THIRTEEN DAYS AGO - HOKAGE OFFICE
The evening had deepened into a star-dusted night over Konohagakure. From the window of the Hokage Office, the village lights twinkled like scattered jewels against the inky canvas of the sky. The Hokage Office itself stood as a silent sentinel, its upper floors illuminated, casting a warm glow against the cool, dark expanse. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves of the trees in the distance, carrying the faint sounds of a village settling into slumber.
Inside the office, the air still hummed with the weight of their recent revelations. Sasuke, his expression thoughtful, carefully retrieved the purple scroll from Naruto's desk, his movements precise as he tucked it securely within the folds of his black cloak. The ancient symbols on its surface seemed to shimmer faintly in the lamplight, holding secrets yet to be unveiled.
Naruto, the lines of worry on his face softening slightly with a sense of purpose, reached for his Hokage haori, which hung draped over the back of his chair. The white cloak, emblazoned with the crimson swirl, felt familiar and grounding as he slipped his arms through its sleeves. Turning to Shikamaru, who stood observing with his usual calm intensity, Naruto spoke with a decisive tone.
"Shikamaru, I'm going to head home for now. I want to... check on that turtle. You take charge here at the office. Tell mecwhen the Cipher Corps is gathered and instruct them that they will be under Sasuke and help make progress with the scroll."
Shikamaru gave a curt nod, his gaze already drifting towards the piles of documents, his mind likely already strategizing. "Understood, Naruto. Leave it to me."
Naruto and Sasuke then walked towards the office door, the silence between them carrying the unspoken gravity of their conversation. As they stepped out into the dimly lit corridor, Naruto turned to his long-time friend.
"So, Sasuke," Naruto began, his tone casual yet carrying a hint of hope, "how long do you think your stay will be this time?"
Sasuke paused for a moment, his dark eyes gazing out towards the night sky. "I'll remain until the information on that scroll is fully extracted. We need to know what we're dealing with."
As Naruto and Sasuke walked side-by-side down the dimly lit corridor of the Hokage Building, the weight of their earlier conversation about Kaguya's dimension and the potential for new threats hung heavy in the air.
Naruto, his brow slightly furrowed, broke the silence, his voice carrying a hint of the weariness he felt.
"I really don't want another war like that ever again..." The memories of the Fourth Great Ninja War, the sacrifices and the sheer scale of destruction, still lingered, a shadow in his mind.
Sasuke, ever perceptive, noticed the tension in Naruto's shoulders. He reached out a hand and placed it briefly but firmly on Naruto's shoulder, a silent gesture of understanding and reassurance.
Naruto looked at Sasuke, a flicker of gratitude in his blue eyes. Then, Sasuke reached into the depths of his black cloak and pulled out a familiar piece of clothing.
It was Naruto's old jacket, the bright orange faded and stained with the grime of countless missions. It was worn thin in places, the fabric softened by time and the relentless efforts of a young, determined shinobi.
Naruto stopped in his tracks, his eyes widening in surprise as he took in the sight of his old genin jacket. "My clothes? Why do you have that?" A wave of nostalgia washed over him, a sudden rush of memories of his younger, more reckless days.
Sasuke's gaze was steady. "I found it on my way here." His explanation was simple, devoid of unnecessary detail. "Huh?" Naruto's surprise deepened. "Near your house." Sasuke clarified, his eyes meeting Naruto's.
Naruto reached out and gently took the worn jacket, his fingers tracing the faded Konoha symbol on the back. A soft, almost wistful smile touched his lips. "I see..."
Sasuke then shifted the topic slightly, a rare hint of observation in his voice. "And I also met your kid. Seems just like you when you were young."
Naruto chuckled softly. "He's nothing like I was. He's a lot more like you when you were young." He glanced at Sasuke, a playful smirk on his face, expecting his usual stoic reaction. Sasuke's expression remained unchanged, a perfect mask of neutrality.
Naruto's smile widened. "No... I take that back. He's different from you too. The clothes he wears always look brand new. I guess guys like us are behind the times." He gestured to his own torn clothes, a stark contrast to Boruto's pristine attire.
Sasuke's dark eyes flickered down to Naruto's jacket, a thoughtful expression crossing his features for a fleeting moment. "No," he said quietly, his voice carrying a rare note of conviction. "You're wrong."
Naruto looked at Sasuke, genuinely surprised by his friend's unexpected statement.
Sasuke's gaze returned to Naruto's eyes.
"The soul of a shinobi always remains the same... even if time changes." His words held a depth that resonated with their shared history and the enduring bonds they forged.
A warm smile spread across Naruto's face. "I wonder about that. Anyways, I think I win this argument."
A ghost of a smile touched the corners of Sasuke's lips, a rare and genuine expression. "You are one to talk, dobe." The old, familiar banter, a testament to their enduring rivalry and unbreakable friendship, filled the quiet corridor.
Naruto's smile widened slightly, a touch of his old, hopeful self returning. "Well, while you're here... you should really try to spend more time with Sarada and Sakura-chan..." He trailed off, a playful nudge in his voice, anticipating a typical stoic response from his friend. "...you know..."
But before Naruto could finish his sentence, a familiar ripple distorted the air beside him. In the blink of an eye, Sasuke vanished, leaving only a faint swirl of residual chakra.
Naruto sighed, a wry smile returning to his lips. "Yare yare... some things never change." He shook his head, a mixture of amusement and understanding in his expression, before heading in the opposite direction towards his home.
Outside the Hokage Building, the evening air was growing cooler, the last vestiges of sunset fading into a deep twilight. Just as Sasuke emerged, his figure a study in dark hues against the illuminated windows of the tower, he saw a figure barreling towards him. It was Boruto, his blonde hair flying in his wake, his youthful energy palpable even from a distance.
"Sasuke-san?!" Boruto called out, his voice slightly breathless as he skidded to a halt in front of the Uchiha. "Were you in there talking to my Tou-chan...?" His tone held a mixture of curiosity and a hint of suspicion.
Sasuke met Boruto's gaze, his expression typically impassive. "We're done." His words were concise, offering no further explanation.
A flicker of disappointment crossed Boruto's face. "Oh... Okay." He seemed to accept the brevity of Sasuke's reply, though a hint of lingering curiosity remained in his eyes.
Then, Sasuke's gaze sharpened slightly, a hint of his perceptive nature showing. "You said that you wanted to beat up your Tou-chan... right?" His tone was neutral, almost an observation.
Boruto's earlier disappointment vanished, replaced by a spark of youthful defiance. "Yeah!" His voice held a firm conviction. "And if you'll interfere with that..." He didn't finish his sentence, instead breaking into a run directly towards Sasuke, his small fists clenched at his sides. "I'm not gonna hold back!"
Just as Boruto reached him, Sasuke's leg shot out with lightning-fast precision, a swift kick aimed squarely at the younger boy's side. Boruto gasped, the impact sending him sprawling onto the stone pavement. But with a resilience typical of his age, he scrambled back to his feet within seconds, clutching his side.
"Hey! What the hell!" he exclaimed, a mix of pain and indignation in his voice.
Sasuke stood his ground, his gaze unwavering. "You think you're ready to take him on like that?"
Boruto's eyes widened slightly, a flicker of surprise crossing his features. 'I never even saw his attack coming,' he thought, a grudging respect for Sasuke's speed dawning within him.
But Boruto's pride wouldn't allow him to back down. With a burst of focused chakra, his hands flashed through the familiar seals. "Let's do this!" he declared, and with a puff of smoke, two identical shadow clones materialized beside him.
Together, the three Borutos charged towards Sasuke. Yet, the seasoned shinobi moved with an effortless grace. Without even drawing his sword, he moved with a blur, a swift series of precise movements that sent the clones scattering.
One poofed out of existence near the building's wall, the other dissolving into nothingness near a nearby lamppost. In the blink of an eye, Sasuke's hand shot out and gripped Boruto's wrist tightly, his hold like iron.
Boruto struggled against Sasuke's grip, his face contorted with effort. "Y-You're so strong!" he gasped, unable to break free.
Sasuke simply stated, his tone neutral, "Satisfied?" He released Boruto's wrist as abruptly as he had seized it.
Boruto, still slightly winded, suddenly looked up at Sasuke with an excited gleam in his eyes. " Amazing...So the rumors were true... Sasuke-san, you used to be my Tou-chan's rival, right?"
Sasuke's impassive expression flickered for a moment, a hint of surprise registering in his dark eyes.
Before Sasuke could respond, Boruto continued, his voice filled with earnest pleading. "Please make me your student! I just have to get back at my Tou-chan no matter what it takes. He sent a shadow clone to my kid sister's birthday! He broke our sacred man-to-man promise! I can't forgive him for that!" A touch of genuine sadness clouded Boruto's youthful features. "He keeps treating me like a little kid... He doesn't even pay attention to me, normally."
Sasuke's gaze swept over Boruto, his sharp eyes noticing something beyond the boy's words. "I see... Brand new, huh?" he murmured, his tone enigmatic. Boruto's brow furrowed in confusion. "Huh? What's brand new?" He didn't understand Sasuke's cryptic remark.
A faint, almost imperceptible smile touched Sasuke's lips, a fleeting echo of a long-ago camaraderie as he seemed to see a glimpse of a young, determined Naruto in the boy before him. "Can you do the Rasengan?" he asked abruptly.
"Huh... The Rasengan...?" Boruto repeated, his face blank with confusion. Seeing Boruto's reaction, Sasuke offered a brief explanation. "Rasengan's the one where you do... change in a change in chakra form or whatever, right?"
Disappointment washed over Boruto's face. He didn't know how to perform such a complex jutsu. Sasuke's gaze remained steady. "You want to get back at Naruto, right?" He paused, then continued, "At this stage, if you can't do even that much..."
Boruto looked down, a wave of embarrassment washing over him.
"So you really didn't know..." Sasuke concluded, his tone flat. "Then you can't be a student of mine." He turned his back on Boruto and began to walk away.
Boruto was startled, his earlier excitement turning to disbelief. He hadn't expected such a blunt rejection. "Hey! Th-That's—" he stammered, quickly stepping in front of Sasuke, blocking his path. "So if I can do it, you'll make me your student... Sasuke-san?"
His disappointment now fueled by a desperate hope. A new spark ignited in Boruto's eyes, his earlier sadness replaced by a surge of determination. "That's a piece of cake! I'll go master it right away!"
He turned sharply, his earlier frustration now channeled into a burst of youthful energy, and began to sprint away, eager to learn the Rasengan and finally earn Sasuke's mentorship.
SARUTOBI HOUSEHOLD
The Sarutobi household stood nestled in the quiet of the night, its traditional Japanese architecture softened by the gentle moonlight. Dark, tiled roofs and light cream walls were subtly illuminated, while shadowed verandas and the carefully arranged stones of the small garden exuded a sense of peaceful tranquility. Soft light emanated from within the house through shoji screens, hinting at the life stirring within its walls.
In the broad moonlight, the stillness of the night was suddenly broken by a youthful, energetic voice. "Nii-chan... C'mon Konohamaru nii-chan, dattebasa!" It was the unmistakable sound of Boruto, his impatience echoing through the otherwise silent neighborhood.
Moments later, one of the gates to the property slid open with a soft creak. Konohamaru emerged, his appearance suggesting he had been abruptly woken. He was rubbing his eyes sleepily, his hair slightly disheveled. "What's all this about, Kure?" he mumbled, still trying to shake off the remnants of sleep.
Boruto, his youthful face alight with urgency, exclaimed, "You have to teach me how to do your Rasengan right now! I have to master it as soon as possible!"
The mention of the Rasengan and the urgency in Boruto's voice instantly banished the sleep from Konohamaru's eyes. He stood up straighter, a look of surprised excitement spreading across his face. "Huh? So, in other words... It's your secret weapon for the Chunin Exams?! To shock Lord Seventh, is that correct! At last you're talking like a real shinobi!" Konohamaru spoke with genuine enthusiasm, his voice rising slightly with excitement.
Hearing Konohamaru's interpretation, Boruto gave a big, silly grin and scratched the back of his head, looking away sheepishly. "Yeah... Sure," he mumbled, knowing full well his true motivation was to impress Sasuke, not necessarily to shock his father during the exams.
Konohamaru, oblivious to Boruto's real intentions, clenched his fist, a wave of pride swelling within him. 'Imagine that! Me being the instructor who gets to pass on this incredible jutsu!'
A surge of emotion welled up within him, and large, happy tears welled in his eyes. He looked towards the distant silhouette of the Hokage Rock, where the carved faces of the Hokage, including the Fourth and the Seventh, stood watch over the village. 'Oh, Yondaime-sama... Nanadaime-sama,' he thought, his fist tightening further, a solemn vow forming in his heart. 'I swear to fulfill this very important duty!'
Konohamaru, wiping the happy tears from his eyes with a grin, clapped Boruto on the shoulder. "Alright, Boruto! Tonight's too late to really get started. But don't worry, I'll make sure you master it! Let's meet up first thing in the morning at our usual training ground. You know the one, right?"
He paused, remembering their team's schedule. "Oh, wait. We have that mission scheduled for the afternoon, so morning it is!"
Boruto's face lit up even more, his earlier impatience replaced by an eager anticipation. "Alright! Got it, nii-chan! First thing in the morning!" He pumped his fist in the air, his youthful energy bubbling over.
Turning to leave the Sarutobi household, he called out a cheerful apology, his voice echoing slightly in the quiet night. "Sorry for disturbing, Nii-chan!"
He then bounded off the stone path and onto the quieter streets of Konoha. A wide, unrestrained smile stretched across his face. The prospect of learning the Rasengan, of finally earning Sasuke's recognition, filled him with an almost giddy joy.
He practically skipped down the darkened lanes, his steps light and springy. He swayed slightly from side to side, a silent, clumsy dance of pure happiness playing out under the soft glow of the village lanterns.
His earlier frustration was completely forgotten, replaced by an infectious optimism. The night air seemed to hum with his excitement as he made his way home, already picturing himself mastering the legendary jutsu.
Finally, Boruto reached his own home. From the outside, it was a warm and inviting two-story house, nestled amongst other similar dwellings in a peaceful residential area of Konoha. Soft light spilled from the windows, casting a gentle glow onto the small garden that lined the front path. A simple wooden gate marked the entrance to their property, offering a sense of cozy domesticity.
His heart still thrumming with excitement from the prospect of learning the Rasengan, Boruto pressed the doorbell. "Ding-dong," it chimed softly. His eyes were closed, his mind already replaying scenarios of Sasuke's impressed reaction once he mastered the jutsu, a goofy grin plastered across his face.
The sound of shuffling from within was followed by the click of the latch. The gate swung open, revealing a familiar voice, tinged with a hint of gentle concern. "Oh... you're finally back."
Boruto's eyes snapped open, the imagined praise from Sasuke instantly replaced by the sight of the speaker. Standing in the doorway, his silhouette framed by the warm light of the living room, was none other than his father, Naruto Uzumaki.
A wave of shock washed over Boruto. He hadn't expected his father to be home at this hour, especially after the chaotic events of the day. The shock quickly morphed into a simmering anger.
He barged past his father, stepping loudly into the genkan, his earlier happiness completely evaporated. "You—!" Boruto exclaimed, his voice rising with indignation as he turned to face Naruto.
"How dare you show your face here after what all you did today, huh?" His fists clenched at his sides, his intention to lash out physically clear.
But before Boruto could take another step, a bright, innocent voice called out from deeper within the house. "Nii-chan, what's the matter? Hurry up, look what Papa brought!"
It was his younger sister, Himawari, her cheerful tone completely contrasting the tense atmosphere that had just descended upon the doorway.
Stepping out from behind Himawari, Hinata offered Boruto a gentle, reassuring smile. Her soft lavender eyes held a warmth that instantly calmed the lingering tension in the air. "Hurry up, Boruto. Hima has been waiting for you since a long time, and the food will get cold." Her voice was soft but carried a clear invitation to set aside their earlier conflict.
Boruto's gaze flickered from his mother to his father. Naruto stood just inside the doorway, his usual boisterous energy replaced by a quiet understanding. He offered Boruto a big, warm smile, the kind that had always melted away Boruto's childish anger.
With a gentle, fatherly gesture, Naruto reached out and placed a hand on Boruto's head, a silent acknowledgment of his earlier outburst and an unspoken offering of forgiveness. It was a simple touch, but it conveyed volumes of unspoken love and acceptance.
Then, turning and walking further into the warmly lit living room, Naruto said, his voice carrying a familiar cheerfulness, "Well, Boruto... hurry up and wash your hands. We're about to cut the cake." The simple act of including him in the birthday celebration, despite their earlier argument, filled the room with a sense of reconciliation.
A wave of relief and happiness washed over Boruto. A small, satisfied smile touched his lips, and a few unshed tears glistened in his eyes. This was what he had wanted all along – not necessarily a grand apology, but a simple acknowledgment, a return to the familiar warmth of his family.
He mumbled a quiet, heartfelt, "Okay, just a minute," his earlier anger completely dissipated, replaced by a deep sense of belonging. The night, which had begun with frustration and a desperate need for external validation, was ending with the quiet comfort of family love. Himawari's birthday had, in its own way, brought them back together.
---
QUIZ QUESTION
The small turtle creature, Uraume, was found within the "gift" from Kaguya's Palace. Given that the Cipher Corps will be investigating the purple scroll and Naruto intends to "check on" the turtle, what is the most likely role Uraume will play in the unfolding narrative?
a) It is a harmless creature brought back by Sasuke as a curiosity.
b) It contains a key to deciphering the information within the purple scroll.
c) Hikaru will attempt to capture or utilize Uraume for his own purposes in the future.
d) It will be studied by Konoha's scientists to understand interdimensional biology.
Please share your answers in the comments down below!
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Dear Readers,
I would like to sincerely apologize for some slight inconsistencies and potential confusion that may have arisen in the preceding chapters.
To ensure a smoother and more enjoyable reading experience, I kindly request that you take a moment to revisit the following chapters:
* Chapter 2: Remembering the Beginning
* Chapter 11: On the Eve of Destruction
* Chapter 23: From Death's Doorstep
* Chapter 26: Naruto and Kurama: A Bond of Trust
Rereading these chapters will help solidify certain plot points, character motivations, and the overall timeline as we move forward. Your understanding and patience are greatly appreciated as we continue to unfold this story.
Thank you for your continued support!