Except for Naruto...
Six eyes stared at Boruto's face. Two pairs were wide and bright. One pair were barely visible slits.
The slits belonged to the Seventh Hokage, whose own face was still too swollen from yesterday's beating to open his eyes properly. He and Boruto now shared the same squinting perspective on the world.
"Um..." Boruto shifted uncomfortably under the collective scrutiny. "Why are you all looking at me? Do I have something on my face?"
I haven't even started skipping class today, he thought defensively. Why the stares?
His gaze fell on his middle-aged father, who was literally looking at him through slits. Is he looking down on me?
"Brother, what happened to your face?" Himawari asked around a mouthful of breakfast, her cheeks puffed out like a cute little bun. Genuine curiosity filled her wide eyes.
The Seventh Hokage and Hinata exchanged glances, then both shot subtle looks at young Naruto, who remained perfectly calm. The wounds on Boruto's face told the same story as the ones on the Seventh Hokage's—Naruto had beaten him.
If anyone else had hurt Boruto like this, both parents would have gone ballistic seeking revenge for their son.
But Naruto had done it. Father hitting son. That was... acceptable? Right?
"Young Dad," Boruto said, completely ignoring his sister's question. He walked right up to Naruto with a friendly expression lighting his swollen features. "When did you wake up? I didn't even feel you leave!"
Seeing Boruto's demeanor, the Seventh Hokage and Hinata relaxed completely. Their beaten son seemed closer to Naruto now than before.
Closer than to me, the Seventh Hokage thought with a twinge of jealousy.
Does beating really create bonds? He fell into serious contemplation. Should I just hit Boruto regularly when I have nothing else to do?
Naruto smiled at Boruto's friendly approach, reaching up to pat the boy's head gently. "Boruto, since you're up, let's eat. Go sit with your sister."
Boruto nodded obediently, pulling out the chair next to Himawari and settling into it.
"Brother, you..." Himawari couldn't let it go. She stared at his face with intense curiosity. Both the middle-aged father and her brother had identical injuries. It was so strange!
Boruto turned to look at his sister—cute but a bit simple in his eyes. He raised his head at a precise forty-five-degree angle. Morning sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating his bruised and swollen face in golden light. The effect was almost majestic.
"Hmph. Sister, you wouldn't understand." His voice carried pride and wisdom. "This is evidence of fatherly love."
"Evidence of... fatherly love..." Himawari's small face scrunched in thought.
At the table, Naruto sat at the head in the Seventh Hokage's usual spot. To his right sat the Seventh Hokage and Hinata. To his left, Boruto and Himawari. The six of them shared breakfast together, the scene warm and domestic.
Naruto let himself sink into the atmosphere completely, experiencing the joy of family life in advance. Perhaps someday, his own family would be this happy.
Breakfast concluded quickly. The Seventh Hokage stood, preparing for work at the Hokage Building.
Before leaving, he stopped at the entrance where Naruto was standing. "For the next few days, I need to redistribute my workload. Hand off the unimportant tasks to subordinates. It might take up to a week to reorganize everything properly." He bowed respectfully. "During that time, I'm asking you to look after Boruto and Himawari."
"Don't worry about it." Naruto nodded easily. "I genuinely like Boruto and Himawari. After all, I'm their father too, even if I'm from another world."
"Even though we're both 'me,' thank you." The Seventh Hokage's gratitude was sincere.
Naruto accepted it naturally, but added firmly, "Even during these busy days, you need to come home for dinner. Spend time with your family."
"I will." The Seventh Hokage's promise carried weight. Then he left for the Hokage Building.
Watching the door slide shut behind their father, both children's faces fell. Whenever Dad left for work, it meant endless hours of him being gone, consumed by village business.
Unhappiness flowed naturally from long-established habit.
"Boruto! Himawari!" Naruto called their names, pulling their attention away from the closed door and their dark thoughts.
Both children's eyes snapped to him immediately. The same thought crossed both their minds: Even though that dad is at work, we still have another dad here.
Their moods shifted dramatically. Himawari, whose emotions were always written clearly on her face, took small running steps toward Naruto. "Young Daddy!" she squealed, launching herself at him.
Boruto had a more reserved personality and cared deeply about appearances. Even though Naruto had made him feel father's love last night, his happiness remained hidden inside his chest.
But the joy in his eyes couldn't fool Naruto.
So my son is also a hardcore tsundere, Naruto thought, catching Himawari easily. He sensed Boruto's emotions clearly, immediately thinking of Sasuke and Nine-Tails back home. Those two were exactly the same—always saying "no" while their bodies acted honestly.
Come to think of it, Terumi Mei was also tsundere. Every time she said she didn't want money, she still somehow conned him out of hundreds of millions of ryō.
Naruto sat on the tatami with Himawari in his arms, watching Boruto hover nearby with his bruised face, clearly wanting to get closer but too proud to make the move.
Fortunately, Naruto thought, I have extensive experience dealing with tsundere types.
"Boruto," he asked casually, "are you going to school today?"
Boruto answered naturally, his earlier rebelliousness completely gone. "Yeah, I have to go to school today. Mom's already preparing my lunch."
Naruto glanced toward the kitchen. Sure enough, Hinata was packing a bento box for Boruto to take to the Academy. With the family's financial status, Boruto could easily eat in the school cafeteria. But Hinata loved her children too much to let them eat cafeteria food when she could make something with her own hands.
A bento made with a mother's love. Boruto's happiness from that simple act was indescribable.
"Come here, Boruto. Sit next to me." Naruto waved him over.
Boruto moved immediately without hesitation, which showed exactly how "arrogant" this supposed tsundere really was.
When Boruto sat down, Naruto set Himawari on the tatami beside him so she could sit properly. Instead, Himawari circled around behind Naruto, jumped up, and wrapped her short arms around his neck. She hung from his back, giggling with pure delight.
Naruto smiled warmly. The gesture filled his heart with gentle affection. Rather than pulling her off, he reached back and grabbed her short legs, positioning them around his waist.
Now Himawari clung to his back like an octopus, laughing happily.
If Boruto tried something like that, Naruto would probably make him feel father's love... extensively.
But with Himawari? This was perfect.
This is the difference between a daughter and a son, Naruto thought with amusement.
Some things were just that simple.