The sacred seal pulsed once.
Then dimmed.
A sign: the child was healthy, the chakra stable, and the womb was complete.
Hinata lay half-reclined on the nesting bed, nude, flushed, glowing with sweat and new motherhood. Her legs were still open. Her thighs trembled faintly.
Blood and afterbirth were gently wiped away by the midwives, but she never once let go of Naruto's hand.
And in her other arm?
Himeko.
Tiny. Red.Wrapped in silk but tucked to her breast.
She suckled slowly — the first chakra-fed milk of a newborn heir.
Naruto watched.
In silence.
In awe.
Until Hinata turned, eyes half-lidded, body limp with warmth.
"Come hold her," she whispered.
He did.
With shaking hands, he cradled the baby. Pressed her gently to his chest.
She squirmed.Grunted.Fell asleep in his arms.
"I still can't believe it," he said.
Hinata smiled weakly.
"She's ours."
He looked at her.
"You're so beautiful."
"I'm so sweaty," she laughed faintly.
He leaned in and kissed her anyway — lips brushing her temple, down to her lips, down to her shoulder.
He slid into bed beside her.
Their skin touched again — sticky, warm, real.
His hand on her belly, now soft and empty.
Her fingers in his hair.
The baby curled between their chests.
"Thank you," he whispered.
Hinata blinked.
"For what?"
"For carrying her. For believing in me. For being… the first."
Her answer came as a kiss.
Soft.
Tired.
And real.
Outside, the temple lights flickered.
And behind the curtain… Sakura was already clutching her stomach.
Her contractions had begun.
But in this room?
It was only them.
Naruto. Hinata. Himeko.
Wrapped in chakra warmth and silence.
A family.