Mirror

“I was doing research, looking through some important scrolls, and I’ve found out that out of four kunoichi, one will die prematurely.” Shikamaru said, twirling his glass in his hand.

“What do you mean?” Naruto asked with a confused expression.

“One out of four female ninja die unnatural deaths.” Sakura said, sitting beside Naruto. “I read that same scroll a few months ago. It was quite disturbing.”

Naruto turned to face his pink-haired friend. “Disturbing?”

“Yes baka, think about it. It means that out of Tenten, Ino, Hinata and I, one of us will most probably die before it is our time…murdered in battle.”

Naruto stiffened as that information slammed into understanding, drilling a hole in his heart. No one said anything, but all three shinobi thought the same thing.

“Which one would die?”
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Naruto returned home an hour later, to find Hinata sitting on a couch, stroking her swollen belly. Wordlessly, he launched himself onto the couch and pulled his wife into his arms.

“N-Naruto-kun?” She stuttered.

Even after seven months of marriage, Hinata found that she still stuttered around her husband, but only in moments of unexpected physical contact.

“Just…just let me hold you.” He said softly, nuzzling his head into her neck.

They sat in silence for a few minutes as Naruto held Hinata in a tight embrace. After five minutes, curiosity got the better of her.

“Naruto-kun, what’s wrong?” She asked, stroking his arm.

“Nothing really…just…something Sakura said today. It made me realise how lucky I am to have you.”

“Naruto-kun…what did she say?”

“She said…that one in every four kunoichi die of unnatural causes.”

Hinata made a small sound of understanding. “And she used herself, Ino-san, Tenten and I as an example?” Naruto nodded. “I read that scroll too Naruto-kun. Arigato for your concern, but remember, I don’t even go on missions anymore. I’m a teacher at the academy, so the odds of me being killed in battle are greatly reduced.”

Naruto’s face reappeared from Hinata’s neck. “Your right, of course your right. So, how’s our baby doing?” He asked, stroking her bulging belly.

“It kicked again today. I’ve been very tired today Naruto-kun, so I haven’t made dinner, gomen.”

“ ‘Nata, there’s no need to apologise. I’ll make dinner, what would you like?”

He went about fixing dinner, and Hinata remained on the couch, watching her beloved. “Just think Naruto-kun, in two months, we’re going to be parents. A little human, made from our love, will be in our arms.”

From his place in the kitchen, Naruto grinned. “That’s a cool thought.” He chuckled devilishly. “First try too.”

Hinata blushed. “I think a wedding night baby is romantic.”
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“Okay Hinata, I need you to push…I see the baby’s head.” Tsunade said, being the one to deliver the baby.

Hinata groaned out in pain, clutching Naruto’s hand tightly. Naruto resisted the urge to cry out in pain, knowing his wife’s pain was much greater than his.

“Hear that ‘Nata, the baby’s almost here.” He said sweetly.

“One more push Hinata.”

Hinata screamed out in pain as she gave one last push, her screams dying out as the sounds of a newborn crying filled the room. She opened her eyes, seeing her child.

“It’s a boy!” Tsunade beamed.

Naruto and Hinata looked at the crying child in Tsunade’s arms. He was shrieking at the top of his lungs, he was covered in gunk and blood, yet in their eyes, he was the most beautiful thing in the world.

“Oh Naruto-kun, look, he’s beautiful.”

“Isn’t he…and look, he’s got blonde hair.”

Indeed, the baby boy had a patch of blonde hair under the gunk. From her place, Hinata relaxed into the bed, smiling tiredly.

“He’s like a mirror image of you.” She said. “Naruto-kun, I love you.” She whispered, closing her eyes.

“I love you too Hinata.” He looked at her. “Hinata…Hinata!” He suddenly panicked. “Hinata, wake up! ‘Nata, wake up, you have to hold our son. Hinata!”

Tsunade frowned in confusion, then her eyes suddenly widened. She handed the baby to her assistant midwife. She rushed to Hinata’s side and took a pulse.

“Her pulse, it’s failing! Hinata, wake up!” The older woman said.

Naruto’s face drained of colour. “Y-You can save her? Baa-chan, tell me you’ll save her! Hinata, wake up! Baby, ‘Nata, Hina-chan, wake up! Don’t leave me, don’t leave our son!”
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Sitting in the waiting room, the rest of the Konoha 12 were sitting around. Suddenly, the doors swung open and a nurse came in.

“Sakura-sama, Tsunade-sama requires your assistance. Hinata-sama is failing!”

Everyone gasped, including the normally stoic Neji and Sasuke. Sakura stood up and ran through the doors. From his chair, Shikamaru sighed sadly.

“As much as I hate to say it, and as much as I disagree with the author, I think Hinata-san is the one out of four.”

Ino started sobbing. “D-Don’t say that! She’ll be fine! Besides, this isn’t being killed in battle!”

“No, it’s a delayed reaction. Any of the number of injuries she’s received to the abdomen in past battles could be responsible for these…complications.” Shikamaru continued.

“Shut up! Just shut up! Hinata’s going to be fine!” Ino screamed.

Neji stood silent, eyes focused on the closed door. He decided against using Byakugan, fearing the insight would only hurt him more.

“Hinata…”
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As soon as she entered the room, Sakura went over to Hinata. Before she could say anything, she noticed something. Blood, lots of blood. Professionally, she examined Hinata’s vagina.

“Tsunade-sama…you should see this.”

Besides Hinata, Naruto was in tears, clutching her hand, whispering to her over and over again, “Hinata, don’t die, I love you.”
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Five years later, Naruto walked down the hall in his house, entering his son’s room. “Minato, time to wake up.” He said, softly ruffling his son’s blonde hair.

The young boy awoke, and as he did, Naruto studied him. Minato Jiraiya Uzumaki, named for the two most important men he ever heard of. The little boy sat up, rubbing his eyes, and he turned said blue eyes to his father’s identical ones. Like Hinata had said, their son was identical to Naruto, down to the whisker-like birthmarks on his cheeks. It was like looking in a mirror.

“Morning Otou-san.” Said Minato, yawning loudly.

Naruto grinned, suppressing the infectious yawn rising in his throat. “Morning son, time to get ready for the day.”

“Hai Otou-san.”

Leaving the room, Naruto grinned again. His son was so much like himself. Now 27, Naruto was now Hokage, and his life-long goal was finally real. Going into the next room, he moved over to the figure on the bed. Leaning down, he stroked her hair and kissed her forehead.

“Time to wake up Hinata.” He said softly.

Her eyes opened and Naruto found himself drowning in familiar silver eyes. Sitting up, she scratched her head, petite fingers getting caught in her long indigo hair. Naruto chuckled and delicately removed her fingers from her tangled hair.

“Arigato Otou-san.”

Hinata Kushina Uzumaki…mirror image of her late mother.