Konoha — Ninja Academy Training Arena.
The stands were packed with excited students. Whispered chatter filled the air, a mix of curiosity and anticipation, as all eyes focused on the two figures standing in the center of the arena.
"What should we do? We're skipping class for this," Sumire whispered nervously.
"Class rep, relax," Chōchō replied, munching on her chips. "If anything happens, it's their problem. Besides, Boruto's dad is the Seventh Hokage — what's there to be scared of? Right, Sarada?"
Sarada frowned slightly.
"Even if Boruto's father is the Hokage, that doesn't make it okay. Iwabe's the one who started this fight."
Chōchō smirked teasingly.
"Sarada, why are you defending him so much? You two dating or something?"
Sarada's cheeks flushed. She quickly pushed up her glasses.
"Don't talk nonsense! We're just classmates… and friends."
"Sure, sure," Chōchō laughed, patting her shoulder. Then she leaned forward. "So, who do you think's gonna win? Boruto or Iwabe?"
Sarada glanced at the arena, her eyes narrowing.
"It's obvious. Boruto's not someone you can underestimate."
Down in the field, Boruto stood casually with his hands in his pockets, scanning the surroundings.
"This place looks familiar," he murmured. "Didn't Rock Lee and Gaara fight here during the Chunin Exams?"
Across from him, Iwabe Yuino planted his iron staff deep into the ground, glaring at Boruto.
"Everyone watch carefully! This will be a proper ninjutsu duel — according to the Ninja Academy rules!"
In the stands, Denki adjusted his laptop nervously.
"Shikadai, do you think Boruto can win?"
"He's already won," Shikadai said calmly. "Judging by what he showed during today's test, the gap between us and him is huge. Honestly, only Sarada could probably keep up."
"Yeah," Inojin added. "I don't like rich kids or famous families, but I have to admit — Boruto's got real skill."
Denki sighed in relief.
"So Boruto really is that strong, huh?"
Before anyone could respond, a wave of surprised gasps rippled through the crowd.
Boruto had just performed a Transformation Jutsu — and white smoke exploded around him. When it cleared, standing in his place was none other than Tendo Pain.
Iwabe blinked in disbelief, then snorted.
"A simple Transformation Technique? That's it, Hokage's son? Pathetic."
Boruto's transformed voice was calm, cold — and chillingly confident.
"You really haven't experienced pain, have you?"
"If you can even touch me," he added, "I'll admit defeat."
"You're underestimating me!" Iwabe shouted, hurling a volley of shuriken. The weapons sliced through the air with sharp whistling sounds.
Pain-Boruto raised the black chakra rod in his hand and spun it effortlessly.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Each shuriken was deflected in midair, dropping harmlessly to the ground in a cloud of dust.
[Ding... Successfully role-playing as Tendo Pain.]
[Emotion and Progress: Kaminarimon Denki +3.]
[Emotion and Progress: Yamanaka Inojin +9.]
Boruto smirked faintly.
"So, to truly move others' emotions... I have to show them strength."
His blue eyes gleamed.
"Sorry, Iwabe-san. Be prepared — to carry a few bags of rice up the stairs."
His precise, flowing movements stunned the crowd.
"Whoa, Hokage's kid can really fight!" someone shouted.
Iwabe gritted his teeth and charged forward, determined to overpower Boruto with Taijutsu.
He leapt into the air and threw a fierce punch — but Boruto merely stepped aside, his movements smooth as flowing water.
Iwabe's attacks kept coming faster, stronger — but Boruto dodged every strike effortlessly, his expression calm, almost bored.
"He's toying with him," Denki muttered, eyes wide.
"Yeah," Shikadai nodded. "Boruto's not even fighting seriously."
"Damn it! Why can't I hit you!?" Iwabe roared. "Is all you can do is dodge!?"
Boruto tilted his head slightly, Pain's cold smile curving across his lips.
"Oh? You think you can challenge me? Foolish. Challenging a god... is pure stupidity."
In the blink of an eye, Boruto vanished — then appeared right in front of Iwabe, his presence heavy and suffocating.
[Emotion and Progress: Yuino Iwabe +18.]
Iwabe swung a desperate punch — but hit nothing. His balance broke, and he stumbled forward, barely catching himself.
When he looked up, Boruto was sitting on his back, one hand resting lazily on his shoulder.
"Seems like you still don't understand... pain," Boruto said softly, raising a single finger.
The crowd erupted.
"Hahaha! Look at Iwabe's face!" Chōchō howled with laughter, almost spilling her chips.
Iwabe's face twisted with anger and frustration. He stood up with a growl, trying to grab Boruto — but Boruto's body flickered and vanished again, reappearing behind him.
Leaning casually with his back against Iwabe, Boruto chuckled.
"You really want to embarrass yourself in front of everyone, huh?"
Iwabe roared and threw another punch — but Boruto caught his arm mid-swing and used his momentum to toss him through the air.
Iwabe slammed into a stone pillar and slid to the ground, coughing but uninjured.
"Damn it! I actually lost to a second-generation brat!" Iwabe shouted in rage.
His chakra surged violently as he yanked his iron rod from the ground. One end expanded and hardened into a massive stone hammer.
"I'm not giving up! I want to be like the Hokage — strong enough to protect everyone! This is my path!"
He swung the hammer down, and a wave of earth chakra exploded from it, sending a roaring mudslide toward Boruto.
From the stands, Shikadai's eyes widened.
"He's using ninjutsu?!"
Boruto's smirk returned.
"Not bad… but the game ends here."
He vanished again using the Body Flicker Technique, reappearing directly behind Iwabe.
[Emotion and Progress: Yuino Iwabe +15.]
"It seems you've tasted pain for the first time," Boruto said, his voice low. "But my pain... far surpasses yours."
A faint white cyclone of chakra gathered around his fist.
"Finishing Move — Heavenly Path: Ordinary Punch!"
The air trembled. His fist shot forward, slicing through the space beside Iwabe's face.
The sheer wind pressure blasted Iwabe's hat off and sent his hair flying. He stumbled and collapsed, eyes wide in disbelief.
"Wha–what kind of power is that!?" he gasped, trembling. "I... I lost."
His voice was calm now — the anger replaced by reluctant respect.
Boruto released the transformation, returning to his usual form. He looked down at Iwabe with a faint grin.
"Yeah, you lost. So what? That just means you've got room to grow. Keep training."
Thunderous cheers erupted from the crowd.
"Boruto's so cool!" several girls screamed.
Chōchō elbowed Sarada with a grin.
"Better be careful, Sarada. At this rate, someone's gonna steal him away."
Sarada crossed her arms and adjusted her glasses calmly.
"Let's see who dares."
The laughter and cheers filled the arena — right as Shino Aburame arrived, completely dumbfounded by the chaos.
"Boruto! What's going on here!?" he demanded.
Boruto grinned mischievously, performed another Transformation Jutsu, and once again became Tendo Pain. He raised his hand toward Shino dramatically.
"Teacher Shino... it seems you haven't felt any pain yet, have you?"
Startled, Shino instinctively covered his chest.
[Emotion and Progress: Aburame Shino +174.]
The students burst into laughter.
Boruto dropped the transformation and smirked.
"Relax, Sensei. Just kidding."
"Boruto!" Shino snapped, glaring. "Come to the office. Now."