The Uzumaki and Uchiha families had gathered once again for a joint dinner. The warm glow of lanterns lit the room, filling the space with laughter and chatter. The kitchen smelled of hearty food, and the clinking of chopsticks against bowls mixed with the sounds of everyone catching up, creating the perfect family atmosphere. Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, and Hinata were busy serving food, while the younger generation—Boruto, Sarada, Himawari, Riruru, and Mitsuki—sat at the table. There was a sense of comfortable chaos that always followed their gatherings, but tonight, it felt like something was about to tip the scale.
Himawari, in her usual playful way, leaned forward and looked at Boruto with an eager gleam in her eyes. “I saw something earlier,” she began, voice laced with mischief. “There was this pretty box in Boruto’s jacket—looked like a ring box. What’s that about?”
Boruto’s face immediately went pale, and he choked on his food. “What—what are you talking about?” His voice cracked as he tried to recover from the sudden shock, his hands instinctively clutching his jacket as if to hide the evidence.
Sarada, who had been casually eating, paused. A knowing smirk spread across her face as she glanced at Boruto. “Oh? What’s this about, Boruto? A ring?” she teased, crossing her arms over her chest.
Riruru, who had been sitting next to him, was equally confused. “Wait, what ring?” She looked between Boruto and Himawari, clearly trying to piece the situation together.
Before Boruto could come up with a response, Sasuke, who had been quietly observing, finally broke his silence. “So, Boruto,” he said, his voice cool but laced with a hint of amusement, “you’re proposing? Guess you’re following the tradition of poor timing. Did you forget that you're surrounded by family?”
The entire table fell silent for a moment. Boruto’s face turned even redder, and he groaned, slumping into his chair. “I wasn’t planning on doing it this way!” he muttered, half-hiding behind his food. “I wanted it to be a surprise!”
Naruto chuckled from the kitchen, unable to resist the opportunity to make things worse. “Hey, Boruto, looks like your surprise is ruined! Good luck with that!” His voice carried a teasing tone that made Boruto sink lower in his seat.
Sakura, ever the calm and collected one, raised an eyebrow and looked at Boruto. “You were going to propose?” she asked, her tone deceptively neutral. “And you were planning on keeping it a secret from all of us?”
Boruto shifted uncomfortably, trying to save face. “I was! I was going to do it right... just wanted it to be special, okay?”
Himawari, thrilled by the drama she’d just caused, giggled uncontrollably. “So, are we getting a wedding soon or what? You should’ve told us earlier, Boruto!”
Sarada’s eyes sparkled with amusement. “Guess the only surprise here is Boruto not being able to keep anything secret,” she said, smirking.
Riruru, still in shock but warming up to the situation, leaned closer to Boruto. “You really were going to propose, huh?”
“I—uh—yeah,” Boruto said sheepishly. “I thought it would be a good moment, but now... well, guess it’s out.”
Sasuke, who had remained relatively silent during the chaos, finally spoke again. This time, his voice was dry but with a subtle grin tugging at the corners of his lips. “Boruto, you should know by now that you can’t keep a secret for the life of you. But I suppose, in a way, it’s a good thing. The sooner Riruru knows what’s coming, the sooner she can make sure you don’t mess it up.” He shot a brief, almost imperceptible wink toward Riruru.
Naruto snorted from the kitchen, and Sakura couldn’t hide her smile. “You’ve definitely got your work cut out for you, Boruto.”
Hinata, who had been quietly watching, added with a gentle smile, “Well, at least we know you’ve been thinking ahead, Boruto. It’s sweet.” She turned to Riruru. “I’m sure you’ll love whatever he has planned for you.”
Riruru, now understanding the situation fully, looked over at Boruto with a playful smirk. “Well, at least now I won’t be caught off guard. Not exactly how I pictured it, though,” she teased.
Mitsuki, who had been calmly watching the scene unfold, leaned toward Sarada and whispered, “At least Boruto’s not the only one who’s getting roasted tonight.” Sarada turned to him, surprised at his quiet humor, and chuckled softly.
Meanwhile, Himawari, ever the instigator, shifted the topic entirely. “So, Sarada, Mitsuki... When’s the wedding for you two? Since everyone else is getting engaged and all.”
Sarada’s face flushed red, and she groaned, burying her face in her hands. “Not you too, Himawari!”
“I think we all need a celebration soon,” Himawari said innocently, completely oblivious to Sarada’s embarrassment. “A double wedding maybe?”
The whole table burst into laughter. It was the kind of chaos that always came with their family dinners—loud, playful, and full of love.
Sasuke, who had remained relatively stoic throughout the evening, let out a small sigh. “I never thought I’d see the day when Boruto would get more attention than me. Maybe you can take notes from him, Naruto.”
Naruto, who had been chuckling all evening, finally calmed down enough to respond. “I don’t think I need to take notes on anything. My son knows how to make a big entrance.”
Boruto groaned, sinking deeper into his seat as the laughter continued. Despite the chaos, he couldn’t help but smile. As much as his surprise had been ruined, he knew that this—this noisy, crazy family—was exactly where he wanted to be.
“Yeah, yeah, laugh it up,” he muttered, but his grin was still there, wide and unashamed. “Maybe next time I’ll just propose during dinner. No one can ruin that, right?”
The room erupted with laughter again, and Riruru leaned against him, giving him a gentle nudge. “Maybe next time,” she said, her voice soft but full of warmth.
As the dinner continued, the teasing never stopped, but neither did the love. And in the midst of the jokes and laughter, Boruto realized that no matter how chaotic life got, there was no other place he’d rather be.
