Boruto the Akatsuki: In search of power 35

In the previous chapter: Boruto went on his mission to the Land of Wind, where Sasuke and Gaara had a fight against Urashhiki, in which they achieved victory, but the latter managed to escape. After that, Boruto remained in the village, using his sensory ability to be alert in case the enemy appeared. Urashhiki devised a plan that left Konoha unprotected. Boruto noticed this and followed him to the archaeological center, where Urashhiki obtained and activated a relic. The activation transported them to the past, although Urashhiki was pushed off the platform before disappearing. After this, Boruto appeared in a forest and, after a conversation with Momoshhiki, he left there and encountered an ancient Konoha.

At that moment, Boruto lazily observed Konoha, quickly analyzing his next move.

Suddenly, the turtle he was holding in his hand spoke in a mechanical voice:

—Warning, warning! Time shift coordinates have changed.

Boruto looked at her seriously as the turtle continued:

—The coordinates assigned by Urashhiki Otsutsuki do not match the current destination.

Boruto frowned.

—So we're in the past, but the coordinates have been altered... It seems Urashhiki was planning to travel to an even earlier time in my father's life.

Then he looked at the turtle and asked:

—Tell me, what era are we in?

The turtle responded without delay:

—We are in the era where Tsunade is the Fifth Hokage.

Boruto sighed.

—That means Urashhiki isn't here… Where is he now?

"If the coordinates are not as expected, it is likely that you have arrived at a different time," replied the turtle.

Boruto thought for a few seconds.

—So, Urashhiki traveled to my father's childhood… But due to an error in the activation, we ended up in a time earlier than expected.

The turtle confirmed his guess.

—Urashhiki has become separated from our group. I estimate that he will reach his destination in a few days.

Boruto crossed his arms, thinking out loud.

—I see… Then I must wait here and prepare to kill him. Luckily, we got there first. I just have to find my father before he does.

He sighed in resignation, but before he could move, the turtle spoke again:

—Since you come from the future, I must give you certain warnings.

"What warnings?" Boruto asked.

—People from the past must not know that they are from the future. Also, they must avoid interfering with those who are closest to them.

Boruto narrowed his eyes.

—What if they discover us?

—There is a possibility that this could cause changes in the future. Your actions in this era may alter the timeline, so you must act with extreme caution.

Boruto closed his eyes for a moment and then nodded.

—Understood. Now tell me, how much time do you need to prepare for the next time trip?

"It will take me a few days to recharge enough chakra for the trip," the turtle replied.

Boruto nodded again and, without wasting any more time, he put the turtle into his ninja bag before heading towards the village.

Before entering the village, Boruto took off his ninja headband and put it in his bag. Then, he crossed the gates of Konoha, observing every corner carefully, making sure not to attract attention.

After walking around for a bit, she entered a clothing store and bought some period-appropriate clothes, making sure to fit in with the surroundings. However, she decided to keep her gloves, the only detail she would keep from her original outfit.

Boruto walked out of the store and put his hands in his pockets. He walked calmly through Konoha, observing every shop and corner carefully.

Inside his mind, Momoshiki let out a soft sigh.

—So everything is already calculated… Hmm . And tell me, how do you plan to find the fox?

Boruto entered a bookstore and began browsing the shelves without saying a word. From his mind, he calmly replied:

—I felt my father's chakra ever since I entered the village. For now, I'll prepare everything before meeting him.

Momoshhiki closed his eyes and thought to himself:

"This human is quite intelligent… I wonder what he's planning to do these days. It'll be interesting."

In the real world, Boruto left the tent and continued his journey through Konoha. After a while, he left the village and entered the forest. He made his way steadily through the trees until suddenly, he began to move at high speed, jumping between the branches like a blur in the shadows.

After what seemed like an hour, Boruto stopped and looked ahead. The trees had disappeared and in their place, huge roots emerged from the ground. He jumped and arrived at the center of the area, where a large mountain was surrounded by those colossal roots.

Boruto scanned the place and muttered:

—This place is perfect. We're far from the village. If I fight with everything, no one will notice.

He got into position and performed a hand seal.

—Kage Bunshin no Jutsu.

Several copies of him appeared in a cloud of smoke. Boruto raised his voice to give instructions:

—Surround the mountain for more than two hundred meters around. Set up the barrier and block the space.

The clones nodded and disappeared in a Shunshin. Minutes later, each one was in their position, forming hand seals at high speed.

— Fuinjutsu: Genjutsu no Sekai (Sealing Art: Escape from Reality)

In unison, they struck the ground, and an illusory barrier covered the entire mountain, hiding it from outside view.

The original Boruto stood in the center and performed another hand seal before punching the ground.

— Fuinjutsu: Kukan Fusoku (Space Restriction Seal)

Marks began to spread across the ground. Simultaneously, his clones did the same at key points on the barrier, reinforcing it even further.

Boruto stood up and scanned the place one last time.

—Everything is ready... All that's left is for Urashhiki to arrive.

He looked at the ground carefully, then pulled out a three-pronged kunai and threw it into the air with force. As the kunai fell, he performed several hand positions and said:

—Hiraishin: Eikyo Fuin (Hiraishin: Area Seals).

In an instant, the kunai multiplied and scattered throughout the area.

Boruto inspected his work once more and disappeared in a flash, leaving the place. His clones vanished in a smokescreen, leaving everything ready for the upcoming fight.

Boruto appeared in a flash at the entrance of the forest and, without wasting any time, began walking towards the village.

As he entered, he walked through the streets calmly, as if he was looking for something. He turned off the main streets of Konoha and continued on his way until he suddenly stopped at an intersection. He looked to the side and saw three people.

It was Tsunade with a white-haired man and a blond young man.

Tsunade was scolding them furiously for some reason, while both were kneeling in front of her with expressions of fear. The blond, desperate, tried to blame the white-haired one, who only sighed resignedly.

Boruto watched the scene and muttered.

—I already found them…

The two were none other than Naruto and Jiraiya, being scolded for spying on women.

Tsunade had her arms crossed and a frown on her face, her gaze radiating palpable fury.

—How many times do I have to tell you to stop doing such stupid things?! —he growled, raising his fist threateningly.

Jiraiya, still on his knees, raised his hands in surrender, a nervous smile on his face.

—Come on, Tsunade, this is a misunderstanding… I was just educating young Naruto on the importance of careful observation and research—he tried to justify himself, but his voice cracked when Tsunade glared at him even more angrily.

Naruto, at his side, pointed at Jiraiya without hesitation.

—It was his idea! I only went along with it because he said it was part of the training! I have nothing to do with it!

—Hey, brat! Don't give me away like that... have some loyalty to your master! —Jiraiya demanded indignantly.

Tsunade snorted and clenched her fists.

—Training? Is that what you're saying now? You bunch of idiots! They'll never learn!

Without warning, he raised his fist and slammed it into the heads of both of them. A loud roar shook the street as Jiraiya and Naruto were crushed to the ground, a large bump forming on their heads.

—Woah ! That hurt, Tsunade- baachan ! —Naruto complained, rubbing his head.

"My talent as a perverted sage —I mean, as a writer—was violently suppressed once again…!" Jiraiya whimpered, fake tears in his eyes.

Boruto, watching everything from a distance, clicked his tongue with a mix of amusement and resignation.

—Is that one of the three great Sannin , just like Orochimaru…? They don't look alike at all.

He crossed his arms and sighed. It was time to approach her, but first he wanted to make sure of the best way to do it.

After a moment, Tsunade snorted, clicked her tongue, and turned around, walking away with a firm step.

Jiraiya waited for her to disappear from sight and then let out a sigh of relief, standing up with difficulty.

—This time we got away with it, don't you think, Naruto?

Naruto, still rubbing his head, looked at him with a frown.

—What are you talking about, Ero- sennin ?! Look at this bump! It left us half dead!

Jiraiya laughed nervously.

—Come on, kid, at least we're still alive. And besides, this was for a good cause…

Naruto looked at him in disbelief.

—A good cause!? We were discovered in less than five minutes! We fared worse than last time!

Jiraiya coughed and looked away.

—Well, well, there are always risks in research. Don't worry, we'll be more cautious next time.

"There's no next time!" Naruto shouted, puffing out his cheeks angrily.

Jiraiya patted him on the shoulder.

—Don't say that, Naruto... Learning to observe people is part of a shinobi's training.

—That has nothing to do with it!

Boruto watched everything. The relationship between them was more chaotic than he imagined, but there was also a certain familiarity in it.

Boruto pondered for a moment. "I thought it best to watch my father from afar… but that Jiraiya seems to have already noticed my presence."

She closed her eyes for a moment, took a breath, and thought, it's time to act. When she opened them, her gaze changed. She seemed more alive, expressive, different from her usual coldness. A kind and calm smile appeared on her face.

Without further ado, he left the intersection and calmly walked towards Jiraiya and Naruto.

As they continued to argue, Jiraiya raised his head and fixed his gaze on him.

—Boy, what brings you here? I saw you were watching us.

Boruto smiled in amusement and moved a little closer.

—I have something that can help you in your investigation.

Jiraiya's eyes immediately lit up with interest.

—Oh? Well, well… you seem to have a good eye. Tell me, what is it and how effective can it be?

Boruto took out a tag with a seal from his ninja bag and handed it to him.

—This can erase your presence for a period of time. What do you say? Shall we make a deal?

Jiraiya took the tag and examined it with an amused smile.

—Interesting… And what do you want in return for this generous gift?

Boruto kept his expression calm.

—I need a place to stay. I just arrived in the village and I thought you could help me.

Naruto, who was watching everything in disbelief, felt a drop of sweat run down his temple in pure anime style.

Jiraiya looked at Naruto with a mischievous smile.

—Naruto, as a good student, help your teacher. What do you say? Can I borrow your house?

Naruto, still with the bead of sweat on his forehead, looked at Jiraiya with wide eyes, completely confused.

—Huh? My house? Why should I lend it to you? If you leave me alone with him, you're sure to cause a mess!

Jiraiya let out a nervous laugh, rubbing the back of his neck.

—Don't talk nonsense, Naruto! Just welcome this young man! I'm sure he won't be that troublesome... right? —Jiraiya said, looking at Boruto with a mischievous smile.

Boruto, without losing his calm expression, watched Naruto for a moment before answering.

—Relax, I'm not that troublesome. I just need a place to stay for a few days.

Naruto looked Boruto up and down, with a bewildered expression.

—Who are you? And what the hell are you doing here? Jiraiya, why are you so interested in this guy?

Jiraiya, waving his hand to dismiss the matter, replied.

—He's a... friend! And this 'friend' has his own business to deal with, so don't ask awkward questions, Naruto.

Naruto narrowed his eyes and snorted, clearly not convinced, but he couldn't help but feel a strange curiosity.

—It's not fair! Why doesn't anyone tell me anything? If we're going to share my house, at least tell me what's going on!

Boruto, with a hint of humor in his voice, replied.

—I promise I won't do anything strange... I just want to rest for a while. And by the way, your master has an incredible ability to evade answers.

Naruto, frustrated but ultimately resigned, took a step back.

—Okay, okay! But don't think I'm going to be your servant just because you're staying at my house.

Jiraiya smirked as he watched Naruto give in.

—That's what I like to see, Naruto. Mutual respect... or something like that.

Boruto, finally relaxed, nodded.

—Thank you, Naruto. I hope it doesn't cause you too much trouble.

Naruto just huffed as he crossed his arms.

—Only if you don't make more trouble than Jiraiya himself...

Boruto smiled reassuringly, extending his hand towards Naruto.

—First of all, let me introduce myself. I'm Boruto.

Naruto, with a proud smile, responded by shaking Boruto's hand.

—I'm Naruto, and one day I'll be Hokage. Nice to meet you, Boruto!

Jiraiya, who was watching the scene, couldn't help but chuckle.

—You see, Naruto, they'll be able to get along.

Boruto, with an amused smile, replied.

—That sounds like something a Hokage would say. But seriously, Naruto, I'm sure you can become a great leader one day.

Naruto, unable to help himself, smiled widely upon hearing those words.

—Thank you! That means a lot to me. Almost no one believes me that I will become Hokage.

Boruto spoke with a reassuring smile.

—Don't worry, Naruto. You just have to work hard to do it. That's how you become a Hokage.

Jiraiya saw the scene and, with a smile, said.

—I see you two are getting along well. Then I'll be leaving. I have to continue my investigation.

Jiraiya said goodbye and left.

Naruto, with an impatient expression, spoke.

—Ero- sennin , when are you going to train me? You have to train me!

Jiraiya just waved his hand at him and left without saying anything else.

Boruto, looking at Naruto, said.

—If you want, I'll help you train when you have free time. What do you say?

Naruto looked at him doubtfully and spoke.

—Would you help me train? But you look so weak, and you're just a brat!

Boruto replied with amusement.

—But we are the same age...

Naruto, smiling confidently, said.

—What does that mean? It doesn't represent our ages. I will be Hokage, and I have a more advanced mental age.

Boruto rolled his eyes and said in a sarcastic tone.

— Uuu , yeah, sure, whatever you say.

Naruto sighed and, changing the subject, spoke:

—It's late. I'll take you to my house. We'll eat something fancy today.

Boruto smiled and nodded, and they both began walking together towards Naruto's house.

After walking for a while, they arrived at an area where several low-cost apartments were located. The sun was already setting when Boruto and Naruto climbed up to the third floor, reaching the last apartment.

Naruto began to search for the key while saying:

—I'll lend you my room for a few days, but you'll have to pay for at least food. What do you say?

Boruto nodded calmly.

—I understand, don't worry. I'll pay you for the food you give me.

Naruto smiled happily and Boruto did the same. Finally, Naruto took out his keys from his pants and opened the door.

"Come in, it's a bit messy, but ignore it," he said as he walked inside.

Boruto looked around the small apartment in curiosity before turning his gaze to the table, where trash and unwashed dishes were piled up. Naruto, noticing his gaze, quickly picked up the trash and threw it into the trashcan.

—I see you live alone… Don't you have anyone else? —Boruto asked, leaning against the wall.

Naruto carried the dishes to the sink and answered as he began washing them.

—Yes, it has always been like that. I never knew my parents.

Boruto watched him carefully before speaking.

—Would you have liked to meet them?

Naruto was silent for a moment, staring into the water running over his hands.

—I would like to ask them why they left me… and know if they loved me.

Boruto smiled calmly.

—I'm sure they did love you. I'm sure they had no other choice. Don't you think?

Naruto turned to look at him and nodded with a small smile, but just then his stomach growled loudly, interrupting the moment. They both fell silent before letting out a laugh.

"Do you want to eat?" Naruto asked with an amused smile.

Boruto crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow.

—You promised me a luxury meal.

Naruto laughed confidently.

—Don't worry, it's one of the best.

He walked over to a kitchen shelf, opened it, and took out two instant ramen bowls . He placed them on the table next to the chopsticks and, after heating up water in a kettle, waited a few seconds. When the water was ready, he poured it into the bowls and spoke proudly.

—This is luxury food. It's one of my favorites!

Boruto looked at the ramen skeptically before smiling in resignation.

—Luxurious, huh…?

Naruto nodded enthusiastically.

—If you don't like it, I have other flavors. But I assure you that this is the best.

Without further ado, he picked up his chopsticks and began to eat, blowing on the hot broth to cool it down. Boruto sighed and, without saying anything else, did the same, sharing a meal with his father for the first time, even though he didn't know it yet.

After finishing eating, Naruto picked up the empty containers and threw them into the trash.

—Well, I think it's time for bed. —He stretched, yawning as he put his hands behind his head.

Boruto glanced around the small space.

—Where do you want me to sleep?

Naruto pointed at his bed without hesitation.

—You can sleep there. I'll sleep on the floor.

Boruto frowned.

—No need. We can take turns or find another solution.

Naruto waved his hand casually.

—Bah! It's not a big deal. I'm used to it. Besides, I'm a ninja, right? Sleeping anywhere is part of the training.

Boruto smiled slightly and shook his head.

—If you say so… but I'll sleep on the floor. I'm the visitor, after all.

Naruto sighed and crossed his arms.

—I see you are stubborn…

Without arguing further, Naruto pulled out an old blanket from his closet and spread it on the floor, while Boruto made himself comfortable on the bed. A peaceful silence filled the room, only interrupted by the wind gently hitting the window and the moonlight illuminating the room.

—Hey, Boruto… —Naruto's voice broke the stillness—. Why did you come to Konoha?

Boruto, lying on his back, stared at the ceiling for a moment before answering.

—Let's say I'm looking for answers… and interesting people.

Naruto turned on his side to look at him from the ground.

—Answers about what?

Boruto smiled mysteriously.

—That's a secret… for now.

Naruto puffed his cheeks in annoyance.

—Tsk ! You talk like old Ero- sennin …

Boruto let out a small laugh.

—It must be because we have the same mental age.

Naruto frowned.

—Hey! That's not true!

Boruto just laughed harder.

The silence returned, but this time it was more relaxed. Naruto yawned and closed his eyes.

—Hey, Boruto… —he murmured with a tired voice—. If you're looking for answers, you'll surely find them in this village.

Boruto glanced at him and gave a slight smile.

—Yes… I hope so.

Naruto was silent for a moment before speaking.

—You said you came to this village in search of answers… Were your parents the ones who sent you?

Boruto made a thoughtful face and then smiled in amusement.

— Hmm … you could say so. I'm on a mission as a ninja… —He let out a small laugh—. Nah , I'm just kidding.

Naruto laughed too, but then returned to the topic with more interest.

—Back to the conversation from before… about parents. Tell me, Boruto, what are yours like?

Boruto, lying on the floor on the blanket, stared at the ceiling for a moment before answering.

—I'll start with my mother. She's kind, she always cares about me and my sister. Every day she tries to do her best... she's a great mother. And me... —He smiled a little mischievously—. I guess I'm the problem, always getting into mischief.

Naruto, lying on the bed, turned on his side and rested his head on his wrist to get a better look at him. He smiled somewhat wistfully.

"She sounds like a good mother," she said softly. "And your father? What is he like?"

Boruto looked away, his tone losing its previous lightness.

—Well… He is quite absent-minded, but he is a good person. The problem is that, in order to help others, he sometimes forgets about his own family, leaving them in the background… One day, one of those people he helped will return the favor in the worst way. I am sure that will happen.

Naruto watched him in silence for a few seconds before sighing.

—So he's so absent-minded… but he still helps others.

Boruto nodded and continued, this time in a lower tone.

—Yes… He always needs someone to protect in order to give his best. He is not capable of doing it alone…

Naruto remained thoughtful. Then, with a melancholic smile, he muttered:

—It sounds… like someone who gives everything for others without expecting anything in return…

Boruto glanced at him, noticing the nostalgic glint in his eyes. Naruto sighed and settled back on the bed, staring at the ceiling.

—It must be difficult… for your family.

Boruto closed his eyes and replied in a murmur:

—Yes… he is… But he wasn't a bad father. We never lacked anything… I don't blame him anymore, it's too late for that.

Naruto, lying on the bed, turned his head slightly towards him.

—I'm sure you'll spend more time with your family in the future. After all, family is the most important thing for anyone.

Boruto gave a small smile.

—You're right… I hope so. —He thought for a moment and added to himself—. His family is the village… How ironic.

Naruto sighed deeply, feeling sleep begin to overtake him.

—Sleep well, Boruto… Your family sounds… like good people… I hope you… can… protect them…

His voice trailed off until he finally fell asleep.

Boruto looked at him sideways and alone. He stood there for a while, silently staring at the ceiling, until, in a flash, he disappeared without a trace.

The wind blew softly outside, and stillness took over the room. Naruto slept peacefully, unaware that tonight would mark the beginning of something much bigger.

Elsewhere, on top of one of Konoha's buildings, Boruto appeared in a flash. He sighed, closed his eyes for a moment, and then opened them, regaining his usual expression, though this time with a slight smile.

He stretched his body and muttered with a smile:

—This acting thing is really annoying… that's why I used the clones.

From inside, Momoshiki watched him closely.

It seems like he's returning to his old self... Before the awakening of his blood changed him. Since then, he became quieter, more reserved... But now, little by little, he's returning to how he was before. It gives me a sense of danger.

He clicked his tongue, annoyed at the thought of sensing danger from Boruto.

—Human, what are you planning to do? —he asked with annoyance.

Boruto smiled a little and said.

—In order for the future not to change, I need no one to remember me. I'm going to go to the Konoha barrier and see if I can do the same thing I did with Kuroshi: manipulate his memories... or at least a part of them.

Momoshhiki was silent for a moment before speaking indifferently:

—I see… Human.

Boruto made a hand seal and, in a puff of smoke, a cloak appeared. He put it on and, without wasting any more time, began to jump between the buildings, moving agilely under the moonlight.

Boruto moved nimbly across the rooftops of Konoha, keeping his chakra to a minimum to avoid detection. His steps were light, barely audible even in the quiet of the night.

He stood on the roof of a tall building and looked out at the imposing structure of the Hokage building in the distance. The lights were still on in several offices, and numerous ninjas patrolled the surrounding area, alert for any suspicious movement.

—Security is tighter than I expected… —he muttered to himself, hiding in the shadows.

Boruto just muttered.

—That makes it more interesting.

Without making a sound, he moved between the rooftops, dodging the lines of sight of the sentries. His target was not the Hokage building, but the Barrier Control Room ( Kekkai). Kanshishitsu ), the nerve center where ninja monitored any intrusions into the village. If he wanted to erase his presence from the records and prevent anyone else from tracking him, he had to get there.

He moved quickly, stopping only when necessary. He camouflaged himself in the shadows, studying the patrol patterns and looking for the best moment to move. After several minutes, he finally reached the area where the Control Room was located.

The building wasn't very big, but it was heavily guarded. Two guards were stationed at the main entrance. Boruto, at high speed, appeared behind them and accurately knocked them out before they could react.

—Easy… —he thought as he approached the door.

He stealthily entered the room, where there was a floating, water-like energy sphere that seemed to be the core of the barrier's control system.

—Well… time to see if I can modify it. —Boruto muttered as he approached the center of the room.

Boruto stared at the sphere of energy for a moment, analyzing its flow before making a hand seal. In a puff of smoke, a large scroll appeared with the Uzumaki clan symbol engraved on its surface.

Unfolding it with precision, he scanned the many jutsus inscribed within it, flipping through the pages quickly until he found the right one. His gaze sharpened as he performed the necessary hand movements and, without hesitation, placed his palm on the sphere.

—Fūinjutsu – Bokyaku no Ryoiki … Art of Sealing: Domain of Oblivion —he whispered firmly.

Instantly, black marks spread across the surface of the sphere, running through it like glowing veins pulsating with energy. Slowly, the marks began to fade away until they disappeared completely.

Boruto withdrew his hand and gave a lopsided smile.

—Looks like it worked… I just have to release the seal and everything will be ready.

Making a new seal with his hand, he made the scroll disappear in a flash of smoke. Without wasting any time, his figure vanished into the darkness of the night, leaving behind the Control Room intact, as if he had never been there.

Boruto appeared back in the building where he had been before. Without wasting any time, he removed his cloak in one fluid motion and made it disappear in a flash.

In the blink of an eye, his figure vanished again.

When he reappeared, he was in Naruto's room. Everything was the same as when he had left. He calmly laid down on the blanket on the floor, letting out a soft sigh.

Boruto slowly closed his eyes as the night wind whispered softly through the window.

The next morning, the first rays of sunlight filtered through the bedroom window. Boruto slowly opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling for a few seconds. The sound of birds chirping and the distant murmur of the village indicated that the day had already begun.

Naruto and Boruto woke up and got ready for the new day. Soon, they both sat down at the table, where, as expected, Naruto had brought ramen for breakfast.

"Come on, Boruto, eat," he said with a smile, placing the bowls on the table.

Boruto sighed lazily.

—Ramen again? Don't you eat anything else?

"Is there anything better than this to start the day?" Naruto replied naturally as he began to eat.

Boruto looked at the bowl with resignation. He was tired of eating the same thing, but without many options, he picked up the chopsticks and began to eat silently.

"Tomorrow I'll take you somewhere else to try real food," Boruto said with a slight smile.

Naruto opened his eyes in excitement.

-Oh really?

Boruto nodded.

After finishing eating, both of them threw away the empty ramen cups. Naruto turned to Boruto with his hands on his waist and spoke excitedly.

—Hey, Boruto, do you want me to show you around the village? Since you have nothing to do…

Boruto nodded calmly and smiled slightly.

—It would be a pleasure.

After that, they both left the house and started walking around the village.

Naruto excitedly pointed out different places as they walked through the busy streets of Konoha.

"This is the central market. They sell all kinds of things here, from fresh ingredients to ninja weapons," he said proudly as they walked past the crowded stalls.

Boruto watched curiously, noticing how lively the place was.

—It seems like things haven't changed that much... —he muttered to himself.

They continued walking, stopping at various key points in the village. Naruto led him to the training field, where several young people were practicing jutsus under the supervision of their sensei.

"This is where we train most of the time," Naruto commented with a smile.

Boruto watched silently, remembering his own training in the future.

Finally, they reached the highest part of the village, from where they could see all of Konoha. Naruto leaned on the railing and looked at the horizon with a satisfied smile.

—Konoha is amazing, isn't it?

Boruto glanced at him and smiled slightly.

—Yes… I guess so.

The wind blew gently, and for a moment, they both stood in silence, taking in the view.

After that, they continued walking through the village until they met Sakura, who greeted them with a smile.

—Naruto, Boruto, just in time. —he said, crossing his arms.

"What for?" Naruto asked curiously.

—The fifth asked us to meet at the baths. Most of the genin will be participating, and you have nothing better to do, right? —he replied with a firm look.

Naruto scratched the back of his head uncomfortably. " Ehh … well…"

"Don't worry, it will be quick if everyone helps," Sakura added with a smile that didn't admit any refusal.

Boruto sighed, resigned. "I guess there's no choice."

Shortly after, the two arrived at the mixed baths, where several genin were already gathered. Upon entering, Boruto recognized the young shinobi of that generation, some chatting, others preparing the cleaning materials.

Naruto greeted them with his usual energy. "Hey, guys!"

The genin returned the greeting, and soon everyone gathered in the central area of the baths. Kiba, who was in front of everyone, spoke up.

—La Quinta asked us to meet here.

Naruto closed his eyes and sighed, feeling a bad feeling.

At that moment, from the back of the group, Shikamaru appeared with his genin team. With his relaxed tone, he spoke:

—I will be in charge of this mission.

Shikamaru glanced at Boruto and frowned. "So you're the Boruto they mentioned."

Boruto nodded without saying much, while Shikamaru continued explaining.

—La Quinta asked us to clean these bathrooms.

Choji, who was calmly eating potatoes, chimed in. "It seems that the Quinta had a very close acquaintance with this place and couldn't refuse."

Everyone sighed in resignation, while Naruto, hearing that, felt a chill.

Shit… —he thought— This is because of yesterday. That "acquaintance" has to be the ero- senin …

Sakura noticed Naruto's pale expression and looked at him suspiciously.

—Naruto, you look strange… Is something wrong?

Naruto started and waved his hands with a nervous smile.

—No, no! I'm fine, Sakura, don't worry.

With that, not wanting to continue the conversation, he quickly walked away to a corner.

"I'm going to get the cleaning tools…" he said, disappearing before anyone could say anything else.

Sakura and Hinata, who was at her side, remained there.

Boruto looked towards them and noticed Hinata watching him intently. He looked back at her, and then she spoke with a soft smile:

—I see you look a lot like Naruto.

Boruto smiled with some irony. "We don't look that much alike."

Hinata nodded calmly, but then fixed her gaze on Boruto's eyes.

—Your eyes… look a little cold. Are you okay?

Boruto held the smile for a moment, though he looked a little uncomfortable. At that moment, Ino arrived and joined the conversation with curiosity.

—What are you talking about, Hinata?

Sakura sighed and, before the conversation continued, she spoke in a firm tone:

—We have to go. It's time to work.

So the three women left the place.

Boruto stopped smiling and stayed silent for a few seconds. Apparently, my mother hasn't changed... he thought. I guess I can't fool myself... my mother is my mother after all, and along with Himawari, she's the only thing I truly appreciate.

Shaking off those thoughts, Boruto came back to his senses and focused on the task at hand. Soon after, they began cleaning the bathroom.

The cleaning of the bathrooms began with the natural division between men and women. On one side, Sakura, Ino and Hinata were in charge of the female area, while on the other, Naruto, Boruto and the other shinobi worked in the male section.

Rock Lee took on the task with boundless energy, scrubbing the floors so intensely that it was like he was training.

"Cleaning is also a training for the body and the spirit! If we can't clean with passion, we can't call ourselves true shinobi!" he declared enthusiastically, scrubbing the floor so hard that the brush left marks on the wood.

—Hey, Lee, we're cleaning up, not destroying the place… —Shikamaru commented with annoyance, while trying to control the situation.

On the other hand, Kiba took advantage of his keen sense of smell to point out the areas that needed cleaning the most.

—Ugh! This place smells horrible, we definitely need to scrub it down. Akamaru will thank me when I bring him back someday!

" Akamaru is coming here?" Naruto asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Of course, everyone needs to relax from time to time," Kiba replied naturally.

Meanwhile, Shikamaru sighed, tired before his time.

—If they keep making such a fuss, we'll never finish...

But Boruto and Naruto, far from listening, had already started a water fight. Naruto filled a bucket and threw it directly at Boruto, who barely managed to dodge it, but ended up soaked anyway by the impact against the ground.

—Really?! —Boruto exclaimed, shaking his wet hair.

Naruto laughed. "It's part of shinobi training! Resistance to surprise attacks!"

—Oh yeah! Well let's see how you can handle this! —Boruto grabbed a bucket and threw it at Naruto, who tried to dodge it, but ended up with his clothes soaked.

—Tch ! Now you'll see! —Naruto shouted, preparing another attack .

Meanwhile, Shikamaru massaged his temples, seeing how the cleaning had become a battlefield.

—Why do I always have to deal with this…

However, the fun didn't last long. In the middle of the fight, water slipped across the floor and Shikamaru inadvertently stepped on a wet spot and…

PLOP!

He fell back with a loud thud. Everyone was silent for a moment until Kiba let out a laugh.

—HAHAHA! Shikamaru, that was epic!

Shikamaru, still on the ground, just closed his eyes and muttered:

—I definitely hate this mission…

The cleaning continued amidst pranks and accidents, but in the end, the bathrooms were spotless… although the cleaners ended up just as dirty as when they started.

When they finished cleaning, all the genin left the bathroom with a mixture of tiredness and relief. It had taken longer than expected, but at least the mission was accomplished.

However, just as Naruto was about to leave, the bath attendant appeared in front of him, crossing his arms with a stern expression.

—You! —he said, pointing at him.

Naruto blinked in confusion. "Huh?"

"You're one of the peeping toms from yesterday!" the manager accused in a firm voice.

At that instant, everyone present turned their heads towards Naruto with narrowed eyes.

—Wait, wait… I didn't do anything! —she tried to defend herself, but it was too late.

Kiba laughed. "No wonder we had to clean the bathrooms!"

Shikamaru sighed and put a hand to his face. "I knew something was wrong…"

Sakura looked at him with danger in her eyes, cracking her knuckles. "Naruto…"

—O - Hey, it's not what it looks like! I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time! —he tried to explain, but no one seemed to be listening.

Chouji crossed his arms. "Well, thanks to you we got to clean up…"

Hinata looked at Naruto with a slightly disappointed expression, which made him feel even worse.

While everyone was scolding him, Boruto watched the scene with amusement.

—So my old man was a pervert back then… —he muttered with a mocking smile.

Naruto turned to him in despair. "You can also say something to defend me!"

Boruto just shrugged. "I don't want to get into trouble."

Naruto fell to his knees as his companions surrounded him with accusing glances.

—Damn it, Ero - sennin , this is your fault! —he lamented in his mind, cursing Jiraiya for having gotten him into this trouble unintentionally.

And so, between scolding and laughter, everyone left the place, while Naruto suffered the consequences of his actions.

The day passed peacefully as they walked through the village, talking about various topics. The sun slowly began to set on the horizon, dyeing the sky orange. One by one, the genin said goodbye to return to their homes.

Boruto and Naruto continued on their way until they reached their house. As usual, Naruto made ramen for dinner, and although Boruto sighed in resignation, he ended up eating without complaining too much.

After lunch, they both went to bed early, letting the tiredness of the day overcome them.

The next morning. Boruto woke up first and after getting ready, he shook Naruto up.

—Hey, man, come on. I promised you we'd eat something better than ramen today.

Naruto, still sleepy, rubbed his eyes. "Huh? So early?"

—If you don't hurry up, you'll only eat air.

Naruto huffed, but eventually stood up.

A while later, the two arrived at a steakhouse. Boruto ordered a large amount of grilled meat, while Naruto looked excitedly at the food served in front of him.

"This looks amazing!" Naruto exclaimed before beginning to eat enthusiastically.

"I told you, this is real food," Boruto replied with a smile as he also ate.

Naruto enjoyed every bite, feeling like he was tasting something different for the first time in a long time.

—This is the best! How did I not know about this place before!

Boruto just shook his head, amused by the reaction.

In the afternoon. After lunch, the two walked through the village until they reached a training ground. The wind blew gently, rustling the leaves of the nearby trees.

Naruto stretched excitedly. "Well, since we're here, how about we train a little?"

Boruto smirked. "I was waiting for that."

They both positioned themselves in the center of the training field, ready to face each other.

Naruto moved forward quickly, throwing a punch straight at Boruto. However, Boruto easily dodged it, tilting his head slightly. Naruto did not stop and continued to attack with greater speed, combining punches and kicks in a taijutsu fight .

Boruto, on the other hand, did not fight back. He simply dodged each move with precision, deflecting some blows with his forearm and stepping back at just the right moment.

Naruto frowned and increased the pace of his attacks, but Boruto still showed no signs of effort.

"Hey!" Naruto exclaimed as he threw another punch. "Are you going to fight for real or just dodge?"

Boruto smiled calmly.

—I'm just warming up.

At that instant, Naruto spun around and launched a low kick. Boruto blocked it with his leg and, for the first time in the fight, moved his arm with offensive intent, pushing Naruto back with a light blow to the chest.

Naruto recovered quickly, but surprise was reflected on his face.

"You're faster than you look…" he muttered, preparing for the next assault.

Boruto simply raised an eyebrow and adopted a relaxed posture.

—And now what, Naruto?

Naruto clenched his fists and launched himself into the attack again, increasing his speed and strength. However, the result was the same: Boruto dodged each blow with precision, deflecting them effortlessly.

But this time, when Naruto threw a punch with all his strength, Boruto didn't dodge. Instead, he swung his own arm quickly and returned a punch straight to the face. The impact caused Naruto to take several steps back, but instead of stopping, he propelled himself forward again.

The exchange continued for an hour. Naruto attacked with everything he had, but Boruto was always one step ahead. Every time Naruto tried to surprise him with a new move, Boruto responded just as calmly, dodging, blocking, and counterattacking at just the right moment.

Finally, Naruto fell to the ground, breathing heavily.

Boruto, still standing, watched him with a calm smile.

"You're still stubborn," he commented, crossing his arms.

Naruto, lying on the ground, looked up at the sky and let out a laugh.

—I have fought against people of my generation, but since you are so superior

Boruto shrugged.

—I guess it's a matter of practice.

Naruto sighed, closing his eyes for a moment to catch his breath. Boruto stood there, watching him with a confident expression.

After a few seconds, Boruto reached out his hand to Naruto to help him up. Naruto took his hand and stood up, but at that instant, Boruto opened his eyes seriously and spoke:

—Naruto, it's time for you to return to the village.

Naruto tilted his head in confusion, but before he could respond, a voice echoed from the sky in amusement:

—I see you're here... Hahaha, fox, I found you! Your chakra will be mine.

Naruto looked up in surprise and saw Urashhiki floating in the air. Boruto also turned to him and spoke firmly:

—Urashhiki… You never give up, huh?

The enemy looked at Boruto with annoyance.

—Are you still here? You should have run away as soon as you heard my voice.

Boruto turned completely towards him and calmly replied:

—I'll take care of you. I hope you're ready.

Naruto looked at Boruto in confusion.

—What's going on?

Before getting an answer, Urashhiki waved his fishing rod in Naruto's direction to steal his chakra. However, just as the harpoon was about to reach him, Boruto caught it with his hand.

"You're annoying..." Boruto said with a defiant smile. "Wait your turn, can't you see I'm busy here?"

Urashhiki looked at him with amusement.

—You better let that go.

Boruto ignored the threat, turned to Naruto and put a hand on his shoulder.

—See you, Naruto.

At that instant, Boruto's body was enveloped in a thick curtain of smoke, dissipating with a pulse of chakra. His attire instantly changed, returning to his original attire. The warmth on his face disappeared completely. His serene expression was erased as if it had never existed.

Naruto, shocked, barely had time to react before he disappeared in a flash, leaving Boruto alone on the spot.

Urashhiki, frowning, gritted his teeth in fury.

—Damn it… You used a space-time technique.

The wind roared through the trees as Boruto stood still. His cloak billowed in the current, reflecting the cold moonlight. His eyes, once filled with a feigned warmth, returned to their sharp, lethal gleam.

When he spoke, his voice rang with an icy calm, devoid of all emotion.

—The theater is over… Urashhiki, it's time to go.

Urashhiki narrowed his eyes warily and clicked his tongue.

—What are you going to do? Do you think you can beat me?

Boruto tilted his head slightly, closing his eyes for a brief moment before cracking a smile, but this time, it wasn't friendly or playful. It was sharp, almost cruel.

—This mission has been a fucking pain… This whole thing is a pain. And you, Urashhiki… you'll be my way of releasing tension. Pretending for so long almost broke my head.

Urashhiki gave a low laugh, but caution shone in his eyes.

—Wow, wow… You speak so confidently. Do you think you can play with me?

Boruto didn't respond. Instead, he kept a firm grip on Urashhiki's fishing rod cord while performing a handstand with the other.

"Let's see how long you can last." Urashhiki smiled in amusement, but his eyes were alert .

Boruto smiled back, and in an instant, they both disappeared in a flash, leaving the place in complete silence.