Ways to become a Hokage

~CHAPTER 27: First move~

They stood in awkward silence. What were they supposed to do again?

Sarada slowly glanced at Kenta in question, and he shook his, mouthing: 'don't look at me, I don't know either'

"Uhm, we advance now," Shikadai said, being the first one to move his feet and forward. They followed without reluctance.

"Shikadai-san" Kenta frowned suddenly, "aren't you guys supposed to be in the containers? Shouldn't my shadow clones be doing this?"

Sarada hummed, indicating she had the same question in her head, this was clearly an unmentioned part of the plan.

"Oh, did I forget to mention?" Shikadai glanced at Daiki from the side of his eye, "we'll move at least a kilometre without your clones, that way we'd be able to radiate an even more powerful and active chakra field"

"Right" Kenta nodded in agreement and sped forward a little, closer to Mitsuki, near the attack form. Sarada noticed how often he would pat the back of the container, to make sure Rita was there, it seemed like he'd genuinely built a bond with the little girl, not just because of the mission.

Sarada pulled in a deep breath, the cold wind of the twilight night travelling down to her lungs. Had Boruto really cared so much about her? She remembered the night when they'd last fought, he'd stopped before she'd fallen, she could bet her life on it. He'd been hesitant all through their fight too, never having wanted to actually hurt her. His expression... that's right, she'd never gotten to see him after she'd begged him to stay. He never wanted to leave... But to think he'd murder? No, he'd definitely changed. Sarada wanted to see him again, so badly now that it almost sickened her. He was somewhere out there, searching for a way, lost in his path. She had to knock some sense into him, that's what she was there for, wasn't she?

"Sarada..." Naora jumped to run along beside her, "what's wrong? You look unusually gloomy"

"I'm sorry," Sarada muttered, shaking her head, forget about him, at least for now. "Just got a little distracted" she moved her gaze to Kenta, who, even though barely visible in the dark, looked stunning enough to take her mind off of him.

Naora traced her stare and her mouth slowly widened. "Oh, what am I seeing?" she cooed, "a birth of a new relationship?"

Sarada was glad it was dark, so Naora couldn't see her blush. "What's wrong with you Naora, can't a guy and girl just be friends?" she asked, trying to turn Naora on the defensive.

Naora smirked, "I never said that about any other of your guy friends"

"Shut up" Sarada mumbled, "he's just a nice guy"

"—and very handsome"

"What are you trying to do?" Sarada asked Naora, mentally agreeing with her statement. He really was a beauty.

"Come on, you like him, don't you?" Naora enquired, her eyes glinting with hope. "I approve of him, he's not a pig"

"What?" Sarada forced an awkward chuckle, "what are you saying, I told you, he's just a friend, you can't assume I have a crush on him just because he's a guy and you're not! He's as close to him as you are"

"Well, we're pretty damn close then," Naora said, winking at her. "I won't push it, but you'll see I'm right soon enough."

"We'll leave it to rest till that day comes" Sarada supposed, and they immersed themselves in the peaceful quiet again.

Was Naora right though? Did she like Kenta? Kenta was funny, handsome, and everything she'd look for in a man. Sarada could admit the fact that she loved being around him, it always kept her mind at ease, and it gave her the feeling that everything would soon be alright, but that didn't mean she liked him in that way, did it?