Boruto the Akatsuki: In Search of Power

Previous Chapter: The troubles with the Rock Village had come to an end, and Boruto took Kirara with him in order to strengthen her and add her to his forces. After completing the mission at the Rock, Boruto returned to Konoha, where Naruto and Shikamaru assigned him a new mission. However, Boruto decided to take three days off before continuing.

During that time, he visited the graves of his fallen friends and then met up with Kuroshhi to complete Kirara's body, placing a new heart in it. Once everything was finished, a new member joined Boruto's group, further strengthening his team.

In a flash, Boruto appeared atop the Kages' faces. The wind blew strongly from that height, making his cloak flutter and his locks of hair toss. From there, he looked out over the village of Konoha, scanning the streets filled with life and the bustle of people. He took a deep breath before muttering:

—Three days have passed… My vacation is over.

He paused briefly, closing his eyes to concentrate. Then he opened them and said:

—Mom and Himawari… I don't feel them in the village. Not even the old man.

He remained silent for a few more seconds, letting the air clear his thoughts. Finally, he disappeared in a flash, leaving the lonely peak behind.

In the Hokage building, Naruto and Shikamaru were sitting in the office, deep in conversation about recent missions. Piles of documents were stacked on the table, reflecting the constant work they were facing. Right in the middle of their chat, Boruto suddenly appeared in a flash of light.

Naruto and Shikamaru looked up in unison.

—Oh, Boruto. You came just in time —Naruto greeted with a smile.

—Hello, Boruto —Shikamaru added in a more neutral tone.

Boruto responded with a slight nod.

"How was your vacation?" Naruto asked, leaning forward slightly, curious about his son's answer.

"They were fine," Boruto replied indifferently, though his eyes drifted to the table full of papers. "But I see you're still dealing with the same old paperwork."

Naruto laughed awkwardly, scratching the back of his head as he looked at the stack of documents in front of him.

"It's the same old thing. It seems I'll never be able to take a vacation," he admitted with resignation.

Boruto sighed and changed the subject.

—By the way, I didn't sense Mom or Himawari's chakra. Where are they?

The question took Naruto by surprise, although he was quick to respond.

—They went camping with Grandpa. Don't worry about that.

Boruto nodded, accepting the explanation. However, Shikamaru interjected curiously.

—Your ability as a sensor is impressive, Boruto. How far away can you sense chakra? Plus, you seem to differentiate them very easily.

Boruto turned his gaze to Shikamaru, responding with a mix of indifference and confidence.

—It's not that bad. It's just that the sensors in this village don't know how to use their ability properly.

The comment made Shikamaru frown, visibly annoyed.

—What do you mean by that? —he asked in a serious tone.

—I think you understood perfectly, Shikamaru. The sensors in this village trust their ability too much, but they don't know how to make the most of it —Boruto replied firmly.

Tension filled the room as the two stared at each other. Naruto, noticing the situation, intervened in an authoritative tone.

—That's enough, you two!

Silence fell immediately. Boruto sighed and dropped the topic, calmly asking again:

—Where is the mission you mentioned?

Shikamaru, still annoyed but willing to continue, rubbed his head before replying:

—You'll have to head to the border with the Land of Wind, to a place known for its strange mushroom-like rocks. Sasuke reported that something strange is happening there while following the Otsutsuki's trail.

Boruto nodded, processing the information.

—Understood. I'll meet up with Sasuke and we'll follow the plan.

Naruto and Shikamaru nodded at the same time, watching as Boruto disappeared again in a flash of light.

Once Boruto left, Shikamaru sighed deeply.

—Boruto is always a pain… Insulting Konoha's sensors as if it were nothing.

Naruto gave an awkward smile.

—It's true that he was a bit rude, but I can't deny that he's right. His ability as a sensor is on another level. He is an Uzumaki after all. In addition, his chakra has increased considerably, which also improved his perception ability.

Shikamaru nodded slowly.

—I wonder if it's really possible to improve a sensor's ability with training.

—Maybe not the range, but the ability to recognize chakra. That's something that can definitely be trained —Naruto answered thoughtfully.

Shikamaru let out a light laugh.

—Let's hope the mission is a success. Although, according to Sasuke, it seems that those from the Arena are also involved.

Naruto adopted a more serious expression.

—I hope nothing serious happens.

Shikamaru sighed and started walking towards the door.

—Well, it's my turn to continue with my part. Don't overwork yourself, Naruto.

Naruto let out a light laugh.

—I'll try... But I don't promise anything.

With that, Shikamaru left the office, closing the door behind him. Naruto stood there thoughtfully for a few moments, looking at the papers piled up in front of him.

"That kid… He's got a long way to go, but I can't deny he's making fast progress," he muttered before turning back to his work.

Meanwhile, Boruto was already on his way to his next mission, determined to fulfill what was expected of him.

Boruto appeared in a forest, observing his surroundings carefully. He took a deep breath and muttered to himself:

—It seems that this is as far as I can go.

He turned his gaze towards a specific direction and, without wasting any time, began to leap between the trees at high speed. With an agile movement, he pulled out a three-pronged kunai and threw it forward. In a flash, Boruto teleported towards the kunai, repeating the trick several times. His speed increased with each leap, turning into a blur that could barely be distinguished between the trees. His cape fluttered in the wind, keeping up with the frenetic pace of his movements.

After a while, Boruto stopped jumping, finally reaching the borders between the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind. There, the trees disappeared, giving way to open ground. He descended from a tree gracefully, landing softly on the ground.

Without stopping, he began to run at full speed, repeating the same trick as before: he threw the kunai and teleported towards him, advancing at an unstoppable pace. The wind whipped his face as he crossed the terrain, determined to reach his destination as quickly as possible.

The hours passed slowly, but Boruto continued on his way without stopping. He crossed the vast sands of the Land of Wind until he finally reached his destination: a place where strange, mushroom-like rock formations cast shadows in the middle of the desert.

Boruto stopped to observe his surroundings carefully. He approached one of the largest rocks and sat down under its shadow, seeking shelter from the scorching heat. He stretched out his hand and made a sign with his hand, and in a puff of smoke, a container for carrying water appeared. He calmly uncovered the container and drank, letting the liquid soothe his dry throat.

As he drank, his eyes kept scanning the place. The heat was so intense that it made the stones seem to glow under the sun's rays, distorting the air around them. Boruto took a deep breath and muttered to himself:

—This place really is an oven… what a boring place, I prefer cold and quiet places.

Boruto stopped drinking and sighed deeply. He then tilted the bowl and drank until he had finished all the water in it. He stared at the bowl for a few seconds before performing a seal with his hands, causing it to disappear in a cloud of smoke.

He stood up and started running again, this time without using the Hiraishin, while carefully observing his surroundings, looking for any clue that would lead him to where Sasuke was. However, he stopped abruptly when he felt several presences nearby. He turned his gaze in one direction and thought:

—I sense several chakras in that direction...

Boruto began to run towards the source of the presences. As he did, he noticed something unusual around him: black flames covering certain areas of the ground. He frowned and muttered,

"It seems they are in quite an intense fight…"

From deep within, Momoshhiki spoke with his characteristic coldness:

"Human, up ahead is Urashhiki."

Boruto narrowed his gaze, a lopsided smile appearing on his face as he confidently replied,

"I understand. I'll take care of him."

Not far from Boruto, an intense battle was taking place. Sasuke and Gaara were facing Urashhiki. Sasuke, using his sword, blocked the enemy's attacks with precision, while Gaara used his sand to create explosions that shook the surroundings. However, the terrain showed signs of a prolonged battle. A large spherical structure, possibly a barrier made of sand, lay completely destroyed on the spot, evidencing the intensity of the confrontation.

When Boruto arrived at the location, he stopped and looked for a vantage point from which to observe. He hid behind a nearby rock, his eyes intent on the fight as he assessed the situation.

Gaara slowly raised his hand, and a large wave of sand rose behind him, as if it had a life of its own. With a swift movement, he launched the sand at Urashhiki, who, with astonishing speed, began to fly, dodging the attacks with agile and precise movements. Each impact of the sand against the ground generated rumbling sounds that shook the place, raising dust and fragments of rock everywhere.

Sasuke, standing a few feet away, activated his Mangekyo Sharingan. In an instant, he disappeared from his position and appeared beside Urashhiki, brandishing his katana with a speed almost impossible to follow.

"You're fast, but not fast enough," Sasuke muttered, as he launched a slash straight at Urashhiki.

Urashhiki responded quickly, intercepting the katana with his fishing rod. Sparks flew as the weapons clashed, creating a metallic echo that resonated across the battlefield. Sasuke did not back down; instead, he stepped up his offense, launching a series of quick, precise slashes. Urashhiki, despite his speed, barely managed to block each one, his face showing a mix of concentration and annoyance.

"Now, Gaara!" Sasuke shouted as he continued to pressure his opponent.

Taking advantage of the distraction, Gaara sent his sand out in the form of two large arms that extended towards Urashhiki from both sides. Seeing the danger, Urashhiki performed a sharp turn in the air, narrowly dodging the attack. However, Gaara's sand did not stop; in one fluid motion, it reorganized into multiple filaments, attempting to ensnare Urashhiki.

"Damn it!" Urashhiki growled, throwing his fishing rod towards Sasuke to gain some space.

Sasuke reacted quickly, blocking the attack with his katana. The clash of chakra between the two weapons created an explosion that sent both combatants reeling back. Taking advantage of the moment, Urashhiki rose even higher into the air, dodging another attempt by Gaara to trap him with his sand.

Gaara didn't stop. He extended both arms, and immediately a large amount of sand began to rise from the ground, forming a dense cloud that covered the sky. Urashhiki watched cautiously as the sand moved erratically, as if seeking to block all possible escape routes.

"You can't run forever," Gaara stated in his cold, calculating tone.

Urashhiki, with a cocky smile, created several spheres of water and launched them towards Sasuke and Gaara. Sasuke quickly performed a series of hand seals.

—Katon: Gokakyu no Jutsu! —he exclaimed, firing a large fireball that collided with the spheres, creating an explosion that shook the ground.

The explosion was seized upon by Gaara, who used the confusion to engulf Urashhiki in a vortex of sand. For a moment, it seemed as if he had trapped him.

"It's your end!" Gaara said, clenching his fist to close the trap.

However, before the sand could crush him, Urashhiki released a wave of chakra that dispersed the trap, shattering the sand structure and forcing Gaara back a few steps.

"Is that all you have?" Urashhiki taunted from the air, his eyes shining with confidence.

Sasuke, far from giving up, appeared again in front of Urashhiki thanks to his Rinnegan. This time, wielding his Chidori -covered katana , he launched a direct attack, aiming for his enemy's torso. Urashhiki reacted instinctively, blocking the attack with his fishing rod, but the Chidori 's electrical energy reached him, causing burns on his arm.

" Tch !" he growled, backing away as he tried to regain control.

Sasuke landed next to Gaara, his eyes fixed on his opponent.

—We don't have time for games. I'll finish this now.

Urashhiki looked at Sasuke with disdain, and his eyes shifted to the Rinne Sharingan. Behind him, a portal appeared from which several puppet-like figures emerged. These, with mechanical movements but incredible speed, launched themselves at Sasuke and Gaara.

Sasuke, without wasting any time, brandished his katana and ran towards them with agility. A frenzied fight began, cutting down the puppets one after another, while more continued to appear. For his part, Gaara used his sand to destroy all those that came close, blocking and crushing the figures with precise and fast movements.

Urashhiki looked at his own injured arm, and it quickly regenerated. Then, from his waist, where he was wearing a gourd made of red and white energy, sand began to emerge. With a wave of his arm, he sent a powerful sand attack towards Sasuke and Gaara.

Sasuke saw the attack coming, and in an instant, purple ribs surrounded him, forming a solid protection. The remaining puppets tried to attack him, but none managed to break through the defense. Suddenly, two large skeletal arms emerged from the ribs, destroying all the puppets in one move. Ligaments began to form, followed by a layer of flesh, and within seconds, Sasuke's Susanoo appeared in its first form.

Urashhiki's sand reached Sasuke, but was unable to penetrate the Susanoo 's defense . Gaara, on the other hand, rose into the sky using his sand, dodging the attack with precision.

Urashhiki watched the two in amusement. Meanwhile, Sasuke's Susano'o prepared to fire an arrow. The energy gathered and in the blink of an eye, the arrow shot towards Urashhiki at astonishing speed.

Urashhiki reacted quickly, dodging the attack with a nimble movement while smiling. In that instant, Gaara launched multiple sand attacks towards him. Urashhiki began to move at full speed, dodging each attack until he reached the ground. However, upon touching the ground, Gaara's sand caught his feet, immobilizing him.

Sasuke took advantage of the moment and fired another arrow from his Susanoo straight at Urashhiki. Urashhiki's eyes widened, and the Rinne Sharingan glowed brightly. A portal appeared in front of him, devouring him just before the arrow hit him.

The arrow struck the spot where Urashhiki had been, causing a deafening roar.

—BOOM!

A portal appeared in the air, and Urashhiki emerged from it with a mischievous smile, as if nothing had happened.

Gaara began to descend beside Sasuke, preparing for combat. Urashhiki looked at them with amusement, but his expression changed when he perceived something from the destroyed sphere. He turned his gaze slightly and began to move at full speed, dodging a sudden attack: an iron sand bullet that grazed him dangerously.

From the destroyed sphere Shinki emerged, spreading his iron wings and landing beside his father.

"What are you doing here, Shinki?" Gaara asked, his tone stern. "I told you to protect Shukaku."

Before Shinki could respond, a rumble echoed from the destroyed sphere.

—BOOM!

A large fragment of the sphere was destroyed, and from the rubble emerged Shukaku, the One-Tailed Biju.

Urashhiki watched him, his eyes shining with excitement. A mocking smile appeared on his face as he spoke:

—Wow, wow... what an incredible amount of chakra. Hahahaha !

Shukaku, unmoved by Urashhiki's words, opened his mouth. Wind began to rage around him, gathering into a compressed sphere within his mouth. Moments later, a devastating bolt of wind shot towards Urashhiki, creating a deafening roar and leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.

—BOOM!

Urashhiki managed to dodge the attack at the last second, laughing as he spoke:

—What an incredible power! Hahaha! You will be my next meal, Shukaku.

The Biju didn't wait. It extended one of its huge sand hands towards Urashhiki, attempting to crush him into the ground.

—BOOM!

The impact shook the ground, but Urashhiki moved quickly through the air, nimbly dodging each attack.

From below, Shukaku raised his voice, clearly irritated:

—Sasuke, how long are you going to hold back? Let's get this over with. This guy is really annoying me.

Sasuke, who remained silent, nodded determinedly.

-OK.

Gaara and the others backed away as Sasuke unleashed a massive amount of chakra. Within seconds, his Susanoo evolved into its full form: a colossal and terrifying suit of armor.

Urashhiki stepped back slightly, frowning angrily.

—Damn... who do they think they are?

Sasuke looked at him coldly, while his Susano pointed directly at Urashhiki.

—We are the ones who are going to kill you, Urashhiki.

Boruto, who was watching everything from behind some stones, sighed calmly and thought:

—It seems they're going all out... finally, I was getting bored.

He emerged from his hiding place and, with a nimble leap, landed on one of the highest rocks to better observe the fight. From within, Momoshhiki spoke in an indifferent tone as he sat on Galaga's head:

—So that's the One-Tailed Biju... I see.

Karasugan replied, interested:

—He looks pretty strong. I wonder who of the two would be more powerful, him or me.

Boruto replied with a slight smile:

—It's hard to say. He has a lot of chakra and his elements are complementary. It would be interesting to see that confrontation.

Karasugan thoughtfully commented:

—Maybe I could beat him if I attacked with everything from the start, unleashing my maximum power.

Boruto nodded slightly and replied:

—You're right. If you had used your full power when we first faced each other, I wouldn't have had even a 1% chance of defeating you.

Momoshiki, raising an eyebrow, turned to Karasugan:

—Are you strong? When we fought before, I easily defeated you.

Karasugan looked at him calmly and replied confidently:

—Everything was going according to plan. I needed you to underestimate me so you wouldn't take extra precautions. But apparently it didn't quite work, because here you are.

Momoshhiki let out a dry laugh and replied:

—Whatever you say, bird. But that eye on your forehead... it's interesting.

Karasugan didn't respond, just watching the fight again, concentrating on every move.

Outside the mindspace, Gaara kept his guard up, prepared for what was to come. Meanwhile, he looked to the side and, a few meters away on a rock, he noticed Boruto's presence. For a moment, surprise crossed his face, and he thought:

—Apparently, they sent him. I wonder what he plans to do.

Boruto felt Gaara's gaze and returned his attention, both exchanging a brief but meaningful glance. Without saying a word, the two returned their attention to the fight taking place in front of them.

The Susanoo waved its hand and unsheathed a sword with an imposing movement. At that instant, a rumble shook the battlefield.

BOOM!

With a single slash, Susanoo's sword split the ground in two, sending out a powerful shockwave in a straight line. The ground cracked violently, raising an immense cloud of dust that covered the entire place.

At the same time, Shukaku opened his mouth. Wind began to rage fiercely around him, gathering into a compressed sphere within his mouth. Moments later, a devastating bolt of wind was shot straight towards Urashhiki, unleashing a deafening blast and leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.

BOOM!

Those present raised their forearms to protect themselves from the impact as the cloud of dust enveloped them.

Gaara reacted quickly, moving his sand to lift his group into the air and out of the cloud of dust. They landed on top of a rock, from where they could better observe the fight.

The wind ruffled Boruto's cloak as he stood with his hands in his pockets, his gaze fixed on the battle.

As the thick cloud of dust began to dissipate, Urashhiki's silhouette emerged, floating in the air. His body was covered in wounds, and blood was pouring out from multiple cuts. With a gaze filled with fury, he glared at Sasuke and the Biju in front of him.

The Susanoo began to slowly advance towards Urashhiki, holding its huge sword firmly. Once in front of its enemy, it raised the sword into the air.

"It's over, Urashhiki," Sasuke declared coldly.

Urashhiki's eyes widened, he gritted his teeth and exclaimed in contempt:

—This will not be the end of me, inferior being!

At that instant, his eyes shifted to the Rinne Sharingan.

Sasuke realized Urashhiki's plan and immediately lowered the Susanoo's sword.

At that instant, Urashhiki was surprised by Sasuke's attack, and a portal appeared out of nowhere and began to absorb him. However, before he could completely escape, the Susanoo's sword reached him, managing to cut him before he disappeared.

BOOM!

The impact shook the earth and raised an immense cloud of dust, covering everything.

Sasuke clicked his tongue and muttered in annoyance:

—He got away… but Susanoo managed to catch up with him. I doubt he'll be back for a while.

Slowly, the Susanoo began to fade away, and Sasuke landed firmly on the ground, dissipating the cloud of dust around him.

From a safe distance, Boruto, who had been watching everything, looked in Shukaku's direction and leapt towards him.

At that moment, Gaara and Shinki approached Sasuke, and Gaara asked in a serious tone:

—Could you kill him?

Sasuke turned around and replied:

—I couldn't, but I surely left a wound on his body.

Gaara nodded and commented cautiously:

—Damn… In the future, I don't think he'll appear in front of you again. You were able to hurt him like this, he'll definitely take precautions.

Sasuke nodded and began walking towards Shukaku.

After a moment, the cloud of dust completely dissipated, revealing the imposing figure of Shukaku, with Boruto standing in front of him, watching him intently.

Sasuke was a little surprised and, coming closer, asked:

—Boruto, what are you doing here?

Without taking his eyes off the Biju, Boruto calmly replied:

—Konoha sent me here to support you, but it seems it wasn't necessary.

Sasuke stopped in front of him and commented:

-I understand…

Then, looking at Gaara, he asked:

—What are we going to do with the Biju, Gaara?

At that moment, a figure jumped out from the nearby rocks. It was Kankuro, who had remained hidden along with Shinki's team.

Kankuro hurried over and asked with concern:

—Gaara, are you okay?

Gaara looked at him calmly and replied:

-I'm fine.

Kankuro looked at Boruto and commented disdainfully:

—So Konoha sent you… but what can a kid like you do to help?

Gaara glanced at Boruto, but said nothing. Then, in a firm voice, he declared:

—It would be best to seal it.

Gaara turned to Shinki and ordered:

—Shinki, bring that thing.

Shinki nodded and after a moment handed Gaara an ancient black teapot.

Gaara approached Shukaku, stood in front of him and said:

—Shukaku.

The Biju looked at him suspiciously and replied:

—You're devastated.

Gaara gave a slight smile and replied:

—It's nothing serious... but I need you to trust me and do what I tell you.

Shukaku stared at him before reluctantly answering:

-No way.

Gaara placed the teapot on the ground and explained:

—Urashhiki can detect your chakra. The only way to avoid it, for now, is to seal you.

Shukaku frowned and replied:

—I'm not going in there.

Gaara kept his gaze steady and solemnly declared:

—Don't worry, Shukaku. I swear on my pride that I will protect you from Urashhiki.

Shukaku snorted and argued:

—If you use the sealing technique in that state, you will die.

Gaara replied without hesitation:

—If it's to protect you, it will be a minor sacrifice.

Shukaku stared at him intently for a few seconds, then sighed and muttered:

—I will not mourn your death…

With that, the Biju's body began to glow with a golden glow. With one last look at Gaara, he said:

—But I don't want you to appear to me when you're dead... This time, I'll enter of my own free will.

Shukaku's body transformed into golden dust, which quickly compressed into a luminous sphere before entering the pot. The pot emitted a faint glow, and after a few moments, it returned to normal.

Gaara carefully lifted her up, turned her over, and took out a sealing scroll, placing it on the base of the teapot before standing up.

Turning to Boruto and Sasuke, he announced:

—I give this to you to take to Konoha.

Sasuke walked over to Gaara, took the teapot, and nodded.

-I understand.

Kankuro also approached and asked with concern:

—But to Konoha… then?

Gaara looked at him and calmly replied:

—Naruto is in better condition. It's the only option.

Kankuro nodded silently.

Sasuke, without anything else to add, looked at Boruto and said:

—It's time for us to go. With your technique, it won't be a problem.

Boruto nodded without saying a word.

Sasuke said goodbye with one last look at Gaara and, touching Boruto's shoulder, commented:

—See you after you recover, Gaara.

At that instant, Boruto and Sasuke disappeared in a flash, leaving the place behind.

Those present looked at each other and began to walk back to their village.

Meanwhile, in Konoha, Boruto and Sasuke appeared in a flash inside the Hokage's office, where Naruto was alone, checking his computer.

Naruto noticed his presence, looked up and asked:

—Boruto? Sasuke? What happened? Why are you here?

Sasuke nodded slightly and replied:

—Hello. I have information about the Otsutsuki.

Naruto nodded and said:

—I'll call Shikamaru.

He picked up the phone on his desk, dialed a number, and after a few seconds, someone answered on the other end of the line.

—Shikamaru, come to my office immediately.

She hung up the phone and, looking back at Sasuke, noticed that he was holding something in his hands.

"What is that?" he asked curiously.

At that moment, Shukaku's head emerged from the black kettle, with two arms and two legs.

—Oooh , Naruto! We got here so fast .

Naruto was surprised to see the Biju and asked:

—Shukaku? Why are you in that teapot? What happened?

Sasuke walked to the desk and placed the teapot on the table.

"Gaara had me get into this thing and sent me to Konoha," Shukaku growled, "but I didn't expect to get there so quickly."

He then turned his head and looked at Boruto carefully.

—So this brat is the one with the space-time technique… Not bad.

Naruto smiled and said proudly:

—He is my son, Shukaku.

The Biju studied him for a few seconds and then nodded.

— Hmm … I see. Not bad, looks pretty strong.

Naruto scratched the back of his head with a smile and, laughing, commented:

—Yeah, right? Hahaha.

Boruto, unfazed, sighed and muttered:

—Now that the mission is over, it's time for me to go.

Just then, the office door opened and Shikamaru walked in.

"You better stay," he said in his carefree tone. "Your sensory skills will come in handy."

Boruto turned his head slightly and glanced at him.

—Shikamaru…

The advisor walked past Sasuke and Boruto, briefly greeting Sasuke before moving to stand next to Naruto.

"Tell me, what information do you have?" he asked as he scanned the crowd.

Boruto sighed, walked to the door and leaned against the wall with his eyes closed.

—I wasn't there from the beginning. Sasuke better tell you.

For a moment, everyone stared at him in silence. Shikamaru thought to himself: I thought he would leave the place… He is quite unpredictable. What a pain.

Then, Sasuke started to speak:

—The Otsutsuki's plan is to collect the Biju's chakra. While moving through space, I managed to track him to the Land of Wind, where, together with Gaara, we were able to fight him for a while. After that, Shukaku joined the fight and we managed to seriously injure him. He managed to escape, so I don't think he'll be showing up for a while.

Naruto and Shikamaru nodded seriously.

Sasuke continued:

—According to the information I obtained, he has the ability to steal chakra and use the user's abilities with his fishing rod made of energy. However, compared to Momoshiki, he is quite weak.

Boruto, who was listening to the entire conversation in his mindspace, spoke:

—Tell me, Momoshhiki, who is this Urashhiki? You told me to be careful around him earlier, but he didn't seem like much.

Momoshhiki, lying on Galaga's head, lazily replied:

—Urashhiki Otsutsuki is a kind of scout… He takes care of the annoying things at the beginning, clearing the way for us.

Boruto nodded and asked:

—That scout… does he belong to your eleventh family, Momoshhiki?

Momoshhiki shook his head, sighed and said:

—I'll tell you how the Otsutsuki clan system works.

Boruto nodded attentively, and Momoshiki continued:

—The clan is led by a leader, followed by his guardians. Each guardian has personal warriors under his command. After them come the eleven main families, then the branch families, and finally the branch families.

Boruto thought for a moment and asked:

—I understand… But how do secondary and branch families work?

Momoshiki explained:

—Branch families are pure-blooded Otsutsuki, but they do not have enough power to be among the top eleven. Instead, branch families arise from crossbreeding between Otsutsuki and other races. For example, if an Otsutsuki mates with a human, the child born from that union will be part of the branch family.

Boruto pondered over the information and then asked:

—I see… What about those like me?

Momoshhiki lowered his gaze and replied seriously:

—Those like you are rare. In all of space, only one percent manage to survive. Those who do are called "irregulars." They do not belong to any family nor are they tied to the system, as they directly inherit the abilities of their Otsutsuki.

Boruto stared at him and commented:

—So it's like that… I imagine families hunt them.

Momoshhiki sighed and clarified:

—They are not hunted, but they are looked down upon and discriminated against by the Otsutsuki. If an irregular was able to kill an Otsutsuki and appropriate their skills, it means that they have the right to belong to the clan. That is what creates conflict.

Boruto nodded, understanding.

—So, Urashhiki belongs to the second family.

"That's right," Momoshiki confirmed. "He's under the protection of the Fourth Family, which is in turn allied with the Eleventh Family. They did me a favor by sending him."

Boruto thought for a moment and then asked:

—It makes sense… But, like I asked you last time, I still have a question: how did you find Kaguya?

Momoshhiki sat down, looked at Boruto and replied suspiciously:

—Why do you want to know so much? It won't do you any good.

Boruto jumped and landed on top of Galaga's head.

—You… know something, right, Momoshhiki?

Momoshiki, who was lying down, stood up and looked at him arrogantly.

—Who do you think you are to speak to me that way, human?

Boruto didn't back down.

—I don't believe anyone... But I know you're hiding something. My instinct tells me so.

Momoshiki looked at him coldly.

—So tell me, human, what do you plan to do?

Boruto sighed, his gaze sharpened and his right eye changed to the Jougan.

"Do you think I'm afraid of you, Momoshiki?" he asked coldly.

Momoshiki glared at him, veins bulging out at the sides of his eyes as he activated the Byakugan.

Karasugan, who was watching the scene, intervened:

—Enough. If you start fighting, do you think anything will change? All you'll do is get even more upset, and that's not good for either of you.

Boruto sighed, ran his hand through his hair and replied:

-I understand.

He jumped and landed on the ground of his mental space. Then, looking at Momoshhiki, he added:

—I don't know what you're hiding or how much you know, but you'd better tell me. I won't press you any further, but in the future I hope you'll tell me yourself.

With that, Boruto disappeared from his mindspace.

Momoshhiki clicked his tongue and thought in frustration:

Damn… what do you know…?

Then he let go of his anger and lay back down on Galaga's head.

Galaga, who had remained silent the entire time, swallowed and relaxed.

Karasugan also sighed in relief.

Boruto opened his eyes outside of his mindspace and watched the conversation taking place.

Shukaku was talking, but he was doing it like Kurama was inside Naruto, as if they were fighting.

Shikamaru watched the scene with a frown, wondering what was going on, while Naruto tried to calm things down between the Biju.

Shukaku, still inside the teapot, was about to jump towards Naruto, but the latter held him firmly by the head.

Sasuke, who was watching the situation, smiled sideways and commented:

—Why make it so complicated?

Naruto sighed and replied:

—Well… So what? You better behave yourself, Shukaku. You'll be staying with me for a while.

Shukaku just grumbled and looked away, while Kurama, from inside Naruto, laughed in amusement.

Boruto, who had been watching silently, intervened:

—Shikamaru, why are you clapping?

Shikamaru turned to look at him and replied seriously:

—We're going to reinforce Konoha's security. We'll use your sensor ability to search the entire area of the village. Since the Otsutsuki can move through space-time, it will take time for Konoha's barriers to detect them. It's best if you inform us as soon as you detect something.

Boruto nodded.

—I understand, but I'll do it my way.

Shikamaru crossed his arms and added:

—You better get together with a team to give the reports.

Boruto, who was leaning against the wall, straightened up and replied indifferently:

—I'm just telling you what I'll do. But don't worry, I'll let you know in my own way if anything happens.

Shikamaru frowned and rubbed his head in annoyance.

Boruto took one last look at those present and said:

—See you later.

At that moment, Boruto disappeared in a flash.

Those present looked at each other, but Naruto broke the silence:

—It seems that Boruto won't be going home in the next few days.

Shikamaru sighed and replied:

—I'm sorry, Naruto, but your sensor ability is amazing.

Naruto shook his head.

—Don't worry... But I am worried —she said with a sad smile—. I wonder when he will change and be able to be a normal child.

Sasuke calmly intervened:

—When he grows up, he'll realize things. But I don't think he'll regret it... That's his style. He'll just live more quietly than he does now and, possibly, start spending more time with you.

Naruto and Shikamaru were surprised by his words. Naruto smiled slightly and commented:

—I hope so.

Sasuke silently thought: That will only be possible if no one takes anything from him or if he is not bothered by others…

Finally, he spoke:

—It's time for me to go. I'm going home... I haven't been there for a while.

Naruto and Shikamaru nodded. Sasuke left the office, leaving the conversation behind, while they continued with their work, reinforcing Konoha's security and increasing the number of guards.

Overhead, the sun was still shining, but clouds were beginning to gather, foreshadowing the coming storm.

Elsewhere, in a factory long forgotten by time, Boruto appeared in a flash. His cape billowed in the wind that seeped through the cracks in the walls. Sunlight streamed through the broken windows, casting long shadows on the dust-covered floor. A chilly breeze blew through the place, giving it a spectral feel.

Boruto walked calmly to the center of the room, where his throne stood. He watched it in silence for a few moments before muttering to himself:

—I haven't been here for days...

He slowly lowered his body onto the throne and sighed. The dim light streaming down from the windows high in the walls reflected in his blue eyes, the only visible glimmers in the place. He closed his eyes and concentrated, allowing his awareness to soak in his surroundings. Every sound, every vibration grew sharper as his perception expanded beyond the village walls.

Clouds, thick and menacing, covered the sky. Thunder rumbled in the distance, and soon after, rain began to fall upon Konoha. Drops pattered against the roofs and ground in a hypnotic rhythm. Boruto, immersed in his concentration, let his body relax as his sensory ability expanded like an invisible tide, encompassing vast distances beyond Konoha's walls.

From inside, Momoshhiki watched him with a mixture of laziness and admiration.

"This human… is really impressive," he thought. "He has entered a state of absolute concentration, as if he were hibernating, but his senses are still active."

With a slight smile, she decided to help him. She raised her arm and extended her palm, where her Rinnegan activated.

In the physical world, karma had been activated, dark marks appeared on Boruto's right arm, climbing up his skin until they reached his face.

Momoshiki lowered his arm and closed his eyes.

Kuroshhi, noticing the change, also closed his eyes, and Galaga, following his example, did the same.

Silence took over the abandoned factory, turning it into a sanctuary of calm and latent power followed by the sound of rain.

After a few hours, Naruto finally arrived home. Night had fallen over Konoha, and the cool breeze heralded the end of a long day. He carried Shukaku with him, and as soon as he walked through the door, Himawari ran over excitedly to see him.

"Shukaku!" she exclaimed joyfully, hugging the teapot where the biju temporarily resided.

The Uzumaki family ate dinner together, sharing a moment of calm amidst the day's tensions. As they cleared the table, Naruto explained to Hinata the reason why Boruto wouldn't be returning home for the next few days.

Hinata listened quietly and nodded softly. Knowing that her son was inside the village, safe and sound, was enough for her. Although she missed his presence, she trusted him.

—As long as I'm okay... that's all that matters —he murmured with a slight smile.

Naruto looked at her and smiled too, feeling the same relief in his heart.

After dinner, Naruto walked into the living room and sat on the floor, assuming the lotus position. He closed his eyes, relaxed his breathing, and sank into a deep state of concentration, connecting with his mental space.

Inside his mind, the Biju gathered around him, watching him intently. Naruto explained the current situation to them, sharing the recent events and the decisions made to protect the village. The Biju listened silently, taking in the information.

As the conversation ended, Naruto slowly opened his eyes, returning to reality. Outside, the night passed peacefully, as Konoha remained under the soft moonlight.

The days passed with apparent tranquility, but one night, on the outskirts of Konoha, the metallic sound of clashing swords echoed through the forest. Under the dim moonlight, a fierce battle was taking place.

Most of the Konoha ninja lay on the ground, defeated. Only one was still standing: Mirai Sarutobi. Panting, with her clothes torn and sweat running down her face, she held her kunai with determination.

In front of her, Urashhiki Otsutsuki watched her with amusement before moving in the blink of an eye. In an instant, his hand closed around Mirai's neck, lifting her off the ground with ease.

"The Hokage has hidden the biju …" he said in a mocking tone. "I imagine you don't know anything, but still, what do you say?"

Mirai glared at him defiantly, her eyes burning with determination.

"I'm sorry," he said firmly, "I don't know anything... but even if I did, I would never tell you."

Urashhiki smirked. With a flick of his fishing rod, he extracted Mirai's chakra, draining her of her life energy. She let out a stifled gasp before collapsing to the ground, her body limp. Her communicator fell a meter away, making a soft sound as it hit the ground.

The Otsutsuki observed the chakra floating in the hook of his rod: a mass of greenish energy that glowed in the darkness.

— Hmmm … Chakra specialized in genjutsu… Not bad.

Paying no more attention to Mirai, he began to walk. But then, the communicator on the floor emitted a slight noise, followed by the voices of other ninjas on the other end of the line.

Urashhiki stopped. His gaze locked on the small device and a mischievous smile appeared on his face.

—Looks like I just found the perfect way to deal with Konoha… —he whispered before letting out a laugh

In the Hokage's office, the tension was palpable. Naruto, Sasuke and Shikamaru were gathered together, seriously analyzing the situation.

—We've increased the number of guards more than anticipated… —Naruto commented with a sigh—. This is too much security.

"I don't think that's excessive," Shikamaru replied calmly. "That Otsutsuki has already absorbed chakra from several people. The more protection we have, the better."

—But we're not at war —Naruto objected—. The people in the village are starting to get worried.

Shikamaru crossed his arms.

—He can travel through space-time… But now that Sasuke is here, I doubt he'll dare to attack.

Naruto exhaled in frustration and muttered:

—I wish that Otsutsuki would come directly to me.

"He's not stupid enough to do that," Shikamaru replied.

The Hokage was silent for a moment before Shikamaru spoke again.

—I have good news and bad news.

Naruto looked at him seriously.

—Start with the good ones.

—The villages have agreed to strengthen the security of the biju . In addition, they have improved their tracking systems to find the Otsutsuki. This will allow us to narrow down the search area.

Naruto nodded, but his expression remained serious.

—And the bad ones?

Shikamaru lowered his gaze slightly before answering.

—One of our chunin disappeared during a patrol.

Naruto frowned.

—Who was it?

It took Shikamaru a second to respond.

—Mirai Sarutobi.

The Hokage clenched his fists, looking away in frustration.

"It's his thing..." Sasuke intervened, his voice firm.

"It's very likely," Shikamaru said.

Naruto looked up with determination.

—That Otsutsuki… is called Urashhiki, right?

Shikamaru nodded.

-Yeah.

Naruto looked determinedly at Shikamaru

—I want you to find Mirai. I'll use my clones to track him down.

Sasuke intervened before he could move.

—Wait, Naruto. What that Otsutsuki is looking for is the Kyubi's chakra.

—But… —Naruto tried to reply.

Shikamaru interrupted him with a serious expression.

—I doubt he wants all that chakra for himself. He's probably up to something.

Naruto sighed in concern.

Sasuke, with his arms crossed, spoke calmly.

—I'll go on patrol. I'll stay in the village in case he shows up.

Naruto nodded, trusting his partner. Sasuke turned around and began walking towards the exit of the office, leaving Naruto and Shikamaru in the Hokage's office.

Moving through the village, Sasuke noticed the tension in the air. Konoha was on high alert. Guards were patrolling more frequently, and the presence of ninjas at strategic points was evident.

Arriving at the center of the village, Sasuke paused for a moment. A crowd had gathered in front of a large screen where news was being broadcast.

"An ancient relic has been discovered at the bottom of the sea," the reporter said. "Archaeologists are analyzing it, and so far its origin remains a mystery."

Sasuke watched the news carefully, but didn't give it much thought. He walked towards the gate of Konoha, where a group of ninjas stood guard seriously. Among them, he could see several genin of the new generation, ready for any eventuality.

Sarada, seeing her father approaching, smiled happily and walked over to him.

—Dad, what are you doing here? I thought you'd be in the Hokage's office.

Sasuke replied softly as he looked at his daughter.

—I'm patrolling Konoha. What are you doing?

Sarada nodded and brought a hand to her ear, pulling out a small communicator.

—We're testing a new device. Do you want to see it?

Sasuke nodded, and Sarada took his hand, leading him towards a tent located next to the village gate.

Inside the tent, Denki and another researcher, Haguruma , were working with different devices.

Sarada approached Denki and spoke to him excitedly.

—Denki, can you explain the team?

Denki turned around and, seeing Sasuke, nodded with a smile.

—Thanks to the help of Engineer Haguruma , we have improved the communication equipment. Now, in addition to transmitting sound, it can also visualize the location of those wearing it.

He took out his computer and pressed a button, displaying on the screen a map with the positions of the ninjas equipped with the device.

—We hope that in the future this technology will be extended throughout the Land of Fire. This will make missions much safer.

Sasuke looked at the screen and nodded in approval.

-Not bad.

At that moment, Sarada looked at the time and turned to her father.

—Dad, I have to go. See you later.

Sasuke left the tent and walked a bit, watching Sarada approach Shikadai.

"It's time to start, leader," he said with determination.

Shikadai nodded, and the genin began to run, ready for their mission.

At that moment, a signal began to be received over the communicator.

"I'm pursuing the target," one of the ninjas reported.

Sasuke listened attentively to those words and approached the tent where the surveillance team was. He looked at the computer screen, which marked the position of the ninja following the target.

"Heading south," Denki announced as he analyzed the data.

The ninjas in the forest began moving in that direction, coordinating a plan to corner the target in a canyon.

"Get ready, we'll catch him there," one of the squad leaders ordered.

All the Konoha ninja advanced at full speed, closing the circle in the direction of the canyon.

Sasuke, still in the village, watched the display from a distance. His eyes sharpened in suspicion before he turned around and walked towards the Hokage building.

Meanwhile, in the abandoned factory, Boruto opened his eyes slightly and muttered:

—Those idiots… why are they running in that direction? One ninja chasing another… Hmmm , Konoha has been left unprotected…

Suddenly, his eyes widened, his expression tightened, and he growled:

—Damn… they've been tricked. What a pain.

He stood up immediately, his mind calculating the situation.

—It's time to do my part.

And in a flash, it was gone.

High in the sky. From above, Urashhiki watched the village with a satisfied smile.

—Now Konoha is empty…

He moved his hand and looked at a small communicator he had taken from one of the ninjas.

—Humans are stupid to rely on signals like these…

He squeezed the device tightly, destroying it on the spot. Then, with a malicious smile, he whispered:

—Naruto Uzumaki… I'll keep your chakra.

In the canyon. The Konoha ninja were already ready for the ambush. The ninja who had been following the target entered the canyon, and the others prepared to attack.

However, at the last moment, the squadron leaders were stunned.

"Wait!" Shikadai shouted upon seeing something unusual.

The supposed enemy turned suddenly, and the ninja pursuing him launched himself at him. Their kunai collided in the air with a flash of metal.

Before the fight could continue, Shikadai used his shadow to immobilize both of them. At that moment, Choji appeared behind the pursuing ninja, who placed a hand on his shoulder.

-Release.

On the other side, Tenten did the same with the supposed target.

When the ninja regained consciousness, his expression was one of utter bewilderment.

—Wha… what's going on? I was chasing the Otsutsuki!

Mirai, now free, looked around in confusion.

—I was fighting with him… what happened?

Choji frowned.

—We were caught in a genjutsu…

Tenten sighed, her gaze reflecting concern.

—That means we were tricked… Konoha is unprotected.

In Konoha, Boruto appeared on top of a building, staring intently in one direction. He adjusted his gloves and, without wasting any time, began jumping between buildings, his cape fluttering in the wind.

As he walked forward, an advertising screen flashed a news item. Boruto glanced at it and, recognizing the direction he was going, thought:

"That place… Konoha's archaeological center. Is it possible that you're looking for that?"

As he continued on his way, a voice echoed inside his mind.

"Is that what you think, human?" Momoshhiki said in his arrogant tone. "If Urashhiki goes after that relic, you better stop him. It could be troublesome… even for me."

Boruto nodded and increased his speed.

At the archaeological center: Urashhiki had already entered the compound after draining the guards' chakra. He walked calmly through the corridors until he reached a room similar to a library.

In the center, on a pedestal, rested an ancient relic: a stone with an engraved symbol, nine circles enclosed within a square.

Urashhiki smiled in amusement as he approached.

—Luckily, humans found it first because of me. Only an Otsutsuki can activate it.

He extended his palm and the stone began to glow with an intense green light. Then, what seemed to be just an inert fragment changed shape, revealing a creature: a blue turtle with a shell of glowing inscriptions and white skin.

Urashhiki lowered his hand and spoke in a mocking tone:

—Wake up, Karasuki.

The turtle slowly poked its head out of its shell, moving its limbs in a leisurely manner. Its voice, robotic and monotonous, echoed in the room.

—Activation confirmed… I am the ritual instrument Karasuki… I proceed to cite warnings about my use… An error in the order can affect the result… Lord Urashhiki Otsutsuki, to use me you need to charge me with chakra… Once charged, select the scroll…

Urashhiki clicked his tongue impatiently.

—How annoying… I hate turtles, always so slow.

Karasuki's shell continued to separate into floating rings, as the golden sphere grew with a blinding glow.

Urashhiki smiled mockingly and spoke loudly:

—How long do you plan to hide, human?

At that instant, the library doors swung open, revealing Boruto standing in the doorway. With a cold gaze, he took a few steps forward without taking his eyes off Urashhiki.

The Otsutsuki turned around in amusement.

—Well, well… So it's you, Boruto Uzumaki. What have you come for? —He laughed mockingly— Do you want a little history?

Boruto watched him seriously.

—I see you're doing something quite dangerous... I wonder, what is that relic, Otsutsuki?

Urashhiki laughed and spread his arms.

—My name is Urashhiki Otsutsuki, and you were lucky to get out alive last time, weren't you?

Before Boruto could respond, Urashhiki leapt back, stepping into the sphere of light.

Boruto frowned in surprise, but before he could react, Momoshhiki's voice echoed in his mind.

—Enter the sphere of light, human.

Without hesitation, Boruto ran at full speed. The sphere began to shrink rapidly, but at the last instant he managed to break through it, disappearing in the golden glow.

Suddenly, Boruto began to fall until he landed on a golden platform. All around him floated square shapes of white and golden energy, ascending without a fixed pattern. In the background there was only a dense purple fog with white and golden particles spreading through the air.

Boruto looked at the place, surprised, and thought: Is that the void? But... what is this place?

He looked in all directions until, in the center of the platform, he spotted the turtle Karasuki. Without wasting any time, he began to walk towards it, but before he could speak, a mocking voice interrupted him.

"You followed me, human. Hahaha!" Urashhiki appeared at the side of the platform with his usual air of superiority. "Insistent men aren't popular, you know."

Without giving him a chance to respond, Urashhiki threw his fishing rod at Boruto, attacking him with his energy harpoon.

Boruto reacted instantly, pulling out a three-pronged kunai and clashing it against the energy thread. The metallic sound echoed throughout the platform.

From inside, Momoshiki spoke seriously:

—Take him off the platform, that way you'll gain more time.

Following his advice, Boruto took out several three-pronged kunai and threw them in Urashhiki's direction. Urashhiki deflected them with his fishing rod, causing them to scatter in different directions. However, one of them ended up right on top of him.

In a flash, Boruto appeared above Urashhiki.

Urashhiki was shocked, but before he could react, Boruto channeled a large amount of chakra into his leg and delivered a powerful kick straight to his face.

Urashhiki reacted quickly, crossing his forearms to block the blow, but the impact was strong enough to throw him off the platform. As he fell into the void, he shouted in frustration:

-Curse!

Boruto landed on his feet and heard Momoshhiki's voice again.

—Now, take the turtle.

In a quiet forest, a sphere of light appeared in the air. From within it, Boruto emerged and began to fall. He quickly stabilized his stance and landed on his feet on the ground, looking around cautiously.

He looked at the turtle in his hand and, with the other, touched the ground, concentrating. After a moment, he stood up and muttered:

—I feel chakras in that direction… I'll move slowly and see what's going on.

She closed her eyes and entered her mindspace. However, as she looked at him, she was shocked.

—Momoshhiki, where are Karasugan and Galaga? I lost connection with them.

Back in reality, he opened his eyes and began walking in the direction of the chakra presences he had detected.

—Momoshhiki, what's going on?

From within, Momoshhiki sighed and replied:

—That thing you have in your hand is a relic of time.

Boruto looked at the turtle carefully and frowned.

—A relic of time...? I don't understand.

"That thing has the ability to travel through time," Momoshiki explained.

Boruto was surprised.

—I see… So that's why I have no connection to Karasugan or Galaga. If I were in the future, I could still sense them, but if I'm in the past…

Momoshhiki confirmed his guess:

—Correct. Urashhiki probably came to find the bearer of the Kyubi no Kitsune when he was younger.

Boruto sighed and squeezed the turtle in his hand.

—So you came to find my father when I was a child… If you kill him, it means I won't be able to be born. Damn it…

He looked at the turtle again and asked:

—Who created this?

— Hmm … I don't have much information, but it's one of the Otsutsuki relics — Momoshiki answered —. It was created in ancient times by someone who possessed the Jougan and controlled the law of time and space at the same time.

Boruto was even more surprised.

—So this was created by someone with those abilities… Then, if I controlled the law of time, I could travel in it?

—It's not that simple. To travel through time, you need both the laws of space and time —Momoshiki explained.

Boruto nodded, processing the information.

After walking a little further, he emerged from the forest and looked up to find himself in an older Konoha. The streets were narrower, with wooden buildings and traditional roofs, many of them with hand-written signs. There were no large screens or advanced technology, only paper lanterns lighting up some alleys. In the distance, the great Hokage Rock had only the faces of the first four Hokage, confirming that he was in a very different time.

He opened his eyes in astonishment and, after a sigh, muttered with annoyance:

—This is going to be a problem… Damn.