Here is the next chapter!

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Himawari and the group she was with arrived at the Suna gates the next afternoon Although Temari had said the two Kages would be waiting for their arrival on the third day, the Kazekage and Hokage were already waiting for them, with their advisers at their side.

"I'm impressed." Naruto complimented the group. "I didn't think anyone would make it here so fast, but Himawari why are you-?"

"I asked her to join our team," Yodo interrupted the Hokage's question. "Shikadai was going to, but I beat him to it."

"Yodo," Gaara scolded his daughter. "Did you ask her only because Shikadai wanted to?"

Yodo stayed silent for she didn't want to answer. Naruto, however, was curious and wanted an explanation. "What does-"

Naruto was interrupted once again, but this time by Shikamaru, "Speaking of Shikadai, Himawari will you see where all of the other teams are at?"

With her Byakugan activated, Himawari noticed a group of seven people a few miles away and all the rest of the teams not even at the half way point. Once she relayed the information, the Kazekage gave the four teenagers two options. One, Kankuro can guide them to where they will be staying while they wait for the rest of the contestant. Two, they can wait for the seven and go as a whole group. However, they must all agree on the same option. Since the original team wanted to leave, Himawari reluctantly agreed with them.

When they arrived at the lounge room of their hotel, Araya was the first to speak, and the subject wasn't joyful. "So why does Shikadai hate Shinki and Yodo?" Two heads turned to him in shock while the third turned to him in confusion. "I mean, Shikadai has been acting cold to them and they don't even know why."

Himawari turned her head to the siblings who was looking away from the younger girl. "Shikadai doesn't hate you." She denied the accusation.

"Then why does he act like it?" Shinki wondered, refusing to look at the girl due to embarrassment.

Himawari sighed in frustration. "I can't tell you. It's a secret only his parents, Boruto, and I know."

"Then why you are you so important to Shikadai?" Araya wondered. "Can you tell us that?"

"I'm the reason why his heart beats."

The group of seven arrived at the gates about a few hours after the group of four. They were led to the same hotel as the others before it got dark with Himawari waiting for them in the lobby. "About time you got here slow pokes," she chided playfully as she gave her brother a hug in greeting. "I've been waiting forever."

"Sorry, Hima." Boruto apologized just as playfully. "We had to stop and take a break. We ran as far and as fast as we could, but stopped when our legs were about to give out."

"How did you enjoy being with the Sand trio?" Mitsuki asked sarcastically as he already knew the answer.

She shrugged her shoulders. "It was both awkward and intense. There was nothing to talk about and when someone tried to begin a conversation, the subject got shot down some way."

"So they didn't hurt you?" Shikadai interrogated.

This time, Himawari sighed in annoyance. "No, I swear they didn't hurt me in any way."

The group went to get some food, but Sarada happened to notice that Shikadai and Himawari didn't join them. She whispered to Boruto, figuring that he knew their location since he is closets to them. He only reassured her that they were safe and nothing more. The question still lingered in her mind:

Where are they?

The two were together in one of the many rooms the contestants would be staying in. They weren't doing anything that would raise suspicion. They were sleeping together in the same bed for that was the only time they could be together.

You see, Shikadai and Himawari have been a couple, as in dating, ever since the incident at the last Chunin Exams. The only people who know are, of course, Boruto and both set of parents. They couple decided to keep it a secret from the public because they would be bombarded with cameras and paparazzi for the 'Hokage's daughter' dating her father's adviser's son.

Anyways, the two were sleeping in a position that was both comfortable and beneficial for each other. Himawari had her head on Shikadai's shoulder and her left hand over his heart. Shikadai had one arm wrapped around her waist while the other hand was placed on top of hers, as he dreamed the same dream for the past few years;

How he became a jinchuurki.

And the story begins on the day he was born.