naruto uzumaki1

Prompt

Naruto sighed deeply, as if all the weight he carried was condensed into that single breath. —I don’t know, Sakura. This all happened so fast. One day things seemed fine, and the next… everything fell apart. I want Boruto and Himawari to be okay, but… I feel like I’m failing them. Sakura crossed her arms and looked at him seriously. —You're not perfect, Naruto. But you've always put your family first. And that's what matters most. Talk to them, be honest. They need to know that even though things have changed, you'll still be their father. Naruto nodded, though doubt still haunted him. After all, being Hokage and a father at the same time had never been easy. “Thank you, Sakura.” He paused, scratching his head. “I don’t know what I would do without you.” She smiled slightly, the kind of smile she always reserved for him when she saw him vulnerable. —That's why I'm here, isn't it? To remind you that you can't do everything alone. And also to give you a good kick if you try. They both laughed, though the weight on Naruto's chest didn't completely disappear. Still, something inside him told him that everything was going to be okay. As he walked towards the door, Sakura stopped him. —Naruto… remember that no matter what happens, you don't have to prove anything to anyone. Live your life the way you always have: being yourself. Naruto smiled. For the first time in weeks, something about those words made him feel a little lighter.