Chapter 48: New Team 7

After their discussion, Sasuke took his leave, heading home, while Naruto, Shikamaru, and Boruto remained in the room.

"Tou-san, are you going to give me the leaf headband or not? I don't really mind either way, it's up to you," Boruto asked, his voice casual and nonchalant.

Shikamaru, slightly annoyed by Boruto's indifference, retorted, "Are you going to leave the village if we don't give it to you?"

Boruto chuckled at the question, shaking his head. "Nah, I don't really care about that. I'll continue my work as a doctor regardless. It's up to you," he reiterated, his voice filled with a sense of maturity and independence.

Naruto and Shikamaru exchanged glances, their expressions reflecting a mix of exasperation and amusement. Naruto, looking somewhat tired, finally broke the silence. "Do you want it or not?" he asked, his voice slightly strained.

Boruto nodded, a playful glint in his eyes. "Sure, but I want to be a Genin just for the fun of it. And put me in Sarada's team. I'm sure you've kept a spot open for me," he said, his tone light and teasing.

Naruto couldn't help but smile at his son's request. "Okay," he agreed, handing the leaf headband to Boruto.

"Thanks, Tou-san. I'll see you at home then," Boruto replied, his voice filled with gratitude.

Once Boruto had exited the room, Shikamaru turned to Naruto, a question hanging in the air. "Why are you letting your son be this spoiled?" he asked, his tone a mix of curiosity and concern.

Naruto paused, his gaze drifting towards the ceiling as he gathered his thoughts. "Well, I don't want him to experience what I went through," he confessed, his voice filled with a mix of nostalgia and resolve.

Shikamaru sighed, understanding Naruto's intentions. He massaged his nose bridge, a sign of his mild frustration. "Fine, but don't let him take it too far," he warned, his tone serious yet supportive.

As Shikamaru prepared to leave the room, he turned back to Naruto, a reminder on his lips. "Also, don't forget to oversee the Chunin exam in the third test," he said, his voice echoing slightly in the now-empty room.

"I know, Shikamaru," Naruto replied, a warm smile spreading across his face. His friend's reminder was unnecessary—he had every intention of fulfilling his duties as Hokage.

'Naruto, you sense what I sense, right?' Kurama asked, his voice echoing in Naruto's mind.

"Yeah, I can sense it. Boruto has that vile and disturbing chakra," Naruto muttered, his tone laced with a mix of concern and confusion.

Kurama, however, seemed to view the situation from a different perspective. 'Your son is a prodigy, Naruto. The fact that he can generate and control that level of chakra is extraordinary,' he commented, his tone filled with a measure of respect and awe.

Naruto's mind wandered to a figure from his past. "He reminds me of Shinno," he said, his voice carrying a hint of nostalgia.

Kurama seemed to agree with the comparison. 'That old guy, huh?' he mused, his voice echoing Naruto's sentiment.

"But how did Boruto gain such knowledge?" Naruto wondered aloud, his mind filled with questions.

'We don't have the answers yet, Naruto. Perhaps we should ask him directly,' Kurama suggested, his tone practical and straightforward.

As Naruto pondered Kurama's advice, he couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. His son's newfound abilities were impressive, but they also raised many questions.

Uchiha House,

Just as Sakura returned home with an armful of groceries, her daughter, Sarada, descended the stairs to greet her. "Welcome back," Sarada said, her voice filled with warmth.

Sakura smiled at her daughter, her eyes twinkling with a hint of mischief. "I saw something interesting today," she teased, setting the groceries on the table.

Intrigued, Sarada asked, "What is it?"

"I saw Boruto," Sakura replied, her voice laced with amusement.

Sarada's eyes widened in surprise. "Wait...What? He's in the village?" she asked, her voice filled with a mix of shock and excitement.

At that moment, Sasuke entered the house. "Yes, and don't be surprised by his appearance," he warned, his voice calm and composed.

Sakura turned to greet her husband with a warm smile. "Welcome back, my dear," she said, her voice filled with affection.

Sasuke returned her smile and took a seat at the dinner table. "Papa? What are you doing here?" Sarada asked, her voice filled with surprise.

"I just returned from delivering a message to Naruto," Sasuke explained, his voice steady and matter-of-fact.

Sakura, turning her attention back to Sasuke, asked, "What would you like to eat today, my dear?"

Sasuke, always appreciative of Sakura's cooking, replied, "Whatever you think is best."

Sakura then turned to Sarada, giving her permission to leave. "If you want to meet him, go ahead. But remember to come back before dinner," she advised.

"Okay," Sarada responded, her voice filled with anticipation. She quickly headed out, eager to find Boruto and see for herself the changes her parents had hinted at.

Somewhere in Konoha,

Upon seeing Boruto, Mitsuki extended his hand, his voice filled with genuine pleasure. "It's nice to see you again, Boruto," he said, offering a firm handshake.

Boruto accepted the gesture, his own smile matching Mitsuki's. "Yeah, same here. But soon, we'll be more than just old friends—we'll be teammates," he revealed, his voice filled with anticipation.

Mitsuki's eyes widened in surprise. "Are you joining our team?" he asked, curiosity piquing.

Boruto chuckled, patting Mitsuki's shoulder in a friendly manner. "No, I'm already a part of your team. But good luck with the Chunin Exam," he said, his voice filled with encouragement.

Mitsuki, evidently pleased by the reunion, suggested, "It's been a while since we last met. Let's go eat together."

Boruto raised an eyebrow at Mitsuki's unusual sociability. "Since when did you become this social?" he asked, a playful smile tugging at his lips.

Mitsuki's response was straightforward. "Since you left the village," he admitted, his voice filled with a hint of nostalgia.

Boruto's smile widened at the revelation. "So, you found out," he said, his tone filled with amusement.

"Yes," Mitsuki confirmed, a determined look on his face. "Let's head to a nearby restaurant," he suggested, his voice filled with anticipation.

As Mitsuki and Boruto settled into a cozy corner of the restaurant, Mitsuki couldn't help but ask the burning question on his mind. "Why did you leave the village, Boruto?" he inquired, his voice filled with genuine curiosity.

Boruto took a moment to gather his thoughts before responding. "I wanted more freedom," he explained, his voice tinged with a hint of longing.

Mitsuki looked puzzled, his eyebrows furrowing. "Freedom? What do you mean?" he asked, seeking clarification.

Boruto sighed, a hint of frustration in his voice. "I meant that I couldn't even come home late or explore the most dangerous places without facing strict rules and expectations," he revealed, his words carrying a sense of rebellion.

Mitsuki couldn't help but chuckle at Boruto's statement, finding it amusing how their experiences differed. As the son of Orochimaru, Mitsuki had been granted the freedom to make his own choices. He had never experienced the same level of restrictions that Boruto had faced.

Meanwhile, unbeknownst to them, Sarada rushed past the restaurant, her eyes scanning the surroundings in search of her childhood friend. In her haste, she missed seeing Boruto through the window of the restaurant, and so her quest continued.

×-×-×-×-×

Exhausted from her relentless search for Boruto, Sarada found solace on a bench atop a hill overlooking Konoha. As the sun began its descent, casting a warm glow across the village, Sarada couldn't help but let out a sigh of frustration. "Where is he?" she mumbled to herself, her voice filled with a mix of worry and anticipation.

Lost in her thoughts, Sarada was startled when someone suddenly took a seat beside her. She turned her head to face the newcomer and was taken aback to find an older version of Boruto sitting next to her. A rush of emotions flooded her, and she couldn't help but express her frustration by playfully hitting Boruto's shoulder. "Why did you leave without telling anyone?" she demanded, her voice laced with a mixture of irritation and relief.

Boruto, sensing Sarada's emotions, offered a sincere apology. "I'm sorry, Sarada. I didn't have much time, but from now on, I'll be by your side as your teammate," he assured her, his voice filled with determination.

Sarada couldn't help but smile, her anger dissipating. "You're such an idiot," she teased, her words accompanied by a playful smirk as she looked away.

Curiosity getting the better of him, Boruto inquired, "So, did my father and Kakashi teach you?"

A sense of pride filled Sarada's voice as she nodded. "Yes, they did. They taught me a lot," she confirmed, her admiration for their mentors evident.

Boruto grinned, relieved by her response. "That's great to hear," he said, his voice filled with genuine happiness.

Curiosity piqued, Sarada couldn't help but inquire about Boruto's older appearance. "So, how did you end up looking like this?" she asked, her voice laced with both intrigue and concern.

Boruto let out a small chuckle, realizing that explaining his situation might be a bit overwhelming. "It's a long story, Sarada. If I were to explain it, your head would probably hurt," he replied, his tone hinting at the complexity of his journey.

A mischievous glint sparkled in Sarada's eyes as she challenged him. "Try me," she said, her determination shining through.

Boruto took a deep breath, preparing himself to divulge the extraordinary events that had led to his current state. He began to explain how he had traveled through time, finding himself in different periods and staying there for a while.

Listening intently, Sarada couldn't help but feel a mix of awe and concern. "How far are you willing to go just to get stronger?" she asked, her voice tinged with a hint of worry.

Boruto's gaze met Sarada's, his determination shining through. "Until I'm sure I'm strong enough," he replied, his voice filled with unwavering resolve.

Sarada let out a sigh, a mixture of exasperation and understanding.

Sarada's eyes narrowed as she questioned Boruto's decision to confide in her. "Why are you telling me all of this? I'm sure you haven't explained it to your father, have you?" she asked, her voice filled with a mix of curiosity and concern.

Boruto's smile widened as he looked at Sarada, a glimmer of trust shining in his eyes. "That's because I trust you, Sarada. I know that you won't tell anybody," he replied, his voice filled with a sense of certainty. Deep down, he already had a vision of how Sarada would grow and the unwavering loyalty she would possess.

The two friends sat in comfortable silence, basking in each other's presence and enjoying the serene view before them. Minutes passed, and as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a cascade of vibrant colors across the sky, they finally rose from the bench and made their way back home, their bond strengthened and their journey as teammates about to begin.