A/N: This is a flimsy piece about our duty-bound couple, the idea for which just suddenly popped into my head, and didn't want to disappear.
Disclaimer: Not owning much of anything.
In a Heartbeat
By Lady Arabella Malfoy
Sarada was 24 and the last of her clan. Yes, her parents were alive and well – even if they were not internal – but she was the last Uchiha of her generation. Considering to what lengths her father went to restore the clan, she would be selfish and ungrateful for his efforts to let the Uchiha end with her if she pursued her dream of becoming Hokage. She was well aware that the Hokage devotes his or her life to the land and its subjects and she had the deepest respect for Lord Seventh, but even she could see how the current Hokage's devotion to his duties wrecked the lives of his children.
Sarada didn't want the same fate for herself or her family. So what could she do? Her prospects of being hokage were not nonexistent, especially since she became one of the Hokage's aids three years ago, but she knew she was far from ready to even be considered for the post. Sarada lacked not only the shinobi power but life experience required for upholding hokage's responsibilities. Still, she had time to gain both, but having children did not allow for such a flexible schedule.
Sarada could've ignored the whole situation, but it was hard when all her peers were not talking about their heroics during missions when the gang managed to get together amidst their crazy schedules, but about the girls or boys they met or developments in their romantic relationships. Somehow the years passed in the blink of an eye and almost all of her friends had gotten married or were in serious relationships. The last stroke was when ChoCho married outside of Konoha to a shinobi who seemed to be made for her even if he was the exact opposite of her type – he was neither elegant, handsome, or with good bearing, but he sure liked to eat. Sarada watched as ChoCho was torn by her inescapable attraction to someone she considered uncouth. Sarada, in turn, was also torn by the understanding, that if she supported her friend's pursuit of love, she would lose the last of her girlfriends, but on the other hand, Sarada wanted ChoCho to be happy, so Sarada encouraged her to look deeper than the appearances and bad eating manners. Four months and ChoCho was moving away, leaving Sarada alone in Konoha. Well… not completely alone…
"Do you really think, you can gain wisdom from those heads carved out of stone? Is this why you are sitting here all alone at night? One can't even see anything in this darkness!" came from behind Sarada and soon the owner of the voice flopped down beside her at the outcropping of the Hokage Mountain. "Tsk, it's cold out here!"
Sarada didn't ask Boruto what he was doing there or why he even bothered to seek her out in the middle of the night. Because it was their little ritual – he always came to her window after returning from his Anbu missions. During those meetings, they caught each other on the happenings in their lives and Konoha, even if Boruto couldn't share much about his highly secret missions, but he could describe to Sarada in the greatest detail the places and cities he visited. Despite the visits usually happening late at night and being hidden from the public eye, there was nothing romantic about the rendezvous. Because there couldn't be.
Despite the modernization of the Anbu, some rules remained, and those forbade the members of Anbu to disclose anything about their classified missions and thus have any relationships that could compromise them. Sarada sometimes recalled the day Boruto announced his career path. They were seventeen…
Sarada was close to losing her patience waiting for Boruto at the ungodly early hour in the middle of the forest. She knew that there were no mission or training plans. He also asked her to check if she was being followed. Sarada was intrigued by the mystery of it all, but Boruto could've at least shown on time, although his tardiness was nothing new.
Finally, Boruto appeared at the edge of the meadow, and Sarada was ready to unleash all her indignation on him, but the seriousness of his expression made her rear in her explosive feelings. Something was going on… something Sarada was sure she wasn't going to like.
"Thanks for coming, Sarada. I wanted to… wanted to give you something before… before…" Boruto stumbled through words but then seemed to get himself together. "I am taking the pledge to join the Anbu today."
Sarada didn't know if she was more shocked about the fact itself or about Boruto informing her, which technically was forbidden. The three of them joked about it at times, but it was hardly plausible since Boruto could not work directly under his father, the Hokage. But Boruto was stubborn enough to get what he wanted, and Sarada was sure, her father played a hand in the nomination.
Sarada will deal with the whole situation later, probably cry herself to sleep, but at that moment she needed to be strong so they could both move on. "So what did you want to give me?"
"Remember our first day of school? Something almost happened but you prevented it. If… the circumstances are the same, will you react the same way?"
Sarada didn't need to think twice about what Boruto was referring to. Was it what he meant by 'giving' her something? But why now? And then the dots slowly started to connect in Sarada's head: Anbu, no relationships… But that didn't mean strict celibacy. Nobody forbids Boruto to kiss and more whomever he wants. Although not that she was following Boruto's private life or anything, but she didn't remember any girlfriends. So could it be that Boruto wanted her to be his first kiss out of convenience? Or not to embarrass himself with anybody else? Or because he thought, she wouldn't care and just do him a favor because of their friendship? Should Sarada just comply due to the special circumstances and allow herself to be used or stand for her feelings? What feelings exactly? Sarada admitted years ago that there was a certain level of infatuation, but she will never admit it to anybody else, moreover to the subject of her affection. So maybe she should use the presented opportunity because there will be no other chance? And Boruto didn't need to know the reasoning behind her cooperation. Not at all.
"No, I won't push you away, Boruto."
"Are you sure about this?"
"Are you?"
"Most definitely."
Sarada was taken aback by Boruto's somewhat macho confidence that she never noticed him exhibit. Arrogance yes, but this was something else. And whatever else she expected to happen next did not align with reality either. The next moment Sarada found herself engulfed by Boruto's arms and pressed to his tall frame. Whatever Sarada envisioned, it was not a light peck on the lips. It felt like the onslaught of feelings Boruto could express only at that very moment and never again. The power of the kiss took Sarada aback for a moment, but then she couldn't help but respond. And maybe they were uncoordinated and sloppy, but it didn't matter. It was the first time and the last time and Sarada was happy both of them took the plunge to have that memory.
And that kiss remained only as a memory because the next time Sarada saw Boruto was three months later when he tentatively knocked on her window. She hugged him back then, but noticing his discomfort never attempted to touch him again.
So the visits continued for years no matter the weather or time. The moment Boruto returned from his months-long mission - Sarada would be his first call. Every so often he asked if he was imposing on her time, which Sarada decoded as a veiled question about her dating anyone and the possibility of him disturbing something private. But Sarada's dates were nothing to talk about, despite her mother's encouragement. Her father… he did not weigh on the subject, but surely, he was aware of the chakra that appeared in her room at inappropriate times, but neither commented, forbid or encourage the encounters.
"Are you going to be at the Hokage summit, Boruto?"
"Yeah, my unit is part of the security detail."
Sarada was still amazed about how much he shared with her about his missions. She knew that the only people who knew about Boruto being part of the Anbu, were Mitsuki, with whom Boruto rented a flat together, and his parents. And her. And she technically had no business knowing anything. Their former classmates didn't know either, they gradually became wrapped up in their own lives and missions, their girlfriends and boyfriends and later wives, husbands and children. Thus the disappearance of Uzumaki Boruto – the beating heart of their group – went unnoticed by the majority of their peers.
"I am going too."
"As Dad's aide?"
"Yes, but I also have a personal business to conduct since there will be people from all over." Sarada paused to collect herself and to choose the right words to break the news to Boruto, but then just decided to go with the naked truth. "I will be going to the omiai. Nine of them."
"Oh."
Sarada expected more of a reaction. Any reaction other than complete indifference, not that she wanted Boruto to be jealous or anything…
"Why nine?" And there it was… just a glimmer of interest in those azure eyes.
"There were twenty-one at first, and then I narrowed them down to nine, but I can't make any definite choice."
Sarada started the process several months ago by declaring to her parents that she was going to marry to continue the Uchiha line. Her mother was mostly supportive, her father remained his usual impassive self, but at least he didn't block her decision outright. Sarada couldn't do it the traditional way of dating and marrying for love since time was of the essence and there were not that many candidates left in Konoha since her betrothed should be from a powerful enough clan but not its heir. Not that many wanted to marry into the Uchiha clan because of its reputation, but the final nine were too many for Sarada to choose from.
"Maybe you could accompany me to the omiai if they do not take you away from your guarding duties?"
"And how do you expect me to pull it off? Only the bride, groom, and the families' representatives are allowed to be there. If I used transformation jutsu, they will notice it right away and if I go as Anbu they will think you distrust them with your safety. And I can't go as myself because I shouldn't even be there. And even if I could get there, what do you want me to do? Provide moral support? It is you who is choosing your husband, not me!"
Sarada smiled at Boruto's obvious irritation. It took her back to the simpler times when all they complained about was the absence of their favorite dishes at the burger place. "My family is not coming with me, so I thought since you are going to be already there-"
"Why not?!"
"Well, mother has her duties and father… Well, you know father. Delicate negotiations are not his forte."
"So there are going to be negotiations? You don't even like any of them?"
"I haven't yet spent any time with them face-to-face to know about them more than written in their profiles. Want to see?"
Sarada didn't want to tease Boruto by bringing up the omiai pictures; she truly felt helpless, carrying them around with her all the time and trying to narrow down her choices. Boruto's careless shrug made Sarada dive into her bag and push the folders into his hands.
"Some light will be nice."
Sarada used fire jutsu to hold a bright flame in her palm to illuminate the folders' content. During the next half an hour she sat back and watched as Boruto meticulously went through the folders, first looking at the pictures and then reading the provided biography details. Sarada didn't remember when she saw him that concentrated. Was such behavior the result of his current occupation?
"Didn't know you had a type, Sarada," were Boruto's first words after the examination of the omiai profiles.
"What?!"
"Look! Those guys all look the same."
Sarada scanned the pictures that were now unceremoniously put on the mountain ground by Boruto. And indeed they were all dark-haired with angular features – the complete opposite of the young man sitting beside her. Was that a subconscious choice?
"What I can tell you outright," Boruto continued without waiting for Sarada's response, "is that I vetted this guy and this one," he said pointing at two photographs.
"Vetted?! What do you mean?"
"Well, I was told to vet them as potential Anbu candidates in other lands. We sometimes do such missions for other hokage as impartial shinobi. The orders came directly from Sai and I think he himself didn't know the true reason why we were asked to do this."
"But would Anbu be involved in something like this?"
"Well… Sasuke-sensei must've called in a personal favor to ensure you are not swindled or anything. I doubt, he had to twist Dad's arm on this. You are a special girl, Sarada. He hardly will allow you just to marry some second-rated guy. And as far as these two go - upstanding shinobi, good family background, stable, not womanizers. Didn't get any personal details since it was not requested."
Sarada wanted to question what was so special about her, but Boruto seemed to want to expand on the topic.
"You still want to be hokage, Sarada?"
"Of course."
"So this husband of yours… You know that despite her talents and skills, my mother stepped down as a shinobi to bring up my sister and I, and support Dad in his hokage duties. Are you looking for someone like this? A husband, who will bring up and feed your kids while you are slaving at the hokage's office?"
Sarada never thought about it like that. Surely she concentrated her choices on shinobi from clans with powerful jutsu so their children could perpetuate their strength and develop Sharigan, but to turn such a man into more or less a housewife? Who will agree to that? Second sons or not, these have the dignity of a high-ranked shinobi.
"I have considerable time before even becoming a candidate for the Eighth Hokage. I am sure, we will manage to bring up the children together in the interim."
"Depends how you look at it. With the birth of Himawari's baby girl, Dad is all about retirement not to waste his years not seeing his grandchild growing up."
"Of course! You are an uncle now! Congratulations! How does it feel?"
"To hold something so tiny and so precious? Painful."
Sarada didn't ask for the reason of Boruto's pain. She knew it was hard to reconcile with the idea, that he may never have his own children. Sarada remembered Himawari's wedding. Remembered watching the newlywed couple overflowing with love for each other, her heart breaking at the thought she may never experience such an overwhelming feeling. The baby arrived the following year and the Uchiha family visited the Uzumaki with presents for the young family as per custom. When Sarada held the baby for the first time… Something switched inside of her. That moment made her finally decide to start her own family because it was indeed painful to be without.
"Listen, Sarada… I can't be in the room with you, but I can send clones to listen in on what they would talk about afterward. And then we can meet somewhere discreet to compare notes or something."
Sarada smiled for the first time in a long while. "Perfect."
…
The summit was in three weeks so Sarada thought she wouldn't see Boruto until then, but was surprised to hear knocking on her window just two days after their conversation at the Hokage Mountain. They had their traditional catchup, now including Himawari's daughter, since Sarada had spent more time with her than her own uncle. Not a word was spoken about the summit or the omiai.
The visits continued till the day they had to get ready for the trip to the Land of Lightening where the summit was held. Nothing was particularly different, but Sarada had a feeling that Boruto was saying goodbye to her by trying to spend as much time with her as possible before her marriage puts an end to their time together. And he was right in that respect, there will be no late-night conversations when she is not alone in her bedroom anymore.
Sarada will miss her friend. Will they be able to at least meet on the street or have a cup of coffee or will he disappear from her life completely? What if he gets injured on a mission or worse… dies? Will she find only through the grapevine? It will be unbearable! Maybe Boruto was right to distance himself from her during all those years. However, their connection didn't diminish. She still held feelings for him which were now much deeper than teenage infatuation. But she will be able to marry and love another, right? Sarada asked her mother about the possibility of moving on after Uchiha Sasuke left her without any guarantee of returning to answer her feelings. She was surprised by the smirk her mother responded with as if she knew exactly what Sarada was aggravated by. Still, Sakura replied that it was not possible for her, although it was a time of constant conflict and challenges, so love was not a priority during those years.
….
The day of the departure arrived unexpectedly despite Sarada planning every logistical detail as the Hokage's aid. Her suitcases were packed, one of which held yukatas for the omiai – a rather unusual part of her wardrobe which were ordered specially for the occasion – and delivered to the train that would take them on their journey to Kumogakure. During boarding, Sarada looked around to see the protective detail of Anbu hoping to have a glimpse of Boruto, but as their mission entailed, not a single Anbu was visible at the train station or later on the train or other means of transport they took to arrive to their destination in the mountains.
The summit progressed as well as to be expected with Sarada attending to her duties to perfection not to shame Lord Seventh. In the evenings she attended the omiai meetings, two of which were scheduled for every day. During those, Sarada was accompanied by Hanabi nee-chan who agreed to be her representative. As far as the potential grooms go, Sarada didn't find anything amiss, but there was no passionate connection either even when they were left alone. One did allow his hands too much freedom, but Sarada easily cut those attempts off, not literally, but she was close to it. At least now she had one candidate less.
"Comparison of notes" happened close to midnight in an abandoned building at the aircraft's docks. For some reason, Boruto constantly censured himself saying, for example, that one candidate made lewd comments about her figure, but refused to say exact words. Or when the other made comments about their activities during the honeymoon.
Sarada put a stop to it right away. "Listen, Boruto, I am not a blushing teen anymore. If men find me sexually attractive, it is completely normal and very welcome. Stop this nonsense and say it like it is!"
"Only a blind guy won't be attracted to you! Especially in those yukatas you parade around in!"
Now that was something new. Boruto had never mentioned or complimented her appearance. "What do you mean?" Was he attracted to her?
Boruto instantly backpaddled. "Nothing, just all four guys you've met so far find you visually appealing and don't mind… making children with you. That's it. They do think you are too uptight, though. And don't look like someone who likes to have 'fun'. Outside or inside the bedroom."
"Those darn-" Sarada couldn't even find words! How dare they! She will show them 'fun'!
"You asked for the truth, Sarada," Boruto cackled between bursts of laughter. He definitely found her funny.
During the next omiai meetings, Sarada dropped her 'proper' posture and went with her usual unapologetic attitude. She was Uchiha Sarada, the future hokage, and she was proud of her heritage and aspirations – deal with it! Three young men couldn't deal with it and withdrew, Sarada and Hanabi eliminated another three after much consideration. That left the last three whom Sarada wished to pursue a long-distance relationship with to know better.
That night, Sarada presented her final choices to Boruto.
"You sure?" he asked, giving her a weird sense of deja vu.
"Most definitely."
….
Sarada hurried to Lord Seventh's chambers, cursing her negligence in getting the folders to him on time. Tomorrow was the last day of the summit and she didn't want to get a blemish on her perfect performance record. The absence of sentinels at the door made her freeze in her tracks. That was most definitely against protocol – the doors of the Hokage rooms must be guarded at all times! Was there an incident? An attack?!
Sarada rushed towards the doors, but her hand spasmed on the doorknob when she heard two arguing voices. Voices that were painfully familiar.
"Can you finally make up your mind, old man?!" came Boruto's growl. "You told me, you would announce your retirement at the end of the summit! Are you backing out again?!"
"I don't see how this matter concerns you, son."
"Of course, it concerns me! Are you going to name Sarada your successor?"
"She is too young and inexperienced, and she is well aware of that. It is not her turn yet. Not to mention, the girl is getting married in the near future. It is hardly the time for her to take up the hokage's mantel."
"So now you are thinking about such things!"
"Yes, now, Boruto! Sasuke allowed for this omiai business to go on only because he thought you would finally grow a pair and propose as a man should! But no! You continue this idiotic sneaking around! Frankly, have you thought about Sarada's reputation at all? What if her suitors find out, she has been entertaining a man in her bedroom for years?!"
"Are you crazy, old man? Nothing happened! I never broke my pledge! I would've withdrawn the moment Sarada stopped opening her window. There is nothing between us but friendship! Surely, you can understand such a bond!"
"Oh, I do, son. And I am also sane enough to see that you want much more than friendship from young Sarada. I know I was daft about the matters of the heart in my youth, but surely, you can't be that much in denial about your feelings."
"I would've married her in a heartbeat if she wasn't that dead set on becoming hokage!"
Sarada's knees buckled and she slid down to the floor. Oh God, oh God, oh God… What has she done?
Meanwhile, Boruto continued his rant, "Do you know that she constantly falls asleep at her desk to do all the work you assign her and just that bit extra to look good in your eyes? She is a perfectionist to the bone! If she becomes hokage, she'll be dead set on being the best one, she will bury herself in work to solve all the world's problems to prove the trustworthiness of her clan.
"Do you know how many times mum cried because you were not there? How she had to create excuses about your absences during important events like birthdays and recitals and other school events while you were in hokage training? And after the inauguration, you pretty much disappeared completely! I don't want such a fate for my marriage or my children! And I don't understand why she wants such a life after growing up with an absent father! Why does she want her own children to go through the same pain? Has she thought about invoking the Curse of Hatred in her own flesh and blood?"
"You've thought about rather a lot for an uninterested party…"
"I vowed to protect her and I am not backing out of it. Even if it takes helping her to choose a husband and be a visiting uncle to her children… then so be it."
The son-father argument was interrupted by the bang of the door slammed open. Boruto jumped in front of his father on instinct ingrained by the performance of his duties, but relaxed seeing Sarada in the frame. A fuming Sarada, so another instinct kicked in, the one long buried from his childhood years – protect yourself from the famous Uchiha fury.
"You kiss me and join Anbu, making me believe that I won't ever see you again and now you are criticizing my life and the parenting of my kids that I don't even have yet?! It was you who ran away from our future before it could even begin! And don't you even start with your promise or whatever. Just admit that you are a coward, Uzumaki Boruto! You just can't handle being married to a hokage because I will upstage you and it hurts your ego!"
"My ego? What about my heart, woman?"
"And what about mine, you ungrateful jerk? I kept hoping like an idiot for something that would never happen because of the stupid Anbu and your stupid promises and your constant visits and… and… and…"
The steam suddenly ran out of Sarada and she sagged down, feeling how truly hopeless their situation was. Boruto's words hurt, but Sarada had to admit that he was right. Since she became the Hokage's aid, she has been working like a fanatic, spending at the office more hours than at home, inadvertently repeating her mother's life, who dedicated herself to her patients to forget about the constant absence of her husband. But what else could Sarada do? She couldn't live from one knock on the window to the other. But she couldn't move on properly either. What guy can even compare?
"Look, what you've done, old man," came from somewhere above. "She must've overworked herself again and didn't eat anything in between meetings on top of it all."
"At least, Sarada takes her responsibilities seriously, not as someone I know. …You okay now, dear?"
Sarada finally focused her gaze on two blond heads above her. "What… happened?" she breathed out, feeling a blush of shame creeping on her cheeks.
"You fainted, Sarada dear, after your… emotional altercation with my pig-headed son. Can you sit up?"
Sarada hurried to get up but grabbed her head to stop black dots dancing in front of her eyes. How embarrassing! She completely forgot about Lord Seventh's presence in the room. With Boruto, her whole world tended to center around him. His visits were a blessing, an escape from her structured world full of duty and obligations.
A bowl of vegetables appeared in front of her. "Here. Eat something not to collapse again. What hokage will you make if you don't even manage to look after your health?"
"Listen, Boruto-" Sarada began, gearing for another argument, but her attention was drawn by a polite cough of her boss whom she forgot about once again. "I apologize, Lord Seventh, my behavior-"
"Not to worry, Sarada. We are all practically family here. On that matter… I will announce it officially, but since this is of crucial importance at the moment… I am sorry, but I am not nominating you as my successor, Sarada. Doesn't mean that it will not be possible for you in the future, but right now… you are not ready."
"I know, Lord Seventh, " Sarada agreed, her head hung in shame. It felt worse than being scolded by her father.
"So how are the omiai going?"
"We narrowed it down to three…"
"As you must've heard from behind the door, there is actually a fourth candidate."
"Excuse me?" both youngsters asked in chorus.
"Isn't it what you have just said, son? That you would marry Sarada in a heartbeat if her circumstances didn't involve being in the office in the near future?"
"Yes, but-"
"But Boruto can't marry me. He is the member of Anbu and he is your heir, Lord Seventh!"
"Despite your studious work at the Hokage office, Sarada, you are far from knowledgeable about the workings of Anbu. They are permanently marked after ten years of service after passing a row of trials. Until then, one can leave, which rarely happens because that means that shinobi is a failure. If Boruto desires to return to his shinobi rank then nothing is stopping him. Aside from his pride, I suppose.
"As far as the Uzumaki line is concerned, Eho married into the Uzumaki family and their girl as well as other children will continue the line. So… I can spare my obnoxious son to become an Uchiha. Sasuke will never let me forget this," the not-so-proud father added as an afterthought. "Boruto, escort Sarada to her quarters. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow and we all need our rest. I hope to hear soon where you two stand."
…
The walk to Sarada's room was spent in silence. The conversation was not possible since Boruto followed at a distance, seemingly invisible to the patrolling shinobi Sarada encountered en route.
"Why would you want to marry me?" Sarada went for the attack the moment the door closed behind them. "You left me alone for seven years and now you suddenly want to be with me? How can I even trust your integrity? Trust anything you say for that matter?"
"Why should trust be an issue? I am the same guy you grew up with, the same guy you were teammates with, the same guy you talked to just an hour ago!"
"And that guy never said anything about wanting to marry me, Boruto!"
"And you didn't want to marry anyone till what? Six months ago? And why didn't you tell me any of it? We talked like four months ago and not even a peep! I could've just arrived at your wedding one day with no knowledge of it happening! I don't play any significant part in your life but isn't our friendship worth anything to you anymore, Sarada?"
Why didn't she tell Boruto? He was the only close friend to her at the moment. She was close to some people at the Hokage office, but no one close enough to share intimate secrets with. Was Sarada afraid of him blowing his top in anger or being jealous or completely indifferent? And what was worse? Oh, Sarada knew exactly what she was afraid of – that Boruto wouldn't want her, would just disappear from her life like other coupled friends. But in this case, she will be the coupled one and she should be happy about the prospect of having her own happiness, her own family, but… why didn't she feel at all excited but dreaded the very notion of making her final choice?
"It does, Boruto… But you left me to fulfill your own pursuits-"
"I became Anbu to protect you, woman! To support you when you become hokage!"
"Well, I am not going to be one! So we pointlessly wasted seven years! Years we could've been…"
"Could've been what, Sarada?" came a whisper from above and Sarada realized that Boruto was too close, so close she could feel the heat radiating off of him.
"Why do you want to marry me?" Why was it so difficult to look him in the eye?
"Because there wasn't anybody else."
"Nobody else during all those years? I will never believe that."
"Why would I ever need anybody if I had you, Sarada? I admit, there were momentous temptations, but I always came home to you."
Boruto's statement gave Sarada pause. She wouldn't deny, she was flattered by such dedicated attention, but… There was nothing in their interactions that indicated romance. They had fun and were so comfortable with each other because of their long friendship. Even if Sarada longed for more, for something Boruto couldn't give her due to his pledge. Which, come to think of it, he broke right from the start. He didn't share any Anbu secrets, but maintaining such a continuous relationship was surely also against the rules? Why were a couple of hours every two-three months worth such a risk?
Sarada's train of thought suddenly came to a halt when she found herself engulfed in Boruto's strong arms. "What are you doing, Boruto?" she squeezed out into his chest.
"I missed this so-o-o-o much."
Sarada missed Boruto's hugs too. When was the last time? When they were sixteen? He surely wasn't that big back then, she barely managed to reach the back of his head now.
"You are so right, Sarada. I am a coward. I knew I wouldn't survive married to a hokage, couldn't be who you wanted me to be, so I ran to Anbu not to get in deeper than I was. Such an idiot. It was too late – I was already completely head over heels for you. Didn't run far though - was at your window mere three months later. I couldn't stay away. Every time I knocked, I lived through the panic attack of you not answering, even if you were home. That you moved on or forgot about me. Or just got tired of my obnoxious presence."
"That's hardly possible, Boruto. I've known you more than half of my life."
"You are a very special girl, Sarada. The fools you dated just couldn't see it."
"Let's get married. Tonight."
Sarada instantly felt the absence of warmth when Boruto pushed her away. "Whoa? Tonight?"
"Isn't what you said?" Yes, it was the last test. Were Boruto's feelings truly strong enough to wish to join life with her? Or was he just talk? Will he run away again?
"Yes, but what about your parents?"
"They will hardly protest. If Lord Seventh frees you from your Anbu obligations and validates the change of the family registry we can submit right here…"
"Okay. Let's do it."
Before Sarada could process Boruto's agreement to marry her, she was being dragged by the hand back to the chambers allocated to the Konoha's Hokage. The guarding nin were now present as per regulations. Boruto ignored them and barged into the room kicking the doors open.
"I am handing my resignation from the Anbu shinobi," was stated firmly and without an ounce of hesitation.
"Unfortunately, I cannot accept it. As it turned out, you are quite a valuable asset to the Anbu force."
"Are you saying that you are depriving us of happiness because I am too good of shinobi?! Are you out of your mind, old man?!"
Sarada felt her hand being crushed by Boruto's death grip. But she was more taken aback by Boruto's roar – it was the same as when he was fighting the gods who threatened the very world they lived in. Did he now consider his father his greatest enemy? The very idea made something break in the depths of Sarada's heart. They trained so hard from a very early age to be strong, be worthy of, and at some point surpass their parents. All the struggle and time, life-threatening missions and heart-ripping fear of loss could all be in vain. And the worst part – it will be the fault of the person whom Sarada worshipped her whole life and strived to emulate at every turn. Sarada wanted to scream the same way Boruto was shouting in his father's face, but she just couldn't. The twistiness of the situation shuttered her to the point of her completely losing grasp on reality.
Sarada must've blacked out again because the next thing she saw was two pairs of blue eyes full of concern with the bluer one glazed with unshed tears.
"I should've eaten the stew from earlier…" she mumbled, assuming that she fainted from hunger again, but she felt… different. Her first clue that something serious happened was the blood on Boruto's shirt, but it wasn't his own. Sarada also realized that she was sitting in Boruto's lap, held close by his embrace. "What's… going on?"
"You feel okay, Sarada? Eyes don't hurt or anything?"
She wanted to ask what Lord Seventh was talking about when Boruto started to clean up her cheeks with a handkerchief in an unexpectedly gentle way. Was he truly near tears? What could possibly spook him to that degree?
Sarada did not feel anything strange about her eyes, although… she couldn't remember anything after her hopes were crushed for the second time that night, the first time - hearing the final statement about her not being nominated for the hokage position. But the second time hurt to her very core, despite becoming hokage being her ultimate goal in life. Boruto was practically nonexistent in her life but was still more important than something she worked for day in and day out. What a shocking turn of her heart…
"What happened?" she finally asked even if not really wanting to know the details. Sarada felt as if something monumental and tragic happened and she didn't want to relive it.
"I haven't seen you cry so hard since… since…"
"Since you jumped overboard to sacrifice yourself." There was another incident after Boruto joined Anbu, but he was not privy to that and Sarada was not planning on enlightening him. "So there is no chance of us marrying?" she asked, turning toward the Hokage, but not leaving Boruto's arms, enjoying the stolen moment since who knows when she will be able to do it again. Maybe never.
"I was going to discuss this like adults, but my dear son was too eager to bite my head off so didn't allow me to present all the options. And then… that happened… Anyway… I do not want to accept your resignation, boy, because I want you to join Sasuke in training the Anbu recruits. Not mine but it's Sai's wish that he expressed some months ago and we wanted to present you with this opportunity after the summit. But as usual, you jumped the line creating this mess. So… since you will be staying in Konoha outside of sensitive missions, there will be no problem with you two being together."
"First of all, Dad, this is such a double standard! Secondly, how can I have any respect from the kids I train if my position is clearly archived by nepotism?"
"You'll have to earn it the hard way then, son. Now with this business cleared up, I think we should retire, tomorrow is another long day-"
"Not until you confirm the change in the family registry. We want to get married. Tonight."
Sarada almost burst into laughing after seeing the flabbergasted expression on the Hokage's face. Her emotions were all over the place that night. It was such a long time since she felt so alive.
"Marriage?! Aren't you too hasty?"
"We will be twenty-five in a couple of months, old man. We don't need any more time to know that we love each other."
"You do, ha?"
"We do," Sarada felt the need to confirm, because, in the whole whirlwind of the possibility of marriage, she had yet to confess the depth of her feelings to Boruto. Which he somehow didn't doubt. She was ready to marry another guy in a year! How was he sure, she wasn't simply agreeing to marry the demon she knew out of convenience?
"There will be one grumpy Hokage tomorrow, but we do need another local witness with considerable power. Let's get you married, kids."
The next hour passed in a whirlwind for Sarada and she didn't even notice how she found herself near the door to her quarters, hearing once again the words of a goodbye out of Boruto's lips that caused her such anguish after his visits.
"You are not even going to kiss your wife good night, Boruto?"
"I want to so very much, but… I won't be able to leave afterward."
"You don't have to leave anymore." Because they were married now. She was not the last Uchiha of her generation anymore.
"My guarding shift starts in three hours… We will have all the time in the world when we return home to Konoha."
The mission was always first, Sarada understood that, but… "How did you know? I haven't said anything about… my feelings."
Boruto's finger found itself at her temple and slowly moved against her cheek, making Sarada shiver. "I wasn't completely sure… But somehow you cry only for me. Your Sharingan shows the truth more eagerly than you."
Sarada started to lean into Boruto's hand, but he removed it before she could fully embrace his touch.
"You didn't seem in the mood to cry when you broke up with those blokes you dated or they broke up with you."
"How do you?... Mitsuki?" Sarada should've been enraged by Boruto's blunt spying on her, but she wasn't in the slightest. He cared enough to keep an eye on her, even if they never talked about her feeble attempts at dating. "You thought you were special because I didn't burst into tears after every breakup like some emotional girl?" Sarada smirked, pushing out her hip in the sassy pose she adopted in her teen years.
"You really are making it hard for me to leave, Sarada…" Boruto drawled, his eyes roaming over her figure with a glance that could not be misinterpreted.
Sarada was familiar with being the object of male desire, but Boruto had never exhibited any interest during their interactions which made her doubt the possibility of him finding her attractive for some reason. But it was not so… "Then why are you leaving me again?" she demanded, grabbing onto the hand that was so tenderly caressing her cheek just a minute ago. It was at that moment that she noticed blood stains on Boruto's thumb. The dots about what happened while she fainted finally connected in her head. What will her father say when she reveals that the revered Sharingan emerged because of her being an 'emotional girl' into which she was turning again literally begging for Boruto to stay. Didn't she have any pride left?! Or was it love that made her feel as if she was incomplete without Boruto?
"I made you a promise of forever, Sarada. I will always return to you."
Despite his big words Boruto still left to fulfill his guarding duty and Sarada entered her quarters hoping that she didn't make the biggest mistake of her life.
She was ready to get to bed when the familiar rap against the window echoed throughout the room. In a somewhat trance-like state, Sarada repeated the years-long ritual of opening the window frame to let her guest in. Only this time he stayed.
….
"Uzumaki Boruto!" reverberated through the whole street. "Where have you disappeared to, you crazy bastard?! We haven't seen you around for years!"
Boruto had no choice but to allow Iwabee to mess up his hair since he knew there was no stopping his enthusiastic friend, who didn't change much with age. "It's Uchiha now. Uchiha Boruto," the former Uzumaki answered in a moderate tone.
"What?!"
Buroto was adamant at the start to avoid the confusion, ready to dawn the jacket with the Uchiha crest the day it was ready but was halted by his Hokage father because they had to wait to make the official announcement until the next hokage candidate was announced. His Anbu trainees addressed him as Boruto-sensei due to the little age difference, so the rumors had yet to start from that direction.
"The general response is 'Kekkon'omedetō'." They surely had to start sending invitations to the ceremony soon or their friends might start another Shinobi War over who was invited and is in the know or who wasn't. But the look on Iwabee's face… oh his wife will cackle like crazy when he describes to her that gobsmacked face. Maybe they should wait just a bit more to make it more fun, hm?..