Chapter Text
The warmest parts of spring were finally coming, more and more with each passing day. It was finally at the point where for a few hours during the day, they could all strip off their sweaters and feel the warmth of the sun, at least when it wasn't raining.
It had been the hottest day of the year so far. Sweat clung to her skin as she walked back from training, a light breeze sticking her hair to her neck. There was pollen in the air, making her throat scratch faintly, but except for that, it was quite pleasant.
The sun was setting behind the city, Chocho talked to her about whatever, and she listened with a smile. Days would someday not be this calm, a part of her knew they were approaching the prime of their most youthful years, and the peace she felt at the moment would not always be there. One day, she wouldn't get to walk with her friends home like this. They'd be busy, just like their parents.
For now, she didn't let herself think too much about it. Chocho asked if she wanted to get ice cream at the store on the corner, and she found herself agreeing. At some point, Boruto caught up with them, arms crossed behind his head as he walked.
The streets were quiet for this time of day. They had reached a part that had once been part of the main village, and it was even quieter there. Everyone was at home, having dinner with their families, civilians finally getting off their day jobs and heading home. There were a few academy students heading home after extra practice, and genin like themselves unwinding after some training.
“Sasuke!”
They all looked up. Sarada at the name, and Boruto at the voice. Chocho was the one who found them first, gesturing across the street, her eyes blown wide, mouth fallen open in shock.
Boisterous laughter echoed off the shops lining the streets.
Lord Seventh ran energetically down the sidewalk, his orange sweater tied around his waist, cinching the gray undershirt to his skin, the bandages of his arm on full display, his short sleeves rolled up to his shoulders. He had a smile on his face that would probably split anyone elses right in half. One arm was occupied with waving around a froggie coin bag, and the other was behind him, pulling along her father. His shirt was swoop necked, long sleeved but thin, lilac in color, his empty sleeve waving behind him. He was smiling behind his hair, head tilted down towards the earth.
“I don't like sweet things,” Sasuke called back to him, letting himself be pulled down the street at a speedy run.
“Earl grey isn't sweet! You’ll like it.”
They looked good together.
No, it was more than that, they looked as if they belonged together.
They hurried into the shop they were just about to cross the street to enter themselves, looking like a pair of lovesick children. She turned to find Boruto watching just as she had been, wearing a thoughtful expression.
“Home?” She offered.
“I want ice cream,” They both argued, and she gave herself to fate, following them across the street.
They all let out a sigh of relief when they entered the cold shop. Lord Seventh and her father stood at the counter, her father frowning down at the flavors displayed, probably wondering why they didn't have a tomato flavor or something equally as ridiculous. Lord Seventh had his arm half wrapped around her father's waist, his hand coming to rest at the top of his bottom.
She had seen the sight over a dozen times already, all when they thought they were out of the sight of their children, and she found herself wondering why everyone wanted to grope her father so badly.
“Papa,”
Both the shinobi at the counter nearly jumped right out of their own skin. That was how much they had not been paying attention.
Her father had a guilty expression on his face, as if he had done something scandalous. He stepped out of Lord Sevenths hold, glaring when the hand tried to continue clinging to his waist.
“Sarada.” Her father greeted her softly.
The divorce was still fresh.
Her father and Lord Seventh were living in an apartment together in the old part of the village. It was small and stiff, with only a small extra room that was used for storage and the like. There was a futon squeezed into the corner where she, Boruto, and Himawari would take turns sleeping in on the weekends, depending on who was spending that weekend with their father. Her and Boruto tried to stay out of the apartment as much as possible. Not because they didn't like to be with their fathers, but because it was awkward and hard to be comfortable. Most of the time, Sasuke would be begged to give them some training if he was around.
They were looking for a house, Sarada had heard from her mother. She wondered when her father was going to tell her that, or if he ever planned on it to begin with.
“I didn't know you ate ice cream.” Was what came out of Saradas mouth, and as soon as it did, she felt a little ridiculous. “I mean...I thought you dont like sweet things?”
“I don't. But the idiot insisted.”
“Hey! That's Lord Seventh to you!” Said Lord Seventh wrapped his bandaged arm over her father's shoulders and fixed them all with a grin.
“In your dreams, perhaps.”
“Oh, definitely in my dreams.” Lord Seventh's smile turned a bit pervy. She was sure her and her friends' faces all showed their distaste for such an expression.
Her father didn't even blink, rearing his foot up and then back into the Hokages shin.
“Ow, Sasuke!”
“Idiot. Not in front of the children.” His voice was low, but Sarada caught it.
“Right, right. Sorry,” Lord Seventh recovered from his slight injury and beamed at them brightly. “Hey, what do you kids want? Sasuke will buy you anything!” At her father's one eyed glare, he quickly redirected himself. “Kidding! I’m treating, obviously! Jeez, Sasuke, no need to get mad.”
“You’ll know when I’m mad.”
“I’m sure I will.” There was that look again. Gross.
Boruto quickly shoved his way between the two of them. “Aren't you supposed to be working?” He grabbed onto his father's arm, pulling him towards the counter. The remaining three followed them in silence.
“Sasuke wanted to go on a date, and I just couldn't say no. I’m going back to the office in a half hour.” Naruto patted his son's head gently.
Her father looked flustered, and both Sarada and Chocho had to rush to hide their amusement.
“Naruto! W-When-” Was her father stuttering?!? “ When did I ever say such a ridiculous thing to you?”
Lord Seventh shot her father that same blinding grin from before.
“Now, Sasuke, no need to be shy.”
“I’m not shy, you-”
“Hi! Could I get a scoop of mango swirl, a scoop of earl grey, two scoops of chocolate fudge, two scoops of black tea, and- What do you want Chocho-yes, two scoops of strawberry! Thank you! Oh, and please put the earl gray on a cone!”
The attendant behind the counter momentarily looked frazzled, but quickly went to fill the order given to him. As soon as the mango swirl and earl grey were ready, Lord Seventh nestled his own into his elbow and gently handed her father his cone.
She knew her father had only had one arm since before she was born, but still, it warmed her to see someone being so accommodating and thoughtful when it came to it. Her father could definitely manage either way, just as he always somehow did, but she still found it to be quite nice.
Lord Seventh ushered them forward when their own ice cream came out, shuffling around in his froggie bag while her father stood quietly by his side, ignoring Boruto’s head constantly jamming into his side as he terrorized his father about one thing or another. He ate his ice cream quietly, seeming to like it. Herself and Chocho were quick to give their thanks before collecting their little foam bowls from the counter.
“Hey, old man, who said I wanted chocolate fudge?” Was what Boruto came up with as he collected his own.
“Well you never get anything else!”
As they left the establishment, Chocho had distracted Boruto long enough to get out of his father's hair and had him launched into conversation. Their fathers walked a few steps ahead.
“Yo, Sarada! We’re going this way!”
Sarada waved to them and continued down the path she was already one. It was a Friday, and was technically her weekend to stay over, if she so wanted.
“Bye to you too, brat!” Lord Seventh yelled after his son.
“See you later, dad!”
Lord Seventh grumbled as he turned back to her father, though she didn't hear much of it. She stopped walking, wondering if she should have just gone with Chocho and Boruto. The two ahead of her probably wanted to be left alone, perhaps it was best for her to just go to her mothers, and stop by her fathers the next day.
“Sarada, aren't you coming?”
She looked up. They had both stopped, Lord Seventh was smiling back at her, and her father looked a bit confused, as if wondering why she was lagging behind.
She beamed.
“Yes, Papa!”
These days were fleeting and sweet. She would remember them forever.