Chapter 20

"Hello, Sasuke." 

The blonde's words surprised two of his companions. "What do you mean by that?" Karin asked, who was the first to shake off her surprise. "Exactly what I said." his voice, stature, expression, Naruto was serious. Some part of him tried to convince him that it was a mistake, that he shouldn't have done it, but the blonde didn't want to hear it, he had enough. "Are you... You're not serious, are you?" asked the woman with faint hope in the head. She hoped, faint, but still that the blonde was not entirely serious and would change his mind yet, she couldn't imagine that he would just give up something he had fought for for years!

She didn't receive an answer, the blonde was sitting on the counter with his head directed towards the ceiling and was silent. Orochimaru, also leaned against the cupboard and thought, maybe it wouldn't be that bad? "Naruto, please-" "No, that... I don't care anymore, here I have everything I wanted, what I need." a smile began to appear on his lips, but it faded quickly. "Wouldn't that be a waste of all these years !? Just think how much time you've been training, almost losing your life, just to prove to those... those bastards how much they're 'worth' WITHOUT YOU! " Karin couldn't stand it, yes she wanted the best for her cousin, but on the other hand she couldn't get over it, so many years just to give up now? Just give up?

"I finally understood, no matter how hard I train, how much work and effort I put into my work, just to get a void in return. I'm fed up with sacrificing my life, my family, myself for the hypocrites who never admit they are wrong." The blonde's words pierced both adults, they were without a gram of emotions, empty voice, full of coldness. Naruto got up and slipped off the counter, landing in front of his cousin. "I'm leaving tomorrow. Tomorrow I'm going to end this once and for good. " and left, he said nothing more and only left, leaving his two companions in shock.

"Maybe it will be better." the black-haired man finally spoke up. "After all, he has had enough for years and has been there only for his wife and children, and now... Now he can finally think about himself in a different way than before." She knew the man was right, but somehow it was hard for her to believe it or imagine it. But that was his will, if it was going to make him happier, she didn't mind.

The next day, Naruto stood in the living room in his standard work attire, wearing a red and white coat for the last time. Behind him stood Boruto with Sarada. The younger of the blond had a kind of mixed feelings about that day. Yesterday afternoon he heard his father talking about something with Kakashi, after which the silver-haired man immediately returned to Konoha. "Boruto, I know both you and Kawaki prefer to stay with me, I'm sure you will, but..." he had to say it! He knew he had to, but he didn't want to hurt his son. He did not want the young boy to be separated from his sister, to suffer. "I'll be honest, there may be a problem with Himawari. I cannot promise that he will stay with us." At these words the boy looked down, he knew about it. He was well aware of the fact that his grandfather might cut in and disagree, since in his family, his younger sister has the most powerful Byakugan now, or so it was supposed. "I know..." he said softly, but loud enough for the blonde to hear his tone, a sad tone.

Itachi entered the room, for which the other three had been waiting for several, almost 10, minutes. He wore a knee-length kimono in a pale sea shade with a thick belt and a bow of the same color and a collar in a lighter shade, gray, almost black ankle-length pants, and black sandals. He tied his black hair with an orange ribbon that Himawari had given him when she was playing with his hair before going to Konoha.

"Ready?" the Hokage asked, slightly irritated by the waiting. Itachi was smiling gently and lowered his head, showing remorse that it took him so long. "Okay, so it's time to go."

Just like before, their journey to Konoha didn't last long. Of course, it didn't cope with the shock, shouts and fear at the sight of Itachi, who had been dead for a few good years. Not that Naruto would get over it, on the contrary, he didn't seem to see or hear it.

All four of them were now the most important structure in the village. The building that they saw for the last time in this day and in their lives, at least they hoped so. "Alright, Boruto." Naruto had a smile on his face, a gentle, warm smile. "Go get Kawaki and pack your things, we'll take care of Himawari's things when the sentence is passed. Come back here later. " the younger blonde smiled broadly, nodded quickly and walked towards his grandfather's house.

"Sarada, can you take Itachi to your house and show him Konoha? I'm sure you missed your village and your brother." The man smiled. To be honest, he wasn't quite sure how he felt about visiting his brother, but he wanted to see the village. After loudly shouting a happy "of course" Sarada grabbed her uncle by the hand and dragged him home. The blonde was standing and smiling, he wanted it. Happiness for all, giving you a second chance to live the life of one of the people who deserved it. Maybe... but only maybe, he would even find something in it... maybe feelings that would not end in a farce?

He shook his head at the thought, he didn't have time for that! He didn't want it, he was fed up with the heartbreak. He was ready to show the black-haired man everything he had lost in the last years, help him face his fears, but that's about it. He had no intention, he didn't want to, he was afraid ... he was afraid of giving him feelings, even if it might not be safe in the future, but now he had more important things on his mind. He took a deep breath and looked one last time in the direction where the man was headed, then headed for his office with his head held high.

Hinata was already in the room. She was wearing a knee-length violet dress, the bottom flounce had white, barely visible patterns, and the other, top one, was finished with a white border. The sleeves of the dress were long, finished with a welt, but with cut-out shoulders. Her hair was arranged exactly the same the last time he saw her, but this time there was not a small hairpin in her hair, made of purple and orange beads, ending in a bird's feather, which he had given her on one of their anniversaries.

"You look good." he said with a smile, he was not lying, the smile was not forced. He was honest with himself. "Thank you." The simple answer that fell from her lips was enough to make his smile gently widen. "Could... could we end this quickly?" she asked, looking away, she didn't feel... comfortable. The whole situation was awkward. After a moment, Kakashi in his Hokage cloak entered the room, a whole process began that no one would have suspected would ever happen with these two as the main participants.

In another part of Konoha, two adults sat at the table without saying a word to each other. They were worried about their daughter. They heard Naruto had moved out of the house with the kids, and Sarada was spending the day with them, but nevertheless, they were worried. Suddenly there was a door opening in the house and they heard a very familiar voice, strangely enthusiastic, but they didn't care too much. "I'm back!"

They both got up immediately and went to the living room, Sakura when she saw her daughter breathed a sigh of relief and closed her eyes to collect her thoughts silently. After a moment with a smile on her face, she spoke up. "We were worried about you." what happened next nobody expected. Sasuke, who was standing shoulder to shoulder with his wife, noticed a tall, black-haired man with a very familiar posture and face... a face that once haunted him in dreams, nightmares. Something had touched him, something hinted that it was not a hallucination, and then he remembered.

Years ago, on a beautiful day, he and the blonde were in a clearing in the woods, watching the clouds. He never understood what was interesting about it, but his other half seemed to be enjoying it, so he allowed himself to be talked into it, just to keep the blonde, god forbid, from spending too much time with someone else. "Hey Sasuke." the man said suddenly, looking unconsciously at the clouds, the black-haired man turned his head towards his lover. "If you could bring one person back to life, who would you choose?"

The question surprised him completely. Why would a blonde ask about something like this? However, despite this, he began to wonder. Would it be his parents? He had no one but them, his 'master' was still alive out there somewhere, his only friends were the blonde and the members of Team Taka. So maybe...

"Probably... Itachi."

Tears welled up from his eyes, and there was a smile on his lips. "No... it's impossible!" he said, unable to look away, he didn't know whether to be happy or afraid. He was happy or maybe scared, he had no idea, he felt lost in his own thoughts. Sakura also looked with horror and even more surprise at the figure standing next to her daughter. How was that even possible? They had no idea, they didn't want to.

Sarada stood quietly, a happy smile on her lips, she seemed not to pay attention to her parents' reaction. Itachi, in turn, stood with his arms crossed against his chest, staring at his younger brother. He wasn't going to hide his emotions, that was his resolve in this life, even though it was out of the ordinary for his family, he didn't care.

"Hello, Sasuke."