The hospital room was dimly lit, the soft hum of medical machines filling the silence. Kikidori lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling as his body ached from the fight he had barely survived. Sakura had assured him he'd recover, but the sting of failure weighed heavier than any physical injury.
He clenched his fists, replaying the fight against the rogue shinobi and their allies. "I have to get stronger," he muttered, frustration bubbling in his chest.
Suddenly, a loud *boom* shattered the silence, followed by distant screams and the sound of chaos erupting outside. Kikidori's head snapped toward the window. He pushed himself up, grimacing as pain shot through his body.
"What now?" he whispered.
Peering outside, his heart sank. The Chūnin Exams arena was engulfed in smoke and flames. Two figures floated above the wreckage, their presence radiating an otherworldly power. He recognized them immediately—Kinshiki Ōtsutsuki and Momoshiki Ōtsutsuki, invaders from another dimension.
"Boruto's in there," Kikidori muttered, panic setting in. Despite his injuries, he threw off the blanket and staggered to his feet.
"Kikidori, stop!" Sakura's voice called out as she entered the room. "You're not healed yet!"
"I don't care!" Kikidori snapped, his determination overriding the pain. He bolted out of the room, ignoring her protests.
---
As Kikidori sprinted toward the arena, he saw an intense orange light in the distance. He skidded to a halt, his eyes widening as the massive form of a fox cloaked in fire appeared, its nine tails lashing out to shield the villagers from the Ōtsutsuki.
"What is that…?" Kikidori whispered in awe.
The fox let out a deafening roar, and then, in an instant, both it and the two Ōtsutsuki vanished, leaving only a scorched battlefield behind.
Kikidori's chest tightened as he resumed his run toward the arena. His worst fears were confirmed when he arrived—Boruto was being carried away on a stretcher, unconscious, while Hinata lay injured, her body limp as medics rushed her to the hospital.
"Mom!" Kikidori shouted, but the medics urged him to stay back. He watched helplessly as they disappeared into the hospital, his fists trembling.
---
Hours later, Boruto stirred in his hospital bed. His eyes fluttered open, and he groaned as he sat up, his body sore. He glanced to the side and saw Hinata lying in the next bed, Sakura tending to her wounds.
"Mom…" Boruto murmured, guilt washing over him.
"She'll be okay," Sakura reassured him with a kind smile. "She just needs rest."
Boruto clenched his fists, the weight of his failure bearing down on him. He couldn't shake the image of Naruto being taken, or the destruction left in the Ōtsutsuki's wake.
---
Later that evening, Boruto found himself in Naruto's study. The room was quiet, filled with the faint scent of parchment and ink. Naruto's old jacket hung on the back of a chair, its fabric worn but sturdy.
Boruto hesitated before picking it up. He slipped it on, stepping in front of the mirror. The jacket hung loosely on him, its weight feeling foreign.
"I look lame," he muttered, frowning at his reflection.
"That so?" a voice said from behind him. Boruto turned to see Sasuke leaning against the doorframe, his expression unreadable.
Boruto's eyes narrowed. "Sasuke… I want to go after my dad. I have to bring him back."
Sasuke regarded him for a moment before nodding. "If that's what you've decided, then come with me."
He raised his hand, forming a swirling black portal that pulsed with energy.
---
Kikidori, who had been eavesdropping from the hallway, stepped forward. "I'm coming too," he declared.
Sasuke glanced at him, his Sharingan glinting. "You're injured. You'll only slow us down."
"I don't care," Kikidori shot back. "That's my dad out there, too."
Sasuke studied him for a moment before sighing. "Fine. But don't expect me to hold back if you fall behind."
Together, the three of them stepped into the portal, the world twisting around them as they traveled through the black void.
---
When they arrived, the air was thick with tension. The ground beneath them was scorched, and the remnants of battle littered the area. Kikidori looked around, his heart pounding.
"Sasuke…" he began, his voice hesitant. "Back in the village, I saw something. That giant fox. What was that?"
Sasuke's gaze darkened as he replied, "That was Kurama, the Nine-Tails. Your father is a jinchūriki—he's the vessel that holds the fox's power."
Kikidori's eyes widened, the word echoing in his mind. "Jinchūriki…" he whispered, his hands trembling.
Sasuke glanced at him. "Focus. We're here to save him. Don't lose your resolve now."
Kikidori nodded, pushing the revelation aside for now. There would be time for questions later. For now, his only goal was clear: save Naruto, no matter what.
The End of Chapter 6