So, I was safe.

Shikamaru promised not to mention anything about Boruto and I exploring the attic, or about anything else he saw. He had been notified by Himawari, hysterically crying that she believed we were in danger in the attic after hearing Boruto call for me repeatedly. We cleaned up the mess I made, and returned to the party; our attitudes were solemn, but we had to play it off and celebrate and pretend nothing had happened.

But something did happen. I caught uncertain glances from Boruto throughout the evening. He may have let it go for now, but when Boruto wanted to get to the bottom of something, it was imperative he did.

I wish I knew what it was, myself.

I left the party early that night, still feeling a bit lightheaded and uneasy. Shortly after leaving, I notice that Shikaden's father is following me down the street, jogging hastily to meet my pace.

"Sarada," He calls, catching up easily. "Sarada, are you sure you're feeling okay? If I'm not to mention what happened to anyone, I just want to make sure you have this situation under control yourself. Is there any way I can convince you to talk to Sakura about this?"

"It's fine, but thank you for your concern. I'm just coming down with a bit of the flu; I'm sure I'll be fine in the morning after a good sleep."

"Sure, alright," Shikamaru eyes me carefully, and then starts fishing in his pocket. "Oh, I forgot. I found this after you got up to go downstairs. I believe you dropped it." He places it in my hand; a small, thick banded golden ring. I don't believe I've seen it before, but I pocket it anyways to end the conversation so I could just go home. I thank him, he returns to the party, and I arrive home in minutes.

Walking up the stairs to my room, I notice three photos side by side mounted on the wall; my father, myself, and my mother at the same age, photos taken at our Genin graduation. I stop and stare for a while, and take my father's photo off the wall and head upstairs with it. Tears start spilling down my face as I collapse into bed.

I wish my dad was here. I know my dad would know what to do, and what to say to me. He seems wise, strong. Mom worries too much, and I don't care to confess much to her; but I feel with dad, things would be different. Why did he have to leave? Why did he have to stay away for so long? Why can't life be like how it is with the Uzumaki's? Why didn't mom just marry him?

Thoughts swirl around in my head as my heart pours into my pillow. Before I the pain lasts too long, I am asleep.

I am a squirrel, and I wake up beside a camera, near a tree stump. It is midday.

My God, this again?

I have the urge to climb a tree. My movements are jerky and quick. I feel incredibly antsy. It feels good to be quick. The quicker I am, the better I feel.

I'm just going to make the best of this, I think to myself. I feel the wind against my fur as I jump from tree to tree, little hands clinging to the smallest of branches that are able to support me. I dive from the top of one tree and confidently cling to another at the last second before reaching the ground. Alive, alive!

A sound ahead breaks my concentration, and I freeze still. Instincts cause anxieties to flood in like rushing waves. My head, within seconds, is pounding with all sorts of melodramatic thoughts I have to push past to reveal the actual cause of the noise.

It's a boy, wearing black and white, training ahead in the middle of the forest. He is breaking sticks, even making dents on a tree, merely using Ninjutsu. I sneak closer to watch, intrigued, although my squirrely psyche warns me furiously not to.

I leap to the ground and hop along the grass, noting his moves and his smooth actions. He's skilled and young; probably around my age. I lay low to the ground and creep closer, not to create a target for him atop any branches or trees with the kunai he has readily at his thigh.

He turns swiftly, his head swiveling directly towards me and spots me. My tail straightens with fear. His eyes, those eyes, are red and black and spinning. I know instantly that it is the Sharingan. I know instantly, that this boy is my father.

My heart is pounding so hard inside this small chest, I feel as it may burst. His gaze does not waiver. My joints and limbs remain unmoved. He is starting to move towards me. I'm realizing quickly, if I don't get away, things could be dire if he reaches me. Heat swarms to all extremities as I bolt up a tree and basically fly atop the tree tops, leaping to and fro to escape. A trail of leaves are shaken to the ground amidst the gale that my haste produced.

Luckily, he isn't following me.

"Sarada, wake up! You're going to be late!"

I sit up and gasp a breath of air. My heart is palpitating from the rush of the chase. I realize it was just a dream, and I was home in bed. My night's sleep was hardly restful.

Shower. Brush teeth. Get dressed. Today, I have class with Boruto and Mitsuki.

I'm not sure if I will be able to have the patience to deal with their nonsense today.

"So, you know most Clans have their own unique abilities; some of them possessing a Kekkei Genkai," Konohamaru mentions, sitting down on a tree stump while gobbling a sandwich.

Mitsuki is eager to please. "Yes! Like Sarada, the Uchihas possess the Sharingan, and Boruto is lucky enough to have traits from the Hyuga's Byakugan and the Uzumaki's-"

"This," Boruto clasps his hands together in a formation, and a cloud of smoke surrounds him, separating to reveal a tall, thin, busty nude woman with sleek blonde hair, just long enough to cover her nipples. Konohamaru chokes on his food and wipes a small streak of blood from his nose.

I feel my face redden as I clench my fist, and give Boruto a good punch in the tit. His jutsu vanishes and he is on the ground, writhing in pain. Mituski is on the ground too, clutching his stomach laughing. I'm surrounded by perverts and idiots.

We speak more about Kekkei Genkai, although Mitsuki is rather quiet when he's questioned about his own. He weirds me out, and I have my own suspicions about him; he and I were never very close though, and Boruto is a descent judge of character and the two of them share a fair bond, so maybe it's just my attitude.

Our team heads into the woods. We are to search for three different types of medicinal flora, and bring them back to Konohamaru, undoubtedly while he naps. This is an easy task for Mitsuki and I, who both achieved A+ grades in the medical nin section of school; Boruto, not so much.

The two are goofing off together amongst the trees, and I am enjoying the time to myself. I'm also relieved Boruto hadn't mentioned anything from the night prior. If I'm lucky, maybe he will let it pass. If I'm lucky…

My feet stop before my brain can tell them to, and I notice quickly I am being watched by a set of eyes, unfamiliar. Before I leap to the trees to disguise myself in the leaves, I swivel to see a cloaked man, with a presence I couldn't detect, yet a presence so strong I could feel it emanate from him. Our eyes lock, and no words had to be said.

My father.