The Fourth Wall

Chapter 10: The Feeling of Winter

Boruto and Sarada knew they didn't have much time thanks to their chat with Kakashi, so they decided to set out immediately. Their only preparations were grabbing the bare necessities and telling their parents (Boruto directly, Sarada with a note) that they were going on an overnight camping trip with Mitsuki.

As Sarada began leading the way to the place where she was deceived into thinking that Sakura was not her real mother, Boruto began to wish he had taken more than just a light jacket. The sun was setting, taking the warmth of its rays to the other side of the world and leaving them with nothing but a frosty chill.

I am a shinobi, Boruto said as he trailed behind Sarada, I am not cold. I am not cold. I am not-- who am I kidding, I'm freezing.

"Sarada," he began, his subscapularis beginning to spasm in attempt to warm him up. "Can we stop and build a fire for a bit?"

"Jeez Boruto," said Sarada, her own shoulders shaking, "it's not that cold, we need to get to Orochimaru's as quickly as possible. Kakashi has probably already told the seventh."

"Yeah, but the way we phrased it, it sounded like Sakura oba-san sent us on a treasure hunt," Boruto replied, "I don't think my old man is going to chase after us. Especially not if we're working as a team. Kakashi might already be following us anyways."

"F-fine," said Sarada, rubbing her bare arms, "I guess we can stop. That being said, isn't it summer? Why is it so cold?"

"Who knows," replied Boruto, searching for a suitable place to build a fire. "Maybe Hebi is manipulating the weather."

"If Hebi could do that much, wouldn't they have shown up and given us some helpful information on Mitsuki by now," asked Sarada, picking up small sticks as she went. "That being said, if Kakashi really is close by, it might be better not to talk about Hebi."

"You're right," replied Boruto, his eyes finally setting on a small alcove underneath a fallen tree who's roots now provided suitable shelter. "But at the same time, if it isn't them, it must be the troublemaker. I don't understand why the troublemaker would turn the weather cold."

"Maybe to make us turn back," said Sarada, throwing the sticks down just outside the alcove that Boruto indicated.

"They were the one who invited us in the first place. More importantly, can you use a fire jutsu to light those sticks already? I'm freezing."

"Says the one who's wearing a jacket," retorted Sarada, forming the chakra concentration hand sign. Taking in a breath of air, a small, yet bright, puff of flame emitted from her mouth and set the twigs alight.

Boruto immediately crouched down and put his hands to the small fire, rubbing them together to build friction and warmth. "Finally..."

The glow illuminated both of their faces in the darkness, providing warmth in the eerily cold woods. The only sounds were the sounds of the wind rustling through the trees and the leaves crunching under Sarada's sandals as she shook.

Moving only his eyes, Boruto glanced at Sarada and noticed she was still cold enough to be crouched into a ball, her hands going back and forth over her trembling arms and legs. Meanwhile, he had completely stopped shivering.

After some consideration, Boruto slowly removed his jacket. He stood, walking the three steps needed to close the distance between him and Sarada's back. Then he draped the jacket over her shoulders.

Sarada's hands left her bare arms and gratefully tugged the cloth tighter around her neck. "Thanks," she managed to mumble, her eyes never leaving the fire.

He wanted to come up with some snarky comment about her not being able to bear with the cold, but the thing that took the most prevalence in his mind was, why does she seem so small from this angle?