I do not own Naruto Shippuden or any of the characters. I've read a little of the manga for Boruto and watched all current anime episodes, so try to bear with me on the rest.
Celebrating Alone
"Alright!" Metal Lee cheered as the class left the Academy with their headbands. "I can't believe we were actually the only class with no failures!"
"That just proves we're the best," Iwabe said. "Good job finally getting over your nerves though, Metal."
"Thank you," Metal smiled. "So, are we going to celebrate?"
"Definitely," Boruto nodded. "There's a barbecue place over by the old war hero memorial that's really good."
"That sounds like a good idea!" Inojin smiled. "As long as it's on Boruto's tab."
"Hey, I'm not rich!" Boruto scoffed. "I can't pay for everyone."
"Just one person then," Iwabe grinned. "And obviously it should be the best one in the class. Me."
"Actually, given your academic grades, I'd disagree," Denki spoke up.
"Yeah, Denki did the best in academics, and was most improved," Sarada added.
"Second most," Cho-Cho corrected. "Metal was most improved just for getting over his nervousness."
"Well that's all thanks to the Class Rep," Metal said.
"Coincidentally, the Class Rep did the best over all," Mitsuki offered. "Maybe Boruto should pay for her."
"Wha-What?" Sumire stammered, blushing. "You don't have-"
"That's a pretty good idea," Shikadai said. "Objections?"
"Sounds like a plan then," Boruto grinned. "I'm going to go change. See you guys there."
Everyone said their goodbyes, separating and leaving Sumire standing there, completely confused. When Boruto reached his house, he landed on the wall in front of the door then dropped down, reaching for it just as the door opened and Hinata grabbed him in a hug, pulling him inside and closing the door.
"I'm so proud of you!" Hinata smiled.
"Mom," Boruto groaned.
"Hooray for Big Brother!" Himawari's excited voice shouted from behind Hinata.
Boruto grinned as Hinata finally let him go, stepping out of the way and letting him see Naruto waiting by the kitchen door.
"So, uh, you're a ninja now," Naruto said, rubbing the back of his head.
"Yeah," Boruto said, smile sinking.
"Being a ninja is a big responsibility," Naruto said. "You're going to be facing actual dangers and-"
"Naruto," Hinata said, giving him a knowing look.
"Uh, right, sorry," Naruto said. "Boruto, I'm p-"
A knock interrupted him and Boruto sighed opening it and finding Shikamaru standing there.
"Shikamaru?" Naruto said. "What's up?"
"That ANBU team is back," Shikamaru said. "They're waiting to debrief you."
"Right," Naruto nodded, walking over and slipping his sandals on, following Shikamaru out the door without another word.
"Figures," Boruto grumbled.
"I'm sorry, Boruto," Hinata said. "But dinner's going to be ready soon."
"Oh, right, well, actually me and the rest of the glass were planning on going out to dinner at that barbecue place by the war hero memorial," Boruto said. "I'll probably be out for a while, so you guys don't have to wait up."
"Oh," Hinata said. "Alright then. Have a good time."
"I will," Boruto smiled, starting upstairs.
When he got to his room he closed the door, looking to the desk where he had a class picture from a few days earlier. He smiled at it then, grabbed what he needed for a quick shower. Once he was clean, he changed into a clean outfit and left, heading toward the restaurant. As he was making his way there, however, he met Sumire walking the other way.
"Hey, Class Rep," Boruto said. "Where're you going?"
"B-Boruto!" Sumire gasped. "I-I'm not the Class Rep anymore. A-Also, I-I got lost."
"It's alright," Boruto smiled. "It's actually the other way. Come on. I'll show you."
Sumire smiled and nodded, turning and following him down the street.
"So, I guess I have to call you Sumire now, huh?" Boruto asked.
Sumire blushed slightly, unaccustomed to hearing someone address her by her name, but nodded. "If you don't mind."
"Not at all," Boruto smiled. "So, you ever eaten here before?"
"No," Sumire said. "This will be the first time."
"Can I ask you something?" Boruto said, turning around so he could look at her and walking backward.
"Of course," Sumire nodded.
"Have you tried summoning Nue since, ya know," Boruto asked.
"No," Sumire mumbled, staring at the ground.
"Hey, you don't have to feel bad," Boruto said. "What's done is done and you didn't hurt anyone."
"I would have died without you," Sumire said. "Either I would have killed myself, or Mitsuki would have killed me."
"I would never let either of those things happen," Boruto promised. "I will always protect those I cherish."
Sumire blushed but smiled and nodded as the restaurant came into view.
"There it is," Boruto smiled. "Looks like we're the first ones here."
Sure enough, none of the others had arrived. Boruto got a table in a partially secluded corner where he wouldn't cause as much trouble as quickly and he and Sumire sat down in silence, waiting for the others. Finally, Mitsuki arrived, walking over to the table and stopping beside it.
"Hey, there you are," Boruto said. "Where's everyone else?"
"They all had to cancel," Mitsuki explained. "They said their parents are making them celebrate at home. They rescheduled to this weekend."
"I guess it's just us three then," Sumire smiled.
"Sorry Class Rep," Mitsuki said. "But I actually have to talk to Lord Hokage about something that's come up in my home village. I just figured I'd let you know you don't have to wait."
"Oh," Sumire said, smile fading slightly.
"Have fun," Mitsuki waved, walking away.
"Well, I suppose it's just the two of us then," Boruto said.
"Looks like it," Sumire nodded.
"That's not all bad," Boruto said. "We can still have fun ourselves."
"That's true," Sumire nodded. "So, has your eye been acting up at all?"
"No," Boruto said. "Ever since that whole thing with Nue, my eye hasn't activated once."
"I see," Sumire nodded. "That's really odd."
"I know," Boruto agreed.
Just then, the waiter arrived and took their order. Once he walked away, an idea occurred to Boruto.
"Hey, so you were trained by ANBU Black Ops, right?" Boruto asked. "Or, at least, a former one?"
"My father," Sumire nodded. "Why?"
"So, you must know all kinds of awesome offensive and stealth jutsus," Boruto continued.
"A few," Sumire shrugged. "I could try and teach you a few of them if you want."
"Yes please," Boruto nodded. "I want to be able to beat Iwabe without clones."
Sumire nodded and smiled.
"You don't need to beat him," Sumire said. "You've already proven that you're stronger, and you did beat him in academics."
"Yes but I still want to," Boruto said. "He's the only guy I can really have a competition with. Sarada's really good too, but I don't want the headache of having to be around her often enough to call her a rival, and Mitsuki would destroy me if I fought him."
"Alright," Sumire nodded as their food arrived.
They ate mostly in silence. When they finished, Boruto payed and they left, walking through the streets toward a clearing where she could train him.
"Have you gotten to spend much time with your father?" Sumire asked.
"No," Boruto said. "He's always busy. He's so busy doing his job that he's never there for mom or Himawari. I don't know how many celebrations he's missed."
"It's understandable," Sumire said. "He's the Hokage. He's always got to be working to protect the village, even if it seems unnecessary."
"My father can make a thousand clones easy," Boruto said. "And yet he's somehow so busy all the time that he can't even spare one of them to do his job, or even to spend time with family for him. A thousand clones, and yet spending time with us isn't worthy of even one clone."
"I'm sure he does the best he can," Sumire said.
"The best he can is nothing," Boruto said. "Although, he showed up when Himawari got sick. Guess that proves who the favorite is."
"What do you mean?" Sumire asked.
"I got dragged to another dimension to fight Nue and I got scolded, not even once asked if I was okay," Boruto said. "I thought that my eye was a Byakugan, and my dad called me a liar. He said I was just trying to get his attention."
Sumire nodded slowly. She remained silent for a while before speaking.
"He's not playing favorites," Sumire said.
"What?" Boruto asked.
"He's worried about you," Sumire said. "He was afraid when you disappeared, so he scolded you when he found you, as a way of trying to make sure you would be safer in the future. And as for him not believing you about the Byakugan, that's because it really is rare for someone to manifest it without the training. I know you actually do have a Dojutsu, I've seen it. It's not Byakugan, but I don't know what it is."
"At least someone believes me," Boruto sighed, stepping into the clearing. "Alright, so, let's see if you can summon Nue."
Sumire nodded and walked to the center of the clearing, forming several hand seals before slamming her left hand down, a massive cloud of smoke shooting out from under it. After a moment, it cleared, revealing Sumire sitting on Nue's back. She smiled happily and stroked his back a couple times before looking to Boruto. Boruto smiled just as he blinked and suddenly could see Nue's chakra pathway. He stared at Nue in surprise, focusing on the feeling of his Dojutsu being active. He blinked. Still active. He blinked again. Gone.
"Dammit," Boruto growled, focusing, trying to get it to activate again.
"Can you remember what it felt like?" Sumire asked.
"It didn't feel like anything," Boruto said. "It was just there."
"Maybe it really is tied to Nue somehow," Sumire said thoughtfully.
"I don't think that's it," Boruto said. "God I wish I knew someone who could explain what it is."
Sumire nodded and slid to the ground, letting Nue return to his dimension. Then, she drew a pair of kunai, readying herself. Boruto did the same instantly and Sumire grinned.
"Let's begin," Sumire said before charging.
Boruto walked along the street, smiling to himself. He had been thoroughly destroyed by Sumire. But he had still had fun. There was one thing he wasn't sure about though. Despite most of it having been a fight, it still sort of felt like it had been a date.
They turned the last corner just as Sumire spoke up.
"Is something wrong?" Sumire asked. "You look troubled."
"I just...I was really hoping that the next time my Dojutsu activated it would mean I could control it," Boruto half-lied.
"I'm sure you will," Sumire said. "You just have to have patience."
"Easier said than done," Boruto mumbled.
"True," Sumire laughed as they finally reached her home. "I had a lot of fun tonight, even if everyone else bailed."
"Me too," Boruto smiled. "We should do this again sometime."
"Sure," Sumire smiled.
She turned to the door then stopped, glancing back at him. Then, before he could react, she stepped forward, kissing him lightly on the cheek then retreating through her door, closing it until only a crack was left.
"Goodnight Boruto," Sumire smiled.
"Uh...yeah...good night," Boruto said, one hand on his cheek as he stared into space.
Sumire smiled and closed the door and Boruto stood there for another minute before turning and walking zombie-like back to his house and then to his room. As he lay in bed he knew one thing and one thing only. He would not be sleeping that night.
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