Twisted

The Truth

When Tsunade approached the clearing, the last thing she expected to see was the prince's head in Sarada's lap. But the more she looked at the sight of little gloomy Sarada with an endearing smile on her face, toying with tufts of Boruto's fluffy blonde hair, the more her eyes welled with tears. The only person in the kingdom that could meet her gaze had to be the one person she should have never met. And as her caretaker, Tsunade's heart broke for her.

Sarada quietly bared with everything from the time she was a little girl. Always. Tsunade knew her best. She was kind and gentle, yet incredibly depressed. If she snapped and got angry, none of them stood a chance. One look into her pitiful eyes and even the sturdiest of hearts broke as easily as a toothpick.

Tsunade hoped that Sasuke would agree to leave well enough alone until the lantern lighting and crowning ceremony, just to give Sarada's miserable life a small ray of happiness. But the moment she uttered her last name aloud and Boruto abruptly wandered away in shock, Tsunade saw the hand signal in the darkness.

This was one girl who's heart couldn't afford to be toyed with.

"I won't ask how you got here, because I already know the answer," she said softly, emerging from her hiding place.

Sarada's reaction broke Tsunade's heart even more. Her head dropped straight down. She pulled her bangs in front of her face over and over, just to make sure she was hidden well enough. Her voice quivered in a choked whisper as she spoke. "Granny... Tsunade?"

"Sarada. We need to go back. There are others after you that won't treat you nearly as nice as the prince."

"But... I--"

"Even if he didn't have plans to leave you, someone from the kingdom is here to pick him up."

"I... I was planning to go back, I just wanted to see... What it was like and..." Her voice was coming out in short spurts, likely the result of holding back fearful sobs. "How... How did you find me?"

Tsunade sighed. "I was in the kingdom, getting you that tea when I heard the rumors. The runaway prince was spotted in Shojoji's tavern with a girl. Their description of you proved exactly who you are... And that you used your eyes against them."

"But... But they were going to hurt him. I had to... If I didn't, he would've..."

"He's going to be king soon, Sarada. No one, not even Shojoji is brave enough to kill him. There will be a ball held tomorrow to decide his wife, and I'm sorry, but you can't attend it. I don't know what fantasies of hope he gave you, but none of it's real. He told you about his eyes, didn't he? That's all it is. Spend enough time apart, and it'll be like it never happened. We need to hurry before someone finds you and tries to use you to start a war. Because it will be a war against him as king. And he'll likely lose his life, along with many others."

Sarada's throat was already tight, but now her words were nearly inaudible. "I..." Her voice cracked out, tears spilling into her lap. "I just..."

"I know. You just wanted to see what was outside. And now that you've quelled your curiosity, it's time to go back. I wouldn't mind letting you spend time outside the castle in the clearing if you really want to be outdoors so badly. You know I'd do my best to get you anything you want."

"I... I didn't..."

"It's okay. He persuaded you even though you knew it was wrong, didn't he? That's just how his eyes work. As to how he found you remains a mystery..." Tsunade turned her back. "Let's go home. You have to stay hidden if you want to protect him."

She tried to wipe at her face, and stand to her feet, but her legs didn't seem to be listening. They pushed the dirt uselessly, her heels flatting the grass in their wake before they stopped trying all together. "Can I... At least say goodbye?"