Please come back!
Naruto froze in place, halfway out the window, as Hinata’s gentle voice called out from downstairs. He turned his head back toward Hanabi, who stood smirking in the doorway. For a moment, he contemplated finishing his daring escape, but the mischievous glint in Hanabi’s eyes told him he’d never live it down. Resigned, he sighed deeply, pulled his leg back inside, and adjusted his jacket.
“Tea, huh? Guess there’s no getting out of this,” he muttered under his breath.
Hanabi chuckled. “Not unless you want Hinata to come up here and drag you down herself. And I’d love to see that.” Naruto shot her a look but said nothing, trudging downstairs with Hanabi trailing behind, her snickers a constant soundtrack to his descent. The warm aroma of freshly brewed herbal tea filled the living room, and there was Hinata, sitting gracefully at the low table. Her delicate hands arranged the cups with care, her serene demeanor belying the storm Naruto knew was brewing beneath.
“Ah, Naruto,” she said sweetly as he entered, though there was a subtle edge to her tone that made his stomach churn. “Come sit. I’ve made your favorite tea.”
Naruto gulped. “Herbal tea isn’t really—”
“Sit.” Hinata’s smile remained gentle, but Naruto swore her eyes glinted briefly, a silent warning that sent a chill down his spine. Without hesitation, he plopped down onto the cushion across from her. Hanabi slid into place beside her sister, barely concealing her amusement as she sipped her tea. For a moment, the room was heavy with silence, broken only by the soft clink of porcelain as Hinata poured tea into their cups with practiced grace. Naruto’s nerves were on high alert, his mind racing. A lecture? No, it felt worse than that. Was this… what people called a pre-divorce situation?
Finally, Hinata placed the teapot down and looked up, her serene demeanor belying the accusation in her tone. “Naruto, dear…” she began, her voice calm, yet sharp as a kunai. “I’ve been hearing some… interesting rumors today.”
Naruto blinked, his mouth going dry. “Rumors?” he repeated, his voice cracking slightly. “What kind of rumors?” “Oh, you know,” Hinata said sweetly, though her gaze was anything but. “The kind where I hear my son is engaged to marry a businessman’s daughter—a proposal that you supposedly approved.” Her words were laced with venom, her polite smile as piercing as her Byakugan. “Care to explain?”
Naruto’s jaw dropped, his face a mixture of shock and panic. “What?!” he stammered. “I didn’t approve anything! I haven’t even spoken to Shigeru today!” Hinata’s brow furrowed slightly. “Shigeru? The one you’ve been meeting with recently?” Her voice carried a note of confusion, but the alertness in her eyes only grew sharper. “Naruto, why is everyone saying that my Bolt is going to marry his daughter?”
Naruto threw his hands up defensively. “I swear, I didn’t say a word to him! If anyone’s spreading rumors, it’s not me—it’s that cursed app, Konoha Bubble! You know, the one we scroll through together every night?” His words tumbled out in a rush as he tried to make sense of the situation for both of them. Hinata tilted her head slightly, her gaze scrutinizing every syllable. Naruto pressed on, explaining the whole situation first.
“See? I’d never make a decision like that behind Boruto’s back! You really think I’d arrange this without his consent? That’s insane!” He finished at last as he gestured wildly, then grabbed his teacup, gulping down the herbal brew with more force than necessary—as if the act itself might save him from this nightmare.
For a moment, Hinata’s lips pressed into a thin line, her eyes narrowing in thought. Beside her, Hanabi was visibly struggling to contain her laughter, her shoulders shaking as she looked away.
“So…” Hinata began slowly, her tone cautiously neutral. “It’s all just a misunderstanding then?” “Yes!” Naruto said emphatically, nodding so hard his neck cracked. “I was planning to talk to you about it tonight. I didn’t even know people thought I’d said anything until this morning!”
There was a long pause before Hinata exhaled, the tension in her shoulders easing. “Okay,” she said softly. “That’s good. I was… really worried about what was happening.” Her expression softened into a genuine smile, the weight lifting off her as she reached for her cup.
“Sad he was rejected,” Hinata murmured, more to herself than anyone else. “Shigeru is a nice man… but I’m glad you managed everything before it was too late—” "Did he though?" Hanabi interjected, sipping her tea as Naruto shot her an alarming look.
“About… that…” Naruto breathed, his voice small.
Hinata’s smile froze. She set her cup down deliberately, her eyes wide and fixed on him. “What do you mean?” Naruto fidgeted under her gaze, his fingers tangling together. “I… uh… didn’t exactly get the chance to do that yet,” he admitted sheepishly. The room fell silent again, the earlier calm now replaced with a different kind of tension. Hinata stared at him, her composure cracking just slightly, while Hanabi bit down on her lip. But then Hinata’s expression darkened slightly. “Wait. If you haven’t refused him yet, does that mean…”
Naruto’s face paled. “Uh…” Hinata’s gaze sharpened, her voice suddenly rising an octave. “You haven’t decided what to say yet?! Naruto Uzumaki, you were supposed to have thought this through! Do you even realize how important this is for Boruto’s future?”
Naruto flailed his hands in a panic. “I was going to talk to you about it first! I didn’t think it’d turn into this whole… thing! I don't know what to say to him now without sounding like a -” he glanced around to ensure Himawari wasn't present.
"-a complete dick!" He finished.
“Naruto,” Hinata said, her voice dangerously calm now, “you never think these things through.” Hanabi, unable to contain herself any longer, burst into laughter, clutching her stomach as she doubled over. “Oh, my gosh,” she managed between gasps, “this is too good. You’ve really done it now, big brother.”
Naruto glared at her. “Not helping, Hanabi!” But Hinata didn’t seem to hear either of them. She stood abruptly, pacing back and forth as she muttered under her breath. “It’s okay, Naruto." She began "Everything will be alright."
"Hinata..?" " It’s okay. Everything will be alright.” She said again, slowly to herself this time, like a constant mantra. Naruto blinked, startled by her sudden shift in tone. “Hinata? Are… are you okay?”
“It’s okay, Naruto,” she repeated, her voice oddly mechanical now. “Everything will be alright. Everything will be alright.”
Naruto turned to Hanabi, alarmed. “What’s happening? Is she… broken?” Hanabi wiped a tear from her eye, still laughing. “Oh, no. She’s fine. This is just her coping mechanism whenever you mess up this badly. It’s her way of staying sane, you know, being married to you and all.” Naruto’s jaw dropped. “What?! That’s not fair!”
Hinata’s pacing continued, her muttering growing faster. “It’s okay, Naruto. Everything will be alright. Everything will be alright.” Naruto groaned, burying his face in his hands. “Great. Now I’m the bad guy again. Why is it always me?!” Hanabi leaned back against the wall, grinning. “Oh, don’t worry, big brother. It’s not always you. Just… most of the time.” Naruto peeked at her from between his fingers. “You’re enjoying this way too much.”
Hanabi shrugged. “Hey, someone has to find the humor in all this. Might as well be me.” Naruto gave her a disapproving look before raising his arms to stop Hinata in her track. "Hinataaa! Please come back!" He exclaimed dramatically. Hinata finally stopped pacing and took a deep breath, steadying herself. Turning to Naruto, her expression softened but still held a trace of exasperation. “Naruto,” she began gently, her voice calm yet firm, “please… just promise me you’ll think things through before tomorrow. For everyone’s sake.”
Naruto nodded quickly, his voice tinged with nervous humor. “I promise. No more messing up. I’ll handle this. Just… stop pacing, okay? You’re scaring me.” Hinata’s eyes narrowed slightly, her voice now dangerously calm. “Naruto, you never think these things through,” she said, her tone both affectionate and reproachful. “You’re too selfless, and I love that about you, but—” She sighed and sank onto the cushion, the weight of her concern evident. “Sometimes, that selflessness can lead to unintended consequences.”
Naruto’s gaze softened, and he crouched slightly to meet her eyes. “I know,” he said, his voice steady with newfound resolve. “I’ll make it right. I promise. Hanabi snorted, and Naruto shot her a glare. “Don’t say it,” he warned. But Hanabi couldn’t resist. “Oh, big brother,” she said with a smirk, “everything will be just fine.” Naruto groaned loudly, though, he couldn’t help but feel a little lighter.
Just then, the phone rang, shattering the fragile peace in the room. Hinata perked up and gracefully walked over to answer it. “Hello? Oh, hey, good evening!” she greeted warmly before her expression shifted into something… perplexed. “Ehh?! Uh-oh. Okay, I don’t think he will mind…”
Naruto, still slumped over the table, lifted his head slightly, squinting suspiciously. What now? Who is she talking to? Hinata covered the receiver and glanced back at him briefly, her face caught between surprise and mild panic. Naruto squinted harder. Why does she look like she’s signing a peace treaty under duress?
Hinata returned to the call. “Yes, yes, I’ll let him know… Uh-huh… Alright, see you tomorrow. Bye!” She hung up and turned back to Naruto, her brow furrowed in confusion. “Who was that?” Naruto asked, leaning forward, his eyes narrowing.
Hinata hesitated, her fingers fidgeting. “It was… Ino.” Naruto’s eyebrows shot up. “Ino? What did she want?”
Hinata sighed, sitting back down. “She sounded… very excited. She said she and the others are coming to dinner tomorrow.” Naruto’s face went on a comedic journey, starting with confused, transitioning to shocked, and finally landing on annoyed. “What?! Why?! This was supposed to be a serious family dinner!” Hinata shrugged helplessly. “She didn’t explain much, just that she thought it’d be fun for everyone to come and… support us?”
Naruto slapped his forehead, groaning. “Support us? Great. Now it’s gonna be a circus. What’s next, Kiba bringing Akamaru in a tuxedo?”
Hanabi, who had been silently sipping her tea, smirked. “Don’t give him ideas.”
Naruto threw his hands up in the air. “Fantastic. Tomorrow was already going to be a nightmare, and now it’s a public event. Thanks, Ino.” Hinata smiled sympathetically. “Don’t worry, Naruto. Everything will—”
“Don’t.” Naruto pointed at her, his eyes wide with mock horror. “Don’t you dare say it.”
Hinata and Hanabi exchanged a glance before both burst out laughing. Naruto groaned again, slumping back onto the table. Somewhere deep down, though, he couldn’t help but chuckle along with them. His family always had a way of making everything just a little more bearable.
.............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Boruto and Miho walked side by side along the narrow dirt path leading out of the village. The sun had dipped closer to the horizon, casting a warm orange glow over the surrounding forest. The silence between them was thick but not entirely uncomfortable. Boruto stuffed his hands into his pockets, his mind swirling with what the shopkeeper had told him. He knew he had to bring it up, but the words felt like lead in his throat.
“So,” he started casually, kicking a small stone ahead of him, “you’ve been to this village before, huh? ”
Miho glanced at him, her expression guarded but not hostile. “Yeah, my father used to bring me and my sister here when we were kids. It’s been years, though.” “Must’ve been nice,” Boruto said, keeping his tone light. “Traveling with your family and all.” Miho smiled faintly, though there was a flicker of something bittersweet in her eyes. “It was… different. My father wasn’t exactly the warm and fuzzy type, but he believed in teaching us through experience. Every trip was a lesson.”
Boruto nodded, trying to picture it. “Guess that’s why you’re so good at all this business stuff, huh? Those people in the restaurant looked like they were hanging on your every word.” Miho let out a small laugh, but it lacked her usual confidence. “I suppose. My father always said I had a knack for it, but honestly, it’s exhausting sometimes.” “Exhausting how?” Boruto pressed gently, genuinely curious.
Miho hesitated, her gaze shifting to the horizon. “It’s just… there’s always this expectation to be perfect. To live up to his name, his reputation. Sometimes it feels like I’m not even living my own life, just the one he’s planned for me.” Boruto’s chest tightened at her words. This was his chance, but he tread carefully. “Sounds rough,” he said softly. “Especially if, you know, he makes decisions for you without asking.”
Miho stopped walking and turned to face him, her sharp eyes scanning his face like she was trying to read his thoughts. “The old man told you, didn’t he?” she asked, her voice calm but tinged with resignation.
Boruto blinked, caught off guard by her directness. “Uh… yeah,” he admitted, scratching the back of his head. “He mentioned something about your father uh-.” Miho sighed and crossed her arms, her posture defensive but not angry. “Figures. He always did have a big mouth.” Boruto hesitated, unsure how to proceed. “So… is it true?” he asked cautiously.
She nodded, her lips pressing into a thin line. “It is. My father’s been trying to set me up with some guy from Konoha. Says it’s for the family’s benefit, to strengthen alliances or whatever. He doesn’t care what I think about it.” Boruto’s jaw tightened. “That’s messed up. I mean, you should have a say in something like that, right?”
Miho’s eyes softened slightly at his indignation. “It’s just how things are in my family. Besides, he has his reasons.” Boruto frowned, his hands clenching into fists at his sides. “That doesn’t make it right.” Miho smiled faintly, though it didn’t reach her eyes. “Maybe not, but it’s not like I have much of a choice.”
They fell silent for a moment, the sounds of the forest filling the space between them. Finally, Boruto spoke, his voice quieter but no less determined. “You do have a choice, you know. You’re stronger than you think.” Miho looked at him, taken aback for a moment before she smiled at him. “And what would you know about choices, Boruto?” she asked, her tone not unkind but curious.
Boruto shrugged, his gaze fixed on the ground. “More than you’d think. My dad-eh, he's respected by a lot of people. Everyone expects me to follow in his footsteps, to be just like him. But that’s not who I am. I’ve had to fight to figure out what I want for myself.” Miho studied him for a moment before nodding. “Fair point. I guess we’re more alike than I thought.” Boruto glanced at her, surprised by the admission. “Yeah, I guess we are.” Miho’s lips curved into a big smile. “Thanks, Boruto. For listening.” He shrugged again. “Yeah, well… just don’t go doing anything reckless, okay? Like announcing your dad’s a big shot to a bunch of strangers.”
Miho laughed, the tension between them easing. “I’ll try to keep that in mind.” They continued walking, the weight of their conversation lingering but not oppressive. For the first time since they’d started this journey, Miho felt like they were truly on the same page.
The forest felt suffocatingly still, a heavy silence clinging to the air as Miho and Boruto ventured deeper into the woods. The towering trees cast long, twisted shadows across the path, and with each step, the world around them seemed to grow more oppressive. But it wasn’t the darkening sky that quickened Miho’s pulse—it was the feeling that something was shifting inside her. There was something strange about him. This boy, who had appeared out of nowhere to save her, who was now walking beside her, guiding her through a dangerous situation.
Who was he, really?
She had no answers, only questions that seemed to grow with each passing moment. He was kind, too kind for someone she hardly knew. And yet, here he was, putting himself at risk for her—someone he had no reason to care about. Why was he doing this for her? What did he want in return?
Her thoughts drifted back to her own fate, to the man she was promised to. The idea of a husband who would be nothing like Boruto made her stomach twist. "If only my fiancé would be half as kind as him." she thought bitterly. But the cruel truth of her situation loomed over her. She didn't know the man she was promised to, had never even laid eyes on him. Her family’s traditions made it forbidden to meet or even speak to the groom before the engagement—considered bad luck by the elders, even taboo.
A sigh escaped her lips, but she quickly swallowed it down. She wasn’t completely clueless, though. The weight of her suspicions was almost unbearable. She had a pretty good guess who her future husband might be. “I don’t know what’s going to happen,” she muttered under her breath, the words meant for no one but herself.
“So, tell me,” Boruto’s voice broke the silence, sharp and direct. “Who is this guy your father wants you to marry? If you don't mind telling me”. He asked Miho stopped walking, her gaze falling to the ground as her fingers lightly brushed the fabric of her sleeve. It was hard to say out loud, even harder to accept. “I… I don’t know,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “In my family’s tradition, it’s forbidden to see or speak to your groom before the engagement is official. Especially for the firstborn.”
Boruto didn’t say anything at first, but she could feel the confusion and disbelief rolling off of him. Finally, he spoke. “What kind of tradition is that? How are you supposed to marry someone if you don’t even know who they are?” His tone was incredulous, almost mocking. Miho gave a sad, bitter smile, her shoulders slumping. “It’s not about what I want, Boruto. Its how things are done there. I don’t have a say in it.”
Boruto stepped closer, the sound of his boots crunching on the leaves snapping her out of her thoughts. “But that’s not fair. You’re your own person. You deserve to make your own choices.” Miho felt her chest tighten at his words. She wanted to believe him—more than anything. But the weight of her family’s expectations held her down. She could already hear her father’s voice in her head, the demands, but she knew has was only looking out for her, he has given his daughters all possible freedom he can, this was her chance of paying him back. She knew he loved them very much. So she decided not to dwell on the topic too much.
“I know,” she said, her voice quieter now, almost as if speaking her true feelings out loud would make them too real. “But I have a suspicion about who it might be.”
Boruto’s brow furrowed. “A suspicion? About who?”
Miho glanced at him for a moment. She could feel the words forming in her mind, but saying them—voicing them—made it all the more real. “My father and the Hokage have been close friends for a while now, about a year... So, it wouldn’t surprise me if it’s...” She trailed off, looking away quickly. She couldn’t bring herself to say it. Couldn’t. What if she jinxed it?
"What?" Boruto paused, quickly shaking his head, 'no, that's ridiculous', he thought shrugging off the idea entering his head. He waited for a moment, his brow knitting together as he processed her words.
“If its who?” he asked instead, and though his tone was neutral, a flicker of something—confusion—crossed his face. Miho didn’t fully understand, but somehow her words made him take a step back, she noticed. He was silent for a beat longer, and Miho’s heart skipped a beat. Just as she was about to continue, to finally admit the truth, the air shifted. A chill raced up her spine, her senses screaming at her that something was wrong.
“Boruto?” she whispered, her voice trembling slightly. “What’s happening?”
Boruto’s eyes darted to the trees ahead of them. He held up a hand, signaling for her to be quiet. He was tense, his body rigid with awareness.And then, in an instant, the air around them exploded. A kunai zipped through the air, the metallic sound of its sharp blade cutting the air echoing as it struck the tree next to them, embedding itself deep in the trunk with a sickening thud. “Get down!” Boruto shouted, his hand shooting out to grab her arm and yank her to the ground.
Miho hit the ground hard, her breath knocked out of her for a moment, but she was too panicked to care. Boruto was already on his feet, spinning to face the shadows of the forest, his eyes narrowed, calculating. “They’re back,” Boruto growled, his voice low, dangerous. The intensity in his eyes was unmistakable. He was already on alert, his body coiling like a spring ready to snap. Miho’s heart pounded in her chest. “Who are they?” she asked, her voice shaky, fear creeping into her words.
“The same shitheads from before,” Boruto muttered, more to himself than to her. His expression darkened as he faced the trees around them. “Looks like they are specifically targeting you.” He breathed. Miho’s stomach churned. “What?” she gasped, her eyes wide. “Why?”
“We'll find out, later.” Boruto snapped, already taking a step back to position himself between her and the threat. “Right now, we fight.” Before she could respond, a figure emerged from the trees, his movement swift and lethal, a gleaming kunai in his hand. Boruto reacted instantly, drawing his own kunai and meeting the rogue’s first strike with ease, parrying the blade with his own in a flash of steel. The rogue smirked, clearly confident in his ability to overpower Boruto.
Miho’s heart raced as she watched the two men clash, the sound of metal against metal ringing in her ears. The rogue was fast, his movements fluid and practiced, but Boruto was faster, his strikes powerful and precise. He blocked another swipe from the rogue, and with a sharp movement, disarmed him, sending the rogue’s kunai flying into the dirt. But before Boruto could land a decisive blow, two more figures appeared from the darkness. The air seemed to hum with danger as the three attackers closed in on them.
Miho’s breath hitched. She had no idea how to fight. She wasn’t a shinobi, not even close. But she wasn’t about to sit idly by and wait for them to take her. Desperation surged through her as she scanned the area, looking for anything—anything—that could help. A rogue rushed toward her, his eyes wild with malice. Boruto was too focused on the others to see him coming, and Miho’s body froze in panic. But then, an instinct she didn’t even know she had kicked in. As the rogue reached her, she ducked, rolling to the side and grabbing a thick branch that had fallen nearby. She swung it with all her might, the jagged end striking the rogue’s ribs with a sickening crunch. The blow wasn’t powerful enough to take him down, but it was enough to throw him off balance, causing him to stumble back.
“Boruto!” she screamed, barely able to catch her breath. Boruto, hearing her shout, spun around just in time to see the rogue lunge at her again. With a swift motion, he kicked the rogue in the chest, sending him flying backwards and knocking him unconscious. “You’re not as useless as you look,” Boruto said with a smirk, though his voice was tense.
Miho’s heart was still racing, but she managed a shaky smile. “I’m trying,” she said, her hands still trembling. But the fight wasn’t over. The final rogue stood a few feet away, watching them with a dangerous glint in his eyes. He was calculating, confident, waiting for the right moment to strike. “Do you really think you can escape your fate?” the rogue spat, glaring at Miho. “You can’t hide forever, just because a man showed up to save your ass.” He continued before registering Boruto's presence properly.
He laughed nervously .
Miho felt her stomach turn. But Boruto was beside her, his stance unwavering. He had her back.
"Well, well, well... who would've thought we'd run into you,bitch." the man sneered, his voice dripping with venom. His eyes burned with hatred as they locked onto Boruto. "You think you're untouchable, don’t you?"
Miho’s breath caught in her throat. "Do you... do you know him?" she whispered, instinctively drawing closer to Boruto, her heart racing with anxiety.
Boruto’s expression remained eerily calm, the kind of calm that sent a chill down Miho’s spine. He shrugged, as if the situation were no more than an inconvenience. "I don't know," he replied nonchalantly, his voice surprisingly casual. "But I’ve probably beaten the crap out of him before. It’s surprising he even managed to get away, though."
He glanced at the man with a smirk, loud enough for the rogue to hear, his words carrying a sharp edge that only seemed to fuel the fire in the man's eyes.
"You're a damn arrogant piece of—" The man roared, his voice shaking with rage. Spittle flew from his mouth, his face contorting in fury. He took a step forward, his hands clenched into fists, his entire body shaking with pent-up anger. "I’ll make sure your father looks just like that when I deliver your broken, bleeding body to your precious village." Boruto's expression darkened, his hands instinctively balling into fists. But instead of the typical response Miho would have expected from someone who was threatened, Boruto’s gaze was focused, calculating. He wasn’t intimidated. In fact, there was an eerie calm in his eyes, as if he were already analyzing his next move, not as a boy, but as someone who had seen his share of battles.
The rogue’s words stung like a whip crack in the air, but Boruto didn’t flinch. Instead, he leaned in slightly, his voice low and deadly, "You’re really gonna threaten me like that? You should have stayed out of my way." The tension in the air was so thick that Miho could almost taste it. The world around them seemed to freeze, the only movement coming from the slowly swaying trees and the slight rustle of leaves beneath their feet.
She looked between Boruto and the man, her heart racing. She could feel the adrenaline pumping through her veins, her body on high alert. She wanted to say something, but the words stuck in her throat. What could she say? What could she do? The rogue was still seething with rage, but Boruto’s cold indifference seemed to make him hesitate, just for a split second. That moment of hesitation was all Boruto needed to step forward, his expression never wavering. The man’s threat, while violent, was empty. Boruto knew it, and the rogue was beginning to realize it, too.
"You should've thought this through," Boruto muttered under his breath, his eyes narrowing.
The rogue took a step back, as if to rethink his strategy, but the venom in his eyes only grew fiercer. He wasn’t done yet, not by a long shot. “We’re done running,” Boruto said coldly, his eyes narrowing. “And if you think I'm letting you take her, you’re dead wrong.”
The rogue lunged, aiming for Miho, but Boruto was quicker. He threw a series of kunai that forced the rogue to dodge, giving Miho the opening she needed. Without thinking, she reached into her bag and pulled out a handful of dirt, hurling it into the rogue’s eyes. The rogue staggered back, blinded, and Boruto took the opportunity to strike, landing a precise kick to the man’s chest, knocking him to the ground with a grunt.
Miho exhaled sharply, her breath ragged. Adrenaline coursed through her veins, her heart hammering in her chest. She turned to Boruto, her voice steady now, with a resolve she hadn’t felt before. It was over.
“You’re right,” she said, her eyes meeting his with a newfound strength. “I can’t let anyone control my life. Not my father, ... not the Hokage.”
Boruto’s expression froze mid-smirk. His usual cocky demeanor cracked, giving way to something raw and unguarded. For a moment, he simply stared at her, his lips parting slightly as though he wanted to respond but couldn’t find the words.
“You… what?” he finally managed, his voice unusually quiet.
Miho took a deep breath, her chest rising and falling with deliberate rhythm as she steadied herself. Her voice was clear, carrying a quiet yet unshakable determination. “I won’t marry anyone I don’t love. ""
"Not even the Hokage’s son!”
Boruto blinked, his brows shooting up in genuine shock. For a moment everything around them came to a halt. “Wait… you—”
Miho cut him off, her gaze unwavering as it locked with his. “I won’t. Not unless I feel like it. I decide my future, not anyone else. I don’t even know this guy, and love? Ha, that's a joke. Seriously, why is my dad so obsessed with this marriage thing? And the Hokage’s on board with it too? What’s going on here?”
Her words hit him like a bolt of lightning, but it wasn’t her declaration that threw him off. It was the fact that she was talking about marrying the Hokage’s kid—him—and what the fuck? His face morphed from surprise to sheer disbelief, a flicker of confusion passing through his eyes. He looked away briefly, his jaw clenching as the realization sank in, oh now he was angry at someone. Then, his gaze snapped back to her, a tension creeping into his voice. But before he could say a word , Miho continued.
“I’m ready,” she said slowly, the conviction in her voice carrying far beyond the clearing.
She felt the gravity of her decision settling within her, steady and solid. The tension from the fight still coursed through her, her muscles taut with adrenaline, but for the first time, she felt unshackled. Whatever Boruto was thinking about, she couldn’t guess. Right now, her own resolve was all that mattered.
Boruto’s breath hitched, and his hands balled into loose fists at his sides. Then, like a switch flipping, his shoulders relaxed, and a small smile curved his lips—not the teasing grin or the confident smirk he usually wore, but something softer, quieter. “Good,” he murmured, his voice low, almost tender. “About time.”
But as he crouched and scooped her up again, cradling her effortlessly, Miho caught a glimpse of something still lingering in his eyes—an unspoken question, a hesitation, almost as though he were still trying to process what her words meant. He leaped to the next branch, his movements faster this time, though his hold on her was gentle.
“Wha—!” Miho exclaimed, startled by the sudden motion.
But Boruto didn’t reply. His jaw was set, his expression unreadable. And though his pace didn’t falter, she couldn’t help but feel that his thoughts were elsewhere. "Are you okay?-""
“I know you want to walk on your own,” Boruto interrupted, his focus locked on the path ahead, “but we need to make it quick. It’s way too dangerous here. I know a shortcut. If we don’t stop, we can make it by sunset tomorrow.” Miho let out a soft huff, then nodded. “Woah, okay. I guess you’re right.” She smiled faintly, though her heart was still racing. She stole a glance at him—his face was set in concentration, his profile outlined by the dimming light of the fading sun. There was something undeniably reassuring about his presence, the way he seemed so certain even in the face of danger.
For a fleeting moment, their eyes met. Miho felt a rush of heat creep up her neck and quickly turned away, flustered. Her thoughts spiraled into a tangle of confusion, hope, and frustration. This wasn’t what she had planned, and yet… she felt strangely at ease. “This isn’t so bad,” she muttered under her breath, almost too quiet to hear.
“Yeah,” Boruto replied, clearly hearing her from the close distance between them, though didn't look at her again. “We need to get back as soon as possible. Besides—” He paused mid-sentence, propelling them forward with a powerful leap.
“—there’s someone I’d like to have a quick word with.” he finished, his face unreadable, though a hint of anger crept into his voice.
Meanwhile somewhere in the village, Naruto sneezed hard, a cold shiver run through him, he quickly glanced around the empty Hokage office (He was not allowed to sleep at home today) and discarded it.
Tomorrow was the day.