The Deserter; Boruto Uzamaki

The Exposition

Part 3 to the Land of Iron mission:

  While Boruto was gathering information from the servants Mitski and Sarada decided to do some exploring of their own. Sarada smiled knowing Boruto was probably socializing more than spying, but that was alright, and he might learn something. Her and Mitski finally made it to the top of the mountain, which was completely different than the bottom city of the land of Iron. There were bare patches of gardens, small shacks, just general poverty unlike Sarada had ever seen.

Mitski paused.

"How can the Tetsukage live in such wealth while her people are up here."

"It's almost like she keeps them hidden away." Sarada said as the two walked into town.

The two were exploring when they heard yelling, so they followed the noise. They saw a vendor attacking a young boy. Sarada immediately ran between the two.

"Woah, what's the problem?" She asked angrily.

The vendor was about to strike but Mitsuki caught his arm. The vendor look infuriated until he looked closer at the two and backed off.

"Brat stole fruit. He cost my family and I two weeks of dinner by doing that."

Sarada began reaching into her bag of ichicoins. Lord 6th and the other former Kage's developed a currency that would be valid across all nations, the ichicoin. It was rarely used outside of merchants and Shinobi.

"Is this enough?" She said handing the man a good amount.

"Yes." He said quickly taking it, as if she might try to get some back.

Sarada and Mitsuki turned to the boy.
"Thankyou." He said bowing, until he looked at Mitski and Sarada more closely and paled and started to back up.

Before Sarada could ask Mitski stepped in.

"It's our headbands, isn't it? "

Sarada remembered the proud symbol of the leaf on her forehead.

Sarada moved closer.
"You don't need to be scared of us, we're here to protect you."

The boy shook his head.

"You need to leave." He said.

Sarada took offense at first but then looked at him as he repeated.

"You need to get out. And get out soon."

"How soon?" Mitsuki asked.

The boy looked at the floor. And Sarada realized they were being watched. She knew Mitsuki noticed too but the two waited on the boys answer.

"By tomorrow."

"Friday, the exposition." Sarada said looking at Mitsuki.
"Why."

But before she could answer a girl came out from behind an alley and put two hands on the boy's shoulder.

"Hayato, did these nice shinobi pay for your food?" She said in a false-sweet tone.

She had straight blonde hair and bangs with cat like pink eyes, and she seemed to be around their age maybe a tiny bit older.

The boy nodded, and the girl brightened.

"Well Thankyou two so much for helping my little brother." She said, but Sarada could tell Hayato was scared, this was not his sister.

"You know I've always heard such great things about the village hidden in the leaves, heard it's nice and sunny, and everyone is doing so well."

Sarada nodded, while standing in the coldest most impoverished place she had even seen.