A year passed in the peaceful village of Kohona with many things happening this year. Sasuke had started to slow down the pace of his missions at the beginning of the year and had even let Boruto do some of them for him. He had decided to be more present for his children, wanting to wait until the youngest returned to the academy to resume the missions that were more than six months long. These relations with Sarada are largely improved, the brown trained her as much as he could and had helped her a lot to control perfectly her Mangekyo without losing the use of her vision as it had happened to him except that they did not have any other Mangekyo to replace hers if she used them too much. As said before, Boruto was now doing missions alone which lasted between five and eight months, moreover he had lost his right eye during one of his missions, but his normal eye was replaced by an unknown dojustu with a very clear blue or white lens.

Boruto had gathered a lot of information about the Kara organization during his long missions, such as the fact that this organization was closely related to the Otsutsuki. Recently, they had been decided to send a spy within this organization. The choice was first made on Sasuke because as a former Nukenin but he politely refused. Boruto volunteered, but Naruto refused categorically before his son convinced him that he wanted to finish what he had started. The hokage had also chosen his replacement for a few years. It will be Konohamaru Sarutobi, who will be the Hachidaime Hokage. The Sarutobi was honored by this decision and was looking forward to the Jinchuriki giving him the reins of the village as his grandfather had once been.

And for Sarada had gradually come out of her mourning, even if a weight remained on her heart. She had slowly started to train again and had resumed the missions a few weeks later even if it still happened to her to stay hours in her room, to think of her mother. For some time now she had been working in the children's hospital that her mother and Ino had created, the children had accepted her quickly. Most of the children were orphans, they had lost their second mother with Sakura's death and Sarada had done her best to at least become a big sister to them.

Sarada was practicing with her team on their usual field. She was in the middle of the field, surrounded by trees. The brunette had her Sharingan activated, she had spotted Boruto and Mitsuki's Chakra, one was in front of her, the other one was behind her, both hidden in the trees. Making a cross with her fingers, she made a clone to watch Mitsuki. Her clone quickly grabbed a Kunai from her bag before twirling it around her finger and grabbing it firmly by the handle. Silence reigned for a few moments on the field as Sarada watched for the slightest movement from his teammates. Suddenly the voice of one of his teammates was heard :

"Kage Bunshin no Justu"

A dozen of Boruto's clones came out of the trees, swords in hand. Sarada easily dealt with the first wave of clones, but the second wave surrounded her. She cooperated with her clone, they were synchronized and gracefully got rid of the clones. Another wave of clones rushed toward them, many more in number. Dodging the blows, Sarada and her clone quickly composed mudras. They both turned, after pushing away a few clones, with their heads to the opposite side of the other, one to the right and the other to the left, and leaned their heads back slightly.

''Katon: Great Fireball Technique"

They spat their Justu on the clones in front of them, forming a circle of fire around them. When the spell was finished, the clones of the blond had all disappeared. The Uzumaki sent back a few clones, but much less than the first wave. It was the voice of his other teammate that broke the small exchanges with the clones.

''Futon: Sickle Weasel''

The blades of wind came at full speed towards the brunette who dodged easily but one of the blades hit her clone. She stepped back a little and took a Kunai in her hand and watched the son of Orochimaru come down from the tree, still with his slight smile. He extended his fingernails making his hand a sharp weapon and they started to run towards each other. The blows followed each other quickly, the sound of Kunai and Shurikens clashing all under the eyes of Boruto who was watching the fight from his tree. They moved a few meters away to compose mudras.

''Raiton: Snake Lighting''

Mitsuki's spell hit the young Uchiwa hard, smoke surrounded her body. A Kunai appeared on the back of the snake's neck which made him draw a little smile on his lips. He glanced at the person behind him.

"Lighting Strike Armor''

An electric armor surrounded Sarada's body thanks to that, she had mitigated the damage of Mitsuki's spell. Suddenly, the young man with reptile eyes was destroyed in thousands of small white snakes and reappeared a few meters away. Throwing the Kunai towards him, Sarada projected herself at an incredible speed towards her opponent who soon rushed towards her too. Several blows followed at high speed until a punch from Mitsuki made Sarada disappear in smoke and a kick sent her in the air. The real Sarada propelled herself in the air to stand beside her teammate. Her foot landed hard in the snake's belly, sending it to the ground. As he fell, the Uchiwa repeated the same action, making him go faster and faster towards the ground. When he was a few inches from the ground, Sarada charged chakra into his foot and struck Mitsuki's belly again.

"Shishi Rendan."

The ground cracked as soon as the snake's body touched it. A whistle sounded signifying the end of the fight. Sarada wobbled and fell next to Mitsuki who got up and sat down quietly as if nothing had happened, his wounds had even healed.
"It was a good fight, Sarada.
"You're a monster.", she said as she sat down, groaning in pain.
"I'll take that as a compliment."

Hasty footsteps were heard behind the brunette but she didn't have time to see who it was as the person tackled her to the ground and a weight fell on her.

"Boruto! Dumbass! Get up from there, you weigh a ton!"
"I'm tired, let me rest."
"But you didn't do anything!"
Their sensei instantly appeared and sighed when he saw Boruto.

"You have trained well, you can continue on your own, if not we'll resume tomorrow, but I have to go now."
"Say hello to Moegi-Sensei for us" Mitsuki asked as she stopped watching the blond and the brunette still arguing in the same position.

Konohamaru disappeared suddenly, probably in a hurry or just embarrassed. The son of Orochimaru returned his eyes towards his two comrades.
"Boruto! I swear that as soon as you get up, I'm sending you to join Shinki in Suna!"
"Yes, yes, that's right. Whatever."
"You two are quite the pair."
"That's not true!" Shouted the Uchiha and the Uzumaki who stood up a little.

A blow of elbow landed in the jaw of the blond who sent it to waltz farther. When his eyes fell back on the brunette, a burgundy aura surrounded him and she was cracking her fists. He got up as fast as he could and asked for help from Mitsuki, who didn't move an inch, pursued by an enraged Sarada.

Two weeks passed in Konoha and Boruto's departure was expected to finally arrive. Standing at the gates of the village, Sarada watched as the two Uzumaki women said goodbye to Boruto, the Uzumaki father had already said goodbye earlier. Hinata was in her son's arms crying while Himawari was stroking her mother's back to calm her down.
"Come on mom, calm down. He'll come back, you know?"
"I know but..."
"Mom, don't worry, I'll be back before you notice." with a small smirk.
"Please take good care of yourself, you have everything you need?" separating slightly from her son to look him in the eye.
"Yes, you've asked me five times now." wiping away the tears that were still dripping from his mother's Hyûga took her son's face in her hands and rested her forehead against his.
"I'll miss you."
"You too, Mom."

After a final embrace, Hinata broke away from her son with a smile. Himawari took his place, hugging his brother.
"You better come back alive."
"Don't worry about me and take care of yourself, Hima."
"Don't worry, I already have someone looking out for me."

She felt herself blushing with embarrassment after that, stepping back slightly from her brother, who had a particularly scowl on his face. Himawari gave her brother an embarrassed smile.

"I ... I mean... I... I'm a big girl now I can stand up for myself." ending her sentence with a slightly embarrassed laugh.

He sighed and stroked her head to bring her close to him. He hugged her tightly and she quickly returned the hug. The little sister stepped back a second time and gave her brother a big smile.
His friends were not all there, many of them were on mission, but he had been able to spend some time with most of them before he left. Denki and Iwabe were present without Metal who was gone to follow a training in the mountains with his father. Mitsuki, Konohamaru and of course Sarada were a little further away talking. Boruto approached the two boys of Team 5, they talked for a few moments before greeting each other because Denki and Iwabe had to go join their sensei, Udon, for a training. The blond man turned to Mitsuki and Konohamaru who were walking towards him.

"Good luck Boruto." said Konohamaru with a big smile.
" You too, I might not be here when you become Hachidaime, Konohamaru-Sensei."
"Thanks, stay safe, don't go risking your life unnecessarily. Go inside as soon as possible, we'll wait for you." as he ruffled her hair.
He left while waving his hand. A fist stretched in his field of vision and a smile appeared on his face. His fist hit the other one stretched towards him.
"Take care of the village in my absence, Mitsuki."
"Don't worry about that."
The snake shifted while saying a final goodbye to him. The blond then approached the last person he hadn't said goodbye to, Sarada. She looked at him with a sly smile, arms crossed.

"You really have time to waste."
"I'm not going to leave without saying anything, my mom would probably kill me."
"That's true." with a slight laugh behind it.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Go ahead."
"Look after my sister for me, and... if you need help, don't forget we're here. Well, I won't be there, but you understand..."
"I don't need your help anymore you idiot and your sister just told you she's old enough to take care of herself. Let her grow up."
"Speak for yourself, you're like that with Sagaki too."

They looked each other straight in the eyes before calming down and laughing lightly. Sarada lowers the head, the slightly pinkish cheeks. She gently grabbed her teammate's hand and squeezed it in her own, the brunette shyly looked up at him.
"I...I'm going to miss you."
"I'll miss you too." as she shook her partner's hand in turn.

They stayed like that, talking about everything and nothing, like a promise that only they know under the eyes of Mitsuki and the two Uzumaki women. The minutes passed, but they did not separate, taking all their time.
"Sarada, I'll have to go."
"I know."

She thought for a few seconds, raising her free arm towards the blond's forehead. The brunette stretched her middle and index fingers, folding the others. Her fingers gently tapped Boruto's forehead.
"See you next time, eh?"

He nodded and gave her a beautiful smile worthy of the Uzumaki. Sarada released his hand from hers and stepped back slightly, smiling back at him.
His figure moved away into the distance, gradually disappearing into the distance.

Sarada was doing a little hand-to-hand training in her garden, punching in the air with precise movements, sweat dripping from her face. Even though she wasn't using her chakra, she felt it shooting more than usual to her forehead for some reason she didn't know. She didn't know that a purple diamond shaped mark started to form on her forehead, her Byakugô slowly awakened.
The brunette felt that her blows increased in power without her using her chakra. So, she stopped for a few moments and looked at her hands not having realized the feat she had just accomplished. A feat, yes, not many people had the chakra mastery or the patience to develop the seal invented by the Godaime. Sarada was brought out of her thoughts by her brother calling out her name, she turned and received him in her arms. Looking at his sister's forehead, Sagaki was paralyzed under the look of the brunette. He raised his hand and traced the outline of the seal with his little fingers.

"What is it, Sagaki?"
"Mama..." he murmured
"Huh?"
"The mark of Mama."
The mark of Mama? She thought. A brand that would belong to her mother, there was only one possibility, but she hadn't been able to develop it in such a short time. She didn't believe it, it would have to be something else. Meanwhile, Sagaki continued to caress the outline of the mark, but someone interrupted the thoughts of the two Uchiha.

"Sagaki, your snack is ready." said Sasuke as he walked out into the garden.
"Daddy, Daddy! Look it's Mama's brand!" he shouted as he jumped out of his sister's arms to pull his father towards the older girl.
The brunette approached with his eyebrows slightly furrowed. Arriving near her, he quickly noticed the seal identical to that of his wife.
"Byakugô." he pronounced as his daughter's eyes widened.

Sitting on the statue of the Nanadaime Hokage, Sarada watched her village with a thin smile. She was looking at a still peaceful village, but soon she knew that the situation would change for the worse. A new fight was going to break out in a short time, the opponent was none other than Kara. They knew it thanks to the information that Boruto managed to send. The brunette finally lay down and raised her hand to the sky.
"Mama..." Tightening her hand raised into a fist.