Chapter Fifty-Six

A heavy lead weight bounced in Hinata's stomach as she walked down the line of the clan elders to her right. Unlike their previous iteration, Hinata had insisted at least half of the group be women clan members – Neji was also now part of the group. Despite the younger, more balanced group, Hinata still remained nervous to their presence. On her left, the group of dignitaries from other clans included The Nara family, Choji, Shino, Itachi, Sasuke, Ino, Tenten, Temari, Might Guy, Rock Lee, Kakashi, Shizune, Tsunade, Jiraiya, Kushina, and Lord Minato. The cream of the clan and village nobility all had eyes on her right now.

Hinata slowly walked the gauntlet, dressed in her formal, pale lavender robes. At the end of the line stood two figures most dissimilar in appearance. Wearing black and grey stood father, stone-faced with only the slightest hint of pride from behind his façade. Next to him stood Naruto, equally nervous as she was. You've done this hundred to times with him, nothing bad is going to happen.

She reached the end of the line and bowed to father and Naruto. Father dressed in his traditional dark grey and Naruto wore white robes trimmed in red. Both bowed in return. Father clutched a photo of Uncle Hizashi, and Naruto carried the ceremonial katana of the clan leader. No effort had been given to acknowledge Grandfather. Even father, normally traditional, agreed that his father's time had come and gone, and there was no place of honor for him at this ceremony after his misdeeds. "The passing of clan leadership is one of the most important acts to be held in any clan. It all together fitting that we celebrate our new clan leader's birthday by officially passing leadership to her."

A short round of applause came from both sides of the chambers. "However, we find ourselves in an unusual spot as we pass the blade from one leader to the next. I cannot claim credit for the achievement that has brought my daughter before me." He turned to Naruto, "No, that credit goes to the young shinobi standing before me, the young man who believed in my daughter when even I had my doubts. It is altogether fitting that he presents her with the family blade."

Naruto knelt before her on one knee, his head bowed, and the sheathed Katana held out to her. I wish he was on his knee offering something else, but this isn't bad, either. Hinata smiled thinly has she took the sword, discretely making hand contact as she took the blade from his hands. Naruto let his other knee down and slightly bowed his head. He closed his eyes, and Father placed an apple atop Naruto's head.

Showtime! She tied the scabbard to her robe and unsheathed her sword. In the warring states period, the passing of clan leadership was traditionally followed by the new clan leader beheading the old clan leader so as to prevent a leadership struggle. About a hundred years before grandfather was born, an ancestor lost to history abdicated in favor of his younger, more capable, brother. Unwilling to kill his brother, he instead began the tradition of cutting the apple from the head of the former clan leader or his representative if he was unable or unwilling to stand in.

Hinata brought the blade up in salute to Father and Naruto and then brought the blade around in a cross slashing motion, her one last chance to practice where the blade would hit. A clean cut foretold a prosperous, fruitful rein, while a sloppy or destructive one foretold much turmoil.

Hinata drew back the blade, focusing supremely on the apple and not Naruto. Much as she loved him, if she let herself lose focus, she could seriously injure him, maybe even kill him. Here goes, love guide my hand and my blade! She swung with a loud WHOOSH splitting the air.

For a long moment, nothing happened. Naruto opened his eyes in disbelief – the apple was completely still on his head! My god, no way I missed that shot! Her heart began thundering at the implication of a missed sword slash. Father glared stony-faced, disappointed, but soon, his expression curled in confusion. He delicately reached the stem of the apple, lifting away the top half. Father's expression morphed into a smile so wide Hinata worried his face would crack. He held the perfectly cut half of the apple overhead, and the room erupted in cheers.

Hinata finally remembered to breathe. The blade had tiny traces of apple juice from where the blade made contact. She delicately wiped the blade before sheathing it. Glad that's over with! Naruto picked the other half of the apple from his head and got up. "Long and fruitful reign, Hinata," he smiled.

"Thank you!" she embraced Naruto tightly, not caring if the others would be upset. She had started this year in a hospital bed begging him to help her change her destiny. Now, the year would be ending with her at the head of her clan. Other challenges would come and go, but never had to doubt that she had earned this. The love she had shared with Naruto had made this happen. Now prove yourself worthy of it!

They separated, and soon they were surrounded by friends to congratulate them on a job well done. After several minutes the group dispersed, making for the courtyard for refreshment. One person remained behind. "Great job today, Hinata," Itachi Uchiha spoke in the now mostly empty room, "I only hope when my turn comes, things go so well."

Hinata sensed an ulterior motive, one that gave her goosebumps in anxiety. "Itachi, many thanks," she bowed.

"You're quite welcome," he returned the bow. "Hinata," his voice became strained, "I have a strange proposal for you."

She eyed him curiously, "If it is a marriage proposal, I'm afraid I'm quite spoken for," she lied, hoping to shut him down.

Itachi laughed, "Nothing quite like that," he paused as he kept laughing, "No, this is a job offer."

"A job offer?" Hinata raised an eyebrow.

"I suspect you're already aware of Naruto's plans to leave next year, and Sakura will be training full-time to be a medical-nin."

"You've done your homework," she sighed.

"Hinata, you don't strike me as the type of person that is content to hide behind the walls of this compound for the next three years while your team goes off to do their own thing."

His words rubbed salt on an unseen wound. Aside from missing Naruto, Hinata would now be without a team. And while she had a responsibility to lead this clan, the thought of being a princess locked in a castle growing fat and soft while Naruto and Sakura grew stronger and sharper didn't appeal to her. "I'm interested," she replied, "what type of work?"

"The type you can't talk about to others," he replied. "It means living a double life."

"You mean like that ANBU tattoo you have on your shoulder?"

"So, you noticed it?" he said intrigued.

"What would I be doing?" Hinata gripped the sword and scabbard, trying to keep her hand from shaking.

"You would have to train as an ANBU operative; you'd only be a reservist. Kakashi and I would train you on the rest, but you'd be special agent for the Konoha Investigation Bureau. You would be my infiltrator. It means going under deep cover at times."

Hinata stared at the blade and then to Itachi. "Why me?"

"Partially, you have a unique skill set, your Byakugan; partially you have an unassuming personality in social settings – both of which are useful in this kind of work." Itachi tented his hands, "However, there is the certain fact that you are a skilled combatant, and it would give us a chance to manage your special chakra better, much like Naruto is leaving to learn."

He knows right where to put pressure. Hinata felt the weight of Kyuubi on her shoulders. Another war would be coming not long after Naruto would be coming home. Kushina had hated sitting out the conflict last time, and now that had rubbed off on her. What good is it having this damn chakra if I can't protect the people and village I love with it! "I'm in," she said determined.

"Excellent," Itachi smiled. "I'll be in touch after the start of the new year." He smiled thoughtfully, "Now why don't we go and celebrate, clan leader!"

The fading sun painted the sky a swirl of orange and raspberry sherbet as Naruto sat beside Hinata on Sunset Hill just west of the village on a mid-April afternoon. He had enjoyed the winter holidays with Hinata, a period of relative calm after the frantic pace of the prior year. About two weeks after the New Year, Hinata asked him if he was ready to start training in earnest again. Like flipping a switch, they were back at it like they'd never stopped. In fact, Hinata and he were impossibly more intense in their training regimen, like they were preparing to go to war.

While Naruto appreciated having a return to a set schedule, he felt an ominous presence behind it. Something had been eating Hinata since he'd gotten out of the hospital, and it progressively was getting worse. Her demeanor hadn't changed at all, but her chakra presence seemed perpetually disturbed for the past several months. Despite gently probing the issue, Hinata kept it close into her chest. And now you have roughly sixteen hours left before a tearful good-bye at the gate in the morning.

Hinata had asked him desperately on what should have been a beautiful picnic to end their last day together. Once again, she seemed a swirling mass of anxiety and confusion. While linking chakra with her might provide an instant answer, Naruto refrained; something about probing into her mind uninvited would be violating a trust they shared. Naruto stared at her shadowy beauty in the fading afternoon light, trying to discern any clue he could before raising the subject one last time. "Hinata…" he felt his voice crack slightly.

"Y-yes, Naruto?" Hinata reverted back to her shy routine. Her fingers tapped, her cheeks reddened, and she stammered – definitely something making her nervous. And you aren't? Can you honestly say you're not worried about some suave guy coming along and stealing her out from under you?

He stared into her eyes, trembling slightly. "Is… is something wrong?"

"W-why would something be wrong, Naruto?" she stumbled over her words.

Take it slow, don't push. "Hinata, something feels like it's been bugging you," he said, taking her hand, "for some time now. D-did I do something wrong?"

"No," she protested, "of course not! Why would you say that?"

"I don't know," he struggled, "when I'm around you lately, you feel so tense, like I'm stressing you just by being near you!"

"N-Naruto-kun!" she shivered, "If you were so worried, why didn't you just link chakra with me?"

"I… I thought of it, but clearly it seemed to be private. I didn't want to see something if it wasn't meant for me."

"N-Naruto…" she cried slightly, "there's a lot going on right now that I can't tell you about. I wish I could."

Naruto's heart jumped, "Hinata, is… is there someone else? Or are you having second thoughts about us?"

Hinata recoiled in shock, her mouth hanging open. Oh god, that's it! Naruto felt himself turning purple as his heart skipped beats. "H-Hinata! I-I'm sorry! Whatever it is, we can work it out!"

"Naruto!" She desperately put her hands on his shoulders, "Why would you say such a thing!" Tears leaked around her beautiful Byakugan eyes. "There could never be anyone to replace you! I'd be a fool to leave you! And… I'd die if you'd left me!" Hinata embraced him desperately. There was something else; Naruto felt her chakra connecting to his. A flood of images overwhelmed him: the confrontation in the hospital room, the strange villager revealing herself as Himawari Uzumaki, and the shocking revelation, " … in about ten years you grow up to marry my father," Himawari's ghostly image turned to look at a bed-ridden Naruto, "and you give birth to my brother, Boruto, and later me."

Hinata showing him someone else might have been enough shock to kill him; instead, she'd sent him soaring toward the heavens. Naruto held her close, manic with joy. "I'm such a fool!"

"Idiot," she laughed, "a fool knows better!"

"I should have known better!" he wheezed. "I'm sorry!"

"I'm sorry, too, Naruto! I was so worried if I showed you, things might change!" she sobbed, "What if they do? What if you meet someone at Mount Myoboku or on the way there or back?"

Now it was Naruto's turn to laugh, "You realize," he laughed, "there are no human females at Mount Myoboku; I don't think even Mom has been there!" He pulled back slightly to stare at her, "You're beautiful, you kick ass," he nodded to the picnic basket, "and you're one hell of a cook. You're going to be one heck of a wife, someday!"

"You're handsome, supportive, and brave," she rested a hand on his cheek, "I long for the day to see your face on Hokage Rock, my husband's face."

Naruto took her hand from his cheek and cleared his throat, "Hinata, I know you're worried about things changing, but please accept this," Naruto pulled from his pocket a small locket in the shape of the Uzumaki Clan's crest, "as a promise that no matter what changes, there will be no others for as long as you wear this faithfully." He pressed the locket into her hand.

Hinata unclasped the locket, revealing a picture of him on one side, and a picture of her on the other. "I will treasure this always," she brought the chain around her neck, "and keep you next to my heart for all time." Hinata tucked the locket beneath her collar. "I wish I could go with you," she sighed.

"After hearing about what they eat out there," Naruto chuckled, "I'm pretty sure you wish you weren't! Besides, you a have a clan to look after, and a village to look after while I'm gone."

"Well," she extracted something from her pocket, "being that I can't go with you, I give you a small piece of me to take with you," she handed him a lock of her black hair tied by a red ribbon and a laminated photo of her.

Naruto delicately ran the strand of her hair in his fingers, "Wherever I go, you go with me!" He tucked both objects into his wallet next to his shinobi registration card and his security clearance. "I'm going to miss you!" He felt a single tear break past his defenses.

"I'll miss you too!" she began crying as she wrapped her arms around him. His tears began flowing as his arms snaked around her shoulders. Pretty soon, they were both a blubbering mess of tears. "N-Naruto-kun," she whimpered, "there is something I need to tell you!"

"It's okay," he reassured her, "tell me."

"I love you!"

"I love you, too!" He held her until the sun dipped below the horizon.

Lord Fourth looked at the eclectic bunch gathered at the west gate and he checked his watch –0800. Quit dilly-dallying, get on with it. Jiraiya and Naruto were saying their good-byes to everyone: Sakura, Hinata, Sasuke, Tsunade, Kakashi, Shizune, Kushina, and Konohamaru.

"You sure we got everything, troublesome woman!" a familiar voice approached, causing Minato to grin, "I'd hate if we forgot the kitchen sink."

"It's a long walk to Suna, crybaby," Temari retorted, "keep talking and you'll discover what it's like with a limp!"

Minato turned to eye Asuma with Team Ten. "Good morning, Lord Fourth," he greeted.

"Morning, I see your team is ready to join the convoy." Minato cracked a smirk.

"Tell you what, I'll make you a deal: you walk this lot to and from Suna, and I'll take over as Hokage while you're gone! It will give you at least another week with your son!"

Minato chuckled, shaking his head, "I really wouldn't mind it believe it or not," he looked over his shoulder to his son, "Damn, he grew up so fast! It feels like yesterday I was taking him and Kushina home from the hospital."

"Yeah, I'm told it happens," Asuma said.

"Have you and Kurenai talked at all about it?"

"Talked, yes," Asuma scratched at the nicotine patch on his arm, "I dunno, why spoil a good thing?"

"You love her, don't you?" Minato shot back.

Asuma raised a finger, "Point taken. Maybe," he shrugged, "After losing Dad and needing to look after Konohamaru, thank you for looking after the little guy so much, by the way."

"It was the least we could do to help you and your family out," Minato nodded.

"Yo, boss," Asuma stared at the group at the gate, "I think you're gonna need to wrap this up soon; Naruto just said his last good-bye to Hinata and Kakashi."

"Can't hold up the show," Minato sighed quietly. He locked eyes with Naruto, almost a carbon copy of Minato at that age. And yet, he's done more at his age than you ever did by then. Minato's only claim to fame by that age had been rescuing Kushina, aside from just being an overachieving student.

"Dad…" Naruto looked at him with his baby-blue eyes.

Minato was again, holding his son for the first magical moment after waking up from almost losing him and Kushina. "Son…" Minato felt a damp river flowing down his cheeks. He didn't know who ran to who, but soon he and Naruto were wrapped up, sobbing. "… I'll miss you, boy!"

"Dad, I'll see you in a month's time!" Naruto cried, "It's not like you can't visit now and again!"

"I'll…. I'll bring you messages from home and bring your messages to your friends!"

"Good-bye, Dad!" Naruto separated from him.

"Good-bye, son!" he called as Naruto, Jiraiya, Team Ten, and Temari walked out the gate. For the first week of the month-long journey, they'd travel west as a group. Eventually, Team Ten would go one way, and Naruto and Jiraiya would go the other. The thought of him having a few friends on the first leg of the journey at least gave Minato some reassurance.

"Lord Fourth," Kakashi placed a hand on his shoulder, "it's time."

"Dammit," he shook his head. The slow walk back to the Hokage's Mansion did little to raise the gloom from Minato's heart. When he came home tonight, his little boy wouldn't be there. And when you're done with this, your little girl will no longer be a little girl.

Past the entry way to the mansion, Minato, Kushina, and Kakashi boarded the elevator, selecting a hidden button for the basement. Once below, they exited into a sterile concrete room. Itachi stood in the center, wearing his ANBU garb. He was heating a branding iron over a torch. Standing next to him, a young woman wearing a dark purple field uniform and a pale white flak vest. Her face was concealed by a white kitsune mask with dark black where eye slits would be.

"Hinata, are you sure I can't talk you out of this?" Minato asked in one last desperate attempt.

"Lord Fourth," she replied, her voice almost mechanical due to the muffling of the mask, "when I am wearing this mask, I am only known as, ANBU."

There is no going back now. "Are you sure this is what you want?" he asked again.

"He's not here to protect the village," she shook her head, "someone has to be."

Minato turned his head to Kushina. She nodded, "Let her be what she needs to be, all that she can be."

"Very well," Minato nodded, "Itachi, Kakashi."

Kakshi moved to hold Hinata by the arm as Itachi prepared to put the ANBU brand into her right arm. "Wait!" she ordered, holding her hand out to Itachi, "I'll do it myself," she turned to Minato, "If you don't mind."

Unexpected. "Go on," he nodded.

Hinata took the iron from Itachi, pulled at her waistband, and she drove the brand into her right hip. The sound of sizzling joined the smell of searing flesh, but she did not cry aloud as she withdrew the brand from her skin. She offered the iron back to Itachi. Despite wearing the mask, Itachi was still clearly discomforted by the display as he accepted it back.

Minato nodded grimly at Itachi, "This is what you wanted, now prove me wrong!" Minato turned back to the elevator, disgusted with himself with what he'd just allowed. Wordlessly, he rode the elevator back up with Kushina, skipping the ground floor in favor of a direct ascent to his office level. Her worried eyes weighed heavily on him. Letting Kushina know had been a practical decision. As the First Lady, she'd regularly interact with the ANBU as bodyguards. There was no sense in waiting for her to figure it out, herself.

The door opened and he stormed down the hallway to his office, manic with need. "Darling, are you okay?" Kushina called after him. I need to know!

He raced to his desk, eyes darting to the picture frame he'd placed face down the night of the the Rinne Festival. His breathing was rapid and shallow as he felt a vice-grip on his chest. Enough clowning, do it! That night, he'd decided under no circumstance would he allow Hinata to become an ANBU or KIB operative. As he made the decision, his eyes had noticed Hinata's image in the photograph was fading, and so was the image of his grandkids. Unsure what to do, he slammed the photo down and relented. For over four months, he'd been too scared to look at the image of the future, fearful he'd only made things worse.

"Dear?" Kushina stared, still deep with concern. Please tell me I did the right thing! He held his breath and flipped up the photo. What he saw caused him to drop the picture frame.

Kushina raced to his side, placing a hand on his face, "Honey, what's wrong!"

Minato couldn't say a word, he just pointed a shaking finger at the photo. Kushina curiously picked it up and smiled thoughtfully. "We age quite well, so do Jiraiya and Tsunade," she smiled standing the photo of Naruto's future family, joined by Jiraiya, Kushina, Tsunade, and himself, older but still relatively youthful in appearance.

Tears of joy joined the odd sense of realization swirling in him. You can't protect the future anymore by keeping Naruto and Hinata from it. The future belongs to them; you'll just be along for the ride this time!

"Minato?" she asked.

"I'm fine," he cried. "I love you, so much, Kushina!"

Kushina smirked, "I love you too, dear. Are you going to be okay?"

"Yes," he composed himself, "I guess, I'll miss having the kids around, especially as kids."

"They had to grow up, sometime," Kushina fought back tears, "at least we have a chance to make the world a better place for them to grow up, and we know what is coming this time."

"Thank you again, Akemi, for everything," Kushina said as she walked her team to the front door of the house, one eye on the clock – 1715.

"No, thank you for the night off," she smiled, "at least, something like it." Akemi stared at the kids as they gathered their things up for a summer night at the movies.

"Mom, we're going to be late for the movie!" Hanabi whined.

"Yeah, Aunt Akemi," Konohamaru joined in.

"It sounds like you have your own deadly mission to face," Kushina grinned.

"That I do," she shrugged, "I'm sure everything will go okay with your mission," Akemi winked playfully.

"What mission?" Konohamaru asked. You're so innocent, kiddo!

"Nothing, special duty on the Hokage's behalf, beyond top secret," Kushina blushed slightly; it wasn't technically a lie.

"Let me know how it works out," Akemi grinned wickedly as she ushered the kids out. You closet perv!

No sooner had the door latched did Kushina launch herself into the kitchen pantry where she kept the goodies for tonight hidden. For the past two months, Minato had been brooding in absence of his son, not helped by the fact that she was now busy as hell training Team Habanero. Kushina was determined make up for ignoring her wifely duties and to end his moping for good tonight. Akemi had helped her choose everything, including tonight's costume. I wonder how Hiashi maintains that stone face with a wife like his…

Kushina quickly spread rose pedals over the dinner table, her heart racing at the memory at the obscene actions that occurred here, the fact that her son was conceived here. They had to go to Ichiraku's afterwards that night, having ruined dinner in the process. Probably where Naruto gets his love of the place!

Kushina left a heartfelt note in the entryway, attached to a long red string that she snaked up the stairs with a trail of rose pedals all the way to their bedroom. A quick glance at her watch showed 1725 – she had to hurry. Kushina laid her costume on the bed, quickly stripped out of her clothes, and ran into the shower to rinse away the day's sweat from training.

She toweled off, taking extra care to make sure her flowing red hair wasn't a mass of tangles. Hurry, he'll be home any minute! The red ensemble of lingerie was fine cotton with exquisite lace to match her red hair. Akemi, you doll! Apparently after years of midwifing, many expectant mothers had shared endless bits of advice and fantasy that made husbands melt like butter. Akemi had suggested this particular setup for tonight.

Kushina giggled as she tied the red rope to her left little toe and she grabbed her husband's formal version of the Hokage's Jacket. The silk liner slid over bare skin, causing her to shudder as the front door opened. "Dear I'm home! I…" she heard Minato as she stifled a laugh as she planted his formal headdress on her head.

Kushina admired herself in the bedroom mirror as she felt him tugging along the string toward the prize. I always wanted to wear this outfit; I just never thought it would be like this!

A solid tug on her little toe, and Minato's reflection appeared over her shoulder in the mirror. She half-turned to see her husband enter the room, mouth hanging low. "Hi," she giggled, totally not ashamed of her misuse of his dress outfit.

Minato's face slowly morphed from disbelief to wolfish amusement, "Why, Lord Fifth, I don't know if this is appropriate behavior for a Hokage to be having with one of her subordinates!" He tilted his head in curiosity. "To what do I owe the honor?" he bared his teeth like a shark.

Kushina turned to let the jacket flap open, revealing the red lacy garments beneath. She pulled away the headdress letting her red hair flow over the jacket. "You are the Hokage," she grinned, striding up to Minato and putting her arms over him. She kissed him deeply, letting her warm passion invade him. She briefly separated from him, staring into his dazzling sapphires, before she let her passion speak all the words and feelings she'd been keeping bottled up.

Minato's hands crawled up through her hair before migrating down her neck and tugging at the material of the jacket until it began sliding off her body. Kushina let her arms down off of him, and the jacket fell to the floor. His fingers began working to release the clasps on her bra. Chills ran down her back, and she began to kiss his neck as she pulled away his shirt. Freed from his top layer, he unhooked the clasps.

Entangled in one another, they stumbled back onto their bed. "Minato," she heaved breathlessly as they continued pulling away what little clothing remained.

"Yes, dear?" his hot breath in her ear made her toes curl.

"I want you," she heaved, "to do everything to me that you did the night you came home from war," she grabbed him by a fistful of hair to bring his gaze to hers, "and afterwards," she grinned a fox smile, "I'm going to do to you what I did the night we made Naruto!"

Minato stared in disbelief, "Everything we did!"

"Why do you think I set up the dining room table," she smirked.

Tongue in cheek, he asked, "Does this involved a late-night trip to Ichiraku's afterwards?"

Her tongue flicked his ear, "You bet your sweet ass it does!" she giggled. "Now come here!" She pulled him into her.

Naruto heaved heavy buckets of water over his shoulders as he ran up the side of the mountain. Sweat rained down from his hair as his legs pumped one step in front of the other. One step in front of the other, story of my life!

As Naruto ascended the mountain in the cool fall air, his mind wandered to home. Today was his fourteenth birthday. A year ago, he was having the talk with father and preparing to go on a date with Hinata. Hinata… The thought of her took his breath away. He stumbled but caught himself. As much as he was learning, he missed home, he missed his friends, and he missed her.

As he summited, a bright flash blinded him as he skidded to a stop. As his eyes refocused, Naruto saw his father in front of him. "Hey son, happy birthday!"

Naruto dropped the buckets and launched himself at his father, "DAD!"

Minato placed a hand on the top of Naruto's head, pulling back from the hug, "Oh my, you're getting taller I think!" Minato laughed as he checked where the hand came up to on his chest.

"Grandpa says its all the protein," Naruto laughed.

"Uck," Dad twisted his face, "it will put hair on your chest!"

Naruto laughed, "Mom would be proud, the toads' disgusting mix of bugs and worms got me to eat my vegetables!"

Dad laughed, hugging him, "That would do it!" He released Naruto, pulling a package from a backpack slung around his shoulders.

The scent of Ichiraku's ramen caused tears to rain from Naruto's eyes, "DAD!" Naruto hugged his father, "Thanks for the food!"

"Your mom made this," he pulled out a small birthday cake, "and Hinata made these," Minato pulled out a small sack of cookies decorated to look like Naruto. "She also gave me this to give to you," he handed him an envelope.

Naruto unsealed the envelope, revealing a recent photo of Hinata. He drank in every last feature: her pale skin, her Byakugan eyes, silk black hair, and her shy, sweet smile. "Thank you, father," Naruto cried as he hugged the photo to him.

"Don't forget the letter, son." Minato winked.

The letter slid from the envelope:

Dear Naruto,

I miss you terribly. Not a moment goes by that I don't think about you. For as much as it hurts to be apart, I know what your doing is important. Know that the village is good hands, my future Hokage, and we will keep it safe until your return. Grow strong, come home, and we will protect our village and our future together.

Love you always and happy birthday,

Hinata

"Hey, Naruto," Dad brandished a camera, "smile for the camera. Hinata asked for a photo in return."

Naruto smiled as Dad snapped the picture. "It'll be a good one," Dad said, "you're turning into quite the heartbreaker."

"Dad," Naruto handed him a letter from his pocket, "You'll give her this?"

"Of course!"

"Will you stay to enjoy the cake with Grandpa and me?" Naruto asked hopefully.

Dad smiled, "I wouldn't miss it, especially on your birthday." Dad transported them both to the base of the mountain, and the three generations enjoyed the cake together.

End Volume I

Author's notes: Hi everyone. Firstly let me say thank you to everyone who made it this far. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that anyone would read this, much less so many people from around the world. It is thanks to all of you that this story grew into what it is. Thank you all for making this journey possible.

Special thanks goes to everyone that left a review or offered constructive feedback along the way.

A very special thanks goes to my love, my muse, and my wife who suffered through the process of my creativity and offered some of the greatest creative ideas included in this story. I love you always!

As we approach the release date for Volume II, I may add a short one-shot here. I was thinking of possibly writing a bit more about Akemi and Hiashi's early relationship or possibly some backstory with Minato and Kushina.

As always, stay healthy, stay safe, and I hope to see you all when Volume II releases on October 10.