It's Not Really A Date, but is sort of kinda (Boruto x Sarada)

Part 3

Boruto looked deep into her sad dark eyes and then down to the ground again with a newfound understanding of Sarada's position, and berating himself for his selfishness. So caught up he was in his own troubled, conflicted heart that he hadn't even taken the time to consider HER troubled, conflicted one.

She'd really thought of him as like a brother way back then?? And was that all she thought of him now?? Had he just been naive as well as selfish all this time to have considered that he ever could have been more to her?? To still, even now, think that maybe, he ever could be???

And yet, even as this mess of thoughts swirled around his mind, a spark of desperate, foolish hope rekindled in his eyes. "Well, why don't we find out for sure?"

He met her gaze once again, with a small hopeful smile. "How's about you and I go on a date-", "Boruto!?!! Didn't I JUST SAY I don't think I'm ready for dating!?!?!" Sarada snapped, exasperated by his impulsiveness. "Hey, let me finish! I don't mean an actual date! Call it more of a 'practice date', y'know." He held up his hands with a patient smile while she gave him a sceptical look.

"There's the Cross-Cultural Festival in the village right? We'll go to it tonight, together, you and me. Visiting the stalls, eating the food, watching the fireworks, having fun. Like couples do, but keeping physical contact to an absolute minimum. And if at any stage it gets too weird then we can go back to being just friends and teammates. You have my word." And he placed his left hand (his right hand still holding the rose) over his heart to emphasise the solemn trustworthiness of his word as a Shinobi, his Nindo and his Ninja Way.

Sarada looked off to the side, looking like she was actually considering the proposal as a small, charmed smile crept across her face. Then she snapped back with a look of worry. "But... Wait! What if someone sees us together?! Our parents? Or Mitsuki? Or Chocho?!" Boruto slowly nodded understandingly. He was all too aware how painfully blunt and occasionally tactless their teammate and mutual friend Mitsuki could be when it came to things better NOT said out loud. And how relentless and insufferable their mutual friend of Team 10 Chocho Akimichi was when it came to shipping prospective couples she thinks are 'so cute together': Boruto and Sarada, Kawaki and Sumire (the former Class Rep), Wasabi and Iwabe, Chocho herself and any cute boy that caught her eye. Luckily Boruto already had a plan in the works.

"Don't worry. Nobody will see us together. They'll just see two strangers from another land visiting Konohagakure to join in the Festival. We'll wear disguises, and no one will know the difference." Despite his assurance, Sarada wasn't convinced. "Okay, but... what if someone sees two strangers that kind of look like Sarada and Boruto, and notice the real Sarada and Boruto are no where to be seen?"

Even though he'd only just thought of that in the last few seconds of Sarada saying it, Boruto had already come up with the perfect back-up plan. "Use your Sharingan Sarada, on me. Follow my hand signs exactly as I do them." he said with an assured smile. Still uncertain, Sarada slowly inclined her head and closed her eyes. When she opened them again, the ebony irises became crimson red, each bearing two tomoe. With her Sharingan active, Boruto demonstrated the next part of his plan.

He performed the Hand Signs for his Signature Shadow-Clone-Jutsu. A puff of smoke later and a completely identical doppelganger of Boruto stood beside him, followed by another puff of smoke and a perfectly identical doppelganger of Sarada stood beside her as she copied the blonde Ninja's motions. "Perfect! Now you got the jist of it, our clones can be US for the night. And we can be two totally different people just enjoying a night out on the town."

Sarada looked from her perfect double, who looked back, and back to Boruto quizzically. "One question. Why do I need to make a Shadow Clone? Couldn't you just make two and change one into me with a Transformation-Jutsu?", "That's what I want to know?" the Sarada-Clone agreed, looking to pick apart the holes in the blonde's thrown-together plan.

"Look Sarada. I might be able to make a clone look and sound like you, but they wouldn't really BE you. And I just don't have the Chakra to sustain TWO Shadow Clones with one transformed over a long distance, certainly not over a prolonged period." Boruto answered humbly. Maybe he imagined it, but while the Sarada-Clone gave him a wry smile, the real Sarada looked down to the side, seemingly fighting against looking flustered. Maybe unsure how to respond to his putting down his own skills, or maybe flattered by how much he valued the true essence of her as to not settle for a knockoff copy.

'Plus having TWO Saradas is kind of Hot!' he felt the Boruto-Clone thinking. 'Seriously Dude! Not the time!!' Boruto answered back via his clone's Mental Link, hoping Sarada wouldn't notice the reaction or the blush he was trying to hide. He cleared his throat.

"Ahem, anyway. Now we got a plan of action. I'll meet you by your window tonight at 19:00. We'll get our Shadow-Clones ready, get us ready and get into the village for a night of fun and... well, maybe... see what happens after?"

Sarada finally looked back to meet her friend's gaze, and smiled warmly even as she wondered if she'd ever heard a plan where so much could go wrong.

"If you ask me, this is kind of a bum deal. Us Shadow-Clones doing the work of keeping up appearances while you two have all the fun!" Boruto-Clone huffed suddenly with mild annoyance. "You got that right." the Sarada-Clone agreed with a frown before turning her attention to Sarada. "Still, lots of delicious food at the Festival. Make sure you try it all so I can remember the flavour at least." she insisted sternly.

Sarada bore an awkward look at her clone before facing Boruto again and smiling warmly. "Well, sounds like a plan." Boruto nodded. "See you tonight Sarada." And he held his hands in the position to release the Jutsu.

"Wait 1 Minute!!" the Boruto-Clone announced hurriedly before snatching the rose Boruto had forgotten he was still holding, and offered it to Sarada. "Pour vu Mon Ami..." he offered unashamedly flirtatiously to which Sarada accepted the rose shyly. "Bye now!" Boruto said with finality before his clone disappeared in a puff of smoke. Sarada hid her smile (and a light blush) behind the rose held to her nose while her own clone rolled her eyes before she too was released in a puff of smoke. "See you tonight Boruto."