Youthful Sasuke and Boruto in the Land of Stars

The capital of the Land of Stars, Star City.

Morning sunlight streamed through the bright glass window, spilling warmly across the polished floor of a ward in the military medical district.

The air carried a faint scent of disinfectant, softened by the fresh fragrance from a potted green plant on the windowsill and the vague aroma of flowers.

The room was spacious and clean, with advanced facilities far beyond the medical conditions of an ordinary ninja village.

It was in such a warm, bright, peaceful environment that Gaara slowly opened his eyes.

His consciousness floated up from chaotic darkness. The first thing he felt was the softness of the bed beneath him, followed by the warm, gentle light.

He blinked his dry eyes, and his blurred vision gradually cleared.

A white ceiling. Simple light fixtures.

The scent of bedding lingered at the tip of his nose, along with a faint, reassuring fragrance.

With some difficulty, he slowly turned his stiff neck and looked toward the bedside.

A black-haired woman in a dark house kimono was lying beside his hospital bed, seemingly asleep.

Her profile was gentle, and there was a faint exhaustion between her brows. Even in sleep, her brow remained slightly furrowed, as if she were worried about something.

Her hands were folded beneath her cheek, also pressing down on one of Gaara's arms.

It was Mikoto Uchiha.

Gaara's breathing hitched slightly. His heart felt as if it had been gently clenched by a warm hand—sore, swollen, and even more filled with a rush of warmth.

He opened his mouth, and his parched throat let out a faint breath of sound.

That tiny movement seemed to startle Mikoto from her light sleep.

Her long lashes trembled a few times, and she slowly opened her eyes.

When those black eyes,