Free day | Hug | Stupid Boruto

It was supposed to be nothing more than a normal Saturday. Sarada got dressed that morning in her usual clothes, spun a shuriken towards her target board without her glasses for extra practice, brushed her teeth and hair in the mirror and set to work on breakfast before her meetup with Boruto and Mitsuki in Kaminari Burger.

Just as the water in the electric kettle reached a boil, a strange flash of light behind her made her flinch. She spun around to see no one. Nothing. Had Boruto somehow snuck into her house to play a prank on her?

If he had, she wasn't going to fall for it. His only goal was attention anyways. If she just ignored him, he'd eventually get bored and come out of hiding and ask her what she was doing. Then all of a sudden, a warm hand slid onto her shoulder and almost made her burn herself. "Excuse me?!"

"Sorry..." The voice was so strikingly similar to hers... And there was only one person who could manage to imitate her this well in a henge.

She opened her mouth to scold Boruto when she realized something very important. Boruto would never apologize for a prank. Lifting her eyes to meet the owner of the hand, this time, she froze. It was, in fact, her. Or at least, it felt like looking at an older version of herself in the mirror. But her parents never had a child other than her, and this was clearly an Uchiha.

Short raven hair, metal framed glasses, heart shaped lips and pale skin. A jacket resembling Boruto's but much too large and hanging off one bare shoulder, Uchiha earrings, a black choker with a metal ring adorning the center, a tube top with short black shorts, flared socks and platform heels. Rather than wearing a Konoha headband, her ninja insignia was pinned to the front of her jacket. Sarada blinked. "Um... Hello?"

"I was trying not to scare you... Well... Me... I... Just..." That was when her future self, or whoever this was, looked towards the ceiling to prevent tears from leaking out of her onyx eyes.

Sarada took her hand and led her to the couch. "I don't know what happened, but you should probably sit down before you start explaining..." Her mind was racing. If her future self came to pay her a visit, that meant... Something in the future must've gone terribly wrong. "I'm making breakfast... But should I finish it or do we need to talk now?"

"Breakfast, huh... I guess I would be rather quick to accept this kind of thing, wouldn't I... Go ahead and finish," she said, working off her shoes and bringing them to the genkan. "I suppose now that I'm here... I have a good bit of time."

Sarada glanced out of the corner of her eye while pouring hot water into what was now two bowls of instant miso soup. She was admiring the family picture on the mantle carefully, wiping at her eyes. She went back to spooning some rice out of the rice cooker and getting a packet of furikake from the pantry. Something must've happened to her family.

A dark pit settled in her stomach. Her father didn't come home very often... Was it something to do with why he was always out on secret missions?

That was when.

As she turned around with two breakfast trays in hand, she noticed her past self crying this time, tears spilling over her cheeks. But she wasn't looking at her family. She was looking at her class picture. And more specifically... Boruto.

Sarada found herself walking more slowly than she wanted to over to the couch, setting the trays down gently on the coffee table without making a sound. "Are you alright?"

Future Sarada set down the picture and hurried once more to wipe her face. "I'm sorry... You must be wondering who I am and why I'm here." She smiled, albeit painfully, at the tray of breakfast meant for her. "You might've already guessed... But I'm you. More specifically, you from four and a half years in the future."

"...Four and half years..." So she was sixteen. And a half. Maybe going on seventeen... And something terrible was going to happen in just four and a half short years. "Did I... Did I ever become the hokage?"

Future Sarada stared off into the distance. "Far from it. In fact, I'd say you just about ruined any chance you had."

"What?!" She nearly fumbled her chopsticks to the ground. "Ruined my chances... Why?"

Her eyes drifted over to their class picture again, staring painfully into the center of it.

"Don't tell me... It was because of that idiot?!"

"Mm..." Future Sarada gently set the picture frame back down. "But none of it was never his fault..."

"You're not... You don't like him like that or anything, do you?" Despite saying it, her face felt warm. There were times she felt specks of heat creep into her face, admiring him for being just a little bit cool. And then he would do something stupid, and those specks of heat would be replaced by shards of ice that she put there to remind herself that she should never be crushing on anyone who was as childish as he was.

To her misfortune, future Sarada's cheeks glowed red. "T-That's not important right now... You haven't taken the Chunin exams yet, have you?"

"...No."

Future Sarada gently cradled a bowl in her hands, more specifically, the guest bowl, as she picked up a pair of chopsticks. "Thank you for the meal."

"Does... Does something happen to my... Our family, in the future?"

"Everything starts during the chunin exams," she said, placing her bowl down after a single bite. "Boruto's planning to cheat with the use of a scientific ninja tool. I want you to convince him not to."

"Huh?! Why would he cheat? He's been training with papa almost every day."

"He doesn't feel like that's enough," said future Sarada, her voice soft and gentle. "I don't think it's possible to convince the seventh not to hold them... There's already been so much preparation. But there's something you can still do..."

"What... What is it?"

There was a sudden knock at the door that prevented her from getting answers to any of her pressing questions. "Sa-ra-da. You coming? Me and Mitsuki have been sitting in Kaminari Burger for the past ten minutes waiting for you, ya know."

Sarada's dark eyes flickered to the clock on the wall. "Something... Something came up! Can we meet in an hour?"

"Hm?" The door handle twisted.

Sarada cursed under her breath. "That idiot."

"It's alright," said her future self, putting her hand on her arm. "I should... I should probably talk to him too... I just don't know if I can..."

"It's hard to hear you through the door, ya know," said Boruto, slipping off his shoes. "What's so important that you can't go on..."

Boruto's face was completely slack as he looked up, his eyes on Sarada's future form.

"Like I said, I'm in the middle of something so-"

"N-N-Nice to meet you!" Boruto bowed waist level. "I'm Boruzaki Umato. I mean, Uzumaki Boruto!"

"...Boruto?"

"Sarada," he hissed, lowering his face to her level as he hid his mouth with his hand. "Why didn't you tell me you had a hot older sister? So not fair! I thought you were an only child?"

Sarada's face went bright red. Both of them.

"H-Hot?"

"Are you kidding?" He looked Sarada up and down once, pausing specifically on the exposure of her legs and chest. "More than hot, I'd say sexy. And totally stylish. She looks like an idol! An idol that could kick butt!"

"Um. Boruto, that's-"

Boruto turned his back on present Sarada and held out his hand. "M-m-may I please have your name? Miss!"

Future Sarada covered her mouth. She was holding back tears. And then... Her face contorted in a smile so wide it hurt. "Ah... I forgot how much of an idiot you used to be."

"Idio- What?!"

"You can say that again," said present Sarada, holding her red forehead between her index finger and thumb. "Tell me why you came back here to save this idiot, exactly?"

"Came back here..." Boruto's face dropped in horror. "Don't tell me..."

"Hm." Future Sarada put her hand on her hip in a very typical Sarada-like pose. And present Sarada did the same.

Simultaneously, they both pointed a finger and said, "'I'm her.'"

"T-That's not fair!" He stuttered, his face bright red. "How... How do you turn into... That?! She's beautiful! A goddess! You're... You!"

"'What's that supposed to mean?!'" Both of them said again.

"Gah! Why are there two of you now?!"

"You know, Boruto," said present Sarada, leaning forward to lecture him. "'I' actually came back here to save your butt from cheating. Apparently. You really felt the need to use some sort of ninja tool in the chunin exams? You're top of the class. Papa has been training you. Is that not enough?"

Boruto's face dropped. "Oi... That's not... I'm not..."

Future Sarada walked forward and gently placed her hand on Boruto's shoulder. To present Sarada, it seemed like she was holding back from pulling him into a hug. And suddenly, she realized... What if Boruto in the future was... Gone?

"Listen to me. Boruto," she said gently. "I know how much you want to be recognized by your dad... But this isn't the way to do it. And... I can't give you much information, but a monster named Momoshiki is going to show up. I can't stay to fight him. Papa and the seventh and all the other kage will handle him. So Boruto... Even if papa says it's okay, don't go with them."

"Go with them where? What are you... A monster? Momoshiki?"

"It's hard to explain, but..." Her lip quivered. "Please just don't go."

In that moment, there was another flash in Sarada's living room. "What is it... now?"

Future Sarada's breath caught in her throat. "...Boruto?"

"Y-You're kidding. That's... me?!"

Future Boruto walked over, his face stoic, cape trailing behind him. "Hm. Yo, little me."

"I'm so... I'm so... I'M SO COOL! Is that a sword?! That cape looks exactly like Sasuke-san's! And I have a scar over my eye! How'd I get it?! Hey, tell me!"

Future Boruto's eye drifted over to Future Sarada, who had tears leaking over her eyes. "I thought... I thought you were... I thought everyone was..."

"I'm not," he said gently, walking closer and putting his arms around her, letting her hide her crying face in his chest, much to the startlement of their past selves. "Everyone is going to be okay... We'll talk later."

Present Sarada looked at them and stuttered. "Don't tell me... Are you guys... Are we..."

"Don't worry about that," said future Boruto, perfectly still and stoic as future Sarada worked her arms under his cape and squeezed her eyes shut. "You," he said, looking at his past self. "Treasure your family... Your friends. Use that ninja tool in the exams. Do whatever it takes to win. But don't try to fight the monster that shows up after they're over."

"Huh?" Future Sarada muttered into his chest. "But I thought..."

"That was the first time I learned that I was nothing but a stupid brat," he said into her hair. "I think it was a good life lesson... And if I don't make it to the finals, someone else will get caught up in the middle of that fight. I'd probably charge in anyways like an idiot since dad and mom both went... Especially if you were there."

"But I..."

"Listen," said future Boruto, hushing future Sarada by putting his hand on the back of her seemingly small head and pulling her back into his chest, causing both Sarada and Boruto of the present to clam up with red faces. He had complete and total control of the room, manipulating everyone to his whims with a single motion. And the look on his face said he was doing it consciously. So this... Was Boruto in the future.

"I was really supposed to come back to leave a message for Uncle... Uncle Sasuke," he continued.

"...Papa is out right now, but he should be back tomorrow-"

"I don't have that much time," he said. "Everything... Everything starts tomorrow. Right about now, Mr. Bee is probably getting his chakra stolen. I'm going to try to get rid of all of the guys that destroy Konoha. It's the easiest way. I'm not sure where some of them are, but I know where they'll show up eventually. And the me now is strong enough to beat them. Strong enough to make sure no one else gets hurt."

Future Sarada slowly came unpeeled from his chest. "If that's the case then..."

"You're coming with me," he said. The current Sarada and Boruto stared with wide eyes as he cupped her face. "I need all the help I can get."

"But what about the current timeline? What happens if something goes wrong?"

"It can't be any worse than what's already happened in the future. Come on, we gotta get going."

"How are we gonna..."

Future Boruto held up his hands in a sign. Future Sarada nodded. She put her hand on his shoulder.

"Ya might wanna do more than that."

"Huh? Why?"

"Our targets can fly."

"Oh." She walked in front of him and put her arms around his neck. "Is this better?"

He flew a couple inches off the ground. "As long as you can hold yourself up."

"I... I can fly?!" Present Boruto was staring up, his blue eyes back to being wide for a reason other than their future selves not so subtle displays of affection towards each other. "No way! That is totally awesome!"

"I'm hoping to make it so you can't."

"Aww! That's not fair! Come on, teach me how to fly before you go! Please?"

"It's not something you can learn," said future Boruto, his hands forming the sign for Flying Rajin. "It's something you got, along with depression so bad you tried to kill yourself."

Present Sarada's eyes widened. "...He what?"

"Take care of me," Future Boruto said to present Sarada, his face serious. "If it wasn't for you, I would be dead. And you," he said, turning to present Boruto. "Stop arguing with her so much. She's right most of the time. Even if she is a little annoying."

"'Hey!'" Sarada's was more pronounced than her future self, but her eyes went wide when Boruto's aged face softened and tucked against hers.

"I still love you though."

With that, he was gone.

"Oi... Did he just..."

"L-Let's not talk about that!" Sarada ushered Boruto out of his house. "Come on! We've got to meet up with Mitsuki. He's probably worried about-"

"Worried about what?" The man himself suddenly appeared in between them, making them both jump back.

"'Mitsuki?!'"

"How long have you been standing there?" Sarada asked, her face completely flushed.

"Hmm... Long enough to know that you two make a great couple, even in the future."

"...We-We do not!"

"Something about a monster, was it? Boruto, I'm not sure what's going on. But if you want to become a chunin and protect Sarada, we should get to training for tomorrow's exams."

"Prote- Who said anything about protecting Sarada?!"

"Apparently, you did."

With that, Mitsuki smiled, and Boruto dragged his hand down his face, and Sarada let her bangs fall over her glasses. Then the three all went out the door.

. . .

"...Boruto?" Future Sarada was resting in his arms as he floated high above Konoha. He teleported to a kunai outside of her house and was scanning with his eyes closed, searching out the chakra of the being that took up residence in his body.

"Hm?"

"Are we really... Are we really going to try and fight everyone? Just the two of us?"

"I would've liked to bring Sasuke-san... Which is why I time traveled back to your house. But since you're here, that's no longer needed. How did you get here, anyways? I thought there was only one time traveling turtle."

"...I found an old scroll... One that talked about the possibility of time slipping. I think it was made by the second. He didn't quite have all of the theories worked out... But... I figured if I just applied a couple more things to the jutsu, I could complete it... And after a couple tries, I made it here. I just don't know how to get back."

Boruto's eye opened. He looked down at her. "You completed a time travel jutsu?"

"...Yeah."

"How?!"

"I just... I was desperate because I thought... you..." She tucked her face into his shoulder. "Stupid."

Boruto couldn't help the smile that crept up on his face. "As expected of an honors student..."

"Hey..." She pouted.

"I guess it's a good thing I have a way to get us both back... Since we don't belong here."

It was silent for a moment before, her face dusted with blush, she decided to speak again.

"Did you..."

"Hm?"

"...Nothing."

"Did I?"

"...Did you mean what you said earlier?"

Boruto closed his eye again. "What did I say earlier?"

"About..."

"About?"

"...You know what I meant!"

Boruto laughed. "Yeah," he said, holding her a little tighter. "I do."

"...Well?"

"Why would I say something I didn't mean?" He slowly started drifting forward, his face suddenly serious. Momoshiki had likely been located.

"I don't know, I just..."

"You just?"

"Was it alright? To say that in front of them?"

"Sarada," he said, pausing. "If there is anything I could've gone back to tell my past self... It would be to treasure everyone around him more. Especially you."

"...Why me?"

Boruto rolled his one remaining eye. "Because, you saved me... And I never really said thank you. Sorry for being an idiot this whole time."

Sarada slowly tucked herself further against him, wrapping herself tighter around him. "Oh."

"Oh? That's all I get is an oh? No I forgive you? No I love you too?"

"I... That's all you get," she said, hiding her face.

"Ahh, oh well." He continued forward, shifting to hold her like a princess in his arms. "I guess that'll do for now. But you might regret it, if you don't say anything, ya know."

"...It's embarrassing," she said, red spread out over the bridge of her nose.

"Eida and Sumire said it so easily... And I still haven't heard it from you. Even though you're the only person I like. What a cruel, unfair life."

"Boruto!"

He laughed. "Fine, fine. I won't make you say it."

She hesitated for just a moment. And then, she picked herself up, pulled herself closer to his neck, and rested her chin on his shoulder. He nearly died. She was certain he was dead, and yet here he was. They were alone. And they were going to fix the future. And they might lose their lives. She was stubborn, but he was the idiot.

"...Sarada?"

"Even if I don't say it... You know I mean it, don't you?"

The arm that had been supporting her back slowly wrapped around her. "Yeah. I know."

"Do your best not to die anymore. Stupid."

She could hear the smile in his tone of voice. "Yeah... I'll try. Same goes for you."

"Mm."

Without letting go, Boruto flew through the air like that, her legs over his arm and her chin on his shoulder to go put an end to what was the worst possible future.