"Are you Naruto's son?"
Only then did Sasuke realize that the so-called Pain standing before him was actually Boruto in disguise.
Boruto glared. "It's ridiculous that someone like you—who can see through transformation techniques—didn't even recognize Sarada."
He raised his hand and aimed his palm at Sasuke.
"Sasuke! Feel the pain!"
"Shinra Tensei!"
But Sasuke didn't even flinch. His expression remained calm and unshaken, completely ignoring Boruto's dramatic display.
Boruto muttered under his breath, "No reaction at all… damn it, Sasuke! You made Sarada cry and you don't even care."
He clenched his fist, fuming. "So annoying. I really wanna hit this guy with Shinra Tensei."
He paused, then smirked to himself. "No—if I get the chance, I'll use a Golden Wheel Reincarnation Explosion on him instead!"
With that, Boruto released the transformation technique, his appearance returning to normal.
Sasuke finally lowered his Kusanagi sword and turned his gaze toward Sarada.
"I recognized you right away, Dad," she said through trembling lips. "But you… you pointed your sword at me."
Her voice cracked, tears streaming uncontrollably down her cheeks, though she stubbornly tried to hold them back.
Sasuke's eyes softened for a brief moment, a complicated emotion flashing across his face.
"Are you really here, Sasuke? Sorry I'm late," came a familiar voice from the doorway.
Naruto appeared at the tower entrance, his expression serious.
"Naruto, what's going on? Why did you bring the children here?" Sasuke asked sharply, his tone filled with restrained irritation.
"This…" Naruto started to explain, but Sarada interrupted anxiously.
"I came because I wanted to see Dad!" she cried. "I followed Uncle Naruto because I needed to know the truth—there are things I have to understand!"
Sasuke's gaze remained cold. "What do you want to ask?"
Sarada hesitated for a moment, then blurted out, "My mother… is she really my biological mother?"
"Sarada, what's wrong? Did something happen?" Sasuke replied, his tone still composed and detached.
"Dad, you're never home! Why aren't you with Mom? You didn't even recognize your own daughter! Are you really that indifferent to us?"
Her voice rose with anger and pain.
She suddenly pulled out a photograph—it was a picture of Team Taka.
"This woman—who is she?" Sarada demanded. "She's standing next to you, wearing glasses just like mine! Tell me, should I be asking Mom questions like this?"
Naruto froze, unsure of how to respond.
"Also, Dad, where have you been all these years? What have you been doing?" Her questions came rapid and relentless, every one sharper than the last.
"This has nothing to do with you," Sasuke said coldly.
His voice was like a wall of ice, cutting off every bit of warmth she'd been hoping for.
Sarada took a deep breath, her chest trembling.
"Enough!" she shouted, before turning and running out of the tower.
Boruto scowled, glaring at Sasuke. As expected of you, old man—you really know how to kill a mood.
He quickly followed Sarada outside.
Naruto sighed. "At least tell her why you never come home. Even if only she knows, it would help."
Sasuke's tone remained emotionless. "Even if she knew, what could she do? It would only bring her more trouble. She has Sakura by her side—she doesn't need to worry about me."
Outside, Sarada sat alone on a stone ledge, tears streaming silently down her cheeks.
Boruto walked over and sat beside her. Seeing her cry made his heart ache.
"Sarada… don't be sad."
He gently pulled her into his arms, his hand softly combing through her messy hair.
"I know you have a lot of doubts and anger in your heart. But Uncle Sasuke… he probably has his own reasons that we don't understand yet."
At that moment, Naruto and Sasuke stepped out of the tower together. Sasuke's eyes instinctively shifted toward the two figures in the distance.
When he saw Sarada nestled in Boruto's arms, his brow twitched, and his eyes widened in disbelief.
His precious daughter… in the arms of a blond-haired boy.
Who could possibly understand the storm in Sasuke's heart right now?
Years of wandering, and the moment he returns—he finds his daughter being comforted by a yellow-haired brat.
"...Naruto," Sasuke said darkly. "What's going on?"
Naruto rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "Uh… Boruto and Sarada are, um… kinda dating now."
Sasuke's eyes narrowed instantly. His Sharingan activated without warning, and a wave of killing intent filled the air.
Boruto froze as he felt the sudden pressure. He slowly turned his head—and locked eyes with Sasuke's blazing red Sharingan.
A cold sweat ran down his back.
Oh crap. I forgot Sasuke was still here… Not a good time for cuddling.
That murderous aura—he's not actually gonna cut me with his Kusanagi, right?
Before anyone could react, the sky above them distorted violently.
In an instant, two figures emerged from the twisting space.
One was the same Uchiha Shin who had attacked them earlier.
The other was a pale, bald man with no teeth, covered head to toe in transplanted Sharingan. Even his head was crawling with them, making him look grotesque beyond words.
As soon as he appeared, the man hurled several black steel blades. They sliced through the air with terrifying speed, aimed straight at Boruto and Sarada.
In a flash, Naruto and Sasuke moved together—two streaks of lightning blocking the attack.
Naruto instantly entered Sage of Six Paths Mode. A giant golden fox head of chakra appeared around them, shielding everyone.
The black blades struck the golden chakra barrier—only to dissolve instantly into glowing sparks that faded into the air.
Uchiha Shin and his companion landed nearby, eyeing them coldly.
Boruto grimaced. "Holy shit, what is this guy? He's even nastier-looking than Danzo!"
"At least Danzo only had Sharingan on one arm—but this freak even has them on his head!" He squinted. "And those Akatsuki robes look totally fake. Discount villain vibes."
"Uchiha Sasuke," the pale man said coldly. "To revive the Akatsuki organization, I must take your eyes."
"Revive Akatsuki?" Naruto frowned. "Who the hell are you?"
"My name is Uchiha Shin!"
Even before he finished speaking, the Sharingan in his eyes morphed into Mangekyō form—and every single one on his body spun in unison. The sight was terrifying.
"Uchiha Shin? But isn't that the name of the guy beside him?" Sarada asked in confusion.
Boruto snorted. "What a dumbass—talk less, fight more."
Sasuke's voice was cold and low. "You talk too much."
Lightning crackled around his hand.
"Chidori Senbon!"
Hundreds of blue lightning needles shot out like a rainstorm, tearing through the air toward Shin and his clone.
Uchiha Shin dodged with astonishing agility, his Sharingan tracking every movement.
But the younger clone wasn't so lucky—he was struck head-on, electrocuted and knocked unconscious.
"You useless fool," Shin snarled, glaring at the fallen boy. "You couldn't even dodge a simple attack!"
Sasuke's voice came from behind him. "You should worry about yourself."
Before Shin could react, Naruto had already appeared at his back—so fast that even the Mangekyō Sharingan couldn't follow.
"What—!? My eyes can't track his movement!?"
"Rasengan!"
A blinding sphere of blue chakra exploded from Naruto's palm, slamming into Shin's back.
The impact sent Shin flying hundreds of meters, crashing through trees before smashing deep into a boulder. He lay there, unmoving.
Boruto crossed his arms, unimpressed. "That's it? That's all those Mangekyō Sharingan were good for? Man, I thought you'd be stronger—but you came here just to get your ass kicked."