?????? ????? (Boruto x oc) ?

As the group settled back down, preparing to get some rest for the night, Sasuke couldn’t help but steal one last glance at Itaki. She was sitting comfortably, her posture relaxed yet strong, and for a fleeting moment, he thought about all the things he had missed—things he couldn’t change. But what mattered now, more than anything, was that she was here, and she was strong, independent, and growing into someone he could be proud of.

The fire crackled softly in the background, the night settling around them as they prepared for the journey ahead. And for the first time in a long while, Sasuke allowed himself to feel something he rarely allowed: contentment.

And as Itaki, Boruto, and even Teen Sasuke prepared to get some rest, Sasuke, though quiet and stoic as ever, couldn’t help but feel like he had finally found a place where, despite everything, his family—his true family—was exactly where they needed to be.

---

The next morning, as the group packed up camp and prepared for their journey, the quiet atmosphere was broken by Boruto, who was trying to organize his gear. He absentmindedly muttered to himself, “Sarada’s been working hard lately. I think she might be getting stronger than me.”

Itaki, who had been silently checking her own supplies, smirked at Boruto’s comment. “She’s definitely been putting in the effort. I wouldn’t be surprised if she overtakes you soon.”

Boruto rolled his eyes but chuckled. “I guess it wouldn’t be the worst thing. She's got the brains, after all.”

At that, Teen Sasuke, who had been keeping to himself, raised an eyebrow and looked at them with curiosity. “Who’s Sarada?”

Boruto paused and glanced at Itaki, unsure of how to respond. "Oh, right. She’s… well, she’s my friend and Itaki’s sister. Pretty strong, too."

Itaki shot Boruto a playful glare. “You make it sound like I’m not strong.” She let out a soft laugh. "Sarada’s like family, Sasuke. She’s my twin sister."

Teen Sasuke’s expression remained neutral, but his interest piqued. “Twin sister? And what about this ‘Boruto’ person?” He gestured at the boy. "Who is he?"

Boruto cleared his throat awkwardly, standing up and giving his usual confident smile. “I’m Naruto Uzumaki’s son. You know, the Hokage?”

Teen Sasuke’s gaze shifted between Boruto and Itaki, seemingly processing the information. "Naruto's son?" He seemed almost thoughtful for a moment. "And... Itaki, you're the younger twin of Sarada?"

Itaki nodded, crossing her arms with a smirk. “Yeah, that’s right. Don’t let the cuteness fool you.”

Teen Sasuke narrowed his eyes slightly at Itaki, clearly intrigued but not fully showing it. “Hmm. Interesting. You two certainly seem different from what I expected.”

Before the conversation could go any further, Boruto scratched the back of his head. “So, uh, you don’t know Sarada, huh? I thought you might have heard of her by now.”

Teen Sasuke shrugged. “I’ve been busy. I’m sure she’s... around somewhere.”

There was a slight silence as Teen Sasuke turned his attention back to the road, and Boruto exchanged a quick glance with Itaki. Sasuke, watching from a distance, raised an eyebrow but said nothing, his arms crossed as he studied his younger self’s behavior.

“Well, I’m glad we cleared that up,” Boruto said, breaking the quiet tension. “Let’s get moving. We’ve got a long way to go before we reach the next destination.”

Teen Sasuke remained silent for a moment before grumbling under his breath, “You’re an odd group of travelers. I’ll give you that.”

Itaki laughed softly and nudged Boruto. “At least we’ve got his attention now.”