The night we met || Borusara || Timeskip

PROLOGUE

"Thank you for passing by, Sarada," Shikamaru said, his long overcoat, with "8th Hokage" emblazoned on the back, swaying in the breeze.

"Hn." Sarada replied coldly, clearly uninterested in the conversation. Shikamaru sighed and continued.

"I'm going to need you to look into this mission." He handed over a file to Sarada personally.

"I thought you guys didn't do the ninja stuff anymore." Sarada muttered to herself as she frowned, gently opening the file and glancing at the details.

"Apparently there's been an attack in the Village of Clouds. I need you to investigate."

"I won't," Sarada replied coldly, glaring at Shikamaru.

"If you think this attack is because of Boruto, I'll let you know that it's not."

"Good luck trying to find someone else, Lord Eighth." Sarada turned to leave, but Shikamaru stopped her.

"No, it's not related to Boruto. I just want you to have a look at it. The people there need help, Sarada." He spoke earnestly, his eyes conveying a sense of urgency.

Sarada paused as the breeze caressed her hair. Her goals and her determination to become Hokage would be useless if she wasn't able to help people in need.

"I'll do it." Sarada turned around, facing Shikamaru. "Not for you, but for my goal." She walked away, hands in her pockets, her mind already swirling with thoughts about the mission.

As she walked through the streets, her mind was flooded with thoughts, particularly about Boruto. She hadn't seen him in years and was worried if he was alright. Lost in thought, she paused when she saw a familiar and recognizable figure. Eida.

What's she doing here?

"I sense your presence, Sarada." Eida spoke out, catching Sarada off guard.

"O-oh hey," Sarada stammered as she awkwardly waved and walked up to Eida.

"So, what're you doing?" Sarada asked as the two girls stood in front of a women's clothing shop.

"To buy clothes." Eida replied with a flustered look, fidgeting with her clothes, showing a shy side that Sarada rarely saw.

"N-nae, Sarada... what outfit do you think Kawaki would like?" Eida stuttered, refusing to meet Sarada's gaze out of shyness.

"K-kawaki?" Sarada asked nervously, rubbing her chin as she thought.

"I guess he likes to dress kinda recklessly, so maybe he'd want his partner to be like that too?" She smiled warmly, scratching the back of her head.

"Reckless... I see..." Eida gasped, thinking to herself before continuing.

"You're pretty spot on, I guess, Sarada," Eida said, shaking her head in amusement, leaving Sarada confused.

"What do you mean? I barely know anything about fa-"

"You're exactly Boruto-kun's type," Eida met Sarada's gaze directly. Sarada, taken aback by Eida's comment, swatted her hands defensively.

"Haha," she laughed awkwardly.

"N-nothing like that, we're just best friends..." Sarada smiled warmly.

"Hm, okay." Eida said as she made her way into the store. Sarada let out a sigh and continued her way home, replaying Eida's statement in her mind.

"Tadaima," Sarada announced as she entered her house, carefully removing her boots.

"Oh, okaeri, Sarada!" Sakura welcomed her warmly.

Sarada nodded and made her way to her room, her thoughts still lingering on the mission and her unexpected encounter with Eida.

"You're home early, Mama," Sarada said warmly as she sat on the sofa.

"My shift ended early today, so here I am," Sakura chuckled softly, making her way to the living room. "Are you going out on a mission?"

"How'd you know?" Sarada's eyes widened in surprise.

"Sarada, you always have that gloomy look on your face when you're given a mission," Sakura exhaled sharply, looking into her daughter's eyes, so often resembling her husband's.

"You're right. I'm going to the Village of Clouds." Sarada replied, ignoring her mother's earlier comment.

"Be safe, Sarada!" Sakura patted her daughter's head softly before heading back to the kitchen to cook dinner.

"Udon for dinner tonight, Sarada!" her mother called out from the kitchen.

"Looking forward to it!" Sarada replied cheerfully, but her smile soon faded. She slowly made her way to her room, closing the door behind her. She stood in the middle of the room, staring at the glowing moon and the light it radiated.

"I never want to go on a mission if it means my team won't be there," she uttered to herself as she walked up to the window, resting her hands on the window frame.

"If it means that... Boruto won't be there."

"Boruto... come back," Sarada stammered, her throat thick with emotion. She could barely hold back her tears. The simple thought of Boruto made her emotionally weak.

"Sarada," Boruto uttered slowly as he sat on the highest tree, admiring the moon. He was consumed by its ethereal beauty. He slowly gripped his chest.

"Boruto." Sasuke's voice called out as he teleported behind Boruto.

"Sasuke-san," Boruto smiled weakly, turning his face away instantly. He then looked back at the moon.

Are you seeing this right now, Sarada? Your eyes—they remind me of the moon. Both worth getting lost in.