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Boruto Uzumaki couldn't seem to find any excitement over starting his last year at the academy but it's all that his best friend Shikadai Nara could talk about that day. The blonde gave out a tired laugh as he fell over the swing set at Senju Park and gently landed on his head.
"Geez you could at least pretend to be happier than that," the ponytailed boy complained as he rolled his companion to his side.
"I am happier. I just don't have the energy to be smiling right now."
Shikadai sighed and shrugged off Boruto's gloom. It couldn't be helped. Boruto Uzumaki was a teen who just didn't feel like studying to become a serious shinobi. Hell, Shikadai can't remember a day where Boruto was ever excited to be a ninja. To the son of the first Hokage, going to The Academy felt more chore, a need more than a want. If anything, Naruto's son put more effort into collecting stuffed animals for his younger sister than thinking about training. Although he wasn't very alarmed by his reaction, it did hurt Shikadai to think that his friend seemed to want no part in becoming a shinobi, even if he was more than capable of greatness.
"Whether you like it or not Boruto, we've got one year left. Which means more studying and less lazing about," Shikadai reluctantly admitted.
"Huh!" The blonde grumbled before jumping into a sit up. "But we gotta have fun at least more than once every few days."
The Uzumaki boy put his arm around his friend's neck and pulled his head closer to his.
"Come on Shiki," he sang. "Just one more prank, like the good old days."
"No way," Shikadai refused as he escaped from the trickster's clutches. "Not after what we pulled last time. My mom batted my game console into the wind and next time it's gonna be my head," the black haired boy shivered as he recalled his mother's dark cackle. "Besides your mom seems to be worse when angry, she couldn't even hold her smile together when she read the 'worst dad' poster across the Seventh Hokage's stone face. I thought I would only get to see you during visiting hours in the hospital after that day."
Boruto slouched over and pouted. He barely escaped his mother's clutches. It had been a month since then and she was still upset over it. He couldn't go out without completing all his chores, he couldn't even use picking up his little sister from the park as an excuse anymore.
"Forget it," the teen groaned before looking up to meet Inojin's blank eyes.
"Slacking off as usual?" Inojin Yamanaka questioned in his usual blunt manner.
"We were just leaving," Shikadai breathed out as he placed his hand on Boruto's shoulder.
"Come on, let's head to the Training Hall before Chouchou runs out of chips and goes all hangry on us," Shikadai proposed.
Boruto put some thought Into it before rejecting the offer.
"There has to be something fun to do compared to that," he told them before wandering off away from the other boys.
"You shouldn't be friends with the Hokage's son. He clearly doesn't value your company," Inojin scoffed.
"Nah. It doesn't feel right to abandon him. Besides, what's your reason for seeking me and Chouchou out everyday?"
"I need dummies to practice on," he whispered before he hurriedly walked off as Shikadai smirked and put his hands behind his head.
"What a drag," he sighed hoping that Boruto wouldn't get himself into trouble.
