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The Hyuuga had a good thing going when they decided to mix other bloodlines into their own. It's good for the village and their clan's gene pool (i.e. weeds out the inbred crazy syndrome). But not just anyone would do for breeding, per ol' geezer Hiashi's waxing lyrical about Hyuuga's long and venerated history. It has to be someone special.
Special, as history shows, is defined loosely.
Though Sarada will never tell anyone this—evereverever—it's honestly nothing short of a miracle that Himawari and Boruto's mom married their dad. Now, don't be confused. Just because Sarada idolizes the Nanadaime doesn't mean she cannot comprehend that Naruto-sama has shortcomings. One such would be romance.
If what Himawari leaks about the village's "first couple" is correct, all school girls everywhere ought to worship the ground that Uzumaki Hinata walks upon. Hinata's patience, tenacity, sheer brilliance—if put to ends that are not snagging Naruto and raising his incorrigible son—could annihilate nations.
Here, Sarada thinks to her own mom.
Oh. Okay, maybe all mothers are like that.
(Now, if only she had the same drive toward her own crush.)
"Mom, take a break for now," Sarada says brightly, marching over to the figure sitting in the corner of the tent. The brunette's peaceful figure is hunched over and oblivious to the grandiose view overlooking Konoha that stretched endlessly below. Like she's seen it billions of times before, from this speech platform. Which she has.
After a brief pause, Hinata raises her head from darning the last detail on Naruto's worn Nanadaime haori. The pale-eyed woman smiles gently, then stops. The byakugan immediately activates.
"You."
One word is enough. Before she's "gentle"-fisted to death, Sarada puts her hands to the sky.
But Hinata only peers harder, the veins around her eyes constricting ever so slightly. It's enough to be terrifying. Sarada gives a nervous chuckle, forgoing the dattebasa at the end.
"I-I surrender."
"Ah." Hinata puts aside her patch job and covers her smile with her hand. "Sarada-chan?"
How in the world…
Sarada shakes her head. See what she means? Annihilate nations. The Nanadaime's wife has devastating ninja prowess. Perhaps the peace between the Five Great Nations is in part due to her influence.
It's at this moment that Kakashi finally wheels up behind her. Of course he would pick the opportune moment to come in without catching the windfall of any potentially unpleasant revelation. Maybe it's cowardice. But here, Sarada concedes on his judgment being actual wisdom.
Kakashi does a mock salute.
"Yo! Dog's outta the bag."
"That's cat…" Sarada mutters under her breath, as Kakashi and Hinata give their greetings to one another. For some reason, Boruto's mom is as unfazed as Kakashi at the news of the body switch. She can't imagine why. The woman is pleasantly placid even when Kakashi explains that Sarada in the form of Boruto is going to give the speech that he's supposed to give.
But when the retired Rokudaime finishes, Hinata says something that makes Sarada admire even more Boruto's mom.
"Pardon me for my ignorance, but isn't it tradition for you to give the speech, Kakashi-sama?"
Sarada observes from the sidelines. SHAAAANARO, she would have shouted, except there are active ANBU milling about, ready to incapacitate imposters of Hokage family members. So… yeah.
Unsurprisingly, the Rokudaime has the gall to shake his head and wag a finger. "Is it, though?"
Hinata cocks her head. Her face is radiant. "Isn't it, though?"
"Since Tsunade only."
Hinata coughs lightly. "That's because the previous Hokage died in office."
"Exactly. And I'm still here," eye-smiles Kakashi, as if that settled that.
Oh. My. Gawd.
"Sarada-chan," Hinata turns to the Uchiha heir trapped in her son's body. "Where is Boruto?"
And lo, Kakashi is sending her the ANBU kill sign, his fluidly dancing fingers truly desperate, like he doesn't want to be left alone with the delightful Mrs. Uzumaki for some reason. Sarada watches him sign various other SOS messages to her, each more frenzied and fluttering than the last. And so, in true kunoichi fashion, Sarada smiles back at Hinata and says:
"I'll go get him, Mrs. Uzumaki. This might take a while, so take your time."
"Good girl. Be back for the ceremony," Hinata smiles.
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tbc
Suzu: next chap: Sarada and Boruto have a bone to pick with one another.
