In the previous chapter, Boruto continued his training alongside Tsubaki, helping her awaken three internal chakra cores. Although the process was risky, the two managed to perfect a unique method that allowed them to better control their energy.
Keeping her promise, Tsubaki challenged Boruto to a sword fight. The fight was intense, with swift attacks and extreme techniques, until Tsubaki managed to defeat him using all her power. Boruto accepted defeat calmly and cared for her when she fell unconscious.
Later, Boruto revealed the truth about his past to her: the hidden history of his only friends, Jiro and Yuki, and how his own curiosity and passivity led to a tragic end. Despite the darkness of his confession, Tsubaki listened without judgment and decided to forgive him, extending her friendship.
As a reward for the victory, Boruto gave him a sealed katana of great power. After saying their goodbyes, he completely destroyed their training ground, using a devastating new Rasengan. Eventually, he returned to his base alone.
At this moment, the night was passing peacefully. However, far away, in the Grass Village, on a remote island, the situation was very different: Hozuki Prison was on high alert.
At the rear of the prison, near a cliff that plunged into the sea, a plain stretched out. The ground was broken, with deep fissures and obvious signs of destruction.
At one specific spot, near a small field of flowers, numerous tree branches had gathered, stretching for several meters, tangled with each other, and rising upwards, forming a kind of vegetal tower.
In the center of those branches, a person remained tied by his feet, hands, and neck, completely trapped. His body was covered in open wounds, and he was breathing with difficulty.
In front of her, standing on the branches, was Team Seven, also injured and visibly exhausted. Beside them was Saku, his hands clasped, concentrating, channeling chakra with precision to maintain control of the mokuton. Near him, Sarada watched intently; her sharingan glowed brightly, fully activated as she analyzed every movement in her surroundings.
Meanwhile, several snakes were speeding back towards Mitsuki, slithering through the tree branches on the battlefield.
Behind them was the person they were supposed to protect: Kokuri.
Saku looked at him seriously and said while staring at the tied prisoner:
—So this is the leader of the Mujina Gang… Shojoji?
Kokuri nodded, trembling, her voice nervous and fearful.
—Y-yes… it's him. He's the real leader of the gang…
The tied-up figure in front of them had an intimidating appearance: he was heavily built, with a swept-back comb, a thick mustache that met his sideburns, and hair dyed a dull lime color. Despite being trapped by the branches, his presence remained menacing.
Sarada spoke without taking her eyes off him, staying focused:
—To think this guy is the leader… His techniques are really annoying.
Kokuri, still trembling, added:
—He has the ability to steal techniques… from the people he devours…
Mitsuki glanced at him, frowning slightly.
—Stealing techniques by devouring people?
"That's right," Kokuri replied. "It's all written in the book... You have to see it..."
Sarada nodded firmly, while Shojoji struggled to free himself from the bonds. Saku, noticing the resistance, channeled more chakra into the seals, causing the branches to strengthen and hold him even tighter.
At that moment, several prison guards surrounded the place, appearing from among the branches and limbs of the trees.
Team 7, through the gaps in the branches, watched out of the corner of their eyes as they were surrounded. Saku broke the silence with a nonchalant tone:
—We can explain everything… what do they say? Hehe.
One of the guards, from outside, shouted:
—They're here!
At that moment, numerous shinobi with the Konoha ninja band arrived at the scene, completely surrounding the branch structure.
Team 7 was surprised. Sarada frowned.
—It's Konoha... but what are you doing here?
At that moment, in a Shunshin Sai appeared near team 7. He calmly observed the scene and spoke:
"We came here because we thought something had happened to the mission. I couldn't contact the prison leader, and…" He looked around. "It seems they had everything under control."
Sarada looked back at Sai with a slight smile.
—Sai-san.
Mitsuki glanced at him and nodded silently. Saku also watched him from the side… and smiled happily.
Sai, seeing the team gathered, spoke in a calm tone:
—It's good to see you all well.
Then his eyes stopped again on Shojoji, still trapped between the branches.
—Who is he?
Sarada, still with a slight smile, deactivated her sharingan and replied:
—He is the leader of the Mujina gang.
Sai opened his eyes slightly in surprise.
—So… he's the leader. How interesting.
He approached Shojoji walking along the branches and added in a neutral tone:
—Your reward is high in the bingo book. Not because you're strong... but because you're the hard type to catch, Shojoji.
Shojoji glared at him, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
—If you think you can get anything out of me… you're wrong, bastards.
Sai, without showing emotion, replied:
—Don't worry. Someone will take care of you.
Sai turned around and spoke calmly:
—We'll take care of the rest. You can rest.
Sarada nodded, but asked with some concern:
—How's the prison leader feeling? He helped us a lot on this mission…
Sai smiled slightly and replied:
—Don't worry. He's fine.
"What a relief..." Sarada said, letting out a sigh as she breathed more calmly.
Sai then looked towards Saku and asked:
—Can you lock him up with some Mokuton jutsu?
Saku looked at him sideways, smiled uncomfortably and answered honestly:
—He's pushing too hard… and I'm low on chakra. I don't think I can keep it up for much longer.
Sai nodded without hesitation and, with precise movements, took out his scroll. He quickly unrolled it and, with firm strokes, began to draw. When he finished, he activated his jutsu:
— Choju Giga: Ink Cage.
Black bars of ink emerged from the scroll, instantly taking physical form. The bars spread rapidly, enveloping Shojoji completely. They held him by the neck, hands, and feet, immobilizing him with no room to move.
Shojoji growled furiously, struggling with his entire body, but he couldn't break free.
Saku sighed, exhausted, and separated his hands, undoing the jutsu. The branches began to slowly retract, sinking back into the ground until they disappeared completely. Saku lost his balance from the effort, but Mitsuki caught him in time.
Sai looked at Shojoji seriously and ordered:
—Konoha shinobi. The mission is over. Charge Shojoji and be careful.
The shinobi nodded. They quickly performed hand seals and placed additional restraints on the prisoner, rendering him completely immobile. Then several people lifted him up and carried him away.
Sai watched the process silently, then looked at Team 7.
—It's time to go.
Team 7 nodded. At that moment, the sun began to rise slowly, bathing the place in a soft, warm light. After a while, a ship set sail from the prison, carrying Team 7, Kokuri… and the captured Shojoji.
As the boat sailed away, everyone watched the island in silence. Their faces showed expressions of exhaustion… but also of satisfaction.
Sarada stretched and said with relief:
—Finally… it's time to go home.
Saku nodded, smiling.
—That's true. It's time to get some rest… and go home.
Mitsuki looked at his team and spoke in a calm voice:
—It was fun… don't you think?
Saku and Sarada looked at each other, sharing an awkward smile. Then, Saku looked at him and replied:
—I guess it was… hehehe.
In Konoha, inside the Hokage's office, Naruto sat in his chair behind the desk. Shikamaru was sitting next to him, and Hanabi and Tsubaki were standing in front of them.
Naruto leaned back slightly in his seat and greeted with a somewhat awkward smile:
—Hi, Tsubaki. Did you sleep well last night?
Tsubaki replied seriously:
—I slept well. I just feel some discomfort, nothing serious.
Naruto looked down and spoke sincerely:
—Don't apologize... forgive me, for not raising Boruto well... and for what he did to you.
Tsubaki shook her head.
—It's okay. Nothing serious happened.
At his side, Hanabi intervened in a serious tone:
—Tsubaki, did Boruto do anything to you? Did he threaten you in any way?
Tsubaki firmly denied again.
Then Shikamaru spoke, crossing his arms:
—I know this might sound personal… but could you tell us exactly what happened? And why did Boruto take you out of Konoha?
Tsubaki nodded slowly, and thought:
It would be best not to tell the story of your friends…
Then, she began to recount what had happened: how Boruto had summoned her to the forest, and there, they had a conversation in which he asked her to teach him the samurai chakra flow method. She was then taken to a distant location, in the center of a lake, where multiple structures emerged from the bottom.
After that, they spent several days training. Tsubaki taught him the method, and Boruto, through trial and error, eventually managed to create his version of the Three-Core Flux method.
Hearing this, Hanabi activated her Byakugan and examined Tsubaki's body closely. Her eyes widened in surprise.
"It has three cores... It's impressive," he said. "And what's more... they're in harmony.
Did Boruto create this method? Now I wonder what he's capable of... and you, how strong did you get?"
Tsubaki replied calmly:
—The method I use… is the complete method. For some reason, Boruto was only able to form one core. He said that core alone would make him stronger and more physically resilient… but he didn't explain further.
Hanabi nodded, interested.
—And the complete method? What advantages did it give you?
Tsubaki looked down at her hands and replied:
"I feel faster… the fatigue in my body has decreased significantly. Also, my senses have heightened considerably, and my chakra has become denser… and purer. I still don't fully understand it, but… that's how it works."
Naruto nodded as well and asked:
—There's something I don't understand. You taught Boruto the samurai method, but... to create the other two cores, is that method strictly necessary?
Tsubaki thought for a few seconds before answering:
—Yes… and no. It's necessary to a certain extent. Boruto, when he acquired the samurai method, managed to double the speed of his chakra. He told me that caused him to waste half the time performing hand seals. Now he's faster… and stronger, as if he'd formed an energy barrier around himself.
And with the core he created, his stamina and physical strength have increased considerably.
Shikamaru and Naruto stared at each other for a moment in silence. Then, Naruto spoke in a serious voice:
—Did you find out for yourself how far his strength has reached?
Tsubaki adopted a thoughtful expression before answering:
—After he finished teaching me the method for creating the three cores, and I managed to fully form them… I challenged him to a fight.
Naruto, Shikamaru and Hanabi were surprised to hear that.
"He accepted the challenge?" Hanabi asked, amazed.
"Yes, he accepted," Tsubaki replied firmly. "Besides, we made a bet: if I lost, I would have to follow him wherever he went. But if I won, I could ask him for anything… and, on top of that, receive a personal item of his. In fact, before taking me out of Konoha, he had also promised me that I would be entitled to one special request… any one of it."
Naruto adopted a thoughtful expression and pondered seriously:
Boruto actually took such a high risk…? The samurai style must be truly amazing.
Tsubaki continued the story:
—Before starting, Boruto held back. He only used the katana and the samurai chakra method.
Shikamaru sighed slightly and commented:
—That way of being… always looking to defeat the opponent on their own ground. It doesn't change.
Naruto sighed as well, smiling with some discomfort.
Hanabi spoke in a somewhat discouraged tone:
—So... Boruto beat you? Now you'll have to leave the team with us?
He then looked at Tsubaki curiously.
—Or did you win?
Tsubaki smiled sideways and replied calmly:
—I beat him.
Everyone's eyes shot open in surprise.
Hanabi smiled with joy and hugged Tsubaki tightly:
—You really won!? That's amazing! I'm so happy you're still on my team.
Naruto leaned back more calmly in his seat and commented, smiling a little:
—So you defeated him…
Shikamaru added:
—That's surprising. I never thought I'd see Boruto lose to someone of his own generation. Especially someone who was able to defeat an Ōtsutsuki. I'm amazed.
Naruto nodded silently, glancing sideways at Tsubaki.
Hanabi, releasing her from the hug, asked with renewed interest:
—So… what did he give you? And what did you ask for with the wishes Boruto had given you?
Tsubaki raised her hand, and at that moment, a puff of smoke appeared above her palm. In the middle of it, the katana Boruto had given her was revealed.
"He gave me this," he said calmly, as the smoke cleared.
Naruto and Shikamaru stared at the katana in amazement. Hanabi was the first to speak, intrigued:
—Hey… that katana looks pretty special.
Tsubaki nodded with a slight smile and replied happily:
—That's right. And besides… it's very easy to carry.
At that moment, the katana disappeared from her hand in a small puff of smoke, and a mark with the characteristic flower and branch design appeared on her wrist. Hanabi opened her eyes in surprise.
Shikamaru watched her closely and asked:
—Was that object made by Boruto?
"I don't know for sure," Tsubaki replied. "He told me he modified it with many seals... and that this is what came out as a result."
Naruto sighed deeply and commented:
—He's capable of doing almost anything… It's as if he's trying to cover up every weakness he has.
Shikamaru frowned slightly, thoughtful.
—Tell me… how did you defeat him?
Tsubaki replied seriously:
"It wasn't easy. Samurai have different levels of power. I'm currently at level three. Boruto is at level two. He fought using only that power… but even with the injuries I inflicted on him, he didn't seem affected. He healed easily. His regeneration is on another level. Still… I managed to corner him and defeat him."
Shikamaru nodded silently and muttered:
—So… he's not invincible. He can be beaten… at his own game.
Hanabi smiled and asked curiously:
—And did you ask for anything else with those wishes?
Tsubaki nodded gently.
—I asked him… to be my friend. And he agreed.
Naruto and Hanabi's eyes widened in surprise. Naruto stood up from his seat with a genuine smile.
—Did you really accept?
Tsubaki nodded. Naruto walked around the desk, approached her, and firmly took her hands.
—Thank you, Tsubaki… Thank you for being her friend. I really appreciate it.
Tsubaki was shocked, her eyes wide. At that moment, Hanabi hugged her from behind and said tenderly:
—Thank you. I hope you can get along with him… and that you'll be a great friend to Boruto. I want him to be happy.
Tsubaki didn't know what to say. She just nodded silently... moved.
Boruto… apparently there are family members who love you.
Naruto composed himself and smiled before speaking:
—Do you want to have dinner with my family tonight? I'm treating you. What do you say, Tsubaki?
Tsubaki nodded, a little surprised.
"We'll wait for you at home," Naruto added kindly.
Hanabi released her from the hug, but kept her hands on her shoulders and said happily:
—I'll go with you! This is something to celebrate.
Naruto nodded with a smile. Shikamaru just sighed, relaxed.
Naruto returned to his seat, settled in, and asked:
—So… that's all that happened? Or is there something else?
Tsubaki thought for a moment and then calmly replied:
-That's all.
Naruto nodded again and spoke in a more formal tone:
"You may leave now. Go with your companions. Also... Boruto took you out of Konoha without authorization, so he'll pay part of your salary these days. Go to the assignment office. They'll give you your payment there."
Tsubaki nodded respectfully, bowed, and took her leave. Hanabi followed suit, and they walked out of the room together.
The day passed peacefully. Tsubaki reunited with her teammates, who greeted her with a smile and a warm welcome. They spent the day together, chatting and catching up. Tsubaki told them only a small part of what had happened, just enough to calm them down without going into too much detail.
Wasabi and Namida were surprised, but also relieved to see her healthy and back.
In the end, the team said a fond farewell, and the day came to an end.
Shortly after, Tsubaki could be seen walking down a quiet street, heading towards the Hokage's house, the lights of the houses softly illuminating the path. Along the way, she met Hanabi, who was also heading in the same direction.
When they arrived, Hanabi rang the doorbell. The door was opened by Hinata, who greeted them with a friendly smile. She greeted her sister first, then looked down at Tsubaki.
—Hello, welcome. Naruto told me everything that happened. And also… I want to apologize for what happened with Boruto.
Tsubaki replied calmly:
—Don't apologize. Boruto didn't do anything wrong to me.
Hinata smiled sweetly and invited them in. Upon entering, they reached the living room, where Himawari was already waiting for them.
The girl quickly approached Tsubaki with a radiant smile.
—I heard you're my brother's new friend. I'm Himawari!
Tsubaki greeted her respectfully:
—I'm Tsubaki Kurogane. A pleasure.
Himawari took her hand and excitedly led her to the table.
Meanwhile, Hanabi followed them, and Himawari also greeted her with a strong hug. Hanabi returned it warmly. Everyone sat around the table. Tsubaki removed her sword and carefully placed it aside.
Hinata calmly served the dishes while everyone chatted.
At that moment, the door to the house was heard opening and closing. Footsteps were heard approaching from the entrance to the living room. Naruto appeared, and everyone greeted him with a smile.
Everyone greeted him with a smile. Tsubaki bowed slightly, and Naruto returned the greeting with a friendly gesture. Hinata invited him to sit, and soon everyone was gathered at the table.
As they talked to each other, Tsubaki thought silently.
This family is quite happy… Boruto has a beautiful family.
Then he looked up and asked calmly:
—Is Boruto coming to dinner?
Everyone looked at each other, and Hinata responded with a kind smile.
—He'll come. His sensory abilities are very advanced, he's probably already sensed your chakra in the house… and Hanabi's too. He knows we're at a family gathering.
At that moment, the door to the house opened and then closed. Footsteps were heard approaching, and as they reached the entrance, Boruto appeared. Everyone looked at him, and both Hanabi and Himawari greeted him warmly. Hinata welcomed him sweetly, and Naruto greeted him as well.
Tsubaki stood slightly and greeted him respectfully. Boruto nodded and walked to the table to join them for dinner. Soon, everyone began to eat, sharing the warmth of a quiet family evening.
After a while, everyone finished eating. Hinata began clearing the plates, and Hanabi stood up as well to help her wash them. Naruto, still sitting at the table, looked at Boruto with a slight smile and said:
—Boruto, they told me what happened these days.
Boruto looked at him with some laziness and replied:
—I see… I just wanted to learn that energy method. I didn't do anything wrong.
Naruto nodded, still smiling, and added:
—I've also heard you've become friends with Tsubaki. I hope you treat her well; she's an important guest for Konoha.
Boruto held his father's gaze and calmly replied:
—I understand. I won't do anything to him, you have my word.
Naruto nodded in relief, stood up and said:
"I'll leave you two to talk," he said, and left the room.
Boruto sighed lazily. Meanwhile, Himawari, who had been watching everything closely, curiously approached Tsubaki and asked in a sweet voice:
—I heard you're a samurai … What do you practice?
Tsubaki, still sitting, looked at her with a serene expression and replied calmly:
—We practice swordsmanship. It is the soul of the samurai path.
Himawari nodded slowly, fascinated, then looked at the katana Tsubaki had set aside. Her eyes sparkled as she said with a tender smile:
—Your sword is beautiful… and you are also very elegant, Tsubaki.
Tsubaki watched her silently for a moment. Then, with a gentle smile, she lovingly stroked Himawari's head and murmured:
—You're... too adorable...
With an emotion she couldn't hide, Tsubaki hugged her gently, as if holding something precious. Then she began to gently rub her cheeks, her eyes shining as she said:
—I want to take her! She's so cute, soft, and tender! I can't resist!
Himawari laughed happily, completely amused by Tsubaki's reaction, and hugged her confidently.
Boruto looked at her with a mixture of resignation and annoyance, and muttered:
—Don't even think about it... She's my sister, forget it.
Tsubaki simply continued to pamper Himawari, blushing and happy, paying no attention to Boruto. She caressed his cheeks while smiling as if her heart was melting. Boruto just huffed, resigned, and stretched his hand out to the side. At that moment, in a flash, Himawari appeared beneath his palm.
Himawari shook her head from side to side, confused by what had just happened. Tsubaki looked around, bewildered, until she laid eyes on Boruto and protested:
—Hey! I had it!
Boruto sighed, resting his head on one hand with a tired expression.
—My sister isn't yours, she's not an object... Don't bother her. Since when have you been behaving like this?
Tsubaki settled back in her chair, regaining some composure, and replied seriously:
—I just got a little excited… She's just too cute, that's all.
Boruto snorted again and leaned back in his chair.
—I'll let you get away with my sister's business if you do me a favor. What do you say?
Himawari widened her eyes in surprise, and Tsubaki narrowed hers suspiciously.
—What favor? Say it already.
In the kitchen, Hinata and Hanabi, who were washing dishes, froze for a second upon hearing that. An anime-style drop trickled down their temples as they thought in unison: Didn't he say it wasn't an object?
Boruto smiled, with a certain mischievous air.
—Teach him how to use the katana. Instill in him the samurai methods. You will be his teacher.
Tsubaki blinked in surprise. Then, a smile formed on her face as she looked at Himawari fondly.
—Be her teacher? Hmm … I don't know…
Himawari watched her with shining eyes, not fully understanding what was happening. Finally, Tsubaki nodded, touched by the girl's sweetness.
—Okay… I accept.
Boruto nodded in satisfaction.
"Then that's it," I then looked at her sister. "Himawari, go and say hi to your teacher."
Himawari hesitated for a few seconds, but then approached with a shy smile. She gave a small bow, her voice sweet:
—This disciple accepts her teacher.
Tsubaki couldn't resist. Her cheeks flushed with joy, and she hugged her tenderly and caressed her cheeks, filled with emotion.
"You're so gentle! And so adorable!" she said, laughing softly. "Don't worry, I'll teach you the ways of the sword."
Himawari just smiled happily as she received all the pampering from her new teacher.
Boruto looked at Tsubaki and spoke calmly:
—The katana my sister has is the same as yours, as I told you before, but it's not yet in its awakened state… so I want you to teach her well. Do you understand?
Tsubaki nodded firmly as she continued to stroke Himawari's head, and replied softly:
—Whatever you say. I'll make sure he learns the ways of the samurai well.
Boruto sighed somewhat lazily. A while later, Tsubaki and Hanabi said goodbye to everyone in the house and headed out together, walking in the calm of the night.
A few days later, Team 7, along with Sai and the other shinobi, returned to Konoha. The Hokage was informed of the outcome of their mission, and the team was sent to rest.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the village, in Konoha's dungeons, Shojoji remained detained. Several shinobi stood in front of his cell, including the leader of the Torture and Investigation Force.
Shojoji watched them all with amusement and burst out laughing.
—Hahaha! Do you really think you can get information out of me? You're screwed! —he said mockingly.
At that moment, the dungeon door slowly opened, and a person silently entered.
"They won't be able to... but I can," he said in a firm voice.
Shojoji looked at him, and his expression changed instantly. Fear took over his face.
—Sasuke Uchija… you…
Ibiki watched him for a moment, then spoke calmly.
—So, are you going to talk or would you rather let him take care of it?
Shojoji hesitated for a few seconds. He swallowed, and his demeanor changed completely.
"O-Okay… I'll talk. I don't want to die," she said, her voice shaking. "Whatever you're looking for… I'll say it. Everything."
Ibiki nodded seriously, without looking away.
—Then start from the beginning. And don't leave anything out.
Shojoji, trembling, nodded slowly. His arrogance had vanished. He lowered his head and began to speak, revealing everything he knew: his crimes, his allies… and all the information he had withheld until that moment.
Hours later, the sun rose high in the Konoha sky. The clouds moved slowly, casting brief, fleeting shadows across the village's rooftops.
On one of the less-traveled streets, Boruto walked silently. He walked forward calmly, turned a corner… and then, the dry sound of metal hitting an anvil echoed throughout the room.
I had arrived at the blacksmith district.
On both sides of the road, shops filled with ninja weapons: newly forged kunai, shining shurikens, and swords hanging on wooden racks. Each smithy displayed its own style and craftsmanship, as if vying for the attention of the village's warriors.
The air was thick with heat. The burning forges made the atmosphere heavy, almost scorching. Sweat trickled down the foreheads of some artisans as they worked tirelessly.
Boruto walked forward slowly, hands in his pockets as the wind gently stirred his cloak, looking at each tent with curiosity. His eyes scanned the details, as if searching for something... or someone.
Boruto continued walking calmly down the street. When he reached the end of the road, where an old wall blocked the way, he turned to the side and entered a narrow passageway.
Crossing it, he came to a small house, hidden among the shadows of the buildings. Facing the entrance was a modest courtyard, its grass overgrown but still green… as if, despite its neglect, it refused to wither.
At the entrance to the house, a solitary figure hammered on a rusty anvil, while the roar of the furnaces could be heard from inside, burning brightly.
The person had long, gray hair, wore time-worn clothes, and had a somber appearance. His eyes were empty.
Boruto looked away for a moment and noticed that part of the courtyard wall was broken. Through it, the village of Konoha could be seen.
Without saying a word, Boruto took a few steps towards the figure.
"Give me what you have," he ordered calmly.
The man stopped. He put the hammer aside and walked slowly into the house. After a few seconds, he returned with two scrolls in his hands. He extended his arm toward Boruto.
Boruto took a hand out of his pocket and took them.
—That's it. You're free.
As soon as he said that, the scrolls disappeared in a puff of smoke. In their place, a new scroll appeared in Boruto's hand. Without looking at the man, he spoke:
—Hold out your hand.
The blacksmith did so without a word. Boruto placed the new scroll in his palm. At that moment, his eyes narrowed slightly, and he thought.
Why are you calling me…?
Then he looked at the man once more and spoke in a calm voice:
—That's it.
Boruto turned around and, just before leaving, he muttered:
—Thank you for all these years. I practiced genjutsu with you… but it doesn't matter. I'll keep your knowledge.
He glanced at the old man and added:
—In that scroll I left, there's enough money for you to live more than three lifetimes... although I guess it doesn't matter anymore.
He looked back ahead, and at that instant, the Jougan appeared briefly in his right eye. Boruto then muttered:
-Undo.
And then he disappeared in a flash, leaving behind only silence… and the breeze stirring the dust in the old courtyard.
The old man stood for a moment. His eyes began to change, trembling slightly… until, little by little, they returned to normal.
Suddenly, she fell backward, dropping the scroll. She held her head in both hands, as if trying to stem a wave of memories. Silent tears began to slide down her wrinkled face.
He glanced at the scroll on the floor and slowly took it firmly in his hands. With difficulty, he staggered to his feet and muttered in a broken voice:
—Was it… four years? I don't know… but finally… I'm free…
A broken laugh burst from his throat, first low, then louder. The old man raised the scroll to the sky as he cried out with unbridled joy:
—I'm free!
Her eyes, now soaked, shone with something she hadn't felt in years... hope.
Elsewhere in Konoha, in the Hokage's office, four people were gathered.
Naruto sat in his chair, while Shikamaru, Sai, and Sasuke stood in front of the desk, talking to each other.
At that moment, Boruto appeared in a flash in the center of the room. The four of them instantly turned to look at him.
Boruto looked back at them calmly.
—I see you're gathered... I suppose something important has happened.
Naruto gave a slight smile, his tone friendly.
—I didn't think you'd come.
Boruto sighed and took a few steps towards the desk.
—What's going on?
Sasuke glanced at him, and Boruto looked back. They both nodded without further ado. Boruto then briefly looked around at the others present, finally settling on Naruto.
The Hokage took the floor:
—A few hours ago, Team 7 returned from their mission. During the operation, they managed to capture the leader of the Mujina Gang.
Boruto opened his eyes slightly in surprise and thought:
So they caught him… I thought they'd fail. But oh well, never mind.
"So... did you get any information on the Kara organization?" he asked, scanning everyone present. "I guess that's why they called me."
Naruto leaned back in his chair and nodded seriously.
—That's right. Shojoji shared some information about Kara. It's not much, but he did say something relevant. He claimed that, a while back, while robbing a building, he came across some hooded individuals. They were looking at a board covered with sheets of paper. There were marks drawn on them.
Boruto nodded attentively. Then Sasuke intervened in his calm and direct tone:
—He also mentioned that he recognized some symbols similar to Orochimaru's seals… but the markings were different. They were beyond compare.
Boruto crossed his arms.
—I see… so those people have marks. Interesting…
Shikamaru, who had been watching him carefully, added:
—Shojoji said the main figure, located in the center of all the marks, was a geometric shape. A diamond… black in color.
Boruto was internally surprised to hear the description of the black diamond, but outwardly his expression did not change.
Shikamaru continued speaking in a serious tone:
—That would be all the information we managed to gather. We're planning several strategies to obtain more data, but we need your help. Boruto, just like Sasuke, is able to travel across all the elemental nations. So, the two of you will be in charge of searching for clues about Kara.
Boruto looked at Shikamaru for a moment, then looked down silently.
Naruto watched him closely and asked:
—Is something wrong, Boruto?
Boruto frowned slightly. Then he sighed, looked up, and glanced at them all out of the corner of his eye. Without saying anything, he took his right hand out of his cloak and observed it silently. Slowly, he began to remove his glove.
Sasuke, at his side, opened his eyes in surprise.
Boruto stretched out his hand towards those present, allowing them to clearly see the mark engraved on his skin.
Everyone was silent for a moment, their eyes wide in surprise.
Naruto stood up suddenly, his face serious.
"Where did you get that brand?" he asked firmly.
Boruto sighed once more and replied:
—I don't know. He just appeared… after the fight with Momoshiki.
Naruto looked at him with concern.
—And why didn't you tell us before?
Boruto lowered his arm and began putting his glove back on.
—I didn't see the need for it. I thought it wasn't a bad thing… but if those people have a similar mark, it might have a mysterious origin… and quite troubling.
Shikamaru sighed and placed a hand on his head, thoughtful. Then he spoke seriously:
—It's best if you continue as you are, Boruto. Don't tell anyone else you have that mark. It could backfire.
Boruto nodded, and Naruto sat back in his chair with a serious face.
—While we're at it… Sasuke, Boruto, do whatever it takes. We need to find that organization. It could be a threat to peace… or maybe it already is.
They both nodded. Sasuke spoke firmly:
-Understood.
Then he glanced at Boruto and added:
—But, considering that mark appeared on his body after the fight against Momoshhiki, it's possible that it's related to the Otsutsuki.
Sai intervened seriously:
"With this information, it's best to remain on high alert. And also prepare to deal with the Outers. We might have to investigate every person who enters Konoha... although that would be practically impossible."
Naruto leaned back in his chair, thoughtful. Shikamaru spoke up.
—That's true. It'll be troublesome to deal with them all one by one…
Boruto put his hands in his pockets and spoke emotionlessly:
"They should improve Konoha's barrier. From what I understand, it only detects if someone enters, but nothing more. They should reinforce it so it can analyze chakra. That way they wouldn't have to monitor each person individually. Just knowing what type of chakra they have would be enough to know if they pose a threat."
Shikamaru opened his eyes slightly, looked down thoughtfully, and then looked at Sai.
—Is that possible, Sai?
Sai thought about it for a few seconds and replied:
—I think so. Maybe not in such detail, but we could develop a barrier capable of analyzing the chakra of those who approach. It would work like a high-precision radar. We could even place a sensory barrier beyond the village limits… to know who's approaching from the start.
Naruto nodded, looking at Sai closely.
—So that will be the plan, and then he looked at Sasuke and Boruto. —You already have your mission.
Boruto nodded and spoke coldly.
—Then I'll go.
Naruto nodded and spoke kindly:
—See you tonight, Boruto. You'll be leaving early tomorrow.
Boruto nodded again… and disappeared in a flash.
Sasuke remained in the living room. The others continued talking, fine-tuning the details of their plan.
After several hours, night finally fell upon Konoha. At the Uzumaki household, the family was gathered, having a peaceful dinner. The atmosphere was warm and quiet, as if everyone was trying to enjoy those last moments together. After finishing the meal, they washed the dishes amid soft laughter and brief conversations. Then, one by one, they went to sleep. The next morning, Boruto said goodbye to his mother and Himawari with a calm smile… and disappeared in a flash.
Elsewhere in Konoha, inside an old abandoned factory, sunlight filtered through broken windows, casting jagged shadows across the dusty floor.
Three-pronged kunais and katanas embedded in the floor gleamed softly in the rays that managed to pierce the dust in the air. On the walls, precisely written seals covered every corner, emitting a faint blue glow.
In the center of the place, on a worn stone platform, stood a solitary throne. At that moment, in a flash, Boruto appeared before it.
He remained silent for a few seconds, calmly observing the place. Then he took a step forward and sat quietly on the throne, letting the silence envelop him. He slowly closed his eyes… and entered his mental space.
Inside the mental space, Momoshhiki stood on Galga's head, arms crossed, staring off into the void coldly.
Boruto appeared, as always, above Karasugan's head. He looked at him out of the corner of his eye and asked in a firm tone:
—What's going on, Momoshhiki?
Momoshhiki looked back at him indifferently.
-No problem.
Boruto frowned slightly, not letting his guard down.
—Is there another Ōtsutsuki in this world? Who is it?
Momoshhiki looked at him seriously for a few seconds before answering:
—I have an idea who it could be… but, in any case, you don't have the ability to kill him. Even if you give it your all, he'll annihilate you like a mere ant. And from what I know… he's not alone. He has allies. If you were smart, you'd stay put.
Boruto kept his gaze fixed, without blinking.
—Is he really that powerful? Hmm … and my father? Can he defeat him?
Momoshhiki smiled faintly, arrogantly.
—Your father will lose.
He looked down, annoyed, and muttered:
—Even though I hate to admit it, that Ōtsutsuki is stronger than me. That should give you an idea.
Boruto closed his eyes and crossed his arms, thoughtful. Then he spoke calmly:
—So it's like this... I guess there's not much I can do.
He opened his eyes slowly, with determination.
—I'll have to wear him down. Wait for the right moment… whittle him down to my level. And then, I'll kill him. There's no other option.
Momoshhiki looked at him lazily, as if he didn't take his words seriously.
—Do you really think you can do it? You've already made a mistake. You revealed that you have Karma. You didn't need to.
Boruto looked at him sideways, calm.
"I said it because it was necessary. If in the future they see me with this mark and don't know the truth, they'll assume I'm part of that organization. This will make things easier for me. Sometimes... it's better to lie with the truth. And besides, what mistake are you referring to exactly?"
Momoshhiki slumped onto Galga's head, lying back, staring into the darkness of the mental space.
—From what I've analyzed of that Ōtsutsuki… it's likely you're his target. Sooner or later he'll come. He'll seek you out… to use you as food.
Boruto looked down at the dark feathers of Karasugan.
"So now I know how to bring him out of hiding," he murmured. "It's time to show myself... to let that organization know I exist."
Momoshhiki snorted reluctantly.
—Do whatever you want. Just try not to die.
Karasugan moved his beak impatiently.
—I'll finally get to fight. I've been waiting for a good fight. And listening to Momoshiki's voice all day is... tiring.
Boruto smiled lightly.
—Whatever you say. You'll soon have the opportunity to demonstrate your power.
Then he turned his head slightly to the other side and spoke calmly:
—You too, Galga. You'll have to fight. Don't you think so?
Galga sighed.
—I'll do whatever you say… even though I haven't been modified yet, I don't think my power will help them at all.
Momoshhiki, still lying down, replied indifferently:
—Don't rush it. I'll do it when necessary. And that bird you're mounting will also take time. The modification process is complex… their bodies must adapt. It will take years before they fully awaken.
Karasugan replied in a mocking tone:
—So you'll modify me too? I wonder how effective that "improvement" will be.
Momoshhiki sighed, irritated.
—I know how to do many things. So stop bothering me. Your presence irritates me, you inferior creature.
Karasugan snorted in disdain.
—Whatever you say, white thing. Black is always better.
Boruto gave a short laugh, then adopted a more serious tone.
—That's enough. I'll move. It's time to use my subordinates and see if they've achieved what I asked.
He closed his eyes… and left his mental space.
Boruto opened his eyes as he exited his mental space. Without wasting any time, he moved his hand and pulled out a three-pronged kunai. He channeled chakra into it, causing the inscriptions etched into the metal to glow for a moment… then go out.
He held it silently for a few seconds, and just as the glow returned on its own, Boruto smirked and put the kunai away.
With a quick flick of his hand, he conjured a scroll out of a puff of smoke. He opened it without hesitation, and among the many seals it contained, he activated one at the bottom. Instantly, another puff of smoke erupted in front of him, and a black mask emerged from the seal.
The mask had a smiling expression and oval eyes, both silver in color. Boruto took it in one hand, while with the other he made the scroll disappear with another movement.
He stared at the mask for a moment in silence and thought.
The design is not bad… I guess he did his best,
Then, he slowly moved his hand and placed the mask over his face. He pulled the hood of his cloak closer, completely concealing his identity. Finally, he stood up and murmured in a firm voice:
—It's time to really get started.
At that moment, Boruto disappeared in a flash.
Elsewhere in the world, within the elemental nations, rain fell relentlessly on the Land of Rain. In the heart of its main city, Amegakure, the gray sky completely covered the buildings and alleys. The drops pounded hard against the windows of the city's tallest building, where the leaden light filtered through the broken glass.
On the top floor, everything was silent.
The room was large and empty, barely lit by the opaque reflection of the city through a huge window that spanned an entire wall. From there, every corner of Amegakure could be seen, with its metal structures and waterlogged roofs.
In the center of the room, a three-pronged kunai was stuck in the floor. In front of it, two hooded figures watched in complete silence, while on the shoulder of one of them rested a creature, also staring at the weapon.
At that moment, Boruto appeared in a flash, and a gentle gust of wind spread out in all directions. Standing next to the kunai, his cape fluttered gently in the air.
The two figures in front of him immediately knelt. The small creature resting on the shoulder of one of them jumped to the ground and also bowed respectfully.
Boruto watched them silently for a moment, then spoke in a firm voice:
—Does this place have a barrier?
One of them nodded. Boruto narrowed his eyes and continued:
—I see… I guess this is better. Stand up, Kuroshhi, Kirara, Moku. Inform me of the situation.
The three of them stood up. Kuroshhi and Kirara removed their masks, revealing serious and focused faces. It was Kuroshhi who spoke first:
—Everything's almost ready. All that's missing is one person… and his bodyguards. His mind is more resilient than expected.
Boruto nodded, turning his gaze towards the other person.
—How strong is your mind, Kirara?
Kirara replied calmly.
—Not really, the problem is access. He won't let anyone near him. We tried, but it was impossible to establish contact.
Boruto remained silent for a few seconds, then began to walk calmly. He passed by his subordinates, and they turned to look at him.
Boruto stopped in front of the large glass pane that dominated the entire wall. Through it, the city could be seen: rusted structures, collapsed areas, and people walking in the rain, their faces exhausted and their gazes empty.
Boruto watched everything in silence, and then muttered:
—It doesn't matter anymore… Things have changed. We'll move faster.
Kuroshhi spoke in a neutral tone, showing no emotions:
—Something happened, Boruto-sama?
Boruto looked at them out of the corner of his eye, and replied:
—Kirara, I want you to track down everyone connected to Kara. Find them… gather all the information you can. And then, eliminate them. Don't leave a single Outer alive in this country. Every city must be cleared. Also… kill the feudal lord. His power is no longer needed.
Kirara nodded firmly.
—Understood, Boruto-sama. I'll put it into action immediately.
Boruto looked back at the city, raindrops sliding down the glass in front of him.
—The world will be in chaos for a while… but apparently, that organization , —Kara— is a real threat. We must erase it completely.
Then he turned slightly towards his subordinates and spoke in a determined tone:
—It's time to begin phase three. No more delays.
The three looked at each other, surprised, until Kuroshhi dared to speak:
—Boruto-sama… but phase two isn't complete yet . It requires more time to fully execute.
Boruto looked at him coldly for a moment and replied.
—I'll take action myself. Guide me to the remaining objective.
The subordinates were momentarily surprised, but quickly nodded. They silently put on their masks. Moku jumped onto Kuroshhi's shoulder, and together they lined up on either side of Boruto.
"We're ready," Kuroshhi said firmly.
Boruto nodded. At that moment, Moku's single eye changed, activating his Mangekyo Sharingan to its fullest extent. A swirling vortex emerged from his eye, expanding with force. One by one, the four were sucked into the vortex, disappearing completely.