ᴀʀᴄ ɪ

C H A P T E R 2

ʙ ᴀ ᴄ ᴋ

I fell.

It was sudden, almost like the ground beneath me ceased to exist for a split second, it caught me surprised and I was unable to keep my composure.

Pain devoured my chest, I couldn't breathe. I snapped my eyes open forcing my body to move. Taking a sharp inhale; I choked, surprised. I faced the pillow bashing my chest.

Pillow? When was the last time I slept with a pillow?

I pushed the thought into the back of my head, desperate to stop myself from coughing and to calm myself from my sudden reaction.

Eventually, I chased the air that seemed to devoid my lungs. Gaining control of my senses once again, I looked around.

I'm in a room,

It looks so familiar, I felt a pleasing nostalgia bubble inside me.

It's my room.

It felt nice, yet also foreign. Why? I feel at home, I feel comfort, but why does it feel so weird? I frowned. It's warm and peaceful, however, my body stayed tense.

I feel scared.

On what? My guard is up, but there is no sign of danger, I can't help but panic even though there's nothing to worry about, why do I feel like this?

My head hurts, I was fine last night, why all of a sudden? Maybe because of all these questions running in my mind. I release a frustrated sigh, maybe some water might help.

I stood up, running my hands along my face. I feel and know that I had this very long dream, it frustrates me to have no recollection of it.

Shaking my head out of a rabbit hole of thoughts, I focused my senses and continued walking along the familiar hall. Some nice warm water should calm me down from this mess in my head.

"Yo! Goodmorning Boruto!"

I froze by the door and stared, it's dad. He's smiling at me, a newspaper in hand. He looked alive.

Hasn't he always been alive?

But why does it feel like it's been so long since I've last seen him? I saw him yesterday, right? I can't help but feel like he's been gone for a long time, is he even really here?

"Are you real?" I asked genuinely confused, he looked quite baffled at my question. His eyes were somber.

"Boruto!" I heard a familiar soft nagging voice, mom's here too. She looked beautiful, no sign of great distress evident in her eyes, there was some, but it doesn't feel familiar.

I don't know why, but the fear and distress I felt earlier seem to have increased. Albeit a little, but nonetheless; it increased. Mom looked a little mad, dad calmed her down and faced me with a soft smile.

"Son, I know it's been tough to get some free time since I became Hokage. I've been busy with work, and it prevents me to do some certain things." He set down the paper he was reading.

"However I'll try to have breakfast with all of you, as much as I possibly can! Hopefully every day! And when I get some free time, I'll spend it all with you guys!" He showed me his thumb, a bright wide smile now plastered onto his face.

"I'm not a shadow clone this time around, believe it."

Okay so he's real, not a dream!, but why am I still so unsettled? I shrugged the sentiment away. I find myself too bemused to properly face my father, I don't know what to reply.

I faintly hear him let out a troubled sigh, mother by his side; there to provide a sense of comfort. I'm too preoccupied with my previous thoughts to care right now. I make my way to the kitchen, feeling thirst finally catch up to my throat.

"Good morning big brother!"

And for the second time today, I freeze in my tracks; feeling like a mountain of guilt crashed onto me. I turned to my side.

I stared at her, Himawari. My beloved little sister, in front of me smiling ever so radiant like a sun that fell on a flower field.

My eyes stung as tears pooled in my eyes, they all fell down on my cheek. She's in front of me, eyes full of innocence, content, and glee, not an ounce of horror nor grief.

"Brother..?" She spoke once again, confusion laced her voice. Not a moment later I crushed her in my embrace. Feeling relieved yet shameful for reasons I cannot comprehend.

"Im sorry Himawari, Im so sorry!"

"Brother?!"

I hears mother exclaim something in worry, I was too distraught to comprehend what it was, however. I heard footsteps make their way in our direction causing me more distress. My hold on my sister tightened as anxiety strangled me.

I feel weak, small, most of all; defeated.

Emotions got the better of me, and I saw darkness,

Again.

I saw nothing, not even my own features. The lack of light seemed to go on forever. Not for long, however, flickers of small golden light made their way towards me. They looked elegant; dancing in darkness. I find myself frozen, dazed; looking in their direction. Only coming back to my senses when their light reached the side of my eye before moving past me. Fascinated and desperate for their glow, my eyes followed their direction.

"Ahhhh I can't wait to go home!" I heard someone speak.

My surroundings changed, the moon is high above and tall trees greeted me. It was no longer dark, I was no longer alone.

Footsteps echoed around the forest and I followed their direction. I saw myself, a few feet away.

Only, he looked much older than I am. He walked beside a man with very pale skin and hair that matches his complexion. I smiled, a feeling of warm familiarity in my chest.

Besides him is a Lady. She had long black hair, sporting a pair of red glasses. She looks a lot like the annoying girl from my class, no wait. She's wearing the symbol of the Uchiha clan on her back.

Oh, It is Sarada.

"I miss my bed." I- He spoke, his voice deeper than mine.

"Seriously Boruto? A few minutes just after our Mission and your bed is your immediate thought?" She scolded. Huh, she really is Sarada.

The pale guy smiled at them, his eyes closed. "Well, you can't particularly blame him. Escorting the Fire Dowager is a challenging task."

"Well, she is the beloved Mother of the Fire Daimio. At least she had a nice time in Konoha, before going back to her hometown." Sarada fixed her glasses.

"Enough chit-chat about the lady!" The older me complained, in a mild way. "Let's set camp here for tonight, I'm tired from fighting those bandits. Rest is well deserved!"

Sarada sighed at his seemingly childish manners. Man, I sound like me.

"Fine, Boruto you go look for wood. We need fire. Mitsuki you can start cleaning the area. I'll set up our bags." Sarada ordered. An aura around her; reminiscent of dad when he talks to the people publicly, as Hokage.

I see myself walking away mumbling, and Mitsuki starting to clean the Area. I can't help but smile.

Aside from the banter and complaints. The air is comfortable, familiar. A sense of trust is present. There was something between the three of us that felt so intimate, for some reason I know exactly what this is.

A bond.

And I never want to lose it.

A sudden gush of wind greeted me, I closed my eyes in an attempt to protect it from the strong breeze. Darn wind, I was having a moment.

"You know Boruto when the situation calls for it, you're not that bad.." I turned my head, closing my eyes instantly from the brightness. It's a bright afternoon.

In front of me, I saw Sarada looking inside a ramen house, and older me beside her, he looks annoyed and at the same time restrained. I focused on the direction they were looking at.

At a table sat two people, the man had shoulder-length hair, kept neatly by a loose ponytail. Say he looks a lot like my friend Inojin— nope, those eyes are definitely Inojin's, it's Inojin.

With him is a lady with long raven hair that fell to her waist. She has bright blue eyes and marks on each cheek identical to mine...

Himawari?!

"They look so cute together!" Did I hear Sarada, gush? That girl actually has other emotions?!

I heard myself mumble about something like agreeing and inappropriate words. He immediately stopped doing so when Sarada held his jaw and made him look inside again.

They look so happy together. Himawari smiling wide and giggling, Inojin sporting a genuinely happy smile looking at her.

"Well... I'm a great older brother. Anything that makes my sister happy, I'll go with it 'ttebasa." I heard my older counterpart speak, his voice soft. I can feel that he's genuinely happy for our sister, even when he's too overprotective to easily hand her over. I smiled at what was happening, it's a happy day.

Older me looked at Sarada and stared. The subtle red from his ears piqued my interest, I was about to take a closer look; when I was interrupted.

The sound of wood breaking filled my ears. I was staring at the wooden floor. I blinked, my fist was inside the wall, presumably broken from my impact. Why did I punch this wall?

"Hinata... I'm sorry.." I heard dad. I looked forward. Mom laid on the floor, father beside her, mourning. My eyes widen, realizing what happened. Dread pooled inside me; only to be conquered by rage.

Who in this world will be foolish enough to do such atrocity.

A loud crash left a ringing line in my ears, I can hear someone yelling, voices laced with panic, screaming as if they're desperate to stop someone. I froze when their screams finally came coherent.

"HOKAGE — SAMA!"

"NANADAIME SAMA!"

"Lord 7th please pull back, we're okay now!!"

And in a sudden flash, I was in front of a weeping Himawari, infront of my father who layed still on the ground.

I felt pain from my fist, a moment later my body moved on its own accord; completely none of my control, running towards the forest in a moment of fury.

I kept running, alone, only having the trees to accompany me. Too lost in my thoughts of rage, I lost my footing and fell.

I grumbled after impact on the soft soil. Slowly pulling myself up, pulling myself to kneel and catch my breath.

"Boruto Uzumaki of your service, Lord 8th" My lips moved on their own, my eyes widen at what I said. They immediately found someone fit for the Hokage seat.

My surroundings changed yet again. Im now by the rooftop of the Hokage Office. Sarada beside me, along with Mitsuki. I moved again, I excited to see who now has the hat. I only got to see a hint of green eyes.

I barged the door open screaming "WHERE'S MY SISTER?!" Things changed yet again, Im now holding a somber Iwabe in my hands.

Dread filled inside me when he refused to answer. Denki besides stepped forward "Inojin—"

I never got to hear his explanation. I now stared at a stone head, it was located on a bright sunny place. A single sunflower accompanied her. I turned to head back somewhere;

Only to see a different surrounding. I stoop atop dead land, the skies around me reflected the color of the terrain, dark and bloody. My breath hitched and memories flooded back in

I held my head in pain, eyes wide. I grit my teeth holding in my voice. They all flashed too fast for me to comprehend and it is Agony.

"Boruto!" I opened my eyes, instantly so I felt something tickle down my cheek. Mom was infront of me, she looked partly shocked. Father besides her having a similar expression.

"Big brother are you okay?" Himawari asked from my side.

I caught my breath, looking back at them, surprised. I hugged them all as tight as I could, well, as much as my short arms could anyway.

"Boruto are you okay?" Mom asked, I didn't bother to reply. I relished this moment in silence, letting my tears gently fall.

I'm back.

To be continued...