Shinachiku looked down at his tray, trying to appear guilty and grieving like the family had made him rehearse if people mentioned Shinachiku being a Genin or anything about him.

“Agh! It’s too late now!! Even if Shinachiku went in, it’s not as if our teamwork came together overnight or something like that!” Sarada explained, sounding exasperated. “And what about Konohamaru-sensei? We’ll have to let him know about it too!”

“So what? Big bro Shina fights like me anyways; I’m sure you guys can figure it out alone!” Boruto announced, sounding aggravated and annoyed as he continued to mash buttons on his handheld. “I already told you I don’t care about the Chunin Exams! You guys just go do whatever you want.”

“I do. I can make just as many Shadow Clones as Boruto and L- Dad does?” Shinachiku offered, really wishing they’d all stop fighting now. “I can take Boruto’s place no problem if he doesn’t want to go, dattenaro. And I’m pretty flexible with my teamwork and a good listener. I don’t want you guys to stress out Boruto too much, okay?”

“That’s not the point! Boruto… Talk to me. Why are you being so stubborn today? It’s not like you. You’ve been acting weird lately. Ever since Lord Seventh missed your birthday, why?” Sarada asked as she dropped the angry attitude, sounding just as concerned and worried about Boruto as everyone else.

“Whatever….” Boruto scoffed, again not looking at her as he focused on his game.

“Well, you said it right there, Sarada. It’s because Boruto and the rest of us feel like we’ve been forgotten about and abandoned by Dad.” Shinachiku explained, surprised that Sarada hadn’t picked up on it yet when she said the answer within her question. “And… I assume Boruto and Dad got into a fight again today?”

“Yeah, he did….” Sarada sighed, “Lord Seventh was trying to scold Boruto for his cocky attitude, and then Boruto said something about Lord Seventh not knowing who he is and to stop blaming other people for it. Then after that… Boruto mentioned that it was his kid sisters’ birthday today and that Menma had better come.”

“Mhm, based on the Hokage’s face, I assume that Menma forgot,” Mitsuki added, and Shinachiku sighed, facepalming. 

“I knew it…. That stupid old man….” Shinachiku sighed, and Boruto nodded.

“Heh. And he calls himself our father, yet he can’t even remember his children’s birthdays. What an idiot, dattebasa.” Boruto added grumpily as he sipped his drink of Menmatonic water.

Then, Mitsuki got a great idea, “Hey, Boruto?”

“Hm? What is it?” Boruto asked as he finally glanced over at Mitsuki at the question.

“D’you know what? I think you both want your Dad to acknowledge you guys, then. Is that correct?” Mitsuki questioned in amusement.

“OH! I get it now!” Inojin gaped, surprised at how slow he also was on the uptake. “So that’s why Boruto looks so upset today!”

“So what? What is it are you getting at, Mitsuki!?” Boruto snapped, glaring at him. “What the hell do you know about my feelings anyways?”

“I know quite a lot about you, Boruto. Because you are the sun in my sky.” Mitsuki clarified, sending a shiver down Boruto’s spine.

“We’re just worried about you, bro. Chill.” Shinachiku comforted as he gently placed a hand on Boruto’s back. “Although… I guess you’re right on the money, as usual, Mitsuki.”

“Ugh, you guys can be such brats sometimes.” Sarada sighed heavily as she lowered her head, wanting to do a faceplant on the table. After a few seconds, Sarada looked up at Boruto again and locked eyes with them both but mostly onto Boruto. “Look, the way you’re acting, Boruto? It’s uncool.”

At that remark, Boruto looked sadly down at the game in front of him again, not wanting to hear how valid those words were right now. Shinachiku only silently rubbed Boruto’s back, trying to comfort his half-sibling as much as possible.

“Is this the kind of person you want to be for the rest of your life? Or will you do something about your Dad never noticing you already?!” Sarada continued, her glare softening. “Come on, Boruto! If you want your Dad to praise you, then let’s show him everything we got in the Chunin Exams!”

“Come again?” Boruto asked, seeming interested but still not quite following along.

“Think about it for a second! This might be our one big chance to earn some respect from Lord Seventh! If you win this, you can show your Dad and everyone else in the audience how incredible you are! Duh!” Sarada portrayed to him like it was the most obvious idea in the world as she pumped her fist in excitement. “And I’ll, of course, finally make it to Chunin!”

“If you want your Dad to notice you too, I can give you my flyer then, Shinachiku?” Mitsuki offered before handing Shina his flyer. “Then you can wow everyone along with your kid brother too. Maybe even… in a way, avenge your former squadmates by working with Miss Sarada.”

“Wait, are you sure? Don’t you want to become a Chunin, too, Mitsuki? I can’t take this.” Shinachiku asked, surprised when Mitsuki surrendered his flyer to Shinachiku.

“Yes, I am sure, that is why I am giving it to you. As I told Boruto a few minutes ago, I don’t care if I make it through the Chunin Exams. I only wish to stay with Boruto here in the Leaf Village forever. And besides, it looks like these exams might be more important to you and Boruto than to me.” Mitsuki revealed as Shinachiku nodded and took the paper from him.

“Thanks, Mitsuki, I appreciate it,” Shinachiku smiles before looking at the flyer. “Hopefully, your sensei will approve of me taking your place. And Dad as well-”

“I’m sure we can work things out.” Mitsuki smiled, “We can talk to Konohamaru-sensei tomorrow. How’s that?”

“Yeah, sounds like a good idea!” Shinachiku smiled, “You’re the best Mitsuki!”

Boruto only stared at his handheld, seeming very deep in thought. He was also thinking back to what Katasuke had said about how he was sure that Menma was looking forward to seeing everybody’s capabilities, especially Boruto’s, even if he didn’t show it outright.

After what felt like a lifetime, Boruto smirked and shut his eyes, “Hmph, well, fine then. I guess there’s no other choice. You guys can’t do a thing without me.”

The others chuckle, seeming relieved as Boruto, Shina, Shikadai, and Inojin all clear their table, preparing to leave the restaurant.

Later, after Shikadai and Inojin returned home and separated from the group, Shinachiku, Boruto, Sarada, and Mitsuki made their way slowly back as they crossed the bridge that was laid across the main roads of Konoha. Boruto was walking a little ahead of Sarada and Mitsuki, with Shinachiku following close behind him.

“I mean, seriously, a three-squadron team? Whatever, I can handle anything they throw at me. You guys don’t have to do anything. Just leave it to me.” Boruto mocked, sounding confident as they continued forward. Boruto kept his eyes closed and hands in his pocket the whole way.

“Careful, Boruto, your ego is showing.” Shinachiku teased his half-brother and smiled, happy Boruto had somewhat gotten his good mood back.

“Heh, he’s so easy.” Sarada also teased, grinning from ear to ear.

“Yes indeed. You know how to manipulate him, huh Sarada?” Mitsuki added.

“Hey, I can hear you guys back there-tebasa!!”

Mitsuki, Shina, and Sarada all laugh in response.

“Awww, we love you, Boruto, you know that.” Shinachiku teased before reaching forward, putting a hand over his head, and ruffling up his messy and spiky hair.

“Hahaha, hey, quit it, bro!!” Boruto laughed before gently smacking Shinachiku’s hand away.

“Yeah, yeah, whatever you say. You know that a real man doesn’t return on his word once it is made, right?” Sarada explained cheekily and playfully, teasing. At that, Shina couldn’t help but remember the promise Boruto had made Himawari last night about bringing Menma home to celebrate her birthday when Shina had caught them talking after Himawari had even marked the calendar on the day of her birth as a reminder to him. But, of course, Shina hadn’t even meant to eavesdrop either. It just sort of happened.

“Well, yeah.” Boruto turned on his heel at once to face Sarada and the others, causing them to stop in their tracks. He seemed to have been thinking of the same thing from the look in his eyes. “Look, I still don’t give a crud about becoming Chunin or not, but… We’ll just ace this exam and wow everyone with our amazing skills, right? And make everyone see that Boruto Uzumaki is someone more than just the Hokage’s kid!!”

“Me too!” Shinachiku grins and fistbumps Boruto. “We’ll show that old man who’s boss together, dattenaro!!”

“Don’t forget me because I will become the 8th Hokage someday! Shannaro!!” Sarada added angrily, about to bop them both, causing Shina and Boruto to sweat slightly.

“BIG BROTHERSSSSSSSS!!!!”

Shinachiku and Boruto gasped when they heard a child's voice call for them out loud behind them. When Boruto turned, they saw Himawari waving at the group from a few feet away while standing beside her mother, Hinata. That’s when they realized the voice must have come from her.

“Awww, hi Hima!” Sarada gasped before waving back at the child.

“Oh, hey there, Himawari!” Boruto smiled at his little sister fondly and genuinely before immediately turning back to Sarada and Mitsuki with a serious expression once again. “Look, I’ll check up on you guys briefly, alright? I have to keep tabs on a fundamental promise today.”

“Huh?” Sarada and Mitsuki questioned, sounding confused.

“BIG BROTHERS, HURRY UP!! TODAY IS MY BIRTHDAY REMEMBER?!?” Himawari called once again, and Shinachiku laughed and gently put a hand on Boruto’s shoulder.

“We should get going before Himawari has a stroke from excitement. See you later!” Shinachiku waved before pushing Boruto forward.

“Ah! Alright, alright, I’m going already, Shina! You don’t have to keep pushing me, dattebasa!!” Boruto laughed before hurrying forward, picking Himawari up and carrying her piggyback as Shinachiku approached Hinata and helped her with her shopping bags.

“Huh, so Boruto does know how to smile genuinely….” Mitsuki noted as Sarada looked dazed and confused as she watched the family of four walk away slowly.

“Yeah…” Sarada smiled, watching the family go, as a look of fondness for Boruto washed over her.

They soon arrive at the Uzumaki house. Shinachiku reaches for the door handle to open it. Still, before he could even grab the handle, however, the doorknob was already turning and opening, revealing Menma on the other side, “Welcome home, guys.”

“Huh? Heh, so you did remember, huh?” Boruto smiled as Himawari gleefully climbed off of Boruto’s back, leaped into Menma’s arms, and wrapped her small ones around his neck.

“Haha, hey, birthday girl.” Menma smiled, before kissing little Himawari on the cheek and picking her up, before carrying her inside.

Shinachiku also smiled at this, glad he wasn’t about to at least let Himawari down before glancing at Boruto, seeming to wordlessly ask him if this was what he meant about the promise he’d mentioned earlier. To which, Boruto wordlessly nodded in acknowledgment.

Once inside, Boruto, Shinachiku, and Hinata hurriedly got to work helping set up the table. At the same time, Himawari happily sat in her chair, watching them. Boruto was putting all the silverware, plates, and glasses out for everyone. At the same time, Shina helped Hinata get the food she’d bought out of the bags and cooked them for tonight's dinner. In contrast, Menma got the cake ready that he’d put in the refrigerator that he baked sometime after Boruto had scolded him. Finally, after an hour, the food was prepared and brought to the table to be feasted on.

After they’d eaten dinner, Himawari decided she wanted to start opening her presents before it came time for cake. So Menma gave her a big pink bag, with an even pinker ribbon, over to his daughter, who happily took it. When Hima opened the present, she saw it was yet another stuffed bunny she hugged and immediately loved dearly.

Hinata and Shinachiku laughed along with Hima when she pulled out her gifts, not even noticing that Boruto had pulled Menma away to speak in the hall as they waited for Hima to finish. 

“You… actually kept your promise…” Boruto gawked in surprise as he watched Himawari opening more presents and Hinata and Shina celebrating with her.

“Well… of course I did. It’s important, right?” replied Menma.

“Then we’re even, okay?”

“Huh?” Menma questioned, raising an eyebrow at his son.

“I mean it, Dad… The thing is, I can put up with it, you know? You not being here all the time or even for my birthday. I can take it because I’m a man.” Boruto explained, not looking directly at his father as he spoke. Menma seemed shocked and unable to talk as Boruto continued, “But still, if you didn’t follow through on your promise, and you made Himawari cry?”

Boruto’s eyes suddenly became dangerous as he furrowed his brow, “I would have let you have it. And I wouldn’t stop, even if you begged. And that goes for Shinachiku too. We both agreed we’d beat you up when you didn’t come to my sisters’ birthday.” Boruto threatened before he turned to face his father, the same seriousness still in his eyes, “Anyways, it’s over now. I forgive you, alright?”

“Hmph, well, thanks for that.” Menma smiled, trying not to show his unease at his sons' threat and the fact that Shinachiku would be helping, aware that if he genuinely was Sakura’s child, then Shinachiku had most likely inherited his mother's monster strength. Although Menma had tried not to show it, it scared him slightly.

Boruto smirked as he shut his eyes and started to walk away. “It’s fine, Dad. We won't have to do anything today. I only wanted to make sure you understand.”

Menma smiles as he watches Boruto, Shina, and Hinata take their seats before going to the fridge and taking the cake out.

“Wow, it’s so huge!!” Himawari gasped in surprise to see the two-layered birthday cake as Menma put the candles in, lighting them on fire before carefully walking over to the table and trying not to drop it.

“Himawari’s birthday party is just about ready to get started for real!”

Himawari squealed joyfully as Menma walked past her to put the cake down, with Shina, Boruto, and Hinata watching Menma’s every movement and singing as he walked around the table with the cake. 

“Oh, Haaappy Birthdayy on your special day~!

That ‘you are very precious’ is what we want to say~!

And ‘congratulations’ sent your way!

So haaaaapy birthday-”