Sarada gently lifted the tent flap and slipped inside.
Her gaze softened as she saw Boruto fast asleep on the tatami mat, his face calm and peaceful in the moonlight.
Quietly, she leaned down and brushed a light kiss against his cheek.
Boruto stirred, blinking sleepily. "Sarada… this is the camp. What if someone sees us?"
Sarada smiled faintly. "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. No one will find out."
Then she nestled against him, resting her head on his chest, and slowly drifted back to sleep.
Not far away, Sumire Kakei stood frozen in the shadows, her hands pressed tightly over her mouth.
She had seen everything — Sarada sneaking in, leaning close, kissing him.
Her heart twisted painfully, emotions crashing through her like a storm: shock, jealousy, sadness, and a hollow ache that made it hard to breathe.
Her eyes remained fixed on Boruto's tent for a long time, empty and lost. Then, shoulders trembling, she turned and walked away.
Inside her own tent, she collapsed onto the mat and stared blankly at the ceiling. Sleep refused to come.
The image of Sarada entering Boruto's tent — and all the sweet moments Boruto and Sarada shared every day — replayed over and over in her mind.
"Boruto…" she whispered softly. Her voice trembled as tears welled in her eyes.
By morning, a thick fog blanketed the camp.
Sarada yawned, blinking away sleep, and realized where she was. Quietly, she stood and slipped out of Boruto's tent so she wouldn't wake him.
Meanwhile, Sumire hadn't slept a single minute. Her mind had been consumed by the events of the night.
When she suddenly heard soft footsteps outside, her body tensed.
Peeking through a slit in the tent, she caught sight of Sarada walking back toward her own tent.
So she's returning from Boruto's tent, Sumire thought bitterly.
She sat there for a moment, heart heavy, then stepped out into the cool mist.
Facing Boruto's tent, she took a deep breath and whispered under her breath, "Boruto… I like you."
But those words never made it past her lips loud enough for anyone to hear.
And yet, before she realized it, her feet had carried her right to the entrance of Boruto's tent.
Her pulse pounded in her ears. The memory of Sarada's secret visit the night before filled her mind — and suddenly, she couldn't stop herself.
Sumire lifted the flap and slipped inside.
Boruto was still asleep, his face calm and warm under the soft morning light.
For a brief, fragile moment, courage overtook her hesitation.
Sumire leaned down, her heart racing wildly — and pressed her lips gently against his.
At that very moment, in her own tent, Sarada suddenly sat up.
"Oh no," she muttered, slapping her forehead. "I forgot to kiss Boruto good morning! Chocho and the others probably aren't awake yet… I still have time."
Without another thought, she tiptoed out of her tent and made her way back toward Boruto's.
But when she approached, her steps faltered — the tent flap was already swaying.
Her heart sank. She crouched and lifted the corner just enough to peek inside.
And what she saw froze her where she stood.
Sumire Kakei's lips were pressed against Boruto's.
"C-Class Rep… Boruto… you two…" Sarada's voice trembled, tears already forming in her eyes.
She'd always known Sumire had feelings for Boruto — but seeing it happen with her own eyes shattered something deep inside her.
A sharp, searing pain tore through her chest. Her Three-Tomoe Sharingan flared to life, spinning violently as tears streamed down her cheeks.
Boruto's eyes fluttered open mid-kiss, confusion flashing across his face.
"Class Rep?" he murmured, startled.
He hadn't been fully asleep — he'd just assumed Sarada had returned. By the time he realized the difference in her scent, it was already too late.
"Sarada…" Boruto turned toward the tent entrance, guilt and panic washing over him.
Sarada stood there, her eyes trembling with hurt, her Sharingan glowing like burning embers in the morning light.
Sumire's face went pale. Her whole body shook.
"I-I'm sorry, Sarada… I just… I couldn't—" Her voice broke as tears slipped down her cheeks.
Sarada didn't shout. She didn't speak. She just let the tears fall, silent and steady.
Her Sharingan spun faster, reflecting her pain more clearly than words ever could.
"Boruto…" she whispered, then turned sharply and ran out of the tent.
"Sarada!" Sumire cried, her voice cracking, but Sarada didn't look back.
Boruto sat there, frozen for a moment, then sighed deeply. He ran a hand through his hair, frustration and guilt twisting inside him.
"Damn it… what just happened?"
He looked at Sumire, who was trembling and red-eyed.
"Sumire… I know you like me. I've known for a while. But this…" He exhaled heavily. "This isn't right."
Sumire bit her lip hard, fighting to hold herself together.
"I'm sorry, Boruto. I just couldn't control my feelings anymore. I knew about you and Sarada, but I…" Her voice broke again, too choked to continue.
Boruto gave another long sigh and stood, his expression complicated. Then he hurried out of the tent.
He spotted Sarada in the distance, running toward the lake. The sight of her crying twisted something deep inside him.
He almost used his gravitational power to stop her — but forced himself not to. That would only make things worse.
So he followed quietly behind, keeping his distance.
Sumire soon followed as well, steps heavy, eyes fixed on the two figures ahead. Regret and shame weighed her down with every step.
When they reached the lake, Sarada stood at the water's edge, staring blankly into the distance. The sun was rising, the surface of the lake shimmering like glass.
Boruto stopped a few paces behind her. "Am I… a scumbag?" he muttered bitterly.
He dropped into a reclining chair he'd formed from the Reincarnation Beads, staring up at the brightening sky.
The golden sunlight bathed all three of them — Boruto, Sarada, and Sumire — their reflections wavering gently on the water's surface.
The breeze carried no words, only the weight of everything left unsaid.
...
Author's Note:
The full completed version of Boruto: Growing Up as Naruto's Son is now on Patreon!
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