Chapter 10

Boruto clone hurried towards the Hokage tower. On his way, he recieved a lot of pitiful glances.

The village leader's home affairs shall never be kept secret from the villagers.

Boruto clone scoffed as he walk upstairs towards the Hokage's office.

When he was about turn towards the hallway, he ran into Shikamaru Nara, his father's trusted advisor.

"Hey, Boruto." Shikamaru smiled.

Boruto clone stiffened when he heard Shikamaru calling him.

"Yes, Shikamaru-san?" Boruto forced himself to smile.

For five minutes, they talked about everything that came to Shikamaru's mind.

Or more precisely, Shikamaru tried to find out if something is bothering Boruto through the talk.

Knowing full well what Shikamaru is doing, he carefully answered every question, brilliantly fooling the intelligent man into thinking he's recovering from his depression.

"Alright Boruto, we'll talk more later. My wife will kill me if I am late for lunch." Shikamaru chuckled rubbing his back neck.

Boruto clone didn't respond but just smiled.

Shikamaru smiled one last time and walked past Boruto clone, but the clone's voice stopped him.

"Shikamaru-san, thank you for always helping my dad. Please continue to stay by his side no matter what happens, okay?"

Shikamaru stilled for a moment, but looked back with a knowing smirk. "You're going to do something reckless again, aren't you?"

Boruto clone only chuckled nervously.

"I consider this village as my family. And I will assist who is looking after this family no matter what, no because it is my responsibility, but because I like it. That promise enough for you, Boruto?"

The boundless joy and relief he felt from Shikamaru's words bought tears in his eyes. He mustered a bright smile as he could considering the adversity he is in.

"Y-yes! Thank you Shikamaru-san!" Boruto clone yelled and ran towards the office.

Boruto clone knocked on the door twice and he heard his dad giving permission to enter.

When he entered, he saw Sasuke was with him, talking about something, probably about him.

This is good. I don't have to wait extra time for Sasuke to arrive now.

Without uttering a single word, placed the letter on the table, and poofed away.

Sasuke's and Naruto's mind came up with worst possible scenarios while Naruto picked up letter with trembling hands.

But what was written in the letter, exceeded their 'every possible scenarios'. They stared pale-faced at the content of the letter.

The paper he used to write the letter, Naruto still remembered when he and Boruto sat together and drew the sunflower, when Boruto was still a kid.

That day, they made a promise. That Boruto will protect and keep this paper till the day he dies.

Naruto didn't think Boruto really kept this paper, until now...

Now this paper is sitting in his hand with a threat against the village sent by his son...or did Momoshiki took control over his body?

With wildly beating hearts, not because of fear of the enemy, but of the concern for the apprentice and son Boruto Uzumaki, now calls himself, Borushiki, Sasuke and Naruto rushed towards the forest of death.

.....

At home, Boruto clone was sitting along with Hinata, Himawari and Hinata.

It was painfully silent and Boruto clone could tell that everyone is still worried about him. He have to do this real quick, for the clone will disappear if the jutsu caster dies.

Boruto clone took a deep breath and turned to Kawaki. "Hey Kawaki, let's spar-"

"No. You're still recovering." Kawaki glared while Boruto clone nervously pursed his lips.

Kawaki is still scary when he is serious.

"Himawari, do you want to do your homeworks with me-"

"I already completed my school works, big brother." Himawari smiled.

Another wave of awkward silence filled the room. Boruto clone sighed and walked towards the kitchen to find Hinata cooking.

Boruto clone bit his lip to stop himself from crying. He is going to miss his kind mother a lot.

"Mom, do you want me to help you with something?" Boruto clone asked.

"No, I'm almost done Boruto. Do you want me to make something special for you?" Hinata smiled at her son.

Boruto shook his head and climbed and sat on the kitchen slab near the oven. Himawari and Kawaki entered the kitchen following him.

To Boruto, it felt like everything became still. He cleared his throat to get their attention.

"I, uh... want to tell you guys something." Boruto clone said.

"What is it Boruto?" Hinata asked as she washed the dishes.

"When I almost died that day, I realised something." Boruto clone started and everyone looked at him, stopping whatever things they are doing.

"I realised how lucky I am to have you guys in my life. And when I was alone in the dark pitch waiting for my death, I was actually scared, cause I couldn't find any of you guys there. And I didn't want to be alone. That's why... please don't leave me alone. I really love you guys..."

Boruto covered his mouth and started sobbing uncontrollably.

Hinata, Kawaki and Himawari just watched silently as Boruto clone let out his sad thoughts.

.....

The other Boruto clone was on his way to meet team 7. On his way, he met Guy-sensei who as usual praised about youthfulness.

After an amusing talk with Guy-sensei, Boruto clone continued his way towards team 7.

As expected, Mitsuki and Sarada were training while Konohamaru-sensei was monitoring them in one of the training grounds.

"Mitsuki! Sarada! Big brother Konohamaru!" Boruto clone yelled as he ran towards them.

"What are you doing here Boruto?" Sarada smirked while placing her hands on her hip.

"You should be resting, Boruto." Konohamaru shook his head fondly.

"Good to see you again, Boruto." Mitsuki offered his smile.

"I missed you guys so much." Boruto clone replied and hugged them.

.....

The last Boruto clone entered the Hyuga compound. The guards greeted the clan head's grandson and allowed him to enter.

His grandfather is out of the village at the moment, which made Boruto sad, but the world is in danger. He cannot afford to lose anymore time.

He walked straight towards Neji's house and knocked on the door. Tenten opened the door, and when she saw Boruto standing there with a grin, she immediately let him in.

That noon, Boruto clone had lunch with Uncle Neji and Aunt Tenten, talking about many things.

.....

In the forest of death, Naruto and Sasuke stood in front of Boruto.

The real Boruto.

Naruto's son and Sasuke's apprentice.

Boruto was bathed in splashes of blood, and he was just standing there, flashing a sadistic grin at the two sannins.

"I enjoyed her cries...a lot. Who knew torturing someone was so fun..." Boruto laughed pointing towards the slashed body of a young girl.

"Boruto..." Naruto's lips trembled and Sasuke narrowed his eyes.

"Hokage and Shadow Hokage...try and stop me if you can...if you fail to do so, every single person in this village... this world will face the same destiny as this young girl."

Boruto laughed maniacally and stopped holding himself back. He relaxed his mind and body, and patterns started forming on Boruto's body from the Karma.

Momoshiki manifested in the body of Boruto.

"That's right. You lowly people all deserve to die!"

The distorted laugh echoed throughout the whole forest.

And so, the fight began. The whole village trembled at the KI spreading through the atmosphere starting from the forest of death.

Boruto smirked in his unconscious mind seeing Momoshiki slowly failing to deafeat the two greatest shinobis.

There was a reason he refused to eat food. No matter how much energy Momoshiki possessed, if the body is weak, Momoshiki can't fight effectively.

"Chidori!"

"Giant rasengan!"

Cough!

Boruto's body swayed left and right. Blood oozed from the two holes that just formed on his chest by Sasuke's and Naruto's jutsus.

"Well done..." Boruto coughed out, smiling softly at Naruto's and Sasuke's shocked expressions.

To be continued...