Insight

Chapter 2: Four in the Morning

"Boruto?!"

A look of disbelief crossed Shikadai's face as he did a second take at the person that currently stood outside his window. Without a doubt that was Boruto alright, and having abrupt visits from Boruto never meant anything good. What a drag....

" What are you doing outside my house?! It's 4 am!"

Not only had Boruto infiltrated the Nara compound, but he also had the audacity to wake Shikadai from his well-deserved rest at 4 in the fucking morning. To say the young Nara heir was displeased and cranky, was an understatement of the century. This better be good dammit!

"Trust me Shikadai! I wouldn't be here at these hours if it weren't important! I need your help and knowledge, and I need it now."

The serious expression on Boruto's face left Shikadai a tad perplexed and almost had him convinced that this was indeed an important matter. Almost. The devilish twinkle in his eyes said otherwise.

"No."

He didn't even have to think his response through. Devilish twinkles were never a good sign and especially not on Boruto. Usually, they indicated a troublesome plan with vindictive intentions towards Lord Seventh, and he really shouldn't get involved in those anymore. Not if he wanted to avoid another scolding from his mother.

"Please Shikadai! Hear me out, I realize that in prior situations of utter need I've... had minor slip-ups... and half of the time they resulted in scoldings from our parents, which applied ten times more to you considering your mother's temper *cough* ...And for that I apologize. But this is different."

"Yeah, right. Boruto, we both know I am not refusing your request because of 'minor slip-ups'. What did your father do this time?"

At the mention of his father, Boruto froze. Of course, Shikadai would know this is about my old man...

"... I-...Listen I don't want to go into the details but just know that he crossed a line that should never be crossed," Boruto's voice came across as slightly strained towards the end, a rush of repressed words and emotions overwhelming him.

"Do you know what it felt like having to help my mother and sister prepare for a celebration that consisted of four people, knowing that in the end only three would be sitting at the table?! It's infuriating having to watch as their hearts break and their hopes dim without being able to do a single damn thing about it! And yet despite everything, Hima and Okaasan still manage to maintain hope in him! Quite frankly I don't care anymore, but they do Shikadai. It's a repeating cycle of hurt feelings, oftentimes it feels like it's the only thing we do, and I'm just done. He may be my biological dad, but he will never be a father to me. Not when he consistently hurts those I love, our family, a family he clearly doesn't care much about."

The words Boruto uttered were laced with clear feelings of disdain and frustration. Truthfully speaking, the ever-growing resentment Boruto held for Lord Seventh scared Shikadai a bit as he feared for Boruto's emotional state. It's never easy for him to see a close friend of his in such a condition harboring so many negative emotions. And if he were being honest a small part of him resented Naruto for causing his friend to feel this way. Despite what his own father said, no child deserved to have an absent and neglectful parent, but at the same time, Shikadai knew it wasn't completely Naruto's fault. The position of Hokage came with many obligations and responsibilities, but above all, it was time-consuming. He would know since his own dad served as the Hokage's Chief Aide.

Precisely because his father was the Hokage's Chief Aide, he knew how much Naruto desired to spend time with his family, even overworking himself to the limit trying to have a couple of spare moments with those he loved. It wasn't fair to accuse Lord Seventh of not caring, but at the same time, Shikadai couldn't judge Boruto for how he felt because Shikadai isn't the one with an absent father. Therefore, he suspected silence was the best course of action right now, letting Boruto bask in the quiet of his own thoughts. All Shikadai could do now was serve as a pillar of support and comfort for his dear friend, so he reached out to lay his hand on his shoulder.

After a couple of moments of quiet and some deep breaths later Boruto managed to calm down enough to continue their conversation, remembering what he came here for. So flashing a grateful smile at the Nara heir, he broke the silence.

"Sorry about the emotional outburst Shikadai, I didn't even realize how much I needed to get that off my chest until I started talking. But I feel better now."

"No problem, I'm used to your whiny ways by now anyways. That doesn't stop it from being a drag though," Shikadai stated with a slight chuckle.

"Hey! That is so not true," Boruto proceeded to give a light punch to Shikadai's shoulder, the mood officially lifted thanks to his friend's comment. "Anyways, although my old man admittedly did influence this impromptu request for your help-"

"Boruto-" The young Nara thought they were over this topic, apparently not.

"This matter is much greater than that, after a fit of rage I made an important discovery. One that in the wrong hands could gravely affect the Village Hidden in the Leaves."

"What are you talking about?"

"Underneath the genin team picture frame of my old man, I found the protected set of keys of our village. The same ones I had assumed were located at the Hokage Building since they open all sorts of forbidden chambers, artifacts, and knowledge exclusive to the Hokage. However, they were in my house of all places."

"The keys? Are you su-"

Shikadai was abruptly cut off by Boruto who proceeded to shove the set of keys in his face. There was no doubt about it, Boruto was holding one of the most important treasures of their village in the palm of his hand. Disregarding how they were obtained, there was only one question on the young Nara's mind.

"Boruto... What are you planning to do with those keys?! You realize how important they are, right?"

"Are you kidding me, Shikadai? I guess you really don't know me as well as you like to think you do. Obviously, I plan to use them, this is a once in a lifetime chance!"

"Use them to do what? You would do well by returning those keys to Lord Seventh, the amount of trouble you could-"

"We could-"

"You could-"

"We could. Relax Shikadai, we won't be using them to do anything dangerous. Besides this is just karma for my old man's deliberate irresponsibility as the Seventh Hokage, if he didn't want them to get used by anyone other than him he should have had them guarded under tighter security. Not that they were guarded at all. As for what I hope to use them for... Frankly, I don't know, I guess we will have to see what we find. It could serve as great practice for our breaking and entering skills."

"Are you blatantly suggesting I help you infiltrate the Hokage Building?"

Suddenly Boruto's abrupt appearance outside of his window at four in the fucking morning and his stubborn insistence that Shikadai help him made a whole lot of sense. This is not good...

"Maybe? Okay, fine yes I totally am. Come on Shikadai, you are probably just as curious about the forbidden knowledge these keys hold, and I promise we will return them afterward."

Boruto's proposition was intriguing to say the least, however, it was very reckless. But perhaps with his extensive intelligence on the Hokage Building.... Oh, who was he kidding?! Shikadai was never one to turn away friends in "need" (The concept of need in this particular situation is debatable) and he had to admit that Lord Seventh could have made smarter choices... God, my mom is going to kill me!

"What a drag."

The way Boruto's face lightened up and his smug smirk grew made Shikadai want to punch him in the face. But he will admit that it was a pleasant change from his expression and energy moments prior.

"I knew you wouldn't let me down!"

"Oh shut up. The things I do for you Boruto, just know that I am your one saving grace, and don't you forget! If we get caught or in trouble because of your stupid ideas, I am solely putting the blame on you. And you owe me. Big time."

"Yes, yes. Now let's get going before security tightens and the day shift starts."

Shikadai hadn't even looked at the time until Boruto pointed it out. 4:52 a.m. A sigh being the only sound that escaped his lips, they started their way towards the Hokage Building.

Looks like another night of barely sleeping. What a drag.