"Phew…"
In the dead of night, after hours of work, Feng finally finished mopping the living room floor until it gleamed.
He rinsed the mop, took off his apron, and muttered to himself:
Having a big house isn't always a good thing… Mom doesn't like noise, doesn't want servants either… doing all this alone is exhausting…
He was about to wash up and go to bed—
When suddenly…
The Kāma mark on his chin began to move on its own.
"…Hm?"
"This feeling… just like before."
His expression tightened.
"I can sense it… the corresponding power… getting closer."
"…No way."
"That kid—Kawaki—is heading here?"
Feng frowned.
"On purpose, or by accident?"
"If it's intentional… then it's trouble."
"That means he's using Kāma resonance to trace back to this place."
"And if the Hokage approved this… planning a counterattack…"
His gaze sharpened.
"That's serious."
"I need to report this to Uncle."
—
Just then, a bedroom door opened.
Hana stepped out in pink pajamas, rubbing her sleepy eyes as she headed upstairs.
Feng couldn't help but nag:
"You pulled another all-nighter gaming again, didn't you? Your Sharingan vision will deteriorate like this."
Hana yawned.
"Mind your own business~ I don't fight anyway, why do I need good eyesight?"
"Even so, you should take care of your eyes."
She turned the corner of the stairs, casually scratching her waist.
"Yeah yeah, I'll take care of them~ If you ever need them, I'll just dig them out for you~"
She stuck out her tongue and went upstairs.
Feng sighed.
"…Honestly. What kind of girl says things like that in the middle of the night…"
Still—
A faint smile appeared.
Even if his little sister wanted to be a lazy fish—
He would be the ocean that let her drift freely.
—
Moments later.
The door downstairs closed.
Feng had already changed into his black shinobi outfit.
Hand seal formed.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Dozens of shadow clones in the training ground vanished in smoke.
"Whoosh!"
He disappeared.
—
Not long after—
At the eastern mountain of Taoyuan.
Feng arrived before Akira, who sat cross-legged in meditation.
"Uncle."
"I sensed Kawaki through Kāma. He's rapidly approaching Taoyuan."
"I'm worried Konoha might be using this to launch a counterattack!"
Akira opened his eyes with a faint smile.
"I already know."
"The inner White Zetsu received a report from the outer network."
"This isn't Konoha's counterattack."
"Only Kawaki is coming."
"And… two little rats trailing behind him—unaware even of themselves."
Feng blinked.
"…I see."
Akira continued calmly:
"They can sense this place."
"But they cannot enter."
"They'll be stopped outside the Gate of Taoyuan."
Feng let out a breath.
"So Uncle already foresaw everything…"
Akira looked at him approvingly.
"Feng, being able to infer this much from subtle clues… you've done very well."
Feng lowered his head slightly.
"Is there anything I can do?"
Akira shook his head.
"Not this time."
"Go back and rest."
"In a few days, I'll teach you two special techniques."
Feng's eyes lit up instantly.
"…You'll teach me personally?"
Akira chuckled.
"One of them, yes."
"The other…"
"We'll learn together."
"From a certain Ōtsutsuki… with great muscles and very little presence."
Feng's heart surged.
Uncle… learning alongside me…
"…I understand."
"Rest well. And don't use multi-shadow clones for training these next few days."
"…Yes!"
Bathed in moonlight—
Feng left, full of anticipation.
—
"Snap."
Akira flicked his fingers.
Behind him—
A White Zetsu emerged from the ground.
"Lord Akira."
"Inform Uzumaki Boruto."
"His first trial… begins now."
"…You're sending him against Kawaki?"
"And two Inner members of Kara?"
Akira smiled faintly.
"That's exactly why."
Without external pressure—
How could Boruto reach that destined transformation?
—
"And one more thing."
"Let Sarada and Mitsuki 'accidentally' learn of this mission."
"They'll follow him."
"Tell Konan to pretend not to notice and let them pass."
Everything—
Had already been arranged.
Sarada…
I'll make you beg me to save Boruto.
—
The White Zetsu sank back into the earth.
Akira closed his eyes again.
Within his inner world—
Indra stood before him.
"Senior, please continue."
Indra frowned slightly.
"…Are you sure?"
"Your situation sounds urgent."
Akira smiled calmly.
"…Nothing is more important than your teaching."
Even Indra was momentarily taken aback.
"…Fine."
"I'll speed things up."
—
Meanwhile—
The night sky churned.
"Whoosh—!"
A black spatial portal tore open above the mountain where Konoha's refugees were stationed.
Jigen descended.
Silently.
His Byakugan activated—
Scanning the endless sea of tents below.
Then—
Locked onto two.
"…Found you."
—
At that exact moment—
Naruto and Sasuke jolted awake.
Cold sweat poured down their backs.
"…What is this chakra!?"
They leapt up—
But it was too late.
Jigen had already landed outside Naruto's tent.
His hand reached for the curtain—
—
"Massive Rasengan!!"
"BOOM!!"
Naruto burst through the tent, hurling a blazing sphere of chakra!
"Whoosh—!"
Jigen's Kāma flared.
The Rasengan vanished instantly.
Absorbed.
—
"Shing!"
Sasuke's blade, crackling with lightning, slashed toward Jigen's neck!
"Clang!"
A black rod manifested—
Blocking the strike effortlessly.
—
Naruto surged forward—
Golden chakra blazing—
Punch aimed straight at Jigen's face!
"Crack."
Jigen caught it.
One hand.
Casually.
A gentle smile appeared on his face.
"…It seems."
"You two aren't very welcoming."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"Then…"
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