TW: violence, blood
The vociferous ringing of an alarm clock brutally ripped Uchiha Sarada from her slumber. Flinching at the intrusive sound, Sarada blinked, her onyx eyes adjusting to the vibrant sunlight protruding through the window shutters. Sitting up in her comfy bed, Sarada stretched her arms and let out a long yawn before balling a fist to rub away the rheum that gathered in the corner of her eyes. She then reached for her red glasses situated on her bedside table, effectively putting them on and adjusting them to her liking. As much as her body craved sleeping in, today was a very important day for the young Uchiha.
Sarada, along with her three other teammates, Uzumaki Boruto, Mitsuki and Kawaki, had plans on attending the Hanami Festival to celebrate Sarada's 16th birthday. Her best friend, Cho-Cho, along with Shikadai, Inojin, Sumire and some of their other classmates also promised to be there. Hanami has been an ongoing festival since the beginning of spring and Sarada's birthday—March 31st—was the last day Konoha would be holding the festival.
Due to the anticipation and excitement for today's special events, Sarada was dressed and ready in a span of fifteen minutes. She wore her typical red shinobi uniform with the Uchiha crest ablaze on her back, along with her cheongsam, beige shorts, black sleeves and thigh-high shinobi socks. Her shinobi sandals were located by the front door of their quaint apartment; Mama had always been strict about tracking dirt into their spotless abode.
After brushing her teeth, Sarada reached for the red hairbrush that settled on her bathroom countertop, combing the bristles through her long, raven curls. Less than a year ago, Sarada's hair was at shoulder length, as she usually preferred, until last summer when she had spent so much of her time rigorously training with Nanadaime, the maintenance of her hair had been neglected and forgotten and as a result, it grew down to the small of her back.
Sarada has considered trimming it on several occasions, but the numerous compliments she received from not just her parents, but her classmates and peers, made her contemplate otherwise. Over time, she grew fond of her hair and decided to keep it at its current length, despite it often falling in her face. Whenever she was out on missions or training, Sarada always ensured that her hair was tied back in a pony tail or braid.
Satisfied with her appearance, the young Uchiha sauntered out of her room and towards the kitchen, the heavenly aroma of her mother's cooking invading her senses. As she neared the living room, Sarada spotted Mama in front of the stove, back facing her. Sakura was in the middle of prepping what appeared to be one of Sarada's favorite meals: steamed rice and vegetables with miso soup and grilled salmon, all while humming a pleasant melody.
"Ohayo, Mama," Sarada greeted, taking a seat at the dining table. She delicately traced the patterns carved in the oak wood. According to Papa, this table once belonged to her grandmother and grandfather. Sarada was very much aware of the fact that they died when he was a little boy, but she never knew how. Papa was a private person and discussing any matters regarding his past was tremendously difficult for him. Despite her growing and gnawing curiosity, Sarada remained courteous and patient, knowing that Papa would share this information with her when the time was right.
Sakura whipped around, startled by Sarada's sudden presence, "S-Sarada! You scared me there," Her dainty hand rested on her chest as if to calm her racing heart. After catching her breath, the Uchiha matriarch offered Sarada a warm smile. "Ohayo, and happy birthday!"
"Arigatou," Sarada beamed, an animated grin tugging at her lips. "The food smells delicious. Do you need help setting up the table?"
"Sure. Thank you, sweetheart." Sakura replied, switching the top left burner of the stove to low heat for the miso soup to cool. As the broth simmered, she averted her attention to the grilled salmon, utilizing a spatula to flip it over on the pan. Sparing a glance at Sarada, Sakura noticed her grabbing three plates for their meal and with a frown, she gently corrected her, "It'll just be the two of us."
Sarada's face fell instantly, "Papa isn't here?"
Sakura's heart pinched at the sight of her daughter's despondency, knowing that the news she was bound to deliver would be painful. Even though Sasuke was home more often, given that his prolonged mission of tracking the Otsutski had finally come to an end, there were still times when he would be summoned for a mission or two. They were almost never long-term, as Sasuke specifically requested to be assigned shorter and much simpler missions that didn't hinder him from spending time with his family. Sarada has become more understanding of her father's occupation and role in preserving the safety of Konoha as she grew older, but his missing presence never failed to put a damper on her mood.
"Papa was summoned by Naruto early this morning for a brief reconnaissance mission near the border of the Fire Country. He'll be back by this evening," Sakura instantly reassured her, setting the spatula down and trekking towards the melancholic teenager. Elevating her hand, Sakura sifted her fingers through Sarada's hair, a habit she picked up whenever her daughter sought or needed comfort. Hoping to brighten Sarada's mood, she added, "your Papa was actually quite upset when he was called for the mission. He was in the middle of helping me cook your birthday breakfast when the ANBU showed up."
Sarada cracked a small smile at this, envisioning her father's vexation at the realization that he wouldn't be home for most of the day. It was enough to remind Sarada that Papa truly cherished and loved her, whether he was home or traveling. Fortunately, Sarada actually had plans lasting until the evening, so if anything, she would most likely see her Papa when she returned home from the festival.
"Hai," Sarada mumbled, her mood slightly uplifted. Mama said that Papa was going to be home tonight, so there was nothing to be sad about. Before she could contemplate the thought further, her stomach growled rather boisterously. Sarada's cheeks flushed a vibrant carmine as her mother let out an airy laugh.
"Someone's hungry," Mama teased, gently nudging her side with her elbow. Sarada shot her an embarrassed scowl and Sakura only laughed harder. "Don't fret, Sara-chan, the food's ready."
After double-checking to ensure that the food was well cooked enough to eat, Sakura placed the steamed vegetables and rice, the grilled salmon, and miso soup into different serving dishes. She proceeded to bring the decorative bowls to the table, setting them on the oak wood table donning an indigo cloth with several Uchiha crests sown into the soft fabric. Breaking apart their wooden sets of chopsticks, the two Uchiha women finally served themselves. It took every fiber in Sarada's being not to scarf down her food.
The two of them conversed while eating. Sarada first asked her mother about the hospital and the Children's Mental Health Clinic that was established after the Fourth Great Shinobi War. Sakura beamed at this and immediately delved into the projects that she had been working on. She later mentioned that Katasuke-sensei's invention of the Scientific Ninja Tools was recently approved by the Council and Board of Medicine to be utilized as a method of treatment. Said tools have lowered the mortality rates for major surgeries—especially organ transplants—and have also influenced faster rates of recovery. Medical ninjas were still at an all time demand, but the utilization of SNTs provided Sakura and Shizune more time to train potential medic nins.
Sakura then made inquiries about the progress in Sarada's training. Over the past two years, Sarada had been training with both her parents and Nanadaime. Ever since the young Uchiha expressed that her dream was to one day become Hokage, Naruto took her under his wing and started prepping her for the elongated process of becoming the village's savior and protector. Before Sarada could even be considered as a candidate, she first needed to pass the Jounin exams which would be commencing this upcoming September. Until then, she would be strengthening her current abilities and honing newer skills. Her Mama has helped her with her chakra control and even taught her how to perform basic first aid, should a mission ever go wrong. Medical ninjutsu, unfortunately, wasn't Sarada's forte, but she still had plenty of time to learn. After all, her chakra control was much better than when she was a genin. Her chakra-infused punches are now stronger and a more lethal asset to have in combat.
Papa's method of training wasn't nearly as intense as Mama's—Sarada reflects on the multiple occasions where her mother had to mend few or even several broken or fractured bones from their rough sparring—his goal was to perfect Sarada's control and manipulation of the sharingan as well as her Katon and the chidori. At the age of fifteen, Sarada unleashed her third tomoe when one of Team 7's A-rank missions had been compromised. Boruto and Mitsuki's lives were hanging by a thread, both bleeding profusely from a jutsu that would have killed an average shinobi, and that alone was enough to push Sarada over the edge.
Sometimes, they practiced shuriken throwing, which Sarada has nearly mastered. As much as Sarada loved training with her parents, training with Nanadaime was something she looked forward to the most. They first started practicing basic taijutsu before sparring. Given Naruto's strength, speed and resilience—even without the Kyuubi—he was quite a formidable Shinobi. Sarada lost count of the number of times she had been knocked on her ass thanks to the unpredictable Uzumaki. There is a reason why he was selected to be Konoha's Hokage.
"Oh! I almost forgot," Mama set her napkin and chopsticks aside, pushing her chair back to stand up. "I got you something."
Sakura briefly left the kitchen and ventured to her and Papa's bedroom. Sarada waited a few moments, taking more spoonfuls of the delicious miso soup to bide her time. Mama eventually returned to the kitchen table, a large paper box in her hands. With a gentleness that rivaled her brute strength, Sakura carefully set the box down on the chair adjacent to Sarada, before returning to the seat she previously occupied, "Go on. Open it!"
Sarada lifted the top of the foldable package and sifted her way through the white tissue paper encompassing whatever it was her mother had gotten her. The packaging itself was elegant, signifying that her Mama's gift must have been expensive. After tossing aside the final layer of tissue paper, Sarada gasped. Inside the box was a silk, red Japanese kimono. It also came with all the necessary accessories: the kanzashi hair pin that's color matched the fabric of the clothing item, the nagajuban, the obi and obijime cord, and even geta sandals. The kimono also had a floral pattern spanning across the skirt, mostly being cherry blossoms, white lilies, and other petite flowers.
"Mama...it's beautiful," Sarada replied adoringly, before standing up and making her way towards the roseate and bending over to embrace her. "Arigatou, I love it."
"You're welcome. I'm glad you like it," Sakura returned the gesture without hesitation. A few moments passed before the mother-daughter duo parted. Sarada returned to her seat at the table, fingertips skimming and fiddling with the kimono. Sarada's old kimono from last year was now too small on her, so her plan for Hanami was to wear the attire she currently had on. Thanks to Mama, she was able to dress for the special occasion. "I figured it would be perfect for the Hanami festival. Speaking of, what time were you planning on meeting up with your friends?"
Sarada briefly glanced at the clock, eyes widening in horror as she realized that the time they agreed to amass was within the next hour, "Crap! I need to get ready!"
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The route to Thunder Burger was less than a ten-minute walk from Sarada's apartment. It wasn't the most ideal location Sarada wanted to convene at, given that she had been there a gazillion times, but it was one of the few chain restaurants closest to the festival, so she gave in. Adjusting the kanzashi that tugged at her ravenous curls more than she liked, the restaurant finally came into view. She immediately scanned the premises, briefly activating her sharingan to spot her friends more efficiently. She glanced right, and then left, and to her dismay, no one had arrived yet.
Pulling out her cell phone stashed in her front pocket, she was just about to dial Boruto's number when her name was suddenly hollered by the young Uzumaki, "Oi! Sarada!"
Sarada immediately turned to face her teammate, a bright smile stretching her features as she spotted the blonde alongside with Mitsuki, Kawaki, and Kaminarimon Denki. All four boys were clad in their elegant silk yukatas. Boruto's royal blue yukata enhanced the vibrancy of his cyanic irises, and Sarada would never say this out loud, but he looked incredibly handsome. Both Boruto and Sarada were well aware of their feelings for each other, but none of them had the courage to actually do something about it. It was last summer, when puberty forced them to grow more maturely into their looks and physiques when they both developed a mutual attraction towards one another.
Sarada offered a friendly wave as they neared their destination, "I was wondering where you guys were at. I was just about to call you, Boruto."
"What? You thought we were gonna show up late?" Boruto teased, a mischievous smirk tugging at his lips. His cerulean orbs then softened in fondness as he kindly added to ease Sarada's nerves, "we wouldn't miss your birthday, 'tebasa!"
"Gross," Kawaki scowled at Boruto's obvious flirting. It wasn't unknown to the others that Boruto and Sarada had a thing for each other; they'd been impatiently waiting for one of them to make a move and get it over with. Sarada wouldn't speak on Boruto's behalf, but she was still very much coming to terms with her feelings for him, and a part of her wondered if Boruto's attraction towards her was simply from the hormones of being a teenager and if it was only temporary. The last thing she wanted was to have her heart broken by her teammate.
Boruto's smile instantly curved into an aggravated glare, "Can it, bastard! You think I don't see you making googly eyes at Sumire!?"
"Urusai!" Kawaki's snapped, embarrassed that Boruto had put him on the spot, and both Sarada and Mitsuki physically stiffened, knowing that this situation wasn't going to end well. Boruto and Kawaki argued on a regular basis—they were brothers, after all—but there had been many occasions where the fighting got out of hand, and it was usually Sarada or Mitsuki—sometimes both of them at once—that had to pull them apart.
Denki took the opportunity to stand between the two of them, holding his arms up to prevent the conflict from escalating, "Boruto-kun, Kawaki-kun, let's all try to get along, ne? Whatever issues you have, you can solve it after Sarada's birthday. It's her special day, after all!"
Sarada was immensely grateful that Denki tagged along, for he was known to be a natural peacekeeper. The young Kaminarimon may not be a shinobi of brute strength, but his astounding intelligence and proficiency in technology made him just as valuable of an asset to Konoha as anyone else. It was ironic to know that Denki had a strong distaste for conflict and confrontation, but always had a method of action for ceasing any potential problems. Boruto and Kawaki's insistent bickering seemed to be one he's dealt with a plentiful amount of times.
The mentioning of Sarada's birthday was enough to snap the two boys from their momentary annoyance. They both grumbled inaudibly before simultaneously muttering, "Fine."
And not even three seconds of peace later—yes, Sarada had been counting, knowing that one of them, more specifically Boruto, could never let an argument or any conflict dissolve without having the last word—the Uzumaki mumbled, "Kawaki started it."
Kawaki's reaction was instantaneous. Complexion flushed red in unadulterated fury and jaw clenched at a strength that would have shattered the bone if he wasn't a previous experiment constantly being poked and prodded by the Kara, Kawaki snatched at the the collar of Boruto's yakuta, yanking him forward at such strength, Sarada was surprised that the fabric didn't tear. The two boys were in each other's faces, noses nearly touching, and it took everything in Sarada not to pound them into the ground.
She turned to Mitsuki, sighing, "This is why we can't have nice things."
"Agreed," the snake nin replied.
"Teme!" Kawaki snarled, raising a fist in preparation to land the first hit. Sarada's birthday be damned, Boruto had really pissed him off and this time, he wasn't going to let anyone stop him from tossing the little shit around. "You better take that back before I beat your ass—"
"Min'na!" Kawaki's harsh demeanor immediately collapsed as soon as he registered Sumire's voice. Releasing Boruto from his iron grip, he straightened his posture and kept his arms to his side, hoping to appear innocent. Boruto snickered at this, leaning forward and whispering the word 'simp' in his ear. Kawaki shot him a glare that basically told him this wasn't over. Alongside the lavender-haired girl was Akimichi Cho-Cho, Yamanaka Inojin, and Nara Shikadai. Sarada was unable to resist smiling widely at the sight of her best friend, completely unaware of Boruto's watchful gaze.
"Cho-Cho!" Sarada exclaimed, running to engulf the Akimichi into a tight embrace. Cho-Cho let out a small grunt at the impact, but nonetheless returned the gesture, squeezing her just as tightly. With Sarada's training and Cho-Cho's clan duties, the duo spent less time with each other than they preferred. This was actually the first time they had seen one another in two and a half weeks, so their elatedness was very much apparent.
"I've missed you so much," Sarada enthused, offering her friend a warm smile as they parted. "I'm so glad you were able to make it!"
"I've missed you too, and of course I'd be here! I'd never miss out on my best friend's birthday. Speaking of birthdays, I got you something," Cho-Cho dug into one of the pockets of her pink kimono, pulling out a small, red box. She eagerly handed it to Sarada, before excitingly chanting, "open it! Open it!"
"Okay, okay!" Sarada laughed, delicately opening the gift-box and pulling out a pretty, silver bracelet. The chain had a charm that was in the shape of a heart, except the other half was missing. Before Sarada could formulate her question, Cho-Cho scrunched up the left sleeve of her kimono, revealing an identical bracelet secured around her wrist. It contained the same exact charm, which Cho-Cho utilized to connect to the charm of Sarada's bracelet, effectively forming a heart. But it wasn't the magnetic charms that stood out to her the most, it was the writing engraved on the metal.
It read: Sarada and Cho-Cho, Best Friends Forever.
Sarada was unable to control the onslaught of tears. She wondered how much time and money it took for Cho-Cho to have this charm designed, and she was so grateful to have such an amazing friend. Cho-Cho took Sarada's tears as a sign of joy, "Like it?"
Sarada didn't hesitate, "Like it? I love it! Thank you so much, I'll always cherish it."
Cho-Cho beamed at this, "Of course! You only turn sixteen once, so I wanted to make sure that this gift would be special..."
"Oi!" Inojin shouted, voice clearly denoting impatience and effectively ruining the moment for the two kunoichis. Both Sarada and Cho-Cho sent Inojin iniquitous glares that didn't appear to phase him one bit, "Let's get a move on! I'm freaking starving!"
"Honestly, me too!" Cho-Cho later conceded, suddenly commemorating her main reason for coming to the festival besides celebrating Sarada's birthday: the food. "I've been dying to have some dango!"
Sarada let out a light hearted laugh, proceeding to link her arm with Cho-Cho's as they joined the rest of the group. After making a brief head count to ensure that no one was forgotten, the young shinobi ventured to the festival in an enthusiastic manner, ready to engage in the games and activities that awaited them.
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Hanami was about as grandiose as Sarada could have possibly imagined. The festival was held at the center of town, not too far from the Hokage tower. According to Boruto, Nanadaime was persistent in having ANBU guards surveillance the village, especially during highly-populated gatherings, after the Otsutski invasion that occurred two years ago.
There were a plethora of concession and food stands, Cho-Cho insisted that they taste test all the cuisine that would be provided this evening. As they ventured further, the group eventually parted ways. Kawaki, Sumire, Inojin, Denki, and Shikadai sauntered off to the picnic area surrounded by Sakura trees in hopes of reserving the perfect spot to watch the fireworks show that is scheduled to take place in a couple of hours. Meanwhile, Cho-Cho, Sarada, Boruto, and Mitsuki decided to explore the premises, stopping at several cantinas containing foods that ranged from packed bento boxes and sushi to tasty treats such as cherry blossom mochi and dango.
Perched atop of a park bench and munching on the okonomiyaki that she and Cho-Cho agreed to share, the two kunoichis watched as Boruto and Mitsuki approached a tent containing a fun festival game where one would throw a rubber baseball at a stack of milk bottles. The rules were quite simple: if the player knocks all the bottles down, they'd receive a prize. Sarada briefly scanned the variety of plushies and stuffed animals hanging from the roof of the tent, the giant panda catching her eye.
Approximately five minutes later, the boys returned to the park bench. Mitsuki was unfortunately empty handed, but still wore his traditional smile. Meanwhile, Boruto was at the lucky end of the stick. One hand was holding the giant stuffed panda, and the other a small Kurama plushie. Boruto trekked over to Sarada, extending his hand carrying the panda, "For you."
An influx of carmine blemished the paleness of Sarada's complexion, eyebrows raised in astonishment, she stammered, "M-Me?"
Boruto laughed, "Yes, you. Now take it already! My arm's getting tired."
Sarada took the panda into her possession, unable to resist the urge of holding it close to her chest, ignoring the knowing look that Cho-Cho was giving her. The plushie was soft and pliable and even though she was a little bit old to have a stuffed animal, Sarada would cherish it. Any gift from someone that was precious to her was special. She glanced at the Uzumaki through her eyelashes, suddenly bashful, "Arigatou."
"What's the other one for?" Cho-Cho then inquired, easing the tension between the two chunin.
"It's for Himawari," Boruto grinned, his eyes slightly melancholic at the thought of Kurama. He wasn't close with the tailed beast, but the Kyuubi had been sealed within Naruto's body since he was an infant; the history and camaraderie they had was enormous. "I remember her wanting the limited edition Kurama plush toy that went on sale awhile back and it completely sold out, so I figured this would make her happy."
"That's very thoughtful of you, Boruto. I'm sure Hima will love it," Sarada added kindly. Boruto had always been an amazing older brother, and Sarada couldn't help feeling envious about his and Himawari's sibling bond. The young Uchiha always wondered what it would be like to have a brother or sister. Being an only child had its perks, but sometimes when Sarada returned home to an empty apartment because her Mama and Papa were busy working, loneliness usually crept up on her. Not wanting to dwell on the thought further, Sarada made a brief glance at the watch secured around her wrist. They had been walking around for awhile and wondered if their other friends were still lounging in the picnic area. The numbers on the screen read eight forty-five and Sarada's eyes nearly popped out of her head. "The fireworks will be going off in fifteen minutes. Let's go find the others."
It didn't take long for them to locate the picnic area and find their awaiting friends, as they all stood out like a sore thumb amidst the crowd. Sumire was fully prepared for this festival; the lavender haired kunoichi packed several blankets for everyone to sit on, especially since the grass was still slightly damp from a recent rain shower. Additionally, Sumire brought enough Hanami bento boxes for everyone to split. Munching on her umeboshi onigri, Sarada resisted the urge to laugh as Boruto and Kawaki bickered over who should have the last egg roll in their bento box. When the argument started to escalate, Mitsuki eventually intervened and assisted them in finding a way to compromise by suggesting they share it.
Conflict quickly resolving, a lively chatter commenced within the group of teenagers. Many laughs were exchanged as they reminisced about their days in the Academy; back when Boruto was a mischievous prankster and Sarada was a goody two shoes who always strived to follow the rules. That part of her was still present, but Boruto's carefree persona enabled her to grasp the ideology that it was okay to break a few rules and have fun every once in awhile. Her decision on deserting the village for the sake of rescuing Mitsuki from the Hidden Stone Village and nearly having her rank as a genin completely demolished was a prime example of opposing authority.
They also shared stories—both humorous and extreme—of missions that ranged from a simple D-rank to mind boggling and dangerous A or worse-case scenario, S rank. It wasn't until the discussion of newly learned jutsus was propagated when the fireworks show had finally began. As soon as the festival lights dimmed, the group quieted as the first firework was launched several feet in the air. The crowd gasped in awe as it exploded, pink lights dancing across the indigo skyline. Another one followed immediately after, and then another, as the slow build up gradually reached the epic climax everyone was waiting for. A plethora of fireworks, all released simultaneously, popped and crackled at tremendous speed and burst into a multitude of lively colors.
Sarada, completely mesmerized by the pulchritudinous display, was utterly unsuspecting of a pair of eyes observing her with strong intent. A figure was positioned behind a Sakura tree just a few paces away from Sarada, scanning her up and down as if she were a piece of meat. A peculiar feeling suddenly gnawed at her gut and she couldn't flout the sensation that she was being watched. She rapidly twisted her neck to glance at whatever was behind her, only to discover a singular cherry blossom tree and a few civilians nearby. Her onyx irises flitted right and left, thoroughly scanning the surrounding premises for any signs of suspicion, only to find nothing once more.
Sarada wasn't a paranoid person. She was perfectly capable of protecting herself, and her intuition was something she never questioned or attempted to ignore. The idea of someone potentially stalking her, especially at a crowded festival, was totally bizarre and she pondered the scenario that her brain managed to conjure. Crime rates within the village have declined significantly ever since the Konoha Barrier Team introduced the newly perfected sensing system, which—through the utilization of Scientific Ninja Tools—functions to detect unregistered chakra signatures entering the village. In conclusion, there was no way someone could be after her, unless they were a current resident of Konoha—
"Sarada? You still with us?" Cho-Cho gently nudged her shoulder, instantly snapping Sarada from her negative paradox. When the raven-haired kunoiche didn't respond, Cho-Cho's voice shifted from light jesting to genuine concern. "Are you okay?"
Not wanting to perturb her best friend any further, Sarada flashed a fake smile and replied, "Yes, I'm fine. Just a little tired, is all."
If there was one thing Uchiha Sarada was terribly skilled at, it was lying, especially when it came to Cho-Cho. The young Akimichi looked far from convinced, her eyebrows only knitting together as a worrisome frown stretched her red lips. However, Cho-Cho was not one to pry; she trusted Sarada and knew that she would confide in her whenever the time was right. As much as Cho-Cho wanted to push, she let it go right then and there, not wanting to upset Sarada, especially on her birthday. She made a mental note to ask her about it the following day.
The festival occupants vehemently clapping and cheering indicated that the fireworks had come to a complete end. The lights flickering back to life was the cue for everyone to pack up their belongings and return to the vicinities of their homes. Sarada averted her eyes to her watch, the time now reading nine twenty-two, and exhaustion immediately overwhelmed every fiber of her being. Sarada and her comrades had been at the festival for over five hours, and as much as she loved her outfit, she was dying to change into her pajamas and to free her hair from the tightly pinned kanzashi holding it out of her face. Her feet also ached from the extraneous walking and the geta footwear only enhanced the discomfort.
As other civilians began their departure, the group assisted Sumire in packing up all the blankets and empty bento boxes and ensured that all their trash had been thrown in the garbage bin before saying their goodbyes. Everyone made sure to wish Sarada another happy birthday before parting ways. Cho-Cho pulled Sarada in for another tight embrace, promising to call her tomorrow, before joining Inojin and Shikadai.
A wave of apprehension washed over Sarada as the park grew more vacant, and she suddenly didn't want to be alone. As if sensing her discomfort, Boruto, along with Mitsuki and Kawaki, approached her and offered to walk her home. Neither of them pried for any explanation or reason for her unease, and she was extremely grateful for it. Making their way to Sarada's apartment complex, Team 7 conversed about their favorite aspects of the festival and all the different foods and concession games they tried. Boruto, of course, gloated to Kawaki on how he won a prize for both Sarada and Himawari. Kawaki then snickered, before leaning to whisper in Boruto's ear the same sentiment that was heard earlier today, "Simp."
"What was that?" Sarada asked, not hearing Kawaki properly.
"N-nothing!" Boruto suddenly stammered, an embarrassed blush staining his whiskered complexion. "Urusai, Kawaki!"
"I believe Kawaki said the word 'simp'," Mitsuki added with an oblivious smile. "I don't know what the word means exactly, but Boruto-kun uses it a lot."
"Mitsuki!" the young Uzumaki groaned, and Sarada unable to control the hearty laugh that tumbled from her lips, clutching her stomach with the hand that wasn't occupied with the giant panda. Kawaki snorted, and then the whole group was laughing. They laughed until their sides ached, and Sarada actually had to wipe a few tears.
Just as the laugher fizzled out, Team 7 finally reached their destination. Turning to her teammates, Sarada thanked them for escorting her home, and she thanked Boruto again for winning her the stuffed panda. Before she had the chance to make her way inside, Boruto invited Sarada to spar with the three of them tomorrow afternoon, and she accepted with eagerness. Bidding them all goodnight, Sarada turned and sauntered to the entrance of the building complex. The boys waited until she was inside before heading home.
Not wanting to wait for the elevator, Sarada decided to toughen up and take the single flight of stairs, fortunate that her apartment was on the second floor of the building. Delving a hand into her handbag, Sarada withdrew her home key, thrusting it into the lock and turning it to the left, before swinging the front door open. Closing it behind her and locking it, Sarada slid the geta off her feat, freezing at the sight of a pair of large shinobi sandals, a black cloak dangling from the coat hanger, and Kusangi propped up against the wall. All of these items belonged to Papa, who was finally home just as Mama said.
"Okaeri," A baritone voice resounded from the living room. Sarada's head perked up, a wide smile stretching her lips as she turned to the source of her happiness. Uchiha Sasuke was casually lounging on the sofa with a mission report scroll on his lap. He looked tired, but his features instantly softened at the sight of his daughter and he offered her a tender smile, one that was only meant for her and Sakura.
"Papa!" He rose from the couch as Sarada barreled towards him, the giant panda long forgotten in her possession, wrapping her arms around his torso to embrace him. Sasuke utilized his single arm to return the gesture. A few moments passed before they parted and took a seat on the comfy couch. "How long have you been back? And where's Mama?"
"Not too long. Sakura was called in for an emergency surgery," Sasuke replied, folding the mission scroll and setting it on the coffee table. Sarada pouted at this, hoping to come home to both parents as she wanted to share her experience at the festival with them, but Mama was the Head Medic at Konoha General, so her presence was more than often a necessity. "How was the festival?"
Removing the kanzashi from her hair and massaging her tender scalp, Sarada told him all the scoop of today's activities; how she and all her friends converged at Thunder Burger to walk to the festival together, Boruto and Kawaki's bickering, the bracelet Cho-Cho had given her as well as the stuffed panda Boruto won for her at the concession stand. She also told him about the fireworks, and all the delicious foods and treats she was able to try. When Sarada mentioned that the kimono she wore was a gift from Mama this morning, Sasuke reaching into the inside pocket of his vest and withdrew a small box, secured in red wrapping paper.
"Happy birthday, Peanut," Papa said kindly, eyes softening as Sarada's countenance lit up in elatedness. She gently took the gift into her hands, delicately unwrapping it to avoid making a mess. Once the box had been completely rid of the wrapping paper, Sarada removed the top and gasped at the contents inside.
A dainty necklace was perched atop of the cushiony fabric of the package, donning a red ruby and an Uchiha crest charm. Sarada, with the utmost of caution, pinched the necklace chain between her thumb and fore finger as she pulled it out of the box, holding the charm and ruby in the palm of her hand.
She looked at her father in awe, "It's beautiful, Papa. Thank you."
"Aa." He replied, before adding: "The stone has some of my chakra in it. Now that you're getting older, you'll eventually start taking more dangerous missions. If you're ever in a situation of emergency, pulse your chakra into the stone and I'll come find you."
The intention behind Papa's gift warmed her heart, and he was right about her occupation as a shinobi growing more perilous. If Sarada passes the Jounin exams, she'll be eligible for solo, high-ranking missions. She was fully aware that her Mama and Papa believed in her capabilities, but Papa always had an overprotective side that she couldn't help appreciating. Sarada would be lying if she said she wasn't nervous about taking solo missions, so knowing that Papa would do anything to ensure her safety was immensely reassuring.
"I'll never take it off," Sarada promised him, proceeding to unhook the clasp to the necklace and wrap the chain around her neck before securing it once more. The piece of jewelry accentuated her long neck and hung prettily over the top of her chest.
"Good," Sasuke gently patted her on the head, not before ruffling her hair slightly. He chuckled softly at Sarada's playful glare before averting his gaze to the wall clock. "It's late, you should get some rest."
"Already?" Sarada whined, hoping to spend just a little more time with him. "Now that I'm sixteen, doesn't that mean I get to stay up later?"
With an expression of pure, unadulterated fondness, Papa elevated his arm and gently poked his daughter on the forehead, "Mata kondo na."
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Sarada arose from her deep slumber due to the sharp dryness of her throat. Reaching for the cup on the nightstand, she groaned in frustration at the realization that she had forgotten to take a glass of water with her before going to bed. It wasn't an uncommon occurrence for Sarada to wake up in the middle of the night utterly parched, so to avoid having to tip-toe to the kitchen in hopes of not waking her parents up, Sarada always had water in her room.
Heaving a tired sigh, Sarada tossed the comforter of her bed to the side, swinging her legs off and compressing her feet to the cold wooden floor. With the stealth of a shinobi, Sarada quietly trekked to the kitchen, knowing what floor boards to avoid stepping on as the apartment complex was slightly dated and some of the boards to their apartment creaked vehemently. Sarada did not have her glasses on, so she activated her sharingan for assistance in navigating throughout the nearly pitch-black apartment. Finally arriving at her destination, Sarada reached for the top cabinet of the kitchenette, opening it to retrieve the first glass cup available for her grasp.
Just as she was about to turn and make her way to the fridge, a gloved hand suddenly clamped over her mouth and the blade of a kunai was compressed against the delicate skin of her throat. Sarada's blood ran cold and her body froze, eyes widened to their full capacity, as a gravelly voice she did not recognize uttered out, "if you scream, I will kill you."
Sarada's instincts kicked in as soon as she registered the threat. Her teeth sunk deeply into the palm of her assailant, utilizing the hand holding the glass cup to thrust it against his skull, the force so strong that the glass had completely shattered. His grip on the kunai immediately loosened, and Sarada took the first opportunity to drive her elbow harshly into his stomach, infusing just the right amount of chakra to knock him to the ground. As soon as she was free, Sarada elicited an ear-splitting shriek, and if the glass shattering wasn't loud enough to rouse her parents, then her screams definitely would.
The rogue shinobi lunged at her once more, hands wrapping around her throat and effectively slamming her against the wall. Sarada yelped as he withdrew another kunai, hauling it towards her skull. Sarada's hands flew up in immediate defense, the kunai then impaling the flesh of her right palm, deep enough for the blade to protrude from the other side. An agonized scream tumbled from her lips at the sickening sound of bones cracking, blood seeping from the wound at a rapid pace as the fingers seizing her throat tightened to constrict the flow of oxygen.
"Y-Yamete..." Sarada croaked, his iron grip tightening even more to where she could no longer breathe. The young Uchiha squirmed and thrashed, desperate to break free, and as a result the assailant slammed her against the wall once again, harsher this time, the back of her cranium smacking hard enough to influence the formation of a wound and for a single stream of blood to trickle down the side of Sarada's face. As her vision started to grow fuzzy from asphyxiation, it became tremendously difficult for Sarada to muster any of her strength to fight back.
Just as she was about to fall under the ruthless paradox of unconsciousness, the assailant was suddenly ripped away from her, the sound of a blade piercing flesh reverberating throughout the darkness of the apartment. Sarada slumped to the ground, gasping for breath as she was suddenly encompassed in her mother's embrace. Meanwhile, Sasuke was preoccupied with removing his Kusangi from the captor's chest, watching as he slumped to the floor lifelessly, a pool of blood surrounding his body.
"Sarada!" Mama's voice was frantic. She didn't realize that—despite the excruciating pain she endured from the hand injury—she was trembling, an endless stream of tears cascading down her cheeks as she fought to nourish her oxygen-deprived lungs. "It's alright, Sarada. You're safe now..."
Sarada was unable to process any of Mama's soothing words, for black dots continued to dance across her vision and her heart thundered tumultuously in her ears. Her head ached tremendously, and she wondered if she had a concussion as a wave a nausea overwhelmed her entire being. Suddenly, all the blood in her face drained, her skin paling to a sickly ivory hue. The weight of the situation was far too extraneous for Sarada to handle; her eyes rolled to back of her head and she lost all function in her limbs. The last thing she registered was her parents desperately calling out to her and the warmth of Mama's healing chakra before darkness consumed her.
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