Sasuke asked Boruto if he was okay, his voice steady yet filled with concern. Instead of replying, Boruto abruptly stepped out of the bed, his movements frantic, and bolted toward the door. His chest tightened as emotions surged through him—fear, confusion, and an overwhelming need to escape from the suffocating atmosphere of the hospital and the haunting memories of recent events.
"Boruto!" Naruto and Sasuke called out urgently, rushing to stop him. Naruto grabbed his son firmly by the shoulders, his voice calm but commanding. "Boruto, calm down! He's gone; you're safe now. I'm here." Despite Naruto's reassuring words, Boruto continued to struggle against their grasp, his breathing uneven and his eyes brimming with panic. "I want to go home!" he shouted desperately, his voice cracking under the weight of his emotions. "I don't want to stay here anymore!"
The sterile smell of antiseptic mixed with the faint hum of medical equipment only heightened Boruto's distress. The hospital walls seemed to close in on him, amplifying his sense of vulnerability. Sasuke stood by, silent but resolute, his presence a steady anchor amidst the chaos. Yet Boruto's resistance grew stronger as he fought against their hold, consumed by a primal need to escape.
Sakura entered the room swiftly, assessing the situation with practiced precision. Seeing Boruto's panicked state and realizing that words alone wouldn't calm him down, she prepared a sedative. "I'm sorry, Boruto," she murmured softly before administering the medicine. Moments later, Boruto's struggles weakened, and his body relaxed as he succumbed to unconsciousness.
Naruto gently laid him back onto the hospital bed while Sasuke stood nearby, his gaze fixed on Boruto with a mixture of concern and quiet determination. "He's been through too much," Naruto said softly, his voice heavy with guilt and worry. Sakura nodded solemnly, her expression reflecting both compassion and understanding. The room fell silent except for the rhythmic beeping of the monitors—a fragile peace restored but shadowed by lingering fears for what lay ahead.
There was a heavy silence in the room, broken only by Sakura's trembling voice. "I can't believe someone tried to do that to a kid in my presence. I'm so sorry... please forgive me, Naruto. I failed to protect your child," she said, her voice thick with remorse as she lowered her head, unable to meet his eyes.
Naruto could see the pain etched into his friend's face, her guilt weighing heavily on her shoulders. Without hesitation, he stepped forward and gently wrapped his arms around her in a comforting embrace. "Hey, hey, it's okay, Sakura," he said softly, his voice steady yet warm. "You stopped him before he could do anything to Boruto. That's what matters most. You have nothing to apologize for."
Sasuke, standing nearby with his arms crossed, nodded in agreement. His sharp gaze softened as he added firmly, "Naruto is right. You acted quickly and saved Boruto in time. If anything, we owe you for protecting him when we couldn't."
Despite their reassurances, Sakura remained silent, her guilt still gnawing at her heart. She clenched her fists tightly, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. Naruto noticed her expression and tightened his embrace slightly, speaking with even more conviction. "Sakura," he said gently but firmly, "I know what you're thinking—but don't blame yourself for this. You did everything you could, and because of you, Boruto is still here with us."
Finally, Sakura's composure broke as tears streamed down her face. Her voice cracked as she whispered through sobs, "I... I can't believe he's just 11 years old. How could someone try to hurt him like that?" Her empathy for Boruto and his parents overwhelmed her as she cried openly.
Naruto continued to hold her, his own heart heavy with emotion but resolute in comforting his friend. Sasuke remained close by, his silent presence offering additional support. The room was filled with a shared grief.
Naruto and Sasuke nodded solemnly, their expressions a mix of anger and sorrow at the thought of anyone daring to harm Boruto. Sasuke's eyes narrowed, his tone bitter and filled with disgust as he finally spoke. "There are some truly sick people in this world... But don't worry, Sakura. That man will pay dearly for even thinking about laying a hand on Boruto. We'll make sure of it."
Sakura slowly nodded, though her face remained troubled. After a moment of silence, she hesitantly suggested, "I think it might be better if Sasuke took him outside the village for a while. I don't know what's wrong with him, but maybe some time away will help him clear his head."
Naruto and Sasuke exchanged a glance, understanding the weight of her words. Naruto sighed softly before responding, "Yeah, I think you're right. Taking Boruto outside the village might be good for him. It'll give him some space to breathe and recover after everything that's happened."
Sasuke nodded in agreement, his voice calm but resolute as he added, "I'll take him somewhere safe—somewhere quiet where he can process everything without distractions. He needs time to heal, both physically and mentally."
Sakura looked relieved but still concerned as she glanced at Naruto. "You'll let me know if anything changes, right? I just want to make sure he's okay..." Her voice trailed off as she bit her lip, guilt still lingering in her heart.
Naruto placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder and smiled faintly. "Of course, Sakura. We'll do whatever it takes to help Boruto get through this." His voice carried a quiet determination that seemed to ease some of her worry.
As the conversation ended, the three stood in silence for a moment, each lost in their thoughts. The weight of recent events hung heavy in the air, but there was also an unspoken resolve among them—a shared understanding that they would do everything in their power to protect Boruto and ensure he found his way back to peace.
"Don't worry about a thing; we'll make sure he's safe and sound," Naruto said with determination, his voice carrying the weight of a father's unwavering resolve. He glanced at Boruto one last time before leaving the room to attend to his Hokage duties, entrusting his son to Sasuke and Sakura. As he reached the door, he turned back briefly, his expression softening. "Take good care of him and keep me updated," he reminded them, his tone firm but filled with concern.
Moments later, Hinata and Himawari entered the room, their faces etched with worry as they checked on Boruto. Hinata gently brushed her hand over Boruto's forehead, her maternal instincts kicking in as she whispered words of comfort. Himawari stood close by, clutching her mother's sleeve, her wide eyes reflecting anxiety for her brother. After staying for a while and ensuring he was stable, they left quietly to give him space to rest.
Four hours passed before Boruto stirred awake, his breathing uneven as he tried to make sense of his surroundings. Panic began to creep in as the sterile hospital room came into focus, but the sight of Sasuke sitting nearby brought him a small measure of relief. He scanned the room quickly for his mother and sister but found it empty.
"Where… where are Mom and Himawari?" Boruto asked hesitantly, his voice shaky and uncertain.
"They left an hour ago while you were sleeping," Sasuke replied calmly, his gaze steady as he tried to reassure the boy.
Boruto felt a pang of sadness at their absence but also relief that they weren't there to see him in such a vulnerable state. "I see…" he murmured quietly, his voice barely audible.
Sasuke leaned forward slightly, observing him with a thoughtful expression before asking, "Do you want anything to eat?"
Boruto hesitated for a moment before replying, "I'm not really hungry right now… but some water would be nice. I'm quite thirsty."
Without a word, Sasuke stood up and walked out of the room. He returned moments later with a glass half-filled with water and handed it to Boruto. "Here," Sasuke said simply.
Boruto took the glass from him with trembling hands and muttered softly, "Thank you..." He brought it to his lips and took a sip, the cool liquid soothing his parched throat. As he set the glass down on the bedside table, he glanced at Sasuke again. Though he didn't say it aloud, Boruto felt grateful for Sasuke's quiet presence—it was comforting in a way words couldn't express.
The room remained silent after that, save for the faint hum of medical equipment. Sasuke stayed by Boruto's side, his watchful demeanor offering an unspoken promise: no matter what had happened or what lay ahead, Boruto wouldn't face it alone.
After some time, Sasuke broke the silence, which was quite unusual for him. He sensed the heaviness in the air and felt a deep concern for Boruto's well-being. Wanting to help lift his spirits, he recalled how Boruto always enjoyed the peculiar combination of hamburgers and orange juice—a comfort food that seemed to brighten his mood even on the darkest days. In his normal stoic tone, he asked, "Would you like some orange juice?" Given Boruto's fondness for it, Sasuke expected a positive response.
However, instead of replying, Boruto stared blankly at the empty glass on the bedside table. His mind drifted back to a troubling memory—the image of a woman offering him orange juice accompanied by pancakes. The recollection sent a wave of nausea crashing over him, twisting his stomach in knots as he remembered the sickening reality of that moment—the drugged orange juice that had led to such chaos and pain. Tears welled up in his eyes as the memory resurfaced, flooding him with fear and confusion.
"Boruto, I want you to tell me what's going on," Sasuke urged, concern etched across his features as he leaned closer, hoping to coax the truth from the troubled boy.
Boruto swallowed hard, grappling with the turmoil inside him. He paused for a moment, struggling to find the right words to explain what had happened. Taking a deep, shaky breath, he finally managed to speak. "I... I..."
Sasuke remained patient, giving Boruto the space he needed without pushing too hard. He could see the conflict in Boruto's eyes—the boy was fighting against something far greater than just words. As Boruto tried to continue, however, the words caught in his throat like thorns. His voice quivered as he spoke, tears streaming down his cheeks unchecked.
"I... I don't know... I can't... I can't..." His voice broke off into a choked whisper as despair washed over him. Each word felt like a weight too heavy to bear, and the fear of reliving those moments made it even harder for him to articulate what he had experienced.
Sasuke's heart ached at seeing Boruto so vulnerable and lost. He reached out tentatively, placing a reassuring hand on Boruto's shoulder. "It's okay," he said softly. "You don't have to say everything right now. Just know that I'm here for you." The sincerity in Sasuke's voice wrapped around Boruto like a protective shield, offering a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness that threatened to consume him.
Sasuke sighed, feeling the weight of concern pressing down on him as he searched for a way to help Boruto. He knew that the boy needed a distraction, something to pull him out of the darkness that seemed to envelop him. Suddenly, an idea struck him, and he decided to change the topic entirely. "Boruto," he began, his tone brightening slightly, "I'm going out of the village for a while. Let's go on a trip!" He hoped that this announcement would spark excitement in Boruto, igniting a flicker of joy in his otherwise troubled heart.
However, to Sasuke's dismay, Boruto did not react as he had imagined. Instead of the enthusiastic response he expected, Boruto remained silent and still, his expression vacant and his eyes devoid of life. The excitement that Sasuke had anticipated evaporated into thin air, leaving behind an unsettling silence that only deepened Sasuke's worry.
Boruto sat there quietly, his mind racing yet blank at the same time. He heard Sasuke's words but felt detached from them, as if they were echoes in a distant room. The thought of a trip should have thrilled him; it was an opportunity for adventure and escape from the weight of his recent experiences. Yet, he couldn't muster any emotion—no excitement or happiness—just an overwhelming sense of numbness.
Seeing Boruto's lack of reaction only heightened Sasuke's concern. He studied the boy's face closely, searching for any sign of the spirited child he knew so well. Instead, all he found was a haunting emptiness that made his heart ache. What was going on in Boruto's head? Sasuke wondered anxiously. Was he still trapped in the aftermath of what had happened?
Sasuke felt a surge of determination to break through the wall that seemed to have formed around Boruto's heart. He leaned forward slightly, trying to catch Boruto's gaze. "I know things have been tough lately," he said gently, "but I promise this trip will be different. It'll be a chance for you to breathe and just be yourself again." His voice was steady but infused with warmth, hoping to reach the part of Boruto that still yearned for adventure and connection.
But Boruto merely blinked at him, his mind swirling with thoughts that felt too heavy to articulate. The prospect of leaving the village seemed daunting rather than liberating; it felt like another layer of pressure added to an already overwhelming situation. Sasuke's heart sank further as he realized how deeply affected Boruto was by everything that had transpired.
Sasuke stared at Boruto for a moment, his keen eyes trying to penetrate the boy's blank expression in search of any hint of what he might be feeling or thinking. The silence between them felt heavy, thick with unspoken words and emotions. Boruto's face was a mask of emptiness, revealing nothing of the storm brewing inside him. Noticing this, Sasuke took a deep breath and slowly spoke up, his voice gentle and soothing.
"Boruto... are you okay? You don't seem excited about going on a trip," he asked, hoping to coax some reaction from the boy.
Upon hearing Sasuke's gentle voice and his inquiry about his lack of enthusiasm, Boruto felt a pang of awareness wash over him. He knew Sasuke was observing him closely, trying to decipher the turmoil behind his eyes. However, Boruto remained silent for a moment, grappling with his emotions before finally speaking in a quiet voice that barely rose above a whisper. "I don't feel like going, Sensei."
Sasuke's eyes widened slightly at Boruto's blunt response; he hadn't anticipated such a straightforward rejection from the usually spirited boy. "You... don't want to go? Why?" he asked softly, concern threading through his words as he leaned in slightly, eager to understand.
Boruto stayed silent again, wrestling with the urge to explain himself. He felt that sharing his reasoning would only expose him as weak and vulnerable—something he desperately wanted to avoid. Instead, he fiddled with the bedsheets, his fingers tracing the fabric anxiously while he avoided Sasuke's gaze once more. The bed felt like a safe haven, a barrier against the world outside where everything seemed overwhelming and chaotic.
Sasuke went silent, recognizing the internal struggle that Boruto was facing. He understood that the boy wasn't ready to talk about what was troubling him just yet. Instead of pressing for answers, Sasuke decided to offer comfort in silence. He settled into a more relaxed posture beside Boruto's bed, allowing his presence to convey support without words.
The room was filled with an almost palpable tension as they sat together—Sasuke's steady presence acting as an anchor for Boruto amidst the storm of emotions swirling within him. He could sense Boruto's unease and frustration but knew that pushing too hard would only drive him further away. So, he remained there quietly, offering a silent promise that he would be there whenever Boruto was ready to share what weighed on his heart.