One of the Mist Village triplets, completely traumatized by Boruto's Scientific Ninja Tools.
Just as Xue's Great Fire Annihilation ignited her battlefield…
On another rooftop in a different exam arena—
—Water Release Bullet: Yuliuhua!
"Crash!"
A roaring torrent surged forth, blasting the three Mist siblings so hard that they could barely keep their footing. Their worldview shattered on the spot.
"W-Wha—?! How is this possible?! Using such powerful Water Release without any water source?!"
"It's not over yet!" Boruto shouted as he leaped nimbly into the air, forming a "six" gesture with his right hand.
"Click!"
With the crisp sound of a spring resetting, a miniature scroll snapped into his palm.
"Ha!"
Boruto roared heroically and slammed his hand down toward the raging current below.
—Lightning Release Bullet: Might Burst!
"Crackle!"
Violent lightning surged into the water, instantly forming a massive ionized field.
"WAAAAAAHHHHH—!"
The three Mist siblings who had traveled across seas were electrocuted on the spot, charred inside and out, their bodies going stiff.
Their eyes rolled back, and they collapsed unconscious.
"Tap!"
Boruto landed smoothly and activated his communicator.
"Sarada, I'm done here! All clear! Go ahead and grab the flag!"
"Got it! I'm on it!" Sarada replied.
On the other side of the rooftop, she closed her eyes and formed seals. When she opened them again, two tomoe appeared in her pupils.
"Whoosh!"
All the fake flags that the Mist ninjas had disguised with genjutsu dissolved into bubbles of light, leaving only the real one behind.
Sarada stepped forward, grabbed it, and cheered.
"Success~!"
In her heart, she couldn't help admiring him.
Boruto, you're amazing… taking down three Mist ninjas with near-chūnin strength all by yourself.
Looks like Lord Seventh really trained you hard in secret.
The scene of Team Boruto's victory was broadcast to Konoha's central control room.
Tenten, who was recording the results, laughed in praise.
"Not bad at all~! He didn't even use hand seals. He really is worthy of being the Seventh's son!"
Shino stood behind her, staring at another monitor.
On the screen was Xue's face.
He murmured to himself.
"Boruto's excellence is only natural. After all, he's Naruto's son. But that girl from An'yin Village… she truly surprised me. That Fire Release just now is rare even among the Sarutobi clan, who specialize in it."
Now I understand why Shikamaru told me to pay special attention to those kids.
So far, though… it's not too outrageous.
Having seen plenty in his life, Shino remained calm.
He picked up the results board and marked Xue, Feng, and Gansuke as "Pass."
"An'yin Village… seems we can't underestimate this rising little village."
Thus, the second exam ended without much turbulence. The third round would be held tomorrow.
Boruto and his teammates exited through the winners' corridor.
Stopping in his tracks, Boruto stared in surprise as Xue's trio approached from the opposite hallway.
"You guys passed too? Weren't you up against the Cloud trio?"
Xue glanced at him.
"Why? Do you think we couldn't beat them?"
"N-No! I'm just surprised!" Boruto said quickly. "I heard their leader—Yurui, right?—was pretty strong. You're not hurt, are you?"
"No," Xue replied lightly, then asked in return, "How about your right arm? Is it healed?"
Boruto subconsciously clenched his arm, his eyes flickering.
"I-It's fine."
Xue thought to herself: There it is again. Every time I mention his right arm, he gets flustered like I stepped on his tail.
Well, not my problem.
As she passed him, she smiled politely.
"That's good. I'm looking forward to facing you in the finals tomorrow."
Boruto watched her back and slowly clenched his fist.
Coming from such an unknown village, making it this far, even reaching the finals…
They must have worked unimaginably hard.
If we really face them tomorrow…
Guilt rose in his heart.
I'm the Hokage's son, relying on Scientific Ninja Tools…
Isn't that unfair to people who climbed up purely through their own effort?
"Boruto, what are you thinking about?"
Sarada's voice snapped him out of it.
"Nothing."
"Hey!" Sarada suddenly realized something and adjusted her glasses. "Boruto! Don't tell me that girl is your type?!"
He rolled his eyes.
"What nonsense! It's just rare to see small-village teams here, so I paid a bit more attention, that's all."
Mitsuki smiled.
"That's true. In recent years, small villages technically qualify, but they rarely participate anymore. The exam has basically become a biannual exchange among the Five Great Nations."
"Alright…" Sarada thought. Good. As long as it's not that.
After parting with his teammates, Boruto walked alone through an alley on his way home, still troubled by his thoughts. Irritated, he kicked a stone down the road.
"Young Master Boruto."
In his lowered vision, the hem of a white lab coat appeared.
Boruto looked up and met the rectangular, bespectacled face of Katasuke Tōno.
He was carrying a case, wearing his usual smile that always gave Boruto a stomachache.
Of all times… now?!
Boruto frowned.
"What do you want now?"
Katasuke smiled.
"I've already seen your performance in the second round. Very good. Excellent."
Boruto clenched his fist and blurted out what had been weighing on him.
"Isn't this… basically cheating?"
Katasuke was speechless inside.
So you're only realizing that now, young master?
Of course, he couldn't say that.
Maintaining his fixed smile, he adjusted his glasses and said earnestly,
"Young Master, tools are also part of strength. There have always been ninja who specialize in tools. Scientific Ninja Tools are still ninja tools. Since they're tools, how can that be cheating?"
Boruto held his right wrist, his voice low.
"But they're different from normal tools. They don't require any skill. It's like pressing a button on a camera. Their power depends entirely on what's stored inside! It has nothing to do with my own strength!"
Katasuke suddenly sharpened his tone.
"So what?"
"Huh?" Boruto looked up.
Katasuke said firmly,
"Your father, the Seventh Hokage, was born with the Nine-Tails' power. Compared to ordinary ninjas, he already had a massive advantage. Did anyone ever question him?"
Boruto recalled the villagers' respect for Naruto.
"Th-That's true… Dad is admired. Everyone thinks it's natural."
Katasuke smiled.
"Exactly. That's not cheating. That's called 'resources.' The Seventh has the resource called the Nine-Tails. And you, as the Hokage's son, naturally have the resource called Scientific Ninja Tools."
"…"
As Boruto wavered, Katasuke seized the moment and shoved the case into his hands.
"What's this?"
Katasuke pushed up his glasses.
"You've used up a lot of stock in your private training, haven't you? Everything I've been saving is in here."
Thinking of Xue and the others from small villages, Boruto hesitated.
"Why give me more? I still have about seventy-five scrolls left. Isn't that enough?"
Katasuke smiled.
"I heard some strong genin showed up today. Extra stock is safer."
"With this plus what you already have, you'll have two hundred and fifty B-rank and above jutsu released by jōnin-level power. If you fired them all at once, you could level the entire exam arena."
"Of course, you won't use them all. The rest will be used to sponsor you in one thing—
Blowing Uchiha Akira to pieces!"
Ah…
Blowing Uchiha Akira to pieces…
Boruto remembered why he accepted the tools in the first place.
"R-Right… that's right."
He hugged the case tightly, firming his resolve.
I can't hesitate now.
Defeating Uchiha Akira is what really matters.
Katasuke thought excitedly.
Yes… that's it. Rely on this power as much as you want.
Tomorrow, the Kage and nobles from every nation will witness a scene like a god descending.
Let's see who dares question my Scientific Ninja Tools then!
And so, time advanced to 9:00 a.m. on July 11.
The third round of the Chūnin Exams—
The outdoor battle—
was about to begin.
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