"Come on," said Sarada to Inojin, "My apartment is close by. We can clean up and get you some medical attention."
"Yeah, sure, ok," he grumbled, putting a hand to his forehead to ease the throbbing.
The two continued to the Uchiha apartment, and Sarada was half-dragging Inojin behind her. She propped him up next to the door while she fished out her keys, and Inojin watched as she plucked an old newspaper from the recycling stack next to her neighbor's door. She unlocked her unit and, once inside, the two removed their wet shoes and Sarada started laying pages of newspaper on the carpet as far as she could reach, making a trail to the bathroom. Inojin followed her and sat down on the closed toilet seat, and Sarada started making an assessment and healing him. The influx of chakra tingled, but was otherwise cool and pleasant on his skin.
Inojin took a moment to survey their surroundings while she worked. It was a clean and tidy apartment from what he could see, and the kitchen looked fully stocked.
"Hey, can I asked you something?" said Inojin.
"Sure; what is it?"
"I don't want to be rude, but.."
"But?"
"You're old enough to take care of yourself, right? I mean, you don't need my mom to babysit you while your parents are away, so why are you staying at our house?"
"I think my Mama worries too much," replied Sarada with a small smile, "but I'd be lying if I said I tried to convince her to let me stay here by myself."
"Why's that?"
"Well, even I get lonely sometimes. Besides, your house is fun! I like the loud dinners and family game night, and your mom tells the best stories from when she and my mom were kids. It's nice!"
Inojin was actually touched by this. He was about to say as much when a flash of a splitting headache interrupted his thoughts.
"Ouch!"
"Hang on; I'm almost done!" Sarada finished pushing the last bit of chakra through Inojin's system and took a step back. "That should do it; do you feel dizzy."
"Only slightly, now," replied Inojin, rubbing his temple, "Thanks, I'm feeling much better."
"Good! That makes one of us. You know, I really thought we were all having a good time tonight, and then Boruto kept acting strange and starting fights with you. What was that all about, anyway?"
Inojin tensed up.
"Oh…just guy stuff."
"Well, your guy stuff is stupid, no offense. Alright, go ahead and get showered. I'll get you some clean clothes."
"A shower?!" he exclaimed. Sarada raised a brow.
"Yeah? We smell like dirty fountain water. Anyway, don't mind me; I'll get cleaned up in my parents' bathroom. Don't pass out while I'm gone!"
Sarada stopped outside the bathroom door and dug through a basket of folded laundry where she pulled out some sweat pants and an oversized T-shirt. She tossed them up on the sink.
"Put your wet clothes in the hamper and I'll throw them in the washer," she said while closing the door behind her.
"Yeah, ok!" squeaked Inojin. He stared at the closed door, frozen to his spot until he heard water running in the other room.
'This is too much!' he thought, 'She just told me to take my clothes off; I'm not ready for this! Should I just leave?'
Visuals of Sarada in a towel started invading his thoughts and he wanted to beat his head against the wall to get rid of them.
'Stop it! Stop thinking about it! Just take a shower! Everything is normal; this is fine!'
Inojin immediately turned on the hot water and shed his sopping wet clothes, dropping them into the plastic hamper by the door. He then hopped into the shower and started scrubbing his skin until the scent of soap was so strong it clouded his impure thoughts. He wasn't sure how long he'd been in there, but when he finally pulled back the curtain, the bathroom was filled wall-to-wall with a steady cloud of steam. He towel-dried himself off and slipped into the outfit Sarada provided for him, only mildly panicking that she didn't give him any underwear.
'Of course she didn't give me any! I already feel weird enough wearing her gym clothes; could you imagine-'
Inojin did imagine, much to his chagrin, and that only added more red to his face and more fuzzy embarrassment to his gut. He furiously started towel drying his hair and briefly glanced at the hamper where he noticed his wet clothes had vanished. He gasped and burst out the door.
"My clothes! Where are they?"
Sarada looked up from the sofa where she was watching TV.
"Oh, they're in the washer. I told you I was going to do that, remember? You don't have amnesia do you?!"
"You went into the bathroom while I was still in the shower?!"
"Oh, are you shy?" snickered Sarada, "Don't worry, I only stuck my hand in to get to the hamper. Your modesty is still intact."
"But! I, um!"
"Oh, hush, you big baby. There's a hairdryer in my room if you want it."
Inojin was flabbergasted, eyes widening in disbelief.
"First you walk in on me while I'm in the shower, and now you're trying to lure me to your room?!"
"You make it sound like I'm a villain. What's your problem?"
"Is that what you did to Boruto?!"
"Excuse me? What does Boruto have to do with anything?" Sarada turned the volume on the TV down and sat up while Inojin started frantically pacing back and forth in front of her.
"Look," he began, "you can be honest with me since it's just us here, but I know all about…you and Boruto…and I'm not judging - I'm really not! But you're making me very uncomfortable and-"
"Inojin!" snapped Sarada. Inojin stopped in his tracks and stared at her like a deer caught in the headlights. "Calm down! What are you talking about? You keep bringing up Boruto out of the blue, and you've been unnecessarily jumpy since we got here. I'd like to help you with whatever it is you're going through, but I can't if you don't tell me what's bothering you."
Sarada stood up in front of Inojin and grabbed fistfuls of his shirt before pulling him down to her eye level.
"So spill," she commanded.
Inojin gulped and felt his stomach drop, but before he could say anything the sound of keys and a turning knob stole both his and Sarada's attention. The door swung open and walking over the threshold was none other than Sasuke Uchiha himself.
Inojin felt all the color drain from his face as Sarada let go of his shirt and skipped over to the front door.
"Papa! When did you get here? I didn't know you'd be home today," said Sarada with a big smile on her face.
"I could say the same about you," replied Sasuke with a raised brow, "I thought you were staying with the Yamanakas; not the other way around."
"I am!" exclaimed Sarada, "but we met up with some friends at the movie theater earlier and got ice cream afterward. Oh, my gosh! Boruto was acting like a weirdo the entire time! He picked a fight with Inojin and threw him in the fountain in the town square. You know, the one that has a statue of a giant leaf in the middle? It was so gross! I helped Inojin out and suggested we stop here to clean up."
Sasuke nodded, understanding.
"I've seen what people put in that fountain," he said, "It's smart you came here to clean up before going back to the Yamanaka house. Ms. Ino isn't above hosing down even the Hokage on her front lawn for all the village to see."
"Speaking from personal experience?" asked Sarada with a raised brow.
"Unfortunately," said Sasuke. He hung up his cloak and put his sword in the hall closet, and then put a hand on Sarada's back and led her to the kitchen. "I'll make you both some tea, and you can fill me in on everything that happened tonight."
Sarada threw her head back and groaned.
"Ugh, Boruto makes me so mad sometimes, Papa! I wish I knew what was going on in that head of his. Did Lord Seventh give you headaches like this when you were our age?"
Inojin timidly followed behind them and sat at the table staring at his hands in his lap while Sarada recapped their evening and Sasuke made a pot of tea. Once they were all at the table, each with a steaming cup in front of them, Sarada turned her attention back to Inojin.
"And you, mister!" exclaimed Sarada, jabbing a finger in his bicep, "this whole fighting thing isn't just Boruto's fault, you know. So fess up; what's gotten into you two?"
"I told you, it's guy stuff!" blurted Inojin.
Sarada scoffed and pointed at Inojin while addressing her father.
"You see what I've been dealing with?!"
Sasuke looked back and forth between the two of them and took a sip of his tea.
"I think I can take a guess at what guy stuff Inojin is referring to."
"Care to enlighten me, then?" Sarada crossed her arms and raised her brow. Sasuke turned to Inojin.
"Do you want me to leave so you can tell her or…?"
"No! I mean, yes! I mean…it's not like that!" Inojin suddenly chugged his warm tea and pulled on the collar of his shirt, "phew, is it getting hot in here or is it just me?"
Sarada and Sasuke just stared as Inojin's nervous breakdown picked up steam. The boy finished his drink and slammed the cup down on the table.
"Between you and Boruto, I can't decide who's more frustrating, tonight," said Sarada. Inojin whipped his body around in his chair to face her.
"For crying out loud, Sarada! Boruto this, Boruto that! I should have seen the signs! You were always going to get back together with him weren't you? Were you just taunting me to make him jealous? Not cool! Men have feelings, too, and I want no part of whatever twisted, romantic game you're playing!"
"Romantic game?!" Sarada's eyes widened, "Wait, me and Boruto?!"
"That's right, and I want out! Everyone knows you two hooked up then split! If you want to get back together with him then leave me out of it! You're clearly not ready to move on!"
Inojin crossed his arms and slumped back in his chair. Sarada's face was beet red. Sasuke looked at Sarada with a raised brow. She stood up from her seat and bonked Inojin on the head.
"Ow!"
"Gross! Absolutely not! I don't know who's spreading such uncouth rumors, but you should know better than to believe them! Is that why everyone's been acting weird tonight? Because you thought Boruto and I - ew! Who told you we were like that?!"
Inojin shrunk into his seat and avoided making eye contact. Sarada closed the gap between them and spoke menacingly into his ear.
"I'm starting an interrogation course next week, and I think Professor Ibiki wouldn't mind if I got a head start on the material."
Inojin yelped and fell out of his chair, frantically waving his hands in front of his face.
"It was Boruto! Boruto told everyone that you slept together! I'm sorry; I should've asked you first! Please, have mercy on me."
Sarada's eyes narrowed and she clenched her fists to keep them from shaking too much.
"Boruto…said that…?"
"Yes! I swear it! I only believed it because it was him!"
Sarada closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths to calm herself. When she opened her eyes, she glanced at the clock first, and then her father.
"Papa, I know it's late, but," began Sarada, "permission to whoop some Uzumaki ass?"
Sasuke seemed to mull it over for a moment before nodding, "Permission granted."
Sarada immediately skipped to the front door where she slipped on a fresh pair of shoes and a jacket. She opened the door, and instead of taking the stairs she leapt directly off the railing.
"Um…" said Inojin with his back still on the floor.
"Get up, Yamanaka. You're safe," said Sasuke, "for now." He gave a teasing smirk and helped him to his feet. "I'll take you home."
"Thanks," said Inojin, "Sorry this got all out of hand?"
"Don't thank me, yet," said Sasuke, "I'm going to have you explain to your parents that your reconnaissance skills are severely lacking."
Inojin's shoulders slumped forward.
"Yes, sir…"