From Present to Future

Chapter 41

"Boy, that was a real roller coater ride" Ino said sighing, getting nods of approval from around the room.

"True. On one side, it was Naruto, Sasuke and their child and on the other, it was Lord Jiraiya, Tsunade-sama and their daughter." Sakura added.

Others were thinking the same thing. While the blonde clearly didn't deserve such pain, but the legendary toad sennin did deserve that happiness. Especially after knowing his virgin status (inner snickers🤭🤭), they truly prayed for his love to come true.

And it did. At the same time, when the younger blonde's love has to go through such trial of suffering.

"Such is life, Sakura-chan. Every moment is unpredictable but worth living", said the third Hokage. His eyes unknowingly moved towards his student. And he smiled. Finally Jiraiya, you found your peace.

Jiraiya returned the Hokage's gesture and grinned heartily while wiping his tears away. He would be lying if he says the projection didn't affect him much. His tears are the proof that he desired that future (his part) so much. But it was his cowardice that stopped him from pursuing that woman. He thought he was giving her space and time to heal, not realising loneliness never was the medicine for pain. It was love. And that he realised from his godson.

Despite leaving the Uchiha in the enemy territory, the blonde never once left his heart. He loved him with his entire being, and not from the shadows but openly. He never stopped expressing his desire to have the other and didn't it work fabulously. The ice princess melted, albeit only for him. But it did happen.

It seems he has more reasons to mend his way now.

Naruto. Misha. Tsunade. Let me make it up to all of you. Let me be your family.

I will never let you go ever again, Tsunade, Naruto. Let me do the walking and reach you. Because I am not planning on stopping any time sooner.

While the legendary pervert was taking his oath to change for good, Naruto and Sasuke were having their own moment. No they couldn't say anything or do anything at the present but their eyes did it all for them. One look at the other and they both knew what they wanted. The unspoken words were silently spoken and a promise was formed between them. Even if in future they cannot evade such tragedy, that will not stop them from trying. They nodded at each other, in a way that was assuring and loving to the other.

Naruto smiled brightly at his teme and Sasuke smirked elegantly at his dobe.

I will walk oceans of time, Sasuke, as long as you are my destiny.

You stole my heart, dobe. But I will let you keep it.

"Naruto, my child, please continue with your projection. There shouldn't be many left." The third Hokage spoke, breaking the blonde and his raven's moment.

Hearing the Hokage speak, Naruto nodded his head and focused back on the orb. He sighed internally. Today couldn't have gone any less tiresome. But knowing future is also not bad.

Smirking to himself, Naruto processed his chakra and soon a projection came into view. His eyes lit up at once for what he saw. He sure has some good feelings about this projection. Fingers crossed.

In the Karashi town, at the border of the Fire country, stood a two storey building. Lushed with open grassfield from all four sides, this yellow-red house was declared as a safe haven by the Rokudaime Hokage for his family. No one knows of this place except people closest to the blonde Hokage and that is why Sasuke sits here unguarded, to enjoy a warm, harmonious picnic with his family. The place is safe, marked with seals and summons from all around. Not that anyone would ever think of attacking them anyways. There is the first, Rokudaime Hokage living here himself, then two SSS-rank 'rogue' shinobis with flee-on-sight order in bingo book and today there is a fourth addition, the Godaime Kazekage.