Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

From the moment the first rays of sunshine hit the window, illuminating the room in yellow hues, Uzumaki Boruto was up and ready.

He started the day with a grin, quickly hurrying downstairs to start setting up the kitchen.

“Alright, alright mom’s gonna be up soon, then off to training we go!” he cheered under his breath, as he pulled out bowls and set up the table.

“Oh, Boruto. You’re up early.” 

Turning his smile only got wider as he noticed his mother near the entrance, her lilac eyes sparkling with fondness.

Abandoning the table, he rushed to stand in front of her, grabbing her hand in his as he explained “Papa promised to go training with me! Before I go off to the academy y’know!” 

Something changed in Hinata’s expression as she squeezed his hand lightly.

“I see…” she started, making Boruto cock his head to the side. Somehow his excitement dampened a bit, as if he could sense something was wrong.

But before he could ask, his mother moved her hand and brushed his hair lightly “Well then, let’s make breakfast shall we?”

“Yeah!” he cheered, moving away to go back to setting up the table for four.

He could barely contain his excitement, as he circled around the kitchen and his mother. His papa recently became Hokage, so for the most part he was away from home. 

Mom explained that he was just settling into the office work and whatnot, he didn’t really understand it all that much. 

But what he did understand, was that yesterday when they went by his office to bring dinner, his papa promised to go and train before Boruto’s first day at the academy.

Stopping by a photo of him and papa, he grinned. He missed having papa circle around him, playing and joking.

Mom promised him that once papa settles in, he would be more at home and things will go back to how they were. And well, mom is always right, so he believes her!

“Boruto, please go and wake up Himawari. She needs to eat before we go to her appointment with aunt Sakura.”

“Sure!” he yelled, before running up the stairs.

He halted in front of the door, and entered more calmly, not wanting to startle his little sister. 

“Hima?” he whispered, coming closer to her bed and laying his hand on her shoulder “ Hi-ma-wa-ri ?” 

His little sister groaned and slowly opened her bluebell eyes, mirroring his own. Immediately her grogginess disappeared as she lunged at her brother giggling.

“Good morning, Onii-chan!”

Boruto smiled and gripped his sister tightly, before pulling away and turning to show off his back “Come on! Mom’s making breakfast!”

Immediately, Himawari got on his back and squeezed her arms around him as he stood up. 

Securing his sister, Boruto began to leave the room, letting Himawari fill in the chatter as she told him about her dream. As he passed his mother's room he stopped, peeking inside.

“Onii-chan?” Himawari asked, leaning her head over his shoulder to take a better look at him.

Boruto glanced at her and moved on, down the hallway to the office, or rather his father’s room. 

“Let’s wake up, papa!” he proposed, grinning as Himawari cheered along with him.

At the door, he let down Himawari and put his finger to his lips, signalling to be quiet. His little sister giggled and slapped her hand over her mouth, trying to follow her brother’s request.

Quietly, Boruto pushed the door open and took a step forward. His heart beat wildly with excitement, as he rounded the couch and—

And his papa wasn’t there. 

“Papa?” Himawari whispered in worry, frowning at the empty space as well. Her hand gripped Boruto’s as she looked to him “Onii-chan… where’s papa?” 

Boruto frowned, his heart no longer beating with excitement as a weight settled in his chest. As if rocks replaced his heart and lungs.

“Onii-chan?” 

Blinking he turned to his little sister, wondering if she felt the same weight as him. Wondering if she too felt the painful disappointment…

Swallowing the lump in his throat and blinking back his tears, he smiled at her “Oh he probably went to work bright and early! So that he could come back sooner, y’know!” 

These weren’t his words. They were his mother’s… and only when she said them, did Boruto doubt the statement that she was always right. 

Because not once did his father come back sooner. And he didn’t wake up bright and early. He simply never returned.

Keeping up his smile, Boruto ruffled his sister’s hair “Come on! Breakfast is waiting!”

“Yeah!” Himawari agreed and once again jumped on her brother’s back, letting him carry her downstairs.

Throughout the whole breakfast, Boruto tried to focus on his sister. Avoiding his mother’s sad knowing gaze. 

“Himawari, go upstairs and choose what you want to wear today okay?” Hinata prompted, kissing her daughter’s head as passed by to gather the plates.

Himawari cheered and took off, only to stop at the entrance and call out “Onii-chan! Come and help me! Come! Come!”

Boruto was ready to follow, but his mother’s hand settled on his shoulder, stopping him.

“Boruto will follow soon, okay honey?” 

“Okay!” the little girl agreed and once again took off up the stairs.

Once the sound of her clumsy steps faded, Hinata turned him around looking down at him in sadness.

“Boruto—“

“He’s not here, I know… we went to look.” he whispered, looking down “Hima was sad, y’know?” 

“Oh, Boruto.” his mother sighed, pulling him into an embrace. Her arms and chest gave him solitude, as tears fell and sobs followed.

“He promised, y’know?” he said, trying to stop crying. It was silly and wouldn’t change anything. Papa would still be at the office rather than at home.

“I know, I know.” was all his mother said, no longer trying to come up with an excuse.

An hour later, Boruto stood at the door watching as his mom and sister got ready to leave.

“You can always come along, honey. Maybe Sarada will be at her mom’s office?” Hinata asked yet again, while helping Himawari with her shoes.

“No it’s fine, I’ll wait for a bit… maybe y’know…” 

Maybe papa will come back, hug him and say sorry. Maybe they won’t go training, but instead dad will hoist him up on his shoulders and carry him to the academy. Maybe he will remember about Boruto…

“Okay.” was all she said, before bringing in the young boy back into her arms. 

Once they separated, Himawari grabbed his fingers asking “Will you be okay, Onii-chan?”

Humming and leaned down and ruffled his sister’s hair “Of course! I’m starting the academy today and going to become the strongest shinobi!”

“Really?!”

“Really, y’know!” he answered, grinning proudly.

Himawari watched him in awe “You’re amazing, Onii-chan!” 

His grin turned smug, as he crossed his arms “Of course I am!” 

After that, he shared one last look with his mom and embraced his sister. Then, the door shut and he was all alone. 

Boruto remained standing in the genkan for who knows how long, until he left for his room. There he changed into his black and red clothes, grabbed his brand new school bag and dashed right back to the genkan. 

He sat there impatiently, twisting and pulling at his black shorts.

“Come on, papa… I’m waiting. Come on…” he whispered, glancing at the clock every now and then.

Nearly two more hours passed and he did not come. 

As the clock clicked and showed that it was already 9 AM, Boruto’s heart cracked. He stood up and ripped it off the dresser, throwing it down the hallway, screaming. His scream suddenly became more pained, as his vision turned blurry and his eyes suddenly hurt.

He fell on his knees, rubbing at his eyes, biting at his lip as the sensation of being stabbed in the eyeballs rushed over him.

Then as soon as it came, it disappeared leaving Boruto breathing heavily and shaking. He opened his eyes and soon the blurriness subsided, leaving his eyesight the same as it was. 

“What was…?” he mumbled, moving to rub his eyes again, this time more as a precaution than a need. The pain was gone from there, although the one in his chest was still very real…

Boruto stayed on his knees for a while longer, but soon he stood up and grabbed his bag. Taking a look at the destroyed clock, he felt regret as his mother would be the one hurt by his destruction. Not his father.

Looking away, he finally exited the house, slowly making his way towards the Academy. There he met up with his mom, Himawari as well as aunt Sakura and Sarada.

The first day of the Academy, it was a big deal. 

Even the Hokage showed up, talking to the other parents and children. But Boruto’s father was absent.

Not for the first time.

And not for the last.

Seven years later…

The Academy stood before him, the same as it was when he first entered it. There was no reason to change it, he supposed. It was still big and sturdy enough…

A sigh took him out of his musings.

“I didn’t think that I would spend so much more time at the academy, after graduating.” Sarada almost whined, as she crossed her arms.

Boruto glanced at her, responding “You don’t have to come along if you don’t want to.”

She turned to him “Well, it’s always on our break in between missions or training. It would be a waste to part ways for roughly twenty minutes and then look for each other around the village and go back to Konohamaru-sensei.” 

He rolled his eyes at his friend, also crossing his arms as he muttered “Then don’t whine about it, if it’s as logical as you say.”

“I quite enjoy picking up, Himawari-chan.” Mitsuki added, with a smile.

Grinning Boruto patted his shoulder “See Sarada! You can enjoy this.”

Sarada huffed and put her hands on her hips “She’s already ten, Boruto. We were already going home alone at that age, because being picked up was becoming embarrassing. Himawari-chan is getting older, you need to face the possibility that she might start finding this—”

“ Onii-chan! ”

Immediately, his gaze fell down on the little girl that rushed at him. Not wasting any time, she jumped and hugged him like a koala bear. 

Boruto grinned, securing his hold over her and greeting her back “There you are!”

“Hello, Himawari-chan.” Mitsuki greeted with a smile, making Himawari beam at him.

“Hello, Mitsuki-san!” Himawari responded, before looking at Sarada with the same bright expression “And hello Sarada-neesan!”

Sarada’s cheeks turned red as she gripped at her chest, muttering “Too cute, Himawari-chaaan… Shannaro… ”

“Hey see that… she’s still being picked up…”

“Yeah, it’s kind of embarrassing…”

“Mhm! I told my Onee-san to stop coming already.”

The two kids suddenly stopped their gossip, as a deadly aura reached them. 

They turned and froze, seeing three genin staring straight at them with deadly expressions, while the little girl remained tucked against one of them chatting excitedly. Completely unaware of what’s going on. 

The kids rushed away, not taking a second glance as the three sets of eyes followed them.

“Onii-chan! Are you listening?” 

Boruto turned his attention back to his little sister and smiled “Of course! Shino-sensei said that you have nearly perfect chakra control! That’s so cool, even I don’t have it!”

“Really?! So that means that I’m better than you?!” Himawari asked, finally sliding down not noticing her brother’s hurt expression and the poorly stifled chuckles of his teammates.

“Oh surely, Himawari-chan.” Sarada stated, ruffling the girl’s hair with a grin.

“Yes, in the beginning Boruto’s chakra control was the worst that Konohamaru-sensei has seen—” Mitsuki said.

“Hey! Okay, e-enough!” Boruto protested.

“Oh wow… so… is Onii-chan actually really weak?” Himawari asked in worry.

Mitsuki and Sarada couldn’t help themselves as this time they burst out laughing, making Boruto just stand there with a pained expression.

“T-That’s not what I meant at all, y’know?”

Himawari suddenly took his hands on hers and stared up with determination “If that’s the case then I will work really hard so that I can protect you, Onii-chan!”

Boruto smiled at his little sister… well perhaps not so little anymore. She will be graduating in just two years, becoming a genin just like himself.

Still, he was the older brother. No matter how grown up Himawari might be, she will always be his little sister. 

He pulled his hand free from his sister’s grasp and rested his hand on her head, ruffling the unruly dark hair there “First beat me. Then you can go and proclaim that you will protect me. Until then, it’s my job to watch over you, okay?”

“‘Kay, Onii-chan.” she agreed with a smile.

“Now, come on. Time to take you home.” he added, slouching forward as Himawari hurried to jump on his back.

He looked to his teammates, who smiled and followed the path to the Uzumaki house. 

“— and Shino-sensei said that I might be good at medical ninjutsu! Just like aunt Sakura.” Himawari told them, grinning at Sarada “Sarada-neesan, are you good at healing?”

Sarada turned bright red, as Mitsuki and Boruto snickered.

“Oh, no, no. Sarada’s chakra is too wild for that, when we had the medical training you know what she did?” Boruto asked, watching Himawari shake her head as Sarada turned redder and redder. He smirked saying “She fried the fish that she was supposed to heal!” 

Himawari gasped and turned to the other girl “Really?!”

Sarada looked up and shook her head “I-I got better! It was only that one time!”

“I remember you nearly frying Boruto’s knee when you tried to heal him.” Mitsuki inquired with a smile.

Himawari turned to her brother with wide eyes “Is that why you wear that knee pad on your leg, Onii-chan?!”

Boruto snorted, “Yeah, it’s all healed up quite nicely but the burn scar is still a bit tender. Better to cover it up than to deal with it constantly bothering me. And to Sarada’s credit. She did close the wound, so I didn’t bleed out or something.” 

“Oh! That’s good then!” Himawari decided and looked back to Sarada “Thank you for taking care of Onii-chan, Sarada-neesan!”

Sarada smiled back, although she did look a bit gloomy “Y-Yeah, not a problem, Himawari-chan.”

Mitsuki and Boruto shared a quiet laugh, but quickly shut up as Sarada looked their way. It was better not to anger her any further.

Soon they reached the round house decorated with the red Uzumaki symbol. Himawari slid off his back and rushed through the gate and up to the door, waving to Sarada and Mitsuki as Boruto followed her.

“Thank you for picking me up! Mitsuki-san, Sarada-neesan!”

They waved back, and Boruto held up his hand to them, signalling to give him a minute.

He entered the house with his sister, who dropped her sandals just as their mother rounded the corner with a smile.

“Welcome back, you two.”

Himawari rushed to hug her mom “Onii-chan picked me up! Along with Sarada-neesan and Mitsuki-san!” 

“That’s very kind of them.” Hinata stated, brushing her daughter’s hair before focusing on her son “Thank you for walking her home.”

Boruto shrugged and smiled “Of course, what sort of a big brother would I be if I didn’t?”

His sister flashed him a big smile, which he returned.

“Do you have a mission today?” 

Looking back up at his mom he shook his head “No, we’re finished for today, I think. We need to go and make a report at the office, though…”

“Boruto—“ his mother began, frowning but he cut her off.

“I won’t start anything.” he assured, turning back towards the door “I gotta go now, I’ll see you both later.”

With that, he left and joined his teammates at the gate. Together they met with their sensei in front of Hokage’s building, from where Konohamaru led them upstairs to the main office.

“Enter.” the voice sounded from behind the door, allowing them to go inside.

Boruto stayed in the back, not looking in the direction of the desk, but rather analysing the walls in boredom.

“Ah, Team 7! How was the mission guys?” 

“It went well, Nanadaime-sama.” Sarada spoke up. It was always painfully obvious just how much she admired Boruto's father. 

He didn’t understand why, the man was a failure if he ever saw one. Couldn’t even show up at home for more than a couple of hours, slept in his office, ate instant cups, didn’t remember his own kid’s birthdays or even—

He squeezed his eyes shut, a stabbing pain erupting behind his eyeballs, making him take his hands out of his pockets to rub them.

Immediately there was a hand covering his, as a soft voice followed “Boruto? Here let me— don’t rub them, you’ll make it worse—“

Through the pain, Boruto took a stubborn step back, blinking his eyes open through the pain that subsided.

“I’m fine, just something got in my eye.” he said, looking, or rather glaring at his father for the first time since he entered.

Per usual, his father looked tired and worried, his long spiky hair falling out from the hair tie, looking messy. Every time they saw each other, he would only look at Boruto with such a gaze. Lost was the warmth, blinding smiles and laughter. 

It was as if now he only deserved pitying looks.

His eye twitched again, and his father was at his side again trying to reach out but Boruto slapped his hand away.

“ I said I’m fine! ”

Naruto flinched away, sighing and standing up as he looked at his team “Has he been doing that a lot?”

Boruto ignored him, rubbing at his eye, hoping the pain would lessen even more.

“Twice during today’s mission.” Mitsuki reported.

“Yeah, but then when we went and picked up Himawari-chan, everything was good.” Sarada added on.

“I honestly didn’t notice…” Konohamaru admitted, rubbing the back of his head. 

Naruto looked worried, as he looked back at his son “Maybe we should let you guys off the missions for a bit—“

“What?!” Boruto yelled, forgetting all about the aching feeling as he glared at his father “No way you’re going to bench us because I rubbed my eyes a bit!”

“Boruto, what if it’s your Byakugan coming in?” Sarada scolded “It could be serious—“

“Something got in my eye okay?! Leave it alone!” he argued. There was no way it was his Byakugan, Hima’s already came in and it didn’t hurt. His eyes throbbed from time to time ever since he was a kid, and so what? Nothing ever happened past the annoying aching.

“ Boruto .” his father spoke, voice serious as he stared down at his son “You’re taking a break. It’s non negotiable.”

He clenched his fists, the pain in his eye sockets now an afterthought as he glared at the Hokage. 

“I’m not weak! I can handle a bit of pain and still do what I’m meant to.” swallowing, he stepped forward and hissed “I’m not like you, Hokage-sama .” 

His father gasped lightly, as something passed through his expression. It was like an old wound reopened.

“Boruto—”

“Just do what you’re best at and ignore it!” Boruto shouted, before leaving the office in a hurry.

How could he? For once he cares and this is how he handles it?! Benching the team?! 

Like hell! 

He runs to the training grounds, not wanting to return home this angry. It would only worry Himawari and his mom…

Per usual, he chooses a remote clearing hidden by the trees and bushes. His targets are already hung up, nearly stabbed through by numerous kunai and shuriken he threw at them over the week.

Throwing a series of new ones, one of the wooden plates finally gives in and splits in half, falling to the ground. It only irks his anger further.

Boruto stands still for a moment, filled with emotions so strong that he doesn’t know how to let them out. He wants to yell, punch, run, rip his own flesh apart. 

He wants to hurt and be hurt at the same time.

It’s a maddening feeling.

But he just stands there, a kunai shaking in his grasp.

He lied in the office. 

He’s just like his father.

Weak . 

Useless .

“ Good for nothing! ” he yells, throwing the kunai into a newer target, but it splits open just like the old one did.

After that, he lets the raging fury take control as he destroys his training space, by simply training in it. The tree barks are split open, from where he tried tree climbing. The targets are all split open and laying limb on the ground. The grass under his feet is charkled from where he practised fire jutsu. 

Not the best idea to do it in the woods, he’ll try to keep a note of that for next time. 

By the end of it all he’s mostly tired and dirty. His mom is going to be less than happy when he sees the state of his clothes.

“My my… that’s some training you did.”

Turning around he watched with wide eyes as his father’s sensei launched on the nearby branch.

“Uncle Kakashi?!” he exclaimed in shock, before looking around and seeing the destruction in another light.

He looked downright insane.

Kakashi jumped down, landing swiftly next to Boruto as he stared at the broken targets “I would say… it’s not the aim that you need to practise. But the strength behind the throw.”

Boruto scowled and moved to pick them up “I know how to throw them—”

“Without breaking a target?” Kakashi piped in.

The blonde just sent him a look, not responding.

Humming his uncle approached him and ruffled his hair “Now, now my cute little grand-student, there’s no need for the cold shoulder. Tell me, what’s got you so fired up… oh and speaking of fire. Maybe go practise those jutsu out by the river—”

“I know! I-It was just a dumb mistake…” Boruto pouted, looking down as the hand in his hair remained slowly brushing through the strands. Sighing, he stayed as he was and answered the question “It’s just my stupid dad…”

“What’d you do this time?” 

He spun around pointing at Kakashi as he yelled “ Hey ! Why do you assume that it was me who did something!”

His uncle just smiled “Let’s just say that trouble runs in your blood—” Boruto huffed at that, but didn’t respond, so Kakashi took another guess “So? Are you helping in the hospital or playing the mailman again?”

Boruto’s nose twitched as his previous punishments were recounted.

Sighing he lowered his hand and just showed it into his pocket “My team got benched.”

“My, my—”

“And before you say anything! It was without any real reason! We went in to give a report and then I just rubbed my eye cause it hurt a bit, dad started panicking out of nowhere! Sarada and Mitsuki went ahead and just said that they’ve seen me do that, and then, and then… he just benched us!” Boruto yelled, raising his hands hoping that Kakashi also sees how ridiculous the whole thing was.

What he didn’t expect was for his uncle to kneel in front of him and grab his face, turning his from side to side as he focused on Boruto’s eyes.

Boruto blinked asking “Hey, what’s up with you—”

“When you said it hurt, explain it to me.” Kakashi asked, no longer looking carefree but serious.

“I don’t know, they just hurt! Like, like it was like a stabbing pain, pulsing y’know? But then it would just go away and everything would be fine!”

Kakashi stayed silent, before letting go and standing up without a word.

“What no—” Boruto tried asking, only for his uncle to take a swing at him.

He froze watching as Kakashi’s hand stopped only a bit before it could strike him.

Boruto definitely didn’t see this coming.

He scrambled away, falling over his feet as he yelled “The hell! Don’t scare me like that y’know! S-Stupid old man Kakashi! What were you even trying to do?!”

“Hm... I was testing a theory.” his uncle said with a sweet smile.

Muttering under his breath, Boruto stood up glaring at his uncle “And? You know what you needed to know?”

Kakashi only hummed, not giving anything away as he stared out into the distance.

Boruto huffed and went to pick up the fallen targets from where he dropped them while falling over, when he was reminded of something.

“Hey!”

“Hm?”

“You’re not busy right now, right?! You could finally show me those lighting jutsu—!”

“Nope.”

“ Ehhhh?! ” Boruto screeched, moving to tug at his uncle’s vest “You said that you’d show me when you’re not busy!”

“And I’m still extremely busy.”

“With what?!”

Giving him his closed eye smile, Kakashi responded “With retirement.”

Boruto stared, as his uncle added.

“You should ask your sensei—”

“Konohamaru-niisan doesn’t know any good ones!”

Cocking his head to the side, Kakashi asked “So you’re looking for another sensei?”

“Well… sorta! There’s nothing more that he can teach me!” Boruto exclaimed, dropping his shoulders.

“Is that so?” 

“Yeah! I mean he’s a good sensei and he helped me with my fire affinity, but now he’s just pushing for me to learn wind, when it’s actually Sarada who has it as her secondary affinity! I need someone to come and show me some lighting moves, y’know!”

Kakashi stared at him, before finally asking “And if I don’t teach you, and you don’t find someone else in the village, what will you do then?”

Boruto frowned, not liking the question. Surely there had to be someone else in the whole village to teach him. Honestly he wanted it to be Kakashi, because he’s known for his purple lighting and other awesome abilities. And he was his uncle… so it would be cool to spend some time with him, while he’s around y’know?

“Well… then I guess I would just try and teach myself y’know? I mean how hard could it be?” he answered with a shrug, before grinning “But I really want it to be you, uncle!”

His uncle just smiled and reached out to pat his head “Thank you. But I already did my fair share of teaching and something tells me, that you will find someone far more suitable for the position.”

He just huffed “So you’re really not gonna teach me?”

“Tell you what.” Kakashi started, moving away slightly to pull something out of his pocket “If you take these bells from me then—”

Boruto backed away, a phantom pain in his arm making him shiver “I-I’m good, uncle! I’m just gonna… gonna wait, like you said.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah, yeah, it’s all good!”

“I see. Then come on, let’s get you home.” Kakashi proposed, nodding towards the direction of the village “I’m sure Hinata is worried about you, hm?”

Looking towards the sky, Boruto frowned, seeing it already turning from pink and orange to purple.

“Oh, yeah it’s late…” 

His uncle nodded “Yep, time to get home.”

Together they left the training grounds, walking back in silence. Which was broken by another, as they rounded the corner near the Uzumaki house.

“Kakashi-sensei… Boruto?” 

Raising his head, Boruto frowned, seeing his father also heading for the house from the opposite direction.

“Dad…” he muttered in shock, it’s been five days since he came home and usually after their arguments he stays at work even longer. But today…

“Yo, Naruto.” Kakashi greeted, taking a couple of steps forward, before nodding back to Boruto “I was just bringing the little troublemaker home.”

“Hey—“ he tried protesting.

Naruto stepped forward, worry written all over his tired face “Huh?! What happened? Did he do something—?”

“Now, now let’s not jump to conclusions hm?” Kakashi stated, moving to pat his student’s back “He was just training, I thought best to bring him straight home.”

“Oh…” Naruto responded, but his gaze still pierced Boruto with endless worry.

It made him annoyed.

Huffing, Boruto said his goodbye to uncle Kakashi and left through the gate. Leaving the ex-student and sensei to talk. 

As the door slammed shut behind Boruto, Naruto let out a heavy sigh.

“I have no idea what I’m doing…” he muttered to his sensei.

“Hm, I can see that. And so can he.” Kakashi replied, looking over at the shut door.

Naruto chuckled, running his hand through his hair “Yeah, Boruto’s always been quite perceptive…” 

“He didn’t get that from you.” Kakashi stated, glancing at him.

He flinched, rubbing the back of his head “H-Hey that sounds like an accusation, y’know.” his old sensei just hummed, still looking at him. It made him swallow as he added “Well, Hinata’s always been maybe more perceptive…”

“Ah yes, Hinata certainly has a sharp eye. Although in addition, Boruto has developed quite a sharp tongue as well, hm?” 

This time, Naruto didn’t answer as he just looked to the side.

“And he is quite prone to get carried away by his anger.” 

“Well, y’know—“

Kakashi cut him off “His eyes. Are you taking him to see someone?”

All reasons and explanations left him, as his sensei stared at him with such a… such a knowing look.

Naruto was really tired.

“Yeah… already wrote to Tsunade-baachan. She’ll be here tomorrow or the day after that.”

“So not Sakura then?” 

“Baa-chan took care of him since he was born.” Naruto explained.

“I see.” 

Silence took them again, as Naruto’s whole chest ached. Suddenly he no longer wished to go back inside the house. No . He wanted to go away to the office, not facing the hurt he caused… or the eyes that look so hauntingly familiar despite their colour—

“Did you speak with Sasuke?” 

“No. Not in a year… last report he gave… he was far away.” 

“And before?” 

Naruto caught the meaning, the first time. But answering it outloud…

“I see.” his sensei repeated, knowing his answer before he could even try and find the words to speak it.

He clenched his fists, turning and heading back. He couldn’t do it. He couldn’t go back inside. He couldn’t see—

“Naruto.” 

He froze, as a hand passed through his hair and a familiar mask appeared in front of him again.

“I might not know every little detail. But I know that he loves and needs you.” 

Naruto stared and wanted to ask who he meant, when his sensei just gave him a smile that told him all there was to know.

He meant both of them.

Tears filled his eyes, but he did not let himself cry. 

“What did I do…?” he muttered.

“You fell in love.”

This time the silence lasted, as the student and sensei stood frozen into the night. Although, the hand in Naruto’s hair didn’t stop once.

Chapter Text

Team 7 was officially benched until further notice. 

And Boruto felt ready to climb walls. 

He thought about his visit to grandma Tsunade and huffed. 

“Ow!” he yelped, quickly covering his cheek, to keep it safe from getting pinched again.

“Stop with the brooding expression, or it’ll stay like that.” grandma Tsunade scolded, moving away to look at Naruto who anxiously stood by the door “Everything looks how it should, gaki. He’s not going blind anytime soon.”

Naruto relaxed, his shoulder slouching in relief “That’s good… thank you, Tsunade-baachan.”

The woman hummed, before looking back to her patient, this time tugging at his ear “And you.”

“Owww!!”

“Quit making your dad worry so much! He’s not getting any younger and I don’t know just how much of your antics he can handle!” 

“Now, now Tsunade-baachan—“ Naruto tried to intervene, but one look from the Sannin shut him up.

“No excuses!” she protested, finally letting go of Boruto’s ear, this time to cup his face in her hands “You got it?”

“Y-Yeah…” Boruto agreed, looking to the side.

“Good!” Tsunade agreed, before smiling sweetly and patting his head “Now go to the kitchen, I brought you something from my trip.”

Boruto’s eyes sparkled as he rushed off, from Tsunade’s home infirmary towards the kitchen. Although he stopped briefly as he heard her say to his father.

“— you knew this would come… if you want to prolong it then, well. Less stress.”

“I already took his team off the missions… it’s happening too quickly—“

“We both know it’s not. The girl already has it. And he got it when he was even younger.” 

“I know… but his eyes… they’ll be fine?” 

“Yes, he’s a strong boy. Although troublesome.”

“Haha, yeah… he’s a lot like you know…”

“Oh I know. Anyway, like I said. The less stress and any sort of strain, the better.”

And so, his father came up with rules! 

No missions!

No training!

Even no, to helping Hima with her training! 

Everything was a no!

He huffed and jumped off his bed, dragging his jacket with him as he ran downstairs.

“ Boruto! ” his mother called out, content to keep him home just as his father told her to do.

Ignoring her, he put his sandals on and rushed outside, not stopping once as he jumped from roof to roof.

Once he was sure that no one followed him, he landed in the alleyway just by the market. Sighing, he just put his hands in the pockets of his shorts and stepped out, walking as people mingled around him.

It was getting ridiculous. First his father panics, then he starts coming home more and more just to nag at Boruto, he brings his mother into his… his annoying plans, and tells her to watch over him. 

All as if, Boruto would either up and leave or die on the spot. He swears that he even heard his dad come by his room at night, sometimes even sleeping in the chair by his desk…

He sighed lightly, trying not to think about just how… how nice it was to wake up to see him groggily stand from the uncomfortable chair and smile at Boruto.

“Good morning, Boruto.”  

And Boruto… Boruto didn’t even remember to be annoyed as he smiled back and muttered a sleepy “Good morning, dad…” , earning a passing kiss on the head.

“Boruto?” 

He raised his head, looking around he immediately noticed Sarada, as she sat at a nearby dango shop.

“Yo, Sarada!” he greeted with a smile, immediately moving to sit at her table “How’s it going?” 

She raised an eyebrow “I should be asking you. I haven’t seen you in a few days, Tsunade-sama said that you’re resting at home.” 

“You talked to grandma Tsunade?” he asked, sneaking a dango off her plate to eat it.

“I ran into her at the hospital, when I came by to give mom her lunch.” Sarada explained, her brow twitching as he ate her dango. 

Right . Never steal sweets from Sarada…

Finishing up the sweet goodness, Boruto leaned back, trying not to think of stealing more off his friend’s plate. She might just kill him, when he finally has some freedom. 

“Well, I’m all good. Dad is panicking without reason and just dragged grandma into it. And mom too!” he explained 

Sarada didn’t say anything for a bit, before muttering “I think that’s it… sweet to have your dad worry about you like that.”

“Annoying is what it is.” Boruto shot back, crossing his arms with a frown “He only looks at me with worry. Nothing else.”

“Well, you do like to get in trouble.” she replied, sending him a look. 

“Yeah, yeah. Whatever, I haven’t pranked him in a while now, have I?” Boruto defended, swallowing some guilt as the last time he pranked his dad, the old man passed out from chakra exhaustion.

It wasn’t only his fault, as his father had over hundred clones running around… but he did get some harsh scolding from… from Kurama .

The fox took over his dad’s body, yelled at Boruto and then promptly left but not before laying his dad’s body on the couch in the office. 

One of the coolest but also terrifying moments in his life for sure.

“Hey Boruto?” 

He snapped out of his thoughts, looking at Sarada as she played with the leftover dango sticks.

“Hm? What’s up?” 

She was quiet for a moment, before asking “Do you think that you’re more like your dad or your mom?” 

Boruto frowned, thinking for a moment before shrugging “I don’t know. Some people say that I’m more like my dad, but no way! I don’t see it! I mean I know that I look like him but y’know. So I guess I am more like mom, but then again… I don’t know! What’s with the question?” 

Sarada was quiet as she leaned forward staring at him intently, before whispering “Your eyes aren’t like the Nanadaime’s… yours are more narrow. Your hair is a bit different too… still spiky but it doesn’t stand up, it falls more down and in the back it’s a whole other mess…”

He frowned, wanting to speak up but she continued.

“And your expressions are different too. Not when you smile but when you frown, it’s different from Nanadaime. Somehow it’s—“

“Okay what’s with the deduction?” he asked, now both worried and somehow self conscious. 

“Nothing…”

“Nah ah! It’s something, come on, spill it.”

Sarada looked away, leaning on her arm.

“I’ve been… I’ve been thinking about my father.” 

Boruto cocked his head to the side “Sasuke-san?” 

“Mhm… we hardly have any pictures of him at home. Just two, the one you take as a genin team and another I have no idea where from. Our walls are littered with the Uchiha insignia, yet we have no things that belong to the Clan’s Head. There aren’t even any clothes of his in my mother’s room, aside from a ratty cloak and a pair of sandals in a room furthest away from everything else in the compound.” 

Her gaze met his, as she continued.

“It’s as if he never even lived there, Boruto! Then I asked mom about him, and she told me exactly what she told me a thousand times over. He’s the most handsome man she has ever known. He’s the love of her life, even though she hasn’t seen him in over ten years! All these things… they don’t seem like—like what a wife should know. I asked her if he wore glasses, like me, but she just shrugged saying that she doesn’t think so. Like, what the hell?!” 

Boruto frowned, looking more and more concerned by the minute. 

“It… it does sound a bit weird. I mean, I do know a bit about Sasuke-san as dad told me a lot about the two of them, back when I was a kid. And well, I can definitely tell you that he’d mention if Sasuke-san wore glasses. So I guess I’d answer your question as a no.” rocking his brain for more, he suddenly snapped his fingers “But! Sasuke-san did have a brief team up of some sort, with an Uzumaki girl that wore glasses! I remember dad telling me this, cause there aren’t a lot of us Uzumaki left.” 

There was no response, so he looked up only to find Sarada staring at him with tears in her eyes.

“Sarada…?”

She bit her lip before asking “You know more about him… than I do…” 

Guilt suddenly washed over him, as he looked down “I’m sorry… I thought that it would hel—“

A hand grabbed his own, as Sarada reached over the table this time with a teary smile “It did… thank you, Boruto.” 

He smiled back “Don’t worry about it… I could uh… I could maybe tell you more? I still remember some of the stories.”

Sarada nodded and listened as he went from story to story. Not all the details were clear in his head, some of the stories were simply:

“Uh, he said they had to… escort an ostrich?”

Or.

“And their hands were glued together! They jumped from a bridge— no wait! A waterfall, yeah! And I guess it didn’t work out how they hoped it would, dad was really embarrassed when he recalled it.”

But it seemed that to Sarada, it all meant the world. Actually, looking at her eager expression reminded Boruto of Himawari. His little sister would also look entranced whenever he told her something. 

The thought made him smile briefly, but before he could continue, he heard someone quickly approaching and soon grabbing his ear.

“ Ouch! ” he yelped.

“Boruto! What are you doing huh? Ignoring Hinata and running off?!” 

Turning a bit he glared at his father “Well maybe if someone didn’t lock me in the house! I wouldn’t have to run away to meet up with my friends!” 

Naruto froze looking at the sheepish looking Sarada as she waved “Hello, Nanadaime-sama.” 

“Oh… Sarada.” his father uttered, briefly letting go of Boruto’s ear as he probably noticed Sarada’s red rimmed eyes “Are you oka—“

“ Yes! Yes! I was actually going home to talk with my mom about something!” Sarada assured and moved to stand, as she added while looking down “Please don’t be too harsh on him Nanadaime-sama… Boruto really helped me out a lot today.” 

With that she turned and rushed off, in the direction of her home. The pair of blondes watched in silence, until she disappeared behind a corner.

Boruto sighed, also standing up as he put his hands in his pockets.

“Well. You caught me, congrats. I’m going home now.”

“Wait, I’ll walk you there—“

“Don’t bother, you’re a clone aren’t you? Then just puff away and—“

His father’s expression softened, as he interrupted him “I’m not a clone… I uh… I told you that I won’t do that again...”

Boruto’s eyes widened as he recalled Himawari’s birthday last year. While his dad didn’t get home for his birthday, he sent a clone to Himawari’s after Boruto threatened him. All went well and Himawari was more than happy, but after mom brought his little sister to bed… Boruto tried to punch his father in the arm, happy to say that he forgave him.

But the moment his fist came in contact with his father, he dissolved into a puff of smoke.

He was the angriest he’s ever been at that moment… he even destroyed the Hokage’s office door as he went after his father, yelling and cursing at him…

It wasn’t a good memory.

“Well, then go back to work. I can walk myself home y’know…” Boruto muttered, as his dad followed beside him slowly. 

“Yeah, I know…” Naruto agreed, putting his hands behind his head as he confessed “I just uh… I wanted to spend at least a moment with you, y’know…”

Boruto’s heart lunged in his chest with happiness, as he turned to stare at his father who gave him a smile. 

This however was short lived, as guilt washed over Boruto’s happiness.

“Then you’d be more useful spending it with Hima, y’know?” he stated, moving forward with tense back and clenched fists. He didn’t want to take any chance like this one from his little sister, she needed the old man far more than he did—

“You’re really—” a hand brushed through his hair, making him look up as his father smiled and finished “— a good older brother, y’know?”

Boruto blushed under the praise, warmth spreading past any sort of guilt or self loathing. He looked away, grinning a bit.

It’s been a… while since his dad praised him. 

It felt nice. Really nice.

“I uh… I do my best y’know?” he finally said, still not looking towards his father “I want her to know that she can depend on me, that I’ll always be there and… and I want to keep her safe! So I gotta become really strong to do all that! That’s my goal, y’know…?”

“I’m proud of that, I really am Boruto.” his father responded, sounding a bit choked up as his hand trembled in Boruto’s hair “It’s a really good goal to have.”

Feeling his eyes watering and throat closing up, Boruto coughed and stepped away “Yeah uh… thanks or whatever y’know. Let’s just get going ‘kay?”

“Yeah…” his dad responded, starting to walk beside him. 

“So uh… Kakashi-sensei mentioned that you’re looking for a new sensei?” Naruto propted, glancing at his son.

Boruto shrugged “Yeah well… not in the way that I want to kick Konohamaru-niisan’s ass out. I was just hoping that uncle Kakashi would be my mentor, y’know. He has an affinity for lighting like me, so obviously he’d be able to teach me more than just infusing lighting into my weapons…”

“You can already do that?” 

Snorting he turned towards his dad, who looked a bit taken back “Of course I do. What did you think I did my whole first year as a genin? Sat around and waited for all skills to come naturally?” seeing the sheepish expression on his father’s face, Boruto stopped and glared “ You did! ”

“Yeah well, I sorta assumed that you’re just naturally gifted—”

“I’m not like Sarada! She’s a natural genius, she’s really amazing being an Uchiha and all that. I had to actually pick up a book or two and train, to surpass her y’know!” huffing he crossed his arms “But well… I suppose I don’t train as hard as I could… but that’s why I need a sensei! Someone to show me the ropes and… and all that!”

“Someone to push you in the right direction?”

“Yeah! And uncle Kakashi would be amazing at that! At least I-I think so…” 

It was quiet between them for a moment, before his dad spoke up softly.

“So you’re really determined on it being Kakashi-sensei, huh?” 

Boruto shrugged “I don’t know, seems like the best choice y’know. He’s really strong.” 

Naruto stopped briefly, smiling at his son’s questioning gaze as he rubbed his head saying “Well then, I can maybe go and ask him myself y’know. I’m sure sensei wouldn’t—“

“Don’t do that.” he cut in, glaring down at the ground.

“Boruto?”

“I don’t want you going around and begging people to take me in as their student. If uncle Kakashi really doesn’t want me, then that’s fine. I don’t want a sensei that doesn’t want me, I want someone who will believe in me... someone dedicated to making me strong. Someone who’s not doing it because they are expected to… or because they have to.” 

I don’t want another you.  

Walking away once again, he didn’t bother to wait for his father. All his pent up anger resurfaced. What the hell was he doing? Talking to the old man as if they were pals? His father shows an ounce of affection and Boruto is supposed to forget? To forgive? 

Like hell .

“Boruto—“

“Just leave me alone! What is up with you today? Chatting and acting like a father?” Naruto flinched, but it only made Boruto want to hurt him more. Make him hurt as much as he was hurting “What? You thought that you’d have one conversation with me and I will just jump and hug you? I told you I—“

“I thought… thought that you enjoyed our talk—“ his dad tried to say, but Boruto only sneered.

“I simply indulged you. So tell me? How was it, acting like a parent for once?” 

His words were sharp, toxic and filled with hatred. With hurt . 

He looked his father straight in the eyes and waited, for the hurt or shame. There was some of that, but for the most part… he seemed weirdly composed. 

Finally, Naruto smiled slightly and whispered “Did it make you feel better?” 

No.

It burned to say all that. 

Made him feel even worse .

“Thought so.” his dad said softly, in understanding as he stepped closer and… and hugged Boruto whispering “I’m sorry… to bring you this much hurt. Especially when you’ve always… felt everything so much stronger…”

He squeezed his eyes shut, and pulled back. It hurt to do so… but then again, Boruto has always been much too stubborn right?

“I’m going home… and you… just be sure to come by and see Hima.” with that he took to the roofs, crushing the feeling of disappointment as his father didn’t follow. 

Boruto jumped down in front of the gate, briefly stopping to look at his home. 

“Gonna have to apologise to mom…” with a huff, he pushed forwards muttering “I’m no better than dad—”

The front door burst open, his mother and Hima rushing out, startling him a bit. 

“H-Hey mom—”

His mother shook her head and put her hand on his shoulder, saying “We’ll talk later. Sakura is getting taken to the hospital, come we need to hurry.”

“Aunt Sakura?!” he asked, taking over from his mother in leading Himawari out their yard, as Hinata led them.

“Yes, Sarada called me. I don’t know much but the medics are on their way, and the house got damaged.”

“Were they attacked?” he asked, his heart racing.

“No… it seems that Sakura might’ve lost control over her strength during an argument with Sarada. We’ll find out more once we get there.” his mother consoled, as they hurried through the streets. 

Once they got to the edge of the village, where the Uchiha compound proudly stood, Boruto’s steps halted seeing the entire east part nearly crumbling to the ground. 

“ The hell…? ”

He always knew that aunt Sakura was strong, just like grandma Tsunade, but to see it in action… it was probably a miracle that the rest of the huge old compound still stood. 

“Onii-chan?” 

Looking to the side at Himawari’s worried gaze he ruffled her hair “It’s going to be fine, Hima. Come on, let's find Sarada?” 

“Kay…” his sister replied, grabbing the edge of his jacket, to stay close while their mother rushed over to Shizune and other medics, gathered around the unconscious Sakura.

Moving through the rubble wasn’t easy, but thankfully they didn’t have to search for long to find Sarada. She was kneeling in the middle of it, clawing at the wood and stone, searching for something.

Judging by her shaking shoulders… she wasn’t fine. 

Boruto stopped for a moment and bit his lip, before glancing at his little sister “Hima, go back to mom… I think that it’s best if I talk to her alone, y’know?” 

Himawari nodded slowly, casting one last worried gaze at her brother’s teammate before walking away. 

With her gone, Boruto jumped over to his friend and put his hand on her shoulder, stopping her attempts at clawing through the rubble.

“Are you hurt?” Sarada only shook her head, making Boruto even more worried “We should wait around for—”

“ No one will come .” Sarada harshly cut in, glaring down at her roughened hands “Some people think that this place is haunted, others aren’t exactly happy to go out of their way to help out an Uchiha.”

Boruto knew that. Sometimes they would walk through the village and some people would glare at the Uchiha fan adoring his friend’s back. Or they would be on a mission outside of the village and people would gasp and whisper about it, almost fearfully. 

No one ever said anything to Sarada, but it wasn’t hard to notice the fearful looks. 

“Screw them then.” he said, making his friend glance up at him in shock. Boruto shrugged at the look and continued “We’ll find our own people, come on.”

He offered his hand to her, and after only a moment of hesitation, Sarada took it and allowed Boruto to pull her up. Together, they walked hand in hand outside to where Sakura was ready to be transported to the hospital, with Hinata and Himawari getting ready to follow.

“Go and be with your mom, I’ll come by to get you when it’s handled.”

Sarada looked hesitant, as she shook her head “No, I should be the one to–”

“Sarada. Just shut up and go, okay?” she glared at him, fuming a bit, but he just pushed her gently towards the medics and added “I’ll be sure to bring some dango, for you. Now go .” 

Reluctantly, she followed with his request and joined her mother, while Boruto waved at his mom before walking off with a plan forming in his head. 

First he went to find Metal and his father Lee, which was the best case scenario as the two instantly agreed to help out, along with bringing in more people. Next was Shikadai and his mother Temari, who also agreed to help quickly and dragged her lazy son with her. Then Mitsuki and Konohamaru-niisan, who also dragged his old team into it.

By the next two hours, Boruto had engaged all their classmates and available parents to come and help with cleaning up the Uchiha compound. 

“I don’t get it, we have services that could come in and do it…” Inojin muttered, next to Boruto as they worked.

Boruto glared at the ground, wiping his sweat away he answered “Yeah, but they’re a bunch of assholes, scared that the place is haunted or some—”

A sudden crash reached them, where Metal tripped and fell screaming “ I-IT’S HAUNTED?! ”

Huffing he helped the trembling boy up “ It’s not .”

“Well, how do you know?” Inojin asked.

Boruto shrugged, and gathered some more rubble into the bucket “When we were little, Sarada’s mom and my dad organised sleepovers between us. I’ve spent a lot of time here and Sarada at mine, so I think that I’d know if there were ghosts wandering around the compound.” 

“Oh, so it’s a bit like me, Shikadai and Cho-Cho. Our parents also made us spend a lot of time together.” Inojin said, touching his chin in thought. 

“Yep. We were basically raised together—”

“Em, Boruto-kun?” 

Glancing back, he smiled a bit seeing Sumire “Yeah, what’s up?” 

“I uh, I found this and well…” she handed him a half broken picture frame “You mentioned that you’ll go by and visit Sarada later, so it’d be nice if you gave it to her.” 

“Oh, yeah sure! Thanks for finding it, Sumire!” he replied with a wider smile, while placing the frame next to where he dumped his jacket for now. 

“That’s some team you’ve gathered.” 

Looking up, Boruto frowned, seeing his father’s advisor walking in and waving to the others as they worked. 

Sighing, Boruto straightened up and grabbed his full bucket, moving past him to go and dump the debris into the container.

“Well, that’s some shitty services you provide.” he muttered. 

Shikamaru sighed, pulling out a cigarette as he responded “Yeah, you’re not wrong there.”

Boruto frowned, looking up at the man in confusion. 

He didn’t think that he’d agree.

Taking a drag out of his lit cigarette, Shikamaru glanced at him “Don’t look so shocked. I’ve worked there longer than your father is Hokage. I know that there are still corners that need tidying up.” 

“Need a broom?” Boruto asked in a deadpan tone. 

For some reason that made Shikamaru chuckle, as he nodded “Yeah, might need one. You offering?” 

This time, Boruto managed to smile “Yeah, I’d love to go in and rip into some people.” 

“Like father, like son.” Shikamaru noted, at Boruto’s questioning glance, he added “Naruto is raging havoc in that division as we speak. The new and improved team should arrive soon and relieve all of you from this work.” 

Boruto let out a relief breath, wiping his sweaty forehead “That’s good. For once the old man stepped up…” 

“Your father is—”

“Yeah, yeah trying his best. That’s all you ever say, Shikamaru-san… and yeah… I’m glad that he handled it. I’d hate for Sarada to have to deal with this on her own, or to come back to this mess.” Boruto confessed, looking around the cleaner sight than the one in which his friend was kneeling just hours before.

“Knowing how you Uzumaki are, I honestly doubt you’d allow her to be alone.” Shikamaru stated, moving to ruffle Boruto’s hair “Now get out of here, you have a friend to visit right? I’ll handle all of this from—”

“ OI! SHIKAMARU! ” 

They froze looking to the side where Temari was standing with her giant fan, glaring at her husband.

Right away, Boruto grabbed the picture frame and his jacket, patting Shikamaru’s back “ Right . Uh, good luck with that Shikamaru-san!” rushing out, he stopped and waved to everyone “Thank you for your hard work everyone!”

They waved back and yelled for him to say hello to Sarada for them, it made him grin and sped up as he ran through the village to the hospital. 

“Hello, can you tell me in which room Uchiha Sakura is in?” Boruto asked at the front desk.

The receptionist frowned lightly as she looked through her book, before nodding to herself “Ah, yes. Sakura-san is in room 217.” 

“Thank you.” he nodded at the woman, before rushing off through the hallways. 

By the time he reached the second floor he was panting and rubbing at his eye, it wasn’t hurting but his vision got slightly blurry. Maybe he pushed himself a bit too much back at the compound, oh well, he’ll get to laze around later. 

He reached the room and knocked lightly, before entering “Sarada?”

In the room, he was met with not only his friend and her unconscious mother, but also Tsunade and Shizune. 

“Boruto?” Sarada asked, looking at him with wide eyes, while Tsunade walked over to him in worry.

“What happened?” his grandmother asked, wiping his probably dirty cheeks lightly. 

Boruto grinned “Oh, y’know. Just taking care of some things.” he patted his grandmother’s hand and moved to his friend offering the broken picture frame “Here, Sumire pulled it out of the debris. We found some other stuff too, none too broken so you’ll get to look through it later.” 

Sarada accepted the frame with wide eyes, although they stayed more directed at him as she blinked back tears “Boruto…”

“It’s no big deal. Anyways, everyone says hi and all. We cleaned what we could, but Shikamaru-san came along, saying that dad was handling the services. So by now they’re probably there, continuing the work—”

Suddenly, Sarada was in his arms, hugging him tightly as she whispered “Thank you…” 

His smile turned softer as he patted her head, much like he usually does with Hima.

“Yeah, yeah. Couldn't just leave it as it is, where would I get to hang out if not at your place huh?” 

Sarada huffed out a laugh and pulled away, rubbing a bit at her teary eyes “So, you did it for yourself then?” 

Boruto smirked and shrugged “Maybe, who knows?” looking to the side, he frowned asking “How’s aunt Sakura doing?”

Shizune was the one who answered, as she moved closer to the bed “Well, Sakura has always been prone to fainting. She’s simply exhausted, but that’s nothing new I’m afraid.”

“She’ll be fine after a few days.” Tsunade added with a smile, before moving to look at Sarada “There’s another bed here, you can stay with your mom if you want.” 

“Or you can come over to mine, I’m sure Hima wouldn’t be opposed to having a roommate for a few days.” Boruto offered. 

Sarada looked at her mom, before glancing at the picture frame. There was some anger in her eyes, as her hands trembled around the purple frame.

“I’ll stay with Boruto.” she finally said, refusing to look back at her mom. 

Tsunade and Shizune shared a look, before nodding in understanding.

“Very well, I’ll go and find Hinata. She’s still around somewhere…” Shizune stated, moving to leave as Sarada called out to her.

“Hinata-san said that she was going to get some snacks with Himawari-chan. So she’s probably at the cafeteria.” 

Shizune nodded and left, with Tsunade slowly following but not before pointing at Boruto with a glare.

“Oi, you!” Boruto jumped, immediately straightening at the tone “Better get some rest, or I’ll make sure you go blind. Got it? ”

“Y-Yes, grandmother!” he responded with surprising politeness. 

“ Good .” with that even she left, closing the door and letting silence surround the room.

Boruto let out a relieved breath and sat on the empty bed, on which a moment later Sarada joined him. The silence stretched further and further, until it started actually bothering Boruto, so he finally asked.

“So? What happened?” 

Sarada stayed quiet, tracing her finger over the picture of her father. 

Sasuke looked young on it, maybe sixteen or seventeen? Boruto couldn’t be sure, but what he was sure of was that it was the first time he’d seen his dad’s best friend at this age. 

Most of the pictures back home are from when they were twelve and thirteen, then there’s a jump and suddenly they’re twenty-one. There’s nothing past that. It’s as if Sasuke vanished after that time…

Maybe that’s when his mission started?

“I don’t think that… that my mom is actually married to my dad.” 

“Huh?”

“I… I don’t know if she’s even my… biological mother.”

Boruto blinked, looking at his teammate. This sounded… ridiculous, right? Although Sarada had her father’s darker features, her big eyes and whole face shape just screamed aunt Sakura. Right?  

Looking down at the picture he narrowed his eyes, and yeah. There were similarities between Sarada and Sasuke, but that’s a given. Still, her face was softer and rounder, her eyes wider and bigger, a lot more like Sakura’s.

“Well, uh. I’m pretty sure that your mom is your mom, you do look like her y’know? And she has to be married to your dad right? She wears his crest and all that…”

Sarada frowned looking down, basically glaring holes into the photo.

“Listen. I’m sure someone would speak up if something like this was up, like my dad for example. He was both of your parents’ teammate and your dad is his best friend, I’m sure he’d know if something suspicious was going on. He might be a bit clueless and a loser, but come on. He’d do something about it.”

She suddenly chuckled, moving to rub her teary eye “I think… I think that’s the nicest thing that you’ve said about your dad.” 

Crossing his arms he blushed a little bit “Well, don’t count on hearing it again, y’know… he’s still a useless father.” 

“At least… at least you know him enough to form an opinion on him…” Sarada muttered sadly.

Looking at her, Boruto saw something that he never thought to notice. The loneliness that clung to his friend, the anxiousness born from questions of her origin… because yeah. Boruto knew where he came from. He was the son of Uzumaki Naruto and Hyuuga Hinata, and he was raised by both, at least until his father became Hokage. Never once did he doubt it, as he didn’t have a reason to. 

But Sarada… she doesn’t even remember seeing her father outside of this photo that she clings to so closely. She doesn’t know if her father is serious or kind, if he’s more perceptive or maybe oblivious. All she has are stories that don’t even come from her mother…

“I’m sorry.” was all that he could say, along with letting his shoulder bump into her lightly. 

She hummed and let her finger trail through the frame, which suddenly broke further, the top piece falling off. Boruto rushed to pick it up from the ground, while the rusting sound reached him along with a gasp.

“What…? Who is…?”

Straightening up, Boruto frowned, seeing that the photo with Sasuke-san in it was a whole different one from the one with aunt Sakura. The only thing matching between the two was the background… as if Sakura tried to insert herself into the photo.

“A woman with glasses…?” Sarada whispered and Boruto suddenly knew that perhaps… there was more to his friend’s theory that he had originally thought.

Chapter Text

The next two days were a mess. Or rather, Sarada was a mess.

He watched his teammate and her stewing anger closely, she snapped more, was brooding in the corner, when it was Boruto’s job. Thank you very much . Her Sharingan flashed from time to time, but never with the intention to harm. No matter how mad Sarada could get, she wasn’t the one to hurt someone, she was too good, too kind… 

But she did always feel everything very intensely. 

Which according to grandma Tsunade, seemed to be a trait of the Uchiha clan. They loved and hated more than anyone could imagine possible. 

Knowing his own explosive anger and hatred, he couldn’t imagine what… he couldn’t imagine it getting worse, yet it apparently could . 

“Let’s go train.” he proposed, glancing at his friend as she lunged on the roof next to him. 

“I am not in the mood.” she responded, glaring at the sky as if she could set it aflame.

And with her Sharingan, Boruto wouldn’t think it impossible.

He sighed “You’re very much in the mood, we both know it.” she didn’t respond this time, even avoided his gaze as he looked over to her “You’re just worried you might hurt me.” 

This time she did spare him a look, but only a brief one as she whispered “I don’t want to fight you when I’m so angry Boruto.” 

At this, he nodded. He himself never tried to spar with Sarada or others when he was angry.

You fight enemies with anger, and your allies with determination. 

A belief that it seemed that Sarada shared unfortunately, since Boruto was more than willing to take a beating from her if it helped her. 

“Hm.” he hummed in response, continuing to watch his friend as she stared at the clouds “That appointment about the house insurance.”

“What about it?”

“Is someone coming with you?”

Sarada smiled a bit, looking at him “ You probably.”

Boruto smirked and crossed his arms “Yeah well, might as well flash the son of the Hokage to gain favour right?”

“Hn. Why do you think you’re my friend?” 

“Exploitation.” he noted, nodding to himself he added while still smirking at her “ I like your style. ”

She giggled and Boruto’s shoulders felt a little lighter.

“Onii-chan! Nee-san!”

They both shot up and looked down, where Himawari stood in the garden.

“Mama made dinner!” the little girl added, beaconing them over with a smile.

Boruto smiled and nodded “We’ll be right there!”

“ ‘Kay !” she called out before rushing back inside, with an excited chatter directed at her mother. 

After watching her disappear, he looked back to Sarada and knocked his shoulder into hers, gaining her attention.

“Hima’s been happier ever since you’re here, y’know.”

Sarada smiled, resting her chin on her knee “Yeah, I know.” then slight mischief flashed through her eyes as she stood up and shrugged “I might just take your place. Be the beloved Nee-san, instead of Onii-chan…”

Boruto snorted and also stood up, not looking directly at her as he responded “You’ll have to kill me to do that.” 

“Doesn’t sound like a lot of work.” she answered.

“For me, maybe.” he added.

The two glared at each other, before bursting out laughing.

“First learn how to tangle the enemy with the wirers and not yourself, then go on and say stuff like that.” Boruto added, pushing his teammate lightly. 

Sarada turned red and pushed him back “Well, you learn how to not get impaled by your own Fuma Shuriken. Then you can lecture me about wirers.” 

“Hey! You know fully well that I threw that thing perfectly! I have no idea why it just curved at the end!” 

“Mhm, sure.” she responded, before jumping down and heading inside calling out “ Oh! Himawari-chan you saved me a seat beside you?! ”

Boruto’s brow twitched, as he rushed to follow “ Like hell, I’ll let that happen! SARADA! ”

The dinner was eaten in peace as in the end, Himawari didn’t even consider being separated from her big brother during the meal. 

Boruto 1.

Sarada 0.

“Do you have everything you need?” Hinata asked in worry, as they started putting their sandals on.

“Yes, the documents were in a different part of the house and well, I think that they won’t really need them. They should have copies of everything at the office.” she responded with a small smile.

“Are you sure I can’t come along?” Himawari asked from beside her mother, mostly focusing on her brother, but her gaze also reached Sarada for a moment.

Boruto smiled and ruffled her hair “Sorry, Hima. It’s just gonna be some boring stuff, but we’ll be back before you know it, y’know?”

“Okay.” she finally agreed, although a bit sadly.

“When we’re back…” Sarada started, gaining Himawari’s attention “We can go and get dango together, deal?” 

The young girl immediately brightened and rushed to hug the Uchiha “Thank you, Nee-san!” 

Sarada smiled back and patted her back, making her finally step back and wrap her arms around Boruto as well.

Once the hugs were given out, the two left, waving back to Himawari and Hinata.

“I know that you just wanted an excuse to get dango, y’know.” he muttered with a smirk.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Mhm, sure.” he echoed her previous response, which earned him a bruised shoulder, but it was totally worth it.

Their walk to the office was mostly silent, as Sarada grew nervous. Boruto too, as after all it was their first time taking care of such business but since Sarada’s mother was still unconscious, her father was… well away, it fell on her shoulders to do it. As in the eyes of their law she was considered an adult, being a shinobi and all. 

He knows that they don’t have as many responsibilities as the actual adults and in many ways they’re still seen as children. Since the laws have been changed from the way, they were back when his dad was a kid, for example. But this could include them not being fit to take care of such things, y’know? 

They stopped in front of the building and swallowed.

“Well… we were trained for the field. One appointment about house insurance couldn’t be that bad right?” he tried to lighten the mood..

“Yeah…” Sarada sighed and stepped forward, with Boruto following closely behind.

The reception was stacked with people, when they got their number they were twenty-seventh in line. 

Great .

“You should’ve left that jacket at home.” Sarada suddenly commented as they waited, anxiously watching the screen for their number to come up. 

Boruto looked down at his usual black jacket with red insides and left arm “Why? What’s wrong with it?”

“It’s a field jacket. We’re handling a civilian matter and we should look nice to make a good impression.” 

He rolled his eyes “Oh come on, I did wear my nicest clothes. Besides, they don’t care about how we’re dressed, they just gotta pay you up.” 

“What if they won’t? I mean the compound is my father’s and— and the way it got damaged doesn’t really count as a natural disaster! Is there even an insurance against mother’s with quick tempers and monstrous strength?” Sarada worried, looking at him with wide eyes. 

Boruto frowned, before answering “There’s insurance against accidental misuse of ninja arts. It’s for when you’re training in the backyard and you blow a fireball at the house.” he smiled and put his hand on Sarada’s shoulder “And it’s also for angry mothers and wives with a giant fan and wind affinity.” 

“ Shikadai? ” she muttered with wide eyes.

Laughing he nodded “ Yep! His mom blew the roof off last year after having an argument with his dad. They got the whole thing covered with the insurance, so it’ll be fine.”

“Oh… oh okay, okay…” Sarada muttered before jumping in her chair “But are we even insured for something like—”

“Sarada all shinobi get this insurance. We’re fine .” he calmed her, patting her back.

“Okay, yeah. You’re right.” 

It was tempting to tease her about admitting that for once Boruto was right, but he kept his mouth shut. Rilling her up wouldn’t bring them any favours. 

For another hour they sat and waited, but thankfully Sarada remained calm and Boruto managed to keep his stress from showing. He knew now that he hated taking care of such matters… 

“Twenty-seven! Boruto, it’s our turn!” 

Before he could react, Sarada pulled him up from his chair and dragged him to an available station, setting him down along with her, as a bored looking woman stared at them.

“Case twenty-seven?”

“Yes, here you can see—” Sarada offered to show the number they got, but the woman was already looking at the screen.

“Don’t need to. So. Uchiha-san, you came here about your house insurance, yes?”

“Y-Yes.”

The woman passed her a paper and a pen “Please hand over the report from the clean up services, and fill this document.”

Sarada rushed to give the report over, before accepting the sheet.

“And you? Why are you here?” the woman asked Boruto, not even glancing as she read through the report. 

He shrugged “Same case.”

“Hm. Are you a tenant or another owner of the property?”

“No—”

“Then I’ll need you to step away from the desk.” 

Sarada looked up and glanced between them with a startled look.

Boruto narrowed his eyes and glared at the woman, bringing his hand down on the desk without any real force, but it did make the woman look at him.

“Do you know who I am?” 

He watched as the woman’s eyes suddenly turned wider, and then a quick smile appeared.

“ O-Oh! Yes, um… yes please stay Uzumaki-sama.”

The rest of the meeting went well, with the woman going out of her way to be nice both to him and Sarada. He hated throwing out his father’s status like that, but if it helped his friends then to hell with it. He has no regrets. 

“Right, so now. Uchiha-san, I just need you as the sole owner of the property to just go ahead and sign here—”

“Sole owner?” Sarada asked with wide eyes. 

The woman stopped and nodded “Yes… that’s what the system says.” 

“I-It has to be a mistake. The property is my father’s… Uchiha Sasuke’s! Well, maybe my mother’s Uchiha Sakura’s—”

“No… that’s not right. I have clearance to the documents involving the property all the way from the Hokage tower, through our system.” she turned the screen to them, showing off some documents on the screen “It’s said here, that it was given over to you around nine years ago, as part of a divorce settlement between Uchiha Sasuke and Haruno Sakura. The sole owner of the entire Uchiha Compound is Uchiha Sarada.”

“ What… ?” Sarada asked, looking at the documents on the screen.

“Divorce?” Boruto asked no one in particular, just looking at Sarada in worry. 

“That’s all it says. If you want to find out more you’ll have to visit the tower yourself, I can’t really pull out such documents… so I’m sorry, I already helped as much as I could Uzumaki-sama, Uchiha-san.”

“Right… thanks.” he responded, before patting Sarada’s arm “You need to sign, Sarada.”

The rest of the meeting was a blur, so much so that by the time they stood at the gate to the Uzumaki residence, they were still both dazed. 

“Sarada—”

“They’re divorced.”

Boruto bit his lip and just watched her, as she processed, but he did get startled as she let out an ugly laugh.

“That’s why he’s not here! He left! He threw the compound at me and left! He abandoned me! I can’t believe this!”

“ Sarada .  We don’t know that—”

“Oh, don’t we? I’d say that we know nothing, Boruto. I know nothing .” 

“Boruto, Sarada is everything…?” Hinata called out, looking worriedly at them from where she stood at the door. 

Sarada glanced at the woman, her Sharingan at full display. Still, she didn’t utter one cruel word as she just turned and walked away, only shrugging off Boruto’s hand from where he tried to stop her.

“ Sarada… ”

“Leave me alone, Boruto.” she sneered, walking away faster. 

Logically, Boruto knew that she needed to be alone to process this. She’d only lash out if he followed… but then again, he knew that somewhere deep in her heart she wants someone to follow. 

Much like Boruto always does after his arguments with his father.

He rushed through the gate to his mother, and gave her the documents he was holding “Please, put it away for Sarada.”

“What happened?” his mother asked with a worried gaze.

Boruto sighed “I’ll explain later, now I just… I need to chase after her.” with that he rushed outside of the property only calling out “I’ll get her back before dark!”

“Boruto!”

He stops briefly, looking back at his mom, only to find her smiling and nodding.

“Please take care of her.” she settles on saying.

Grinning, he nodded and rushed off, doing his best to try and feel his teammate’s chakra signature. It wasn’t easy, but him being an Uzumaki certainly helped. According to what his father told him anyway… but he still needs to work on it because with so many people around him, finding Sarada is nearly impossible.

Konohamaru taught him how to distinguish between civilians and shinobi, but it didn’t help that the majority of the villagers were shinobi . 

“Come on, you were just here a moment ago… where did you go?” he muttered, before closing his eyes and reaching out. 

He may not be able to tell who is who, but he can tell if he knows the signature or not.

And this one seemed familiar… a raging fire.

Yeah, that has to be Sarada.

And it was.

His friend was sitting under a bridge, staring down at the shadow that it casted over the slow river. She wasn’t shaking, but judging by the way she sat, she was tense.

Who the hell wouldn’t be?

He approached with caution, moving to sit beside her but also trying not to make her feel too crowded. Boruto had no idea in what state her head was at the moment. The laugh was scary and… deeply concerning, it made him hurt with just the idea of how horrible Sarada must feel—

“I want to be alone.” she cut through his thoughts mercilessly, not even sparing him a passing glance. 

Thankfully, she sounded a bit calmer.

“And as you know, I’m terrible at following orders.”

She didn’t chuckle or even smile, but her shoulders did relax ever so slightly.

“Some shinobi you are…” she muttered after a moment, making him smile.

“Yeah, I’m not the best. But I do intend to be the strongest…” he commented, before resting his gaze on the part where the sun hit the water. He stayed quiet and so did Sarada, but while she simply didn’t want to speak, Boruto was searching for a way to ease her mind. To help her… and so he told her the truth. 

“My parents are separated.”

He could hear Sarada’s head whipping to the side to stare at him, but he continued on staring at that one spot as he continued.

“They have been for… around two years now.”

“Why?” she asked quietly and Boruto could only shrug.

“We were never told the exact reason but… but in a way I’ve always known that something like this was coming. Ever since I could remember, they had separate rooms and when I was younger I thought that it was just like how Hima and I don’t share, y’know. Like why the hell would you want to share a room with someone?” he laughed a bit and crossed his arms “But then, I got older. I visited Shikadai’s house and saw how there were only two bedrooms. I asked him where his dad’s room was and… and he looked at me weirdly. That’s when I… I knew that there was something different about my parents. But although I knew that, I always held on and never looked for another hole, so when they told me that they’re separated and taking things slow …”

Boruto stopped talking, taking a deep breath he looked back at Sarada, not with pity or worry anymore… but in understanding.

“I had the luxury of them coming forward and telling me. So every day that I see my mom or my dad, in the back of my mind I’m ready for the kunai to drop. I see my father and all I can hear are his words from that day, talking as if it wasn’t a big deal while my mother is right beside him, her eyes filled with tears and Himawari is clutching at my arm asking why —” he stopped as Sarada’s hand lightly came to rest on his back. 

“ Anyway . I just know that the day will come and it will suck . But you… you had that dropped on you by a total stranger. And it sucks way more than my situation ever could. That’s why, I can’t leave you alone okay? I don’t want you to be alone when you’re in pain, because you’re… you’re like my family, y’know. And I’d rather go and drown myself in this river or take another Fuma Shuriken to the knee, than to leave you or Hima all alone with shit like that dumped on yo—”

Suddenly his arms were full, much like they were at the hospital, as Sarada flung herself at him and wailed in pain. He held her and didn’t say another word, just letting her scream her pain into his jacket as her hands dug into his back. To be honest, he himself shed a couple of silent tears as he couldn’t handle Sarada’s raw scream.

It hurt. It hurt to know that he couldn’t take it away from her. That he couldn’t kill it. That he had to sit here and offer the bare minimum as her heart ripped in half. 

It wasn't until today, that he truly realised just how much love he had for his friend. No . For his sister . 

And that day as she poured her heart out, Boruto swore to not only guard Himawari with everything he had. But Sarada as well.

“Bo… Boruto.” Sarada suddenly spoke in a hushed tone, her voice ragged from crying.

“Hm?”

“I want to leave.”

Boruto frowned, squeezing her a bit asking “Leave where?”

She sniffed a bit but didn’t pull away “To find the woman from the picture.”

“You still think that she’s your mom?”

“I d-don’t know… I’m not sure of anything but… but I need to do something.” she confessed. 

“Leave huh…?” he pondered outloud, staring up at the bridge covering them.

There were many times when Boruto was younger that he wanted to just up and leave, not that he’d ever make his way outside the gates at the age of eight. But the need was there, but then again Hima, mom, Sarada, Shikadai… and all others were there as well. So he just thought about it, making an elaborate plan before heading to sleep, just to wake up and go about his day like he usually would. 

And even now, they are all still here stopping Boruto from doing something he knows he would regret.

“We’ll figure something out, okay?” he settled on telling her.

“Okay… just… I don’t want to do it on my own.” Sarada whispered into his jacket, before shoving her head even further into it as she mumbled “B-Because… I see you as my… family too.”

Boruto chuckled and patted her back “Yeah, I guess that’s what our parents get for shoving us at each other since birth. Now we’re double the trouble huh?”

Sarada sighed “That double falls from you alone.”

“Hey, you’re the big miss, I wanna leave . I’m just here along for the ride or something…” 

Sarada pulled away and wiped her face “You’re both good and terrible at comforting people.” 

“Listen. You get what you get, no refunds. Especially since you said that I’m your family, get ready to add me to your will and to share that compound ownership with me. I’m taking all the assets while I can, y’know.” he joked, pushing her a bit, finally making Sarada snort.

“Sure. Take it all, smart ass…”

Boruto smiled, before shrugging “Nah. You keep yours and I’ll keep mine from the Hyuuga, so that later we’ll get to compare who ended up with the better end of the stick, hm?”

“Yeah, sure.” she agreed, rubbing her bare arms.

With a sigh, Boruto stood up, removing his jacket and handing it to Sarada as he stuffed his hands in the pockets of his long pants “Okay, let’s head home. No use sitting here and freezing, y’know.”

“Yeah… let’s go home.”

The moon was out, by the time Boruto led Sarada back to his home. They entered in silence, thankfully not an uncomfortable one, but rather a tired one.

“Boruto, Sarad—” 

Naruto whispered coming out of the living room just to freeze, as he took in Sarada’s reddened eyes. It struck a chord in him, as he quickly but gently neared the girl and put his hand on her shoulder, only just focusing on the fact that his son’s jacket was thrown over her.

“Hey, hey are you okay?” he asked softly, feeling relieved that Sarada managed to look at him.

“Yes, Nanadaime-sama… I’m… I’m going to be okay.” she muttered with a forced small and wavering smile.

“Of course you’ll be.” Boruto added to her with a smile, sending his father a warning look which mirrored one that Naruto knew very well. 

Even though he’s more familiar with it being on another face.

So, okay. Don’t ask. Got it .

Naruto smiled and rubbed the girl’s shoulder “You know, I was just getting ready to prepare some hot chocolate for Hima-chan. You guys want some too?”

“That sounds good, right Sarada?” Boruto asked with a grin, before grabbing the girl’s hand and pulling her out of the genkan.

It surprised Naruto greatly, as he was ready for his son to turn away and leave. It… It made him happy as he watched the two go into the living room, he knew that Boruto did it for Sarada. But the point still stood… his son agreed to spend some time around him. 

He slowly followed after the pair and shot a look at Hinata, who tried to gently make conversation with the two, while Hima all but wrapped herself around her older brother, just content to be with him. It made his heart fuller, but not filled to the brim… not like he remembers it being before… 

Looking away, he did as he said he would, preparing the hot drinks for the kids. It’s been a while since he did something like this… he knew it and felt ashamed. Naruto remembers the time when he would do this every weekend, or rather every few days as he always folded under Boruto’s and Hima’s gaze. Hinata, although not too thrilled with the kids getting so much sugar, would eventually just give him a light warning and that was it… both of them knew that in a day or two Naruto would do it again.

But now… now he didn’t do it at all. There were no longer two pairs of bluebell eyes pleading with him, no excited shouts, no tugging at his pants… 

“Papa?” 

Naruto turned and his smile wavered, seeing Himawari next to him with her big eyes focused solely on him “Do you need help, papa?” she added.

He smiled and brushed her bangs lightly “No, sweetheart. I’ve got this y’know!”

“Of course you do!” she cheered, as a grin that matched his own perfectly split her face.

Gods… he loved his children so much it hurt.

“But I’ll bring down the mugs! Sarada-neesan already has a favourite one, just like me!” Himawari told him, moving to pull out three mugs, before picking out one with a strawberry pattern and showing it off “Here! This one is Nee-san’s!”

Naruto nodded and carefully took the mug, placing it within arms reach “Alright! I’ll defend it with my life!”

Himawari giggled, before picking out two other mugs, showing him the one with a fox first. It was his actually.

“This one is my favourite!”

Once again Naruto accepted it and placed it down, praising “Good choice! It would be my favourite too, y’know!”

His daughter stopped and frowned before nodding to herself and bravely stating “Then it can be yours papa, I’ll find another one.”

Shaking his head he smiled “Nah, you were first. You can go and find me a favourite mug, y’know! Since you have such good taste.”

Himawari quickly accepted it, before showing off the last mug that had a red snake on it “This one is Onii-chan’s. He got it from Mitsuki-san and Sarada-neesan. But I use it too sometimes… but Onii-chan said that it’s okay because he doesn’t really have a favourite one.”

This time, Naruto focused a bit longer on the mug. It was… It was the first time that he’s actually seen it… 

He’s so useless.

Smiling through the stabbing pain in his heart, Naruto nodded and let the mug join the two others “Thank you, Hima-chan. I’ll keep them safe until the chocolate is done.”

She nodded and hugged him quickly, before sprinting back to her brother, all but jumping on his back making him lean forward and smack his head on the coffee table. Naruto’s heart jumped, feeling ready to come up and see if he’s fine, but Boruto just chuckled and then locked Himawari’s head under his armpit as he flicked her forehead.

“Ow…” 

“That was payback, for not being careful.” he scolded lightly, as Hinata rubbed at his forehead just to make sure that he’s fine.

Then, Sarada flicked his ear, making him shout as she shrugged “Hm, I like this. Now I can use it too.”

“ For what?! ”

“For payback for not being careful, on our missions.” Sarada explained, grinning slightly as Himawari giggled. 

Naruto stood back and watched them, just like he used to watch the families back when he was a child. Like an outsider…

“So tell me? How was it, acting like a parent for once?”

He really messed up… didn’t he?

Chapter Text

The air was humid as two genin lunged on the grass by the river, their outer layers either sprawled beside them or at least opened to offer some relief from the heat. 

“Ah… this is torture.” Boruto whined lowly, as he moved to brush his bangs away from his face.

“It’s not entirely pleasant.” Mitsuki agreed from beside him, his kimono shirt left open as his blue hair was pinned up.

Glancing at his friend he sighed “You don’t even look too bothered by it, how is that fair?”

Mitsuki just smiled at him “I was trained to withstand both the hot and cold temperatures, so that I can protect my sun better.”

Boruto frowned, but didn’t say much about it, knowing that Mitsuki wouldn’t elaborate. His friend had many secrets, which Boruto learned to accept after their year together. But that didn’t take away from the bond that they shared. He knew that Mitsuki would be there for him and he would be there for Mitsuki. That’s all the knowledge that he needed.

“Where is Sarada? She lives with your family now, doesn’t she?” Mitsuki asked after a moment, his golden gaze not straying from Boruto.

“Yeah. She’s with her mom today… it’s been almost a week and aunt Sakura still hasn’t woken up.” he stated, moving his head to the side to stare at the clouds.

His friend inched a bit closer, his pale hand resting beside Boruto’s, their pinkies barely touching as he reassured “My parent says that Sakura-san is the strongest kunoichi of her generation, so I’m sure that exhaustion and stress won’t beat her down for long.”

Boruto grinned and looked back at Mitsuki “Yeah, you’re right. You should tell that to Sarada, I’m sure she’d like to hear something like this right now.”

“I will.” Mitsuki assured with a smile.

With a sigh he sat up and rubbed his eyes, this time not from any pain but simple tiredness.

“Your eyes, has there been any improvement?” Mitsuki quickly asked, his face growing serious.

Moving his hand away from his face, Boruto just frowned “I don’t know, my grandma said that it’s nothing so it’s nothing. I doubt that I’ll go blind or something, so you can relax.”

Suddenly Mitsuki grabbed his hand and made Boruto stare at him in slight shock as his friend all but declared.

“If you need, you can take my eyes, Boruto.”

Boruto stared. 

Then stared some more.

And finally he turned red as a tomato and gripped Mitsuki’s hand tightly, yelling “A-Are you insane! What sort of a proposition is that?!”

“Isn’t that what friends do?” Mitsuki asked with a pleased smile, cocking his head slightly to the side.

“ N-NOT LIKE THAT! I-I mean! You’d be blind if you did that! Don’t you care?!” Boruto asked desperately, searching for any kind of understanding on Mitsuki’s part. 

But there was none.

“I only care about you.” Mitsuki confessed, while still smiling.

Not knowing how to handle this for much longer, Boruto let go of his friend’s hand and turned away “Just—Just d-don’t say stuff like that! You sound weird…”

“And you’re quite red, maybe we should go somewhere inside?” Mitsuki proposed, reaching out and handing Boruto his jacket back, from where it was laying on the grass.

“Y-Yeah but please shut up…” Boruto muttered, accepting the jacket and standing up as Mitsuki quickly fixed his kimono shirt. 

Together they walked down the path and through the busy market, where almost every store was bursting with people. All of them buying ice cubes or ice cream. 

“It’s been a while since such heat struck us, huh?” Boruto asked, watching people panting and sweating like crazy all around them.

“Mhm, and it’s only the beginning of June.” Mitsuki responded, still not looking too bothered by the heat.

Boruto hummed and looked at his teammate “Oh yeah, Sarada’s birthday is at the end of the month. How about we do something together for her? I’m sure Konohamaru-niisan would be on board.”

“Sounds like fun, why not.” Mitsuki agreed with a closed eye smile, but then he frowned “Hm. Come to think of it, we didn’t do much on your birthday… if it wasn’t for Sarada I wouldn’t even know when it was.”

He shrugged, refusing to look at his friend as he explained “It’s just another day, I don’t care so there’s no reason for you to, y’know…”

“Aren’t birthdays supposed to be very special events in your life? Isn’t that why you care about Sarada’s birthday and how she will spend it?”

“It’s different. Sarada’s different, I’m fine with whatever.” he stated, finally looking at Mitsuki and smiling a bit “I’m good with just a simple, “Happy Birthday” . So don’t sweat it, ‘kay?”

Mitsuki looked ready to ask another question, but thankfully Boruto was saved by a shout, breaking through the loud market.

“Sarada?” he asked, watching as the girl finally reached the two of them and grabbed Boruto’s wrist.

“I’m sorry, Mitsuki. I need to borrow him for a bit.” she apologised, ignoring the blonde’s questioning look. 

“It’s quite alright, I enjoyed your morning together.” Mitsuki admitted with a smile, before adding “Oh, and Sarada. Please don’t be worried about your mother, she is remarkably strong in my parent’s opinion.” 

Sarada’s eyes softened, as she smiled back at her teammate “Thanks, Mitsuki… it means a lot.”

“Of course. Now excuse me and have fun.” Mitsuki said before walking away with a small wave.

Right away, Boruto was pulled through the crowd and onto a nearby rooftop, where finally he pulled his hand away and looked at his friend who was wearing her mission attire.

“What’s going on?” 

Sarada sighed and looked at him with an unreadable expression, she looked both excited and scared…

“Your dad is going outside of the village to see mine.”

Boruto’s eyes widened “What?”

She ignored his question and instead gripped at her shirt, right above her heart “We… I need to follow him.”

“Sarada—”

“I know the risks, Boruto.” she cut in, finally looking him in the eye, her Sharingan awakening “But I need to do this. I want answers, not only about my mother but about me. About these eyes… there’s only so much that books and Kakashi-san can tell me. I have to meet him and… and I need you there with me.” 

Suddenly, she was in front of him, bowing deeply as she nearly shouted “S-So, come with me! Please!”

Boruto stared at her in shock, before finally sighing deeply and putting his hand on her head to push her slightly.

“As if I’d let you go alone.” he said, watching as she looked up with wide eyes as he smirked “Someone’s gotta be there and make sure you don’t do something stupid.”

“More stupid than leaving the village?” Sarada asked with a slight smile.

“Yeah, with us both you never know. We might do something even worse.” he added, moving closer and bumping her shoulder “Okay, so let me get ready. See you outside of the gates in ten minutes.”

“Mhm. What will you say to your mom?” Sarada asked, moving to pull out a red bag from the corner of the rooftop.

Sighing, he ruffled his hair thinking it over, before finally saying “Hiking. We’re going on a hike… not a big lie.”

“We might not be back for days, Boruto…” Sarada whispered, looking at him with a guilty expression “Maybe you should stay. I’m sorry it was selfish for me to ask you, when you have—”

“Shut up.” he cut her off, without any real heat as he looked straight at her “I’m coming with you. Actually, if I found out that you went alone, I’d be pissed. You’re my friend, so quit overthinking and trust me. It’ll be fine .”

“But Boruto, what about Himawari?” 

That one made him doubt this whole thing. His heart squeezing at the idea of leaving his sister for a while, with a lie for an excuse… but Sarada needed him. And Hima had their mother, she’d be well taken care of and he’ll just… he’ll make it up to her.

“She’ll be fine. It’s not as if we won’t come back, Sarada. So quit talking like that, it’s annoying.” he waved her off, all while making his way off the roof “See you in ten.” 

Back home, he dressed in his mission attire much like Sarada did and packed his backpack thoroughly. Then came the hard part.

“A hike?” his mother asked, with a soft frown.

He nodded “Yeah, there’s a lot of going on with Sarada… so I’m just trying to help her out in the best way I can.” 

There was more truth to this than lies… but still his tongue burned. He hated lying to his mother like this, but there was no way that she’d let him and Sarada go along with their plan.

“Oh, yes. Yes, of course you can go.” his mother immediately said, moving to brush his bangs a bit “You’re a really good friend, Sarada is lucky to have you.”

Smiling back, Boruto withdrew a bit, not being able to handle his mother’s caring touch when it came from his deceit. 

“I’m doing what I can, and how I can.” he just said, before fastening the straps of his backpack and moving to grasp the handle of the front door “I… won’t be able to pick up Hima from the Academy today.”

Or tomorrow.

Or the day after that…

“That’s alright, you’ll see her in the evening.”

Boruto’s hand shook as he finally opened the door, saying “Just tell her I’m sorry. And that I’ll make it up to her, okay?”

“Of course, have fun sweetheart. I love you.” Hinata called out, as Boruto slowly stepped through the threshold. 

“Love you too, mom.” he echoed, before hurting away with his heart weighted by the lies that spilled from his tongue.

Forgive me . He thought to himself and hoped that by some miracle, his mother would receive the message.

Sneaking past the gates wasn’t too troublesome since the village was far more open for people to go in and out. Also, Konohamaru’s stealth training did wonders. 

Sarada was waiting for him in a nearby tree, not too close but also not too far from the gates. Her chakra already concealed neatly, if it wasn’t for his Uzumaki heritage he doesn't think that he’d be able to find her so quickly. 

“Did he pass by already?” he whispered, eyeing the open path.

“No. I’m still waiting, maybe he went home? To say he’s leaving?” she directed the question at him, with a raised brow.

Boruto frowned “I’d say no. But recently he’s been… weird, so there’s a chance that’s the case.”

“And… what did your mom say?” Sarada asked a bit cautiously, and for a good reason as her friend immediately answered with a displeased glare “Okay. I won’t ask again.”

“This is a mission, let’s leave it for later.” he just said, while moving his gaze back to the gates.

Only moments later, Shikamaru and Naruto approached the gates, the blonde stopping briefly to say something to his advisor before hurrying off down the path. Boruto grabbed Sarada and together they hid deeper in the tree, their chakra carefully concealed.

Honestly, they were lucky that by some chance, Naruto didn’t get the unusually high sensory skills of the Uzumaki clan. 

And he was massively overworked, so that was also their advantage.

Still, he was a threat to their mission and Boruto was not stupid enough to hide that fact.

While he may be a useless father, but Uzumaki Naruto was the strongest shinobi that still walks the earth. Along with Sarada’s father…

Honestly, he should be at least a bit worried about what sort of damage both of them will be able to do in the future, with them being children of such powerful people.

“I think we’re in the clear. I can sense him, so you’ll have to follow me.” he whispered to his teammate, who nodded and secured her bag one last time before they went off into the trees.

Travelling this way would hide them from unwanted attention. Only a fool, or a powerful shinobi , would voluntarily stick to the usual path while alone or even as a pair. 

Although there was a downside to this, as it meant that one could get easily sidetracked or even lost. The path was straight, while the forest, not so much.

Thankfully, his father’s chakra was like a compass, a beacon that led them in the right direction. If he didn’t outrun Boruto’s sensory range.

“Damn it, he’s really fast.” he cursed, trying to both focus on jumping from tree to tree and keeping a hang on his father’s chakra.

“Well, he is the son of the Yellow Flash.” Sarada commented, already panting a bit.

Not that Boruto was doing any better.

They’ve been following him nonstop for a couple of hours by now. 

He sighed and jumped again, or more like he tried to. His leg caught on a smaller branch and soon after he was soaring downwards, hitting the forest floor with a painful thud.

“ Boruto! ” Sarada called out, trying not to be too loud even in her panic, as she jumped after him.

Hissing, he pulled himself up a bit, rubbing his shoulder. That definitely didn’t feel too good.

“Damn it.” he cursed, as Sarada kneeled next to him, her hand immediately glowing green around his shoulder.

“It’s dislocated. I’ll have to set it… then I can heal it further.” she responded, looking a bit apologetically, as she helped him remove his jacket and set her hands back on him “Want me to count?”

“Just do whatev— AH! ” as he was saying that, Sarada already popped his shoulder back with surprising strength and precision. Then immediately started healing him again, taking some of the pain away, while Boruto continued to pant with exhaustion and pain.

“There, there, almost done.” she reassured, as Boruto bit his tongue not to say anything mean while in pain.

In the end, he just hummed and glared out into the forest, that’s when he realised. 

He couldn’t feel his father’s chakra anymore.

His heart stopped and he just froze, looking at Sarada with wide eyes “Sarada. I can’t feel him anymore, I think that we lost him.”

Sarada swallowed and stopped her healing, the pain finally just an ache.

“Then I suppose… we need to find him the hard way.” 

Boruto nodded, putting his jacket back on with a slight wince “Yeah, seems so.”

“So I guess, we need to go on to the path, see if we can find his tracks.” Sarada said, moving to stand as Boruto held out his uninjured hand out for her. 

“Yeah… damn it .” he cursed again, angry with himself.

A hand squeezed his elbow, as Sarada looked at him “Don’t get too worked up. We wouldn’t be able to follow him for much longer, we need to slow down and rest for a bit.” 

He reluctantly nodded, before sighing and brushing his fingers through his knotted hair “Okay, let’s go. Judging from the direction that he was taking, it should be this way.” 

“Lead the way.” Sarada prompted, following close behind.

The path was closer than Boruto anticipated, and definitely brighter than the forest. He blinked rapidly, shielding his eyes from the strong afternoon sun, while Sarada moved past him kneeling and touching the beaten dirt.

“Well, he followed the path. I suppose we follow it, until the tracks disappear and then we’ll figure it out from there.” she said, looking at her friend who nodded.

“Yeah, I guess so. Maybe I’ll pick up his chakra somewhere along the way, we can go a bit faster now.” he mentioned, while kicking the dirt “Travelling through the trees is exhausting.”

Sarada stood up, pulling out her water and taking a sip before passing it to Boruto as she said “Yeah, but it’s safer. Now we’re easily spottable, so we gotta stay alert, got it?”

Boruto swallowed the water and threw the bottle back at his teammate “Yeah, yeah, got it. Now you lead the way.”

Together they ran down the path, heat pouring down on them mercilessly now that they weren’t sheltered by the trees. To be honest, by now Boruto was plotting to murder his father, for choosing literally the hottest day this year, to go off and meet up with Sarada’s father. 

“Hey Sarada, how about we—” he cut himself off, instead lunging to tackle the girl, sending them tumbling to the side.

“ What are you—?! ”

“Look!” Boruto pointed to where she was running, where over ten shuriken were lodged into the ground.

Both genin stood up, back to back and looked around while Boruto tried to pick up the chakra signature in the area. But it would seem that it wasn’t needed as their attacker appeared just a few metres in front of them.

“ Sarada .” he warned, moving so that they stood shoulder to shoulder as the person in front of them lifted their head.

It was a white haired boy, probably younger than them. Although that wasn’t the most important information about him, as finally his gaze met theirs. 

“Sharingan…” he muttered, glancing at Sarada who also activated hers, glaring straight at their opponent. 

“Who are you?” Sarada nearly growled, taking a step forward, still shoulder to shoulder with Boruto as he followed carefully.

The boy stared, his red gaze piercing and uneasy as he answered “I am… Shin. Uchiha Shin.”

Next to him, Sarada flinched, her fists starting to tremble slightly.

“Stolen eyes, don’t make you a Clan member asshole.” Boruto retorted.

“You think they’re not his?” Sarada asked, not taking her eyes off the still boy.

Boruto nodded “My grandfather told me that sometimes, people steal the eyes of a deceased Hyuuga and implant them as their own.” smirking at the boy, he added loudly “And it is within the Clan’s right to take them back. By force preferably. ” 

The boy had nothing to say, didn’t even show a single emotion as he just continued to stare.

“My father and I… we’re the last ones left.” Sarada uttered, eyes growing wider as she whispered “And if they’re really stolen… that… that means— ”

“You will come with me.” the boy cut her off, pulling out a scroll which made the two tense up and reach for their own weapons.

“No thanks, we will just take your eyes and be on our way.” Boruto responded, casting a glance at Sarada to make sure she was ready for this.

This wasn’t the time to spiral into ideas like that. They needed to focus.

“Father said… only bring the Uchiha. His word… obey .” the boy muttered, his gaze shifting onto Boruto as he added “He said nothing… you. I don’t need you .”

As he moved to put down the scroll and summon whatever weapon that was hidden within, Boruto lunged forward. With lighting fuzed kunai, he swung to stab Shin, only to have him lean back on his hands and kick Boruto in the chest.

He flew behind Sarada with a groan, only raising his hand quickly to signal that he was fine.

“He’s fast.”

“Definitely, faster than you .” Sarada muttered, sending him a look.

Yeah, Boruto needed to learn not to take the first opening he saw without a plan.

Standing up, he reached for his pouch “Okay, plan B.”

Sarada only glanced at him and nodded “Got it.”

By now, Shin stood with a giant weapon in hand, ready to spring into action at any given moment. But before he could, Sarada jumped and raised her fist with a shout. Their opponent jumped away, but he wasn't the target, as Sarada’s fist connected with the ground, breaking it apart as dust settled around them. 

From it, Boruto jumped out once again with a kunai, swiping and stabbing at Shin relentlessly, who mostly dodged. Probably, reading all his movements with his Sharingan.

Soon Sarada joined in, attacking from the side, but the boy still managed to evade their blows.

“Sarada!” Boruto called out and his friend appeared behind him, grabbing him by the jacket and lunging his body at Shin, who raised his weapon and impaled the genin.

Only for him to puff away.

“What?” Shin whispered, as Sarada only smirked at him.

Then wires shot out from three directions, wrapping around the Uchiha impostor, as his weapon tumbled to the ground. 

“ NOW! SARADA! ” Boruto and his two clones yelled, before moving the wires to their mouths while their hands formed signs that mirrored Sarada’s.

“ KATON GOUKAKYUU NO JUTSU! ” together they yelled, as four fireballs soared towards the trapped Shin, who screamed in what they could only guess was fear. 

Unfortunately, what they didn’t expect was for the fallen weapon to raise on his own accord, and cut Shin loose before real damage could be done. 

“What?!” Boruto yelled, only to watch as the weapon flew towards his two clones, cutting them like butter before making its way to him “Damn it!”

He jumped off the tree and landed next to Sarada, who was throwing shuriken at the flying weapon, which by now was soaring straight at them.

“It’s not– It’s changing course! ” Sarada yelled, as they jumped away from each other, the weapon lodging itself in the spot they occupied just a second ago.

“Don’t you say!” he replied sarcastically, his eyes flying around wildly, before settling on Shin.

His eyes changed, and were following the flying weapon while nursing his burnt sides. 

“Sarada?!” he called out, dodging, as the weapon came after him.

“What!” she yelled, throwing more shuriken to knock the weapon off course.

“His eyes— SHIT! ” he cursed, as the blade cut his side. Pulling out a kunai, he started blocking more than dodging, as he yelled “So?!”

Sarada remained staring at the fallen Shin, no doubt thinking of a plan while the weapon was dedicated to kill Boruto for now.

“It’s a higher form of the Sharingan! Only saw it in a book!”

“Well—” he jumped over the blade, earning another cut “Can it control weapons?!”

“I guess—”

“ You guess?! ” he screamed, forming a couple of hand signs and blowing another fireball at the weapon. It didn’t stop. With a groan, he added “Whatever! You’re the Uchiha here! Get that guy before this cuts me up!”

Then as Sarada lunged at Shin, the weapon turned and followed her. Boruto’s heart stopped, as he watched it go.

“ SARADA! ” 

She turned around too late, the blade nearly at her chest. Boruto was already running towards her, blinking in fear that the next time he opened his eyes, she would be—

“Now. That’s a new one.” spoke a new voice, as the weapon intended for ending Sarada’s life shattered and crumbled to the ground. 

“D-Dad…” Boruto breathed out, watching as his father stood protectively in front of Sarada, glaring at Shin. 

His father’s golden glowing eyes settled on him for a moment, and then in an instant, he was at his side with Sarada. This time standing in front of both of them.

“Who’s your friend?” Naruto asked, watching as the white haired boy took a couple of steps back “ Sharingan , huh…?”

“He says he's Uchiha Shin.” Sarada responded, glaring at the impostor.

Boruto scoffed “He’s an eye stealing impostor. I mean. He doesn’t even look like an Uchiha, look at Sarada.” 

His friend nodded “The book did say that those of the Clan Uchiha favour their dark hair and eyes…”

Naruto only spared them a passing glance, before he focused back on the boy “Impostor or not. I’m gonna have to bring you in, kid.”

Shin growled in displeasure, quickly opening a new scroll and summoning more weapons, which soon were directed straight at them. 

Before either of the genin could blink, all nine shards were blocked and instantly destroyed. The Hokage didn’t even have to move an inch, as it were the nine glowing tails that took care of it. 

“Nice try. But I wouldn’t anger Kurama if I were you, he has quite the temper.” Naruto advised with a small grin, no doubt hearing the fox in his mind.

Boruto couldn’t take his eyes off of his father. It was for the first time that he saw this side of him… this power that everyone spoke of.

He wouldn’t admit it out loud, but… but he was impressed.

“So this is… the Nanadaime’s power?” Sarada muttered next to him, making him glance at her and nod slowly.

“Yeah…”

The chakra tails moved and attacked Shin, or more like, tried to capture him as the boy jumped around trying to clumsily dodge them. He was still wounded from the fire attacks but even so, he moved quite well for burns so severe.

“You’re well trained.” Naruto acknowledged, as the boy landed on a nearby tree panting and clutching at his wounds “Listen. Just come with me, it’s no use to try and fight back—”

Before he could finish the sentence, a small white… thing appeared next to Shin. It’s large red eye spinning as it took the boy and itself away.

“Teleportation technique… huh?” Naruto said, sighing as he let the golden chakra cloak fade away. Then he looked back at the genin behind him with a stern look “Now. You two . What do you think you’re doing so far away from the village, huh?”

Sarada immediately straightened up, saying “Nanadaime-sama, it’s all—”

“ My fault. ” Boruto cut him, acting uncaring as he shrugged under his father’s heavy gaze “I heard you were going out of the village, figured that I might as well test my sensory skills and see how far I could follow you. Sarada came after me, trying to—”

“No!” Sarada yelled, glaring at her teammate who just glared back “ No , he’s lying. I wanted to leave and I selfishly asked him to come with me—”

“Sarada, shut up.” Boruto tried, not understanding why she couldn’t let him take the fall. 

“ You shut up!” she screamed, stunning him into silence, as she turned back to the Hokage “I made the decision to leave and follow you!”

Naruto just watched the two, before softening his gaze as he said “But why? You both know that leaving the village beyond a certain proximity, without informing Hokage or signing at the gate is considered deserting after twenty-four hours of absence. At least at your current rank as genin. So what could be so important that you decided to take the risk? I could have you both demoted, active immediately for this.” 

“I-I… I heard you talking with Shikamaru-san. I heard that you were going to see my father…” Sarada admitted, lowering her gaze to the ground “I need to see him. There are things that mom hid from me and I… I don’t think that right now, I trust her enough to answer me truthfully. So I thought that this was my one and only chance to get to ask him , not only about my mother, but about me, about my eyes, about who I am.” she raised her head, watching as Naruto’s whole face lost all traces of the stern facade he put on.

“I wanted to go alone, I had a whole plan set and ready but I… I’m too selfish.” she glanced briefly at Boruto, before continuing “I couldn’t do it, alone. I didn’t want to do it alone… so I asked Boruto to come along with me. I asked him to be here, so… so uncle Naruto… if you have to blame or demote someone it should be me. I will take the whole responsibility, but only after I’ve met with my father.”

“Woah, woah, woah!” Boruto jumped in front of her, looking up at his dad with wide eyes “Let’s not take it that far. I am plenty guilty myself, if she gets punished then so do I!”

“Shut up, you idiot!” Sarada scolded, trying to force her way in front of him, but Boruto blocked her “You have no idea what you’re asking for! Being demoted, means going through the Academy again and—”

“Then Hima will gain new classmates. Two of them.” he cut in, glaring at her. 

“ Oi! You two. ” 

They froze, as their attention was back on Naruto who stood in front of them with crossed arms.

He sighed, shaking his head as the red ends of his ponytail brushed his shoulders “No one is getting demoted.” a smile broke through, as he looked down at the two stunned genin “I would be a hypocrite, if I punished Boruto for helping a friend. And I can’t bring myself to blame you too, Sarada. So let’s just make this conversation, an official report to the Hokage about you two leaving the village okay?” both of them nodded, as Naruto raised his finger adding more seriously “But take this as an only exception, yes? Don’t let it happen again, and instead just come and talk to me. Both of you, got it ?”

“Yes, Hokage-sama!” Sarada immediately agreed, grinning at him in relief.

Boruto stared at his father, before turning his head away as a small smile tugged at his lips “Yeah, got it.”

“Good!” Naruto grinned, ruffling the hair on both of their heads “You’re good kids, so try not to do stupid things ‘kay?”

“We try.” Sarada replied, rubbing the back of her head.

The blonde nodded and then took in their appearance, frowning “So are you two alright?”

Before Boruto could say yes, Sarada spoke up “Just a bit beaten up, Boruto has an injured shoulder and a couple of cuts. We’re just exhausted for the most part. You’re really fast, Nanadaime-sama.” 

He laughed “Yeah, I know. Runs in the family, I’m afraid.” then he scratched his cheek “Oh and Sarada, I really don’t mind you calling me uncle Naruto. Even though I’m the Hokage, y’know?”

Sarada blushed “But isn’t it improper?”

Naruto shrugged and smiled as he ruffled the girl’s hair again “Not when it comes to family, Sarada. Now, let’s rest for a bit hm?”

He led both of the kids to the shade, and kneeled in front of his son just as the young blonde sat down.

“What do you want?” Boruto asked, huffing a bit, as he rubbed his shoulder. Even though Sarada tended to it, it was still aching…

“You’re hurt, right? Let me heal it.” Naruto said, moving to help his son out of his jacket to see the cuts and still tender shoulder. He gathered some of Kurama’s chakra and pressed the orange bubbles to Boruto’s flesh, watching as the cuts closed up quickly.

“Woah… so fast! Is that the tailed beast’s chakra?” Sarada asked, taking a closer look as the Hokage worked.

“Yes. I’m using parts of Kurama’s cloak to close the wounds and correct his shoulder.” Naruto explained, as he moved onto the shoulder, pressing a new bigger bubble there while Boruto hissed a bit, squeezing his father’s other hand without realising.

“And you can do that with anyone? Without knowing medical jutsu?” she continued.

Naruto smiled a bit, answering “To an extent, I can.” he rubbed his son’s hand, comforting him through the slightly painful process “Although, it’s a little different with healing Boruto.”

Boruto raised his head, looking at his father in confusion “Why?”

“Because you’re my child.” he said, with the softest and most loving smile that Boruto has seen in years “You are a part of me, and you’ve grown used to Kurama’s chakra. Which is why, his cloak recognizes you as it would do with me. That’s why it’s far more effective on you, than it would be on Sarada for example.” 

He looked at his dad in stunned silence, as he didn’t know why but… the simple soft spoken words and that expression… his dad used to wear it all the time when he was younger. 

It hit him hard... 

“That’s amazing, I had no idea that it could work like that.” Sarada admitted, breaking Boruto free from his thoughts, as he just went along and nodded, glancing away.

“Uh, yeah it’s cool y’know…”

The Hokage grinned at them and stepped away, as by now his son was fully healed and Sarada already confirmed that she’s fine. 

“Okay, we’ll rest for a bit and then we’ll get going. Sasuke doesn’t like it when I’m late, heh.” Naruto admitted with a blush, before biting his thumb “Oh but before that. Kuchiyose no Jutsu! ”

From a puff of smoke a small blue frog appeared, saluting at the blonde Hokage “Yes, boss?”

Naruto accepted a brush and a small scroll from the frog and wrote a quick message, before sealing it and giving it back “Okay, get it to Shikamaru. He’ll know what to do.” 

“On it, boss!” the frog saluted again, before puffing away. 

“What was that?” Boruto asked, referring to the scroll. 

“Oh, well. Since you seem to be the target of this, Shin person. I can’t just send you back, and honestly I’d feel much safer with you sticking around me and Sasuke until this is resolved.” Naruto responded, smiling at them both “So don’t worry, we’ll keep you both safe and sound. And Sarada, will get to pester her dad about whatever it is that she wishes to know.” 

He winked at the young girl and she blushed, looking to the side with a growing smile, clearly pleased to be allowed to go after her father.

“He’s not really after us .” Boruto corrected, frowning “He said that he’s after the Uchiha . He just wanted to kill me, so if I were to guess he’s after Sarada’s Sharingan.” 

Naruto pressed his lips together, looking between the children, before resting his eyes on Boruto as he just said “Well. Either way, you’ll both be safer with us.”

“I guess, it will be easier to protect Sarada in a group… but that Sharingan. Do you think that Sasuke-san is okay?” Boruto asked, feeling horrible as he noticed Sarada slightly flinching.

“Of course he is. He’s the strongest shinobi, just after myself of course!” Naruto reassured them with a wide smile “And it was Sasuke who contacted me about this issue, so I know for sure that the bastard is fine, y’know.”

Sarada seemed to relax at that and sighed, rubbing her neck “That’s good…”

“Of course it is! So don’t worry you two, and rest. We still have a long way to go.” he patted their heads again, before leaning against a tree nearby and closing his eyes.

Boruto observed his father and couldn’t shake the feeling that… he seemed different. He was still visibly tired and not put together at all… but his smiles came easier and brighter than normally. He was… 

Boruto swallowed, rubbing at his eyes.

He was just like he was before becoming Hokage… when Boruto was small and seemed to be his father’s only responsibility, which he took on with a brilliant smile and open heart.

Starting down at his hand, he swore that he could still feel the heated skin of his father’s palm…

It was nice. He felt ready to admit that… it was really nice.

Chapter Text

In a darkened corner of the already dark tower, a lone crimson eye shone, always sharp and ready. The very same thing can be said about the purple eye, carefully hidden behind a curtain of ebony hair. 

Uchiha Sasuke has always been more than prepared for a fight, years of experience, both good and bad has seen to it. He himself has seen to it.

So Sasuke did not sigh , as yet another hour passed by as he remained alone and waiting. Sitting in the corner, letting his senses stretch out, seeking the warmth that he has been craving with his whole being. And yet, he couldn’t get irritated, especially not for waiting. 

Afterall, Naruto has waited for him for far longer before… until he didn’t.

Dragging a hand through his hair, Sasuke exhaled through his nose. It was not a sigh. Not at all.

The past haunted him as it is. No need to drag more of his juvenile mistakes out, for none but him to see and steam about.

“Go. I’m done—”

He slammed his eyes shut, lips pursed and fingers clenched around the handle of his katana. A part of him wanted the whole memory to come up. Hurt him more, tear him apart until nothing but raw pain was left. Yet another… wanted it to stay shut and in the past. No use reliving it. 

Not when it’s been years.

What’s lost is lost . 

Finally, after hours and hours of waiting. He felt it. 

It was like a star falling from the sky, massive, burning, shining and claiming whatever it would come in contact with. 

Naruto was coming.

Sasuke readjusted his position, sheathing his katana back into its place at his hip and relaxing now that he could feel the blonde nearing his location. 

“Took you long enough, Usuratonkachi… ” he whispered with a smile pulling at his lips. 

It wasn’t too long until Naruto’s presence was burning him. Although , it took longer than Sasuke would have suspected out of him. Naruto matched, or even exceeded his own speed. He should’ve reached the tower far sooner. 

Something was not right.

With that, Sasuke stood up, all but glaring at the doors as sounds behind it reached him. There was talking. Clearly Naruto, but the other two… he had not heard before.

Sasuke never cared enough to remember names or other meaningless details of Naruto’s companions. But he did pay attention to voices, mannerisms, and chakra signatures.

None of them matched the two fiery presences on the other side. 

His heart thumped in his chest, eyes growing wide as he gripped his katana. 

His attacker had the appearance of a child. The chakra presence was still small and muted at that age. But fiery like a real Uchiha’s would be. 

Like his own was.

Now the anger and annoyance won, as he started striding for the door, ready to berate Naruto for bringing the impostors here. Without plans. Without any precautions. And for all but chatting with—

He slammed the doors open and his sour expression ruined into confusion. 

Right there. At the bottom of the small steps leading into the tower stood Naruto, all in his bright glory. His sunshine mess of a hair, finally longer than Sasuke’s was, put up in a spiky ponytail that turned sleek along with its colour at the ends. 

The Uzumaki red, has finally made itself known, amongst his rather textbook Namikaze appearance. 

He was… Naruto looked good. Perhaps better than Sasuke imagined, he remained as radiant as ever. No years of sitting at a desk could take that away. 

Then again… he doesn’t think there’s a universe where Naruto isn’t pleasing to the eye. 

Still . It was not the Hokage that startled him. 

It was the two children behind him, watching him, looking nearly as startled as Sasuke felt.

Neither was as pale and clearly artificial in appearance as that impostor was. 

No, he recognised both of them, even without seeing them in… years. Last he remembered… they were all but toddlers. Perhaps not even that yet…

Black eyes and hair.

Blue eyes and blonde hair. 

His knees shook underneath him, as he watched the girl. Her black eyes like mirrors, wide and searching, as she stared back at him. So young, so innocent, so pure, so small —

“Sasuke…” Naruto uttered, clearly surprised by his arrival.

He ripped his gaze away, his heart sitting uncomfortably in his chest. 

“ Inside .” he growled, eyes only on Naruto as he turned and headed back inside. 

“Right…” he heard Naruto respond, before continuing on “You both stay here. Keep an eye on the perimeter. Boruto, keep your senses shar—”

“That’s it?!” the boy raged, probably through gritted teeth “He sees his daughter for the first time and—”

“ Boruto .” Naruto cut in, his tone dropping slightly “Watch the perimeter, stay with Sarada. This is still a mission, remember that.”

“We will come get you if anything happens, uncle Naruto.” his daughter… responded. Her voice was so small that he barely heard her from inside the tower. 

Sasuke put his shaking hand over his face, waiting until the doors shut and footsteps echoed through the hollow space.

“You okay?” Naruto whispered, keeping only a couple of steps between them. He learned the hard way to give Sasuke space in moments like this, after all. 

Letting the hand slip off his face, he glared at the blonde, his hand now clenched into a tight fist. His lip trembled with unspoken vile things that passed through his mind. 

He wanted to hurt . 

“ Explain .” he snapped instead, years of dealing with heightened emotions and rotten thoughts, taught him to ask first. But that usually only applied to Naruto.

Naruto sighed “Well… they followed me. I would never bring either of them outside the village, in a situation such as this one. And without giving you heads up, y’know.” 

That relaxed him ever so slightly. So Naruto wasn’t trying to crowd him with his daughter… that’s good. Naruto would never do that. He would whine and try to reason with him, but the blonde wouldn’t betray his trust like that. 

“Now… don’t get… don’t panic, okay?” Naruto stumbled over his words and he brushed his hand through his spiky bangs “ It was Sarada's idea to go after me to get to you. She asked Boruto to follow her, so she didn’t do it on her own. But they both sneaked out, without any reports or—”

“She deserted ?” Sasuke gritted out. 

“Technically. I already sent out word to Shikamaru. We’re going to brush it under the rug this time, they’re still young and kids tend to make mistakes, y’know.” Naruto explained, giving him a look before slowly approaching him. His warm palm warmed Sasuke’s shoulder as the blonde spoke “She’s a sweet girl, Sasuke. And she’s not alone, she trusts people. But she is just lonely, full of questions y’know. And you must’ve known that there would come a day when she would chase after you.”

“Not when she’s still so…” small, innocent, pure, a child… just a child… his child. His daughter — “ Unprepared .” he settled on saying.

Naruto hummed almost sadly “Yeah, that’s often the case right? We’re never really prepared for the important stuff, y’know…”

Sasuke sighed deeply, dragging a hand through his hair “Your son…”

“Don’t worry about him, he’s fine. I’m glad that he came with her, she needed support.” Naruto quickly reassured, before switching the topic “Listen. Your mysterious attacker, he also ambushed the kids—”

“ What? ” Sasuke hissed, glaring through the blonde, his hand twitching.

Naruto sighed, rubbing his eyes as it weighed on him too. The knowledge of his child being in danger, there was a heaviness to his stature, a slight tremor in his left hand… it would seem that he was putting on a calm front for Sasuke’s sake.

Always going out of his way to save him… 

“They’re fine. I heard Sarada break the ground, she inherited Sakura’s monstrous strength so be careful , so I turned around and found them with my Sage Mode. Got there just in time, but they seemed to be doing good. The attacker was heavily injured, but Sasuke… his Sharingan… it’s Mangekyou . He can control weapons.” 

The blonde stepped back a bit, touching his chin as he continued “The kids also got a name. He calls himself Uchiha Shin, ringing any bells?”

Sasuke scoffed “None. He’s an artificial human, the eyes must be artificial as well, you saw how he looked. I’d say they could be stolen, but there’s no one but me and my daughter left.”

Naruto swallowed that, probably reminded by the heaviness that Sasuke carried everyday. The last Uchiha… what a joke . Spoken like a heroic title, and not a tragedy that it was. 

Glancing at the doors, his chest grew heavier. He no longer was the last one… 

“There’s more.” immediately, Sasuke’s gaze was back on Naruto as the blonde bit his lip, the pointy canine drawing some blood “He told them that he’s after the Uchiha. His target was Sarada, he just wanted to get rid of Boruto.” 

There was a flare of protectiveness, not only for his daughter but for Naruto’s boy as well. Boruto, as Naruto’s child, was his heart and soul, which meant that Sasuke would lay down his life for him, just as he would for his own daughter.

“No one will touch either of them.” he swore, keeping their eyes locked so that Naruto could see the heaviness and loyalty of this statement. 

Ever since the war, he was loyal to nothing and no one but Naruto . Perhaps it was even like this since the Land of Waves…

“Of course, not. Not when they’re here with us .” Naruto agreed, some tension leaving him. The blonde approached him and touched his left arm, or what was left of it, and smiled “I’ve missed you. You could send reports more often, y’know?”

“Don’t be dramatic. It’s only been a year.” a year of searching for you in the sun, in the sky, bright stars, clear streams, a distant laughter—

“Yeah… we’ve survived longer separations...” Naruto replied, still smiling, but there was something in his eyes. The same thing that was in Sasuke’s.

“ Naruto —”

The doors swung open, startling both ninja far more than it should. Right there in the doorway, stood Boruto and Sarada, both looking a bit winded. 

“Boruto, I asked you to—”

“There are two chakra signatures heading this way, really fast!” Sarada hurried to say, looking at Boruto to continue.

“Yeah and they’re almost here, they’re good at concealing their chakra. I have no idea which direction they’re coming from.” Boruto added, looking more determined than worried.

Sasuke shared a look with Naruto, before making their way past the kids, keeping them safe as Naruto activated his Sage Mode and Sasuke his Sharingan. 

“Wait, I think that’s—”

“Karin and Suigetsu.” Sasuke agreed with a slight distaste, recognising the approaching chakra almost immediately. He turned to Naruto and explained in a low tone “I asked Karin to find out what she could from Orochimaru and send the intel. Apparently she’s sending herself.” 

Naruto wrinkled his nose a bit and replied, equally quietly “Well… it’s better that you didn’t have to go there.” 

Sasuke resisted shaking his head at the comment. 

Although, years have passed and Naruto gave Orochimaru another chance. Even accepting his child . He never forgave him for Sasuke, and would throw a tantrum whenever the Uchiha’s mission took him anywhere near the Sanin. 

All that dramatic behaviour, as if Sasuke had not gutted the old snake before. 

As if he’d let himself be taken away from Naruto, again. 

“So? Who is it?” Boruto asked, from behind Sasuke as Sarada was kept behind Naruto.

Sasuke turned and faced the boy, taking a moment to take in his features. 

He looked like Naruto, he decided in relief. It… it would be harder if he looked more like his mother . Boruto’s hair was slightly more shaggy and longer than Naruto’s was at that age, his skin was just as rich and golden, the two whisker marks also in the same place as his father’s were, his eyes although the same bright and blue… were narrower. Almond shaped.

It suddenly confused Sasuke, as he became aware of more features that seemed different from Naruto’s. His face was slimmer, mouth smaller, cheeks higher, eyebrows thinner and he was taller. Naruto was always small as a child, but that could be brought down to the conditions he grew up in. 

Boruto looked like Naruto. But at the same time, he looked… not like his mother. No . The Hyuuga’s face was round, eyes big and slightly droopy, she was also incredibly short. 

Funny how he could recall details of how she looked. 

So not like his mother. Much like his father but not an exact copy…

Then it dawned on him.

The memory of blonde hair and blue eyes.

Shaggy hair, almond eyes, slender face.

Namikaze Minato.

Ah . So Boruto took after the Fourth.

It would seem that the Namikaze genes like taking over stronger clan’s genetics. Such as Uzumaki and Hyuuga. 

“Allies.” he responded simply to the boy. 

Naruto shot him a glance, before smiling at the kids “They’re two of Sasuke’s old friends. So there’s nothing to worry about, now , how about we get inside. It looks like there’s a storm coming.”

“What about those people—?” Sarada tried to ask, as Naruto gently pushed her towards the doors.

“Sasuke will wait for them, now come on. You two need to rest properly.” Naruto said, ushering the tow inside, or, he tried to as the smaller blonde ripped himself away from his father and glared at Sasuke.

“No. Sarada wants answers—”

“She will get them.” Sasuke cut it evenly. The black and blue gazes met, neither backing down “I promise, to answer whatever questions she might have. After you’re both safe and rested.”

Boruto huffed, turning halfway as he threw over his shoulder “Well, for Sarada’s sake. I hope you’re better at keeping promises than my dad is.”

Sasuke frowned ever so slightly, watching the boy turn fully and take Sarada with him, abandoning his father at the door. That look… 

“Sorry, Boruto’s a bit…” Naruto sighed, ruffling his bangs “He’s protective over Sarada… and his relationship with me isn’t the greatest. So he’s probably going to be a bit tough on you, y’know.”

He hummed, watching as the tow genin settled inside. Sarada was quietly talking to Boruto, who mostly rolled his eyes and shrugged. But he did pass her water along with a small bento, not that it kept his daughter from what he guessed was berating the blonde. 

“He’s different from you.” was all he said, glancing at Naruto just for the blonde to freeze. 

Sasuke watched as Naruto swallowed and looked to the side “Aren’t children supposed to be different from their parents?”

“ Hm .” was all the response the Uchiha provided.  

“Okay, I uh. I’ll go keep an eye on them, y’know.” Naruto mumbled and started walking away, his cloak swaying behind him as the wind picked up, carrying stormy clouds towards them. 

Before the edge of it could cross the threshold, Sasuke spoke up. 

“ Naruto .”

The blonde froze, turning ever so slightly, with wide eyes.

Sasuke swallowed, his throat slightly dry as he whispered into the wind “It’s good to see you.”

And there it was

That wide, resolve shattering smile.

“I missed you too, Sasuke.” the smiling blonde replied, reaching out and patting his left shoulder “We’ll be alright. And so will they, y’know.”

Looking at Naruto, he knew. He always knew…

“ I know. ” he whispered back to him, letting a small smile tug at the corner of his lips.

There was a moment, where it was just them. 

The wind passed by them, blowing both their cloaks up, creating a shield from the world for a moment. The blue met the black and purple, and it was like the time stopped. 

Sasuke couldn’t breathe as, suddenly Naruto’s presence burned him, his face was closer than he noticed before. The hand on his shoulder, travelled down to his lower back as the blue eyes flickered from side to side, focusing on both the black and purple eye. As if he didn’t want to pick between the two, wanting to study both equally. 

“Don’t come after me—”

And just like that. The moment passed and Sasuke was a step away from the burning heat that was Uzumaki Naruto. 

It would seem that the past was not easily forgotten… not when its reminders were within reach.

“Go and watch them. Karin and Suigetsu are close.” he muttered and turned his back on the blonde.

Much like he did that night.

“Right. Yeah… okay…” with that, he heard Naruto shuffle a bit before entering the tower and speaking to the children.

Sasuke remained outside, dragging a hand through his hair and sighing.

It was going to be a difficult mission…

Chapter Text

Wind howled outside of the tower, the upper part, where the windows were long gone, shook with each blow. Creating an unpleasant whistling sound.

To Boruto’s surprise, despite all that, Sarada’s father remained outside. Along with the two new arrivals, whom they didn’t get to see yet. 

He wasn’t sure how he felt about Sasuke-san. The man was tall, intimidating and stoic for the most part. So unlike Boruto’s father… even from their brief interaction, it was hard to believe that this , this is the infamous Uchiha Sasuke, his father’s rival and closest friend.

The two seemed like complete opposites. Black and white, night and day, moon and sun… he could go on and none of it would make sense to him.

He’d compare it to Sarada and himself, but besides their looks, they were quite similar. They got along really well, but that could just be the childhood familiarity between them…

But those two… they made no sense. Although. He did sense a connection there, a long history. 

So perhaps it was that history that drew them so close? 

Well. It doesn’t matter… not really. What matters is that Sarada gets her answers. 

And that thought sparked a flame inside of him. Anger . Righteous one, at least for now , as he observed his dear friend as she stared at the doors with deep longing. 

Sasuke-san is yet to enter and speak, or hell , look at his daughter. His jaw grew tenser at that, as he himself glared at his own father.

Why would he think that Sarada’s parent would’ve been any better than his? What is it, with those two and their habits of abandoning their families? Acting as if they were forced upon them? Running from responsibility as if it were fire. 

Because news flash. 

They. Didn’t. Ask. To. Be. Born.

If Boruto were honest. He sometimes wished to be born to a different family. Or to even be alone. Like his father was. 

No parents. No disappointments, right?

But as soon as such a wish came to him, it went away as Boruto thought back to his childhood. 

Full of warm hugs, bright smiles, words of encouragement, kisses on the head late at night, as his father came in to check on him… love . 

It was love that still kept Boruto in one piece… that kept him fighting for his father and for his sister… 

Glancing to the side, focusing on the black eyes trained still in one place, he smiled a bit sadly.

Well, now… he fights for his sisters . 

“The weather is getting worse by the minute…” Naruto muttered, casting a glance up at the top of the tower.

Sarada followed his gaze, while Boruto stubbornly watched the small fire they kept lit.

“Will… Will they be okay out there?” Sarada asked quietly, clearly worried for her own father.

Snorting, Boruto answered before Naruto could “No one’s keeping them out, Sarada. They can enter or not, their choice y’know.”

Naruto sighed, while Sarada glared and scolded her teammate “It wouldn’t hurt, if you showed at least some empathy.”

“It would even be healthy, y’know…” his father pointed out, giving him a side eye. 

He just glared at him, not responding. Because had a lot to say about his father’s empathy when it came to their family… better not do that right now. He didn’t want to stress out Sarada more than needed. 

Naruto sighed heavily and stood up “I guess I’ll go check up on how it’s going. You know what to do, call out if we’re needed.” 

“ Wish that worked when we’re back in the village ...” Boruto muttered, poking the fire with his kunai. 

Sarada spared him a look and turned back to the Hokage, smiling timidly “We’ll be fine, uncle Naruto.”

“Alright, then…” Naruto whispered and left through the door, leaving the two genin alone. 

Immediately, Sarada’s attention was back on him “Would it kill you to be nicer?”

“Don’t know. Would it kill him to be a present father?” Boruto deadpanned, poking the fire again.

His friend sighed and put her chin on her knees “At least you weren’t abandoned… or lied to, about what’s really going on in your family…”

Boruto sighed, pocketing his kunai and leaning back on his hand “Well, I’ve been ignored by my father for most of my life…” chuckling dryly, he brushed his hair back from his face “Let’s just settle and say that both our fathers suck .” 

Sarada stayed quiet, staring down at the floor. 

At least she stopped watching the doors like a hawk.

“What’s cooking inside that head of yours, hm?” he asked, glancing at her.

After a moment of silence, the young Uchiha answered. 

“I’m just… hm… What do you think of him?” 

Boruto hummed, before shrugging “Well. Tall, stoic and intimidating. Kinda scary. Total opposite of dad. Kinda cool, I guess… anyways. He’s your father. What do you think? Any connection?” 

Sarada pursed her lips, before responding quietly “I… I don’t feel much.” she turned and glanced at him, to which Boruto nodded, signalling to go on. And so she did. 

“I felt so much travelling here. Anger, fear, anxiety… excitement , even. But then he stormed out, glaring at the space in front of him and I just… I just felt shocked but nothing else. I always thought that… that I’d see my dad and hug him tight. He’d chuckle and hug me back, say sorry for being away and… and I’d feel the same love I feel for mama. But there’s nothing. It’s like he’s just another stranger… and… and I feel so wrong about it.” 

Sighing, he moved closer, bumping their shoulders together as he spoke “There are days when I don’t feel much for my dad. I just look at him and… and I’m mostly tired.” his gaze travelled upwards, as he became so vulnerable. 

“I’m tired of fighting him, of standing up to him, of just arguing on and on when nothing’s gonna change. I’ve been that way since Hima’s birthday last year… I raged at him, broke stuff, yelled and broke even more stuff. But after that I felt nothing. Just indifference towards him. And our situations might be very different, but I just want you to know that it happens. Especially when you give out so many emotions… in a way you just burn out. It will come back, so don’t worry, You’re not… not wrong or… or broken. You just gave out too much, y’know.” 

Sarada bumped her shoulder into his, making him sneak a glance at her, just to see her smiling a bit.

“You’re seriously good at this… I never know what to do and say… and you. You’re always so effortless in making people feel… seen .” she laid her forehead on his shoulder, whispering “I’m so glad that you’re here with me, Boruto.”

Boruto smirked “Yeah, you’d be totally lost without me.”

“You better not talk your way into the Hokage position.” she grumbled.

His nose scrunched in distaste “I’d never want to be Hokage. I’m leaving that ugly white and red cloak to you.”

She giggled “And what colour would you want it to be? Black ?” 

“Before you start laughing, I’d like to remind you that you also wear a whole lot of black.” Boruto poked her high collar.

Sarada snorted and leaned away from him “Yeah, well. Darker colours are more useful in the field…”

He hummed, thinking back to how things were “That they are… come to think of it, nearly everyone switched up their outfits after the first year.”

His teammate giggled, before saying “Those white shorts of mine, were the bane of my existence, I never could wash away all the filth. Actually it was m—” her gaze turned sadder, as she added “My mama bought them for me… she was so excited for me to finally become a shinobi.” 

Boruto touched the red sleeve of his jacket “This jacket… my dad got it for me, after the old one got ripped apart on the mission to Wind Country.”

“I remember. You didn’t want to wear it.”

“Yeah, I mostly wore it around to training.” he nodded, back to the mismatched sleeve “Then the sleeve got burned off and I was ready to throw it out… but then in the morning my mom brought it to me, with the new red sleeve. She used one of dad’s old jackets for the sleeve… and after that I…” 

Glancing down at the fire, he sighed, whispering “After her contribution to it… I couldn’t bring myself to just throw it out. She put so much work into it, when she didn’t have to.”

“It does… look a lot cooler with it.” Sarada commented, sending him a reassuring smile. 

“Thanks.” he replied with a warm smile.

Then, just as Sarada was about to say something else, the doors swung open, bringing the chilling breeze inside. 

“Finally! What the hell did it take you so long to let us in, Sasuke?!” demanded a white haired man, pointing angrily at Sarada’s father, but maintaining a safe distance.

“Be grateful, I didn’t send you away.” was all that the older Uchiha had to say, as he sent a look at his Hokage. 

“Oh yeah, real thanks—” the man tried to say, only to get hit over the head by his companion.

“Just shut up already, moron!” 

Sasuke muttered something, which earned him a scolding look from Naruto, as the blonde gestured towards the fire “Come on, let’s warm up a bit. It’ll be a while before we can move again.”

At this, Boruto straightened up, glaring at the strangers while Sarada frowned a bit. 

As the unknown pair came closer to the fire, it became clear who they were. Judging by how tense Sarada became, Boruto was sure that she also recognised them both.

They both were in that picture with Sasuke.

Both adults froze slightly, blinking openly at the two genin and once again it was the man who jumped up and yelled “ YOU DIDN’T SAY THAT YOU HAVE KIDS HERE! ” 

“It’s none of your business.” was all that Sasuke said.

Before more could be said, Naruto stepped closer to the kids and introduced them “This is my son, Boruto and Sasuke’s daughter, Sarada. Boruto, Sarada, meet Uzumaki Karin and Hōzuki Suigetsu.” 

“Uzumaki…” Boruto muttered to himself, he knew of this woman but it was different from actually seeing and meeting her.

If he were to be honest, he never truly felt connected to the Hyuuga family. They were all stiff, serious and just… so calm . So many things that he wasn’t. Because of that, he looked to his other heritage, the fiery Uzumaki and by extension the logical Namikaze. They fit in more with who he was and wanted to be.

Uncle Kakashi did mention once that he and his father were much like his grandmother, Kushina… whether it was a compliment or not, he didn’t ask, but he did take it as one. And it led him to sharpening his sensory abilities, which he was still smug to mention, his own father lacked .

“Woah… they’re like your clones.” Suigetsu said, frowning a bit before whispering to Karin “It’s a bit creepy .”

Sarada and Boruto just shared an unimpressed look, while Karin hit Suigetsu once again. 

“Just sit down, moron…” Karin scolded, pushing her partner down, before sitting beside him. She glanced at Boruto and focused more on Sarada as she spoke “So I’m guessing you’ve run into Shin ? Or well, his clone.”

“A clone?” Boruto asked.

The red haired woman nodded, looking to the side where Sasuke and Naruto sat together “I’m guessing he wants your and your daughter’s Sharingan, which is why you brought her here?”

“Not exactly… but yeah, he’s after both of them.” Naruto answered for his friend, as Sasuke just stared to the side, deep in thought.

Karin nodded and looked back at Sarada, her gaze softening slightly as she said “You probably don’t remember, but we’ve already met once, Sarada-chan.” 

Boruto looked at Sarada, watching as slight shock overcame her features. He couldn’t help but look stunned as well, was Karin about to admit that she’s Sarada’s mother? She and Sasuke-san seemed close, and she wasn’t from the village… maybe, Sasuke-san divorced aunt Sakura to go back to Karin-san?

He nearly groaned out loud, this was way too much family drama to navigate through…

“W-We did?” Sarada asked softly, sneaking a glance at her father, who finally spared his daughter a glance, but didn’t seem all too eager to answer. 

Thankfully, Karin did.

“Yep, I delivered you!” the red haired woman grinned, before raising her right hand up which had a few crooked, but healed fingers “Your mother crushed my hand during the delivery. I was just reaching for a tool, when Sakura grabbed my hand to yell at me that I was about to grab— in her opinion — the wrong one.” 

Karin crossed her arms and chuckled a bit “Then she began to cry that she damaged my hand, when we were only half way through. But as you can see, I managed. And look at you, now! All grown up from that little potato baby I pulled out.” 

“Hey! You never told me any of this!” Suigetsu accused, leaning towards her.

“Because it’s none of your business, you moron!” Karin hissed, pushing her partner’s face away from hers.

As the pair bickered, Boruto and Sarada shared a relieved look. It seemed that Sarada got her answer, well, at least about her mother. 

It wasn’t long before everyone settled in for the night, although Boruto knew that the adults– aside from Suigetsu who was already snoring — weren’t asleep yet. And neither was Sarada.

“ I didn’t even get to really speak to him. ” she whispered, where they were huddled together in the corner furthest away from the door.

He sighed, glancing at where Sasuke-san was resting near the door. It was hard to even make out his form, his cloak and hair matching the darkness that surrounded all of them. It was only the ever slight glint of his katana that caught Boruto’s eye. 

“ Well, we’re not leaving yet. Not without you getting some answers. ” he promised, equally quiet. 

Sarada sighed softly, before speaking “ I don’t even know how to… approach him. He’s like a stranger to me… ”

Boruto felt for her, ached and raged within himself but didn’t let it consume him. As he advised “ He is your father, Sarada. You need to just go and speak to him, I’m sure that… he will listen to you. He has to. ”

“ I hope you’re right… ” she whispered back, not all too convinced but hopeful. 

“ I always am. ”

“You’re not, you’re an idiot…” she replied, before adding reluctantly and nearly silently “Most of the time.”

“ Most? Woah, what a change, I’m honoured. ” he said, grinning as Sarada hit him, causing him to stifle a laugh. 

“ Shut up. ”

“ You shut up and stop thinking, we should be sleeping. ” 

“ Then sleep. ” 

“ You’re the one who’s overthinking out loud— ”

“Both of you.” 

They froze, both of their hearts racing as the figure by the door spoke. Red and purple eyes open and staring at them across the room. 

“ Sleep .” Sasuke added a bit more… gently ? It was hard to tell, but the difference in both the tone and volume was there. 

Boruto swallowed and nodded, somehow knowing that the older Uchiha could see him in this darkness. 

“Sorry…” Sarada simply muttered, shifting and snuggling deeper into her blanket. 

With that, their conversation came to an end as sleep quickly took them. 

That night, Boruto slept restlessly. Strange dreams plaguing his mind, as flashes of memories came forth. Visions of what if , not allowing him the proper rest. 

He stared at Sarada’s body, impaled by Shin’s weapon for what seemed like a thousandth time. He wailed, raged and fought, only to end up in the same place. 

Other times, it was him who fell in their battle. Which seemed like a better alternative, until he heard Himawari’s voice calling out from the fog.

She screamed for him to come back, raging that he lied, that he abandoned her. All while Boruto could just listen and lay there limp, hurting all over.

Boruto!

Boruto!

Boruto!

Onii-chan!

Onii-chan!

Onii—

CAW!

Boruto jumped awake, as a flock of crows screamed their heads off in his head. He breathed heavily, as the sound was gone as quickly as it came, leaving only an echo behind. 

What was that all about?

Rubbing his eyes tiredly, he looked around the tower. It was still dark, although he could see some grey-ish light coming from the top. If he were to guess, it was close to dawn and everyone was resting.

Almost everyone.

As the place by the door was left empty, with Sasuke-san nowhere to be seen. Boruto frowned, checking every corner visible, but he wasn’t inside the tower. Anger bubbled inside of him, as he couldn’t help but wonder if the Uchiha left in the night. Not wanting to confront his daughter.

That simply would not do.

Boruto got up, took his weapons pouch and quietly made his way towards the door. He gritted his teeth, as he pushed them open and stepped outside, glaring at the grey morning sky. 

He’s going to bring Sarada’s father back, demand that he—

“Where are you going?”

His head snapped to the side, seeing Sasuke-san leaning against the pillar outside the tower. His black and purple eyes focused on him, seemingly unbothered, but something told Boruto, that wasn’t the case. 

Closing the doors behind him, Boruto stared straight back at the older, not backing away.

“You left.” was all the blond said, his hands clenched into fists at his side. Not wanting to show weakness, he pushed them into his pockets, trying to seem less tense. Unbothered . 

“I had to check if you left, Sarada.” Boruto said, not breaking eye contact as he further added “ Again .” 

Sasuke-san didn’t react, as if he felt nothing at the blatant jab at his failures. He just blinked and turned his gaze towards the sky, as if Boruto wasn’t worth his attention.

“It doesn’t concern you.”

Boruto gritted his teeth, his temper taking control as he took a step towards the Uchiha “It does. Everything and anyone causing Sarada all this pain, concerns me!”

That took Sasuke-san’s attention back to him, as he lightly furrowed his brow. 

“Why? Do you have a… crush on her?”

He grimaced, his nose scrunching at the thought of dating Sarada. It would seem… far too weird .

“No! We were raised together !” he argued, before huffing “Not that you would know that… you weren’t there for her. Sarada is like family to me, another sister .” 

Sighing he shook his head, before getting back on track as his gaze returned to Sasuke-san.

“I came with her, because she’s important to me and she’s hurt. More so than I’ve ever seen… and I can’t fix it. Because this isn’t even mine to fix. You are the cause of all of this, she didn’t ask for any of it. For the Sharingan, for a fatherless childhood, for your lies, for her mother to be also hiding things from her. Sarada is your responsibility, so be a damn parent and take it!” 

Boruto was panting by the end of his rant, all while Sasuke-san simply stared at him, his frown glowing ever so slightly. It was so damn hard to read him. 

“Listen.” he added in the end, more calmly but still bitterly “Just listen to her, when she comes to you. Do the bare minimum at the very least.”

With that he wanted to turn and leave, but he was stopped.

“Sakura… Sarada’s mother, what happened?”

He didn’t want to be the one to tell, but… goddammit Sasuke-san seemed to be so detached. Boruto couldn’t let him mess this up with Sarada. She needed her father to be good. Better than Boruto’s was .

“Sarada knows about the… divorce—”

“Oh course she does.” Sasuke confirmed, looking strangely confused.

This surprised Boruto, as he stared at the Uchiha with wide eyes. 

“She… Sasuke-san , she didn’t find out until a few days ago. Not even from her own mother, but from a complete stranger. Aunt Sakura never said anything to her about it, or anyone as far as I know.” 

“ What? ”

Boruto nodded, coming a bit closer as he explained the situation from the beginning. Watching as Sasuke-san grew more and more confused, or maybe worried. He simply looked pained by the end of it.

“That’s why Sarada wanted to come after you. She had questions, not only about her eyes, but about everything . She’s doubting her entire existence and you’re the only reliable person that she can think of at the moment.”

Sasuke cursed and touched his head, as if a headache was coming “ Damn it, Sakura… ”

Boruto couldn’t agree more, suddenly nearly all of his frustration with Sasuke-san was directed onto his aunt. Why didn’t she tell Sarada from the start, if that seemed to be the plan all along? What was she thinking?

“Sasuke-san.” he spoke up, starting up at the Uchiha “Sarada needs you .”

Sasuke opened his mouth, but just as he was about to respond, a dark weapon flew past them, lodging itself in a nearby pillar. 

“Huh?!” Boruto only managed to get out, as Sasuke-san suddenly grabbed his shoulder and brought him behind himself.

Still, his curiosity won as he peaked over the elder’s shoulder, gasping lightly as he saw the kid from yesterday. Although, this time he wasn’t alone.

Surrounding him were five other figures, all cloaked but tall and visibly armed. One of the men came forward a bit, causing Sasuke-san to raise his katana and extend his other arm over Boruto, the raised cloak shielding him further from view.

“Who are you?” Sasuke asked, glaring at the cloaked figures and all too familiar red clouds.

“We are…” the one who stepped forward started, as he touched his hood.

“ Uchiha Shin. ” the others said with him, dropping their hoods to reveal that they were all artificial clones. The only differences could be found in their age and hair, as the one in front of the group was the oldest, bald with numerous Sharingan implanted in his head. Others had white hair and their ages varied from the youngest that ambushed them yesterday, to two teens and two young adults. 

Six against two. 

Could’ve been worse—

“What’s going on here?!” Naruto demanded, as he and the others exited the tower, looking between the hostile group and them. 

“We’ve come to take what is owed.” the oldest Shin spoke again, staring straight at Sasuke. 

“ Owed? ” Sarada questioned between Naruto and Karin. 

“Yes.” Shin simply answered, before he and his clones lunged forward.

Towards Sasuke and by extension Boruto. 

Everything happened quickly, one moment, Boruto was safely tucked behind the older Uchiha and the next he was being harshly pushed aside, as the sounds of weapons cutting through the air started.

Boruto quickly recovered, jumping to his feet and observing everything that happened around him. 

Sasuke was fighting the eldest Shin, while the other five, who kept coming after Sarada, occupied Naruto, Karin and Suigetsu. Multiple weapons flew around them, making it hard to stay focused either on them or the opponent. 

Gritting his teeth, Boruto pulled out his kunai and immediately infused it with lighting, as he summoned his clones. 

Together, they lunged towards Sasuke, taking care of the flying blades that Shin was manipulating. Which was easier said than done, it didn’t take long for his clones to get destroyed and for Boruto to get cut in multiple places, as he tried to jump in between them. 

His weapons were incoming too quickly, changing directions erratically, Boruto couldn’t keep up with them properly. All he could do is try and change their course, straining his eyes to try and keep them within his view. 

As Sasuke landed away from Shin, Boruto manoeuvred himself to join him, leaving them standing side by side.

“You should’ve stayed back.” Sasuke-san chastised, not taking his eyes off of their enemy, as Shin gathered his fallen weapons back into his sleeve.

“I can handle myself.” Boruto bit back, checking on the fight going on not too far away from them. It seemed that Sarada was doing okay for now, fighting the youngest Shin as his father and the others managed to hold off the others. Although it seemed that they faced the same difficulty that Boruto did, their weapons attacked on their own accord, making it hard to predict their attack. 

“ Boruto! Don’t take your eyes off of him!” the Uchiha warned, as he jumped ahead, paring Shin’s quick attack. 

That snapped him back to his own fight, as he raised his kunai, knocking incoming blades off course. He panted, although he knew that he could handle himself, he was getting tired and his eyes—

More blades came from above, making Boruto widen his eyes and try to predict their path. Jumping away he summoned a clone midair, grabbing it’s hand with a quick “ Sorry! ”, he swung and lunged his copy into the upcoming weapons, letting them impale it.

He dealt with the rest by hand, throwing shuriken to change the blade’s direction and pairing the rest with a kunai. As he landed he rubbed his eyes, his vision was strained, getting blurry from time to time and nearly his entire body was covered in cuts.

He didn’t know how much longer he could take it—

“No!”

Boruto’s eyes snapped to the side, seeing Sarada kneeling in his father’s protective golden bubble, all while the Hokage was on the ground a large weapon belonging to the youngest Shin, lodged in his back. Blood painting his white cloak and the ground beneath him.

He must’ve taken a hit for Sarada…

“Naruto!” Sasuke hissed, still stuck in his own fight and unable to break away no matter how much he wanted to.

The entire world stopped for Boruto. His heart hammered within his chest, his eyes pulsing along with it, as he all but abandoned his position, making a mad dash across the field and flying weapons to get to his father. His vision tunnelled out unimportant details as his body moved as if on its own, dodging, jumping and pairing when needed.

He could still see his father’s body, curled on the ground in pain, as the weapon seemed to sink deeper and deeper into his flesh. He tried to fight against it, but it seemed determined to come out on the other side.

No . It couldn’t end like this, it was all wrong. The greatest shinobi of all time couldn’t go down like this. This was stupid —

Naruto screamed as the blade pierced his front, it was lodged in too deeply. 

How was he still breathing?!

Boruto came to a quick halt, his eyes scanning the battlefield, until stopping on the child Shin. He was in the trees, watching and controlling the weapon that was intended for Sarada, pierce through Boruto’s father. 

“ You .” he hissed, before taking out a summoning scroll from his pouch and activating it. 

A large Fuma Shuriken appeared in his hand, he gripped it tightly, before sprinting ahead towards the treeline. He lunged into the air, blatantly attacking the youngest Shin, who seemed somewhat surprised. He was probably too focused on Naruto to notice Boruto.

Good.

Still, Shin dodged Boruto’s first attack, but the blonde was ready for that, as he threw the large weapon behind his enemy, he surprised Shin further and simply attacked with his bare fist. The clone couldn’t dodge and the impact sent him flying down, to where he landed harshly on the forest floor. All while Boruto stayed stoically on top of the branch, watching only his enemy as the Fuma Shuriken circled back into his grasp. 

With his weapon back in hand, Boruto jumped again, spinning in the air along with it, infusing it with his lighting chakra until finally letting it fly quickly downwards. It all suddenly felt so easy, as if he could determine the path of his weapon simply with his gaze alone. 

And so he watched, as his weapon flew straight at Shin, cutting him and taking a good chunk of his side, as the artificial boy tried to dodge the lightning fast weapon. 

Once Boruto landed, he didn’t give the other boy the time to even speak up, instead he immediately pulled out shuriken after shuriken, throwing them all. Again, it felt as if his hands moved on their own, like they knew what to do. Boruto knew what direction, what angle to hit. He always knew it, sensed it in a way, but right now all of it seemed to come along more swiftly, as he only needed to focus and watch.  

As his shuriken flew, he copied what their enemies were doing, which was to attack amidst Shin’s dodging. This time instead of throwing a punch, Boruto’s hands quickly formed their signs as he screamed,

“ KATON GOUKAKYUU NO JUTSU! ”

Just like that, he watched as Shin fell to the ground. Not quite dead, but burned and unconscious.

Boruto was angry, but he wouldn’t finish the other boy, instead he picked up his Fuma Shuriken and ran straight back to where he knew that his father was. 

Honestly, Boruto felt like crying as his body finally penetrated the golden shield and he kneeled opposite of Sarada, staring as the large weapon was being slowly pushed back, probably by the Kurama. He tugged at his father’s cloak, wanting to check on him, to see if he’ll be alright. 

“Dad!” he all but whined, desperately trying to have the elder look up at him, as he shook from pain.

“Boruto?! Your eyes—?!” Sarada yelled, trying to get his attention, but he pushed away her hands, still focused on his father.

The golden shield started to die down, only pushing Boruto further into his panic. 

“ Papa! ” he screamed this time, a title long forgotten from his childhood dream coming forth so easily. 

He couldn’t lose him, not yet. Not when his father had so much to fix, to repair, to find a way back into Boruto’s shielded heart. He wanted his papa, he couldn’t… he couldn’t go. Not yet. Not ever!

“Please, say something!” Boruto grabbed at his father’s hand, gasping as it squeezed his shakily. 

“Bo-ruto… I’m… I’m okay. I’m—” finally his father looked up, only to freeze and turn even paler than before “ Boruto…! ”

Boruto stared into his father’s wide and concerned eyes, not understanding what was wrong. Aside from the giant weapon that finally fell to the ground, allowing Naruto ro slowly heal himself. 

“Your eyes! It’s Sh—!” Sarada tried to say, only to get yanked back by one of the teenage Shin’s.

“Sarada!” Boruto screamed, leaving his father with a heavy heart, as he tried to get his teammate out of the enemy grasp. 

“ Boruto! Sarada! ” Naruto called out, unable to follow just yet.

He tugged, pushed and punched as the Shin dragged them further and further, until a weird sensation enveloped them. Looking down, Boruto noticed the one eyed creature responsible for the portal that was taking them. He could hear others rushing to the portal, only fueling him to act now .

Not having too much time, he grabbed his trusted kunai and stabbed Shin multiple times. It was sloppy, but it worked as Shin let Sarada go. Boruto pushed her away just in time to see her fall on the ground and scream, before something hit the back of his head. 

“ BORUTO! ”

Chapter Text

Then.

It was just before dawn, when the sound of slamming doors and shouting could be distantly heard throughout the village. Getting only mildly muted by the paper thin walls of Naruto’s apartment.

“Sasuke, don’t do this!” Naruto shouted, hands clenched at his sides, as he watched the raven pack his belongings. His heart was racing, his mind erratic, as he itched to jump in and stop his partner. He couldn’t take it, not after this peaceful period, not after sharing every part of himself with him, not after they talked about the future and laughed. Not after they nearly healed!

There was no answer, only quick and forceful movements as Sasuke struggled with his bag.

“ Sasuke—! ” Naruto tried again, moving to at the very least help him like he usually would, but the raven wouldn’t have it. 

The bag fell down from the table, as the last Uchiha finally turned to look at the other.

“You don’t understand! I don’t want this either!” 

“Then stay!” he argued, nearly pleading. He was ready to get on his knees and beg if he had to. 

He couldn’t do this again.

“You know it’s not that easy!” Sasuke yelled, an old viciousness and rage coming back through his voice.

Naruto fell silent at the tone, looking down at his shaking fists. At that moment he wanted nothing more than to just punch the raven, push and shove until they came into an understanding. But their promise to never fight again stopped him. It wouldn’t be right, or healthy and truth be told… he didn’t want to hurt the other. He never did .

Despite Naruto’s silence, Sasuke wasn’t satisfied or done.

“We tried it your way. I stayed for almost a year, I played house with you, I went out with your friends, I allowed Kakashi to assign me mundane missions. I stayed in the village. But the whole time I was suffocating!” he started pacing, his hand ripping at his hair “I hate this. I can’t do this, I am not suited for this life, for this rotten village and its people! There are days that I want to burn it—”

“ Sasuke —”

“Don’t! Don’t tell me how I feel! I hate this! I hate everything I see here! Everyday is hell to me, like an iron rod twisting and reopening an old wound! I can’t live like this, I can’t live here! ”

Naruto felt like crying, as he threw his hands up “So this entire time, you hated our life together? You hated being with me—?”

“I didn’t say that!”

“No! But that’s what I’m hearing!” Naruto cried out “Because to me, this past year has been everything . I was happy— even without being the Hokage — I was content with what I had. I could live out the rest of my life like this and you… you hated it, all of it.” 

Sasuke stared at him, gritting his teeth as if to stop himself from saying something nasty, he turned to the side, not looking at Naruto. 

They stayed like this, in silence and misery. 

“I love you.” Sasuke finally admitted, making Naruto hopeful, but that passed quickly as the raven reached for the bag and added “But I don’t love this place .” 

Naruto’s lips trembled as he nodded “I love you too… but this village—”

“It’s your home.”

The blonde nodded, before making a decision “I will go with—”

“You would resent me for taking you away. As much as I do you, for making me stay.” Sasuke stated the obvious “Our love doesn’t change that. It never will.”

“Maybe it could—”

“ No .” the Uchiha decided for both of them, as he secured the bag and walked towards the door. 

Naruto jumped forward, covering Sasuke’s hand with his own over the doorknob. His blue eyes wide with fear as he searched for… he didn’t really know. Maybe an answer? Or maybe he just wanted to take one last look at the boy he loved .

“Please, I can’t—”

He tried to plead again, but Sasuke cut him off. His mismatched eyes glaring straight through him “Enough! Stop this, Naruto! You need to learn to live without me, just like I did with you. Let it go and don’t come after me.”

Although, Sasuke said way harsher things in the past, this… this cut him deeper. Naruto swayed on his feet and backed away, as a sense of emptiness filled him. It occurred to him then, that… he wasn’t too surprised by what was happening. He always had faith in Sasuke— that would never change — but somehow, somewhere deep inside. He expected this.

Naruto found himself nodding “It will always end like this… won’t it? No matter how little or how much I try to hold onto you. You will always leave… you will never choose me, not like I chose you.”

He looked at Sasuke for what really seemed like one last time, as the last Uchiha didn’t react past the fact that he was holding onto the bag like it was a lifeline “Go, I’m done. I won’t chase after you again… no matter what happens, you’re free of me Uchiha Sasuke. I promise. ” 

And just like that, Naruto turned and left for their— his room to sleep. Not reacting as the front door opened and closed just a minute later. 

Now.

“ BORUTO! ” 

Naruto remained on his knees, hand outstretched to where his son was just a moment ago. He blinked harshly, a familiar coldness surrounding him as he just watched. It was like a dream, like a terrible Genjutsu that he could not stop from playing out. 

He allowed his eyes to trail to the right, to check and see that Sarada was still sitting where Boruto pushed her. She was just as frozen as he was, just a few scrapes and bruises visible. She seemed to be alright, definitely doing better than himself. Naruto did his best to tune out Kurama’s rage and panic, as the fox healed him from the inside.

“ Kill them! I said to kill them! Now your kit is gone— ”

Not now, Kurama. Please.

“Naruto!” Sasuke called out, reaching him and falling to his knees. Checking on his healing back, he touched the blonde’s shoulder. His matched eyes showed his own anxiety, as he searched Naruto’s eyes.

“He’s gone… ” Naruto muttered, still in shock, he couldn’t believe it. His son was —

“Sharin…gan…” Sarada uttered with wide dark eyes, which she turned towards him— although it was as if she was looking through him, rather than at him — “His eyes… how? It was the Sharingan… two tomoe, like–like mine— but he’s a Hyuuga? ”

“Sharingan?” Sasuke asked from his place beside Naruto, who still shivered not having recovered from his shock.

His son, his boy was just right there—

“Yes… Boruto he… he has the Sharingan.” Sarada replied, looking utterly lost “He looked at me, at the— at the end, his eyes, they were so —” she shivered, tears starting to run down her cheeks “— he saved me .”

Although lost and confused, Sasuke left Naruto’s side, instead rushing to his daughter, grabbing her shoulders, as she all but fell forward and sobbed. Still, as he held her, Sasuke’s eyes focused only on Naruto.

“ Explain .” he almost hissed, making Naruto flinch ever so slightly. 

Or perhaps it was Karin’s presence that made him react this way. She said something to him, Suigetsu too, but it was all a blur. His son was gone .

At the moment, Naruto didn’t care too much. All he could think about were the last moments when his son was within his view. He looked scared, although slightly relieved when Sarada was out of the way, but then… then the oldest Shin appeared right next to him and Naruto… he was useless. Too paralysed with pain as his spine was damaged and his legs unresponsive. Still, he should’ve crawled, clawed his way to his child, fought with his teeth if need be! He failed him, he failed his sweet boy—

“ Naruto! ”

He snapped back, as someone pulled on his arm, dragging him to his feet. Naruto expected to feel the pain in his back or on the inside at such a harsh treatment, but no. There was nothing, his legs moved as he was being led away from bickering Suigetsu and Karin. 

“ You’re all healed up. The Uzumaki woman helped. ” Kurama explained, before going silent, keeping any further thoughts to himself.

It was Sasuke once again, he dragged Naruto inside the tower and slammed the doors behind them. Shutting out the others.

Naruto stood there, a little dazed until he was pushed into a pillar, Sauske’s hand gripping the front of his cloak roughly.

“Explain to me, what exactly have you been hiding?” Sasuke asked, his voice nothing more than a whisper but the anger trembled within him, that much Naruto knew. Not getting the response fast enough, the raven continued “Tell me! Is he mine , Naruto?”

Having no energy to fight or to try and deny, when really, there was no point. Naruto nodded, saying.

“He is…”

Sasuke let out a startled breath and let go of him, taking a few steps back as the weight of the situation settled. 

Swallowing, Naruto continued “I didn’t know it… that day, when you left. I didn’t know until three weeks later—”

“But Hinata! You married her just two months after I—”

“She knew.” he admitted, looking away “I was… I was lost and stupid. I was afraid , Sasuke. You didn’t reply to my messages—”

“ You never outright said—! ”

“How was I to say it over a simple parchment!” Naruto lashed out, all of his pent up anger and fear returning like an old friend “It could’ve been so easily intercepted! I couldn’t risk it, I couldn’t go after you, not after how you— how we ended things back then! I was alone with this and then… then Hinata, she… she always watched me. She knew that something was wrong, so she came to me… she was worried and I… I told her.”

Taking a shaky breath in, he continued “She knew everything and she… we decided to get married. It was so stupid, a decision born out of my fears and worries. I wanted my child to have a full home, both parents and to be raised how I never was—”

Sasuke cut in, looking at Naruto with sorrow “And you didn’t think that, I’d be able to provide that?”

Naruto threw his hands up, in a helpless way “ You left me, Sasuke! Again! You wouldn’t contact me! I was— I was grasping at straws, Sasuke! I didn’t have only myself to think about anymore and that terrified me! I was alone nearly my whole life! I raised myself, I never had a proper parental figure! And I never interacted with a newborn or a toddler! I didn’t think that I could do it on my own!” running his hands through his long hair roughly, he wasn’t surprised when the band snapped, allowing the long hair to fall down his back.

“Hinata understood. She agreed to everything, she kept this secret and raised Boruto as her own. Honestly… she did better than I ever could. The older he got… the more he looked like you, it was both a blessing and a curse. I wanted to change everything for him, I sat day and night thinking of all the ways that I— I just wanted the best for him. I wanted him safe and happy… I wanted him to have everything that we never did.”

“You should’ve told me. You should’ve wait —” Sasuke tried to say, but Naruto would not let him finish.

“And you shouldn’t have left me! We can be at this the whole day, Sasuke! Nothing will chang —”

“I was coming back home!” Sasuke suddenly exploded, his Sharingan burning into Naruto, as the raven began to tell his side “I was coming back to you… to the village.”

“ What? When?” he asked quietly, watching as Sasuke broke in front of him. It reminded him of their final battle… of all the raw emotions both of them displayed that day.

Sasuke’s hand clenched as he spoke “I was on my way back. I regretted ever leaving you. I was going to apologise, beg for your forgiveness. And that’s when I… I ran into Sakura’s team. They were running some kind of a relief mission in a town near the border. I stayed to help them however I could, and hoped to come back with them. But I… I found out about your recent wedding from Sakura and I…”

Everything got connected in Naruto’s brain as he said “Sakura’s mission… she didn’t come back until over a year later, but she did so with—”

“ Sarada… ” Sasuke whispered, finishing the sentence for him “I kept recalling what I said to you, back in our… your apartment— You need to learn to live without me, just like I did with you. ” he let out a bitter laugh, running a hand through his hair “When in reality, I could not live without you. I was reflecting my own thoughts on you, I was a fool and again I made one of the biggest mistakes of my life.”

“When I found out about your wedding, I forced myself to move on too and Sakura ... she chased after me, always proclaiming her undying love and adoration. And so I thought. If I can’t have you, then I… I will simply give myself over to her. Give her what she fought for all these years… not that it worked in the end .”  

They made the same mistake. A mistake that ruined the lives of not only Hinata and Sakura, but their children’s as well. What flawed individuals they were, too impulsive, unable to communicate properly, too broken by life to function properly in relationships…

Although, Naruto felt as if the blame rested solely on his shoulders. He made a deal with Hinata first , he married her which led to Sasuke going to Sakura. If he had only waited that one last time—

“It wasn’t your fault. Not this .” Sasuke spoke up, sensing the blond’s thoughts “I made my choices. No matter how wrong, they are mine to carry. Not yours. Not this , Naruto.” 

“I should’ve waited, just like you said… why couldn’t I do it? This one last time—”

Sasuke shook his head “Loving me, was never easy Naruto. We both knew that, from the start. I was still raw over everything that happened, still too bitter and too young to let myself finally rest. You could not wait for me forever, I shouldn’t have said that. Waiting for me was never your duty, but something that I used . I thought that no matter what I said or did, even though in anger, you would always wait and love me. I took you for granted. I didn’t deserve you, even now I…”

“Please don’t say that. I was happy. There’s no use in… overthinking it. Not now, Sasuke…” 

Silence stretched, as the revelations settled over them. 

Naruto never imagined that that was the story behind Sasuke and Sakura’s marriage. He never asked too many questions, they were too painful for him. 

“And your daughter? She’s Hinata’s ?” Sasuke asked once again, putting the silence to rest.

“Yes… we tried to be a normal couple at the beginning. It only lasted a few years.” he admitted, rubbing his face tiredly.

Weirdly enough, Naruto felt lighter, to finally have this secret out in the open, to not have to think only about it whenever he saw Sasuke. Or Sakura.

“I… had to tell you eventually. I knew, that Boruto would awaken the Sharingan eventually and that he would need you—”

Once again, the Uchiha cut in, asking “Does he even know? About who he is, who I am to him?”

Naruto shook his head sadly “No… I was preparing myself to tell him soon, but then you summoned me and I thought that we could speak. I hoped you’d come back and then we would tell Boruto...”

“I think that it is far too late for that.” Sasuke replied dryly.

He looked up and glared a bit at the raven “ Don’t you think I know that? I failed him—” tears suddenly came as he admitted it “I—I failed our boy, Sasuke. I wanted to keep him safe, change the laws, make the village different from what it was when we were young. I didn’t want him to… to share your fate, to be so hurt and–and instead of the village doing that. I did that to him. I lied! Not only to him! But to you! To everyone! I’m— ”

Naruto fell to his knees, his head in his hands as the regret overwhelmed him. He might’ve felt free of the secrecy and lies, but the regret and his failings would stay with him. Forever perhaps… he wished that he could turn back, wait for Sasuke just this once and tell Boruto the truth. But it was too late, I was all too late!

“My sweet boy… I failed him, even today. I allowed him to be taken, to be hurt and— and—”

When he felt arms wrap around him, he was so shocked that the words died on this tongue. He was expecting Sasuke to storm off, cool down and leave Naruto. But he didn’t. 

Sasuke stayed . 

“We will get him back. And we will fix this together .” was all the Uchiha said, as he held him. 

And Naruto clung to him, unable to escape the memory of his son’s Sharingan red eyes.

“Please… I just want him back with me.” he whispered into Sasuke’s cloak “I just want my boy back…”

It didn’t take long for them to separate and fix themselves, as much as they could of course. There was still heaviness lingering between them, as there were still so many things left unsaid, but right now, it would have to wait.

“We need to go to Orochimaru.” Sasuke suddenly spoke, just as Naruto tried to fix his wild hair.

“ NO! ” Kurama raged inside of him.

“ No .” Naruto echoed the great fox, baring his sharp teeth as his pupils turned into slits “He cannot know about Boruto. Not him —”

“Orochimaru is responsible for Shin. He will know much more than what he told Karin, he will know where to look for his hideout.” Sasuke reasoned, before adding “I wouldn’t endanger my child’s existence, Naruto. He doesn’t have to know, Karin and Suigetsu won’t say a word.”

“Do you really trust them that much?” Naruto asked, his eyes still slitted as he might’ve appeared calmer, but in truth he was all but. 

Sasuke didn’t take his eyes off of him, as he deadpanned “I trust them to fear me enough, not to.” 

It was such a Sasuke response and logic, that it made Naruto smile slightly. What else was he expecting?

“Alright… I trust you.” he relented, honestly not having a better plan. Other than to rip the whole world apart and find his son, but that could be Kurama’s own feelings mixing with his own. 

Or perhaps it was all him.

“Sarada… will have questions.” Naruto added, looking towards the door to where they left the young girl under Karin and Suigetsu’s protection. 

“We will answer them.” Sasuke promised, sending him a look “I will not… lie to her or keep her in the dark. If she’s old enough to make a decision to come and find me, then I will respect it. She needs me.”

Naruto nodded, feeling ashamed that Sasuke was already making better decisions than he ever did. He wished he told Boruto the truth… he wished that he could just—

He was brought out of his thoughts by a cold, gloved hand cupping his cheek. The touch smoothed his mind, as he stared at Sasuke who whispered “You won’t achieve anything by simply worrying and overthinking, Naruto.”

“I know…” he responded stubbornly, casting his gaze aside in shame.

Sasuke caressed his cheek with his thumb, as he simply said “Then stop, and let’s get our son back.”  

Meanwhile, deep underground in a wet and cold cave Boruto’s bluebell eyes snapped open. He groaned and blinked several times, trying his best to get rid of his blurry vision and jumping ever so slightly as a water drop hit his forehead. 

That must’ve been what woke him up.

“Wha… What’s going on?” he mumbled, turning his head to the side to see some sort of medical equipment. It was old, definitely not as fine as the ones he saw back in Konoha. 

He tried getting up, but that’s when he noticed the pressure around his wrists and ankles. He was bound to the table, unable to move and the machines, they were connected to him .

Boruto panicked, trashing against the leathery bounds and doing his best to escape. He needed to escape, he needed to find Sarada and his papa. I needed to go . 

“You’re awake.” 

His heart dropped, as he looked ahead to where the oldest Shin stood. He looked terrible— well, more so than before — as he leaned against a cane, his face bruised and even burned in some places. If Boruto were to guess, whatever the man was hiding underneath that massive cloak couldn’t be too pretty either.

“I never expected to beat the legendary Uchiha Sasuke in single combat.” Shin stated, as if knowing whatever Boruto was thinking “Even if he withered in these peaceful times, he is still a formidable opponent.”  

“Then why would you attack him? If you knew you’d get your ass beaten?” Boruto asked, not bothering to keep his sharp tongue.

Shin smiled and went to check on the machines “Uchiha Sasuke owes the world a lot. But he owes the Uchiha even more.” glancing at the boy, he grimaced “Look at you, so weak, so rotten. All because of how Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke left the world.”

Boruto turned red with anger as he scoffed “Yeah, because you look so much better. My father—”

“ Your father stopped the course of evolution, doomed us all into an early extinction.” Shin bit back, raising his chin as he continued on with his speech “Peace kills evolution. It is conflict that pushes us further, makes us better, brings out the strongest of our traits. Look at the world now, child. Look how lazy we became in a time of peace and prosperity. How fat and content. Look on and see, how peace brought our extinction closer.”

“What are you on about—?” Boruto asked, frowning deeply as the man talked.

The fake Uchiha scoffed, frustrated that Boruto didn’t seem to get him “ Conflict and war are the key to furthering our future. Only in conflict will all of you be pushed beyond your limits, only when you have to choose between life and death will you flourish. There are no new jutsu being crafted, no new techniques and there are even fewer Shinobi than ever. They have grown weak, their genes lazy and subdued. So not like the previous generations.”

“So you want war ?” he asked, horrified by the level of delusion that Shin displayed.

Shin only blinked, responding “I do. Tell me child, what do you know about great Uchiha Itachi?”

Boruto blinked, asking “He was… Isn’t he dead?”

“ Yes . Sasuke murdered him, bringing shame upon the Uchiha and robbing us all from experiencing the effects of Itachi’s plans.” he sighed, as if reminiscing “Itachi wouldn’t let this world last, no . He would change it and let it flourish as it should—”

“Did you even know him?” Boruto asked, looking sceptically at the strange man. From what his own father told him, Itachi-san led a tragic life and in the end he wanted what’s best for the village. So what was this guy on?

Also Sauske-san killing his own brother? Who would kill their sibling? 

He recoiled at the mare thought of harming Himawari, or even Sarada. Never in a million years would he do something like that. He would rather die .

Shin hissed, glaring at Boruto as he raged “NO! Because his life has been cut short. Too short to achieve his vision and his will. All because of Sasuke. ” walking closer to the blonde, he sighed “He didn’t even leave any descendants behind, ones with a power greater than his own and willing to follow his will. Well, not direct descendants anyway…”

Boruto watched the man closely, as he leaned down and grabbed his face, the Sharingan pouring into his eyes menacingly. 

“Uchiha Sasuke owes us a new life for the one he had taken. One that shares his brother’s bloodline and carries strong genes, so that they may continue to follow Itachi’s path. And allow him to live on.” Shin explained, his eyes never blinking as they remained almost frozen on Boruto.

The boy struggled against the grip and his bonds, as he hissed in anger “You want Sarada! That’s what you meant, when you said that you came to take what is owed!”

“Yes. The girl is flawless.” the man admitted, staying put as he spoke almost excitedly “She share’s Itachi’s blood and comes from a good genetic stock. I wanted her. I wanted her as Itachi’s heir, but then came you… ”

His head was tilted in a circle, as Shin observed him with interest “You are an unusual specimen. You have none of the typical Uchiha characteristics. You’re like a bland copy of your creator— like my sons are of me — I would not have guessed your true nature, if not for your eyes…”

“What are you going on about?! I’m not an Uchiha! I’m —”

“ Oh ? So you do not know?” Shin asked, almost amused as he tightened his grip about Boruto’s cheeks. The three tomoe in his Sharingan spun around and bore into his mind, making him scream, as flashes of unknown images flooded his mind.

It was all of him, but from an outsider’s perspective. Boruto watched himself . Eyes wide, furious and red . 

Sharingan red with two tomoe spinning furiously at the beginning. 

He saw himself dodging and twisting around the incoming weapons, as he made a mad dash towards his father. It was so strange, to see himself like this, so fast and angry. He didn’t look like his papa, no… no .. he looked—

There was a sudden vision of Sasuke-san from Shin’s perspective. The Uchiha’s Sharingan shone furiously as he attacked Shin. It was nearly the same look . The same eye shape, the same displeased downturn of the lips and the same crease between the brows.

No…

No.

“NO!” he screamed, ripping his head away from Shin’s grasp, panting as the images faded “You lie ! This is… no! I am a Hyuuga! I am… I —”

“You are Uchiha .” was all that Shin said from above him “You carry the blood of Uzumaki and there are traces of Kyuubi’s power in your chakra. But you belong to the Uchiha Clan. No other. ” 

Boruto shook his head, blinking rapidly as he couldn’t understand. Was his life… was it all a lie? His mother was not his? His sister was only a half ? His father… was he even his father ? Or his mother ? And Sasuke-san? He was supposed to be his… no, no that couldn’t be right. There was no way but…

“Your eyes aren’t like the Nanadaime’s… yours are more narrow. Your hair is a bit different too… still spiky but it doesn’t stand up, it falls more down and in the back it’s a whole other mess…”

“And your expressions are different too. Not when you smile but when you frown, it’s different from Nanadaime.”

But Boruto wore Sasuke’s face as his own… knowing what he knew now, he couldn’t stop himself from comparing. 

Sasuke-san’s face flashed before his eyes again and Boruto squeezed his eyes shut, as if that could make the image go away. As if that would change the truth that was just laid out before him.

“H-How is this even possible? I don’t… I don’t understand!” he screamed, staring at the wet walls as if they held all of the answers.

In the end, it was not them that responded. 

“There are records of Jinchuuriki reproducing asexually. That is what I suspected when I first saw you, but it seems that their power runs deeper than that.” Shin replied, leaving to grab what seemed to be a chart “The tailed beasts were never properly studied and the cases of reproduction— asexual or not — were but a few. They were meant to be fierce weapons and not coddled housewives. Reproduction was never what was needed of them, hence the lack of information.” 

He was… born thanks to… Kurama?

“You are a part of me, and you’ve grown used to Kurama’s chakra. Which is why, his cloak recognizes you as it would do with me.”

“—there are traces of Kyuubi’s power in your chakra.”

Boruto shivered, as all of it nearly fell into one piece. All this time, all these years, the pain in his eyes, the endless visits to grandma Tsunade, his fiery chakra affinity that rivalled Sarada’s, his obvious skill with shuriken and his outbursts —

It was right there, all along. 

Who even was he? 

“What will you do with me now?” Boruto asked, looking back to Shin “Will you take my eyes? Change me into what you’ve become? Or just kill me?”

“ Kill you? ” Shin asked, cocking his head to the side “It would be a waste. A waste of excellent genes and of Itachi’s blood. No . I am going to let you evolve and then, you will follow Itachi’s footsteps and help me kill the peace.” 

“Why would I ever want to do that?” Boruto snapped, looking at the man like he was an imbecile.

Shin snapped the chart in half as he raged back at the boy “You would do it for the sake of human evolution!”

“You’re a lunatic! I would never join you and your sick plans!” he argued back, glaring at the man. 

He might not know who he was at the moment. But he knew what he stood for, what he would fight for. And it wasn’t this, this sick and twisted plan that Shin had cooked up.

The man in question, huffed and let the rest of the chart fall to the floor, as he said “You will. But first, you must get a taste of power that we will grant the whole world. I will show you the true power that runs through your lazy veins. I will show you the beauty of a world without peace.”

With that said, Shin untied Boruto, letting the boy jump away. Boruto all but ripped the cables and the IV that connected him to the machines, before pressing himself against a damp wall. 

There was only one exit, which was partially blocked by Shin. Boruto would have to force his way past him and then—

“ Run .” Shin said and stepped away from the door “Run and survive, Uchiha Boruto .”

Without as much as a thought, Boruto dashed across the room and into the dark hallway. Knowing fully well, that it was only the beginning.

Chapter Text

Boruto was being hunted . 

That was the only right word for it, as Shin’s clones chased him through the dark and wet tunnels, without so much as a break. He had no idea where to go, where to hide or escape.  So with no other choice or path, Boruto simply fought his way forward.

And he fought it hard , for hours perhaps. He wasn’t entirely sure, with no window to the outside, time became a foreign concept. 

Just as he rounded another corner, he was met with a surprise. Raising his kunai, he parred an incoming weapon— just barely — , wincing as his hand shook with pain. 

There was blood dripping down the handle of his weapon and onto the already wet ground. He had a fresh cut across his palm, from where a shuriken was knocked out of his hand, just a few moments ago. It stung and made his grip lighter than it should be, he was losing strength in that area…

“Get off!” Boruto gritted out, aiming to kick the teenage Shin in the ribs, as the clone lunged for an attack. Thankfully, this one attacked with his bare hands. Boruto wasn’t sure if he could handle yet another remotely controlled weapon. 

Huffing, he crouched down, ready and watching, as the clone recovered and jumped back towards him. Just as Shin was close enough, Boruto gritted his teeth and raised up, yet again, meeting the attack with his own. 

Screaming, he punched Shin underneath his jaw, making the teen crash into a ceiling with a heavy thud. Rocks and drops of water fell from the crack, but it didn’t distract Boruto for long as he watched the clone fall down with them. Not wanting to waste anymore time, Boruto gripped his kunai tightly, just before throwing it into the clone’s chest. Stopping the teen as he tried to move up and attack again.

Boruto didn’t watch as the clone fell back down, instead, he retreated, running deeper into the tunnels. He was tired, sweaty and bleeding from multiple places. Not to mention his eyes… they throbbed and stung— his Sharingan was activated no doubt, only eating away what’s left of his strength. 

If he doesn’t get away soon, he will drop from chakra exhaustion. He’s more than sure of it.

As if on cue, he clutched at his leg, feeling the warm blood there as it travelled down his leg lazily. 

Well . Maybe the blood loss will get to him faster.

Hissing, he tightened the knot around his leg, hoping that it wouldn’t loosen this time. As he did so, he heard something move from behind him.

Turning around, he flinched as a stabbing pain rushed through his eyes. Still, Boruto didn’t dare to close them, as he fended off yet another Shin. This time, it was one that matched his age.

Boruto did his best to keep up and copied Shin’s movements, blocking and mirroring his attacks. It worked only half the time, as in the end, Boruto would always slip up and pay for it in blood. To be completely honest, he had no idea what he was doing. He just tried to survive and rely on the Sharingan as much as he was able to. He kept his eyes wide and focused, just like he saw Sarada do it. He allowed them to jump from side to side, up and down, letting him take note of as many details and moves as possible. 

Sometimes he would dodge, other times he felt it would be more useful to copy certain attacks. Honestly there was no plan or strategy in most of his movements, which probably saved his life, as Boruto was simply unpredictable, both to his opponents and himself.  

Other than that, he didn’t know how else to use his eyes. Sharingan was nearly a foreign concept to him, and what little knowledge he did possess, he had it from watching Sarada. Because, why would he go out of his way to study it further than that? There were only two Uchiha left in the world— not counting him, obviously — and they were allies. 

Not to mention, his entire life, he was always preparing to awaken the Byakugan, and not—

Wait, what was that?

Boruto focused again and twisted away from the upcoming attack, moving back and observing as he suddenly noticed more clones running towards him. 

He was outnumbered yet again. The wounds on his leg and shoulder burned, as if to remind him what happened the last time that happened. Although, back then, he still had enough chakra to summon his own clones… this time… he wasn’t so lucky. 

Damned eyes, taking all of his chakra. 

Not seeing any other way, Boruto pocketed his kunai and started forming signs. 

Taking a deep breath, he called out a jutsu that had not yet failed him “ Katon Goukakyuu no Jutsu .”

He watched as the great fireball made its forward, making the damp tunnels hiss as they started to steam. It was a risky idea to use such a jutsu in a small space, and the clones knew that. They ran the opposite way as the raging flames chased them, no doubt burning many of them. And while it happened, Boruto tried hard not to focus on how hot it became. Or how his shorts and jacket got a few burns, from the flames that bounced off of the walls towards him. 

Once done, Boruto fell against one of the hot walls, coughing and panting. The air was heavy and damp, making it hard to catch a breath, but still, completely spent and shaking, Boruto pushed himself back on his feet.

“No time… to… waste.” he muttered, before gritting his teeth as the pain burned through him.

Focusing on the dark tunnel ahead, he limped forward, hoping that someone was coming for him. Someone, other than that pale lunatic.

Honestly, Shin— the old man — confused him. He told Boruto that he didn’t want to kill him, but then, he sent him out to be butchered or lost. So, which one was it?

Clearly the man was more than just delusional. 

Still, crazy or not, Shin was dangerous. Boruto was sure of that at least, as he remembered watching him go toe to toe with Sasuke-san. 

He needed to get out of here.

Find his way out of the caves and tunnels, and face his… his… who even was Naruto to him? Should he think of him as, mother now? And what? That’s supposed to make Sasuke father ? 

No . 

Boruto wouldn’t play house with them. 

Because, how could they do this to him? How could they all lie ?

His mother— or rather Hinata-san , his grandmother Tsunade, his fath— him?  

Who else knew?

Sasuke-san had to know. How could he not? It’s a big freaking deal, making a kid! He had to know, there was no other way. 

So what? He just decided to… to ignore him? Talk to him and pretend as if he was nothing but his rival’s son? 

He did the same to Sarada, and she was… she was more like an Uchiha, than Boruto. 

Then again… at least Sasuke-san “claimed” Sarada as his. Taking her into his clan and even making her the future head of it, by giving her the Uchiha Compound. 

All while Boruto was…

He was a born image of a Namikaze, nothing like an Uchiha…

Maybe that’s why he was ignored and forgotten. Maybe he was an accident and—and not at all like an Uchiha, so Sasuke-san disregarded him. 

Why care about something that failed you from day one, eh?

It would make sense…

But again, did Boruto actually care about being an Uchiha? He wasn’t entirely sure… he just had no idea who he was anymore. 

This reveal. It mattered, it changed his entire life and identity. It changed him and who he was. 

Before, he didn’t especially care about being an heir to the Hyuuga Clan. He didn’t feel any connection to its customs or traditions. But now that he lost it… 

It pained him. 

All of the time he spent with his grandfather— or rather Hiashi-san . It was done. Gone , just like that. 

Boruto wasn’t a Hyuuga, his eyes were a raging crimson and not a smoothing lilac. 

Suddenly he couldn’t help but wonder. If his grandfa— Hiashi-san knew. If he knew all along and just…

As tears threatened to fall, Boruto shook his head, not wanting to dwell on any of it any further. Not right now. 

His father and Sasuke-san... he won’t forgive them. Not for this . 

They ruined his life, made him live a lie and now. Now they’re going to have to face the consequences. And Boruto will be more than happy to serve it to them. 

Rage like no other fueled him forward, as he gritted his teeth so hard that he briefly worried he might break them. Then, suddenly a wave of a stabbing pain washed over his head and already tired eyes. 

Boruto fell to his knees, hands flying to cover his face, shivering as the pain rocked through him. He had no idea how long he stayed like that, just shaking and hoping for it to end, but once it did, Boruto raised his head and tried to stare at his hands. 

That’s when his heart stopped. His vision, it was all wrong . Everything was blurry and dark, leaving him in near complete darkness. Still, there was one thing that he could make out, was the wetness on his face that steadily dropped onto his open palms. 

Blood . It was his blood…

“What… what’s happening to me?” he whispered, not moving as he tried to blink past the blood that oozed from his eyes. 

Very quickly, fear replaced anger, his body growing cold and almost numb. He tried to stand up, but found himself too weak to do so. 

For the first time since running into the tunnels head first, Boruto actually feared that he would die here.

Instead of walking, he crawled, nearly blind and shaking from coldness that clearly came from inside of himself. Still, he moved forward, until seeing a blurry exit from the tunnel. It was dark on the other side, so he wasn’t outside but the space seemed to be bigger. Less claustrophobic.  

Boruto dragged himself out and instead rested against a wall of the cave, trying to wipe away the blood from his eyes weakly. He was so heavy, so tired and so cold…

It was the blood loss. He recognised the symptoms, and surely, the chakra exhaustion didn’t help. 

He would be out of it soon, easy to grab and— and —

“I… I need…” he muttered, trailing off as his mind went— again — to his parents .

He was scared. 

He wanted his papa. He wanted his mom. He wanted… hell he even would be glad to see Sasuke-san, if it meant that he wouldn’t be alone. That he would be saved . 

Boruto didn’t want to die alone… he didn’t want to leave Hima or Sarada. Or even Mitsuki… he didn’t even tell his friends that he was leaving…

His eyes stung again and more blood dripped down, making him even more scared. He never saw Sarada go through something like this. Was this normal? Will his vision come back? Or should he get used to this blurry world? Will he die from whatever is wrong? 

He didn’t want to… Boruto just wanted to go home .

Tears mixed with blood as Boruto threw all of his bitterness to the side— for now —, crying for his home, his parents, his sisters, his friends and all the pain he was feeling. Everything really hurt.  

More coldness followed and he could barely feel his legs, it was as if pins were stabbing his feet repeatedly. By now, Boruto was unable to keep himself up properly and while he sat there crying, time was running out. His blood was running out.

There was no one coming. Not yet anyway …

Boruto was on his own and if he really wanted to go back home, then he needed to act. 

There had to be something that he could still do. Anything .

Suddenly, an idea struck him. Without thinking it over further, he acted and placed his bleeding palm on the ground.

“K-Kuchiyose no Jutsu…” he spoke, feeling whatever strength he had leaving him, as a puff of smoke could be heard.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing—! Oi punk, what happ—” the great red serpent asked from somewhere above Boruto. 

The boy cut him off, weakly whispering “H-Help… m–me…”

After that, Boruto fell limp against the wall, hoping that the snake wouldn’t abandon him. That he’ll get to see tomorrow just yet. 

As the darkness claimed Boruto. Sasuke and the others were racing against time.

The Uchiha’s mind has been erratic ever since his talk with Naruto. He had no real idea what to think or feel, as all of the possibilities, what-ifs plagued him.

One thing was clear.

Sasuke had a son.

Yet another child that he left in Konoha, without a guide and protector. Well . Logically, he knew that Sarada had Sakura and Boruto had Naruto. Nothing bad would happen to them, but that didn’t change the fact that… that he wasn’t with his children.

Again. There was this haunting feeling, a feeling which he didn’t let himself feel for years.

It was longing .

He first longed for Naruto— he still did — but then, as his daughter came to this world… Sasuke longed for Sarada as well. For her first steps, first laugh, fight word… for her first day of the academy and endless questions that she would no doubt have. He missed it, now not only with her but with… with Boruto as well. 

He couldn’t help himself as he recalled the image of his son and daughter, as he first saw them just a few hours ago. It was strange, how now knowing the truth, Sasuke could see it clear as day that Boruto looked just like him. It was uncanny… but still, greatly evened out by Naruto’s contrasting palette. 

Sarada remained her mother’s daughter, with round eyes and a kind face. His daughter was kind. Such a small characteristic, but so incredibly important to Sasuke, as he himself lacked kindness in his youth. Perhaps even now…

And then there was Boruto, who aside from looking just like Sasuke, also seemed to be acting like him. It was… concerning to see the boy so angry and mistrusting. But he didn’t seem to be as withdrawn, no , Boruto cared deeply and openly just like Naruto did. 

The boy seemed to be a perfect mix, of not only their best characteristics, but their faults as well. It was a bit worrying, but also something that warmed his heart. 

Boruto was like a manifestation of his bond to Naruto. A living proof of their connection, and so much more.

Strange… how Sasuke already knew it in his heart, that he loved the boy just like he did Sarada. They were everything to him and caring for them came as easy as breathing.

Just as it did with Naruto.

Naruto.

There was anger seething underneath Sasuke’s skin, it was righteous and yet he could not bring himself to act on it. Not when the fault laid evenly between them, a mistake that they had to share and fix together. Lashing out would not repair anything, nor would it change the past.

Although, there was still so much left unsaid between them. They both knew it, and perhaps, they were equally glad that it was all left aside for now.

This reveal… it will change everything. Not only for them, but for their children, for Sakura and Hinata as well. Sasuke wasn’t a fool, he also knew that this news would eventually spread outside of their families. He knew that Boruto’s existence might become politically important in a distant future. 

A child born out of two over powered individuals. 

Gods, some people whispered as they talked about them. And what would they call their son? A son that would become far more powerful than his parents?

A destroyer ? 

A saviour ? 

Both ?

Dangerous . That’s what he’ll be to them.

He suddenly wonders if Naruto thought of this. If he wondered how the news would be received by the other Kage. Was there more than just the state of their relationship, that made Naruto hide their son’s true nature?

There was no use in wondering about what-ifs. Once Boruto is safely back with them, Sasuke will speak to Naruto about this. 

He cast a glance to the side, watching as Naruto carried Sarada as they travelled through the trees. The young girl wasn’t all too happy with it, but understood that she would slow the group down, significantly. And with Sasuke only having one arm, Karin and Suigetsu being strangers, Sarada chose her uncle to carry her. 

It did something to him, to see the blonde be so gentle with his little girl. There was a little envy in it, but it quickly got snuffed out as he noticed how relaxed Sarada was in the Hokage’s hold.

“We were raised together! Not that you would know that… you weren’t there for her. Sarada is like family to me, another sister.” Boruto’s voice echoed through his head.

They were raised together. They saw each other as siblings, and Sasuke wasn’t there to witness it. None of it . 

But Naruto was. 

He made sure that their children were connected and formed a proper bond. It was no surprise to see Sarada be so attached, then. She knew Naruto better than Sasuke, she saw him as family and he was strangely grateful for it.

For all his deceit and fault, Naruto still managed to do what was right. Fix what he could and prepare both of their children for the truth. 

Perhaps, it was that bond that helped Sarada come to a swift acceptance of the situation. Well, for now at least. 

“Boruto… is my brother?” she asked, her big dark eyes looking between them.

“Yes.” Sasuke confirmed, trying not to dwell on it too much. They didn’t have time for all of this, they needed to find Boruto and destroy Shin.

“But…” Sarada started, turning a bit red.

It was obvious what she meant. 

They were both men.

“Me as a Jinjuuriki… it turns out that things like this are possible. I didn’t know it at the time.” Naruto tried to vaguely explain, probably so that Sarada wouldn’t get embarrassed. 

Anger and confusion mixed into one, as his daughter pressed “But mama! I don’t under—”

“Sarada.” Sasuke spoke up, trying to… keep his voice as smooth as possible. He knew that he could sound harsh— many pointed it out to him, or well, more like Naruto did—, and he didn’t want to be like this with his daughter. 

Or with his son. 

Once her eyes found his, he even kneeled down— she was so small, so young… was he like this as well? When he left with Orochimaru? When he and Naruto clashed for the first time—

“We will speak of this, and other things that you might want to know about.” he nearly whispered, it was the best he could do… he had no idea how to be a more smoothing presence so that would have to do, “But right now, we need to find and rescue your brother.”

Sarada nodded, determination washing away everything else in her expression. She looked a lot like Sakura did in the war, focused and ready to act. 

“Yes.” she agreed bravely, before untying her red headband— from where it rested against her bicep— and bringing it over her forehead in a proper manner. Once it was tightly tied, she nodded “Let’s get Boruto back!”

Sasuke smiled at her, moving slowly— to give her time to move away— and fixed her bangs gently “Yes. Let’s.” 

Surprisingly, Sarada accepted his light touch with big trusting eyes.

While that might’ve gone well, still Sasuke couldn’t help but feel frustrated by what happened with Shin. 

He had so many openings, so many opportunities to end Shin and he didn’t take them .

Sasuke wished to go back and destroy him, before he could take Boruto. But no . Naruto wanted to interrogate the abomination, ask what was his purpose, if there were more like him, if he was working with anyone.

Which was all logical and sound.

But right now, Sasuke didn’t want that, no , he wanted to crush Shin like a bug. Kill and take his son out of harm’s way, everything else be damned. 

Because what if he had his eyes taken? What if he was tortured? What if Shin simply didn’t notice Boruto’s Sharingan— just like he didn’t— and killed the boy? 

Sasuke doesn’t even want to entertain that idea. 

He knows that losing a child like that. It would… break even Naruto. Which in turn would push Sasuke back over the edge of darkness that still lingered.  

All it took was a good enough reason.

And this possibility… seemed like just the thing, as again, Sasuke could feel it under his skin. This seething anger and hatred that bubbled up inside of him, he knew it , as it clawed and gnawed at the bars of its enclosure. Begging to be let out and embraced like an old friend. 

“ Sasuke .”

He looked to the side again, seeing Naruto who, as if sensing the darkness that seeped through him, sent him a worried look. 

In a strange way, Sasuke actually believed that Naruto could feel everything that he was feeling. 

Just like Sasuke could feel that Naruto’s usual burning presence was even hotter. He didn’t have to see the slitted irises of his blue eyes, to know that a part of Naruto wanted blood shed for their son. 

They always were like reflections of each other. Mirrors .

“We’re almost there.” the raven replied, both reassuring that they’re close and promising that the blond will get his share in what’s to come. 

Shin will be lucky if Boruto is alright.  

Then perhaps, his death will be quick. 

Yamato let them through, one look at the angry Hokage and his fox eyes, seemed to be enough not to ask questions. From there on, Sasuke continued leading them inside the dark tunnels, after so many years, it was no longer strange to walk these hallways. He felt nothing, he wasn’t angry or scared, no , he was simply determined to move forward. It was a place like any other. 

“Oi, Sasuke! This isn’t your place, maybe let us—!” Suigetsu started, but the Uchiha quickly shut him up.

“ No .” 

“What the hell do you mean—”

“ Sasuke-kun… ” 

There it was, just outside where Sasuke knew it had to be the main laboratory. 

From the darkened hallways, Ororchimaru slithered out almost like a snake. He looked exactly the same as the last time when Sasuke’s mission took him here, still young and unchanged. 

“Orochimaru.” he simply responded, feeling as Naruto came closer to him, keeping Sarada safely tucked between them. 

He wasn’t afraid of the old snake. Orochimaru wasn’t a threat by any means. If Sasuke had thought so, then he would’ve left Naruto and Sarada outside. 

But, he greatly appreciated Naruto’s protectiveness towards his daughter. And well, as ridiculous as it sounded, towards himself. 

It felt nice… to have the blond back in his corner after so long. 

“Has Karin and Suigetsu’s expertise fail you?” Orochimaru asked, smiling slightly, as he knew that answer. 

Naruto spoke up at that, glaring at the old snake “Uchiha Shin. Where is his hideout?”

“We already told them, you didn't know—” Suigetsu tried to explain, but was shut up by Karin. 

“Shut up, let’s go.” the Uzumaki advised, taking her partner away. She must’ve noticed how high the tension rose, it wouldn’t do them any good if they stayed around the combination of Sasuke’s and Naruto’s anger. 

“Naruto’s son was taken by Shin.” Sasuke said, keeping his word that he wouldn’t let the old snake know the truth “We need to find him, seeing as it was you who created him. It’s only obvious you’d know where to find him.” 

Orochimaru’s eyes flickered to Naruto, before dropping down to Sarada, who bravely returned his gaze, until her uncle stepped slightly in front of her. Shielding her from the Sannin’s view.

“Let’s continue this in another room.” was all the snake said, inviting them to follow him. 

“ Sasuke —” Naruto started, but the Uchiha cut in.

“He won’t do anything.” he reassured, staring into the blue and concerned eyes. It was tough for Naruto, even now, to be reminded of Sasuke’s past. Their past . But the blonde needed to shake it off.

As if reading his mind, Naruto relaxed ever so slightly and nodded. Still, his bandaged hand remained on Sarada’s shoulder as they followed the legendary Sannin. 

Once they reached the laboratory, Orochimaru spoke again, this time without any games.

“Shin was an old experiment of mine, as Karin must’ve told you.” glancing at Sasuke, he continued “ Danzo Shimura . His arm came from Shin.”

Sasuke gritted his teeth, trying to remain composed, because of course , the past would come back up and cause problems even now. 

“He can create clones. Living and breathing clones.” Naruto prompted. 

“Yes. You’ve met them, haven’t you?” Orochimaru asked, nodding as he read their foul expressions.

“He… He said that he’s an Uchiha.” Sarada spoke up, looking between Sasuke and the Sannin. 

Again, the snake eyes found her as Orochimaru nodded, responding “That’s just him proclaiming that himself. Possessing your clan’s Kekkei Genkai, made him obsessed with the Uchiha and… some of its infamous members.” Orochimaru’s gaze left Sarada and instead settled on Sasuke, as he added “In particular, your late brother. Uchiha Itachi.”

Sasuke’s heart clenched in his chest, at the mere mention of his brother.

“Shin was captivated by Itachi’s legacy and the future of the Uchiha.” again, Orochimaru’s eyes went to Sarada as he advised, almost with compassion “You’d do well to keep your daughter away from him, Sasuke-kun.”

“What are his plans?” Naruto asked, anxiety and fear lacing his tone.

The Sannin sighed “I cannot say for sure, but he was obsessed with evolution and genes. Perhaps, he wishes to find a successor, born from Itachi’s line and with powers that could evolve way past his.”

It was clear that Orochimaru meant Sarada. But Shin already had Boruto.

Sasuke shared a glance with Naruto, as they both understood that their son could be in an even greater danger than they realised.

“Where do we find him?” Sasuke asked, cutting the conversation short. 

Orochimaru grinned and took a couple of steps to the side “My, my such one-sided questioning, Sasuke-kun. You’ve become truly quite shameless.” but soon, all mirth was gone and his gaze returned to Sasuke “I have an idea of where he could be.”

“I sense a price.” Sasuke replied, glaring at his old mentor.

“I wish to speak with you. Alone .”

“ No .” Naruto immediately barked out, tugging confused Sarada even closer to himself. Probably wishing that he could go back to the past and do that with Sasuke. 

Sasuke didn’t react, simply analysing the Sannin. 

Orochimaru did not scare him. If anything, Sasuke felt indifferent.

“Fine.” 

“ Sasuke —”

“Naruto.” he argued, glaring slightly at the blonde “Go outside and wait there with Sarada.”

The Hokage didn’t look pleased, his jaw clenched and his shoulders tense. Sasuke knew that look. Naruto wasn’t doing any better than he did right after Boruto was taken, the blonde was close to blowing up.

“Take Sarada, and I will get what we need to find Boruto.” he reassured quietly, reminding Naruto yet again, that the little girl was still with them.

Naruto cast a glance past Sasuke, before looking down at the genin within his grasp. Finally, he sighed and relented, saying “ Ten minutes at most.” 

“Make it five.” Sasuke responded, making Naruto’s lips twitch ever so slightly.

Once both the Hokage and his daughter were gone, Sasuke’s attention returned to the snake.

“Tell me then. What is it that you want?” 

Orochimaru smiled a bit “I was simply wondering, why Shin would capture Naruto-kun’s son. Why not simply kill him?” 

“I’ll try and ask, before I kill him.” Sasuke responded evenly. 

The Sannin crossed his arms, eyes not leaving Sasuke “I have my own child in the village. He’s on your daughter’s team and he cares deeply for Boruto-kun.”

The child. Mitsuki. 

Naruto mentioned him when they last spoke over a year ago. He accepted him into Konoha, wanting to give the boy a chance at a normal life, despite his obvious dislike towards Orochimaru. He was always too soft.

“He sent me a message a few weeks ago. About the boy’s eyes and his issues with them…” Orochimaru uncrossed his arms, pulling out of his wide sleeve a small red vial “Along with Boruto-kun’s blood sample.”

So he knew. 

“Mitsuki wanted to know if there was anything I could do to help. Even asked to check if he could offer his own eyes to Boruto, should the need arise.” there was a look of amusement when as he said it “They’re a match—”

“But it’s not the only match you found.” Sasuke finished for him, having enough of the Sannin’s games. 

Orochimaru smiled at him “Just as I said, shameless . But yes, you’re right and seeing as you know about it, there is nothing more to it.”

That made everything stop, as Sasuke blinked.

“That’s… all ? You wanted to know, if I knew?” he couldn’t help but ask, desperately searching for some kind of angle that Orochimaru might have.  

“Yes. Family is something that you’ve always searched for, Sasuke-kun— even though perhaps unknowingly —, so I simply wanted to make you aware of your son’s existence. After all, it seems to be quite a secret.” 

He was lost, stunned even, as he continued on staring at Orochimaru.

The snake noticed “Oh, don’t give me that look Sasuke-kun. I have no ill intentions, towards either of your children. I am a parent myself after all, and they both happen to be important to my precious child.” 

Sasuke was sceptical, but for now, he believed Orochimaru. Still, he’ll need to tell Naruto about this, but that’s an issue for later.

“Now then, come closer.” the snake beckoned the Uchiha, as he walked towards a table where a map of the Fire Country was laid out “There’s an old hideout, in the mines around here.” he pointed to a space not too far from here “It’s a set of tunnels and caves, very dangerous if you don’t know where you’re going, so I advise caution.”

“And Shin will be there?” Sasuke asked, his Sharingan activated as he stared at the map. He wanted to remember the exact location. 

“Yes. That’s where I held my experiments on him, a place that he grew to call home, once.” Orochimaru explained “There’s an entrance from the east, it’s an overgrown cave, easy to miss, but with your abilities, I have faith that you’ll manage.” 

Sasuke nodded, blinking as the Sharingan went away, he turned to leave but stopped at the door.

“You know what will happen to you, don’t you ?” 

There was a soft laugh, as Orochimaru responded “Once again, I mean no harm.”

“That’s not what I asked you.” Sasuke pressed calmly. 

“I am well aware, Sasuke-kun.”

“ Good .” was all the Uchiha said, as he finally left.

It was time to get his son back.

Chapter Text

There was a lot of pain, as Boruto came to. It paralysed him for a moment, not allowing him to draw breath… Thankfully it passed within a moment. After what he has been through, it would be embarrassing to go like this. Suffocated by pain. 

He sighed lightly, clenching his fists against the fabric of his shirt, focusing on the steady up and down movement of his chest. Boruto allowed himself one last moment of this, before trying to open his sore eyes. He could feel dried blood against his face, making it stiff and his eyelashes sticky. Still, he forced them open, only to look on and… see nothing. There was nothing but darkness. 

Panic stole his breath once more, as he blinked again and again, but nothing changed. Frantically, he tried to move up, crying out in pain as he pulled on his barely closed wounds that stuck to his clothing. Fear enveloped him as he tried to move again, only to realise just how close the walls were. It was as if he woke up in a box.

His breathing came out in pants and huffs, as he desperately tried to get up. Finally, with great difficulty, Boruto rolled onto his front. Groaning through his teeth as everything burned, he raised and leaned on the wall for support. That’s when he realised something. 

The walls were moving. 

“Wha—”

“Oi, punk.” said a voice from above him, making Boruto’s entire body tremble with its volume. He recognised it, he knew it, but before he could answer, the walls trembled and from above came light. 

Boruto could see.

It wasn’t perfect, as even though his centre vision was fine, the edges were strangely blurry and dark. But he could see, that’s what mattered to him the most. The rest was something that he’ll worry about later, as for now, he focused on what was right in front of him.

Garaga’s big red head. It raised itself from what Boruto would have suspected was the ceiling. Making him further realise that the box, as it turns out, was not a box at all. But rather, Garaga’s huge body. 

The giant snake wrapped itself around him, creating a cocoon of sorts, as his head rested above, guarding the only entry. He protected him. 

“You’re awake.” the great snake confirmed, it’s one eye focused on the genin “I thought you’d die. But I suppose you are too stubborn for that, you brat.” 

Boruto let out a startled laugh and let his body rest back against the snake, feeling all the fear and panic leaving him in an instant. It was so powerful, that the boy slid down to sit, as his wide blue eyes stayed trained on the snake. 

He was alive and he wasn’t alone. 

“And I thought you would leave me, y’know.” the boy admitted with a chuckle “You did warn me not to summon you…”

Garaga huffed “Well. A contract is a contract and you were… it would be a pathetic death. Even for a punk like you.” 

The blonde gave him a look and a sly grin graced his battered face “Sounds a lot like… you care.” 

The snake’s head turned away, showing his missing eye “Shut up, you brat! I only care about myself.” 

“Uh-huh. Sure.” Boruto chuckled, hissing as he touched his leg.

“So. Care to explain?”

All glee left Boruto as he stared at his feet, unable to look back up at the snake.

“I… I was taken by a man who’s pretending to be an Uchiha—”

“Uchiha. Like Aoda’s master?” Garaga cut in, the disdain for the other snake lacing his words, at Boruto’s nod he continued “Then why take you and not him, or his spawn?” 

The reminder of Sasuke-san made Boruto’s hands clench at his chest as he answered “Yeah, well…” he thought for a moment longer before coming to a decision “Apparently. I am his spawn.”

As he explained the whole situation, Garaga stayed still and listened. It felt… freeing to say everything out loud, and to have someone that would listen to him ramble. And as he spoke, Boruto came to realise that, he doesn't remember when was the last time that he got to open up and speak about his problems.

He did it sometimes, as a way to show the other person that he understood their feelings. Because as always, Boruto was a listener, but rarely a speaker. 

Everyone wants to be heard, but not everyone wants to listen. 

Boruto always cheered up his mother, smiled for his sister and laughed for his friends. He never found himself showing what he truly felt. Only with his father… he showed his anger, but even that was a performance up to point. He didn’t know what it meant to be open like this. Because to him, being open meant being weak. And he couldn’t be that, not when so many people depended on him. 

So Boruto could brood, yell and grit his teeth. But never share.

Not up until now, at least…

“I don’t know who I am anymore.” as he said it, Boruto’s fingers traced the Uzumaki spiral that was sown into the front of his jacket. It felt fake. He felt fake. 

“It’s… all just messed up, y’know.”

“I couldn’t care less.” the snake’s response, made Boruto’s head snap up and stare at him “Uchiha. Uzumaki. Hyuuga. It’s all meaningless, kid—”

“You don’t get it—!”

“What I get, you whiny punk! Is that you’re a decent shinobi, that fights for the right things. I know that you made me come to heel and compelled me to tie myself to you. A clan name did not do that. You did it.” 

Boruto’s mouth hung open, as he couldn’t think of a response. 

“You’re you, and that’s about it. Clans fall, parents die, kid. And you still go on and live, so I say. Screw it all and let’s get out of here alive.” 

Well. You couldn’t get more direct than that.

So, Boruto just laughed, shaking his head at the snake’s attitude.

“You’re terrible at… well, this.” he gestured between them “You know that right?”

“Got you to stop whining, I say, that’s worth something.” 

The snake got that right…

Boruto sighed and wiped his face, his finger briefly stopping on his bare forehead. The headband that he so arrogantly kept on hanging around his belt, burned brightly in his bruised side. Slowly, his hand moved towards it, untying it and letting it rest in the bloody palm of his hand. 

Once, he thought it was lame. A stupid piece of equipment, that honestly wouldn’t do much to actually protect his head, should someone be determined to target it.

To him, it wasn’t much.

But to… his father.

“Great work, Boruto.” Naruto whispered, before grinning brightly as his fingers traced the new headband that was freshly tied around Boruto’s head.

His fingers clenched around the metal, as he stared down at it. He remembers his father telling him about the importance of the headband, long before Boruto became a genin. 

Naruto himself wore it well into his years as the Hokage, it was only recently that he opted to have it off, instead keeping it around his flesh arm underneath the cloak. 

“A symbol of pride and loyalty… of belonging…” Boruto whispered, his thumb tracing Konoha’s symbol lightly. 

“What was that?” the great snake asked above him.

Boruto’s lips twitched as he slowly raised the headband and tied it around his forehead. With that, he raised his tired eyes and smirked at Garaga.

“You’re right. I am a Shinobi of Konohagakure.” with that, he leaned on the snake’s body and shakily stood up “I might not know who I am, who I’m supposed to be. But… but I know that I swore to protect my village, protect all those who cannot protect themselves, protect…”

Himawari.

Sarada.

Mitsuki.

And all of my other friends.

He clenched his jaw as the pain in his leg flared up “I have to keep them all safe, so… let’s go and teach this guy a lesson, Garaga!”

Garaga grinned, showing his sharp teeth “Now, you speak my language kid. Enough with the dramatics and let’s kill some vermin!”

The genin nodded, smirking “Yeah. Let’s.”

The snake’s great head lowered itself, and Boruto climbed on, securing the knot around his leg yet again. The wound was aching, but for the most part, he couldn’t feel much there as pins and needles stabbed into his leg. 

Well. At least it stopped bleeding.

“So, what’s the plan, punk?” 

Boruto sighed and closed his eyes “We find Shin, surprise him and keep him occupied until someone finds us.”

“And are we expecting someone?”

“My… father.” he decides, locking the confusion about his parentage away from a moment “He will come… if not for me, then for Shin. He wouldn’t ignore a threat like that, and Sarada will definitely look for me. We just have to buy her time.”

The snake grumbled but nodded ever so slightly “Alright. Ready?”

Boruto nodded, wiping his hands against his pants “Ready!”

And so, together, Garaga and Boruto set off back into the tunnels. The snake’s giant body barely made it through some of them, but thanks to Garaga’s brute strength they managed. 

There were no clones in their path, meaning that after they couldn’t find Boruto, they had to move on to a different part of the maze. Which was a great advantage for them, as it almost guaranteed that they were about to surprise their host.

Well, a giant red snake and a battered genin on top of it, wasn’t a sight one could see daily.

“I can sense a greater space ahead.” Garaga said, as he slithered through a bigger corridor.

Boruto closed his eyes and reached out with his other senses.

And there it was, the great fiery chakra that Shin reeked off. It was strange… not as dangerous as Sasuke-san’s or as comforting as Sarada’s, rather it was… hot but sickly. There was something not quite right about it…

“Yeah… I can feel him.” he whispered, pulling out his trusted kunai. 

Only moments later, Garaga burst through a narrowed gap and filled the air around them with dust and debris. Boruto laid flat on top of his head, coughing lightly as he took in the grand cave that they found themselves in. 

There were rough pillars made of white stone holding up the ceiling and several pools of red water spread along the chamber. It was oddly light in there, causing Boruto to raise his head and look for a light source, or rather an opening somewhere in the ceiling. But all he found were mirrors.

Mirrors that directed and spread the light throughout the cave. 

So the light had to come from the outside, now if only they could pinpoint from where it was directed—

“Uchiha Boruto!” 

He turned his head on instinct, his battered body slowly following its lead, as he glared down at Shin and his creations. 

There were roughly ten of them, adults and teens as the kids were probably still stuck looking for him. 

Well. How much stronger could they really be, right?

“You survived, as predicted. Itachi’s will flows through you as it does with me.” Shin sent him a toothless grin, making Boruto cringe “And you have summoned a great beast. A serpent, much like your sire. Look just how much you’ve already evolved!”

Boruto clenched his fists, and stood up on top of Garaga, staring down at the madman before him.

“I played your little game and survived, so how about we skip to the finish line?!” he shouted, before pointing his weapon down at the false Uchiha “I will never join you. Not as an heir, not as a soldier, not even as a doormat! So do yourself a favour and let us go.”

Shin chuckled “Your stubbornness rivals that of your father’s. But you’re an Uchiha, you must see that you have a greater purpose in this world. A power unlike any other, that’s meant to reshape this lazy world!”

Boruto gritted his teeth at the mention of said power, his eyes throbbing in pain as he waved his hand to the side “Shut up! Just let me go! Don’t you know what will happen when my father arrives? He will bring this entire cave down just to—”

“Will he now? Last I saw him, he was kneeling paralyzed in a puddle of his own blood.” Shin countered, silencing the genin swiftly “Who knows. Perhaps he is on his way home, a damaged spine is not an easy thing to repair…”

Boruto’s brows furrowed.

This couldn’t be the case, now could it? His father is known to be almost invincible, thanks to Kyuubi. Surely, the old fox would heal his father. 

There’s no way that the great Uzumaki Naruto was taken down by a single blade, right?

His hands shook, as the image of his father kneeling ran before his eyes. He could still feel the smooth material of his cloak, hear his raspy breaths, smell the iron in the air—

“My father is fine.” he gritted out, before taking a small step forward in anger “And if he’s not, then Sasuke-san and his companions will soon be here! What do you think will happen then? You couldn’t take him on while healthy, what makes you think that you can beat him now?”

Shin smiled further and shrugged “I think that Sasuke will be more worried about the Hokage than his bastard son. He has his heir by his side, why bother with you? No, no, you are mine to keep Uchiha Boruto.”

“Don’t call me that.” Boruto pressed, not wanting to admit that to a degree, he agreed with Shin. 

If his father is immobilised, then he’s Sasuke-san’s priority. Not to mention Sarada being Shin’s first target. It only makes sense to cut their losses and get back to the village…

Damn it. He’s really alone in this, isn’t he?

His gaze went back towards the mirrors, thinking of a way that both he and Garaga could escape. Maybe, maybe, if they destroyed the mirrors, then the real source would reveal itself. 

Would it lead them outside?

“Why wouldn’t I use your true name?” Shin asked, regaining some of Boruto’s attention as the plan began forming in his mind. 

The false Uchiha was stroking his chin in thought, tapping his foot lightly as Boruto simply observed on top of Garaga. 

“Uzumaki are a dead clan, long buried by the sands of time. Namikaze were never of any importance, simple logical people who never grew beyond others. It is the Uchiha who raise you above others, who have been forged into the very foundation of this world. The only clan worthy of saving it and redeeming all of the shinobi!” Shin called out, pointing towards the genin “You are the Uchiha, Boruto. Or you will be, once you end your tantrum and join me.”

Boruto clenched his fists and thought about it.

Shin wasn’t sane, that much was true. He was also much stronger than Boruto, and had an army. And while Boruto could depend on Garaga, how long could they stay fighting? There would come a moment where even the snake would fall… and then, Boruto would be left defenceless.

He could always play nice. Surrender, stay obedient and plan an escape. Buy time for someone to come and rescue him…

But again, Shin wasn’t sane. Who knows what he plans to do to him? 

Damn it…

Boruto watched Shin, someone who in whatever twisted way, wanted him. Saw value in him, that Boruto yearned for his own father to see. 

However crazy and twisted he was, Shin wanted Boruto. Unlike his father… both of them it would seem. 

He sighed, his eyes briefly staring down at the scales underneath his feet as the memory of her screams echoed through his head. 

“If only…”

“What was that?” Shin asked from down below.

Boruto’s crimson gaze shifted to bore into Shin, three tomoe spinning in place as he repeated “If only, you didn’t try and hurt my family. Then maybe I would feel… tempted to join your cult, but Sarada’s blood, her fear, her pain. I can’t forgive you for any of it. Bound by blood or heart, Sarada is my sister and I will sooner die than join the one who caused her harm.” 

The images of his father kneeling, of Boruto’s hands gripping his cloak in desperation came forward as well. Only sealing his decision.

“So. My answer is… SCREW YOU!”

With that he kneeled down, and let Garaga launch forward to fight what might be his last battle. 

Back outside, amongst trees and vines Naruto, Sasuke and Sarada moved with great haste. 

Once again, it was Naruto’s job to hold onto Sarada as they travelled. Not that he minded, if anything, he was glad to have her so close. Her presence calmed the storm of rogue instincts that ruled over him ever since Boruto was taken. 

His and Kurama’s natures often mingled and stirred into one, it was something that he has gotten used to by now. But it didn’t mean that it was easy to hold it off when they both felt the same way.

Protectiveness, that boarded the line of outright possessiveness. 

And rage beyond anything considered healthy, it crashed over him like waves against a cliff. 

“Don’t blame me. That bastard has your kit, he deserves to be ripped apart. You know it too.” 

Don’t add fuel to the fire, Kurama…

“Hn. Well, if you don’t kill him at least I know that the Uchiha will.” 

Naruto brought Sarada closer to himself as the branches grew a bit dense, sparing a brief glance at Sasuke, whose gaze remained trained on the path ahead. 

Indeed. Naruto knows that Sasuke would never be rid of the darkness that festered in him for so many years. Without it… however bad it might sound, he just wouldn’t be Sasuke anymore. 

Sasuke won’t hold back.

Be it for Boruto or Naruto. Sasuke will play the jury, judge and executioner tonight. 

And Naruto isn’t sure if he wants to stop him or join him…

Before he could make up his mind, the ground shook, causing the branches that they used to tremble terribly. Naruto squeezed Sarada and landed, sharing a look with Sasuke.

“What is it?” Sarada asked, looking around with wide eyes.

But neither man got to answer as suddenly the ground in front of them split open, trees, rocks and dirt flying everywhere. Naruto turned to protect Sarada with his own body, just as Sasuke’s Susanno surrounded them in a protective bubble. 

“Bo…ruto?” Sasuke whispered unsurely. 

Naruto turned back around and gasped, as just mere meters in front of them, on top of a great red snake stood his son. 

Boruto.

Boruto.

Boruto.

“BORUTO!” he screamed, taking a couple of steps forward.

His boy flinched, and turned around to face them. Boruto’s eyes drew his attention first, as they stared at him, wide and startled, his sharingan shining red in the orange sunset. 

His son seemed to mutter something, as the snake also turned towards them, lowering his great head slightly. Only allowing Naruto to scan his son more thoroughly. 

Boruto barely looked like himself. 

His bright hair stained red and brown from blood and dust. As was his skin and clothes, which he usually kept in pristine condition. His headband secured tightly around his forehead, instead of hanging around his belt. 

All of it suddenly reminded Naruto strangely of another boy.

“WHY DID YOU SAVE ME?!”

“I don’t know… my body moved… of its own accord.”

The memory hit him like lightning, as he put down Sarada and rushed forward towards his son as he swayed in the light breeze. He was hurt, he was hurt and Nauro wasn’t there—!

“Boruto—!”

Then, a second tremor hit them, briefly knocking Naruto off balance as through another hole another beast revealed itself. Although this one, instead of flesh and bone, was made of small blades that imitated the shape of a snake.

“Shin.” Sasuke muttered somewhere to his right, but for now the blonde didn’t care as he regained his footing and rushed to jump on top of the red snake. 

“Oi—!” the beast muttered, but didn’t knock him off, as Naruto caught swaying Boruto in his arms.

“Boruto!” he gasped, touching his son’s battered face, wiping the bloody tears that fell from his eyes.

His boy blinked and let out a raspy breath “So… So you came, huh?” 

Boruto’s words struck him like a ton of bricks, causing Naruto to just pull him in even closer.

“Of course I did!” he yelled, gathering Kurama’s chakra and covering Boruto in its red cloak “I will always come for you, don’t even… how could you think—?!”

“You don’t… have a great track record, y’know.” Boruto pointed out, half joking as he shivered in his arms “Sarada. He wants me, but in my state… he might not… you have to protect—”

“I’m fine, you idiot.” Sarada suddenly spoke from beside them, she kneeled and took Boruto’s hand in her own “Worry about yourself will you?”

She must’ve followed after Naruto, but that means—

Sasuke.

Naruto’s eyes left his son and turned to watch as Sasuke’s Susanno was making quick work of Shin’s metal abomination. He directed their fight away from them… 

“His clones are dead…” Boruto muttered, regaining his father’s attention “Most of them… got hit by the debris, others me and Garaga… only Shin… is left. I-I think…” 

He brushed his son’s hair and shook his head “You did great. Now rest, sweet boy, we’ll take care of everything.”

The three tomoe bore into Naruto, as he watched Boruto blink slowly. 

Last he saw him… it was only two. Was it healthy to progress one’s sharingan so abruptly? And the bloody tears… he saw them only when Sasuke overused his eyes, so it surely wasn’t good—

“I…” Boruto started but coughed harshly.

“Tell me later, okay? Just tell me once we’re back home—”

“I hate you.” his son whispered, his eyes barely open and his body shaking.

Naruto froze, staring down at him with wide eyes as his heart stopped.

“Boruto—”

Boruto’s free hand gripped the front of his cloak harshly, painting the white fabric in red.

“I will… never… for-forgive you.”

With that, his eyes shut and he fell back down limply. Leaving Naruto to stare at Boruto with nothing but despair and hollowness in his heart.

It wasn’t supposed to be like this. 

No.

No.

No.

Naruto brought his son close, squeezing him against his chest as he stared blankly ahead, not knowing what to do. What was there to do? What did he mean? He knew the truth, but surely he… he wouldn’t hate him?

He came here to save his boy…

Only for Boruto to save himself.

Rocking back and forth Naruto didn’t even notice Sasuke defeating Shin, nor did he pay attention as the snake underneath him disappeared.

No. All he knew was the weight of his child in his arms and the wound that ripped his heart open.