruto opened one eye, studying the older jinchūriki. In the weeks since bringing Utakata to Konoha, they had developed an unusual bond—not quite friendship, but a mutual understanding born of shared burdens and similar pasts.

"Yeah," he admitted. "Something felt... off... when I left. She said she was fine, but..."

"But your instincts say otherwise," Utakata finished for him. "I've noticed you have good instincts, Naruto Uzumaki. Perhaps you should trust them."

The implied suggestion hung in the air between them. Naruto shook his head firmly. "I can't turn back now. Sasuke needs me. The team needs me."

"And if your child decides to enter the world while you're gone?" Utakata pressed, his voice neutral, neither judging nor encouraging. "What then?"

The question struck at Naruto's deepest fear—that he would miss the birth of his son, that Hinata would face that challenge alone. He swallowed hard, pushing the fear down where it couldn't interfere with the mission.

"Hinata is strong," he said, with more confidence than he felt. "Stronger than most people realize. And she's not alone—she has Sakura, and her family, and half the village looking out for her." His hands clenched involuntarily. "Sasuke has no one. No one but us."

Utakata regarded him thoughtfully for a long moment. "Your capacity for loyalty is remarkable," he said finally. "And somewhat troubling."

Before Naruto could respond, Sai approached, his face grave. "We have a problem. My scouts report increased patrols along our planned route—a full squad of Akatsuki supporters, not just the usual border guards."

Shikamaru joined them, immediately alert despite his normally languid demeanor. "They know someone's coming," he concluded. "Not necessarily us, but they're expecting interference."

"How?" Naruto demanded. "The mission was top secret—only the people in that room knew about it!"

"Not necessarily," Shikamaru countered, mind already racing through possibilities. "Remember, Akatsuki has spies everywhere. And they're expecting their own extraction team to arrive soon—it makes sense they'd increase security."

"Either way, we need a new route," Sai stated practically. "The question is: do we go around or through?"

Shikamaru crouched down, quickly sketching a rough map in the dirt. "Going around adds at least six hours to our journey. Going through risks detection and combat that could compromise the entire mission."

"We go through," Naruto decided immediately. "We don't have time for detours."

"Troublesome," Shikamaru muttered, though there was no real objection in his tone. "I had a feeling you'd say that. In that case, we need a diversion."

"I can provide that," Utakata offered quietly. "The Six-Tails' acid mist can create quite a... spectacle... when applied creatively."

Sai nodded, brush already moving across his scroll. "And my beasts can approach from the opposite direction, drawing their attention away from our actual path."

A plan quickly took shape—Utakata and Sai's diversions would split the patrol's attention, while Naruto and Shikamaru slipped through the momentary gap in their defenses. Simple but effective, leveraging their unique abilities while conserving chakra for the challenges that lay ahead.

"We move in five minutes," Shikamaru concluded. "Synchronize your watches."

As the team made their final preparations, Naruto found himself glancing back in the direction of Konoha—now many miles behind them but still tugging at his heart. Unbidden, his mind conjured an image of Hinata, alone in their quarters, perhaps unable to sleep, perhaps in pain...

"Focus," he whispered to himself, pushing the worries down. "Focus on what you can change right now."

With renewed determination, he turned back to his team, ready to move out. Behind him, unnoticed, a small toad materialized briefly on a nearby branch, observed the scene with knowing eyes, then disappeared in a puff of smoke.

Back in Konoha, Hinata paced slowly around the perimeter of the Yamanaka family garden, one hand supporting her lower back, the other resting on her belly. The cool night air provided some relief from the discomfort that had been steadily growing since Naruto's departure hours earlier.

"You should be resting," came a gentle voice from the engawa.

Hinata turned to find Ino's mother, Noriko Yamanaka, watching her with knowing eyes. The older woman held a steaming cup of tea in her hands.

"I can't seem to get comfortable lying down," Hinata admitted with a small smile. "Walking helps a little."

Noriko nodded, descending the steps to join her in the garden. "I was the same way with Ino. Paced for three days before she finally decided to make her appearance." She handed Hinata the cup. "Red raspberry leaf tea. It won't stop labor if it's truly beginning, but it might ease some of the discomfort."

Hinata accepted the tea gratefully, though her eyes widened at the casual mention of labor. "Do you think that's what this is? It seems too early..."

"Not that early," Noriko corrected gently. "You're what, thirty-six weeks? That's considered full term for a first baby." Her experienced gaze took in Hinata's posture, the way she shifted her weight, the subtle tensing that occurred at regular intervals. "How far apart are the pains?"

Hinata blushed, embarrassed to have been so transparent. "About twenty minutes, I think. But they're not very strong yet. Just... uncomfortable."

Noriko's expression turned serious. "Have you told anyone? Sakura? Your father?"

Hinata shook her head. "I didn't want to worry Naruto before his mission. And afterward... it seemed unnecessary to cause a commotion if it's just false labor." She looked down at her tea, avoiding the older woman's eyes. "I thought I had more time."

Understanding and sympathy softened Noriko's features. "First babies rarely follow our careful plans," she said kindly. "But I think we should send word to the hospital, just to be safe. Sakura would want to know."

Before Hinata could respond, a sharper pain tightened across her abdomen, this one impossible to hide. She gasped, tea sloshing over the rim of her cup as her free hand flew to her belly.

Noriko's arm was around her instantly, supporting her until the contraction passed. "That didn't look like false labor to me, dear," she said when Hinata could breathe normally again. "Inoichi!" she called toward the house. "Send for Sakura Haruno immediately!"

Panic fluttered in Hinata's chest. "But Naruto—the mission—he should be here—"

"And he will be, if at all possible," Noriko assured her, guiding her toward the house with gentle firmness. "Inoichi has ways of getting messages to field teams, even black ops ones. But right now, we need to focus on you and this baby."

As they reached the steps, Ino burst from the house, her face alight with excitement despite the late hour. "Is it time? Is the baby coming?" Then, registering Hinata's distress, her expression softened. "Don't worry, Hinata. We're all here for you. And Sakura's the best medic-nin in the village next to Lady Tsunade herself."

Hinata allowed herself to be led inside, guided to a comfortable room that had been prepared for her stay. As Ino helped her change into a loose yukata, Noriko arranged pillows and blankets to create a supportive nest on the futon.

"There," Noriko said when they had settled Hinata comfortably. "Now we wait and see if the contractions intensify or fade. Either way, you're in good hands."

Despite their kindness, Hinata couldn't help the tears that welled in her eyes. "This isn't how it was supposed to happen," she whispered. "Naruto should be here. We were supposed to have more time."

Ino sat beside her, taking her hand. "I know. But babies make their own schedules. And you know Naruto—he'll move heaven and earth to get back to you if he can."

"And if he can't?" Hinata voiced her deepest fear.

"Then you'll still have us," Ino replied firmly. "And when Naruto does return, he'll find his beautiful wife and healthy baby waiting for him. That's a promise, and we Yamanakas never break our promises."

The certainty in her voice was comforting, as was the motherly presence of Noriko bustling around the room, preparing towels and warm water, creating an atmosphere of capable calm.

Still, as another contraction began to build, Hinata closed her eyes and reached out with her heart, sending a silent message to wherever Naruto might be.

Hurry, my love. Your son is impatient to meet you.

The border patrol never knew what hit them. One moment they were conducting their regular sweep, the next they were scrambling to respond to what appeared to be simultaneous attacks from opposite directions—strange ink creatures from the west, caustic mist rising from the forest floor to the east.

In the confusion, four shadows slipped between their defensive positions, so swift and silent that not even the sensor types among the patrol detected their passage.

Two miles beyond the border, the team regrouped in the branches of a massive oak, catching their breath after the high-speed infiltration.

"Clean execution," Shikamaru approved, scanning the forest behind them for signs of pursuit. "They never even realized we were there."

Naruto nodded, but his expression remained tense. "We're still behind schedule. The facility is another four hours at top speed."

"And we need to conserve chakra for the extraction itself," Sai pointed out. "Rushing in exhausted would be counterproductive."

Before the discussion could continue, a small puff of smoke materialized on the branch beside Naruto, resolving into a familiar toad no larger than his palm.

"Gamakichi!" Naruto exclaimed, surprise momentarily displacing his urgency. "What are you doing here?"

The small toad cleared his throat importantly. "Special delivery from the Leaf Village. From the old lady Hokage herself." He spat out a tiny sealed scroll, then fixed Naruto with serious eyes. "She said it's about your wife."

Naruto's heart seemed to stop. His hands trembled slightly as he took the minuscule scroll, breaking the seal with uncharacteristic care. The message inside was brief, written in Tsunade's distinctive hand:

Hinata in early labor. Not emergency yet. Return mission still priority. Will send updates. Your call.

Five simple sentences that felt like boulders dropped into the still pond of his mind, sending ripples of shock and conflict in all directions.

Hinata was in labor. Boruto was coming—now, not in weeks as they'd planned. And he was miles away, racing toward danger rather than toward his family.

"What is it?" Shikamaru asked, noting the color draining from Naruto's face. "Bad news?"

Wordlessly, Naruto handed over the scroll. His teammates read it quickly, understanding dawning in their eyes.

"You need to go back," Utakata said immediately, no hesitation in his voice. "Your place is with your wife."

"But Sasuke—" Naruto began, the conflict tearing him in two.

"Will still be there," Shikamaru finished for him. "We can proceed with the mission. It'll be more difficult without you, but not impossible."

Sai nodded in agreement. "The original plan can be adapted for three operatives. We've all studied the facility layout, know our objectives. Your absence changes our approach, not our chances of success."

Naruto looked from face to face, stunned by their immediate support, their understanding. "You'd do that? Continue without me?"

"Of course," Shikamaru replied, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "Some things are more important than missions. Even this one."

"Family first," Utakata added quietly. "The lesson you taught me, remember? Now it's time for you to heed your own wisdom."

The permission—freely given, with no judgment or resentment—loosened something in Naruto's chest. The path suddenly seemed clear, the choice obvious where moments before it had been agonizing.

"Thank you," he said simply, gratitude making his voice rough. "Bring him home. Tell him... tell him his nephew is waiting to meet him."

With a final nod to his teammates, Naruto turned back toward Konoha. Chakra flowed into his legs as he prepared to move at speeds few shinobi could match, the Nine-Tails' power answering his desperate need.

"Wait," Gamakichi called, hopping onto his shoulder. "I can reverse-summon you most of the way back. Save your chakra for when you really need it."

Relief flooded through Naruto. "You can do that?"

The small toad puffed up proudly. "Dad taught me the technique. Been practicing. Won't get you all the way there, but should cut your journey by more than half."

"Let's do it," Naruto agreed immediately. He looked back at his team one last time. "Be careful. All of you."

"We will," Shikamaru promised. "Now go. Become a father, Naruto Uzumaki."

With a puff of smoke and a disorienting sensation of being pulled through space, Naruto vanished from the branch, leaving the rescue team to continue their mission without him.

In a dimly lit room somewhere in Otogakure, Sasuke Uchiha sat cross-legged on a hard floor, eyes closed in meditation. The space around him was spare—a thin futon against one wall, a single chair, a small table bearing the remnants of a simple meal. Not quite a prison cell, but not far from it either.

For days now, he had been aware of the subtle changes in his environment—the increased patrols outside his quarters, the new tensions in the chakra signatures of those who brought his meals, the hushed conversations that stopped when he approached. Something was happening, something that involved him.

Behind his closed eyelids, his Sharingan activated briefly, scanning the immediate area for chakra disturbances. Nothing immediate, but he could feel the familiar heavy presence of his "protectors" stationed at regular intervals throughout the compound.

Akatsuki operatives. Watching him. Waiting for... something.

Unbidden, memories of his last encounter with Naruto rose in his mind. The shock on his former teammate's face when their paths had crossed in that rain-lashed clearing. The desperation in his voice as he'd pleaded for Sasuke to return to Konoha.

And then, the revelation that had genuinely caught Sasuke off guard—Naruto, married. Naruto, about to become a father.

It shouldn't have mattered to him. Shouldn't have penetrated the armor of indifference he'd so carefully constructed around his heart. And yet, in unguarded moments like this, Sasuke found himself wondering about it. About the child who would be born with Uzumaki and Hyuga blood mingling in its veins. About the family Naruto was creating while Sasuke remained fixated on avenging the one he had lost.

A subtle vibration in the floor beneath him dragged Sasuke from his thoughts. Someone approaching—someone heavy, with poorly concealed chakra.

His eyes opened, revealing the full activation of his Sharingan. Whatever was coming, he would face it head-on.

The door to his quarters swung open without ceremony. Kisame Hoshigaki filled the frame, massive and blue-skinned, Samehada slung across his back. The shark-like ninja grinned, revealing rows of pointed teeth.

"Time to go, little Uchiha," he announced without preamble. "You've been summoned."

Sasuke didn't move. "Summoned by whom?"

Kisame's grin widened. "Who do you think? The only person you've ever wanted to see." He paused for dramatic effect. "Your brother awaits."

The words sent an electric current through Sasuke's body, though he allowed no outward reaction to show. Itachi. Here. The moment he had been training for, living for, breathing for since the night his clan was massacred.

But something felt wrong. The timing too convenient, the setup too perfect.

"Why now?" he asked, voice deliberately neutral.

Kisame shrugged massive shoulders. "Not my business to question. Just to deliver you. Now move, or I'll carry you like a sack of rice."

Slowly, with deliberate dignity, Sasuke rose to his feet. Whatever game Akatsuki was playing, whatever trap they had laid, he would walk into it with his eyes open. And if it truly was Itachi waiting for him...

Well. Then fate had finally answered his prayers.

As he followed Kisame down the corridor, Sasuke pushed thoughts of Naruto and Konoha firmly from his mind. His path was set. His purpose clear. Nothing else mattered.

Nothing at all.

"Breathe, Hinata. That's it, nice and slow."

Sakura's voice was calm and steady, a lifeline in the storm of pain that surged through Hinata's body. The contractions were coming faster now, stronger, demanding her complete attention.

They had moved her to the hospital two hours ago, when it became clear that Boruto was indeed coming early. The familiar surroundings were a comfort, as was Sakura's confident presence by her side.

"You're doing wonderfully," Sakura encouraged, checking Hinata's progress with gentle hands. "About six centimeters dilated now. More than halfway there."

Hinata nodded, too focused on breathing through the pain to speak. As the contraction eased, she relaxed slightly against the pillows, sweat dampening her dark hair.

"Has... has there been any word?" she asked, the question that had been repeating with each momentary respite.

Sakura's expression softened with sympathy. "Not yet. But Inoichi is doing everything he can to reach Naruto." She squeezed Hinata's hand reassuringly. "First babies often take their time. There's still a chance he'll make it."

Hinata tried to smile, to show gratitude for the comfort even if she didn't quite believe it. The labor was progressing faster than anyone had expected for a first birth. Boruto, it seemed, was as impatient as his father.

A knock at the door drew their attention. Kurenai entered, her face lighting with warmth at the sight of her former student. "There you are. The nurses said you were doing well."

"Sensei," Hinata greeted, genuine pleasure breaking through her discomfort. "You came."

"Of course I came," Kurenai replied, moving to her bedside. "I wouldn't miss this for the world. My first student to become a mother—how could I stay away?"

The arrival of her beloved teacher brought fresh tears to Hinata's eyes—tears of gratitude, of joy mingled with the pain and anxiety of the moment.

"I'm scared," she admitted in a whisper, able to voice the fear only to this woman who had been more mother than teacher to her over the years.

Kurenai stroked her hair gently. "I know. But you are stronger than you know, Hinata. You always have been." Her crimson eyes shone with fierce pride. "And you're not alone. Not for a moment."

As if to emphasize this truth, the door opened again, revealing Hanabi, slightly out of breath as though she had run all the way from the Hyuga compound.

"Sister!" she exclaimed, rushing to Hinata's side. "I came as soon as I heard. Father's on his way too, with Neji."

The news that her father was coming—voluntarily, not summoned or coerced—was so unexpected that Hinata could only blink in surprise.

"Father is—?"

Another contraction interrupted the question, this one stronger than the last. Hinata gasped, instinctively reaching for something to anchor her through the pain. Hanabi's small hand slipped into hers, squeezing tight, unafraid of the crushing grip her sister now had on her fingers.

"I'm here," Hanabi said fiercely. "We're all here."

When the contraction finally eased, leaving Hinata panting, Sakura checked her progress again. "Seven centimeters now," she reported. "We're getting closer. Hanabi, would you mind getting some more ice chips? Kurenai-sensei, there are fresh towels in that cabinet."

As the two moved to their assigned tasks, Sakura leaned closer to Hinata, her professional demeanor softening into the friend beneath. "You're amazing, you know that? Handling this like a true kunoichi."

Hinata managed a weak smile. "Not much choice, is there?"

"Still," Sakura insisted. "Most first-time mothers would be screaming the hospital down by now. You're calm, focused. Just like during training."

"I wish I felt as brave as you think I am," Hinata confessed. "I keep thinking about him all alone out there, not knowing what's happening. What if he doesn't make it back? What if something goes wrong with the mission? What if—"

"Stop," Sakura interrupted gently but firmly. "No 'what ifs.' Not now. Naruto will come if he can. And if he can't, he'll have the best possible reason to race home afterward." She smiled, placing a hand on Hinata's belly. "This little one."

Before Hinata could respond, the door flew open once more. Tsunade strode in, her presence immediately filling the room with authority and purpose.

"Lady Tsunade," Sakura straightened, surprised. "I didn't expect you to—"

"Change of plans," Tsunade interrupted, already washing her hands at the small sink. "I'm taking over. You assist."

The shift in hierarchy was immediate, Sakura moving seamlessly into the secondary role without question. Tsunade approached the bed, honey-colored eyes assessing Hinata with professional detachment that couldn't quite mask the personal concern beneath.

"How are you holding up?" she asked, voice gentler than her usual brusque tone.

"I'm okay," Hinata replied automatically.

Tsunade's eyebrow rose skeptically. "Let's try that again with a little more honesty, shall we?"

Despite everything, Hinata found herself smiling. "It hurts," she admitted. "And I'm scared. And I really, really wish Naruto was here."

Tsunade nodded, satisfied with this more truthful assessment. "Better. Now, I have some news."

Hinata's heart leapt. "Naruto?"

"On his way back," Tsunade confirmed. "Received the message about an hour ago and immediately turned around. He's using some toad transportation jutsu to get here faster."

Relief flooded through Hinata so intensely that for a moment, she forgot about the pain. "He's coming," she whispered. "He's really coming."

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves," Tsunade cautioned. "He's still some distance away, and this little one seems determined to make his entrance sooner rather than later."

As if on cue, another contraction seized Hinata, this one so powerful that she couldn't suppress a cry of pain. Tsunade watched with clinical eyes, timing the duration.

"Sakura, check her dilation again," she ordered when the contraction eased. "I think we're progressing faster than expected."

Sakura complied, her expression turning serious. "Eight centimeters, almost nine. Transition phase."

"What does that mean?" Hanabi asked, returning with the ice chips in time to hear this exchange.

"It means," Tsunade replied, already snapping on medical gloves, "that unless young Boruto decides to slow down dramatically, he'll be here within the hour. With or without his father."

The pronouncement hung in the air, a challenge and a promise all at once. Hinata closed her eyes briefly, sending one more silent plea into the universe.

Hurry, Naruto. Please hurry.

Miles away but closing fast, Naruto raced through the forest, every muscle straining toward Konoha. The reverse summoning had worked, depositing him much closer to the village than he'd dared hope. Now it was just a matter of speed—pure, raw speed fueled by desperation and the Nine-Tails' seemingly limitless chakra.

"Hang on, Hinata," he muttered, leaping from branch to branch with reckless velocity. "I'm coming. I'm coming."

Within him, the Nine-Tails stirred, its presence more alert than usual. "You're pushing too hard," it rumbled in his mind. "Your body can't sustain this pace much longer."

"I don't care," Naruto shot back. "I need to be there. I can't miss this."

A sensation that might have been amusement drifted through their shared consciousness. "So determined. So human. Very well, kit. I'll lend you more of my power. But be warned—there will be a price to pay later."

Before Naruto could question what that meant, a fresh surge of the Nine-Tails' chakra flooded his system. His vision sharpened, his senses heightened, and his speed increased dramatically. The forest became a green blur as he moved faster than he ever had before, each leap covering impossible distances.

Village sentries barely registered the orange streak that blew past their guard posts. Civilians looked up, startled by the sudden wind of his passage. And then the hospital was before him, its white facade gleaming in the late afternoon sun.

Naruto didn't bother with doors. He leapt directly to the second-floor window where he could feel Hinata's chakra signature burning bright as a star.

Glass shattered as he crashed through, landing in a shower of glittering shards and swirling energy. The room's occupants froze in shock—Tsunade and Sakura by the bed, Kurenai and Hanabi pressed against one wall, and Hiashi and Neji who had apparently arrived only moments before.

But Naruto had eyes only for Hinata.

She lay on the bed, dark hair plastered to her forehead with sweat, face contorted in the midst of what was clearly an intense contraction. At the sound of breaking glass, her eyes flew open, finding him instantly across the chaos he'd created.

"Naruto," she gasped, voice breaking with emotion. "You came."

He was at her side in an instant, heedless of the shocked exclamations around him, of Tsunade's curses about "dramatic entrances" and "sterile environments." All that mattered was Hinata's hand in his, her eyes locked with his, the miracle that was happening between them.

"Of course I came," he said, voice rough with emotion and exertion. "I promised, didn't I? And I never—"

"Go back on your word," she finished for him, a smile breaking through her pain. "That's our ninja way."

The contraction peaked, and her grip on his hand became crushing. Naruto held steady, offering what comfort he could through his presence, his touch, his unwavering support.

When it passed, Tsunade stepped forward, professional composure recovered despite the dramatic interruption. "Since you're here, you might as well make yourself useful," she told Naruto briskly. "Support her shoulders when I tell you to. And try not to faint."

Under any other circumstances, Naruto might have protested the implication that he would faint. Now, he simply nodded, too overwhelmed by the moment to manage anything more.

"Ten centimeters," Sakura announced from the foot of the bed. "It's time."

Time seemed to both stretch and compress in the minutes that followed. Naruto was vaguely aware of people moving around them—Hanabi and Neji tactfully retreating to the waiting area, Hiashi hesitating at the door before following them, Kurenai remaining in the corner as silent support.

But his focus never wavered from Hinata—her determination, her strength, her occasional gasps of pain that tore at his heart even as they filled him with awe.

"Push now," Tsunade directed, her voice calm but commanding. "That's it, Hinata. Again."

Naruto supported her as instructed, one arm around her shoulders, the other hand still firmly clutched in hers. "You can do this," he whispered in her ear. "You're amazing. So strong. Our son is lucky to have you as his mother."

The encouragement seemed to give her renewed strength. With a cry that was half pain and half triumph, Hinata gave one final push.

And then—a new sound filled the room. Small but mighty, indignant at being thrust into the bright, cold world after the warmth of his mother's womb.

Boruto's first cry.

"It's a boy!" Sakura announced unnecessarily, tears streaming down her face as she helped Tsunade clear the baby's airways. "A beautiful, healthy boy!"

Tsunade's hands glowed with diagnostic chakra as she quickly examined the newborn. "Perfect," she pronounced, satisfaction evident in her voice. "Absolutely perfect."

The tiny, squalling infant was placed on Hinata's chest, still connected by the umbilical cord, still covered in the evidence of his journey into the world. Hinata's arms came around him automatically, cradling him close as tears of joy spilled down her cheeks.

"Boruto," she whispered, voice filled with wonder. "Hello, my love. We've been waiting for you."

Naruto stared down at the tiny being they had created, overwhelmed by emotions he had no words for. This was his son. His family. A miracle he had never dared to imagine could be his.

"He has your whisker marks," Hinata observed softly, one finger gently tracing the faint lines on their son's cheeks. "But I think he'll have my eyes."

Indeed, as Boruto's cries subsided and he blinked up at the strange new world, his eyes were the pale lavender of the Hyuga bloodline rather than Naruto's vibrant blue.

"He's perfect," Naruto managed, voice thick with emotion. "Just like his mother."

As Sakura and Tsunade bustled around them, completing the delivery process and beginning the routine medical checks, Naruto bent to kiss Hinata's forehead, pouring all his gratitude and love into the gesture.

"Thank you," he whispered against her skin. "For everything. For believing in me. For loving me. For giving me a family."

Hinata smiled up at him, exhausted but radiant. "We gave each other a family," she corrected gently. "And now..." Her gaze returned to Boruto, who had quieted and was now regarding them with solemn newborn eyes. "Now we have even more to protect."

The simple truth of her words settled over them like a mantle—a responsibility and a privilege both. In a world rushing toward war, they had created life. In the face of darkness, they had kindled light.

A soft knock at the door broke the moment. Kurenai opened it to reveal Hiashi, standing stiffly in the corridor, his usually stern face marked with an emotion Naruto had never seen there before.

"May I..." the Hyuga leader began, then paused, as if unsure of his welcome. "May I see my grandson?"

The request—so humble, so unlike the imperious Hiashi they knew—caught both new parents by surprise. Hinata recovered first, shifting Boruto slightly so her father could see him better.

"Of course, Father. Come meet Boruto Uzumaki."

Hiashi approached with uncharacteristic hesitation, his pale eyes fixed on the tiny bundle in his daughter's arms. As he drew near, Boruto turned his head, newborn eyes blinking up at this new face above him.

Something remarkable happened then. Hiashi Hyuga, head of the most austere clan in Konoha, stern patriarch and fearsome warrior, smiled. A real smile, unguarded and genuine, transforming his entire face.

"He has the Byakugan," he observed softly. "But the spirit... that comes from his father, I think."

It was as close to approval—to acceptance—as Hiashi had ever come. Naruto, still hovering protectively beside Hinata, felt something shift between them. Not friendship, not yet. But perhaps the beginning of understanding.

"Would you like to hold him?" Hinata offered, surprising everyone in the room, perhaps even herself.

For a moment, Hiashi looked almost panicked at the suggestion. Then he straightened his shoulders and nodded once. With careful hands that had killed countless enemies but now moved with exquisite gentleness, he accepted the swaddled infant from his daughter.

Boruto stared up at his grandfather, tiny brow furrowing slightly as if assessing this new person. Then, apparently satisfied with what he found, he yawned enormously and closed his eyes, settling into sleep with the absolute trust of the newly born.

Watching him cradle their son, Naruto saw something he'd never expected to see—vulnerability in Hiashi Hyuga's eyes. A glimpse of the man beneath the clan head, the father beneath the leader.

"He will be extraordinary," Hiashi pronounced after a long moment, passing Boruto carefully back to Hinata. "With the Hyuga's sight and the Uzumaki's spirit... a formidable combination."

It was both blessing and prediction, delivered with such conviction that none present thought to question it.

As the day faded into evening, visitors came and went—Neji and Hanabi, their teammates and friends, even Tsunade returning once more for a final check. Through it all, the new family remained in their peaceful bubble, Naruto and Hinata taking turns holding Boruto, marveling at each tiny finger and toe, each expression that crossed his small face.

When they were finally alone, Boruto sleeping peacefully in the small hospital bassinet beside the bed, Naruto took Hinata's hand in his once more.

"I'm sorry I almost missed this," he said quietly. "I was so focused on saving Sasuke, I nearly—"

"But you didn't," Hinata interrupted gently. "You were here when it mattered most. And Sasuke..."

"The team is still trying to reach him," Naruto confirmed, a shadow of worry crossing his features. "I should have news soon."

Hinata squeezed his hand. "Whatever happens with Sasuke, whatever comes next with the war... we'll face it together. The three of us."

As if sensing he was being discussed, Boruto made a small sound in his sleep, one tiny hand escaping the swaddling to wave in the air. Naruto caught it gently, marveling again at how something so small could feel so significant.

"The three of us," he agreed, watching his son's fingers curl instinctively around his own. "No matter what."

Outside the hospital window, twilight deepened into true night, stars emerging one by one in the velvet darkness. Somewhere beyond those stars, fate continued to weave its complex patterns—war brewing, friends in danger, challenges yet to be faced.

But here, in this quiet room, peace reigned. A new family, forged in love and hope, rested together—a bright point of light in an increasingly shadowed world.