Boruto's eyes flicked toward his sister, still clinging to Naruto's back like a happy octopus. Envy flickered across his swollen face before he could hide it.
Naruto noticed the look but didn't call attention to it. Instead, he asked gently, "Boruto, does your face still hurt?"
Of course his face hurt. Every part of it throbbed with dull, persistent pain. But Boruto would rather bite off his tongue than admit it. He was going to be a ninja, a powerful one. If he couldn't handle this much discomfort, what right did he have to dream of becoming Hokage like his father?
Boruto shook his head firmly. "It doesn't hurt. Not at all. I won't let a small injury like this bother me."
Naruto gave him a thumbs up without hesitation. "Boruto's tough! I'm impressed."
Pride swelled in Boruto's chest. He tried to keep his expression neutral, to treat the praise as no big deal, but then Naruto's hand reached out and pinched his cheek.
"Does it really not hurt?"
"OWWW!" Boruto's composure shattered instantly. "Let go! It hurts—it hurts—it HURTS!"
He grabbed Naruto's hand with both of his own, trying desperately to pry those fingers away from his tender, bruised skin.
When Boruto's begging reached a sufficient pitch, Naruto released him with a small smile. "In front of Dad, you'll always be a child. Come here. Let me put some ointment on those bruises."
He produced a small jar from his pocket and began applying the pale green salve to Boruto's face.
Boruto's initial expression was pure resentment, but as Naruto's fingers gently spread the cool ointment across his swollen features, the pain began to fade. The blessed relief made his eyes flutter closed for a moment. When he opened them again, he found himself staring at Naruto's focused expression.
The young father's attention was completely on him. Careful. Concerned. Caring.
This is what fatherly love looks like, Boruto thought, warmth spreading through his chest. If only this dad could stay with me forever.
The wish hurt almost as much as his face had.
"Young Daddy, let me help Brother too!"
Himawari's interest was piqued. She stretched out one small hand from where she hung on Naruto's back. Naruto passed her the jar of ointment. Using her free hand while still clinging to Naruto with the other, Himawari dabbed some ointment on her fingers and reached toward Boruto's face.
"Sister, be gentle..."
"Haha! But Brother said it didn't hurt at all just now..."
"Don't poke it—ow!"
Boruto tried to lean away, his voice full of sibling irritation.
"Himawari, you're doing great," Naruto said encouragingly. "Brothers and sisters should help each other like this."
"..." Boruto shot him a look of betrayal.
Hinata emerged from the kitchen carrying Boruto's packed lunch box. The scene before her made her freeze in place.
Himawari hung from Naruto's back, a brilliant smile lighting her face as she carefully applied ointment to her brother with one hand. Boruto sat still despite his grumbling, his expression caught between annoyance at his sister and something softer when he looked at the young father treating his injuries.
And Naruto himself, patient and gentle, making sure both children felt cared for.
The image struck something deep in Hinata's heart. This was the scene she'd imagined since childhood, wasn't it? A warm family, a present father, children being silly together.
But this Naruto wasn't her husband. He was just a visitor from another world who would disappear someday, probably without warning.
Still, when Hinata remembered her actual husband's promise from last night—that he would spend more time with his family going forward—a small smile curved her lips.
This scene will become our reality, she thought with quiet hope. Eventually.
"Boruto," she said softly, "your lunch is ready."
Perfect timing. Naruto had just finished applying the last of the ointment. "Boruto, go ahead. Himawari and I will wash our hands."
He stood with Himawari still clinging to his back and headed to the bathroom. When they emerged, Boruto was standing at the entrance with his lunch box, looking back at them. His mouth opened as if to speak, then closed again.
"Boruto, go to school and study hard," Hinata said. "Don't skip any classes today."
"I know!" Boruto's response came out more irritably than he'd intended.
Naruto's hand immediately smacked the back of Boruto's head—not hard, but firm enough to make a point. His voice turned serious. "Can you speak to your mother more kindly?"
Boruto winced, both from the sting and from genuine embarrassment. "I know, Mom. Sorry. I won't skip class."
"Boruto," Naruto said, his tone shifting back to casual, "do you want me to walk you to school?"
Boruto's heart jumped. The offer was so tempting his feet almost moved toward Naruto of their own accord. But he was trying to act mature, so he shook his head. "No need, Dad. I'm not a little kid anymore..."
"Sure you don't want me to? Because if you don't, I'll just take Himawari out to play instead..."
"I want you to!" The words burst out before Boruto could stop them. He nodded vigorously.
Naruto smiled, clearly having expected that response. He adjusted Himawari on his back and gestured for Boruto to lead the way.
Summer morning sunlight filtered through the leaves overhead as they walked toward the Academy. The air was warm but not yet hot, comfortable and gentle like the touch of a caring friend.
Boruto walked beside Naruto, matching his pace, feeling like he was floating several inches off the ground.
"Lord Hokage!"
"Oh, Hokage-sama! Walking Boruto to school today?"
Villagers greeted Naruto as they passed. Naruto nodded and smiled in response. The ninja who addressed him wore strange expressions—probably wondering why "their Hokage" had suddenly become younger, taller, and considerably more handsome.
Naruto found it amusing but said nothing.
"Boruto! Over here!"
Two figures stood at the Academy gates, waving enthusiastically. Naruto studied them with interest. The kid with the tall ponytail and distinctive lazy posture wearing green was clearly Shikamaru's son. The resemblance was uncanny.
The other child had white hair and glasses. Naruto didn't recognize him.
"Your classmates are calling you," Naruto said.
"I know, Dad." Boruto clutched his lunch box tighter. "I'll go to class now."
He waited for Naruto's nod of approval before waving at both Naruto and Himawari, then jogging toward his friends.
"Brother, study hard!" Himawari called after him.
Boruto didn't answer, already approaching his classmates.
"Shikadai, Mitsuki..."
"Haha, Boruto, did you really make your dad walk you to school?"
"Shut up..."
Watching Boruto disappear into the Academy building with his friends, Naruto turned away. "Himawari, let's go. Dad will take you somewhere fun."
"Yay!" Himawari squeezed his neck in delight. "Thank you, Daddy! Mwah!" She planted a loud kiss on his cheek.
Naruto smiled warmly. At the same time, a shadow clone separated from his body, invisible to the normal eye. This clone had one job: keep watch over Boruto and see if he'd actually keep his promise about not skipping class.
Inside the Academy, Mitsuki and Shikadai were still teasing Boruto about being walked to school like a kindergartener.
When they saw Boruto wasn't getting angry, they eventually lost interest and dropped the subject.
"Hey, Shikadai, Boruto," Mitsuki said, his pale eyes gleaming with excitement, "let's go look for that ghost again. I think we can definitely find it this time."
His suggestion was barely veiled. They all knew what he really meant: skip class and go have an adventure.
"The ghost you keep talking about probably doesn't even exist," Shikadai said, hands behind his head in his father's signature pose. "We've staked out that place like five times and haven't seen anything."
"So are you coming or not?" Mitsuki pressed.
"Going, obviously. Why wouldn't I?" Shikadai grinned. "It's better than sitting through Anko-sensei's lecture on explosive tags."
"Hey, Boruto, what are you spacing out about? Come on, let's go together." Mitsuki clapped Boruto on the shoulder.
Boruto's mind was spinning. Yesterday, he'd promised his young father he wouldn't skip class anymore. He'd sworn to train hard and take his education seriously.
The memory of that promise made him shake his head. "You guys go. I'm not going this time."
"No way!" Mitsuki's eyes widened in disbelief. "Boruto, are you afraid your mom's going to beat you up?"
The provocation hit exactly the right nerve. Boruto was still a child at heart, after all. Being called scared, especially by friends, was intolerable.
"Fine! I'll go! I'm not scared of my mom!" The words were out before his brain caught up.
Immediately, regret washed over him. But he'd already said it. Backing down now would be even worse.
Class hadn't started yet, and once the teacher arrived they'd be trapped. The three of them exchanged glances and sneaked out through the back door while the hallway was still empty.
As they slipped away from the Academy grounds, Naruto's clone materialized silently behind them. It watched the three children disappear around a corner, then vanished in a puff of smoke.
Across the village, Naruto was swinging Himawari through the air, her delighted laughter filling a small park. The information from his dispersed clone hit his mind instantly.
Boruto skipped class after all, Naruto thought, setting Himawari down gently. Even after yesterday's lesson.
He smiled, but there was a certain determined quality to it that would have made Sasuke very nervous.
It seems Boruto needs to feel father's love every single day until the lesson sticks properly.
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