A/N: This is an old one… I don't know, why exactly I was procrastinating posting this. But it is so old that it was written before Kurama's… disappearance and Sarada's Sharigan development. I also ignore the Kawaki arc, but there are some references to the anime. I wrote this because I jumped on the BoruSara train right from the get go, but I knew that in typical shounen fashion, we won't see any proper romantic action for years if ever. So here I am…
The Path We Choose to Walk on
by Lady Arabella Malfoy
Prologue
"Naruto."
The Seventh Hokage of Konoha lifted his head from yet another document he had to read and sign, recognizing his old friend's deadpan voice. "Sasuke! What have you been up to since your return? And you most definitely did not come to inform me you leaving again!"
"In a way… I will be leaving in a couple of weeks and I am taking Sarada and Boruto to accompany me for the special training they require."
"For how long?"
"For two years. At least."
"Two years?! Have you lost your mind?! They are barely fourteen even if they had just become chunin! And yes, I understand the need for you to train Sarada because you are uniquely qualified to do so and you do have the right to spend time with your daughter, but why in the world would you drag Boruto into all this?"
"Because I agreed to take him on as my student and I am not going to shirk that responsibility. No matter how you treat him, he is your son, Naruto, he has enormous untapped potential that could only be unearthed with proper training. The boy needs structure and discipline without petite distractions. And let's face it, you will never find the time to teach him properly. On another matter… I hope that this day is as far away as possible, but has Kurama chosen his next jinchuriki?"
"He is yet undecided. Still, Sasuke, I don't want to burden Boruto with this. He is still just a boy."
"Yes, he is, but surely you don't want to burden him with such power, when he is not ready to handle it. His very life will be threatened, not to mention the well-being of everybody else around him."
"Okay, you convinced me. I bet, Boruto is jumping to the ceiling right now, knowing he will be travelling with the greatest shinobi of all times, as he calls ya. Not that I understand why."
The only reaction Naruto has gotten for his dig was an eye roll. "I have yet to approach the boy with my plans."
"Oh, you are actually doing things the right way for a change! Commendable! By the way, what does Sakura think about all this?"
"I suggested for her to come with us, but she refused… citing her responsibilities at the clinic."
Sasuke Uchiha's face was generally expressionless, but now even Naruto could see the solemnity brought up by Sakura's decision. She couldn't accompany Sasuke on his missions before since she was taking care of Sarada, but if Sarada is going with her father then it would be perfect for them to finally spend time as a family. And yet Sakura decided to stay behind. Not that Naruto would pry into his friends' personal life…
"I will discuss your proposition with Boruto… and Hinata. Man, this won't be easy. What I want to know is how you plan to survive two moody teenagers. Are you up for it?"
"I've been handling you for years, and that's not much difference, Dobe. Also… when I die, my eyes are to be destroyed. Nobody should wield that much power nor bore the responsibility for it. I will say the same to the kids."
"You will make your own daughter burn your eyes out?!"
"It's for her own benefit."
Astonishingly enough, the young Uzumaki was not as enthusiastic about the long-term special training trip as his father expected. The boy looked unnaturally pensive and promised to give his answer in two days. In five days Team 7 was officially disbanded with Mitsuki joining one of the other teams. Several weeks later three figures left the village at dawn with nobody the wiser. For the upcoming months the only news of two young shinobi and their sensei will come in a hawk's claws when its messages were delivered to the Hokage's office. Never in his life missed Naruto the outcries about graffiti on the Hokages' mountain as he did back then.