Boruto X Reader You're not alone! (Modern AU)

Chapter 43

Third person's POV

"Naruto...Uzumaki?..."

You stared at the man before you in disbelief. His familiar face, now adorned with a wide grin, seemed surreal. Yet, his clothes told a different story—they appeared tattered and worn, more fitting for a homeless person than a former mayor.

He chuckled, seemingly unfazed by your shock. "The real and only one!" Naruto beamed proudly, putting you gently back on the ground. You struggled to regain your composure, the moment feeling too unreal.

"B-but how?! You were supposed to be missing, or even dead!" The chilly night air nipped at your skin, making you shiver.

"You've really grown up!" Naruto ruffled your hair with a fond smile, his height towering over you by nearly a foot.

"Uzumaki-san—no, Oji-san! You're alive! Isn't that amazing?! If Boruto and Himawari see you, it'll be so exciting!!" You began to dance with joy until Naruto quickly covered your mouth with his hand.

"Before you scream any louder, young lady, we should head to my hideout," he whispered with a mischievous grin.

Rolling your eyes and shaking off his hand, you reluctantly nodded.

"Pfft, look at you," he almost laughed at your expression. "You remind me of your cold adoptive brother, who oddly resembles an old friend of mine..."

You mentally chuckled. Wait, he said they'd go... so were you just leaving and never coming back?

Naruto scooped you up in a bridal carry and sprinted away at an incredible speed. You gasped in astonishment. No wonder no one had noticed him.

"He's so fast!? So fast that no one can notice him!" you thought, wincing at the cold wind. Had he trained in parkour as a child?

"W-what about the others?" you asked, worried that they might wake up and discover you were missing.

"Don't worry about them! I'll bring you back soon enough. But for now, we need to talk!"

As you were carried away in the arms of the former mayor at midnight, you couldn't help but think, "Everything is going to be fine... Everything is going to be fine... The former mayor is carrying me, and it's totally normal. I'm positive this is crazy!"

-

"Take a seat and make yourself at home!" Naruto opened the door to a small house nestled in the forest. As you stepped inside, you looked around, puzzled by how someone could live in such a tiny space. In reality, the house was even smaller than it appeared from the outside.

You couldn't help but wonder, "How could he live like this?" But without saying a word, you sat down on a comfortable-looking couch. At least the couch seemed to be the one comfortable thing in this small house.

Naruto offered, "Tea?" and handed you a cup as you nodded in response. Settling down next to you, he observed you with curiosity. "So, how are you guys doing?"

Your gaze fell to your knees. Well, that question was expected.

"Fine, I guess..."

Feeling his eyes on you, you realized that it was too much to bear the pain alone. The cruelty of this broken world had traumatized you more than it should have.

You hesitated before correcting yourself, "...No, not everything is fine!" Your voice trembled with each word. "Sorry for lying to you... I'm just... so confused, and... how should I explain this?"

Naruto watched you, noticing your body trembling slightly, and placed a hand on your shoulder. "Calm down and tell me what's going on."

You took a deep breath, feeling tears prickling at the corners of your eyes.