(Now, depart towards Kara city.)

It was an ordinary day.

Boruto came to the classroom, habitually looking towards his seat to find that black-haired boy. Then as usual, he didn't see him there.

For the past month, Chitose would always arrive very late. He had become used to it.

After tidying up his desk as per his habit, Boruto raised his head to look at the blackboard, only to suddenly realize that Sarada who sat in front of him had already arrived.

His heart skipped a beat.

Where's Chitose? Is he sick? Or did he get injured during training? "Sarada, why didn't Chitose come?" He poked the girl's back and asked anxiously.

The black-haired girl turned her head around, her big eyes full of irritation: "What does that have to do with you?"

Big brother reluctantly became friends with him, yet this guy actually distanced himself from big brother recently! Simply unforgivable!

Sarada clenched her fist, having the urge to punch Boruto. But thinking of big brother now... Hmph, she didn't need to bother with Boruto anymore!

Someone like him could never hope to catch up to big brother's pace! Sarada gave a cold snort and turned her head, refusing to pay Boruto any more attention.

Boruto was left choking on his words, not knowing whether to vent or swallow them back down. He could only sit there with arms crossed and turn his head away as well. However, upon seeing Chitose's empty seat, unease rose in his heart for no reason.

Anxiously waiting until class started, Chitose still hadn't come. After sitting through the first period, finally, in Moegi's second period, Boruto couldn't hold back anymore. He abruptly stood up, "Moegi-sensei! Why didn't Chitose come today?"

Moegi paused in her steps towards the podium. As she continued walking, she said, "Sit down, Boruto. Class has already started."

"But—!" Boruto became anxious.

"Alright! I was just about to talk about Chitose's situation, don't be impatient!" Moegi heavily put down the textbook, looking rather solemnly at Boruto.

Boruto bit his teeth and finally reluctantly sat down, but his body remained leaning forward and those bright blue eyes filled with urgency and worry represented his current mood.

At this moment, the classroom had already fallen silent. All the students, led by Shikadai and the other boys who had trained together with Chitose, were anxiously waiting for Moegi's answer.

Only Sarada was feeling somewhat sad yet also proud as she rested her cheek in a hand and looked back diagonally at her big brother's seat.

Moegi sighed.

Boruto's heart tightened.

"Uchiha Chitose has passed the ninja academy's graduation exam this morning and has become a Genin."

The classroom instantly became silent enough to hear a pin drop.

Boruto's eyes widened slowly as his pupils gradually shrank. His tightly clenched fists that one could clearly see were trembling more and more violently.

Chitose... won't come back to school anymore?

"Bang!!"

"Swish—!"

"Boruto, stop!!"

The sounds that rang out in the classroom caught all the students completely off guard. The golden figure had already dashed to the classroom door upon hearing Moegi's shocked and extremely stern shout. His footsteps halted for a moment and he hesitated before taking two more steps, finally coming to a stop.

"Return to your seat, Boruto." Moegi softened her tone but her voice remained low as she spoke to Boruto.

Despite it only being a short three months... Chitose was still her student after all. And thinking of that child's conscientiousness and eagerness to learn, as well as the things that slim shoulders of his had to bear... How could she not feel distressed?

However...

Moegi deeply sighed again. She couldn't stop him.

Picking up the textbook, Moegi took another worried look at Boruto who hung his head as he returned to his seat before glancing at Sarada who had a forlorn expression as she gazed out the window absent-mindedly. Feeling troubled, she heavily started the lesson.

But... was Boruto someone who would obediently listen?

***

Afternoon, at the gates of Leaf Village.

Sarada and Sakura stood together, across from them was Chitose who was already prepared to depart.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

"Do you really have to leave today instead of waiting until tomorrow morning?" Sakura asked worriedly as she watched the boy who was about to travel far away.

"I'm afraid not, time is tight," Chitose calmly replied. Then he bowed deeply to Sakura who had cared for him meticulously, "I will return as soon as possible. Please take care of yourself!"

"Really?" Sarada, who had been silently lowering her head with arms crossed the entire time, suddenly spoke up.

Chitose and Sakura were both startled. Then, Sarada slowly lifted her head, tears glistening as they slid down her cheeks with the movement.

"Big brother... Are you really coming back? You really won't...won't trick me like dad did, will you?!"

Chitose watched as the girl asked him seriously, tears flowing freely. He could only feel his softest spot stirred once more.

Three months had passed, even exceeding the original timeframe by a lot. Yet Sasuke who had made a promise to his daughter...

Sarada didn't say it out loud but with a day of anticipation completely dashed in an instant, only she herself knew the depth of her disappointment.

No matter how mature and sensible she was, she was still only a 10-year-old child. How much anxiety and loneliness had she endured? How many people truly understood? Always forcing herself to smile cheerfully and considerately for others, the girl finally today, in her mother's embrace, released all her pent up emotions and cried loudly without caring what others might think.

Her father who hadn't come home for ten years had hurt Sarada tremendously and the estrangement between father and daughter couldn't be mended by those few days from three months ago. And now, the first promise between father and daughter shattering, that promise which the girl had poured all her hopes and expectations into falling through completely, it directly pushed the anxiety and despair in her heart to the peak.

And now, her brother whom she relied heavily upon leaving too, it thoroughly shattered her. No matter how old one grew, a promise from a boy always moved one so.

Sakura looked again at her obviously stunned daughter. How blessed she and Sarada were to obtain such a promise in their fleeting lifetime.

Chitose watched the tearful Sarada and sighed. This was his most cherished little sister, his most important family. Sarada relied completely on him and how could he not dote heavily on Sarada? Therefore, he absolutely could not let her cry.

The atmosphere on this side was warm and moving. Suddenly, a lazy voice intruded in a manner that completely ruined it, "Yo yo, very sorry for interrupting your touching farewell... but we're about ready to go, little Chitose."

Chitose's movements hitched before he helplessly glanced at the speaker, "Since you know you're being sorry for intruding, you should have waited a little longer! Kakashi-sensei!"

His gaze lingered for a second on the man whose expression seemed to say "maa maa, don't fuss over such trivial things" before noticing the boy at Kakashi's side sporting a Leaf forehead protector.

He faintly frowned.

On the other side, Sakura was expressing her thanks to Kakashi for escorting Chitose to the boundary of the Shinobi world. During this process, that boy didn't utter a single word.

However...

Sarada tightly hugged her brother's arm, and upon seeing that unfamiliar boy conceal his entire body behind Kakashi under her brother's gaze, she curiously tilted her head.

Timid? No, doesn't seem like it.

Why does she feel... that person is actually... acting guilty?

Finally, the three left the village without most villagers knowing. And when their backs could barely be seen, Sarada suddenly recalled something. She cupped both hands around her mouth and shouted, "Big brother--! What you said just now definitely can't be told to another girl, got it--?! Did you hear--?!"

Chitose's footsteps halted for a moment before the corners of his lips curved up faintly, containing helpless resignation, doting affection. Without turning back, he casually waved a hand above his head.

What Sarada didn't see from her angle was that after hearing her words, the boy walking beside Chitose had dazed out for some reason as he stared at the smile at the corner of Chitose's mouth.

After walking for a while, Chitose remembered his new teammate and began to assess him. Kakashi noticed his gaze and stopped, saying, "Well, it's about time we get to know each other."

The two behind him also stopped and faced each other.

Chitose, hands in his pockets, a simple backpack on his back, black short hair, exquisite and perfect features with a hint of natural coldness, tall and slender. He exuded a clean and sharp aura, accentuated by his all-black attire, reflecting his cold and somewhat tough demeanor.

As for the young man chosen by Naruto...

Chitose scrutinized him.

He was almost the same height as Chitose, lean and somewhat delicate. His hair was a dazzling red, and his ice-blue eyes had a captivating, cold brilliance.

He was a very handsome young man. Describing him as such was not an exaggeration; his features were even more refined than Chitose's. He seemed slightly older than Chitose, but appeared somewhat fragile, a complete contrast to Chitose's icy and sharp presence.

"Cough, let me introduce. Chitose, this is one of the most outstanding Genin in Konoha at the moment. Due to some circumstances, he's temporarily in standby mode alone. Naruto directly had him join your team."

"A team? He can't enter the Hunter's Country." Chitose furrowed his brows slightly. "Not just him, including you, Kakashi-sensei, you can only escort me to the border between the Shinobi World and the Hunter's Country."

"Well, of course—"

"Why can't we enter?" The silent young man finally spoke, his tone somewhat urgent, his voice crisp and pleasant, with a hint of ethereal quality that matched his appearance.

But this tone...

Chitose gave him a strange look, feeling a peculiar sense of discord, like his voice and his tone didn't quite match.

—But it had nothing to do with him.

He took out a tricolored card from his luggage and showed it to the two. "This is the reason I can cross that border, a pass-like thing."

Kakashi lazily glanced at it. "Oh, left by your mother?"

Chitose put away the card and nodded slightly. "Exactly. It was borrowed from a friend of my mother's."

The air fell silent for a moment. Then Kakashi broke the silence, "Alright, let's have some introductions. The journey is long, and we might encounter enemies, so let's discuss our preferred combat styles."

"I'll go first." The handsome young man spoke up.

Chitose frowned slightly. Here it comes again, that strange feeling.

"I am Kamizaki Yosuke. Genin, proficient in... Lightning Release and swordsmanship. Lacking in stamina."

Kakashi silently glanced at him.

His introduction matched his profile.

"Uchiha Chitose. Genin, proficient in Fire Release and Taijutsu, master of Genjutsu."

Kakashi sighed. Quite boastful. But... it's about right. But, little Chitose, can you not hide your true strength? What about the Sharingan? Alchemy?

Oh well. Teamwork would have to be gradually honed.

He looked wordlessly at the sky, then saw Chitose take out a map and approached, "Oh, well-prepared. So..."

"We need four days to reach the border. Time is tight, so there's only one place for an overnight rest in between, the rest of the time will be spent on the road." Chitose took over the conversation, outlining the upcoming itinerary.

Seeing Kakashi looking his way, Chitose's expression remained unchanged, "It’s my aunt who hired this ninja, right, Kakashi-sensei?"

Kakashi silently lowered his head to look at the map. Knew he couldn't hide it. Well, now he could only be an ordinary team member. Who asked him to be 'hired'?

"Very well, then next..." Chitose pointed to a point on the map, where the borders of the Rain Country and the Stone Country met.

"Heading towards the city of Kala, let's go."