Only Time Can Tell

FIGHT

CHAPTER 4

FIGHT

BORUTO UZUMAKI

I like to pretend that I can just keep running forever. But, just like a normal human being, I got tired. I didn't really know where I was. At least I can still see the Hokage Monument, I thought, squinting. If I just keep heading in that direction, I'll get to about the same place as the Academy. And so that's where I went. I followed the faces of the past Hokages, and made my way to the Academy.

The Academy hasn't changed so much since this time, it was rebuilt after the village was destroyed, but the builders decided to keep it similar to it's original form. The Academy made me nostalgic for the Academy back at home. Technically it was the same spot, in the same place, but being in different times, it's almost like being in a different nation that looks almost exactly the same as the one you came from.

I lay down on the partly wet grass, stretching out. I felt the bruise that was throbbing on my ribcage, Sarada always seems to elbow me in the exact same spot. At least she's consistent. I sighed.

I wasn't thinking about Naruto anymore. He didn't understand either, and he never will, past or future. But screaming all of that at him, it at least made me feel better. But I couldn't get his face out of my head, his face of disappointment and confusion. He wasn't disappointed in me. He was disappointed in himself. Which just made me feel bad.

It was all his fault away, right?

I began to feel the wetness of the grass seep through my shirt, making me uncomfortable. Slowly I sat up, stretching again. It was pretty petty of me to just run out of there like a brat. But that was what my instincts told me, and I just sort of did it.

"Time to get back to the real world." I said to myself. Back to Sarada poking me. Back to shitty fathers. But also back to friends like Shikadai and Inojin. I stood up, brushing the grass and dirt off my pants.

I didn't remember where I came from, so I just did my best to remember where the inn we were staying in was. I wandered for a while. Shopkeepers would wave, and I would nod back, not really sure how to act in a world stuck in the past. Passersby didn't think much of me, which I kind of appreciated, I didn't want to get into a conversation with someone who might end up being my creepy grandpa or something that I know nothing about.

I was walking up the street that lead to the Hokage Monument when I felt someone tap me on the shoulder. For a second I was happy, thinking that it might be Sarada, but no. My luck freaking sucks.

"Hey, you wouldn't have happened to see any pretty women around here, have ya?" Said this creepy old guy with spiky long grey hair. I tried to ignore the perv, no answering, and pretending he didn't exist. But he prodded me again. "It's disrespectful to not answer your elders, young man."

I almost rolled my eyes. Somewhere in the deep dark corner of my brain I was rolling my eyes so hard that they were permanently stuck staring at my brain. "Yes?"

"Have you seen any pretty women come through these parts?"

"Uh- no." I said walking faster. It didn't take a jonin to know which creeps to avoid.

"You've got a nice body, you must have a girlfriend. Could I meet her?"

"I'm sorry...what?" I said smartly. I'm starting to sound like Sarada, ugh.

"DO YOU HAVE A GIRLFRIEND?!" He said loudly into my ear, making me cringe away from him. "Are you deaf or something?"

"Get away from me, you perv!"

"Perv?!" The old man said, clearly offended. "I am one of the legendary Saanin! And the Great Toad Sage!"

"Toad Sage my butt." I said jutting out my lower lip.