Night fell over Konoha.
Inside the home of the Seventh Hokage, Naruto Uzumaki.
Today was Himawari Uzumaki's tenth birthday—the birthday of Konoha's little princess.
It should have been filled with laughter and joy.
Yet, because of Naruto's recent ordeal, a shadow hung over the house.
Hinata, Boruto, and Himawari sat quietly at the dining table, heads lowered, none of them touching their food.
"H-Hahaha…"
After a long silence, Boruto clenched his fist and forced out a laugh, breaking the heavy atmosphere.
"Boruto."
"Big brother…"
Under Hinata and Himawari's gazes, Boruto scratched the back of his head and said casually,
"Even if nothing had happened, Dad probably wouldn't come back anyway. It's been like that for years, right?"
He picked up the birthday cake and lit the candles.
"Let's not wait for him. Let's blow them out and sing the song!"
"Ding-dong!"
Just then, the doorbell rang.
"Who's that, at a time like this…?"
Already forcing himself to smile, Boruto felt irritation rise.
He opened the door—
And froze.
Naruto stood there, his right hand wrapped in bandages, leaning on the doorframe and grinning.
"Yo."
"Dad?!"
Boruto's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Weren't you supposed to be at that… Shikkotsu Forest with Uncle Sasuke before dawn?!"
Naruto blinked.
"How did you know that?"
"Ah—!"
Realizing he'd slipped, Boruto hurriedly changed the subject.
"N-Never mind! Don't worry about that! Come in! Mom and Himawari are waiting!"
"Ah… okay."
Naruto saw through the evasion, but he didn't have the energy to question it.
He dragged his exhausted body inside.
The moment the door closed, Himawari rushed into his arms.
"Dad! Weren't you hurt? You should be resting in the hospital! Why did you come back…?"
She cried, then laughed.
"I'm so happy!"
Holding his crying little girl, Naruto smiled guiltily and rubbed her fluffy hair.
"It's just a small injury. Nothing serious. Your dad's strong, you know!"
Hinata bit her lip.
With her Byakugan, she could clearly see how depleted Naruto's chakra was.
He was so weak he probably couldn't even make a shadow clone.
He needed bed rest immediately…
She was about to speak—
But Naruto shook his head at her and made a quieting gesture.
So she said nothing and took his coat.
The family of four sat down together.
"Oh! Such a feast!"
"And the candles are already lit?"
Boruto flopped into his chair and snorted.
"Hmph. We thought you wouldn't come back like usual, so we were just going to rush through it."
"Hahaha."
Naruto scratched his head.
"Not tonight! We're doing it properly!"
He personally placed the birthday crown on Himawari's head.
Then he clapped along and sang the birthday song with her.
Father and daughter leaned close and blew out the candles together.
Watching Naruto's smile, Boruto finally smiled from the heart.
Stupid old man… this time, you did your job.
"Let's cut the cake!" Naruto said.
"Wait!"
Boruto suddenly had an idea.
He ran to the living room and pulled out an old camera.
Then he rushed back, lined up the chairs, and set up a tripod.
"Dad, Mom, today's Himawari's tenth birthday!"
"It's special! Let's take a family photo!"
"Yay!" Himawari clapped.
"Good thinking, son!" Naruto gave a thumbs-up.
Hinata hesitated.
Worried about Naruto, yet unwilling to spoil the mood, she suggested,
"How about just one photo?"
Boruto nodded.
"Okay! Then it has to be perfect!"
"Dad, hold the cake and sit next to Himawari!"
Naruto complied.
Himawari hugged his arm and leaned against his shoulder.
"Mom, stand on Dad's right!"
"Like this?"
"A little more right! Leave space for me!"
Boruto adjusted the camera and set the timer.
"Alright! Ten seconds!"
"Ten! Nine! Eight! Seven! Six! Five!"
"Smile! Dad, relax! Yes, like that!"
He dashed into frame and squeezed into the empty spot, hooking Naruto's shoulder and flashing a bright smile.
Three.
Two.
So happy…
Let's record this moment forever…
Huh?
Suddenly, the shoulder supporting him sagged.
Out of the corner of his eye—
His father was falling from the chair.
One—
"Click!"
"Thud!"
The shutter sound and the heavy fall overlapped perfectly.
The smashed cake.
The unconscious Naruto.
Hinata's scream.
Himawari's sobs.
Boruto's heart—
And the freezing abyss—
All overlapped.
Naruto was helped upstairs.
Half an hour later, Shikamaru came knocking.
Hinata answered.
"Is Naruto asleep? I need his opinion on something."
"Is it urgent?"
"It's about the Chūnin Exams. A village I've never heard of suddenly applied. I'm unsure how to handle it."
Hinata thought for a moment.
"I'm sorry, Shikamaru. Naruto isn't well. He fainted during dinner…"
"What?! Again?! Is he okay?"
"He's fine now. He's resting."
"Good… good."
Shikamaru clenched the folder in his hand.
Darkshade Village…
Their qualifications were valid, but the timing was suspicious.
By law, unless the Hokage personally objected, it couldn't be rejected.
…Well.
Only three genin were participating. He'd keep an eye on them.
"Let Naruto rest. I'll take on more work."
"Thank you, Shikamaru."
After closing the door—
Boruto stood in the hallway corner, gripping the metal plate hidden in his sleeve.
"Chūnin Exams… hurry up."
"I'll finish my promise with that four-eyes guy."
"Then I'll find Uchiha Akira…"
"And blow him to pieces with scientific ninja tools!"
Time passed.
July 10th arrived.
The day of the Chūnin Exams.
Before dawn.
Yamato came to meet Akira.
"Lord Shadow… are you sure I should lead the team?"
"If Konoha recognizes me…"
"That's why I'm here," Akira said calmly.
"I'll give you insurance. Absolute insurance."
Yamato stepped forward nervously.
Akira placed a hand on his shoulder and activated Twin Blossoms.
He synchronized fully with Yamato.
Then used Twin Blossoms on himself.
Crackle.
After a violent transformation—
"Yamato" touched her vanished Adam's apple and clutched her chest.
"M-My goodness… th-this… I…"
Crackle.
Akira reverted to himself.
"In the past, this was impossible."
"Only after mastering Severing Samsara could I do this."
"During the exams, you'll go by the name 'Fusako.'"
Fusako's beautiful eyes flickered.
"And you, Lord Shadow?"
"You'll attend with your family, right?"
"What identity will you use?"
Akira turned and walked away.
"You'll know when the time comes."
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