Author Note:
Thank you... Thank you very much for being patient with me. You guys are awesome. Seriously, thank you...
Disclaimer: All characters in Naruto and Boruto series belong to Masashi Kishimoto and Ukyo Kodachi respectively.
This chapter is not beta'd. Apology in advance for any grammatical mistake.
Enjoy!
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"Again."
"What?! This is my tenth lap! I am tired, my legs are killing me 'ttebasa!"
Sasuke looked at him uninterested.
"If you can complain, then you are not tired enough. Another lap. Go."
Boruto gritted his teeth before he slowly stood up and began to jog another lap. As soon as Aunt Sakura cleared him for training, Sasuke-san immediately called him to the training ground and began the hellish physical trainings. Yesterday he can't even lifted his arms after he was done with the push-ups like a madman, he lose count after a thousand something. Sasuke-san said these exercises would help him to build up back his muscles and stamina after recovered from injury, but this was actually a disguised punishment, not that he complained about being punished. He knew what he did was wrong, so he deserved to be punished despite his help in the fight at the other dimension, though he would prefer that his limbs not to be reduced to an exhausted jelly each time the exercise ended. It was embarrassing to be carried home like a sack of rice.
The young genin grimaced as he felt his legs burning again from the exercise, yet he pushed himself to continue. He wonder if his father was the one who proposed this hellish punishment, or he just left it for Sasuke-san to decide. Ever since he was discharged three days ago, Boruto didn't really speak to him. Despite being released from the hospital, the older Uzumaki was still recovering and aside from the occasional visit from Shikamaru, he was spending his time with much needed rest. Boruto knew that Sasuke-san went to spoke with his father about his cheating, he did overheard Shikadai's father said the other kages wanted to speak to his father about his disgraceful action in the exam.
He finally finished his lap as the sun began to rise and abruptly collapsed on the ground as soon as he reached the check point at the training ground. Sasuke asked (more like ordered actually) to begin his training (punishment) early today (it still dark when he left the house) to avoid crowds at the streets. Now he know why. His training involved in running laps around the village!
Boruto groaned as his legs twitched in pain. He doubted that he can stand let alone walked home. He knew he was wrong, he already apologized to Sasuke and hoping this exercise was the last of his punishment.
Sasuke looked at his panting student for a few minutes before he spoke, "That's all for today. Meet me at the training ground tomorrow morning."
Boruto groaned before he closed his eyes dejectedly.
"Isn't this enough? You already punished me for three days straight... I know I was wrong, I already apologized 'ttebasa..."
"Really? It seems to me that you haven't."
"I already apologized to everyone! How many times I have to apologize until you satisfy that I am really sorry 'ttebasa?!"
"You still don't apologize to Naruto."
Boruto groaned, why everyone kept saying that? He already talked to his dad. His dad didn't even say anything, so why he need to apologize? He didn't get it.
"We did talk at the other dimension. Isn't that enough? Dad doesn't say anything about it afterwards, he doesn't even scold me."
"Sometimes words can be more lethal than fists, it can either change a person for better or worse. He endured worse, but coming from his own flesh and blood is far much worse than from a stranger."
Boruto looked at Sasuke in confusion, "What was that even means?"
Sasuke sighed, wondering if his student really a prodigy or just plain stupid, before he turned around and began to walk away, "I am not going to spell everything for you. Go straight home when you able, no training with Team 7 yet. You will train with me for the rest of the week."
Boruto groaned and closed his eyes. This is going to be sucks...
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Uzumaki's residence...
The sun already risen with citizens of Konoha were bursting the street. Naruto hummed quietly as he listened to his advisor's yesterday report.
"The kages wish to have a virtual conference with you next week to discuss about the result of Chunin exam and the Otsutsuki threat. Sai is handling the press for the time being, they were asking to interview you but we managed to delay that for now. Everything else is manageable for now so no need to rush back, take your time to rest and heal."
"Thanks Shikamaru. Sakura said that I would probably be cleared for duty next week so just keep it up until I get back to the office."
"About Boruto's action in the exam..."
Naruto closed his eyes for a few seconds before he opened them back and looked at his advisor, "I already let Sasuke do whatever he think appropriate as punishment, Boruto is his student after all. His team is suspended from the rotation since he would be in probationary period for the time being until further notice. I would speak to the other kages about this later in that virtual conference, hopefully they would hear me out and this wouldn't effect the village's reputation too much."
"The fact that Boruto is your son, this could effect the view of the public towards you personally as village's hero. It would be more troublesome if the press decided to spread the news all over the place outside the village, though Chunin Exam isn't a closed event to begin with. People would talk."
"I leave it to you. Do whatever you can for the damage control and about the press. Thank you Shikamaru, and I am sorry about him."
Shikamaru waved in dismissal, "Nah, he is a good kid. Troublesome, but still good. He still has a lot to learn, all our kids do."
"Yeah..."
The advisor clasped his old classmate's shoulder gently as he stood up from his seat, "I should be get going now. Don't think to much and get some rest, okay?"
"Thanks again Shikamaru."
Naruto sighed as he leaned in his seat after Shikamaru left the room, his mind lost in thoughts. Despite what his advisor said, he can't help but thought back what happened. He needed to make sure such event not to be happened again. His recent injury and hospitalization made him realized that he was still not strong enough to protect his village.
"Naruto-kun?"
"Huh?"
He blinked as he realized Hinata was looking at him worriedly, when she entered the room anyway? "Are you okay? I been calling you just now."
"Ah... Sorry Hinata, I was just thinking."
Her smile brighten his soul for a moment, "Well, I am going to the market with Himawari to buy some groceries for lunch, do you want to request anything in particular?"
"I am good, thanks."
"Alright, I will get going now. Oh, and Boruto should be back soon, I left his breakfast in the fridge."
"I will let him know. Take care."
Hinata gave him a small kiss on his forehead before she left, leaving Naruto with a smile. He heard the faint click as the front door closed.
The blond Hokage stretched as he stood up from his seat, for some reason he felt energized this evening. Naruto walked down the stairs to the living room, thinking what he should do to spend his free time. Sakura been restricted him from training or any physical exercise, and he wasn't feeling tired today. Meditation sounded nice, it's been a while since he meditated ever since he accepted the Hokage position, not to mention that he been feeling Kurama tugged his mind ever since he got discharged from the hospital, which he successfully ignored until today.
A few minutes later he found himself in the backyard under the shade of a tree, a constant breathing technique he learned during his training in Mount Myoboku relaxed his body and mind as he basked in nature. He entered his mindscape and found a massive nine-tailed fox staring at him.
"Yo, Kurama! How's going?"
"Finally! I am been waiting, you brat!"
"Waiting? For what?"
"For you, who else?! Go powered your own chakra coil, I am not going to keep doing this for you, I am not a battery!"
Naruto blinked for a few seconds before he tapped his left palm with his right fist in realization.
"Oh, so that why you been annoyed me with that constant tugging!"
Naruto's chakra coil already healed thanks to Kurama's chakra healing it, however due to Naruto's exhaustion and lack of control, his chakra was imbalance and Kurama been the one who healed any damage caused by that.
Kurama growled, "Get going Kit, before I lose my patience and swallow you whole."
The blond Hokage chuckled as he sat in position, focusing on his chakra. He was in that position for a few minutes before he sensed something, or someone. He smiled.
"Sorry Kurama, you need to help me a bit more. I will be back later."
"What?! Come back here you ungrateful brat! That brat can wait! Hey!"
He opened his eyes slowly and met the sight of Sasuke leaned against the wall.
"Took you long enough to visit me."
"Idiot, I did visit you."
"While I was sleeping. That didn't count."
"You are an idiot if you whining about things like that."
"Shut up."
Naruto stretched a bit, patting the grass besides him. "Wanna join me? It's really nice."
Sasuke humped as he sat beside his best friend, his sword leaned respectfully beside him. They sat in silence for a few minutes before Naruto spoke, "How's going?"
"He was whining about his legs going to fall off. Just like you."
Naruto hummed, ignoring the remark. "How many laps?"
"Eleven."
"Eleven?"
"That's what I said. Are you seriously going to repeat everything I said?"
His best friend just chuckled at his annoyance.
Another minute of silence before Sasuke spoke again, "He still hasn't apologize to you."
"Apologize? For what?"
Sasuke blinked for a second before he gave a small sigh. "You are an idiot..."
"Hey!"
Sasuke stood up, taking his sword with him. "No matter what you think, he need to understand the consequences of his actions. And you need to learn to accept an apology. I should get going. Hurry and get better, I can't stand Nara's pathetic face any longer."
"Wait, what? Hey, don't ignore me!"
Naruto sighed as he saw Sasuke exited his backyard. He understood what Sasuke said, but it's not like he didn't learn to accept apologies.
"I don't think I even deserve an apology."
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What do you think? Too sappy?
