A/N: Honestly, I can't believe I've finished this chapter so quickly either! Man, I've been so productive in the past few days woo hoo!
Enjoy! :)
"Sakura," Sasuke uttered the name grimly, almost tinged with a sense of wistfulness. He was still bound up with chains and chakra seals, though Sakura knew that they only exercised limited restraints on his power and had he wanted to escape, he would have done so already. Perhaps he was truly remorseful for everything.
"You want to leave now? Do you confirm that?" Sakura asked, minimizing words. She did not want to sound poignant, in spite of the fact that seeing her last teammate leave – even if he became a reprehensible man who committed reprehensible deeds – most definitely made her rather melancholic.
"Yes. I confirm."
"Very well then, Sasuke. I will begin undoing these chains right now and you will transport yourself out of this world."
"Thank you, Sakura."
"You…" Sakura was hesitant to utter the words after. "You do realize that you may never return."
"That is something I took into full consideration. Though it's not as if I had much of a choice," he chuckled in reply.
Something inside her broke. Wild scenarios in her head started dancing around, flooding her consciousness. Endless possibilities, endless different paths.
"Don't dwell too much on what might have been, Sakura." Sasuke seemed to read her thoughts, though she realized she wasn't being very subtle about her expressions in the very first place. She had let her mask down. "You still have a future ahead of you, many things you could do."
"You're such an idiot," Sakura shot back. "Why? Why did everything have to be like this?" She was shaking uncontrollably; she knew it was the wrong moment for this kind of outburst and tried to rein her emotions in.
"Because I … I lacked faith."
"I can't believe you."
"There's no point in trying too. Look, what matters now is what you do with this… republic you have helped create. Everything is in your hands now. Don't mind me – yes, you can loath me, hate me or miss me, but that's not the point – for I am already history."
"Yes, but there are times when I couldn't help but think about us – what we were –"
"Yet I never deserved you. And you knew it."
Silence reigned between them as Sakura finished stripping away the last set of chains that bound Sasuke's hands.
"Goodbye Sasuke."
"Goodbye Sakura and good luck, good luck with everything."
"Take care."
"I will."
"So," Boruto said as he took a deep breath. "It's time. It's time for us to go back."
His two companions nodded in agreement.
Surrounding them were Sakura, Kakashi, Konohamaru, Chocho, Inojin, Shikadai, Sayuri and many other members of the former Hi no Ishi resistance. Sasuke had already departed for his exile a day ago.
Chocho, Inojin and Shikadai were feeling especially emotional – and relieved, relieved that the weight of liberating the continent was finally being lifted off their shoulders, even if the task of re-building had only just begun. Though Boruto had not interacted much with them, Sarada and Mitsuki have formed a considerable friendship with the three, undertaking certain missions and engaging in heart-to-heart talks. No doubt separation would inflict feelings of loss on both sides.
"Thank you, Boruto, Sarada and Mitsuki." Sakura was the first one to speak up, extending her arms and offering an embrace of the three genin from another world. "Without your help, this world would have plunged into the apocalypse and this continent may never have been liberated. We will forever be indebted."
"We've actually decided to build a statue for you three. In front of the new parliament," Konohamaru added. "We've yet to decide a name."
"The super awesome mega-cool dimension traveler trio!" Boruto declared.
"That's lame," Sarada said rolling her eyes.
"Hey!" Boruto protested.
"Truth sucks," Sarada puffed with mischief.
"Well, thanks guys. For not killing us-"
"Boruto…" Sarada rolled her eyes.
"Okay, okay. First, Sayuri," Boruto said, turning his attention towards the bookstore owner," Thanks for not totally freaking out about us and telling us just what the hell is going on."
"And for leading Sarada and I to Mount Myoboku numerous times," Mitsuki added with a smile, "I know we can be a bit overbearing at times." Then he winked at her; Boruto thought he saw her blush in return. "And Konohamaru, I supposed I really shouldn't have called you sensei, but in reality, you'll always be a sensei to me. It was a pleasure working with you."
"Chocho – thanks for, well, being yourself," Sarada told the plump kunoichi. "You're just as great a person as you are on the other side. Thanks for helping me emotionally along the way. Inojin and Shikadai, you guys too. Thank you for all your hospitality back in Mount Myoboku – and for playing poker with Mitsuki and I. I won't forget what we've all been through." She grinned, before finally saying, "Sakura, you may not be my mother in this world, but now after everything, after all that I can see, you are an amazing woman. Even though I cannot call you my mama, I hope I can call you my friend."
"It's my pleasure," Sakura replied. "Now, I believe that Mitsuki has the scroll you guys need."
"I do," Mitsuki said. "Guys, this is it. We're never coming back."
"Wow," Boruto uttered processing the adventure that took place in the past few weeks, trying to comprehend its magnitude. "Take care guys!"
"You too," Sakura spoke for all of them as a blinding light began to envelop the trio of Boruto (who had begun waving enthusiastically), Sarada and Mitsuki.
"Now," Kakashi instructed as the three vanished from their sight, quite possibly forever, "Shikadai, please tell your parents to attend the council's first meeting in the Sand Pavilion in the Wind Prefecture. The top thing on our agenda is fixing food crisis gripping Sunagakure. As much as I'd like to retire and begin writing a sequel to the Icha Icha Series, there's not a second to waste in running the country. Our work begins now."
It's dusk in the Uzumaki household and Hinata was finishing her final touches on tonight's dinner. She glanced at the four chairs occupying the table wistfully, realizing – not for the first time in weeks – that at least one would remain empty, if not two, for Naruto's job as Hokage was undeniably time-consuming.
Her son was still in that alternative dimension and not a second goes by when her heart does not ache for him. She was, without a doubt, worried to death. Yet her reaction was incomparable to that of her beloved husband's, for Naruto was constantly agitated and feeling helpless, and, many times, she played the role of the comforting wife, reassuring him that everything will be alright in the end - and she did believe that. For some inexplicable reason, Hinata harbored full faith that Boruto and his friends will succeed and return.
And so life continued. Himawari had cried a couple of times, pining for her big brother. There were moments when Hinata and Naruto both descended into despair – yet they would remind themselves what their son was doing on the other side: what Naruto Uzumaki himself would have done back in his younger days. And so they kept on hoping, waiting for Boruto to come home.
A knock on the door.
Then a familiar voice: "Mum, dad, Himawari – I'm home!"
Footsteps, lithe and light footsteps of a little girl, rushed towards the door.
"Big brother!"
Himawari plunged into Boruto's arms.
Hinata's world started spinning properly for the first time in weeks; she would be sure to immediately break the good news to her husband, who was still lodged in his office.
Her son was finally home.
There's nothing like the taste of home.
The first thing that greeted her was the scent of her mother's cooking.
Her mother. Her real mother.
It was all too much for her.
"Mama!" Sarada shouted, running towards Sakura, who was still clothed in an apron. Tears were flowing from her eyes.
Finally, after spending weeks away from her world, from all that she knew, from the people she loved, Sarada Uchiha was finally back and in the arms of the woman who raised her.
"I missed you so much," Sarada said, choking.
"Oh, Sarada!"
"I'm sorry mama, for causing you any worry. I'm sorry."
"It's all good, Sarada, so long as you are safe and good, I'm happy."
"It's just – I'm so sorry for leaving you in the dark. I can't imagine – I – I'm just glad to see you again."
"It's okay Sarada, everything's all okay now."
"We're just glad you've made it back alive," her father assured her as he appeared from the kitchen. It appears that he had been making dinner alongside her mother tonight, a rarity, considering how he spent most of his time traveling.
"Dad!" Sarada gasped. She rushed into his arms, beyond grateful to finally meet her father again – a happy man with a family he loved, contented with what he had in life - after all the trauma and drama in the other world.
"Now," Sasuke said, smiling, "Your mother and I have made tomato soup for dinner tonight. We've made an extra portion just in case you've returned. While we eat, why don't you tell us about all the adventures you've been through with Boruto and Mitsuki?"
Since the trio's return from the alternate world, the forbidden scroll that prompted the original journey had completely vanished. There were no more reports of its sightings and after being on the lookout for a while, Sasuke Uchiha had confirmed this to the Hokage's office.
The man had speculated that the scroll had already fulfilled its purpose in the world and, as a result, consigned itself to oblivion.
Naruto mostly bought this explanation, except he also harbored the belief that perhaps one day, when the necessity arises, the scroll would once again reappear and play an important role in shaping the course of the worlds.
Three months after they departed from that strange otherworld, nothing much has changed in Boruto's life. He was still a genin because his team had yet to take and pass the chunin exams (the last one had ended without promotion.) He still lived with his family, still went on missions, still hated ramen (or vociferously claimed he hated ramen in front of a very disappointed father) and he was, by all measurements, still single.
Although Boruto would often argue in his defense that, at his age – that is, 14, which he had just turned two weeks ago – singlehood was the common way of living.
Although Boruto did (low-key) attempt to ask his friend Sarada out. He really did try, only to chicken out before the words 'will you go out with me' left his lips. Instead, he merely asked her: "Would you like to have barbeque with me and Mitsuki – Mitsuki will be with both of us, right buddy?" Mitsuki had suppressed the urge to explode internally and had agreed to come along with them.
He was still young, Boruto reasoned. Therefore, there was still plenty of time for him to muster the courage to ask Sarada out. Things could wait. Most definitely. Probably.
Anyways, this was how Boruto ended up at a barbeque restaurant with two of his teammates, recounting for what was the millionth time, his adventures in that alternate dimension.
"We know Boruto, we were there," Mitsuki remarked dryly.
"Not the part where I smashed that Giant Rasengan into Momoshiki. I mean, did you see his face-"
"I was there Boruto, remember? I sort of helped you?" Sarada interjected in a tongue-in-cheek manner.
"Yes, yes, yes. But I was super cool, right?"
"Yeah, you were." Sarada was still folding her arms and raising her eyebrows.
"Oh come one! Drop that sarcastic tone? Where's the adulation from you?!"
"Amazing," Mitsuki commented, "This boy manages to defeat a deity – granted, with the help of others – and still, he is afraid of asking out the girl he fancies."
"Gah! Mitsuki! I don't know what you're talking about!" Boruto shouted indignantly, his face turning red.
Sarada put her hand over her mouth as she chuckled a little.
"I'm not hinting at anything…" Mitsuki said, shrugging. "Unless I actually touched a nerve?"
"Nonsense. Absolutely nonsense," Boruto huffed, beating his chest. "I'm perfectly fine."
"Sure you are," Mitsuki suggested wryly. "Sure you are."
"I sure am and please stop making ridiculous insinuations."
"You're so amusing, Boruto," Sarada added, aggravating his feeling of being under assault. "But that's why I like you so much." She burst out laughing. Her face was red too, though Boruto didn't know whether that was from laughing or blushing or a bit of both.
They were almost finished with the meal and he was reaching into his pockets for his wallet, as he had promised them he would pay for everything. Only this time, he had forgotten his wallet, which was probably lying somewhere in his room.
"Shit!" He shouted and stood up abruptly.
"… What's the matter?" Sarada said slowly, frowning.
"I did not bring my wallet! Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry-"
"Uh…"
He felt apologetic – and embarrassed, humiliated even.
"I'm so sorry Sarada, Mitsuki! Please forgive me for this heinous act of neglect-"
"Hey, kid," a familiar voice sprung from the table behind them. "Need some help?"
A man stood up and approached the trio.
"I'll pay for your meal," he offered.
His face seemed rather familiar; Boruto thought they must have encountered each other, albeit he was unsure where and when. The memory was sifting through his mind, still undetected.
"Um… thanks? Have we met somewhere?" Boruto asked, rather puzzled at the man's magnanimity.
"Oh sorry, I forgot to introduce myself. My name's Takashi and you're Boruto Uzumaki, right? The Hokage's son? I'm a joinin of Konohagakure and, well, I guess I was feeling pretty generous today because, well, I just got engaged to the lady over there." He lowered his voice. "Her name's Ayame and she works at the Konoha hospital. And those two old people there – no offense to old people but they are old – they're my parents. Yup, my ma and pa," Takashi finished off goofily.
Then it hit Boruto. He had met Takashi before and Ayama, for the matter, in that other world. Only here, they seemed more relaxed and carefree – and they were about to get married too. Finally remembering Takashi's recount of the fate of his political dissident parents, Boruto smiled warmly. The two elderly couple were talking, laughing and getting readily acquainted with their future daughter-in-law.
All of a sudden, Boruto felt gratitude sweep through him.
"Thanks, Takashi." He reached out, shook the man's hand and gave a thumbs up, smile widening.
"Also," Takashi said with a wink, "Be bold and ask the girl out," pointing Sarada in a not-so-subtle manner.
"I have ears and I'm not blind," Sarada said, mildly peeved.
"Here's the cash," Takashi whispered as he handed over a stack of notes to Boruto and walked back to his table. "Break a leg."
"Gee. Thanks. Uh… Sarada? After this, you want to come play in the Games Arcade with me?" Boruto asked sheepishly, his voice trailing off.
"I better get going," Mitsuki announced, standing up and heading for the door. "I have important matters to attend to."
"Sure," Sarada agreed with a sigh. "The Games Arcade, I suppose it could be worse."
"Fantastic," Boruto proclaimed victoriously, smashing his fists into the air.
"Lead the way idiot."
A/N: And after almost a year of starting What Might Have Been, the story is done! Granted, I may have been a little weak in my world-building process, which admittingly, I did not prioritise, given that I wanted to primarily focus on the plot of Boruto, Sarada and Mitsuki's adventures, hence my selective references to how everything worked. But still, I can't help but feel a little proud of writing all of this. What originally started out as a plot bunny that won't stop nagging - and what I expected would be a few short chapters of intriguing introduction before my interests finally wane and it is consigned to the dustbin of unfinished stories on - has now turned into a multi-chaptered story with a fully-formed plot and (hopefully) fully-formed characters. Since then, stories of Boruto, Sarada, Mitsuki, Hi no Ishi and alt-Sasuke have circulated incessantly inside my had, accompanying me as I braved my finals, the stress process of uni application and paper after paper.
More importantly, I simply can't believe the level of support I've received whilst writing this. Like seriously, you guys are all the best! Without your reviews, follows, favourites and PMs, I would have probably stopped writing a long time ago.
Now, onto some final points. I've always thought that Sakura would react less badly than Hinata regarding her missing daughter, given that she's already used to Sasuke being away for long periods of time and not having any contact. I felt that she would understand and cope with Sarada's situation better than Hinata with Boruto's. I guess that's why I did not add that much angst to the Sakura in Boruto's world.
Secondly, the next (and last chapter) will be an epilogue of some sorts, whose release date I cannot confirm. It will contain snippets of Boruto, Sarada and Mitsuki a few years after the events in What Might Have Been. It will also contain snippets of the other world and Sakura, Kakashi, Konohamaru, Chocho, Shikadai, Inojin etc. and how they are all doing. It may even contain snippets of Sasuke's travels. Anyways, please send me other things you would like to see me include in the epilogue!
Finally, for the next update, I will also be answering questions regarding this story, the choices I made in plot and characterisation and the underlying reasons and my personal preferences regarding everything. Please send me anything via reviews or PMs you'd like me to comment on!