Only Time Can Tell

RINGING

CHAPTER 12

RINGING

BORUTO UZUMAKI

We had been running all day. Neji would occasionally tell us to change directions, but everyone was so quiet. It was starting to get on my nerves. Thankfully, that was when Sai decided to camp. Neji's leg kept acting up. Apparently, Rock Lee had managed to sprain Neji's leg. But Neji made it clear that he had won the fight. Of course.

"Oi, Boruto," Sai said grabbing my attention. "Go get a fire started."

"Fine." I moaned, looking around at the forest surrounding us. Gotta go find firewood I guess. Sarada was busy putting up tents. She's pretty good at it. She's pretty good at everything.

I picked up a few sticks and started to make a pile for the fire. After a while the pile was tall and we had plenty left for if the fire died. "Do you wanna get the fire started Sarada?"

"Why would I do that?" She huffed, attaching the corner of canvas to a high branch.

"Doesn't your clan have the fireball thingy?" Sarada nailed it down and then turned around with a smug look on her face.

"You're too lazy to do it?"

"No. I just thought you would yell at me if I didn't let you. It's a chance to show off." I knew that Sarada wouldn't argue with that. She would take any chance to prove that her jutsu was better than mine. It was strange to see her hesitate like this.

Finally she rolled her eyes and walked over to the pile of sticks, using her fingers to form an o around her mouth. She blew and a little ball of fire exited her mouth. Slowly the sticks caught fire.

"Are....are you serious?" I laughed. "That was pathetic!"

"Shut up!" Sarada sighed sitting down next to the flames. "I've been working on it. More than you can imagine, and still..." Sarada took off her glasses and stared into the fire. "I can't get it like my dad did."

"I can't believe it!" I laughed sitting down next to her. "You actually sucked at a jutsu!"

"Like I just said...SHUT UP!"

I quieted down but I secretly was cataloging this moment. Sarada failing at one of her clan's special jutsu? Ha, unheard of. I watched the sticks crackle and pop as sparks flew off into the darkening sky.

"I can't be perfect, you know?" Sarada murmured. "I try. But I can't always be perfect."

"I know that, idiot." I said leaning back watching the stars start to come out. Sai and Neji had disappeared together a few moments together. I assumed it was a boring talk. But sitting here with Sarada...it made me want to go and find them, maybe it would be less awkward with them.

"You really ought to be kinder to your father."

"What?"

"Your dad's the Hokage. You're just so rude." Sarada pulled her knees to her chest still staring at the flames. "He loves you."

"Not true."

"No, it is!" Sarada said her eyes narrowing with anger. "You keep ignoring it, but he loves you. He's trying so hard, but you just....shove him away."

"He deserves it."

"I know that he probably does. But he regrets it. He looks back on the last years and knows that he's missed you." Sarada shivered. "He wants to be a part of your life now. You should let him."

"Why are you saying this?"Sarada didn't answer. "Really this is none of your business."

"I didn't get to have my dad." Sarada said angrily. Turning to meet my eyes. "My dad missed out on all of my childhood. Your dad is there, he's always been there, and every attempt he makes to be with you...you just ignore him!"

"Your dad left because he didn't have a choice! He-"

"No, he did!" Sarada looked away from me. "He had a choice to leave. He knew that there was a mission, but it didn't have to be him to take it. He could have left it to someone else. But he chose not to, he left me and my mother alone." Sarada took a deep breath. "Now that he's home, I welcome him back into my life, but you. You're dad is trying, just like mine, but you choose to leave him dangling. Do you want a father at all?!"

Her voice rang all around me. I threw another stick into the fire. The sparks rose again. The small embers float into the sky to join the now bright stars. When you squint, you can hardly tell the difference between the sparks and the stars themselves.

"I'm 14, and yet I still....I still act like a child."

"You could say that again." Sarada said her voice softer. "But I-" She said something after that and I didn't understand her. My ears started ringing.

"What?"

"I said-" Her face turned bright red.

"Huh?" Her face got even redder.

"Jesus, Boruto!" She grabbed my face and pulled me to her. Her lips met mine for a millisecond that felt like minutes. Her lips were soft, but more than that she was warm. I hadn't realized just how cold I had been. My heart started beating really fast, and the ringing in my ears finally disappeared. Her face is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen, I realize. I close my eyes. She pulled away, her face still bright red. "I said that I love you anyway, you half wit!"

I smiled first at her, and then up at the stars. "Nice to know."