In the previous chapter: Boruto had been promoted to genin, successfully completing every assigned mission. After several months of hard work and training, the long-awaited Chunin Exams had finally arrived.
In another place, more specifically on the moon, a person could be seen observing the Earth. At that moment, a being crashed into the moon, making a loud noise. BOOM!
When the cloud of dust dispersed, a figure appeared and said:
—It took me a while, Toneri Otsutsuki.
Toneri recomposed his posture and responded:
—You finally appear, Urashhiki.
The being, now called Urashhiki, mockingly replied:
—You treat me like a stranger, but we are from the same clan.
Toneri, seriously, replied:
—I thought the clan had broken ties with me.
Urashhiki, with grace, continued:
—The main family does not think the same way.
Toneri, more serious, insisted:
—Primary family? If what you say is true, why have I spent so many years alone?
Urashhiki calmly replied:
—They are very similar. It was a shame what happened with the Byakugan woman.
Toneri frowned as Urashhiki continued:
—I bet you were very angry, and despite all that, you still strive for that planet. But it is a betrayal of the clan. Although it seems that you chose that woman's son for something… you are indeed cautious.
Toneri, furious, shouted:
—Shut your fucking mouth!
He ran towards Urashiki at full speed, but when he got close, he suddenly stopped. On Toneri's back was a reddish-white fishing line, which led directly to the fishing rod of the same color, which Urashhiki held in his hand.
Urashhiki spoke:
—You know, they sent us.
—To us? What are you talking about? —Toneri replied.
Urashhiki reached into his back and pulled out a strange object, without answering. Then he continued speaking:
—By the way, we are better at fighting than you.
He dropped the object at Toneri's feet, and a smoke spread out, causing Toneri's feet to begin to freeze.
—This is… time freezing? It can't be… —Toneri said, surprised.
Urashiki took a step back and spoke:
—I'm not authorized to kill you, but I hope you enjoy ten thousand years of freezing.
Urashiki turned his head towards Earth and added:
—It's time to hunt the big fish.
Toneri shouted:
—Stop, don't do it!
As his body froze completely, turning black, his last thoughts were: It can't be... everything has been going wrong for a long time. The Boruto in my visions is not this Boruto...
. Urashhiki leapt up and vanished into the vast space, disappearing completely into the distance.
While all this was happening on the moon, on Earth, Boruto and Sasuke were at the entrance of the Hokage building, both preparing for combat.
Flashback
Naruto was on the floor, leaning against his desk, and muttered to himself:
—Now I really messed up...
At that moment, Shikamaru opened the door and said as he entered:
-Seventh...
When he saw Naruto on the ground, he ran to him to pick him up and asked:
-What happened?
Naruto replied:
—I ruined Himawari's birthday.
Shikamaru helped him up and added:
—You sent a clone home... I told you to leave personally.
"I can't do it," Naruto replied, as they both began to pick up the papers scattered on the floor.
"Preparations for the Chunin Exam are behind schedule, and more ruins of Kaguya have been found," Naruto said as he gathered more papers.
Shikamaru, already standing with documents in hand, commented:
—Even though it's been several years since the Fourth Ninja World War... —she organized the papers and handed them to Naruto—. You should be careful with Boruto, now that you broke the promise, who knows what he plans to do.
Naruto smiled, although visibly tired, and replied:
—I don't think he'll do anything. It was probably just an empty warning. He wouldn't put anyone in danger.
Shikamaru smiled awkwardly and said:
—It was good that we removed the wooden boards where the Hiraishin's mark was...
Naruto nodded, smiling awkwardly as he remembered the place where Boruto had appeared.
Flashback within the flashback
Naruto was going through some papers with Shikamaru at his desk when suddenly, Boruto appeared in a flash of yellow. Naruto and Shikamaru looked up, and were surprised to see Boruto.
Naruto relaxed his expression and smiled.
—Boruto, what brings you here?
Boruto looked at him seriously and replied:
—That smile... it does look very annoying.
Naruto blinked a couple of times, confused, as Boruto continued:
—It's good that you did what I told you.
Naruto leaned back in his seat and replied:
—About not going to your birthday party? —A drop of anime-style sweat appeared on Naruto's head—. But you told me not to go.
Boruto sighed and said:
—Yes, I told you not to go, and I'm glad you did.
Shikamaru, who was listening to the conversation, intervened:
—What do you want, Boruto? I know you're busy carrying out high-ranking missions.
Boruto looked at him and replied:
—I just want to tell my father one thing, that's all.
Boruto's gaze turned to Naruto, and he added:
—I hope you go to Himawari's birthday.
Naruto became serious, and raised an eyebrow and asked:
—Do you want me to go to Himawari's birthday?
Boruto narrowed his eyes and spoke:
—I know you would have gone to my birthday even if I hadn't wanted you to. But you didn't go because you were busy, right? You see me as a child who wouldn't be able to harm this village... My birthday doesn't matter. I want you to go to Himawari's, she'll cry if you don't go.
Boruto pulled out a kunai and stabbed it into the wooden floor, saying in a threatening tone:
—If you don't go, I'll destroy this place. This is the warning. You don't want to see the consequences.
Naruto looked at him seriously and spoke:
—Don't worry, I'll be at Himawari's birthday.
Boruto didn't respond and disappeared in a yellow flash.
Naruto sighed and commented:
—How troublesome...
Shikamaru smiled and added:
—Boruto seems to be a pain, it must be hard for you at home.
Naruto glanced at him and said:
—This is the first time I've seen him since what happened at the genin exam.
Shikamaru opened his eyes in surprise.
—What? —he asked.
Naruto replied:
—He doesn't want to see me, and since he's able to move with the Hiraishin, I can't find him.
Shikamaru looked in the direction where Boruto had appeared and remembered what Kakashi had said about him. He thought to himself:
"I have to change the floor... and that kunai, better leave it far away from Konoha. It's better to be safe."
End of flashback within flashback
Naruto smiled awkwardly, remembering Boruto. At that moment, a scroll flew from the door, and Naruto received it with his hand, looking towards the entrance.
Shikamaru noticed the situation and also turned his gaze towards the door.
Naruto smiled and said:
—Sasuke.
Sasuke spoke:
—It comes from Kaguya Castle.
Naruto walked over to his seat, settling into it and opening the scroll, eyes rolling as he tried to decipher what it said. Sasuke and Shikamaru approached the desk, waiting for Naruto's words.
"I see," Naruto said.
Shikamaru, with some urgency, asked:
—What does the scroll say?
Naruto responded gracefully:
—No idea.
Shikamaru became discouraged, but Naruto continued:
—But I have a bad feeling.
Sasuke added:
—My Rinnegan can't read it either.
Naruto suggested:
—Let's send it to be deciphered.
Shikamaru nodded, looked at Sasuke and said:
—You said it comes from Kaguya Castle...
Sakura recovered and said firmly:
—I finally found it!
Flashback within the flashback
In a place where the snow kept falling and the wind howled, a spinning portal of black with a purple tint appeared. From within it came Sasuke.
Sasuke looked around and began to walk in one direction. After walking for a while, he saw a castle in the distance that stood imposingly. Upon arriving, he observed the structure: the interior was made up of several columns that held up the building. One of the rooms had ornate walls and a statue of a member of the Otsutsuki Clan with large horns. Outside, a series of statues sat in a meditation-like pose.
Sasuke walked around the place, looking for some clue, until he reached the center of the castle. There, a huge horned statue dominated the place. He approached the base of the statue and, after searching, found a purple scroll. At that moment, he noticed an attack directed towards him. He jumped back just in time, and the impact of the attack resounded with a loud bang: BOOM!, raising a cloud of dust.
From that cloud emerged an imposing figure: a tall, corpulent being with white skin, hair of the same color and white eyes. Above his left eye, a horn rose threateningly.
The being spoke:
—I didn't expect anyone other than us to be able to get in here.
At that moment, a chakra began to form on the being's back, taking the form of a whitish-red circle. The being spoke in a powerful voice:
—I'm Kinshiki Otsutsuki. Here I come!
With a swift movement, he reached out his hand towards the circle on his back, from which he pulled out two chakra blades. With incredible speed, he adjusted them in his hands and launched himself towards Sasuke. The Uchija, with his Sharingan activated, ran in his direction, preparing for the clash.
The two found themselves in a frantic exchange of blows. Kinshiki's chakra weapons and Sasuke's sword clashed in the air, generating flashes with each impact. Sasuke threw a kick that was easily blocked by Kinshiki, who counterattacked with his chakra blades, forcing Sasuke to take cover. The Otsutsuki gave him no respite, pushing Sasuke through several walls of the castle, each impact echoing in the air: Boom! Boom! Boom!
Sasuke flew through the air, spinning around as he steadied his fall, landing on his feet. Kinshiki didn't stop his assault though, and rammed into him, sending him into a nearby rock with a deafening crash – Boom! Sasuke steadied himself again, positioning his sword to block the next attack, but the Otsutsuki pushed him back with even more force, sending him tumbling back into another rock. Another impact resounded loudly!
With one arm, Kinshiki tried to strike Sasuke, but the Uchija, using his agility, placed his foot on the Otsutsuki's arm, deflecting the attack. Sasuke moved at full speed, launching precise slashes with his sword that Kinshiki deftly dodged. However, in the midst of the frenzy, Sasuke managed to cut off Kinshiki's horn, which provoked the fury of his opponent.
Furious, Kinshiki charged forward with renewed force, each clash between his and Sasuke's weapons echoing throughout the arena. Sasuke quickly disarmed Kinshiki, pinning the Otsutsuki's weapon to the ground with his sword. He nimbly leapt onto the Otsutsuki's shoulders, pulling out a ninja needle and aiming it at Kinshiki's neck.
Before he could attack, Kinshiki reacted, grabbing Sasuke's foot and throwing him into the air. Sasuke landed hard at Kinshiki's feet, cracking the ground around him. Wasting no time, Kinshiki threw a powerful punch at him, but Sasuke, reacting quickly, rolled on the ground, dodging the blow.
The Otsutsuki didn't stop. He pulled out an axe from the chakra circle on his back and leapt at Sasuke, aiming straight for his head. Using the Rinnegan, Sasuke switched with a nearby statue just in time. A loud roar shook the place as Kinshiki's axe slammed into the statue, splitting it in two. Boom!
Both fighters stopped, readjusting their stances as they took in the destruction around them.
"So you switched with the statue…" Kinshiki said, assessing the situation.
Suddenly, a voice echoed from the roof of the castle.
—Kinshiki, you let your guard down.
Sasuke looked up and saw another being, with white skin, clothes of the same color, completely white eyes and wide horns growing from the back of its head, curving forward. The being watched Sasuke calmly.
"Wow, you have the Rinnegan," the newcomer commented with some interest.
Sasuke didn't respond, his attention focused on both opponents. The being continued.
—Tell us what you're looking for... Where is Kaguya Otsutsuki?
Sasuke, unfazed, spoke coldly.
—Don't you know? Kaguya is gone.
The being frowned slightly.
—Tell us everything you know, — said the being.
Without warning, Kinshiki charged at Sasuke, looking to catch him. Sasuke reacted immediately, dodging the attack and throwing several kunai at Kinshiki, who blocked them with his axe. Taking advantage of the distraction, Sasuke ran in another direction, activating his Rinnegan to create a portal and disappear from the spot in the blink of an eye.
End of flashback within flashback.
Naruto and Shikamaru were shocked by Sasuke's words. Shikamaru was the first to speak, concern evident in his voice.
—Otsutsuki...? —Shikamaru murmured.
"That's how he introduced himself," Sasuke confirmed. "He probably belongs to Kaguya's clan."
Shikamaru was elated at the revelation.
"This is very serious," he warned. "It could trigger another war."
Naruto, frowning, replied seriously.
"We don't know yet, but we must be on alert." He took a breath, closing his eyes for a moment. "We can't allow a battle like that to happen again."
The Hokage sighed, letting the tension release a little from his body.
"We are already part of the past," Naruto continued, "but the battles keep coming."
Sasuke looked at him with a mix of resignation and firmness before answering.
—You're wrong about one thing, Naruto. Ninjas are still the same, battles are still the same, no matter the time... even in this era of peace.
Naruto smiled slightly, though with a hint of melancholy.
—You may be right, but I still hope not.
Sasuke, with a slight smile, said goodbye to Naruto and Shikamaru before leaving the room. As he walked through the hallways, his gaze drifted to a window facing outside. He saw a young blond man walking with his hands in his pockets, approaching the Hokage building. Sasuke narrowed his eyes, recognizing Boruto.
Boruto walked calmly, although his mind was filled with chaotic thoughts. As he walked forward, a dark idea invaded him.
"Looks like the consequence has come," he thought to himself. "I'm going to blow this place to smithereens. If I can't even accomplish something so simple... then I don't deserve to be Hokage."
Flashback within the flashback.
Boruto sat at the dining table in his home. In front of him was a small, elaborately decorated birthday cake, illuminated by the soft light of the candles. Hinata and Himawari, with warm smiles, surrounded him as they celebrated his birthday.
"Happy birthday, Boruto!" Himawari exclaimed, clapping her hands excitedly before hugging him.
Hinata, with her usual calm and loving look, added:
—We are so proud of you, Boruto. You have grown so much...
Boruto, although smiling confidently, felt a disconnection.
"Thank you, Mom… thank you, Himawari," he replied, trying to sound sincere as he blew out the candles.
"Maybe I'm not cut out for this..." he thought to himself. Even though he received love and support, something inside him still felt empty.
After blowing out the candles, everyone ate cake. Dinner was quiet and pleasant. Hinata washed the dishes while Boruto sat, staring at the ceiling with his mind somewhere else. Finally, he stood up and started walking towards the door.
Hinata noticed this and, with a soft concern, asked:
—Are you going somewhere, Boruto?
"I'll go for a walk for a while, don't worry," he replied.
Passing through the kitchen, Boruto saw Himawari looking at a calendar hanging on the wall. Curious, he stopped and asked her:
—What are you doing, Himawari?
Himawari, with a slight enthusiasm, but a hint of sadness, looked at him and replied:
—Since dad didn't come to your birthday... I want him to come to mine.
Himawari lowered her head in disappointment. Boruto looked at her tenderly and approached.
—Don't worry, Himawari. He will come to your birthday.
"Really, little brother?" Himawari asked with a glimmer of hope in her eyes.
"Don't you trust your brother?" Boruto replied, smiling confidently.
Himawari smiled back, relieved. Boruto, smiling back, walked out of the kitchen, put on his shinobi sandals, and disappeared in a flash of yellow.
He reappeared in the abandoned factory, walking up to his stone throne. Once seated, he pulled out a three-pronged kunai with the mark of the Hiraishin engraved on it. The Hiraishin's inscription glowed, and Boruto, concentrating, channeled chakra into the kunai. Suddenly, a scroll appeared in a flash.
Unrolling it, Boruto read it silently and muttered to himself:
—So Kuroshi and Moku have already found the first spot... It's already marked. Hahaha, what a nice gift this is. Time to prepare the next area.
With a satisfied smile, Boruto took out a brush and wrote a few words on the scroll before rolling it up again. The scroll disappeared in another flash, and Boruto, amused, relaxed back into his stone throne, closing his eyes with a smile.
The next day, Boruto opened his eyes after having rested on his throne. He stretched, yawned, and quickly ate something. He then stood up, his thoughts revolving around his next moves.
"It's time to see the Hokage," he muttered to himself before disappearing in another yellow flash.
After a while, he reappeared in the factory and walked to his stone throne, sat down and, with a satisfied smile, said in a low voice:
—There you go. I hope he'll be able to do what he says. It's Himawari's 7th birthday... I need to think of a good present. Well, I think I know what to give her.
With those thoughts in mind, the days passed quickly, approaching Himawari's long-awaited birthday.
The sun was already setting, painting the sky a warm orange color. Hinata and Himawari arrived home, and the little girl happily announced:
-Am at home!
From the other side of the door, Naruto opened it and welcomed them with a smile:
—Welcome.
Himawari ran to her father and hugged him tightly.
—Dad, you're here! —she said excitedly.
Naruto returned the hug lovingly, and then everyone entered the house. Time passed, and while Hinata prepared dinner, Naruto set the table. Himawari sat there, excitedly opening the gifts she had received.
As Naruto continued with his task, he asked:
—Is Boruto coming?
Hinata, from the kitchen, replied:
—He'll be here a little later. He told me this morning; he had a mission.
Naruto nodded, and a few minutes later, a yellow flash illuminated the entrance of the house. Boruto appeared in the doorway.
"I'm home," he announced, as he took off his shinobi sandals and left them neatly by the door. Then he walked into the kitchen, where he saw his mother, father, and sister gathered together.
Hinata, who was still cooking, turned to look at him with a smile and welcomed him.
—Welcome, Boruto.
Boruto nodded and walked a little further, observing Himawari sitting in the dining room and Naruto, standing next to her. Then, with a slightly defiant expression, he looked at his father and commented:
"You are a pain," he thought to himself, "it's a clone."
Naruto, surprised by his son's words, opened his mouth to greet him, but he didn't know how to react. However, before the awkwardness could drag on, Boruto smiled slightly and turned to Himawari. With a sign of his hand, a wrapped gift appeared from a cloud of smoke and he handed it to his sister.
"Brother! Thank you!" Himawari exclaimed, filled with emotion, hugging him tightly.
Boruto returned the hug and, pointing at the package, said:
—Open it.
Himawari nodded excitedly, tearing the paper with excitement. Inside, she found a fine wooden box with various details. Her eyes sparkled with happiness as she slowly opened it. Seeing the contents, her face brightened even more.
Naruto, seeing what was inside, was impressed, and was about to say something, but Himawari, excited, left the gift on the table and hugged her brother tighter than before.
"Thank you, brother!" he said happily, while Boruto returned the hug with a slight smile.
Hinata watched them from the kitchen, intrigued by what was in the box. After the hug ended, Himawari took the box again and carefully lifted the gift. Inside was a burgundy cloth wrapped around a small katana.
The katana had a white and blue hilt, adorned with gold details at the ends. The scabbard, a sky blue with gold accents, had Himawari's name engraved on it along with delicate gold illustrations.
Himawari took the small katana in her hands and looked at her engraved name, beaming with happiness.
"She's... beautiful," he whispered, his eyes shining with excitement.
Boruto looked at her with satisfaction, happy to see that the gift had been a success. Meanwhile, Naruto and Hinata, watching the scene, shared a silent look. Boruto turned to Himawari with a soft smile and explained:
—The colors of the hilt represent your eyes. The sky blue of your eyes and the white of the Byakugan. —He looked down at the small katana—. In the future, when this blade becomes too small for you, you can change it for a longer one. The hilt is designed for that.
Himawari, who had been looking at Boruto in admiration, nodded, touched by her brother's words. However, Naruto watched the scene with concern, and his expression changed.
"I think it's best if I keep that katana," Naruto said protectively. "It could be dangerous for Himawari."
Before Boruto could say anything, Naruto took the katana and placed it inside the wooden box, carefully closing it. Himawari, disappointed, looked down, but Boruto quickly made a seal with his hand, and the box disappeared in a puff of smoke.
"I'll keep it," Boruto said calmly. "I'll teach Himawari how to use it, right, Himawari?"
Himawari's eyes lit up and she nodded enthusiastically. Naruto looked at his empty hands in surprise and then looked at Boruto with a serious expression. The atmosphere became tense as the two of them stared at each other in silence. The atmosphere was charged with emotions, but before the situation could escalate, Hinata intervened.
"Dinner is ready," he announced, trying to ease the tension. "It's time to celebrate Himawari's birthday."
Naruto let out a sigh and went to help Hinata with the dishes, while Boruto closed his eyes for a moment then opened them and sat next to Himawari, waiting for the food to be served. After a while, Naruto suggested:
—Hinata, sit down, I'll bring the cake.
With a smile, Hinata nodded and sat down next to Boruto. Naruto headed to the kitchen and when he came back, he was carrying the cake in his hands, saying excitedly:
—Here's the cake!
Himawari, seeing him, exclaimed excitedly:
—It's huge!
Naruto began to walk towards the table, his expression reflecting the joy of being able to be present at his daughter's birthday. However, just before he arrived, his body disappeared in a puff of smoke. The cake fell to the floor with a thud.
Boruto closed his eyes and sighed in frustration . Himawari, in shock, lowered her head, visibly sad. Hinata also lowered her gaze, silent. Without wasting any time, Boruto made a seal with his hands and exclaimed:
—Katsu!
Hinata looked at him, confused, while Boruto concentrated. Not sensing any explosive interference or anything out of the ordinary, he opened his eyes and declared:
—Mom, I have to go.
He stood up and started walking towards the exit. Hinata, noticing something dark in Boruto's eyes, quickly stood up and caught up with him before he reached the threshold of the dining hall, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Boruto, calm down," she said with a mix of concern and firmness.
Without turning to look at her, Boruto replied harshly:
—That guy... it's always the same. People don't change until they get what they deserve.
Hinata, without letting go, insisted:
—Boruto, your father works hard for the entire village. He does it for all of us.
Seriously, Boruto replied:
—Always the village... Why should we, his family, have to endure everything he goes through just because he "works for the village"? What stupid logic is that?
"Don't say that!" Hinata intervened, annoyed. "It's not like your father pretends we don't exist."
Boruto gave a bitter smile.
—So why wasn't he able to realize that the Boruto he knew these past few years was just a clone? Like I said... it's stupid. Those words you say, Mom, do you know how many times you've said them already? Countless times.
Hinata tried to remain calm and replied:
—But your father does everything possible to make us comfortable...
Boruto, with a colder tone, commented:
—My father never knew what it was like to have a family, but he still can't get better. He must think that since he was able to overcome his own loneliness, we will too.
With a sidelong glance at Himawari, he added:
—He must believe that what worked for him will work for us too.
Hinata, now firmer, raised her voice:
—Boruto! It's true that it's hard not to have your dad on an important day, but it's not like what he experienced. You guys do have your father.
Boruto let out a bitter laugh.
—Hahaha... What's the point of having a father who can't do what he says? He's just a liar and a hypocrite. I wonder... if in the future one of us becomes a threat to the village, what will he do? —He asked, glancing at his mother. —What would you do, mother?
Without waiting for a response, Boruto walked towards the exit.
"Brother!" Himawari called.
But Boruto didn't respond. He reached the entrance, put on his shinobi sandals, and disappeared in a flash of yellow.
Hinata and Himawari fell silent, not knowing what to say or do.
In a remote place in Konoha, Boruto appeared in a flash. All around him, the landscape was devastated; dust was rising, and nearby trees were destroyed. Looking around, Boruto muttered to himself:
—I see... so they removed the seal and placed it in this forest... far from Konoha.
Boruto's right eye changed abruptly, the sclera turning a deep black, while the iris and pupil took on a bluish-white hue. The sky quickly darkened, and thick clouds covered the horizon. Within seconds, a storm broke out, with thunder rumbling and rain pouring down, soaking the ground and charred remains around them.
Boruto, filled with fury, shouted in a voice that rumbled like thunder itself:
—So you don't want to take your punishment! —The air around him electrified—. Then I'll make you understand!
Sparks of lightning shot out from Boruto's right eye, snaking around his body as his fury manifested itself in the air. Water falling from the sky crashed against the charred remains of the trees, generating steam that enveloped the entire place, giving it a dangerous appearance.
The ground beneath his feet vibrated as lightning bolts erupted from his eye, spreading across the devastated countryside. Heat and electricity burned everything around him, and steam rose even higher, obscuring his figure as chaos continued to grow around him, as if his anger could unleash a catastrophe at any moment.
Boruto took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, allowing his eye to return to its normal state. With that change, the storm he himself had unleashed began to dissipate; the rain stopped and the lightning stopped illuminating the sky. Little by little, the clouds began to part, revealing the full moon in all its splendor, its silver light bathing the destroyed landscape.
Boruto, now soaked, looked at his wet body and, without hesitation, muttered:
— Katon.
A wave of steam rose from his body as he used his fire chakra to instantly dry his clothes. Boruto looked down at his hands, carefully adjusted his gloves, and silently thought to himself:
—It's time to go visit him.
With a flash of yellow, Boruto disappeared, immediately reappearing near the Hokage building. The atmosphere was peaceful, the moon illuminating his path as he moved determinedly towards the tower. His gaze was fixed on the building, his footsteps echoing on the ground as he approached. Lying his hands in his pockets.
End of flashback within flashback.
Boruto looked at the ground as he passed through the first door to enter the Hokage building. He stopped suddenly and looked up. In front of him was Sasuke, who was looking at him with his usual seriousness. They both looked into each other's eyes, and the tension in the room increased. Boruto broke the silence and said:
—Sasuke Uchiha.
Sasuke watched him, without losing his serious expression, and spoke:
—You're Naruto's son. You look different since the last time I saw you. What's your name?
Boruto looked at him seriously and replied:
—I am Boruto Uzumaki.
Boruto closed his eyes briefly and, opening them, added:
-That's all.
Looking towards the entrance, Boruto began to walk inside the building. Sasuke watched him and commented:
—I see you've changed your style. You even wear gloves. You look like a ninja. What do you want from this place?
Boruto continued looking towards the entrance and, without stopping, he answered out of the corner of his eye:
—I'm going to fight someone who deserves it.
Sasuke spoke again:
—So you're going to hit your father. Your mother told me that you left home.
Boruto continued walking as if he didn't care about what Sasuke said. Just as he passed by him, Sasuke threw a kick at full speed. Boruto twisted his body, dodging the attack, and quickly threw a punch towards Sasuke's face. The latter blocked the blow with his forearm, causing the clash to resonate and the wind to disperse around them.
Sasuke looked at him and commented:
—You're fast.
Boruto, with a smile, replied:
—I expected nothing less from one of the strongest ninjas.
Sasuke used force with his arm, forcing Boruto to jump back. Then, Boruto spoke:
—What are you planning?
Sasuke replied:
—You said you would fight someone. That someone is your father, so in order to beat him, you will first have to beat me.
Boruto replied:
—So you won't let me pass, Uchija.
Sasuke added:
—With so little strength, what can you do? Don't be presumptuous.
Boruto, looking at him seriously, replied:
—Don't meddle where it doesn't concern you, Uchija.
Sasuke, unfazed, asked:
—So, what will you do?
Boruto stared at him, preparing for battle, while Sasuke also adopted a defensive stance.
End of Flashback
Boruto and Sasuke were ready for combat. Boruto pulled out a three-pronged kunai and threw it at Sasuke. The latter dodged by moving quickly, letting the kunai fly past him. In an instant, Boruto disappeared in a yellow flash and reappeared in mid-air, grabbing the kunai. Taking advantage of the momentum, he launched a kick towards Sasuke's head. However, Sasuke agilely ducked and jumped to another position, dodging the attack. Boruto, realizing that his punch had missed the target, landed on his feet and readied himself again, staring at his opponent.
Sasuke watched him calmly and commented:
—So you know how to use the Hiraishin.
Boruto looked at him seriously but didn't respond. Wasting no time, he ran at full speed towards Sasuke, starting an intense exchange of kicks and punches. Both of them accurately blocked each other's blows. In the middle of the fight, Sasuke grabbed Boruto's hand and delivered a kick to his stomach. Boruto managed to block it with his other hand, but the impact was so strong that the wind scattered around him, and Boruto was pushed back when Sasuke let go.
Regaining his balance, Boruto glared at him more intensely. He looked at his hand, which was shaking from the impact of the blow. He clenched his fist, strained to calm the trembling, and lowered his arm with determination. Quickly, he reached into his ninja bag and pulled out several three-pointed kunai, which he threw into the air. With quick movements, he performed several hand seals and said:
— Hiraishin: Eikyo Fuin .
The kunai began to multiply, spreading across the battlefield. Sasuke, observing what was happening, activated his Sharingan to follow each movement in more detail and focused his gaze on Boruto, analyzing his strategy.
The tension in the air was increasing, and they both knew that the real fight was about to begin.
Boruto pulled out a kunai from each of his sleeves, preparing for the upcoming confrontation, while his gaze remained fixed on Sasuke. Seriously, he disappeared in a flash and reappeared behind Sasuke, launching a slash with his kunai towards the Uchija. Sasuke dodged the attack by jumping into the air, but Boruto did not let him off the hook easily. With a quick sequence of seals, he shouted:
— Kage Bunshin no Jutsu .
Several clones appeared and leapt towards Sasuke, who dodged them one after another in the air, hitting them with precision and sending them flying around. Sasuke landed nimbly on the ground, but at that moment, Boruto appeared at his side, taking advantage of the blind spot where Sasuke had no arm. With his lightning-coated kunai, he launched a direct attack. Sasuke, with quick reflexes, unsheathed his katana and blocked the attack, creating a loud metallic clash as lightning crackled in the air.
Suddenly, a voice echoed behind Sasuke:
— It's over, Rasengan!
Sasuke looked sideways and saw Boruto with a Rasengan ready to hit. However, with his Sharingan, he looked into Boruto's eyes and caught him in a genjutsu. Boruto's Rasengan unexpectedly changed direction, crashing into the ground and creating a deafening explosion BOOM! Raising a cloud of dust.
Sasuke leapt into the air, escaping the cloud of dust, but in that instant, several kunai flew towards him. From the cloud of dust, Boruto shouted:
— Katsu!
The kunai began to glow and exploded loudly, making the entire battlefield rumble. BOOM! Boruto slowly walked out of the cloud of dust, covering his right eye with his hand as he thought:
"That genjutsu is troublesome... I was forced to activate my eye to free myself."
When Boruto removed his hand from his eye, he had already returned to his normal state. Meanwhile, from the cloud left by the explosion, a charred log fell to the ground.
— It's a substitute , —Boruto said, realizing Sasuke's trick.
Before he could react, Sasuke appeared at full speed, launching a kick that sent Boruto flying into the wall near the first gate, creating another loud bang upon impact:
— BOOM!
Sasuke looked at the impact site, but what he saw was another log. From the direction where the Rasengan had exploded, Boruto's voice echoed:
— You're not the only one capable of replacing yourself. Katsu!
Sasuke looked down at the ground and saw several kunai around him, which began to glow before exploding, causing a huge explosion:
— BOOM!
A new cloud of dust rose in the area as the wind moved Boruto's hair, who smiled confidently. At that moment, several shinobi began to arrive in a Shunshin, appearing on the ramparts and walls of the building, alerted by the powerful sounds of combat.
Boruto glanced at them and, annoyed, clicked his tongue:
— Tsh !
All the shinobi fixed their gazes on Boruto and the cloud of dust still floating in the air. When it finally dissipated, all that was left was a burnt log. Boruto thought in frustration, "Again... another substitute, what a pain."
Before he could fully react, Sasuke appeared behind him. Without thinking, Boruto launched a kick backwards, colliding with Sasuke's kick. The impact was so strong that wind expanded in all directions, pushing Boruto backwards from the force of Sasuke's punch. The shinobi watched in shock as they saw that their opponent was none other than Sasuke Uchija.
Sasuke glanced at the shinobi and said calmly:
—Looks like the game is over.
Then, he looked at Boruto and added:
—You're not bad, Boruto. You have strength... but it's not enough.
Boruto stood up completely, looking at him seriously. With a defiant smile, he replied:
—I wonder if it's really over.
Suddenly, a voice echoed from the entrance:
—What's going on here?!
Sasuke and Boruto turned around at the same time. At the entrance of the Hokage building, with a furious expression, stood Naruto, followed closely by Shikamaru. Boruto looked at his father and, instead of answering him, relaxed his expression.
Naruto, seeing what was happening, couldn't contain his anger:
—Boruto! What does this mean?
Boruto didn't respond immediately, he simply kept his gaze fixed on his father.
Naruto, irritated by his son's silence, began to walk towards him, while Shikamaru headed towards Sasuke. The atmosphere became even more tense with the arrival of the Hokage.
As Naruto stepped down the last step and touched the ground, Boruto gave a sly smile. Right below his father, hidden in the shadows, was a three-pronged kunai. In an instant, Boruto disappeared in a flash and appeared in front of Naruto, shouting:
—Rasengan!
Naruto looked down, surprised to see Boruto so close, but it was too late. The Rasengan hit him squarely in the stomach. Boruto, gathering a large amount of chakra, pushed his father hard, throwing him backwards violently. Naruto was propelled through the entrance of the Hokage building. The glass door's panes shattered into a thousand pieces, flying in all directions.
Naruto's body crashed hard into the building, causing a deafening roar:
—BOOM!
The entire building shook at the impact, and a thick cloud of dust rose up, covering the area as the shinobi watched in amazement. Sasuke and Shikamaru were also shocked by the force of Boruto's attack. From the spot where Naruto had been thrown, Boruto shouted in fury:
—NEVER SEE ME AS A CHILD AGAIN!
Shikamaru, who had descended the stairs to approach Sasuke, reacted quickly and extended his shadow towards Boruto, immobilizing him instantly. With an almost reprimanding tone, he shouted:
—What do you think you're doing!?
Boruto tried to move, but couldn't. With a defiant look directed at Shikamaru, he replied:
—You're a pain.
Suddenly, Boruto disappeared in a flash and appeared beside Shikamaru. With a chakra-charged kick, he violently launched him against the wall of the Hokage building, causing a deafening roar:
—BOOM!
Slowly lowering his leg, Boruto added coldly:
—Weren't you taught not to meddle in family matters? But since you did, this is what you get.
The shinobi, paralyzed by the scene, quickly recovered and ran towards Boruto, determined to stop him. Boruto, unfazed, watched them with disdain.
"Boy, they really are a pain," he muttered.
In the blink of an eye, Boruto disappeared in a series of flashes. The approaching shinobi barely touched the ground before being launched into the air, crashing into walls and other nearby structures, unable to keep up.
Boruto appeared in front of the main door of the Hokage building, watching as Shikamaru slowly stood up. With a defiant expression, he said:
— Since you moved my Hiraishin mark from my father's office, I hope that next time you can move the entire Hokage building.
Boruto quickly made a series of signs with his hands, then firmly hit the ground as he exclaimed:
— Fuinjutsu: Kekkai no Kiten (Barrier of Connected Points).
Instantly, several seals began to spread throughout the Hokage building, connecting the Hiraishin marks that Boruto had scattered. A chain of seals circled the building, advancing along the ground and passing right next to Sasuke. The Uchija followed the path of the seals with his gaze and, in the distance, saw another Boruto performing the same movements as the original. Understanding what was happening, he thought:
—Those clones I threw are surrounding the building... they're doing the same thing as this Boruto.
Sasuke watched as the Hiraishin's marks connected to each other, forming a complex barrier around the Hokage building. He then turned his gaze to the Boruto in front of him.
Boruto stood up and the seals covering the place began to shine brightly for a few seconds before fading completely. And he spoke calmly:
—It's all over. I'm leaving.
With those words, he disappeared in a yellow flash. The Boruto clones surrounding the building vanished in smoke, and the kunai on the ground vanished. Leaving the place in an eerie silence.
Boruto appeared in the abandoned factory, calmly walking up to his throne. He let himself fall into it, relaxing as his thoughts flowed.
"That seal is rather interesting... It's similar to the Reality Escape Seal, but this one connects the Hiraishin's marks, creating..." He pondered for a moment, searching for the right words. "It's like a domain where I have absolute control. However, it's complicated to execute; each seal must be placed at precise points or everything falls apart. I got lucky this time."
Boruto closed his eyes, satisfied, but knowing that the complexity of his technique required more than just skill; it required precision and patience.
At the entrance of the Hokage building, Sasuke walked up to where Shikamaru was standing, still holding onto the spot where he had been kicked. Wincing in pain, Shikamaru commented:
— Damn, that kick was loaded with chakra...
Sasuke watched him with a slight mocking smile.
— Wow, looks like you've let your guard down. You couldn't even stop a kid from blowing you up — he said sarcastically.
Shikamaru glared at him in annoyance, then looked away and let out a sigh. Sasuke, for his part, looked at the spot where Naruto had been thrown.
— Even Naruto got his share —he commented.
At that moment, Naruto emerged from the building walking slowly, holding his stomach with one hand. A trickle of blood ran from his mouth. He stopped and looked at Sasuke and Shikamaru.
—Where is Boruto? —Naruto asked, his voice deep.
Shikamaru replied firmly.
— He's gone, he's not here anymore.
Naruto walked a few more steps and dropped down onto the stairs with an exhausted sigh. Within his mindspace, Kurama spoke with a mix of mockery and concern:
— Just look at how they left you. Because you went around believing that he wouldn't do anything, he left you with a big wound.
Naruto, still processing the situation, muttered:
— I didn't think he would attack me like that... that blow would have killed any ninja or left him half dead.
Kurama replied in a serious tone:
— Your son is dangerous, but it's your fault for not keeping your promise. If you had gone to your daughter's birthday, Boruto wouldn't have attacked you.
Naruto didn't reply, he just nodded bitterly. Then, feeling his body starting to go still, he spoke:
— I know... but can you help me heal? My body is becoming more and more paralyzed.
Kurama nodded and closed his eyes, concentrating. After a few seconds, he opened his eyes and spoke:
— Apparently, Boruto's Rasengan is quite special.
—What do you mean? —Naruto asked, surprised.
— It has Raiton. There are traces of Lightning chakra in your body, although in small amounts —Kurama explained—. It is possible that Boruto's Rasengan had a mixture of Raiton, and when it collided with you, it transferred some of that chakra. If you continue moving, you will cause those Raiton remnants to move further, generating small electrical impulses that could completely paralyze you.
Naruto, surprised by Kurama's revelation, quickly asked:
— Can you remove it?
Kurama nodded confidently.
— I can remove it, but if it were a normal ninja, it would take a full day.
Naruto, not knowing how to react at first, just asked:
— Please take it off.
Kurama concentrated, channeling his Biju chakra through Naruto's body. Slowly, the residual Raiton disappeared. Outside of his mindspace, Sasuke walked over, watching his friend with concern.
— Are you okay, Naruto?
Naruto looked at him and nodded, although somewhat confused.
— What exactly happened?
Sasuke explained in detail everything Boruto had done: the seal he placed on the building and how he disappeared after the confrontation. Naruto listened attentively, nodding.
—Looks like he didn't blow the place up this time at least, he said with a sigh of relief.
Sasuke, surprised by the comment, asked:
— What do you mean by that? What's going on?
Before Naruto could answer, Shikamaru walked up and answered, explaining everything that had happened. He told him about how Boruto fought Kakashi and then appeared in front of them, revealing details of his past. He also reminded him of the time when Boruto came back to confront Naruto and mentioned Himawari's birthday.
Sasuke, surprised, glanced sideways at Shikamaru, then turned his attention back to Naruto.
— So all this happened while I was away from Konoha... This is a serious problem. Tell me, Naruto, how do you plan to deal with Boruto this time? Although, to be honest, this is all partly your fault for not keeping what you promised him.
Naruto looked down, dejected.
— I don't know... I can't even talk to him.
Shikamaru, on reflection, proposed:
—It would be best to do nothing for now. We'll deduct the money from the Hokage building repairs from his pay, and after all, he's placed a seal all over the building. We'll have to get rid of that first, and then figure out what punishment to give him.
Sasuke glanced at Shikamaru out of the corner of his eye and then turned his attention back to Naruto.
— You said Boruto is a genin. Are you planning to put him in the Chunin Exam?
Naruto nodded slowly.
— Yes, I was thinking about that.
Sasuke frowned.
— You should be careful. It could be dangerous for the other genin. With his current power, he could kill them without even trying. You should consider some disadvantages.
Naruto sighed and stood up, thoughtful.
— You're right. Putting Boruto in the chunin exams is like putting a wolf in a rabbit pen. Just by moving, he could seriously harm the other participants. What should we do?
Shikamaru, after thinking about it for a few moments, suggested:
— We were thinking of putting him in a two-person team, since a three-person team is required to participate in the exam, but I think it would be best if he participated alone. That way, he would have to face all the challenges without the help of a team. That could limit his actions a bit and control his impact on others.
Sasuke, after hearing the idea, nodded.
— Not bad. It's a good way to control the situation. Well, I see you're feeling better now. I'll be leaving now.
Sasuke began to walk towards the exit while Naruto saw him off:
- Take care of yourself.
Sasuke nodded before disappearing, leaving Naruto and Shikamaru to deal with what was next.
Naruto, still in pain, began to walk towards the interior of the Hokage building. Shikamaru observed the area, noticing how the shinobi slowly stood up. He sighed and addressed those who had already recovered:
—I need you to clear the rubble, make sure no one else gets hurt.
The shinobi nodded, and Shikamaru followed Naruto into the building.
Elsewhere in Konoha, Sasuke arrived in front of a house and knocked on the door. From inside, a voice answered:
-Go!
A few seconds later, the door opened, revealing Sarada, who was surprised to see her father. Sakura appeared from a room further back and asked:
—What's wrong, Sarada?
Seeing Sasuke, her face showed astonishment and, unable to say a word, she fainted.
"I'm back," Sasuke said calmly.
Sarada ran to her mother, helping her to settle on a sofa. As she did so, she said jokingly:
—Even if Dad comes back unannounced, it's not a big deal!
Sasuke took off his cloak and approached them both, standing at Sarada's level. She looked at him and asked:
—Dad, how long will you be staying in Konoha?
Sasuke looked at her and replied:
—Until the Chunin Exams are over.
Sarada smiled happily, and Sasuke continued:
—I met Naruto's son earlier.
Sarada was surprised.
—With Boruto... the real one?
Sasuke nodded.
—That's right, it seems you already know what happened. Naruto told me everything.
"What happened?" Sarada insisted, curious and worried.
"I've had a fight with him," Sasuke replied.
Sarada opened her eyes in astonishment.
—And what happened? Is it strong?
Sasuke nodded.
—He's strong. But not only that... he also did unexpected things —then he told her the details of what had happened with Boruto.
Sarada looked down in shock.
—He was even able to hurt the Hokage? How is that possible?
—He succeeded because he caught Naruto off guard. Plus, it seems Boruto already had everything planned. I also heard that he'll be participating in the Chunin Exams.
Sarada looked down in thought, then looked at her father with determination.
—How strong is Boruto really?
"He's strong for his age," Sasuke said. "He excels in Taijutsu, Ninjutsu, Fuinjutsu, and is a born strategist. He's skilled in almost all shinobi arts, but his weakness is his lack of chakra. If he had a greater amount of chakra, he might even be able to take on a Kage."
Sarada thought for a few moments.
—He's so strong... but how can he be defeated?
Sasuke smiled slightly.
—He's strong, but not invincible.
Sarada looked at him and Sasuke continued:
—If you want to reach his level, you have to train harder, break your own limits. Besides, you have something he doesn't have.
Sarada looked at him curiously.
—What do I have that Boruto doesn't?
"A team," Sasuke replied firmly. "That's something he doesn't have."
Sarada nodded, her resolve stronger than ever.
—Dad, train with me during this time! I want to get stronger. I want to be Hokage, and Boruto will only be my first goal.
Sasuke's eyes widened slightly at his daughter's determination and smiled.
—Your dream is to be Hokage... well, as your father I will support you. I will also train you.
Sarada stood up, her gaze full of conviction.
—Get ready, dad! I'm going to be the strongest ninja!