Izumi's voice came from outside, high and clear, carrying straight through the door.
"Let me hold them, let me hold them!"
Then came Hanabi's voice.
"Auntie, you just held them!"
Izumi shot back.
"Does that mean I can't hold them again?"
Fugaku's steady voice followed.
"Stop arguing. One at a time."
Then came Hiashi's voice.
"Me first!"
Everyone fell silent for a moment, then burst into laughter.
Standing in the delivery room, Genya listened to the voices outside. He looked down at Hinata, then at Kaguya, and smiled softly.
Out in the corridor, the two little ones had made the rounds before one finally reached Genya's father.
The old man's hands trembled a little as he held his granddaughter and gazed at her tiny, wrinkled face.
"She looks like Kaguya."
Izumi wiped away tears beside him.
"And Genya, too."
The old man did not disagree.
Hiashi held his grandson with his back ramrod straight, his arms positioned as precisely as if he were cradling a national treasure.
The little one yawned in his arms, and the corners of Hiashi's mouth lifted.
Fugaku stood nearby, watching wistfully. He wanted a turn but felt too awkward to ask.
Mikoto gave him a nudge.
"Go on."
Fugaku cleared his throat and walked over.
"Hiashi, let me hold him."
Hiashi glanced at Fugaku and carefully handed his grandson over.
Fugaku took him, holding him even more carefully than he had held Sasuke all those years ago.
The little one waved his fists in Fugaku's arms, and Fugaku's eyes instantly reddened.
Jiraiya stood in the corner, watching the crowd fuss.
Orochimaru stood beside him, his golden, slit-pupiled eyes fixed on the two little ones, his thoughts unreadable.
Naruto sidled over.
"Orochimaru, you're not thinking of experimenting on them, are you?"
Orochimaru glanced at him.
"Am