Boruto closed the door after an exhausting day, placing his recently purchased pyjamas and toothpaste on the floor.

His headband was still on his bedside table. He jumped onto his bed and held it in his hands.

I wonder when will be the next time I'd be able to wear it, he pondered to himself. He wasn't really any closer to actually getting the forbidden scroll that would transport him, Sarada and Mitsuki back to their own world, but he had made some sort of progress.

But the Hokage is suspicious, an insidious voice whispered in his head.

I'll be watching. These words burned themselves into his mind.

Boruto shook his head vigorously, hoping to cast off these distractions.

"Looks like I'll need a hot shower to refresh myself!" He remarked as he took off his clothes, stepped into the bathroom and turned on the showerhead.

This world is strange, he thought to himself as he felt the warm water coursing through his skin. Yet, he wondered as he brought Ayame and Takashi to his mind, it is also strangely normal.

Boruto wondered what they could be doing now and mentally shuddered.

People still lived, still had fun, still ate delicious barbecue, still loved, still went along with their daily lives. There was peace, albeit on built on dubious terms. There was safety and security, albeit not for those who questioned the Hokage. Sure, it was also a totalitarian dictatorship with a secret police – okay, maybe not so normal. But ordinary folks like the ones at the tavern, like Ichirou, like the sellers at the fish market and, heck, even ones like Takashi and Ayame – barring a few occasional paranoid outburst from the latter - lived as if nothing was wrong. In fact, from the perspective of these people, the only things that are wrong are the rebels in Hi no Ishi or the dissidents who tried to seek things, ideals that were larger than their own lives.

But something is wrong at the heart of it, Boruto thought with a slight inkling of suspicion budding within. Beneath this tranquil surface lies a rotten culture of fear, willful ignorance and slavish obsequiousness amongst those who try to curry favour with the regime. Yet if you close your eye to it, if you pretend that everything's well and everyone's happy, it almost makes things seem easier.

He sighed as he briefly put all of his troubled thoughts aside, closed his eyes and let the comforting hot water wash through his face.

Sarada and Mitsuki were alone and facing the night sky of Mount Myoboku.

"Mitsuki," she ventured for conversation. "Do you think Boruto will be fine?"

Noticing her consternation, which was bordering on a breakdown, Mitsuki said in a comforting voice, "Boruto is a smart and resilient guy. Remember, he took down a deity like Momoshiki. He'll survive this."

"You and I both know he only stood a chance because he had Nanadaime and my dad with him," Sarada rebutted, not feeling any more assured. "What if he does something dumb?"

Her insides squirmed and contorted. An uneasy precognition was swirling in her stomach.

"Sarada," Mitsuki looked at her, mustering all the calm he still had. "We have to believe things will be fine. Even if something wrong did happen, we'll save him together because that's what we do."

She nodded: "And we never leave each other behind."

Hot steam curled off his body as Boruto wrapped himself with a towel and stepped out of the bathroom. He was feeling especially comfortable after the infinitely soothing experience of being basked in hot water.

"Care to tell my why you are in possession of my old headband?" An icy voice reverberated from the other corner of the room.

Boruto jumped in surprise – and slipped and fell on the mildly wet floor.

Sasuke was not amused. His arms were crossed and his gaze did not flinch from Boruto.

"Hi Hokage-sama," he chuckled nervously as he got up. "Uh, how did you find this place and, more importantly, why are you in my room?"

"I can sense your chakra here – it's an ability of the Rinnegan. Why I am here is not something I need to disclose to you," Sasuke answered blandly as he held up his old headband and surveyed it with emotions Boruto could not decipher.

"Also," Bolt was starting to sound indignant. "How on earth are you so sure that is your old headband?"

There was a brief moment of silence.

"I could have recognised that anywhere, anytime," Sasuke finally answered. "How could I have forgotten it?"

Boruto wasn't sure whether his voice softened or not.

"What if I got it from a second-hand market in Kum-"

"The scratch here," Sasuke interrupted him, pointing to the long mark over the symbol of Konoha with his deft fingers, "It was from … the Valley of the End."

Boruto could almost detect a vague hint of nostalgia. "Oh," was all he could muster in response.

"Not defending yourself anymore?" Sasuke's eyes narrowed again and re-focused themselves on Boruto.

Boruto gulped.

"You are a terrible liar," Sasuke snorted. "Though I've met worse."

"You don't think I'm some sort of spy right," Boruto asked anxiously.

"Like someone with your lying skills would be selected for an infiltration mission," Sasuke shook his head. "No. Besides, you're not on the data book detailing the profiles of rebel children. But I do have ideas and suspicions."

Boruto was feeling very uncomfortable. He felt he was being interrogated like a prisoner. He also felt cold; he was still wrapped in his towel and the room was wrapped in a chilly air.

"Sorry, Hokage-sama," he blurted out. "I really want to change into my pyjamas."

Much to his surprise (and slight horror), Sasuke laughed: "Hn. Go ahead. You're a ridiculous loser, I hope you know that."

"Okay, mind if I pop into the bathroom?" Boruto frowned, being mildly irritated.

He slipped into the bathroom with his clothes and shut the door.

Loser. Sasuke, this Sasuke had called him that. It was the one word the Sasuke in his world used to tease his dad.

Boruto shook off the thought and put on his clothes and walked out.

"Now," Sasuke glared at Boruto, his expressions grave and serious again, "Just who are you?"

"Boruto."

"And?" Sasuke pressed on. "Ayame may not have asked earlier, but I'd like to know your full name. And don't lie to me again – I'll know."

"I don't have anything to say," Boruto said vociferously and defensively.

"I'm warning you one last time: tell me who you are or I'll force it out of you with a genjutsu," Sasuke threatened as every syllable came with a heavy thud in Boruto's heart.

"I…" Boruto contemplated the options he had. If he really let Sasuke look into his memories with the Sharingan, he'd really spill everything, absolutely everything. There'd be nothing left to hide. He'd be endangering his friends too, friends who he swore to protect. He couldn't do that. No. Anything else was preferable, even telling the man himself.

"Go on," Sasuke encouraged.

"This may sound crazy," Boruto warned.

"Nothing is crazy if you're a shinobi."

"Okay, if that's what you think. I'm… I'm Boruto Uzumaki. And I'm not from this world," he explained.

Sasuke only nodded in silence, as if his hypothesis had been confirmed.

"I'm from another world and, there, I peered into a forbidden scroll in the Hokage's office. Something weird happened and I was transported here," Boruto continued. "And I'm trying to find my way back. My family would be worried sick. I – I was being completely reckless."

"I thought so," Sasuke whispered.

'What do you mean?" It was Boruto's turn to ask questions.

"The resemblance is uncanny," Sasuke answered, with a hint of pain in his voice. "You and Naruto."

"You're also not surprised about me coming from an alternate dimension?"

"No. I sensed a disturbance, a strange warping of chakra, four days ago. I sensed three foreign chakras, one of which was yours," the man explained, his face not betraying any sign of emotion.

Crap, he knows about the other two, Boruto mentally swore and kicked himself.

"Okay, so, what more do you want to know?" Boruto hoped Sasuke would say nothing.

"What do you want?"

"What do you mean?"

"You know what I mean."

"I… I want to find my way back. Okay – it was me. I screwed up. I decided it would be fun to sneak into da- the Hokage's office and I took my friends with me. We opened a forbidden scrolls and BAM we're here. It's my fault they're stuck here too," Boruto didn't care if he was spilling all his emotions. He had already opened the floodgates. "I was arrogant, I was reckless, I was being stupid. I know that. But not I know it's my responsibility to make things right – that's how things are done in my world. I- I- I need to find a way back for all three of us."

"And?" Sasuke wanted something more.

"I need that scroll," Boruto finished.

"Were you planning on stealing it?" Sasuke raised his eyebrows. "You do realise that I would never let anyone near where I put it?"

"Okay, but from my perspective, that was the most realisitic option," Boruto admitted whilst internally lambasting himself for revealing so much. He knew he'd come to regret it.

"I see," Sasuke frowned. "Come to my office tomorrow. I will give you that scroll. I think I know just exactly which one you're talking about."

"What?!" Boruto was flabbergasted.

It wasn't supposed to be this easy. More than that, this was this world's most notorious tyrant offering to help a young boy, the son of his once-nemesis and rival.

"You seem surprised," Sasuke noted snidely.

"I… I just didn't expect you to help," Boruto said.

"There's no reason not to," Sasuke explained. "Keeping you in this world will only damage the rightful balance of things. You belong in your own world."

"But –"

"Why am I helping you? I believe I just explained myself."

"You're –"

"I don't harm people for the sake of harming them, I hope you realise that."

"Then why-"

"Everyone else that I've killed – there's a good reason for each one of them," Sasuke elaborated without a hint of remorse.

It was unsettling. It froze Boruto's insides.

"But-"

"I've said enough. I'll leave," Sasuke punctured his words bluntly. "Remember: come to my office. I'll be waiting for you."

"Okay – uh thanks!" Boruto was more confused than ever as Sasuke made his way towards the door.

"Boruto, can I ask you one more question?" The man asked as he was about to close the door.

"… Yes?"

"Is Naruto the Hokage in your world?" The man's voice was trembling slightly; it was also scarcely audible.

"Yes."

The door shut gently. Sasuke did not bother asking anything else about the other world.

Boruto sighed, switched off the lights and jumped onto his bed, snuggling in his blanket.

Sarada tossed and turned in her bed, her thoughts transfixed on the prospect of Boruto being captured.

Silly Boruto, going off on his own like that – boys like him are just so stupid! Sarada internally cursed.

Her chances of sleep did not seem to be getting any better.

That's it, she thought. I'm getting out of my room.

She got off her bed and headed towards the common room.

It felt like a long, sleepless night.

Boruto should be happy – indeed, he was closer to going home than ever.

Yet something felt wrong about just getting the scroll and leaving. What about all the wrongs in this world? What about all the problems that need fixing?

No, he thought to himself. Whatever happens here has nothing to do with me. My job is to get the hell out and take my friends with me, go back to my world, my village and my family. Then, afterwards, apologise like crazy to my poor mother.

Sometimes, he reasoned with himself, you can't and you shouldn't fix everything.

Heck, he tried to persuade himself. This world isn't even real. It's merely an alternate dimension where the past diverged, a divergence that didn't happen in his world, the real world.

No, Boruto won't let anything get in his way. He will get the scroll and bring himself and his friends back to their own world.

With that thought, Boruto felt a greater sense of tranquility on the inside.

His eyelids came crashing down and, soon, sleep came.

Sakura was in the common room too, alone and with a book.

"Mama – sorry – Sakura?" Sarada approached her.

"Just call me mama," the woman smiled while closing her novel. "It makes me feel like I've actually had a child."

"I can't sleep," Sarada confessed. "Thoughts about Boruto kept swirling through my head. I'm very worried about him."

Sakura nodded thoughtfully.

"I… he's reckless and stupid but he's my best friend," she felt a rush of heat flowing through her cheeks. "I don't think I can bear it if something wrong happened to him."

"Sarada…" Sakura pulled the girl towards her in a warm embrace.

"It's just. The thought of him being harmed makes me hurt," Sarada's voice became muffled as she started tearing up.

"Sarada… don't worry. I know exactly how you feel," Sakura replied, continuing and tightening the hug.

"Ouch, mama. Too tight," Sarada complained.

Sakura chuckled.

"You know, the you in my world would always do this: hugging me too hard, I mean," Sarada laughed slightly through her tears.

"I'm glad to know things aren't so different here when it comes to that," Sakura said as she smiled.

"Boruto is just like his dad sometimes," Sarada started talking about Boruto again. "Except his eyes are bluer and he's louder and very cocky."

"I wish I could meet him – this boy who you don't seem to be able to get off you mind," Sakura remarked, her voice cheekily implying something else.

"I don't really like him that way mama!" Sarada pouted. "We're just very good friends."

"Sure," Sakura mused. "That's what we all say. How does he act towards you?" She added with a hint of curiousity.

"Well, he's usually nice. Sometimes, though, he clearly tries to annoy me," Sarada scowled. "He would say things he didn't mean just to get an irritated reaction from me. Boys are weird."

"Shows he likes you," Sakura winked in response. "Listen Sarada, I want to tell you something. Choose someone who will love you back."

"Mama?" Sarada sounded confused at her sudden change in tone. There was a sense of repressed anger bubbling on the surface.

"Don't make the mistake I did," Sakura muttered bitterly. "Don't fall for a man who only cares about power. Don't fall for a man who only cares about what he wants, what he needs, what he likes. Men like that would depose you the instant you become a liability. No matter what you do, no matter how hard you try, you will never be enough for them."

"Yes mama, I'll keep that in mind," Sarada was unsure of what to respond.

"It's my fault you know, part of this," Sakura sighed. "If only I wasn't so blind, if only I had helped Naruto on that fateful day…. things might not have turned out this way."

"Don't be too hard on yourself," Sarada tried comforting the woman before her, the woman whose tough exterior is disintegrating by the moment. "You're what keeps the resistance alive – this," she gestured her hand around the place. "All of this. All of the efforts of Hi no Ishi. You managed to shine a spot of hope in this world."

"No," the woman whispered, collecting her calm. "You're the spot of hope Sarada. You and your friends."

"What to you mean?"

"There's a prophecy we received from the Toad Sage the day Naruto perished," Sakura explained. "It said that one day, three young genin will arrive in this world and they will make a choice that will either save it or doom it to perpetual darkness."

"So…" Sarada was perplexed. She most certainly did not expect anything of that sort. But as she thought more about it, everything made sense: the way they had been expected, the way Konohamaru, Chocho, Inojin and Shikadai located them, the way Hi no Ishi already had beds prepared for them as if they were going to stay here for a long time.

"Yes, Sarada," Sakura uttered her words heavily. "We need you guys."

"But how?" Sarada looked at the woman before her. "How are we supposed to save this world? How are we supposed to do anything?"

"We don't know," Sakura shook her head. "But please…"

"I…" Sarada hesitated in her response. "I'll be honest with you, I miss my home, I miss my world. I've wanted to leave since the day I came-"

"I don't blame you for that."

"But," Sarada toughened her resolve. "The experiences I've had here, the bonds I've formed and, most importantly, the problems that needed solving – I'll do my best to help. If I leave behind a world of suffering, what good will I be as Hokage?"

Sakura threw her arms around the girl and said: "I'm glad you understand. When you do become Hokage, your village will be lucky to have you."

"Thank you," Sarada blushed, feeling rather flattered.

"Now," the woman's voice switched to seriousness. "It's late. You should be in bed. You'll need to get up early for tomorrow's mission."

"Yes mama," Sarada nodded as she began leaving the common room.

"I'll be there to send you off," Sakura beamed.

"Thanks, mama," Sarada uttered these words gratefully.

She was a whole world away from home, yet here, in the middle of the night, with a virtual stranger that would have been her mum had things turned out differently, she felt a trace of warmth and familiarity.

A/N: Did you see that plot twist coming? :D

On another note, I feel I must say that this won't be one of those super long stories around. I try to write as much as I can and I really do enjoy writing this. However, I don't want to drag this story unnecessarily long and make it one of those stories where all the momentum eventually peters out.

Let me know your thoughts about this chapter in the reviews!

Question: Who do you think is right: Sarada or Boruto? What would you do?