At that moment, Naruto could be seen running at full speed. After a while of running, he reached a huge tree with a grey-colored bark. He began to climb the tree by walking on its trunk, quickly ascending halfway. Upon arriving there, he found a person with black hair, dark eyes, black clothes, and a cloak that reached his knees, sitting on one of the branches of the tree.
Naruto asked, "Where are we, Sasuke?"
"Naruto, you're late," Sasuke replied calmly.
" Hey , I'm just a clone. I came from so far away that I don't even know where I am or how to get back," Naruto complained.
"Well, anyway, did you bring the information?" Sasuke spoke indifferently.
" Hey , listen to what I'm saying!" Naruto replied as he sat down next to Sasuke and took out a scroll to hand to him.
Sasuke took it, opened it and commented, "I didn't think Danzó would reach a level comparable to Kaguya's techniques."
"Really? I didn't know Danzó was like that," Naruto said, surprised.
"With this, we're getting closer to Kaguya's quarters," Sasuke said as he stood up.
"Are you leaving already, Sasuke? Aren't you planning on stopping by the village? You should visit your family," Naruto insisted.
"As always, tell Sakura I'm sorry," Sasuke said as he disappeared with a Shunshin.
"I'm the one who should say 'sorry'," Naruto muttered as the clone disappeared in smoke.
A few days later, at night, Sasuke was walking through a forest. He felt a constant presence that had been following him for a day. "It seems he can't take it anymore," thought Sasuke, ready to face his pursuer.
Suddenly, a sickle was launched from a tree branch towards him. With impressive speed, Sasuke unsheathed his sword and blocked the attack, the metal clanging as it collided. The person who had launched the attack was hooded, and he quickly retracted the sickle with a chain, jumping to the ground and preparing for combat.
The hooded figure ran towards Sasuke with clear intent to kill. But before he could reach him, Sasuke moved with blinding speed, appearing behind his attacker. The person spun quickly, tightening the chain to avoid a lethal blow, but the force of Sasuke's impact pushed him violently into a tree. Recovering nimbly, the figure stabilized itself and stood on the trunk, once again launching itself at Sasuke.
Sasuke activated his Sharingan, preparing for combat. His opponent threw the chain, wrapping it around a tree and catching Sasuke's sword. The hooded figure lunged forward with the sickle, ready to stab it into Sasuke's body. However, just before impact, Sasuke disappeared in a Shunshin, reappearing beside his sword. With a quick movement, he unsheathed his sword and performed several one-handed seals, unleashing lightning that ran along the blade, destroying his attacker's hood.
A cry of pain escaped the figure, who dropped the sickle and stepped back, panting. Sasuke shook his sword free from the chain and advanced towards the person, who was now revealed to have white hair, pale skin, and dressed entirely in white, with a fan-shaped symbol on their back.
"Who are you and why are you attacking me?" Sasuke asked coldly.
The person slowly stood up, and when he fully raised his head, Sasuke was shocked to see a Sharingan in his attacker's eye. Sasuke became more serious, and repeated in a grave tone:
—Who are you and why do you have the Sharingan?
But before he could attack with all his power, a small creature appeared out of nowhere and absorbed the person, disappearing into a spinning vortex.
Sasuke stared in disbelief at the empty space where his attacker had once stood. Moments later, he made a hand seal and shouted:
—Kuchiyose no Jutsu! Summoning Jutsu
A falcon appeared, and Sasuke pulled out a note, writing with his one arm before placing it on the falcon's leg. The bird took flight, heading towards Konoha.
"Naruto must know," Sasuke thought, and walked away.
Elsewhere, on a stone tower, a hooded figure stood. Another person, kneeling behind him, spoke:
—He's very strong. I was no match for him, Father.
"I saw him," the figure in the tower replied, "but it doesn't matter. What matters is that you have tasted his strength. He is the one who caused Itachi's death. He must die, for the sake of rebirth."
"Yes, father," the kneeling person replied.
At the cafe, the morning sunlight softly illuminated the table where Sarada and Chōchō were sitting. The atmosphere was peaceful, with the soft murmur of conversation and the clink of coffee cups. Chōchō took a sip of her drink and looked at Sarada curiously.
"Sarada, if you don't want it, I'll eat it," Chōchō said , pointing to a pastry that Sarada had barely touched.
Sarada smiled weakly, pushing the plate towards her friend.
"Go ahead, I'm not very hungry," he replied, looking thoughtfully out the window. Outside, the leaves were slowly falling, marking the change of season.
Chōchō took the pastry, but couldn't help but notice her friend's absent-minded expression.
—What's wrong? You've been quiet all morning.
Sarada sighed, absentmindedly playing with the straw in her drink.
—I was thinking about my dad... I haven't seen him in so long that I barely remember him.
Chōchō frowned, a mix of surprise and concern.
—Really? You don't remember what it looks like?
Sarada shook her head, feeling a lump in her throat.
—Not much. I remember some things, like his voice and some of his words, but his face… it's like it's fading in my memory.
Chōchō bit into a piece of pastry, silently pondering.
—That's... complicated. What about your mom? Does she talk about him?
—Sometimes, but not much. I think it hurts her to talk about him too. She always says he's on an important mission and that he'll be back someday. —Sarada took a sip of her drink, trying to hide the sadness she felt as she remembered those words.
Chōchō nodded slowly, thinking of how to change the topic to ease her friend's emotional burden.
"What do you have to do today, Chōchō ? If you want, I'll go with you, I have the day off," Sarada asked, trying to sound more cheerful.
"Well, I have to train with my dad," Chōchō replied with a small smile.
—Oh, your dad... it seems like everyone is busy, graduation is coming up —Sarada commented, feeling a pang of loneliness.
From a nearby shop, a familiar voice called out:
—Chōchō , I'm here !
Sarada and Chōchō turned around and saw a pot-bellied man, it was Chōji , who was holding a bag of chips in his hand.
"That's not your dad," Sarada commented jokingly, trying to lighten her spirits.
Chōchō was a little embarrassed and replied:
—That's not my dad... he's so different from me. Look! His chips are low in sugar knowing that he doesn't like them, he's just embarrassed —she said with a tone of annoyance and some affection, while pouting.
Sarada, with a slight smile, commented:
—That's what bothers you...
Chōchō said goodbye to Sarada and left with her father, while Sarada stayed a little longer, watching as her friends' parents trained with their children. The feeling of absence intensified in her chest, making her sigh deeply.
After a while, he decided to go home. When he arrived, he opened the door and entered the quiet residence. He walked until he came to a family photo in which his parents were. He stood for a moment looking at the picture, his thoughts filled with questions.
"Father, where are you? Why aren't you coming?" she wondered in her mind, feeling her eyes filling with tears. "My eyes… they're burning…" she murmured as she took off her glasses to wipe her eyes.
Just then, the door opened and someone entered the house. Sarada came out to say hello.
—Hi, Mom! How are you?
Sakura greeted her with a warm, if tired, smile.
—Hi, Sarada. I'm fine, and you? How was your day?
"I just lost my vision a little, but it's nothing, Mom," Sarada replied, trying to smile.
Sakura dropped the bags she was carrying and quickly approached her daughter, crouching down to be at her level.
"Let me see," he said with concern, gently removing Sarada's hands from her eyes to examine them closely.
Sarada, surprised by her mother's reaction, tried to reassure her.
"It's okay, Mom. I'm fine," he assured with a weak smile.
After a moment of inspection, Sakura relaxed a little and nodded, accepting her daughter's words, although deep inside she still felt a slight concern.
A while later, at lunchtime, Sarada and Sakura were sitting in the dining room, the silence between them only broken by the soft sound of utensils against plates.
"Where's Dad?" Sarada asked, finally breaking the silence.
Sakura looked up and, with a forced smile, replied:
—He's on a mission.
Sarada, still staring at her plate, asked the question that had been lingering in her mind.
—Mom, does Dad wear glasses? You don't have bad eyesight, but I do... How is that possible?
Sakura blinked, surprised by the question.
— Mmm , well, I don't think so... —he replied, hesitating a little.
"They're married and you don't even know that?" Sarada retorted, her tone filled with a mix of disbelief and annoyance.
Sakura lowered her head a little, sensing the reproach in her daughter's words.
—That hurt... hehe —he said with a nervous laugh—. But, Sarada, you're looking really weird today...
After finishing the meal in a somewhat tense atmosphere, Sarada got up from the table and, without saying much more, left the house determined to get answers. Her destination was the Konoha library.
Upon arrival, he walked in with a firm step and approached the receptionist.
"How can I help you?" the person in charge asked, with a polite smile.
"I want information about the Uchija clan," Sarada replied, her voice serious.
"Sure, give me a second," the receptionist said as he searched through the computer. A moment later, he handed her a reference number.
Sarada made her way to the indicated section, where she located an old, dusty book about the Uchija. She sat down at a small table nearby, placed the book in front of her, and began to read.
The book described the Uchiha clan as one of the oldest and most powerful clans in Konoha, known for their Sharingan, a Dōjutsu that allowed its users to see through Taijutsu, Ninjutsu, and Genjutsu . He went on to read about the Mangekyō Sharingan, a more advanced form of the eye, which changed its pattern upon awakening.
"Will my dad have the Sharingan?" Sarada wondered quietly, doubt growing in her mind.
He turned to the next page, where he found a description of how the Sharingan was awakened: intense emotions, such as the loss of a loved one, caused the release of a special chakra that activated the Sharingan.
Sarada felt a pang in her chest as she read about the tragedies that had befallen the Uchiha, with most of the clan wiped out, leaving only Sasuke Uchija and... herself, Sarada Uchija, alive.
He closed the book carefully, feeling a weight on his heart, and turned back to the receptionist.
"May I get information about Sasuke Uchija?" he asked in the firmest voice he could muster.
The receptionist looked at her with a mixture of compassion and professionalism.
—I'm sorry, I can't give you that information. It's classified as very high-ranking.
Sarada frowned, disappointed but not surprised. She nodded, put the book back, and left the library. As she walked back home, her mind was still flooded with unanswered questions. But now, more than ever, she was determined to find out the truth about her father.
When Sarada arrived home, she found her mother, Sakura, collecting some sheets in the yard. Sarada approached, her mind still filled with questions and doubts.
"Are you my father's wife, Mom?" Sarada asked, a mix of uncertainty and defiance in her voice.
Sakura looked up, surprised by the question.
—What are you talking about, Sarada? Of course I'm his wife.
Sarada frowned, her frustration beginning to surface.
—So why isn't he home? Is it because he doesn't love us anymore?
The silence that followed was so heavy it seemed to fill the air. Sakura finished gathering the sheets and, as she touched her forehead, she responded with a sigh.
—He loves us, Sarada.
—So why doesn't he come home? Do you know what he's doing or where he is? —Sarada clenched her fists, her voice shaking with a mix of rage and sadness.
"Sarada, I already told you, I don't know where he is or what he's doing," Sakura replied, forcing a smile as she let the wind caress her face.
"You always avoid the question, Mom!" Sarada exclaimed, the tension in her voice rising. "You always do the same thing."
Sakura turned around to look at her daughter, her eyes reflecting concern.
—You're acting really weird today, Sarada.
"You're the weird one!" Sarada cried, tears beginning to well up in her eyes. "I bet you're not even my father's wife. You never know what he's up to or where he is. Your relationship with him is so weird!"
Fury flashed in Sakura's eyes, and in a fit of frustration, she punched the ground so hard that a loud crash echoed throughout the house, boom . The ground cracked beneath her fist, but her gaze remained fixed on her daughter.
Sarada began to cry harder.
"He must have abandoned us," she said between sobs.
"Don't worry, Sarada," Sakura replied softly, bringing a hand to her forehead. "I'm connected to him."
"How can you be so sure?" Sarada asked, her voice filled with skepticism.
Before Sakura could respond, a loud cracking sound echoed through the house, which began to crumble around her. Sakura, in disbelief, was barely able to react before fainting, as the house completely collapsed.
A few minutes later, already at dusk, a black-haired woman dressed in a dark kimono arrived at the Uchiha house.
"Sakura is exhausted, she always works too much. Don't worry, Sarada," Shizune said in a reassuring tone. "We'll take her to the hospital. Will you come with her?"
Sarada nodded, but before she left, she decided to look for something in the remains of the house. As she searched through the rubble, she found a photo of her family. Just as she was about to put it away, she noticed something unusual: Sasuke's photo was superimposed over another picture. Intrigued, Sarada pulled it away and discovered a photo of a woman with glasses, red hair, and red eyes.
"Who is she?" Sarada murmured, shocked and incredulous.
A few minutes later, Sarada was in the hospital, sitting next to her unconscious mother, while looking at the picture in her hands. At that moment, Shizune entered the room and saw the picture Sarada was holding.
"A picture of Sasuke?" Shizune asked, curious.
Sarada, startled, quickly hid the photo.
"I don't want you to tell Mom," Sarada said seriously.
Shizune nodded silently, respecting the girl's wish.
"I want to ask you a question, Shizune..." Sarada continued, her voice filled with doubt. "Am I really my mother's daughter?"
"Of course you are, Sarada," Shizune replied firmly.
Sarada took out the photo she had saved and showed it to Shizune.
"Look, this woman has glasses, like me," Sarada said. "Who is she?"
Shizune looked at the photo, not knowing what to answer. Sarada lowered her head, her doubts growing even more.
The next day, Sarada met with Chōchō , and after talking about several things, Sarada finally revealed her decision.
—I want to find my father.
Chōchō nodded, showing her support.
—Me too. Do you have any idea where he might be? —Chōchō asked .
"Maybe the Hokage knows," Sarada replied, determination in her voice. "After all, they were teammates."
Without another word, Sarada stood up and ran to the Hokage's office, hoping to find the answers she longed for.
Arriving at the Hokage's office, Sarada stopped as she heard something that shocked her. Without a second thought, she ran out of the office. Shortly after, she ran into Chōchō and, breathing heavily , told her that they would meet at the entrance of Konoha. Elsewhere in Konoha a few moments earlier
In the abandoned factory, Boruto trained with a ferocious intensity. His jacket rested on the ground as he panted in exhaustion, sweat dripping from his forehead. "Damn… the lack of chakra is a serious problem," he muttered in frustration, gritting his teeth in suppressed rage. Although he had managed to master his eye's abilities, his meager chakra only allowed him to use them once. "I need more power… my body seems to have reached its limit."
His eyes, filled with cold, ruthless determination, stared into the distance. "I must find someone useful, a subordinate who can leave the village without raising suspicion. Someone who will discover my origins… the Uzumaki village." A glint of malice darkened his gaze. "There must be a way to awaken those Uzumaki genes that throb within me. Obtaining the chakra of that bloodline will be crucial to achieving my absolute dominance, to becoming the strongest."
His words echoed in the solitude of the factory, imbued with a dark, calculating purpose. "I will not let anything stand in my way... nothing."
Boruto sighed in frustration. "It's exhausting... I haven't found a way to eliminate that thing spying on me. It was like it didn't exist at all. I need to change my plan, there has to be some way to get rid of it. I hope it doesn't appear again."
With his mind racing, he decided it was time to head home. "I haven't been home for days... I need to rest." With a determined gesture, he performed a series of hand seals, sending the information to the clone he had left at home.
The clone, who until then was resting in his bed, enjoying the day off from the academy, abruptly stood up upon receiving the information. He opened the window of his room and jumped out, heading at full speed towards the park. Upon arriving, he noticed that his real self had not yet arrived, so he hid in a nearby alley to wait.
Meanwhile, the real Boruto was finishing preparing his things. He put on his jacket and started walking towards the factory exit. Before he crossed the door, the light from outside flooded the dark place, forcing him to cover his eyes momentarily. Outside the factory, the marks of the cuts he had made during his fight with the shadow were clearly visible.
After walking for a few seconds, he arrived at the alley where his clone was waiting for him. The clone disappeared in a puff of smoke, and Boruto felt the transfer of chakra and memories. Wasting no time, he made a seal with his hand to stabilize his chakra and then began walking towards his house, wearing his usual clothes: a long jacket, gloves, and ninja sandals. With his hands in his pockets and a vacant expression in his eyes, he continued on his way.
After a while of walking, he finally arrived at his house. With a nimble leap, he entered through the window of his room, immersing himself in the familiarity of his space.
Boruto entered his room, but his mind was somewhere else. "It's time to talk to Himawari," he thought, remembering the last conversation they had. Ever since things started to change for him, he had felt the need to clear things up with his younger sister, even though he didn't always find the right words. After a few moments of thought, he made a decision. He walked out of the room and down the stairs with a determined gait, feeling the weight of what he was about to do.
As she entered the living room, she saw her mother, Hinata, busy in the kitchen. The soft morning light came through the windows, illuminating the space warmly. She looked up, curious to see her son, and watched as he made his way over to the couch where Himawari sat, her gaze lost in the television that barely caught her attention.
Hinata decided to pay attention, staying silent as Boruto approached her sister. Himawari looked up at him, a mix of surprise and anticipation in her eyes. Boruto sat down beside her, leaving a small space between them, and spoke in a soft tone, trying to break the ice.
"How have you been, Himawari?" Boruto asked, trying to make his voice sound casual.
Himawari looked at him with a mix of disbelief and relief, and then whispered, as if afraid her mother would hear, "Are you the real Boruto-niichan?"
Boruto looked at his sister's expression and smiled tenderly, leaning slightly towards her to whisper as well: "Yes, it's me, Himawari."
Himawari lowered her head, looking down at her hands as she fiddled with her fingers. "Why are you doing this? Why are you showing us a clone?" she asked, her voice shaking as her thoughts swirled in her mind.
"What you heard the day we visited the Jiuga estate is the reason," Boruto replied, his tone serious and distant, as if trying to protect himself from the backlash he knew would come.
Himawari raised her head quickly, her eyes filled with confusion and sadness. "That's a lie," she said in a shaky but firm voice, her voice raising slightly unintentionally.
Hinata, who was in the kitchen, turned to look at her children. She saw them sitting on the couch, apparently watching television, but she sensed the tension in the air, especially when she noticed Himawari's flustered expression. "Guys, what's going on?" she asked, her voice filled with concern.
Himawari was surprised and quickly replied, "It's okay, Mom," as she put a hand behind her head, trying to hide her agitation.
Hinata looked at Boruto, noticing that her eldest son was more serious than usual. "Boruto, I'm going to go get some things for lunch," she said, trying not to dwell on what she had noticed. "And later, I want you to take lunch to your father."
Boruto nodded, keeping his expression neutral. Hinata took off her apron and walked out of the house, leaving them alone. Boruto and Himawari heard the sound of the front door closing behind their mother. The atmosphere became quieter, almost heavy, and Boruto decided it was time to talk.
Boruto activated his senses, making sure his mother's chakra was moving away, and then turned his attention back to his sister. "What I said that day is true, or at least part of it," he began, his tone filled with cold determination. "There are several reasons, but that's the main one."
Himawari lowered her head, fighting the emotions swirling inside her. "I want to know more about you, brother... if everything we've done was real," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Boruto looked at her with a mix of sadness and sincerity. "Everything we've done was me, Himawari. It wasn't any clone. Even though I'm hardly home, that doesn't change how I feel or who I am," he said, trying to reassure her of his presence.
Himawari raised her head with a hint of joy in her eyes, trying to understand. "Why are you like this? What is your goal, Boruto-niichan?"
Boruto sighed, knowing this conversation was inevitable. "In the past, I lost something... a part of me was lost, but I don't know what it is. It's hard to explain," he said, his voice filled with silent pain. " But even though a part of me no longer exists, that doesn't mean my purpose is gone. In fact, it's stronger and clearer now than ever."
Himawari looked at him intently, trying to grasp the meaning of his words. "What is your goal, brother?" she asked, with a mix of curiosity and concern.
Boruto answered, staring into space, as if speaking more to himself than to her. "It's to be stronger than anyone else, no matter the price," he said, his voice low but filled with a determination that both frightened and fascinated Himawari.
Himawari opened her eyes, but she didn't know what to say. She couldn't fully understand the depth of her brother's words, but she felt the weight of what they meant.
Boruto, sensing his sister's discomfort, spoke again, this time in a softer tone. "You don't need to understand me, Himawari. I am your brother, and I will protect you until the time comes. Afterwards, I will have to let go of your hand, and you will have to walk alone. So let's enjoy ourselves as much as we can in the meantime."
Himawari looked at him, her eyes filled with tears. She didn't know if those words were comforting or terrifying, but what she felt at that moment was a deep love for her brother, even though she didn't fully understand it.
Boruto turned to her and smiled, a smile that was both joyful and sad, filled with mixed emotions. Seeing this, Himawari couldn't hold back any longer. She lunged at her brother and hugged him tightly, tears flowing freely as she murmured, "Yes, brother... I love you."
Boruto returned the hug, holding her tightly, feeling the warmth of his younger sister. But in his mind, the memory of Jiro surfaced again. "Back then, Jiro, you asked me to save your sister, but I couldn't. I promised that I would protect Himawari until she could walk on her own. It's a debt I have to repay," he thought, as a lone tear fell from his right eye.
He whispered in a soft voice, but full of deep feeling, "I love you, my little sister." Himawari hugged him tighter, as if she didn't want to let him go, feeling the love and protection of her brother at that moment.
Silence enveloped the room, broken only by the soft sound of Himawari's sobs as Boruto held her, allowing himself a moment of vulnerability he rarely showed.
A few minutes later, Himawari stopped crying, her sadness turning into a smile as she began to play with her brother. They enjoyed the moment, feeling the warmth of their brotherly bond, a temporary escape from the shadows that haunted Boruto's life. However, Boruto, with his heightened senses, sensed a disturbance, something small, almost imperceptible, but one he couldn't ignore.
Boruto looked at his sister with an expression that was a mix of tenderness and concern. "Himawari, I have to go," he said, his voice filled with a seriousness that made Himawari look at him curiously.
"Eh? Where are you going?" Himawari asked, her tone reflecting disappointment at losing the precious time she was spending with her older brother.
"I have to look for something, Himawari," Boruto explained, trying to sound as calm as possible so as not to alarm her. "I'll leave you alone for today... I hope you'll forgive me." His words were soft, but Himawari could feel the weight of his meaning.
Himawari nodded slowly, her eyes showing a mix of understanding and sadness. "Okay... but next time I want to train with you. I want you to take me with you, I want to be strong," she said, her voice filling with determination at the end.
Boruto looked at her in surprise, his eyes softening at the firmness in his sister's eyes. "I'll teach you to be strong, leave that to your big brother," he said, a confident smile trying to hide the worry he felt in his heart. Himawari nodded, feeling a comforting warmth in her brother's words.
"Then, I'll leave a clone," Boruto announced, making a sign with his hands. In an instant, an identical clone appeared beside him, with an equally determined look.
"I'm ready now," the clone said, looking at Boruto with an expression of silent understanding.
"Take care, Himawari," Boruto said, as he pulled out a pair of sandals from a cloud of smoke and put them on. After making sure they fit properly, he disappeared in a flash of light, leaving his clone and Himawari alone in the room.
Boruto's clone turned to Himawari, his expression calm and friendly. "What do you want to do, Himawari?" he asked, trying to create a relaxed atmosphere.
Himawari looked at him suspiciously at first, but then, remembering her real brother's words, she relaxed a little. The clone, noticing her discomfort, spoke again, this time in a more reassuring tone. "Don't worry, all the experience and memory I gain will be sent to the original when I disappear, so everything we do today will be part of it too."
Himawari nodded, finally allowing herself to relax. She sat down on the couch and began watching television, not paying too much attention to the clone. The clone, understanding the situation, sat down beside her, letting time flow by in comfortable silence.
Meanwhile, Boruto appeared at the abandoned factory where he used to train. The place was empty, the air cold and thick with dust, but Boruto felt it like a refuge. He sat on the throne he had placed in the center of the space, a symbol of his own dominion over this place, and let his thoughts flow.
"That chakra I sensed is unlike any other citizen," he thought, frowning as he tried to analyze what he had sensed. "Even if I don't keep my senses activated to the maximum, I can sense the people of Konoha whenever I want... but what I sense now is a summon. The chakra it has is very strong, almost as strong as my father's, it is the chakra of its summoner. What is going on?"
With that concern, Boruto decided to act. He activated his Doujutsu, letting his vision expand beyond the factory walls, rising up into the sky. There, he could see a falcon that was not that big, but with surprisingly strong chakra. The bird was flying towards the Hokage building, with a message tied to its leg.
"A messenger eagle… What's going on?" Boruto wondered, his eyes following it as it flew towards its destination. Focusing, his vision followed it to the Hokage's office, where he could see Shikamaru and Naruto waiting. The falcon flew in through the open window, and Naruto, with a quick gesture, untied the message from the bird's leg. Boruto watched as his father unfolded the paper, while Shikamaru told him something that Boruto couldn't hear.
"I can't hear what they're saying... but I've heard that with the Sharingan you can read lips. I need to concentrate," Boruto thought, focusing his Doujutsu on his father's lips.
After a few moments of intense focus, Boruto managed to catch Naruto's words. "It seems Sasuke sent a message," Naruto said, pulling out the message and beginning to read it.
Shikamaru nodded, his expression troubled. "Keep sending messages like old times," he commented, his tone indicating familiarity.
"Sasuke doesn't spend much time in society, so it's hard for him to update himself," Naruto replied, with a slight smile, but Boruto could see the seriousness in his eyes.
Boruto thought, "I did it... well, let's keep listening."
Naruto's expression changed to one of shock as he read more of the message. "There's an Uchija who attacked Sasuke," he said, a mix of disbelief and concern in his voice.
Shikamaru was also shocked, but quickly understood the gravity of the situation. Boruto, who was observing through his Doujutsu, felt a chill run down his spine. "An Uchiha... What is going on? How is this possible?" he thought, his mind filled with questions.
The young ninja fell silent, processing the information he had just discovered, aware that this could change something.
Naruto looked at his phone on the table, his fingers quickly dialing a few familiar numbers. The ringtone echoed through the office, and in a distant location, in an inn, a phone began to ring. The receptionist answered, her voice professional, "Who do you need?"
"Can you put me through to Kakashi?" Naruto replied, his voice firm, but with a hint of urgency.
"I'll pass it to you now," the receptionist said, "From whom?"
"From Naruto," she replied quickly, as she waited for the call to transfer.
A few minutes later, Kakashi's relaxed voice came over the line. "What's wrong, Naruto? I'm on vacation..." But something in Naruto's voice must have alerted him, as Kakashi quickly changed his tone, "I see... that happened."
Naruto hung up the phone in his office, his face a mixture of determination and concern. "I have to go myself," he said as he put on his Hokage cloak, preparing to leave. "I'll leave a clone here, but I need to see Sasuke in person."
Shikamaru, with his typical calculating tone, nodded. "It's better that way, we can't let this spark spread."
Boruto, who was still observing everything through his Dōjutsu, wondered what Kakashi had said to upset his father so much. Just then, something caught his attention: with his ability to see through things, he saw Sarada hiding behind the office door. Before he could do anything, she ran off, leaving him intrigued. "What was Sarada doing in that place?" Boruto wondered.
Though he briefly considered following her, he decided it was more important to focus on the information about the new Uchiha. "I should send my clone after Naruto and see what happens, or maybe I should interfere personally..." he thought, as he assessed his options with cold precision.
Before making a decision, Boruto redirected his vision to his house, wanting to make sure everything was in order. He could see his mother handing food to his clone, who then ran off with the bag in hand. "Everything seems to be under control here," Boruto thought, as he considered his next steps. "Sarada… could be useful," he thought, his mind already coming up with plans.
Suddenly, Boruto was curious about what Sarada might be up to, so he redirected his vision to look for her in Konoha. He found her entering a room where Sakura was lying on a bed, resting. Sarada walked in slowly, careful not to make any noise, and approached her mother. After a few seconds, Sarada opened a closet and began changing clothes. Boruto, respecting the privacy of the moment, averted his vision.
"That Sarada... always up to something complicated," Boruto muttered to himself, a little annoyed. But as soon as Sarada left the house and ran towards the entrance of Konoha, his curiosity was piqued again. "Could it be that she wants to follow my father? What is it about this mission that Sarada is so interested in?" Boruto mused. "Sasuke Uchiha... Sarada Uchiha's father," he thought, a mischievous smile appearing on his face as he understood Sarada's intentions. "So that's it... I see, she wants to see her father."
Without wasting any more time, Boruto decided to send a clone after Sarada. Even though he knew they didn't get along, he was confident that his clone would be able to follow her without any problems. With a determined expression, Boruto followed the scene with his vision from his throne in the factory, watching the events unfold with a satisfied smile on his face. His eye, activated and sharp, moved back and forth, taking in every detail.
When Sarada finally reached the entrance of Konoha, she hid between some trees, trying not to be seen. Behind her appeared Chocho, her close friend.
"Sarada, I'm ready to find my father now," Chocho said, her voice full of enthusiasm and loyalty.
"Hey, Chocho," Sarada replied, her tone more controlled, but with the same determination. "I'm ready too."
"What are we waiting for in this place?" Chocho asked curiously, looking around as if waiting for a sign.
"Well, I hope this helps me find him," Sarada said, pointing at the entrance of Konoha, her eyes filled with determination. Boruto, who continued to watch everything from a distance, nodded to himself, acknowledging the steadiness in Sarada. "Time to see how this plays out," he thought, as he prepared his next move.
At the entrance of Konoha, Naruto stood next to Shikamaru, wearing his Hokage robes. With a smile, Naruto spoke, "I leave the village in your hands, Shikamaru."
"Sure, Naruto," Shikamaru replied confidently.
Before leaving, Naruto added, "One more thing, tell Boruto I'm sorry." With those words, Naruto began to run, leaving the village.
Moments later, Boruto arrived with a lunch bag in his hand. "Where is my father?" he asked, not hiding his frustration.
Shikamaru, understanding the situation, replied, "I see, that's why he told me to tell you he was sorry."
" Aaa , he's gone...", Boruto muttered, turning to leave.
Suddenly, Sarada, who had been watching from afar, came running towards Boruto. "Boruto, I'll bring lunch," she said with determination.
Boruto stopped and stared at her. "And why would you carry him?" he asked, his tone filled with skepticism. "I'll show mom that he didn't even bother waiting for lunch to arrive."
Sarada stared at him for a few seconds and then firmly replied, "I'll bring lunch. It's the right thing to do, Boruto. It's the lunch your mom made."
Boruto was about to retort, but a new piece of information came to his mind, triggered by his connection with the clone. Changing his stance, he said, "No, I'll go with you. I want to see him and tell him to his face why he didn't wait."
Sarada was surprised by Boruto's sudden decision, but she nodded and they both began to run towards the outskirts of the village.
Shikamaru watched the scene, but seeing that the situation was under control, he turned around and left.
Meanwhile, the real Boruto, who was in the factory, sensed that the information had already been sent to his clone. "Time to change the vision," he thought. He deactivated his Dōjutsu, but just before he did, something caught his attention. He turned his vision slightly and saw something that stunned him: on a tree at the entrance of Konoha, there was a small ball-like creature with feet and hands, with a short, completely white tail. The most surprising thing was that it had a single eye in the center of its face, a Sharingan covering its entire face. Next to it, a hooded figure in a black cloak stood, its face hidden in the shadows.
Before Boruto could take a closer look, the small being began to absorb the hooded figure into a spinning vortex that emerged from the small white being's eye, causing them both to disappear completely.
Surprised, Boruto muttered to himself, "That's a space-time jutsu... but how is that possible?"
Determined not to miss any details, Boruto performed several signs with his hands and shared more information with his clone, allowing them both to share the same vision in case he had to take control at some point. He deactivated his Doujutsu and closed his eyes.
In a remote place, where there were no trees and the land was a dull grey, a person stood on an earthen tower, staring at the horizon with cold, calculating eyes. Below, at the foot of the tower, another figure was kneeling. It was a pale being, wearing white clothes that bore the Uchiha symbol, a fan on its back. Next to it, a small being with the Sharingan watched silently.
From above, the figure on the tower spoke with authority.
—What you saw was Sasuke Uchiha's daughter. She'll be useful. Capture her and don't fail like last time, understood?
"Yes, father," the kneeling being replied, with submission in his voice.
Meanwhile, elsewhere, Boruto, Sarada, and Chōchō were running at full speed, trying to catch up with the Seventh Hokage.
"If we keep running like this, the food in my stomach is going to churn," Chōchō complained , panting. "And even though I can eat it like that, it won't taste good anymore…"
Chōchō was visibly exhausted, unable to keep up. Boruto, who was running a few steps ahead, paused for a moment and then continued, but Sarada noticed his behavior.
"Is something wrong?" Sarada asked, worried.
Boruto shook his head, but in his thoughts, he mused: So someone was watching us. I need to activate my senses to the maximum.
They continued running a little further, but Chōchō couldn't take it anymore and fell to her knees on the ground, panting heavily.
Boruto looked at her indifferently and commented disdainfully:
—You should train more, fatty.
—Chōchō , if we don't continue, we won't be able to catch up with the Seventh —Sarada said, worried about the situation .
Chōchō moaned , trying to catch her breath.
At that moment, Boruto felt a strange energy and quickly turned around. Suddenly, a figure with white hair, white clothes, and pale skin, with a hairstyle reminiscent of an onion, appeared. Sarada also quickly turned around and saw the person, noticing the Sharingan in his eyes.
"Who are you? And how do you have the Sharingan?" Sarada asked, surprised and alert.
"My name is Shin Uchiha," the stranger replied, "and I have come to capture you."
Sarada, surprised, was on guard.
"Capture me?" Chōchō said in disbelief. "I know I'm pretty, but this is ridiculous."
Boruto looked at her, lines of concentration etched in his eyes, and then turned his attention to Shin, watching the scene cautiously as he prepared for combat. But in reality, the real Boruto was in an abandoned factory, watching the scene through his clone's eyes.
Hahaha, this is fun. So this is the Uchiha. I'll have my clone send him with the Hiraishin and transform him into my puppet, Boruto thought, as he performed a hand position, transmitting the information to his clone.
The clone, who had been waiting for orders, smiled and prepared for battle. Sarada threw shurikens at Shin, who dodged them with ease, jumping back. At that moment, Boruto appeared in front of Shin at high speed, surprising the enemy. Boruto threw a punch at Shin's face, but Shin dodged it and counterattacked with a kick to Boruto's stomach. Boruto managed to block with his arms, but was pushed back by the force of the blow.
Chōchō appeared behind Shin, enlarging her fist with her technique, ready to crush him. However, Shin jumped into the air, dodging Chōchō 's punch , which left a crater in the ground.
"You are not needed," Shin said coldly, pulling out a large shuriken on a chain from his puff of smoke and throwing it towards Chōchō with deadly speed.
Chōchō watched as the shuriken headed towards her, but just before it reached her, it disappeared and reappeared beside Boruto and Sarada. Behind them, stood the Seventh Hokage, Naruto Uzumaki.
"This doesn't look like a fight between children," Naruto said calmly, looking at Shin with a serious look.
Boruto thought: That speed... I knew he was close, but moving so fast is surprising. It seems I can't get the Uchiha to fall into my hands anymore.
Naruto, looking at Shin seriously, spoke calmly:
—So you're the Uchiha who fought Sasuke. You don't seem very friendly, but I'm sorry to say that you'll have to come with me. I hope you understand.
At that moment, Shin's Mangekyō Sharingan activated, and he launched his shuriken at Naruto. Naruto, with his bandaged hand, deflected the shuriken with ease. However, the shuriken split into several pieces, attacking Naruto from different angles. Naruto activated Kurama's Chakra Mode, and large chakra hands emerged to catch the blades.
"This is your power," Naruto said, watching Shin with interest.
Shin glared at him, clearly irritated by Naruto's intervention.
—Don't get carried away, Kurama. We need to catch him alive —Naruto warned.
Kurama, with a small smile, made two huge chakra hands emerge from Naruto's body. These hands were sent towards Shin, who dodged with difficulty. However, one of the hands hit him, launching him into some nearby trees with a thunderous boom! Shin slowly got up, but Kurama's chakra hands were already close to catch him. At the last moment, Shin stood up and jumped towards a branch, where the small being was. Shin was sucked into a spinning vortex that formed there.
Naruto, perplexed, muttered:
—Space-time jutsu?
Boruto, watching the scene, wondered how far his father's power could go. As the Uchiha faded away, he thought in frustration:
—Shit, he got away. But he'll show up again when he comes for Sarada again. I just have to wait.