The Uzumaki household was alive with the sounds of celebration—or at least it was supposed to be. Brightly colored streamers hung from the walls, a homemade cake sat on the kitchen counter, and a banner that read *Happy Birthday, Himawari!* stretched across the living room.
Himawari, now a year older, sat at the table with a bright smile on her face. But even her enthusiasm couldn't distract from the elephant in the room.
Naruto wasn't there.
Again.
Boruto leaned against the wall, arms crossed, his face set in an annoyed scowl. "You'd think he'd make time *this* year. I mean, come on. It's not like Himawari's birthday sneaks up on him."
Kikidori, sitting on the couch, frowned. "Yeah, it's ridiculous. The *Hokage* can't even show up for his daughter's birthday? Some hero he is."
Himawari glanced between her two brothers, her expression faltering slightly. "It's okay," she said softly. "I'm sure Dad's just really busy."
Boruto scoffed. "You always say that, Himawari. And every year, it's the same thing. He doesn't show up."
Kikidori clenched his fists. He didn't like agreeing with Boruto—*ever*—but this time, he couldn't help it. "He's always talking about how much he cares about the village, but what about his own family? How can he expect us to respect him when he can't even keep a promise to his kids?"
Boruto raised an eyebrow, smirking slightly. "You sound like you hate him."
"I do!" Kikidori snapped, standing up abruptly. "He's selfish, unreliable, and—" He stopped, his expression softening as he looked at Himawari's disappointed face. "And yet…"
Boruto tilted his head. "And yet what?"
Kikidori sighed, his voice lowering. "And yet I want to be like him. I want to be Hokage. I want to be strong enough to protect the village, like he does."
Boruto stared at his brother for a moment, then shook his head with a small laugh. "You're so weird, Kikidori. You hate him, but you look up to him. Make up your mind already."
"Shut up, Boruto," Kikidori muttered, flopping back onto the couch.
Himawari, ever the peacekeeper, stood up and clapped her hands. "It's okay, really. I don't need Dad to have a good birthday. I have you two here, and Mom, and—"
Just then, the door slid open, and Hinata stepped inside, carrying a tray of food. She smiled warmly at Himawari. "Happy birthday, sweetheart."
"Thanks, Mom!" Himawari said, her mood brightening.
Hinata glanced at Boruto and Kikidori, sensing the tension in the room. "I know you're upset about your father not being here," she said gently. "But he really does care about all of you. Sometimes, being Hokage means making sacrifices."
Kikidori rolled his eyes. "He always sacrifices *us*. When does he ever sacrifice anything for his family?"
Hinata didn't answer immediately, her expression thoughtful. "Your father works hard because he believes in protecting the people he loves. That includes all of us, even if it doesn't always feel that way."
Kikidori crossed his arms, still unconvinced. But before he could argue, Himawari spoke up.
"Let's just enjoy the party," she said with a smile. "It's my birthday, and I want us all to have fun!"
Boruto smirked. "Fine, but only because it's your day, Himawari."
Kikidori nodded reluctantly. "Yeah, fine. Happy birthday, Himawari."
As the family gathered around to celebrate, the absence of Naruto lingered like a shadow. But for Himawari's sake, they pushed it aside and focused on making the day special.
---
**Later That Night**
After the party ended and everyone went to bed, Kikidori sat alone in his room, staring at the ceiling. His thoughts were a whirlwind of frustration and confusion.
*How can I hate someone so much but still want to be like them?*
He sighed, closing his eyes. "Maybe one day I'll figure it out," he muttered.
But for now, he resolved to keep training, to keep pushing himself. Because no matter how much he resented his father, he couldn't shake the desire to follow in his footsteps.
And maybe, just maybe, he'd be a better Hokage than Naruto ever was.
End of Chapter 9