Disclaimer: the world and characters belong to Kishimoto
"Well, I hope to see you one day again Sarada." Mitsuki smiles at her emptily, as they return to the village after their latest mission has finished.
Sarada blinks.
She has just asked him if he wanted to drop off their report.
Mitsuki's yellow sharp eyes are watching her as though through a curtain.
"You're leaving."
"Yes."
"…That's it. Just like that."
"Yes." He shrugs noncommittally, his pale blue clothes rustling as he does. "I need to be ready to leave tomorrow morning with Boruto." He waves and walks away.
Sarada watches him.
"Do I – do I not get a goodbye?" Konohamaru -Sensei asks sadly, looking after Mitsuki as well.
Pretend it doesn't bother you, and it'll go away.
Sarada swallows and turns to Konohamaru-Sensei. "Will you train me? How will we still do missions now without two members? Will we get new members? Can I learn how to summon monkeys?"
Konohamaru-Sensei looks at Sarada alarmingly, his blue eyes serious and alert. "Wow, hey Kora! Wait a sec – let's talk about this – is Mitsuki really planning to leave?"
Sarada looks back at him blankly.
"Sarada is Mitsuki leaving after Boruto?!"
"…Do you know, Konohamaru-Sensei, that you have three students, not two?" Sarada asks, and she doesn't care that her voice drops into a coldness she usually holds back.
Konohamaru-Sensei's eyes widen, like everyone's do when they hear her speak like that. They all seem to convey with their eyes 'Uchiha'.
"Hey – c'mon I didn't mean to offend you Sarada – the boys are just a bit of trouble and –" he raises his hands defensively, his green flak jacket rustling with the movement.
He tries to sound concerned, but it's too late – Sarada saw the apprehension in his eyes.
"Then should I cause some trouble?" She asks him, and realizes she means it.
Her teacher considers her. "I'm sorry Sasuke-San is leaving tomorrow, I'm sure it's not easy, and that it seems unfair. But the world of shinobi is often unfair. I'll do what I can for you, I promise you that, but right now Mitsuki needs me, and I don't plan on letting him down." Konohamaru-Sensei sighs. "Just like I'd never let you down. Because yeah, I have three students. And they're all annoying as hell." Konohamaru-Sensei mutters the last bit, but Sarada still hears him.
"I need to go, don't worry about the report, I'll hand this one in." Konohamaru-Sensei waits patiently until she gives him a response.
Sarada is stoic for a few moments, and she considers lashing out – but lashing out has never been her style.
She shrugs uncaringly, pushing her glasses up.
Konohamaru-Sensei nods at her. "Meet me here tomorrow at noon, alright? We'll figure out the answers to all your questions then, how does that sound?" He asks kindly, turns around, and rushes out of sight, his long cerulean scarf flying wildly behind him as he does.
The next morning starts with a knock on the door.
Sarada's eyes open. "Mmm?"
It's all bright and blurry. She sighs. It's morning. She gets up in bed, and reaches for her glasses.
"Sarada."
"Yes?" She coughs, trying to clear her throat from the grogginess of just waking up. She hops off the bed and slides open the bedroom door.
Her father is clad in his travelling black cloak, black eyes sharp.
"Good morning."
"How's your head?"
How did he know?
She didn't feel nauseated when she got up, like she did yesterday, so she's confident the concussion passed.
"It's okay."
"Injuries during missions are a normal thing." He said emotionlessly. "I'm leaving."
For a heartbeat Sarada looks at him.
"Okay."
He gives her a calculating stare, then nods and turns. He heads down the hallway to the living room.
He glances back, when Sarada follows him, wearing her pajamas.
He grabs his bag from the corner. "It's time."
"Okay. Will you come back?"
"Not anytime soon."
"Okay."
Sasuke gestures her to come closer.
She approaches him, and he raises his hand. He pokes her on the forehead.
It's just a silly gesture, why am I blushing?
"Take care of your mother for me."
Sarada feels the weight of trust and responsibility on her shoulders. She stands taller.
"Okay."
Her father goes to the front door.
"Itte kimasu…I'm leaving for now."
"Itte rashai. Go and come back."
The front door closes.
She can barely hear the sound of his black sandals against the concrete.
A few minutes pass, and Sarada knows she's alone again.
She stares at the door for a moment, then shakes herself and heads to her room to change for the day.
She's eating breakfast in silence, when there's a cheerful yell from outside.
"Hey Sarada! Wanna hang out?"
It's not flu season without Inojin popping by for company.
She opens the door.
"I'm eating. Hungry?" she offers.
"I ate at home, thanks." He pops a bubble with his gum, his pale blond hair tied up in a ponytail as usual, and in his ears two stud earrings.
She goes back to the table, and Inojin follows her, popping bubbles with chewing gum.
"The flower shop?"
"Part-timers. Your dad?"
"Left." Sarada replies shortly and picks up an egg with her chopsticks.
They chat for a while.
"We have a lot of training this week with Chubbers' dad, so I guess I'll keep busy."
"I have to stop by Ten-Ten-San's shop this morning."
"Cool, I'll come with; she always has interesting things on display. I'll probably have to leave afterwards."
Sarada nods, taking a bite of her food. "On yesterday's mission we saw a snake in nature eating a giant rat."
Inojin's grin sharpens a bit at the edges, his pale eyes interested. "What's it look like? What kind of snake?"
Ask Mitsuki.
Oh, right. He left too.
"It was one swallow. The Snake had a rat shaped bulge in the middle of him."
"Gnarly!" Inojin sniggers.
"Come on, I'm done." Sarada puts away her dishes, and the two childhood friends take off.
At Ten-Ten's Utility Weapons Store, Sarada picks up her special order, and Inojin chats to Miss Ten-Ten about sword designs.
"No no no!" Ten-Ten shakes her head passionately, her two brunette hair buns spring with the motion. "A sharp edge is all you need – shape is secondary."
"Ehh? But shape is important – it's all about the right balance and dexterity." Inojin argues, leaning backwards on his heels.
"Weapons are not decorations, they're weapons!"
Inojin doesn't seem impressed. "Tell that to your store."
Ten-Ten blushes. "Well, it's a time of peace so times are hard right now for this shop – anyways are you going to buy something?"
Later, Sarada and Inojin walk over to the hamburger restaurant for a milkshake, where they meet Namida and Sumire.
They sit with them, chatting about their latest missions.
"I threw the kunai just as Sumire-Chan performed her water release, water bullets! It was like we read each other's minds!" Namida calls, soft brown eyes shining.
"Mm." Sumire looks pleased as well, tugging a bit on her long braided ponytail. "We're really starting to balance as a team I guess."
Sarada tries not to wallow in the fact that she doesn't have a team anymore. She tries. She fails.
Sarada glances at her watch.
"Oh, I need to go." She announces, and makes sure her forehead protector is tied up well, so it doesn't unravel inconveniently.
"Now?" Inojin asks, in the middle of an argument with Sumire about whether swords or long kunai blades are better.
"Yeah, I have a meeting with Konohamaru-Sensei." Sarada says. "See you guys."
"Bye Sarada-Chan!" Namida waves cheerfully, the orange forehead protector around her neck gleaming in the sunlight from the window.
"See you later, Uchiha!" Inojin nods as Sumire smiles, her purple eyes kind.
Sarada heads out quickly, hoping to catch Boruto before he heads out of the village.
"Hey Boruto, are you listening?!"
Boruto looks at her and Sarada knows he hasn't even noted her presence until now.
She grumbles, blowing a lock of short black hair upwards from her forehead. "What, are you angry at me or something? I'm trying to say goodbye you know."
"Ah, no, sorry, sorry! It's just that… I can't forget what happened with Himawari…" he says, looking down, tugging on the stripes of his backpack.
"Your sister?" Sarada asks, concerned. Boruto rarely shows it if he's feeling down, and now it's written all over his person.
"Yeah, she didn't take me leaving very well… I dunno, I'm kinda worried."
"Sorry to hear that… but she's the Seventh's daughter, she'll be safe." Sarada says to reassure him.
Boruto snorts, but it's humorless. "That's what everyone thinks. Well I'm his son, am I leaving my home because I'm just so safe?"
Sarada doesn't answer. He isn't wrong.
"I think she's gonna be lonely." Boruto sighs, looking tired.
"Well… I was going to get you a cool knife or something, as your going-away present. Instead, how about I'll promise to look out after your sister while you're gone?"
Boruto cheers up at once, eyes shining. "Really?! Thank you Sarada! I owe you! She really adores you, you know, for some reason – I have no clue why -"
"Hey I'm trying to help you out here you know~!" Sarada calls dryly.
"Hahaha sorry, sorry, I was just joking around." Boruto giggles, his bright pink and black jacket rustling at the movement. "Really I appreciate it!"
"You better." Sarada notices the people waiting at the gate they're approaching. "I guess this is really farewell."
"Come on Sarada, why is everyone like that? I'm coming back, Dattebasa!"
Sarada grins, pushing up her glasses. "Alright, keep that promise."
Boruto's eyes shine as he's at once taken seriously and his words taken for full value. Sarada assumes everyone has been making the decisions lately and that started to get to her friend.
"I will! I'll make sure of it!"
"Mm. Well I won't stay." Sarada tells him, stopping her steps.
Boruto looks at her questioningly, blond hair tossing in the wind. "But your dad –"
"We've already said our goodbyes. Catch." Sarada tosses him the kunai.
He catches it, staring at it, his blue eyes widening. "I thought you said you wouldn't –"
"I already threw away the receipt, what can I say?" Sarada rolls her eyes at his smile.
Boruto looks at the knife carefully. It's a bit longer than a regular kunai, and it has three shorter spikes.
"Hey it looks like –"
"Yeah," She tells him. "you are the Fourth's grandson, so it's somewhat close to his signature kunai. There's also a small Uzumaki symbol on the handle– if you press it a needle will shoot out from the bottom of the knife."
Boruto smiles and she sees it reaching his eyes. "Thanks."
"Good luck Boruto, try not to die."
"Shut up!" Boruto scoffs.
Sarada chuckles and offers him her hand.
He blushes, then grins and shakes it firmly. "You too Sarada, try not to die without me here to save you all the time -"
"Shut up, Shannaro!"
Boruto bursts out laughing in his usual light manner, their hands falling apart.
Sarada grins. "You're so loud Boruto; I think I'll actually miss that when it's gone."
And with that she turns around, waves and leaps away back into the heart of the village, leaving Boruto to go to the gate where The Seventh Hokage is waiting along with Sarada's father, whom she isn't going to be seeing again for a long long time.
Two hours later Sarada leans off the stone wall she's been waiting on for the past half hour.
Well.
She starts walking without a destination, ignoring the ringing in her head.
'Meet me here tomorrow at noon, alright? We'll figure out the answers to all your questions then, how does that sound?'
"You liar, Konohamaru-Sensei." Sarada grumbles, trying not to let it bother her. "Whatever, I'll just train myself."
A group of younger boys are walking across from her, chatting excitedly. She remembers being that age – back at the academy.
She used to be alone then too.
"- I can't believe we found that place!"
"It felt like no one's been there for years! Let's buy some paint and graffiti our names there!" The smallest one suggests, eyes shining.
They're all buzzing and chatting happily, passing by Sarada without a glance.
She's about to turn the corner when she hears:
"Hey! Onee-San!"
Sarada slightly turns to the side to glance at them. They're well behind her now, staring at her.
"What?" She asks, her voice as chilly as her mood.
The smallest boy swallows, visibly nervous.
"Are you – erm –"
One of the other boys elbows him, clearly telling him to drop it, watching Sarada's Shinobi Headband on her forehead.
"Well, the symbol on your back – "
Are you an Uchiha?
Sarada is not in the mood for this conversation.
" – We saw it on a giant wall!" the boy says instead, clearly clueless and curious.
Sarada blinks.
"What does it mean?"
"…Did they not teach you at the academy?"
They all shake their heads, looking amongst themselves, to see if anyone knows it.
For some reason, it doesn't shock Sarada that they aren't the type that listens at class. Or maybe it's something only the Ninja Academy teaches. They can be just regular kids.
Sarada walks over to them, ignoring how slightly nervous it makes them.
"Where? Show me."
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