Like father like son.
3 months after Naruto and Hinata’s split.
4 months before Sasuke and Sakura’s split.
It was a bright afternoon, the sun was blazing and the cool air was stirring. Sasuke was sitting on a bench near the training field, where he watched a young brother and sister pull a kite around, watching as the wind tousled the colorful flag from here to there.
Boruto was later than usual, and as Sasuke’s dark eyes finally spotted him, he was running quickly toward him. One leg was walking hastily, while the other was bent up into his grasp so he could velcro his sandal. He stopped in a sweat a few inches away from the man, bent down with his hands on his thighs as he caught his breath.
When the young boy looked up, his brow was covered in sweat. He took in a large breath, before exhaling, and smiling affably. He straightened himself, and ran a hand through his blonde hair.
”Sorry Im late, Sasuke-sensei.” He beamed with a childlike happiness Sasuke barely remembered from his own youth.
But what made it worse was the fact he saw Naruto in the both every time he smiled. It whisked him away to what once was; Naruto, him, Sakura and Kakashi. Team 7. Their loyalty, the time they’d spent bonding. Like a breath of fresh air to his normally stale living as of recently.
To be fair though, he was almost identical to Naruto. He had the same mannerisms verbatim, which is why he loved training him. He’d have an excuse to think of Naruto. ‘How can I not?’ He’d think: ‘He’s like a carbon copy. He’s the child of Naruto, not to mention. It was going to occur regardless.
So when Sasuke excused it, and they’d begin, they’d always talk. Nothing too serious or involved. Small talk. How their day went, etc. But Sasuke had a feeling that he wasn’t putting his all in, and more so, he wasn’t quite there entirely. That something else had caused his belated arrival.
Perhaps, though, Boruto was like Sasuke about his feelings. He hadn’t elaborated for his own reasons. But this was a young child. Every young child wishes to seek comfort in someone about their issues. Even if they act as if they do not.
He knew because he was that child.
When Boruto was throwing knives, Sasuke watched as each one hit the branch. The occasional one or two would fly past into another treetop, causing birds to flock away, or bury themselves in the ground. But that was the beauty of beginning. Nobody begins perfect.
Sasuke went up behind him, placing his hand on Boruto’s shoulder. Looking up, Boruto met Sasuke's eyes, his hand slowly falling to his side and dropping the knife next to him. Sasuke waved him over by a tree, and he sat down across from him in the shaded area.
He wasn’t the best with speaking on emotional turmoil, especially with a child that wasn’t even his. But it was Naruto’s. Anything with Naruto, especially his kin, were dear to him, something he wouldn’t even admit to himself.
“Boruto, it seems your mind may be somewhere else today. That isn’t necessarily bad, as you’re only training. But it’s essential to be fully focused when you want to be a respectable ninja.”
He paused, looking at him, whose eyes were down in embarrassment. Then, he saw Naruto. The child scrutinized and isolated for his powers. They had the same expressions when it came to criticism of any sort.
He felt his chest constrict. He let out a small breath, and chided himself as he reached out to grab his shoulder, eliciting a gasp from him. He glanced back up, and Sasuke continued.
”That doesn’t mean you’re not an incredible ninja, or that you’re a lackluster student. Every ninja has his off days. If you feel it would be helpful, I wouldn’t mind…if you need someone to confide in.”
He uttered, slowly removing his hand and hiding it back under his cloak. Boruto looked away, his hand fisting the grass next to him. He nodded.
”Id…usually tell my mom or dad. But thats what it’s about.” He spoke through a small sigh, bringing his knees to his chest. He frowned, the frown that screams the need for comfort, the need nobody can strip from a child.
Sasuke nodded. He knew what this was about—the split. It was pretty clear, they’d been separated for a few months by now. He’d had…mixed feelings. But this wasn’t his moment. This was for Boruto.
”They don’t have hard feelings towards each other. And there aren’t any times where I can’t see either of them. I guess I’m lucky for that, and I know I am. But….it kinda makes me think they didn’t really want me if I was the kid of two people who don’t love each other anymore.” His lip was poked out, and he was tracing lines in the dirt. His voice was cracking every few words, which Sasuke could tell was him attempting to quell his emotions.
He swallowed thickly. How could he ever think he wasn’t important? Naruto cared about him more than anything. And Hinata was a great mother. Both of them were naturally so paternal, so maternal. He scooted closer.
”Boruto, I’m sure you know your father and I have a lengthy past. I’d know better than most how he feels about you, and your sister. Naruto…all he wanted in life was to be respected. When he was, he wanted his children to be respected, too. To feel what it was like to be loved, and have a family that cared for him like the one he didn’t get to have when he was a young child. Family and love aren’t perishable to him, and I can tell you that for sure. Never, ever doubt his love for you.”
With every word, he watched as the melancholy expression Boruto wore turned to one of mild surprise, and then astonishment. Finally, he watched him beam with the smile that Sasuke had come to adore for almost a decade, only reworn on Narutos son.
Watching Boruto grow confident once again in the love he had from his father and mother, and the people surrounding him gave him the wave of feeling he’d had when Naruto first came to chase him when he’d left. When he’d searched and searched for him, and kept pushing even when Sasuke didn’t seek his help.
He knew how incredible it felt knowing someone cared about you, when you thought nobody did.
He knew it’s how Naruto felt. He knew he didn’t want anyone, especially Boruto, to feel that way. Naruto knew too much about how it felt to ever treat his son like that. He understood where the young boy was coming from. He was just sad to think he’d thought so low of himself for something that had nothing to do with him.
”My dad, my mom…they do love me. It’s a lot simpler in your words, Sasuke-sensei. Thanks for that. And yeah, my dad always talks about you. I know you guys are close.”
He perked back up, his glassy eyes turned normal once more. Sasuke nodded.
”He does, huh? Most likely the embarrassing things, I can only assume.“ He gave him a barely visible smile. But Boruto shook his head.
”Sure, sometimes. But for bedtime stories, he’ll tell me about your adventures. When you left, and when you guys would fight. He’d describe how you looked in the moment in a lotta detail, and how he felt. He has really good memory.“ He laughed to himself.
But Sasuke felt a wave of something old a buried emerge itself inside. As if he wanted to know more, despite this being Boruto’s training. But they’d been taking a break anyways. He ushered him on to continue.
”Well, my favorite story was one where he described your eyes like ‘voids of dark clouds’…but the light caught in them was like ‘the sun coming out after a storm.’ Yeah.”
Sasuke felt himself almost flush, his face feeling suddenly warm like a schoolgirl. He looked away, his palm feeling oddly sweaty.
”He’s….more poetic than I remember.” He cleared his throat, though he was desperate to know more.
Before he spoke, however, he paused. Here he was, 32, asking Naruto’s son more on what Naruto said about him. Like some sort of foolish grade school crush.
He had a wife. A daughter. But his feelings towards Naruto had grown far too vast and for far too long for him to ever fully get over. His marriage was merely an extension for his power. He’d never fully get over Naruto and the comfort he brought him.
He’d never been sought after so fervently, and for so long than he had been with Naruto. Sasuke had felt isolated his entire life. With every ounce of praise he received for his power, he only felt more alone.
But it all began, as it had all ended, with Naruto. He’d always been at the forefront of his fights, his reasons to fight and the one he felt he had to. His motivation. Strength. Passion. The way he learned love was partially through Naruto. He felt as he had lived his life vicariously through him. Here his son was, seeking comfort in him. If only he knew how much he cared for him, and how deeply he adored his father. The man he’d always loved, and surreptitiously admired for years on end. His pride had stood in the way of everything he wanted Naruto to know.
Now he was an adult. He didn’t feel as though his pride would be wounded if he was honest with himself. And in all honesty—he’d never be happy without Naruto. Both then, and now.
Things needed to change. He needed to.
And so as the two walked back that afternoon, Sasuke glanced up towards Naruto’s house as the boy ran inside. He watched as Hinata smiled, picking him up. She waved to him, hi waved back.
He turned to head to his own home, passing by the Hokage office. Naruto was walking out, and looked up from his tired expression to see Sasuke, who looked away in an uncharacteristically nervous gesture.
He laughed, running up to him and slinging his arm around him. He subconsciously leaned into his touch, and looked back at him.
”So how was Boruto? Was he good? Or, as good as I was that age?” He chuckled.
Sasuke smiled.
” He’s perfect.”