Long Time No See: Sora's Lesson Begins

"Well," Boruto began looking nervous, "I, uh-… Used it the first time during the second part of the exam."

"Okay," Kairi nodded, "Why?"

"Well, the test was capture the flag," Boruto recalled, "We had to capture the other teams flag before they got ours. What happened was; I was supposed to guard our flag, I could make shadow clones, so Sarada thought I'd be the best one for defense. She and Mitsuki were going to get the other teams flag, but," Boruto sighed, "The whole team came for our flag. I thought I could handle it. I can make up to four clones, but the other team could use the shadow clone jutsu too. All three of them could. It was nine against five."

"So, you were out numbered," Kairi figured.

"Yeah," Boruto said, "They got rid of all my clones and they were about to grab our flag. I panicked, I didn't want to lose, so… I used the tool to make a water jutsu fill the roof with water then I used lightning style to fry them. That knocked them out, until Sarada got their flag."

"They left their flag undefended?"

"Sarada said they tried to hide it with a genjutsu, but she found it."

Kairi nodded. It wasn't a bad plan. Leaving Boruto to guard the flag, but he was hit with a hard obstacle, "How do you think you could have won without cheating?"

"I don't know," Boruto sighed. Kairi raised an eyebrow.

"Did you have those bombs?"

"That would have blown up the roof," Boruto said.

"I meant smoke bombs," Kairi said, "They would have still gone for your flag, but they wouldn't had been able to tell where you where. If you kept their positions in mind and thought it through you might had been able to hold them off until Sarada got the flag."

Boruto looked like someone flicked him on the forehead. He then tried to play, "But, that would had been too easy, ya know? Shouldn't I have done it in a cool- ow!"

Kairi bopped him on the head. Boruto didn't think of that and he just didn't want to admit it, "Might isn't right, and don't tell me you didn't want to take the easy way out. You cheated!"

Boruto grunted in embarrassment.

"Okay, when did you cheat next?"

Boruto sighed, "It was a one-on-one against a cloud ninja. He had this bubble gum that when it blew into bubbles, they exploded when they popped. After I made the first one pop, I tried to get to him, but the stadium was full of bubbles."

"So, what did you do?"

"Well, Sasuke had been training me how to throw a shuriken. So, I used a tool to make a shuriken that would bend around the bubbles and hit him."

"Did you even try to do it the way Sasuke trained you?" Kairi asked, "You seem to have a lot faith in him."

Boruto looked down, "No I didn't."

Kairi sighed, "You could have tried," Kairi said, "You might had been able to hit him without the tool."

"I know, but I just…"

"You could have used that Boruto Stream thing you did too," Kairi suggested.

"I told you the bubbles explode and if I-…"

"I meant above Boruto," Kairi clarified.

"Uh."

"You could have sent yourself above the bubbles and threw a kunai, or even a clone if you didn't think it was safe," Kairi then realized, "Or that could have been a distraction for your opponent, while your clone got a layout for you to throw your shuriken."

Boruto blinked. Actually, that did sound like a good idea, but he didn't want to admit that. Boruto felt annoyed, but… this also felt nice. Kairi wasn't just scolding him, she was explaining how he could have won.

"What are you going to do now?" Kairi asked.

"Well, Dad's giving me my headband back, I'm a ninja again," Boruto explained.

Kairi felt relieved, "Good, don't mess up like that again. I don't think Dad can reinstate you like that again."

"I know, I-…" They were interrupted when the door opened again. They look to see someone enter the room and Boruto stiffened, "Grandpa."

Kairi's eyes widened. It was indeed her Grandfather. Standing there tall and proud. Kairi quickly got off the bed to stand and greet him. She couldn't read his expression, he seemed cold. Maybe he wasn't happy to see her? Kairi swallowed a lump that was forming in her throat.

"Grandpa," Kairi began a bit nervously, "It's been a long time… I'm sorry I was gone for so long," She would try to show him respect and kindness as she bowed, "I missed you. I hope you've been well."

A beat of silence passed, then.

"Kairi, I missed you so much," Hiashi then pulled her into a hug as he wept comically, "I'm so happy you're alive."

Kairi was surprised. He seemed so stiff a second ago. But then again, she did remember he was like this when she was little.

"Grandpa," Kairi ran up to her visiting with a smile.

"Come give me a hug Kairi," The older man reached down to hug the little girl, "Yes it's me your Grandpa!"

"Boruto you too."

"Ack, Grandpa," Boruto whined as he was pulled into a group hug with his sister and Grandpa. Kairi just smiled.

%%%%%

Neji watched as Lord Hiashi showed affection for his grandchildren. Neji had an uncomfortable look on his face. He was happy that his uncle had mellowed a bit and was a loving Grandfather, but… It was so weird to watch.

"I'm happy for them," Sora said with a relaxed expression.

"It is… strange to see Lord Hiashi this way."

Sora looked at him confused, "Happy to see his granddaughter?"

"Don't be mistaken, I'm glad he's happy. He was just… different when I was alive."

"Different how…" Sora trailed off when he noticed something behind them. A door just… appeared, "Where'd that come from?"

Neji looked, "I don't know, that wasn't there before."

"Do doors just appear randomly here?" Sora asked as he inspected it. It was white, and old looking. Like a piece of an ancient ruin was cut out and brought there.

"No."

Sora walked over and pulled it open. It was pitch black on the other side. Neji tried to reach through, but an invisible wall stopped him.

"Hm?" Sora reached out to feel the invisible wall, but his hand went through, "I guess dead people aren't allowed."

"Are you really going in?" Neji asked, "You don't know what's inside."

"Do you have a better idea?" Sora asked, "We've been looking for way back for a while. I'm not going to ignore anything that might help me get back," to Kairi. Sora didn't say the last part out loud, he was still on thin ice with Neji.

Neji sighed, "Fine, try not to get yourself killed."

"Hey, who do you think your talking to?" Sora asked with a grin. He went through the door into the darkness.

%%%%

After the reunion with her Grandfather, Kairi and Boruto were left alone in her room.

"Geez, Grandpa is way too much," Boruto sighed annoyed.

Kairi just smiled, "I'm glad he hasn't changed."

"I'm surprised he didn't bring Big Sister Hanabi."

"She still wants us to call her 'Big Sister?'" Kairi sighed, "She's our Aunt."

"I know, but if we call her that, she'll kill us."

Kairi sighed, she looked at Boruto. There he was sitting on the bed with her. Alive… no longer a baby… And that was all Kairi knew about Boruto. Aside from the fact he seemed to get into trouble way to easy.

"What's your favorite food?" Kairi asked.

"Huh?" Boruto looked at her confused.

"What's your favorite food?" Kairi repeated, she looked down feeling embarrassed, "I left when you were a baby. I don't know what you like now."

"Oh, well," Boruto began, "Hamburgers. I especially love spicy burgers with peppers," Boruto drooled at the thought.

Kairi sweat dropped, that didn't sound healthy.

"What's your favorite food?" Boruto asked.

"Ramen," Kairi said.

"Great, another ramen nut," Boruto muttered.

"I also like Sea-Salt ice cream," Kairi added.

"Ice cream, with… sea salt? You really did grow up on an alien world," Boruto said.

"Don't knock it till you try it," Kairi said, "So do you have any hobbies."

"Does playing video games count as a hobby?"

Kairi sighed, "Well my hobbies are, training and crafting accessories. My specialty is seashell jewelry."

"Why seashells?"

"I grew up on a cluster of islands," Kairi explained, "I made this charm. I don't have it on me, but I'll show you one day."

"I'm sure, Hima would be more interested in it than me," Borutos said.

"How are your friends?" Kairi asked. She wanted to know if Boruto had more friends.

"Well, things are good between me and Shikadai again," Boruto said.

"He's the one you cheated against."

"Can we please drop that?" Boruto said flatly.

"Alright, do you have other friends."

"Yeah, tons," Boruto smiled, "There's Inojin, Metal, Denki, Iwabe, Sarada, Mitsuki, I've got a bunch of friends."

Kairi smiled that was good, Kairi noticed that the sky had gone dark. It was that late already? "Boruto, it's getting late. You should probably go home."

"Already?" Boruto asked.

"Yeah, Mom's probably worried," Kairi motioned towards the window, "Look how late it is."

"Okay fine," Boruto sighed, "I guess I got to help clean your room anyway."

"My room?" Kairi asked. She couldn't have heard him right, "Didn't they just give it to you or Himawari?"

"Well," Boruto recalled how her room was never touched, "They…" Boruto wanted to tell Kairi that. That they closed her room and never opened it the whole time she was gone. But he didn't, "They gave me and Hima other rooms, so you don't have to bunk with me or Hima."

"Okay, I guess I'm moving back into my old room then. That's good, I didn't want to steal anyone's room."

"Yeah…" It was weird, Boruto wanted to tell Kairi before. That they left her room alone forgotten. He knew it would make her mad. He wanted her to be mad at them, but now… "I'll come back tomorrow."

"You don't need to worry," Kairi assured, "I'll still be here."

"You better," Boruto pouted.

Kairi smiled and started to rustle his hair, "There's no need to pout, whozza cutie, whozza cutie, whozza cutie?" She teased.

"Ah, stop being mushy!"

Kairi laughed, "Make me~." She finally released him.

Boruto pouted, his face was red, but he didn't leave right away, "Um… Kairi?"

Kairi looked at him, "Hm?"

"I…" his face was red, "Um… Ya know," he looked away embarrassed.

Kairi just smiled, "Yeah, I know. Me too."

"I…" Boruto got up, "I have no idea what you're talking about," he walked out of the room, "See ya tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow."

Once again, Kairi was alone. Kairi started to look through her 'Get Well' cards. She opened one from "Uncle Sai and Aunt Ino." Kairi remembered those names. She remembered her Aunt with the long pretty hair, and her Uncle that wasn't good at faces. Kairi opened the card and the picture of the butterfly, actually flew off the paper. Kairi smiled, the butterfly went back to the card.

Welcome back and get well soon. The butterfly turned into the welcoming words.

Kairi put the card back on the table. So far, everyone had been welcoming, happy even to see her. It was a better return than she hoped.

She got out of the bed and went to the window. She wanted to look out at the city that was beginning to light up. She took in the sight, she tried to remember how she saw the village as a child and tried to compare it to the village she saw now. There were definitely more buildings. She didn't remember seeing a skyscraper above the stone faces. She also recalled walking through the village to find the stadium. So much had changed since she was last there. Not that Kairi had room to speak, she had changed as well.

"Was the village always this bright at night?" Kairi asked.

Kairi heard the door open once again. When she looked to see who had entered, she smiled. Standing in the doorway, was her Dad.

%%%%%

"Hello?" Sora called as he walked through the darkness, "Hello!"

"Stop shouting!" Sora jumped at the new voice.

"Who said that?" Sora looked around, until he saw another star, "What is you."

"Of course, it was me!"

"I thought dead people couldn't go through the door," Sora said.

"It's not that dead people can't come through the door, it's that Neji isn't allowed to help you, and even though you are an irritating little twerp, he'll help you if he thinks you need it."

"Who are you calling a twerp?" Sora snapped, "Just who do you think you are?"

"Who am I?" The star turned into smoke, when the smoke cleared it revealed an old man doing a pose, "I am the Great Hermit Sage of Mount Miyaboku! Jiraya!"

"Ooookaaaay," Sora muttered, "And why should I care?"

Suddenly, Sora was knocked on his face, "Show some respect, if you want to be worthy of Kairi you need to prove it to me!"

"Why?" Sora moaned.

"Her Father was my student, and I never admitted it to him in life, he was also my Godson."

So, he was basically Kairi's family. This reminded Sora of the time when he first met Neji.

"Now what do I do?" Sora realized he was stuck but he didn't know what to do. He couldn't get Kairi's sad face out of his mind.

"Sora Hikari!"

Sora stopped, who said that?

"Yeah?"

A star appeared in front of him. In a flash of light, the star took the form of a guy. One with long hair and ghost eyes. He was glaring at Sora, intensely. Sora felt uncomfortable, "Can I help you?"

"We need to have a talk."

"I don't even know who you are," Sora said.

"My name," he stated, "Is Neji Hyuga. I'm Kairi's uncle."

"What? Kairi has an uncle?!"

"Yes," Neji snapped, "Now, let us discuss certain things."

"Why do the men in Kairi's family instinctively hate me?" Sora moaned.

"Because you make it too easy," Jiraya answered, "Now get up, you got work to do."

"And what work is that?" Sora asked as he stood up.

"You need a history lesson," Jiraya said, "A lesson in our world's history."

"But I hate studying," Sora said.

"Too bad," Jiraya did several hand signs, "If you want to find your way back to Kairi, you must first learn of her family!" Jiraya slammed his hand on the ground. Light blinded Sora for a few minutes before he could see again.

"What's going on now?"

Sora jumped when a roar filled the air. He looked up, towards the night sky. There he saw giant orange tails whip through the air. All of them leading to a giant orange fox. When a tail slammed next to Sora, he held up his guard from the shockwave. But no shockwave hit him.

"Huh?" Sora went to a bush and tried to touch it, but his hand passed through. Was this an illusion? Sora was distracted by the sound of a crying baby. In the distance he saw two people and a baby.

%%%%%

"Kairi," Naruto wasted no time. He crossed the room and pulled Kairi into another hug. Kairi didn't hesitate to return the hug. Naruto finally finished his paperwork for the day. He went to go visit Kairi before he went home to the rest of their family.

He looked down at her. Kairi was alive and she was home. A part of Naruto was still afraid this was a dream and he'd wake up any minute and she'd be gone again. But he ignored that part, because the larger part of him, knew she was real. She was really there. A dream wouldn't feel this warm.

"Kairi," Naruto pulled away enough to look at her, "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," Kairi assured, "Mom said I strained my Byakugan, though. But Aunt Sakura said, I could be discharged tomorrow night."

"That's good," Naruto said, "I can't believe it's you. You've gotten so big. You look so much like your Mom, ya know."

Kairi smiled, "Don't lie, I look like a blind cat."

"No, you look beautiful," Naruto assured. Naruto then decided to talk about the things that have been weighing on his mind, "Kairi. We need to talk, about where you've been."

"I know," Kairi looked down nervously, "Did, Mom talk to you at all today?"

Naruto nodded, "She called me earlier and told me about what you said, but…"

"You want to hear it from me," Kairi finished.

"Pretty much," Kairi was led to the bed. She sat next to her father and she told him her story. About the islands, the Heartless, the Nobodies, the Organization, the Keyblade War, and their current search for Sora. Kairi however, left a few details out. Like how she lost her heart, and how she got kidnapped, and how Xehanort basically, destroyed her in the Keyblade War. Her Father was worried enough. Kairi decided to tell him… later. She also kept the fact that Riku might have accidentally endangered her a secret as well… and the fact that she had feelings for… a certain missing Keyblade Wielder. Whenever Kairi talked about Sora, she remembered how her father turned into a giant fox monster that could obliterate anything in its path… including Sora.

It seemed like a smart idea to… ease in the possibility that she had a potential boyfriend. And she didn't want Riku to suffer for his past mistake.

%%%%%

The next morning Kairi was awoken by a knock at the door. Kairi sat up, "Come in!"

Riku entered the room, "Riku."

"Hey Kairi, how're you feeling?"

"I'm fine," Kairi whined, "Why does everyone think I'm sick?"

"Because you passed out," Riku explained. Kairi gave an exasperated sigh, "I talked with Mickey and Master Yen Sid, about the Otsutsuki."

Kairi looked at Riku, "What about them?"

"They made it clear, they want the power here. The power your Dad has."

Kairi's grip tightened on her blanket, "So what do we do?"

"Well, they're bound to come back, we think we should have a Keyblade Wielder here. That way if they come back we can-…"

"I'll do it," Kairi said determined, "I was considering staying here for a while any way."

Riku sighed, "I knew you were going to say that. I'll come back from time to time to make sure you're okay."

"I figured," Kairi smiled.

"Well, something good happened," Riku grinned. Uh-oh, Kairi knew that grin.

"Do I want to know?" Kairi asked.

"I think you do," Riku pulled out his gummiphone, "While you were out, the scientists picked up something. It's Sora's voice."

Kairi's eyes widened, "Are you sure it's Sora?"

Riku's grin seemed to get a bit more sinister, "Maybe. I have the recording on my phone."

"Well, let me listen," Kairi demanded.

"Okay," Riku pulled up the message, "Sorry Sora."

%%%%%

"Did you guys have to follow me?" Boruto complained as he walked through the hospital.

"Um, yeah," Sarada said.

"You drove us nuts looking for her, by all rights we get to see this famous sister of yours," Inojin declared.

"So, what is she like?" Wasabi asked.

"I can't wait to meet her," Sumire said.

"I hope she's not a drag like you," Shikadai said.

"Hey lay off," All of Boruto's friends decided to follow him to meet Kairi that day. Boruto was annoyed, he wanted to see Kairi by himself.

Soon they reached her room, but the door was open.

"I think you do," a voice came from Kairi's room. Realizing Kairi wasn't alone, they quietly snuck up to the door and peered inside.

"It's Riku," ChoCho realized, her eyes sparkled.

Kairi's eyes were wide, "Are you sure it's Sora?"

"Sora?" Boruto whispered.

"Maybe. I have the recording on my phone."

"Well, let me listen," Kairi demanded.

"Okay, sorry Sora."

Now Boruto was curious. What recording, and what did Sora have to do with this.

Riku pulled out his weird looking device. And he started doing something with it.

"And," Riku announced, "Hitting the go button."

"Hey everyone, guess what? My name's Sora Hikari!" The recording began, "You don't know me, but I have something to say! You all know the current Hokage Naruto Uzumaki right? Well guess what?" A small pause filled the air, that made the next statement more empowering, "I'm in love with his daughter, Kairi Uzumaki!"

Everyone reacted as silently as they could. The girls gawked and gasped. The boys jaws dropped. Boruto felt like he had been punched in the gut.

"That's right," the recording continued, "I love the daughter of the most powerful man on her world and I'm going to ask her out!"

"No wa- Mmph!" Boruto's shout was muffled by Shikadai.

"Be quiet you idiot it's a recording!" That didn't stop Boruto from struggling to get free.

"Kairi has been separated from her family for a long time, so I'm not going to force her into a relationship. She's has a lot going on right now. But I still want to be by her side. I want to help her through it! I want to do everything- I will do anything to put a smile on her face. Because I have been to so many worlds and saw many beautiful things, but there is nothing more beautiful to me, than Kairi's smile! She's sweet, she's kind, she's brave. And whether she has blue or white eyes, she is beautiful. I mean she's enchanting. She-she looks like a Moon Goddess, she looks… pretty a-and magical, that's what enchanting means! I'm getting off track. What I'm trying to say is. I may be stuck here, but I'm going to get out of here and go to Kairi, I want to be by her side, forever and ever. All her good days and bad days, I want to be there, to hold her hand and help her be strong; and someday… I'm going to marry that girl!"

Inojin and Iwabe had to join in restraining Boruto as he tried to shout something that sounded like, "Over my dead body!"

"I will see her again!" Sora's voice was full of determination, "And when I do, I'm going to tell her what I should have said a long time ago: Kairi, I love you!"

"That's the end of it," Riku said, "So… Yeah I think it's Sora. Kairi how are you…"

Kairi's face was so red, it matched her hair, "I-I … I don't know what to say… I-I… Oh Sora…"

"I'll give you a minute," Riku left the room. He then noticed Boruto being restrained, and his band of misfits. They were all acting weird, so Riku decided to turn around and walk in the other direction.

"Did you hear that? That was the most romantic thing I have ever heard in my life!" Wasabi said as Sumire just laughed awkwardly.

"I don't think we should have listened to that," Namida said embarrassed.

"Now that, was the confession of a true man," ChoCho nodded.

"Uh…" Sarada's face was red.

"So that was a love confession?" Mitsuki asked.

"When Lord Seventh finds out, he's going to lose his shit," Inojin stated. Boruto went still with that statement.

That's it! If I get that gadget and show that recording to Dad, he's bound to put a stop to this. Kairi can't have a boyfriend. Sora can't have my sister!

Then Boruto began to plan out his scheme.

Never did I think I would ever write a scene with a crying Hiashi… until I watched Boruto.

Sora is about to take a stroll down memory lane

As for Boruto's plan to get the recording All I can say is, "Let chaos reign!"