Reanimation

Chapter Four

"Bolt," the attacker stood up. Boruto was walking toward the opposite direction already with his hands in his pockets. "Boruto!"

"I was going to walk you home, Sarada, but I didn't know you were doing rounds tonight," Bolt stopped walking and turned to Sarada.

"No, I'm not," Sarada took off her mask and subsequently deactivated her sharingan.

"So what was that all about? The uniform and the new mask? All for a prank?"

"No! I had to replace my old one. And it wasn't a prank," Sarada yelled, charging toward Boruto and driving a fist to his stomach. Bolt did not avoid her and they both fell to the ground. "It was payback."

Sarada stared at Boruto glaringly. "That was the second time, Bolt! It's fine with us if you're busy but at least tell us you couldn't come!"

"I'm sorry," Bolt got up and reached for her hand to help her. "Your dad asked me to see him. I didn't know we would be out all day. Are you okay, though? Your head, I mean," Bolt asked and Sarada nodded as she straightened up. "You should stop being out so late just goofing around, goofhead. You're giving your dad another thing to worry about,"

Sarada rolled her eyes and shrugged. "Nah, he's always busy - "

"Don't say that!" Bolt grabbed her by the wrist and they both stopped. "Sorry," he sighed. They continued walking.

"I don't mean it most of the time, Bolt, sorry." Sarada apologized sincerely. She was used to Bolt acting that way whenever she said something about her dad. She understood how he felt.

Boruto used to say the same thing about his father. He still regrets it almost everyday.

"Hey," Sarada spoke up when Boruto remained quiet. His face displayed the same loneliness he had always shown whenever he remembered his dad.

Closing his eyes, Bolt sighed, "I want him back."

----

"I have so much respect for you, Hokage-sama. I am really sorry that I have to do this,"

Naruto already had his old clothes on, which still fit perfectly and seemed to have been kept in good condition. He was beginning to regain his strength and the man who reanimated him noticed this. He took two pairs of shackles and began to restrain Naruto's wrists and ankles, covering them with paper seals to prevent escape.

"The nine-tailed fox. If you had a choice, would you want to be reunited with it?" The man asked after binding Naruto, facing him in a squatted position.

"Kurama - he has a name, and that isn't for me to decide. I just wanted him to be free after I died." Naruto's chest felt heavy talking about Kurama. He had always empathized with the tailed beasts. He wanted to make sure they were freed and left alone after the deaths of their jinchuurikis. They did not deserve to be bound or used. "Don't you dare involve Kurama in this, he is not yours or mine to manipulate. Whatever you're up to, leave him out of it."

The man just shrugged. A moment of silence lingered as he seemed to think, looking far out the opening of the cave.

"You're facing Sasuke of the Rinnegan, as well as your kid, Boruto. The tailed beast is needed," the man finally spoke, standing up to gather his weapons at the far end of the cave.

"Boruto? Why? What do you have against my son?! He is just a kid!"

"Not anymore, Lord Seventh. Your kid is no longer a child, and he is no longer innocent. He'd give his life for the Uchiha and his brat. Of course he'd get in the way. He always had. He's the perfect bait," the man explained casually, refusing to face Naruto. He tried to make himself look busy by fixing his weapons and throwing log to the fire.