In the previous chapter: After defeating Urashhiki in the past, Boruto returned to his time gravely injured. Although he tried to hide his condition, he ended up collapsing in front of Naruto, who immediately took him to the hospital. There, Sakura and her team fought for hours to save him, discovering critical internal injuries and an extreme level of exhaustion.
During his recovery, Boruto received visits from his parents, Hiashi, Hanabi, Sarada, and Sumire. Despite their support, he remained distant and cold, making it clear he had changed. Still, those close to him insisted on reaching out to him, even when his words were harsh. Between heartfelt and tense conversations, Boruto made it clear he was following his own path, far from the ties that once bound him to others.
At this moment. After the two of them left the room, Boruto looked up at the ceiling and smiled sarcastically as he lay back completely on the bed. The day passed peacefully.
The next day
In the morning, Sakura visited him for a final checkup. After examining his body and confirming his condition, she discharged him from the hospital.
"You can go now, but rest for a few more days," he told her before leaving the room.
Once alone, Boruto stood up and walked over to the window. He silently observed the Konoha landscape, then looked down at his own body and thought:
What's going on, Momoshiki? Why does my body feel strange...?
Inside, Momoshhiki, lying on Galaga's head, calmly replied:
—Karma just decompressed 60% of your body. The more you forcefully use it or push it to its limits, the faster it will decompress. As it does, it will give you more muscle strength than an average human. The more it decompresses… the more resilient you will become. Do you understand?
Boruto nodded and muttered:
—I can almost release the third form, right?
Momoshhiki nodded.
—That's right. You just need time.
Boruto narrowed his eyes.
—I want to know something else. What exactly does Karma contain? I need to know everything.
Momoshhiki made a thoughtful expression before answering:
—Karma is compressed information about myself, implanted in your body. It was originally intended to prepare you as a vessel… but that's useless now. That information can be used to regenerate your body. Using 1% to 10% can replenish the damaged portion, rebuilding it with my data.
Boruto nodded decisively.
—Then I want Karma decompressed to 80%. We'll use the rest only if I'm on the verge of death.
Momoshhiki looked at him seriously.
—But you should know something. Even if you achieve that 80%, you won't be able to use all of my abilities. You won't even be able to invoke a complete technique… Only a portion of the fourth stage: you'll have some of my experience and a horn on your head.
Boruto nodded again.
—Fine. When the time comes, we'll use it… although the ideal would be to never have to.
Next, he began to change his clothes. He extended a scroll from the seal on his wrist and unrolled it. From there, he took out his outfit: gloves, jacket, shirt, pants, boots, and his cloak.
Once dressed, Boruto looked at his ninja bag, where he kept the turtle. He reached in and pulled out his ninja headband. He stared at it for a few seconds in silence, then placed it firmly on his head.
He slung his bag over his shoulder, adjusted his cloak, and began walking toward the exit.
He walked through the hospital corridors in silence, without looking at anyone, while his footsteps echoed lightly on the polished floor.
Reaching the main entrance, he paused for a moment. He inhaled deeply, letting the fresh morning air fill his lungs.
Finally, he crossed the hospital doors and stepped outside. The wind blew gently, making his cape billow as Boruto walked forward calmly, as if each step marked the beginning of a new stage.
Boruto took a few more steps and disappeared in a flash. In an instant, he appeared in the Hokage's office, where Naruto was preparing to leave.
Noticing the sudden appearance, Naruto looked at him in surprise.
—Huh? What are you doing here? I was just getting ready to come for you.
Boruto looked at him for a second before calmly answering:
—I left a little early. I'm recovered now anyway.
Naruto sighed in resignation and sat back in his chair.
—I'll give you a few more days of rest. Consider it a vacation again, Boruto. You almost died last time, so you should take this more calmly.
Boruto nodded slightly.
—I see… I want to ask how the investigation into the Rain Village is going.
Naruto tilted his head slightly before answering:
— Hmm … We already sent someone there. It's just a matter of time. Are you thinking of going back there, anyway?
"Maybe," Boruto replied. "I left a Hiraishin seal there. I might make a quick visit, but it's not urgent."
He paused, then added in a nonchalant tone:
—And about the days off… I'll take them. You can take care of the rest. After all, the Otsutsuki are already dead.
Naruto smiled softly.
—Thanks to you, we were able to finish off the last one. So yeah, get some rest. But if you don't have any plans, go home… Your mom and Himawari are waiting for you. Oh, and you'll get your pay at the reception desk—just state your name.
Boruto nodded silently.
"See you," he said before leaving the office.
Naruto let out a sigh and leaned back slightly in his chair.
—He seems to be being nice… How nice… although he seems to be back to his old self. It's quite strange… but at least he seems a little more energetic.
Boruto arrived at the mission reception, spoke briefly with the receptionist, and received his payment. Without wasting any more time, he disappeared in a flash.
At another point in Konoha, he appeared in front of his house. He walked calmly to the door, opened the gate, and then the main entrance without giving it much thought.
Inside, Hinata and Himawari were in the living room, preparing to leave. Seeing the door open, they both turned toward the entrance.
Boruto appeared at the threshold and said calmly:
—I'm back.
Hinata smiled happily.
—Welcome, Boruto.
Himawari ran towards him excitedly.
—Onii - chan! I'm so glad you're back! —she said as she hugged him tightly.
Boruto smiled, gently stroked her head, and then walked towards his mother.
—Were you getting ready to leave?
"We were going to pick you up," Hinata replied, "but since you're here, that's better. Do you want something to eat? I see you haven't had breakfast."
Boruto nodded.
—Thanks, Mom.
Hinata nodded sweetly, went to the kitchen, put on her apron, and began cooking. Meanwhile, Himawari and Boruto were chatting in the living room.
"Bro, I've been training. I've gotten stronger! I'll show you!" she said excitedly.
"Sure," Boruto replied with a smile. "Why not? But it'll be after lunch. I want to see how far you've come."
He sat down on the couch, and Himawari settled in next to him. They both began watching television.
After a while, Hinata arrived with a plate of food. Boruto went to the dining room, sat down, and began eating while chatting with his mother and sister.
Once finished, they got up from the table and went out to the patio.
Boruto and Himawari began training together while Hinata watched from the sidelines, giving some instructions to her daughter.
Himawari was better at controlling her tension, and her chakra felt more stable. She kept her Byakugan active more easily, while launching attacks with determination.
Boruto dodged her blows with precision, and blocked some of them. He also counterattacked, though he stopped just short of touching her, guiding her on how she should move or strike. Even when she used clones, Himawari seemed to be slowly improving.
After a while, they both stopped training, breathing calmly, and went back into the house with Hinata, who accompanied them with a smile.
Inside Boruto, within his mental space, Momoshhiki watched everything silently from above, leaning on Galaga's head.
"His personality has returned… but not only that. Apparently, his heart is changing a bit too. It must be because he was close to death."
He stared with his shining eyes, analyzing every detail.
"And also... he's interacting with more people. Much more than before. From what I see in his memories, he didn't talk to anyone before. Now it's like he's becoming kinder... more human than before. And his plan... seems to be slowly changing."
Momoshhiki smirked.
—Boruto, Boruto… fate will show you that this path is not the right one. The emotions you think you've regained… will also be taken from you.
He gave a low, amused laugh.
—Hahaha… but hey, it's not my problem. As long as you don't die…
He lay back again, laughing with amusement as the sky of the mindspace maintained its shade of darkness.
Karasugan, who was perched to one side of them, looked at him with some disdain.
"Your laugh is annoying," he said dryly, without taking his eyes off her.
Galaga, lying back with his eyes half-closed, said nothing. He just exhaled slowly, as if he was already accustomed to Momoshiki's teasing.
Silence returned to the mental space, but the tension between the presences was still there, latent.
Karasugan finally looked away and muttered to himself:
—If Boruto is changing… it's by his will. Not yours.
Momoshiki didn't respond. He just smiled arrogantly, his gaze lost in the inner world.
High above the Hokage's faces, where the wind blew hard and the view of Konoha stretched out like a sea of rooftops and trees, Sumire remained silent.
He stood at the edge of the ravine, staring off into the distance. Gray clouds drifted slowly across the sky, the setting sun barely peeking through them, dyeing the sky shades of orange and gold.
Sumire kept her head down, her eyes dull, held by a silent sadness.
"Here…" he murmured. "It was here that Boruto began his salvation… and where, unknowingly, mine also began."
Her words were lost in the wind that gently whipped her violet hair.
—But I can't stay here… Every time I think of him, my heart feels heavier. It hurts…
He clenched his fists tightly, his lips trembling slightly.
—I will grow stronger. I will follow my own path. And as I walk it, I will create a destiny with my own hands…
She looked up, letting the breeze dry her accumulated tears.
—And when the time comes… when he recognizes me and I can save him… then I'll show him the light he can no longer see. It will be that moment… when I tell him how I feel.
A solitary tear rolled down her cheek, but it didn't fall: the wind blew it away first.
Sumire closed her eyes for a moment. She took a deep breath, and with a steady heart, she turned and began to walk.
After walking through the streets of Konoha for a while, Sumire arrived at the Hokage building. Her face was determined, but her eyes still held a hint of sadness.
He entered the building with a firm step, briefly greeting those he met along the way, and went up to the Seventh's office.
Upon arriving, Sumire knocked softly on the door.
"Come in," was heard from inside.
He opened the door respectfully, walked in with a firm stride, and bowed formally at the desk.
"Good morning, Seventh," she said in a clear voice. "I'm ready. I'll go with Katasuke-sensei."
Naruto, sitting behind a stack of reports, looked up. He observed her silently for a few seconds, sensing the mixture of determination and pain contained in her eyes. Then he nodded calmly.
—Hello, Sumire… I see. So you've made a decision.
He stood slowly, walking around his desk to face her. His gaze didn't judge her, it just understood.
—I know this isn't easy. Walking away from what you know… it takes a lot of courage.
Sumire looked up, surprised by his words.
"Sometimes," Naruto continued, "following a new path doesn't mean abandoning others, but rather finding yourself."
She gently clenched her fists and nodded.
"In that case," Naruto added with a faint smile, "you'll be leaving in a couple of days. Until then, take advantage of this time to say goodbye to your companions."
"Understood. Thank you, Seventh," Sumire replied firmly.
As Sumire crossed the hallway of the Hokage building, she felt the weight of her emotions lighten. Maybe she couldn't erase what she felt for Boruto... but she could make herself stronger, for herself.
The day passed peacefully in the Uzumaki household. In the afternoon, Boruto sat on the couch next to Himawari, watching television. Hinata joined them from the dining room, holding a cup of tea, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere.
During a commercial break, Boruto looked out the window and, after a few seconds, spoke in a calm voice:
—I'm going to walk around Konoha for a while. I have some things to do.
Hinata looked at him out of the corner of her eye, a soft smile on her face.
—Okay. I understand. Be careful, Boruto.
He nodded slightly, stood up, and started walking toward the door.
"Goodbye, Onii -chan!" Himawari said with a cheerful smile, waving her hand.
Boruto stopped for a second, looked at her sideways, and responded with a small smile.
-See you.
He continued on his way, crossed the room, and reached the entrance. He calmly put on his shinobi sandals. Glancing sideways, he saw his cloak hanging by the door. For a moment, he stood still… but then he simply sighed.
He opened the door and left, carefully closing it behind him.
At that instant, Boruto disappeared in a flash.
Elsewhere, Boruto appeared in a silent flash. He calmly looked around. He was in the middle of a forest, a secluded spot from the village, where tall trees wove their canopies together to form a natural roof. The sunlight barely filtered through, leaving golden flecks on the leaf- and root-covered ground.
Boruto walked a few steps, observing the trees with ancient cuts in their trunks.
— Hmm … this place doesn't change, —he murmured. — It's still the same as last time… when I came with Himawari.
He closed his eyes for a moment, as if recalling a memory, then looked back at his surroundings.
—But well… this will be Karasuki's resting place.
He knelt on one knee and reached behind his back, carefully removing the turtle from his ninja bag. He placed it on the ground respectfully.
—Are you awake, Karasuki?
The turtle slowly opened its shell, calmly sticking its head out.
"Boruto-sama… do you need me?" he said in his usual calm voice.
Boruto nodded, looking at him with determination.
—This place will be your safe haven. I'm going to seal you here.
Karasuki looked up, curiously observing the surrounding landscape. The wind gently stirred the leaves, and the distant birdsong gave the place a special calm.
"It's a nice place… and quite quiet. I think it's perfect," he said kindly.
Boruto nodded silently. Then he extended his arm to the side and made a hand seal. In a puff of smoke, a large, brown scroll with gold edges appeared.
He placed it on the floor, turned around, and carefully unrolled it, letting it spread out in front of him. He began to carefully read the various jutsus inscribed in red and black ink. His eyes stopped on one. He smiled with interest.
"Interesting," he murmured. "A seal capable of storing almost anything and sealing it permanently. It even allows the user to integrate their own abilities to protect its contents… If anyone tries to break it, it will activate an automatic defense. And what's more… its structure is completely different from normal seals."
He rolled up the scroll again and stood up. With a single hand seal, the scroll disappeared in a puff of smoke.
Boruto looked at the turtle.
—It's time.
Karasuki nodded calmly.
Then, Boruto began performing a rapid sequence of hand seals with both hands. His movements were precise, fluid, almost like a dance. When he finished, he firmly pronounced:
—Fuinjutsu: Eien no Toride . Art of Sealing: Prison of Eternity.
He slammed his palm against the ground, and in an instant, a network of seals spread from his position like a web of chakra. The patterns expanded across the ground, crisscrossing roots, stones, and even climbing the trunks of nearby trees.
Some of these seals lifted from the ground and adhered directly to the bark, enveloping the area in an invisible net.
Boruto concentrated deeply.
—Karma, phase one, —he murmured.
Beneath his glove, the Karma Seal activated. Dark lines began to spread across his hand. In response, the seals glowed with renewed intensity.
From his arm, chains of red chakra emerged, connecting directly to the seals of the terrain, nourishing them. The chains intertwined between the trees, connecting point to point like the bars of a spiritual prison.
Boruto raised his hand. In the center of the entire network of seals, a glowing white circle appeared. He reached out and took Karasuki and placed him right in the center.
—It's time, Karasuki.
—Understood, Boruto-sama, —the turtle replied.
Boruto performed the final seal.
-Seal.
At that instant, Karasuki was enveloped by the circle of light and began to slowly sink into it, until he disappeared completely.
The circle's energy then rippled through all the seals, causing them to glow one by one before slowly fading away... as if nothing had happened.
The forest fell silent again. The wind blew again, caressing the leaves as if to bear witness to the perfect seal.
Boruto slowly sat up and looked around once more.
—Rest well, Karasuki.
And with a soft flash, Boruto disappeared.
Elsewhere, inside the abandoned factory, Boruto appeared in the gloom. The afternoon light barely filtered through the cracks in the broken windows, casting beams of dusty light onto the worn floor.
Unhurriedly, he began walking toward his stone throne in the center of the room. Upon arriving, he sat down calmly, allowing his body to slowly relax. He closed his eyes and exhaled peacefully.
In his mental space, Momoshhiki, lying as always on Galaga's head, slowly opened his eyes, yawning lazily.
"Tell me, Boruto... why did you leave Karasuki in that forest?" he asked disinterestedly. Boruto closed his eyes for a moment, and when he opened them again, he found himself in his own mental space, sitting serenely on Karasugan's head. He calmly replied:
—I did it because it's likely that more Otsutsuki will come to Earth in the future... And if that happens, the first thing they'll attack will be Konoha, or they'll come for something similar to what you came for.
I raise my head , observing the emptiness of the mental sky.
"If Konoha were to disappear completely, at least Karasuki wouldn't be destroyed. Besides, I've sealed him at the edge of the village's detection range. This will make him harder to track, and at the same time, I can retrieve him unharmed."
Momoshhiki looked at him sideways, with his typical mocking expression.
—You're overthinking things. It's impossible for another Otsutsuki to appear... or at least not in the next hundred years.
Boruto narrowed his eyes, his tone sharper.
—What do you mean by that?
Momoshiki smiled, but didn't respond immediately. His voice, when it came, was almost disinterested.
—You don't need to know that now. After all, even you don't know what you'll do with that information. You'll keep it, like you do with everything, but… will it be of any use to you?
He looked at him directly.
—You still don't know where you're planning to go. You're just looking for strength… without walking the path to achieving it.
Boruto lowered his head slightly and glanced at him out of the corner of his eye. Then he looked straight ahead, gazing into the vast emptiness of his mental space. The mental sky, a dark abyss.
"Before you came," he began calmly, "my plan was to reach the top of this world… I wanted to be above everyone, to see what it felt like to be unreachable, to not have to answer to anyone."
He paused. His eyes narrowed as he continued:
—But when you arrived, I understood that power is nothing. Compared to the starry sky… to space… to all the unknown out there. There must be other races, other civilizations, some stronger, some wiser. I want to reach them. I want that adventure.
Boruto closed his eyes for a second, then opened them decisively.
—I want to reach the top. I want to break that peak. I want to embrace that power and walk that path, with no one stopping me. That's what I want to do.
Momoshiki, momentarily surprised, sat more firmly on Galaga's head and looked directly at him, with unusual seriousness.
"Reach the top of everything…?" he repeated. "Roam the universe with no one interfering in your path? Without responsibilities, being free, without restrictions? Do you seek absolute power? To be a superior being who walks his own path while having fun facing challenges from other worlds?"
amused smile with a hint of evil.
"That's my path," he replied without hesitation. "This village... this world... they bound me. They limited me. Now I want to surpass it all... to go beyond. And while I do, I'll have fun. My new goal is clear: to surpass the stars."
Momoshiki was silent for a moment, then began to laugh. A deep laugh, full of mockery, but also genuine interest.
Boruto just watched him lazily, not bothering to react.
"That dream of yours," Momoshiki said with a crooked smile, "is interesting. But to achieve it, you'll need more than mere strength."
He stood over Galaga's head, his tone now deeper.
—You'll need a body capable of withstanding the vacuum, the pressure of the universe, its cold… its heat. You'll need white Karma… and a devoured planet to achieve complete perfection.
Boruto looked at him expressionlessly, but a spark of excitement and amusement shone in his eyes.
—a white karma, a devoured planet, what does that mean?
Momoshiki, standing on Galaga's head, crossed his arms as his robes billowed slightly in the wind of mental space. His voice was firm, almost solemn:
—White Karma… is much rarer. But that doesn't make it any more special.
Boruto watched him intently, his eyes sharp, taking in every word.
"Those who possess it," Momoshiki continued, "and manage to evolve after devouring their first planet... can become true Otsutsuki. Not mere wielders, but full members of the main family."
Boruto narrowed his eyes, processing the information.
—So… what makes it different from Black Karma?
Momoshhiki tilted his head slightly.
—Black Karma inherits the skills and knowledge of the Otsutsuki who implanted it. It's a seal that slowly transforms the bearer into a vessel. But white Karma…
He paused, looking down with a crooked smile.
—White Karma doesn't inherit anything. It only grants raw power, pure energy, without ties. The bearer doesn't become anyone else. They become something more… unique.
Boruto calmly stood up and stared at him.
—So… that's it. And you guys have an "awakening" too?
Momoshhiki nodded, this time with almost ritualistic seriousness.
—Yes. We Otsutsuki awaken our core abilities only after devouring an entire planet. The life force, the chakra, the collective soul of a world… it's that banquet that reveals our true potential.
Boruto crossed his arms, his gaze now firmer, more defiant.
—So tell me, Momoshhiki… what are your main skills?
Momoshiki smiled, but didn't respond immediately. His gaze became distant, as if he were remembering something old… or as if he was hesitant to reveal too much.
Momoshhiki slowly raised both hands, calmly observing the supernatural glow of his Rinnegan.
"My first ability," he said in a deep voice, "comes from my Byakugan: the ability to see the fate of beings.
He closed his fist tightly, then opened it showing the intense glow in his eyes.
—The second… are these Rinnegan. Although they function similarly to ordinary Rinnegan, they possess a unique quality. Thanks to them, I can transform living beings into chakra fruits, called Tan, and then devour them to gain their abilities.
Boruto frowned slightly, surprised by the revelation.
—So… that's what you did with Kinshhiki.
Momoshhiki nodded with a slight, arrogant smile.
—Exactly. If you ever obtain a white Karma and devour a planet… you'll awaken your unique ability. And if you also retain mine… you'll become a truly formidable creature.
He adopted a look of dark amusement.
—It would be interesting to see.
Boruto hardened his expression. His gaze grew deeper, more thoughtful.
—Tell me… if you have spent centuries devouring planets, why couldn't you destroy this world easily?
The question made Momoshhiki look down for a moment, thoughtful.
—I've been observing the humans on this planet… and you. The difference between us is simple. We don't train. When we devour a planet, we absorb its knowledge, its energy, its essence. We learn everything instantly. We don't need practice.
He looked up at Boruto.
—But you... you fall, you fail, you bleed, and yet you get back up. You train. And that growth... is unpredictable.
Boruto listened silently, frowning. Then he lowered his head slightly, deep in thought.
—You must have at least devoured many planets with life on them… right?
Momoshhiki looked at him sideways, without changing his tone.
—Ten planets at most. And most of them with primitive life. Undeveloped. Weak creatures… with almost no chakra.
Boruto sighed softly, processing what he had just heard.
—So it's like I thought... planets with life in the universe are rare, and planets with more life, with consciousness and development... produce better fruits, right?
Momoshhiki nodded without hesitation.
—That's right. The level of evolution and life on a planet defines the quality of the fruit.
Boruto was silent for a few seconds. There was no doubt in his eyes anymore… only a steady, intense glow. Interest. Silent ambition.
Without saying anything, Momoshiki sank back onto Galaga's head and lay back, relaxed. The wind of mental space blew gently through his thoughts.
From below Boruto, Karasugan broke the silence with his deep and arrogant tone:
—So that's your plan, Boruto... to advance beyond this world. It'll be interesting to be able to travel with you, though... I doubt I'll be able to follow you that far.
Boruto looked down at him and smirked.
—Don't say that. You're one of the most powerful creatures I've ever met... and you didn't even show me your true strength.
She paused and looked at him firmly.
—I've said it before, and I'll say it again: you held back in that fight. If you'd used your full power, you could have crushed me like a mere rock.
Karasugan sighed in his usual tone, full of pride.
—I was just bored. Holding back was a strategic decision… But tell me, what's the point of that comment?
Boruto looked up, staring at the starry sky in his mind space.
—I'm going to take them with me... you and Galaga. The Jougan contains one of the universal laws: that of space. I'm convinced I can create a dimensional plane where you can move freely. A space of your own.
His words resonated firmly.
—When I was here in the past… I needed you. And now I know I don't want to follow this path without you.
From Galaga's head, Momoshhiki spoke without bothering to open his eyes:
—That Jougan of yours… you've only used it ten percent, maybe less.
Boruto turned his head in surprise.
—Only ten percent?
Momoshhiki nodded calmly.
—That's right. The Jougan isn't a simple doujutsu. It's a fragment of divinity. It's linked to one of the universal laws. When you have enough power to understand it… then, you will unleash it completely.
Boruto thought for a moment, then nodded calmly and sat back down, crossing his arms.
Galaga, from his position, spoke with a tone that mixed emotion and longing.
—So… we'll be traveling through space. Sounds exciting.
Boruto looked at him out of the corner of his eye with a barely visible smile.
—Don't worry… we'll get your revenge.
Galaga remained silent, but a faint glimmer crossed his one eye, as if something in his thoughts had been awakened.
Boruto, thoughtful, slowly brought his hand to his right eye, the Jougan, and muttered:
—If this is the first eye… I wonder which will be the last. What is the true end?
From above, Momoshhiki, still lying down, opened his eyes slightly, watching him out of the corner of his eye with a lazy expression.
"That eye exists. It's called Ogan: impure eye. The most useless doujutsu of all..." he said with a certain disdain.
Boruto sat more firmly, intrigued.
—So it really exists? But why do you call it the most useless?
Momoshhiki slowly settled down and replied reluctantly:
—That eye has no offensive, defensive, or special perception abilities. It only contains… information. Everything the user has learned, seen, or experienced is stored within it. It's like a mental library that organizes your thoughts. That's all.
Boruto frowned.
—A living library…?
"Exactly," Momoshiki confirmed lazily. "In real combat, it's useless. It's just accumulated knowledge. That's why the Otsutsuki despised it."
Boruto sighed with some annoyance.
—And what does that eye look like?
Momoshhiki narrowed his eyes, remembering.
—It's similar to the Jougan… but its pupil and iris are golden, sometimes turning orange depending on the wielder's chakra. Its appearance is brilliant, but not intimidating.
Boruto nodded slowly.
—So… your only ability is collecting personal information? That's all?
Momoshhiki shook his head slightly.
—He was said to have a second ability. Something more subtle… The ability to fill in incomplete information.
Boruto looked at him with more interest.
—How? "complete"?
—Theories, emotions, memory fragments, partial visions… The Ogan can analyze them and fill in the gaps. It can give you answers to questions you didn't even know how to ask.
He paused before continuing in a contemptuous tone:
—That's why it's useless to the Otsutsuki. We always get everything complete… even when we devour a planet.
Boruto fell silent, staring into the void of the mental sky.
An eye that collects… an eye that connects thoughts… an eye that understands what no one else can.
Maybe it's not so useless after all... Boruto thought, his gaze still fixed on the silent sky of his mental space.
"Is there any way to get it?" he asked with interest.
Momoshhiki responded bluntly, in his usual carefree tone:
—Yes, there is a way. You just have to devour a planet with a high health value… and desire it as your ability. That way, the Ogan will awaken. It's, in fact, one of the easiest to obtain.
Boruto calmly closed his eyes… and at that same instant, he opened them again in reality, leaving his mental space.
"Time to talk to Kuroshhi and Kirara. I wonder how they're doing?" he murmured.
He raised his hand and formed a seal with his fingers in front of him.
Elsewhere in the ninja world…
The Land of Rain. Amegakure, the main city. Rain fell incessantly from the gray sky, pounding the rusty roofs and causing the gutters to overflow.
In the center of the city, an ancient tower still stood, surrounded by pipes, rust, and mechanisms that groaned with the passage of water. On the upper floors, where great metal faces had once projected, only shadows remained… and a new presence.
From one of the highest rooms, a huge window could be seen. There, a hooded figure stood, looking out over the rain-soaked city.
A few steps behind, another figure sat in a meditative position. A strange, violet aura of chakra surrounded her like a living mist.
The figure looking out the window reacted suddenly. In a swift movement, he pulled out a three-pronged kunai, the Hiraishin symbol shining brightly on it.
The hooded figure pulled back his hood, revealing a young but serious face. Kuroshhi spoke solemnly:
—It's Boruto-sama. He seems to be asking us for a situation report.
The seated figure moved slowly and removed his hood. His face was revealed, revealing a six-petaled floral marking on his cheek, while a spiral of fine symbols ran along his neck like living tattoos.
She opened her eyes slowly. The violet chakra surrounding her rippled like a shockwave, spreading out in all directions. For a moment, the structure of the building trembled slightly… and then everything returned to calm. Kirara closed her eyes again, her expression serene.
—So Boruto-sama has contacted… —he murmured in a soft but firm tone.
Kuroshhi watched her silently, impressed.
What a dominant chakra… I'm not even sure I could handle it if I had it inside me… he thought with some tension.
The marks on Kirara's body began to fade little by little, fading away as if they had never been there. Kuroshhi, more relaxed, sighed and sank to the ground.
In front of him, he carefully placed the three-pronged kunai, then took out several scrolls. He formed a seal with his hands, and in that instant, the kunai glowed brightly. All the scrolls were absorbed by the light, disappearing in a flash.
In the abandoned factory, the scrolls sent by Kuroshi appeared in Boruto's hand with a soft flash. Without wasting any time, he unwrapped them one by one and placed them on the armrests of his throne. He then picked up the first one and began to read it calmly.
"So Konoha is already moving in the Rain Village..." he murmured with a neutral expression.
He made a seal with his hand, and a brush dipped in special ink appeared. He wrote a short note on the same parchment, thinking:
It's best if they do what they must... stay hidden and just watch. But if they're discovered... they must be eliminated without hesitation.
As he finished writing, the parchment flashed and disappeared in a flash.
He opened the second scroll. After reading a few lines, Boruto smiled in annoyance.
—This would be best handed over to Konoha… I don't have time to chase this guy. He looks like a pain.
He placed that scroll on the other arm of the throne and opened the third. His eyes sharpened as he read.
—Is this…? I see… They're linked to an organization called Kara. They're divided into Inners, the internal members, and Outers, the external ones. Interesting… I suppose the ones Kuroshhi found were Inners… more powerful. How interesting.
He continued reading, then took up his brush and wrote:
Stay back. Or rather, don't show yourselves until you have enough information. Also... I'll use Konoha to gather more information. This will interest them. And besides, if anyone has valuable information right now, it must be... the gang's leader: Mojine, the ninja with the highest bounty in the bingo book right now. Konoha will catch him, I just have to wait.
Boruto finished writing, rolled up the scroll, and it disappeared in a flash.
He picked up the next scroll. A few seconds of reading passed before a dark smile spread across his face.
"I see... It wasn't a bad idea to bring Kirara along. The second phase is about fifty percent complete. If Kuroshhi had been alone, we'd barely have reached twenty. Not bad at all, not bad at all..."
He gave a small, malicious laugh.
—Hahaha… the third phase of the plan will begin soon…
With that amusement still in his voice, Boruto wrote new instructions on the scroll, detailing how to speed up the operation. Once he finished, he sealed it and sent it off.
He leaned back calmly on his throne. A malicious smile spread across his face, his eyes shining with a mixture of expectation and dark amusement.
At that moment, inside, Momoshhiki spoke in his usual lazy tone:
—Hey, Boruto… I want you to check Urashhiki's memories. I need some information that's in his head.
Boruto remained silent for a few seconds, reflecting. Then he calmly replied:
—I understand. But if I do it myself, it'll take too long… It's better to ask the snake. It surely has the necessary technology for that.
He sighed as he settled into his seat, letting his head fall back slightly and thought.
Dealing with that guy is a pain… but I'm also curious. I want to know what's hidden in Urashiki's brain.
Meanwhile, in Amegakure, the scrolls sent by Boruto arrived in front of Kuroshhi and Kirara in a flash of light. Kirara stood up, then elegantly sat down in front of Kuroshhi. The two began to read the documents carefully, one by one.
As she finished the last scroll, a faint smile—one filled with something resembling joy—appeared on Kirara's face. She felt satisfied: her help was beginning to bear fruit.
Kuroshhi nodded as he rolled up one of the scrolls.
—Everything's going according to plan. But we can't let our guard down, do you understand, Kirara?
Kirara looked at him and nodded firmly.
—I understand. Thanks to Boruto-sama… I now know what it's like to be truly alive. When I woke up, I felt nothing. But now… I can feel the rain, the warmth of the sun… It's a feeling much deeper than I ever imagined. To be free… to be a complete being.
Kuroshhi smiled half-way.
—That's good. If you keep walking alongside Boruto-sama, you'll always feel that freedom. One without restrictions.
Just then, a swirling chakra vortex formed to one side of them. A man wearing the Rain Village ninja headband emerged from it, but before he could speak, a small figure emerged from the vortex behind him.
"I'm here~!" Moku shouted with a mischievous smile as she smacked the shinobi upside the head, slamming him hard into the ground. His small body landed gracefully to the side.
Kirara stood up unfazed and approached the downed ninja. The man staggered to his feet, but Kirara grabbed him by the hair and yanked him up, leveling his face with hers.
The guy was shaking, clearly terrified.
Kirara slowly opened her eyes, revealing her pupils marked by power and determination.
—Thanks to you… we're almost there until we reach the Kage of this village—he whispered.
The ninja couldn't resist any longer. His gaze faded, and his body abruptly relaxed. He had fallen into a high-level genjutsu, trapped with no chance of reacting.
In Konoha, everything happened quickly.
Sumire gathered her teammates and spoke to them sincerely:
"I'm leaving Konoha. I'm joining the Scientific Ninja Tools Department. It's a new path for me... and I want to walk it."
Her companions looked at each other for a moment. Then, a smile appeared on their faces. They already knew that Sumire had been recommended to that investigation team long ago, and that she had the talent to excel there.
"That's amazing, Sumire!" Namida exclaimed excitedly, walking over to hug her.
"If that's your choice, we'll support you," Wasabi added with a genuine smile.
Sumire looked at them tenderly and nodded with a soft smile.
—Thanks, girls… I'll miss you so much.
They all smiled, but beneath that joy lay a shadow of sadness. Although they were happy for Sumire and her new opportunity, they couldn't help but feel the emptiness her departure would leave. One of them lowered her gaze, trying to contain her emotions.
Because, after all... one of her companions was about to leave Konoha.
News of Sumire's transfer spread quickly among the genin of her generation. As a token of appreciation, everyone began planning a farewell party. It would be held at the academy, on the last day before Sumire left the village.
The days passed quickly, and soon the official announcement came that a new member would be joining Team 15 to replace her.
Meanwhile, Boruto was enjoying his days off at home, sharing quiet moments with Himawari. That morning, after breakfast, he casually said goodbye to his mother and sister.
"I'll be back later," he said as he adjusted his black cloak, preparing to leave.
Wearing his usual clothes and wearing a ninja headband, he crossed the main gate. The morning wind caressed his face and slightly lifted his cloak. He was about to disappear in a flash when a familiar voice stopped him.
"Boruto!" Sarada called from the gate of the house.
Boruto barely turned his face, with his usual calm expression.
—Sarada... what do you want?
She frowned in slight annoyance and pouted.
—Don't you know how to say hello?
Boruto turned around completely, with no apparent emotion.
"Hello," he replied curtly.
I'd noticed his chakra approaching before, he thought wearily. I wonder what he wants this time...
Sarada sighed in resignation and shook her head.
"What a curt greeting," she commented, scanning him from head to toe. "Are you going somewhere? Do you want me to walk you?"
Boruto closed his eyes for a moment, inhaling deeply. When he opened them, his tone was direct and straightforward:
—What do you need, Sarada? Why did you come all the way here?
She looked at him calmly and this time sighed more softly, as if she had expected that reaction.
"I came to invite you to a farewell party. It's for Sumire. Besides..." She looked at him seriously. "You still owe her. What you said to her last time was cruel."
Boruto held his gaze with a mixture of boredom and subtle annoyance, with anime-style lines in his eyes.
"Are you seriously telling me this?" he murmured with a wry smile. "You know exactly what I'm like. And yet you're inviting me. I'm sure you already know what my answer will be."
Sarada gave him a slight smile, without losing her composure.
—Just think about it. It'll be at the academy, the last day of the week. We'll be waiting for you, Boruto.
He turned and began to walk away calmly. And just before he walked too far, he added without looking back:
—Everyone at the academy remembers you… even if you were just a clone. In the end, you're still you.
Boruto watched her silently. The breeze moved his bangs slightly, and for a moment, his lips curved into a slight smile.
— Tch … what a pain —he muttered.
And he disappeared in a flash.
In the Hokage's office, Naruto sat in his usual chair, reviewing some documents. Across from him, Shikamaru stared at the desk with a thoughtful expression.
"Are you sure this is the best way to replace Sumire?" Shikamaru asked, crossing his arms.
Naruto smiled calmly.
—No problem. I trust it will be a good decision.
Shikamaru looked back at the papers in his hand and raised an eyebrow.
—From the Land of Iron, huh ? A mixed team of shinobi and samurai… that's pretty innovative.
Naruto nodded with conviction.
—I want the world to be a little more equal. These days, it doesn't matter whether you're a samurai or a shinobi. The important thing is that you're willing to protect others.
Shikamaru gave a small, almost resigned smile.
—Sounds like an experiment... Very like you, Naruto.
He looked through the documents again and suddenly stopped, surprised.
—Wait… they sent Mifune's last disciple?
Naruto also looked back at the papers and laughed softly.
—I guess they want to show off a little… Hehehe.
At that moment, a flash. Boruto appeared with his typical calm and carefree air.
Both Naruto and Shikamaru sensed his presence before seeing him. Shikamaru looked at him with his classic expression of mild annoyance, while Naruto gave him a warm smile.
—Boruto, good to see you —said Naruto.
Boruto looked at him with his neutral expression.
—I guess I should say "hello." Although we saw each other this morning… and yesterday… and the day before, too.
Naruto let out a small laugh.
—That's good. I'm glad we can talk more often.
Boruto sighed with a hint of annoyance.
—I guess so… But anyway, I came to deliver some information. Maybe it'll be useful.
Naruto frowned slightly, already interested.
-Information?
Boruto approached the desk with a calm gait.
—About the guys I ran into a while back. I did a little research… accidentally.
Naruto and Shikamaru instantly became serious.
"What did you find?" Shikamaru asked. "I thought you weren't interested in tracking them down."
Boruto looked at him out of the corner of his eye, his expression unchanged.
—It was a coincidence. If they don't want it, I'm leaving.
Shikamaru sighed and scratched his head, already used to it.
— Tch … fine. Just say it already.
Boruto spoke calmly, without emotion:
—They belong to an organization called Kara . It's divided into two branches: the Inners , who are the internal members… and the Outers , who are the external members.
Naruto and Shikamaru exchanged a quick glance of surprise. The frankness of the information took them by surprise.
"Is that all?" Shikamaru asked with a raised eyebrow.
Boruto looked at him as if it was obvious.
—What else did you want?
An imaginary drop fell on both of them, as if it were a scene straight out of an anime. Naruto smiled with a mixture of laughter and resignation.
—So they're called Kara... I've never heard of them.
"They've been operating in the shadows for quite some time," Boruto added. "Possibly even since before the Fourth Ninja War."
That really left them shocked.
"Such an ancient organization... and we never noticed?" Naruto muttered, incredulous.
—If you want to get to the bottom of it, —Boruto continued—, you must capture his possible direct contact: Shojoji , alias Mojine. He is the criminal with the highest bounty in the bingo book currently.
Shikamaru opened his eyes upon hearing the name.
—Wait! That name… is that of the leader of that Mojine gang! Did you discover his identity?
"That's right," Boruto replied bluntly.
"That's impressive..." Naruto admitted with a more serious expression.
"Use it. It's your best bet if you want to know more about Kara," Boruto added, crossing his arms.
Shikamaru remained thoughtful.
—Just yesterday, we received an anonymous letter. It claimed to be from a subordinate of Shojoji . Apparently, he escaped and left us some clues. But we didn't know who to look for until now…
Then, he turned his head towards Boruto with a hint of distrust.
—We could ask you for help with this mission, but… no, forget it. I wonder why you're giving us this information. When you could investigate on your own… aren't you using us?
Boruto stared at him for a few seconds. Then, with a calm smile, he replied:
—Use them? What do you think? I'm just doing my duty as a good Konoha ninja…
Naruto and Shikamaru thought in unison, without needing to say it out loud.
He's lying.
Boruto spoke calmly, narrowing his eyes:
—I've already told you what I know. It's up to you what you do with that information.
Shikamaru sighed, resigned.
—Okay… at least we have a clear lead on where to get more information.
Boruto opened his eyes and looked down at the desk, observing the documents in front of Naruto. His eyes fell on one in particular, and he commented curiously:
—An inhabitant of the Land of Iron… a samurai.
Naruto nodded as he reviewed the report with a slight smile.
—Yes, he will be the new member of Team 15, the team led by your aunt.
Boruto narrowed his eyes, thoughtful.
—A samurai in a shinobi team? I see…
A smile spread across his face, slightly twisted with interest.
That'll be interesting. If I can copy his chakra flow and sword style… maybe I'll create my own version, he thought.
"A curious experiment," he murmured. "Not bad."
Shikamaru watched him out of the corner of his eye, squinting.
—Are you interested in this person?
Naruto added in a calm tone:
—Maybe you should approach her. After all, she's from your generation and new to Konoha.
Boruto turned around as his cape moved.
—Maybe I will… I'll introduce him to Konoha —he said without looking back.
Naruto and Shikamaru were silent for a moment, not knowing exactly what to say.
And in that instant, Boruto disappeared in a flash.
Shikamaru followed him with his eyes and sighed.
—I hope he doesn't do anything problematic... or cause us any trouble later on.
Naruto laughed with some discomfort.
—Yes… we already know him. But leaving that aside, it's best to focus on what he said. His information could be useful. We should share it with Sasuke. Besides, if we connect it to the letter sent by that former member of the Mojine gang, we can come up with a plan.
Shikamaru nodded slowly.
—I guess we should send Team 7. Let them protect the informant's life.
Naruto nodded firmly.
—Yes, that would be best. They'll soon send assassins after him. If we can protect him, we might also be able to capture those who come after him. With Team 7's skills, I don't think they'll have any trouble handling him.
Shikamaru crossed his arms and sighed.
—Let's hope everything goes well. Because if that Kara organization is as old as Boruto said… things could get complicated very quickly.
Naruto remained thoughtful, looking at the documents on the desk.
—Yes… but this time, we won't wait for danger to come to us.
Shikamaru spoke while holding his chin:
—What if we send a chunin team? It might work…
Naruto smiled calmly, clasping his hands and resting his elbows on the desk.
—No need. Team 7 has combat power comparable to that of a jounin. They're a solid team.
Shikamaru nodded with a slight smile, scratching his head.
—Yes, they are. They're on a completely different level than the other genin. If we were from their generation… we probably wouldn't have been their rivals.
Naruto laughed a little, relaxing his shoulders.
—Just watching Boruto tells you how talented this generation is. Sometimes I wonder what a team consisting of a Senju, an Uchiha, and an Uzumaki would have been like from the start…
Shikamaru shook his head, smiling.
—It would have been very interesting… and probably very chaotic too.
Elsewhere in Konoha, Boruto appeared atop a building. From the top, he silently observed the village spread out beneath his feet. The wind blew gently, slightly lifting his cloak as the sun caressed the rooftops of Konoha.
I need to find that samurai, he thought, keeping an eye out. But… it'll be tricky. I don't know his chakra, and from what I saw in the documents, he arrived today. Hmm … where should I start?
He put his hands in his pockets.
Besides, I'll have to observe her secretly. But if she can demonstrate what I imagine… her technique could be very useful.
From inside, Karasugan spoke in his deep, firm tone:
—Do you need that technique that much?
Boruto mentally responded, without hesitation:
"That technique is different from that of the shinobi. Samurai use chakra in a more internal, more refined way. If I can understand its flow, I could adapt it… and make my attacks even more lethal."
Karasugan remained silent for a moment, before letting out a low growl.
— Hmph . Sounds like something typical of you, Boruto.
Boruto lowered his gaze slightly, and a smile appeared on his face.
—So… it's time to move.
And in a flash, he was gone.
Appearing at another high point in Konoha, Boruto stopped and looked in several directions. He closed his eyes for a moment, concentrating.
"I can't sense my aunt's chakra…" he murmured. "She's quite far away. How strange. With my chakra level, I should be able to track her easily. What's going on?"
He put a hand to his chin, thoughtful.
"Is it too far? It doesn't seem that way... I don't feel his presence even at the edge of the village. Could it be that he hasn't arrived yet? But according to the papers, he should be here this morning..."
Boruto frowned thoughtfully.
—Is it too far? Hmm ... it doesn't seem like it. Isn't he in Konoha? Well, it's early... he must be on a mission. He'll probably arrive today... or maybe he hasn't even arrived with the samurai yet. Damn...
He looked up at the sky for a few seconds and then looked away towards the center of the village.
—It would be best to look for her future teammates. If I find any of the students from Team 15… I can track her through them.
And without wasting any more time, Boruto disappeared in a flash.
Boruto appeared atop another building, in an elevated area of Konoha, near the mountains where more residences were concentrated. From there, he looked in a specific direction while sensing the flow of chakras.
"These chakras…" he murmured. "They're Wasabi and Namida's, but they seem to be with more people… Hmm … Sarada and Chocho."
He sat on the edge of the building, crossing his arms, and closed his eyes.
—If they're all together, I can't show up without attracting attention... I'll wait a bit.
A few minutes passed in silence. Then, Boruto opened his eyes and looked in one direction.
—They're here… that chakra belongs to my Aunt Hanabi. And… there's someone else with her. It must be the samurai.
Boruto stood still, analyzing carefully.
—They're still far away, it'll take them some time to get there. I'll keep waiting.
After a few more minutes, she finally sensed Hanabi's chakra and the other approaching the village. Soon, they separated: Hanabi headed toward a nearby training ground, while the unknown chakra entered Konoha through the main entrance.
Almost at the same time, Boruto noticed another change.
—Wasabi and Namida's chakras… have separated from Sarada and Ch eight. Interesting…
He stood calmly, the wind rustling his cloak, and put his hands in his pockets.
—This is my chance.
And in a flash, he was gone.