Inojin walked towards the park and saw Sarada playing. His face lightened up and he ran towards her.

"Sarada!"

Their mothers being the bestest friends and rivals. Inojin spend a lot time with Sarada. Sometimes in the hospital when their moms were working and also at home.

"Inojin. Hey." Sarada gave him a smile.
She treated Inojin as her family.

Inojin admired Sarada. She was always better than him or most of kids at every task. She was on the top spot. She had amazing skills, even when it comes to argument. Inojin had a secret admiration for her.

"Ano....Sarada... Do you want to be a ninja?"

Sarada scribbled on the sand with a twig and drew a shuriken.

"Well of course Inojin. My mom's a ninja and she is the coolest and the best person ever. Same goes with your mom doesn't it?"

Inojin smiled. He liked that Sarada always satisfied him with simple answers and always looked after him.

"Does anything scare you Sarada?" Inojin asked suddenly.

Sarada thought for a second and then gave him a grin.

"No. Inojin. Right now I'm not scared of anything, anyone. I don't feel like I have a weak point."

Inojin looked at her and sighed. Well he was scared of many things bit looking at Sarada just made him forget everything, every fear.

They played the whole day until Sakura and Ino were there to pick them.

..

Time passed and both Inojin and Sakura were genins. Since the genin exams, and the choice of teams, Inojin and Sarada still see each other as good friends but there happened to be a spark of rivalry between them.

Inojin became more observing. He was collecting the facts to himself that how much he lack when compared to Sarada. He started being more alert and attentive. He at times was blunt and indifferent to people. Sarada noticed it but she knew he was working hard. And she needs to do the same.

At some point, Inojin took after his mother at arguing and was rude sometimes

Sarada was much introvert kind, and they spend much less time with each other.

One day Sarada went to the Yamanaka flower shop.

"Aunt Ino?" She peeked inside and went in.

"Ah. Sarada?" Ino came out and smiled at her.

Inojin was behind her and he looked at Sarada and ignored her.

Sarada saw this and scoffed and gave a letter to Ino.

"Umm..Mama said you need to look through this. Its some hospital-thingy."

Ino took it and smiled. "Thanks for delivering it Sarada. You are such a nice girl. Isn't she Inojin?"

Inojin scoffed. "Yeah a hell of a nice she is." He muttered under his breath.

"Now, now Inojin?" Sarada folded her arms. She was somehow bothered with his attitude.

"What's with the attitude Inojin? I've been observing you. What's your problem?"

Ino tilted her head totally not getting what was going on. "Eto....guys..?"

"Yeah. You got much time to observe me Sarada?" Inojin smirked, glaring at her simultaneously.

Sarada narrowed her eyes. "What?! Wait?! Ino-kid. Are you bothered by it that I'm not spending time with you? Coz that's childi-"

"Its not that Sarada." Inojin cut her off raising his voice a bit. "You can just leave with your I'm-the-greatest attitude. I can be better than you Sarada."

"Inojin?!" Ino said in a rebuking voice.

"What you wanna fight?!! Well.. You know what punk? Leave it. I'm leaving." Sarada turned around.

"And yeah what you did earlier." Inojin said stopping her on her tracks. "I'm least bothered by that spending time."

That hit Sarada and she stomped off.
"Oi...Inojin?!" Ino sighed at her son and hit him on his head. "You better apologize."

Inojin turned around and sighed.
"Dang it?!! I just blurted out some rude words. I didn't mean to." He said to himself.

.

Sarada walked with a glare. "What's up with that brat?!"

.

Now Sarada and Inojin were arguing more and ignoring more. They were perfect rivals now.

.

Team 3 and Team 10 were given a joint mission together. Shikadai and Boruto were leading. It was just an escort mission.

They were on a mountain side.

Sarada and Inojin both were avoiding glances at each other.

"Shit!" Shikadai suddenly tightened up.

"Up!" Mitsuki shouted and a few ninjas attacked them.

"Guys?!!! Boruto, Mitsuki and I will take care of them! Chocho! Take care of our escort. Protect him!" Shikadai commanded while fighting them and a few of the enemies went after Chocho.

"We'll take care of them." Sarada informed Shikadai.

Shikadai nodded.

"Come Inojin!!" Sarada said as she advanced ahead.

Inojin tch-d and ran ahead of Sarada.
"Hn you're bossy attitude Sarada. Not to me."

Sarada paced fast. "Tch. Not here Inojin! Not now!!!"

The enemies surrounded Chocho and she took down a few but her chakra was already at its limits.

Sarada and Inojin appeared on time and helped her.

Chocho took the client to  cave while Inojin and Sarada fought.

Sarada managed to take down, but Inojin was at its peak. He overdid it and had almost no chakra left. He pushed himself in order to show Sarada that he's powerful. Sarada punched the last one.

She saw and kicked the one fighting Inojin but suddenly Inojin slipped due to lack of chakra, Sarada caught him on time but now both were hanging on the cliff. Sarada used her chakra.
"Inojin?!! Are you alright?!"

Inojin could not answer. He looked at Sarada with shocked eyes.

"Leave me.... Sarada or else we'll both fall!"

Sarada knew what was going on his mind. She forgot everything and gave him a smile.

"Hn...you know Inojin. I also fear something."

Inojin looked at her confused.

"I am scared to lose you."

Those words filled Inojin's mind like a drop of water in a desert.

"I'm scared to lose anyone close to my heart Inojin. So please come on! Let's be strong and fight this fear together."

Sarada smiled and Inojin with all his might pushed him upwards and soon they both were on on the ground before Sarada could say anything he suddenly hugged her and Sarada smiled and hugged him back and felt tears on her shoulder.

"I'm sorry Sarada....I'm really sorry. I was mean! I... I was jealous. I'm sorry." Inojin sobbed.

Sarada smiled and caressed his back just like a brother.

"Its alright Ino-baka. I'm always here. 'With you'. Don't be so reckless."

They hugged for a minute or so and then started walking towards their friends and their mission was successful.

...

"I've decided Sarada. That instead being one of your fears. I'll protect myself and everyone and become your strongest point. I promise."
Inojin smiled and promised her.