Only Time Can Tell

RUNNING OUT OF TIME

"I'm three!"

"Oh wow, congratulations! You're really growing up!" I smiled. Was I ever that small?

His eyes went unfocused for a moment and then he blinked meeting my eyes again. "Papa says you're a...um...a ba....a baka!"

"Did he?" I sigh. '

Sasuke smirks at me. "Yes, I did."

"What did I do this time?"

"Well...you've been requested five times, by your own father to go on a solo mission, why haven't you answered any of them? Numerous invitations from the anbu and police force...You're an adult now Boruto, one of these days you're going to need to feed yourself. What do you have planned?"

"Well...I denied them all because Dad was being so annoying about it." Dad turned around and frowned at me. "What?! It's true. But I'm not sure what I want to do..."

"You're fairly skilled, you've gotten very high marks on all of the missions you've completed and your jutsu talents have drawn the attention of pretty much every organization in the village. You've got lots of options."

"Yeah, like you've got shio ramen, and shoyu ramen, and miso ramen, and tonkotsu-"

"Naruto." Sasuke sighed. "We're all aware of your knowledge of noodles, it's something that has actually managed to penetrate that thick skull of your's. But this isn't the same. A bowl of ramen does not change your life's direction."

"Well...that could be argued...." Dad pouted slouching back on the couch. "Ya know...you could always try to be Hokage if you wanted..." Dad grinned back at me.

"Not a chance." I said immediately. "That's your thing. Not mine." My dad sighed.

"Hima!" I heard mom call from upstairs. "Inojin's headed this way!" I heard the pounding of Hima's feet as she raced down the hall and down the stairs, running past me.

"In a hurry?" I teased.

"You wouldn't get it away." Hima smirked as she passed. She whipped open the front door and ran down the street in her bare feet. She's right...I may never understand her. Or how she feels about Inojin.

I heard the sound of someone mumbling. I looked back at Sasuke who had his eyebrows raised like he had asked my a question and I hadn't responded. "Uh...huh?"

"I said..." Sasuke sighed. "You've got to stay focused and find something that fits you. Do you have any ideas that you want to pursue specifically?"

"Uh..." It's weird...having him talk to me like this. LIke a guidance counselor not a strict sensei which is what he's like most of the time. He must be in a good mood today. "Maybe Anbu? The police thing is too pompous and is full of figureheads...it would probably be boring. There's no way I'm just gonna sit in a chair all of my life."

Sasuke glared at me suddenly. "You do realize that the police force used to be primarily under Uchiha control?"

"Yeah, it was probably cool back then but now...the Hyuuga have just made it boring." I thought for a moment. "I could probably be a sensei too...but I'm not good with kids..."

"Yes you are, Bo-chan!"

"Hn?"

"You are, you are, you are!" Chikara chanted jumping up and down. "I like you, Bo-chan. Even if you are a...a baka!" He shouted proudly.

"Looks like he's getting Sasuke's vocabulary." My mother smiled from in the stairway as she made her way to the couch, snuggling up close to my dad.

"I don't know..."

"You could try an apprenticeship if you wanted. I know that Daichi has been looking for a good apprentice to reel your sister in."

"You think I can do that?" I huffed. "Yeah...like that's even possible. For anyone!" Besides mom. Mom does a pretty great job when it comes to talking with Himawari. It's impressive. "I'll look into it." I sigh. "Why are you so worried about this all the sudden?"

Sasuke turned away from me. "Well...Sarada is moving out this weekend. I thought that you would be doing the same soon." That hit me hard in the stomach. Getting home cooked meals was the best, and your room wasn't always a mess, and you always had a human alarm if your alarm clock malfunctioned. Even if Himawari had a habit of ruining my mornings, moving out was something that somehow hadn't crossed my mind.

"Oh wow....good for her." She's independent. One of these days she gonna find a guy and settle down, get a real job...maybe even fulfill her dream of being Hokage, and have a family. Would I even see her anymore?

"Yeah...well at least we've still got this guy stuck in the nest for a while longer." Sasuke said bouncing Chikara around who squealed happily. "She's really excited I think." His eyes met mine and stayed eerily long. "One of these days she's gonna get married, you know?"

"Uh...sure." I looked away from him. Why is he saying this?!

"If anybody...wanted to get a hold of her....you know...she's 3 blocks north of the Uchiha compound...if anybody ever needed to say anything..." I turned my head widening my eyes in horror at what he was insinuating but he was focused on Chikara. Did I imagine him saying that?

"Good...to know..." I said awkwardly. "Was there anything else you wanted to talk to me about Master Sasuke?" I said quickly moving the subject away from Sarada.

"That was all." Sasuke said throwing Chikara up into the air and standing up to catch him in his arms leaving the couch. He walked towards me and towards the door. A cool breeze overwhelmed me. "You know you're running out of time, right?" His voice said coldly. His eyes locked on mine for just a millisecond. "Don't do anything stupid." His voice chopped off leaving my body hollow. Whoa...

"Baka, baka, baka! Baka, baka, baka!" Chikara cheered as the door opened and they left. I'm running out of time?