The sun rose over the Hidden Leaf Village, casting a warm light that filtered through the windows of the Uzumaki household. The aroma of Hinata's cooking filled the air, a comforting presence that signified the start of another day. She moved gracefully around the kitchen, preparing dinner for her family. Himawari helped her, her small hands busy with chopping vegetables, while Kikidori and Boruto lounged in the living room, their early morning energy slowly fading.
"Are you two going to help or just sit there?" Hinata called playfully, glancing over her shoulder with a smile.
Kikidori stretched, yawning dramatically. "We'll help later, Mom. Right now, I'm just trying to wake up."
Boruto smirked, leaning back on the couch. "Yeah, besides, we've got more important things to do—like training!"
Hinata chuckled softly, shaking her head at her sons' antics. "You both need to eat first. Training can wait."
As the afternoon turned into evening, the sun began to set, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink. The family gathered around the dinner table, anticipation hanging in the air. But as they sat down, the absence of Naruto loomed heavily over them.
"Do you think Dad will be home for dinner?" Himawari asked, her eyes hopeful.
Hinata exchanged a glance with Kikidori and Boruto, who both shrugged, knowing the answer all too well. "He's busy, sweetie," Hinata replied gently. "But he loves you very much."
Just as they began to eat, the door swung open with a creak, and they all turned expectantly. Naruto stepped inside, a wide grin on his face. "I'm back!"
Himawari squealed with delight and rushed into his arms, but as she hugged him tightly, he suddenly dissipated into a cloud of smoke. The room fell silent, the joyful moment shattered.
"OF COURSE IT'S A DAMN SHADOW-DOPPELGANGER!" Kikidori and Boruto shouted in unison, their voices echoing in the small room.
Kikidori's fists clenched in frustration, his heart racing with anger and disappointment. "Why can't he just be here? It's always the same! I'm tired of these stupid clones!" He stormed out of the house, unable to contain his emotions any longer.
Boruto followed closely behind, his own feelings mirroring his brother's. "This is ridiculous! He never has time for us!"
The brothers made their way through the village, the familiar sights blurring as their frustration grew. Kikidori's mind raced with thoughts of his father, the man he admired yet resented. He wanted to understand why Naruto was never around, why he had to rely on shadow clones to fill in for him.
"Where are you going?" Boruto asked, catching up to Kikidori as they approached the Hokage Tower.
"I'm going to ask him," Kikidori replied, determination lighting his eyes. "I want to know why he can't just be here for us."
Boruto hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "I'm coming with you. He needs to hear this from both of us."
As they reached the tower, the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the village. Kikidori pushed open the door to the Hokage's office, his heart pounding. He found Naruto sitting at his desk, surrounded by stacks of paperwork, a look of exhaustion etched on his face.
"Dad!" Kikidori exclaimed, stepping forward. "Why are you never home? Do you even care?"
Naruto looked up, surprise flickering in his eyes. "Kikidori! I—"
"Don't give me excuses!" Kikidori interrupted, his voice rising. "You're always busy with missions and paperwork. We barely see you! Himawari is upset, and so are we!"
Boruto crossed his arms, standing beside Kikidori, his expression mirroring his brother's frustration. "Yeah, it's like you don't even want to be here!"
Naruto sighed, running a hand through his hair, his expression shifting to one of regret. "I'm sorry, you two. I know it's hard. Being Hokage comes with a lot of responsibilities, and sometimes I have to make tough choices."
"Choices?" Kikidori echoed, his voice laced with bitterness. "What about our choices? We want our dad here, not just a shadow clone!"
Naruto stood up, his posture firm but his eyes softening. He walked around the desk, placing a hand on Kikidori's shoulder. "I promise you, I'm doing everything I can to protect this village and our family. I want to be there for you, but I have to make sure everyone is safe."
Kikidori shrugged off Naruto's hand, anger bubbling beneath the surface. "But you're not safe for us! You're never here when we need you!"
In a moment of impulse, Kikidori picked up a small training ball from the corner of the room and threw it at Naruto. The ball flew through the air, but Naruto caught it effortlessly, placing it down on the desk with a heavy sigh.
"Look, I know I'm not perfect," Naruto said, his voice steady. "But I want to be a good father. I want to be the Hokage you can look up to. I want to be there for you both."
Kikidori's anger faltered for a moment, replaced by a flicker of understanding. "Then why can't you just be here? Why is it always someone else?"
Before Naruto could respond, Konohamaru stepped into the room, his usual energetic demeanor dimmed by the tension. "Hey, Naruto! I need your help with a—"
He paused, noticing the charged atmosphere. "Uh, am I interrupting something?"
"No," Naruto replied quickly, turning his attention back to his sons. "We were just talking."
Kikidori crossed his arms, his frustration still simmering. "Talking? It feels more like you're making excuses."
Konohamaru looked between the three of them, sensing the undercurrents of emotion. "Maybe I can help. Kikidori, Boruto, I know it's tough having a dad who's always busy. But your father cares about you more than anything. He's doing this for you."
"But it doesn't feel that way," Boruto said, his voice quieter now. "We just want him home."
Naruto nodded, his expression softening. "I promise I'll try to be more present. I want to make time for you, even if it's just a few moments in between my duties."
Kikidori looked at Naruto, searching his father's eyes for sincerity. "Can you really promise that?"
"I can," Naruto replied, his tone earnest. "I'll make it work. You both deserve that."
Konohamaru smiled, stepping forward. "How about we make a plan? A day each week dedicated to family time? We can train together, or just hang out. Whatever you want."
Boruto's eyes lit up. "That could work! We could even invite Sarada and Mitsuki!"
Kikidori hesitated, still feeling the weight of his earlier anger. But as he looked at his father, he saw the determination in Naruto's gaze. "Okay, I'm in. But you have to stick to it, Dad."
Naruto nodded, relief washing over him. "I will. I promise."
As the tension in the room began to dissipate, Kikidori felt a sense of hope. Maybe things could change. Maybe they could find a way to bridge the gap between their father's responsibilities and their need for him.
With a newfound sense of purpose, the brothers shared a glance, the understanding that they were in this together solidifying their bond. They would support each other, just as they would support their father.
As they left the Hokage Tower, the moon shone brightly in the night sky, illuminating the path ahead. Kikidori felt lighter, ready to embrace whatever challenges lay ahead, knowing that they would face them as a family.
The End of Chapter 2