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The gentle clinking of dishes coupled with the whoosh of the running faucet filled the otherwise quiet living space as Hinata Uzumaki focused on her current task of washing that morning’s dishes. For once, it was a rather peaceful, uneventful day. Her husband was back at work continuing the ever arduous task of running and protecting Konoha as its Hokage. Hinata reminded herself to pack an overnight bag and a bento for him later. Maybe she’ll cook him her special ramen tonight. Hinata sighs lightly thinking about her love. While it did feel lonely sometimes not seeing Naruto on a regular basis like any normal married couple, she knew this was his lifelong dream that has finally come into fruition. She knows this job is important, and as his wife, Hinata would always support Naruto in whatever he does. Speaking of support, recently there has been a new addition to their little family of four.
It has been a few weeks since Naruto brought into their home the strange, lonely boy who called himself Kawaki. From the moment Naruto introduced Kawaki, Hinata knew he had built himself a lot of very strong walls around him. He rarely spoke, preferring to stay within his borrowed room in Naruto’s home office. He would respond to their questioning, however, it was always in a gruff manner. It was almost as if he was a lone, injured wolf who was abandoned by his pack and would bite at anybody that dared to get too close. He doesn’t say much to her, but, Hinata knows he is a good boy. He keeps his room neat and would clean up after himself after every meal before locking himself in his room again. It saddened and pained Hinata to seem him like that. Actually, it very much reminded her of Naruto’s painful childhood and how she could do nothing to help him at that time.
Later, Naruto explained to her the circumstances behind meeting Kawaki and how he could possibly be connected to Boruto through the same sinister mark they both shared. Hinata immediately felt endeared to the boy. This time around, she had the power to do something to help him. Thinking back on it, Hinata didn’t expect to have another child. Two was already quite a handful, but, after a long, private discussion that lasted late into the night, she readily agreed with Naruto’s request to take Kawaki into their family. Naruto apologized profusely for springing this on her suddenly, but, Hinata couldn’t fault him for it especially since a child was involved. She decided that she wanted to protect the boy in her own way and give him the nurturing care and love he had been missing all this time.
“Hyaa! Take that!” Hinata is startled from her musings by Boruto’s cries. She could hear buttons being pressed furiously.
“Pssh. You call that skill?”
“Go nii-chan! Go Kawaki-Kun!” Himawari is off to the side cheering on the two boys with much enthusiasm.
Kawaki doesn’t answer Boruto’s goading choosing instead to play in silence across from Boruto in the living room.
Hinata shakes her head in bemusement watching her children play together. Three children is definitely more of a handful.
“YOU LOSE!” The game announcer’s voice rings out from Boruto’s handheld console
“YOU WIN!” Flashes across the screen on Kawaki’s console which he had borrowed from Himawari.
“Aww man no fair! You totally cheated teme!” Boruto growls at Kawaki in frustration who had already placed his console down on the coffee table.
“I didn’t cheat. I just used strategy. Which is something you should do once in a while instead of button mashing recklessly.” Kawaki turns his head away from Boruto which only made him angrier.
“I didn’t button mash! Come on fight me again I dare you! Loser takes out the trash for a week.” Boruto thrusts a finger in Kawaki’s face.
“Stop being childish.” The two boys growl and glare at each other. You could see sparks fly between them.
“Mama!” Himawari rushes over and pulls on Hinata’s arm gently. “Onii-chan and Kawaki-kun are going to fight again.” Hinata wipes her hands on a towel and walks over to the bickering boys.
“Maa! Maa! That’s enough. Please don’t fight you two.” Hinata put her hands on her hips. And with that, the two immediately stood down only to cross their arms and turn their backs on each other.
“Boruto, don’t you have to meet your team for training today?” Hinata says gently.
Boruto slaps his hand on his forehead. “Ah crap that’s right! Sarada is going to kill me if I’m late again.” Boruto rushes up the stairs to retrieve his ninja pouch and his forehead protector from his room. Before he reaches the top of the stairs, he stops and turns to look at Kawaki.
“Oi! Kawaki do you want to come with?” Hinata notices from the corner of her eye, Kawaki is startled by Boruto’s invitation.
Boruto scratches the back of his head looking away. “We’d be able to pair off evenly if you come.” Boruto mumbles.
Hinata claps her hands. “Yes, that sounds like a wonderful idea! I’m taking Himawari to her friend’s house later and I have to run some errands myself. This is your chance to stretch your legs and get some fresh air. Ne Kawaki-kun?” Hinata looks at Kawaki expectantly with a bright, gently smile on her face.
Kawaki blushes a little. “F-fine. I guess. Whatever.”
“Perfect! Don’t leave just yet I’ll make the both of you a bento for your lunch.”
“Kaa-chaaan. Please don’t go overboard.” Boruto cries running up the stairs.
“Kawaki-kun you should go get ready too.”
“Hmph.” Kawaki turns and heads off to his own room.
Hinata sighs heavily in defeat. “Yosh! Himawari,” Hinata looks down at her doe-eyed daughter. “Would you like to help me make the bentos?” Himawari smiles bright and nods her head enthusiastically. “Mm!”
A Few Moments Later
“Ah! I’m going to be late!” Boruto’s thundering footsteps come down the stairs. Kawaki is already in his streetwear slipping on his shoes by the genkan.
“Are you ever just NOT loud in the morning?” Kawaki said under his breath.
“Shut up! Now hurry up or else Sarada is going to punch us into the next century!” Boruto forcibly shoves his feet into his ninja sandals nearly stumbling in his haste.
“Wait a minute you two!” Hinata rushes over to the boys. “Don’t forget to take these with you. I packed a little bit extra so you can share with Sarada-chan and Mitsuki-kun.”
“Thanks kaa-chan!” Boruto yells out waving behind him as he rushes out the door with his bento wrapped in pink cloth.
Kawaki leisurely gets up, slips one of his hands in his pants pocket, gently takes the bento wrapped in a blue cloth and grunts at Hinata in thanks before walking out the door after Boruto.
“Take care and have a nice day you two!” Hinata and Himawari wave at them from the front entrance.
Afternoon: After a Hard Training Session at the Team 7 Training Grounds
“Phew! I’m beat. I don’t think I can move anymore.” Boruto lands flat on his back on the grass taking in the nice warm breeze coming through the field. His face and body show some signs of minor bruising and scratches, but, nothing too serious or concerning.
“That was a very productive training session indeed.” Mitsuki said in a monotone voice before sitting down next to Boruto.
“Oh come on. We can still train some more. It’s still early.” Sarada walks over putting her hands on her hips grumbling at Boruto. She barely has any scratches on her.
“Sarada give us a break. Don’t be such a drill sergeant.” Boruto groans. “By the way,” Boruto sits up, reaches behind him and pulls the bento close to him. “My mom made you guys some snacks for today.” Boruto unwraps the pink cloth and hands one small box to Sarada and another to Mitsuki.
“Oh wow. She didn’t have to do that, but, please tell her thank you.” Sarada opens the lid and sees perfectly shaped onigiri wrapped in seaweed.
“Thank you for the meal.” Mitsuki takes out an onigiri from his own bento and takes a big bite out of it. “Mmm. Delicious. Curry flavored.”
Boruto’s eyes brighten in excitement. “Ah! Mom must have used the leftovers from last night’s dinner!” Boruto looks down at his bento and blinks finding a sun-shaped sticky note on the lid that says, “Be sure to train hard today. Have a good day! *heart* Kaa-chan.” And next to “Kaa-chan” is a small drawing of chibi Hinata waving.
“Aww Kaa-chan how embarassing!” Boruto blushes brightly before opening his bento and digging into his food trying to hide his bright red face in his rice.
Sarada and Mitsuki laugh at Boruto. “Aww how cute!” Sarada yells in a teasing tone.
“Shut up!”
“Yes, you must have a very close relationship with your mother Boruto for her to write cute messages and hide them in your bento.” Mitsuki says.
“Aww man!”
Kawaki doesn’t make a comment preferring to sit farther away from the trio on a tree stump. As he unwraps the blue cloth, his eyes also widen in surprise as he finds a star-shaped sticky note on his own bento. Kawaki carefully peels the note off the lid and reads it. “I hope you like the food today. Please don’t hesitate to tell me if there is something that you don’t like. I want to know what kinds of food you like. Have a good day today! Please forgive Boruto for his rudeness. Kaa-chan.” At the end of the message, there is a chibi Hinata with two hands together and a “SORRY” over her head. While reading the note, Kawaki feels a bubbling warmth from within his chest and he feels the beginnings of a smile come across his face. He quietly says “thank you for the meal” and digs into his food.
The walk back to the Uzumaki household was relatively silent. Boruto walked ahead of Kawaki with his hands behind his head in a lazy, casual manner. Kawaki walked behind Boruto with his hands in his pockets looking down at the ground in front of him.
“Hey…” Kawaki calls out.
“Hmm?” Boruto stops and turns around facing Kawaki. “What?”
“Your mom…” Kawaki looks to the side avoiding eye contact with Boruto. “She’s very nice.”
Boruto grins widely with pride. “Yup! She’s the best! But be careful not to make her mad because she can be super scary dattebasa!” Boruto waves his arms dramatically.
“Heh.” Kawaki chuckles softly and the two boys continue their journey back home.
Later on in the night after everyone has partaken of their dinner, Hinata finds a small sticky note on the fridge.
“Hmm?” Hinata tilts her head and pulls the note off.
“Thank you for the food today. I really liked the curry onigiri. Kawaki.”
Hinata looks and finds Kawaki’s bento already washed and put away in its proper place. Hinata smiles gently feeling her heart warm and tears prick the corner of her eyes. She looks out to the living room and sees Kawaki reading a story book to Himawari who was listening attentively to every word he said. Kawaki senses eyes on him and looks up from the book catching Hinata’s gaze. He blushes a little and nods his head in her direction in acknowledgement. Hinata only smiles wider and stares fondly at her three children.
Yes, three children are a handful, but, she wouldn’t dare trade this life for anything in the world.