"A white Zetsu?"

"Yeah, a really big one, and he could use fire, wind, and lightning style ninjutsu."

Ukai turned away from the dishes to look at Sarada as she packed away clean utensils.

"And you managed to kill it?"

"Yip, though it did take us a while to do so after Boruto tried to take him out on his own... Haaaa, what an idiot." The younger Uchiha sighed, muttering the last piece to herself.

Ukai returned to washing off plates and pans, a concerned look falling onto his features.

"Ukai? What's wrong?" Sarada called to her elder brother.

"Nothing I just... I thought they were all taken out in the war, but I guess they weren't tied to their maker, so they didn't perish with her." Ukai shook his head, handing Sarada a wet dish.

"Yes... well, one exciting thing did come from this mission," Sarada hummed cheerfully.

"Oh yeah?"

"And what was that?" Ukai smirked, handing Sarada another plate.

"I got to see the Amaterasu," Sarada smiled, walking away to pack away said plate.

"What?" Ukai turned to his sister, looking at her with a confused look.

"You got to see Father's all burning fire?"

"Uh huh..." Sarada hummed.

"How?"

"He had obviously used it on the dying zetsu in the underground, and it was still burning when we got there," Sarada explained.

"Oh, so you only saw the aftermath." Ukai finished off the last dish, turning and questioning his sister as he died off his hands.

"I didn't see Dad if that's what you're asking but, Konohamaru-Sensei did say that with his Rinnegan he could move through space quickly, so he might be around here... right?" Sarada further explained, packing away her last dish and hanging up the dish towel before turning to her brother.

Ukai blinked, looking down into the eyes of his little sister.

"Hmm, yeah, sure," He smiled, pulling up his pointer and middle fingers to poke Sarada's forehead.

"Hey! Quit it!" Sarada pulled away laughing.

"Haha... Come on, let's get back to the women," Ukai picked up a tray of mugs, ushering his sister out of the kitchen and to the living room.

Sarada lead the way, walking down the hall and into the last room, setting herself down on the single couch, next to the double where her mother and Kazane sat.

"So yeah, that's why his mask now has those three claw marks down the front," Ukai raised his gaze to watch his girlfriend give his mother a nervous laugh as she explained their first meeting.

"Oh my goodness," Sakura chuckled.

"And had I not jumped back, I might only have one eye today," Ukai teased, setting the tray down on the table and passing cups of tea and coffee around.

"Oh come one, my claws aren't that long," Kazane protested, picking up her cup and folding her legs on the couch under her.

"No, but your aim is impeccable, and in battle my dear you hold nothing back," Ukai walked over to the couch and pecked Kazane's cheek as he walked past to set himself on the second single couch.

"Whatever... you started it," Kazane blushed, turning her head away.

Sarada, Sakura, and Ukai all chuckled softly, watching the poor kunoichi turn red.

"Oh, by the way, how are preparations for the Chunin exams going Sarada? Are you excited to compete?" Kazane turned her attention to the youngest Uchiha.

"Oh yeah, I can't wait!" Sarada nodded, closing her eyes and smiling brightly.

"That's great! I'm sure looking forward to watching your matches, do you have any special moves to wow the audience?" Kazane tilted her head with a smile.

"Well, there are actually a few things I want to learn to do before the exam, better to have a full arsenal and not need something than to need it and not have it," Sarada spoke.

"Hahaha! You sound just like Ukai," Kazane laughed.

"That's true, didn't you spend your upcoming days training to learn as many jutsu as you could before the exam?" Sakura teased her son.

"Yeah well... I was going through a power-hungry phase..." Ukai snickered.

"So I suppose you'll want your brother to train you?" Sakura turned her head and soft green eyes to her daughter.

"If it's not too much trouble," Sarada gave her brother a nervous questioning smile.

"Hmm, don't worry, I'll get you ready for those exams..." Ukai nodded.

Sakura and Kazane both smiled, closing their eyes and humming while Sarada smiled a bright toothy smile.

"How does Boruto feel about the exams? Is he looking forward to it as well?" Kazane asked, looking between Sakura and Sarada.

Both of whom, cast their heads down slightly.

"Oh..."

"Hmm hmm hmm... Being his usual stubborn, hard-headed, uncooperative self then is he," Ukai smiled, chuckling as he rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"You could say that," Sakura smiled briefly before frowning slightly.

"He's not interested in it at all... And that makes it harder for Mitsuki and me because we can't take the exam without him..." Sarada elaborated.

"I'd think he'd wanna pass it more than anyone, given it's one of the first steps to getting stronger, proving himself to his dad and whatnot," Ukai continued.

"So why is he suddenly hesitating...?"

"He's... going through the motions with Naruto,"

"Lord Seventh missed his birthday," Sarada's voice cracked slightly, the pitch getting higher as her sadness came through.

"Ouch... That had to sting..." Kazane frowned, setting her empty coffee cup down.

"He doesn't like to show it... he, kind of brushes it off and laughs but... I know it's eating him..."

"Well, nothing to do about it I'm afraid," Ukai shrugged his shoulders, leaning back in his chair.

"Ukai!" Kazane scolded her partner.

"What?" Ukai raised his eyebrows.

"No, he's right... I'm sure he'll come around, just you wait," Sarada nodded, raising her clenched fist determinedly.

"Yeah... I'm sure you and that blue-haired boy, umm, what's his name again?" Sakura smiled before squinting her eyes in thought, turning to Ukai for help.

"Mitsuki,"

"Mitsuki! That's it, I'm sure you two can convince him, I mean you are his team,"

"Yeah right, Mitsuki will just agree with Boruto, but, he did seem pretty excited about the exams, so I may be in luck," Sarada chuckled.

"Sunny day then, you'll make a fine Hokage yet," Ukai commented.

"Hokage?" Kazane blinked, her mouth falling open slightly.

"Wow, that's pretty ambitious, what made you wanna become the next leader of the leaf huh?" The purple-haired Kunoichi shifted on the couch, looking at Sarada with curiosity circling in her violet eyes.

"Oh, um, well... This is my home, and I want to protect it along with my friends and family," Sarada answered, a shy smile on her face as she explained.

"Well, I'm sure you'll do great, and rock the Chunin exams," Kazane closed her eyes and smiled.