I'm thinking bout writing a biography for Ruby, but idk. It'll be a lot and I have no motivation and procrastination, so yay.

~
You sat on one of the boxes watching the three of them sort through the sheets of stamps together.

"Why are we the only ones doing this? You could help you know." Boruto groaned.

"If I recall correctly, you were the one who delivered all the mail wrong. I was quick, but I was also perfect." You retorted.

Which is rare. Cause you fail at everything.

'Shut up! I don't need your input!'

Yeah! Hime's not a failure! You're just judgmental.

I just make sure her ego doesn't get any larger than it already is.

'You butternut fuck, you honey roasted shit.'

You absolute pumpkin spiced buffoon.

'You salted caramel bastard.'

"One sheet of stamps, two sheet of stamps..." Boruto said rhythmically.

"Stop messing around and count them quick. Or we'll never be able to leave and hunt for ghosts." Shikadai said.

"My eye is the star of hope! Dammit!" Boruto stood up. Shikadai also stood up and pointed his finger at him.

"It's your fault for delivering stuff irresponsibly. Feel bad a little." He said.

"You were having fun yesterday, Shikadai!" Boruto retorted.

"Did you hear? The same incident occurred." You all heard voices outside the room. You all got up and peeked around the corner.

"Really? This has been happening a lot lately... wonder where it happened this time?" The one man said. You all gasped when you looked at the TV.

LIVE: LEAF WATER PURIFICATION PLANT

"A man thought to be the suspect has barricaded himself in the facility, and has taken a few hostages." You all ran out of the room and behind the other workers.

"According to witnesses, some students from the Academy who were there on a workplace field trip, have become involved in the incident." Your eyes widened at the information. Without needing to say anything, you and Boruto ran out of the building together.

"Boruto! Y/n!" Shikadai called, the two of them jumping after you. You ran from roof to roof, not stopping or slowing down.

"We don't know if it's the Class Rep and her team." Shikadai said.

"Who cares!? It's still someone from the Academy nonetheless!" You called back.

'Shit! It happened again! Goddammit!'

~
After finding out that it was indeed Sumire and her team, you and Boruto went ahead of Mitsuki and Shikadai to the hospital. You ran down the hallway and skid to a stop in front of the door. You threw it open-- along with Metal, but you didn't care about that.

"Sumire! Are you alright?" You asked, running up to her bedside with Boruto not that far behind you.

"Y/n, Boruto." She greeted back.

"Are you alright?" Boruto walked up to your side.

"I'm fine." She assured, a smile on her face.

"Are you sure? You don't need to be strong around us, you know." You reassured.

"Mhm. I promise I'm fine." She replied. You let out a sigh.

"I totally..." Boruto trailed off.

"Don't worry about me. It's really just a graze." She promised.

"I'm sorry, Class Rep!" Boruto bowed.

"If I'd been more on the ball--!" Sumire smiled at him.

"You're not responsible for this, Boruto." She said softly.

"No, you're wrong!" Boruto popped back up.

"Hey, lower your voice. Sumire probably has a headache." You scolded.

"No, I just..." Boruto quickly said.

"Come on, loud visitors are not allowed!" Sarada grabbed the back of his jacket and pulled him out of the room. No one made a move to stop her.

"Are you sure you're alright?" Your head turned back to Sumire.

"Yes, I am. I promise." She replied with a smile. You didn't return it.

~
A little later, you joined the three boys in the hallway. Shikadai and Mitsuki arrived a while ago, but you didn't know if they saw Sumire or not.

"Don't blame yourself like that. It's not all your fault." Shikadai said from in front of Boruto.

"It's not that. If I hadn't delivered the mail so carelessly... we could have had all of today to patrol. Then maybe we would've noticed something happening at the water purification plant, right?" Shikadai and Mitsuki looked at each other.

"That's true, but..." Shikadai trailed off.

"You couldn't of possibly known. Besides, at least you know for next time." You spoke up from next to the blond.

"Boruto." You heard someone call. You looked to the right and saw Naruto walking down the hallway to you all. His expression told you he wasn't happy.

"Dad, what are you doing here?" Boruto stood up.

"We heard you rescued the Class Rep and the others. Thank you." Shikadai bowed. You stood up from the bench and hopped on top of it next to Boruto, squatting down to their level.

"You're after the Ghost too, right, dad? If you know something, let us in on it!" Naruto's expression only worsened. He reached down and grabbed Boruto's ear, pulling him behind him down the hall. His cries of pain made you feel bad and want to laugh at the same time.

"Now's not the time to be pulling on my ear!" He exclaimed. The three of you looked at each other.

"Just come with me!" With a shrug, you followed a few feet away from them. Walking down a few more hallways before coming to a sliding door.

"Ow! That hurts ya know!" He still exclaimed. Naruto finally let go of his ear.

'Huh? Isn't this an operating room?' You thought, looking through the glass. A familiar pinkette caught your eye. Her back was facing you.

'Is that Sakura? She's grown so much.' You thought.

"Look carefully." Naruto's voice snapped you out of your thoughts. You walked closer to the glass.

"That's..." Boruto trailed off.

"The person who attacked your classmates. The chakra in his body has been totally depleted. Listen, it's sheer luck that you've been safe all this time during these incidents, that's all." Naruto explained. You would've scoffed.

'Something this small wouldn't damage me.'

"This is no longer a matter for kids playing detective."

"I know that!" Boruto snapped.

"No. You don't know the true horrors of battle. First, graduate from the academy. Then we can talk." Naruto said calmly.

"That's not fair!" Boruto replied.

"Getting workplace experience... that's all Boruto and the others were doing." The five of you turned around at Shino's voice. He was standing in the doorway with his arms crossed.

"They were doing as they were told, by me. Right, Boruto?" He asked, though the young child just looked away.

"Shino he's still a kid. He's too young to be able to make that distinction." Naruto defended.

"Maybe so, but there are times when a child can show us that he can do more than an adult." Shino began to walk forward.

"If he's treated like an adult." He stopped in front of Boruto.

"Shino Sensei..." Boruto said.

"Furthermore... as his teacher, I have a clear idea of what Boruto can, and cannot do." Shino added. The two adults just stared at each other for a few seconds.

'Wow... Naruto's become really uptight in his old age, hasn't he?'

Being Hokage really does something to you.

He should've expected this. He spent his whole life wanting to become Hokage.

'Damn he's gotten old...' Naruto suddenly smiled and looked down at the ground.

"Since you're so convinced, I'll leave it up to you." He said before poofing away.

'Wow... shadow clone... how did I not see that coming.' You thought. The four of you ran up to Shino.

"Sensei." Shikadai said.

"We'll solve this case, no matter what!" Boruto assured.

"Don't take this the wrong way. I don't recall telling you four to solve anything." Shino said.

'Oh shit.'

"Having said that... you four saved me, so I'm not going to treat you like children anymore." A small smile crept up on his face.

"Sensei!"

Ja ne!

{Ruby Red}