Boruto: One-Shots

Only Friends-Part 1

"Sarada! Come hang out with me!" Himawari squealed, dragging Sarada out the hallway and up the stairs.

The Uchihas' had come over to dine with the Uzumakis that evening. A habit they've all picked up for the past year every Saturday night.

"Hey! I thought we were all going to play a board game together?" Boruto called out, Kawaki nodding in agreement.

"Later! After dinner. I want girl time with Sarada." Himawari replied, eagerness visibly bouncing in her tone.

"Alright, just be down in five minutes." Hinata smiled as she beckoned Sakura to follow her into the kitchen, leaving Boruto and Kawaki lone wolves with nothing to do.

Before Boruto can say a word, kawaki started to put on his shoes, eyes swollen and tired.
Last night, he had come home with a mysterious bruise on his arm. No matter how many times the siblings urged him to explain himself, Kawaki kept his reservations.

"Where do you think you're going?" Boruto huffed, exasperated. He could already feel the tension impending in the air. The common "none of your business" was sure to be spat.

"I'm going to get Taiyaki. You want some?" He answered in a surprisingly civilized manner.

"I'm good. Just be back in time for dinner."
"Alright." He nodded, making his way out the
door.

"Oh, and if you see Dad," Boruto started making his way up the stairs, "tell him to get his ass home for dinner."

Bored out of his mind, Boruto walked towards his room in a vexed manner. Unintentionally, he caught a wisp of the girl's conversation leaking out beneath the creak of his sister's bedroom.

"I just... want to see him smile again."

That was Hima's voice.

As if his body suddenly had a mind of its own, Boruto, leaned silently next to the door frame, careful not to let his shadow betray him.

"I know. He's going through a lot right now." Sarada's voice soothed, he could imagine her rubbing Hima's back, as she always did in times  dismal manner.

"But something you must always keep in mind," she continued, *is that your brother is the most courageous and selfless person I know."

Listening closely, he can hear Himawari's small sniffles muffled against her arms. He had no ideas how much his pain was directed onto his younger sister. It was the last thing he wanted.

"And with selflessness, comes a price." Sarada's tone suddenly dropped to what was now throaty and perhaps, if listened carefully, shaky. "With the kindness that overflows his heart, he thinks nothing of his well-being and only has the image of the people he truly treasures in time of immediate action."

Boruto stiffened, biting his bottom lip anxiously.

"B-but, it costed him his heart." Himawari sniffed, "literally. His heart was punctured."

"I know, I know." Sarada's voice allayed.

A couple of moments of silence distilled in the air.

Although he stood motionless, Boruto's mind rang boisterously. Different voices buzzing through his fearful mind all at once.

He loved his little sister. He wished nothing but the best for her, to keep her out of danger and vulnerable in certain situations.

He knew it was out of his control to keep her from the sad truth of reality.

But hearing Sarada's words...it drove a sharp pain of uncomfortable emotions to his chest.
Emotions of all sorts. Sadness, for making everyone worry. Irritation, for the turn of events life has given him. Anger, for what he's become.
Fear, of the future and the people around him.
Gratitude, for her choice of words.