The battlefield was desolate, a wasteland of charred earth and broken debris. Sasuke, Boruto, and Kikidori stood at the edge of a crater, scanning the area for any sign of Naruto.
"There," Sasuke said, his Sharingan locking onto a faint chakra signature deep within the wreckage. Without hesitation, he sprinted forward, the boys close behind.
In the center of the devastation lay Naruto, unconscious and bound by glowing tendrils of energy. His chakra flickered weakly, barely noticeable.
"Dad!" Boruto shouted, but Sasuke held up a hand to stop him.
"Stay back. This isn't over yet," Sasuke warned, his eyes darting around.
Just as Sasuke reached Naruto and broke the restraints, a surge of malevolent energy erupted behind them. Momoshiki Ōtsutsuki materialized, his crimson eyes locked onto the group.
"You dare to interfere?" Momoshiki hissed, his voice cold and venomous.
Boruto's hands trembled as he raised his wristband device, the same one he had used to cheat during the Chūnin Exams. He aimed it at Momoshiki and fired, a water-style bullet hurtling toward the enemy.
But the attack dissipated harmlessly against Momoshiki's chakra barrier. The Ōtsutsuki sneered, his gaze shifting to Boruto. "Pathetic," he spat.
Boruto froze, his confidence shattered.
Momoshiki's eyes then landed on Kikidori. He paused, studying the boy with a mixture of curiosity and malice. "You… such potent chakra for one so young. A mere child, yet brimming with potential. Fascinating."
Kikidori's blood ran cold as Momoshiki launched a flurry of attacks, the air crackling with raw energy. But Kikidori's instincts kicked in, and he dodged each strike with a mix of agility and desperation.
"Kikidori, keep moving!" Sasuke barked, his sword flashing as he engaged Momoshiki, buying the boys time to retreat.
---
The battle raged on, Sasuke and Momoshiki clashing with devastating force. Boruto and Kikidori stayed close to Naruto, shielding him as best they could from the shockwaves.
"We can't just stand here!" Kikidori shouted. "We have to do something!"
Boruto clenched his fists, the weight of his earlier failures bearing down on him. But then he remembered something his father had told him: *A ninja never gives up.*
He formed a Rasengan, its swirling energy crackling in his hand. "Kikidori, cover me!"
Kikidori nodded, leaping forward to draw Momoshiki's attention. He launched kunai and shuriken, forcing the Ōtsutsuki to split his focus.
"Do you think such feeble tactics will work on me?" Momoshiki snarled, deflecting the projectiles with ease.
But his distraction was enough. Boruto surged forward, hurling his Rasengan with all his strength.
The attack struck true, hitting Momoshiki square in the chest and sending him reeling. Sasuke seized the opportunity, grabbing Naruto and teleporting the group away in a flash of chakra.
---
Two days later, the village was finally calm again. Kikidori sat on the porch of the Uzumaki home, staring at the setting sun. His mind was a whirlwind of questions, but one in particular gnawed at him.
"Dad?" he called, glancing over his shoulder as Naruto stepped outside, his usual orange jacket replaced with a plain shirt and pants.
"What is it, Kikidori?" Naruto asked, his tone soft but tired.
Kikidori hesitated, unsure of how to phrase his question. "Back in that fight… Sasuke said something. About the Nine-Tails. About you being… a jinchūriki."
Naruto's expression darkened slightly, but he sighed and sat down beside his son. "So, you heard about that."
"What does it mean? What… what is a jinchūriki?"
Naruto took a deep breath, staring out at the horizon. "A jinchūriki is someone who carries a tailed beast inside them. In my case, it's Kurama, the Nine-Tails. He was sealed inside me when I was born."
"Is it… dangerous?" Kikidori asked hesitantly.
"It was, at first," Naruto admitted. "Kurama and I didn't get along for a long time. But over time, we learned to trust each other. He's not just some beast to me—he's my partner."
Kikidori frowned, his mind racing. "So, all this time… you've been fighting with that power inside you?"
Naruto smiled faintly. "Yeah. It wasn't easy, but it made me who I am today. And it's a reminder that even something as destructive as the Nine-Tails can find a place in this world."
Kikidori nodded slowly, his respect for his father growing. "I want to be strong, too. Strong enough to protect everyone."
Naruto placed a hand on his son's shoulder. "You will be, Kikidori. Just remember, true strength doesn't come from power alone. It comes from the bonds you share with others. Never forget that."
As the sun dipped below the horizon, Kikidori felt a renewed sense of purpose. He didn't just want to prove himself as a ninja—he wanted to live up to the legacy his father had built, one bond at a time.
The End of Chapter 7