"In the previous chapter: Boruto met up with Kuroshhi and Moku, where Kuroshhi explained the reason for Moku's injuries. After that, they arrived at a mysterious island where Boruto discovered the ancient scroll of the Uzumaki clan, along with the story of the scroll's previous bearer."
Boruto remained silent for a moment, absorbing the words on the scroll. Then, he sighed and continued to unroll it. Seeing the first sealing technique, his eyes widened slightly and a mischievous smile appeared on his face.
With amusement, he muttered to himself:
—Hahahaha... this is it. This technique will break my limits and allow me to advance... hahahaha.
He stood up slowly, looking around the room, and said in a low voice:
—This place will do just fine.
Making a sign with his hands, he said:
—Kage Bunshin no Jutsu.
A smoke screen appeared, revealing several clones surrounding him. Boruto pointed at the scroll technique and added:
—I want you to place these sealing marks all over the room. This will be the one to do it.
The clones nodded and quickly spread out, beginning to trace the seals across the room. They worked with precision, connecting each seal to the next, until the entire pattern came together in the center, right where Boruto stood. As the clones continued their work, Boruto stripped off his cloak, jacket, and shirt, leaving him bare-chested. All he kept on were his gloves. He sat back down in the center, crossing his legs in a lotus position, his gaze focused and determined.
From his mental space, Momoshhiki observed him and spoke:
—Human, what do you plan to do?
Boruto, unfazed, answered in his mind:
—With this technique, I will awaken my Uzumaki genes. My chakra will increase and I will gain more power.
Momoshhiki, smiling mockingly, commented:
—So you seek more power... Tell me, what do you want it for?
Boruto was silent for a moment before answering:
—I want to be the strongest of all time. That's my goal.
Momoshiki laughed out loud:
—Hahaha! The strongest? To achieve that you would have to leave this planet and hunt entire worlds... You could never achieve it.
Boruto just sighed, not losing his determination, and said:
—I don't expect you to understand, Momoshiki. But that is my way.
Momoshiki stopped laughing, though he maintained a wry smile, as he continued:
—Like I said, you could never achieve it... But now that I'm in your body, you might have a chance.
Boruto, with a mix of curiosity and seriousness, asked him:
—What do you mean by that, Momoshiki?
Momoshhiki, still with a sly smile, explained:
—When we made the deal, I thought you would run and tell the fox everything, but you didn't. The way you think and act... it's interesting. And that desire of yours to be the strongest... Hahaha, you look a lot like the Otsutsuki... human.
Boruto smiled. At that moment, the clones approached him, having finished drawing all the seals, and disappeared in a cloud of smoke.
Boruto narrowed his eyes for a moment and then opened them, looking around. A large circle with sealing marks stretched from the center, where he was sitting, to the darkest parts of the room. Still in the lotus position, he began to perform a series of signs with his hands, concentrating intensely. When he reached the last sign, he shouted loudly:
—Fuinjutsu: Ketsueki no Mezame! (Blood Awakening Seal).
The seals began to glow brightly, turning from a bright white to a deep red. Boruto smiled as he held one of the hand signs, and the marks began to move towards the center, gathering together to form a large red dot beneath him, like a crimson shadow. The red energy shot through his body, digging into his skin like needles sticking out of the ground. Boruto clenched his eyes in pain, but made no sound. Little by little, the seals began to concentrate, until all the energy had completely entered his body.
Time passed, and beads of sweat continuously fell from his forehead. Boruto remained motionless in the same lotus position, with his hands making the final sign, while the scroll remained open in front of him. The only light that illuminated the place came from the torches on the walls.
After what seemed like several hours, Boruto's eyes snapped open and he spat out blood, staining the ground in front of him. His face twisted into a grimace of pain as he thought, "What's going on? This wasn't written on the scroll... Shit! The pain is growing, it's like my body is splitting in two. What the hell is going on?"
He spat out blood again, and the pain increased. His body began to tremble, steam billowing out around him, and sweat flowed even faster, soaking every part of him.
From Boruto's mindspace, Momoshhiki watched with an amused smile and said:
—Human, your body is about to explode. What are you going to do?
Boruto replied seriously and with a hint of fury in his voice:
—What's going on, Momoshiki? Do you know what's going on?
Momoshhiki, without erasing his smile, continued:
—Hahaha... You see, the karma you carry is special. It's slowly changing your genetics into that of an Otsutsuki as it decompresses. It'll also grant you longevity and other abilities, but the pain you feel is the struggle between the cells you activated. Your new Uzumaki cells are attacking, wanting to eliminate the Otsutsuki cells, but the Otsutsuki aren't fighting back. It's as if your own body is trying to destroy itself.
The pain intensified, and Boruto felt as if his body was about to tear itself apart. Every fiber of his being burned, and sweat dripped to the ground in a puddle.
"Waiting for what?" Boruto muttered, trying to endure the torture he felt in every part of his body.
Momoshhiki, with his usual smile, explained:
—As I told you, you have activated cells in your body, and now they are attacking the Otsutsuki cells, trying to expel them. But what you don't understand is that the Otsutsuki cells are already part of you. Your body is attacking itself, and of course it is impossible for those new cells to defeat the Otsutsuki cells.
The pain caused Boruto, who was sitting, to fall face downwards. As he thrashed around, his hair began to take on a reddish tint, although at times it returned to its natural color. Between gasps and clinging to the ground, he asked:
—Is there any way to stop this internal fight, for both sides to adapt?
Momoshiki calmly replied:
—I don't think so. Those cells are in an uproar, growing and strengthening rapidly.
Boruto, with his forearms resting on the ground and blood pouring from his mouth and holes in his face, spoke while grinding his teeth in desperation:
—Damn it! I'm going to die this way... Momoshhiki, is there any way out of this?
With a deeper smile, Momoshiki replied:
—There is a solution.
Boruto, writhing in pain, asked with difficulty:
-Which is it?
—The Otsutsuki cells aren't fighting back. We just need to get them to act. After all, Otsutsuki cells are devouring by nature.
At that moment, Karasugan, who was standing to the side, waved his wing, pushing Momoshiki away, who looked at him with displeasure and said:
—What do you want, stupid bird?
Karasugan replied firmly:
—Do what you said. Don't play anymore. Or do you want to disappear too?
Momoshhiki frowned, but in a carefree tone, he added:
—I'm not playing, I'm just having a little fun. After all, he was the one who killed me. Besides, how do you think I'm going to let him die like that?
Karasugan sighed in resignation, while Momoshhiki addressed Boruto:
—Human, I am about to activate the Otsutsuki cells in your body. I must warn you: the pain you will feel from now on will be much greater than this. The Otsutsuki cells will devour every cell in your body and then you will be reborn again and again, until all the cells are complete and adapted, this process will take quite a long time.
From outside, Boruto opened his eyes, trying to say something, but Momoshhiki, with amusement, interrupted him:
—I'm not asking for your opinion.
Momoshiki then moved his arm, and the process began.
Boruto opened his eyes and, amidst a heart-rending scream, exclaimed:
—Aaaaaaaa!
His voice echoed throughout the room, as pain completely invaded him. Moments later, his body could not take it anymore and he fell unconscious. However, it was not long before a beam of energy ran through his body, making him open his eyes again, only to be greeted again by the unbearable pain. He screamed again:
—Aaaaaaaa!
And he lost consciousness again, once again. His body trembled, as blood poured from his mouth and orifices, and his hair fluctuated from one color to another, going from yellow to white, then to red, repeating this cycle endlessly.
From inside Boruto's mind space, Momoshhiki and Karasugan watched everything.
Karasugan, with a serious tone, asked:
—What did you do?
Momoshhiki, without losing his amused expression, replied:
—I didn't do anything. I just activated Karma.
Karasugan insisted:
—Explain yourself.
Momoshhiki glanced at him before calmly explaining:
—What Karma is doing is adapting the cells of the "human" to prevent his body from collapsing. First, it devours them, and then expels them after modifying them, making them compatible with the Karma mark. Thus, these cells no longer attack the body or the new Otsutsuki cells that are being formed. It is a slow process, because Karma is decompressing and reconfiguring at the same time. I have no idea how long it will take to complete it, but the only thing that is certain is that, every time he wakes up, he will feel unbearable pain... hehehe. Although I must admit, seeing him suffer like this makes it even more interesting.
It's fascinating how his body struggles to hold together, as if he doesn't know whether to survive or fall apart completely.
Karasugan replied,
— I see... so that's what's happening. Tell me, Momoshiki, won't he starve to death during the process?
Momoshiki smiled carefreely and replied.
—I don't think so. During the process, the body is constantly releasing energy. It will feed on that energy, although it will feel hungry. When the process is over, it will be able to eat normally.
Karasugan let out a sigh and said,
—I guess we just have to wait. I wonder how long it will take...
Days passed and Boruto woke up only to be crushed by the same pain that threw him back into the darkness. Every time he regained consciousness, the first thing he felt was his body burning from within, as if a thousand needles were piercing him incessantly. The pain devoured him in such a way that screaming became useless; not even breathing was enough to express the agony. In those moments of unconsciousness, memories tormented him: faces, voices, promises, all mixed up in a whirlwind that dragged him deeper and deeper. He felt as if he were sinking into a bottomless pit, his eyes seeing blurred images that repeated themselves, but before reaching the bottom, he was torn from that nightmare only to return to real pain.
It was an endless cycle. He felt his body breaking down, every bone snapping, every muscle tearing, only to be rebuilt again in endless torture. Weeks passed. By the second week, the blood had stopped coming out, but Boruto felt something churning inside him, as if every cell was fighting to not be devoured. The pain never stopped; it was like a constant fire burning him from within, making his breathing heavy and every movement a torture. On the outside, his body seemed calm, but on the inside it was a never-ending battlefield.
Other days passed. Boruto could now stay conscious for a little longer, but every second was a war. His skin, covered in cold sweat, trembled with each spasm, and although he stopped screaming, the silence only made the pain feel more intense. He bit his tongue, clenched his teeth, fighting not to give up, not to let himself be consumed by the pain.
When a month had finally passed, Boruto opened his eyes, and for the first time, the pain no longer crushed him. But what remained was a deep fatigue that enveloped him completely. He tried to move, but his body was stiff, his muscles exhausted and numb from the constant struggle. With effort, leaning on his hands, he managed to stagger to his feet. Every step he took was heavy. He dressed clumsily, every movement a reminder of the recent torment. His head hung low as he stared at the dried blood stains that covered the floor as witnesses to his suffering.
He silently put the scroll away, his hands shaking, and began to walk towards the exit. His legs were weak, exhaustion was overwhelming him, but he still moved forward, with a stubborn determination that had only been forged through that excruciating pain that had broken him and rebuilt him, again and again.
Boruto slowly climbed the stairs. It took him several hours, but he eventually managed to get out of the place. The first thing he felt was the warm rising sun hitting his face and a gentle breeze moving his hair and cloak. Boruto looked up at the sky, and then, his knees gave way, falling heavily to the ground as he breathed heavily. He let his body fall backwards, lying face up, silently watching the sky.
Time passed. The sun, now high in the sky, marked noon. Boruto slowly stood up, stretched his aching body, and without saying a single word, disappeared in a flash.
Boruto appeared in a forest where water was flowing strongly from a nearby waterfall. Without wasting any time, he took off all his clothes and walked towards the water, submerging himself in it. He bathed calmly, allowing the water to cool his body. When he was done, he floated for a while, letting the current lull him.
After a while, he emerged from the water and looked at his clothes, now dirty and covered in dust. Making a sign with his hand, he summoned a scroll in a puff of smoke. He opened it, revealing a series of seals. He touched several of them, and in an instant, new clothes appeared. He put them on, making sure to dress down to his gloves and cloak. The used clothes he put away with the same seal.
He then sat down on the grass near the river and pulled out another scroll. Opening it, he also revealed several seals, which Boruto began to tap one by one, summoning plates of food. He took off his gloves, set them aside, and began to eat calmly. Each time a plate was finished, he would take out more food with the seals on it, repeating the process over and over again.
After a while, he hit another seal, but nothing appeared.
—So the food is gone, it's a shame... but I think I'm full now —he said calmly.
He looked at the empty plates around him and then sealed everything again, causing them to disappear in a puff of smoke. Boruto stood up, put away the scroll, and walked over to the water to wash his hands. After drying them, he picked up his gloves, calmly put them on, and without saying a word, he disappeared in a flash.
Boruto appeared in front of the cave entrance on Uzumaki Island. He stared at the stone door in silence for a moment, but inside him, anger was beginning to burn. The chakra in his body began to rapidly increase, becoming denser, more violent. Suddenly, Boruto let out a piercing scream, releasing all the fury he had been holding back.
Golden chains emerged from his body and pierced the ground with a deafening roar. BOOM! The chains plunged into the underground cave, destroying everything in their path, causing a series of explosions to go off underground. BOOM! The rumble echoed as the chains emerged, completely destroying the mountain. Boruto's face reflected pure fury as the chains continued to move uncontrollably, destroying everything around them.
Boruto's right eye glowed as he activated the Jougan, causing the chains to become even more destructive, devastating the nearby trees and surrounding landscape. However, something strange happened. Boruto felt a pulsation in his right hand. He hurriedly removed his glove, watching as intricate, black markings began to activate, spreading across his entire palm.
The golden chains that had previously emerged from his body changed color, turning red and white, becoming even more powerful. With each movement, the power unleashed seemed uncontrollable, sweeping away everything in its path. The energy around him continued to increase relentlessly, as the island trembled from the force Boruto was unleashing. The chains moved around him like uncontrolled whips, causing destruction wherever they passed.
Noticing the marks on his right hand, Boruto, confused and serious, spoke to his mental space:
From Boruto's mindspace, Momoshhiki spoke with a satisfied smile.
—That's Karma... it's already activated. In your body, Karma is decompressed by about 40%. So, finally, you can start using its power.
Boruto, serious and focused, answered:
—Tell me, what powers does Karma have? How does it work?
Momoshhiki, with laziness in his voice, continued to explain:
—What you see on your hand is just the first phase. In this stage, black marks spread out from your palm, progressively covering your hand. When you reach the second phase, those same marks will spread all the way down your arm until they reach your face. In the third phase, the marks will change color, turning blue. And in the fourth and final phase… a horn will grow on your head.
Boruto, seriously, insisted:
—So that's how it works... but tell me, what abilities do I get with each phase of Karma?
Momoshhiki, letting out a sigh, replied:
—Okay, I'll explain it to you.
— First phase : Karma marks spread across your hand. At this level, Karma enhances your physical abilities only slightly; your speed, strength, and endurance are greatly increased. Additionally, you can absorb chakra techniques.
— Second phase : The marks begin to cover your entire arm and part of your face. In this phase, you not only further increase your strength and speed, but you also gain the ability to use portals to transport yourself over great distances or move between dimensions. Control over chakra also improves, allowing you to unleash more devastating attacks.
— Third phase : The marks turn blue, covering more of your body. At this point, your Otsutsuki skills are much more refined. You can use advanced techniques. Karma grants you rapid regeneration, meaning you can heal wounds almost instantly.
— Fourth phase : This is when the horn emerges. Upon reaching this level, you practically become a pure version of an Otsutsuki. Not only can you use portals and absorb chakra, but you can create large-scale destructive techniques, devastating everything around you. This is the strongest form of Karma.
Momoshhiki let out a soft laugh before adding with satisfaction:
—This is how Karma works. Don't you find it fascinating?
Boruto narrowed his eyes, processing what he heard, and replied in a serious tone:
—Then, I'll be able to use your abilities... Although Karma already absorbs chakra, right? It sounds similar to what you did.
With some displeasure, Momoshhiki replied:
—Don't compare my chakra absorption to Karma's. I could absorb chakra, transform it into TAN! and return the techniques I took with greater force. Karma doesn't have that power.
Boruto gave a wry smile and added sarcastically:
—But somehow they don't seem that different, do they? Hahaha.
Momoshiki's brow furrowed slightly, but Boruto continued speaking, intrigued:
—Tell me, Momoshiki, why did the chakra chains change color?
"That," Momoshiki replied, "is Kinshiki's ability. He could forge weapons from his chakra. It seems that when you activate Karma, you have access to that technique as well."
Boruto nodded, remembering clearly:
—Of course, when you devoured Kinshhiki, you used that ability.
Momoshiki nodded, but clarified:
—Although in your case, that ability should not fully manifest itself. It could be incomplete or only partially functioning.
"Why?" Boruto asked, puzzled.
Momoshhiki explained somewhat lazily:
—Because that technique was not originally mine. It belonged to Kinshiki. That is why it may not manifest perfectly in you, or that you can only use it in certain aspects.
Boruto nodded, letting out a sigh. He then looked at his hand, with the Karma marks still visible.
"And how do I deactivate this?" he asked, looking at the mark seriously.
Momoshiki smirked and replied:
—I'll help you with that. If we hadn't made that deal, I would never let you use Karma freely. —He moved his hand from the mental space and the black Karma marks began to fade on Boruto's palm, until they disappeared completely—. I thought you'd be furious with me for all this, but well, it's not like I cared, hahaha.
Boruto replied coldly:
—There's no point in getting angry. It was the only way to survive.
With a calm gesture, Boruto retracted the chains, making them disappear into his body. He remained silent for a moment, evaluating what he had learned as the wind caressed his face, moving his hair and making his cape flutter.
Looking around, he took in the devastation he had caused. He put his gloves back on, musing quietly:
—My chakra has grown, and I got the chakra chains. I have gotten the power I wanted. If we talk about a power ranking in Konoha, I should be in third place, of course, below Dad and Sasuke. I could be above… hmm, who is the third strongest in Konoha?
Boruto made a thoughtful face and muttered to himself:
—It could be Rock Lee, if he's reached Gai-sensei's level, or maybe Shikamaru. Either of those two. But hey, I'm in third place now. My chakra is huge and I'll be able to use all the techniques I've learned with hardly any wear and tear.
With renewed determination, Boruto pulled out a three-pronged kunai and stretched out his hand, cutting himself in the middle of the sleeve and glove at the wrist. A little blood gushed out, but in an instant, steam began to emanate and the wound quickly closed up.
Boruto smiled wickedly and released all of his chakra, creating a gust of wind that dispersed the dust raised by the devastation around him. His cape moved vigorously, dancing to the rhythm of the wind and the chakra emanating from it. With a satisfied expression, he said:
—Regeneration, powerful chakra, and chakra chains. Not bad, huh? Hahaha. The pain I suffered wasn't in vain.
Boruto, with a smile on his face, stopped the chakra ejection and looked around, observing the chaos he had left behind. He mused out loud:
—This place is a mess, but it doesn't matter. What will I tell Konoha when I get back? Hmmm, I think I have an idea.
He made a sign with his hand, and in a puff of smoke, he made a scroll appear. With another movement, he summoned a table and placed the scroll on it. He opened it and, seeing that it was blank, he took a brush with ink and began to write with determination.
When he was done, he sealed the scroll and put it away with the table. He sighed, feeling like he had completed an important task.
—This place offers me nothing anymore; it's time to leave.
With those words, Boruto disappeared in a flash, leaving the place empty.
Elsewhere, more specifically in the Land of Fire, Konoha, the strongest village, was on high alert. Many things had happened in the past few weeks.
Boruto appeared in a flash above the Hokages' faces, just as the sun was at its highest point in the sky. He looked at the village with a pensive look, analyzing everything around him. Without saying anything, he disappeared in another flash and moved to the Hokage building.
Inside the office, Naruto sat behind his desk, immersed in paperwork. Beside him, Shikamaru was also working, organizing documents and discussing important matters. Both seemed focused on their tasks, exchanging words in silence.
Suddenly, Boruto appeared in front of the desk in a flash, his cape fluttering slightly from the movement. Naruto instantly raised his head, and upon seeing his son, a smile of relief and joy spread across his face. He quickly stood up and exclaimed:
—Boruto, you're back! I was worried about you.
Shikamaru, who also turned around, looked at Boruto carefully, noticing the change in his energy.
Boruto nodded, a slight smile on his lips.
"I'm back, Father," he said, glancing around the office. "I see you're still as busy as ever."
Naruto scratched the back of his head with an awkward smile, knowing that Boruto was right. Shikamaru, watching the scene, intervened.
—Hey, Boruto. It's been a while. How have you been?
"Yes, it's been a while," Boruto replied calmly. "Everything is fine."
Naruto sat back down in his chair, his expression enthusiastic.
—So, tell me, Boruto, what have you been doing this past month?
Wasting no time, Boruto waved his hand, summoning a scroll in a puff of smoke. He threw it towards his father, who caught it in midair with agility. Boruto spoke in a calm voice:
—I've been traveling a bit. I went to the Land of Rain.
Naruto raised an eyebrow, surprised.
—To the Land of Rain?
Shikamaru, interested, asked:
—And what were you doing there?
"Nothing much," Boruto replied matter-of-factly. "I was just checking the place out. But I found something interesting. Everything is detailed in the scroll."
Naruto nodded and unrolled the scroll, beginning to read its contents carefully. As he continued reading, his expression became serious. When he finished, he looked at his son with concern.
—So… there are hidden people plotting something in the elemental nations.
Shikamaru, already expecting to hear something important, held out his hand, and Naruto handed him the scroll. He read it quickly, his eyes narrowing as he took in the information.
"Incredible," he murmured. "To think that there are people hiding and preparing something in the shadows."
Shikamaru then looked at Boruto and asked:
—Did you see anything else there?
Boruto looked at Shikamaru and calmly replied:
—I didn't see anything else, but as I mentioned in the scroll, there were some strange facilities. It's possible they're conducting experiments on people. I don't have much more information other than what they look like and what their abilities seem to be.
Naruto and Shikamaru looked at each other, exchanging a worried glance. Boruto noticed the tension and asked:
—Did something happen while I was away from Konoha?
Naruto sighed, and after a brief moment of silence, he replied:
—We don't have time to investigate the Land of Rain right now. A couple of things have happened here in Konoha.
—I see... —Boruto remained serious—. So Konoha is on alert. What happened?
Naruto nodded and spoke seriously:
—Since you have the rank of special jounin, you have the right to know. A few days ago, we had a meeting of the Kages, and during that day, someone attacked the village at dawn.
"Did they attack the village?" Boruto repeated, curious. "Hmm… Do they have someone responsible yet? I imagine they know."
Naruto nodded, with a serious expression:
—Yes, we already have the person responsible, but he has deserted the village.
Boruto opened his eyes slightly, surprised by the news.
"Who was it that deserted?" he asked seriously.
Naruto took a breath before answering:
—It was Mitsuki. He was the one who attacked some shinobi at the entrance of Konoha at dawn.
Boruto kept a serious expression, he spoke in a firm voice:
—So he couldn't hold out any longer... It's a shame.
Naruto raised an eyebrow, confused.
—What do you mean, "he couldn't hold out any longer"?
Boruto looked him in the eyes, without hesitation.
—Mitsuki is Orochimaru's creation. He evolves by clinging to the people around him in order to grow, but when he doesn't get what he wants, he feels lost, even if he has companions to accompany him. Right now, he will be searching for his will. He needs to understand why he belongs to Konoha and where he really belongs. He is forming his own personality.
Naruto and Shikamaru opened their eyes, surprised by the explanation. Naruto spoke in a low voice:
—So that's what you're looking for...
Shikamaru frowned and asked:
—So why did you attack the village, Boruto?
"I think you already know the answer," Boruto replied calmly, but firmly. "But I'll tell you anyway. He joined someone, and that person convinced him. Right now, his will is weak, he's searching for his way. But there's also another possibility…"
Shikamaru narrowed his eyes and added:
—The other possibility is that he has more reasons to do so.
Boruto nodded.
—Exactly. We can't rule out that there's something more behind this.
Naruto let out a heavy sigh and spoke with concern:
—His team went to look for him... Sarada and Saku went after him.
Boruto smiled slightly.
—It was to be expected. They are both noble-hearted. They couldn't stand someone doubting their teammate... —Boruto sighed—. I imagine they've already sent a team after them.
Shikamaru nodded.
—Yes, Team 10 was sent after them. We just have to wait for news.
"I understand," Boruto replied, with his usual expression.
Naruto looked at him seriously.
—Boruto, I know you gave Sarada a modified kunai. Could you try to bring her back to Konoha or at least get to them?
Boruto closed his eyes for a moment, concentrating. After a few seconds, he opened them and spoke in a neutral tone:
—It seems the kunai I gave to Sarada is in Konoha. She didn't take it with her.
Naruto sighed, while Shikamaru added thoughtfully:
—It's possible that they knew we might ask you to bring them back, and that's why they left the kunai in the village.
—It seems so... —Boruto said, looking at his father and Shikamaru
Naruto looked at him with interest and asked:
—So, Boruto, what are your plans now?
Boruto stared at him before answering:
—I have no plans at the moment, but if you want me to go after the genin who left, I will.
Naruto nodded and then looked at Shikamaru, who intervened:
—Understood. If things get complicated, we'll send you after them.
Boruto nodded determinedly. Naruto watched him for a moment before asking curiously:
—Didn't you do anything else this month, Boruto?
Boruto looked at him seriously before answering:
—I've been training a little.
Naruto nodded, understanding.
—I understand. Since you'll be in the village for a while, why don't you go home and rest? Your mother will be there.
Boruto pondered for a moment before nodding.
—Okay, I'll go home. See you.
And with those words, Boruto disappeared in a flash.
When Boruto left, Shikamaru looked at Naruto carefully before speaking:
—Did you notice anything about him, Naruto?
Naruto looked at him, leaning back in his seat with a smile.
"You do know me well," he replied.
Shikamaru watched him with interest and asked:
—What did you notice?
Naruto became serious before speaking:
—His chakra has grown enormously.
Shikamaru raised an eyebrow in disbelief.
—How much?
Naruto took a breath before answering calmly but with gravity in his voice:
—Kurama warned me about his chakra. He told me that his energy has grown at least five times more than before.
Shikamaru opened his eyes in surprise.
—Five times? How is that possible?
Naruto sighed and replied:
—I don't know, but he's gotten a lot stronger. As he himself said, he may have found a way to increase his chakra, which was always what he lacked. He already had good control and great techniques, but now, with such a large amount of chakra, his power has been balanced. He can now use all of his abilities to the fullest.
Shikamaru sighed and nodded.
—How problematic.
In the quiet Uzumaki home, Boruto appeared in a flash in front of the front door. He stared at the entrance for a few seconds, thinking to himself. "I could just go in right away, but… it's tiring. I have to sort things out with Mom."
He shook off those thoughts and, with determination, knocked on the door. From inside, he heard a soft voice say:
-I'm coming!
While waiting, Hinata's hurried footsteps echoed, and when the door opened, Boruto spoke calmly:
—I'm back, Mom.
Hinata opened her eyes in surprise and without hesitation, hugged him tightly.
"Welcome, Boruto," he said excitedly.
Boruto, with a slight smile, returned the hug. After a few seconds, Hinata let go and looked into his eyes, with a regretful expression.
—I'm sorry, Boruto, for getting angry at you earlier. What you did was to protect us. And I also want to thank you for saving Naruto. I appreciate it with all my heart.
Boruto smiled kindly, trying to dispel any tension.
—No need to apologize, Mom. Nothing happened.
Hinata opened her eyes a little wider, moved, and hugged him again.
—Thank you, Boruto.
He nodded, feeling the relief in the air. After letting go, Hinata looked at him tenderly before asking:
—Are you hungry? Lunch is almost ready.
"Yes, a little," Boruto replied.
They both entered the house, with Boruto removing his shinobi cloak and sandals before heading to the kitchen, as the familiar warmth enveloped him once again.
In the living room, near the kitchen, Himawari was watching TV when she heard her mother's footsteps and saw Boruto behind her. Without thinking, she ran towards him and hugged him tightly.
—Welcome, little brother! —she said with a radiant smile.
"I'm back, Himawari," Boruto replied, returning her smile warmly.
The atmosphere in the house became even more comforting, with Himawari and Boruto sharing that little moment of brotherly bonding. After that, the day went on as normal. Boruto sat down to eat with Himawari and Hinata, enjoying a quiet, family-like meal.
That morning, Boruto woke up staring at the ceiling of his room. After a moment of calm, he got out of bed and walked out to the bathroom. He took a quick, refreshing shower, then went back to his room to change his clothes. When he was done, he left his room and walked down the stairs to the kitchen.
As he walked through the door, he heard a familiar voice greeting him.
—Good morning, Boruto. How did you sleep? —Hinata asked, busy in the kitchen.
Boruto turned his head towards her and, with a slight smile, replied:
-I'm fine.
"I'm glad, Boruto," his mother replied softly.
Shortly after finishing breakfast, Boruto and Himawari took charge of washing the dishes, working together in silence as they enjoyed the calm of home. Once they were done, Boruto said goodbye to his mother and sister in a calm manner.
Arriving at the entrance of the house, he bent down to put on his shinobi sandals and then removed his cloak. Before leaving, he paused for a moment, taking one last look at what he considered his familiar refuge. Boruto disappeared in a flash.
Elsewhere, in the Hokage building, Naruto was standing in front of his desk, holding some papers as he conversed with Shikamaru and Moegi, the leader of Team 10. Moegi, with her signature orange hair tied back in two pigtails and dressed in her chunin uniform, was speaking with a certain seriousness. At that moment, Boruto appeared in a flash in the center of the office.
Moegi was surprised by his sudden appearance, while Naruto and Shikamaru stared at him intently. Boruto, briefly glancing at those present out of the corner of his eye, calmly commented:
—Apparently I arrived at a good time.
Naruto returned the greeting:
—Hello, Boruto.
"Hello, father," Boruto replied, looking at Shikamaru.
Shikamaru, crossing his arms, spoke:
—Since you have come, I hope you can fulfill what you said yesterday.
Boruto watched him for a moment before answering:
—So Team 10 couldn't complete the mission.
Naruto sighed and, turning to Moegi, asked:
—What happened?
Moegi, showing some discomfort at not having completed the assigned task, explained:
—Shikadai and the other boys joined Saku and Sarada.
Taking a step forward, Moegi handed a shogi piece with the horse symbol to Shikamaru, who took it and looked at it carefully before saying:
—So they went with them.
Naruto and Moegi looked at him curiously. Shikamaru, noticing the inquisitive looks, explained:
—Shikadai knows the same thing about the "accident" as we do. When he met Saku and Sarada, he must have noticed something strange about Mitsuki's disappearance, which is why he decided to join them.
Moegi, intrigued, asked:
—Anything strange?
Shikamaru, with a thoughtful expression, replied:
—I'm not sure, but it could be related to what Boruto mentioned about Mitsuki.
Turning his gaze to Boruto, he added:
—It's possible that Mitsuki discovered something that forced him to act that way.
Naruto, sighing, commented:
—So that's how it is, what are you planning?
Boruto intervened and asked:
—So I'll go after them to catch them?
Naruto looked at him, somewhat hesitant, not knowing what to say about it. Shikamaru, seeing the situation more clearly, spoke:
—I think it would be best if Boruto joined them. If things get complicated, he can resolve the situation by sending them back to Konoha, especially if the others fail in their mission.
Boruto nodded:
—I understand. Then, the mission will be to find them first.
Naruto turned to Moegi and said:
—You may leave.
Moegi nodded respectfully and left the room. As she left, she met the Fifth Hokage, Tsunade, who was about to enter. Moegi bowed in greeting, to which Tsunade responded with a nod before entering the office.
"Hello, Grandma Tsunade," Naruto greeted.
"Welcome, Quinta," Shikamaru added.
Boruto just glanced at her.
Tsunade returned the greeting and then walked to Boruto's side, who had not greeted her, and said:
—You're still a disrespectful brat.
Boruto replied with a smile.
—Until when will you stop being a nuisance?
One of Tsunade's eyebrows raised, and she replied:
—I wonder who's the bother here.
Boruto just sighed.
—I'm leaving now, I don't want to stay any longer.
Naruto nodded, and Boruto disappeared in a flash.
Naruto walked to his seat, leaning against it. Shikamaru pulled up another chair and placed it in front of Naruto's desk. Tsunade also took a seat.
Tsunade, with her usual firm tone, began the conversation:
—So the chunin is still unconscious. If we don't get new information soon, we won't be able to contain those elders' complaints.
Shikamaru replied:
—The chunin who was attacked by Mitsuki didn't hold out for long and ended up in that state. With Ino's help, we managed to access some of his memories, but they are only fragments and don't reveal enough.
Naruto sighed and, turning to Tsunade, said:
—Thank you for everything, Grandma Tsunade.
Shikamaru added:
—Panic has not spread in the village thanks to you, Quinta.
Tsunade, pointing at them somewhat wearily, replied:
—Put yourself in my place, I have to put up with your constant complaints.
At that moment, Boruto appeared once again in the center of the office. Naruto and Shikamaru looked at him curiously, and Naruto asked:
—Is something wrong, Boruto?
Boruto walked over to the desk and, without saying much, pulled out a three-pronged kunai, which he handed to Naruto.
—This kunai will serve as a means of communication. Just send chakra to it, and we can be in contact.
Naruto, looking at the kunai, smiled and replied:
—I understand, Boruto. Be careful.
Tsunade, watching the interaction from the corner of her eye, gave a small smile and commented:
—Wow, you really are a brat.
Boruto glanced back at him and replied with a hint of defiant humor:
—And you, an old woman.
Tsunade, with a flash of fury in her eyes, replied:
—So you want to fight?
Boruto, unfazed, smiled provocatively:
—Will your bones hold up? Because, being so old, you could hurt your back.
The two stared at each other, the tension palpable in the air, but before things could escalate, the door swung open.
"Excuse me," a voice said from the entrance. A young man with brown hair and a chunin uniform entered the room.
Shikamaru looked at him and asked:
—What's wrong, Yukito?
The chunin, bowing slightly, replied:
—Sakura asked me to deliver this.
Shikamaru walked over and picked up what looked like a document. Looking over the form, he commented:
—Well, thank you very much.
Yukito tilted his head slightly, answering:
—Well, with your permission —
Yukito turned to leave the room, but Boruto glanced at him and coldly spoke:
—Hey, you, what are you planning to do?
Everyone in the room turned their gazes towards Boruto, curious about his sudden question. Yukito, confused, turned around and answered:
—Are you talking to me?
Boruto turned completely and looked at him with an implacable expression, his voice icy cold as he repeated:
—I won't say it again. What do you plan to do?
Yukito, still puzzled, replied:
—I don't understand, you must be confused.
Suddenly, chains of chakra erupted from Boruto's body and wrapped around Yukito, slamming him into the wall with a deafening crash. Surprise was reflected on the faces of everyone present as Boruto, without showing any emotion, began to walk towards him.
"Last chance, chunin," Boruto said, his tone heavy with menace.
Naruto, standing up worriedly, asked:
—Boruto, what's going on?
Now facing Yukito, who was completely immobilized by the chakra chains, Boruto glanced sideways at his father and explained:
—There is a chakra in this guy's body that is different.
Everyone was shocked by the revelation. Eyes turned to Yukito, whose limbs were tense, bound by the chains. Feeling exposed, Yukito began to struggle, as if he were desperately trying to escape.
Shikamaru, with a sharp look, asked him:
—Yukito, what's going on?
But Yukito didn't answer. It was then that an idea crossed Shikamaru's mind. He approached him, examined him closely, touching his body, and with a seal on his free hand he shouted:
—Release!
Yukito, who had been struggling frantically, suddenly stood still. He closed his eyes for a moment before opening them again, disoriented.
"What's going on? Where am I?" she asked in a trembling voice.
Shikamaru frowned and said:
—Damn, I was under a genjutsu. I thought it might be a possibility, but...
Boruto, without taking his gaze off Yukito, added coldly:
—The chakra is still in his body.
Naruto approached Yukito and, in a firm tone, ordered:
—Boruto, let him go. I'll take care of it if something goes wrong.
Boruto was about to obey when something unusual appeared on Yukito's back. A white centipede emerged, beginning to glow with a dangerous intensity. Boruto's eyes narrowed as he noticed the threat, and with a quick wave of his hand, Yukito disappeared in a flash.
In a clearing in the Konoha forest, Yukito reappeared just before the centipede exploded with a mighty "BOOM!", unleashing an explosion that leveled everything around it.
In the Hokage's office, Naruto was shocked, and he wasn't the only one. Boruto, with a disgusted expression, spoke:
—Damn, so they already had everything prepared... what a pain.
Shikamaru, with urgency in his voice, asked:
—Boruto, where did you send him?
Boruto looked at him coldly and replied:
—To a nearby forest.
Shikamaru, visibly tense, quickly replied:
—Send me there.
Boruto touched him with a finger and Shikamaru disappeared in a flash. Naruto, thoughtful, commented in a low voice:
—So he was the spy...
Boruto, crossing his arms, added disinterestedly:
—A spy? Hmm, it seems so. But he was under a genjutsu. When he was no longer useful, he would probably have been eliminated.
Tsunade intervened, her tone filled with concern:
—So they infiltrated Konoha. This is becoming a major danger.
Boruto, without giving it too much importance, said:
—I'd better get going now.
Naruto nodded, not saying anything else, and Boruto disappeared in a flash of light.
Elsewhere, in a distant forest in Konoha, a figure sat on a tree branch. His clothing was strange, with a mushroom-shaped hairstyle and orange hair. Bandages covered his body up to his nose, and his skin was pale. With amusement in his voice, he spoke:
"Bang!" He made a gesture with his hands simulating an explosion and then undid it. "I bet that sounded great."
He jumped to the ground with agility, joining his companions, who were dressed in similar light purple clothing. With a lazy smile, he commented:
—We did well to prepare the explosion. It's surprising how they detected your genjutsu.
A woman with dull blonde hair, holding a parasol to protect herself from the sun, replied in a refined voice, her eyes still closed:
—That means not all of them are useless. But anyway, my job here is done. I'll go and report back.
The woman disappeared in a Shunshin before anyone could say anything else.
The orange-haired one, with a lazy sigh, said:
—It's not fair, don't you think?
The other companion, with long, wavy hair and grey eyes, answered seriously:
—The plan is behind schedule, don't talk too much.
They both disappeared in a Shunshin almost instantly, leaving the orange-haired man alone.
He shrugged his shoulders and muttered to himself:
—Yes, yes, whatever you say...
He began to walk until he approached Mitsuki, who was watching from the shadows.
"Come on, Mitsuki," he said in a carefree tone.
Mitsuki reacted, nodding silently, and both of them disappeared in a Shunshin.