"I'm home!" Boruto happily announced his return. His moth gave him a hug. "Look at those injuries, here I'll get some ointment." His mother frantic.

"It's alright Mom. Really; just a few scrapes, besides I passed the test." Boruto told his mother.

"That's great, your' officially a ninja of the leaf now." His mother smiled as she tapped the symbol of their village upon his brow. "Come on I've got dinner waiting for you."

His mother led them to the kitchen and sat the dining table and sat him down, for red bean soup, and rice. He scarfed down his food as fast as he could ignoring his mother when she told him to chew. Each bite felt like a trophy for his achievement today. He was glad he had mother like Hinata Hyuga. He let out a sigh of relief as soon as he put the last bite into his mouth. He carried his dishes over to the sink to wash them, only for his mother to do them herself. "You shouldn't worry about dishes on a day like this. I'll take care of it." "Thanks, Mom". Boruto smiled.

After she finished, Boruto sat down across from her on the table. Boruto gazed into her mother pale lavender eyes, filled with love and warmth, eyes that also had the byakugan that neither he nor his sister Himawari did. He didn't complain, since he still he had Hyuga's ability to expel chakra from all 360 chakra points in his body, enabling him to use the gentle fist though as effectively as a user of the byakugan. But he was happy; power wasn't important him, family was. "So Boruto, tell me about the test, what was it like?" His mother inquired.

"It was a bell test, but not the same one Dad told us about, and it was also really weird."

"Weird how?"

"Well there were three bells we had to ring, they were easy enough to find, but ringing them was the hard part. Konohamaru-sensei had a clone situated at each bell and we all asses kicked."

"That Konohamru really didn't things easy on you, huh?"

"Wait, you knew he was gonna be our sensei?" He was genuinely surprised, but he nonetheless had an idea of how she knew.

"Your father told me." His mother seemed to know what he was feeling, it was an uncanny ability that Boruto would be afraid especially when it came to his father. He decided not to make an issue of now though. "Oh, I see. Well back to the test."

"Of course." His mother agreed.

"At lunch me, Sarada, and Mitsuki discussed our next move, and Mitsuki figured out that the test was designed to fail, and if we could accept loss as a team." His mother didn't interrupt she simply looked intrigued. "So he decided that we should face the real Konohamaru instead, of wearing ourselves out fighting his clones.

"So you three put everything on the line? That's quite a gamble. What if Mitsuki had been wrong?" He was surprised at his mother's ability to deduce their line of thinking so easily. No doubt this came in handy during the 4th great ninja war. He continued, "life's a gamble too Mom, and Mitsuki said that as well."

"Well that's good. Life is full of uncertainty, but moving forward in spite of that is what gives it meaning." There was silence in the room for a moment. Both of them reflecting on the conversation. "Your team…" His mother began. "Seems like you have good mix between you Sarada and Mitsuki."

"Yeah it does."

"And Mitsuki seems like a master of strategy."

"It's not so much that he's good at strategy, Mom."

"Really, than what is it?"

"It's hard to explain. I know that Shikadai, treats every situation and battle like a puzzle and simply has to put and the pieces together. Mitsuki seems like he treats these sorts of things as almost meaningless, and he gives them meaning. Not like I'm he condescending or cynical or anything, but he seems to think on an entirely different playing field than the rest of us."

"Well then, it's a good thing you two are friends, huh?" Boruto nodded in agreement with a nervous smile. "Well, I'm gonna head to bed. Good night Mom." "'Night." He climbed stairs, to the stairs and came to the hallway that his room was at the end of, the first room was his parents, in which his mother often went to bed alone in if she didn't stay up to wait for his father. The second room was his sister's. He heard soft snoring inside it. He couldn't keep himself from smiling at how cute it and almost soothing it sounded. It meant that she was alright.

When he finally came to his room, he turned on the light and walked into his nice and tidy room. The only thing I actually make a point of keeping clean. He changed into his night clothes and got into bed. The only thing missing tonight was Dad, he thought as he closed his eyes.

"And then the sensei passed us. I was sure of we were gonna fail us, but Mitsuki was right in the end." Sarada sighed as she finished telling her mother about the test. Her mother hadn't interrupted once during her story, something that Sarada appreciated. Her mother had patiently waited and listened until the story was over. "That Konohamaru, of course he'd give a 'sure to fail' test. Especially after we already told about the old bell test. But I'm sure the hokage had something to do with it as well." Her mother sighed.

"Lord Seventh? You think he may have designed this test?" Sarada asked of her pink-haired mother.

"Likely, Konohamru is highly intelligent and clever, but the hokage must've had something to do considering the make-up of the team." Her mother explained.

"Make up of the team? You mean me and Boruto."

"And Mitsuki. From what I've heard he is incredibly talented, and mysterious."

"That's the truth. All I know about him is that he's an enigma."

"But he's also your friend right?"

"Yeah. I' glad of it. Don't tell Dad this but I'd be scared if he was my enemy. He just sees right through."

"I'm sure he's not your enemy." Her mother said with smile. "By the way speaking of your father, he's coming home at the end of the week." . Sarada's mouth dropped. She couldn't believe her father was coming home, and so soon.

"That's great Mom!" Sarada almost jumped out her seat.

"Yeah, I think we should prepare a special dinner for him."

"That's perfect. So how long is he staying this time?" Sarada asked. Her mother didn't answer right away, and she lowered head. Doesn't look like he's staying too long. Immediately her mother head shot with a huge grin on her. "Your father is staying, period." Sarada was shocked by this news. Dad's actually coming home to stay. We're finally gonna be a proper family. Sarada almost couldn't hold back her tears of joy. "No more waiting Sarada. I promise." She felt her mother's arms wrap around. "Yeah. No more waiting." Sarada could hardly get those words without crying in sheer happiness.

Sarada lay awake in her bed reflecting on the news. Her father was away on a mission, that much she was aware of. The details were said be on a need-to-know basis. And I apparently I don't need to know. His own daughter. Sarada rubbed the center of her forehead where her father had affectionately poked her. "See you soon." He had said, and then walked off. If he's coming home that must mean he's completed his mission. But what did he discover? She pushed those thoughts away and decided she would just ask him herself.

"So what did you think of 'em?" Naruto asked Konohamaru, who had come to report on his new students.

"There interesting to say the least. Your boy's a child prodigy like everyone says. Did you know he can already throw a rasengan, albeit a smaller one?"

"No way." Naruto was genuinely surprised by this. "He doesn't even know sage jutsu and he's already capable of that? Though I shouldn't be surprised he has his mother's chakra control after all."

"That he does." Konohamaru's tone suggested that he had seen his son's gentle fist in action. "He can't attack the chakra pathway system like other Hyuga but he can still utilize gentle fist in other unique ways. Compensating for his lack of the byakugan." Konohamaru finished.

"That's my boy!" Naruto son always did him proud. He had already far surpassed him when he was that age. Even his pranks are better than mine were. "Okay, so how about Sarada and Mitsuki?" Naruto continued questioning the jonin before him.

"Alright." Konohamaru began. "Well Sarada is incredibly powerful. She's already extremely skilled with chakra enhanced strength as well as her clan's firestyle jutsu and sharingan."

"That sounds scary." Naruto said with smile. He had seen young Sarada in action only once before, showcasing monstrous strength that even her mother didn't have at that age. Well she is your daughter, Sasuke.

"If you think he's scary then you ought to see Mitsuki." Konohamaru continued.

"This should interesting." Naruto was interested about what could be so scary about a boy like Mitsuki.

"Well he's got quite an impressive skill set for some of his age. He can use the soft physique modification as well as various waterstyle jutsu that are quite advanced for his age. But the scariest thing is his mind." Now Naruto was interested. He had heard about Mitsuki incredible mastery of the skills of ninja. But people always seemed more intrigued by his mental capabilities.

"He is incredibly sharp for a boy of his age. He was the one who deduced the mechanics behind the test." Konohamru stated.

"Really? The test was designed so no one would figure it out. Was he spying on us while I explained the test to you?" Naruto didn't truly think he was spying on them with Naruto finding out. That would be quite a feat unto itself. The idea of him actually figuring the test was something Naruto never expected. "Well Mitsuki seems to be one hell of a strategist."

"He is clever to be sure. However, I don't think him figuring the test out was due to strategy." Konohamru stated.

"Then what is it?"

"It's more like he's got some kind of sixth sense, to see through all kinds of deception." Konohamaru explained.

"Sixth sense huh?" Naruto smiled. "Sounds interesting. Ninja are able to enhance senses they already have. We're able to detect the place and pressure of things by enhancing our sensory abilities. But a sixth sense is something I've never encountered before."

"Hm." Konohamaru nodded in agreement. Naruto was intrigued by this 'sixth sense' of Mitsuki's. All I've learned about is how much I don't know him. Naruto felt slightly uneasy not being able to decipher a boy who could decipher the hokage. Naruto recalled how he first encountered the boy in the hospital where he apparently walked in sick and starving. He recalled his golden eyes that seemed to see through everything. Eyes more precise than any dojutsu. "Konohamaru." Naruto began. "See how much you can learn about Mitsuki. I don't believe he intends to harm the village or anyone in it, but there's too much mystery surrounding him."

"Couldn't we just interrogate him?"

"No. He's just a kid, and besides based on what you've told me, it doesn't seem like we'll get anywhere with interrogations."

"I suppose that's true. He has knack for saying a lot without actually saying anything. What's more is he makes it hard for you to argue him."

"Exactly. However, I did get Ino to probe his mind for information while he was recovering in the hospital. They didn't find anything special about him."

"What did they find?" Konohamru inquired.

"That he came from another continent by ship. The ship capsized and he washed upon the shore and wandered into the village."

"Really? That's it? What about his parents, his home?" Konohamaru seemed worried.

"Nothing. We're assuming he has partial amnesia, hence why he can't remember those things."

"But he remembers his ship capsizing, and not his family? Seems suspicious."

"Not really, just tragic." Naruto paused. "We found him accommodations in the village as a refugee-of-war, and told the other villagers, that he's simply from another village."

"Makes sense. The people have become more open to immigrants from other villages over the continent, but they're still cautious at best of those from overseas."

"Exactly." Naruto understood the feeling of being treated like an outsider all too well. Mitsuki hadn't objected when Naruto told of this idea. "It sounds logical." That was what Mitsuki had said with a smile upon his face. No way was that smile a fake. That was all Naruto needed for him to trust him.

Naruto got up out of chair and closed his laptop. "Well Konohamaru, time to call it a day, finally." Naruto said to the jonin.

"Perfect, Good night Lord Hokage." Konohamaru bowed respectfully and left the office. Naruto remained behind and looked out his window and went to the balcony. He gazed up at the hokage monument. The faces all the hokage to date had been carved into the mountain since the village's inception. They were all people he had fought alongside during the 4th great ninja war. Before, he'd always imagined his face upon the mountain beside theirs but he was still shocked on the day his predecessor had told his dream would come true. The village said had he had earned the title, but Naruto knew better. It is not when you are hokage that you become acknowledged, but when you are acknowledged that you become hokage. Those words spoken by Itachi Uchiha were ones he took to heart for the rest life. He knew the real reason he became hokage was because of his friends and their faith in him. Still, thinking of Itachi brought a pang of sadness to his heart. Itachi, in another time you would've be hokage, and the greatest of them all. Naruto left his office to finally return to his family.

The talisman's wooden surface was smooth and almost soothing to touch. It was flat and the size of hand. Both sides of the talisman had a picture etched in black ink. On one side, it showed the moon partially eclipsing the sun. On the other the sun was partially eclipsing the moon. Sasuke couldn't quite decipher its meaning. Only that he knew it had something to do with the threat coming forth. A threat that Kaguya Ootsutsuki needed to assemble a whole army. Her natural enemy. I can't even begin to fathom what enemy could be so powerful, or how I will protect the ones I care about from it.

It would only be a few more days and he'd be home with his wife and daughter. This time to stay. He got up from the tree that he'd stopped to nap under and decided to keep trudging forth.

Naruto walked into his house. He would normally announce his arrival, but knowing the late hour he decided not to. He heard the sound of bare feet on hardwood coming for him and before he knew he was caught in a warm embrace with his wife. "Hey Hinata." Naruto greeted.

"Welcome home." Hinata returned the greeting. She led him to the living where they both sat down on the couch next to each other. Naruto was glad to be home with his wife. A woman he couldn't fathom ever loving him. But he wouldn't complain. She'd given him everything he wanted. "So, did Boruto tell you how the test went." Naruto asked.

"Yes, he did. He was very happy and glad that Konohamru passed him and his team. Of course, I never had any doubts about him."

"Me neither. He's way above what we were at that age."

Hinata nodded in agreement. As much as Naruto enjoyed exaggerating his skills as a genin he knew that he and his wife were never as good as their kids at that age.

"He seems to have inherited his grandfather's potential." Hinata said.

"Hiashi?"

"No, your father. Don't forget. Our children have blood of two hokage in them."

"Yeah, they do." Naruto said solemnly. "Despite that, neither of them has any desire to be hokage. Especially our first"

"Does that bother you?" His wife was worried.

"Of course not!" He quickly assured wife. "It's that Boruto seems resent the hokage. And me." Naruto grew somber. His son didn't seem to outright hate him but it was clear he held some hard feelings for him. Unfortunately, sometimes he felt that it justified, otherwise he would try harder to make his son understand.

"Our son doesn't resent you dear." His wife said snapping out his thoughts. "He resents the hokage title. The title that keeps his beloved father away from his family."

"That makes sense and all. But I'm still here."

"And at the same time you're not." Hinata explained. "Boruto always knows where you are and what you're doing. So it must be frustrating that he can't reach you despite that. Now that he's genin he'll be seeing you more often, but now you aren't just his father your his superior. That changes things."

Naruto looked down at his feet and clenched his hands. I can't argue with what she says. It all makes sense, but it doesn't make it any easier. "And how do you feel about me Hinata?" Naruto asked his love.

"I love you and I always will. I'm happy and glad that you achieved the dream that you've been chasing since childhood. You deserve it." Hinata paused. "But I'd be lying if I said that I'm fine with you not being able to spend as much time with us." Hinata's last comment caught Naruto off guard. Even Hinata feels this way.

"Don't worry Naruto." His wife assured him. "It'll pass. Besides bonds are formed with emotions. No matter how far apart we are, our bonds won't break." Hinata finished.

Naruto smiled with new found hope. Completely honest and uncommonly kind. She's too good for me. That was what Sakura had told him, and he wholeheartedly agreed. For this woman to love me, she must either be a merciful goddess or a desperate fool. He was glad it wasn't the latter.

Author's Note: Okay so I know things haven't been super interesting lately. I've mostly been setting up the team and dynamics between them and their families. I plan to continue developing these things, but I promise that next chapter we'll get to see some action. Please stay tuned. I'll try to have the next chapter (Sasuke's Return) up by next week.