"I'm home!"
Boruto pushed open the front door with some trepidation, and warm light spilled out from the entryway.
Four people were already seated in the living room, all looking toward the door.
The Seventh, Naruto Uzumaki, wore a warm, relaxed smile. Hinata Hyuga sat beside him, her hands elegantly folded in her lap and her usual gentle smile on her face. But her clear Byakugan held scrutiny and curiosity toward the unfamiliar guests.
Himawari Uzumaki sat obediently beside her mother, blinking her big, bright blue eyes-identical to her father's-as she looked curiously toward the door.
Kawaki sat with his arms crossed, his expression cold and his gaze as sharp as a hawk's, openly sizing up the visitors.
Clearly, all four had been waiting for Boruto and the "special guests" he was bringing home.
"Welcome back!"
The Seventh spoke first, waving enthusiastically to his son and the version of himself from another world, his tone light and cheerful.
For once, he hadn't needed to work overtime today. Shikamaru had volunteered to stay behind and handle several days' worth of paperwork for him.
Himawari and Kawaki focused more of their attention on the young Naruto and the little silver-haired girl beside him.
Hinata's gaze lingered on the young Naruto's face for a moment before naturally moving away, settling instead on the silver-haired girl whose hand he held. She looked only about ten, yet carried herself with an extraordinary air.
From what she could see, the young Naruto before her did indeed bear a strong resemblance to her husband in his youth, but that resemblance was only skin-deep.
Even if he was "Naruto" from another world, he was not the Naruto Uzumaki she liked, loved deeply, and had weathered life's storms with.
He lacked the little details and qualities unique to her