Naruto's New Year's gift wasn't anything extravagant—just a simple black hair ribbon.
Of course, Hikari didn't rudely open it right away. The Byakugan's penetrating vision was unbeatable for gathering intel in battle, but in daily life, it robbed things of their sense of surprise.
"I'm sorry, Naruto. I can't accept this."
Hikari sat upright, her expression serious—or at least, as serious as one could look while wearing fluffy pajamas. Still, Naruto and Might Guy could tell she meant every word.
"W-Why not?"
His carefully chosen gift rejected, Naruto's blue eyes wavered. His fingers dug into the box, leaving small dents in the wrapping.
"If you'd given me a kunai, I'd have taken it. But between friends of the opposite sex, personal gifts like this… aren't appropriate."
Her refusal was firm.
She wasn't a child.
She knew exactly what Naruto felt for her. Most people could sense when someone liked them—some were just more perceptive than others.
Claiming ignorance? That was just lying to avoid responsibility while still enjoying the perks of being liked.
Hikari refused to play that game.
Accepting gifts, then acting clueless when confronted? That was just… tea-drinking behavior.
Some things were better said outright.
Clutching the gift he'd agonized over, Naruto's lips trembled. His barely-formed feelings had been exposed before he could even confess. His crush was over before it began.
"I… I get it."
Outside, the snowstorm seemed to worsen. Even through the frost-covered windows, the heavy flakes were visible, drifting like feathers.
His head drooped.
The snow in his hair had melted, leaving his blond locks damp and sticking to his scalp—utterly pathetic.
His voice, once bright, now carried a bitter weight. His sky-blue eyes dimmed, losing their usual spark.
Hikari didn't comfort him.
Better to cut things clean now than let false hope fester. That way, they could at least stay friends.
"Ahhh, YOUTH!"
The heavy atmosphere shattered as Might Guy suddenly clenched his fists, tears streaming down his face like twin waterfalls.
"Naruto, my boy! This is the PAIN of young love! But remember—YOUTH NEVER GIVES UP! WAAAAAH—!"
Snot dripped from his nose as he bawled, though it was unclear what exactly he was so moved by.
"Thanks, Uncle Guy…"
Naruto's voice remained dejected.
When it came to heartbreak, encouragement rarely helped—unless…
His body stiffened.
Wait. Uncle Guy is Hikari's adoptive father. Does this mean… I have her family's approval?
His head snapped up.
Eyes locking onto the still-sobbing Guy, hope reignited in his chest. Mimicking Guy's pose, he pumped his fists.
"You're right! I won't give up!"
"THAT'S THE SPIRIT! WAAAAH—!" Guy yanked Naruto into a tearful embrace, no longer caring about the "uncle" title.
What the hell is this idiot doing?
Hikari narrowed her eyes, exasperated.
She'd finally extinguished Naruto's little crush, and now Guy had gone and relit it.
A dull ache pulsed in her head—a side effect of her ongoing Sage Body evolution. She lay back down, letting the process continue.
She'd said her piece.
Naruto was stubborn but resilient. He'd be fine. And if he did spiral into emo darkness over this? Well, that was Guy's fault.
CRACK!
Despite her thoughts, irritation made her lie down harder than intended. The raised earthen platform beneath her groaned before splintering like a spiderweb.
After a month of service, her bed had finally given out.
Ever since awakening her Sage Body, her chakra had skyrocketed. The Kaguya lineage's bones, now reinforced by Sage vitality, had become dense as tungsten steel. Her muscles thickened, her physique tightening like coiled springs.
Her chakra reserves had quadrupled—maybe quintupled. Even without Samehada, she was undeniably Kage-level now.
If she combined the Sixth Gate, Tailed Beast Cloak, and Lightning Release Chakra Mode? She wasn't even sure how strong her taijutsu would become.
She'd tested it once in the Forest of Death.
Then spent the next day bedridden.
Her bones could handle the strain, but her muscles, organs, and blood vessels? Not so much.
The sheer pressure had ruptured everything at once. Without her insane regeneration, she'd have dropped dead on the spot.
Her body, enhanced by the Shikotsumyaku, had long surpassed human limits—but it was still flesh and blood. Unlike her near-indestructible bones, the rest of her had its limits.
To compensate, she'd pushed her skeletal manipulation to accelerate muscle growth. The results?
Mixed.
Her strength had improved, but not enough to handle full power. Worse, her density kept increasing uncontrollably.
She didn't even know her weight anymore. Two household scales had already shattered under her.
CRACK-CRACK—!
The fractures spread rapidly, black lines branching like lightning across the platform before it collapsed entirely.
Naruto, now fired up by Guy's pep talk, turned at the noise—
BOOM!
Hikari sank three inches into the platform, leaving a perfect crater of her body. The edges bulged outward as dirt and stone crumbled away.
Guy and Naruto's faces froze.
They knew Hikari was abnormally heavy, but this? This defied logic.
CRUNCH.
Hikari climbed out, her delicate-looking hands effortlessly crushing the remains of the platform like wet clay.
GULP.
Both males swallowed hard.
"Naruto… you really need to train harder," Guy said gravely. If the kid wanted to pursue Hikari, he'd need to toughen up—fast. Otherwise, one accidental hug could snap him like a twig.
Naruto paled, wiping his damp hair. The cold sweat (or was it melted snow?) made his scalp tingle.
Maybe the chill helped.
The fiery passion in his chest cooled, replaced by sober realization.
Sometimes, rejection wasn't enough.
Only by seeing the gap between them could his heart truly accept it.
Hikari, oblivious to their thoughts, carefully stepped down and began repairing the platform with Earth Release.
Her weight was becoming a real problem.
Moving too quickly meant her momentum had to be measured in tons. In battle? Devastating.
In daily life? A nightmare.
Ordinary furniture broke if she so much as leaned on it. Walking required caution—one misstep could crater the ground.
No wonder she'd adopted Kakashi's "lazy" demeanor. Less movement meant less destruction.
The only solution might be Ōnoki's Light-Weight Rock Technique—but facing the Tsuchikage's Particle Style was suicide. Her steel-like bones would disintegrate just like her poor bed.
"Hikari! It's New Year's! There's fireworks tonight—let's go out!" Guy interjected, blocking her path back to bed.
"You two go ahead."
She shook her head. As much as she wanted to see Konoha's celebrations, her control was too shaky right now.
A crowded festival? Too risky. One accidental bump could turn a civilian into paste.
"New Year's is about being together! You can't just stay home alone!"
Guy's voice carried a rare weight. As an orphan, he knew exactly how lonely holidays could be—sitting by a window, eating soba alone while others celebrated.
Naruto's shoulders slumped. If they weren't going out, he'd be heading back to an empty apartment.
Just then—
KNOCK KNOCK.
The door slid open, revealing a one-eyed man in black fatigues, silver hair dusted with snow.
"Kakashi?"
"Bored. Came to play cards."
With a flick of his wrist, Kakashi produced a deck—his "cool guy" pose making Naruto's eyes sparkle.
"Perfect! We were just looking for something to do!" Guy cheered.
Kakashi's lone eye shifted to Hikari. "You in?"
"Sure."
Card games were safe. No movement, no collateral damage.
Kakashi then glanced at Naruto. The boy's blond hair and whirlpool crest made his eye soften momentarily.
"I'm Uzumaki Naruto! Future Hokage!" Naruto grinned, striking a pose.
"I'm Uchiha Obito! Future Hokage!"
The ghost of a memory flashed through Kakashi's mind.
"Hatake Kakashi. Wanna join?" He shook the deck.
"Hell yeah!"
Naruto's face lit up. New Year's was always the loneliest time—even the Third Hokage was busy. This was his first invitation.
"Four players works, but five's ideal. Otherwise, we'd have to tweak the rules…" Kakashi mused.
Finding a fifth at this hour would be tough.
"I—I know someone!" Naruto blurted, eyes darting to Hikari.
She sighed.
Of course she knew who he meant.
The only person Naruto would think of—the only one free on a family-centric holiday.
Is this the bond between Asura and Indra?
"Go ahead."
"Heh!" Naruto bolted out the door, snowflakes swirling behind him.
If anyone could drag Sasuke out, it was Hikari.
Warm light filled the room as five figures sat in a circle—two adults, three kids—with a deck of cards and a cup of water between them.
"So you had Naruto drag me here… for this?" Sasuke sat stiffly beside Hikari, face impassive.
He'd been training his Fire Release when Naruto showed up, claiming Hikari needed him. And now? Cards?
His clan's massacre remained unavenged. He didn't have time for games!
Hikari side-eyed him, then glanced at Naruto—currently engrossed in learning the rules.
"You're already here. A break might help your training."
Sasuke shut up.
He respected strength. Hikari was stronger. Her words carried weight.
And if he was honest? The Uchiha compound was too quiet these days.
"Rules clear?" Kakashi clapped. "Losers get paper strips on their faces. No cheating."
Four nods.
Then—
SHING!
A Byakugan and three Sharingan activated at once.
"SHE'S CHEATING!" Kakashi and Sasuke pointed at Hikari's glowing eyes.
"Wha—NO!" She shot up, indignant.
"STRIP! STRIP!" Guy, ever the instigator, dunked a paper slip in water and slapped it onto her forehead.
The sight of her pouting face—adorned with a fluttering slip—made everyone crack a smile.
Seeing the normally monstrous Hikari like this? Priceless.
Even Sasuke felt a flicker of amusement.
Hikari gritted her teeth, deactivating her Byakugan. Darkness engulfed her vision.
"Again!"
Laughter filled the room, warm against the howling winter outside.
For the first time in a long time—
None of them felt alone.
This…
This was what family tasted like.