Sasuke- minus his bag and cloak- stood in a strong stance opposite his daughter, who was also standing steady about two metres away.
Taking a calming breath Sarada kept her eyes on her father's arms and main torso, awaiting him to make the first move.
Having never sparred with him or even seen him in a fight, Sarada needed an idea of his fighting style. With her eyes firmly locked on him she stood still, forcing him to make the first move. He did so quick as a flash, closing the distance between them with a fist raised.
Sarada blocked the punch with her palm, absorbing the impact through a bent elbow and relaxed wrist- as she suspected he was going easy to test her, otherwise that punch would have probably shattered her whole arm. Taking advantage of the forward motion Sarada bought her knee into his side and shifted her weight to the right so that she was by his side, leaving room for the momentum to take him to the floor.
Of course Sasuke's balance was precise and his feet planted solid. Without chakra infusion Sarada's blows were never even going to knock him more than a few inches.
Aiming for his back which was at eye level, Sarada sliced down a chakra enforced punch on the small of the taller man's back, the weakest point on a ninja's spine. Predictably Sarada's chakra control was a far cry from her mother's intense skill and with a twinge of pain in her knuckle the miffed Genin realised that her sneaky sparring partner was wearing armour.
"Unfair advantage," Sarada puffed, "you're wearing ANBU style amour under your shirt."
"Life's full of unfair advantages and disadvantages," Sasuke's smirk was back and his breathing rate had barely increased, "especially in the ninja world."
Sarada glared at her competitor as she dodged another attempted blow. The hand to hand combat continued for a further fifteen minutes before with laboured breaths Sarada's blows became weak.
Calling an abrupt stop Sasuke stood with a serious expression close to his daughter; his breath still even and relaxed. Sarada on the other hand lent with her hands on her knees, and her chakra levels were significantly lower thanks to not only the need to strengthen her attacks, but also her defences.
"I'm impressed," Sasuke stated at last.
Really? Because somebody forgot to tell your face. Sarada thought slightly bitterly, not at all impressed with her inability to even land an effective blow.
Sasuke smirked to himself seeing his daughter's annoyed expression.
"Your stamina is good for your age, and I'm impressed that you're able to focus on utilising chakra during a Taijutsu battle."
"Thank you Father," there was that unnecessary formal tone again. Sasuke sighed mutely and looked like he wanted to comment.
"We should get going," Sarada stated suddenly, "I need to visit Inojin and drop off some medical books Mama borrowed from the Naras."
Sasuke could only agree with his daughter although he wondered how much his comrades had changed since he was last in the village. He felt obliged to visit Kakashi at least.
Sarada knocked politely on the door of the Nara clan's head house. Rather than a complex similar to the Hyuga estate, the Nara land was made up of about ten different houses varying in sizes which formed a sort of village in its self; or course with the deer forest forming a horse shoe around the back and two sides.
Sarada heaved the heavy medical books more securely into her arms and waited patiently for the door to be answered. The young ninja wasn't surprised when Temari opened the main entrance with an apron tied just above her small baby bump. Even whilst pregnant and dressed like a housewife the foreboding ninja had a scary 'run for your life' aura. The thick aroma of simmering stew drifted from the kitchen, it appeared that Temari had surprised everyone when she left for the maternity leave of her second child when the house suddenly became bustling with her constant activity- and visits from Shikamaru's mother who seemed by far the most excited.
"Oh Sarada, hello! Thank you so much for bringing these back," the blonde expressed her gratitude and took the four leather bound books effortlessly and leading the way into the house, "do come in."
"No problem Temari-San," the Nara had insisted that Sarada did not call her Nara-san orsama, to which Sarada fully appreciated her easy-going attitude and happily complied.
"Did your mother find everything she was looking for in them?" Temari questioned casually.
"I sure hope so. I don't want to lug those books all the way back home again."
The older woman chuckled.
After depositing the books outside the library- which anyone outside of the clan was forbidden to enter- the two kunoichi continued through to the kitchen.
"Would you like a brew?" Temari offered.
"No thank you," the Uchiha politely declined, taking a seat at the table.
The kitchen was large and accommodated a normal set of table and chairs.
"So how's your mother getting on with her promotion to head of the hospital?" Temari struck up a conversation having poured her-self a drink.
"Okay I think, she's always exhausted when he gets home but I know she loves her work. A trip to Suna will be good of her; he misses the field work I think."
Temari had long since gotten used to the level of maturity and observational skills Sarada spoke with, not unlike the Nara wife's own son- who speak of the devil arrived through the door a moment later.
"Hey Mum. Uchiha," he acknowledged as he flopped into a chair.
"Nara," Sarada returned with a nod and a smirk.
"You really should treat out guests with more hospitality Shikadai," Temari scolded half-heartedly. She was fed up with disciplining her son's speech, but he would always be courteous when absolutely necessary.
Shikadai just shrugged.
"How was training?" His mother continued.
"Same old," Shikadai drawled, "I'm going to visit Dad's Sensei's grave with Mirai-Sensei later on."
Although Mirai Sarutobi was not the Jounin sensei of the newest Ino-Shika-Cho cell, she was a close friend to the Nara's and had taught Shikadai a thing or two.
Upon arriving at the Yamanaka flower shop jut after midday, Sarada found Ino opening up the shop after her lunch break.
"Sarada honey! It's lovely to see you!" The blonde exclaimed the moment Sarada stepped in the door.
"Hi Aunt-Ino," Sarada mentally sighed at the name she automatically addressed the woman as.
"I heard your father's back in town," Ino immediately launched into gossip mode.
"Uh yeah, he just got back yesterday. I'm not sure how long her staying for though." Ino didn't miss the hint of regret in the young girl's eyes.
"Is Inojin out the back?" Sarada continued.
"Yes sweetie he's in his father's study."
Sai's study wasn't really a study; more of a room full of painting equipment, various weapons and a tiny desk in the corner covered in paperwork, all arranged in an organised chaos sort of fashion- apparently the man's strictly disciplined ANBU lifestyle had worn off once he settled down with his wife and son. Sarada walked in to find Sai sketching absently (a side of him which was rarely seen by anyone outside of his family) as Inojin practiced preparing scrolls.
Although Inojin had inherited Yamanaka clan's mind transfer technique, he also had immense skill with a pencil and paper so his father saw fit to teach his son in his own field of jutsu. Unfortunately so far Inojin struggled with the chakra infusion required to bring his drawing to life from the scrolls.
"Sarada-Chan!" Inojin grinned at his best friend when she slid the door shut behind her and Sai sent her a kind smile.
"Hey Inojin, Uncle-Sai," despite Sarada's aversion to calling Ino 'Aunt', he had no objections to addressing her husband in a similar way.
Having heard stories of 'teenage Sai: the emotionless ANBU from Root' from her mother and the Hokage she understood jut how much he'd changed.
Although she and Inojin's other ninja friends found him odd and not worth their time, Sarada found that despite his bluntness he was one of the most genuine people she'd ever met. (Not to mention her strange appreciation for his dry sense of humour that usually confused most under the age of fifteen.)
And he and his wife were her god parents after all.
"Guess what Sarada-Chan! My team and I have been entered for the Chunin exams!" Inojin placed his inky brush carefully aside and turned to his best friend.
"That's good Jin," Sarada replied, she's secretly been hoping that the others from the academy would be entered too, "Bolt and I have been put forward too."
Inojin's eyes got even more excited at hearing this. Inojin was like his father in many ways- from his complexion to his slight misunderstandings of polite functioning society. But the small blonde was certainly not lacking in the self expression department- as long as he was with people he was comfortable with... Unless that person happened to be his mother who for some reason he turned into a nervous wreck in front of when he got excited (and rightfully so if she was in a certain mood).
After and afternoon spent with Inojin and Uncle-Sai, Sarada returned home as the sun was beginning to drop in the sky. Judging by the quiet atmosphere and Sasuke's shoes placed neatly on the rack inside the door she assumed the said man was working in his study.
Sarada ate and explained to her father that she was not likely to be back from training until mid-morning the following day and then swiftly left the house as the sun indicated late afternoon.
"Now then, survival training is important at this stage in your ninja lives since if you pass the Chinin exam you'll be leaving the village a whole lot more often," Konohamaru briefed them once the trio were assembled.
Just like my Dad. Sarada couldn't help but think.
They were located on one of the outer most training fields outside the main village: Training Ground D.
Whilst most of the other training grounds were labelled numerically this one had been named 'D' for 'Death', 'Danger', 'Doom' and any other foreboding word you could think of beginning with 'D'. Even though said place was not renowned for being a dodgy place it just seemed to ooze creepy.
It was apparent to both Bolt and Sarada that this area was not often utilized for basic ninja training given the overgrown vegetation and distinct lack of ninja made imprints; save for a few kunai strikes on a tree here and there. At least Sarada hoped that they were kunai strikes.
"This training ground is rarely used for purposes other than these types of circumstances so the animal and plant life is mostly unknown," The Jounin sensei continued to address his students. "... This is why it's perfect." Konohamaru's smug smile could only mean that the two Genin were likely in for a rough night.
"Hold it a second!" Bolt butted in, "You're just gonna dump us here for the night?"
"Well... yeah. Pretty much."
Bolt's eyes blanked wide and Sarada smirked silently at her partner.
"Relax Bolt, I have complete faith in the two of you; and besides you've both got supplies."
"Not scared are you Boruto?" Sarada taunted playfully.
Bolt drew himself up to full height and puffed out his chest. "Not a chance Salad-Chan! I'm strong enough to protect us both; you won't have to lift a finger!"
"Always the modest one," Sarada huffed rolling her eyes, "This is gonna be a long night."
Thanks for reading!