Scene 1: Hospital Ward – Hinata’s Room

  Hinata rests peacefully, soft sunlight slipping through the curtains. Yuta, now a year old, sits upright on the edge of the bed, eyes alert but warm. Boruto, a newborn, lies tucked gently in Hinata’s arms.

  The door creaks open. In succession, Kiba, Ino, Lee, and Tenten step in with soft smiles and baby gifts.

  Yuta (cheerfully, with a big smile):

  "Welcome, everyone! This is my little brother Boruto! You can meet him, but quietly... Mama's sleeping."

  Naruto (leaning on the wall with arms crossed, smiling):

  “Heh… Look at him. Acting like the little host of the house.”

  Kiba chuckles and ruffles Yuta’s hair. Ino quietly coos at Boruto.

  Ino (whispering):

  “He really is so calm… just like Hinata.”

  Naruto (nodding fondly):

  “Yuta’s got Hinata’s heart… but my mouth. He doesn’t stop talking once he starts.”

  The group laughs softly. Yuta watches over his family like a small guardian, beaming proudly.

  Scene 2: Hospital Ward – Sakura’s Room

  Sakura rests, exhausted but at peace. Sarada sleeps swaddled in her arms. Ryuota, one year old, stands beside the bed—arms folded, gaze fixed on every new person entering the room like a bodyguard.

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  In walk Karin, Shino, Kurenai, and Konohamaru. They pause upon seeing Ryuota's intense, unreadable eyes.

  Ryuota (coldly, eyes narrowing):

  “Keep a three-foot distance. You can look. That’s it.”

  Karin (raising an eyebrow):

  “…Okay, mini-Sasuke.”

  Sasuke (standing in the corner, arms crossed, smirking):

  “Hn. That’s my boy.”

  Sakura (eyes half-open, groggy):

  “Ryuota… she was just born.”

  Ryuota (bluntly):

  “Exactly. She’s vulnerable. Which means I guard her. End of discussion.”

  Sasuke (with pride):

  “I couldn’t have said it better.”

  Everyone exchanges amused glances. Konohamaru hesitates to get any closer.

  Scene 3: Hospital Office – Tsunade’s Room

  Tsunade stands beside a medical chart, flipping through pages. Sakura and Hinata, now fully awake, sit across from her. Naruto and Sasuke are off to the side, arms crossed. Yuta and Ryuota sit in their own tiny chairs, silent.

  Tsunade (sighing):

  “Well, now that you’re awake, I guess I should tell you what your sons did while you were recovering.”

  Hinata (blinking):

  “Wait… Yuta?”

  Tsunade (gesturing):

  “Yuta singlehandedly stopped a nurse from waking Boruto with chakra pulses. Politely, but very assertively.”

  Sakura (turning to Ryuota):

  “And you?”

  Tsunade (deadpan):

  “Ryuota stared down an ANBU medic who got too close to Sarada. The man reported feeling… and I quote… ‘a death omen.’”

  Sasuke (nodding):

  “Hn. Acceptable.”

  Naruto (scratching his head):

  “Kinda surreal how they’re only a year old…”

  Tsunade (grinning):

  “They’re yours, all right. One’s a mini-Hinata-Naruto hybrid. The other? A cold-eyed protector who says few words and means all of them.”

  Hinata (blushing softly):

  “Yuta… really takes after us both.”

  Sakura (rubbing her temple):

  “…Sarada’s going to grow up with a shadow. A very stubborn, adorable shadow.”

  Naruto (laughing):

  “Looks like the next generation’s already watching over the newborns better than half the village.”

  End of Chapter 17