304Red Thread Epilogue: An Unbreakable Link
Quick A/N: Boruto, along with the rest of his generation might be a bit out of character as I see fit lol and events won't exactly follow canon. (This covers parts of Naruto Gaiden). I know most of you don't care about Boruto (even I only keep up with it off and on), but this is actually the first chapter I thought of when writing out this story on how to wrap everything up.
Also, this is going to have hints to Boruto x Sarada, sorry my Boruto x Sumire or Boruto x whoever else fans! Lol, I prefer BoruSara overall, but who knows who he's going to end up with, if anyone at all with how True-Blue Vortex currently is, romance isn't on any of their minds right now.
That's it for now!
"When you're missing a piece of yourself, aching, gut wrenching emptiness begins to take over. Until you find the link that completes your very soul, the feeling will never go away." -Jennifer Salaiz
Boruto
'Tomorrow. Tomorrow.'
Sunlight slips through the canopy of the trees onto him, honey yellow orange rays falling across him in zigzag patches.
He'd rather his birthday not come this year.
'Strange how there's no jutsu or way to stop oneself from getting older.' Sure, he knows about the jutsu Granny Tsunade uses to make herself appear young and he knows there's rumors and possible even confirmation swirling about Orochimaru and his immortality by swapping out various bodies (an option he would never go with based on Mitsuki's stories), but none of those actually stop them from getting older.
All of that's temporary measures.
There's really no reason in today's world to even get a red thread match anyways, based on everything he's read from the Warring States Period to now, people in those times had or used their red threads matches out of a necessity, a way to have successors should parents die too soon, keep kekkai genkai going amid the most powerful clans, have enough available shinobi on standby should war break out.
Things people don't really worry about in these days of peace.
But that hasn't stopped the phenomenon from happening, people have just changed their outlook on it.
Heartbreaker Woman have become highly in demand, parents knowing their children are too young, too immature to be considering love when being a shinobi is no longer necessary. Sometimes, it's the thread matches themselves wishing to break their ties, especially those that live in regions too far apart from each other or have clashing personalities that will just lead to further stress down the road.
He should follow their examples and break his red thread before he even fully learns who it is.
'Though that may upset Mom and Dad.' Boruto frowns, sitting back up at knowing all the obstacles they went through to be together.
And while he can tolerate Papa being annoyed with him, Mama and Himawari will be far less enthused to hear what's he done without even hearing them out first.
"You won't know if you hate or even dislike them until you see them for the first time via your threads connection. Feel the warmth tying you back to them." He hears Mom's advice.
Boruto tussles up his hair. "But that's my problem y'know! I don't want to feel it!"
"Feel what?" A voice asks behind him.
Mitsuki.
He jolts at his bemused smile, golden eyes studying him curiously.
"Out here talking to yourself?" Mitsuki questions at his silence as Boruto rubs at his head.
"My red thread, there has to be some technology or way for me to cut it without going to a Heartbreaker Woman; isn't there?" He asks aloud instead.
Mitsuki cocks his head, features changing to one of puzzlement and Boruto sighs. Of course he wouldn't understand knowing who his parent is, knowing how he was created. Mitsuki has probably never considered the idea of a red thread or what it means to have or not have one.
"It would hurt your match to cut ties with them without even properly meeting; wouldn't it? Why not ask your parents for advice?" He inquires.
Boruto scoffs, moves to stand slowly.
"Yeah, no thanks. I've seen how gushy and lovey-dovey they become at the subject of red threads, even Grandpa and Big Sis Hanabi are wondering who my thread match will be, if they should set aside ryo for extra gifts to give them."
"What about our friends?" Mitsuki pursues.
Boruto hums thoughtfully. Shikadai didn't say yes or no that he had one, and Inojin said his red thread probably doesn't even know who he is yet. He hadn't bothered asking any of the girls like Cho-Cho, Sumire who haven't had their birthdays yet, or-
Sarada.
His stomach abruptly tightens, if she does have a red thread, she's kept it to herself for months now on who they are.
'No, she's probably not worried about it.' He considers from recalling the last time they talked.
"Why are you up here?" Sarada snaps above him.
Boruto blinks, looks from her to the box of fireworks and paint beside him. "Thinking. I'm trying to decide which would be the flashier option to welcome the other Kage to our village for the Summit meeting."
She grits her teeth, plops down right beside him. "How are you the top student in our class to be thinking of such ridiculous things?!"
Boruto yawns, cerulean eyes brightening in amusement. "Yeah, I'm thinking of going with the fireworks too! Gotta do something different from Dad that won't cause any major property damage! Don't worry, I'll clean up after myself!"
"That's not the point!" Sarada growls making him roll his eyes.
"Well, I'm not the one who decided to skip classes and join me up here too y'know!" He counters, turns his attention back to cloud watching and dozing. Shikadai's right, its stress relieving to come up here and not to have to think about all the pressures upon him of being the Hokage's son, of living up to a person he can never be...
He can feel Sarada watching him from the corner of his eye, hears her blow out an impatient breath. "I don't know why I even keep bothering with you despite everything."
"Everything like what?" Boruto questions, opening his eyes again to look at her fully, surprised to see a tint of red to her cheeks.
"Nothing, nothing; it's not important anyways. You bringing up the Summit meeting just makes me think about my Dad, I want to figure out why this mission of his has to keep him from the village for years." Sarada gripes.
Boruto sits up, points beyond the Thunder Train to the mountains and forests. "Didn't Auntie Sakura make connections with the Aburame Clan way back when in their use of insects? Why don't you ask her to see if she has some leftover insects that can pick up his scent and track him down?"
Sarada rubs her chin thoughtfully, dark eyes brightening as she mulls it over.
"That's actually not a bad idea coming from you!"
Of course she couldn't fully compliment him without adding in an insult, but that had been nearly a month ago and he wonders now if anything came of that discussion.
Mitsuki grins then at his brief change in expression, as if in on a secret he refuses to say. "I'm not sure your red thread, whoever they are, would be exactly pleased or annoyed if you cut it before even knowing who they are."
Boruto's brows furrow. "You've met them?"
"...Perhaps! And maybe you have too!"
Boruto rolls his eyes, turns away to head home. He casts a look at the sky, thin wisps of dark clouds billowing in the distance spelling rain. Good, any outdoor activities can potentially be cancelled if the storms stick around until tomorrow.
'Maybe I'll just stay in bed for the rest of the week until my birthday has truly come and gone.'
It doesn't matter who knocks during that time period, he won't come out unless it's for basic necessities.
He pauses though at the knowing Mom, Dad, or Hima will eventually come check on him, halting in place.
No, the last thing he needs is them hovering and worrying over him.
'Detour. I'll take a detour home first.'
Naruto, Hinata, & Boruto
"Is Boruto feeling ill?" Naruto asks over dinner.
"He'd been locked in his room for most of the morning and then left to take a walk and hasn't returned since then." Hinata sighs and though she'd given him the privacy that he wanted, the fact that he hasn't communicated via text or call on where exactly he currently is starting to become concerning to them both.
Naruto groans, sinks down in his seat.
To celebrate a bit early, he rearranged his schedule perfectly with Shikamaru to have all meetings and paperwork done by early afternoon. He even brought home Boruto's favorite jalapeno burgers for him to indulge in with extra fries before the big day tomorrow.
He'd kept all of it out of the rain and after texting Hinata to make sure he bought the right package; snuck in his favorite shinobi striker card game thing he's always playing with Shikadai and Inojin.
'And now it's going all to waste y'know!'
He casts a gaze again towards his empty chair, looks to Himawari for answers who merely shrugs.
"He doesn't wanna know who his red thread is, so he's trying to delay the inevitable." She gives by way of explanation.
She points over to his burgers then, cobalt eyes sparkling. "Soo, Papa? Can I eat his burger?! Your ryo shouldn't go to waste!"
Naruto laughs lightly. "Sure Hima, though save one or two for your brother anyways once he comes home."
Hinata purses her lips, casts a look at Naruto worriedly. "I've never seen Boruto be this anxious before about something. Maybe we should go out and look for him?"
Naruto considers how their son's reaction will be to going out in search of him. He's been far moodier than usual, could be even annoyed that they didn't leave him alone for the day like he requested.
Still, Hinata's concerned look and his own rising anxiety is enough to push him to stand. "Alright, let's check his usual spots y'know! Hima, let us know if he happens to come back to the house before we return!"
Himawari nods between bites of beef. "Okie Dokie!"
He isn't at Thunder Burger, the Training Grounds, or even the card/video game store he's known to frequent with Inojin and Shikadai.
But at least the duo is there, waving at the two's approach. "Evening Lord Seventh. Lady Uzumaki. Are you guys looking for our parents? My Dad just left the office I think an hour ago?" Shikadai questions.
"Ah, actually, we're looking for Boruto? Have you seen him any today?" Hinata asks.
Inojin sends a look to Shikadai, amusement dancing in his turquoise eyes. "He's been out of sorts at knowing his birthday is getting closer, it isn't like he knows for sure if he's going to have a red thread or not."
Shikadai nudges him not to say more, points to the southeast. "We haven't really seen him, but I think I caught a glance of him heading towards Konoha's cemetery."
'Konoha's Cemetery?' Naruto and Hinata look at each other in unison.
The last time they went as a family was for the Day of Remembrance a few months ago.
Lilies and carnations line various markers, Hinata squeezing at Naruto's hand as a somberness coats the air. Streaks of golds and reds at coming sunset line polished headstones and epitaphs, Hinata pausing to take in the bouquet of fresh pink and white lilies that line Asuma's grave, most likely placed there by Mirai or Kurenai-sensei recently.
"Nearby is Shikaku and Inoichi's graves." Naruto murmurs, bowing in respect at each one before catching a flicker of yellow further down towards the Hyūga section.
Boruto.
Right by Neji and Hizashi's graves, replacing the old bouquet of sunflowers.
He sits crossed-legged at Neji's grave, haze in cobalt eyes as fingers brush against his date of birth and death.
'Only 18? He just barely came of age.' Boruto frowns.
'Still, I hope he's resting well.'
Maybe it's for the best Neji didn't have a red thread who would've been burdened with his death in the midst of a war...
"Visiting your Uncle?" Naruto asks by way of greeting, Boruto tensing before relaxing as he looks from his parents before back to Neji's grave.
"Dad, not like you to be out and about at this time of day. But yeah, I read a little about Uncle Neji's history before and during the war y'know. It seems he never got a red thread during his life, and I just wondered how he might've felt about that while going about his usual activities and missions."
"Just because he didn't have a red thread didn't mean he wasn't loved or cared about y'know. Lee, Gai, and Tenten still miss him along with everyone back at the Hyūga compound." Naruto brings up.
Hinata steps forward, places a hand to Boruto's shoulders warming his skin with the approaching chill of evening and nightfall. "And? Did you get the answers you were looking for?"
Boruto considers his answer for a moment before moving to stand, nodding. Whatever happens tonight, he'll need to face it head on.
"Yeah, I think so."
Sakura & Sarada
"You want to do this now? Today?" Sakura looks up from the last of her rounding reports.
The air around them turns stifling, the change of scenery from her office at Konoha's main hospital to back here at home maybe wasn't the best idea after all.
Sarada nods urgently and Sakura takes in the collage of bruises to her hands and arms she didn't fully heal properly, this sudden readiness to be as far as possible away from the village even if she apparently says no.
"Yes, the sooner the better."
Sakura takes in the pattern of scratches along her upper body, the scent of smoke clinging to her clothes.
"You've been training." She notes.
Sarada looks down at her dirty attire, nods when that of all things isn't important right now. "Yes, with fusions of chidori and fire techniques. I've been practicing ways to blend them into those heavy hitting punches the same way you've been teaching me in each of our spars."
Jade eyes narrow as her words tumble over each other. "We can do some sparring this weekend if you'd like. I just don't see why you have the need to go away right this minute. I figured we'd go together to Boruto's birthday party tomorrow considering Naruto and Hinata invited us from last month. I even RSVP'd to confirm our attendance."
Sarada stiffens at something she's said before quickly schooling her features into one of infuriating calm she's seen upon Sasuke's face too many times to count.
"I'm sure Boruto won't notice my absence." She lies so coolly and casually that if she didn't know better, she'd believe her.
'Oh, she really is the spitting image of Sasuke when she makes a face like that.' Sakura covers her smile with a work-up file regarding a particularly difficult sepsis case she and Shizune have been handling in the ICU since earlier this month. For weeks she's had a seemingly endless cough, low grade temperatures, and off and on spikes to drops in her blood pressure that have eluded them as to why.
Mrs. Furuhashi.
'It wouldn't be right to dump this on Shizune to deal with when I'm close to finding the right antibiotic to get all her symptoms under control.' Sakura considers.
Her eyes skirt between Sarada and the patch of gray clouds outside, the smell of rain blowing in from the mountains. She's sure her best and oldest wasps can still track Sasuke despite the weather, but she hasn't kept up with their tracking as much as she did in her teenage years.
"Why do you need to see Sasuke right at this moment? He was back in town just last month-"
Sarada interrupts with a raise of her hand. "I'm aware, but there's no time like the present."
Sakura moves to stand then at her determined look, walks past her out into her garden. She moves right towards the bundle of wasps' nests hanging down amid the greenery of the trees. A low hum of buzzes fills the air, Sarada stepping back as a river of reds and blacks layer Sakura's arms.
"Yes, yes. I'm sorry I don't visit as often! There's been an influx of patients at the hospital since it's flu season, plus a bunch of pollen in the air triggering people's allergies." Sakura coos as iridescent wings flutter at her cheeks.
"I still don't know why the Aburame taught you their clan's secret techniques." Sarada murmurs behind her.
Sakura turns to face her then, emerald to obsidian.
"Their clan for years has struggled with getting proper acknowledgements about the village, a majority of their insects and beetles were only used for reconnaissance until I helped provide them with a way to be seen in other measures."
Sarada says nothing in return, just stays still as her wasps commit her scent to memory.
"Does this have anything to do with your red thread? Because I'm not going to cut it, and neither should you. I've warned every last Heartbreaker Woman on the market within Konoha and The Land of Fire to not even dare poke at your thread! Sasuke is just going to more or less going tell you the same thing if that's what you're wondering." Sakura pursues.
And unlike her husband who can easily mask his emotions quickly, pink floods Sarada's cheeks too late to cover.
'Caught.' Sakura openly smirks.
"It isn't about my red thread exactly, it's more questions I have that only Papa will know." Sarada recovers herself.
Sakura blinks, what questions can only Sasuke answer when she's sure she can just as easily answer them? Unless it involves the Uchiha clan specifically, has her sharingan perhaps already activated and she just never told either of them?
'Normally the sharingan only activates under extreme stress or turbulent emotions as far as I'm aware.'
Sakura snaps her fingers at a sudden thought.
'I doubt there's any available data with how long ago the massacre was, but perhaps once she saw her red thread activate and who it went to, the rush of emotions could've caused her sharingan to manifest.'
Only one way to find out.
"About?" Sakura pries, not ready to let this topic go.
Sarada huffs, crosses her arms unwavering in giving her too many details. "Ugh, Mom, I just need to know from Papa how to keep my emotions in check in regard to my red thread! I won't be able to reach any of my goals at becoming Hokage if this continues to be such a...distraction."
Sakura's eyes soften then even though her gaze is turning as stormy as the clouds in the distance. Coils edge and dig into her chest at thoughts of her running away from the village the same way her Father did years ago as a measure to not let his own thread get in the way of power and revenge.
Too similar to Sarada's own desires.
"Sweetie, there are techniques I can teach you to not let it bother you as much; I promise. You've seen me plenty of times use them with patients in the hospital and at the clinic via a mix of medical ninjutsu and herbal remedies to not let their threads interrupt their thoughts and duties while on the job or an assignment."
Sarada deflates, ink black of her eyes seeming to tinge a shade darker.
"...You wouldn't understand, not when you've nearly torn and ripped at your thread with Papa so many times already. I don't even know if you're even truly tied to him with how often he's gone, if he even still loves us."
Sakura balls up a fist, fingers turning a hot crimson red, slams it into the coolness of damp grass and earth before she can create earthquakes at their feet.
"There's plenty of moments Sasuke and I had together that can't be found in any of the archives in the library." She challenges after a moment.
Sarada scoffs, undeterred.
"I've heard enough whispers behind my back that question why you even kept your red thread when Papa defected from the village, formed an alliance with the Akatsuki that even went after Lord Seventh for his tailed beast."
Her heart swishes loud in her ears at her daughter's cold defiance, her choice of words have risen up ghosts of her past to stab and needle at her once more...
Sakura blows out a breath, sighs. "I'm going to make a few calls to the hospital, then we can head out hopefully before this rain fully comes."
And Sarada immediately brightens, twists to head back inside. "Great, I'll go get my backpack; I already packed from last night!"
'Of course you did.' Sakura smiles at her eagerness.
She catches her arm before she can go.
"However, you will tell your Father and I what's going on involving your red thread. Otherwise, I'll be having you round with me at the hospital as a volunteer for an indetermined amount of time. You can always use more practice in medical ninjutsu after all. Whatever you're hiding from me right now, Sasuke needs to know about too."
Sarada clenches her teeth, both knowing there's only so much she can stomach of wound care and respiratory therapy even if it will improve in the medical skills that she's sorely lacking in.
"...Deal."
Naruto & Hinata
"I can't tell what's on his mind."
Hinata leans into his shoulder, Naruto dropping a kiss to her forehead at her yawn.
They quietly watch as a new day settles in across the garden from the patio's steps, moonlight flashing against yawning frogs near the puddles, fireflies casted in amber-yellow glows before passing clouds shrouds them all once more into darkness.
"He has a red thread that he doesn't want us to know about really." Hinata murmurs.
Naruto huffs lightly. He'd been so excited the night of his 13th birthday compared to Boruto, had nearly wanted to scour the whole village until he found Hinata if not for Old Man Third and any ANBU probably stopping him from doing so.
And Hinata, with how the Hyūga clan was back then, probably prayed for a red thread as much as he did.
It's strange for their own so son to be so...ambivalent about this all.
"Things are different now Dear. Shinobi aren't utilized as much, meaning there isn't as strong of a need for a red thread in terms of maintaining family lineage or secret clan techniques." Hinata relates with a giggle, nudging him gently.
"Still, I figured he was going to at least be a bit curious on who it may or may not be. He's so popular at the Academy, I'm sure plenty of girls are vying and hoping to be his red thread." Naruto considers, recalling the days people used to do the same thing with Sasuke.
Hinata straightens at a sudden thought, smile etching up her lips. "I think I have a hunch that Boruto may already have an idea on who his red thread is."
Naruto blinks, grins mischievously dropping kisses to her neck and down. "What?! And you weren't going to tell me Dear?! Come on, you can't keep such an important secret from me y'know!"
Hinata laughs, snickers turning into light moans she quickly stifles as Naruto tumbles her down, hovers above her.
"Soo, who is it?! A girl from Konoha or a foreigner?"
Hinata instead sits up slightly before Naruto's fingers can wander any deeper beneath her nightgown. "While it's not always the case when it comes to thread matches and I'm just assuming things, there's only a few girls Boruto consistently spends time around and only one who had a birthday recently and is no longer around as much."
Naruto hums, takes in Hinata's pearl eyes, the flush in her cheeks and tries to picture if he's seen any girl around Boruto's age who might've acted the same way near him in the past.
"Ahh, I may need a hint Hinata!" Naruto deflates, Hinata's fingers brushing at his whiskers keeping his steady gaze.
"She's been by our house plenty of times, well at least until a few months ago." She adds.
It clicks then at this tidbit, Sasuke and Sakura's daughter.
"Sarada?" Naruto considers aloud.
"Sarada. But it's just a guess! So let's keep it to ourselves!" Hinata confirms.
Naruto immediately nuzzles into her, fingers slipping back beneath her top, lips skimming her own.
"Roger that!"
'They're so noisy.' Boruto meanwhile watches them from his upstairs room. He thought his parents would've long gone to bed, but there they are making out like Dad doesn't have work tomorrow and Mom doesn't have some meeting with Grandpa and then some volunteer work at the hospital.
He turns away before he sees anything he'll instantly regret, considers the glow of the red string now upon his finger that stretches out beyond the village.
'So it's really her, huh?'
Sasuke & Sarada
Midnight strikes and try as she might to ignore it, the tingling sensation comes to her hand, the telling that now Boruto now knows.
He's her thread match.
She turns over in her sheets, it surprisingly didn't take long to find Papa. Sakura had been right in saying her thread plus her insects would find Sasuke in no time at all. The forests are a cacophony of noises that does little to quell her restless thoughts, huffing at how easy it is for Mama to rest her head against her sleeping bag and instantly be out.
'Well, it has been a long day for Mama. She was finishing up writing her reports when I instantly had us get on the Thunder Train and then head out into the woods on this journey with little explanation.'
"You're still awake." Sasuke notes beside her and Sarada jolts, sighing.
"I can't fall asleep as easily as Mama can even after how long I've been up." Sarada mumbles.
Sasuke eyes her for a moment before his gaze takes back to the sky. "Sakura tells me you're having...red thread troubles? You can tell me what's on your mind; I'll listen."
Sarada scoffs at the way Sasuke says it, so awkward and unsure just like their first encounters. 'At least he isn't calling me by any pet names this time.'
He and Mama must've discussed the reason they came all this way while she had washed off in the nearby rivers earlier.
"No, not really."
Sasuke blinks, expression flat. "Then why come all this way?"
Sarada grits her teeth, onyx boring to onyx. "Geez, if you don't want us here Papa, then just say so."
Sasuke grabs onto her arm before she can wander off to leave. "That's not what I meant. Err, I just mean if something's bothering you that involves your red thread, then you can tell your Mother and I."
Sarada crosses her arms, features darkening. "Oh really? What do you truly know about having a red thread anyways Papa? I know that you defected from the village soon after learning Mama was your thread match. That she's damaged your thread bond on purpose too many times to count during your time away from Konoha."
And when her stare turns back to him, her eyes have gone scarlet.
The sharingan.
It's his first time seeing it activated not out of rage or an explosion of hate, tears sliding down her cheeks at his silence.
"Say something! I don't want my red thread to be a distraction either! I still want to be Hokage someday, not worry about my thread getting in the way of missions or important fights!"
Sasuke pats at her hands tentatively, wraps her in a half-hug before Sarada can go on. "That won't happen Sarada. When...When I was your age, I only thought of my thread and the friendships I made with my team as weaknesses to getting power and completing my revenge. However, you're not like me in that aspect, and Sakura and I would never want you to be."
Sarada looks from their joined hands, wipes at her eyes before peering up at him, frowning. "How can you be so sure?"
She's read all about the Uchiha clan's family history after all. Nothing has been the same since the massacre, the many atrocities members of their clan did before death that still cast a shadow over them to this day.
"...Because if Boruto is anything like Sakura, he'll ensure you one day reach your goal of being Hokage, will train with you and aid you through both the good and bad times. He knows I'm your Dad so there's the added weight of that too for you to both protect and look out for each other." Sasuke relates.
Sarada feels her face heat, nearly stumbles back. "I-I didn't say-"
"It's obvious sweetie." Sakura mentions from behind them, grinning as they turn to face them.
Sarada squirms at their shared knowing look, Sasuke affectionately ruffling her hair.
"Are you ready to head back to the village then?"
She stiffens at the idea, shaking her head while moving back for her sleeping bag.
"No, at sunrise."
Boruto & Sarada
"You came after all; I thought you were running away from what I overheard from Mom and Dad." Boruto notes with a grin.
Confetti decorates his blond locks, posing for various photos with both family and friends as he marks this new milestone.
Sarada huffs, but if Boruto can be normal about this, so can she. "It wasn't running away! I just needed to find Papa to ask him a few questions!"
As it stands, it's bad enough she can feel the stares of their respective parents on them, curiously searching for some type of confirmation she refuses to give them.
"Whatever you wanna call it y'know!" He teases right back.
Mitsuki comes up behind him, gift bag in tow. "Happy Birthday, I see you two have connected already!"
Boruto and Sarada instantly redden, frown at his easygoing grin.
"Thanks! And no, stop jumping to conclusions y'know!" Boruto huffs.
Naruto and Hinata observe as the pair splits apart to different sides of the room, neither missing the brief shared looks the two send each other.
"What was that all about?" Chocho asks as Sarada shoves down a bite of chocolate cake.
"Nothing. Boys being dumb as usual." She grunts, expression clear she wants to change the subject.
"I assume Boruto is responsible enough to manage and control his feelings?" Sasuke comments dryly at witnessing their interaction making Naruto snort. He could ask Sasuke the same thing regarding Sarada.
In fact, he will ask!
"You insult Hinata and I by thinking we didn't raise our son to be a gentleman y'know! Boruto is popular, Sarada may be the one who has trouble keeping her emotions in check!" Naruto counters.
Sasuke bristles, weighs whether that should truly be a concern of his or if Naruto's just spouting off idiotic things. He glances over to Sakura laughing over some health topic with Ino, the discrete shake of her head they're not going to leave this party early.
"I'm going to stop listening to your moronic assumptions and check in with the others." Sasuke decides, stalking away.
Hinata lightly jabs at Naruto's arm as he snickers at Sasuke's retreating form. "Ah, that's going to be on his mind for days now."
Naruto shrugs. "Oh well!"
He squeezes Hinata's hand as they go back to watching Boruto grab cake with Shikadai and Inojin, discuss the latest Shinobi VR experience. And in-between talks of new booster moves, Boruto slices off a piece of cake with extra cream for Himawari.
"Time flies." Hinata sighs, leaning into him.
Naruto nods, now he knows why Hiashi always wants to snap so many photos of the pair, forever capture these moments of joy, celebration, and the links, invisible or not that connect them altogether. No matter if Boruto, Himawari, Sarada, or anyone of their friends choose to become shinobi or not, they know they're loved.
Red thread or not.
-x-
The End
Alright, another story comes to an end! Hopefully, it didn't feel too rushed, but I was ready to be done with it. This was the chapter I had in my head from the beginning/early stages of this story on how having a red thread would affect the next generation. It goes into how Naruto & Hinata along with Sasuke & Sakura come to terms with the contrasts they have with their respective children on what it means to have a red thread.
And now, I will turn my focus back to The Sacrifice and sporadically Trouble in Paradise. Will be nice to not have to juggle so many stories all at once lol! I don't know how other authors do it or write like 70+ chapter stories for years.
I appreciate any final thoughts, and thank you again to all my readers, favorites, and followers throughout this story's journey! I post extra content on my pat-re-on along with my original writings. I go by TheLovelyMidnightWriter there!
Check out my Insta by the same name for book review, travel blog, and my anime drawings.
Midnight Rain19