Time-Twisted Melody (Boruto - Twinkling Watermelon AU)

Chapter 3

 Third person POV

The band room was filled with music. Boruto's guitar riffs were sharp and electrifying, his vocals a blend of raw energy and passion. Mitsuki's bass lines were smooth and rhythmic. Shikadai's drumming was dynamic, each beat driving the music forward with unwavering strength. Inojin's keyboard played a symphony of harmonies, adding depth and dimension to their practice.

They played as one, each member attuned to the others, creating a sound that was greater than the sum of its parts. The synergy between them was palpable, each note, each beat, perfectly synchronized. As they reached the climax of the song, the room seemed to vibrate with the intensity of their performance.

With the final chord, they stopped, the echoes of their music lingering in the air. The band club room fell silent, save for their heavy breaths and the faint hum of the amplifiers. They exchanged glances, grins spreading across their faces.

★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★

"Wait, really? We're performing at the Konoha Music Festival?!" Boruto's eyes widened in disbelief. "I thought it was just for the school event."

Shikadai, arms crossed, sighed deeply and shook his head. "Mitsuki, don't tell me you forgot to mention the most important thing."

Mitsuki, leaning casually against the wall with his trademark nonchalance, merely smiled.

"It must've slipped my mind."

Boruto's expression turned frantic, his hands flying up in exasperation. "How can you forget something so important?!"

'This is bad! If I played the lead at the Konoha Music Festival, my cover would be blown away. It's only a matter of time until Dad finds out! I can't have that, ya know!'

But then, a moment of realization hit him. "But I thought the Konoha Music Festival has a limited registration," he said, still grappling with the news. Even though it was the biggest music event in the Land of Fire, getting a spot was incredibly competitive.

"Oh, you probably didn't know. But Mitsuki's dad is the event organizer." Inojin spoke up.

"What?!" Boruto exclaimed, his eyes widening further. 'Then, his father must be Orochimaru... Mitsuki is surprisingly a big shot in town, huh?'

"So, that's why you're so eager to audition people even when the exam is coming up," Boruto deduced, connecting the dots.

Shikadai, rolling his eyes, muttered, "Is the exam all you can think about? You really are a nerd."

Boruto shot back, "No, I'm not!"

"Shikadai has it easy, huh? Your future is already set." Inojin chimed in.

"What do you mean?" Boruto's curiosity was piqued.

"You know the famous producer; Shikamaru Nara? He's my dad. So, it's expected that I'll follow in his footsteps. It's kind of a drag to think too much about it, so I just go with the flow," Shikadai explained, shrugging off the weight of expectations.

"Typical Shikadai, always laid-back," Inojin teased.

"Ha! You're more laid-back than I am, Inojin. You ditch your art class and join the band on a whim," Shikadai retorted, tossing a nearby pillow at Inojin.

Inojin caught the pillow with a grin. "Well, you only live once. I wanted to try something different than art. I didn't think I'd enjoy it this much."

Boruto looked around at his friends, recognizing the genuine passion they shared for music.