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

Part 4

[Later that Afternoon]

"Hi Mom. I'm back." Sarada called walking through the front door of her home. "This late Sweetheart? Looks like your training's getting pretty intense, huh?" her mother Sakura Harano-Uchiha answered coming through a sidedoor into the entrance way to greet the 12-year-old. "Uh huh, yep..." Sarada answered casually (nervously) brushing a lock of hair behind her ear. "I've got Fire-Style: Fireball and Thunder Ball pretty much down to a tee and I'm a pretty dab hand at Chidori now too! Though I've still got my work cut out for me with the whole redirecting Kunei trick-"

"Maybe you could ask your father for some pointers when he's next home. I'm sure he'd love see how much progress you've made. I know I would." Sakura answered the unasked question with a warm smile, talking like he would be coming through the front door later that day. Sarada was a little caught off-guard by the offhand comment but held her tongue, not wanting to say anything that might make her mother suspicious. She was of course used to her father spending days or even weeks away from home, considering he had almost never been home in the past 11 years beforehand. Of course she knew Sasuke Uchiha's ongoing mission of protecting Konohagakure from the shadows outside its borders was important. But she still missed him.

And she couldn't help wondering what her Papa would think of her... and Boruto..........

"And you had time for some shopping I see." Sakura added slyly not failing to notice the bag half-hidden behind her daughter's back. "Uhh..." Sarada stammered at first, having hoped her mother wouldn't notice with their prior conversation. ".. Th... They're props.. I mean... Strategic Models. You know.... I want to draft some more efficient battle strategies before discussing them with Mitsuki and Boruto... (... 'Boruto'...)... I want us to be ready the next time we face adaptable and tenacious enemies like Funamushi of the Funato, or like Deepa, Boro and the Inners of Kara!" Sarada hated lying to her mother, or rather, telling her a half-truth. Her past defeats and near defeats did still haunt her and she DID want to see herself and her comrades properly prepared for the next time they face such tough trials. But she couldn't exactly tell her mother what was REALLY in that bag, or reveal her real plans for that evening. Sakura paused, giving her a thoughtful look. And for a nerve-wracking moment Sarada wondered if her mother could tell she'd been half-lying, or if she noticed the ravenette space-out when mentioning a certain blonde's name (or the small smile that followed).

Sakura placed a gentle hand on her daughter's shoulder, offering her a patient smile. "Sarada... It's great you take your responsibilities as Team Captain so seriously. But you're not a machine... Even High-ranking Shinobi need to take a break and get their head together once in a while. Maybe you should take a look at the Festival in the Village tonight and unwind a little? Maybe meet up with Chocho and the rest of your friends on the way?"

Sarada sighed and shook her head solemnly, desperate to keep up her ruse. "I can't Mom. I have to be prepared to anticipate every scenario when on a mission and be quick to adapt to change in order to protect the people following my lead. I've already lost two people on my last mission, after swearing I'd protect everyone! Maybe I could have saved them if I planned things differently beforehand? Or maybe I couldn't have? But I don't want to ever again take on a mission just accepting I'll make mistakes that'll get someone killed. Just accepting I can't save a person's life without ever even trying, or that some people just can't BE saved! That's not the kind of Hokage I want to be..."

Sarada paused, fighting to keep it all together behind misty eyes as in this instance she was being completely honest with her mother, and herself. Or at least in terms of her guilt over those she wasn't able to save during the Hidden Mist/Funato Clan War and those killed by the Inners and Outers of Kara, and in her aspirations for her future goals as Hokage. For in all things she wanted to be a leader that actually saves lives. To be someone worthy of people's trust. To be someone she could be proud of, like Lord 7th.

And (if being a little selfish) to have those people special to her by her side, and be proud of her too. Especially that special someone.

Sakura's smile faltered slightly at the look on her daughter's face. Then became a small sad smile as she gently cupped her cheek. "Alright Sweetheart.... There's a stew pot on the stove, you can help yourself. I'll be covering a shift at the Leaf Medical Centre tonight so don't wait up....... Just.. try not to over-do things to the point you burn yourself out, okay?"

Sarada placed a gentle hand over her mother's own and looked into her green eyes, offering her a kindly but genuine smile back. In spite of the tiny pit of guilt inside her. "Sure thing Mom. I'll be up in my room freshening up after today. I'll see you tomorrow, 'kay." Slowly she detached herself from her mother's touch, and made her way up the stairs towards her bedroom.

"I love you Sarada. And I'm proud of you, always..." Sakura called in her daughter's wake, to which Sarada looked back over her shoulder and called back. "You too Mom."

Sarada continued on her way up the stairs, both reassured by her mother's kind words and worried about the repercussions of tonight. For depending on which way things played out, might she be able to say the same thing about him?..... And was Sarada herself ready, after so many years of it being mainly just her and her mom.. for that family unit to grow? And then again, was she herself ready to chance even her dream of becoming Hokage on the offhand possibility of finding...

..... Love?

.......

'No turning back now.' she told herself steeling her courage as she reached her room. Then dumped the bag on her bed and closed her eyes, focusing on the next phase of her plan. Drawing on her memories of the necessary technique, she performed the Hand Signs.

Another second and a puff of smoke later, a perfect doppelganger of Sarada stood before her, wearing a distinctly sour frown. Sarada lowered her voice to just above a whisper. "Okay, you stand watch in the corridor for Mom while I finish getting ready-", "Yeah yeah, I know." the Sarada-Clone answered moodily. "Just don't forget what I said about the food!" Then the clone strode off stroppily and out the door, closing it behind her. After which the real Sarada promptly emptied the contents of the bag on her bed for the next next phase of her plan.