Chapter 9: What We Saw

"There are poisons that blind you, and poisons that open your eyes."

― August Strindberg, The ghost sonata

Boruto & Jiraiya-Training Ground 3

"No, but really Kid, who taught you the rasengan?!"

Despite his smile, Boruto clamps up. This isn't like before when Jiraiya playfully used his toads to keep him and Hima situated on the rooftop the other day. He's truly curious this time to know what else he's been keeping from him at the way his dark eyes flicker.

'There's a lot he already knows, what else am I supposed to tell him?!' His thoughts turn frantic.

"Ugh, why does it matter Toad Gramps?!" He volleys back in return.

Jiraiya sits down cross-legged. "Because if there's something you know that can change the tides of future disasters occurring to the village and to its citizens, shouldn't you say so?"

Boruto looks away from him feeling his guilt churn up, curl and stab at his gut reminding him of everything at stake should he speak up or continue to stay quiet. All of tonight has just been one bad decision after another at making hasty decisions.

He was stupid to come out to these training grounds despite the late hour, stupid to believe he isn't always being followed around by either an ANBU guard or some assigned guardian knowing his and Hima's ties to Naruto and Hinata.

Jiraiya gathers a swirl of chakra making Boruto glance back to him. "Minato, or I guess your Grandpa, created this move. I assume your Old Man was the one who taught you?"

Boruto shrugs. "Papa taught me the basics of how it's supposed to work, but I've only gotten somewhat better at it from watching Konohamaru-sensei and listening to a few of Uncle Sasuke's explanations."

Jiraiya hums at that, probably doesn't fully believe him as he dissipates the ball of chakra and wind.

"Alright, tell you what Kid. I plan to teach your Dad before his Finals for the Chunin Exams. Normally, they're given a month to prepare, and I can use that time to train him, you, and even Himawari. What do you say?"

Boruto instantly perks up before his features flatten. "Wait, aren't Papa and Mama still having their preliminary matches? What makes you so sure Papa is going to win? Also, there's a 'but' to this that you haven't said yet; isn't there?"

Jiraiya grins. "Hey, I have the upmost confidence your Dad is going to win against whoever his opponent is, and you and Hima should too! And of course! My services don't come for free Kid! I know you're not rich like me though, so all I want from you is some additional information."

Boruto scoffs at his offer, smirks at a sudden idea.

'I know how to get him off my back!'

He draws up his hands. "Sexy jutsu!"

Despite Toad Gramps' Make Out Paradise series losing some popularity over the years since his passing, there's been plenty of writers and creators that took up the mantel or got inspiration from his works.

And he, Inojin, and Shikadai have at least glimpsed at the most popular series under the Sweet Surrender & Tropical Trysts sections of the Konoha Today magazines on the way from the card shops.

"I'm not getting my VR set or art supplies taken away from me again Boruto! You know Mr. Ozaki will tell on each of us to our Mom's if he catches us in this section." Inojin whisper hisses, keeps looking behind his shoulder for the old man.

"Yeah, Mom's slaps always leave a hand imprint on me for at least a week." Shikadai adds.

Boruto rolls his eyes, but he pictures Mama's gentle fist aimed for his eyes or chest and grimaces.

'No, this is a great idea!'

"Since when are you guys such chickens? Inojin, unless Auntie Ino is going to use mind transfer or something to find out where we've been, we'll be fine y'know. All we have to do is keep quiet and stick to the same stories!"

Shikadai pats at his opposite shoulder, shadow possession freezing them in place as he crouches them to the ground.

They watch the top of Mr. Ozaki's head skirt by, thankfully busy with an investor who wants to promote his books online.

"This is too troublesome; we gotta cancel this plan or else someone is going to truly see us." Shikadai asserts.

Boruto skims the pages quickly for what he needs to know before nodding, putting it back.

"Alright, let's get out of here while he's distracted!"

He's the only one who probably advanced on the idea of using those articles and pictures as a technique.

The last one they read about came from some summer edition they saw weeks ago, poofs into a black clad bikini woman.

Jiraiya blinks in surprise as the smoke clears, claps his hands in delight leaning forward to take him in.

"Ooh! Now what type of jutsu is this?!"

'Hook, line, and sinker!' Boruto grins as he wraps a hand around his arm coyly, sees what he hopes is the beginnings of his telltale nosebleed as he pushes up against him.

"The sexy jutsu! I'm sure you been looking for a way to get inspiration from your books; right? And I can help you with that!~" He purrs out in return with a wink.

Jiraiya nods eagerly before happily shoving him off!

"...Not bad Kid! I bet you learned that move from your Old Man too; huh? Lucky for me, I don't need any research right now as I collected enough from an earlier trip in the week to the Springs out in the southeast forests!"

Boruto's lips twist into a grimace, transformation undone in surprise. Papa said that always used to work on Toad Gramps, why not now? Irritation runs across his features, too late to hide at Jiraiya's bemused look.

"You mean lucky you escaped with no broken bones. And ugh, no! Not every technique I learned from watching Dad y'know!"

Jiraiya simply hums, waves up a finger. "Well, you're not doing anything to help stop people from mistaking you for Naruto when you're using the same type of prank techniques that he does in his spare time from what Sarutobi-sensei and Ebisu have told me."

Boruto crosses his arms, looks away back over to the fields. Now that he thinks about it, these training grounds haven't changed much over the years. Same wooden stumps, trees, and grasslands that lead into the woods.

No matter how many times Konoha seems to get invaded or destroyed from what he's seen in their history and geography textbooks, the village always bounces back eventually.

Jiraiya pats at his shoulder regaining his attention. "Now, I know you said that there's a chance Sarutobi-sensei can die in this planned invasion of Suna and Oto during these exams, but you said nothing about after. What did you learn about that occurs next that we need to be prepared for?"

Boruto stays silent instead, lips stubbornly pursed. He gets up to move onto a trail that leads in the future to a view of Konoha's downtown market and restaurant districts.

"Oi, stay still Kid! Don't make me use my oil on you!" Jiraiya calls after him.

Boruto ignores him, picks up his pace hearing him draw in a breath.

"Alright, don't say you weren't warned! Toad Oil!"

'Yikes, I can't go back to the Hyūga manor covered in oil after sneaking out!' He dodges the surge of gunk, halfway turns around.

"Water Release: Typhoon Bullet!"

'Oil and water don't mix.' He hears Aburame-sensei's words, sighs internally.

Lightning and wind aren't going to be of much use to him against the Sannin.

And the trail he's thinking of doesn't exist in the past, covered with shrubs, moss, and fallen branches, Jiraiya easily giving follow from the trees to outwit each of his attacks.

"Come on, it's not like I'm asking you anything difficult Boruto! At least answer me this one question." Jiraiya tangles his hair around his legs, stilling him in place.

"I don't want...I don't want to mess things up more than I've already done Toad Gramps. What if telling you more leads to other bad things happening? Besides, we've only covered Konoha's history from the Warring States Period to the Invasion so far." He lies, avoids his gaze.

Jiraiya's brows furrow. "You're lying again, though I'll let it slide as I have a more pressing question to ask."

His gaze finally peers up at him, cerulean weary with red. The sky above is already tinged with a pinkish orange on the horizon of the coming day.

Jiraiya ruffles at his hair as Boruto absently starts dozing into his chest accepting his loss. Maybe he should wait on asking him, but he needs to know how much time he has...

"What...What do you want to know?" Boruto slurs out.

Jiraiya affectionately pats at his cheeks, chuckles as he rubs at his eyes to force them to stay open.

"Tell me, am I alive in you and Hima's time period?"

Naruto & Kankuro Central Tower, Arena

'Why isn't he slowing down?!'

"Poison Mist Hell: Needle Barrage!"

Venomous clouds coat the arena, senbon needles launched in every direction. There's nowhere Naruto can run even with his seemingly endless stamina and constant stream of clones.

'That smog will get rid of all his duplicates at least.' Kankuro determines.

But Naruto's been hit with the poison tipped blades of Karasu over a dozen times now, still gets back up somehow, elongated nails poised for his throat and chest. He's truly pissed at him and attacking him only worsens his building rage.

Eventually, one of his hits is going to land a direct hit on him.

'Relax. Relax. As long as he doesn't get close, I can stall this out.'

He calms his breathing, though his stomach knots restlessly.

If his suspicions are correct, nothing he's done so far will truly matter...

Because jinchurikis are more dangerous than even the best jonin can handle from what he's seen of Gaara during his rampages, nothing in his arsenal will really stop Naruto if he's truly Konoha's tailed beast.

"Wind Release: Twister!"

The gale disperses the haze somewhat, Kankuro smirking in spite of the minor setback.

'Too late.'

Karasu grabs Naruto from behind, tangles around him like a snake constricting every limb.

He grunts and Kankuro notes then the sheen of sweat to him, needles embedded in his arms and legs drawing mini trickles of blood.

Good, fully paralyzed now.

"Forfeit or I'll break all your bones." Kankuro commands.

Hayate watches carefully, frustratingly won't call the match yet.

He takes one step closer and Naruto's body poofs.

Kankuro stills.

'Damn it, another clone.'

"You're nothing without your puppets." Naruto sneers in his ear beside him.

Two more clones appear beside Karasu, screech of wind slicing off its head and arms crumpling it to the ground. Kankuro turns too late to get out of his range, crunch of bone and teeth crackling in his ears.

Crimson lingers in Naruto's eyes before his vision starts to blur.

He partially starts to fall, Naruto's next punch slamming into his gut.

Another clone grabs at his fingers, twists and turns them until they crack too.

That nasty coppery taste fills his mouth and nose all at once, coughing out gobs of blood.

"You owe Himawari an apology the next time you see her." Naruto states lowly outside any of the jonin-sensei hearing, not a question, but an order.

Kankuro nods slowly, slides back from his reach before he decides to break another bone.

'If this was Gaara, he would've killed me by now.'

Or maybe he wants him to apology, then he'll go for the kill?

Hayate steps between the pair, clears his throat. "Winner: Naruto Uzumaki!"

Naruto beams, vermilion dispelled from his eyes as he helps Kankuro back up.

"Sorry I got a bit rough with you there." He mutters.

Kankuro's eyes narrow. "What is that girl to you anyways? Your little sister?"

Temari would never fight so hard on his behalf.

Naruto shakes his head. "No, she's...well I'm not 100 % certain actually, but she's family to me!"

Kankuro shoulders drop.

'Great. I lost to the guy everyone calls Dead Last around here.'

Temari and Gaara send him disparaging looks, already ruining plans losing in the preliminaries like this.

Broken puppet. Broken fingers.

Naruto shakes at his mangled hand, Kankuro snapping his mouth shut at the surge of questions on the tip of his tongue. So friendly now when just a moment ago he sensed he seemed ready to go for the kill.

'Where did that beast go?'

A medic comes to his opposite side, Kankuro leaning into their hold thankfully to guide him to the stretcher. He feels Naruto's gaze burn holes on his back, mask back in place when he glances to him.

"Good. I'm gonna hold you to it after you recover y'know! So don't think I'll forget!"

Sakura & Ino-Upper Level, Central Tower

There's too much whispering going around like buzzing flies to think straight.

"-Since when can Naruto throw out punches like that?" Kiba openly wonders.

"-What about his eyes? I can't be the only one who saw his eyes tinge red; right? I mean, that isn't normal unless I missed something between opening my bags of chips." Choji questions.

"Hey Forehead, that was Naruto just now and not his weird doppelgänger, right? I mean, I've never seen him fight like that even back during our sparring sessions at the Academy." Ino asks from somewhere to her left breaking through the mix mash of voices, taps and lightly grips at her arm to keep her from moving away.

Sakura clenches her teeth, injects confidence into her voice.

"Of course it was Naruto, Pig."

'He had that same rage back in the Forest.'

She catches Sasuke's eye who discreetly shakes his head, knows from the way his features have tightened that his thoughts are the same as hers. He didn't want her telling anyone about how much that curse mark on his neck is truly bothering him and he certainly doesn't want her to report to any of the jonin here what happened to Naruto briefly in the Forest.

Jade eyes skirt to Hinata, the only one seemingly not surprised by Naruto's actions down there. He weaves through the crowd over to her, closer than she's ever seen them publicly.

Hinata's cheeks bloom pink, quietly asks Naruto to hold his hands out, rubs ointment into each of his cuts.

Ino follows Sakura's gaze, snickers.

"Seems both the guys on your team have no interest in you Forehead."

A knot snaps in her gut balling her fists at her haughty smirk, heat pressing at her chest like molten stones.

'You can focus on healing your teammates!'

Healing. If that strange boy and his sister are really from the future, then they know her for something connected with medicine.

'Medical ninjutsu maybe?'

Sakura sighs, unwinds her hands.

She peers back to Ino, collects her thoughts.

"Hey, why...why do you like Sasuke?"

Ino hums suspiciously at her abrupt change of subject, smiles anyways to indulge her for old times' sake.

"The same reasons as you Sakura! Obviously because he's the coolest, strongest, smartest guy in our class-"

"I don't know anything about Sasuke, even after all this time together on the same team. I want to, but he doesn't...he doesn't open up much about what he's thinking about, what scares him or makes him happy. And...And I can't be a proper kunoichi or teammate continuing on this track!" Sakura blurts out before Ino can finish.

Ino blinks, reaffirms her grip on her arm at seeing whatever frantic look is in her features.

She drops her voice to avoid any of their sensei overhearing.

"Sakura, are you feeling alright?"

Her eyes flicker back to Sasuke and Naruto, shakes her head just slightly.

"It's just...Naruto's weird twin doppelgänger mentioned something about me healing back in the Forest. And ever since then, it's made me think about how I'm not currently doing enough to match Sasuke and Naruto's growth, especially when it comes to missions. I need to get stronger, as I am currently, I'm a liability to any future assignments we go on." She explains in a rush, words tumbling together.

Ino raises a brow. It's been years since she's heard Sakura sound so despondent over herself.

She rolls her eyes gently, taps right at the center of her head. "Geez Forehead. No, Sakura, listen here! You're not regressing backwards on me like how you were when we first met; got it?! Look, it's not like Sasuke doesn't notice you some. I mean, didn't you gloat to me the other day at the Flower Shop how he came to you for advice on chakra control during your mission to the Land of Waves? Or how you two tried that new sushi place out together without Naruto like a real date?"

'Ugh, she must know how much this all pains me to admit!'

Sakura waves them off. "Those mean little Pig or err Ino. Anyways, I suppose it's impossible for me to ever fully understand Sasuke's heart or anyone on Team 7 for that matter at all they've lost. As much as you complain about Choji and Shikamaru's habits, at least you all understand each other! How can I even compare when it comes to Naruto and Sasuke? My parents are still alive, and I grew up with them. I don't have the scars of loneliness, death, or always being ignored the way they do, Kakashi-sensei included."

Ino tsks, azure eyes softening.

"All I'm saying Sakura is that you're lucky to have Sasuke on your team, Kakashi-sensei as your team leader, and even Naruto when he isn't being so...loud. As for healing, yeah, I'd say you could have a knack for it. No harm in looking into it, I'll even teach you about some poisonous flowers since Dad is always trying to get me to study them and I could use a partner enduring his lectures."

Sakura brightens, nods eagerly making Ino chuckle.

'Wait, since when do we talk so casually like this?' They consider in unison.

A buzzer goes off to the center of the room shattering the moment, the arena now cleaned, Hayate clearing his throat for them to look towards the main screen.

"Everyone! The next round of matches is about to begin! Pay attention for your name!"

"First thing on your list should be healing that guy's cough." Ino murmurs as Hayate goes into another hacking spell, Sakura biting back a laugh.

Said laugh stills in her throat as she sees her name up next.

Sakura vs. Ino.

Green volleys back to blue, Ino brushing a lock from her face, smile cracking briefly before shrugging.

"Well, guess you'll have to start learning by healing your own injuries first after I defeat you Forehead!"

'She at least wasn't there in the forest when we were ambushed by those Sound nin, I picked up a thing or two from watching those siblings as well.' Sakura considers.

Hopefully she can use some of that to her advantage.

Sakura scoffs, matches her smirk as she cracks her knuckles to head downstairs with her.

"You wish Pig."

Hinata-Upper Level, Central Tower

Eventually, she's going to face him.

It's not a matter of if, but when.

Neji is the patient type, hasn't bothered her again since asking her to forfeit. She catches his gaze in between his focus on Sasuke's match with Kin easily claiming victory over her to Lee's near brush with death against Gaara.

He's been studying each of the things they've done wrong and right, what he'll do in his own match.

Now it's just a waiting game of when he will just work to prove her wrong in a fight, whether it's official or not won't matter.

"Hey, are you feeling alright?" Naruto asks in her ear making her jolt.

She forces on a light grin despite feeling her face warm at his scrutinizing stare.

"You're not getting a fever; are you?" Naruto presses at her lack of response.

Hinata steps back before he can put a hand to her head and worsen her blush.

This would be easier if her nerves were just because of illness.

"No. I-I'm scared to face Neji. He may not be mad at me for the decisions our Fathers made any longer, but he still very much sees me as a weak, a burden to the clan. Its why Father removed me from being heiress after all." She admits.

"Oi, that's just what your clan thinks y'know! I used to think you were all gloomy and weird, but that changed after we hung out!" Naruto chimes out.

Kurenai sends him a look, sanguine eyes piercing at something he's said. He stiffens under the weight of her glare, amending himself.

"I just mean, you can attack Neji in ways he isn't expecting, I'm sure."

Hinata doesn't look his way, opalescent studying the screen.

Her heartbeat has become a sharp thud in her ears, drowns out whatever motivation Naruto is giving her.

She can no longer even focus on any of the other matches, counting down over and over until her name is on that board.

Naruto rubs at his chin, snaps his fingers.

He tugs at her arm until she meets his gaze properly.

"Hey, you may not have Neji's speed, but you do know ninjutsu different from his that can slow him down some if you catch him off guard at the right moment. Think about when he attacked Boruto and Himawari. Or your little sister."

All at once, Hinata exhales, stomach lightening.

And when the next match calls for her versus Neji, she nods to Naruto with a light grin.

"You're right. And thank you Naruto."

Neji clicks his tongue as she joins him in the arena's center.

"So, you're truly going through with this Hinata? Are you sure you don't want to forfeit? I won't hold it against you."

Hinata rises up her hands to get into position.

"Forfeiting as I told you is not an option Neji."

He hums thoughtfully, gaze skirting between her and Naruto's concentrated look.

"I don't know who you're doing this for. Naruto or those two strange siblings back at the compound. You two care so much about them despite them just being annoying outsiders in my eyes, even if the sister knows the byakugan. I guess that's why they interest you so much. I'll truly get answers on their real identities once I finish things here with you."

A flash sparks in her eyes then.

Hayate throws up his hand.

"Begin!"

Byakugans activate at once, launch into a spar.

Every spot she goes for, Neji blocks.

He slams a foot to the ground, cement rising up in of circle of jagged stone, her lightning evaded.

He draws in a breath at seeing the first signs of flames to her fingertips.

"Water release: Jet Spray!"

She spins low as the torpedo of water coats and cracks at the nearest rock needles to her right and at their feet, his palms jabbing straight into her right forearm.

'I'm working on limited time. This move has to work.' Hinata pants.

Her stomach slushes, spits up a glob of blood. That coppery scent clings to her now, shakes it away to keep focusing on Neji's next coming jabs to dodge.

"Give up now Hinata. Please, for your own sake. I don't wish to harm you any further than this. I can counter all your moves unless you plan to use that technique after all." Neji asserts, palm strikes slowing just slightly to give her one last chance to end this match on her own.

Hinata imbues lightning to her fingertips once more in response, Neji knocking her hand off course from landing a hit to his arms.

"Foolish. I would never fall for the same attack twice, especially one within my direct view." He scoffs.

Hinata merely nods, swallows back blood lingering on her tongue.

Pain ripples through her, body shaking too much. All she has left to work with is her left arm.

And meanwhile Neji's hardly broken a sweat this entire match. It rather as well have just been one of their usual sparring sessions from the way he's acting.

She blinks back spots from her eyes, smiles.

"I know, that's why I wanted you to use water. So we can both end this."

His eyes widen a fraction following her gaze to the puddle of lingering water at their feet.

"Wait! Don't-"

She drops her hand down, current rushing them at once.

Neji topples, the last thing she sees before fully collapsing too.

Boruto & Himawari-Hyūga Compound/Konoha Hospital Operating Room Waiting Area

"You really told him?! Big Brother, what is that going to mean when we eventually go back to our correct time?!" Himawari sputters, pokes at his cheeks and each of his bruises until he squirms.

Boruto withers at her pouting, though doesn't move from her prodding.

By the time he returned back to the manor with Jiraiya, sunrise warmed at his back, falling into bed ignoring calls for breakfast and morning spars from Grandpa and the other attendants.

"He wasn't going to let me go until I gave him an actual answer y'know!" He grumbles, buries his head into his pillow at her continued frown.

"Ah, so I'm dead by the time you two are born. Such is the life of a shinobi though, so don't give me that sad look! I just hope I went out in a cool way!" Jiraiya beams.

He ruffles at Boruto's hair as his gaze falls to his feet.

His throat burns, swipes at his eyes.

"You...You can't tell Old Man Third...or Papa!" He rasps.

The night crickets and fireflies fill the void of silence, green-yellow glows moving for the deeper groves of the forest at coming daylight.

Jiraiya gently lifts up his head.

"Of course not, they both got too much on their plate as is! I only wanted to know so I can tailor Naruto's training when our paths eventually cross! So tell me, how much time do I have left?"

Boruto hesitates once more, shoulders locking up.

"I...I think at some point when Dad is a teenager. I don't know exactly when; it's around then though based on stories he's told Hima and I along with photos we've seen of you two together on some training trip."

Jiraiya nods slowly, pulls them both over to look at daybreak across the mountains.

Gold-orange light falls over the greenery and he's reminded how rare it is for him to be up this early in his proper time or even be out in the woods.

"Jiraiya slaps gently at his back regaining his attention. "Alright Boruto, I won't pressure you with any more questions on the future! It's a new day, time to make the most of it!"

Himawari crawls in beside him into his blankets, feet dangling off the edge of his bed.

Her cheek falls against his arm, swats away his poking at a growing bruise to her own hand.

"Ugh, without you there, Grandpa went full force on me with his Gentle Fist!"

Boruto yawns, scoots over to give her enough to not completely fall out of his bed.

"Just hide out in here with me then Hima. If he wants us to do any later meditation or training, I'll go instead."

Himawari dazedly nods, eyes already half closed.

It's late afternoon by the time they hear footsteps pattering for them, Hiashi poking his hear in.

"Wake up you two, we need to go to the hospital. Neji and Hinata are both in surgery after their match."

They instantly shoot up, Hiashi already having moved for the entrance while they grab their shoes.

"What happened? Who were they facing?" Boruto questions as he follows out of the manor, grabs at Himawari's hand to match their pace.

"Each other. I've received word that it wasn't life threatening injuries, but I want to see for myself." Hiashi voices before moving on ahead of the pair.

They meet again in the lobby, receptionist pointing them in the direction of the medical-surgical operation unit. It's a dizzying whirlwind of hallways and stairs, duo lingering behind as the come to main wing.

The air smells of disinfectants and blood, Boruto moving to the fountains to get them water.

"You two wait here in the lobby while I discuss their cases with Dr. Kamatani and Dr. Fukube." Hiashi orders when he returns, pair sinking into the closest chairs.

".. Is Mama going to be okay?" Himawari fidgets, launches from her seat to scour the features of patients and loved ones further down the hall either waiting from them to come out of a procedure or a check in with one of the specialists.

Boruto rubs at her back. "It's alright Hima. Mama and Uncle are going to be fine."

He drops his voice lower seeing a mix of hospital personnel and other visitors glancing their way. Enough gossip has gone around the village by now for people to look at them as the curious siblings the Hyūga took in for reasons not given to the public.

"Hinata and Neji must've faced each other during the preliminaries for their Chunin Exams." He determines.

Himawari nods slowly, stomach lurching at unfamiliar names and faces studying them and whispering, squeezes her eyes shut to focus on her breathing.

A shadow falls over them before Boruto can say more, pair looking up into warm blue eyes.

Naruto.

"Mom will be alright." Naruto pats at their heads.

They freeze, glance to each other before back to him. "W-We didn't-

"It's okay, I heard you as I walked over. You can keep calling me Naruto if you want, but we know."

Himawari breaks first, leaps forward into his arms.

"Papa, did you check on her?! She's okay right?" She asks in a rush, Naruto blinks before chuckling, squeezing her back in return.

"Don't worry, Hinata's out of surgery! The initial shock caused some mild burns, but nothing she can't handle y'know! She's resting now or about to be checked in on by her surgical team."

Himawari sighs in relief, grip loosening on him just slightly.

Boruto lingers back, Naruto peering to him.

"Err, if it helps, you can make up a nickname for me or-"

"Stupid old man." Boruto mutters to cut him off.

Naruto wrinkles his nose. "Uh, no. That nickname sucks! Ugh, is that what you call me in the future?"

Boruto nods, headbutts into him joining the hug.

"Yeah, and you're acting like one now." He snorts, burrowing into him, smiles into his jacket at Naruto's huff.

-x-

So for the most part, the biggest secret is out of the bag now! I will say, the hardest part of this chapter was writing Sakura and Ino's section as it's hard to write about them just not talking about boys. SasuSaku has actually become difficult for me to write here and for The Sacrifice as I feel like I'm making them a bit OOC. For this story, Sakura's early realizations will take her down a path that I've gained inspiration from at looking at various fanon and canon drawings of her. I don't want her to just be Tsunade 2.0.

If you'd like to see Naruto's moment with Hinata in the hospital before he ran into the kids, I posted a mini side-story of that on my pat-tre-on! The holidays are upon us, so I'm doing a discount for the next month! I go by TheLovelyMidnightWriter there and the discount code is C3982! Enjoy that all my extra goodies there!

As always, let me know your thoughts!

Enjoy. Review. Favorite. Follow!