Chapter Text
Sakura sat on the dining table near Boruto examining his head. Boruto occasionally took a sip of tea, feel nonchalant about the whole situation.
“So what’s the diagnostic?” Naruto asked. Sakura breathed for a moment.
“Naruto, I can’t make a diagnostic yet.”
“Why not?”
“It’s too early. It’s way too early.”
“But how can we help him if we don’t know what he has? How can we help him if we don’t know what’s going on?”
“Firstly, I think Boruto should be taken off of any medication Amado gave him. Especially since it seems to be the cause of this. However, as I said, these things take time to understand. Secondly Bolt… he seems to be taking this.” Sakura paused. “He seems to have a clearer understanding of their brain. If Boruto has developed dissociative identity disorder, Bolt is probably here to protect Boruto from something.”
“Something?” Hinata whispered.
“If the drugs were harming Boruto’s mind that badly. It’s possible he had enough and ran away into the caverns of his own mind.”
“Then Bolt came out,” Naruto muttered, sinking back into the chair.
“Bolt, can I ask you a question?” Sakura said.
“Of course, Mrs. Uchiha.”
“What is your first memory?”
“It actually kind of scary. It’s always somewhere high.” Sakura’s face fell slightly. “Does Boruto like high places or something?”
“I don’t think he felt one way or another about it,” Naruto answered ignoring the pit in his stomach.
“I agree that I come out when Boruto’s too scared to deal with something. At first, waking up near ledges used to scare me but now… it’s okay. It’s actually quite beautiful. I don’t get it. If I’m supposed to protect Boruto from something, it’s strange that I come out when he near that beautiful view. It’s very calming to me.”
“Maybe it’s memory loss.” Hinata jumped. “Maybe if Boruto feels too overwhelmed he forgets everything. Then when his brain is ready he remembers everything again.”
“It’s a possibility,” Sakura said, nodding. “What do you think Bolt?”
“Hmm.”
“You think there’s something else?”
“I just hear these voices-”
“Oh god.” Naruto gaped.
“Naruto,” Sakura frowned. He apologized quietly. “Bolt finish what you were going to say.”
“I mean the voices I hear, they’re not me or at least they don’t sound like me. I mean one of them kinda likes your hair and the other, well, they have a different opinion. I don’t really care either way.”
“You sound like Mitsuki,” Kawaki said, without an expression on his face.
“Who?” Kawaki scowled walking away from the table.
“Assuming those voices aren’t you,” Sakura continued. “Do you think any of them are Boruto?”
“If our theory is true… I think Boruto is too far deep right now. Either he’s ignoring me or he just can’t hear me. I know I seem calm but this is still new to me.”
“Right now I think you all should go to bed and try to relax. Try and feel safe. And Naruto…”
“Hm?”
“Don’t kill Amado.”
~-~
Bolt - Day 4
It’s been a few days since I talked with Ms. Uchiha. So far they want to keep this a secret. Secrets seem to be a common thing in this village but I suppose everyone deserves privacy. I’m not used to fronting for so long. It’s agitating.
This morning I searched up more information about my yet-to-be diagnosis of Dissociative Identity Disorder. Memory loss among other things rang in my head like a rattle ball. But one factor scared me.
Alters can go dormant.
I hope Boruto isn’t dormant. (He's so quiet) His family misses him. I can tell every time they look at me, watch me worriedly. At first, they took it as typical memory loss. But my personality is different from Boruto’s. That hurt them. But it made them realize that I am not Boruto. I’ll probably need a teeshirt that says that.
Himawari doesn’t fully understand what’s happening. She always catches herself when she calls me Boruto and apologizes. She asks me a million questions. Some I can answer, some I can only laugh at. She gasped every time I say something that Boruto wouldn’t typically say. Maybe I should change my look, but I won’t until I talk with Boruto and the others.
Besides if Boruto woke up and didn't look like himself, he'd actually might go dormant.
Kawaki refuses to talk with me. He’s counting every second until Boruto comes back. I understand how he feels. I love this family. I want them to be happy. But there are waiting for Boruto to come back. I’m a little envious but I understand. He wants his brother back.
Bolt sat back from the journal, he turned the page.
For Boruto,
Boruto it’s fine if you aren’t ready. But I think you should know those pills you were taking, they’ve decided you won’t take them anymore. I just thought you should know. Also, sorry about taking your nickname.
- From Bolt, the mental protector.
Bolt sat back from the desk. When Bolt called out to Boruto in the depths of his brain he always received no answer. But a note might reach him. He hoped at least.
A small knock turned his attention to the door.
“Kawaki?” Boruto’s brother stared at him coldly.
“Is Boruto back?”
“No- But hey, wait. Don’t go.” Kawaki signed heavily. Stepping back into Boruto’s cracked door.
“What?” Bolt stood.
“Last night during dinner, I was eating then everything went dark. I woke up a few hours ago sitting on this table.”
“So?”
“What I mean... did someone else come out?” Not Boruto said with a smile.
“He called himself Tatsumaki, but with the way you’re smiling you already knew that.” Bolt grinned as he nodded.
“Ta-tsu-ma-ki? Well, how did everyone take him?”
“I’m sure he’ll tell you himself.”
“Right.”
“And for the record, I don’t hate you. Nor do I hate the other personalities within you. I just want to talk to Boruto. So you’ll tell me when my brother comes back right?”
“I’m sure he’ll tell you himself.”
“Hm.” He closed the door.
Bolt sat back down on the chair.
“Little shit?”
~-~
Last night Bolt was idly eating dinner in the silence of Boruto’s dining table. The silence was anything but comfortable, but Bolt did not care. He was here to protect Boruto’s mental state. It didn’t matter how awkward, how sad or depressing, how weird- Bolt would be fine. Bolt and Boruto’s family ate quietly.
Until something sweet hit his tongue.
That’s all Bolt recalled. He was pulled from the front room and pushed to the side of their mind.
~-~
“What is this?!” Other Not Boruto stood from the chair, holding his chopsticks fondly. His eyes sparkled.
“B-Boruto?” Naruto asked carefully. “No, it can’t be him.”
“Who cares about that? I need to know what this is!”
“Um. It’s chicken.” Hinata said, holding his shoulder pushing him to sit down. “I made it.”
“Really!? Aw man it’s so good! It’s so sweet.” He began to eat more.
“Hey! Who are you?” Kawaki yelled from across the table. “There’s no way you’re Boruto, Boruto’s annoying but you’re on a different level.”
“I’ll think of a name later, can we play games now?” He ran from the table without receiving any consent to do so.
“Wait- Bo-” Naruto stuttered then grabbed his arm as gently as possible. “Ugh, look. Do you know who Bolt is?”
“Hm? Yeah, he’s been fronting for like 3 days. I think he’s not used to it. I mean before when Boruto was around he’d only front for like a few hours. But he’s so boring don’t you think?”
“Why did he leave? He said he was here to protect Boruto. Is Boruto coming back soon?”
“Uh, right, yeah, no. Bolt mentioned something about Boruto’s family. But no… no Boruto’s not back yet.” Boruto’s family sighed.
“Hey, guys don’t look so down. We can eat some cake? If you want.”
“I think you just want to eat some cake,” Naruto muttered.
“Why are you here?” Kawaki asked. “That bastard Bolt said he was protecting Boruto? Did he punk out and switch with you?” Other Not Boruto’s eyes lit up.
“What was that word you just said? Bastard! Can I say that!? Please!?”
“No!” Naruto rubbed his face. “Can you please stay focused? Why are you here?”
“Bolt ate something sweet. I wanted to try it. And also Bolt tries to act all cool saying he’ll protect Boruto from mental despair, but I can do that too! Our body just needs to have some fun! Do you know how I’m going to do that!?”
“How?”
“By having a bastard amount of fun!”
“Ok, son. That’s not how you say that.” Naruto scolded. “And also, you’re not allowed to swear anymore.”
“What…? Lame. Can I at least go play now?”
“Go play?” Hinata whispered. “You’re acting like, like Boruto before the academy.”
“Wash your dishing first okay?”
“Okay...” He sighed lugging his body towards his empty plate.
Naruto held his wife’s back staring at a new personality (in his son’s body) washing dishes. Himawari came close to him holding her own clear plate in her hand. She looked at Other Not Boruto curiously.
“I’m not washing your dishes, little girl.”
“Don’t call me that! My name is Himawari!”
“Fine, sunflower. What do you want?”
“What’s your name?”
“I haven’t decided yet. Maybe you should call me Aster.” Other Not Boruto sneered. Himawari giggled.
“But I like that name.”
“No, I don’t want to be named after a flower.”
“Boruto’s brain friend Bolt named himself after big brother.”
“I don’t want to be named after that either.”
“I’m sure we’ll figure something out.” Other Not Boruto grabbed her plate and washed it silently. “Look, before Boruto left 4 days ago. He told us alters to protect you, and the rest of his family.”
“He did?”
“Yup! So even if you’re older than me I’ll always protect you!”
“What? You’re not younger. Boruto’s older than me.”
“Hey! I’m not Boruto!”
“I know but his body is still 14 years old right?”
“Sure, sure. But I’m 8 years old, alright!?”
“Hmm.” Himawari hummed quietly. She looked up and her family was just as puzzled.
Later that evening Other Not Boruto babbled on and on about anything that came to his mind. When he finally went silent, Boruto’s whole family stared. Other Not Boruto’s eyes sparkled as he looked at the TV screen.
“What is that?” He pointed at the TV. They looked, a tornado billowed on the TV screen. A documentary in the land of winds. “It’s so cool.” His eyes continued to sparkle.
“It’s a tornado,” Himawari answered.
“I want to be named after that . ”
“A Tornado?”
“Yeah, Tatsumaki.”
Later that night Tatsumaki opened a journal after signing his name on the first page.
Tatsumaki - Day 3
Hinata made really good food. Sorry I booted you out Bolt. But Boruto’s Dad said I can’t eat candy anymore so I’m bored. Tell Boruto to stop being a bastard and come out or I’ll spend all his money on candy.
Bolt stared at the journal the next morning. “Who taught him that word?”