Third Person POV
– We're almost there... – Kakashi calmly informed the redhead, who just nodded, still keeping her eyes closed.
Hatake was holding the girl's hand, guiding her with him to their final destination to enjoy the Hanami Festival. It was a place further away from the village center, one that rarely any resident frequented, especially during the festival.
The platinum-haired boy liked that location; it was special to him. His father had taken him there for the first time, and ever since, the younger Hatake had visited it, whether to rest or just to unwind from his thoughts.
And especially during the Hanami season, that place became incredible, even in Kakashi's view – someone who normally didn't care for trivial things.
For the final festival activity he had to show Uzumaki, that place would be perfect.
The boy stopped suddenly, causing Amaya to do the same, waiting for his words so she could open her eyes.
He had asked her to stay like that because he wanted it to be a surprise for the redhead to see that place. Both for the dazzling landscape there, and so that Hatake himself could observe Uzumaki's reactions.
Kakashi let go of the redhead's hand, seeing a slight expression of confusion threaten to form on her features, almost making him laugh.
Curiosity..., he had thought simply.
That would always be her weak point.
– You can open your eyes – Kakashi calmly advised, settling onto the grass without taking his own eyes off Uzumaki.
And so the redhead did.
She did it slowly, because even with her eyes closed she could notice the strong brightness in front of her and had wisely deduced it was because of the setting sun.
The first thing her retinas processed were the white and red. Then the coppery nuances created by the late afternoon sun itself. And a sudden mild breeze that sent the dozens of already fallen petals and flowers flying.
Some cherry and plum trees adorned the surrounding area. The orange hues of the sunset seemed to vibrate in contrast with the white and red of the flowers from the trees scattered around, bringing a pleasant feeling of warmth.
It was a beautiful scene, one that would leave anyone witnessing it for the first time completely speechless.
And that was exactly what happened with Uzumaki.
The girl even tried to formulate some word, but her mind seemed focused only on making her admire and process what was displayed there.
And since she couldn't speak, the redhead smiled.
A sincere and pure smile, as if trying to emanate the same feeling of well-being she felt at that moment. All the surreal peace and tranquility that existed in that instant...
And she wasn't the only one like that.
Hatake was smiling too, even though he hadn't realized it while watching Amaya. Until then, he hadn't consciously realized how pleasurable it was for him to witness Uzumaki's discoveries.
Seeing her happy made him equally happy.
– The main attraction of the Hanami Festival is this... – Kakashi spoke up, since the redhead wouldn't, and she turned her eyes to the boy – A picnic to contemplate the season's flowers.
Uzumaki didn't even know what to say at that moment: whether to thank Hatake for what he had done, to praise the dazzling landscape before them, or even to stop smiling like a fool the last one due to all the happiness she felt.
And as if he could see this unconscious conflict of the redhead, Hatake just gestured for her to settle on the grass like he had. Without even thinking, the girl did. He handed her one of the bentō boxes, which she promptly took.
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They had eaten in silence, each enjoying that moment. However, both were still sitting on the grass, admiring the dance of petals and flowers leaving the trees closest to them.
Amaya still wore a simple smile. For the first time in a long time, she felt truly at peace, without worries about the war, the judgment of the village residents who still despised and feared her, or even her past traumas.
It was as if a light had appeared amidst all that darkness.
The girl let her head tilt slightly to the side, looking towards Hatake.
He had been her light, and still was at that moment.
The platinum-haired boy hadn't put his mask back on since the place they were at had no other people and the boy was already used to staying without the cloth when he was with Uzumaki during their meals together.
Just like the redhead, a smile adorned Kakashi's expression as his eyes followed the movement of the blooming flowers flying further ahead. A contained smile, but no less sincere.
Like the boy, Uzumaki felt good seeing him smile, because she knew he only did it when he was truly happy.
It seems I can still keep the promise I made to you, Sakumo..., the redhead thought for a moment. And I will keep trying to share this happiness with him...
– Ah, I almost forgot... – Hatake spoke suddenly, making Amaya snap out of her own thoughts.
– What? – The girl questioned, her eyes still on the platinum-haired boy.
Kakashi searched for a few seconds for the small package he had stored earlier with his ninja weapons. When he took it in his hand, he turned his eyes to Uzumaki beside him.
– Is it... For me? – The redhead asked him, confused, and Hatake nodded.
Before either could do anything, Uzumaki's mind was working, trying to understand the reason for this sudden surprise from the platinum-haired boy. And noticing that expression of internal pondering, Hatake gave a soft laugh before starting to explain.
– It's a gift for your promotion to jounin – He explained calmly – I tried to think of something for you, but it was simply impossible to find anything – Hatake started listing things, like a count, on his fingers – You always have ninja weapons. Special scrolls for seals are all ready and you take them on all your missions. Your wakizashi is always well cared for, so there's no risk of needing another one. You don't even lack drawing materials... – He sighed heavily.
Everything you did for me today was already the best gift I could have received..., that thought crossed Uzumaki's mind for a mere moment.
– And I thought there would be nothing to give you – Kakashi spoke and gave a weak laugh – Until today...
The redhead arched her eyebrow at that last piece of information, but couldn't think much about it as the platinum-haired boy handed her the small package.
The girl took it in her hands, with extreme care. Although it was small, the contents of the package were slightly heavy, as if there was something like metal inside.
Amaya opened her gift cautiously, but still eagerly, to see what it would be. And when she saw it, she parted her lips to speak, though she wouldn't be able to.
She lifted both necklaces that contained the tomoe the redhead had encountered earlier that day: The Yin and Yang symbol.
– I wanted to choose something useful to give you, but I couldn't find anything that would really be of use – Hatake admitted and briefly scratched the back of his neck – So this seemed like something you would like...
He wouldn't admit it out loud, but he was quite apprehensive about how the redhead would react to the gift he had chosen.
She might laugh or bother him for something so simple. He even considered that she might not like it. She was a kunoichi of jounin level, and although she was a young girl like him, she had a mind better prepared than many adults. She herself often acted like an adult.
And for a moment, the platinum-haired boy had considered that gift choice for the girl to be stupid on his part.
But that thought lasted a few seconds. To be more specific, until he felt the girl's body against his, with her hugging him tightly.
– This... This is perfect... – She spoke extremely softly to Hatake – Thank you, Kakashi...
For a few moments the boy had no reaction, but soon after he smiled – seeing Uzumaki happy made him happy.
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The two enjoyed the last minutes until definitive nightfall talking about simple things, without discussing missions, the war, or even problems. Just normal things for kids their age, for the first time in a long time.
Then they decided to head to the redhead's house, since they had more training in the morning, coordinated by Amaya herself with Minato's team 7.
Hatake had stood up and stretched lazily. That was one of the few days he had actually spent without training for hours on end or being on a mission. He should do this more often..., he considered for a moment.
As for Amaya, she was still smiling with the necklaces in her hands. She was happy about the gift and the day she had spent with Hatake. She wanted to thank him more than she already had. And that's when she remembered something Kushina often did to thank Minato for something.
The boy only noticed the redhead's sudden approach when she was already at his side, placing a calm kiss on his left cheek still uncovered by his mask cloth. He simply had no reaction, except to freeze.
– Thank you so much – Uzumaki thanked with a sincere smile on her expression – For everything.
Although Hatake hadn't had a reaction, his body did: Quickly pulling his mask back up, feeling his face burning.
Embarrassed.
That was the best word to define his state at that moment.
* Present *
Kakashi Hatake POV
I think it's better to leave that last event out of the story for Naruto..., I thought. Trying to explain that Amaya did that because she saw her parents doing it, without understanding they did it because they were a couple, could be really complicated...
– It was because of that day that I learned something very important about your sister – I spoke calmly to the boy, who had his full attention on my narration – The simplest things were what won Amaya over – And just like on the day of the Hanami Festival, I smiled.
– So it was you who gave that to nee-chan! – The blond commented excitedly, with a big smile on his face – She always wore that necklace, and when she was thinking quietly, she would hold it.
– That was just one more of the habits, like playing with her dark strand of hair, that Amaya developed.
Uzumaki gave a weak laugh, but soon after his expression changed, as if he had remembered something.
– Wait, Kakashi-sensei... I remember that nee-chan always had that black tomoe necklace, but I never saw the white one – He turned his eyes to me – And you just said you gave both necklaces to her as a gift – He gave a weak laugh.
– It's because she only kept the dark tomoe necklace – I clarified calmly, and the blond stared at me without understanding – Amaya said the representation of that half was what defined her best: Always being seen as a threat, even though she tried to do good – I gave a weak smile – While she considered the white part better suited for someone else.
– Really? – Naruto asked with his curious tone – And who was it? – I couldn't help but laugh at that moment.
Uzumaki might be a genius in his battle actions, leading him to victory in most of them, but when it came to deducing something simple... Well, he was still the same old Naruto.
I raised my right arm, rolling up the sleeve of the Hokage robe I was wearing at that moment, allowing the boy to see the bracelet I wore. Attached to the simple cord on my wrist was a single pendant: A white tomoe.
– Ah! – The boy raised his voice in surprise – That's the other half! – He stared at me – Nee-chan gave it to you? – I gave a weak nod and turned my eyes to the half pendant.
– She said I should keep it, since this half represented me – I gave a weak smile – Appearing to be someone calm, but having a suppressed inner storm.
– Because of what you went through due to your father's choice? – The blond asked after a few moments and I nodded.
– But in the years that followed, we both realized that these symbols represented us even more than we had initially thought...