Chapter 2:

"You are such an idiot!" Sarada scolded Boruto on the way back down the mountain. "What were you thinking?"

"I was thinking there was no other way to stop the fighting."

"So, you used the scroll for yourself?"

He didn't answer her.

"So many other things you could have done. So many! Idiot!"

"It was an effective method, though," said Mitsuki in Boruto's defense.

Shikadai sighed heavily. "Well, I guess the mission's accomplished. We didn't let the enemy have it and now that it's lost its power, no one can use it and no one will come after it. We can go back to the village."

Since the scroll was now useless, they had to decide what to do with it. Boruto had left it on the ground back in the cave but Shikadai picked it up to take with him just in case they needed it. He thought it would be a good idea to bring back to the Leaf Village and get his father's opinion on it. Even if it was worthless now, it couldn't hurt to investigate its origin a little more.

The men all left the area disappointed and the priestess angrily ordered them to leave her mountain. Boruto didn't understand why. He thought she would be happy if her whole reason for using it was to diminish its power so that she could leave the mountain with nothing left to guard. It didn't matter who used it, he believed.

Boruto, however, was all atwitter, thinking about the wish he had just been granted. He had wished for his father. Naruto didn't appear beside him, so he wondered what the wish had done. Perhaps this meant Naruto would actually spend more time with him. He was looking forward to that and knew his sister would enjoy it, too.

"That was dumb for a number of reasons," Shikadai told him, now able to criticize his friend after Sarada had become hoarse from all the berating. "You don't know how the wish will work. It just said it'd give you want you wanted, but have we learned nothing from the genie in the bottle stuff? It's never what you intended."

"He's right, Boruto. That was a very stupid thing to do," Sarada managed before going quiet again to rest her voice.

"We don't even know how it works ourselves," Shikadai went on. "The woman never really explained in detail. How do you know you didn't just mess everything up?"

"All I know is the lady said that whatever's written on the scroll will be granted to you. Whatever you desire. I wrote my dad's name. How else could this be interpreted?"

"I don't know, but that doesn't mean you didn't screw up."

"I wrote my dad's name. The scroll grants you want you want. Whatever you write on the scroll. I wrote his name. The scroll will grant me what I desire, which is my dad." Boruto shrugged. "I don't really see how I can mess that up. Seems pretty straightforward."

Sarada didn't have the energy to scold him so she just rubbed her forehead with a sigh.

It was a long walk but they finally made it back to the Leaf Village. All Boruto could talk about was having burgers and Sarada and Shikadai both had to remind him that they had to report to the Hokage before anything else.

"Works for me." Boruto was still curious about how his wish would be granted. Naruto might take one look at him and decide to take the whole day off or even quit being Hokage. Either way was fine with him, but he suspected everyone else would be shocked by the second.

As they approached the main gate, Shikadai gave a groan. "Just a second while I talk to these guys at the gate. I'll catch up. I just remembered something I needed to ask."

"Ok." Everyone went ahead while Shikadai spoke with the guards.

Boruto stretched high, feeling his joints pop. Distracted, he pumped into Mitsuki who had suddenly stopped in his tracks. "What?"

"Look." Mitsuki was pointing at the buildings.

Boruto saw exactly what Mitsuki was talking about. The buildings were different. Some had balconies where there weren't before and some were painted a different color.

"They remodeled after we were gone? We weren't gone that long."

It was a strange sight but nothing to be concerned about.

Sarada slowed her pace then stopped altogether, staring down one street. "This… This can't be right."

"What?"

She pointed. "There was a road here. They couldn't have built all these buildings in its place in the time we were gone."

"That's also different." Mitsuki was staring in the direction of a shop which used to be a dango shop and now the sign said it was a shoe store.

"Out of business in a day? That can't be. It's always so popular. Chocho eats there all the time."

"Wait," said Boruto, looking left and right. "Where's the game store? It was right there. This isn't a store at all now. What happened?"

"The televisions are gone, too."

"And the bakery."

"The ramen restaurant's gone, too. Oof!" Boruto had collided with someone mid-step.

The tall man took a step back, papers in hand telling them that he hadn't been watching where he was going either. "Ugh, sorry. Didn't see you there."

Boruto looked up at the adult. "Shikamaru?"

It looked like him but he was wearing different clothes. He also had a scar over his left eyebrow.

"What are you doing here?"

Shikamaru raised his brow at the question. "Where else would I be?"

"In the Hokage office," Boruto said as if it were obvious.

"Why? Was I summoned for a mission?"

"What? No, I mean…" Boruto groaned. "Shouldn't you be helping my dad or something?"

"Why? Who's your-"

A scuffle in front of a store distracted the group. Two men had gotten into a fight and were shoving each other and into other people. Shikamaru used his shadow to freeze them in place.

"Knock it off, you guys. Save it for your mission."

He released them and the men stormed off, still fuming.

Shikamaru sighed and flipped through his papers, making sure everything was still there.

Mitsuki took this opportunity to get Boruto's attention. "Boruto. Look."

He and Sarada followed Mitsuki's gaze to the Hokage monument which was very different from when they left.

"What the hell is that?" Boruto yelped, gawking at the monument featuring new faces he didn't recognize. "What happened to the monument?"

Shikamaru turned and gave it a quick, emotionless glance. "What do you mean? It's always looked like that."

"But… But those guys aren't in order. Only the first four are. And I have no idea who that is!"

Boruto knew for a fact that the fifth Hokage was a woman, but the monument featured someone with what looked like a bandaged head and one eye in her place. Kakashi and Naruto were both missing from the monument.

Shikamaru clicked his tongue in aggravation. "Didn't pay attention in history, did you? That's Danzo. After the Third and Forth Hokage were killed, Danzo was elected to the position. Ruined the village, if you ask me. We're still picking up the pieces after the great Ninja War."

"Huh?!" Boruto didn't understand. "But… What about Granny Tsunade and Old Man Kakashi?"

"You mean Kakashi Hatake?" Shikamaru questioned. "Yeah, we always figured he'd make a great Hokage but it didn't work out that way. He never really wanted the position so I guess it worked out. Still…" Then Shikamaru gave Boruto a suspicious look. "I'm actually surprised you know about him. Aren't you a little young?"

"What are you talking about? Why wouldn't I know him?"

"I figured it was before your time. Your parents must have told you about him."

Sarada tried a different approach. "Well, where can we find him?" She wanted to ask Kakashi a lot of questions about this.

Shikamaru pointed. "Over there, where they all are."

Sarada was confused. "But… that's the direction of the memorial plots. What's he doing there?"

"Visiting someone's grave?" Mitsuki suggested.

Shikamaru snorted. "Not doing much of anything these days. Kakashi's dead."

"Dead?!" the Genin cried in surprise, which took Shikamaru by surprise. He didn't think they would be so shocked. "When did that happen?"

"Over a decade ago when Pein attacked the village. He died in combat."

"No, he didn't," Boruto insisted. "That doesn't make any sense."

"Hey, even mighty shinobi fall, kid. What can I tell you?" Shikamaru gave him a halfhearted shrug. "We're human."

Boruto gave Shikamaru a suspicious look. "This a prank you're pulling on us? What's going on?"

"Why would I prank you? I've got better things to do than punk some kids."

Sarada pulled on Boruto's arm. "Boruto, I don't think he's messing with us. It's too elaborate to be a joke. The buildings are all different. The only shop still in its place that I recognize is the flower shop. Even the sweet shop is missing. The one that had imported sweets from the Sand Chocho likes."

Shikamaru scoffed. "Not around here. Why would we be doing business with the Sand?"

Boruto was quick to answer. "Because we're allied with them."

"No, we're not," said Shikamaru spitefully. "We had an uneasy truce during the Great Ninja War but that was it. I don't see us ever being allied with a village that attacked us on three separate occasions."

"Huh?"

"They sent that Gaara guy on us during the Chunin exams and again not long after while we were still picking up the pieces. The guy leveled the place. Damned Tailed-Beast. The Fourth Hokage died protecting us from him. We finally managed to bring him down thanks to the Akatsuki. Danzo helped us take care of them, so I guess he was good for something."

Boruto shook his head from side to side. "Whoa, whoa, whoa, back up! What? It's true Gaara attacked during the exams, but then he returned as an ally, didn't he?"

"Hell, no. They attacked again. The Leaf hates the Sand. We don't even let them in to watch the exams because no Sand shinobi is allowed within these walls. If they are, we assume them to be up to no good."

"No way," said Boruto. "No way, you must have made an exception. What would your wife say to that nonsense you're yapping on about?"

Shikamaru blinked. "Uh, I'm not married, kid."

"Yeah, you are. To Temari."

"That wind witch?" Shikamaru looked offended by the notion. "We battled each other during the exams years ago and I gave up. Still got promoted to Chunin. I hate having to fight women, it's too troublesome. She's been forcing my hand since that day, though. Each time Gaara attacked the village, she was there, driving back our forces. That heartless woman never holds back and her brother with the freaking puppets gave me this scar. I'd never marry someone like that. She's horrid."

"That's a hell of a way to talk about your wife."

"I told you, she's not my wife. I never married."

"But-"

Sarada shushed him, shaking her head. "Boruto, something's not right here. I really think he doesn't know what you're talking about."

Mitsuki gave Shikamaru a questioning look. "Does this mean you do not allow anyone from other villages into the Leaf? Are there no transfer students?"

"With great discretion, only with those we are allied with," answered Shikamaru. "Why?"

"Just wondering."

Shikamaru frowned at the trio. "For Leaf shinobi, you're acting very strangely. As if all this is new information to you. I'd expect this from younger children, but you all have headbands. How on earth did you pass without learning half this stuff? History of the Leaf is covered in school."

"Uh, he bumped his head on the mission," Sarada answered for Boruto. "We were going to stop by the hospital to have him looked at if we didn't have to meet with the Hokage about our recent mission. Just got back."

"Uh, yeah," Boruto hastily agreed, knowing to play along for now. "Sakura will patch me up, you know."

Shikamaru cocked his head in confusion. "I don't see how Sakura can help."

Sarada was fearful to ask what condition her mother was in. "Doesn't she work at the hospital?"

"No. She has no business here. She doesn't know medical ninjutsu, as far as I know."

"She… doesn't?" Things were different for Sarada's own family, too. "Then where does she work?"

"At the academy," said Shikamaru.

"At the academy?" Boruto repeated in surprise. "But Shino works there. Don't tell me they switched places."

"What? You mean Shino Aburame?" Shikamaru gestured behind him. "He's advisor to the Hokage."

"He's what?!" Boruto's mouth fell open in disbelief. "That's your job!"

"Me? Advise the Hokage?" Shikamaru scoffed. "Not likely. I'm a Jonin who works on strategic plans for high-ranking missions. Besides I can't picture the Hokage listening to anything I say. Not that anyone listens to Shino either."

"Can't argue with that…"

Shikadai came running up to them with a panicked look on his face. "Guys, something's off about the village. Nothing's where it should be and things are missing and…"

Shikamaru was staring at Shikadai. "Wow, that is an uncanny resemblance." He chuckled. "Better not stand too close to me or people might think we're related."

The Genin tried to warn Shikadai but it was too late.

"Very funny, Dad," said Shikadai.

"Ha, funny joke," Shikamaru said deadpan and started to look over his papers again.

"Shikadai, he-"

He wasn't listening, staring at his father. "Dad, you serious?"

"Stop calling me that, kid."

Shikadai pointed to himself. "But I am your son."

"I don't have a son."

Shikadai was getting upset. "What's going on? Are you mad at me or something? This is really childish of you. Come on, it's troublesome."

"Good impression, but stop fooling around, kid. Go away."

"Dad, it's me. Don't you know me? Dad, what's wrong with you?"

Sarada and Boruto grabbed Shikadai by his shoulder to keep him from getting closer to his father. "Calm down. We don't think he's joking. Shikamaru doesn't believe he has a son. He doesn't know he's married."

"I think I'd know if I were married or not," Shikamaru told them, annoyed. "Listen, kid. We might look a lot alike, but I'm not your dad. Go away."

Shikadai was horrorstruck. "I don't get it. What's going on? Why doesn't he know me?"

"We're trying to figure that out, too."

"We can go to the Hokage and ask him about it." Mitsuki turned to face Shikamaru again. "Naruto's in his office, right?"

Shikamaru raised his brow once again, which wasn't surprising. What was shocking was his response. "Who's Naruto?"