As a ten-year-old, Sarada came to realize something. Naruto asked her how Boruto was doing because as Hokage, he was too busy to go home every day. And Boruto was pulling pranks because he wanted his father's attention.

It wasn't her place to stick her nose in, especially since she was doing her best not to get involved with the infamous village prankster... But now that she understood the reason why, she almost felt bad for him.

Her tutoring was going well, but her tutor despised Boruto and everything he stood for. She told Sarada stories of Boruto's pranks, dating all the way back to when he was five years old. She was the daughter of the old woman who's cat was scared more than a handful of times by Boruto. Her tutor told her that if she wanted to be a decent person in the eyes of the village, she shouldn't associate herself with him.

It wasn't just her tutor that was convincing her that Boruto wasn't worth hanging around; it was Cho-Cho as well. Cho-Cho teased her for liking him at first, but the moment she hardened herself and denied everything, her best friend turned haughty and egotistical around him, making sure Boruto knew he wasn't welcomed in their friend group.

Even when Sarada ran into him on her walks, Boruto tried to convince her to ditch lessons, saying they were going to learn all of that stuff in the academy anyway. When she refused, he called her a bookwork and sulked away.

Cho-Cho didn't do any of that stuff. She was respectful and understanding and easy to get along with... And so, Sarada decided to hang out with Cho-Cho instead. Even Inojin ditched the group, saying he would only hang out with Shikadai if Boruto wasn't there.

Despite the distance that was growing between them, Sarada still appreciated Boruto's good points. Although now a days, they almost never surfaced.

As time went on, Boruto stopped talking to Sarada. It wasn't like they had much in common besides training anyway, and now that Sarada had a private tutor, her time was being taken up by her studies. She was too tired to do much outside of that.

Their parents would get together on birthdays and for other events, but Boruto never acted like he used to. Engrossed in videogames, he complained about Sarada being too good at throwing shuriken to practice with. When she suggested sparring, he yawned and said it sounded like a drag. Too much like a certain best friend he always hung out with.

Their relationship became one of calling each other names and bickering whenever they came into contact. She was just trying to get him to grow up a little and realize the trouble he was causing for the townspeople. And he was just being childish.

But the older Sarada became, the more she understood Boruto's actions. He had a reason for everything he did. He was getting good enough to pull off a prank against a jonin every now and then. It was like training for him... But the only time he caught the attention of his father was when he caused a large amount of trouble.

After lessons, she went on her usual walks through the village. Every once in a while, she wouldn't scold him for a prank, and instead, she watched to see if it would actually succeed.

She wished there was a better way he could go about getting attention, but it didn't seem like there was anything more he could do. And when Sarada finally lost it and yelled at him, he yelled back.

"You. All you ever do is go around and pull childish pranks when you're board. I know you're trying to get the seventh's attention and all, but can't you do it some other way? He's right there. Just go talk to him and stop causing him trouble... It's not like your dad is gone! Grow up for once, stupid Boruto."

"You don't understand anything," he spat, hands clenched in fists. "He doesn't come home... He doesn't even come home for dinner! He's right there. Your dad is on some cool mission, out saving the world. But my dad is five minutes away! Five minutes! And he'd rather eat some cruddy cup noodles than mom's homecooked food... He'd rather sleep on the floor of that cruddy office than in his bed!"

Sarada lowered her head. He knew he was especially sensitive when it came to his mom and the things she did for his family. They both were. And she couldn't tell which one was worse anymore. Having a dad that was there and refused to pay him any mind, or having a dad that was gone in the first place...

Sarada envied him for being able to see Naruto whenever he wanted. But it wasn't like she didn't understand.

And so, she called him an idiot under her breath and walked away.

Sarada could tell exactly what he was doing. In fact, she almost wanted the same experience that he got from applying the knowledge practically instead of studying it from a book.

But if she copied him, she wouldn't live up to her father's expectations. He had to be coming back one day... And when he did, she wanted to show him just how good of a daughter she was. And that meant staying as far away as possible from the reputable troublemaker, Uzumaki Boruto.

. . .

When Boruto turned eleven, he didn't invite Sarada to his birthday party. She was there all the other years, quietly hiding behind her mom in the corner at first, then slowly coming to play with him, and finally, as his friend. But lately, she'd been doing nothing but getting on his nerves.

Stay out of trouble. Why do you do this? Why are you doing that? I'm going to tell Konohamaru.

She didn't understand anything. How could she, when she didn't have a dad who was home in the first place? Wanting a new video game was a thousand times easier than having it and getting it taken away.

Even still... He couldn't deny that a part of him still wanted to hang out with her. She was smart. Fun to compete against. And Shikadai was usually too busy training with Inojin and Cho-Cho to train with him.

As for Ino-Shika-Cho... Cho-Cho didn't hang out with the boys at all unless she was forced, and Inojin decided Boruto was too much of a nuisance to be around. He didn't want to get into trouble by association. Eventually, Shikadai became his best and only friend.

He tried training with Hanabi, but he didn't have the byakugan to learn gentle fist, and their grandpa was too clingy. He tried asking Tsunade after learning she was Sakura's master, but the training was so terrifying, he gave up after a mere three days.

And so it was that he ended up going home to play video games until dinner was ready. He would stop by Dr. Katasuke's for the latest models and cheats. And when he had nothing better to do, he would go play a prank.

More often then not, the one who came to scold him for his wrongdoings was Sarada, out on a walk to get some fresh air or a break from her training. But every once and a while, when it looked like his prank was going to be successful, she turned a blind eye and simply called him an idiot if he pointed it out. It was in those times that he knew she hadn't entirely forgotten about everything from the past.

Sometimes, out of boredom, Boruto would go bother Konohamaru and ask him to teach him a new jutsu. Usually, he got a few tips and pointers on his dad's sexy jutsu, but Konohamaru told him to wait on other jutsu until he got to the academy.

His mom forced him to memorize things out of textbooks in preparation for school, but he found it all to be a bore. Who needed to know about chakra natures and mastering the way of the ninja anyways? So what if his dad was the best ninja. He was still just a cruddy old man that ate ramen and stayed out late.

Despite his thoughts, he listened to everything his mom had to say. His mom and little sister were the two people on earth he never wanted to cause trouble for... And as long as everyone told Naruto instead of Hinata about his pranks, he could get away with them.

He continued pranking people, taking on tougher and tougher opponents. He learned to copy jutsu from them, adding wind style and thunder style to his repertoire. And finally, he was enrolled into the academy.

To those that didn't see his effort, he merely looked like a genius that didn't try. And because he didn't study in traditional ways, he himself didn't recognize that he was putting in an effort.

But little by little, as his pranks grew more severe in nature, he realized he was applying the information and tactics he learned to his studies. Thinking on his feet. Taking everything as it happened... Sarada could rival him in training exercises. She practiced them more. But if it came down to something unexpected? Boruto easily took the cake. From everyone except for Iwabee, that is.

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And thus began the anime. Everything below this is just points in the anime that I kind of based my story around... Feel free to read it if you want :) If not that's cool too. Thanks for getting this far! I hope you enjoyed the story~

Shikadai: "Try not to do stuff that will embarrass your dad... It'll reflect on me too. Your mom always tells me to watch out for you." (Episode 1)

- Sign that friends are getting looked down on for hanging out with him.

Cho-Cho: "Sarada, you guys are close, aren't you?" - *She says "shitashii" which means close (relationship). The subtitles on gogoanime and are kinda wrong there.

Sarada: "Our parents are friends. That's it."

Cho-Cho: "So [if your parents know each other] you're childhood friends?" - Said with a smirk

Sarada: "Not really. In fact, I find it kinda troublesome to be lumped in with him." (Episode 2)

- Again, doesn't want to be associated with him because he's a troublemaker.

Inojin: "Yo, Boruto. It's been a while. I wonder how long it's been?"

Boruto: "Hey, Inojin!"

Denki: "You guys know each other?"

Shikadai: "All of our parents do." (Episode 2)

- Right before this, Inojin was verbally attacking Boruto for using his connections with his dad to get out of trouble for crashing the train. When Boruto holds out his hand, Inojin slaps it away and says he doesn't even consider him worth his trust. But because he says "it's been a while," I'm assuming he was dumped by association as well.

Sarada: *hands shaking as she watches Boruto fight Iwabe*

Cho-Cho: "I thought you weren't interested?"

Sarada: *puts hands on bar* "I'm not."

Cho-Cho: "That's not what it looks like."

Sarada: "You must be seeing things." (Episode 2)

- Despite her denying it, Sarada is actually concerned about him which kinda tipped me off that there had to be something more than just them being simple childhood friends. And the amount Cho-Cho teases her tells me Cho-Cho knew. But since Sarada is denying everything, Cho-Cho is probably trying not to be super in her face about it. Another reason I think that is because her personality in the novels is less "stupid" and more scheming.

Hinata: "Dinner's ready, but what do you want to do?"

Naruto: "I just finished an all nighter... I think I'm going to go to bed."

Boruto: *Clenches fist* "Cruddy old man... He won't even eat the food mom prepared?" (Episode 3)

- It's pretty clear that Naruto doesn't come home often, and when he does he just kinda goes to bed. I'm assuming when he first got the position as hokage, his workload was alot tougher because he wasn't used to it at all. So I'm assuming Boruto tried to understand for a little while, but especially after four years and hardly any change, he's just kinda fed up.

Sarada: "Because you keep getting into trouble, the other ninjutsu classes think our entire class is full of problem children... Anyways, stop acting like a child."

Boruto: "How am I acting childish?"

Sarada: "Look, you got angry in a matter of seconds. That's childish."

Bourto: "What'd you say?!"

Sarada: *Hmph* (Episode 4)

- This is why I think Boruto has a sore spot for being called childish. And Sarada has a sore spot for getting in trouble because of him.

Inojin: "Aren't you and Sarada childhood friends?"

Boruto: "Our parents get along well so we've known each other for a long time. That's it. It's not like we're friends or anything."

Shikadai: "Sounds like a drag, that kind of relationship."

Boruto: "I couldn't care less about this topic, so let's hurry up and go eat!" (Episode 4)

- He said that right after they fought, and then when Shikadai agrees that it sucks, he changes the subject. The way he does this is like him childishly refusing to admit that they used to be friends. At least in my opinion that's what it sounds like xD

Boruto: "I eat this yakisoba bun every time they have it out."

Sarada: "I know, you always smell like them."

Boruto: "Then this yakisoba bread is-"

Sarada: "Mine."

Boruto: "How does that make sense?"

Sarada: "You're always eating them, so why don't you just get something else?"

Boruto: "Next to hamburgers, the yakisoba bun from here is my favorite food! If I don't eat one, I can't get in sync!"

Sarada: "Isn't it better for someone who's always causing trouble not to get in sync? Besides, *blushes* ever since I heard they were good, I've been wanting to try it at least once."

Boruto: *turns back to lady* "Anyways lady, why'd you sell out so quickly today?" (Episode 4)

- My theory here is that Sarada wanted to try them because Boruto always eats them. Or at least, that's likely what they intended with the anime. Especially since instead of asking Cho-Cho for one, Sarada just buys the available one while Boruto is distracted.

She admits to knowing that they were his favorite. And then Boruto turning to the lady instead of continuing to fight her shows he's kinda embarrassed about it xD Sarada is also extremely offended when Boruto calls her "not a normal girl" lol. Before that she was pretty calm and cool and collected whenever she yelled at him and then she actually gets pretty ticked.

Also, that part is anime only. I read the scene in the light novel and they both go for the bread, but it goes like this.

Sarada: "I know you eat them all the time so you should give it to me because I've never had one."

Boruto: "If I don't eat one, I can't get in sync."

Sarada: "If you're using that sync to cause problems, it be better if you didn't get into it."

Boruto: "What'd you say?"

Sarada: "What's your problem!"

Then it just becomes boys vs girls with the girls rallying on Sarada's side and the boys on Boruto's side.

- Also, in the book, after they fight, Sarada smiles and thanks Boruto for saving Cho-Cho and Boruto averts his gaze and gets all embarrassed and is like so she can make that kind of face too... It's so cute lol. Anyways.

Boruto: (explaining about the shadow)

Sarada: (walks over to him and kneels down in front of him)

Boruto: (eyes widen, backs up slightly, continues to hold eye contact) (Episode 9)

- Even before she mentioned his eyes, he couldn't handle being in close proximity to her face lol he definitely thinks of her like an actual girl or he wouldn't have been like Ah. Close.

Sarada: (walking away)

Boruto: "Sarada! Um... About the shadow thing earlier..."

Sarada: "I still have to report to my sensei. See you later, baka-masa the second."

Boruto: *Smiles* (Episode 9)

- There are a few times when Sarada very subtly covers for him without admitting to it. There had to be something to build up that trust and willingness not to bust him for stuff he did out of the adults range of view.

Boruto: (Painting "idiot" on Naruto's stone face)

Sarada: (watching from a roof, alone)

Boruto: (runs into alleyway)

Sarada: (Finds him almost immediately) "Idiots never learn their lesson."

Boruto: "...Shh..." (Crawls under sewer grate)

Sarada: (watches him crawl into the grate and says/does nothing)

Naruto: "Sarada!"

Sarada: (Puts hand over chest) "Seventh..."

Naruto: "Have you seen Boruto?"

Sarada: (Hesitation) "He went that way!"

- She's just chilling. Watching on the roof. Like she was waiting for him to show up somewhere and do something stupid lol And then as soon as he thinks he's hidden, she's appears. So I just kinda assumed she watches him from time to time, especially since she also watched him during his training with Sasuke and says he's not the type to usually do something lol. In order to know that, she'd have to know what he usually does.

- She also is like "you're just doing that to get his attention, aren't you?" which he attempts to vehemently deny.

There's the part with the lunch and Boruto is like meh I don't want to hand it over, but he becomes uncomfortable when Sarada shows she understands why he's upset. Because they both kind of value the hard work their moms do for their family.

Sarada: "What, it's you (anta)"

Boruto: "Isn't that (anta) kinda harsh?"

(stuff)

Boruto: "If you're that worried about it, why don't you just go talk to her, honors student?"

- There's a few times where Boruto makes fun of her for being an honors student. Also, he gets offended that she calls him using a kind of distant thing instead of saying his name xD And then he blatantly supports her newfound dream of becoming a hokage. So they definitely don't hate each other, and through the academy, they're regaining whatever relationship they had. At least, that's my opinion.

Here's some more stuff from the fourth novel that relates to this short story if you're interested:

Sarada mentions that she understands Boruto's pranks are like gaining experience points in a video game, and she thinks he has incredible talent, but she also wishes he would take class more seriously.

She mentions that they were closer when they were kids, and admits that she is actually looking forward to him making the school field trip "interesting," or "livening it up."

Her motive for making him the class field trip representative is because she wants him to understand more about why his dad is the way he is.

There are so many moments when she's just like "ah yes. Boruto is this type of person. He always has been." Lol.

Anyways. I hope you'll check it out the fourth light novel as well if you are a Boruto fan!

Thanks for reading~