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

Part 17

Boruto and Shojoji flew in unison, crashing through several trees and opening up the forest glade. Before he knew it, Boruto found himself in a heap and with an enormous heavy mass pinning him down. Slowly, the mass picked himself up, making sure to securely hold the ginger lad's arms in place. Shojoji was panting from exertion and clearly injured, but still looked down into his victim's eyes with evil glee. Boruto for all his worth didn't have the strength to shift the heavier man off him even besides his battle weariness, and the Bandit leader knew it.

"Well well, looks like I get my meal after all." Shojoji breathed softly, relishing in what he believed to be terror in the young lad's eyes. In fact Boruto's eyes were watering from the waft of his captor's foul breath in his face, all whilst he frantically looked for a way out of his situation. And as he turned he caught sight of Sarada on the defensive against the pale Shinobi's scalpel strikes, but clearly struggling to keep her guard up.

".. S.... Sara.... da..." Boruto breathed, still recovering from the earlier electric shock. "Oh don't go worryin' 'bout yer girlfriend." Shojoji grinned with greater evil glee, now salivating in anticipation and dripping over the ginger-haired lad's face. "Maybe Shin there'll let me have what's left of her so she can join ya.... in my belly."

Boruto didn't look at the cannibalistic serial killer. He continued to stare at Sarada literally fighting for her life. And the more he struggled in vain as he watched her, the more the terrifying slither of possibility began to sink into his heart, and consume him.

That this time, there really was no way out of their predicament. That they were outmatched in this bout and he was powerless. That this mercury poisoning plot was already underway and millions of Konohagakure citizens by now might already be infected. That these b1#[1*&s were going to hurt his friends and family... Mitsuki and Kawaki.... Dad, Mom and Hima... Big Bro Konohamaru.... and Sarada......

His vision began to blur, and his left eye slid shut.

.........

Shojoji's eyes flickered to close as he opened his maw wide eager to finally savour the first fruits of his labour. Until they snapped open when one right eye looked back into his gaze. Not the same shining ocean blue eye of a frightened child, but of unnaturally black cornea and a florescent blue iris that seemed to peer straight into the villain's soul. And find what it saw unimpressive.

'No... It can't be....... He IS one of Them!!!'

And the murderous Bandit in one of very few instances in his long life of heinous acts, found himself gripped by terror! For as from that unnatural eye stripes manifested across the boy's face extending up to a horn rapidly growing out of the right side of his forehead, it seemed all the rumours Shojoji had heard about the true nature of the Inners of Kara, and of the god-like Otsutsuki, were true!!

Shojoji barely had time to react before a Rasengan manifested instantaneously sent him flying through yet more trees. And then the unleashed vessel of Momoshiki Otsutsuki was on his feet and advancing towards his next enemy.

.........

Sarada was getting weaker, and slower. Her veins throbbed with the invasive fluid metal contaminating her blood, making her limbs feel heavier. And the fact that the mercury was actually drawing the electricity from her Lightning Armour into her own muscle tissues for more severe systematic damage. So much so that she had to stop the Jutsu before the pain became unbearable. Unfortunately this also left her vulnerable to attack which Shin was quick to take advantage of, rapidly teleporting to her sides and behind her for multiple quick strikes in succession.

One blow to her unguarded jaw and she was on the ground. And the bald Shinobi stood over her sneering, a scalpel in hand primed for the finishing blow. Then his sneer fell, and something about him seemed off. Shortly followed by him blocking a frontal assault, only to be blown away by a Rasengan! Sarada looked over towards her familiar rescuer, and found him all too familiar for another reason. All too familiar stripes and a horn that made her blood run cold.

.........

Momoshiki/Boruto glared at the lowly test subject that dared lay a finger on their Sarada. They had let this fight and these malcontents go on too long, threatening their home. Their people. Everything they held precious.

They are vile and completely irredeemable, and you know it. The Otsutsuki persona whispered from the dark recesses of the Shinobi lad's mind. To save your precious village. Your precious people. To save her.... You must end the Uchiha-pretender and that repulsive piece of filth.... Use my strength. Fulfil your duty. And soon all your problems.. will disappear....

And for once, what remained of Boruto Uzumaki's consciousness within the divine-imbued form saw no reason to disagree. Even as they looked down upon the dazed pale Ninja against a shattered tree stump, a Kunai already in his left hand and ready to strike.

"BORUTO!!!"

Momoshiki/Boruto shrugged off the hand that grabbed their shoulder and glared back at its owner that dared interrupt them. And paused at the sight of her fearful teary eyes.

"Boruto, please... That's not how we do things.... That's not who you are... The you that's everything to me..... This isn't what Lord Mizukage or Lord Hokage would want..... What Kagura would want...."

What does she think she's doing? Murder is exactly how a Shinobi does things to protect their own. How dare she meddle in our affairs! the combined persona thought indignantly, unsure in that moment exactly who they were. Who does she think she is acting like she knows us? And why should we care what others would want? they thought all the more adamantly, determined as it were to assure themselves that no one else's view mattered. Even as the warm smile of a pink-eyed dusty-blonde danced in their mind. How is she even still standing with all that mercury in her blood, the weak human girl she is??

.....

Because she's not weak at all... She's strong, in body, mind and heart.. One of the strongest people we..... I... know...

.....

.... 'One of the things I love about her...'

This single train of thought effortlessly overpowered any doubt about his identity as Boruto Uzumaki's will came back to the surface, and his left human eye opened. An eye that again fell upon his vanquished foe.

And for a brief moment the image of Shin Uchiha flickered, becoming that of Lord Funamushi... and then of the Funato Leiutenant's son, eyes burning with the very same hatred Boruto once felt for that man. The pain of Kagura's death stirred afresh, but strangely enough not the anger that had followed after like last time.

Do it...... DO IT!!!!

Rather, a newfound sense of clarity.

.....

"That may have been how Leaf Shinobi used to do things..... but not the way I want too...." Boruto said aloud as he pushed Momoshiki's influence back into the dark recesses of his psyche, once again regaining his fully-human appearance. To his and Sarada's relief.

"OOOPPPHHH"