?????? ????? (Boruto x oc) ?

Naruto was standing there, his heart broke watching his daughter suffering. He clenched his fist and gritted his teeth to control his anger. He hated how he couldn't do anything for her.

Sakura had left Itaki with impactful memories. She had ruined the girl's mind and it pained Naruto greatly that Sakura, one of his closest friends did something like that to a child.

Hinata handed over a glass of water of Itaki and rubbed her back to calm her down.

---

"How is she?" Naruto asked as he entered inside his house after a long day at the office. Hinata glanced upstairs at the door of her room before sighing. "Better than before.." Everyone's mood at the Uzumaki residence was off.

Hinata had sent Himawari to the Hyuuga compound a few days before and Kawaki had glued himself to his room ever since Itaki arrived.

It was about to be a week since Itaki has returned to the village and not many people knew about it. The Uzumaki's, Hyuuga's a few shinobis and that's about it.

Naruto nodded and headed upstairs while Hinata went in the kitchen to prepare dinner for him.

"Hey kiddo.."

He stopped on his track when he saw Itaki doing handstand push-ups on her thumb with the other hand at the back.. His eyes widened as he stared at her. She looked up and stood straight. "I felt better and I was too bored sitting on the bed the whole day."

Naruto observed her as she wiped off her sweat from a towel. "How's your fever now?" He asked and walked up to her.

He touched her forehead to check her body temperature and smiled. "It's back to normal." Itaki nodded and pulled her hair back to tie it in high pony tail. The wounds on her head from earlier were starting to heal slowly.

Naruto watched her take out a scroll and a box out of it. Itaki opened the box and picked out the hair tie Sasuke had gifted her. A chuckle escaped from Naruto as the Uchiha fan shined brightly under the moonlight. "I'll go to the Hyuuga compound tomorrow to fetch Himawari."

The blonde nodded with a smile. "That will be great! C'mon let's have dinner."

---

Itaki sits at the edge of her bed, her head resting in her hands. The house is quiet, the night still, but the memories of her past flood her mind like a storm. The coldness from Sakura, the distance, the words that never came. It’s hard to escape it. Even though she’s surrounded by love now, her past continues to cling to her like a shadow.

Hinata enters the room, quietly shutting the door behind her. She’s always attuned to Itaki’s moods, her gentle steps never failing to comfort her. She sits down next to her daughter, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.

“You’ve been quiet all evening,” Hinata says softly, her voice full of warmth. “Is something on your mind?”

Itaki doesn’t look up, but the lump in her throat grows. “I’m fine, really,” she whispers, though the words feel hollow.

Hinata doesn’t push, just sits there, letting Itaki have the space to speak if she chooses. After a long moment, Itaki finally looks up, her eyes haunted.

“I love being here, with you and otōsan. I really do.” She pauses, her voice shaking slightly. “But I can't forget my past. It’s like it’s always there, following me, no matter how far I run. I can’t forget how she treated me. How she... never wanted me.”

Hinata’s heart aches for her daughter, and she pulls her closer, pressing her forehead against Itaki’s. “Itaki, I know you hurt, and I can’t erase what happened. But what I can tell you is that it doesn’t define you. You are here now, and you’re loved more than you know.”

“I don’t know how to let go of it,” Itaki admits, her voice breaking. “I’ve tried. But it still hurts. And I don’t think I’ll ever understand why she hated me.”

Hinata’s voice is gentle but firm. “You don’t need to understand her actions, Itaki. You don’t need to carry that weight anymore. You’ve already come so far, and your heart is full of so much love. That’s what matters.”

Itaki stays silent for a long time, letting her mother's words sink in. She can feel the warmth of the Uzumaki family surrounding her, but the ghosts of the past linger, a constant reminder of the mother she never truly knew.

Later that evening, as the stars fill the sky, Naruto comes to check on Itaki. She’s sitting alone outside, gazing at the moon, lost in thought. He sits beside her, a rare moment of quiet between them.

“You’ve been through a lot, haven’t you?” Naruto asks, his voice full of understanding.

Itaki doesn’t look at him, but she speaks honestly. “I don’t know how to stop feeling the way I do. The past is too heavy. And no matter how much I love being here with you, it still hurts.”

Naruto places a hand on her shoulder. “It’s okay to hurt. But remember, you don’t have to carry it alone. You’ve got us. And even though it may take time, you’ll heal. We’ll help you every step of the way.”

Itaki nods, but she knows it won’t be easy. She still has a long road ahead, but with the Uzumaki's by her side, she believes she can eventually overcome the pain, even if the memories of her past never fully disappear.

---

It was a calm yet joyful morning in the Uzumaki estate. Naruto was getting ready for office, Kawaki was busy training outside in the lawn, Himawari and Hinata were in the kitchen washing dishes and Itaki was sitting in the living room, singing her favourite song.

Her voice floated through the air, sweet and melodic, weaving through the quiet room like a gentle breeze. She stood with her head slightly tilted, eyes closed, lost in the rhythm of the song. Each note seemed to carry a piece of her soul, filled with warmth and longing. Her lips parted with grace, and her chest rose and fell as she breathed in time with the music. The room seemed to hold its breath, captivated by the harmony that filled every corner.

Hearing the Uchiha singing, everyone walked in the living room, surprised by Itaki's skills.

They held a soft smile, admiring her melodic and sweet voice. Himawari looked up to Itaki, wanting to become a shinobi and a person like her one and only favourite sister.

Hinata was deeply moved, as she’s always been gentle and nurturing towards Itaki. Hearing her daughter sing filled Hinata with love and pride. She slightly became emotional, quietly wiping away tears. “Itaki… you have such a beautiful voice.”

Naruto was just as surprised and touched by Itaki’s singing. Given how much he cares for her, he saw it as a beautiful, vulnerable side of her. "I didn’t know you could sing, Itaki! You’re amazing!”

Himawari's eyes were filled with admiration and affected as she watched Itaki sing with her heart. As someone who looks up to Itaki as an older sister, she was thrilled to see her in such a vulnerable and beautiful moment.

Himawari clapped her hands excitedly, her face lighting up with joy. "Wow, Itaki onēchan! That was amazing!" Her eyes sparkled with awe as she watched Itaki express herself in this way, something she might have never expected from her. Itaki being her role model, it gave Himawari another reason to admire her even more.

"You never told us you could sing!" Himawari exclaimed, amazed by Itaki's hidden skill they just witnessed. "I started a year ago." She ruffled Himawari's short hair and looked at her mother with a chuckle. "Enjoyed the show?"