Naruto: The Tale of an Otsutsuki

After watching Boro disintegrate into a pile of dust, Kirito turned back to the massive bowl sealing Naruto. Meanwhile, Boruto and the others stood frozen, staring in disbelief at the remnants of the once-formidable Kara Inner Member.

"What just happened? How did Boro end up like that?" Kawaki asked, his voice tinged with shock.

Though he knew the Otsutsuki clan possessed unimaginable power, Kawaki hadn't expected Boro—who was modified into a near-immortal being by Amado—to be defeated so effortlessly.

In his mind, Boro's regenerative abilities and advanced modifications made him at least as strong as the Kage-level shinobi of the Five Great Nations. He had assumed even Kirito would need significant effort to defeat him.

But the reality was far more terrifying. Boro hadn't lasted more than a single attack. The so-called "infinite regeneration" had been rendered useless, like a parlor trick.

A chilling thought crossed Kawaki's mind. If this guy ever turned against us, who could stop him?

The others were equally stunned.

"That was amazing…" Sarada murmured, voicing what everyone was thinking.

Boruto, in particular, was reminded of how much effort it had taken his father to defeat another Inner Member, Delta, in the past. He now felt vindicated in his decision to bring Kirito along.

I made the right call, Boruto thought, silently thanking his past self.

As they recovered from their shock, their focus returned to the massive black bowl.

Sarada ran her hand over its surface. "That guy said it's sealed, and breaking it could hurt Naruto. If that's true, how are we supposed to save him?"

Kirito placed a hand on the bowl, his expression calm. He could feel the complex sealing jutsu layered over it.

"It's sealed, but I can break it," he said confidently.

"Really?" Kawaki asked, his voice tinged with urgency.

Kirito nodded. Using his unique ocular abilities, he analyzed the sealing jutsu in detail. Satisfied, he raised his hand, gripping the invisible threads of the jutsu. With a gentle pull, the seal unraveled like a delicate web, dissipating into nothingness.

The massive bowl trembled as Kirito gripped its edge and, with seemingly little effort, lifted it. Beneath lay Naruto, unconscious but alive.

"Dad!"

"Seventh!"

Boruto, Kawaki, and the others rushed forward, carefully pulling Naruto out of the bowl. Despite their joy at finding him, their happiness was dampened by his unresponsive state.

"Why isn't he waking up?" Boruto asked, his voice tinged with worry as he looked to Kirito.

Kirito examined Naruto briefly. "He's severely injured, and his chakra is almost completely drained. He won't wake up for a while. I can heal him, but we should take him back to Konoha first. We're still in enemy territory."

Boruto nodded in agreement. "You're right. Let's bring Dad back now. Uncle Shikamaru and the others must be worried sick."

The successful rescue lightened the mood. Sarada and Mitsuki, relieved by the outcome, took the opportunity to scold Boruto.

"You better not leave without telling us again," Sarada said, folding her arms.

"That's right," Mitsuki added. "If you're going to pull a stunt like this, at least let us know first."

Boruto laughed awkwardly, rubbing the back of his head. "Sorry, sorry! I'll make sure to tell you next time. Things were just so urgent…"

Kirito opened a Yomotsu Hirasaka portal. "Let's go. Carry Naruto. I'll take you all back to Konoha."

Back in Konoha.

Since Boruto and Kawaki's sudden disappearance, Shikamaru had refused to leave the backyard of Naruto's home, determined to wait for their return.

When a swirling portal of darkness suddenly appeared, Shikamaru immediately stood up, his heart racing. Moments later, Boruto and the others emerged, carrying Naruto between them.

"Boruto! You're alright—" Shikamaru froze as his gaze fell on Naruto's unconscious form. "Naruto!"

Rushing forward, he inspected the Hokage with wide eyes. Then, turning to the nearby medical-nin, he barked, "Call the medical team, now!"

Naruto was quickly taken to Konoha Hospital, and once the situation stabilized, Shikamaru turned his attention to Boruto and the others.

"I can't believe it…" Shikamaru said, his voice heavy with a mix of relief and astonishment. "You actually brought him back."

"Of course!" Boruto replied with pride. "What did you think we went to 'the past' for? And we couldn't have done it without Kirito's help. Do you know he took down a Kara Inner Member in one move? It was incredible!"

Boruto recounted their adventure, describing how Kirito had dismantled Boro effortlessly and freed Naruto from his prison.

Shikamaru turned to Kirito, his expression guarded. "Since you saved Naruto, I'll trust you—for now. But what happens next depends on Naruto's decision after he wakes up. Until then, I'll need you to stay under watch."

Kirito shook his head. "That's unnecessary. Naruto won't wake up for another day or two. I don't intend to wait around in captivity for that long."

Shikamaru narrowed his eyes. "We have the best medical ninja in the ninja world. We don't need your help."

"If you're referring to Sakura," Kirito said, "then I should tell you she's far from my equal. I'm leagues ahead of her in medical ninjutsu."

"Impossible! My mom is the best!" Sarada snapped, defending Sakura.

Kirito ignored her, his tone steady as he addressed Shikamaru. "If I wanted to harm Naruto, I could have done so the moment I rescued him. Instead, I suggest you let me heal him. The sooner he's back on his feet, the sooner he can resume his duties. And you can supervise me—have Sakura watch if it makes you feel better."

Shikamaru hesitated, weighing Kirito's words. Finally, he relented.

Evening, Konoha Hospital.

In the Hokage's exclusive ward, Naruto stirred, his eyes slowly opening.

"Dad!"

"Seventh!"

The familiar voices of his son and comrades greeted him as he gazed at the ceiling. Relief washed over him.

"I'm… back?" Naruto asked weakly, his voice barely audible.

(End of this chapter)