Library lending room.
A confused and restless Sarada stood among the dusty shelves, searching for books about Sasuke and the origins of the Uchiha clan.
Boruto jumped down from the library's second floor, landing lightly right beside her as she was deep in thought about the Sharingan.
"Yo, Sarada. You looking up stuff about your dad?" Boruto asked quietly.
The sudden voice startled her. She snapped her head toward him and immediately scolded, "Boruto, this is the library. Don't act so sloppily. Keep your voice down."
"Heh, relax. I just came to borrow the training manual for Rasenshuriken, you know—an S-rank ninjutsu." Boruto puffed out his chest proudly.
Sarada instantly fired back, "Whether you can even borrow an S-rank ninjutsu is one thing. But are you learning it? Don't joke. Know your limits, Boruto."
Boruto smirked. "This from someone who can't even use the basics of Chidori yet, and she's lecturing me."
"You—!" Sarada clenched her fists. "When I find my dad, I'll make him teach me real powerful ninjutsu!"
"Uncle Sasuke? He hasn't been home in years. Even Aunt Sakura barely remembers what he looks like. Kinda tragic, don't you think?"
"What did you say!?"
Sarada's emotions spiked immediately, and she glared at him with raw hostility.
"I didn't mean anything. I also want to meet Uncle Sasuke. I heard he's the strongest shinobi besides the Seventh." Boruto said it casually, but with a hint of longing.
"I… will find my dad…" Sarada whispered, her voice trembling between anger and hurt.
Boruto shrugged, unbothered. "Do what you want. Hope you reunite soon."
With that, he walked off—and right in front of her eyes, shamelessly transformed into someone else to approach the front desk and borrow the S-rank scroll.
"You…!! You're shameless! I'm reporting you next time!" Sarada shouted.
Seeing the ease with which Boruto borrowed the scroll, she understood instantly—this definitely wasn't his first time.
And no matter how he learned his ninjutsu, he wasn't getting help from anyone.
He was learning everything alone.
"Boruto…?" Sarada murmured, even more confused than before.
...
That afternoon, unable to hold back her frustration, Sarada went to the backyard and confronted Sakura.
"Mom, why isn't Dad coming back? You must know where he is… what he's doing… right?"
Sakura, busy hanging laundry, blinked. "What he's doing…?"
Sarada's hands trembled. "You always act like you don't know anything! How is that even a marriage?!"
A sudden gust swept through, whipping the sheets violently, carrying Sarada's voice with it.
"Mom, are you really Dad's wife!?"
"What's gotten into you? Why are you saying such strange things?" Sakura frowned.
"The strange one is you, Mom! Your and Dad's relationship has always been suspicious. And besides… I've never even met him!"
Sakura's patience snapped. She slammed her fist into the ground—The earth split instantly, the clothesline collapsed, and freshly washed sheets fell face-first into the dirt.
But then she saw Sarada's trembling shoulders… the tears silently streaming down her cheeks.
Her anger dissolved at once.
"I'm sorry, Sarada… I shouldn't have yelled at you," Sakura whispered. "Your father will come home after he finishes his mission."
"…okay."
Just as their hearts finally aligned, the house behind them suddenly crumbled into a pile of rubble.
Sakura froze.
"My house…! I haven't even finished paying off the mortgage…"
...
Later, Sarada climbed over the ruins, searching for something precious—
a family photo.
But inside the cracked frame was another picture hidden behind it.
A younger Sasuke… and beside him, Team Taka.
And Karin—
red hair like Sakura's, glasses like Sarada's…
standing close to Sasuke.
Could she be… my real mother?
"Whoa… I heard the noise and rushed over. Didn't expect to see something even more shocking," a familiar voice said behind her.
"Boruto!!"
He looked down at the photo, eyes wide. "So… you think the woman in the picture might be your real mom?"
Sarada froze, exposed. She looked away quickly, unable to answer.
"Well," Boruto shrugged, "if you're really that worried… why not go find Uncle Sasuke and ask him directly? Face to face."
Sarada's head shot up. Her eyes sparkled with sudden determination.
"That's right. If I find Dad, everything will be clear!"
"Want company? I've always wanted to meet the strongest shinobi in the world." Boruto grinned.
"Yes." She nodded firmly.
"Then meet me at Konoha's gate tomorrow, 7 a.m."
Boruto turned and walked away.
Sarada stared at his back.
Was that a shadow clone?
When did he… become so considerate?
So many questions swirled in her heart.
That evening, she headed to the hospital alone to visit Sakura.
High above, a hawk screeched across the gloomy sky, soaring toward the Hokage Building.
And somewhere beyond the village borders—
Sasuke emerged from the distortion of space-time, his expression sharp and wary.
In the forest, a cloaked White Zetsu darted forward and ambushed Sasuke with a scythe-like blade.
Sasuke parried instantly, the clang of steel echoing.
Under the cloak, a red glow—three tomoe—flashed coldly as it attacked again and again.
Sasuke slipped away using a substitution, then countered with a precise sword strike.
White Zetsu collapsed.
From another swirling distortion, a smaller figure stepped out—
introducing himself as Shin Uchiha—
and retrieved the fallen Zetsu.
Sasuke frowned deeply, then pursued without hesitation.
His six-tomoe Rinnegan flared with violet light, tracing the distortions in space…
And he sent a message pigeon toward Naruto.
From far away—
Boruto watched silently, hidden in the shadows.
He wondered quietly…
Should I take the eyes of the man I believe in… for myself?
---
A/N: Advanced Chapters Have Been Uploaded On My Patreon
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