17 Chapter 17: The Sage Equal To Heaven

Arriving home with a different set of clothes, stained with blood from the day's events, Boruto didn't bother to clean himself up. Mentally exhausted, he entered the living room and slumped down on the sofa, his arm covering his eyes.

Hinata, Himawari, and Naruto were taken aback by Boruto's late return, but it was the state he arrived in that truly surprised them. Naruto quickly approached Boruto, placing a hand on his son's stomach.

Closing his eyes, Naruto focused his senses, assessing Boruto's condition. He then turned to Hinata and reassured her, "He's fine, there's nothing physically wrong with him. He's just exhausted and sleeping deeply."

Naruto himself was weary from his wory, but he couldn't compare his fatigue to Boruto's. Witnessing the sight of blood pouring out and experiencing the loss of some patients had taken a toll on his mind. His thoughts weighed heavily on him, but he managed to push through, remembering the mantra of "Surpass Your Limits, Right Here, Right Now."

Curious about Boruto's activities that day, Naruto inquired, "Do you know where he went today?"

"He was training with Sakura," Hinata replied. "It's possible that he pushed himself too hard. Could he have become an intern at Konoha Hospital?"

Naruto contemplated the possibility. "It could be," he acknowledged.

Concerned for her older brother, Himawari asked, "Is Onii-chan okay?"

"He's fine, sweetheart. Let him rest for a bit," Naruto reassured her, understanding the importance of allowing Boruto the time he needed to recover.

After a few hours of rest, Boruto slowly opened his eyes and sat up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. He noticed his father, Naruto, sitting at the dinner table, engaged in conversation with his mother, Hinata.

"Good morning," Boruto greeted them, his voice still groggy from sleep.

"How are you feeling, Boruto?" Naruto inquired, concern evident in his voice.

"I'm fine, just a little tired," Boruto replied, downplaying his exhaustion.

Hinata exchanged a knowing glance with Naruto, both of them silently thinking, 'Little tired?'

Curiosity getting the better of her, Hinata asked, "What did you do today, Boruto?"

Boruto sighed, realizing his parents were unaware of the extent of his activities. "I treated a few patients and then had a medical training session with Sakura-sensei," he explained.

Understanding dawned on Naruto and Hinata's faces as they finally comprehended the reason behind Boruto's exhaustion. The combination of healing patients and immersing himself in medical training had taken its toll on their son.

"I'm going to bed now," Boruto announced, his head still lingering in the room. "But, Tou-san, can I have a summoning scroll from the toads?" he requested.

"Of course, I'll give it to you tomorrow," Naruto agreed, making a mental note to fulfill Boruto's request.

The next day, as Boruto entered the dining area, he noticed the summoning scroll that Hinata had mentioned, placed neatly on the dinner table. Hinata, seeing Boruto's curiosity, informed him, "That's the scroll you asked for from Naruto-kun."

"Ah, perfect," Boruto replied, picking up the scroll and tucking it securely into his jacket pocket.

Curiosity piqued once again, Boruto inquired about breakfast. "What's on the menu today?" he asked, taking a seat at the table.

Hinata smiled warmly. "Just a simple dish of egg fried rice," she answered.

"Thanks, Kaa-san. Itadakimasu!" Boruto expressed his gratitude before diving into his meal. After finishing his breakfast, he promptly cleaned his plate and utensils before heading out to begin his physical training.

The training ground awaited him, its familiar surroundings ready to challenge him. Boruto pushed himself through the grueling exercises, determined to surpass his limits. Once he felt satisfied with his physical exertion, he decided it was time to test out the summoning scroll.

Finding a secluded spot, Boruto unfurled the scroll and bit the tip of his finger, drawing blood. Placing his thumb onto the scroll, he channeled his chakra into it, preparing to summon the toads.

Within seconds, a massive cloud of smoke engulfed the area. As the smoke cleared, Boruto's eyes widened at the sight before him. A towering figure emerged from the dissipating haze, its glowing white eyes fixated on Boruto, exuding a powerful presence.

As the thick smoke dissipated, Boruto's eyes widened in disbelief. Standing before him was a colossal, red-furred gorilla with four magnificent tails swaying behind it. It was a tailed beast, a creature of immense power and significance.

"Son Goku?" Boruto stammered, his voice laced with astonishment.

The towering beast turned its gaze towards Boruto, its piercing eyes filled with curiosity. "Human, you know my name?" Son Goku inquired, his deep voice resonating through the air. "Hmm, with your yellow hair and blue eyes, I can sense the familiar essence of Chakra. You must be Naruto's son."

Boruto's confusion grew, his mind struggling to comprehend the situation. "Yes, I am his son. But why did you answer my call? I thought the summoning scroll only summoned Toads," he questioned, his voice tinged with curiosity.

A mischievous grin spread across Son Goku's face as he responded, "I was bored, and suddenly, I felt a strong pull, as if someone was calling out to me. So, I decided to answer the call and here I am, face to face with you, human."

Realizing his oversight, Boruto extended his fist towards Son Goku, a gesture of camaraderie. "I apologize for not introducing myself earlier. I'm Uzumaki Boruto, the son of Uzumaki Naruto," he announced proudly, his voice brimming with determination.

Son Goku's eyes softened, a warm smile replacing his fierce expression. He reciprocated the gesture, bumping his massive fist against Boruto's smaller one. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Boruto. I am Seiten Taisei Son Goku," he introduced himself, his voice filled with a sense of wisdom and strength.

In that moment, an unexpected bond formed between the young shinobi and the mighty tailed beast. Little did they know that their encounter would mark the beginning of an extraordinary journey, one that would test their limits and forge an unbreakable friendship.

"Okay, from now on, I'll call you Goku, just like a legendary fighter who was hailed as the hope of the universe," Boruto suggested, a playful glint in his eyes.

Son Goku's curiosity piqued at the mention of someone sharing his name and reputation. "You know someone named Goku who is considered the hope of the universe? Who is this guy? Can I meet him?" he asked, his excitement evident in his voice.

Boruto chuckled, realizing the irony of the situation. "He is a powerful Saiyan warrior who protects Earth with his incredible strength," he explained. "But, unfortunately, meeting him is not possible as he exists in a different universe altogether."

Although disappointed, Son Goku couldn't help but be intrigued by the mention of another Goku. The idea of meeting someone who shared his name and purpose fascinated him.

"Son Goku, may I ask you a favor?" Boruto's voice broke the silence, his tone sincere and genuine.

Son Goku's mind raced with thoughts, wondering if Boruto was about to request his immense power. He remained cautious, knowing that Naruto's son might have different intentions than his father.

"What favor do you seek?" Son Goku inquired, his eyes narrowing slightly as he prepared for any possibility.

Boruto, aware of the potential misunderstanding, decided to ask for something unrelated to power. "Can I ride on your back? I've always wondered how it feels to be up there," he requested, a glimmer of excitement in his eyes.

Son Goku's stern expression softened, a faint smile playing on his lips. He found Boruto's request unexpected and amusing. "You're quite an interesting kid," he remarked, his deep voice laced with amusement. "Sure, hop on."

With a swift motion, Son Goku extended his massive hand towards the ground, creating a platform for Boruto to jump onto. Eagerly, Boruto sprinted up Goku's arm and settled himself comfortably atop the tailed beast's head.

"Let's go," Boruto declared, pointing forward with determination, ready for the exhilarating adventure that awaited them.

As the events unfolded, a wave of familiarity washed over Naruto, his instincts tingling with recognition.

'Isn't that Son Goku?' Kurama, the Nine-Tailed Fox sealed within Naruto, questioned, his voice echoing in Naruto's mind.

Naruto's azure eyes widened in surprise as he glanced towards the window, where an incredible sight awaited him. Son Goku effortlessly leaped over the towering walls of Konoha, his presence impossible to ignore.

'And isn't that your son Boruto perched on Son Goku's head?' Kurama continued, his tone filled with curiosity.

"I'm going to find out what's going on," Naruto declared, his voice filled with determination.

In the depths of his consciousness, Naruto found himself standing in a surreal realm, accompanied by the familiar presence of Kurama, the Nine-Tailed Fox. Before long, Son Goku and Boruto materialized beside them, joining the peculiar gathering.

Confusion clouded Boruto's face as he took in the unfamiliar surroundings. "Where the hell are we?" he exclaimed, his voice tinged with bewilderment. Spotting his father and Kurama, he offered a friendly wave, attempting to make sense of the situation.

Son Goku, ever calm and composed, provided an explanation. "This is the Collective Consciousness," he revealed, his deep voice resonating through the ethereal space.

Naruto, eager to understand the circumstances that led them here, turned to his son, his eyes filled with curiosity. "Son, care to enlighten me?" he inquired, his tone a mix of anticipation and concern.

Boruto stepped forward, ready to share his side of the story. "I was attempting to use the summoning scroll, and instead of summoning a toad, I inadvertently summoned..." he paused, allowing Son Goku to complete the sentence.

"Seiten Taisei Son Goku," the mighty tailed beast finished, his voice carrying a sense of pride.

Boruto's face lit up with excitement, extending his fist towards Son Goku. "Nice," he exclaimed, initiating a fist bump that Son Goku readily reciprocated. Naruto couldn't help but smile, witnessing the budding camaraderie between his son and the legendary being.

However, Kurama, the voice of caution, crossed his arms and voiced his concerns. "Monkey, you know the dangers of answering the call of a human," he warned, his tone laced with past experiences of being forced into servitude by Madara.

Boruto swiftly came to Son Goku's defense, his voice filled with determination. "But this person is me, so it's different," he stated firmly, standing up for their unexpected guest.

Kurama, slightly annoyed by Boruto's unwavering support, begrudgingly acknowledged the validity of his argument.

Son Goku interjected, shedding light on the situation. "I also sensed the similarities in our Chakra. So, I knew I wasn't in the hands of someone with ill intentions," he explained, his words carrying a sense of reassurance.

Naruto, concerned about the potential consequences of their presence, voiced his main worry. "But did anyone nearby witness your arrival?" he questioned, his gaze shifting between Boruto and Son Goku.

Boruto nodded in acknowledgment. "Possibly," he admitted. "I plan on exploring a bit with Goku, so if you return home early, I'll see you there," he added, his adventurous spirit shining through.

With a sudden disappearance, Boruto and Son Goku vanished from the ethereal space, leaving Naruto and Kurama to exchange glances and sigh in unison. The unexpected encounter had undoubtedly brought a mix of emotions, but they were ready to face whatever awaited them on this extraordinary journey.