Hidden in the heart | Borusara

Chapter 8: Tides of Jealousy

As Boruto, Sarada, and Mitsuki made their way through the streets of Konoha after leaving Boruto's house, there was a lingering tension in the air. Mitsuki, ever observant, noticed that neither Boruto nor Sarada were acting like their usual selves. They exchanged only a few words, their usual banter replaced with an unusual quietness. Mitsuki, curious about the shift, decided to break the silence.

"Boruto, Sarada," Mitsuki began, his tone casual but probing, "why are you both so quiet today? Usually, there's no stopping you two."

Boruto glanced at Sarada, who quickly looked away, pretending to focus on the path ahead. "It's nothing," Boruto said, forcing a smile, but Mitsuki wasn’t convinced.

Sarada chimed in, her voice steady. "We’re just focused on the mission, Mitsuki. We can’t afford to be distracted."

Mitsuki nodded, though he was far from satisfied with their answers. However, he decided to let it slide, for now.

When they arrived at the Hokage's office, Naruto handed them the scroll. "This is a simple delivery mission to the Land of Water," Naruto explained. "But the scroll is important, so take good care of it."

The team nodded in unison, understanding the significance of their task. With the scroll safely secured, they headed to the train station, where they caught the first train to the Land of Water. The journey was mostly uneventful, with Boruto and Sarada keeping to themselves, lost in their thoughts.

Upon arriving at the Land of Water, they were greeted by Kagura Karatachi, a former classmate of Boruto’s from the Chūnin Exams. Kagura had grown into a responsible and respected shinobi, his demeanor calm and composed. He first greeted Boruto and Mitsuki with a nod and a friendly smile.

"Boruto, Mitsuki," Kagura said, extending a hand to each of them, "it's good to see you both again."

"Good to see you too, Kagura," Boruto replied, shaking his hand. Mitsuki offered a polite nod in response.

Then Kagura turned to Sarada, his expression softening as his eyes met hers. "And Sarada," he said, his voice taking on a warmer tone, "you're looking really pretty today."

Sarada blinked in surprise at the compliment, a faint blush rising to her cheeks. "Oh, um, thank you, Kagura," she replied, a bit flustered but smiling nonetheless.

Boruto, standing slightly behind Sarada, felt a strange sensation in his stomach as he witnessed the exchange. Kagura’s compliment and Sarada’s reaction didn’t sit well with him, though he couldn’t quite place why. He tried to ignore it, shaking off the odd feeling as they exchanged pleasantries.

As Kagura led them through the village, showing them the changes that had taken place since their last visit, Boruto couldn’t help but notice how attentive Kagura was to Sarada. Every time Kagura spoke, his focus was mainly on her, and Sarada seemed to be responding positively, laughing at his jokes and engaging in light-hearted conversation.

"Boruto," Kagura called, breaking him from his thoughts, "you’ll be staying at the same place as last time. The arrangements have already been made."

"Thanks, Kagura," Boruto replied, trying to sound as cheerful as usual, but there was an edge to his voice that didn’t go unnoticed by Mitsuki, who was quietly observing the dynamic between the three.

As they continued their tour, Kagura walked closer to Sarada, occasionally pointing out various sights and explaining their significance. Boruto’s irritation grew with each passing moment. He didn’t understand why, but seeing Kagura so close to Sarada made him uneasy. There was a tension building inside him, one he wasn’t familiar with. Was this jealousy? The thought alone made him feel even more agitated.