"Boruto," Sumire began once they were sitting on a bench outside of the restaurant. "What do you think of Sarada?"

Boruto froze. "Huh?" He backed up. "What do you mean, what do I think of her?"

"I mean, do you like her?"

His face exploded. "P-Prez… Why do you want to know that?"

"It's important to me."

"Man," he said, touching the back of his neck with his palm. "When you said you had something to talk about, I wasn't exactly imagining this…" He ducked his head. Thinking about the mission had given him mixed feelings. He was beginning to realize she wasn't entirely annoying… but to go so far as to say that he liked her was an overstatement. "I mean… I guess, she's annoying, but she's reliable? Kinda."

"Reliable?"

Boruto nodded. "Like when we're on missions, she usually knows what I'm thinking, and it comes in handy. Or if I get distracted, she'll snap me out of it… But on the other hand, she's constantly nagging me like she's my mom or something," pouted Boruto. "Or going on about how great my dad is, and how much she wants to be like him. Her dad is so much cooler… But I guess I kinda understand why she likes mine better. I still think he's a cruddy geezer though."

Sumire laughed. "I see. She sounds like a sister."

Ouch, thought the author, who was watching the exchange from behind a tree.

"Nah," said Boruto, much to the author's surprise, "she's different than Hima. Hima gets on my nerves sometimes, but I wouldn't call her annoying."

"Then a cousin," giggled Sumire.

"I guess…?"

Sumire stood to her feet. "Boruto," she said, eyeing the restaurant. "The truth is, someone came and told me that you would be going on a mission. They told me that on this mission, you might discover something important to you. Something like your feelings for a girl."

"…Prez?"

"It seems to me like you have feelings for Sarada."

If Boruto was drinking something, he would have spit it out. "Huh?!"

"And if you did," she continued, "I would be very troubled."

His surprise was replaced with immediate blush.

I see the troublemaker didn't even have to bother with giving her a mission. Great. How am I going to clean this up, sighed the author, watching as Boruto stared off into space like he had just been hit by a metal baseball bat.

"P-Prez?"

"Whatever this mission is that you're on, I hope you come back from it unscathed," said Sumire with a smile. "And please don't forget what I said, Boruto."

The author sighed as they watched Boruto sit in a daze on the bench. But when they peered at their laptop screen, the words written there made their eyes widen.

Sumire… likes me? Boruto thought, his eyes trailing after Sumire's slowly vanishing figure.

The author laughed. Oh Boruto. It was very obvious.

I… I guess I should be taking this more seriously… But… Do I like Sumire? Or… Boruto stood up from the bench. "Dang it."

"Boruto!" Sarada waved him over from the entrance of Kaminari Burger.

He sighed. "I'm coming."

"So," said Sarada, "What did Sumire want to talk to you about?"

He tucked his chin into the collar of his jacket and averted his eyes. "Nothing…"

"Hmm? Very suspicious."

Mitsuki took the lead and began walking towards his apartment. "We need a quiet place to discuss the mission details. Boruto has something important to tell us."

Sarada followed after Mitsuki, folding her hands behind her back.

Boruto took up the rear, his eyes glued to the Uchiha crest on the back of Sarada's vest.

Suddenly, his imagination conjured up Susuno's hand clinging to the pink fabric. He shooed away the mental image and the feeling of dread that accompanied it.

The genjutsu of Sarada being impaled by shuriken came up next. He gritted his teeth. Hebi! You can hear my thoughts, can't you? Quit messing with them!

A small flower sprouted at his feet. "Wasn't me."

He trailed his gaze to the floor. Sarada… For whatever reason, it felt like his heart was being squeezed by an invisible hand. Sumire liked him. He should have been thinking about her, and how to sort out his feelings. Not reliving yesterday's nightmare.

Why was he feeling fear? Was there someone watching them?

His hands curled into fists at his sides. He knew the answer. No one was watching them. Sumire's words rang out in his head. "It seems to me like you have feelings for her."

Boruto's fingernails dug harder into his palms. I don't! If Himawari went through the same thing Sarada did… I wouldn't even let her leave the house without mom or dad. I'd hold her hand while we walked. Sarada is different… She's…

His mind couldn't finish the sentence. What even separated a friend from someone you liked? Or the love of a family member from the kind of love that made you want to confess to someone?

Seems like your confused, came the author's voice into Boruto's head.

Wha- No! I am not confused.

Don't forget, I can hear your thoughts, sighed the author. Would you like some answers to your questions?

Boruto looked up. Sarada was happily having a conversation with Mitsuki, the two trying to be somewhat considerate of his uncertain mood. I guess…

Very well. I shall explain. When your mother grows old, would you still take care of her?

The confusion on Boruto's face turned into a frown. As long as she isn't all clingy like grandpa.

And your sister, if she was in trouble, would you protect her?

Boruto's confusion dissipated. Without a doubt.

Those are two types of love. The kind of love you feel for your family, but you can also feel for a friend or someone that you "like." Now, you also mentioned attraction. Do you find your little sister attractive?

Boruto blinked. I don't have a little sister complex…

See. If I asked you the same thing about your mother, you would likely say no as well. But, admittedly, there is something different about Sumire and Sarada. Correct?

…I guess.

That's a different type of love. The kind that makes your heart flutter at their touch, or your face heat up when they get too close.

…Ok…

There's only one more type left. Imagine Sumire walking hand in hand with another boy, smiling and happy. How does it make you feel?

…I don't know… Kind of like… good for her… I guess? But she just confessed to me, so maybe a little angry that she lied.

Ok, now imagine the same thing with your little sister.

Boruto narrowed his eyes. As long as he's strong enough to protect her… And stand up to her Byakugan, he thought, a shiver working its way up his spine, I guess it's ok… But he better be a decent guy. Or I'll kill him myself.

The author laughed. Now what about Sarada?

Boruto thought. At first, he didn't think he would be bothered. Why should he? But then, he slowly came to realize. If Sarada was with someone else, they would get in the way. What if her boyfriend was a ninja? What if Sasuke decided to stop training him, and trained her boyfriend instead? Would she turn down their celebrations at Kaminari Burger to spend time with the guy she liked? Would he end up tagging along on missions?

And what about their friendship? Who would he drag outside when Shikadai said he didn't feel like hanging out, or when Mitsuki wasn't home? Who else understood what it was like to have a dad that was never home? Who was going to pat his shoulder when he felt depressed and chase after him when he did something stupid?

The author's voice stopped his trail of thoughts. The love that makes you want to marry someone includes all of these. You want to take care of them so that they aren't harmed. If they are, you'd fight whoever harmed them to the death. You see something in them that you don't in other people, something attractive. And finally, the thought of them betraying you for someone else begins to drive you mad. This is a very understated example, but I hope you come to understand some of the answers to your questions.

Boruto looked up at Sarada again. So if all of the qualifications are there except for attraction, what are they?

The author laughed. They're your best friend. However, Boruto. Attraction isn't just finding someone pretty… After all, beauty supposedly fades over time. It can be something about their personality, something that draws you to them. Something that sets them apart. If you look closer, I think you'll understand that there is more to Sarada than you think.

Boruto narrowed his line of sight, focusing in on her. Nope. Not seeing it.

But the author never made another response, and Boruto was stuck wondering if he really truly liked anyone at all.

Before too long, they arrived at the door to Mitsuki's apartment.

Sarada stretched and looked over her shoulder. "I hope you're done brooding over whatever it was that you were thinking about," said Sarada, casually following Mitsuki into his apartment. "You are the only one that knows this plan."

"Who said I was brooding," retorted Boruto, his hands coming up behind his head. "I was thinking about complicated stuff, that's all."

"Yeah yeah, I'm sure you were," replied Sarada, leaning against the wall.

"I apologize," Mitsuki said, suddenly, "I don't have any drinks to offer you both."

Boruto shook his head. "Letting us use your apartment to talk about secret stuff is plenty. Thanks Mitsuki."

Mitsuki smiled, taking a seat on his bed.

"This morning," Boruto began, leaning against the counter, "I met with another hooded figure besides Hebi. They tried to offer me a mission, but Hebi stopped him before I could accept."

"Another hooded figure?"

"Hebi mentioned before that there were others besides… it, in our dimension. They're called troublemakers. And the only way to get rid of them is to seal them away without their device, kill the person they gave a mission to, or accept a mission from them and complete it. But out of these three options, the easiest and quickest way would be to accept a mission and complete it."

"…I don't like where this is going," said Sarada. "If Hebi wants us to accept a mission from someone who tried to assassinate us… who knows what's going to happen?"

Boruto shook his head. "Not us. Mitsuki."

"Huh?" Mitsuki's eyes gleamed. "Me?"

"Hebi mentioned that the mission would most likely be to kill me… If I die, it seems like Hebi would get returned to their dimension, and our memories will be erased by some mediator, since I'm the one Hebi gave the mission to."

"Kill you?!" Sarada stood up from the wall. "What happened Hebi being all powerful?"

"Boruto, I don't think I can agree to the terms of this mission," replied Mitsuki, his expression firm.

Boruto shook his head. "I don't want to die either… That's why we have to be careful."

"Careful?"

"We can create loopholes in the mission with our wording. For instance, if the mission is, 'kill Boruto,' you can respond with, 'so I just have to stop his heart, right?' And from there, the mission that you accepted will be 'stop Boruto's heart,' and not 'kill Boruto.'"

Mitsuki's pupils enlarged as his eyes narrowed. "I suppose that's doable…"

"But it's risky," said Sarada, forming a rest for her chin between her thumb and index finger. "The troublemaker probably isn't dumb enough to give Mitsuki a mission to kill Boruto, unless he knows nothing about Mitsuki's personality."

"Right. Memory manipulation is likely. That's where Mitsuki's snakes will come in handy," said Boruto. "You could teach them a key word, for instance, my name. And every time the snake hears my name, it tells you not to kill me. Just to stop my heart for a few seconds."

"Hmm… I suppose that's doable."

"And one more thing," Boruto added. "Sarada, do your best not to get abducted and taken to another dimension."

"Huh? What is that supposed to mean?"

"Hebi said it was a possibility…"

Mitsuki smiled. "That would be problematic."

"Oh come on! Why am I the only one that doesn't know what this mission is?! Can you please tell me already?"

Boruto fidgeted uncomfortably while Mitsuki's smile widened. Sarada groaned.

"Anyway," Boruto began, "those are the details of the plan."

"…I understand. I'll do my best to carry it out," replied Mitsuki. "That being said, Boruto. How are we going to guarantee that someone will come after me?"

"…We just have to act casual and wait. In the meantime, Hebi is going to try to figure out how many of them there are and who has missions."

Mitsuki nodded. "I see…"

"So? Are we just going to sit around? Shouldn't we at least train," asked Sarada, kicking her back up off the wall.

Boruto's fist collided with his palm. "Sounds like a plan. Are you down, Mitsuki?"

"I'll do whatever you are doing, Boruto."

With that, the three walked out of the apartment and began heading towards the training grounds, Boruto determined to overwrite the tragic memory of the waterfall with something else.

When they finally made it to their destination, Boruto put his hands up behind his head and began walking at a more leisurely pace. "So, Sarada. What kind of training did you have in mind?"

But when he looked to his left, confused by her silence, he realized that Sarada's gaze was on something else. Something behind them.

"Yo, brats."

Boruto's spine shook.

"You seem to know too much about our world," said the hooded figure, reaching out a hand towards Boruto. "I suppose it's about time to make you forget."

"Boruto!" Mitsuki flung out his arm and threw Boruto out of the way, simultaneously knocking him out. Vision tunneling on the hooded figure, he stepped in front of Sarada. "Sarada. Take Boruto and run."

"Mitsuki…"

A green glow began emitting from Mitsuki's body, his features changing. "Leave this to me."

"Oh?" The hooded figure stepped back and ripped off their right sleeve to reveal a muscular arm. "If you're willing to go that far, I suppose I won't cheat. However… even in that form," said the man, weaving signs with one sleeve covering his hand, "you have no chance at winning!"

"Heh," said Mitsuki, snakes shooting out of his kimono. "We'll see about that. Sarada! Hurry! His target isn't me, it's you two. Besides… in this form, I'd prefer to go all out."

"Mitsuki!" Sarada clicked her tongue as her head lowered. "You'd better explain what this is later!" Lifting her head, she dashed towards Boruto and whisked him away.

He smiled. "If I did, I may get scolded by my parent."

"Heh, don't think I'll let you die, tough guy. You're coming with me. Katon! Homura Bunshin no Jutsu!" Fire spewed out from under the hood, materializing in the form of a flaming clone.

Mitsuki's snakes were burnt to a crisp upon contact, their fangs never reaching the hooded figure's skin. "Hmm? That's a pretty high level jutsu you're using. I thought you said you wouldn't cheat."

The hooded figure laughed. "Cheating would be abducting you by force. I decided to give you the chance to fight me."

"And if I win," said Mitsuki, his yellow eyes flashing, "will you leave us alone?"

"I suppose. Although the likelihood of someone like you beating me is practically zero!"

The flaming clone threw a punch in Mitsuki's direction, but he easily dodged it. Sending a few small snakes out of the bottom of his Kimono, Mitsuki continued to attack from a distance. But the hooded figure saw through his trick and burnt the snakes to a crisp.

Mitsuki gritted his teeth as he noticed the hooded figure's eyes. A rinnegan and a byakugan. "This seems a little unfair, doesn't it," said Mitsuki, dodging the clone to go for the main body.

But with the power of the rinnegan, the hooded figure's body was easily swapped with the clone, and Mitsuki put up his guard.

"Unfair, yes. Cheating, no," replied the hooded figure.

Mitsuki shot both arms out, enormous lightning snakes thundering towards the clone. "Raiton… Hebi mikazuchi!" But the snakes had little to no effect.

Gritting his teeth, Mitsuki held onto his aching arms. Sage mode was beginning to take its toll.

"Looks like your body is nearing its limit. Foolish of you to wreck yourself before I abduct you. You might have had a chance of escaping if you had stayed unharmed."

"What is your goal," asked Mitsuki, stalling for time as he sent a tiny snake through a small crack in the pavement.

"My goal? It's simple really. I have to do anything to stop the person you call Hebi from succeeding in letting Boruto complete the mission. But enough about that. Talk no jutsu isn't my forte!"

Stomping on the tiny snake Mitsuki had sent out, the hooded figure's fire clone came threateningly close.

Sweating under the heat, Mitsuki weaved a sign with his hand underneath of his kimono and sent all of his remaining chakra to the soles of his feet, launching himself towards the main body.

"I already told you," said the hooded figure, "that won't work!"

But as the rinnegan swapped their bodies, the hooded figure gave pause. "Huh?!"

The real Mitsuki was still behind the fire clone. He had used the massive firey presence as a diversion to create a shadow clone and fool the troublemaker. A smile on his face, Mitsuki punched the hooded figure with everything he had, sending several snakes into its cloak just before his sage mode wore off.

"Heh," said the hooded figure, picking himself up off the ground just in time to watch Mitsuki collapse. "To think you would be able to push me this far… I think I'm even poisoned."

The fire clone dissolved as a laptop materialized. "I suppose I'll have to take some time to fix myself up. As for you… I'm sure an idiot of that caliber will fall right into my trap."