The Evolution of Hugs

Notes: Apparently, August 8th was declared Hug no Hi in Japan because the number eight is "ha" and a version of nine is "gu." Naturally, Twitter exploded with lots of artwork featuring characters hugging. I was inspired by the wonderful fanart and wanted to join in the celebration. This is my contribution to the hug fest: a short little story featuring the Uzumakis.

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He was having trouble deciding whether hugging her from the front was better or whether hugging her from behind was.

Naruto watched Hinata as she stood in the living room, her eyes on the children playing outside in the yard. She was smiling, but he knew this was particularly bittersweet. And it wasn't just for her-for him, too.

The smile never left her face even as he heard Boruto instructing Himawari to lift her leg higher to aim a proper kick.

"Good one, Hima!" he was yelling excitedly. "If you lean back with your torso, you should be able to hit Kawaki in the arm!"

"Haaah?! Why do I have to be the training dummy?!"

"You're taller," came Boruto's disgruntled voice. "We need to practice on an enemy who might pick on her at school."

"It's not going to happen if I'm there with her, dumbass." Kawaki's voice was lethal and full of promise. "No one will bully her if they see me around."

"Yeah, yeah," retorted Boruto. "This is for those 'just in case' situations when you're not."

Kawaki grunted. "Fine. Go ahead then, Himawari. Like Boruto said, lean back and then snap your leg quickly forward."

There was a tinkling laugh in answer. "Nii-chan-tachi! I'm ready! Here I come!"

Hinata's shoulders started to droop.

Right. Back hug it is.

Either way, just plain hugging was good enough for him.

He approached her from behind and wrapped his arms around her, his hands settling in front of her, at her tummy, and his chin settled on top of her hair.

Naruto smiled, thinking that this, the top of her head, was his personal placeholder. He liked resting his chin on her head whenever he hugged her. He always got a kick knowing he was the only person who could do this with her-oh, wait. He frowned. Maybe Kiba and Shino, too, he admitted to himself grudgingly. Those two were the only guys he knew that Hinata was comfortable enough to hug.

Still, he was pretty sure his hug was different from theirs.

She sighed and wound her arms tighter around his.

"I can't believe how big they've gotten."

"Me, too, Hinata."

Naruto gazed at his children and felt a burst of pride.

He'd known, of course, that they would all choose to be shinobi. There had never been any doubt in his mind.

Hinata, he knew, had expected it, too. But it was just taking longer for her to get used to the idea. While he'd settled into his role as Hokage, as being the protector of Konoha, Hinata had remained the protector of the family. Her steady influence had kept him and the children afloat as they'd all struggled to adjust to changes that had happened in all their lives. She was the crutch who kept everyone focused, she with her encouragement and cheerful optimism.

But next week, Himawari was entering the Ninja Academy. Kawaki, meanwhile, was on a secret mission.

And Hinata's role had to be shared with others, with Shino and Iruka-sensei, with the rest of the instructors at the academy.