As Boruto strolled toward the park where he and Kakashi regularly met, he noticed a girl. She instantly caught his attention with her luxurious midnight-black hair, obsidian eyes, and a vibrant red dress that contrasted with the tranquil surroundings. However, there was more to this scene than met the eye. A vigilant presence accompanied the girl – none other than his father's closest confidant, Sasuke Uchiha, a name known throughout the shinobi world as the hero of the Fourth Great Ninja War.
A tense and silent standoff ensued between Boruto and Sasuke. Boruto, under Sasuke's piercing gaze, fidgeted uncomfortably. Sasuke's voice broke the pregnant silence, his tone as chilly as a winter breeze. "How are you, Boruto?" he asked, though it sounded more like an assertion than a genuine question.
Startled, Boruto replied, "All good, Lord Sasuke Uchiha." Meanwhile, Sasuke's thoughts briefly drifted as he observed Boruto's demeanor, noting how it eerily resembled the mannerisms of his long-time one-sided romantic interest, Hinata. He thought inwardly, "Even though he bears an uncanny resemblance to Naruto, every nuance of his demeanor belongs to Hinata." A wistful smile briefly flickered within him at the memory of his first and only crush.
Returning to the present moment, Boruto's attention was drawn to another figure – Sarada Uchiha, his niece. She was the daughter of Itachi Uchiha, renowned for his heroic actions during the battle in Hidden Springs, where he played a pivotal role in thwarting four Jinchuriki simultaneously. Sarada, radiating youthful exuberance, introduced herself, "Hi, my name is Sarada Uchiha. What's yours?"
Boruto, still caught off guard by Sarada's sudden approach, stuttered, "H-h-hi, my name is Boruto Uzumaki Hyuga."
"That's a really nice name," Sarada chimed with a bright smile that, in Boruto's opinion, could rival the radiance of the sun itself. As they continued along the bustling street leading to the park, their connection deepened. Sensing an opportunity to make a new friend, Sarada asked eagerly, "Hey, Boruto, wanna be my friend?"
Meanwhile, Sasuke, recognizing this moment as an opportunity to gain insight into the relationship between Boruto and Naruto, adopted a gentler tone. "Is there anything I can do for you?" he asked, aware of the pain that Boruto had endured. It had only been a year since he and Sarada had lost Itachi to chakra cancer.
Tsunade Senju, the head of the Hidden Leaf's medical department and a former Hokage, had dedicated herself to researching chakra cancer. In her quest for a cure or an effective slowing agent, she went to great lengths, even collaborating with Orochimaru, a rogue ninja, to save lives in the shinobi world.