“Nothing’s wrong.” Boruto hissed bluntly. “So….. anyways, what do you remember before you got here???”

Shinachiku shook his head. “I don’t even know how I ended up here. . . The last thing I remember is a bright light. After that, I woke up here, on that… “train” thing you told me about, with you and, uh, Denki, was it? Is he a friend of yours?”

“I guess so. I met him yesterday when I rescued him after I saw he was being bullied by punks who stole his money because his family is rich,” Boruto grinned, “Then Denki lured those bullies onto the train or something… I had to derail our train from crashing into another one on that same track. That’s when you fell in!”

“Oh? But… why would those kids even do that?” Shina asks curiously. ‘So… it wasn’t a prank then that the train crashed into Menma’s face on the Mountain?’

“................. It’s because I’m the son of the 7th Hokage,” Boruto explained sourly. “Everyone thinks I’m some sort of prodigy, so….. I dunno. So uncool, right?”

“Uuh- yeah. Sorry…” Shina replies, noticing there must be something more to this but deciding to remain quiet about it for now.

“Anyways… I saw you falling from the sky yesterday! You crashed right on top of the ceiling of the train we were all in and broke through the hard metal. And you’re not hurt anywhere, even from that fall?” Boruto asked, seeming shocked by that.

Shinachiku shook his head and just pursed his lips showing no signs of furthering any information about it. “No… I feel no pain or… anything really from that fall or even from that paper bomb blowing up in my face. Before I arrived here, I was battling a rogue ninja, but….”

Boruto just nodded sadly; all of this was so curious and weird.

“Oh yeah! Sorry, but I didn’t quite get your name. I’m Boruto Uzumaki! Son of Hinata Uzumaki, and Menma Uzumaki!” He offered him a wide smile. “And, your Shinachiku Uzumaki right? From that other world or… Genjutsu or whatever?”

“Yeah, but you can call me ‘Shina’ for short, or even ‘Chiku’ too. My little sister Hanami calls me that sometimes.” Shinachiku adds and smiles at the other boy.

No other words were exchanged between the two boys when Shinachiku confirmed that he was indeed what Boruto thought he was. Boruto had a bunch of questions he wanted to ask him. A lot of whys and hows. But they knew this wasn’t the right place and time to ask a kid around his age. Especially not today, either. Boruto knew he must be so exhausted after everything he’s gone through. Tomorrow would be another day…

“Hey… Boruto…?” Shinachiku asked, and Boruto tilted his head in confusion.

“Hm? What is it-tebasa?”

“Do…Do you think… I’ll be able to return home, Boruto? I mean… will Da- I mean, Lord Seventh, be able to find a way to bring me back?” Shinachiku broke the silence. Boruto, after giving it some thought, slowly approached him and put a hand on his shoulder.

“Of course, you will! My dad might be a stupid old man who’s good at nothing except acting bossy and stuff, but… I’m sure they’ll find a way to return you to where you belong!” Boruto exclaimed, with a hopeful grin on his face.

“That’s right.” Hinata smiles as she starts to put the food on the table. “If that other version of Menma and that Sakura was able to return, I’m sure you will too.” She assured him. However, her answer further confused Shina, which showed on his face.

“We met Menma- I mean, Naruto, before. Both he and Sakura have been to our… world.” Hinata wasn’t sure if it was the right word to say, but she continued. “It’s difficult to explain right now, but we’re gonna help you return home, no matter what.” 

“In the meantime, please, just think of this place as your home and relax, alright?” Hinata smiled gently, and for a moment, she certainly reminded Shinachiku of the Hinata back in his world. Kei’s mother was always just so timid, yet gentle. It felt… familiar.

“Thank you,” Shinachiku muttered softly, his eyes glancing at Hinata, Boruto, and then soon Himawari, who was just starting to come, joined them for dinner from what he assumed was her bedroom. He felt assured somehow from just being in their presence, as if there was no reason for him to panic that he suddenly landed in an unknown world. Being with them is enough to put him at ease. 

Even though it still felt a bit weird knowing that his father in another world could not have ended up with Sakura. And what did Boruto mean by his father being a ‘stupid, old man?’ Shinachiku thought as he remembered the lonely look in Boruto’s eyes.

Boruto grinned at Shinachiku, noticing he seemed to be cheering up just a bit.

“You look more like my dad when you smile.” Shinachiku pointed out. Boruto raised his brows with the unexpected remark. “Just a bit different, though.” 

“How different?” Boruto asked, his curiosity peaked. “I mean, people say I look like my dad… isn’t yours supposed to look like my dad too???”

“I guess so? But… My Dads’ hair is a bit longer than his and I guess. . . younger?” Shinachiku thought.

“What?! Menma and Naruto are the same age!” Boruto sounded taken back. “I think??”

“Well, my Dads’ birthday was last month, October 10th,” Shinachiku responds thoughtfully.

“So was mine!!” Boruto exclaims, now even more confused.

Hinata and Himawari look at Shinachiku in bewilderment and seem quite interested.

“Wait, really??? Then how old is your Dad?!?” Boruto asks.

“33,” Shinachiku explains, and the immediate look of Boruto and Hinata confirmed his suspicions. “I thought your Dad was in his 50’s-ttenaro.”

“Wh-!!! I mean… fair…” Boruto agrees under his breath and giggles. “He does look like such an old man!”

“Boruto!!! Don’t say such things, you ungrateful little brat!!!” Hinata yells, the image of her getting angry reminding Shina a lot of his mother whenever Sakura gets angry.

The exchange between the two put a smile on Shinachiku’s face. It was a familiar and comforting sight causing Shina and even little Himawari to laugh too at Boruto’s predicament. ‘Maybe it won’t be so bad staying here with them… Even if it’s still really weird.’ Shina thought, hopefully.

“Anyways, everyone, come sit down, okay? I’ll bring the food out soon, so eat while it’s still hot.” Hinata smiled, calming down after giving a little pinch to Boruto’s cheeks before she went back to the kitchen and finished prepping the table and bringing the food out to each of the kids before bringing out her plate.

On the plates were some mashed potatoes with some gravy. Medium rare steak and some veggies like broccoli, spinach, squash, and green beans.

“Okay!” Shina and the kids grin as they all quickly move to their seats. Upon sitting, Shina noticed there was no extra seat for Menma to join them. “What about Da- I mean, Menma? Is he not coming home tonight?”

“Oh… no, he rarely comes home most of the time. I imagine tonight will be one of those days he stays at the Hokage Office, trying to find a way to bring you home.” Hinata informs him, and Shinachiku sends her a questioning look.

“Wait… what?” Shina asks, dumbfounded as he follows Hinatas finger and notices the chair neatly tucked in the corner, as Hinata goes over to it to drag it over for herself. “But… why?”

At this, Shinachiku also notices that Boruto had also gone oddly quiet, his hands clenched tightly into fists, his shoulders trembling.

“Well…. It’s because he’s the Hokage. He has a huge responsibility to the Village. So sometimes, he just can’t come home all the time, and he must stay at his office to protect it from any threats.”

“Huh? But…. That… doesn’t make any sense…” Shina’s voice trails off, and he looks away from them sadly, thinking about Naruto and if Naruto would be the same if he’d become Hokage. ‘Was this why Naruto decided not to take the position? Is being Hokage really that demanding for a job? What’s going on here???’

“Wh-what do you mean?” Boruto asks after getting a forkful of food and about to eat to distract himself from blowing up at his father.

“I mean exactly as I said… Naruto… Since Menma and Naruto were the same people, I just assumed that Menma would still spend the same amount of time with his family as Naruto does in my world. However, Naruto isn’t Hokage in my world. but actually, a Jonin. But- even when he has some busy days, too,  with so many missions, he always makes time for his family. He always ensures I, my siblings, and mom would never feel lonely like he did!” Shinachiku replies desperately, “Like, even on the simplest things, he’s always there… he’s so doting and sometimes annoying with how much smothering he gives us all, but there has to be some mistake! Naruto, er, Menma would never neglect you guys, right?”

“What?!” Boruto grits his teeth. ‘What does he mean by that?! Why’s HIS Dad spend more time with his family than mine? If Shinachiku is supposed to be me, I guess from another world, then… Agh, that’s so uncool!!’

Hinata and Himawari also just examine Shinachiku with shocked and heartbroken expressions. Their bodies were trembling as well, but ever so slightly.

“I… I know this isn’t my place to say, but hasn’t any of you told him how you felt?” Shinachiku asks sadly. “You… you guys should talk to him, I’m sure he’d understand…?”

“Unfortunately…” Hinata sighs, trying to stay as calm as she can and adequately explain it to him, “We all must make sacrifices for the betterment of the Village. Even if it means has sometimes to stay away from his family to do so.”

“But that’s so stupid!!” Shinachiku argues, “‘Betterment of the Village,’ What about his family?! You’re part of the Village too-ttenaro!! He should come home more often and be there for you guys!!”

“Shinachiku!!!” Hinata yells out, interrupting him as a red chakra envelops her.

“You are only a guest here… Even if things are different in your time, doesn’t mean it’s like that for everyone. Therefore I will not permit you to be butting in matters that don’t concern you.”

“............ You’re right… I’m sorry…” Shina apologizes and looks down at his food. “I shouldn’t have butt in.”

“It’s alright, Shina, just be careful, alright? I know you’re only trying to help, is all.” Hinata replies before Shina nods, and they keep eating, the rest of the dinner going rather quietly and peacefully. Although Shinachiku just couldn’t stop thinking how wrong it was for Menma to act this way towards his family even if he wasn’t his father. But because Menma looked so much like Naruto, it left a bad taste in Shina’s mouth.

There was a knock on the door that disrupted his thoughts. As Himawari was helping her mother wash all the dishes, all four turned their heads to the sound.

“I got it!” Boruto exclaims before quickly heading for the door and unlocking it. Choji  emerged from the door with an unamused expression. He was about to scold Menma, but he paused momentarily. His eyes darted from Boruto, Hinata, and Himawari, and finally, to the other male in the room. He scrunched up his brows and examined the scene before him again. He sighed through his mouth.

“May I speak to the Hokage, please?” Choji kindly asks Boruto.

“Oh, he’s not home right now. If you’re looking for him, he’s probably at his Office, though.” Boruto replied before Hinata quickly rushed over, knowing she’d better explain fast what was happening.

Hinata then quickly dried off her hands on her apron, went after Shikamaru, and followed him out of the hallway leading to the front door. Before she left, however, she quickly turned. back and gave both the kids a reassuring smile, hoping it would ease them just a bit as she explained everything.

Once outside, deathly silence hung on between Choji and Hinata. Before she could even speak, Choji spoke up. “So then… Mind telling me why there’s a shadow clone of Boruto in your dining room? And with green eyes?” 

“He’s not a clone,” Hinata explains, “He’s . . . well, he’s the son of someone who looks like Menma.”

“I don’t remember you ever mentioning you had a twin?” Choji asked, dumbfounded.

“No, no, he doesn’t. Actually…. That kid, Shinachiku. He’s- He’s not even supposed to be here.” Hinata tries to explain.

“Huh? What the heck do you mean?” Choji asks, now even more confused at that. “Like, here in your house? Then kick him out!”

“No, that’s not what I mean at all! You see, in the past, the Menma of that other world, Naruto, and his version of Sakura got stuck in a Tsukuyomi genjutsu made by some guy called ‘Madara.’” Hinata started, “I don’t understand it entirely, but I’m guessing by just how curious and confused Shinachiku’s been since he arrived here that everyone in his Konoha is sort of the same as here, but it’s opposite. As I mentioned earlier, this guy named Naruto looks a lot like Menma, who also has the 9-tailed fox inside of him, just like our Menma has. The boy told us that Naruto is his father.”

“Uh huh… okay, so then… if this Naruto guy is his father, then… by the green eyes, I’m just going to go ahead and assume then that Sakura might be his mother?” Choji asks, quickly putting the two together. “I mean, she’s the only female, I think, around here with green eyes and a big forehead.”

Hinata just nods, in confirmation, “Yes, that’s exactly right.”

“Okay then, and how do you guys know he’s not lying or just pretending? I mean, he could be a spy from another village. Did you guys ever even consider that??” Choji asks suspiciously. “And if not, here you idiots are, letting this stranger into your house and so close to the Hokage and his and your children. Are you guys sure it’s safe or what?”

“Of course we had! Heck, I didn’t even know of that incident. Menma’s never even mentioned that incident of meeting and fighting another version of himself to anybody.” Hinata explained, “Today was the first time I heard of it, along with Menma’s parents. And the boy doesn’t seem to be lying either, he looks so distraught about wanting to return home. But there’s something I don’t understand. . .”

“How can he exist if Naruto and that version of Sakura were just a part of some genjutsu? No one in this world knew it was a fake because of Madara’s doing until, towards the end, Menma and Naruto faced each other, and Menma kidnapped that version’s Sakura. That’s when Naruto blew his cover and told Kushina and Minato, with whom he’d been living for 2 or 3 days, pretending to be their son, all about the other world. According to Minato, it seemed like Naruto had no parents in his world. At least, that’s what it sounded like. Like they died a long time ago to protect the Leaf. I still have a lot of questions to ask Shinachiku.” Hinata added, sounding slightly like she was taken a bit back. “I think Menma would like to ask him as well; he was the one who offered that Shinachiku stays at our house to rest, and maybe tomorrow we can ask and get to know more about his world and find a way to send this boy back to where he belongs.”