Hidden in the heart | Borusara

Chapter 4: The Mission Begins

The next day dawned clear and bright, the golden sunlight filtering through the windows of the Hokage's office. Boruto, Mitsuki, and  stood together, waiting for the briefing on their next mission. It was rare for them to be called in so early, and even more rare for the Hokage himself to deliver the mission details. The atmosphere was serious, but the boys were relaxed, chatting idly as they waited.

However, there was one person missing.

"Where’s Sarada?" Mitsuki asked, glancing at the clock on the wall. "She’s usually the first one here."

Boruto smirked, crossing his arms over his chest. "I don’t know, but it’s not like her to be late. Maybe she overslept?" he teased, though there was a hint of genuine curiosity in his voice.

Just as the words left his mouth, the door to the office creaked open, and Sarada stepped in, slightly out of breath. Her dark hair was slightly disheveled, and she adjusted her glasses as she walked in, her expression one of mild embarrassment.

Boruto couldn’t resist. "Well, well, look who finally decided to show up!" he said, his tone playful. "Did you have trouble getting out of bed this morning, Sarada?"

Sarada shot him a sharp look, her eyes narrowing slightly as a faint blush crept up her cheeks. "I was not oversleeping, Boruto," she retorted, trying to keep her voice steady. "I was helping my mom with something before I came. Not that it’s any of your business."

Boruto chuckled, clearly enjoying her reaction. "Sure, sure. I’ll believe that when I see it."

Sarada huffed, crossing her arms as she moved to stand beside Mitsuki. Despite her irritation, she couldn’t deny the small thrill she felt whenever Boruto teased her, even if it did make her heart race for reasons she didn’t fully understand. She glanced at him from the corner of her eye, only to catch him grinning at her, which made her blush deepen.

Before Sarada could fire back another retort, the door to the inner office opened, and Naruto walked in, his expression serious as he approached the group. Instantly, all teasing ceased, and the team straightened, giving the Hokage their full attention.

Naruto nodded at them in greeting, then turned to Sarada, his expression softening slightly. "Good to see you, Sarada. Everything alright?"

"Yes, Lord Seventh," Sarada replied, her tone respectful, though she could still feel Boruto’s eyes on her, which only made her more determined not to let her earlier embarrassment show.

Naruto seemed satisfied with her response and turned his attention back to the group as a whole. "Alright, listen up. We’ve received reports of several villagers going missing in a settlement near the border of the Land of Fire. The circumstances are strange—there’s no sign of struggle, no trace of where they might have gone. Your mission is to investigate the disappearances, find out who or what is responsible, and ensure the safety of the remaining villagers."

As he spoke, Naruto’s gaze swept across the team, his expression grave. "This is not an ordinary mission. We suspect that a rogue ninja or possibly a new threat might be involved, so you’ll need to stay on your guard at all times. You have one hour to gather your gear and prepare. Dismissed."

With a final nod, Naruto turned and exited the room, leaving the team to absorb the weight of their mission.

The group exchanged glances, the seriousness of their task settling over them. Sarada pushed her earlier embarrassment aside, focusing on the mission at hand. She knew this wouldn’t be easy, but she was determined to prove herself—and maybe, just maybe, show Boruto that she wasn’t someone to be underestimated.

"Alright, you heard him," Sarada said, her voice firm as she met her teammates' eyes. "Let’s get ready and meet back here in an hour."

Boruto nodded, his usual playful demeanor replaced by one of determination. "Let’s do this."