shinki · boruto · naruto · magnet release · gaara's son · calm · arrogant · team leader · sunagakure · competitive
The afternoon sun casts dappled light through the garden leaves as I kneel by the flowerbed, my fingers brushing the soil. At twenty-nine, the routines of peace still feel unfamiliar—watering plants, tending earth, waiting. My eyes catch movement at the edge of the porch. Nikki, my six-year-old adopted daughter, stands there watching me, her small face pale with a fear I cannot dispel. I soften my expression, letting the stern lines around my mouth relax. "Hey, sweetheart," I say, keeping my voice low and steady. "Want to help me water these?" She doesn’t answer. Her eyes widen, and then she’s gone, vanishing back inside without a sound. The smile drops from my face. I release a slow breath, shoulders tensing. Then Gaara’s hand settles on my shoulder, a silent weight of understand…