"Is this another prank of yours Naruto? It isn't funny." Hiruzen notes. Boruto huffs at his glare, frowns. "I told you already: I'm Boruto, not Naruto." His eyes move to Himawari next. "Um, Papa and Mama can better answer your questions." Hiruzen studies the siblings. "And where are they?" Both look to each other; sigh. "We don't know." (After Land of Waves) Time Travel-Canon AU.
Mistaken Identity
Boruto- Age 12
Himawari- Age 10
"Nothing of me is original. I am the combined effort of everyone I've ever known."
― Chuck Palahniuk, Invisible Monsters
Chapter 1: This Isn't A Prank
Boruto & Himawari-Uzumaki Household
Boruto swirls within Naruto's office chair, takes in a bundle of steel gray clouds on the horizon.
'Dad said during breakfast that he's going to be home early today, but I doubt it.' He recalls.
"From the weather reports from all last week, we're supposed to get some bad storms this afternoon, so I'm probably going to reschedule some of my afternoon meetings with those business executives wanting permission to create a new office." Naruto announces.
Hinata beams as his grin turns her way.
"We can watch that Love Drama: The Prince's Fool I heard you mention to Sakura and Ino the other day. I want to see why the main character reminds you of me!"
Hinata reddens, gaze flickering to the kids. She hadn't realized he'd been eavesdropping on that phone call back then considering the other things they talked about in regard to the drama's love scenes and re-enacting them.
And considering Naruto's current knowing look, he indeed heard everything at his mouthing of 'bedroom' afterwards.
"Papa, please bring home some Mr. Toad books from the library!" Himawari requests.
Naruto nods, looks expectantly to Boruto who immediately focuses on finishing his tamagoyaki instead.
He sighs and simply goes back to his onigiri while Hinata sends him an encouraging look, Boruto feeling his chest clench at his mother's stare.
He rolls his eyes despite fighting down the urge to ask for him and Dad to spar.
'I'm not getting my hopes up.'
He scoffs to himself again at the very idea, most of Papa's plans to come home 'early' actually meant just trying to get home before midnight.
But today he had stated with the storms coming in that he would try and get back before dinner, will cut any afternoon meetings short or change them to be video calls instead.
'And that's when he'll run into my trap!' Boruto grins, cobalt peering upward admiring his handiwork. The eggs and water balloons are in place to drop right upon Dad's head as soon as he sits down here later!
"What are you doing in Papa's office?" A voice asks behind making him jolt.
Himawari.
Azure looks around worriedly before relaxing at seeing that she's alone, cobalt narrowing.
"Shh! What if Mama hears you?!"
Himawari studies him amusingly, steps further into the room, gaze turning to the window. "She went to the store to try and beat the weather. Speaking of, she isn't going to like that you took the eggs out of the fridge to use for another prank."
Boruto stiffens at her rising smile, both picturing her wrath if this gets back to her, looking away. It isn't like Mom ever truly reprimands Dad for always being late or spending enough time with them.
One of them has to do something to remind him of his familial duties.
Boruto leans back in Papa's chair, shrugs.
"I'll…I'll help Mama back with extra chores or something y'know! These eggs are going to a good cause!"
Cerulean moves on towards the photos lining Naruto's desk. Pictures of him with his old genin Team 7, with Gaara and the other Kage, and a family photo taken of them shortly after moving into this house.
"Ahh, looks like the rain is coming. I hope Mama brought an umbrella." Himawari notes as rivulets of rain begin sliding down the windowsill.
Lightning crackles through the sky in a streak of white, thunder rumbling after shaking the house just slightly.
Boruto rolls the office chair over to look out, follows Himawari's gaze towards the garden.
"The plants and flowers should be fine, y'know. It's monsoon season so there's pretty much a chance for rain every day."
Another ripple of lightning makes Himawari step back, power flickering above as her lips purse in alarm. Boruto reaches his hand forward, pats at her arm.
He and Hima have been alone at home plenty of times, today is no different just because of some storms passing through.
"We're alright Hima! Hey, why don't I show you some of the cool stuff I found that Papa keeps in here!" He suggests.
Himawari watches as Boruto turns towards a collection of scrolls and novels, pulls out a scroll bound with gold and blue threads.
Himawari leans forward curiously before stopping herself, shaking her head.
"Put it back, you know we shouldn't be in here. A lot of these scrolls Papa and Mama said were used for sealing objects or contain techniques outside our skill level and current abilities."
Azure peers up at her, smirks making her puff out her cheeks.
"No way, not when you're curious too Hima! Besides, think of how cool it would be if one of these scrolls or books contained a skill from like the Warring States Period!"
He unfurls the scroll further, blows away dust and silver webs.
'Intricacies of Time: Leaps forward & backwards.' He reads.
"What does that mean?" Himawari asks, hovering over his shoulder.
Boruto's brows furrow, shaking his head. "I'm not sure, though I can try and release any object sealed inside this!"
The entrance door squeals open over the clatter of wind before Himawari can answer, pair looking up as Naruto's voice rings out.
"I'm home! I brought some leftovers for lunch in case nobody's eaten yet y'know!"
Himawari instantly brightens, calls back. "Papa, welcome back!"
She moves to step away from the office to greet him properly only for Boruto to squeeze her hand to keep her in place.
"Why'd you go and announce we're here?! I'm not getting in trouble alone y'know!"
Milk-white pools into blue. "Let go! I'll tell Papa you started this coming in here without permission!"
Boruto winces, immediately retracts his hand as they hear Dad's footsteps get closer. No, as soon as he gets here, he's going to reprimand him for being in his office, will probably take away all his games for the rest of the month.
His gaze turns back to the scroll, nicks his thumb until a bubble of blood rises, forms the hand seals before placing his thumb to the center.
'If I can't do my prank, then I'm going to at least show off how truly skilled I am to Dad!'
"Barrier: Release!"
White pours into the room as the scroll flashes, activates completely opening. Boruto yelps, drops it in alarm as heat encompasses his fingertips.
Himawari twists to look at him in panic, books and scrolls clattering around them into a rising whirlwind.
"What did you do?!" She yells.
Boruto shakes his head, opens, then closes his mouth. A vortex spills into the room forming a black hole that gets larger and darker by the second, absorbs everything close by, neither able to move away.
"Hima, are you here with Boruto? I got a text from Mama she went to the store to get some groceries for dinner tonight. We can have Hamburg steak with eggs and veggies or-"
"Papa, help!" Boruto calls out interrupting him.
Naruto stops himself, rushes forward just as he sees the pair about to be swallowed into a swirl of black. Himawari squeezes at Boruto's hand, body already knocked off the ground away from his desk, both already more than halfway in.
He puts up his hand, races in.
"Shadow clone jutsu!"
The wind pushes the clones back, Naruto diving himself straight into the tornado anyways. Boruto shoots his hand forward to him, only comes back with air…
"Papa!"
His voice gets swallowed by the howl of wind, blackness fully engulfing him and Himawari.
A sharp jab to his shoulder jolts him awake, wrenching his eyes open to…
'Sunlight?' Boruto looks around quickly.
The twister managed to toss them outside, maybe across the village from how different the buildings look from the ones close to home.
Himawari nudges him again, blinks away another rise of tears to her eyes.
"Big Brother, where are we? You shouldn't have touched that scroll!" She bellows, balls her hands into fists at her sides.
Boruto pats at her shoulders to calm her, takes in the surrounding greenery of the mountains, the smell of pine and rain.
But something is off about the buildings now that he takes a closer look, none of the familiar billboards or towering skyscrapers fill the downtown area of Konoha.
The Thunder Train railway is missing as well.
"This is…Konoha, isn't it?" He questions softly.
Himawari shakes her head, points towards the Hokage monument. Coils fill his chest seeing only 4 faces upon the stone structure too.
"Look, Papa's face isn't there..."
Konoha, Ichiraku's (Past)-Boruto & Himawari
'Ugh, why is everyone ignoring me?! I don't smell, do I? How am I supposed to figure out what time period this even is y'know!' Boruto grits his teeth, runs a hand through his hair with a sigh.
As soon as he locks eyes with most of the shopkeepers they look away, wait for him to walk away when he tries to ask for a newspaper or magazine that will give him and Himawari a better idea of what day it is.
He surmises it's sometime in mid to late summer telling from the trees and humidity, but just how far back have they accidentally gone?
"Why won't that boy leave? He knows better to try and shop at your store." A woman mutters as he finally steps away from Toshihiko's Wares.
"Don't worry; he'll go if we ignore him Marika. At least he isn't causing any pranks to Old Man Toshihiko or his assistant Sarasaki."
Himawari tugs at his arm as he steps back outside. "Should we try the Hokage Tower if none of the shopkeepers are going to help? Maybe Papa is there with Mama trying to put out an alert out on finding us? Or maybe Granny Tsunade or Mr. Hatake are in town?"
Boruto nods slowly. They're running out of options.
GRR!
He puts a hand to his stomach to quiet its gurgling as passing civilian glance their way with thinly veiled annoyance.
"Let's try Ichiraku's first. Old Man Teuchi might know where Papa is or even his daughter Ayame."
Himawari grabs at his hand, unsure what to make of strangers looking at them this way. Sure, there's always been one or two older vendors that have given them strange looks despite knowing who their parents are, but it's never been so...outright like this.
Boruto stops in place as they get closer to the restaurant, store tiny compared to when Papa last took them there. He studies the red font covering the white flags outside the store, smell of spices, herbs, and noodles filling the air.
He looks around at the other eateries in the district to be sure.
'Are we at the right place?'
Himawari ruffles through her jacket's pockets for any spare ryo, pulls her coins together with Boruto's.
"We may only have enough to split a bowl or get an appetizer." She considers softly, Boruto rubbing his chin.
"No, it's fine. If need be, you can eat and I'll find something else." He decides before they decide to approach.
Teuchi arches a brow as the pair shuffle in, but grins nonetheless. "Trying out a new style there Naruto? Oh, and who's this with you?"
'Geez, we must be at least 20 years backwards from how they look! Everyone thinks I'm Papa!' Boruto begrudges, forces on a weak smile to hide his rising panic.
"Actually, I'm Boruto and this is my sister Himawari." He relates as Himawari nervously pokes her head out from behind him with a bow.
A jonin or maybe some chunin snorts as they take a seat at the chairs on the far right. "Is that the name you're using to try and avoid trouble now boy? Not even a very creative one. And you dragged some girly into your latest prank too it seems."
Boruto sends him a glare that thankfully gets him to look away back into his sake, sighs while pushing his coins forward.
Teuchi shakes his head, pushes them back seeing their despondent looks. "This one is on the house! And as many times as need be!"
Boruto blinks in surprise at his kindness. The first he and Himawari have gotten since coming here to this time period. No wonder Dad came here so often in his youth and continues to do so, keeps that old coupon Teuchi gave him and Mom as a wedding present despite it wearing to a reddish gray with small holes and tears with time.
The shinobi chortles loudly at Teuchi's declaration. "That's why you're losing business Teuchi! Catering to that boy like that; Lord Third honestly needs to start giving out a proper punishment-"
"That's enough Kazuko! I have to the right to kick out customers as I see fit as well if they act or speak in ways unbecoming of my establishment!" Teuchi cuts him off, pointing his butcher knife in his direction.
Kazuko scoffs at his knife, slides out of his chair. "Whatever. Though I think it's important Lord Third knows the kid is acting weird and brought some girl into his misbehaving as well."
"Are we in trouble?" Himawari hisses, discreetly watches as the man slinks away, Boruto shaking his head.
'At least I hope not.'
"Don't mind some of my more...rowdier customers. You're really not Naruto; are you? The Naruto I know would've started an argument with him declaring he's going to be Konoha's next Hokage and top shinobi!"
Boruto withers, sounds enough like the multiple stories they've heard regarding Papa.
"He's...our Dad." Himawari supplies quietly between slurps of noodles once Ayame sets down two classic bowls of miso ramen in front of them.
Ayame blinks, clearly puzzled between looking at their ages compared to however old their Dad currently is.
Teuchi hums as he wipes down a pot. "Huh, you two took don't look to be much older than 10 and Naruto is about 12 now. This will be some story when he returns back from that Land of Waves mission he's on with his team."
Boruto sips at his broth slowly. It will be better if their actual Papa and Mama come and get them out of this time leap before this younger Naruto returns. He'll take any type of punishment he or Mama have waiting for him at this point.
"I'll pack you two some to-go bags of instant cups of ramen and canned goods." Teuchi mentions before they can say no. Neither even know where exactly they're going to stay tonight, Boruto pausing seeing late evening sunlight falling over the empty chairs and booths in the corner.
'It's already gotten that late?'
A hand taps at his back before he can dwell on where he and Hima can go for the night (maybe Papa's old apartment?), freezing when he sees the same shinobi from earlier back with a group of jonin.
Kazuko chuckles. "That's them, apparently keeping up with this elaborate prank. Teuchi just has too big of a heart to not turn him away."
Himawari looks at each of the men as they grow closer, puts up a hand between them and Boruto.
She moves into an offensive position, palms up.
"Don't harm my Big Brother!"
They pause momentarily at seeing blue melt into white, flurry of whispers rising up.
"The byakugan? Kazuko, you didn't say this was a Hyūga we're dealing with!" Genma remarks.
Kazuko flusters as stares turn to him to explain, shrinking back. "It...It shouldn't matter! Maybe it's Hiashi's eldest that got roped into working with him! Look, it's clear there's something up with those two and I alerted you guys for good reason! They need to be reported to Lord Third!"
The hand upon Boruto's shoulder tightens, Teuchi sending them all a frustrated look.
"He's not Naruto you all despite how similar his appearance is! I've spent enough time around Naruto to know who he is-"
The man in front holds up a hand stopping him, emerald eyes studying them both. Boruto tries not to fidget out of his hold. He looks like Inojin's grandpa from his glance at some family photos around his living room when he went over to play Ninja Striker with him last week.
'He used to be head of the Intelligence and Interrogation Division that Auntie Ino runs now.'
"You two are going to need to come with us." Inoichi states, not a question, but a statement.
Jade turns to Teuchi as he shakes his head.
"And don't worry Teuchi, we'll figure out who these two really are after a few tests."
Boruto & Himawari- (Past) Hokage Tower
Himawari blows out a breath as she rubs at her sore arm, plum colored bruise forming at the injection sites that dot her antecubital vein. "I want a year's worth of pancakes and ice cream once we're back in our correct time Big Brother."
Boruto wipes at her pinkened cheeks where tear tracks lay, nods wearily trying not to focus on the dull thrum of his headache. "I'll add anything you want at Thunder Burger to that."
They collected enough blood between them to fill at least 10 vials it seems like, running a battery of tests to confirm their identity and check their current health status.
"If...If Inojin's Gramps comes back in, I'll make sure you don't have to do his interrogation too." Boruto determines.
Himawari bites her lip, looks back to the door. Their assigned nurse Rumi hasn't returned back in over an hour now with any results.
"They're going to want to look into both of our minds."
Boruto nods, though there's a chance he can delay things for her at least until Papa and Mama get here.
The door clicks open startling them both from saying more, Inoichi stepping forward with Rumi.
Verdant studies Himawari alone.
"I need to look into her mind next to confirm some things." He states aloud, Boruto instantly up out of his chair to block him.
He's been trying to conserve his chakra as much as he can all day.
And now time is up.
"Not without going through me first! You should've gotten all the information you need from probing my mind y'know!" Boruto declares.
Inoichi ignores him, Boruto putting up his hands.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Three Boruto surround him, one gathers wind while the other gathers electricity.
"Let's force them out!" The original declares, duo nodding.
"Wind Release: Gale!"
"Lightning Release: Shockwave!"
'Since when does Naruto know any lightning-based techniques?' Inoichi considers, dodges the swirl of wind and lightning only for his feet to become rooted in place.
Everything he's seen so far seems to confirm his suspicions on top of the bloodwork already done.
The original locks onto his legs.
"I said I'm not letting you near my sister!"
"Now, now. That's enough of that." A voice states from behind them, clears his throat when Inoichi doesn't officially move back. Boruto disperses his clones, leaps back before Inoichi can kick him away, he recognizes the Hokage hat upon the man's face.
'Dad?'
A mix of relief and fear unfurls in his chest, glancing to Himawari who simply studies the man cautiously.
It clicks then she has a better view of this man's face than him, that his voice is off now that he's truly listening to it properly.
'This guy isn't Papa...'
Hiruzen steps into the room, takes a long drag of his pipe taking in the scene before him.
"Stand down Inoichi. I'll be taking over this interrogation of Naruto or whoever this is."
Old Man Third attempts to placate them with tea, chips, and candy, but neither Boruto nor Himawari move for the snacks.
A crescent moon rises up in a violet sky, wisps of pinks and reds fading as sunlight falls away.
'When are Papa and Mama going to arrive?' Boruto tries not to sigh impatiently.
They have to be coming, but then again, do they even know where they are?
"I've heard you two have had quite the eventful day." Hiruzen mentions by way of greeting getting their attention.
Boruto nods slowly. Unlike the 5th and 6th Hokages, he knows little to nothing about how to converse with a man he's only seen in history books.
A man who will die in a few months if he's recalling things right...
He swallows as Hiruzen leans forward; his jovial smile betrayed by the impatient tap of his hand to their files.
"I'll just ask this once: You aren't Naruto trying to play some type of elaborate prank? I would hope not after all your complaining to take a serious mission. The real Naruto should be arriving back in the village soon after a successful mission in the Land of Waves." Hiruzen begins.
Boruto rapidly shakes his head, throat too dry to complain over the mistake of his name again.
Hiruzen nods. "Your blood and your sisters confirm that you share DNA with the real Naruto Uzumaki. Along with that, you both have Hyūga heritage as well."
Himawari squirms, speaks up gently when Boruto stays tight lipped. "That comes from Mama."
Hiruzen rereads everything. "So it seems you two are the children of Naruto Uzumaki and Hinata Hyūga. The memories Inoichi gathered from you Boruto appear to confirm that you both are from about two decades in the future."
His grin fades, rubbing at his beard.
"So, let's start from the beginning then, shall we? How did you two end up 20 years in your past?"
Boruto clenches his teeth. How much should they tell them?
Hiruzen chuckles lightly. "I'm not trying to make things difficult or scare you two. As Konoha citizens, you know safety of the village is the upmost priority of the Hokage."
Boruto barely hides his snort. So this is where Papa got that from perhaps.
"So I've heard." He answers dryly.
Himawari kicks his ankles beneath the table, sends him a look that instantly reigns in his anger.
"Um, Papa and Mama can answer any questions you have better than we can Mister or err Lord Third. It started with a scroll in Papa's office, we didn't know it had any secondary effects!" She bows her head.
Boruto nods slowly, bowing respectfully with her. "It's my fault for trying to show off y'know."
'Now I know he isn't Naruto despite sharing the same features and that verbal tic. Naruto's never been so polite to me.' Hiruzen muses.
He gestures for them to lift their heads, draws another drag from his pipe mulling over their next options.
They'll need housing at least for the time being. He'll need to check with Hiashi Hyūga and Naruto privately once Team 7 returns.
"So, where are your parents then?" Hiruzen eventually asks.
The siblings look to each other, azure eyes so similar to their Father's before they speak wearily in unison.
"We don't know."
-x-
Here I go again with another time-travel shenanigans story! Lol, this idea came to me during an afternoon nap of Boruto firsthand dealing with time travel and constantly being mistaken for his Dad. Both he and Himawari now will experience what life was truly like for their parents as preteens with everything they haven't told them.
Think of this as a sneak peek as my next big story after I finish my mini-series The Emperor & I which I think will be around just 10 or so chapters! I was too excited, so I wanted to post this and get it out of my system, I plan to not update this again until the mini-series is closer to being done.
The Adult Naruto & Hinata will eventually come into play as they find a way to get back to their kids. This story will cover basically just Part 1's story arcs only so I don't think it will be majorly long unless I think of something new. Additionally, my own unique ideas will be interspersed between canon moments since Boruto and Himawari are now here.
As always, pa-tre-ons get early access to chapters, extra NaruHina stuff, MHA stuff, and my original writings! I go by TheLovelyMidnightWriter there!
Excited to hear any thoughts as always!
Enjoy. Review. Favorite. Follow!