Chapter Text
Hinata Hyuga was beautiful.
She was the sun, the moon and everything in between.
Hinata Hyuga was amazing.
She was the light and life itself.
Hinata Hyuga was love.
And Naruto will do everything in his power to have a small portion of her love to himself.
If not whole.
Because Hinata Hyuga was everything he wanted.
Needed.
But here she was lying on the hospital bed.
Pale. Eyes closed.
Different from the Hinata he knew.
Vibrant and warm.
And then Naruto weeps.
Clinging on to her hand as if his life depended on it.
He knows this kind of reaction is uncalled for.
Hinata was alive.
But all Naruto could think was the fact that he almost lost her.
He almost lost Hinata.
"Hinata…"
Silence.
Except for his sobs and thunderous breaths.
Naruto traces the burns on Hinata's arms with his tearful eyes.
And his heart breaks.
Because he wasn't there for her.
He wasn't able to protect Hinata.
"I'm sorry…"
The blonde bit his lip, remembering Tsunade's words before he went inside the room.
"Do not blame yourself. The criminals are responsible for what happened to Hinata. You are not at fault, Naruto."
He tries not to.
But all he could do was blame himself.
If not for his words that night, Hinata wouldn't have left.
If he listened to her first, they would've resolve the issue differently.
If he didn't let his emotions take over, Hinata wouldn't be here, lying on the bed.
She would've been safer.
Smiling at him.
Getting his attention.
"I'm sorry for everything I said that night. I told you some stupid and painful things and I drove you to leave. And I… I pushed you into this situation. I'm sorry, Hinata. I should've… I should've listened to you. I should've trusted you. I shouldn't have said those words instead."
And Naruto weeps harder.
Because all the words he said to her was ringing in his ear.
"Tsunade-sama told me about what happened the night you decided to leave…"
Naruto feels Kurama's warm chakra.
And he smiles at the fox's subtle comfort.
But the tears were endless.
And so he holds her even tighter.
"If I could turn back time… I would run after you instead of walking away from you. I would hold your hand and listen. And I would assure you that everything would be okay. That everything will work in the end. No casualties. No like this. No you hurting because of my mistakes. No nothing. Just… Just you. But I can't turn back the time, can I?"
Naruto wills himself to calm down.
But the guilt and pain was too overwhelming for him to even breathe.
It's as if the hurt was chaining his lungs down, completely disallowing him to find air.
"I can't… I don't want you to get hurt like this, Hinata. I can't. My heart can't take this. I know you're strong. And you can protect yourself just fine… But I don't think I can get used to this. I can't get used to seeing you hurt. I can't…"
This must have what his father felt.
This must have been what his mother told him about.
Naruto now understands.
And now that he did, he won't ever lose the chance to grasp this.
This warm and familiar feeling.
"I just want to always have you at arm's length… To always see you and be by my side. To be able to reach you when I need you. And to be always there when you need me back… I'm so fucking scared of this feeling, Hinata. But I don't want to stop feeling this. I just want to feel this with you."
Naruto never lets go of her hand as he lets go the words.
And despite the tears, he steadies his gaze at the woman peacefully sleeping.
Naruto smiles.
Happiness and pain both swimming into the pools of his reverie.
He now finally understands.
Love.
"I'm done running away, Hinata… I'm done being a coward."
And Naruto asks the universe how he found all the love in the world in a small person like Hinata.
He laughs.
And then his heart beats.
"I love you, Hinata. I love you with my every being. I love you with all of I am. The me of the past, the present, and the future loves you. Even if I die, I will still love you. And the me that will exist in the next life will continue to love you. Endlessly. With no bounds."
Naruto closes his eyes.
And his heart eases.
"I love you too."
He then felt a warm hand caress his cheek.
Naruto blinks.
And there he saw love smiling at him.
Love had pale-lavender eyes.
Love had indigo hair.
Love had fringes.
Love was Hinata Hyuga itself.
"Were you awake all this time…?"
There was a hint of embarrassment on the blonde's voice.
But that was the least of his concern.
Hinata was here.
Alive.
Looking at him.
Tears forming around her delicate eyes.
"Yeah, I was. Hahahaha. I wanted to open my eyes but I didn't want to interrupt your um… monologue. So I just listened..."
Naruto blushes.
He knows his face was as red as a tomato.
But he doesn't care anymore.
"H-Hey! What if I had some broken bones, you dumbass?!"
Naruto picks Hinata up.
He rests her on his lap as he embraced her like there was no tomorrow.
Naruto doesn't want to ever let go.
"I'm sorry."
He whispers as he nuzzled his face on the crook of her neck.
And Naruto felt electricity run through his veins as he caught a whiff of Hinata's scent.
It smelt delicate.
Nostalgic.
Like ramen after a day full of chores.
Or flowers blooming during spring.
Home.
Hinata smelt like home.
"Whatever happened in the past happened. I don't blame you for anything, Naruto. I am a shinobi. Getting hurt is always part of the job. I was just pissed before I left. But not anymore. Everything worked out fine, okay? Don't beat yourself too much."
Naruto pulls away and looked at her in the eye.
"You forgive me that easily? Why?"
"Because I love you, stupid!"
Naruto smiles.
And his gaze drops at her lips.
His heart was racing.
But it was racing for all the good reasons.
And then, their lips touched.
Soft.
Warm.
Beautiful.
Complete.
"I love you, Hinata. Thank you."
"Tou-chan? Is it time now?"
Naruto smiles at the small blonde pulling his shirt. Happiness.
Love.
"Yes, Boruto. But no making noises, alright? It's a surprise."
Boruto grins widely at the word.
Surprise.
He always loved surprising his mother even with the smallest of things.
Like the paper boat he created.
Or the drawing of the their family he carefully made despite its imperfections.
"Will the baby in Kaa-chan's tummy be surprised too?"
Naruto nods.
And softly ruffles the head of the boy.
Happiness.
Love.
"Of course. Your little sister will definitely be happy, Boruto."
The two shared a smile.
And then slowly turned the knob that lead to the room where Hinata was napping.
Boruto walked slowly.
Holding two balloons on each hand.
Naruto glances at Hinata.
The scarf he made three years ago resting around her growing belly.
Happiness.
Love.
Happy birthday, Kaa-chan!!!
from: Bolt and Tou-chan
Naruto grins at the writing on the cake courtesy of Boruto.
He then nudged his son to walk closer to where his mother was.
The blonde obeyed.
Smiling from ear to ear.
His tiny hands then tapped Hinata's cheeks.
And when her eyes blinked open, Naruto almost cried.
"Happy birthday, Kaa-chan!!!!!"
Boruto jumps on his place instead of launching his self to Hinata.
And Naruto feels glad that his little boy followed his instructions despite his eagerness to embrace his mother.
"Happy birthday, dear."
Naruto and Hinata shared a look.
And then smiled.
Happiness.
Love.
"Kaa-chan! Blow the candles! I made this cake! You should taste it!"
"Is that so? Okay, then!"
Hinata wrapped her arms around the boy and kissed him around his neck and cheeks.
"My little boy is now cooking for me, eh? Don't you want to be my baby anymore?"
"I'm still Kaa-chan's number one baby! But I also want to become an amazing big brother to my baby sister!"
Naruto laughs at the sight.
He placed the cake on a nearby table and sat beside his family.
"You're already an amazing brother, Boruto! Come here!"
The boy ran to his father and giggled as he was being tickled with kisses.
Hinata laughs.
And Naruto holds her hand while settling the still laughing Boruto on his leg.
He looks at her with all the love he could muster.
And their eyes spoke.
"I love you, Naruto."
"Thank you, Hinata."
Happiness.
Love.
Home.
Naruto is finally home.