Chapter Text
*I DON’T OWN NARUTO*
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The world had survived.
Barely.
In the wake of the Seibutsu's destruction, each of the Five Great Nations was left battered, many of their strongholds reduced to rubble, their populations grieving, their shinobi ranks thinned and scarred. The cost of survival had been high—but this time, the price was shared by all. No village had escaped untouched.
In Konoha, the damage to the city was immense. But its recovery began almost immediately.
At the center of the reconstruction stood Yamato, whose wood release jutsu rapidly restored critical infrastructure. Homes, government buildings, medical centers—all rose from the earth under his guidance. Other shinobi offered chakra, hands, and hearts to speed the process. Where once there was ruin, new life began to take root.
And yet, it was not just buildings that needed rebuilding.
Trust, long eroded by secrecy and fear, required tending.
For the first time in generations, the tailed beasts, now free once more, chose to go back to the wild— not as fugitives, but as sovereign beings. They had done their part. They had fought alongside humans who had once hunted them, and in doing so, earned a kind of peace. Naruto had thanked them personally—each one—and none had left without acknowledging the bond they now shared with him.
Their names, once whispered in fear, were now spoken with respect.
Back in Konoha, Karin found herself standing in a place she never thought she belonged: among the Uzumaki. With Naruto still healing in the hospital, she took his place in clan meetings, her presence both bold and solemn. At first, some of the elders scoffed—her association with Sasuke, her red eyes, her past.
But Karin had come with purpose.
She unrolled scrolls, maps worn with age, and proposed the restoration of the ancient Uzumaki settlement, hidden for centuries deep within the Forest of Death. Though many had forgotten it, she had not. It was their birthplace, their cradle—and it could be again. Her voice, fierce and unwavering, spoke not just of rebuilding a home, but of reclaiming a history stolen from them.
By the end of the week, the clan elders had agreed. Work would begin within the month.
At Naruto’s request—though his body was weak, his mind remained sharp—Tsunade did something that would change the village forever.
She released the full truth of the Uchiha Massacre.
No more lies. No more propaganda. No more scapegoats.
The people learned of Itachi Uchiha, who bore the weight of Konoha’s sins to preserve the village he loved. They learned of the rot in the old council, the surveillance, the manipulation—and the price of peace built on betrayal.
The truth broke hearts. It inflamed tempers.
But it also cracked open the possibility of real healing.
Justice, delayed for years, had finally found light.
The question of Sasuke’s final resting place lingered for days.
Some believed he deserved no grave in the village he had forsaken. Others argued his ashes should be scattered in the Valley of the End, where his story down a dark path had begun.
But in the end, Naruto chose neutral ground.
A clearing just beyond the Uchiha district, beside a small, still lake, where the cherry trees bloom late and the wind carries no judgment. A quiet place. A private place.
There, Sasuke and Fuyu were laid to rest—not together, but within sight of one another. Two souls tied by blood and burden, given peace at last.
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A week after waking, Naruto was released from the hospital.
He moved slowly, his left shoulder heavily bandaged, the joint still stiff and aching despite the passage of time. Without Kurama’s usual flood of chakra, the damage he’d taken was healing like any ordinary wound. The scars would remain, the doctors said. A reminder.
Sakura walked beside him, careful not to crowd but close enough to catch him if he stumbled. In her arms, swaddled in soft blankets, was their son, his tiny hand peeking out and curling in response to the cool breeze that danced down the corridor.
As they reached the exit, Naruto shifted with a grunt.
“Damn shoulder... feels like it’s made of rocks,” he muttered, flinching.
Then, for the first time in over a week, a familiar voice rumbled inside his head.
“Tch. You complain more than a genin after his first mission.”
Naruto blinked.
‘Kurama?’
“Don’t get emotional. I’m not back to full strength. But I’m here. And your shoulder? It’ll heal. In time. Now please stop whining, I'm going back to sleep.”
A crooked smile tugged at Naruto’s lips.
‘You big softie.’
“You’re holding a baby. I don’t need to insult you—nature’s already humbled you.”
Sakura glanced at him as he chuckled to himself.
“Kurama?”
He nodded. “He’s awake. Kind of.”
“I figured. The color came back to your eyes.” She smiled warmly. “Told you he’d pull through. He knows you’ve got a mate who’ll take care of you.”
Naruto’s cheeks flushed, and Sakura nudged his side gently, careful of his injuries.
They stepped into the sunlight, and for a moment, the village of Konoha was quiet. No cheering. No dramatic fanfare. Just the warmth of morning light and the subtle hum of a place being reborn.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Their new apartment had a modest view of the Hokage Monument. Simple, clean, and filled with light. A fresh start.
Sakura guided Naruto to the couch while Kaito stirred softly in her arms. “You sit. I’ll bring him over once I get him changed.”
Naruto eased down with a sigh of relief, watching as she disappeared down the hall. He leaned back, eyes closing briefly, breathing in the scent of home—lavender, clean cotton, and something faintly sweet—baby powder.
It didn’t feel real.
Sasuke was gone.
His son was here.
Sakura returned a few minutes later, cradling Kaito against her chest. The baby was blinking slowly, mouth pursed in a pouty scowl that made Naruto laugh.
“Already got your expression,” he said.
Sakura grinned and carefully passed the baby into Naruto’s arms. Kaito whimpered, then settled as he nestled against his father’s chest.
“He’s heavier already,” Naruto murmured.
“Babies grow fast,” she replied. “He’s strong. Everyone at the hospital says he’s already got your chakra.”
They sat like that for a while, just the three of them. Talking softly. Laughing when Kaito made a strange face. Whispering dreams for the future. The weight of war, the pain of loss—it lingered in the background like a distant storm, but at this moment, it could not reach them.
“I still can’t believe we’re parents,” Naruto said, brushing his thumb across Kaito’s soft hair.
Sakura leaned her head on his good shoulder. “Believe it. We’re a family now. In every sense of the word.”
Silence settled for a few heartbeats. Then Sakura spoke again, voice soft. “Do you think… he’ll ever know peace?”
Naruto didn’t answer right away.
He looked down at his son, at the faint wisps of red-gold hair and the slow, steady rise and fall of his tiny chest.
“He’ll know more peace than we ever did,” Naruto finally said. “Because we survived. And we’re going to make sure he grows up in a world that doesn’t treat him like a weapon. We’ll strive for a world that doesn’t create anymore monsters.”
Sakura turned her face toward him, eyes shining with unshed tears.
“Promise?” she whispered.
He kissed her forehead gently. “Promise.”
Outside, the village was stirring. Birds overhead. Children running. Vendors reopening. Shinobi returning.
And soon, friends would arrive—Shikamaru, Ino, Kakashi, Hinata, Sai, Kiba, and so many more. The bonds that held them together had been tested, broken, reforged—and now it was time to see where they would lead.
But for now, in a quiet apartment above a healing village, Naruto held his son close and dared—for the first time in a long time—to dream of the future.
The knock on the door was hesitant, almost respectful—odd for the group of shinobi who had never mastered the art of subtlety.
Sakura was the one who opened it, greeted instantly by a blur of color and sound.
Ino was the first inside, bouquet in hand and eyes already welling up. “Where is he? Where’s my favorite knucklehead?”
Naruto grinned from his place on the couch. “Careful, Ino, your mascara’s already halfway down your face.”
“Oh shut up,” Ino laughed, hugging Naruto gently. “You scared the hell out of all of us.”
Shikamaru entered behind her, hands in his pockets, a faint but unmistakable smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
“Took you long enough to wake up,” he muttered. “I’ve been covering for your lazy ass at the alliance peace talks.”
Naruto chuckled. “What would I do without you?”
“Lose your voice and cause a diplomatic incident, again,” Shikamaru said, ambling toward the couch.
Just then, Sakura shifted in her seat and carefully placed baby Kaito into Ino’s eager arms.
“Oh. My. God.” Ino gasped, her whole face lighting up. “You are officially my favorite nephew. Don’t let Uncle Grumpy Face scare you—he’s all bark and no cuddle.”
“Tch,” Shikamaru muttered, plopping down beside Naruto. “I’m plenty cuddly. Just not with loud blondes or squealing women.”
Ino ignored him completely, her nose already buried in Kaito’s hair. “I can’t wait to have one,” she said dreamily.
“Don’t start,” Shikamaru shot back without even looking at her.
“Too late.” Ino grinned down at the baby. “Don’t listen to him, sweetheart. You’ll have a little cousin to play with when the time’s right. But until then…”
She snuggled Kaito close with an exaggerated sigh. “…I get all my baby cuddles from you, cutie pie.”
While Ino fawned over Kaito, Shikamaru shifted a little towards Naruto. He added in a more serious tone, “By the way, it’s not like the others didn’t want to be here. Everyone’s been tied up helping with the village rebuild or relief efforts in the outer sectors. But they all said they’ll drop by as soon as they can. You should’ve seen Choji crying when he heard you woke up—guy was a mess.”
Naruto smiled at that, his heart warming. “Tell them not to rush. I’m not going anywhere.”
Just then, the door opened again.
Hinata and Kiba stepped in, both looking relieved to see Naruto upright and smiling. Hinata paused, her hand pressing lightly over her heart as she caught sight of Ino holding Kaito.
She said nothing at first, simply walking over as Ino gently handed Kaito to her.
Hinata took the baby graciously, cradling him with practiced, reverent care. She brushed her fingers softly across his whiskered cheeks.
“He looks just like you,” she whispered. “His chakra feels… warm.”
Kiba leaned over her shoulder, smirking. “Looks like he’s got your whiskers too.”
Naruto laughed and reached out a fist, which Kiba bumped without hesitation. “He definitely takes after me.”
Sai arrived last, with Kakashi at his side.
Kakashi stood at the back for a moment, taking it all in. The boy who once wore orange and dreamed of being Hokage. The girl who once screamed at both of her teammates with a fierce and stubborn heart, and between them a child who would never know the kind of pain that shaped them.
Kakashi walked forward and offered a small wrapped package. “From Tsunade-sama. She said it’s full of disgusting bitter herbs that will make you stronger faster.”
Naruto made a face. “That sounds like her.”
“She also said she’s proud of you.”
Sakura blinked. “She… said that?”
Kakashi nodded. “You’ve both come farther than she ever dreamed.”
He glanced between them, then added with quiet sincerity,
“I’m proud of you. Of all of you.”
Sai stepped forward, offering a hand-painted card. “I wasn’t sure what people gave at baby celebrations. So I made a portrait. Kaito looks like a cabbage roll.”
Everyone laughed.
As the moment settled, Hinata came over with Kaito gently bundled in her arms.
“Kakashi-sensei,” she said softly, “would you like to hold him?”
The Copy Ninja blinked, visibly taken aback. “Ah… I—babies and I have never really—”
Before he could finish, Hinata carefully placed the baby in his arms. Kakashi stood frozen for a moment, eyes wide over the edge of his mask.
Naruto smirked. “Wow. The great Copy Ninja Kakashi… taken out by a newborn.”
Kakashi sighed heavily, shaking his head. “I’ve fought tailed beasts, rogue shinobi, and Madara Uchiha… and this is somehow more nerve-wracking.”
Still, his arms adjusted with practiced care, cradling Kaito gently. His posture softened. Behind the mask, his eye crinkled with something that went deeper than surprise—something tender.
He gazed down at the baby, and in that small face, he saw flickers of Naruto… and beyond that, the shadow of his late sensei.
Minato’s easy grin. Kushina’s wild spirit. A legacy swaddled in quiet sleep.
“Minato… Kushina…” Kakashi murmured so quietly only the baby could hear, “You should be here. But I’ll watch over him. I promise.”
The room fell silent for a beat—not from discomfort, but reverence. The weight of history and healing wrapped itself around them, just as Kaito’s tiny fingers curled near Kakashi’s chest.
Kakashi gently passed Kaito back to Hinata, his arms relaxing once the baby was safely nestled again. He turned to Naruto, the softness in his gaze replaced by something far more familiar—mild exasperation.
“By the way,” Kakashi said, slipping his hands into his pockets, “once you’re healed up, your Hokage training starts again. No more dodging the paperwork, Lord Seventh.”
Naruto groaned. “You couldn’t let me enjoy being a new dad for at least a week?”
“That is your week,” Kakashi replied dryly. “Lesson one: mastering the art of sleep-deprived leadership.”
“That sounds like a jutsu I never want to learn,” Naruto muttered, but the grin on his face said otherwise.
The room was filled with chatter and light. Friends trading stories. Sharing snacks. Passing Kaito around like he was a sacred treasure—too small, too perfect, too full of promise.
And through it all, Naruto sat quietly, his shoulder aching, his heart full. Every laugh, every word was a stitch in the fabric of something he hadn’t allowed himself to hope for.
Home.
At one point, Naruto caught Shikamaru staring out the window, his gaze distant, jaw tight with thought.
“You okay?” Naruto asked gently.
Shikamaru didn’t answer right away. His eyes lingered on the horizon before he finally spoke.
“Yeah… just thinking.” He turned, the lines of fatigue clear on his face. “You know this isn’t the end, right? Sasuke might be gone, but his words… that kind of will doesn’t just disappear.”
Naruto’s expression sobered. “I know.” He looked down at his hands—so many battles fought, so many lives touched by them. “But we’re not the same as we were. We’ve got people counting on us now. Our families, comrades, Konhoa. A future.”
Shikamaru gave a quiet grunt of agreement. “Yeah. And you've got something even scarier than war now.”
Naruto raised an eyebrow. “Oh yeah?”
A smirk tugged at the corner of Shikamaru’s mouth. “Diapers. Middle-of-the-night crying. No jutsu for that.”
Naruto groaned. “I am not looking forward to changing a full diaper at 3 a.m.”
They both laughed.
Then a gentle knock sounded again at the door.
This time, it was Karin.
She stepped inside slowly, her eyes scanning the room until they landed on Naruto, and then Kaito.
The chatter quieted, and Naruto met her gaze.
“You made it.”
Karin nodded. “Yeah. Figured I’d see what kind of legacy we’re working with here.”
She approached, and to everyone’s surprise, Naruto rose to his feet with a wince and handed Kaito to her without hesitation.
Karin stared at the child in her arms. Her expression softened—surprised, a little afraid, but also moved.
“You gave him a future,” she said quietly. “The Uzumaki… we’re not ghosts anymore.”
Naruto reached out and gripped her shoulder gently. “Because of you, too.”
She sniffed, blinking too fast. “He’s perfect, you know that?”
“Yeah,” Naruto said with a grin. “He really is.”
The rest of the day passed in a blur of laughter, chatter, and long-overdue embraces.
More visitors arrived in waves. Faces from every part of Naruto’s journey filtered into their small home. The humble apartment became a revolving door of celebration.
Iruka arrived with a basket of food, barely holding back tears as he cradled Kaito for the first time. “You were my greatest challenge,” he told Naruto, chuckling through his emotion. “And now look at you.”
Yamato showed up briefly, covered in sawdust and looking exhausted. “The village rebuild’s ahead of schedule, but don’t tell anyone—it’ll ruin my image.” He gave Naruto a firm pat on the back and a respectful nod. “Rest. We’ve got this part.”
As the last guests of the day trickled out, Hanako Haruno remained behind, quietly helping tidy the living room. Her movements were practiced, calm — but her eyes kept flicking toward Naruto and Sakura with a tenderness that was still new.
She’d been silent most of the visit, watching the young couple with a contemplative air, her emotions caught somewhere between awe and apology. When Naruto caught her glance, she gave him a small, measured smile.
Kaito stirred in his bassinet with a soft coo, and Hanako stepped over, gazing down at him. Her expression softened, years of tension finally beginning to ease from her features.
Then she turned to Naruto.
“I really was so wrong to ever fear you,” she said quietly, her voice steady despite the weight behind the words. “I let fear blind me. I was there the night you were born... and I let the pain of that night shape the way I saw you.”
Naruto didn’t interrupt — he only listened, still and respectful.
“But now…” She looked to Sakura, who beamed at her mother, then to her grandson, who had fallen back asleep with a little sigh. “Now I see the truth. You’ve saved my daughter more than once. You saved all of us. And when I look at this family... I feel nothing but pride.”
She stepped closer—then paused, her eyes softening. Hanako opened her arms.
Naruto stood from the couch, unsure at first, but then stepped into the embrace.
She wrapped him in a hug—warm, steady, maternal. It was different from anything he’d ever known. Not a comrade’s pat on the back. Not a healer’s touch. This was a mother’s hug, filled with forgiveness, pride, and something far older than words.
Naruto stiffened for just a breath… then melted into it. He could get used to this. The lump in his throat returned, harder this time. His voice cracked as he whispered, “Thank you… really.”
Hanako gave him a warm smile as she pulled back, brushing gently at his sleeve.
“Get some rest, both of you,” she said, heading toward the door. “You’re going to need it.”
And with that, she slipped out into the night, leaving behind something Naruto hadn’t expected — not forgiveness… but faith.
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Over the next few days, more friends returned from their duties.
Lee, still bursting with youthful enthusiasm, cried openly as he declared Kaito a “beacon of burning will!” before handing the baby a tiny pair of green leg warmers.
Tenten brought a protective charm shaped like a kunai. “Just in case he grows up reckless like his dad.”
Konohamaru was speechless, for once. He just hugged Naruto tightly and whispered, “You did it.”
Shino brought a tiny jar of pollen said to aid chakra flow in newborns, while Choji arrived with food for days, declaring it a “proper baby welcoming feast.”
Neji arrived later in the evening in his usual quiet grace, offering a hand-carved wooden mobile adorned with tiny birds and clouds for Kaito’s bassinet — a symbol of peace, balance, and the freedom he once longed for, now gifted to the next generation.
Each visitor left behind something: a story, a gift, a laugh, a quiet prayer. Little pieces of themselves, woven into the new life Naruto and Sakura had created.
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That night, the apartment was quiet for the first time in days.
The moonlight filtered through the curtains, painting the room in silver. Naruto and Sakura lay tangled together in bed, exhaustion softening their breath into gentle rhythm. The bassinet sat by Sakura’s side, small and steady.
A soft cry broke the silence.
Kaito.
Sakura stirred, blinking through sleep. She began to sit up when Naruto’s hand reached out and gently stopped her.
“I’ve got this round,” he said, voice husky but sure.
She frowned. “Are you sure? You’re still—”
“I can handle it.” He kissed her shoulder, then her temple. “Rest. I’ve got him.”
Sakura gave him a tired, grateful smile, then lay back down as Naruto rose slowly. His shoulder ached, but he bore it with quiet strength.
He walked to the small kitchenette, moving with care. From the fridge, he took one of the carefully labeled bottles of breast milk. He warmed it, testing it before offering it to his son.
In the stillness, Naruto lifted Kaito from the bassinet, cradling the newborn in the crook of his arm. The baby whimpered again, rooting instinctively. Naruto offered the bottle, and Kaito latched on without hesitation.
“You’ve got your mom’s stubbornness,” Naruto whispered with a chuckle. “And her nose. But that hunger? That’s all me.”
He sat by the balcony sliding doors rocking gently as he fed his son. Outside, the village lights twinkled—scars healing, hearts mending. Peace was no longer a dream. It was real, and it was here.
Kurama stirred faintly inside him, offering nothing but quiet presence.
At that moment, there was no war. No loneliness. No aching need to prove himself.Only a father and his son, lit by the moon and wrapped in the quiet promise of tomorrow.
And for the first time in a long, long while… Naruto felt whole.