In a different world

CHAPTER 11

The two men walked along the streets of Konoha, Boruto looked around to see if anything in this world is different however it boggled his mind that every shop, people he knew and encountered previously is walking casual and continuing their day as usual. Naruto walked without his Hokage cape, if he wanted a nice private walk with Boruto, it's best to leave his robe back in his office.

As the two walked, they went down a familiar road, one which has been patched up one too many times. A waft of delicious scent engulfed Naruto, enticing him with the salty smell of gravy and soup. He stop his lace and nudged Boruto, gesturing his head back at the large Ichiraku restaurant in Konoha. His dad leap in excitement when he shrugged and nodded his head in approval. Boruto saw how comical his dad was, similar to his own dad back in his world.

As he stepped in the restaurant he found an old picture of his mother eating a massive amount of noodles, being call Queen of Gluttony. Only this time, instead of her older self, the picture showed Hinata during her Chunin years, when she was sixteen to be exact. Naruto grabbed his right shoulder and patted a little, pulling Boruto out from this staring.

"Hokage-sama, your table for two? I see you've brought a friend." An older looking woman stood as she held the menu in her grasps. She observed Boruto ad gave him a welcoming smile. 'Even Ayame-nee chan looks the same.' The younger blonde returned a boyish smile after his stomach growled loud enough for the three of them to hear. "Boruto, let's get out table." They arrive at a bench table, close to where the service counter is, it was and still is Naruto's favourite spot to sit, he gets to see his favourite ramen noodle soup boil in the large pot Ichiraku uses to cook their food.

Once their orders were place, the atmosphere between the two became quiet once more. Their walk here was no different as he saw how focused the younger blonde was looking at the street vendors, shopkeepers and so on. Naruto didn't know how to engage in a conversation. Does he ask when his birthday is? or should he get serious like ask what his chakra element is? Their talk at home a few days back were alot but not enough for Naruto. He basically missed out 16 years of his other son's life. Catching up in one night wouldn't do.

Instead of going with what he thought of, Naruto asked a stupid question regarding their visit with the Uchiha's, "So...Boruto." Boruto turned from his phone, switching it off, "Yeah." He answered simply. "U-uh, Sarada Uchiha. You said nice things about her. Do you like the girl?" Boruto furrowed his eyebrow, giving Naruto an annoyed expression. "Gosh no! She's my teammate! I can't be dating Sasuke sensei's daughter." He protested, his voice a little pitchy which made Naruto giggle. He tapped Boruto's back before taking in a deep breath.

"Why meddle in my love life dad? Not cool." Naruto earned a glare from the younger blonde and as he jerked his tongue. He continue to focus on his phone, scrolling through a few pictures he found in his gallery. He completely forgot about his phone as he didn't have his charger to switch it back on. Naruto rested his chin on the palm of his hands, "Eh...just curious. Can't I at least know if you like someone? Boys your age are starting to uh, you know, grow. Maybe you have the hots for someone in particular." Naruto ended his statement looking proud. 'Yeah, I said that right.' he internally complimented himself. Boruto slammed his phone against the counter top and irked a little, shuddering by Naruto's choice of words.

"Hots? Seriously dad? I think it's better if you just say you 'like' someone. And yeah, I understand what you meant by grow, but not at this table please." He chuckled softly at how funny his father sounded. Trying hard to make up a conversation with a teenager, Naruto blew it. His son is much more mature than he thought, and less oblivious than he was when he was around Boruto's age. Naruto physically slapped his forehead, mumbling 'idiot' under his breath.

He wanted to change the subject after he embarrass himself majorly. What other thing could they talk about for now? Maybe food. 'Yeah, that could work! We are in a restaurant.' Naruto tapped the counter table, his mind racking up the sentence so he doesn't fail again in his second conversation with Boruto. "Besides ramen, what else is your favourite food.", feeling thirsty, Naruto chugged the glass of cold water as Boruto quickly answered him. "Oh ramen is not my favourite. Burgers are." There it was, Naruto spat out his drink, wetting the counter top, lucky enough his spit didn't get into other customers bown of ramen or the pot closest to their table but he did receive a confused and concerned look from people as he coughed.

"Burgers?" Naruto was flabbergasted, it wasn't the fact ramen was not his preferred go to food but the expression Boruto gave when those heartbreaking words left his mouth. Stoic and serious. "My heart I cannot take it. Are you really who you say you are?" he jokingly teased, making Boruto blush at his antics. The two were interrupted as two bowls of steaming hot miso ramen placed right in front of them.

"You two seem lively, Hokage-sama and..." she pointed to Boruto. He said his name and Ayame nodded in response, leaving to head towards her new customers coming through the door. They grabbed their chopsticks and started to indulge in the salty taste complimented together with a hint of spiciness from some chilli flakes. Halfway through their meal, Naruto turned as he hears a kid talking loudly with excitement. The young girl spoke out loud while pointing to an old picture hanging on the wall. He saw how cheerful and surprised her expression was when her mother explained who the particular person is.

It was none other than Hinata, in her Chunnin clothes posing with an empty bowl, her hair long like how he remembered her last. "They change her picture." Boruto's voice cuts him from his staring. He frowned at what he meant. "What is it?" Boruto placed his chopsticks down, pushing his bowl of soup forwards, "In my world, Ichiraku ramen changed her picture to a more recent one." Naruto did not understand what he said as he never recalled Hinata entering another eating competition before she died. "How?" he questioned.

"After Hima was born, dad, I-I mean, you, wanted to enter a ridiculous eating competition. I was still too young to understand what was going on but you begged mom to enter as well. Ichiraku would give the winner free ramen for a week if they manage to eat the most. You puked on your twenty seventh bowl and mom won with the same amount she did before. So... yeah. Mom is way cooler." Boruto laughed as he saw how Naruto pouted. However the older man's facial expression softened soon after,

"Ahhh..." Naruto sighed. "This is nice. D-do I do this," he pointed his index finger from Boruto and back to him, "...hanging out with you, casual conversation and stuff?" He waited for answer as Boruto turned back to face his almost empty bowl. He smiled but it was masking his sadness underneath. "Not all the time but yes, you coming home early is a-almost rare. But we look forward to it."

Naruto's heart sank at how his other reality self treats them. It isn't how he pictured like he did hours ago. Boruto noticed the older blonde's expression, "It was hard and it is still hard but Hima, mom and I understand, being we are the Hokage's family. Mom's proud of you, ya know? You give your all for the village. She still blushes at you and constantly stands up for what you do." Naruto focused his vision at his son, from another reality. He blocked out other noises, listening only to the teenager.

Boruto loves seeing his parents being affectionate towards one another, his father wrapping his arm around her or helping Hinata with the chores when he can. His mother  caressing his father's cheek before leaving for work almost every morning before running to the office.

"But back then, you said I-, other me, hurt her feelings, during our anniversary, I left her alone for work." He recalled their earliest conversation.

"It's not always, just, coincidentally, the two weeks dad- you neglected her was around your special day. You're a good husband and dad, dad." Boruto smiled back at Naruto who's eyes were holding in his tears that threatened to fall. Sniffling, he chuckled as he wiped them with his hands. Boruto compliment was the cherry on the cake. Once more, it felt surreal to have a grown up version of his child tell him that. Never did he thought it was possible but here he is, sitting in his favourite ramen shop since he was just a boy, together enjoying with his son.

~~~

Their walk back was much crowded. People started to leave their workplace to get their lunch as Naruto's watch showed ten minutes past one. It is still early to go back home when the day is nice. "Hey Boruto, how about we do something else? Want to go to the training grounds?" Boruto's eyes sparked with excitement at that. He has already taken a few days off to focus on his situation in this world so a good workout is certainly needed.

Naruto took a different route to where he trains his shinobies, passing the forest, walking enjoying the breeze that blew between the branches. 'it's oddly familiar this path.'Boruto thought to himself. "This is a longer trail to the the Hokage's private training grounds, is this familiar to you?" Boruto nodded. "It's nice."