And what of Sasuke and Sakuras’ family? Would he understand, or would he abandon her permanently? Then again, Sasuke was a playboy once upon a time, so… Maybe not? And what about Itachi too…? He’s so doting around Sarada. Her daughter might also despise Sakura simply by thinking she has a child with another that’s not her husband’s.

The sinking feeling in Hinata’s stomach was getting worse. Suppose that boy went out and told everyone that he was Sakura and Menma’s son. Indeed, her, Sakura’s, and Menma’s reputations would be damaged beyond repair. Sakura could lose her job permanently as a Medical Ninja. Even if the villagers respected her for being the 4th Hokage’s Kizashi’s daughter, that would change if people learned of Shinachiku’s existence and claimed Sakura to be unfaithful towards her husband. The Hokage’s name would also be dragged into the mud, and he might even be taken down as Hokage, and they might re-inaugurate Kakashi back as 6th Hokage.

‘One thing’s for sure, though,’ Hinata thought as she entered the living room, which was now to become Shinachiku’s room until they could bring him back home to his world. The room was empty due to Shinachiku and Boruto being out in the training field, leaving just her and Himawari home alone until the boys returned, “No one could ever know who he was.” Hinata whispered to herself, determination in her eyes.

If Shinachiku wanted to go out in public, he’d need some disguise… Perhaps Hinata could invest in getting some colored contact lenses for now to hide those green eyes of his. And as for the hair… She supposed they could quickly come up with the excuse that Shinachiku was just an older sibling they’d sent away for training. And he was born before hers, and Menma’s wedding or something, and that’s why they hadn’t said anything about having a secret third child. Could that kind of excuse even work? Hinata sighed as she sat at the dining room table and rested her hand on her face.

“What about when Shinachiku inevitably goes back home? What then? Could they say he was just a friend of Boruto’s than staying with them for a while?” Hinata groaned in frustration. Surely Menma wouldn’t stand to put Shinachiku under house arrest… That’d just be cruel. And besides, he and Boruto were getting along reasonably well anyways…

‘Ugh, just what do I do…? Menma… please come home soon today….’ Hinata sighed again. Himawari had come over with a worried expression and silently padded over to her mother on bare feet and gently wrapped her hands around her own to comfort her.

“Is something the matter, Lord Hokage?” Choji asked when he noticed Menma shifting around on his desk nervously. Occasionally moving his gaze to him and onto the documents on his table. It was very unlike him.

Menma leaned backward in his seat with a frown, “Sorry, nothing’s wrong. It’s just… I can’t get what that kid said out of my head. It all sounds so unreal, dattebayo.”

“Hmm, yes, it does.” Choji agreed, “Unfortunately, I think what he says might be true. You saw the e-mail from Sakura-chan, correct? About the test results from both of your DNA?”

“Ugh, yes, I have… and that makes this mess even more annoying! You’ve seen the kid; he looks like he could be Boruto’s older brother. He knew something that only Sakura-chan and I know of.”

“Look, I know you have a big heart regarding kids. But you can’t immediately just believe what he said. Especially not with your rank and everything.”

“I know. I know. It’s just…. that I’ve met the kid’s dad before. At that time, I thought it couldn’t be real either.” Menma sighed. “But it happened. Even my parents and everyone else remember him well. He made an impression, that’s for sure, for the short time he was here. Only our Sakura had never met Naruto, but she was definitely in that other world at one point. So now, I don’t know.”

Choji approached him. “You told me that Madara trapped Naruto in his genjutsu and that that Naruto guy is supposed to be you but from another world, right? What exactly happened anyways, while you were gone and Naruto was trouncing around in the village pretending to be you?”

Menma pursed his lips together in thought. “Well… like I told Lady Hokage all those years ago, I was on a mission away from Konoha when Madara caught me off guard on my way home. It was instant, and… all I remember was seeing these red eyes, and then, after that, it all just became one big blur. I remember being mad at Naruto and fighting him, but… It was a very bizarre experience. Other than our fight, I never really got to talk to Naruto personally.”

“Hm, Interesting…” Choji replied, seeming to be deep in thought.

“Yeah… My parents said he was a pretty nice guy, though, despite everything. Like, they got the impression he’s been alone for a very long time… and that he seemed to appreciate the short amount of time he spent with them.” Menma then adds.

“... You sound as if you wish you could have met him again, Menma.” Choji points out. Menma gives him a sheepish smile.

“Maybe I do….” Menma professed honestly.

“How about the Sakura of that world? Have you talked to her?” Choji questioned again

Menma stopped for a moment before shaking his head. “No, I kidnapped her… That much I remembered, due to Madara’s influence, and we also fought briefly, but… no. I never got to know her, either.

Choji then let out an audible sigh and slowly went by Menma’s side. “So, what’s your plan now?”

“I…I don’t know. But, for now, I just want to keep him safe. Until we know why he was sent here and for what reason. I also have to find a way to bring him back,” Menma confessed, determination strong in his eyes and voice, causing Choji to smirk and nod. “I know his parents back where he belongs must be worried sick for him after all… So… I won’t rest until we figure this out!”

“Of course, Lord Hokage,” Choji replies. “But uh- please get some rest here and there, alright?”

Shinachiku caught the kunai Boruto threw at him, as it cut through the air with a lazy swipe of his hand. Then, using the kunai he’d caught, he deflected the follow-up shuriken aimed directly at his head by one of the Boruto clones.

The blonde-haired boy who’d thrown both of them lunged out of the tree line. His feet getting an extra speed boost from the last 2 clones using wind style to send him flying. His palm was left open for a Gentle First attack. Shinachiku ducked, allowing the kid to fly over his head. Even as he heard Boruto scream out a “Boruto Stream!”

Boruto immediately growled in annoyance as he caught his fall with his hands, doing a back flip before charging at Shinachiku once again, throwing several punches and kicks at him, to which Shinachiku dodged easily, forgetting that he was fighting someone barely even in the Ninja Academy because he got a 2-week suspension for destroying Menma’s face on the Hokage Stone Monument.

Once Shina saw an opening, he caught the boy by the wrist and flung him at the tree line. Shina did wince, however, at the sound of breaking tree branches and a groaning seven-year-old who had probably never been so obviously outclassed before. ‘Go easy on him, Shina! He’s not even in the Academy yet!’ He told himself repeatedly in his thoughts, even as he watched Boruto dust himself off and slowly climb out of the trees, breathing heavily.

Then again, he thought the kid could do with some mild humility. Especially since it had become clear to Shina during this training session that Boruto was used to taking shortcuts and for things always to go his way. So he thought it was up to Shina to bring down the young boy a peg or two. And show him the dangers of becoming a ninja.

“Wanna give it a rest, Boruto?” Shinachiku asked him, a little worried if he was being too harsh. “I can’t believe you already know Chakra Natures; c’mon, let’s go eat or something!”

Boruto glared at this and frowned, “Very funny, hey, I thought you said you would help me practice-tebasa!!”

“I did. I just never said I’d make it easy for you-tenaro….” Shinachiku replies, matter-of-factly, as he places his hands on his hips. “Seriously though, for keeping up with me, already a genin, you sure were taught well, despite your age. Are you sure you’re only just now starting in the Academy?”

“Of course! I just got a headstart with my ninjutsu, that’s all!”

“Oh… What, you planning on becoming Hokage someday like your father then?” Shinachiku questions, though this does seem to tick off Boruto a bit with that comment.

“What? Hell no, who’d ever want to be the Hokage?!” Boruto snarled.

The sudden change of attitude startled Shinachiku a bit as he thought back to what Hinata had said about how Menma was barely ever home most of the time. The thoughts of this version of his father being this bad and neglectful towards his own family saddened the young genin as he was momentarily distracted with his thoughts, ‘Right… I’m such an idiot. I forgot Boruto’s father is nothing like mine, apparently, but why? Is it because he and Sakura’s love in this world was unrequited? Is that why things turned out so bad?’ Shinachiku thought.

When Boruto noticed Shinachiku seemed distracted, Boruto decided to take the chance and go in for a surprise attack.

Once again, Boruto tried for the Boruto stream as he made the Shadow clones launch himself up into the air above Shinachiku with Wind Style ninjutsu. The third Shadow clone immediately threw a smoke bomb toward the Genin, covering his view as Boruto began falling. Boruto then did more hand signs, attacking Shinachiku with Wind Release: Gale Palm. A version of Gentle Fist, but forcing Wind Style ninjutsu out of the palm of his hands, the sharp winds cutting the other boy up to ribbons.

“Gah!! You little brat!!!” Shinachiku growled as he instinctively moved his arms up to try and defend himself. As he looked up and saw Boruto still falling and landing in front of him. The next thing Shinachiku noticed was that the other three clones had now surrounded him, all charging at the other boy with Gentle Fist and out of the ensuing smoke created by the smoke bomb.

However, Boruto didn’t have the Hyuga clans’ dojutsu “Byakugan” for Boruto to see all of Shinachiku’s chakra points. Still, seeing the Gentle Fist made Shinachiku worried. Even if Boruto couldn’t correctly target the chakra points, getting hit by the Gentle Fist at four different contact points could still do severe damage!

Shinachiku gritted his teeth as his brain quickly thought of the one thing he could still do, so Shinachiku quickly began channeling all of his chakras into his fists before punching the ground with all his strength. “HEY!! I WAS TALKING HERE, DAMNIT!! DATTENARO!!!”

Immediately, the ground below Boruto’s feet began to crack and split from the impact of strength Shinachiku had put into his fist.

The destruction caused the earth to turn what was once the flat green field of the Training grounds into a giant crater. The force of some of the environment and rocks flying into the air due to the ground breaking apart caused Borutos’ Shadow Clones to be hit by the flying debris and disappear. Boruto started to lose his footing, his face in complete shock and horror at the other blonde's immense strength.

‘What the-!?! He has the same monster strength Auntie Sakura and Sarada possess, dattebasa!!!’ Boruto thought analyzed, his ankle twisting as he started to fall, though Boruto was too shocked to notice the pain in his ankle, ‘Yeesh! He is DEFINITELY Auntie Sakura’s child from another world! No doubt about it, I’d better not piss him off too if I know what’s good for me!’

On the way home, carrying Boruto on his back after he accidentally hurt his ankle, the two Uzumakis’ took the backroads route towards Menma and Hinata’s house. Mainly because there would be fewer people to notice them and hopefully ask fewer questions about who Shinachiku was and why he looked so much like Boruto. Feeling the warmth of the other blonde on his back, the quiet time together passed by peacefully. Shinachiku was reminded of the times he had to carry home his sister, Hanami, similarly when she was reckless and constantly hurt herself trying to surpass their father, Naruto. Shinachiku’s aura sent faint ripples throughout Boruto’s body. “What’s the matter, Shina?”

“Huh? Oh, it’s nothing.” Shinachiku quickly answered, a faint blush on his cheeks. “I was just… reminiscing on something.”

“On what?” Boruto asked curiously.

“My sister, Hanami. I’d give her piggyback rides, just like I’m giving you right now. Heh, you remind me so much of her, you’re both so arrogant, and reckless, it’s almost amusing.”

Boruto grinned boldly, “You have a sister?! That’s so cool!”

“Yeah, I'm older than her by 3 years.” Shinachiku chuckles; the answer causing Boruto to straighten up a bit. Shinachiku’s mouth naturally stretched into a smile. “Before I disappeared, my mom was also pregnant with a third sibling for us too, though none of us know of its gender yet.”

“Awwww, that’s so cool! I hope you can go home before she gives birth.” Boruto soothed gently when he noticed the slight sadness in Shina’s voice, although he tried not to not Boruto hear it.

“Yeah, me too br- Boruto,” Shina replied, stopping himself from calling Boruto his brother. Even though, technically, it wasn’t exactly wrong to call him that. Half-brothers would be the more appropriate definition, but still.

Now it was Boruto’s turn for his own mouth to curve naturally into a smile as he gently nuzzled his cheek into the back of Shinachiku’s neck as the two continued to make the long journey it would typically take to get back to the Uzumaki household, going the backway.

In Boruto’s mind, he knew Shinachiku had to make it back home at some point, but a more selfish side of Boruto secretly hoped that Shina could stay just a bit longer. Despite the different parenthoods, it was nice to have a “brother” more his age to play with. Someone to rely on and make him stronger…

Someone he might even be able to vent to sometimes about Menma not being there for his family, and maybe unlike everyone else in the village, Shinachiku wouldn’t think too harshly of his frustrations. It felt as though maybe even Shinachiku felt the same way about him. Just judging from earlier when Shinachiku added that his own father, Naruto Uzumaki, was the total opposite of Menma.

Boruto hoped to learn more about Naruto in the upcoming days, so long as Shinachiku stayed with them. And maybe glean some intel based on those stories to be used on his own dad…