A/N: Hello, lovelies. Here it is, the last chapter of Sincerely Yours. We hope you enjoy. More notes and announcements after the fic!
We don't own Naruto/Boruto.
The summer months seemed harsher than they had in past years. Sarada was doing well in her pregnancy but was often uncomfortable. The heat didn't help at all, but Boruto made it a point to keep her as comfortable as possible. One of his favorite parts of the weekdays was fetching her from work. After being without her for a while, he was always looking forward to seeing her and her pretty smile.
Today was just another average day, or so Boruto thought, as he made his way inside Ichiraku Ramen Corp and to her office. It was a walk he knew well and would never forget. He remembered how much he'd dreaded taking the temporary position and how glad he was now that he had. It wasn't like Naruto gave him much of a choice, but it was the best thing that had ever happened to him.
It led him straight to Sarada.
They'd already made so many nice memories together. Some not so nice ones as well. Reminiscing often ended in his laughing to himself. He was so fond of her, loved her deeply, and would never let her go no matter what. Things weren't perfect between them, but they were damn close. Boruto was happy and he knew Sarada was too. They barely even argued these days.
"I'm here," Boruto called as he let himself into Sarada's office without knocking. He was early—as he often was—and she was with someone. "Oh, hello," he said to the young woman who had light blond hair and blue eyes just a shade lighter than his own. It made sense now when Sarada teased him that her new employee could pass for his sister. "You must be Nao."
"Hello!" The girl put her papers down and stood up, offering her hand. "You must be Ms. Sarada's husband."
"Unfortunately, no." Sarada teased.
"Oh!" The girl looked flustered. "S-Sorry. I saw the photos and assumed."
"That's fine, it's happening soon anyway and I'm happy to sport the title of Sarada's husband." Boruto was grinning happily as he walked around Sarada's desk and leaned against it casually. "Does that mean I can start calling you my wife now?"
She giggled. "Maybe. Can you give me ten more minutes with Nao? I just need to finish this."
"But I just got here," Boruto whined and reached over to give her belly a rub. "Don't be mean. She can share."
Nao laughed lightly, taking her seat in front of Sarada's desk again. "I don't mind."
Sarada placed her hand over Boruto's, and let him rub her growing belly a little more. "Just ten minutes." She smiled at him. "And I think Shikadai has a huge box for you. You can go get that while you wait for me."
"Ugh. Fine." Boruto didn't bother trying to hide his pout as he stood straight and raised his hand to teasingly poke at her hair. "Ten minutes. I'll be back."
"Yes, ten minutes!" Sarada rolled her eyes but ended up chuckling. "Now go." She shooed him.
He wasn't happy about it, but Boruto left her office after that and made his way to Shikadai. Whatever his friend could have for him, he had no idea and all he cared about was getting out of there with Sarada. The box was huge and did have his interest piqued as Shikadai pointed it out.
"What is it?" Boruto asked with a cocked brow. "I didn't order anything and have it shipped here." He'd made that mistake before and it wouldn't happen again.
"I think you'll like it." Shikadai pulled out a cutter and started cutting the tape off of the brown carton. When he opened it up, he fished out a cup, with the bright label on it, 'Burger Ramen.' "The headache that you made us all go through." Shikadai laughed. "But happy to say it's been doing well."
"Are you fucking kidding me, bro?" Boruto snatched the cup to inspect it closer with his own eyes. "Oh my god, Sarada didn't tell me? What the—" He was wounded beyond repair. "How long has it been out?"
"Just got it shipped out last week. Had a few come in today for samples. We're expecting a lot of new channels to order, so we're producing it again. One of the best limited editions we've had." Shikadai seemed happy with the result of the product. "Haven't tried it yet, though."
"These are all for me?" It was hard to believe. He'd been waiting on burger ramen for his entire life and now, here it was, in his hand. "I have to have some. Now."
"Yeah, this whole box is for you and Sarada. Your dad already brought home like three cartons for himself." He laughed. "We'll have the rest come in tomorrow for everyone else to try."
"That bastard didn't tell me either. You're all traitors."
Boruto and Shikadai made their way to the pantry together, Boruto bound and determined to get a taste of the burger ramen sooner rather than later. Shikadai was happy to talk of the success so far for the new product and Boruto was always down to talk numbers with anyone. When they were seated and waiting for the hot water to prepare the noodles, Boruto's leg was bouncing impatiently.
"You're lucky to get to try it first with me. I have so many burger ideas when it comes to ramen. It's stupid to stop at only one flavor. We should partner with Thunder Burger and bring all their flavors to life. Holy fuck I'm a genius." Boruto snickered and broke his chopsticks apart, ready for a taste.
"Good luck pitching that to Sarada." Shikadai laughed and also took out his own chopsticks. They both took a seat and prepared themselves to have a taste of Boruto's first and last product for the company.
The first bite was heaven. Boruto could only laugh in elation as his taste buds were assaulted with the flavorful goodness of his favorite thing to eat. "It's better than I hoped," he cooed before scooping some more with his chopsticks and blowing on them. He was too eager to wait. "And don't you worry about Sarada. If it's me, she won't say no."
"Right." Shikadai sounded fully convinced.
"You haven't tasted it yet?" Boruto scoffed after having his second bite. It was hot as hell but nothing would stop him. "And don't you go doubting me. I'm her favorite person, ya know?"
He finally took a bite and nodded. "Okay…" He blew on the cup, going for another bite. "That isn't that bad."
"You mean it's fucking great. Brilliant. Praise me for my genius and tell me I should convince Sarada to get more flavors going." Boruto was so giddy all he could do was laugh and grin and keep eating the delicious ramen. "Best ramen ever."
"There you are!" Sarada poked her head into the pantry and huffed, one hand holding on to her belly and the other on her hip. "I've been looking all over for you. And convince me of what?"
"Oh shit, I'm sorry." Boruto couldn't believe that he'd forgotten to return to her. "Oh, wait. I'm not sorry because you lied to me." He turned his nose up and went back to his ramen.
"Excuse me?" Sarada crossed her arms across her chest and then looked at Shikadai, who only averted his gaze and quickly picked up his cup to get out of the pantry, leaving them alone inside.
"Damn it, Sarada, we were having a moment here. Not that you'd understand—you traitor." He huffed and took another bite, refusing to look at her.
She walked up to him and picked up his cup, reading the label. "Oh, you're trying it already. It was supposed to be a surprise."
"Don't you 'it was supposed to be a surprise' me!" He wouldn't listen. "You were keeping it from me and I know it. Why? The only way you can make this up to me is if you agree to sponsor all Thunder Burger's flavors."
"Of course I was keeping it from you. That's why it's a surprise." She laughed and placed his cup back down. "And that's a no, Boruto," she replied sweetly and kissed the top of his head before she fetched her mug and got herself some water.
"I don't want fake kisses." He frowned. "Why would you do this to me? Don't you see how well the burger ramen is doing." She couldn't pretend otherwise, he already knew the numbers and could guesstimate how well it would go in the long run. "My ideas don't flop. Ever. Have a little faith in me."
"You can take that up with your father, but I won't be putting it forward. Besides," Sarada sat down next to him and grinned. "I don't want to leave too much work with the team. I'll be on maternity leave sooner rather than later."
"I could always step in. I can't believe you really wanna argue with me on this." It was disheartening and left him sulking more than eating his ramen. "We need variety. We deserve it… it's a great idea."
"We will have an opening for my reliever soon enough. I can put in a good word for you." she snickered.
Wounded again, Boruto sighed and returned to eating his ramen more slowly this time. "I see how this is gonna be."
"Don't you want me to recommend you to fill in for me?" Sarada leaned on his arm and looked up at him through her lashes. Whenever Boruto was in a sulky mood, Sarada always made sure to balance him out with some sweetness. "That way I won't feel so guilty if I ask to extend it more."
"It would be the most logical decision in my opinion, but what do I know?" He was trying not to break away from his sullen mood, but it was difficult when Sarada was so close to him and he was so soft for her.
"Mm, and since you have a new baby, I'm sure your father will let you stay at home more while you work." She grinned and rubbed his arm soothingly. "Three months is pretty standard for maternity, but I might want to extend it a little bit, you know?"
Boruto nodded and finished the last of his ramen. "I think it will be good for you to be at home and focusing on Ita-kun for as long as you want. He will need you and it's going to be a lot of change for you and me both. I don't want you to worry about anything. Working will be easy for me and I can still take care of you and Ita-kun too."
"That's what you have Mitsuki and my team for. More time for me and Ita-kun." Sarada chuckled lightly and kissed his shoulder. "We can always get someone else to fill me in. That way, I have more of you for myself."
"Well, we still have time to decide what's best for us—and for the baby, most importantly."
Boruto had so much to look forward to, but he couldn't say he was against working in Sarada's place during her leave. At least then he could make more burger flavors happen.
.
.
.
Sumire: Look, Sarada! Look at this cute dog, I want hiiiim!
Sarada took a look at the photo, seeing a chocolate-colored Retriever. It appeared to be a little younger than a year.
Sumire: I want to adopt him. Please tell me it's a good idea. But even if you say no, I'm sure I can convince Mitsuki to talk me into adopting him.
She laughed at her friend's silliness and shifted on the bed, leaning closer to Boruto and taking a look at Cookie, sleeping soundly at the edge of their bed. She had grown so much over the last few months, and so had Ita-kun. Her hand stroked her belly tenderly.
"Do you think Sumire and Mitsuki can handle a dog?" She asked as she continued to stroke her belly. "I'm not sure if I should tell her it's a good idea or not."
"If Mitsuki can handle those snakes he can handle anything." Boruto huffed, sounding certain. He smiled and tucked his arm around her, burying his nose against her neck. "Maybe it will keep them busy."
"Hmm. You're right. They'll be moving in together soon. Do you think that's a good idea, though?" It sounded a little much for her, but then again, she got pregnant, engaged, bought a house, and moved in well within six months. "Yeah, okay, I'll tell her to do it." She composed a reply, only to stop when her friend sent another picture.
They were adoption papers.
Sumire: My hand slipped.
Sumire: I have to bring Biscuit over to play with Cookie!
"Biscuit." Sarada laughed. "Boruto, if they're going to get a dog, you might as well tell Mitsuki to marry her already, too."
"You're right, I should probably give him that push. He does listen to me." He laughed. "What do you mean biscuit? Don't tell me it's a craving."
"No, no." She laughed again and showed Boruto her screen. "I think Cookie's going to get a boyfriend."
"What?" He scoffed at that, squinting as he looked at the phone. "She is way too young to consider that. No. Absolutely not."
"Cookie could have her first heat in a few months." Sarada eyed their dog, who woke up thanks to Boruto's outburst. "Don't you want to get a boyfriend, Cookie?" She asked, to which the dog wagged her tail. "See!"
"Sarada don't be ridiculous. What are you rushing her for?" He pouted and was quick to move and take Cookie into his arms, holding her like a baby. "No way I would let her do something so lewd while she's still a child. You need to think about what you're saying."
"She's seven months old! Her breed information said she could start going into heat soon." She couldn't help but laugh at how protective her fiancé was. She could only imagine how he would be towards their children. "Fine. They can be friends first, right?"
"Well, I guess I'll allow it but the first time he tries anything is the last time he will see my Cookie." Boruto turned his nose up and even rolled over away from her, snuggling up with Cookie instead.
Sarada giggled and texted her friend that they could have their dogs meet over the weekend in their backyard. The fall weather had been good to them, aside from the many fallen leaves that continued to accumulate and keep Boruto busy raking them up. Cookie enjoyed running into the piles and getting dirty until Boruto had no choice but to bathe her.
Once Sarada finished her text, she tossed her phone away and hovered over Boruto, seeing that pout still visible on his face. It was quite the challenge to move when her belly was so swollen, but she tried and tickled his ear. "Playdate this weekend for the dogs. But maybe we can have our own playdate later?" She giggled.
"Well," he peeked at her while petting Cookie's ear. "I can't say no to my princess, can I?"
She grinned at him and kissed his shoulder. "I'm happy about that, love."
The weekend came faster than they had both anticipated, and when the doorbell rang, Cookie barked once and ran towards the door. Sarada pulled the cookies out of the oven and transferred them on to the cooling rack. "Boruto, could you get that, please? That should be Sumire and Mitsuki."
Seeing Cookie sniff at the door and her tail wagging like crazy was already making Sarada's cheeks hurt from all the smiling.
"Yeah, I got it," Boruto called, already on his way to the door. "Hey guys," she heard him greet the pair once he opened the door to let them in. "There's the Cookie stealer."
"Boruto!" Sarada reprimanded him from the kitchen.
Sumire giggled, and Mitsuki was still smiling, though. The dog on the leash looked elated to see Cookie, his bum rising in the air, tail wagging like crazy. Cookie looked excited, too.
"He is kinda cute but I'm telling you he better treat my Cookie with respect or else." Boruto wasn't going to budge on the matter.
"I'm sure he'll behave." Sumire crouched down and doted on her dog before unclasping the lock that connected his collar with the leash. It only took a second before the two dogs were running around the house, bumping into things.
"Outside!" Sarada screeched.
"Oh shit, don't upset my princess." Boruto was quick to usher the dogs to the fenced-in backyard. "They'll get their exercise out there, don't worry everything is okay."
He knew well just how much she worried about the house and everything is taken cared of. The further Sarada got into her pregnancy, the easier she was to upset. Sometimes Boruto was walking on eggshells and sometimes she was overly happy. He never knew what side of her he was going to get but he loved all of them deeply.
Sarada sighed and walked over to their guest, kissing their cheeks before settling down on the couch. "How's moving in?"
"Great so far." Sumire smiled. "Having Biscuit around really livened up the place, too."
"Having a dog is a great addition to a home." Sarada looked at Boruto and raised her brows at him, waiting.
"Oh, for sure," Boruto agreed right away when prompted by her. "Also… kids are good. The more the merrier."
"How would you even know? You don't have one yet." Mitsuki blinked.
Sarada snickered. "I have a feeling."
"Excuse me? Yes, I do. Just because he's not running around in here yet doesn't mean I don't have him. I'll kick your ass."
The three of them laughed. Sumire patted Mitsuki's thigh and leaned on him. "He's got a point there."
"Do you want kids?" Mitsuki asked, putting her on the spot.
"I—" Sumire blushed all the way up to her ears, hands cupping her flaming cheeks. "I guess I do."
"Yes, kids are great, and being pregnant is great." Boruto nodded with certainty. "Me and Sarada have tons of fun and just knowing Ita-kun will be here soon is so exciting."
"Great because you're not the one who's pregnant," Sarada muttered. She then clasped her hands together and turned her attention back to her friends. "Keep us updated. And I call dibs being maid of honor."
"Isn't that for weddings?" Mitsuki asked innocently.
"S-Sarada!" Sumire screeched.
"Great, I'll be Mitsuki's best man and we'll get to walk down the aisle together twice." Boruto grinned and blew a kiss at Sarada.
"Sounds perfect." Sarada grinned at her fiance. "I can't wait for my invitation."
Poor Sumire looked like she was overheating based on how red her face was.
"You want to get married?" Mitsuki looked at her. "You never told me."
"What does she need to do, spell it out for you. Damn Mitsuki sometimes you just gotta know these things." Boruto shook his head at his friend and sighed. "We need to talk more about this."
"We do." Mitsuki nodded seriously.
Sarada giggled at her friends' embarrassed expression, but she would not be sorry at all if Mitsuki proposed to her tomorrow morning. A week later, Sarada got a call from Sumire, crying because Mitsuki had bought her the prettiest ring and she said yes.
.
.
.
For months Boruto had done everything within his power to prepare for the day.
Today was the day.
Nobody told him today would be the day.
It happened early in the morning—earlier than he normally even woke. Boruto was in a dead sleep when something smacked him in the face. Hard.
"What the fuck?" He shot up in bed with a start, hearing Sarada grunt in pain next to him and quickly realized it was her who'd punched him while she slept. "Sarada?" He called, forgetting about his pain as he was concerned for her. Boruto rested his hand on her arm, rubbing it. "Hey, Sarada, wake up."
She groaned again and squeezed her eyes shut before rolling over to the other side of the bed. Her hand then flew to her swollen belly and rubbed at it.
"You okay, princess?" Boruto asked worriedly, quick to begin rubbing her back in a comforting manner. "Need some water? A bath?"
Her eyes opened by a crack, and she winced. "Painful."
"Just breathe and relax. I'll take care of you." He kissed her forehead and felt her breathe a bit easier as if the pain had gone. "Maybe we should try a bath to soothe you. Come on, I'll run your water."
"Okay," she whispered, slowly getting up from bed, but still rubbing her tummy. The pain was gone. Boruto walked around the bed and stood in front of her. When Sarada got up, she felt something wet between her legs. Her eyes widened and looked at the floor, seeing liquid seeping through her shorts and down her thighs. "Oh no." She knew. "Boruto…"
"What?" He already felt panic setting in and was trying to remind himself to breathe. He knew too, but he was having a moment of denial.
She looked at him and blinked in the dark, but she could see the fear on his face. Her heart fluttered for a moment. "My water broke."
"Right… water." He nodded, laughing nervously before screeching, "Holy fuck! Your water broke!"
Sarada jumped at his sudden outburst making her panic rise as well. "I-it's okay. Mama told us it'll be fine. We just need to get to the hospital."
Boruto took a breath, knowing he needed to calm down so he could take care of his princess. It was his only duty as a man and a soon to be a father. "Okay, princess… I have this all under control. You just sit here on the bed and give me a minute okay?"
She could only nod, doing her best to stay calm, too. While Boruto ran to gather their things, Sarada picked up her phone from the bedside table, wanting to text her mother that she had begun labor. In the middle of the text, Sarada felt a contraction and gasped at the pain. As if on cue, Boruto was right at their door and watched her suffer through one.
He was cursing on his way over to her, having left their bags by the bedroom door. Boruto was quick to come to her side, having her robe and a clean pair of underwear and pajama bottoms for her. He knelt on the floor before where she sat on the bed and cradled her stomach in his hands.
"You have to remember to breathe through them, princess. Remember?" Boruto rubbed her belly, breathing along with her until the contraction passed and she was able to feel relief once more. "Can you stand up for me now?"
Taking one more breath, she finally nodded and held his hand to help her to stand. Boruto helped her remove her shorts and to change her clothes, all while Sarada tried but failed to put her robe on by herself. He helped her make sure it was in place before they finally walked together out of their room.
It was difficult for Sarada, especially when she would get contractions at the places where she least wanted them to happen. In the middle of the stairs, and right before she got into the car. She felt better once she got to sit down, and finally finished texting her mother before bracing herself for another one.
Boruto put their bags in the back seat and hurried to get behind the wheel and on the road. "Don't worry, princess. You're going to do great. It's early so traffic is light. We're going to meet Ita-kun today!" He hoped to reassure her and help her see the bright side despite the pain she was in as he drove. They were fifteen minutes away from the hospital and that was with no traffic and him speeding, which he had to be mindful of.
Everything after that was a blur, at least until Boruto got to lay eyes on his son for the very first time. Sarada's labor had gone on for hours and hours and during that time, she had experienced a lot of discomfort and pain. They were visited by their parents and Himawari, but for the most part, were given their space. Once it got closer to time, all Boruto knew was that he needed to be there for Sarada, even if only for her to scream at him and hate him. It was awful and time seemed to sit still for a while, but once he was born, all the waiting and pain were forgotten.
Boruto was shaken with nerves, but his hand was steady whenever he was allowed to cut the umbilical cord himself. Ita-kun was laid on Sarada's naked chest. She was crying and laughing at the same time, whereas she had been screaming and cursing only a moment before. Boruto had never felt such an overwhelming amount of love before in his life.
He loved Sarada, but what he felt for her had grown so immensely in the blink of an eye that he couldn't wrap his head around it. And Ita-kun, he was special in a way Boruto could never describe with words. Hearing his cries made Boruto's heart swell with pride. He kissed Sarada's head and thanked her for being everything he ever needed and more.
They were only in the hospital for the rest of that day and the next. Sarada had a smooth delivery, even if it hadn't seemed like it at the time—Boruto honestly thought at one point that she was on the verge of death and he'd almost passed out more times than he cared to admit to anyone. Some very doting grandparents visited and didn't want to leave. Himawari was overjoyed—and came with Inojin not once, but three times. Sarada's uncles visited as well, and even Mitsuki and Sumire, but when they went home for the first time, Boruto and Sarada requested to have some time alone to get settled.
Leaving the hospital was a little scary for Boruto. He'd never been a parent before and really didn't know what he was doing. He wanted to do his best for Sarada and Ita-kun, and was more careful than ever before. He drove along slowly, carried Ita-kun's carrier inside as carefully as possible, and never took his eyes off of his son once they were inside. Sarada didn't seem to have the shaken nerves that Boruto was dealing with. She handled Ita-kun with care, but in a way that made her seem like a seasoned pro.
"He's so tiny," Boruto whispered to her as if speaking any louder would alarm the infant who was sleeping soundly in her arms. "So perfect… He looks like you."
"I think he looks like you," she chuckled lightly and then tore her gaze away from their son to look into his eyes. "He got one of my favorite parts of you."
"Okay, he looks like both of us." Boruto laughed and leaned closer to her, gently caressing Ita-kun's soft cheek with the tip of his index finger. "I can't believe he's here… and we're home. It feels like a dream."
"I feel the same." She leaned into him a little more and looked at their baby once again. "I've been feeling like I was in a dream since I met you."
"I love you, princess." Boruto smiled and kissed her temple before looking back at his son. "I'm happy we get to keep dreaming together, and with Ita-kun too."
.
.
.
As the leaves changed color and the trees remained bare, it signaled another season for the year. Ita-kun had grown so much in the last two months, and now that the holidays were approaching, their families were all debating who would host for Christmas Eve, and then host for Christmas Breakfast. Sarada was always happy to have their families and friends over, but having Ita-kun definitely changed a lot of things with her and Boruto's routine.
Boruto gave in and filled in the Marketing Director role while Sarada remained on maternity leave. As she had to stay at home more often and miss out on the office activities, it made her a little sad but gave her some time to cause some fun on her own. This year, they were still having their Feel Good Friend activity and Sarada sent Boruto some gifts to throw him off who his Santa might be.
Inojin and Chocho were helpful in this regard. They kept her in their work chat group and gossiped about the gifts that everyone was receiving.
Inojin: Heads up, Sarada. I saw a bib on Boruto's desk earlier. I'm guessing his Santa knows about Ita-kun.
Chocho: Who doesn't know Boruto has a baby? That's old news.
Nao: I thought Ms. Sarada was married to him… my bad. I assumed it because people talked about it like they were already married!
That last line gave Sarada an idea of how to pull a practical joke on Boruto.
She ordered a bunch of things online and then spread them out on the days they were to be delivered. And to make it less suspicious, she always made sure to ask Boruto if his Santa got him anything.
After putting a sleeping Ita-kun in his bassinet, Sarada made her way downstairs and welcomed Boruto home. "How was work today? Did your Santa give you another baby item?" She grinned, holding her hands out expectantly.
"Ah, t-today? No, there were none." He shook his head quickly and held his hands up, his left eye twitching in a way that gave his lie away even if she didn't already know. "Maybe tomorrow."
Boruto was always such a bad liar, and she almost felt sorry he had to lie about it. Sarada pretended to pout and placed her hands on his chest as she asked again. "Not a baby item, then? No nice notes? Nothing fun?" She had sent him something fun, and she was evil but enjoyed watching him squirm.
"Nope." Boruto laughed nervously. "Nothing. Definitely nothing fun or anything, ya know?"
Her brow lifted. There was no way he didn't find a remote-controlled vibrator fun. "Okay. Do you have your gift for Kagura ready?" It was funny how the fates worked. Of all the people Boruto could have gotten, it had to be Kagura. Sarada giggled.
"Yes, I'm on top of everything," he grumbled, obviously not happy, but he shook it off to smile at her and finally wrapped her in his arms, giving her a soft kiss on her lips. "How was your day?"
"It was okay." Sarada sighed. "I love being a mother and Ita-kun, but I do want a night off." Same time last year, she was always out shopping for gifts or watching movies and plays with friends. "A Christmas Carol is out again," she said and wrapped her arms around him, too. "Do you want to watch?"
"I think we can manage to get a babysitter for that." He grinned. "I want to watch."
"Great. I'll send you an Outlook invitation." She laughed.
Boruto laughed with her until he kissed her again, effectively silencing both of them.
While Boruto was at work, Sarada booked them tickets for Friday night. Getting a babysitter was not a problem, as her parents, Hinata, and even her uncles were all fighting over who could watch their baby for a few hours. She also received two emails that her orders have been received by Boruto. He had been good, keeping his mouth shut for the last two toys, but the one she sent hopefully would have him admitting that his Santa was being naughty this year.
Boruto had been a lot more nervous and agitated, and she knew it was because of her lewd gifts. On their drive to the theater, she placed her hand on his lap and asked. "How's work, love? Everyone happy with their Santas?"
"Ugh shit. We need to talk about that… but later. Okay?"
"Is it that bad?" Sarada tried her best to look innocent, but in truth, she was fighting so hard to keep her laughter to herself.
The play seemed even better this time around, and this time, she was happy she could hold his hand and cuddle. During the intermission, Sarada nearly broke down and told Boruto it was her sending him the sex toys, as he could barely look at her in the eye when she asked again, "Are you okay? Are you sure you don't want to tell me anything?"
"Yes, I do," he told her honestly, brows furrowed. His lips mulled together for a few seconds before he sighed and said, "My Santa is… I don't know who it is, but they've been sending these… things. Please don't be mad."
"What things?" She asked. "Baby things? The jumper they sent was really cute." She rubbed his arm. "I liked the pacifier, too." Whoever his real Santa surely knew how to choose quality baby things.
"No, god no… I wish." His frown deepened and he scratched his chin pensively as if trying to decide on the best words to explain. "I've been getting other things too… naughty things."
"Naughty things?" She gasped. "Like what?"
"You're gonna make me say it?" He whined, cheeks turning pink. "Like, sexual things… like… you know, toys and stuff."
"Boruto." Her voice dropped an octave lower. "You've been receiving sex toys?" She made sure to keep her voice low. This was a family play, after all.
"Yes," he admitted quietly. "I don't know why or who would send me anything like that, I swear. I'll have their ass fired though, don't worry."
Oops. Looks like he didn't take it as well as she thought. "Why didn't you tell me sooner? Or you know… take them home?" There was a reason why she chose those particular toys. Sarada was actually excited to try them out.
"I knew you would be upset. I was hoping it was only a one-time thing, but it wasn't and I didn't really know how to bring it up to you. I feel bad and I'm sorry but I really have no idea who would do something like this. Everybody knows you are my princess and I don't want to think about sex unless it's with you."
"You'll have your Christmas party and reveal next week, right?" She rubbed his thigh. "I'm not upset. I'm more upset you didn't take them home for us to use." She giggled. Sarada thought about just letting him be surprised, but that would be mean to the unknowing Santa.
"Oh my god, what?" Boruto was affronted. "Are you serious? Wouldn't you be mad if I just showed up with something like that that was given to me?"
She shrugged. "I think I would be excited." Sarada grinned. "Besides, everyone knows you're mine. Those gifts might have been for me."
"Oh, well you do have a point… Maybe it's Chocho." Boruto thought it over before shrugged his shoulders. "Okay, I'll bring them home and we can play since you're so horny."
An elderly lady shot them a glare, and Sarada smiled apologetically before kissing his cheek and dragging her fingertips over his crotch. "I really am."
"Sarada, what the hell? Stop it." Boruto squeaked and brushed her hand aside. "What's gotten into you?"
The bell rang, and the lights started to dim. "Later." She giggled and then leaned on his shoulder again to watch the play.
The following week, Boruto brought home all of the toys he received, and Sarada would be lying if she said she wasn't excited. She couldn't even decide which one she wanted to try first. After trying all of them and feeling remarkably well spent, Sarada cuddled up to Boruto and sighed contentedly. "I knew getting those toys was a good idea."
"What?" Boruto quipped. He looked at her with his jaw slackened and his brows raised high. "What did you say?"
She bit her lower lip then. Slowly, she propped herself up on her elbow and looked at him, trying to stop herself from smiling. "I know who sent you those toys. And… it isn't your Santa for this year."
"You put somebody up to this?" He gaped at her. "What were you thinking?"
"No, I didn't. I chose and sent it to you." Sarada averted her gaze, a blush rising to her cheeks. "I wanted to send you gifts, too." Finally, she peeked at him. "Gifts that we can both enjoy."
"You're so bad." Boruto couldn't help but laugh then. "You want to have fun, or are you just eager to have my second baby?"
"If we go to your vacation home by the lake again, I'm quite sure we can have another baby." Sarada laughed, relieved he wasn't upset with her. There were still many vacant rooms that they needed to fill. "I don't mind having another as long as it's with you." She lied down on his chest and cuddled.
"So sweet. I love you, princess." Boruto smiled warmly and rubbed her back. "Fine, I don't see any reason to wait either. Let's do it."
.
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Christmas dinner this year was different. Boruto and Sarada had more than enough room for everyone, so they had suggested to host the dinner themselves and just have everyone come over to them. It seemed like the best idea and that way they would be home with all of Ita-kun's things too. Everybody showed up early and the entire day Sarada, Hinata, Sakura, and Himawari had been in the kitchen cooking and baking. Shisui and Itachi were in there a good bit of the time also, both of them excited about cookies.
It was a busy yet relaxing day. Boruto was holding Ita-kun as much as he could, but his son had been stolen countless times throughout the day. Everybody wanted to hold him and dote on him. It was strange seeing Sasuke smile so much, but it made Boruto happy. Naruto was as goofy a grandpa as Boruto expected he'd be. Ita-kun had so many people to love and support him always and Boruto knew he would never want for anything.
This year was completely different from the last when he and Sarada hadn't even had dinner together. He remembered dropping her off with her parents that evening and being so nervous when Sasuke caught them under the mistletoe. It seemed as if those times were well in the past, much longer than a mere year ago. So much had happened.
Now, Boruto and Sarada had a child together and would soon be married. He wasn't scared of Sasuke anymore and had seen firsthand how soft the man actually was, so Boruto didn't hesitate to capture Sarada's lips in a kiss whenever they ended up beneath a mistletoe. There were quite a few, placed in odd parts of their home by Sakura, and Boruto being the opportunist he was, put them all to good use. It didn't matter who was around, nobody could stop him from showering his princess with love and affection. He knew exactly where each mistletoe was placed and he purposely continued to catch Sarada.
Ita-kun was just an infant, so it was a Christmas he wouldn't remember, but they made sure to take tons of pictures and videos. Boruto went above and beyond for his princess and their baby for Christmas—and Himawari too, he couldn't leave her out. It was a joyous time and Boruto had been so overly content with his life in the last year, that when the new year came, he thought he would get through it without much thought on his past.
It was still a part of him that he couldn't let go though, the nightmares returned more frequently the more he thought of his college days and Nyoko in particular. More guilt had consumed him when he had thoughts of letting her go to focus on his family. It wasn't fair to Nyoko and it wasn't like he really wanted to forget her anyway. He did hope that one day he wouldn't hurt so badly but he was glad to be able to keep her memory alive. This year, Sarada was by his side the entire time. She was patient and understanding, giving him his space when he needed it, never pushing him but always there when he needed her.
When the day of Nyoko's death arrived, Boruto woke in a cold sweat, tears streaming down his face. However, he was instantly reassured when Sarada was there to wrap her arms around him. She was already dressed in thick, warm winter clothing, had his clothes set out for him and a bag packed. She was able to think clearly, while he wasn't. She was his saving grace during the most difficult times and somehow, even if it seemed impossible, Boruto found himself falling even more in love with her than he already was.
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Valentine's finally rolled in, and for once, her parents offered to stay in town to take care of Ita-kun. Sarada already thought it was strange when her mother told her they would be staying in town, but got even more suspicious when her father insisted.
"Did you plan something for us this Valentine's?" Sarada asked him, even if she was already sure he did.
"Me? Plan? Pft." Boruto laughed. "Definitely not. I've been too busy lately… sorry this year there are no plans."
Sarada nodded, trying to look convinced, but her smile said otherwise. "Right. Too busy with me and Ita-kun and your new Ramen line, right?" She approached him from behind, wrapping her arms loosely around his neck and then peered at the screen. She spotted an open tab that did not look like it was work-related.
Boruto was quick to spin around, forcing her to step back, and then she was tugged into his lap. The move was effective in keeping her eyes away from the screen but she already knew he was up to something. His arms wound around her, embracing her strongly as he pressed a soft kiss to her cheek.
"That's exactly right. You're not too disappointed, are you?"
"Not at all." Sarada chuckled lightly. "I guess you can say I expected it." It was so hard not to laugh. "I should tell Mama and Papa they don't need to take care of Ita-kun for the weekend, then." She bit her lower lip as she watched his expression change. Boruto could never lie to her but she appreciated that he tried for surprises.
"W-well… we don't have to go that far. I mean, we could at least have the time to ourselves. Just because we will be home doesn't mean I can't spoil you…"
She pretended to think that over for a moment and decided not to torture him any further. "You're right. I think I'd like that." Sarada smiled and pressed a light kiss on his right eye. "Okay, I'll let them know they can still pick up Ita-kun."
"Yes, good," he replied with a smile. "Thanks, Princess."
Boruto's lie didn't last long. Valentine's was still the following day, yet her parents had already arrived, ready to whisk their grandchild away. Sarada had the decency to pretend she was surprised when Boruto brought their bags out to the car, and he had laid out clothes for her on the bed.
"Am I supposed to guess where we're going, or will you tell me there's nothing planned again?" She laughed.
"There's nothing planned." He grinned at her, cheeky as ever. "Get dressed."
"Okay." Sarada did as she was told, already used to Boruto's shenanigans. Whatever he had planned, she was sure she would love it anyway.
The drive lasted for two hours. It didn't feel like it lasted that long because the scenery was beautiful. Boruto had rented a cabin up in the mountains, with a beautiful view of a lake. It was quiet and peaceful, the air so fresh and crisp. The interior of the cabin was perfect for two, with a large fireplace and a big comfy bed. Exploring the woods and the lake was something they had both excitedly talked about but no exploring was done throughout the weekend. Boruto was too busy spoiling her, and taking it to heart when Sarada agreed to try for a baby again.
The weekend was lovely, and a much-needed break from reality for Sarada, though she did miss her baby and her home. By the time Boruto was packing up their things at the back of the car, Sarada wrapped her arms around his middle from behind and leaned on his back. "Do we have to go? If we brought Ita-kun, I wouldn't want to leave."
Boruto hummed and kissed the top of her head while his hand slowly stroked up and down her back. "It is nice, but I love being home with you two. Our honeymoon will be here before you know it though… not that I have anything planned." He laughed and brought his hand around to poke playfully at her tummy. "Gotta get married before the baby makes an appearance."
"Oh my gosh, stop it." Sarada giggled. "I don't want to get pregnant before we get married. Ita-kun's still so small." Although she said that, she knew she would still be ecstatic to find out if she was. With all the sex they had that weekend, she really wouldn't be so surprised. "Our wedding is coming up so soon… I'm excited to see our yard full of flowers."
"This year, it's going to blow your mind." A lot of work had gone into the garden but it was sure to be worth it. "It will be here before we know it. I have a vision and I won't settle for anything less than perfection for you."
"Our birthdays first," Sarada reminded him. "And then our wedding. Excited to call me your wife yet?" She grinned.
Boruto smirked then and gave her tummy a light pinch. "What about you, huh? You've been my wife since before we were even together. I remember you taking my card and having no problem going around claiming to be Mrs. Uzumaki."
She gasped. "I have never done that! Neither will I do it any time soon until after our wedding." Sarada puffed her cheeks. "You're the one who insists I do that." The occasion for her to do so had never arisen, but she was sure it would.
"You totally did it." He laughed again and then pressed a few quick kisses to her cheek. "No need to be shy about it. I'm happy that you want to be my wife."
"I have not!" Sarada insisted, and she knew deep in her soul that she had never. But she was excited to be his wife. "You probably have told people I'm your wife, though."
"Of course I have," he scoffed as if it was the most obvious thing. "It comes up all the time."
Sarada giggled and kissed his cheek. "I'm happy you get the chance to do that." She could only imagine how much bragging he would do once they got their rings. "I have a few more months before I can use your card for shopping sprees." Not that Boruto would mind. Until now, he always insisted on paying for whatever she wanted. Little did she know, she spoke too soon.
The two of them stopped by Ninbucks, and right after Boruto ordered, he handed her his wallet and ducked out to go to the bathroom. He was so silly for holding it in, just so he could order for her. "A coffee and a muffin, that would be six-seventy." The cashier smiled.
Sarada returned the smile and pulled out her wallet, frowning that she didn't have enough cash on her. Instead, she pulled out her own debit card and handed it to the cashier.
"Sorry, you don't have enough on here. Do you have another card?"
Sarada blinked. This had never happened before. Then again, ever since her maternity leave, Sarada barely left the house or went to the bank. "Umm… I think so." She opened up her wallet again, only to find she brought the wrong wallet with her. She put her own wallet down and opened up Boruto's, retrieving his credit card and handed it to the cashier.
The cashier looked at it suspiciously, and then at her. "You're Boruto Uzumaki?"
She couldn't believe this person was giving her attitude. Boruto was just with her! "No. He went to the bathroom. He was the guy with me just a little while ago."
The cashier nodded but didn't swipe the card. "And what is your relationship with Mr. Uzumaki?"
"He's my husband." Sarada couldn't believe the words that slipped right out of her mouth so easily, but she couldn't take it back. "We just got married."
"Aww," Boruto's voice surprised her. He'd returned without her knowing and came to stand right behind her. "I love it when my wife brags."
Her cheeks burned, but she held her tongue and smiled. "Of course. Why wouldn't I?" She then grinned at the cashier, who looked convinced enough and processed their payment.
After they got their order, Sarada sat down on the couch and huffed. She had a staring contest with her coffee and cake. "All that trouble for these two," she muttered. Boruto was still smiling, still happy to have caught her doing exactly what she said she wouldn't do until April. "You're smiling too much, she sulked.
"Because you make me happy… I love you."
It was hard to keep pouting when he was being so sweet. "I love you too."
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For their birthdays, Boruto and Sarada ended up spending the weekend at the vacation home as if to make it a tradition. Boruto did his best to spoil Sarada, just as he always did. He bought her beautiful red roses and a charm anklet with Ita-kun's initials on it. The rest of her gifts came in his actions. He was always kind and affectionate to her, always kissing and touching her as if she deserved the utmost care and love. He always made her feel special, unlike anyone else ever could.
This time, Ita-kun was with them. With the wedding right around the corner, they didn't want to leave him with anyone else. Boruto was as secretive as possible but their honeymoon was happening even if he didn't go into details about it. Ita-kun always kept them happy anyway and whenever he wasn't with them, they always missed him terribly. He was a good baby, rarely crying. He was heavily doted on and carried around more than necessary—both of them spoiling him just as their family members did every chance they got.
The weekend was going smoothly until the morning they were set to depart. Sarada was sleeping soundly when she was awoken by her fiancé's hand combing through her hair, and his familiar, soft-spoken voice.
"Wake up, Princess, I cooked breakfast," he said to her, lips warm and soft as they connected with hers in a brief kiss. Then the smell of bacon and eggs overwhelmed her.
Sarada was a fan of bacon and eggs but for some reason, the smell of them had caused her stomach to turn, a feeling of nausea overcame her. She sat up with a start, and Boruto moved back out of the way, blue eyes wide at how suddenly she moved. The covers were thrown off of her and in the next instant, she was out of bed and dashing towards the bathroom. Sarada barely reached the toilet before the contents of her stomach were coming out in the most violent way.
Boruto was panicked and right behind her, having her hair swept up and held atop her head as quickly as she'd moved. He didn't say anything as she vomited, only held her hair and rubbed her back, silently offering his support. When she had nothing more to throw up, Sarada flushed the toilet and groaned, lifting her head and turning her eyes to find him grinning from ear to ear.
"You're pregnant." He was positively beaming, needing no further proof.
Her brows pulled together, and a pout formed on her lips. "So soon…" she groaned. "And right around the same time, too." She stayed seated on the floor, her hands came up to cradle her flat stomach and rubbed it affectionately. "I can't believe it's only been a year."
"This is great! I was worried we would have to try longer… not that I mind trying. We can pretend you're not pregnant if you want and have lots of sex in every position we can think of."
She took a deep breath and sighed. Boruto knew she was trying—and failing—not to smile. "We shouldn't tell anyone yet."
"Of course. We won't tell until after the honeymoon. If you're ready by then."
He kissed her forehead while letting her hair down and then left her to walk to the sink. She came to stand next to him, ready to brush her teeth while he prepared a cool, damp washcloth for her. He was soon wiped off her face while she put a bit of toothpaste on her toothbrush and then he laid the cloth over the back of her neck.
"All better now? You still have breakfast to eat."
She groaned and brushed her teeth, looking at him as she did. "It didn't smell too good…" she spoke with the toothbrush still in her mouth, making her words nearly inaudible. "I think I'll cook something else." She went back to brushing, and then rinsed off her mouth before wiping it.
"Hey," he pouted. "That's just the baby talking."
"Sure," She teased. "I really don't think I can eat it, though." Sarada smiled at him apologetically. "Do you know what I want to eat right now?"
"No, what?" He asked, pout quickly replaced with a smile. "Whatever you want, you got it."
"I can't believe you don't know what I want!" She laughed. "And here I thought you knew what I wanted before I even knew it myself."
Boruto's face fell, a crease forming between his brows while his lips worried. The gears were turning in his head to the point Sarada could imagine hearing them.
Sarada wrapped her arms around his middle and looked up at him, a smile on her face. "I want chicken and waffles."
"Shit," he laughed under his breath and rested his chin on top of her head. "Okay, yes… I should've known. You will forever be a strange one."
She laughed quietly and gave him a light squeeze. "I don't want to have to drive out, though. Maybe we can see what we can cook before Ita-kun wakes up?"
"Whatever you want, Princess."
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The day of their wedding finally arrived, and Sarada could finally relate when her friends and other people would say that their wedding day was one of the happiest days of their lives. There were plenty of days that were in running for being the best day of her life, but she was sure her wedding day would definitely be a tough contender.
Their backyard had finally blossomed fully, filling it with green, yellow, pink, and red flowers. There were additional ones brought in, too. It took some convincing, but Boruto agreed to reduce their guests, only inviting the few who really knew them well and stood by them throughout their relationship.
The two of them had only known each other a little over a year, but Sarada felt like it had been much longer than that. Their son was carried by Shisui, easily being the cutest ring bearer ever. She couldn't help but tear up when they exchanged their vows, Boruto had cried a little more than she did throughout the ceremony, but it was precious. There was no one else she could think of who she would want to marry and spend the rest of her life with.
The reception was still held in their yard, lights set up on the small dance floor where she and Boruto had their first dance. Sarada thought nothing else could top how happy she felt at the moment, all until they started taking pictures, and Ita-kun was in her arms for all of them.
The only time she let go of him was when it was time for the father-daughter dance. Sarada never thought she would ever see her father tear up, but he did, even if it was barely noticeable. She cried then, genuinely touched that her father was truly happy for her and Boruto.
It took everything in her not to tell her father that she was pregnant again, but she held it in, promising that she would do her best to take care of her new family.
"I have no doubt you will do a great job, Sarada. You and Boruto." Sasuke smiled at her and tapped her forehead with his index and middle finger.
Boruto was next to her after a few moments, ready to take her into his arms again. Sasuke nodded at him, and sincerely congratulated them both before leaving.
The moment she wrapped her arms around his neck, she nearly melted in happiness. "I really can't believe this is happening," she whispered, already feeling her throat closing up and another round of tears coming. She looked at her finger, the wedding band sparkling right with her engagement ring. "You make me so happy, Boruto."
"I love you so much," Boruto said softly, blue eyes as bright as ever. "I feel like the luckiest man in the world."
"I love you too." Sarada gazed into his eyes, adoring how beautiful they looked. "I feel the same way. If you told me from last year this would be happening now, I wouldn't believe a single word." She giggled. It was ridiculous but here they were, happily married, and she really wouldn't want to trade it for anything in the world.
"Well, I don't think I would've either. I never thought I'd be here with anyone, much less someone as beautiful and perfect as you." He laughed and was quick to capture her lips in a kiss. "I'd marry you a thousand times if I could."
She smiled a little wider and then leaned on his shoulder as they swayed slowly to the music. "Once is all I need," she said. "Because I'd never let you go." He was now officially hers, after all of their silliness, now she couldn't deny it anymore. She was now his as well. Sarada never thought she would feel so happy to change her name, too. "I can't wait to be called Mrs. Uzumaki."
"Well, Mrs. Uzumaki, I'll be happy to call you any way you like, as often as you like." He grinned.
"I like the sound of that." She pulled away enough just to look at his face. "But I like you calling my princess more."
"You should know you will always and forever be my princess." Boruto's smile softened and he held her a little tighter.
Sarada went on her tiptoes and captured his lips in a sweet kiss. It was definitely one of the best days of her life, mostly because she had Boruto, her whole family and friends with her.
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Being the eldest son to two overachieving parents wasn't easy. Top that with grandparents who were even more so was even tougher. Nonetheless, Ita-kun always exceeded expectations. Growing up, he was always hearing how handsome he was, looking like his mother with delicate features and silky raven hair, but popping blue eyes like his father.
He grew up wanting for nothing, both of his parents always supported his likes such as reading and playing games. Sports and cooking. The latter was more of a need since he had two younger siblings to look after—Akira and Aiko.
They may have been twins, but they were polar opposites. On the outside, they looked alike, blond hair and obsidian eyes. But their personalities were glaringly different.
Akira was reserved, and he liked to keep to himself, though he also enjoyed and excelled in sports. He only had his team and a handful of other people he liked to hang out with. Ita-kun was always delightfully surprised to see him have some friends over.
Aiko, on the other hand, was loud and cheerful. She was one of those girls who you just knew was popular, and it was easy to see why. She was not only beautiful but fun and smart, too. Out of all of them, she was the one who took after their dad the most. Causing trouble and rarely ever needing to pay the time for her crimes.
She was a handful, but Ita-kun was glad that despite the twins being different, their relationship amongst the siblings was the strongest. Akira watched Aiko like a hawk, and Aiko never let anyone try anything funny on her brother, too.
Their youngest sibling had a wider age gap, nearly three years from the twins, and five years from Ita-kun. Due to this, his protective nature clicked more with Kimiko. She was a sweet little girl, very affectionate and open to all of her siblings and parents, but to Ita-kun the most. Sometimes he thought he was more drawn to her because they looked alike, having black hair and blue eyes, too.
"Itaaaaaaa!" Aiko came into his room, looking cute—a little too cute—for his liking. "Aren't you going to get ready for your own party?" She pouted. "I know you know you're hot, but can you at least try?"
"What's wrong with my look?" He grinned and adjusted his wide-rimmed glasses. His hand then smoothed down his semi-man bun. "Don't like my sweats and shirt?"
"Eww." Aiko rolled her eyes and then entered his room, going through his closet. "I thought we already talked about this!" She kept going off, ranting about how he was wasting his good looks on plain-looking clothes. "I don't even know how you have a girlfriend."
"Sometimes I don't, too." Ita-kun laughed. "I'm just kidding, you know I'll change out of this." He put his controller down and walked over to his bed, where Aiko was piling clothes on it. "For a fourteen-year-old, you sure like to boss your big brother around."
"If you know what's good for you, you'll listen to me." She threw a dark blue dress shirt at his face, and then a pair of jeans. "Dad has so much money and yet you insist on wearing these."
"Dad's always had a lot of money." Ita rolled around his bed and caught Kimiko peeking from the crack of the door. He smiled and beckoned her over. She smiled and ran inside, taking her place next to him on the bed and cuddled up to him. She was already wearing a frilly yellow dress, surely something their dad picked out for her.
At the door, Akira peeked in as well, eating a banana. He has also dressed for the party already.
"Am I the only one who isn't dressed?" Ita laughed. "You guys can have my party for me." He always did prefer being alone or with his close friends and family rather than being in a large gathering.
"No!" Aiko huffed and pulled their sister away from him. Akira was right next to her, pulling Ita up to a sitting position. "Hurry up and get dressed. Mom and dad are almost done getting ready."
Knowing how his parents were, it would take them more time to get ready since they liked to play around. He tried not to think about that too much and shoved the image of his parents getting freaky out of his mind.
"Yeah, okay. Get out, I'll get changed." He grimaced, still traumatized with the number of times he had walked in on them. The only upside was no matter how many times they walked in on him and his girlfriend, they never commented. The most was his father peeking in again and saying, "Please tell me you're using a condom."
Ita-kun shuddered and finally got out of bed to get changed. Today was his birthday. His party this year would be different from all the others since today was the day he would open and read letters from the time capsule his parents made for him during his baby shower.
His father hired someone to make a video compilation of that shower, as well as other clips and photos of him growing up. To say he had doting parents was such an understatement. He and his siblings had so many photos and videos, the best of everything growing up.
After he got changed, he finally came down from his room and looked around. The house he had always known since he was a child transformed. It always had a light and happy feeling to him, but seeing it decorated with party favors surely made him feel different. His parents' friends were already there, as well as his grandparents.
Their two golden retrievers were laying around. Cookie had passed two years ago, and it was a tough time for their whole family, but they were glad she gave birth to two puppies—Cupcake and Brownie. They weren't as energetic but still really sweet.
All of his relatives took their time to greet him, presenting him with gifts and kisses, as well as congratulatory remarks. His mother kissed his cheek, and gave him a warm hug, too. Even throughout the years, she still looked so beautiful. He couldn't understand how she dealt with all of them—and their father—at the same time.
His party was fun, not wild or anything like that, but wholesome with a fair amount of embarrassing stories about himself, as supplied by his siblings and parents.
His grandparents were a little more kind, saying nothing but praises. He always knew he was Grandpa Sasuke's favorite, but his speech, albeit short, just solidified it for him.
His uncle and namesake, Itachi, was the speech that surprised him the most, though. Ita-kun refused to read the messages in his capsule, and he held on to it all night, quite excited to be alone to read them.
"Since my nephew won't read my message out loud, I will tell everyone here a little bit of what I remember writing in it." Itachi smiled. "It isn't about you, nephew. It's about your parents."
"Mom and dad?" Ita-kun gawked and then laughed.
"Oh noooo!" Sarada groaned. "Uncle Itachi, please."
Shisui only laughed and raised his beer. "Don't worry, Kiddo. There's a bunch about Boruto in there, too."
"Wha—" Boruto gasped. "Me? Let's not and say we did…"
Their reactions only made everyone push Itachi to go on. Stories about his parents were infamous and funny. Some were cringeworthy, and Granddad Shisui and uncle Inojin were always happy to tell stories about them.
"My niece wasn't as lucky with love when she was younger. I was not pleased this was the case." Itachi looked at Sarada and then at Ita-kun. "But it gave her the push and growth she needed for her career and own self-development. I noticed something changed in her when she kept talking about a new boss…" Itachi then looked at Boruto. "Who she always said was so annoying."
His grandma, Sakura, snickered. And Ita-kun could see his grandpa looking away.
"I'm honestly quite happy you're not like your mother in that aspect, nephew."
Everyone in the room laughed. His mother hid her face in her husband's shoulder, embarrassed beyond words. "It's not about me!" Sarada whined.
"Well, it was at the moment," Itachi smirked. "But you're right, today is about Ita-kun, and the wonderful man he's shaping up to be. And honestly, I didn't think your father was like that when I first met him. He wouldn't admit he loved your mother, even after getting her pregnant and he had bought her this house."
Ita-kun laughed, knowing this story well. His Aunt Hima liked to tell it often, too. "But you like dad now, right?"
"Your mother does, so I have no choice." Itachi laughed. "But yes, I do. Because you wouldn't be you without him. In my letter, I wrote there that I wish you wouldn't be too much like your parents, but that you would become your own person. But seeing your mom and dad now, and you, I can say you have taken their good traits, and added in some good ones of your own."
Ita smiled. "Thank you. Mom and dad did most of the work."
"A lot of work," Inojin commented. To which, the adults laughed. Ita-kun and the twins cringed, though. He was thankful Kimiko didn't understand. Yet.
It wasn't a secret that his parents didn't start out on the right foot. More like, it started with coffee being murdered, a lot of arguments, denial, and all that. But it didn't take a genius to know that his parents were and still are, madly in love with each other. Grandma Sakura liked to tell him about how Sarada didn't know she was in love with Boruto, and when she did, denied it until she no longer could. After that, it was like they became totally different people.
Ita-kun appreciated the stories about his parents and seeing them both take care and love one another deeply. Even with how they took care of him and his siblings, it always showed.
When the party was over, he took his time capsule with him up to his room and he locked the door, wanting to read it alone. He knew he would cry at some point, which was why he alternated the letters with those he knew would be mushy, versus those that would most likely be funny.
He saved his mother's for the last. He always was a mommy's boy. That and his father whispered to him to read it last because there was something in there that he said he would never forget.
Ita-kun did cry reading her letter. It was hard to read all of it, but he easily found the part that his father told him about.
I was scared when I found out I was pregnant with you, but your father reassured me that we would get through it together. Until now, I still don't know what I would have done if I didn't have him with me.
You're not here yet, you're still sleeping soundly in my tummy but I already know you will be the happiest baby on earth. Your father and I will make sure of it. But even if we fail, I hope that we can do one thing right, which is to raise you to be a good person. But my own wish for you is simple.
I wish for you to be like your father.
Ita was glad he removed his contact lenses before reading the letter because he couldn't take it anymore. His tears kept flowing, thinking about how scared she really must have been at the time, but he was glad they both decided to keep and raise him together. The next few lines were even harder to read through his tears but he kept ongoing.
I wish for you to be as caring and loving, supportive, and protective. To be as selfless and thoughtful. Maybe not to the point that you become too annoying, though. Just kidding. Even if, know that I love you anyway.
Your father and I aren't perfect, and you won't be as well, but we love and accept you. Always.
Happy sixteenth birthday, my Ita-kun.
Sincerely yours,
Your mother. Sarada U.
He had a good chuckle, thinking she probably wanted to write not her maiden name, but her current last name. It didn't matter, though. Ita wiped his eyes, his heart feeling so full. He didn't think he was a lot like his father, but he knew he had some of his traits.
He cared about his family and loved them deeply. Everyone knew he didn't like confrontations and fighting, but will do so willingly for the ones he loved. His father wasn't perfect, that was true, but Ita always noticed how well he took care of his mother, and that was the one thing he always wanted to inherit.
"I'm only sixteen and I have a long way to go," he whispered to himself as he read the last few sentences of his mother's letter again.
That's okay. I'll get there.
Just like how mom and dad did.
A/N: With this last chapter, Sincerely Yours has finally come to a close. This doesn't mean that this will be the end of this AU! Watch out for more one-shots from me and Tyy that we will sporadically create and post. Thank you so much for all the love and support throughout the series.
To me (Kairi), SY is one of the fics that really changed me and my writing. Also, my first time writing smut. Hahaha! This is also me and Tyy's first BoruSara collaboration, and it definitely will not be the last.
If you're wondering why we don't post as much here anymore, it's because we have created a . If you like our work, please consider supporting us. We are there at (slash) Kairi_Tyy
We hold weekly polls wherein we ask what kind of fic/prompt you want to see us write, and we have 2 NSFW chapter fics that we publish there-Lift You Up (A BoruSara Actor x Manager AU) and Love in Action (A BoruSara Spy AU). We also have an ongoing BoruSara & InoHima Soulmates fic, Mirror, for the SFW tier. If you would like to request us to write you a fic, we have the VIP and Ultimate options there for you. :)
Thank you again for reading, fam!
Cheers,
Kairi and Tyy