Chapter 378: Departure and a Gift
Golden chakra claws emerged from behind Boruto, then grabbed the man in front of him and hurled him into the air.
A golden aura flared from Boruto's body as he leapt upward, transforming into a streak of golden light as he chased the airborne man. The dull sounds of blows landing echoed from above.
The man struck by Boruto crashed down from the sky.
"He's still fine after all that… Who is this guy…?" Sarada stared in shock at the man who shakily rose from the ground despite having just been slammed down.
"That's the latest scientific ninja tool puppet developed by the Scientific Ninja Tools Division. It can absorb, store, and use chakra," Boruto explained as he landed.
"Boruto," Sarada called, looking at him in the Hokage's cloak.
"Sarada," Boruto replied, looking at her. The moment was a bit awkward—after all, becoming Hokage had been Sarada's dream. Yet he had used a little trickery and selfishness to take the title for himself.
"Not bad, Eighth Hokage," Sarada said brightly, completely unconcerned.
Seeing that she didn't mind, Boruto finally relaxed, letting out a sheepish laugh and rubbing the back of his head.
"Need any help, Boruto?" asked Shuyu, who was standing nearby.
"No," Boruto shook his head, "I've figured out how to deal with this guy."
He charged forward again, this time wrapping his arms around the man. A powerful golden chakra burst from Boruto's body, but the man absorbed it all.
"This won't work! He's just making that guy stronger!" Sarada exclaimed in confusion.
"…You like absorbing chakra, right? Then I'll let you have as much as you want! Haaah!" Boruto roared.
The man who kept absorbing Boruto's chakra began to swell unnaturally. With a loud bang, black smoke puffed from his head. The man slumped to the ground, broken and motionless.
With the incident over, the rest would be handled by the Konoha ninja, who would survey the area and submit a report to Boruto.
"Sarada, Shuyu, I've got something else to take care of. I'll be heading out first," Boruto said, waving to them before quickly leaving.
"…Being Hokage doesn't seem all that great after all," Sarada murmured as she watched the busy Boruto walk away.
As the sun set, Shuyu, Tetsubaki, and Sarada walked home together.
"Um…"
Tetsubaki, trailing behind, suddenly spoke up as she looked at the backs of Shuyu and Sarada.
"What is it, Tetsubaki?" Sarada turned to look at her.
"Actually… I'll be leaving the Leaf Village soon and returning to the Land of Iron."
Ever since the destruction of the Land of Iron, many samurai who had fled were beginning to return. Tetsubaki had only recently learned about this. She had been hesitating for a long time, unsure whether she should go back—but today, she finally made up her mind.
Shuyu's concern for Sarada made things perfectly clear to her—she no longer had any chance.
"Back to the Land of Iron?" Sarada looked at Tetsubaki. While the two of them were, in a sense, rivals in love, she still couldn't help feeling reluctant at the news of Tetsubaki's departure.
"Yeah," Tetsubaki nodded. "A lot of those who fled are heading back. I need to return too, to help rebuild. But Sarada—I'm not giving up! A samurai never surrenders!"
She suddenly pointed at Sarada.
"Huh?" Sarada blinked, confused, then gradually realized what she meant.
"Hmph! I'm not going to lose either!" Sarada said, glancing at Shuyu.
"And one more thing…" Tetsubaki turned to Shuyu. "I left a gift for you. I hope you'll like it."
At Home.
Shuyu held the gift Tetsubaki had left for him.
"Open it! Let's see what's inside!" Sarada said, eyeing the box.
"No!" Tetsubaki quickly stopped him. "You can't open it until after I've left tomorrow. Also—tonight, I'm sleeping with Sarada."
"Huh? Why…?"
"Because I'm afraid you'll sneak out in the middle of the night to open the box."
"I won't! I'd never do that! Besides, you already gave it to Shuyu, didn't you?"
"If you ask him, I get the feeling he'd agree to anything—no matter how unreasonable."
Tetsubaki looked straight at Sarada.
"N-no way! That's not true…" Sarada quickly waved her hands, sneaking a glance at Shuyu.
Shuyu didn't show any expression. But in his heart, he agreed—what Tetsubaki said wasn't wrong.
"Anyway! I'm sleeping with Sarada tonight."
---
Sarada's Bedroom.
The two girls lay side by side on the bed.
"Hey, Sarada," Tetsubaki said, turning her head to look at her.
"Yeah?" Sarada turned to face her.
"Why do you like Shuyu?"
"Wha—I, I-I don't like him!" Sarada stammered, a blush blooming across her cheeks.
"Great. If you don't like him, then I won't leave."
"No! I mean… that's not what I meant! It's just… the Land of Iron needs you! Yeah, and the people of the Land of Iron need you too!"
Watching Sarada fluster and panic, Tetsubaki burst into laughter.
"Sarada, how do you really feel about Shuyu?"
"My feelings, huh…"
Even Sarada didn't fully understand herself. Realistically speaking, Shuyu was probably the most suitable person for her to marry.
"I can tell that Shuyu cares about you," Tetsubaki said.
"Yeah," Sarada admitted. That much, she couldn't deny. Shuyu really did care about her. And she had gradually gotten used to accepting that care.
"Anyway, Sarada—if you can't make him happy, then I won't hesitate to take him away from you."
"Huh? Isn't he supposed to be the one making me happy?" Sarada said, totally confused.
---
The next morning, after a simple breakfast, Shuyu and Sarada walked with Tetsubaki to the Leaf Village gate.
"Uncle Shikamaru," Sarada greeted him as she spotted Shikamaru standing at the gate with a few Konoha ninja, as if waiting for someone.
"Sarada, Shuyu—you're here too," Shikamaru replied, then turned to Tetsubaki. "Tetsubaki, this is the peace alliance agreement from the Leaf Village."
Being allied with the powerful Leaf Village was something many smaller countries longed for.
After all, Konoha's strength was undeniable.
Although the Land of Iron had once been a force to be reckoned with, the destruction wrought by the Ability Beasts had left it in shambles—its current strength might not even rival that of minor nations. Gaining Konoha's protection was immensely important.
"…Thank you," Tetsubaki said.
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