Sasuke regarded Sarada's academy friend with a nod. Her friend doing the same. Hako Kuroi was her name. Sasuke noted she was carrying around an eerie stuffed rabbit. Hako in general as—well, he couldn't put his finger on it. She was short, barely coming up around his daughter's shoulder in height. Her outfit concealed her greatly—she wore a black dress and cloak, as well as a violet ribbon nestled on her blue hair.
Her bangs obstructed his vision, but Sasuke could make out a slight tinge of pink in her eyes. Perhaps a kekkei genkai? If it was, he could relate to her in some fashion. Sarada pulled the small girl along. "Come on Hako. I'll show you my room."
"It was nice to meeting you, Mr. Uchiha," Hako said. Her monotone voice reminded him of his. Both girls exited the room, which left him—and the stuffed rabbit. It was on the couch, likely forgotten, because Sarada rushed Hako into her room.
Human.
Sasuke was taken back. It came from the direction where that stuffed animal resided. He got closer to it, examining it with his mismatched eyes. It had to be his mind playing tricks, but he swore it came from that—
Human.
Okay, that definitely came from that stuffed creature. Sasuke stressed that last part to the fullest. Maybe it was that girl playing a trick on him? He picked it up, investigating it thoroughly. He activated his Sharingan, attempting to spot anything unusual. But there was nothing. It was a regular—maybe regular was stretching it—stuffed rabbit.
Sasuke continued to stare, confused, all because of this stuffed animal. It had to be a prank. Maybe a summoning animal? But there was no life, no pulse, no soul—his visual prowess could easily pick if something was alive.
He was going crazy. Yes, all that time in alternate dimensions was... lonesome. Very little interaction, only coming in contact with people when he needed supplies. He definitely needed this vacation. He returned the stuffed animal where Hako left it, deciding to go to the kitchen to clear his head.
Go.
Sasuke frowned, moving toward the kitchen, not breaking his stride. He returned sometime later, Sarada and Hako were now sitting on the couch—Hako holding the stuffed rabbit close to her body. Hako turned her head to him before quickly returning her attention Sarada, whispering something.
Sasuke quirked his brow. Sarada laughed. He could not believe his daughter—his very own flesh and blood—was in on the charade. Hako got up from the couch—rabbit in hand—and bowed toward him.
"T—thank you for allowing me in your home, Mr. Uchiha," she stuttered, while still monotone.
Sasuke wordlessly nodded. Sarada, who appeared to be unable to contain herself any longer, got up and guided Hako toward the front door. He heard Sarada say goodbye, then whispering once again. Sarada laughed again before, finally, closing the door.
Sarada returned to the living room, not able to keep a straight face. Sasuke was finally going to get to the bottom of this, but Sarada spoke first. "Wow, Papa. You have an admirer."
Sasuke looked at her with utter confusion. Sarada expression was one of mirth—reminding him of her mother. An admirer? What was she going on about? His daughter was oddly cryptic, but he would get it out of her—one way or another.
"About that stuffed rabbit—" Sarada did not allow him to finish. "It's—he—is her friend! Listen, she-she had few friends at the academy. It took me a while to just get her to speak to me. But when she finally did, I brought you up in the conversation. I actually saw her smile for the first time. I know that may sound odd, but—"
"I understand," Sasuke said. "I know someone who had very few friends in the academy when I was young—who admired a shinobi. It ended up working out in the end because said shinobi believed he was something more."
Sarada shifted awkwardly, diverting eye contact. "C—could you maybe talk to her?" She then looked at her father. "I think that would really help her."
For the second time that day, Sasuke was taken back. It was usually Naruto who gave the motivational talks, after all, he managed to convince him to turn a new leaf. He would be better suited for this type of situation.
"I think the Hok—"
"Papa, please," Sarada stressed.
Sasuke sighed. He nodded, defeated.
Hako smiled. Sarada couldn't believe it. "He really said yes," Hako squealed. squealed. Sarada swished her soda back and forth, grinning at Hako. In the time she has known Hako, this was one of the only times she genuinely smiled.
Hako took a bite of her burger; Sarada saw glee and happiness on the small girls face. It was amazing—It made her day to see her friend so happy. Hako swallowed her portion, smile and all. Sarada offered her fries, which Hako took with a mumbled 'thank you.'
"So—" Hako ate a fry in between "—when can we meet again?" Sarada was happy she asked, her answer would make Hako's day even better. "He's free today; I was actually going to take you to the training grounds after we ate. He wanted to meet you there."
Hako nodded, excitement boiling up in her. "Let's finish. I want to talk to him."
"Wind Release: Gale Palm!" Boruto exclaimed. A torrent of wind manifested in his palms. But instead of unleashing it, Boruto sprinted forward, thrusting it at Sasuke. Sasuke unsheathed his sword, not dodging, opting to block. A clang echoed through the area as Boruto was sent skidding back.
Sasuke analyzed his approach. "I see. Incorporating Wind Release with Gentle Fist. Impressive," he said.
Boruto was visibly excited to receive praise from his sensei. It became quite difficult to schedule training sessions because he—along with Team 7—were receiving more missions. Whenever they did find the time, he would attempt to impress the Supporting Kage. Boruto's thoughts were suddenly cut short when Sasuke charged forward, thrusting his sword with vicious intention.
Boruto blocked it with a kunai but received a well-placed kick to the gut for his troubles. If this was his Sensei holding back, he hated to face him when he decided to go all out. Boruto grasped for his stomach, the wind almost completely knocked out of him. If he had to guess, another lesson was about to be taught.
"A bigger, more experienced fighter will use his or her length to take advantage," Sasuke lectured, walking over to the Uzumaki. "As you grow, you'll be able to combat this more easily by yourself. As for now, continue to use your clones as a diversion—and watch for your opponent's tendencies. You could have very easily summoned a clone to counter my attack while you distanced yourself."
Boruto absorbed the information. At that moment, if he could, he would have pulled out a notebook and pen and jot down what his mentor just taught him. Sasuke walked over and offered his hand. Boruto accepted it, returning to a vertical base.
"Papa!"
Boruto and Sasuke turned their attention to the newcomers. Sarada—and, Boruto was confused. That girl was... Hako! He remembered now. He was surprised to see her with Sarada. In the academy, she was off to herself. Whenever they were split up into groups, she was the last one chosen. When he thought about, it was sad that she wasn't included more...
"Hey, Sarada—Hako." Boruto greeted.
"Boruto," Sarada said. "I didn't realize you and my Dad were training today."
Boruto smiled. "I'm lucky. Sensei was here when I arrived."
While Boruto and Sarada continued to converse, Hako stole some glances at Sasuke. When Sarada told her that her father was one of the war heroes from the Fourth War, Hako was amazed that someone so powerful was her father. When she went to Sarada's home yesterday, she was nervous, she admitted it. But this time, it was going to be different.
Sasuke broke the tension. "Hello again," he greeted. Hako nodded. Before he could continue, she took a small notebook and pen out of her cloak, presenting it to him with her head down. "Could I—" before she could stutter, she gathered herself "—could I have your autograph?"
"Wait," Boruto paused his conversation with Sarada. Sarada then grabbed him by his collar, dragging him away. He protested, but her strength outmatched him, so he was forced to go along.
Sasuke eventually took her pen. He scribbled his name neatly on the first page—even with his dominant arm missing, his handwriting was still fantastic. Hako quickly thanked him, but before she could leave, Sasuke spoke up.
"Is that stuffed rabbit haunted?"
Hako Kuroi is the gothic side character from the Boruto series. She struck me as someone whose design was too interesting to only make background appearances.