Published at 16th of September 2024 12:12 am

Chapter 1: Light and Shadows

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

The sun was starting to set behind the horizon, and the village of Konoha was slowly being immersed in the soft glow of dusk. The streets were quiet, the citizens were returning home after a long day, and somewhere in the distance you could hear the laughter of children playing in the last rays of sunlight. It was one of those days when you could feel that the war was just a memory, distant and almost unreal.

Naruto Uzumaki, the newly appointed seventh Hokage, stood on the terrace of his house, looking out towards the village. Dressed in the standard Hokage attire, with a cloak around his shoulders, he felt the weight of responsibility on him. Although he had always dreamed of becoming Hokage, he had not expected how much sacrifice it would require of him.

Behind him, Hinata Uzumaki, formerly Hyuga, was preparing dinner for their small family. Boruto, their son, had just finished his training at the academy, and little Himawari, their daughter, was playing with a stuffed fox that reminded the girl of Kurama. Life in their home flowed peacefully, yet Naruto couldn't shake the feeling that something was changing - something he couldn't yet name.

Hinata looked at Naruto with concern, noticing his thoughtful expression. She could sense that something was bothering him, although he wasn't quick to talk about his problems. She was still his support, as always. Her gentle nature and warmth had attracted Naruto for a long time, and now that they were married, her presence was irreplaceable to him.

"Naruto-kun..." she said quietly, stepping closer and placing a hand on his shoulder. "Are you okay?"

Naruto turned around and smiled slightly, but his eyes betrayed his tiredness.

"Yes, Hinata," he replied, although they both knew that wasn't the whole truth. "I just... think a lot about the future. About Boruto, Himawari, about the village... Sometimes I feel like I already have more responsibility than I can handle.

Hinata sighed quietly, her hand sliding up his arm until it gently hugged him. She knew that Naruto often demanded too much of himself. He had fought for recognition his whole life, and now that he had it, he still had the same fighting spirit in him, even though he was facing different challenges now.

"Naruto-kun, you are strong," she said quietly, her voice steady. "And you are not alone. You have me, the children, your friends... We are all here to support you."

Naruto's smile widened, his gaze softening. She had always been able to calm him down, even when his thoughts were racing.

"Thank you, Hinata," he said, leaning down to kiss her forehead gently. "Sometimes I really forget that I don't have to do everything myself."

The conversation was interrupted by Boruto's loud laughter, who rushed into the kitchen, holding a small scroll in his hands.

"Dad! Dad!" he shouted enthusiastically, waving the rolled parchment. "Look what I managed to do today in training!"

Naruto turned to his son, immediately snapping back to reality. Whenever he saw Boruto full of energy, he remembered himself from his childhood - even though Boruto had more than Naruto could ever dream of, there was still the same desire to become stronger that Naruto once had. His smile widened, and the tiredness disappeared from his face for a moment.

"Show me what you've got, Boruto," he said, sitting down at the table.

Boruto proudly unrolled the scroll, revealing a complex chakra seal. Hinata approached for a closer look, and Himawari curiously approached her brother, peering over his shoulder.

"This is the seal I mastered today!" Boruto said enthusiastically. - The teacher said that this was one of the more difficult levels, but I managed to do it on my first try!

Naruto looked at the seal with appreciation. It was a complicated technical jutsu, and Boruto had mastered it with exceptional ease. He felt proud that his son was so talented, but at the same time he knew that Boruto also needed to learn responsibility.

- Great job, Boruto - Naruto said, patting him on the shoulder. - But remember, strength isn't everything. It's important to know when to use it.

Boruto looked at his father with a slight frown, as if trying to understand what Naruto meant. He saw in his eyes the same look that sometimes accompanied him when he spoke of his own father - Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage. Back then, that look had a note of respect, but also rebellion that Naruto knew all too well.

- I know, dad - Boruto replied after a moment, although there was a slight note of impatience in his voice. - But now I just want to be the strongest, just like you.

Naruto smiled, knowing that Boruto would eventually understand. He himself had once thought the same.

- It's good that you want to be strong, Naruto said. - But a true ninja's strength lies in how you protect others, not how powerful you are.

Hinata watched the whole scene with a smile. She always admired the way Naruto passed on his values ​​to Boruto, even if it wasn't always easy. She remembered how he herself wasand in Boruto's age, full of ambition, but also struggling with insecurity. She knew Boruto was stronger than she was at the time, but she felt he still had a long way to go to understand what it truly meant to be a ninja.

When dinner was ready, everyone sat down together at the table, and the atmosphere in the house was filled with the warmth of family. Naruto looked at Hinata with gratitude, knowing that it was thanks to her that he felt like he belonged, despite all the challenges he faced as Hokage.

A few days later, Naruto had to go on a mission outside the village. It wasn't a particularly dangerous mission, but it required his presence, and being separated from his family was always a difficult part of his life. Standing at the village gate, he said goodbye to Hinata and the children.

"Be careful, Naruto-kun," Hinata said, looking at him with concern.

Naruto smiled and gently hugged her to him.

"I'm always careful," he joked, although they both knew that wasn't always the case.

Hinata smiled, but there was a hint of worry in her eyes. She knew Naruto always tried to protect others, even at the cost of himself. It was something she loved most about him, but it was also something that scared her. She didn't want to lose him.

Naruto noticed it in her gaze and lifted his hand slightly to gently stroke her cheek.

"I'll come back to you soon," he promised, looking her straight in the eyes. "I always come back."

Hinata nodded, even though she knew that nothing was ever certain in their world. But she trusted Naruto.

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