Chapter Three

                                    

                                          
KONOHAGAKURE
Evening
                          
Boruto was leaning against the door frame in the Hokage's office with his arms folded, rubbing his shoe mindlessly against the door while Sasuke worked on his table. He had been standing there for almost an hour now, despite being told to go home. 
                          
"If there's anything you need Uncle," Sasuke stopped writing and looked up to see Bolt still hadn't left.
                          
He almost forgot Bolt was still there despite being able to feel his chakra signature. Boruto looked up and met Sasuke's gaze. 
                          
"I mean, if there's anything you need me to... do -- or to talk about... I don't know, just anything really. I wouldn't be on missions in the next few days."
                          
"Yes, Bolt. The shifts can get pretty draining, so I need you to rest. There's no need to push yourself. I have plenty of manpower," Sasuke gave a slight nod before he went back to writing.
                          
"I wasn't really talking about missions, Uncle," Boruto straightened up, placing his hands on his waist. "If you needed me -- of course I know you wouldn't -- but, you know. You get what I mean, don't you?"
                          
Sasuke looked at him and smiled. Bolt reminded him of Naruto, with how he struggled to explain himself clearly. Naruto  always struggled the same way, always having difficulty expressing himself in words while being ridiculously sentimental or emotional. Even after the loser became Hokage, it didn't change.
                          
"Yes, I know what you mean, Bolt,"
                          
"Okay," Boruto flashed a wide grin to Sasuke and mindlessly scratched the back of his head, so much like how Naruto used to. 
                          
Sasuke sighed. He took so much after the loser.
                          
"I have to get going then," Boruto exclaimed, turning his back to Sasuke.
                          
"What I have been telling you Boruto, your mother and sister could really use your help at home," 
                          
"You too, Uncle Sasuke! Sarada might pull the attitude on you again if you stay out too late. No consecutive nights, remember --"
                          
"Bolt," Sasuke shot up and Boruto turned to face him again just before he turned the corner.
                          
"Yes?"
                          
"If you happen to run into her, just in case... walk her home?" 
                          
Uncle Sasuke knows his daughter well, of course she'd still be out there, Boruto thought.
                          
"Yep, I will," Bolt gave a quick salute and took off.
                          
As soon as the sound of his student's footsteps died, Sasuke slumped back to his chair and turned, looking far out the window. 
                          
Nothing unusual. The moon shone the same way it had the night before. It was unbelievably quiet and still, but just as it had always been. 
                          
For two years, no one in Konoha, save for the ANBU doing their rounds, left their homes as soon as the sun went down. For two years, the children were not allowed to play outside, even in broad daylight, without an overlooking shinobi. For two years, the ANBU escorted whoever stayed beyond the curfew straight to their homes unless presented with a permission slip or a valid reason not to. And for two years, the gates of Konoha remained close to outsiders unless the Hokage himself determined they have reasons acceptable enough to enter the gates.
                          
Ever since the incident, ever since the day Sasuke had to take over his best friend's position, Konoha had been overprotective of its people. Rules foreign to the citizens of the village, both young and old, were implemented as Sasuke saw necessary.
                          
No one questioned him, and everyone felt safer -- at least that's what Shikamaru assured Sasuke. There was peace among the different villages, but their defense against unknown threats existing outside the treaties could not always be guaranteed.