Arranged Disaster

When Miho opened her eyes, the first rays of sunlight filtered through the leaves above, signaling the arrival of morning. She rubbed her eyelids gently, a lingering drowsiness hanging over her, before yawning and becoming aware of a familiar presence nearby.

"You're awake," Boruto said, his voice low but firm.

She blinked at him owlishly, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep. "Don't lay there like a log. Get ready quickly; we'll be leaving soon," he urged, his tone brooking no argument. He swiftly moved about, packing his gear for the day and double-checking the contents of his weapon pouch, his movements efficient and practiced.

"Good morning to you too," Miho shot back, annoyance creeping into her voice, but her response earned her nothing but silence in return. As he began to gather the essentials, Boruto noticed they were running short on water and a few medicinal supplies. It was crucial to replenish their stock in one of the nearby villages before they ventured further. Despite the looming sense of urgency, he allowed Miho the time she needed to prepare herself. Once he was confident that she was ready, he lifted her effortlessly into his arms and jumped from branch to branch with agility.

"Do we really have to do it this way? I have legs, you know," she protested, her frustration bubbling to the surface. The feeling of relying on someone, let alone being carried by a shinobi, made her uncomfortable.

"First, it's much faster than us both walking. Second, you're injured and can't move properly. We need to stop by somewhere before crossing the border," he replied, his voice steady. Boruto peered intently ahead, his senses on high alert. He knew the dangers lurking out there, so he added slowly, "And there might be more rogues in this area, so we need to be careful." 

They traveled for a while, the morning sun climbing higher in the sky and illuminating their path as it brightened the forest around them. Boruto recalled that there was a small village nearby—he had visited it with Sasuke a few times. Though the place lacked an official name, people in his line of work referred to it as "The Checkpoint." The village’s residents relied primarily on general businesses and utility stores for their livelihood, making it an unremarkable spot for tourists and wanderers alike.

Upon arriving at the village, Boruto immediately set off to stock up on essentials. He left Miho seated in a nearly empty restaurant, which bore a peaceful ambience that promised safety, at least for the moment. The eatery was relatively pricey compared to its competitors, likely the reason it attracted so few customers.When Boruto returned, he was taken aback by the sight of Miho surrounded by a trio of locals—a middle-aged couple and a young woman. His instincts kicked in, and his body tensed.

"So that’s how you can maximize revenue per quarter—"

"What are you doing?" he asked sharply, sliding into the empty chair beside her.

"Here, I've written everything down. You can refer to this later," Miho said, her expression brightening as she handed out the carefully penned notes to the three locals. They took the papers with appreciative smiles before leaving.

"What were you doing?" Boruto repeated his question, this time with an edge of urgency. "I was giving him some business tips. This place is nice and all, but they need to adjust their prices a bit," she explained, her voice confident, as if she belonged in this moment.

"And they just listened to you?" Boruto asked, incredulity evident in his voice as he rubbed his fingertips in a nervous, circular motion on the table. "For your information, I'm the daughter of a well-known businessman across the five nations. Of course, they would listen to me—" But her sentence was cut short when Boruto slammed his fist onto the table, the impact resounding loudly in the sparse restaurant.

"Do you understand what you’re doing?" he whispered fiercely, his breathing quickening with frustration. "If it isn't already clear to you, your life is in constant danger right now. Bragging about your father's status to strangers is the last thing you should be doing." Miho had faced her fair share of unexpected challenges, but Boruto's sudden intensity caught her completely off-guard. The threat of tears shimmered in her eyes, a mix of surprise and hurt.

"It's not her fault," the man, who seemed to be the owner of the restaurant, interjected, stepping forward. “I've known her since she was a kid." Boruto squinted his eyes at the man, mistrust flooding his senses.  "What do you mean?" he demanded, searching for answers in the man's expression.

The man took a step back, raising his hands in a placating gesture. "Relax, boy," he said, his voice calm yet firm. "I meant no harm. Her father used to stop by here occasionally on his trade routes. I recognized her immediately—she has the same sharp eyes he did. The man used to take his daughters out on his business trips back in the day, it was quite common. I didn’t say anything because I didn’t want to draw attention to her."

Boruto's narrowed eyes softened slightly, though his shoulders remained tense. He glanced at Miho, who was biting her lip, her earlier confidence replaced by unease. "And you think that's supposed to make this better?" Boruto snapped, his voice quieter but no less biting. "You don’t realize what kind of people might be listening, even here." He scanned the restaurant, his trained eyes searching for any signs of danger.

The owner sighed his expression one of weariness. "I know the risks. That’s why I let her speak in the back corner and ensured no one suspicious got too close. You think I’d let anything happen to her under my roof?" Miho looked between the two men, her irritation bubbling up again. "I don’t need either of you deciding what’s best for me. I wasn’t bragging; I was just trying to help." Boruto sighed at that, he felt guilty for bursting out at her.

It wasn’t like Boruto had a hard time communicating with emotional women. He’d had his fair share of practice, thanks to Sarada’s sharp wit and Himawari’s uncanny ability to tug at his heartstrings. That didn’t mean he wouldn’t prefer to avoid it when possible.The familiar ding of the shop door closing brought his attention back to the man behind the counter. Miho had just stepped outside to fetch some belongings she’d left on the counter earlier.

“It’s a shame, that poor child,” the man muttered, his voice low but heavy with melancholy. Boruto’s ears perked up, his curiosity piqued. He glanced at the man, noting the way his shoulders sagged under an invisible weight. His deeply furrowed brows and slanted eyes exaggerated the sorrow etched on his face.

“What do you mean?” Boruto asked cautiously, his tone neutral. The man sighed deeply, the kind that seemed to drag out years of unspoken exhaustion. “Her father… it seems he’s found a groom for her. Without her permission. That’s just how things are done in their culture.”

The words hung in the air like a bitter aftertaste. Boruto stiffened, his hands curling into loose fists. His mind flashed back to Miho’s face when she mentioned her trip to Konohagakure. Her voice had been steady, but there was an unmissable flicker of unease in her eyes. He frowned, trying to piece the puzzle together. A guy from Konoha? he wondered, struggling to place anyone in the village who might be of marital age—and willing.

The thought left a sour feeling in his chest. Miho wasn’t much older than him, so the idea of her being forced into marriage—especially to someone older—felt fundamentally wrong. For a moment, anger bubbled in his gut. If her father was supposed to be this “great man” she spoke of, why would he make a decision that ignored her happiness? Still, Boruto bit back his questions. Now wasn’t the time to press for answers. He’d already learned the hard way that sticking his nose into things too soon could make matters worse.

As Miho re-entered the shop, clutching a small bundle of items, Boruto stood up. “Thanks for the food,” he said, flashing the shopkeeper a polite smile before heading for the door.The man nodded solemnly, his gaze lingering on Miho for a moment longer. “Take care, young man. And... look out for her if you can.” Boruto paused in the doorway, the weight of the request settling on his shoulders. He gave a small nod, his jaw tightening.

“I will,” he said quietly, more to himself than anyone else, before stepping outside into the fading light of the evening.

.........................Konoha.........................

“What the fuck?”

Up until this point in her life, Sarada Uchiha had faced countless challenges, each more nerve-wracking than the last. From pretending to be an ally to her enemies during covert missions, to battling her closest friends for the greater good, she had endured it all.

“No.”

From nearly dying under the blistering sun of an uncharted desert to watching a comrade draw their last breath in the relentless rain of an unknown forest, every hardship had chipped away at her innocence and forged her resolve.

“Absolutely not—”

She had seen enough to know that the world was cruel, and that strength came from enduring that cruelty. Every scar, every tear, had shaped her into the formidable person she was now. Whether it was surviving psychological torture—

“But big sis—”

Or enduring days of excruciating hunger, Sarada had built an ironclad composure that nothing, not even the worst of circumstances, could shake.

“You’re the only one I can count on!!” Himawari’s voice wavered, her big, pleading eyes shimmering with hope.

Sarada grit her teeth, holding back the urge to scream. “No way in hell.”

“Besides,” Himawari added with a coy smile, “you only have to do it in front of the dads. It’s no biggie.”

What. The. Fuck.

“I SAID—”

Sarada’s fist shot up before her mind could catch up to her actions. Her breath hitched as she realized what she was doing.

“NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS—”

Her shout echoed through the room, vibrating with a finality that left no room for negotiation. But it was already too late. Her body had moved on instinct, her rage having bubbled over like an untamed storm.

Himawari blinked up at her, startled, her lips forming a small “o” of surprise. A tense silence filled the air, broken only by Sarada’s heavy breathing as she struggled to rein in her temper.

For a moment, guilt flickered across Sarada’s face, but she shoved it down as quickly as it came. “You’re insane if you think I’d agree to that,” she muttered, shaking her head.

But deep down, she had the sinking feeling that Himawari wouldn’t give up so easily.

...............Earlier.................................................

"What?!"

"Totally foolish."

"As if the Hokage would fall for that!"

"Like I said. Flop Idea."

"Mrs. Uzumaki will catch us in a matter of seconds."

"Flop idea."

"It does sound interesting."

"Absolutely trash. Where's your brain?"

Himawari shot Inojin a dirty look before he could say 'flop' or 'trash' one more time. He wouldn't have a tongue intact to do so. If she knew that was the reaction she would get out of everyone, she would've rather kept it to herself and acted on it. Why was her brother's gang such dorks? At least Chocho showed interest.  Mitsuki...she never knew what went on in his mind. He was scary sometimes Her plan was foolproof. She would use a transformation Justu to turn into her brother.

She just needed to explain it to the most boring generation of the village that why it made sense.

"Why do you think the villain Oji-san is interested in Big Brother?" She asked, giving everyone a little time to think. Although she could hear Shikadai mumbling about how she shouldn't use the word 'villain'.

"He's rich?" 

Iwabe said the first thing that came into his mind, although judging by his expression alone, Himawari knew he didn't need convincing that his answer was pure bullshit.

If she was allowed to use that word, she would've said so.

"It's simple. He knocked his daughter–"

"Chocho! "

Sumire interrupted reminding the girl that they had a kid between them right now.

"Nuh-uh!"

Although Himawari couldn't care less. She even assumed that she was more educated on the topic of sex than all of them combined. But again, she can't say that word. Kawaki and Sarada made a face as they both came to the realization that they knew the answer to that. But never in a million years would they say it out loud. They sweat dropped at Hima's side-eye. Sometimes she resembled a dog more than a girl. Kawaki realized.

Mitsuki just smiled.

"Well, Boruto-kun does have a reputation out there." Denki! Thank heavens that her brother has ONE rational friend who wasn't completely clueless or a free-loader. But she wasn't allowed to say that word out loud.

"Bingo! Villain Oji-san knows he's popular." Hima grinned.

"And if we ruin that one thing–"

"He wouldn't want Boruto to marry his daughter anymore!" Iwabe exclaimed excitedly. This wasn't a bad idea, but Shikadai wasn't convinced. "What is the whole ordeal?" He asked.

Now he was interested.  Himawari smirked.

"I will transform into Big Brother and act like he's the worst piece of shit there is to exist!!"

"Language!" everyone shouted in unison, their voices filled with surprise and disbelief. Yet, Hima remained unfazed, lost in her own thoughts as if the words had never reached her. Sumire furrowed her brow, her voice tinged with concern. "But we have no idea where to even begin looking for them," she asked, glancing around at the group.

"About that." Denki smiled at them. "I've been handling some of my dad's contracts and accounts. Since I'm the deemed successor of the Kaminari corp–"

"Cut to the point." Kawaki shot back earning a frown from the said boy.

"In any case, I just got a text from him. He called for an urgent arrangement for a sudden dinner party at one of our hotels.Tomorrow night."

"So? It could be anyone." Inojin replied.

"That's the thing.  My dad is a strict businessman, he likes to do everything perfectly. Hence he only accepts orders that are pre-planned for say, at least a week before the due date ." Denki continued.

"He would immediately reject arrangements requested after that time frame no matter who it is. Unless–"

"Unless the Hokage himself asks him to do so! This is his dinner party!"

That did make sense, Sarada thought, putting two and two together. It wasn't that bad of a plan, although a few things were still bothering her.

"What if Hinata-san used her byakugan to double-check?"

"Gurl, leave that to me."

Chocho winked at her before turning to Denki.

"Is there a possibility that we can waiter at your hotel tonight?" 

It took a while before Denki made a sad face.

"About that-" Before transforming his expression to a smug one. "You absolutely can! I'll get it done."

Chocho let out a yelp of excitement. Whether it was to be able to help Boruto or to finally get a chance to dress in a cute maid outfit. Sarada didn't know.

"And what if you did whatever you say you did, but he still didn't change his mind?"

Always on point. Big bro Kawaki.

Himawari lowered her gaze.

"We need to make sure that the scheme definitely works.The absolute last straw." She played with the thread of her jacket, Sarada could sense hesitation in the way she was breathing and stealing glances at her. No wait, it wasn't hesitation.

She was enjoying this.

As much of a jolly person she was, Himawari had her own cute sides, Sarada smiled. It reminded her a lot of how Boruto used to act back when they were kids.

"And in order to do that–"

Or maybe she shouldn't have been looking at the little devil to begin with,  though it was too late. Because a pair of blue eyes were staring directly at her.

"Big sis Sarada! I need your help!"

It took a moment for Sarada to acknowledge what was being said.

"Eh?"

..................Present..........................

"This is what you get for spouting absurd nonsense before thinking it through."

Kawaki spoke staring at the crack on Thunder Burger's wall, before tapping Himawari on the head a little harshly.

"Ow!! Why'd you do that for?!"

Sarada huffed roughly, retreating her fist back from the wall, she felt like her heart will explode, why the fuck was it so hard to breathe??!

Great, now she has to pay for the repair. Talk about ruining reputation. She glanced at Himawari who pretended to look confused.

Sarada wasn't one to be fooled, she could easily recognize the hidden proud smug behind that innocent face which screamed how much trust she had in her new bullshit.

That was her plan?

Sarada couldn't acknowledge the circumstances she was in right now. On one side was her best friend for life, while on the other was the entire mountain of respect, shame, and reputation that she'd been building for the major part of her life.

Hence, after much thought she decided to employ the one strategic maneuver she knew she could count on.

She absconded.

"Wait– Sarada–!!"

However, before Himawari could realize the Uchiha was gone. Shikadai released a long sigh at the teary face of the Uzumaki sibling. 

"Why did she leave?"

She turned to him as if she hadn't just asked Sarada to do the wildest shit of the year. "Why do you think ?" Shikadai asked back.

"I don't know."

As if. 

Shikadai scoffed mentally.

"You– Wait let me get this out in on go." Shikadai added in a monotone. "You asked her to kiss Boruto, in front of everyone at the dinner party, right before his fiance."

Now that he said it this way,  it did sound bad.  Himawari contemplated. Though she wasn't gonna back down. "But we have to do this!"

"Why her though? You could've asked anyone of us, we could transform into a woman."

"You want to kiss my brother?" Himawari asked.

"I can do it." 

Mitsuki said, smiling casually before a deafening silence took over. 

"You need help." Chocho commented.

Himawari tried to ignore the obvious homosexual traits his brother's pals have. It was worrisome,  but she had more important matters at hand. Seriously? These people were denser than Osmium. It was time to use her triumph card.

"You do know it's gonna be me behind that jutsu right?"

That was all she needed to say. All to earn a life-threatening frown from Kawaki, not towards her but every other male specimen that existed in Konoha who tried to question her choice of asking Sarada. Shikadai was smart, he knew when to keep his mouth shut. And this was precisely one of those times.

"Understandable, besides, it will be more believable if his secret lover is actually someone from his own team." He said to close the discussion. "Alright so, we either convince Sarada or let Boruto marry forcefully?" It didn't require a genius to tell that the former seemed way more difficult to accept.

"In any case, let's play our parts first, let's list what we need to do in the meantime." Shikadai got the gist of things,  now it was his turn to make everything execute perfectly. 

"Ooooh. I will prepare the BEST 'Good-for-nothing-drunk-father-hating-irresponsible-self-centered-power-hungry-son' script for you, lil miss." If anything, the way Chocho laid out the specifications did make Himawari question her brother's image among his friends at least.

"I will inform dad about his return. So he won't get suspicious."  Shikadai added since he knew Shikamaru, aka his dad, would definitely be one of the major obstacles standing between them after all. 

"I will make arrangements for the waitress thingy!" Denki said.

"But I need at least 4 new recruits to make it believable–" 

"Oooh count me and Sumire in!" Chocho raised her hand excitedly. Sumire smiled.

"I will do it too." Inojin said , a little embarrassed but he has experience in this kind of thing. Given his mom forced him to handle catering at her house parties.

"I will keep a guard for you guys outside just in case–Hold on, I will gather some more people from our class." With that Iwabe left , although Shikadai wasn't sure if that was actually needed or he just wanted to be saved from the waiter job. That only left one person.

"Say my name once and you will never speak again."

Kawaki practically growled like some wild animal. Cold eyes radiating a murder intent, this clearly wasn't just a threat.

"But broth–"

"I said no."

"But–"

"No."

This was not gonna work. Shikadai knew Kawaki wasn't going to budge, he was known for his short temper, and Shikadai had no intention to poke a hungry lion. He almost left hopes before a short sniff brought him back to reality.

"But you promised to help! You liar!" Himawari exclaimed, Byakugan flaring as she continued. "I will never forgive you for abandoning big brother like this! I'll even burn all your shinobi cards with papa's photo in them!" Shikadai barely managed to hold back his laugh at that.

Kawaki stared at the girl, wide-eyed, he knew Himawari wasn't fooling around, she might be known for her forgiving and kind nature, but she absolutely despised liars. And Kawaki treasured his Shinobi cards, that was a line even Boruto never crossed. 

"Now will you do it or not ?"

Hence, she was staring daggers at her brother with her byakugan activated, tears rolling down her cheeks.

Shit. This is bad.

Shikadai panicked. He knew one of them was going to back down. Definitely not Kawa-

"Okay." Kawaki replied casually.

This was it?! Shikadai have had enough for today. Any more of this bullshit and his brain was going to explode. "In any case , what about Sarada? That's a hard nut to crack." He asked.

"I will convince her!" Himawari declared proudly.

One of these days, Boruto's friends finally begin to understand why the boy was so scared of his little sister. Himawari Uzumaki can make anything happen if she wishes for it.